Afternoon Update: Trump update on Saudi controversy, Dick Slater dead, Tessa Blanchard speaks on Aries conduct at Bound for Glory, Magnum T.A. added to NWA show, Total Divas, more

Please send news tips and results to pwtorch@pwtorch.com.

-Dick Slater, a territorial main event wrestler who held many regional titles in the 1980s who eventually joined the WWF in 1986 and later All Japan, died at age 67 today. Read up on his career on his Wikipedia page HERE.

-Magnum T.A. has been added to thus Sunday night’s NWA 70th Anniversary show in Nashville, Tenn. at the Fairground Arena. The show is available on FITE TV. The headline match is Cody Rhodes defending the NWA World Hvt. Title against former champ Nick Aldis in an All In rematch. Also, Jazz faces Penelope Ford for the NWA Women’s Championship. Sam Shaw, Colt Cabana, Scorpio Sky, Willie Mack, Tim Storm, Laredo Kid, Crimson, and Jay Bradley are among others on the card. Road Warrior Animal will be in Jax Dane’s corner. Tony Schiavone and Jim Cornette will do commentary on the PPV on FITE. Check out a video feature on YouTube HERE.

-President Trump said this afternoon that it appears missing journalist Jamal Kashoggi is dead. He warned that his administration could consider “very severe” measures against Saudi Arabia, according to the Washington Post which stated: “The comments could reflect a harder line by the White House amid the international outcry over Khashoggi, who was last seen publicly entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.” WWE continues to advertise ticket sales for Crown Jewel on Nov. 4 in Saudi Arabia, announcing tomorrow’s on-sale date on WWE.com yesterday after having removed mentions of the location of Crown Jewel for days before that, and avoiding the mentioning Saudi Arabia during Raw and Smackdown this week.

-On the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast “Interview Friday” tomorrow, my guest is Lavie Margolin, author of “Trump Mania.” We explore the full history of Trump and the McMahon family, parallels between Trump & Vince that drew them together, and the Crown Jewel controversy. You can order the book at Amazon HERE. Subscribe to the Wade Keller Podcast on Apple Podcasts HERE or search “Wade Keller” on your podcast app of choice.

-Tessa Blanchard told Busted Open Radio that Austin Aries’s heated Twitter exchange with Johnny Impact last week was “just a lot of Austin being Austin.” She agreed with Brian Cage’s characterization of it. “I honestly don’t really know what to think about it,” she said. “Just watching it, I’m kind of at a loss for words, I guess? ‘Cause I don’t know what to think.” She said she isn’t alone in not being able to gauge the situation. “To myself, yeah, of course. I’m sure everyone had a lot of questions. There’s a lot of uncertainty. The whole locker room was kind of not really sure what was going on, I guess. But yeah, I honestly I’m very indifferent ’cause I don’t know what to think.” Regarding Aries’ no-selling Johnny’s Starship Pain after being pinned, giving the middle finger to Don Callis up in the announce booth, and walking out, she said it was disrespectful to the locker room. “To an extent, yes. I’m not really sure what Austin was trying to accomplish. Brian said it before, I think if the roles were reversed and Austin was sitting in the locker room watching that happen, I’m sure he would feel disrespected, I’m sure he would not be so happy. He would have some things to say and some questions. So if the roles were reversed, I’m sure he would be in the same position as the whole locker room kind of felt, I think.” Check out a YouTube video of the interview HERE.

-Showbuzz Daily reports viewership for Total Divas dropped to 340,000 last night, down from 380,000 last week. After drawing 545,000 viewers for the first episode, the show has averaged 366,000 viewers over the last four weeks. Read Sarah K’s (snarky) report on last night’s episode HERE.

-The AAW promotion is running an event titled “Die De Los Luchadores” on Oct. 26 in Marrionette Park, Ill (TICKET INFO) headlined by Rey Fenix vs. Sammy Guevara, LA Park vs. NJF, Besties in the World (Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett) vs. MexiBlood (Bandido & Flamita), and Kylie Rae & Marti Belle vs. AAW Womens Champion Kimber Lee & Scarlett Bordeaux. Also scheduled: DJZ, Curt Stallion, PACO,A.R Fox, Jimmy Jacobs, Myron Reed, and more. If you attend this event (or any pro wrestling live events), please send a report to pwtorch@pwtorch.com.

-We have a full correspondent report on NXT’s TV tapings last night at Full Sail University. It includes the apparent reveal of who attacked Tomasso Ciampa: 10/17 NXT TV TAPING (Spoilers): Ranallo misses tapings, Black attacker revealed, War Games takes shape, surprise appearances and major debuts

Please send news tips and results to pwtorch@pwtorch.com.

NOW CHECK OUT YESTERDAY’S UPDATE: Afternoon Update: Kevin Owens double knee surgery, Smackdown 1000 ratings compared to Raw, Kevin Nash on Crown Jewel, Jay Lethal talks ROH-MSG sellout