Author: Dave Meltzer

Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.

Daily Update: WWE Backlash, Raw, World Heavyweight title tournament

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Match of the week and performer of the week

*AEW All In sets records, and looking at the biggest crowds in pro wrestling history and how this compares, what we’ve earned about ticketing, what records are within reach and what records are not, as well as the biggest crowds ever in Europe and a man named Jim Londos.

*Evaluating the WWE draft. We look at the depth charts of both brands, questions being asked, will the brand split really be what they say (of course it won’t long run), looking at the NXT talent brought up and more.

*A look at WWE business including heavy quotes from Nick Khan and Paul Levesque on the current state of the business, how much WWE is looking a cutting with the merger with UFC, Khan talks about working under Endeavor.

*Levesque talks the booking of talent

*WrestleMania business notes

*How many people watch Raw or Smackdown on a weekly basis, and the number is far more than you think

*Plans for another major overseas event on hold

*WWE Backlash notes

*Looking at the last three months of wrestling numbers and how it compares with television as a whole

*New Japan Dontaku full coverage as well as the next month of New Japan major shows

*Gable Steveson and others who have done pro wrestling and then gone back to amateur wrestling including the top worker of the 80s who the Olympics banned from competing due to an archaic rule

*Full Saturday UFC coverage

*Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Sumo Hall and the matches and angles

*The most detailed look at pro wrestling ratings, as well s where the changes were, competition and what can be learned from them

*CMLL Champion of Champions tournament

*Major League baseball players go to Arena Mexico

*Unique new idea for running pro wrestling shows explained and talks of it going t the U.S.

*Why a world title recently changed hands

*A new jump that hasn’t happened but essentially is about to

*Champion Carnival tournament goes to the finals

*Will Ospreay’s future

*70s and 80s star returning to the ring

*Vikingo goes to Australia

*Lots of changes coming to AEW

*Update on plans for the new and revamped AEW television plans

*Hire of Will Washington

*Update on Double or Nothing show

*Lots of competition of AEW next week

*DVR viewership of AEW

*Advance ticket sales for WWE and AEW shows

*Jon Jones talks future

*Lots of new UFC fights

*Bare Knuckle Boxing business notes

*Bare Knuckle MMA shows coming

*More on gold medalist signing with WWE

*Other gold medalists WWE has signed over the years

*WWE star headed to realty competition show

*Injury updates

*Writer talks about the WWE culture

*International TV numbers and streaming numbers

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Sunday Update

We have two weekend shows up. Garrett Gonzales and I have a show talking the news of the week, including Wembley, WWE world title, and the big weekend that just ended, while last night’s show with Bryan Alvarez talked Backlash, UFC, Sara Lee and the connection between the character Matt Damon played in Air, Sonny Vaccaro, and his connection with two key people during the boom years of WCW.

Backlash had one of the most amazing crowds in WWE history, very similar to the famous 1997 Canadian Stampede PPV show in Calgary. The place came unglued for Bad Bunny, Carlito and Savio Vega in particular. 

WWE announced today the 12 wrestlers in the tournament for the World title. On tomorrow night’s Raw sho, there were will two three-way matches early in the show involving Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, The Miz and Shinsuke Nakamura. The winner of the two three-ways probably face off in the main event. Similarly on Smackdown, it’s Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley, Sheamus, Rey Mysterio, A.J. Styles and Edge. The winner of Monday’s main event faces the winner of Friday’s main event on 5/27 in Saudi Arabia.

The reason for the tournament on Raw & Smackdown is to combat the hit the shows would normally take in the ratings this week due to the NBA & NHL playoffs, especially since Warriors vs. Lakers is doing record viewership for this early in the playoffs. For tomorrow, the Knicks vs.. Heat go against the first two hours and Warriors-Lakers against the third hour. For Tuesday, NXT goes against 76ers vs. Celtics. For Wednesday, AEW goes against Heat-Knicks most of the game and then the West Coast replay goes against Lakers-Warriors and that will hurt it badly on the West Coast. Obviously AEW is trying to combat that with a loaded show headlined by Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley in a cage match.

The blood in last night’s match with Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes was attempted and not an accident. Lesnar is allowed to do that although blading, which is far safer then smashing your forehead hard into steel to get blood, is not allowed in WWE.

Tony Ferguson was arrested at about 2 a.m. last night for a DUI after allegedly crashing into two parked cars outside a nightclub in Hollywood, CA. Ferguson’s truck flipped on its side after the accident and he was arrested after reportedly refusing a field sobriety test and being “very uncooperative” while on the coast. Ferguson, nor anyone else, were injured. He was being held on $30,000 bail earlier today. Rapper Cash Gotti told TMZ that he found his Mercedes wrecked when he came out of the club and reportedly it was one of the two cars Ferguson allegedly hit. 

As far as Google searches for the weekend comparing the big events:

  • Warriors vs. Lakers was 2.8 million
  • UFC was 1.1 million
  • Kentucky Derby was 3 million
  • The Canelo Alvarez fight was 700,000
  • WWE Backlash was 200,000

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 opened this weekend and the estimates are that it will do $114 million. Of course Dave Bautista got the role of a lifetime in this movie and the first two as Drax the Destroyer. It’s supposed to be the finale of the series.

In last night’s UFC bantamweight title match where Aljamain Sterling beat Henry Cejudo via split decision, Judge Michael Bell gave Cejudo rounds 2, 3 and 5 and a 48-47 win Judge Derek Clearly gave Cejudo 2 and 3 while judge Eric Colon gave Cejudo 3 and 5. So the decision came down to Carly giving Sterling round five. As far as media scores went, Sterling got 91 percent of the media scores so the vast majority did believe it was the right decision. 

After the fight there was another situation where Sean O’Malley was brought out to confront Sterling since that’s the next title fight. They started exchanging words when Merab Dvalishvili a teammate of Sterling, grabbed O’Malley’s jacket away from him and jumped on the cage to pose with it. O’Malley then confronted Dvalishvili and Sterling got involved there before things were calmed down. Dana White blamed himself for the problems, saying that he’s had better ideas than what happened tonight and it was a bad idea to bring O’Malley into the cage.

In the split decision in the Khaos Williams vs. Rolando Bedoya undercard fight, it was a 53-47% split in favor of Williams among media scores. Michael Bell gave Williams the first two rounds. Dominic Carolei gave Williams the first two rounds. Cleary gave Bedoya all three rounds.

We’re doing a couple of polls. We are doing our usual polls on Backlash and today will be the last day for our poll on NJPW Dontaku from Wednesday, so thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected] We are doing another poll for which of these people would you most like to see face Kenny Omega in London at Wembley Stadium, with Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada or MJF. Before pick ask, C.M. Punk is not listed because at least as of yesterday there was no chance that match could happen. If that changes we will do another poll and include him. 

Tonight on A&E, at 9 p.m. has WWE’s Most Wanted Treasure looking for old DX items including the Jeep from the WCW Invasion and at 10 p.m., Steve Austin Takes on America going through fast food restaurants among other things

Rampage on Friday 5/19 will be airing at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.

An interview with Abraham Josephine Riesman on her book on Vince McMahon.

Big E will be a celebrity judge on the new TV show “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge” which will start on 5/30 on NBC in the 10 p.m. time slot.

Other Notes

Kevin Martel, the nephew of Rick Martel, will return to pro wrestling t team with his son, Shawn Martel, for the first time ever in a show on 6/17 in Quebec City, Quebec. Shawn has just started wrestling. Kevin wrestled in the late 90s and early 2000s and was very talented, and was voted Quebec Wrestler of the Year in 2002, but he stopped wrestling in 2004.

The match I’ve heard the most about this week as far as the match to try and see is the Yuya Aoki win of the Big Japan Strong world title from Yuji Okabayashi will took place on Thursday night.

Eve results from Friday night in London: Billie Starkz b Safire Reed, Emersyn Jayne b Laura Di Matteo, Rhio & Lucy Skye b Alexxis Falcon & Lizzy Evo, Jetta & Charlie Morgan b Rhio & Lucky Skye, Janai Kai b Skye Smitson, Miyu Yamashita b Millie McKenzie in a 30:00 Iron Woman match.

Eve results from yesterday in London: Emersyn Jayne b Darcy Stone, Skye Smitson b Lizzy Evo Alexxis Falcon b Safire Reed, Emersyn Jayne b Janai Kai Miyu Yamashita b Bilie Starks to keep the Eve title, Charlie Morgan & Jetta b Laura Di Matteo & Rayne Leverkusen to win the Eve tag titles,. Promoter Dann Read thanked the crowd and the women noting they’ve promoted for 13 years and he said he doesn’t know how much he has left in him to continue and told the fans to enjoy the ride while it lasts. The next show is 5/25 at the Yard Theater. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Miz and Maryse were at the Kentucky Derby. (thanks to Barry Werner)

Defy results from Friday night in Tacoma, WA: Ricky Gibson & Eddie Pearl & Levi Cooper b Ethan HD & Kris Brady & Malcolm Phlex, Amira b Kikyo Fallen Flower, Bollywood Boyz won three-way over Juventud Guerrera & Guillermo Rosas and Judas Icarus & Travis Williams, Artemis Spencer b Cody Chhun, Nicole Mathews b Lliza Hall, Nick Wayne retained the Defy title in a three-way over Gringo Loco and Arez. (thanks to Matt Farmer)

United Wrestling Coalition on 5/13 in Bordenton, NJ at the Elks Lodge.

Central States Wrestling on 5/13 at the National Guard Armory in Lenexa, KS with Dak Draper vs. One Called Manders for the Central States title an d Jeremy Wyatt vs. Kenny Alfonso for the DWF title.

Great North Wrestling from last night in Ottawa, ONT before 300 fans: Blood Hunter (managed by Kevin Sullivan) b Nick Sullivan, Aces & Eights Quebec b The Mounties, Jessika Black b Persephone Vince, Ayatollah Bin Hamin b Vance Nevada, Vance Nevada b GGP, Magnum McLaren b Wes Brisco, Bruiser b Stevie McDaniel, Blood Hunter b James Storm. Next show is 7/15 in Smiths Falls, ONT (thanks to Anthony Ambrose)

IPSW Rock N Wrestling from last night in Morristown,NJ: U-Gene b Dirty Dango, Afa Jr. b Snitsky, Michael Mars b Tony Atlas, Danny Morrison b Val Venis, Hale Collins & Vik Dalishus won three-way over Headbangers and Powers of Pain, GKM b Homicide to keep the Tri States title Rey Calitri won Rumble.

All Star Wrestling & FWA have joint show son 7/1 and 7/2 in different suburbs of Sydney,Australia. Announced for the shows are Dirty Dango, Samuray del Sol (Kalisto), Amale, Lince Dorado, Lady Frost and Mila Moore. Carlito will also be on the 7/1 show. (thanks to James Stanios)

March 20, 2006 Observer Newsletter: TNA Impact loses primetime slot, pro wrestling interest decline

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

In what at first sounds like the rug being pulled from TNA, but is actually good news when examined closely, TNA has lost its prime time slot.

Spike TV made the decision this past week to change its Thursday night line-up starting on 4/13 for reasons that have not been explained, but make perfect sense. The new line-up will be CSI at 8 p.m., UFC Unleashed at 9 p.m., Ultimate Fighter season three with Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock as coaches starting at 10 p.m. and TNA Impact at 11 p.m.

It appears the decision was made after completion of the filming of Ultimate Fighter. Both UFC and Spike officials were said to be thrilled with the season and the Ortiz/Shamrock dynamic. It made no sense to put what they hope to be a big season on at 11 p.m., which was the original plan, with Impact at 9 p.m. and Unleashed at 10 p.m. It also makes no sense for Impact to be the lead-in for UFC, because UFC has the stronger audience right now.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

Daily Update: AEW All In, WrestleMania Nashville, WWE SmackDown

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include: 

*Match of the week and performer of the week

*AEW All In sets records, and looking at the biggest crowds in pro wrestling history and how this compares, what we’ve earned about ticketing, what records are within reach and what records are not, as well as the biggest crowds ever in Europe and a man named Jim Londos.

*Evaluating the WWE draft. We look at the depth charts of both brands, questions being asked, will the brand split really be what they say (of course it won’t long run), looking at the NXT talent brought up and more.

*A look at WWE business including heavy quotes from Nick Khan and Paul Levesque on the current state of the business, how much WWE is looking a cutting with the merger with UFC, Khan talks about working under Endeavor.

*Levesque talks the booking of talent

*WrestleMania business notes

*How many people watch Raw or Smackdown on a weekly basis, and the number is far more than you think

*Plans for another major overseas event on hold

*WWE Backlash notes

*Looking at the last three months of wrestling numbers and how it compares with television as a whole

*New Japan Dontaku full coverage as well as the next month of New Japan major shows

*Gable Steveson and others who have done pro wrestling and then gone back to amateur wrestling including the top worker of the 80s who the Olympics banned from competing due to an archaic rule

*Full Saturday UFC coverage

*Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Sumo Hall and the matches and angles

*The most detailed look at pro wrestling ratings, as well s where the changes were, competition and what can be learned from them

*CMLL Champion of Champions tournament

*Major League baseball players go to Arena Mexico

*Unique new idea for running pro wrestling shows explained and talks of it going t the U.S.

*Why a world title recently changed hands

*A new jump that hasn’t happened but essentially is about to

*Champion Carnival tournament goes to the finals

*Will Ospreay’s future

*70s and 80s star returning to the ring

*Vikingo goes to Australia

*Lots of changes coming to AEW

*Update on plans for the new and revamped AEW television plans

*Hire of Will Washington

*Update on Double or Nothing show

*Lots of competition of AEW next week

*DVR viewership of AEW

*Advance ticket sales for WWE and AEW shows

*Jon Jones talks future

*Lots of new UFC fights

*Bare Knuckle Boxing business notes

*Bare Knuckle MMA shows coming

*More on gold medalist signing with WWE

*Other gold medalists WWE has signed over the years

*WWE star headed to realty competition show

*Injury updates

*Writer talks about the WWE culture

*International TV numbers and streaming numbers

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Friday Update

Garrett and I did a show talking about a ton of topics today, including even the connection of the movie Air to pro wrestling because of who one of Sonny Vaccaro’s best friend was, Wembley Stadium and goals surpassed, AEW Collision and AEW’s summer challenges, Backlash and the longest odds for a sports event I’ve ever seen and the planned NXT women’s tag team champions which fell through. Bryan and I will up be tomorrow night talking Backlash and UFC.

It’s a big weekend for combat sports with Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder in boxing, WWE Backlash and UFC on PPV all happening Saturday night.

Our lead story in the Observer talks about the AEW Wembley advance, which as topped 60,000 tickets sold. This was either the first or second fastest selling wrestling show in history. From both a modern era attendance and gate record, it broke the marks set 25 years ago at Antonio Inoki’s retirement show at the Tokyo Dome for the largest non-WWE gate in history. It will also likely be the largest paid attendance for a pro wrestling show since 2017 and maybe 2016. It is likely to end up in the highest tier historically when all is said and done considering there are still months left before te show. It will be the largest as far a a verifiable paid attendance for a non-WWE pro wrestling show since 1933. The most scary stat when it comes to the number of people who went to order tickets and compare it with the 2019 All Out show. Unfortunately, AEW had only 10,000 seats that night but that’s a level that has never been replicated before, and wasn’t here either.

Tennessee Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill said that WWE has committed to holding the 2027 WrestleMania in Nashville, at the new Titans stadium. There has been no official announcement from WWE. We reported on this in November.

Smackdown tonight is from San Juan, PR, the night before Backlash. Bad Bunny, Cody Rhodes and Bianca Belair are announced for the show. The only matches announced are Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross and Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. Viking Raiders. 

We’re looking for reports from the show live with any dark matches or notes from anything not on the live show to [email protected]

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, with Dave Bautista, opens in theaters tonight.

We’re doing polls right now on the NJPW Dontaku show from Wednesday, and will be doing them for Backlash on Saturday and UFC on Saturday.

There are no WWE or NXT house shows this weekend. 

It is only four days after the brand split goes into effect that WWE is having matches on Smackdown for a Raw title.

UFC weigh-ins for tomorrow’s show:

PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern —

  • Aljamain Sterling (134) vs. Henry Cejudo (135)
  • Belal Muhammad (170) vs. Gilbert Burns (171)
  • Jessica Andrade (115) vs. Yan Xiaonan (115)
  • Movsar Evloev (145) vs. Diego Lopes (146)
  • Kron Gracie (145) vs. Charles Jourdain (145)

ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. Eastern —

  • Drew Dober (155.5) vs. Matt Frevola (155)
  • Kennedy Nzechukwu (205) vs. Devin Clark (205)
  • Khaos Williams (169) vs. Rolando Bedoya (170)
  • Marina Rodriguez (115) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115)
  • Braxton Smith (262) vs. Parker Porter (249)
  • Phil Hawes (185) vs. Ikram Aliskerov (186)

ESPN + at 6 p.m. Eastern —

  • Joseph Holmes (189) vs. Claudio Ribeiro (185) – Holmes missed weight and was fined 20 percent of his purse

There will be a press conference on Tuesday for the Nate Diaz vs. Jake Paul fight It takes place at 2 p.m. Eastern on the DAZN Boxing YouTube channel. The press conference will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the site of the fight. Any time Nate Diaz is in a setting like this, you really don’t know what will happen.

Madoka Kikuta beat Shun Skywalker to win the Open the Dream Gate title at the 2023 Dead or Alive show in Nagoya.

Stardom announced a 5/27 show in Tokyo at the Ota Ward Gym featuring a title vs. title match with World of Stardom champion Tam Nakano facing Wonder of Stardom champion Mina Shirakawa with both titles at stake.

El Hijo del Vikingo faces Metalik on the 6/23 GCW show in Chicago.

Other Notes

The annual two-day NWA Crockett Cup tournament takes place on 6/3 and 6/4 at the Fairgrounds in Winston-Salem,NC Teams announced include Tyrus & Chris Adonis, Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf, Ricky & Kerry Morton, Mike Knox & Trevor Murdoch, AJ Cazana & Anthony Andrews, The Country Gentlemen, Octagon Jr. & Myzteziz Jr., Toxin & Arez and more. David Crockett will be working with the promotion of the show.

Defy runs tonight in Tacoma, WA at Alma Tacoma

The PFL announced Gregg Bernard as its new Executive Vice President of International Strategy and Business Development. Bernard was the former Senior Vice President of WWE International and before that worked at Vimeo.

Combate Global on 5/13 is doing a U.S. vs. Japan series airing on Univision and Paramount +. Ana Palacios of Mexico City faces former Japanese college wrestling champion Chihiro Sawada in the main event. She was the 2018 national champion in Japan. Victor Valenzeula faces Sinsho Anzai who was the 2008 national champion at 176 pounds in combat wrestling.

AIW in Kent, OH tonight at The Outpost Concert Club has Cibernetico 2 de Mayo with an Arena Mexico style Cibernetico match. Tom Lawlor is on the show as well, but not in the Cibernetico match.

Shane Kody, a second generation wrestler (real name Shane Farmer, son of 60s star Wood Farmer) has his retirement match for Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling promotion on 5/12 at the Newark, CA Pavilion. The show also features Jacob Fatu vs. Dave Dutra and The Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Freaks.

Rey Fenix faces Gringo Loco on the AAW show on Saturday in Chicago.

May 8, 2023 Observer Newsletter: AEW All In ticket sales shattering records, 2023 WWE Draft results

Posted on by Dave Meltzer
The 8/27 AEW All In show at Wembley Stadium in London became one of the fastest-selling tickets in pro wrestling history this past week.

As of late Thursday in the U.K., the night before tickets went on sale to the general public, the show had sold 50,000 tickets for $6.5 million. It will likely break the record for the largest non-WrestleMania first-day ticket sales set for the 1992 SummerSlam event at the old Wembley Stadium, which was 55,000. It will likely beat the total paid attendance WWE got for Clash of the Castle last year on the first day of general public sales, which is the big shocker.

Granted, AEW has advantages, never having been to Europe and Wembley Stadium was a larger metropolitan area to draw from by far than Cardiff. The total paid attendance for each night of WrestleMania this year was about 60,000, so there is a good chance this will be the largest paid attendance for a pro wrestling event not only this year but the largest since 2016 at AT&T Stadium.

Subscribers can read this week’s issue here.

Raw ratings down for night two of WWE Draft

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Raw last night averaged 1.78 million viewers and drew a 0.54 rating in 18-49.

The number in a sense would be disappointing if only because SmackDown’s ratings for night one of the WWE Draft were so high, and Raw’s number was down from the past few weeks.

Raw went against two NBA playoff games, the first two hours against the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (4,741,000/1.64) and third hour against the Phoenix Suns-Denver Nuggets (4,542,000/1.62). In addition the New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils did 2.05 million/0.69) on ESPN.

Raw ended up fifth for the night, behind the three playoff games and Inside the NBA playoffs on TNT.

Raw was fifth in women 18-49, fifth in men 18-49, fifth in people 18-34, fifth in women 12-34, and fifth in men 12-34. In total viewers, it was ninth behind four sports shows and four news shows.

Going forward, Raw will be much higher in total viewer standings on Mondays than in the past due to the collapse of Fox News, which did 1.60 million/0.07 as compared with 2.55 million/0.17 two weeks ago in the three hours head-to-head.

Raw was down two percent in viewers, down three percent in 18-49, and the same in 18-34 from last week.

From one year ago, it was up 12 percent in viewers, up 43 percent in 18-49, and up 82 percent in 18-34. That’s not even figuring in the decline of cable homes.

Aside from the NBA and NHL, Raw beat everything else on television but American Idol on ABC, which did a 0.58 in 18-49, but a network has such a huge advantage that it would have to be considered a win for Raw. In 18-34, Raw handily beat everything on network television and everything but the NHL and NBA playoffs head-to-head.

The show had normal declines with viewers above the age of 35, but under 35, viewers stayed with the show at a stronger than usual level, in particular teenage boys.

The three hours were:

  • 8 p.m. 1.84 million viewers
  • 9 p.m. 1.87 million viewers
  • 10 p.m. 1.62 million viewers

Daily Update: Draft, WWE sellouts, AEW All In ticket sales

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Wrestler and Performer of the week

*Lots of new news regarding AEW plans, new television show, how this impacts AEW, who will be the stars of the different shows and more.

*WWE creates a new world championship belt, the story behind it, the draft and changes in draft plans, and what NXT talent is ready now and can be stars later

*Full coverage of Stardom’s All-Star Grand Queendom, one of the biggest women’s events of the past 25 years. We look at business, Mercedes Mone, creation of a new championship, PPV numbers, the count out finish with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

*The lawsuit filed by former WWE writer Britney Abrahams against the company, including stereotyping wrestlers, comments by writers, and much more

*WWE and AEW major shows between now an the end of August, matches, tickets out, interest levels and top feuds

*The next TripleMania show with the El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega rematch

*UFC full coverage from Saturday, results, details, business and future prospects

*The most detailed look at al the television ratings this past week, including what competition means, how things compare to a year ago, and what major change this week in television and how that impacts prime time wrestling

*Dragon Gate’s next major show

*All Japan Champion Carnival update

*Will Ospreay future

*New Japan Best of the Super Junior notes

*Notes on the New Japan shows this week

*Aaron Henare talks his greatest match with Shingo Takagi

*One of the greatest woman wrestlers of all-time, at 61 wins a tag team title

*The story of Don Luce, one of the most respected pro wrestling historians

*One of the all-time greats will have a statue put up in his home town

*Notes on the new season of Dark Side of the ring

*Devon Nicholson talks about the claims of Abdullah the Butcher

*New book deal about a gangland murder of a major 80s star

*Promotions piggybacking around AEW at Wembley Stadium

*MLW TV future notes

*Owen Hart Cup

*Kota Ibushi update

*Notes from All Access

*ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows

*Streaming and international TV numbers

*Two legendary wrestlers who later did MMA have documentaries out on them and finalists for Emmy Awards

*Bellator’s return to Hawaii

*Business notes on Tank Davis vs Ryan Garcia and crossover with the pro wrestling audience

*All of what went down with Nate Diaz in New Orleans

*Peacock business number and what that means for WWE

*Changes in Raw

*Law firm investigating WWE merger

*Lots of WWE injuries and talent questioning some of the training

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Monday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, the draft and the rest of the news as well as take your email questions that you can send to [email protected]

The draft did a monster TV number for Smackdown. While not the highest of the year, when you factor in the competition, it probably was the most impressive number. Similarly, one would expect a big number tonight for draft day two as you’ve still got Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and the Usos along with Brock Lesnar (who one would think with Roman Reigns on Smackdown that Lesnar would be on Raw as will as Seth Rollins for tonight’s show. The show goes against 76ers-Celtics and Suns-Heat in the NBA playoffs and New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers in the NHL playoffs.

Raw is sold out in Fort Worth tonight with 10,405 tickets out. The only thing advertised besides the draft is that Brock Lesnar will be there, and no doubt shoot some kind of an angle with Cody Rhodes. Matt Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso is on the show plus Miz TV with Shinsuke Nakamura, meaning Miz will be on both USA and NBC tonight. This makes a legit four sellouts for WWE this week for WWE, between Belfast, Paris and Corpus Christi. 

Besides the draft, the other big story for this week will be AEW ticket sales for Wembley Stadium. The best tickets will be available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to those who have FITE’s AEW service in the country, the subscription service where you get Dynamite free and Rampage at the same time it airs in the U.S. At 11 a.m., those who got presale codes will have the opportunity to get tickets. Between those two groups, there are 60,000 people with individual codes. What that translates to in sales is a great unknown. But it would be a surprise if this doesn’t end up being the second most tickets sold for a pro wrestling show in England in history (if they top 18,800 they will have that distinction. If they top 33,000 by Friday’s public on sale it will be No. 2 in history in the U.K., behind the 1992 show at Wembley Stadium. But everything in wrestling is watching that number closely.

We’re looking for reports from Raw tonight in Fort Worth with Main Event matches, any dark matches and anything else not on the live show to [email protected]

Leva Bates announced today that she is no longer with AEW as her four-year contract has expired.

WESH-TV in Orlando has reported that the city is making a bid to get the 2024 Royal Rumble. The Tourist Development Tax Sports incentive Committee has requested $850,000 from the Greater Orlando Sports Commission to bid for the event. The show will be on January 27, 2024. It will be at Camping World Stadium if they get the bid.

The New York Times is reporting that VICE is headed for bankruptcy. VICE produces among other things, Dark Side of the Ring. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)

Felipe Colares, 29, who fought in UFC from 2019 to 2022, died early today after being hit by a bus on his way back from the gym in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He died on the way to the hospital but there are not a lot of other details.

A lot of major league baseball players were at Friday night’s Arena Mexico show. The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres played the first two regular season games ever in Mexico City this weekend. Yesterday on the Giants radio broadcast they talked about how many of the players went out to the wrestling matches. The players were acknowledged during the show. WWE sent Rey Mysterio and he gave masks to the Padres players. Isaac Paredes and Randy Arozarena of Tampa Bay wore Mistico masks at one of their games.

The Miz and Alexa Bliss will be on “That’s my Jam” tonight on NBC at 10 p.m., so they are performing head-to-head with Raw. Miz will perform “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” by Usher.

Rey Fenix, who had been banged up, returned to the ring last night at his own show in Pasadena, CA in the parking lot of the Republic of Lucha Store that he and Pentagon own. They run shows there with name stars every so often. Fenix beat Mike Bailey in what we heard was a great main event. It was also the 17th anniversary of Penta & Fenix in wrestling and there was a cake presented, and that led to a food fight. (thanks to Jeff Rosenfeld).

Fenix returns to Dynamite on Wednesday in a trios Battle Royal with Penta & Fenix & El Hijo del Vikingo, Butcher & Blade & Kip Sabian, Alex Reynolds & John Silver & Evil Uno, QT Marshall & Aaron Solo & Powerhouse Hobbs, Acclaimed & Billy Gunn and Josh Woods & Ari Daivari & Tony Nese

NXT tomorrow night has Wes Lee vs Drew Gulak for the North American title, Joe Gacy vs. Joe Coffey (If Gacy wins, the Dyad get a tag title shot at Gallus, if Coffey wins, the Dyad can’t ever get a shot as long as Gallus is champions), Jacy Jayne vs. Gigi Dolin (whose brother will be introduced), Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre vs. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter for the women’s tag title, Axiom vs. Scrypts and Dani Palmer debuts.

WWE last night in Bossier City, LA:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura b LA Knight
  • Omos b Elias
  • Solo Sikoa b Sheamus
  • Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan b Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green to keep the tag titles
  • Xavier Woods b Karrion Kross
  • Ricochet b Ivar
  • Rhea Ripley b Shotzi to keep the Smackdown women’s title
  • Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn b Usos to keep the tag titles

New Japan Dontaku is at 4:30 a.m. Eastern early Wednesday morning from Fukuoka. It’s an annual traditionally big show always this week with Sanada making his first IWGP title defense against Hiromu Takahashi in a battle of heavyweight champion vs. junior heavyweight champion, Tama Tonga vs. David Finlay for the Never title, KENTA vs. Hikuleo for the Strong title, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jeff Cobb for the TV title and Minoru Suzuki & Ren Narita & Desperado vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii for the trios titles. This would be one of the biggest trios title matches in New Japan history.

Just a note about a book I’m now reading which will be out in the fall. I mentioned it on last night’s show and it’s called “Ballyhoo! The Roughousers, Con Artists and Wildmen Who Invented Professional Wrestling by Jon Langmead, being published by the University of Missouri Press. It looks at the beginnings of pro wrestling, with a lot of the 1930s boom period when it got big and the decline in the late 30s, looking at the key wrestlers, promoters, how the promoters worked together and feuded and what fans bought and didn’t buy. There are aspects totally different from the modern business, but in other aspects, as far as what draws and the conflict in fan bases, there are a surprising amount of similarities.

Roy “Big Country” Nelson, a former UFC favorite, will fight on Friday night in a Bare Knuckle MMA (not boxing) event in Fort Lauderdale, FL. It will be a three round fight with Nelson vs Dillon Clecker and will air free at 8 p.m. on Gamebred Promotions YouTube channel and Facebook page. They will use MMA rules but no gloves are allowed, which is actually similar to the original UFC events except with more modern rules.

Big E was shown on the sidelines during last night’s Michigan Panthers vs. New Jersey Generals USFL game. Big E hosts the Panthers games this season. (thanks to Brian Henke)

Myself and a lot of people in wrestling got a scam letter from Bob Mulrenin, who was a photographer in wrestling who passed way last year. If you have it in your inbox , don’t waste time with it.

Innovate Wrestling on 5/27 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium.

Daily Update: Gable Steveson, MLB Mexico City Series, WWE European tour

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Wrestler and Performer of the week

*Lots of new news regarding AEW plans, new television show, how this impacts AEW, who will be the stars of the different shows and more.

*WWE creates a new world championship belt, the story behind it, the draft and changes in draft plans, and what NXT talent is ready now and can be stars later

*Full coverage of Stardom’s All-Star Grand Queendom, one of the biggest women’s events of the past 25 years. We look at business, Mercedes Mone, creation of a new championship, PPV numbers, the count out finish with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

*The lawsuit filed by former WWE writer Britney Abrahams against the company, including stereotyping wrestlers, comments by writers, and much more

*WWE and AEW major shows between now an the end of August, matches, tickets out, interest levels and top feuds

*The next TripleMania show with the El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega rematch

*UFC full coverage from Saturday, results, details, business and future prospects

*The most detailed look at al the television ratings this past week, including what competition means, how things compare to a year ago, and what major change this week in television and how that impacts prime time wrestling

*Dragon Gate’s next major show

*All Japan Champion Carnival update

*Will Ospreay future

*New Japan Best of the Super Junior notes

*Notes on the New Japan shows this week

*Aaron Henare talks his greatest match with Shingo Takagi

*One of the greatest woman wrestlers of all-time, at 61 wins a tag team title

*The story of Don Luce, one of the most respected pro wrestling historians

*One of the all-time greats will have a statue put up in his home town

*Notes on the new season of Dark Side of the ring

*Devon Nicholson talks about the claims of Abdullah the Butcher

*New book deal about a gangland murder of a major 80s star

*Promotions piggybacking around AEW at Wembley Stadium

*MLW TV future notes

*Owen Hart Cup

*Kota Ibushi update

*Notes from All Access

*ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows

*Streaming and international TV numbers

*Two legendary wrestlers who later did MMA have documentaries out on them and finalists for Emmy Awards

*Bellator’s return to Hawaii

*Business notes on Tank Davis vs Ryan Garcia and crossover with the pro wrestling audience

*All of what went down with Nate Diaz in New Orleans

*Peacock business number and what that means for WWE

*Changes in Raw

*Law firm investigating WWE merger

*Lots of WWE injuries and talent questioning some of the training

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Sunday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking the latest news from the weekend such as the draft, European tour, AEW stuff and the week upcoming with Wrestling Obsever Radio. You can send questions to [email protected]

We’ll have more in the issue, but Gable Steveson went back to amateur wrestling at the U.S. Open over the weekend and not only destroyed everyone en route to winning the tournament, but was named Most Outstanding Wrestler regardless of the weight class.

Steveson faced the best heavyweights in the country, including NCAA champion Mason Parris, and won all four bouts with four tech falls (meaning ahead by ten points when it was stopped) and outscoring opponents 44-1. The win would put Steveson theoretically on the 6/10 event at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, where he would face whoever is deemed as the No. 2 heavyweight, likely Nick Gwiazdowski, who Steveson beat in the finals. They would do a best of three and the winner would represent the U.S. at the world championships.

With the ease that he beat Parris, Steveson probably has a lot of regrets about not returning to attempt to win a third NCAA title earlier this year. As noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Steveson had an idea to do that as a surprise, but for reasons not detailed, it fell through.

There was a pro wrestling connection at yesterday’s San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres baseball game in Mexico City — the first major league regular season game ever held there. Atlantis threw out the first pitch and WWE’s Rey Mysterio was among several wrestlers, mostly from CMLL, who were special guests.

WWE results from yesterday in Paris, France, which was the final night of the European tour (Thanks to Sebastian Mantilla Vargas)

  • Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defeated Iyo Sky via DQ in a title match when Dakota Kai and Bayley interfered and Asuka made the save.
  • Asuka & Belair defeated Damage Ctrl when Belair pinned Bayley after the KOD
  • Damian Priest defeated Dolph Ziggler after interference from Dominik Mysterio. Dominik got ridiculous heat trying to cut a promo.
  • Dominik Mysterio defeated Dexter Lumis with help from Priest.
  • Baron Corbin defeated Rick Boogs for his first win of the year. The crowd cheered Corbin a ton and booed Boogs. This may have been an impromptu change since Boogs beat Corbin on every other show.
  • Seth Rollins defeated The Miz. This segment went almost 40 minutes with fans singing for about 35 minutes. Miz got a major babyface reaction but cut a promo in French turning himself heel.
  • Alpha Academy defeated Maximum Male Models. The Models first claimed they were from Paris, the fashion capital of the world, but then ran down the city because of all the garbage in the streets.
  • US Champion Austin Theory defeated Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed to retain. Lashley speared Reed but Theory pinned Reed.
  • Cody Rhodes defeated Finn Balor. Rhodes was the most over of anyone. He cut a promo saying after all the sellouts in Paris that WWE should run a PLE in Paris.

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s WWE show in Bossier City, LA, with results, finishes and highlights to [email protected].

In Google trends for the week, the Giants-Padres game in Mexico City was No. 3 for today earlier in the day, and Mike Perry, who beat Luke Rockhold in the main event of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event, was No. 9.

The Bare Knuckle show from last night, which got the most interest by far of anything in combat sports, was No. 6 yesterday with 100,000 searches. On Friday, the new Guardians of the Galaxy move was No. 9 (Dave Bautista in the movie) and No. 18 was the WWE Draft with 20,000 searches.

Perry (3-0) beat Rockhold via second round stoppage at the Bare Knuckle event in Denver. Rockhold reportedly won the first round and hurt Perry early, but Perry hurt him back late in the round. His mouth looked like hell when it was stopped in the second round with some teeth knocked out. It’s really sad that these MMA fighters can’t make more money in their sport and go into this, but they are obviously getting paid well. Eddie Alvarez beat Chad Mendes via decision over five rounds in the other big fight on the show.

However, the biggest thing on the show was after Perry beat Rockhold, he called out Conor McGregor, who was at ringside. They had a staredown in the ring and McGregor acted like he’d be willing to face Perry. Perry also issued a challenge to Donald Cerrone. 

Tonight on A&E in the wrestling block at 7 PM will be a replay of the Steve Austin biography episode. At 9 PM, it will be WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures featuring Steve Austin. Then at 10 PM, it will be the debut of Stone Cold Takes on America. This is the second week in a row A&E has built the Sunday night block around Austin after doing solid ratings last week.

I have got a lot of responses to three of the recent matches in NJPW. I will try and watch them, but those getting a number of rave reviews were Hiromu Takahashi’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight title defense against Yoshinobu Kanemaru on Thursday, yesterday’s tag title match with Aussie Open vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste, and the KOPW title match where Taichi won the title from Shingo Takagi in a match that went more than 43:00. 

Suzu Suzuki, who announced a few days ago that she was leaving the Prominence promotion, is not officially announced as being with Stardom, but unless something unforeseen happens, she will end up as a regular there.

Tommy Dreamer was back producing at Saturday’s Impact tapings at Chicago’s Cicero Stadium. Also producing was Ricky Morton. 

I don’t know how an anonymous person on Twitter is claiming that the new Britt Baker AEW T-shirt with her black eye promotes domestic violence. Baker is shutting it down and it was a story worthy of Fox News, so here were are. Literally, an unnamed person on Twitter said something ridiculous. Check out like every single person in wrestling’s Twitter feeds. (Thanks to Curtis Hierro)

Championship Wrestling from Florida debuts with Kevin Sullivan as booker with tapings on 5/27 and 5/28 in Pompano Beach, FL. 

Daily Update: WWE SmackDown, European tour, Arena Mexico

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ8LOaWM1tw

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Wrestler and Performer of the week

*Lots of new news regarding AEW plans, new television show, how this impacts AEW, who will be the stars of the different shows and more.

*WWE creates a new world championship belt, the story behind it, the draft and changes in draft plans, and what NXT talent is ready now and can be stars later

*Full coverage of Stardom’s All-Star Grand Queendom, one of the biggest women’s events of the past 25 years. We look at business, Mercedes Mone, creation of a new championship, PPV numbers, the count out finish with match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

*The lawsuit filed by former WWE writer Britney Abrahams against the company, including stereotyping wrestlers, comments by writers, and much more

*WWE and AEW major shows between now an the end of August, matches, tickets out, interest levels and top feuds

*The next TripleMania show with the El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega rematch

*UFC full coverage from Saturday, results, details, business and future prospects

*The most detailed look at al the television ratings this past week, including what competition means, how things compare to a year ago, and what major change this week in television and how that impacts prime time wrestling

*Dragon Gate’s next major show

*All Japan Champion Carnival update

*Will Ospreay future

*New Japan Best of the Super Junior notes

*Notes on the New Japan shows this week

*Aaron Henare talks his greatest match with Shingo Takagi

*One of the greatest woman wrestlers of all-time, at 61 wins a tag team title

*The story of Don Luce, one of the most respected pro wrestling historians

*One of the all-time greats will have a statue put up in his home town

*Notes on the new season of Dark Side of the ring

*Devon Nicholson talks about the claims of Abdullah the Butcher

*New book deal about a gangland murder of a major 80s star

*Promotions piggybacking around AEW at Wembley Stadium

*MLW TV future notes

*Owen Hart Cup

*Kota Ibushi update

*Notes from All Access

*ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows

*Streaming and international TV numbers

*Two legendary wrestlers who later did MMA have documentaries out on them and finalists for Emmy Awards

*Bellator’s return to Hawaii

*Business notes on Tank Davis vs Ryan Garcia and crossover with the pro wrestling audience

*All of what went down with Nate Diaz in New Orleans

*Peacock business number and what that means for WWE

*Changes in Raw

*Law firm investigating WWE merger

*Lots of WWE injuries and talent questioning some of the training

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing a show with Steve Keirn, talking Florida wrestling, WWE training, The Fabulous Ones and more today, and talking about his new autobiography. Bryan Alvarez and I will be doing our weekend show talking the draft tomorrow night.

Smackdown tonight is in Corpus Christi, TX for the first draft show. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. The Usos for the tag titles is the key match plus the draft. The building was set up for 7,536 fans. Cora Jade, Pretty Deadly and A.J. Styles are all there. No Drew McIntyre even though he’s listed as being drafted tonight.

Both WWE shows today are sold out, as the Belfast, Northern Ireland show has been sold out for weeks.

We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

*Smackdown tonight in Corpus Christi (dark matches and anything off the air)

*Impact TV tapings tonight in Chicago

*NXT house show tonight in Jacksonville

*WWE house show Saturday in Beaumont, TX

*WWE house show Saturday in Paris, France

*Impact TV tapings Saturday in Chicago

*WWE show Sunday in Bossier City, LA 

We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights from all these events to [email protected]

Tonight is the 67th anniversary of pro wrestling at Arena Mexico. The first show was April 26, 1956. The show is being headlined by the finals of the Universal champion of champions tournament with Templario vs. Atlantis Jr. vs. Dragon Rojo Jr. Plus Princesa Sugehit defends the women’s title against Zeuxis.

Results from today’s WWE house show in Belfast, Northern Ireland:

*Bianca Belair b Iyo Sky-DQ for the Raw women’s title

*Belair & Asuka b Damage Ctrl 2 vs. 3 when Belair pinned Dakota Kai with the KOD

*Damian Priest b Dolph Ziggler due to help from Dominik Mysterio

*Dominik Mysterio b Dexter Lumis with his feet on the ropes

*Rick Boogs b Baron Corbin with a press powerslam

*Seth Rollins b The Miz with a curb stomp

*Alpha Academy b Maximum Male Models

*Austin Theory won a three-way over Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed to keep the U.S. title by pinning Reed after Lashley speared Reed

*Cody Rhodes b Finn Balor in a great match. Rhodes thanked Balor for inventing Bullet Club and without him there would have been no American Nightmare. He said he hoped to come back to Belfast with the title. (thanks to James S and Nfallon)

Here are the Backlash current odds from BetOnline

Brock Lesnar -150 Cody Rhodes +110

Seth Rollins +110 Omos -150

Austin Theory -125 Bronson Reed +150 Bobby Lashley +185

Rhea Ripley -1600 Zelina Vega +700

Matt Riddle & Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn -300 Usos & Solo Sikoa +200

MLW champion Alex Hammerstone said that the injury he recently received was a torn adductor muscle.

Those who signed up for the pre-sale for the AEW show at Wembley Stadium should have received their code earlier today. The idea of unique codes was to prevent scalpers. Those who have subscriptions to the AEW FITE service (a paying service in Europe where you get commercial free Dynamite & Rampage live) are also getting special codes and will have the first crack at tickets. VIP ticket sales are Tuesday from 9-11 a.m. local time. For those who got codes the presale will be Tuesday from 11 a.m. until Thursday at 8 p.m.

Among the matches scheduled to be taped tonight for Impact in Cicero, IL are

*Steve Maclin & Champagne Singh & Mahabali Shera vs. PCO & two mystery partners

*Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey

*Masha Slamovich vs. Killer Kelly

*Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Eddie Edwards & Kenny King

*Yuya Uemura vs. Bhupinder Gujjar vs. Moose & Brian Myers

*Jody Threat vs. Alisha Edwards

*The Coven vs. Deonna Purrazzo & Jordynne Grace

UFC has a full ESPN+ show from the Apex in Las Vegas from 4:30 – 10:30 p.m Eastern time tomorrow

*Hailey Cowan (137.5) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (135.5) – Cowan missed weight and had to forfeit 20 percent of her purse

*Journey Newson (138.5) vs. Marcus McGhee (140)

*Stephanie Egger (135) vs. Irina Alekseeva (140) – Alekseeva missed weight by four pounds and had to forfeit 30 percent of her purse

*Cody Durden (126) vs. Charles Johnson (125.5)

*Martin Buday (265) vs. Jake Collier (265.5)

*Josh Quinlan (169) vs. Trey Waters (171)

*Marcos Rogerio de Lima (262.5) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (258)

*Julian Erosa (145.5) vs. Fernando Padilla (145.5)

*Rodolfo Vieira (186) vs. Cody Brundage (185.5)

*Caio Borralho (185.5) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (185.5)

*Song Yadong (136) vs. Ricky Simon (136)

Braun Strowman will serve as the Pace Car driver at the NASCAR race in Dover, DE on Sunday. It will air on FS1.

The Bamboozle, a New Jersey music festival that was going to host GCW shows, was canceled today. The festival was from 5/5 to 5/7 . The city of Atlantic city said that Bamboozle did not receive final permits after organizers failed to submit the necessary paperwork by the city’s deadline.

70s and 80s star Ron Fuller will get back in the ring on 5/6 in Rocky Top, TN, teaming with Mike Jackson for a tag team match.

Cody Garbrandt is expected to face Mario Bautista on the 8/19 UFC show according to MMA Fighting.

Other Notes

Abdullah the Butcher will appear for AIW Wrestling on 5/20 in Eastlake, OH at Force Sports.

XICW on 5/27 in Lincoln Park, MI at the Community Center features an autograph appearance of Kurt Angle.

WAR on 5/20 in Lima, OH at the Empowered Sports Center.

House of Glory Wrestling on 5/19 at the NYC Arena in Jamaica, NY has Jacob Fatu vs. Matt Cardona for the HOG title plus Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin vs. Midas Black & Jay Lyon

In the current issue of the Observer, there was a mention of Canadian wrestler Michael Blais doing an eight hour Infinity Gauntlet match on 5/13 as a fundraiser for the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. It will be live streamed on YouTube from 10 a.m. to 7 pm. Eastern time. For more info on this you can go here.

LFA on 6/16 in Owensboro, KY at the Owensboro Sportscenter has John Sweeney (12-3) vs. Allan Begosso (7-2-1) for the interim bantamweight title and Dylan Budka (5-1) vs. Azamat Bekioev (15-3). It will air live on Fight Pass.

ISW tonight in Avenel, NJ, has a steel cage TLC match with Crowbar vs. Rick Recon. Also on he show is Bull James, Maven and Danny Morrison.

Floyd Mayweather’s next exhibition fight will be against John Gotti III on 6/11 from the Florida Live Arena in Sunrise, FL 

May 1, 2023 Observer Newsletter: More on AEW Saturday show, WWE reveals new World Heavyweight Championship

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

More information has emerged over the past week regarding the new AEW television show.

The show, believed to be called AEW Collision, as noted last week, is expected to debut on 6/17 with a show from 8-10 p.m. Eastern, from the United Center in Chicago, which would also be the return of C.M. Punk along with what is expected to be either another major name debut or return.

WrestleZone first reported it and we confirmed that it would air on TNT. As noted before, there will be many preemptions during the year due to NBA, NHL, and MLB playoffs as well as potentially for NCAA basketball tournament games and U.S. National team soccer games. The 6/17 start was because there will be no Saturday NBA or NHL playoff games after that point.

The NBA final series will include games on 6/7 head-to-head with Dynamite, 6/9 head-to-head with Smackdown, and 6/12 head-to-head with Raw (if a game five is needed).

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s issue.

WWE Raw ratings hold steady against NBA, NHL playoff competition

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

WWE Raw held up well Monday against the NBA and NHL playoffs with the last 49 minutes of the show going against a monster NBA number, finishing at 1.82 million viewers and an 0.56 in 18-49 and 0.40 in 18-34. 

Raw was fourth for the night on cable and beat everything on network TV except American Idol (0.61). It was behind the two NBA games on TBS and Inside the NBA which did an 0.73 from 1:07-2 AM.

It went against the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat NBA game until 10:11 PM (3,497,000/1.24), and the LA Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies game after 10:11 PM (4,264,000/0.164). The Lakers feature LeBron James.

It also went against three NHL playoff games: the New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers game on ESPN (1,042,000/0.36); the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning game on TBS (803,000/0.29) and the Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets game on ESPN (482,000/0.18).

Raw was third in women 18-49 behind the NBA games, fourth in men 18-49 behind the NBA games and Inside the NBA, fourth in 18-34 behind the same shows, third in women 12-34, fourth in men 12-34 and ninth in total viewers, trailing two NBA games and six news shows.

The major takeaway is that saving Bad Bunny for hour three worked out well for younger viewers as hour three beat hour one with women 18-49, 18-34, women 12-34 and men 12-34 which rarely happens. 

Additionally, hour three went against the much stronger NBA playoff game, so those gains are even more impressive.

The number of viewers was identical to last week while 18-49 was down eight percent and 18-34 was down seven percent, but the numbers were very strong considering the head-to-head competition. 

From last year, the show was up 13 percent in viewers, up 27 percent in 18-49, and up 48 percent in 18-34, so these are massive gains with younger viewers.

As far as first to third hour changes, which are usually significant drops, women 18-49 was up five percent, men 18-49 was down four percent, women 12-34 was up 13 percent and men 12-34 was up 21 percent, while over 50 was down 13 percent.

The better hold and actual gains in some demos would likely be tied to Bad Bunny, so he was very much a legit draw except to those over 50. 

The three hour breakdowns were 8 PM 1.84 million viewers, 9 PM 1.94 million viewers, and 10 PM 1.67 million viewers.

Daily Update: WWE Raw, CM Punk, Tucker Carlson

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Update on C.M. Punk. AEW’s new television deal, issues a Saturday show has to deal with and pluses of a Saturday show

*Lots of news on WWE & AEW major shows the next few months, including All In, SummerSlam, Double or Nothing and Backlash.

*Nick Khan talks the WWE/UFC merer and what it means, upcoming negotiations, how Endeavor can help WWE grow, WWE budget cuts and more

*Full coverage of AAA TripleMania, the good, the bad, the angles and more

*Full coverage of New Japan’s U.S. tour in Washington, DC and Philadelphia

*Ted DiBiase Jr. indicted on 13 counts in welfare fraud cause, and updates on it

*Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show

*The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, including where wrestling ranks with sports an with entertainment programing, competition, segment by segment, comparisons with last year and more

*Continuation of the CMLL champion of champions tournament

*Mercedes Mone in Japan, negotiation updates, her comments on Japan and more

*Details of the biggest women’s show in Japan in decades this weekend at the Yokohama Arena

*Ticket sale update on the show

*Cinderella tournament finals

*Champion Carnival update

*Notes on major NOAH show

*Will Ospreay talks future

*John Morrison’s boxing debut and comments form that

*Lots of notes on he death of Butch Miller

*Bill Goldberg and a retirement tour

*Abdullah the Butcher and financial issues

*NCAA looking at changes to wrestling rules and scoring and why

*Concert/wrestling joint promotions

*Major European show this weekend loaded with top international stars

*Impact major show rundown

*Lots of fallout to C.M. Punk returning to AEW

*Great lesson for AEW wen getting a big sports lead-in going forward

*Lots of injury updates

*Advanced ticket sales for WWE & AEW upcoming show

*Streaming numbers for WWE & AEW

*International TV ratings

*What milestone did Raw achieve this past week

*What milestone did AEW achieve this past week

*Lots of new UFC major fights

*What were the most in-demand sports tickets so far in 2023

*Former UFC fighter arrested in a $200,000 burglary

*More details on the new WWE Twitch deal

*WWE performer goes into another major sports competition next week and attempts to make the 2024 Olympic team

*Notes on two WWE signees that a betting site already has odds that one of them will be world champion by 2027

*Notes on all the WWE live events on the road over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Monday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio talking the latest news, and there is a lot and will be a lot more by he time tonight is over.

Raw tonight goes against the Bucks-Heat NBA playoff game in the first two horus and Lakers-Grizzlies in hour three. So there could be a big third hour drop. There are also four NHL playoff games tonight. On Wednesday, Dynamite also has the Lakers-Grizzlies to contend with and NHL playoffs so it’s similar competition to last week. As we get deeper into the playoffs, this does get worse.

Raw may get a boost from HHH making a big announcement tonight. PW Insider reported it could be the creation of a new championship. We do know the creation of a new championship has been planned since at least last fall and was originally in the WrestleMania plans. 

Raw is from the Allstate Arena in suburban Chicago. The show has been sold out with more than 12,300 as of weeks ago. Besides the HHH announcement, the only stuff announced is Bad Bunny being there and Rey Mysterio vs Damian Priest. Nothing else was announced because Vince McMahon, who is not there live, has been making changes in the show confirmed by multiple people.

The biggest thing backstage is that C.M. Punk was there and kicked out. One person noted to us “hard to believe but true.” He was there talking to some people and then asked to leave. Also Cora Jade and Joe Gacy are there, likely for Main Event.

We’re looking for reports on the show live, with Main Event matches and anything dark on the show to [email protected]

We’re also taking a poll on the Stardom show yesterday, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

The New Orleans police department has issues an arrest warrant for Nathan Diaz on charges of second-degree battery from the fight on Friday night.

It will be interesting to see how the departure of Tucker Carlson affects wrestling numbers. More total viewers, mostly over 50, watched that show than any show on cable television and went head-to-head with wrestling every weeknight.

Kevin Owens worked last night’s house show in Toledo, OH, so he’s fine. He was limping after his match and helped to the back, and did a run-in later during the Cody Rhodes vs Solo Sikoa match limping on the Saturday night house show in Fort Wayne, IN.

NXT has Spring Breakout tomorrow with Carmelo Hayes vs. Grayson Waller for the NXT title, Indi Hartwell vs; Roxanne Perez vs. Tiffany Stratton for the women’s title, Josh Briggs & Fallon Hanley vs. Brooks Jansen & Kiana James, Pretty Deadly vs. Tony D’Angelo & Stacks Lorenzo in a trunk match, Bron Breakker vs. Andre Chase and Cora Jade vs Lyra Valkyria.

MLW tomorrow night at 10 p.m. on REELZ has Battle Riot with the winner getting a title match.

The Marvelous promotion (the one headed by Chigusa Nagayo) will have a seminar and tryout on 5/11 and 5/12 in Pacifica, CA. The winners of the tryouts, one man and one woman, will be invited to tour Japan with Marvelous. Flight, room, board and food will be paid for the tour and you will train and tour with the promotion. For more info contact West Coast Pro Wrestling,

ROH will be taping television on 5/6 and 5/7 at Universal in Orlando. The Saturday show starts at 6 p.m. and Sunday show at 4 p.m.

Other Notes

Total Kaos Wrestling from Friday night in Taylor, MI: Kenny Steele b KJ Reynolds, Great Tiger b Aaron Ashura, Sons of Saginaw b Animal House, TK Meyer won three-way over Moose and Chris Moore, Keith Creme b Jon Tavius, Grim Reality b Studio 86, Sean tyler b Trevor Straud, Allysin Kay b Blair Onyx (thanks to Leonard Brand)

UPW from Saturday night in Marquette, MI: Gio Bronc b Ric Caurdieau, Scott Steiner b Ric Caurdiea, Big Kon b The Dev-COR, Gary Wolfe won Battle Royal, Ghetto Gear Solid b Eugene & Melvin Hayes, Peter B. Beautiful b Madman Fulton in a Monster’s Ball match, Big Kon & Alan Angels b J-Sinn & The Dev & tommy Trainwreck, Tatanka b Corey Kerr, Silas Young b Sampson (thanks to Leonard Brand)

Pluto TV will premiere “WOW! The History of Women’s Wrestling on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. Eastern and again on Saturday night at 10 p.m. Eastern. It’s basically a documentary about GLOW and WOW with some early wrestling history.

Peacock has added ten weeks of 1980 WWF television featuring the build to the 1980 Shea Stadium show with Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko. Hope the shows have the New York market promos because to this day that was state of the art when it came to promos building a match.

The 80s Wrestling Con takes place 5/6 in Morristown,NJ at the Mennen Sports Arena featuring Bret Hart, Dory Funk Jr., Sgt. Slaughter, Nikita Koloff, Magnum T.A., Wayne Bloom, Mike Enos, Demolition, Powers of Pain David Schultz, Wendi richter, Bob Orton, Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Leilani Kai, Steve Keirn, Steve Lombardi, Downtown Bruno, Randy Rose, Dennis Condrey, Godfather, Tony Atlas, Tommy Rich, Curtis Hughes, Rita Chatterton, Paul Roma, Craig DeGeorge, Jameson, Manny Fernandez, Mario Mancini, ike McGuirk, Marty Jannetty, Gerald Brisco, Fred Ottman, Val Venis, Eugene, Brian Kendrick, Maven and Head Bangers.

Daily Update: Stardom fallout, Davis vs. Garcia, NBCUniversal

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Update on C.M. Punk. AEW’s new television deal, issues a Saturday show has to deal with and pluses of a Saturday show

*Lots of news on WWE & AEW major shows the next few months, including All In, SummerSlam, Double or Nothing and Backlash.

*Nick Khan talks the WWE/UFC merer and what it means, upcoming negotiations, how Endeavor can help WWE grow, WWE budget cuts and more

*Full coverage of AAA TripleMania, the good, the bad, the angles and more

*Full coverage of New Japan’s U.S. tour in Washington, DC and Philadelphia

*Ted DiBiase Jr. indicted on 13 counts in welfare fraud cause, and updates on it

*Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show

*The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, including where wrestling ranks with sports an with entertainment programing, competition, segment by segment, comparisons with last year and more

*Continuation of the CMLL champion of champions tournament

*Mercedes Mone in Japan, negotiation updates, her comments on Japan and more

*Details of the biggest women’s show in Japan in decades this weekend at the Yokohama Arena

*Ticket sale update on the show

*Cinderella tournament finals

*Champion Carnival update

*Notes on major NOAH show

*Will Ospreay talks future

*John Morrison’s boxing debut and comments form that

*Lots of notes on he death of Butch Miller

*Bill Goldberg and a retirement tour

*Abdullah the Butcher and financial issues

*NCAA looking at changes to wrestling rules and scoring and why

*Concert/wrestling joint promotions

*Major European show this weekend loaded with top international stars

*Impact major show rundown

*Lots of fallout to C.M. Punk returning to AEW

*Great lesson for AEW wen getting a big sports lead-in going forward

*Lots of injury updates

*Advanced ticket sales for WWE & AEW upcoming show

*Streaming numbers for WWE & AEW

*International TV ratings

*What milestone did Raw achieve this past week

*What milestone did AEW achieve this past week

*Lots of new UFC major fights

*What were the most in-demand sports tickets so far in 2023

*Former UFC fighter arrested in a $200,000 burglary

*More details on the new WWE Twitch deal

*WWE performer goes into another major sports competition next week and attempts to make the 2024 Olympic team

*Notes on two WWE signees that a betting site already has odds that one of them will be world champion by 2027

*Notes on all the WWE live events on the road over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Sunday Update

We did a show on Saturday that a lot of people have praised to us with Pat Laprade and Garrett Gonzales talking Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino , the Vince McMahon book, Dino Bravo and more. Bryan and I will be back tonight talking all the news from the weekend including more on Sammartino, Nate Diaz and Stardom.

I haven’t seen the Stardom show in its entirety but a lot of people have talked about it as show of the year. It was easily the biggest show in the history of the company. Mercedes Mone was heavily praised by those backstage and it has been noted she signed an extension and will remain with Bushiroad although we don’t have details on the length of the extension yet. But her next show will be 5/21 in Long Beach, CA at the Walter Pyramid.

We’re looking for your thoughts on the Stardom show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

The Tank Davis vs. Ryan Garcia boxing match last night, won by Davis, was gigantic with the general public. It got 3.5 million searches on Google which with how they do it now, is an unreal number. That’s ten times WrestleMania for a comparison. Aside from Climate Change, it’s the most searched for topic for a one day period of anything in April. The only other stuff related to boxing, wrestling or MMA that cracked the Google lists were yesterday with Nate Diaz at No. 18 due to the brawl and Sergei Pavloivich at No. 19, both at 50,000. Pavlovich won the UFC main event over Curtis Blaydes yesterday.

Jeff Shell, the CEO at NBCU, was forced out of the company after an investigation of what was called an inappropriate workplace relationship was finished. Shell today said today was his last day with the company due to an inappropriate relationship with a women and said “I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege. Mike Cavanagh, the President of Comcast, will now run NBCU Brian Roberts, the CEO of Comcast, said “We built this company on a culture of integrity. Nothing is more important than how we treat each other.”

Nate Diaz was in a brawl Friday night on Boubron Street in Las Vegas after a boxing match that Chris Avila, a teammate, was in that night. Here is the footage. The person Diaz allegedly choked out in that brawl, Rodney Petersen, who resembles Logan Paul to the point that some thought it was Logan Paul choked out. Petersen vowed to knock Diaz out the next time he sees him.

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s WWE house show in Toledo, OH and today’s 1PW show in Doncaster, England to [email protected]

Kevin Owens appeared to injure his ankle last night in Fort Wayne, IN. It came during an Owens & Sami Zayn vs. Usos tag team title match. We’re not sure where but multiple people brought up that it was hurt during the match, he was limping and needed help to the back. He did come back, still limping, for the Cody Rhodes vs Solo Sikoa main event. We’ve heard nothing official on whether it was storyline or legit at this point. We’ll probably know if it’s serious based on if he works in Toledo tonight.

Results from last night in Fort Wayne, IN:

Ricochet b Ivar

Shotzi b Sonya Deville

Sheamus b Karrion Kross

Sami Zayn & Kevin Oewns b Usos to keep the tag titles when Zayn countered the 1-D into a sunset flip for the pin

LA Knight b Mustafa Ali – Ali played babyface

Natalya b Shayna Baszler

Cody Rhodes b Solo Sikoa in a match where the Usos interfered after a ref bump but Owens & Zayn attacked the Usos (thanks to Dean Michael Theriaul)

UFC officially announced Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena for the women’s bantamweight title on 6/10 in Vancouver, BC. Aside from scattered singles, the show sold out as soon as tickets were put on sale to the public on Friday.

TNT will be airing a documentary on the Hulk Hogan lawsuit against Gawker on their TV show “Rich & Shameless.” No date was announced for the airing past it being in May.

The WWE is claiming Tuesday at the 60th anniversary of the WWE championship, claiming the first champion, Buddy Rogers, was champion on April 25, 1963. That’s the date they are using. The actual story is that Buddy Rogers was NWA world champion and on January 24 , 1963, in Toronto, the NWA, over the dissent of Vince McMahon Sr., ordered Rogers to drop the title to Lou Thesz, which happened. McMahon quit the NWA and continued to recognize Rogers as champion. His idea was just to pretend the match in Toronto never happened. But the media would not go along with that. Then he claimed Rogers beat Argentina Rocca in March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in a fictitious match, to become the world champion so that’s well before the April date. There are historians who can give a week by week on it. On May 17, 1963, Rogers lost what was called the WWWF title to Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden.

WWE will have two WWE Rivals shows on A&E tonight. The season for Biography ended last week with the Iron Sheik and Rivals ends tonight. At 9 p.m., it’ll be Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart and at 10 p.m. will be Austin vs Shawn Michaels.

This is the announced lineup for the Raw tour of Europe which is Wednesday in Birmingham, England, Thursday in Manchester, England, Friday in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Saturday in Paris, France: Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor, Bianca Belair vs. Bayley vs Asuka, Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashelym, Seth Rollins vs. Miz, Dolph Ziggler vs. Daman Priest, Dexter Lumis vs. Bronson Reed, Chad Gable & Otis vs. Maximum Male Models and Rick Goobs vs Baron Corbin.

Rampage on 5/5 will air at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time and likely 2:30 p.m. Pacific due to sports on TNT.

Defy announced a show on 8/26 in London at the Electric Ballroom. This will be at Noon, the day before the AEW show at Wembley Stadium. Progress will also do a show at 4 p.m. in the same building. RevPro will be doing a show that day as well.

United Wrestling Coalition on Saturday night at the American Legion in New Egypt, NJ.

LFA announced events on 6/16 in Owensboro, KY at the Owensboro Sportscenter and 6/23 in Commerce, CA at the Commerce Casino. Both air on UFC Fight Pass.

Pro Wrestling Revolver on 5/6 in Clive, IA has Jon Moxley vs. Jake Crist, ami Callihan vs. Masha Slanvoich, Steve Maclin vs. Mike Bailey, Alex Shelle vs. Shigehiro Irie, David Finlay & Chris Bey & Ace Austin vs. Trey Miguel & Zachary Wejtz & Myron Red, Lince Dorado vs Rocky Romero, Rich Swann vs El Phantasmo vs Cas Jaxon vs. Damian Chambers and JT Dunn & Allie Katch vs. Jessicak & Matthew Palmer, plus Marina Shafir, Jake Manning, Steve Mands, Mathew Justice and Mance Warner and an appearance by Molly Holl.

March 8, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Big months ahead for pro wrestling, WWE details new substance abuse policy

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The next several months in the U.S. are going to be huge when it comes to long-term effects on the landscape, with events both in and out of the ring.

WWE, which is having its biggest business upswing in many years, with strong house show business domestically, has its biggest event of the year–Wrestlemania, on 4/2 in Chicago. Whether that event does or doesn’t get the projected one million buys (a figure only reached once in company history, for the 2001 Wrestlemania, but it is a reasonable projection because of the huge increase in overseas PPV), it will be the year’s biggest show, even without that one killer main event on paper. 

At this point, with almost every major player accounted for, the show will have John Cena vs. HHH for the WWE title, Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton for the World title, Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon, Edge vs. Mick Foley, Undertaker vs. Mark Henry, a Money in the bank ladder match with Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chris Benoit vs. JBL for the U.S. title. With Hulk Hogan being announced as inducting Gene Okerlund the night before into the Hall of Fame, his name is being thrown around again. 

Subscribers can click here to read this issue.

Daily Update: Bandido, SmackDown, WWE trading card record set

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

Join us in Las Vegas for our annual F4W Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Highlights include:

*Update on C.M. Punk. AEW’s new television deal, issues a Saturday show has to deal with and pluses of a Saturday show

*Lots of news on WWE & AEW major shows the next few months, including All In, SummerSlam, Double or Nothing and Backlash.

*Nick Khan talks the WWE/UFC merer and what it means, upcoming negotiations, how Endeavor can help WWE grow, WWE budget cuts and more

*Full coverage of AAA TripleMania, the good, the bad, the angles and more

*Full coverage of New Japan’s U.S. tour in Washington, DC and Philadelphia

*Ted DiBiase Jr. indicted on 13 counts in welfare fraud cause, and updates on it

*Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show

*The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, including where wrestling ranks with sports an with entertainment programing, competition, segment by segment, comparisons with last year and more

*Continuation of the CMLL champion of champions tournament

*Mercedes Mone in Japan, negotiation updates, her comments on Japan and more

*Details of the biggest women’s show in Japan in decades this weekend at the Yokohama Arena

*Ticket sale update on the show

*Cinderella tournament finals

*Champion Carnival update

*Notes on major NOAH show

*Will Ospreay talks future

*John Morrison’s boxing debut and comments form that

*Lots of notes on he death of Butch Miller

*Bill Goldberg and a retirement tour

*Abdullah the Butcher and financial issues

*NCAA looking at changes to wrestling rules and scoring and why

*Concert/wrestling joint promotions

*Major European show this weekend loaded with top international stars

*Impact major show rundown

*Lots of fallout to C.M. Punk returning to AEW

*Great lesson for AEW wen getting a big sports lead-in going forward

*Lots of injury updates

*Advanced ticket sales for WWE & AEW upcoming show

*Streaming numbers for WWE & AEW

*International TV ratings

*What milestone did Raw achieve this past week

*What milestone did AEW achieve this past week

*Lots of new UFC major fights

*What were the most in-demand sports tickets so far in 2023

*Former UFC fighter arrested in a $200,000 burglary

*More details on the new WWE Twitch deal

*WWE performer goes into another major sports competition next week and attempts to make the 2024 Olympic team

*Notes on two WWE signees that a betting site already has odds that one of them will be world champion by 2027

*Notes on all the WWE live events on the road over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing our show on Saturday morning this week and there is a ton to talk about, plus we’ll be doing history talking thing like Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant. Bryan and I will be doing our weekend show on Sunday night.

Bandido’s new visa and passport are literally in his hands so he will be back in AEW shortly.

Smackdown is tonight in Columbus, OH, with Gunther vs. Xavier Woods for the IC title, Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan vs. Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green for the tag team titles and Viking Raiders vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet. They had 9,500 tickets out as of this morning so with a walk-up would probably hit 10,000. It looks like it’ll be up 55 percent or more from the last night Smackdown ran in the building last year.

A Dwayne Johnson 2022 Panini Prizm WWE Back Prizm trading card sold for $126,000 last night at the PWCC marketplace. It would have been the largest sale of a WWE trading card of all-time. The reason the price was so high is that only one card was printed. Because there was only one card, showing Rock vs. Steve Austin, it was considered the most valuable trading card from WWE in existence.

Rampage will be airing tomorrow night at 10 p.m. Eastern headlined by El Hijo del Vikingo defending the AAA title against Dralistico, Jon Moxley vs. Christopher Daniels, and FTR & Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal vs. Slim J & Tony Nese & Ari Daivari & Josh “Woods.

We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

*WWE Smackdown tonight in Columbus, OH (dark matches only)

*GCW tonight in Atlanta

*WWE Saturday night in Fort Wayne, IN

*WWE Sunday night in Toledo, OH

We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

We’re doing one weekend poll, which will be for Sunday’s Stardom show at the Yokohama Arena. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

UFC tomorrow at the Apex in Las Vegas which starts at 4 p.m. Eastern time

Brady Hiestrand (136) vs. Batgerel Danaa (136)

Francis Marshall (146) vs. William Gomis (147) – Gomis missed by one pound

Mohammed Usman (239.5) vs. Junior Tafa (252)

Karol Rosa (144.5) vs. Norma Dumont (145)

Rani Yahya (136) vs. Montel Jackson (136)

Ricky Glenn (155.5) vs. Christos Giagos (155.5)

Jeremiah Wells (171) vs. Matthew Semelsberger (171)

Jasmin Lucindo (126) vs. Brogan Walker (126)

Bobby Green (156) vs. Jared Gordon (155.5)

Brad Tavares (185) vs. Bruno Silva (185)

Sergei Pavlovich (260.5) vs,. Curtis Blaydes (262.5)

Priscila Cachoeira vs. Karine Silva was canceled as Cachoeira missed weight by four pounds

Bellator runs tonight on Showtime at 10 p.m. as part of its two shows in Honolulu at the Neil Blasdell Center Arena:

Liz Carmouche (125) vs. DeAnna Bennett (126.2)

Tim Johnson (262) vs. Said Sowma (239.2)

Arlene Blencowe (146) vs. Sara McMann (145.6)

Danny Sabatello (135.6) vs. Marcos Breno (136)

Levan Chokheli (169.6) vs. Michael Lombardo (170.8)

The main event is unique as it was to be for the flyweight title. Bennett missed weight by 1.2 pounds so she can’t win the title. Carmouche said that she would still put up the title and if she loses, she will vacate the title. I have no idea why she would do this.

Ray Borg also had what was called weight management issues and was pulled from tonight’s show. There must be something serious to this because Bellator has released him and his management team has dropped him for missing weight. Borg, who once fought for the UFC flyweight title against Demetrious Johnson, had missed weight four times already in his career. He was to be facing Kyoji Horiguchi.

Bellator also runs tomorrow night in the same building at 11 p.m.

Charlie Leary (164.2) vs. Yancy Medeiros (162.4)

James Gonzalez (145.8) vs. Aaron Pico (145.6)

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (126) vs. Kana Watanabe (125.6)

Raufeon Stots (134.2) vs. Patchy Mix (135) for the bantamweight Grand Prix and a $1 million prize and the interim bantamweight title

This is Pico’s return after his horrible shoulder injury in October and surgery. Macfarlane is super over in Honolulu and has some of the best ring entrances anywhere.

Other Notes

David Taylor has been added to the Beat the Streets event on 6/10 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ which will feature best of three matches to determine who represents the U.S. in the upcoming world wrestling championships . The names wrestling announced so far are Taylor (189 pounds), Amit Elor (women 158), Zain Retherford (154), Kayla Miracle (women 136), Yianni Diakomihalis (143), Sarah Hildebranddt (women 110), Kyle Dake (162), Kyle Snyder (213), Helen Maroulis (women 125) and Jordan Burroughs (174). Taylor, 32 won a gold medal in 2021 and was world champion in 2018 and 2022. In college he won the Danny Hodge trophy in both 2012 and 2014.

MCW is doing an all-women’s show on Saturday night in Joppa, MD at the RJ Meyer Arena. Leila Grey of AEW is on the show.

AIW tomorrow night in Akron, OH at the Tadmoor Shrine has AIW champion Matt Cardona vs. Joshua Bishop, Fred Rosser vs. Dominic Garrini, plus Tom Lawlor, Jordan Oliver, Steph De Lander and a meet and greet with Ron Simmons.

The PFL has announced a show on 7/8 in Berlin, Germany at the Verti Music Hall. The show will air live on DAZN. Farfbod Iran Nezhad (11-2) vs,. Francesco Nuzzi (9-1)_ headlines the show. The shows on 7/8 in Berlin, 9/30 in Paris and 12/8 in Dublin will be part of tournaments in different weight classes with $100,000 going to the winners.

April 24, 2023 Observer Newsletter: CM Punk scheduled to return to AEW, big event updates

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

As things stand right now, the return of C.M. Punk is scheduled for a 6/17 show at the United Center in Chicago, which being a Saturday night show, is likely the debut of the new weekly show.

The rumor of the new show’s name is AEW Collision, based on a trademark the company took out some time back when the talks with WBD for the new Saturday show got serious.

At press time everything was not finalized, but the building is booked and it likely will be announced very shortly, when the Punk deal and the TV deal are finalized. Obviously, with the building deal in place, the TV deal has to either be done or they must be almost certain of it.

The decision on Punk returning was made many weeks ago, although there was a snag two weeks back that has evidently been worked out.

Obviously being at the United Center, the show will be heavily promoted and have a theme name, which evidently has been decided upon.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s newsletter.