Author: F4W Staff

Subscribe to Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online written & video content, available 24/7 on this website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dave Meltzer, Bryan Alvarez & Vince Verhei part of WrestleQuest video game

Posted on by F4W Staff

For the first time ever, Dave Meltzer, Bryan Alvarez and “Big Vinny V” Vince Verhei are part of a video game.

The three are Easter eggs in WrestleQuest — a role playing game (RPG) that includes wrestling icons like Randy Savage, Andre the Giant, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Sgt. Slaughter, the Road Warriors, and plenty more.

This game is available now on Steam, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One & Series X, and Nintendo Switch. Head here to play on Steam with a 10% discount or here for direct links to buy on other platforms.

You never know where Dave, Bryan and Vinny will show up.

Already, WrestleQuest has earned more than 20 best gameplay & best in show awards and is currently within the top 3 games across KeyMailer globally. It was also a top five download during Microsoft’s Summer Games event.

Play the game wrestling fans are talking about now.

WOR Video: AEW All In & WWE WrestleMania 40 are making huge money

Posted on by F4W Staff

All In and WrestleMania are about to make huge money for both AEW and WWE.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed numbers that AEW could generate based on merchandise and ticket sales. Meltzer estimated that AEW merchandise could reach $30 dollars a head.

“This is a conservative number,” he said.

Meltzer also thought that with the live gate, the event could gross around 12 million dollars. He pointed out that even if the pay-per-view numbers end up disappointing, All In is a rare show where the most revenue will come from ticket sales.

“If the PPV number turns out low, don’t cry for them because the revenue’s very, very, very high,” he said.

WrestleMania tickets, meanwhile, have moved very well since going on sale. Even with the ticket average being around 240 dollars, 90,000 tickets have been sold thus far, putting both shows on track to sell out both nights, something the last two WrestleManias couldn’t do.

“I think in the size of field they are in, they’ll sell it out,” Meltzer said.

WOR Video: All In officially makes history

Posted on by F4W Staff

AEW’s All In show is officially one of the more historical pro wrestling events of all time.

Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales discussed AEW surpassing WrestleMania 32’s tickets sold, officially breaking the all-time pro wrestling record.

“That was the goal,” Meltzer said. “They hit the last goal.”

Meltzer did point out that there is a number for tickets sold, and the number of people who end up in the building the night of the event. But it’s clear that AEW’s show is ultra successful, and for those that think it may be a papered event, that isn’t the case.

“If there were a ton of freebies out there, they would know,” Meltzer said. “Not only do they have so many enemies they want it out, you know, word gets out.”

All In has managed to surpass everyone’s estimates for how well a show like this could do, prompting questions if AEW could try the formula elsewhere, such as Australia or Japan.

“Most people were between 30 to 50, and many under 20…everyone’s blown away. The show’s an unbelievable success,” Meltzer said.

WOR Video: Should AEW push back FTR vs. Young Bucks?

Posted on by F4W Staff

Should the Young Bucks/FTR match still take place? That was the question asked on Wrestling Observer Radio Friday.

On Friday, it was revealed that Cash Wheeler appeared in court following an incident that took place in July where Wheeler drew a weapon at a motorist during a road rage incident. He was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm and has since bonded out. This all comes just days before All In on August 27 in Wembley Stadium.

“It puts Tony Khan in a really bad position,” Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio. “Because you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

“He can go to England. They can do the match if they really wanted to,” he added, “There will be much criticism if they do. I think there will be less criticism if they don’t, but then you got to replicate a match that was possibly going to be the best match on the show.”

Garrett Gonzales asked if perhaps they could do it the following week at All Out in Chicago. But Meltzer thought that if they were to do the match so soon, they may as well just do it at All In. But he also said that perhaps it may be best to wait it out.

“If he’s cleared and everything’s right at that point do you do the match I would say 100%,” he said. “But that could be a month, could be three months, who knows how the court proceedings are going to go.”

WOR Video: The AEW All In build could’ve been a lot better

Posted on by F4W Staff

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez questioned some of the All In booking on Wrestling Observer Radio Thursday morning.

Both Meltzer and Alvarez thought that the number of segments on this week’s Dynamite featuring the heels beating up the babyfaces to set up three different matches for All In later this month was a bit much.

“There were ten segments and in eight of them there was an attack,” Alvarez pointed out.

“And it’s always the heels beating up the babyfaces,” Meltzer added.

“This all looks the same,” Meltzer added. “It’s like there’s this blueprint. But if you do the same thing over and over and over again, it’s not going to work. That’s the one thing with wrestling, you have to vary it.”

With so many matches being set up on Wednesday’s Dynamite, the question is why did AEW take so long in announcing the matches.

“My question is, why didn’t we start this build earlier?” Alvarez questioned.

Meltzer pointed out that some of the participants, including Eddie Kingston and Will Ospreay, only became available now as a result of the G1 Climax tournament ending. Others, he admitted, could have been announced earlier in the month.

AEW Rampage & ROH spoilers from Nashville: Rey Fenix vs. Komander, Ryan Nemeth

Posted on by F4W Staff

The following are spoilers for this Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage which was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, following Wednesday’s edition of Dynamite.

In a rarity, no matches were announced or the show while Dynamite was on the air.

Additionally, Ring of Honor matches were taped after Rampage which is also a rarity. Matches featured several wrestlers that were in the news this week including Ryan Nemeth and Christopher Daniels.

AEW Rampage:

  • Rey Fenix defeated Komander
  • ROH Tag Team Champions Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) defeated Ethan Page & Brother Zay to retain the titles
  • Sammy Guevara defeated Jon Cruz
  • AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue defeated Ruby Soho & Toni Storm. After the match, the heels attacked Shida which brought out Britt Baker which led to a pull-apart brawl between the four women in the title match at All In. 

Ring of Honor:

  • ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli defeated Ryan Nemeth

Nemeth came out with a mic in hand, welcoming everyone to “Hunk Appreciation Night.” He said he would fight anyone, even a world champion.

Castagnoli came out and Nemeth wasn’t interested. The match happened anyway and after 30+ giant swings and an uppercut, Castagnoli got the pin. Afterward, he said to the camera, “Careful what you wish for. Just because you don’t see me, doesn’t mean I’m not there.”

  • Dark Order (John Silver, Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds) defeated Dalton Castle and The Boys
  • Emi Sakura defeated Alice Crowley
  • Blake Christian defeated Brandon Cutler (w/ Colt Cabana)
  • Marina Shafir defeated Angelica Risk
  • NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Christopher Daniels to retain the title

Notes:

  • The Fenix vs. Komander match was the first time they have ever had a singles match. They have been on the same side of two eight-man tag team matches before. Several fans in attendance raved about the match on Twitter.
  • In the lone dark match before Dynamite, Matt Sydal defeated Serpentico.
  • As was the case Wednesday, Friday’s show will also be a Fight for the Fallen edition in an effort to benefit the Maui (Hawaii) Food Bank.

WOR Video: Can we just move on from all the AEW drama?

Posted on by F4W Staff

More stories are coming out regarding the recent AEW backstage drama.

Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the latest on Wrestling Observer Radio Tuesday morning. The first thing both confirmed was regarding a text message CM Punk sent to Hangman Page on Saturday following the post-show promo.

“What I can say is he did in fact send a text to Hangman Page apologizing for the promo on Saturday,” Alvarez said.

“It was an attempt to do a comedy line that backfired and the minute that he did it realized it had backfired,” Meltzer said regarding the post-show promo, saying that Punk did the line after seeing a Hangman Page sign in the crowd.

Punk’s side also said that he never had Hangman Page blocked from the building. Alvarez suggested it may have been management’s call following the situation with Ryan Nemeth, saying that some people believe that to be true.

One thing that both sides agreed on was that Christopher Daniels being blocked from Collision was a CM Punk move.

“The story is if Ace Steel can’t come, Christopher Daniels can’t come,” Meltzer said.

Alvarez summed it up by saying that if everyone just moved on, things could improve. But the more things are said out in the open, the less likely that will happen.

“I think if everybody just accepted that there’s not going to be a feud between CM Punk and The Elite, and if everyone can just do their thing…then you’ve got a chance here. But if people keep bringing it up and keep talking about it, it’s just gonna keep going,” he said.

ROH spoilers from Greensboro, North Carolina

Posted on by F4W Staff

Here are spoilers from Saturday night’s ROH tapings held in Greensboro, North Carolina before and after AEW Collision. 

Stokely Hathaway wrestled his first ROH match since 2015 on the show. He teamed with Samoa Joe in a win over The Boys. 

Brittany Jade made her ROH debut on Saturday as well. She wrestled a Proving Grounds match against Athena. 

Results courtesy of Cagematch.

  • Josh Woods defeated Silas Young
  • ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defeated Brittany Jade in a Proving Ground match
  • Gravity defeated Gringo Loco
  • Samoa Joe & Stokely Hathaway defeated The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
  • Cole Karter defeated Griff Garrison
  • Billie Starkz defeated Charlotte Renegade
  • Darius Martin, Action Andretti, & Lee Johnson defeated Lee Moriarty & The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
  • Trish Adora defeated Lady Frost
  • Leyla Hirsch defeated Rachael Ellering
  • Dalton Castle defeated Peter Avalon
  • Metalik defeated Tony Nese

Peter Avalon and Lady Frost wrestled in ROH last night for the first time since May. Rachael Ellering was back for a second week in a row and third ROH show in the last 10 weeks, this time wrestling Leyla Hirsch. 

Ring of Honor TV will tape matches again next Saturday from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. 

AEW Rampage spoilers: Orange Cassidy vs. Johnny TV, Saraya vs. Skye Blue

Posted on by F4W Staff

The following are spoilers for this Friday’s AEW Rampage, taped after Wednesday’s Dynamite in Columbus, Ohio.

These come courtesy of PWInsider:

  • Darby Allin defeated Brian Cage. The Mogul Embassy attacked Allin after the match, but Sting made the save. It was announced on Dynamite that Sting & Allin will face Swerve Strickland & AR Fox in a coffin match at this month’s All In.
  • AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defeated Johnny TV (John Morrison) to retain the title. After the match, the Blackpool Combat Club came out to stare down Cassidy.
  • In a four-woman tournament to advance to a four-way AEW Women’s title match at All In, Saraya defeated Skye Blue. Afterward, Toni Storm and Ruby Soho joined in an attack on Blue until Madison Rayne returned to make the save. Rayne has been out of action with an injury.
  • ROH Tag Team Champions Aussie Open defeated The Outrunners, accepting the challenge from MJF & Adam Cole for All In.

WOR Video: Shinsuke Nakamura attacks Seth Rollins on WWE Raw

Posted on by F4W Staff

Shinsuke Nakamura ended Raw by becoming Seth Rollins’ next opponent for the World Heavyweight title.

On Monday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the segment that set up the angle. Sami Zayn was attacked backstage by JD McDonagh, putting him out of the main evente teamign with Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes against members of Judgment Day. Later, Nakamura offered to team with Rollins and Rhodes in the main event, which Rollins accepted.

“Man, there was no subtlety here whatsoever. Nakamura practically told you ‘I will be screwing these guys tonight,’ Alvarez said.

“That’s how I saw it. I thought it was very obvious. It made them, especially Seth, look very naive,” Meltzer said.

The three were eventually victorious, with Rhodes scoring the win on Finn Balor. After the match, there was dissension between Rollins and Rhodes, but they ended up celebrating on the turnbuckles. As Rollins jumped off the turnbuckle, Nakamura responded by laying out Rollins with the kinshasa, establishing himself as the next challenger for Rollins’ title.

“I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I thought when this was over that they wanted to do a tease of Cody vs. Seth. You kinda have to, as Cody just beat Brock [Lesnar],” Alvarez said.

“There’s a chance it turns into a three-way,” Meltzer said.

Alvarez thought that Rhodes shouldn’t challenge Rollins for the title unless it was eventually leading to a unification match down the line against Reigns, though that would risk setting up another unification match after having just unified the titles a couple of years ago. 

ROH spoilers from Greenville, South Carolina: TV title eliminator tournament finals

Posted on by F4W Staff

Here are spoilers from Saturday night’s ROH tapings held in Greenville, South Carolina before and after AEW Collision. 

Andrew Everett returned to ROH for the first time since 2020 on the show. He was defeated by Lee Moriarty. 

Fresh off his loss to Johnny Swinger in a Loser Leaves Impact match, Zicky Dice made his ROH debut on Saturday as well. He teamed with Movie Myk in a loss to the Infantry. 

Rachael Ellering was back for her second match with ROH this year on the show. The former Knockouts Tag Team Champion lost an NJPW Strong Women’s title match to Willow Nightingale in June and was defeated by Athena on Saturday. 

Results courtesy of Cagematch.

  • The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) defeated Lucky Ali & Brady Pierce
  • The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) defeated Zicky Dice & Movie Myk
  • Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Rob Killjoy
  • Dalton Castle defeated Slim J
  • Lee Moriarty defeated Andrew Everett
  • Tony Nese defeated Pat Buck
  • ROH Women’s World Champion Athena defeated Rachel Ellering in a non-title match
  • The Mogul Embassy defeated The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)
  • Leyla Hirsch defeated Angelica Risk
  • Cole Karter defeated Rhett Titus
  • Billie Starkz defeated Robyn Renegade
  • Shane Taylor defeated Gravity in the finals of the ROH World Television title eliminator tournament

WOR Video: Cody Rhodes says jumping to WWE was easy decision

Posted on by F4W Staff

Jumping to another promotion could be the best thing for someone’s career, as history shows.

Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales discussed the matter on Friday’s Wrestling Observer Radio. Gonzales talked about the Cody Rhodes documentary, which touched on AEW but didn’t go behind the details of what led to Rhodes’ departure from the company in 2022, with Rhodes opting to keep that between himself and Tony Khan.

“He’s been asked about it every day since February 14, 2022,” Meltzer said.

One recent quote attributed to Rhodes is him saying that leaving AEW for WWE was an easiest decision he’s ever made. Meltzer agreed that it probably was.

“Vince comes to your house. You’re going to main event WrestleMania, you’re going to do the program for the championship. You’re going to make x amount of money. It probably was, at that point, a real easy decision. Before Vince? I don’t know how easy it was.”

One person jumping to another promotion was common in the 1990s, with WWF stars jumping to WCW and vice versa. Meltzer cited Scott Hall and Kevin Nash as examples of people who benefited from a jump. For some, the jump can come at a pivotal moment in their career.

“Most of the time when you jump, it’s a new lease on life,” Meltzer said. “You are fresh, all your losses are forgotten about…most of the time if you’re a top guy, it’s the greatest thing in the world to leave.”

WOR Video: The Elite re-sign with AEW

Posted on by F4W Staff

The Elite are staying in AEW.

The company announced Wednesday morning that The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Hangman Page have re-signed with the company. Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer discussed the news on Wrestling Observer Radio on Thursday morning.

“The schedule was the key thing,” Meltzer said. “For all of them, really.”

Meltzer mentioned that the deal had been finalized recently, but was held off until the 200th episode of Dynamite to be announced. He also said the four had made a pact of remaining together, whether it be going to WWE or remaining in AEW.

“There were discussions,” Meltzer said, regarding a possible jump to WWE. “There were votes that changed. There were things that happened since this pact was made.”

Despite their contracts not being up until the end of the year, Tony Khan signing The Elite now, along with the recent re-signing of Rush, is a sign that Tony Khan is willing to spend money.

“He is not shying away from spending money whatsoever,” Meltzer said.

AEW Rampage spoilers & 200th Dynamite celebration notes from Tampa, Florida

Posted on by F4W Staff

The following are spoilers for this Friday’s AEW Rampage, mainly taped in Tampa, Florida, after Wednesday’s 200th edition of Dynamite.

“Mainly” because one of the matches will take place in Jacksonville, Florida at Daily’s Place as Best Friends (Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy) will take on the Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) in a parking lot brawl.

That match will presumably be taped Thursday which is why Moxley was pulled from his Wrestling Revolver match in Dayton, Ohio, the same night for “circumstances beyond our control.”

After Dynamite went off the air, they did an in-ring celebration of the 200th episode with Tony Khan, Chris Jericho and MJF all getting the ring and speaking to the fans.

MJF said that before AEW, there was only one show in town to make money: WWE. He had interest from WWE, but held out and joined up with “visionaries who would let him be who he wanted to be.” He then thanked Khan for making him a very rich man in 2024.

 The roster then came out on the stage to applaud Khan (seen above). Rampage spoilers are courtesy of PWInsider.

AEW Rampage:

  • The Hardys & Keith Lee defeated The Butcher, The Blade, and Kip Sabian (with Penelope Ford)
  • Swerve Strickland & AR Fox (with Prince Nana) defeated Logan Cruz & Tyshaun Perez
  • Anna Jay (with Matt Menard and Angelo Parker) defeated Skye Blue

AEW also held three dark matches prior to Dynamite:

  • Nyla Rose, Marina Shafir & Taya Valkyrie defeated Avery Breaux, Dream Girl Ellie & Kelsey Raegan
  • Big Bill & Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana) defeated Luther & Cameron Stewart
  • Lee Moriarty defeated Dante Casanova

WOR Video: MJF & Adam Cole should have won

Posted on by F4W Staff

MJF and Adam Cole failed in their bid to capture the AEW Tag Team titles on Dynamite.

FTR retained their titles in the main event of Saturday’s show. Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio said he was stunned watching the finish.

“They better have a hell of a storyline because I’m watching this match and it’s just like…I rarely get stunned by finishes…I did not think this was a good thing,” he said “Whatever the storyline is, I hope it’s really good…I just thought this was the night.”

Later, Meltzer explained why he felt the titles should have changed hands.

“This was the perfect opportunity for a couple of weeks title run. Just a thing where you do it and go back with it or don’t go back with it, you can hold two belts for a little while.”

In regards to the eventual breakup between the two, both Meltzer and Alvarez thought it shouldn’t happen anytime soon, and any plans for them can always be pushed back.

“They should not break up anytime soon, Meltzer said. “Their merch is selling. That’s why I thought they should win the titles, go with the frickin’ momentum.”

“The fact is, they should have won the titles,” Alvarez said. “It was the easiest thing to do. Whatever plan you got for MJF and Adam Cole, you can always do it later, ‘cause it’s fake.”