Author: Bryan Rose

Daily Update: Kane Month, Tales from the Territories, The Acclaimed

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • Match of the week and Performer of the Week
  • How the hurricane has affected WWE and AEW for this week including changes to AEW programming
  • Update on the Performance Center in Orlando
  • Why Florida is so key to American pro wrestling right now
  • The Bray Wyatt experiment and how it has done so far and what we can learn from it
  • The update on the Wyatt situation
  • TripleMania preview, what Americans are being brought in, lineup, and why some champions aren’t there
  • The Five Star Grand Prix finals PPV show
  • What to look out for on the PPV
  • Update on Extreme Rules, matches not announced, and business updates on the next few WWE PPV shows
  • Full coverage of New Japan’s major show of the month with Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay
  • New Japan shows in England, U.S. and Japan updates
  • The most detailed update on the ratings from the past week
  • Death of Starman
  • Frequency of recent CMLL deaths
  • Major CMLL debut
  • AAA announces show in the U.S
  • Major international star to make his U.S. debut
  • More on the Keiji Muto farewell tour
  • Notes on Takeshita vs. Higuchi
  • Ric Flair update
  • Territories on Vice notes
  • Young Rock notes
  • Ted DiBiase case makes national news because of Brett Favre
  • Women of Wrestling news
  • Japanese stars headed t the U.S.
  • More on the Von Erichs movie
  • Inventor of the ladder match
  • GCW in Japan
  • Bound for Glory updates and Victory Road coverage
  • Battle of the Belts news
  • Notes on high profile real wrestling fights and how companies handled them
  • Advance ticket sales for AEW & WWE and there i a lot of news regarding that
  • Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE
  • International TV ratings
  • Crazy Dana White story and being told he had ten years left to live
  • UFC signs Bo Nickal, one of the best prospects in years
  • Strange USADA news
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Bo Nickal challenges Chimaev and Logan Paul
  • Melvin Manhoef retirement
  • Preview of the Bellator and UFC shows this week
  • What sports entertainment company lost the most money
  • Lots of notes about WWE developmental
  • 25th anniversary of DX Raw notes
  • What PPVs will the top stars be appearing on
  • What was supposed to happen in Drew McIntyre segment on Smackdown
  • Landmark lawsuit verdict coming
  • Big E holds college record
  • A look at all the WWE arena events of the past week and business notes

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Wednesday News Update

WWE

AEW/ROH

  • The company announced that the “Scissor Me Daddy A$$” shirt is the number one selling shirt of 2022 on ShopAEW.com.

Other Wrestling

  • Vice uploaded the first episode of Tales From the Territories, focusing on the Memphis territory. The show premiered on Tuesday, scoring 113,000 viewers with a 0.05 rating in adults 18-49, placing 109th for the night.
  • Sirius XM announced that the host of Busted Open Radio, Dave LaGreca, has signed a new multi-year deal.
  • Greg Oliver has a transcript of Joyce Grable’s Cauliflower Alley speech after being awarded the Courage Awards. Grable is currently battling leukemia.
  • Killer Kelly vs. Sawyer Wreck has been announced for Black Label Pro’s Slamilton event on November 12.
  • Former WWE star Alicia Fox became engaged this week.
  • This week’s Aces High column, where Hiroshi Tanahashi looks at wrestling Naomichi Marufuji back in 2012.
  • JesSICKa was a guest on the Women’s Wrestling Talk podcast. When asked about who helped her the most during her run in Impact, she said: “I would have to say that there are two people who have helped me I feel more than anyone and that would have to be Madison Rayne and Gail Kim and actually you know what Christy Hemme as well. When I was at TNA being Havok and stuff like I always remember Christy was in my corner and always supportive always and Christy is like, incredibly creative. So I would have to say it would be those three women who have helped me the most. My match with Madison Rayne at the knockouts knocked down match or show all those years ago is actually what got me my job at Impact. She does it because it does what it takes to have a good match. We’ve always had really good chemistry. I think I’ve known Madison Rayne the longest out of everyone in wrestling. She was my first friend in wrestling. There’s a lot of history that people don’t realize, but Madison Rayne was honestly, she was someone who helped me greatly. Then Gail Kim, obviously like it just takes someone to believe in you. I don’t know if Havok would have been so successful the first time around on TV if she did not have an opponent like Gail Kim.”

Veer Mahaan appears on WWE NXT, meets Sanga

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Veer Mahaan appeared on Tuesday’s NXT, teasing a reunion with former tag team partner Sanga.

Backstage, Sanga was talking to Nathan Frazer about the final spot in the North American title ladder match at Halloween Havoc on October 22. After Frazer left, Veer appeared. The two stared each other down as the segment ended.

Mahaan and Sanga recently reunited at a NXT house show on September 24, teaming for the first time since early 2021 under their Indus Sher name. Mahaan had been on WWE TV since April, mostly competing on Raw. However, he only appeared on TV a few times since Triple H was named head of WWE creative in July.

Indus Sher first started teaming in 2018, and at one time were featured on NXT TV managed by Malcom Bivens (Stokely Hathaway in AEW). After the team split up, Sanga reappeared on NXT 2.0, first as a heel bodyguard for Grayson Waller and later in a babyface role, encouraging others backstage.

Von Wagner qualifies for NXT Halloween Havoc ladder match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Von Wagner has qualified for the North American title ladder match at Halloween Havoc on October 22.

On Tuesday’s NXT, Wagner defeated Andre Chase to become the fourth participant in the ladder match. He won after manager Robert Stone distracted Chase, allowing Wagner to connect with a running boot then scored the win with a TKO.

Along with Wagner, Carmelo Hayes, Oro Mensah, and Wes Lee have qualified for the ladder match at Halloween Havoc. The final participant in the match has yet to be determined.

During the Chase/Wagner match Hayes, who was doing commentary ringside, was attacked by Lee. Earlier in the show, Hayes had defeated Mensah in a singles match.

The North American title was declared vacant after it was determined that Solo Sikoa was not eligible to win the championship when he defeated Hayes last month. Hayes attempted to get his championship back, but Shawn Micheals instead made the ladder match for Halloween Havoc, with Hayes automatically qualifying.

United States Championship match set for WWE Raw season premiere

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A United States Championship match has been added to next week’s season premiere of Raw.

Bobby Lashley will defend his championship against Seth Rollins on next week’s show. In addition, another match added to next week’s season premiere will have Johnny Gargano face Austin Theory in a singles match. This is in addition to appearances from D-Generation X and Roman Reigns & The Bloodline.

Monday’s Raw saw Rollins attack Lashley after Lashley had defeated Mustafa Ali. Rollins gave Lashley the curb stomp on top of the title, then laid out Ali, who was recovering on the outside, with a curb stomp as well. Later backstage, Lashley promised to take out Rollins.

Theory was on commentary during Monday’s show as Gargano and Otis had a match. During the match, Gargano turned his attention to Theory and attacked him. Theory retaliated by attacking Gargano with the Money in the Bank briefcase, allowing Otis to get the win. Theory backstage later told Alpha Academy he had a match with Gargano next week and would be taking him down.

Here is the lineup for next week’s show at the Barclays Center in New York City:

  • United States Championship: Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins
  • Johnny Gargano vs. Austin Theory
  • D-Generation X (Shawn Micheals, Triple H, Road Dogg, X-Pac) to appear
  • Roman Reigns and The Bloodline to appear

The Brawling Brutes to appear on WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Brawling Brutes will appear on tomorrow’s NXT.

While previewing Tuesday’s card, announcers said that The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Butch, and Ridge Holland) would be appearing on the show.

The Brawling Brutes have been feuding with Imperium (Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, and Ludwig Kaiser) in recent weeks. Sheamus is set to meet with Gunther in a rematch for the Intercontinental title on SmackDown this coming Friday, while both trios will meet in a Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook match at Extreme Rules this Saturday.

Here is the lineup so far for Tuesday’s NXT. It will be the first live show in two weeks:

  • Qualifying match for the North American title ladder match at Halloween Havoc: Andre Chase vs. Von Wagner
  • Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne vs. Alba Fyre, Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark
  • Pretty Deadly’s State of the Commonwealth address
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade
  • The Brawling Brutes to appear

Wardlow vs. Brian Cage TNT title match set for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Wardlow will be defending the TNT title this Wednesday on Dynamite.

Tony Khan on social media Monday afternoon confirmed a match between Wardlow and Brian Cage. This followed a social media post by Wardlow asking for anyone to step up to him.

Wardlow wrote “I dare someone to challenge me for the TNT title this Wednesday at the anniversary show. Someone remotely close to my level. Just show up, I’ll be waiting.”

Khan confirmed the match, with AEW’s Twitter account posting a video of Cage talking about the challenge. He said that he hasn’t been on AEW television recently because he’s in ROH and elsewhere creating a winning streak so he’ll come back to AEW for the right opportunity. He said the fans have been waiting and there’s no better time than the three-year anniversary to become the new TNT Champion. He said Wardlow is taking the path of least resistance, and that he’s the real competition.

Here is the updated lineup for Wednesday’s Dynamite:

  • Bryan Danielson & Daniel Garcia vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
  • TNT title: Wardlow vs. Brian Cage
  • MJF vs. Wheeler Yuta
  • Hangman Page vs. Rush
  • Toni Storm, Athena & Willow Nightingale vs. Jamie Hayter, Serena Deeb & Penelope Ford
  • Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal
  • Luchasaurus in action
  • National Scissoring Day” with The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn

Daniel Cormier to guest referee Fight Pit match at WWE Extreme Rules

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier will guest referee the Fight Pit match between Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins at Extreme Rules.

On Saturday evening, Ariel Helwani broke the news on Twitter that Cormier would be the guest referee at Extreme Rules, which takes place on October 8. Helwani also released a statement from Cormier.

“The Rollins-Riddle feud has gotten very intense and personal,” the statement reads. “There’s only one person qualified enough to oversee this brutal match at [Extreme] Rules and it’s me. I’ll see you guys in Philly next Saturday.”

WWE later commented on Twitter that more information would be revealed on Raw Monday.

A face-to-face between Rollins and Riddle is already scheduled for this Monday’s Raw. WWE in storyline has put in a no contact clause, meaning that neither can put their hands on one another or else they will be removed from the match at Extreme Rules.

Here is the lineup for this Monday’s Raw:

  • Contract signing for Bianca Belair and Bayley’s Raw Women’s Championship ladder match at Extreme Rules
  • Matt Riddle and Seth Rollins go face-to-face
  • Rey Mysterio & AJ Styles vs. The Judgment Day
  • Braun Strowman vs. Chad Gable
  • Johnny Gargano vs. Otis
  • Candace LeRae vs. Dakota Kai

NJPW Royal Quest II night one results: FTR vs. Aussie Open

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Here are results from Saturday’s NJPW Royal Quest II night one event in London, England. The show was did not air live; instead, it will be available on NJPW World at a later date.

  • Gabriel Kidd defeated Dan Moloney
  • Michael Oku and Ricky Knight Jr. defeated The Great-O-Khan and Gideon Grey
  • Alex Windsor and Ava White defeated Kanji and Jazzy Gabert
  • Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito defeated DOUKI, El Desperado, and Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Dude Tito and Zak Knight
  • Jado, Hikuleo, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tama Tonga defeated Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Gedo, and Jay White
  • Will Ospreay defeated Shota Umino by referee stoppage
  • FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis) to retain the IWGP Tag Team titles.

The second night of Royal Quest will take place on October 2. The show will be headlined by a match between Tetsuya Naito and Zack Sabre Jr.. The winner will become the number one contender for Ospreay’s IWGP United States Championship.

JONAH out of NJPW Royal Quest II due to travel issues

Posted on by Bryan Rose

JONAH is out of this weekend’s NJPW Royal Quest II events in London.

NJPW announced Saturday morning that JONAH is out due to travel issues stemming from Hurricane Ian. JONAH was originally set to be featured in a tag match on day then, then move on to face Tomohiro Ishii in a singles match on day two.

New matches have been announced as a result of JONAH’s absence. JONAH was originally set to team with Bad Dude Tito against Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii; Zak Knight will take JONAH’s place. On the second night, Ishii will now face a mystery opponent in a singles match.

Here are the updated cards for Royal Quest, which will take place October 1 & 2 and will air at a later date on NJPW World:

Night 1:

  • IWGP Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. Aussie Open
  • Will Ospreay vs. Shota Umino
  • Hikuleo, Jado, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tama Tonga vs. Gedo, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Jay White
  • Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada vs. Zak Knight and Bad Dude Tito
  • Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito vs. DOUKI, El Desperado, and Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Gideon Grey and The Great-O-Khan vs. Ricky Knight Jr. and Michael Oku
  • Kanji and Jazzy Gabert vs. Alex Windsor and Ava White
  • Gabriel Kidd vs. Dan Moloney

Night 2:

  • Tetsuya Natio vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Hikuelo,Tama Tonga, and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Jay White
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Dude Tito
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. X
  • Gabriel Kidd, Shota Umino, Ricky Knight Jr., and FTR vs. Gideon Grey, Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay, and Aussie Open
  • IWGP Women’s Championship tournament: Jazzy Gabert vs. Ava White
  • Hiromu Takahashi and SANADA vs. Young Guns (Ethan Allen and Luke Jacobs)
  • DOUKI and El Desperado vs. Michael Oku and Robbie X

AEW content no longer airing on Space in Mexico, South & Central America

Posted on by Bryan Rose

AEW will no longer be airing through broadcaster Space in several countries, including Mexico, South America, and Central America.

The company on Friday posted a message on social media saying they will no longer air on Space in Mexico, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Space will continue to air AEW content in Brazil, however.

“To our fans in Meixco, South America, Central America, and the Carribean… we want to thank you for watching AEW on Space,” the statement reads. “However, we have an update to share. As of September 30, AEW content will no longer be available on Space, with the exception of Brazil. Starting October 1, you can continue watching AEW programming on ‘AEW Plus.’ AEW Plus will exclusively stream all of AEW’s weekly shows including AEW Dynamite, AEW Rampage, AEW Dark, AEW Dark: Elevation, and Battle of the Belts.”

AEW Plus is accessed through FITE TV for viewers in select countries that do not have TV deals with the company.

PAC vs. Trent Beretta set for AEW Battle of the Belts IV

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match for the AEW All-Atlantic title is set for next week’s Battle of the Belts IV.

AEW confirmed on Friday’s Rampage that PAC will defend the title against Trent Beretta. A short promo aired with Beretta and the other Best Friends on Rampage, with Beretta saying he’ll take the title.

PAC last defended the title at AEW Grand Slam on September 21, where he successfully retained the championship after defeating Orange Cassidy. He is the first champion, having defeated Miro, Malakai Black, and Clark Connors in a four-way match back at Forbidden Door on June 26.

Battle of the Belts IV will air right after AEW Rampage next Friday, October 7, with both shows airing back-to-back in a two hour block. Set for next week’s AEW Rampage is 10 taking on Andrade El Idolo in a match where if 10 wins, Andrade has to leave AEW. However, if Andrade wins, 10 has to take off his mask.

Jury finds in favor of Randy Orton tattoo artist in lawsuit against WWE and Take-Two Interactive

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A jury ruled in favor of a tattoo artist over WWE and those behind the WWE 2K video game series, finding that the defendants infringed on her copyrights when her tattoos were used for Randy Orton’s model in the video game.

PWInsider reported Friday that the jury, based in the US District Court Southern District of Illinois, had found that the defendants failed to prove that the tattoos were fair use and Catherine Alexander, the plaintiff, was right in going for damages. Two other rulings by the jury determined that Alexander was entitled to just $3,750 for the usage of her designs in the game.

The defendants in the trial included WWE, publisher of the 2K series Take-Two Interactive Software, 2K Games, Inc., 2K Sports, Inc., and developers Visual Concepts Entertainment, Yuke’s Co., Ltd. and Yuke’s LA Inc..

Judge Staci M. Yandle ruled on September 26 that WWE and Take-Two had copied five of Alexander’s tattoos that she held valid trademarks on. Alexander was denied a summary judgment and instead a jury decided the amount of damages.

Alexander originally filed suit in 2018, saying that she had performed the tattoo work on Orton between 2003 and 2008. She had previously contacted WWE about material featuring her work, saying that WWE offered her a $450 fee for the rights. According to the suit, she rejected that offer and “told WWE that Plaintiff did not grant any permission to WWE to copy, duplicate or otherwise use or reproduce any of Plaintiff’s designs.”

Antonio Inoki passes away at 79 years old

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Antonio Inoki, the founder of New Japan Pro Wrestling who became one of the biggest pro wrestling stars in the history of Japan, has passed away.

Yahoo News Japan confirmed Inoki passed away on Saturday morning in Japan. Inoki, 79, had been battling health problems in recent years and had been confined to a wheelchair.

During Friday’s SmackDown, announcers Michael Cole and Corey Graves took time to speak on Inoki’s death.

Inoki started wrestling in 1960, training under Rikidozan, one of the first popular pro wrestling figures in Japan. Later in the decade, he formed a tag team with Giant Baba in the Japan Wrestling Association, with the team winning the NWA International Tag Team Championship four times. Baba would later form All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1972, becoming a direct competitor against Inoki’s NJPW.

After being fired from JWA in 1971 for planning a takeover of the promotion, Inoki founded New Japan Pro Wrestling the following year. One of Inoki’s more famous bouts during this era was a mixed martial arts match in 1976 between himself and Muhammad Ali, where the match ended in a draw.

Inoki also headlined one of the highest-attended shows in pro wrestling history in Pyongyang, North Korea, where he defeated Ric Flair on the second night of a two-day event. The announced crowds for those shows were 165,000 and 190,000 respectively.

Inoki retired from professional wrestling in 1998, with his final match being a victory over Don Frye. He continued to run NJPW until 2005, when Yukes bought out Inoki’s controlling stock with the company. He later founded a new promotion, Inoki Genome Federation. He was into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.

Along with pro wrestling, Inoki also had a career in politics, winning a seat in the House of Councilors in 1989. He left politics in 1994 following scandals, but was later elected in Japan’s Upper House as an MP from 2013 through 2019.

Danielson & Garcia vs. Jericho & Guevara set for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Bryan Danielson and Daniel Garcia will team on next week’s anniversary edition of Dynamite, taking on Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara.

In addition, MJF will face Wheeler Yuta, Luchasarus will be in action, and Darby Allin will face Jay Lethal. The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn have also announced that next week is “National Scissoring Day”.

Wednesday’s Dynamite opened with the Jericho Appreciation Society coming out to celebrate Jericho’s Ring of Honor Championship win at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam. Jericho gifted Garcia a bucket hat, which Garcia didn’t like. Garcia confronted Jericho was about to declare his status with the group when Jericho cut him off and asked him if he was a wrestler or a sports entertainer. That was when Danielson came to the ring and told Garcia he could join the Blackpool Combat Club and train with them. Jericho and Danielson fought, which led Garcia to issue the tag team challenge for next week.

Yuta on Dynamite confronted MJF, issuing a challenge for right then and there. MJF rejected the offer, but did say he would face Yuta on next week’s show. After watching Jon Moxley and Hangman Page stare down one another ahead of their AEW World title match next month, MJF was attacked in his suite by Yuta, leading to a pull-apart by security.

On last week’s Rampage Grand Slam, Christian returned, causing a distraction for Jungle Boy following his win against Fenix. This allowed Luchasaurus to attack from behind.

Here is the lineup for next week’s Dynamite in Washington D.C.:

  • Bryan Danielson & Daniel Garcia vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
  • MJF vs. Wheeler Yuta
  • Luchasaurus in action
  • Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal
  • “National Scissoring Day” with The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn

Triple threat NXT Championship match set for Halloween Havoc

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A triple threat match for the NXT Championship has been added to October 22’s Halloween Havoc.

Tuesday’s NXT opened with both Ilja Dragunov and JD McDonagh laying claim to being the next contender for the NXT Championship. Bron Breakker came out and addressed both men. McDonagh suggested that Breakker and Dragunov face each other, with the winner facing him. Breakker rejected that suggestion and instead called for a triple threat match at Halloween Havoc, which was eventually confirmed.

Dragunov made his return to NXT last week, confronting McDonagh after he won a number one contendership match, defeating Tyler Bate. Dragunov on NXT tonight said he never lost the NXT UK Championship as he had to vacate it earlier in the summer due to injury.

Here is the lineup so far for Halloween Havoc:

  • NXT Championship: Bron Breakker vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. JD McDonagh
  • Ladder match for NXT North American Championship: Carmelo Hayes vs. Oro Mensah vs. Wes Lee vs. two other participants