Category: Daily Updates

Daily Update: WWE Raw, Bruce Prichard, Dominik Mysterio

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Monday Update

Garrett and I will be up early tonight covering Raw, the Women’s MVP of 2023, Impact secret signing, AEW financials and other topics. 

Raw tonight is the final WWE show before an eight-day break for the holidays. Raw is live from Des Moines. Smackdown on Friday was already taped. Raw on 12/25 and Smackdown on 12/29 will be taped best of shows and then regular tapings will return on 1/1. The NFL game tonight is the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-7). C.M. Punk is not scheduled on tonight’s show as best we can tell. He was never advertised although people not following closely after last week would certainly assume he would be on. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will be building up their match in two weeks, Gunther defends the IC title against Miz, and if Miz doesn’t win, he can’t challenge Gunther for the title again, Damian Priest & Finn Balor defend the tag titles against The Creeds, Piper Niven & Chelsea Green defend the women’s tag titles against Katana Chance & Kayden Carter and R-Truth vs. JD McDonagh in the annual Miracle on 34th Street fight.

I haven’t heard officially that Bruce Prichard isn’t backstage tonight, but he either has or will be getting shoulder surgery and will be away from backstage for a while recuperating.

PWInsider reported Dominik Mysterio having signed a new deal. Rey Mysterio has as well.

Mascara Dorada beat Rocky Romero to win the Historic welterweight title on Friday’s Aena Mexico show. Match was said to be great. Andrade returned on that show teaming with Soberano Jr. & Angel de Oro over Atlantis Jr. & Star Jr. & Mistico which led to challenges of Soberano Jr. vs. Atlantis Jr., coming off them being a tag team, and Mistico vs. Andrade. Andrade talked about matches with Mistico, Volador Jr. and Atlantis Jr. Press attention was way up due to Andrade. Attendance was up, but not by a lot. He’s back on Friday teaming with Brillante Jr. & Espanto Jr. against Magia Blanca & Magnus & Volador Jr., so that’ll start him with Volador.

On Friday’s Smackdown, the Reigns-Orton showdown peaked at 2,405,000 viewers and 0.59 per Wrestlenomics. It stayed pretty strong until a drop in the last 45 minutes, but the main event with Orton vs. Jimmy Uso did pick up to 2,155,000 viewers and 0.54. 18-49 was well below what the shows have been doing in recent months but total viewers was a good number.

In pretty significant sports business news, John Ourand left Sports Business Journal as the biggest name writer for that publication to join Puck.

QT Marshall sent in a video to AAA that was on its TV this weekend which would indicate he’s going to continue working there. Harley Cameron was also in the video.

El Hijo del Vikingo was shaken up in his Friday match with Black Taurus, but worked the next night as part of the ROH tapings teaming with Komander.

MLW is looking at signing new talent, running more shows and bonusing talent. It’s been pretty much acknowledged within WWE that they got money in the settlement and apparently a significant enough number for MLW to upgrade, but the only way that actual number would be released would be by TKO in an SEC filing if the number is significant to WWE. Remember, a number significant to MLW is very possibly not significant to WWE.

Pandemonium Pro from last night in Los Angeles: Ishmael Vaughn & Aaron Solo b Fuego del Sol & Alan Angels, Brian Cage b Jordan Cruz, Honest John won over Robert Martyr, Vinny Pacifico, Richie Coy, Jake Painter and Chris Nastyy, Nyla Rose & Serpentico b Dark Sheik & Anton Woorhees to win the tag titles, Trish Adora b Aspyn Rose, Miyu Yamashita b Mike Bailey (said to be a super match with awesome kicks back and forth and crowd on fire), Wicked Wichett b Jack Evans, Taya Valkyrie b Brooke Havok, Sandra Moone won over Masha Slamovich, Akira and Sonico (said to be fun with the couples working together), Johnny Hollywood (TV) b El Hijo del Vikingo in a non-title match after head-butting him with a bicycle helmet that Valkyrie threw in. (thanks to Chris Champol)

UFC 297 has 17,652 tickets out for the 1/20 show in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena. It’s 1,503 tickets shy of capacity per WrestleTix. It’s the show headlined by Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title

AARP magazine has a mention of Andre the Giant playing Bigfoot in the $6 Million Man TV show in the 70s.

Daily Update: Kenny Omega, Charlotte Flair, UFC 296 fallout

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Sunday Update

Some notes on the shows. Our weekend show with Garrett Gonzales was up last night talking the Von Erich movie, UFC, Smackdown, Collision, Final Battle, Charlotte Flair, Kenny Omega and much more. Garrett and I will be doing a show tomorrow night covering Raw.

For print subscribers to the Observer, please contact [email protected] if you haven’t already to get access to the Observer which will come out later this week, our first non-print issue. We have on the site for this week both a regular back issue as well as the issue on the death of Kerry Von Erich given the Iron Claw movie coming out this Friday.

Kenny Omega had been in great pain for some time prior to his diverticulitis diagnosis a few days ago. He thought the pain was his hernia coming back but was in great pain and thought he could gut it out. Thank God he finally went in because the situation had he waited another 24 hours could have been devastating, risking a blood infection.

Charlotte Flair will be undergoing surgery for a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus shortly, which were the injuries suffered last week that were talked about on Smackdown this week. She’s listed as being out nine months.

We’re looking for your thoughts on Final Battle, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected]

We’re also looking for reports from tonight’s WWE show in Rochester, MN, with results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

UFC was the No. 2 trend last night behind the NFL with 1 million views. That’s well above most of the recent PPV shows and well ahead of WWE’s biggest shows as well. No. 1 was the NFL. No. 14 with Sean Strickland for the brawl with Dricus du Plessis in the stands that we talked about with Ryan Frederick last night and No. 17 was Bryce Mitchell who suffered a devastating knockout. On Friday, Jake Paul was No. 2 for the day with 200,000 for his boxing win.

Video is out of the Strickland/du Plessis brawl that wasn’t staged but may be used by UFC for promotion of their 1/20 fight in Toronto for the middleweight title. The two first exchanged insults at a press conference on Friday. Strickland then wrote a tweet saying, “I go hard on everyone I know this, izzy mouth feeding his dog, Dricus kissing his coach and grabbing his cup, Omally (sic) talking about sharing his wife in a podcast. You’re a man, on a world stage doing this in public. And what do you pick? `You got abused as a kid ha.’ Strickland attacked Du Plessis and was throwing punches as both weren’t sitting far from each other at the show last night. It was quickly broken up.Dana White blamed himself for having the two sitting so close together. Dana basically called himself an asshole and stupid for doing so. “So what kind of an asshole sits Strickland next to du Plessis? This asshole, that’s who. I do every seating assignment every week. Yep, how f***ing stupid is that? Seriously , I don’t know what humans you can sit Strickland next do but definitely not du Plessis. I don’t know how I missed that.”

White also said after Tony Ferguson’s one-sided loss to Paddy Pimblett, Ferguson’s seventh loss in a row, that he hoped Ferguson would retire.

WWE from last night in Moline, IL:

  • Jey Uso b Finn Balor via spear
  • Street Profits b Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro
  • Omos b Akira Tozawa after MVP offered $10,000 to anyone who can knock Omos off his feet
  • Drew McIntyre cut a promo and said that he was sick, but he would still beat Rollins in his home town and win the title tonight.
  • Kevin Owens & LA Knight b Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa when Knight pinned Uso after the BFT
  • Chelsea Green & Piper Niven b Katana Chance & Kayden Carter to keep the tag tiles when Niven pinned Chance
  • Cody Rhodes b Damian Priest in a street fight with Cross Rhodes through a table
  • Nia Jax b Shayna Baszler with the annihilator
  • Miz & Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa b Imperium when Miz pinned Vinci with the skull crushing finale, same as in the Raw match
  • Seth Rollins retained in a three-way over Shinsuke Nakamura and Drew McIntyre with a curb stomp on Nakamura. Same finish they’ve been doing for weeks at the house shows. Rollins after the match talked about being from the Quad Cities. Rollins was the most over because he’s local and then Rhodes and Jey Uso (thanks to Scott Minor)

After winning the women’s MVP award from Tokyo Sports, Tam Nakano said that she was bedridden for a month due to her knee injury and said between that and social media criticism she considered retirement. She said her knee has improved but still can’t do full squats.

Nippon TV will be doing alive wrestling show from Korakuen Hall on 2/9 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Sharpe Brothers vs. Rikidozan & Masahiko Kimura, the first Japanese wrestling match on network television and the match that put wrestling on the map in a huge way in the country, airing on NTV.

RevPro from the Crystal Palace in London yesterday: 

  • Zack Sabre Jr. b JJ Gale, Spike Trivet b Robbie X in a street fight
  • Leon Slater b Connor Mills to win the British cruiserweight title
  • Brendan White & Danny Jones (Greedy Souls) b Anthony Ogogo & Ricky Knight Jr. (match said to be a mess, Ogogo didn’t get much reaction even though he’s a well-known name in the U.K. from boxing) and Knight at one point was taken to the back and checked for a concussion but did come back out
  • Tomohiro Ishii b Luke Jacbos (said to be great but not as great as their August match)
  • Dani Luna b Alex Windsor to win the British women’s title, 
  • Volador Jr. b Trent Seven
  • Michael Oku b Zack Gibson to keep the British Commonwealth title in a good match with a frog splash. Gibson shook Oku’s hand after and turned babyface. The Greedy Souls attacked him and James Drake made the save to set up a tag team feud
  • Will Ospreay b Gabe Kidd. Said to be a super match, ending via ref stoppage. Ospreay said his final match in RevPro would be 2/18 and wanted to face Oku for the title. Oku has never beaten Ospreay and Oku will now have to carry the promotion going forward. (thanks to Liam Fitzpatrick)

Jake Paul had a first round knockout Friday night of Andre August in Orlando, FL. Paul is now saying he’s concentrating on boxing and won’t be doing MMA next year unless it’s with Nate Diaz.

Dutch Mantell said he had an infection that turned into sepsis and was transferred from the hospital to a rehab facility and is hopeful of being able to go home next week.

Dungeon Wrestling from last night at the Victoria Pavilion in Calgary before 350 fans. This is Bret Hart and his son’s promotion: Michael Allen Richard Clarke b Shaun Moore, Tiger Raj Singh b Kamikaze, Leon Lokombo b Chris Knight, Michael Blais b Mighty Mo Jabari-COR, Taryn rom Accounting b Zoey Zager, Billington Bulldogs b Voris Twins to keep the Dungen tag team titles. (thanks to Ross Hart)

ASF, real name Luis Antonio Garcia, was arrested on 12/6 for online solicitation of a minor younger than 14 years old, a second degree felony. The Lucha Maniaks promotion in Laredo wrote that former team member Garcia has been dropped by the promotion. The arrest report says that he sent explicit photos via Facebook several years ago to an 11-year-old girl who had messaged him. The police report said that he was brought in for questioning and claimed that girl’s boyfriend made up the accusation when asked if he had sent the girl a photo of his genitalia, but then said he wasn’t sure and it was a stupid mistake. He had been a regular with GCW but they had stopped using him about one year ago.

CM Punk did commentary for CFFC MMA on Fight Pass on Friday night in Atlantic City. On the show he plugged he would be wrestling in Los Angeles on 12/30 against Dominik Mysterio joking he’s been wanting to punch Dom since he was eight and how he gets the chance.

Daily Update: WWE SmackDown ratings, Tribal Heir, Liv Morgan

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

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.

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.15 million viewers in the overnight ratings, down from last week’s overnight average of 2.29 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5.
  • WWE has filed a trademark for “Tribal Heir,” which is the moniker Roman Reigns gave to Solo Sikoa on SmackDown. Jimmy Uso thought he was going to be named the heir during the segment, but Reigns chose Sikoa instead.
  • Running back Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers attended SmackDown in Green Bay.
  • There is reportedly no heat on Liv Morgan within WWE despite her arrest for marijuana possession.
  • Afa the Wild Samoan underwent two exploratory heart procedures on December 12 to check his valves:
          • Yesterday Afa had two exploratory heart procedures to check his valves. In his own words: ‘I kicked out before the 1!’ He is home and doing very well. Nothing keeps a Wild Samoan down! His follow up appointment is on the 20th to go over next steps. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he may need a valve replacement. But he’s up and at it, working hard on the WXW Seminar on January 13th and the first show of the year, February 17th, with proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
          • Afa was joking with and signing autographs for the hospital staff.
  • Jazzy’s World TV asked Logan Paul to name his five favorite WWE wrestlers of all time:
          • Oof, always a tough question. I have to go with John Cena. John Cena to me is the GOAT for sure. Probably The Rock — actually nah, nah, nevermind… Stone Cold Steve Austin. Hulk Hogan. Real legend, you know, started all of it. Me, of course. And best for last, gotta be Dominik Mysterio.
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match is set for WWE’s Holiday Tour house show at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, December 26.
  • As was announced earlier this week, CM Punk is facing Dominik Mysterio at WWE’s Holiday Tour house shows at Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum. While doing MMA commentary for Cage Fury Fighting Championships last night, Punk hyped up the Kia Forum match:
          • Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re out there on the 30th you better be watching some grappling, unless you’re in LA – come out to the LA Kia Forum, watch me beat up Dirty Dominik. I’ve been wanting to punch this kid in the face since he was eight years old, now he’s legal, and I’m going to destroy him.
  • During an appearance on The Michael Kay Show, Rhodes was asked if he agrees with Shawn Michaels calling Dominik WWE’s MVP of 2023:
          • That’s a loaded [question] because Dom is a prickly individual. If I was looking at it from tickets sold, merch sold, excitement over matches, genuine body of work, I’d say your MVP is…I’m not gonna say myself, somebody else hopefully will say me, but I’d say Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion is probably somebody who’s more of the MVP.
  • Carmelo Hayes, Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, Michin & Shotzi, and Dragon Lee appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • WWE’s Braun Strowman: Waukesha Strong documentary is available to watch for free on YouTube.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW and WWE remembered Jon Huber (Brodie Lee/Luke Harper) on what would have been his 44th birthday.
  • Amanda Huber wrote: “Happy birthday babe. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of you. Or miss you. We’re gonna celebrate today. We’re not gonna get off the couch, we’re gonna play video games, have hot dogs for dinner, & your favorite cheesecake for dessert. Just how you’d want today to be”
  • WWE’s Big E posted: “Happy Birthday, Brodie. Miss you daily. Miss you always.”
  • MJF is being inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame this Monday (December 18). On social media, MJF called it an incredible honor.
  • Deonna Purrazzo is accepting select bookings for 2024.
  • At last night’s CMLL Arena Mexico event, Mascara Dorada 2.0 defeated Rocky Romero to win the World Historic Welterweight Championship.
  • Janai Kai will defend her Women’s Featherweight title against TJPW’s Hyper Misao at MLW Kings of Colosseum in Philadelphia on Saturday, January 6.

Daily Update: CM Punk, Athena, Impact Hidden Gems

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

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.

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics writes that CM Punk and Seth Rollins’ face-to-face was the most watched quarter hour of Monday’s Raw:
          • The in-ring promo with CM Punk and Seth Rollins was by far the most-watched quarter-hour of [Monday’s] Raw. 1.88M viewers, 0.62 P18-49 rating on a show that averaged 1.47M, 0.46.
          • It had the advantage of being the only quarter-hour with no ad breaks, but it had stronger quarter-to-quarter growth (+25%) than any Raw quarter-hour since at least early 2022 which includes many ad-free quarters in non-ad-free hours/shows.
  • PWInsider reports that Punk was at the WWE Performance Center today and was “training and holding court with NXT talents.” Punk was also backstage at NXT last night.
  • To build up their upcoming United States title number one contender’s tournament match, Grayson Waller and Carmelo Hayes had a backstage confrontation at NXT. Waller and Hayes are facing each other on SmackDown this Friday night.
  • On social media, Fallon Henley wrote that she wants to form a tag team with Mickie James: “@MickieJames hear me out… what if we saddled up, you taught me to be hardcore country and we went for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. I’ll bring the drinks!”
  • Following his DUI arrest last month, Nick Hogan, the son of Hulk Hogan, has an arraignment scheduled for December 18.
  • The Undertaker named his Mount Rushmore of tag team wrestling: The Road Warriors, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, The Midnight Express, and Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard.
  • Mick Foley and Drew McIntyre appeared on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis & Maxxine Dupri) and Drew Gulak will be on The Bump next Wednesday.
  • Santos Escobar was a guest on Wrestling with Freddie.
  • Busted Open Radio interviewed Trick Williams.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • On the Under the Ring podcast, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena said she thinks the next step in her career would be returning to AEW television:
          • I think the next step for me would definitely be to take a crack at AEW TV again. My first time around wasn’t great and I lost to the all-powerful Jade Cargill.
  • Athena added that she wants to be a Triple Crown Women’s Champion in 2024:
          • I want to be a triple crown champion by the end of 2024. I am going after all the belts, the TBS Championship –- Julia Hart, the AEW Women’s Championship -– Toni Storm. I’m not content with just beating up these fragile broads left and right, this is your warning, I am coming for you guys in 2024. It doesn’t matter what anyone says, you got an X on your back and it’s only a matter of time before we get there.
  • This Thursday’s Impact Wrestling is a “Hidden Gems” episode featuring matches that haven’t aired on TV before. The following matches have been announced:
          • Josh Alexander vs. Yuya Uemura
          • Street fight: PCO vs. Deaner
          • Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans vs. Killer Kelly & Masha Slamovich
          • Alan Angels vs. Samuray Del Sol
          • Dirty Dango & John E. Bravo vs. Tommy Dreamer & Channing Decker
  • “The Iron Claw” is currently at 93 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes with 45 reviews.
  • GCW announced Mike Santana for their Holiday Special show in New Jersey on Thursday, December 21. It’s Santana’s first GCW appearance in nearly four years.
  • A new Beat the Elite DLC mode has been added to AEW’s Fight Forever video game:
          • Beat The Elite DLC has arrived in #AEWFightForever!
          • In the new, highly competitive Beat the Elite gameplay mode, Fight Forever players will face 10 random #AEW talents. The last match will always be against a wrestler from The Elite. Win all 10 matches & you’ll be rewarded with in-game cosmetic items!
          • Beat The Elite is available now on XBOX, PlayStation & PC! Nintendo Switch to follow. You can also get the Beat The Elite DLC as part of the Season Pass 2!
          • Get the Beat The Elite DLC today!
  • Alicia Atout interviewed Ruby Soho.

Daily Update: Iron Claw, Will Ospreay, GCW

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

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.

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

Daily Update: WWE SmackDown ratings, JBL, AEW Collision

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

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.

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Last night’s Tribute to the Troops edition of SmackDown averaged 2.29 million viewers in the overnight ratings, up from last week’s overnight average of 1.95 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6.
  • JBL, who first came up with the idea for Tribute to the Troops, was on commentary for SmackDown last night. JBL filled in for Corey Graves and called the show alongside Michael Cole and Kevin Patrick.
  • College football announcer Brad Nessler made an appearance on SmackDown and joined in on commentary for the Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross United States title number one contender’s tournament match. Nessler is calling today’s Army vs. Navy football game on CBS.
  • An UNDERTAKER 1 deadMAN SHOW will take place at the Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday, January 28. That’s the Sunday of Royal Rumble weekend.
  • Jey Uso spoke to the Daily Mail about how much it means to him to work alongside his family:
          • The best part – I say this all the time – is I’m doing it with my brothers and my family.
          • I say it to Solo sometimes, when you go out there just embrace what’s going on. I mean, being in Madison Square Garden with everyone throwing the ones up – I appreciate it, man.
          • Solo is a top performer. He’s like a sponge, he gets it. All you got to do is tell him one time, it clicks with him. He’s going to go real far in the business, like I said he’s got a little growing to do though.
  • Comicbook.com has an interview with Trick Williams.
  • Santos Escobar, Michin & Zelina Vega, and Austin Theory & Grayson Waller appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • In a video for WWE’s YouTube channel, Lex Luger reacted to some of the greatest moments from his career.
  • WWE legend Kurt Angle turns 55 years old today. Angle thanked everyone for their birthday wishes.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Jamie Hawn, the victim in an alleged domestic violence case against BJ Whitmer, came forward in an interview with Fox 19 in Kentucky.
  • Peacock’s Twisted Metal series, which features Samoa Joe in a starring role, has been renewed for season two.
  • AEW uploaded post-match promos from Bryan Danielson and Daniel Garcia after Danielson defeated Garcia in a Continental Classic match on Rampage.
  • AEW announced that we’ll hear from Hook on tonight’s episode of Collision. Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander vs. Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ang is also set.
  • In an interview with Bleacher Report, Jon Moxley discussed title belts and whether they get wrestlers over: “There’s a lot of belts. Belts come and go. They’re what you make them. I’ve never seen a belt get anyone over in my life, personally. I’ve seen people get belts over. They come and go, and they’re devices. If you treat them as important, they become important. If you treat them like a joke, they become a joke. People don’t pack arenas to look at shiny pieces of metal and jewels.”
  • Dax Harwood commented on the announcement that FTR will team with Mark Briscoe against Blackpool Combat Club at ROH Final Battle:
          • I feel safe to say, Cash & I became very close to Jay & Mark. I feel safe to say Jay LOVED his family more than anything. I feel safe to say Mark & Jay considered us family. I feel safe to say, if you ever threatened Jay’s family, he would’ve fought you.
          • This won’t be a match to ‘honor Jay’; he wouldn’t have wanted that. He’d want us to beat the asses these sons of bitches who challenged his family to a fight.
          • Next week, we’ll FIGHT for the Briscoe family name. Hope yall do the same.
          • Dem Top Guys, out!
  • Mark Andrews shared an injury update, noting that he’ll be out of action for at least 12 weeks: “To update everyone – it looks like I have a grade 3 C tendon tear, and will be out of action for atleast 12 weeks. On the bright side, now I will be eating all of the mince pies over Christmas, and have two whole months to work off those bad boys”
  • Ace Austin & Chris Bey are set to challenge Mane Event (Jay Lyon & Midas Black) for the House of Glory Tag Team titles on Saturday, January 6. The match is taking place at House of Glory’s Brace for Impact event in Queens, New York.
  • Frankie Kazarian was a guest on Talk is Jericho.
  • Fite TV is rebranding to TrillerTV starting on December 13.

Daily Update: NXT QR code tease, Jey Uso, Ren Narita

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • What readers thought of Survivor Series and best and worst matches
  • CM Punk’s return, whatever details are available, what history teaches, the WWE creative process and next programs
  • What was and wasn’t real after the show
  • Previous talks of Punk in WWE and how they went down
  • Punk’s return promo and why he didn’t say what many thought he would say
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts and statements
  • The most detailed look at the 2023 AEW business, revenue, PPV, Wembley, ticket sales, projections for 2024 and the biggest story relating to AEW of the next year
  • Value of AEW
  • What revenue streams will be expected to grow and others that probably won’t over the next year
  • Issues with the weekend shows
  • Thoughts on 2024 in the ring and beyond
  • Will Ospreay
  • Issues involving other suitors for TV other than WBD
  • Full coverage of Survivor Series
  • All the business notes, record
  • What WWE show did an amazing number of late buys
  • Full details of the two stockholder lawsuits regarding the Endeavor/WWE deal and the key points they are arguing
  • The sad story of Tammy Sytch, a one-time pre-med student whose life was a mess for so long and an innocent person died as a result. A look at her career, that of Chris Candido, a rise at a young age and fall
  • Being the Elite is no more, a look at a show that changed wrestling history when it comes to NJPW in the U.S., ROH’s best period ever and even the formation of AEW. A look at the first All In, early episodes, what stars took off because of the show and more
  • Absolute Andy, the stunning death of a German independent star who wrestled with and against many of the biggest in-ring stars of this generation
  • Update on how many homes the key stations that air pro wrestling and MMA reach
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every show over the past week, how the segments did, demos did, comparison to a year ago, how CM Punk moved the Monday numbers and Randy Orton’s segments as well, competition and how badly Thanksgiving week hurt wrestling numbers
  • AAA and Impact join forces for a TV taping for both groups
  • First AAA show of 2024
  • Stardom PPV lineup and build to one of the biggest events of the year
  • All Japan tag team tournament and junior tournament notes
  • NOAH’s first show of the new year and coverage of this past week’s biggest shows
  • Okada pushes for Tokyo Dome main event
  • New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Mercedes Mone update and thoughts
  • WrestleCade coverage
  • WWE group returns on indies
  • Promotions headed to Germany to piggy back off WWE’s big show
  • London pre-sale for All In
  • Nick Khan talks heavily about Wembley, WWE business and more
  • Sting’s retirement and the first televised Flair vs. Sting match in 1988
  • Lots of injury updates*More on QT Marshall leaving AEW
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • ROH PPV notes
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Highest paid fighters for a single fight for UFC every year from 2011 to 2016
  • PFL’s new TV deal
  • PFL claims offering $15 million one fight offer for former UFC star
  • Coverage of PFL’s tournament finals
  • Raw contract renewal talks
  • WrestleMania ticket sale info
  • What WWE exec just got $12 million worth of new stock
  • Detailed notes on all WWE & AEW events

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.

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • In a post on her Instagram stories last night, Joseann Offerman wrote that today was supposed to be her and Windham Rotunda’s (Bray Wyatt) wedding day: “Tomorrow would have been our wedding. I’m every bit broken and lost without you Windham. The kids and I really miss you. We wish you were here. I love you forever.”
  • A QR code that appeared on last night’s NXT episode has led to speculation that Cora Jade will be returning at NXT Deadline this Saturday. The QR code takes you to a page where a woman’s voice says, “See you at Deadline.”
  • During an interview with The Ten Count, Bobby Lashley discussed Tribute to the Troops’ importance to the WWE locker room:
          • I think for some guys it’s more important than others. I think some guys understand the importance of doing stuff for the troops. But then some people that have been in the trenches that know the military, like I grew up in a military household. My dad was 26 years, and my sisters, myself, we all went through the military. So it has a little bit of special meaning to me, as well as a few other people that have been there. Like Montez [Ford], one of my partners. He was in the Marines for a while. So just having the opportunity to tell the boys and girls, look we remember you guys, we look out for you guys. And we still have heart for you guys and we do anything for you guys. So it’s a really cool event and a good opportunity for us to pack the stadium and just put on a good show for the troops.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson met 21 Make-A-Wish children in one day at Universal Studios Hollywood.
  • Colorado State University named Brock Lesnar’s daughter Mya as their Student-Athlete of the Week: “Congratulations to @CSUTrackFieldXC’s Mya Lesnar on being named this week’s @Waterpik Student-Athlete of the Week! Mya broke the school record in the women’s shot put with a mark of 18.50 meters & currently leads the nation!”
  • Jey Uso, Trick Williams, and R-Truth were on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • Uso said he wants CM Punk on the Raw roster:
          • Man, sign CM Punk. Like, why wouldn’t we sign CM Punk? I know he got a whole bunch of haters or whatever. Hey, if we going to be honest, he’s a superstar, first and foremost. People talk about him. And if it got anything to do with wrestling, his name is in it. He’s like on some Tribal Chief status. He’s [a] top guy regardless of whatever’s going on. So my invitation is open, man. Bring him, like, let’s go. Let’s run it, bro. I’ll be your first one to run with. It’s all good. It’s all love. Let’s go. Let’s run it. Welcome back though, CM Punk.
  • Mick Foley will be a guest on The Bump next Wednesday.
  • Sportskeeda WrestleBinge has an interview with Braun Strowman.
  • Denise Salcedo interviewed Kelani Jordan.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Ren Narita turned against Shota Umino and joined House of Torture at today’s NJPW World Tag League 2023 event.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Chris Jericho explained why he thinks everyone would benefit from working for Vince McMahon for six months. Jericho responded when asked about McMahon stepping aside some in WWE:
          • I mean, once again there’s the reasons why he was stepping aside, and I’m not talking about that side of things. I never thought he would step down. And I think had those other issues [not] come up, there’s no way he would have. Also too, Vince is also smart and I bet he was like, ‘Okay, I’m at the point now where this is not good for me to be here.’ So he trained, groomed, Triple H for 20 years and probably felt confident enough that things were going to continue without him.
          • I say this all the time, like in AEW, I think everybody could use six months working for Vince McMahon. Because that’s where you really understand what wrestling is, the wrestling business, and how the business works. And I loved working for him. And I loved going head-to-head with him and creating ideas, and debating ideas, and arguing ideas. But he always used to say, ‘I’m not here just to teach you wrestling lessons, I’m here to teach you life lessons.’ And he did. He taught me a lot of life lessons. The guy is really a f*cking cool guy. Once again, from my experiences with him. Not easy to deal with, an assh*le sometimes, but he’s your boss, you’re not supposed to be friends with your boss all the time, but then you can still get on a private jet and drink for four hours listening to the Stones.
  • DAZN asked Bryan Danielson who he would recruit to join the Blackpool Combat Club:
          • Anthony Ogogo. That’s a really interesting fit with his boxing background and he’s as tough as nails.
          • Another interesting one is Hook. He’s got beef with Wheeler Yuta right now but sometimes those beefs lead to respect.
  • Fite announced subscription changes for the AEW Plus subscription service, which is available in some international markets.
  • Slam Wrestling has a story on Ethan Page.
  • PROGRESS Wrestling will hold a show in Philadelphia on Friday, April 5 as part of GCW’s The Collective during WrestleMania week.
  • Prestige Wrestling announced that, due to further complications with the Globe Theatre, the promotion is moving all future Los Angeles shows to the Vermont Hollywood:
          • Due to further complications with THE GLOBE THEATRE we will be moving all future Los Angeles shows to THE VERMONT HOLLYWOOD!
          • This includes Combat Princess USA & A Moment of Violence.
          • All tickets will still be honored & we are thrilled to have found such an amazing venue to move these events to.
          • Thank you for your support & understanding!
          • We will see you at the shows!
  • Prestige Wrestling owner William Quintana wrote: “Here’s your scoop, since yall wanna DM me to break the news. Globe Theatre is ACTUALLY closed. No issues with the staff or people at the venue on my end. It’s from the higher ups. Onward & upward. Love yall.”
  • A24 Films shared a brief official first look at “The Iron Claw.” The movie is being released in theaters on December 22.
  • After its theatrical run, “The Iron Claw” will stream on Max. WBD and A24 have reached a multi-year deal to bring A24’s “slate of films exclusively to HBO, Max and Cinemax after their theatrical runs.”

Daily Update: Raw notes, ‘Yeet’ trademark, Fremantle/WWE end relationship

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • What readers thought of Survivor Series and best and worst matches
  • CM Punk’s return, whatever details are available, what history teaches, the WWE creative process and next programs
  • What was and wasn’t real after the show
  • Previous talks of Punk in WWE and how they went down
  • Punk’s return promo and why he didn’t say what many thought he would say
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts and statements
  • The most detailed look at the 2023 AEW business, revenue, PPV, Wembley, ticket sales, projections for 2024 and the biggest story relating to AEW of the next year
  • Value of AEW
  • What revenue streams will be expected to grow and others that probably won’t over the next year
  • Issues with the weekend shows
  • Thoughts on 2024 in the ring and beyond
  • Will Ospreay
  • Issues involving other suitors for TV other than WBD
  • Full coverage of Survivor Series
  • All the business notes, record
  • What WWE show did an amazing number of late buys
  • Full details of the two stockholder lawsuits regarding the Endeavor/WWE deal and the key points they are arguing
  • The sad story of Tammy Sytch, a one-time pre-med student whose life was a mess for so long and an innocent person died as a result. A look at her career, that of Chris Candido, a rise at a young age and fall
  • Being the Elite is no more, a look at a show that changed wrestling history when it comes to NJPW in the U.S., ROH’s best period ever and even the formation of AEW. A look at the first All In, early episodes, what stars took off because of the show and more
  • Absolute Andy, the stunning death of a German independent star who wrestled with and against many of the biggest in-ring stars of this generation
  • Update on how many homes the key stations that air pro wrestling and MMA reach
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every show over the past week, how the segments did, demos did, comparison to a year ago, how CM Punk moved the Monday numbers and Randy Orton’s segments as well, competition and how badly Thanksgiving week hurt wrestling numbers
  • AAA and Impact join forces for a TV taping for both groups
  • First AAA show of 2024
  • Stardom PPV lineup and build to one of the biggest events of the year
  • All Japan tag team tournament and junior tournament notes
  • NOAH’s first show of the new year and coverage of this past week’s biggest shows
  • Okada pushes for Tokyo Dome main event
  • New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Mercedes Mone update and thoughts
  • WrestleCade coverage
  • WWE group returns on indies
  • Promotions headed to Germany to piggy back off WWE’s big show
  • London pre-sale for All In
  • Nick Khan talks heavily about Wembley, WWE business and more
  • Sting’s retirement and the first televised Flair vs. Sting match in 1988
  • Lots of injury updates*More on QT Marshall leaving AEW
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • ROH PPV notes
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Highest paid fighters for a single fight for UFC every year from 2011 to 2016
  • PFL’s new TV deal
  • PFL claims offering $15 million one fight offer for former UFC star
  • Coverage of PFL’s tournament finals
  • Raw contract renewal talks
  • WrestleMania ticket sale info
  • What WWE exec just got $12 million worth of new stock
  • Detailed notes on all WWE & AEW events

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.

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • Monday’s World Heavyweight title match between Seth Rollins and Jey Uso has been uploaded in full on WWE’s YouTube channel.
  • On Raw, Jey Uso’s ‘yeet’ shirt in a video package was blurred out and he did not use the line. PWInsider reported that this is because an independent wrestler by the name of Kasey Scott Huffman currently owns the trademark for pro wrestling use, having trademarked it back in 2021.
  • Main Event matches taped prior to Raw include Gigi Dolin vs. Elektra Lopez and Apollo Crews vs. Javier Bernal.
  • Fremantle, which releases WWE blu-rays and DVDs in the UK, announced that WWE has decided to leave home video and will not renew their license with Fremantle after 2023. The last home video release in the area will be the Crown Jewel pay-per-view on December 18 in the UK and December 22 in Germany.
  • The company has put new Ken Shamrock t-shirts up for sale.
  • Kelani Jordan spoke to Fox News ahead of her Iron Survivor Challenge match at NXT Deadline on Saturday.
  • Free matches added to YouTube today include CM Punk vs. The Shield from TLC 2013, Pretty Deadly vs. The New Day from NXT Deadline 2022, and Pat McAfee vs. The Miz from WrestleMania 39.

AEW & Other Wrestling

Daily Update: AEW production change, Dutch Mantel, WWE Raw

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • What readers thought of Survivor Series and best and worst matches
  • CM Punk’s return, whatever details are available, what history teaches, the WWE creative process and next programs
  • What was and wasn’t real after the show
  • Previous talks of Punk in WWE and how they went down
  • Punk’s return promo and why he didn’t say what many thought he would say
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts and statements
  • The most detailed look at the 2023 AEW business, revenue, PPV, Wembley, ticket sales, projections for 2024 and the biggest story relating to AEW of the next year
  • Value of AEW
  • What revenue streams will be expected to grow and others that probably won’t over the next year
  • Issues with the weekend shows
  • Thoughts on 2024 in the ring and beyond
  • Will Ospreay
  • Issues involving other suitors for TV other than WBD
  • Full coverage of Survivor Series
  • All the business notes, record
  • What WWE show did an amazing number of late buys
  • Full details of the two stockholder lawsuits regarding the Endeavor/WWE deal and the key points they are arguing
  • The sad story of Tammy Sytch, a one-time pre-med student whose life was a mess for so long and an innocent person died as a result. A look at her career, that of Chris Candido, a rise at a young age and fall
  • Being the Elite is no more, a look at a show that changed wrestling history when it comes to NJPW in the U.S., ROH’s best period ever and even the formation of AEW. A look at the first All In, early episodes, what stars took off because of the show and more
  • Absolute Andy, the stunning death of a German independent star who wrestled with and against many of the biggest in-ring stars of this generation
  • Update on how many homes the key stations that air pro wrestling and MMA reach
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every show over the past week, how the segments did, demos did, comparison to a year ago, how CM Punk moved the Monday numbers and Randy Orton’s segments as well, competition and how badly Thanksgiving week hurt wrestling numbers
  • AAA and Impact join forces for a TV taping for both groups
  • First AAA show of 2024
  • Stardom PPV lineup and build to one of the biggest events of the year
  • All Japan tag team tournament and junior tournament notes
  • NOAH’s first show of the new year and coverage of this past week’s biggest shows
  • Okada pushes for Tokyo Dome main event
  • New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Mercedes Mone update and thoughts
  • WrestleCade coverage
  • WWE group returns on indies
  • Promotions headed to Germany to piggy back off WWE’s big show
  • London pre-sale for All In
  • Nick Khan talks heavily about Wembley, WWE business and more
  • Sting’s retirement and the first televised Flair vs. Sting match in 1988
  • Lots of injury updates*More on QT Marshall leaving AEW
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • ROH PPV notes
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Highest paid fighters for a single fight for UFC every year from 2011 to 2016
  • PFL’s new TV deal
  • PFL claims offering $15 million one fight offer for former UFC star
  • Coverage of PFL’s tournament finals
  • Raw contract renewal talks
  • WrestleMania ticket sale info
  • What WWE exec just got $12 million worth of new stock
  • Detailed notes on all WWE & AEW events

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 talking Raw, changes in AEW, Kazuchika Okada, Ratings, Mexico MVP and more.

Major news behind the scenes in AEW, as Kevin Sullivan, the Vice President of Post Production was let go today. Mike Mansury, the Senior Vice President and Co-Executive Producer made the call. Sullivan, no relation to the more famous wrestler, was very highly thought of and had been with AEW from the earliest days, coming over from Impact. Sullivan built the entire AEW post production team that was based in Nashville so there are a lot of questions going around regarding what happened past the feeling that the original AEW has changed greatly.

Dutch Mantell on Facebook wrote that he was very sick and said he was admitted to the hospital in Lutz, FL. He said he will be there for a while and to respect his privacy.

Raw tonight from Albany, NY has Seth Rollins vs. Jey Uso for the World title, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Ludvig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci in a 2/3 fall match, Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn, Nia Jax vs. Shayna Baszler, The Creeds vs. Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh, Natalya & Tegan Nox vs. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance plus Cody Rhodes will talk about Shinsuke Nakamura. The NFL game tonight head-to-head are the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. There were about 6,800 tickets out earlier today and they had moved 1,700 in the last week from fans expecting Randy Orton and C.M. Punk. Neither are advertised for tonight nor were advertised locally, but I would expect most fans expect at least Punk on the show as Orton was made pretty clear is on Smackdown.

Dana White has been teasing the idea of a dream match in April for UFC 300. This has led to talk of Ronda Rouesy vs. Miesha Tate going around, although everything we’ve heard from the Rousey side is that she is not interested in fighting again and was looking to have another child. White had in the past always shot down any rumors of Rousey returning, which naturally started when her WWE contract expired and she left full-time pro wrestling.

The California State Athletic Commission this week is voting on whether to approve PowerSlap.

The final A block show in the New Japan tag tournament is Wednesday in Karatsu and final B block show is Thursday in Miyakono.

The A block matches Wednesday:

  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (3-3) vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi (2-4)
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (4-2) vs. Great O’Khan & Henare (3-3)
  • Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste (5-1) vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (4-2)
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-4) vs. Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (1-5)

The winner of Nicholls & Haste vs. Coughlin & Kidd is guaranteed a spot in the final four. If Ishii & Yano win and Nicholls & Haste win, Ishii & Yano advance. If Ishii & Yano lose and Nicholls & Haste lose, then Nicholls & Haste and Coughlin & Kidd advance.

B block on Thursday:

  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (3-3) vs. Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (2-3-1)
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (4-2) vs. Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (4-2)
  • Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi (3-2-1) vs. Taichi & Yuya Uemura (4-2)
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (1-5) vs. Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (2-4)

The two winning teams in the Hikuleo match and the Goto match would advance to the finals.

The semi finals are Friday in Kirishia and finals are Sunday. For Sunday, it will only air live in Japanese with the English version up very shortly after.

Rampage and Collision on Friday and Saturday night both air on TSN 2 in Canada. Usually those shows only air on the TSN app, but because they are being taped in Montreal, they will air in Canada.

The Collision show for Saturday is being taped tomorrow night in Montreal at the Bell Center with Eddie Kingston vs. Claudio Castagnoli and Bryan Danielson vs. Andrade.

Josh Alexander comes to House of Glory Wrestling on 1/6 at the NYC Arena.

MLW has added Mane Event vs Wasted Youth vs. TJ Crawford & Griffin McCoy to the Fusion part of the Thursday tapings in New York at the Melrose Ballroom. The live FITE + show is Alex Kane vs. Matt Cardona for the MLW title, Satoshi Kojima vs. Tom Lalwlor, Rocky Romero vs. Mascara Dorada for both the CMLL welterweight title and the MLW middleweight title (Romero holds both), Jana Kai vs. Maki Itoh for the women’s featherweight title, Rickey Shane Page vs. Jimmy Lloyd for the National title and Miyu Yamashita vs. Delmi Exo for the Princes of Princess title from TJPW. The Jacob Fatu vs. Alex Hammersone match won’t be on the live show but will be taped that night for later television.

ASE from Friday night in Charlotte, NC: Kevin Knight b Jah C, Kiera Hogan b chait King, Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean b The Mane Event, Ian Maxwell & YayYah & Movie Myk & Reyham Inteus b Suge D & Trevor Aeon & Ashton Starr & Owen Knight in a North Carolina vs. Georgia match, Aja Kong b Trish Adora (thanks to Mel Gray)

Sukeban announced that the Wednesday night show at 10 p.m. from Miai will air on th CEO Gaming Twitch Channel and on the Sukeban Tik Tok Channel @sukeban_world

The NWA announced that JCP Southeast will be its second official territory. Joe Cazana Promotions is the parent company of NWA JCP Southeast. Joe Cazana is the grandson of John Cazna, who promoted out of Knoxville dating back to 1953 and worked with Ron Fuller’s Southeastern Championships Wrestling in the 70s and 80s, Thrillbilly Silas Mason will now be a double NWA champion, holding the National heavyweight title and the Southeastern title.

Bret Hart and Mickie James have been announced for Starrcast in April in Australia. The government of Victoria, Australia is working with Conrad Thompson on the event. 

Daily Update: WWE house shows, Google trends, UFC on ESPN

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • What readers thought of Survivor Series and best and worst matches
  • CM Punk’s return, whatever details are available, what history teaches, the WWE creative process and next programs
  • What was and wasn’t real after the show
  • Previous talks of Punk in WWE and how they went down
  • Punk’s return promo and why he didn’t say what many thought he would say
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts and statements
  • The most detailed look at the 2023 AEW business, revenue, PPV, Wembley, ticket sales, projections for 2024 and the biggest story relating to AEW of the next year
  • Value of AEW
  • What revenue streams will be expected to grow and others that probably won’t over the next year
  • Issues with the weekend shows
  • Thoughts on 2024 in the ring and beyond
  • Will Ospreay
  • Issues involving other suitors for TV other than WBD
  • Full coverage of Survivor Series
  • All the business notes, record
  • What WWE show did an amazing number of late buys
  • Full details of the two stockholder lawsuits regarding the Endeavor/WWE deal and the key points they are arguing
  • The sad story of Tammy Sytch, a one-time pre-med student whose life was a mess for so long and an innocent person died as a result. A look at her career, that of Chris Candido, a rise at a young age and fall
  • Being the Elite is no more, a look at a show that changed wrestling history when it comes to NJPW in the U.S., ROH’s best period ever and even the formation of AEW. A look at the first All In, early episodes, what stars took off because of the show and more
  • Absolute Andy, the stunning death of a German independent star who wrestled with and against many of the biggest in-ring stars of this generation
  • Update on how many homes the key stations that air pro wrestling and MMA reach
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every show over the past week, how the segments did, demos did, comparison to a year ago, how CM Punk moved the Monday numbers and Randy Orton’s segments as well, competition and how badly Thanksgiving week hurt wrestling numbers
  • AAA and Impact join forces for a TV taping for both groups
  • First AAA show of 2024
  • Stardom PPV lineup and build to one of the biggest events of the year
  • All Japan tag team tournament and junior tournament notes
  • NOAH’s first show of the new year and coverage of this past week’s biggest shows
  • Okada pushes for Tokyo Dome main event
  • New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Mercedes Mone update and thoughts
  • WrestleCade coverage
  • WWE group returns on indies
  • Promotions headed to Germany to piggy back off WWE’s big show
  • London pre-sale for All In
  • Nick Khan talks heavily about Wembley, WWE business and more
  • Sting’s retirement and the first televised Flair vs. Sting match in 1988
  • Lots of injury updates*More on QT Marshall leaving AEW
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • ROH PPV notes
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Highest paid fighters for a single fight for UFC every year from 2011 to 2016
  • PFL’s new TV deal
  • PFL claims offering $15 million one fight offer for former UFC star
  • Coverage of PFL’s tournament finals
  • Raw contract renewal talks
  • WrestleMania ticket sale info
  • What WWE exec just got $12 million worth of new stock
  • Detailed notes on all WWE & AEW events

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 weekend news, including Bobby Green, Japan MVP, Collision, Smackdown and this coming week’s stuff.

WWE from Allentown, PA last night:

  • Shotzi b Bayley. Bayley worked hard to get booed but lots still wanted to cheer her.
  • Bobby Lashley & Angelo Dawkins b Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson – Crowd cheered for Lashley & Dawkins, particlary Lashley, who speared Anderson to win.
  • Butch b Karrion Kross
  • Santos Escobar b Dragon Lee. Escobar tried to get heat saying he’d rather be in Bethlehem. That didn’t get the expected heat because a decent percentage of the crowd was from Bethlehem. Escobar used the trunks to win.
  • Kofi Kingston b Ivan in a Viking rules match after putting him through a table
  • Grayson Waller & Austin Theory b Odyssey Jones & Cameron Grimes. No heat. Crowd didn’t know who Jones was. Theory pinned Grimes.
  • LA Knight & Kevin Owens b Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso. Crowd super hot. Knight pinned Uso.(thanks to Doug Hunt)

WWE from Bangor, ME last night:

  • Sami Zayn b Dominik Mysterio via DQ in a North American title match when JD McDonagh interfered Jey Uso made the save. Adam Pearce announced a tag match.Zayn & Jey Uso b Dominik Mysterio & McDonagh when Jey speared McDonagh
  • Ricochet b Bronson Reed via schoolboy
  • Chad Gable & Otis b Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser when Gable pinned Kaiser after a Chaos Theory suplex
  • Nia Jax b Raquel Rodriguez with the annihilator
  • Cody Rhodes b Damian Priest via Cross Rhodes
  • Omos b Akira Tozawa – Same thing they’ve been doing where MVP offered $10,000 to anyone who can get Omos off his feet.
  • Becky Lynch b Zoey Stark with the manhandle slam
  • Seth Rollins b Shinsuke Nakamura in a street fight to keep the world title. Rollins did a promo after and fans chanted for CM Punk. Rollins said he didn’t want to waste time on people who weren’t even there, said Becky Lynch was the greatest of all-time and that this was the highest attendance for a show in Bangor in ten years.
  • Rhea Ripley and Gunther were advertised but not there (thanks to Sean Stackhouse and Grant Langdon)

As far as google searches this past week, two items from combat sports made the top 20 for Saturday, which were the only thing charting all week. Ryan Garcia was No. 3 and the UFC show from Austin, TX yesterday was No. 5, both with 200,000 views. That’s very high for a UFC non-PPV these days and is the normal figure for a WWE PPV now. It wasn’t even that big of a show although the Bobby Green stoppage ended up being a pretty big story.

The Bobby Green stoppage against Jalin Turner was way way late by referee Kerry Hatley in Texas. This is hardly the first controversy related to Hatley but this was egregious with Dana White calling the late stoppage one of the worst he’s ever seen.

New Japan has a B block show in Kochi tomorrow morning in the tag team tournament with Taichi & Yuya Uemura vs. Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza, Hikuleo & El Phantasmo vs. Atlantis Jr & Soberano Jr., Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata vs. Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hasehi and Alex Zayne & Lance Archer vs. Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr.

After tomorrow, there will be one A block show (Wednesday in Karatsu) and one B block show (Thursday in Mioyakonojo) before the semifinals on Friday and finals on Sunday.

Still alive in the A block are Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste, Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd and Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano. The big talk all weekend is Ishii & Yano vs. Shota Umino & Ren Narita on Friday was the match of the week so far.

All Japan’s Junior Battle of Glory final on Wednesday at Korakuen Hall is Dan Tamura vs. Naruki Doi. 

All Japan’s tag tourney ends on Wednesday with these matches:

  • Cyrus & Ryan Davidson (4-4) vs. Hayata Tamura & Galeno del Mal (4-4)
  • Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani (4-4) vs. Seigo Tachigana & Japan Tokyo Kuroshio (3-5)
  • Shuji Ishikawa & Ren Ayabe (2-6) vs. The Saito Brothers (5-3)
  • Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi (4-3-1) vs. Hokuto Omori & Katsuhiko Nakajima (5-3).
  • Suwama & Hideki Suzuki finished at 5-4.

Kota Ibushi faces Naomichi Marufuji on the NOAH 1/2 show at the Ariake Arena in the main event. Former UFC fighter Yuta Sasaki debuts against Takashi Sugiura.

Stardom did a PPV show yesterday in Nagoya. As expected, Suzu Suzuki beat Hazuki in the main event via repeated German suplexes to set up Suzuki vs. Maika for the vacant World of Stardom title as the main event for 12/29 at Sumo Hall. The two issued challenges back-and-forth after the match. Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani won the vacant Goddesses of Stardom tag titles beating Megan Bayne & Maika when Maika accidentally hit Bayne with a lariat and Hayashishita pinned her with a German suplex. Natsuko Tora & Momo Watanabe challenged Hayashishita & Kamitani for the titles. Giulia also beat AZM to retain the New Japan Strong women’s title. I wouldn’t read anything into that result as Giulia was already going to defend the title against Trish Adora on 1/13 in San Jose, CA.

Yuka Sakazaki of Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling has her final match in the promotion on Wednesday before she moves to the U.S. She’s been featured before in AEW so that may be her destination. She is in a three-way with Arisa Nakajima and Rina Yamashita.

There will be a Logan Paul interview with Randy Orton on Paul’s podcast Tuesday.

Among the wrestlers at the final KISS concert last night in Madison Square Garden were Missy Hyatt (who posted on it), Madusa, Bully Ray, Blue Meanie and Dave LaGreca. Dale Torborg, who played the KISS Demon inWCW, was also at the show.

A lot of WWE talent was at the Big 12 championship game last night where WWE was a key part of the presentation including presenting a title belt to Quinn Ewers by Undertaker. Undertaker, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Samantha Irvine, Michelle McCool Calaway and Jade Cargill were there. Cargill also presented a WWE title belt to Nelly, who performed the national anthem. One thing in the photo notable is how much larger McIntyre now looked than Undertaker.

The former Charly Caruso, now Charly Arnolt (her real name) was announced as the special guest for this year’s New York Young Republicans Dinner with Donald Trump as the featured guest.

Some new NXT made for TV names look to be Keanu Carver, Dion Wilder and Dion Lennox. WWE has taken out trademarks for those names which usually means they’ll be names used by people starting soon on NXT television.

WWE has moved 1,700 tickets for Albany tomorrow after a weak advance. They had topped 6,600 tickets today.

Tiara James vs. Notorious Mimi vs. Zaya Steel has been added to the MLW show on 12/7 at the Melrose Ballroom in New York. 

Daily Update: Dana White-CM Punk, Bandido, new AEW Collision match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • What readers thought of Survivor Series and best and worst matches
  • CM Punk’s return, whatever details are available, what history teaches, the WWE creative process and next programs
  • What was and wasn’t real after the show
  • Previous talks of Punk in WWE and how they went down
  • Punk’s return promo and why he didn’t say what many thought he would say
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts and statements
  • The most detailed look at the 2023 AEW business, revenue, PPV, Wembley, ticket sales, projections for 2024 and the biggest story relating to AEW of the next year
  • Value of AEW
  • What revenue streams will be expected to grow and others that probably won’t over the next year
  • Issues with the weekend shows
  • Thoughts on 2024 in the ring and beyond
  • Will Ospreay
  • Issues involving other suitors for TV other than WBD
  • Full coverage of Survivor Series
  • All the business notes, record
  • What WWE show did an amazing number of late buys
  • Full details of the two stockholder lawsuits regarding the Endeavor/WWE deal and the key points they are arguing
  • The sad story of Tammy Sytch, a one-time pre-med student whose life was a mess for so long and an innocent person died as a result. A look at her career, that of Chris Candido, a rise at a young age and fall
  • Being the Elite is no more, a look at a show that changed wrestling history when it comes to NJPW in the U.S., ROH’s best period ever and even the formation of AEW. A look at the first All In, early episodes, what stars took off because of the show and more
  • Absolute Andy, the stunning death of a German independent star who wrestled with and against many of the biggest in-ring stars of this generation
  • Update on how many homes the key stations that air pro wrestling and MMA reach
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every show over the past week, how the segments did, demos did, comparison to a year ago, how CM Punk moved the Monday numbers and Randy Orton’s segments as well, competition and how badly Thanksgiving week hurt wrestling numbers
  • AAA and Impact join forces for a TV taping for both groups
  • First AAA show of 2024
  • Stardom PPV lineup and build to one of the biggest events of the year
  • All Japan tag team tournament and junior tournament notes
  • NOAH’s first show of the new year and coverage of this past week’s biggest shows
  • Okada pushes for Tokyo Dome main event
  • New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Mercedes Mone update and thoughts
  • WrestleCade coverage
  • WWE group returns on indies
  • Promotions headed to Germany to piggy back off WWE’s big show
  • London pre-sale for All In
  • Nick Khan talks heavily about Wembley, WWE business and more
  • Sting’s retirement and the first televised Flair vs. Sting match in 1988
  • Lots of injury updates*More on QT Marshall leaving AEW
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • ROH PPV notes
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Highest paid fighters for a single fight for UFC every year from 2011 to 2016
  • PFL’s new TV deal
  • PFL claims offering $15 million one fight offer for former UFC star
  • Coverage of PFL’s tournament finals
  • Raw contract renewal talks
  • WrestleMania ticket sale info
  • What WWE exec just got $12 million worth of new stock
  • Detailed notes on all WWE & AEW events

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.

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Before SmackDown yesterday, Logan Paul and Randy Orton recorded an interview for Paul’s Impaulsive podcast. The podcast episode will be released on Tuesday (December 5).
  • On social media, John Cena reacted to last night’s main event segment where Orton joined the SmackDown roster: “Absolutely incredible to see @RandyOrton continue to excel after such a storied career. A massive pickup for #Smackdown and a word to the wise … watch out for that RKO!”
  • WWE revealed the official poster for Royal Rumble 2024.
  • UFC’s Dana White told Sports Illustrated that he texted CM Punk to congratulate him after his WWE return: “I texted him that night after he walked out in Chicago. It was amazing. I texted and congratulated him, it was incredible.”
  • White added that Punk is one of the easiest people he’s ever dealt with: “I’ve had nothing but a great relationship with him since the day we met. He’s a super nice guy. He’s one of the easiest people I’ve ever dealt with.”
  • The Undertaker, Michelle McCool, Jade Cargill, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, and Samantha Irvin were all in attendance for college football’s Big 12 Championship game today. They presented Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers with a custom-made title belt for being named the game’s most outstanding player. WWE’s new partnership with the Big 12 also included WWE branding being featured on field for the game.
  • Cargill gave rapper Nelly a title belt after he performed at the Big 12 Championship game halftime show.
  • Undertaker believes Goldust/Dustin Rhodes belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame:
          • Absolutely. 100 percent. This is a semantics thing at this point. I would imagine at some point, down the road. I think his resume is Hall of Fame worthy. Obviously, we know the one stickler right now and I think at some point that goes away. Then I couldn’t see too much time probably going by that he wouldn’t be inducted.
  • Denise Salcedo has an interview with Trick Williams.
  • Pretty Deadly, Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits, and Charlotte Flair appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Kiera Hogan vs. Abadon has been added to tonight’s episode of AEW Collision.
  • Bandido gave an update on his injury status:
          • Hello everyone!! I’m not fine! My wrist still bad and I thought this was the last part of my recovery! I have three options to fix my wrist, two of them need surgery again. the other way is with physiotherapy but we need to wait and see how the wrist responds.
          • I feel very bad because I just started my new chapter in AEW and now I don’t have clean how long time it will take outside to the ring. I’m very sorry with the company and the fans who still supporting me in this bad time.
          • I’m trying to do my best in this hard time of my life and I hope see you All as soon as possible thank you very much for all your love.
  • AEW uploaded a nearly three-hour timeline video chronicling the Athena/Billie Starkz story in ROH. Athena is defending her ROH Women’s World Championship against Starkz at Final Battle on December 15.
  • Chris Hero was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • Wrestling Revolver announced yesterday that, due to his calf injury, Alex Shelley is not able to compete at their Season Finale show in Clive, Iowa tonight:
          • Due to injury, @IMPACTWRESTLING World Champion & @PWRevolver Remix Champion – Alex Shelley will NO LONGER be able to compete this Saturday. We waited until the last minute, hoping he could get cleared, but sadly he wasn’t able to. We wish him a speedy recovery, and he WILL compete in a double title match on the first @PWRevolver show of the year. Against whoever is the World Champion.
  • Shelley was scheduled to face Jake Crist at Series Finale. It will now be Crist defending the Revolver World Championship against Gringo Loco.
  • Shelley wrote: “So, unfortunately, I don’t have full capacity to return to sport just yet. My apologies to all fans. Calf injuries are notoriously tricky to deal with, and I am week to week, but progress is going well. See you soon, Iowa.”
  • Mike Santana won the House of Glory World Championship last night, defeating Matt Cardona in a no holds barred match at the promotion’s show in Queens.
  • Josh Alexander will make his House of Glory debut on Saturday, January 6.
  • Chris Sabin appeared on the Battleground Podcast.

Daily Update: WWE layoffs, AEW All In ticket sales, SmackDown

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • What readers thought of Survivor Series and best and worst matches
  • CM Punk’s return, whatever details are available, what history teaches, the WWE creative process and next programs
  • What was and wasn’t real after the show
  • Previous talks of Punk in WWE and how they went down
  • Punk’s return promo and why he didn’t say what many thought he would say
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts and statements
  • The most detailed look at the 2023 AEW business, revenue, PPV, Wembley, ticket sales, projections for 2024 and the biggest story relating to AEW of the next year
  • Value of AEW
  • What revenue streams will be expected to grow and others that probably won’t over the next year
  • Issues with the weekend shows
  • Thoughts on 2024 in the ring and beyond
  • Will Ospreay
  • Issues involving other suitors for TV other than WBD
  • Full coverage of Survivor Series
  • All the business notes, record
  • What WWE show did an amazing number of late buys
  • Full details of the two stockholder lawsuits regarding the Endeavor/WWE deal and the key points they are arguing
  • The sad story of Tammy Sytch, a one-time pre-med student whose life was a mess for so long and an innocent person died as a result. A look at her career, that of Chris Candido, a rise at a young age and fall
  • Being the Elite is no more, a look at a show that changed wrestling history when it comes to NJPW in the U.S., ROH’s best period ever and even the formation of AEW. A look at the first All In, early episodes, what stars took off because of the show and more
  • Absolute Andy, the stunning death of a German independent star who wrestled with and against many of the biggest in-ring stars of this generation
  • Update on how many homes the key stations that air pro wrestling and MMA reach
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every show over the past week, how the segments did, demos did, comparison to a year ago, how CM Punk moved the Monday numbers and Randy Orton’s segments as well, competition and how badly Thanksgiving week hurt wrestling numbers
  • AAA and Impact join forces for a TV taping for both groups
  • First AAA show of 2024
  • Stardom PPV lineup and build to one of the biggest events of the year
  • All Japan tag team tournament and junior tournament notes
  • NOAH’s first show of the new year and coverage of this past week’s biggest shows
  • Okada pushes for Tokyo Dome main event
  • New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Mercedes Mone update and thoughts
  • WrestleCade coverage
  • WWE group returns on indies
  • Promotions headed to Germany to piggy back off WWE’s big show
  • London pre-sale for All In
  • Nick Khan talks heavily about Wembley, WWE business and more
  • Sting’s retirement and the first televised Flair vs. Sting match in 1988
  • Lots of injury updates*More on QT Marshall leaving AEW
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • ROH PPV notes
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • Highest paid fighters for a single fight for UFC every year from 2011 to 2016
  • PFL’s new TV deal
  • PFL claims offering $15 million one fight offer for former UFC star
  • Coverage of PFL’s tournament finals
  • Raw contract renewal talks
  • WrestleMania ticket sale info
  • What WWE exec just got $12 million worth of new stock
  • Detailed notes on all WWE & AEW events

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

Our show covering the news in this week’s Observer, AEW business, CM Punk’s prospective matches, Christian Cage, Raw rights and more with Garrett Gonzales is up on the site now. Bryan and I will be back Sunday with our weekend show.

While people were told that the layoffs were done with, like with what happened with UFC, there was still more. Five major executives were let go, including Michael Weitz, the Senior Vice President of Financial Planning, who had been with the company 17 years and was on every quarterly investors call and was head of investor relations. Karen Mullane, the Controller and Chief Accounting Officer was let go. Other names mentioned by Wrestlenomics were Craig Stimmell, the Head of Global Sales and Partnerships, Stewart Frey, Senior Vice President of Streaming Technology and Matt Geyer, Senior Vice President of Gaming. The only name on camera we know of let go was McKenzie Mitchell from NXT, who posted about it earlier today.

Tony Khan did not give a ticket number but listed more than $4 million as the first day advance for Wembley Stadium. He noted it was five months earlier than the last first day of sales. That’s probably in the 30,000 ticket range. WrestleTix has the day one number as 33,923. Last year was closer to 60,000 but it was also much closer to the show and I didn’t see how this year was going to do what last year did because it was the first show ever in Europe and you can never duplicate that. It’s at the pace of Clash at the Castle as far as kicking off.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his brother from a TMZ report. He was booked into Kent County (Michigan) jail on Monday and released later that day and charged with one count for allegedly assaulting James Anthony Hill Jr., and inflicting “serious or aggravated injury upon him.”

Smackdown tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn featuring Randy Orton was expected to sell out completely as they had more than 11,700 tickets out as of this morning.

Rampage at 10 p.m. tonight on TNT has Hook & Orange Cassidy & Danhausen & Trent Baretta vs. Matt Menard & Angelo Parker & Evil Uno & Alex Reynolds, Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher vs. Renny D & Jah-C & Kit Sackett, Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue & Kris Statlander vs. Saraya & Ruby Soho & Anna Jay and Penta & Komander & El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Brian Cage & the Workhorsemen.

Word I was given was the main event of today’s New Japan show in Wakayama with Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Shota Umino & Ren Narita was the match of the tournament thus far.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tessa Blanchard for the CMLL women’s title takes place tonight at Arena Mexico underneath Mistico & Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Dragon Rojo Jr. & El Terrible.

 We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

  • Smackdown at the Barclays Center (dark matches only)
  • AEW Saturday night in Erie, PA (ROH and dark matches only)
  • WWE house show Saturday night in Allentown, PA
  • WWE house show Saturday night in Bangor, ME
  • WWE house show Sunday night in Portland, ME
  • WWE house show Sunday night in Newark, DE
  • We’re looking fo results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

Announced for 12/26 in Madison Square Garden is Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the World title, Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio last man standing plus Judgment Day and New Day. (thanks to Mike Omansky)

New Japan’s tag tournament is tomorrow morning our time in Osaka with B block. Hikuleo & El Phantasmo face Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza, Taichi & Yuya Uemura vs. Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr., Alex Zayne & Lance Archer vs. Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki and Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr.

All Japan tag tourney tomorrow in Ehime has Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Cyrus & Ryan Davidson, Ryuki Honda & Yuma Anzai vs Hayato Tamura & Galento del Mal, Japan Tokyo Kuroshio & Seigo Tachibana vs Shuji Ishkawa & Ren Ayabe and Yukio Sakaguchi & Hideki Okatani vs,. Katsuhiko Nakajima & Hokuto Omori.

UFC runs from 4-10 p.m. tomorrow on ESPN+ from Austin, TX. From 7-10 p.m. it’ll air on ESPN:

  • Veronica Hardy (125.5) vs. Jamey-Lyn Horth (125.5)
  • Wellington Turman (171 vs. Jared Gooden (171)
  • Rodolfo Bellato (205.5) vs. Ihor Potieria (204)
  • Drakkar Klose (155.5) vs. Joe Solecki (155)
  • Cody Brundage (185) vs. Zachary Reese (185)
  • Miesha Tate (135.5) vs. Julia Avila (135.5)
  • Punahele Soriano (185.5) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (185.5)
  • Clay Guida (154) vs. Joaquim Silva (156)
  • Kevin Gastelu (170) vs. Sean Brady (170)
  • Deiveson Figuiredo (135) v. Rob Font (135)
  • Jalin Turner (156) vs. Bobby Green (155)
  • Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (155.5)

AAW is doing the Jim Lyman Memorial tournament starting tonight in Berwyn, IL at the Eagles Club. Matches announced for the first round are Masha Slamovich vs. Manders, Jake Something vs. Calvin Tankman vs. Joe Alonzo vs. Gnaris Garvin, Conan Lycan vs. Robert Anthony vs. Hartenbower vs Isaiah Moore, and Xavier Walker vs. Silas Young vs. Mance Warner vs. Solomon Tupu. Also Davey Vega vs. Ren Jones for the AAW title, Russ Jones & Schaff vs. The Outrunners for the tag titles and Sierra defends the women’s title.

Kevin Iole, who I worked with for years at Yahoo!, gave word that the company let him go after 16 years today. Iole covered MMA and boxing since 2007 for Yahoo and worked with me for just over four years. He was the sports editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal prior to that, and was in the Nevada boxing Hall of Fame, and had multiple sportswriter of the year awards in Nevada and was named in 1999 the Outstanding Journalist in the state of Nevada, the first time a sportswriter had ever won such an award.

With Raw in Albany, NY, on Monday, the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum, housed in the MVP Arena, where Raw comes from, will be open from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. before the show.

Claudio Castagnoli was in the U.K doing Premier League predictions on the BBC before millions promoting the AEW show  (thanks to Stephen Maginnis)

MCW runs tomorrow night in Joppa, MD at the RJ Meyer ARena and 12/9 in Frederick, M at the Elks Lodge

Combate Global on Univision and Paramount + tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. headlined by Cristian Perez (12-1) vs. Sebastian Piedrahita as the main event.

PWP from Wednesday night in Omaha, NE: Con Artiest & Tank Bryson b Vic Douglas & Luke Luna, Clay Evans b Willy Sweet-DQ, Brian Blade b Xander McIntosh, Alan Lyric b Ryan Romantic, JC Slater b Purple, Chaac de Oro b Tanner Renken, Con Artiest & Tank Bryson b Pat Powers & Vic Douglas-DQ, Moonshine Russell b Joey Daniels. Next show is 12/20 in Omaha at the Waiting Room Lounge.

Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling on 12/8 in Newark, CA at the Pavilion has Aaron Solo & Harley Cameron vs. Alan Angels & Brooke Havok, Marcus Lewis vs. Jacob Fatu for the BTW title, QT Marshall v.s Jheri Giggalow, Jinx vs. Jeckles hair vs career plus Frankie Kazarian vs. Titus Alexander. They are also collecting unwrapped toys for the annual toy drive.

Daily Update: MJF, AEW Continental Classic, Absolute Andy

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Bryan & Vinny & Craig & Shawn Show: Saturday Night’s Main Event S8:E1, plus Granny!

We’re Live, Pal: CM Punk is back in WWE – but is he better than ever?

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:

  • What did people think of Full Gear as compared to the other AEW PPVs of late
  • Performers and match of the week
  • Lots of good and bad thoughts on Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page
  • A look at WWE vs. AEW when it comes to free agent signings of late
  • What Will Ospreay will and won’t mean for AEW
  • Full details of why Ronda Rousey appeared on the ROH show this week and it’s not what you think
  • Who is the top free agent out there right now
  • Thoughts on the MJF/Cole/White/Gunns storyline
  • Realities of AEW’s enemies and how the Strickland vs. Page match fits into that discussion
  • Logic issues and creative license in wrestling
  • Impromptu and using instinct in reacting when things mess up in a match
  • Why Ospreay signed with AEW and why it was announced this week
  • PPV numbers early on and what is says about more PPV shows
  • Live show business notes
  • Theater business notes
  • Full match coverage
  • Sorting out the Bellator/PFL deal and looking at the business aspect, top talent, show plans, next two PPV show ideas and more
  • Company talks 2024 schedule plans for Bellator and PFL
  • The top fighters under contract at this point to the new group
  • Hall of Fame updates and reaction to last week’s issue
  • Greatest tag teams of all-time
  • A look at a likely 2024 ballot
  • A look at Survivor Series plans, plus public demand and interest level
  • A look in depth at the Continental Classic, the good and bad of it
  • A look at this last week’s UFC show and notes about future shows
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, the segment-by-segment, changes in each group, competition, and where wrestling stands in the weekly numbers
  • World title match doesn’t get over on major show and why
  • Promotion running a business deal with major company to get major discount on a famous product
  • New team will be taking over the name of one of the best tag teams in history
  • Major changes in Stardom hierarchy and what happened to lead to it
  • Stardom titles vacant and steps on filling those vacancies
  • Stardom PPV rundown
  • Fantastica Mania 2024 notes
  • What dream match was planned for January in California and where it stands right now
  • New Japan tag tournament notes
  • All Japan tag team tournament notes
  • A look back at one mystery in the death of WCW
  • Wrestlers suspended for working an unlicensed show
  • Full details on Ronda Rousey’s appearance at AEW show in Los Angeles
  • Young Bucks repackaging
  • Darby climbing Mount Everest and details
  • What day will a number of new free agents be available
  • Looking at the ones AEW could sign
  • Two new rulings in Cung Le case and what kind of money figures are being bandied about
  • A look at WWE arena business and future show ticket sales, has it peaked, what does future say
  • AEW future ticket sales
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Reigns next match and who it’s not with
  • Levesque booking philosophy
  • A look at the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week
  • Notes on December television schedule for both AEW and WWE including a show not airing, and a double taping planned

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.

Wednesday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • MJF, who is working through shoulder and hip injuries, tweeted ahead of tonight’s Dynamite: “I didn’t sleep a wink. In a sh*t ton of pain and can’t get comfortable. But it’s Wednesday. We got a show to put on. I hear it all. I read it all. I see it all. I’m wide awake in more ways than one. Let’s restore the feeling. #AEWDynamite”
  • Jon Moxley spoke to Comicbook.com about AEW’s Continental Classic tournament:
          • We’re only a couple days into it. It hasn’t really formed an identity yet. I think it’ll be the thing where all the talents involved and the human stories that play out throughout this thing and the excitement of the matches and so forth. I think that’ll just kind of have to take on a life of its own. Right now, we’ve just created this monster, this animal, and set it free. We’re waiting to see what it does.
          • If it was going to be good and if it was going to become a thing that you’d want to become a part of in the future and be the thing that was a marquee event and something that wrestlers wanted to do in the future, we had to make it good. My only job is really to wrestle my ass off. That’s easy enough. I can handle that. That’s pretty much everybody’s job. I think just straight-up in-your-face, one-on-one wrestling with a clear result is something that we need to always do. I think that’s something we were founded on.
  • Moxley also explained how the Continental Classic is different than NJPW’s G1:
          • It’s a completely different product, a completely different business plan, a completely different universe over there, comparing New Japan and American television. You’re not encumbered by commercial breaks. There’s more shows right in a row. You’re not at the mercy of a television schedule or anything. It is a little bit more of a challenge to do it on the television format as opposed to just once the G1 is going, it’s just going and you’re in.
  • Chris Jericho responded to last week’s Dynamite scoring higher ratings than last Friday’s SmackDown episode on FS1: “But I thought the sky was falling!!??”
  • Swerve Strickland appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • In an interview with WrestlingNews.co, Sonny Kiss said CM Punk was always “super, super nice” during their interactions in AEW:
          • I haven’t been asked on camera ever about CM Punk or even just to the situation that happened in AEW, but I want to say Phil has always been super, super nice to me, as [were] all the EVPs at AEW as well, and that was really, really cool to see, you know, Punk have that [WWE] return.
          • He’s polarizing in pro wrestling, but, you know, Cody said it best. ‘What’s good for businesses, is what’s good for business, and if he’s going to elevate the company, why not?’ Like I said, he’s been nice to me. The first day he came to AEW, he pulled me aside and he was just asking me questions. He was just like, you know, ‘I want to be respectful of you, so how do I address you,’ and things like that. He was very kind to me. I think that’s amazing for him, so good for him. That’s so cool.
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Alex Hammerstone is set for MLW’s television tapings in New York City on Thursday, December 7.
  • wXw announced that Absolute Andy (Andreas Ullmann) will be inducted into their Hall of Fame during 16 Carat Gold tournament weekend on Saturday, March 9, 2024. After battling a long illness, Andy passed away on November 23 at 40 years old.
  • wXw’s YouTube channel uploaded several matches in memory of Absolute Andy:

Daily Update: CM Punk, Ronda Rousey, NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Clip

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:

  • What did people think of Full Gear as compared to the other AEW PPVs of late
  • Performers and match of the week
  • Lots of good and bad thoughts on Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page
  • A look at WWE vs. AEW when it comes to free agent signings of late
  • What Will Ospreay will and won’t mean for AEW
  • Full details of why Ronda Rousey appeared on the ROH show this week and it’s not what you think
  • Who is the top free agent out there right now
  • Thoughts on the MJF/Cole/White/Gunns storyline
  • Realities of AEW’s enemies and how the Strickland vs. Page match fits into that discussion
  • Logic issues and creative license in wrestling
  • Impromptu and using instinct in reacting when things mess up in a match
  • Why Ospreay signed with AEW and why it was announced this week
  • PPV numbers early on and what is says about more PPV shows
  • Live show business notes
  • Theater business notes
  • Full match coverage
  • Sorting out the Bellator/PFL deal and looking at the business aspect, top talent, show plans, next two PPV show ideas and more
  • Company talks 2024 schedule plans for Bellator and PFL
  • The top fighters under contract at this point to the new group
  • Hall of Fame updates and reaction to last week’s issue
  • Greatest tag teams of all-time
  • A look at a likely 2024 ballot
  • A look at Survivor Series plans, plus public demand and interest level
  • A look in depth at the Continental Classic, the good and bad of it
  • A look at this last week’s UFC show and notes about future shows
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, the segment-by-segment, changes in each group, competition, and where wrestling stands in the weekly numbers
  • World title match doesn’t get over on major show and why
  • Promotion running a business deal with major company to get major discount on a famous product
  • New team will be taking over the name of one of the best tag teams in history
  • Major changes in Stardom hierarchy and what happened to lead to it
  • Stardom titles vacant and steps on filling those vacancies
  • Stardom PPV rundown
  • Fantastica Mania 2024 notes
  • What dream match was planned for January in California and where it stands right now
  • New Japan tag tournament notes
  • All Japan tag team tournament notes
  • A look back at one mystery in the death of WCW
  • Wrestlers suspended for working an unlicensed show
  • Full details on Ronda Rousey’s appearance at AEW show in Los Angeles
  • Young Bucks repackaging
  • Darby climbing Mount Everest and details
  • What day will a number of new free agents be available
  • Looking at the ones AEW could sign
  • Two new rulings in Cung Le case and what kind of money figures are being bandied about
  • A look at WWE arena business and future show ticket sales, has it peaked, what does future say
  • AEW future ticket sales
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Reigns next match and who it’s not with
  • Levesque booking philosophy
  • A look at the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week
  • Notes on December television schedule for both AEW and WWE including a show not airing, and a double taping planned

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.

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Cody Rhodes commented on QT Marshall’s resignation from AEW, writing on X: “Did the work – was essential in making so many memories for fans & has been so instrumental in helping countless wrestlers. A pros’ PRO. We almost became friends ha. I can’t wait to see what you do next! An OG and outstanding “num 2” through his tenure. Congratulations QT on the run so far.”
  • Swerve Strickland has shared a trailer of his upcoming film debut, “Night of the Missing”, which is now available on Amazon and Screambox TV.
  • Killswitch (the former Luchasaurus) has filed to trademark his new name, while Chris Jericho has filed to trademark the term ‘gas wrestling’.
  • Kip Sabian was on Fightful’s In The Weeds podcast.
  • An AEW meet and greet will take place at the Target Center on Wednesday at 12 pm CT featuring Kris Statlander, Matt Taven, Roderick Strong, and Mike Bennett.
  • Dustin Rhodes opened up about his recovery from alcohol and drug addiction on X: We are only human and everybody has their own dis functions and problems. If I could say anything to anybody who is struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, I would say HOPE. As a recovering alcoholic/drug addict, it took a hard rock bottom and a spiritual awakening to show me that I needed help. I had had enough and wanted my life back. I had to work hard to get it back. I know its scary, but, like myself, I needed and got help. It is out there for everyone. Accountability, recognize you have a problem, ask for help. It’s tough but once you get on the other side, it rewards 10 fold. You CANNOT DO IT ALONE. I love you.”
  • Ronda Rousey wrote about her ROH match on Instagram, praising Athena and Billie Starkz: “Apparently kneeing people in the face is great for your hair – @marinashafir is that a smile I see? Thank you @athenapalmer_fg and @billie_starkz for being down to get down at the very last minute, you ladies are killing it.”
  • Bryan Danielson on X: My dad always told me, “The right thing is often the hardest thing to do. It won’t always make the most money. It won’t always be the most popular. But it’s still the right thing. #AEW”
  • Madame Tussauds is adding three The Rock wax figures at its Berlin, Amsterdam, and Dubai locations.
  • “This is so cool and fun!,” The Rock said in a statement. “Three new Rock wax figures and nine total all around the world- London, Asia, New York, Hollywood, LA, Orlando and now Berlin, Amsterdam, and Dubai. Wow, that’s a lot of bald head and tattoos. I love meeting my fans all around the world and my Madame Tussauds figures are the next best thing to connecting with you. Come join me at Madame Tussauds, let’s raise some mana together and say cheers to gratitude, good times and nine Rock wax figures that are much cooler than the real human himself.”
  • New NJPW announcer Walker Stewart talked to Fightful on how the opportunity came about.

Daily Update: MJF, QT Marshall, WWE Raw

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:

  • What did people think of Full Gear as compared to the other AEW PPVs of late
  • Performers and match of the week
  • Lots of good and bad thoughts on Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page
  • A look at WWE vs. AEW when it comes to free agent signings of late
  • What Will Ospreay will and won’t mean for AEW
  • Full details of why Ronda Rousey appeared on the ROH show this week and it’s not what you think
  • Who is the top free agent out there right now
  • Thoughts on the MJF/Cole/White/Gunns storyline
  • Realities of AEW’s enemies and how the Strickland vs. Page match fits into that discussion
  • Logic issues and creative license in wrestling
  • Impromptu and using instinct in reacting when things mess up in a match
  • Why Ospreay signed with AEW and why it was announced this week
  • PPV numbers early on and what is says about more PPV shows
  • Live show business notes
  • Theater business notes
  • Full match coverage
  • Sorting out the Bellator/PFL deal and looking at the business aspect, top talent, show plans, next two PPV show ideas and more
  • Company talks 2024 schedule plans for Bellator and PFL
  • The top fighters under contract at this point to the new group
  • Hall of Fame updates and reaction to last week’s issue
  • Greatest tag teams of all-time
  • A look at a likely 2024 ballot
  • A look at Survivor Series plans, plus public demand and interest level
  • A look in depth at the Continental Classic, the good and bad of it
  • A look at this last week’s UFC show and notes about future shows
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, the segment-by-segment, changes in each group, competition, and where wrestling stands in the weekly numbers
  • World title match doesn’t get over on major show and why
  • Promotion running a business deal with major company to get major discount on a famous product
  • New team will be taking over the name of one of the best tag teams in history
  • Major changes in Stardom hierarchy and what happened to lead to it
  • Stardom titles vacant and steps on filling those vacancies
  • Stardom PPV rundown
  • Fantastica Mania 2024 notes
  • What dream match was planned for January in California and where it stands right now
  • New Japan tag tournament notes
  • All Japan tag team tournament notes
  • A look back at one mystery in the death of WCW
  • Wrestlers suspended for working an unlicensed show
  • Full details on Ronda Rousey’s appearance at AEW show in Los Angeles
  • Young Bucks repackaging
  • Darby climbing Mount Everest and details
  • What day will a number of new free agents be available
  • Looking at the ones AEW could sign
  • Two new rulings in Cung Le case and what kind of money figures are being bandied about
  • A look at WWE arena business and future show ticket sales, has it peaked, what does future say
  • AEW future ticket sales
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Reigns next match and who it’s not with
  • Levesque booking philosophy
  • A look at the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week
  • Notes on December television schedule for both AEW and WWE including a show not airing, and a double taping planned

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Monday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking C.M. Punk, Tammy Sytch, MJF, QT Marshall, Raw, Match of the Year and lots of other topics on a very newsworthy Monday with Wrestling Observer radio tonight.

MJF noted today that he has a torn labrum but would be facing Samoa Joe for the AEW title on 12/30 in Uniondale, NY. Wrestlers frequently wrestle on that injury, not that it’s necessarily advisable, but it has been done. In fact, MJF had a torn labrum, although not as bad as this injury, when he did his singles PPV match with Jungle Boy which was one of the biggest matches of his career as far as elevating his stock. Right now the planned treatment is rehab and stem cell treatment rather than surgery. Devon Storm (Crowbar), who is a physical therapist wrote on Twitter, “Depending on the size and location of the ear (which is not known) and how it affects his performance MJF may be able to continue wrestling with just physical therapy and short term activity modification. He noted that if he was a quarterback or a pitcher in baseball it would be a bigger issue.

QT Marshall, who handled the format writing for AEW and was Vice President & Manage of Talent Relations, announced today that he will be leaving the promotion at the end of this year. “As much as I’ve enjoyed being a VP, Manager of Talent Relations and wearing a myriad of hats, the company has changed a lot since 2019 and is heading in a different direction and I feel that it’s best I do the same, as we only get one chance to go All In.” He thanked everyone. Marshall was super involved in many aspects and to me this is a very significant development. Marshall is close with Cody Rhodes and it’ll likely be clear soon as to what this all means.

Raw tonight is from Nashville. The first hour will be commercial free as they are going for a monster rating. With C.M. Punk and Randy Orton both on the show, they are looking at the biggest rating since the show after SummerSlam if not longer than that. The NFL will hurt, but the game is the Vikings (6-5) vs. Bears (3-8), which is an historical rivalry but neither team is among the top draws this year. Cody Rhodes also announced he would make an announcement. The show features a tag team turmoil match for a title shot with New Day, The Creeds, Giovanni Vinci & Ludvig Kaiser, Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa, Indu Sher, Otis & Akira Tozawa and perhaps others, plus Piper Niven & Chelsea Green defend the women’s tag titles against Natalya & Tegan Nox and Bronson Reed vs. Ivar. There were about 10,000 tickets out as of this morning and I’d expect a major walk-up for the show. We’re looking for live reports from Nashville with the Main Event matches and anything post-show to [email protected] Dixie Carter, who lives in Nashville, is at the show.–We’re looking for your thoughts on Survivor Series, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

The first day of the presale for All In 2024 in London was today. We have no numbers at press time which would indicate nothing remarkable, past Ton Khan saying it’s off to a good start. A lot of tickets were priced much higher than last year which was the main reaction we had, and others noted there’s no reason to rush to buy tickets with so many months left. UK historian John Lister noted that he’s definitely going to the show, but it’s not going to sell out so why put the money in Ticketmaster’s hands rather than keep it in your own hands for nine months and also figured prices would eventually drop. One person told us that a seat he paid 82 pounds for last year is now 367 pounds and that every seat in the section is over 300 pounds. From what we were told, the Fite map didn’t allow people to select a specific seat and frustrated many. Ticketmaster went up hours later and allowed people to select a seat, but it was noted the high price for the best seats.

Drew McIntyre is fine with the company in the sense he worked the main event last night in Peoria, IL in a three-way with Seth Rollins (who won of course) and Shinsuke Nakamura (who lost the fall of course). McIntyre played kind of an over-the-top babyface almost a smarmy face type role. Rollins was cheered but also had chants for Punk directed at him and he cut a promo about it, never saying Punk’s name but playing into the angle they ran on Saturday after the show.

AEW on Wednesday has Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston, Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia vs. Andrade in the Continental Classic tournament. Nothing else has been announced.

NXT tomorrow has Tony D’Angelo & Stacks Lorenzo vs. Humberto Carrillo & Angel Garza for the tag titles, and Wes Lee vs. Cameron Grimes vs,. Bronson Reed vs. Johnny Gargano with the winner facing Dominik Mysterio for the North American title at Deadline.

Our 11th book, covering 1991, is now available through Amazon around the world. For the U.S. it can be accessed here.

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was shown in a video pointing what appears to be a gun at a man whose face was blurred out and another video showing he and another person chasing someone who appears to be the same man, shoving to the ground and holding him at gunpoint as lights flash in he background. Strickland said that the man was drunk and stomping on a girl and security followed him, he hit a curb, drove on the rim, jumped out and tried to run into Strickland’s house. Strickland said he first thought the guy was stealing his car and the man was later arrested. 

Tony Ferguson’s May arrest on DUI charges was settled after a deal with prosecutors. The misdemeanor DUI charge was dismissed with Ferguson pleading no contest to a lesser charge of reckless driving on a highway. Ferguson will receive one year probation. This comes from a case in May where Ferguson was taken into custody after allegedly crashing into two parked cars outside a nightclub in Hollywood, CA.

Phil Sturm of USA Today’s Under the Ring show talked with Tom Lawlor about this match with Satoshi Kojima next week in MLW

The New Japan tag team tournament continues the tag tournament shows both tomorrow and Wednesday morning. Tomorrow in Nagoya is the Gates of Agony vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd, Great O’Khan & Henare vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste and Shota Umino & Ren Narita vs. Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa. Wednesday in Osaka has Hikuleo & El Phantasmo vs. Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza, Taichi & Yuya Uemura vs. Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr., Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki vs. Lance Archer & Alex Zayne and Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji

Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio and Seth Rollins vs Shinsuke Nakamura are being advertised as dark matches for Friday’s Smackdown tapings in Brooklyn.

At the August TMart Promotions convention in Charlotte, they will honor World Class Wrestling with Kevin Von Erich, John Nord, Rod Price, and Brian Adias, plus will honor the Von Erich family. There will also be a reunion of The Glamour Girls and Jumping Bomb Angels, who had some of the best matches on WWE house shows for a period in the late 80s.

Add Yuna Mizumori to the list of Stardom injuries. She was hurt on Saturday’s show and will be out for at least the next few shows.

Josh Bishop vs Matthew Justice was added to the 12/7 MLW show in New York at the Melrose Ballroom.