Category: Daily Updates

Daily Update: Snitsky, Jonathan Coachman, Mia Yim

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • Preview of Crown Jewel, favorites and directions
  • Preview of Full Gear, directions, business and more
  • Update on perhaps the most important business story this year and its ramifications as the Cung Le lawsuit against UFC is headed for trial next year. We talk about the trial, what it means to UFC, WWE and the MLW lawsuit against WWE. We also have notes from discovery on the actual pay that Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, CM Punk, Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones got for their biggest career fights.
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, the story behind coming one round short of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. We look at what happened, how this fight was a prelude of the change of the business of major events and why, how the PPV did and why it doesn’t really matter, the celebrities and what happens next.
  • We preview the 2023 Hall of Fame with research on the wrestlers with the best matches throughout their careers, best tag matches, annual MVP, Most Outstanding, Best Draws and best tag team votes involving candidates on the ballot or in the Hall of Fame and who comes across well in this.
  • A look at the Vladimir the Superfan documentary
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, numbers, competition, gains and losses over the last year, placings and segment-by-segment.
  • Women’s Grand Prix show draws big crowd
  • Injuries plaguing Stardom
  • Stardom PPV and tag tourney coverage
  • Big match this weekend in All Japan
  • A tag match this past week that you should see
  • Nakajima’s NOAH farewell
  • New Japan U.S. house show notes
  • Update on a women’s dream match that was planned but now is uncertain and why
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament news
  • Ronda Rousey working indies against AEW stars
  • Talks of two pro wrestlers and fights with Jake Paul
  • CM Punk talks unionization of wrestlers
  • New documentary coming out in two weeks
  • Jon Moxley returns from concussion
  • Jon Moxley talks concussion protocols
  • Impact signs two U.K. wrestlers
  • Impact U.K tour
  • Bryan Danielson injury details
  • Notes on Ric Flair’s two new deals with AEW
  • Talks on Omega vs. MJF
  • More on the CMLL/AEW deal
  • Ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
  • Merch sales
  • Derrick Lewis arrest
  • UFC pay
  • This weekend’s UFC show
  • Why FOX didn’t bid to keep Smackdown
  • Raw’s live show growth
  • Fastlane actual gate numbers
  • What record did WWE claim that doesn’t look to be accurate
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Reviews of al the major WWE house shows
  • WWE signs a three-time national college wrestling women’s champion

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

  • Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Montez Ford will be guests on Wednesday’s The Bump.
  • Gene Snitsky made a cameo appearance on one of WWE’s social media videos, meeting Chelsea Green.
  • Jade Cargill on X wrote about her current status: “Whyyyy wrestle when my BIG check clears every week baby”.
  • Matches taped for Main Event this week include Indus Sher vs. Noam Dar and Oro Mensah and Ludvig Kaiser vs. Apollo Crews.
  • Mia Yim on X wrote: “It’s been one whole year since my return. Blessed and thankful for this past year and for my OC Brothers & Uncle. I love the #MiaMilitia and I’m READY to keep on being #TheEqualizer of @wwe LET’S GET TO WORK.”
  • Wipeout, which is hosted by John Cena and Nicole Byer, will premiere Tuesday on TBS.
  • Full matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include the Chicago Street Fight between Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, from NXT TakeOver: Chicago II, Mankind vs. Carlito from Taboo Tuesday 2005, and Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn from Survivor Series 2020.

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Terrifier 2, which stars Chris Jericho, will be re-released in theaters on November 8.
  • WGNO has a story on Herman and Yvonne Clayton of New Orleans, who raised independent wrestler Luke Hawx and opened up their home to be an address for Boys Town Louisiana.
  • Former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman talked to Chris Van Vliet, who explained why he has no interest in a WWE return. “I went back to WWE in 2017 and kind of instantly knew this isn’t where I need to be, where I want to be….the people I worked with on the shows, I don’t know what it was, but didn’t want me to be there.”
  • Coachman also brought up that he had been ghosted when asked about an XFL check that had bounced, as he was doing pre-show coverage for the company at the time. “It wasn’t the money, it was the process,” he said. “I had literally done everything that I had been asked to do. And this is how you’re going to treat me? And literally, they didn’t care.“
  • The Grizzled Young Veterans will make their House of Glory debut at The Darkest Hour event on December 1.
  • MLW’s Salina de la Renta co-stars in a movie titled Cop vs. Killer, which is now available to purchase on Amazon Prime.
  • Former ECW star Francine has launched her podcast, with her first guest being Bully Ray.
  • Dean Muhtadi, the former Mojo Rawley, will appear on HGTV’s House Hunters on November 7 at 10 pm ET.
  • Chris Danger prepares for his in-ring debut at Sunday’s Deadlock Pro Wrestling show.

Daily Update: TKO business, WWE Raw, Jorge Masvidal

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • Preview of Crown Jewel, favorites and directions
  • Preview of Full Gear, directions, business and more
  • Update on perhaps the most important business story this year and its ramifications as the Cung Le lawsuit against UFC is headed for trial next year. We talk about the trial, what it means to UFC, WWE and the MLW lawsuit against WWE. We also have notes from discovery on the actual pay that Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, CM Punk, Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones got for their biggest career fights.
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, the story behind coming one round short of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. We look at what happened, how this fight was a prelude of the change of the business of major events and why, how the PPV did and why it doesn’t really matter, the celebrities and what happens next.
  • We preview the 2023 Hall of Fame with research on the wrestlers with the best matches throughout their careers, best tag matches, annual MVP, Most Outstanding, Best Draws and best tag team votes involving candidates on the ballot or in the Hall of Fame and who comes across well in this.
  • A look at the Vladimir the Superfan documentary
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, numbers, competition, gains and losses over the last year, placings and segment-by-segment.
  • Women’s Grand Prix show draws big crowd
  • Injuries plaguing Stardom
  • Stardom PPV and tag tourney coverage
  • Big match this weekend in All Japan
  • A tag match this past week that you should see
  • Nakajima’s NOAH farewell
  • New Japan U.S. house show notes
  • Update on a women’s dream match that was planned but now is uncertain and why
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament news
  • Ronda Rousey working indies against AEW stars
  • Talks of two pro wrestlers and fights with Jake Paul
  • CM Punk talks unionization of wrestlers
  • New documentary coming out in two weeks
  • Jon Moxley returns from concussion
  • Jon Moxley talks concussion protocols
  • Impact signs two U.K. wrestlers
  • Impact U.K tour
  • Bryan Danielson injury details
  • Notes on Ric Flair’s two new deals with AEW
  • Talks on Omega vs. MJF
  • More on the CMLL/AEW deal
  • Ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
  • Merch sales
  • Derrick Lewis arrest
  • UFC pay
  • This weekend’s UFC show
  • Why FOX didn’t bid to keep Smackdown
  • Raw’s live show growth
  • Fastlane actual gate numbers
  • What record did WWE claim that doesn’t look to be accurate
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Reviews of al the major WWE house shows
  • WWE signs a three-time national college wrestling women’s champion

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 television negotiations, Raw, Most Outstanding Wrestler of 2023, Giulia, NWA, Power Struggle and the rest of the latest wrestling and MMA news. We have our Hall of Fame show up on the site with several voters talking about their picks, surprisingly similar which is interesting. People have heavily praised that show to us. People have noted that there has been more Hall of Fame research done in the last year and I think a lot of voters that have studied have come to more clear consensus. 

The TKO earnings call covering WWE and UFC will be tomorrow at 5 p.m. Eastern. It will cover business from July through September. They will likely talk about advance sales for the Royal Rumble.

J.P. Morgan did a major analysis of the WWE & UFC business. They believe the stock is undervalued and should be trading at $100. It is undervalued. They estimated a 42 percent increase in the Raw rights fee to $375 million, felt that stock drop over concerns that Saudi Arabia will back the PFL to be real competition for UFC as being overblown, especially when UFC made its own deal with Saudi Arabia. Plus they expect cost savings from WWE & UFC working together. They pointed out WWE Raw costs 97 cents per viewer hour, barely one-third of the NFL and less than half of baseball. Smackdown’s new deal puts them at $1.35, but that’s misleading and will be far higher because Smackdown viewership will drop greatly with the move to USA. AEW’s TV deal is ridiculously low compared to these other entities. They list potential bidders for Raw as Disney (FX), Amazon, WBD (TBS and/or TNT) and USA. They also mentioned Apple and Netflix. They talked about a unique deal where the first two hours would air on FX and the third hour would move to Hulu. They listed WBD as a longshot due to AEW, but also felt Fox may bid for AEW after losing WWE. 

I’ve got a Sports Illustrated article regarding the battle for Will Ospreay as well as the battle for the main event spot at WrestleMania. 

Raw tonight is from Wilkes-Barre, PA with Miz (babyface) vs. Bronson Reed vs. Ricochet vs. Ivar with the winner getting an IC title shot at Gunther, a women’s Battle Royal for a title shot at Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest & Finn Balor vs. New Day in what I believe will be a non-title match plus Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Akira Tozawa. One would think they’ll be setting up directions for War Games in three weeks in Chicago. The show had 7,200 tickets out as of earlier today. We’re looking for live reports from the show with Main Event results or any things not on the live television show to [email protected]

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

Jorge Masvidal plead guilty to misdemeanor battery charges and in exchange his two felony charges were dropped from the March 2022 incident where he allegedly punched Colby Covington as Covington was coming out of a restaurant. If you think that closes the chapter, you’re wrong. As soon as it was closed, Masvidal wrote on social media, “It’s going to be a f***ing movie now. All these orders, all these restraining orders been lifted off. It’s going to be a f***ing movie.” Masvidal then went on Ariel Helwani’s show and all he talked about is what he would do if he saw Covington on the street. I can’t even imagine what the prosecution in the case would be thinking now.

Dana White announced new UFC title fights with Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title on 1/20 in Toronto, Alexander Volkanovski defending the featherweight title against Ilio Topuria in February and Sean O’Malley defending the bantamweight title against Marlon Chito Vera in March.

A story about the new “Iron Claw” movie about the Von Erich family in Entertainment Weekly. There will be a red carpet preview of the movie tomorrow night in Dallas.

As we noted in yesterday’s update, and was confirmed today by the promotion, the 11/18 Tam Nakano vs. Suzu Suzuki match for the World of Stardom title is off the Osaka show due to Nakano’s left knee injury. As of right now, no decision has been made regarding the title. There is hope of doing the match on the 12/2 Big Winter PPV show in Nagoya, but that is not a definite at this point because it’s not clear if Nakano will be ready. (thanks to Jose Gonzalez, Mori Ono and Aoi Ito)

This is Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite so far: MJF vs. Daniel Garcia for the AEW title, Samoa Joe vs. Keith Lee for the ROH TV title, Jay White vs. Mark Briscoe, Penta vs. Swerve Strickland, Julia Hart vs. Red Velvet

NXT tomorrow has :Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley in an Iron Survivor qualifying match, Dijak vs. Tyler Bate in an Iron Survivor qualifying match, Bron Breakker vs. Von Wagner, Noam Dar vs. Akira Tozawa for the Heritage Cup

Ric Flair was brought to Schembechler Hall today to speak to the University of Michigan football team. Flair is friends with Jim Harbaugh, the coach of the team, who he knew from the late 80s when Harbaugh was quarterback for the Chicago Bears. 

AEW will be doing an event on 11/16 at the Inglewood High School Gym. Paul Wight and Matt Menard will be the announcers as AEW wrestlers and fans compete in three point shooting, free throw shooting and a dunking contest. R.J. City and Lexy Nair will host a pre-show event. The event will benefit the Brotherhood Crusade, which is an organization helping to improve the quality of life for low-income, underserved and under-represented disenfranchised people.

Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili was teased by both fighters on social media.

Wipeout with John Cena debuts its new season on TBS tomorrow at 9 p.m., head-to-head with NXT.

MLW has added a ladder match with Rickey Shane Page & Akira vs. 1 Called Manders & Matthew Justice for its 11/18 FITE+ special from Philadelphia.

The Grizzled Young Veterans appear for House of Glory Wrestling On 12/1 at the NYC Arena in New York. The Mane Event tag team of Midas Black & Jay Lyon defend their tag titles against Zack Gibson & James Drake, the former Dyad from NXT. Matt Cardona vs. Mike Santana for the HOG title is the main event, plus Swerve Strickland vs. Mike Bailey which on paper looks like a tremendous matchup is also on the show.

Impact will be doing a Throwdown Thursday comedy show on Saturday night in Mississauaga, ONT at the Dan Kolov Arena. It’s a comedy show where Impact talent will play characters out of a 1970s low-rent regional promotion.

The return of WaleMania will be 4/4 in Philadelphia at the Franklin Music Hall.

Results from yesterday’s Samurai TV 27th Anniversary Fan Appreciation Festival: Sakura Hirota & Ayako Sato b Humko Hoshi b Ibuki Hoshi & Arisa Shinose & Tsukasa Fujimoto, Aja Kong & Hiroyo Matsumoto & Ryo Mizunami b Yuuri & Yukari Hosokawa & Kaede Mtsushita, Arisa Nakaima & Saki & Haruka Umesaki b Maya Yukihi & Ungai Sayaka & Riko Kaiju,Abdullah Kobayashi & Batten x Burabura & Kankuro Hoshino b Danshoku Dino & Gorgeous Matsuno & Makoto Oishi, Yuya Aoki & Musashi & Shoki Kitamura & Takuya Nomura b Masato Tanaka & Daisuke Sekimoto & Kazunai Murakami & Yuji Hino. They also had talk segments with Keiji Muto and Kaito Kiyomiya, where Muto talked about his WCW days and knocked wrestlers doing dangerous things. Shota Umino also had a talk segment with Masahiro Chono, talking about New Japan, Will Ospreay and Chono’s five G-1 tournament wins. (thanks to Wrestling Nutshell)

Daily Update: Weekend matches, WWE Survior Series, Grizzled Young Veterans

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • Preview of Crown Jewel, favorites and directions
  • Preview of Full Gear, directions, business and more
  • Update on perhaps the most important business story this year and its ramifications as the Cung Le lawsuit against UFC is headed for trial next year. We talk about the trial, what it means to UFC, WWE and the MLW lawsuit against WWE. We also have notes from discovery on the actual pay that Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, CM Punk, Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones got for their biggest career fights.
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, the story behind coming one round short of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. We look at what happened, how this fight was a prelude of the change of the business of major events and why, how the PPV did and why it doesn’t really matter, the celebrities and what happens next.
  • We preview the 2023 Hall of Fame with research on the wrestlers with the best matches throughout their careers, best tag matches, annual MVP, Most Outstanding, Best Draws and best tag team votes involving candidates on the ballot or in the Hall of Fame and who comes across well in this.
  • A look at the Vladimir the Superfan documentary
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, numbers, competition, gains and losses over the last year, placings and segment-by-segment.
  • Women’s Grand Prix show draws big crowd
  • Injuries plaguing Stardom
  • Stardom PPV and tag tourney coverage
  • Big match this weekend in All Japan
  • A tag match this past week that you should see
  • Nakajima’s NOAH farewell
  • New Japan U.S. house show notes
  • Update on a women’s dream match that was planned but now is uncertain and why
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament news
  • Ronda Rousey working indies against AEW stars
  • Talks of two pro wrestlers and fights with Jake Paul
  • CM Punk talks unionization of wrestlers
  • New documentary coming out in two weeks
  • Jon Moxley returns from concussion
  • Jon Moxley talks concussion protocols
  • Impact signs two U.K. wrestlers
  • Impact U.K tour
  • Bryan Danielson injury details
  • Notes on Ric Flair’s two new deals with AEW
  • Talks on Omega vs. MJF
  • More on the CMLL/AEW deal
  • Ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
  • Merch sales
  • Derrick Lewis arrest
  • UFC pay
  • This weekend’s UFC show
  • Why FOX didn’t bid to keep Smackdown
  • Raw’s live show growth
  • Fastlane actual gate numbers
  • What record did WWE claim that doesn’t look to be accurate
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Reviews of al the major WWE house shows
  • WWE signs a three-time national college wrestling women’s champion

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Update

We have a big weekend full of shows on the site. We did our Hall of Fame show with John Pollock, John Muse, John Lister, myself and Garrett Gonzlaes on Friday which we’ve got a lot of great feedback on. Last night Bryan and I talked about Crown Jewel, New Japan Power Struggle, Collision and more. Bryan and I will be back tomorrow night after Raw.

This was a big weekend for matches. The three great ones I’ve seen were Will Osperay vs. Shota Umino from Power Struggle, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre from Crown Jewel and El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Penta vs. Komander from Rampage. All totally different. I haven’t seen Yuma Aoyagi vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima match from today yet, but the reports we got were that it was tremendous. Nakajima won the Triple Crown and this sets up his first title defense against Kento Miyahara on New Year’s Eve at the Yoyogi Gym in Tokyo. The first Nakajima vs Miyahara match at Korakuen Hall was one of the year’s best matches.

We’re looking for your thoughts on Crown Jewel and Power Struggle, thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match from each show to [email protected]. We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s WWE house show in Springfield, MA, results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

On the Google searches for the week, both yesterday’s UFC show in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Crown Jewel got 200,000 searches. Both would be higher than one would expect given the changes in how they do that, particularly for the UFC show being an ESPN+ show and not television, with no major stars except Derrick Lewis. Lewis was controlled on the ground for 21 minutes of a 25 minute fight against Jailton Almeida in losing a decision.

Little in the way of news coming out of Crown Jewel past the return of Kairi Sane, affiliated with Iyo Sky while Bayley was not aware of this and they are pushing that Bayley was the one who injured Sky and that’s why she’s been gone.

War Games headlines the next WWE PLE on 11/25. There’s likely a men and women’s match. One would think the key angles will be set up on Raw tomorrow night in Wilkes-Barre, PA. It feels like it’s either Judgment Day against babyfaces like Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso and others, or a combined Judgment Day and Bloodline heel team against babyfaces from both brands. Roman Reigns isn’t booked on the show.

Chloe Fineman of Saturday Night Live cast was at Arena Mexico on Friday night. I don’t think anyone in the promotion knew she was there. She wrote on Instagram ” Best night of my life!!!” and thanked people for recommending her. It was the Day of the Dead holiday show and they sold out with a walk-up which is close to 16,000.

Results from last night’s WWE house show in Rochester, NY:

  • Carlito & Cruz Del Toro b Street Profits when Carlito spit the apple at Ford and pinned him after a backstabber
  • Karrion Kross b Butch with a swinging facebuster.
  • Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa b Ludvig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci
  • Kofi Kingston b Ivar in a Viking Rules match after putting him through a table
  • Omos b Akira Tozawa. MVP was with Oos and issued an open challenge. Tozawa came out. MVP distracted Tozawa before the finish.
  • Becky Lynch b Natalya with the man handle slam
  • Gunther won a three-way to keep the IC title over Ricochet and Shinsuke Nakamura with a power bomb on Ricochet after a ref bump and interference by Imperium.

On MMA Decisions, I looked at last week’s Fury-Ngannou fight. Among fans it was 57% for Ngannou and 38% for Fury and 4% had it a draw. Among reporters it was 67% for Fury and 33% for Ngannou but there were not a lot of reporters scoring the fight. All the people calling robbery have no idea what a robbery is. It was a fight with a lot of close rounds that could have been scored either way and all three judges’ scores were acceptable.

Alex Pereira was announced last night as the third member of the Glory kickboxing Hall of Fame. They announced it at the Glory show in Holland. Pereira wasn’t there since he’s finishing up his training for his Madison Square Garden main event with Jiri Prochazka.

The Grizzled Young Veterans return to Progress for the first time since 2019. They sent in a video where they called out Sunshine Machine for a match at The Light of the Dragon show on 1/28.

With Tam Nakano out with a knee injury, she may not be back by the 11/18 show in Osaka where she was to defend the World of Stardom title against Suzu Suzuki. Usually in Japan, if there is a title match announced and advertised, and an injury takes place, they will strip the champion of the title and have a title match on the show. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it is the usual way it’s done. Stardom at this point hasn’t announced anything officially.

Today is the tenth anniversary of the death of Roland Alexander, best known from Beyond the Mat and promoter of All Pro Wrestling. When I was very young, Roland Alexander and Moondog Moretti (the grandfather of Nick Wayne) were the fans at every show who knew all the inside info and history. He was one of our earliest readers and read avidly until his death.

Tetsuya Naito will be undergoing right eye surgery to repair the double vision that he’s dealt with since 2019. He will be out of action until probably the Tokyo Dome show.

Michael Oku beat Luke Jacobs on today’s RevPro show and Oku’s next title defense will be 12/16 at the Crystal Palace in London against Zack Gibson, formerly Rip Fowler of The Dyad.

Eddie “Primo” Colon is part of the new Florida tag team champions with Papi D for Florida Pro Wrestling. They won the titles Friday night in Viera, FL at a show at the Space Coast State Fair. There will be more live events Friday through Sunday this coming week.

Great North Wrestling in Renfrew, ONT from last night before 30-0 fans: Steve Mainz b Karou, Rene Dupree b Josh Angel, Magnum McLaren b Skyles, Selezia Sparkx by Jessika Black, Jeremy Prophet b Genesis, Big Daddy Roy b Bjorg, Bruiser b Hardcore Steve, Renee Dupree b Magnus McLaren-DQ so Magnus retained the Canadian title. Next show is 2/10.

Emi Sakura was scheduled to work a Dai Kailu Pro show last night with Bailyan Akki but was pulled at the last minute since AEW scheduled her to work with Willow Nightingale. Akki did work on the show.

GCW from Friday night in Sauget, IL: Blake Christian b Warhorse, Jordan Oliver won three-way over Man Like DeReiss and Alec Price, Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin b Davey Bang & August Matthews, MaKI Itoh b Shazza McKenzie, Gringo Loco b Mike Bailey, Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku b Allie Katch & Effy, Santana Jackson b Dan the Dad, Tony Deppen won five-way, Masha Slamovich b Joey Janela, Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander b Everett Connors & Charli Evans, Jimmy Lloyd & Miedo Extremo & Ciclope b 1 Called Manders & John Wayne Murdoch & Mance Warner.

Daily Update: LA Knight, B-Fab, Scott D’Amore

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • Preview of Crown Jewel, favorites and directions
  • Preview of Full Gear, directions, business and more
  • Update on perhaps the most important business story this year and its ramifications as the Cung Le lawsuit against UFC is headed for trial next year. We talk about the trial, what it means to UFC, WWE and the MLW lawsuit against WWE. We also have notes from discovery on the actual pay that Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, CM Punk, Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones got for their biggest career fights.
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, the story behind coming one round short of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. We look at what happened, how this fight was a prelude of the change of the business of major events and why, how the PPV did and why it doesn’t really matter, the celebrities and what happens next.
  • We preview the 2023 Hall of Fame with research on the wrestlers with the best matches throughout their careers, best tag matches, annual MVP, Most Outstanding, Best Draws and best tag team votes involving candidates on the ballot or in the Hall of Fame and who comes across well in this.
  • A look at the Vladimir the Superfan documentary
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, numbers, competition, gains and losses over the last year, placings and segment-by-segment.
  • Women’s Grand Prix show draws big crowd
  • Injuries plaguing Stardom
  • Stardom PPV and tag tourney coverage
  • Big match this weekend in All Japan
  • A tag match this past week that you should see
  • Nakajima’s NOAH farewell
  • New Japan U.S. house show notes
  • Update on a women’s dream match that was planned but now is uncertain and why
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament news
  • Ronda Rousey working indies against AEW stars
  • Talks of two pro wrestlers and fights with Jake Paul
  • CM Punk talks unionization of wrestlers
  • New documentary coming out in two weeks
  • Jon Moxley returns from concussion
  • Jon Moxley talks concussion protocols
  • Impact signs two U.K. wrestlers
  • Impact U.K tour
  • Bryan Danielson injury details
  • Notes on Ric Flair’s two new deals with AEW
  • Talks on Omega vs. MJF
  • More on the CMLL/AEW deal
  • Ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
  • Merch sales
  • Derrick Lewis arrest
  • UFC pay
  • This weekend’s UFC show
  • Why FOX didn’t bid to keep Smackdown
  • Raw’s live show growth
  • Fastlane actual gate numbers
  • What record did WWE claim that doesn’t look to be accurate
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Reviews of al the major WWE house shows
  • WWE signs a three-time national college wrestling women’s champion

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

  • Ahead of Crown Jewel, The Ringer published a profile of LA Knight. Knight said he’s made himself undeniable through the work he’s put in:
          • “This is my first Crown Jewel show,” Knight says, “and I’m at the top of the card.” Knight understands the enormity of this moment, but understands why he’s in that position, calling this match “a hell of a testament to the work that I put in, but also just the people making it. Last time we were in Saudi Arabia, the whole crowd just chanting ‘LA Knight,’ right at Triple H. At some point, it’s undeniable. And I’ve made myself undeniable.”
  • Knight also discussed drawing inspiration from past wrestlers:
          • “I’m not trying to be a tribute act to anybody,” Knight states plainly. “Do I draw from some of that? Sure I do. Did Flair draw from Nature Boy Buddy Rogers? Sure he did. Did Hogan draw from Dusty Rhodes? Did he draw from Superstar Billy Graham? Of course he did.” Knight admits that the Attitude Era was huge for him as a fan, and that isn’t lost on the legends who take notice of his work. “One of the greatest things that I kind of get from time to time is getting older guys, especially, who just go, ‘Man, I haven’t watched in years, but you’ve gotten me back into it,’” Knight explains. “‘You give me that feeling that I used to get from it,’ and I go, ‘OK, good. Then I’m doing my damn job.’”
  • The Daily Mail asked Knight if he had any interaction with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when Johnson made a surprise appearance on SmackDown this September: “I mean, just a quick kind of, you know, bro hug and ‘Hey, man, how you been? You’re doing great, awesome!’ You know, all that kind of stuff. But at least it was a quick little ‘good to see again.’”
  • AEW star Eddie Kingston praised Knight during an interview with Adrian Hernandez. Kingston and Knight previously worked together in the NWA. Kingston said:
          • “I liked him. He’s a good dude. I’m so happy for LA Knight. That dude busts his ass. We all did. To see him get the love that he’s getting and being able to perform on that big stage, I salute him.”
  • I previewed the Crown Jewel card for Sports Illustrated and gave my predictions for each match.
  • On SmackDown last night, it was teased that B-Fab could be joining Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits. There was a backstage segment where B-Fab requested to meet with Lashley.
  • Big E, Andreas Hale, and Jonathan Davenport appeared on Hot 97 to discuss their short film “Bridges.”

AEW/Other Wrestling

Daily Update: Grayson Waller, AEW Rampage, NJPW Power Struggle

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • Preview of Crown Jewel, favorites and directions
  • Preview of Full Gear, directions, business and more
  • Update on perhaps the most important business story this year and its ramifications as the Cung Le lawsuit against UFC is headed for trial next year. We talk about the trial, what it means to UFC, WWE and the MLW lawsuit against WWE. We also have notes from discovery on the actual pay that Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, CM Punk, Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones got for their biggest career fights.
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, the story behind coming one round short of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. We look at what happened, how this fight was a prelude of the change of the business of major events and why, how the PPV did and why it doesn’t really matter, the celebrities and what happens next.
  • We preview the 2023 Hall of Fame with research on the wrestlers with the best matches throughout their careers, best tag matches, annual MVP, Most Outstanding, Best Draws and best tag team votes involving candidates on the ballot or in the Hall of Fame and who comes across well in this.
  • A look at the Vladimir the Superfan documentary
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, numbers, competition, gains and losses over the last year, placings and segment-by-segment.
  • Women’s Grand Prix show draws big crowd
  • Injuries plaguing Stardom
  • Stardom PPV and tag tourney coverage
  • Big match this weekend in All Japan
  • A tag match this past week that you should see
  • Nakajima’s NOAH farewell
  • New Japan U.S. house show notes
  • Update on a women’s dream match that was planned but now is uncertain and why
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament news
  • Ronda Rousey working indies against AEW stars
  • Talks of two pro wrestlers and fights with Jake Paul
  • CM Punk talks unionization of wrestlers
  • New documentary coming out in two weeks
  • Jon Moxley returns from concussion
  • Jon Moxley talks concussion protocols
  • Impact signs two U.K. wrestlers
  • Impact U.K tour
  • Bryan Danielson injury details
  • Notes on Ric Flair’s two new deals with AEW
  • Talks on Omega vs. MJF
  • More on the CMLL/AEW deal
  • Ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
  • Merch sales
  • Derrick Lewis arrest
  • UFC pay
  • This weekend’s UFC show
  • Why FOX didn’t bid to keep Smackdown
  • Raw’s live show growth
  • Fastlane actual gate numbers
  • What record did WWE claim that doesn’t look to be accurate
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Reviews of al the major WWE house shows
  • WWE signs a three-time national college wrestling women’s champion

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

We just finished our annual Hall of Fame show with Garrett Gonzales, with guests John Pollock, John Muse and John Lister and it’s up on the site now. Bryan and I will be doing our weekend show tomorrow covering both Crown Jewel and Power Struggle.

We do have it confirmed that Grayson Waller is right now in Saudi Arabia. Waller had been booked on the shows in Rochester, NY and Springfield, MA, but was pulled and made a late addition to Crown Jewel, likely doing a talk segment.

Rampage tonight at 10 p.m. on TNT has:

  • El Hijo del Vikingo vs Penta vs. Komander
  • Marina Shafir vs. Skye Blue
  • Daniel Garcia vs. Trent Baretta
  • The Gunn Brothers vs. Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal
  • The three-way from the live reports we got was tremendous.

New Japan Power Struggle starts at about 3:30 a.m. Eastern from Osaka:

  • Mochizuki Jr. & Yoshiki Kato & Strong Machine J of Dragon Gate face three New Japan wrestlers
  • David Finlay vs. Tanga Loa
  • Sanada & Yuya Uemura vs. Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji
  • Jon Moxley vs. Great O’Khan
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii defend the Never trios titles against Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls
  • Hiromu Takahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP jr. title
  • Sho & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. TJP & Franceco Akira in the finals of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Will Ospreay vs. Shota Umino for the U.S. and U.K. titles
  • Ospreay did a great promo at today’s press conference for the match, basically saying that he’s leaving New Japan next year and that Umino needs to be able to step up and carry things and he tried to light a fire under him. This is the new biggest match of Umino’s career. 

We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

  • AEW Collision tomorrow night in Wichita, KS (only the stuff not on live television)
  • WWE house show tomorrow night in Rochester, NY
  • WWE house show Sunday night in Springfield, MA
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

We are also doing two weekend polls, for WWE Crown Jewel tomorrow in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and New Japan Power Struggle tomorrow in Osaka. You can leave as thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for both shows to [email protected]

The 1/29 Raw at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, the day after the Royal Rumble, already has 10,818 tickets out, so this will sell out well in advance. Likely a ton of people are traveling in as the Royal Rumble has sold more than 25,000 tickets already.

Impact last night had 86,000 viewers and did a 0.01 18-49 rating.

A big Triple Crown title match with Yuma Aoyagi vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima headlines for All Japan on Sunday in Sapporo. Kento Miyahara & T-Hawk vs. Yuma Anzai & Ryuli Honda is the semi coming off the tremendous Miyahara & Aoyagi vs. Anzai & Honda match a few days ago.

Arena Mexico tonight has its Halloween night show with Stuka Jr. vs. Barbaaro Cavernario on top in a Rey del Inframundo title match. This title is only defended on Halloween week every year. Mistico & Mascara Dorada faces Soberano Jr & Volador Jr., in what promises to be a great match.

UFC is on ESPN+ from 6 p.m. Eastern to midnight tomorrow night from Sao Paulo, Brazil:

  • Kaue Fernandes (155) vs. Marc Diakiese (155)
  • Eduarda Moura (119.5) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (114.5) – Moura missed weight by 3.5 pounds and was fined 30 percent of her purse
  • Angela Hill (115.5) vs Denise Gomes (115.5)
  • Vitor Petrino (206) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (205.5)
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov (170.5) vs. Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos (171)
  • Elves Brebner (164) vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky (165)
  • Rodolfo Vieira (185.5) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186)
  • Caio Borrralho (186) vs. Abus Magomedov (185)
  • Rodrigo Nascimento (264) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (264)
  • Grabrel Bonfim (170.5) vs. Nicolas Dalby (170.5)
  • Derrick Lewis (265) vs. Jailton Almeida (236)
  • Two fights were canceled today. Ismael Bonfim was to face Vinc Pichel, but Bonfim weighed 3.5 pounds over. Victor Hugo was to face Daniel Mrcos, but Hugo weighed in 2.5 pounds over.

Pro Wrestling Eve Wrestle Queendom is 11/10 in Walthamstow UK. The show features Tokyo Joshi Pro International champion Max the Impaler defending against Kasey, Konami vs. Masha Slamovich, Anita Vaughn vs. Skye Smitson and more. Only a few tickets are left for the show. They also run 11/19 in Tufnell Park in London at The Dome with Miyu Yamashita defending the Eve title against Safire Reed plus International champion Yuu vs. Rhio and Su Yung vs. Smitson.

WWE put tickets on sale today for pretty much most of the January and February dates:

  • 1/5 Smackdown is in Vancouver
  • 1/6 house show in Spokane
  • 1/7 house show in Wenatchee, WA
  • 1/8 Raw in Portland, OR
  • 1/12 Smackdown in Lincoln, NE
  • 1/13 house show in Las Cruces, NM
  • 1/14 house show in Rio Rancho, NM
  • 1/15 Raw in North Little Rock, AR
  • 1/19 Smackdown in Atlanta
  • 1/20 house show in Montgomery, AL
  • 1/21 house show in Jackson, MS
  • 1/22 Raw in New Orleans
  • 1/26 Smackdown in Miami
  • 2/2 Smackdown in Birmingham
  • 2/5 Raw in St. Louis
  • 2/9 Smackdown inCharlotte
  • 2/12 Raw in Lexington, KY
  • 2/16 Smackdown in Salt Lake City
  • 2/17 house show in Oakland
  • 2/18 house show in Fresno
  • 2/19 Raw in Anaheim, CA
  • 2/26 Raw in San Jose
  • 3/1 Smackdown in Glendale, AZ
  • 3/4 Raw in San Antonio
  • 3/8 Smackdown in Dallas
  • 3/22 Smackdown in Milwaukee

Daily Update: New Year Dash, Crown Jewel, new Dynamite segment

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performers of the week
  • The history of UFC and WWE together
  • How Vince McMahon is responsible for UFC taking off and why
  • Dirty tricks McMahon tried to play on UFC and blasting it when it got popular
  • Dana White talks about his prior and current changes in relationship with McMahon
  • How Vince McMahon viewed UFC when it first broke through
  • The first attempt at Undertaker vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania and why it didn’t happen
  • How things have changed since the merger and what Vince’s role in UFC is now
  • Jon Jones injury, why Stipe Miocic is off, and what are the different possibilities going forward in the heavyweight division
  • A look at the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight
  • Business notes on what was expected to be a record setting show
  • Preview of Crown Jewel and Full Gear and matches announced and other things built up
  • WWE goes with more international major shows in 2024
  • Rundown of Impact changing to TNA and what it will and won’t mean
  • The decline of TNA and change to Impact years ago
  • What changes to expect with the move back to TNA
  • The story behind the Bound for Glory main event
  • Business notes on Bound for Glory
  • Match-by-match coverage
  • Hall of Fame ceremony
  • UFC 204 coverage and what next for the top stars of the show
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, and how once again Saudi Arabia has changed the economic necessities of a big fight
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all of the wrestling shows, as well as segment-by-segment and comparison and where shows were up and down
  • Blue Panther 45th anniversary event
  • Stardom bad injury situation
  • All Japan annual tag team tournament
  • Why two Japanese wrestlers disappeared in April
  • Great Triple Crown title match
  • Future of Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag tourney
  • Cain Velasquez first interview
  • Mexican legend survives scary hospital stay
  • British J Cup
  • Wrestling star expects to announce a new TV series in November
  • Ric Flair in AEW
  • AEW December PPV and its competition
  • Jon Moxley on battles with addiction
  • Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Pitch for independent star to AEW
  • How many matches top AEW stars have done
  • Controversy over UFC business deal
  • Peacock subscription number and financial losses
  • Memo all WWE employees received and how this has changed the stock price
  • Tickets now available for Survivor Series and why
  • WWE NIL talent in college wrestling notes
  • A look at the WWE shows over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • PWInsider reports that the belief among those they’ve spoken to is that “Vince McMahon and possibly even Ari Emanuel” will be attending WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this Saturday.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Carmelo Hayes discussed working the same NXT episode as John Cena and The Undertaker:
          • It was like a dream. It was like a fever dream. It’s funny, a lot of people kept, you know, hitting me up the day after and you know, that night. It was like I almost couldn’t believe that it happened, but there was that moment where you’re like, look, I’m a pro and I’m gonna be in this moment and I understand the assignment, and then there was a moment where I was a little kid. I’m like, shoot, this is pretty cool, man, this is really cool. The whole thing with Taker at the end, I didn’t know that was gonna happen. I didn’t know what to do. I just kind of was like, let me just walk back with him and he walked me through the whole thing with the pose and everything. I was just sitting there like a kid. I remember walking back through, I was like, that was so freakin’ cool. He just patted me on the back. But it was a great moment, just a cool experience, and something I’ll never forget.
  • Hayes also spoke about advice he’s gotten from Undertaker:
          • I actually talked to Taker a bunch of times before that. He actually sat down with me one time for like an hour and we just talked. Same thing with Cena. So I mean, it wasn’t my first interaction with these guys, which is probably better because now they’re familiar with me. I’m familiar with them. But yeah, I mean, any opportunity I get to talk to Taker, any opportunity I get to talk to Paul Heyman and John Cena, I take every single one. Those guys are more than generous with their time, especially with young talent that wants to learn, and we all want to learn at NXT so you know, they were very, very gracious with their time for sure.
  • During an appearance on the UnDrafted AllStarz Podcast Show, Big E praised The Usos for how they’ve elevated their careers. Big E said New Day’s Hell in a Cell match against The Usos is his favorite match of his career:
          • My favorite match is probably – so we had a Hell in a Cell match with The Usos. At the time, tag team wrestling had really not been elevated like that. Like, you never have an opportunity to have 30 minutes on a pay-per-view inside of Hell in a Cell. Those two guys are incredible. To see where The Usos have gone now, to see the way they’ve elevated their careers, is just beyond impressive.
  • LA Knight, Lex Luger, and Johnny Gargano were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • Today is Knight’s 41st birthday.
  • For a video on WWE’s YouTube channel, John Cena rewatched some of his classic matches against Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and more.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • An Adam Copeland segment has been added to the lineup for tonight’s episode of Dynamite. AEW has announced that we’ll hear from Copeland on the episode.
  • NJPW officially announced that New Year Dash 2024 will take place on Friday, January 5. The show will be held at a new venue, Sumida City Gymnasium in Tokyo. Chris Charlton wrote: “New Year Dash in a new venue for NJPW next year! Sumida City Gymnasium looks great for the most surprising show of the year. I’m assured we’ll have international ticket purchases available so stay tuned end of this month/start of next”
  • The Hollywood Reporter named AEW World Champion MJF on its list of 25 potential new action stars. MJF is making his film debut as Lance Von Erich in “The Iron Claw.”
  • Ring the Belle has an interview with Kris Statlander.
  • Brawn Body Health and Fitness interviewed Mark Briscoe.
  • A new patch for AEW’s Fight Forever video game was released today.
  • A Loser Leaves MLW match with Matt Cardona facing Mance Warner has been added to the card for MLW Fightland in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 18. The show is airing live on Fite+.
  • Mariah May announced that she’s releasing a photobook titled “The Glamour: Volume I.” The photobook is by Portrait of a Wrestler.
  • Billy Gunn turns 60 years old today.

Daily Update: Mr. Stone, Shotzi, Katsuhiko Nakajima

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performers of the week
  • The history of UFC and WWE together
  • How Vince McMahon is responsible for UFC taking off and why
  • Dirty tricks McMahon tried to play on UFC and blasting it when it got popular
  • Dana White talks about his prior and current changes in relationship with McMahon
  • How Vince McMahon viewed UFC when it first broke through
  • The first attempt at Undertaker vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania and why it didn’t happen
  • How things have changed since the merger and what Vince’s role in UFC is now
  • Jon Jones injury, why Stipe Miocic is off, and what are the different possibilities going forward in the heavyweight division
  • A look at the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight
  • Business notes on what was expected to be a record setting show
  • Preview of Crown Jewel and Full Gear and matches announced and other things built up
  • WWE goes with more international major shows in 2024
  • Rundown of Impact changing to TNA and what it will and won’t mean
  • The decline of TNA and change to Impact years ago
  • What changes to expect with the move back to TNA
  • The story behind the Bound for Glory main event
  • Business notes on Bound for Glory
  • Match-by-match coverage
  • Hall of Fame ceremony
  • UFC 204 coverage and what next for the top stars of the show
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, and how once again Saudi Arabia has changed the economic necessities of a big fight
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all of the wrestling shows, as well as segment-by-segment and comparison and where shows were up and down
  • Blue Panther 45th anniversary event
  • Stardom bad injury situation
  • All Japan annual tag team tournament
  • Why two Japanese wrestlers disappeared in April
  • Great Triple Crown title match
  • Future of Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag tourney
  • Cain Velasquez first interview
  • Mexican legend survives scary hospital stay
  • British J Cup
  • Wrestling star expects to announce a new TV series in November
  • Ric Flair in AEW
  • AEW December PPV and its competition
  • Jon Moxley on battles with addiction
  • Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Pitch for independent star to AEW
  • How many matches top AEW stars have done
  • Controversy over UFC business deal
  • Peacock subscription number and financial losses
  • Memo all WWE employees received and how this has changed the stock price
  • Tickets now available for Survivor Series and why
  • WWE NIL talent in college wrestling notes
  • A look at the WWE shows over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • Mr. Stone talked to PWInsider ahead of his match against Bron Breakker at NXT Halloween Havoc on Tuesday. “So, this you know, when I first heard getting back in the ring, the first thing is excitement,” he said. “You know, I can still do this. I’m still in great shape. I could get it done. But then when reality sets in, I am not going to lie that I’ve had my moments of okay, this is Bron Breakker. He’s, you know, almost half my age. He’s a former NXT world champion. He almost ended my best friend’s career, you know, is this the right guy that I should be going in the ring with? I don’t know but it’s happening. And you know now I’ve gotten to a point where I’m kind of empty minded about it. I’m just, I’m excited about it. I’m going to see what happens and I think I am going to be able to perform at my best. And I think, you know I think I’m gonna shock a lot of people.”
  • Seth Rollins eats his last meal on Mythical Kitchen.
  • LA Knight will appear on The Bump Wednesday in a sit-down interview. Lex Luger will be in the studio.
  • WWE has a video showing the timeline of Knight’s time on the main roster.
  • Rhea Ripley stars in a commercial for Dish Network.
  • Austin Theory was interviewed by WWLP 22 News ahead of WWE’s house show in Springfield, Massachusetts on Sunday.
  • Karl Anderson and his wife have welcomed a new son.
  • Carlito’s new theme is now on YouTube.
  • The Boogeyman and Scarlett star in a Halloween-themed video on WWE’s YouTube.
  • WWE’s YouTube also has a playlist of every match featuring Finn Balor’s demon persona.
  • Bayley, Scarlett, and Shotzi visit the Winchester Mystery House.
  • Sports Illustrated interviewed Shotzi about hosting Halloween Havoc. “Halloween means so much to me, I couldn’t miss it,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn to the spookier side of things. I’ve always loved horror movies, and I think I inherited that from my dad. I love this too much not to be involved.”
  • Full matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match from the June 27, 2017 episode of SmackDown, Booker T vs. The Boogeyman from WrestleMania 22, and Kane vs. The Undertaker from WrestleMania XX.

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • AEW has a five-hour playlist of MJF’s AEW World Championship title reign.
  • In a statement, NJPW has asked for fans to refrain from contact with NJPW stars outside of “officially designated fan meeting events”.
  • Former Stardom star Mariah May is teasing something for Wednesday called Mariah May: Portrait of a Wrestler.
  • Athena will appear at Wrestling Revolver’s Unreal event on November 16.
  • After leaving Pro Wrestling NOAH, Katsuhiko Nakajima appeared in AJPW and has issued a challenge for the Triple Crown Championship. The match was later made official for November 5 in Sapporo.
  • Nakajima has also opened his own web store.
  • Sports Illustrated interviewed Tetsyua Naito ahead of his match against SANADA at WrestleKingdom 18, teasing he may do the Stardust press.
  • GCW confirmed that the 2024 Collective event will take place April 4-6 at The Auditorium in Penns Landing Caterers.
  • Josh Alexander vs. Timothy Thatcher is set for Prestige Wrestling’s Roseland 7 event on January 5.
  • PWInsider spoke to WOW’s Erica ‘Jungle Girrl’ Porter, who is battling stage 4 breast cancer.
  • Bill Apter interviewed Torrie Wilson.

Daily Update: Bryan Danielson, WWE Raw, Creed Brothers

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performers of the week
  • The history of UFC and WWE together
  • How Vince McMahon is responsible for UFC taking off and why
  • Dirty tricks McMahon tried to play on UFC and blasting it when it got popular
  • Dana White talks about his prior and current changes in relationship with McMahon
  • How Vince McMahon viewed UFC when it first broke through
  • The first attempt at Undertaker vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania and why it didn’t happen
  • How things have changed since the merger and what Vince’s role in UFC is now
  • Jon Jones injury, why Stipe Miocic is off, and what are the different possibilities going forward in the heavyweight division
  • A look at the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight
  • Business notes on what was expected to be a record setting show
  • Preview of Crown Jewel and Full Gear and matches announced and other things built up
  • WWE goes with more international major shows in 2024
  • Rundown of Impact changing to TNA and what it will and won’t mean
  • The decline of TNA and change to Impact years ago
  • What changes to expect with the move back to TNA
  • The story behind the Bound for Glory main event
  • Business notes on Bound for Glory
  • Match-by-match coverage
  • Hall of Fame ceremony
  • UFC 204 coverage and what next for the top stars of the show
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, and how once again Saudi Arabia has changed the economic necessities of a big fight
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all of the wrestling shows, as well as segment-by-segment and comparison and where shows were up and down
  • Blue Panther 45th anniversary event
  • Stardom bad injury situation
  • All Japan annual tag team tournament
  • Why two Japanese wrestlers disappeared in April
  • Great Triple Crown title match
  • Future of Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag tourney
  • Cain Velasquez first interview
  • Mexican legend survives scary hospital stay
  • British J Cup
  • Wrestling star expects to announce a new TV series in November
  • Ric Flair in AEW
  • AEW December PPV and its competition
  • Jon Moxley on battles with addiction
  • Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Pitch for independent star to AEW
  • How many matches top AEW stars have done
  • Controversy over UFC business deal
  • Peacock subscription number and financial losses
  • Memo all WWE employees received and how this has changed the stock price
  • Tickets now available for Survivor Series and why
  • WWE NIL talent in college wrestling notes
  • A look at the WWE shows over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Monday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering Raw as well as the latest pro wrestling news.

Regarding the story earlier today by Justin Barasso of Sports Illustrated that the injury to Bryan Danielson actually took place against Andrade on Collision and not in the tag match last Wednesday, we’ve been told that is accurate. That would mean he actually worked a match on Wednesday with the injury and his selling at the end was planned to use the injury in storyline to involve Orange Cassidy and Kazuchika Okada. No word on how long Danielson will be out of action. But they were originally hopeful that the injury wouldn’t require surgery.

Raw tonight is from Greenville, SC and this would be on paper the toughest night of competition with both game three of the World Series and the NFL, which has the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Detroit Lions . But WWE programming has held up well last week against the baseball playoffs. It’s the Raw go-home show for Crown Jewel with Seth Rollins vs. JD McDonagh in a non-title match, Chelsea Green vs. Natalya in a Trick or Street fight match, Chad Gable & Otis vs. The Creeds making their debut, Dominik Mysterio vs. Ricochet in a non-title match, the first Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa tag match in three years against Giovanni Vinci & Ludvig Kaiser and Candice LeRae vs. Xia Li. There were about 7,500 tickets out as of earlier today for the show.

As noted as of yesterday the plan was for the Creeds to be brought up to the main roster and today’s show being their debut, which means it’s very important they look good.

Both NXT tomorrow and AEW on Wednesday also go against games four and five of the World Series. If a game six is necessary, it would go against both Smackdown and Rampage. That would also mean Smackdown would be on FS 1. A game seven would go Saturday against Collision.

NXT has one of its biggest lineups of the year on Halloween night. NXT is unique of all the shows in the sense that competition usually doesn’t hurt it as bad. But Halloween is traditionally a bad night for WWE ratings for the obvious reasons so we’ll see if that hurts the show or not. Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT title headlines, Dominik Mysterio vs. Nathan Frazer for the North American title, Piper Niven & Chelsea Green defend the WWE women’s tag titles against Jacy Jayne & Thea Hail, Kelani Jordan faces Lola Vice in the Breakout tournament finals, The Creeds face Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo in a Tables, Ladders and Scares match (which is set to open the show), Bron Breakker vs. Robert Stone and Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley. Breakker vs. Stone is obviously set up to lead to Breakker vs. Von Wagner.

We’re looking for reports from Raw with anything, such as Main Event bouts or post-show activities not on the TV show, as well as from today’s house show in Nottingham, England. The Smackdown crew arrived for the show yesterday and runs today and then finishes up tomorrow in Glasgow. Then some of the crew goes home and others go to Saudi Arabia. The top Raw stars like Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes worked Saturday in Berlin, flew to Greenville tonight and then fly out to Saudi Arabia after tonight’s show.

Jon Moxley returned to action over the weekend with matches for OTT in Wolverhampton, England against Trent Seven, and in Dublin, Ireland, against B. Cool. We heard he really liked wrestling at Dublin National Stadium.

PFL Founder Donn Davis was interviewed by Ariel Helwani and talked up the idea of Francis Ngannou vs. Deontay Wilder in a mixed rules match. He said Wilder is open to the idea and it’s a matter of things like availability and money. The problem is the money one would have to pay Wilder unless it’s backed a foreign government doesn’t make the economics make any sense. Ngannou was also on Helwani’s show and brought up Wilder in MMA is something they are talking about. Ngannou said that he didn’t want the two judges, Alan Krebs and Juan Carlos Pelaya, to even judge one of his fights again. Both judges had very fair cards.

Steve Johnson has a story on the beginnings of the Fritz Von Erich character after researching the letters from the Jack Pfefer collection at Notre Dame University.

There is a Super Juniors show tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. from Toyama:

  • Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney (4-2) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sho (4-2)
  • TJP & Francesco Akira (3-3) vs,. Desperado & Master Wato (5-1)
  • Kevin Knight & Kushida (3-3) vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita (3-3)
  • Titan & Bushi (3-3) vs. Douki & Taka Michinoku (1-5)
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & The DKC (2-4) vs. Yoh & Musashi (2-4)

AAW from Saturday night in Berwyn, IL: Gnaris Garvin b Koda Hernandez, Levi Everett b Hartenbower to win the Heritage title, Robert Anthony b Jah-C, Silas Young b Gary Jay, Davey Vega b Calvin Tankman to keep the heavyweight title, Ren Jones won Battle Royal, Sierra b Masha Slamovich in a last woman standing match to take the women’s title (thanks to Leonard Brand)

Daily Update: Fury vs. Ngannou, WWE Berlin results, Alex Shelley

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performers of the week
  • The history of UFC and WWE together
  • How Vince McMahon is responsible for UFC taking off and why
  • Dirty tricks McMahon tried to play on UFC and blasting it when it got popular
  • Dana White talks about his prior and current changes in relationship with McMahon
  • How Vince McMahon viewed UFC when it first broke through
  • The first attempt at Undertaker vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania and why it didn’t happen
  • How things have changed since the merger and what Vince’s role in UFC is now
  • Jon Jones injury, why Stipe Miocic is off, and what are the different possibilities going forward in the heavyweight division
  • A look at the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight
  • Business notes on what was expected to be a record setting show
  • Preview of Crown Jewel and Full Gear and matches announced and other things built up
  • WWE goes with more international major shows in 2024
  • Rundown of Impact changing to TNA and what it will and won’t mean
  • The decline of TNA and change to Impact years ago
  • What changes to expect with the move back to TNA
  • The story behind the Bound for Glory main event
  • Business notes on Bound for Glory
  • Match-by-match coverage
  • Hall of Fame ceremony
  • UFC 204 coverage and what next for the top stars of the show
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, and how once again Saudi Arabia has changed the economic necessities of a big fight
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all of the wrestling shows, as well as segment-by-segment and comparison and where shows were up and down
  • Blue Panther 45th anniversary event
  • Stardom bad injury situation
  • All Japan annual tag team tournament
  • Why two Japanese wrestlers disappeared in April
  • Great Triple Crown title match
  • Future of Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag tourney
  • Cain Velasquez first interview
  • Mexican legend survives scary hospital stay
  • British J Cup
  • Wrestling star expects to announce a new TV series in November
  • Ric Flair in AEW
  • AEW December PPV and its competition
  • Jon Moxley on battles with addiction
  • Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Pitch for independent star to AEW
  • How many matches top AEW stars have done
  • Controversy over UFC business deal
  • Peacock subscription number and financial losses
  • Memo all WWE employees received and how this has changed the stock price
  • Tickets now available for Survivor Series and why
  • WWE NIL talent in college wrestling notes
  • A look at the WWE shows over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Update

– I’ll be up tonight with Bryan as we cover the weekend news including SmackDown, Collision and MJF vs. Kenny Omega, the unique Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight, Vince McMahon and Dana White and a lot more.

– The Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight last night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ended up as a huge surprise, basically compared to the Rocky I movie where there was a giant underdog, clearly the champion didn’t take him seriously and showed up out of shape, and nearly lost which would have been a huge embarrassment in a non-title fight. Ngannou knocked down Fury in round three but lost a close split decision. We’ll talk more about the fight tonight.

This is how the round-by-round scoring went:

  • 1st round: Two judges had it for Fury, one for Ngannou
  • 2nd round: Two judges for Fury, one for Ngannou
  • 3rd round: All three 10-8 Ngannou
  • 4th round: Two for Ngannou, one for Fury
  • 5th round: All three for Fury
  • 6th round: All three for Fury
  • 7th round: Two for Fury, one for Ngannou
  • 8th round: All three for Ngannou
  • 9th round: All three for Fury
  • 10th round: Two for Ngannou, one for Fury

The scores were 96-93 for Fury, 95-94 for Ngannou and 95-94 for Fury.

– Because of how close the fight was and that it was competitive, it will now be part of boxing folklore that an 0-0 MMA champion nearly beat the undefeated former boxing champion in his own sport. You have to call it a moral win for Ngannou.

– Last night’s WWE show in Berlin was the same as the other nights of the tour:

  • Sami Zayn defeated Dominik Mysterio via DQ when JD McDonagh interfered. Both beat down Zayn until Jey Uso made the save
  • Jey Uso & Zayn defeated Mysterio & McDonagh when Uso pinned Mysterio after a spear
  • Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez to retain the Women’s World title
  • Chad Gable did a heel promo to set up Imperium as the faces (since they were in Germany) as Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci defeated Gable & Otis when Kaiser pinned Gable
  • Cody Rhodes defeated The Miz with Cross Rhodes. Rhodes did a promo after the match building up next year’s major show in Berlin on PPV
  • Finn Balor & Damian Priest defeated New Day to keep the tag titles when Balor pinned Woods with the Coup de Grace
  • Gunther defeated Bronson Reed to keep the IC title. Imperium then did a promo for the PPV show next August in the same arena
  • Seth Rollins defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a street fight to retain the World title with a table break and curb stomp.

(thanks to wrestling-infos.de)

– We’re looking for reports from the New Japan show last night in Las Vegas and today’s WWE show in London, results, finishes and highlights, to [email protected]

– The expectation is that Ngannou will box Deontay Wilder next, which would be a battle of perhaps boxing’s hardest hitter vs. MMA’s hardest hitter. If there is a Ngannou-Fury rematch, Ngannou is now a 3-to-1 underdog instead of the huge odds for the first right.

– The Fury vs. Ngannou fight did 2.2 million Google searches, which was the biggest thing all weekend as far as searches other than the death of Matthew Perry which did more than 10 million. This includes all the football (as of this writing) and the World Series. Nothing else combat sports related cracked the top 20 on any day this week.

– I don’t know of any connection of Perry to pro wrestling or MMA other than when UFC was in its infancy there were cast members of Friends who were big fans and they did an episode that had a UFC theme at time when UFC couldn’t get on television and it was actually considered a huge thing historically in the SEG ownership days. I don’t know which members were the fans so can’t say Perry was one of the ones who had something to do with it. Friends was a classic TV show for its era and while he had his issues over the years, this was shocking to most people and 54 is way too young to pass away. He was a great comedic talent.

– There has been a lot of talk about The Story of Vladimir, the long-awaited Peacock documentary about Vladimir Abouzeide, which finally came out this weekend. Reader David Wolf said, “I’m in tears. Had no idea what was coming. This thing is extraordinary. The documentary is 37 minutes and was filmed from 2019 to 2021 and just released this week. Reader Stephen Lyon called it must-see showing Vladimir in the crowd in shows from the 80s on, how badly COVID hit him, the death of his mother, and his own battles, and showing that the WWE giving him an award in 2021 and how it made his life. It showed all kinds of wrestlers like Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Sean Waltman, Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels all putting him over. Jeff Jarrett, who was working as a WWE executive during this time period, was shown as someone close to Vladimir.

– Alex Shelley was injured and missed today’s Impact show in Coventry, UK, which was the final night of the tour.

– The Creeds get a shot at the main roster on Raw tomorrow. That’s very interesting only because of the question as to whether it’s just a one time thing or they are being called up.

– New Japan Strong on 11/10 in Garland, TX includes Giulia vs. Trish Adora for the New Japan Strong title, Mayu Iwatani vs. Stephanie Vaquer for the IWGP women’s title, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo vs. the West Coast Wrecking Crew for the tag titles, and Trent Beretta challenging new Never champion Shingo Takagi. Satoshi Kojima vs. Eddie Kingston will be an upcoming New Japan Strong title match as well.

– Katsuhiko Nakajima did do the job yesterday in his last NOAH match. Nakajima & Go Shiozaki lost to Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura in 22:00 when Sugiura pinned Nakajima. I heard this was a great match.

– New Japan’s Super Junior Tag League tournament continues at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Monday morning:

  • Ryusuke Taguchi & The DKC (2-3) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sho (3-2)
  • Taka Michinoku & Douki (1-4) vs. Clark Connors & Draila Moloney (3-2)
  • Musashi & Yoh (2-3) vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujia (2-3)
  • Titan & Bushi (2-3) vs. TJP & Francesco Akira (3-2)
  • Kevin Knight & Kushida (3-2) vs. Master Wato & El Desperado (4-1)

We didn’t get a ton of talk about great matches this weekend past the MJF vs. Kenny Omega match from last night in Uncasville, CT and Nakajima’s last match in NOAH.

– Dungeon Wrestling (Hart family promotion) from Friday night in Calgary before 350 fans: Mo Jabari b Michael Allen Richard Clarke, Shaun Moore d Sebastian Wolf, Tiger Raj Singh b CK Crimson-COR, Chris Knight b Anthony Andrews, Voros Twins b Prophets, Chris Masters b Lennie Lokmobo to win the Stu Hart Heritage title. Nick Aldis was the champion but since the show was on a Friday night, he had to pull out. We don’t have it as official that he’s not taking any new bookings, but they did strip him of the title and it would be expected he’s not taking new bookings. (thanks to Ross Hart)

Daily Update: Vince McMahon, Kyle Fletcher, Kenny Omega

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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performers of the week
  • The history of UFC and WWE together
  • How Vince McMahon is responsible for UFC taking off and why
  • Dirty tricks McMahon tried to play on UFC and blasting it when it got popular
  • Dana White talks about his prior and current changes in relationship with McMahon
  • How Vince McMahon viewed UFC when it first broke through
  • The first attempt at Undertaker vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania and why it didn’t happen
  • How things have changed since the merger and what Vince’s role in UFC is now
  • Jon Jones injury, why Stipe Miocic is off, and what are the different possibilities going forward in the heavyweight division
  • A look at the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight
  • Business notes on what was expected to be a record setting show
  • Preview of Crown Jewel and Full Gear and matches announced and other things built up
  • WWE goes with more international major shows in 2024
  • Rundown of Impact changing to TNA and what it will and won’t mean
  • The decline of TNA and change to Impact years ago
  • What changes to expect with the move back to TNA
  • The story behind the Bound for Glory main event
  • Business notes on Bound for Glory
  • Match-by-match coverage
  • Hall of Fame ceremony
  • UFC 204 coverage and what next for the top stars of the show
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, and how once again Saudi Arabia has changed the economic necessities of a big fight
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all of the wrestling shows, as well as segment-by-segment and comparison and where shows were up and down
  • Blue Panther 45th anniversary event
  • Stardom bad injury situation
  • All Japan annual tag team tournament
  • Why two Japanese wrestlers disappeared in April
  • Great Triple Crown title match
  • Future of Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag tourney
  • Cain Velasquez first interview
  • Mexican legend survives scary hospital stay
  • British J Cup
  • Wrestling star expects to announce a new TV series in November
  • Ric Flair in AEW
  • AEW December PPV and its competition
  • Jon Moxley on battles with addiction
  • Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Pitch for independent star to AEW
  • How many matches top AEW stars have done
  • Controversy over UFC business deal
  • Peacock subscription number and financial losses
  • Memo all WWE employees received and how this has changed the stock price
  • Tickets now available for Survivor Series and why
  • WWE NIL talent in college wrestling notes
  • A look at the WWE shows over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • On Rampage last night, Kyle Fletcher was welcomed into the Don Callis Family as Callis’ apprentice. Don Callis wrote:
          • Takeshita, Hobbs, Ospreay, Guevara and now my precocious young apprentice Kyle Fletcher. Never has so much young incredible talent been assembled in one family. We are the most impressive wrestling family in history. You cannot name one family that is even close
  • AEW produced a video package hyping up MJF and Kenny Omega’s AEW World Championship match for tonight’s Collision.
  • Omega spoke to Sports Illustrated about what the AEW World Championship means to him:
          • It conveys the same feeling to me that I felt for the IWGP title. It’s the pinnacle of what the sport represents in America. That might be different in Japan or Mexico or the UK, but for me, the list of champions in AEW features some of the most incredible athletes to ever exist in this sport. Having my name on that list is quite an honor. To say I’ve won it once, that’s quite an accomplishment. To say I’ve won it twice would be even better, and I’d also still be able to say I’ve held it the longest–the cherry on top of the sundae.
  • In an interview with The Messenger, Jon Moxley explained what his post-WWE career would have been like if AEW never started:
          • The timing of it was crazy. I was gone one way or another. I was going to give it all up. I didn’t give a f— if I was never on TV again. I’d go wrestle in a f—ing mask in Mexico in a parking lot if it means having fun again.
          • I hate speaking in the third person because it feels so f—ing pretentious, but speaking from a character standpoint, it just makes it easier. But it was like as Jon Moxley was getting his release date from jail and walking into the world again, it just happened to be when AEW was starting.
          • If there was no AEW, I think I’d be doing the exact same thing, just in a bunch of other places. You’d probably see me in f—in’ Japan or Revolver, places like that. It probably wouldn’t be that much different.
          • As far as the opportunities for the wrestlers and their families, it’s an entirely different world now than it was four or five years ago. So much has changed, it’s crazy.
  • For Substance Abuse Awareness Month, AEW shared a video with Big Bill discussing his sobriety and working with the Herren Project.
  • Darby Allin appeared at another Nitro Circus event on Thursday, finally completing a tricycle backflip stunt.
  • Billy Gunn appeared on this week’s edition of AEW Unrestricted.
  • Paul Wight was interviewed by the Battleground Podcast.
  • Fightful reports that Heath (former WWE wrestler Heath Slater) is now a free agent and is accepting bookings. Heath had been contracted to Impact Wrestling before finishing up with the promotion last weekend.
  • “Speedball” Mike Bailey reacted to his match against Will Ospreay from Bound for Glory receiving 5.25 stars in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter: “Getting 5.25 for my match at BFG is honestly pretty cool! We are the 1st match in Impact to get this high of a rating since Joe/AJ/Daniels which feels insane. It’s all very subjective but the hope is that people continue to pay more & more attention to TNA ’cause WE’RE BACK!”
  • A GHC Heavyweight Championship change took place today with Kenoh defeating Jake Lee at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Demolition Stage in Fukuoka. Also on the show, Jack Morris defeated El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. to win the GHC National Championship.
  • Sports Illustrated has an interview with Tetsuya Naito.
  • Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse will team with Effy & Allie Katch against Ricky Morton, Kerry Morton & George South at GCW’s show at WrestleCade on Friday, November 24.

Daily Update: Sting & Ric Flair, AEW Rampage, WWE 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 right now covering these stories:

  • Match and performers of the week
  • The history of UFC and WWE together
  • How Vince McMahon is responsible for UFC taking off and why
  • Dirty tricks McMahon tried to play on UFC and blasting it when it got popular
  • Dana White talks about his prior and current changes in relationship with McMahon
  • How Vince McMahon viewed UFC when it first broke through
  • The first attempt at Undertaker vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania and why it didn’t happen
  • How things have changed since the merger and what Vince’s role in UFC is now
  • Jon Jones injury, why Stipe Miocic is off, and what are the different possibilities going forward in the heavyweight division
  • A look at the Aspinall vs. Pavlovich fight
  • Business notes on what was expected to be a record setting show
  • Preview of Crown Jewel and Full Gear and matches announced and other things built up
  • WWE goes with more international major shows in 2024
  • Rundown of Impact changing to TNA and what it will and won’t mean
  • The decline of TNA and change to Impact years ago
  • What changes to expect with the move back to TNA
  • The story behind the Bound for Glory main event
  • Business notes on Bound for Glory
  • Match-by-match coverage
  • Hall of Fame ceremony
  • UFC 204 coverage and what next for the top stars of the show
  • Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou, and how once again Saudi Arabia has changed the economic necessities of a big fight
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all of the wrestling shows, as well as segment-by-segment and comparison and where shows were up and down
  • Blue Panther 45th anniversary event
  • Stardom bad injury situation
  • All Japan annual tag team tournament
  • Why two Japanese wrestlers disappeared in April
  • Great Triple Crown title match
  • Future of Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Super Juniors tag tourney
  • Cain Velasquez first interview
  • Mexican legend survives scary hospital stay
  • British J Cup
  • Wrestling star expects to announce a new TV series in November
  • Ric Flair in AEW
  • AEW December PPV and its competition
  • Jon Moxley on battles with addiction
  • Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Pitch for independent star to AEW
  • How many matches top AEW stars have done
  • Controversy over UFC business deal
  • Peacock subscription number and financial losses
  • Memo all WWE employees received and how this has changed the stock price
  • Tickets now available for Survivor Series and why
  • WWE NIL talent in college wrestling notes
  • A look at the WWE shows over the past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Friday Update

Garrett and I did our Observer review show talking Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Will Ospreay, Dynamite ratings and issues, UFC judging and history and much more. Bryan and I will be back Sunday night with our weekend news show.

Sting on Ric Flair: “He put me on the map in the very beginning, and Ric Flair is going to be with me every step of the way to the end, and we’ll go out together in a blaze of glory!”

Rampage tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on TNT:

  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kyle Fletcher (told this was great)
  • Willow Nightingale vs Abadon vs. Anna Jay vs. Skye Blue with the winner getting a title shot at Hikaru Shida tomorrow night on Collision
  • Mike Santana vs. Ortiz in a no DQ match
  • They will also have the last promotional push for tomorrow night’s MJF vs. Kenny Omega title match in Uncasville, CT.

If for some reason you missed Smackdown and your DVR didn’t tape for FS 1, there are replays later tonight on FS 1.

The movie “Freelance” which stars John Cena as a special forces operative opens tonight nationwide.

We’re looking for reports from these shows:

  • WWE tonight in Milwaukee (second show taping)
  • NXT tonight in Davenport, FL
  • New Japan Saturday in Las Vegas
  • Impact Turning Point today in Newcastle, UK
  • AEW Saturday in Uncasville, CT (Only stuff not on the live show like ROH tapings)
  • WWE Saturday night in Berlin, Germany
  • Impact Saturday in Coventry, UK
  • NXT Saturday in Dade City, FL
  • WWE Sunday at Wembley Arena in London
  • Impact Sunday in Coventry, UK
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and angles and anything else noteworthy to [email protected]

The movie “The Iron Claw” has its world premiere and red carpet screening next week in Dallas It will have a national theatrical release on 12/20.

Becky Lynch’s role in NXT is now over according to what she posted on Instagram. Other major names are headed there soon.

WWE from today in Hamburg, Germany:

  • Sami Zayn b Dominik Mysterio via DQ when JD McDonagh interfered
  • Zayn & Jey Uso b Dominik & McDonagh when Uso pinned Mysterio
  • Rhea Ripley retained her title over Raquel Rodriguez after riptide
  • Ludvig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci as babyface beat Chad Gable & Otis
  • Cody Rhodes b The Miz with Cross Rhodes
  • Gunther b Bronson Reed to keep the IC title
  • Finn Balor & Damian Priest b New Day when Balor pinned Woods after Priest hit him with a briefcase
  • Seth Rollins kept the world title over Shinsuke Nakamura in a street fight 
  • (thanks to wrestling-infos.de)

Rizin announced Juan Archuleta vs. Kai Asakura for the bantamweight title and Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Makto Shinryu for the vacant flyweight title for its traditional New Year’s Eve show at the Saitama Super Arena.

Impact announced tickets go on sale Friday for Final Resolution on 12/9 in Mississauga, ONT at the Dan Kolov Arena (Santino Marella’s Gym), and next Saturday for Hard to Kill, a PPV show from the Palms in Las Vegas on 1/13, the first show back under the TNA banner.

Since a bunch of people noted this regarding today’s Observer, “Whoop that Trick” is actually a chant from the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team, which made its way to NXT and Trick Williams. So when AEW fans were chanting it at the Memphis house show, it was not a sign of how over Trick Williams was or them doing a WWE chant. Now when AEW fans are doing “Yeah,” that is the case that they are doing something that WWE fans got over.

Ronda Rousey wrestled a short match last night on the Lucha Va Voom show so she could team with Marina Shafir for the first time. Then today Wrestling Revolver made a Tweet about a Los Angeles debut at the Homenetmen Glendale Ararat in Los Angeles and Rousey tweeted “How very convenient.”

New Japan’s junior tag tournament continues in Fukushima at 3 a.m. tomorrow morning:

  • TJP & Francesco Akira vs. Ryuske Taguchi & The DKC
  • Yoh & Musashi vs,. Douki & Taka Michinoku
  • Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita vs. Sho & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kushida & Kevin Knight vs. Titan & Bushi
  • Desperado & Master Wato vs. Clark Connors & Dan Moloney

Anthony Pettis vs. Benson Henderson, in a rematch of a legendary 2010 fight that won some fight of the year honors, is being looked at to headline a December Karate Combat show. Guilherme Cruz wrote that company officials said they are in talks also with Jose Aldo, Luke Rockhold, Lyoto Machida, Michael Venom Page and Darren Till for that show.

Anthony Ogogo who is under contract to AEW but hasn’t been around for a long time, has challenged Jake Paul to a fight.

Kevin Iole reported that the Saudi Arabian government paid Mike Tyson “very, very handsomely” for endorsing Francis Ngannou and being in Ngannou’s corner for tomorrow’s fight with Tyson Fury and telling people Ngannou can win. They say he trained him but Ngannou trained under Dewey Cooper. I heard a figure from a friend of Tyson’s who asked me not to print it but it was a giant figure just to do pub. They are also bringing in Manny Pacquiao, Roberto Duran, George Foreman, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Joe Calzaghe, Tommy Hearns and Frank Bruno according to Iole. Both Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell are also going.

Stipe Miocic himself said that he was never offered to fight for the interim title. Tom Aspinall had said UFC told him he was in because Miocic didn’t want to do it. Miocic said he was fine waiting for Jones to heal up. Dana White said it would have been an insult to ask Miocic to fight for the interim title.

In our article in the new issue on NIL deals with WWE, Peyton Prussian, who won the NAIA women’s national championship at 117 pounds in amateur wrestling, was the other wrestler under a deal. She also just signed a deal to be trained and go to NXT.

For those who keep up on C.M. Punk’s whereabouts, he will be in Atlantic City on 12/15 announcing the next Cage Fury Fighting Championships show at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Robert Watley (130-3) puts his lightweight title on the line against Albania’s Armando Gjetja. The show airs on UFC Fight Pass.

House of Glory Wrestling on 12/1 at the NYC Area in New York with Matt Cardona defending the HOG title against Mike Santana plus Mike Bailey, Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana and Kevin Blackwood are on the show.

NECW promoter Sheldon Goldberg released a wrestling novel called “The Last Fall” which is on sale at Amazon.

Daily Update: Lyra Valkyria, AEW notes, Fantasticamania

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 Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up:

  • Match and performer of the week for both of the past two weeks
  • The changes in WWE, Vince out of creative, how UFC and WWE are being treated differently
  • Showtime drops all sports programming and their entire sports department, both how in and of itself its a major story in boxing, MMA and could be in pro wrestling, but even more the trend that it shows
  • Stations still in the market for sports today
  • The ominous aspects of NBA current TV negotiations
  • Why boxing was dropped after such a great PPV year
  • A look back at the career of Sting after his retirement announcement
  • A look at his AEW run
  • His rise to the top in WCW
  • How his career got started
  • What person saw the potential in Sting the earliest
  • The famous 1988 Sting vs. Ric Flair match and how it changed his career trajectory
  • The multiple times Sting stepped away from wrestling
  • The TNA run
  • The WWE run
  • Power Team USA and Flash Borden
  • NWA on WB, the keys to this deal
  • Update on Crown Jewel and who isn’t scheduled right now on the show
  • The classic matches of 2023 Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Royal Quest and Power Struggle
  • Notes on last week’s UFC show
  • A look back at one of the most traveled enhancement star of the late 60s into the early 80s, Bill Howard
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows this past week, including segment-by-segment, competition and comparisons with a year ago
  • CMLL wrestlers traveling around the world
  • Two spectacular matches at Friday’s Arena Mexico show
  • Stardom opens tag tournament
  • One of AAA’s biggest stars likely not returning
  • Biggest woman promotion in the world at one time has a nostalgia reunion show coming in January
  • Chris Hero returns
  • What pro wrestling star of the 70s never lost a singles match in his entire career
  • AEW and CMLL relationship notes
  • Tony Khan’s tweets
  • Updates on ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • UFC signs huge money international deal
  • UFC top star taking time off
  • Main event result in UFC overturned
  • Pat Miletich returns to fight at 55
  • Ari Emanuel criticized for working with Dana White, Vince McMahon and Conor McGregor
  • More on the Vince McMahon documentary
  • Completely exaggerated PPV claims
  • What percentage of Logan Paul buyers also buy AEW or WWE shows
  • WWE sells network rights internationally
  • Dynamite TV streak ends after two weeks
  • Notes on all the WWE & NXT arena events this past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champion Killer Kelly was at NXT last night to watch her friend Lyra Valkyria face Becky Lynch for the NXT Women’s Championship. Kelly wrote about Valkyria’s title win: “Proud is an understatement. From wrestling each other in Ireland, outside, freezing cold, in a ring with no pads for 20 minutes, to watch her defeat Becky Lynch to become the NEW NXT Women’s Champion. She deserves the world. I love you @Real_Valkyria”
  • Becky Lynch posted after losing to Valkyria: “The future is bright [Irish flag emoji]”
  • WWE uploaded a post-show interview with Valkyria.
  • In an interview with Steve Fall, Shotzi explained why she shaved her head this summer:
          • My sister was going through chemotherapy and she started losing her hair. She told me that she didn’t want to wait for it to all fall out. She was going to shave it off. I immediately went to Hunter and was like, ‘Hey, my sister’s going through chemo. I want to support her. I want to be there for her. I want to shave my hair off too. Can we make it not weird and make it part of a storyline so I don’t just show up one day with no hair,’ and he was totally for it. I got to work with Bayley with it too, which Bayley has always been a huge role model to me, so to have that moment with her and share this meaningful moment with her was really awesome. I didn’t really say much of it, but like, everyone kind of knew anyway and that really resonated with my sister, and she got like a lot of support from my fans, which I really love and appreciate too.
  • Shotzi, Scarlett, The Boogeyman, and Grayson Waller appeared on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • On this week’s episode of Shotzi & Scarlett’s Chamber of Horrors, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, Scarlett, Shotzi, and Kayla Braxton “spend the night at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, sight of a notorious, unsolved double murder.”
  • Former WCW wrestler Alex Wright was in attendance at WWE’s house show in Munich, Germany today.
  • People revealed the cover of Ronda Rousey’s new memoir “Our Fight.” Rousey said about the book:
          • I’ve been silent the last few years because there was more to say than could ever be relayed in an interview. Our Fight is everything I’ve wished I could fit into a headline but just couldn’t. My story in my words. All the answers I needed years to give succinctly.
  • Several wrestlers, including LA Knight and Alexa Bliss, attended the premiere for John Cena’s new movie “Freelance” in Orlando last night.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • On an AEW Control Center video, Tony Schiavone hyped up the gift that Tony Khan is giving Sting on tonight’s Dynamite: “Tony Khan now says he has a very special gift for Sting that he’ll present to him tonight. This will be an historic gift. Yes, I said historic. Nothing like this has ever happened to a wrestler in pro wrestling. So stay tuned for that tonight.”
  • Swerve Strickland teased that, instead of being in Philadelphia to address Hangman Page on Dynamite tonight, he’ll be taking a detour for the segment: “On 2nd thought, me and @PrinceKingNana gonna take a detour tonight…. Screw Philly”
  • Adam Cole wrote on social media yesterday: “Emotionally, this has been the most challenging injury of my career. Without question. Thank you to EVERYONE who has reached out & shown support. Means more than you know. I will do everything in my power to get back to work doing what I love to do. Because I’m #AdamColeBayBay”
  • AEW has filed a trademark for “Worlds End.”
  • CJ Perry was a guest on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. Perry was asked if she’ll wrestle again:
          • Such an interesting question. So I want to be the best of all time. I want to be the best wrestling manager of all time. I want to be when people think of like, people often want to be managed by Paul Heyman because he is the best manager of all time right now. I want that spot and so I want people to be like, ‘I want CJ Perry to manage me.’ I would rather do that than try to become champion or fight for whatever championships and be the best hustler for those people to be champions and create a legacy and a name that way. I just feel that’s my calling. So if at some point I gotta fight some bitches in the ring, of course, I’ll fight some bitches in the ring.
  • With the two-year anniversary of him getting sober approaching, Jon Moxley spoke to The Messenger about his journey:
          • It’s f—ing hard. It’s not the same hell as before, but it’s a completely different challenge every single day where you don’t know what direction it might go in.
          • I would love to give you like a positive, self-help book-type answer or something about f—ing sunshine and rainbows and fairies and sh–, but that’s really not reality. It’s been good on the whole, it’s been good. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. But, you know, you will pay for it on the other side, your choices you make in your life.
  • Indie star Bryan Keith called out Bryan Danielson for a match.
  • NJPW and CMLL announced the Fantasticamania 2024 dates for Japan:
          • Earlier this year, Fantasticamania 2023 saw the CMLL stars highlighted in the return of the popular tour after a three year absence. Earlier this summer, the favour would even be returned, as Fantasticamania took place in Mexico for the first time ever. February 2024 will see Fantasticamania back again to bring the best of Mexico to Japan!
          • The 2024 tour will get started in Osaka February 12 for two nights, before heading to Kagawa, AIchi, Makuhari Messe in Chiba and then the always wildly popular tour conclusion in Korakuen Hall February 18 and 19. More news will come soon- make sure you’re part of the party next February!

Daily Update: WWE trademarks, Ilja Dragunov, Trish Stratus

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:

  • Match and performer of the week for both of the past two weeks
  • The changes in WWE, Vince out of creative, how UFC and WWE are being treated differently
  • Showtime drops all sports programming and their entire sports department, both how in and of itself its a major story in boxing, MMA and could be in pro wrestling, but even more the trend that it shows
  • Stations still in the market for sports today
  • The ominous aspects of NBA current TV negotiations
  • Why boxing was dropped after such a great PPV year
  • A look back at the career of Sting after his retirement announcement
  • A look at his AEW run
  • His rise to the top in WCW
  • How his career got started
  • What person saw the potential in Sting the earliest
  • The famous 1988 Sting vs. Ric Flair match and how it changed his career trajectory
  • The multiple times Sting stepped away from wrestling
  • The TNA run
  • The WWE run
  • Power Team USA and Flash Borden
  • NWA on WB, the keys to this deal
  • Update on Crown Jewel and who isn’t scheduled right now on the show
  • The classic matches of 2023 Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Royal Quest and Power Struggle
  • Notes on last week’s UFC show
  • A look back at one of the most traveled enhancement star of the late 60s into the early 80s, Bill Howard
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows this past week, including segment-by-segment, competition and comparisons with a year ago
  • CMLL wrestlers traveling around the world
  • Two spectacular matches at Friday’s Arena Mexico show
  • Stardom opens tag tournament
  • One of AAA’s biggest stars likely not returning
  • Biggest woman promotion in the world at one time has a nostalgia reunion show coming in January
  • Chris Hero returns
  • What pro wrestling star of the 70s never lost a singles match in his entire career
  • AEW and CMLL relationship notes
  • Tony Khan’s tweets
  • Updates on ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • UFC signs huge money international deal
  • UFC top star taking time off
  • Main event result in UFC overturned
  • Pat Miletich returns to fight at 55
  • Ari Emanuel criticized for working with Dana White, Vince McMahon and Conor McGregor
  • More on the Vince McMahon documentary
  • Completely exaggerated PPV claims
  • What percentage of Logan Paul buyers also buy AEW or WWE shows
  • WWE sells network rights internationally
  • Dynamite TV streak ends after two weeks
  • Notes on all the WWE & NXT arena events this past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • Shotzi, Scarlett, and The Boogeyman will be on this Wednesday’s The Bump.
  • WWE filed trademarks on 10/9 for the names Lola Vice, Dani Palmer, and Kale Dixon.
  • NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov spoke to TVInsider about advice John Cena gave him when he visited the Performance Center earlier this month. “It wasn’t a long conversation,” he said. “What I really appreciated was him just randomly pulling me aside. This was something that doesn’t happen every day. He spoke about making moments and building a connection. That is what we were talking about. He gives you a whole different perspective, even when you may have the same opinion on things. When you have his approval, then you have the right mindset for this business, and you are on the right path.”
  • Trish Stratus will return as a judge for season 3 of Canada’s Got Talent.
  • Full matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include The Undertaker vs. Triple H from the October 28, 2008 edition of SmackDown, Finn Balor vs. Karl Anderson from the October 24, 2022 episode of Raw, and Bianca Belair vs. Bayley also from the October 24, 2022 edition of Raw.
  • Also added to YouTube in full is yesterday’s Raw match between Jey Uso and Damian Priest.
  • Rob Aurelio on X shared pictures inside WWE’s new headquarters.
  • Producer Molly Holly spoke to WrestlingInc. When asked about the possibility of one more match, she said “I really don’t believe that there’s anything I could add to the business. I just feel so complete in my career. I don’t feel that it’s like, oh, if I just had this moment. I already had all the moments. I really want to save the TV time for the younger people to have their moments.”

AEW & Other Wrestling

Daily Update: WWE Raw, MLB playoffs, Impact Wrestling

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up:

  • Match and performer of the week for both of the past two weeks
  • The changes in WWE, Vince out of creative, how UFC and WWE are being treated differently
  • Showtime drops all sports programming and their entire sports department, both how in and of itself its a major story in boxing, MMA and could be in pro wrestling, but even more the trend that it shows
  • Stations still in the market for sports today
  • The ominous aspects of NBA current TV negotiations
  • Why boxing was dropped after such a great PPV year
  • A look back at the career of Sting after his retirement announcement
  • A look at his AEW run
  • His rise to the top in WCW
  • How his career got started
  • What person saw the potential in Sting the earliest
  • The famous 1988 Sting vs. Ric Flair match and how it changed his career trajectory
  • The multiple times Sting stepped away from wrestling
  • The TNA run
  • The WWE run
  • Power Team USA and Flash Borden
  • NWA on WB, the keys to this deal
  • Update on Crown Jewel and who isn’t scheduled right now on the show
  • The classic matches of 2023 Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Royal Quest and Power Struggle
  • Notes on last week’s UFC show
  • A look back at one of the most traveled enhancement star of the late 60s into the early 80s, Bill Howard
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows this past week, including segment-by-segment, competition and comparisons with a year ago
  • CMLL wrestlers traveling around the world
  • Two spectacular matches at Friday’s Arena Mexico show
  • Stardom opens tag tournament
  • One of AAA’s biggest stars likely not returning
  • Biggest woman promotion in the world at one time has a nostalgia reunion show coming in January
  • Chris Hero returns
  • What pro wrestling star of the 70s never lost a singles match in his entire career
  • AEW and CMLL relationship notes
  • Tony Khan’s tweets
  • Updates on ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • UFC signs huge money international deal
  • UFC top star taking time off
  • Main event result in UFC overturned
  • Pat Miletich returns to fight at 55
  • Ari Emanuel criticized for working with Dana White, Vince McMahon and Conor McGregor
  • More on the Vince McMahon documentary
  • Completely exaggerated PPV claims
  • What percentage of Logan Paul buyers also buy AEW or WWE shows
  • WWE sells network rights internationally
  • Dynamite TV streak ends after two weeks
  • Notes on all the WWE & NXT arena events this past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Monday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking all the latest wrestling and MMA news with Wrestling Observer Radio as well as covering Raw and talking about the shows coming later in the week.

Raw tonight has big competition as the Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers American League championship series game seven starts tonight at 8 p.m. It also goes against the San Francisco 49ers, one of the Super Bowl favorites, facing the Minnesota Vikings. It’s a loaded up show but doesn’t get the post-PPV bump that has saved it against tough competition. I do think baseball and football, even with the playoffs, may be easier for Raw than two different NFL games. They’ve announced Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest, a Judgment Day celebration for winning their tag titles, Becky Lynch vs. Indi Hartwell for the NXT women’s title, Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn, New Day vs. Alpha Academy (teasing the winners getting a tag title match), Johnny Gargano vs. Giovanni Vinci and Logan Paul appears. They had 11,700 tickets out as of earlier today in Dallas, although I’d expect less in the building because the Rangers are in game seven. 

WWE has to be rooting for a Philadelphia Phillies win today which would close out the national league series. The game should be ending around the start of Raw although it could go slightly over. If the Arizona Diamondbacks win, it means game seven goes against NXT, although for whatever reason, NXT holds up better than all the other wrestling shows do against sports.

As far as the World Series goes, every game will impact wrestling. Game one is Friday on FOX which moves Smackdown to FS 1. Game two goes against Collision. Game three goes against Raw. Game four goes against NXT. Game five, if needed, goes against Dynamite. A prospective Game six would go against Smackdown & Rampage and a game seven would go against Collision.

We’re looking for your thoughts on Impact Bound for Glory, you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected] Not to influence the poll but there is one match that was just incredible on this show, enough that I’d recommend the replay if you want to see something very close to a match of the year.

We’re also looking for reports from these shows:

  • WWE last night in Laredo, TX
  • Impact last night in Chicago for TV tapings
  • Raw tonight in Dallas (Main Event matches, anything not on the live show)
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and angles from those shows to [email protected]

Both WWE and Impact are headed to Europe this week. The Raw crew leaves after the show tonight and heads to Munich, Germany for a Wednesday show, followed by Cologne on Thursday and Hamburg on Friday. Impact is in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday, followed by a Turning Point PPV taping in Newcastle at the Walker Dome on Friday and shows Saturday and Sunday in Coventry.

The Glasgow card has Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Josh Alexander & Eric Young, Rhino vs. Eddie Edwards, Trey Miguel vs. Grado and Jordynne Grace vs. Gisele Shaw.

Thanks to B.J. Bethel for listing me as the best person to follow on Twitter in pro wrestling in a story today.

Also want to make mention of our friend Jay Dumont “Great Fowler” on the list. I know that kind of stuff really cheers him up and anyone who cheers him up is doing a good thing. Jay’s the real fighter in this business.

A quick note on the Friday ratings. Both shows were well down due to going head-to-head with the Philadelphia Phillies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks National league championship series game four, which did 5.39 million viewers and a 1.30 in 18-49.

While the competition from baseball is part of, if not the key reason, for Rampage numbers going down this week. While Mistico did sell tickets for the show on Friday, he was not a ratings draw even though his match was the peak of the show

Johnny Walker was on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani today. He said he was fine. He said the doctor asked him if he wanted to continue fighting and he said “Yes.” He said when asked “Where are you?” and he appeared confused and didn’t answer, he said “Fine, I’m in the f***ig desert, bro. I’m here. I’m good. I’m in the desert. I’m in the Middle East.”

Big E noted that the world premiere of the short film “Bridges” will be on Saturday night at Urban World in New York. Ticket info.

A note on the Sami Callihan being backstage at the AEW show on Saturday while I wasn’t aware of it being reported elsewhere, it had been previously reported by Bodyslam.net

WWE is going with the smallest stage in years for Survivor Series. They are looking at getting nearly 16,900 into the Allstate Arena, a number they wouldn’t have gotten for a show in that arena in decades. They are also cutting back on the stage for Smackdown the night before and setting it up for 15,800. (thanks to William Zdon/Wrestletix)

Hana Kimura’s mother Kyoko Kimura, who recently hung out with Mercedes Mone, said, “A superstar who loves flowers/Hana and Me. Mone took me shopping. Treated me to delicious Mexican food. I had a wonderful and heartwarming time.”

The movie “Freelance” starring John Cena opens in theaters on Friday. Cena stars as a former special forces operative who becomes private security for a reporter (played by Alison Brie) as she interviews a ruthless dictator right as they are having a military coup.

Jared Cannonier said he was called about facing Khamzat Chimaev after Paulo Costa had surgery. But he said he just tore his MCL and has to get surgery. He said he won’t be able to fight for five months. He was scheduled for a December fight with Roman Dolidze. Cannonier noted he would be 40 by the time he fights again (thanks to Denis Shkuratov of Submission Radio)

Salina de la Renta is listed as the Executive Producer for the MLW Fusion show that airs Thursday on the MLW YouTube channel and FITE.

Daily Update: UFC 294 fallout, Dana White, WWE Survivor Series

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up:

  • Match and performer of the week for both of the past two weeks
  • The changes in WWE, Vince out of creative, how UFC and WWE are being treated differently
  • Showtime drops all sports programming and their entire sports department, both how in and of itself its a major story in boxing, MMA and could be in pro wrestling, but even more the trend that it shows
  • Stations still in the market for sports today
  • The ominous aspects of NBA current TV negotiations
  • Why boxing was dropped after such a great PPV year
  • A look back at the career of Sting after his retirement announcement
  • A look at his AEW run
  • His rise to the top in WCW
  • How his career got started
  • What person saw the potential in Sting the earliest
  • The famous 1988 Sting vs. Ric Flair match and how it changed his career trajectory
  • The multiple times Sting stepped away from wrestling
  • The TNA run
  • The WWE run
  • Power Team USA and Flash Borden
  • NWA on WB, the keys to this deal
  • Update on Crown Jewel and who isn’t scheduled right now on the show
  • The classic matches of 2023 Will Ospreay
  • New Japan Royal Quest and Power Struggle
  • Notes on last week’s UFC show
  • A look back at one of the most traveled enhancement star of the late 60s into the early 80s, Bill Howard
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows this past week, including segment-by-segment, competition and comparisons with a year ago
  • CMLL wrestlers traveling around the world
  • Two spectacular matches at Friday’s Arena Mexico show
  • Stardom opens tag tournament
  • One of AAA’s biggest stars likely not returning
  • Biggest woman promotion in the world at one time has a nostalgia reunion show coming in January
  • Chris Hero returns
  • What pro wrestling star of the 70s never lost a singles match in his entire career
  • AEW and CMLL relationship notes
  • Tony Khan’s tweets
  • Updates on ticket sales to WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • UFC signs huge money international deal
  • UFC top star taking time off
  • Main event result in UFC overturned
  • Pat Miletich returns to fight at 55
  • Ari Emanuel criticized for working with Dana White, Vince McMahon and Conor McGregor
  • More on the Vince McMahon documentary
  • Completely exaggerated PPV claims
  • What percentage of Logan Paul buyers also buy AEW or WWE shows
  • WWE sells network rights internationally
  • Dynamite TV streak ends after two weeks
  • Notes on all the WWE & NXT arena events this past week

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Sunday Update

Bryan and I did our weekend show last night covering UFC, the three-hours of AEW, Bound for Glory, TNA Hall of Fame and Smackdown. Garrett Gonzales and I did our week news in review show also on the site. My next show with Bryan will be Monday night after Raw.

Regarding last night’s UFC show, the main card was all first round finishes except the Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight which Chimaev won on scores of 29-27, 29-27 and 28-28. All three scores were viable. All three judges gave Chimaev a 10-8 first round. Most reporters did as well. I’ve seen far more dominant rounds scored 10-9 but Chimaev controlled the round on top and did damage. Cleary and David Lethaby gave Usman round two while Vito Paolillo gave that round to Chimaed. In round three, Lethaby and Paolillo gave that round to Usman while Cleary gave it to Chimaev. Among media scores, 75 percent went to Chimaev, most 29-27 and some 29-28. 12.5 percent had it 28-28 as a draw and 12.5 percent had 29-28 for Usman. Chimaev won round one big and rounds two and three were both close enough that you could go either way. Usman had an 11-9 edge in significant strikes and in the third round his edge was 22-13. Chimaev took him down in both rounds. Chimaev scored four takedowns on Usman, which is significant since in eight plus years in UFC and 18 fights, Usman was only taken down once. Usman said after that he wished the fight had gone five rounds.

 Chimaev talked like he may have broken his hand.

Dana White disagreed with the stoppage of the Johnny Walker-Magomed Ankalaev fight, blaming it on an inexperienced doctor. It came across like the doctor asked Walker where they were and what round it was and he couldn’t answer either question. If that’s the case, you have to presume concussion and stop it. When it was stopped, Walker didn’t register it was over either. White claimed that when Walker was asked where he was, he said “in the desert.” He also thought that even though Walker does speak English, it’s not his first language and something may have been lost in translation.

Victoria Dudakova, who fought in the prelims of the UFC show, said that she had a staph infection on her butt but since it was covered up nobody saw it.

On last night’s show based on an angle, we talked about the possibility of a Raw vs. Smackdown War Games match at Survivor Series. We are told that right now the War Games match is not planned as a Raw vs. Smackdown match.

WWE from last night in Edinburg, TX:

  • Santos Escobar b Bobby Lashley via DQ when the Street Profits interfered. Carlito and Joaquin Wilde made the save. You know the drill. 
  • Escobar & Carlito & Wilde b Lashley & Street Profits when Calirto pinned Ford after a backstabber.
  • Shotzi b Isla Dawn. Alba Fyre was in the corner and interfered freely.
  • Karrion Kross b Butch clean. Scarlett interfered a lot.
  • Iyo Sky retained the WWE title in a three-way over Charlotte Flair and Asuka when Sky reversed an Asuka lock into a pin on Asuka. This, and the six-man tag were the only matches without a lot of outside interference, and the six-man was set up by a lot of interference 
  • Austin Theory b Cameron Grimes when Grayson Waller interfered 
  • Raquel Rodriguez b Bayley with the Tejana bomb. Rodriguez, who is from that part of Texas, got a giant reaction coming out. Sky interfered and was booted out. Rodriguez cut a hometown babyface promo after the match. 
  • LA Knight b Solo Sikoa in a street fight with the BFT. Jimmy Uso interfered many times in this match.

For Google searches this week, UFC 294 was No. 2 yesterday behind Penn State with 1 million, which these days usually means a good PPV number. Nothing in pro wrestling or boxing made the top 20 on any day this past week. The death of futbol/soccer legend Sir Bobby Charlton of the U.K. was No. 11. Charlton, who was 86, was one of Britain’s all-time greats in the sport and has a statue at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Dana White also said they are in talks regarding signing Michael Venom Page, who is 21-2 and has been one of Bellator’s main pushed stars for a decade.

We’re looking for your thoughts on Impact Bound for Glory, thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst matches to [email protected]

We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s WWE house show in Laredo, TX and today’s Impact tapings in Chicago, results, finishes, angles and other highlights to [email protected]

The two weekend matches I’ve heard are the best are the Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey match from Bound for Glory yesterday, and the Yuma Aoyagi vs. Kento Miyahara match from All Japan for the Triple Crown.

With the highest ticket prices in history for a show, the 11/11 UFC 30th anniversary card at Madison Square Garden, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, still has 3,700 tickets left. Very few tickets have moved in recent weeks due to the high prices.

This is what is announced for Dynamite on Wednesday after last night’s show in Memphis: MJF vs Juice Robinson for the diamond ring, Hikaru Shida vs. Ruby Soho for the AEW womens’ title, Young Bucks & Adam Page defend the ROH trios titles against The Hardys & Brother Zay, RVD & Hook as a tag team plus Kazuchika Okada & Orange Cassidy vs. Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli. In addition, Renee Paquette interviews Chris Jericho and Tony Khan will present Sting with a special gift.

C.M. Punk introduced the Chicago Black Hawks at their home opener last night at the United Center. He also narrated the video that opened the game.

Will Ospreay wrestles Josh Alexander at today’s Impact tapings in Chicago along with Alex Shelley vs. Jonathan Greasham, Tommy Dreamer vs. Crazzy Steve for the Digital Media title, Trey Miguel & Myron Reed & Zacharty Wentz vs. Juventud Guerrera & Black Taurus & Laredo Kid and Samuray del Sol vs. Alan Angels.

Trinity Fatu vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the Knockouts title has been announced for the 10/27 show in Newcastle, England, which is the Turning Point show. If Purrazzo doesn’t win, she can not challenge again for the title as long as Trinity is champion

Dillon Danis, who was under contract to Bellator, has been released.

RevPro British J Cup results from yesterday: Leon Slater b Will Kaven, Wild Boar b Alex Zayne, Harrison Bennett b Senza Volto, Mascara Dorada b Robbie X, Alex Windsor b Kanji to retain the British women’s title, Luke Jacobs b Ricky Knight Jr., Michael Oku b Gabe Kidd to keep the British title, Slater won the British J Cup in a four-way over Bennett, Boar and Dorada. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Zak Zodiac (Zak Knight, the brother of Saraya who was a character in the “Fighting with my Family” movie announced yesterday that his did his farewell match for the WAW (Knight family) promotion and that he was headed to the U.S. His parents congratulated him. Ricky talked about how hard it is when the kids move noting they’ve only seen Saraya ten times in the last decade. I know Zak was hoping to work for AEW but don’t know that is for sure where he’s going.

Sami Callihan, who is a free agent, was backstage at the AEW tapings last night.

Mike Tenay, during his Hall of Fame speech (we covered this on last night’s show) mentioned that Konnan was backstage. Tenay gave a great speech, talking heavily about Don West, Bobby Heenan and Dick Beyer. Scott D’Amore gave a speech introducing Tenay and talking heavily about West. Gail Kim also did the introduction for Traci Brooks. Frankie Kazarian in taped footage heavily put over what a nice person and great wife she was.

Jim Ross, in Memphis for Collision, visited yesterday morning with Jerry Lawler.

KENTA vs. Joey Janela for the Defy title was announced for 11/18 at Washington Hall in Seattle.

Mission Pro Wrestling from last night in San Antonio: Shay Kaarmichael DCOR Queen Uju, Gypsy Mac b Morgan Mercy, Mia Friday b Angel Blue, Lady Bird Monroe b Amira (not the Amira from the U.K., but the one from the Northwest), Jazmin Allure b Britnie Brooks, Zoe DuBois b JP Harlow in a casket match, Maya World b Izzy Moreno, MPW campion Tiffany Nieves b Christina Marie in a no DQ match. In the casket match, Harlow came out dressed like Vince McMahon while Joey Hyder came out of the casket dressed like Shane McMahon (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

At the show, Walker Stewart, who starts soon with New Japan, was announcing with Veda Scott and called her “The lovely Miss Veda Scott” and she came back and said, “Veda Scott will do just fine thank you!”