Category: Daily Updates

Daily Update

Latest News

• Ilja Dragunov: NXT vs. AEW head-to-head was ‘historical, inspirational day at work’
• WWE legend The Undertaker launching ‘Six Feet Under’ Patreon
• NJPW Super Junior Tag League 2023 night one results
• UFC 294 live results: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2
• WWE SmackDown video highlights: Bianca Belair returns

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Live: Packed weekend of wrestling, Sting’s upcoming retirement
• Wrestling Observer Radio: Sting’s career, the death of Showtime Sports

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 23, 2023 Observer Newsletter: WWE creative changes, Sting to retire in 2024

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

• August 2, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE roster, Great American Bash

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

• SmackDown averaged 2.15 million viewers in the fast national ratings last night, down from the 2.33 million viewers last week’s season premiere episode drew. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5. The episode went up against competition from the MLB playoffs.
• John Cena thanked the fans who attended last night’s show: “It’s you. It’s me. It’s us. Thank you to the incredible crowd at #Smackdown and @WWE Universe for allowing me to continue to spend time with you. Good & bad, ups & downs I am grateful for every second we spend together.”
• SmackDown featured an angle where general manager Nick Aldis had Jey Uso and Raw general manager Adam Pearce ejected from the building. Jey Uso showed up on the show and fought with his twin brother Jimmy Uso, getting revenge for Jimmy costing him and Cody Rhodes the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles on Raw. After getting kicked out, Pearce told Aldis to “let the games begin,” potentially hinting that there will be a WarGames match between Raw and SmackDown at Survivor Series.
• In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Raquel Rodriguez gave an update on Liv Morgan’s recovery from a shoulder injury:
• Yeah, I’ve talked to Liv. She’s doing great. She’s really recovering well. She’s in very good spirits, and of course, she’s very, very anxious to come back. I don’t have a specific date of when she’ll be back. We’re all waiting for her. I know, I miss her terribly. So I’m very excited for that. But I feel like time has been flying, and she’s just been on it, on her recovery. So I would assume she’d be back sooner rather than later. And probably before any of us can really imagine.
• Rodriguez also discussed Jade Cargill joining the WWE women’s division:
• We have one of the most competitive and badass women divisions in the entire world when it comes to wrestling, especially women’s wrestling. The representation of strong, powerful, beautiful women is just really, really powerful right now in the WWE and across the globe. So, adding Jade to that — and of course, you know, on the blue side [SmackDown], we also have Bianca [Belair], we have Bayley, we have Charlotte [Flair], I mean, the list goes on and on of strong, beautiful women, and adding her just kind of gives it a little bit more of a perch. We just have a whole roster full of powerhouse women and I’m excited to see what we do.
• Brogan Finlay, who recently took part in a WWE tryout, announced at a show for ACTION Wrestling that it’s time for him to begin the next chapter in his career. Brogan is the son of Fit Finlay and the brother of NJPW wrestler David Finlay.
• LA Knight, The LWO, and Austin Theory & Grayson Waller appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
• WWE streamed a five-hour video of the best of The Bloodline.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• Impact Wrestling uploaded a video previewing tonight’s Bound for Glory PPV.
• Trinity and Mickie James were interviewed by NBC Chicago ahead of Bound for Glory.
• James explained to TV Insider why Nick Aldis turned down a previous AEW opportunity:
• It’s really interesting when I was back at WWE there was an opportunity for Nick to go to AEW. He turned it down because it was too much on our family for him to be on the road full-time along with me. Our son Donovan was three or four. I think about it now, and it has shifted. Nick has deserved this opportunity for a long time. A lot of people don’t realize he has been at this for almost 20 years I’d say …The way our careers have gone. It’s weird not really being in the same place for long, but I think it’s by design. We have to do our best for our son first. That means someone has to have a lighter schedule. Business picked up for the Aldis family. In the wrestling world, if people don’t know who Nick Aldis is, they will. He is an incredible talent.
• PWInsider reported that Chris Sabin vs. KENTA for the X-Division Championship is scheduled to open the Bound for Glory PPV.
• In a social media post, MJF opened up about the year he’s had in 2023:
• This will feel random but I just wanted to say I’ve been doing this since I was 18 and there were times I questioned if I belonged or if I was good enough to be involved in something I hold at such a high regard.
• 2023 has been a year that has challenged me more physically and emotionally then any year of my life. One day I’ll tell everyone what stuff went down in my personal life….
• But it’s also been the most amazing year as well. I can say confidently I’ve never loved this sport more.
• I’m excited for the present and the future.
• I wanted to thank everyone who ever told me I was great.
• And everyone whoever told me I wasn’t good enough.
• It all drives me to reach for my ultimate goal of going down as one of the greats.
• Thanks for following my career.
• Thanks for loving something I cherish and hold dearly.
• Thank you Poors.
• Thank you Pro wrestling.
• CJ Perry and Nikki Garcia (the former Nikki Bella) will be featured on the upcoming season of MTV’s Cribs.
• Macey Estrella-Kadlec (Lacey Evans) joined Mandy Saccomanno (Mandy Rose) & Sabby Piscitelli (Tino Sabbatelli) on the latest episode of their Power Alphas Podcast.
• Will Ospreay was a guest on the Battleground Podcast.
• NJPW’s English-language website has an interview with Yuya Uemura.

Daily Update

Latest News

• WWE NXT ratings down from last week’s loaded episode
• Women’s title eliminator match announced for AEW Dynamite
• Report: Serena Deeb was backstage at AEW Collision
• Mickie James: WWE SmackDown GM role ‘perfect’ for Nick Aldis
• Billie Starkz vs. Diamante, Ethan Page vs. Tony Nese set for ROH TV
• Bianca Belair advertised for WWE Crown Jewel
• Jordynne Grace vs. Dani Luna announced for Impact Wrestling Turning Point

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Live: NXT TV report, Halloween Havoc and Dynamite previews, news
• Bryan & Vinny & Shawn & Craig Show: NWA-TNA from the week of Oct. 16, 2002, plus Granny!
• We’re Live, Pal: Vince McMahon’s role in WWE

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 16, 2023 Observer Newsletter: NXT vs. AEW, UFC/USADA relationship breaks down

This week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer is out with these stories:

• The Tuesday night head-to-head battle
• The ratings numbers and competition, quarters, demos, and how both numbers compared to last year
• Tony Khan’s tweets
• Controversy over the MJF storyline
• Some notable bad taste angles
• Advertising of Moxley vs. Fenix
• MJF talks his angle
• Highlights and rundowns of both shows
• Next head-to-head battle and why this one won’t be close
• The end of the UFC/USADA relationship from both sides
• Major questions on the USADA era and the good and the bad of it
• The cases of Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar and Conor McGregor
• Things fighters didn’t like about USADA
• Travis Tygart’s statement and UFC’s response
• WWE Fastlane coverage and business note
• 2023 Hall of Fame ballot and thoughts on leading candidate
• Who are unknown to most but almost have to be in
• New Japan & Stardom talk future business, youth movement, reality show, Inoki movie
• Destruction in Ryogoku coverage, business notes, major angles, and plans for Copper Box
• This past week’s UFC coverage
• The most detailed look at the U.S. TV ratings
• International TV ratings and streaming numbers
• Major women’s tournament
• Stardom PPV notes
• Lots of injury updates
• Several wrestlers celebrate 25th anniversary
• Small town locals draw nice All Japan crowd
• Katsuhiko Nakajima update
• Tanahashi & Okada talk about Inoki upon release of movie as well as their futures
• Plans for January 4th by New Japan and Stardom
• Mayu Iwatani’s first IWGP title defense in the U.S. and opponent
• Bill Dundee update
• Billy Corgan talks NWA changes
• Update on Mil Mascaras
• Four-part BBC drama on famous talk show host and sometimes wrestler Jimmy Savile
• Controversy regarding business deal in Europe
• Update on Davey Boy Smith Jr.
• GCW goes to Japan
• Lots of new directions for AEW
• AEW injury thoughts
• Gordon Solie award winner for 2023
• Update on WrestleDream PPV numbers
• Two AEW stars in movie roles
• Ticket advances for AEW & WWE shows
• International TV ratings
• Kyle O’Reilly talks return
• UFC Saudi Arabia deal
• UFC 294 changes
• Laurence Epstein talks WWE/UFC merger
• New UFC historical specials to be released this month
• Bellator 300 coverage
• Talks about the future of Bellator
• Real weights vs. weigh-in weights and some surprises
• A look at the career of Alistair Overeem
• Update on WWE creative process
• Ari Emanuel with interesting notes on the WWE TKO stock declines
• John Cena update
• Survivor Series notes
• Update on recent main roster call-ups
• Brian Pillman Jr. update
• Update on WWE prospect

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

• August 2, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE roster, Great American Bash

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

• Last night’s NXT ended with a tease that Jade Cargill could be showing up at Halloween Havoc night one next Tuesday. Lyra Valkyria is challenging Becky Lynch for the NXT Women’s Championship next week. In a backstage segment, Cargill appeared on a television screen behind Valkyria. Cargill pointed at her watch, signaling that her time is coming soon. Valkyria didn’t notice Cargill on the screen.
• The band New Years Day will be performing live at Halloween Havoc. Their song “Vampyre” is the official Halloween Havoc theme song this year.
• Sports Illustrated asked Tyson Fury if returning to WWE is a possibility for him: “I’ve been doing this [boxing] for 15 years, which is a long time. I know it won’t last forever. And it’s true, I’ve had a few good stints in WWE. There is still a lot of opportunity there.”
• In an interview with the Sporting News, Rhea Ripley discussed her on-screen partnership with Dominik Mysterio:
• I say to Dom all the time he’s not allowed to leave me, because I need him and I feel like he needs me.
• We didn’t know if we were going to click or get along… but I think us being so close together in age has really helped in the situation. We are on that same sort of level and it just clicks – it was something that came out of left-field.
• Every week that I go out there with Dom, I feel like our relationship grows to that next little step. This is just such a happy accident that has happened and it has grown into such an amazing bond and storyline.
• I feel like we’re only just scratching the surface… I think it could be something we can ride for a long time.
• Torrie Wilson named Ripley as the opponent she’d like to face if she wrestled today: “I think if I could wrestle someone today, I’m a little obsessed with Rhea Ripley but she’d kill me. But at least it’d be fun.”
• The Stamford Advocate published a story on a giant WWE championship belt sculpture that’s being built outside of WWE headquarters. The sculpture is 7-feet-tall and is close to being completed.
• Dave Bautista will be part of the English voice cast for Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron.” Bautista voices The Parakeet King.
• A new episode of Hot Ones with Mick Foley as the guest will be uploaded to YouTube this Thursday (October 19).
• Saturday Night Live shared a wrestling-inspired promo for Bad Bunny hosting this week’s episode.
• Drew McIntyre joined Scarlett and Shotzi on this week’s edition of Chamber of Horrors. They explore the Pennhurst Asylum, an infamous haunted hospital in Pennsylvania.
• Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, and Adam Pearce appeared on WWE’s The Bump today.
• Natalya was the guest on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• Dave Meltzer wrote about the ticket sales for tonight’s Dynamite, which includes Mistico making his AEW debut against Rocky Romero on the tapings for Friday’s Rampage: “As of this morning, AEW’s show tonight has moved well over 2,100 tickets since the announcement of Mistico. Some of this is lowering prices but every company lowers prices if not sold out at the end. This is a noteworthy number but also notable Mistico’s first AEW appearance and being in Houston is a one time thing.”
• Bryan Danielson reflected on the picture that he took with Adam Copeland and Saraya before Dynamite last week:
• It was just a cool realization because all three of us had matches on Tuesday and we were all kind of in the ring before the show, warming up and that sort of thing and there was just this realization, I think it was Saraya who had it first was, ‘Hey, we’re all in the ring together and we’ve all got matches tonight. This is surreal because we were all told at different points that we’d never wrestle again.’ I did say that between the three of us, you combine the three of our necks together and I don’t think you even have one complete neck. [laughs] It is cool and it also is a testament to the advancement of medical technologies but also, all three of us, we were told we shouldn’t do this anymore and we kept fighting through, right? One thing feeds off another. When you hear somebody else has been able to come back, well then you think like, ‘Okay, maybe I can come back,’ and that sort of thing, and those sort of reinforcing stories help us all.
• AEW’s Paul Wight is set to appear for Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville this Thursday. It will be Wight’s first OVW appearance in nearly 20 years.
• Zack Gibson of The Grizzled Young Veterans became a father this week: “Day 2 (and 3 over 30 HOURS!) of being a free agent …Welcome to the world Robyn”
• Hollyhood Haley J told Cafe de Rene that having epilepsy led to her being pulled from a WWE tryout she was scheduled for recently:
• I have epilepsy and my doctor is not trying to clear me to wrestle. My doctor. So of course, they were like, ‘We need a clearance letter.’ And my doctor was like, ‘No.’ So I’m in the process of finding another doctor to get a second opinion. Because I haven’t had a seizure in over six years. Been off medication for four, been wrestling for almost four years, haven’t had any issues. So I don’t know why they won’t work with me. But, yeah, waiting on a second opinion. Then I should be right back up at the top where I belong.

Daily Update

Latest News

• Grizzled Young Veterans announce ‘global takeover’ following WWE departure
• NJPW Royal Quest III live results: Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
• Lexis King/Brian Pillman Jr. makes WWE in-ring debut at NXT house show
• WWE SmackDown video highlights: Season premiere
• AEW, CMLL excited for future opportunities to work together
• Kris Statlander vs. Skye Blue TBS title match added to AEW Collision

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Radio: Tuesday Night War ratings, USADA & UFC
• Punch-Out: ESPN’s Arda Ocal on being WWE’s Kyle Edwards, Aftermath with Renee Paquette

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 16, 2023 Observer Newsletter: NXT vs. AEW, UFC/USADA relationship breaks down

This week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer is out with these stories:

• The Tuesday night head-to-head battle
• The ratings numbers and competition, quarters, demos, and how both numbers compared to last year
• Tony Khan’s tweets
• Controversy over the MJF storyline
• Some notable bad taste angles
• Advertising of Moxley vs. Fenix
• MJF talks his angle
• Highlights and rundowns of both shows
• Next head-to-head battle and why this one won’t be close
• The end of the UFC/USADA relationship from both sides
• Major questions on the USADA era and the good and the bad of it
• The cases of Jon Jones, Brock Lesnar and Conor McGregor
• Things fighters didn’t like about USADA
• Travis Tygart’s statement and UFC’s response
• WWE Fastlane coverage and business note
• 2023 Hall of Fame ballot and thoughts on leading candidate
• Who are unknown to most but almost have to be in
• New Japan & Stardom talk future business, youth movement, reality show, Inoki movie
• Destruction in Ryogoku coverage, business notes, major angles, and plans for Copper Box
• This past week’s UFC coverage
• The most detailed look at the U.S. TV ratings
• International TV ratings and streaming numbers
• Major women’s tournament
• Stardom PPV notes
• Lots of injury updates
• Several wrestlers celebrate 25th anniversary
• Small town locals draw nice All Japan crowd
• Katsuhiko Nakajima update
• Tanahashi & Okada talk about Inoki upon release of movie as well as their futures
• Plans for January 4th by New Japan and Stardom
• Mayu Iwatani’s first IWGP title defense in the U.S. and opponent
• Bill Dundee update
• Billy Corgan talks NWA changes
• Update on Mil Mascaras
• Four-part BBC drama on famous talk show host and sometimes wrestler Jimmy Savile
• Controversy regarding business deal in Europe
• Update on Davey Boy Smith Jr.
• GCW goes to Japan
• Lots of new directions for AEW
• AEW injury thoughts
• Gordon Solie award winner for 2023
• Update on WrestleDream PPV numbers
• Two AEW stars in movie roles
• Ticket advances for AEW & WWE shows
• International TV ratings
• Kyle O’Reilly talks return
• UFC Saudi Arabia deal
• UFC 294 changes
• Laurence Epstein talks WWE/UFC merger
• New UFC historical specials to be released this month
• Bellator 300 coverage
• Talks about the future of Bellator
• Real weights vs. weigh-in weights and some surprises
• A look at the career of Alistair Overeem
• Update on WWE creative process
• Ari Emanuel with interesting notes on the WWE TKO stock declines
• John Cena update
• Survivor Series notes
• Update on recent main roster call-ups
• Brian Pillman Jr. update
• Update on WWE prospect

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

• July 31, 2006 Observer Newsletter: SmackDown roster, WWE TV in Canada

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

• SmackDown’s season premiere episode averaged 2.33 million viewers in the fast national ratings, up from last week’s fast national average of 2.20 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6.
• Brief face-to-face confrontations between Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill & Charlotte Flair took place on SmackDown last night.
• Nick Aldis commented on his new role as SmackDown general manager: “The opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you @TripleH @WWE Onwards and upwards for the blue brand!”
• WWE uploaded a post-show interview with Aldis following SmackDown.
• Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee & Sami Zayn defeated Imperium in a dark match after last night’s show.
• Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reported on Paul “Triple H” Levesque gaining more power in WWE creative following Endeavor’s acquisition of the company:
• If you have noticed a change in WWE programming, you are not alone. Levesque, who is WWE’s Head of Creative, has overseen all of the creative on SmackDown and Raw since the merger, which is precisely what his job description entails.
• The difference is that Vince McMahon, who is synonymous with all things WWE, is no longer directly involved in dictating the weekly creative in the same manner he once did. McMahon remained the title of Executive Chairman in WWE, but he no longer possesses majority control of the company. That has allowed for change in the new regime, particularly in the creative department.
• Multiple contacts within the WWE and UFC have confirmed that Ari Emanuel, who wields power as the Endeavor CEO, is behind the change. Emanuel has long been a firm believer that, in order for an organization to be as effective as possible, people need to do the job they are assigned. In this case, that approach has empowered Levesque to exert his full influence in the company’s creative sphere.
• Cody Rhodes teased that, when he was guest general manager of NXT, he made one final decision that will be revealed this Tuesday: “Last Tuesday before the clock struck midnight I made one final decision as Guest @WWENXT GM. Find out what that decision was this Tuesday on NXT! 8/7c on @USANetwork”
• On Friday, Kofi Kingston’s CLICK Foundation opened a library and computer center in Ghana.
• Jeff Hoffman, the agent for the Cavinder twins, told TheStreet that the Cavinders are still in discussions with WWE despite Haley returning to college basketball: “We’re still in deep and heavy conversations with WWE. We were out [at] the training facility a few months ago. We were discussing upcoming trainings.”
• Pretty Deadly, Damage CTRL, and Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
• The Cheap Heat podcast has an interview with Carlito.
• Sam Roberts was the guest on this week’s episode of WWE After the Bell.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• Lio Rush wrote: “2 weeks ago I got really sick during a crucial time in my career, changing the path that I was on. Im not entirely sure how to handle it other than to be home with family while I process the changes that this event has caused. I don’t know what’s next other than to heal and I’m hoping that this time away will help me do just that. I’ll be releasing an album, titled No time to heal, on my birthday, Nov 11th, that I hope will tell my story.”
• In an interview with the Metro, Will Ospreay opened up about the anxiety he’s experienced surrounding big matches: “I used to be in such a horrible, dark place where me and my head just didn’t get along. Sometimes it creeps in, especially big matches. The Tokyo match with Kenny [Omega], I can’t tell you enough how much doubt creeped into my mind with that. I get mad anxiety when I wrestle guys like Kenny.”
• Ospreay added: “The most important thing for me is my family, and as long as that’s all good, my demons don’t really creep in anymore. I’ve found a real big balance.”
• Swerve Strickland has been announced for House of Glory’s show in New York City on Friday, December 1.
• DAZN asked Strickland when we’re going to get a match between him and Keith Lee in AEW: “Timing. It’s timing. Timing. That’s all I can say about it.”
• Cultaholic interviewed Gisele Shaw.

Daily Update

Latest News

• UFC to hold first-ever show in Saudi Arabia
• Logan Paul says Roman Reigns match was ‘my proudest performance in WWE’
• AEW, CFX reach settlement in Luchasaurus mask lawsuit
• MJF to speak at Stand Up To Jewish Hate event
• Zack Clayton no longer with AEW
• VIDEO: Trailer released for ‘The Iron Claw’ Von Erich family biopic
• WWE decides against hiring CM Punk
• Four new matches announced for NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Radio: AEW vs. NXT Tuesday night battle, CM Punk and WWE, ratings, more

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 9, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Adam Copeland debuts in AEW

The new Observer is up now:

• Match of the week and performer of the week
• Adam Copeland comes to AEW, analysis of he deal, surprises, comments by Copeland, and the positives and negative of it
• Full rundown of WrestleDream, including business notes
• Updates on the last three AEW PPV shows including one major surprise
• What to learn from AEW doing three PPV shows so closely
• Full coverage of WWE NXT No Mercy
• AEW vs. NXT this coming Tuesday as both load up, and what to expect given how things went last year
• Notes on WWE Fastlane
• Russ Francis, the aspects of his pro wrestling career that few know, growing up as the son of a wrestler and promoter, NFL and other sports background, the Francis family in Hawaiian rings, the last big house drawn by the AWA, WrestleMania 2 and 31, his playing in the Super Bowl and the wrestling connection in that game, politics, broadcasting and more.
• Story on Joyce Grable, who passed away this past week.
• AEW & WWE attendance for quarter three
• Matt Riddle update
• The Infernos tag team history
• How many homes are the stations that carry wrestling and MMA programming in
• The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, comparisons with one year ago, segment numbers, placings, star power and competition to provide information as to the ups and downs
• CMLL Night of Champions as fans pick the card
• Women’s tournaments coming
• A show honoring 45 years of Blue Panther in the ring
• AAA Heroes Inmortales
• Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix notes
• Stardom tag team tournament update
• Notes on New Japan U.S dates
• Crush Gals anniversary show
• New pro wrestling documentary notes
• Impact gears up for its biggest show of the year
• Update on AEW and WBD
• Adam Cole on his injury
• Tony Khan talks Jade Cargill
• Why AEW announced 81,305 instead of 85,228 for All In
• Problems AEW had with its last TV show
• Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE
• Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
• International TV ratings
• Star returns from injury
• UFC & Bellator updates
• Canelo Alvarez PPV notes and how many buys came from AEW & WWE fans
• Two wrestlers being inducted into Louisiana Hall of Fame
• C.M. Punk notes
• Why WWE stock is down
• WWE in Japan update

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

• July 31, 2006 Observer Newsletter: SmackDown roster, WWE TV in Canada

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

• John Cena reflected on his appearance from last night’s NXT: “A really special night at @WWENXT. Being ‘present’ in that ring and enjoying the crowd at the #WWENXT Arena is something special. THANK YOU to @ShawnMichaels, the entire roster, @Undertaker, @WWEAsuka, @CodyRhodes, @HeymanHustle, @Carmelo_WWE and everyone who made it so much fun.”
• Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker reunited while at NXT.
• WWE uploaded a post-show clip where Undertaker and Carmelo Hayes did Undertaker’s pose together.
• Like she did at Fastlane, Jade Cargill made a brief appearance on NXT last night. Shawn Michaels was shown greeting Cargill as she arrived at the show.
• Bianca Belair spoke to Uproxx about Cargill signing with WWE:
• It’s always been a huge goal and mission of mine to bring myself and my culture and representation to WWE. And it’s only going to get bigger with Jade coming in the picture. There’s so many amazing possibilities that can come out of it, singles matches, tag matches. Going from being one of the first Black females to main event WrestleMania and now having Jade come in, it’s just showing how much WWE is evolving and continues to evolve.
• During his appearance on NXT, Paul Heyman was shown speaking with Ava (Simone Johnson) backstage.
• In an interview with Fox News, Heyman praised Tiffany Stratton:
• Tiffany Stratton is someone that Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair and the main roster women better keep their eyes on because she’s another one who, if she continues on this path, is going to be a significant player in the future of this industry and leading the industry into the future.
• I thought Tiffany Stratton not only held her own in the ring with Becky Lynch, I thought in the promos that she did with Becky Lynch she more than held her own as well. That’s no easy task for someone that hasn’t been on the main roster for a long time, let alone for any time.
• Tiffany held her own in a very tense situation with Becky Lynch and looked great doing it. And it wasn’t because Becky Lynch knew how to carry her through the segment. It was because Tiffany knew how to present herself, and she did it quite well – very impressive.
• NXT commentator Vic Joseph revealed that his father passed away yesterday. Joseph dedicated his commentary on last night’s show to his father: “Yesterday I lost my dad – my earliest memory was watching wrestling with him – he always supported my dreams and did to the end – last night was for him – to everyone involved and all of you that watched/interacted – you allowed me to escape for a few hours THANK YOU”
• Seth Rollins named three wrestlers in WWE who he thinks are underappreciated: “On the current roster, shockingly, I think my wife is underappreciated. And then I would go with two guys who I think are really awesome, Chad Gable and Ivar of the Viking Raiders.”
• Patrick Clark (Velveteen Dream) shot down a social media rumor that claimed he’s been at the WWE Performance Center recently: “I AM NOT IN A REHABILITATION FACILITY NOR HAVE I VISITED ORLANDO FLORIDA – THE WWE PERFORMANCE CENTER -OR ANY WWE EVENTS OR FACILITIES”
• WWE remembered Dusty Rhodes on what would have been his 78th birthday.
• Rhea Ripley (27) and Ricochet (35) are celebrating birthdays today.
• Episode four of Shotzi and Scarlett’s Chamber of Horrors features Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson investigating the haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium.
• Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, and Sam Roberts were guests on WWE’s The Bump today.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• After last night’s Dynamite, the AEW locker room came out to the stage and sang happy birthday to Tony Khan.
• Khan thanked everyone who watched Dynamite: “Thank you all who watched #AEWDynamite Title Tuesday last night! I thought last night was one of our best shows that we’ve ever done! The fans in Kansas City were tremendous, the wrestling was great, and last night was the best birthday that I’ve ever had, thanks to all of you!”
• Bryan Danielson addressed whether he’ll wrestle in Japan again: “Maybe. I never say never. Wrestling in Japan is one of my favorite places in the world to wrestle if not the favorite place and so, yeah, I’ve loved wrestling in Japan and would love to wrestle there more. It’s just a matter of schedule and it’s just a matter of, you know, time.”
• Adam Copeland is the guest on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho.
• Copeland, Danielson, and Saraya, who all thought they would never wrestle again due to injuries at one point, shared a moment together in the ring before Dynamite last night.
• Saraya wrote: “You know what was really cool yesterday. Was before the show I was standing in the ring and I saw @EdgeRatedR on one side and @bryandanielson on the other and I just was like ‘holy sh*t. None of us thought we would wrestle again’ and I felt very grateful. Very cool moment.”
• Taz turns 56 years old today.
• Marshall Von Erich reacted to the trailer for The Iron Claw: “I knew it wouldn’t be 100% accurate because my Dad wasn’t Involved but those of you that know our family know that God played a major role in our story. Still excited about it and think it can help a lot of people that are suffering from loss. They nailed the wardrobe tho [laughing emoji]”
• Ric Flair thinks he should have chosen Ricky Morton as his opponent for his last match:
• I want to wrestle again right now. Isn’t it crazy? I feel like because like Ricky Morton, the guy that I should have chosen for my last match, it would have been great. Ricky Morton is still wrestling. The best thing for me about it was I forced myself to really get in shape. I’ve heard this from guys over the years when they were older and I was in my prime. The older guys would say, ‘Man, I’m tired of working out.’ There is a time when you just get bored working out if you don’t have a goal. I mean, they gave me a goal and I just attacked it. I didn’t stop drinking or anything, but I was literally training three hours a day, five days a week in the ring, or I was doing the sled, the ropes. I got my bench press up for two and a quarter.
• Flair also discussed his relationship with WWE:
• It’s fine. I don’t work for them. I mean, I’m always gonna be indebted and be thankful for the relationship over the years, but when you work with them, you’re pretty much locked up to, you know, to anything, and they have a really tough, enforceable contract, so I wouldn’t be able to do the marijuana [product . I certainly wouldn’t be able to have the energy drink unless I gave them 50 percent of it or something like that. I mean, you know, and in all fairness, I don’t like that, but I can understand. They’re gonna give you the TV time and help give you the opportunity for yourself to become a star, if you have that star quality, then they deserve to get a part of the money. I understand it. I don’t like it, but it’s only fair and I’ve seen a lot worse situations for people.

Daily Update

Latest News

• WWE Main Event results: Nikki Cross vs. Kayden Carter
• AEW’s Cash Wheeler dealing with injury
• WWE Fastlane review: Not brought to you by Pizza Hut
• Lio Rush pulled from NJPW Destruction, YOH added to IWGP Junior title match
• ROH spoilers from Salt Lake City, Utah
• Triple H WWE Fastlane press conference: Jade Cargill debut, Edge departure
• John Cena says SAG-AFTRA strike end would call him away from WWE

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Live: WWE Fastlane, Adam Copeland, CM Punk return
• Wrestling Observer Radio: WWE Fast Lane, Smackdown and Collision recaps, AEW vs. NXT, more

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 9, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Adam Copeland debuts in AEW

The new Observer is up now:

• Match of the week and performer of the week
• Adam Copeland comes to AEW, analysis of he deal, surprises, comments by Copeland, and the positives and negative of it
• Full rundown of WrestleDream, including business notes
• Updates on the last three AEW PPV shows including one major surprise
• What to learn from AEW doing three PPV shows so closely
• Full coverage of WWE NXT No Mercy
• AEW vs. NXT this coming Tuesday as both load up, and what to expect given how things went last year
• Notes on WWE Fastlane
• Russ Francis, the aspects of his pro wrestling career that few know, growing up as the son of a wrestler and promoter, NFL and other sports background, the Francis family in Hawaiian rings, the last big house drawn by the AWA, WrestleMania 2 and 31, his playing in the Super Bowl and the wrestling connection in that game, politics, broadcasting and more.
• Story on Joyce Grable, who passed away this past week.
• AEW & WWE attendance for quarter three
• Matt Riddle update
• The Infernos tag team history
• How many homes are the stations that carry wrestling and MMA programming in
• The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, comparisons with one year ago, segment numbers, placings, star power and competition to provide information as to the ups and downs
• CMLL Night of Champions as fans pick the card
• Women’s tournaments coming
• A show honoring 45 years of Blue Panther in the ring
• AAA Heroes Inmortales
• Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix notes
• Stardom tag team tournament update
• Notes on New Japan U.S dates
• Crush Gals anniversary show
• New pro wrestling documentary notes
• Impact gears up for its biggest show of the year
• Update on AEW and WBD
• Adam Cole on his injury
• Tony Khan talks Jade Cargill
• Why AEW announced 81,305 instead of 85,228 for All In
• Problems AEW had with its last TV show
• Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE
• Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
• International TV ratings
• Star returns from injury
• UFC & Bellator updates
• Canelo Alvarez PPV notes and how many buys came from AEW & WWE fans
• Two wrestlers being inducted into Louisiana Hall of Fame
• C.M. Punk notes
• Why WWE stock is down
• WWE in Japan update

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

• July 24, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE Raw, Brock Lesnar

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Update

– Bryan and I did our show last night for the weekend covering Fastlane, Collision, SmackDown, AEW injuries and business and a lot more. We also did our weekly news in review show with Garrett Gonzales up on the site. Bryan and I will be back Monday night after Raw and will be doing our midweek show on Tuesday this week rather than Wednesday because of Dynamite & NXT head-to-head that night.

– There were no major angles coming out of Fastlane. The matches were good with two great bouts. They really did a five-match show with only one super long match and spent so much time between matches it still passed three hours for the show. The next PLE is 11/4 from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with Roman Reigns defending his title. The only guy that it seemed to be set up for is LA Knight but whatever angle they are doing will likely take place Friday night.

– Collision on the fast nationals from last night did 333,000 viewers and a 0.08 demo rating, numbers similar to last week. I guess it’s good that the main roster big show didn’t hurt them any worse than NXT did but two weeks ago you’d have called numbers like that pretty bad. The final numbers won’t be in until Tuesday and are usually a little higher, but not much.

– Scott Coker was asked about the future of Bellator last night after Bellator 300. He basically didn’t give an answer, saying he’s not the owner. They only have one show left on the schedule, an 11/17 show in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena. But they did promotion during the show for a couple of matches for next spring.

–Alistair Overeem, who is the only man to hold two major organization world heavyweight titles in MMA at the same time as well as the biggest kickboxing title (K-1 Grand Prix winner) also at the same time, announced his retirement today. Overeem said he was going into Dutch politics. He had a very storied 24-year career which also included a European championship in submission wrestling. During his career he had wins over Peter Aerts, Gokhan Saki, Tyrone Spong and Badr Hari in kickboxing and Vitor Belfort, Igor Vovchanchyn, Sergei Kharitonov, Mark Hunt, Gary Goodridge, Kazuyuki Fujita, Fabricio Werdum, Brock Lesnar, Frank Mir, Stefan Struve, Roy Nelson, Junior Dos Santos, Andrei Arovlovki, Sergei Pavlovich and Augusto Sakai in MMA.

– New Japan Destruction in Ryogoku is at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning Eastern and 1 a.m. late tonight Pacific time.

• Yoshi-Hashi & Toru Yano & Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi & ? vs. Takeshi Masada & Kazumi Sumi & Kengo & Jun Masaoka & Takahiro Katori – The opponents are a series of non-New Japan guys with Masada & Sumi from DDT, Kengo & Masaoka as indie guys and Katori for Eagle Pro.
• Taichi & Douki & ? vs. Sho & Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru – The ? will be the new fifth member of the Just Five Guys stable. Taichi will announce the new member.
• Tanga Loa vs. Chase Owens
• Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji & Bushi vs. Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan & Henare & Callum Newman
• Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney vs. Kevin Knight & Kushida for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles
• Shota Umino & Master Wato & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki & Desperado & Ren Narita – This is the final match of their best-of-seven series. Nagata’s team is up 3-2 with one 30:00 draw.
• Hikuleo & El Phantasmo vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd for the New Japan Strong Tag Team titles
• Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Josh Alexander & Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley for the NEVER trios titles
• David Finlay vs. Tama Tonga for the NEVER title
• Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mike Bailey vs. Yoh for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. Yoh is a late replacement for Lio Rush.
• Sanada vs Evil for the IWGP Heavyweight title in a lumberjack match where the lumberjacks will be the Just Five Guys and House of Torture members.

– Kidd, Coughlin, Cobb, Hikuleo, Rush and Knight all missed yesterday’s NJPW show due to illness and Rush has been off a few days. Rush is the only one not announced for tonight’s show. But everything else was still listed the same on the website.

– Our weekend polls this week will be on Fastlane from last night as well as for the New Japan Destruction in Ryogoku show which takes place tomorrow morning. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle plus a best and worst match from each show to [email protected]

– Fox has a Top 25 moments in SmackDown history special today. It’s aired already in most markets but some West Coast and Central time markets it will still be airing. Check your local Fox station listings.

– We’re looking for reports on the two GCW shows in Atlantic City with results and notes to [email protected]

– AEW on 10/21 from Memphis will have a three-hour Saturday night show from 8-11 p.m. on TNT with the regular Collision followed by Battle of the Belts from the Fedex Forum. This show has a very weak advance. Dave Brown, the longtime Memphis announcer and perennial Hall of Fame candidate will be at the show.

– As far as stuff that trended on Google this week, Fastlane was 12th yesterday with 100,000 searches. Although he didn’t really have much to do with pro wrestling past being the referee of the battle royal at WrestleMania II and worked for Vince McMahon’s XFL as an announcer with Jim Ross and Jonathan Coachman, Dick Butkus’ death was first on Thursday with 1.5 million searches. The death of Russ Francis was on the Monday listing at 100,000 but later it was no longer there. AEW on Sunday for the Adam Copeland debut was 11th but it was only 20,000.

– Warrior Wrestling from Friday night in South Bend, IN: Sabni Gauge defeated Koda Hernandez, Missa Kate defeated Rachel Armstrong, Jordan Kross defeated Jack Vaughn, Skye Blue defeated Trevor Outlaw to evidently win the Women’s title, Konosuke Takeshita defeated Storm Grayson, Mike Santana defeated Bryan Keith, KC Navarro defeated Encore Moore to keep the Warrior title. In the Skye Blue match, Outlaw came out wearing the Women’s title and saying it’s been almost a year since Athena, the champion, has defended it, and claimed he was the new champion. The announcers then said Athena was still champion but the company hasn’t been able to book her due to her busy schedule. They called Outlaw the self-proclaimed champion and Blue beat him for the title. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

– The Sukeban promotion announced a second show in Miami in December but did not give a date. They announced the Cherry Bombs vs. Vandals 2 for that show.

– The new Observer Hall of Fame ballot is out. Newcomers to the ballot include the Iron Sheik, Young Bucks, Jon Moxley, Seth Rollins and Blue Panther. We’ll have more on this on shows coming up the next few weeks.

– Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills was fined $13,659 and charged with unsportsmanlike conduct for his touchdown celebration copying Steve Austin in the Bills 10/1 win over the Miami Dolphins.

– Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling from Friday night in a sold out Newark, CA Pavilion: Jherri Giggalow defeated Eliza Hammer, Brooke Havok defeated Mylo, Viva Van defeated Su Yung, Big Fonz defeated JR Kratos, QT Marshall defeated Vinnie Massaro to retain the Latin American title, Too Fresh won tag tiles over The Freaks, the Honor Society and Eddie Cuervo & True X, Marcus Lewis defeated Dave Dutra to win the vacant Heavyweight title, Johnny TV & Aaron Solo defeated Jacob Fatu & Starboy Charlie in a match with interference from Mick Foley with Mr. Socko and QT Marshall. The next show is 12/8 with Jinx vs. Jeckles, long-time partners, in a hair vs. career match. Bret Hart will be doing a fan Q&A on 11/24. (thanks to Jim Davis)

Daily Update

Latest News

• Digital Media title match official for Impact Bound for Glory fallout tapings
• UFC on ESPN+ 87 live results: Grant Dawson vs. Bobby Green
• WWE Fastlane preview & predictions: ‘So you’re saying Nakamura has a chance’
• WWE SmackDown video highlights: The last stop before Fastlane
• Danhausen return vignette airs on AEW Rampage
• ROH World title match, Adam Copeland promo official for AEW Collision
• Roman Reigns return, Triple H announced for WWE SmackDown season premiere
• LWO to have mystery partner at WWE Fastlane

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Live: Returning to October 1989
• Wrestling Observer Radio: Adam Copeland in AEW, Tuesday Night War

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 9, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Adam Copeland debuts in AEW

The new Observer is up now:

• Match of the week and performer of the week
• Adam Copeland comes to AEW, analysis of he deal, surprises, comments by Copeland, and the positives and negative of it
• Full rundown of WrestleDream, including business notes
• Updates on the last three AEW PPV shows including one major surprise
• What to learn from AEW doing three PPV shows so closely
• Full coverage of WWE NXT No Mercy
• AEW vs. NXT this coming Tuesday as both load up, and what to expect given how things went last year
• Notes on WWE Fastlane
• Russ Francis, the aspects of his pro wrestling career that few know, growing up as the son of a wrestler and promoter, NFL and other sports background, the Francis family in Hawaiian rings, the last big house drawn by the AWA, WrestleMania 2 and 31, his playing in the Super Bowl and the wrestling connection in that game, politics, broadcasting and more.
• Story on Joyce Grable, who passed away this past week.
• AEW & WWE attendance for quarter three
• Matt Riddle update
• The Infernos tag team history
• How many homes are the stations that carry wrestling and MMA programming in
• The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, comparisons with one year ago, segment numbers, placings, star power and competition to provide information as to the ups and downs
• CMLL Night of Champions as fans pick the card
• Women’s tournaments coming
• A show honoring 45 years of Blue Panther in the ring
• AAA Heroes Inmortales
• Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix notes
• Stardom tag team tournament update
• Notes on New Japan U.S dates
• Crush Gals anniversary show
• New pro wrestling documentary notes
• Impact gears up for its biggest show of the year
• Update on AEW and WBD
• Adam Cole on his injury
• Tony Khan talks Jade Cargill
• Why AEW announced 81,305 instead of 85,228 for All In
• Problems AEW had with its last TV show
• Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE
• Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
• International TV ratings
• Star returns from injury
• UFC & Bellator updates
• Canelo Alvarez PPV notes and how many buys came from AEW & WWE fans
• Two wrestlers being inducted into Louisiana Hall of Fame
• C.M. Punk notes
• Why WWE stock is down
• WWE in Japan update

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

• July 24, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE Raw, Brock Lesnar

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Update

WWE

• Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.20 million viewers in the fast national ratings, up from last week’s fast national average of 2.16 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6.
• Pat McAfee voices the opening video for tonight’s Fastlane PPV, which is being held in Indianapolis.
• I previewed the Fastlane card for Sports Illustrated.
• In an interview with CBS Sports, LA Knight discussed a letter that William Moody (Paul Bearer) left him before passing away:
• Part of the message was that he loved me and he knew I was going to go on to do big things. That was insane that he was thinking of me at that moment.
• The fact that this guy that I watched growing up was thinking about me at that time, that was crazy. That was an enormous thing to consider and an enormous thing to think about. I feel like I’m bastardizing it to make it about myself, but in a weird way, it’s like my work had paid off in a certain sense that I’d garnered that kind of respect and friendship from somebody in the business.
• Shinsuke Nakamura named some of the matches he wants to have in WWE: “Everybody’s changed their character a little bit. Cody. I didn’t have any singles matches against The Usos. Maybe Jey Uso, Jimmy, and Solo…I don’t have singles match with Sheamus, Drew McIntyre. I still have a lot left.”
• WrestlingNews.Co asked Nakamura about the strangest place he’s ever wrestled in: “I have over 20 years experience…in Los Angeles around 2005-2006, I had a match against Karl Anderson. The audience was one Mexican family. Just five people.”
• While speaking with People, Jade Cargill explained how her time in AEW helped prepare her for WWE:
• I feel like I’m walking into a new light. AEW prepared me. It prepared me to have thick and tough skin. If I would have been a part of such a machine like WWE at a younger age, I would have probably been in my head so much – so much – but because I’ve worn several hats in this life and I’ve already been thrown in the fire, so it’s just prepared me for these moments.
• LA Knight, Asuka, and The LWO appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
• Tommaso Ciampa was the guest on WWE After the Bell this week.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• Matt Hardy thinks it’s inevitable that The Hardys will end up facing Adam Copeland & Christian Cage in AEW:
• I just think that is inevitable to eventually have an Edge and Christian vs. Matt and Jeff match, I mean, that will happen. It is one of those things, I think because we’re not going to do the 1999 No Mercy Ladder Match whenever we do have this match. I think we can still have a great match, we can still go out, we can have a killer match, it can be super entertaining, and it’s going to be fun, and there’ll be a lot of nostalgia involved, but I think we can still do it on a level high enough, in 2023, 2024, whatever year it is in the future, that is still going to be a great match.
• Copeland was a guest on The Ringer Wrestling Show.
• Copeland told Bleacher Report about Beth Phoenix voicing the “You think you know him” at the start of his theme music:
• It is, yes. And to me, an important thing about that is I always loved that. It was a female voicing that. I always thought that was just a different element that my character had that in wrestling a lot of characters maybe wouldn’t go that route. They’d have an angry guy singing or something, and I always loved that it was like this kind of sensual, sexy voice. And so I said ‘I want you to do it because it would mean even more.’ So it just felt like a no-brainer.
• Jim Ross wrote about the passing of NFL legend Dick Butkus: “My short time with Dick Butkus in the XFL broadcast booth was one of my greatest joys. Our pregame prep was very ‘unique.’ Crown Royal was always a arm’s length. Loved the man! RIP #51.”
• Dax Harwood filed a trademark for “CMFTR” on October 5.
• The Battleground podcast interviewed Ricky Starks.
• Entertainment Tonight shared a first look at the UPtv movie “Country Hearts.” Chris Jericho stars in the movie.
• SAnitY (Eric Young, Big Damo & Axel Tischer) will reunite at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Vendetta show in London on Sunday, November 26.
• YouTuber penguinz0 uploaded a video with Malakai Black & Zelina Vega teaching him how to wrestle.

Daily Update

Latest News

• WWE NXT ratings up for No Mercy fallout
• John Cena on The Rock’s WWE SmackDown return: ‘It was nice to see a friend’
• Fred Rosser ROH debut set for Ring of Honor TV
• Adam Copeland: New matchups in AEW ‘are all super exciting’
• Walker Stewart confirmed as new NJPW English-language commentator
• Will Ospreay vs. Josh Alexander announced for Impact Bound for Glory Fallout
• Lio Rush to miss NJPW Road to Destruction dates due to fever
• AEW’s Kenny Omega defeats Demetrious Johnson in Street Fighter 6 match

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Live: NXT loading up next week, Dynamite preview, Billie Starkz talks Revolver Women’s Grand Prix
• Bryan & Vinny & Craig & Shawn Show: NWA-TNA from the week of October 3, 2002, plus Granny!

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 2, 2023 Observer Newsletter: WWE releases Matt Riddle, more on Terry Funk

• The new Observer is out right now. Among the key stuff covered:
• Match of the week and performer of the week
• The plight of the recently fired WWE wrestlers and where many can or will wind up
• What is a key point about wrestlers who come from WWE and their ability to adapt to other companies and what things need to be considered
• XFL/USFL merger talks and why
• More on Terry Funk including his career title history and biggest awards, some of the biggest and most notable title change matches of his career, the only HBO wrestling special and the only time Vince McMahon did a broadcast announcing with Gordon Solie, why Funk’s proposed lengthy reign with the biggest regional title in the countr6 ended in a few weeks, the amazing Funk Brothers legacy in Japan, Funk’s NWA title reign and booking behind his biggest matches
• Preview of the NXT & AEW shows, lots of talk by Bryan Danielson about Zack Sabre and his retirement, strange things about the show, AEW PPV airing on free TV in the U.K., and early notes on WWE Fastlane
• Destruction in Kobe and the next few NJPW shows
• More on the All In attendance mark
• The dismissal of the landmark Mark Hunt suit against Dana White, UFC and Brock Lesnar and the judges ruling
• Full UFC weekend coverage
• The most detailed look at the ratings for the past week, the segments, the competition and where audiences were up and down
• The KeMonito story in Mexico that is mainstream news there regarding his retirement
• Lots of injury updates
• Stardom Grand Prix updates
• Junior Battle of Glory
• Katsuhiko Nakajima update
• How Jericho vs Takeshtia was put together
• Two former WWE stars talk their steroid use
• wXw major tag team tournament weekend
• FantasticaMania notes
• More on MLW and its relationship with CMLL and NJPW
• GCW continues to tour overseas
• Imapct Bound for Glory notes
• PCO talks his departure from Impact and who Impact is looking to sign
• Lots of thoughts on Tony Khan’s recent press conference
• FOX and AEW comments, streaming comments, more PPV, ownership talk
• How Dynamite changed this week and why
• Kyle O’Reilly update
• Title Tuesday
• Notes on AEW DVR numbers for Grand Slam
• Ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
• Jade Cargill to WWE
• WWE back broadcasting in Japan
• Shawn Michaels talks lots of WWE subjects
• International TV ratings and streaming notes
• WWE market value

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

• July 24, 2006 Observer Newsletter: WWE Raw, Brock Lesnar

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Wednesday Update

WWE

• PWInsider reported that the “early word” is that Jade Cargill will be part of the WWE Raw brand. PWInsider added that Cargill is scheduled to be at Fastlane this Saturday, though it isn’t known if Cargill will be appearing on television.
• Bobby Lashley told 100.7 The Bay that Cargill would fit “really well” into his group with The Street Profits:
• It’s a big signing for WWE, because she made a huge splash in wrestling years back with AEW. Her coming over just shows the levels. She wanted to get there, that was the next level for her — which is a great deal. Her coming over, there are only a few places that I would put her.
• I know there is a group putting themselves together right now, and if that group had a female component to it I think that group would be even stronger. So I might have to give her a call and see what her plans are, but I think she does fit really well with our group if that was an opportunity. Wherever she goes, I know she’s going to be a big star like she’s always been.
• John Cena, Raquel Rodriguez, and Tyler Breeze were guests on WWE’s The Bump today. Damian Priest will be appearing on The Bump next Wednesday.
• Cena discussed endorsing LA Knight at Payback:
• It felt great, only because it reminds me of when I started to gain a little bit of notoriety and relevance in the WWE. LA Knight and my story run a little bit of parallel. He kind of just refused to give up, never give up and has done it his own way, even in a lot of times being an underdog and being forgotten by people in the bowels of the arena, but not forgotten by people in the arena cheering him on. And I think what he’s done is incredible. We worked so hard to get where we’re at, and this is a job that shouldn’t exist. I sit in a director’s type chair in wristbands and t-shirts, ball cap. This shouldn’t be a thing. So when you get a level of consistency and you get to a certain level of relevancy, you don’t want it ever to go away. And I totally respect that.
• The NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament began with Kelani Jordan defeating Izzi Dame in a first-round match last night. Jordan will face either Arianna Grace or Jakara Jackson in the next round.
• Episode three of Scarlett and Shotzi’s Chamber of Horrors series is now available on WWE’s YouTube channel. Scarlett, Shotzi, and Grayson Waller “summon the dead at Bloody Mary’s Haunted Museum & Spirit Shop.”

AEW/Other Wrestling

• Due to an error, some cable systems are incorrectly listing tonight’s Dynamite as starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Tony Khan sent out a message telling fans to ensure that their DVR is set for Dynamite’s usual start time:
• I’ve been told an issue is affecting TBS listings. For some reason TBS lists tonight’s #AEWDynamite at 4pm ET. The issue is affecting DirecTV + Spectrum customers nationwide, maybe others.
• Please check to ensure that your DVR is set for our usual start time TONIGHT, 8pm ET/7pm CT
• Prince Nana is the guest on today’s episode of Talk is Jericho. During the appearance, Nana revealed that Tony Khan came up with the idea to pair him and Swerve Strickland together:
• Working with Swerve has been probably one of the smartest things that has ever happened as far as my character is concerned. I asked Swerve this the other day, I was having a conversation with him and I said, ‘Who came up with this idea to put us together?’ He was like, ‘It’s 100% Tony’ and for Tony to be the one to put us together and for this magic to happen, it’s unbelievable because I feel like I’m where I need to be. I could showcase all sides of Prince Nana from the sophisticated to the urban to the funny to the quiet. Everything could be showcased through Swerve and The Embassy, so that’s really exciting.
• On the Control Center video for tonight’s Dynamite, Adam Copeland reflected on his AEW debut.
• AEW’s YouTube clip of Copeland’s debut from WrestleDream has now surpassed four million views.
• In an interview with NJPW’s English-language website, “Speedball” Mike Bailey said his goal is to hold the Impact World Championship, X-Division Championship, and IWGP Junior Heavyweight title at the same time: “My goal in Impact is to be the Impact World Champion and the X Division Champion at the same time. You add to that the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, and that’s an ambitious goal, sure, but if I wasn’t ambitious, I wouldn’t be doing this at all.”
• WhatCulture Wrestling interviewed Josh Alexander.
• Blunt Force Trauma are defending their NWA Tag Team titles against Trevor Murdoch & Mike Knox in a “Knights of the Round Table tables match” at the NWA’s Samhain pay-per-view on Saturday, October 28.
• A National Openweight Championship match has been added to the card for MLW Slaughterhouse on Saturday, October 14. Rickey Shane Page is defending the title against 1 Called Manders in a Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal match.