Category: Daily Updates

Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, Pat McAfee, Impact tapings

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out, and it’s a big one:

  • The WWE merges with UFC and transitions into TKO, the most in depth look at the changes to be expected and where changes aren’t to be expected
  • Amount of cuts expected to be made
  • What type of people are expected to be cut
  • Nick Khan’s letter to employees before the cuts
  • First major departure
  • How Saudi Arabia investing in PFL affected the stock
  • New board of directors
  • New hierarchy
  • Dana White talks merger and shoots down another exec’s goal for the new company
  • Talk on future television rights
  • Current market value and did it reach projections
  • Biggest financial concerns
  • Crossover promotion
  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • AEW All in attendance with notes on other stadium shows including actual WrestleMania turnstile counts vs. announced and paid attendance
  • Bryan Danielson’s full-time career winds down, why, how long he’s thought about this and talks candidly about his decision
  • Long-term concerns
  • UFC 293 in Australia with one of the biggest upsets in history. Who’s house? Sean’s house.
  • Future of middleweight division
  • Business notes on the show
  • History of promotional wars, timing, how AEW vs. WWE is the same, how it differs
  • AEW and its decline in live attendance, the key reasons and what can be done, and how WCW turned it around under Zane Bresloff
  • How other companies turned it around and how the circumstances to do that aren’t there in this situation
  • A look at the next major WWE, AEW and NXT shows and early business notes
  • WWE Superstar spectacular in India coverage
  • The unique career of Brett Wayne Sawyer, top singles champion on the most-watched television show in the country at 23, and a career that fell off quickly
  • The early days of the Road Warriors
  • The booking of Ole Anderson
  • The most detailed look at the ratings, weekly and nightly standings, segment breakdowns, comparisons to one year ago in a very important and newsworthy week
  • CMLL 90th anniversary show this week
  • Legends special match coming
  • Stardom PPV notes including one of the week’s best matches
  • Performer of the week and match of the week
  • First time ever for a true rookie in match of the week
  • Major dream match this weekend with Will Ospreay
  • Updates on Jim Duggan
  • Notes on the death of former Carolinas announcer Rich Landrum
  • Notes on the Cassandro movie
  • Pro wrestling star leaves the business for one year, wins a gold medal in the Olympics–this long forgotten piece of wrestling history
  • Bandido returning
  • Impact Hall of Fame notes and notes on Mike Tenay
  • Jade Cargill update
  • Business updates on PPV from All Out, Backlash and All In
  • What percentage of WWE buyers purchased an AEW show in the last few weeks
  • Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV ratings
  • Streaming numbers for WWE
  • Ortiz & Santana breakup explained
  • Paul Wight’s name in ESPN story on PED investigation
  • Georges St-Pierre into Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
  • UFC top star leaving the promotion
  • UFC Hall of Famer gets DWI
  • Bray Wyatt funeral
  • Vince McMahon’s return
  • Thoughts on Smackdown and what is the best day for the show if FX gets it
  • Drew McIntyre update
  • Roman Reigns return
  • Lots of comings and goings in WWE
  • WWE and NXT live event coverage

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.44 million viewers in the fast national ratings, up from last week’s fast national average of 1.969 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6
  • WWE uploaded the full 13-minute segment of The Rock’s surprise return on SmackDown. They also uploaded Rock’s backstage segment with John Cena.
  • Cena commented on reuniting with The Rock: “The best nights are the ones when we remember we’re all fans. Welcome home, @TheRock. Thank you, Denver. C U next week #Smackdown! @WWE @WWEonFOX”
  • In a post-SmackDown interview, Pat McAfee said he’s still very confident that he’ll get to work with Michael Cole on commentary again.
  • LA Knight cut a promo on SmackDown saying that he’s coming for championship gold. Knight said it doesn’t matter if it’s Rey Mysterio, Gunther, Seth Rollins, or Roman Reigns that he goes after.
  • Chad Gable was the guest on WWE After the Bell this week. During the appearance, Gable explained having to change his mindset when working as a babyface instead of a heel:
          • I had to shift my mindset. Working as a heel for so long got me in a certain mode … I’ve just learned to do less. To get sympathy, you just do less. People don’t want to see an underdog babyface hitting 10,000 pretty moves and hitting 10,000 fancy dives, and flips, and suplexes all the time.
  • Corey Graves discussed becoming the voice of in-game intros for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
          • The Steelers kick off their home games with the Terrible Towel Twirl. When you’re in Acrisure Stadium, you got 60,000-plus all waving their towels above their head. I had the honor and privilege of being able to lead that this week to really kick off the season. But more than that, I think more exciting personally was the reason I was on the field to begin with was I have the dubious distinction of being the narrator, the voice of this year’s in-game intros for the Pittsburgh Steelers. So for every home game this season when the clock hits zero, the first voice you hear is mine. Give a big, ‘Here we go’ and the video packages and it’s honestly, I wanna say it’s a dream come true but it’s actually more so, growing up, being born and raised in Pittsburgh, lifelong Steelers fan, it’s so cool with WWE and the NFL [having] been working together. Obviously, we got the new championship legacy titles. That relationship has been really cool so to be able to experience that on my home turf, literally, in the city that I love and live in and feel so strongly about was absolutely incredible.
  • Asuka, Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits, and AJ Styles appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast noted that he feels confident to say that AEW will be on Max in 2024 and the promotion will expand to 12 PPVs a year.
  • Tony Khan told Insider that MJF’s “Steiner Math” promo from Wednesday’s Dynamite was MJF’s idea:
          • That particular one was him. Wrestling is all about collaborations and I really enjoy having that connection and the ability to create stories.
          • We were putting down ideas for the week’s shows, and he did say that and it was a great idea. That’s how I like to put stories together. Sit down with MJF and Adam Cole, the three of us, and talk. I’ve shot videos with the two of them and they have this great partnership.
  • AEW is selling Acclaimed trios title belts for $4999 each. Only 10 belts are available.
  • Anthony Bowens explained the price of the belts:
          • For those going crazy, these are the legit belts. Not factory made replicas. Replica belts would take about 9 months to get produced. If something happened to one of ours, they would have been replaced by one of these. Hand crafted by Red Leather Belts. Only 10 are available. So yes this a release for a hardcore collector. We are also working on trying to get toy versions of these as well. Trust me, if it were a commercial release it wouldn’t be 5k haha
  • Trinity is teaming up with Mickie James against Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans at Impact Wrestling’s TV tapings in Memphis on Saturday, September 23. Josh Alexander vs. Yuya Uemura is also set for that show, which is night two of the tapings.
  • “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Samuray Del Sol has been announced for night one of the Impact tapings in Memphis on Friday, September 22.
  • AIW announced that, due to circumstances out of their control, Eddie Kingston won’t be appearing at their JT Lightning Invitational show in Cleveland tonight. Lance Archer is replacing Kingston at the event.
  • Andrade El Idolo was interviewed on AEW Unrestricted.

Daily Update: WWE layoffs, SmackDown, CMLL Anniversary Show

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 Observer is out, and it’s a big one:

  • The WWE merges with UFC and transitions into TKO, the most in depth look at the changes to be expected and where changes aren’t to be expected
  • Amount of cuts expected to be made
  • What type of people are expected to be cut
  • Nick Khan’s letter to employees before the cuts
  • First major departure
  • How Saudi Arabia investing in PFL affected the stock
  • New board of directors
  • New hierarchy
  • Dana White talks merger and shoots down another exec’s goal for the new company
  • Talk on future television rights
  • Current market value and did it reach projections
  • Biggest financial concerns
  • Crossover promotion
  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • AEW All in attendance with notes on other stadium shows including actual WrestleMania turnstile counts vs. announced and paid attendance
  • Bryan Danielson’s full-time career winds down, why, how long he’s thought about this and talks candidly about his decision
  • Long-term concerns
  • UFC 293 in Australia with one of the biggest upsets in history. Who’s house? Sean’s house.
  • Future of middleweight division
  • Business notes on the show
  • History of promotional wars, timing, how AEW vs. WWE is the same, how it differs
  • AEW and its decline in live attendance, the key reasons and what can be done, and how WCW turned it around under Zane Bresloff
  • How other companies turned it around and how the circumstances to do that aren’t there in this situation
  • A look at the next major WWE, AEW and NXT shows and early business notes
  • WWE Superstar spectacular in India coverage
  • The unique career of Brett Wayne Sawyer, top singles champion on the most-watched television show in the country at 23, and a career that fell off quickly
  • The early days of the Road Warriors
  • The booking of Ole Anderson
  • The most detailed look at the ratings, weekly and nightly standings, segment breakdowns, comparisons to one year ago in a very important and newsworthy week
  • CMLL 90th anniversary show this week
  • Legends special match coming
  • Stardom PPV notes including one of the week’s best matches
  • Performer of the week and match of the week
  • First time ever for a true rookie in match of the week
  • Major dream match this weekend with Will Ospreay
  • Updates on Jim Duggan
  • Notes on the death of former Carolinas announcer Rich Landrum
  • Notes on the Cassandro movie
  • Pro wrestling star leaves the business for one year, wins a gold medal in the Olympics–this long forgotten piece of wrestling history
  • Bandido returning
  • Impact Hall of Fame notes and notes on Mike Tenay
  • Jade Cargill update
  • Business updates on PPV from All Out, Backlash and All In
  • What percentage of WWE buyers purchased an AEW show in the last few weeks
  • Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV ratings
  • Streaming numbers for WWE
  • Ortiz & Santana breakup explained
  • Paul Wight’s name in ESPN story on PED investigation
  • Georges St-Pierre into Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
  • UFC top star leaving the promotion
  • UFC Hall of Famer gets DWI
  • Bray Wyatt funeral
  • Vince McMahon’s return
  • Thoughts on Smackdown and what is the best day for the show if FX gets it
  • Drew McIntyre update
  • Roman Reigns return
  • Lots of comings and goings in WWE
  • WWE and NXT live event coverage

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 Gonzales and I talk the news of the week and going forward with Wrestling Observer Radio today. The show was just recorded and we go into depth on the stories in the Observer, including the Dwayne Johnson at WrestleMania story, the merger, the layoffs, AEW attendance at Wembley, the history of promotional wars and how things have and haven’t turned around, and so much more. From a business standpoint this is probably one of our best discussions as we talked the Charter Cable vs. Disney/ESPN situation, AEW on MAX and potential for 12 PPVs a year and break down the business reasons, Bryan Danielson, and more. Our weekend show with Bryan Alvarez will be on Sunday night.

Lots of office layoffs today in WWE but nothing related to talent or the production team. This is consistent with the Endeavor purchase of UFC in 2016. Our lead article in the new issue goes through the lessons from that purchase and how things would be expected to go with the merger. There were about 100 layoffs in the company which would be more than 12 percent of the workforce. A lot were upset the way it happened as they were not even allowed to say goodbyes. All employees were told not to come to work and to work remotely, and then those let go were informed. People were told that this is it for the merger layoffs and everyone else is safe, but UFC employees were told the same thing in 2016 and there were still more rounds of layoffs. 

Nobody in talent or production was let go. The people let go were those mostly where there was duplication of jobs within UFC, so it was the business side and not the talent side.

Regarding the laying off of Dana Warrior and people being surprised, this is the exact type of layoff the new owners would do. When Endeavor purchased UFC, they quickly laid out Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes, who were promised lifetime employment by the previous regime. There are no sacred cows to the new group, or legacy employees.

They gutted the analytics department, which is notable because a few years ago that was considered such an important department when learning about trends and what fans wanted. They also cut back on marketing, graphic design and live events, but that was expected since there was duplication with UFC having similar departments. One would expect UFC cuts as well in departments with duplication with WWE. They also cut people from the WWE Network division since UFC had people working at Fight Pass which is a similar business and the podcasting division.

The biggest names let go were Jamie Horowitz, the EVP of Development and Digital who was one of Nick Khan’s first major hires, Catherine Newman the EVP of Head of Marketing since that division was gutted, who came highly toured last year from being CMO at Manchester United Media (famous U.K. soccer team), Andy Levine, Vice President of International & Platform Strategy, Amanda Bloom, Director of Enterprise Master Data & Governance. Horowitz came from DAZN, but was a major player at ESPN. There was a lot of controversy over his hiring. Horowitz was a major player at ESPN behind the scenes as well as with Fox Sports, where he was let go over a sexual harassment investigation. When he was hired by WWE, because of that investigation, there were a lot of unhappy people who contacted us about the decision to hire him, but we never heard of any issues while he was in WWE.

Nick Khan announced a mandatory staff meeting at the offices on Tuesday.

TKO Holdings had a huge SEC release that went out today. The key is that for the first six months of this year, WWE generated $707.9 million and ended up with $88.7 million in profits. UFC generated $611.9 million but had $169.8 million in profits. UFC would have been even more profitable but because of the varying interest rate in some of their loans, the interest charges this year were way up.

Smackdown tonight is from Denver and it sold out with 12,700 tickets out as of a few hours ago. Lots of rumors about Dwayne Johnson only because we know he was in Boulder, CO for the Pat McAfee show and openly talked about possibly facing Roman Reigns at this year’s WrestleMania. We have a lot and covered the proposed Rock vs. Reigns planned match for SoFi Stadium extensively last year, and talked about it on today’s Observer radio as to what happened and why it didn’t happen. I don’t know why those close to Johnson like Brian Gewirtz kept claiming that there was nothing to the story and all made up when obviously we’d seen documentation regarding it, but there you go.

Tonight’s show has John Cena on the Grayson Waller Effect, Asuka vs. Bayley, Finn Balor vs A.J. Styles and L.A. Knight vs. The Miz.

Rampage tonight on TNT at 10 p.m. features the likely farewell of Jade Cargill, who faces Kris Statlander for the TBS title. Other matches are Lucha Bros & Hardys vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal & Butcher & Blade, Matt Taven & Mike Benett vs Matt Sydal & Christopher Daniels and Acclaimed & Billy Gunn vs. Peter Avalon & The Outrunners in a non-title match.

This weekend we’ll be doing a poll on the CMLL Anniversary show, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

For this weekend, we’re looking for reports on these shows:

  • WWE Smackdown tonight in Denver (dark matches only)
  • AEW Collision tomorrow night in State College, PA (matches not on the Collision broadcast, so ROH stuff and dark stuff)
  • WWE house show tomorrow night in Kennewick, WA
  • WWE house show Sunday in Boise, ID

We’re looking for results, finishes and angles to [email protected]

CMLL, the oldest wrestling promotion in the world, has its 90th anniversary show tomorrow night at Arena Mexico with Templario vs. Dragon Rojo Jr. in a mask vs. mask match on top, plus there will be a hair vs. hair match with either Ultimo Guerrero vs. Averno or Volador Jr. vs. Angel de Oro. Guerrero & Averno face Volador & Angel and the winning team will then face each other in a hair match. There is nothing in wrestling like the atmosphere at a sold out Arena Mexico, so this will be one of the highlight shows in wrestling of the year.

Paul Levesque appears on this week’s episode of “Billions” on Showtime. He plays himself. Chuck Roades, the US attorney character on the show asks Levesque for advice on how to execute a double turn, making a babyface a heel and a heel a babyface at the same time. He calls him Hunter and the conversation takes place in an empty arena with the Raw graphic prominently displayed (thanks to Joe Puccio)

Ticket sales have picked up for AEW Grand Slam on Wednesday. Yesterday sold more tickets for the show than any day since the first day. There were ticket price reductions that helped as a lot of early complaints were about the high prices. We’ve noted many times the new philosophy through the live events industry and early high pricing. Fact is when an act is hot, this strategy works, as it does for WWE which is still raising prices. It doesn’t work as well for volume of sales if an act isn’t hot although it may be an effective total gate strategy.

The final episode of the second season of Heels on STARZ is tonight at 10 p.m.

Today’s San Francisco Chronicle in the movie review section gave the movie Cassandro their highest possible rating (thanks to Derek Sousa)

Some matches were announced for the RevPro FantasticaMania shows. 9/23 at 2p.m. has Trent Seven & Hechicero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr. & Michael Oku & Guerrero Maya Jr., Titan vs Robbie X (if they gel this one could be great), Flash Morgan Webster & Mark Andrews vs. Okumura & Zandokan Jr. and Capitan Suicida vs. Wild Boar.

UFC Noche takes place tomorrow from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. I believe it’s the first T Mobile show since the pandemic which is far from a sellout. The show airs on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time:

  • Joseline Knutsson (1115.5) vs. Marric Mann (115)
  • Alex Reyes (155.5) vs. Charlie Campbell (155)
  • Tracy Cortez (126) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (125.5)
  • Edgar Chairez (125) vs. Daniel Lacerda (125.5)
  • Roman Kopylov (185.5) vs. Josh Fremd (185.5)
  • Loopy Godiez (116) vs. Elise Reed (115.5)
  • Fernando Padilla (145.5) vs. Kyle Nelson (146)
  • Daniel Zelhuber (155) vs . Christos Giagos (156)
  • Raul Rosas Jr. (135) vs Terrence Mitchell (135.5)
  • Kevin Holland (170.5) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (171)
  • Alexa Grasso (124.5) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (124.5) for the flyweight title

MCW presents Bruiser Strong on 9/16 at the RJ Meyer Arena in Joppa, MD with an 11 man Bruiser Rumble.

Defy on 9/23 in Seattle at Washington Hall features Eddie Kingston vs. Rocky Romero for the New Japan Strong title, plus Christopher Daniels & Sinner & Saint & Soul vs The Bollywood Boyz & Curry Man & Guillermo Rosas, Artemis Spencer vs Starboy Charlie, Amira vs Bambi Hall, Galeno del Mal (son of Dr. Wagner Jr.) vs. Miles Deville and Cody Chhun vs KC Navarro. You must be 16 to attend. They also have a 10/13 show at the Yakima Valley Sundome features El Hijo del Vikingo

Combate Global runs Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. on Univision and Pramount+ with Estefania Rodriguez (4-0) vs. Stephanie Hernandez (3-1) in a women’s atomweight main event. Ivan Nunes Miranda, a former Mexican national boxing and kickboxing champion debuts in the semi against Loxbey Montalvan.

AIW’s annual JT Lightning Invitational tournament is this weekend, with a show tonight, Saturday at 3 p.m. and the final on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Temple Live in Cleveland. Tom Lawlor, Eric Taylor, Joseline Navarro Alec Price, Paul London, Colin Delaney, Mance Warner, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Joshua Bishop, Masato Tanaka and Dominic Garrini are among those appearing. Eddie Kingston appears Saturday night as do Matt Cardona and Steph De Lander.

Lucha Va Voom will be doing a tribute show for Cassandro on 9/22 at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles. That’s the same day the Cassandro movie gets released on Amazon Prime Video. Rey Misterio El Heredero, Misterioso Jr., Diva Salvaje, Jessy Ventura (not the governor), Pimpinela Escarlata, Bestia 666, Magno, Ll Cholo and others are all scheduled to appear.

The all-women’s Invicta promotion debuts in Boston on 10/27 at Citizens House with strawweight champion Danni McCormack (7-2) facing Karolina Wojcik (11-3) as the main event.

Daily Update: Becky Lynch, Bryan Danielson, Paul Wight

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out with the following covered:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week from the past two weeks
  • The most detailed story of the AEW/C.M. Punk relationship
  • The honeymoon period
  • The business records
  • The difficulty of the decision to cut ties with him
  • Lots of new information not reported previously
  • The original records set and business success
  • The fight after All Out and its aftermath
  • Realities of pro wrestling
  • Analysis of him going to WWE
  • Support and non-support for him in AEW
  • Punk’s prior two contacts in recent years with WWE about returning
  • Conflict between Punk and other talent
  • The situation with Adam Page
  • The attempts to get everyone working together and why it kept being delayed
  • Details on what happened in the investigations after All In
  • Tony Khan’s speech before the live crowd in Chicago
  • The life and times of Sheik Adnan-Al Kaissie, the Native American babyface torn foreign menace
  • Amateur wrestling, legend in Hawaii, and giant stadium crowds in Iraq including beating Andre the Giant
  • His WWWF tag team title run
  • His AWA run including the biggest crowds in the heyday of the promotion affiliated with Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera
  • The final run with Sgt. Slaughter
  • Full coverage of Payback, business notes, stories out of the show and match-by-match coverage
  • Full coverage of All Out, highlights, polls, business notes and more
  • UFC weekend coverage from Paris
  • More notes on the formation of a new all-women’s promotion that starts in a few weeks with Japanese stars
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every wrestling and MMA show, segment-by-segment notes
  • Rocky Romero talks his CMLL run
  • Latest from Arena Mexico
  • Hall of Famer says he hopes to recover from recent operation and have a big retirement match
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • New rookie getting rave reviews
  • All Japan and NOAH have big shows
  • Terry Funk funeral notes
  • Notes on new TV show
  • Big tag team tournament coming
  • More notes on Wembley Stadium attendance
  • Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole talk post All Out
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • AEW value calculated
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Aussie Open on why they signed with AEW
  • Sports franchise owned by pro wrestling star wins championship
  • Dana White talks Bellator being for sale
  • More on Bellator sale talks
  • Analyst talks where he thinks WWE will wind up on television
  • Gable Steveson not doing world championships and update
  • Merchandise sales for Clash at the Castle and for All in
  • Cena’s drawing power on his return

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

  • After last night’s NXT went off the air, new NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch gave a speech to the crowd. She thanked the fans for all of the support they’ve given her over the years, including when she started in NXT. Lynch said she wants to be a fighting champion and represent NXT.
  • WWE also uploaded a post-show interview with Lynch.
  • Lynch responded to the big ratings number that last night’s show did: “Ratings Rebecca”
  • Wrestlenomics reports that the eight-minute overrun featuring the end of Lynch and Tiffany Stratton’s title match averaged over one million viewers.
  • Shawn Michaels greeted Lynch backstage following her victory.
  • On NXT, WWE gave a storyline update on Von Wagner’s condition. Last week’s episode ended with an angle where the show cut to black as Bron Breakker struck Wagner in the head with the steel steps. WWE claimed that Wagner suffered a “minor skull fracture” and the timetable for his recovery hasn’t been determined. WWE said that Wagner moved away slightly at the last moment to take away the full impact of the steps.
  • Dana White responded to a statement that UFC executive Lawrence Epstein made about wanting to get to a point where every UFC fan is a WWE fan and every WWE fan is a UFC fan. White said:
          • Lawrence, I love you, one of the dumbest statements of all time. I don’t know why he said that. I don’t even know what to say to that. No. There is no…there is some crossover. Some people like WWE, some people like UFC, some people like both. I don’t think there is ever going to be a day where we turn every UFC fan to a WWE fan or every WWE [fan to a UFC fan]. What’s beautiful about the synergy between these two fanbases is they are very completely opposite. There is very little crossover. And again, maybe he was misquoted. I hope that was the case because I could not disagree with him more.
  • Vanity Fair wrote in a feature story about Bad Bunny: “And [Bad Bunny] toys with a return to the WWE ring—’my plan is to take the title from Roman Reign,’ he taunts, before admitting he’s trying to avoid lucha libre. His last match, in which he defeated fellow Puerto Rican fighter Damian Priest, was just too painful.”
  • Seth Rollins, Samantha Irvin & Ricochet, and actor Matthew McConaughey were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd) was interviewed on Out of Character.
  • Baron Corbin turns 39 years old today.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Bryan Danielson spoke to SI FanNation about how CM Punk’s departure could affect the AEW roster:
          • In any job, when you lose somebody who’s very important, or you lose somebody you really like working with, that’s hard. But everyone keeps doing the job. And any time there is loss or controversy or struggle inside an organization, it’s a chance to bring people closer. It’s also a chance to divide people. So you have this thing where you can use struggle to make your life worse, or you can use struggle to make your life better. When I lost my father, I came out on the backside. I was worse. Struggling with my depression, I’ve come out of it better. So how you approach something and how you learn from something, that’s what makes the difference.
  • A report from ESPN that was published today revealed that Paul Wight was a name that surfaced in the 2013 investigation of the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drugs scandal. Wight’s attorney denied that Wight ever took PEDs:
          • Through his attorney, Edward Brennan, Wight confirmed that [Tony] Bosch and [Jorge “Ugi”] Velazquez were part of a large open house gathering at his home on Thanksgiving but said Wight met Bosch only one other time. Brennan said Wight had never failed a drug test and stressed that any involvement with performance-enhancing drugs would pose a serious risk because of his having suffered from an endocrine system disorder.
          • ‘Paul never treated with Bosch. Paul never took any PEDs from Ugi or anyone else. He is as clean as you can be. More importantly, he would never take any PEDs because of his underlying medical condition.’
  • Jon Moxley cut a promo on Big Bill ahead of their International title match on tonight’s Dynamite.
  • While speaking with Bleav in Pro Wrestling, Moxley praised Bryan Danielson:
          • If you just picked him up and stuck him in any ring in the world, whether it be the parking lot of an auto parts store in Tijuana, or the Tokyo Dome, or the main event of WrestleMania, or AEW Dynamite… You put him in any ring, against any opponent, with no context what-so-ever and just ring the bell… Anybody watching he will suck into that match. And they’ll feel like they’re watching a real struggle and be just completely sucked into [that] match for the duration of it. Against anybody, anywhere, anytime. He is like the most perfect pure pro wrestler that I think has ever lived. I’ve taken a great deal of influence and inspiration from him, as I’m sure many pro wrestlers have.
  • NJPW announced injury updates on Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Boltin Oleg:
          • After sustaining a knee injury September 9, Yoshinobu Kanemaru is still not currently cleared to compete, and will be absent for the remainder of the Road to Destruction tour. We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Kanemaru wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.
          • Kanemaru will be replaced by TAKA Michinoku in matches for the remainder of the tour.
          • Boltin Oleg, who was removed from cards this past weekend due to an infection in his left wrist, is now cleared to return, and will be in action from Thursday’s non-televised live event in Shizuoka.
  • Taichi and SHO revealed the stipulation options for their upcoming KOPW title match.
  • On the Under the Ring podcast, Richard Holliday shared an update on how he’s feeling with his cancer in remission: “I feel great. Probably the best I’ve ever felt. To be honest, I feel rejuvenated. I feel like my body’s working again, like maybe even better than prior to everything. I’m in such an amazing physical mental space right now. I definitely look at life and my career and how appreciative I am for both much differently now. So definitely a different outlook, but it’s a good one.”
  • “Wrestlers,” a docuseries focused on Ohio Valley Wrestling, is available for streaming on Netflix starting today.

Daily Update: The WWE-Endeavor deal becomes official

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out with the following covered:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week from the past two weeks
  • The most detailed story of the AEW/C.M. Punk relationship
  • The honeymoon period
  • The business records
  • The difficulty of the decision to cut ties with him
  • Lots of new information not reported previously
  • The original records set and business success
  • The fight after All Out and its aftermath
  • Realities of pro wrestling
  • Analysis of him going to WWE
  • Support and non-support for him in AEW
  • Punk’s prior two contacts in recent years with WWE about returning
  • Conflict between Punk and other talent
  • The situation with Adam Page
  • The attempts to get everyone working together and why it kept being delayed
  • Details on what happened in the investigations after All In
  • Tony Khan’s speech before the live crowd in Chicago
  • The life and times of Sheik Adnan-Al Kaissie, the Native American babyface torn foreign menace
  • Amateur wrestling, legend in Hawaii, and giant stadium crowds in Iraq including beating Andre the Giant
  • His WWWF tag team title run
  • His AWA run including the biggest crowds in the heyday of the promotion affiliated with Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera
  • The final run with Sgt. Slaughter
  • Full coverage of Payback, business notes, stories out of the show and match-by-match coverage
  • Full coverage of All Out, highlights, polls, business notes and more
  • UFC weekend coverage from Paris
  • More notes on the formation of a new all-women’s promotion that starts in a few weeks with Japanese stars
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every wrestling and MMA show, segment-by-segment notes
  • Rocky Romero talks his CMLL run
  • Latest from Arena Mexico
  • Hall of Famer says he hopes to recover from recent operation and have a big retirement match
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • New rookie getting rave reviews
  • All Japan and NOAH have big shows
  • Terry Funk funeral notes
  • Notes on new TV show
  • Big tag team tournament coming
  • More notes on Wembley Stadium attendance
  • Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole talk post All Out
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • AEW value calculated
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Aussie Open on why they signed with AEW
  • Sports franchise owned by pro wrestling star wins championship
  • Dana White talks Bellator being for sale
  • More on Bellator sale talks
  • Analyst talks where he thinks WWE will wind up on television
  • Gable Steveson not doing world championships and update
  • Merchandise sales for Clash at the Castle and for All in
  • Cena’s drawing power on his return

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

  • TKO’s stock ended on their first day at $103.22, up 2.44%.
  • WWE executives have received a bonus as a result of today’s closing. That includes Nick Khan ($15 million), Kevin Dunn ($7 million), Paul Levesque ($5 million), and Frank Riddick ($5 million).
  • Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro talked to CNBC’s Squawk on the Street regarding TKO.
  • Matthew McConaghey will be a guest on tomorrow’s episode of The Bump.
  • Raw ring announcer Samantha Irvin commented on X after people accused WWE of turning down Dominik Mysterio’s mic during his promos: One week the crowd “isn’t reacting enough”- the next week we get the LOUDEST reactions ever and we mad at production. you know y’all could just ask me instead of looking like bonafide haters just lmk.”
  • Cody Rhodes celebrated his ten-year wedding anniversary to Brandi Rhodes on X.
  • Bayley announced on Instagram that she is auctioning off ring worn gear, with the proceeds going to the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation, which will support animals affected by the recent wildfires.
  • Matches added to WWE’s YouTube today include Edge vs. Dominik Mysterio from the September 12, 2022 edition of Raw, Batista vs. JBL from No Mercy 2008, and Kane vs. The Great Khali in a kendo stick match from Breaking Point 2008.

AEW

Other Wrestling

Daily Update: Vince McMahon, Matt Riddle, CMLL Anniversary Show

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 Observer is out with the following covered:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week from the past two weeks
  • The most detailed story of the AEW/C.M. Punk relationship
  • The honeymoon period
  • The business records
  • The difficulty of the decision to cut ties with him
  • Lots of new information not reported previously
  • The original records set and business success
  • The fight after All Out and its aftermath
  • Realities of pro wrestling
  • Analysis of him going to WWE
  • Support and non-support for him in AEW
  • Punk’s prior two contacts in recent years with WWE about returning
  • Conflict between Punk and other talent
  • The situation with Adam Page
  • The attempts to get everyone working together and why it kept being delayed
  • Details on what happened in the investigations after All In
  • Tony Khan’s speech before the live crowd in Chicago
  • The life and times of Sheik Adnan-Al Kaissie, the Native American babyface torn foreign menace
  • Amateur wrestling, legend in Hawaii, and giant stadium crowds in Iraq including beating Andre the Giant
  • His WWWF tag team title run
  • His AWA run including the biggest crowds in the heyday of the promotion affiliated with Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera
  • The final run with Sgt. Slaughter
  • Full coverage of Payback, business notes, stories out of the show and match-by-match coverage
  • Full coverage of All Out, highlights, polls, business notes and more
  • UFC weekend coverage from Paris
  • More notes on the formation of a new all-women’s promotion that starts in a few weeks with Japanese stars
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every wrestling and MMA show, segment-by-segment notes
  • Rocky Romero talks his CMLL run
  • Latest from Arena Mexico
  • Hall of Famer says he hopes to recover from recent operation and have a big retirement match
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • New rookie getting rave reviews
  • All Japan and NOAH have big shows
  • Terry Funk funeral notes
  • Notes on new TV show
  • Big tag team tournament coming
  • More notes on Wembley Stadium attendance
  • Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole talk post All Out
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • AEW value calculated
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Aussie Open on why they signed with AEW
  • Sports franchise owned by pro wrestling star wins championship
  • Dana White talks Bellator being for sale
  • More on Bellator sale talks
  • Analyst talks where he thinks WWE will wind up on television
  • Gable Steveson not doing world championships and update
  • Merchandise sales for Clash at the Castle and for All in
  • Cena’s drawing power on his return

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 talking a ton of news from wrestling and MMA as well as tonight’s Raw coverage.

Today is the last day of WWE as a separate company as the merger with UFC to form TKO goes into effect tomorrow. So tonight will be the last Raw where the McMahon family has been the owners of WWE although Vince still is a major shareholder in the new company and will still be running WWE for the new company once he’s back from medical leave.

Matt Riddle is not at Raw. WWE hasn’t responded today as far as questions regarding Riddle coming off the incident at the JFK Airport coming back from India. But the fact he’s not at the show is noteworthy. 

The CMLL Anniversary show is Saturday night, not Friday at Arena Mexico and it is sold out.

Raw tonight is from Norfolk, VA at the Scope Arena. Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez with Dominik Mysterio banned from ringside for the women’s title has been announced. There is also an Imperium celebration of Gunther breaking Honky Tonk Man’s record for the longest reign as IC champion. That should lead to an angle to create a new top contender. Cody Rhodes is also advertised on the show, although he’s there every week except last week. Buffalo vs. New England opens up the Monday Night Football season tonight against Raw. They haven’t loaded up the show and don’t have the benefit they had last week of going right after a PPV show. Most years the rating drops noticeably this week. There were 7,007 tickets out as of this morning with a big last week of sales.

The Disney-Charter dispute was settled today so the 20 percent of the country not getting access to the game on ABC and ESPN issue is over, and not having access to Disney stations is over. As part of the deal, Charter subscribers in certain tiers will get free access to ESPN+, Disney + and the ESPN channel streaming when they start doing the streaming channel. Charter is also dropping eight Disney channels that aren’t watched much from its regular tier. A lot of people see this deal as the prototype major companies will have. Disney was upping its price to carry its stations and Charter refused to pay the new price because of the feeling that they were paying for non-exclusive stuff that subscribers could get elsewhere. The new deal means they will have the rights to market the streaming services themselves.

AEW had less than 2,200 tickets out for Wednesday’s Dynamite in Cincinnati as of last count. The last time in the market drew 4,740. 

Gail Kim noted that she was okay. She hit her head on the floor when she was pulled out of the ring by Velvet Sky at the Impact 1,000 tapings on Saturday night in White Plains, NY. She wrote, “I’m OK,just so everyone knows and is updated. I woke up to a lot of people concerned. So yes, I got rattled but I’m ok.”

Paul Levesque was spotted at New York Fashion Week yesterday with both Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and Ari Emanuel. As noted in the current Observer, Amazon is expected to be a player in the bidding for Smackdown.

The Cassandro movie will have a limited theatrical release starting on Friday. It premieres on Amazon Prime video on 9/22. The story is about the well known gay wrestler from El Paso who played an exotico and became a star. Gael Garcie Bernal stars as Casssandro.

The Will Ospreay vs. Tetsuya Naito match, which is expected to be among the top contenders for match of the year, will air on television for the first time in the U.S. on Thursday’s New Japan show on AXS.

West Coast Pro from last night in Los Angeles: Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson b Alan Angels & Kevin Blackwood, Kidd Bandit & Ishmael Vaughn & Kubes & Viento b Wicked Wickett & Koto Hiro & Lucas Riley & Dom Kubrick, Kevin Knight b Vinnie Massaro, Robert Martyr & Jiah Jewel & JT Thorme b Adrian Quest & Danny Rose & Ricky G, Lee Moriarty b Alpha Zo, Starboy Charlie b Shun Skywalker to earn a shot at the West Coast Pro title, Bryan Keith b Francesco Akira (this was a surprise match and heard it was great), Iron Kid won three-way over Aramis and Black Taurus. It started as a singles match and then Taurus (who was late arriving from Mexico) ran to the ring mid-match. Fans threw a ton of money in the ring after and people raved about this match., Takuma Iroha b Johnnie Robbie to retain the West Coast Pro women’s title, Titus Alexander retained the West Coast Pro title with a 30:00 draw with Daniel Garcia. Charlie gave Alexander a Gotch piledriver after to set up their title match. Chriis Hero is the booker for this group. Manami Toyota was the special guest. She handed Iroha the title after she retained it. Chigusa Nagayo was also at the show with Iroha and Toyota so you had two of the greatest women wrestlers of all-time at this event (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Another match I’ve heard from several on as far as a great match over the weekend was El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Arez vs. Aramis vs. Gringo Loco from the First Wrestling promotion’s show in Minneapolis’ Mall of America.

C.M. Punk will make a return as the announcer for CFFC, an MMA promotion, for its next show on 10/13 from Tampa’s Florida State Fairgrounds. He is the regular announcer for the promotion and has been for years. The promotion noted that it has sold out its prior building six straight times in Tampa so is moving to a larger location.

CPW Fairplay Wrestling on 10/11 and Thanksgiving Eve in Boonsboro, MD.

Lucero Acosta of Combate Global will appear this week on Enamorandonos, a dating show that airs on Unimas at 8 p.m. all week. In the show, viewers of the show can vie for dates with Acosta by calling the show or posing on social media for a chance to be brought to the studio live to meet her. The show would then follow whatever relationship does or doesn’t develop.

Daily Update: UFC 293 fallout, WWE Nassau Coliseum, Stardom

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 Observer is out with the following covered:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week from the past two weeks
  • The most detailed story of the AEW/C.M. Punk relationship
  • The honeymoon period
  • The business records
  • The difficulty of the decision to cut ties with him
  • Lots of new information not reported previously
  • The original records set and business success
  • The fight after All Out and its aftermath
  • Realities of pro wrestling
  • Analysis of him going to WWE
  • Support and non-support for him in AEW
  • Punk’s prior two contacts in recent years with WWE about returning
  • Conflict between Punk and other talent
  • The situation with Adam Page
  • The attempts to get everyone working together and why it kept being delayed
  • Details on what happened in the investigations after All In
  • Tony Khan’s speech before the live crowd in Chicago
  • The life and times of Sheik Adnan-Al Kaissie, the Native American babyface torn foreign menace
  • Amateur wrestling, legend in Hawaii, and giant stadium crowds in Iraq including beating Andre the Giant
  • His WWWF tag team title run
  • His AWA run including the biggest crowds in the heyday of the promotion affiliated with Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera
  • The final run with Sgt. Slaughter
  • Full coverage of Payback, business notes, stories out of the show and match-by-match coverage
  • Full coverage of All Out, highlights, polls, business notes and more
  • UFC weekend coverage from Paris
  • More notes on the formation of a new all-women’s promotion that starts in a few weeks with Japanese stars
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every wrestling and MMA show, segment-by-segment notes
  • Rocky Romero talks his CMLL run
  • Latest from Arena Mexico
  • Hall of Famer says he hopes to recover from recent operation and have a big retirement match
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • New rookie getting rave reviews
  • All Japan and NOAH have big shows
  • Terry Funk funeral notes
  • Notes on new TV show
  • Big tag team tournament coming
  • More notes on Wembley Stadium attendance
  • Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole talk post All Out
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • AEW value calculated
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Aussie Open on why they signed with AEW
  • Sports franchise owned by pro wrestling star wins championship
  • Dana White talks Bellator being for sale
  • More on Bellator sale talks
  • Analyst talks where he thinks WWE will wind up on television
  • Gable Steveson not doing world championships and update
  • Merchandise sales for Clash at the Castle and for All in
  • Cena’s drawing power on his return

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Update

– Bryan and I will be back tonight talking all the weekend news including Sean Strickland’s huge upset win over Israel Adesanya last night in UFC, as well as Brett Sawyer and other weekend news with Wrestling Observer Radio. My week in review show with Garrett Gonzales is up right now.

– Jim Duggan is resting comfortably after an undisclosed emergency operation. His Twitter account notes that he’s on the mend and will be back on his feet soon. Best of luck to him in his recovery and to his family.

– Dana White said that Adesanya should get a rematch with Strickland after his major upset loss last night. White didn’t have an explanation as to why but said Adesanya was flat and slow. Strickland knocked Adesanya down and nearly finished him in the first round. Strickland dominated the fight in winning a five-round decision. All three judges had it 49-46.

– WWE ran Nassau Coliseum for a house show last night:

  • LA Knight defeated Austin Theory with the BFT
  • Ricochet defeated Karrion Kross kicking back off the top rope for the pin
  • Omos defeated Johnny Gargano with a chokeslam after distraction from MVP
  • Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka clean in a good match
  • Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde defeated Hit Row via DQ when B-Fab interfered
  • Del Toro & Wilde & Zelina Vega defeated Hit Row & B-Fab when Vega pinned B-Fab with a splash off the top rope
  • AJ Styles defeated Solo Sikoa with a roll-up. Said to be the best match on the show.
  • Cody Rhodes defeated Finn Balor in a street fight. Usual weapons stuff. Rhodes won with Cross Rhodes. The rest of Judgment Day were not at the show.

(Thanks to Mike Omansky, David Hager, Adam Eisenberg and Shannon Walsh)

– As far as Google searches go, the only thing to crack the top 20 related to wrestling, MMA or boxing would be last night’s UFC PPV which was number two yesterday behind Alabama football with 1 million searches. With the new methodology, that is what a higher than usual UFC show does.

– WWE sent a championship belt to new U.S.Open winner Coco Gauff, who became a huge new star in tennis this past week.

– Lots of raves today about the Giulia & Suzu Suzuki vs. Maika & Utami Hayashishita match on the Stardom PPV show in Yokohama. It’ll be up on Stardom World in a few days. It was called a muse-see match. The show was a fan poll voting tag team matches that they wanted to see. Prominence then did a big angle attacking Suzuki for teaming wiht Giulia. Another match we’ve heard great things about i s the Kento Miyahara vs. Yuma Anzai on All Japan’s big show on Friday at Yoyogi Gym in Tokyo.

– Stardm PPV results:

  • Megan Bayne & Mei Seira won a tag team gauntlet series
  • Tam Nakano & Mina Shirakawa defeated Natsupo & Saori Anou
  • Mirai & Mai Sakurai defeated Rina & Hina
  • Hanan & Mariah May defeated Momo Watanabe & Momo Kohgo
  • Hazuki & Natsuoka Tora defeated Nanae Takahashi & Ruaka
  • Giulia & Suzu Suzuki vs. Utami Hayashishita & Maika ended in a 20:00 time limit draw
  • AZM & Starlight Kid defeated Mayu Iwatani & Saki Kashima

– New Japan started the best-of seven trios series today in Toagane with Yuji Nagata & Shota Umino & Master Wato vs. Minoru Suzuki & Ren Narita & Desperado. The first night they did a 30:00 draw.

– NXT is loaded on Tuesday with a show they hope will do some of the best numbers in years with Becky Lynch challenging Tiffany Stratton for the NXT Women’s title. Besides that they have Wes Lee vs. Ilja Dragunov, which should be great, with the winner facing Carmelo Hayes for the NXT title at No Mercy, plus the Global Heritage tournament with Tyler Bate vs. Axiom and Akira Tozawa vs. Nathan Frazer, The Creeds vs. Edris Enofe & Malik Blade, Charley Dempsey & Drew Gulak & Damon Kemp vs Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs & Myles Borne, and Dana Brooke vs. Lyra Valkyria.

– Alex Shelley vs. Josh Alexander for the Impact title headlines Bound for Glory in Chicago. During the past week they announced Mike Tenay, Don West and Traci Brooks will be inducted into the Impact Hall of Fame that night.

– Impact will next be running 9/22 and 9/23 at Graceland in Memphis. It will be Impact’s first time in Memphis in 11 years. Mickie James and Deonna Purrazzo will be in Memphis on Thursday and Friday doing advance promotional work for the shows.

– United Wrestling Coalition will hold a show on 9/23 at the Legion Hall in New Egypt, NJ.

– IWF from last night in Brockport, NY: Frank Burlington b Jeremy Adams, Nick Ando b TJ Kirk, Jesse Bieber b TJ Epixx, McKinger & Haymaker b Dewey Murray & Swoggle to win the tag titles,Ron & Jordan Falco own three-way over Evan & Kyle McCloud and Tyler Hill & Robbie Reckless, Asylum b Matthew Grant, Krystal Moon b Shiloh-DQ@, Brute Van Slyke b Bull James in a bullrope match (thanks to Todd Brantley)

– Evil Uno’s Mystery wrestling from Friday night in Gatineau, Quebec: 1960 Spiderwoman won four-way over 1960 Spiderman, Multiverse Spiderman and Spider Gwen, Stu Grayson b Vaughn Vertigo, Gabriel Fuerza b James Stone, CPS b Bobby Orlando in falls count anywhere, Serge St. Denis b Louis Gray in a street fight, Emi Sakurara b Maki Itoh (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

– Riot at the Yard promoted by Eve is an all women’s wrestling, burlesque and cabaret show on 9/20 at The Yard Theater in Hackney Wick, London. Allie Katch, B3CCA, Nina Samuels, Chantl Jordan and Alex Windsor are also on the show.

– At the Glory kickboxing show last night in Paris, Badr Hari, who was to face James McSweeney (former UFC fighter) in the main event. Hari came out and said he was in no condition to fight due to the earthquake in Morocco, where he is from. Glory said that they respected his decision and would donate all profits from the show to a charity in Morocco.

Daily Update: WWE SmackDown ratings, LA Knight, Brett Wayne Sawyer

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out with the following covered:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week from the past two weeks
  • The most detailed story of the AEW/C.M. Punk relationship
  • The honeymoon period
  • The business records
  • The difficulty of the decision to cut ties with him
  • Lots of new information not reported previously
  • The original records set and business success
  • The fight after All Out and its aftermath
  • Realities of pro wrestling
  • Analysis of him going to WWE
  • Support and non-support for him in AEW
  • Punk’s prior two contacts in recent years with WWE about returning
  • Conflict between Punk and other talent
  • The situation with Adam Page
  • The attempts to get everyone working together and why it kept being delayed
  • Details on what happened in the investigations after All In
  • Tony Khan’s speech before the live crowd in Chicago
  • The life and times of Sheik Adnan-Al Kaissie, the Native American babyface torn foreign menace
  • Amateur wrestling, legend in Hawaii, and giant stadium crowds in Iraq including beating Andre the Giant
  • His WWWF tag team title run
  • His AWA run including the biggest crowds in the heyday of the promotion affiliated with Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera
  • The final run with Sgt. Slaughter
  • Full coverage of Payback, business notes, stories out of the show and match-by-match coverage
  • Full coverage of All Out, highlights, polls, business notes and more
  • UFC weekend coverage from Paris
  • More notes on the formation of a new all-women’s promotion that starts in a few weeks with Japanese stars
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every wrestling and MMA show, segment-by-segment notes
  • Rocky Romero talks his CMLL run
  • Latest from Arena Mexico
  • Hall of Famer says he hopes to recover from recent operation and have a big retirement match
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • New rookie getting rave reviews
  • All Japan and NOAH have big shows
  • Terry Funk funeral notes
  • Notes on new TV show
  • Big tag team tournament coming
  • More notes on Wembley Stadium attendance
  • Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole talk post All Out
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • AEW value calculated
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Aussie Open on why they signed with AEW
  • Sports franchise owned by pro wrestling star wins championship
  • Dana White talks Bellator being for sale
  • More on Bellator sale talks
  • Analyst talks where he thinks WWE will wind up on television
  • Gable Steveson not doing world championships and update
  • Merchandise sales for Clash at the Castle and for All in
  • Cena’s drawing power on his return

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Last night’s SmackDown averaged 1.969 million viewers in the fast national ratings, a drop from the 2.28 million the show drew in the fast nationals last week. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.47.
  • During his promo on SmackDown last night, LA Knight took a shot at Kevin Nash. Knight referenced a Nash promo from WCW. “If I was a complete moron, I’d say, ‘Let’s look at that adjective.’ But I’m not a moron,” Knight said. “So I’m going to say let’s look at that verb: play. I didn’t come here to play, Miz.” Nash had called Knight an “absolute ripoff” of The Rock on his podcast this July.
  • Mustafa Ali noted that he would have loved to wrestle in India yesterday at WWE Superstar Spectacle: “My apologies to all the fans in India. Would have loved to perform there. With all the tension that exists between Pakistan and India, I would have loved to shown that a man from both countries can bring us together.”
  • Sami Zayn said the fans in India were probably a top five crowd that he’s ever wrestled in front of: “The Crowd in Hyderabad was absolutely incredible tonight, probably a top 5 crowd I’ve worked for. Deafening. Kevin & I were standing 2 feet apart, screaming, and couldn’t hear each other. Thanks for the love, India. What an honor and a privilege.”
  • On Tuesday’s NXT, WWE will give an update on Von Wagner’s storyline injury: “UPDATE: Due to Von Wagner’s past medical history, very little information has been released. However, we should have an update on Von’s condition by Tuesday.” The most recent NXT episode ended with an angle where the screen cut to black as Bron Breakker struck Wagner in the head with the steel steps.
  • SI FanNation reports that The Dudley Boyz recently signed Legends contracts with WWE. At the tapings for Impact Wrestling’s 1000th episode tonight, The Dudleys are reuniting for their first tag team match in seven years.
  • The Ringer Wrestling Show asked Finn Balor if he’d be interested in working a program with CM Punk if Punk returned to WWE. Balor responded: “I’d be interested in wrestling a broomstick if someone’s going to pay me money. So, show me the money. Money talks.”
  • Balor thinks Dominik Mysterio is the future of the wrestling business:
          • I feel like he was given kind of a warm reception when he came in because he was the son of [a] Hall of Famer, son of Rey Mysterio. He was kind of like accepted because he was the blood of Rey Mysterio. It was like ‘Ah we appreciate you’re doing this for us. Because we love your dad so much, we’re gonna cheer for you too.’
          • Once he stepped out from under that tree and started fending for himself, he’s just been a completely different animal. Not only the growth he’s shown, outside of the ring and on his promos and his character work, but his growth inside of the ring has been absolutely monumental for someone who has had very little training, no NXT experience pretty much. Most of his training has been done on the job, on live TV. This kid is the future of the business, in my opinion.
  • Scarlett and Shotzi are launching a new paranormal series called Chamber of Horrors on WWE’s YouTube channel. It will premiere on Wednesday, September 20: “Do you believe in ghosts? You will. For the last year, we’ve been investigating the most haunted locations, and now we can’t wait to show you some of our favorites…Get in the spirit on September 20th for our new paranormal series Chamber of Horrors!”
  • Grayson Waller was the guest on WWE After the Bell this week.
  • Waller, LA Knight, and Damage CTRL appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • Corey Graves called Gunther the best professional wrestler on the planet right now.
  • NXT wrestler Thea Hail turns 20 years old today. Brian Pillman Jr. turns 30.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Bobby Fulton announced the passing of Brett Wayne Sawyer: “I’m truly saddened to hear of the passing of Brett Wayne Sawyer! He was the brother of Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer, although both are gone the stories will forever live on. My thoughts and prayers go out for his family, friends and fans during this difficult time!”
  • Dave Meltzer wrote: “Very sorry to hear this news. I remember Brett starting out and being a major star in Oregon and later Sawyer Brothers were a top tag team.”
  • Will Ospreay announced that he and 1ProWrestling have parted ways. Ospreay was the 1PW World Champion:
          • Myself & @1ProWrestling have mutual parted ways.
          • Business is about having trust and seeing what has unfolded with talent & management, it’s evident that the company has issues that need to be addressed & I urge talent to get what is deserved & agreed on.
          • That being said the roster & shows were extremely fun to be a part of because of the talent, the crew & the audience.
          • I have no ill feelings towards 1PW/Steven.
          • I wish them all the best for the future not just professionally but personally.
  • CJ Perry posted that she’ll be on AEW Collision tonight.
  • Jade Cargill thinks Athena should be on AEW Dynamite: “You should be on the Wednesdays. Killing bitches. That’s a fact. Also, the makeup is bomb boo @AthenaPalmer_FG”
  • QT Marshall will defend the AAA Latin American title for PROGRESS Wrestling in London on Sunday, September 24.
  • PROGRESS announced Eddie Kingston vs. Luke Jacobs for their show in London on Sunday, October 22.
  • El Hijo del Vikingo will wrestle his first match in Japan at GCW’s event at Korakuen Hall on Thursday, October 12.

Daily Update: Jim Valley, Georges St-Pierre, WWE SmackDown

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 Observer is out with the following covered:

  • Match of the week and performer of the week from the past two weeks
  • The most detailed story of the AEW/C.M. Punk relationship
  • The honeymoon period
  • The business records
  • The difficulty of the decision to cut ties with him
  • Lots of new information not reported previously
  • The original records set and business success
  • The fight after All Out and its aftermath
  • Realities of pro wrestling
  • Analysis of him going to WWE
  • Support and non-support for him in AEW
  • Punk’s prior two contacts in recent years with WWE about returning
  • Conflict between Punk and other talent
  • The situation with Adam Page
  • The attempts to get everyone working together and why it kept being delayed
  • Details on what happened in the investigations after All In
  • Tony Khan’s speech before the live crowd in Chicago
  • The life and times of Sheik Adnan-Al Kaissie, the Native American babyface torn foreign menace
  • Amateur wrestling, legend in Hawaii, and giant stadium crowds in Iraq including beating Andre the Giant
  • His WWWF tag team title run
  • His AWA run including the biggest crowds in the heyday of the promotion affiliated with Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera
  • The final run with Sgt. Slaughter
  • Full coverage of Payback, business notes, stories out of the show and match-by-match coverage
  • Full coverage of All Out, highlights, polls, business notes and more
  • UFC weekend coverage from Paris
  • More notes on the formation of a new all-women’s promotion that starts in a few weeks with Japanese stars
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for every wrestling and MMA show, segment-by-segment notes
  • Rocky Romero talks his CMLL run
  • Latest from Arena Mexico
  • Hall of Famer says he hopes to recover from recent operation and have a big retirement match
  • Stardom Five-Star Grand Prix tournament notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • New rookie getting rave reviews
  • All Japan and NOAH have big shows
  • Terry Funk funeral notes
  • Notes on new TV show
  • Big tag team tournament coming
  • More notes on Wembley Stadium attendance
  • Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole talk post All Out
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • AEW value calculated
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Aussie Open on why they signed with AEW
  • Sports franchise owned by pro wrestling star wins championship
  • Dana White talks Bellator being for sale
  • More on Bellator sale talks
  • Analyst talks where he thinks WWE will wind up on television
  • Gable Steveson not doing world championships and update
  • Merchandise sales for Clash at the Castle and for All in
  • Cena’s drawing power on his return

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 Gonzales and I have the week in review and covering the news in today’s Observer on the show up on the site right now. 

Our good friend Jim Valley is looking for a donor for a kidney transplant. He has been on dialysis for two years and it can take years unless he gets a living donor. His blood type is A positive but arrangements can be made possibly for another blood type. Anyone interested in donating can call 206-598-3627 or go to uw.donorscreen.org

Georges St-Pierre will be inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame on 10/19. He will also be awarded the Order of Sport, recognizing a Canadian athlete’s contributions to Canada through sports. 

Smackdown tonight is from Boston, which was just about sold out as of today, has A.J. Styles vs. Jimmy Uso, Charlotte Flair & Shotzi vs Bayley & Iyo Sky and Finn Balor & Damian Priest vs,. Ridge Holland & Butch.

We’ve looking for reports on these weekend shows:

  • Impact Victory Road tonight from White Plains, NY
  • Smackdown tonight in Boston (dark matches only)
  • NXT tonight in Sebring, FL
  • AEW tomorrow night in Cleveland (non-live TV matches only)
  • WWE tomorrow night at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY
  • NXT tomorrow in Melbourne, FL
  • WWE Sunday in Charlottesville, VA
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

AEW tonight at 10 p.m. on TNT has Jay Lethal vs. Penta and Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy in the tournament, plus Young Bucks vs. Matt Menard & Angelo Parker and Hikaru Shida & Britt Baker & Skye Blue vs. Taya Valkyrie & The Bunny & Anna Jay.

Junior Dos Santos faces Fabricio Werdum tonight for Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebread Bare Knuckle MMA promotion, which is basically UFC before UFC 5 when Tank Abbott introduced gloves. The show takes place from the Vystar Arena in Jacksonville, FL. It will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook for free.

Impact Victory Road tonight is an Impact+ PPV show from White Plains, NY

  • Bully Ray vs. PCO anything goes
  • Trinity vs. Alisha Edwards for the Knockouts title
  • Kenny King vs. Tommy Dreamer – Digital Media title vs. Dreamer having to retire
  • Lio Rush vs. Kushida for the X title
  • Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley for the tag titles
  • Jordynne Grace vs. Deona Purrazzo
  • Josh Alexander vs. Steve Maclin

UFC has a PPV tomorrow from Sydney, Australia:

ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time

  • Kevin Jousset (170.5) vs. Keifer Crosbie (170.85)
  • Shane Young (149.75) vs. Gabrel Mirdanda (144.95) – Young forfeited 30 percent of his purse for missing weight by 3.75 pounds
  • Blood Diamond (170.25) vs. Charlie Radtke (170.30)

ESPN & ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern

  • Nasrat Haqparast (155.85) vs Landon Quinones (155.75)
  • Jamie Mullkarey (155.35) vs. John Makdessi (155.10)
  • Jack Jenkins (145.85) vs. Chepe Mariscal (145.85)
  • Carlos Ulberg (204.70) vs. Da Un Jung (205.30)

PPV at 10 p.m.

  • Tyson Pedro (205.45) vs. Anton Turkalj (205.35)
  • Justin Tafa (262.20) vs. Austen Lane (205.35)
  • Manel Kape (126) vs. Felipe Dos Santos (125.40)
  • Tai Tuivasa (265.60) vs. Alexander Volkov (262.90)
  • Israel Adesanya (184.80) vs. Sean Strickland (184.90) for the middleweight title

All Japan ran Yoyogi Gym in Tokyo earlier today: Yoshi Tatsu b Black Menso-re, Naruki Doi & Naoki Tanizaki & Hokuto Omori b Kotaro Suzuki & Keiichi Sato & Mazada, Masa Fuchi & Kaz Hayashi & Ryuji Hijikata b Osamu Nishimura & Mitsuya Nagai & Masao Inoue, THawk & Lindaman & Shigehiro Irie & Junjie b Koji Iwamoto & Takuya Nomura & Fuminori Abe & Ryo Inoue, Jun Akiyama & Sanshiro Takagi & Yusuke Okada b Suwama & Hikaru Sato & Dan Tamura, Kairi & Saori Anou b Unagi Sayaka & Sareee, Yuma Aoyagi & Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising Hayato b Ryuki Honda & Yusuke Kodama & Masao anabata, Jun & Rei Saito b Ren Ayabe & Shuji Ishikawa to keep the G-Infinty tag titles, Kento Miyahara b Yuma Anzai. In the All Japan vs. DDT match ther was a post-match angle with Suwama and Yukio Naya. They showed Rossy Ogawa at ringside during the women’s match. The other women went at it after the match but not Kairi since there’s no point in her shooting an angle with her leaving for WWE.(thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Tickets for the 11/17 and 11/18 AEW shows at the Forum in Inglewood went on sale today. The PPV show on Saturday did more than 4,000 tickets sold while Collision did 1,500. That’s only pre-sale but compared to previous events it was obviously way down.

A correction from today’s issue. The legends Ciberneticos on 9/22 at Arena Mexico will not be a three-week tournament. It will be one match with Felino, Aguila Solitaria, Solar, Black Terry, Octagon, El Satanico, Atlantis, Blue Panther, Panterita del Ring, Panera, Negro Navarro and Rocky Santana.

WWE gates from Pollstar. The 7/17 show in Atlanta sold out with 11,082 paid and $513,206. The 6/19 show in Cleveland sold 9,432 for $561,928.

AIW announced a new location for its show tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Wadsworth, OH. It will now be at the OJ Work Auditorium at 151 Main St. Eric Taylor vs. Mikey Montgomery in a cage match is the main event plus Swoggle will be wrestling. Their annual JT Lightning tournament which features Tom Lawlor, Ale Price, Colin Delaney, Masato Tanaka and Chavo Guerrero Jr. will be 9/15 and 9/16 in Cleveland at Temple Live. Eddie Kingston also will wrestle on 9/16 in a non-tournament match.

Aljamain Sterling vs. Nathaniel Wood in grappling takes place at Polaris 25 on 9/30 in Wales. The event will air on UFC Fight Pass.

Lucha Teotl, a stage play based on Lucha Libre will be running at the Goodman Theater in Chicago from 9/29 to 10/29. (thanks to Jacob Burnett)

Demetrious Johnson has challenged Kenny Omega to play Street fighter VI against him for charity.

Daily Update: WWE Superstar Spectacle, The Miz, Orange Cassidy

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out and it’s the biggest issue in terms of volume that we have ever done:

  • The life of Terry Funk with many different stories from many different places
  • The Ric Flair/Terry Funk 1989 feud
  • Terry Funk sees the death of the territories before anyone else
  • Paul Heyman on Terry Funk
  • The life and career of Bray Wyatt
  • The sad situation regarding his death
  • Career highlights
  • How COVID led to serious health issues
  • Him just being seen in the hospital a week before his death
  • Life before wrestling
  • Full coverage of AEW All In
  • Notes on attendance records
  • A rundown of the other four biggest shows in history
  • Every $10 million gate in pro wrestling history
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Crossover buys with SummerSlam
  • Thoughts on next year’s show at Wembley
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts after the show
  • A detailed look at the Punk-Jack Perry incident with different stories from people there
  • How it affected the show backstage
  • What happened with the show and to Punk and Perry after the incident
  • Rundown of the show
  • WrestleMania ticket sales as of this week
  • Last year’s Mania numbers and numbers from other years
  • How the secondary market is doing for WrestleMania
  • Saudi Arabia gets into business with the PFL and causes a WWE stock price drop
  • Preview of the next AEW & WWE PPV shows
  • Business notes on this week’s show
  • A look at the RevPro show with Ospreay vs. Takagi
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past two weeks
  • How each segment did, how the show compares with one year ago
  • A look at the best rated Smackdown show in almost three years
  • International TV numbers
  • CMLL matches at Denver Broncos game
  • CMLL Grand Prix show notes
  • Metalik done with CMLL and explanation as to why
  • Konnan health update
  • QT Marshall defends Latin American title in Europe
  • Notes on the last Stardom PPV show
  • Notes on Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show
  • All Japan finishes tournament and legend challenges for Triple Crown out of it
  • N-1 tournament update
  • Talks of a New Japan expansion
  • Naito talks his future
  • The All-Star Junior show in Philadelphia
  • DDT has big show coming
  • Major former promoter in Mexico Carlos Elizondo passes away
  • New Netflix wrestling show
  • Impact changing taping schedule
  • Notes on upcoming Impact shows
  • Lots of talk from Tony Khan about new things with the company and deals
  • Punk gets Cauliflower Alley Club award
  • Update on Cung Le lawsuit against UFC
  • Update on Edge
  • John Cena’s return notes

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

  • WWE has announced that Rhea Ripley will defend her Women’s World Championship against Natalya at this Friday’s Superstar Spectacle live event in India.
  • On The Pat McAfee Show, The Miz discussed his segment with “invisible John Cena” from Monday’s Raw. Miz spoke in-character about the segment:
          • Look, I don’t care if it’s real Cena, invisible Cena, I’ll take him down each and every time. No doubt in my mind, every day all day. It’s just the type of person I am.
          • How dare he push me in that ring? You don’t come into my ring in WWE on Monday Night Raw and come onto my show Miz TV and push me. And he ducked my swing. That was one thing that I couldn’t even believe. But then once he swung at me, I know what’s happening. I know the Skull Crushing Finale is happening. Drop him out. And after the promo, I threw him out of the ring because that’s the type of man I am. That is my ring. That is just what I do.
          • By the way, how great was [WWE cameraman] Stu? How great was that camera work? He’s done it so many times that Stu can see him [Cena] just like I can.
  • Natalya shared photos of a young Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda): “Windham was only one month old in this picture when his parents brought him over to our house to proudly show my mom and dad their new baby. I was five years old. Years later, we would go ‘trick or treating’ together in our neighborhood. Windham dressed up as Batman. It’s surreal to think about Windham being gone but I’m so proud to have known him. More than what he contributed to the wrestling business (which was massive), he was a great person. We will never forget you.”
  • On his Oh You Didn’t Know podcast, Road Dogg was asked about the possibility of CM Punk returning to WWE:
          • I am the wrong guy to ask – that is the truth. Because I cannot hire nor fire – that is out of sight of my paygrade. I did mention recently that he would move the needle [by returning to WWE], but truth be told, that comment was made a long time ago … or whenever that was. It just doesn’t seem like the right time to even talk about it, you know? Things are happening in real-time. God only knows what’s going to come out at the end of this.
  • Finn Balor & Damian Priest, Tiffany Stratton, and former WWE writer Kazeem Famuyide were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • Seth Rollins, Ricochet, and Samantha Irvin will be on The Bump next Wednesday.
  • Cathy Kelley was interviewed on Out of Character.
  • Braun Strowman turns 40 years old today.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Orange Cassidy spoke to SI FanNation about telling his story in the ring instead of on the microphone:
          • I don’t like to talk. I let my actions speak for me. That’s not how this works. People are supposed to grab a microphone and tell you how to feel. I see it differently.
          • I think our fans are very smart, and their emotions can speak for themselves. I do it in the ring through actually wrestling. I may not nail it every time, but I’m telling my story through professional wrestling. It’s taken me a long time to figure it out, but I refuse to do it the way it’s been done.
  • On his My World podcast, Jeff Jarrett praised Bryan Danielson:
          • I think he is the very best storyteller in modern wrestling. I think he has a unique ability. I believe on last night’s card (AEW All Out), it’s the one match that people had no idea that it was going to have the impact on the night that it did. I can’t say enough good things about it.
          • He is an unbelievable storyteller, brutal straps and everything that goes with it, and you know, there was interference and whatever you want to get into it, but that place was rocking. They loved it and it was brutally hard, and I’m, you know, personally happy for Starks.
          • Guys coming up in this business, you know, you look back on different careers, you know, I think Kurt gave it to Cena. Scott Hall gave me a match that, okay, okay. There’s certain matches that you have with older veterans or guys that are already up on top that they’re irreplaceable. I believe that match is irreplaceable in Ricky Starks’ career. I think it will be. I think it’s gonna stand the test of time like oh wow, and look at the circumstances that had happened. Had not all of the other set of circumstances happened, he’d never had this opportunity. So the grand weave, you never ever know what is gonna come down the pike next.
  • In his latest article for Sports Illustrated, Dave Meltzer writes about this being one of the most newsworthy periods in wrestling history.
  • SANADA posted a photo with Gail Kim: “I’ve never seen any better female wrestler than yourself. You are the best that I have seen.”

Daily Update: Gunther vs. Gable, Piper Niven, Cavinder Twins

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out and it’s the biggest issue in terms of volume that we have ever done:

  • The life of Terry Funk with many different stories from many different places
  • The Ric Flair/Terry Funk 1989 feud
  • Terry Funk sees the death of the territories before anyone else
  • Paul Heyman on Terry Funk
  • The life and career of Bray Wyatt
  • The sad situation regarding his death
  • Career highlights
  • How COVID led to serious health issues
  • Him just being seen in the hospital a week before his death
  • Life before wrestling
  • Full coverage of AEW All In
  • Notes on attendance records
  • A rundown of the other four biggest shows in history
  • Every $10 million gate in pro wrestling history
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Crossover buys with SummerSlam
  • Thoughts on next year’s show at Wembley
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts after the show
  • A detailed look at the Punk-Jack Perry incident with different stories from people there
  • How it affected the show backstage
  • What happened with the show and to Punk and Perry after the incident
  • Rundown of the show
  • WrestleMania ticket sales as of this week
  • Last year’s Mania numbers and numbers from other years
  • How the secondary market is doing for WrestleMania
  • Saudi Arabia gets into business with the PFL and causes a WWE stock price drop
  • Preview of the next AEW & WWE PPV shows
  • Business notes on this week’s show
  • A look at the RevPro show with Ospreay vs. Takagi
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past two weeks
  • How each segment did, how the show compares with one year ago
  • A look at the best rated Smackdown show in almost three years
  • International TV numbers
  • CMLL matches at Denver Broncos game
  • CMLL Grand Prix show notes
  • Metalik done with CMLL and explanation as to why
  • Konnan health update
  • QT Marshall defends Latin American title in Europe
  • Notes on the last Stardom PPV show
  • Notes on Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show
  • All Japan finishes tournament and legend challenges for Triple Crown out of it
  • N-1 tournament update
  • Talks of a New Japan expansion
  • Naito talks his future
  • The All-Star Junior show in Philadelphia
  • DDT has big show coming
  • Major former promoter in Mexico Carlos Elizondo passes away
  • New Netflix wrestling show
  • Impact changing taping schedule
  • Notes on upcoming Impact shows
  • Lots of talk from Tony Khan about new things with the company and deals
  • Punk gets Cauliflower Alley Club award
  • Update on Cung Le lawsuit against UFC
  • Update on Edge
  • John Cena’s return notes

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

  • WWE has uploaded the Intercontinental title match from last night’s Raw in its entirety on YouTube.
  • The Honky Tonk Man says he’s still “The Greatest IC Champion of All Time!” on X.
  • Sean Ross Sapp on X: “Piper Niven is fine. We’re told a short term illness, and she’s expected back soon!”
  • Ricochet was interviewed by FanNation, who talked about his role in WWE. “Even if I’m not the main event, I plan on becoming the main attraction,” he said. “That’s where Ricochet belongs. I’m working to show everyone that. I’m capable of it, and that is what I am trying to manifest.
  • Jackie Redmond, Damian Priest, and Finn Balor have been announced as guests for tomorrow’s episode of The Bump.
  • The Cavinder twins spoke to GQ in a profile about their WWE aspirations. When asked about the prospect of being punched in the face, Hanna said “We’ve had pressure our whole lives, so we’ll definitely adjust.”
  • WWE’s social media showed Damian Priest putting his contract in his new Money in the Bank briefcase.
  • Shanky has been confirmed for WWE Superstar Spectacle in India.
  • John Cena commented on participating at Superstar Spectacle on X. “I cannot express how grateful I am to the @WWE & #WWEUniverse for this opportunity. #WWESuperstarSpectacle will be an experience that means the world to me, excited to get to @WWEIndia!”
  • Other matches and segments added to WWE’s YouTube channel today include Bobby Lashley vs. The Miz from the September 5, 2022 edition of Raw, Dominik Mysterio joining The Judgment Day also from September 5, 2022, and Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss from Extreme Rules 2021.

AEW

Other Wrestling

  • According to PWInsider, Teddy Hart is scheduled for a 9/21 hearing in Titusville, Florida on charges of possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and possession of a controlled substance without prescription.
  • Sukeban introduced more of their roster ahead of their September 21 debut.
  • GCW has announced Joey Janela vs. Blue Kane for GCW’s UK show on September 16.
  • NJPW has an article on Giulia’s most recent defense of the Strong Women’s Championship, defeating Risa Sera. 

Daily Update: Terry Funk, WWE Raw, Cyril Gane

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 Observer is out and it’s the biggest issue in terms of volume that we have ever done:

  • The life of Terry Funk with many different stories from many different places
  • The Ric Flair/Terry Funk 1989 feud
  • Terry Funk sees the death of the territories before anyone else
  • Paul Heyman on Terry Funk
  • The life and career of Bray Wyatt
  • The sad situation regarding his death
  • Career highlights
  • How COVID led to serious health issues
  • Him just being seen in the hospital a week before his death
  • Life before wrestling
  • Full coverage of AEW All In
  • Notes on attendance records
  • A rundown of the other four biggest shows in history
  • Every $10 million gate in pro wrestling history
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Crossover buys with SummerSlam
  • Thoughts on next year’s show at Wembley
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts after the show
  • A detailed look at the Punk-Jack Perry incident with different stories from people there
  • How it affected the show backstage
  • What happened with the show and to Punk and Perry after the incident
  • Rundown of the show
  • WrestleMania ticket sales as of this week
  • Last year’s Mania numbers and numbers from other years
  • How the secondary market is doing for WrestleMania
  • Saudi Arabia gets into business with the PFL and causes a WWE stock price drop
  • Preview of the next AEW & WWE PPV shows
  • Business notes on this week’s show
  • A look at the RevPro show with Ospreay vs. Takagi
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past two weeks
  • How each segment did, how the show compares with one year ago
  • A look at the best rated Smackdown show in almost three years
  • International TV numbers
  • CMLL matches at Denver Broncos game
  • CMLL Grand Prix show notes
  • Metalik done with CMLL and explanation as to why
  • Konnan health update
  • QT Marshall defends Latin American title in Europe
  • Notes on the last Stardom PPV show
  • Notes on Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show
  • All Japan finishes tournament and legend challenges for Triple Crown out of it
  • N-1 tournament update
  • Talks of a New Japan expansion
  • Naito talks his future
  • The All-Star Junior show in Philadelphia
  • DDT has big show coming
  • Major former promoter in Mexico Carlos Elizondo passes away
  • New Netflix wrestling show
  • Impact changing taping schedule
  • Notes on upcoming Impact shows
  • Lots of talk from Tony Khan about new things with the company and deals
  • Punk gets Cauliflower Alley Club award
  • Update on Cung Le lawsuit against UFC
  • Update on Edge
  • John Cena’s return notes

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 and the rest of the news with Wrestling Observer Radio. We did a Saturday show talking the firing of C.M. Punk and WWE Payback and last night’s show talking AEW All Out.

This is a television news story on the NBC affiliate in Amarillo talking about how Terry Funk’s funeral was that day. It’s really cool because you can see just how revered he was in that city. 

Raw is in Charlotte, NC tonight featuring the Gunther vs. Chad Gable IC title match that really should have been on Saturday’s show. The Viking Raiders face Matt Riddle & Drew McIntyre in a tornado match. Jey Uso returns on tonight’s show as a new member of the Raw roster. There were 7,700 tickets out for the show as of a few hours ago.

We’re looking for reports from tonight’s show with anything not on television such as Main Event matches or dark segments to [email protected]

Also we’re looking for your thoughts on AEW All Out and WWE Payback, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to [email protected]

Because today is Labor Day, ratings for the next few days will be delayed. The Rampage and Smackdown ratings will be out tomorrow afternoon. The Collision ratings will be out Wednesday morning. The Raw ratings will be out Wednesday afternoon. The NXT and Dynamite ratings should both be out on Thursday.

Cyril Gane’s home was robbed while he was in Paris fighting Serghei Spivac in Saturday’s main event. Police were called to Gane’s home yesterday morning in Nogent-sur-Marne, France. They discovered a forced entry through the front door and missing items that were estimated at being worth $166,000. Among the items stolen were jewelry, a Rolex watch and more. The police report indicated that a member of Gane’s entourage may have contacted the thieves regarding Gane being away from home to help set everything up. Gane beat Spivac via second round TKO in the main event.

Regarding stories coming out of yesterday’s show about fans having signs confiscated related to C.M. Punk and not being allowed to wear Punk T-shirts, obviously the latter was not correct since many at ringside were wearing the classic white Punk shirt. According to one person there, the security line was very slow because they were checking every sign and took Punk signs. There was one security guard loudly telling people that they had to wear their Punk T-shirts inside out. I was told that nobody paid attention to him, but as people got to the door, nobody told them to remove their shirts and turn them inside out. But that is where the story came from.

Former MMA and TV star Jason “Mayhem” Miller was arrested at 5 a.m. on Wednesday in West Hollywood, CA. TMZ reported Miller was involved with an altercation last Tuesday at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood. The police report stated that a fan of Miller’s approached him at the club to say hello, which turned into an argument and Miller tried to put the fan in a choke hold before security broke this up. Miller left the club before sheriffs arrived, but the police were called and he was arrested when he came back to the club the next day. Miller also was a big pro wrestling fan who when he fought in Japan listed his style of fighting as “pro wrestling.”

For Saturday’s UFC show in Sydney, Australia regarding the main event with Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland for the middleweight title, Jared Caonnonier was brought to Sydney and will weigh in as the backup fighter in case Adesanya or Strickland for some reason can’t fight.

Salina de la Renta returned to MLW on last night’s PPV show. The storyline is that she’s going to be the pipeline for bringing Lucha Libre talent into MLW, evidently replacing the role Cesar Duran had. Minoru Suzuki wll be on the 10/14 MLW show in Philadelphia.

OVW’s Jessie Godderz, who first made his fame as Mr. Pectacular on Big Brother before his pro wrestling days, made a cameo on the show last night. The cameo was cross promotion for the debut of the NETFLIX show “Wrestlers,” about OVW which debuts on 9/13. Godderz holds the record for most different years appearing on Big Brother.

Impact on Thursday has Josh Alexander & PCO vs. Bully Ray & Steve Maclin, Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster vs. Rich Swann & Sami Callihan, Deonna Purrazo vs Dani Luna, Lio Rush vs. Kevin Knight and more.

PWInsider reported that Paul Ellering was in Orlando. They had been reporting that the Authors of Pain and Ellering would be starting back on NXT.

A story on a former pro wrestler who has a food truck (thanks to Barry Werner)

The NBC affiliate in New York did a television story on Johnny Rodz, the longtime WWWF prelim wrestler who is in the company Hall of Fame, and also helped train the Dudleys , Tommy Dreamer and others at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. It talked about his recovery from a 2021 heart attack.

Daily Update: Tony Khan, All Out, Alex Hammerstone

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 Observer is out and it’s the biggest issue in terms of volume that we have ever done:

  • The life of Terry Funk with many different stories from many different places
  • The Ric Flair/Terry Funk 1989 feud
  • Terry Funk sees the death of the territories before anyone else
  • Paul Heyman on Terry Funk
  • The life and career of Bray Wyatt
  • The sad situation regarding his death
  • Career highlights
  • How COVID led to serious health issues
  • Him just being seen in the hospital a week before his death
  • Life before wrestling
  • Full coverage of AEW All In
  • Notes on attendance records
  • A rundown of the other four biggest shows in history
  • Every $10 million gate in pro wrestling history
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Crossover buys with SummerSlam
  • Thoughts on next year’s show at Wembley
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts after the show
  • A detailed look at the Punk-Jack Perry incident with different stories from people there
  • How it affected the show backstage
  • What happened with the show and to Punk and Perry after the incident
  • Rundown of the show
  • WrestleMania ticket sales as of this week
  • Last year’s Mania numbers and numbers from other years
  • How the secondary market is doing for WrestleMania
  • Saudi Arabia gets into business with the PFL and causes a WWE stock price drop
  • Preview of the next AEW & WWE PPV shows
  • Business notes on this week’s show
  • A look at the RevPro show with Ospreay vs. Takagi
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past two weeks
  • How each segment did, how the show compares with one year ago
  • A look at the best rated Smackdown show in almost three years
  • International TV numbers
  • CMLL matches at Denver Broncos game
  • CMLL Grand Prix show notes
  • Metalik done with CMLL and explanation as to why
  • Konnan health update
  • QT Marshall defends Latin American title in Europe
  • Notes on the last Stardom PPV show
  • Notes on Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show
  • All Japan finishes tournament and legend challenges for Triple Crown out of it
  • N-1 tournament update
  • Talks of a New Japan expansion
  • Naito talks his future
  • The All-Star Junior show in Philadelphia
  • DDT has big show coming
  • Major former promoter in Mexico Carlos Elizondo passes away
  • New Netflix wrestling show
  • Impact changing taping schedule
  • Notes on upcoming Impact shows
  • Lots of talk from Tony Khan about new things with the company and deals
  • Punk gets Cauliflower Alley Club award
  • Update on Cung Le lawsuit against UFC
  • Update on Edge
  • John Cena’s return notes

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Update

Bryan and I were up last night covering the C.M.Punk firing, Payback and Collision and tonight we’ll be covering All Out. If you have any questions on the Punk situation you can send them to [email protected] as we’ll answer questions on that subject.

Obviously tonight’s show will be more interesting because of crowd reactions than anything else. Before Collision went on the air, Tony Khan spoke to the crowd in Chicago and it was very hostile as you can see. I will give him a lot of credit for this because regardless of arguments about how the situation was handled for the past 18 months, he easily could have just let it ride this weekend since everyone knew Punk was suspended and waited until after the PPV show to announce the firing, and just did the short taped prepared statement for television. But this was his speech and the reaction to it from the live audience: 

This is tonight’s card which will go from 7 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Eastern:

  •  Athena & Mercedes Martinez & Diamante vs. Willow Nightingale & Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue
  • Over the Budget Battle Royal, the winner lists his favorite charity and AEW will make a $50,000 donation to that charity
  • Acclaimed & Billy Gunn defend the trios titles against Jeff Jarrett & Satnam Singh & Jay Lethal with Dennis Rodman in the Acclaimed corner and Sonjay Dutt in the Jarrett corner.
  • Samoa Joe vs. Shane Taylor for ROH TV title
  • Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta
  • Kris Statlander vs. Ruby Soho for the TBS title
  • FTR & Young Bucks vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson & Gunn Brothers
  • Miro vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
  • Adam Cole & MJF vs. John Silver & Alex Reynolds for the ROH tag titles
  • Luchasaurus vs Darby Allin for the TNT title
  • Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Stars in a strap match
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley for the International title

I expect a lot of good action matches but I’m dumbfounded about some of the matches like the ROH tag title match (which may be very entertaining but I can’t understand why the hottest act in the company is wrestling the Dark Order on a major PPV show), and no Adam Page or Chris Jericho. The PPV numbers will be very interesting on this. But nobody is expecting a big number coming a week after All In, which should end up as one of the biggest PPV shows in company history. About 9,500 tickets were out for the show, so it won’t be close to sold out but it’s still a healthy crowd and Tony Khan last week said he was thinking it would top $1 million which is always a major success.

We’re looking for your thoughts on both WWE Payback from last night and All Out from today, you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

We’re also looking for reports on tonight’s MLW show in Philadelphia to [email protected]

Alex Hammerstone is off today’s MLW show for family related reasons. MLW is planning its PPV version of the show on FITE+ from 6-8 p.m. so it will end before the start of the All Out PPV portion of the show.

The PPV version is:

  • Alex Kane vs. Willie Mack for the MLW title
  • Jacob Fatu vs. Rickey Shane Page in a weapons of mass destruction match for the National Openweight title
  • Maki Ioth vs, B3CCA
  • Kushida vs Tony Deppen
  • Matt Cardona vs. Mance Warner in a kiss my foot match
  • Akira vs. Jimmy Lloyd in a street fight
  • Ichiban vs. Tracy Williams

Go Shiozaki won the N-1 tournament from Pro Wrestling NOAH beating Kenoh in the finals today in Osaka. Their next major show is 9/17 with Will Ospreay vs. Naomichi Marufuji.

Grayson Waller complained that Jey Uso attacked him unprovoked on his own show on Twitter and then showed him holding a Pepsi can to his head like an ice pack, seemingly in reference to C.M. Punk.

Even with all the news this week, the only thing that cracked the Google searches this past week was Payback from yesterday which was No. 19 with 100,000 searches, which is lower than WWE PPV shows usually do. Punk did not crack the top 20. Yesterday’s UFC show had nothing that cracked the top 20. All In, believe it or not, didn’t crack the listings last Sunday either which basically tells you that the interest in the show was big enough among wrestling fans to do a big U.S. PPV number, but it did not break through outside of the wrestling fan base big enough to crack the top 230.

Wrestlecon has announced its activities for WrestleMania in Philadelphia will be at the Sheraton Downtown Hotel in Philadelphia.

Kevin Von Erich did a talk show Friday night in Dallas. Dan Cerquitella told us that he really enjoyed it and the crowd was into it. He said the drawback was the host didn’t know wrestling and that Kevin came off so likeable. But he said Kevin shined through.

People were raving to us about the Eddie Kingston and Toshiaki Kawada panel at Starrcast today saying Kawada was just awesome in answering questions. Kawada said that after the death of Mitsuharu Misawa, he just lost his passion for wrestling. He indicated he didn’t like Kenta Kobashi, saying he had a big head. He also said he didn’t like Kensuke Sasaki. He said he didn’t go to Pro Wrestling NOAH because he couldn’t leave the Baba family after all they had done for him.

Progress noted that Yoshiki Inamura of NOAH will debut for the promotion on 9/9 in Birmingham, England. Inamura will be facing Ricky Knight Jr. for the Atlas championship.

RevPro results from earlier today in London: Sha Samuels b Connor Mills to win the British cruiserweight title, JJ Gale b Robbie X, Bredan White & Danny Jones b Jude London & Paris De Silva, Luke Jacobs b Wild Boar, Ricky Knight Jr. & Zak Zodiac b Sunshine Machine, Alex Windor b Maya Matthew with the sharpshooter, Michael Oku b Cameron Khai in a non-title match, Gabe Kidd b Leon Slater (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Stardom had a PPV show earlier today in Hiroshima, Japan: Ami Sohrei b Lady C, Maika & Megan Bayne b Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May, Utami Hayashishita b Momo Watanabe, Tam Nakano b Starlight Kid, Syuri b Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima b Momo Kohgo to keep the High Speed title, Natsupoi & Saori Anou b Suzu Suzuki & Mei Seira to retain the Goddesses of Stardom tag title, Mirai b Konami to retain the Wonder of Stardom title, Giulia b Risa Sera to retain the New Japan Strong women’s title. There will be a UWF rules match with Syuri vs. Mina Shirakawa soon. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, Payback, All Out

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out and it’s the biggest issue in terms of volume that we have ever done:

  • The life of Terry Funk with many different stories from many different places
  • The Ric Flair/Terry Funk 1989 feud
  • Terry Funk sees the death of the territories before anyone else
  • Paul Heyman on Terry Funk
  • The life and career of Bray Wyatt
  • The sad situation regarding his death
  • Career highlights
  • How COVID led to serious health issues
  • Him just being seen in the hospital a week before his death
  • Life before wrestling
  • Full coverage of AEW All In
  • Notes on attendance records
  • A rundown of the other four biggest shows in history
  • Every $10 million gate in pro wrestling history
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Crossover buys with SummerSlam
  • Thoughts on next year’s show at Wembley
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts after the show
  • A detailed look at the Punk-Jack Perry incident with different stories from people there
  • How it affected the show backstage
  • What happened with the show and to Punk and Perry after the incident
  • Rundown of the show
  • WrestleMania ticket sales as of this week
  • Last year’s Mania numbers and numbers from other years
  • How the secondary market is doing for WrestleMania
  • Saudi Arabia gets into business with the PFL and causes a WWE stock price drop
  • Preview of the next AEW & WWE PPV shows
  • Business notes on this week’s show
  • A look at the RevPro show with Ospreay vs. Takagi
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past two weeks
  • How each segment did, how the show compares with one year ago
  • A look at the best rated Smackdown show in almost three years
  • International TV numbers
  • CMLL matches at Denver Broncos game
  • CMLL Grand Prix show notes
  • Metalik done with CMLL and explanation as to why
  • Konnan health update
  • QT Marshall defends Latin American title in Europe
  • Notes on the last Stardom PPV show
  • Notes on Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show
  • All Japan finishes tournament and legend challenges for Triple Crown out of it
  • N-1 tournament update
  • Talks of a New Japan expansion
  • Naito talks his future
  • The All-Star Junior show in Philadelphia
  • DDT has big show coming
  • Major former promoter in Mexico Carlos Elizondo passes away
  • New Netflix wrestling show
  • Impact changing taping schedule
  • Notes on upcoming Impact shows
  • Lots of talk from Tony Khan about new things with the company and deals
  • Punk gets Cauliflower Alley Club award
  • Update on Cung Le lawsuit against UFC
  • Update on Edge
  • John Cena’s return notes

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Ordering Info:

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Last night’s SmackDown, the go-home show for Payback, averaged 2.28 million viewers in the fast national ratings. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6. This is the first time since August 4 that SmackDown wasn’t preempted in any markets due to preseason football.
  • WWE uploaded a post-show interview with John Cena after SmackDown. Cena is hosting tonight’s Payback PPV.
  • I previewed the Payback card for Sports Illustrated and gave my predictions for each match.
  • PWInsider reports that Keiji Muto/Great Muta is in Pittsburgh, which is where Payback is being held. Why Muto is in the United States hasn’t been confirmed.
  • Jimmy Uso debuted new theme music on SmackDown last night.
  • A Global Heritage Invitational match between Duke Hudson and Akira Tozawa aired on last night’s NXT Level Up. Hudson defeated Tozawa to earn two points in the round-robin tournament. Hudson and Joe Coffey are tied in Group B after winning their first two matches, while Butch leads Group A with two points.
  • Ludwig Kaiser told Sportskeeda about the progress Tiffany Stratton has made in the ring: “She came so far in the last one and a half years, it’s crazy. I’ve been doing this for 16 years, and she’s been not even doing it for two years and she came so far already, so this is just the beginning of her journey, and I definitely want her to enjoy that and want her to be able to take her time and face every challenge one at a time.”
  • Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn rewatched their match against each other from Payback 2016.
  • Owens & Zayn, Shotzi, and Austin Theory & Grayson Waller appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • While running down the All Out lineup on Rampage last night, Excalibur stated that Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW International Championship will be the main event of the PPV.
  • Our Josh Nason previewed the All Out card.
  • Darby Allin told CBS Chicago that he isn’t 100 percent heading into All Out: “I’m not 100%. We had a show in London — biggest wrestling show of all time, 81,000+ people, but I actually really messed my spine up. I’m trying to take it easy before Sunday for my championship match… My lower back is really banged up. At the show in Wembley, I jumped off the top rope and landed on a metal coffin on my lower spine.”
  • CBS Chicago also interviewed Tony Khan.
  • The Ten Count asked Nigel McGuinness if there’s any truth to the rumors that Bryan Danielson was planting seeds to face him at All In:
          • I don’t think he was planting seeds. I think he was just, that was the last thing he wanted was to have to wrestle me again for sure. But that being the case, (he said jokingly), you know, how ironic after he said that if he ever got in the ring with me he would break my neck. That karma is a bitch. He broke his arm. The next time he wrestled, from an elbow drop no less.
          • There was obviously some thought of me getting back in the ring one time. I would have loved to have done it at Wembley Stadium. Obviously, I would have loved to have done it with Bryan as well.
  • Barstool Rasslin’ has a 57-minute interview with Orange Cassidy.
  • Saraya and Paul Wight appeared on LAD Bible’s Snack Wars.
  • Powerhouse Hobbs was a guest on the Under the Ring podcast.
  • Tommy Dreamer reflected after attending Terry Funk’s funeral yesterday: “Today I said goodbye to Terry Funk. The world was blessed to have you in our lives for as long as we did. You are the GOAT before the word was cool. I will love you #Forever”
  • GCW’s Brett Lauderdale praised El Hijo del Vikingo’s work ethic:
          • Vikingo was in the ring wrestling the main event until 11pm, then took pics & signed autographs for an hour, then finally got changed. Even tho he has a 726am flight home, he took the time/initiative to walk around the locker room picking up every piece of trash before he left.
          • He has been like this since day 1 at gcw. Hard working, humble, and down to earth. Always respectful and a true asset to the team. Will miss him when hes gone [from GCW] but ill be rooting for him till the end. Gracias amigo.

Daily Update: Terry Funk, PFL/Bellator, Sukeban

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 Observer is out and it’s the biggest issue in terms of volume that we have ever done:

  • The life of Terry Funk with many different stories from many different places
  • The Ric Flair/Terry Funk 1989 feud
  • Terry Funk sees the death of the territories before anyone else
  • Paul Heyman on Terry Funk
  • The life and career of Bray Wyatt
  • The sad situation regarding his death
  • Career highlights
  • How COVID led to serious health issues
  • Him just being seen in the hospital a week before his death
  • Life before wrestling
  • Full coverage of AEW All In
  • Notes on attendance records
  • A rundown of the other four biggest shows in history
  • Every $10 million gate in pro wrestling history
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Crossover buys with SummerSlam
  • Thoughts on next year’s show at Wembley
  • Tony Khan’s thoughts after the show
  • A detailed look at the Punk-Jack Perry incident with different stories from people there
  • How it affected the show backstage
  • What happened with the show and to Punk and Perry after the incident
  • Rundown of the show
  • WrestleMania ticket sales as of this week
  • Last year’s Mania numbers and numbers from other years
  • How the secondary market is doing for WrestleMania
  • Saudi Arabia gets into business with the PFL and causes a WWE stock price drop
  • Preview of the next AEW & WWE PPV shows
  • Business notes on this week’s show
  • A look at the RevPro show with Ospreay vs. Takagi
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past two weeks
  • How each segment did, how the show compares with one year ago
  • A look at the best rated Smackdown show in almost three years
  • International TV numbers
  • CMLL matches at Denver Broncos game
  • CMLL Grand Prix show notes
  • Metalik done with CMLL and explanation as to why
  • Konnan health update
  • QT Marshall defends Latin American title in Europe
  • Notes on the last Stardom PPV show
  • Notes on Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate show
  • All Japan finishes tournament and legend challenges for Triple Crown out of it
  • N-1 tournament update
  • Talks of a New Japan expansion
  • Naito talks his future
  • The All-Star Junior show in Philadelphia
  • DDT has big show coming
  • Major former promoter in Mexico Carlos Elizondo passes away
  • New Netflix wrestling show
  • Impact changing taping schedule
  • Notes on upcoming Impact shows
  • Lots of talk from Tony Khan about new things with the company and deals
  • Punk gets Cauliflower Alley Club award
  • Update on Cung Le lawsuit against UFC
  • Update on Edge
  • John Cena’s return notes

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

Terry Funk’s funeral took place this afternoon in Amarillo. I don’t believe it was taped and wasn’t able to see it. Among those in attendance were Dory Funk Jr., Ted DiBiase, Manny Fernandez, Chris Hero, Tommy Dreamer, C.M. Punk, Dan Spivey, Joe Malenko, Stan Hansen, Tully Blanchard, Don Frye, Barry Blaustein and Mark Youngblood. We hope to have more on it later. It’s still hard to believe he isn’t with us anymore. 

We have a big weekend of shows coming up. Garrett and I just finished our first show together without a guest in about a month, talking about the news of the week, All In, C.M. Punk and Jack Perry as well as some stories on Terry Funk and the upcoming WWE and AEW PPV shows. Bryan and I will be back Saturday and Sunday nights covering the PPV shows.

Front Office Sports reported on the PFL/Bellator sale talks. The story said that Bellator is valued at as much as $500 million and that the deal would be primarily cash but that Paramount, the owners of Bellator, would also get a percentage of the new company. They said it’s not clear if the deal goes through if they will merge into one company or continue as two separate entities but have matches between the promotions. Saudi Arabia has just invested $100 million in the PFL, which caused stock market concern for both WWE and Endeavor because of the idea Saudi Arabia funding a new MMA group could challenge UFC’s domination. The stock market freaked out yesterday and WWE stock tumbled, but today it came back and closed at $104.58 once people realized this won’t hurt WWE business at all and UFC’s financial deals are locked in for years.

As noted in the new issue, the announcement of the Sukeban promotion came this morning with the debut show on 9/21 at Capitale, a 750-seat theater in New York City. The show sold out instantly with tickets going on sale today. The show has top Japanese women, many of whom have appeared with Stardom this year, with new characters and put into different factions. The main event of the first show has Ichigo Sayaka (Unagi Sayaka) vs Countess Saoori (Saori Anou) with the winner going into a championship match on the second show. The trailer for the promotion.

Announced as signed to long-term deals to Sukeban are Ram Kaichow (as Atomic Banshee), Kaori Yoneyama (as Otaku-chan), AOI (as Midnight Player, Sayaka, Maya Yukihi (as Maya Mamushi), Saki (as Saki Bimi), Ancham (as Babyface), Yuu (as Crush Yuu), Rikio Iaiju (as Rik Blondie, Anou, Arisa Nakajima (as Commander Nakajima), Risa Sera (as Lady Antoinette) and Miyuki Takase (as Queen of Hearts).

Smackdown tonight features the return of John Cena in Hershey, PA. The show is sold out with 8,848 fans. Also announced is the return of Jimmy Uso, a Miz and LA Knight face-to-face segment to set up their match on Saturday’s PPV show in Pittsburgh, and Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar vs. Autin Theory & Grayson Waller.

AEW announced Dennis Rodman appearing on tomorrow’s Collision show in Chicago at the United Center. Rodman was already in town for Conrad Thompson’s Starrcast event. AEW had 4,086 tickets out as of today for the show. There will be angles shot on the show for the PPV on Sunday. Ricky Steamboat will be there but the tease of him doing a strap match with Ricky Starks is to set up a match with someone against Starks. Someone other than CM Punk has been asked to do the match but if Punk is to be on the PPV this would in theory be the spot. Punk was still suspended as of today.

For what it’s worth we are told that at the WWE Store in Pittsburgh they have all the matches and segments spread on the walls of the store and have a Cody Rhodes-Grayson Waller segment with John Cena in the picture. (thanks to Tyler Dawson)

Rampage at 10 p.m. tonight on TNT:

  • Tag Team Battle Royal for a PPV shot at MJF & Adam Cole on Sunday
  • El Hijo del Vikingo & Nick Wayne vs. Kip Sabian & Gringo Loco
  • Adam Page vs Bryan Keith
  • Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue vs Taya Valkyrie & Anna Jay
  • The Vikingo match got great reviews.

UFC is tomorrow in Paris on ESPN+ starting at Noon Eastern time:

  • Zarah Fairn (140) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (139)
  • Farid Basharat (136) vs. Keydson Rodrigues (134.5)
  • Nora Cornolle (136) vs. Joselyne Edwards (136)
  • Ange Loosa (171) vs. Rhys McKee (171)
  • Taylor Lapilus (135) vs. Caolan Loughran (136)
  • Morgan Charriere (146) vs. Manolo Aeccini (146)
  • William Gomis (146) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (146)
  • Volkan Oezdemir (205) vs. Bogdan Guskov (205)
  • Benoit Saint Denis (156) vs. Thiago Moises (156)
  • Manon Fiorot (125) vs. Rose Namajunas (125)
  • Cyril Gane (250) vs Serghei Spivac (256)

Edge auctioned off his Toronto wrestling gear and gave 100 percent of the proceeds for Sami Zayn’s Syria campaign of having mobile hospitals in war-torn areas.

MLW tapes Sunday at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia with Alex Kane vs. Willie Mack for the MLW title, Jacob Fatu vs. Rickey Shane Page for the National title in a weapons of mass destruction match, Matt Cardona vs. Mance Warner in a kiss my foot match Maki Itoh vs B3CCA for a women’s title shot and Tracy Williams vs. Ichiban on the FITE+ live show. There will also be a Fusion TV taping. The show starts at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Pablo Frage, a Texas referee filed suit against Devon Nicholson and Texas promoter Jerry Bostic due to injuries suffered while working a match with Nicholson. He is asking for more than $250,000 alleging that Nicholson was carrying a beer and stumbling and shouldn’t have been allowed to perform. The lawsuit claimed Frage was supposed to cut himself in doing an angle but Nicholson wasn’t pleased with the amount of blood and put him in a choke and stabbed him in the head multiple times with a spike. Frage said he lost consciousness and with no medical staff on site, was rushed to the hospital where he received seven staples. He said since this incident in December 2021, he has continued so suffer from headaches, memory problems, depression and has scars

GCW and Renegades of Wrestling did a joint show in Sydney, Australia last Friday as part of a three-show tour and drew 350 fans. Maki Itoh was really over. El Hijo del Vikingo beat Gringo Loco in an AAA Mega title match in the main event. Caveman Ugg kept the Renegades of Wrestling title over Joey Janela. The crowd knew all the GCW guys like Allie Katch and Effy. Itoh beat Charli Evans. Steph De Lander also returned to Australia for this tour. People were raving about Vikingo. On Saturday in Melbourne, the ROW champ Aysha beat Itoh and Vikingo kept the title over Emman Azman. On Sunday in Brisbane, Itoh beat Allie Katch, Outback Adam beat Janela, and Vikingo retained his title over Mitch Ryder. (thanks to Dan Lennard and Kirk Beattie)

Paul Felder, a UFC commentator, announced that he has put his name back in the USADA testing pool. He noted that his hips are bad and he is not sure if he will fight again, but that he is back training and hopes to fight guys around his own age if he does fight.

Combate Global is on Paramount and Univision tomorrow night as well as Paramount + with a main event of Jose Ferriera (11-0) vs. Leonardo Morales (12-7).

CPW on 9/9 in Fairplay, WV with Ricky Morton, Tony Atlas and Shane Douglas doing meet and greets.

Daily Update: Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt memories, Bryce Remsburg

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • G-1 MVP and best match of G-1
  • Match of the week and performer of the week
  • Behind the scenes of the last month of AEW. why stories were kept quiet, why people were not allowed to attend Collision, why this has gone on for 18 months
  • All of the recent incidents talked about from multiple sides
  • The promo by C.M. Punk and what happened at the Greensboro show which led to all of his getting out
  • Different reactions to the promo
  • The apology that did happen
  • All In and attendance records plus the updated card with new matches that have not yet been announced
  • Full coverage of the end of G-1 and the big fall shows for New Japan
  • Business notes on G-1
  • Naito has two of the best matches of the year
  • Koichi Yoshizawa and his role in Japanese wrestling coverage in the U.S.
  • Saturday’s UFC coverage and where the top stars go from here as well as the business notes
  • Coverage of the final TripleMania show of the year and storylines behind it
  • Tammy Sytch update
  • The most detailed look at ratings for all the wrestling and MMA shows, gains and losses with what groups and why, what segments did the best and worst
  • Another women’s champion out of action due to surgery
  • RevPro and CMLL working relationship notes
  • World Grand Prix notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage and upcoming tag team tournament
  • N-1 coverage
  • New Japan and Stardom business notes
  • Hiromu Takahashi talks junior heavyweight goals
  • New Japan PPV shows this weekend
  • One of the biggest women stars has major surgery and a look back at her career
  • How the television industry continues to change
  • Full PWG coverage of the first show since January including some of AEW’s top stars
  • Update on new promotion opening next month and what well known announcer is in talks to appear
  • RevPro anniversary show update
  • WWE & AEW upcoming ticket sales
  • WWE & AEW streaming numbers
  • WWE and AEW international ratings
  • Conor McGregor talks future
  • Former UFC legend officially retires
  • Update on Bellator sale
  • Update on PPV numbers for Diaz-Paul and SummerSlam
  • Former WWE wrestler wins MMA fight
  • Edge and possible retirement
  • Build to Payback show
  • ESPN exec talks interest in pro wrestling
  • Possible retirement of Lacey Evans
  • Women’s tag title update
  • Asuka talks Japanese wrestling and the back story
  • Logan Paul offers a $1 million bet
  • New WWE signing

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Today marks the three-year anniversary of Roman Reigns winning the Universal Championship at Payback 2020. Reigns has held the title for 1,095 days and counting.
  • NXT’s Global Heritage Invitational kicked off last night with Butch defeating Charlie Dempsey and Joe Coffey defeating Nathan Frazer. Butch and Coffey now have two points each in the round-robin tournament. Butch is in Group A and Coffey is in Group B.
  • Dijak honored Bray Wyatt by wearing “Hurt” and “Heal” gloves for his match against Eddy Thorpe last night: “These were the gloves I wore when I worked with @Windham6. He’s got the whole world in his hands. Thank you Bray, you will be missed my brother.”
  • WWE uploaded a 35-minute video of wrestlers sharing their memories of Wyatt.
  • On social media today, WWE posted a storyline update saying that Xavier Woods suffered a cervical strain when Drew McIntyre threw a chair at him on Raw. Woods won’t be appearing on Raw next week: “BREAKING: Xavier Woods suffered a cervical strain after getting hit by a chair thrown by Drew McIntyre. He will miss the upcoming Monday Night Raw.”
  • Dana White again shut down rumors that Ronda Rousey could return to the UFC: “Ronda’s having kids! Ronda built this whole thing that’s going on with the women here, then her dream was to go to the WWE, she went there and did everything that she did there and achieved, she’s made sh*tloads of money. She’s moved on with her life.”
  • In an interview with Khel Now, Ludwig Kaiser said getting to face John Cena at Superstar Spectacle in India is a very special opportunity. Kaiser is teaming with Giovanni Vinci against Cena & Seth Rollins at the live event on Friday, September 8.
  • Dominik Mysterio, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Paul Heyman appeared on WWE’s The Bump.
  • Kurt Angle spoke with Chris Van Vliet on the latest episode of Insight.
  • Ilja Dragunov was interviewed on Out of Character.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • CM Punk is in Las Vegas to attend the Cauliflower Alley Club’s 57th reunion. Slam Wrestling shared a photo of Punk with Ron Simmons and John Bradshaw Layfield at the event. Tonight, Punk is being honored with the Iron Mike Mazurki Award. The award “is bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to professional wrestling and have exhibited outstanding dedication to the sport both inside and outside the ring.”
  • Playing off the spot where he was inadvertently given a Panama Sunrise during the main event of All In, referee Bryce Remsburg noted that he won’t be on Dynamite tonight: “After checking in with @DocSampson13 and his medical team and the blessing of our referee team, I won’t there tonight for #AEWDynamite after viewing a Panama Sunrise in London. Definitely planning to be at @StarrcastEvents Sunday and hoping to be cleared to officiate All Out!”
  • Pitchfork interviewed Willow Nightingale about what music she’s listening to.
  • Digital Spy has an interview with Anthony Ogogo.
  • MuscleManMalcolm spoke with Colt Cabana.