Tag: mexico

Daily Update: WWE shareholder lawsuit trial removed from schedule, must-see match from Mexico

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • Mexico City becomes the battleground of wrestling in September. We look at the strategies, the decisions going into a period when the city will host four major shows and seven major arena shows in eight days.
  • WWE attempts to counter program Forbidden Door with NXT Great American Bash. A look at the numbers the last time and trying to figure out why it would be tried again
  • The most publicized UFC show in history comes to the White House. Can it beat Rousey vs. Carano numbers, can it beat NFL numbers, how it got started and plans for the show.
  • AAA Noche de los Grandes, full review of the show and the make-up of the viewership and how it’s changed over the last year, as well as thoughts on the mask vs. mask match that tore down the house
  • The WWE stockholders lawsuit against the WWE key higher ups goes to trial this week. We look in depth of what is being asked, why, and give background on everything involved in the case
  • WWE Clash In Italy coverage and business numbers
  • Ben Askren wins Gaspard/Huber award and returns for one last match
  • Odds for King and Queen of the Ring
  • How much has Nielsen’s new ratings method hurt the value of pro wrestling on television? We have pretty much the figures, plus the shocking real comparisons for AEW Dynamite last week with recent years
  • Full ratings report for the pro wrestling programming, competition, comparisons, and more,.
  • Arena Mexico coverage with lots of big matches this coming week
  • NOAH tag team tournament news
  • Best of the Super Juniors coverage
  • Top young star getting shoulder surgery
  • Japanese MMA legend wins pro wrestling tournament
  • The future of Lucha Libre in 2036 on display this past week
  • Ticket sales for all the major upcoming pro wrestling shows this summer
  • A crazy indie story involving Jacques Rougeau
  • RAF booking a major event in Tbilisi
  • More on Damo & Nikki Cross buying Progress
  • Lots of Mick Foley AEW talk
  • How the Von Erichs viewed the A&E Biography
  • Another judge upset with TKO executives not saving evidence
  • McGregor return ticket prices go crazy, although not Knicks crazy
  • Robbiers in boxing or just bad judging
  • Notes on Smackdown going forward
  • Examing what Nick Khan said about 2024 WrestleMania plans
  • George Barrios claims he talked Vince McMahon into running Saudi Arabia after the Kashoggi death
  • Punk on talks to go back to WWE in 2018

This Week’s Back Issue

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Friday Update

TKO
TKO (Image credit: TKO)

— Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing our show on the news of the week and going forward later today. I’ll be back with Bryan on Sunday night covering the weekend shows.

— The WWE shareholders lawsuit that was scheduled to begin on Monday was for reasons unknown, removed from the schedule. That could mean an out of court settlement or could mean a delay, but it was just removed. Bloomberg has the story here.

— AEW Dynamite did 638,000 viewers with an 0.11 in 18-49 against the Knicks vs. Spurs game that did 16.93 million viewers and a 5.21 in 18-49, the most to watch an NBA game in eight years. In the fourth quarter, an hour after Dynamite ended, it hit 19.63 million. The get-in price for the next game in the series is now the highest in the history of ANYTHING, Super Bowl, World Cup, Shania Twain, BTS, anything. The last word to get a nosebleed seat now for the game is $9,649.

— Anyway, the AEW show was third for the night and head-to-head on cable was only behind the college softball World Series on ESPN. It beat FOX News head-to-head which is rarely the case, but did so in its second straight week. I’d consider that number to be excellent given the competition. They really did load up the show knowing the game was on.

–SmackDown is a taped show tonight from Bologna, Italy:

  • Opening segment with Cody Rhodes, Gunther and Sami Zayn
  • Raquel Rodriguez vs. Bayley vs. Kiana James vs. Jacy Jayne in a QOTR match
  • Royce Keys vs. Talla Tonga
  • Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill & Michin
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
  • Chelsea Green vs. Lash Legend
  • Trick Williams vs. Bron Breakker vs. Dominik Mysterrio vs. Damian Priest in the KOTR qualifier

— Mistico returns tonight to Arena Mexico after a few weeks off with an injury. Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Neon face Zandokan Jr. & Furia Roja & Difunto in the main event. This is Mistico’s 27th major arena sellout in 2026. Soberano Jr. faces Komander in a very interesting semi while VIllano III Jr. & El Hijo del Villano III & Barbaro Cavernario face Sammy Guevara & Mortos & Black Tiger.

— The Wednesday and Thursday night shows at Arena Mexico will not be streaming on the CMLL YouTube page.

— Tomorrow night at Arena Coliseo has Komander & Templario vs. Angel de Oro & Villano III Jr. and Mortos vs. Ultimo Guerrero. Sunday has Mistico & Komander vs. Black Tiger & Volador Jr. and Sammy Guevara & Mortos vs. Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr.

— As part of the Mexico City wrestling war, tickets for WWE shows (Smackdwon on 9/11, TripleMania on 9/13 and Raw on 9/14 all went on sale today. To combat that, CMLL rushed their own Anniversary show tickets for 9/18 and put them on sale today. AEW’s tickets for Grand Slam Mexico on 8/5 go on sale tomorrow. Pricing for every show is FAR more expensive than is usual. Raw & Smackdown are the highest priced shows.

— AAA TV tomorrow has:

  • Lola Vice & Bayley & Catalina vs. Maravilla & Flammer & La Hiedra
  • Lince Dorado vs. Joaquin Wilde vs. Cruz Del Tor vs. Octagon Jr. vs. Mini Vikingo. This is the match where Octagon Jr. gets hurt badly.

— Kosei Fujita vs. Yoh is the finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. It will take place Sunday at the Ota Ward Gym in Tokyo. The show starts at 4 a.m. Eastern early Sunday morning. The semifinals were today in Gunma with Fujita beating Robbie Eagles and Yoh over Master Wato.

— If you are voting on the match of the year, this one you have to watch. It’s also a glimpse into where the Lucha style and aspects of the US style will be in 2036. This match reminds me so much of what PWG used to be on the American scene. It is from last Friday in Monterrey, irnhaly the day before the Grande vs. Grande match in the same city. The match was Bandido & Noisy Boy & Spider Fly & Zonik (remember the name Zonik) vs. Gringo Loco & Vengador &M Iron Kid & Turbo. Zonik is a very short teenager and still in school. He is better than Rey Misterio Jr. at the same age:

— In what would be the biggest attempt at a giant women’s boxing live event, Katie Taylor will be doing her retirement fight on 9/5 at Croke Park in Dublin, defending her super lightweight title against Flora Pili. Croke Park is an 80,000 seat stadium and that could break the Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm record of 57,000 for the largest crowd ever drawn for a women’s fight main event.

— We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

  • NXT tonight in Davenport, FL
  • TNA tomorrow night in Denver
  • NXT tomorrow night in Citrus Heights, FL
  • TNA Sunday in Denver

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

— Daniel Cormier, at 47, cut a promo noting that he and Jon Jones have been offered more than $1 million each for a ten minute wrestling match. Cormier claims that he knows he’ll beat Jones 10-0 and Jones knows he’ll beat him 10-0. He said Jones wants to change it to a shorter time limit and make it a submission match. He claimed Jones is the one who would not accept a wrestling rules match. If you go prime vs. prime as a wrestler, and Cormeir’s prime as a wrestler was 2003 to 2008, yes, he beats Jones. Today, at his age and injuries, I don’t know about this. Plus, Cormier is not near his best shape while Jones has never allowed himself to get far out of shape. Wrestling is a bitch when you get older.

–UFC is at the Apex tomorrow night at 5 p.m. Eastern on Paramount +

  • Ketlen Souza (116) vs. Ariane Carnelssi (116)
  • Jeisla Chaves (124) vs. Yuneisy Duben (125)
  • Jordan Leavitt (145.5) vs. Joanderson Brito (145.5)
  • Priscila Cach9eira (135.5) vs. Chelsea Chandler (135)
  • Bruno Silva (126) vs. Edgar Chairez (126)
  • Marcus McGhee (136) vs. John Yanhnis (135)
  • Matt Schnell (129.5) vs. Alessandro Costa (129.5)
  • Iwa Baraniewski (206) vs. Junior Tafa (206)
  • Bryce Mitchel (135.5) vs. Santiago Luna (136)
  • Fares Ziam (156) vs. Tom Nolan (155)
  • Brendan Allen (185.5) vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (186)
  • Belal Muhammad (170.5) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (170.5)

— Eddie Hearn, the manager of Tom Aspinall, said that he won’t let Aspinall fight the winner of Cyril Gane vs. Pereira for the money UFC is offering him, claiming its one-fiftieth of the revenue the show would generate.

— Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman starts its new season at 11 p.m. tonight after SmackDown. It’s a lock it’ll do a lot better in the ratings than the WWE documentary did last week.

— Due to an injury to PFL middleweight champion Costello van Steenis, he’s off the 7/18 show in Austin, TX. Johnny Eblen (17-1) faces Impa Kasanganay (20-6) for the interim title.

— TNA is doing TV in Denver Saturday and Sunday at the National Western Center:

  • Mike Santana vs. Eric Young
  • Mustafa Ali vs. KC Navarro

— Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Hart will be appearing at the Memphis Wrestling show on 8/21 in Tupelo, MS at the Furniture Market as a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

— Maple Leaf Wrestling has announced these matches for its 6/12 and 6/13 tapings in Windsor, ONT at St. Clair College for TSN Canada

  • Stu Grayson vs. Jonathan Gresham for the MLP title
  • Gisele Shaw vs. Dani Luna for the women’s title
  • Rohan Raja vs. Evl Uno

Don Callis & Mauro Ranallo will announce the show.

— Glenn Osbourne turned 55 today. Madison Eagles turned 42 today. Kona Reeves turned 35 today. Priscilla Kelly turned 29 today. George Bothern was born on this day in 1867. Hall of Famer Bill Miller was born on this day in 1927. His brother Dan Miller was born on this day in 1932. Ivan Putski was born on this day in 1944. (thanks to Tony Richards)

Mexican authorities release statement following Cuatrero domestic violence conviction

Posted on by Josh Nason

Following Tuesday’s conviction of former AAA and CMLL wrestler Cuatrero on domestic violence charges resulting from a March 2023 incident with WWE wrestler Stephanie Vaquer, Mexican authorities released a statement Wednesday about the process to get there.

Cuatrero (Rogelio Reyes) was sentenced to nearly 13 years, two of which have already been served. A report Tuesday stated he could get a reduction in his sentence to another four+ years with Vaquer’s legal side expected to push for a longer overall sentence.

The domestic violence incident took place in March 2023 while Vaquer was wrestling in Mexico and in a relationship with Cuatrero. Vaquer claimed that an argument turned physical with Cuatrero grabbing her violently by the throat and throwing her into a wall, which caused an object to fall off the wall and onto her.

From the statement:

“The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía CDMX) secured a conviction against Rogelio “N” (Cuatrero) after establishing his guilty verdict in the crimes of attempted femicide and equivalent domestic violence, committed against his former partner, in connection with events that occurred on March 2, 2023.

According to the investigation, Rogelio “N” physically assaulted the victim at a residence in the Colonia Doctores on the Cuauhtémoc borough, causing her various injuries. After the assault, he fled the scene.

“In response to these events, the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía CDMX) launched an investigation and obtained an arrest warrant against Rogelio “N,” which was executed on March 11, 2023, by agents of the Investigative Police (PDI), in coordination with personnel from the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Aguascalientes (FGEA). Subsequently, he was indicted and placed under pretrial detention as a precautionary measure.

“On March 7, 2025, a court modified that precautionary measure and allowed him to continue the criminal proceedings while free under supervision, with the obligation to report weekly, not to approach the victim, and not to practice his profession as a wrestler.

“Once the corresponding procedural stages were completed and following the oral trial, the judicial authority handed down a guilty verdict against Rogelio “N” and imposed a sentence of 12 years and 8 months, in addition to the payment of full compensation for the damages. It also determined that the convicted individual will serve his sentence while remaining free and may continue to practice his profession, under judicial supervision, and must therefore report every three weeks regarding his appearances, venues, and match cards. As part of the protective measures for the victim, the court ruled that he may not participate in events where she is present.

“With this ruling, the Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office reaffirms its commitment to combating violence against women through robust investigations with a gender perspective, to ensure victims have access to justice, full reparation for the harm suffered, and protective measures that safeguard their integrity and safety.”

RevPro x CMLL FantasticaMania UK event announced for October

Posted on by Bryan Rose

CMLL is heading to the UK in October.

RevPro announced on Saturday during their High Stakes event that they will collaborate with CMLL for a FantasticaMania UK event that will take place on October 17 in Wolverhampton at The Hangar. 

The two promotions held a two-day event last October that featured the likes of Xelhua, Dinfunto, Fuego, Titan, Hechicero, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, and Mascara Dorada. The first night had Sha Samuels defeat Guerrero, while the second night saw Mistico successfully retain the World Light Heavyweight title against Michael Oku.

On Saturday, RevPro held their High Stakes event with the most high-profile match featuring Mercedes Mone losing two more titles. Alexxis Falcon defeated Mone in a match for the Bodyslam Scandinavian Women’s title and the Discovery Wrestling Women’s title. Mone recently hinted that she may be returning to AEW soon after going to Poland and Winnipeg, with the latter show taking place on March 31 for Winnipeg Pro Wrestling.

RevPro additionally announced that they would be heading back to The Hangar for an event on July 25.

Daily Update: Violence in Mexico, WWE Raw, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania updates. Update on ticket sales to both shows as well as AEW Revolution and explanations of why and current interest level in tickets.
  • Notes on the giant gates WWE drew for WrestleMania last year and John Cena’s retirement.
  • How much Mania tickets have increased in recent years
  • Odds on this week shows
  • Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey and a history of how women’s MMA overcame so many obstacles due to those two. We look at what each did, their background, the story behind the 2014 fight that never happened and why this fight is happening, as well as addressing very serious questions regarding the fight.
  • A look at nostalgia fights and different ways to do them and how they work or don’t work
  • A look at the life and career of the Great Mephisto, one of the most creative minds in wrestling as a wrestler and booker of the 60s and 70s, including his heyday in San Francisco and Australia and stories about his confrontations with Roy Shire, copying from and teaming with The Sheik, Booking WCW in Australia, and a life that start as a street hustler in the depression to facing Hulk Hogan in his first match ever in Northern California.
  • The most detailed look at the television ratings over the past week, with comparisons, Nielsen and Netflix flaws, Olympics and more.
  • Major change in CMLL rules and thoughts about it
  • This past week in CMLL including a hot Friday night sold out show with Mistico vs. Templario
  • Mistico talks Observer awards
  • Saya Kamitani update
  • FantasticaMania first night
  • Cain Velasquez update
  • Notes on the death of Brett Wolverton and Kerwin Silfies
  • Mick Foley television series
  • Longest lasting pro wrestling ring announcer
  • Eve sets UK record
  • Tag team holds titles in Europe & Japan at the same time
  • TNA No Surrender notes
  • More on mainstream coverage of Brody King
  • More on WBD sale
  • Report that Trump will kill current deal
  • AEW in Australia notes
  • Sean Strickland is an idiot
  • Dana White talks boxing
  • Gable Steveson fights again and update
  • Janel Grant lawsuit update
  • Another WWE European tour and PLE show
  • Bad Bunny wrestling update

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

CMLL logo

— Bryan and I will be back tonight to talk all the news of a very busy today with Wrestling Observer Radio.

— After the death of cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes and rioting that ensued in parts of Mexico, tons of shows were canceled. CMLL is running tonight in Puebla as scheduled as well as Tuesday at Arena Mexico. The rioting has not spread to Mexico City. The Guadalajara show tomorrow has been canceled. The soccer game in Queretaro was canceled last night but they did play in Monterrey. Shows in Mexicali, which is a border city, Veracruz and Acapulco were all canceled. The promoter for a Sunday show in Reynosa announced all the AAA talent on the show has been pulled. Monterrey, where WWE is taping on Saturday, is right now on the no-travel list although there have been no major problems there.

— Netflix has announced a Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch at Sphere in Las Vegas on 9/19. I’m guessing they will jack the ticket prices up like crazy in that building and it’ll do one of the biggest gates ever. This has been quite the week of big fight announcements on Netflix.

— Raw has a major show in Atlanta. The top talent from Smackdown was scheduled for the show due to the AJ Styles tribute. They had nearly 12,000 tickets out earlier today so a big crowd that could sell out. The main is the Styles tribute plus the return of Brock Lesnar. The last chamber qualifiers are Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed vs. Original Grande Americano and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Kairi Sane vs. Iyo Sky.

— The first of what will be a lot of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano preview stuff by MVP Promotions.

— The first press conference for that fight has been moved to 3/6 at 11 a.m. in Madison Square Garden.

— Wednesday’s AEW show did 692,000 viewers and an 0.12 in 18-49. The viewer number is the best the show has done in the Big Data era, but 18-49 is the same as last week. When I’ve been talking about how numbers don’t make sense, the show did 0.17 in 35-49 but 0.91 in 50-54. This is inexplicable.

— Thursday’s TNA Impact did 233,000 viewers and an 0.05 in 18-49. They were down a little from last week. No obvious red flags.

— ROH has announced TV tapings on 3/1 at the WJCT studios in Jacksonville. It’ll be a free show with matches starting at 3 p.m., but you have to reserve tickets or you may not get in. It’s an old TV studio type atmosphere. The studio is located near Tony Khan’s office at the Jaguars front office location. It’s a trial taping and if it goes well it will become the home of ROH. At this point these tapings will be for the ROH web site.

— Today is the 24th anniversary of the first ROH show at the Murphy Rec Center in Philadelphia. Amazing Red beat Jay Briscoe. Mark Briscoe couldn’t get licensed in Philadelphia to do that show because he wasn’t 18. The main event saw Low Ki win a three-way over Bryan Danielson and Christopher Daniels.

— At today’s Fantastica Mania show in Aichi, Sho & Soberano Jr. won the main event over Mistico & Desperado when Soberano Jr. pinned Mistico with the fire driver. This sets up Mistico vs. Soberano Jr. for the CMLL light heavyweight title on Friday night at Korakuen Hall. The two were to have a singles match but they did the angle to set up the title match today. They are running the smaller Edion Arena in Osaka at 4 a.m. Eastern with the finals of the tag team tournament with Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Magnus & Averno plus Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. & Templario vs. Hechicero & Ultimo Guerrero & Soberano Jr.

— We don’t have a list of where NXT will be preempted tomorrow outside of Chicago. In Chicago, the show will air at 11 a.m. Sunday on WGN due to airing the State of the Union address (thanks to Richard Wierzbowski).

— Real American Beer is doing a relaunch with Colby Covington as the new face of the brand. They announced he’s joined the brand as a long-term partner and investor. Covington will be promoting the beer at live events for RAF and all RAF programming.

— Jackie Redmond won’t be on Raw tonight because she was covering the U.S. vs. Canada hockey game in Italy last night. She said she will be on the TNT NHL game broadcast on Wednesday night but couldn’t make it home for tonight’s show in Atlanta.

— Some notable deaths on 2/23 include Richard Wilson/The Renegade 27 years ago today at the age of 33, Nick Roberts, the father of Baby Doll who was 72 when he passed away 24 years ago, Art Michalik, a former 49ers star and football coach in Southern California who had a long pro wrestling career, who was 91 when he passed away five years ago (thanks to Tony Richards).

— Tickets for Raw & Smackdown for WrestleMania week in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena go on sale tomorrow to the general public. There is a pre-sale that started today.

— Chad Mendes was injured and pulled out of Saturday’s RAF show in Tempe, AZ. He was to face Benson Henderson. Henderson will now face former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

— Impact on Thursday has Mike Santana & Leon Slater vs. Nemeth Brothers, The Hardys & Righteous vs. The System, Lei Ying Lee vs. Dani Luna, Mance Warner vs. AJ Francis and Tasha Steelz vs. Jada Stone.

Daily Update: Shows in Mexico canceled due to violence, UFC fallout

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania updates. Update on ticket sales to both shows as well as AEW Revolution and explanations of why and current interest level in tickets.
  • Notes on the giant gates WWE drew for WrestleMania last year and John Cena’s retirement.
  • How much Mania tickets have increased in recent years
  • Odds on this week shows
  • Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey and a history of how women’s MMA overcame so many obstacles due to those two. We look at what each did, their background, the story behind the 2014 fight that never happened and why this fight is happening, as well as addressing very serious questions regarding the fight.
  • A look at nostalgia fights and different ways to do them and how they work or don’t work
  • A look at the life and career of the Great Mephisto, one of the most creative minds in wrestling as a wrestler and booker of the 60s and 70s, including his heyday in San Francisco and Australia and stories about his confrontations with Roy Shire, copying from and teaming with The Sheik, Booking WCW in Australia, and a life that start as a street hustler in the depression to facing Hulk Hogan in his first match ever in Northern California.
  • The most detailed look at the television ratings over the past week, with comparisons, Nielsen and Netflix flaws, Olympics and more.
  • Major change in CMLL rules and thoughts about it
  • This past week in CMLL including a hot Friday night sold out show with Mistico vs. Templario
  • Mistico talks Observer awards
  • Saya Kamitani update
  • FantasticaMania first night
  • Cain Velasquez update
  • Notes on the death of Brett Wolverton and Kerwin Silfies
  • Mick Foley television series
  • Longest lasting pro wrestling ring announcer
  • Eve sets UK record
  • Tag team holds titles in Europe & Japan at the same time
  • TNA No Surrender notes
  • More on mainstream coverage of Brody King
  • More on WBD sale
  • Report that Trump will kill current deal
  • AEW in Australia notes
  • Sean Strickland is an idiot
  • Dana White talks boxing
  • Gable Steveson fights again and update
  • Janel Grant lawsuit update
  • Another WWE European tour and PLE show
  • Bad Bunny wrestling update

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Sunday Update

CMLL logo

— I’ll be back tonight for a show. It’ll be either with Bryan or Garrett that I guess is to be determined by schedule.

— The shooting of El Mencho (famous Mexican gang leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes), one of the most powerful cartel members (leader of the CING group), has rocked the country. Mass violence has broken out in many parts of Mexico. A ton of wrestling shows have been canceled and more will be. Everyone is concerned and people are afraid to go out in several different states in that country. There is an unwritten rule that gangs don’t do violence in Mexico City because the tourism business is so big and if they did, that would kill the business and hurt the economy for everyone. But outside of Mexico City, shows are being canceled left and right. I expect some stuff to be made official in CMLL in the next 24 hours.

Lots of people in places like Jalisco and Michoakan are afraid to leave their homes. Schools in Jalisco and Nayarit are closed tomorrow. The Puerto Vallarta government is strongly urging residents and visitors to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel. Public transportation services are temporarily suspended in that city. Drivers are advised to avoid the roadways. Businesses are asked to temporarily close and hotels are advising guests not to leave the premises. I’ve had people suggest that the wrestling business in Mexico is going to take a hit from this for some time to come.

— On Tuesday, a lot of the CW stations around the U.S. will be pre-empting NXT for the State of the Union address. I expect when the rating comes out it’ll include those stations so the rating will be artificially very high and will have to be adjusted later.

— The plan right now is for Friday’s Arena Mexico show to be headlined by Angel de Oro vs. Johnny Consejo (Johnny TV) in a hair vs. hair match.

— Thanks for all the nice comments on the Great Mephisto article and the Ronda Rousey & Gina Carano article in the current issue.

— Sean Strickland beat Anthony Hernandez in yesterday’s UFC main event. Dana White blamed the media for asking questions to Strickland which led to him saying stupid misogynistic and racist stuff. Then he complained about fighter pay. I mean, Zuffa signing Connor Benn to a one-fight deal that has been reported for $15 million has made many in the UFC take notice. Strickland after the show said, “You want to see the last American in the sport go and F*** (Khamzat Chimaev) up. I’ll bring a ‘ f***ing goat and he’ll get distracted.” At that point UFC cut his mic off.

— Dana White, when talking about the Benn signing, said, “Is there a bigger pussy than Eddie Hearn (Benn’s promoter). This guy’s supposed to be your friend, you’re f***ing crying? He made more money. He’s going to make more money, and he had the right to match it. He could have matched it.” White’s line on the other major boxing promoters is, “We’re literally beating up babies.”

— Take Turki’s checkbook away and this reverses in no time flat.

— White refused to say anything negative on the Rousey vs. Carano fight, saying they talked about this since last year but it didn’t work out, but said he was happy for Rousey, and happy for both of them. Rousey said in their talks she was offered the highest PPV bonus package to date, but when the deal with Paramountwas signed, they wouldn’t give them a guarantee at the level of what she perceived they’d have made for PPV and they got the deal from MVP Promotions. That indicates UFC won’t try and block the fight.

— Wrestler Nicole Lucero, real name Lincoolth Hernadnez-Lucero, was taken into ICE custody on 2/11. She is from Colombia and has lived in the U.S. for nine years. She and her husband were working on updating their immigration status. Her attorney said she entered the U.S. legally at the age of 15 and has been undergoing the asylum application process with the rest of her family when she was detaind.

— There was WWE on TV tonight with CW airing the A&E Bio on Steve Austin in primetime and ESPN airing an edited version of the 2026 Royal Rumble show also in prime time. For those on the West Coast, it’s airing shortly.

— The name Dorian Van Dux that WWE trademarked last week is for Mike D Vecchio, meaning he’ll be starting immintely on NXT. He’s been working house shows.

— Countdown to AEW Revolution airs Saturday night on TNT at 10 p.m. right after Collision.

— Steve Corino wrestled this weekend for PWF.

— Kushida reportedly became the first Japanese wrestler to wrestle in Alaska yesterday and the first to be given a piledriver on the snow. At least that’s what’s being claimed. This took place for the 907 Wrestling promotion.

— Raw tomorrow has added Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie to the AJ Styles tribute, the return of Brock Lesnar and Chamber qualifiers with Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed vs. Original Grande Americano and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Iyo Sky vs. Kairi Sane.

— AEW Dynamite for Wednesday has only announced Jon Moxley vs. Clon, Brody King vs. Mark Davis and Orange Cassidy vs. Gabe Kidd. They will also finalize stips for MJF vs. Adam Page’s PPV match.

— Congrats to Bruce Buffer who celebrated 30 years as UFC ring announcer last night in Houston.

— WWE is looking at blacking out all public airings of Elimination Chamber on Saturday because the show hasn’t sold out. In the end, it will be a full house, but this is likely not to be the best P.R.

  • — FantasticaMania today in Osaka:
  • El Hijo de Stuka Jr. & Shoma Kato b Tiger Mask & Tatsuya Matsumoto
  • Yujiro Takahashi & Sho & Yoshinobu Kanemaru b Ultimo Guerrero & Satoshi Kojima & Okumura
  • Philip Marlowe Jr. (Yota Tsuiji) & Titan & Shingo Takagi & Bone Soldier Jr. (Taiji Ishimori) & Daiki Nagai b Stigma & El Desperado & Ryusuke Taguchi & MasterWAto & Masatora Yasuda
  • Templario vs. Soberano Jr. vs. Hechicero went to a 10:00 draw
  • Averno & Maganus b Atlantis & Atlantis Jr. in the 2026 tag team tournament semifinal. Averno pinned Atlantis Jr., which sets up Atlantis Jr. defending the historica light heavyweight title against Averno on Thursday night at Korakuen Hall
  • Mistico & Mascara & Dorada b Futuro & Valiente Jr. in the other semifinal. People have been raving about this one.

— On the Google searches for the weekend, nothing from pro wrestling had any traction this weekend. Yesterday’s UFC show had 215,000 searches which is a strong Fight Night number. The show was the No. 2 television show and No. 4 show overall on Paramount yesterday and up six percent in viewers from the show two weeks ago.

— Ratings for AEW on Wednesday and TNA on Thursday should be out tomorrow.

— For best matches of the weekend, I saw some of Friday’s Josh Alexander vs. Esfinge match and what I saw was excellent and super heated. AEW Collision was unusually good in that the action in every match but the Megan Bayne squash was good, and really most bouts were great. As for in-ring wrestling, it was a hell of a television show. Alexander vs. Claudio Castagnoli was uniquely good in a different way from most matches nowadays because it was built around creative stuff. I guess the Young Bucks matches usually are as well. FTR vs. Rascalz was exactly what I’d expect prior to the surprise finish, which immediately puts the Rascalz in the title picture. The other bout I heard raves about was the Osaka match today with Misitco & Mascara Dorada vs. Futuro & Valiente Jr. I figured that to be great given Futuro & Valiente Jr. don’t get main events in Mexico. Also mentioned to me was the Yuki Ueno vs. Kaisei Takechi main event of the DDT show.

— Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley will be the main event of the 4/25 UFC show at the Apex. Renato Moicano vs. Chris Duncan will headline the 4/4 show at the Apex.

— Jailton Almeida was contacted by MVP Promotions to face Junior Dos Santos on the Rousey vs. Carano undercard on 5/16. But he turned it down to sign with ACW out of Russia. Almedia was just cut by UFC even though he was ranked in the top ten at heavyweight, believed to be for having a boring fight.

— House of Glory from Friday night in New York: Midas Black & Jay Lyon b JJP & KB Prime, Gabby Forza b Amira Sahar, Joey Silver b Diamond Virago-DQ, Private Party b Angel Vazquez & Idris Jackson, Andrade El Idolo b Charles Mason-COR, MJF b Zilla Fatu to keep the AEW title. They shot an angle with MJF and Andrade for a possible future AEW title match here that aired on Collision last night.

— On Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, Bill did a joke saying that at every State of the Union address the President enters the room like he’s Conor McGregor entering the Octagon (thanks to Jeff Beecher)

— The 3/6 Eve show at The Big Penny Social in Walthamstow, London, England with Jamie Hayter vs. Miyu Yamashita has sold out all seats but there is standing room available. The 3/8 show at the Indigo in the O2 Arena is completely sold out.

— Super Calo turned 55 today. The original Mr. Niebla was born on this day 53 years ago. (thanks to Tony Richards)

Bandido set to challenge for CMLL Middleweight title

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Bandido is heading back to CMLL.

The company announced that the ROH World Champion will be heading to Arena Mexico on January 18. But he won’t be defending the ROH World Championship. Instead, he’ll be challenging Templario for his CMLL World Middleweight Championship. The show is set to be called Fin De Semana International, an event featuring international talent. 

Bandido is already set to have a busy week. On Wednesday, he will challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship. He earned the title match shortly before MJF regained the title at Worlds End, defeating Ricochet to win the Dynamite Diamond Ring and a future championship match. Bandido made history as being the first person in six years to hold the ring aside from MJF.

Thanks to AEW’s strong relationship with CMLL, Bandido has made multiple appearances for CMLL in the last year, including in September when he teamed with Mistico to defeat Dinfunto and The Beast Mortos. He also successfully defended the ROH Championship in October, defeating Hechicero in a rematch from earlier in the year.

Templario has been champion since May of 2023, defeating Dragon Rojo Jr.

New Mixed Tag Team Champions crowned during AAA tapings

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New champions have been crowned in AAA.

Ethan Page and Chelsea Green defeated Mr. Iguana and La Hiedra during Sunday’s AAA television taping in Monterrey to win the AAA Mixed Tag Team titles for the first time. The finish had Green pinning Hiedra to win the titles for her team. The match is scheduled to air next week in Mexico.

This ends the reign of Hierda and Iguana after nearly a year. They first won the titles by defeating TNA’s Decay (Crazzy Steve and Havok) back on December 8, 2024. 

After the match, Lola Vice came out to console Iguana after the two were seen talking together earlier in the night. Hiedra didn’t like this and ended up slapping Iguana, officially ending their relationship. This left Vice to comfort Iguana in the ring.

The new champions celebrated their win backstage, which was shown on WWE’s socials.

Last month, Green had issued the challenge for AAA’s Day of the Dead event, reuniting with NXT North American Champion Ethan Page. The two teamed up to defeat Tavion Heights and Tyra Mae Steele at NXT Heatwave back in August.

CMLL crowns 2025 Women’s International Grand Prix winner

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Persephone has won this year’s CMLL Women’s International Grand Prix.

Much like earlier this year with the men, Team Mexico bested Team International in a 20-woman torneo cibernetico match on Friday in Arena Mexico. AEW’s Thekla was the last person eliminated, with Persephone picking up the win after a moonsault.

Those representing Team Mexico included Persephone, La Catalina, Olympia, Skadi, Reyna Isis, Zeuxis, India Sioux, Lluvia, and La Jarochita. Team International consisted of Julia Hart (AEW), Skye Blue (AEW), Thekla (AEW), Mina Shirakawa (AEW), Diamante (ROH), Shoko Nakajima (MLW), Hazuki (Stardom), Koguma (Stardom) and Kanji (RevPro).

Women’s International Grand Prix matches weren’t held in the promotion until 2022, when Dalys became the first tournament winner. Tessa Blanchard won in 2023, while Reyna Isis won last year’s tournament.

Mistico won the Men’s International Grand Prix back in August, last eliminating TJP. He, Volador Jr., Titan, Atlantis Jr., Mascara Dorada, Angel de Oro, Neon, Templario, Zandokan Jr., and Difunto represented Team Mexico while Team International featured Rocky Romero, Donovan Dijak, Robbie X, Michael Oku, The Beast Mortos, Lio Rush, Mike Bailey, TJP, Taiji Ishimori, and Action Andretti.

WOR: Weekend news recap, reviews of WWE, AEW, NXT, TNA & more

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including all the matches and shows from this past weekend, NXT, Collision, New Japan, Smackdown, Mexico, ratings notes, Wanderlei knocked out in post-match brawl, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Injury updates on Hologram, Ridge Holland, Ash by Elegance, Kelani Jordan, Jade Cargill
8:17: Dave’s thoughts on Stardom, NJPW, AAA shows this weekend
18:49: Ratings
22:41: Wanderlei Silva knocked out after post-fight brawl, article on Zuffa Boxing
33:47: Observer Hall of Fame/Observer Awards comparisons
37:46: WWE NXT No Mercy recap
47:34: AEW Collision recap, lineups for the coming week
57:33: WWE SmackDown recap

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CMLL streaming free show following 92nd Anniversario event

Posted on by Bryan Rose

CMLL has a surprise stream up now on YouTube.

The company has put up a free live stream following their 92nd Anniversary Show that took place on Friday night in Mexico City. You can view the show here, which is currently in progress and can be rewound to the start:

Sunday’s show will be headlined by Mistico, Neon, and Atlantis Jr. taking on Volador Jr., Hechicero, and Difunto. Other matches will have Ultimo Guerrero taking on Blue Panther for the MLW National Openweight title, Titan and Templario taking on Angel de Oro and Niebla Roja, and La Cataline, India Sioux, and Skadi vs. Zeuxis, Candela, and Olympia.

Key matches from Friday’s show had MJF lose his CMLL Light Heavyweight title, with Mistico scoring the win in a brutal, bloody match. The main event had Valiente and Esfinge win a three-way tag team match to headline the show in a mask vs. mask match. Valiente ended up losing their singles match, revealing himself to be Fernando Vega from Guadalajara, Mexico.

WOR: Hogan, Drew, Collision, Smackdown, Mexico, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including what’s going on with Drew McIntyre and whether he’ll make SummerSlam, the full line-up for each night of that show, G-1 update, Mexico update, Collision and Smackdown spoilers, lots of Hulk Hogan discussion, and more. A packed show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Drew McIntyre update, updated lineups for WWE SummerSlam
3:41: NJPW G1 updates
8:22: Lineups for the coming week, WWE SmackDown vs. AEW Collision
14:58: Big weekend in Mexico between WWE, AAA, CMLL
22:13: RIZIN sells out Tokyo Dome
24:37: AEW Collision recap
48:21: WWE SmackDown recap

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AAA talent advertised for WWE Mexico house shows

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A few Lucha Libre AAA stars are being advertised for WWE’s return to Mexico next month.

WWE is heading to Mexico City and Monterrey with two house shows set to be held on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27. They’re branded as untelevised “Supershows” featuring members of both the Raw and SmackDown rosters — and WWE has now confirmed that the events will include wrestlers from AAA as well. Pagano, Psycho Clown, and Mr. Iguana are three of the AAA wrestlers set to appear:

Fans attending WWE SuperShow Mexico will see their favorite WWE Superstars from both Raw and SmackDown in action including Penta, Rey Fenix, Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes, ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso, United States Champion Jacob Fatu, World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER, Stephanie Vaquer, WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day, and many more!. The events will also feature luchadores from AAA including Pagano, Psycho Clown and Mr. Iguana.

Tickets for the events are going on sale this Thursday (June 19) at 10 a.m. Central time. The respective events are being held at Arena CDMX and Arena Monterrey.

WWE is in the process of acquiring AAA with the deal expected to be finalized in the third quarter of this year. The two promotions joined forces for a Worlds Collide event in Los Angeles earlier this month, where Mr. Iguana’s character became an immediate hit with WWE fans.

At Triplemania Regia on Sunday night, WWE team Los Garza (Angel & Berto) became the new AAA Tag Team Champions by winning a four-way match.

Two WWE house shows in Mexico official for next month

Posted on by Bryan Rose

WWE is holding two house shows in Mexico next month.

During Triplemania Regia, announcers revealed that WWE would be holding two house shows next month in Mexico: July 26 in Mexico City and July 27 in Arena Monterrey, where Triplemania Regia is being held. Tickets are set to go on sale this Thursday.

Talent shown on the advertisement include Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins, The New Day, Rey Mysterio, Penta, IYO SKY, and Stephanie Vaquer.

Details on the July 27 house show were first revealed on Saturday during a concert in Arena Monterrey. 

This will be the first time WWE has run Mexico since last year, when two house shows took place in Mexico City and Monterrey. Those shows featured Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Championship against Santos Escobar. Vaquer, a former star in CMLL, made her debut on those shows after it was announced she had signed with WWE.

Los Garza are wrestling on tonight’s Triplemania Regia event, the first AAA show to feature WWE talent wrestling since the announcement of WWE’s purchase of the company during WrestleMania weekend. The show will be headlined by El Hijo del Vikingo defending the AAA Mega title against Alberto El Patron in a steel cage match.

WWE’s return to Mexico revealed for next month

Posted on by Ian Carey

WWE appears to be heading back to Mexico next month.

According to users on social media, an advertisement was shown during a concert on Friday night at Arena Monterrey promoting WWE’s return to the venue on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Tickets are listed as going on sale Thursday, June 19, though WWE has yet to officially announce the event.

LuchaBlog wrote:

“At the concert tonight in Arena Monterrey, a list of upcoming events mentions a WWE “Supershow Mexico” on Sunday 07/27 in Arena Monterrey. This is probably meant to be a TripleMania Regia announcement.”

“WWE’s pattern is Saturday shows in Mexico City, Sunday shows in Monterrey, which would mean WWE may announce a date for Arena Ciudad de Mexico on July 26th in the next few days.”

WWE Supershow in Monterrey

WWE frequently uses “Supershow” branding for its non-televised house shows. Two Supershows are scheduled for the week before, on July 19 in Corpus Christi, Texas, and July 20 in Edinburgh, Texas.

This would be WWE’s first trip to Mexico since July 2024, when the company held events in Mexico City and Monterrey. Those shows featured Cody Rhodes defending the WWE Championship against Santos Escobar in the main event. Stephanie Vaquer also made her WWE debut that weekend.

AAA is also running Arena Monterrey this weekend. Triplemania Regia takes place on Sunday with the following lineup:

AAA Triplemania Regia (Sunday, June 15) —

  • Steel cage match: AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo defends against Alberto El Patron
  • TNA X-Division Champion Moose defends against Joe Hendry, El Mesias, and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. in a four-way match
  • AAA Tag Team Champions Forastero & Sanson defend against Angel & Berto, Psycho Clown & Pagano, and Nic & Ryan Nemeth in a four-way match
  • La Parka, Laredo Kid & Octagon Jr. vs. Abismo Negro Jr., Taurus & Histeria
  • AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Lady Flammer defends against Dalys and Lady Shani in a three-way match
  • Mr. Iguana, El Fiscal & Nino Hamburguesa vs. SB Kento, Takuma & Nobu San

Mistico submits Chris Jericho at CMLL 91st Anniversary Show

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Mistico has prevailed.

In the main event of Friday’s CMLL 91st Anniversary Show, the CMLL star defeated AEW’s Chris Jericho two falls to one. After Jericho submitted Mistico with the Walls of Jericho in the first fall, Mistico evened things up in the second fall with a frog splash. Mistico took Big Bill out, countered a Judas effect, then submitted Jericho with the la mistica for the submission win.

After the match, Bill laid out Mistico with a boot. Jericho and Bill were set to attack Mistico when Orange Cassidy came out for the save. Earlier in the show, Jericho had attacked Cassidy before his match. The show ended with Cassidy giving Mistico his sunglasses as Mistico celebrated in the ring.

In the co-main event, Euforia ended up losing his mask in a four-way match that also involved Hechicero, Valiente, and Esfinge. Valiente and Esfinge were eliminated, leaving Hechichero and Euforia. In a heated singles match, Euforia was in control until he missed a dive, allowing Hechicero to score the submission win. Euforia revealed himself to be Jose Leobardo Moreno Leon, 49, from Torreon.