Tag: daily update

Daily Update: WWE shareholder suit update, lawsuit filed over UFC Freedom 250

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

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Sunday Update

UFC Freedom 250 fan fest
Logo for UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest. (Image credit: UFC)

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about the WWE settlement, great weekend matches, Best of the Super Juniors, Jones vs. Cormier, Hulk Hogan documentary and more. Our week in review show with Garrett Gonzales is up on the site talking about WWE booking, Nick Khan comments, and much more.

— The shareholders’ lawsuit against Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque, George Barrios and Michelle Wilson, that was to start tomorrow, has been settled, although not completely formalized. Brandon Thurston reported that the parties have informed the court that they will present the settlement for approval by Judge Travis Laster. The McMahon side really had to settle for a number of reasons that include the fear that a trial would end up worse for them, while the plaintiffs removed the risk of the trial going badly for them. The judge’s recent ruling showed that he felt the defendants lost a great deal of credibility due to their erasing messages after their own lawyers told them to preserve them. It looked bad for the WWE side but it was not a lock. The other from the McMahon side is that in the story of the sale, the Janel Grant lawsuit would have come up and he, and perhaps others, would perhaps give testimony that would hurt McMahon in that case.

— A lawsuit has been filed by Paul Romano, a retired Air Force Sergeant and Vietnam veteran, and Susan Douglas, a civic activist and organizer attempting to stop this coming Sunday’s UFC show. They claim it is a violation of federal law for profit sports promotions to run on the White House lawn. They claim it is a violation of national park service agreements which prohibit sports events on federal parks lands and that the staging set up on the White House lawn has had no congressional authorization, a requirement for building on federal parklands. They also complain about the cost to taxpayers of repairing the lawn. They also in the suit note that Trump purchased TKO stock. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. They are not suing Trump or TKO, but suing the National Park Service, Regional Director of the National Park Service Jen Nersesian, Acting Director Jessica Bowron, the U.S. Department of the Interior and Doug Burgum, the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

— Yoh won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament earlier today at the Ota Ward Gym in Tokyo over Kosei Fujita. It was an excellent match, very hot pro-Yoh crowd. The match was actually a much better technical version of A.J. Styles vs. John Cena from last year. Well, on the Yoh side where he did move after move of the top stars. Fujita did the usual Fujita. Yoh will face Douki for the IWGP jr. title soon, probably Dominion on 6/15. Also added to Dominion was Jake Lee vs. El Phantasmo in a no DQ match after an angle today.

— Hiroshi Tanahashi announced the fan awards for the tournament. Jun Kasai was voted Most Outstanding overall, Daiki Nagai was voted Best Fighting Spirit and Robbie X was voted Best Technical.

— Obviously if Steve Maclin asked for a release from his TNA contract, which he did last week and was approved, he’s likely headed to WWE or AEW.

— Arman Tsarukyan claimed today that he placed a $1 million bet on Justin Gaethje to win the UFC lightweight title from unbeaten Ilia Topuria at the White House show. Tsarukyan was on a live stream talking about betting $50,000 on the fight, but then got talked into making it $1 million. After all the issues with UFC fighters and gambling, this is not something that should be allowed.

— The best matches I’ve seen this weekend are Komander vs. Soberano Jr. from Friday night at Arena Mexico, Komander & Templario vs. Angel de Oro & Volador Jr. from last night at Arena Coliseo, Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Neon vs. Zandokan Jr. & Furia Roja & Difunto from Friday night which was Mistico’s return, and Yoh vs. Fujita.

— Challenges were issued on Friday for a Sammy Guevara & Beast Mortos ROH tag title defense against Villano III Jr. & El Hijo de Villano III. My impression is that match will take place this coming Friday night, but the lineup won’t be out until probably Monday or Tuesday.

— Komander goes for the hat trick tonight teaming with Mistico against Volador Jr. & Black Tiger in tonight’s main event. Tonight’s show also has Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr. vs. Mortos & Guevara in a non-title match. Lady Frost from MLW has been on the CMLL major shows all weekend.

— Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows won the A block in the NOAH Neo Global Tag League with a win over Tetsuya Naito & Bushi today in Hirosaki. They will face the B block winners on 6/16 at Korakuen Hall. Right now there is a three-way tie for first in the B block with Yoshiki Inamura & Stallion Rogers, Naomichi Marufuji & Kenoh, and Yuki Iino & Manabu Soya.

— Jun & Rei Saito won All Japan’s world tag team titles from Talos & Ren Ayabe yesterday in Kakuda.

— We’re looking for reports on the NXT weekend shows in Davenport, FL and Citrus Heights, FL as well as TV tapings for TNA in Denver, results, finishes and angles to [email protected]

— Not much in the way of Google searches this weekend with no major events. Yesterday’s UFC show did 110,000 searches. Nobody in general was talking much about wrestling as regarding active wrestling, Myla Grace was the most searched item with 2,000.

— Grand Slam Mexico, CMLL Anniversary, WWE Raw, WWE Smackdown and AAA TripleMania tickets all went on sale in the next two days. For Grand Slam Mexico, the cheapest seats are almost double that of last year, at $36, while the most expensive is up from $655 U.S. to $1,312. Anniversary tickets are $22 to $260. Raw and Smackdown are $73 to $891. TripleMania is $36 to $537.

— UFC has announced a new rankings system in the works that will reward performance and reflect results inside the Octagon and based on measurable performance instead of opinion or popularity. Good luck with that.

— Last Saturday’s Collision did 351,000 viewers and 0.07 in 18-49 in Nielsen panel ratings, a rare case for wrestling of being down in total audience but still up in 18-49 from the 360,000 and 0.05 from panel + Big Data.

— WWE returns to the U.S. tomorrow in Baltimore with Raw with Penta vs. Rey Mysterio for the IC title, and previously announced qualifying matches with Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Talla Tonga vs. Ricky Saints and Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green.

— Jerry Jaffe, who was also Crazy Luke Graham Jr., is 79 today. Mick Foley turned 61. Ed Farhat, the original Sheik and one of the best drawing heels in history, was born 100 years ago today. His longtime manager, Abdullah Farouk/Grand Wizard/Ernie Roth, was born on this day in 1929. Superstar Billy Graham was born on this day in 1943. Howard Finkel was born on this day in 1950. Bulldog Don Kent passed away 33 years ago today at the age of 59. Charlie Harben passed away 33 years ago today at the age of 79. Earthquake John Tenta was 42 when he passed away 20 years ago today. Rocket Monroe was 69 when he passed away 16 years ago today. Mark Starr was 50 when he passed away 13 years ago today. The Iron Sheik was 76 when he passed away three years ago today.

 

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

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

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)

Daily Update: Big E, LA Knight, Beyond Wrestling

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at the sale of New Japan, what happened, the glory days that Bushiroad built and why it came down and what led to the sale.
  • Business realities of Japanese wrestling today.
  • The reason for the surprising low sale price.
  • The shareholders lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE Board of Directors is getting near. Judge Travis Laster orders sanctions against Nick Khan and Vince McMahon for destruction of evidence. Laster makes a ruling, and we look at it in detail, on how this changes the trial and the exact details of the destruction of evidence including when McMahon and company knew not to do it and ignored their own lawyers. Also we look at problems with the case.
  • AEW Double of Nothing coverage. Business notes, historical biggest gates in U.S. pro wrestling, three-time world champions by 30, how the PPV did, poll results, Mick Foley and more.
  • Did Ronda Rousey set a viewing audience record for MMA, plus coverage of Rousey vs. Carano, how everything goes forward, can things be sustained, can she fight, will she fight, her thoughts on AEW.
  • Scott Coker returns to MMA with a new promotion.
  • Marcel Barthel (Ludwig Kaiser) arrested.
  • A look at the career of Jerry Grey.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV shows over the past two weeks.
  • Mistico injury update.
  • How CMLL is doing this year compared to last year.
  • Natalia Jiminez and J Balvin appear and are part of CMLL shows.
  • Wrestlers vs. media soccer game.
  • Grande vs. Grande match looked at.
  • Major return to Stardom.
  • Champion Carnival finals.
  • NOAH tag team tournament.
  • New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
  • Hana Kimura tribute show.
  • Phil Hickerson passes away.
  • WCW announcer is the final anchor as CBS News Radio closes its doors after 99 years.
  • Death of the Laguna version of Piloto Suicida.
  • Junior Hodge Trophy winner.
  • Advance ticket sales for all major events in AEW, WWE, TNA and other indies.
  • Pro wrestler/fighter on the Rousey-Carano undercard.
  • WWE stars purchase promotion.
  • Tony Khan media appearances.
  • More thoughts on how Paramount/Skydance can affect AEW.
  • What can affect the time slot of Collision in 2027.
  • What’s next for AEW.
  • AEW star to return in the fall.
  • Latest Zuffa myths regarding Trump and UFC.
  • UFC fighter pay comes up again

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Thursday Update

Big E WWE

WWE

  • Big E will be delivering a TEDx Talk in Davenport, Iowa on August 12:
    • Excited to announce that I’ll be delivering a @tedx_official talk in Davenport, IA, on August 12 at @thelastpichouse!
    • ‘How I Got Over’
    • Sharing my struggles with major depressive disorder and psychosis, and my eventual healing through medication, hospitalization, ECTs, talk therapy, and mindfulness/meditation.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, LA Knight shared that – during his brief time as Max Dupri – Vince McMahon would always tell him that he needed to speak softer:
    • Vince told me before, ‘You gotta talk soft, I don’t want you to say or do any of the things that you used to do, none of that, whatever.’ If I’m honest though, he wasn’t familiar with any of it. He didn’t know LA Knight. I think he was told a little bit…
    • That first day of introducing the Models and we’re doing the little rehearsal thing talk-through. And he comes down and he’s like, ‘I need you to talk softer.’ And I’m like, okay, well, I’m thinking like, you had me talking soft in the backstage, but like now I’m doing a presentation. I need to be a little bigger, right? To present to the people. But it’s his show. Sure. And he goes, ‘Just read me a line from there as softly as you can.’ He’s like, ‘I don’t think you can be effeminate, but try and be effeminate without being effeminate.’ What?
  • Knight said the initial impression he was given for the Dupri character was that he would take a similar trajectory to Roddy Piper in WWE, starting out as a manager before wrestling full time:
    • The bill of goods that was sold to me there was that I was going to be kind of a Roddy Piper. In the sense of when Roddy first came in, he was like a manager, a mouthpiece that then sometimes wrestled, and then eventually just became a full-time wrestler. That was kind of how it was painted to me.
    • There were some other details in there that made me think like, ‘Okay, this could be okay.’ Then it started going in directions where I was like, this is going to be awful. This is going to be pigeon-holed. We’re stuck. We’re never going to get above a certain trajectory.
  • Becky Lynch discussed her friendship with Je’Von Evans:
    • We’ve got Je’Von Evans who’s 21. He’s younger than my wrestling career. He calls me ‘mom,’ because I’m old enough to be his mom. But then I’m so proud of him. I’m like, ‘Oh son, look at you, look at you out there main eventing Elimination Chamber.’ And I just think he’s the coolest. I think he’s so awesome. Like the confidence that he has and the ability that he has and his promo, everything. I’m like, this kid’s a star.
  • Nattie praised Undertaker and Jeremy Borash for the work they’re doing behind the scenes in Lucha Libre AAA:
    • I will say that Taker and Jeremy Borash – Jeremy Borash, he works alongside Taker at AAA. A lot of people know JB as being somebody that puts together the most amazing video packages in WWE. He puts together, if you see some of the best video packages in the company, usually JB is behind a lot of them.
    • And so to see what Taker, who by the way – Taker is not known for being a luchador. When you see what Undertaker has built in just the last six months of booking at AAA alongside Jeremy Borash and, of course, the people that had been in place in Triple A that work with them. Taker is very, very collaborative.
    • I’m just blown away. Like, I think that Taker has really stepped into this new role and he is proving why his influence past the ring may be one of his greatest accomplishments.
  • WWE Hall of Famer Typhoon (Fred Ottman), who is still working through the rehab process after spending approximately a month in the hospital earlier this year when his gallbladder “exploded,” is getting ready to head back on the road for signings. His first booking is in North Carolina on July 25.
  • Sol Ruca was the guest on No-Contest Wrestling this week.
  • WWE Vault uploaded an Ultimate Warrior & Strikeforce vs. Demolition & Mr. Fuji match from the Boston Garden in 1988.

Other Wrestling

  • Rebel thanked The Young Bucks – and Matt Jackson’s wife Dana Massie – for donating their YouTube live stream proceeds from last night to her ALS fundraiser:
    • BIG thank you to you guys and Dana. My heart is filled and I am truly grateful for your prayers
  • On the stream, Matt Jackson responded to someone who said they’d like to see The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) back in AEW:
    • I would love to do that, trust me. I may have tried to do that recently. They’re killing it right now. They’re so busy on the indies
  • Though MJF is unable to appear due to injury, Wheeler Yuta and Lio Rush have been added to Beyond Wrestling’s show in Cranston, Rhode Island this Friday night.
  • Indie promotion F1RST Wrestling will hold its annual Mall of America event on July 31 in Bloomington, Minnesota.
  • Uncrowned FIlms put together a 13-minute video on Brodie Lee Jr.’s debut at Spring Break.
  • Jonathan Gresham shared his thoughts ahead of competing in GCW’s Tournament of Survival this weekend:
    • If you had told me years ago that I’d willingly enter a deathmatch tournament, I probably would have laughed. But after returning to the ring, something changed. I felt blessed simply to be here again. Blessed to compete. Blessed to learn. Blessed to experience this life through professional wrestling.
    • That feeling opened a door in my mind.
    • I no longer want to see only one side of this art form—I want to experience all of it. Every style. Every challenge. Every lesson hidden behind a different set of ropes. Professional wrestling is a vast world, and I want to walk every path it offers.
    • So this is my next step.
    • Deathmatch wrestling.
    • I look forward to testing myself, embracing the unknown, and carrying the spirit of pure wrestling and MAG with me into an environment where it rarely exists. Different roads. Different philosophies. Same pursuit of growth.
    • As always, I am a student of the game.
    • And this weekend, the classroom just happens to be a tournament of survival.
    • With the fire and spirit of the originals, I am the foundation.

Daily Update: Nick Khan, AEW-Australia, Mick Foley

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at the sale of New Japan, what happened, the glory days that Bushiroad built and why it came down and what led to the sale.
  • Business realities of Japanese wrestling today.
  • The reason for the surprising low sale price.
  • The shareholders lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE Board of Directors is getting near. Judge Travis Laster orders sanctions against Nick Khan and Vince McMahon for destruction of evidence. Laster makes a ruling, and we look at it in detail, on how this changes the trial and the exact details of the destruction of evidence including when McMahon and company knew not to do it and ignored their own lawyers. Also we look at problems with the case.
  • AEW Double of Nothing coverage. Business notes, historical biggest gates in U.S. pro wrestling, three-time world champions by 30, how the PPV did, poll results, Mick Foley and more.
  • Did Ronda Rousey set a viewing audience record for MMA, plus coverage of Rousey vs. Carano, how everything goes forward, can things be sustained, can she fight, will she fight, her thoughts on AEW.
  • Scott Coker returns to MMA with a new promotion.
  • Marcel Barthel (Ludwig Kaiser) arrested.
  • A look at the career of Jerry Grey.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV shows over the past two weeks.
  • Mistico injury update.
  • How CMLL is doing this year compared to last year.
  • Natalia Jiminez and J Balvin appear and are part of CMLL shows.
  • Wrestlers vs. media soccer game.
  • Grande vs. Grande match looked at.
  • Major return to Stardom.
  • Champion Carnival finals.
  • NOAH tag team tournament.
  • New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
  • Hana Kimura tribute show.
  • Phil Hickerson passes away.
  • WCW announcer is the final anchor as CBS News Radio closes its doors after 99 years.
  • Death of the Laguna version of Piloto Suicida.
  • Junior Hodge Trophy winner.
  • Advance ticket sales for all major events in AEW, WWE, TNA and other indies.
  • Pro wrestler/fighter on the Rousey-Carano undercard.
  • WWE stars purchase promotion.
  • Tony Khan media appearances.
  • More thoughts on how Paramount/Skydance can affect AEW.
  • What can affect the time slot of Collision in 2027.
  • What’s next for AEW.
  • AEW star to return in the fall.
  • Latest Zuffa myths regarding Trump and UFC.
  • UFC fighter pay comes up again

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Wednesday Update

WWE Logo
Official World Wrestling Entertainment logo. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • During his appearance at SBJ On Stage (filmed in April but made available this week), Nick Khan was asked how WWE preserves the fan experience while ticket prices are higher than ever:
    • So here’s the challenge, and I’ll tell you a mistake we made with Canelo-Crawford [boxing match]… we wanted to make sure the upper bowl was priced family friendly. As soon as we put them on sale, the upper bowl was sold out in three minutes. It wasn’t sold out to families. It was sold out to third-party ticket brokers. So we priced it, I think, the cheapest seats at $35. A day later on the third-party broker websites, they were $75 selling. So the marketplace dictates the ticket price.
  • WWE uploaded the full Tony D’Angelo vs. Kam Hendrix NXT Championship match from last night.
  • Cody Rhodes had Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the Showtime series “Billions,” as the guest on his “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast this week.
  • Asuka shared a vlog introducing fans to her new dog named Big Body Boss.
  • AJ Lee made an appearance on The Match-Up from iHeart Women’s Sports.

Other Wrestling

  • Tony Khan told Wide World of Sports that Australia remains an important market for AEW:
    • I absolutely want to come back to Australia. We’ve had incredible events with the fans in both Sydney and Brisbane. I think we’ve built a great audience, our wrestlers are so popular and some of the top stars in AEW are actually from Australia.
    • Given what a great wrestling country it is and how many awesome stars we have in AEW from there, I think we’ve got something really special.
  • While appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Mick Foley was asked if he’s thought about telling Darby Allin that he does not need to take all of the risks he’s taking in the ring:
    • Yes, I will have that conversation. I didn’t think the time to have the conversation was hours before his biggest match [at Double or Nothing]. I’ve been told that people have had that conversation with him. And he says, ‘Everybody does the best stuff on the pay-per-views. I owe it to my fans to do it on every televised event. So, I’ll try to talk with Darby. I didn’t know until about six weeks ago that I was an inspiration in his career…
    • But I will have that talk with him and try to find out, like, it’s got to be another gear where you can allude to the things, give people 80 percent of what you usually do, knowing that the vast majority of his fans will be thankful for what he gives them and they will understand that they might have to wait until a special event to get the 100 percent Derby. I understand many a man has tried and failed, but I’ll give him the best advice I possibly can.
  • Kevin Knight tweeted ahead of his TNT title defense against “Speedball” Mike Bailey on Dynamite:
    • This was never about you Speedball. You and the rest of the sickos don’t understand…So forgive me for what I’m about to do to you tonight. #AewDynamite
  • To promote tonight’s show, Tony Schiavone was interviewed on Virginia This Morning.
  • 101.9 Kiss FM also had Schiavone on as a guest.
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) has been announced for Appalachian Mountain Wrestling’s Super Bowl of Wrestling show in Corbin, Kentucky on August 22.
  • WWE’s Adam Pearce showed his support for Rebel (Tanea Brooks) by sharing the link for her I Am ALS fundraiser.
  • Kerry Morton challenging Thrillbilly Silas Mason for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship is official for NWA Hard Times 6 in Atlanta this Saturday. The show is being filmed for future episodes of NWA Power.
  • Stardom wrestlers Saya Kamitani and RINA will be doing meet and greets at MLW’s events in New York City and Philadelphia on June 11-13
  • Eddie Edwards spoke with Scottish Wrestling Network.

Daily Update: AAA Noche de los Grandes notes, Triple H, Bronson Reed

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The most detailed look at the sale of New Japan, what happened, the glory days that Bushiroad built and why it came down and what led to the sale.
  • Business realities of Japanese wrestling today.
  • The reason for the surprising low sale price.
  • The shareholders lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE Board of Directors is getting near. Judge Travis Laster orders sanctions against Nick Khan and Vince McMahon for destruction of evidence. Laster makes a ruling, and we look at it in detail, on how this changes the trial and the exact details of the destruction of evidence including when McMahon and company knew not to do it and ignored their own lawyers. Also we look at problems with the case.
  • AEW Double of Nothing coverage. Business notes, historical biggest gates in U.S. pro wrestling, three-time world champions by 30, how the PPV did, poll results, Mick Foley and more.
  • Did Ronda Rousey set a viewing audience record for MMA, plus coverage of Rousey vs. Carano, how everything goes forward, can things be sustained, can she fight, will she fight, her thoughts on AEW.
  • Scott Coker returns to MMA with a new promotion.
  • Marcel Barthel (Ludwig Kaiser) arrested.
  • A look at the career of Jerry Grey.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV shows over the past two weeks.
  • Mistico injury update.
  • How CMLL is doing this year compared to last year.
  • Natalia Jiminez and J Balvin appear and are part of CMLL shows.
  • Wrestlers vs. media soccer game.
  • Grande vs. Grande match looked at.
  • Major return to Stardom.
  • Champion Carnival finals.
  • NOAH tag team tournament.
  • New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
  • Hana Kimura tribute show.
  • Phil Hickerson passes away.
  • WCW announcer is the final anchor as CBS News Radio closes its doors after 99 years.
  • Death of the Laguna version of Piloto Suicida.
  • Junior Hodge Trophy winner.
  • Advance ticket sales for all major events in AEW, WWE, TNA and other indies.
  • Pro wrestler/fighter on the Rousey-Carano undercard.
  • WWE stars purchase promotion.
  • Tony Khan media appearances.
  • More thoughts on how Paramount/Skydance can affect AEW.
  • What can affect the time slot of Collision in 2027.
  • What’s next for AEW.
  • AEW star to return in the fall.
  • Latest Zuffa myths regarding Trump and UFC.
  • UFC fighter pay comes up again

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Tuesday Update

WWE Triple H & Shawn Michaels
Triple H & Shawn Michaels together in WWE NXT (Image credit: WWE)

 WWE

  • Variety reports that the AAA Noche de los Grandes event that featured the mask vs. mask match drew over 2 million viewers on YouTube.
  • Ernesto Ocampo noted that it was Pete Dunne who produced the El Grande Americano vs. Original El Grande Americano mask match.
  • Bronson Reed shared on social media that he was in a rear collision today: “Just had a rear collision. Thankfully everyone is okay. But, PEOPLE! STOP DRIVING ON YOUR D*** PHONES!!! PAY ATTENTION. PEOPLE HAVE KIDS IN THEIR CARS!”
  • In an interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick talked about the recent success of WWE 2K26 and improvements the series could make in the future: “I do think there’s ongoing opportunities to improve the quality of the game. I do think that we can give consumers more of what they want. And I know our team at Visual Concepts always wants to do better. We’re never in the business of patting ourselves on the back. We believe that arrogance is the enemy of continued success. And I think that title could be double or triple the size that it is as long as we delight consumers, and as long as we give them something new and not expected that’s consistent with the brand that they love. That’s our job.”
  • Triple H wrote about road crew member Davey Coates’ son Henry joining the company: “Some months ago, the @WWE lost one of its beloved crew members. This week marked our first international tour without Davey and the first with his son Henry in “his seat.” I saw Henry when I arrived at #WWEClash and was greeted in the same way his dad hundreds of times before. On what would have been his 64th birthday, I’m thinking of Davey, Henry, and their entire family. I’m grateful to work with all the unbelievably talented men and women who make our company what it is – and who deliver each and every night, in every city around the globe.”
  • Nightmare Factory will hold a WWE ID Showcase event on June 26.
  • Gunther will be part of the Priority Pass pre-show party during SummerSlam weekend.
  • Lita will headline the Reading Fightin Phils Wrestling Night that will take place on July 17.
  • A new trailer for Coyote vs. ACME featuring John Cena.
  • Recent WWE Vault additions include Hulk Hogan & Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage & The Honky Tonk Man in a dark match from January 1987, Ryback vs. Kevin Owens from Night of Champions 2015, and a Best of Action Zone compilation that features Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs. Razor Ramon and the 1-2-3 Kid.

AEW & Other Wrestling

Daily Update: WWE takes aim at CMLL, AAA Noche de los Grandes & Clash in Italy fallout

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The most detailed look at the sale of New Japan, what happened, the glory days that Bushiroad built and why it came down and what led to the sale.
  • Business realities of Japanese wrestling today.
  • The reason for the surprising low sale price.
  • The shareholders lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE Board of Directors is getting near. Judge Travis Laster orders sanctions against Nick Khan and Vince McMahon for destruction of evidence. Laster makes a ruling, and we look at it in detail, on how this changes the trial and the exact details of the destruction of evidence including when McMahon and company knew not to do it and ignored their own lawyers. Also we look at problems with the case.
  • AEW Double of Nothing coverage. Business notes, historical biggest gates in U.S. pro wrestling, three-time world champions by 30, how the PPV did, poll results, Mick Foley and more.
  • Did Ronda Rousey set a viewing audience record for MMA, plus coverage of Rousey vs. Carano, how everything goes forward, can things be sustained, can she fight, will she fight, her thoughts on AEW.
  • Scott Coker returns to MMA with a new promotion.
  • Marcel Barthel (Ludwig Kaiser) arrested.
  • A look at the career of Jerry Grey.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV shows over the past two weeks.
  • Mistico injury update.
  • How CMLL is doing this year compared to last year.
  • Natalia Jiminez and J Balvin appear and are part of CMLL shows.
  • Wrestlers vs. media soccer game.
  • Grande vs. Grande match looked at.
  • Major return to Stardom.
  • Champion Carnival finals.
  • NOAH tag team tournament.
  • New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
  • Hana Kimura tribute show.
  • Phil Hickerson passes away.
  • WCW announcer is the final anchor as CBS News Radio closes its doors after 99 years.
  • Death of the Laguna version of Piloto Suicida.
  • Junior Hodge Trophy winner.
  • Advance ticket sales for all major events in AEW, WWE, TNA and other indies.
  • Pro wrestler/fighter on the Rousey-Carano undercard.
  • WWE stars purchase promotion.
  • Tony Khan media appearances.
  • More thoughts on how Paramount/Skydance can affect AEW.
  • What can affect the time slot of Collision in 2027.
  • What’s next for AEW.
  • AEW star to return in the fall.
  • Latest Zuffa myths regarding Trump and UFC.
  • UFC fighter pay comes up again

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Sunday Update

CMLL logo
CMLL logo (Image credit: CMLL)

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Grande de los Noches, Clash in Italy, Holly Holm, Ray Stevens, Collision, King & Queen of the Ring, Copa Juniors, and assorted other topics with Wrestling Observer Radio.

— I’ll save the talk of today’s show for tonight. I will say that if you have not seen the main event from Noche de los Grandes, you should drop everything and do it as quickly as you can. The Grande Kaiser vs. Grande Gable match is a candidate for best match and a probable winner for best feud of 2026. But that is not the big news from the show.

— The big news is that WWE is now taking direct aim at CMLL, which should surprise nobody. With CMLL announcing its anniversary show for 9/18 at Arena Mexico, WWE has now announced a SmackDown on 9/11, TripleMania on 9/13 and Raw on 9/14 all at Arena Ciudad in Mexico City. Mexico City is the No. 1 pro wrestling market in the world by leaps and bounds, but even that is stretching things. TripleMania should sell out and the anniversary show will sell out, and I think Raw will as well. SmackDown I’m not sure about. But just the fact WWE will book TV in Mexico City, and specify it the week before the anniversary show indicates something that eventually was going to happen, but is happening now. The TripleMania show is traditionally in August and was clearly moved back a month because September is anniversary month, but adding the tapings was something more as WWE had been okay with AAA vs. CMLL, but adding WWE to the mix takes things up. I suspect there will be AEW talent on the CMLL shows both of those weekends.

— At last night’s show they announced the first night of Triplemania would be in Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel’s HyperX Arena which, depending on the setup, holds 650 to 1,000. Fans in Monterrey last night were mad because they thought they “deserved” it. Why you are doing Triplemania in a building that small is a question for sure.

— The final three-hour episode of SmackDown for the next several months will be on 6/26. Many thought it would be this past weekend. But it is another month. The Braun Strowman Everything on the Menu show will be starting at 11 p.m. until July, when it likely moves to 10 p.m.

— We’re awaiting more of an update on Octagon Jr., who was injured on last night’s show in a match taped for later. But he was hurt significantly.

— Atlantis Jr. was taken off all shows through the end of the month.

— Jacob Fatu was injured in Liverpool on Thursday night. On the broadcast they tried to act like that wasn’t the case. It may play into why today’s match wasn’t nearly as good as the first Roman Reigns vs. Fatu match.

— We’re looking for your thoughts on Clash in Italy and Grande de los Noches from AAA last night. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle for each show as well as a best and worst match of each show to [email protected]

— Paul Levesque before the show claimed something would happen on this show that would change the foundation of WWE. I have no idea what he was talking about.

— Nice tribute to Dennis Condrey at last night’s Collision show in Huntsville, AL. Condrey was living in Huntsville when he passed away in March. Bobby Eaton grew up in Huntsville. The Midnight Express was the best tag team of its era.

— For the shows and topics this weekend, here are the Google searches as of earlier today:

Clash in Italy – 52,000
Holly Holm vs. Stephanie Han boxing for the world lightweight title – 22,000
UFC in Macau – 40,000
AAA Grande de los Noches – 10,000
Real American Freestyle – 10,000
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship – 5,000

— Steveson debuted in RAF last night and beat Alexandr Romanov via tech fall in the second round. Colby Covington beat Chris Weidman 5-4 in the semifinal. FOX Nation did stream the show for free live last night. Steveson challenged both Abdulrashid Sadulaev and Amir Hossein Zare to wrestling matches in RAF.

— With the win, Covington will face Arman Tsarukyan.

— Merab Dvalishvili suffered a broken nose in his tech fall win over Frankie Edgar. The two bonked heads, causing the broken nose. He had just recovered from a broken nose in training.

— For WWE on A&E tonight:

  • 8 p.m. – WWE Rivals on the feud between The Miz and Daniel Bryan
  • 9 p.m. – Seth Rollins vs. Triple H
  • 10 p.m. – LFG featuring Mike Derudder (Dorian Von Dux now) vs. Elio LeFleur
  • 11 p.m. – WWE Greatest Moments on ladder matches
  • 11:30 p.m. – WWE Greatest Moments on Bret Hart

— Best of the Super Juniors updated standings:

A Block

  1. Titan and Master Wato – 10
  2. Jun Kasai, Nick Wayne, Kosei Fujita, Robbie X and Francesco Akira – 8
  3. Ryusuke Taguchi – 6
  4. Valiente Jr. – 4
  5. Daiki Nagai – 0

B Block

  1. El Desperado – 10
  2. Sho, Yoh, Taiji Ishimori and Robbie Eagles – 8
  3. Daisuke Sasaki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Hyo and Jakob Austin Young – 6
  4. Kushida – 4

— Dralistico returned to action during the ROH tapings for AEW last night in Huntsville. He teamed with Lee Johnson, Blake Christian and Jay Lethal in a loss to The Outrunners, Dalton Castle and Adam Priest.

— The MVPW show with Han vs. Holm for the title drew the largest combat sports gate in the history of the El Paso County Coliseum, drawing a sellout of 7,000 fans. Many people believe Holm should have won the title and it was another robbery coming off the poor judging in the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven heavyweight title fight last week. Holm outlanded Han by a significant margin but two judges gave it 96-94 to Han and one had it 95-95. I’ll probably talk about it either tonight or tomorrow night, but Holm did have a sizable edge in strikes landed.

— Former NFL star Greg Hardy, who fought in UFC for years after his NFL career ended, missed weight by 25 pounds. Hardy weighed 292 pounds and lost via third-round stoppage.

— Villano III Jr. beat Zandokan Jr. Friday night at Arena Mexico to win the Copa Juniors. Atlantis Jr. was to face Villano III Jr. but he’s out with an injury. Very good match, many called it the best of the weekend. It wasn’t for experimenting with flashy moves, but that’s not all of pro wrestling. It did have great heat as well.

— Jushin Liger will be appearing for TMart Promotions at The Gathering from 7/22 to 7/26 in Charlotte, NC at the Hilton University Place. Liger will be there on 7/26.

— 72-year-old Tony Atlas won the ISPW Tri-State Championship in a tag team match last night in Wallington, NJ. Atlas and Joe Clean beat Anthony and Angel Reyez, and if Anthony was pinned he would lose the title. Atlas will defend the title on 7/23 in Wildwood, NJ.

Daily Update: WWE notes, Twisted Metal, MJF

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

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Thursday Update

Triple H WWE Raw
Triple H hypes up the WWE crowd. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • WWE posted a video with Paul “Triple H” Levesque sending a message to fans ahead of Clash in Italy:
    • We’re a few days out from Turin, and if I can give one message to the fans: Believe me, this will mean as much to us and the WWE Superstars as it does to each and every one of you. We cannot wait to get there.
    • One of the great things about being a WWE Superstar is that global nature of what we do. The ability to go to countries where maybe they don’t speak the same language, maybe the culture is completely different to ours. It really points out the similarities, as opposed to the differences, between us all.
    • I’ve heard people say before that music is the universal language, but I think maybe WWE is the universal action genre. It connects with everybody. It’s simple to understand. It’s not country vs. country. It’s an escape. It’s larger-than-life superheroes solving their conflict in our ring. There’s a universal language to that.
  • Jade Cargill promoted Clash in Italy during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show.
  • ESPN has a 30-minute video of Cody Rhodes reflecting on some of his career highlights.
  • WrestleVotes reports that, while WWE is being flexible with AAA’s scheduling ahead of this year’s two-night Triplemania, AAA Verano de Escandalo 2026 is planned for late July.
  • In an interview with Huge Pop, Gunther discussed the quick success Oba Femi has found on the WWE main roster:
    • He came in guns blazing, really good for him. Hasn’t been in the ring with me 20 minutes yet, so let’s see. I feel like down the line, that’s going to be something that’s very interesting. I think he’s a super exciting talent, and very much looking forward to seeing what he’s going to do in the next years. I think he’s got the potential to be a big superstar in this company, be one of the pillars down the line.
  • Gunther was the guest on No-Contest Wrestling this week.
  • The Hollywood Reporter published an article on Danhausen “uncursing” the New York Knicks on their run to the NBA Finals.
  • R-Truth appeared on Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast.
  • CM Punk was mic’d up in the crowd while attending Tuesday’s Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL playoff game.
  • WWE Vault uploaded Rey Mysterio’s 1992 mask vs. mask match against Mr. Condor from AAA. The video includes a brief introduction from Mysterio.

Other Wrestling

  • Explaining Samoa Joe’s AEW absence over the next few months, season three of Peacock’s “Twisted Metal” – where Joe plays Sweet Tooth – is scheduled to film in Toronto from June 15 through August 26.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins) recalled meeting MJF for the first time when MJF started training at his wrestling school
    • Yeah, I’ll never forget it. It was very early on, probably the first four months of Create A Pro. It’s kind of funny, because it’s a very similar mentality, he committed to something in college football, but he really had his heart set on wrestling. I think it kind of hit a wall with what he was doing and what his parents wanted him to do and what he wanted to do. I was in a very similar situation, because when you tell people you want to be a wrestler, it’s not really that believable. His dad came in with him, and it almost felt like, ‘Here, he’s your problem now, this is what he wants to do.’ I was like, let’s go. So pretty early on, we did a promo class where he just murdered this kid, and I was like, okay, and there’s something about this guy.
  • Myers called MJF’s in-ring ability “wildly underrated” and said MJF’s work ethic is something younger wrestlers should emulate:
    • He should be studied for young guys too, like just doing everything that you’re supposed to do to make it. Getting in the car, making the drives, making the connections, you know what I mean? Max is a people person. So he gets your number, ‘What’s your number?’ He stays on top of you for opportunities, things that a go-getter does, he did all those things. He checked all those boxes.
  • Mistico is hoping to return from his knee injury at CMLL’s Arena Mexico show on June 5.
  • The Wrestling Classic has an interview with Cedric Alexander.
  • Candice Michelle, who works behind the scenes as a producer in TNA, appeared on TMZ Inside the Ring.
  • WrestleZone spoke with Shotzi Blackheart.

Daily Update: Cody Rhodes-Danhausen, Shingo Takagi, The Rock

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

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Wednesday Update

Lola Vice Izzi Dame WWE
Lola Vice faces off with Izzi Dame on WWE NXT. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame NXT Women’s Championship match from last night.
  • To promote Clash in Italy, Cody Rhodes appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter, First Take, Get Up, and The Rich Eisen Show today.
  • Rhodes told ESPN Unsportsmanlike that Danhausen is the “king” of WWE’s merch sellers right now:
    • I think it’s safe to say Danhausen is one of the most popular people in all of WWE at the moment, and I don’t see it really stopping. He overtook the merch game. There’s all kinds of market confusion because the WWE Shop website has a thing that people actually believe, but I’ll tell you who’s the king right now of the merch game – it’s Danhausen. He’s beating us all.
  • For an ESPN video, Seth Rollins looked back at some of his WWE highlights.
  • Though it’s not confirmed that he’ll be attending, Dana White told Time that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been invited to the UFC’s show at the White House next month:
    • At least 1,200 of the approximately 4,300 seats will go to active military members. The White House, TKO, and the UFC will divvy up the rest: White has invited Adam Sandler, Guy Ritchie, Tom Brady, Jared Leto, Jason Statham, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Mario Lopez.
  • AJ Styles’ son Avery shared training footage of himself doing his father’s patented Spiral Tap into a crash pad.
  • Today marks 30 years since Scott Hall arrived in WCW by invading Nitro. To celebrate the anniversary, WCW’s YouTube channel posted that full Nitro episode.

Other Wrestling

  • Shingo Takagi commented on the news that NJPW’s ownership is transferring from Bushiroad to TV Asahi & CyberAgent:
    • I know the [Bushiroad] owner personally, and I want to say once again, thank you for the past 14 years. It was the same when LIJ (Los Ingobernables de Japon) disbanded, but I’m in a situation where I’m wondering ‘what’s going to happen,’ and I can’t help but be excited. I just have to work hard and stay positive, showing a bright future.
  • AEW wrestler Max Caster filed a trademark for the term “Volume 2” on May 26.  Along with that, Caster posted a tweet calling indie promotion Beyond Wrestling/Wrestling Open his new home and the only place where people will be able to see him every week:
    • My new home. Proud to be a part. 
    • The only place you’ll see the Best Wrestler Alive every week.
  • The Young Bucks uploaded a new Being the Elite video focused on Stadium Stampede.
  • 94WIP in Philadelphia interviewed Wheeler Yuta.
  • Indie wrestler Erick Stevens announced that he’s stepping away from the ring for what might be the final time:
    • Thank you to all of the promotions who brought me in, all of my opponents, and all of the fans who supported this run.  
    • Pro wrestling owes me nothing.  I just hope that I’m leaving it better than I found it.  
    • I’ve learned to never say ‘goodbye’ in this business.  Did that a couple times and looked like a dummy when I came back.  Even though this feels like my last run, you really just never know.  With that being said, I’ll leave you with this:
    • See you later.

Daily Update: Danhausen & the Knicks, Adam Copeland, Stardom notes

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

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Tuesday Update

Adam Copeland
Lee SouthOkada RPG Vice vs Bucks Jack PerryFresno, CAAEW DynamiteMarch 18, 2026 (Image credit: AEW)

 WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Adam Copeland reflected on his Tag Team title win at Double or Nothing on his Instagram: “Last night at Double or Nothing @christian4peeps and I did something we haven’t done in 25 years. And that’s win tag team gold. He was retired for 7 years and I was retired for 9. But we fought to get our careers back and last night made it all worth it. NY you came out in full voice and supplied one of the favorite nights of my career. Even though I blew my pants out. The fact that I’m still having nights like this so deep into my career, with my best friend, my wife and wrestling one of the best teams ever in FTR, is not lost on me. Also, in case ya missed our ppv, @aew rules.”
  • Daniel Garcia vs. LaBrone Kozone has been announced for West Coast Pro on June 20.
  • Kevin Nash will attend Salute to Pro Wrestling Night on May 28 in Rochester, NY.
  • Syuri will next defend the IWGP Women’s Championship against Rina Yamashita on June 20.
  • Utami Hayashishita returned to Stardom on Monday morning after choosing to leave Marigold.
  • Deadline reports that MLW will start streaming on Veeps.com starting this Saturday.
  • This week’s TNA Xplosion.

Daily Update: Piloto Suicida, Atlantis Jr. injured, QT Marshall update

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

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Monday Update

Atlantis Jr.
Atlantis Jr. (Image credit: Atlantis Jr.)

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, fallout of AEW Double or Nothing, and the rest of the wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio.

— The Piloto Suicida who died in the ring last night in Ciudad Juarez is not the Southern California wrestler using the same name. The wrestler who died was Jose Calzada Salazar, 56. He went for a springboard moonsault to the floor, lost his balance, fell backwards to the floor and suffered a fatal skull fracture. This is very sad news. He was not even scheduled for the show, his son was but he replaced his son. A lot of Southern California fans and wrestlers were freaked out because the Southern California star of the 90s does still wrestle and is about the same age. The promotion did stop the show at that point. Apparently footage of this does exist. Fans were asked to leave the building and the building was shut down until the arrival of agents from the State Attorney General’s Office who conducted an investigation.

— Raw tonight is from Columbus, OH. Earlier today there were 9,231 tickets out. What has been announced is Penta vs. Je’Von Evans for the IC title, Bayley & Lyra Valkyrie vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxnne Perez, the go-home angle with Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu for Sunday, and Oba Femi opens doing a promo.

— Regarding QT Marshall, Tony Khan after the show said he was okay. It appeared he may have injured his leg or knee. Apparently he slipped on the top rope, which was right after the water was thrown and some of it got on the ropes. He fell to the outside and grabbed his knee. He was helped to the back by several people and was putting no weight on the leg.

— We received a ton of complaints from people who attended Double or Nothing regarding problems leaving the building and getting home. Many said it was the best live show they ever attended, but the staff at the building apparently didn’t open up enough exits and there was a mass transit issue of some sort. Some also complained of issues getting in the building which explains why it was so empty when the first match started on the pre-show.

— We don’t have any PPV numbers available and Tony Khan was asked about it last night but ended up talking about another question and never got back. Google searches were 50,000, which was No. 41 for the day. It was way above the 20,000 the night before for Saturday Night’s Main Event, but that is lower than almost all WWE PLEs do, but above most of the recent AEW PPV shows. We do have preliminary indications of it doing well, but as far as whether it beat Revolution numbers, I can’t even hazard a guess at this point.

— We’re looking for your thoughts on AEW Double or Nothing, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— As noted on last night’s show, Atlantis Jr. was injured at last night’s show at Arena Mexico. He was in the main event, early moments of the match, teaming with Neon & Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr. He basically flipped over the top rope to land on the apron, nothing hard or dangerous, the landing looked fine, but the left knee went out. He had to be helped to the back. He’s off today and tomorrow’s shows in Puebla and Guadalajara, but nothing more has been said. In addition, like the same week Zandokan Jr. returns after knee surgery and being out for months, his tag team partner, Barboza was injured and Rob Bihari reported he’s out a couple of months minimum. That Galleon Fantasma team that I literally recommended to everyone and then Zandokan Jr. got hurt, has been jinxed something fierce.

— Atlantis Jr. was to face Villano III Jr. on Friday in the finals of the Copa Juniors. I would expect when the card is released later today or tomorrow we’ll know what they are going to do.

— I expect word about the TBS title will be announced on Dynamite on Wednesday. I had the impression it would be announced last night but I guess everything wasn’t finalized.

— El Clon beat Historic welterweight champion Mascara Dorada also last night at Arena Mexico. Clon issued a title challenge and Dorada accepted. It could be this coming Sunday although that is not official. I was told by multiple people the match was great.

— Atlantis replaces his son on tonight’s Puebla show (live on CMLL YouTube) teaming with Dorada & Neon vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr., plus Esfinge & Stigma vs. Averno & Euforia.

— The city of El Paso has declared that weekend of 6/13 to 6/15 as Viva La Lucha Weekend.

— Linda Newton, who fans of Mid South and Crockett Promotions will know as Dark Journey, turned 69 today. AAA star El Mesias turned 51. Alberto El Patron turned 49. Roman Reigns turned 41. Uncle Howdy Taylor Rotunda turned 36. William Muldoon, one of the first celebrity pro wrestlers in the 1870s, was born on this day in 1845. June Byers, one of the greatest American women wrestlers ever, was born in 1922. Victor Rivera was born on this day in 1944. Hall of Famer Johnny Rougeau died 43 years ago today at the age of 53. DJ Peterson died 33 years ago today at 33. Jean Louis Cormier, better known as Rudy Kay, died 18 years ago today at 65. Rene Goulet died seven years ago today at 86. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Matt Riddle vs. Steve Maclin was announced to headline Boca Raton Championship Wrestling on 8/16 at The Studio at Mizner Park. Maclin defends his BRCW title on the show.

— Nikki Bella will be appearing on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune that airs on Disney+ and Hulu. She will be on the sixth episode of the new season that starts in a few weeks. The show has her playing against actress Jamie Lynn Sigler and actor Dan Bucatinsky.

— AEW will be airing in its regular time slots for both Dynamite and Collision the entire month of June, so no three hour shows or Collision moves since NHL on TNT will be over by that point. The Countdown to Forbidden Door will air at 10 p.m. on 6/27 after Collision on the Saturday night before the show.

Daily Update: AEW Double or Nothing preview, more on Oleksandr Usyk boxing match

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

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Sunday Update

MJF & Darby Allin | AEW
MJF & Darby Allin sign the title vs. hair contract on AEW Dynamite. (Image credit: AEW)

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about Double or Nothing as well as the latest news. We did a show last night talking about Saturday Night’s Main Event, AAA, Ratings, Usyk vs. Verhoeven, ESPN wrestling coverage and a lot more.

— Double or Nothing from Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York starts at 7 p.m. with the expected five plus hour show. Since it’s an AEW PPV show, we can predict with good certainty that there will be fantastic matches, complaints that it lasted too long and surprises. The show was sold out with 14,028, but really it’s been sold out for a week. The gate is already the second biggest non-WWE gate in American pro wrestling history ($1.5 million or so), but if you account for inflation it’s only among the biggest but not No. 2. I expect a good PPV number. As of earlier today, the “get-in” price was $160 on the secondary market. While WWE big shows have been higher, this is the highest day of the show for any AEW event I can recall and it’s tripled since the announcement of the hair vs. title stipulation. Unfortunately all the tickets were sold first so it’ll be the secondary market making a ton of gate money, but presumably AEW will make more based on a higher PPV number.

First hour pre-show:

  • Megan Bayne & Lena Kross vs. Zayda Steel & Viva Van 5:00 time limit. If Steel & Van last the time limit they get a future women’s tag title match
  • AJ & QT Marshall & Mark Briscoe & Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong vs Shane Taylor & Anthony Ogogo & Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo & Lee Moriarty with all kinds of folks at ringside including Big Justice and maybe the Rizzler
  • Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta vs. Anthony Bowens & Hook & Katsuyori Shibata
  • Mick Foley debuts in a host role during the first hour

PPV:

  • Athena vs. Mina Shirakawa non-title in the Owen Hart Cup tournament
  • Thekla vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW women’s title
  • Bandido vs. Swerve Strickland non-title in the Owen Hart Cup tournament
  • Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe in the Owen Hart Cup tournament
  • Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly for the Continental title no time limit
  • Kazuchika Okada vs Konosuke Takeshita for the International title
  • FTR vs. Adam Copeland & Christian for the AEW tag titles in an I quit street fight. If Copeland & Christian don’t win, they can never team up again. That would seem to make this a favorite for a title switch
  • Anarchy in the Arena: Chris Jericho & Young Bucks & Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin & Kenny Omega & Jack Perry vs. Ricochet & Gates of Agony & Mark Davis & Andrade & Clark Connors & David Finlay. This may be too many but I think this match will be filled with insanity.
  • Darby Allin vs. MJF AEW title vs MJF’s hair

— We’re looking for your thoughts on Double or Nothing so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— Regarding last night Oleksandr Usyk boxing title defense against Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Cairo, Egypt. Some notes:

While there was some social media chatter, the heavyweight world champion vs. kickboxing heavyweight world champion thing didn’t create nearly the interest it would have in a different era. It also never would have happened in a different era as boxing wouldn’t allow it. But if they would have, it would have been so much bigger since the heavyweight title has fallen greatly in public interest.

For what it’s worth, I had Verhoeven up 97-93 going into the 11th. The only rounds I could see for Usyk up to that point were 3, 7 and 10. After round eight, when they announced it was 76-76 (I had it 78-74 clearly) you could see they were not going to let Verhoeven win as they saw Vehoeven as an outsider to boxing. The stoppage was bad for a title fight. It was one second left, and the ref doesn’t make decisions based on if there is a second left or not, but it was early and there was one second left. Verhoeven was hurt, but I’ve seen him in fights come back from far worse. Still he’s a kickboxer and that’s five round fights. He really got tired in round ten. He may have been knocked out in 12, but he may not have. He was not getting the decision either way even though had he survived 12 he should be champion. The idea of a real world champion with a 2-0 boxing record is unfathomable and that’s why it wasn’t going to happen.

After ten rounds, Judge Manuel Oliver Paloma and Judge Fabian Guggenheim had it 95-95 while Judge Pasquala Procopio had Verhoeven up 96-94. Since round 11 was 10-8 for Usyk they’d go into the final round 105-103 for Usyk on two cards and 104-104 on one. Essentially Verhoeven needed a knockdown in the 12th to win the title if the ref had allowed it to get to the 12th. You just felt dirty watching it knowing the scores and even boxing experts were attributing it to institutional issues regarding an outsider coming in.

The fight did 120,000 Google searches (compared to 2.75 million last week for Ronda Rousey’s fight). That’s less than most UFC shows and any UFC PPV show, or just about any WWE PPV show.

— After 99 years, CBS Radio’s final top of the hour and 30 minute 24 hour a day newscast ended at 11:30 p.m. last night Eastern time. Former wrestling announcer Chris Cruise anchored the very last episode. I listened to Cruise on my Sunday night drives home almost every week for years. And probably started listening to CBS News on the hour with my father easily 60 years ago. Best of luck to Cruise for his future.

— Saturday Night’s Main Event did 50,000 searches. Lance Stephenson, who was in a celebrity fight show at the Apex in Las Vegas did 20,000. Dana White was out there announcing. Imagine Mark Shapiro talking about how the MVP show was bad while White was out there announcing on a celebrity fight show of 100 times lower of a level. Alexa Bliss had 10,000 searches regarding changing agents. Double or Nothing had 5,000 earlier today and AEW shows never have that in advance but it’s still not a large enough number that I’d take it as a sign the show will do well. Nikki Bella had 5,000 for issuing a challenge for her and her sister to face Caitlin Clark & Sophie Cunningham in a tag team match.

— GCW had a show today in France with Banger Zone Wrestling and runs Milan, Italy tomorrow.

— Bandido beat Volador Jr. to keep the ROH title at a sold out Arena Mexico Friday night.

— As noted elsewhere, AAA announced Rey Mysterio as General Manager. He did two babyface moves, setting up Laredo Kid (now a rudo) defending the cruiserweight title in a rematch with Rey Fenix on Saturday at Arena Monterrey, and then when the two Grande Americanos violated their stipulation and started fighting, which was said that would mean if either touched the other they would have to unmask and the 5/30 match doesn’t happen, Rey overruled that, so neither guy had to unmask and the match is still on.

— WWE does not have a biography on A&E today. They have a three hour block of new shows:

  • 8 p.m. WWE Rivals: Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage
  • 9 p.m. WWE Rivals: Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch
  • 10 p.m. LFG
  • 11 p.m. Special on Chyna
  • 11:30 p.m. Special on Famous managers

— Raw tomorrow has Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez, plus there will be an Oba Femi interview regarding Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns angle with Jacob Fatu.

— WWE starts a European tour with a house show on Thursday in Liverpool and a Smackdown taping on Friday night in Barcelona, plus Clash in Italy on Sunday early afternoon and Raw both in Turin, Italy. The Clash in Italy with Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu tribal warfare, Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther, Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill, Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi and Becky Lynch vs. Sol Ruca is very loaded for a B show.

— Adam Pearce is doing a meet and greet on 8/20 for the South Bend Cubs minor league team for Pro Wrestling Night featuring matches before and after the show from local Revolution Championship Wrestling.

— Mistico is expected back shortly, maybe as early as Friday night. Tonight’s Arena Mexico show has Atlantis Jr & Blue Panther & Neon vs. Gran Guerrero & Ultimo Guerrero & Stuka Jr., plus Mascara Dorada vs El Clon, meaning those two won’t be on tonight’s AEW show.

— Jun Kasai beat Nick Wayne in the main event of today’s Best of the Super Juniors show at KBS Hall in Kyoto. Robbie X beat Titan, Kosei Fujita beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato beat Valiente Jr. and Francesco Akira beat Daiki Nagai. Titan remains in first in the A block with 10, Kasai and Wato have 8, Wayne, Fujita, X, Akira and Taguchi have 6, Valiente Jr. has 4 and Nagai has 0.

— Salina Majors (Bambi) turned 59 today. Elijah Burke turned 45. The original Strangler Lewis, Evan Lewis, was born on this day in 1860. Ricky Romero was born on this day in 1931. Former Hawaii promoter Al Karasick was 74 when he died on this day 61 years ago. Vincent James McMahon was 69 when he died on this day 42 years ago. Rusher Kimura was 68 when he died on this day 16 years ago. Paul Christy was 82 when he died on this day five years ago.
(thanks to Tony Richards)

— House of Glory results from Friday night at a sold out NYC Arena in New York:

  • Kevin Knight b Amazing Red
  • Lena Kross b Shotzi in a non-title unsanctioned match
  • Angel Jacquez won over JJP, JJ Doze, Mikee G, Jodi Aura and KC Navarro
  • Phumi Nkuta (who fought in a prelim fight last Saturday on the Rousey vs. Carano show) b Raheem Royal
  • Phumi Nkuta b Angel Jacquez
  • Infamous b Lio Rush to keep the HOG cruiserweight title
  • Zilla Fatu b Cashflow to retain the Crown Jewel title
  • Charles Mason b Sweet Cheeks to keep the HOG title
  • Matt & Jeff Hardy b Evil Uno & Stu Grayson to keep the HOG tag team titles
    (thanks to Sam Rosenthal)

— Tommy Dreamer returns to AIW on 6/19 in Lakewood, OH at The Roxy

WOL: Distraction after distraction after distraction

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

Five out of six matches on WWE SmackDown had distraction finishes. Do all of these people need to stay strong for the future? In three hours, only one person can lose clean? We discuss.

Plus, you don’t need to make excuses and fantasy book a real life battery charge, especially when there are details listed in the police affidavit. Let it play out. No need to cape for strangers you see on TV.

Plus, the Hana Kimura Memorial Show, Marigold, AEW Double or Nothing and more.

Check it out.

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Daily Update: NJPW G1 fan fest, MJF, Road Warriors A&E doc

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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Thursday Update

Road Warrior Animal WWE
Road Warrior Animal battles D’Lo Brown. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • The Rich Eisen Show interviewed John Cena.
  • AJ Styles streamed a live Q&A edition of his Phenomenally Retro podcast.
  • Nattie shared a photo from the Paramount Pictures lot in Los Angeles last night: “Working on my LOW-KEY LEGENDARY dreams today…”
  • Kim Laurinaitis, the widow of Road Warrior Animal, made an appearance on Busted Open Radio to discuss her criticism of A&E’s Biography: WWE Legends episode on The Road Warriors. She wishes the documentary was more positive instead of focusing on Hawk’s addiction struggles so much. And along with some inner-family squabbles affecting her view of the show, Kim did not like that Bruce Prichard was interviewed:
    • I’ll be quite honest, Bruce Prichard, I battled with him online lately. He rips my husband on his podcast a lot of times or little clips. And I’m thinking, why are you even on here talking about him? We know you don’t really care for him. So I would have rather had people that had positive things to say and really meant them.
  • On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T called Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano’s MMA fight the “biggest heist” he’s ever seen:
    • This fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, I’ve seen a lot of fights in my life. I’ve seen a lot of fights in my life. And I’ve been in the wrestling business for 35 years now. It’s three things I look for when it comes to combat, you know, when I’m in certain places, especially when I’m watching something like this. And it’s a work, it’s a worked shoot, and it’s a shoot, okay?
    • This was a worked shoot. That was not real, that thing wasn’t real. I mean, it was real as far as the takedown goes. But everything after that, it was, ‘I’m ready. I’m ready. Let’s go home.’ It was one of those type of deals. And if you go back and watch it and study it, you’re going to come to the same consensus that I’m saying right now. That fight, that was not fair. That fight was not fair for the people for Ronda Rousey to come back. And literally, that was like the biggest heist I’ve ever seen.
  • LA Taco published a story on Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins’ new coffee brand AMO.
  • Saturday Night Live cast member Michael Che was the guest on this week’s episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast.
  • WWE Vault uploaded the full “Superfan” documentary on Vladimir Abouzeide, who is battling Parkinson’s disease and was hospitalized this week due to a fall.

Other Wrestling

  • NJPW announced that, the day before night one of G1 Climax 36, the promotion will be holding a fan fest in Chicago on July 10. It will include a talk show segment as well as meet and greets with some of the G1 competitors:
    • NJPW fans! Make your plans to be in Chicago early for a special G1 Climax Fan Event ahead of opening night G1 Climax 36 action!
    • The July 10 event will feature a special talk show segment, along with two meet & greet sessions with select G1 Climax 36 participants!
    • More details are coming soon but get ready to be in Chicago for this great fan experience!
  • While speaking with The Takedown on SI, MJF said Vince McMahon is to blame for some fans being preconditioned to believe that hair match stipulations are a joke:
    • You can thank Vince McMahon for that. It wasn’t comedy in Memphis, it wasn’t comedy in World Class, it wasn’t comedy in Mexico. Listen, I can’t speak for anybody else, all I know is – I make money off of this hair. I’m in movies. I’m a top guy in this industry. And if I want to be a top guy in this industry, I can’t be bald. Bald doesn’t sell. It just doesn’t.
  • Shelton Benjamin told The Wrestling Classic that, aside from getting Cedric Alexander back in the group, Kevin Knight would be his first choice for a new Hurt Syndicate member. Benjamin sees Knight as someone who will be a star for the next 10-20 years:
    • If it were my choice today, if I said I wanted a new member in the Hurt Syndicate, the Hurt Syndicate wants a fourth member, without a doubt, my first pick would be Cedric Alexander. My second pick would be Kevin ‘Jet’ Knight.
  • Bobby Steveson (formerly known as Damon Kemp in NXT) teased an in-ring return while confirming that he was backstage at Monday’s ROH TV taping in Jacksonville: “Felt good to be back around the squared circle.. Soon?…”
  • Trevor Lee vs. Austin Aries (taped in January) will be part of the lineup for MLW Fusion’s return episode on May 30.
  • Evil Uno’s Mystery Wrestling promotion announced three new events:
    • July 25 at Bain Mathieu in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • August 29 at Big Penny Social in London, England
    • September 13 at The Rec Room in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Chris Jericho interviewed Frankie Kazarian on Talk is Jericho.
  • Comedians/wrestling fans Dan Soder & Will Sasso were guests on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.

Daily Update: Nikki Bella, new John Cena movie trailer, Michael Tarver

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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Wednesday Update

Darby Allin | AEW
Darby Allin celebrates winning the AEW World title on Dynamite. (Image credit: AEW)

WWE

  • During an interview with USA Today, Nikki Bella said she’s hoping to return from her ankle injury by the end of June:
    • Injuries are so funny. I always try to ask that (asking the medical team for updates). (They’re like) ‘not until I see what your ankle looks like in June,’ and I’m like, ‘But if you were to just guess,’ and they’re like, ‘Don’t know, not until June,’
    • I’m hoping, for me in my head, end of June would be incredible, but I also don’t want to go back too early, because you know the big part about when people get reinjured is because their strength isn’t matching, so I need to make sure the calves, the quads, glutes, I need to make sure they’re all built up.
  • WWE uploaded the full Tatum Paxley vs. Lizzy Rain NXT Women’s North American Championship match from last night.
  • The Mark Moses Show interviewed NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo.
  • Charlotte Flair appeared on the latest episode of TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast.
  • Bianca Belair shared photos (part one, part two) of her baby shower, which was attended by many WWE colleagues including Liv Morgan, Nattie, Angelo Dawkins, Alexa Bliss, Ivy Nile, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Maxxine Dupri, Michin, Solo Sikoa, LA Knight, Omos, IYO SKY, and Jey Uso
  • Netflix released the official trailer for the upcoming John Cena-Eric Andre comedy “Little Brother.” The movie debuts on June 26:
    • Rudd (John Cena) has the perfect life – great job, loving family, and a thriving career as a real estate agent… until his little brother, Marcus (Eric Andre), crashes back into his world as a full-blown agent of chaos, stress-testing every part of Rudd’s carefully controlled existence.
  • To mark yesterday being the 30th anniversary of the “Curtain Call,” WWE Vault uploaded the 2015 documentary “The Kliq Rules.”

Other Wrestling

  • In a feature story for ESPN, Darby Allin discussed potentially becoming a father at some point and whether that would change him:
    • Will having kids of my own change me and make me tone it down? No, I don’t believe so. And I’ll tell you why. Because the moment I have a kid, I want to keep showing them that there’s no age limit that says you must calm down. You have to be that much more inspiring to them, because, who am I if I’m playing it safe with my 5-year-old? That’s not Darby Allin. But if I’m strapping the 5-year-old to a Can-Am and going on some jumps? That’s who I am. I want my kids to have the confidence I never had growing up.
  • The Allin story is the first AEW-focused piece to appear on ESPN’s website in quite some time. It was written by Andreas Hale, who was declined a credential for WWE WrestleMania 42 after covering the Janel Grant/Vince McMahon story for ESPN.
  • MJF made an appearance on SNY’s Baseball Night in NY.
  • Mark Briscoe celebrated today being the 26th anniversary of he and his late brother Jay making their in-ring debuts.
  • The Wrestling Classic interviewed Shelton Benjamin.
  • Will Ospreay praised NJPW wrestler Robbie X, who defeated Kosei Fujita in the main event of today’s Best of the Super Juniors show:
    • Robbie X is legitimately has been the best jr heavyweight for the last 4 years.
    • Seeing him get his flowers and rocking korakuen hall is a different level of special to see!!
  • Wrestling broadcaster Sam Laterna thanked Tony Khan for giving her the opportunity to serve as an on-screen interviewer at this week’s ROH TV tapings in Jacksonville:
    • If there’s one thing I’ll always bet on, it’s myself.
    • Huge thank you to Ring of Honor and Tony Khan for bringing me in for interviews at this round of ROH TV tapings. It was so wonderful seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and getting to work in such a fun environment!
  • Claressa Shields, a top women’s boxing star, showed up for Sukeban in New York City last night and got physically involved by delivering a punch and even earning a pinfall victory during the surprise appearance.
  • Fabian Aichner has filed a trademark for the nickname “Il Gladiatore,” which translates to “The Gladiator.”
  • Former Nexus member Michael Tarver is retiring from the ring with his final shows happening this Saturday and Sunday:
    • This is emotional week
    • This is my official goodbye to the pro wrestling Biz (in ring)
    • I finish my now 22 year journey with the 2 brothers who took me in 22 years ago in Barberton in a little dive bar called the Shamrock night club Josh E Robinson , Lamont Williams my brothers for life. I will be sharing some of my favorite moments of my career over the next week. Drew Jeffrey Andrew Taylor, from my start in UWC, CAPW, AIW, PWU, NWA to WWE / NXT and NJPW
    • From Akron Ohio to Japan to London to India to Puerto Rico to South Africa
    • From signing a @wwe contract homeless to being a part of a WrestleMania main event and main eventing SummerSlam

Daily Update: Brock Lesnar, Bianca Belair & Montez Ford, Vladimir

Posted on by Bryan Rose

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Tuesday Update

Bianca Belair at WWE WrestleMania 42
Bianca Belair at WWE WrestleMania 42 (Image credit: WWE)

 WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Scott Garland (Scotty 2 Hotty) joined CBS 13 News in Maine to discuss this coming Wednesday’s Dynamite & Collision special, which will be the state’s first televised pro wrestling show in 30 years.
  • This week’s Sammy Guevara vlog.
  • CMLL has posted a new video from Friday showing singer Natalia Jimenez performing the song ‘Me Muero’ live in Arena Mexico as Mistico made his entrance.
  • Mike Johnson of PWInsider posted the following on superfan Vladimir: “As we have previously noted, Vlad has been battling Parkinson’s Disease over the last several years. One of the by-products of the disease is terrible balance issues. This past week, Vlad was walking with his sister when he suddenly fell, striking his head on the concrete.  He suffered a major concussion and there was concern about bleeding on the brain, but we are told that he is believed to be out of imminent danger when it came to the bleeding.
  • Vlad will, however, remain hospitalized in NYC for some time to come. There is no timetable for his release as I write this.
  • Vlad’s sister gave me permission to pass along the word so that she can ask everyone to please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers.
  • Vladimir has been one of my dearest, closest friends for decades. I ask that everyone please send him the best wishes you can.“
  • Johnson also shared an email address for those that want to send best wishes to Vladimir.
  • A ladder match has been confirmed for TNA Slammiversary.
  • Matt Hardy vs. Vincent has been added to the next episode of TNA Impact.
  • Tiffany Nieves will defend the NWA Women’s title against Natalia Markova at NWA Hard Times 6 on June 6.
  • A new GHC Women’s Champion will be crowned at NOAH’s WRESTLE MAGIC show on June 15. The participants will be announced next week.
  • Produce Wrestling has premiered the official song for their first show on June 29.
  • Tommy Dreamer returns to AIW on June 19.