Tag: daily update

Daily Update: Weekend notes, Chelsea Green, AEW Dynamite ratings

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site today:
*Road to WrestleMania including the booking changes and injury changes that have caused several changes of plans since they were first in place. We discuss the evolution of this year’s two main events.
*We look at how the Royal Rumble show changed on the last day
*Full Royal Rumble coverage
*Status of different matches
*AJ Styles and is this his final match
*Business notes on the show
*Plans for Elimination Chamber
*How Royal Rumble did on Netflix
*What changes in Nielsen have meant to the TV ratings and why this has happened, and how it will happen multiple more times in 2026 to a lesser degree
*Has the increased in reported viewership helped pro wrestling in the TV world
*Full UFC 325 coverage
*Death of Frankie Cain/Great Mephisto, one of the most intriguing pro wrestling characters of the 60s and 70s with ties to many different worlds
*Death of Bob Lueck, a former Stampede Wrestling headliner who was a CFL All-Star and how he was responsible for getting one of the most important and most influential wrestlers of all-time into the industry
*The most detailed look at the ratings of the pro wrestling shows this past week including placings, demos and silliness
*Box office record set
*CMLL star arrested
*AEW stars spend the week in CMLL
*Major Arena Mexico shows coming
*Reyes del Aire report
*Hiromu Takahashi leaving
*New Japan major show this week
*Fantastica Mania cards announced
*Best matches of 2025
*AEW booking direction
*New AEW signings
*Advance ticket sales for all the major WWE & AEW shows
*Dana White’s testimony regarding his job
*Pride star passes away
*Ava departure from WWE

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Sunday Update

CMLL logo

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about the weekend in pro wrestling and other notes.

— Bron Brekker had surgery for a serious hernia. No word on how long he’ll be out.

— Bad Bunny is performing at halftime of the Super Bowl today. It’s possible you’ve heard about it.

— Fred Ottman, the former Tugboat, Typhoon, Big Bad Steel Man, Big Bubba, Shock Master, Uncle Fred and other names said he’s been in the hospital for the last 30 days after his gallbladder exploded. He said his wife was told that if he had waited another day to come to the hospital he may not have made it. He said he’s lost a lot of muscle, being on his back for a month and is learning how to walk again. He is expected to be released from the hospital tomorrow. He still will need regular kidney dialysis for now and will need surgery later this month.

— Chelsea Green’s ankle injury was a bruise and not a break, and while she did miss last night’s AAA show where she and Ethan Page lost the mixed tag team titles (Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana are the new champions), I don’t expect her out for too much time.

— I don’t know all the Observer awards winners right now, but do know that so far that at least nine companies have had winners representing four countries. There could be more.

— Andrei Arlovski, 47, defeated Ben Rothwell to win the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship heavyweight title last night before a sellout crowd of 18,217 in Philadelphia. Arlovski won via third round stoppage due to a nasty head cut. BKFC claimed 2 million people watched the show.

— YouTube numbers for last night’s shows had it at 324,000, and keep in mind that’s a number watching at least ten seconds, not the entire show and can count the same person multiple times. For a comparison, the English language feed of AAA was at the same time at 231,000 and the taped MLW Battle Riot from a few weeks back was at 190,000.

— For the matches we’ve heard a lot about, Saya Kamitani vs. Starlight Kid for the World of Stardom title has gotten a lot of talk. Kamitani suffered a finger injury legit, worked a long match after the injury and retained her title. Friday’s Arena Mexico didn’t have a great star power lineup on paper, but boy was it a fun show. I’d highly recommend Yutani vs. Capitan Suicida as a high flying match, MxM Collection vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja which was an awesome tag title match, Johnny Consejo (Johnny TV) vs. Soberano Jr was very entertaining and the main event was usual standard Arena Mexico trios on top with Averno & Cavernario & Hechicero over Neon & Templario & Flip Gordon with them setting up Templario vs. Averno for the CMLL middleweight title for next Friday. It was the usual style, although not quite as heated or as many flashy moves with no Mistico & Mascara Dorada. Templario took the Mistico spot as the star of the team and he’s an awesome wrestler, not as over at all as Mistico, but better in the ring and like with Mistico, they focused the match around him. The show didn’t sell out but there were way more women at the show than usual and the clear draw ws Soberano Jr., to the point there were a lot of empty seats during the main event. Last night’s show at Arena Coliseo was sold out. Tuesday’s Reyes del Aire match was spectacular.

— For Google searches this weekend, as you can imagine, it was dominated by the Super Bowl and Olympics. The only top 100 searches were Mario Bautista (46) and Kyoji Horiguchi (96) from last night’s UFC show at the Apex. The show itself did 100,000 searches. Smackdown got 2,000 searches and nothing from AEW made the list. The biggest search in pro wrestling was Ricky Steamboat, who is fine.

— Wednesday’s AEW show not only did the best ratings in months for a television show, but was up 6.5 percent higher in web searches for AEW than any other TV show since November, beating out 1/14 (MJF vs. Bandido), 1/28 (MJF vs. Brody King and Kenny Omega vs. Andrade among others) and 1/24 (Tommaso Ciampa vs. Mark Briscoe). Essentially Google searches continue to corroborate that interest level is up and it’s not just a ratings change with these increased numbers. The ratings change does help though.

— SmackDown will be on Syfy on Friday due to the Olympics.

— MLW from last night in Chicago sold out Cicero Stadium: Shotzi Blackheart b Shoko Nakajima to win the women’s featherweight title, Mistico b Diego Hill in a babyface battle, Donovan Dijak & Bishop Dyer b uke Gallows & Karl Anderson to retain the MLW tag team titles, Kushida b Alan Angels to keep the middleweight title, Josh Bishop vs. Matthew Justice street fight (not sure who won) but Justice tok a crazy dive off the bleachers and was shaken up but said to be okay, Killer Kross NC Matt Riddle for the MLW title when Alex Hammerstone attacked both guys, Okumura b Victor ?, Soberano Jr. b Neon (really good), Scarlett Bordeaux b Blair Onyx, Hammerstone b Ultimo Guerrero, Mads Krule Krugger b Bishop Dyer with a DDT on a belt, Austin Aries b Blue Panther (Panther looked like he got hurt on a flip dive off the paron and may have landed on or near his head), Zamaya b Lil Ruiz, Mistico b Templario with La Mistica. Match started after 11 p.m. so not the usual level of Mistico reaction. (thanks to Lance LeVine)

— They teased the idea of Dominik Mysterio putting up his hair against El Hijo del Vikingo on 3/14 in Puebla. Either way they are doing an AAA Mega title match. The Grande Americano who qualified for the Rey de Reyes finals was Chad Gable, not Ludwig Kaiser, winning over Rey Fenix, Dragon Lee and Octagon Jr.

— AEW Collision will go head-to-head with Elimination Chamber on 2/28.

— Misty Blue Simms turned 67 day. Paul Wight turned 54. Royce Isaacs turned 37. Duke Hudson turned 36. Xyon Quinn turned 36. Fred Blassie was born on this day in 1918. Jim Neidhart was born on this day in 1955. Sherri Martel was born on this day in 1958. Kat LaRoux was born on this day in 1965. Chicago figurehead promoter and TV announcer Bob Luce died 19 years ago today at the age of 78. Ricky Hunter died four years ago today at 86. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— DDP has uploaded three episodes of his “Change or Die” reality show on Tubi. The show features Page helping Buff Bagwell and Butterbean.

— On yesterday’s PFL show in Dubai, Usman Nurmagomedov retained the lightweight title via fourth round submission over Alfie Davis. Ramazan Kuramagomedov went to 14-0 and wn the vacant welterweight title beating Shamil Musaev via decision on scores of 48-46 across the board. Kurammagomedov told announcer Dan Hardy after the fight that he may have suffered a broken arm and also talked about possibly retiring.

Daily Update: AEW Worlds End numbers, WWE SmackDown and Arena Mexico previews

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site today:
*Road to WrestleMania including the booking changes and injury changes that have caused several changes of plans since they were first in place. We discuss the evolution of this year’s two main events.
*We look at how the Royal Rumble show changed on the last day
*Full Royal Rumble coverage
*Status of different matches
*AJ Styles and is this his final match
*Business notes on the show
*Plans for Elimination Chamber
*How Royal Rumble did on Netflix
*What changes in Nielsen have meant to the TV ratings and why this has happened, and how it will happen multiple more times in 2026 to a lesser degree
*Has the increased in reported viewership helped pro wrestling in the TV world
*Full UFC 325 coverage
*Death of Frankie Cain/Great Mephisto, one of the most intriguing pro wrestling characters of the 60s and 70s with ties to many different worlds
*Death of Bob Lueck, a former Stampede Wrestling headliner who was a CFL All-Star and how he was responsible for getting one of the most important and most influential wrestlers of all-time into the industry
*The most detailed look at the ratings of the pro wrestling shows this past week including placings, demos and silliness
*Box office record set
*CMLL star arrested
*AEW stars spend the week in CMLL
*Major Arena Mexico shows coming
*Reyes del Aire report
*Hiromu Takahashi leaving
*New Japan major show this week
*Fantastica Mania cards announced
*Best matches of 2025
*AEW booking direction
*New AEW signings
*Advance ticket sales for all the major WWE & AEW shows
*Dana White’s testimony regarding his job
*Pride star passes away
*Ava departure from WWE

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

— Our weekend schedule is that I will be doing the week in review show and talking the news in today’s Observer with Garrett Gonzales today and will be back with the weekend report on Sunday.

— AEW Worlds End wound up as the most purchased PPV since they went on HBO MAX, beating Full Gear, which had been the biggest since All In.

— Dynamite did 654,000 viewers with an 0.15 in 18-49 and 0.22 in 18-34. The latter two numbers, which are the most important, are the biggest of the big data era. The new system does help in total viewers a significant amount, but not much in 18-49 so these gains are a product that is on the ascent. We don’t have standings yet.

— Ari Emanuel was on Pat McAfee’s show today and said there will only be six or seven fights at the 6/14 UFC show at the White House.

— SmackDown tonight is in Charlotte, NC with Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley vs. Giulia & Kiana James for the tag team titles, plus Chamber qualifying matches with Lash Legend vs. Chelsea Green vs. Tiffany Stratton and Aleister Black vs. Randy Orton vs. Solo Sikoa. Liv Morgan is als on the show. About 8,700 tickets were out as of earlier today.

— Balloting is closed for the 2025 Wrestling Observer awards which will come out this coming Thursday night. We had the most response I believe in our history to the awards. Thanks to everyone that participated.

— Tonight at Arena Mexico is headlined by Flip Gordon & Neon & Templario vs. Averno & Cavernario & Hechicero, Johnny Consejo (John Hennigan of AEW) vs. Soberno Jr. and Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja vs.. Mason Madden & Mansoor for the CMLL tag team titles. For Sunday at Arena Coliseo, the top three bouts are Atlantis Jr. & Esfinge & Titan vs. Cavernario & Euforia & Volador Jr., Difunto vs. Consejo and El Hijo del Villano III & Villano III Jr. vs. MxM Collection. Sunday at Arena Mexico has Atlantis Jr. & Templario & Titan vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr., Gordon vs. Consejo and Magnus & Vegas Depredador vs. MxM Collection. Monday in Puebla has a rematch from last Monday’s sold out show with Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Templario vs. Cavernario & Soberano Jr & Volador Jr.

— Lots of WWE talent and AEW talent are in San Jose/San Francisco for Super Bowl media. This led to the Seth Rollins/MJF meeting yesterday. Those from AEW there are Tony Khan, Toni Storm, Orange Cassidy, MJF and Swerve Strickland.

— There will be an all-women’s show on 3/6 at Arena Mexico. They announced there would be AEW talent on the show, but no names were mentioned yet. Mei Seira & Starlight Kid from Stardom will also be challenging Jarochita & Lluvia for the CMLL women’s tag team titles.

— AAA will be live on Saturday night at 9 p.m. with two matches announced, Grande Americano vs Rey Fenix vs. Dragon Lee vs. Octagon Jr., will be in a Rey de Reyes first round match plus Ethan Page & Chelsea Green vs. Mr. Iguana & Lola Vice for the mixed tag team titles. Dominik Mysterio will be there live to build to a later match with El HIjo del Vikingo over the AAA Mega title. They will als be taping for the 2/14 and 2/21 shows tomorrow night.

— Mercedes Mone returns to Winnipeg on 3/31 for Winnipeg Pro Wrestling to defend her women’s title against the winner of an upcoming tournament.

— UFC runs 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Paramount+ tomorrow from the Apex Arena in Las Vegas:

Priscila Cachoeira (135.5) vs. Klaudia Sygula (135.5)
Jakub Wiklacz (135.5) vs. Muin Gafurov (141) – Gafurov missed weight by five pounds and was fined 25 percent of his purse. The fight is going to happen
Eduarda Moura (127) vs. Wang Cong (127.5) – Both missed weight. Since they both missed weight, neither is being fined. So if you’re going to miss weight, call your opponent and tell them to stop cutting and come to an agreement on weight
Javid Basharat (135.5) vs. Gianni Vazquez (141) – Vazquez missed weight by five pounds and is being fined 25 percent of his purse
Bruna Brasil (116) vs. Ketlen Souza (115.5)
Nikolay Veretenhnikov (170.5) vs. Niko Price (171)
Alex Morono (170) vs. Danil Donchenko (170.5)
Dustin Jacoby (204.5) vs. Julius Walker (206)
Faruid Basharat (136) vs. Jean Matsumoto (135.5)
Michal Oleksiejczuk (186) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (184.5)
Jailton Almeida (241) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (254)
Kyoji Horiguchi (126) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5)
Mario Bautista (135.5) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (136)

— Selina Slay, an OnlyFans content creator who was at ringside at the Las Vegas AEW tapings doing the Andrade stuff, wrote on her Instagram about the experience, “lmao, this is so fake.” She was harassed after that to the point she deactivated her account.

— PFL runs tomorrow at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai with the main card starting at Noon Eastern time. It will air on ESPN+ and ESPN Unlimited, but not on television:
Pouya Rahmani (250.2) vs. Karl Williams (256.5)
Abdoul Abdouraguimov (170.2) vs. Kendly St. Louis (171)
Ramazan Kuramagomedov (170) vs. Shmai Musaev (169.6) for the PFL welterweight title
Usman Nurmagomedov (155) vs. Alfie Davis (154.6)n for the PFL lightweight title

— The PFL announced a deal with RMC Sport for a multi-year partnership to broadcast in France, Monaco, Andorra, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The deal kicks off with tomorrow’s show.

— Konnan turns 62 today. Salina de la Renta turns 29. Tojo Yamamoto was born on this day in 1927. Tony Halme/Ludvig Borg was born on this day in 1963. Mario Galento passed away 37 years ago today at the age of 74. Hall of Famer Bobby Davis passed away five years ago today at 83. Konnan (1987) and Dos Caras (1970) made their debuts on this day.

— Today is the 50th anniversary of the Antonio Inoki vs. Willem Ruska first match at Budokan Hall. This was gigantic mainstream with the idea that Inoki, the top star of New Japan Pro Wrestling, would face the 1972 Olympic judo heavyweight gold medalist in a mixed match. The bout was billed to decide the world’s top mixed fighter and was meant for Inoki to win to build up the match later in the year with Muhammad Ali. Ruska was not just a judo gold medalist but a legit badass having beaten the toughest man in Brazil, Ivan Gomes (who later became a pro wrestler) in a challenge fight that was legit. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Mike Mondo appears on tomorrow’s Memphis Wrestling TV show.

— Mike Santana, Prisccilla Kelly and Breeze (the former Tyler Breeze) wrestle tomorrow for AIW at Penguin City Brewing in Youngstown, OH.

Daily Update: CM Punk-Finn Balor, Brian Knobbs, Mercedes Mone

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now. Some of the key stories being covered:

  • Royal Rumble thoughts, odds and direction
  • The business of UFC to Paramount, the numbers that were released, what they mean, and how much revenue does this mean vs. how much they paid for rights
  • Coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event
  • UFC 324 coverage, the fights, the future and the business
  • The life and times of Kim Wood, football, weightlifting, perception of people, Ken Shamrock and Brian Pillman
  • How Smackdown and NXT did throughout 2025 on Netflix, the ups and the downs
  • The most complete look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling TV shows over the past week, demos, comparisons, drops from last year factoring out why it would and should drop with big data
  • A new record set for most sellouts by a main eventer in a given month
  • Huge CMLL business week and great matches
  • Major shows upcoming
  • Big events coming for New Japan
  • Fantastica Mania coming
  • Mayu Iwatani’s 15th anniversary show
  • Jesse Ventura suggest Minnesota should leave the U.S.
  • Chris Jericho on TV show
  • Jimmy Jacobs talks working for Vince McMahon
  • Mick Foey on his mother’s death
  • Controversial independent angle makes mainstream attention and gets wrestler fired
  • Former WWE champion in talks to become a weekly TV character elsewhere
  • Former WCW attitude era announcer about to come back to wrestling
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows
  • Looking at the AEW business with Triller
  • AEW executive there from the start leaving
  • Issues with spoliation of evidence in UFC case
  • More on the White House show
  • Lots of notes on Zuffa boxing contracts
  • Notes on WWE international deals
  • Injryu updates
  • New AEW & WWE signings

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Thursday Update

WWE

  • WrestleVotes reports that CM Punk vs. Finn Balor for the World Heavyweight Championship is an idea that’s been proposed for WWE’s Elimination Chamber PLE in Chicago on February 28.
  • El Grande Americano vs. Rey Fenix vs. Dragon Lee vs. Octagon Jr. in a Rey de Reyes qualifying match has been added to the card for this Saturday’s Lucha Libre AAA TV episode.
  • On TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast, Liv Morgan was asked how she deals with social media criticism given that she has such a large following:
    • Honestly, and I mean this respectfully, I don’t really care about your criticism. If you’re not someone that I’m asking critique for, if you’re not my boss – I respectfully don’t care about what you have to say or what your opinion is. Everyone is entitled to [opinions]. You know, all opinions are welcome. But it doesn’t affect me whether it’s positive or negative, because I only care about what my bosses think.
  • Seth Rollins appeared on The Rich Eisen Show today.
  • The Bella Twins spoke with Notsam Wrestling following Brie Bella’s WWE return.
  • Logan Paul uploaded a new vlog.
  • WWE Vault added full video of a Georgia Championship Wrestling event that took place at The Omni in Atlanta on February 5, 1984.

Other Wrestling

  • Brian Knobbs of The Nasty Boys, who has battled serious health issues over the past few years, shared that he is back in the hospital due to an infection:
    • While things have become more challenging financially, Brian has faced hard roads before and he’s always found a way to fight through. He’s staying positive, pushing forward, and deeply grateful for the support that continues to lift him up. Anything you’re able to do, whether it’s donating, sharing, or simply sending good thoughts, makes a real difference and is sincerely appreciated.
  • Loaded Magazine asked Chris Jericho to name the proudest moment of his showbiz career:
    • It’s hard to pinpoint an exact moment. I think the thing I’m most proud of is being able to do this for 35 years. Getting to tour the world and do what I love the most. Making money is great, but getting to do it is the dream. If I had to pinpoint anything…headlining the Tokyo Dome with Kenny Omega, starting AEW and seeing it become such a success, stealing the show with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XIX and drawing 1,000 tickets for the first time in Nottingham. 
    • What I do also makes other people happy, and that’s important. Giving them lifelong memories that help them to forget about their troubles for a moment, and helping them to chase their dreams. That means a lot to me.
  • Mercedes Mone is among the celebrity guests set to appear on season 10 of “Bar Rescue,” which premieres on the Paramount Network on February 22.
  • Winnipeg Pro Wrestling is teasing Mone for their March 31 show.
  • Luther joined Aubrey Edwards & Will Washington on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • Ricochet appeared on a live edition of Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez.
  • Syuri defending the IWGP Women’s Championship against Athena is now official for NJPW New Beginning USA in Trenton, New Jersey on February 27.
  • MLW announced that its show in Cicero, Illinois this Saturday will be a television taping for the soon-to-return MLW Fusion series.
  • Headbanger Mosh was the guest on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.

Daily Update: CM Punk, Tommaso Ciampa, new John Cena movie

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now. Some of the key stories being covered:

  • Royal Rumble thoughts, odds and direction
  • The business of UFC to Paramount, the numbers that were released, what they mean, and how much revenue does this mean vs. how much they paid for rights
  • Coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event
  • UFC 324 coverage, the fights, the future and the business
  • The life and times of Kim Wood, football, weightlifting, perception of people, Ken Shamrock and Brian Pillman
  • How Smackdown and NXT did throughout 2025 on Netflix, the ups and the downs
  • The most complete look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling TV shows over the past week, demos, comparisons, drops from last year factoring out why it would and should drop with big data
  • A new record set for most sellouts by a main eventer in a given month
  • Huge CMLL business week and great matches
  • Major shows upcoming
  • Big events coming for New Japan
  • Fantastica Mania coming
  • Mayu Iwatani’s 15th anniversary show
  • Jesse Ventura suggest Minnesota should leave the U.S.
  • Chris Jericho on TV show
  • Jimmy Jacobs talks working for Vince McMahon
  • Mick Foey on his mother’s death
  • Controversial independent angle makes mainstream attention and gets wrestler fired
  • Former WWE champion in talks to become a weekly TV character elsewhere
  • Former WCW attitude era announcer about to come back to wrestling
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows
  • Looking at the AEW business with Triller
  • AEW executive there from the start leaving
  • Issues with spoliation of evidence in UFC case
  • More on the White House show
  • Lots of notes on Zuffa boxing contracts
  • Notes on WWE international deals
  • Injryu updates
  • New AEW & WWE signings

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full seven-man ladder match from NXT last night where Joe Hendry was crowned the new NXT Champion.
  • Hendry appeared on Busted Open After Dark following his title win.
  • Leah Van Dale (former WWE wrestler Carmella) sent out a tweet showing interest in the vacant NXT general manager role.
  • Bayley showed support for the idea while responding to Van Dale’s tweet: “MELLA DA MANAGER!!!!!!!! GIVE ME WHAT I WANT!!!!!!!! @WWENXT @ShawnMichaels #bookme”
  • In an interview with GQ, CM Punk was asked about the remark Paul “Triple H” Levesque made in WWE: Unreal where Levesque said he knew Punk was ready to come back to WWE because he saw that Punk was a different person than he was before:
    • I haven’t the slightest. I really don’t. That’d be a question for him. I just think I watched guys like Bret and Shawn or Hogan and Warrior hold on to these grudges. And I think what it amounts to is just life is too short.
    • Triple H had a serious heart issue that he woke up in the hospital with one day. I thought about that a lot and how anything between us didn’t matter at all. And I’m super fortunate now that we can laugh about everything and I can just let a lot of stuff go, because everything to me, I looked at it like it’s a hot coal and I’m just holding on to it. And after a while, I’m just hurting myself.
  • United States Champion Carmelo Hayes told the Beyond The Bell Podcast that Punk is a dream opponent of his:
    • I definitely want to wrestle CM Punk. I had made a joke on Twitter, though. I was like, if we do it’s gotta be winner takes all.
    • Punk, he’s actually a guy, man, like, I’ve been watching him obviously since I was a kid, right? So I’ve looked up to CM Punk and he’s been a mentor to a lot of the younger guys backstage, despite what people want to say. He’s always been a mentor to a lot of us, and he’s always excited to see us have our first moments.
    • I remember when I won the title, he was in Gorilla with a tear in his eye. I couldn’t believe it, I’m like, ‘Bro, why do you care so much?’ But I think just him seeing other people have these accomplishments for their first time and remembering where he was when he had his first accomplishment, it’s just very cool that he’s like that, right?
    • But as far as getting in the ring with him, I’d probably run circles around him, honestly. I think CM Punk’s a great in-ring performer, but I don’t think he’s ready for what I got. Because, man, I’m just going right now, bro. Like, week to week to week with it.
    • I’m very much so looking forward to that match. And I challenge CM Punk to really bring the heat, man. And like I said, he’s on a roll too and he’s having a great title reign, but we can go title reign for title reign. And I don’t think he’s touching Melo.
  • Punk was a guest on The Jim Rome Show today from Super Bowl Radio Row.
  • PWinsider reports that Drew McIntyre was at WWE headquarters this week filming for future projects.
  • “Matchbox: The Movie,” which stars John Cena, is set to premiere on Apple TV on October 9. The film is described as an “action-packed, globetrotting adventure about a group of friends since childhood who have their lives upended when undercover CIA agent Sean (Cena), their long-absent former leader, returns to their small town and unwittingly gets them embroiled in a frantic international pursuit to save the world.”
  • Entertainment Tonight spoke with Cena about the movie.
  • K&C Masterpiece interviewed Big E at Super Bowl Radio Row.
  • A new episode of the Nikki & Brie Show premiered today with The Bella Twins discussing Brie’s WWE return.
  • Philadelphia Eagles star Cooper DeJean called Nikki Bella “a good friend” when asked about their dating rumors during an appearance on Up & Adams.
  • SHAK Wrestling has an interview with Paul Heyman.

Other Wrestling

  • Tommaso Ciampa spoke to Bleacher Report about how his AEW theme music came together:
    • Mikey Rukus [AEW’s music composer] is a collaborative genius. I’ve never had an experience working with a music artist like the one that me and Mikey had. This all came together in less than 48 hours. My contract expired at midnight the 26th. Me and Mikey are on the phone Tuesday [Jan. 27].
    • And luckily I’ve had some time, quite a bit of time, six to eight weeks at home to really deep dive and dig and prepare. And I had four songs ready. We had a 20-minute conversation and I got off the phone and I was like, ‘Man, we’re clicking. This dude gets it. He’s hearing me and he’s listening.’
    • And he got that rough draft to me so fast. I want to say that final take was take seven. For anyone who has never gone through the process, that’s insanely fast. You don’t get to that kind of finished quality product in seven takes.
    • When we finally got to that, I’m listening to it in my car and my seven-year-old daughter continues to ask, ‘Can you play it again?’ She was humming to it, and I was like, we’re onto something. Kudos to Mikey. He just crushed it on all elements.
  • Bleacher Report asked Ciampa who he’s been impressed by in AEW:
    • An insane amount. I’ve never shared a ring with Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, MJF, Cope, Christian. Even people I crossed paths with but never shared a ring with.
    • And then there are guys that I’ve done stuff with, but I’ve never had a program with. I’ve never had a singles match with Ricochet, which to me kind of sounds silly to say. That’s kind of the thing that has followed me for a lot of my career.
    • When I was in Ring of Honor, there was this laundry list of guys. I never got to wrestle Generico. I never got to wrestle Bryan Danielson and Samoa Joe. There were just all these top guys I never had a singles match with, and in WWE, I felt similar. Me and AJ Styles worked on a couple of live events but never on television. Randy Orton, never had a match with him. Seth Rollins. There are just so many of them that I didn’t, so coming to AEW, that was actually a massive goal of mine, to not leave the checklist unchecked.
    • I just want to mix it up with all of these different people, and I think that’s what brings out the best in me. I have a real passion and drive for first-time matchups, specifically when they’re in front of big audiences. There’s no prior chemistry and no feeling-out process. I think that’s where the artform really is.
    • Anyone can go and rehearse matches and have seven matches together before they ever do it live, and that’s not the artform. There’s still a skill set needed for that. So when I started looking at the roster and making that list, it didn’t end. It kept going.
  • Mercedes Mone visited VIP spa House of the Sun in Los Angeles and noted that she feels “incredible” after having treatment done.
  • Willow Nightingale has been announced as a special guest for Denise Salcedo’s live show at the Hollywood Improv on March 14 during AEW Revolution weekend.
  • MLW will be holding a show at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on November 7. Tickets go on sale next Monday (February 9) at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

Daily Update: The Great Mephisto passes away

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now. Some of the key stories being covered:

  • Royal Rumble thoughts, odds and direction
  • The business of UFC to Paramount, the numbers that were released, what they mean, and how much revenue does this mean vs. how much they paid for rights
  • Coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event
  • UFC 324 coverage, the fights, the future and the business
  • The life and times of Kim Wood, football, weightlifting, perception of people, Ken Shamrock and Brian Pillman
  • How Smackdown and NXT did throughout 2025 on Netflix, the ups and the downs
  • The most complete look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling TV shows over the past week, demos, comparisons, drops from last year factoring out why it would and should drop with big data
  • A new record set for most sellouts by a main eventer in a given month
  • Huge CMLL business week and great matches
  • Major shows upcoming
  • Big events coming for New Japan
  • Fantastica Mania coming
  • Mayu Iwatani’s 15th anniversary show
  • Jesse Ventura suggest Minnesota should leave the U.S.
  • Chris Jericho on TV show
  • Jimmy Jacobs talks working for Vince McMahon
  • Mick Foey on his mother’s death
  • Controversial independent angle makes mainstream attention and gets wrestler fired
  • Former WWE champion in talks to become a weekly TV character elsewhere
  • Former WCW attitude era announcer about to come back to wrestling
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows
  • Looking at the AEW business with Triller
  • AEW executive there from the start leaving
  • Issues with spoliation of evidence in UFC case
  • More on the White House show
  • Lots of notes on Zuffa boxing contracts
  • Notes on WWE international deals
  • Injryu updates
  • New AEW & WWE signings

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

– Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, Great Mephisto, Royal Rumble fallout, AEW, CMLL, NXT and the rest of the week’s news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight.

– Frankie Cain, born James Ault, who was best known as part of the Infernos tag team in the 60s and the Great Mephisto in the 70s, passed away this morning as reported by close friend Scott Teal. The Infernos (Ault & Roland “Rocky” Smith, managed by J.C. Dykes), were one of the top heel teams in the country, with eight regional world tag team titles between 1965-68. He then became part of the masked tag team Mephisto & Dante in Tennessee with Dante being Bobby Hart. He went to Florida in late 1970 as the Great Mephisto as a Sheik knockoff, and his biggest career run was in California in 1972-73 where he was the top heel.

Of all the heels I saw in Northern California, the two people who got the most heat were Mephisto and manager Ken Ramey (who managed Paul DeMarco). He had a falling out with Shire, and either slapped him around or decked him and left the territory. Shire tried to blacklist him but the reality is once you had a rep for drawing money, you were going to be able to get work. He was later a manager and booker. As a booker, he started Paul Bearer, and was the one who first put Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy together as a tag team. He also wrestled in carnivals, was perhaps the last man alive who worked with Jim Londos, and boxed professionally.

– WWE celebrity stars Bad Bunny and Jelly Roll won Grammy Awards last night. Bad Bunny won Album of the Year and Best Musica Urbana Album as well as Best Global Music Performance. Jelly Roll won for Best Country Duo or Group Performance with Shaboozey and Best Contemporary Classic album.

– CMLL wrestler El Pegasso was charged with domestic violence toward his family and arrested on Friday according to The Cubs Fan. The alleged incident took place in 2024 and the case has been moving through the courts. The alleged victim is his son from a previous relationship. The story had first been covered in November.

– Raw is tonight in Philadelphia with Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez in a street fight and Penta vs. Bronson Reed. They’ll start the tease of who Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan will choose as well as start the Elimination Chamber build. They were very close to sold out with 12,600 tickets out as of last word. Business is still awfully good. Maybe not at the peak of last year but still very good.

– We’re looking for your thoughts on the Royal Rumble, so you can leave a thumbs up thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

– We were told it was the decision of Simone Johnson to take down her Twitter account after her post negative to Ice and the current administration. It was not forced on her although it was under the Ava name, which she in theory would no longer be able to use since her contract has expired.

– We’re also looking for reports from Philadelphia tonight with Main Event matches or anything not on the live TV show as well as the same for AEW in Las Vegas on Wednesday with any ROH matches or Collision tapings to [email protected]

– TNA Impact did an 0.14 household rating and an 0.04 in 18-49, up from 0.03 last week. We don’t have the viewership number at the moment, but it was 86th for the night in viewers. A 1.20 VPH would be 215,000 viewers and an 1.30 VPH would be 233,000 viewers, so it should be by far the highest to date. Ironically the first taped show did the biggest numbers likely by far.

– Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy for the No. 1 contender at featherweight for Alexander Volkanovski was announced for 3/21 in London at the O2 Arena. Also on the show announced today were Luke Riley vs Michael Aswell and Michael Venom Page vs. Sam Patterson.

– The NXT title will be up tomorrow in a seven-man ladder match with Ricky Saints, Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver, Jackson Drake, Joe Hendry, Shiloh Hill and Dion Lennox, plus Izzy Dame vs. Thea Hail vs. Lola Vice for the North American title and The Elegance Brand defends the TNA tag titles against Sol Ruca & Zaria.

– Just for a clarification, on the weekend CMLL shows, they were not using American tag team rules as far as tagging needed, but were doing American rules about only needing one pin to end the match and being one fall instead of two out of three which non-title tag s and trios matches are. Aubrey Edwards went to Mexico this weekend and became the first female referee to referee a men’s match ever at Arena Mexico on Friday night.

– Tonight’s show at Arena Puebla has sold out with Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Templario vs. Cavernario & Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr, Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero and Star Jr. & Xelhua vs. Mason Madden & Mansoor.

– Mike Santana, Priscilla Kelly and Tyler Breeze will be at Saturday’s AIW show in Youngstown, OH.

– Chris Harris & James Storm, America’s Most Wanted, won an independent tag team title over the weekend.

– GCW will hold a Marko Stunt retirement event on 3/14 at the Showboat in Atlantic City, NJ. Stunt made it clear he will not be wrestling on that show.

– The Toronto Raptors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game on Wednesday in Toronto will be WWE night with all fans getting a pro wrestling mask and some WWE talent appearing.

– MLW announced a 6/11 show at the Melrose Ballroom in New York.

– Titan & Bandido & Astral beat Magnus & Vegas Depreadador & Virus last night in Monterrey, Mexico. The local newspaper put over the show as completely captivating the audience and confirming the sports’ current popularity, and put over Bandido as being the big star of the show.

– Combate Global announced that all 20 of its events this year will stream live in Mexico on the Samsung TV Plus Fast Channel.

– Hall of Famer Genichiro Tenryu, who was a star in sumo and then a bigger star in pro wrestling, turned 76 today. Susan Sexton, who was once the roommate of Bill Apter, turned 68. Naoki Sano, famous for his early 90s matches with Jushin Liger, turned 61. Brian Cage turned 42. Isla Dawn turned 32. John Pesek, one of the baddest men in the world of his era, was born on this day in 1894. Jack Veneno, the biggest pro wrestling star ever in the Dominican Republic, who once beat Ric Flair to win the NWA world title (it was only recognized in the Dominican Republic but is the most famous match by far ever on that island) was born 84 years ago today. Gino Hernandez, one of the most unique heels of his ear, was 28 when he died of a cocaine overdose in 1986. Jim Wilson, famous for suing Jim Barnett and writing a great book on pro wrestling, was 66 when he died 17 years ago today. Tom Drake, a pro wrestler who became more famous as an Alabama politician was 86 when he passed away nine years ago. Lanny Poffo was 68 when he passed away three years ago (Thanks to Tony Richards)

Daily Update: Ava, AEW Dynamite ratings, Powerhouse Hobbs

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now. Some of the key stories being covered:

  • Royal Rumble thoughts, odds and direction
  • The business of UFC to Paramount, the numbers that were released, what they mean, and how much revenue does this mean vs. how much they paid for rights
  • Coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event
  • UFC 324 coverage, the fights, the future and the business
  • The life and times of Kim Wood, football, weightlifting, perception of people, Ken Shamrock and Brian Pillman
  • How Smackdown and NXT did throughout 2025 on Netflix, the ups and the downs
  • The most complete look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling TV shows over the past week, demos, comparisons, drops from last year factoring out why it would and should drop with big data
  • A new record set for most sellouts by a main eventer in a given month
  • Huge CMLL business week and great matches
  • Major shows upcoming
  • Big events coming for New Japan
  • Fantastica Mania coming
  • Mayu Iwatani’s 15th anniversary show
  • Jesse Ventura suggest Minnesota should leave the U.S.
  • Chris Jericho on TV show
  • Jimmy Jacobs talks working for Vince McMahon
  • Mick Foey on his mother’s death
  • Controversial independent angle makes mainstream attention and gets wrestler fired
  • Former WWE champion in talks to become a weekly TV character elsewhere
  • Former WCW attitude era announcer about to come back to wrestling
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows
  • Looking at the AEW business with Triller
  • AEW executive there from the start leaving
  • Issues with spoliation of evidence in UFC case
  • More on the White House show
  • Lots of notes on Zuffa boxing contracts
  • Notes on WWE international deals
  • Injryu updates
  • New AEW & WWE signings

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

Powerhouse Hobbs

— I don’t have much new regarding Simone Johnson (Ava) leaving WWE. She announced that her contract has expired and wasn’t going to sign a new deal earlier today. I guess there is no angle to write her off but it’ll be explained on Tuesday.

— Want to thank everyone for the nice comments about the show on Wednesday and the article on Kim Wood in today’s Observer. We talked a lot more about Wood on today’s show with Alex Marvez, who knew him well from his days covering the Cincinnati Bengals and they remained very close friends.

— AEW Dynamite did 653,000 viewers and an 0.09 in 18-49. It is the most viewers the show has done since Big Data came into being. This number doesn’t include MAX. For live and same day viewing, if you include MAX, it would beat the Raw number of the prior week and could be close to the Smackdown number as well. It’s only a one-week thing and the gains were mostly teenagers (best teenage number for a pro wrestling TV show in recent weeks) and 50+. These numbers aren’t exact but it did about 43,000 in 18-34, 81,000 in 35-49 and 107,000 in 50-54 which obviously makes no sense at all. I wouldn’t react too much to a one-week rating number, but since the focus was on multiple challengers for the world title (Swerve, Andrade, Kenny Omega, Adam Page and Brody King) that would seem to be the reason, but it’s better to wait for a pattern.

— Regarding Powerhouse Hobbs/Royce Keys and the note in the current issue. While AEW did make a big offer for him to come in, a number that just a few years ago would be very high for a pro wrestler, it wasn’t through the roof high and was not at the level of the top ten plus stars in AEW, but it was a very good five-year offer. We don’t know the WWE offer. To clarify, it was not at the level of the biggest stars in the company right now. I don’t know how much he even considered as WWE believed he was coming for some time either way. I think some had the impression he was offered top-of-the-line money and while it would have been pre-wrestling competition a great number, the salary scale throughout the industry has risen because of competition.

— Voices of Wrestling released their poll for the ten best matches of 2025:

  1. Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd 1/5
  2. MJF vs. Mistico 9/19
  3. Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay 5/25
  4. Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley 7/12
  5. Toni Storm vs. Mariah May 3/9
  6. Hirooki Goto vs. Zack Sabre Jr. 2/11
  7. Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano 4/27
  8. Bandido vs. Konosuke Takeshita 7/11
  9. El Desperado vs. Jun Kasai 6/24
  10. Sareee vs. Syuri 3/10

— Henry Miller, the former sumo and MMA fighter Sentoryu who was popular during the Pride heyday, passed away last night at the age of 56. He had lung issues.

  • — CMLL at Arena Mexico. At this writing the show is not sold out. They raised ticket prices for this one. It’s on Triller starting at 9:30 p.m. Eastern as well as on the CMLL YouTube subscription page.
  • Espiritu & Rey Cometa vs,. Coyote & Polvora
  • Cobarde & Felino Jr. & El Hijo de Stuka Jr. vs. Akuma & Los Gemelo Diablos I & II
  • Jarochita & Skadi & Tabata vs. Persephone & Sanely & Zeuxis
  • Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Soberano Jr. vs. Mason Madden & Mansoor & Johnny TV
  • Flip Gordon vs. Barbaro Cavernario
  • Claudio Castagnoli vs. Xelhua for the CMLL heavyweight title
  • Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Neon vs. Difunto & Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. in a non-title match
  • This is the first show with The Sky team all together in seven weeks as it’s Neon’s first match back from a broken shoulder.

— For tomorrow night at Arena  Coliseo in Mexico City, the main event is a non-title four-way with Castagnoli vs. Angel de Oro  vs. Cavernario vs. Euforia plus Johnny TV & Madden & Mansoor vs Barboza & Difunto & Furia Roja  

— Sunday at  Arena Mexico has Madden & Mansoor & TV in the main event against Atlantis Jr. & Gordon & Neon and Xelhua vs.  Euforia.  Puebla on Monday looks to be the strongest sellout chance with Mistico & Dorada & Templario vs. Cavernario & Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. plus Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero

  • — The Royal Rumble starts at 2 p.m. tomorrow from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Men’s Royal Rumble
  • Women’s Royal Rumble
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn for WWE title
  • Gunther vs. AJ Styles with Styles career at stake

— We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:
*NXT in Nashville, TN tonight
*NXT in Birmingham, AL tomorrow
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

— We’ll be doing a poll on the Royal Rumble tomorrow so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— UFC tomorrow night on Paramount from Sydney,Australia starting at 5 p.m. Eastern time:

  • Aaron Tau (129) vs. Namsral Batbayar (126) – Fight canceled due to Tau missing weight
  • Sulangrangbo (135.75) vs. Lawrence Lui (135.25)
  • Keeichiro Nakamura (145.25) vs. Sebastian Szalay (145.75)
  • Sungwook Kim (155.75) vs. Dom Mar Fan (154.75)
  • Kaan Ofli (145.25) vs. Yizha (145.5)
  • Jonathan Micalief (170.5) vs. Oban Elliott (169.75)
  • Jacob Malkoun (185.75) vs. Torrez Finney (185.75)
  • Cameron Rowston (184.5) vs.Cody Brundage (184.75)
  • Junior Tafa (202.25) vs. Billy Elekana (204)
  • Quillan Salkilld (155.5) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (155.5)
  • Tai Tuivasa (265.5) vs Tallison Teixeira (259)
  • Rafael Fiziev (155.5) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155.25)
  • Dan Hooker (155.75) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (155.75)
  • Alexander Volkanovski (144.5) vs. Diego Lopes (145) for the UFC featherweight title

— Collision is tomorrow at 8 p.m. from Arlington, TX:

  • Mark Briscoe vs. Tommaso Ciampa for TNT title
  • Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron vs. Skye Blue & Julia Hart for AEW women’s tag titles
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Adam Priest for International title
  • Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz vs. Lio Rush & Action Andretti
  • Darby Allin vs. Clark Connors

— The home that Hulk Hogan lived in in Clearwater Beach, FL, is up for sale for just under $11 million. It’s 5,400 square feet with five bedrooms, with an ocean view, a pool and spa.

— Braun Strowman was released from the hospital today after surgery for an infection in his knee.

— New Japan announced they will be releasing a documentary on Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final match which will be released shortly for free on New Japan World.

— James Curtin/Rockstar Spud/Drake Maverick turns 43 today while Becky Lynch turns 39. Sailor Art Thomas was born 102 years ago today. Rick Harris/BlackBart would have been 78 today. (Thanks to Tony Richards)

–AAA on YouTube tomorrow has:

  • TJP vs. Chris Carter vs. Mini Vikingo vs. Elio LeFleur with the winner getting a cruiserweight title shot at Laredo Kid
  • Lola Vice vs. La Hiedra, winner teams with Mr. Iguana for a mixed tag team challenge against Ethan Page & Chelsea Green
  • La Parka vs. Apollo Crews vs. Jack Cartwheel vs. Aerostar, winner goes to the Rey de Reyes finals.

— Last night at Arena Aficion for its 74th anniversary show before a sellout 3,500 fans, Mistico & Bandido b Soberano Jr. & Angel de Oro, Mascara Dorada & Esfinge b Mortos & Difunto, Solar drew Satanico for the Masters title were the top matches.

Daily Update: WWE 2K26, PWI Awards, Taka Michinoku

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the interest level, the Royal Rumble and Rumble odds
    Big Bad Bobby Duncum, a look at the career of a worldwide headliner who worked on top with almost every major babyface of the 70s, including big WWF and AWA runs and Japanese major tournaments
  • CMLL has a big business week with Bandido, Ricochet, Komander, Gates of Agony and Lee Moriarty.
  • A look at some of the best matches so far this year and the craziness that ruined what could have been the best of all of them.
  • A look at prior plans for 2025 PPV shows that changed
  • A look at Netflix numbers over the past six months, as well as how every PPV in 2025 did and some surprises in that direction, as well as how SmackDown did internationally as well as NXT, and how shows that went head-to-head with AEW PPVs drew.
  • Notes on the TNA ratings for the first show on AMC and what they tell us.
  • TNA Genesis coverage
  • 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards ballot
  • More AEW stars to CMLL next week
  • AAA TV taping notes
  • Thoughts on the current AAA product and how it relates to Lucha Libre and WWE
  • Stardom makes claim against Marigold
  • Saya Kamitani returns early
  • Notes about a mainstream model who became one of the first big stars in Stardom and women’s MVP
  • Best tag team match of the year
  • New Japan next major show lineup
  • Eight promotions combine for a singles tournament
  • The potential best actual wrestler in the world signs with RAF
  • Feast or Fired thoughts
  • More on AEW’s future with the WBD sale to Netflix
  • Trey Miguel situation
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
  • UFC returns to action with first big show of 2026
  • Top exec since the inception of  PFL leaves
  • More notes regarding a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE
  • WWE headliner talks bowing out
  • WWE and AEW injury updates
  • Punk movie box office
  • Talent coming and going from promotions
  • TKO and WWE execs get millions this quarter

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Thursday Update

WWE

Other Wrestling

  • Mercedes Mone was chosen as Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Woman of the Year for 2025, with Toni Storm taking home the award for Most Popular Wrestler of the Year.
  • Harley Cameron thanked the readers of PWI for naming her their Most Improved Wrestler:
    • Thank you to the readers of PWI for voting me Most Improved for 2025. And thank you @aew and @tonyrkhan for allowing me to live out my dream! I vow to continue improving…my improvement!
  • Mike Santana reacted to being chosen as PWI’s Most Inspirational Wrestler of the year:
    • Huge shoutout to all the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and every person who’s walked this path with me. 
    • Blessed and humbled that my journey has connected with so many. You all have played a huge role in motivating me to push forward every single day. 
    • THANK YOU.
  • Shotzi Blackheart was named PWI’s Indie Wrestler of the Year.
  • Evil Uno has been announced for DDT Pro Wrestling’s 29th Anniversary show on March 22.
  • Taka Michinoku noted that he’ll be in the United States at the end of March and is looking for bookings around Indianapolis:
    • I’m going to Indianapolis on March 27th and 28th. If I go all the way to US, I’d like to wrestle around that time. I went to England and Australia in the last few years, but it’s been seven years since I went to the U.S. Please make an offer to DM.
  • CMLL wrestlers Persephone and La Catalina were featured in a documentary from L’Oreal Groupe:
    • What’s the secret behind the Olympian Noah Lyles’s record-breaking sprints? How do star lucha libre wrestlers Persephone and La Catalina prepare their game face ahead of a match? And how does the FC Barcelona soccer player Jules Kounde achieve greatness through routine?
    • ‘Meeting the Moment’ is a documentary narrated by the basketball legend Sue Bird that follows four athletes as they prepare for a major sports competition, revealing how physical training, mental fortitude and self-care rituals make up their winning formula.
  • Madison Rayne discussed her in-ring retirement on AEW Unrestricted.
  • Daria Rae (the former Sonya Deville) appeared on a new episode of TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast.

Daily Update: Street Profits, Eddie Kingston & Ortiz, Chris Jericho

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the interest level, the Royal Rumble and Rumble odds
    Big Bad Bobby Duncum, a look at the career of a worldwide headliner who worked on top with almost every major babyface of the 70s, including big WWF and AWA runs and Japanese major tournaments
  • CMLL has a big business week with Bandido, Ricochet, Komander, Gates of Agony and Lee Moriarty.
  • A look at some of the best matches so far this year and the craziness that ruined what could have been the best of all of them.
  • A look at prior plans for 2025 PPV shows that changed
  • A look at Netflix numbers over the past six months, as well as how every PPV in 2025 did and some surprises in that direction, as well as how SmackDown did internationally as well as NXT, and how shows that went head-to-head with AEW PPVs drew.
  • Notes on the TNA ratings for the first show on AMC and what they tell us.
  • TNA Genesis coverage
  • 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards ballot
  • More AEW stars to CMLL next week
  • AAA TV taping notes
  • Thoughts on the current AAA product and how it relates to Lucha Libre and WWE
  • Stardom makes claim against Marigold
  • Saya Kamitani returns early
  • Notes about a mainstream model who became one of the first big stars in Stardom and women’s MVP
  • Best tag team match of the year
  • New Japan next major show lineup
  • Eight promotions combine for a singles tournament
  • The potential best actual wrestler in the world signs with RAF
  • Feast or Fired thoughts
  • More on AEW’s future with the WBD sale to Netflix
  • Trey Miguel situation
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
  • UFC returns to action with first big show of 2026
  • Top exec since the inception of  PFL leaves
  • More notes regarding a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE
  • WWE headliner talks bowing out
  • WWE and AEW injury updates
  • Punk movie box office
  • Talent coming and going from promotions
  • TKO and WWE execs get millions this quarter

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Wednesday Update

WWE

Other Wrestling

  • Eddie Kingston & Ortiz have been announced for Beyond Wrestling’s Ballroom Blitz show in Cranston, Rhode Island on February 27.
  • On his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross said he would like to see AEW sign Tommaso Ciampa:
    • I think that’s logical. I don’t know for sure where else. What are his other options? I mean, they’re there. He could get a deal in Japan. He could work their style well. But if I know AEW as I do, he’s somebody you wouldn’t pass on. You know, he’s a good worker and he’s got a lot of name recognition, name identity in the business.
    • I like his work. It seems to me, and like I said, I got nothing to base this on other than my gut instincts, that he will be on the AEW roster sooner than later. Because he can have great matches with anybody. I like his work. He’s solid. He doesn’t worry about breaking an egg. He’s a tough kid. So I hope that we get him. I really do.
  • Elle magazine posted a first look at the upcoming Apple TV series “Margot’s Got Money Troubles,” with one of the pictures showing Chris Jericho sharing a scene with Nicole Kidman.
  • Due to injury, Hechicero is unable to compete at a show for Bandido’s Entertainment in Mexico this Friday. The Beast Mortos is replacing him at the event.
  • While speaking with the Orlando Sentinel, Killer Kross discussed the freedom he has outside of WWE:
    • With the realities of television formatting, sometimes people are placed into positions with a very low ceiling to succeed. If you’re trapped in that position long enough … the casual fan may think certain performers don’t have anything more to give. That’s very soul-crushing. So I have to remind them that there’s still that guy in there. To be where I’m at right now, to have the freedom to perform the way they didn’t even know I could, is really important.
  • Cha Cha Charlie is the latest entrant confirmed for MLW Battle Riot VIII this Thursday.
  • Mike Santana spoke with radio station Q101 in Chicago.
  • The Metro interviewed Shotzi Blackheart.

Daily Update: WWE Raw, UFC & CMLL notes

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the interest level, the Royal Rumble and Rumble odds
*Big Bad Bobby Duncum, a look at the career of a worldwide headliner who worked on top with almost every major babyface of the 70s, including big WWF and AWA runs and Japanese major tournaments
*CMLL has a big business week with Bandido, Ricochet, Komander, Gates of Agony and Lee Moriarty.  A look at some of the best matches so far this year and the craziness that ruined could have been the best of all of them.
*A look at prior plans for 2025 PPV shows that changed
*A look at Netflix numbers over the past six months, as well as how every PPV in 2025 did and some surprises in that direction, as well as how Smackdown did internationally as well as NXT, and how shows that went head-to-head with AEW PPVs drew.
*Notes on the TNA ratings for the first show on AMC and what they tell us.
*TNA Genesis coverage
*2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards ballot
*More AEW stars to CMLL next week
*AAA TV taping notes
*Thoughts on the current AAA product and how it relates to Lucha Libre and WWE
*Stardom makes claim against Marigold
*Saya Kamitani returns early
*Notes about a mainstream model who became one of the first big stars in Stardom and women’s MVP
*Best tag team match of the year
*New Japan next major show lineup
*Eight promotions combine for a singles tournament
*The potential best actual wrestler in the world signs with RAF
*Feast or Fired thoughts
*More on AEW’s future with the WBD sale to Netflix
*Trey Miguel situation
*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
*The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
*UFC returns to action with first big show of 2026
*Top exec since the inception of  PFL leaves
*More notes regarding a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE
*WWE headliner talks bowing out
*WWE and AEW injury updates
*Punk movie box office
*Talent coming and going from promotions
*TKO and WWE execs get millions this quarter

This issue covers the following topics:

  • The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.
  • WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well. A look at each case-by-case.
  • Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City
  • Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years
  • Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025
  • WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025
  • What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries
  • Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t
  • The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent
  • A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule
  • A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong
  • When did wrestling start being a work. Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think
  • Odds for WWE matches upcoming
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why
  • What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026
  • One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires
  • Kazuchika Okada in Japan
  • Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025
  • Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial
  • Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events
  • Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment
  • The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotion
  • Tons of major independent shows coming
  • AEW gets TV in new market
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events
  • Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE
  • Tag team returning to AEW
  • Dana White shuts down talk of major match
  • A new lawsuit filed against WWE
  • Notes on the recent WWE tryout
  • Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, weekend TV, as well the latest news with Wrestling Observer Radio.

— Raw tonight is in Toronto in the blizzard. It’s the go-home Raw for the Rumble so they should go hard on it on the show. Advertised is a Natalya promo on why she turned on Maxxine Dupri, Bron Breakker meets with Adam Pearce about his suspension, build for AJ Styles vs. Gunther and New Day vs. Creeds vs. Otis & Tozawa vs. Rayo & Bravo with the winners facing the Usos for the tag team titles. They had 14,800 tickets out as of today so it should be a big crowd even with the difficulties of people getting into town.

— Claudio Castagnoli returns to CMLL on Friday night at Arena Mexico to face Xelhua for the CMLL heavyweight title. Mansoor, Mason Madden and Johnny TV are also on that show.

— DJ Khaled will be in a Super Bowl commercial with a pro wrestling theme.

— The CMLL show tonight in Puebla has sold out with Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr. as the main event. That makes 15 Mistico sellouts this month.

— UFC did gigantic numbers as was indicated yesterday by the Google search volume. On Paramount, and this would be covering not just the U.S. but also all of Latin America, the main card averaged 4.96 million streaming views and peaked at 5.93 million, likely during the main event. There were 7.18 million devices who clicked in at some point during the show. Keep in mind this is not a U.S. number, but also not a worldwide number. If you go with 1.6 viewers per home, which is what UFC was doing for PPV prelims on television often, it would be 7.89 million viewers, but we don’t know what percentage was in the U.S. But this was an excellent number which may have been due to the novelty of a PPV card that doesn’t cost much to watch. We’ll see if they release numbers going forward, although we will going forward have a pretty good idea how these shows do. I’ve seen this mistakenly reported as the viewer number, and these are significantly lower figures than the viewer number, but also people comparing it to a U.S. TV number, and you can’t compare it to that at all.

— TNA Impact on Thursday did 171,000 viewers and an 0.03 in 18-49. Viewers were almost the same as last week due to a major increase in viewers per home. 18-49 dropped from 0.04 to 0.03.

— AEW Dynamite on Thursday did an 0.08 in 18-49 but we don’t have the viewer number. If it did 1.25 viewers per home it would be 480,000. At 1.30 it would be 500,000. At 1.35 it would be 518,000. Once again the 50-54 number was ridiculous at about 84,000, which is a ridiculous number if you’re doing that number of viewers and have so many congregated in that one age group, it’s suspicious to me, particularly when it’s every week. The show was 6th in the first hour and fifth in the second hour for the night.

— Although the most impressive numbers for the week would be the NXT growth on Tuesday covered in yesterday’s update.

— Lots of rumors Islam Makhachev vs. Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title at the 6/14 UFC White House show.

— Dustin Poirier, who retired last week, indicated being up for a fight with Justin Gaethje. Poirier beat Gaethje in 2018 and Gaethje beat Poirier in 2023. Both fights were memorable.

— Paul Levesque has a 2K26 video game cover.

— Eddie Kingston & Ortiz wrestle on Friday night in Brooklyn at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel for Outlaw Wrestling.

— Cody Fluffman of the Savannah Bananas will be in the Battle Riot for MLW on Thursday night in Kissimmee, FL. The Battle Riot match will air on YouTube on beIN Sports on 2/5.

— Mercedes Mone turned 34 today. Taylor Wilde turned 40. Other birthdays include Hall of Famer Emil Duske in 1909, Hall of Famer Gordon Solie in 1929, Hall of Famer Road Warrior Hawk in 1957 and non-Hall of Famer but California and Mexico star Raul Mata in 1947 (thanks to Tony Richards).

Daily Update: Marissa McMahon, AJ Styles, MJF

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

This issue covers the following topics:

  • The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.
  • WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well. A look at each case-by-case.
  • Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City
  • Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years
  • Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025
  • WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025
  • What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries
  • Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t
  • The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent
  • A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule
  • A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong
  • When did wrestling start being a work. Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think
  • Odds for WWE matches upcoming
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why
  • What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026
  • One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires
  • Kazuchika Okada in Japan
  • Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025
  • Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial
  • Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events
  • Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment
  • The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotion
  • Tons of major independent shows coming
  • AEW gets TV in new market
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events
  • Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE
  • Tag team returning to AEW
  • Dana White shuts down talk of major match
  • A new lawsuit filed against WWE
  • Notes on the recent WWE tryout
  • Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Thursday Update

WWE

Other Wrestling

  • While calling into Busted Open Radio today, MJF said he wants to defend the AEW World Championship against Nic Nemeth:
    • MJF: Nemeth, whenever you find your balls, let me know. I’d love to wrestle you for the title as well. Good day, sir.
    • Nemeth: Wow. What a call. I was just offered an AEW title shot… I’m really focused, surprisingly, on the TNA World title – tonight possibly even. But, wow, AEW Champion. You’ve got Swerve and Hangman and Joe all going after MJF – and he’s thinking about me. I’m on board. I like that. I always wondered if he could hang in the ring. We’ll find out one day, I guess.
  • Wrestle Radio Australia interviewed MJF.
  • Mansoor, Mason Madden, and Johnny TV have been announced for CMLL’s show at Arena Mexico on January 30.
  • Chris Jericho spoke to Soundsphere about the importance of reinventing yourself:
    • Reinvention is important at any stage of your career, because you want to keep people excited and motivated about what you’re doing. The [Rolling] Stones last record, ‘Hackney Diamonds’ was great. Why wouldn’t The Stones release a new album? Because they’re artists, and that’s what artists do. Keeping things fresh and exciting is something I believe in wholeheartedly. There’s nothing wrong with having tinges, but you still want to create new things as well, so you’re not just a nostalgia act.
  • Marigold wished Mayu Iwatani a happy 15th anniversary of her pro wrestling debut.
  • Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling announced more details for its four-show U.S. tour that’s taking place in Texas this March.
  • Joe Karni has an interview with Mike Santana.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Paul London looked back on his official SmackDown debut match being against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship:
    • I think that stemmed out of that thing where he had decimated Brian [Kendrick]. He took that crazy F5 into the ring post bump, which is still, I have no idea how he did that. He even took a weird back bump from the floor up against the turnbuckles. Brian did an amazing job, incredible worker. But then he did the thing with Zach Gowen, where he bled him out like a stuck pig. Then it was me. But the same thing happened where I’m in the ring with Brock going over it. Arn is the agent. I love Arn Anderson. I actually have one of his trading cards, I carry it with me everywhere. But he’s like, oh, ‘What can you do, kid? Gotta make this guy look like a son of a bitch.’ I’m like, I think he’s doing a pretty good job on his own. He doesn’t have a neck. He’s shaped like Ram Man. And I’m like, ‘Well, if he clotheslines me right off the bat, I can do a 360.’ So I wouldn’t say Brock took a liking to me, but we were always cool, always cool after that. I mean, he wouldn’t say hi to anybody a lot of times, but he was always cool to me.
  • Tully Blanchard turns 72 years old today.

Daily Update: New WWE trademark, Josh Alexander, Wolfgang

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

This issue covers the following topics:

  • The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.
  • WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well. A look at each case-by-case.
  • Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City
  • Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years
  • Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025
  • WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025
  • What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries
  • Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t
  • The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent
  • A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule
  • A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong
  • When did wrestling start being a work. Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think
  • Odds for WWE matches upcoming
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why
  • What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026
  • One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires
  • Kazuchika Okada in Japan
  • Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025
  • Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial
  • Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events
  • Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment
  • The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotion
  • Tons of major independent shows coming
  • AEW gets TV in new market
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events
  • Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE
  • Tag team returning to AEW
  • Dana White shuts down talk of major match
  • A new lawsuit filed against WWE
  • Notes on the recent WWE tryout
  • Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full triple threat tag match that headlined NXT last night, which saw Sol Ruca & Zaria defeat Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid and Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair to become the number one contenders to the TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles.
  • WWE filed a trademark application for the name “Royce Keys” on January 20.
  • On What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker was asked if he’s enjoyed hosting his own Six Feet Under podcast:
    • It has its moments. Yeah, it really does. When you’re in a discussion or you’re in a conversation and you’re hitting it off, that’s always fun. But, man, sometimes when you get that guest that doesn’t want to talk or is not a storyteller, right? I don’t want to name names, but it can be like pulling a tooth.
  • Undertaker announced that Rhodes will be a future guest on Six Feet Under.
  • R-Truth sent out a message thanking everyone for how they’ve responded to the new season of WWE Unreal:
    • Thank you to each and everyone of you WORLD WIDE! I don’t call you fans anymore, You all are my family. I really appreciate ALL of you more than you’ll ever know.
  • CM Punk & AJ Styles teamed up at WWE’s house show in Brussels yesterday, defeating Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed.
  • Booker T spoke to The Takedown on SI about his willingness to help younger talent:
    • I always tell the young guys, if you want some help, I’ll be right over here. I got a little cubby hole and I got a little spot, a little office. Sometimes I show up to work and I have two guys, three guys, a girl, sitting there waiting on me. We’ll break it down … really go into self interrogation mode, ask ourselves serious questions.
    • It’s mostly going to be ‘what not to dos’ and working with these kids and really getting down to the meat and potatoes of being able to beat someone up poetically. That’s all it is. If you could do that, we can make a whole lot of money.

Other Wrestling

  • Josh Alexander appeared on the Battleground Podcast ahead of his match against Kenny Omega on Dynamite tonight.
  • During the interview, Alexander was asked if he would like to see his wife Jade Chung and friend Scott D’Amore have a role in AEW/ROH:
    • I would absolutely love to see that. I mean, Scott’s one thing. He might take offense more if I said no to that than my wife. 
    • My wife first and foremost, she changed her whole career from a wrestling manager into being a ring announcer just because [TNA] asked her to try it. She was worried about it, but she’s like, ‘I’ll give it a try, I’ve never done it, we’ll see.’ She went to voice lessons for a year, and she’s still going to this day, even though she’s not doing it anymore.
    • But she did all this hard work. And I think the hard work showed in what she was able to do as a ring announcer. Like, she was getting praise from a lot of people from around the industry that have been in the industry for a very long time.
    • So I think it’d be a terrible waste of her talents to not see her do what she now loves to do and is now confident in doing at a bigger company. AEW would be a very good place for that.
    • Scott D’Amore, the man has helped me more than anybody else in wrestling history. He saw something in me when a lot of people didn’t, gave me an opportunity when a lot of people didn’t. And the only reason I’m sitting here in this house that I’m able to put over my children’s heads is because of Scott D’Amore giving me those opportunities and me making the best of them. So I owe that guy so much, and I would love to see him anywhere.
  • WDW News Today has an interview with MJF.
  • Alec Price told Undisputed that he and Jordan Oliver are out to prove they’re the best tag team in the world now that they’ve signed with AEW:
    • This is our time. [MJF] was part of the last generation of indie talent, then me and Jordan and our generation held the indies strong. Now it’s all about a new challenge. Me and Jordan aren’t going to squander this opportunity. We’re the best tag team in the world, and we’re going to show it.
  • In an interview with NJPW’s English-language website, Yota Tsuji reacted to Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match:
    • I hit the showers when I got to the back and I was icing my neck while I checked it out. Tanahashi’s incredible. Those cheers at that volume from that many people without stopping, it just hit home how much he means to wrestling. Tanahashi that day was like the ultimate final form of a pro-wrestler. And you know, the match was great. Some emotion just boiled over toward the end there (laughs).
  • Tsuji noted that he wants his IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship defense against Gabe Kidd or Andrade El Idolo to take place overseas. Those two are facing each other in a number one contender’s match at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.
    • I’d like to do it overseas. If it happens to be Andrade then it’s a new international name to me to face, and if it’s Gabe then it will be a chance to show the best of NJPW to a foreign audience, so it’ll be cool either way.
  • All three members of former WWE faction Gallus will be debuting for MLW in Kissimmee, Florida on January 29, with Wolfgang joining Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey among the confirmed entrants for the 40-man Battle Riot match.
  • Elayna Black (the former Cora Jade) revealed that she is dating fellow TNA wrestler KC Navarro.
  • Limitless Wrestling’s YouTube channel uploaded the full Eddie Kingston & Ortiz vs. Anthony Greene & Channing Thomas tag match from last week.
  • “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, The Great Sasuke, Gangrel, and Jordan Oliver & Alec Price will be taking part in Joey Janela’s Boat Bash 2027.

Daily Update: Netflix & WBD, Jake Doyle, Maple Leaf Pro

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.

*WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well.  A look at each case-by-case.

*Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City

*Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years

*Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025

*WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025

*What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries

*Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t

*The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent

*A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule

*A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong

*When did wrestling start being a work.  Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think

*Odds for WWE matches upcoming

*The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why

*What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026

*One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires

*Kazuchika Okada in Japan

*Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025

*Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial

*Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events

*Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment

*The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotionT

*Tons of major independent shows coming

*AEW gets TV in new market

*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events

*Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE

*Tag team returning to AEW

*Dana White shuts down talk of major match

*A new lawsuit filed against WWE

*Notes on the recent WWE tryout

*Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Tuesday Update

 WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

Daily Update: WWE Raw fallout, CMLL notes, Gable Steveson

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.

*WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well.  A look at each case-by-case.

*Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City

*Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years

*Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025

*WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025

*What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries

*Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t

*The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent

*A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule

*A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong

*When did wrestling start being a work.  Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think

*Odds for WWE matches upcoming

*The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why

*What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026

*One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires

*Kazuchika Okada in Japan

*Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025

*Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial

*Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events

*Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment

*The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotionT

*Tons of major independent shows coming

*AEW gets TV in new market

*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events

*Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE

*Tag team returning to AEW

*Dana White shuts down talk of major match

*A new lawsuit filed against WWE

*Notes on the recent WWE tryout

*Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

— Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and the latest wrestling news. We also have weekend shows covering the major events and a Friday show with Garrett Gonzales, Cory Lieb and Ethan Taylor where we go over the 2025 awards ballot.

— AJ Styles vs. Gunther in a match where if Styles doesn’t win he will retire has been added to the Royal Rumble.

— Je’Von Evans was injured and the match had to be stopped on Raw today against Grande Americano. Right now the belief is it wasn’t too bad, there was more fear of a concussion and he’s said to be fine and flying home.

— Some other notes from the show today. Grayson Waller beat Akira Tozawa and Lyra Valkyria beat Ivy Nile for Main Event. Bayley at ringside for the match was very over. Fans saw Gunther and Styles as real stars. The crowd was not hot for Becky Lynch’s promo or match. Jey Uso was Hulk Hogan in 1999. Every time he was shown on the screen he was booed, but when he came out in front of the crowd the place went crazy for him. Lots of chants of “He’s banned from Japan” directed at Logan Paul. Evans got a standing ovation after the injury stoppage. 

Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley got the biggest live reactions. Fans booed all the Saudi Arabia and Royal Rumble videos and there were “you sold out” chants but they were light. They also booed Paul Levesque when shown in the Unreal footage. Punk got a superstar reaction but Balor got the biggest reaction on the show. Punk worked as a champion heel against local babyface star style Lou Thesz and Jack Briscoe did as world champion. The crowd cheered both after the show. He brought Balor back out after the show ended and said “Just one last thing, ‘Chicago is way louder.'” Balor called it the most memorable night of his career and said it was the first time in 15 years he was home for his mother’s birthday and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to his mother. (thanks to Neil McNerlan)

— The Academy Award nominations will be revealed on Thursday. I saw an article that gave Dwayne Johnson a 6.9 percent chance to be nominated for Best Actor in “Smashing Machine.”

— The movie “Night Patrol” which featured CM Punk opened this weekend with $194,016 on 800 screens. It was No. 25 in total box office but per screen it was last among the top 51 and most of those movies were not just released.

–The CMLL show from yesterday was taken off the site because during the Templario vs Bandido main event, when they were outside the ring, a fan got into the ring and it took a lot of security to get him out. Security was late and they didn’t cut away, maybe thinking it was an angle that they hadn’t been told about. The last thing CMLL, because their shows cater to tourists, wants are videos of a security issue or making it feel like going to Arena Mexico may be dangerous. There were a lot of fan videos that got out showing security struggling with the guy and finally taking him to the back.

— No titles ended up changing hands. Ricochet kept the National title over Titan. Lee Moriarty kept the ROH Pure title over Xelhua. There were no issues with ref Edgar Noriega and the rules, although fans were confused. Titan retained the CMLL welterweight title over Komander and Templario kept the CMLL middleweight title. Bandido did try and talk the guy out of coming to the ring but he was not allowed to physically stop him because they have a strict rule for fear of the idea that a wrestler got physical with a fan for the same reasons of wanting the clean image. Templario said he’d like to go to AEW or ROH so they may do a rematch as an ROH title match.

— A correction from yesterday. Hechicero wasn’t double booked. He was only booked in Monterrey and they announced he was injured. He hasn’t wrestled since his Friday match with Roderick Strong. He was limping at one point during the match that didn’t look like a sell nor was it that noticeable, but it was there.

— We’re looking for reports from last night’s WWE show in Nottingham, results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

— The tour ended in Belfast today and they return to North America with the Friday night Smackdown show in Montreal.

— Bandido vs. Angel de Oro tonight in Puebla is sold out. Mascara Dorada & Atlantis Jr. & Xelhua vs. Yutani & Cavernario & Soberano Jr. and Ultimo Guerrero Volador Jr. vs. Gates of Agony is also on the show.

— There were a lot of great weekend matches. Ricochet vs. Titan was a super heated match that was more Best of the Super Juniors finals than a Lucha Libre match on Friday. I loved Lee Moriarty vs. Xelhua. It’s all matwork and submission exchanges, not for everyone but this crowd loved it. The Saturday crowd is more a hardcore wrestling crowd anyway.

— Gable Steveson faces Bud Sento heavyweight champion Hugo Lezama in an MMA fight on 2/19 for Mexico Fight League. People are already saying he would smash every heavyweight in UFC right now. Please, let’s wait until how he reacts when he gets punched, which hasn’t happened yet. He hasn’t faced one real fighter. As an athlete, sure he’s better than anyone, but there are many questions left to be answered.

— People all day have raved to me about the Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi vs. Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino main event at today’s Korakuen Hall show as well as the Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Oleg Boltin trios title win over Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson.

— TJP returned to WWE and worked the AAA show on Saturday. It will air in upcoming weeks. They taped three TV tapings on Saturday. They will air at 9 p.m. Eastern every Saturday night on YouTube. On Tubi in Mexico, they kept the show going long so fans could hear the audio (not see it) of the other shows being taped. The AAA YouTube stream for South America from FOX was taken down midshow because they mistakenly thought it was an illegal use of a copyrighted show when it was the actual legal feed.

— Alex Shelley is enrolling in Franklin University to get another degree (he has multiple degrees already) in exercise science. That’s the benefit of the current WWE schedule.

— Ted DiBiase Jr.’s trial is continuing for misappropriation of welfare funds in Mississippi. But he has already filed claiming a mistrial.

— Ron Killings (R-Truth) turns 54 today. Tyler Breeze turns 38. Wardlow turns 38. There will be a lot of talk tomorrow about Killings since his contract talks will be part of WWE Unreal, which debuts tomorrow. Jimmy Brawner, the original Kurt Von Brauner, was born on this day 101 years ago. Al Greene was born in 1928. Pat Patterson was born in 1941. Buck Robley was born in 1945. Bam Bam Bigelow died 19 years ago today at 45. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Miyuu Yamamoto, a multi-time world champion amateur wrestler, who is the sister of Kid Yamamoto, signed for her pro boxing debut on 3/28 in Sydney. She is now 51. She started MMA at 42, way too late. She will do a six-round fight against Michlle Mack.

— CMLL announced a Fantastica Mania show with MLW on 4/12 in Charleston, SC at Festival Hall.

Daily Update: Weekend notes on AEW, CMLL, and Trey Miguel

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

*The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.

*WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well.  A look at each case-by-case.

*Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City

*Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years

*Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025

*WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025

*What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries

*Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t

*The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent

*A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule

*A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong

*When did wrestling start being a work.  Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think

*Odds for WWE matches upcoming

*The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why

*What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026

*One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires

*Kazuchika Okada in Japan

*Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025

*Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial

*Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events

*Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment

*The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotionT

*Tons of major independent shows coming

*AEW gets TV in new market

*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events

*Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE

*Tag team returning to AEW

*Dana White shuts down talk of major match

*A new lawsuit filed against WWE

*Notes on the recent WWE tryout

*Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Sunday Update

— Our Friday show was covering the news of the week like the TNA show, AEW ratings and focusing on going through the awards ballot with Ethan Tyler, Garrett Gonzales and Corey Lieb. I’ll be back tonight talking about the news with Bryan Alvarez.

— Today’s Arena Mexico show which started at 6 p.m. Eastern is streaming live for CMLL subscribers:

  • Audaz & Fuego vs Infarto & Disturbio
  • India Sioux & Jarochita & Lluvia vs. Marcela & Princesa Sugehit & La Magnifica
  • Lee Moriarty & Virus vs. Blue Panther & Xelhua
  • Atlantis Jr. vs. Roderick Strong vs. Esfinge
  • Euforia & Soberano Jr. & Difunto vs. Gates of Agony & Ricochet
  • Titan vs. Komander for CMLL welterweight title
  • Templario vs. Bandido for CMLL middleweight title

— Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Volador Jr. & Magnus is the main event for Villahermosa tonight along with a rudos battle with Ultimo Guerrero & Hechicero vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja non-title. Persephone is also back from injury or at least on the poster for tonight.

— WWE ran last night in Gdansk, Poland: 

  • Je’Von Evans b Bron Breakker when Bronson Reed interfered. CM Punk made the save, which led to:
  • Punk & Evans b Reed & Breakker in a very hot match when Punk pinned Reed. Evans and Breakker were really over.
  • Raquel Rodriguez b Bayley in a good match. Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez were in the corners. They issued challenges after.
  • Uncle Howdy & Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy b Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa & JC Mateo. Howdy pinned Mateo. Gacy and Mateo worked hard.
  • Valkyria b Perez.
  • Cody Rhodes b Drew McIntyre via DQ in a WWE title match. Super heat. McIntyre was cheered at first. Rhodes got mild boos. McIntyre cut a promo running down Poland and said he wasn’t going to wrestle. Rhodes attacked him. The gimmick worked and the crowd turned completely. McIntyre used a low blow for the DQ. They brawled after and it ended with Rhodes coming off the top rope with a splash through the table. (thanks to Konrad Iwicki)

— As noted last night on Collision, Strong beat Hechicero on Friday night at Arena Mexico to get a shot at CMLL heavyweight champion Claudio Castagnoli. They shot an angle and stipulation on the Friday night Arena Mexico show for a match that takes place on the AEW Collision show on 1/24 in Arlington, TX. Ricochet beat Titan in the main event to keep the National title. That probably plays into the Titan vs. Komander booking.

— Hechicero didn’t wrestle today in Monterrey in his scheduled main event. They announced at the show he was injured Friday at Arena Mexico. He was also booked in Villahermosa. The two cities are 875 miles apart.

— It was 55 years ago today that Ivan Koloff beat Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden to win the WWWF title in one of the biggest matches in pro wrestling history. Sammartino had been champion for seven-and-a-half years straight.

— TKO’s Andrew Schleimer said they expect to hold three PPV shows this year in Saudi Arabia.

— Since people have asked about this, with MLK’s Birthday tomorrow, the TNA rating on AMC probably won’t be out until Tuesday. Ratings and details are harder and harder to come by but I believe there is enough interest in this one that it will come out, even if Programming Insider doesn’t have it.

— Lots of talk regarding Trey Miguel. What we do know is that we had been told actually before the Rascalz story broke that Miguel would be debuting on Collision, and then it came out that all had signed a couple of days later. The thing is that the segment that he wasn’t on would have been taped on Wednesday. It may not have been shown before the fans in Phoenix. I would think not because if it had we’d have been talking about why he wasn’t in the segment a few days ago. Obviously something happened as Miguel wrote, “Taking a break from wrestling. Please respect my space and don’t tag me in any posts or comments. Go support the Rascalz still.” He had listed AEW on his social media and then removed it. He was released from his deal and nobody has said anything further.

— Thea Hail, Tatum Paxley, Ethan Page, Oba Femi and Lola Vice are all on the billboard at the arena in Saudi Arabia promoting the Rumble show. All the major stars are on it including Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.

— Aleister Black suffered a broken tailbone in the ambulance match but it was said to be minor and the plan was for him to take time off after that match either way.

— Last night, after the Mistico & Dorada vs. Komander & Bandido match that sold out Arena Coliseo, Mistico, Dorada, Difunto, Soberano Jr., and Cavernario went to Arena Mexico for a sponsored show. These happen there fairly often. We rarely get results. CMLL doesn’t count that in weekly attendance since the show was sold to PanAmerican and they either invite their employees or are in charge of the tickets. The 1.15 million fans at Arena Mexico in 2025 did not include attendance at these events. Also, the top CMLL stars work far more dates than would be listed anywhere in the U.S.

— Santos Escobar returned after signing a new deal months ago on last night’s AAA show and was being groomed for a match with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. for the Latin American title.

— Konnan was not on the English language broadcast of AAA last night. Corey Graves did the show with John Layfield. They only aired about one hour on YouTube last night and the other two hours taped will air over the next two weeks.

— Jordan Oliver and Alec Price were announced as being signed by AEW by MJF at Friday night’s Limitless Wrestling show in Lewiston, ME. MJF beat Price to retain the title in the main event. The storyline is that MJF will be defending his title on independent shows which he claimed puts him in the calibre of touring world champions like Ric Flair, Harley Race and Buddy Rogers.

— We’re looking for reports from tonight’s WWE show in Nottingham, England, results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

— We’re looking for your thoughts on these weekend shows:

  • CMLL Friday from Arena Mexico
  • CMLL last night
  • TNA Genesis from last night
  • CMLL tonight
  • We’re looking for a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— Raw tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern from Belfast, Northern Ireland:

  • CM Punk vs. Finn Balor for world title
  • Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri for IC title
  • Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee & Penta vs. Logan Paul & Bronson Reed & Austin Theory
  • Je’Von Evans vs. Grande Americano

— The BBC did a piece today on Raw coming to Belfast tomorrow.

— Drew McIntyre and Kit Wilson were on ITV News promoting Smackdown.

— FOX News Digital talked to Izzy Dame.

— AEW Dynamite on Wednesday in Orlando has Kenny Omega vs. Josh Alexander, Samoa Joe vs. Mike Bailey, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford vs. Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa, Swerve Strickland vs. Kevin Knight and Jon Moxley & Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta vs. Rocky Romero & Lance Archer & Hechicero. Plus MJF appears.

— Jorge Masvidal got speculation going that he is going to face Conor McGregor. Dana White said McGregor vs. Michael Chandler wasn’t happening at the White House without an explanation. Masvidal talked to MMA Junkie and was asked about the McGregor vs. Masvidal rumor. He said, “You never know, right? S***, give them what they want, not what they expect. I can say some big news. I have some fight news coming soon and it’s very big news and I can’t deny or confirm what you just said. You’ve got to let the chips fall where they may but definitely some big news headed toward the MMA community.”

— Not much on the Google trends for the weekend, obviously dominated by the NFL. Paddy Pimblett, who headlines this coming Saturday’s UFC show against Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title, was the No. 45 searched term of the weekend. Penn State won 32-3 before 12,530 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Penn State was ranked No. 1 and Iowa No. 3. TNA’s Genesis PPV was No. 259. Nothing from WWE, AEW, AAA or CMLL made the list. There were no major UFC or boxing matches over the weekend.

—  New Japan had a show today in Sakura promoted by Yuji Nagata where Nagata & Aaron Wolf & Oleg Boltin & Toru Yan beat Evil & Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo in the main event when Wolf beat Togo with a reverse triangle.

— Ted DiBiase turns 72 today. Dave Bautista turns 57. Mark Briscoe turns 41. Wendy Choo turns 34. Toots Mondt, one of the most influential people in the history of wrestling, was born on this day in 1894. Mondt and Vince McMahon’s father started the WWWF and were partners dating back to the 50s. Perro Aguayo, one of the biggest drawing cards of all-time, would have been 81 today. Lord Athol Layton was 63 when he died on this day 42 years ago. The Sheik, Ed Farhat, was 76 when he died 23 years ago. The Sheik is one of the biggest drawing heels who ever lived. Pez Whatley died on this day 22 years ago at the age of 54 (thanks to Tony Richards)

Daily Update: WWE SmackDown notes, big weekend for CMLL & AAA

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

AEW & ROH title matches set for January CMLL event

[email protected]

We just finished the second of our awards shows with Garrett Gonzales, Cory Lieb and Ethan  Tyler going through a number of different categories today, plus talked WWE direction leading to WrestleMania and changes,TNA’s debut on AMC, AEW TV ratings and other topics. Bryan and I will be back Sunday night and this is a very big weekend for shows in Mexico and we’ll try and cover as much as we can.

–,The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site today:

*The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.

*WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well.  A look at each case-by-case.

*Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City

*Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years

*Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025

*WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025

*What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries

*Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t

*The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent

*A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule

*A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong

*When did wrestling start being a work.  Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think

*Odds for WWE matches upcoming

*The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why

*What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026

*One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires

*Kazuchika Okada in Japan

*Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025

*Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial

*Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events

*Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment

*The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotionT

*Tons of major independent shows coming

*AEW gets TV in new market

*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events

*Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE

*Tag team returning to AEW

*Dana White shuts down talk of major match

*A new lawsuit filed against WWE

*Notes on the recent WWE tryout

*Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.

— No big surprises on Smackdown with Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Damien Priest and Sami Zayn as the final four in the four-way on the 1/24 Saturday Night’s Main Event show, as well as Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu, on the show in Montreal.  

— To my surprise, CMLL sold out Arena Mexico tonight already with 16,000 fans. That means they’ve been over 14,000 every Friday for the past two months. With Saturday and Sunday being bigger shows as far as drawing, plus having Mistico Saturday and Sunday, I didn’t think tonight would sell out:

  • Ricochet vs. Titan for the National title is the headliner
  • Hechicero vs. Roderick Strong – winner gets a heavyweight title match with Claudio Castagnoli
  • Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrero Match of the month rematch
  • Sobrano Jr. & Cavernario vs. Gates of Agony
  • Max Star & Futuro & Valiente Jr vs. Cobarde & Felino & El Hijo de Stuka Jr – Match of the month rematch

The show will be airing in English as a PPV on Triller+.  

— CMLL also announced Tuesday’s Guadalajara main event is Mistico & Bandido vs. Hechicero & Ultimo Guerrero. Ultimo Guerrero was Bandido’s trainer. If you are keeping track, tonight and tomorrow are sellouts. Sunday will probably not sell out but will be one of the bigger Sunday crowds with the double main of Titan vs. Komander and Templario vs Bandido, Monday in Puebla is a lock to sellout as is Tuesday with that main event.

— Right now there is no word if the Sunday show will air on the CMLL YouTube channel but we expect it will be announced at the last minute on Sunday. CMLL YouTube channel has tonight’s show, tomorrow night’s show and the Tuesday Arena Mexico and Guadalajara shows.

— The AAA show tomorrow night airs at 9 p.m.Eastern on the WWE’s YouTube page in both English and Spanish.

–The reason for so many AEW guys is AAA has a show tomorrow night at Juan de la Barrera Gym. They added Rey Mysterio to the show today. Not sure if he’s wrestling or just appearing.

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

  • NXT tonight in Melbourne, FL
  • AAA tomorrow night in Mexico City
  • NXT tomorrow night in Citrus Springs, FL
  • WWE tomorrow night in Gdansk, Poland
  • WWE Sunday in Nottingham, UK

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

— AEW Dynamite did 526,000 viewers and a 0.08 in 18-49. Here’s a stat that we should all be skeptical of. The show had about 107,000 viewers between the ages of 50 and 54 but 111,000 between 18 and 49. In 25-54 it was the third biggest since the new ratings came in, behind only Blood & Guts and one other show.

— Darby Allin talked to The Orlando Sentinel about AEW letting him do what he wants, living in his car early in his career and working for AEW. 

— Bandido vs. Jake Doyle headlines Warrior Wrestling tonight in Chicago. The show is sold out but the place only holds about 350 fans.

— Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling has already sold out the Newark, CA Pavilion for the 1/23 show with a Chris Bey Meet & Greet plus Ricochet vs. Starboy Charlie, QT Marshall & Aaron Solo in a tag match, Alan Angels vs. LJ Cleary, Gates of Agony vs. Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito, VertVixen vs. Brittnie Brooks and the annual Battle Royal for the  Roy Shire Trophy.

— Pro Wrestling EVE on 3/8 in London is looking at doing the largest crowd for an all-women’s show in history. Announced are Kris Statlander defending her International title against Charlie (Dakota Kai) and Harley Cameron vs. Amira Blair.

— GCW on 2/14 at the UCC in Los  Angeles has Hammerstone vs. 1 Called Manders and Joey Janela vs. Chris Masters.

— ROH & MLP are doing shows on 3/27 and 3/28 at St. Clair College in Windsor, ONT. On 3/27, Ricochet will defend the National title and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson appear. Also coming in for the weekend are Kaito Kiyomiya, Mascara Dorada, Cavernario, Bishop Dyer and Daisuke Sasaki.

— Lucha Va Voom has a 21 and older show set for Valentine’s Day at the Fox Theater in Pomona, CA. Atlantis Jr. and Soberano Jr. are on the show.

— John Sutton, the former Sir Oliver Humperdink, would have turned 77 today. Mike Sharpe Jr., passed away ten years ago today at the age of 65. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— AIW next Friday in Cleveland, OH has Jim Duggan, Rhino, Isla Dawn, Danhausen and Dijak at the Globe Ironi.