The lead story is the passing of the legendary Afa Anoaʻi with a look at his wrestling life and times, how he got into wrestling, titles won, and lots more.
I also look at this Sunday’s AEW All In, some of the various announcements that Tony Khan has made and is promising to make, including a new TV rights deal.
Zack Sabre Jr. won this year’s NJPW G1 tournament, but isn’t challenging for the title at this year’s Wrestle Kingdom.
I also look at the latest in the Cain Velasquez case, the final AAA Triplemania of the year, my personal connection to the late Phil Donahue, and more.
The wrestling world is paying tribute to Afa Anoa’i.
Afa, who was part of the legendary Wild Samoans tag team with his brother Sika, passed away on Friday at the age of 81, just weeks after Sika passed away in June. On Friday’s WWE SmackDown, the company aired a tribute highlighting his career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWMGjJrdcWw
Afa’s daughter, Vale Anoa’i, responded to the tribute on X.
“Deeply touched and grateful for the absolutely beautiful tribute video @WWE put together for my Dad. That was perfect. My heart is full of love. Thank you so much,” she wrote.
Deeply touched and grateful for the absolutely beautiful tribute video @WWE put together for my Dad. That was perfect. My heart is full of love. Thank you so much. pic.twitter.com/RiqOhjpg6l
“Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana’i Anoa’i,” he wrote. We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola’ivao Leati Sika Anoa’I were loving brothers, the greatest tag team of their generation, and now they’re reunited together in heaven. Rest in Power Wild Samoans.”
Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana'i Anoa'i. We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola’ivao Leati Sika Anoa’I were…
Son Afa wrote on Facebook: “I’ve lost my Best Friend, My Biggest Fan, my Mentor, my Hero, my Trainer, my Influence, my world, my Father!!! Nothing can prepare for this part of life. I’m devastated! Rest Easy Dad! Give uncle a big hug for me! #Anoai”
Rikishi, Lance Anoa’i, and Reno Anoa’i also posted on X:
AEW, TNA, and other figures in pro wrestling posted on social media in the hours following the announcement of his passing:
AEW and the wrestling world mourn the passing of the legendary Wild Samoan Afa. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans. pic.twitter.com/053EKcrAVm
TNA is saddened to learn of the passing of Afa Anoa’i Sr., one-half of the legendary Wild Samoans tag team. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Anoa’i family, his friends and fans during this time. pic.twitter.com/6mww2L7dcw
The wrestling world mourns the loss of a great legend, Afa Anoaʻi, but we choose to celebrate his life and the memories he leaves behind. All of us here at the CAC stand with his family, friends, and fans worldwide in their time of grief and offer our heartfelt condolences. pic.twitter.com/hIn4UyKlr0
The Hart family has so much love for your family. Reflecting on the incredible life Afa lived and what an amazing family man he was. May The Wild Samoan’s legacy in wrestling burn brightly FOREVER. https://t.co/lZc4YI52nQpic.twitter.com/1mE2hYX5He
My thoughts & condolences go out to the families, friends & loved ones of both Afa & Sika. May these 2 trailblazers rest in peace & power. These 2 gentlemen built the foundation that the Samoan Dynasty would be built upon. Godspeed! pic.twitter.com/SGu6CjnL85
Godspeed, Afa. Your contributions are unquestioned and legacy will live forever. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and all he touched. Rest well, sir. 🙏 https://t.co/89vSuDDgID
In the 1970s and 80s, The Wild Samoans were a dominant part of the WWE’s tag team divsion, winning the titles three times. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007, and their legacy lives on with The Bloodline stable, a prominent part of WWE programing.
– Afa Anoa’i just passed away today at the age of 81. He had a number of serious health issues in recent months. This comes less than two months since the death of brother and tag team partner Sika. We send our best to the family. We are also apologetic for reporting this yesterday on X. Afa & Sika were a legendary tag team in the 70s and early 80s and part of one of the largest pro wrestling families in history, which include WWE stars Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu and countless others including Umaga, Rikishi, Yokozuna, Tonga Kid, Afa Jr., Black Pearl, Zilla Fatu, Rosey and Gary Albright. What a week with the deaths of Kevin Sullivan and Dennis Brent.
– Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing our week in review show today. If you have any questions for the show on topics in the current issue you can send them to [email protected] and in particular anything on Kevin Sullivan. The weekend show with Bryan Alvarez will be tomorrow night.
– The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site right now. We have a giant story on the life and career of Kevin Sullivan. It’s one of the biggest stories we’ve done in recent years covering this very unique person who wore a lot of hats in the industry and had a lot of very significant influence on aspects of the genre.
Among the other topics covered:
Tony Khan announces the second AEW stadium show for 2025 and we talk about reports of a third one as well.
Previewing All In
Update on Bash in Berlin including a new main event not announced yet and the latest on the planned stipulation
Bryan Danielson talks about his life and career
AEW and Triller doing PPV bundles
U.S. Olympic wrestling roundup as well as Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to recruit three Olympians
Update on G-1 Climax tournament and all the bouts of the past week
A look at the career of Yoshinari Ogawa who retired this past week
A look at Dennis Brent, who passed away, a behind-the-scenes figure who was very close to many insiders in the wrestling community and had worked for and with World Class, Mid South, WCW, JCP and WWE before a tragic case of MS ended him in wrestling.
Update on legal wranglings involving Janel Grant, Vince McMahoin and Dr. Carlon Colker
The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, weekly rankings, comparisons with a year ago, segment-by-segment, nightly placings competition and more
Rundown from another big show at Arena Mexico
More on the CMLL Grand Prix show featuring wrestlers from all over the world
Return date announced for one of the biggest international stars
Exactly what the issues are with AAA and Penta & Fenix and why their talent isn’t allowed to appear on the same shows in Mexico
Update on the Stardom Five Star Grand Prix
Dragon Gate Dangerous Gate update
N-1 tournament update
What WWE NXT star is getting over in Japan
Grandson of one of the biggest wrestling stars of all-time now training to wrestle
El Hijo del Santo retirement tour update and he talks about when he was negotiating to go full-time with WWE
MJF vs. Michael Oku match story and angle with Ospreay
GCW hits Japan
PPV updates for recent pro wrestling and boxing events
Tony Khan talks more on big announcements
Update on Young Bucks
Penta & Fenix update
Behind the making of MJF vs. Oku in England
Advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
Streaming numbers and international TV numbers
Update on Conor McGregor fighting
Former MMA fighter involved in a shooting death of a man who was friends with the person who was accused of kidnapping his son
Heyman talks his ECW run
Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon
Jesse Ventura and his attempt to unionize wrestlers
– Cain Velasquez pleaded no contest in his attempted murder case today in San Jose. His trial was scheduled to start in three weeks. The plea bargain agreement was that the charge of premeditated attempted murder was dropped. If he had been convicted of that charge he would face mandatory life in prison, although with the possibility of parole. Judge Arthur Bocanegro will decide on his punishment at a date to be determined. The District Attorney in the case did say Velasquez would be facing prison time. What hurt Velasquez in this case is that a search of his phone found he was looking up searches for “sexual assault case where the victims family fights back” and “sexual assault cases where victims family retaliates,” which showed this was not a momentary rage but something he had been looking up before he chased down Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting his young son at a daycare center. Velasquez chased a car with Goularte in it for 11 miles and fired shots which hit Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender in the arm. He was arrested and spent eight months in jail before being released on bail. After release he did one pro wrestling match for AAA and had been training fighters at the AKA School in San Jose.
– Kathleen Finch, the chairman and CEO of WBD’s U.S. networks, which include TBS and TNT, announced that she would be retiring at the end of this year. Channing Dungey, the Chairman and CEO of Warner Brothers Television Group, will be her successor. Finch was and is a big proponent of AEW and always talked positively publicly about the product and its ratings success. We are told that this is not expected to affect the contract negotiations for a new deal or AEW in general’s day-to-day business. Finch started as a programmer for the Food Network in 1999 after working 12 years as a reporter for CBS News.
– Tony Khan said that AEW will run a show in England in 2025. He said All In would be in Texas but they would have something in London as well. He didn’t specify the venue.
– We send our best wishes to Bobby Fulton of the Fantastics, who has been battling cancer on and off for years. Fulton had surgery on Tuesday to repair his throat from the years of cancer treatments and during the surgery had heart complications. He will be seeing a cardiologist shortly. He has been responding to people on Twitter wishing him the best.
– FuboTV’s lawsuit against ESPN, FOX, WBD and Hulu to block the debut of Venu, the streaming service that would have ABC, all the ESPN channels, TBS, TNT, TNT Sports, FOX, The Big 10 Network, FS1 and FS2 that was due to debut next week, won the first round today, blocking the launch of the service. ABC Disney, WBD and FOX have said that they will appeal this ruling.
– SmackDown tonight from Orlando, which will be sold out with more than 13,500 fans, has DIY vs. Street Profits with the winners getting a tag title shot, Kevin Owens vs. Grayson Waller, Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes, Blair Davenport vs. Naomi, Tiffany Stratton throws a party for Nia Jax, and Roman Reigns appears.
– Rampage tonight on TNT at 10 p.m. has Mark Briscoe & Tomohiro Ishii & Orange Cassidy vs. The Butcher & The Outrunners, Nyla Rose vs. Erica Leigh, Nick Wayne vs. Kip Sabian and Top Flight vs. MxM Collection. This was taped Wednesday so Mansoor is not going to be in two places at the same time in real life. It’ll only appear that way, since he’s in the semi at Aena Mexico tonight as well.
– There are less than 30 tickets remaining for the Q&A show that I’m doing with Bryan Alvarez on the morning of All In. The event takes place at 11 a.m. at the Tattershall Castle steamship in downtown London across from the London Eye and a five minute walk from Big Ben and Parliament. For more info, click here.
–Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander in a one hour Iron Man match for the TNA title headlines the 8/30 special from Louisville.
– We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows
SmackDown tonight in Orlando (non-Smackdown matches only)
AAA TripleMania tomorrow in Mexico City
WWE house show tomorrow in Lakeland, FL
AEW in Arlington, TX (matches not on Collision)
WWE house show Sunday in Estero, FL
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
– We’re doing weekend polls on both the Saturday and Sunday New Japan Sumo Hall G-1 semifinals and finals shows, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match for each show to [email protected].
– The start times for the New Japan G-1 semifinals with Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi and David Finlay vs. Yota Tsuji is 4 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning. The finals are 2 a.m. Eastern very late tomorrow night.
– Dana White announced today that Alex Pereira vs Khalil Rountree Jr. for the light heavyweight title will headline the 10/5 UFC PPV in Salt Lake City, UT. Rountree as the challenger was a big surprise, as most figured Magomed Ankalaev to be the top contender. Rountree is coming off a suspension after testing positive for the steroid androsterone, which was found to be something he accidentally ingested after they tested one of his supplements. Also announced was Raquel Pennington defending the women’s bantamweight title against Julianna Pena, Kayla Harrison vs. Ketlen Vieira, Mosvar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling, Mario Batista vs. Jose Aldo, Steven Wonderboy Thompson vs. Joaquin Buckley and Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland.
– Harrison being booked on the show with a bantamweight title fight looks to lead to her, if she wins, getting a shot at the winner and making that clear that night.
– Mistico & Esfinge & Atlantis Jr. vs. Valiente & Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero headlines Arena Mexico tonight. Mansoor & Rocky Romero also face Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja.
– Tuesday in Guadalajara is the League of Nationals Cibernetico match with Barbaza, Dulce Gardenia, Elemental, Furia Roja, El Hijo de Villano III Jr., Zandokan Jr., Mistico, Soberano Jr., Star Black, Villano III Jr., Akira (MLW), Dark Magic, Flip Gordon, Ikuro Kwon (MLW), Kyle Fletcher (AEW), Mansoor (AEW), Okumura, Robbie X (RevPro), Romero and Yutani.
– UFC 305 is tomorrow our time from Perth, Western Australia:
6:30 p.m. on ESPN+
Jesus Aguilar vs. Stewart Nicoll
Ricky Glenn vs. Sng Kenan
Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
ESPN2 and ESPN +at 8 p.m. Eastern
Herbert Burns vs. Jack Jenkins
Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos
Josh Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
PPV at 10 p.m.
Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Tai Tuivasa
Dan Hooker vs. Mateusz Gamrot
Steve Erceg vs. Kai Kara-France
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title
– Natsuko Tora will defend the World of Stardom title against Tam Nakano on 8/31 in Tokyo.
– Mina Shirakawa will replace Stephanie Vaquer on the 8/24 RevPro show at the Copper Box in London.
– TripleMania on Triller is tomorrow night with a Domed cage and the last person left loses their hair or mask with Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, Cibernetico Fiscal, Abismo Negro Jr., Psicosos (not the 90s Psicosis), Panic Clown, Dave the Clown and Murder Clown, plus Nic Nemeth defends the AAA Mega title against Alberto El Patron, Vamapiro faces a mystery man in a casket mach, Negro Casas & Psycho Clown defend the AAA tag titles against Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno del Mal and Raj Dhesi (Jinder Mahal) & Satnam Singh, Komander defends the AAA cruiserweight title against Matt Riddle and Laredo Kid, Flammer defends the Reina de Reinas title against Faby Apache and a Copa Bardal (Royal Rumble rules, all men in are mysteries)
– Sam Adons and Kenzo Suzuki have indicated being on the show.
– Satoshi Kojima defends the MLW title against Ares on 8/31 in San Juan, Costa Rica.
– Aja Kong makes her debut for West Coast Pro tomorrow night at the Queen of Indies show in San Francisco at the United Irish Cultural Center. The Queen of Indies is a one-night tournament with first round matches of Kylie Rae vs. Masha Slamovich, Hyari vs. Maya World, Great Sakuya vs. Brooke Havok and Amazona vs. Keyra Strong.
– Trevor Lee and Kylie Rae have been added to Scott D’Amore’s Maple Leaf Wrestling promotion debut shows on 10/19 and 10/20 in Windsor ONT.
– Actor Jeff Goldblum, who guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, and had John Cena as a guest, mentioned watching Bruno Sammartino, Haystacks Calhoun, Killer Kowalski and Bobo Brazil as a kid on his black & white television set.
– Jonathan Gresham will be appearing on this week’s Memphis Wrestling TV show.
Afa Anoa’i — WWE legend and a vital member of one of pro wrestling’s greatest dynasties — passed away on Friday at 81 years old.
The WWE Hall of Famer had been battling for his life after entering hospice care recently. Today, Afa’s death was announced by his family. “It is with deepest regret that we announce the passing of my father Afa Anoai Sr. It was a peaceful transition and he was surrounded by loved ones,” his son Samu wrote. “Please respect our privacy as we morn our father.”
Afa suffered two heart attacks this January while battling pneumonia. He then underwent multiple back surgeries after suffering a broken back in a fall that happened in March.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Afa and his younger brother Sika were a top act in the WWF as The Wild Samoans. They held the WWF Tag Team titles three times. In 2007, they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Sika passed away at 79 years old this June.
Afa was a wrestling trainer after the end of his in-ring career and operated the indie promotion World Xtreme Wrestling.
Though both Wild Samoans have now departed, their legacy lives on through their Bloodline family. Afa & Sika last appeared on WWE programming when they congratulated Sika’s son Roman Reigns on his victory over Jey Uso at Hell in a Cell 2020.
Our family has suffered another great loss with the passing of my uncle and WWE Hall of Famer, Gataivasā Afa Amituana’i Anoa’i. We thank everyone for their support and are comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Afa and my father, Pola’ivao Leati Sika Anoa’I were loving brothers, the greatest tag team of their generation, and now they’re reunited together in heaven. Rest in Power Wild Samoans.
Afa was devoted to his family, dominant in the ring, and dedicated to building future generations of @WWE Superstars. My thoughts are with the entire Anoa’i family as we remember the legendary Afa.
The biggest crowds of the year for pro wrestling, boxing, MMA and even college wrestling
What pro wrestlers were drawing the biggest crowds most often
How each promotion did as far as drawing in 2023
The biggest gates of the year
Pro wrestling history–the biggest drawing card every year dating back to 1916
Most years for any wrestler in history as the leading draw
50 Biggest drawing cards of all-time based on annual dominance and longevity
Royal Rumble update
Early notes on AEW Revolution and how the main event was set up
The life and times of Killer Khan, the top drawing actual Japanese native when it comes to major crowds in U.S. history and the feud with Andre the Giant, Choshu’s Army and a look at pro wrestling in the 70s and 80s in the U.S., Japan and Mexico.
New Year Dash, New Japan’s next major shows, and future of several of New Japan’s top guys
The most detailed look at the ratings for the past week, weekly standings, nightly competition, ups and downs compared to last year, segment-by-segment.
Former world champion open to moving to Mexico and working full-time
Unique tournament in Mexico starts next week
Promotion talks about its unique 2024 theme
Movie on life of a current pro wrestling star release date
Key intermediary in WWE/All Japan deal
New Japan major shows for 2024
New international promotional alliance
Business of the Iron Claw movie
Are WWE & AEW stars employees or independent contractors, what the new law says and why wrestling may fall through the cracks
Notes on next season of Dark Side of the Ring
Nic Nemeth in Puerto Rico
Mustafa Ali independent return
Return of TNA
New major AEW & WWE hires
Update on Worlds End PPV numbers
Kota Ibushi injury update
International TV ratings
Lots of new major UFC fights
Joshua vs. Ngannou business thoughts
More on Raw TV deal
Looking at how Raw would be expected to do on Amazon Prime
Bryan and I will be up tonight talking Raw and the rest of the latest wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio. We have a show from last night up on the site right now.
Brock Lesnar will be back on WWE television very soon.
Best wishes to Afa Anoa’i, the uncle of the Usos and Roman Reigns, who had two mild heart attacks over the weekend while being hospitalized for pneumonia. He was released from the hospital yesterday.
Cora Jade’s knee injury suffered Saturday night at the house show was believed by those in WWE to be a torn ACL.
Right now no update on whether Carmelo Hayes will be able to wrestle Tuesday. He and Trick Williams were to be a team in the Dusty Rhodes tournament and face Edris Enofe & Malik Blade tomorrow night, and no doubt creative had been worked into the match. Hayes was injured in his match Friday night on Smackdown with Austin Theory which was stopped due to injuries to both men.
Raw tonight is the final major show up against football so the ratings should bounce back next week. It goes up against the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Bucs wildcard playoff game on both ABC & ESPN. The combined audience should be the largest of the season, more than 30 million, so if Raw gets even an 0.42 it should be considered good. The show features Seth Rollins vs. Jinder Mahal for the world title, Damien Priest & Finn Balor vs. The Miz & R-Truth non-title, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh vs. DIY plus the return of Gunther.
Because today is Martin Luther King Day, the ratings will be delayed with the Friday numbers (Smackdown did a strong number again) delayed until tomorrow. The Saturday and Monday numbers should be out Wednesday, and the Tuesday and Wednesday numbers should be out Thursday.
We’re looking for reports from tonight’s Raw show in North Little Rock, AR, with Main Event matches and anything else off television, as well as last night’s results from the house show in Rio Rancho, NM to [email protected]
We’re also doing weekend polls on NJPW Battle in the Valley and ROH Hard to Kill, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
For Google searches, the only thing boxing, MMA or wrestling related over the past week was Saturday’s UFC show, which was No. 7 for the day (very high number since we’re in NFL playoffs and the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona game was big) at 200,000. It was UFC’s first show of the year but it was only on ESPN+ and was an Apex arena show and did what a WWE PPV does.
Peacock set its record for viewing with Saturday’s Chiefs vs. Dolphins wildcard playoff game with 23 million viewers. That’s not just on Peacock as it was on TV in the Kansas City and Miami areas and did a 45 rating in KansasCity and a 14.5 in Miami. It is being claimed that this was the largest audience in the history of streaming in the U.S. The key as it pertains to wrestling is that a lot of new people signed up for Peacock for this game and thus it would in theory boost the Royal Rumble viewing number.
Thursday on AXS will air two major matches. Will Ospreay vs. Josh Alexander airs on Impact, and the New Japan TV show will be an hour devoted to Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson from the Tokyo Dome.
Trinity Fatu is expected to finish up with TNA at the tapings this coming weekend in Orlando, FL. She will then return to WWE.
Thanks to Jacob Pepper, Gerard Di Trolio and Michael Yoen for weekend show reports.
The matches not on the NJPW show that we’ve heard the most about this weekend was the NOAH main event with Kenoh vs. Go Shiozaki for the GHC title.
The Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura heavyweight fight that was scheduled for 2/17 in Anaheim, CA on PPV, has been moved to 3/16 at the Apex Arena.
All of the matches at The Collecti shows in Philadelphia from 4/4 to 4/6 went on sale today with 20 percent off individual event ticket prices.
A horse named Tatanka won the fifth race Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Florida (thanks to Barry Werner)
Empire State Wrestling Frontier Freeze on Friday in Niagara Falls, NY at the Frontier Fire Hall features 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Channing Decker.
Stan Hansen will be appearing for AIW on 2/3 in Akron, OH at the Tadmore Shrine.
PBS in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area tomorrow will debut “Jesse Ventura Shocks the World,” a documentary about him winning the election as Governor of the state in 1998.
Gable Steveson is once again scheduled for Friday’s Smackdown show, but for a dark match. He’s been doing that the last two weeks.
WWE Hall of Famer Afa the Wild Samoan (Afa Anoa’i) is in the hospital recovering from pneumonia and two heart attacks.
A message posted to Afa’s Facebook page on Friday informed fans that Afa was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia on Thursday night. Upon his arrival to the hospital, Afa suffered a mild heart attack. Afa then suffered a “second small heart attack” today.
The Facebook post stated that Afa isn’t out of the woods yet, but he’s doing ok and his spirits are high. Afa will be kept in the hospital for a day or two for observation.
Update on Afa the Wild Samoan, affectionately known as Pops: Afa was admitted to the hospital last night with pneumonia, but had a mild heart attack upon arrival. Today, he had a second small heart attack and was sent for a heart catheterization. He is doing ok, his spirits are high. He isn’t out of the woods yet, but will be kept in the hospital for a day or two for observation and monitoring. He thanks everyone for their concern, continued love, and prayers.
Afa underwent two exploratory heart procedures in December to check his valves. It was noted at the time that Afa may need a valve replacement. He had a follow-up appointment scheduled for December 20 to go over the next steps.
It was announced on December 21 that, due to increased medical concerns, Afa had to cancel a seminar for his WXW Wrestling that had been scheduled for January 13 in Minneola, Florida.
The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2007.
