The Bella Twins are back in WWE for an extended period of time.
This Friday on SmackDown, Nikki & Brie Bella will challenge Nia Jax & Lash Legend for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. They spoke about the match on a new edition of the Nikki & Brie Show and revealed that, when Brie returned at the 2026 Royal Rumble, they signed new two-year contracts with WWE. They are planning for this to be their last wrestling contract before retirement.
“For me, I don’t think you and I will ever get that last retirement moment that like John [Cena] got and AJ Styles got,” Nikki said. “Let’s be honest, the men get, right?
“I don’t think you and I will ever get that, but I would love to have that. Because I do know that the contract that we signed, we signed a two-year deal starting Royal Rumble. And for you and I, the talks we’ve had and what I know just where I’m at, that’s it. That will be the end for me and for us.”
Nikki added that she’d love to have a moment where she gives a final bow and leaves her gear in the ring. She doubts she’ll ever get that, but she still really wants to have an iconic final run that their fans can be proud of.
“I want to have some of my best matches. I want to have a lot of fun,” Nikki said. “But I want to have like an iconic moment where it’s like, I could look back and go, ‘Damn, that was a great two years.’ We did it. I don’t want to walk away with any what ifs… I want to look back at these past two years that we’re about to create and be like, ‘Damn, girl. We did it.'”
In this final run, The Bellas are balancing who they are now with the people they used to be. Nikki & Brie are already WWE Hall of Famers — and becoming Women’s Tag Team Champions is one of the final things on their bucket list. Being able to accomplish this now that they are both mothers would be especially meaningful.
“This is like the final thing,” Nikki said. “So when I’m like 60, 70, 80, hopefully 90s, sitting with Brie on a porch, wine tasting, wine making, like we could, ‘Girl, we did that.’ We did Evolution. We did this. Tag team champs. Like, that’s how my mind works, like that’s accomplishments. But dang, to do it as moms. Nothing is better.”
The Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina is hosting this Friday’s SmackDown episode. After the show, there will only be four weeks left until WrestleMania 42.
More on the Paramount purchase of WBD and details of when it goes through, if it goes through and details on how it helps or hurts UFC, AEW and Zuffa Boxing as well as a cost efficiency look at the three properties for 2027 if plans go through as stated.
The road to WrestleMania and why Paul Levesque is in a position where it’s impossible for him to do the job people want and impossible for him to fail, business notes on the show, and a look at the Elimination Chamber show, how it did on Netflix, the good and the bad.
Preview and updates on AEW Revolution and interest level
Odds on upcoming wrestling matches
Coverage of the New Japan New Beginning USA show in Trenton with two title changes
A look at the Demolition tag team as they go into the WWE Hall of Fame
The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling TV shows, including demos, competition and comparisons with last year.
Johnny TV in the most heated match so far this year with Angel de Oro
Why AAA television is so entertaining
Stardom Cinderella tournament notes
Brothers face off in NOAH jr. tag tournament final
New Japan Cup first two days
Final night of Fantastica Mania notes
Jeff Jarrett documentary
Wrestler out of prison starts working on indices this week
Real American Freestyle angle
Update of the robbery of the Canadian promotion and the Davey Boy Smith Jr. Hall of Fame ring
John Laurinaitis wants back in to wrestling
16 Carat Gold weekend in Germany
Pro Wrestling Eve has biggest show of its history this week
Brodie Lee Jr. first singles match date
Steph De Lander talks why she and Mance Warner quit TNA
Notes on David Finlay signing with AEW
ROH first TV tapings in a studio
UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight title updates
Lots of new UFC fights
Updates on WWE front office news and changes
The story behind leaking fast nationals
WWE accused of deleting key information in a lawsuit
More notes on the WWE deal with Endeavor and how it went down
Janel Grant speaks in favor of changing Connecticut law on NDAs
Bianca Belair update
WWE sends out unchecked email to network subscribers causing a panic
— We have two new shows up for subscribers this weekend. We had an interview on Friday’s Wrestling Observer Radio with former WWE and TNA producer David Sahadi talking about his book, “Backstage Pass” that comes out this week. This was a fun interview that many have called it among the best we’ve done. We talk a lot about both companies, from the Attitude Era to the present, and even some RAF, Dwayne Johnson, Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn, Lou Sahadi, and many others. Our weekend WOR is also up, covering the news of the week as well as Konnan, Cody Rhodes, UFC, Smackdown, Collision, CMLL Friday at Arena Mexico and much more.
— We’ve looking for your thoughts on last night’s NXT Vengeance Day. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
— Dana White said that they have been in talks with Conor McGregor, but not for the White House show. “We are definitely talking to Conor obviously. Not even close. We have no date for Conor right now. Not even close,” he said.
— As things are planned, Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes is scheduled for WrestleMania 42 and not a three-way or four-way.
— For those who have asked about the Bella Twins, they are expected back to television very soon.
— There was a crazy story this weekend where Logan Paul challenged any NFL football player for a $1 million challenge boxing match. The idea is both sides put up $1 million. Two players, Breiden Fehoko, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers but is now retired, and Le’Veon Bell, a former all-pro running back who retired and has had three pro boxing matches and several exhibitions, both answered his challenge.
When I saw it, I thought it was just a grandstand challenge and nothing would come of it because no NFL team is going to allow one of its players to do a boxing match, but I wasn’t thinking about retired players. Maybe Paul wasn’t either. But since Feihokio and Bell aren’t active any longer, that wouldn’t apply to them. But, it never got that far.
Yesterday, after all the trash talk challenges for doing three minute rounds until one person quits and then accepted by both sides, Paul was “caught” with a conversation with Chris Legentil, WWE’s EVP of Talent Relations and Head of Communications. The conversation was shared on social media so I would presume that would mean it was planned because if not, I can’t even imagine Legentil would want to have this conversation air everywhere, but Paul probably could get away with breaking protocol to that degree.
Bell accused the call of being staged to get Paul out of the challenge. In the conversation, Legentil told Paul that WWE would not allow him to do any boxing matches. He pleaded to do so. They said there’s an injury risk, he said they are a bunch of football players who can’t box, but Legentil said WWE would not allow him to do it.
— Jordynne Grace was injured on Friday doing a Main Event match taped before SmackDown. She is currently in a walking boot. Not sure of the nature of the injury.
— UFC last night was pretty much dominant in Google searches for the weekend. There were UFC topics that finished No, 3, No. 4, No. 22, No. 25, No. 49, No. 51 and No. 54. No. 3 was the UFC show at the White House. No. 4 was the show from last night headlined by Charlies Oliveira beating Max Holloway to retain the BMF title. The total searches for last night’s show were 885,000, which is below the usual PPV number. Other numbers included the Big 10 wrestling championships at 50,000, Cody Rhodes had 20,000 and NXT Vengeance at 5,000.
— The difference between a regular Saturday UFC show and a “numbered” show has now been watered down as last night’s show was only up two percent in views from the show the week before. As far as what happens if you put the PPVs up without a paywall, the reality is that at least last night’s show would do only slightly more than a regular show. If you had a marquee event, that’s different.
— UFC announced that the Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk fight from March 7, 2020, will go into the Hall of Fame this year. This was the best women’s fight in any discipline that I’ve ever seen and easily among the best UFC fights, men or women, in history, winning almost all the fight of the year awards for that year. Weili retained the strawweight title in that fight.
— The best matches I’ve seen this weekend were FTR vs. The Rascalz and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita from AEW Collision last night. The only other recommended stuff was Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles vs. Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X, and Oskar vs. Callum Newman from the New Japan anniversary show.
— AEW Dynamite on Wednesday in San Jose has Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Hechicero & Konosuke Takeshita, Young Bucks & Mark Briscoe vs. FTR & Tommaso Ciampa, Willow Nightingale vs. Persephone for the TBS title, Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy vs. David Finlay & Gabe Kidd, and footage from a press conference with Adam Page and MJF. They are shooting that for television with legit press in San Jose a few hours before the show.
— I’ll only say the 6/14 UFC White House show card reveal was a huge disappointment:
Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout
Alex Pereira vs. Cyril Gane for the interim heavyweight title
Sean O’Malley vs. Aimann Zahabi
Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler
Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus
Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia
People were teased by months of Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Colby Covington and others saying they wanted on the show. There was a fight that fell through at the last minute, but Dana White wouldn’t say what it was. Most speculated it was Pereira vs. Jon Jones, but White denied that. Jones and White had totally conflicting stories with White saying that Jones was never ever considered for the show and he even told Jones’ team that despite Jones saying that they were in negotiations for the show. White said that Jones has a bad hip that would need replacing and probably will never fight again.
Jones wrote on X, “So all of this negotiating was complete bullsh*t, is that what you want me to agree to publicly. I’m released from the UFC!!”
— White was asked about the brawl with Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas at last Saturday’s RAF show. He said he didn’t love it but that was somebody else’s problem. But, he said he wasn’t thrilled with Tsarukyan right now and that there are a lot of different reasons and not just the stuff you see publicly.
— As far as the judging went, in the Cody Garbrandt vs,. Xiao Long split decision, Michael Bell had 28-27 Garbrandt with them splitting the two rounds and Long winning round three but losing two penalty points. Ben Cartildge had 28-27 for Garbrandt with Long winning one and two and Garbrandt winning three plus getting the two penalty points. Ron McCarthy had it 28-27 for Garbrandt as well, with Garbrandt winning round one, Long two and three, but the two penalty points. 63.6 of reporter cards had it 28-27 for Long with only 27.3 percent for Garbrandt and the rest had it a draw.
— The judges had straight 30-27s for Caio Borralho over Reinier de Ridder. I thought de Ridder clearly won one round although had him down 29-28 86 percent of media scores were identical to what I had.
— Mercedes Mone lost two titles this week, dropping the CMLL Women’s title to Persephone Friday night at Arena Mexico as many had expected. Today in Italy, she lost the BestYa women’s title to Swan.
— Alex Windsor beat Syuri today to win the New Japan Strong Women’s title on the Pro Wrestling Eve show at the Indigo at the O2 Arena in London. We’re looking for complete reports on today’s show as well as Friday’s Eve show to [email protected]. Windsor has the British and New Japan Strong belts and will no doubt be getting a shot soon at the AEW Women’s tag team titles alongside Jamie Hayter.
— The first NCAA women’s wrestling championship tournament in history took place this weekend in Coralville, IA. Bella Mir of North Central, the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, who has also fought in MMA, pinned Reese Larramendy of Iowa in 2:26 to win the tite at 145. Kennedy Blaydes, who has wrestled for RAF, pinned Tiffani Baublitz in 1:19 to win at 160.
— In the New Japan Cup today in Amagasaki, Shota Umino beat Chase Owens and Ryohei Oiwa beat Yuto-Ice. Tuesday in Okayama has Shingo Takagi vs. Don Fale and Yuya Uemura vs. Drilla Moloney. Thursday in Takamaatsu has Satoshi Kojima vs. Ren Narita and Oleg Boltin vs Henare. Friday in Kanaoka has Hirooki Goto vs. Jake Lee and Callum Newman vs. Hartley Jackson. Saturday in Nagoya has Yujiro Takahashi vs. Shota Umino and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ryohei Oiwa. Well, at least that last match looks great on paper. Uemura vs. Moloney should be great and Henare vs. Boltin should be as well.
— Last night’s CMLL show at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City sold out, which makes 11 weeks in a row, the longest streak of the modern era.
— Stardom Cinderella tournament matches in round two today at Korakuen Hall
Hanan b Ranna Yagami
Rian b Natsupoi
Hina b Azusa Inaba
Sayaka Kurara b Tomoka Inaba
Rina b Ami Sohrei
Miyu Amasaki b Saya Iida
— House of Glory sold out show at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago before about 325 on Friday night: Myron Reed b Ken Broadway, Infamous b JJ Doze to keep the cruiserweight title, Shotzi b Killer Kelly to keep the women’s title, Gringo Loco b Trik Davis, Zilla Fatu b Bishop Dyer to keep the Crown Jewel title, Private Party b Bang & Matthews, Charles Mason NC Bryan Keith to retain the heavyweight title. Next show is 3/21 in Long Island, NY.
They also announced a HOG Culture Cash show on 4/16 at 8 pm. at the Pearl Theater in Las Vegas with Zilla Fatu vs. Brody King.
— Birthdays today include Maki Ueda, the Japanese women’s star of the 70s, who turned 67, Ursula Hayuden the Farmer’s Daughter from GLOW turned 57, Michael Tarver turned 49, and Chad Gable turned 40. Wild Bull Curry was 71 when he died 41 years ago today.
— Trish Stratus will be doing a Fan Experience at Flanker Kitchen and Sports Bar in Las Vegas from 4/13 to 4/20-, with merchandise, food, podcasts, panels and other talks.
Nikki and Brie Bella have an upcoming chance to win one million dollars for charity.
On Saturday, YouTube star MrBeast announced a special challenge where 30 celebrities will compete for a chance to win $1 million for charity. He posted a photo of the group, which includes The Bella Twins.
Mr. Beast wrote:
“To celebrate Beast Games 2 dropping next Wednesday me and Kevin Hart gathered 30 celebrities to compete for $1,000,000 for charity! This YouTube video will drop the same day as Beast Games 2. I CANT WAIT!”
The first three episodes of Beast Games 2 will be released on Prime Video on January 7, with weekly releases scheduled after. The show will include 200 contestants vying for five million dollars in prize money by competing in challenges.
Nikki Bella is coming off two straight losses in Women’s World Championship matches. She lost to Stephanie Vaquer at Survivor Series and then dropped a triple threat match along with Raquel Rodriguez to Vaquer on the December 29 episode of Raw.
To celebrate Beast Games 2 dropping next Wednesday me and Kevin Hart gathered 30 celebrities to compete for $1,000,000 for charity! This YouTube video will drop the same day as Beast Games 2. I CANT WAIT! pic.twitter.com/mtUWtQVrO6
She doesn’t know how long it will be or which promotion it will be for, but Brie Garcia (Brie Bella) feels like she definitely has one more wrestling run left in her.
A new episode of the Nikki & Brie Show debuted on Thursday with WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins looking ahead to their 42nd birthday. On the podcast, the sisters each listed some of their birthday wishes and things they are hoping to accomplish in the future. Brie said that, despite how busy her life is, she thinks she has more wrestling ahead of her.
“I think there is definitely a last run in me. And I am like, I’m at the age and I’m strong. And I think it’s because I’m working out so hard and I’m feeling good,” Brie said. “But I’m like, there’s for sure a last run in me. But I’m like, you know, wherever it may take me, wherever it may be, I hope it’s with you [Nikki], wherever that is at, who knows? Whether it’s for one night or 200 nights. We’ll see.”
Nikki Bella is currently on a comeback run in WWE, but Brie has not been featured with her so far. Brie believes her husband Bryan Danielson being part of AEW has been a roadblock standing in the way of her return.
This Friday (November 21) is Nikki and Brie’s birthday. Nikki — newly heel in WWE — said one of her wishes is to win the Women’s World Championship from Stephanie Vaquer. They are facing off for the title at Survivor Series on November 29.
To promote WWE Evolution, Nikki Bella stopped by “Live with Kelly and Mark” for an appearance on Tuesday morning.
Bella will return to the ring when she competes in the Evolution Battle Royal this Sunday (July 13). So far in her return to WWE, Nikki has been solo without her twin sister Brie by her side. But Nikki told Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos this morning that this return to WWE will only be complete once the Bellas reunite.
“Well, she better join me. I mean, it’s the only way I sometimes feel like I can win is if I have her,” Nikki responded when asked if Brie will join her in the ring. “The fans are speaking really loudly — our Bella Army — they really want Brie back. And I really want her back. I feel like this comeback won’t be complete until the Bella Twins are together. So, it’ll be iconic.”
Brie has not wrestled since appearing as an entrant in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble. Nikki returned to WWE earlier this year as a Rumble entrant and is now back for a more extended run. The twin sisters are already WWE Hall of Famers, having been inducted as part of the class of 2020.
A feud between Nikki Bella and Liv Morgan was originally the plan for Evolution. It started to play out on television before Morgan suffered a dislocated shoulder, forcing her out of action for months due to the injury requiring surgery.
The Evolution Battle Royal winner earns a women’s championship shot next month at WWE Clash in Paris.
“I’m obsessed with Paris,” Nikki said during today’s talk show appearance. “And so to have a championship match at a really big PLE, it would just be incredible. So, I’ve got to win.”
State Farm Arena in Atlanta is hosting Evolution on Sunday. It’s the first time the all-women’s event has taken place since 2018, when Nikki Bella headlined the inaugural show in a loss to Ronda Rousey.
Nikki Bella teased that her twin sister could be returning to WWE during a recent interview.
Nikki appeared on Raw last week to promote the Evolution 2 pay-per-view, which takes place on July 13. During the segment, she was confronted by Liv Morgan, who took offense to not being mentioned when Nikki listed off some of the top women in the division. The segment ended with Morgan hitting Nikki with an ObLIVion.
On Thursday, TMZ reported that Brie Bella is in talks to return to WWE ahead of Evolution 2 as well. However, it’s unclear if she’s expected to wrestle on the show.
Nikki was asked about Brie during a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. While she didn’t give much away, she told fans to “stay tuned.”
“That’s definitely what I’m hoping to see,” Nikki answered when asked about Brie potentially returning. “I’m not going to lie, I mean, I like having my own time but also I can’t do it without my tag partner. And so you never know. As what we love to say in WWE is, you never know what’s going to happen. It keeps us on our toes. But you gotta stay tuned.”
Brie hasn’t wrestled since the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble. She didn’t compete at the first Evolution event but was in her sister’s corner for Nikki’s match against Ronda Rousey.
Nikki revealed recently that she’ll be in Green Bay for Monday’s episode of Raw.
Earlier in the interview, Nikki reflected on headlining the original Evolution show:
“Main eventing the first one, it meant so much then because of how far us women have come and what we were fighting for at that time. I meant every word I said on Monday Night Raw of how proud I am. And I know I could speak on behalf of all the women from the past, to see where the women have taken the division in the past six years, it’s unreal. And this is why this Evolution is so important and so epic, because we see what the women are doing, whether it’s on the PLEs or on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown. They’re killing it.”
Nikki’s full interview with Sports Illustrated is available below:
Nikki Garcia (FKA Nikki Bella) opened up about her divorce from Artem Chigvintsev on the latest Nikki & Brie Show episode.
In late August, Chigvintsev was arrested on domestic violence charges at a home the couple formerly shared in Napa Valley. Garcia and Chigvintsev agreed to a divorce settlement last month, sharing custody of their four-year-old son, Matteo. Charges against Chigvintsev were dropped in September.
Garcia returned to the podcast she co-hosts with her sister on Monday’s episode. She told Brie that her absence was due to wanting privacy for her son and needing time to heal.
Nikki said:
“I needed to disconnect because first things first, I’m a mom and my son’s protection and privacy is the most important. So, I was going to do whatever it took for that, most importantly, and then just needing space for healing, for facing trauma head on.”
“It’s been really tough. I’ve been heartbroken, sad. You know, you dream of having this family and you have this incredible love and it just goes the other way. And you go from having a great love story to having a terrible one. I never saw any of it coming as far as what the ending would be. It’s been a struggle.”
“I know being a public figure, I have to say a little bit about this. And after this, I don’t want to ever talk about it again because I truly do want privacy for Matteo, that has been the most important part. But obviously, I’ve had a public relationship, I’m a public figure, so I have to talk about what’s gone on a little bit.”
Nikki also said that she played it up in public as if her relationship with Chigvintsev was stronger than it was. She explained:
“I wanted (Chigvintsev) to be the best version of themselves, because also that’s what my son deserves. I don’t want to drag my son’s dad because I want my son to have the greatest dad ever because that’s what Matteo deserves.”
“I really played it up like things were a lot better than what they were in the public eye, which I have regrets in that because what I felt was if I could just put this person on a pedestal and maybe if this person hears it enough what I believe in them, they can believe that in themselves.”
Brie asked if Nikki was trying to show her fans that she had a “fairytale relationship.”
“That, yes, and I didn’t want to have another failed public relationship,” Nikki responded. “And more than any of that, I wanted it for Matteo. It always comes back to him. You fight for your kids, you want to stick together because that’s what the kids want. And I tried really hard.”
Brie also mentioned during the podcast that she advised Nikki to end the relationship multiple times before Chigvintsev’s arrest in August.
The couple shares custody of Matteo, and Nikki is learning to deal with her son leaving to spend time with his father.
“I never thought I would be in this place as a co-parent. It’s tough. I miss Matteo, oh my goodness. Those first few times in my house, just think, I’ve never been in the home without him. Really, really hard. Very emotional. Even yesterday. I cry every time he leaves.”
“So, that’s been hard but we’re doing a great job at it. We’re both very focused on Matteo and that’s the great thing. And I do think in time – I pray, I pray everyday we’ll be great friends, we’ll be able to share holidays together. I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon but I pray for it because again, that’s what Matteo deserves.”
Nikki Bella says she recently considered a return to wrestling.
On the latest episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki mentioned how the twins will get into a “wrestling mindset” when lifting weights and sometimes think about returning to the ring.
Nikki said:
Since you and I have been lifting so much, we always say, we start to get that wrestling mindset. Like, ‘We’re going to go back and do this story, and cut this promo..’ You get it but like how serious I got where I was like, ‘Okay, I think I can do maybe a year at AEW and I could do it every week.’
Nikki continued to say that watching Mercedes Mone debut in AEW had her deliberating about reaching out to Tony Khan.
When I saw Mercedes debut and cut her promo and that line stuck with me, ‘Here we can make our evolution worldwide.’
It goes into many leagues, is what she means. It doesn’t have to be at one place, it could be at all the places where all these women are wrestling at.
However, Nikki concluded that she was not willing to take time away from her young son, Matteo.
Nikki continued:
Wasn’t I talking to you? I go,”Brie, so I think I can do it for a year. I can do it from here to here, I can go every week, I can be good and then I thought of Matteo. I had a good week of like this is it, I’m going to call Tony Khan, I’m your girl, I can commit, and then I was like I can’t do that to my son right now, like, he needs me.
Brie added:
When you told me you were thinking that, I was like please don’t ask me to be your tag partner because my husband is gone all the time, I am the one who is home with the kids. My thing is that how much I would love to do it, when I have to think of reality, the schedule does not work with my life right now.
The former Bella Twins officially left WWE in March 2023, and now go by Nikki Garcia and Brie Garcia. Neither has wrestled since the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Dynamite tonight, Kenny Omega talks his future, the Bellas are now the Garcias, NXT TV report for the week, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
The most in-depth look at the WWE’s new deal with the Peacock Network is the lead story in the new double-issue of the Observer.
We look at who the deal was put together, the finances behind it, is it a good deal for all parties, what goals there are for each side, how this affects the TV landscape and Smackdown in particular, how much money WWE was getting before and after from the Network, television vs. streaming when it comes to homes in the U.S., comparisons to UFC’s deal with ESPN, quotes from the key parties, the financial viability of NBC purchasing WWE, the stock price, network subscriber numbers, money in modern PPVs, WWE projected profitability, why the method wrestlers are paid makes no sense in today’s game, and notes fromall ke parties.
Also in this issue:
NBC shutting down NBC Sports Network affects both the USA Network and how it could impact WWE.
Amanda Huber’s timeline of the death of Brodie Lee from her interview with Tony Schaivone and Aubrey Edwards this week, his symptoms, treatments, and what the doctors thought.
UFC 257, including an update on the business of the show and television viewership, plus full coverage of what could end up as the biggest show of the year, and was one of the biggest PPV events in history.
2021 Royal Rumble, people rumored to be in that won’t be, others that could be, and thoughts on the build and the matches.
WrestleMania, Young Rock, Daniel Bryan talks his future, WWE talent listed among the most marketable in sports and losses in ad revenue to performs in social media accounts, Undertaker says current wrestles are soft and Bill Goldberg, Mick Foley and Drew McIntyre respond, Nick Khan talks future of rights fees, where AEW stands, NXT India, Teases of Japanese star signing, International TV ratings, most-watched shows on the WWE Network and strongest athletes in WWE developmental.
New Japan’s show at Ota Ward Gym this past week with its parody main event plus the big shows upcoming this week.
WWE’s TV special for India and look at the talent from that country that the company wants to build a promotion around.
A huge story on Hank Aaron, Civil Rights, Bill Watts and how they all intersected in the early 90s.
Comparison piece on the greatest MMA fighters of all-time, looking at their wins, losses, bouts with major names and where they stand in relation to each other.
The death of El Hijo de Anibal and the legacy of the mask created by his father, one of the biggest stars of the 1970s, including the match that was the first big title match to give the UWA credibility.
Television ratings of the past week, including segment-by-segment numbers for the past two weeks on Wednesday, who was watching in different age groups, how different segments did on Raw & Smackdown and more.
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Garrett Gonzalez and I will be doing a weekend show tomorrow covering the news of the week as well as tomorrow’s New Japan show in Nagoya. Bryan and I will be back on Sunday covering the Royal Rumble. We’ll be doing polls on both shows, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected]
Smackdown, riding high on the back of recent ratings that aren’t that far off from last year, has Bayley vs. Bianca Belair tonight. 205 Live has Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Marina Shafir & Zoey Stark (formerly Lacey Ryan) and August Gray vs. Jake Atlas vs. Ariya Daivari.
Just an update on the New Japan television deal. The deal is completed and has been since December. It’s just a matter of making the announcement.
New Japan’s New Beginning in Nagoya show is at 3:30 a.m. Eastern and 12:30 a.m. Pacific on New Japan World:
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi
Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma & Sho & Master Wato vs. Sanada & Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi
Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Great O’Khan – loser can no longer use Mongolian chops
Satoshi Kojima vs Will Ospreay – no DQ
Shingo Takagi vs Hiroshi Tanahashi for Never Open weight title
Game Changer Wrestling’s Fight Forever 24 hour show starts at 8 p.m. tonight. It airs free on YouTube and FITE TV, but they are asking for donations to help pay wrestlers impacted by COVID this past year. Lio Rush vs. Blake Christian 2/3 falls is the main event tonight. Others on the show are Joey Janela, Myron Reed, Matthew Justice, Calvin Tankman. AJ Gray, Lee Moriarty, Homicide, Mad Man Pondo, Shlak, Jimmy Lloyd, Wheeler Yuta, Eli Everfly, Lucky 13, Parrow & Odinson, Shane Mercer, Solo Darling, Colby Corino, Cheeseburger, Besties in the World, Rohit Raju, Effy, Allie Kat, Ricky Morton, Rickey Shane Page, Gregory Iron, Chris Dickinson, G-Raver and more. The Jordan Oliver vs.Tony Deppen 60 minute Iron man match is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow.
The Bella Twins were on the Ellen show (Mario Lopez hosts) and said they were coming out of retirement and talked about wanting to wrestle at WrestleMania next year in Dallas and the year after in Los Angeles. Nikki Bella also announced she was getting married in November to Artem Chigvintsev on last night’s episode of Total Bellas.
Regarding the item in the current issue with Megan Anderson and Casey Kenney where Kenney was asked on a podcast essentially if he’d have sex with Megan Anderson, and he was screwed no matter what he’d say, he has apologized after Anderson got mad about it. “I’m sorry this upset you. I will be more careful with my words. I was just answering a question and thought it was all a joking matter. I see I was wrong and I’m sorry. Best of luck with training camp and your fight.”
John Renesto, a longtime referee out of Dallas, passed away. Renesto refereed for World Class Championship Wrestling in the 80s and was part of the famous Renesto wrestling family, headed by Tom Renesto, a Hall of Famer as part of the Bolos and Assassins tag team and who booked in many parts of the country.
The Zero-1 planned show at Sumo Hall on 3/14 is being moved to 2022. Zero-1 lost the date when the sumo tournament scheduled for Osaka in March was moved to Tokyo.
Legacy Fighting tonight on UFC Fight Pass at 9 p.m. Eastern from Park City, KS:
Zac Pauga (204.6) vs. Ashby Thomas (198.2)
Joshua Silveira (200.6) vs. Matt Paul (202.8)
Tabatha Ricci (115.4) vs. Marie Grimes (115.4)
Dakota Bush (156) vs. Austin Clem (156.6)
Richard Palencia (136) vs. Jeimeson Sandino (135.4)
Lucas Clay (156) vs. J.J Okanovich (155.4)
Josh Friend (185.6) vs. Bruno Oliveira (185.2)
KSW on www.KSW.TV tomorrow from Lodz, Poland headlined by Salahdine Parnesse (145) defending the featherweight title against Daniel Torres (144).
Drew McIntyre and The Miz will take part in The Shaq Bowl, hosted by Shaquille O’Neal,at 3:00 pm ET on Superbowl Sunday, February 7. They will be on opposite teams and compete in viral challenges. It will stream live on Facebook and on SHAQBowl.com.
UFC
Chris Weidman tested positive for COVID so his 2/13 fight with Uriah Hall is off. They hope to make the fight on 4/24.
Ben Rothwell vs. Phillipe Lins has been added to the 3/13 show.
Chase Sherman vs. Parker Porter has been added to the 4/17 show.
AEW
Shaquille O’Neal talked about his match with Cody Rhodes on Inside the NBA on TNT last night. He said that Rhodes could name the place, which is presumably the next PPV show.
Wrestling Travel’s Wrestle Kingdom 16 Packages for 2022 are available now. Following their groundbreaking trip in 2020, Two package-date options are now available, which include; roundtrip airfare, 8-night hotel stay near Tokyo Dome City, Tickets to Wrestle Kingdom 16, Airport Transfers, Guided Tours, Special Guests Appearances, Exclusive Merch and more! Plus now included, tickets for an exclusive Q&A with Wrestling Observers Dave Meltzer at Toudoukan Wrestling Store! Secure your place today at WrestlingTravel.Org and use code ‘OBSERVER50’ for $50 off!
The Washington Post weighs in on the craziness that is Tito Ortiz as a mayor. (thanks to Chris Cruise)
MLW got a national AP story on using former NBA referee Tim Donaghy who was kicked out of the league in 2007 for betting on games he was officiating. (thanks to Paul Kacprzak)
With WWE now announcing Meiko Satomura and regarding her as “The Best In The World” whom Kay Lee Ray was challenging last week, the two have had one match together with what appears to be the exact same storyline at EVE’s WrestleQueendom event, the match is free to watch on the EVE youtube channel.
Pro Wrestling Australia announced Robbie Eagles vs. Jessica Troy for the PWWA title on 2/12 airing on FITE TV.
CFFC kicks off this year with shows on 3/11 and 3/12 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The first night is headlined by Alberto Trujillo (5-1) defending his flyweight title against Pumi Nikuta (2-0). the second night has middleweight champion Collin Huckbody (9-2) defending against Aaron Jefferey (9-2) as well as a heavyweight title match with Jamelle Jones (10-6) vs. Cody Goodale (7-4). C.M. Punk and John Morgan will be announcing both shows for Fight Pass.
NFC tomorrow at District in Atlanta for 7 p.m. Jiu Jitsu show.
AXS TV will be airing the 2009 Final Resolution PPV show at 4 p.m. on 2/9 headlined by A.J. Styles vs. Christopher Daniels, Kurt Angle vs. Nigel McGuinness, Scott Steiner vs. Bobby Lashley plus Raven, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe and others are on the show.
Wrestler Brady Roberts has a movie called “In Plainview” that was released today on Amazon Prime, iTunes and Google Play across North America. It’s a revenge thriller set in the Canadian Prairies.
WWE runs Smackdown tonight in Buffalo and NXT in Cleveland. Saturday is the only main roster house show of the week, a loaded show in Allentown, PA with stars from both Raw and Smackdown. There is also a Saturday night NXT show in Detroit. The Elimination Chamber PPV is Sunday in Philadelphia and Raw is Monday in Washington, DC. We’re looking for reports from the dark matches tonight in Buffalo, last night’s NXT show in Columbus and Saturday’s shows in Allentown and Detroit to [email protected].
We’re also looking for your thoughts on UFC 248 tomorrow night and Elimination Chamber on Sunday, thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match from both shows to [email protected]
Weigh-ins for tomorrow night’s UFC show in Las Vegas at the T Mobile Arena starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern:
ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Danaa Batgerel (136) vs. Guido Cannetti (135.5)
Jamall Emmers (145.5) vs. Giga Chikadze (146)
Emily Whitmire (117.5) vs. Polyana Viana (116)
ESPN at 8 p.m. Eastern
Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Deron Winn (185.5)
Roldolfo Vieira (186) vs. Saparabek Safarov (186)
Mark O. Madsen (156) vs. Austin Hubbard (154.5)
Sean O’Malley (135.5) vs. Jose Quinonez (135.5)
PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern:
Alex Oliveira (171) vs. Max Griffin (170.5)
Neil Magny (171) vs. Li Jingliang (171)
Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Drakkar Klose (156)
Zhang Weili (115) vs. Joanna Jedrzjczyk (115) for the strawweight title
Israel Adesanya (184.5) vs. Yoel Romero (185) for middleweight title
Whitmire was the only fighter to miss weight.
Tonight at Arena Mexico on the CMLL YouTube page at 9:30 p.m. Eastern:
Shockercito & Fantasy vs. Pierrothito & Mercurio
Blue Panther Jr.& Dulce Gardenia & Black Panther vs. Misterioso Jr. & Virus & Sagrado
Titan vs. Soberano Jr.
Caristico & Volador Jr. & Valiente vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Cavernario & Euforia
Block B in the tournament for the Mexican national tag team titles:
Shocker & Rey Bucanero
Felino & Tiger
Raziel & Cancerbero
Polvora & Vangellys
Atlantis Jr. & Flyer
Rey Cometa & Star Jr.
Esfinge & Drone
Audaz & Fugaz
Titan-Soberano could be great and the main event actually looks pretty hot as well.
AAA has a live show from Cancun tomorrow on AAA’s Twitch Channel at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Jushin Liger will be announcing tomorrow’s live Stardom YouTube show. It airs at 9:30 p.m Eastern and is called No People Gate because there will be no fans in attendance at Korakuen Hall because of precautions from the coronavirus. The card will include:
Rumble Battle Royal
Giulia & Maika vs. Hana Kimura & Jungle Kyona
Bea Priestley & Jamie Hayter vs. Momo Watanabe & Utami Hayashishita for the tag titles
Arisa Hoshiki vs. Natsuko Tora for the Wonder of Stardom title
Mayu Iwatani vs. Saki Kashima in a lumberjack match
Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.
One of the year’s biggest issues, our 40th annual awards issue is out this week. The issue covers these awards:
1) Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award for Wrestler of the Year; 2) MMA MVP; 3) Most Outstanding Wrestler; 4) Most Outstanding MMA Fighter; 5) Tag Team of the Year; 6) Best On Interviews; 7) Promotion of the Year; 8) Best Weekly TV show; 9) Pro Wrestling Match of the Year; 10) MMA Match of the Year; 11) U.S/Canada MVP; 12) Japan MVP; 13) Mexico MVP; 14) Europe MVP; 15) Non-heavyweight MVP; 16) Women’s Wrestling MVP; 17) Women’s MMA MVP; 18) Best Box Office Draw; 19) Feud of the Year; 20) Most Improved; 21) Most Charismatic; 22) Bryan Danielson Award/Best Technical Wrestler; 23) Bruiser Brody Award/Best Brawler; 24) Best Flying Wrestler; 25) Most Overrated; 26) Most Underrated; 27) Rookie of the Year; 28) Best Non-Wrestler; 29) Best TV announcer; 30) Worst TV announcer; 31) Best Major wrestling show; 32) Worst major wrestling show; 33) Best wrestling maneuver; 34) Most Disgusting promotional tactic; 35) Worst TV show; 36) Worst match of the year; 37) Worst feud of the year; 38) Worst promotion of the year; 39) Best Booker; 40) Promoter of the Year; 41) Best gimmick; 42) Worst gimmick; 43) Best book; 44) Best documentary
We have the top placings in every category as well as a list of winners of every award dating back to 1980.
The new issue also covers:
Coronavirus and an update on its affect on Japanese pro wrestling.
Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega & Adam Page match and compare it to great tag team matches of the past, in particular Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue from 1995 and Midnight Express vs Fantastics from 1988.
AEW Revolution with business notes, storylines, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Preview Elimination Chamber with early business notes and the current demand.
Folding of the Wrestle-1 promotion.
WWE and All Japan, WrestleMania ticket sales and secondary market interest, update on WrestleMania show, Jeff Hardy, John Layfield in the Hall of Fame, XFL ratings updates, Injuries and other WWE absences, notes on a new WWE wrestler who just had his first match this past week, Renee Young talks her situation and Jon Moxley, next MSG show, Notes on the Tampa Takeover show, company value, most-watched shows on WWE Network, and a rundown of all the WWE and NXT live events over the past week with highlights and business notes.
Saturday’s UFC show, looking at the key matches and stories, business notes and match-by-match coverage.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
All the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
Jeff Hardy is backstage at Smackdown, but he’s been backstage the past two weeks, so that doesn’t mean he’s on the show. Announced for tonight are Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman being interviewed by Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss, a Gauntlet series with The Miz & John Morrison, Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler, New Day, Usos, Heavy Machinery and Lucha House part for the last entrant in Sunday’s Estimation chamber, and Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Lacey Evans & Naomi.
With New Japan not running shows, they are doing a lot of special programming on New Japan World. There is a very good documentary filmed last summer on Kazuchika Okada in the G-1 tournament with a ton of behind-the-scenes stuff up.
A documentary on the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles focusing on the heyday of pro wrestling, T-Bird Roller Games and pro boxing, called “18th and Grand,” premieres on 3/26 at the Cinerama Dome at 6360 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles on 3/26. I’d love to see that one.
ONE announced that its 3/20 show in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is being postponed until 6/26 due to concerns regarding the coronavirus.
WWE
Elimination Chamber odds at www.betOnlin.ag:
Chamber: Shayna Baszler -1400, Asuka +600, Ruby Riott +1600, Liv Morgan +2000, Natalya +2500, Sarah Logan +2500
Chamber: Miz & John Morrison -130, Usos +225, New Day +400, Heavy Machinery +1000, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode +1600, Lucha House Party +3300
Street Profits -250 vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy +170
Andrade -140 vs. Humberto Carrillo -100
Aleister Black -150 vs. A.J. Styles +110
The WWE announced that the Bellas autograph signing at WWE Axxess is off. They will announce new people for that event.
Bellator announced a 5/20 show from Temecula, CA headlined by the debut of Liz Carmouche in the promotion, facing 6-0 fighter Mandy Bohm.
A correction from yesterday in the Rip Oliver story. The name he used under a mask against Ultimate Warrior in a 1988 Saturday Night’s Main Event was Super Ninja, not Super Black Ninja.
Invicta runs tonight in Kansas City at 8 p.m. Eastern on UFC Fight Pass with an eight-woman one-night tournament with first round fights of Taneisha Tennant (135.7) vs,. Brittney Victoria (135.1), Julia Ottolino (134.7) vs. Hope Chase (135.8), Claire Guthrie (135.7) vs. Taylor Guardado (135.8) and Kerri Kenneson (135.5) vs. Serena DeJesus (135.3). The main event is for the bantamweight title with Lisa Verzosa defending against Julija Stoliarenko.
Impact will be taping the special that will air on 3/31 on AXS tomorrow night in Atlanta at the Coca-Cola Roxy.
Jazzy Gabert returns to Eve for tomorrow’s show at the Resistance Gallery at Bethnal Green in London to challenge Rhia O’Reilly for their championship. Gisele Shaw is off the show so Sammii Jayne will defend her International title twice on the show. The show will stream as a PPV.
All Star Wrestling tomorrow night in Surrey, BC at Sullivan Hall with Braydon Goss vs. Randy Myers for the cruiserweight title.
The movie “Beyond the Mat” which focuses on Jake Roberts and Mick Foley is up on Netflix.
Barrie Wrestling on 5/2 in Barrie, ONT at 49 Ferris Lane.
CWO on 3/15 at 1 p.m. at The Rockpile Bar & Nightclub in Toronto.
Greektown Wrestling on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Danforth Church in Toronto.
Smash Wrestling on 4/19 in St. Thomas, ONT at the Joe Thornton Community Centre at 5 p.m.
Legacy Fighting on 4/17 in Sioux Falls, SD at the Sanford Pentagon on UFC Fight Pass is headlined by Bryce Logan (11-4) vs. Jacob Rosales (12-5) for the lightweight title.
AAW on 3/20 at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago has Mance Warner vs. Fred Yehi for the AAW title, Kris Statlander vs. The Hyan for the AAW women’s title, Gringo Loco & Black Taurus vs. Aramis & Arez, Curt Stallion vs,. Adam Brooks, Hakim Zane & Karam vs,.AR Fox & Myron Reed, Stephen Wolf vs. Jake Lander and more for its 16th anniversary show.
VIPW on 3/27 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 in Victoria, BC.
Capital City Championship Combat on 3/20 in Ottawa, ONT at St. Anthony’s Hall featuring Rey Hours and the Dark Order.
ECCW on 3/14 in Vancouver, BC at The Ellis on Main Street with Judas Icarus vs. Artemis Spencer in a no DQ and no count out match plus Nicole Matthews vs. Randy Myers.
559 Fights on 3/13 in Visalia,CA at the Convention Center has Larry Gonzalez (4-0) vs. Kail Melton (1-2) for the heavyweight title.
PWE on 5/31 in Oshawa, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43.
MWF on 3/28 in Somerville, MA at ONCE Somerville for an 18-and-older show featuring Brian Pillman Jr. and Brian Milonas.
NFC MMA tomorrow night in Atlanta at District Atlanta.
CWA Superbreak on 3/21 in Searcy, AR with Jerry Lawler defending the Arkansas title against Michael Barry and Rhino vs. Tim Storm.
The Wrestling Estate has published an exclusive, extensive piece on Magnum’s Opus, an upcoming documentary on Amazon Prime about Magnum CK, a fixture of Cleveland’s Absolutely Intense Wrestling. The piece includes the never-before-seen trailer, as well as comments from CK, RJ City, AIW promoter John Thorne and more.
Nikki & Brie Bella are officially being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this April.
The official announcement of The Bellas going into the Hall of Fame was made during their appearance on tonight’s SmackDown. They’re the third act WWE has announced for this year’s class, joining Batista and the nWo (Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & Sean “X-Pac” Waltman).
The Bellas appeared on A Moment of Bliss on SmackDown tonight and spoke about how they wouldn’t be where they are now without the support of their Bella Army.
Last month, Nikki & Brie revealed that they’re both pregnant and expecting babies later this year. Their due dates are a week and a half apart.
Dave Meltzer confirmed last week that The Bellas and Jushin Thunder Liger are scheduled to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. Meltzer has also reported that “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith will be one of this year’s inductees.
With SmackDown now on Friday nights, this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 2. It’s being held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
Total Bellas season five will premiere on E! on Thursday, April 9 at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
