Carol Sammartino, the widow of wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino, passed away at 96 years old with the news just coming to light Wednesday.
The death was initially revealed by their son, Darryl, in an interview with Bill Apter from last week that went up on YouTube Tuesday and started making the news rounds Wednesday evening after a social media post by the Cauliflower Alley Club.
Darryl said she died on March 4 after being “in a home for about 16 months.”
She was the only spouse of Sammartino, who passed away on April 18, 2018, at 82 years old. They were married in 1959 and had three children in David, Danny and Darryl — the latter two fraternal twins. They also had four grandchildren and lived in Ross Township, Pennsylvania since 1965.
At one point, the two had a foundation together with a “mission to help provide to those we serve with food, shelter, and services to ease their burdens of life’s most basic needs in Western PA.”
In the aforementioned interview, Darryl said that she “slowly deteriorated” since his brother Danny passed away six months after Bruno did.
“She was suffering toward the end. She’s not suffering anymore which I’m very happy about. That’s it. Nobody deserves that,” he said.
We discussed several things about Gorilla’s early career that weren’t as well known, how close he came to being the principal owner of the WWF, and a number of topics regarding the life of a man who helped define the wrestling fandom of a generation.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the life of Bruno Sammartino, Kimura vs. Rikidozan, the future of Santos Escobar, Cena’s last opponent, the June 14th UFC at the White House, your full RAW report and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: Bruno Sammartino’s 90th birthday 16:16: John Cena’s final opponent, Santos Escobar gone from WWE 23:05: Dave Meltzer’s Bandido/Hechicero thoughts from last Friday, DOUKI wins IWGP Jr. title 27:29: UFC at The White House date, The story of Rikidozan vs. Masahiko Kimura 38:43: WWE Raw recap, lineups for Tuesday’s head-to-head
The new issue of the Observer is up on the site right now featuring two very in-depth stories:
Judge Richard Boulware refuses to accept the $335 million TKO settlement in the Cung Le case, why, lawyers react, lots of inside ramifications of the case, how different settlements would work out for the biggest name fighters and the average fighters and what comes next and why they still can’t risk a trial.
AEW rights fees talks and what they mean, how much talent earns by percentage of revenues compared to other sports, estimating annual income at different rights points, cutbacks why the deal length is so important, noticeable TV cutbacks and ROH potential going forward.
SummerSlam preview, ticket sales, secondary market, expectations for finishes and favorites.
All In, update on new matches being teased, ticket sales, can they reach the next goal, PPV thoughts and promotion of the event.
Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
UFC 304 full coverage, what’s next for the fighters, new storylines, business notes, match-by-match rundown
What matches you need to see from G-1
A look at the retirement and career of Meiko Satomura
A detailed look at ROH Death Before Dishonor and the ROH brand
The life and career of longtime prelim wrestler Pete Sanchez/Gino Caruso
The most detailed look at the ratings from the past two weeks including where the top shows placed, breakdown on who is watching and changes, how badly the Olympics changed viewership and much more.
Death Triangle go to the hottest arena in the world and how the crowd reacted
One of the best high flyers in the world is almost ready to return
A look at two Stardom PPV shows and major title changes
Oldest male wrestler ever to do a match
Marigold tag team title decided and Grand Prix singles tournament
Death of former Crockett wrestler who had a short career but was in with the biggest names in wrestling at the time
Modern legend retirement tour first main event announced
Dijak and MJF to RevPro
Bloodsport with talent from WWE, ROH and TNA
Update on PPV numbers from WWE, AEW, TNA and Diaz-Masvidal and Paul-Perry
Tony Khan and Shane McMahon
Top star returns to AEW
Lots of injury updates
Bill Goldberg talks Tony Khan
Merch sales
Highest ticket prices ever for an MMA event at The Sphere
Updates on Brock Lesnar
This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest pro wrestling and MMA news as well as taking questions that you can send to [email protected].
– Roman Reigns officially will be on SmackDown Friday night which should be enough to get numbers back to normal levels even with the Olympics. I expect tonight’s show to do well even with the handicap of being on a different station and the Olympics because it’s the show after SummerSlam, which traditionally is one of the highest rated of the year.
– There will be a misleading fast national number if anyone still sees those things on Friday for SmackDown since a number of cities are pre-empting the show in the time slot for NFL preseason games, which in those markets will draw far bigger numbers than SmackDown. The show will do well with Reigns, but the first numbers will be misleading.
– We’re looking for your thoughts on SummerSlam so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
– The two big wrestling stories from today at the Olympics revolve around one of the youngest and one of the oldest competitors. 20-year-old Amit Elor of Walnut Creek, CA, a gold medal favorite at 149 pounds, has dominated so far. She beat 2023 world champion Buse Cavusoglu Tosun of Turkey 10-2, then beat Wiktoriia Choluj of Poland 8-0 and in the semifinals beat Sol Gum Pak of North Korea by technical fall going up 10-0 in just 1:44. She faces Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the finals tomorrow.
The other is 286-pound Mijian Lopez of Cuba who attempts to become the first person in any sport to win gold medals in five different Olympic games. Lopez won gold in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2021 and faces Yasmani Acosta of Chile on Tuesday. The interesting thing is that Acosta is actually from Cuba but relocated to Chile because he’d have no chance to make the Olympic team in Cuba until Lopez retired. Even the legendary Alexandre Karelin only won three gold medals. Lopez, in being guaranteed a silver, joins Wilfred Dietrich, a former pro wrestler in Europe, in being the second person to win wrestling medals in five different Olympics (1956-1972). Dietrich is famous for his overhead suplex of Chris Taylor in the 1972 Olympics.
– Raw tonight in Baltimore has the first hour commercial free. It’s on Syfy, not USA. The main event is listed as Wyatt Sicks vs. Chad Gable & The Creeds, plus Dakota Kai vs. Sonya Deville, Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser, R-Truth & Miz vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller and New Day vs. AOP. The show is sold out in Baltimore. Gunther will be on and likely his opponent for Berlin will be made clear plus CM Punk and Drew McIntyre are on the show. The first hour of the show tonight is commercial free, which is now the case after major PPV events.
– We’re looking for live reports from the show with Main Event results and finishes and anything else not on the live show to [email protected]
– SmackDown did 2,179,000 viewers and 0.60 against the Olympics. It’s down from usual but not close to last week’s low mark. Rampage, on the other hand, did 209,000 viewers, its lowest in history, and a 0.07, tying its lowest in history. We’ll have more details on tonight’s show.
– UFC fighter Ramon Tavares was nearly a victim in a drive-by shooting in his home city of Jacksonville, FL, last week. He was leaving his mother’s home on 7/29 at 10:05 pm. and a group of armed men drove up and started shooting at him. He wasn’t hit and was able to grab his own gun and shoot back. He escaped without injury. He noted that in 2019 his brother was killed in Jacksonville due to gun violence.
– TKO has its investors call for second quarter financial results from WWE & UFC on Thursday. The call will be at 8 a.m. These calls have been far less interesting and newsworthy since the merger.
– MLW will have the matches from its last show that didn’t air live as a YouTube show this coming Saturday night, including Mistico vs. Magnus and Ikuro Kon & Minoru Suzuki & Mads Krugger vs. Akira & Matt Riddle & Satoshi Kojima.
– Tomorrow’s Great American Bash NXT show has Ethan Page vs Oro Mensah for the NXT title, Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. Wes Lee & Zachary Wentz for the tag titles, Trick Williams vs. Pete Dunne, Kelani Jordan vs. Tatum Paxley for the North American title, Joe Coffey vs. Joe Hendry and Kendall Gray vs. Wren Sinclair.
– Yesterday was the third anniversary of the death of Bobby Eaton, one of the greatest in-ring performers ever and part of the Hall of Fame Midnight Express tag team.
– Insane Wrestling Revolution this past Wednesday had their annual Rumble show in Monroe, MI, with Rich Swann, Thom Latimer, Zack Gowen and Danhausen and announced on 9/12 that Mickie James and Elijah (Elias) would be there.
– There will be a Bruno Sammartino World Class tournament put together by Federazione Italiana Wrestling) in Pizzoferrato, Italy. That is the town that Sammartino grew up in before he moved to Pittsburgh and he’s the local hero. Among those in will be Tom La Ruffa who worked in NXT and TNA, Gianni Valletta who has worked for All Japan and Dragon Gate, and Fabio Ferrari, who was trained by Marty James and has wrestled Sami Zayn and Cesaro. There will be a full day of activities in the city including the show, seeing the home he grew up in that was invaded by the Nazis during the war, his WWWF championship belt that he donated to the city, and the statue of Sammartino.
– Robert Duran Jr., the son of legendary boxer Roberto Duran, will be fighting for the BYB Bare Knuckle promotion on Saturday in Pembroke Pines, FL against Serob Minasyan.
– Alex Misery vs. Jack Cartwheel for a shot at the NWA Jr. title was announced for the 76th anniversary show on 8/31 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
Karl is back with a look at the new WWE Network Bray Wyatt documentary which dives into his career, characters, and family which include classic era wrestlers Mike Rotundo, Blackjack Mulligan, and Barry and Kendal Windham. This was a very good documentary that fills in a lot of gaps about the death of Wyatt.
Also, we conclude the Bruno Sammartino biography from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, host Karl Stern continues his look at wrestling history at Madison Square Garden in New York in the year 1931.
He also continues his look back at Dave Meltzer’s epic biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, plus tons of news and notes. More pro wrestling history than you can shake a preverbal stick at!
On this edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at a great retro article from a 1972 wrestling magazine asking whether Ed “Strangler” Lewis was the greatest wrestler of all time.
I then continue taking a look at Dave Meltzer’s biography of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter….plus much more!
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, we hit on several different topics and listener favorites.
We take a look at the next match in the Greatest Kayfabe Tournament: Sting vs. The Rock.
We begin a massive biography on the life and times of Bruno Sammartino from the pages of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that not only took up one issue but two.
We start an article from an early 1970s wrestling magazine on Ed “Strangler” Lewis.
It’s a fun and history packed edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, so check it out. Let’s talk some wrestling history.
Pro wrestling legend and industry influencer “Superstar” Billy Graham has passed away at 79 years old.
As Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio earlier this week, “If it wasn’t for Billy Graham, this industry would be so much different than it is.”
Graham had been in failing health for decades and was placed on life support in recent days. He had been hospitalized for several months, dealing with an infection and organ failure that required emergency surgery earlier this month, according to his wife, Valerie.
She said in a Facebook post Monday that doctors wanted to take him off life support, but she refused.
He was one of the most charismatic wrestlers and influential figures of all-time in the business. Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, Scott Steiner, Steve Austin, Dusty Rhodes, Vince McMahon, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Ric Flair and others all took notes from the book of “Superstar.”
“He became the prototype of what people thought could be the charismatic superstar,” Meltzer said.
**********
Born Eldridge Wayne Coleman on June 7, 1943, he got into bodybuilding in the early 1960s. He eventually found his way north to train with Stu Hart in Calgary in 1969, making his debut in Stampede Wrestling the following year.
He would go on to spend two years for the NWA in San Francisco followed by a three-year run in the AWA. In 1970, he took on the Billy Graham name based on the last name of fellow wrestler and friend Dr. Jerry Graham. He later adopted the “Superstar” nickname in 1972, taking it from the popular Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera.
Graham made his then-WWWF debut in 1975 and would spend the better part of the next four years there, save for a few months when he returned to the NWA. He ended the near-decade long run for Bruno Sammartino as WWWF World Champion in April 1977, holding the title until he lost it to Bob Backlund in February 1978 — a decision he didn’t agree with.
After that, Graham would spend the majority of his remaining career in WWE in addition to multiple returns to the NWA and the AWA. It was during his third WWE run in the late-1980s that the strain from a hip replacement and bad ankles eventually caught up with him. He retired at just 44 years old in November 1987.
Graham had his issues with McMahon through the years, partially sparked by him being let go by WWE in 1990 after McMahon had previously promised him a job for life. He was vocal about McMahon and Hogan’s claims about steroids during the famed trial involved Dr. George Zahorian.
Graham admitted to taking steroids for nearly two decades which greatly affected his health and quality of life.
He was named to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, inducted by Levesque. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 1996.
He leaves behind his only wife, Valerie, with whom he has been married since 1979. Graham also leaves behind two children.
Meltzer will have a much more extensive bio on Graham in the next Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Wrestling Observer Radio.
While not announced officially, several sources have confirmed that TNA has made the decision to cease weekly PPV shows on 9/8.
As noted from the start of doing weekly television, this was the only feasible decision. The company had fallen to about 6,000 buys per week on PPV before getting on Fox Sports Net. The decision was to wait about eight weeks to see if the new TV show increased buys. After ten weeks, there is no indication that aside from one or two shows, the normal levels of buys had changed at all, and the money losses were probably hovering on $100,000 per week.
The decision at this point is do to monthly three-hour shows on Sunday evenings, similar to WWE and Pride, starting in November. The final show at the Asylum in Nashville, at this point, is 9/8. Starting on 9/14, the Orlando tapings will be moved from Thursdays to Tuesdays, to give them more time to edit the post-produce the show for Friday.
Bruno Sammartino was at the WWE Raw show in Pittsburgh on 7/26 for more than just to work on a documentary about his life, but also because he’s been offered a role as an announcer for the new 24/7 channel.
It would have been an incredible shock a few months ago for things to have gotten this far due to hard feelings. It is not clear where things stand right now, other than Sammartino had a cordial meeting with Vince McMahon at the show, which would have been the first time the two would have spoken since a public confrontation on the stage of the Phil Donahue show in 1992.
Sammartino, 69, and the company had been at odds since 1987, when Sammartino’s contract as a TV announcer expired and he left the company, unhappy with how wrestling had changed. In particular, Sammartino noted the drug culture, both steroids and recreational drugs, that had changed the business since his heyday as the company’s biggest star for most of the period from 1963 until his initial retirement in 1981.
A look at the WWE’s last PPV of the Thunderdome era and what did and didn’t work on the Hell in a Cell show is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. We’ve got the booking, future direction for Money in the Bank, update on MITB tickets, star ratings, poll results and match and performer of the week.
Also in this issue:
A new lawsuit against UFC and why it is a potential game changer along with what would be almost a sure thing if it’s successful regarding WWE, what the claims are, and if it’s successful what it says about payment of money to athletes.
New Japan running shows in the United States, a look back at the early shows in Southern California, who is and isn’t on the cards and more.
Becky Lynch returning, SummerSlam ticket sales, WWE return to MSG, WWE ticket sales, FOX and NBCU suggestions for WWE programming, Montez Ford surgery, Karrion Kross and Bronson Reed tryouts, Shayna Baszler talks angle, International TV ratings, controversy over writer with no product knowledge continued and reaction internally, Rey Mysterio talks angle he doesn’t want to do, Kushida talks Kyle O’Reilly, Titus O’Neil talks his award nomination, plus next week’s TV shows, WWE’s biggest YouTube videos from this past week and WWE company market value.
Saturday’s UFC show with match-by-match coverage, future directions for the talent, business notes and more
Changes being worked on for the Nielsen ratings and who isn’t happy about them and why, television vs. streaming in 2021 and a comparison using AEW programming.
Suwama’s vacating the Triple Crown, how it will be decided, and then look back at how the three belts, the United National, PWF and International belts all formed, when, their rules, their history and the creation of the Triple Crown more than 30 years ago.
A feature on the death of former bodybuilding star turned pro wrestler Melissa Coates.
More into detail on the ratings than any other source, how many different viewers the shows had, breakdown of who watches the shows and how they watch, DVR numbers and how long the average fan watches.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of 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].
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Our weekend shows with both Garrett Gonzlaez and Bryan Alvarez are both up on the site right now. We’ll have our next new show Monday night after Raw.
As far as Google searches for the week, for the first time since the pandemic I believe, a UFC show failed to crack the top 20 yesterday in Google searches. The only stuff this weekend was boxing related with Gervonta Davis at No. 3 yesterday at 500,000 and Lomachenko was No. 7 at 200,000. On Thursday, the No. 1 searched topic was Fast 9 at 1 million.
Fast 9 was No. 1 at the box office and was expected to gross $70 million this weekend. Fast 8 opened to $98.8 million. That’s not to say that it’s a sign of lessening interest in the franchise because everything is different from back then due to COVID.
Regarding Kevin Owens and his return next week, the story is this. When Owens wrote last week that he was stepping away for a while and when we mentioned he had asked for time off, he actually only asked for just under two weeks off, so he is returning Friday for the last man standing match with Sami Zayn and was always only going to miss this week’s show.
Want to send our condolences to Bobby Eaton, Bill Dundee and all friends and family of Donna Crookshanks Eaton, who passed away at 57 over the weekend. Donna was the wife of Bobby Eaton and daughter of Bill Dundee. The couple has three children.
Jackie Robinson, obviously not the baseball legend, but the pro wrestling star of the 70s and 80s in the U.K. passed away this weekend. Robinson was the cousin of Billy Robinson and son of pro wrestler Alf Robinson. He was a three-time lightweight champion in the era of Dynamite Kid, Rollerball Rocco and Steve Wright. He was one of the most-liked wrestlers of the era. Like his cousin, he was a top level amateur wrestler who later coached amateur wrestling. (thanks to Bradley Craig)
ROH said that they are still working through technical issues regarding the Hour Club member presale for Glory by Honor on 8/20 and 8/21 in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena. The presale has been moved to 10 a.m. starting tomorrow morning and General Public on sale is Friday at 10 a.m.
Regarding Smackdown from the cable stuff we have, viewers were down 5.5 percent and viewing time down 5.4 percent from last week, which makes sense since last week was the Roman Reigns vs. Rey Mysterio Hell in a Cell title match. These numbers have nothing to do with Nielsen ratings. We don’t have anything on AEW yet but should tomorrow.
WWE
Some Florida house show main events for early August are Drew McIntyre & Kofi Kingston vs. Bobby Lashley & MVP, which in theory means MVP will be back wrestling by then.
Pro Wrestling All-stars from Friday night in Brownstown, MI: Molluck b Royce Carney III, Cobra Kai NC Donte Casson & Mason Keller, LJ Lawrence NC Soultaker, Atlas Hytower b Darion Ultra, Chuck Stein & Sean Lawhorn b Breyer Wellington & Frank Isaac Anderson, Alex Van Zant b El Ridiculoso, Mysterious Movado b Forever Young, Adam Wick b Jimmy Jacobs (thanks to Leonard Brand)
For Impact in 60 this week at 10 p.m. Eastern on Thursday night on AXS they will be doing The Best of Chelsea Green/Laurel Van Ness.
Tom Budgen, formerly Aleister Black, has signed a merchandise deal with MMA brand Hayabusa.
The next AAW show is 7/9 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL on FITE TV with Mance Warner vs. Fred Yehi in a cage match for the AAW title, Kris Statlander vs. Allysin Kay for the women’s title, Deon Rusman & Joeasa vs. Ace Austin & Madman Fulton for the tag titles, Myron Reed vs. Hakim Zane (Rohit Raju) for the Heritage title, Skye Blue vs.Hyan in an I Quit match and Manders vs. Robin Steele.
Juggalo Championship Wrestling from Wednesday night in Detroit: Weedman b Officer Rod Street, Madman Pondo b Breyer Wellington, Charlie Kruel b Edevan Von England,Funnybone b Sinn Bohdi, Aidan Blackheart b Chuck Stein, Super Crazy b Espiritu Maya, Mosh Pit Mike & Chuey Martinez b Mr. Fitness & Crossfit Rob and Boys in the Hood, Kongo Kong b Shane Mercer (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Because Jamie Hayter, who did some matches with AEW, is doing a WWE tryout, RevPro has announced she has vacated the British women’s championship. Zoe Lucas vs. Gisele Shaw takes place on 7/4 at the Cockpit in London for the vacant title. Hayter and Skye Smitson are both getting WWE tryouts.
Tokyo Joshi Pro results from today in Tokyo which was a free YouTube show with 15,000 viewers live for the main event: Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe b Nao Kakuta & Kaya Toribami, Yuka Sakazaki won three-way over Nodoka Tenma & Haruna Neko, Shoko Nakajima & Mizuki & Hyper Misao b Yuki Kamifuku & Yuki Aino & Pom Harajuku, Marika Kobashi & Raku b Hikaru Noa & Miahiro Kiryu, Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh & Moka Miyamoto b Mirai Maiumi & Suzume & Arisa Endo (thanks to Shannon Walsh and JoshiSunTimes.com)
We have an update with more info on a number of COVID cases involving pro wrestling including more on Chris Jericho, Nick Jackson, Drew McIntyre, Mick Foley, Les Thatcher and more. We look at what Paul Levesque said about the COVID issue, Jericho talking about getting it in September, Nick Jackson, and more on others in the industry.
Also in this issue:
We also have our 2020 Business Year in Review issue talking about the biggest crowds, the biggest PPVs, how the year was totally different from any other, UFC business history and more.
Every major promotion, why this year is so hard to evaluate, what you can’t learn from the past year and can, how things look going into the new year, and issues going forward for every company.
Raw, Smackdown AEW and NXT and compare how they are doing now with one year ago, and where things will be in one year if the current direction doesn’t change.
How much money Linda McMahon donated to Trump’s re-election and funding of the recent attempt to take over the capitol.
Royal Rumble update, how much money top stars can earn from doing social media advertising, Update on WWE’s new A&E documentaries for this year, biggest Wednesday drawing card, more on the next TV special for India, new stars from India debuting including two giants, Dusty Rhodes tag tourney news, the next Takeover show, Injury updates, Lita talks about when she was threatened with being fired, Ricochet contract notes, U.S. sports ratings, U.K. and Canadian TV ratings, New NXT stars, movie star teases working with WWE, Upcoming WWE television shows WWE market value and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network.
Vince McMahon’s lawsuit against Oliver Luck and Luck’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon. We look at McMahon’s complaints as well as what others involved said including some day-by-day looks at aspects of the XFL and its death.
How COVID has changed Japanese wrestling along with new restrictions and what they mean and how they relate to wrestling and the New Japan big show lineup over the next several weeks.
List of the 20 biggest crowds for pro wrestling ever in the country of Canada and notes about business peaks.
Rundowns of the major television shows.
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.
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.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and a lot of other news as well as taking e-mail questions that can be sent to [email protected].
Today is the 50th anniversary of the night Ivan Koloff beat Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden to win the WWWF title that Sammartino had held for nearly eight years. It was one of the most legendary matches in pro wrestling history. Bill Apter was there that night and tells the whole story of the night including interviews with Koloff and Sammartino.
Raw tonight is the annual “bounce back” show, meaning the first show after the end of Monday night football games. In theory, it should do close to 1.9 million viewers because that would be the equivalent of the 1.72 million a normal show has been doing against football of late. The only things announced are Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss and Bliss explains why she shot fire at Randy Orton. Ric Flair was photographed in Florida with Hulk Hogan on Saturday so he’s in town and was schedulEd as a recurring character in his latest role with Lacey Evans. Charlotte Flair is supposed to cut a promo regarding that angle.
After announcing his retirement multiple times, Conor McGregor told ESPN today that he probably was never going to retire. Hopefully for his sake that’s as honest as his previous statements.
New Japan World has another Korakuen Hall show this morning at 4 a.m. Eastern
Will Ospreay & Great O’Khan vs. Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji
Minoru Suzuki & Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki vs Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo & Gedo & Jado
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tetsuya Naito & Sanada
UFC has another show starting at 9 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday morning. It’s a six-hour block on ESPN headlined by Neil Magny vs. Michael Chiesa. It goes head-to-head with the inauguration so given the time slot and the competition, it should probably do the lowest rating for a UFC show aside from some of the FS2 shows.
All ROH talent is under quarantine in Baltimore as is mandated by the Maryland commission to do shows later this week.
WWE
Raw ratings won’t be out until Wednesday because today is a holiday. Friday Smackdown ratings won’t be out until tomorrow.
The Pat Patterson documentary debuts on Sunday on the WWE network. Also debuting Sunday will be a Bianca Belair WWE Chronicle episode.
UFC
Carlos Condit is now a free agent since Saturday’s fight with Matt Brown was the last fight on his contract.
Dana White said that ABC was going to start the 6 p.m. news on time and thus on the East Coast the show had to end by 6. That’s probably why they went with five fights for a three hour time slot instead of six.
AEW
AEW will be airing on TSN 1 rather than TSN 2 live on Wednesday night in Canada.
OTHER NEWS
Impact tomorrow night has announced Rhino vs. Eric Young and Kimber Lee & Susan (Su Yung) vs. Jordynne Grace & Jazz. There is also to be a surprise appearance. I don’t know if he will be on this week’s show, but AAA’s Black Taurus was brought to Nashville for the tapings this week.
Lindaman, who has wrestled for AEW, tested positive for COVID-19. He’s been of late wrestling with a number of different groups in Japan. T-Hawk, who has been around him, and Lindaman are both off Big Japan shows this week. T-Hawk did not test positive but has been in contact with him.
Game Changer Wrestling is doing a 24 hour show that starts on 1/29 at 8 pm. Eastern.
Melbourne City Wrestling announced Ballroom Brawl on 3/13.
Deathmatch Down Under from Saturday night in Melbourne, Australia:
Ritchie Taylor b Tommy Knight, JTX & FOX b Kurtis Day & Avary, Gore b Mitchell Wright, Aysha & Murdoch b Tyson Baxter & Aiden Miller, Gweedo b Joel Bateman to retain the Total Violence title, Mad Dog & Michael Weaver b Raw Beef in a barbed wire board deathmatch, Jake Andrewartha b Caveman Ugg, Damian Rivera b Callan Butcher in a light tubes match.
Riot City Wrestling from Friday night in Adelaide, Australia: Jeff Armstrong won three-way qualifier for the Key to the City ladder match over Royce Chambers and Gabriel Aeros, Caide Tre b JJ Funto and Eli Thesus in a three-way Key to the City ladder match qualifier, Delta b Savannah Summers, Adam Brooks & Antivirus b Nick Armstrong & Toy Toro, Rocky Menero b Barren in a Monster’s Ball match to keep the RCW title, Matt Hayter won the Riot City Rumble.
Riot City Wrestling from Saturday night in Adelaide, Australia: Dean Brady & James Kray & Redshaw b Nick Armstrong & Tony Toro & Down Under, Adam Brooks b Eli Theseus, Izzy Shaw b Delta to keep the women’s title, Zack Sabbath & Mike Boomer b Royce Chambers & JJ Furno, Jensen Hunt b Corvidae, Matt Hayter b Tyler Daniels, Havok won over Jeff Armstrong, Cadie Tre and Kit Condor in a Key to the City ladder match. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
MLW is advertising Jacob Fatu vs. ACH, the debut of Shawn Daivari and Alicia Atout interviewing Salina de la Renta for the show that gets released on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The mother of former star Jacqueline Moore passed away over the weekend.
