WrestleMania week’s two primary independent promoters are partnering for the biggest events on the indie scene in 2026.
WrestleCon and The Collective have announced that they will house their WrestleMania week events under the same roof for the first time in 2026 at the Horseshoe Las Vegas on The Strip from Wednesday, April 15 through Sunday, April 19.
Years in the making…
For the first time, The Collective and @wrestlecon will join forces under the same roof to provide a Mania Week Fan Experience that is second to none…
It all goes down from April 16th to 19th at The Horseshoe on the Las Vegas Strip!
The Collective traditionally hosts numerous independent events — from GCW shows, to Joey Janela’s Spring Break, to TJPW shows — as part of the WrestleMania week festivities. WrestleCon hosts a convention with appearances from wrestling stars each day of WrestleMania week, plus the annual Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow, traditionally the highest-profile independent wrestling event of the year.
Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host WWE WrestleMania for the second consecutive year on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Formerly Bally’s Casino, the Horseshoe is across Las Vegas Boulevard from The Mirage, Caesar’s Palace, and The Bellagio.
One of NJPW’s top stars is heading to Las Vegas next month to compete at Game Changer Wrestling’s The Collective.
GCW has announced that Zack Sabre Jr. will be in action at three of their shows in Vegas: Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII (April 17), Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9 (April 18), and Effy’s Big Gay Brunch 10 (April 19). Sabre vs. Kidd Bandit will take place at Big Gay Brunch, but his Bloodsport and Spring Break opponents have not been revealed yet.
The three shows are happening on Thursday-Saturday of that week and will air live via TrillerTV+.
This is Sabre’s Bloodsport debut. Josh Barnett called him “one of the most dangerous submission artists” in wrestling and “a man who paints a canvas of pain with his opponents.”
One of the most dangerous submission artists in Professional Wrestling; a man who paints a canvas of pain with his opponents.
You know the name and what to expect. We're just thinking, "It's about time."
Zack Sabre Jr. Is coming to Josh Barnett's: Bloodsport XIII.
Sabre debuted for GCW with three matches in 2023 and just recently returned to the promotion for a couple of shows earlier this month, defeating Fuego Del Sol and Mance Warner.
In February, Sabre dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Hirooki Goto after a nearly four-month reign. Sabre is competing in New Japan Cup 2025 looking to get another shot at the title.
GCW works with other indie and international promotions to present The Collective during WrestleMania week every year. DDT, Tokyo Joshi Pro, Defy, and PROGRESS are some of the promotions that GCW is collaborating with for the 2025 version of the event.
The annual indie extravaganza is being held at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas from April 17-April 19. It will feature 11 wrestling shows during those three days, with the events set to take place at the Pearl Theater. Here is the schedule (all times are Pacific):
Thursday, April 17:
11 a.m. — Defy Wrestling
3 p.m. — WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow
8 p.m. — Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 13
11:59 p.m. — PROGRESS Wrestling
Friday, April 18:
11 a.m. — Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
3 p.m. — DDT Pro Wrestling
7 p.m. — Joey Janela’s Spring Break 9
11:59 p.m. — Heels Have Eyes: Four The Culture
Saturday, April 19:
11 a.m. — Effy’s Big Gay Brunch 10
2 p.m. — TJPW vs. DDT vs. GCW
11 p.m. — Joey Janela’s Spring Break: Clusterf*ck Forever
Ticket information for the shows will be announced later this week.
The Collective happens in the same city as WWE WrestleMania every year. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host WrestleMania 41 on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20.
The life of Joe Koff and how his influence on the current wrestling scene is so underplayed. From being a childhood fan of Bruno Sammartino, heading the production on the original Battle of the Belts series, saving ROH at least twice, and providing a place where many of today’s biggest stars were able to make a living while building resumes that led them to the top in WWE and essentially the building blocks of the formation of AEW, and the success of All In. We look at his life and career both in and out of the wrestling business.
Bryan Danielson retires from full-time wrestling, his future and how this played out on WrestleDream.
A look at WrestleDream, the business of the show, the rundown and polls.
More details on the AEW television deal, what it does and doesn’t cover, prospects for other deals, the economics, attempting to rebuild attendance at shows, the Mexico deal, international prospects going forward and more.
Zack Sabre Jr. wins IWGP title while Hiroshi Tanahahashi provides a retirement countdown. Plus a look at the future NJPW lineups, Tokyo Dome prospects and King of Pro Wrestling coverage.
The Gegard Mousasi lawsuit and the latest attempt to get a court to rule on the independent contractor vs. employee status.
The most detailed look at the ratings of all the wrestling shows, placings for the night and week, competition, year-by-year comparisons and more.
When did star ratings for wrestling matches begin? The answer will surprise you.
Santo draws the biggest indie crowd of the year.
Jimmy Jacobs leaves AEW.
Bob Ryder and the birth of TNA.
International TV ratings.
Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows.
Fighters depositions in Cung Le lawsuit.
UFC TV rights news.
Major UFC stars say they want to come out of retirement.
How much WWE & UFC are expected to produce this year in revenue.
New WWE project with Netflix.
Update on Netflix ratings for the two wrestling shows.
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue
Becky Lynch is set to appear at Vulture Festival in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 17, taking part in a conversation called “Becky Lynch Disarms Us.”
WWE Superstar, trailblazer, and New York Times best-selling author Rebecca Quin will join us for a conversation about her recent memoir Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl. We’ll look back on her legendary career — from her early days grinding on the road to being in the first ever women’s match to main event WrestleMania — and just maybe get a glimpse at what The Man has in store for us next.
Big E will be the honorary captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team this Saturday when his alma mater plays Northwestern.
For Halloween, Shotzi & Scarlett’s Chamber of Horrors series returned with Dominik Mysterio, Otis & Karrion Kross joining them to “explore the demonic Haunted Hill House, a building full of paranormal activity in Mineral Wells, Texas.”
In this week’s Mone Mag, Mercedes Mone listed her top five fantasy opponents:
1. Manami Toyota- when I watched her I was in awe! I could not believe a woman could wrestle like that or perform the way she performed. Not to mention that she could do so in matches that lasted 30 minutes or longer! She was way before her time and my number one fantasy match.
2. Kyoko Inoue- Because I grew up watching Toyota, my second dream match would have to be to one of her best opponents, Kyoko Inoue. She is a wrestler that I have always looked up to, and when I see her wrestle, I am always in awe as well.
3. Trish Stratus- She was just THE GIRL back in the day. And even now, she can just go. I watched her on TV as a fan in her prime and still wish I could lock up with her.
4. Mickie James- What can I say I LOVED her versus Trish [Stratus’] storyline growing up! I was so inspired by it. I never saw a woman’s storyline like that. What made it even more incredible was that it lasted for an entire year which seemed unheard of for women. They even had an amazing WrestleMania match. I was only a teenager then, but they just truly inspired me, so Mickie makes the last for sure.
5. Athena- They say fantasies can’t come true, only dreams can. On that note, a dream match would be against Athena- the Ring of Honor Women’s champion. I’ve only had two matches with her, but they have been multi-women matches. I think she’s an incredible talent. Like the others, I’ve never seen women do things that she’s done before. She also seems to love it just as much as I do. I think if I’m given the chance and opportunity, we would have one of the greatest matches ever.
Tony Khan shared a photo with London Mayor Sadiq Khan: “It was great to see the Mayor of London @SadiqKhan, and I was honored to stand with him to unveil the AEW World Championship belt with the special @FulhamFC side plates!”
On his ARN podcast, Arn Anderson congratulated AEW on its new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery:
I’m very happy for Tony Khan and all of his crew, everybody that works there. Like I said, we need – when wrestling is flourishing, notoriously every available company is doing well. When they catch on fire, then it just causes a competition that everybody is a better product. And so, that’s what I hope for. Let’s see how it goes.
Anderson said it’s “just insane” that some fans would want AEW to die:
Probably won’t die in my lifetime. Too many resources. You know, too many resources. [Tony Khan’s] got a talent list 10 miles long. He’s got, I mean forget about the TV deal that they signed, think of all the other assets that him and his family – the Khan family – have to draw from. I mean, I don’t want to see them die. Who the hell would want to see them die? [It’s] just insane. I feel like the company is going to get bigger and stronger, and it’s going to evolve, and it’ll be interesting to see.
Mina Shirakawa told WrestleZone that her goal for 2025 is to become a champion in the United States: “I have won Japanese belts and the British belt, but not yet an American belt. In 2025, I want to be a champion in the United States.”
GCW announced that The Collective 2025 will be held at The Pearl Theatre at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. It’s taking place from Thursday, April 17 through Saturday, April 19 during WrestleMania week. GCW noted that the event schedule for The Collective is coming soon.
It’s great. Rhino is a very good choice, especially being here in Detroit. He is ‘Detroit Rock City’ through and through. I’ve known Rhino for 24 years now, and he is a very deserving guy. He is someone who busted his ass for professional wrestling and contributed so much to the business. Bob Ryder is such an amazing guy. A pillar of TNA in the beginning. If Bob Ryder doesn’t step into the conversation of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, I don’t know if TNA even becomes a thing. He was hugely instrumental in putting TNA on the map. I’m so excited he is being honored in the Hall of Fame.
The Hardys & Joe Hendry were in attendance at last night’s Detroit Pistons NBA game.
Jon Moxley will take part in Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8.
Barnett announced today that Moxley will return for his fourth match at the GCW series at The Collective at Fair Park in Dallas on Thursday, March 31 as part of the WrestleMania weekend festivities. The event will air live on FITE TV.
A living embodiment of controlled chaos.
A man without fear or concern for danger.
Mox is looking for a fight and he knows where he'll find one…
Moxley has competed in three prior Bloodsport events. He defeated Chris Dickinson at Bloodsport 3 in October 2020, defeated Davey Boy Smith Jr. at Bloodsport 5 in February 2021, then lost to Barnett at Bloodsport 6 in April 2021. Moxley’s match has main evented each of the Bloodsport events he has appeared in.
Moxley joins Minoru Suzuki, Timothy Thatcher, Biff Busick, and Janai Kai in the talent lineup for Bloodsport 8. No matches have been announced as of yet.
Moxley also currently holds the GCW World title. He won that Championship from Matt Cardona last September, and has since made successful defenses against Nick Gage, and Homicide.
Biff Busick has been announced for a pair of GCW events over WrestleMania weekend at The Collective.
Busick is the first talent officially announced for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8 on Thursday, March 31 in Dallas. Additionally, Busick will take part in Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6: Part 2 on Friday, April 1. Both shows will be held at The Collective at Fair Park in Dallas.
Busick has already been announced for the WrestleCon SuperShow on March 31, where he will take on Minoru Suzuki in Dallas at the Fairmont Hotel. Mike Bailey, The Briscoe Brothers, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, Bandido, Jonathan Gresham, and Atsushi Onita are also set for the SuperShow.
Opponents have yet to be announced for Busick at the GCW events.
Busick is also schedule for wXw’s 16 Carat Gold tournament from March 4 to March 6, 2022 in Oberhausen, Germany.
Oney Lorcan during his WWE tenure, Busick was part of WWE mass releases in November 2021 that saw 18 different talents being cut.
Planet Death is returning to The Collective in 2022.
GCW has announced the show for Thursday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m. as part of the series of events promoted at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas under The Collective banner. The show will stream live on FITE TV.
No talent or matches have been announced yet for the show.
Planet death joins Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6 parts one and two, GCW For The Culture, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8, GCW Gringo Loco’s The Wrld on Lucha, and an LA Fights vs. JCW event in the series of shows promoted under GCW’s banner at The Collective 2022. Effy’s Big Gay Brunch, plus Mission Pro Wrestling and Glory Pro Wrestling events will also take place at The Collective.
*COLLECTIVE ANNOUNCEMENT*
PLANET DEATH returns to The @collective2022 at Fair Park in Dallas!
GCW presents Planet Death Thursday, March 31 – 1159PM
Planet Death 2021 was held at the Cuban Club in Ybor City, Florida in 2021, also as part of The Collective. That show was headlined by Alex Colon defeating Lucky 13 for the vacant GCW Ultraviolent title.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport is officially returning for WrestleMania 38 week.
It was announced tonight that Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 8 will take place on Thursday, March 31. The show, which is being held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, will be part of Game Changer Wrestling’s “The Collective” group of events.
The Bloodsport show will begin at 3 p.m. Central time.
GCW’s inaugural Bloodsport event was Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport in 2018. Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport then began the next year.
Last year’s WrestleMania week Bloodsport was headlined by Josh Barnett defeating Jon Moxley. Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 7 then took place last October, with Minoru Suzuki defeating Chris Dickinson in the main event.
The Collective 2022 is being held from March 31 through April 2. Joey Janela’s Spring Break 6, For The Culture, Effy’s Big Gay Brunch, and Gringo Loco’s The Wrld on Lucha have also been announced for The Collective, along with shows from Mission Pro Wrestling and Glory Pro Wrestling.
Game Changer Wrestling has announced that The Collective will be heading to the Tampa area during WrestleMania weekend.
First reported by Fightful this afternoon, The Collective Remix will run from April 8-10 at The Cuban Club in Ybor City, Florida. The shows will stream live on FITE. Tickets will go on sale this Friday. All events will take place outdoors and will be capped at 20% capacity. Masks will be required and there will be a socially distanced seating chart.
Already announced is the return of events such as Joey Janela’s Spring Break, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, Effy’s Big Gay Brunch, and For the Culture. New events include a two-day tournament called the Acid Cup, and an event produced by Alex Colon called Planet Death.
Events announced so far include:
Jimmy Lloyd’s D-Generation F
The Acid Cup
Joey Janela’s Spring Break
GCW For the Culture
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport
Allie Kat’s Hot Girl Sh*t
Effy’s Big Gay Brunch
Planet Death
Unsanctioned
VXS
No Peace Underground
Those that hold tickets for the 2020 Collective event have until this Thursday at midnight to redeem credit or rollover their 2020 tickets for 2021 tickets. There is also the option of reserving credit or rolling over packages for the 2022 event in Dallas, Texas.
Last year’s The Collective was scheduled to take place in Tampa, Florida. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed to October, where the shows took place in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Indie wrestler Tony Deppen revealed on Twitter that he has tested positive for the coronavirus a week after he was part of GCW’s The Collective weekend.
Deppen said that everyone he was around all weekend had negative results, “even the people I was in a car with for 9 hours. I guess I am just the lucky one.” He said he has been in isolation for the last week and “actually felt like death”, adding he and his wife had to cancel their baby shower which is the hardest thing for him to accept.
Deppen wrestled twice on Saturday, October 10th: once in a gauntlet match at Effy’s Big Gay Brunch and then against Alex Shelley at Joey Janela’s Spring Break 4.
GCW’s ownership have urged both fans and wrestlers to get tested after last weekend’s group of shows as several wrestlers tested positive including AC Mack, Dan the Dad, and Cabana Man Dan. The positive tests have affected other organizations as Ring of Honor announced that several wrestlers brought into work their set ot TV tapings that were at the Collective would not be used as a precaution.
A look at the WWE draft is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer. We look at the different moves made, why they were made, look at the depth charts with both brands to see what is and isn’t lacking, talk the return of talent, talent being kept apart, the whys behind some moves, and the rosters of both brands.
The new issue also covers:
The G1 Climax tournament, with match-by-match coverage of every show this past week, with star ratings and poll results. We look at the quality of shows, matches being built up, who have been the stars and best matches of the tournament.
The Cena wedding, how much Linda McMahon has donated to Trump’s campaign, lots of WWE injury updates, Lawsuit updates, Total Bellas notes, U.K TV ratings, new WWE documentary, how wrestling stacks up to other sports on TV, WWE filming an indie star for documentary, upcoming TV bouts, WWE market value, a new WWE book, and the most-watched shows on the WWE Network this past week.
Saturday’s UFC show from Abu Dhabi and the ramifications of the top matches.
A feature on Len Rossi, one of the biggest stars in Tennessee and Alabama from 1958 to 1972, his career in the ring, his life after wrestling, his tag team partners and most well-known angles. It’s a look back at a unique era of pro wrestling and how Rossi was a key to change in a unique time.
The indictment of the former Alberto Del Rio on a sexual assault and kidnapping case.
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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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.
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
For the weekend, Garrett Gonzalez and I will do a show late tonight covering the latest news from the past week. On Saturday, Bryan and I will do a show covering the G-1 final three days.
Tracy Smothers has been hospitalized with non-Hodgkins lymphoma on the left side of his stomach and right side of his lung. Best wishes to him in battling the disease.
The G-1 B Block finals are tomorrow at 4 a.m. Eastern from Sumo Hall:
Yuya Uemura vs. Gabriel Kidd
Toru Yano (3-5) vs. Yoshi-Hashi (1-7)
Hirooki Goto (4-4) vs. Juice Robinson (3-5)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (3-5) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (5-3)
Tetsuya Naito (6-2) vs. KENTA (4-4)
Sanada (5-3) vs. Evil (6-2)
If Evil wins, he wins the block. If Evil loses and Naito wins, Naito wins the block. If Sabre, Evil and Naito all lose, Sanada wins the block. If Sabre and Sanada win, and Naito loses, Sabre wins the block. Our G-1 weekend polls are for Wednesday’s show, the three shows this weekend, as well as tournament MVP and best match in the tournament, with thumbs up, down or middle, best & worst match for each show to dave@#wrestlingobserver.com
Saturday’s UFC show is an ESPN+ exclusive starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time
Said Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Mark Striegl (136)
Gadzhimurad Anitgulov (206) vs. Maxim Grishin (205.5)
Jamie Mullarkey (156) vs. Firas Ziam (156)
Jun Yong Park (185) vs. John Phillips (186)
Gillian Robertson (125.5) vs. Poliana Botelho (125)
Mateusz Gamrot (156) vs. Guram Kutateladze (156)
Thomas Almeida (146) vs. Jonathan Martinez (146)
Claudio Silva (171) vs. James Krause (171)
Jimmy Crute (206) vs.; Modestaa Bukauska (206)
Katlyn Chookiagian (126) vs. Jessica Andrade (126)
Brian Ortega (146) vs. Chan Sung Jung (146)
The promoters of last weekend’s Collective shows in Indianapolis are urging all fans and wrestlers who were at the shows to test for COVID-19 due to several wrestlers already testing positive.
205 Live tonight has Isaiah Scott vs. Brian Kendrick and Ariya Daivari in matches with Anthony Greene and Curt Stallion.
Bill Goldberg on Instagram teased the idea of a match with Roman Reigns. The two were to wrestle at WrestleMania.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bret Hart, Lance Storm and Trish Status have cameos on Corner Gas Animated that airs on 10/26 on CTV Comedy Channel in Canada. The episode will air at some point in the U.S. but the date isn’t finalized. Storm plays a former pro wrestler turned celebrity gardening podcaster while Bret Hart is his rival. Stratus voices the role of Shauna, a virtual home assistant.
Bu Ku Dao has signed with MLW. Bu Ku Dao wrestles in the Gulf Coast area.
Impact announced Heath, Rhino, Hernandez, Acey Romero, Larry D, Tenille Dashwood, Taya Valkyrie, Brian Myers, Tommy Dreamer and Havok as the first ten entrants in their Call Your Shot gauntlet, a royal rumble style match. The winner picks the title they want to challenge for.
CWE announced with Vincent unable to enter Canada, a tournament will be held on 11/6 in Winnipeg at the Holy Eucharist Parish Hall with Danny Duggan, Mentallo, Adam Knight, EZ Ryder, Kevy Chevy, Tommy Lee Curtis, Bobby Schink and Dragneel for the vacant title. They also announced a 10/26 show in Grand Prairie, Alberta and the Jackpot Grill Events Centre with former UFC star Mitch Clarke vs. Rich King.
Bare Knuckle boxing tonight on the BKTV app from Plant City, FL with former Strikeforce and UFC star Mike Kyle vs Bobo O’Bannon in the main event.
LFA on 10/30 on UFC Fight Pass from Park City, KS is headlined by Vanessa Demopoulos (5-2) vs. Lupita Godinez (4-0) in a strawweight fight and Aaron McKenzie (82-2-1) vs. Joe Giannetti (9-3-1) in a lightweight fight.
LFA runs tonight from Park City, KS on Fight Pass with Andre Petroski (185.8) vs. Aaron Jeffrey (18-2.) and Samantha Hughes (119.2) vs. Danielle Hindley (119.6) as the top bouts.
AAW on 10/29 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette, Park, IL has a few tickets left, 50 person capacity, masks and social distancing required, with Mance Warner & Jake Something vs. Hakim Zane &Karam, Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton vs. Air Wolf & Angel Dorado, Matt Justice vs. Jake Crist as well as ACH, Fred Yehi, Manders and Trey Miguel.
The Expo Lucha panel events are now available on the Lucha Central YouTube page. This includes matches with stars like Juventud Guerrera, Rey Hours, Flamita, Black Taurus, Laredo Kid, Disco Inferno, Penta El Cero M, Rey Fenix, Jack Evans, Teddy Hart, Amy “Lita” Dumas, Brian Cage and others.
Longtime WWE Magazine writer Keith Elliot Greenberg did an interview with The Wrestling Estate to promote his new book about the indie revolution, and also shared some fun stories about Vince McMahon, Paul Heyman, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Iron Sheik.
Thanks to help from John Pollock of Post Wrestling
ROH officials made a decision today that a number of talents brought in for the television tapings this week would not be used due to being in contact with people who tested positive for COVID-19 at The Collective series of wrestling events over the weekend in Indianapolis.
Three wrestlers have publicly come forward from that weekend, AC Mack, Dan the Dad, and Cabana Man Dan, stating that they had tested positive from the series of events that included a lot of top non-WWE talent that included stars from AEW, ROH, and Impact Wrestling. We are told that the ROH tapings had to be rewritten due to a number of people being sent home after the company learned yesterday they were exposed to people who had tested positive due to the company’s internal protocol being used in conjunction with working with the Maryland State Athletic Commission.
ROH has had some of the strictest COVID protocols of any wrestling company in the world since the outbreak in March, including a long period of not running any events nor taping new television shows. They returned to action with the Pure title tournament.
This was confirmed with multiple sources although officially Joe Koff would not comment on the specific matter.
“While Ring of Honor does not publicly discuss specific internal decisions, ROH is taking every measure to preserve the integrity of its rigorous health and safety protocol for the upcoming tapings,” Koff said in an email to the Observer.
A look at how WWE & AEW are handling things like the reopening of Florida, and how Texas looks to be the place MMA companies will go to as far as putting fans in buildings is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer.
We look at the current planned date and place for WrestleMania, what sports are now allowed to do as far as live events in Florida, AEW’s current plans going forward and the new regulations in Texas.
The new issue also covers:
The Samantha Tavel lawsuit against WWE, Matt Riddle, Evolve and Gabe Sapolsky. We look at the claims and look at both sides of the story and stories that have changed. We also look at the strategy of involving WWE i the case, WWE responds to the suit, and go through the time lines and how they differ and wording of the suit. We also go through the background of the case.
History of the non-relationship of NJPW and AEW. We look at how it started, why there was heat, how the ouster of Howard Meij could change things, as well as why there were so many mentions of NJPW on this past week’s AEW show. We look at what happened in January 2019 that caused issues between the two sides, the issues with how talent was handled on the way out, and what would be the first sign if relations started opening up.
WWE draft.
G-1 tournament. We go through what style of wrestlers have been helped and hurt by the current no-cheer, no-boo environment, who has been able to get a reaction, the standings, this week’s matches, plans for the rest of the year in New Japan, plus coverage with star ratings and poll results from every show.
NXT Takeover, the show background, match-by-match coverage and poll results on the show.
Updates on the sports rights fees business and where wrestling fits in, Paige’s tweet about unions, Stephanie McMahon gets major praise, new member of WWE Board of Directors, Drew McIntyre vs. Tyson Fury update, one year anniversary of Smackdown on FOX, more on John Cena’s debut in Fast & Furious, new season of Miz & Mrs. and the time slot, Angel Garza injury update, new A&E specials on pro wrestlers coming next year, more WWE injuries, WWE UK direction, wrestling placings in sports ratings and UK rating s for WWE & AEW, Jack Gallagher talks his being released, college heavyweight wants to be managed by Pual Heyman, Miz working on a new television show, WWE new developmental signings, WWE injury updates, WWE market value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
This past Saturday’s UFC show.
Bushiroad’s attempt at a major Stardom show this past week.
Rundown of charting the place-winners in the key Observer awards and how it relates to the Hall of Fame.
A feature on the team of Penny Banner & Lorraine Johnson, who were known for decades as being the greatest women’s tag team in pro wrestling with the death this past week of Johnson.
What sports events did the best in viewers per home while talking about AEW setting its company record in that category this week.
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.
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.
John Cena has announced that he is the new voice of Honda for their commercials. He wrote on Twitter: “We define who we are when we persevere in the face of obstacles. Proud to be the new voice of @Honda starting with this message that encourages people to ”Rise to the Challenge.”
The Sports Guys Talking Wrestling podcast talked to Drew McIntyre prior to the WWE draft regarding his WWE 24 special and his current feud with Randy Orton.
Corey Graves will interview Shayna Baszler on this week’s After the Bell podcast.
The company announced that Cerveza Victoria will sponsor the 2021 edition of SummerSlam and will become the “official beer” of the event.
WWE has filed a number of trademarks, including WWE Saturday Morning Slam (their old kids show that aired on the CW), Skull King, Flash Morgan Webster, Ilja Dragunov, Isla Dawn, and Jack Starz.
Other Wrestling
Dan the Dad, who was a part of this past weekend’s The Collective, announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Regarding his involvement with The Collective, he wrote: “I want to assure you every show at The Collective was carried out with the utmost concern for safety and those protocols remained in place throughout the weekend.”
Ryan Smile, who wrestled for companies such as RevPro and OTT in the United Kingdom, passed away on Tuesday morning. Ryan’s partner Alice, who goes by the name of Alex Windsor in professional wrestling, wrote the following on Facebook (via Metro): “I cannot believe I’m having to write these words… On Tuesday morning, Ryan passed away after losing his battle with mental health, a battle in which he had been fighting for a long time. I can’t fathom the words to express how I’m feeling right now. To anyone who knew Ryan, whether through wrestling or on a personal level, it’s with an extremely heavy heart that I have to break this tragic news.”
Fox News has an article on Jack Perry (Jungle Boy) and how his father, Luke, encouraged him to enter professional wrestling.
“The Whittler”, a horror film featuring Al Snow, will be released on Amazon on October 16.
Anthem is partnering with Ohio Valley Wrestling to air episodes of both OVW TV and OVW Overdrive on Anthem’s Game+ Network in Canada starting October 18 at 9 a.m. ET.
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a profile on former ECW owner Tod Gordon’s Carver W. Reed pawn shop, which continues to run during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A one-night women’s tournament will be part of the lineup for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 2020.
It was announced on Monday that Lindsay Snow, Leyla Hirsch, Killer Kelly, and Allysin Kay will take part in the four-wrestler tournament. Snow vs. Hirsch and Kelly vs. Kay will be the first round matches. The winners will advance to face each other later in the night.
Hirsch is replacing Deonna Purrazzo on the Bloodsport card. Purrazzo, who is Impact Wrestling’s Knockouts Champion, announced last week that she’s cancelling her bookings at Bloodsport and the rest of Game Changer Wrestling’s The Collective as a precaution to make sure she’s able to wrestle at Impact’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view. Purrazzo wrote that she made the decision so that she’ll have adequate time to self-isolate before the PPV if need be.
Jon Moxley vs. Chris Dickinson, Homicide vs. Tom Lawlor, Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Josh Alexander, Calvin Tankman vs. Alexander James, Erik Hammer vs. Kal Jak, and Simon Grimm vs. Matt Makowski have also been announced for Bloodsport. Matches can only be won via knockout or submission.
Bloodsport is taking place at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, October 11. The show will be available to watch live via Fite TV.
A new match has been added to Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event that takes place next month.
Homicide will take on Filthy Tom Lawlor. Barnett made the announcement on his Twitter account.
The card has been taking shape in recent days. AEW World champion Jon Moxley has been confirmed for the event, as he will take on Chris Dickinson. Moxley had previously been signed to face Josh Barnett twice, but was unable to both times, first due to MRSA in his elbow and second due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matches announced for the show include Simon Grimm vs. Matt Makowski and Erik Hammer vs. Kal Jack. Other wrestlers slated to appear on the card include Josh Alexander, Calvin Tankman, Lindsay Snow, Killer Kelly, Alexander James, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Allysin Kay.
The event will take place on October 11 at the Marion County Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a part of GCW’s The Collective series of shows.
