When the world shut down during Covid, Anna and I used to talk about one day competing for these tag belts. Five years later, that dream finally became real… and losing in the first round hurts in a way that’s hard to explain.
We believed in this moment so much. We poured so much of ourselves into this team, into growing together, into giving everything every time we stepped in the ring.
Sometimes things don’t go the way you hoped ,even when your heart is all in.
It is what it is.
But I’m grateful for everyone who’s been on this journey with us and for all the love you’ve shown.
Meet KUMA — the second we saw him, we completely fell in love. He’s chill, silly, loving, and absolutely huge.
Welcome home, buddy. We’re so happy that this gentle giant is now a part of The Friedman Family.
At the opening night of World Tag League 2025 today, NJPW ran a show-long angle where YOH demanded that he, Master Wato & Toru Yano be able to defend their NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles at Wrestle Kingdom 20. The request was finally granted by NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi after a protest by YOH. Opponents for the match have not been announced yet.
@itsbrandonde showed incredible heart and courage holding his own against @AJFrancis410 in BDE’s first TNA singles match, proving how far he’s come in the early stages of his wrestling career.
@itsmilamoore stepped up on short notice to compete in a high-stakes, high-profile Knockouts World Tag Team Title match – making a memorable impact in her first TNA+ live special event.
Tessa Blanchard continues to show incredible dedication and readiness to help others, both in the ring and behind the scenes.
While in El Paso, Texas, TNA World Champion Frankie Kazarian visited an Eddie Guerrero mural: “Eddie Guerrero is what every professional wrestler should aspire to be. Heart, athleticism, authenticity, drive and passion. Honored to be representing @ThisIsTNA as World Champion in El Paso paying my respects to one of the very best to ever do it.”
A larger than usual issue this week with a wide variety of stories and tons of history:
The fixed fight accusations from Saturday’s UFC show, what happened, how Dana White and UFC handled it, fixed fights in the early days of MMA and the different motivations then vs. now, and a look back at history with a former world heavyweight boxing champion who later became one of the biggest stars of his era in pro wrestling.
A look at the third quarter TKO business, covering mostly UFC and WWE. How each category is doing and explanations as to why.
Nick Khan talks WWE ticket prices and booking decisions on live events
Full coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event and business notes on the show
Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Farewell in Gifu and 30 minutes that capsulized the best aspects of the past, present and future of pro wrestling
Notes on the Tokyo Dome advance
Finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tag team tournament
Notes on the upcoming heavyweight tag team tournament
Lots of notes regarding AEW Full Gear
The real history of the original NWA national heavyweight championship
Matches likely to happen at Full Gear
The final installment of our Hall of Fame series, covering international and non-wrestlers, where we talk about the cases of people including Spyros Arion, Dominic DeNucci, George Gordienko, Ted Boy Marino, Billy Joyce, The Royal Brothers, Dave Brown, Zane Bresloff, Bobby Bruns, Bob Caudle, Joe Higuchi, Jim Johnston, James Melby, Bill Mercer, Gorilla Monsoon, Rossy Ogawa, Reggie Parks, Morris Siel, Tony Schiavone, George Scott, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Tenay, Ted Turner, Jesse Ventura, Roy Welch, Stanley Weston, The Grand Wizard and Koichi Yoshizawa.
Notes on the death of Victor Conte Jr.
Tank Davis kills his last payday and Netflix’s big fight for the fall is out the window and thank God for that
DDT has one of its biggest shows of the year
Betting odds for pro wrestling matches last week and this week
The most complete look at the television ratings of wrestling shows over the past week. How these numbers compare in placings to past years, where other than pro wrestling is hurting with the new ratings, competition for each show and placings for the time slot
CMLL has four straight sellouts and coverage of the main matches including a major return this week
What wrestler is having the best year for someone their age in wrestling history
Notes on a very confusing tournament coming up
What young wrestler sold out in a singles with Mistico this past week
Notes from the last AAA tapings
AAA booking huge arena for a taping
Stardom big show plus notes on the tag team tournament
Will Vince McMahon write a book?
Former pro wrestling star elected Mayor
How network, cable and streaming numbers have affected NASCAR in 2025
Update on Blue Demon Jr.
More on Smashing Machine including Dwayne Johnson comments
Jerry Lawler returns to WMC
Athletic commission in trouble over a sponsored women’s championship
El Hijo del Santo retirement tour hits Europe
More WBD sale talks
Blood & Guts news
A poll on AEW viewership and how people watch the TV and PPV shows
Advance ticket sales for WWE, AEW, TNA, MLW and RAF
Randy Orton shared photos on Instagram of his family in Belize on a recent vacation celebrating Orton and his wife Kim’s 10-year anniversary:
Just back from vacation with family and friends. As a father nothing better than seeing my family smile. As a husband nothing better than seeing my wife happy. Thank you for coming with me to Belize to celebrate our 10 year anniversary my love.
At a Lucha Libre AAA taping in Mexico on November 28, The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed) will challenge Psycho Clown & Pagano for the AAA Tag Team titles.
TKO representatives Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro, and Dana White rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange today to celebrate TKO’s new partnership with Polymarket for UFC and Zuffa Boxing events.
While speaking with Adventure Gamers, MVP was asked how different it is working with Tony Khan compared to Vince McMahon and Paul “Triple H” Levesque:
It’s very different because Tony Khan is a completely different human being, with a completely different personality. He’s just a nice guy and a good person. I’ve never had any kind of a relationship with Triple H. Vince I was able to work with and with Vince, Vince knows exactly what he wants, how he wants to do it, and if you can present something that is better, sometimes Vince will listen, but when Vince has a vision, that’s it. You go with it. There’s no second guessing it. Tony Khan is a lot more interactive and will take in a lot more ideas and he’s more willing to be pliable when it comes to his vision and how he wants to present it and what he’s willing to do to add to it or to change it. He’s just a nice guy. It’s funny, like his energy level. He’s always happy and I’ve never seen him be mean to somebody. It’s a much different environment where WWE was very corporate, very tight laced, for some people even uncomfortable and they’re made to feel like they’re walking on eggshells and people are scared of getting fired. That environment doesn’t exist in AEW. It’s way more relaxed. No one’s walking on eggshells. The boss has time for everybody. And it’s super fun. No stress.
Agreeing with a statement Bret Hart had made calling Triple H a “phony,” MVP told Adventure Gamers:
Man, I agree with Brett’s assertion. I’ve said before, I call [Triple H] a coward and a liar. Let’s put it like this. If you really want to, you can go to YouTube and you can look up the interviews of various wrestlers through the years of what their opinion is of the man. Interviews of guys that were his friends, what they had to say about the guy. I can think of more guys that dislike him than I can think of guys that do like him. And people say MVP’s salty or bitter. Like, no, I have personal issues with the dude, stemming from professional stuff, but just the things that he does, how he carries himself, I just don’t have respect for the guy. The newer generation, they don’t know that guy yet. So the one of those that came up underneath him in NXT, they think he’s brilliant and a lot of them should for the hand he’s had in their career. But the guys that had to work with him back in the day will tell you a different story almost overwhelmingly. And so it’s not just me saying it. There’s guys who are way up the totem pole than me that are telling you that this guy’s no bueno.
We are just under 3 months out. I am still in a considerable amount of pain especially in mornings. I am 56 yrs old and it is taking a lot longer for recovery guys. The hardest thing for me at this moment, is getting up from a chair, and stepping down a step with right especially. My legs have always been pretty thin and cannot wait to actually strengthen them more on e I am able. I am on track for my age and then some and I would assume its because I have a strong work ethic and an athlete. Prob late Feb, early March for the greatest comeback of anyone in their 50’s.
I’m going to show up to work and see what is asked to do and go do it. What I’d like to see from TNA, and this is just my controversial take, but they are in a position where they can be different. They don’t have to follow the formula. I think one of the coolest things about TNA was the six-sided ring, which was the X-Division. What I’m trying to say is I want TNA to go back to that experimental phase where we’re just trying these wacky ideas. At the end of the day, you can’t argue with the business model right now. Sold-out shows, potential network deals, and things like that. I also remember a time where I’d look out at TNA and see maybe a couple hundred people. At Bound for Glory, I looked out and saw a couple of thousands.
It’s a beautiful thing, but whatever TNA is doing, I think they are doing things right. They have their eyes on young talent. They have tryouts coming up. It’s a great mixture of these talented veterans, then like the middle child are trying to figure out their journey and [there are] brand-new people coming in. It’s a beautiful locker room, a great team to work with. Production just keeps getting better and better with each show. There is a lot of experimentation going on. I think at Bound for Glory we had our first 4K camera for the entrance, so there were some unbelievable shots coming out. I’m just really excited, but if you asked me, selfishly I’d just like to see them experiment more with wild concept matches because we are in a position I feel we can do it. I think that would attract even more wrestling fans toward our product.
A larger than usual issue with a wide variety of stories and tons of history: *The fixed fight accusations from Saturday’s UFC show, what happened, how Dana White and UFC handled it, fixed fights in the early days of MMA and the different motivations then vs. now, and a look back at history with a former world heavyweight boxing champion who later became one of the biggest stars of his era in pro wrestling. *A look at the third quarter TKO business, covering mostly UFC and WWE. How each category is doing and explanations as to why. *Nick Khan talks WWE ticket prices and booking decisions on live events *Full coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event and business notes on the show *Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Farewell in Gifu and 30 minutes that capsulized the best aspects of the past, present and future of pro wrestling *Notes on the Tokyo Dome advance *Finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tag team tournament *Notes on the upcoming heavyweight tag team tournament *Lots of notes regarding AEW Full Gear *The real history of the original NWA national heavyweight championship *Matches likely to happen at Full Gear *The final installment of our Hall of Fame series, covering international and non-wrestlers, where we talk about the cases of people including Spyros Arion, Dominic DeNucci, George Gordienko, Ted Boy Marino, Billy Joyce, The Royal Brothers, Dave Brown, Zane Bresloff, Bobby Bruns, Bob Caudle, Joe Higuchi, Jim Johnston, James Melby, Bill Mercer, Gorilla Monsoon, Rossy Ogawa, Reggie Parks, Morris Siel, Tony Schiavone, George Scott, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Tenay, Ted Turner, Jesse Ventura, Roy Welch, Stanley Weston, The Grand Wizard and Koichi Yoshizawa. *Notes on the death of Victor Conte Jr. *Tank Davis kills his last payday and Netflix’s big fight for the fall is out the window and thank God for that *DDT has one of its biggest shows of the year *Betting odds for pro wrestling matches last week and this week *The most complete look at the television ratings of wrestling shows over the past week. How these numbers compare in placings to past years, where other than pro wrestling is hurting with the new ratings, competition for each show and placings for the time slot *CMLL has four straight sellouts and coverage of the main matches including a major return this week *What wrestler is having the best year for someone their age in wrestling history *Notes on a very confusing tournament coming up *What young wrestler sold out in a singles with Mistico this past week *Notes from the last AAA tapings *AAA booking huge arena for a taping *Stardom big show plus notes on the tag team tournament *Will Vince McMahon write a book? *Former pro wrestling star elected Mayor *How network, cable and streaming numbers have affected NASCAR in 2025 *Update on Blue Demon Jr. *More on Smashing Machine including Dwayne Johnson comments *Jerry Lawler returns to WMC *Athletic commission in trouble over a sponsored women’s championship *El Hijo del Santo retirement tour hits Europe *More WBD sale talks *Blood & Guts news *A poll on AEW viewership and how people watch the TV and PPV shows *Advance ticket sales for WWE, AEW, TNA, MLW and RAF *BJ Penn arrested again *WWE sets gate records *Paul Levesque’s booking *How much Dwayne Johnson’s TKO stock is worth *Notes on the WWE arena business going forward *The Ridge Holland story
–Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about Raw as well as the latest pro wrestling news.
–This upcoming issue of the Observer will have an amazing history piece. That’s all I’ll say. It’s stuff rarely talked about but covers history in a country where it was huge in its day. It’s the Hall of Fame issue and I’ve been buried in it. There are many several new entrants voted in this year.
–John Cena’s next to last Raw has sold out the TD Garden in Boston with more than 16,200 fans. Cena will open the show. He’s not announced for a match but many expect one. For sure we’ll start the direction for his Survivor Series match as well as the start of the tournament for a match with him with Sheamus vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Damian Priest vs. Ruswev. Also on the show is Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the women’s world title, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Kabuki Warriors for the WWE women’s tag team titles and CM Punk appears. Cody Rhodes, Nia Jax and Lash Legend are also in town. They are continuing to set up the War Games teams.
–The two Blood & Guts matches have 4,444 tickets out at this point for AEW in Greensboro on Wednesday. By AEW standards for TV, it’s a good number but I’d hardly call it a great number. If they hit 5,500 I guess we should call it a success.
–Former UFC fighter Godofredo Pepey was found dead in a Florida prison at the age of 38. It was believed to be from suidice. He had been arrested in June and accused of domestic violence toward his wife, Samara Mello. He was in prison on charges of kidnapping, domestic violence by strangulation, battery and witness tampering.Pepey fought in UFC from 2012 to 2018, with 11 fights before being released. He continued to fight through 2022.
–This is no surprise after signing the $1.1 billion a year deal, but Paramount+ sent a letter to investors saying that they will be increasing prices in early 2026. They did not say what the new price would be but that the money would be used for continued investment in a stronger slate of programming this year and beyond. They also pushed that all UFC shows will be on the service without a PPV price, claiming they will be delivering an exception a value for the cost of a subscription, noting the $59.99 annual price (which will be raised) is more than UFC fans had to pay for just one PPV show this year.
–Galeno del Mal has signed with WWE for AAA. On Friday’s Crash show in Tijuana, Galeno del Mal & brother El Hijo de Dr. Wagenr Jr., said that with both being signed with WWE, they wouldn’t be able to wrestle and were vacating their Crash tag team titles. Then they ended up wrestling on the show. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows won the vacant belts in a three-way beating D-Luxe & Pierroth. Andrade was announced for the show and he was there for the meet and greet but ended up not wrestling or appearing at the show. Zona Ruda said that they were told he left the building upset about something. Andrade’s non-compete for one year is only for the U.S.
–11/18 will be Eddy Guerrero Day in E Pasto, TX. The City Council will hold a proclamation ceremony to honor his life, legacy and impact at City Hall at 9 a.m. Fans who wish to attend are encourage to wear wrestling costumes or luchador masks. It will air live on the City of El Paso social media accounts.
–Soberano Jr. has only been back for a few days and they’re already starting something with Mistico. On last night’s Arena Mexico show, Soberano unmasked in a trios match teaming with Volador Jr. & Averno, threw it at Mistico, the ref saw it and DQ’d Mistico & Neon & Esfinge. Mistco wanted Soberano in a singles match this week. I don’t see it happening this week and it’s too early and shouldn’t be on a Sunday. Mistico & Titan face Barboza & Difunto tomorrow night at Arena Mexico.
–Gisele Shaw was announced for the 12/3 NWA Powerrr tapings at Tampa’s WEDU PBS Studios.
–The film “Traphouse” with Dave Bautista will be released at selected theaters on Friday. It’s about an undercover DEA agent and his partner finding out their teenage children are using top secret tactics and intelligence to steal from a dangerous cartel.
–Indi Hartwell vs. Dani Luna has been added to Thursday’s Impact TV show.
–Templario vs. Geurrer Maya Jr. for the MLW middleweight title has been added to the 11/20 MLW Don Gato show in Charleston, SC.
–Valerien Wybndham aka SoCal Val announced today she has joined the Playboy Club as a model and content creator. She promised fun flirty photo shoots, video updates and behind the scenes looks from her shoots
–Bob Orton Jr. turned 75 today. Josh Barnett turned 48. Katie Lee Burchill turned 45. Ryback turned 44. Peyton Royce aka Cassie Lee turned 33. Dick the Bruiser passed away 34 year ago today at the age of 62. Killer Karl Kox passed away 14 years ago today at the age of 80 (thanks to Tony Richards).
–WWE is doing a crossover with Tekken today. Players can unlock legendary fighters from Tekken in Scopely’s WWE Champions from now through 11/21.
–Ryan Bader, fresh off “The Smashing Machine,” where he got strong reviews playing Mark Coleman, was announced for the annual Rizin New Year’s Eve show at the Saitama Super Arena. He will face Aleksandr Soldatkin to crown their vacant heavyweight championship. Bader hasn’t fought since February 2024.
A larger than usual issue with a wide variety of stories and tons of history: *The fixed fight accusations from Saturday’s UFC show, what happened, how Dana White and UFC handled it, fixed fights in the early days of MMA and the different motivations then vs. now, and a look back at history with a former world heavyweight boxing champion who later became one of the biggest stars of his era in pro wrestling. *A look at the third quarter TKO business, covering mostly UFC and WWE. How each category is doing and explanations as to why. *Nick Khan talks WWE ticket prices and booking decisions on live events *Full coverage of Saturday Night’s Main Event and business notes on the show *Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Farewell in Gifu and 30 minutes that capsulized the best aspects of the past, present and future of pro wrestling *Notes on the Tokyo Dome advance *Finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tag team tournament *Notes on the upcoming heavyweight tag team tournament *Lots of notes regarding AEW Full Gear *The real history of the original NWA national heavyweight championship *Matches likely to happen at Full Gear *The final installment of our Hall of Fame series, covering international and non-wrestlers, where we talk about the cases of people including Spyros Arion, Dominic DeNucci, George Gordienko, Ted Boy Marino, Billy Joyce, The Royal Brothers, Dave Brown, Zane Bresloff, Bobby Bruns, Bob Caudle, Joe Higuchi, Jim Johnston, James Melby, Bill Mercer, Gorilla Monsoon, Rossy Ogawa, Reggie Parks, Morris Siel, Tony Schiavone, George Scott, Kevin Sullivan, Mike Tenay, Ted Turner, Jesse Ventura, Roy Welch, Stanley Weston, The Grand Wizard and Koichi Yoshizawa. *Notes on the death of Victor Conte Jr. *Tank Davis kills his last payday and Netflix’s big fight for the fall is out the window and thank God for that *DDT has one of its biggest shows of the year *Betting odds for pro wrestling matches last week and this week *The most complete look at the television ratings of wrestling shows over the past week. How these numbers compare in placings to past years, where other than pro wrestling is hurting with the new ratings, competition for each show and placings for the time slot *CMLL has four straight sellouts and coverage of the main matches including a major return this week *What wrestler is having the best year for someone their age in wrestling history *Notes on a very confusing tournament coming up *What young wrestler sold out in a singles with Mistico this past week *Notes from the last AAA tapings *AAA booking huge arena for a taping *Stardom big show plus notes on the tag team tournament *Will Vince McMahon write a book? *Former pro wrestling star elected Mayor *How network, cable and streaming numbers have affected NASCAR in 2025 *Update on Blue Demon Jr. *More on Smashing Machine including Dwayne Johnson comments *Jerry Lawler returns to WMC *Athletic commission in trouble over a sponsored women’s championship *El Hijo del Santo retirement tour hits Europe *More WBD sale talks *Blood & Guts news *A poll on AEW viewership and how people watch the TV and PPV shows *Advance ticket sales for WWE, AEW, TNA, MLW and RAF *BJ Penn arrested again *WWE sets gate records *Paul Levesque’s booking *How much Dwayne Johnson’s TKO stock is worth *Notes on the WWE arena business going forward *The Ridge Holland story
–Garrett Gonzales and I will be back doing our week in review show later today. Our weekend show with Bryan Alvarez will be on Sunday night this week.
–The Hall of Fame issue of the Observer will be out this coming Friday morning. It is usually our most talked about issue of the year.
–Ben Askren returned to wrestling practice today. That’s the lead story of the day.
–The city of Las Vegas has approved $6 million for WWE for two nights of WrestleMania, Raw, Smackdown, NXT Stand & Deliver, WWE World and the Hall of Fame ceremony as well as a variety of community outreach events.
–Luke Menzies, the former Ridge Holland, put out a video today on his sutation with WWE at (thanks to Stephen Lyon)
–Japanese comedian and YouTuber Fuwa-Chan (Haruka Fuwa, 31). whose celebrity match on a 2022 Stardom show was a big deal, announced earlier today that she would be returning to Stardom later this year. Her tweet announcing her return had 21 million views the last I checked. She said she’s going full-time into pro wrestling and is back on the 12/29 show at Sumo Hall.
–The movie on woman’s boxing pioneer Christy Martin, starring Sydney Sweeney, who is not exactly the person you would expect to play such a role, debuts tonight at theaters.
–Smackdown is tonight in Greenville, SC, with Giulia vs. Chelsea Green for the U.S. titel, Ilja Dragunov’s open challenge for the other U.S. title, Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax, Talla Tonga vs. Rey Fenix and more. There are currently 6,650 tickets out for the show. There’s nothing wrong with that number but the peak of the boom is past, even though big shows will do well for a while.
–The mystery tag team partner for Hanako in the Stardom Goddesses tag team tournament was Megan Bayne of AEW. So she will be flying to and from Japan several times over the next few weeks for tag team tournaments in both countries. I don’t know that anyone has done that one in the past. She returned at Korakuen Hall today as a surprise teaming with Hanak & Waka Tsukiyama & Rian vs. Bozilla & Ami Sohrei & Lady C & Akira Kurogane. The focus was her against Bozilla. On Sunday, she and Hanako face Sohrei & C in their first tag team tournament match. She’ll return to the U.S. and be back in Japan on the 15th, with the team facing Rina & Konami. A week from Sunday they’ll face Bea Priestley & Saya Iida. She then comes back to the U.S. and will be back in Japan on the 24th. So she can work Full Gear on the 22nd. The round robin ends the 28th in Kyoto and the semifinals are the 29th in Osaka and finals are the 30th in Hamamatsu. I can’t come up with one case previously where someone was in a major tag team tournament in Japan and flew home and back for big shows. The Funks, Bruiser Brody, The Sheik, Hulk Hogan and other huge stars never did that as far as I can recall.
–Austin Aries and TJP are in Mexico for CMLL this weekend. Atlantis Jr. & Titan face Angel de Oro & Soberano Jr. at Arena Mexico tonight. Aries faces Mascara Dorada in a lightning match that will be an interesting test for both guys, and TJP & Templario & Esfinge face Volador Jr. & Rugido & Vegas Depredador. On Saturday night at Arena Coliseo, TJP & Templaro face Volador Jr. & Aries while Dorada & Capitan Suicida face Barboza & Difunto. On Sunday at Arena Mexico It’s Aries vs. Dark Panther vs. Rugido, TJP & Templario vs. Angel de Oro & Barbaro Cavernario and Mistico & Neon & Esfinge vs Averno & Volador Jr & Soberano Jr. TJP will also be in Puebla on Monday teaming with Templario & Dorada against Difunto & Soberano Jr & Volador Jr. TJP is also working in Guadalajara Tuesday in a singles match with Avenro. They have a loaded for Guadalajara show with Soberano Jr.’s return and feud with Atantis Jr. as its Atlantis Jr. & Dorada & Templario vs. Soberano Jr & Ultimo Guerrero & Volador Jr. –Mistico isn’t on the show tonight as he’s wrestling in Los Mochis, in Sinaloa with a main event of Mistico & Neon vs. Difunto & Euforia.
–Lola Vice has been added to the 11/28 AAA TV taping in Puebla teaming with Faby Apache against La Hiedra & Flammer.
–Hiroshi Tanahasi worked today’s Freedom show in Tokorozawa. Tanashi & Jun kasai beat Toru Sugiura & Tomoya Hirata in the main event.
—Konosuke Takeshita is still in Japan. He worked yesterday’s DDT show at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo beating Antonio Honda.
–The UFC show tomorrow I’ve seen a lot of contradictions as far as where it is airing. According to ESPN, the period from 4-7 p.m. Eastern will be only on ESPN+ and 7 p.m. on will be on ESPN and ESPN+. If that is the case, and we’ve seen other listings different but I’ll go with the ESPN listing, it would be the first UFC on ESPN since the change in ratings and that will make this number very interesting to monitor. Zachary Reese (194) vs. Jacson McVey (193.5) Miles Johns (135.5) vs. Daniel Marcos (136) Tecia Pennington (114.5) vs. Denise Gomes (115) Josh Hokit (236) vs. Max Gimenis (256.5) Mayra Bueno Silva (135.5) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135.5) Ricky Simon (135.5) vs. Raoni Barcelos (136) Hyder Amil (145.5) vs. Jamall Emmers (145) Christian Leroy Duncan (185) vs. Marco Tulio (185.5) Chris Padilla (155) vs. Israel Bonfim (161) – Bonfim missed weight by five pounds and was fined 25 percent of his purse Musli Salikhov (171) vs. Uros Medic (171) Matt Schnell (126) vs. Joseph Morales (125) Gabriel Bonfim (170.5) vs. Randy Brown (171)
–A correction in today’s issue regarding Otto Wanz. We listed him as the promoter and top star in Austria and Germany in the 70s and 80s. It’s actually late 80s and 90s. Wanz only promoted in Graz prior to 1987 when he and Peter William became the dominant promotion in those countries with their CWA promotion. (thanks to Phil Lions)
–King Kong Bundy would have been 68 today. Tony Schiavone is 68 today. Takako Inoue turned 56 today. Hall of Fame candidate Joe Higuchi, considered by many as the greatest pro wrestler referee of all-time, died 15 years ago today at 81. (thanks to Tony Richards).
–Aileen Eaton, the first prominent woman pro wrestling promoter and a boxing promoter who is in the boxing Hall of Fame, passed away 38 years ago today. Eaton was the mother of Gene and Mike LeBell. Gene was a national judo champion who was considered one of the all-time tough guys in pro wrestling history. Mike was the promoter of the Southern California territory during huge years in the 60s and early 70s, and its major decline in the late 70s. –Mike Tyson did an interview with Hard Rock Bet. He said he wants a rematch with Jake Paul, saying he lost because he was in bad health. How was that fight ever even allowed after his health issue? He said he is fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in March or April
–Sukeban, the Japanese women’s wrestling promotion, has announced a 12/3 show in Miami during Art Basel.
–GCW tonight in Hartford, CT has Effy vs. Shotzi, Bear Bronson vs. Ciclope, Danhausen vs. Priscilla Kelly, Kerry Morton vs. Maki Itoh and more.
Major Hall of Fame article covering the Mexico and Japanese ballot. We go into detail on the likes of Zack Sabre Jr., Iyo Sky, Inoki & Sakaguchi, Yoshihiro Takayama, Angel Blanco & Dr. Wagner, Dorrell Dixon, El Dandy, Volador Jr., Sangre Chicana and others.
A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event and favorites.
The eye poke and crazy reaction to the Tom Aspinall vs Cyril Gane ending.
El Hijo del Santo will retire on the same night as John Cena and historical notes regarding his last shows.
A look at the wrestling career of Mike Rotunda, from star high school and college athlete to success with a number of different gimmicks.
Full coverage of NXT Halloween Havoc.
How WWE continues to change AAA and the phenomenon that is Dominik Mysterio in Mexico
The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week, how the new data has done a number on wrestling, Braun Strowman, World Series and an NFL rating that makes seven less sense than pro wrestling numbers
Women’s Grand Prix draws the largest crowd of the week
Lots of big matches and angles in a major week for CMLL
The New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament
Iyo Sky vs. Mayu Iwatani in Sumo Hall
Updates on many legends
UFC star elected to wrestling Hall of Fame
Legal action involving former wrestlers including her mother’s prior lawsuit against her daughter who now wants to be a wrestler
Some very interesting independent notes
RAF goes the route of using MMA names and family members as its attempt to draw in Chicago
AEW PPV update
How people watch AEW TV & PPVs based on a survey we are doing
Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
Gable Steveson fights Dirty Boxing
Tank Davis sued by former girlfriend
Brother of WWE & UFC head Ari Emanuel talked about as presidential candidate for 2028
John, I can’t thank you enough!! For coming through and being completely selfless with both your time and information. Best part of all-it was you that wanted to come and do that on your own accord. Says a lot about you. John Cena is truly one of a kind
HONORED. Completely blown away by how much everyone is connecting with my book, The Last Hart Beating. It’s never easy putting your heart out there, but if my story can be a tool in someone else’s handbook of survival, it’s all worth it.
You changed the trajectory of women’s wrestling. You changed my life. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. I think that’s safe to say for a lot of us. The bond we all share from those weekends will last forever!
Thank you @serenadeeb, @theallisondanger, Scream Queen Daffney, thank you Canadian Ninjas, and thank you Dave Prazak for trusting me. ANNNDDDD I HOPE YOU HAVE THE HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY
Oh my gosh, so much. He’s actually someone – kind of what I was saying earlier, he’s a man of few words. So when he tells me something, I take it to heart, because he’s someone that can look at something creatively. Just the business, the mind he has for this business, he’s just able to zoom out and see everything and give me these pointers that I’m like, duh, why didn’t I think of that? But I would never, and he sees it so clearly. So I go to him a lot for things like that, because when it comes to matches and just his ability to understand this business, [it] truly is out of this world.
Dupri explained that, when Candice LeRae mentioned her deceased brother in a segment last year, it was Dupri’s idea for her to do so:
Yes, 100 percent. It was that line I said, as I was the originator of the idea. So I said, we had the layout of the match where she’s going to yell at me and I’m going to walk out of the ring. And I just felt like if you want me to walk out of the ring, give me a reason to walk out of the ring. To me, I didn’t look at it as a negative towards my brother or towards my situation. To me, it felt like a positive, I get to bring light to the fact that I have a brother. To me, it was: we’re gonna acknowledge someone that’s my whole world that passed away, whether she’s saying it in a negative way or positive way. To me, it was a positive. And I love Candice, she’s an angel, such a wonderful human, a wonderful mom. I don’t have anything bad to say about her.
Dupri said she did make a mistake by not letting her mother know in advance that her brother would be mentioned:
My mom was definitely emotional about it. But again, she wasn’t emotional that Candice said something. She just didn’t know that that was going to come up. But if I would have told her, she would feel the same way that I feel. But Mondays are crazy, you know, the day gets going, you’re busy. I forgot to give her a warning.
After the title was vacated by Kylie Rae, WWE ID will crown a new Women’s Champion on November 17: “BREAKING….The new WWE ID Women’s Champion will be crowned on Nov. 17th at @WrestlingOpenRI at Rhodes On Pawtuxet in Cranston, RI! Whoever wins the championship will be ID’d!!! More info to come!!!”
AEW wrestlers Nick Jackson and Kyle Fletcher have each made $1,000 donations to the GoFundMe campaign to help Ridge Holland (Luke Menzies) following his termination from WWE. Another $1,000 donation was made by Raj Dhesi (the former Jinder Mahal).
Major Hall of Fame article covering the Mexico and Japanese ballot. We go into detail on the likes of Zack Sabre Jr., Iyo Sky, Inoki & Sakaguchi, Yoshihiro Takayama, Angel Blanco & Dr. Wagner, Dorrell Dixon, El Dandy, Volador Jr., Sangre Chicana and others.
A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event and favorites.
The eye poke and crazy reaction to the Tom Aspinall vs Cyril Gane ending.
El Hijo del Santo will retire on the same night as John Cena and historical notes regarding his last shows.
A look at the wrestling career of Mike Rotunda, from star high school and college athlete to success with a number of different gimmicks.
Full coverage of NXT Halloween Havoc.
How WWE continues to change AAA and the phenomenon that is Dominik Mysterio in Mexico
The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week, how the new data has done a number on wrestling, Braun Strowman, World Series and an NFL rating that makes seven less sense than pro wrestling numbers
Women’s Grand Prix draws the largest crowd of the week
Lots of big matches and angles in a major week for CMLL
The New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament
Iyo Sky vs. Mayu Iwatani in Sumo Hall
Updates on many legends
UFC star elected to wrestling Hall of Fame
Legal action involving former wrestlers including her mother’s prior lawsuit against her daughter who now wants to be a wrestler
Some very interesting independent notes
RAF goes the route of using MMA names and family members as its attempt to draw in Chicago
AEW PPV update
How people watch AEW TV & PPVs based on a survey we are doing
Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
Gable Steveson fights Dirty Boxing
Tank Davis sued by former girlfriend
Brother of WWE & UFC head Ari Emanuel talked about as presidential candidate for 2028
WWE uploaded the full NXT segment where Joe Hendry & Thea Hail crashed Ethan Page & Chelsea Green’s AAA Mixed Tag Team title celebration.
Recent WWE signee Mike Derudder – known for competing in Europe as Mike D Vecchio – made his NXT debut in a dark match last night, facing Drake Morreaux.
WWE filed a new trademark for the NXT faction name “DarkState” on November 4.
On his Instagram stories, CM Punk made a post wishing Roxanne Perez a happy 24th birthday: “Happy birthday @roxanne_wwe!!! Proud of how hard you’ve worked this last year and how far you’ve come. Please stop hanging around [Dominik Mysterio]”
20yrs ago today I got in a ring for the first time. I didn’t know it then, but my whole life changed when I mustered the courage to walk into that dirty old warehouse with a ring.
I’ve made friends, suffered injuries, found success and built a family because of that day.
Just a quick message to say yes my dad is in the hospital. I’ve had a lot of messages of concern about it. He has been sick for a while. But what I will say is, he’s doing a lot better and getting healthier every single day. Appreciate all the messages. Hes the strongest human I know, very lucky and grateful that he’s my Daddio.
Hes going to be okay, he’ll be there for a little while but again he’s doing incredible and making big progress
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, a multi-time cancer survivor, shared a positive update after his latest check-up:
Getting my cancer check-up with my friend, Dr. Butler at SC Oncology Associates in Columbia. All GREAT!!! Get your check-up, save your life!!
TNA Wrestling wraps up its 2025 season on Sunday, December 7, with a live event of action-packed pro wrestling at the El Paso County Coliseum – and it is officially Family Fun Day.
Free activities for fans start outside the venue at 12noon, including face painting, photos inside a TNA Photo Booth, photo-ops with ‘TNA Santa & Mrs. Claus’ and more.
TNA’s Family Fun Day coincides with the annual TNA Toy Drive, which will be held all three days in El Paso (December 5-7). Fans attending the action-packed pro wrestling shows in El Paso are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy. TNA Wrestling World Champion Mike Santana will make the formal presentation of all collected toys to Operation H.O.P.E. on Monday, December 8, at 11am local time inside the El Paso County Coliseum.
Operation H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Endure) is an El Paso-based non-profit founded by Angel Gomez whose mission is to help people in El Paso, Las Cruces and the surrounding areas of Texas and New Mexico who are enduring difficult times. Operation H.O.P.E. provides hope and help in meeting basic needs that will make a difference in people’s lives.
Los Panthers (Blue Panther & Hijo de Blue Panther) vs. Los Atlantis (Atlantis & Atlantis Jr.) vs. Los Felinos (Felino & Felino Jr.) vs. El Galeon Fantasma (Difunto & Barboza) has been added to the card for MLW x Don Gato Tequila: Live Special in Charleston, South Carolina on November 20.
–We’ll be back tonight for Wrestling Observer Radio to talk about Raw, fight fixing, New Japan’s show yesterday, and stuff in this report.
–The UFC has issued a statement regarding the Isaac Dulgarian vs. Yadier Del Valle fight which has led to allegations Dulgarian threw the fight It should be noted Ariel Helwani today said that UFC before the fight confronted Dulgarian after finding out all the betting on Dulgarian to lose in the first round (which happened) and he assured them there was nothing to it. Dulgarian was fired after all the allegations of a fixed fight came out. The UFC statement said, “Like many professional sports organizations, UFC works with an independent betting integrity service to monitor wagering activity on our events. Our betting integrity partner, IC360, monitors wagering on every UFC event and is conducting a thorough review of the facts surrounding the Dulgarian vs. del Valle bout on Saturday, November 1. We take these allegations very seriously and along with the health and safety of our fighters, nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport.”
–Victor Conte, a steroid and PED guru who served time, and then said he had come clean, and worked later with a lot of MMA athletes and some pro wrestlers, passed away this morning at the age of 75. He had been battling pancreatic cancer. He worked with legendary athletes Barry Bonds and Marion Jones, and worked with Patrick Arnoldto popularize the cream and the clear, steroids that would pass tests that wrestlers and athletes used during that period. He was aswo in the 70s part of the legendary band Tower of Power.
–New Japan has a press conference tonight at midnight Eastern and 9 p.m. Pacific for the Tokyo Dome show and likely announcing the tag team tournament as well.
–In the Jake Paul story after Gervonta “Tank” Davis was sued for assault by an ex-girlfriend and looks to be out of the match (that hasn’t been officially said, but it’s well known they are talking to replacement fighters), Francis Ngannou said he was insulted by Paul’s offer,. He said he was disrespected and wasn’t interested. A new name brought up as a possible replacement is undefeated and retired former champion Andre Ward. Paul’s fight now seems likely for December on a Saturday night.
–If you want to see some beautiful stuff, watch the second half of yesterday’s Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yota Tsuji match, and even more, the post-match. In one fell swoop we had the passing of the torch from legend to protege, the protege vowing to be the new top star, the tearful farewell and the new young heel issues a challenge for a house show match this coming Saturday night. Every element of past and present, with some future thrown out there. There is a major back story for Tanahashi vs. Tsuji as well as for Saturday’s Tanahashi vs Yuto-Ice “Ace vs. Ice” singles match.
–Raw tonight is in Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho, NM. They will be starting the build for Survivor Series. They also will have some more news hopefully on the John Cena tournament. CM Punk will be there talking about his title win on Saturday. AJ Styles & Dragon Lee defend the tag titles against Finn Balor & JD McDonagh. Stephanie Vaquer & Nikki Bella face Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez, plus Penta vs Grande Americano and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane The show will be sold out in a 6,500 seat building.
–Mustafa Ali said he was injured while wrestling in Berlin this past weekend. He said that he won’t be missing any dates but will be doing extensive rehab.
–New Japan has put up on the World web site a conversation with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kenny Omega that was taped when Omega went to Japan. Omega was the surprise guest on a show billed as Tanahashi talks to a former Wrestle Kingdom main event opponent.
–Chelsea Green & Ethan Page won the AAA mixed tag titles last night in Monterrey from Mr. Iguana & La Hiedra in a match where Lola Vice interfered. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. beat El Hijo del Vikingo in the main event and was attacked by Page after. Wagner defending the Latin American title against Page will take place on 12/20 at the new Arena Guadalajara. After Angel & Berto lost to Dave the Clown & Murder Clown they teased issues between the two of them.
–Tonight at Arena Puebl;a has Mistico vs. Yutani and Mascara Dorada & Neon & Stigma vs. Hechicero & Okumura & Voador Jr.
–After losing her World of Stardom match to Saya Kamitani earlier today, Momo Wtanabe said she will be taking time off to heal her injuries, notably a knee injury. Syuri challenged Kamitani for the Tokyo Dome on 1/4 in a match that will be Kamitani putting up the New Japan Strong title against Syuri’s IWGP women’s title. Kamitani will defend the World of Stardom title on 12/29 at Sumo Hall against Saori Anou. I was told Kamitani vs. Watanabe and Konami vs. Starlight Kid where Konami won the Wonder of Stardom title were off the charts.
–Trey Miguel made a surprise appearance at the Championship International Wrestling show last night in Toledo saving Phil Nitro Monohan from Shane Stevens and The Next Level (thanks to Paul Meade)
–The Raven Effect documentary on the life of Scott “Raven” Levy will be released on Blu Ray by ETR Media. Names listed in the video are Raven, Billy Cofrgan, Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, DDP, Bubba Ray dudley, Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, Perry Saturn, Kevin Sullivan, Blue Meanie, Shane Dougls, Lodi, Brian Meyers, D-Lo Brown, Buff Bagwell, Sami Callihan, Moose and Scott D’Amore.
–NXT tomorrow has Je’Von Evans vs. Saquon Shugars, Fatal Influence vs Tatum Paxley & Izzy Dame & Lola Vice and the start of a tournament for the vacant Speed title.
–Nick Kozak, who is one of the oldest still living wrestlers in the world, turns 93 today. Kimberly Anthony, the Dirty White Girl, turns 57. Dawn Marie turns 55. Jackie Gayda Haas turns 44. Ariane Andrew (Cameron) turns 38. Sputnik Monroe passed away 19 years ago today. (thanks to Tony Richards)
– The weekend schedule is that Garrett Gonzales and I will be doing a show this afternoon talking the news of the week, talking about this weekend’s events, Mick Foley and taking questions. Our weekend show will be Saturday Night with Bryan Alvarez talking Saturday Night’s Main Event, Smackdown, Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada on Collision, and the rest of the news.
– The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:
Major Hall of Fame article covering the Mexico and Japanese ballot. We go into detail on the likes of Zack Sabre Jr., Iyo Sky, Inoki & Sakaguchi, Yoshihiro Takayama, Angel Blanco & Dr. Wagner, Dorrell Dixon, El Dandy, Volador Jr., Sangre Chicana and others.
A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event and favorites.
The eye poke and crazy reaction to the Tom Aspinall vs Cyril Gane ending.
El Hijo del Santo will retire on the same night as John Cena and historical notes regarding his last shows.
A look at the wrestling career of Mike Rotunda, from star high school and college athlete to success with a number of different gimmicks.
Full coverage of NXT Halloween Havoc.
How WWE continues to change AAA and the phenomenon that is Dominik Mysterio in Mexico
The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week, how the new data has done a number on wrestling, Braun Strowman, World Series and an NFL rating that makes seven less sense than pro wrestling numbers
Women’s Grand Prix draws the largest crowd of the week
Lots of big matches and angles in a major week for CMLL
The New Japan Super Juniors tag team tournament
Iyo Sky vs. Mayu Iwatani in Sumo Hall
Updates on many legends
UFC star elected to wrestling Hall of Fame
Legal action involving former wrestlers including her mother’s prior lawsuit against her daughter who now wants to be a wrestler
Some very interesting independent notes
RAF goes the route of using MMA names and family members as its attempt to draw in Chicago
AEW PPV update
How people watch AEW TV & PPVs based on a survey we are doing
Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
Gable Steveson fights Dirty Boxing
Tank Davis sued by former girlfriend
Brother of WWE & UFC head Ari Emanuel talked about as presidential candidate for 2028
The WWE WrestleMania ad
Andrade and his non-compete
– WWE is in Salt Lake City tonight for SmackDown. The only matches announced are Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson and Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax. It goes against the World Series, plus Halloween is traditionally a very bad night for wrestling on television. Don’t be surprised with a low number, although I don’t think it’ll be down by percentages as much as Halloween SmackDowns years in the past because the current audience does consist of a lot fewer trick or treaters and a far higher percentage of over 50 viewers. But the series could hurt it there. Other things announced are a Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre face-off which will be a contract signing, Jade Cargill explains her actions and interacts with Tiffany Stratton and Ilja Dragunov defends the U.S. title. There are about 7,000 tickets out. Salt Lake City has been a tough market for WWE. WWE asked fans to come in Halloween costumes tonight.
– Saturday will be Saturday Night’s Main Event, airing exclusively on Peacock in the U.S and YouTube outside the U.S. It’s Rhodes vs. McIntyre for the WWE title, CM Punk vs. Jey Uso for the vacant world title, Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE women’s title and Dominik Mysterio vs. Rusev vs. Penta for the IC title. I think Punk vs. Jey may save the show from the hit it would take IF the series goes seven. AEW Collision has Mercedes Mone vs. Olympia for the CMLL women’s title and Bandido vs. Mascara Dorada for the ROH title. This was taped on Wednesday. People raved about the main event.
– The Best of the Super Juniors final night of B block is tomorrow morning with a 5 a.m show from Osaka. It comes down to this: A block winners and current jr. tag team champions Sho & Douki will face, most likely, the winner of tomorrow’s main event with Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X. Eagles & Fujita go to the finals with a win or a draw. If they lose, it becomes a three-way tie with those two teams and Kushida & Yuki Yoshioka, provided Kushida & Yoshioka beat El Desperado & Kuukai. If all that happens, all three teams are 4-2 and would be 1-1 against each other, meaning they’d need a playoff match. If Kushida & Yoshioka lose, then the tag match determines who goes to the finals which are Sunday morning at 4 a.m. Eastern from Gifu. That will be part of a show that includes Konosuke Takeshita defending the IWGP title against Hirooki Goto and Yota Tsuji defending the Global title against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
– Logan Paul was able to get himself removed from a class action lawsuit regarding CryptoZoo, a program that he promoted and a suit was filed for his involvement. His name was there on the grounds it was alleged he defrauded investors in a cryptocurrency game that never got off the ground. Judge Alan Albright on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Waco, TX, dismissed Paul as a defendant in the suit. A magistrate judge had ruled that the plaintiffs failed to present evidence that directly linked Paul to the losses suffered from the game previously as the judge this week backed up that ruling.
– Arena Mexico is sold out with 16,000 tickets sold for tonight’s Halloween show. The Sky team faces Hechicero & Volador Jr. & Barbaro Cavernario on top. The Rey del Inframundo title has Difunto defending in a four-way against the winners of Cibernetico matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Puebla, who are Adrenalina, Villano III Jr. and Guerrero Maya Jr, plus Titan & Esfinge & Xelhua vs. Averno & Mephisto & Euforia and India Sioux vs. Persephone.
Persephone replaces Diamante, who had to return to the U.S. and cut her tour early. The show is available in English on Triller PPV. These Sky Team main events have been pretty much guaranteed fantastic matches of late.
– While Soberano Jr. did an angle on Tuesday in Guadalajara with Atlantis Jr., he is not on this coming Tuesday’s show. He’s expected to be back from surgery on the 11/11 show.
– UFC tomorrow night from the Apex in Las Vegas with an ESPN+ exclusive show airing from 4-10 p.m. Eastern. That means the top fights go head-to-head with WWE on Peacock.
Talita Alencar (115) vs. Ariane Carnelossi (115.5)
Phil Rowe (171) vs. Seokhyon Ko (170)
Alice Ardelean (115.5) vs. Montserrat Ruiz (115)
Ketlen Vieira (136) vs. Norma Dumont (136)
Donte Johnson (184) vs. Sedriques Dumas (185.5)
Timmy Cuamba (136) vs. Chang Ho Lee (135.5)
Billy Elekana (205.5) vs. Kevin Christian (205)
Allan Nascimento (129.5) vs. Cody Durden (130)
Charles Radtke (171) vs. Daniel Funza (171)
Isaac Dulgarian (146) vs. Yaider del Valle (146)
Jeremiah Wells (170.5) vs. Themba Gorimbo (171)
Wado Cortes-Acosta (263) vs. Ante Delija (237)
Steve Garcia (145.5) vs. David Onama (146)
– Jerry Lawler will be appearing at the 11/23 taping of Memphis Wrestling. He will be doing photo-ops at the VIP experience. This will be a special Christmas TV taping for WMC-TV, which aired wrestling on Saturday mornings from 1977 to 1997, and at other points later, with Lawler as the biggest star. At its peak, it was one of the top five television shows in the market, beating NFL numbers.
– Gene Anderson died 34 years ago on this day at the age of 52. Moose Chokal died 23 years ago this day at the age of 72. 16-year-old Akihisa Mera, who was just in the news last week, had his first pro match 61 years ago today. You would know him better as the second and most famous Great Kabuki, with Gary Hart (thanks to Tony Richards).
– Tyler Breeze will be working for AIW on 11/28 at the Glove Iron in Cleveland. Nic Nemeth works the 12/27 show in Akron, OH at the Royal Palace.
– MCW is doing Autumn Armageddon shows tomorrow night in Hollywood, MD at the Volunteer Fire Department and Sunday in Dundalk, MD at the North Point Flea Market.
Wrestler/political commentator Tyrus (the former Brodus Clay) told TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast that he thinks there’s a good chance President Donald Trump will be at John Cena’s last match this December, which is taking place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday Night’s Main Event:
One thousand percent. If he says he’s going, he’s going. And that’s not by no mistake [the show being in Washington, DC]. He might even be in the finish. He might hit a binding resolution in the middle of that match. But, you know, I definitely think if the President says he’s going to be there, he’s going to be there. Because he’s a fan, he loves it.
KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York announced that – instead of hosting the January 5 episode of Raw – it will now host the January 2 episode of SmackDown. Brooklyn’s Barclays Center is the new venue for the January 5 Raw.
On his Hall of Fame radio show, Booker T was asked if he’d be interested in having Mercedes Mone challenge for the Women’s Championship in his indie promotion Reality of Wrestling:
Yeah, without even a shadow of a doubt. Without even thinking about it. She wants to come to Reality of Wrestling — drop me a line. Shoot, we’ll get you in. You know what I mean? We’ll even put the title on you. Mone wants the Reality of Wrestling titles? Come on down here and get them. Okay. No problem. I’ll sign it right now.
Y’all may know me as @AEW Star Toa Liona, but I am also a father to a daughter with Type 1 Diabetes. This Sunday @BreakthroughT1D Walk Fundraiser is happening so we can find a cure to this disease. Donate whatever you can, any amount will go a long way
When we came to El Paso in March, things were so busy that I didn’t get to come and pay my respects. But this time around, I made sure to make it a priority.
As soon as we pulled up and I got out the car, I could feel goosebumps. As we all know, Eddie is a huge inspiration for me. Not just being a Latino in the game and someone that I looked at as a kid and aspired to be. But someone who, like me, brought himself out of the trenches of rock bottom. Put in the work, paid his dues, and proved that he belonged under the brightest lights possible. So he can share with the world the gift that God has blessed him with.
I remember being kind of disappointed that I couldn’t make it the last time. But coming here now, AS A WORLD CHAMPION. Meant the absolute world to me. Blessed to be able to be paying tribute while carving my own path in this game.
Dezmond Xavier (former NXT wrestler Wes Lee) is now accepting bookings following his WWE release and will be free to work starting on November 11. He is represented by Paragon Talent Group.
House of Glory Wrestling will make its Los Angeles debut on January 30, 2026 with a show named City of Angels. It’s being held at the Globe Theatre, which was the home to PWG before that promotion went on its hiatus.
WWE’s YouTube channel did a free live stream today broadcasting both nights of WrestleMania 41 from earlier this year. The separate videos for night one and night two are both available.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Natalya named Bayley and Liv Morgan as two wrestlers she sees some of herself in:
There’s bits and pieces I see of myself in certain women. I think Bayley is very selfless. She’s all about giving back. She loves helping men and women. She’s somebody that just loves to give to the business. Even if she’s in a rut about something, she’s quick to pull herself out of it. She’s very grateful. She’s very grateful for all she has.
I gave her a book the other day, and an hour later she’s posting about it and sharing it. She celebrates her friends and I love that. She’s somebody that the locker room looks up to. If it’s somebody’s birthday, she’ll get them a cake.
I see a lot of grit in Liv Morgan. I take a lot of pride in the grit that I have because you can go far in the industry, but you can’t get your furthest without the grit. And so, I see Liv Morgan as somebody who has a lot of grit. She is so tough and she loves the industry. (Monday) she posted on her social media. She’s like, ‘It’s my 11th year in WWE.’ We were talking backstage once when she won the title her last time, I said, ‘Just remember you’re not an overnight success story.’ I said, ‘You are somebody that worked really, really hard to get everything that you have today – and that’s why you’re still here.’
People will just see us sometimes and think this just happened overnight. Liv is a really great example of somebody that hasn’t given up, has a lot of grit, doesn’t take no for an answer. She’s just gonna keep on growing and building and also giving back.
I’ve known Nattie for over 30 years — we met when I was just 12 years old. When she told me she was going to write a book, I thought, ‘I already know this story.’ But I quickly realized I only knew it from my perspective. What I hadn’t fully understood was her perspective of her own story — until now. And it’s so different than anything I ever expected from her, in the best way. As I read each page, I felt myself drawn in closer and closer. By the time I reached the last chapter, I found myself wishing it wouldn’t end.
I’m so proud of you, Nattie. And all of what is about to come- from you having the courage to tell your story.
David Otunga told MuscleManMalcolm that the documentary WWE produced on the Nexus a few years ago will never see the light of day:
We recorded that. It was completed… I talked to the guy, one of the producers, and literally like the next day, two days later, he got fired. They all got fired. They got let go in COVID. But I had just talked to him. Man, this guy was telling me, he was like, ‘Yo, the documentary was so good.’ He’s like, ‘It was long, they made us edit it down.‘
He said he spent a whole day doing this, got it to where they wanted it. He was telling me how fire my part was. He told me my interview was so good they were saving me for last. I know I smoked it, I’ll be honest with you. But I was just happy that they appreciated it too. They put me on last. I was the main event of the documentary, if you will. But anyway, now it’s not going to see the light of day. I think we should figure out how to get there. But it’s completed. The guy told me, it’s completed.
It’s October 28 in America, and that means it has officially been 2 years since I made my debut with @njpwglobal.
I have very few undying loves in this life. My love for my beautiful Yvette, my love for my family, and my love for professional wrestling.
The combination of these 3 things inspire me daily, not only to be a better broadcaster and orator, but to be a better human being. To leave the world better than I have found it. To paint it with vibrant colors.
I have done so much in my short time in professional wrestling. I don’t take any of it for granted, nor do I take for granted a single soul who has supported me or the brand I represent. I’m thankful every single day that the hard work has paid off and brought me to my second home of Japan.
I’m beyond grateful for all of the fans, all of my peers, and all who have paved the way to make pro wrestling what it is today!
When all is said and done, I sincerely hope I have colored professional wrestling in a way that sets a new standard.
Until then, I will continue to love deeper and feel every second passionately (on and off the broadcast).
It’s been a great 2 years, and I’m happy to have signed a contract for my third. Thank you for following the journey, and thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
–The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site now *Full coverage of WrestleKingdom *Thoughts on the booking decisions *How the PPV did and other business notes *Polls on the show *The unique situation of AEW in St. Louis *Saturday Night’s Main Event update and depth in WWE right now *The life and times of Bobby “Mo” Horne, from Men on a Mission who passed away this past week. *The Hall of Fame case for Sabu *Odds for upcoming major pro wrestling matches *The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling TV shows this past weeks, placings for the night and the week, annual comparisons and more *The largest crowd for an all-women’s pro wrestling show in more than seven years *More on the AEW talent in Mexico this week *WWE talent in Mexico this week *Notes on Kento Miyahara vs. Go Shiozaki *New Japan Super Juniors tournament *Lots of health issue updates for those in the wrestling business *Lots of WWE injury updates *Andrade update *Fantastica Mania U.K. notes *More on potential sale of WBD and how this affects AEW *What wrestlers have had the most great matches in 2025 *Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows over the next two months *What show is expected to break the all-time arena gate record *More on the debate over the new version of the Ali Act *Death of Duke Roufas *WWE value to ESPN as far as selling subscriptions *Lots of WWE news regarding non-compete and a look at various situations including that of Brock Lesnar, Samantha Irvin and Renee Paquette *More on AI and WWE creative *WWE international tour notes
–Bryan and I will be back up tonight talking Raw, the weekend shows, Raw, Tom Aspinall, Iyo Sky vs. Mayu Iwatani and more with Wrestling Observer Radio.
–We’re looking for your thoughts on NXT Halloween Havoc, so please leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
–CM Punk and Jey Uso opened the show. Cody Rhodes is on the show. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss defend the women’s tag team titles against Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, Nikki Bella vs. Roxanne Perz and Rusev vs. Penta for a shot at the IC title are also on the show. I’d expect they still have one spot left for Saturday’s SNME card so that would have to be made either tonight or Friday. As of earlier today they had 11,500 tickets out so it will either be a sellout in Anaheim or close to it.
–Game three of the World Series started at 8 p.m. Eastern. The NFL game has the Kansas City Chiefs vs Washington Commanders on both ABC and ESPN. U.S, numbers for Raw will be impacted greatly by this.
–Netflix is involved in negotiations for the Floyd Maywether Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight in 2026. I don’t know how that impacts the prior announcement of Mayweather vs. Mike Tyson. The Jake Paul vs Tank Davis’ numbers for 11/14 will probably impact Netflix doing these freak show fights in 2026. Historically this stuff works short-term but not long-term.
–Julia Hart & Skye Blue & Thekla beat Jarochita & Reyna Isis & Zeuxis on Saturday Night at the CMLL show at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City.
–This week in CMLL they are doing Cibernetico matches for the Rey del Inframundo championship. This title comes into play during Halloween week every year. Difunto is the defending champion and he’ll defend it in a four-way on Friday night against the winners of three different Ciberneticos held tonight and tomorrow night. Tonight in Puebla it’s Stigma, Arkalis, Xelhua, Pegasso, Rayo Metalico and Guerrero Maya Jr. Tomorrow night at Arena Mexico it’s Rugido, Magnus, Villano III Jr., Valiente Jr., Max Star and Dragon de Fuergo. Tomorrow night in Guadalajara it’s Furia Roja, Demonio Maya, Principe Daniel, Fantastico, Bestia Negra and Adrenalino
–Mr. Iguana and La Parka, after working Saturday night in Prescott Valley, AZ, missed an afternoon booking in Merida on Sunday when their flight was canceled (thanks to The Cubs Fan). –The Smashing Machine was down to 86 screens this past weekend and grossed $43,994.
–Today is the one year anniversary of the accident that led to Chris Bey being paralyzed for a period of time. Bey is now walking on his own and was at the TNA Bound for Glory show.
–The New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament continues tomorrow in Sado, Japan at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time with A block matches with Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Dia vs. Templario & Jakob Austin Young, Master Wato & Yoh vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Gedo and Douki & Sho vs Clark Connors & Daiki Nagai.
–Real American freestyle announced for 11/29 in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena, Michael Chandler vs. Chad Mendes. Both were college All-Americans in the 00s who became stars in MMA. Mendes retired from MMA seven years ago. Chandler, a year younger, is still in the UFC but is well past his prime. UFC does allow its fighters to participate in BJJ or freestyle wrestling but not boxing or kickboxing.. Another retired MMA fighter, Darion Caldwell, is there to put over Bo Bassett, a high school senior who is a favorite for the Junior Hodge Trophy this season, plus Holly Holm will wrestle.
–Subscriber Mark Pink noted that he’s had DirecTV for 20 plus years, had ESPN+ for UFC and Peacock for WWE. He said with WWE moving, he canceled Peacock but decided to wait to get ESPN Unlimited until the Rumble to see if he could get it for free through DirecTV by then. The belief is that it’ll happen by the end of the year. He then canceled ESPN+, deciding to skip the next two UFC PPV shows. A week later DirecTV offered him Peacock for free and two days later DirecTV offered to activate ESPN Unlimited for free and he said it works fine and he can now see WWE PPV shows free.
–The Georgia High School Sports Hall of Fame announced they were inducting the 1976 Warner-Robins football team of which Ron Simmons was the defensive star making 130 tackles. Simmons as an individual was already inducted into the Georgia High School Sports Hall of Fame and the NCAA College Football Hall of Fame.
–Maple Leaf Wrestling tonight in Toronto has the Reena Rumble at the New Age Experience Center with Josh Alexander & Gisele Shaw vs. Kris Chambers & Taylor Rising, Rohan Raja vs Rhino, Mike Santana vs Sheldon Jean, Carlito vs. Richard Holiday, plus Micro Man and Matt Hardy.
–The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site now *Full coverage of WrestleKingdom *Thoughts on the booking decisions *How the PPV did and other business notes *Polls on the show *The unique situation of AEW in St. Louis *Saturday Night’s Main Event update and depth in WWE right now *The life and times of Bobby “Mo” Horne, from Men on a Mission who passed away this past week. *The Hall of Fame case for Sabu *Odds for upcoming major pro wrestling matches *The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling TV shows this past weeks, placings for the night and the week, annual comparisons and more *The largest crowd for an all-women’s pro wrestling show in more than seven years *More on the AEW talent in Mexico this week *WWE talent in Mexico this week *Notes on Kento Miyahara vs. Go Shiozaki *New Japan Super Juniors tournament *Lots of health issue updates for those in the wrestling business *Lots of WWE injury updates *Andrade update *Fantastica Mania U.K. notes *More on potential sale of WBD and how this affects AEW *What wrestlers have had the most great matches in 2025 *Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows over the next two months *What show is expected to break the all-time arena gate record *More on the debate over the new version of the Ali Act *Death of Duke Roufas *WWE value to ESPN as far as selling subscriptions *Lots of WWE news regarding non-compete and a look at various situations including that of Brock Lesnar, Samantha Irvin and Renee Paquette *More on AI and WWE creative *WWE international tour notes
—Garrett and I have our week in review show talking about the stories in the new issue of the Observer today and we’ll also be doing a show most likely tomorrow afternoon after the UFC show.
–Thanks for all the birthday wishes. As I used to be reminded every year by Lance Russell, who would always call me after he called Bill Dundee, today’s is Dundee’s 82nd birthday. The original Paul Diamond from the 60s and 70s turned 90 today and as best we know he’s still alive. Kamille turned 33 and Bron Breakker turned 28. (thanks to Tony Richards)
–AEW Dynamite did 477,000 viewers and an 0.08 in 18-49. It’s just the reality of the new numbers. For every show, numbers that were inconceivable are now the reality ESPN had Cleveland vs. New York Knicks NBA at 2,166,000/0.63, FOX News had Watters (3,250,000/0.16) and Hannity (2,798,000/0.14), Middle Tennessee vs. Delaware college football on ESPN 2 did 417,000/0.09 and AEW taied with Challenge, Expedition X and The Source with Kaitlan Collins on CNN for fourth place at 0.08. A Freeform movie in the first half hour did an 0.13 so it would have tied for the first 35 minutes. There were a ton of NBA local market openers but the story is still the Big Data+Panel destroying wrestling and UFC numbers and that doesn’t look to be changing at all.
–This is a big weekend as far as shows go. We are only doing one poll this weekend which will be for the NXT Halloween Havoc show tomorrow, but a weekend scorecard: *Women’s Grand Prix tonight from Arena Mexico on Triller PPV *UFC tomorrow morning/afternoon in Abu Dhabi on ESPN PPV *NXT Halloween Havoc tomorrow in Prescott Valley, AZ on Peacock *AAA Heroes Inmortales at Juan de la Barrera Gym in Mexico City (I expect this to be put on on YouTube on a tape delay) *Real American Freestyle tomorrow night from Penn State University streaming on Fox Nation *Marigold Sumo Hall on Sunday –Smackdown tonight is from Tempe, AZ at the Mullett Arena,which has 5,100 tickets out and will be sold out as it’s a smaller arena. The only stuff announced is an Ilja Dragunov U.S. title open challenge and Kiana James vs. Tiffany Stratton.
–Arena Mexico tonight: Women’s Grand Prix Cibernetico: Reyna Isis, Jarochita, Lluvia, India Sioux, Zeuxis, Catalina, Persephone, Skadi, Olympia, Mina Shirakawa, Julia Hart, Thekla, Skye Blue, Hazuki, Koguma, Diamante, Shoko Nakajima and Kanji Mascara Dorada & Titan vs. Difunto & Barboza Hechicero vs. Xelhua Dragon de Fuego & Dragon Legendario vs. Elemental & Yutani
–New Japan’s Super Juniors tournament is in Saitama with a 4 a.m.Eastern time show with Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Dia vs. Clark Connors & Daiki Nagai, Yoh & Master Wato vs. Templario & Jakob Austin Young and and Hiromu Takahashi & Gedo vs. Douki & Sho.
–Halloween Havoc is at 7 p.m. tomorrow night Eastern time Ricky Saints vs. Trick Williams for the NXT title Jacy Jayne vs. Tatum Paxley for NXT women’s title Broken Hardys vs DarkState for NXT tag titles in a Broken Rules match Ethan Page vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. for the North American title in a Dia de a Muerte (no rules) match Je’Von Evans & Leon Slater vs. Mr Iguana & La Parka
–UFC is an early PPV show from Abu Dhabi with two title matches. It will start at 10 a.m. Eastern on ESPN+ and FX Jaqueline Amorim (116) vs. Mizuki Inoue (115) Azat Maksun (129) vs. Mitch Raposo (125.5) – Maskum missed weight by three pounds and was fined 30 percent of his purse as a penalty Hamdy Abdelwahab (265) vs. Chris Barnett (261) Nathaniel Wood (146) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (147) – Delgado missed weight by one pound and was fined 20 percent of his purse Valter Walker (244) vs. Louie Sutherland (264.5) Mateusz Rebecki (155.5) vs. Ludovit Klein (156) Ikram Aliskerov (185.5) vs. Jon Yong Park (185.5) Nasrat Haqparast (156) vs. Quillan Salklid (155.5) PPV at 2 p.m.Eastern Aleksandar Rakic (205) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205.5) Alexander Volkov (261.5) vs. Jailton Almeida (237) Umar Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Mario Bautista (135.5) Virna Jandiroba (115) vs. Mackenzie Dern (115) for the vacant strawweight title Tom Aspinall (255) vs.Cyril Gane (247.5) for the heavyweight title
–AAA Heroes Inmortales is headlined by Dominik Mysterio vs. Dragon Lee for the AAA Mega title, Pargano & Psycho Clown vs. mystery team for AAA tag titles, Flammer vs. Lady Apache vs. Natalya for the Reina de Reinas title and Laredo Kid vs. Jack Cartwheel vs. Lince Dorado vs. Aerostar for the AAA cruiserweight title
–The Marigold Sumo Hall show features Mayu Iwatani vs Iyo Sky in the main event.
–Braun Strowman’s “Everything on the Menu” TV show begins at 10 p.m. tonight on USA right after Smackdown. There is a New York Times story on it. (thanks to Chris Cruise and many others)
–The Hulk Hogan estate led by Nick Bollea have settled out of court with Bubba the Love Sponge. The settlement allows the Bubba documentary “Video Killed the Radio Star” about the Hulk Hogan sex tape to go forward. Nick Bollea had attempted and failed to get it blocked.
–Verizon Fios’ deal with Nextra ends tonight. If a new deal isn’t reached CW will be off in Washington,DC, Buffalo, Philadelphia, New York and Norfolk so people with Verizon in those markets won’t be able to watch NXT until a new deal is made. Given that there are also Nexstar stations with NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX, and it’s football season, I presume a deal will be worked out.
–A lot of independent wrestlers have been doing PowerSlap. It pays better than indie wrestling.
— MLW will be on YouTube at 10 p.m. tomorrow night with a taped show with Mistico vs. Austin Aries and Satoshi Kojima vs. Volador Jr. in the Opear Cup, Blue Panther vs. Atlantis vs Rugido for the National openweight title, Shotzi has a match, Templario defends the middleweight title against Virus, Brock Anderson has a singles match and Magnus vs Diego Hill vs. Stigma vs. Okumura vs. Ikuro Kwon.
—Vickie Guerrero will be the guest on tomorrow’s Memphis Wrestling TV show.
Notes from the new issue which apparently has been the talk of the social media wrestling world:
Seth Rollins injury and how this will lead to numerous changes in booking plans, including what was scheduled short and long-term for Rollins through Mania and after.
Full coverage of Crown Jewel, business notes and match coverage
The Media Ratings Council has questions about the new numbers
Just how far Smackdown has dropped with younger viewers based on the new sampling and NXT isn’t much different, nor is AEW
Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP title, a look at King of Prm Wrestling, WrestleKingdom, first thoughts on Aaron Wolf, and the angles on the show
WrestleDream preview, business notes, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City needs the entire show revamped
Odds for upcoming big matches
TNA Bound for Glory notes
A detailed story on WWE cuts focusing on Ridge Holland and Wes Lee
Pro Wrestling NOAH at Sumo Hall
A huge story on the 2025 Hall of Fame U.S. & Canada candidates
What the awards voting over the last 45 years says about those who fare better not in than those who are in.
The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling shows of the past week
It’s women’s month at Arena Mexico but one person is still the star, a look at the recent main events
A look at two PPV shows from Arena Mexico coming
Who is the obvious choice for tag team of the year that nobody is talking about
Best of the Super Juniors tournament
Japanese referee dies in bear attack
Update on Smashing Machine business
They named a bridge after Stu Hart and more notes
NFL star copying Ric Flair
Fantastica Mania UK
The Andrade situation
Lots of background details on similar stories
Kota Ibushi update
Notes on Chris Jericho and Britt Baker
Darby Allin talks about the cancers that used to be in AEW
Update on a training camp for AEW in Asheville, NC
Rematch of a match of the year candidate coming to AEW show in Edinburg, TX
Updates on YouTube numbers for September
Debate over the new and old Ali Act
Details on Zuffa Boxing deals
How much UFC makes in profit per Saturday show
New UFC fights
Sad BJ Penn story
Stories on fighters getting screwed by promoters
Ticket demand for John Cena’s last show
New WWE hire, usage of AI for wrestling storylines and some are worried about their jobs
It was an easy pitch. I was just like, it took three things. One, it’s the right thing to do, let’s just start at core values here. No celebrity has any business coming in and pinning a wrestler on their first run without some extreme circumstance. [Like] if Randy comes out and double RKOs everybody while I’m out and puts me on top of somebody.
But two, I can always come back, I don’t think any other celebrity ever really cared enough to think full angle through. If I lose this, I love Logan. That’s my friend in real life. But every time he’s in that ring, now he’s got to wonder if at some point he’s going to hear, ‘You know I got it, so come and get it’ [Who’s Your Daddy? By Toby Keith]. He’s got to wonder about that a little bit. Drew too. If I really owe one of them, it’s Drew.So that was part two of it.I was also smart enough to be like, Yo, I want to angle in. And I was like, I don’t want to be remembered as a celebrity who did the thing, and then Triple H stopped me. This will probably be on Unreal because it was so gangster. He said, ‘I will tell you this though.’ He said Floyd wanted to lose to The Big Show. I don’t know if I should be sharing that, but he told me that, and I thought that was cool.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. The Klan wore sheets on their heads. The Ku Klux Klan wore sheets over their heads. And I felt that a lot of those Klan members made their way into wrestling, traded in their sheets for suits.
It was definitely a behind the scenes thing. I’ve dealt with it with certainly higher ups like MVP said. I dealt with that certain higher up that told me to my face, they don’t like me because of the color of my skin. And they work for other organizations now, and this person knows who he is. I have no respect for that person. I don’t really care for him. Now that he’s not in the position that he once was, I just really don’t care for him.
Dudley addressed whether he would like to work behind the scenes again now that he’s retired from the ring:
I have a very successful YouTube channel that’s doing extremely well. So I’m doing that and I still have my legends deal with WWE, I’m doing that. I still have my wrestling school in Winter Park, which is right down the road from the PC in Florida. And I have my detailing business in Fort Lauderdale. So I’m set. I’m good and hopefully God continues to bless me and I continue to strive in what I do and be successful. Right now my life is my family, my businesses. And that’s it now.
Due to illness, Katsuya Murashima missed today’s NJPW event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Zane Jay replaced him on the card, teaming with Hiroshi Tanahashi in a loss to Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji.
NJPW Super Junior Tag League 2025 kicked off with the following results:
B Block: Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita defeated El Desperado & KUUKAI
A Block: YOH & Master Wato defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Dia
Eric Bischoff spoke to Undisputed ahead of Real American Freestyle holding its second-ever event this Saturday:
This hits different for me. I love starting something from scratch and building it. That’s always appealed to me. And this one is special. We’re taking an idea we discussed over coffee. We’re literally starting this from the ground up–every aspect of it. That’s what excites me the most.
I can’t wait for Saturday. And we have a surprise on standby that will light everyone up. It’s going to be a big night.
Notes from the new issue which apparently has been the talk of the social media wrestling world:
Seth Rollins injury and how this will lead to numerous changes in booking plans, including what was scheduled short and long-term for Rollins through Mania and after.
Full coverage of Crown Jewel, business notes and match coverage
The Media Ratings Council has questions about the new numbers
Just how far Smackdown has dropped with younger viewers based on the new sampling and NXT isn’t much different, nor is AEW
Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP title, a look at King of Prm Wrestling, WrestleKingdom, first thoughts on Aaron Wolf, and the angles on the show
WrestleDream preview, business notes, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City needs the entire show revamped
Odds for upcoming big matches
TNA Bound for Glory notes
A detailed story on WWE cuts focusing on Ridge Holland and Wes Lee
Pro Wrestling NOAH at Sumo Hall
A huge story on the 2025 Hall of Fame U.S. & Canada candidates
What the awards voting over the last 45 years says about those who fare better not in than those who are in.
The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling shows of the past week
It’s women’s month at Arena Mexico but one person is still the star, a look at the recent main events
A look at two PPV shows from Arena Mexico coming
Who is the obvious choice for tag team of the year that nobody is talking about
Best of the Super Juniors tournament
Japanese referee dies in bear attack
Update on Smashing Machine business
They named a bridge after Stu Hart and more notes
NFL star copying Ric Flair
Fantastica Mania UK
The Andrade situation
Lots of background details on similar stories
Kota Ibushi update
Notes on Chris Jericho and Britt Baker
Darby Allin talks about the cancers that used to be in AEW
Update on a training camp for AEW in Asheville, NC
Rematch of a match of the year candidate coming to AEW show in Edinburg, TX
Updates on YouTube numbers for September
Debate over the new and old Ali Act
Details on Zuffa Boxing deals
How much UFC makes in profit per Saturday show
New UFC fights
Sad BJ Penn story
Stories on fighters getting screwed by promoters
Ticket demand for John Cena’s last show
New WWE hire, usage of AI for wrestling storylines and some are worried about their jobs
Zaria reflected on the one-year anniversary of her NXT debut and looked ahead to her Women’s North American Championship match against Blake Monroe at Halloween Havoc:
1 Year ago today I debuted in WWE. It’s gone by so quickly that it all feels like a dream. I’ve accomplished more than I thought I would in just a year. Iron Survivor, ladder match at Stand and Deliver, tag championship match at Evolution, debuting on Smackdown and now I get to have my first singles championship match at Halloween Havoc.
A championship that belongs to my partner [Sol Ruca]. Someone that has played such a big role in my growth this past year. The friendship that was so unexpected yet the bond is unbreakable. Stepping into a WWE ring for the first time at Halloween Havoc was such a definitive moment for me and now defending the NA Championship for Sol, is a definitive moment for ZaRuca. This moment means everything to me. I won’t let you down
No excuses, this man is a literal example of that. So happy to have run into him and see first hand his progress. If you think you can’t do it, don’t listen to me, look at this man and follow his example. Keep going forward kid!
To promote tonight’s New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game, ESPN created a WrestleMania 28-inspired poster with stars Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell in the places of The Rock and John Cena.
John Cena’s absolutely a legendary pro wrestler who came into the space and became a huge star very quickly on television because he has so much charisma and he’s one of the hardest working people as far as I know in pro wrestling.
I’ve never actually met John Cena. I have a ton of respect for him as a wrestler. He seems like a wonderful person. Everybody I know that’s worked with John Cena has only the very, very best things to say about him. And he’s known for being the utmost professional.
I think he’s also a very, very talented actor. I’m a huge fan of the Peacemaker show on HBO Max…
I think that he’s absolutely fantastic in the ring. And he seems fantastic out of the ring. Certainly on screen, one of the all-time greats. And he came into the wrestling business after many of the top stars were either getting ready to retire or entering the final phase of their career and he really stepped up as one of the biggest wrestling stars of all time. Even though I’ve never met him or talked to him, I have a ton of respect for him.
We built a lot. It’s been six years of AEW, and again, it feels like we started just yesterday. I’m very interested in taking AEW and visiting more of Europe. I think there are more opportunities there. We’ve had great shows in the UK, particularly with shows in London. We’ve set records at Wembley Stadium, and we’ve had great events in Cardiff, Wales. And I’m really excited about this year taking AEW to Manchester for the first time. I think there’s more opportunities there internationally, for AEW…I think that’s very attractive, just international expansion.
TNA Wrestling today confirmed a long-term partnership with Tixr, a global technology leader modernising ticketing and live event commerce, to be an official sponsor and ticket provider for future TNA live events.
The TNA/Tixr partnership kicks off in November, when TNA presents three consecutive nights of live, intense, action-packed pro wrestling at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 13-15.
MLW has honestly been my favorite place to work for right now. It kind of reminds me of my first year at NXT. When I got to NXT, Hunter [Triple H] really got me. They gave me the opportunity to host Halloween Havoc and really let me be me and my character and really understood me. MLW really understands the ‘Ballsy Badass.’ I came in and every creative thing they have given me, they totally get my character. From promos to giving me my ‘Graveyard Shift’ talking segment. Just letting me be myself and understanding my character. MLW gets me. It’s a breath of fresh air to be somewhere where someone enjoys your character and appreciates what I bring to the table and highlights it.
Shotzi noted that, if WWE contacted her to return, it’s not something she would want to do at the moment:
Right now, I can genuinely say if WWE offered me another contract I’d be like, ‘call me back in six months.’ Ask me again in six months because I’m just having so much fun right now. I feel like I’m growing so much as a performer, an in-ring wrestler and a ring leader. I don’t want to stop that right now. I’m learning so much about myself. I don’t trust I would be able to do that there. I just want to develop myself and regain all my confidence and just have a good time right now and not rush back.
Ric Flair was a guest on the Games with Names podcast with New England Patriots legend Julian Edelman. They looked back at Flair’s 1989 Chi-Town Rumble classic against Ricky Steamboat.
Notes from the new issue which apparently has been the talk of the social media wrestling world: *Seth Rollins injury and how this will lead to numerous changes in booking plans, including what was scheduled short and long-term for Rollins through Mania and after. *Full coverage of Crown Jewel, business notes and match coverage *The Media Ratings Council has questions about the new numbers *Just how far Smackdown has dropped with younger viewers based on the new sampling and NXT isn’t much different, nor is AEW *Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP title, a look at King of Prm Wrestling, WrestleKingdom, first thoughts on Aaron Wolf, and the angles on the show *WrestleDream preview, business notes, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City needs the entire show revamped *Odds for upcoming big matches *TNA Bound for Glory notes *A detailed story on WWE cuts focusing on Ridge Holland and WEs Lee *Pro Wrestling NOAH at Sumo Hall *A huge story on the 2025 Hall of Fame U.S. & Canada candidates *What the awards voting over the last 45 years says about those who fare better not in than those who are in. *The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling shows of the past week *It women’s month at Arena Mexico but one person is still the star, a look at the recent main events *A look at two PPV shows from Arena Mexico coming *Who is the obvious choice for tag team of the year that nobody is talking about *Best of the Super Juniors tournament *Japanese referee dies in bear attack *Update on Smashing Machine business *They named a bridge after Stu Hart and more notes *NFL star copying Ric Flair *Fantastica Mania UK *The Andrade situation *Lots of background details on similar stories *Kota Ibushi update *Notes on Chris Jericho and Britt Baker *Darby Allin talks about the cancers that used to be in AEW *Update on a training camp for AEW in Asheville, NC *Rematch of a match of the year candidate coming to AEW show in Edinburg, TX *Updates on YouTube numbers for September *Debate over the new and old Ali Act *Details on Zuffa Boxing deals *How much UFC makes in profit per Saturday show *New UFC fights *Sad BJ Penn story *Stories on fighters getting screwed by promoters *Ticket demand for John Cena’s ast show *New WWE hire, usage of AI for wrestling storylines and some are worried about their jobs *AJ Styles talks retiring *WWE injury updates
–A quick note regarding our Apple and Spotify feeds for audio: Today’s internet outage appears to have impacted both feeds and we will have today’s WOL posted there as soon as possible.
–Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio. We” be taking the fallout of a show that will have a lot of news including how they are going to crown a new WWE champion, and how they handle the Rhea Ripley broken nose from Saturday’s show in Tokyo.
–Very sorry to hear of the death of Bobby Horne, who wrestled as Sir Mo and Mo of Men on a Mission as well as Bobby Knight and many other names. He wrestled 1993-96 in WWF and later promoted independent wrestling. He had many health issues over the past decade and was only 58 at the time of his death yesterday. We will talk more about him tonight and have a story on him in the next Observer.
–Raw tonight is from Sacramento, CA, back to the normal 8 p.m. start time. More than 10,000 tickets are out so it’s still a very good crowd even though the advance was down from recent trips to the city. The biggest thing will be the announcement of what they are doingr about the WWE title. I presume it’ll be CM Punk vs. someone for the vacant title on 11/1 in Salt Lake City, but that’s just speculation. But they will be explaining all that tonight. Plus it’s Dominik Mysterio vs. Rusev for the IC title, Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri for the IC title, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh vs. AJ Styles & Dragon Lee for the world tag team titles and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Roxanne Perez. The NFL has Tampa Bay vs. Detroit at 7 p.m. on both ESPN and ABC. There is a Seattle vs. Houston game at 10 p.m. tonight in ESPN+. It will be very interesting to see how ESPN+ does as compared to television.
–We’re looking for reports from Sacramento tonight with anything not on the live show such as Main Event or dark matches to [email protected]
–We’re also doing our weekend poll on AEW WrestleDream, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
–AEW on Wednesday from San Antonio has announced Kazuchika Okada vs. Bandido for the Unified title, The Opps vs. Hurt Syndicate for the trios titles, and they will be announcing the brackets for the women’s tag team titles.
–Killer Kross will be debuting a documentary at 10:15 p.m. called “One Big Work” on YouTube tonight about his life after WWE.
–The Smashing Machine was No. 16 at the box office this weekend with $329,751 putting it at $11,121,428 after three weeks. It was down to 819 theaters this week.
–Mercedes Mone will next defend the CMLL women’s title against Olympia. They did the challenge Friday night but said the match would take place in the U.S.
–Arn Anderson will be debuting for a meet and greet with MLW as part of its 11/20 show in Charleston WC at the Music Hall.
–Dustin Rhodes will be doing his RWA one year anniversary show on 11/23 at 5 a p.m. at Wild West in Cedar Park TX with Deonna Purrazzo, Billy Gunn and Zilla Fatu.
–Riho returned to Japan on today’s Starlight Kid tenth anniversary show at Shin=Kiba. The PPV of that show that took place earlier today was canceled due to a giant global network outage. All customers will be refunded. The show instead is available for free on YouTube.
–XICW had its 25th anniversary show before a sellout in Clinton Township, MI before a sellout crowd with a main event of Killer Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux & Jimmy Jacobs over AdamWick & Maxximillian & Heather Blue. Also on the show were Trey Miguel, Jake Crist and Simon Gotch. They return on 11/8 at the Premier Events Center in Clinton Township with Rhino & Jimmy Jacobs appearing.
