Tag: Daily updates

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

• Swerve Strickland reveals who he thinks could lead AEW into the future
• MJF shares thoughts on the ‘four pillars’ discussion in AEW
• Two title matches set for next WWE SmackDown
• Major star to open next WWE Raw
• Mercedes Mone adds another championship to title belt collection

Latest Audio

• WOR: Chris Jericho’s future, AEW Forbidden Door
• WOL: Ospreay, Dustin, Jericho/AEW, Q&A, more!
• Wrestling Weekly: AEW Forbidden Door predictions, WWE changing PLE homes
• Fight Game: Previewing AEW’s (less than) Forbidden Door
• Big Audio Nightmare: The official NJPW G1 Climax 35 wrap-up show
• B&B: AEW Dynamite and NXT go-home shows!

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• August 25, 2025 Observer Newsletter: Major changes to WWE’s ESPN & Peacock deals, AEW Forbidden Door preview

*The most detailed coverage of the WWE’s deal with ESPN starting early, why the different moves were made by all sides, the costs, more details on Wrestlepalooza, the embarrassment to sports journalism that ESPN has been and emphasized this week, how WWE benefits and doesn’t from the changes,and  more.
*Will Ospreay, his neck issues, comparisons with other major stars and their serious problems, and his future.
*More questions regarding the death of Hulk Hogan.
*A look at Forbidden Door and the card, AEW injury rate ,NXT Heatwave, WWE Clash in Paris, France attendance record and more.
*Full coverage of TripleMania, lots of behind the scenes stuff, why the next show is where it is and when it is, what Nick Khan told AAA talent, records set and a  record claimed that was so far from accurate, actual  viewer numbers for each match and more.
*A look at The G-1 Climax tournament, the booking, the business, Konosuke Takeshita, new record set and upcoming book New Japan bouts.
*Real attendance figures for WrestleMania in Las Vegas and stats on who traveled for the show vs. who lived in Las Vegas and bought tickets,
*Full coverage of UFC 319, business,  Chimaev and his future.
*Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate 2025 show
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all pro wrestling and MMA shows this past week, including weekly standings, nightly standings, head-to-head shows, segment numbers and more notes.
*Details of another big CMLL week
*Stardom Five Star Grand Prix update
*Kents vs. Marufuji
*Women’s legends show packs Korakuen Hall
*Cauliflower Alley Club awards
*Man who claims to have saved Scott Steiner’s life.
*Wrestler charged with murdering a neighbor in a brawl
*Sami Callihan retires
*Lots of thoughts on Chris Jerich as a free agent
*Tony Khan media call
*Unionizing wrestlers
*Ticket advances for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows.
*Dana White talks Jon Jones
*Sean Strickland suspended.
*PFL crowns new world champions.
*The farce that is Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis.
*Gable Steveson’s MMA debut.
*BJ Penn back in court.
*Time changes for a lot of the WWE TV shows over the next month.
*High level athletes being recruited by WWE.
*Rhodes talks about leaving AEW.
*Bronson Reed talks about his injury.

This Week’s Back Issue

• December 17, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Raw 15th anniversary, WWE & NBC extend deal

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I have a new show up today. We talked a ton of  subjects, the wars for content, why TV has always overpaid for the NFL and why WWE and UFC having their rights come due now was perfect timing with the Skydance/Paramount merger and launch of the new ESPN app, we talk about more things ESPN is after from pro wrestling and MMA, WWE losing television for Saturday Night Main Event, AEW prospects for a new deal, Mercedes Mone, Mascara Dorada, new WWE women recruits, WWE or AEW running Sphere in Las Vegas, Forbidden Door and more.

Forbidden Door is well over 17,000 tickets out and just about sold out.  As of this morning the gate had topped $2.7 million, making it the fourth biggest gate and fifth biggest attendance in AEW history.  It’s also the third biggest attendance figure for a non-WWE show ever in the U.K., and third biggest gate for a non-WWE show in Europe.  I don’t think the gate can pass $2.8 million because there just aren’t enough seats left.

Regarding the note in the Observer this week on different ideas regarding Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin vs. FTR and the idea of doing an injury and that leading to a tag title change, while that definitely was suggested, it was never going to happen. Tony Khan did not like the idea and there was never a chance of it happening. 

Blake Avignon of The MMA Draw has reported that ESPN is in active talks to acquire UFC Fight Pass and to put the full UFC archives as well as some live content in the new ESPN streaming service.  It was said discussions are advanced but not finalized and they were also looking at the WWE Vault and archives.  We talked about this in depth on today’s show.

–We’re looking for reports on these shows:
*RevPro this afternoon at the Crystal Palace in London
*WWE today from Dublin (matches not on Smackdown)
*RevPro tomorrow at the Crystal Palace in London
*WWE tomorrow in Liverpool, England
*WWE Sunday in Newcastle England
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

-This weekend we’ll be doing polls on AEW Forbidden Door and NXT Heatwave, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match form each show to [email protected]

–The UFC show this weekend is from Shanghai, China,  It starts tonight at 3 a.m. Eastern on ESPN+ or midnight Pacific Time
Xiao Long (136) vs. SuYoung  You (135.5)
Yizha (145) vs. Westin Wilson (146)
Michel Pereria (186) vs. Kyle Daukaus (185)
Rongzhu (155.5) vs. Austin Hubbard (155.5)
Lone’er Kavanagh (126) vs. Charles Johnson (126)
Maheshate (155) vs. Gauge Young (155.5)
Taiyliake Nueraji (170) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (170.5)
Sumudaerji (125.5) vs. Kevin Borjas (126)
Sergei Pavlovich (255.5) vs. Waldo Cortes-Ascota (262)
Brian Ortega (153) vs. Aljamain Sterling (153
Johnny Walker (206) vs. Zhang Mingyang (205)

This may be the week that Arena Mexico doesn’t top 15,000 fans as it’s a normal main event with Mistico & Neon & Titan vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr., Templario & TJP vs. El Hijo de Villano III & Villano III Jr. for the  New Japan Strong tag titles, Esfinge vs. Donovan Dijak in a lightning match and Hombre Bala Jr. & Max Star & Futuro vs. Taiji Ishimori & Okumura & Yutani.    Tomorrow night at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City has Templario & TJP & Titan vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja & Volador Jr., Euforia vs. Dijak and Esfinge & El Hijo del Pantera & Star Jr. vs. Okumura & Ishimori & Yutani..  Sunday at Arena Mexico has Volador Jr. & Zandokan Jr. vs. TJP & Dijak, Titan & Xelhua vs. Ishimori & Yutani.  TJP faces Volador Jr. in a singles match in Puebla on Monday.

On 8/29 at Arena Mexico, they have the World Grand Prix tournament that will sell out with Mistico, Mascara Dorada, Neon, Templario, Titan, Volador Jr., Zandokan Jr., Angel de Oro, Atlantis Jr., Difunto, Action Andretti, Dijak, Lio Rush, Michael Oku, Mike Bailey, Robbie X, Rocky Romero, Ishimori,TJP and Mortos.  A unique semi has Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Bucanero vs. Averno & Felino.  Guerrero & Bucanero were the best tag team in the world 20-25 years ago.  It’s been years since they last teamed up at Arena Mexico.

Tickets for Worlds Collide on 9/12 in Las Vegas are priced from  $103 to $656.  The idea is a lot of rich people are coming in that weekend for Alvarez vs. Crawford so they can charge high prices.

The Netflix series “Wrestlers,” a reality show that covered OVW, was renewed for a second season.

The HBO Max Series “Mysteries of the Abandoned:  Hidden America” is doing a feature on the Mid South Coliseum  in wrestling as a wrestling venue interviewing King Cobra.  They also talk about Sputnik Monroe forcing integration in the late 50s at wrestling shows.  That story, while very significant, is often told  very differently from how it happened.  But Monroe was a key in the starting of allowing blacks and whites to sit together at sports and entertainment events in Memphis when previously they each had separate sections of arenas or theaters they were allowed to sit in.  However, this wasn’t at the Mid South Coliseum, which began the regular arena for wrestling in 1971.  It was at the Ellis Auditorium, where Jimmy Hart as a teenager used to sell cokes in the 50s during the Monroe heyday.

Jeff Jarrett will wrestle for the first time in Hendersonville, TN (he’s wrestled hundreds of times in Nashville) where he grew up, on a show called “Jeff Jarrett’s All-Star Superslam on 10/23 at Veterans Park.  Jarrett & Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh face QT Marshall &  Brady Booker & Elijah Drago in the main event.

WWE has moved Karrion Kross T-shirts to clearance sale prices.   Kross was announced for the 10/10 House of Glory show in Amazura, Queens, NY.

After failing to make weight last weekend for his right with Nursuton Ruziboev by four pounds, the second time in a row he missed making weight Bryan Battle was released by UFC.  He had been 7-1 in the promotion.

What is listed as the longest singles match in WWWF history, Bruno Sammartino vs. Waldo Von Erich, took place 61 years ago today in Madison Square Garden.  The two wrestled to what was billed as an 81:00 draw,  Most likely the time was considerably shorter, as they  usually added 10-20 minutes to the announced time of long matches in that day, but it was still a long match.

After having his right leg amputated from above the knee, Buff Bagwell returns to Memphis Wrestling for tomorrow’sTV show.  He won’t be in a match but will be in the corner for a tag team title match with the Hollywood Clique defending against The Big Manes.  Bagwell is there to keep The Clique manager Jimmy Blaylock from interfering.

Netflix announced Jon Anik, Max Kellerman and Andre Ward as the announcers for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford fight on 9/13.  Michael Buffer will announce the main event and Joe Martinez will announce the other matches.  Mario Lopez, Antonio Tarver, Mark Kriegel, Mike Coppinger, Jim Gray, Heidi Androl and Skipper Kelp will also be part of the broadcast team.

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

• WWE Raw live results: Naomi addresses her status
• AEW adds time to wrestler’s contract against their request
• Philadelphia Street Fight to kick off WWE NXT this week
• Update on September WWE PLE going head-to-head with AEW All Out
• Ace Austin comments on joining AEW

Latest Audio

• WOL: WWE/ESPN, G-1, TripleMania, Smackdown, Collision
• B&V: TripleMania 2025 review!

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• August 18, 2025 Observer Newsletter: UFC signs TV rights deal with Paramount, new WWE vs. AEW head-to-head battles

*The most detailed look at the UFC deal with Paramount, and all the doors that had to be opened to put it together, UFC getting out of PPV, how TKO boxing fights, trying to make this work economically, the loss to ESPN and the loss of ESPN exposure for UFC, analysts, stock market reaction and how much Vince McMahon and Dwayne Johnson made on this deal.
*A look at the next  AEW, NXT and WWE major shows between now and the end of the month.  The lineups, the business, the stories and more.
*Full G-1 Climax reports, the booking, the best matches, the worst matches and more
*The most detailed look at the strange case involving  Karrion Kross
*Amateur wrestling Hall of Famer Greg Wojciechowski, who later was a  world champion with Dick the Bruiser’s Indiana promotion, the grandstand challenge to Hulk Hogan, the boycotted Olympics and more.
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling television shows this past week as well as UFC, competition, placings and more.
*A look at CMLL and the popularity of wrestling in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
*Arena Mexico coverage for this week.
*TripleMania notes
*Five Star Grand Prix notes
*Notes on two different Hulk Hogan documentaries
*What the documentaries didn’t cover
*Robbie Ellis, the art dealer turned independent wrestler
*Longest match in history
*More career highlights of Gerry Morrow
*The most detailed look at TNA, its agreement with WWE, why WWE may want outside ownership of the company and another attempt to break its attendance record
*New AEW signings
*Lots of injury updates
*Taz talks about Bret Hart’s view  of wrestling
*WWE library
*Latest WWE cut
*New movies WWE talent is in
*Leading YouTube numbers

This Week’s Back Issue

• December 17, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Raw 15th anniversary, WWE & NBC extend deal

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

–Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about Raw, weekend news, as well as items in this report and taking questions.

–Raw taping starting with the 9/15 show in Springfield, MA, are listing a 6:30 p.m. local start time.  They advertise 30 minutes before Raw starts because they want the crowds in the seats.  Either they are doing a new one hour show taped prior to Raw or Raw will move to a 7 p.m. start time as a way to get a one hour jump on the NFL, likely the latter.

–Raw tonight has Becky Lynch vs. Natalya for the IC title,Penta vs.Xaiver Woods, Bron Brakker vs.Jey Uso, Iyo Sky vs. Raquel Rodriguez plus Naomi and Seth Rollins.  Naomi will address her medical issue and one would think the world women’s title situation will also be answered tonight.  The show is from Philadelphia and at last check there were 12,265 tickets so a big house.  It will be interesting if there are Karrion Kross chants because Philadelphia is the city you’d expect them  in.

–The 9/20 Indianapolis PLE will be called Wrestlepalooza, which was the name ECW first used and First Wrestling in Minneapolis has used.  The last we heard yesterday is that it was strongly expected to be on ESPN, but not 100 percent, but an announcement should be made very soon.  This would be WWE’s first live show on ESPN, months before the new deal kicks in in April.  They must have left some loophole in the contract with Peacock since Peacock was supposed to get all of them through March 2026.  This goes head-to-head with an AEW PPV show.

–Smackdown was the top rated show on television on Friday night with 1.43 million viewers and an 0.35 in 18-49.  Those numbers were down, particularly 18-49, from recent weeks.  They went head-to-head with an NFL preseason game with Tennessee vs. Atlanta on the NFL Network which did 1.22 million viewers and 0.29.  That was the No. 2 show on TV for the night.

–Sunday’s AEW PPV show which starts the main show at 1 p.m. Eastern and Zero Hour starts likely 11:30 a.m.(8:30 a.m. Eastern).  The show has about 17,000 tickets out, so it’ll be the company’s second largest attendance number and second largest gate number of the year.

–Regarding the Friday note, the MJF vs. Mistico match from Mexico City was not the top 18-49 segment of the year.  However, Adam Page and MJF very clearly are the highest drawing AEW wrestlers with women.  It was also noted to us that there were seats in 101 and 102 for Forbidden Door at 53 pounds right now, and others in the section paid four to six times that price for the same area.
(thanks  to Trish Speirs)

–El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Dominik Mysterio for the Mega title will headline the Worlds Collide AAA show on 9/12 in Las Vegas at the Cow Pavilion.  TKO is doing the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terrence Crawford fight at Allegiant Stadium that they expect will draw a ton of Mexican travelers so they decided to run AAA the night before.  I actually would expect a title change here.  It’ll be interesting because Dominik was the biggest babyface and Vikingo was the biggest heel on the Saturday show, even though their actual roles were the opposite.  But that crowd loved all the AAA stars and hated Vikingo because he’s seen as the anti-Alberto El Patron, and Alberto is AAA’s most popular wrestler.  Alberto vs. VIkingo matches made Vikingo seem so inferior to Alberto fthe way they were worked, and the crowds turned on Vikingo because of that.

–Tickets to that show go on sale Friday to the public and there will be a presale on Thursday.

–We’re looking for your thoughts on these shows from the weekend:
*G-1 on Saturday (semifinals) and Sunday  (finals) from the Ariake ARena
*AAA TripleMania on Saturday
*CMLL from Arena Mexico on Friday
We’re looking for a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each show to [email protected]

–NXT tomorrow is from the Philadelphia Met with Trick Williams vs. Je’Von Evans with the winner facing Oba Fami for the title on Saturday night at Heatwave, Ethan Page & Chelsea Green vs. Tavion Heights & Tyra May Steel, Jordynne Grace and Black Monroe have a face-off before Saturday’s show, Josh Briggs vs. Yoshiki Inamura in a street fight, Fatal Influence vs. The Elegance Brand with Masha Slamovich as referee and Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy.

–The new ESPN streaming service that will be the home of WWE PLE shows starting in April will launch on Thursday.

–For the weekend and Google searches, the UFC show on Saturday with Khamzat Chimaev winning the middleweight title from Dricus Du Plessis is at 1,030,000 and AAA TripleMania  was at 20,000.

–The infamous Shockmaster segment on the WCW Clash of Champions took place on this day in 1993.  Tom Lawlor once recreated it for a UFC weigh-in entrance.

–The Cauliflower Alley Club  is having its 2025 ceremony this week in Las Vegas.  Wish I could go.  Mick Foley as the Mike Mazurki award winner and Nattie Neidhart as the Lou Thesz Award winner are the two biggest awards.  

–The Hardys will be doing media in Minneapolis this week to  promote TNA TV tapings in that  city.

–Individual tickets for Crown Jewel   Perth go on sale Friday with a presale Thursday.  They have Smackdown on 10/10, Crown Jewel on 10/11 and Raw on 10/13.  The RAC Arena will  hold about 11,000 for a WWE set up so I expect the tickets to go fast.

–The Volador Jr. vs. Titan first round match in the MLW Opera Cut tournament was announced for the 9/13 show in North Richland Hills, TX.  

–Ronda Rousey will be at the New York Comic Con on 10/10 in North Room 406 at 5 p.m. to promote her new graphic novel on her life.

–Paul Walter Hauser defends the Progress Proteus title in a four-way with Simon Miller, Chrles Corwley and Bullit on 8/25 at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London.

–Isla Dawn, using that name, was announced for the AIW show on 9/20 at The Roxy in Lakewood, OH.  It’s part of the annual JT Lightning Invitational tournament that takes place with shows at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. that day.

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

• Raw star changes brands on WWE SmackDown
• WWE SmackDown live results: Drew McIntyre addresses attack on Cody Rhodes
• TNA Emergence live results: Trick Williams vs. Moose World title match
• Reason for AEW ‘All Elite Feast’ trademark revealed
• WWE star Logan Paul gets married

Latest Audio

• WOR: Paramount & UFC, TNA rumors
• WOL: FUN FRIDAY: WWE, TNA, AEW, CW, Lorenzo, more!
• Wrestling Weekly: TNA’s search for a new TV deal, is Karrion Kross a free agent?
• Fight Game: Copeland & Christian’s rushed reunion
• B&V: AEW Dynamite and NXT TV reviews!

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• August 18, 2025 Observer Newsletter: UFC signs TV rights deal with Paramount, new WWE vs. AEW head-to-head battles

*The most detailed look at the UFC deal with Paramount, and all the doors that had to be opened to put it together, UFC getting out of PPV, how TKO boxing fights, trying to make this work economically, the loss to ESPN and the loss of ESPN exposure for UFC, analysts, stock market reaction and how much Vince McMahon and Dwayne Johnson made on this deal.
*A look at the next  AEW, NXT and WWE major shows between now and the end of the month.  The lineups, the business, the stories and more.
*Full G-1 Climax reports, the booking, the best matches, the worst matches and more
*The most detailed look at the strange case involving  Karrion Kross
*Amateur wrestling Hall of Famer Greg Wojciechowski, who later was a  world champion with Dick the Bruiser’s Indiana promotion, the grandstand challenge to Hulk Hogan, the boycotted Olympics and more.
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling television shows this past week as well as UFC, competition, placings and more.
*A look at CMLL and the popularity of wrestling in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
*Arena Mexico coverage for this week.
*TripleMania notes
*Five Star Grand Prix notes
*Notes on two different Hulk Hogan documentaries
*What the documentaries didn’t cover
*Robbie Ellis, the art dealer turned independent wrestler
*Longest match in history
*More career highlights of Gerry Morrow
*The most detailed look at TNA, its agreement with WWE, why WWE may want outside ownership of the company and another attempt to break its attendance record
*New AEW signings
*Lots of injury updates
*Taz talks about Bret Hart’s view  of wrestling
*WWE library
*Latest WWE cut
*New movies WWE talent is in
*Leading YouTube numbers

This Week’s Back Issue

• December 12, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Is boxing in trouble with UFC’s rise?

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

–Garrett Gonzales and I just did our show today covering all the news from the past week, from the UFC deal, long-term of AEW,  the big weekend coming up with the shows in Mexico, UFC, G-1, TNA and its future, Lorenzo Fertitta, and more.  Our weekend show will be tomorrow night covering G-1, UFC, TripleMania  and more.

–Tonight’s Arena Mexico show headlined by MJF vs. Zandokan Jr. for the CMLL light heavyweight title sold out five hours before it started.  Tomorrow night’s TripleMania show a few miles away is also sold out, and tomorrow’s Arena Coliseo show had only a few tickets left as of yesterday so it probably sold out by this point.  Also on tonight’s show is Mistico & Hologram vs. Difunto & Mortos, Templario & Titan vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja and a Cibernteico with Ultimo Guerrero, Averno,Barbaro Cavernario, Dragon Rojo Jr., Esfinge, Valiente, Rey Bucnaero and Felino.

–This is the hottest period for Arena Mexico wrestling in its 69 year history.  It has now broken the records set in 1991.

–More than 40,000 fans will pay to see the three shows in Mexico City tonight and tomorrow.  Mistico & Hologram & Templario vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Mortos & Volador Jr. headline tomorrow at Arena Coliseo head to head with TripleMania.  

–TripleMania has El Hijo del Vikingo vs Dominik Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano vs. Dragon  Lee, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Mr. Iguana & Nino Hamburguesa & Lola Vice, Angel &  Berto defend the AAA tag titles against Pagano & Psycho Clown in a street fight and Lady Flammer defends the Reina de Reinas title against Natalya and Faby Apache.  TripleMania  airs on YouTube at 9 p.m. Eastern

–We are doing weekend polls for these shows
*Arena Mexico tonight
*G-1 tomorrow morning
*TripleMania tomorrow night
*G-1 on final on Sunday
We’re looking for a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to [email protected]

–Smackdown  tonight in Boston had Street Profits vs. DIY,  Piper Niven vs. Alexa Bliss, Miz & Carmelo Hayes vs. Nathan Frazer & Axiom along with Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.  They had 12,000+ out as of this morning and was expected to sell out.

–A correction from the current issue of the Observer in the story on Robbie Ellis.  The wrestler Ron Ellis who did TV in World Class, Mid South and the Carolinas in the 80s was not Robbie Ellis.  Ellis never actually worked for a major promotion.

–Perry Saturn underwent hip replacement surgery this past week.

–Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon took a vacation to Greece this week.  TMZ shot photos of them.

–We have most of the notes on Wednesday’s AEW ratings in the issue but because of G-1 we didn’t have all the details we usually do.  So a few notes:
The show did the second biggest women 18-34 and 18-49 numbers of the year, behind only Grand Slam Mexico.  The first quarter was the largest number of viewers for a quarter on Dynamite since  September 11, 2024.  Keep in mind that September numbers weren’t with the show also on MAX, so the actual number probably beat that by a few hundred thousand.  In 18-49, the first quarter, which  was the Adam Page and MJF segment, did the second biggest 18-49 number for Dynamite so far this year, trailing only the MJF vs. Mistico segment from Mexico City.
The high point for viewers, 18-49 and all women demos were the MJF & Page segment.  The high point for men was Darby Allin, Will Ospreay and Death Riders stuff along with the ring entrances for the Mercedes Mone women’s trios match.  The high point for 18-34 was the Adam Copeland, Stokely Hathaway, FTR, Christian Cage, Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian segment.

–Apollo Crews is back in the ring in Orlando training for a return to action.  He’s been out seven months since surgery to repair a torn pec.

–Leila Grey of AEW is performing on Tuesday night in New York at the  Bowery Electric.  She has also released a record album called “This Is Leila.”

–UFC 319 is tomorrow from the United Center in Chicago
ESPN + at 6 :30 p.m.
Alibi Idris (126) v.s  Joseph Morales (126)
Karine Silva (125) vs. Dione Barbosa (125)
Edson Barboza (155.5) vs. Drakker Klose (156)
ESPN and ESPN+ at 8 p.m.
Chase Hooper (155) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156)
Jessica Andrade (116) vs. Loopy Godeniz (115)
Gerald Meerschaert (185) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (186
Baysangur Susurkaev (186) vs. Eric Nolan (183)
PPV at 10 p.m
Tim Elliott (126) vs. Kai Asakura (126)
Jared Cannonier (186) vs. Michael  Venom Page (186)
Geoff Neal (171) vs. Carlos Prates (170)
Lerone Murphy (146) vs. Aaron Pico (145)
Dricus du Plessis (185) vs. Khamzat Chimaev (183) for the middleweight title

–CM Punk is  expected at the UFC show tomorrow night.

–The New Japan show with the G-1 semifinals starts at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time tonight/tomorrow morning from the Ariake Arena
Tatsuya Matsumoto & Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe vs. Zane Jay & Masatora Yasuda &  Shoma Kato
Ryusuke Taguchi &  El Desperado & Yoshi-Hashi & Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino vs. Master Wato & Yoh & Toru Yano & Satoshi Kojima & Taichi
Oleg Boltin & Tomoaki Honma vs. Don Fale & Yujiro Takahashi
Kawtsuya Murashima & El Phantasmo & Hioroshi Tanahashi vs. Jakob Austin Young & Callum Newman & Great O’Khan
Shingo Takagi & Daiki Nagai vs. David Finlay & Gedo
Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori vs. Yoshinubu Kanemaru & Sanada
Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita vs. Douki & Sho & Ren Narita
Evil vs. Yota Tsuji in G-1 semifinal
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. KonosukeTakeshita in G-1 semifinal’

–The G-1 finals will start at 1:30 a.m. tomorrow night Pacific time.  The match should go into the ring at about  4 a.m. Eastern or 1 a.m. Pacific time.

–TNA Emergence tonight from Baltimore, MD at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena
Eddie Edwards &  Brian Myers vs. AJ Francis & Rich Swann
Matt Cardona vs. Mustafa  Ali
Mike Santana vs. Sami Callihan
Ryan Nemeth vs. Home Town Man
The Elegance Brand vs. Jazmyn Nyx & Fallon Henley vs. The Iinspiration vs. Lei Ying Lee & Xia Brookside for the Knockouts tag team titles
Matt & Jeff Hardy vs. Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed for the TNA tag titles
Steve Maclin vs. Jake Something for the International title
Leon Slater vs. Cedric Alexander for the X title
Trick Williams vs. Moose for the TNA title

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

• Report: NXT star re-signs with WWE
• WWE Raw live results: CM Punk appears in Quebec City
• WWE Hall of Famer to be part of AAA Triplemania XXXIII commentary team
• WWE SmackDown ratings up for SummerSlam fallout episode
• Musician opens up about emotional moment with Becky Lynch from WWE SummerSlam

Latest Audio

• WOL: Gigantic UFC deal, Grant vs. Colker, Kross, TV notes
• WOR: Robbie Ellis, Karrion Kross, SmackDown and Collision
• B&V: AEW Collision and WWE Smackdown recaps!

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• August 11, 2025 Observer Newsletter: WWE PLEs heading to ESPN, Brock Lesnar’s controversial return at SummerSlam

We have one of the most news and business heavy issues of the year:
*All the details of the WWE’s deal with ESPN, what is in the deal, what isn’t, who can watch for free and why that probably won’t be for long, what ESPN Needs for it t make economic sense, as well as break-even for the ESPN UFC PPV deal and when the ESPN deal with WWE starts
*Brock Lesnar returns to WWE, how it happened, why it happened, why it was inevitable because of how TKO management views things, the double talk, comments from loads of people in WWE as well as Janel Grant’s side, exactly what was in the lawsuit that regards Lesnar and other example of TKO decisions which show a pattern
*Full coverage of SummerSlam, business details, the Rollins cash-in, Netflix numbers, attendance numbers and next PPV show
*Notes on UFC and WWE business numbers, what is up and what is down
*Hulk Hogan’s funeral, Brooke Hogan’s claims of info on Hogan’s Moves never talked about before, a ton of Hogan history, Hogan’s heyday in Japan and much more.
*Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
*Forbidden Door and the surprising record it has set and other major notes regarding the show and update n the card
*The most complete look at the ratings for all the wrestling and MMA television shows of the past week, competition, demos, why ratings were up or down, as well as Netflix numbers for Unreal and Raw.
*MJF returns to Arena Mexico and coverage of Friday’s hwo
*Salvador Lutteroth talks his fan base and AEW
*TripleMania updates
*Five Star Grand Prix updates
*Hogan documentaries
*RevPro anniversary shows
*Bloodsport notes
*A change at Discovery that is major and how that affects AEW streaming as well as notes on the current streaming deal
*How much did WBD loss or gain by losing the NBA
*Lots of injury updates
*Notes on Dustin & Cody Rhodes
*Backstage stuff in AEW ande what is and isn’t real
*Who at this point isn’t at Forbidden Door
*Ticket sales for upcoming TNA, AEW and WWE shows over the next few months
*More notes on Zuffa Boxing run by Nick Khan and  Dana White
*Peacock and WWE business
*How much is Dwayne Johnson’s WWE stock worth
*Karrion Kross and Scarlett contract update
*Raw ad rates on Netflix and comparisons to AEW on TBS

This Week’s Back Issue

• December 12, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Is boxing in trouble with UFC’s rise?

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

–Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering the new UFC deal, Raw and tons of other news with Wrestling Observer Radio.  We also have our weekend show up last night.

–After the UFC media rights deal with Paramount + was announced this morning for $7.7 billion over seven years, putting UFC with NASCAR in the No. 4 spot behind NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball in sports rights, the stock went up from $163.25 to $180 per share, meaning about a $1.36 billion gain in value today.  Investors weren’t as sure about the deal from a Paramount/Skydance position since they went down 3.9 percent to $10.12 per share.  If you’re one to keep track of these things, Vince McMahon is now $107.7 million richer than he was last night.

–Raw is tonight in Quebec City.  We’re looking for reports on the show with notes from a live perspective and dark or Main Event matches to [email protected].  They had 9,291 tickets out as of last check.  It’s a major Ice Hockey arena so can hold more than 13,000 for Raw.   The Naomi women’s title match with Iyo Sky is off due to it being said that Naomi isn’t cleared.  Sami vs. Rusev and Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri are announced plus CM Punk will appear.

–Smackdown did 1.56 million viewers and an 0.48 in 18-49.  I consider those good numbers since it went against  the Cleveland vs. Carolinas NFL preseason game on the NFL network that did 2.24 million viewers and an 0.61.  Smackdown was second place on cable and on all of television on Friday.

–Today would have been the 72nd birthday of Terry Bollea/Hulk Hogan.  FOX will be airing a special tomorrow night in prime time.  I was interviewed for the show.  I’m not advertised on itr so don’t know if I’ll be there.  The names listed as being interviewed were Vince McMahon, Sylvester Stallone, Mick Foley,  Bill Goldberg, Jimmy Hart, Alexa Bliss, Jacob Fatu and  Charlotte Flair.

–Peacemaker season two on HBO MAX debuts on 8/21, with John Cena in the lead role.

–Corey Graves and John Layfield (JBL) will be announcing for TripleMania on Saturday from Arena Ciudad in Mexico City.  That show is sold out and will be the first AAA show since WWE is the actual owner of the company.  The Pagrano & Psycho Clown challenge to Angel & Berto for the AAA tag titles on that show is now  a street fight.

–MLW announced a joint venture with  Danny McBride’s Dn Gato Tequila for a live Lucha Libre show on 11/20 in Charleston, SC at the Charleston Music Hall.  Announced for the show are Matt Riddle, Paul Walter Hauser, Shotzi Blackheart, Mistico, Donovan Dijak, Bhsihp Dyler, Blue Panther, Brock Anderson and more.  

–For those keeping track of best matches, I was told today’s Dragon Gate  show in Kobe had a great three-way tag team match to check out. (thanks to Case Lowe)

–DEFY announced that its founder Jim Perry, will reunite with Matt Farmer in running the company with the idea of expansion of the business.

–A documentary on Sabu will debut on 9/15 on Kinema, directed by Joe Clarke (Headstrong) and produced by Rob Van Dam.  The documentary takes you from the beginning of his career and the influence of the Sheik, through ECW and up to the last match of his career against Joey Janela this past April.

–Matt & Jeff Hardy will throw out the first pitch at the 8/19 Minnesota Twins vs. A’s game in Minneapolis at Target Field.  They will be there to promote 9/4 and 9/5 TNA shows at the Minneapolis Armory.

–Ilja Dragunov is being reported as medically cleared by WWE.

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

• Tony Khan provides injury update on Jay White
• WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena addresses Brock Lesnar’s attack
• Tony Khan names best decision and biggest regret since starting AEW
• Tony Khan reveals idea behind AEW ‘Fairway to Hell’ trademark
• Roman Reigns names his favorite all-time WWE opponent

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Weekly: Lesnar returns to WWE, more AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door matches set
• WOL: Gresham, big Dynamite number, secrets of pro rasslin’
• Fight Game: WWE’s huge ESPN deal
• B&V: AEW Dynamite and NXT TV!

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• August 11, 2025 Observer Newsletter: WWE PLEs heading to ESPN, Brock Lesnar’s controversial return at SummerSlam

We have one of the most news and business heavy issues of the year
*All the details of the WWE’s deal with ESPN, what is in the deal, what isn’t, who can watch for free and why that probably won’t be for long, what ESPN Needs for it t make economic sense, as well as break-even for the ESPN UFC PPV deal and when the ESPN deal with WWE starts
*Brock Lesnar returns to WWE, how it happened, why it happened, why it was inevitable because of how TKO management views things, the double talk, comments from loads of people in WWE as well as Janel Grant’s side, exactly what was in the lawsuit that regards Lesnar and other example of TKO decisions which show a pattern
*Full coverage of SummerSlam, business details, the Rollins cash-in, Netflix numbers, attendance numbers and next PPV show
*Notes on UFC and WWE business numbers, what is up and what is down
*Hulk Hogan’s funeral, Brooke Hogan’s claims of info on Hogan’s Moves never talked about before, a ton of Hogan history, Hogan’s heyday in Japan and much more.
*Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
*Forbidden Door and the surprising record it has set and other major notes regarding the show and update n the card
*The most complete look at the ratings for all the wrestling and MMA television shows of the past week, competition, demos, why ratings were up or down, as well as Netflix numbers for Unreal and Raw.
*MJF returns to Arena Mexico and coverage of Friday’s hwo
*Salvador Lutteroth talks his fan base and AEW
*TripleMania updates
*Five Star Grand Prix updates
*Hogan documentaries
*RevPro anniversary shows
*Bloodsport notes
*A change at Discovery that is major and how that affects AEW streaming as well as notes on the current streaming deal
*How much did WBD loss or gain by losing the NBA
*Lots of injury updates
*Notes on Dustin & Cody Rhodes
*Backstage stuff in AEW ande what is and isn’t real
*Who at this point isn’t at Forbidden Door
*Ticket sales for upcoming TNA, AEW and WWE shows over the next few months
*More notes on Zuffa Boxing run by Nick Khan and  Dana White
*Peacock and WWE business
*How much is Dwayne Johnson’s WWE stock worth
*Karrion Kross and Scarlett contract update
*Raw ad rates on Netflix and comparisons to AEW on TBS

This Week’s Back Issue

• December 10, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Kenta Kobashi returns to wrestling, TNA Turning Point recap

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Friday Update

–Garrett Gonzales and I have a new show that will be up later today covering all the news of the week and this was one busy week, between the news on the WWE ESPN deal, Brock Lesnar’s return, G-1, SummerSlam, Hulk Hogan and more.  Lots of stuff on this show and in this week’s issue.

–Multiple sources today have told us, and John Ourand also reported this, that Peacock had the right to match ESPN’s $325 million offer to keep the WWE PLE shows.  They made the decision not to match the offer.

–Tony Khan said that Jay White was going to be out for a long time in an interview with the My Mom’s Basement podcast.

–Jon Jones has entered the UFC drug testing pool.  That means he had pulled himself out previously without it being reported.  He will be eligible to fight again in six months.  Jones has said he wants to fight on the July 4, 2026 show at the White House.

–Smackdown is in Montreal tonight with John Cena talking Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes there and the MFTs vs.  Motor City Machine Guns, Solo Sikoa vs. Sami Zayn, Charlotte Flair vs. Chelsea Green and Cena & Rhodes vs. Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre.  Nearly 13,000 tickets were out as of this morning so it should be sold out.

–We’re looking for reports from Montreal on any dark matches or off air stuff to [email protected]

–John Cena and Kevin Hart have signed on to produce a Netflix action comedy “The Leading Man” based off a graphic novel of the same name.  The story is that Cena plays a self-absorbed movie star finds out that his co-star, played by Hart, is a secret agent, he has to cope with the idea that action stars aren’t really  real when they are forced into saving the world.

–Arena Mexico tonight has Mistico & Atlantis Jr. & Mascara Dorada vs. Angel de Oro & Difunto & Hechicero on top plus Ultimo Guerrero vs. Blue Panther for the MLW Openweight title, Templario vs. Barboza and Esfinge & Rey Bucanero vs. Felino & Valiente.

–Flip Gordon underwent surgery on 8/2 for a ruptured right patella tendon.  That’s usually about eight months out.

–UFC from 4-10 p.m. tomorrow on ESPN:
Cody Brundage (202.5) vs. Eric McConico (204.5)
Gabriella Fernandes (125.5) vs.Julija Stoliarenko (26)
Uros Medic (171) vs.  Gilbert Urbina (171)
Joselyne Edwards (136) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (134)
Elijah Smith (136) vs. Toshiomi Kazama (136)
Juius Walker (206) vs. Raffael Cerqueira (203)
Eryk Anders (186) vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (185)
Miles Johns (136) vs. Jean Matsumoto (136)
Andre Fili (146) vs. Christian Rodriguez (146)
Iasmin Lucnido (115) vs. Angela Hill (116)
Steve Erceg (135.5) vs. Ode Osbourne (135.5)
Roman Dolidze (185.5) vs. Anthony Hernandez (186)

–A note from this week’s issue, in talking in the SummerSlam article about the record WWE attendance number, we noted the Wembley paid number was the record through 2005, it was actually through 2006 and the AT&T Stadium Mania show.

–G-1 returns Sunday in Gunma with the last night of the A block  round-robin:
Yuya Umerua (4-4) vs. David Finlay (4-4)
Taichi (3-5) vs. Oleg Boltin (4-4)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (4-4) vs. Evil (5-3)
Yota Tsuji (4-4) vs.  Callum Newman (4-4)
Ryohei Oiwa (5-3) vs.  Sanadsa (3-5)
The top three finishers in the block go into the playoffs that start Thursday at Korakuen Hall.

–Lucha  Va Voom on 8/22 at the Mayan Theater.  This will be the company’s last show at its home base after running the building for 23 years due to the theater closing its doors in September.  TJP, Xtreme Tiger, Viva Van, Magno and Dirty Sanchez are on the show.

–El Hijo del Santo has announced a German retirement show on 11/2 in Berlin.  He  already has two shows booked in England that week.

–Esfinge will be part of Fantastica Mania UK on 10/18 in Wolverhampton at The Hangar.

–NWA Sanheim on 10/17 in Atlanta .

–Marlon “Chito” Vera faces Alemann Zahabi on the 10/18 UFC show in Vancouver.  Alemann is the younger brother of Firas Zahabi, who was a well-known trainer of Georges St-Pierre and Rory MacDonald years ago.

–Disney and former MMA star turned actress Gina Carano have settled their lawsuit.  Carano, who was backed by lon Musk, had sued Disney claiming she was pulled from  The Mandalorian due to Twitter posts she had made that compared living in the U.S. and having conservative viewpoints as comparable to what Jews went through in Nazi  Germany.  Lucasfilm called the post abhorrent and unacceptable and pulled her from the show.

–Gillberg will be on tomorrow’s Memphis Wrestling TV show.

–AIW on 8/16 in North Canton, OH at the Main Street Festival.

–MLW airs a taped show on YouTube at 10 p.m. tomorrow night as well as on beIN Sports.  The show has Matt Riddle vs. Donovan Dijak for the MLW title plus Opear Cup matches with Mistico vs. Ikuro Kwon, Satoshi Kojima vs. Bobby Fish, Bishop Dyer vs. Anthony Greene and Neon vs. Paul London, plus Shotzi  Blackheart will be there and a six-way with Mads Krule Krugger, Matthew Justice, CW Anderson, Mr. Thomas, Okumura and Ariel Dominguez

–The Philadelphia Flyers have hired UFC fighter Andre Petrski and BKFC fighter Johnny Garbarino to train its players with hockey fight skills as well as confidence building from having that skill. (Thanks to Bill  King)

Daily Update

Latest Headlines

• Bret Hart says Hulk Hogan was a ‘roadblock’ in his career
• WWE Raw live results: The aftermath from SummerSlam
• TNA extends contracts of commentary team
• Braun Strowman says WWE doesn’t ‘care about the fans’
• New announcements made for WWE Raw

Latest Audio

• WOL: Lesnar return fallout, Seth’s knee, CM Punk
• DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Why study the pioneer era?
• WOR: Brock Lesnar returns, WWE SummerSlam night two review, G1 updates
• B&V: SummerSlam Night 2, Cena vs. Cody, Brock returns

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• August 4, 2025 Observer Newsletter: The social fallout from Hulk Hogan’s death, WWE SummerSlam preview & Unreal review

*More on the death of Hulk Hogan
*The ugliness of the aftermath of the death
*An article talking about the aftermath of the death
*Those close to him talk about his death
*Those not remotely close to him get harassed about his death
*Documentaries coming on Hogan
*A look at the biggest names in history when it comes to drawing and how Hogan compares with them domestically and internationally
*Hogan’s WWF peak
*WWF business under Hogan and Austin
*Hogan’s live show magic
*The Andre match on NBC
*Gorgeous George, The Rock, Sammartino, Londos, Rikidozan and Santo
*Wrestling in the U.S. pre-Hogan and the myths that have been created
*Hogan vs. Londos
*Hogan’s family talks
*SummerSlam story and interest levels
*WWE, AAA and CMLL in Mexico this past week
*Lots on WWE’s plans for AAA
*TripleMania thoughts
*Alberto, Dominik, Vikingo and Grende Americano in Mexico
*A classic match at Arena Mexico with Neon vs. Mascara Dorada
*Update on the G-1 Climax tournament
*The life and times of Gerry Morrow, a Canadian wrestling journeyman who is one of the most underrated inflential wrestler of the st 40 years with comments by those he inflenced
*Conor McGregor’s appeal of the sexual assault civil cse
*The most detailed look at the ratings for  all the TV wrestling shows
*MJF to Arena Mexico
*Five Star Grand Prix opens up
*The Hogan vs. Andre match that never happened
*Santo and Fuerza Guerrera retirement show notes
*The first major ethnic draw in the U.S.
*TNA looking for new TV deal
*Will Ospreay update
*Forbidden Door update
*Details of the WBD split
*Tony Khan has already made belts for a new title
*Tag team tournament AEW update
*TKO Boxing notes
*Update on ringboys lawsuit against the McMahons and WWE
*Vince McMahon auto accident details
*Levesque and Trump
*Thoughts on WWE Unreal
*An original Mania show
*Cody Rhodes on Bill Simmons
*Lots of notes on the WWE tryouts this week

This Week’s Back Issue

• December 10, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Kenta Kobashi returns to wrestling, TNA Turning Point recap

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Monday Update

–Bryan and I will be back tonight covering more on Brock Lesnar and all the news of the day along with Raw.  We have shows on both nights on SummerSlam up on the site, and talked extensively about the Lesnar decision on the Sunday night show.

–The Ring reported today that Eddie Hearn confirmed that Jake Paul is serious about fighting Anthoiny Joshua next.  He said negotiations are set to continue over the coming weeks.

–SummerSlam day one ranked first on the day it aired live in Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the U.K., Canada and Mexico among all television shows on Netflix.  It ranked No. 3 in India.  An interesting note is that in most of those countries the Saturday show was listed as “SummerSlam Sunday,” so I have a feeling they may combine the two shows as one for a rating when it comes out tomorrow.  Because that was a weird red flag.

–Raw tonight is at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.  After three straight nights in the market, the advance was 8,300 this morning.  Seth Rollins will explain his ruse that he said nobody knew about but everyone tells me everyone knew about, Sheamus vs. Rusev was announced plus Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are on the show.  Neither John Cena nor Brock Lesnar are advertised.  Cena is scheduled for Friday night .

–Smackdown on Friday was the No. 1 show on television with 1.54 million viewers and an 0.46 in 18-49.  It was down from the week before, but that was the day after the Hulk Hogan death so it should have been down.  Plus, 18-49 wasn’t down much at all.  Not much competition, the top show on network was a rerun of Happy’s Place on NBC at 0.23 and head-to-head the top show on cable was the Savannah Bananas on ESPN at 486,000 viewers and 0.11.  PFL did 283,000 and 0.07 in 18-49 with two tournament finals.

–We’re looking for your thoughts on both nights of SummerSlam, so you can leave a thumbs  up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle from  each show along with a best and worst match from each show to [email protected]

–We’re also looking for reports from the Barclays Center and Raw with any Main Event matches or anything else notable off TV to [email protected]

–Naked Gun, in which Cody Rhodes has a role, opened No. 3 at the box office this weekend behind Fantastic Four:  First Steps and Bad Guys 2.  The movie is estimated at $17 million in the opening weekend.

–One Hulk Hogan documentary that I was part of as well as Bill Goldberg and The Hardys is up on Fox Nation.  I  haven’t seen it.  FOX as a network airs a different documentary on 8/12 at 8 p.m. that will debut on Hulu the next day.  I was interviewed for that one as well along with Sylvester Stallone, Vince McMahon, Mick Foley, Bill Goldberg, Jimmy Hart, Alexa Bliss, Mark Henry, Jacob Fatu and Charlotte Flair.  

–G-1 continues in Osaka at 5:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning with B block matches with Yoshi-Hashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Great O’Khan vs. Ren Nartia, El Phantasmo vs. Drilla Moloney and Zack Sabre Jr. vs.  Shingo Takagi.

–I haven’t talked much about the tournament with so much going on, but the wrestling in this tournament has been great.  The booking has been largely keeping the standings close and almost everyone alive.

–Prime Video announced that Head of State, the movie starring John Cena and Idris Elba, has, according to Amazon Prime, done more than 75 million viewers in the last month worldwide.  It would be the third most successful movie on Prime behind Red One starring Dwayn e Johnson and The Accountant 2 starring Ben Affleck.

–The Pickup, which features Roman Reigns in a key role, will be released on Wednesday on Amazon Prime video.

–The book “Life is Fighting,” an autobiography of Kevin Kesar/Karrion Kross, comes out tomorrow.

–TKO has its investors call at 5 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday.

–Bishop  Dyer has been added to the 9/13 MLW show in North Richland Hills, TX.

–A trial date has been set for Iabreehm Uazeed, the man charged with the kidnapping and murder of Aniah Blanchad, the 19-year-old stepdaughter of former UFC star Wlat Harris.  He was arrested six years ago for the crime but there have been delays after delays until the judge set a date for March 2, 2026.  He faces three counts of first degree murder and could get the death penalty if found guilty.  

–Flip Gordon suffered a legit knee injury in the first fall of his match on Friday at Arena Mexico but he was posing for photos with MJF after the show so the impression is that it wasn’t too bad.

–The New York Times ran a front page story on Flip Gordon, the idea of an American military veteran as a babyface at Arena Mexico. Gordon said that he had signed a mutli-year contract wth  CMLL and has a second child on the way.  (thanks to Bill King)

–Mistico, Neon, Mascara Dorada, Hechicero and Stigma are scheduled for AEW on Wednesday in Cleveland.  Most likely they will be part of the ROH tapings.  

–Rafael Gonzalez Lopez, legendary referee Rafa el Maya in Mexico, passed away yesterday.  He  was 72.  He was around forever in CMLL.  He was considered the prototype referee who didn’t take crap from the rudos.

–Jeff Kavanagh aka Jeff Scott, a ring announcer for TNA 2017-2020 and also ring announcer for Border City WRestling and Maple Leaf Pro, was diagnosed with stage four liver and colon  cancer.  Best wishes to him in this heavy challenge.  A Go Fund me has been established for him.