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Daily Update: WON Hall of Fame, Mickie James, DirecTV-Fox

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • The history and creation of War Games
  • How the rules have changed and what did and didn’t work this year
  • The copies of War Games
  • Why WWE didn’t do War Games on the main roster, and why they started it on NXT
  • Business notes on how the show did, live, streaming, PPV
  • Crossover audience between War Games and Full Gear and Crown Jewel
  • Full show coverage with poll results
  • The story behind William Regal’s AEW departure
  • Why many questioned the MJF booking
  • Best of Seven notes
  • PPV number updates, as well as updates on the last four AEW PPV shows
  • Who bought Full Gear, Forbidden Door or All Out and patterns
  • Revenue, movie gate numbers and more
  • Notes behind the title changes
  • Match by match coverage and poll results on the show
  • Updates on the Royal rumble, ticket sales and more notes
  • New Japan and Stardom Historic X Over
  • The story behind Kairi winning the IWGP title and not Mayu Iwatani
  • The story behind Omega vs. Ospreay
  • Match by match coverage and poll results
  • C.M. Punk mocks the brawl, Young Bucks & Kenny Omega mock C.M. Punk, and more
  • TV ratings over the past two weeks, including where AEW faltered this week and did great the week earlier and it’s the same group, the huge drop during the show of Raw, what about Smackdown was the best of the year for the show, and where wrestling ranked in the sports charts and the entertainment charts the past two weeks
  • Wrestling legend gets honored by an international embassy
  • Cain Velasquez wrestling and the story behind it
  • Stardom PPV show coverage
  • Updates on all the traditional Japanese tournaments
  • Update on Kota Ibushi
  • Fantastica Mania news
  • Generational legends battle this past week
  • Ricky Steamboat comes out of retirement
  • Plan for a statue of iconic wrestler to be built in his home town
  • Battle of Los Angeles news
  • Mayor Glenn Jacobs in the middle of controversy
  • Injury changes the winner of a tournament
  • Major WWE legend coming out of retirement in December
  • One of the most well traveled wrestlers of all-time passes away
  • Former ECW and WWE star retiring
  • Thoughts on wrestlers whose contracts are coming due
  • New angle off television for recently signed AEW wrestler
  • International TV ratings
  • AEW & WWE streaming numbers
  • Lots of new UFC main events
  • Conor McGregor gets sued twice
  • UFC gaming controversy
  • MMA returns to CBS prime time
  • PFL season finale
  • Paul Levesque talks WWE future
  • Big stock rise for WWE and why
  • Nick Khan and Stephanie McMahon talk WWE business, international, buying companies and more
  • WWE injury updates
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW events
  • Next MSG show

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Sunday News Update

We have a show up from yesterday with Garrett Gonzales talking about all the business news from the last week in wrestling, William Regal, AEW booking, WWE pie in the sky winter and more. Bryan and I will be up tonight with more weekend news. We will likely have time for questions on the show as well, so if you are a video subscriber you can send questions during the show.

The Hall of Fame issue of the Wrestling Observer will be out on Thursday night. There are eight new entrants into the Observer Hall of Fame this year.

We have a new book out for the Christmas season, the Wrestling Observer 1995 yearbook, available here and here. The book covers the entire year of 1995 similar to other other yearbooks that have been put out in recent years.

Want to send our sympathies to Mickie James whose family had a tragedy a few days ago with her brother and her 16-year-old niece being killed in an auto accident. Her sister-in-law was also injured in the accident. Her sister-in-law is in serious condition. A friend of her niece who was 15 also passed away in the accident.

DirecTV and FOX came to a carriage agreement right at the wire for several more years so the idea FOX stations will be off DirecTV as had been talked about during the week isn’t happening. It really couldn’t happen as neither side could have afforded it with the big football games this weekend.

Dustin Rhodes was at a Great Lakes Championship Wrestling show last night and announced he will close out his career in 2023. Rhodes still works for AEW as a coach and trainer.

The Cincinnati Bengals tweeted this out today as Jon Moxley and Renee Paquette were part of their pre-show activities:

Results from last night’s AAA show in Tempe, AZ: Mascarita Sagrada & Willie Mack & La Perruska b Latigo & Demus & King Drago, Lady Maravilla & Chik Tormenta b Sexy Star & Lady Shani, Sanson & Forastero & Cuatrero b Dave the Clown & Arez & Komander, Cain Velasquez & Blue Demon Jr. & Pagano b Taurus & Sam Adonis & Gringo Loco, El Hijo del Vikingo & Pentagon Jr b Daga & Flip Gordon (thanks to Andy Nemmity and Thomas DeCenso)

They did live commentary over the speakers. The show got great reviews. That’s how AAA does it these days. Velasquez was over like crazy. Not one person booed him and he was treated like he was a conquering hero. I was told this was something to see live. The match was also said to be great. I was told he was better in the ring than before even with spending so much time out of the ring and in jail. He was flying around, although at times he was stiff moving. Sam Adonis did a great job with him, and Taurus is the most unheralded super worker around as far as the ability to make people look good The main event was said to have been the best match.

JBL will be doing a high stakes poker game skit on Raw tomorrow night from Washington, DC.

We’re looking for reports from the WWE weekend shows in Rochester, NY last night and Petersburg, VA tonight to [email protected]

At last night’s show, after Seth Rollins lost the main event to Austin Theory in a U.S. title match due to a low blow, Rollins curb stomped him after. He then talked about how Rochester is a special place to him because Mr. Brodie Lee/Luke Harper is from here and he was one of his best friends and said that was the first time since his death he’s wrestled in the city and said he wanted to tell everyone that he missed and loved Lee.

The only stuff regarding wrestling, MMA or boxing to make the Google Searches for the week was both yesterday. The UFC show, likely because it was back on ESPN, had 500,000 searches even though it wasn’t a PPV show. It was sixth place yesterday. That was well ahead of both Survivor Series and Full Gear. Tyson Fury’s challenge was No. 9 at 200,000.

The city of Stockton gave Nate Diaz the keys to the city yesterday. Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln presented them to him at a Stockton Kings (Sacramento Kings G-League team) game and Lincoln praised Diaz for his grit and determination every time he fought.

The New Japan tag team tournament continues with a 4:30 a.m. Eastern show Monday morning from Sasebo with the junior heavyweight tournament. The bouts are Kushida & Kevin Knight vs. champs TJP & Francesco Akira, Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors vs. Yoh & Lio Rush, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Douki vs Sho & Dick Togo, Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles vs Titan & Bushi and Alex Zayne & Lindaman vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey.

Drew McIntyre was announced as replacing Braun Strowman in the main event of the 12/26 show in Madison Square Garden. It’s McIntyre & Sheamus & Butch & Ridge Holland vs. Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa & The Usos, plus they announced Bray Wyatt would be on the show. (Thanks to Mike Omansky)

The retirement match of Mike “Nova” Bucci took place last night in Toms River, NJ Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards b JP & Tommy Grayson Tommy Dreamer b Warhorse, Miranda Alize b Christina Marie, Jerry Lawler (managed by former major league baseball star Todd Frazier) b Rik Ratchett, Dave McCall & Nate Carter b The SATs, Anthony Greene won over Alec Price, Ant Bennett, Dan Maff, LSG and Myles Hawkins to be Skywalker champion, Nick Aldis b Shawn Donovan to win the SAW title, Mike Bucci & Aron Stevens & Frankie Kazarian b Pat Buck & Matt Cardona & Brian Myers. Bucci gave a speech after the show, talking about being from Toms River, and talked about Frankie Edgar and Frazier working his retirement show.

NXT from last night in Gainesville, FL: Mandy Rose b Ivy Nile-DQ to retain the women’s title, Ivy Nile & Roxanne Perez & Tatum Paxley b Mandy Rose & Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Sol Ruca b Cora Jade & Kiana James, Scrypts b Ikemen Jiro, Carmelo Hayes b Andre Chase, Axiom & Oro Mensah b Charlie Dempsey & Taivon Heights, Alba Fyre b Isla Dawn-DQ, Wes Lee & Bron Breaker b Tony D’Angelo (back wrestling) & Channing Stacks Lorenzo (thanks to Matthew Ray)

Other Notes

TripleMania from Mexico City aired Friday night on television in Los Angeles. (thanks to Mike Lano)

Konosuke Takeshita was announced for the 1/21 Warrior Wrestling show in South Bend, IN.

Results from today’s Stardom PPV show at the Makuari Messe: AZM & Miyu Amasaki b Saki & Waka Tsukiyama, Mirai & Amy Sohrei b Hanan & Saya Iida, Hazuki & Koguma b Maika & Himeka, Nanae Takahashi & Yuu b Natsuko Tora & Ruaka, Syuri & Tomoka Inaba b Mai Sakurai & Lacy C, Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo b Saki Kashima & Fukigen Death, Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid b Giulia & Thekla, Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani b Tam Nakano & Natsupoi, Nanae Takahashi & Yuu b Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani to win the long tag team tournament, Kairi faces Hayashishita on the 12/29 show at Sumo Hall. It is a non-title match as the title mach for the IWGP belt will be on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome against Tam Nakano. (thanks to Shannon Walsh, David Popper, David Hayter, and Tim Hunter)

Kirk White’s family presented Big Time Wrestling Friday night in Newark, CA: Truex b D-Rouge, Viva Van b Mylo, Dave Dutra b EOC, Eddie Cuervo b Ishmael Vaughn, The Freaks b Ballard Twins, Shane Kody & Patrick Fitzpatrick b The Honor Society, Aaron Solo b Bobby Fish. the next show is 1/20 featuring a Battle Royal for the famed Roy Shire Battle Royal trophy (thanks to Jim Davis)

The new Black Belt magazine has a tribute to Gene LeBell.

IWS from last night in Montreal before 650 fans: Dani Leo b Katrina Creed, Sway Archer b Leon aver, Sexxxy Beasts b Casanova Productions and Bay City Choir Boys in a three-way, Alex Maze & Sonny Solay b Nathan Yarymovitch & Steven Manzano, Lince Dorado & Fresh Air b TDT & Buxx Belmar, Green Phantom b LuFisto to keep the IWS Canadian title, Melanie Havok b Kristara to keep the women’s title, Benjamin Tull over FTM, Myung Jae Lee and Karl Jepson in a four-way, Jay White b Zak Patterson. They will be working with GCW on shows 3/11 in Montreal and 3/19 in Toronto (thanks to Pat Laprade)

Asuka, also known as Venny (not the WWE wrestler obviously or Lioness Asuka the 80s and 90s star) captured the Sendai Girls world title yesterday from Chihiro Hashimoto. As Venny, she was in an AEW women’s tournament for a title shot in the past.

Daily Update: WWE house show notes, Fastlane, AEW

Posted on by F4W Staff

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News

Latest Audio

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: WWE’s WrestleMania main event decision

While the first women’s WrestleMania main event is all but official at this point, WWE still has a huge decision to make about who will be in it.

In a sense, WWE is playing with house money. Both options that they have are good ones. Whether the main event is Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship or a triple threat between Rousey, Lynch, and Charlotte Flair for the title, it will be the most heated match on the card and fully deserving of its place in the spotlight on WWE’s most important day of the year. 

WON NEWSLETTER: February 11, 2019: NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo review, more

I have no idea how this issue got done. I had surgery on my left little finger which was broken in three places on 1/30, and it seemingly went well.

NJPW – New Beginnings: The two nights together did 10,957 paid with one sellout up from 10,002 last year. Tanahashi & Okada as The Dream Team vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale did the same as Tanahashi vs. Suzuki did last year for the IC title but paid was much higher this year for Naito vs. Taichi in Taichi’s hometown than for Kenny Omega vs. Jay White for the U.S, title last year, although both were sellouts.

At Smackdown on Tuesday, several talents with contracts coming due were asked to sign new long-term deals after Dean Ambrose told the promotion he wasn’t going to sign a new contract. 

Ian Riccaboni signed a new contract with ROH to continue as their play-by-play announcer.

UFC held a press conference today. The big heat seemed to be between Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman, building up their Welterweight Title fight at UFC 235 on March 2nd. Jon Jones is facing Anthony Smith on that show.

Conor McGregor will not be fighting Donald Cerrone in April. Khabib still claims he is not fighting for a year.

Jose Aldo defeated Renato Moicano, 44 seconds into the 2nd round. First round was very close. But it was the “old Aldo”, just destroyed him. Aldo is still talking about retiring at the end of this year. 

Filthy Tom Lawlor is the new MLW champion defeating Low Ki at their super fight one hour Bein Sports TV special from the 2300 (ECW) Arena in Philadelphia.

ORDERING INFO:  Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered  via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by  mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell,CA  95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE

by Joseph Currier and Bryan Rose

WWE

  • From Dave Meltzer on this weekend’s WWE house shows: “For the weekend, no Rollins advertised anywhere including Raw. Rollins has been pulled from all advertising due to a back injury. Daniel Bryan & Rey Mysterio are scheduled for TV on Tuesday in Toledo but not for any house shows. AJ Styles, Randy Orton & Becky Lynch (even with the suspension angle) are still advertised for all SmackDown brand shows this week except Monday in Canton, which she was pulled from. That could mean she’s coming to Raw since it makes no sense for her to be on the road all week except Monday and then be scheduled Tuesday. Rousey is advertised for a Sunday house show in Saginaw and Raw Monday in Grand Rapids.”
  • WWE stock was up 2.78 percent today, closing the week at $85.82 per share.
  • The Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio is advertising Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair, and Bobby Lashley vs. Finn Balor for the Intercontinental title for Fastlane, which is taking place at the venue on March 10. Whether or not those matches will happen remains to be seen. Ronda Rousey is also being advertised for the PPV.
  • Today would have been Jim Neidhart’s 64th birthday. Sherri Martel was also born on this date in 1958 and Freddie Blassie was born on this date in 1918.
  • Natalya wished her father a happy birthday: “Happy birthday to my dad. What an amazing life he lived!!! So grateful we got so many wonderful years together”
  • Big Show turned 47 years old today.
  • Sports Illustrated has video of Roman Reigns’ appearance in Nickelodeon’s “Cousins for Life.” The episode will air at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, March 2.
  • Congrats to Big Boa from NXT, whose wife recently gave birth.
  • Ricochet tweeted that this year’s Halftime Heat is the most-watched match in NXT history.
  • Dean Ambrose talked about wrestling figures with Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins on the latest episode of the Major Wrestling Figure podcast. Seth Rollins was also the guest on today’s episode of the Edge & Christian podcast.
  • Stuber, a movie starring Kumail Nanjiani and Batista, will be played at the SXSW festival.
  • The WWE Performance Center’s YouTube account has a behind-the-scenes video from Eric Bugenhagen’s NXT TV debut.

Pro Wrestling

  • LAX and The Lucha Bros’ Tag Team title rematch will air on tonight’s episode of Impact. The match took place at Impact’s television tapings in Mexico City last month and was well-received. Tonight’s Impact airs on Twitch and the Pursuit Channel at 10 p.m. Eastern time and also features Kiera Hogan vs. Dark Allie, Sami Callihan vs. Puma King, Rich Swann & Willie Mack vs. Jake & Dave Crist, and Trey Miguel vs. Rohit Raju. Impact is advertising that they’ll be revealing the main event for their WrestleMania week United We Stand show.
  • AEW’s Nyla Rose is the first transgender wrestler to sign with a major promotion in the United States.
  • Cody Rhodes & Nick Jackson and Brandi Rhodes did media scrums after last night’s AEW Double or Nothing ticket announcement party.
  • Matt Jackson tweeted about Kenny Omega signing with AEW: “We were never not gonna do this without our best friend & co-founder of The Elite, @KennyOmegamanX. Welcome to the team, pal.”
  • Booker T wrote about Kylie Rae joining AEW: “One of my best students, proud of you @IamKylieRae! Make @TheOfficialROW proud! @AEWrestling you got a good one.”
  • NJPW will be holding a fan event called New Japan Matsuri at Japan Village in Brooklyn on Thursday, April 4 during WrestleMania week. It’s free to attend and will run from noon-6 p.m. Eastern.
  • The Briscoes defending their Tag Team titles against Villain Enterprises (PCO & Brody King) has been officially announced for ROH’s 17th Anniversary PPV at Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas on Friday, March 15. PCO & King got the title shot by winning last month’s Tag Wars tournament.
  • The latest Ten Pounds of Gold has Billy Corgan doing media ahead of the Crockett Cup, as well as an interview with Jim Cornette.
  • Kenny Omega talked to Razer about his love for video games and pro wrestling and how they tie together for thim.
  • Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler appeared on today’s Talk is Jericho, which was recorded during last year’s Jericho cruise.

UFC/MMA

  • Dana White says that Tony Ferguson deserves the title match against Khabib Nurmagomedov next. He also said that he wants Conor McGregor back in the summer, and Donald Cerrone is the frontrunner for that fight.
  • White announced that the UFC has a one-show deal with DirecTV to air UFC 234 this weekend.
  • Alexander Volkov will fight Alistair Overeem on a UFC Fight Night card on 4/20 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • Bellator announced a one-year deal with Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
  • The UFC uploaded episodes four and five of Embedded for tomorrow’s PPV.
  • Anderson Silva said he would like a fight at UFC 237 after facing Israel Adesanya this weekend.
  • Colby Covington is still upset about not getting the welterweight title shot, telling TSN: “I’m the biggest draw this in this division right now. I’m not fighting for anything less than I deserve and I don’t care what they say. I’ll stand up for what’s right and if that means never fighting again then that means never fighting again.”

Ed in San Antonio presents the WRESTLEMANIAWeekend Events (more to be added):

  • Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
  • Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!

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