Tag: dynamite

Daily Update: WWE-Netflix, AEW Dynamite, Baron Corbin

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • A big new issue of the Observer up on the site.  Special note that we’ve had a lot of people contact us both about the Rey Misterio Sr. and Tijuana wrestling story and the breakdown of every PPV this year and how they did.  Highlights of the issue:
  • WWE expanding television in 2025 and the biggest unanswered questions
  • A look at international deals with WWE’s move to Netflix.  What countries will still have TV deals, where Raw won’t be on Netflix, and what this means to AEW and TNA and the scoreboard of who has gotten what. And what is potentially the biggest international deal and when it will be open.
  • The Auditorio in Tijuana and Rey Misterio Sr., a look at the biggest matches in a building that should be on the list as a major wrestling arena that nobody ever talks about, plus how did Rey Mysterio, Konnan, Psicosis and others get their start and looking back at the biggest matches in Rey Misterio Sr.’s career
  • Drawing money and a look at how every PPV show in 2024 did, to see what does and doesn’t work as far as being a PPV headliner, covering WWE, AEW and TNA and every show so far this year.
  • The Battle of Orlando and where things stand for Worlds End.
  • Full coverage of ROH Final Battle
  • WWE’s holiday special in MSG and a look back at how the show has done since 2010.
  • Death of Jax Dane
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings for all the major shows,including placings, competition, segment-by-segment and more.
  • The Gran Alternative tournament and its history at picking future stars
  • Stardom’s big show the week of the Tokyo Dome.
  • NOAH preparing for Budokan Hall show.
  • More news on the Tokyo Dome shows.
  • New Japan notes for San Jose.
  • St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • RevPro show notes
  • Notes on upcoming North American stadium shows.
  • Lots of thoughts on booking
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • More on Lee Fitting.
  • Why there’s a very real chance the Janel Grant lawsuit will be thrown out and why, and what it will take for that not to happen.
  • McIntyre makes fun of Punk

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • The WWE Raw archive from 2022 through the second-to-last episode of 2024 is now available on Netflix in a section called “Raw Vault.” In addition to that, select episodes from 1993-2001 have been uploaded. There are currently:
    • Seven episodes from 1993
    • Four from 1994
    • Nine from 1995
    • 13 from 1996
    • 16 from 1997
    • 20 from 1998
    • 16 from 1999
    • Nine from 2000
    • Five from 2001
    • 52 from each of 2022, 2023, and 2024
  • Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Stepanie McMahon, and Linda McMahon were at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in Florida last night for Trump’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
  • Levesque tweeted out a video marking the end of 2024 and hyping Raw’s Netflix premiere:
    • That is a wrap on 2024. We went all over the globe, we sold out, we set records, we lit the world on fire. And I can tell you this, Jan. 6 is right around the corner – Netflix, and you ain’t seen nothing yet. Are you ready?
  • WWE and AEW both paid tribute to Sweet Daddy Siki following his passing at 91 years old.
  • On Instagram, Raquel Rodriguez made a post reflecting on the highs and lows she experienced in 2024 during her recovery from mast cell activation syndrome:
    • The highs and lows of 2024. Despite not knowing how this year would go I’m so grateful for how it turned out.
    • More time with family.
    • Traveled to Bali alone.
    • Made friends in Guadalajara MX.
    • Healed physically and emotionally.
    • Returned to my dream job and the amazing people in it.
    • Not every day will be perfect but not everyday will be bad either. Be easy on yourself, allow yourself to feel the things but don’t stay stuck there. Everyday is a new day. A new start. A new adventure.
    • Booked, busy and blessed
    • Happy New Year
  • Rodriguez posted today:
    • Woke up a little red and itchy around my eyes. Not too sure what could have caused it but this time last year I would have been making myself sick stressing over it. Today I just plan to lay in the sun, soak up some rays with my bare feet in the grass. Pay no mind to the rash and be more present in this moment. Grateful for the little things like sunshine, good people and healing food.
  • Former WWE wrestler Donovan Dijak reacted to his triple threat match against Oba Femi and Josh Briggs winning Match of the Year in the 2024 NXT Year-End Awards: “I really can’t put into words how much this means to me. Thank you to Oba, Josh, Matt, Shawn, and Hornet for helping me create something special. Stay tuned because we are just getting started.”
  • Cody Rhodes read the story “Gigantic” on the New Year’s Day edition of the BBC series CBeebies Bedtime Story.
  • Michin said facing Natalya (who she lost to on WWE Speed this week) for the first time was a bucket list moment:
    • FIRST TIME EVER! I finally got to wrestle @NatbyNature! I remember her giving me advice in my Extra days. She always pushed for me and rooted for me. A true legend I’ve always wanted to wrestle. Finally got to check this off my bucket list.
  • R-Truth was the guest on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • Sam Roberts interviewed Karrion Kross on Notsam Wrestling.
  • WWE Shop has launched a new collection of Los Angeles-themed merchandise for the start of John Cena’s farewell tour.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Swerve Strickland vs. Roderick Strong vs. Jay White has been added to the card for AEW Dynamite tonight. The winner receives the number one spot in next week’s Casino gauntlet match.
  • AEW content launched on Max today with every Dynamite episode from 2019 and every PPV from 2019 now available to stream. AEW TV programming from the end of 2024 has also been uploaded (the October 30 Dynamite through the December 21 Collision).
  • Deonna Purrazzo and Matt Menard were in attendance at the Citrus Bowl yesterday between the University of Illinois and South Carolina. Illinois players celebrated with an AEW World title belt after their victory.
  • Purrazzo is featured in a commercial for Southern New Hampshire University, where she graduated with a degree in history in 2023.
  • Tony Khan sent out a tweet last night thanking everyone who watched AEW in 2024.
  • ABC 13 News in Asheville, North Carolina spoke with Adam Copeland & Dax Harwood ahead of tonight’s Fight for the Fallen edition of Dynamite.
  • Copeland discussed his role in AEW during an interview with The Takedown:
    • I’ve always said I’m a designated hitter. Where do you need me? Okay, right now we’re moving into Max. You want a recognizable face? Got it. Okay, you need me for this right now. Well, then let’s do me and Mox right now then. That’s how I look at things, more so than I gotta go from this story, to this story, to this story. Where are we as a company? Where do you need me? You need my face here, for right now, coming off an Emmy nomination, all those things. I get it. Cool. Put me here. Let’s go.
  • AEW photographer Dakota Runnels – the daughter of Dustin Rhodes & Terri Runnels – announced that she and her husband are expecting their second child. The baby will be another boy: “Happy New Year!!! Rowan’s getting a tag team partner this year. Little brother coming in June!”
  • Nic Nemeth listed Leon Slater, Jordynne Grace, KC Navarro, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Adam Cole, and Jeff Hardy as wrestlers he wants to face in 2025.
  • Tom Pestock (former WWE wrestler Baron Corbin) tweeted today that he is officially a free agent: “I’m officially no longer under contract since i was not fired. I was told they were not extending. So if you’re making a horror movie, let me know ha ha ha ha New year, no contract, let’s see what we can create”

Tag match added to AEW Dynamite Fight for the Fallen

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new tag match is set for Wednesday.

Tony Khan announced on social media Monday that Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin of the Hurt Syndicate will be taking on The Acclaimed.

Benjamin is coming off a loss in the Continental Classic tournament, while Bobby Lashley continues to be confronted by Swerve Strickland, who he beat at Full Gear. The Acclaimed in recent weeks have teased dissension, with Max Caster receiving a card from MVP. During a match between Anthony Bowens and Chris Jericho on the final episode of AEW Rampage, Caster inadvertently cost Bowens the match after accidentally striking hsi tag partner with the ROH World title belt.

Earlier on Monday it was announced that Orange Cassidy would be taking on Hangman Page, continuing their rivalry following Worlds End.

Here is the updated card:

AEW Dynamite Fight for the Fallen (Wednesday, January 1) —

  • Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta vs. Adam Copeland & FTR
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Julia Hart
  • Jeff Jarrett makes an announcement about his career
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Hangman Page
  • Hurt Syndicate vs. The Acclaimed

Orange Cassidy vs. Hangman Page set for AEW Dynamite Fight for the Fallen

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A new match announcement has been made for AEW Dynamite Fight for the Fallen.

For the first time ever, Orange Cassidy and Hangman Page will clash in a one-on-one match on Dynamite this Wednesday night. Tony Khan confirmed the bout today after it was set up in a promo by Cassidy following Worlds End. Both Cassidy and Page were involved in the main event of the pay-per-view, losing a four-way match where Jon Moxley retained the AEW World Championship. There was a spot near the end of the match where Cassidy was taken out by a low blow from Page. Moxley then pinned Jay White for the victory.

“I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know why I’m here. Whatever I’ve been doing has not been working,” Cassidy said after Worlds End. “But I’m going to keep showing up and find whatever it is I’m missing. And this Wednesday on Dynamite, I should probably start with Hangman.”

Fight for the Fallen is taking place from Asheville, North Carolina on New Year’s Day and will benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, which severely impacted the Asheville community in September 2024. The show is the first episode of Dynamite that will be simulcast live on Max in addition to still airing on its regular television home of TBS.

Here is the updated card:

AEW Dynamite Fight for the Fallen (Wednesday, January 1) —

  • Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta vs. Adam Copeland & FTR
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Julia Hart
  • Jeff Jarrett makes an announcement about his career
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Hangman Page
  • Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin vs. The Acclaimed

AEW Dynamite ratings down on Christmas night

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The Christmas night episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 574,000 viewers on TBS, down 8.2 percent from last week. It’s the lowest audience total for the show since November 27 and is the fourth-lowest viewership Dynamite has done in its regular time slot in 2024.

Dynamite drew a 0.18 rating in the 18-49 demo, finishing second on the prime time cable charts. That’s down 5.3 percent from last week but ties the second-highest rating the show has done in that category since November 20.

The episode was taped in advance from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City and aired after the end of TBS’ annual 24-hour marathon of “A Christmas Story.” Dynamite went head-to-head with a Christmas night NBA game on ESPN that topped the cable charts with a 1.00 rating in 18-49, averaging nearly three million viewers overall.

As compared to the same week in 2023, Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 31.9 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 41.9 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Dynamite, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 5.4 percent in overall viewers but steady in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

Toni Storm vs. Taya Valkyrie added to Christmas edition of AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Toni Storm will be in action on Christmas Dynamite.

A match was set up between Storm and Taya Valkyrie on Saturday after Storm interrupted The Vendetta’s promo. Purrazzo confronted Storm by saying she doesn’t want any part of what she is doing and suggested the match for Wednesday, with Valkyrie adding that she would make Storm forget everything. Storm thanked them for the opportunity before leaving.

Since returning to AEW following her loss to Mariah May at AEW All In, Storm has gone back to her old persona, seemingly forgetting her AEW run and thinking she is a brand new wrestler in AEW.

Here’s the current lineup for the Christmas edition of Dynamite:

  • Continental Classic Gold league: Will Ospreay vs. Brody King
  • Continental Classic Gold league: Darby Allin vs. Ricochet
  • Continental Classic Gold league: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Komander
  • Continental Classic Blue league: Kazuchika Okada vs. Shelton Benjamin
  • Continental Classic Blue league: Daniel Garcia vs. Kyle Fletcher
  • Toni Storm vs. Taya Valkyrie

AEW Dynamite ratings up, back over 600k viewers

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s Holiday Bash episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 625,000 viewers on TNT, up 5.2 percent from last week. It’s the largest audience total for the show since November 20.

Dynamite drew a 0.19 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 11.8 percent from last week and is also the best rating the show has done in that category since the November 20 episode.

The show went against a college football bowl game on ESPN and also faced competition from the season finale of Survivor on CBS. In the month of December, this is the third consecutive week that Dynamite’s viewership has increased and the third straight week the 18-49 rating was either even or up from the previous week.

As compared to the same week in 2023, Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 20.1 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 26.9 percent. It’s the 12th straight week the show was down at least 20 percent in the key demo year-over-year.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Dynamite, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was up 8.3 percent in overall viewers and 5.6 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

New match, FTR segment added to AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

AEW has also announced that Hook’s feud with The Patriarchy will continue with Hook & Katsuyori Shibata facing Christian Cage & Nick Wayne in a tag match on Dynamite Holiday Bash this Wednesday.

**********

Though they won’t be live in Washington, D.C. this Wednesday, FTR are still going to appear on AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash.

AEW has announced that we’ll hear from Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler on Dynamite this week. They’ll be appearing via video from their hometown of Asheville, North Carolina — addressing the show-closing angle from last Saturday’s episode of Collision. That show ended with Harwood & Wheeler being ambushed and seemingly kidnapped by Jon Moxley’s Death Riders faction.

“@DaxFTR & @CashWheelerFTR are home recovering after they were attacked Saturday by @JonMoxley and Death Riders,” AEW tweeted today. “We’ll hear from FTR, from their hometown, Asheville, NC, TOMORROW NIGHT!”

In two weeks, AEW will be in Asheville for a special Fight for the Fallen edition of Dynamite. It will be the first Dynamite episode to be simulcast live on Max.

Washington, D.C.’s Entertainment & Sports Arena is the venue for Holiday Bash this Wednesday. The Death Riders will have a trios match with Moxley, PAC & Wheeler Yuta facing Hangman Page, Orange Cassidy & Jay White.

Here is the updated lineup:

AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, December 18) —

  • Jon Moxley, PAC & Wheeler Yuta vs. Hangman Page, Orange Cassidy & Jay White
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Anna Jay
  • Continental Classic Gold League match: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin
  • Continental Classic Blue League match: Shelton Benjamin vs. The Beast Mortos
  • Hook & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Christian Cage & Nick Wayne
  • MJF will appear live
  • We’ll hear from FTR (from their hometown of Asheville, North Carolina)

Shelton Benjamin vs. The Beast Mortos added to AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Another Continental Classic match is set for Dynamite Holiday Bash.

During Rampage, it was announced that Blue League action would be taking place next Wednesday when Shelton Benjamin faces The Beast Mortos. Benjamin so far has three points, losing to Kyle Fletcher on last week’s Dynamite. After the loss, MVP told Benjamin that he was disappointed in him, leading to Benjamin taking out his frustrations on a backstage assistant.

Mortos, meanwhile, has yet to earn any points in the tournament thus far. Only Komander in the Gold League shares that distinction.

Kyle Fletcher currently leads the Blue League with nine points. In the Gold League, there is currently a three-way tie between Will Ospreay, Claudio Castagnoli, and Ricochet.

Here is the updated Dynamite Holiday Bash lineup:

AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, December 18) —

  • Continental Classic Gold League match: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin
  • Continental Classic Blue League match: The Beast Mortos vs. Shelton Benjamin
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Anna Jay
  • We’ll hear from MJF

AEW Dynamite viewership up slightly, still below 600k

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s Winter is Coming edition of AEW Dynamite averaged 594,000 viewers on TBS. That’s up 1.4 percent from the previous week and is the best audience total for the show since November 20.

In the 18-49 demo, Dynamite finished fourth on the prime time cable charts with a 0.17 rating. That’s the same number as the show drew last week. It ties the fifth-lowest rating Dynamite has done in the show’s history — with three of the six lowest numbers having come in the last three weeks.

The biggest sports competition was an NBA Cup game on ESPN that averaged 1.47 million viewers and topped the cable charts with a 0.47 rating in 18-49. Dynamite also went head-to-head with a Survivor episode on CBS that averaged nearly five million viewers and ranked first on all of television with a 0.68 demo rating.

As compared to the same week in 2023, Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 29.7 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 43.3 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 ratings for Dynamite, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s episode was up 1.4 percent in overall viewers but down 5.6 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

MJF appearance set for AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

MJF will be appearing live at AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash next week.

AEW has announced that we’ll hear from MJF when Dynamite takes place from Washington, D.C. next Wednesday. The appearance will further the build to MJF vs. Adam Cole at AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view.

One week after finishing as the final two in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal, Cole faced Kyle O’Reilly on Dynamite last night with the winner earning a match against MJF at Worlds End. MJF tried to cost his long-running rival Cole the victory, but Cole thwarted his interference and got the win.

Worlds End is being held in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 28. MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring will be on the line when he faces Cole.

Here is the updated Dynamite Holiday Bash lineup:

AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, December 18) —

  • Continental Classic Gold League match: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Anna Jay
  • We’ll hear from MJF

WOR: WWE Raw report, SNME, two-night PLEs, UFC details

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: WWE

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including this weekend’s UFC with Paul Fontaine, AEW’s All In on-sale celebration and news coming out of it, injury updates, two-night PLEs increasing, ratings, the RAW report, Saturday Night’s Main Event, line-ups and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Paul Fontaine’s UFC 310 thoughts

18:26: TKO/WW open to more two-night premium live events

22:43: News from AEW All In Texas’ presale event

29:14: Injury update on Tetsuya Natio, other Tokyo Dome thoughts, Bronson Reed injury update

34:01: What’s going on with Rey Fenix

39:28: Willie Mack pulled from GCW events

42:19: Ratings

50:06: MMA handicap matches in Poland

52:22: WWE Raw report, NXT & Dynamite Winter is Coming lineups

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AEW Dynamite ratings up from Thanksgiving eve episode

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Wednesday night’s AEW Dynamite averaged 586,000 viewers on TBS, up 9.3 percent from last week’s Thanksgiving eve episode. Despite the increase, this is the fifth-lowest viewership in Dynamite’s history for a Wednesday night airing. Three of the five least-viewed episodes have come in the past five weeks.

Dynamite drew a 0.17 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 13.3 percent from last week but is the second-lowest rating the show has done on a Wednesday night in its history.

Wrestlenomics reports that Dynamite ranked approximately seventh on cable last night, trailing a pair of college basketball games on ESPN, Fox News programming, and The Challenge on MTV.

As compared to the same week in 2023, Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 28.8 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 32 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Dynamite, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 1.9 percent in overall viewers and down 5.6 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WOL: New Day, RAW, health updates, AEW and NXT

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including tons of thoughts on RAW with the awesome New Day segment, where it could be going leading into WrestleMania season, the Punk and Sami and Seth promo, AEW Dynamite and NXT line-ups, health updates and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOR: RAW report, injury updates, Wrestler of the Year

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including injury updates on Juice Robinson, Kevin Nash, Bronson Reed and Maria Kanellis, the next Saturday Night’s Main Event, Wrestler of the Year, AEW Dynamite ratings, CMLL notes, plus the RAW report, Dynamite and NXT previews and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Injury updates on Juice Robinson, Maria Kanellis, Bronson Reed, Kevin Nash, Sheamus
6:18: WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event January date, lineup for December SNME
8:43: Ratings,
22:47: Mistico vs Hechicero in CMLL
28:04: Wrestler of the Year discussion, Coloso Colosetti for WON Hall of Fame
32:31: Dave’s Queen of Villains thoughts
36:38: WWE Raw recap
54:56: AEW Dynamite & NXT lineups, Eric Bischoff on Ariel Helwani

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AEW Dynamite ratings drop on Thanksgiving eve

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Last Wednesday’s Thanksgiving eve episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 536,000 viewers on TBS, down 16.3 percent from the previous week. It’s the third-lowest viewership total the show has ever done on a Wednesday night and is the lowest number for Dynamite since November 6 of this year — the day after the presidential election where the show went head-to-head with WWE NXT.

Dynamite drew a 0.15 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 25 percent from the November 20 episode and is the lowest rating the show has done in that category on a Wednesday night in its history.

Over the past couple of years, the Thanksgiving holiday has not had a noticeably negative effect on Dynamite ratings. Last year, the episode drew a 0.28 rating, which was up from 0.26 the week before. In 2022, it did a 0.32 rating as compared to a 0.28 the prior week. It was down in 2021 with a 0.31 compared to a 0.37 the week before. In 2020, it was down with a 0.26 as opposed to a 0.37 the week prior. And 2019 saw the number drop from 0.39 to 0.26.

As compared to the same week in 2023 (which was not Thanksgiving eve), Dynamite’s overall viewership was down 37.5 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 48.3 percent. Comparing it to 2023’s Thanksgiving eve episode, the overall viewers were down 36.6 percent with the 18-49 rating down 42.3 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Dynamite, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 12.5 percent in overall viewers and 25 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.