Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the latest on both Vince and Linda McMahon, Rita Chatterton was working for AEW (really), the AEW Australia show, tons of New Japan news, ratings, AEW Dynamite and NXT TV reviews, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
The most detailed look at the updated Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE. We look at the new claims, the arguments in favor of the case not going to arbitration as McMahon, Laurinaitis and WWE have argued, who is the most in jeopardy, lots of notes on the legal strategy from both sides, more text messages released as well.
Tons of records set at the 2025 Royal Rumble, the direction going into WrestleMania, the fake record John Cena may break and who has always been planned to break it later, Dwayne Johnson, Jey Uso, Alexa Bliss, business records including a very noteworthy record set by the show. We have an apples-to-apples comparison between Rumble viewers on Netflix and Raw viewers which is very interesting.
The ringboys lawsuit goes forward against Vince & Linda McMahon and WWE, details of what the issues that put it on hold were as well as a very important note about the suit that hasn’t gotten much talk.
The most detailed look at TV ratings and streaming numbers for pro wrestling programming in the U.S., including segment-by-segment numbers, what countries Raw is strongest in, competition and more.
Unique tournament this month in Mexico City
A look at major international matches over the past week
Stardom PPV notes
Tag champ brothers release a new album and music video.
New Beginning in Osaka and Fantastica Mania upcoming shows.
Young Bucks talk their return to Japan
Why Hiroshi Tanahashi was in tears after Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd
Hall of Famer says his son has recently got a WWE offer
Ed Wiskowski’s time in Australia.
Lots of news on Grand Slam Australia.
International TV numbers and streaming numbers
Ticket sales to all the major upcoming WWE & AEW shows including WrestleMania, Elimination Chamber, Revolution and All In.
Jericho Cruise notes
Merch sale leaders from WWE & AEW
Story on the retirement of Dominick Cruz and his legacy in UFC
One of the key people in the pro wrestling business and the most important person in the MMA business are rumored to be working together to start a new sports franchise
How is ESPN+ doing
Another world champion wants release from his promotion.
All the craziness of the Canelo negotiations
TKO stock reaching record highs
Lots of news on Mania week
More on cancellation of Cena TV show
More on new Evolve TV show
Another lawsuit with Nick Khan’s name in it
How much WWE stock does Dwayne Johnson now own?
Lots of contract news
WWE & AEW injury stats – which company, on average, has more serious injuries.
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue
— We have two weekend shows up on the site right now. Our Friday show with Garrett Gonzales talking about the news of the week, including AEW in Australia, Canelo Alvarez and tons of history. We also did our weekend show last night covering UFC, Collision, WWE releases, Smackdown and New Japan in Osaka with Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine.
— Linda McMahon’s hearing regarding her nomination for Education Secretary under Donald Trump will be on Thursday at 10 a.m. Eastern time.
— The Nielsen streaming ratings for the week of 1/6 to 1/12 came out and Raw, which was the first show on Netflix, was not in the top ten, meaning under 2,250,000 streaming views in the U.S. Basically if that week didn’t make the top ten, it tells us that we won’t be able to get Nielsen ratings for Raw even a month late.
— At last night’s UFC show, Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 was announced as being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer in Las Vegas. The show was a rare so-so at best UFC PPV show. Both champions, Dricus du Plessis and Zhang Weili, dominated challengers Sean Strickland and Tatiana Suarez in decision wins. Both champs looked good but the fights weren’t that exciting.
— The 45th annual Observer awards will be out in this coming Friday’s issue.
— For Google searches this weekend, last night’s UFC show did just over 1.15 million searches which is the normal number for a PPV show. WWE releases got 100,000 while Zhang Weili, Tallison Teixeira did 50,000 and Jimmy Crute and Jake Matthews, who fought on last night’s UFC show, did 20,000 each. Obviously the list is dominated by things related to the Super Bowl.
— The Von Erichs returned to AEW last night in a 12-man tag team match taped for ROH. Ross had been out of action for a long time due to injury. Hechicero & Soberano Jr & Cavernario, a rudo team, beat Sammy Guevara & Black Panther & Fuego as well. Abadon was also back (thanks to Trae Wisecarver and Joshua Starnes)
— As it turns out Canelo Alvarez will face William Scull for the IBF, WBA WBC and WBO super middleweight titles on 5/3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a title unification match.
— The former Xyon Quinn (Daniel Vidot) from WWE will be in this year’s Champion Carnival tournament for All Japan. The A block has Kento Miyahara, Jun Saito, Hideki Suzuki, Shotaro Ashino, Kuma Arashi, Kengo Masimo Xyon, Cyrus and Davey Boy Smith Jr. The B block has Yuma Aoyagi, Rei Saito, Hokuto Omori, Yuma Anzai, Ryuki Honda, Ren Ayabe, Aigie Blanc from Europe, Mike D Vecchio from Europe and Madoka Kikuta from Dragon Gate.
— They did an angle on last night’s MLW show in Atlanta where Cesar Duran set up Mistico vs. Templario for the MLW middleweight title on 4/5 in Los Angeles.
— Samu Anoa’i, the first cousin of Roman Reigns and a very underrated wrestler in his day, is having open heart surgery tomorrow. He held the WWF and World Class tag titles with Fatu, who later became Rikishi, as the Samoan Swat Team.
— Dakota Kai was cleared after her concussion from the springboard dropkick by Zoey Stark a few weeks ago. Kai & Iyo Sky will wrestle Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez on Raw tomorrow.
— Shock Cinema has a story on Woody Strode, who wrested mostly in the 50s but was more famous for being one of the first black college football major stars and one of the first men of color to play in the NFL and later for being a Western movie star in a career that spanned from 1941 until his death in 1994.
— Bouts that we’ve heard raves about this weekend are the MLW match from last night with Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Esfinge & Templario from Atlanta and Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe from Collision last night. Collision was a great show, strong wrestling, strong angles and a super hot crowd. The show was there to heavily push this coming Saturday nights show from Brisbane, Australia.
— Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling from Friday night in Newark, CA: Will Hobbs b Alan Angels, Titus Alexander b Timothy Thatcher, Too Fresh b Los Ricos, Jheri Giggalow won over JT Thorne, Vinnie Massaro and Bret the Threat, Sandra Moore b Johnnie Robbie to win the women’s title, Starboy Charlie & Marcus Lewis & Jiah Jewell b Los Suavecitos & Dom Cirrus, Starboy Charlie won the annual Battle Royal (thanks to Jim Davis and Jonny Poon)
— Defy had a sellout for its 8th anniversary show last night in Seattle before a turn away crowd Judas Icarus & Travis Williams & Evan Rivers b Gringo Loco & Arez & Latigo in a ladder match, Nick Wayne b Marcus Mathers, Bollywood Boyz b C4, Marina Shafir b Zamaya to win the Defy women’s title, Amerikan Gunz b Midnight Heat, Ricky Starks b KENTA to win the Defy title. They aired the angle with Ricochet and Swerve Strickland for the show on Collision last night.
In October, the law firm DiCello Levitt filed suit on behalf of five survivors of what has been billed as the ‘ring boy scandal’. The lawsuit alleges Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and WWE knew and did nothing to prevent ring announcer and head of ring crew Mel Phillips’ sexual assault of underage boys in the 80s and early 90s. Phillips was fired in 1992 after the allegations became public.
“The WWE and McMahons had a responsibility to these underaged boys, and they failed them in the worst way possible. We will vigorously fight to uncover the truth about this systemic, insidious, and life-altering abuse,” said Mark DiCello, a founding partner of DiCello Levitt upon filing the lawsuit. “We commend our clients for their bravery in coming forward and promise to relentlessly seek justice for them.”
The Maryland Child Victims Act was passed by the state’s General Assembly in 2023, which retroactively appeals the statue of limitations on lawsuits dealing with child sexual abuse.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a full review of AEW Full Gear, all the matches and angles, the Continental Classic, Linda McMahon, Conor McGregor, the NBCU spinoff, ratings, Smackdown report and Smackdown tapings, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: Dave and Bryan’s experiences this week, general thoughts on weekend news 11:02: AEW Full Gear recap 57:06: Linda McMahon nominated to head US Department of Education 1:01:27: Conor McGregor found liable for sexual assault 1:05:11: NBCU may spin off cable networks, details on ratings 1:11:52: Notes from WWE SmackDown 1:25:35: WWE SmackDown spoilers for this Friday, WWE Raw lineup
I am subbing for Bryan Alvarez who is currently without power. Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the news since last weekend. If Bryan can get power back and Dave can get back home on time, they’ll be back to recap AEW Full Gear.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement last night officially announcing that he will nominate Linda McMahon to his cabinet as secretary of the Department of Education.
Glenn Jacobs (Kane) congratulated Linda on her nomination: “Congrats to @Linda_McMahon, our new Secretary of Education! Honored to call you a friend and can’t wait to see all you accomplish with @realDonaldTrump over the next four years.”
The Washington Post published a story about Linda once incorrectly claiming to have a degree in education on a questionnaire for the Connecticut Board of Education.
The first-ever “WWE ID Showcase match” will take place at WWN Battle for the Belts in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday, December 15. It will feature two WWE ID prospects facing each other, with WWE saying that more information will be revealed soon.
One of the main lessons that I’ve learned is that you never know what tomorrow is going to bring with WWE. You always have to be ready to adjust at the drop of a hat. There have been times where we have known what’s going to happen at a Monday Night Raw for weeks and we work towards that, and then we get into the building, and then all of a sudden, we’re doing the exact opposite. And it’s your ability to adjust and roll with the punches that pulls you up. Nothing ever goes as planned.
So all that to say, you know, once Odyssey was out of the mix, we just had to figure out a way to pivot and keep the story going and keep on moving forward, because, as they say, the show must go on. And you figure out the best ways to adjust.
Vulture published Becky Lynch’s full quote from when she addressed her WWE future at Vulture Festival this past weekend:
If you think the way I’m gonna go out after the career I’ve had is with Dominik Mysterio slamming a door in my face – that’s probably not gonna happen.
But when will [I] come back? I don’t know, I don’t know, I’ve really been enjoying myself and working on some projects that I’m very excited about, whenever I get to share them with you, I think they’re pretty awesome. I think you’re gonna think they’re pretty awesome.
Likely furthering the angle for her imminent return, Toni Storm announced to SB Nation that she is “retired” from pro wrestling and will never be heard from again. Storm apologized for being “such a failure,” saying that AEW will be fine without her: “AEW is just fine without me. Everything is going well for AEW. They don’t need Toni Storm.”
Storm was asked if there’s anything she would change about her career: “When I met Mariah May. I’d been on the top of the world for many, many years. I delivered. Then Mariah came onto the scene and everything went tits up.”
We have a young roster of hungry talented wrestlers who do whatever they can to get better. A lot of them are so, so good. A lot of it is a learning process. I did the same thing, I asked veterans to watch my match and it helped me. Now I’m in a position to do this, and I can help our young roster, I want to do it.
Lots of time I’ll give advice or watch them do what they do, I’m learning as well.
NJPW star Shingo Takagi will be in action on ROH TV this Thursday night in a match against Ariya Daivari. Among the other matches set for the episode is an ROH TV title bout with Brian Cage defending against AR Fox. Plus, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena faces Leila Grey in a Proving Ground match.
Masha Slamovich told The Takedown that she wants to face Meiko Satomura before Satomura retires from the ring next April: “I want Meiko Satomura sometime in 2025. Somehow, some way, the gods have to make it happen.”
Calvin Tankman vs. Lou Nixon is the latest addition to the card for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII in Jersey City, New Jersey this Sunday.
At Eric Bischoff’s MLW One-Shot event, Brock Anderson & CW Anderson will face Matthew Justice and a mystery partner in a Roulette tag match – where a roulette wheel will be spun to determine the stipulation. The show is taking place in Queens, New York on Thursday, December 5.
Mascara Dorada has been announced for MLW Kings of Colosseum in North Richland Hills, Texas on Saturday, January 11.
With Bryan Alvarez cyclone bombed into the ether, Mike Sempervive flies solo to take you through a busy day in the world of pro wrestling. We take a look at what’s on tap for tonight’s FullGear go-home show for AEW Dynamite, NXT, Toni Storm, Linda McMahon, and more! It’s a fun show as always, so check it out~!
Confirming a longstanding rumor, Vince & Linda McMahon are officially not together as a couple anymore.
Laura Brevetti, Linda McMahon’s attorney, confirmed to the Washington Post that Vince & Linda are “currently separated.” The news was included in a story the Washington Post published on Linda last night as she is set to join Donald Trump’s administration for his second presidency.
It was announced on Tuesday night that President-elect Trump is nominating Linda to his cabinet as secretary of the Department of Education. She had been considered a leading candidate for secretary of Commerce but got this position instead after Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick was chosen for the Commerce job.
Linda will need to be confirmed by the United States Senate for her role, though there is expected to be a 53-47 Republican majority in the Senate following the results of the 2024 election. When Linda was nominated to lead the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency, she was easily confirmed with bipartisan support in an 81-19 vote.
Last month, a new lawsuit was filed against Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon, and WWE relating to the company’s “ring boy scandal” of the 1980s-1990s. Linda could face questions about the lawsuit during her confirmation process.
Brevetti claimed to the Washington Post that the lawsuit is “baseless.”
“This lawsuit based upon thirty-plus-year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations,” Brevetti said.
Vince McMahon and WWE are facing a separate lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant, who has accused Vince of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. Vince resigned from WWE and its parent company TKO Group Holdings after that lawsuit was filed. This summer, Linda said everyone in her family is “doing great” in the wake of Grant’s allegations.
In addition to her cabinet role in the first Trump admin, Linda’s political history includes two unsuccessful Senate campaigns as a Republican candidate. She is a former executive for WWE and once served on the Connecticut Board of Education. Recently, Linda has been helping run a pro-Trump fundraising organization.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Scorpio Jr., Linda McMahon and the Trump Administration, Elimination Chamber to Toronto, Gran Hamada, Kemonito is kind of back, ratings, tons of MMA news, plus the RAW report and RAW spoilers to end the show. A fun time as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: Former CMLL star Scorpio Jr. passes away 10:25: Linda McMahon may be nominated for Secretary of Commerce 11:59: WWE Elimination Chamber coming to Toronto 17:27: Kevin Nash needs shoulder surgery, Gran Hamada in rough shape 23:09: There is a new KeMonito 25:49: Ratings, Jon Moxley says he wants to turn things around in AEW 34:12: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic this weekend, who Jones wants to fight next 44:05: WWE Raw recap (contains some spoilers) 59:08: WWE Raw spoilers for next week
Dave Meltzer has an article with details on a new lawsuit filed by survivors of the ‘ring boy scandal’ first reported in 1992. The lawsuit accuses Vince & Linda McMahon, as well as WWE, of negligence for not doing anything to prevent former ring announcer and head of ring crew Mel Phillips from sexually abusing underage boys.
The attorney of Vince McMahon has responded to a new lawsuit filed on Wednesday.
McMahon’s attorney Jessica Rosenberg released a statement to Brandon Thurston denying the allegations filed by five survivors of the ‘ring boy scandal’ who are suing McMahon, Linda McMahon, and WWE/TKO claiming negligence on their behalf for doing nothing to stop sexual abuse of underage boys from Mel Phillips, who was both an announcer and head of the ring crew in the 1980s.
“More than 30 years ago, the columnist Phil Mushnick tried to make headlines with these same false claims,” Rosenberg’s statement reads. “Those allegations were never proven and ultimately became the subject of a defamation lawsuit against Mr. Mushnick. The negligence claims against Mr. McMahon that were asserted today rely on these same absurd, defamatory and utterly meritless statements by Mr. Mushnick. We will vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident the court will find that these claims are untrue and unfounded.”
The ring boy scandal first became public in 1992. Phillips, Terry Garvin, and Pat Patterson were all fired from WWE due to the allegations, though Patterson was eventually hired back and remained part of the company until he died in 2020.
The lawsuit claims that the survivors, who were named John Does 1-5 in the suit, learned of the depth of knowledge the McMahons and WWE had regarding the abuse based on the lawsuit Janel Grant filed in January accusing Vince McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking. That lawsuit is currently on pause as the Justice Department continues its investigation against McMahon.
Despite all the turmoil they’ve gone through, Linda McMahon insists that the McMahon family is doing great.
Linda is in Milwaukee to speak at the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention on Thursday. While there, Going Ringside caught up with her for a brief interview. Linda was asked how she and her family are doing given everything that has gone on this year.
“We’re all doing great,” she responded. “Thank you. Doing great.”
Linda’s husband Vince McMahon resigned from WWE and its parent company TKO Group Holdings this January following the sexual abuse allegations made against him in a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant. Currently, that lawsuit is paused while the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York conducts its own investigation into Vince. He has stated that he will vigorously defend himself against Grant’s allegations.
Neither Stephanie nor Shane McMahon officially have a role with WWE currently, though Stephanie has made multiple appearances for the company this year. Her husband Paul “Triple H” Levesque is WWE’s chief content officer.
Linda, who served in Donald Trump’s cabinet during his presidency, is one of the biggest donors to his 2024 campaign. She’s the chair of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.
Linda McMahon has given her first public comments about Vince McMahon’s retirement from WWE.
Former Trump Cabinet member and the chairperson of Trump's super PAC Linda McMahon gets asked about her husband Vince retiring from WWE after paying $12 million in hush money to 4 women in an attempt to cover up sexual misconduct pic.twitter.com/YBC5XE7zha
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) July 29, 2022
At an event for the America First Policy Institute, Linda fended off questions from a reporter about Vince McMahon’s retirement. When the subject was brought up, Linda attempted to shut down the line of questioning.
“I’m not gonna talk about Vince and WWE. I’m here to talk about AFPI,” Linda said.
The reporter continued to ask about the issue, asking Linda what her thoughts were on Vince deciding to retire.
“Well, you know what? He’ll just be deciding on how he’s gonna spend his free time,” Linda said. “I think that’s a good thing.”
The reporter then asked Linda if she was concerned about Vince being investigated for his alleged hush money agreements.
“No,” Linda said. “Come on. I told you I’m here to talk about AFPI.”
Amid a sexual misconduct scandal, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE on July 22. Vince’s retirement came after the Wall Street Journal reported that he had agreed to pay more than $12 million over the past 16 years to “suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.” All four women were formerly affiliated with WWE.
Linda McMahon is the chair of the America First Policy Institute, a political organization that’s aligned with Donald Trump. Linda resigned from Trump’s cabinet in March 2019 to become the chair of the America First Action super PAC.
