Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including line-ups for RAW, Smackdown and Dynamite this week, the death of Yutaka Yoshie, Muhammad Ali and the WWE Hall of Fame, Smackdown and Collision TV notes and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Tag: muhammad ali
Muhammad Ali to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame
Muhammad Ali has been announced for the WWE Hall of Fame.
Ali joins Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and The U.S Express as those who will be inducted into the Class of 2024.
The news was first reported by Variety on Monday.
BREAKING: As reported by @Variety, Muhammad Ali will be inducted into the #WWEHOF Class of 2024!
FULL DETAILS 👉 https://t.co/skGGOzPIgt pic.twitter.com/JoF08Y32IL
— WWE (@WWE) March 11, 2024
From WWE.com:
One of the most iconic figures in sports history, the three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Olympic gold medalist was known around the world for his charisma, his confidence, and his ability to back it up inside the ropes.
Known simply as “The Greatest”, Ali’s influence transcended sports as his work as an activist, artist, and personality established him as one of the most renowned figures in the entire world.
Although best known as a boxer, Ali made a great impact in the sports-entertainment world.
Many claim to be great, but only one man is "The Greatest". Muhammad Ali transcended sport to become a global icon who captivated and impacted the world like no other.@WWE is honored to induct “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali into the #WWEHOF. pic.twitter.com/UIFSg9POgA
— Triple H (@TripleH) March 11, 2024
Ali’s first foray into sports entertainment occurred in 1976 when he faced Antonio Inoki in Japan. The match also aired on 150 closed-circuit venues across the United States.
The story goes that Ali’s camp expected the bout to be a worked contest while Inoki’s did not. As a result, several rule changes were negotiated in the days leading up to the event.
The majority of the match saw Inoki lie on his back and kick Ali repeatedly in the legs. This led to Ali suffering blood clots and reduced mobility in his legs for the remainder of his career. Fans were very negative about the match and chanted for a refund.
Ali was also a special referee for the main event of WrestleMania I in 1984. Ali would be a special outside enforcer while Pat Patterson officiated the action inside the ring. It was later said that this was done as Ali’s Parkinson’s disease was setting in and they did not feel he would be able to referee the full match.
Ali passed away on June 3, 2016, at the age of 74.
Daily Update: WWE stock, A&E ratings, Muhammad Ali
Daily Update
Latest News
- WWE Raw viewership down slightly, 18-49 demo rating rises
- WWE star Drew McIntyre cast in Dave Bautista action movie
- AEW Collision ratings up for CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe
- Jeff Hardy to make GCW debut appearance in August
- Report: Backstage argument took place after WWE Raw main event
- The Undertaker hopes WWE goes back to original Bray Wyatt character
- Tag match added to Impact Slammiversary pre-show
- Francis Ngannou, Tyson Fury boxing match set for Saudi Arabia
- WWE Raw video highlights: Judgment Day get back on the same page
- Brock Lesnar return, Viking Rules match set for next WWE Raw
- Cody Rhodes challenges Brock Lesnar for WWE SummerSlam
Latest Audio
- Wrestling Observer Live: Bloodline leads Smackdown to all-time record, RAW report, Collision ratings
- Filthy Four Daily: Filthy Tom does AEW, NJPW Strong in Japan, Insane Clowns, plus Smackdown!
- Wrestling Observer Radio: Bloodline makes history, RAW report, AEW and NXT previews, more
- Lance, Vinny & Craig: AEW Collision recap, other hijinks
Latest Free YouTube Video
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
In this issue:
- Match of the week and performer of the week for the past two weeks
- Full coverage of Money in the Bank, the story behind all the matches angles and finishes
- Eight confirmed matches for SummerSlam
- Ticket sales for SummerSlam and records already broken and other records on the verge of being broken
- Live gate for Money in the Bank and a breakdown of the multiple records set
- WrestleMania in London and an update on where that stands
- Total viewership for the show
- PPV numbers for the show and how it compares to other shows plus crossover with AEW Forbidden Door
- Story behind the results and angles on the show
- The life and times of Darren Drozdov, comments from wrestlers, family, friends and the story behind the accident that changed his life and how he battled back and ended up close with his family.
- His brief career in wrestling
- Jerry McDevitt removed from the MLW lawsuit and announces his retirement. A look back at the legendary attorney and his history with WWE
- What happened with Collision in week three. A detailed breakdown of what was one of the most important TV ratings of the year
- WWE & AEW quarterly business, viewership, house shows, what is up and what is down and why
- New Japan Strong at Korakuen Hall with four title changes and two brutal matches
- Full UFC coverage for the week and business notes
- Dragon Gate’s biggest show of the year takes place
- The most detailed look at the ratings for all the major wrestling shows, including weekly rankings
- CMLL runs major event with Romero vs. Volador Jr., and notes on the debut of Mascara Dorada 2.0
- Stardom PPV coverage
- Notes on the Five-Star Grand Prix tournament
- Triple Crown title change and fantastic performance by Yuji Nagata
- Father and daughter appear on show together in Japan
- What companies in Japan have drawn the most fans so far this year
- One of the biggest tag teams of all-time having a special show
- Lots more on the Mildred Burke movie that was being filmed this past month and stories about Burke’s legend
- Grappl lists its fan voted best matches in history
- Matt Morgan talks back surgery
- Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame notes for 2023
- Stardom star coming to GCW and notes on the deal
- Kenny Omega talks AEW video game
- Updated ticket sales for All In and where it ranks on the all-time list
- Update on Forbidden Door PPV numbers
- Jon Moxley goal to become an historical first
- Omega talks Will Ospreay match
- Ticket sales to the upcoming WWE and AEW shows
- Jim Ross updates his condition
- Injury updates
- Streaming number updates
- Merch number updates
- International TV ratings
- Lots of gimmick fights being talked about
- ESPN announce new multi-part documentary
- Paul Levesque talks NXT Europe
- Plans for net year’s Mania
- Gable Steveson issues challenge for another sport he’s never done before
- Rundown of all WWE events this past week
This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter
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Tuesday Update
WWE
- The company’s stock closed at $111 today, the stock’s highest-ever close price. The previous record was $109.35 back on April 21.
- WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures on Sunday scored 300,000 viewers with a 0.08 in 18-49, up from last week’s 263,000 and 0.07. Stone Cold Takes On America garnered 201,000 and 0.05, up from 181,000 and 0.04 last week.
- WWE is releasing a 2-pack Muhammad Ali action figure set that will be exclusively available at the San Diego Comic Con starting on Wednesday, July 19. It will also be available on MattelCreations.com on July 21 starting at 12 pm ET.
- Matches added to YouTube today include Rey Mysterio vs. Finn Balor from the July 11, 2022 episode of Raw, Bobby Lashley and Riddle vs. Seth Rollins and Theory also from the July 11, 2022 episode of Raw, and Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross vs. The IIconics from the SummerSlam 2019 kickoff preshow.
AEW
- A Control Center with Tony Schiavone hyping tomorrow’s Dynamite in Saskatoon.
- Matt Hardy talked to MailOnline about potentially winning the AEW Tag Team titles prior to Jeff Hardy’s arrest and suspension last year.
- The latest trailer for Twisted Metal on Peacock, which features Samoa Joe as Sweet Tooth.
- This week’s Sammy Guevara vlog.
Other Wrestling
- Kaito Kiyomiya was interviewed on New Japan’s website prior to the start of the G1 Climax tournament on July 15 .
- Tommy Dreamer & Darren McCarty vs. Champagne Singh & Shera has been added to the Slammiversary Fallout television tapings on July 16.
- Impact Wrestling has uploaded their entire Slammiversary event from 2020.
- Pro Wrestling Tees is collaborating with the family of The Iron Sheik to release a tribute t-shirt.
- Konnan filed an official trademark for his name on July 6.
- ECW founder Tod Gordon is releasing his memoir on July 25, both in hardcover and on Kindle.
- Kenta Kobashi is heading to West Coast Pro on October 14 and 15, with information on a meet & greet coming soon.
- Ninja Mack will return to GCW for their Homecoming shows on August 19 & 20th.
Wrestling Observer Radio: Antonio Inoki bio, Jon Moxley’s new contract
Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio going over the news in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Topics include:
- A long discussion on Dave’s Antonio Inoki bio
- Jon Moxley’s new contract with AEW
- Renee Paquette
- WWE’s announcer shakeup
- AEW Dynamite ratings and the overrun
- More on Sammy and Andrade
Click on the link below.
DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Marathon: Muhammad Ali
The Greatest.
Simply the most appropriate nickname for one of the biggest mega-stars ever. Few people in modern history have reached the level of fame that Muhammad Ali did.
Ali was a force beyond stardom in the 1970’s. If you were old enough to be aware of sports then Ali was as big as they came. He fought George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Antonio Inoki, and even Superman.
Ali had a lot in common with pro wrestlers, in fact, it was the entertainment aspect of pro wrestling, when combined with the incredible boxing skills of Ali, that made him a world-wide superstar.
Ali, of course, crossed over into the wrestling world multiple times. He created catchphrases and stood tall above his peers in a way that probably only Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has in modern times.
Say my name — Muhammad Ali.
July 4, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: NJPW G1 tournament preview, Ali vs. Inoki anniversary, more
The 26th annual G-1 Climax tournament which, in the last few years, has gained more international interest as the period with a large percentage of what will be the year’s best matches, was officially announced this past week.
June 13, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The passing of Muhammad Ali and Kimbo Slice
There are literally no words that can do justice to the significance of Muhammad Ali.
It’s funny because a significant description, although perhaps overblown, came from WCW wrestlers in the late ’90s. There was an article interviewing many of the top stars of the promotion which asked who the most influential person in the history of the world was. While names like Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler received a significant number of votes, the person who received the most was Ali.