Tag: NJPW news - Page 8

July 22, 2024 Observer Newsletter: WWE & AEW prepare for major summer shows, UFC class action lawsuit still in legal limbo

Posted on July 19, 2024July 19, 2024 by Dave Meltzer

Our subscribers can now read this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter with a lead story on the latest developments on the ongoing class action lawsuit against the UFC that is still not settled.

“After a second hearing on 7/12, Judge Richard Boulware once again failed to sign off on the $335 million settlement in the Cung Le and Kajan Johnson lawsuits against UFC.

Boulware gave the indication he would make his final decision on 7/19, which would either be to sign off on the settlement or to not agree to do so and basically force both sides into a trial neither side wants.

Based on reports from those in the courtroom as the discussions were taking place, notably MMA reporter Joss Gross, it was very clear Boulware wasn’t happy with the terms of the settlement.

Boulware felt the total settlement number was far too low and also felt that the settlement shouldn’t combine the two lawsuits together. Eric Cramer, the lead attorney in both cases, argued that the number was the highest they could get UFC to agree to.

Boulware was convinced of the merits of the case and believed a jury would award a far higher number for damages to the fighters based on UFC dominating the sport and using that domination to keep salaries down, and particularly with treble damages from the antitrust aspect of the suit.”

This week’s issue also includes the following:

A look at how both WWE & AEW are preparing for major summer stadium shows in August.
AJ Styles and IYO SKY’s respective returns to Japan last weekend
A look at the kickoff for the NJPW G1 tournament
More developments in the Janel Grant vs. Vince McMahon lawsuit

Click here to read.

July 8, 2024 Observer Newsletter: AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door recap, WWE Money in the Bank weekend preview

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Dave Meltzer

Image: AEW

Subscribers can now read this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Last Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door on 6/30 at the UBS Arena felt like part of a familiar pattern.

Ratings and attendance are low. The PPV comes, and the company does a strong show, the crowd is lively, it’s well received, and you often think maybe this could be the start of positive momentum. Certainly Revolution and Dynasty came across that way, and Forbidden Door fit into that pattern.

The repeated strong PPV shows, which do well from a business standpoint and crowd reaction standpoint, leave one thinking the product is really good and perhaps there will be a turnaround because of it. If there’s a lesson learned is that perhaps these strong AEW PPV shows is what may have kept the PPV end of the business strong when other aspects showed decline. But over the last year, the strong shows, perhaps even All In, the biggest success by far in company history, haven’t moved the others aspects of the business.

But there is no way to downplay the live arena success of the show. Forbidden Door had a long show with a generally hot crowd, which was explosive during the main event. It did a $1 million gate in the New York market, at the UBS Arena in Long Island. It’s a market they run all the time, and did this gate even though they just ran a PPV in that market only six months ago and WWE ran Madison Square Garden with great success two days earlier with an angle that led to a ton of talk.

But from a PPV standpoint, it’s definitely a question.

July 1, 2024 Observer Newsletter: The life & times of Sika, full preview of AEW Forbidden Door

Posted on June 28, 2024June 28, 2024 by Dave Meltzer

Image: WWE

The new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is available for subscribers with a lead story looking back at the life of Sika.

“Sika Anoa’i, who with brother Afa, formed the Wild Samoans tag team and is the father of Roman Reigns (Leati Joseph Anoa’i) passed away on 6/25 at the age of 79.

While some credit Peter Maivia (Pita Fanene Anderson) or even Neff Maiava as the start of the Samoan dynasty, as far as actual blood relatives, the large family tree that includes Reigns, The Usos, Rikishi, Tonga Kid, Samula, Afa Jr., Jacob Fatu, Yokozuna, Rosey, Umaga and Solo Sikoa, started with Afa & Sika.

Pola’ivao Leati Sika Amituana’i Anoa’i was born April 5, 1945, in the village of Leone on the Island of Tutuila in American Samoa. He was one of 13 children. He and brother Afa made up the tag team, while first cousin Solofa Fatu Sr., who never wrestled, was the father of Junior (who became more famous as Rikishi after starting his career using the name Fatu and being part of the Samoan Swat Team or SST team as a second generation Samoans, with either brother Sam, who wrestled as the Samoan Savage, Tonga Kid and Sam Fatu, or cousin Samula, who was Afa’s son), Sam and Edward (Umaga). Jacob Fatu is Sam’s son. The Usos (Jonathan & Joshua Fatu) and Sikoa are Solofa Fatu Jr.’s sons.

His nephew, Jahrus Anoa’i, wrote, “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer, Polaivao Leati Sika Anoa’i. He passed away peacefully on June 25th. Sika was a celebrated figure whose contributions and legacy have left an indelible mark. His memory will live on through his achievements and the many lives he touched.

“He was many things: a hard working father, a caring brother, a supportive uncle, and a proud grandfather. He was a cherished friend to many, a loving family member whose warmth and kindness knew no bounds, and an inspiration to countless individuals. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift future generations, reminding us of the impact one person’s life can have on so many. Rest in love Uncle Sika.”

June 24, 2024 Observer Newsletter: WWE Clash at the Castle review, NJPW G1 tournament developments

Posted on June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by Dave Meltzer

Image: WWE

WWE’s Clash at the Castle was the latest in the new version of five-match B PPV shows with roughly three hour shows so all the matches could get time.

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s issue.

Because they charged the highest ticket prices for an arena event in company history, the sellout crowd of 11,117 (via Wrestletix, WWE said 11,391 but of late WWE’s announced numbers have been way exaggerated even with Vince McMahon gone as noted by the real numbers coming out for Mania) at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow Scotland, produced the largest gate for an arena setting show in pro wrestling history. We don’t know the number, but given the ticket prices, it could have hit $4 million. It broke the record of more than $3.2 million just set on 5/4 with the Backlash show in Lyon, France. It was both the highest priced get-in ticket in pro wrestling history, as originally the cheapest ticket was priced at $419, but was lowered to $316 at the end to sell the remaining tickets as it was not sold out until the day of the show. It’s possible it was dropped a little lower, but even the secondary market price was more than $300 to get in.

In many ways this reminded me of years back when UFC came to the U.K. regularly and would charge high ticket prices and we’d hear how overpriced the tickets were, yet the event would sell out immediately. Even before dropping the prices a bit, most of the tickets were sold well in advance. There were a ton of complaints when the prices were originally released, but they had enough people who would pay those prices that they still sold out.

Some of the other stories this week include:

A look at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door
The latest twist in the Cung Le vs. UFC lawsuit
The NJPW G1 tournament taking shape

Subscribers can click here to read this week’s issue.

June 17, 2024 Observer Newsletter: Ricochet’s future, WWE Clash at the Castle preview

Posted on June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 by Dave Meltzer

The situation with Ricochet (Trevor Mann, 35), was the subject of a lot of talk this past week with nothing confirmed but a lot of expectations that he’s AEW bound, especially since Will Ospreay has teased it.

It was known that his contract was about to expire. Then Mike Johnson at PWInsider reported that he had given notice to WWE, and that he was leaving the promotion. If he was leaving, and unless something changes, that was the plan, AEW would be the only natural destination because the money anywhere else would be much lower.

Those who would have to know told us that he had not made up his mind what he was doing, that he had not signed a renewal, although did say he was very close to making up his mind, on the morning of 6/9. The belief the night before was strong that he would be leaving and it was talked about in both WWE and AEW. Then on the afternoon of 6/9, we were outright told he had made his decision although wouldn’t confirm what that decision was. The next day we were told that the Raw, where they had an angle scheduled where Bron Breaker would destroy him, would most likely be his last WWE appearance. That by itself wouldn’t confirm AEW, and nothing has confirmed AEW, past common sense given all that would indicate it would almost have to be AEW.

Given that his contract still has a short period of time to go, it’s not as if he can appear on AEW until it does expire, and certainly nobody can acknowledge it in an official way.