The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back with a preview of tonight’s NJPW Capital Collision pay-per-view.
Plus, The Judgment Day go three-for-three in turning #becauseofthefans. Will fans boo a real Marine like Lacey Evans? How’s Sami Zayn doing in WWE? And more. Actually, no. That’s pretty much the whole show. I just said more because you’re supposed to say it. Believe me, there is no more. I promise.
Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley is back with a rundown of WWE SmackDown and AEW Rampage, along with a preview of Saturday’s Impact Under Siege event.
Who’s to blame for WWE WrestleMania Rehash…er…Backlash? Also, we now know all of the participants for AEW’s Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
Tammy Sytch has been arrested, facing a litany of charges stemming from a fatal car crash this March.
Plus, everything old is new again. If WWE is going back to character-based programming (and they are), there’s a character that works every time who needs to come back, but with an update. All that and more this week. Check it out.
WOL Saturday with Jim Valley is back with lots of wrestling to talk about: WWE SmackDown, AEW Rampage, AEW Battle of the Belts, and NJPW Windy City Riot.
Plus, Should RKBro break up? The Legend of Wheeler Yuta, the hero’s quest, the connection between pro wrestling and video games, and what drives me crazy about wrestling fans and fantasy booking.
After nearly two years, Jim Valley returns to host Wrestling Observer Live.
Jim gives his thoughts on the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, including The Undertaker’s Ted (or Dead) Talk, Sharmell dazzling, and touching moments with the families of Vader and Shad Gaspard.
Plus, 2005 is back as Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal face off in Ring of Honor.
In addition, Jim looks ahead to WrestleMania night one and asks — if WWE wants younger talent — why do they dress so many of them like Ridge Holland, Butch, Madcap Moss, and Chase U in old-timey clothes?
After a long illness and recovery, Jim’s voice is still hoarse, but he’s back on Saturdays, so check it out~!
On SmackDown it was announced that The Bellas are the latest inductees into the WWE Hall of Fame. Some fans are upset and I don’t know why. The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame has real criteria, voting by experts, and ballot percentages that must be met before a candidate can be inducted. For WWE, a company that says it, “puts smiles on faces,” it is perfectly fine if its Hall of Fame is more of a Hall of Memories to make people feel good and nostalgic about the superstars and the company.
The Bellas are reality TV stars, crossover celebrities, and not everything they did in a wrestling ring was terrible. They have more positives than maybe you realize. Also, are traveling wrestling fans starting to feel the pinch, real vs. fake, new figures, and more.
It’s Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley. Continuing from Friday’s WOL, I go more in depth on my strong theory that WWE has a big problem with emotional investment, fan engagement, and converting its audience to spend more money on the product.
WWE has capital, corporate relationships, TV contracts, heritage, and many other assets. Most of all, it has talent. The Royal Rumble and NXT illustrate that WWE has many potential top stars and a plethora of wrestlers who are “only” really, really good.
Despite all of these resources and positives, revenue streams that are indicators of fans engagement are down. Logan Paul vs. KSI drew 1.3 million buys simply because fans were emotionally invested enough to spend money. WWE has done a poor job of storytelling, creating compelling characters, consistency, and rewarding fans for their investment of time and money. Its going to take time to rebuild those relationships.
Wrestling Observer Live is back live on Saturday with Jim Valley.
SmackDown overnight ratings were at the highest point since November. Someone on Twitter expected me to be upset. I have no idea why. I talk about why I want wrestling to succeed regardless of whether or not the product appeals to my personal tastes. I have no problem if my predictions don’t come to fruition. I want wrestling to succeed more than I want to be correct. I will always try to give you strong opinions. That’s the hallmark of any good show regardless of the topic, but I wish no ill will on anyone.
Also, Lacey Evans has a ton of potential and Miz and Morrison are the first WWE heel turns in 2020 who did it “because of the fans.” We also talk Rush, Luke Harper, Memphis Wrestling, Dave Brown, AEW, and much more. Follow me on Twitter @jimvalley.
It’s the last Saturday WOL of 2019 and before Jim Valley flies to Tokyo for Wrestle Kingdom 14 and all the Observer’s coverage.
My thoughts on situations making news in Stardom: the retirements of both Hazuki and Kagetsu and the fan reaction to the women’s dark match at WK14.
Aubrey Edwards did more than just blaze a trail for female referees in AEW. She’s also responsible for something that hasn’t been seen regularly in US wrestling in probably decades. The issue that affects both WWE and Star Wars.
And, as requested, my health journey and struggles. The other week, I mentioned in passing on WOL how I almost died four times. That’s 100 percent true. I’ll tell you about my rare condition (that is in remission), the complications that almost killed me again, the personal struggles, advice for your life, and the real hero in this story.
It’s time for another Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.
PCO was perhaps the most inspirational story of 2018. A year later, the story climax of him winning the ROH title from Rush at Final Battle 2019 should have been longer and should have told a beautiful story of overcoming the odds. Maybe there were factors related to the company that took focus away from booking. Maybe a longer build was never the plan. I talk about Final Battle results and what they could mean for the future of ROH. Whatever that may be.
SmackDown was so boring Friday night — I actually fell asleep before it ended. It didn’t matter. Nothing really happened.
In the past, pro wrestlers would get mad and turn heel because their partner was weak, they wanted to make more money or they were terrible sadists who simply loved to inflict pain and injure people. Seth Rollins turned heel BECAUSE OF THE FANS!
It’s the Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.
SmackDown started with a possible kidnapping and ended with Roman Reigns being force-fed dog food. Ever since SmackDown moved to Fox, it feels like it has gotten a lot less serious. Maybe even childlike. If it’s going to go that far, there is only one way to pay off the Daniel Bryan storyline. The main event of WrestleMania should be Daniel Bryan vs. Daniel Bryan. The ’90s are hot. It is time to recreate Undertaker vs. Undertaker from SummerSlam 94.
Also, a caller who loves data calls in and offers his analysis of his own TV ratings numbers, the mistakes he thinks we are making, and what could be a problem for NXT in the future. In addition, AEW, Orange Cassidy, and how anyone can be a character and being a character isn’t special.
On this week’s Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, I talk about a weird SmackDown on FOX even by modern WWE standards. At times it felt more like it was 1995 with Roman Reigns as Diesel and King Corbin as King Mabel. Plus was shaving Daniel Bryan a bait and switch after WWE promised a new face Friday night, the new Universal title for The Fiend, and the returns of Alexa Bliss, Elias, and Sheamus.
I explain why I think people need to back off and go a little easier on Jim Ross and his commentary. My reaction to the Wrestling Observer’s report on Stardom’s choices for its new signature stars going forward and the retirement of Hazuki. My answer to a Twitter question about the AEW women’s Division, why I am willing to give it a little more time to develop, and what I think would help to speed things up.
On this week’s Saturday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, I preview a very busy weekend of wrestling with NXT TakeOver, both War Games matches, Balor vs.Riddle and more.
After that, we talk Survivor Series and what the return of DX, especially Triple H, to television might mean for NXT talent and the chance of actually scoring some victories on a WWE-branded PPV.
Friday night’s SmackDown was a fun go-home show. We talk about highlights including Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler, Keith Lee, Seth Rollins, Otis, The New Day, Roode, Ziggler, and more.
I also take some calls from people with comments and reaction on both the Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho interviews up now at wrestlingobserver.com, the rise in popularity of joshi wrestling, thoughts on the expectations of the AEW women’s division, AEW booking, ROH, NXT War Games, and the effect one match has on the card.
It was the lowest-rated SmackDown on FOX since moving to the channel. Like everyone, I disliked the terrible opening segment and the ridiculous dog costume. After that, while the show was unremarkable, I thought it had as much logic as anything, or what passes for logic, in WWE these days.
Shorty G and Ali continue to be spotlighted and linked with Roman Reigns, The New Day still rocks, and did an online interview hint about what’s next (or NXT) for The Revival?
Also, in the beginning of the NXT invasion Triple H was all over that first SmackDown. He’s been conspicuous by his absence. Is that a sign that NXT could fail at Survivor Series and disappear back to Full Sail without any follow up? Plus, thoughts on Rhea Ripley and how WWE artificially stretches out its storylines while AEW reset many wrestlers and feuds after Full Gear.
Full Gear is not only AEW’s first pay-per-view since it’s been on TNT, it also has the potential to be a historic moment in pro wrestling. Depending on the buyrate and the reaction to the booking, it will either be a strong foundation to business going forward or a point where we can look back to where fans lost faith in the product.
I compare Cody’s promo to CM Punk’s ‘pipe bomb.’ The ‘pipe bomb’ is a famous moment for a generation of wrestling fans, but how much money did it draw? Did it have an effect on WWE business at the time? The buyrate of SummerSlam 2011 may surprise you. I also draw comparisons to King Corbin’s awful opening segment on Friday Night SmackDown from Manchester, England.
Plus, a preview of the Full Gear card, the build, potential outcomes, and what could come next for AEW.
After a very newsworthy week for WWE, the company pulled out all of the stops and delivered not just the best episode of SmackDown since it moved to FOX, but the best show in recent memory.
After a few brief comments about the controversial week, I segue into the NXT invasion (TakeOver?) of SmackDown. On its own, a remarkable show. It’s even more remarkable when you consider the surrounding events and the fact NXT talent arrived at the arena at the last possible minute. It played out in a very natural, episodic nature.
The new talent also delivered. Keith Lee, Adam Cole, Rhea Ripley, and everyone from NXT looked like stars. We’ve seen WWE give up on invasion storylines before. I have some thoughts on why this one may finally be the one that plays out to a satisfying conclusion. The best build to Survivor Series in years.
