Tag: Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame

November 17, 2025 Observer Newsletter: The 2025 Hall of Fame issue

Posted on by F4W Staff

It’s Friday and a new supersized edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has arrived.

It’s a big one: the 2025 WON Hall of Fame issue.

Dave Meltzer presents the newest class entering the Hall which includes some familiar names to modern fans.

Dave also hits on all the news of the week including Okada returning to NJPW to take on Hiroshi Tanahashi, a look at WWE & AEW’s upcoming November major events, and all the news of the week.

Sit back and enjoy one of the most popular issues of the year.

Click here to read (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot talk

Posted on by Karl Stern

Karl Stern returns with a new DragonKingKarl Show dedicated to this year’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot: his most listened-to show of the year.

Over the past several months, this podcast has focused on many of the people who had not yet made the ballot which gives Karl much more latitude to dive into the people and process of the Hall of Fame, and to examine the ballot.

On the second half of the show, he throws a curveball into the process which makes for a very interesting segment. Also, Karl prepares a suggestion for Dave Meltzer about how to handle the pioneer era of wrestling.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

WOR: More Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame discussion, WON news items

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with the Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about two major stories from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The first is on the new ratings and how it’s affecting wrestling television shows. The second is on why Andrade was able to go to AEW so quickly.

John Muse, Ethan Tyler, and Phil Lions then joined us to talk about the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame candidates in both Mexico and rest of the world categories.

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube

WOR: Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame discussion kickoff, lessons from last Saturday

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with the Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about all the big news from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Additionally, John Muse and Ethan Tyler joined us to talk about the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame candidates in the US (modern and historical) and Japan.

Here were some of the things we discussed before getting to the Hall of Fame conversation:

  • AEW All Out buyrate
  • Lessons from last Saturday
  • WWE Wrestlepalooza interest
  • NXT & AEW Dynamite ratings

Next week, we’ll go over the rest of the ballot.

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube

Here’s the extra 25 minutes of superchat questions that weren’t on the original audio version.

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The WON Hall of Fame case for Gordman & Goliath

Posted on by Karl Stern

It is a regular gravy edition of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show as I dive deeper into those on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame ballot who have not yet been voted in.

The very famous tag team of Black Gordman and Great Goliath are two of those very people so why aren’t they in and should they be?

Also, I talk more 1930s Madison Square Garden history with a huge doublecross incoming and also look at another mid-1990s Tokyo Dome show with a massive tag team match.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The WON Hall of Fame case for the Mongolian Stomper

Posted on by Karl Stern

Join Karl Stern today for a look at another Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame nominee: The Mongolian Stomper.

I grew up watching the Stomper on Southeastern Wrestling, but he worked a different sort of character in Stampede. I’ll discuss if any of those belong in the Hall of Fame.

Plus, I continue our look back at 1930s wrestling at Madison Square Garden, and more 1990s Tokyo Dome pro wrestling history!

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Making the WON Hall of Fame case for the Iron Sheik

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for former WWF World Champion and one of the craziest characters in pro wrestling history: the Iron Sheik.

I look at the qualifications for “Sheiky Baby” and add a personal story of booking him once.

Finally, I look back to the mid-1930s, Madison Square Garden and the return of Jim Londos, and a mid-1990s look at the Tokyo Dome and the BVD Martial Arts tournament featuring Antonio Inoki and, yes, Sting!

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DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The WON Hall of Fame case for The Von Erichs

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for the Von Erichs trio of David, Kevin & Kerry Von Erich.

Amazingly, the only Von Erich in the HOF is Fritz, but should this be the case?

Also on this show, I talk more from the Jack Pfefer scandal in New York wrestling, plus a really cool show from the Tokyo Dome in 1992.

There’s lots of pro wrestling history in this episode, so let’s get started.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: The WON Hall of Fame case for the British Bulldogs

Posted on by Karl Stern

One half of the British Bulldogs, Dynamite Kid, is already in the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. So putting the team in the Hall of Fame is really a question about putting in Davey Boy Smith, right?

Not so fast. I make the argument that really isn’t the case at all.

Plus, I talk more Madison Square Garden history as Jack Pfefer goes rogue on wrestling, and WWF teams up with Super World Sports for a big 1990s Tokyo Dome show with Hulk Hogan and The Road Warriors.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: WON Hall of Fame case for Junkyard Dog

Posted on by Karl Stern

On this week’s DragonKingKarl, I continue to examine the cases for those who have not yet been elected into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

This week, I look at one of the most contentious contenders: the Junkyard Dog. Yearly, I get requests to consider him for the HOF, but the case just hasn’t been there. On this episode, I dig deeper than ever to see if one can be made.

Plus, I give more history from Madison Square Garden as Jack Pfefer turns on kayfabe, and we talk Ric Flair’s only Tokyo Dome appearance vs. Tatsumi Fujinami.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Pacific Rim: Wrestling on Netflix, Fumi’s new book on Rikidozan

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back!

Fumi Saito talks to me about the success of both Queen of Villains in Japan — the story of wrestling legend Dump Matsumoto — as well as the Mr. McMahon docuseries on Netflix.

Plus, CIMA & Shingo, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Wrestle Kingdom & Wrestle Dynasty take shape, NOAH’s Yoshiki Inamura heads to NXT, Fumi’s new book on Rikidozan, and much more.

We’ve been gone awhile, so we tried to make up a lot of ground.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Observer Hall of Fame 2024 inductees

Posted on by Karl Stern

Image: WWE

On this week’s DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I look at the 2024 class of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

Among the new members are Roman Reigns and the Young Bucks and we will discuss them as well as the other inductees. Also, should any new pioneer era wrestlers be inducted next year? I have a couple of suggestions since I literally wrote the book on the pioneer era of pro wrestling which can be found on Amazon.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Daily Update: Observer Hall of Fame, lineups for this week

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site right now.  It was a huge news week as it’s the largest issue in some time:

  • Full coverage of Crown Jewel with the matches, business and interest level
  • Thoughts on the programs going forward
  • TKO gives its quarterly business update
  • Why profits are lower than usual.
  • UFC’s media rights deal thoughts
  • Talk about the future of Fight Pass
  • Revenue for UFC & WWE in different categories
  • Stock value
  • How much debt TKO currently has
  • How the Cung Le lawsuit factors into all this
  • More on the show at  Sphere
  • Thoughts about Dana White and/or Nick Khan getting involved with  boxing from Mark Shapiro
  • More Netflix plans
  • A look at the Wrestle Kingdom lineup
  • Where New Japan’s business currently stands
  • Upcoming New Japan tag team tournament notes
  • Power Struggle coverage, great matches and angles
  • NXT and AEW go head-to-head, the most detailed breakdown as to what happened and why
  • Where AEW stood in the overall standings that night
  • How every quarter did
  • Coverage of the Conor McGregor trial going on
  • Update on Full Gear, announced matches,  other matches, ticket buying interest
  • Notes on WWE cuts like Baron Corbin, Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox.
  • Dragon Gates runs a major show
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the shows this past week, with standings for the night and week, segment-by-segment numbers, and all the competition.
  • CMLL to fill the historical middleweight title vacancy by Mistico this week
  • Arena Mexico draws the week’s largest crowd for themed show
  • Update on El Hijo del Vikingo
  • Stardom tag team tournament update
  • King of Gate tournament update
  • Davey Boy Smith Jr. wins Triple Crown and background of that
  • Death of Scorpio Jr.
  • Hall of Fame candidate health issue update
  • The life of AWA’s Al DeRusha
  • Can actual wrestling draw more than 40,000 each to six events over three days. 2028 we’ll get the chance to find out.
  • Marko Stunt talks retirement
  • Santo retirement tour noes
  • Mike Mansury talks AEW production changes for 2025
  • All the PPV business updates
  • Ricochet talks leaving WWE
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Jon Jones talks Tom Aspinall and why he’s not interested in that ight
  • More on the Bruce Prichard and Michael Hayes leave of absences
  • WWE scheduling updates
  • Yoshhiki Inamura comes to NXT
  • WWE signs former Olympic athletes
  • Lots of WWE injury updates
  • Notes from all the live arena events and the European tour

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Sunday Update

  • Our weekend show with Garrett Gonzales discussing all the news, including where AEW needs to improve for competition, Wednesday head-to-head, Tyson vs. Paul, and answering a lot of questions, is up. Bryan and I will be back tonight covering the weekend and Hall of Fame news.
  • The Hall of Fame Observer issue will be out Thursday night. The issue will have a giant breakdown and story, with nine new inductees this year and notes on how they got in, favorites for next year, and more.
  • A thought as I was writing up this issue. Although people will make their marks over the next few years, what current wrestlers who have never been on the ballot could be expected to be contenders or Hall of Famers? There’s the obvious one, but really only one. There is a second who I can see a case for. Usually, there would be a half dozen or more. You either have young guys who maybe in 5-10 years will break out or people who have already been on the ballot.  
  • NXT on Tuesday has Fallon Henley vs. Kelani Jordan, Cedric Alexander vs. Wes Lee, Cora Jade vs. Sol Ruca, and Adrianna Rizzo vs. Nikkita Lyons. Ava will also make an announcement about the NXT Tag Team titles. There will be Iron Survivor qualifiers on the show.
  • AEW on Wednesday has Adam Page & Christian Cage vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson, Konosuke Takeshita vs. Adam Cole non-title, Roderick Strong vs. Lance Archer falls count anywhere, Swerve Strickland vs. Lio Rush, plus appearances by Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, Bobby Lashley and Mina Shirakawa.
  • Raw on Monday has Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair defending the tag titles against Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez. They will also do an angle to set up Gunther vs. Damian Priest.
  • Reinier de Ridder, who was a champion at both middleweight and light heavyweight at ONE, before leaving, debuted yesterday for UFC and submitted Gerald Meerschaert in the third round. He ripped on ONE after his fight, saying how stressful it was and how hard it was to get fights. He said he had some good years at the beginning but “Over the past couple of years, it’s been really bad.”  He said, “This is something I feel I have to do for other fights.  If you’re thinking of signing with ONE Championship, don’t .”
  • The only heavily recommended matches to me the last few days are Gabe Kidd vs Kosei Fujita from Friday in Lowell, MA, which I heard was great, and Moose vs. Mike Bailey on the Thursday night TNA Impact show.
  • Major League Wrestling’s big show from Chicago wasn’t able to be streamed live. MLW will be streaming the show tonight at 8 p.m.Eastern I heard the key CMLL bouts that you think would be good like Mistico vs. Titan vs. Averno were very good.
  • We’re looking for reports from last night’s MLW show, as well as the Friday and Saturday night TNA tapings in Fayetteville, NC to [email protected].
  • TNA is offering a free month of TNA+ if you enter the code TNAFREE.
  • Lisa Varon was on Svengoolie last night. If you didn’t know, Svengoolie (Rich Koz) is a big-time wrestling fan, and an Observer reader for decades.
  • No update on Dragon Kid after his injury on Thursday past he didn’t appear this week. He’s not expected to wrestle next week but wasn’t hurt seriously.
  • DDT vs. Defy from last night in Seattle: Gringo Loco b Yuni, Nick Wayne b Jack Cartwheel, Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas kept the Defy tag titles in a three-way over Bryan Keith & Shota and Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson, Marina Shafir b Dannika Della Rouge to keep the Def women’s title, The Bollywood Boz b Daisuke Sasaki & Artemis Spencer, Konosuke Takshita b Kohei Kinoshita, Miyu Yamashita won the DDT Universal title over champion Mao and Mike Bailey in a three-way.  
  • All Japan opened its tag team tournament yesterday at Korakuen Hall:  
    • B block: Kuroshio Tokyo Japan & Seigo Tachibana b Cyrus & Harley Jacksoni
    • A block: Daisuke Sekimoto & Kengo Mashimo b Hokuto Omori & Kuma Arashi
    • B block: Yuma Aoyagi & Fuminori Abe b Hikaru Sato & Yuko Miyamoto
    • A block: Rei & Jun Saito b Makoto Oishi & Mike D Vecchio
    • B block: Kento Miyahara & Davey Boy Smith Jr. b Suwama & Hideki Suzuki
  • From the New Japan show on Friday, Ryohei Oiwa got a big win over KENTA to set up his shot at Gabe Kidd for the Strong title. Yota Tsuji did an angle to face Jack Perry on 1/5 at the Tokyo Dome. West Coast Wrecking Crew will be getting a shot at new Strong tag champs the Grizzled Young Vets soon The big story was the announcement of Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shingo Takagi on the 1/4 Tokyo Dome show, which is AEW International champion vs. Never champion and has a good shot at being a match of the year candidate.

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast: Observer 2024 Hall of Fame ballot part 1

Posted on by Karl Stern

It’s that time of year again, Dave Meltzer has sent out the 2024 ballots for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

This is my most popular show of the year (two parts with part 2 airing next week) and we have a lot to discuss this year. Will the multitude of tag teams introduced over the last few years get in? What about the Young Bucks? Who is in danger of dropping off the list? Several new names are now on the ballot. So, let’s discuss the 2024 Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame ballot.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

August 22, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Hall of Fame issue preview, TNA Sacrifice recap

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

With our next issue, which will be coming out in just a few days, being our 10th annual Hall of Fame issue, this is a preview looking at the new candidates on the ballot. At the time this story was originally written (actually for last week’s issue, but due to space limitations, it ended up being cut) all ballots had come in but I avoided looking at any of them until it came time to tabulate, which was a few days ago.

The rules are that the balloting is broken down into three regions, U.S./Canada, Japan and Mexico. A candidate that gets 60% of the votes from his region is elected in. There are people who follow wrestling or have wrestled in more than one region so there are some ballots exclusively from one region, some from two and some from three. By rule, all balloting is kept confidential, although some have posted their picks on web sites and others have done so on the radio.

Subscribers can read this issue here.