Tag: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

WOR: Kenny Omega on his comeback, facing Kazuchika Okada at AEW All In

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales are back with a Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, joined by returning guest and reigning AEW International Champion Kenny Omega.

They talked with Kenny about his injuries, how he’s feeling, his comeback, his January comeback match with Gabe Kidd, his series of matches with Kazuchika Okada, and wrestling’s future.

Then, Dave talked about losing this week’s current issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and the skeleton issue up now.

Here were some of the other things we discussed:

  • CM Punk and Saudi Arabia
  • Kevin Iole’s retirement
  • The latest on Britt Baker
  • An update on Kommander
  • AEW Dynamite ratings

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

July 7, 2025 Observer Newsletter: WWE Night of Champions review, huge AEW All In weekend incoming

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: WWE

Subscribers can now read a skeleton issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter due to multiple technical issues.

Lead stories include a look back at WWE Night of Champions and an early look at AEW All In weekend.

Our apologies to subscribers for the problems.

Click here to read this issue (sub needed)

No Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week due to technical issues

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Due to a computer issue after a power shutdown due to work in the area, the Wrestling Observer dated July 7th was lost after being about 98 percent completed.

Attempts to retrieve the issue by different people working several hours were not successful even though we knew about the issue and had saved the issue just prior to the shutdown. Due to that, there will not be an issue this week. I will be doing a show tomorrow with Garrett Gonzales to discuss things that would have been in the issue.  

If there are any topics from the past week that would have been covered that are normally in the issue that you are most interested in, please email me and we will discuss them on the next show. We are very sorry for the inconvenience.

November 14, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Two WWE wrestlers suspended, CNN special on Chris Benoit

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The issue of performance enhancing drugs is always going to be an exercise in frustration, but actions in both MMA and WWE this past week continue to show certain colors that make things even more uneasy.

The WWE’s Wellness Policy was shown this past week to be far more about the corporate fiscal Wellness. And in MMA, hearings conducted before the California State Athletic Commission on 10/31 left everyone on all sides confused, with the mixed messages being sent.

On 11/2, WWE announced D.H. Smith (Harry Smith) and Chris Masters (Chris Mordetzsky) had been suspended due to violations of the company Wellness policy. These were the first wrestlers suspended for drug policy violations that were announced publicly, as per the change in policy on 11/1. Smith was announced as being put on a 30-day suspension, and Masters on a 60-day suspension for a second violation.

There is the obvious aspect of the story of Smith’s father dying at 39, with the coroner who conducted the autopsy specifically mentioning steroids as a prime cause of the death, and his mentor in many ways being Chris Benoit. But everyone knows the rules of the game and to be surprised anyone does anything to get ahead in this business, no matter what their family history is, shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

June 30, 2025 Observer Newsletter: WWE Night of Champions preview, Jon Jones retires amid controversy

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: WWE

Dave Meltzer returns with another new Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The lead story is about the retirement of now-former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones — one of the greatest fighters in the Octagon and one of its most controversial figures outside of it.

Dave previews this weekend’s WWE Night of Champions and looks at the wild road to get to Saudi Arabia.

He also recaps last week’s Fantasticamania, NJPW’s new big signing that they hope will lead them into the future, and all the other news of the wrestling week.

Click here to read.

November 12, 2007 Observer Newsletter: The life & career of The Fabulous Moolah

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

There is little doubt, simply because of her role in the business for so many decades, that the preeminent female figure in the history of this industry would be Lillian Ellison. The most famous ever, at least in North America, would be her alter ego, The Fabulous Moolah.

Ellison was the main power broker in the world of women’s wrestling from the mid-to-late 50s into the early 80s, running her Girls Wrestling Enterprises booking office that supplied female talent to most of the wrestling promotions in North America. She trained her talent at her 42-acre estate on 101 Moolah Drive, in Columbia, SC, made deals with the promoters, sent talent on the road, and took the best bookings for herself as the perennial world champion, a belt she owned and controlled.

Ellison passed way on 11/2 at a Columbia, SC, hospital at the age of 84. She had surgery to replace her left shoulder on 10/30, and was in a lot of pain over the next few days.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

June 23, 2025 Observer Newsletter: AEW debuts in Mexico, NJPW Dominion review

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: AEW

Dave Meltzer has returned with a new Wrestling Observer Newsletter for subscribers.

Dave leads off with a look at AEW’s debut at Arena Mexico this week, part of a three-event week with CMLL that concludes with tonight’s Fantasticamania.

He also recaps NJPW Dominion as well as AAA’s recent event that featured a much-talked about rematch between Vikingo and Alberto El Patron.

He looks ahead to WWE’s Night of Champions and Saturday Night’s Main Event that will feature the in-ring return of Goldberg in what is expected to be his final match.

All that and more awaits, so begin reading as it’s your friend.

Click here to read

October 29, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Syfy renews ECW, Brock Lesnar signs with UFC

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

One week after the show was revamped and the decision was made to include bigger names weekly, The Sci-Fi Network agreed on 10/23 to renew ECW for a new one-year contract through the end of 2008.

No details of the contract were announced, although inside sources say the money terms were the same as the previous deal. WWE was looking for a longer-term commitment, hoping for a multi-year renewal. WWE will have Smackdown wrestlers appear regularly on ECW, and have ECW wrestlers appear regularly on Smackdown in attempts to up the profile of the show. The WWE was worried no deal would be made, and began last week putting tape delayed ECW on its web site as perhaps preparation for not getting a new deal for the brand. Even after the deal was finalized this week, WWE is still airing ECW on a next day tape delay with no commercial interruptions on the site.

Subscribers can read this newsletter here.

June 9, 2025 Observer Newsletter: Several WWE wrestlers not returning, Money in the Bank & Worlds Collide previews

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: WWE

Dave Meltzer returns with the newest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

He leads off with a look at WWE bidding farewell to three veterans over the last week in R-Truth, Carlito and Valhalla as they chose not to renew their contracts.

He then looks at a very busy Saturday for TKO as WWE holds Worlds Collide and Money in the Bank followed by a UFC pay-per-view later that night.

All that and the rest of the news of the pro wrestling week awaits.

Click here to read (sub needed).

October 24, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Randy Couture leaves UFC, MMA interest falls in Japan

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

It was barely seven months ago when Randy Couture provided the emotional high point in UFC history when he defeated Tim Sylvia in front of the hottest crowd in company history, winning the heavyweight title just a few months before his 44th birthday.

With his fifth title win, it solidified Couture as perhaps the best fighter in UFC history, but absolutely the most successful in the clutch, and the best representative the company ever had to the public. The company didn’t have television in 2003. Couture as a 40-year-old soft-spoken tough Greco-Roman wrestler as champion in a sport seen in many places as savagery could have been marketed as a hero to middle-aged America. But on 3/3, UFC seemed at a popularity peak.

He was the underdog, as he was in most of his big fights. He was giving up size, power, striking ability and youth to a 6-8 ogre-like man who dwarfed him the day before at weigh-ins. UFC was criticized for making the match.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

June 2, 2025 Observer Newsletter: AEW Double or Nothing & WWE SNME recaps, John Laurinaitis dropped from Janel Grant lawsuit

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: AEW

Dave Meltzer is back with another edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The lead story is this past Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing which saw the finals of the men’s and women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournaments, a wild Anarchy in the Arena match, and more.

He also looks at WWE’s weekend with both Saturday Night’s Main Event and NXT Battleground which saw Trick Williams win the TNA World Championship.

He looks at John Laurinaitis being dropped from the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE and all the details behind that.

All that and more awaits.

Click here to read.

October 23, 2007 Observer Newsletter: ECW brand changes, TNA Bound for Glory recap

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The future of ECW is very much in question, with step one being the announcement on 10/16 from a storyline standpoint that Vickie Guerrero and Armando Estrada, the figureheads for each group, are negotiating a deal that would allow talent from each brand appear on the other show.

The Sci-Fi Network has not agreed to a new contract for the show, which has fallen in ratings to the 1.2 level in recent weeks. The current deal expires at the end of this year. Vince McMahon and the inner circle made the call to use Smackdown talent on ECW in an attempt to boost ratings on 10/14 on the way to the U.K. for television. The first move was using Kane as C.M. Punk’s mystery partner in a match against Big Daddy V & John Morrison & The Miz in the main event of the 10/16 show from Birmingham, England.

Keeping three brands separate has been something under discussion considering the lack of main event talent depth on all three rosters due to injuries and an inability to effectively elevate new talent.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

May 26, 2025 Observer Newsletter: Sabu passes away, WrestleMania 42 changes, big wrestling weekend

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: WWE

Dave Meltzer has returned from vacation with another edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, now available for subscribers.

He leads off with a brief look at the life of Sabu with a longer obituary to come.

He then goes into Thursday’s news that WWE WrestleMania 42 will not take place in New Orleans with Las Vegas as the likely destination in 2026 and more often beyond.

Dave previews a big wrestling weekend that includes WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, AEW Double or Nothing, NXT Battleground and TNA Under Siege.

All that and more awaits because reading is your friend.

Click here to read.

October 15, 2007 Observer Newsletter: 2007 Observer Hall of Fame issue

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may have only had a relatively short career as a pro wrestler, but he clearly established a major legacy for himself, as he set the record for the most votes received in the history of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Balloting.

Rock was named on 86% of the ballots received from North America, including getting all 83 votes of 83 active pro wrestlers who participated. That figure speaks volumes for the level of respect he has among the current wrestlers. Overall, he had the highest percentage of for votes a North American candidate in history. Kenta Kobashi in 2002 and Jushin Liger in 1999 in Japan have beaten that percentage. He did that in a career where he was only full-time wrestler from 1996-2002, and worked some major events for the next few years, finishing up his career at Wrestlemania XX in 2004 in Madison Square Garden. He turned 35 this year, making him eligible.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

October 8, 2007 Observer Newsletter: John Cena tears pec, WWE opens international offices

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The string of major WWE title changes determined not by the booking committee and Vince McMahon continued as John Cena’s lengthy WWE title reign ended due to suffering a complete tear of the right pectoral muscle on the 10/1 Raw show from Cleveland.

Cena, in almost HHH like fashion, tore the muscle completely off the bone while executing a simple hip toss in the opening moments of a match with Mr. Kennedy. Cena got up, immediately called for an armdrag, a move he never does, using his left side (he’s right handed) so he could hold the armlock, turn his back to the camera, and tell the referee he was hurt. He worked the rest of the match, basically with one arm, and at times showing he was in pain. He did his comeback punches with his left hand instead of his right, and won the match with the STFU, and did the post-match beatdown angle, although it was pretty evident he was in a lot of pain.

Subscribers can read this issue here.