Daily Update
Latest News:
AEW, WBD finalizing deal for third weekly wrestling showUFC on ESPN+ 79 live results: Petr Yan vs. Merab DvalishviliKonnan to induct Rey Mysterio into WWE Hall of FameArn Anderson announces passing of older son BarrettTwo tag team matches announced for WWE RawFirst two wrestlers advance to New Japan Cup quarterfinalsWWE SmackDown video highlights: Cody Rhodes & Sami Zayn stand tallGame Changer Wrestling opposing AEW: Fight Forever trademark
Latest Audio:
Wrestling Observer Live: WWE gambling song, Ruby Soho promo analysisSpeak Now: Rey Mysterio going into WWE HOF, Jey Uso on Sami Zayn betrayalWrestling Observer Radio: Madusa interview
Latest Free YouTube Video:
This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
March 13, 2023 Observer Newsletter: AEW Revolution recap, WWE & legalized gambling
*The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site. It's got the most detailed coverage from a business standpoint and creative standpoint, covering AEW Revolution including reader feedback on that show, UFC 285 and the Stardom show this past weekend.
*Match and performer of the week
*The longest singles title matches since 1970 all over the world
*MJF vs Danielson and comparisons to other Iron Man matches
*Evaluating MJF as a performer and a drawing card
*Early PPV numbers along with gate numbers from San Francisco and other business metrics
*The return of FTR
*The potential of the AEW tag team division
*AEW repeat PPV business notes
*Movie theater business for Revolution
*San Francisco records
*Future AEW directions
*Full details on WWE's attempt to get gambling legal on its outcomes and what steps and how its business will have to change to make this happen
*Full coverage of UFC 285 including Jon Jones legacy and future, Alexa Grasso's win and business notes regarding the show including what unique note thee was about the prelims this week
*Full details on the amended lawsuit MLW has filed against WWE, McDevitt talks, what new things are added and what it says about the MLW relationship with REELZ, and lots of business notes from the lawsuit regarding the wrestling television rights fees
*Stardom puts on its best show of the year and a look at the very different excellent matches
*Notes on the first few days of the New Japan Cup and where things stand
*TV ratings over the past week as well as segment-by-segment notes, competition and the whys of how everything went down
*The unique team challenge tournament CMLL finished up this past week
*AAA star faces claims by girlfriend of domestic violence and both CMLL and AAA talk about the situation
*Notes on the joint NWA and AAA show put together as part of a Smashing Pumpkins concert
*Notes on retirement of Daisuke Harada
*New Japan anniversary show and New Japan Cup notes*Zero-1 runs 22nd anniversary show
*Notes from Creed III
*Big shows over Mania weekend not from WWE
*Major questions on AEW talent and their media talks
*What international star AEW tried to get for San Francisco and why it didn't happen
*International TV ratings and streaming numbers for WWE & AEW and what NXT segment scored huge
*Upcoming ticket advances for WWE & AEW shows
*Dana White on the future of Power Slap
*48-year-old world champion wrestler has retirement MMA fight soon
*Notes on Vince McMahon's return backstage at the Boston show
*Wells Fargo Securities predictions on Smackdown negotiations and the value of Raw & Smackdown right now
*WWE performer talks trying to go to the 2024 Olympics and is training for MMA as well
*WWE injury updates
This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter:
January 23, 2006 Observer Newsletter: UFC vs. WWE head-to-head, Sting makes TNA return
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Saturday Update
WWE
Jerry “The King” Lawler is back home in Memphis recovering after suffering a stroke in Florida last month. The Cauliflower Alley Club tweeted: “It's great to see that the King has been able to return home to Memphis after his recent stroke. Everyone here at the CAC wishes nothing but the best for his continued recovery.”Today marks the one-year anniversary of Big E suffering a broken neck. While speaking with TMZ Sports last week, Big E was asked about potentially returning to the ring: “I just want to make the best decision. I’ve got to see what the scans say and then talk to doctors and go from there. But right now, before I know anything, I’m not going to make any rush to judgments or anything, so we’ll just see how everything looks.”When asked if he has any anxiety about his upcoming scans. Big E said, whether he’s able to wrestle again or not, he’s fine with whatever happens: “No, no anxiety at all, man. Everything Is impermanent, so if it comes to an end, cool – if it doesn’t, cool. What will be will be. I’m good with whatever.”Alexa Bliss responded to reports that she’s on a hiatus from WWE: “Tired of seeing these tweets. I am not on a hiatus. They know where to find me. also need to remember – you only see what parts of life I want you to see.”WWE has announced a new storyline medical update on Roxanne Perez following the angle where she collapsed after her match at NXT Roadblock: “Update: Roxanne Perez has been discharged from the hospital and is now at home resting. #WWENXT”Good Karma Wrestling asked Cody Rhodes about AEW Revolution:I only saw some highlights from Ricky, I had a pirated feed, which I probably should have just figured out how to get the right feed. Not going to tell you who sent me that. I thought Ricky did great, really proud of him. Chris Jericho is an absolute legend, he’s more than a legend, he’s Chris Jericho. For Ricky to be able to deal with that and handle that in the way he did, very proud of Ricky. Very proud of Julia, proud of Malakai (Black) actually because he was somebody that I loved our interactions with and I wanted to see more of that Malakai and it’s been a minute. And then all my other kids, I’m not going to name them because I’m not going to put him over. All my other kids, one of them was out there in the main event, we don’t have to be best friends or anything but just very proud of their growth and their continued growth.Mick Foley revealed that he’s been asked to induct someone into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. Foley didn’t reveal the identity of the wrestler who requested he induct them:I received a text message from someone I'd had no contact with in a while, years and years, asking if I would induct them into the WWE Hall of Fame. As this plays out, we will see. There's always a chance that request will be denied, but I know this person responded back to WWE that I was in. As of this moment, I'm counting on being there at the Hall of Fame to induct this person. I'm not going to tell you who it is, but we will all find out together or if it's ixnayed. I'll let you know at that juncture in time. I'll let you know after the Hall of Fame who it was that asked me, but it was a daymaker for sure. Someone who had many different options and asked me, so I was really flattered, readily accepted, and we will see how that comes to pass, if it comes to pass.In a Q&A with The Spun, UFC president Dana White was asked if there’s any chance a UFC fight between Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones could happen: “Brock and I have a great relationship, and we always have, but I don’t think Brock wants to fight any more. Brock’s made a lot of money. He came into the UFC and won the heavyweight title. He’s got nothing left to prove. I don’t think he’d want to do it.”Bayley shared a 2002 essay that she wrote about Lita for school.Finn Balor appeared on this week’s episode of Celtic Warrior Workouts with Sheamus.The Usos, Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio, and Sheamus were interviewed on The SmackDown LowDown. Jey Uso sent a message to Sami Zayn, telling Zayn that he’ll see him in the middle of the ring next week.WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded the following matches: Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw Women’s Championship (Hell in a Cell 2021) and Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton for the WWE Championship (WrestleMania 33).
AEW/Other Wrestling
Fightful reported about GCW opposing AEW’s “Fight Forever” trademark: “GCW is not looking to delay the release of the AEW video game, or get money from AEW, per GCW. They're looking to make sure they can still use the name in use for future charity shows”Saraya, Toni Storm, and Ruby Soho’s faction in AEW has officially been named “The Outcasts.”Chris Jericho was interviewed on The Sessions with Renee Paquette.Referee Stephon Smith was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.