Daily Update: AEW & Hot Topic, AAW, Carlos Silva

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We’re looking for reports on last night’s Raw show in Wichita Falls, TX, Saturday’s Crash show in Tijuana, the Evolve weekend shows in New York, from Raw tonight in Oklahoma City (matches and anything else not on the air) and the Smackdown house show in Topeka to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Raw tonight has Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Ronda Rousey & Natalya plus Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman appear. 

Smackdown and 205 Live on Tuesday are from Wichita, KS. Smackdown has an in-ring segment with Daniel Bryan, Vince McMahon and A.J. Styles, plus Naomi vs. Mandy Rose, Andrade vs. Rey Mysterio 2/3 falls, Samoa Joe vs Mustafa Ali and Cesaro vs. The Miz. 205 Live has Hideo Itami vs. Kalisto vs. Akira Tozawa in a three-way.

F4W NEWSLETTER: Figure Four Weekly: AEW roster starts to take shape

Plans for All Elite Wrestling started to come into focus at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida last Tuesday. A surprise appearance by Chris Jericho closed the event, with Jericho instantly becoming the highest profile signing AEW has made in its brief history. “I’m Chris Jericho, and I am all in with All Elite Wrestling,” Jericho said to begin his speech. “Surprise — I think we just took things to a different level, didn’t we?” Jericho said he’s not here with AEW for the money — he’s here because he believes in doing something new and different. 

WON NEWSLETTER: January 21, 2019 Observer Newsletter: Ring of Honor signs Rush, more

The business year in review issue of the Wrestling Observer is out with looks at both the biggest drawing cards and best big match wrestlers of the modern era.

This issue looks at combat sports including the biggest crowds of 2018, what main eventers headlined the most successful house shows, PPV numbers for 2018, big crowds broken down by major promotion, and UFC PPV comparisons over the last 12 years.

Also have a detailed look at the new signings and negotiations over the past week. Look in depth at the battle to sign Rush, including what MLW and RHO offered, how CMLL played a role, and when Rush will be a free agent.

Read the update on the Royal Rumble show, the story behind why Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman was pulled from the show a long time before it got out, the real reasons why the match isn’t happening and why it continued to be pushed even though it wasn’t happening. 

Read a complete rundown of the NXT UK show, with match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Examine the success of WWE stock, the new U.K. training center, WWE women’s’ tag team titles, the reasons behind some of the debuts of new characters on television, Vince McMahon’s new XFL update, WWE changing hosts for WWE Network, new contracts signed, injury updates, who wants out, and the Nigel McGuinness documentary.

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave Meltzer, or by using PayPal directing funds to Dave@WrestlingObserver.com. 

Rates in the United States are $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com. For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52. If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.)

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can choose one free classic issue or two free classic issues with a 40-issue subscription.

MONDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio, covering Raw and the weekend news. You can send questions to the show to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com.

Carlos Silva, who was the CEO of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) was announced today as the new CEO of a remake of World Team Tennis. Silva also purchased a small ownership stake in WTT. WTT was a big deal decades ago when teams were owned by Billie Jean King and Elton John. 

Hop Topic will be doing a market test of six new AEW T-shirts at 140 of their stores starting next week and if they sell well then they will pick up the AEW line nationally.

AAW has officially sold out its Saturday night show in Chicago at the Logan Square Auditorium. The show features Trevor Lee’s final match with the promotion before going to WWE, as well as ACH’s final match with them, plus Penta 0M & Rey Fenix vs. LAX. They also run 2/8 in Austin, TX at the AFS Cinemas with AR Fox & Myron Reed vs. whoever wins the LAX vs. Lucha Brothers match, plus Sami Callihan vs. Curt Stallion.

WWE

  • The WWE Network has added 34 episodes of Superstars from 4/18 to 12/5 in 1992.  

MISCELLANEOUS

  • There was no bidding war for talent involving MLW and Dragon Lee. As noted in the Observer, when Rush signed with ROH and MLW realized that everyone with CMLL that ROH would want, they would have access to, the decision was made that it served MLW no purpose to book CMLL talent. Court Bauer said that nobody who is a regular with CMLL will be considered because there is no upside to it.
  • Evolve from Friday night in Brooklyn: Joe Gacy b Colby Corino, The Skulk b Beaver Boys, Priscilla Kelly b Trish Adora, Anthony Henry b Curt Stallion, Fabian Aichner b Darby Allin, Liam Gray b Cyrus Satin, Street Profits b The Skulk, JD Drake b Eddie Kingston to keep the WWN title, Johnny Gargano & AR Fox b Austin Theory & Josh Briggs. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
  • KSW, which is on DAZN, announced a 3/23 show in Lodz, Poland at the Atlas Arena with Phil DeFries (16-6) defending the heavyweight title against Tomasz Narkun (16-2), who holds the light heavyweight title. The big draw on the how is the battle of strongmen with Marius Pudzianowski (12-6) facing Olympic weight lifting gold medalist Szymon Kolecki (6-1).
  • Flamita was announced for the World Series Wrestling tour of Australia in March.
  • Wrestle Rock from Saturday night in Melbourne, Australia: CK Dowie b Stevie Filip, Vixsin b Avary, Jett Rouka & Tyson Baxter b Lochy Hendricks & Jake Lindo, Jimmy Havoc b Mad Dog McCrea in a no DQ match, Mitch Waterman b Jake Andrewartha to keep the title. (thanks to Kevin Chiat) 
  • Legacy Fighting Alliance announced a 2/15 show on AXS from Clive, IA at the 7 Flags Event Center and a  2/22 show from Prior Lake, MN from the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. The Prior Lake show is headlined by a middleweight title match with champion Brendan Allen vs. Moses Murrietta. 
  • Lucha Palooza on 4/18 in Toronto at the Opera House.
  • Dan Severn will be doing a seminar on 3/1 in Winnipeg at Rookie’s Sports Bar. 
  • Action Wrestling on 2/8 in Tyrone, GA has Fred Yehi, Stevie Richards, Anthony Henry and more in a benefit show for Make A Wish Georgia.
  • One is trying to hit the Japanese market hard and had a seminar and meet and greet with Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez and Angela Lee earlier today in Tokyo.
  • Puma King vs. Gringo Loco has been added to the 2/2 MLW show in Philadelphia. One hour of the show will air live on BeinSports.
  • CWE on 2/27 in St Pierre Jolys, Manitoba at the St. Pierre Rec Centre.
  • MCW on Friday night in Felton, DE at the Auto Exchange with Boogeyman, and Saturday night in Manchester, MD at the Manchester Valley High School with Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria) vs. Melina.
  • Baja Stars USA on 2/16 in San Diego at 3020 Coronado Ave, has Psycho Clown vs. Pagano vs Mortiz and Xtreme Tiger vs. Flamita vs. Bandido as the top matches.
  • RIW on 2/23 in Cudahy, CA at the Clara Sports Arena has Blue Panther & Blue Panther Jr. vs Felino & Tiger.
  • Stand up comic Ron Funches was the guest on the latest episode of Conan O’Brien’s podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, and spoke about his love of professional wrestling, and why The Rock is the greatest wrestler ever.
  • A story on a city council meeting to allow pro wrestling matches in Hamilton, OH.
  • A story on Limitless Wrestling in Maine and the 21-year-old promoter there.
  • Baseball star Jay Reddick was married and had a wrestling theme with WWE title belts. Reddick once bet Bryan Danielson on who could grow the best beard. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
  • Reader John Raad with this clip of 21-year-old Jean Ferre (Andre the Giant) from France.  

Daily Pro Wrestling History: WWF Royal Rumble 2001

Ed in San Antonio presents the WON/F4W Empire Events for WRESTLEMANIA Weekend (more to be added):

  • Sunday, April 6th, at 12:00 pm: Empire lunch (all you can eat) at Churrascaria Plataforma ($90 per person), located at 316 W. 49th street in Manhattan. Purchase tickets here~!
  • Luxury Bus to MetLife Stadium for Wrestlemania: We will depart from the Hilton Midtown (site of Wrestlecon) located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Departure time is 4:00 pm and will return from MetLife approximately 30 mins after the event. Times are subject to change, and cost $67.00 per person for the round trip. Purchase tickets here~!

CONTACT INFORMATION