Daily Update: AEW notes, CM Punk, Marko Stunt

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

*The biggest issue of the year, the 2022 Awards issue is up on the site

*Winners and top ten finishes in dozens of categories related to both pro wrestling and MMA as well as as listing of everyone who had won an award dating back to 1980. We also have comments on the voting in the major categories and notes on different career breakthroughs.

*Match of the week and performer of the week

*Full coverage of Elimination Chamber, the decision on the main event, the WrestleMania direction, different options, WrestleMania ticket demand, records set at Chamber, and Tony Khan and Ariel Helwani

*Coverage of Keiji Muto’s retirement at the Tokyo Dome with the unique storytelling in the main event and some great matches underneath

*Mercedes Mone returns after nine months to win the IWGP women’s title with full coverage of New Japan in San Jose, Mone’s future in Japan, who is in for a major push in Stardom, notes on Stardom’s upcoming biggest show in its history and some of the top matches

*The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week for all wrestling shows, including segment by segment, why AEW Dynamite and WWE Raw were up and other notes

*Mercedes Mone talks coming to Stardom

*Stardom tournament updates and next big show

*Notes from the Yuji Nagata vs. Kento Miyahara Triple Crown change and future All Japan big shows

*What country is New Japan talking about touring soon

*Fantastica Mania notes

*Notes on the Jerry Jarrett funeral and more Memphis wrestling history

*The death of Richard Belzer and the incident with Hulk Hogan

*Kurt Angle talks health issues

*Death of Brian Bukantis

*WBD business update

*Contract notes on top AEW talent

*Lineup for Revolution

*Ticket advances for all WWE & AEW shows

*Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE

*International TV ratings including what show broke its all-time record in what country

*Congressman going after Power Slap

*New UFC fights

*More on WWE potential sale and value

*Details of how if there is a Saudi Arabian purchase of WWE and how interested they are in it, what that would mean

*Notes on the debut of Dwayne Johnson’s XFL

*A&E documentary notes

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW uploaded its Road to San Francisco video ahead of Wednesday’s Dynamite.
  • Mark Henry would bring CM Punk back to AEW if it was his decision:
          • If I was in charge, I would bring him back, and I would bring him back with him saying to the wrestling world – not an apology, but just state the facts: ‘Grown men will disagree and things will be said that probably shouldn’t have been said, and I regret airing my dirty laundry in front of the world. It won’t happen again. Do we agree on everything? No. Can we work together and exist and have a business relationship? Yes. I will not let my personal feelings, my personal gripes, and concerns interfere with business again, because ultimately, the important thing is business and I am the business and business is good. AEW is better with me around.’
  • In an Instagram comment, Punk responded to someone who said that he should stay “retired.” Punk wrote: “you liked your own comment. Bold. I’ll wrestle again just to upset you. You’ll watch no matter where.”
  • Britt Baker spoke to Fox Sports Australia about her role in AEW right now:
          • Right now I’m not having weekly matches, I’m not having weekly promos, so it’s a little bit backed off. I try not to bother him and bug him (Tony Khan) because there are 100s of other wrestlers texting him on a daily basis, I’m sure.
          • But for example when I was champion, I was texting with Tony several times a week with different ideas, and he was sending me his ideas, and he’s very straight-up with me. He’d tell me ‘Britt, that’s not a good idea, I don’t like that’, or ‘hey, let’s make this better,’ and I really appreciate that from my boss.
          • Honesty is one of the most helpful tools anyone can ever give you when you’re learning your craft, especially when you’re learning TV professional wrestling.
          • I couldn’t ask for a better boss than Tony Khan and he has helped me so much growing as a performer, as a wrestler, as a human being. He’s really a special guy and we’re lucky to work for him.
  • Keith Lee wants to make history by winning the AEW World Championship:
          • Let’s be honest here, any place or any time an individual goes to a company, it doesn’t have to be sports-related, it doesn’t have to be physical. You go somewhere, most people with goals or ambition, they want to be that number one talent, that number one person, that number one mind, whatever it may be. The end goal is obviously become AEW World Heavyweight Champion and let’s be honest, I’m really good at making history. History with AEW would be a Black World Heavyweight Champion. I’m more than capable of doing that. I’m more than capable of carrying myself in a way that would be befitting and beneficial to a company. Not to mention, I’m setting different standards in terms of what’s acceptable in this gross, societal industry of these people trying to tell you what it means to be beautiful or what it means to represent in a way that they deem as useful and that’s what I intend to do.
  • The Young Bucks marked the three-year anniversary of their match against Kenny Omega & Hangman Page from AEW Revolution 2020: “Our vision of what wrestling can be. Will always look back fondly at the early years. Happy 3 year anniversary.”
  • Marko Stunt revealed that he has a fracture in his vertebrae as well as rotated vertebrae:
          • Wanted to give everyone an update. I haven’t been super active on here and there’s some reasons.
          • I’ve been dealing with a lot of pain recently in my lower back, and ended up doing something to agitate it more. After going to the doctor and getting X-rays they noticed that I have fracture in my vertebrae, as well as rotated vertebrae. They also noticed a disk being squeezed out of the side like toothpaste (how they described it).
          • As of right now I’m still going to doctors appointments and figuring things out. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but I’d like to thank everyone that’s supported me over my career.
          • I’ve suffered quite a few injuries that have taken their toll on me, but I’m hoping to recover and come back better than ever! I’m keeping my head up! I love you guys
  • Pac has been added to OTT ScrapperMania VII as a replacement for Jon Moxley. Eddie Kingston, who is the other replacement for Moxley, is facing Big Damo at the show. Moxley was pulled from the event after being announced for AEW’s house show in Troy, Ohio that’s also being held on Saturday, March 18.
  • Johnny Bloodsport (John Morrison) vs. Royce Isaacs will be part of the card for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport 9. The show is taking place on Thursday, March 30.
  • Allison Danger will make her GCW debut at Into the Light in Atlanta on Friday, April 21.
  • Stevie Richards posted a video thanking everyone who has sent well-wishes and prayers as he battles health issues. Richards said he doesn’t have answers yet but is grateful that he’s in the right place. He asked everyone to pray for others in his hospital who are in much worse shape than him. Richards is reportedly dealing with back and spine issues.
  • Ric Flair wished Ricky Steamboat a happy 70th birthday: “Happy Birthday To Ricky Steamboat- My GREATEST OPPONENT EVER!! The Best Baby EVER!! No One Close Except Shawn Michaels! Good Company To Be In! WOOOOO! @REALSteamboat”
  • Lance Archer (46) and Brock Anderson (26) are also celebrating birthdays today.
  • Sports Illustrated has an interview with Microman.
  • The Gunns were guests on the latest episode of Under the Ring.