Daily Update: AEW Revolution, Jake Paul, Superstar Billy Graham

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

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:

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@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Monday Update

Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, WrestleMania updates, Jon Jones’ return and the other recent news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight.

AEW Revolution on Sunday will once again be airing in movie theaters around the U.S. and Canada. It will also play at some Dave & Buster’s and some Tom’s Watch Bar locations. You can find a location in your area here. 

The Tommy Fury win over Jake Paul via split decision yesterday in a boxing match in Saudi Arabia did 4.2 million Google searches which is a giant number. The guys both got giant paydays from Saudi Arabia. This was Paul’s first fight against an actual boxer and it was competitive. Paul knocked Fury down in the eighth round but Fury showed better boxing skills most of the way. The scores were 76-73 from two judges (meaning Fury won six of eight rounds and Paul got a 10-8 8th round) and 75-74 for Paul (meaning 4-4 in rounds). 

The situation with Superstar Billy Graham and wife Valerie Coleman has gotten worse. Both have COVID to add to Billy’s other very serious health issues. That means Valerie can’t be near Billy in the hospital.

Want to wish Jay Dumont the best. His entire situation breaks my heart at this point.

Thanks to Kenny K, Shannon Walsh, Andrew Gotch, Ross Blair, Alex Keeling and Gerard Di Trolio for weekend reports.

We’re looking for reports from yesterday’s Impact tapings in Las Vegas to dave@wrestlingobserver.com as well as from Raw in Grand Rapids tonight for Main Event matches and anything else not on the live show.

Raw is tonight in Grand Rapids, MI. There are a lot of WrestleMania ramifications on the show. We’ll see if Brock Lesnar really is wrestling Omos at WrestleMania and the tag title match with Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky vs. Becky Lynch & Lita for the tag title will set up the title match with Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler, or at least that was what was planned last week and there’s no indication that has changed. Rousey last week was to appear on this show although she’s not been advertised. She was at the house show last night in Rockford, IL. Also announced is Cody Rhodes vs. Chad Gable which could be great, Street Profits vs. Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa which also looks good, Asuka vs. Carmella, Piper Niven vs. Candice LeRae ad Miz reveals the secret gift Maryse got him. WWE is hot as tonight’s show was 400 shy of a sellout this morning at 8,400 so with the walk-up it should sell out.

We’re looking for reports from the show as far as Main Event matches or anything not on the live show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

The final show of the Fantastica Mania tour is at 4:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning from Korakuen Hall. The big main event is Mistico vs. Atlantis Jr.. Atlantis Jr. has been given a big push the entire tour including beating Mistico in a tag. There are no title matches on the final night so they are counting on this as a dream match. Also Master Wato & Cavernario & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Desperado & Volador Jr. & Templario, Soberano Jr. vs.Hechicero, Dulce Gardenia vs. Okumura, Tetsuya Naito & Titan & Bushi & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryohei Oiwa & Satoshi Kojima & Rey Cometa plus Tiger Mask vs. El Hijo de Villano III.

Titan beat Soberano Jr. to keep the CMLL welterweight title in today’s main event.

Here are the odds for the main matches on Revolution on Sunday:

MJF -5000 Bryan Danielson +900

Jamie Hayter -1000 Ruby Soho +3350 Saraya +450

Wardlow -500 Samoa Joe +300

The Elite -220 House of Black +350 

Adam Page -600 Jon Moxley +350 

Ricky Starks -400 Chris Jericho +250

FITE announced that Scotland’s Insane Championship Wrestling has joined its FITE +. ICW will air a new weekly show every Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern time which is prime time in the U.K., as will as four major events per year,.

Impact will be releasing a one-hour documentary on Josh Alexander at Noon Eastern tomorrow on their YouTube channel.

The Slap Fight finals on 3/11 at 9 p.m.., which was originally to be a PPV on ESPN + has been moved from ESPN+ to a free stream on the Rumble streaming service. It will be free worldwide. Darius the Destroyer vs. Wolverine is the main event.

MCW on 3/34 in Galena, MD at the Volunteer Fire Department and 3/11 in Joppa, MD at the RJ Meyer Arena.

Northeast Wrestling on 4/15 in Poughkeepsie, NY at the Mid Hudson Civic Center with Ricky Starks, Konosuke Takeshita, Matt Hardy, NZO, QT Marshall, Cole Karter and Willow Nightingale. Kurt Angle will be there as a guest.

Pro Wrestling EVE has added a 3/9 show at The Yard Theatre in East London, UK. The main event has Miyu Yamashita vs. Miyuki Takase in a last match between the two in Eve, plus Session Moth Martina & Natsuko Sumire vs. Nina Samuels & The Ava. They also run 3/8 at 229 The Venue in London for a sold out show headlined by Yamashita vs. Lizzy Evo.

United Wrestling Coalition on 3/11 in Bordenton, NJ at the Lower Banquet Hall at the Elks Lodge for their 27th anniversary show. They will also have a promotional Hall of Fame ceremony.

Innovate Wrestling on 3/4 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium.

AIW Gauntlet for the Gold on 5/20 in Eastlake, OH at Force Sports features Miyu Yamashita.

Bill Behrens notes PJ Hawx and Devon Dudley ae taking dates. Devon will only take autograph and photo dates either alone or can be booked with Bully Ray. He will also manage his twin sons Terrence & Terrell. Others available at showbis@aol.com include Joe Hendry, Flip Gordon, Chris Adonis, EC 3, Griff Garrison, Slim J, Jay Lethal, Al Snow, Ken Anderson, Moose, Earl Hebner, DDP and Eric Bischoff.

Aloha Stadium is Honolulu is no more. Lia Maivia ran a major show there in the 80s with Ric Flair vs. Siva Afi and Antonio Inoki vs Bruiser Brody. Aloha Stadium was best known for University of Hawaii football and the NFL Pro Bowl.

GCW announced a 4/22 date in Orlando,FL at the Englewood Center. As with all GCW shows, it’ll air live on FITE +.

Defy is reviving the legendary Pacific Northwest heavyweight title. The first champion will be decided on 3/11 at Washington Hall in Seattle with Homicide vs.Schaff.

United Wrestling Network tapes TV on 5/7 in Irvine CA at the Improv with Danny Limelight defending the UWN title against Zicky Dice.