Daily Update: Carmella, AEW Continental Classic, Adam Cole

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the highlights of this issue:

  • The life of Joe Koff and how his influence on the current wrestling scene is so underplayed. From being a childhood fan of Bruno Sammartino, heading the production on the original Battle of the Belts series, saving ROH at least twice, and providing a place where many of today’s biggest stars were able to make a living while building resumes that led them to the top in WWE and essentially the building blocks of the formation of AEW, and the success of All In. We look at his life and career both in and out of the wrestling business.
  • Bryan Danielson retires from full-time wrestling, his future and how this played out on WrestleDream.
  • A look at WrestleDream, the business of the show, the rundown and polls.
  • More details on the AEW television deal, what it does and doesn’t cover, prospects for other deals, the economics, attempting to rebuild attendance at shows, the Mexico deal, international prospects going forward and more.
  • Zack Sabre Jr. wins IWGP title while Hiroshi Tanahahashi provides a retirement countdown. Plus a look at the future NJPW lineups, Tokyo Dome prospects and King of Pro Wrestling coverage.
  • The Gegard Mousasi lawsuit and the latest attempt to get a court to rule on the independent contractor vs. employee status.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the wrestling shows, placings for the night and week, competition, year-by-year comparisons and more.
  • When did star ratings for wrestling matches begin? The answer will surprise you.
  • Santo draws the biggest indie crowd of the year.
  • Jimmy Jacobs leaves AEW.
  • Bob Ryder and the birth of TNA.
  • International TV ratings.
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows.
  • Fighters depositions in Cung Le lawsuit.
  • UFC TV rights news.
  • Major UFC stars say they want to come out of retirement.
  • How much WWE & UFC are expected to produce this year in revenue.
  • New WWE project with Netflix.
  • Update on Netflix ratings for the two wrestling shows.

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fallon Henley & Jacy Jayne match from last night’s NXT.
  • Joining the “cornball wave” of making “a song to promote a fist fight,” Ethan Page released a diss track on Trick Williams ahead of their NXT Championship match at Halloween Havoc.
  • Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan attended last night’s Las Vegas Golden Knights game, promoting that WrestleMania 41 tickets are going on sale this week.
  • ARC Las Vegas spoke with Cody Rhodes about WrestleMania coming to Las Vegas next April. Rhodes also visited Allegiant Stadium — where WrestleMania 41 will be held — while in Vegas.
  • Rhodes said he’s been “blown away” by NXT’s run on The CW Network so far:
    • As a talent in the current main roster as we might say, NXT can be kind of intimidating, because it’s not really a developmental anymore. It’s almost a grooming ground for these monsters who are going to come up and eventually stand across the ring from you – and they’ve been trained by Shawn Michaels. We’re definitely preparing the next generation of superstars and wrestlers. And their run on The CW with NXT, I’ve been blown away. Really special stuff.
  • David Bixenspan has a story for Rolling Stone covering the new lawsuit filed against WWE, Vince McMahon & Linda McMahon concerning the 1980s “Ring Boy” scandal.
  • WWE wished Carmella (37) and Lyra Valkyria (28) a happy birthday.
  • On Instagram, Carmella opened up about the “postpartum fog” she’s worked to overcome after giving birth:
    • thirty-seven years old.. this past year, i struggled to even look at myself in the mirror, not recognizing the woman staring back. sleepless nights, hormones all over the place, keeping a tiny human alive and thriving.. so much has changed. there have been good days, bad days, and so many blurry days in between. a once confident woman, now completely lost. who am i? why don’t i recognize myself? will i ever get back to who i was? the truth is, no. i won’t. because i’m a different person now. i’m a mother. we don’t talk enough about the struggles new moms face, because we have no choice but to show up and keep going. i’ve put myself last, putting everyone else’s needs first, but i’m realizing that’s no good for anyone. lately, i’ve been making it a priority to take care of myself so i can show up as the best mom, wife, and woman i can be. for the first time in over a year, i’m starting to emerge from the fog and step into this new version of me. i’m proud of who i am and the sacrifices i’ve made for my family. i’m not the person i was before i had my son, but i’m an even better version of myself—and i’m learning to love her. to all the moms out there in the postpartum fog, take a moment to recognize how far you’ve come. you’re a superwoman. give yourself grace during this time of transformation, and trust that you’ll find yourself again.
  • Seth Rollins is appearing as a guest on Inside the NFL on The CW tonight.
  • WWE Vault has a video chronicling the story of Kane’s unmasking.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • In an interview with Foundation Radio, Mark Briscoe said he’s hoping to be an entrant in the 2024 Continental Classic. Briscoe noted that the tournament will begin next month:
    • Season is coming up. Thanksgiving Eve, that’s the start of the Continental Classic. And, you know, with [Kazuchika] Okada being the current Continental Champion, he’s the focal point. He’s the target, you know what I mean? But I feel like the Continental Classic last year, in a way, in my singles career – it was almost like a coming out party. I got the chance to wrestle four guys in my block. And it was just like, I don’t think anybody knew what I could do in singles competition. And I didn’t really make out too well in the wins and the losses, but I learned.
  • Adam Cole spoke to TV Insider about the passing of former ROH Chief Operating Officer Joe Koff: 
    • I’m thankful I got to attend Joe Koff’s service, which just happened. Joe Koff was incredibly important to me. He was an unbelievable man, an unbelievable businessman. He was one of the first people to really support me and have my back and he gave me quite a bit of confidence when it came to wrestling. Having a belief in myself. Joe was so unbelievable to so many of us at Ring of Honor. He helped so many talents and so many different people. This was either from the business mindset or just bringing encouragement. He was awesome to the talent. Joe Koff was someone who, even when I didn’t work for Ring of Honor for years, would still text me congratulations. Whether it was my debut in NXT or debut in AEW or being part of the first [AEW] All In with MJF. Joe Koff went out of his way to reach out and say how proud he was of me. That meant the world. I think the world of him and grateful I could have been even a small part of that man’s life.
  • Cole was asked about Dynamite & NXT going head-to-head on November 6 (with NXT being moved to Wednesday that week due to election coverage):
    • I think it’s very exciting. I feel any time there is any kind of competition within pro wrestling, it has been nothing but a positive. When there is only one show in town, it can only do so much. I think when there are situations where people can challenge each other or go up against each other, it brings out the best in both places. It’s nothing but a good thing. It’s good for the wrestlers and fans alike.
  • Renee Paquette interviewed Daniel Garcia on AEW Close Up.
  • Wheeler Yuta made an appearance on The Mark Hoke Show.
  • The Takedown spoke with Joe Hendry ahead of TNA Bound for Glory.
  • Tom Lawlor was on The Ariel Helwani Show today, discussing the $375 million settlement in the UFC/Cung Le antitrust lawsuit.
  • MLW announced that Bad Dude Tito will defend his National Openweight Championship against Matthew Justice in a Falls Count Anywhere match at Lucha Apocalypto in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 9.