Daily Update: Carmelo Hayes, Jay Malachi, AEW Dynamite overrun

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is an in-depth story on the fall of Vince McMahon. We go through all aspects of the story and have reactions from many people on subjects not talked about including feelings of different wrestlers, how this departure was different from the first McMahon departure, John Laurinaitis, Brock Lesnar, Stephanie McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Paul Levesque, Ann Callis and why she may end up a major figure in wrestling and this story going forward and much more. It’s a timeline in detail and what the timeline opens up.

  • The John Laurinaitis story
  • More questions on Ari Emanuel’s decision
  • Paul Levesque’s performance
  • Shawn Michaels reaction
  • Reaction from several in the business
  • Why Vince McMahon apparently stopped payments
  • Who is Ann Callis and why is she so important to this story
  • The insurance angle
  • The original investigation
  • The timeline of Stephanie McMahon
  • The various allegations and settlements
  • Members of the board leaving
  • Vince’s power play to return
  • Dwayne Johnson and Pat McAfee
  • Vince’s background
  • Full Royal Rumble coverage
  • Rumble surprises and debuts
  • WrestleMania original lineup and what is changing
  • Rumble records
  • Business numbers
  • Rock vs. Roman update
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week
  • New streaming channel for a promotion that is getting criticized due to price
  • Okada and Mercedes updates
  • Anniversary show for one of the most important cultural matches in history
  • Top matches of 2023
  • TNA PPV update
  • AEW valuation
  • Upcoming ticket sales for the major WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Update on MJF
  • Which company has the highest current injury rate, AEW or WWE?
  • Jericho Cruise notes
  • Conor McGregor update
  • TV announcer talks his frustrations with social media
  • Documentary on MAX about a UFC fighter about to be released
  • Lots more on the Netflix deal
  • Best merchandise sellers
  • Notes from all the TV shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • On NXT last night, Carmelo Hayes cut a promo explaining why he betrayed Trick Williams at Vengeance Day. Hayes confirmed that he was the mystery person who attacked Williams last October. Hayes said he knew he needed to attack Williams when Williams went behind his back and went after the NXT Championship. “This was never a collaboration, Trick. You were always my hype man,” Hayes said. “That’s all it is, and that is all you’ll ever be.”
  • Hayes attacked NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov later in the night after Dragunov defeated Dijak. In a post-show clip, Hayes laid out Joe Gacy.
  • With Booker T out for a couple of weeks after undergoing a medical procedure, Byron Saxton filled in for him on NXT commentary last night and called the show with Vic Joseph. Wade Barrett had filled in for Booker T at NXT Vengeance Day on Sunday night.
  • New WWE signee and former indie wrestler Jay Malachi has been given the name Je’Von Evans in NXT. Last night, he debuted under that name in a match against Brooks Jensen that was taped for NXT Level Up.
  • Dakota Kai shared a now-deleted video on Instagram of her filming promotional content for WrestleMania 40. Kai, who has been out of action since May 2023 due to a torn ACL, wrote: “Comeback szn (Not cleared yet.. soon)”
  • WWE posted a tribute to country music star Toby Keith following his passing: “WWE is saddened to learn that country music star and former Raw guest host Toby Keith has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Keith’s family, friends, and fans.”
  • Seth Rollins appeared on Super Bowl Radio Row today and was a guest on the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football.
  • Liv Morgan, Bobby Lashley, and TikTok star Josh Richards are appearing on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • The West Australian published a story on Rhea Ripley.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Tony Khan confirmed that tonight’s AEW Dynamite will have an overrun.
  • Ahead of tonight’s Dynamite in Phoenix, Saraya and Justin Roberts were guests at the Phoenix Suns’ game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. There was a spot where Saraya gave the Suns mascot a suplex.
  • AEW uploaded a Control Center video in advance of tonight’s show.
  • Sports Illustrated confirmed that AEW is the frontrunner to sign Kazuchika Okada.
  • Swerve Strickland told the Smooth Vega podcast that, when he got a phone call to go back to WWE, he didn’t even answer it. Strickland spoke about the different experience he had compared to his former WWE Hit Row stablemates:
          • That comes from experience. I had a different experience than those guys had. I’ve known how to build myself from the ground up on the independents. I knew how to hustle, get here, get to there, put on performances and matches, and then go, ‘How do I get that?’ Then monetize that into this and make this into something. Everything, throughout my career, and to this day, I apply; one thing leads to another and to another. That’s kind of how you see those little things in my entrance and my music, my wrestling, my look, the sound, all that was weaving together from going from here to here to hustling. That’s something those guys still need to learn. It’s tough in that organization, WWE, it’s really tough creatively when you don’t have your hands on your creative, and it’s left to the powers that be to maneuver you how they see fit, and that’s not easy for anybody. For me, I was in a place where I knew I needed to be. I needed to be in AEW. When I got the phone call to go back, I didn’t even answer it. It was, ‘Nope.’
  • Toni Storm is the guest on the latest episode of Talk is Jericho.
  • During an appearance on Busted Open Radio yesterday, Billy Corgan discussed NWA content being on The CW app instead of The CW television channel:
          • When people heard that we were gonna be on the streaming side (of The CW), there were a few raised eyebrows as if this was some sort of kick in the shin and we had talked to CW at different times about being on the broadcast side versus the streaming but they just decided the streaming side was the better side for us and I think it’s because they knew what was coming. Of course, they’re more inside on the baseball than we are and of course with them signing NXT on the broadcast side, but being on a streaming service is a huge deal. The level of competition is really fierce as you see so this is a big move for us and it’s hopefully a big step into a bigger future.
  • Ash By Elegance (the former Dana Brooke) told Distortion Media about the goals she has in TNA Wrestling:
          • The ultimate goal is the [Knockouts] Championship and defeating Jordynne [Grace], if that’s who I need to face. Going into the tag team division, I’m all open for it, it’s just I need to see who the perfect fit would be for my tag team partner. I need someone as hungry as I am. I’ve said it before I’ve really got to know Xia [Brookside]. I knew her when she was such a little girl, and her father was actually one of my coaches. Seeing her drive and determination and not wanting to ever stop and she’s just been so hungry, and now that we’re sharing a locker room together a decade later is truly amazing. I’d love to stand in her corner and watch her do her thing. With that being said, I definitely feel as though I have to keep my eye out and see who would definitely fit this part as my tag team partner. We can go out there and capture those tag team titles and then I can also hold the Knockouts title as well too. A two-for-one.
  • Joshi wrestler Unagi Sayaka will make her MLW debut at War Chamber 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida on Friday, March 29.