Daily Update: Charlotte Flair, Wrestle Kingdom, Josh Alexander

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site with these stories:

*The life and times of Stephan Bonnar, a look at a person who was one of the key building blocks of the popularity of UFC, including the Forrest Griffin fight, his relationship with Griffin after the fight, season one of Ultimate Fighter and the building years, life after UFC, the feud with Tito Ortiz, his pro wrestling days and much more.
*Match of the week and performer of the week
*The WWE signing of Dragon Lee, full details of the deal, unique stipulations in the deal, how long WWE had been after him and what he told people he asked for decision making help
*How AAA, WWE and AEW had talent on the same show, including in the same match and the unique situation there
*Coverage of Wednesday’s AAA show in Acapulco, production issues, match to go out of your way to see
*What AEW knew about Dragon Lee
*Comparing his potential in AEW and WWE
*WWE talks using Lee to help expand
*A look at Stardom’s Sumo Hall show
*A look at a lot of Stardom plans going forward
*Dragon Gate’s Final Gate show
*WWE does its traditional Christmas week show in Madison Square Garden
*How the show did as compared with the last 13 years
*The life and times of Hall of Famer Johnny Doyle, one of the great promoters of all-time
*A detailed look at the ratings over the past week
*Streaming numbers and international TV numbers
*CMLL’s Jan. 1 cage match where somebody loses their mask
*Konnan talks about his health
*Cain Velasquez talks about his returning to wrestle and teaming with Daniel Cormier
*All Japan bringing in Minoru Suzuki
*NOAH’s Budokan Hall show
*Tokyo Dome preview
*Shibata vs. Tom Lawlor
*Ricky Steamboat talks why he didn’t wrestle Ric Flair
*Notes on the death of former WWE promoter Doc Holliday and why he was so well liked
*Anniversary of the first splash off the cage top
*AEW loses TV outlet in Canada and story behind it
*Tony Khan says AEW isn’t going anywhere
*Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
*Bellator signs former Olympic medalist
*WrestleMania updates
*Mysterio family angle
*Notes from all the WWE holiday house shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

November 21, 2005 Observer Newsletter: The death of Eddie Guerrero

Ordering Info:

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Charlotte Flair, Drew McIntyre, and LA Knight were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • On The Bump, Charlotte said she was “sincerely so touched” by the fan reaction to her return on last Friday’s SmackDown:
          • I was sincerely so touched by the fan reaction on Friday. Like, I’ve done a lot of things in my career, but to see the smiles and the cheers and the reception that I received when I came back, I was just thinking to myself like any time I’ve ever thought negative or ‘Do I still have it?’ I know I always have it, but it was just very rewarding after this journey that I’ve had for 10 years. Being in the audience, which I’ve never done before, like I’ve been in the audience but I’m usually kicking someone’s butt, but here I was holding the title in Tampa where my career started, full circle, and being back after eight months – it really made me emotional. After being gone for eight months, the things that I worried about before I don’t worry about as much. Like, my legacy is cemented now, and I think moving forward – I’ve always been so serious. I’m very serious about being the champion, about being the title, and progressing and never resting or coasting [or] being complacent. But it let me know that everyone had appreciated what I’ve done leading up to being back after eight months. And it meant a lot to me.
  • In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Shinsuke Nakamura discussed his match against The Great Muta for Pro Wrestling NOAH: “I guess the best way to describe it is that it was really my first dream. When I woke up this morning, I was horrified and thought, maybe it really was a dream… I haven’t had a match yet, have I? I was horrified. I was really able to expose myself to the world, from the moment I entered the ring to the moment I left.”
  • Dave Bautista spoke to GQ about playing his Drax character for the final time in the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie: “I’m so grateful for Drax. I love him. But there’s a relief [that it’s over]. It wasn’t all pleasant. It was hard playing that role. The makeup process was beating me down. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy – it’s a silly performance, and I want to do more dramatic stuff.”
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded the following: Women’s MITB ladder match (Money in the Bank 2022), World Cup Global Battle Royal (October 8, 2018 Raw), and the segment where Batista chose Triple H as his WrestleMania 21 opponent (February 21, 2005 Raw).

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • NJPW announced an attendance of 26,085 people for Wrestle Kingdom 17.
  • Dax Harwood shared a photo of FTR with Mercedes Mone (the former Sasha Banks) and Bayley following Mone’s NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom.
  • Mone also tweeted photos with FTR, Bayley, Trinity Fatu (Naomi), Samuray Del Sol (Kalisto), and more. She wrote: “I’ve never felt more loved! I can’t thank my family enough for being here for me.”
  • Mone tweeted that her Tokyo Dome debut was a “dream come true.”
  • NJPW uploaded video of Mone’s post-show comments after her Wrestle Kingdom appearance. Mone said this is only just her first stop because she’s on a “world domination tour.”
  • Lio Rush posted a picture of his face after getting busted open at Wrestle Kingdom: “Just a scratch……Ok maybe more than a scratch. Either way, I’ve never felt more alive. Thanks for watching.”
  • Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling will be holding its first show in the United States on Friday, March 31. The show, which will be part of WrestleCon 2023, is taking place in Los Angeles at the Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre is hosting all shows affiliated with WrestleCon 2023.
  • Impact Wrestling celebrated that Josh Alexander has become the longest-reigning Impact World Champion of all time. His 257 consecutive days as champion has surpassed Bobby Roode’s 256-day title reign.
  • Saraya tweeted this morning: “It’s Wednesday I’m on my way Seattle! Who’s tuning in to Dynamite and is anyone 100% sure on my tag partner yet for next week for LA?”
  • A segment with Renee Paquette making Cincinnati chili aired on The Rachael Ray Show today.
  • A wedding angle with Aron Stevens marrying May Valentine has been announced for the live episode of NWA Power on Tuesday, January 31.