Daily Update: Cody Rhodes & CM Punk, Ricky Starks, NWA

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

One of the largest issues in the history of the Observer is out this week:

  • The Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon
  • Analysis of the lawsuit and different claims
  • Details of the claims
  • Comments from all sides
  • Just how vulgar some of the stories were
  • What the text messages show
  • The Netflix detail and full details
  • The economics of the deal
  • How much money WWE is guaranteed without selling one ticket or selling any merchandise or advertising or sponsorships
  • Background of the negotiations
  • Dwayne Johnson on the Board of Directors
  • More on 2025 plans
  • Nick Khan, Dwayne Johnson and other comments
  • How this affects AEW
  • Difference between AEW & WWE audience when it comes to college education and household earnings
  • Ratings going forward
  • Mark Shapiro’s new contract
  • AEW house show issues and what has to be done and changes expected to be made
  • Issues with the events
  • A look at the Royal Rumble
  • Full UFC 297 coverage
  • UFC signs Kayla Harrison and her biggest test
  • A look at the career of new UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar
  • 2023 Awards ballot
  • A look at the life of Harold “Ice Train” Hoag
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the wrestling TV shows of the past week, segment highs and lows, comparisons with one year ago and competition
  • Friday night at Arena Mexico
  • TripleMania plans
  • AAA plans on using controversial names
  • More on AAA 2024 plans
  • Stardom awards
  • Why Shuji Ishikawa left All Japan
  • Three generations of the same family and Japanese major bouts
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi talks Kazuchika Okada leaving
  • Okada’s left match at Korakuen Hall
  • Update on Iron Claw movie
  • Puerto Rico show featuring major names
  • Notes on the next season of Dark Side of the Ring
  • Top indie star to come out of retirement
  • Updated AEW & TNA PPV numbers
  • Update on Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone destinations
  • Peacock ads subscribers leading into RoyalRumble
  • WWE injury updates
  • Nick Khan talks about his introduction to WWE
  • Cena talks his future
  • International TV ratings
  • What three pro wrestlers are in the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Law & Crime uploaded a video delving into the five most disturbing details from Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis.
  • WWE shared video of a backstage interaction between Cody Rhodes and CM Punk from Monday’s Raw. “Finish your story, bro,” Punk told Rhodes.
  • While appearing on Busted Open Radio, Lyra Valkyria addressed whether she has main roster aspirations:
          • I’m having a great time in NXT at the moment. I’m not prepared to rush anything. I’m really enjoying the journey in NXT. But, when I was at the Royal Rumble, of course I was looking at that going, ‘Oh my God, that is something that I absolutely need to do.’ I got quite emotional watching Roxanne (Perez), Zoey (Stark), all the NXT girls that stepped up and got to be an incredible part of that; Tiffany (Stratton) as well. Of course I have aspirations, but I always think it’s important to enjoy the journey on the way and not just live in the future the whole time. So I’m having a fantastic time in NXT right now. But yes, I do have aspirations.
  • An NXT Vengeance Day media call with Shawn Michaels will take place at noon Eastern time this Thursday.
  • Bayley and Naomi were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
  • The West Sport interviewed Indi Hartwell.
  • CBS Sports has an interview with Bianca Belair & Montez Ford.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • After Pro Wrestling Tees stated that they’ll be removing Kazuchika Okada’s NJPW merchandise, Dave Meltzer noted: “On the Okada front, the Pro Wrestling Tees thing [in] regards [to] no longer being able to sell New Japan merchandise of his. It’s not a sign of going to WWE. It’s not a sign of going to AEW either.”
  • Fox 8 in New Orleans asked Ricky Starks who some of his favorite people in the AEW locker room are:
          • Sting is really cool. Sting is really helpful, too. I hang out with Daniel Garcia. Eddie Kingston is really good. Ethan Page is another good one. Those are the guys that I talk to that I try to gravitate towards. Especially because you’re on the road so much and you get bored being at the hotel, you want to go out and do stuff.
          • I don’t surround myself with anyone who doesn’t have a drive or ambition because it just doesn’t serve me. Those guys I look at and I’m ‘oh, wow, they’re putting in the work.” Like I can really see them going the extra mile and I need to step up. Even when I feel like I’m giving 100 percent.
  • Starks discussed returning home to New Orleans to wrestle for AEW:
          • To come back home is a great thing, especially to defend the titles. We were here two years ago and that was a great time. Now I’m coming back as a champion so that’s even better. My mom is coming in a week early because she wants to experience all of it. Last time was very heartfelt and this time it will be no different. Having the goal and dream of wrestling in my hometown, especially at Lakefront Arena, or in the future at the Superdome, it’s very hard to explain. I can’t put it into words.
  • Fox 8 also interviewed Eddie Kingston. He spoke about the importance of the AEW World Championship:
          • When I become the world champion – and I say ‘the.’ I hate when people call it the AEW World Champion, cuz it means it’s just a world champion for that company. No. To me, for not just our company, but for wrestling in general, when you’re AEW World Champion, it’s the championship. So when I get that, and I’m putting it out in the universe so hopefully the universe gives back, then I’ll sit there and go ‘I’m that guy. I’m standing on my business now.’
  • In an interview with the Lethbridge Herald, Adam Copeland responded to fans who want to see him and Christian Cage recreate their TLC matches with The Hardys: “People say (they want to see it), but no, actually stop and think about it for a second. We were in our early 20s when we did those matches. We’re in our 50s now. Leave it in a very good place in memory, and let us do what we do now, which is tell better stories.”
  • Ortiz made an appearance on Eatz with Zay.
  • Bestia 666 announced his departure from the NWA: “Going forward, I will no longer be a part of the NWA. I want to thank Billy Corgan and everyone in the company for the opportunity to be a part of it the last few years. I wish the NWA the absolute best. Thank you for everything.”
  • Tiffany Nieves has signed with the NWA.
  • Alex Hammerstone will make his PROGRESS Wrestling debut in Manchester on Friday, March 1.