Daily Update: Jake Paul, UFC 312, CMLL

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Friday Update

– Our weekend schedule is a show today with Garrett Gonzales on the news and then tomorrow night we’ll do our weekend show covering Smackdown, UFC, Collision and whatever news breaks.

– The new issue of the Observer is out today. Among the highlights:

  • The most detailed look at the updated Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE. We look at the new claims, the arguments in favor of the case not going to arbitration as McMahon, Laurinaitis and WWE have argued, who is the most in jeopardy, lots of notes on the legal strategy from both sides, more text messages released as well.
  • Tons of records set at the 2025 Royal Rumble, the direction going into WrestleMania, the fake record John Cena may break and who has always been planned to break it later, Dwayne Johnson, Jey Uso, Alexa Bliss, business records including a very noteworthy record set by the show. We have an apples-to-apples comparison between Rumble viewers on Netflix and Raw viewers which is very interesting.
  • The ringboys lawsuit goes forward against Vince & Linda McMahon and WWE, details of what the issues that put it on hold were as well as a very important note about the suit that hasn’t gotten much talk.
  • The most detailed look at TV ratings and streaming numbers for pro wrestling programming in the U.S., including segment-by-segment numbers, what countries Raw is strongest in, competition and more.
  • Unique tournament this month in Mexico City
  • A look at major international matches over the past week
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • Tag champ brothers release a new album and music video.
  • New Beginning in Osaka and Fantastica Mania upcoming shows.
  • Young Bucks talk their return to Japan
  • Why Hiroshi Tanahashi was in tears after Kenny Omega vs. Gabe Kidd
  • Hall of Famer says his son has recently got a WWE offer
  • Ed Wiskowski’s time in Australia.
  • Lots of news on Grand Slam Australia.
  • International TV numbers and streaming numbers
  • Ticket sales to all the major upcoming WWE & AEW shows including WrestleMania, Elimination Chamber, Revolution and All In.
  • Jericho Cruise notes
  • Merch sale leaders from WWE & AEW
  • Story on the retirement of Dominick Cruz and his legacy in UFC
  • One of the key people in the pro wrestling business and the most important person in the MMA business are rumored to be working together to start a new sports franchise
  • How is ESPN+ doing
  • Another world champion wants release from his promotion.
  • All the craziness of the Canelo negotiations
  • TKO stock reaching record highs
  • Lots of news on Mania week
  • More on cancellation of Cena TV show
  • More on new Evolve TV show
  • Another lawsuit with Nick Khan’s name in it
  • How much WWE stock does Dwayne Johnson now own?
  • Lots of contract news
  • WWE & AEW injury stats – which company, on average, has more serious injuries.

– Smackdown tonight is from Memphis. Announced are Elimination Chamber qualifiers with Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso vs. LA Knight (McIntyre is going to be on Smackdown going forward as noted in the new issue), Bianca Belair vs. Piper Niven and Alexa Bliss vs. Candice LeRae, plus Jey Uso confronts Cody Rhodes and Charlotte Flair confronts Tiffany Stratton. They had just over 8,000 tickets out as of last night so it’s very unlikely to be sold out.

– So after all the dust cleared, Canelo Alvarez will face Terrence Crawford later this year in a fight promoted by Turki Alashikh. It appears Alvarez and his team negotiated with Jake Paul, made sure the rumors got out, and used it as leverage to get a better deal from Alashikh. Paul was furious about being used by Alvarez and is claiming Alvarez is ducking him.

– Paul’s MVP promotions sent out a release saying:

  • MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, a massive event for the Mexican, Puerto Rican and American fans, and it’s disappointing to see how the situation unfolded. MVP operates with integrity, transparency, and respect for the sport, its athletes, and the fans. Unfortunately, not everyone in the boxing world shares those values.
  • This situation is a reminder not to believe everything you read, especially when the current media environment is often controlled by those with hidden agendas, including promoters who have reporters on their payroll. We remain in active discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and are committed to delivering the biggest fights, the most exciting events, and to working with partners who share our values and our commitment to boxing and its fighters.
  • Jake Paul isn’t going anywhere, and neither is MVP. We’ll continue to disrupt boxing, on our terms.
  • – Most Valuable Promotions San Juan, Puerto Rico

– Jake Paul said Alvarez ducked him, calling him now an owned slave with no regard for the pride of the Mexican people who have supported him. Alvarez will fight first on 5/4 in Riydadh and then face Crawford on 9/13 in Las Vegas. ESPN reported a February 2026 fight against either Dmitr Bivol, Hamzah Sheeraz or Chris Eubanks Jr. and a fourth fight in October 2026.

– The Observer awards issue is scheduled to come out next Friday.

– Mistico & Titan & Atlantis Jr. vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Hechicero & Soberano Jr headlines Arena Mexico tonight.

– A lot of matches that took place on the Jericho Cruise will be airing on the ROH show starting Thursday.

– Mascara Dorada & Atlantis Jr. & Templario vs Volador Jr & Magnus & Soberano Jr. has been added to Tuesday’s AEW taping in Austin, TX. No word on if this will be taped for ROH or air on Dynamite the next day. Expect more CMLL involvement in AEW with shows coming up in California.

– CMLL has announced an all-women’s show on 3/7 which includes the first block of the tournament for the CMLL women’s tag titles which includes American teams Johnny Robbie & Viva Van of New Japan and Lady Frost & Red Velvet from ROH. It will be a three week tournament with the finals on 3/21, which is the El Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show.

The El Homenaje biggest drawing event will be a mask series starting out with a tag match with Star Jr. & Zandokan Jr. vs. Esfinge & Valiente. The winning team goes to the main event and has a singles mask vs. mask match.

– Monday night’s (Tuesday afternoon in Japan) New Beginning in Osaka, a loaded show headlined by Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto for the IWGP world title, is now sold out. There is a lot of momentum for Goto right now and I expect a tremendous match. An opener of El Desperado & Katsuya Murashima vs. Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira has been added to the show. It will start between 9:30 p.m and 9:45. Pacific and 12:30 a.m. to 12:45 am. Eastern. On paper this looks like a great show. AEW talent there include Konosuke Takeshita vs. Oleg Boltin (they had a great G-1 match) and Young Bucks vs Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP tag team titles.

– UFC 312 takes place in Sydney, Australia early Sunday morning their time and the regular Saturday night PPV time in the U.S.

ESPN+ and Disney+ at 6 p.m. Eastern

  • Quillan Salkilid (156) vs. Anshul Jubli (155.5)
  • Kody Steee (156) vs. Rongzhu (156)
  • Jonathan Micalief (170) vs. Kevin Jousset (171)
  • ESPN 2 and ESPN + and Disney + at 8 p.m. Eastern
  • Aleksandre Topuria (135.5) vs. Colby Thicknesse (135.5)
  • Wang Cong (125) vs. Bruna Brasil (125.5)
  • Tom Nolan (155.5) vs Viacheslav Borschev (156)
  • Jack Jenkins (146) vs. Gabriel Santos (145.5)

PPV at 10 p.m. Eastern

  • Jake Matthews (170.5) vs. Francisco Prado (170.5)
  • Jimmy Crute (206) vs Rodolfo Bellato (205)
  • Justin Tafa (266) vs. Talisson Teixeira (263)
  • Zhang Weili (115) vs. Tatiana Suarez (114.5) for the women’s strawweight title
  • Dricus du Plessis (185) vs, Sean Strickland (185) for the men’s middleweight title

This isn’t a great star power PPV but the women’s title match is a real big one and the main event features a champion defending against the former champion who he beat in a very close decision.

– Former Bellator star Aaron Pico’s contract with PFL just expired and he is now a free agent. Pico was a potential Olympic gold medalist in wrestling who left the sport at 19 for MMA where he’s had some great wins but overall never lived up to his promise. I would expect him to wind up in UFC.

– Harley Cameron has been added to Scott D’Amore’s Maple Leaf Wrestling shows in Windsor ONT on 3/14 and 3/15.

– Insane Wrestling Revolution from last night in Monroe, MI: Adam Wick & Tommy Vendetta won a Rubmle, AD Norman & N8 Mattson b Trey Miguel & Myron Reed to keep the IWR tag titles, Kai Herro b Xavier, Jake Crist NC Soultaker, Madman Fulton & Jody Threat b Jason Hotch & Havok, Dread King Logan b Dean Hendrix, Dread King Logan b Alex Lynch, Silas Young b Ace Austin to retain the IWR title, Kitty Lafeur b Mila Moore to keep the TOWA title, Rhino b Sami Caillhan in an Insane rules match. Next show is 3/20 with Santino Marella. (thanks to Paul Meade)

– Hooligan Championship Wrestling on 5/10 in Evansville, IN features a WWEID Showcase headlined by Zara Zakher vs. Zayda Steel, who are both WWE ID talents.

– Eve has noted they have set their attendance record at the Big Penny with more than 500 fans for a show today headlined by Alex Windsor vs. Jamie Hayter.