Daily Update: JD McDonagh, WWE Raw fallout, WWE 2K25
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- Subscriber exclusive: Dave Meltzer on last week’s WWE Raw on Netflix viewership
- Viewership for episode three of WWE Raw on Netflix
- AEW Collision ratings down against WWE SNME
- WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event ratings down from prior episode
- Paul Heyman: WWE is ‘driving pop culture now’
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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- January 27, 2025 Observer Newsletter: AEW inconsistency issues, WWE SNME preview, TNA Genesis & GCW reviews
- What are the issues with AEW and what can be done to fix some of them easily
- A look at Wednesday’s show and the different issues regarding the big picture
- Why WWE doesn’t get hurt when it does the same things listed as mistakes when AEW does them
- Where AEW actually stands in television
- Preview of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Royal Rumble and business notes
- UFC 311 coverage of the show changed at the last minute
- A look at TNA’s Genesis PPV, its relationship with WWE and its first live TV shoot
- Game Changer Wrestling returns to the Hammerstein
- What happened with PCO and why
- 2024 Awards ballot
- The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week including Raw on Netflix
- New CMLL marketing gimmick
- Stardom comes up with new booking concept and debuts it this past week
- Dragon Gate comes to the U.S.
- Japanese promotions try to present united front
- Notes on first live TNA TV show in eight years
- Britt Baker update
- Ricky Starks update
- Grand Slam Australia update
- Notes on new AEW dates
- Major issue long-term for AEW younger talents
- Advanced ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
- International TV ratings and streaming numbers
- More on Dana White and boxing
- Chris Weidman retires
- Craig Piligian announced for UFC Hall of Fame
- One of the most popular fighters from 15 year ago cut by UFC
- Lots more on WrestleMania
- Corey Graves update
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue
Tuesday Update
WWE
- After JD McDonagh continued to work through a match on Raw while suffering from broken ribs and a punctured lung, the WWE roster praised his efforts, including tag partner Dominik Mysterio, Ivar, referee Shawn Bennett, and Chad Gable.
- 2K issued a press release detailing more information on WWE 2K25, which will include intergender matches and an online WWE themed world called ‘The Island’ for a single player experiences only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Triple H took a picture with Kai Cenat, who attended Monday’s Raw.
- Abdullah the Butcher was backstage at Raw visiting. Natalya wrote: “What an honor it was seeing Abdullah the Butcher tonight backstage at #WWERaw. Abby did HUGE business for my grandfather Stu Hart in Stampede Wrestling. Abby was the original king of hardcore wrestling. Stu adored Abby and would speak of him all the time. So happy we could visit tonight, @abthebutcher. It made my day. #respect
- Drew McIntyre and Sheamus competed on Hot Ones Versus.
- CM Punk and other WWE stars watch last year’s Royal Rumble.
- Punk goes sneaker shopping with Complex.
- A new Logan Paul t-shirt is available following his return on Monday.
- WWE ID announced that several prospects would be coming to KnoxPro for their upcoming March Badness event on March 22.
- Recent WWE Vault content includes Ricky Steamboat vs. Rick Rude from Royal Rumble 1988, 30 minutes of Royal Rumble promos, and the 1998 Royal Rumble match.
- WWE has launched a new NXT channel on YouTube that will upload archival footage, including some full episodes of TV from the past and other events.
AEW/Other Wrestling
- On social media, MVP clarified his current status: “I plan to wrestle periodically. Just to remind these pissants that I’m STILL a legit threat in the ring. I’m the spokesman for The Hurt Syndicate. And sometimes I speak with my fists.”
- A new Mercedes Mone t-shirt is available on ShopAEW for one week only.
- Killer Kelly is set to return to Wrestling Revolver on January 31.
- Super Crazy vs. Rey Horus has been announced for GCW’s event in San Diego on February 28.
- Mance Warner vs. Jimmy Lloyd has been announced for GCW’s event in Indianapolis on January 31.