Daily Update: Je’Von Evans, new AEW Collision matches, Kevin Ku

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Lots more on the AAA sale to TKO (and that it’s not actually completed), CMLL’s cryptic response, Grand Slam Mexico, Dorian Roldan talks why he sold and Konnan and Latin Lover talk the future of AAA and in theory how things change in Mexico and the U.S., plus the major business goals.
  • Tam Nakano ends her career, Mayu Iwatani leaves Stardom, Stardom puts on its biggest show with its biggest match in history and a couple of award categories this should do well in.
  • Update on WWE Backlash
  • Update on both major lawsuits against Vince McMahon and WWE. New plaintiffs emerge in the ringboys suit and a new Vice President is implicated, and Janel Grant’s attorneys push for the case to move forward while the defendants want discovery held up.
  • Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff promote Real American Freestyle. What they need for success, what mistakes they’ve already made and is Hogan the right person to the face of the company
  • Full coverage of TNA Rebellion
  • Long story on the Hollywood Demons episode on the Von Erichs, how this is different from other stories, more on the deaths, the political situation in Texas and things in the new documentary that aren’t completely accurate, as well as dispelling major myths.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings, including placings, demos, competition and more for all the shows
  • End of the CMLL Universal championship tournament with a super finish
  • MLW vs. CMLL matches this week
  • Champion Carnival update
  • Lots of New Japan big matches coming up
  • Meiko Satomura retires
  • Big indie shows this week
  • Big Progress tournament this week
  • RVD injury update
  • More NXT stars on TNA television
  • AEW expects one of its biggest gates for upcoming show
  • Bryan Danielson talks his career and AEW
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Lots of injury updates
  • PFL involved in a number of messy lawsuits
  • Freak show fight with powerlifters gets major attention
  • SmackDown time slot change
  • Did you know the person behind the movie with Liv Morgan did a movie based on a Hall of Fame 80s and 90s pro wrestling legend
  • Value of WWE’s PLEs on the open market
  • The story of the most powerful man in combat sports that most reporters aren’t touching
  • Lots of notes on the Smashing Machine movie
  • How much Dwayne Johnson has made since joining the TK Board
  • More talk on a WWE all-women’s PPV show

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • On X/Twitter today, Je’Von Evans referred to AEW’s Tony Khan as a “crackhead” while going back and forth with Ricochet. Evans has since deleted all of his tweets from the exchange. He wrote in two of the posts:
    • You Learned From HBK When I Was 12 And Became A Multiple Time Champion. Now, You’re Wrestling In Front Of 2,000 People, Every Week, For A Crackhead. Talk About An Upgrade Am I Right?? #TheYoungOG
    • Sounds Like Mr. Khan Isn’t Giving You Enough Attention. Sooooooooo, You Had To Come For A Successful Ass Youngin You’re Giving Me The Most Views On My Post And I’m Finally Helping You Get The Most Attention You’ve Ever Had In Your Career All Love
  • WrestleVotes reports that Goldberg’s name has come up in WWE creative recently ahead of his retirement match that’s expected to happen at some point this summer:
    • According to multiple sources, Goldberg’s name has been floated internally within WWE over the past week — the first time since his Bad Blood appearance and his interactions with Gunther. Feels like the inevitable return is nearing.
  • Logan Paul uploaded a new vlog.
  • Bully Ray interviewed ring announcer Alicia Taylor for Busted Open Radio.
  • Bianca Belair was the guest on this week’s episode of What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon.
  • The WWE Vault YouTube channel shared a new video with rare footage from past Backlash events.

Other Wrestling

  • A singles match between Ricochet and Angelico has been added to the card for tonight’s live episode of AEW Collision. Along with that, an eight-man tag bout is set with Bandido, AR Fox & The Outrunners taking on Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta & Lance Archer. There have now been six matches confirmed for the show:
    • Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale
    • “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Dralistico
    • Daniel Garcia vs. a member of FTR (Dax Harwood or Cash Wheeler)
    • Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson
    • Ricochet vs. Angelico
    • Bandido, AR Fox & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) vs. Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta & Lance Archer
  • Harley Cameron, Swerve Strickland, and Satnam Singh visited the Detroit Pistons’ training facility before Dynamite this week.
  • Nyla Rose joined Aubrey Edwards & Will Washington on AEW Unrestricted to discuss their favorite matches and moments from Double or Nothing history.
  • Hologram will compete in the 10-man Cibernetico match at DEAN~! 2 in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, May 24. Action Wrestling is partnering with AEW to produce the tribute show honoring Dean Rasmussen, a poster from the Death Valley Driver Video Review forum who passed away in 2023.
  • NJPW’s English-language website posted an interview with DDT wrestler MAO, who is competing in the 2025 Best of the Super Juniors. MAO said he wants to set an example for the younger wrestlers in DDT:
    • Everywhere I go, every signing, people have been wishing me luck. I definitely feel the expectation from the people. And I want to show to the young talent in DDT that this is a possibility for them. I go overseas a lot, and it makes me proud that now younger guys in DDT want to give that a shot. Now there’s the possibility for them to go into BOSJ as well, and that’s gonna make everyone in DDT work harder.
  • Joe Hendry spoke to WrestleTalk about how he approaches his responsibilities as TNA World Champion:
    • It’s hugely rewarding. There was a period of time where a lot of colleagues were getting signed and I was kind of wondering if and when things would happen for me.
    • But I was enjoying the process of what I was doing so much and I was so focused on getting the best reactions that I could from the fans, that all the opportunities came as soon as I shifted my focus into just giving the audience the best entertainment that I possibly could.
    • But to now be here as TNA World Champion, it’s an amazing feeling and a responsibility that I enjoy, and my focus is just trying to deliver record business for TNA.
    • I want people to look back and say, ‘Joe Hendry as World Champion, The Hardys as tag champs, that meant big business for TNA.’
    • So I’m excited for the business that the entire locker room is doing for the company and everyone backstage and the fans as well. TNA’s a hot product right now and, yeah, onwards and upwards.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Indi Hartwell reflected on the match she had against Becky Lynch for WWE in 2023:
    • My anxiety was through the roof that day. I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous for a match, but she was amazing to work with. I’m so grateful that she spoke up and asked to work with me and I think Tegan and Xia Li, so she helped us a bunch. That was one of my only singles matches on the main roster, because I was in the tag team. So yeah, I learned a lot from her and I just feel grateful that I got to work with her.
  • USA Today published a story on Mike Santana.
  • MLW announced that it will hold a Lucha Apocalypto event in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 15. The show is taking place at Cicero Stadium and will include wrestlers from CMLL. Tickets are going on sale next Wednesday (May 14) at 10 a.m. Central time.
  • Defy Wrestling mourned the passing of Kevin Diers, a Seattle rock radio host who had worked for Defy since the promotion began: “We are deeply saddened to hear that our brother, Kevin Diers, has passed away. Kevin has worked with DEFY since day one. RIP, my friend…”
  • Former GCW Tag Team Champion Kevin Ku underwent knee surgery yesterday to repair a meniscus injury he was trying to work through: “My knee has not been great for a while but it really gave out the day before Hammerstein and I’ve been working through that ever since. Glad to finally get it fixed [Wednesday] and come back 100% probably”
  • F1RST Wrestling will return to the Mall of America for the fourth straight year with their Saturday Night Nitro event taking place in Bloomington, Minnesota on September 6.
  • The Righteous posted a new social media hype video following their departure from AEW.