Daily Update: Killer Khan, John Cena, AEW Worlds End

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Match and performer of the week
  • Notes on the recent AEW departures
  • AEW financial notes for 2023
  • Some rights fees thoughts
  • Tony Khan talks the TV landscape
  • A look at Worlds End
  • The most detailed look at the New Japan decision to make Hiroshi Tanahashi president and comments from many in the industry about it
  • Full details on the WWE’s biggest grossing U.S. house show in history on Tuesday in Madison Square Garden plus past history from the event
  • The Iron Claw, history of the Von Erichs, in a long detailed article regarding the rise and fall and the making of the movie
  • Preview of the Tokyo Dome show, advance ticket sales and Stardom PPV
  • How many tickets are comped at the usual AEW and WWE shows
  • 2023 Awards ballot
  • Dragon Gate’s Final Gate show
  • The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, placings for the night and week, competition, segment-by-segment, gains and losses from one year ago and more
  • Andrade heads to Mexico and a big business week
  • Another two Vikingo vs. Taurus matches
  • New Japan bodybuilding contest notes
  • Major shows for New Japan in the first three months of he year
  • One of the best trios matches in a long time
  • DDT tournament finals set
  • Notes on a book on wrestling history
  • New Scottish wrestling Hall of Famer
  • Chris Jericho and Stephen New
  • Tony Khan’s recent press call
  • Dynamite headed for tougher competition
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE
  • Amanda Huber talks anniversary of Jon Huber’s death
  • Dana White on UFC 300
  • More on the MLW lawsuit settlement
  • Changing an angle
  • Return of a WWE tag team
  • Injury return updates
  • Longest running pro wrestling TV show in history
  • Bill Goldberg speaks on Vince McMahon
  • Rundown of the recent WWE house shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Saturday Update

WWE

  • WWE extended its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Killer Khan:
          • WWE is saddened to learn that Masashi Ozawa, known to sports-entertainment fans as Killer Khan, passed away at age 76.
          • The Japanese-born competitor was an imposing figure in the ring and highlighted his career with memorable rivalries against Legends such as Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan and more. After a brief return to WWE in 1987 with Mr. Fuji as his manager, Killer Khan would retire from sports-entertainment. Following his career in the ring, Ozawa owned a restaurant in Tokyo.
          • WWE extends its condolences to Ozawa’s family, friends and fans.
  • Michael Hayes wrote about Khan’s passing: “So sorry to hear of the passing of Killer Khan. What a great guy!! His epic battles with Terry Gordy in WCCW will live forever!!! Condolences, prayers for his family, friends and fans.”
  • Last night’s Absolute Best of 2023 episode of SmackDown averaged 1.37 million viewers in the overnight ratings. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.3.
  • A video from John Cena aired on the Best of SmackDown episode. Cena said he doesn’t know how much time he has left in WWE, but he looks forward to the next time that he and the fans can get together. Cena thanked the WWE fans for making 2023 a wonderful year for him and his family:
          • WWE Universe, John Cena here, all dressed up to celebrate a wonderful group of people. A toast to the WWE Universe for making my 2023. As you know, I was able to return to SmackDown in the fall and the reception and the respect – I will never forget. I do not know how much time in the WWE I have left, but I do know in recent times when I’ve been able to return home, you have always welcomed me as one of your own. I am forever indebted to your generosity, your empathy, your respect, and your excitement. I look forward to the next time we can get together, but I wanted to take a moment to truly say thank you for making this a wonderful year for me and for my family. To the WWE Universe. Until the next round, cheers.
  • NXT’s Charlie Dempsey has arrived in Japan ahead of making his AJPW debut. Dempsey & Yuma Anzai are facing Tatsumi Fujinami & Leona in a tag match on December 31. Dempsey will then challenge either Katsuhiko Nakajima or Kento Miyahara for the Triple Crown Championship on January 3.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW’s full Countdown to Worlds End preview special is available to watch on YouTube.
  • The entire Continental Classic tournament has also been uploaded to AEW’s YouTube channel.
  • Our Josh Nason previewed the Worlds End card for Sports Illustrated.
  • AEW shared a promo with Samoa Joe addressing why he attacked MJF this past Wednesday.
  • Wheeler Yuta spoke with Cageside Seats ahead of challenging Hook for the FTW Championship tonight:
          • My confidence level going into this match with Hook is very high. I’ve been in some crazy wars with the BCC man. I’ve been in two Blood and Gus Matches, Stadium Stampede, Anarchy in the Arena. I’ve really had to prove myself, both with pure wrestling and also just with violence. I’m very excited to dip my toe back into that. Very excited to be in his hometown. A town I hate in New York. I think it’ll be a lot of fun for me.
  • Yuta said he would love to win the Continental Classic one day:
          • I hope that we continue to do the Continental Classic. I would love to be in it. I would love to win it one day. There’s no real animosity [on being left out of the CC], but there’s definitely a drive and a hunger that has been a result of that. It’s definitely lit a fire underneath, but I don’t see how it couldn’t, when you see the quality of those matches and how great it’s been. Especially the draw between Claudio and Bryan. That was absolutely incredible.
  • Mercedes Mone has filed trademarks for “Mone Talks,” “Time is Mone,” and “Mone Wear.”
  • Impact Wrestling uploaded the full Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey match from Bound for Glory. It was voted Match of the Year in Impact’s year-end awards.
  • Denise Salcedo has interviews with Claudio Castagnoli, McKenzie Mitchell, and Mansoor.
  • Castagnoli said he was close to competing in the NJPW G1 Climax before joining AEW in 2022: “Right before I joined AEW, I was extremely close, probably a couple days away before doing the G1 for New Japan. I always want to do the G1, and I still owe them one, I feel like. So to do the Continental Classic, I was super excited.”
  • Tenille Dashwood (Emma) & Mike Rallis (Riddick Moss) were interviewed on TMZ Sports.
  • Adam Cole ranked his top 10 video games of the year for Giant Bomb.