Daily Update: Logan Paul-Jacob Fatu, Wendy Choo, Joe Koff

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out today.  There are a ton of major stories covered including:

  • Bad Blood coverage
  • Dwayne Johnson’s wrestling update which is a big surprise
  • Crown Jewel and Survivor Series
  • Bill Goldberg notes
  • Business notes on the show
  • What finish was changed
  • What match was also nearly changed and why and notes on head shots with objects
  • AEW goes from the highest of highs to record lows
  • What to learn from this week’s numbers
  • How successful AEW will be financially compared to major  companies like WCW and WWE over the past 30 years
  • Next NXT vs. Dynamite head-to-head is a few weeks away
  • Notes on WrestleDream and positive business notes
  • UFC 307 full coverage
  • Janel Grant’s side asks for WWE to release women from NDAs
  • Unique quote from Ari Emanuel from last year and how it plays into this story
  • The full letter from Ann Callis
  • The most detailed look at the  TV ratings from all the national shows, including placings, competition, demos and segments.
  • CMLL focusing on women’s wrestling this month
  • AAA Heroes Inmortales notes and Guerra de Titanes card
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • NOAH and New Japan both have major shows this week
  • Vikingo vs. Ricochet
  • International Wrestling Hall of Fame notes
  • More background on Ernie Roth, the Grand Wizard of Wrestling/Abdullah Farouk
  • Bound for Glory news
  • 70s and 80s legend looking to become the oldest male wrestler of all-time
  • Does WBD own a percentage of AEW?
  • Legendary ROH Matches added to the ROH television show
  • What’s notable about AEW’s Mexico TV dal
  • Luchasaururs update
  • Taz update
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Largest streaming numbers
  • Injury updates
  • Fighters talk about health and money issues
  • How much will Anderson Silva get if the Cung Le case gets settled this week.
  • What fighters will make millions of dollars in the settlement.
  • Conor McGregor to stand trial over a 2018 case.
  • Former UFC champion coming  out of retirement
  • How Hurricanes affecting WWE
  • Update on the viewership of Mr. McMahoin and Queen of Villains on Netflix
  • How much  WWE is getting from the government for next year’s SummerSlam and why
  • Newcomers ready to debut
  • International TV ratings
  • Unique wrestling TV special aired

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Ethan Page vs. Wes Lee vs. Je’Von Evans number one contender’s match from last night’s NXT. Page won the match and will challenge Trick Williams for the NXT Championship at Halloween Havoc on Sunday, October 27.
  • Page did a post-show interview reacting to his win.
  • NXT’s Wendy Choo is advertised for TNA Bound for Glory weekend in Detroit, which consists of the Bound for Glory PPV on October 26 and the post-PPV television taping on October 27.
  • Lexis King (Brian Pillman Jr.) wrote that his goal in pro wrestling is for his father to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame:
    • Just speaking as Pillman Jr. here for a moment.
    • This is all I ever wanted. My goal from day one in wrestling has always been to bring enough attention to the Pillman name, to remind us all of this legendary performer so that he could take his rightful spot in the hall of fame.
  • On Impaulsive, Logan Paul said he wants to have a match against Jacob Fatu:
    • Very clear rising star. He’s one of the only guys who really stands out to me, and I think everyone else sees it. While I recognize his greatness, part of me also thinks – he’s on my list. And I will be wrestling him in the near future and we’re going to be going at it. So I sort of see him as competition.
    • I can’t wait. I promise you, we’re going to go f*cking crazy. Crazy. I don’t know when it’s going to happen. But, dude, it’s inevitable, no?
  • After watching Gunther vs. Chad Gable at a house show on WWE’s UK tour, Bayley praised Gable as a future World Champion:
    • Watching Gunther vs Chad Gable tonight made me really excited to inevitably see @WWEGable as World Heavyweight champion someday. Such a special performer! But until then….What a match
  • Cody Rhodes named Jake “The Snake” Roberts as his dream opponent if he could face anyone past or present:
    • Hmm, I’d probably say I’d like to wrestle – this is perhaps a random one – Jake Roberts. Jake ‘The Snake.’ Just because he had a really kind of unique psychology to how we do this in front of an audience, and I’d like to learn in addition to [fighting] him at the same time.
  • Adam Pearce posted a remembrance of former ROH executive Joe Koff:
    • Godspeed, Joe Koff. When circumstances made it impossible for me to return to ROH as commentator, Joe paid me for every date I’d agreed to. He didn’t have to. I never had a cross word or bad experience with him. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Rest well, sir.
  • The WWE Vault YouTube channel has a nearly three-hour Playlist video on “Crow” Sting in WCW.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Chris Jericho explained how Joe Koff helped him make the first-ever Chris Jericho Cruise a reality:
    • Sad to hear about the passing of former @ringofhonor COO #JoeKoff. Little known story- Joe was instrumental in getting the first @jericho_cruise out to sea in the fall of 2018! I’d been discussing the cruise concept with @wwe with the idea of having @wwenxt talent wrestling onboard. After literally months of keeping me waiting for an answer, they finally declined to be a part of the cruise, which really put me in a bit of a last minute bind. But literally ONE HOUR after #WWE passed, I had Joe on the phone agreeing to have #ROH & their amazing talent be a part of the cruise and the rest is history! I haven’t seen or spoken to Joe since, but thanks to his sharing and understanding of my vision, the #JerichoCruise is still going strong today! Thanks for your love and dedication to the wrestling business and all you did for it, Joe!!!
  • Former ROH Director of Operations Gary Juster paid tribute to Koff:
    • Joe Koff and I go back to 1989 when he was the general manager of WNUV-TV in Baltimore and I was promoting wrestling there. We were friends from the first time we met. Two Jewish kids who grew up loving pro wrestling. We stayed in touch through the years. After WCW closed, I would occasionally bring him wrestling ideas, finally Ring of Honor. It took almost two years but through Joe’s diligence, and the respect he had at Sinclair Broadcasting, Sinclair purchased Ring of Honor from Cary [Silkin]. Joe was decent, kind, empathetic and respectful of all. Truly a mensch. He was loved and will be missed by many, myself included.
  • Brian Cage appeared on Good Day Sacramento this week.
  • Kenny Omega turns 41 years old today.
  • A six-way scramble match featuring Jake Something, Trevor Lee, Stu Grayson, Sheldon Jean, Mike Rollins, and Alex Zayne is set for night two of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Forged in Excellence weekend in Windsor, Ontario, Canada this Sunday (October 20).
  • MLW announced a trios match with Atlantis, Atlantis Jr. & Star Jr. vs. Barbaro Cavernario, Magnus & Felino for Lucha Apocalypto in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 9.
  • Former WWE wrestler Ezekiel Jackson shared a clip on social media of himself working out in a wrestling ring. When asked if he’s planning a comeback, Jackson responded that he’s “currently just having fun.”
  • Chris Van Vliet interviewed The Godfather on the latest episode of Insight.