Daily Update: Mark Coleman, WWE Hall of Fame, Shayna Baszler

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the new issue

  • Going into detail with the name revelations in the Front Office Sports story by John Pollock, Brandon Thurston and Tim Marchman, more on the lawsuit, what it means in context, more notes not in the suit, Brock Lesnar update and the claims explained.
  • The heroic Mark Coleman story from the past week, as well as a look at his wrestling, MMA and pro wrestling careers.
  • The Mercedes Mone debut in AEW, what happened, ratings, live gate, money involved, and even a WWE comment
  • WrestleMania update, business notes, secondary market demand
  • Full coverage of UFC 299, business, what’s next for the fighters, how much of a superstar has Sean O’Malley become and what is next for him
  • Notes on SummerSlam coming to Cleveland
  • A study of WWE & AEW PPV buyers and how frequently each group has bought shows over the past year
  • The death of Yutaka Yoshie
  • A detailed look at Paul Levesque’s first Hall of Fame class and their respective backgrounds including multiple Muhammad Ali appearances in pro wrestling detailed, as well as the politics of the Hall of Fame, Vince McMahon, people not in and everyone going in this year
  • Joanna Jedrzejczyk enters UFC Hall of Fame
  • Major story on the 16 Carat Gold tournament
  • The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week, including demos, competition, placing for the night, time slot and week
  • The first-ever all women’s show at Arena Mexico and how it did
  • MLW title defended at Arena Mexico
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • All Japan Champion Carnival notes
  • NOAH heads to the U.K.
  • NOAH tag team tournament ends and notes
  • Update on New Japan Cup
  • What to look for in the NCAA wrestling tournament in two weeks
  • Former WWE wrestlers wedding notes
  • Lots of TNA business news and build to the next PPV
  • Will Ospreay talks why he chose AEW
  • Tag team tournament notes
  • Update on AEW Revolution, WWE Elimination Chamber, TNA Hard to Kill and Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua PPV numbers as well as PFL vs Bellator
  • Kenny Omega talks surprise match that was being set up for him
  • Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • Takeshita talks Ospreay match
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numbers
  • Vince McMahon finances update

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I will be up later today talking the week in wrestling and MMA, with talk about the different subjects in the new issue of the Observer out today.

Mark Coleman as told to his daughter earlier today: 

“Mark the hammer Coleman here. I want to first thank my higher power above without him this isn’t possible. Next I want to thank each and every one of you for the prayers, support, and generosity. I always knew I had the best fans around. What you have done for me and my family is truly remarkable. I also want to thank the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who saved my life. I can’t wait to take you all along with me during my recovery journey. You are all now a part of hammer house. I’m blessed and grateful my parents and I are walking out of this alive. I encourage you to do the things you want to do, better yourself, and cherish every moment. Tomorrow is not promised. Also, it breaks my heart to say this but rest in peace to my special dog hammer. If you followed me before all of this you knew he was my sidekick and best friend. We spent every day together and I will miss him so much. As always…sober is cool, carnivore diet, 9 ancestral tenets. Hammer house if 4 life. Are you in now? Don’t ever count the hammer out. I love you all.”

It was confirmed to us yesterday that with the exception of Lia Maivia, all members of the 2024 Hall of Fame class have been announced. Regarding rumors of Bray Wyatt, obviously he was on the list at one point but it’s not planned, or at least wasn’t as of yesterday. The impression I was given is that he will be put in soon.

Regarding Shayna Baszler at Bloodsport and other WWE talent doing indie dates that week, we were told it was a Paul Levesque decision and that Paul Levesque has a different view on these things than Vince McMahon had.

A couple of updates on the AEW ratings from Wednesday. The actual number ended up at 798,000 viewers and not 801,000 due to the overrun hurting the average. The 18-49 number at 0.27 remained the same. The show had 1.36 viewers per home.

The Rock did a great promo today. I saw bits of Lawler, Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair and Austin Idol in it. He’s in Memphis tonight for Smackdown, which sold out yesterday. Also on the show is Bayley vs. Dakota Kai, Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Pretty Deadly, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro vs. Angel & Berto, Dragon Lee vs. Santos Escobar, Randy Orton vs. Grayson Waller plus appearances by Rock, Rey Mysterio and Jerry Lawler will be there although it’s not confirmed he’ll be on the TV show. Both tag matches will have the winners go into the six-team ladder match for the tag titles at WrestleMania.

Rampage at 10 p.m. tonight on TNT

  • Orange Cassidy & Trent Baretta vs. John Silver & Evil Uno
  • Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. Kayla Sparks & Little Miss Kathleen
  • Komander vs. Konosuke Takeshita – told this was great, best match of the taping
  • Top Flight & Action Andretti vs. Matt Taven & Mike Bennett & Roderick Strong

We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows

  • Smackdown tonight in Memphis (dark matches only)
  • AEW Collision/ROH tomorrow in Ottawa (ROH matches and anything not on the live television show)
  • WWE house show Saturday night in Augusta, GA
  • WWE house show Sunday night in North Charleston, SC
  • We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Shane Helms said that the story Buff Bagwell told on Dark Side of the Ring about their encounter shortly after both were signed by WWF in 2001 was not true. He said on X, “Buff is a lying POS. Always has been,. There were witnesses and none agree with Buff. He used to blame Jim Ross too,. Blamed everyone except the man in the mirror. Nothing wrong with failing at something but accountability is key. Everyone associated with that episode of Dark Side can suck ass. He literally just went on a show and told a bunch of lies. No more second chances from me.” Bagwell claimed during a training session after both were signed by WWE that he slapped Helms in the face and then Helms smashed him with a frozen bottle of water, which left him with 24 staples in his head that he had to wrestle on TV with.

UFC runs tomorrow from 4-10 p.m. Eastern with a pure ESPN+ show from the Apex Arena in Las Vegas

  • Charalampos Grigoriou (136) vs. Chad Anheliger (135)
  • Jaquelie Amoorim (116) vs. Cory McKenna (115.5)
  • Thiago Moises (155.5) vs. Mitch Ramirez (155.5)
  • Joshua Culibao (146) vs. Danny Silva (148.5) – Silva missed weight by 2.5 pounds
  • Jafel Filho (125.5) vs. Ode Osbourne (125.5)
  • Joisane Nunes (135) vs. Chelsea Chandler (137) – Chandler missed weight by 1.0 pounds
  • Natan Levy (156.5) vs. Mike Davis (155) – Levy missed weight by 0.5 pounds
  • Gerald Meerschaert (185.5) vs. Bryan Barbarena (186)
  • Pannie Kianzad (136) vs. Macy Chiasson (135.5)
  • Christian Rodriguez (145) vs. Isaac Dulgarian (145.5)
  • Ovince Saint Preux (206) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (205)
  • Bryan Battle (170) vs. Ange Loosa (171)
  • Tai Tuivasa (265.5) vs. Marcin Tybura (247)

Kaito Kiyomiya and Masa Kitamiya have been added to the Pro Wrestling NOAH tour of the U.K. .

A Go Fund Me was set up for Nicho, the original Psicosis who was the original top rival of Rey Misterio Jr. He suffered a broken hip in a match in Mexico City a few weeks ago. He underwent emergency surgery.

RevPro announced a show on 8/24 at the Copper Box Arena, the day before the AEW All In show at Wembley Stadium.

An article on the new book on the life of Randy Savage by Jon Finkel.

Jake Paul called brother Logan Paul a liar after Logan Paul said he was offered the fight with Mike Tyson first. Logan Paul said on his Impaulsive podcast that he turned it down but thinks he could beat Tyson. He said it was a different offer, but not by Netflix and not for as much money. Logan Paul said he thinks Tyson is too old. Jake Paul then said that Tyson wasn’t looking for a fight, but he said Netflix made both of them a big offer. He said, “But it is weird to lie, to blatantly lie,” when asked about his brother being offered a fight with Tyson. He said Netflix came to them for a fight and then they went to Tyson. He said, “Why is my own brother trying to make me look like the second option for Tyson.” 

There is a play in Rochester, NY, based on pro wrestling, called “The Last Match as The Mother!” It plays 4/26 to 5/5 at the Temple Theater with Mickie James in the lead role.

Mercedes Mone was at the Celtics vs. Suns NBA game on TNT last night. The announcers pushed her as the new AEW signee. The game was at the TD Garden in Boston. She also appeared on the NBC affiliate in Boston from the game.

Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling on 3/22 in Newark, CA at the Pavilion is headlined by Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Marcus Lewis, Viva Van vs Sandra Moore and Aaron Solo vs Starboy Charlie.

Josh Alexander vs. Tracy Williams was announced for the 3/22 TNA show at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.