Daily Update: MJF, Stevie Turner, CMLL vs. MLW card

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer:

  • Updating the John Cena/Cody Rhodes interview, what was and wasn’t said, update on the plans for WrestleMania as well as the current ticket demand and interest level.
  • WBD expresses interest in UFC and evaluating the value of the UFC PPV business, the methods of distribution, how many buyers or subscribers will it take to cover what UFC wants and that value, how a deal with WBD would affect AEW (it would, perhaps significantly).
  • Full coverage of the final week of the New Japan Cup, including a look at one of the best shows of the year and New Japan’s next major show.
  • 2024 Gaspard/Huber award winners, the most important award we give each year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for the various shows, including competition, men vs. women and things to note from the different shows over the past week.
  • Build to CMLL’s second biggest event of the year
  • How the foreign talent is doing in Mexico
  • AAA champion suspended in key market and why
  • Difference between commission suspensions in U.S. and Mexico
  • What WWE superstar was suspended for a drug test failure by athletic commissions nationwide and a commission didn’t  honor it and why several years back
  • Angle for a non-wrestling booker to face a woman star in a match
  • Homicide retirement notes
  • A look back at the most famous NCAA wrestling tournament match of all-time
  • The state of  El Hijo del Santo’s retirement tour
  • Updates on Border City Wrestling
  • Queen of the Ring updates
  • More on the early days of women’s pro wrestling history
  • Mandy Rose talks business after wrestling
  • AEW Dynasty updates including business
  • AEW and the Ryan Nemeth lawsuit against the company, Tony Khan and CM Punk
  • International TV and streaming numbers
  • WWE countering AEW PPV shows
  • Lex Luger Hall of Fame questions
  • How much is Dwayne Johhnson’s ownership of TKO worth
  • How much is Vince McMahon’s current ownership worth
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Developmental updates

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • WWE Vault uploaded a full NXT house show from March 27, 2015, which was an important event for the brand as it took place during WrestleMania 31 weekend with WWE’s top brass in attendance.
  • NXT wrestler Stevie Turner was named the new general manager of WWE Evolve on the episode that premiered on Tubi last night. Turner is from London and started her WWE career in NXT UK.
  • Adrian Hernandez interviewed Kevin Owens on a new episode of Unlikely.
  • Corey Graves narrated a hype video for the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrating the start of the 2025 baseball season.
  • In their top 50 countdown, WWE ranked Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H (WrestleMania 34) as the 21st greatest match in WrestleMania history.
  • Linda Hogan, ex-wife of Hulk Hogan, posted an emotional social media video saying her family is in “the worst mess” and calling Hulk a “complete liar.” Linda said her daughter Brooke has not talked to her in almost eight years and does not talk to Hulk either:
    • Brooke doesn’t talk to us. She’s had twins. She got married. She didn’t tell us. She had a huge fight with Terry. I don’t know how that reflected onto me, but she cut me out too. I haven’t talked to her for seven years. Almost eight years now.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • To promote All In 2025 taking place at Globe Life Field this July, AEW star MJF is in Arlington, Texas today to throw out the first pitch at the Texas Rangers’ opening day game against the Boston Red Sox.
  • Video of MJF’s pitch can be seen here.
  • Jim Ross said on his Grilling JR podcast that he would fully endorse the idea of AEW hiring Gail Kim, who was fired from her role in TNA Wrestling talent relations earlier this week:
    • No [I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gail Kim end up in AEW at some point]. I would endorse that. If Tony Khan asked me my thoughts on the matter, I would suggest – go for it. She’s very, very valuable and does a great job. I have great respect for Gail Kim, and her reputation speaks for itself. She gets results. She’s very good at working with talent. So – I’m a big Gail Kim fan. And she should not be unemployed for long in my world.
  • Konosuke Takeshita will face Mike Santana at House of Glory’s show in Queens, New York on Friday, April 25.
  • Saraya launched her new Rulebreakers podcast with its first two episodes debuting today. In the first episode, Saraya discusses her departure from AEW. She then interviews Harley Cameron in the second episode. Here is the description for the podcast:
    • Born into a chaotic, hellraising and deeply tight-knit family, Saraya learned to never back down from a challenge. She’s a rule breaker and drawn to people with this same mentality. In RULEBREAKERS, her DGAF mentality takes center stage while also exploring vulnerability and transparency with listeners. Every week, Saraya and a guest will explore their unconventional paths to success. Inspired by the honesty of Dumb Blonde, the unapologetic nature of Cancelled, and the humor and undeniable charm of Chicken Shop Date, Saraya is ready to ask the hard questions and talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of her and her guests’ lives.
  • Future Stars of Wrestling said their Chris Bey benefit show from last weekend exceeded all expectations the promotion had: “The Beynefit For Bey was a success beyond our wildest dreams. We shattered records at the Silverton, the largest amount of viewers ever for an @FSWVegas on @Triller_TV. Our crew was amazing getting backstage interaction, and interviews. Hoping to have info on a DVD of the event”
  • A CMLL vs. MLW show is set to take place at Arena Mexico on Friday, May 2 with the following matches:
    • Mistico vs. KUSHIDA
    • MLW National Openweight Champion Matthew Justice defends against Ultimo Guerrero
    • Neon vs. Paul London
    • MLW Tag Team Champions Satoshi Kojima & Okumura defend against Magnus & Rugido
    • Zandokan Jr. & Barboza vs. Donovan Dijak & Ikuro Kwon
    • Reyna Isis vs. Janai Kai
  • MLW announced that Ikuro Kwon will be an entrant in Battle Riot VII in Long Beach, California on Saturday, April 5.
  • James Storm appeared as a guest on Wrestling Life with Ben Veal.