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Friday Update

– Garrett Gonzales and I just finished our week in review show. We talked with lawyer Erik Makragen about the Cung Le lawsuit settlement with TKO, why what would have been considered a fantastic outcome ten years ago was viewed differently today and some reasons why both sides would have wanted to settle, plus the key stuff that we won’t know for 45 to 60 days. We also talked about the new issue of the Observer, Jack Perry, Ronda Rousey, AEW business, Mercedes Mone and a number of other questions and topics. Bryan and I will be next up on Sunday night with the weekend review.

– The new issue of the Observer is up on the site now:

  • The Cung Le vs. TKO lawsuit and its settlement, words from someone close to the case from its inception, a lawyer following the case weighs in. stock analysts talk, how much TKO’s company value went up with the settlement and original goals of the suit.
  • Dwayne Johnson and getting more leeway on promos after last Friday.
  • WrestleMania update, who are the favorites in the matches, lineup, ticket sales and demand.
  • Ronda Rousey in her book and interviews talks about WWE, Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Bruce Prichard, history with concussions and more
  • Coverage of the New Japan Cup, New Japan business, the final night and big shows coming up
  • PPV buys for WWE, AEW and TNA by state and what states which companies are the biggest in
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week for all the wrestling shows, including segment-by-segment, competition, rankings for the week and comparisons to one year ago.
  • 81st anniversary of wrestling in one of the legendary arenas
  • AAA announces first TripleMania, more on its notalgia, Vikingo being stripped of his title and more
  • Who is staying with Stardom and who is leaving
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • Mark Coleman news
  • TV viewing notes from the past month regarding network, cable and streaming
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Wrestling show up for a multiple of awards
  • A look at Buff Bagwell and Terry Gordy Dark Side of the Ring episodes
  • Mark Hitchcock Memorial show
  • RevPro announces major show
  • AEW Dynasty PPV update
  • Next Continental Classic notes
  • Updates on PPV numbers for Elimination Chamber, Hard to Kill, Revolution and Joshua vs. Ngannou.
  • Danielson talks Ospreay
  • Advance ticket sales for AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV rating and streaming numbers
  • Former UFC champion coming out of retirement
  • Bellator new TV deals
  • Updated analysis of WWE stock
  • Update on Vince McMahon documentary
  • WWE upcoming major bouts

– There is no Rampage tonight nor Collision tomorrow because TNT is airing NCAA basketball.

– SmackDown tonight on FOX is built around a face-off between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. Also on the show is Iyo Sky vs. Naomi, Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar with the LWO and Legado del Fantasma barred from ringside and two tag team title qualifiers, AOP vs. Street Profits and Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory. As of yesterday they had 11,000 tickets out in Milwaukee so this should sell out.

– Bellator results from today in Belfast, Northern Ireland:

  • Manoel Sousa defeated Tim Wilde via knockout at 4:48 of round one
  • Leandro Higo defeated James Gallagher via straight 29-28 scores
  • Fabian Edwards defeated Aaron Jeffrey to earn a shot at middleweight champion Johnny Eblen
  • Particio Pitbull Freire defeated Jeremy Kennedy at 4:07 of the third round with strikes to retain the featherweight title. Freire issued a challenge to Aaron Pico after the fight
  • Corey Anderson defeated Karl Moore on scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45 to win the vacant light heavyweight title

They also announced Jason Jackson defending the welterweight title against Ramazan Kuramagomedov on 6/22 in Dublin. The next Bellator show is 5/17 in Paris, France headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov defending the lightweight title against Alexander Shabiliy and Patchy Mix defending the bantamweight title against Magomed Magomedov.

– For the Slammy Awards match of the year, WWE has nominated Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest, Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn, Gunther vs. Chad Gable, Asuka vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair and Flair vs. Rhea Ripley. Female Superstar of the Year nominees are Ripley, Belair, Bayley, Sky and Becky Lynch while Male Superstar of the Year nominees are Rhodes, Reigns, Seth Rollins, Gunther and Logan Paul.

– Steve Marrocco of MMA Fighting said that once the Cung Le settlement is approved, the first checks look to be sent to fighters in September or October, and the second group of checks look to be April or May of 2025.

– Michael Chandler confirmed that he has an agreement for his fight with Conor McGregor and said it would be this summer but couldn’t give a date. Chandler said that they are talking about fighting at either 170 or 185. Chandler has always fought at 155.

– Tonight at Arena Mexico is a one-night tag tournament with rivals as teammates with Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr., Dragon Rojo Jr. & Templario, Hechicero & Stuka Jr. and Disturbio & Virus. The winning team will face Mascara Dorada & Rocky Romero on 3/29, which is the sold out El Homeje a Dos Leyendas show with the BCC from AEW appearing along with Willow Nightingale.

– They also announced that on 4/5 at Arena Mexico, the Universal tournament will have all National champions, 4/12 will have all CMLL champions and 4/19 will have all Historical (formerly NWA) champions.

– Gracia Guajardo, the daughter of Hall of Famer Rene Guajardo and wife of Hall of Famer Villano V, passed away on 3/20.

– Although Nic Nemeth vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi was at one point mentioned for the 4/6 Sumo Hall show for New Japan, we’re told Nemeth was always working dates in Philadelphia that week. Nemeth is not on the New Japan show with the full lineup announced yesterday.

– Masato Tanaka is wrestling for Outlaw Wrestling on 4/11 in Brooklyn, NY.

– Afa Anoa’i of Wild Samoans fame, 81, had back surgery earlier today due to breaking his back in two places. He still needs heart valve replacement surgery.

– The semifinals in the NCAA wrestling tournament take place tonight in Kansas City. The big tournament story is that Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks of Penn State are looking to join the very small class of wrestlers with four NCAA titles. Starocci at 174 beat No. 1 seed and unbeaten Makhi Lewis of Virginia Tech today. Brooks, at 197, reached the final four beating Stephen Buchanan of Oklahoma via pin in 2:45. Starocci tonight faces Shane Griffin of Michigan while Brooks faces Rocky Elam of Missouri.

– We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

  • WWE Smackdown tonight in Milwaukee (dark matches only)
  • TNA tapings tonight in Philadelphia
  • NXT tonight in Sanford, FL
  • WWE tomorrow night in Springfield, IL
  • TNA tomorrow night in Philadelphia
  • NXT tomorrow night in Gainesville, FL
  • WWE Sunday night in Rockford, IL

We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

– UFC runs from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow from the Apex in Las Vegas. The late start time is because the last six fights will air on ESPN after the conclusion of the NCAA Wrestling tournament, which has the finals tomorrow.

7 p.m. on ESPN+

  • Mohammed Usman (237) vs. Mick Parkin (262.5)
  • Igor Severino (125) vs. Andre Lima (126)
  • Montserrat Rendon (135) vs. Darya Zheleznyakova (135.5)
  • Jarno Errens (144.5) vs. Steven Nguyen (145)
  • Miles Johns (136) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5)
  • Ricardo Ramos (145.5) vs. Julian Erosa (146)
  • Kurt Holobaugh (155.5) vs. Trey Ogden (155.5)

10 p.m. on ESPN

  • Fernando Padilla (145) vs. Lis Pajuelo (145)
  • Billy Quarantillo (145.5) vs. Youssef Zalal (146)
  • Payton Talbott (135.5) vs. Cameron Saaiman (135)
  • Edmen Shahbazyan (186) vs. AJ Dobson (185.5)
  • Justin Tafa (264.5) vs. Karl Williams (246.5)
  • Amanda Ribas (125.5) vs. Rose Namajunas (125.5)

– The class of 2024 for the International Boxing Hall of Fame will be inducted from 6/6 to 6/9 in Canastota, NY. Oscar De La Hoya confirmed appearing at the event. The class are Ricky Hatton, Ivan Calderon, Diego Corrales, Michael Moorer, Jane Couch, Ana Maria Torres, Luis Firpo, Theresa Kibby, Kenny Adams, Jackie Kallen, Fred Sternburg, Wallace Matthews and Nick Charles. Firpo is the boxer who fought Jack Dempsey in a wild fight and Dempsey later told pro wrestler Juan Kachmanian from Argentina to use the name Pampero Firpo due to being one of his greatest rivals. Jackie Kallen was a famous woman promoter who they once did a movie on. Matthews and Charles are being inducted as reporters.

– We want to send our sympathies to the Jarrett family on the death of Jack Smedley, the father of Karen Jarrett, who passed away at the age of 77.

-Actor Todd Bridges, best known for the TV series Different Strokes, will be honored at the Cauliflower Alley Club award banquet which takes place 8/21 at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. While not as prevalent today, when the club started, it was a mix of boxers, pro wrestlers and actors (who in the 50s and 60s all hung out together). It’s become more of a wrestler thing but they’ve honored actors for decades.

– Billy Gunn, QT Marshall, Gangrel, Brian Cage, Bill Alfonso and Amber Nova will be wrestling for Coastal Championship Wrestling on 4/19 in Port St. Lucie, FL.

– Nick Wayne will face Joey Janela in a 60 minute Iron Man match for Defy Wrestling on 5/10 in Seattle at Washington Hall.