Daily Update: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, Raw fallout, NXT

Daily Update

  • Latest News:
  • Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site with these stories:

*The life and times of Stephan Bonnar, a look at a person who was one of the key building blocks of the popularity of UFC, including the Forrest Griffin fight, his relationship with Griffin after the fight, season one of Ultimate Fighter and the building years, life after UFC, the feud with Tito Ortiz, his pro wrestling days and much more.
*Match of the week and performer of the week
*The WWE signing of Dragon Lee, full details of the deal, unique stipulations in the deal, how long WWE had been after him and what he told people he asked for decision making help
*How AAA, WWE and AEW had talent on the same show, including in the same match and the unique situation there
*Coverage of Wednesday’s AAA show in Acapulco, production issues, match to go out of your way to see
*What AEW knew about Dragon Lee
*Comparing his potential in AEW and WWE
*WWE talks using Lee to help expand
*A look at Stardom’s Sumo Hall show
*A look at a lot of Stardom plans going forward
*Dragon Gate’s Final Gate show
*WWE does its traditional Christmas week show in Madison Square Garden
*How the show did as compared with the last 13 years
*The life and times of Hall of Famer Johnny Doyle, one of the great promoters of all-time
*A detailed look at the ratings over the past week
*Streaming numbers and international TV numbers
*CMLL’s Jan. 1 cage match where somebody loses their mask
*Konnan talks about his health
*Cain Velasquez talks about his returning to wrestle and teaming with Daniel Cormier
*All Japan bringing in Minoru Suzuki
*NOAH’s Budokan Hall show
*Tokyo Dome preview
*Shibata vs. Tom Lawlor
*Ricky Steamboat talks why he didn’t wrestle Ric Flair
*Notes on the death of former WWE promoter Doc Holliday and why he was so well liked
*Anniversary of the first splash off the cage top
*AEW loses TV outlet in Canada and story behind it
*Tony Khan says AEW isn’t going anywhere
*Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
*Bellator signs former Olympic medalist
*WrestleMania updates
*Mysterio family angle
*Notes from all the WWE holiday house shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

November 21, 2005 Observer Newsletter: The death of Eddie Guerrero

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • MVP, Cedric Alexander, and Shelton Benjamin, who at one time formed The Hurt Business, were seen talking in the background with Adam Pearce as Damage CTRL were walking to the ring on last night’s Raw.
  • Bianca Belair on Twitter: “I am not okay…But @AlexaBliss_WWE won’t be either…Payback is a…3 Stitch Belair.”
  • An anonymous Twitter account has popped up showing footage of Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter talking to NXT medical. In the video, a female voice can be heard saying “Everyone has their secrets in NXT. What’s yours?” Both Catanzaro and Carter replied to the account negatively.
  • The New York Post has an article focusing on Roman Reigns’ direction heading into 2023.
  • Jagger Reid of Schism competed in a match during the Main Event taping held prior to Raw.
  • Kofi Kingston has launched a GoFundMe for children in Ghana, aiming to build a computer lab & library.
  • Matches and segments added to WWE’s YouTube today include the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal from the April 1, 2022 edition of SmackDown, the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match from 2022, and Goldberg’s WWE debut on the March 31, 2003 edition of Raw.

AEW

Other Wrestling

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi talked to Sports Illustrated ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 17, where he and Shota Umino will team with Keiji Mutoh in what will be Mutoh’s final match with the company. “I am so happy to team with Muto before his retirement,” Tanahashi said. “I have always learned a lot from Muto, and I think there will be a lot I can learn from this experience teaming with him as opposed to opposite him. I think it’s a great learning opportunity for Umino as well.”
  • Will Ospreay’s promo from this morning’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 press conference.
  • Samuray del Sol announced that he will be at DDT’s Judgement event on March 21.
  • Impact announced that their Hard to Kill pay-per-view event on January 13th has sold out.