Daily Update: Seth Rollins, Tony Khan, Ricochet

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • Running down AEW Dynasty, controversy over the finish, where the angles look to be going, Young Bucks return, what the PPV number says and what to learn from it, long-term, Chris Jericho update, Why the show was long, Swerve vs. Booker and match-by-match rundowns.
  • Update on the Mania card, what matches are on what night, what is up in the air on the card, length, odds, Kevin Owens injury, Paul Heyman angle, Flair vs Stratton and Stand & Deliver, ticket demand and more.
  • New Japan Sakura Geneis report, angles at the show, Best of the Super Juniors and Windy City Riot.
  • Update on the legal strategy of WWE, Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon regarding the ringboys lawsuit.
  • El Hijo del Santo’s possible last match in Mexico City
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling shows, including comparisons with a year ago quarters, demos, placings and competition.
  • Fantastica Mania Mexico
  • Arena Mexico hosting tournament of champions
  • Mina Shirakawa leves Stardom
  • Dragon Gate in Las Vegas
  • Lots of Las Vegas lineups for this coming week
  • Champion Carnival in All Japan begins
  • Junior Sakura Geneis thoughts
  • Anniversary of a legendary match
  • Advance ticket sales to the major WWE & AEW & Las Vegas wrestling events
  • Injury updates
  • Ospreay on Owen Hart
  • Aaron Pico signs with UFC
  • Major 2010 feud rematch falls apart
  • Lex Luger Hall of Fame notes
  • Legacy Hall of Fame notes

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Ahead of WrestleMania, Peter Rosenberg interviewed Paul “Triple H” Levesque for more than an hour. The video can be watched on WWE’s YouTube channel.
  • In an interview with Undisputed, Damian Priest credited Levesque for helping him become a locker room leader in NXT after signing with WWE:
    • Triple H had faith in me. He put me in a leadership position when I came in. When something was going wrong and we’d have these all-in meetings, he’d say, ‘Let the talent handle this.’ And he’d say, ‘Priest, be the one who talks.’ This was the Adam Cole, Undisputed Era, and there were a lot of stars here. I felt honored.
  • Priest and The Miz rewatched their tag match from WrestleMania 37 where Priest & Bad Bunny defeated The Miz & John Morrison.
  • WWE uploaded a director’s cut version of Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes from WrestleMania 40.
  • The company also posted a Build to WrestleMania video focused on Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins.
  • On the Outta Pocket podcast with former NFL player Robert Griffin III, Rollins said he thinks Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair going off script in their promos is the best thing that could have happened to build anticipation for their WrestleMania match
    • Gosh, that’s a tough one because I do have some opinions about it, but they’re sort of – how do I say this, I think no matter what, it’s a collaboration in my opinion. It should always be a collaboration.
    • And, look, I’ve been out there in the ring with people who I didn’t like. You’ve worked with – I’m sure – played with people that you did not like. But there’s a certain respect that you share and a communication that should happen and an understanding.
    • You know, one of my favorite people in the world is John Cena. And John always told me whenever we would cut a promo together, ‘You say whatever you want out there. We’re on TV. It’s fair game. Anything you want. My skin is thick.’ And in our industry, you have to be able to do that. You have to be able to have a thick skin. Because we are in the conflict business, and the best conflict that we can sell is real-life conflict. Because our audience is so smart, they can sniff things out from a mile away.
    • So in my opinion, what happened on last Friday I guess it would be, was the best thing that could have happened for their story. Because we’re on this podcast talking about it right now. And had it not happened, we wouldn’t even be thinking about it at all. So in my opinion, the direction it went, it’s going to help bolster their match leading into WrestleMania.
    • Now, can we get both of them to come together and work together? TBD. We’ll see. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. And like I said, I’ve been in the ring with people and I’ve been in promos with people that I didn’t like, but there’s always an understanding of what lines to cross. And, look, if you’re going to break that agreement, then you need to be prepared for what comes back at you. And I’ll just leave it at that.
  • WWE announced that exclusive Travis Scott merchandise and trading cards will be available for sale at WWE World in Las Vegas tomorrow.
  • Charlotte Flair paid tribute to Nickie Booshie, a wrestling fan who recently passed away:
    • Last week, someone very dear to me passed away. Over the years, I’ve been blessed to build meaningful and cherished relationships with many of my fans—Nickie Booshie was one of them. Even though I’ve been seen as a real-life hero to some, it was Nickie who showed me what unwavering support, encouragement, and fearless love truly looked like. Nickie reminded me why I love what I do so deeply. Nickie, you’ll always hold a special place in my heart and in our wrestling community. You will be missed beyond words. Rest in peace, my friend.
  • Tiffany Stratton & Nia Jax joined Sheamus on this week’s episode of Celtic Warrior Workouts.
  • Gorilla Position interviewed LA Knight.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • The Hollywood Reporter published a story on AEW Dynamite passing WCW Nitro as the longest-running prime time wrestling series on TBS/TNT with tonight’s Spring BreakThru episode.
  • Tony Khan told the Hollywood Reporter that it’s been a seamless transition with Dynamite and Collision now simulcast on Max: “The technology has been great. The Max stream looks great.”
  • Khan also said he could see AEW going to 10 pay-per-views per year in the future, but he thinks nine is a “great number” for now.
  • MJF tweeted:
    • What Nitro was able to achieve changed wrestling. I’m proud of the fact that like Nitro (but longer [winking face emoji]) Dynamite has managed to give both fans (from an entertainment standpoint) and professional wrestlers (from a fiscal standpoint) an alternative. And to think none of this would be possible without me carrying the company solely on my back for all these years…You’re truly welcome.
  • On X/Twitter, Ricochet responded to comments that WWE’s Nick Khan made about AEW in his interview with Bill Simmons. Ricochet tweeted: “Oh man, these guys f*cking suck.”
  • This is the Nick Khan quote that Ricochet was responding to:
    • In terms of the other wrestling promotional company, they have a lot of talented wrestlers and we’re happy about that. When, contractually, they are available to talk to and have conversations with, assume a number of them will come over. 
    • Nothing but respect to the father who finances it and owns the Jaguars and all those other things.
  • TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich will defend her title against Miu Watanabe at Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling’s show in Las Vegas this Friday.
  • SHAK Wrestling and The Mark Hoke Show interviewed Josh Barnett in advance of this Thursday’s Bloodsport event.