Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, Goldberg, Westin Blake

Daily Update

Latest News:

• Chelsea Green added to NWA World Women’s title match at Hard Times 3
• Impact Friday TV taping spoilers: X-Division title tournament kicks off
• Apollo Crews: WWE NXT transition ‘almost like a breath of fresh air’
• UFC 280 live results: Oliveira vs. Makhachev, Sterling vs. Dillashaw
• WWE SmackDown video highlights: Logan Paul knocks out Jey Uso
• Willow Nightingale officially signs with AEW
• Gunther vs. Rey Mysterio set for November 4 edition of WWE SmackDown
• Reigns return, Rousey open challenge set for next week’s WWE SmackDown
• Two matches added to WWE Crown Jewel

Latest Audio:

• Wrestling Observer Live: Was WCW better at Halloween than WWE?
• Speak Now: WWE SmackDown & AEW Rampage show recap

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

• October 24, 2022 Observer Newsletter: AAA Triplemania XXX Mexico City, Hall of Fame 2022 voting begins

• Match and performer of the week
• 2022 Hall of Fame ballot, rules, everyone eligible, thoughts on this year’s election and the strongest candidates.What candidates on this year’s ballot did the best in last year’s ballot
• TripleMania, the story behind the show, business of the show, , news notes, poll results and star ratings
• WWE PPV changes, Crown Jewel notes and updates on upcoming PPV shows
• Dana White starting new promotion with Lorenzo Fertitta and two new combat ideas he’s working on
• The life of Humberto Garza, the grandfather of two WWE stars and father of Hector Garza. Garza, who passed away this past week, was a very significant star in Mexico and a look at his career
• Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show,and the ramifications of the show.
• A look at the career of Jose Rivera, one of the key building blocks of the Puerto Rico wrestling boom, including a look back at the growth of WWC and its biggest feud ever
• Ratings for every show including how every segment did and details of AEW vs. NXT head-to-head on Tuesday
• First all-women’s show in the history of a major promotion
• First women’s main event on a Middle Eastern show
• CMLL star gives unique reason why he’s been gone for so long
• The business of TripleMania
• More details on a wrestling show coming to Disney +
• Two starts of the same promotion were on the national team in the same competition
• The top matches from Royal Quest
• Update on the New Japan TV title tournament
• More details on the arrest of Shocker
• Who are the wrestlers who generate the most money on Cameo
• Jim Lyman tournament news
• Two stars going after fourth NCAA title
• WWE & Impact PPV Numbers from last week
• Adam Page update
• Update on ramifications of the brawl after All Out and where things stand regarding who stays and who goes
• More details on Chris Jericho’s contract
• Tony Khan, Dana White and Vince McMahon all scheduling major events on the same day
• More on AEW new reality show
• More on AEW in Toronto
• AEW star announcing on the Mayweather show
• Upcoming ticket sales to AEW & WWE events
• DAZN back in the MMA business
• Dwayne Johnson and possible WWE sale
• UFC owners talk possible WWE sale
• Notes on Bray Wyatt return
• International TV ratings
• DVR viewership numbers for all shows so far this year
• Royal Rumble update
• Lots of injury updates
• The real story on why Billy Gunn wasn’t at the DX Reunion on Raw
• Streaming numbers for AEW & WWE

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

• September 5, 2005 Observer Newsletter: Pride Final Conflict recap, Chris Jericho announces WWE departure

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.

Saturday News Update

WWE

• Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.163 million viewers in the fast national ratings, up slightly from the 2.129 million the show drew in the fast nationals last week. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5.
• WWE announced a storyline injury update on Sheamus after he was attacked by The Bloodline on SmackDown: “BREAKING: Due to the attack earlier tonight by #TheBloodline, @WWESheamus has a non-displaced fracture near his elbow and is still under observation.” During the attack, The Bloodline targeted Sheamus’ arm by repeatedly hitting it with a steel chair against the steps.
• A new message from Bray Wyatt aired on SmackDown last night.
• While being interviewed on the Roman Atwood Podcast, Goldberg said he has two months left on his WWE contract.
• Lucha Libre Barcelona thanked Sasha Banks for coming in to train with them.
• Solo Sikoa spoke about trying not to laugh while working with Sami Zayn: “We do rehearsals and [Zayn] says, ‘We’ll do this, this, and that.’ Then when we got out there, I was like, ‘Man, you didn’t do this or that. Why didn’t you tell me you were going to do that? You’re all up in my face laughing.’ He’s like, ‘Man, I’m gonna make you crack. I’m going to make you laugh one of these days, and he’s still trying to. I’m trying my hardest not to. It’s difficult.”
• This weekend is Johnny Gargano’s first house show loop since returning to WWE.
• The Orlando Sentinel interviewed Shawn Michaels.
• Chucky narrated the opening video for tonight’s NXT Halloween Havoc event.
• Liv Morgan, Damage CTRL, and Rey Mysterio appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
• WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Edge vs. Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman (Rebellion 2002), Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (Backlash 2018), and a DX/Brothers of Destruction segment (October 29, 2018 Raw).

AEW/Other Wrestling

• Westin Blake (former WWE wrestler Wesley Blake) shared an emotional tribute to his late wife Sara Lee:
• Dear Sara,
• I loved you from the first moment I saw you. I would always say that you were an angel walking on this earth. Beautiful, compassionate, strong and so loving. An angel that blessed me with 3 of the most beautiful children I could imagine. But you were soo much more than just mom. You were a motivator, a best friend, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, the back bone of our family, and (my favorite), my wife. I really don’t know what to say in these uncertain times. I just know that death can’t take away the memories we made. I can’t promise that I will stop grieving but I know now, that you’re free. I can’t thank you enough for giving me the best years of my life so far.
• I LOVE YOU SARA
• At the end of last night’s Rampage, AEW aired an in memoriam video for Brian “Mongo” Muster. Muster, who was AEW’s lead video engineer, passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. AEW also paid tribute to Muster at Daily’s Place after Rampage went off the air.
• Billy Gunn discussed his current run in AEW with The Acclaimed: “I’m supposed to be at the end of my career, not [as] over as I was 20 years ago,. I’m very lucky. I’m loving this.”
• First Coast News in Jacksonville interviewed Tony Khan earlier this week.
• Stardom officially unveiled the design for the IWGP Women’s Championship belt today. Here’s a better look at the title belt.
• GCW’s Brett Lauderdale appeared on The Business of The Business podcast.
• WBEZ Chicago published a piece on the history of pro wrestling in the city.