Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins-CM Punk

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site right now. Among the items covered are:

*Match of the week and performer of the week

*Jerry Lawler’s recovery and a look at the history of Lawler from his days as the King of Memphis wrestling, his run in the 80s, the high and low points of that company and his role as a WWE announcer

*Nick Khan and Tony Khan talk with WWE sale as well a how much money key people will make on the sale*Update on WrestleMania plans

*The 1977 Superstar Billy Graham vs. Dusty Rhodes feud and how that impacts the 2023 WrestleMania

*Behind the Paul Heyman/Cody Rhodes segment

*Key parts of the interview

*Paul Heyman’s history with Dusty Rhodes

*Elimination Chamber update

*Fedor Emelianenko’s farewell to MMA and where Bellator stands

*Keiji Muto with days left in his career talks about his final match and his condition

*Full coverage of NXT Vengeance

*MLW debuts on REELZ

*New Japan New Beginning in Sapporo

*UFC’s weekend show coverage*Stardom Supreme Fights coverage

*A look at the best matches of 2022

*How many homes are the cable stations that carry wrestling in

*The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week

*Four plus year title reign ends

*AAA planning for Triplemania

*How the Acapulco show led to issues with AAA and AEW

*Notes from Fantastica Mania

*Lots of Kota Ibushi news

*A look at the career of Charlie Norris

*The most watched television wrestling match of the 1970s

*Lots of WrestleMania week news

*Court Bauer talks WWE lawsuit

*AEW new deal in place

*International TV ratings and streaming numbers

*AEW & WWE upcoming show ticket sales

*Jericho Cruise notes

*Behind the MJF promo

*Interesting notes from Mark Hunt’s lawsuit against Brock Lesnar

*Previewing this week’s UFC show

*Cody Rhodes talks about learning pro wrestling

*WWE working with other groups

*Brett Favre sues Pat McAfee

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter:

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.

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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 Update

WWE

  • Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.39 million viewers in the fast national ratings, up from the 2.26 million the show drew in the fast nationals last week. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.6.
  • At the end of SmackDown last night, Paul Heyman informed Jimmy Uso that Roman Reigns doesn’t want The Usos to show up at Elimination Chamber in Montreal.
  • WWE uploaded a post-show segment from SmackDown where Santos Escobar and Rey Mysterio showed the ultimate sign of respect by giving one of their masks to each other.
  • Indie wrestler B3CCA appeared on SmackDown using the name Carmen Harress. She lost to Lacey Evans.
  • The Enterprise Center in St. Louis announced that Roman Reigns will appear on the Monday, March 20 episode of Raw at the venue. It’s the second-to-last episode of Raw before WrestleMania 39.
  • While appearing on the Covino & Rich Show, Seth Rollins was asked about CM Punk:
          • Well, I don’t need to repeat what I said about Chicago Phil in an interview last week. If you need to, I’m sure you can Google it. Look, the bottom line is that it’s the same thing as with Logan Paul. Punk and Logan Paul are two different personalities – but they’re both as selfish as it comes. And if you’re not going to help, then I don’t want you to be part of our industry. I don’t want you to be part of our company, and that’s all that there is to that.
          • Here’s the thing, I’ll say one thing about Punk – I’ll end it on a positive note with him. That guy has given my career so much, that it pains me to have to say bad things about him, because he helped me out. He really did. He’s been a good guy to me for a lot of my career. But for whatever reason, the past maybe six, seven years, he’s in a different headspace and we’re not on the same page. And to see kind of what he’s done, and taken and taken and taken – it’s always been about him. I’m not a fan. I’m just not a fan, I’m not a fan. There’s a place for him, man. He’s got a lot to give. I just wish – I wish his head was in the right spot.
  • John Cena was featured in the trailer for “Fast X,” which is scheduled to be released on May 19.
  • Cena was spotted wearing a skirt and high heels for his upcoming movie “Ricky Stanicky.”
  • The Undertaker was interviewed on Sportsnet’s Tim & Friends.
  • LA Knight was the guest on the latest edition of Sheamus’ Celtic Warrior Workouts.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Fite issued a statement about the status of AEW Plus in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands:
          • FITE’s AEW Plus remains the best way to enjoy All Elite Wrestling shows in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands – and FITE is still the exclusive digital platform for live PPV events in the region.
          • AEW: Dynamite, AEW: Rampage, are available to AEW Plus subscribers live and on demand with no commercial breaks. Subscribers also get high quality commercial-free access to AEW: Dark, AEW: Dark Elevation, and Battle of the Belts special episodes. All on the most reliable, multi-device, streaming platform in sports.
          • FITE is the top platform in the world for PPV events in Pro Wrestling, Boxing, MMA, grappling and other sports, and has been proud to present AEW’s PPV events Revolution, All Out, Double or Nothing, and Full Gear to global audiences live.
          • AEW+ is $6.99 per month in the Australian and New Zealand region, with a 7-day free trial.
  • Eddie Kingston is off tonight’s Defy Year 6 event due to injury. Defy Wrestling announced: “DEFY has learned that due to injury EDDIE KINGSTON will no longer be able to compete at tonight’s YEAR6. EDDIE is super bummed and we wish him a speedy recovery. We’ll have him back for a future event! DON’T FEAR, Defyance- a stacked card remains, 6 YEARS LOUD!”
  • PWInsider reported yesterday that The Bunny was slated to undergo medical testing for the injury she suffered on Dynamite this past Wednesday. The report states that “belief backstage was that she may have suffered a concussion or even a possible broken orbital bone,” but that hasn’t been 100 percent confirmed.
  • Tony Khan was a guest on The Dan Le Batard Show yesterday.
  • Will Ospreay tweeted after Jay White lost to Hikuleo in a “Loser Leaves Japan” match at NJPW New Beginning in Osaka: “Believe it or not. I’ll miss you calling me an idiot on a regular basis. We are similar & yet so different. Was a pleasure beating the piss outta you and seeing how much you developed into who you are now. I hope my suit fits well wherever you go d*ckhead. @JayWhiteNZ”
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi was without his front teeth at New Beginning in Osaka after his three false teeth fell out while he was eating a protein bar.
  • In a video for Pro Wrestling NOAH, Goldberg spoke about Keiji Muto’s retirement.
  • Sinn Bodhi (former WWE wrestler Kizarny) is now officially a citizen of the United States: “Official citizen! I have dreamt of the American dream since I was a little boy… I even wrestled him a few times and his kids… America, thank you for having me…”