Daily Update: SmackDown ratings, The US Express, Kevin Von Erich

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We have another giant issue of the Observer out. There is a ton of news in this one but want to call attention to a great story by Pat Laprade on Paul “Butcher” Vachon, covering his wrestling and promoting career with all kinds of anecdotes such as his role in getting WWF’s Saturday Night Main Event off the ground, the early career of Andre the Giant, setting what was then the all-time get record in the U.S. at Comiskey Park in Chicago, and promoting what is still the largest crowd in Canada outside of Toronto. Besides the Vachon story we go in detail on the career of Sting and his retirement, as well as the careers of Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano, the muder charge against Daniel Rodimer and the investigation regarding the alleged rape of Ashley Massaro.

  • Famous pro wrestling retirement shows
  • The retirement of Sting and AEW Revolution
  • An historical first coming from the show
  • Sting’s run in TNA
  • Other expected finishes of Sting’s career
  • How Sting got into pro wrestling
  • The Blade Runners debut
  • Getting into Mid South
  • The first Flair-Sting match and it wasn’t in Greensboro
  • The first Clash of Champions and its ratings
  • Going head-to-head with WrestleMania
  • When Sting was supposed to win the NWA title the first time and why it didn’t happen
  • Why he almost didn’t get the title when the second title change date was planned
  • Sting vs. Hogan and how it got screwed up
  • The two people most responsible for Sting’s career not ending nearly a decade ago
  • Sting’s WWE run and why Vince McMahon ruined it
  • Sting’s final show
  • Ospreay vs. Takeshita
  • Early PPV numbers
  • Notes on how many buyers of this show ordered WWE & TNA shows
  • Milestones on gate, merch and and Greensboro Coliseum wrestling records
  • When was the finish decided
  • Okada signs with AEW, the truth about his contract
  • The debut of Mercedes Mone
  • The life and times of Butcher Vachon, the early years of his career, the creation of Stan Vachon, AWA title run, formation of Grand Prix Wrestling, The Vachons vs. LeDucs feud, early career of Andre the Giant, creation of the name Andre the Giant, life after wrestling
  • Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
  • Daniel Rodimer murder arrest, the story behind what happened, the victim, his pro wrestling career and his political career
  • NCIS investigation into Ashley Massaro
  • The careers of Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano
  • The most detailed look at the ratings including how the shows did compared to last year, last week, segment-by-segment and placings
  • How CMLL show with AEW talent is doing
  • Unique show in Mexico this week
  • Vampiro wants to do rematch from Lucha Underground match
  • New Japan anniversary show
  • Best of Super Juniors notes
  • BJ Whitmer sentencing
  • More on crazy TNA buy rate
  • What happened with Kevin Kelly in AEW
  • Update on Kenny Omega
  • Update on Sammy Guevara suspension
  • Behind The Rock’s promo
  • Notes on new WWE sponsorships
  • Next Saudi Arabia date
  • Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar and the next video game
  • Advance ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming notes

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Saturday Update

WWE

  • Headlined by a confrontation between The Rock & Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins, SmackDown averaged 2.368 million viewers in the fast national ratings last night. The rating in the 18-49 demo was approximately a 0.64. Both are up from last week’s fast national numbers (2.23 million viewers and a 0.58 demo rating).
  • The show-closing angle of SmackDown was Rhodes slapping The Rock. After the episode went off the air, their segment continued with The Rock & Reigns having a brief staredown with Rhodes & Rollins. The Rock said some words to Rhodes & Rollins before walking away.
  • The Rock will be a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Monday night (March 11).
  • Mika Rotunda commented on her father Mike Rotunda and uncle Barry Windham being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as The US Express:
          • These two are so much more than just legends in the business. Seeing them inducted for the 40th Wrestlemania, is a prestige.
          • We have a few angels watching over us that we wish could be front row. But one thing about the Windham/Rotunda dynasty, is that legends never die.
  • Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham were guests on the Cheap Heat podcast. Rotunda spoke about being chosen for the Hall of Fame:
          • It was kind of out of the blue. I wasn’t expecting it. It means a lot. You’re getting rewarded for a lifetime of work. So a nice honor to have and have the respect of the officials that elect to put you in there and all the guys that I worked with to make me look good.
  • Windham said:
          • It was a really big surprise and this one is special because I get to go in with my best friend and that makes it all that much bigger.
  • LA Knight, Naomi, and Legado del Fantasma appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • Big E and Liv Morgan rang the opening bell before last night’s Philadelphia 76ers vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA game.
  • Gorilla Position interviewed LA Knight.
  • Cathy Kelley appeared on the Lightweights Podcast.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW has a Control Center video promoting tonight’s Collision.
  • During an appearance on The A2theK Wrestling Show, Kevin Von Erich discussed his experience in AEW:
          • Man, I love those people, really. It’s a great company. I know this isn’t anything, but the catering was great. What good food. And the people are real nice.
          • Tony Khan is something else. Every company needs a guy like that. Somebody that loves the business. That can look at the business like it was his first day every morning. That’s that guy. So I have a lot of admiration for him… Then the wrestlers, all great guys, old friends.
  • Sting’s son Steven Borden Jr. spoke to Steve Fall about what the atmosphere was like backstage at Revolution before his father’s last match:
          • I mean, it was a phenomenal atmosphere. I think there was one of those things where everybody’s very aware that this was the end. And so not just his final match. But you know, maybe his final time being back there in that capacity. Of course, he’s not just going to disappear and never sees AEW again, but you know, it’s the final time prepping and putting his gear on. And so there was a finality to it. And so I think, speaking for myself, and how it felt, at least it felt like, everybody just kind of wanted to hold on to every moment. Everything felt like the last lot. A lot of kind words were said to him, said to Garrett and I about him. It was an overwhelmingly good experience, top to bottom.
  • Borden also described the relief he felt after the match was over and everything went well:
          • Like, the second that Garrett and my small part came to a conclusion, we sprinted backstage to get to the TV because the sport, it’s obviously a very physical sport, anything can go wrong. And I think it’s easy to just think the match is gonna go the way it goes, and everything’s gonna be fine. But Darby was doing some wild stuff, my dad was doing some wild stuff that a 25 year old could get hurt doing. And he’s got a couple of decades on that. And so my biggest concern was, ‘Okay, as long as my dad stays healthy, and as long as Darby stays healthy, we’re good. They’re gonna get through it like they’re pros.’ I knew that some gnarly stuff was gonna happen. So the relief of standing there in the ring at the very end, knowing not only that nobody got hurt but that it went well and everything was executed properly. And my dad was happy. He’s such a critical person of himself. So to see him, you know, you were there at the press conference at the end, he had a really positive thing to say about the match. That was, for me, the biggest relief ever. My weight could have fallen off my head, and as long as he’s happy, I would have been, you know, fine with that.
  • Mistico will defend his MLW Middleweight title against Angel de Oro at CMLL’s Tuesday, March 12 show at Arena Mexico.
  • Ric Flair made an appearance at halftime during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves last night.
  • Johnny TV & Taya Valkyrie were the guests on AEW Unrestricted this week.