Daily Update: Steve McMichael, TNA, Disco Inferno & Dax Harwood

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this issue:

  • Update on what Mexican talent can work on the same shows as other Mexican talent, the recent changes and how they’ve gone down and the current political situation leading into Forbidden Door
  • Looking at WWE Clash at the Castle and NXT Battleground
  • Update on Forbidden Door, ticket demand and AEW’s top programs
  • Conor McGregor and UFC 303
  • Full report on UFC 302, business and match-by-match coverage
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 10-point plan to strengthen New Japan Pro Wrestling. We look at where the company stands and its obstacles as Tanahashi hits the six-month mark as President
  • Death of El Signo and the heyday of Los Misionero de la Muerte
  • A look at episode one of Who Killed WCW?
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all pro wrestling and MMA television shows over the past week including competition, key demos, segment-by-segment, analysis, standing and how it compares with one year ago.
  • New promotion gets weekly television on a top 20 station starting in one week, as well as being on the verge of a second deal
  • Celebration of 20 years of Mistico shows
  • Arena Mexico continues big crowds
  • Dream Gate title change
  • A look at the Dominion show this week
  • Update on next week’s show featuring talent from a number of major promotions including a rematch of one of this year’s best matches
  • More on the B Block finals and semifinals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Gable Steveson tries the NFL and how this very much differs from other former top level wrestlers who have had NFL success
  • Missy Hyatt talks Vince McMahon and details her own experience with him
  • Wrestling book writers Hall of Fame
  • AEW star challenges for British title
  • Notes on MLW Battle Riot
  • GCW has a major weekend
  • Update on TNA office cuts and changes
  • Mike Santana talks about battling drinking issue
  • Notes on people whose contracts are expiring and updates
  • Chuck Taylor and his hopes of returning to the ring
  • More details on AEW doing a residency in Arlington, TX and the economics behind it
  • Kevin Kelly talks his AEW departure and issues with Ian Riccaboni
  • Story behind the Collision rating report
  • International TV ratings
  • Why certain wrestlers haven’t been on AEW TV of late
  • Another AEW star comes out publicly
  • More on the Cung Le antitrust lawsuit settlement
  • Just how much Saudi Arabia is paying for these big events
  • How UFC & WWE are doing record grosses
  • Mark Shapiro talks about how Dana White reacted to the merger and talks about White’s previous problems with Vince McMahon
  • How McMahon first saved UFC and then became a powerful enemy
  • Former WWE stars talk about how talent is paid now, why not getting booked is better for your paycheck and how easily it is to get around WWE drug testing
  • Updated King of the Ring and Double or Nothing PPV notes
  • Reports on WWE weekend house shows

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • NBC Sports reported that former WCW star Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael will be unable to travel to attend his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction.
  • “Steve McMichael will not be able to travel to Canton, Ohio for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction due to complications of ALS he has so valiantly fought the last three years,” McMichael’s family said in a statement. “The Hall of Fame is making plans for presenting his honor at his home. Steve and his family thank you for the fans’ ongoing support.”
  • Disco Inferno on X responded to Dax Harwood’s injury, writing “You just ruined your boss’s narrative that he will put their safety record up against anyone. If talent is working hurt and not telling the office, then it’s not a safe work environment. Bad look Dax.”
  • Harwood responded: “I know this is exactly what you’re looking for, because you beg for relevancy that you only got by being a punching bag your whole career, but you’re a f****** idiot. If you ever worked hard enough during your little 15 minute-of fame-career to ever feel any sort of pain, you’d know the anxiety that comes with injury to an athlete. So while you’re trying to turn this into a bit for your shitty podcast, I’m hoping & praying that I don’t have to go through an extensive surgery, or even worse. For being someone who claims to be so smart to our business, you’d probably know wrestlers have worked hurt for decades. Also, I’m 100% sure some wrestlers in WWE are working hurt right now, but of course you only decide to attack AEW…anything for the clicks. If anything, this does not go against the “safe working environment” that my boss promotes. It shows how dumb we as wrestlers are to hide this information from all the proper people put in place to keep us safe. How can this be anyone’s fault except mine? No one knew about the severity of my injury. And once I finally told Tony and Doc Sampson, they immediately MADE me take time off. Maybe one day, I can be on your podcast, but only if we do it live and face to face. I’ll fly myself wherever I need to meet you. Open invitation. Anyways…off to an MRI. While you’ll be talking about this for a segment of your show, I’m hoping the doctors don’t find out anything worse about my condition. Good day, Glenn.”
  • The Washington Post has an article on Bryan Danielson as he winds down his wrestling career.
  • AEW’s YouTube channel has an exclusive special look at Mina Shirakawa.
  • Cultaholic spoke to TNA’s Leon Slater, who mentioned names like Je’Von Evans, AJ Styles, and Trick Williams as potential future opponents.
  • “The one I’ve been seeing on socials a lot is me and Je’Von Evans,” he said. “I think even before Je’Von got signed we were being compared as kind of like two parallels on other sides of the pond. We’re both young, we both carry ourselves with this confidence, this kind of attitude. So I think me and Je’Von would be a very interesting matchup. Other than him, obviously the main man Trick Williams is someone I would like to mix it up with. As far as the main roster goes, I have to say AJ Styles, man, especially being on this side representing TNA now. I’d be super, super interested to mix it up with AJ, who really put TNA on the map.”
  • Anthony Bowens talked to Youngstown Studio.
  • AJ Mendez appeared at the premiere of Sacramento during the 2024 Tribeca Festival.
  • TNA announced that Against All Odds this Friday is sold out. Tickets for Impact tapings on Saturday are still available.