Daily Update: The Brawling Brutes, Drew McIntyre, Absolute Andy
Daily Update
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
– The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:
- What did people think of Full Gear as compared to the other AEW PPVs of late
- Performers and match of the week
- Lots of good and bad thoughts on Swerve Strickland vs. Adam Page
- A look at WWE vs. AEW when it comes to free agent signings of late
- What Will Ospreay will and won’t mean for AEW
- Full details of why Ronda Rousey appeared on the ROH show this week and it’s not what you think
- Who is the top free agent out there right now
- Thoughts on the MJF/Cole/White/Gunns storyline
- Realities of AEW’s enemies and how the Strickland vs. Page match fits into that discussion
- Logic issues and creative license in wrestling
- Impromptu and using instinct in reacting when things mess up in a match
- Why Ospreay signed with AEW and why it was announced this week
- PPV numbers early on and what is says about more PPV shows
- Live show business notes
- Theater business notes
- Full match coverage
- Sorting out the Bellator/PFL deal and looking at the business aspect, top talent, show plans, next two PPV show ideas and more
- Company talks 2024 schedule plans for Bellator and PFL
- The top fighters under contract at this point to the new group
- Hall of Fame updates and reaction to last week’s issue
- Greatest tag teams of all-time
- A look at a likely 2024 ballot
- A look at Survivor Series plans, plus public demand and interest level
- A look in depth at the Continental Classic, the good and bad of it
- A look at this last week’s UFC show and notes about future shows
- The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, the segment-by-segment, changes in each group, competition, and where wrestling stands in the weekly numbers
- World title match doesn’t get over on major show and why
- Promotion running a business deal with major company to get major discount on a famous product
- New team will be taking over the name of one of the best tag teams in history
- Major changes in Stardom hierarchy and what happened to lead to it
- Stardom titles vacant and steps on filling those vacancies
- Stardom PPV rundown
- Fantastica Mania 2024 notes
- What dream match was planned for January in California and where it stands right now
- New Japan tag tournament notes
- All Japan tag team tournament notes
- A look back at one mystery in the death of WCW
- Wrestlers suspended for working an unlicensed show
- Full details on Ronda Rousey’s appearance at AEW show in Los Angeles
- Young Bucks repackaging
- Darby climbing Mount Everest and details
- What day will a number of new free agents be available
- Looking at the ones AEW could sign
- Two new rulings in Cung Le case and what kind of money figures are being bandied about
- A look at WWE arena business and future show ticket sales, has it peaked, what does future say
- AEW future ticket sales
- International TV ratings and streaming numbers
- Reigns next match and who it’s not with
- Levesque booking philosophy
- A look at the WWE & NXT house shows over the past week
- Notes on December television schedule for both AEW and WWE including a show not airing, and a double taping planned
This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter
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Saturday Update
WWE
- I previewed the Survivor Series card for Sports Illustrated and gave my predictions for each match.
- Cody Rhodes shared a look at his ring gear for tonight.
- In the event program for Survivor Series, Gallus and The Authors of Pain are listed as part of the WWE roster.
- On SmackDown last night, there was an angle where Ridge Holland walked out on Butch during a match against Pretty Deadly. There had been a miscommunication between Butch and Holland the previous week that caused them to lose a triple threat tag match. Pretty Deadly defeated Butch last night after he was left on his own.
- After missing two weeks due to paternity leave, Corey Graves was back on commentary for last night’s SmackDown.
- Drew McIntyre cut a social media promo responding to people who say he’s turned heel:
- Who’s a heel? Who’s a bad guy? Are we not watching the show and not keeping up with things? Do I have to spell things out even more simply?
- If you’re a fan of mine, like I said on Raw, you get it. You understand. If you don’t, and if you’ve turned your back on me, if you feel a certain way about me, you weren’t a fan in the first place, or you just haven’t been watching closely or half-closely because it feels pretty obvious to me, or have a short-term memory or it’s fun to say ‘Yeet’ and do this [mocking does Jey’s taunt] — which it is, but it doesn’t change the facts.
- That’s all I do is tell the truth. I’m a real person, wrapped into a real situation with someone who showed up in my backyard, who was part of trauma from the worst part of my career, which led to the worst moment of my career. So I’m dealing with it now, doing what a lot of people wish they could do and I can do, being a WWE Superstar… Kick someone’s arse who wronged me. Point out the truth, be met with, not a rebuttal but a Yeet Yeet YeetDown, which is fun to say, but it’s not exactly replying to the facts that were presented.
- Nonetheless, don’t care. Got him in a cage, still the same guy. My fans get it. Whatever. I’m going to keep being me, keep kicking arse and eventually get back to that World title with people in the crowd. Simple.
- Zoey Stark spoke to SEScoops ahead of challenging Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship tonight:
- I’m so excited. Rhea and I, we’re really just going to kill each other. Let’s be honest, we’re going to be going really hard in this match. So everyone, strap your seatbelts on and let’s go … Like you said, it’s the biggest match of my career, so being completely and utterly focused is my number one priority. So I’m going to do whatever I need to do to get that title around my waist.
- Carmella discussed the nerve damage she’s dealing with after giving birth:
- I have nerve damage in my right foot from pushing this bubs out of me. So, the entire side of my right foot is numb. It’s difficult to move my toes. I can’t really move my foot, so it’s making it difficult to walk. Which is a bit annoying but the anesthesiologist… I thought it was originally from the epidural. I didn’t know what was wrong.
- But he [the anesthesiologist] said it can happen and with pushing on your back and it should hopefully resolve in a few weeks. I’m going to see a chiropractor next week which will hopefully help. My acupuncturist has been working on it so we’ll see. Fingers crossed it’s better soon.
- TNT Sports in the UK/Ireland interviewed The Miz.
- WWE Shop released a new Randy Orton T-shirt and hoodie design ahead of his return at Survivor Series.
- Santos Escobar, Butch, and Damage CTRL appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
AEW/Other Wrestling
- “Speedball” Mike Bailey paid tribute to Absolute Andy: “Rest in Peace Absolute Andy. His gigantic personality lit up every room and his kindness made Germany feel like home to any who got to spend time with him.”
- Chris Hero wrote: “Crushed to hear of the passing of Absolute Andy. I remember Andy’s first wrestling camp in the Sauerland & I had the privilege to share the ring with him many times after. Andy was always a friendly face, always worked his ass off & meant a lot to a lot of people. RIP my friend”
- Killer Kelly: “Andy is one of the most important people in my wrestling career. He taught and helped me so much while I was in @wXwGermany, way more than he ever knew. One of the greatest and most caring people I’ve ever met. My wrestling dad [heart] I love you and I will miss you dearly”
- Shigehiro Irie: “Hi Andy…When I came to Germany first time in 2018, you were already Unified World Wrestling Champion, and you welcomed me so kindly. I didn’t speak English much then, but you always talked to me and cared everyone even stranger from abroad like me. I miss you so much…”
- Anthony Henry: “I had the opportunity to work with Andy in 2019, during Wrestlemania weekend. He was an absolute pro in every sense of the word. Being around the WXW crew not long after for the Tag Festival, I could sense how important and instrumental he was to the scene. He will be missed.”
- Chris Brookes: “Andy was a wonderful person. May he rest in peace.”
- Sha Samuels: “First met Andy around 2007/8. Lovely man. He was a great professional at shows and always enjoyed working with him. Love and condolences to his family and friends R.I.P Andy.”
- Kris Statlander explained what she’s learned from Orange Cassidy:
- I’ve learned so much from him. He has been like a mentor and a friend to me pretty much my whole career with AEW. I think one thing he really instilled in me is that — obviously, you want to win your match, and you want to continue to be the champion.
- No one really wants to lose. But take it as an opportunity to bring the best out of your opponent and try to elevate them to see if they really are ready to be a champion or not. So every match I have is not just for me; it’s about pushing people to see if they’re ready for the spot that I’m in.
- Zach Gowen was a guest on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
- Mickie James interviewed Missy Hyatt for Busted Open Radio.
