Daily Update: The Rock, Rey Fenix, weekend schedule

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • *A look at the Dynasty card, things that went on behind the scenes and the list of talent where this is the most important night, or one of the most important nights, of their careers.
  • Business notes on the show
  • The Owen Hart tournament breakdown
  • WrestleMania show plans
  • The Cody Rhodes/John Cena dynamic, the rest of the show as well as ideas on other aspects of the shw
  • Business notes on the show
  • AEW All in Texas notes as well as notes on the entire week in North Texas
  • Examining streaming views for AEW programming on MAX
  • Things people don’t fully understand about TV ratings as  opposed to total viewrs watching a show on television
  • A look back at where matches inducted into the Hall of Fame started, Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin looked back on and the fluke of that match even happening
  • Undertaker vs. Mick Foley Hell in a Cell looked at as well as the Dark Side of the  Ring episode and fascinating look bak
  • Wyatt Hendrickson wins the Hodge Trophy
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, including placings, comparison numbers, competition, Netflix data and more
  • Mistico injury update
  • Champion of Champion tournament
  • Super main event at Arena Mexico
  • AAA does biggest crowd of the year
  • Stardom setting up biggest match in years
  • Dragon Gate tag team tournament
  • All Japan Champion Carnival news
  • A look back at the life and career of Japanese wrestling pioneer Kokichi Endo
  • Hogan family drama
  • MLW running biggest event
  • Bloodsport news
  • TNA building for its biggest house show in years
  • Thoughts on the future of Collision
  • What drew the crowd at Revolution
  • Lex Luger and Sting update
  • Merch seling leaders
  • Rob Van Dam and Bret Hart run down AEW
  • UFC lands big fights
  • UFC business for first quarter
  • UFC and Meta buinwss deal
  • PFL opens season
  • GFL set for debut
  • College wrestling star now training for MMA
  • NXT Stand & Deliver news
  • Update on Vince McMahon-Janel Grant lawsuit
  • Rock’s plane issues
  • Rock’s UFL issues
  • Rock’s WWE stock value
  • A look at the first week of JFL business wisse
  • Big change t Netflix audience coming
  • Mir to WWE notes
  • WWE injury updates
  • Bill Goldberg trains with RH stars fr omebak
  • Many major stars have WWE tryout last week
  • Pat McAfee in hot water
  • WWE European house shows

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Friday Update

Garrett Gonzales and I just did a show talking about Dynasty, WrestleMania, Pat McAfee,  Arena Mexico, MAX streaming numbers, Tony Halme, Brian Pillman and assorted other subjects.  Bryan and I will be back Sunday night after the AEW Dynasty show.

Cody Rhodes today mentioned that Dwayne Johnson has two matches left on his WWE contract.  

WWE has Rey Fenix masks for sale leading to his debut tonight.

As of this morning, they had 14,967 tickets out for Smackdown in Chicago so it should sell out

AEW Dynasty had 6,838 tickets out for the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.  They were 700 short of capacity two days ahead of time, so they should get a sellout 

Matt Hardy said he was interested in doing another match at the Hardy Compound for TNA

A correction from today’s Observer.  When talking about Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe match, I said that Fletcher won the last two matches they had against each other, when actually Briscoe won the Continental Classic match and Fletcher won the rematch.

Our message board is still undergoing maintenance. We ran into some technical issues and we hope to have it up within the next couple of days. We are also looking for volunteers to help with the testing. Email Tony Leder if you are able to help out.

Arena Mexico tonight has the start of the Universal tournament of  champions.  They have two three-way matches, each with the Historical (formerly NWA), CMLL and Mexican national champion in each weight class.  The middleweight match has Templario, Flip Gordon and Guerrero Maya Jr.  The welterweight match has Titan, Mascara Dorada and Magia Blanca.  The main event is Atantis Jr. &  Esfinge & Neon vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr.

El Hijo del Vikingo returns to TNA on the 4/27 show in Los Angeles as one of the participants in the Ultimate X match.  Moose defends the X title against Vikingo, Matt Cardona, Leon Slater and two others to be named.

I heard the Clark Connors IWGP jr. for the title match with Desperado at Korakuen Hall today was great.  Desperado will next defend against Templario, although we don’t have a date for that match.  Also the Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles vs. Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X match was said to be can’t miss.   Fujita & Eagles will next defend against Master Wato & Yoh.

New Japan Sakura Geneis at 4  a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning from Sumo Hall inTokyo
Katsuya Murashima vs Daiki Nagai
Yuya Uemura vs. Sanada
El Phantasmo vs. Great O’Khan for the TV title
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino
Taiji Ishimori & Drilla Moloney & Gabe Kidd vs. Shop & Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita for the Never trios title
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Ryohei Oiwa for the Never title
Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman for the IWGP tag titles
Yota Tsuji vs. Evil for the Global title
Hirooki Goto vs. David Finlay for the IWGP title

There really is a wrestler named Zack Ryder.  He was the No. 5 recruit in the country in 2024 and he’s going to Oklahoma State.

Harley Cameron was on Talk is Jericho and said that the Puppet was actually the idea of Mercedes Mone.

UFC will be on ESPN and ESPN+ tomorrow from 6 p.m. to about midnight Eastern time
Vanessa Demopoulos (116) vs. Talita Alencar (115)
Martin Buday (266) vs/ Urahn Satybaldiev (222.5)
Victor Henry (135.5) vs. Pedro Falcao (136)
Loma Lookbonmee (115) vs. Istela Nunes (115)
Rhys McKee (171) vs.  Daniel Frunza (170.5)
Diana Belbita (125.5) vs. Dionie Barbosa (126
Torrez Finney (186) vs. Robert Valentin (185.5)
Ode Osbourne (125.5) vs. Luis Gurule (125)
Brad Tavares (185.5) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (185)
Cortavious Romious (139.5) vs. Chang Ho Lee (136) – Romious missed weight by 3.5 pounds.  He forfeits 20 percent of his purse.
Pat Sabatini (145.5) vs. Joanderson Brito (146)
Josh Emmett (146) vs. Lerone Murphy (145.5)
The fight with Daniel Santos vs. Davey Grant was cancelled due to medical issues involving Santos.

AEW did a 30 percent ticket discount today for  Double or Nothing on 5/25 in Glendale, AZ.

Mchael Craven, who was General Manager of New Japan under Harold Meij years ago, signed on with RIZIN.  He becomes the first major official in Japan to go from being an executive in pro wrestling to MMA.  His job is to expand recognition of RIZIN worldwide.

Serena Deeb and Dani Luna were announced for the RevPro women’s gauntlet match on 4/20 at the Doncaster Dome.

Shayna Baszler vs Konami is set for Bloodsport on 4/17.  Konami said her dream was to have a match with Baszler.

AEW has a Meet and Greet on Tuesday at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood in Baltimore at 6 p.m.  The event benefits Kulturecity and Autism Awareness Month. Adam Cole, Mark Briscoe and Harley Cameron will appear.

Today is the 24th anniversary of ECW filing for bankruptcy.  Rather than buy the company, WWE allowed it to go bankrupt and then purchased its intellectual property in bankruptcy court.

Rhea Ripley has a meet and greet at WSKY Bar & Grill in Las Vegas on 4/17 from 5-7 p.m. pacific time.  The Bar & Grill is at 5625 Polaris Ave Suite 100.