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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the highlights in this issue:

  • WrestleMania weekend preview, the matches, the plans for the matches, favorites in every match, where things can go next and how we got there
  • How plans changed throughout the period
  • Dwayne Johnson’s preparation to get into ring shape
  • How Johnson’s return came about
  • Stand & Deliver preview
  • Business notes on all the shows including the insane scalper market setting a new all-time pro wrestling record
  • The lawyers grapple in Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
  • What we’ve learned new and the strategy McMahon’s side is taking
  • AEW cuts and the current realities of AEW business
  • CM Punk’s interview on the Ariel Helwani show in detail and each subject covered
  • The most heated pro wrestling show in decades from last week at Arena Mexico featuring top AAA talent, and how the crowd makeup was different, and exactly what happened at WrestleMania 30 that led to this show taking place
  • The most detailed look at the the ratings from the past week, weekly rankings, competition, segment-by-segment, analysis, how it compares with one year ago
  • Notes from three Stardom PPV shows this past week
  • Preview of two major New Japan events
  • Lots of Mania week shows talked about
  • Main event for RevPro’s biggest show of the year
  • Bloodsport coverage
  • How Kingston vs. Briscoe came about
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • Streaming numbers and international TV ratings
  • AEW PPV updates
  • McGregor sets record
  • Dana White talks about blowing off a sponsor
  • PFL signs boxing champion
  • Nick Khan talks Vince McMahon, Netflix deal and bringing in Dwayne Johnson
  • Details behind Vince McMahon’s most recent stock sale
  • WWE numbers in quarter one
  • Martha Hart talks Vince McMahon
  • Ronda Rousey and Drew Gulak controversy
  • WWE star likely returning
  • Merchandise sale updates
  • Update on amateur wrestlers in WWE system
  • Notes from all the house shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Saturday Update

WWE

  • It was announced during yesterday’s WrestleMania 40 kickoff event that Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, and Corey Graves will be the commentary team for both nights of WrestleMania.
  • Former Stardom boss Rossy Ogawa and former Stardom wrestler Giulia were backstage at last night’s SmackDown.
  • Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner Bronson Reed said in a post-SmackDown interview that he wants to win the Intercontinental title after WrestleMania. Reed said he’ll have his eyes on tonight’s Gunther vs. Sami Zayn championship match.
  • In an article published by The Athletic, Cody Rhodes explained what he wants his legacy to be:
        • These matches on Saturday and Sunday will have more effect on the future of the business than any match in quite some time. I would hope my legacy as a father and husband is up there with my own dad’s. And if Roman Reigns is going to be the most famous wrestler of our generation, I would like to be the guy who did the most for our generation.
  • Rhodes also revealed the most important thing he learned from The Young Bucks:
        • The biggest thing I learned from Matt and Nick (Jackson) was you can love this and be obsessed with it and want it, but you’ve got to have fun. I’d think we have something good on paper, and Nick would say, ‘What if we keep going?’ They’d keep stirring the pot and creating magic.
  • Big E told Sports Illustrated that he’s rooting for Rhodes to defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 night two:
        • I’m going to say Cody. What he’s done outside the ring, the way he represents the company and himself, he deserves this opportunity. I’m rooting for him. And it’s been amazing. With Cody, The Rock, Roman, and Seth, the way the stories have all intertwined has been beautiful.
        • I’m looking forward to watching WrestleMania. And I’m pulling for Cody.
  • AJ Styles told The Ringer Wrestling Show that he’s getting closer to the end of his in-ring career:
        • I’m getting to that point where I am worried about embarrassing myself. My brain says, ‘We can do this’ and my body’s like, ‘You’re stupid. We cannot do this. We’re hurting every day when we roll out of bed. At some point, this has to come to an end.’
        • I’ve realized like so many others that have come before me, the greats, they get out of it when we think there’s still time for them. And it’s because we don’t want to embarrass ourselves. So we’re just trying to get out while we still can, where we can still get around and just have fun away from wrestling. And I love it. This is what I do. This is what I know. I spent more than half my life doing this, but at some point, you gotta let go. Because it’s fun, but I don’t want to disappoint you. When you see AJ Styles, I want you to go, ‘That’s my guy, that’s the guy I know,’ rather than go, ‘Man, he just isn’t the same guy. He can’t do what he used to do.’ I don’t want to be that guy to you. I don’t want to let you down. So my time’s coming. It’s getting short, but I am going to enjoy it. I promise you that.
  • Bayley noted that she wanted the band Paramore to perform during her WrestleMania entrance but it wasn’t able to happen due to scheduling:
        • I did everything in my power to get my dream Wrestlemania entrance. But due to scheduling, it isn’t in the stars this year. Someday! So until then….Enjoy the official #Bayley vs #IYOSKY Mania hype video ft ‘Simmer’ by Hayley Williams. Thank you @paramore @WWE
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson did an interview with Fox News’ Will Cain Show.
  • Paul “Triple H” Levesque was a guest on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast.
  • WWE will return to Madison Square Garden on Friday, June 28 for an episode of SmackDown.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Bryan Danielson defeated Blue Panther in their match for CMLL at Arena Mexico last night. After the bout, Blue Panther and Danielson both said they’d like to have a rematch in the United States.
  • In a pre-Supercard of Honor interview with Good Karma Wrestling, Athena was asked how likely it is that she’ll be on AEW TV in 2024:
        • Oh my gosh, you’re gonna have to wait and find out. I think it’s very likely. It’s something that Tony [Khan] and I have talked about. I won’t go into detail, but it is something that is happening. It’s something that we’ve been talking about for almost eight months now, just waiting for the right time, the right moment. But that moment’s coming very soon. That’s all I can say about that.
  • Billie Starkz was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • AEW uploaded its Control Center video for tonight’s Collision.