Daily Update: WWE 2K24, Batista, Ava

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is an in-depth story on the fall of Vince McMahon. We go through all aspects of the story and have reactions from many people on subjects not talked about including feelings of different wrestlers, how this departure was different from the first McMahon departure, John Laurinaitis, Brock Lesnar, Stephanie McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Paul Levesque, Ann Callis and why she may end up a major figure in wrestling and this story going forward and much more. It’s a timeline in detail and what the timeline opens up.

  • The John Laurinaitis story
  • More questions on Ari Emanuel’s decision
  • Paul Levesque’s performance
  • Shawn Michaels reaction
  • Reaction from several in the business
  • Why Vince McMahon apparently stopped payments
  • Who is Ann Callis and why is she so important to this story
  • The insurance angle
  • The original investigation
  • The timeline of Stephanie McMahon
  • The various allegations and settlements
  • Members of the board leaving
  • Vince’s power play to return
  • Dwayne Johnson and Pat McAfee
  • Vince’s background
  • Full Royal Rumble coverage
  • Rumble surprises and debuts
  • WrestleMania original lineup and what is changing
  • Rumble records
  • Business numbers
  • Rock vs. Roman update
  • The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week
  • New streaming channel for a promotion that is getting criticized due to price
  • Okada and Mercedes updates
  • Anniversary show for one of the most important cultural matches in history
  • Top matches of 2023
  • TNA PPV update
  • AEW valuation
  • Upcoming ticket sales for the major WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Update on MJF
  • Which company has the highest current injury rate, AEW or WWE?
  • Jericho Cruise notes
  • Conor McGregor update
  • TV announcer talks his frustrations with social media
  • Documentary on MAX about a UFC fighter about to be released
  • Lots more on the Netflix deal
  • Best merchandise sellers
  • Notes from all the TV shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Tuesday Update

WWE

  • WWE 2K24 released a gameplay trailer on Tuesday, with a brief shot of Muhammad Ali at the end. The trailer also showed Brock Lesnar being replaced by John Cena on one of the game’s covers.
  • The Cody Rhodes/Shinsuke Nakamura bull rope match has been added to WWE’s YouTube in full, including the post-match attack from Drew McIntyre.
  • NFL star George Kittle shared his thoughts on the Cody Rhodes/Rock/Roman Reigns situation on X. Triple H quoted the post, writing “The People’s Tight End knows what’s up…”
  • Gunther expressed interest in facing Kazuchika Okada in an interview with Nick Hausman. “I think Okada is fantastic,” he said. “I always love Japanese wrestling. When I grew up in professional wrestling, understanding everything, I always enjoyed Japanese wrestling the most. I was more of an All Japan guy than a New Japan guy, to be honest. But yeah, he’s one of the best in the world, and if he joins WWE, he’s very welcome to, and I think he finds great competition here.”
  • Carmelo Hayes wrote on X: “Woke up today and chose to be undeniable.”
  • Ava has deleted her X account. She had mentioned recently that she had been receiving death threats due to The Rock/Roman Reigns/Cody Rhodes situation.
  • WWE is currently looking to hire a new writer.
  • Free matches added to WWE’s YouTube page on Tuesday include an Elimination Chamber qualifying battle royal from the February 17, 2012 edition of SmackDown and Bayley vs. Becky Lynch in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match from the February 6, 2023 edition of Raw.

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Dave Bautista will star in a movie titled ‘Afterburn’ starring Samuel L. Jackson, which was described as a “futuristic action-adventure” film.
  • Mercedes Mone on X: “Oh it feels good when executing a vision.”
  • After it was announced that Jack Perry would be at NJPW’s Windy City Riot event in April, Gabe Kidd posted on X: “And someone tell Jack Perry if he wants to get in a scrap backstage, I’ll see him in Chicago. Little rat. Can’t get booked by your own boss so you turn up to our shows. We don’t want you ya little t***.”
  • The Acclaimed will have a pop-up meet & greet and food truck event on February 7 in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
  • Titus Alexander was interviewed by HypeTalkTV.
  • Grizzled Young Vets have been announced for the upcoming For the Love Of Progress event on March 1.
  • FXE Wrestling’s ‘Crush Live’ event has been announced for Hendersonville, Tennessee on February 18. More information can be found here.
  • The 2024 Hana Kimura memorial show has been announced for May 23 at Korakuen Hall.