Daily Update: WWE-Netflix, AEW Dynamite, Baron Corbin

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • A big new issue of the Observer up on the site.  Special note that we’ve had a lot of people contact us both about the Rey Misterio Sr. and Tijuana wrestling story and the breakdown of every PPV this year and how they did.  Highlights of the issue:
  • WWE expanding television in 2025 and the biggest unanswered questions
  • A look at international deals with WWE’s move to Netflix.  What countries will still have TV deals, where Raw won’t be on Netflix, and what this means to AEW and TNA and the scoreboard of who has gotten what. And what is potentially the biggest international deal and when it will be open.
  • The Auditorio in Tijuana and Rey Misterio Sr., a look at the biggest matches in a building that should be on the list as a major wrestling arena that nobody ever talks about, plus how did Rey Mysterio, Konnan, Psicosis and others get their start and looking back at the biggest matches in Rey Misterio Sr.’s career
  • Drawing money and a look at how every PPV show in 2024 did, to see what does and doesn’t work as far as being a PPV headliner, covering WWE, AEW and TNA and every show so far this year.
  • The Battle of Orlando and where things stand for Worlds End.
  • Full coverage of ROH Final Battle
  • WWE’s holiday special in MSG and a look back at how the show has done since 2010.
  • Death of Jax Dane
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings for all the major shows,including placings, competition, segment-by-segment and more.
  • The Gran Alternative tournament and its history at picking future stars
  • Stardom’s big show the week of the Tokyo Dome.
  • NOAH preparing for Budokan Hall show.
  • More news on the Tokyo Dome shows.
  • New Japan notes for San Jose.
  • St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • RevPro show notes
  • Notes on upcoming North American stadium shows.
  • Lots of thoughts on booking
  • Upcoming ticket sales for WWE & AEW events
  • More on Lee Fitting.
  • Why there’s a very real chance the Janel Grant lawsuit will be thrown out and why, and what it will take for that not to happen.
  • McIntyre makes fun of Punk

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • The WWE Raw archive from 2022 through the second-to-last episode of 2024 is now available on Netflix in a section called “Raw Vault.” In addition to that, select episodes from 1993-2001 have been uploaded. There are currently:
    • Seven episodes from 1993
    • Four from 1994
    • Nine from 1995
    • 13 from 1996
    • 16 from 1997
    • 20 from 1998
    • 16 from 1999
    • Nine from 2000
    • Five from 2001
    • 52 from each of 2022, 2023, and 2024
  • Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Stepanie McMahon, and Linda McMahon were at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in Florida last night for Trump’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
  • Levesque tweeted out a video marking the end of 2024 and hyping Raw’s Netflix premiere:
    • That is a wrap on 2024. We went all over the globe, we sold out, we set records, we lit the world on fire. And I can tell you this, Jan. 6 is right around the corner – Netflix, and you ain’t seen nothing yet. Are you ready?
  • WWE and AEW both paid tribute to Sweet Daddy Siki following his passing at 91 years old.
  • On Instagram, Raquel Rodriguez made a post reflecting on the highs and lows she experienced in 2024 during her recovery from mast cell activation syndrome:
    • The highs and lows of 2024. Despite not knowing how this year would go I’m so grateful for how it turned out.
    • More time with family.
    • Traveled to Bali alone.
    • Made friends in Guadalajara MX.
    • Healed physically and emotionally.
    • Returned to my dream job and the amazing people in it.
    • Not every day will be perfect but not everyday will be bad either. Be easy on yourself, allow yourself to feel the things but don’t stay stuck there. Everyday is a new day. A new start. A new adventure.
    • Booked, busy and blessed
    • Happy New Year
  • Rodriguez posted today:
    • Woke up a little red and itchy around my eyes. Not too sure what could have caused it but this time last year I would have been making myself sick stressing over it. Today I just plan to lay in the sun, soak up some rays with my bare feet in the grass. Pay no mind to the rash and be more present in this moment. Grateful for the little things like sunshine, good people and healing food.
  • Former WWE wrestler Donovan Dijak reacted to his triple threat match against Oba Femi and Josh Briggs winning Match of the Year in the 2024 NXT Year-End Awards: “I really can’t put into words how much this means to me. Thank you to Oba, Josh, Matt, Shawn, and Hornet for helping me create something special. Stay tuned because we are just getting started.”
  • Cody Rhodes read the story “Gigantic” on the New Year’s Day edition of the BBC series CBeebies Bedtime Story.
  • Michin said facing Natalya (who she lost to on WWE Speed this week) for the first time was a bucket list moment:
    • FIRST TIME EVER! I finally got to wrestle @NatbyNature! I remember her giving me advice in my Extra days. She always pushed for me and rooted for me. A true legend I’ve always wanted to wrestle. Finally got to check this off my bucket list.
  • R-Truth was the guest on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • Sam Roberts interviewed Karrion Kross on Notsam Wrestling.
  • WWE Shop has launched a new collection of Los Angeles-themed merchandise for the start of John Cena’s farewell tour.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Swerve Strickland vs. Roderick Strong vs. Jay White has been added to the card for AEW Dynamite tonight. The winner receives the number one spot in next week’s Casino gauntlet match.
  • AEW content launched on Max today with every Dynamite episode from 2019 and every PPV from 2019 now available to stream. AEW TV programming from the end of 2024 has also been uploaded (the October 30 Dynamite through the December 21 Collision).
  • Deonna Purrazzo and Matt Menard were in attendance at the Citrus Bowl yesterday between the University of Illinois and South Carolina. Illinois players celebrated with an AEW World title belt after their victory.
  • Purrazzo is featured in a commercial for Southern New Hampshire University, where she graduated with a degree in history in 2023.
  • Tony Khan sent out a tweet last night thanking everyone who watched AEW in 2024.
  • ABC 13 News in Asheville, North Carolina spoke with Adam Copeland & Dax Harwood ahead of tonight’s Fight for the Fallen edition of Dynamite.
  • Copeland discussed his role in AEW during an interview with The Takedown:
    • I’ve always said I’m a designated hitter. Where do you need me? Okay, right now we’re moving into Max. You want a recognizable face? Got it. Okay, you need me for this right now. Well, then let’s do me and Mox right now then. That’s how I look at things, more so than I gotta go from this story, to this story, to this story. Where are we as a company? Where do you need me? You need my face here, for right now, coming off an Emmy nomination, all those things. I get it. Cool. Put me here. Let’s go.
  • AEW photographer Dakota Runnels – the daughter of Dustin Rhodes & Terri Runnels – announced that she and her husband are expecting their second child. The baby will be another boy: “Happy New Year!!! Rowan’s getting a tag team partner this year. Little brother coming in June!”
  • Nic Nemeth listed Leon Slater, Jordynne Grace, KC Navarro, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Adam Cole, and Jeff Hardy as wrestlers he wants to face in 2025.
  • Tom Pestock (former WWE wrestler Baron Corbin) tweeted today that he is officially a free agent: “I’m officially no longer under contract since i was not fired. I was told they were not extending. So if you’re making a horror movie, let me know ha ha ha ha New year, no contract, let’s see what we can create”