Daily Update: WWE SmackDown ratings, Tribal Heir, Liv Morgan

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

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Saturday Update

WWE

  • Last night’s SmackDown averaged 2.15 million viewers in the overnight ratings, down from last week’s overnight average of 2.29 million. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.5.
  • WWE has filed a trademark for “Tribal Heir,” which is the moniker Roman Reigns gave to Solo Sikoa on SmackDown. Jimmy Uso thought he was going to be named the heir during the segment, but Reigns chose Sikoa instead.
  • Running back Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers attended SmackDown in Green Bay.
  • There is reportedly no heat on Liv Morgan within WWE despite her arrest for marijuana possession.
  • Afa the Wild Samoan underwent two exploratory heart procedures on December 12 to check his valves:
          • Yesterday Afa had two exploratory heart procedures to check his valves. In his own words: ‘I kicked out before the 1!’ He is home and doing very well. Nothing keeps a Wild Samoan down! His follow up appointment is on the 20th to go over next steps. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he may need a valve replacement. But he’s up and at it, working hard on the WXW Seminar on January 13th and the first show of the year, February 17th, with proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
          • Afa was joking with and signing autographs for the hospital staff.
  • Jazzy’s World TV asked Logan Paul to name his five favorite WWE wrestlers of all time:
          • Oof, always a tough question. I have to go with John Cena. John Cena to me is the GOAT for sure. Probably The Rock — actually nah, nah, nevermind… Stone Cold Steve Austin. Hulk Hogan. Real legend, you know, started all of it. Me, of course. And best for last, gotta be Dominik Mysterio.
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a bull rope match is set for WWE’s Holiday Tour house show at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, December 26.
  • As was announced earlier this week, CM Punk is facing Dominik Mysterio at WWE’s Holiday Tour house shows at Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum. While doing MMA commentary for Cage Fury Fighting Championships last night, Punk hyped up the Kia Forum match:
          • Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re out there on the 30th you better be watching some grappling, unless you’re in LA – come out to the LA Kia Forum, watch me beat up Dirty Dominik. I’ve been wanting to punch this kid in the face since he was eight years old, now he’s legal, and I’m going to destroy him.
  • During an appearance on The Michael Kay Show, Rhodes was asked if he agrees with Shawn Michaels calling Dominik WWE’s MVP of 2023:
          • That’s a loaded [question] because Dom is a prickly individual. If I was looking at it from tickets sold, merch sold, excitement over matches, genuine body of work, I’d say your MVP is…I’m not gonna say myself, somebody else hopefully will say me, but I’d say Seth Rollins, World Heavyweight Champion is probably somebody who’s more of the MVP.
  • Carmelo Hayes, Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, Michin & Shotzi, and Dragon Lee appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.
  • WWE’s Braun Strowman: Waukesha Strong documentary is available to watch for free on YouTube.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • AEW and WWE remembered Jon Huber (Brodie Lee/Luke Harper) on what would have been his 44th birthday.
  • Amanda Huber wrote: “Happy birthday babe. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of you. Or miss you. We’re gonna celebrate today. We’re not gonna get off the couch, we’re gonna play video games, have hot dogs for dinner, & your favorite cheesecake for dessert. Just how you’d want today to be”
  • WWE’s Big E posted: “Happy Birthday, Brodie. Miss you daily. Miss you always.”
  • MJF is being inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame this Monday (December 18). On social media, MJF called it an incredible honor.
  • Deonna Purrazzo is accepting select bookings for 2024.
  • At last night’s CMLL Arena Mexico event, Mascara Dorada 2.0 defeated Rocky Romero to win the World Historic Welterweight Championship.
  • Janai Kai will defend her Women’s Featherweight title against TJPW’s Hyper Misao at MLW Kings of Colosseum in Philadelphia on Saturday, January 6.