Daily Update: WWE WrestleMania 41, Raw, AEW Collision

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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

Monday Update

WWE RAW Start Time Tonight Bayley
Image Copyright: WWE
  • Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, fallout from Dynasty and the rest of the news.  We have a show up right now talking about Dynasty, Kevin Owens, Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton and more subjects.
  • The IC title match at Mania is a four-way with Bron Breakker defending against Penta and Finn Balor as was expected, and adding Dominik Mysterio.
  • Raw is tonight in Minneapolis, going head-to-head with the NCAA playoff finals so the U.S. audience will be way down.  Announced for tonight are War Raiders vs. New Day for the tag titles, Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio, Lyra Valkyria vs. Bayley for the women’s IC title plus Grande Americano.  Paul Heyman, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Gunther and Jey Uso will be there.  There were 8,270 tickets out as of a few hours ago, so this will not be sold out like most Raws have been.  
  • We’re looking for reports on the show with Main Event matches, the post-show dark match and anything else not on the live show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
  • We’re also looking for your thoughts on last night’s AEW Dynasty show and Saturday’s NJPW Sakura Genesis show.  We’re looking for a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
  • A correction from yesterday’s report.  The 4/26 episode of Collision is scheduled to follow the NBA playoffs at about 8:30 p.m. Eastern, but according to those in AEW, it’s a regular two-hour episode not a three-hour episode.    It is listed as three hours in TV listings.
  • NXT tomorrow has Darkstate vs. Trick Williams & Je’Von Evans & Oba Femi,  Ricky Smokes & Brad Baylor debut in a non-title match against Nathan Frazer & Axiom, more women’s North Amcan titequalifers, Jordynne Grace vs.  Jaida Parker in theory for the shot at Stephanie  Vaquer’s NXT title at Stand & Deliver and Wes Lee vs. Yoshiki Inamura.
  • Leon “Vader” White will be the subject of Dark Side of the Ring tomorrow night.
  • The team’s in the women’s gauntlet on Friday’s Smackdown for a WrestleMania shot at Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan are Valkyria & Bayley, B-Fab & Michin, Piper Niven & Alba Fyre, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance and Maxxine Dupri & Natalya.
  • Jack Morris & Daga won the vacant GHC tag titles beating Kaito Kiyomiya & Galeno (del Mal) on Saturday.  Omos & Morris held the titles when Omos left NOAH.
  • Tomorrow is WWE Night at the New Jersey  Devils game at the Prudential Center against the Boston Bruins.  Gunther will be there.  There will be WWE in-game videos, WEW graphics and WWE music will be used and there will be displays at the game of WWE artifacts.
  • Ohio Valley Wrestling announced that majority interest in the company has been purchased by Morley Sports Entertainment, LTD.  The transaction is scheduled to go through nh 5/1  Morley Sports Entertainment is the owners of Haverfordwest County, a soccer team based in Wales.  MSM Founder Rob Edwards will take over as CEO of OVW.
  • We don’t have Smackdown numbers yet at press time.
  • Deadline reported Michael Bisping will be starring in the movie “Atlas King.”  The film follows a former fighter who comes back to town after years in exile to bury his best friend and settle old grudges.  Reunited with his godson, a street-level enforcer tied to the mob, the two forge an uneasy alliance and plot a high-stakes heist to escape the grip of a ruthless mob boss.
  • Stardom’s Las Vegas shows will be at the Silverton Casino on Thursday and Friday at Noon local time and will stream as Triller PPV shows for $24.99 each.  
  • Meta and UFC have announced a new partnership listing Threads as the Official Social Media Partner of the UFC.  Threads will be working with Bruce Buffer to promote UFC events.
  • Deadline reported Anthem Entertainment has sold its film company Gravitas Entertainment to SHOUT Studios.  The sale price was not listed but they had purchased the studio in November 2021 for  $73 million.
  • Future Stars of Wrestling has announced these matches for 4/18 at the FSW Aena as part of the men’s WWE  ID championship tournament.  So these matches will be basically run by WWE and booked by Gabe Sapolsky.  The bouts are Ice Williams vs. Brad Baylor, Marcus Mathers vs. Jackson Drake, Sean Legacy vs. Ricky Smokes, Sam Holloway vs. Aaron Rourke, Cappuccino Jones vs. It’s Gal and Aaron Roberts vs. Jordan Oasis.
  • Banger Zone Wrestling from Europe rans Mania week on 4/17 at the Swan Dive in Las Vega at 10 p.m.  They  are pushing this as the first U.S.  show from a promotion based in France.  Joseph Fenech Jr. vs. Arez for the Banger Zone title and Big F’n Joe vs. Jimmy Lloyd for the hardcore title and Mao &  blow-up doll Yoshihiko defending the tag titles against Alec Price & Marcus Mathers headline.  Zak Patterson, son of wrestling author Bertrand Hebert, Connor Mills, Heddi Karaoui, Gravity and LJ Cleary are also on the show.
  • ISPW runs a show Saturday night in Sayreville , NJ as the 28th anniversary of the iconic ECW Barely Legal PPV show.  Appearing will be Tod Gordon, Francine, Sandman, Mikey Whipwreck, Steve Corino, Simon Diamond, CW Anderson, Little Guido, Jason Knight, Big Vito and Jerry Lynn