Daily Update: X-Pac, AEW notes, Davey Richards

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WON NEWSLETTER: December 27, 2021 Observer Newsletter: COVID hits pro wrestling again, Corporal Kirchner passes away

In this week’s issue: 

  • The first new wave COVID issues for pro wrestling
  • The life and times of Corporal Mike Kirchner and Super Leather
  • WWE’s traditionally biggest house show run of the year and notes on how every show is doing
  • Updates on WWE Day 1, new matches, matches originally set, interest level in the show
  • WWE company value
  • Lots of news regarding prospective WWE new signees
  • Ticket sale updates for all major upcoming WWE & AEW events
  • How the AEW audience grew for Page vs. Danielson
  • Which pro wrestling show was the youngest skewing sports show of the past week
  • TV ratings for the major shows and the why
  • The ratings category WWE SmackDown led in that they almost never do
  • International TV ratings
  • Bret Hart honored in Canada
  • Wrestling Hall of Famer named to state sport Hall of Fame
  • A horrible in-ring incident and background
  • Stardom PPV notes
  • Full UFC coverage

Current subscribers click here to read.

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WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE

WWE

  • James Yun (Jimmy Yang) clarified that WWE chose not to move forward with him as a producer and it wasn’t his decision: “I don’t particularly appreciate seeing this narrative saying that I quit. It takes A LOT for me to quit anything. Almost a month ago, @WWE chose not to move forward with me being a producer, and I was perfectly fine with their decision. #idontthinkyouseenthelastofme”
  • Yahoo Sports published a story on Bron Breakker. Breakker spoke about following in his family’s footsteps in pro wrestling: “I don’t really pay attention to the noise. I don’t get a big head or read too much into the hype. I have had high expectations my whole life in athletics, being Rick Steiner’s son, I have had to live up to that my whole life so it’s really nothing new. Sure, the stakes are higher now because this is the profession my family was in and they laid the groundwork for me years ago, but I just want to make my family proud, make this company proud.”
  • Tiffany Stratton made her NXT in-ring debut last night, defeating Fallon Henley. WWE also uploaded a post-show promo by Stratton.
  • X-Pac appeared on this morning’s episode of WWE’s The Bump. When asked how his recovery from knee surgery is going, X-Pac revealed that he’s been given the green light to get back into the ring. X-Pac was also asked about his New Year’s resolutions for 2022 and said he’ll be ring ready at the start of the year in case his phone rings.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded Bayley vs. Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Clash of Champions 2020, Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair from the December 11, 2018 episode of SmackDown, and Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Cross from the November 6, 2018 episode of SmackDown.

Other Wrestling

  • TV Insider asked Tony Khan if he has to become a little pickier when it comes to deciding who will be a good fit for AEW with only so many spots on the roster to fill: “I do think I have to be more discerning than ever in talent acquisition because we have such a strong roster. I was aggressively expanding with the launch of Rampage. We made some big signings in the past including CM Punk. Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, Ruby Soho, Thunder Rosa, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, Andrade El Idolo, Malakai Black. Christian Cage and many others. We’ve also continued our partnerships with great international companies like New Japan Pro Wrestling and Lucha Libre AAA. We have a lot of great talent working, but it’s time for me to be more discerning than ever in terms of acquisitions.”
  • Khan said we’ll be seeing more talent coming into AEW in the new year: “Yes. We will continue expanding the roster. Absolutely, there will be more people coming into AEW.”
  • In his interview with Sports Illustrated, Khan responded to a question about Hook potentially being the rookie of the year in 2022: “Hook could be rookie of the year in any year. He has the marketing machine fully behind him. He’s had great coaching from his father, Taz, who is his mentor, and he’s learned from a lot of very intelligent pro wrestlers. It bodes really well for him, and he is going to be special every time you see him on screen. There is so much to look forward to in 2022, and Hook is a big reason for that.”
  • Serena Deeb tweeted a tribute to Keith Mitchell, who is retiring after tonight’s Dynamite: “From World Class to WCW to Impact to AEW. 40 years of producing profound television. I pay my respect to this man, Keith Mitchell, as he produces his final wrestling show tonight at New Year’s Smash. Kudos on an unparalleled career, Keith.”
  • On Throwing Down with Renee and Miesha, Adam Cole was asked if he ever thought he’d be reunited with Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish in AEW: “You know what’s crazy to say this. Yes and no. The reason, no, is because when you think about all the stuff we did in those four years in NXT, and how awesome that time was together with those guys, I thought ok cool. We had that moment together and that was a really, really fun time period. Now imagining doing that elsewhere is really surreal to think, but at the same time, I have not, not worked in the same company as Kyle O’Reilly since 2009.  I started wrestling in 2008. Him and I have worked together, either against each other as opponents, or as a group, or as a tag team since 2009, so that small period where Kyle was not in AEW was the only three or four months where I hadn’t been in the same company as Kyle. To answer the question, yes, it’s beyond cool. I love Kyle O’Reilly to death.”
  • Christian Cage told ET Canada that he expects Jeff Hardy to come to AEW at some point: “Yeah, of course. There’s so much history there and, obviously, I’m very close with Matt [Hardy] as well. It’s been great to reconnect with him in AEW. He’s kind of doing the same thing as far as mentoring the younger generation the same way. He’s also got a wealth of knowledge. Jeff is an extremely talented guy. A really good guy. I’m sure at some point that will happen.”
  • AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker tweeted a picture of Toni Storm after it was revealed that Storm had been granted her release from WWE.
  • AEW announced its latest set of roster rankings
  • Shop AEW released a “Jim Ross Beat Cancer’s A**” T-shirt after Ross announced that he was declared cancer free.
  • Davey Richards has signed a multi-year contract extension with MLW.
  • The season finale episode of ROH Week By Week premiered on YouTube yesterday.

Daily Pro Wrestling History: Mick Foley wins his first WWF World title

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