mobanmarketDaily Update
Latest News
CM Punk, Randy Orton appearances set for WWE RawNJPW World Tag League 2023 night six results, updated standingsWWE Survivor Series review: Hey, that's CM PunkTriple H says Jade Cargill's development 'was limited,' addresses WWE statusWWE Main Event results: Joe Coffey vs. Von WagnerDetails on CM Punk's WWE return at Survivor Series
Latest Audio
Wrestling Observer Radio: All the details of CM Punk's return, Survivor Series, Collision, Rampage, and more
Latest Free YouTube Clip
This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter
November 27, 2023 Observer Newsletter: AEW Full Gear review, PFL/Bellator deal
The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site right now:
What did people think of Full Gear as compared to the other AEW PPVs of latePerformers and match of the weekLots of good and bad thoughts on Swerve Strickland vs. Adam PageA look at WWE vs. AEW when it comes to free agent signings of lateWhat Will Ospreay will and won't mean for AEWFull details of why Ronda Rousey appeared on the ROH show this week and it's not what you thinkWho is the top free agent out there right nowThoughts on the MJF/Cole/White/Gunns storylineRealities of AEW's enemies and how the Strickland vs. Page match fits into that discussionLogic issues and creative license in wrestlingImpromptu and using instinct in reacting when things mess up in a matchWhy Ospreay signed with AEW and why it was announced this weekPPV numbers early on and what is says about more PPV showsLive show business notesTheater business notesFull match coverageSorting out the Bellator/PFL deal and looking at the business aspect, top talent, show plans, next two PPV show ideas and moreCompany talks 2024 schedule plans for Bellator and PFLThe top fighters under contract at this point to the new groupHall of Fame updates and reaction to last week's issueGreatest tag teams of all-timeA look at a likely 2024 ballotA look at Survivor Series plans, plus public demand and interest levelA look in depth at the Continental Classic, the good and bad of itA look at this last week's UFC show and notes about future showsThe most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week, the segment-by-segment, changes in each group, competition, and where wrestling stands in the weekly numbersWorld title match doesn't get over on major show and whyPromotion running a business deal with major company to get major discount on a famous productNew team will be taking over the name of one of the best tag teams in historyMajor changes in Stardom hierarchy and what happened to lead to itStardom titles vacant and steps on filling those vacanciesStardom PPV rundownFantastica Mania 2024 notesWhat dream match was planned for January in California and where it stands right nowNew Japan tag tournament notesAll Japan tag team tournament notesA look back at one mystery in the death of WCWWrestlers suspended for working an unlicensed showFull details on Ronda Rousey's appearance at AEW show in Los AngelesYoung Bucks repackagingDarby climbing Mount Everest and detailsWhat day will a number of new free agents be availableLooking at the ones AEW could signTwo new rulings in Cung Le case and what kind of money figures are being bandied aboutA look at WWE arena business and future show ticket sales, has it peaked, what does future sayAEW future ticket salesInternational TV ratings and streaming numbersReigns next match and who it's not withLevesque booking philosophyA look at the WWE & NXT house shows over the past weekNotes on December television schedule for both AEW and WWE including a show not airing, and a double taping planned
This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter
September 4, 2006 Observer Newsletter: 2006 Hall of Fame issue, Kurt Angle
Ordering Info:
Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Sunday Update
– Bryan and I of course did our weekend show last night covering CM Punk's return to WWE, Survivor Series, Seth Rollins, what we know and don't know about what happened with Drew McIntyre as well as the AEW show last night. Garrett and I did our Observer in review show talking about the Full Gear fallout, thoughts on Strickland vs. Page, just how much AEW has grown in revenue this past year, and even the potential NFL MVP this season whose father used to attend pro wrestling matches with me about 35 years ago which even Garrett wasn't aware of.
– There's not a lot new to report on Punk's signing that we didn't talk about last night. We were told this came together about 11 days ago or so and was kept very quiet. He was hidden from the talent as well most of the night last night. Nick Khan was the key decision maker in this. Vince McMahon is not involved in that aspect of the business any longer and it was now up to Khan and Paul Levesque. Whether that did or didn't change the dynamic we don't know, but from a pure business standpoint it made sense to do it last night the way it was done.
– CM Punk and Randy Orton are both scheduled for Raw tomorrow night in Nashville. One would expect it to be by far the highest rated episode of the show at least since football season started, if not longer.
– Punk's return got a lot of mainstream press including ESPN, USA Today, BBC, FOX News, and more. On Google, it was the second most searched term in the country yesterday with 500,000. David Benavidez the boxer was No. 4 with 200,000. They were the only things in wrestling, boxing or MMA to crack the top 20 on a specific day this week There was no UFC show last night, although UFC shows aren't a given to crack the top 20 anymore.
– Punk's return is over three million views on YouTube as of this afternoon. WWE released a Punk T-shirt last night upon his return.
– We're sorry to report the death of Absolute Andy (Andreas Ullman) of wXw fame, who passed away at the age of 40 on Thursday after a lengthy illness. He was a major star there as a two-time world champion, five-time tag team champion and the 2018 winner of the 16 Carat Gold tournament. In 2009, he won the wXw title from Bryan Danielson which would be his biggest career win.
– We're looking for your thoughts on last night's Survivor Series, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
– We're also looking for reports on tonight's WWE house show in Peoria, IL, results, finishes and highlights to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
– PFL head Donn Davis claimed they had a $15 million offer for Nate Diaz to fight Jake Paul on an upcoming PPV show. Davis said that Paul wouldn't fight MMA until late 2024 because he has to train specifically for that sport. He said the plan was always for Paul's PFL debut to be in the fourth quarter of next year because he needs about a year of MMA training.
– Stock analysts are predicting the WWE Raw rights going for about $387 million per year, up from the last deal at $265 million. That would be less than the $398 million that the stock price was originally based on, but it would still make the company far more profitable.
– For those of you who are friends or know Jay Dumont aka Great Fowler, he's had a real rough past few days. He was violently vomiting for several hours on Friday night and may be in ER today as he fell unconscious last night at one point. He's survived far longer than expected and always notes that for him, every day is a blessing. If you know him and are friends with him, wish him the best of luck and we're all pulling for him.
– There were riots this past week in Dublin including a child being stabbed. Conor McGregor was tweeting all week against the government. On Friday the prime minister came out against McGregor for inciting people and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn pulled McGregor from appearing at last night's boxing show in Dublin. It was noted that the majority of those in Ireland are not on the side of McGregor (thanks to Tony Coleman)
– The New Japan tag team tournament returns on Tuesday with an A Block show in Nagoya with the Gates of Agony vs. Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd, Great-O-Khan & Henare vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste, and Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Shota Umino & Ren Narita.
– Impact and AAA have a joint TV taping in San Pedro Garza, Mexico (outside of Monterrey at the Showcenter) tonight:
El Hijo del Vikingo & Alex Shelley vs, Trey Miguel & Abismo NegroChris Sabin & Trinity vs. Dinamico & Chik TormentaJosh Alexander & Octagon Jr. vs. Moose & ToxinTommy Dreamer & Laredo Kid vs. Brian Myers & TaurusMyzteziz & Rich Swann vs. Eddie Edwards & LatigoSanson & Forastero vs. Frankie Kazarian & ArezDeonna Purrazzo & Maravilla vs. Jordynne Grace & Sexy Star
– Last night's WrestleCade Supershow results: Bojack & Colby Corino & Diego Hill defeated Jordan Oliver & Alan Angels & Fuego del Sol, George South defeated Martin Stone (formerly Danny Burch in NXT), Tajiri (managed by Sonny Onoo) defeated Joey Janela, Brock & CW Anderson (managed by Arn Anderson) defeated Terrell & Terrance Hughes (managed by D-Von Dudley), Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander & Brad Attitude defeated EC3 & Angelina Love & Psycho Boy Fodder, Andrade (managed by CJ Perry) defeated Mike Bailey, Violent J won a Battle Royal (biggest names were Shane Douglas, Vampiro, Shane Taylor, Johnny Swinger, Curtis Hughes, Griff Garrison, Ricky Morton and Richard Holliday), Marina Shafir defeated Masha Slamovich, Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Heath Slater & Rhino, El Hijo del Vikingo (managed by Konnan) defeated Jacob Fatu (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
– Suzu Suzuki missed the Stardom weekend shows due to an illness.