Daily Update

Latest News

UFC on ESPN 49 live results: Holly Holm vs. Mayra Bueno SilvaElton Prince injured on WWE SmackDownNJPW G1 Climax 33 night one results: SANADA vs. HikuleoWWE SmackDown video highlights: Shotzi shaves her headNaomichi Marufuji to face Will Ospreay on 25th anniversary show

Latest Audio

Wrestling Observer Live: How much wrestling is too much?Wrestling Observer Radio: A packed weekend, TripleMania preview with Larry Dallas

Latest Free YouTube Video

See Dave & Bryan in London

This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter

July 17, 2023 Observer Newsletter: Bloodline angle makes history, loaded weekend preview

In this issue:

Match and Performer of the WeekThe Bloodline saga comes very close to a first in the history of pro wrestling on televisionA look at the Trial of Roman Reigns, the Reigns vs. Usos feud, and the storyline that has caused WWE business to growA preview of all the big matches of the weekend in three different countries, none of which are the U.S., with TripleMania, G-1, Miyahara vs. Nakajima and CollisionUpdated news on SummerSlam and Great American Bash and business notes on both showsThe new AEW rules memo, what is and isn't new and the reality of what this means to talentFull coverage of UFC 290 with two of the best fights of the year, a unique television situation and two title boutsLooking at the 2023 Wrestler of the Year award and the top candidatesFrancis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury, the questions about the show and why the hope for it to be a success is the evolution of understanding fighting being lowThe most detailed look at the ratings of every major pro wrestling and MMA show of the past week, the analysis, competition, segment numbers and comparisons with one year agoLots of injury talks regarding major starsKey husband and wife jumping promotionsMercedes Mone rivalry plannedUpdate on major sports rights negotiations in the next few yearsThe death of Michael Halac, the former Bruiser Mastino and MantaurWrestling magazine pioneer writer Ed Garea, The Phantom of the Ring, passes awayNotes on the new women's promotionRevPro Epic Encounters rundownBattle of the two best 18-year-old wrestlers in the world announced for next monthTicket sales for tons of big showsKenny Omega talks the Tiger driver spotInternational TV ratingsLots of new major UFC fightsLooking at the vacant UFC light heavyweight title situationWorld champion in UFC talks about how two years ago he supplemented his income driving for Uber EatsMore major show dates fr WWEBackstage issue at WWEA look at all the major TV shows and WWE weekend show coverage

This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter

May 16, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Pride Total Elimination Absolute, Jim Cornette

Moderators needed:

We are currently looking for two people to moderate our message board. Those interested please contact tonyleder@f4wonline.com.

Ordering Info:

Click Here: canberra raiders shirt

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.

Saturday Update

WWE

SmackDown averaged 2.16 million viewers in the fast national ratings last night, down from the 2.38 million last week’s Trial of Roman Reigns episode drew in the fast nationals. The rating in the 18-49 demo was a 0.54.On SmackDown, Michael Cole gave a storyline update on Jimmy Uso after Jimmy was demolished by Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa last week. It was said that Jimmy will be out of action “for the foreseeable future” due to suffering ruptured rib cartilage in the attack.Montez Ford told USA Today about wanting a singles run in WWE: “As a kid, I've always had a dream to become WWE champion, and you can't do that as a tag team wrestler. You can be a part of a tag team, but it's just me out there. That's always been a dream of mine, and that's one of the things I'm always looking forward to, training for."USA Today asked Seth Rollins about potentially defending his World Heavyweight Championship against Cody Rhodes: “I would love for Cody Rhodes [to] come try to take it from me. If he can survive Brock Lesnar, I would love for him to try to. I'm better than I've ever been; he don't stand a chance."A special WWE episode of the Weakest Link will air on NBC at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Monday night. Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, The New Day, Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, and The Miz are appearing on the show.Pretty Deadly, Asuka, and The LWO appeared on The SmackDown LowDown.Sportskeeda interviewed Shawn Michaels.Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster and former MLB player John Kruk was a guest on WWE After the Bell.

AEW/Other Wrestling

Ahead of competing in his first G1 Climax, Eddie Kingston was interviewed by NJPW’s website. Kingston was asked if he ever felt like his goal of wrestling for NJPW wouldn’t happen:Yeah. I felt like my career was over right before the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, I thought ‘OK, that’s it, my career’s over.’ I’m… I’m not supposed to be here. I’ll get emotional saying this, but I’ve dreamed of this since I was 13 years old. (teary eyed) I’ve made a lot of mistakes. In life, not just in wrestling, and I never thought I’d be here. To be here now seems very surreal, so I just want to do good for the Japanese fans, for New Japan, and for the people I looked up to, for Hashimoto, Chono, Muto, Baba, Inoki, the Four Pillars and on and on. Jun Akiyama as well- I’ve been able to wrestle and team with him, and he gave me so much confidence.Kingston explained the lasting impression that he wants Japanese fans to have of him:The last thing I’d like to leave for them is that I never quit, I never stopped and I always brung it, no matter how I felt physically, mentally, emotionally- and I’m an emotional guy- I always kept fighting. I keep saying it, but I was born to fight. I’m American, but my father’s side of the family is Irish, and they were hard men. My Puerto Rican side- all females, but hard females, man. I was brought up to fight.NJPW's website also spoke with Tetsuya Naito.QT Marshall told SEScoops that RJ City helps write AEW’s QTV segments: “When we do QTV, we have someone who helps us write the stuff, RJ City. Of course, I’m the leader. At the same time, I wanted to let the [group] show character. The more outrageous, the better. It’s giving the talent hopefully an outlet to present themselves.”Tomohiro Ishii will face Luke Jacobs at Revolution Pro Wrestling’s 11 Year Anniversary Show in London on Saturday, August 26.Impact Wrestling uploaded a video previewing tonight’s Slammiversary PPV.Mike Bennett appeared on AEW Unrestricted this week.