Daily Update: WWE European tour, Nate Diaz, AEW-WBD

Originally posted on F4WOnline.com | By Dave Meltzer | Last updated 4/19/24

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This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter

April 22, 2024 Observer Newsletter: Vince McMahon’s future, Marigold & WWE, AEW Dynasty preview

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site now

What is the future of Vince McMahon and will he try to get back into wrestling after selling his TKO stock
Lots of aspects of the story to talk about
How much of the current success is Vince responsible vs. Paul Levesque responsible
The story behind the WrestleMania 39 finish
How many people watched WrestleMania streaming and on PPV and how that compares to other weekly television shows
The story behind Rossy Ogawa's Marigold promotion, the roster, the WWE connection and more
Full story of UFC 300, one of the biggest nights in UFC history and the business notes on the show along with what is next for the star fighters
AEW Dynasty, previewing the show and what to look for on the show and why from a business standpoint this is so important
Hall of Famer gets major accusations against him on a national news show
Rhea Ripley injury update
Full coverage of Windy City Riot
Forbes valuation of combat sports entities and my thoughts regarding them
A look back at the Silva-Sonnen fight that was announced for the UFC Hall of Fame and back story
Sue Aitchison, the former Warrior Award winner and her work behind the scenes in WWE
The most detailed look at the ratings for all the national shows, comparisons with last year and nightly and weekly placings
Next Stardom PPV show
Champion Carnival opens
Who is now Vice President of two different wrestling promotions
Bloodsport in Japan
The life and career of Tony Jones
Updated PPV numbers from AEW & TNA
International TV ratings
Lots of comments from Tony Khan
More on the Nyla Rose situation in Oklahoma
More on WrestleMania 41
Drew Gulak update
Most watched videos from WrestleMania

This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter

December 18, 2006 Observer Newsletter: UFC, TNA

Friday Update

Garrett and I just finished a long show talking about all kinds of topics from Steve Austin's innate perception of how to do promos and angles, to AEW Dynasty, to the original WWF expansion with Brad Balukjian and talking Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, as well as what will be the biggest news story for the rest of 2024. Bryan and I will be back Sunday talking Smackdown and eight hours of AEW programming.

WWE drew what may have been its biggest house show crowd in years with a packed O2 Arena in London today:
Jey Uso b Drew McIntyre with a spear. McIntyre then invited Wayne Rooney to Clash of the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland
Natalya b Shayna Baszler with a roll-up
Ricochet b JD McDonagh with a 450. One of the UK Gladiators was there with Ricochet,
Damien Priest b Xaiver Woods to keep the world title. McDonagh interfered Priest mostly sold Priest was cheered by most of the crowd and there were "Undertaker" chants. He worked as the heel, was cheered, and did a babyface promo.
Tegan Nox won a three-way over Piper Niven and Zoey Stark by pinning Stark, who was the most impressive of the three.
Sami Zayn won a four-way over Gunther, Finn Balor and Chad Gable to keep the IC title. Gunther was booked strong. Great finish with Zayn pinning Balor after the helluva kick. Excellent bout.
Cody Rhodes b Shinsuke Nakamura to keep the WWE title. Ref bump and Nakamura threw powder. Rhodes won with Cross Rhodes(Thanks to Alex Dudley)

Rodney Petersen, who was involved in a street fight in New Orleans with Nate Diaz one year ago, filed suit in District Court in Louisiana. He alleged he suffered injuries to the head, neck and brain, mental anguish, psychological distress, medical expenses, lost income, loss of consortium with his wife among other things. In the fight, Diaz got a guillotine on Petersen and landed a knee to the body and dropped Peterson on the ground. Peterson claimed he suffered a serious concussion and needed eight staples in his head. The New Orleans Parish D.A.'s office didn't press charges against Diaz at the time saying there was insufficient evidence. Diaz had claimed self defense.

The U.S. Olympic team trials in wrestling are airing tonight until 10 p.m. or so Eastern. The finals are tomorrow night from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern.

Another story to look out for regarding AEW rights renewals are that WBD has reportedly had interest in the WNBA, which most expect to increase greatly in the ratings due to Caitlin Clark. It's hard to say how this would affect AEW past that if TBS or TNT gets that, it is more money from the budget and less time on the prime time schedule.

We're looking for reports on these shows:
WWE from last night in Cardiff, Wales
WWE tonight in Pittsburgh, PA (dark matches only)
NXT tonight in Davenport, FL
AEW Collision in Peoria, IL (only stuff that doesn't air on the three hour live show)
WWE tomorrow in Belfast, Northern Ireland
NXT tomorrow in Orlando, FL
TNA tomorrow in Las Vegas
WWE tomorrow in Erie, PA
GCW tomorrow night in Los Angeles
WWE Sunday in Fort Wayne, IN
TNA TV tapings Sunday in Las Vegas
GCW Sunday in Albuquerque, NM
We're looking for results, finishes and highlights to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Announced for tomorrow night's AEW show in Peoria, IL:
Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher in a bunkhouse brawl
Kazuchika Okada & Young Bucks vs. FTR & Pac
Acclaimed vs Gunn Brothers
Adam Copeland & Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight
Rob Van Dam vs. Komander vs. Isaiah Kassidy vs. Lee Johnson
Emi Sakura vs. Yuka Sakazaki
Kyle O'Reilly & Rocky Romero & Matt Menard vs. Roderick Strong & Matt Taven & Mike Bennett
The show is three hours, with Collision from 8-10 p.m. and Rampage from 10-11 p.m.

Due to the NHL playoffs, Raw & Smackdown next week in Canada are being moved from SportsNet 360 to OLN. NXT will also be off SportsNet 360 and only available for streaming on Sportsnet Plus.

Tonight's Arena Mexico main event is Mistico vs Mascara Dorada vs. Atlantis Jr., in week three of the Universal Champion of Champions tournament. It's a battle of the historical middleweight, welterweight and light heavyweight champions.r

Cody Rhodes was on Good Morning Britain this week.

The Dos Caras version of the story is that he tried to break up with Diana Mondragon and she flipped out and made claims against him. He claimed that she has been harassing his family for the past three months and filed a criminal complaint against her. He said he's already talked with police and told them her version of the story is made up and defamatory and offered to show proof he was innocent.

Eve Fall Grrrls on 5/3 in Walthamstow, London at the Big Penny Social for a 14th anniversary show with Nina Samuels vs. Su Yung as the main event as well as a War Games match. The show is sold out of seats but they are still selling standing room.

Eve also announced the Jetta & Charlie Morgan retirement show for 6/7 at the Big Penny Social in Walthamstow.

GCW runs tomorrow night in Los Angeles wiht 2 Cold Scorpio vs Joey Janela as the main event at the Ukrainian Cultural Center They also run Sunday in Albuquerque, NM.

MLW has a two hour special at 10 p.m. tomorrow night on Bein Sports and the MLW YouTube channel with Akira & Raven & Jimmy Lloyd & Jake Crist vs. Rickey Shane Page & Sami Callihan & Cannonball & Dr Cornwallis, Saotshi Kojima vs. Bad Dude Tito for the MLW title, Matt Riddle vs Timothy Thatcher, Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr,. defend the tag titles against Mr .Thomas & Alex Kane, Star Jr. vs. Virus and more.

Lex Luger was in the Wednesday New York Times crossword puzzle. The clue was "Pro Wrestler **** Luger." (thanks to Bob Nowak)

Action Wrestling has its 6th anniversary show on 4/26 on IWTV with Mustafa Ali appearing.

Sergio Pettis vs. Kyoji Horiguchi was announced for the 6/9 Rizin show in Tokyo. Another Bellator fighter, Juan Archuleta, will face Kleber Koike. Pettis knocked out Horiguchi in 2021 in a fight where Horiguchi won the first three rounds and was then knocked out in the fourth.