Daily Update: Dustin Rhodes, Piper Niven, Grayson Waller

Latest News

• Netflix aired WWE WrestleMania 40 live in New Zealand
• Dustin Rhodes: Cody Rhodes is 'a superstar that has turned into a megastar'
• JD McDonagh advances in WWE Speed title tournament
• Flash Morgan Webster explains Subculture not signing with TNA Wrestling
• Stephanie McMahon praises Paul Heyman: 'You're such an icon'
• Drew McIntyre's ring gear was legitimately lost before WrestleMania 40
• The Rock earns over $9 million in TKO stock during WWE WrestleMania 40 weekend
• AEW launching new gaming podcast with Adam Cole & Evil Uno

Latest Audio

• Wrestling Observer Live: AEW Dynamite, WrestleMania biz, NXT, more
• DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: 'Strangler' & Sammartino
• Bryan & Vinny & Craig: WWF Challenge S1:E7, plus a wild Granny segment

Latest Free YouTube Video

F4W/WON Convention

This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• April 8, 2024 Observer Newsletter: WWE WrestleMania 40 preview, CM Punk talks, Janel Grant lawsuit updates

Among the highlights in this issue:

• WrestleMania weekend preview, the matches, the plans for the matches, favorites in every match, where things can go next and how we got there
• How plans changed throughout the period
• Dwayne Johnson's preparation to get into ring shape
• How Johnson's return came about
• Stand & Deliver preview
• Business notes on all the shows including the insane scalper market setting a new all-time pro wrestling record
• The lawyers grapple in Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
• What we've learned new and the strategy McMahon's side is taking
• AEW cuts and the current realities of AEW business
• CM Punk's interview on the Ariel Helwani show in detail and each subject covered
• The most heated pro wrestling show in decades from last week at Arena Mexico featuring top AAA talent, and how the crowd makeup was different, and exactly what happened at WrestleMania 30 that led to this show taking place
• The most detailed look at the the ratings from the past week, weekly rankings, competition, segment-by-segment, analysis, how it compares with one year ago
• Notes from three Stardom PPV shows this past week
• Preview of two major New Japan events
• Lots of Mania week shows talked about
• Main event for RevPro's biggest show of the year
• Bloodsport coverage
• How Kingston vs. Briscoe came about
• Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
• Streaming numbers and international TV ratings
• AEW PPV updates
• McGregor sets record
• Dana White talks about blowing off a sponsor
• PFL signs boxing champion
• Nick Khan talks Vince McMahon, Netflix deal and bringing in Dwayne Johnson
• Details behind Vince McMahon's most recent stock sale
• WWE numbers in quarter one
• Martha Hart talks Vince McMahon
• Ronda Rousey and Drew Gulak controversy
• WWE star likely returning
• Merchandise sale updates
• Update on amateur wrestlers in WWE system
• Notes from all the house shows

This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter

• December 11, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Paul Heyman, ECW December to Dismember

Wednesday Update

WWE

• While speaking with Gorilla Position, Piper Niven gave an update on her recovery from a broken hand. Niven said she suffered the injury while training:
• I broke my hand [at] training, trying to be a better performer. So obviously, the universe was like, ‘No, no, no, you’re too good.’ It was like, ‘Hey bro, you can’t – come on, you got to give everybody else a chance.’ So yeah, broke my hand, unfortunately. And it still looks gnarly. This happened the 7th of February. So just over two months. But it’s getting a little better. And now I have this gnarly little bone callus that I can’t wait to backfist people with. So yeah, that’s what I’ve been doing.
• Niven, who has been out of action since February, said she’s not cleared to compete right now but is hoping that she’ll be cleared soon.
• It was said on NXT last night that Josh Briggs suffered two cracked ribs at Stand & Deliver.
• During a backstage segment on NXT, Charlie Dempsey mentioned his victory from Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport.
• WWE shared a post-show promo by Je’Von Evans following his NXT TV debut.
• Grayson Waller posted a tweet joking about the All In backstage footage that AEW is going to air on Dynamite tonight: “Later today, I’m going to share exclusive security camera footage of myself and @_Theory1 beating up the entire WWE locker room backstage. It’s time the world knows how tough the Smackdown Tag Champs really are!”
• Dijak responded to Theory’s tweet: “It’s true, I saw it. There was real glass everywhere.”
• CM Punk, Bobby Lashley, Shayna Baszler, and Big E took part in a roundtable for ESPN discussing the UFC 300 card.
• Sports Video Group published a story on WWE’s new production facility in Connecticut. The studio “is designed to give both the WWE and external clients new opportunities for production in the New York Tri-State Area.” Joe Solari, WWE’s VP of studio operations, said:
• I think everybody’s very excited to get in there and to create on the stages. It gives us new tools and a new canvas to push the limits of what we do here at the WWE. We can take our productions to the next level and really increase our fan engagement.
• Damian Priest appeared on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.
• WWE remembered the late Paul Bearer on what would have been his 70th birthday.
• John Cena was a guest on the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• AEW uploaded its Control Center video for tonight’s episode of Dynamite.
• Mercedes Mone confirmed that she’ll be appearing on Dynamite tonight.
• Dustin Rhodes told Sports Illustrated that he’s enjoying every opportunity he gets in AEW:
• I worked hard to get here, and I’m still working hard to get better. AEW is a great place. The schedule is better for my body, and I’m still putting in the work. I love this business, it has been great to me. My job is to pass on my knowledge.
• I’m working with the best talent on the planet, and I can hang with anybody. I’m damn proud of that. I’m enjoying every opportunity Tony [Khan] gives me. If Tony asks me to work a one-hour match on Dynamite, I would. I live for this. I get a chance to entertain people at the wrestling matches. My whole life, that’s what I’ve wanted.
• Rhodes added that he’s not ready to retire:
• I’ve thought about retirement, but I’m just not ready. My mind, my heart, and my soul are too much in love with this. So I’ll go until the wheels fall off.
• My love for wrestling, that drives me. It makes me hungrier. I am putting all of my passion and grit into everything I do.
• Bryan Danielson posted on social media in advance of Dynamite tonight: “Should be a killer show! BUT, this iteration of the Young Bucks is insufferable… @DaxFTR and @CashWheelerFTR, please tell me you’re going to show up and punch those guys in the face? #AEWDynamite”
• Renee Paquette interviewed both Danielson and Will Ospreay ahead of their dream match at AEW Dynasty later this month.
• TAKA Michinoku tweeted that he’s curious about wrestling for AEW: “I wrestled in US more than 20 years ago. After that, I avoided going abroad, but while my body was still moving, I began to want to try a little bit. I'm especially curious about AEW. want to go up.”
• Episode nine of Johnny Loves Taya is now available to watch.
• AEW wished Juice Robinson a happy 35th birthday.
• CIMA visited Soft Ground Wrestling in Uganda. GLEAT wrestler Check Shimatani also worked a match for the promotion.
• Tokyo Joshi Pro’s Miyu Yamashita will be in action at TNA Wrestling’s TV taping in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 21. The taping is taking place one day after TNA’s Rebellion pay-per-view.
• Chris Hero vs. Kazusada Higuchi has been announced for this Sunday’s Chris Hero Pro Wres Mixtape show in Los Angeles.
• The Diary of a CEO interviewed Ronda Rousey.