Daily Update: AEW-WBD, WWE Raw, Jimmy Hart

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• September 30, 2024 Observer Newsletter: ‘Mr. McMahon’ series drops on Netflix, new UFC antitrust settlement

• The life of Vince McMahon and the Netflix documentary. This is a lengthy story talking about the documentary, my reactions, more details on the various stories talked about, comments from Vince McMahon, Bill Simmons, Ann Callis, things we did learn, what wasn’t accurate and what wasn’t and reviews.
• More on what the latest settlement in the Cung Le lawsuit against UFC entails, how much more fighters will be getting if the judge approves this, and if the judge doesn’t, what happens next.
• A note about Bad Blood and Wrestle Dream, interest levels of both and card update.
• How the audiences for WWE & AEW have changed over the past year, as far as income, viewing together and age of viewers. What show viewerships have grown in income the most over the past year.
• The most detailed look at the ratings of the past week, placings for the night and week, competition, segment by segment numbers and more.
• The upcoming women’s World Grand Prix show.
• Wrestling star accused of kidnapping his son
• Toni Storm returns to Japan.
• The 48th World Tag League from All Jaan
• Thoughts on Queen of Villains
• El Hijo del Santo retirement tour
• Tony Khan talks more business
• Fenix and Penta update
• International TV ratings and streaming number s
• Ricochet talks this past week
• Ticket advances for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
• More notes on the UFC show at The Sphere
• Changes to WWE television in 2025

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

• April 23, 2007 Observer Newsletter: WWE stops Lawler/Hogan Memphis match, TNA Lockdown recap

Monday Update

• Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, Hall of Fame and the rest of the news of the day with Wrestling Observer radio. We have a ton of stuff up from the past week including two shows with Garrett Gonzales covering the Vince McMahon documentary.
• An announcement is just about ready for the new WBD and AEW media rights deal.  I think the announcement will only mention a deal, the stations but not necessarily everything that the deal entails.  But as we’ve reported weeks ago, the deal has been completed. It’s possible it’ll be Wednesday in conjunction with the fifth anniversary.
• Raw tonight goes against two NFL games, the Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions at 8:15 p.m. on ABC and Tennessee Titans vs. Miami Dolphins at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. What we learned last week is when there is a 7:30 p.m. game, it hurts Raw’s first segment which usually is okay because generally the game starts at 8:15 p.m.
• Raw is in Evansville tonight with Bronson Reed vs. Braun Strowman last monster standing, Kofi Kingston vs. Chad Gable, Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods, Dominik Mysterio & Carlito & JD McDonaugh vs. Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro & Dragon Lee, plus CM Punk, Drew McIntre and Jey Uso.  There should be a Gunther segment with Sami Zayn. The show had 6,300 tickets out as of this afternoon.
• For Friday ratings, Smackdown did 1.57 million viewers and  an 0.45 in 18-49, second behind Virginia Tech vs. Miami football on ESPN that did 3.26 million viewers and 0.930 Even with the network advantage, Smackdown did beat the Washington vs. Rutgers game on FOX that did 1.93 million viewers and 0.38.  Rampage did 276,000 and 0.08, behind ESPN football, Fox, CNN and On Patrol Live.
• Jimmy Hart’s band, The Gentrys, were inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame on Friday.  The Gentrys were a popular band with a few hit songs in the 60s, long before Hart got involved in pro wrestling.
• Vampiro and Michael Kingston will be appearing at the Ahealocked booth at the new York Comic Con on 10/17 promoting the Vampiro Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 comic book that will be released on 10/16  
• DirecTV and Dish look to be merging.  It would still have to be approved. DirecTV will acquire EchoStar’s video distribution business, Dish TV and Sling TV and take on the Dish debt of $9.75 billion.  The hope for the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.
• The movie “Last Showgirl” with Dave Bautista and Pam  Anderson won the Special Jury Prize at the  San Sebastian Film Festival.
• Canadian Wrestling Elite from last night in Fort Frances, ONT: Josh Holliday b Derek Diggler, Danny Duggan b Adrian Burton, Danny Digger b Soctt Ripley, Juventud Guerrera b Anderon Tyson Moore, Josh Bain b Rusty Blackwell, Josh Holliday won Battle Royal. 

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