Daily Update: Shawn Michaels & Triple H, NXT, Emi Sakura

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• October 7, 2024 Observer Newsletter: AEW & WBD agree to new media rights renewal, NXT debuts on CW

• The new issue of the Observer is on the site today. Our lead story is the most detailed coverage of the new AEW TV deal, an analysis of what it means for business, profits losses, what the deal does and doesn’t cover, FOX rumors and analysis and much more. We also have a major history piece looking at the 2024 Hall of Fame and the candidates and their credentials.
• Value of the deal for each specific year
• What the deal does and doesn’t cover
• Update on the PPV business
• What AEW is losing in the deal
• How PPV will be distributed
• Quotes from Tony Khan and WBD
• MAX and cable distribution
• Breaking down expenses, revenue, profits and losses and the financial future of AEW
• Analysis of the potential FOX deal
• A look at the first NXT show on CW, business, ratings and how the segments did
• Update on Bad Blood and WrestleDream, including interest levels for both shows
• A look at the 2024 Hall of Fame voting, candidates and favorites in each category
• A rundown of the leading candidates, some of who you would know and wouldn’t.
• New Japan building King of Pro Wrestling–What business lesson was reinforced by CMLL Noche de Campeones this past week
• The most detailed look at the ratings for all the major television shows, competition, comparisons with a year ago, placings and segment-by-segment
• Woman wrestling star retiring to become a referee
• CMLL head gives stats on how many fans come to Arena Mexico from other countries
• What major celebrity was at Shinjuku Face for a pro wrestling show
• Hall of Famer having 40th anniversary show
• Major Japanese celebrity does two matches this week
• Notes on the deaths of Pete Rose and Kris Kristofferson and both men’s connections to pro wrestling
• Jimmy Hart prior to wrestling
• AEW and WWE current injury rates
• What percentage of fans watch shows live vs DVR
• AEW video game notes
• Major star opening up a gym for post-wrestling business
• International TV ratings
• Injury stats regarding PowerSlap
• What famous boxer turned down a two fight series with Conor Mcregor
• How many people watched the Mr. McMahon documentary and an approximation of how it would compare to a regular WWE TV show
• Martha Hart reacts to the documentary

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

• April 30, 2007 Observer Newsletter: WWE Italy tour disappoints, UFC 70 recap

Tuesday Update

WWE

• WWE has posted the full World Heavyweight title match between Gunther and Sami Zayn from Monday’s Raw.
• The company posted a video featuring Shawn Michaels and Triple H spoofing their ‘State of the Union’ promo from 1997 while hyping NXT, replacing profanity with modern-day lingo.
• WWE posted a vlog featuring NXT stars that was taped ahead of the brand’s premiere on The CW.
• Regarding WWE stars’ travel amid the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Florida, Dave Meltzer wrote on X: “With the Orlando airport being shut down, NXT talent at this point are under the impression they will have to spend several more days in St. Louis until it clears up.”
• World Central Kitchen posted a video of Titus O’Neil helping volunteers and staff in response to Hurricane Helene.
• Sheamus posted a photo of his bruised back following the good ‘ol donnybrook match from Raw on X, writing: “BUTCH IS DEAD. LONG LIVE PETE DUNNE.”
• Becky Lynch posted a photo of herself on Instagram writing “When something’s broke, I wanna put a bit of fixin’ on it. @pearljam”
• A trailer for the upcoming film ‘Let’s Start A Cult’ featuring CM Punk.
• Recent matches from WWE Vault include Randy Orton vs. Damien Sandow from the March 27, 2013 edition of NXT and Tables, Ladders, and Chairs IV from the October 7, 2002 edition of Raw.
• WWE Vault has also uploaded dark matches from 2003 featuring Mortis, the alter-ego of Chris Kanyon used during his run in WCW.

AEW & Other Wrestling

• Emi Sakura wrote about her upcoming match against Mercedes Mone: “In 2019, I met a girl in Sendai Girl’s Korakuen Backstage. She introduced herself and was friendly. I had never seen American wrestling before, so I didn’t know who she was. She calls herself a CEO now, and that nice respectful girl is nowhere to be found. I gotta beat that respect back into her it seems.”
• Michael Nakazawa is celebrating a birthday today.
• Hiromu Takahashi & Titan vs. Callum Newman & JJ Gale has been added to RevPro’s Global Wars UK event on October 19.
• Former TNA star Jesse Godderz will be part of the second season of E!’s House of Villians reality show, which premieres tomorrow.

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