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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site covering the follow topics:

  • The story of John Cena’s retirement, the finish, the reaction, what WWE did and didn’t expect and thoughts on why they did what they did and why judging it now makes little sense in the big picture. We look at different aspects of the decision making and the fallacy of the “time-honored tradition phrasing here. We look at where Cena viably stands among the greats, the show itself, and Cena’s legacy.
  • We look at the post-match and post-show reaction, Paul Levesque and also look at the history of retirement matches with the biggest names in the history of the business. This is a real history lesson about what really is the tradition.
  • We have a story on Wrestle Kingdom’s card, why it turned out this way, as well as the finals of the New Japan tag team tournament.
  • We update the WBD sale story with the latest on Netflix and Paramount, just how strongly WBD publicly viewed the Paramount offer in a negative way and more
  • We run down the 2025 Tokyo Sports pro wrestling awards, with the winners, why they won, how the voting went, the nature of the voting and more in a year Saya Kamitani became the first woman wrestler to win MVP
  • A look at the retirement show and the career of El Hijo del Santo, the Santo gimmick, the cultural significance of the Santo name, Santo Jr, and notes on Santo’s career and most famous matches
  • We update the Continental Classic and Worlds Collide with business updates as well.
  • We look at the odds for upcoming matches
  • We look at the careers of Solomon Grundy, Miss Janeth and Ricky Romero Jr/Ricky Youngblood
  • We have the most detailed look at the television ratings of all the wrestling shows this past week as well as placings, comparisons and more, as well as an explanation of what the annual drops actually mean.
  • We look at another week of sellouts in CMLL, including the big Friday show and the Mistico vs Soberano feud
  • We look at Guerra de Titanes from AAA
  • We look at the financials from Cyberfight and what wrestler in specific they credited a better economic year to
  • Yota Tsuji talks the future of New Japan
  • What pro wrestling events in Japan were the most streamed in 2025
  • Update on Andrade
  • Former WWE tag champ going into Bare Knuckle boxing
  • Major AEW overseas ratings growth
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Chris Jericho update
  • Injury updates
  • Ilia Topuria marriage issues slows down career
  • An appeal by TKO on judge’s ruling about current fighter contracts
  • Notes on Paul vs. Joshua
  • Mick Foley breaks ties with WWE over Trump
  • TKO stock skyrockets
  • NXT Awards

This Week’s Back Issue

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Monday Update

–Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about Raw, more WBD negotiations, New Japan, AAA and much more.

–The WWE’s AAA show from Saturday night in Guadalajara was one of the company’s best shows of the year.  The Dragon Lee vs Vikingo match was tremendous but every match was good and it was a fantastic crowd because not only were they loud, but they reacted to everything in the matdhes.  Sometimes you get loud crowds that are there for entrances and promos but not the matches.  Or they’ll do chants but not react in sync with what’s going on in the ring.  The crowd even booed Dominik at  points as I guess the one guy they will always cheer in Mexico is  Rey.  Rey’s reaction was even bigger than Mistico at Arena Mexico.

–New Japan ran its final show of the year earlier today with Hiroshi Tanahashi’s next to last match (we had a mistake yesterday on that) against Kosei Fujita at Korakuen Hall.  We’ll talk more about that tonight.  A few notes from the show is that  Andrade will team with Callum Newman & Great O’Khan & Henare and a mystery partner against Hiromu Takahashi & Gabe Kidd & David Finlay &  Shingo Takagi & Drilla Moloney.  Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino are on the show in the Never trios gauntlet match teaming with pop star Kaisei Takechi.  Chris Brookes of DDT challenged El Phantasmo for the TV title.  

–Jake Paul had surgery to repair his jaw broken in two places in the Anthony Joshua fight on  Friday night.  He said he had two titanium plates put in on each side and had some teeth removed. He won’t be able to eat solid food for a week.  A $92 million payoff for the fight may make the pain feel better.

–Raw tonight was taped on Friday in Grand Rapids, MI.  I think it’s the only actual taped Raw this year as it always goes live.
Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka
Je’Von Evans vs. Rayo Pete Dunne
Bayley vs. Roxanne Perez
Rey Mysterio & CM Punk vs. Austin Theory & Bronson Reed

–Mistico vs  Soberano Jr. in a non-title match tonight in Puebla sold out this morning.  While the sellout  was a given, Puebla usually doesn’t sell out until the walk-up since it’s a weekly event.  The big thing is tomorrow at Arena Mexico with Mistico defending the light heavyweight title against Difunto.  It’s the type of match that is rare on a Tuesday but with school out they are looking for a bigger crowd than usual.

–It wasn’t said on the broadcast, but Saturday was the one-year anniversary of the death of  Rey Misterio, or  Rey  Sr., as he’s been known since the mid-90s.  Dominik was wearing Rey Sr. tribute gear as well as Gringo Locos gear, although they started doing the Gringo Locos gimmick with Dominik & Grande Americano and look to have already split them up.  Rey sent a message talking about eternal life for Rey Sr., and friends Eddy Guerrero, Love Machine and Umaga.

–Trish Stratus is on the cover of the Australian version of FHM magazine in the January issue.
–Evolve will not be airing the next two weeks on Tubi since they  figure who will watch is on 12/24 or 12/31.  They return on 1/7 with Chantel Monroe vs Wendy Choo in a no DQ match.
–Jerry Lawler was on the WMC-TV news at 6 pm. tonight to plug the Memphis Wrestling TV special on WMC on Thursday at Noon.

–Kevin Kesar (Killer Kross) is part of the cast of an action-drama called “Godshot” about an ex-con who finds an unexpected shot  at redemption after being introduced to the high-risk world of Hollywood stunt work,only to realize the most dangerous stunt of all will be breaking free from his past.  It is about the life experiences of  Sammy Horowitz, a Hollywood stunt man.The movie is currently filming in Chicago.
–GCW announced Rey Horus returns plus 1 Called Mandes and Hammerstone for 2/15 in Mesa AZ.  They also  run 1/17 in Dallas with Effy vs. KJ Orso, Gringo Loco vs. Samuray del Sol plus Princalla Kelly and  Shotzi Blackheart.  Atticus Cogar vs. Priscilla Kelly and del Sol vs. Vengador will be on the 1/18 show in Wichita, KS.

–The Hardys are going to Dallas 1/5 and 1/6 to do local media and built for the 1/15 TV tapings and 1/17 Genesis PPV show from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, TX.

–Templario has been added to the Battle Riot show on 1/29 in Kissimmee, FL.

–Toni Rose turned 80 today  Mistico turns 43.  Doc Gallows turns 42.  This would have been the 114th birthday of legendary referee and former wrestler Johnny “Red Shoes” Dugan.  Rip Hawk died on this day four years ago at the age of 82.  Mike Kirchner died on this day four year ago at the age of 64.  (thanks to Tony Richaredes)inRn har Ko Srenhis would, a

–Green Mountain Wrestling on 2/1 at 2 p.m. in Barre, VT at the Elks Lodge

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Dave Meltzer
Dave Meltzer

Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.