Daily Update: AEW Dynamite ratings, Stardom & CMLL notes, Kevin Nealon & Danny Devito

AEW Dynamite social media screenshot 4/22/26: Brody King and Darby Allin
AEW Dynamite social media screenshot 4/22/26: Brody King and Darby Allin (Image credit: AEW)

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • What did people think of WrestleMania, the strengths and weaknesses of both shows
  • Brock Lesnar
  • Reigns vs. Punk
  • The machinations behind the scenes and in front of the camera of Rhodes vs. Orton
  • Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro and who has the final say and when it’s used
  • Injuries
  • Pat McAfee and Jelly roll
  • The overdoing commercials
  • All the business notes for the week
  • TV ratings
  • Netflix ratings
  • Full coverage of both shows
  • Coverage of other major shows over Mania week
  • The Ali Act, Nick Khan, Oscar de la Hoya and the arguments before the senate
  • Court filings on what percentage of revenue goes to talent in WWE
  • Why the idea of a second major MMA group is very difficult even if Ronda Rousey’s fight does big numbers
  • Mark Shapiro’s deposition contradicts claims on Vince McMahon regarding the UFC and WWE merger
  • Life and times of Van Hammer
  • Weekly wrestling odds looked at
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings for pro wrestling shows this past week with demos, segment notes and comparisons with a year ago
  • CMLL tournament of champions final
  • How much business is up in CMLL
  • CMLL vs. MLW show next week
  • Stardom has its biggest show of the year this week
  • Major promotion parent company taking out sizeable loans
  • Kenta Kobashi shares the ring with Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • Maple Leaf Wrestling TV
  • Who had the most top matches so far this year
  • Alberto is wrestling again but not in the promotion that was to be built around him as they’ve washed their hands of him
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Double or Nothing notes
  • UFC signs new overseas deal
  • Mark Hunt arrested for domestic violence
  • WWE headed to Saudi Arabia
  • Security issues at MGM Grand for Mania week
  • How much the top TKO executives earned
  • How much Peacock has lost
  • Ric Flair speaks
  • New NXT star whose uncle was part of one of the most famous heavy metal bands

This Week’s Back Issue

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Sunday Update

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— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about all the wrestling news of the weekend for Wrestling Observer Radio. We had our Friday show with Garrett Gonzales that was really fascinating because it was being taped as the releases were happening so you get our responses and thoughts on all the WWE releases, the ones we know, the ones that were surprises, and in between.

— As most probably know, at the White House Correspondents Association dinner last night where shots were fired, among those in attendance were Dana White, whose interview after got a ton of play, along with Linda and Shane McMahon, who were there together. White was only a few feet away from President Trump when the secret service and police rushed into the ballroom at the Washington Hilton. White was near President Trump at a dinner with those from Paramount Skydance. “Inside, the whole event just started getting noisy, tables getting flipped over, guys running in with guns and they were screaming `Get down.” White told USA Today. “I didn’t get down. It was f***ing awesome. I literally took every minute of it in. It was a pretty crazy, unique experience. We were sitting right in front of the table, right in front of where the president was. Nobody got tackled but a guy came in looking for shooters and then came toward the table. I thought the shooter was by us or something.”

— For reasons I don’t really know, Programming Insider did have Wednesday ratings up yesterday and Dynamite on Wednesday was 616,000 viewers and an 0.10 in 18-49, much lower than usual. Then today I couldn’t find it. Some of that was airing three hours earlier than usual on the West Coast. I don’t have more info because it’s not up but the NBA was the top show on cable. The unfamiliar West Coast time should hurt about eight percent and this was down more than eight percent. But for a variety of reasons we have less info than usual on it. Hopefully more tomorrow.

— We’re looking for your thoughts on today’s Stardom show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

— Sayaka Kurara won the World of Stardom title from Saya Kamitani in the main event of today’s All Star Grend Queendom 2026″ show at the Yokohama Arena. The paid attendance of 8,015 was the largest for an all-women’s show in Japan since the 90s, even beating the Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano match last year. The Cosmic Angels would have had to disband if Kurara lost. Hanan beat Konami to win the Wonder of Stardom title. AZM & Miyu Amasaki beat Natsuko Tora & Ruaka to win the Goddesses of Stardom titles. Syuri beat Megan Bayne to retain the IWGP women’s title. People have been raving about the show and the top matches. (thanks to David Hayter)

— Mascara Dorada won the three-way over Black Tiger and Hechicero Friday night at Arena Mexico to win the Universal Champion of Champions tournament before a sellout of 16,000 fans. I was told this was a great card, and the matches to watch were the last three on the show.

— Besides the top matches at Arena Mexico and Stardom, the other two matches we’ve had heavily recommended from the weekend were on the Saturday New Japan show from Hiroshima where Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita won the IWGP jr. tag titles from Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X and Yuto-Ice & Oskar retained the IWGP tag titles over Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi.

— Ivy Nile competed last night in an NPC/IFBB fitness contest. She won three categories. The event was in Orlando. Among those cheering her on were Simone Johnson, Bianca Belair, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley and at least another ten NXT wrestlers.

— A&E airs part one of a Von Erichs biography from 8-10 p.m. tonight while LFG is at 10 p.m. and there will be WWE Greatest Moments shows airing 10-11 p.m.

— Raw tomorrow has Penta vs. Rusev for the IC title and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez, plus a Joe Hendry concert, and Roman Reigns gives his answer to Jacob Fatu

— Kevin Nealon of Saturday Night Live fame challenged Danny DeVito to a match in either WWE or AEW. Nealon is the inspiration of the new Chris Jericho character.

— In Google searches for the weekend the UFC show yesterday was lower than usual at 105,000 as of the last look. The only other wrestling and MMA related stuff was Kairi Sane at No. 100 with 20,000, Aleister Black in the top 150 with 20,000 and Brock Rechsteiner, the son of Scott Steiner, who signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans, at 10,000. Undrafted free agents have long odds against making a team, but it’s possible. His cousin, Bron Breakker was in a similar situation just a few years ago, didn’t make the NFL, but has thrived as a pro wrestler. Most expect him to follow in those footsteps if he doesn’t make it in the NFL.

— The San Francisco 49ers picked De’Zhaun Stribling in the second round of the draft. He is the nephew of Don Muraco.

— Last night’s UFC show was the first to date not to crack the top ten television shows in the U.S. on Paramount+ on Saturday. It was No. 1 in most of Central and South America, however, and that was enough for 3rd among TV shows and 5th including movies for the day on the service worldwide.

— Damian 666 was honored last Monday at Arena Jose Sulaiman in Monterrey which noted that he had just announced his retirement from wrestling.

— Brooke Hogan did a lengthy interview with Bubba the Love Sponge about the Hogan documentary on Netflix. She was very negative on it. The doc did not make the top ten any day this week but like I said, sometimes that’s a glitch. We’ll know how it did or didn’t do on Tuesday. I’ve only seen the first 20 minutes so want to make up my own mind, and most reviews I’ve heard weren’t positive on it.

— The CBS Morning News weekly show noted that a marker put up this week in Ellerbe, NC, honoring Andre the Giant.

— Tank Abbott, the former UFC and WCW wrestler turned 61 today. Mayor Glenn Jacobs (Kane) turned 59. Ron Reis, the former WCW giant turned 56. Jonathan Figueroa/Amazing Red turned 44. It was also the birthday of Larry Matysik, born 1947, the longtime announcer for Wrestling at the Chase in St. Louis who was one of the top announcers ever, Jerry Blackwell was born on this day in 1949 and Killer Karl Kox was born on this day in 1931. Fuzzy Cupid, a mini star born Len Stap, was 50 when he passed away 47 years ago. Announcer Lee Marshall was 65 when he passed away 12 years ago today. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Tonight’s Arena Mexico show will be on the CMLL streaming service which is now a weekly thing. Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Neon face Barbaro Cavernario & Difunto & Clon, Atlantis Jr. & Esfinge vs. Black Tiger & Kushida, Angel de Oro vs. Rocky Romero, Shotzi vs. Skadi, Kemalito vs. Tengu for the micros title and a tournament with Dragon Legendario, Dragon de Fuego, Max Star, Fugaz, El Hijo del Pantera, Fuego, Pantera Jr. and Rey Pegaus.

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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.