Daily Update: AJ Styles, WWE 2K26, WBD & Paramount
Daily Update
Latest News
- For subscribers: Dave Meltzer analyzes WWE Raw viewership from February 23 & 16
- Big E addresses ‘very real criticism’ of New Day WWE betrayal angle
- Update on Dralistico’s AEW return
- Dustin Rhodes not interested in WWE return: ‘That ain’t me anymore’
- Claudio Castagnoli’s next CMLL World title defense set
- AJ Lee ‘a little nervous’ for WWE Elimination Chamber match
- AJ Styles feels WWE WrestleMania has ‘lost its luster a little bit’
Latest Audio
- WOL: AJ Styles, Bronson Reed, plus Rocky Romero joins us!
- WOR: RAW report, Bronson injury, Chamber, more!
Latest YouTube Video
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- February 23, 2026 Observer Newsletter: WWE WrestleMania ticket sales, AEW Grand Slam Australia review, Rousey vs. Carano news
- Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania updates. Update on ticket sales to both shows as well as AEW Revolution and explanations of why and current interest level in tickets.
- Notes on the giant gates WWE drew for WrestleMania last year and John Cena’s retirement.
- How much Mania tickets have increased in recent years
- Odds on this week shows
- Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey and a history of how women’s MMA overcame so many obstacles due to those two. We look at what each did, their background, the story behind the 2014 fight that never happened and why this fight is happening, as well as addressing very serious questions regarding the fight.
- A look at nostalgia fights and different ways to do them and how they work or don’t work
- A look at the life and career of the Great Mephisto, one of the most creative minds in wrestling as a wrestler and booker of the 60s and 70s, including his heyday in San Francisco and Australia and stories about his confrontations with Roy Shire, copying from and teaming with The Sheik, Booking WCW in Australia, and a life that start as a street hustler in the depression to facing Hulk Hogan in his first match ever in Northern California.
- The most detailed look at the television ratings over the past week, with comparisons, Nielsen and Netflix flaws, Olympics and more.
- Major change in CMLL rules and thoughts about it
- This past week in CMLL including a hot Friday night sold out show with Mistico vs. Templario
- Mistico talks Observer awards
- Saya Kamitani update
- FantasticaMania first night
- Cain Velasquez update
- Notes on the death of Brett Wolverton and Kerwin Silfies
- Mick Foley television series
- Longest lasting pro wrestling ring announcer
- Eve sets UK record
- Tag team holds titles in Europe & Japan at the same time
- TNA No Surrender notes
- More on mainstream coverage of Brody King
- More on WBD sale
- Report that Trump will kill current deal
- AEW in Australia notes
- Sean Strickland is an idiot
- Dana White talks boxing
- Gable Steveson fights again and update
- Janel Grant lawsuit update
- Another WWE European tour and PLE show
- Bad Bunny wrestling update
This Week’s Back Issue
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Tuesday Update
WWE
- WWE released post-show footage of AJ Styles’ retirement ceremony on Raw.
- Frankie Kazarian reflected on being at Raw: Nights like this go beyond any accolade one can achieve. Being there for my brother @AJStylesOrg on an incredibly special night, and reuniting with @ThisIsTNA brethren is something I will take with me forever. And never let it go. Thanks you to the @WWE for making this happen.”
- A WWE 2K26 video game special will air this coming Friday on ESPN 2.
- Kelly Kelly on social media: “Welp… another year not in the @WWEgames…Should we start a petition or what?”
- PWInsider is reporting that WWE and 2K have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit by Nathaniel Tatha-Nanandji, a promoter who alleges that WWE used his intellectual material for Bloodline content on WWE programming.
- Tyra Mae Steele on The Wrestling Syndicate podcast shared audio of Vince McMahon congratulating her on winning the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Toyko.
- Asuka in a backstage segment was happy with Kairi Sane’s performance on Raw for one reason: IYO SKY didn’t advance to the Chamber.
- Latest WWE Vault content includes an unseen match between AJ Styles and Johnny Gargano from France in 2024, the 2013 Elimination Chamber match, the World Heavyweight title Elimination Chamber match from 2010, and the Coliseum Home Video release Terminators ‘96 featuring Shawn Michaels & Diesel vs. British Bulldog & Yokozuna and Bret Hart vs. The Undertaker.
AEW & Other Wrestling
- Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed in a press release that they have received a revised proposal from Paramount Skydance. Later on Tuesday, the WBD board said that Paramount’s new offer ‘could’ be better than the current Netflix offer but hasn’t made that determination yet.
- The New York Post has a profile on MJF.
- Christopher Daniels on social media reflected on the recent anniversary of ROH’s first show, where he headlined with Bryan Danielson and Low Ki in the main event: “Happy birthday @ringofhonor. Very proud of the match we put on that night, and proud to have shared the ring as often as I did with @bryandanielson & @OneWorldWarrior!”
- Mercedes Mone will be part of the upcoming new season of Bar Rescue on Paramount Network.
- Jeff Hardy will be performing at the Louder than Life festival this September.
- Valiente Jr. was off this morning’s NJPW show due to a knee injury.
- The Atlanta Falcons reposted Hacksaw Jim Duggan showing off a paycheck from them back in 1977.
Bryan Rose
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.