Daily Update: Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Persephone

Cody WWE SmackDown
Cody Rhodes appears on WWE SmackDown.

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • A look back at the career of Dennis Condrey of Midnight Express fame
  • Update on WrestleMania, both the matches, business update the ticket demand at the present time
  • An updated look at AEW’s All In on 8/30 at Wembley Stadium as well as a look at the Dynasty show and ticket demand for the show
  • Coverage of El Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, CMLL’s second biggest show of the year, with El Satanico’s retirement at 76, The Death Riders appear, the heavyweight title changes hands and Mistico returns
  • A look at the NCAA Division I tournament including a look back 79 years when future pro wrestling legends dominated the heavyweight division and how it ties into the most recent tournament. We also look at the rivalry that could define college wrestling for years to come between a coach and his former pupil, a guy who was in high school in December and wins the NCAA title in March, as well business notes on the show, both attendance and television ratings
  • A look back at Sid Vicious, Badnews Allen and Dennis Rodman’s pro wrestling days
  • Trying to explain the latest controversy in television ratings and how this related to pro wrestling
  • How ratings differ from a sports survey about wrestling fans
  • The most complete look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling television shows over the past week,including competition, demos and comparisons with one year ago, as well as competition in the time slot.
  • Notes on CMLL talent coming to WrestleMania week
  • Major injury to arguably CMLL’s best worker
  • Notes on the 83rd anniversary of pro wrestling in one of its most famous arenas
  • Notes on tentative plans for a major mask vs. mask match
  • Callum Newman and Yuya Uemura tear it up in the New Japan Cup finals
  • Next major New Japan show thoughts with Ospreay’s returnh
  • Tanahashi talks goals to turn the company around
  • Kazusada Higuchi retirement notes
  • Thoughts on Satoru Sayama and his impact on pro wrestling
  • Aja Kongs 40th anniversary show
  • Gable Stevesn and RAF
  • Ted DiBiase Jr acquitted in his case
  • The end of CBS News Radio and what former WCW announcer was an anchor there
  • Notes on the announcing at the orignal When Worlds Collide AAA show
  • Lots of WrestleMania week show notes
  • FantasticaMania comes to the U.K.
  • Update on WBD sale to Paramount Skydance
  • Update on Revolution PPV buys
  • Jeff Jarrett becomes co-owner of a sports franchise
  • Jericho talks about working today
  • More on the Ali Revival Act
  • A list of a lot of PPV buy numbers for UFC
  • Ari Emanuel’s role in getting President Trump to stop the case against Ticketmaster/Live Nation.
  • WWE star training for a bodybuilding contest soon
  • Jesse Ventura rants but his timeline makes sense

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

Drew McIntyre WWE
Drew McIntyre makes his WWE entrance.

WWE

  • Cody Rhodes is featured on the cover of the March/April 2026 edition of Cigar Aficionado magazine. He discussed how pro wrestling is a much healthier place financially than it used to be: 
    • I’m blessed that it’s so much healthier now, in a sense…Everyone’s getting paid more than wrestlers were ever getting paid, which means you can take care of yourself more than every wrestler ever. You can have that great nutritionist, have that great trainer.
  • On The Nikki & Brie Show, Rhodes said there are three episodes of his “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast that will never be released because he was too drunk during the recording. They include interviews he conducted with Alexa Bliss and Big E:
    • I will apologize now. I’ve said this, so I’ll make no secret of it. I will apologize to Alexa Bliss, Big E, I’m not going to name the other one because she’ll go ham with it. But three of these episodes will never make it because of how deep those pours were.
    • It’s never their fault, it’s always my fault. I already have a lisp. So if you’re starting out that way and then you watch it, like, ‘I thought it was okay.’ It’s rough, it’s rough. So I wanted those to be better for them.
  • Drew McIntyre – who recently mourned the death of his cat Chaz – told Insight with Chris Van Vliet that he’ll never use the passing of CM Punk’s dog Larry as a way to get heat:
    • There’s one thing I never make fun of Punk for. When Larry was gone, my heart broke for him and AJ. Because those little guys are just full of love and nothing else.
  • Jacob Fatu and AEW’s Swerve Strickland were among those in attendance at this week’s training session at Nattie & TJ Wilson’s Dungeon. Nattie wrote about the four-hour practice:
    • Tonight was so fun! Another incredible week of work in The Dungeon. A four hour practice with 30 of my friends- pouring their heart, soul and SWEAT onto the mat. Energy matching energy. So proud of this group!
  • At Raw on Monday, Roman Reigns granted a Make-A-Wish by meeting a 12-year-old fan named Javion.
  • Sam Roberts has an interview with Wade Barrett.
  • Former college basketball stars The Cavinder Twins appeared on the latest episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast.
  • WWE’s YouTube channel uploaded the full John Cena vs. Rock matches from WrestleMania 28 and 29.

Other Wrestling

  • Thunder Rosa had high praise for Persephone while speaking with The Takedown on SI:
    • I’m just excited, I’m just excited for her present and for her future. That woman has worked her ass off and from many, many women that I’ve seen that came through Mission Pro, she was one of the ones who worked from the ground up to have the opportunities that she has in Mexico and in the United States.
    • And she hasn’t taken shortcuts, she keeps growing, she keeps learning and the one thing I love about her, she stays humble and she’s super professional. Something that I think is important in professional wrestling is to be professional and she’s one of those and I have so much respect for her.
  • Rosa added that she’s looking forward to an eventual match against Persephone:
    • And when the time comes for us to do this, I think it’s gonna be a banger because she’s mouthy, I’m mouthy, We have really good energy, we’re both from the border. She’s from El Paso, I’m from Tijuana, you know, so we both know what’s up.
    • Like I was saying earlier, if you were born in a border town, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. And as you can see, she was born in El Paso, she made it. I was born in Tijuana, I made it, so I know we can really, really do something amazing for everyone.
  • Shop AEW released a new Chris Jericho T-shirt and hoodie following his return.
  • Black Girl Wrestling interviewed Willow Nightingale.
  • After Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X retained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles today, they were confronted by Kosei Fujita, who issued a challenge on behalf of himself and Robbie Eagles.
  • The Sportster interviewed TNA World Champion Mike Santana.
  • Santana acknowledged yesterday being the two-year anniversary of his AEW departure:
    • 2 years ago today, I was granted my release. I put a plan together for myself and began to execute. It was the best thing I did for my life and career. 
    • Idgaf how long it was going to take but I knew I was going to get sh*t done! I’ve sacrificed too much and after everything I went thru the last few years, I had a fire burning inside that I wasn’t going to let anything extinguish. But above all, my daughter gotta eat! And that she will, by any means! 
    • 2 years later, it’s amazing to see what I’ve been able to accomplish. It’s been such an amazing ride and to think that this is just the beginning, is so exciting. 
    • Follow your heart. That sh*t never lies.
  • Lance Storm looked back on his last-ever match, which was against Matt Hardy on this day in 2016:
    • 10 years ago today I had my final match. I glad this photo is from behind, it feels like a final goodbye. Thank you @matthardybrand
  • Wrestling legend Tully Blanchard recently got married for the third time.
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Joseph Currier
Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.