Daily Update: John Cena-Cody Rhodes, The Rock, Miss Janeth

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We’ve got a giant new issue of the Observer out today covering the Cena and Santo retirements as well as all the big events from the past week:

  • John Cena and El Hijo del  Santo’s retirement shows and how they are so different
  • A look back at both’s careers and places in history
  • Where Santo went wrong
  • Key people who saved John Cena’s career
  • Why he never turned heel years ago
  • Marketing of Cena as The GOAT
  • How Cena ranks with the biggest draws in wrestling history
  • Update on WBD’s potential sales to Netflix or Paramount, what the deals entail and how this all affects AEW
  • Dwayne Johnson and his Golden Globe nomination
  • Odds for upcoming pro wrestling bouts
  • 1,000,000th fan attends CMLL pro wrestling at Arena Mexico alone. Why this has never happened before, and the absolutely staggering part of the story that nobody talks about
  • UFC 323 coverage of the last UFC show on PPV for at least seven years
  • A look at NXT Deadline
  • A look at ROH Final Battle
  • A look at TNA Final Resolution
  • A look at the career of Steve “Mr. Electricity” Regal, death of territories, the shocking win over the Road Warriors and holding world titles in the AWA and NWA in the 80s.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV shows over this past week
  • A look at major promotions joining together for different shows in 2026
  • A look at last week’s big shows at Arena Mexico, both a hell of a Friday and a big Tuesday with Bad Bunny under a Mistico mask in the front row
  • Key CMLL talent banged up
  • All Japan tag team tournament ends with a former rugby star from New Zealand and former member of the Harlem Globetrotters against each other.
  • NOAH’s big start of the year show
  • New wrestlers starting at NOAH including the brother of a UFC fighter
  • New Japan tag team tournament final standings and results
  • Big awards being announced this week
  • Actress who played Hall of Fame pro wrestler on a Netflix series wins major award for her performance
  • Where did the original star ratings in Mexico rating matches come from
  • Hulk Hogan album being re-released
  • Notes on AEW Worlds End
  • Andrade makes claims about what happened with AEW and WWE
  • Advance ticket sales for all the AEW and WWE upcoming shows
  • Lots more on Trump UFC event at the White House
  • UFC schedule
  • More on the Ali Act and attempting to change and subvert it
  • Dana White talks Francis Ngannou now that he wants to return
  • The most interest in buying tickets to a pro wrestling or UFC show in history took place this past week
  • Lots more on the two lawsuits going against Vince McMahon and WWE
  • The WWE TV schedule for this coming week
  • Big PPV main event match that fell through from earlier this year

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • On “What Do You Wanna Talk About?,” John Cena praised Cody Rhodes for his work ethic and expressed how proud he is of him:
    • I want to thank you because you are going nose-to-nose and you go as hard – in some cases harder than I can imagine. Your work ethic is aspirational. You will joust that, here is my volley – you are responsible for more than yourself. For many of these years, I was running a one-man show. And it was like, if you want to ride the wake, I’m the boat. You can get a tow and some skis, but we’re doing it my way.
    • You’re a family man. A dedicated father. A wonderful husband. You got people to support and that support you. And sometimes that helps, but, like, you are juggling so much more than I ever possibly could. So, thank you for overstaying [on the podcast episode]. You gave me another 35 minutes. It’s not lost on me. And a lot of me wanting to milk this is just, I miss my friend and I wanted a conversation with my friend. I love you, too. Thanks so much for this time. And man, you’re doing it. You’re doing it. And I’m so f*cking proud of you.
  • Sports Illustrated named IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair from WrestleMania 41 as their Match of the Year.
  • “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (61), Trish Stratus (50), and Rob Van Dam (55) are all celebrating birthdays today.
  • WWE Vault uploaded a 14-minute WWE Network documentary on the origins of Austin’s stunner.
  • WWE shared footage of John Cena’s final match filmed on a Nintendo DS.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson surprised some families at Walmart with at least $500 each for Christmas shopping, along with a year’s supply of his Papatui personal care products:
    • So I pulled up to @Walmart and surprised some beautiful families from the YMCA. 
    • Gave out a few buck$, gave out some toys and 5 Golden Tickets
    • As long as you can fit it in the cart, on the cart and it STAYS IN the cart, then you TAKE IT ALL HOME!!
    • As parents we all know, there’s no greater joy than seeing our little ones be HAPPY & SMILE! 
    • Meeting these families made my day ~ thank you everyone for being so kind and cool. 
    • From my @PapaTui_ and Walmart family to yours ~ Happy Holidays, & Merry Christmas

Other Wrestling

  • Tony Khan thanked Sports Illustrated for recognizing AEW in its year-end awards, with AEW winning the following categories:
    • Promotion of the Year: AEW
    • Female Wrestler of the Year: Mercedes Mone
    • Male Wrestler of the Year: Hangman Page
    • Tag Team of the Year: FTR
    • Best in the Ring: Will Ospreay
    • Best on the Mic: Toni Storm
    • Breakout Wrestler of the Year: Kyle Fletcher
    • Storyline of the Year: Hangman Page’s redemption arc
    • Rivalry of the Year: Hangman Page vs. Jon Moxley
    • Show of the Year: AEW Double or Nothing 2025
  • NJ.com published a story on Anthony Bowens, who discussed being able to be himself in an industry that historically was not very accepting of queer people:
    • I’m lucky that I work at a place where I can just be myself every single week. Existing successfully in a sport that historically hasn’t been very accepting of queer people is very cool. I hope it continues for others who can relate to me.
  • Iridian Fierro on WGN Radio 720 interviewed Kris Statlander.
  • Tony Schiavone, Dean Malenko, and their wives visited Beatles landmarks like Strawberry Field while AEW was in the United Kingdom.
  • Mike Santana is set to appear at the Allen Americans’ hockey game against the Tulsa Oilers in Allen, Texas this Friday.
  • Australian wrestler Adam Brooks will be an entrant in MLW Battle Riot VIII. He joins Alex Hammerstone, Karl Anderson, Killer Kross, Doc Gallows, KUSHIDA, Matthew Justice, and Paul London among the confirmed entrants for the January 29 match in Kissimmee, Florida.
  • Historian Roy Lucier announced the passing of former AAA Reina de Reinas Champion Miss Janeth. She was 52 years old.
    • Hearing from multiple sources that Miss Janeth passed away. Undefeated in apuestas (five known in her career), she won the 2006 AAA Reina de Reina’s tournament and was also AAA Reina de Reina’s champion. She was involved in a ton of the companies (AAA) hottest angles in the late 90’s. I am not aware of her cause of death, but I know her health has been horrible the last three years
  • Nixon Newell posted that she is accepting bookings for 2026: “Now accepting bookings for 2026…let’s make this year magical, shall we”
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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.