Daily Update: More WrestleMania week notes

WWE Logo
Official World Wrestling Entertainment logo.

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at  how the Pat McAfee angle developed, its goal, why so many in the company are unhappy with it, where it  is leading, addressing the biggest WrestleMania questions, what CM Punk aid, where Paul Levesque and Ari Emanuel fit in, as well as an update on WrestleMania tickets compared to last year, discount offers cutting price back and more
  • Preview to AEW Dynasty, matches and business notes as well as updates on Double or Nothing direction and business, as well as All In at Wembley Stadium.
  • Favorites for WrestleMania and Dynasty
  • Lots of business notes on WrestleMania
  • Callum Newman wins IWGP title and review of Sakura Genesis, what we learned, business, Best of the Super Juniors and Dontaku notes
  • NXT Stand & Deliver.  Match rundowns and stories as well as business notes on the show
  • Texts from Paul Levesque to Nick Khan released in discovery regarding Vince McMahon’s involvement in booking when talent was told McMahon was out and Levesques frustration at the time
  • A detailed look at TNA pulling  talent from advertised indie events that they had previously approved and a better way of handling it
  • A look at the career of 60s and 70s star Flying Fred Curry, one of the major stars of The Sheik’s heyday running Michigan and Ohio, son of Bull Curry and nine-time world tag team champion.
  • The arrest of Alberto el Patron, lots more details and his history, shows he’s been pulled from, an ironic aspect of this story n a reality show in Mexico late last year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the television shows of the past week, with  comparisons with last week, last year, demos and other stats, male vs. female percentage
  • More stats regarding the audience at Arena Mexico shows as well as a look back on a major week last week.
  • Saya Kamtani has major goal for Stardom’s big show later this month
  • Japanese television in 1985 and who were the draws
  • Ric Flair upset over WWE costing him a major merchandise deal
  • How many times was Flair world champion
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Two more possible WrestleMania card changes
  • Janel Grant lawsuit thoughts

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Thursday Update

Triple H WWE Raw

WWE

  • In a video for Variety, Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Shawn Michaels discussed how they are leading WWE into the future in their creative roles.
  • Levesque said he’s told Je’Von Evans to focus on fundamentals like punches and kicks, because there’s always going to be another young star who comes along and does things the previous generation didn’t think were possible:
    • I just had this conversation with Je’Von the other day. To say, ‘Right now, you’re the kid doing the sh*t that nobody else has ever seen before.’ Focus on punches, kicks. Focus on this other stuff. Because a year from now, there’ll be a kid doing sh*t that you’re like, ‘How’s he doing that?’ And we’ll all be going like, ‘Remember when he was doing cool sh*t? Now he’s doing the cool sh*t.’ I said, you’ve got to have all that other stuff, otherwise that quickly goes by the wayside.
  • Michaels explained why he thought it was important for Trick Williams to get experience as a heel in NXT:
    • In my mind, he hadn’t quite understood the benefits of what your heels do for you as a babyface. And I needed him to kind of jump on that other side to try to understand that now he was going to have to be that guy that certainly gets his stuff over and continues to do his stuff, but has to now make that other individual and to understand how much work and effort and psychology goes into that.
  • WWE uploaded interviews with CM Punk and Randy Orton that will air on the WrestleMania pre-show.
  • ESPN published a feature story on Paul Heyman ahead of WrestleMania.
  • Liv Morgan appeared on You Wish with Holly Madison.
  • Morgan also took part in a “10 Essentials” video for GQ.
  • At WWE World, a fan brought a full-sized real estate sign for Morgan to autograph because Morgan has expressed interest in becoming a real estate broker after wrestling.
  • WWE has a WrestleMania week vlog focused on Morgan.
  • Nightcap spoke with CM Punk, Charlotte Flair, Jacob Fatu, and more at WrestleMania radio row.
  • Charlotte Flair appeared on Up & Adams.
  • Nick Hogan toured the Hulk Hogan exhibit that’s on display at WWE World.
  • WWE stars and celebrities named their favorite moment in WrestleMania history:
    • The Usos: Yokozuna vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX
    • Cody Rhodes: Macho Man and Ms. Elizabeth reconciling at WrestleMania VII
    • Damian Priest: Triple H vs. Undertaker “end of an era” Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XXVIII
    • Jelly Roll: Hollywood Hogan vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X8
    • NBA’s Giannis Antetokounmpo: Brock Lesnar ending The Undertaker’s streak
    • NBA’s Tyrese Haliburton: John Cena winning his first World title at WrestleMania 21
    • Randy Orton: His father Bob Orton being involved in the WrestleMania I main event in Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff’s corner against Hulk Hogan & Mr. T
    • NFL’s George Kittle: Steve Austin returning to the ring at WrestleMania 38
    • Jade Cargill: Chyna betraying Kane at WrestleMania XV
    • Shawn Michaels: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III
    • The Undertaker: Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III
    • Dominik Mysterio: Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 21
    • SNL’s Michael Che: Cody Rhodes finishing his story at WrestleMania 40
  • Awful Announcing notes that, among ESPN daytime programming this week, WWE was the third-most-discussed sport:
    • Per data compiled by Awful Announcing, ESPN’s three flagship studio programs — Get Up, First Take, and The Pat McAfee Show — spent more time discussing WWE this week than MLB and the NHL combined. In total, these shows dedicated 14 segments to WWE this week, while dedicating only 7 to MLB and 5 to the NHL.
    • WWE was the third-most-discussed ‘sport’ in ESPN’s daily programming this week, behind the NBA (44 segments) and the NFL (25 segments).
    • And generally speaking, the WWE segments went much longer than those dedicated to MLB or the NHL. Across the three shows, WWE segments accounted for 104 minutes of programming, while MLB and NHL segments each accounted for 56 minutes.
  • SportsCenter aired a segment on the history of WrestleMania.
  • Roots of Fight has partnered with WWE for new Steve Austin, The Rock, and Undertaker merch.
  • WWE’s Youtube channel uploaded full video of all three matches from the Austin vs. Rock WrestleMania trilogy.
  • WWE Vault shared the public workout that was held in New York City prior to WrestleMania XI in 1995.

Other Wrestling

  • Sting posted backstage photos with Darby Allin and Allin’s newly won AEW World Championship.
  • While promoting her MMA return against Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey discussed appearing at AEW Revolution:
    • [Marina Shafir] goes out and kills it against Toni Storm and then I get to walk out and instead of being PG-rated WWE, I get to go and flick off all the fans booing me – it’s incredible, an incredible feeling.
    • It just happened to work out that it was her first pay-per-view ever. And I happened to be in town and happen to have a fight coming up.
  • During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Paul Walter Hauser promoted his WrestleMania week matches, including his bout against QT Marshall for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.
  • West Coast Pro announced that Dani Luna is unable to make it to Vegas in time for their show tonight: “Due to situations beyond our control, Dani Luna will not be in Vegas tonight. Dani Luna will be back at a later date. Senka Akatsuki will face a mystery opponent in a 5 minute exhibition match.”
Google Icon
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.