Daily Update: New WWE casino game, Cam Skattebo, Shinjuku FACE

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • More on the Paramount purchase of WBD and details of when it goes through, if it goes through and details on how it helps or hurts UFC, AEW and Zuffa Boxing as well as a cost efficiency look at the three properties for 2027 if plans go through as stated.
  • The road to WrestleMania and why Paul Levesque is in a position where it’s impossible for him to do the job people want and impossible for him to fail, business notes on the show, and a look at the Elimination Chamber show, how it did on Netflix, the good and the bad.
  • Preview and updates on AEW Revolution and interest level
  • Odds on upcoming wrestling matches
  • Coverage of the New Japan New Beginning USA show in Trenton with two title changes
  • A look at the Demolition tag team as they go into the WWE Hall of Fame
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling TV shows, including demos, competition and comparisons with last year.
  • Johnny TV in the most heated match so far this year with Angel de Oro
  • Why AAA television is so entertaining
  • Stardom Cinderella tournament notes
  • Brothers face off in NOAH jr. tag tournament final
  • New Japan Cup first two days
  • Final night of Fantastica Mania notes
  • Jeff Jarrett documentary
  • Wrestler out of prison starts working on indices this week
  • Real American Freestyle angle
  • Update of the robbery of the Canadian promotion and the Davey Boy Smith Jr. Hall of Fame ring
  • John Laurinaitis wants back in to wrestling
  • 16 Carat Gold weekend in Germany
  • Pro Wrestling Eve has biggest show of its history this week
  • Brodie Lee Jr. first singles match date
  • Steph De Lander talks why she and Mance Warner quit TNA
  • Notes on David Finlay signing with AEW
  • ROH first TV tapings in a studio
  • UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight title updates
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Updates on WWE front office news and changes
  • The story behind leaking fast nationals
  • WWE accused of deleting key information in a lawsuit
  • More notes on the WWE deal with Endeavor and how it went down
  • Janel Grant speaks in favor of changing Connecticut law on NDAs
  • Bianca Belair update
  • WWE sends out unchecked email to network subscribers causing a panic
  • Next WWE media deal to be made
  • WWE injury updates
  • Nick Khan sells millions in TKO stock

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • WWE and White Hat Studios have partnered together to launch the casino game “WrestleMania: Road to Gold” that is now available through the Fanatics Casino app:
    • WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, and White Hat Studios announced the official branded slot, WrestleMania: Road to Gold, will launch exclusively with Fanatics Casino beginning today. 
    • Available only in the United States, the new online casino game for real money wagering in regulated markets will harness the star power of 20 marquee names from the WWE, including fan-favorites Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley just in time for WrestleMania 42, which will return to Las Vegas, on April 18-19, 2026.
    • The Unlock Trail gameplay takes players on a journey through WWE Premium Live Events, with progressive bonus mechanics inspired by SummerSlam, Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and Money in the Bank. Each milestone intensifies excitement and win potential before culminating in the legendary WrestleMania showdown. The action in WrestleMania: Road to Gold, is further elevated by the unmistakable voice of Michael Cole, transporting players ringside and ensuring the entire storytelling experience is underpinned by authenticity. 
    • The breadth of personalities and events integrated makes WrestleMania: Road to Gold one of the most comprehensive and immersive IP games brought to market. Drawing on more than 70 years of entertainment heritage, WrestleMania: Road to Gold is designed to capture the spirit of WWE’s iconic brand, providing WWE fans across regulated US iCasino markets with a new way to interact with the global brand.
  • On the Rich Eisen Show, New York Giants star Cam Skattebo addressed the WWE Raw appearance he made at Madison Square Garden last November, which drew some criticism from the New York media due to Skattebo getting physically involved shortly after undergoing season-ending surgery:
    • I got some plates and screws in there. I mean, at that point, it’s already screwed in and put plates on. So I felt like I was okay to do whatever I wanted to. You know, it’s not like it was going to break or anything. I was behind a wall, having a good time with my boys, teammates were out there backing me up. If something really broke down, I know I had my boys behind me that were going to start going with me.
    • It was pretty sweet. Yeah, I used to watch WWE with some family members, [with] my grandpa growing up. I actually haven’t watched it in a really long time up until this point. It was pretty cool to be a part of it.
    • Obviously John Cena was one of them [Skattebo’s favorite wrestlers]. It was actually pretty cool to work with Dom Mysterio because his dad was somebody that I kind of watched all the [time]. You know, the 619 was something we did in the house off the couches and stuff. So it was something fun for us.
  • Charlotte Flair spoke with Sports Business Journal about becoming an angel investor in Self-Care Is For Everyone, a clothing and lifestyle brand that promotes mental wellness:
    • As a female that’s approaching 40, I started thinking about what’s next for me and what feels organic and real. A lot of my career, I felt like I had to hide whether I had anxiety or mental health issues that are taboo to talk about. Whether I make money or don’t, for me right now, I’m investing in something that’s going to help other people. I hope that investing and spreading awareness really does help.
  • While doing media to promote May’s Clash in Italy PLE, Chelsea Green was asked what she would do if she were named WWE general manager for one night:
    • My first official move as general manager would be to have as many women on the card as I possibly can. And I want to mix it up. I want you to see, you know, a girl you might call a top girl wrestle someone lower on the card.
    • I want to switch things up. And I want to make sure that U.S. title has a spotlight. We’ve actually seen Giulia do amazing work with the U.S. title, but you know me, as your first, fourth, and almost final United States Women’s Champion, I want even more. I want to see more of that U.S. title. So I think that’s what I would do. You know, who cares about the boys? I care about the girlies.
  • Jade Cargill made an appearance on the Hawks AF podcast from the Atlanta Hawks.
  • The WCW YouTube channel has uploaded a three and a half hour video of Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat footage.

Other Wrestling

  • This week’s AEW Unrestricted episode is a Revolution preview featuring an interview with Konosuke Takeshita.
  • MJF had (mostly) kind words for indie wrestler “Fancy” Ryan Clancy in an interview with Undisputed:
    • I’ve had my eye on [Clancy] for quite some time now. He’s very special. A traditionalist and a minimalist bell to bell, much like myself. He’s strategic and athletic, also much like myself. Unfortunately, he’s quite ugly. But if he gets signed to a major wrestling promotion, that’s what money is for–he’ll find himself a good plastic surgeon and he could be a top guy.
  • Brian “Road Dogg” James has been announced for appearances at the Big Event Entertainment & Sports Expo in New York on March 21 and WrestleCon in Las Vegas this April.
  • Though the Shinjuku FACE wrestling venue in Tokyo will be closing at the end of September, there is hope that a new venue will be opened after the aging building it’s relocated in is rebuilt.
  • El Desperado has been announced for MLW, NJPW & CMLL’s Fantastica Mania USA event that’s being held in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12.
  • Desperado will also be competing at GCW’s The Wrld on Lucha in Las Vegas on April 17.
  • Fabian Aichner, who has not wrestled anywhere since his release from WWE in February 2025, has returned to social media after a long absence. He captioned a new Instagram post with “New chapter.”
  • Barrett Media published a feature story on the success of Busted Open Radio.
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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.