Daily Update: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, CMLL Sin Salida, Johnny Legend

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Okada

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Friday Update

— We did our weekly show with Garrett Gonzales today talking about the lead story in the current issue with some thoughts from the different discovery that was unearthed in the Brandon Thurston story, talked Wrestle Kingdom and Tanahashi, answered questions, AEW television and business, WWE in 2026, and other stuff. Bryan and I will be back Sunday talking about Wrestle Kingdom and Sin Salida, as well as the rest of the weekend work.

— The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site today:

*Polls on Worlds End plus Continental Classic MVP and best match polls.

*The story of the WWE/UFC merger and Vince McMahon’s resignation, how real was it, the big unanswered question about the WWE Board of Directors, lots of Discovery information in the shareholders lawsuit against WWE, McMahon, TKO, Nick Khan and others, things behind the scenes about the merger, and the change in plans prior to the 2023 WrestleMania in more detail than ever before.

*Full coverage of AEW Worlds End and business notes on the show

*The retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Tokyo Dome show

*The record setting 2025 at Arena Mexico and biggest attendance week in the 92 years of CMLL, a look at the last week as well as how many Americans are at the shows.

*The few times in history that a company sold out a major arena three times in the same week.

*A look at the  Stardom Dream Queendom show

*Pro Wrestling NOAH hosts the first major show of 2026

*Weekly ods

*2026 Observer award ballot

*Most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week.

*Weedings and engagements in pro wrestling this past week

*All Japan has its best match of 2025

*William Regal and others talk about neck injuries in pro wrestling and our thoughts on it as well as the reaction of some

*Who had the most great matches in 2025

*How Eric Bischoff’s new promotion is similar to Sam Muchnick starting out as a promoter

*Company does a  Vince McMahon/Janel Grant angle on its TV show

*AEW business partner delisted

*Tony Khan talks a ton of different subjects

*Top merch sellers in US outside of WWE

*Tom Aspinall update

*Don Frye talks health issues

*Lots of injury updates

— The Tokyo Dome attendance tomorrow night as far as actual tickets sold is right at 45,000 right now. There are no seats available nor have there been for some time, so paid attendance is probably not going to change.

— The Observer Awards balloting season is open right now, and this is probably the most interesting year in a long time because so many promotions had great years in 2025.  

— CMLL’s Sin Salida show tonight is sold out at Arena Mexico. CMLL has drawn 78,000 fans to its four arenas in the last eight days, the best week in its history:

  • El Hijo del Pantera & Valiente Jr. vs. Infarto & Troglodita
  • Titan vs. Yutani
  • Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja defend the New Japan Strong tag titles against The World Class Wrecking Crew, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis Jr. vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr.
  • 16 man Escape the Cage match, last man left in the cage either gets his head shaved or loses his mask:  Virus, Rey Cometa  Jr., Espiritu Negro, Cancerbero, Electrico, Coyote, Astral, Polvora, Oro Jr., Robin, Diamond, Sangre Imperiaalk El Vigia, Calavera Jr. I, Calvaera Jr. II, and Blue Shark.

— Tomorrow night’s Arena Coliseo show headlined by Mistico & Tempario vs Cavernario & Soberano Jr. is also sold out. I can’t remember ever an  Arena Coliseo show selling out a day ahead.

— AAA has already sold out its next Mexico City date of 1/17 at Juan de la Barrera Gym.

— Rockabilly music icon Johnny Legend passed away. I believe he was 78.  He has a major connection to pro wrestling and was an Observer reader for decades. I met him several times at events. Born Martin Margulies, he was a big fan of Los Titanes en el Ring, the crazy wrestling from Argentina and founded Incredibly Strange Wrestling in San Francisco, which was based on that promotion.  He was a performer in music who heavily copied Fred Blassie and Gorgeous George,and was friends with Blassie and did a number of projects with him. He hung out with him regularly on the beach in Santa Monica  He wrote and produced the cult song “Pencil Neck Geek” that Blassie sang. He founded the Fred Blassie Fan Club with figurehead president Jay North, the original Dennis the Menace of TV fame. One of my best friends in high school played in his band for years.  He also co-directed the film  “My Breakfast with Blassie” with Blassie and Andy Kaufman and was also in the 1999 movie “Man on the Moon.” He was also a major Roller Derby and Roller Games fan. His sister Lynne was the longtime partner of Kaufman.

–Netflix will be adding WWE programming in France and Belgium starting today as their domestic television deals expire.  

— That also means the end of the iconic French announcing team of Christophe Agius and Philippe Chereau, who had been announcing WWE in France for 26 years. Aguis will continue on Netflix with Nadir Mohammedi, but at Monday’s Raw on television, Agius and Chereau did a three minute emotional farewell to viewers. But they will have a 15 minute weekly talk show on French television on their memories of announcing wrestling. (thanks to Tony Bonin)

 — SmackDown on 12/26 was the top rated show on television with 1,138,000 viewers and a 0.27 in 18-49. It was way up from the prior week that was hurt badly by college football as well as Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua. We’ll have more in next week’s issue.

— The first three-hour SmackDown show in months is tonight in Buffalo with Damien Priest vs. Aleister Black in an ambulance match and Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss & Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend & Asuka & Kairi Sane. Jordynne Grace was booked to debut on the show and Matt Cardona just returned. As of this morning there were 7,800 tickets out for the show.

–We’re looking for reports on these weekend shows:

*SmackDown tonight in Buffalo, NY (dark matches only)

*AEW tomorrow night in Arlington, TX (matches not  on the live TV show)

*WWE tomorrow night in Worcester, MA

*WWE on Sunday in Bridgeport, CT

We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

— We’re doing our weekend poll on Wrestle Kingdom at the Tokyo  Dome. The show starts at 1:30 a.m. tomorrow night Eastern time and 10:30 p.m. Pacific time featuring Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita vs. Yota Tsuji to unify the IWGP world title and Global title.

— Much of the UFC fight library has been moved to Paramount. I believe the entire UFC library will be on Paramount this year.

— Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber will headlined the RAF show on 2/28 in Tempe, AZ. Also announced is Muhammad Mokaev vs Bryce Meredith in another battle of UFC fighters.

— Joey Janela vs. Chris Masters headlines GCW on 2/24 in Los Angeles at the UCC.

—  Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker has been added to  the 4/11 UFC 327 show in Miami.

— Ulka Sasaki, a former UFC and Rizin fighter who is with Pro Wrestling NOAH, will be doing a U.S. excursion. He’s leaving after his last match on 1/11 at Korakuen Hall against KENTA.  Yoshiki Inamura defends the GHC title against Masa Kitamiya on that show.

— Zilla Fatu vs. Lance Anoa’i will be on the HOG show on 2/20  in Jamaica NY.  

— TMart’s The Gathering on 7/24 in Charlotte, NC, will be honoring Ted DiBiase Sr., Rockin Robin and Cowboy Bill Watts.  Erik Watts will be there to accept the award for Cowboy.

— WAR on 1/10 in Lima, OH at the Bradfield Community Center.

— Jim Londos, the greatest drawing card pre-Hulk Hogan and some can argue the biggest ever, was born on this day in 1894. Jerry Monti, who Bay Area fans will remember, would have turned 86 today. Nell Stewart, one of the top woman stars of the 50s passed away on this day 24 years ago at 74.  ean Gene Okerlund passed away seven years ago today at 76. (thanks to Tony Richards)

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Dave Meltzer
Dave Meltzer

Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.