Daily Update: Paul Levesque’s contract as head of creative extended, other WWE town hall notes
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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- April 27, 2026 Observer Newsletter: WWE WrestleMania 42 review, ratings & behind the scenes news from the entire week
- What did people think of WrestleMania, the strengths and weaknesses of both shows
- Brock Lesnar
- Reigns vs. Punk
- The machinations behind the scenes and in front of the camera of Rhodes vs. Orton
- Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro and who has the final say and when it’s used
- Injuries
- Pat McAfee and Jelly roll
- The overdoing commercials
- All the business notes for the week
- TV ratings
- Netflix ratings
- Full coverage of both shows
- Coverage of other major shows over Mania week
- The Ali Act, Nick Khan, Oscar de la Hoya and the arguments before the senate
- Court filings on what percentage of revenue goes to talent in WWE
- Why the idea of a second major MMA group is very difficult even if Ronda Rousey’s fight does big numbers
- Mark Shapiro’s deposition contradicts claims on Vince McMahon regarding the UFC and WWE merger
- Life and times of Van Hammer
- Weekly wrestling odds looked at
- The most detailed look at the TV ratings for pro wrestling shows this past week with demos, segment notes and comparisons with a year ago
- CMLL tournament of champions final
- How much business is up in CMLL
- CMLL vs. MLW show next week
- Stardom has its biggest show of the year this week
- Major promotion parent company taking out sizeable loans
- Kenta Kobashi shares the ring with Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Maple Leaf Wrestling TV
- Who had the most top matches so far this year
- Alberto is wrestling again but not in the promotion that was to be built around him as they’ve washed their hands of him
- Lots of injury updates
- Double or Nothing notes
- UFC signs new overseas deal
- Mark Hunt arrested for domestic violence
- WWE headed to Saudi Arabia
- Security issues at MGM Grand for Mania week
- How much the top TKO executives earned
- How much Peacock has lost
- Ric Flair speaks
- New NXT star whose uncle was part of one of the most famous heavy metal bands
This Week’s Back Issue
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Monday Update
— Bryan and I will be back tonight to talk about Raw, Hulk Hogan, today’s WWE meeting and other pro wrestling news.
— There was a WWE Town Hall meeting today, first reported on by Post Wrestling. They announced Paul Levesque’s contract as head of creative has been extended. This was to quell a lot of speculation going around regarding his future in that position. I didn’t think there was much to that speculation as I didn’t see anyone who would replace him, and he’s popular with the talent. It was pretty clear that they are bothered by criticism of the current product and/or WrestleMania, pushing to employees by Nick Khan at the behest of Mark Shapiro, that the complaints are from a vocal minority and not to listen to social media criticism. He brought up criticism of the 2015 WrestleMania to show that it is always this way.
— Some quotes from a tape of the event Post Wrestling received:
“A number of us [TKO President] Mark [Shapiro], [TKO CFO] Andrew [Schleimer], others, were able to get Paul Levesque to extend with us in a multi-year deal,” Khan said. “We’re excited about that. He’s the head of creative amongst other things and has been doing a great job for and with us.”
Shapiro asked how WWE is addressing “concerns about over-commercialization and creative direction.”
“To me, if you make business decisions based on online sentiment, just know that you’re going to be making said decisions on a minority percentage of voices, a vocal minority,” Khan said. “Allow me to give you an example,” he said as he seemed to read online criticisms of years’ past. The comment was about Roman Reigns saying, “I can’t remember the last time the WWE Universe hated a wrestler this much. He will never work.”
The WWE President went on to recount the negative fan reaction to Reigns after his Royal Rumble 2015 win.
“When Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble in 2015, fans went to Twitter with the hashtag, #CancelWWENetwork. It trended for two days.”
Khan also read, “Why does WWE insult fans like this with a bum like Roman Reigns?”
And another, “I’m losing my mind. Why is Bad Bunny in the WWE? Bad Bunny single-handedly ruined the Royal Rumble,” a comment that seems to refer to Bad Bunny’s involvement in the 2022 Rumble.
And another, “On The Rock’s return to WWE: ‘The people don’t want the People’s Champion. The Rock came back one too many times, and now people are sick of him.’”
Next, Khan cited criticism of John Cena, continuing to frame these criticisms as unrelated to business results.
And another, “On John Cena’s retirement tour: ‘Who needs a John Cena retirement tour? Haven’t we seen enough of him? … John Cena’s retirement year was so random.”
And another on CM Punk: ‘Why would they ever return this bum to the WWE? He will never main event again.’”
“I said CM Punk, Roman Reigns, as anyone who watched it [knows], stole the show,” Khan said. “Pretty good re-signing CM Punk, who’s been a model citizen here.”
While discounting online reactions from fans, Khan also encouraged internal dialogue.
“So the most important thing is to have open dialogue. Myself, Paul, the creative team, what’s working, what’s not working, who to push, who not to push.”
— Raw tonight is from Laredo, TX. The only matches announced were Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez and Penta vs. Rusev for the IC title. Joe Hendry will be in concert. Roman Reigns will give his answer to Jacob Fatu regarding a main event title match at Backlash. Seth Rollins also appears. They had 8,246 tickets out at last word, which is like 200 shy of capacity so it’s going to be sold out.
— We’re looking for your thoughts on yesterday’s Stardom show at the Yokohama Arena, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
— Mighty John Cox, a British heavyweight from the 1960s, who wrestled the likes of Andre the Giant (when he was Jean Ferre) and had famous television matches with Billy Robinson and Kendo Nagasaki, passed away yesterday in Scotland at the age of 86.
— UFC has announced an 8/1 Fight Night show in Serbia, the first time UFC has ever run in that market.
— There is a lot of talk today that Tyson Fury will box Anthony Joshua during the fourth quarter of this year. This came from a report from Ring Magazine, Turki Alalshikh’s publication. But first, Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on 7/25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
— Was told last night’s Mistico & Neon & Mascara Dorada vs. Barbaro Cavernario & Difunto & El Clon match at Arena Mexico was great. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so behind in watching great matches that have been recommended.
— Mistico is leaving for Japan where he’ll be until 5/4. Puebla tonight airs live on the CMLL YouTube page for subscribers which is the second week in a row for that. Also Tuesday night’s Arena Mexico has Dorada & Titan (back in action) Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & Stuka Jr.
— Salvador Lutteroth confirmed running five nights a week in Mexico City during World Cup soccer season. It had already been reported they were adding Wednesday nights during that period at Arena Mexico.
— Luca Crusifino announced he was retiring after being cut Friday by WWE.
— Rey Mysterio and Rey Fenix represented WWE at the major league baseball game in Mexico City.
— Merab Dvalishvili will face Frankie Edgar on the 5/30 RAF show in Dallas.
— 39 years ago today, a very famous match took place, with Austin Idol vs Jerry Lawler hair vs. hair in a cage. This is probably the feud that put Paul Heyman on the map as a manager as well.
— Jeanine Mjoseth/Mad Maxine turns 67 today. Oleg Prudius/Vladimir Kozlov turned 57. Johnny Devine turned 52. Frank Gotch was born on this day in 1877. Kay Noble was 65 when she passed away 20 years ago today. Verne Gagne was 89 when he passed away 11 years ago today.
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.