Daily Update: Seth Rollins update, MJF, Scott D’Amore

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the news covered in this issue:

  • Coverage of the Tokyo Dome show
  • How did the show accomplish what should have been its key goals
  • Thoughts on Aaron Wolf
  • Business notes on the show
  • Yota Tsuji and the title name change
  • The end of the Bullet Club
  • Shinsuke Nakamura and his thoughts
  • Angle with Will Ospreay
  • Records that Tanahashi set during his career
  • Tanahashi’s background
  • Notes on his last IWGP title win that wasn’t supposed to happen
  • The unique way he became a mainstream figure in a news story
  • How his career exploded from there
  • How Tanahashi differed from prior IWGP champions and how that changed who could hold that title
  • The Tanahashi era that turned around New Japan
  • A look at his record setting 13 Tokyo Dome career main events
  • Various title wins and career awards
  • 2025 Business Year in Review
  • A look at all the shows that drew 15,000 fans
  • Biggest individual draws of the year
  • Crowds of 15,000 or more by promotion and how the main companies did
  • How UFC PPV gates were
  • The biggest pro wrestling drawing card every year from 1916 to 2025
  • What wrestlers were No. 1 for the year the most years in their career
  • The 50 biggest arena draws in pro wrestling history based on the standards of their era
  • New Year Dash coverage
  • The year in matches, who had the most great matches in 2025, most over the course of a career, top ten arenas of all-time and new records set in 2025 by a promotion for a year as well as for a city
  • A look at the life of Johnny Legend, a cult celebrity wrestling fan, his work with Freddie Blassie and Andy Kaufman, and his promotion, Incredibly Strange Wrestling.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings of the pro wrestling TV shows and details regarding who watches
  • Advanced ticket sales for WWE, AEW and TNA events
  • AEW stars headed to CMLL next week
  • Another Arena Mexico sellout
  • Legendary pro wrestling promoter turns 101
  • Old living wrestling personalities
  • Ted DiBiase files lawsuit
  • The Ted DiBiase Jr. case
  • A look at the career of Bob Boyer/Bobby Bold Eagle, who wrestled from 1955 to 1987
  • Documentary planned on 80s tag team
  • Notes on WrestleMania week shows
  • Update on the WBD sale
  • Former UFC champion goes for boxing world title
  • Update on the home for WWE’s library
  • Plans for TV shows this month
  • How much Dwayne Johnson has made from the WWE contract he signed two years ago
  • Those added to WWE, those leaving, those injured and those they are interested in
  • How the Holiday week house shows did
  • Why WWE’s weekly  audience on Netflix should go up close to 12 percent over the next three months.

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • While speaking with Complex News, Seth Rollins gave an update on his recovery from shoulder surgery:
    • It’s coming along. Yeah, it’s coming along. I had surgery almost three months ago now. I can do most normal things like wash my hair and scratch my armpit and all those things. So, it’s good. Still got time. I don’t know exactly when we’re going to come back, but I’m making progress in the right direction.
  • R-Truth told TV Insider that he thinks the existence of “WWE: Unreal” shows how much the industry is adapting to the times:
    • I know everyone has different takes and different views on it. My thought, like everything else, was, like, cool. I wasn’t pro Unreal or anti-Unreal. I wasn’t against it or for it. I think it shows how much the business is growing, adapting, and excelling into things we’ve never seen before. That’s a good thing. We have to adapt. It’s about trying new and different things, whether it’s inside or outside the box. I’m just here to play the hand.
  • BBC Scotland briefly interviewed new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
  • Jade Cargill attended the premiere of Netflix’s movie “The Rip” in New York City.
  • Kendal Grey appeared on Busted Open After Dark following NXT last night.
  • Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada had a meeting with WWE President Nick Khan: “It was a pleasure meeting with @WWE President Nick Khan who happens to be a former student of mine @UNLV.”

Other Wrestling

  • MJF named Steve Austin as the greatest wrestler of all time (besides himself): “In my opinion. After me of course. When people talk about the greatest of all time. They should be saying Steve Austin.”
  • Limitless Wrestling promoter Randy Carver spoke to Undisputed about booking MJF vs. Alec Price for the AEW World Championship at this Friday’s Limitless Rumble event:
    • I try to never take anything off the table, but this one always felt unrealistic. Yet every year, without fail, the number one vote for the wrestler our fans wanted to see return was the same: MJF. There was a constant heartbeat among the fans that this could happen.
    • Nights like this don’t happen often, but the goalposts continue to move. There’s a beauty to the landscape of 2026 independent wrestling where nights like this can exist.
    • We’re less than 200 tickets away from selling out The Colisee in Lewiston, something that would’ve sounded ludicrous when we took this gamble for the first time. We have a dedicated team committed to making Maine a professional wrestling destination. This Friday is a major step forward for Maine professional wrestling. The possibilities are truly limitless.
  • Alex Windsor reflected on her first Stardom tour: 
    • Had the absolute time of my life, shared the ring with the greatest talent there is and saw firsthand the highest level every one of these girls work at. The kind of wrestling that I feel most at home and lights that spark. Thank you @wwr_stardom
  • Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling President Scott D’Amore has added on another wrestling role with him joining One Fall Wrestling as a co-executive producer and creative consultant. The indie promotion is owned by QT Marshall.
  • TV Insider asked Mike Santana if he could see himself crossing over into “The Walking Dead” universe now that TNA Impact is on AMC:
    • Absolutely. I read the graphic novel two years before it came out. I have been following The Walking Dead for a long time. So if I got the opportunity to do something with them it would be a huge deal. I followed Breaking Bad, that was an amazing show. There are opportunities for a lot of integration. I think it will be great for everyone involved. As far as I’ve heard, AMC executives are very happy with the reaction everything has gotten so far. This is the first time they are in the sports entertainment business and offering a platform for wrestling. It’s a good time overall. We’re excited.
  • Minoru Suzuki is taking bookings for WrestleMania week in Las Vegas this April: “Any promotions that need me at Mania Week this year please get in touch. KAZE NI NAREeee [email protected]”
  • Kurt Angle is set to appear at WrestleCon’s convention on the Friday of Mania week.
  • The “You Know I’m Right” podcast had Kacy Catanzaro (former WWE wrestler Katana Chance) on as a guest.
  • “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan is celebrating his 72nd birthday today.
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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.