Daily Update: Swerve Strickland, ratings, Gable Steveson

Daily Update
Latest Headlines
- AEW star stuck in United Kingdom following Forbidden Door
- Intercontinental title to be defended on WWE Raw next week
- New match confirmed for WWE Clash in Paris
- WWE gives update on vacant Women’s World Championship
- AEW launching new merchandise collaboration
Latest Audio
- WOL: Bryan and Tom on Raja and Syko Stu, weekend news
- WOR: Forbidden Door, Heatwave, Raja Jackson, more
Latest YouTube Video
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
*The most detailed coverage of the WWE’s deal with ESPN starting early, why the different moves were made by all sides, the costs, more details on Wrestlepalooza, the embarrassment to sports journalism that ESPN has been and emphasized this week, how WWE benefits and doesn’t from the changes,and more.
*Will Ospreay, his neck issues, comparisons with other major stars and their serious problems, and his future.
*More questions regarding the death of Hulk Hogan.
*A look at Forbidden Door and the card, AEW injury rate ,NXT Heatwave, WWE Clash in Paris, France attendance record and more.
*Full coverage of TripleMania, lots of behind the scenes stuff, why the next show is where it is and when it is, what Nick Khan told AAA talent, records set and a record claimed that was so far from accurate, actual viewer numbers for each match and more.
*A look at The G-1 Climax tournament, the booking, the business, Konosuke Takeshita, new record set and upcoming book New Japan bouts.
*Real attendance figures for WrestleMania in Las Vegas and stats on who traveled for the show vs. who lived in Las Vegas and bought tickets,
*Full coverage of UFC 319, business, Chimaev and his future.
*Dragon Gate’s Dangerous Gate 2025 show
*The most detailed look at the ratings for all pro wrestling and MMA shows this past week, including weekly standings, nightly standings, head-to-head shows, segment numbers and more notes.
*Details of another big CMLL week
*Stardom Five Star Grand Prix update
*Kents vs. Marufuji
*Women’s legends show packs Korakuen Hall
*Cauliflower Alley Club awards
*Man who claims to have saved Scott Steiner’s life.
*Wrestler charged with murdering a neighbor in a brawl
*Sami Callihan retires
*Lots of thoughts on Chris Jerich as a free agent
*Tony Khan media call
*Unionizing wrestlers
*Ticket advances for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA shows.
*Dana White talks Jon Jones
*Sean Strickland suspended.
*PFL crowns new world champions.
*The farce that is Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis.
*Gable Steveson’s MMA debut.
*BJ Penn back in court.
*Time changes for a lot of the WWE TV shows over the next month.
*High level athletes being recruited by WWE.
*Rhodes talks about leaving AEW.
*Bronson Reed talks about his injury.
This Week’s Back Issue
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Monday Update

–Bryan and I will be up tonight talking Raw and all the wrestling news and MMA news at dave@wrestlingobserver.com
–Swerve Strickland will be undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday. He announced it last night as his rap/stage show after the card in London. (thanks to Markus Gronemann)
–We don’t have the U.S. ratings for Smackdown yet, but should have them for tonight’s show. We do have Netflix rankings of the show from the first day of airing. Australia was No. 3, same as last week. India was No. 2, up from 5 the prior week. New Zealand was 3, same as last week. Saudi Arabia was No. 1, up from two. U.K. (where the show aired at a reasonable time since it was in Dublin) was No. 1, up from two. John Cena being on the show likely helped as well.
–Raw was already held today in Birmingham, England. It was a legit sellout.
Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh
Penta vs. Kofi Kingston
Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez
AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor
LA Knight vs. Bron Breakker
–The WWE world women’s title held by Naomi will be put up in a match with Stephanie Vaquer against an opponent who will be announced next week. Not sure yet if that will be saved for 9/20, since that is a major priority show from Indianapolis, or put on Raw right away to fill the vacancy but we’ll try and find out.
–We’re looking for your thoughts on AEW Forbidden Door and NXT Heatwave. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
–Also we are looking for reports from these shows:
*WWE house show yesterday in Newcastle, UK
*Raw tonight in Birmingham (anything not on the live show)
*WWE house show tomorrow in Manchester, UK
*WWE house show Wednesday in Cardiff, Wales
*WWE house show Thursday in Leeds, UK
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to dave@wrestlingobserver.com
–As expected, WWE has pulled all affiliation with Knokx Pro Wrestling and the school that was listed as an official WWEID school. This came due to the incident with Raja Jackson and Stuart Smith (Syco Stu) from Saturday night in Sun Valley, CA, and the horrific beating that probably many if not most of you are aware of. The last word was that Smith was still hospitalized in critical care and he is responsive. WWE stopped listing them as an affiliated school and Knokx Pro removed the WWE affiliation from all of its social media
–Gable Steveson was to face submission expert Craig Jones in the main event of Craig Jones Invitational grappling shows this weekend in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center. Steveson pulled out today with the promotion saying it was because of turf toe. Steveson is still scheduled to make his debut in MMA on 9/12 in Prior Liae, MN for the LFA against Braden Peterson.
–Sami Zayn and Pac went to the Newcastle vs. Liverpool soccer game together and were shown on camera.
–Real American Freestyle debuts Saturday in Cleveland. They announced a tribute to Hulk Hogan with Nick and Hogan’s wife Sky Daily. Kurt Angle, Chael Sonnen and Bubba Jenkins will be announcing and they announced appearing at the show will be Julianna Pena, Holly Holm, Uriah Faber, Mark Coleman, Tito Ortiz and Clay Guida. It will stream live on Fox Nation.
–Nettflix House, an attraction at the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia, will have a series of attractions related to its programming, including a WWE featured attraction.
–Killer Kross vs. Calvin Tankman was announced for Defy on 9/19 in Seattle at Washington Hall. Clark Connors also has an open challenge to defend his Defy title on that show.
–WrestleMania On Location Hospitality Packages are on sale 9/5.
–Among birthdays today are Steve Regal (the AWA/Indiana wrestler not Lord William) who is 74, The Grappler Lynn Denton is 67, Bronson Reed is 37 and Kylie Rae is 33.
–Ultimo Guerrero vs. Esfinge in an Opera Cup first round match was announced for the 9/13 MLW show in North Richland Hills, TX.