Daily Update: Tony Khan on Vince Russo & Coach’s podcast, Taka Michinoku

Tony Khan | AEW
Tony Khan speaks during the AEW Revolution 2026 media scrum.

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed update on the Janel Grant case, with her new filing and claims, a look at those claims in detail, what is net for the case, the key thing regarding the future of the case and why it really comes down to the judges ruling, and timeline for all of this. We cover new cais and the arguments for and against binding arbitration or continuing the civil case.
  • Update on WrestleMania, the card as of this point, reasons for some of the new matches, when matches changed and why, as well as the business for the show, how far behind are ticket sales and interest in the show as compared to the same period last year.
  • Chris Jericho returns to AEW and as much detail as we have on the decision
  • AEW Dynasty update and updated major event ticket sales
  • The death of J Robinson, a college coaching legend and his connections with a number of key figures in pro wrestling, including the recruiting of Brock Lesnar by WWE and the politics behind why WWE waited an extra year to offer him a deal.
  • The most detailed look at the television ratings for all the pro wrestling shows this past week, including competition, comparisons with one year back, Raw vs. Dynamite and how close it has become, and more.
  • It’s CMLL tournament of champions month starting this week
  • Anniversary shows at Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo this week including a look back at the first show in each building
  • A look at the four title match show at ArenaMexico on Tuesday
  • A super hot match to watch on AAA
  • A look at Stardom’s biggest stipulation of the year and Yokohama Arena show
  • Current Tiger Mask retires
  • Best of the Super Junior tournament update
  • Largest crowd of the year for women’s wrestling in Japan
  • Hodge trophy winner looked at
  • Maple Leaf Wrestling announces new TV deal and a look at the weekend shows
  • Stabbing at a pro wrestling show
  • Very interesting political match will take place with TNA champion vs. AEW star
  • American gold medalist challenges UFC undefeated champion
  • Rebellion notes
  • Lots of injury updates and business notes
  • Wrestler complaining about AEW not booking them enough
  • Kenny Omega talks his and Kota Ibushi’s health
  • Brody King talks the chants
  • Tony Khan and his enemies
  • Kayla Harrison on why her next bantamweight fight will be her last and why she should never have fought at bantamweight to begin with
  • Crazy Dana White story
  • Will Mayweather-Pacquiao II take place and what are the issues
  • Fedor Emelianenko wants to return to combat next year
  • Nick Khan acquires TKO stock
  • Bret & Ross Hart talk Badnews Allen in WWE Hall of Fame

This Week’s Back Issue

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Monday Update

Taka Michinoku
Taka Michinoku

— Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, Pat McAfee, Thursday ratings, WrestleMania, Best of the Super Juniors, Wrestling Dontaku, Sakura Genesis and more tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio.

— Paramount Skydance just received nearly $24 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia ($10 billion), Qatar and Abu Dhabi as reported today by the Wall Street Journal. This money was needed for the $111 billion purchase of WBD. They are now hopeful the deal closes by the end of July.

— WWE will announce what matches for WrestleMania will be on Saturday and what matches on Sunday on ESPN’s Get UP show at 9:35 a.m. tomorrow.

— The Hulk Hogan Netflix documentary will be released on 4/22. The trailer came out today featuring an interview with Hogan shortly before his death. Linda Hogan, Jimmy Hart and Kevin Nash were among those talked with for the documentary.

— For Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka on 5/3, Yota Tsuji faces Gabe Kidd for the global titel, Ren Narita vs. Oleg Boltin for the Never title, Aaron Wolf vs. Don Fale and Konosuke Takeshita & Shota Umino vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens. For 5/4, Callum Newman defends the IWGP title against Shingo Takagi, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi & Boltin defend the trios titles against Will Ospreay & Great O’Khan & Henare, Takeshita vs. Owens for the TV title and Mistico & El Desperado vs. Ichiban Sweet Boys.

— Raw tonight is from Houston with Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh, LA Knight vs Austin Theory, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs. Michin & B-Fab and CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rllins, Gunther, Jade Cargill and others are on the show. They had 12,673 tickets out earlier today.

— We’re looking for live reports from the show with any matches not on the Netflix show to [email protected]

— There isn’t really a lot to take out of the Thursday night ratings. AEW did not carry their audience gains over to Thursday and did a number lower than they’ve been doing on a more competitive Saturday. They did 373,000 viewers and 0.07 in 18-49. TNA in its regular time slot on AMC did 200,000 viewers, down about 20-23 percent from recent weeks, but stayed even at 0.05 in 18-49.

— MJF and Pat Buck did an angle Saturday night at the WrestlePro show in Rahway, NJ, to build to a match between the two on 5/31. Among those who wrestled on Saturday’s show were Scotty 2 Hotty and son Keagan Garland, Lady Frost, Dan Maff, Gates of Agony, Ricochet (beating Sidney Akeem) and Anthony Bowens beating Max Caster.

— We’re looking for your thoughts on NXT Stand & Deliver and NJPW Sakura Genesis, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from each show to [email protected]

— Taka Michinoku was involved in an auto accident. He was coming home after a match and a car crashed into him. The airbag deployed and he took a hard hit to the face and was bleeding. An ambulance was called. His car was damaged enough that it didn’t work. He later said he suffered a concussion but he wrestled the next night.

— Tom Aspinall confirmed that he still hasn’t been cleared to start sparring after the eye pokes in his fight with Cyril Gane in November.

— Tony Khan will be appearing on Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo’s podcast tomorrow.

— Puebla tonight sold out hours ago with a main event of Mistico & Mascara Dorada & Atlantis Jr. vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Gran Guerrero & BlackTiger plus Templario & Esfinge vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja.

— There will be a 1980s wrestling convention in Parsippany, NJ at the PAL on 5/16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Names appearing are Jake Roberts, Ted DiBiase, Mil Mascaras, Koko B.Ware, Wendi Richter, Jacques & Raymond Rougeau, Brian Blair, Jim Brunzell, Demolition, Ken Patera, Tatanka, Nikita Koloff, Tito Santana, Tommy Rich, Tony Atlas, Boris Zhukov, Cheryl Roberts, Steve Keirn, Austin Idol, Johnny Rodz, Bugsy McGraw, Jimmy Valiant, Baron Von Raschke, Paul Ellering, John Laurinaitis, Dan Spivey, Jose Luis Rivera, Bill Apter and more.

— VICE ran a story on celebrities who are wrestling fans, listing Margot Kidder, Danielle Fishel, Vanesse Hudgens, Timothee Chalamet, Freddy Prinze Jr., Matthew McConaughey, and Cardi B.

— Brian Adias turned 66 today. Hall of Fame promoter Johnny Doyle, a longtime partner of Jim Barnett, was born on this day in 1909. Pampero Firpo was born on this day in 1930. Peter Maivia was born on this day in 1937. Dr. Sam Sheppard, famous for the TV series The Fugitive, who later became a pro wrestler and invented the mandible claws that Mick Foley and Bray Wyatt used, died 56 years ago today at the age of 46. Roberto Cruz aka El Solitario, one of the five biggest stars in Lucha Libre history, died 40 years ago today at the age of 39. Jack Veneno, the biggest star ever in the Dominican Republic and a national hero for his NWA title win over Ric Flair, died five years ago today at the age of 79.

— Lady Frost debuts in AIW on 5/15 in Cleveland at the Globe Iron.

— There will be a press conference at the Palladium Theater in New York on 4/15 for both the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano show on Netflix and the 4/17 Alycia Baumgardner vs. Bo Me Re Shin boxing match at the Theater in Madison Square Garden which will be the ESPN debut of MVPW, Jake Paul’s women’s boxing promotion.

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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.