Daily Update: Tony Khan, Zaria, Shotzi Blackheart

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Notes from the new issue which apparently has been the talk of the social media wrestling world:

  • Seth Rollins injury and how this will lead to numerous changes in booking plans, including what was scheduled short and long-term for Rollins through Mania and after.
  • Full coverage of Crown Jewel, business notes and match coverage
  • The Media Ratings Council has questions about the new numbers
  • Just how far Smackdown has dropped with younger viewers based on the new sampling and NXT isn’t much different, nor is AEW
  • Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP title, a look at King of Prm Wrestling, WrestleKingdom, first thoughts on Aaron Wolf, and the angles on the show
  • WrestleDream preview, business notes, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City needs the entire show revamped
  • Odds for upcoming big matches
  • TNA Bound for Glory notes
  • A detailed story on WWE cuts focusing on Ridge Holland and Wes Lee
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH at Sumo Hall
  • A huge story on the 2025 Hall of Fame U.S. & Canada candidates
  • What the awards voting over the last 45 years says about those who fare better not in than those who are in.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling shows of the past week
  • It’s women’s month at Arena Mexico but one person is still the star, a look at the recent main events
  • A look at two PPV shows from Arena Mexico coming
  • Who is the obvious choice for tag team of the year that nobody is talking about
  • Best of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Japanese referee dies in bear attack
  • Update on Smashing Machine business
  • They named a bridge after Stu Hart and more notes
  • NFL star copying Ric Flair
  • Fantastica Mania UK
  • The Andrade situation
  • Lots of background details on similar stories
  • Kota Ibushi update
  • Notes on Chris Jericho and Britt Baker
  • Darby Allin talks about the cancers that used to be in AEW
  • Update on a training camp for AEW in Asheville, NC
  • Rematch of a match of the year candidate coming to AEW show in Edinburg, TX
  • Updates on YouTube numbers for September
  • Debate over the new and old Ali Act
  • Details on Zuffa Boxing deals
  • How much UFC makes in profit per Saturday show
  • New UFC fights
  • Sad BJ Penn story
  • Stories on fighters getting screwed by promoters
  • Ticket demand for John Cena’s last show
  • New WWE hire, usage of AI for wrestling storylines and some are worried about their jobs
  • AJ Styles talks retiring
  • WWE injury updates

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Ricky Saints & Trick Williams contract signing and brawl from NXT last night.
  • NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne was a guest on Busted Open Radio today.
  • Zaria reflected on the one-year anniversary of her NXT debut and looked ahead to her Women’s North American Championship match against Blake Monroe at Halloween Havoc:
    • 1 Year ago today I debuted in WWE. It’s gone by so quickly that it all feels like a dream. I’ve accomplished more than I thought I would in just a year. Iron Survivor, ladder match at Stand and Deliver, tag championship match at Evolution, debuting on Smackdown and now I get to have my first singles championship match at Halloween Havoc. 
    • A championship that belongs to my partner [Sol Ruca]. Someone that has played such a big role in my growth this past year. The friendship that was so unexpected yet the bond is unbreakable. Stepping into a WWE ring for the first time at Halloween Havoc was such a definitive moment for me and now defending the NA Championship for Sol, is a definitive moment for ZaRuca. This moment means everything to me. I won’t let you down
  • JC Mateo posted a photo with TNA’s Chris Bey, who continues to progress in his recovery after suffering a broken neck last year:
    • No excuses, this man is a literal example of that. So happy to have run into him and see first hand his progress. If you think you can’t do it, don’t listen to me, look at this man and follow his example. Keep going forward kid!
  • Nikki Bella shared a video of her son attending Monday’s Raw with her.
  • To promote tonight’s New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA game, ESPN created a WrestleMania 28-inspired poster with stars Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell in the places of The Rock and John Cena.

Other Wrestling

  • Superstar Crossover asked Tony Khan what he believes John Cena’s legacy will be in wrestling:
    • John Cena’s absolutely a legendary pro wrestler who came into the space and became a huge star very quickly on television because he has so much charisma and he’s one of the hardest working people as far as I know in pro wrestling.
    • I’ve never actually met John Cena. I have a ton of respect for him as a wrestler. He seems like a wonderful person. Everybody I know that’s worked with John Cena has only the very, very best things to say about him. And he’s known for being the utmost professional.
    • I think he’s also a very, very talented actor. I’m a huge fan of the Peacemaker show on HBO Max…
    • I think that he’s absolutely fantastic in the ring. And he seems fantastic out of the ring. Certainly on screen, one of the all-time greats. And he came into the wrestling business after many of the top stars were either getting ready to retire or entering the final phase of their career and he really stepped up as one of the biggest wrestling stars of all time. Even though I’ve never met him or talked to him, I have a ton of respect for him.
  • Khan told amNewYork that he’s interested in taking AEW to more new markets internationally:
    • We built a lot. It’s been six years of AEW, and again, it feels like we started just yesterday. I’m very interested in taking AEW and visiting more of Europe. I think there are more opportunities there. We’ve had great shows in the UK, particularly with shows in London. We’ve set records at Wembley Stadium, and we’ve had great events in Cardiff, Wales. And I’m really excited about this year taking AEW to Manchester for the first time. I think there’s more opportunities there internationally, for AEW…I think that’s very attractive, just international expansion.
  • TNA Wrestling has entered into a partnership with ticketing company Tixr:
    • TNA Wrestling today confirmed a long-term partnership with Tixr, a global technology leader modernising ticketing and live event commerce, to be an official sponsor and ticket provider for future TNA live events.
    • The TNA/Tixr partnership kicks off in November, when TNA presents three consecutive nights of live, intense, action-packed pro wrestling at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 13-15.
  • NJPW’s English-language website posted an interview with Konosuke Takeshita.
  • Shotzi Blackheart told TV Insider that MLW has been her favorite place to work after her departure from WWE:
    • MLW has honestly been my favorite place to work for right now. It kind of reminds me of my first year at NXT. When I got to NXT, Hunter [Triple H] really got me. They gave me the opportunity to host Halloween Havoc and really let me be me and my character and really understood me. MLW really understands the ‘Ballsy Badass.’ I came in and every creative thing they have given me, they totally get my character. From promos to giving me my ‘Graveyard Shift’ talking segment. Just letting me be myself and understanding my character. MLW gets me. It’s a breath of fresh air to be somewhere where someone enjoys your character and appreciates what I bring to the table and highlights it.
  • Shotzi noted that, if WWE contacted her to return, it’s not something she would want to do at the moment:
    • Right now, I can genuinely say if WWE offered me another contract I’d be like, ‘call me back in six months.’ Ask me again in six months because I’m just having so much fun right now. I feel like I’m growing so much as a performer, an in-ring wrestler and a ring leader. I don’t want to stop that right now. I’m learning so much about myself. I don’t trust I would be able to do that there. I just want to develop myself and regain all my confidence and just have a good time right now and not rush back. 
  • House of Glory Wrestling has announced Scarlett Bordeaux & Shotzi vs. Priscilla Kelly & Allie Katch for its November 15 Superclash event in Brentwood, New York.
  • Ric Flair was a guest on the Games with Names podcast with New England Patriots legend Julian Edelman. They looked back at Flair’s 1989 Chi-Town Rumble classic against Ricky Steamboat.
  • SoCal Val interviewed Lisa Marie Varon (the former Victoria/Tara) for WrestlingNewsCo.
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