Daily Update: Vince McMahon, Don Frye, Ted DiBiase Jr.

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is up on the site today. Sorry for the delay but there were a number of things having to do with Christmas travel and the weather that basically cost me a full day. But it’s a very heavy issue with two major stories, one on AEW going forward business wise and the many key aspects of media rights and different ways it can go in 2027. The other is a story on Roland Bock, who had one of the most famous pro wrestling matches of the 70s with Antonio Inoki, the famed Stuttgart Massacre, and was one of the most intriguing and controversial pro wrestlers of that era.

*Where AEW stands today, and the key out of the ring and out of their hands challenges that will face them between now and the end of 2027

*AEW’s ratings growth outside the U.S. this past year

*AEW’s television ratings decline with the different factors involved

*Key aspects of the WBD sale and what it means to AEW

*What AEW didn’t do in 2025 as far as new deals that were talked about one year ago

*Estimating using different methods how many U.S. viewers AEW Dynamite really gets

*How things have changed greatly in the past year

*Business of AEW Worlds End

*Gambling odds for matches

*A look at AAA Guerra de Titanes, one of WWE’s best shows of the  year

*Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul and business numbers and record level manipulation of numbers

*Ric Flair and Mike Tyson file lawsuit against former business partner

*The life and times of Roland Bock, one of the most intriguing pro wrestling characters of the 1970s, his famous matches with Antonio Inoki, the reality of those matches, his tough guy reputation, the legendary tough guy whose career he ended and just how different pro wrestling was back then.  We go from being tortured as a child, to developing a street fighter rep, going to the Olympics in wrestling, his attempt to pioneer a promotional style that got big in Japan several years later, why his career didn’t explode in Japan and everything from wrestling bears to bulls

*Who is eligible for the 2025 Rookie of the Year award

*The most detailed look at the ratings over the past week

*Update on 2025 Arena Mexico attendance

*A look at CMLL Dream Match Night

*Ozawa talks awards

*WrestleKingdom updates

*A look at the life and career of Mark Wolf

*Rick Link goes into hospice care

*Jerry Lawler returns to WMC

*Grandson of Hawaiian pro wrestling legend is starting QB at USC, headed to a bowl game an an NFL prospect

*Ticket sales to upcoming WWE,AEW and TNA shows

*Lots of AEW news notes

*Jim Ross responds to DVon Dudley

*Updates on multiple lawsuits against TKO and judges concerns about evidence in two different cases

*WrestleMania ticket sales as well as the next two AEW PPV sales

This Week’s Back Issue

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Monday Update

— Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, talking about information that came out today regarding the WWE sale and memos that are in evidence, William Regal and Kenny Omega, Anthony Joshua, Don Frye, Stardom and much more.

— Brandon Thurston at Post Wrestling ran a story here, and it’s a must read. Among the key points were that the very day a family member convinced Vince McMahon to resign, Mark Shapiro had already laid out a scenario about Vince laying low and selling the company to Endeavor. They also show communication with McMahon, after he was out of the company, in contact with Ari Emanuel before he came back with the idea of putting it for sale to the best bidder. The lawsuit is that the plaintiffs are claiming WWE didn’t get the best deal but took the deal that would assure Vince McMahon stayed in power. Of course he didn’t stay in power. But there was information Liberty Media and KKR were working on a bid, but never finished nor obtained enough information from WWE to finalize an offer. There was also confirmation McMahon was involved  in the decision for Roman Reigns to beat Cody Rhodes at WM 39, although we knew that at the time, but this article did have confirmation of that with McMahon asking Nick Khan if they had told Rhodes and Reigns the new finish.

— Don Frye was hospitalized for three weeks recently with heart issues which he talked about  in a video. He noted that both Gary Goodridge and his daughter essentially forced him to go to the hospital.

— Raw tonight if from Orlando. They were close to sold out with almost 11,000 tickets out this morning. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the women’s title and Dragon Lee & AJ Styles face The Usos for the tag titles. Rey Mysterio has a singles match with Austin Theory.

— CMLL had a big weekend, selling out Arena Mexico in advance on Friday, Arena Coliseo on Saturday, Arena Mexico yesterday and Puebla today.  Much of that is holiday related as Sunday in particular always does well this time of year as last year they drew 10,000 for the similar show and that’s double or more of  usual Sunday. But still, it shows how hot the company is and the Christmas week that they sold out and were headed toward a sellout midweek before the lineup was even announced.  Pueblia  was sold out to the point they didn’t even open the box office today. Both Mistico on Friday and Atlantis Jr. on Saturday gave speeches to the fans during the show thanking them for the company having a great year, basically a rah-rah thing. Templario & Titan vs. Difunto & Hechicero headline the final Arena Mexico show of the year tomorrow.

— We’re looking for your thoughts on Worlds End, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]. We are also looking for your thoughts on both the best match overall of the Continental Classic tournament and  MVP of the tournament.

— The trial of Ted DiBiase Jr. on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud and two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds as well as four counts of money laundering will begin this coming Tuesday. This is regarding misappropriations of Mississippi money geared toward the needy for his own personal use. This was a heavily publicized news story because some of the money was diverted to NFL great Brett Favre.

— Stardom sold out Sumo Hall in Tokyo with 6,563 fans today for Stardom Dream Queendom. It was said to be a great show with Saya Kamitani retaining her World of Stardom title over Saori Anou in the main event with a revolution Star crusher. Kamitani will next defend the title against Starlight Kid.

— Most of the WWE content on Peacock will be taken down on Thursday. What will remain is Smackdown, Saturday Night’s Main Event and NXT major shows. All the territorial stuff will be gone.

— We’re also looking for reports from these WWE house shows:

  • Friday night in Baltimore
  • Saturday night in Pittsburgh
  • Sunday night in Jacksonville, FL
  • Sunday night in Rochester, NY
  • Tomorrow night in Detroit
  • Tomorrow night in Estero, FL

We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]

— Stardom has announced American Dream 2026 in Vegas. They will be doing a show over Mania weekend in Las Vegas. More details to come.

— UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall confirmed he needed surgery on both eyes. He said he had one already and the second surgery will be in mid-January. His eyes were poked which caused a premature ending of his title defense with Cyril Gane a few months back and there is no time as to when he’ll be able to return.

— The movie “Night Patrol,” a horror movie that features CM Punk, will be released in theaters on 1/16.  The movie is about a Los Angeles Police Department officer having to put aside his differences with the area’s street gangs when he finds a local police task force is harboring a horrific secret that endangers the residents of the housing projects he grew up in.

— Nikki Bella, who grew up in Scottsdale, AZ, will be the Grand Marshal for the 53rd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade in the city that takes place on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Central Phoenix.

— Awesome Championship Wrestling on Saturday night in Poughkeepsie, NY at the Mid Hudson Civic Center has Matt Cardona vs. Mike Santana, Indi Hartwell vs. Shotzi Blackheart and Zack Clayton vs. Real One (Enzo Amroe), plus Tommy Dreamer, The Righteous, Crowbar, Joey Janels, Jordan Oliver and a Rumble match.

— Masked Republic has announced 1/24 in Laredo, TX, 1/25 in San Antonio and 1/31 in Loveland, CO and 2/1 in Denver with LA Park vs. Pirata Morgan and Sam Adonis vs. Tinieblas Jr.  El Hijo de Rey Misterio is also on the tour.

— Tomorrow’s WWE show in Estero, FL has CM Punk vs. Bronson Reed for the WWE title, Kabuki Warriors vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss for the tag titles.  Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre will headline Detroit tomorrow night.

— NXT is still a taped show tomorrow with Ethan Page vs. Moose for the North American title, Jacy Jayne vs. Wren Sinclair non-title, Ricky Saints vs. Je-Von Evans,  Lexis King vs. Tavion Heights in the Speed tournament and Bronco Nima & Lucien Price vs. Ricky Smokes & Brad Baylor and a Joe Hendry concert.

— In yesterday’s update we noted a sold out show in Cordoba Mexico on Saturday and noted Mascara Dorada listed in the main event but he couldn’t have been there because he was in Chicago for  Worlds Collide. In fact, it was Templario who teamed with Mistico & Rey Pegasus vs. Averno & Euforia & Jaque Mate Jr.

— I will be featured as a guest on tomorrow’s Denise Salcedo show.

— Justin Roberts, the AEW ring announcer turned 46 today.  Dr. Sam Sheppard, the inventor of the mandible claw and the subject of the TV show “The Fugitive” which was one of the biggest shows of its era, was born on this day 102 years ago. Steve Williams passed away 16 years ago today at the age of 49. The Amazing Zuma passed away four years ago today at 85. Killer Khan passed away two years ago today at 77. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Defy from last night in Los Angeles:  El Primohenio won over El Mexica, Alan Angels and Chris Nasty, Starboy  Charlie b Royce Isaacs, Brittnie Brooks b Johnnie Robbie, Kiren Grey b Steven Borden Jr., Judas Icarus & Travis Williams retained the Defy tag titles over Sonico & Fatal, Viva Van b La Vipress, Bryan Keith b Timothy Thatcher to retain the Defy title. (thanks to Matt Farmer)

— Sting was at the show last night to watch his son wrestle. He talked to some of the talent by the ring before the show and watched it from the production booth.

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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.