Daily Update: WWE 2K26, PWI Awards, Taka Michinoku
Daily Update
Latest News
- Report: NXT, AAA names discussed, returning star planned for WWE Royal Rumble
- Braun Strowman undergoes surgery due to ‘out of control’ infection
- Bozilla confirms torn ACL injury: ‘I’m deeply devastated’
- AEW Champion MJF says tribalism among wrestlers ‘just doesn’t exist’
- Pat McAfee reportedly expected back in WWE soon
- Logan Paul: ‘I’m a legitimate professional athlete now’
- AEW Collision draws record low 18-49 demo rating
- TNA announces signing of Bear Bronson
- AEW Dynamite ratings for January 21 episode
- Seth Rollins: When I come back, the WWE World Heavyweight title is mine
- AJ Styles files for two trademarks ahead of potential final WWE match
Latest Audio
- WOR Retro: A talk with Kim Wood from 2021 | Free show
- WOR: Kim Wood memories, Dynamite, NXT, Royal Rumble
- AD: ANCIENT ALIENS! LIVING DINOSAURS! PHANTOM CLOWNS!
Latest YouTube Video
This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Among the topics covered:
- A look at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the interest level, the Royal Rumble and Rumble odds
Big Bad Bobby Duncum, a look at the career of a worldwide headliner who worked on top with almost every major babyface of the 70s, including big WWF and AWA runs and Japanese major tournaments - CMLL has a big business week with Bandido, Ricochet, Komander, Gates of Agony and Lee Moriarty.
- A look at some of the best matches so far this year and the craziness that ruined what could have been the best of all of them.
- A look at prior plans for 2025 PPV shows that changed
- A look at Netflix numbers over the past six months, as well as how every PPV in 2025 did and some surprises in that direction, as well as how SmackDown did internationally as well as NXT, and how shows that went head-to-head with AEW PPVs drew.
- Notes on the TNA ratings for the first show on AMC and what they tell us.
- TNA Genesis coverage
- 2025 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards ballot
- More AEW stars to CMLL next week
- AAA TV taping notes
- Thoughts on the current AAA product and how it relates to Lucha Libre and WWE
- Stardom makes claim against Marigold
- Saya Kamitani returns early
- Notes about a mainstream model who became one of the first big stars in Stardom and women’s MVP
- Best tag team match of the year
- New Japan next major show lineup
- Eight promotions combine for a singles tournament
- The potential best actual wrestler in the world signs with RAF
- Feast or Fired thoughts
- More on AEW’s future with the WBD sale to Netflix
- Trey Miguel situation
- Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
- The most detailed look at the TV ratings over the past week
- UFC returns to action with first big show of 2026
- Top exec since the inception of PFL leaves
- More notes regarding a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE
- WWE headliner talks bowing out
- WWE and AEW injury updates
- Punk movie box office
- Talent coming and going from promotions
- TKO and WWE execs get millions this quarter
This Week’s Back Issue
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Thursday Update
WWE
- It appears that WWE 2K26 will not be released on previous generation gaming consoles (PS4 and Xbox One). The game, which is reportedly set for a March 13 release, will only be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers named Cody Rhodes as their Wrestler of the Year for 2025, making this the second straight year that he’s won the award. Rhodes vs. John Cena from SummerSlam was also recognized as Match of the Year, while NXT’s Kendal Grey was voted Rookie of the Year.
- On ESPN First Take today, Seth Rollins listed his top five Royal Rumble winners of all time, putting his wife Becky Lynch in the top spot:
- Becky Lynch (2019)
- Shawn Michaels (1995)
- Ric Flair (1992)
- John Cena (2008)
- Rey Mysterio (2006)
- The Judgment Day competed on Hot Ones Wing Pong.
- A new episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast premiered today with Trish Stratus as the guest.
- Cody Rhodes appeared on Grave Conversations.
- R-Truth joined Nikki & Brie Garcia on a new edition of The Nikki & Brie Show.
- Ethan Page was the guest on No-Contest Wrestling this week.
- The Battleground Podcast interviewed Jaida Parker.
- WWE Vault uploaded a never-before-seen Gunther vs. Cesaro house show match that took place in Leeds, England in November 2021.
- For a WWE Playback video, members of the women’s division rewatched their 2025 Royal Rumble match.
Other Wrestling
- Mercedes Mone was chosen as Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Woman of the Year for 2025, with Toni Storm taking home the award for Most Popular Wrestler of the Year.
- Harley Cameron thanked the readers of PWI for naming her their Most Improved Wrestler:
- Thank you to the readers of PWI for voting me Most Improved for 2025. And thank you @aew and @tonyrkhan for allowing me to live out my dream! I vow to continue improving…my improvement!
- Mike Santana reacted to being chosen as PWI’s Most Inspirational Wrestler of the year:
- Huge shoutout to all the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and every person who’s walked this path with me.
- Blessed and humbled that my journey has connected with so many. You all have played a huge role in motivating me to push forward every single day.
- THANK YOU.
- Shotzi Blackheart was named PWI’s Indie Wrestler of the Year.
- Evil Uno has been announced for DDT Pro Wrestling’s 29th Anniversary show on March 22.
- Taka Michinoku noted that he’ll be in the United States at the end of March and is looking for bookings around Indianapolis:
- I’m going to Indianapolis on March 27th and 28th. If I go all the way to US, I’d like to wrestle around that time. I went to England and Australia in the last few years, but it’s been seven years since I went to the U.S. Please make an offer to DM.
- CMLL wrestlers Persephone and La Catalina were featured in a documentary from L’Oreal Groupe:
- What’s the secret behind the Olympian Noah Lyles’s record-breaking sprints? How do star lucha libre wrestlers Persephone and La Catalina prepare their game face ahead of a match? And how does the FC Barcelona soccer player Jules Kounde achieve greatness through routine?
- ‘Meeting the Moment’ is a documentary narrated by the basketball legend Sue Bird that follows four athletes as they prepare for a major sports competition, revealing how physical training, mental fortitude and self-care rituals make up their winning formula.
- Madison Rayne discussed her in-ring retirement on AEW Unrestricted.
- Daria Rae (the former Sonya Deville) appeared on a new episode of TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast.
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.