Daily Update: WWE Raw, CMLL & AAA notes, El Elemental

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at  how the Pat McAfee angle developed, its goal, why so many in the company are unhappy with it, where it  is leading, addressing the biggest WrestleMania questions, what CM Punk aid, where Paul Levesque and Ari Emanuel fit in, as well as an update on WrestleMania tickets compared to last year, discount offers cutting price back and more
  • Preview to AEW Dynasty, matches and business notes as well as updates on Double or Nothing direction and business, as well as All In at Wembley Stadium.
  • Favorites for WrestleMania and Dynasty
  • Lots of business notes on WrestleMania
  • Callum Newman wins IWGP title and review of Sakura Genesis, what we learned, business, Best of the Super Juniors and Dontaku notes
  • NXT Stand & Deliver.  Match rundowns and stories as well as business notes on the show
  • Texts from Paul Levesque to Nick Khan released in discovery regarding Vince McMahon’s involvement in booking when talent was told McMahon was out and Levesques frustration at the time
  • A detailed look at TNA pulling  talent from advertised indie events that they had previously approved and a better way of handling it
  • A look at the career of 60s and 70s star Flying Fred Curry, one of the major stars of The Sheik’s heyday running Michigan and Ohio, son of Bull Curry and nine-time world tag team champion.
  • The arrest of Alberto el Patron, lots more details and his history, shows he’s been pulled from, an ironic aspect of this story n a reality show in Mexico late last year
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the television shows of the past week, with  comparisons with last week, last year, demos and other stats, male vs. female percentage
  • More stats regarding the audience at Arena Mexico shows as well as a look back on a major week last week.
  • Saya Kamtani has major goal for Stardom’s big show later this month
  • Japanese television in 1985 and who were the draws
  • Ric Flair upset over WWE costing him a major merchandise deal
  • How many times was Flair world champion
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Two more possible WrestleMania card changes
  • Janel Grant lawsuit thoughts

This Week’s Back Issue

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Monday Update

AAA on Fox 4/11/26 screenshot
AAA on Fox 4/11/26 screenshot

— Bryan and I will be back with Wrestling Observer Radio to talk about Raw, WrestleMania, Dynasty Alberto El Patron, crazy ratings stories, and hopefully some other promotions.

— The final Raw before WrestleMania is in Sacramento tonight. All the top stars on the Raw brand, Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Paul Heyman, Gunther, etc are scheduled. Royce Keys put on social media he was going to the show since it’s not a far drive. No matches there were 11,279 tickets out the last time I checked earlier today, so it will be close to sold out.

— The Wrestling Observer will be out one day early this week because I’m going to WrestleMania.

— Tony Khan last night announced Claudio Castagnoli to challenge Kevin Knight on Wednesday for the TNT title plus MJF vs. Darby Allin for the AEW title in Everett, WA. Allin started his wrestling training in Everett, WA, under Buddy Wayne.

— For Thursday’s CMLL show at the Pearl, the main event has been changed from Mistico v.s Hechicero to a tag team with Mistico & Templario vs. Hechicero & Angel de Oro.

— AEW Dynasty did 20,000 searches on Google. It’s better than some AEW PPV shows and worse than others. The UFC show on Saturday topped 1 million.

— CMLL sold out Arena Puebla today with Mistico & Neon in the main event against Hechicero & Volador Jr.

— For this past week from Sunday through Saturday AAA sold 50,000 tickets to pro wrestling events in Mexico City, Puebla and Guadalajara. Aside from WWE at its hottest periods ever or WrestleMania or stadium show weeks like AEW in London, I don’t know of any promotion that has done that working in just three markets.

— Hechicero, who was not at the AEW show last night, had seven flights in 48 hours last week.

— The Grande Americano vs. Grande Americano angle on Saturday’s AAA show was great. Comedian Ojas de Huevos, who calls himself the Stevie Wonder of Mexico because he’s blind, ran down the Gable version. Gable went after him and with him being blind, Andrea Bazarte, the interviewer, who some know as Kaiser’s girlfriend (legit, but it was never used previously or said on television) tried to stop him and slapped him in the face. Gable was about to go over her when Kaiser ran down to attack Gable. The two continted to come out of backstage and fight multiple times the rest of the show. They have a mask vs. mask match on 5/30 at Arena Monterrey, or at least that was the plan a few weeks ago. Some media outlets brought up the idea that they fired Nino Hamburguesa for doing something physical with a fan but not Grande Gable. Of course the two things are completely different.

— TNA for Thursday’s live TV from Syracuse, NY has EC 3 vs. Eric Young, AJ Francis vs. KC Navarro, plus The System with Alisha Edwards and Mustafa Ali and The Hardys will appear.

— The Hardys will appear at WWE World on 4/17.

— Argentina Rocca, one of the biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history, was born on this day in 1921. Manuel Rivera, the original Dr. Wagner was born on this day in 1936. Stan Stasiak, who was WWWF champion for nine days as a transition from Pedro Morales to Bruno Sammartino in 1973, was born on this day in 1937. Diane Von Hoffman was born on this day in 1962. Sir Mo/Bobby Horne was born on this day in 1967. Don Duffy passed away 11 years ago today at the age of 80. Scott Norton made his pro wrestling debut 37 years ago today. (thanks to Tony Richards)

— Defy and Dragon Gate joint show results from Friday night in Portland, OR: Judas Icarus & Travis Williams & Evan Rivers b Ho Ho Lun & Kzy & Ben K, Adam Brooks b La Estrella, Yamato & Dragon Kid b Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson, Marina Shafir b Amira to retain the Defy women’s title, Madoka Kikuta & Kai & Ishin b Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas & Steven Borden Jr., Bryan Keith b Susumu Yokosuka to retain the Defy men’s title (thanks to Matt Farmer)

— For those going to Las Vegas this week, Larry Lawrence will be doing a wrestling related stand-up comedy show on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. local time at Area 15.

— For Saturday night’s UFC show, there were some unique judging scores. Reporters were 100 percent for Chris Padilla over MarQuel Mederos, most 30-26 and some 29-27. However, the fight was officially a draw as judge Derek Clearly gave Mederos round one and two and Padilla a 10-8 third due to a foul. Eliseo Rodriguez gave Mederos the second and third rounds. Solimar Miranda only gave Mederos the second round.

— El Elemental, the husband/boyfriend of Catalina wrote this regarding her leaving CMLL to AAA and regarding the idea he would as well:
“I have received many messages and questions regarding my career, so I would like to set the record straight. I am focused, stable, and very comfortable at CMLL. I have no plans to switch promotions; my commitment is to continue growing and proving myself inside the ring. On a personal note, a few months ago I decided to end my romantic relationship with La Catalina. Consequently, I completely disassociate myself from any decisions she makes regarding her personal or professional life. We are each following our own paths, and I am fully focused on mine. This will be the only comment I make on the matter. I am grateful to the fans who have always shown their support. The rest will be settled in the ring. LET’S GO!”

— StrangleMania from Juggalo Championship Wrestling has announced this show for 4/17 at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas:

  • Vampiro vs. PCO vs. Big Vito in Vampiro’s latest retirement match
  • Matt Riddle vs. Cokane vs. Nic Nemeth vs. Caleb Konley with Vince Russo in Konley’s corner and EC3 as referee
  • 2 Tuff Tony & Willie Mack & Rob Van Dam vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson & KENTA
  • Alice Crowley & Dani Mo vs. J Rod & ? with Katie Forbes as ref
  • and four other matches.
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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.