Daily Update: WWE SmackDown notes, big weekend for CMLL & AAA
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- January 19, 2026 Observer Newsletter: WrestleMania 42 card changes, WWE & AEW roster movement, CMLL vs. AAA weekend
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Friday Update
We just finished the second of our awards shows with Garrett Gonzales, Cory Lieb and Ethan Tyler going through a number of different categories today, plus talked WWE direction leading to WrestleMania and changes,TNA’s debut on AMC, AEW TV ratings and other topics. Bryan and I will be back Sunday night and this is a very big weekend for shows in Mexico and we’ll try and cover as much as we can.
–,The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site today:
*The changes in the WrestleMania plans, the Drew McIntyre title win, Roman Reigns return and the whys.
*WWE getting Will Hobbs while AEW signs a slew of new talent as well. A look at each case-by-case.
*Notes on the big weekend coming to Mexico City
*Kayla Harrison injury and what is the future for the biggest women’s fight in years
*Win-loss records and total bouts for all top WWE/NXT talent in 2025
*WWE Iron Man winner from 1984-2025
*What cutting back on the schedule has taught us about injuries
*Who gets protected in booking and who doesn’t
*The problem with the current schedule and development of young talent
*A star who has been around through various eras talks timing and injuries and best schedule
*A look at TNA’s debut on AMC, what went right and wrong
*When did wrestling start being a work. Studying of history shows it’s a lot earlier than you would think
*Odds for WWE matches upcoming
*The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling shows this past week, as well as comparisons with the past and a look at the level of declines and why
*What wrestler has already main evented 12 sold out shows in 2026
*One woman wrestler announces retirement and another retires
*Kazuchika Okada in Japan
*Most watched New Japan World matches of 2025
*Ted DiBiase Jr. on trial
*Death of Rick Link, from fan clubs to main events
*Jesse Ventura speaks about the current political environment
*The greatest wrestler in the world signs with Eric Bischoff’s promotionT
*Tons of major independent shows coming
*AEW gets TV in new market
*Ticket sales for upcoming WWE, AEW and TNA events
*Most viewed YouTube videos from AEW and WWE
*Tag team returning to AEW
*Dana White shuts down talk of major match
*A new lawsuit filed against WWE
*Notes on the recent WWE tryout
*Notes on all the WWE arena shows this past week.
— No big surprises on Smackdown with Randy Orton, Trick Williams, Damien Priest and Sami Zayn as the final four in the four-way on the 1/24 Saturday Night’s Main Event show, as well as Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu, on the show in Montreal.
— To my surprise, CMLL sold out Arena Mexico tonight already with 16,000 fans. That means they’ve been over 14,000 every Friday for the past two months. With Saturday and Sunday being bigger shows as far as drawing, plus having Mistico Saturday and Sunday, I didn’t think tonight would sell out:
- Ricochet vs. Titan for the National title is the headliner
- Hechicero vs. Roderick Strong – winner gets a heavyweight title match with Claudio Castagnoli
- Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrero Match of the month rematch
- Sobrano Jr. & Cavernario vs. Gates of Agony
- Max Star & Futuro & Valiente Jr vs. Cobarde & Felino & El Hijo de Stuka Jr – Match of the month rematch
The show will be airing in English as a PPV on Triller+.
— CMLL also announced Tuesday’s Guadalajara main event is Mistico & Bandido vs. Hechicero & Ultimo Guerrero. Ultimo Guerrero was Bandido’s trainer. If you are keeping track, tonight and tomorrow are sellouts. Sunday will probably not sell out but will be one of the bigger Sunday crowds with the double main of Titan vs. Komander and Templario vs Bandido, Monday in Puebla is a lock to sellout as is Tuesday with that main event.
— Right now there is no word if the Sunday show will air on the CMLL YouTube channel but we expect it will be announced at the last minute on Sunday. CMLL YouTube channel has tonight’s show, tomorrow night’s show and the Tuesday Arena Mexico and Guadalajara shows.
— The AAA show tomorrow night airs at 9 p.m.Eastern on the WWE’s YouTube page in both English and Spanish.
–The reason for so many AEW guys is AAA has a show tomorrow night at Juan de la Barrera Gym. They added Rey Mysterio to the show today. Not sure if he’s wrestling or just appearing.
— We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows:
- NXT tonight in Melbourne, FL
- AAA tomorrow night in Mexico City
- NXT tomorrow night in Citrus Springs, FL
- WWE tomorrow night in Gdansk, Poland
- WWE Sunday in Nottingham, UK
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
— AEW Dynamite did 526,000 viewers and a 0.08 in 18-49. Here’s a stat that we should all be skeptical of. The show had about 107,000 viewers between the ages of 50 and 54 but 111,000 between 18 and 49. In 25-54 it was the third biggest since the new ratings came in, behind only Blood & Guts and one other show.
— Darby Allin talked to The Orlando Sentinel about AEW letting him do what he wants, living in his car early in his career and working for AEW.
— Bandido vs. Jake Doyle headlines Warrior Wrestling tonight in Chicago. The show is sold out but the place only holds about 350 fans.
— Kirk White’s Big Time Wrestling has already sold out the Newark, CA Pavilion for the 1/23 show with a Chris Bey Meet & Greet plus Ricochet vs. Starboy Charlie, QT Marshall & Aaron Solo in a tag match, Alan Angels vs. LJ Cleary, Gates of Agony vs. Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito, VertVixen vs. Brittnie Brooks and the annual Battle Royal for the Roy Shire Trophy.
— Pro Wrestling EVE on 3/8 in London is looking at doing the largest crowd for an all-women’s show in history. Announced are Kris Statlander defending her International title against Charlie (Dakota Kai) and Harley Cameron vs. Amira Blair.
— GCW on 2/14 at the UCC in Los Angeles has Hammerstone vs. 1 Called Manders and Joey Janela vs. Chris Masters.
— ROH & MLP are doing shows on 3/27 and 3/28 at St. Clair College in Windsor, ONT. On 3/27, Ricochet will defend the National title and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson appear. Also coming in for the weekend are Kaito Kiyomiya, Mascara Dorada, Cavernario, Bishop Dyer and Daisuke Sasaki.
— Lucha Va Voom has a 21 and older show set for Valentine’s Day at the Fox Theater in Pomona, CA. Atlantis Jr. and Soberano Jr. are on the show.
— John Sutton, the former Sir Oliver Humperdink, would have turned 77 today. Mike Sharpe Jr., passed away ten years ago today at the age of 65. (thanks to Tony Richards)
— AIW next Friday in Cleveland, OH has Jim Duggan, Rhino, Isla Dawn, Danhausen and Dijak at the Globe Ironi.
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.