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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Among the topics covered:
Ted Turner’s legacy in sports
The history of pro wrestling on the Turner Networks
The skyrocketing success and rapid decline of WCW
The television heyday of Georgia Championship Wrestling
How Ted Turner first got involved in pro wrestling
Why Vince McMahon hated Ted Turner and how irrational it was at times
The local TV business in the early 70s
The 1972-74 Atlanta wrestling war, how it started and ended
The start of Gordon Solie and Tony Schiavone on TBS
The growth of TBS
The launching of CNN
How Vince McMahon got on TBS
Why McMahon and Turner had issues during their year working together
The role Jim Barnett played
The death of Mid South Wrestling
The death of Jim Crockett Promotions
The death of WCW
How Barnett manipulated the Crocketts getting on TBS
Vince McMahon’s cable power plays and Turner’s reactions
The signing of Hulk Hogan and rise of Eric Bischoff
Hall, Nash and Bret Hart come to WCW
How Bischoff nearly purchased WCW and how it fell through
A reprint of a 2001 article on the closing of WCW that Ted Turner himself read and praised
Reaction to the death of WCW
Numerous people react to the death
The tribute on AEW television
His exploits in other sports
Rupert Murdoch, Ric Flair, Jane Fonda, Tony Khan and others in sports comment on Turner’s death
Turner’s life after he lost control of the networks
His charitable work
Update on Tanea “Rebel” Brooks
A first look at how UFC is performing and its revenue driven vs. expense for Paramount
WWE cuts continue and are looked at
A crazy note about the income of just four of TKO’s top executives and how it compares to the pay for UFC and WWE athletes. This is absolutely shocking
Nick Khan’s new contract with TKO
Why so many cuts were made this year and more notes on the pay cuts
New Day bid farewell
WWE & UFC first quarter financials looked at
More talk regarding Middle East shows, Zuffa Boxing, and complaints regarding WWE and UFC
Backlash preview, business notes and odds
Notes on AEW Double or Nothing
New Japan Dontaku coverage
Nico Ali Walsh on Nick Khan’s testimony before Congress
NOAH big show notes
The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the pro wrestling and MMA shows this past week
Fantastica Mania Mexico
CMLL vs. MLW at Arena Mexico notes
Grande Americano vs. Grande Americano
Lots of injury updates
Who in AEW was set for a major push that is now on hold
Champion Carnival down to final four
Cuatrero convicted in domestic violence case involving Stephanie Vaquer
Raja Jackson case coming to a close
Former WWE wrestler murder case makes pub again
Worldwide YouTuber numbers
Dana White talks McGregor’s return
Notes on Roman Reigns and his schedule
When did Nick Khan learn Vince McMahon was being investigate for sex trafficking
Janel Grant gets more public
Notes from WWE’s television contracts
This Week’s Back Issue
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Sunday Update
Mistico wears a BTS-influenced jacket (Image credit: CMLL)
— We have two weekend shows up right now. Last night Bryan and I talked about Backlash, Collision, Ted Turner, Mistico, WWE business and other subjects. Today’s show with Garret, with questions from the current issue of the Observer, the UFC 328 show and more on Ted Turner, wrestling, baseball and cable.
— Happy Mother’s Day for all the mothers out there.
— Last night’s UFC show did the largest numbers the company has done since the first major show on Paramount. So I expect big numbers for CBS when they come out on Tuesday. It was the No. 1 rated show worldwide on Paramount+ for the day, even beating South Park. In fact it was so big that old UFC shows placed No. 10 for the day. Outside of Europe and Australia (where it aired after midnight so it wouldn’t be listed until tomorrow), it was the No. 1 show in every market it aired in on Paramount + other than the U.S., where it was No. 2 to South Park.
— Not a lot coming out of Backlash, although the post-match made it appear that Roman Reigns would be doing something to try and get Jacob Fatu out of WWE starting on tomorrow’s Raw.
— Regarding the details of the John Cena Invitational, we were just told today that this is a work in progress. They wanted to make the announcement but as far as what it is, that is not decided so any speculation of tournament vs. individual matches or how the champions will be set up is just speculation.
— We’re looking for your thoughts on Backlash, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestliing observer.com
— For Google searches, last night’s UFC show led by Sean Strickland’s middleweight title win over Khamzat Chimaev did 1,360,000 searches. WWE Backlash did 254,000. Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano did 10,000.
— There were two very close decisions on last night’s UFC show. Sean Strickland beat Khamzat Chimaev on 47-48, 48-47 and 48-47 scores. I had Chimaev clearly winning rounds and and four, Strickland winning round two and I did have Strickland three and five but both were so close they could have gone the other way. Media scores were 54 percent for Chimaev. This could have gone either way. I still had it open in the last ten seconds that if Chimaev landed strongly I had him winning. Chimaev is not going to ask for a rematch because he’s moving to light heavyweight. He had way too much weight to cut and it made a difference with his stamina.
— Judge Eric Clon went for Strickland winning rounds two, three and five. Sal D’Amato gave Strickland the same three rounds. Sue Sanidad had Strickland winning two and three and Chimaev winning one, four and five. In Alexander Volkov vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, had Cortez-Acosta winning one and three but most had it the other way. Media scores were 80 percent in favor of Volkov, who won. Judge Jon Bilyk had all three rounds for Vokov. Henry Krawiec had one and two for Volkov. Dave Tirelli had two and three for Volkov.
— Not much in the way of reports on great matches this weekend. Aside from Backlash and the Darby Allin vs. Pac match, we didn’t get anything in the way of recommendations.
— At Arena Mexico on Friday, members of the band BTS were in the front row. Mistico came out with a BTS jacket. Then last night at the BTS concert before 65,000 fans at Estadio GNP Seguros, Jin had a Mistico jacket on and they led the crowd in chants for Mistico. BTS ran three shows in Mexico City. It was reported that when tickets were put on sale that there were 2.1 million people in the queue to buy tickets. Reports were that they turned away 40,000 fans at the stadium last night.
— Group member Yoongi talked last night about being a lifelong fan and his favorites being Rey Mystreio and Eddy Guerrero. Backstage group members were trying to do Mistico moves on each other last night.
— Tonight at Arena Mexico has Mistico & Mascara Drada & Atlantis Jr. vs Averno & Soberano Jr. & Hechicero as the main event.
— The A&E Biography today is on The Four Horsemen at 8 p.m. LFG airs at 10 p.m. and WWE’s Greatest Moments air at 11 and 11:30 p.m. The 11 p.m. show will be on Nitro and the 11:30 p.m. show will be a history of Backlash.
— Tito Santana, born Merced Solis, turned 73 today. Frankie Hill Murdoch, the father of Dick Murdoch, was born on this day in 1909. Billy Sandow, one of the most important figures in pro wrestling history, was born on this day in 1912. Jerry Brown of the Hollywood Blonds tag team was born on this day 1937. Hall of Fame promoter Frank Tunney of Toronto died 43 years ago today at the age of 70. He was the uncle of Jack Tunney, who took over Maple Leaf Wrestling after Frank’s death. Ilio DiPaolo, the biggest pro wrestling regional star ever in Buffalo and also well known for the Italian Restaurant DiPaolo’s (which still exists today after 61 years), died 21 years ago today at 68. Mack York was 90 when he died ten years ago today. Bob Bruggers was 80 when he died two years ago today. So this week’s Observer in 2024 had the story on the 1972 Class of Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson trainees, which included Bruggers, Ric Flair, Ken Patera, Iron Sheik, Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell. The two expected to be the biggest stars were Patera and Bruggers, who was a high school basketball legend and former NFL player. (thanks to Tony Richards)
— CNN aired a documentary last night on the life of Ted Turner. There was no mention of pro wrestling in the documentary.
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.