Thank you all for reading. If you want to read more of what I’ve written, check out my two books, 40 Years Of Pay-Per-View Book 1: 1985-1990 and 1991-1993 on Amazon. Available in Paperback, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
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The following two newsbits are courtesy of this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (F4W)
WWE considered having CM Punk beat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania and then drop the belt in a rematch at Backlash. This way they’d be 1-1 and be able to do a rubber match down the line.
Pat McAfee was said to be uncomfortable with the negative backlash to his angle and pulled himself out of it. While the decision was made for Cody to win before the day of the show, it was said to be very WCW-like with the backstage chaos on Saturday. The decision was then to transition to a Cody vs Punk feud, with Dave saying “So when (McAfee) asked out, the decision was made to go in the direction of Punk vs. Rhodes as a big match (perhaps for SummerSlam although I don’ t know that) and thus not go with Orton as champion. There were those who said the decision was part of all the chaos taking place behind-the-scenes on Saturday before the first show and the call was made the day of. However, those in the know, confirmed the chaos, even saying it was like WCW, but we were told the decision to go with Rhodes over Orton was made prior to the day of the show.”
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As a follow-up to what I said earlier, Ricky Saints call-up to the main roster may be delayed due to The CW wanting NXT to keep some established names on the roster after the recent call-ups of Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Oba Femi, Ethan Page and Joe Hendry and the expected call-ups of Jacy Jayne and Blake Monroe. (F4W via Bodyslam)
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During her appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story, Paige said she’d like to participate in the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, since both gimmick matches were male-exclusive when she was last in the company.
“I had to be backstage in Gorilla when the Royal Rumble just started, and nobody knew I was retired at that point and so I just sat there, it was bittersweet, I was happy that the girls finally got this big match that we didn’t have before, but I was sad because I wasn’t a part of it and I didn’t know if I was gonna ever be a part of it again,” she added. “So to have this moment where I’m back in WWE, my neck is good, I’m wrestling again, there is opportunities for me to be a part of these stipulation matches. I’m really excited, I’m really excited for the next couple of years.“(What’s Your Story on YouTube)
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New Japan President Hiroshi Tanahashi is going to do commentary for Sunday’s All Star Grand Queendom event put on by STARDOM.
Speaking of that show, here is the lineup:
Natsupoi vs. Maki Itoh
Saori Anou vs. Fuwa-chan
Mi Vida Loca (Suzu Suzuki and Rina Yamashita) vs. Maika and Hanako Ranna Yagami (c) vs. Ema Maishima for the Future of Stardom Championship
BMI2000 (Natsuko Tora and Ruaka) (c) vs. 02line (AZM and Miyu Amasaki) for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship
Syuri (c) vs. Megan Bayne for the IWGP Women’s Championship
Konami (c) vs. Hanan for the Wonder of Stardom Championship
Saya Kamitani (c) vs. Sayaka Kurara for the World of Stardom Championship (STARDOM on X)
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During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Billy Gunn responded to if he’d wrestle until he’s 70.
“So I want to do it while I still can, and while I’m still having fun. I mean, you can ask my wife, she hates watching me, because I’m just such a goof. I’m such a goof because I just don’t have any stress anymore. There’s no stress for me to go out there and have everybody go ‘oh watch, it’s going to be an unbelievable wrestling match’. They’re going to go ‘we’re about to have so much fun and be interactive in what we do, because that’s what he does, you know.’
“So that’s what I’m doing. Do I want to? No, I don’t want to work until I’m 70. But is it possible? Sure, anything’s possible,” Gunn said. “But I’m getting to the point where I’m kind of slowing down a little. I think it’s because the gym is taking over my life.” (Insight on YouTube)
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Rey Fenix will team with La Parka to take on Money Machine (Garra de Oro & Colmillo de Plata) on this Saturday’s AAA on FOX. (AAA on X)
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Jordynne Grace says she got some heat for using the Michinoku Driver against Giulia in May 2025. “I’ll give you a little behind-the-scenes information, we got in trouble for that match. They just said it was too much. I do the Michinoku Driver — at the time, I did not know that they don’t do the Michinoku Driver from Japan here. They do the one where you sit the person out all the way. I didn’t know that was a thing until after this match…It was not taken very well but I loved the match. I love wrestling Giulia, she’s awesome. I cannot wait to wrestle her again. Those matches are really the best moments for me because that’s when the wrestlers really get to feel something, right? They feel like it’s real. It is real but it’s like real in that moment.” (Adrian Hernandez on YouTube)
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In what is hopefully two different pieces of news, WWE has officially signed former IWGP Champion EVIL and has also trademarked the name Mason Rook. I will bet you my left arm that EVIL will not be known as Mason Rook in WWE. (EVIL news: F4W via PWInsider) (Mason Rook news: WrestleTalk on X)
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Dave Meltzer’s WrestleMania match ratings:
Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton ***1/2
Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer **
GUNTHER vs. Seth Rollins: no rating listed
Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee **3/4
Women’s Tag Team Championship four-way **3/4
Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre ****1/4
LA Knight & The Usos vs. IShowSpeed, Logan Paul & Austin Theory **½
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk *****
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar ****
Intercontinental Championship ladder match ****3/4
Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn ***
‘Demon’ Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio ***1/2
Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill ***1/4
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Lucha Underground’s X account tweeted a video with the caption “soon …”. Lucha Underground ran from 2014-2018 and had previously relaunched their website and had filed to renew their trademarks. (Lucha Underground on X)
