Weekend Roundup: WWE Signed AoP, Sonny Kiss AEW Departure Rumor, Bandido, NOAH N-1 Victory Finals, WOW TV Ratings, Indies

WWE

• As noted before, AEW terminated CM Punk’s contract with the company on Saturday following their investigation into Punk’s backstage incident with Jack Perry at this past Sunday’s All In event. Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Punk’s firing from AEW was a big topic of discussion backstage at WWE’s Payback 2023 event on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• Saturday’s WWE Payback 2023 event in Pittsburgh featured WWE Hall of Famer and Japanese wrestling legend Keiji Muto, also known as The Great Muta, in attendance in the crowd. Muto was shown on screen during the start of the Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Seth Rollins match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the event.
• WWE generated an attendance of 14,291 (13,100 paid) for their Aug. 18th SmackDown show in Toronto, Canada, 4,887 for their Aug. 19th house show event in Ottawa, Canada, 7,012 for their Aug. 20th house show event in Laval, Canada, 10,717 (9,700 paid) for their Aug. 21st RAW show in Quebec City, Canada, 9,189 (8,400 paid) for their Aug. 25th SmackDown show in Louisville, KY, 3,482 for their Aug. 26th house show event in Cape Girardeau, MO, 4,546 for their Aug. 27th house show event in Huntsville, AL, and 7,377 (6,700 paid) for their Aug. 28th RAW show in Memphis, TN, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• WWE reportedly has sold around 46,040 tickets for their April 6, 2024 WrestleMania 40 Night 1 event and 46,125 tickets for their April 7, 2024 WrestleMania 40 Night 2 event in Philadelphia, PA as of this past Thursday, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that based on the size of the Lincoln Financial Field and WWE’s usual stage setup for a WrestleMania event, WWE likely will have a max capacity of around 62,000 for each night of next year’s WrestleMania 40 events. Meltzer reported that the main reason why WWE quickly toppled their live gate record for next year’s WrestleMania 40 event is due to the large spike in ticket prices for the event. Meltzer reported that the average ticket price for this past April’s WrestleMania 39 event at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California was $167.02 for one night and $334.04 for both nights while tickets for next year’s event are $240 for one night and $480 for both nights. Meltzer reported that WrestleMania 40’s current average ticket prices would be the highest ever for a wrestling event in wrestling history.
• The August 28th episode of WWE RAW drew 1,677,000 viewers and a 0.51 key demographic rating. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that this was the fourth week in a row where WWE’s Over 50 viewership group declined in viewership and has been an ongoing trend for RAW since this past August’s SummerSlam 2023 event.
• WWE recently announced that they have partnered with the NFL for the sale of custom NFL Legacy WWE Championship belts for all 32 NFL teams. In an interesting note, WWEShop quickly pulled their Jacksonville Jaguars belt from sale only after a couple of hours with WWE merchandise distributor Fanatics claiming it was due to teh belt had quickly sold out. The Jaguars are currently owned by Shad Khan who is also the co-owner of AEW. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that the decision to pull the Jaguars WWE title belt from sale was made by the Jaguars management for obvious reasons related to AEW and not wanting to market a competitors belt for the team. Meltzer reported that WWE had released the belt under the assumption that they would be able to sell belts for all 32 teams but the Jaguars found out about it after the belts went on sale and opted out of being included.
• Dave Meltzer reported that his sources stated that NBC Universal’s current metrics when it comes to determine their expectations for success of WWE events on Peacock revolves less around live viewership and instead more around total viewership after 24 hours of an event. The reason reportedly is due to NBCU being aware that they may not get as many live viewers as usual for WWE shows held outside of the United States due to the earlier start times which is why they focus more on the total viewership after 24 hours instead.
• As noted before, former AEW talent Brian Pillman Jr. officially started his career in WWE’s NXT developmental brand this past week. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that it is currently not known if Pillman Jr. will be allowed to keep his current ring name or will be given a new one once WWE officials are ready for Pillman Jr. to start working on NXT television.
• This past Tuesday’s NXT show featured Angel and Humberto teasing them forming a Perros Del Mal style group in WWE. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that WWE officials have held recent talks regarding the idea of Angel and Humberto joining the LWO once they return to the main roster.
• WWE recently released a video featuring several of their talent sharing their memories of the late Bray Wyatt, real name Windham Rotunda.
• Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE is currently believed to have quietly brought back and signed the Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) to new contracts with the company. It was reported that those spoken to stated that AoP have been under a current contract with WWE since 2022 but this is something that they have yet to confirm or deny from their other sources. While no date was given, it was reported that AoP are believed to have been signed back to the company prior to Vince McMahon’s return. It was also reported that AoP’s name had appeared in an internal roster list this past May. It was also reported that AoP had pushed heavily for their former manager Paul Ellering to be involved in the talks for a potential deal with WWE. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that AoP would most likely be returning to WWE’s NXT brand.
• As noted before, WWE is currently facing a racial discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit by former WWE creative writer Britney Abrahams. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that WWE and Abrahams had filed a joint motion on August 25th to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York requesting for an extension for WWE’s official response to the lawsuit based on recent court records. Johnson reported that the court granted the request and WWE will now have until November 3rd to file their official response.

AEW & ROH

• As noted before, AEW terminated CM Punk’s contract with the company on Saturday following their investigation into Punk’s backstage incident with Jack Perry at this past Sunday’s All In event. KENTA recently reflected on Twitter about Punk’s firing stating that he was happy to be the sole owner of his Got To Sleep finisher in wrestling. KENTA stated “WELCOME BACK MY GO 2 SLEEP.” KENTA and Punk have a long-term notable online history revolving around KENTA not being fond over Punk ripping off his finisher to use as his own and never paying respect to him for it.
• Saturday’s AEW Collision show in Chicago, Illinois featured Cash Wheeler paying tribute to CM Punk following his firing from the company. During Dax Harwood’s entrance for his match against Jay White on the show, Wheeler accompanied Harwood and gave a crossed arms “X” sign used by Punk during his entrances.
• AEW filed a trademark for “House of Ass” for wrestling and merchandise-related purposes on September 1st to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• Jay White filed trademarks for “Bang Bang Gang” and his Switchblade logo for wrestling and entertainment-related purposes to the USPTO.
• In a recent interview with the Under The Ring podcast, Powerhouse Hobbs gave his thoughts on wanting to be given the chance to carry AEW on his back and bring the promotion to new heights. Hobbs stated “My goal is to be the first African American World Champion here. My goal is to have a lot of goals. Another goal is to take this company to a new level to put this company on my back, and I got a big enough back, you know, I could put the whole company on here. So that’s definitely my goal.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
• In a recent interview with the Ten Count podcast, AEW commentator Nigel McGuinness gave his thoughts about the recent CM Punk backstage incident at AEW’s All In event overshadowing the positives of their major show. McGuinness stated “Yeah, it’s a complex situation, isn’t it? That’s arguably the problem with social media is that a few voices can make a lot of noise. For someone who saw how much work went into that show, the prestige and what it meant for not just me, but all the other people on the show. To be talking about anything other than the show, then it’s a bit of a slight, certainly, but that’s the nature of human beings. Would I prefer that if something happens backstage, it isn’t immediately on the internet? Absolutely. There was an era in a time where if that happened, they’d have found out who did it, and they wouldn’t be in the company anymore. Let’s put it that way. This is a different world today. The internet is a huge part of everything, certainly. So, at the end of the day, it is what it is. People will choose to focus on what they choose to focus on. Tony Khan has one of the most difficult jobs in the world. He’s got three shows, ostensibly, to write and put out every time. He’s got everybody on those three shows to deal with in terms of getting people booked, not booked, and all the idiosyncrasies, the emotions, and everything else that’s involved.” McGuinness also stated that he had given a toast to AEW CEO Tony Khan over his appreciation of getting to be involved in a history making moment. McGuinness stated “I said, ‘Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find the words to say how much I appreciate the opportunity and the faith that you’ve had in me,’ you know, and I’m sure there are a lot of other people that feel the exact same way. It’s a blessing if you think, without Tony, without AEW, how many people wouldn’t be making a living and wouldn’t be able to feed their families? It’s a lot, and as we all know, competition is the best thing for business, and I can’t think there’s been the sort of what will be called Halcyon Days in pro wrestling for a long, long time.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
• WrestlingNews.co reported that Sonny Kiss’ profile was recently removed from AEW’s roster page on their official website. Fightful Select reported that their sources within AEW have yet to respond if Kiss has been recently released from AEW or if there was another reason for his profile being removed. Kiss reportedly was in attendance at this weekend’s Starrcast VI convention in Chicago, Illinois.
• As noted before, AEW’s All In event this past Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London, England set a new all-time record for largest paid attendance for a wrestling event in wrestling history at 81,035. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW officials originally had considered 40,000 in ticket sales to be their expectation on what would be a financial success for their All In event while AEW CEO Tony Khan had a higher goal of 50,000 for his expectations. Meltzer reported that tickets for the event had been purchased by people from around 70 countries.
• As noted before, AEW recently announced that they will be holding an event called WrestleDream on October 1st in Seattle, Washington. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that the current belief is that AEW will air that week’s Collision show on Friday, September 30th instead of its usual Saturday date due to their upcoming event for that night.
• As noted before, Cash Wheeler was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm this past August in Florida following an alleged road rage and firearm brandishing incident last month in the state. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the reason why AEW did not suspend Wheeler over his arrest unlike with Jeff Hardy and his DUI arrest last year was due to Wheeler’s incident did not involve alcohol. Meltzer reported that another reason was due to Wheeler not having a past criminal history and reckless driving incidents traditionally have not been handled with suspensions in wrestling. Meltzer reported that due issues involving a gun in the incident, AEW officials made a judgement call and decided against taking further action against Wheeler. Meltzer also reported that many within AEW only found out about Wheeler’s arrest after the news had been made public but several AEW officials and likely AEW CEO Tony Khan himself knew beforehand.
• As noted before, Bandido has been out of action for AEW since this past June due to a broken wrist injury. Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Bandido had the cast taken off his wrist recently and is currently expected to be medically cleared for an in-ring return soon. Meltzer reported that Bandido had the pins taken out of his cast two weeks ago and a September date was something that had been originally excepted for his return from injury.
• AEW reportedly generated an attendance of 3,228 for their Aug. 19th Collision show in Lexington, KY and 3,746 for their Aug. 30th Dynamite show in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• In a recent episode of the ARN podcast, co-host Arn Anderson gave his thoughts about why he has not been interested working as a road agent during his current time in AEW. Anderson stated “Not until after…let’s just say in the last six months. There has been that conversation. The reality is, I would prefer to keep that, that relationship is like coach to player. I would rather keep that in a casual, not be my job description. 25 guys could line up, and I would be able to spend whatever time it would be helping them if they asked, but I don’t want that to be my job, just because for 19 years it was a really hard job. I got burnt out. If it’s still in a professional setting and we’re backstage and a guy comes up, Will Hobbs asks me all the time, ‘what did you think about this?’ Different guys ask. If they want my opinion, I’ll be happy to give it to them. I love the business and I sit there and try to watch most of the matches when I’m at the TV taping. If anyone comes up and asks, I try to give them an honest opinion. That’s the way the knowledge of our business gets passed down. Jake Roberts, Dean Malenko, Billy Gunn, they have great coaches, they really do. It’s up to us to coach them up and help them. I’m just not sure I want to step back into that role on a permanent basis. There are meetings that nobody sees that you have to be at, time-consuming things you have to be at. I had 19 hard years and prior to that, I had all those WCW years that I was an agent, coach, producer. I just want to enjoy whatever time I have left in the business, sit back and watch it as a fan, and if I can offer some information that’ll help a guy get better, I’m glad to do it, you don’t even have to pay me extra for it. An information source.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

Impact, NJPW, Indies, & Misc. Wrestling

• WrestleCon recently announced that next year’s WrestleCon convention will be taking place at the Sheraton Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during WrestleMania 40 weekend in the city.
• Deadlock Pro Wrestling recently announced two new matches for the card of their Carolina Classic 2023 event on September 17th in Durham, North Carolina. These are a DPW Women’s World Championship match of Nicole Matthews vs. Emi Sakura (c) and a singles match of Bryan Keith vs. Shun Skywalker.
• This past Tuesday’s NWA Powerrr show featured several new production upgrades made by the National Wrestling Alliance for their television series going forward.
• Revolution Pro Wrestling reportedly generated a paid attendance of 4,072 for their Aug. 26th 11 Year Anniversary event in London, England, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that this was the second largest paid attendance for an indie wrestling event in the United Kingdom in the past five years.
• Women of Wrestling reportedly drew 355,000 viewers and a 0.07 key demographic rating for their July 30th WOW TV episode and 240,000 viewers and a 0.05 key demo rating for their August 6th WOW TV episode on syndication, according to Wrestlenomics.
• Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre reportedly generated an attendance of over 12,000 for their August 18th Grand Prix Internacional 2023 event in Mexico City, Mexico, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• CMLL talent Mascara Dorada reportedly was pulled from all of CMLL’s events this past week due to him recently testing positive for COVID-19, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• In a recent interview with Mas Lucha, former CMLL talent Metalik stated that the reason why he recently left the company was due to him being told by CMLL officials that they were no longer going to use him for future shows after his first tour since his return had ended. Metalik stated that one of CMLL’s bookers, Jose Luis Feliciano, told him that he could work for Lucha Libre AAA if he wanted since it would bring no heat to him in the company. Metalik also critiszed CMLL’s style of wrestling stating that he feels that younger wrestlers are doing too many high spots and risky spots and prefers the WWE style for lucha matches since he felt it has evolved better than current lucha style in Mexico. In regards to the reaction within CMLL over Metalik’s comments, Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that many people within CMLL felt that if Metalik’s WWE style was better for the company, then his recent match with Titan should have been a lot better than it was and as a wake up call to Metalik that he was wrong in his belief. Those within CMLL reportedly also felt that his brief return run ended up being a big disappointment for the company.
• Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that RUSH was involved in a backstage controversy during Lucha Libre AAA’s Triplemania XXXI: Mexico City event in Mexico City earlier this month. This controversy revolved around RUSH wanting Jose The Assistant and Preston Vance to be with him for his Four-way Lucha de Apuestas match at the event. Rush reportedly told AAA Director Dorian Roldan that AEW CEO Tony Khan wanted Jose and Vance to be with him at the event and Roldan approved his request. Meltzer reported that it is currently not known if Roldan had forgotten to inform AAA head booker Konnan of this request but Konnan was not aware of this prior to the start of the show. Meltzer reported that Konnan and others within AAA were confused why Jose and Vance made an appearance during the match since Konnan did not have any involvement for their booking for the show nor match and instead it was Roldan who had booked the match. Konnan confirmed that the reason was due to his real life heat with LA Park and also claimed that Roldan had told him that Jose and Vance were not supposed to be involved in the match. Konnan also claimed that RUSH told others that it was him and not Khan who had made the decision to have Jose and Vance be with him at the event.
• AAA reportedly generated an attendance of 15,863 for their Aug. 12th Triplemania XXI: Mexico City event in Mexico City, Mexico, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• Stardom reportedly generated a paid attendance of 361 for their New Blood 10 event in Tokyo, 1,653 for their Aug. 19th MidSummer Fes event in Tokyo, 378 for their Aug. 20th 5STAR Grand Prix 2023 event in Numazu, 904 for their Aug. 26th 5STAR Grand Prix 2023 event in Nagoya, and 307 for their August 27th 5STAR Grand Prix 2023 event in Tsuruga, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• New Japan Pro Wrestling reportedly generated a paid attendance of 672 for their Aug. 19th All Star Junior Festival 2023 event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• Impact Wrestling reportedly generated a paid attendance of 665 for their co-promoted Aug. 20th Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2 event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• Pro Wrestling NOAH reportedly generated a paid attendance of 1,694 for their Aug. 27th N-1 Victory 2023 event in Kawasaki, Japan, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
• Sunday’s N-1 Victory 2023 Finals event in Osaka, Japan featured AAA talent Psycho Clown making a surprise appearance. Following the tag team match of Stallion Rogers & Adam Brooks vs. Lance Anoa’i & El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Psycho Clown made his surprise appearance and attacked Wagner Jr. Clown then held up Wagner Jr.’s GHC National title indicating that he wants a shot at the title.
• Major League Wrestling talent Alexander Hammerstone reportedly was pulled from tonight’s Fury Road 2023 event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania due to a family-related issue, according to PWInsider.
• In a recent interview with the Busted Open Radio podcast, MLW owner Court Bauer stated that MLW recently signed Ichiban to an official contract with the company.