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PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)

Following last week’s episode that featured a heavily promoted appearance by CM Punk, Tuesday’s edition of WWE Backstage on FS1 averaged 121,000 viewers, down from 180,000 last week.

An appearance by WWE COO Paul “HHH” Levesque was the most promoted aspect from this week’s show as Punk was not advertised to appear. This week’s panel featured regulars Renee Young, Christian, Paige, Samoa Joe, and Booker T. 

Backstage drew a 0.05 rating in the 18-49 demographic, placing it 125th in the demo for the day on cable. 

A preview episode of WWE Backstage, which aired on October 16th following a ALCS baseball game, did 597,000 viewers. A second episode that aired after a special episode of SmackDown on FS1 did 426,000 viewers.

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Here are the viewership numbers for the last four episodes since settling in to its regular Tuesday 11 PM Eastern time slot:

November 5 — 49,000
November 12 — 100,000
November 19 — 180,000 
November 26 — 120,000

Even with an appearance by CM Punk, Tuesday’s episode of WWE Backstage on FS1 fell in viewership.

The show averaged 127,000 viewers, drawing a .06 rating in the 18-49 demo, down from last week’s .08. That marked a drop of 11,000 from last week’s 138,000 viewers which was the second highest in the history of the show thus far.

The episode featured an interview with Baron Corbin where he discussed last Friday’s dog food segment on SmackDown. Punk also gave his thoughts on Seth Rollins’ heel turn.

This was Punk’s second appearance on the show. His first on November 19th remains Backstage’s most-viewed airing at 180,000 viewers and a .10 in the key 18-49 demo.

Here’s a look at Backstage viewership since debuting in its normal time slot:

November 5 — 49,000 viewers 
November 12 — 100,000 viewers
November 19 — 180,000 viewers
November 26 — 121,000 viewers
December 3 –138,000 viewers
December 10 — 127,000 viewers

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PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)

Five weeks after WWE began hyping his return, Sheamus officially came back on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

Sheamus appeared after Shorty G (Chad Gable) faced Dash Wilder on tonight’s show. Gable submitted Wilder with an ankle lock but was then attacked by The Revival. Wilder and Scott Dawson bailed when Sheamus came down, then Sheamus laid out Gable with the Brogue Kick.

Sheamus had been out of action for nearly nine months. Dave Meltzer reported in September that Sheamus was ready to return: “He’s been off and has spinal stenosis, which is not a good thing long-term for a wrestler. But he is ready to return and if a storyline is there, he would be brought back.”

The videos hyping Sheamus’ return included him criticizing the current state of SmackDown and saying that the show has become soft. Gable was mentioned by name in the first video, with Sheamus saying that all he sees is misfits and cowards.

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PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)

DAILY UPDATE

Latest News:

The Elite to face Inner Circle in AEW Blood & Guts match   
Tag team match added to WWE Elimination Chamber pre-show   
MLW Fusion 100 video & results: Jacob Fatu vs. CIMA   
WWE Allentown, PA, results: Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton 
Updated list of entrants for ROH Pure and Women’s title tournaments   
NXT UK spoilers: Number one contender’s battle royal   
WWE Main Event results: Akira Tozawa vs. Eric Young   
UFC 248 live results: Adesanya vs. Romero, Zhang vs. Jedrzejczyk  

Latest Audio:

DragonKing Dark: Loch Ness Monster 3/8
WOR: UFC 248 recap, WON awards in-depth, WWE & AEW news 3/8

We’re looking for your thoughts on both the Elimination Chamber and UFC 248 shows, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

We’re looking for reports on the TNA show on Friday in Atlanta, as well as NXT shows from Cleveland on Friday and Detroit on Saturday to [email protected]

Elimination Chamber at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on WWE Network:

Women’s Chamber: Shayna Baszler, Asuka, Natalya, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan. Since the winner faces Becky Lynch and they’ve already shot the angle for Lynch vs. Baszler, one thinks Baszler wins. If not, then Vince changed his mind.  Baszler is a -1500 favorite while Asuka is +1200, Morgan is +3300, Riott is +2800, Natalya is +3300 and Logan is +10,000. 
Smackdown tag title chamber: Miz & John Morrison, New Day, Usos, Lucha House Party, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode and Heavy Machinery.  The big thing looks to set up Otis vs. Ziggler. Miz & Morrison are -210 to retain the titles. On paper this looks like the best match on the show along with Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak
Street Profits vs. Seth Rollins & Murphy for Raw tag titles. Street Profits are -350 favorites and Rollins & Murphy are +225.  Should be a good match.
Braun Strowman vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn & Cesaro in a handicap match for the IC title. Lots of late betting on the heels so Strowman is only a -120 favorite.
Andrade vs. Humberto Carrillo for the U.S. title. Andrade is a -130 favorite. This should be good as well.
A.J. Styles vs. Aleister Black no DQ.  Black is a -165 favorite. The only way I can see Styles losing, given he’s facing Undertaker at WrestleMania, is that there is outside interference and his guys either botch it and he loses, or it’s Undertaker who causes it.
Daniel Bryan vs. Drew Gulak. Technically this should be good. Bryan is a -420 favorite. The thing here is whether the crowd gets into Gulak, since he’s gotten very little of a push. It should be noted that Gulak is from the area so the crowd should be better for him  than somewhere else.
Viking Raiders vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder. It reads like a Viking Raiders win.

From a star power standpoint, this is one of the weakest PPVs the company has ever done, and it’s on a short build. So many regular top stars aren’t on the show and neither the WWE nor Universal titles are at stake. The idea of the key matches have changed many times. 

Are you interested in attending our annual F4W/WON convention? We will hold it during AEW Double or Nothing weekend. For more information, check this post for activities and prices.

WON NEWSLETTER: 40th Annual Awards Issue The results from the 2019 WON awards are in.

One of the year’s biggest issues, our 40th annual awards issue is out this week.  The issue covers these awards:

1) Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award for Wrestler of the Year; 2) MMA MVP; 3) Most Outstanding Wrestler; 4) Most Outstanding MMA Fighter; 5) Tag Team of the Year; 6) Best On Interviews; 7) Promotion of the Year; 8) Best Weekly TV show; 9) Pro Wrestling Match of the Year; 10) MMA Match of the Year; 11) U.S/Canada MVP; 12) Japan MVP; 13) Mexico MVP; 14) Europe MVP; 15) Non-heavyweight MVP; 16) Women’s Wrestling MVP; 17) Women’s MMA MVP; 18) Best Box Office Draw; 19) Feud of the Year; 20) Most Improved; 21) Most Charismatic; 22) Bryan Danielson Award/Best Technical Wrestler; 23) Bruiser Brody Award/Best Brawler; 24) Best Flying Wrestler; 25) Most Overrated; 26) Most Underrated; 27) Rookie of the Year; 28) Best Non-Wrestler; 29) Best TV announcer; 30) Worst TV announcer; 31) Best Major wrestling show; 32) Worst major wrestling show; 33) Best wrestling maneuver; 34) Most Disgusting promotional tactic; 35) Worst TV show; 36) Worst match of the year; 37) Worst feud of the year; 38) Worst promotion of the year; 39) Best Booker; 40) Promoter of the Year; 41) Best gimmick; 42) Worst gimmick; 43) Best book; 44) Best documentary

We have the top placings in every category as well as a list of winners of every award dating back to 1980.

The new issue also covers:

Coronavirus and an update on its affect on Japanese pro wrestling.

Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega & Adam Page match and compare it to great tag team matches of the past, in particular Misawa & Kobashi vs. Kawada & Taue from 1995 and Midnight Express vs Fantastics from 1988.

AEW Revolution with business notes, storylines, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.

Preview Elimination Chamber with early business notes and the current demand.

Folding of the Wrestle-1 promotion.

WWE and All Japan, WrestleMania ticket sales and secondary market interest, update on WrestleMania show, Jeff Hardy, John Layfield in the Hall of Fame, XFL ratings updates, Injuries and other WWE absences, notes on a new WWE wrestler who just had his first match this past week, Renee Young talks her situation and Jon Moxley, next MSG show, Notes on the Tampa Takeover show, company value, most-watched shows on WWE Network, and a rundown of all the WWE and NXT live events over the past week with highlights and business notes.

Saturday’s UFC show, looking at the key matches and stories, business notes and match-by-match coverage.

Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker. 

All the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.

In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.

Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week. 

ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE

Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio covering a ton of stories including David Starr, Scott Steiner, Wednesday ratings, Elimination Chamber and everything else we didn’t get to last night. Our awards show is up on the site right now from last night.

For Google searches, UFC 248 had 2.1 million searches. That’s a strong number, really better than would have been expected for that show, so the late build of the two main events was strong.  Things not associated with UFC 248 that made the list was Tony Ferguson at No. 17 on Friday with 50,000 and Scott Steiner due to his health scare at No. 17 on Saturday with 50,000.

Regarding the two title fights at UFC 248, in Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero, Sal D’Amato scored rounds three through five for Adesanya, Chris Lee scored rounds two through five for Adesanya and Ron McCarthy scored three through five for Adesanya. I scored three through five for Adesanya as well.  Media scores at last look were 61 percent for Adesanya. It was close.

For Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Michael Bell scored one, four and five for Weili, Derek Clearly scored two, four and five for Weili and Eric Cohen scored three through five for Jedrejczyk. Media scores were 71 percent for Weili. That fight is likely to win fight of the year and was one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

Paul Levesque received a Lifetime Achievement award from Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday as part of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH.

AAA has a press conference on Wednesday to announce TripleMania.

WWE
Paige will be appearing 7/3 to 7/5 for WAW, her parents’ promotion, in the U.K. at Pontins Southport.
UFC
Dana White last night said that if a Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor rematch happens, it would be the biggest fight in combat sports history. Well, that’s up there with Arum predicting Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder would do McGregor-Pacquiao numbers. At least McGregor-Khabib will come closer than Fury-Wilder did.  
Brian Ortega reportedly slapped Korean music artist Jay Park at last night’s show. It was quickly broken up. Park was the translator for Chan Sung Jung and evidently Ortega was mad at how he translated something.  Park told Ariel Helwani that Ortega came up to him when Jung went to the bathroom and asked if he was Jay Park. When he said “Yes,” according to Park, Ortega open palm slapped him. 
AEW
Bill Apter talks to Jake Roberts.
MISCELLANEOUS
A story on DirecTV likely to be falling.
70-year-old Mike Jackson worked on Friday for Impact at their TV taping in Atlanta. Reports are he looked great.
Former UFC star Chris Leben will face former University of Alabama linebacker Marcel Stamps in a Bare Knuckle fighting championships main event on 4/11 in Birmingham, LA at the Boutwell Auditorium. Heavyweight champion Joey Beltran defends his title against Mark Godbeer.  Stamps played form 2004 to 2008 and knocked out Kendall Grove previously in a Bare Knuckle fight.
Wrestling Go from yesterday in Sydney, Australia:  Bee Boy b King Shahil, Lena Kross & Parker Tomas b Kingsley & Xena, Ricky South b Lex Lennock, Cear & The Buccaneer b Lee Morrow & Matthias Clock, Matty Wahlberg NC Tree Hugger Luchi, ASPN b Shazza McKenzie to keep the New Zealand women’s title, Aaron Jake won over Massive Q, Mr. Christmas and Nikki Van Blair, Saxon Hughes b Axton Ursus, Jay Sorbert won three-way over Jessica Troy and Donnie Mako to win the Silver medal.  (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Chris Masters and Minoru Tanaka work for All-Star Wrestling Australia on 4/18 in Sydney.
Wrestling Go from Friday in Sydney:  Johnny Wehlan b Chris Stevens, Jessica Troy b Lena Kross, Alex Irvine b Jackson Spade-DQ, Mat Gauge & Milen Malice b Lex Lennock & Silvio Milano, Parker Tomas b King Shahil, Big Fudge d The Perfects, Saxon Hughes b Johnny Wehlan, Kai Drake b Robbie Eagles in 47:00.  Match was said to be technically good but too long for the crowd.
EPW from last night in Perth,Western Australia:  Tipene b Aaron Hawk, Casey Johns b Edith Night, Del Cano b Jay Taylor, Gavin McGavin won over Taylor King, Michael Morleone and Dan Steel, Bobby Marshall & Dan Moore b Damien Slater & Julian Ward, Bruno Nitro NC Junior Li, Davis Storm b Marcius Pitt to win Coastal title in a career vs. title match.  There was a sendoff to Ward who is moving to Canada.
Keith Greenberg is writing a book for ECW Press on Pro Wrestling in 2020 with Brexit, the US presidential election and the coronavirus as backdrops. He’s looking to hear from wrestlers or promoters at [email protected]
Northeast Wrestling from last night in New Bethany, CT:  JT b Chris Battle, Brad Hollister b Chuck O’Neill, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Richard Holliday, Karen Bam Bam b Little Mean Kathleen, Bobby Orlando b  Kenny Bengal, RJ Rude & Zane Bernardo b Bear Country-DQ, Vincent b Mike Verna, Christian Casanova b Delirious to keep the Facebook title, Keith Youngblood won four-way over JT Dunn, Wrecking Ball Legursky and Brad Hollister
Hoosier Pro Wrestling from last night in Columbus, IN: Cooter b Guy Lombardo, Rudy Switchblade b Scarecrow, Randall Floyd b Big D, Dodo Brown b John Doe-DQ, Truth Magnum b Ace Jackson, Jay Lee b Allie Parker, Buck Sexton b TJ Kemp.  Next show in Columbus, IN is 4/4. .
Pro Wrestling EVE from yesterday in London: Laura Di Mateo b Kira Chimea, Kasey b Maddison Miles, Jetta b Clementine, Sammii Jayne b Holidead to keep International title, Zoe Lucas b Rebel Kinney, Skye Smitson b Session Moth Martina, Rhia O’Reilly b Jazzy Gabert to keep Eve title, Kasey b Sammii Jayne to win International title. Jetta challenged  O’Reily in a career vs. title match for the 5/10 anniversary show. 
Eve announced an all-women’s show on 5/8 where the entire crew,announcers, referees and backstage people will be women and tickets are available to anyone who identifies as a woman (thanks to Chris Gannon)

Daily Pro Wrestling History: The Wild Samoans win WWF Tag Team titles

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PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents a special Thursday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast featuring a WrestleMania 36 Preview with ex-WWE Creative Team member and professional stand-up comedian Matt McCarthy.

(Search “wade keller” to subscribe in podcast app or CLICK HERE to subscribe in Apple Podcasts.)

Police have searched the Paris apartment of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, advancing the French leg of a probe into trafficking claims against the disgraced US financier, prosecutors confirmed on Tuesday.

Detectives scoured Epstein’s luxury home in Paris on Avenue Foch, one of the capital’s most expensive streets, favoured by royalty, celebrities and billionaires, into the early hours of Tuesday.

Prosecutors said that investigators had last week also searched the premises of Karin Models, an agency founded by Jean-Luc Brunel, a French friend and former associate of Epstein.

Epstein was found hanged in his New York jail cell on August 10 while awaiting trial.   

Before his death, prosecutors argued he should be kept behind bars ahead of his trial after finding a fake passport in a safe filled with diamonds and piles of cash in his $77 million (£62m) Upper East Side mansion.

Epstein was a well-connected financier who counted Prince Andrew, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton among his former friends.

In the bail memorandum, prosecutors said a search of his New York residence uncovered "an extraordinary volume of photographs of nude and partially nude young women or girls," some of which "appear to be of underage girls”.

Earlier this month, British Epstein victim Sarah Ransome recounted how she tried and failed to swim several miles from a 70-acre Caribbean island owned by Epstein called Little St James after months of abuse.

“I had been raped three times that day,” she said. “A shark would have been my best friend at that point. I didn’t even think about it – it was just, get me away.”

But Epstein had installed video cameras all over the island, she said, and within minutes of her setting out a team had appeared to try and persuade her to return to the house. 

Miss Ransome filed a lawsuit against Epstein, his confidante Ghislaine Maxwell, and three alleged assistants, claiming she was trafficked for sex over the course of seven months.

Ms Maxwell denied the allegations and applied for a Motion to Dismiss the Claim.

The case was eventually settled out of court, but Miss Ransome told her full story for the first time in the wake of Epstein’s suicide to encourage other young women to come forward. 

In August, she was one of 20 women to recount their allegations against Epstein at a special hearing in a Manhattan court. 

Claims of abuse have since emerged across the Atlantic, and three women have already given evidence to investigators in France. 

French investigators are trying to identify French citizens or residents who were victims or accomplices of Mr Epstein’s alleged crimes.

Until the women came forward, investigators were pursuing allegations that Mr Epstein raped or sexually assaulted underage girls in France on the basis of three letters from Innocence in Danger, an advocacy group.