Daily Update: Stephan Bonnar, William Morrissey & Lexy Nair, SmackDown

Originally posted on F4WOnline.com | By Dave Meltzer | Last updated 12/25/22

Daily Update

Latest News:

Latest Audio:

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

December 26, 2022 Observer Newsletter: John Cena returning to WWE, new TV content interest decline

*Wrestler of the Week and Match of the week
*John Cena's early career and his return, as well as an update on his WrestleMania prospects
*In depth on why television and streaming are cutting back on new programming and how this impacts the pro wrestling business.
*If you asked people to name a pro wrestler, how many could name one and who would be the first person they'd name, and the reality of "mainstream" knowledge of today's pro wrestlers.
*Complete coverage of UFC's last show of the year as well as a sad lesson about getting injured the week of your fight.
*A look at one of the best shows of 2022, the TakaTaichi promoted show at Yoyogi Gym in Tokyo
*The most detailed look at TV viewership for every major show over the past week
*New weekly streaming live show debuts
*Promotion doing rematches of its best matches of 2022
*The story behind the voting for tag team of the year in Japan
*Stardom has one of its biggest shows in its history this week
*Notes on the upcoming show at the Tokyo Dome
*A week of incredible matches
*Ospreay vs. Ishii
*El Hijo del Vikingo in the U.S. working dates
*Impact next PPV
*AEW makes major new broadcast deal that will be announced in a few weeks
*The mystery man on Dynamite this week
*Tickets sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
*WWE & AEW streaming numbers
*International TV ratings
*Ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
*UFC PPV numbers for this past year
*A bill expected to be introduced in the U.S. Senate that would greatly change the MMA world
*Dana White talks about luck and timing
*Judging controversies
*Two fighters feud on Twitter and got into it at the UFC gym
*Sports business analyst predicts NBCU buying WWE and we talks about what is and isn't valid about that
*Post-Christmas WWE touring
*Most popular WWE names in social media
*Current WWE market value

This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter:

November 14, 2005 Observer Newsletter: UFC Ultimate Fight Night, Hustlemania recaps

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 dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

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 Update

- Merry Christmas everyone. Hope your holiday season is filled with joy. Many decades ago this was a major wrestling evening for live shows but now it's the NFL and NBA on television that are the sports kings of the day.

- Bryan and I will be doing our first show together in 11 days tonight talking the death of Stephan Bonnar as well as the many big shows coming up this week and other topics including Rob Bihari's (RobViper on Twitter) post about WWE and AEW. You can also send questions to mailbag@wrestlingobserver.com for the show.

- While Bonnar was far more famous as a UFC star, and a Hall of Famer for the first Bonnar-Griffin fight which is among the most important MMA fights in U.S. history, he also did some pro wrestling from 2017 to 2020 including 2017 and 2019 matches for Impact. Scott D'Amore, who helped train him for pro wrestling, wrote, "I'm absolutely heartbroken at today's news. When Stephan was preparing for his Impact debut, I had the honor of being called upon to coach him. A legendary fighter, a passionate professional and an amazing person. I feel blessed to have had his friendship. RIP to a Hall of Fame human being." Josh Alexander talked about working Black Label Pro shows with him. Bonnar was a big fan and heavily used pro wrestling to draw from in his Bellator fight with Tito Ortiz. Bonnar was also a main training partner for Dave Bautista when Bautista did his only MMA fight.

- AEW personalities Bill Morrissey, 36, and interviewer Lexy Nair, 26. announced their engagement last night. Nair is the stepdaughter of Diamond Dallas Page.

- AEW is pushing very hard production changes and upgrades that would start being evident on the 1/4 show in Seattle.

- Dragon Gate Final Gate show from earlier today in Fukuoka: Kzy & Jason Lee & Jacky Funky Kamei & Strong Machine J b Masaaki Mochizuki & Susumu Mochizuki & Mochizuki Jr. & Yasushi Kanda, Yoshiki Kato & Kaito Nagano b Problem Dragon & Takashi Yoshida, Minorita b Hyo to win the Open the Brave Gate title, Ultimo Dragon & Dragon Kid & Dragon Dia & Bokutimo Dragon b Eita & Don Fujii & Genki Horiguchi & Ho Ho Lun, Diamante b Kota Minoura, Kai & Ishin & Shun Skywalker b Naruki Doi & Shuji Kondo & Toru Owashi to keep the Open the Triangle Gate titles, Shingo Takagi & BxB Hulk b Madoka Kikuta & Yamato, Yuki Yoshioka b Ben K to keep the Open the Dream Gate title. (thanks to Tony Ceto)

- The fast nationals indicate a huge number for SmackDown this past Friday. The fast national number is 2.21 million viewers and 0.5 in 18-49, and final numbers are always up because SmackDown performs better in smaller markets which the fast nationals don't cover. The show will surely win the night big in 18-49, and could finish as high as third in total viewers, a level the show almost never does. Because of the holiday, ratings will be delayed this week. No schedule is out but Friday numbers probably won't be out until Tuesday or Wednesday.

- FOX is pushing the hell out of this coming Friday's SmackDown all over its NFL games this weekend due to the John Cena & Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn & Roman Reigns match. The expectation is for the biggest WWE television number of the year. The show in Tampa is basically sold out with more than 12,000 tickets out, which means they've moved just under 5,000 tickets since the announcement of Cena on the show, which is ticket movement at the end that almost never happens.

- The Ric Flair documentary debuts tomorrow on Peacock.

- Louis McNair, who wrestled for more than 20 years in the Carolinas as The Scrap Yard Dog, passed away on Friday. He helped train dozens of wrestlers in the Carolinas including Rob Killjoy. He also was the opponent of Cameron Grimes (Trevor Lee) in Lee's first match. (thanks to Brad Stutts)

- FTR will be defending the AAA tag titles against Dragon Lee & Dralistico on the Wednesday AAA show in Acapulco. The main event is El Hijo del Vikingo vs Bandido for the AAA Mega championship.

- We're looking for reports on tomorrow's WWE house shows in Madison Square Garden and Columbus, OH as the promotion starts touring all week to dave@wrestlingobserver.com. MSG is scheduled for Kevin Owens & Braun Strowman vs. Usos and a ladder match for the IC title with Gunther, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet, Kofi Kingston and Santos Escobar. Columbus has Austin Theory vs. Seth Rollins for the U.S. title and Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch vs Bayley for the Raw women's title listed. Historically, this week after Christmas and leading to New Year's is the best time of the year to sell tickets.

- Warrior Wrestling announced a 1/21 show in South Bend, IN with KC Navarro defending the Warrior title against Buddy Matthews.

- Tokyo Joshi Pro from yesterday: Kaya Toriami b Haruna Neko, Pom Harajuku b Arisu Endo, Miu Watanabe won a three-way over Raku and Jiuria Nagano, Yuki Kamifuku b Mahiro Kiryu, Hikari Noa d Yuki Aino, Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki & Shoko Nakajima & Suzume b Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh & Hyper Misao & Moka Miyamoto. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

- Stardom Christmas Eve show from yesterday: Hanan won three-way over Rina and Momo Kohgo, Mayu Iwatani & Hazuki & Koguma & Saya Iida b Utami Hayashishita & Hina & Lady C & Miyu Amasaki, Nanae Takahashi & Yuu won 2 vs. 3 over Tam Nakano & Natsupoi & Waka Tsukiyama, Natsuko Tora & Momo Watanabe & Saki Kashima & Ruaka & Fugiken Death b Risa Sera & Suzu Suzuki & Kurumi Hiragi & Akane Fujita & Mochi Natsui, Saya Kamitani & AZM d Starlight Kid & Haruka Umesaki 20:00, Giulia & Thekla & Himeka & Mai Sakurai b Syuri & Maika & Ami Sohrei & Tomoka Inaba & Nanami in an elimination match with Donna Del Mondo winning over God's Eye when Himeka and Sohrei were the first two and Himeka won via power bombs (thanks to Shannon Walsh)

- LFA has announced a 2/10 show in Shawnee, OK at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort and 2/17 show in Hammond, IN at the Horseshoe Casino. Both shows air on UFC Fight Pass.

This article first appeared on F4WOnline.com and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: