Wrestling Observer Radio Recap: August 21, 2024 – Lawlor, Ospreay, WWE/ESPN, and More
Table of Contents
This recap covers the key discussion points from the August 21, 2024, episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, hosted by Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer. The show featured updates on wrestler injuries, major media deals impacting professional wrestling, and ratings analysis for recent events.
Wrestler Health & Status Updates
Tom Lawlor: Lawlor is recovering from recent hip replacement surgery. No specific timeline for his return too the ring was discussed, but the report indicates he is in recovery.
Will Ospreay: The episode questioned whether Ospreay should wrestle in an upcoming event, likely referencing his participation in AEW’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view.AEW Forbidden Door
Nick Wayne: Wayne sustained an injury. Details regarding the nature and severity of the injury were discussed, though specifics weren’t readily available in the initial report. Wrestling Inc. on Nick Wayne’s Injury
WWE & Media Rights
A significant portion of the discussion centered on WWE’s evolving media landscape:
ESPN & PLEs: WWE is set to begin broadcasting Premium Live Events (PLEs) on ESPN next month. This marks a major shift in how WWE content is distributed. ESPN and WWE Multiyear Rights Agreement
Peacock/SNME Changes: Updates were provided regarding changes to WWE content on Peacock and the WWE Network (now SNME – WWE Network Streaming Media Experience). These changes likely relate to content availability and pricing. Peacock & WWE Partnership
Ratings & Event Performance
Collision Ratings: Ratings for AEW Collision were reported as being down.This suggests a potential decline in viewership for the show. Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Subscription Required) (Note: Access requires a subscription)
Triplemania Numbers: Discussion included ratings and attendance figures for Triplemania, a major event produced by AAA in Mexico. AAA Triplemania
General Ratings Trends: Meltzer and alvarez analyzed broader trends in wrestling viewership across different promotions.
Other News & Notes
CMLL: News and updates from CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre), a prominent Mexican wrestling promotion, were discussed. CMLL Official Website
Jake Paul Fight: Jake Paul’s upcoming boxing match was briefly mentioned. Jake Paul Boxing
AEW Dynamite Recap: A recap of the most recent episode of AEW Dynamite,leading into the Forbidden Door PPV,was provided. AEW Dynamite
WWE NXT Notes: Updates and analysis of the latest WWE NXT show were shared. WWE NXT
* AEW Collision Spoilers: Spoilers for upcoming episodes of AEW Collision were discussed.
This episode of Wrestling Observer Radio provided a comprehensive overview of current events in the professional wrestling world, covering injuries, media deals, and ratings performance. Looking ahead, the impact of the WWE/ESPN deal and the continued competition between AEW and WWE will be key storylines to watch.