History Magazine / TheWrestlingObserverNewsletter

Particularly notable is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_matches_rated_5_or_more_stars_by_Dave_Meltzer the "5-star" match rating system,]] to which Meltzer has given a 5 or more star rating to 196 matches in the publication's multi-decade spanning history. Yes, his five-star rating system [[BrokeTheRatingScale can go beyond five stars]]; he has given one match (Wrestling/{{WALTER}} vs. [[Characters/WWENew Tyler Bate]] at ''NXT UK [=TakeOver=]: Cardiff'') 5.25 stars, one (Wrestling/JohnnyGargano vs. Wrestling/AdamCole at ''NXT [=TakeOver=]: New York'') 5.5 stars, one match (Wrestling/TheYoungBucks vs the Wrestling/LuchaBrothers at AEW's ''All Out 2021'') 5.75 stars, three matches a [[UpToEleven 6-star rating]], one match a ''[[BrokeTheRatingScale 6.25-star rating]]'', which is Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada vs. Wrestling/KennyOmega at NJPW's ''Dominion 6.11'' on June 11, 2017, and their subsequent match at ''Dominion 6.9'' on June 9, 2018 ''seven stars.''

Wrestling/RicFlair mentioned in his 2004 autobiography, ''To Be the Man'', that the ''WON'' ''is'' the Bible for wrestlers. Aside from Flair, several professional wrestlers or promoters have read or made a mention to it, among them being Wrestling/VinceMcMahon, Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/BretHart, and Wrestling/MickFoley.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: Kill That Mole and The Paper Bag Bandit. Two comedic silent films starring Bryan and Vinny featured on the Wrestling Observer Youtube channel. Neither film has anything to do with wrestling.

Particularly notable is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_wrestling_matches_rated_5_or_more_stars_by_Dave_Meltzer#2020s the "5-star" match rating system,]] to which Meltzer has given a 5 or more star rating to 196 matches in the publication's multi-decade spanning history. Yes, his five-star rating system [[BrokeTheRatingScale can go beyond five stars]]; he has given one match (Wrestling/{{WALTER}} vs. [[Characters/WWENew Tyler Bate]] at ''NXT UK [=TakeOver=]: Cardiff'') 5.25 stars, one (Wrestling/JohnnyGargano vs. Wrestling/AdamCole at ''NXT [=TakeOver=]: New York'') 5.5 stars, one match (Wrestling/TheYoungBucks vs the Wrestling/LuchaBrothers at AEW's ''All Out 2021'') 5.75 stars, three matches a [[UpToEleven 6-star rating]], one match a ''[[BrokeTheRatingScale 6.25-star rating]]'', which is Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada vs. Wrestling/KennyOmega at NJPW's ''Dominion 6.11'' on June 11, 2017, and their subsequent match at ''Dominion 6.9'' on June 9, 2018 ''seven stars.''

Particularly notable is the "5-star" match rating system, to which Meltzer has given a 5-star rating to less than a hundred matches in the publication's multi-decade spanning history. In addition to these, he has given one match (Wrestling/{{WALTER}} vs. [[Characters/WWENew Tyler Bate]] at ''NXT UK [=TakeOver=]: Cardiff'') 5.25 stars, one (Wrestling/JohnnyGargano vs. Wrestling/AdamCole at ''NXT [=TakeOver=]: New York'') 5.5 stars, one match (Wrestling/TheYoungBucks vs the Wrestling/LuchaBrothers at AEW's ''All Out 2021'') 5.75 stars, three matches a [[UpToEleven 6-star rating]], one match a ''[[BrokeTheRatingScale 6.25-star rating]]'', which is Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada vs. Wrestling/KennyOmega at NJPW's ''Dominion 6.11'' on June 11, 2017, and their subsequent match at ''Dominion 6.9'' on June 9, 2018 ''seven stars.''

* FiveManBand:
** The Leader: Bryan
** The Lancer: Vinny
** The Smart Guy: any guest other than Craig.
** The Big Guy: Craig
** The Chick: Granny

Particularly notable is the "5-star" match rating system, to which Meltzer has given a 5-star rating to less than a hundred matches in the publication's multi-decade spanning history. In addition to these, he has given one match (Wrestling/{{WALTER}} vs. [[Characters/WWENew Tyler Bate]] at ''NXT UK [=TakeOver=]: Cardiff'') 5.25 stars, one (Wrestling/JohnnyGargano vs. Wrestling/AdamCole at ''NXT [=TakeOver=]: New York'') 5.5 stars, three matches a [[UpToEleven 6-star rating]], one match a ''[[BrokeTheRatingScale 6.25-star rating]]'', which is Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada vs. Wrestling/KennyOmega at NJPW's ''Dominion 6.11'' on June 11, 2017, and their subsequent match at ''Dominion 6.9'' on June 9, 2018 ''seven stars.''

Though both the tWrestling Observer and Figure Four Weekly are published under the same brand, the two newsletters have distinctive feels. The Observer focuses more on straightforward news coverage and historic profiles, while Figure Four Weekly is focused more on Alvarez's comedic status as a CausticCritic, while usually leading with a in-depth story on smaller goings on in the wrestling world that Dave can't or won't cover in detail in ''The Observer''. On the radio shows, both Alvarez and Meltzer are masters of [[DeadpanSnarker snark]]. ''The Bryan & Vinny Show'' is a more comedic-oriented show co-hosted by Bryan's long-time friend and ''Figure Four Weekly'' editor Vince Verhei, and can delve into such topics as sports (Verhei was once a sports correspondent), movie reviews (usually featuring wrestlers), and the misadventures of Bryan's cats. It also features Bryan's grandmother, Gladys Gibson, whose own perspective on the news of the week has been a distinctive feature not long after the show's conception.

* RamblingOldManMonologue: As he ages, Dave has developed a tendancy to ramble on for minutes at a time expressing a point he could get across in a matter of seconds, sometimes going completely off on a tangent that has almost nothing to do with the original point.

* RecurringCharacter: [[CoolOldLady Granny]], [[TheBigGuy Craig]], [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Brent]], [[{{Joisey}} Mark]] and [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Wang]].
* SarcasmMode
* {{Sidekick}}: Vinny to Bryan.
* SinkOrSwimFatherhood: What the parenting classes Bryan hated were meant to prevent.
* SirSwearsALot: Bryan and Vinny

* StupidStatementDanceMix: Listeners frequently send in clips of songs "enhanced" by samples from the radio shows or wrestling television. Many a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Crowning Moment of Funny]] was born from Bryan and Vinny's reactions to the more well-realized ones.
* TokenNonHuman: Bryan's cats.

* VitriolicBestBuds

* WhipPan: See MotionBlur above.

* CantHoldHisLiquor: Wang

Wrestling/RicFlair mentioned in his 2004 autobiography, ''To Be the Man'', that the ''WON'' ''is'' the Bible for wrestlers. Aside from Flair, several professional wrestlers or promoters have read or made a mention to it, among them being Wrestling/VinceMcMahon, Wrestling/HulkHogan, Wrestling/BretHart and Wrestling/MickFoley.

Particularly notable is the "5-star" match rating system, to which Meltzer has given a 5-star rating to less than a hundred matches in the publication's multi-decade spanning history. In addition to these, he has given one match (Wrestling/{{WALTER}} vs. Wrestling/TylerBate at ''NXT UK [=TakeOver=]: Cardiff'') 5.25 stars, one (Wrestling/JohnnyGargano vs. Wrestling/AdamCole at ''NXT [=TakeOver=]: New York'') 5.5 stars, three matches a [[UpToEleven 6-star rating]], one match a ''[[BrokeTheRatingScale 6.25-star rating]]'', which is Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada vs. Wrestling/KennyOmega at NJPW's ''Dominion 6.11'' on June 11, 2017, and their subsequent match at ''Dominion 6.9'' on June 9, 2018 ''seven stars.''

Though both the Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Weekly are published under the same brand, the two newsletters have distinctive feels. The Observer focuses more on straightforward news coverage and historic profiles, while Figure Four Weekly is focused more on Alvarez's comedic status as a CausticCritic, while usually leading with a in-depth story on smaller goings on in the wrestling world that Dave can't or won't cover in detail in ''The Observer''. On the radio shows, both Alvarez and Meltzer are masters of [[DeadpanSnarker snark]]. ''The Bryan & Vinny Show'' is a more comedic-oriented show co-hosted by Bryan's long-time friend and ''Figure Four Weekly'' editor Vince Verhei, and can delve into such topics as sports (Verhei was once a sports correspondent), movie reviews (usually featuring wrestlers), and the misadventures of Bryan's cats. It also features Bryan's grandmother, Gladys Gibson, whose own perspective on the news of the week has been a distinctive feature not long after the show's conception.

*** "I'm sure he/she is a nice guy/girl"[[note]]Prior to describing something bad or stupid said guy/girl did. Frequently used in regards to WWE interviewers who are forced to ask dumb questions or [[DontExplainTheJoke explain obvious jokes to the audience by the writers.]] [[/note]]

*** "I'm sure he/she is a nice guy/girl"[[note]]Prior to describing something bad or stupid said guy/girl did.[[/note]]

* PapaWolf: Bryan, [[{{OverprotectiveDad}} big time]]

* RecurringCharacter: [[{{CoolOldLady}} Granny]]
** [[{{TheBigGuy}} Craig]]
** [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Brent]]
** [[{{Joisey}} Mark]]
** [[{{CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass}} Wang]]

* SirSwearsAlot: Bryan and Vinny
* SitcomArchNemesis: This seems to be Brent's relationship with Vinny in real life.

* StupidStatementDanceMix: Listeners frequently send in clips of songs "enhanced" by samples from the radio shows or wrestling television. Many a [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments Crowning Moment of Funny]] was borne from Bryan and Vinny's reactions to the more well-realized ones.

* ViewersAreMorons: Their opinion on rabid Impact! wrestling fans.

* WhipPan: see MotionBlur above.

* AirQuotes: Bryan tends to do this a lot, even calling it out loud by prefacing a word by saying "quote-unquote".

* AirQuotes

* AllMenArePerverts: can't get anything past Craig.

** Vinny. Though he takes it like a champ.
** Wrestling/ErickRowan the vintner

* InsistentTerminology: They often use the most famous name for a FinishingMove (eg, the STO will be called the [[Wrestling/{{Edge}} The Downward Spiral]]), but Bryan once stopped a review to explain that he will only refer to Wrestling/BethPhoenix's Glam Slam as the [[Wrestling/CarleneMoore Bitch Clamp]] due to RuleOfCool. Wrestling/JohnCena's Attitude Adjustment is still sometimes called the FU.

* InsultBackfire: When Hulk Hogan appeared to burn a copy of a "rag sheet" at World War 3 1995, he shouted "[[VerbThis OBSERVE THIS]], BROTHER!" Moments before he claimed that it said [[Wrestling/TheBigShow The Giant]] was going to win at the main event (Meltzer predicted Wrestling/{{Sting}} or Wrestling/RandySavage) and claimed that a report stating Savage had an arm injury was false (despite the injured arm being taped, noticeably smaller than the healthy arm, and the commentary playing it up). Despite the misinformation, Meltzer took it as a compliment that the biggest star in wrestling spent a whole segment burying him.

* InsultBackfire: When Hulk Hogan appeared to burn a copy of a "rag sheet" at World War 3 1995, he shouted "[[VerbThis OBSERVE THIS]], BROTHER!" Moments before he claimed that it said [[Wrestling/TheBigShow The Giant]] was going to win at the main event (Meltzer predicted Wrestling/{{Sting}} or Wrestling/RandySavage) and claimed that a report stating Savage had an arm injury was false (despite the injured arm being noticeably smaller than the healthy arm and the commentary playing it up). Despite the misinformation, Meltzer took it as a compliment that the biggest star in wrestling spent a whole segment burying him.
-->'''Hulk Hogan''': "Observe this, brother! This is what we call a rag sheet, brother! They said The Giant was gonna win the match, they said the Macho Man was hurt! This is like... This is like a dinosaur compared to the Internet, brother! The Internet's got the scoops, we're gonna steal the belt, the Stinger, Macho Man, and Hulk Hogan together! The Macho Man's not hurt, and what are you Hulkamaniacs gonna do when the Stinger, Macho Man and Hulk Hogan run wild on you guys!"

* AccentuateTheNegative: If your only exposure to Meltzer is clickbait headlines, he comes across like the most miserable prick who hates everything outside of Japan, rather than just a weird California dad who loves wrestling. At times it seems like he defends WWE more so than he is given credit for. (Alvarez on the other hand...) The Dave Meltzer you read about on Twitter and in some threads on Reddit seems wildly different to the Meltzer you listen to on the podcast. Meltzer: ''"eh, it was a show"'' wrestlingsheetz.net headline: "'''MELTZER BURIES RAW'''"

** Dave and Bryan infrequently rate horrible matches with negative ratings (Bryan's "MINUS FIVE STARS" for [[Series/{{Survivor}} Jenna Morasca]] vs. Sharmell being infamous), but a match between Wrestling/TheBushwhackers and Wrestling/TheIronSheik and Wrestling/NikolaiVolkoff was rated "absolute zero stars" by Dave and "minus more stars than there are stars in the universe, and the universe is infinite" by Bryan.
** Going the other way, Dave rated a Wrestling/MitsuharuMisawa vs Toshiaki Kawada match for Wrestling/{{All Japan|ProWrestling}} in June 1994 six stars, proclaiming it to possibly be the greatest match ever. About two decades later the Wrestling/KazuchikaOkada vs Wrestling/KennyOmega match at [[Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling Wrestle Kingdom 11]] he also gave six stars, immediately declaring ''it'' to be the greatest match of all time... but then awarded their next match at ''Dominion 6.11'' ''six-and-a-quarter stars''. The ''Dominion 6.9'' match sent the rating scale into the stratosphere with ''seven.''

* ShownTheirWork: Anytime a major wrestler passes away Dave Meltzer goes out of his way to write up an in depth biography for next week's newsletter.

** As if 2015 Doc Young no longer a regular host on "Doc Young's Wrestling Weekly."
* BerserkButton: Senseless "fuck-finishes" that are meant to protect someone but harm everyone, e.g. distraction finishes, "disqualified for kicking too much ass" (I.E. not letting up from beating a guy into the ropes), no contests, etc.

* PrecisionFStrike: Usually when Dave swears, one time describing a nonsensical TNA angle with Dixie Carter and ending by shouting "What the fuck!?"

** Wrestling/LanceStorm, a regular guest on the ''Figure Four Daily'' radio show, says "it's one of those things" very often, and in one episode of ''The Bryan & Vinny Show'', Bryan quipped that when someone pointed it out in the form of a compilation soundbyte, Lance became very self-conscious and didn't say it at all on his next appearance ''Figure Four Daily''.

** to a much lesser extent, Bryan

* BubbleBoy: Figuratively. Bryan is constantly accused of living in a wrestling/MMA bubble and has little to no knowledge of the goings on of the world outside it. Even Dave, who has reportedly spent up to 20 hours a day working during busier seasons, has time to go out with his family or watch other television (such as Series/{{Dallas}}).

** Vinny. Though he takes it like a champ

** [[Series/{{TotalDivas}} Jo Jo]]

*** [[Wrestling/{{TNA}} "To the back!"]]

* CovertPervert: Tuesday night co-host Craig, who is a laid-back, church attending man who never swears but makes many sexual remarks.

* DamnedByFaintPraise: If a match has nothing truly offensive about it but also did anything particularly of note, Vinny will describe it as [[ShapedLikeItself 'a match']].

* AccentuateTheNegative: If your only exposure to Meltzer is clickbait headlines, he comes across like the most miserable prick who hates everything outside of Japan, rather than just a weird California dad who loves wrestling. At times it seems like he defends WWE more so than he is given credit for. (Alvarez on the other hand...) The Dave Meltzer you read about on Twitter and in clickbait headlines seems wildly different to the Meltzer you listen to on the podcast. Meltzer: ''"eh, it was a show"'' wrestlingsheetz.net headline: "'''MELTZER BURIES RAW'''"

* AccentuateTheNegative: At times it seems like he defends WWE more so than he is given credit for. (Alvarez on the other hand...) The Dave Meltzer you read about on Twitter and in clickbait headlines seems wildly different to the Meltzer you listen to on the podcast. Meltzer: ''"eh, it was a show"'' wrestlingsheetz.net headline: "'''MELTZER BURIES RAW'''"