Dave Meltzer is widely regarded as the most influential wrestling journalist in the history of the industry. Born in 1959, Meltzer began covering pro wrestling in the early 1980s, launching the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON) in 1983; a publication that would go on to become the definitive insider source for wrestling news, analysis, and backstage reporting. You can hate it, you can love it, but the reality is that even the wrestlers have admitted to reading WON backstage to get the current buzz — some wrestlers have said in the past that they didn’t hear about their own contract news until it was reported by Dave Meltzer first.
Meltzer’s approach to wrestling journalism broke away from traditional kayfabe coverage. He treated wrestling as a legitimate subject of journalistic scrutiny, analyzing business trends, match quality, backstage politics, and financials with the same seriousness reserved for mainstream sports. His signature star ratings, used to evaluate match quality (with five stars being the classic maximum), have become a cultural touchstone; so much so that many fans and wrestlers view a “Meltzer-rated classic” as a badge of honor and the IWC use it as a reference for arguments.
Beyond wrestling, Meltzer has also covered MMA extensively, particularly in the early days of the UFC. His deep connections across promotions, from WWE and AEW to NJPW and indie scenes, have made him a trusted source, albeit a controversial one. While many praise his accuracy and dedication, others criticize his perceived biases or point to changing plans as evidence of inaccuracy.
Despite the criticism, Meltzer’s impact is undeniable. He has mentored other prominent journalists in the field, helped bring legitimacy to wrestling reporting, and cultivated a community of fans hungry for more than just what’s presented on screen.
To this day, Dave Meltzer continues to publish the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, co-host Wrestling Observer Radio, and shape the conversation around professional wrestling. Whether you love him, hate him, or just quote him online, his presence in the wrestling world remains impossible to ignore.
If you’ve spent any time in wrestling forums, on Twitter/X, or in our very own comment sections, you’ve probably seen some version of this hot take:
“Dave Meltzer is always wrong and has no sources.”
It’s one of the most persistent myths in pro wrestling discourse, but is it actually true? Today, we’re diving deep into Meltzer’s track record, the nature of wrestling journalism, and why this misconception exists in the first place.
The Myth: “He’s Always Wrong”
Let’s get this out of the way:
No, Dave Meltzer is not always wrong. In fact, he’s way more right than he is wrong. This is objectively true. You can hate it. You can complain online — But people within the industry have vouched for Meltzer on many occasions.
“But, wait, Tim,” I just made you say in this hypothetical conversation I’m pretending to have, “Wrestlers have said he was wrong, too!” That’s true. There’s one thing I will absolutely agree on, it’s that Dave doesn’t always do his due diligence when reporting on things he hears. Often, he will take something he heard from a trusted source as face value and run with it. Then, a wrestler will say it’s wrong.
But here’s the problem. Pro wrestling in itself is a secret. Some wrestlers try to keep kayfabe, some will maintain the lie, and some don’t even know the truth for themselves. That’s the nature of the beast. We always assume that if a wrestler says Meltzer is lying that they’re telling the truth and he’s lying, even though he’s not technically lying and their job is to lie. I mean, if I say “my sister heard your dad is the new Captain of the dildo testing facility,” and that ends up not being true, I didn’t lie and I wasn’t wrong. My sister was.
The real problem is that journalists like Meltzer and Sean Ross Sapp (SRS) can’t out their source, because if they did, they’d no longer have that source. So, when Meltzer says, “Brayden Walker’s contract is expiring on the 10th,” and it ends up expiring on the 11th, we immediately call Meltzer the liar — Even though it’s the unnamed source who is really to blame for being wrong (not lying). Again, should Meltzer have double-checked with another source before saying something? Maybe, but that’s not what we’re debating here (and honestly, I don’t know his process; Maybe he does check with multiple sources first?).
This narrative largely comes from fans who misunderstand the nature of wrestling reporting, or from people upset when rumors don’t pan out. Often, these so-called “wrong” reports are based on plans that changed, misinterpreted speculation, or promotions intentionally denying info to protect surprises.
Examples of Reports That Turned Out True:
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Edge returning at the 2020 Royal Rumble — Meltzer had this nailed weeks before it happened.
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CM Punk signing with AEW — He broke this story long before it was confirmed.
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WWE’s sale to Endeavor / UFC merger — Meltzer and the Observer team were consistently ahead of mainstream media on key details.
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Daniel Bryan leaving WWE for AEW — Meltzer called it early and was 100% right.
Examples of “Wrong” Reports — With Context:
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WWE returns or plans that changed last minute (e.g. canceled returns, altered booking).
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In-ring plans that shifted due to injuries or internal politics.
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Speculation misread as fact — Meltzer often uses phrases like “I was told…” or “The belief is…” which aren’t definitive statements, but readers treat them like guarantees. I like to think we aren’t guilty of this, but let’s be honest, Meltzer is tricky with his wording. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell what is being said as “I’m reporting this” and “this is what I heard but I’m not stamping my name on it.” For instance, I recently wrote about how Meltzer claimed Cora Jade made more on OnlyFans than any woman wrestler was being paid for June. Was this a report? Is it a guess? Was he told by one person and he’s repeating hearsay? Sometimes, it’s just unclear and maybe shouldn’t be reported as an official report. Did I do a boo-boo?
Wrestling Journalism Is a Moving Target
Unlike traditional sports journalism, pro wrestling combines scripted entertainment, backstage politics, and last-minute decisions. Even the best-sourced stories can be outdated by the time they hit the page.
WWE, in particular, is known for being highly secretive and unpredictable. Plans change on a dime; and sometimes, companies intentionally feed reporters false info to maintain the element of surprise. I’m reminded of the time Meltzer reported that Test (Andrew Martin) was going to TNA, and Test denied it adamantly. Then, he debuted for TNA.
So when Meltzer (or any reporter) says something that later turns out differently, it’s not always because they were wrong — sometimes, the story changed.
Why the Hate?
There are a few reasons fans say Meltzer is “always wrong”:
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He’s been doing this forever, and people love to tear down veterans.
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He covers AEW more in-depth, leading to tribalistic backlash from WWE fans. It’s undeniable to say that Meltzer clearly has more sources in AEW than WWE.
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His reporting style isn’t always bulletproof, and he sometimes shares speculation that readers mistake for confirmation.
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Wrestlers and companies publicly deny stories, even when they turn out to be true later — making him look wrong in the moment.
- And, let’s be honest, jealousy. Who amongst us wouldn’t love to say we talk to our favorite wrestlers every day and have the lowdown? The jerk.
Ironically, many of the same fans who call Meltzer a liar also:
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Quote his star ratings
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Reference Observer rumors
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Use his scoops for YouTube content
The truth is, he’s more often right than wrong, but people remember the misses louder than the hits.
The Verdict
So, is Dave Meltzer always wrong?
Absolutely not. You may not want to hear it, but his track record is undeniable.
Like any journalist covering a volatile, scripted industry, he gets things wrong — but the idea that he’s consistently inaccurate is a myth driven more by tribalism and emotion than facts.
If you’re going to criticize Meltzer, do it with context. Understand that plans change, speculation exists, and no one in wrestling is right 100% of the time. Not even the people running the companies.
