Figure Four Weekly Online

Lesnar and upcoming UFC major events; Hogan/TNA updates; Hogan book review; Shane McMahon update

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:54:26 +0100

dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We've got a lead story on Brock Lesnar, what exactly happened with him over the past two weeks, the UFC heavyweight title picture, as well as a look at the new main event level matches UFC has put together over the past week in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The issue also has full coverage of UFC 105 from Manchester, TNA Turning Point, more on the death of Adam Firestorm, Raw in Madison Square Garden and much more.

The issue is available right now to premium subscribers on the web site. You can also get the Observer mailed to your home with details below.

We have an update on Lesnar's condition, a look at the heavyweight division, the snake-bit UFC with so many headliners out at the same time, and updates on Shane Carwin, Quinton Jackson, Randy Couture, Cain Velasquez and more.

We also look at the Hogan effect on TNA, including several wrestling personalities that have been recruited to come in, exactly who is really in charge, as well as a look at Turning Point, one of the company's best PPV shows in years due to the Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe and A.J. Styles vs Samoa Joe vs. Daniels headline matches. We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from the show.

We also look at UFC 105, including the Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera judging, the business notes on the show, comparisons to the CBS show the week before, and how every match on the show did in ratings. We also talk about UFC in the U.K., how over Couture was with the fighters, as well as match-by-match coverage with poll results.

We also have a look at Hulk Hogan's latest autobiography, and some of his stories and what does and doesn't make sense out of them, as he talks his career, his marriage, his childhood and his future.

We also have more on the WWE's new deal with the USA Network, the WWE business on its recent European tour, future guest hosts, lots more on the Linda McMahon campaign including where she is polling in her race for next year, as well as people critical of her due to the content of wrestling, her campaign's response, as well as Superstar Billy Graham being involved in campaigning against McMahon.

We also have more notes on where things stand with a WWE Channel, as well as notes on similar channels, as well as WWE in the U.K., on television, John Cena's next movie, another top babyface injured and who in particular needs to be pushed because of it, an update on Gerald Brisco, talk of the WrestleMania main event for next year, a wrestler expected back in the next two weeks, update on Matt Cappotelli, WWE Hall of Fame, health of Jim Ross, new announcing situation, where Bryan Danielson stands with WWE, former developmental wrestler returns with a new role, house show changes, update on Edge, as well as tons of notes regarding new wrestlers in developmental including two wrestlers who competed at this year's NCAA tournament.

We also have a look at all the shows of the last week on the WWE European tour.

We've got notes on the death of Orig Williams, perhaps the most famous wrestler to come out of Wales, as well as a story on the death of Adam Firestorm, and similarities of his death with many other wrestler deaths in recent years.

We also have a look at the ratings for all the major pro
wrestling and MMA shows on television over the past week.

We also have our usual weekly features such as the results of the
biggest matches of the week and rundown of the major television shows.

The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering
pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.

Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus
every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sites and has
the most complete look at the business as a whole anywhere.

The Observer is now in its 27th year of being the leading insider
pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential
names in the pro wrestling industry as well as the MMA industry, from
bookers, to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the
biggest current names, both on camera, and behind the scenes, along with
thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 countries subscribe. Many
have subscribed as long as 20 years or more straight. They get the most
detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world and
an accuracy from having the most inside sources that can't be found on
the web. Everyone from Wall Street to the major offices to the TV
networks in U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in
the business. If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you
can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a
40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you
today. Just send your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address,
phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to
dave@wrestlingobserver.com or you can order by faxing that information to
408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at
www.paypal.com and using the dave@wrestlingobserver.com address or
subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card, by
mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228,
Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

Also in this week's issue:

--Notes on the expected CMLL year-end show main event

--CMLL tour of France notes

--Rival rips on El Hijo del Santo

--Bad news for one promotion in the ratings in Mexico, as well as how Pacquiao did on free TV there compared to Lesnar and Jack Black

--Vampiro talks about his glory years

--More on Dragon Gate over WrestleMania weekend

--U.S. star headed next week to Dragon Gate tour

--Dragon Gate's final big show of the year in Japan

--Update on KENTA's knee injury and his return

--UFC star who wanted to be a pro wrestler before getting into MMA involved in New Japan angle for a match in two weeks

--Rival group star added to Super J Cup tournament

--Notes on attempt to revive FMW

--Women wrestling legends face off this week for the first time ever

--61-year-old former world kickboxing champion makes pro wrestling debut

--Perry Saturn found

--Notes on Ric Flair's wedding

--Update on Gabe Sapolsky's Evolve promotion

--Notes on RVD touring Europe

--Big crowds for independent group in U.S>

--Notes on Battle of Los Angeles

--Brooke Hogan's bad press

--80s star writing a book as well as Hall of Famer talking about doing an autobiography

--More on ROH stars getting WWE tryout and contract situation

--ROH injury updates

--Notes on ROH weekend house shows

--More on the Hogan/Flair angle getting worldwide media attention

--More on TNA's television schedule

--Thoughts on TNA going to Monday

--TNA PPV gets terrible date

--TNA doing on-line marketing

--Wrestlers in TNA signed and cut

--TNA house show and TV taping reports

--Station Casinos update

--Notes on season 11 of Ultimate Fighter

--Notes on Shane McMahon visiting UFC headquarters

--Attempts by UFC to run a show in the middle East

--Former UFC fighter has warrant out for arrest

--Match of the Year TV special

--Several new UFC matches announced including talks with a 90s legend who has never fought in UFC before

--Notes on the Fedor/Affliction lawsuit

--Updates on the next major Strikeforce show on 12/19 in San Jose

--A PPV you never heard of that recently did 850,000 buys and why

--What very dubious distinction did Manny Pacquiao pass Fred Blassie in

--Man who killed former UFC star sentenced

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what
major story (ies) of the past 11 years you are most interested in and
we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got
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and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

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Lesnar)

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*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged
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*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and
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*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
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calling one of the best issues in history)

*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his
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*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas
including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original
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*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S.
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*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at
the Greensboro Coliseum)

*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
overseas)

*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)

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*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks
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*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers
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*September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8
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*September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

*September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our
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FRI. UPDATE: LOTS OF BIG EVENTS THIS WEEKEND; ANNIVERSARY OF BIG EVENT; TNA RATING; BURCHILL FUTURE

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:51:41 +0100

dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We're looking for your thoughts on Wednesday night's WEC 44, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Several major shows this weekend, including Strikeforce Challengers Series tonight from Kansas City at 11 p.m. on Showtime, UFC 106 from Las Vegas on Saturday night and WWE Survivor Series on Sunday.

We're also looking for reports from tonight and tomorrow night's Battle of Los Angeles tournament shows in Reseda, CA (as noted last night, Chris Sabin is out, first round is Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Steen, Scott Lost vs. Jerome Robinson, Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick, Joey Ryan vs. Colt Cabana, Brandon Gatson vs. Nick Jackson, El Generico vs. Alex Shelley, Johnny Goodtime vs. Roderick Strong and Matt Jackson vs. Human Tornado) as well as tomorrow night's Hulkamania show in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena which will be Hulk Hogan's first match in more than two years, and Ric Flair's first match in more than one year.

Sunday is the WWE Survivor Series from Washington, DC, with John Cena vs. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels for the WWE title, Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho vs. Big Show for the World title, Rey Mysterio vs. Batista, and three 10-person elimination matches.

There will be a three-hour Raw on Monday from Hershey, PA with all three brands there and Jesse Ventura as the guest host. The advertised main event is DX Cena vs. JeriShow Orton. Smackdown will be taped on Tuesday night in Bridgeport, CT at the Harbor Yards with Undertaker vs. Batista vs. Punk as the announced dark match.

Smackdown tonight:
Matt Hardy vs. Batista
Fit Finlay vs. Drew McIntyre
John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler for the IC title 2/3 falls
Mickie James vs. Layla
Rey Mysterio vs. Tyson Kidd
Undertaker Kane vs. Chris Jericho Big Show
They also do a personal angle with Mickie James which was clearly a message at her and one that to me makes the company look real bad.

Tonight's Strikeforce lineup from Kansas City
Dark matches
Dominic Brown (190) vs. Lucas Lopes (191.4)
Rich Bouphanouvong (164 vs. Mike Chandler (166)
Darryl Cobb (184) vs. Gary Gapasua (185)
Nick Nolte (171--isn't he a little old to be fighting) vs. Andrew Walters (171)
Brian Davidson (147) vs. Russell Patrick (144)
Lee Gibson (155) vs. Joe Wilk (155.5)

Live matches starting at 11 p.m. Eastern
Kevin Casey (185) vs. Chad Vance (185)
Rafael Feijao (205) vs. Aaron Rosa (206)
Erik Apple (170.5) vs. Bobby Voelker (170)
Kim Couture (136) vs. Kerry Vera (135)
Tyron Woodley (171) vs. Rudy Bears (170)

On Spike tonight, they have Unleashed from 7-9 p.m. with Keith Jardine vs. Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz, Diego Sanchez vs. Joe Riggs, Luke Cummo vs. Joe Stevenson, Tito Ortiz vs. Evan Tanner and Brad Imes vs. Rashad Evans. From 9 p.m. to midnight will be UFC 89, headlined by Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben and Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera.

We're looking for your thoughts on Wednesday night's WEC show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We've got a lead story on Brock Lesnar, what exactly happened with him over the past two weeks, the UFC heavyweight title picture, as well as a look at the new main event level matches UFC has put together over the past week in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The issue also has full coverage of UFC 105 from Manchester, TNA Turning Point, more on the death of Adam Firestorm, Raw in Madison Square Garden and much more.

The issue is available right now to premium subscribers on the web site. You can also get the Observer mailed to your home with details below.

We have an update on Lesnar's condition, a look at the heavyweight division, the snake-bit UFC with so many headliners out at the same time, and updates on Shane Carwin, Quinton Jackson, Randy Couture, Cain Velasquez and more.

We also look at the Hogan effect on TNA, including several wrestling personalities that have been recruited to come in, exactly who is really in charge, as well as a look at Turning Point, one of the company's best PPV shows in years due to the Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe and A.J. Styles vs Samoa Joe vs. Daniels headline matches. We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from the show.

We also look at UFC 105, including the Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera judging, the business notes on the show, comparisons to the CBS show the week before, and how every match on the show did in ratings. We also talk about UFC in the U.K., how over Couture was with the fighters, as well as match-by-match coverage with poll results.

We also have a look at Hulk Hogan's latest autobiography, and some of his stories and what does and doesn't make sense out of them, as he talks his career, his marriage, his childhood and his future.

We also have more on the WWE's new deal with the USA Network, the WWE business on its recent European tour, future guest hosts, lots more on the Linda McMahon campaign including where she is polling in her race for next year, as well as people critical of her due to the content of wrestling, her campaign's response, as well as Superstar Billy Graham being involved in campaigning against McMahon.

We also have more notes on where things stand with a WWE Channel, as well as notes on similar channels, as well as WWE in the U.K., on television, John Cena's next movie, another top babyface injured and who in particular needs to be pushed because of it, an update on Gerald Brisco, talk of the WrestleMania main event for next year, a wrestler expected back in the next two weeks, update on Matt Cappotelli, WWE Hall of Fame, health of Jim Ross, new announcing situation, where Bryan Danielson stands with WWE, former developmental wrestler returns with a new role, house show changes, update on Edge, as well as tons of notes regarding new wrestlers in developmental including two wrestlers who competed at this year's NCAA tournament.

We also have a look at all the shows of the last week on the WWE European tour.

We've got notes on the death of Orig Williams, perhaps the most famous wrestler to come out of Wales, as well as a story on the death of Adam Firestorm, and similarities of his death with many other wrestler deaths in recent years.

We also have a look at the ratings for all the major pro
wrestling and MMA shows on television over the past week.

We also have our usual weekly features such as the results of the
biggest matches of the week and rundown of the major television shows.

The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering
pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.

Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus
every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sites and has
the most complete look at the business as a whole anywhere.

The Observer is now in its 27th year of being the leading insider
pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential
names in the pro wrestling industry as well as the MMA industry, from
bookers, to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the
biggest current names, both on camera, and behind the scenes, along with
thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 countries subscribe. Many
have subscribed as long as 20 years or more straight. They get the most
detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world and
an accuracy from having the most inside sources that can't be found on
the web. Everyone from Wall Street to the major offices to the TV
networks in U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in
the business. If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you
can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a
40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you
today. Just send your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address,
phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to
dave@wrestlingobserver.com or you can order by faxing that information to
408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at
www.paypal.com and using the dave@wrestlingobserver.com address or
subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card, by
mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228,
Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

Also in this week's issue:

--Notes on the expected CMLL year-end show main event

--CMLL tour of France notes

--Rival rips on El Hijo del Santo

--Bad news for one promotion in the ratings in Mexico, as well as how Pacquiao did on free TV there compared to Lesnar and Jack Black

--Vampiro talks about his glory years

--More on Dragon Gate over WrestleMania weekend

--U.S. star headed next week to Dragon Gate tour

--Dragon Gate's final big show of the year in Japan

--Update on KENTA's knee injury and his return

--UFC star who wanted to be a pro wrestler before getting into MMA involved in New Japan angle for a match in two weeks

--Rival group star added to Super J Cup tournament

--Notes on attempt to revive FMW

--Women wrestling legends face off this week for the first time ever

--61-year-old former world kickboxing champion makes pro wrestling debut

--Perry Saturn found

--Notes on Ric Flair's wedding

--Update on Gabe Sapolsky's Evolve promotion

--Notes on RVD touring Europe

--Big crowds for independent group in U.S>

--Notes on Battle of Los Angeles

--Brooke Hogan's bad press

--80s star writing a book as well as Hall of Famer talking about doing an autobiography

--More on ROH stars getting WWE tryout and contract situation

--ROH injury updates

--Notes on ROH weekend house shows

--More on the Hogan/Flair angle getting worldwide media attention

--More on TNA's television schedule

--Thoughts on TNA going to Monday

--TNA PPV gets terrible date

--TNA doing on-line marketing

--Wrestlers in TNA signed and cut

--TNA house show and TV taping reports

--Station Casinos update

--Notes on season 11 of Ultimate Fighter

--Notes on Shane McMahon visiting UFC headquarters

--Attempts by UFC to run a show in the middle East

--Former UFC fighter has warrant out for arrest

--Match of the Year TV special

--Several new UFC matches announced including talks with a 90s legend who has never fought in UFC before

--Notes on the Fedor/Affliction lawsuit

--Updates on the next major Strikeforce show on 12/19 in San Jose

--A PPV you never heard of that recently did 850,000 buys and why

--What very dubious distinction did Manny Pacquiao pass Fred Blassie in

--Man who killed former UFC star sentenced

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what
major story (ies) of the past 11 years you are most interested in and
we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got
coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every
major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings
and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits
into those descriptions over the past 18 years, as well as our biggest
issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial
issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.
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--WWE Superstars starts in the U.K. on 12/11 in a 5 p.m. time slot. While no announcement has been made, it appears WWE and Sky have renewed their deal because WWE programming is listed for January and the last contract expired at the end of the year. The WWE Tribute to the Troops special is scheduled for 2 a.m. on 12/20 for one hour in the U.K.. (thanks to Ben Kerin and Stephen Lyon)

--Impact last night did a 1.1 rating.

--American Wrestling Rampage drew 2,700 in Cannes, France last night: Scottie The Hottie b Joe E. Legend, Delicious Dunkie D b Pac, Portia Perez b April Hunter, Sid Vicious b Paul Tracey, Rene Dupree b Shawn Maxer in a flag match, Sabu b X-Pac, Suicide Machine Mascarita Sagrada b Omen Mini Omen, Rob Van Dam b Raven in a Hardcore match (thanks to Celian Varini). They run tonight in Lille, France.

--Today is the 15th anniversary of one of the most unique pro wrestling shows in history, a 23 match show that lasted 10 hours and drew 32,500 fans, did seven figures in merchandising, to the Tokyo Dome with 22 women's matches, including a tournament with eight of the biggest women stars of the time period, as well as four shoot matches and a Michinoku Pro match. I was at that show and it had some great matches, but that was one long day.

--Paul Katie Lea Burchill are being advertised on upcoming Raw house shows, so that tells you where they are going.

--Cryme Tyme and the Hart Dynasty have the weekend off. They were at one point talked about for the dark match at the Survivor Series.adna nd th

--WrestleReunion on 1/29 to 1/31 at the LAX Hilton Hotel features Great Muta, Demolition, Stan Hansen, Austin Idol, Nick Bockwinkel, Koko Ware, DDP, Larry Zbyszko, Road Warrior Animal, Scotty 2 Hotty, Bret Hart, Terri Runnels, Tammy Sytch, Chavo Guerrero Sr., Dan Severn, Jushin Liger, Bruno Sammartino, RVD and more. There will also be an ROH show that weekend.

--NBC sent out a press release today noting Steve Austin would be a guest star on Chuck. He was filming it the last time WWE tried to bring him in last month for the 10th anniversary Smackdown taping in Boston.

--Howard Stern was talking about the movie Planet 51, which opens tonight, with Dwayne Johnson as one of the voices. Stern said Johnson would soon be calling up Vince McMahon begging for his job back because his movies have been bombing. Then someone told Stern that Johnson's last movie grossed $67 million and Stern said, Never mind, The Rock should call Vince and tell him to go fuck himself instead. (thanks to Robb Block)

--What did you think of Wednesday night's Ultimate Fighter reality show
Excellent 6.3%
Good 52.4%
Average 28.6%
Fair 6.3%
Poor 6.3%
34.0% of those responding didn't see the show

--Who do you expect to win this match
Forrest Griffin 54.0%
Tito Ortiz 46.0%

--Who do you expect to win the WWE title match on Sunday?
John Cena 47.0%
HHH 43.1%
Shawn Michaels 9.9%

--Who do you expect to win the World title match on Sunday?
Undertaker 69.0%
Chris Jericho 26.3%
Big Show 4.7%

--Urijah Faber and Frank Trigg will be signing autographs at Tito Ortiz's Punishment MMA store inside the Hooters Casino tomorrow from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

--Tito Ortiz will have an after party at TAO at the Venetian Hotel while Anthony Johnson has an after party at Studio 54 at the MGM Grand. (thanks to Mike Sawyer)

--Pro Wrestling Uncensored on 12/5 in Orlando at the Central Florida Fairgrounds with Big Vito, Jerry Lynn, Shane Douglas and 2 Cold Scorpio

--Lance Storm talks about his experiences working in Japan and his match against Satoru Sayama at http://www.stormwrestling.com/111909.html

--The California State Grappling championships take place on 12/5 at San Diego State University. They have men, women, and age group categories

--Minowa-man in a video game trailer at http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/61322

--A story on a bakery in Rochester, MN, putting together a cake for WWE Christmas cards is at http://www.kttc.com/Global/story.asp?S=11516941

--Kid Sister said she wanted to do her debut album and call it Koko B. Ware, because she grew up with him as her favorite wrestler, called the WWE offices for approval and offered $10,000 for the rights, and WWE told them, We're not even discussing it, it's not up for debate. She should have just found him, since Koko B. Ware was originated by Jerry Jarrett, and Koko B. Ware by Bill Watts in Mid South Wrestling, neither of which trade marked it, so WWE shouldn't have any intellectual property rights to limit its use even if he's under a legends contract because he brought the name into the company as opposed to the company creating the name for him.

--A couple of pro wrestling notes at http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/?toId=4670701 One is about actor Quinton Aaron, who stars in The Blind Side, who is 6-8 and 375 pounds, talking about wanting to be a wrestler earlier in life, but not anymore. But said he'd live to be a guest hot. The other is an interview with Mark Cuban talking about being a guest host on the 12/7 Raw in Dallas. He noted doing a video with John Cena on OVW TV years ago, and growing up as a fan of Bruno Sammartino and George Steele, and said he was friends with Vince McMahon.

--WSU on 12/12 in Flemington, NJ at the American Legion Hall with Mercedes Martinez vs. Awesome Kong and Jazz vs. Angel Orsini, plus So Cal Val, Nikki Roxx, Sumie Sakai, Amber O'Neal and Shelly Martinez appearing

--Hoosier Pro Wrestling is doing a fund raiser on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds in Columbus, IN

--Insanity Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Corp. Bring three non perishable food items or a new unopened toy and you can get in for $5

--Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Angelo Thunder Boy b Skaxy Titanio, In Memoria Malefico b Nube Roja Virgo, Hierro Metal Blanco Palacio Negro b Angel del Mal Asesino Negro Rey Trueno, Pequeno Damian 666 Pequeno Warrior b Meteoro Saturno, Brazo de Plata Hector Garza b Tetsuya Naito Yujiro

--Wednesday night in Huachinango: Estrella de Fuego Lady Apache b Mohicana La Nazi, Fantasma Jr. Huracan Ramirez b Dr. X The King, Mistico Mascara Dorada b Averno El Terrible

--AAA tapes TV tonight in Orizaba with Latin Lover Marco Corleone Mesias vs. Cibernetico Joe Lider Nicho, Dr. Wagner Jr. Electroshock Silver King vs. Chessman Zorro Teddy Hart, Elegido Rocky Romero vs. Alex Koslov Dark Ozz, and Estrellita Fabi Apache Mari Apache vs. Jennifer Blake Rain Sexy Star (thanks to Kris Zellner and Steve Dr. Lucha Sims)

--There is a story on Dan Severn buying a home in Fountain Hills, AZ (he's not moving from Michigan, just buying a second home) at http://www.fhtimes.com/times/2009/111109/severn.html

--CHIKARA on Sunday at the Arena in Philadelphia has Fire Ant Soldier Ant vs. Ophidian Amasis and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Eddie Kingston

--An angle involving Ron Bass done to build up the weekend Jeff Peterson Memorial tournament and his wrestling on the show is at http://www.studio10.tv/day/thursday/segment.aspx/118072/Outlaw_Ron_Bass

--Last year's Feast or Fired match is on Time Warner's On Demand in their Events Free preview section for Final Resolution (thanks to Suju Abraham)

--Tony Arellano at carefreewc@yahoo.com is trying to get in touch with former wrestling and Roller Derby announcer Walt Harris

Ben Miller talks Jose Aldo

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:46:17 +0100

ALDO THE KILLER

By Ben Miller

Jose Aldo is a killer. Maybe it’d be nice to add some poetry to that sentence. Maybe it could be made more flowery and light. In the end, it matters not. Jose Aldo showed at WEC 44 that he is a prototype of a modern mixed martial arts fighter; and that everyone else in the 145-pound weight class should be fearful.

That Jose Aldo rose to the WEC featherweight championship Wednesday night at The Pearl at the Palms was not wholly unexpected. He entered the ring right around even money at most sportsbooks, thus making him a slight underdog to Mike Brown. Many astute observers predicted the victory after seeing the blur of fists and knees that was his WEC career entering the fight.

Still, it’s hard to explain just how good Aldo looked. Everything Brown offered was countered perfectly. A big left hook? Aldo would slip in a jab. A double-leg shot? Aldo would give Brown a forehead full of knee and thigh. For every action, a counter. And even more disconcerting for his opponents, this was the rare show of restraint from Aldo. The prevailing criticism of the phenom entering the fight was that he might fall victim to over aggressiveness like former champions Faber and Torres have in recent times.

It was a tremendous victory for Aldo. A couple big questions come from it, however. Question 1: Can Aldo draw? Question 2: Where does Aldo rank among the elite in other divisions?

The prospect of Aldo drawing well is a longshot at first glance. He’s Brazillian and he’s small.

Brazillians have had trouble drawing in North America at the level of other elite MMA fighters. Lyoto Machida’s first title defense drawing just 475,000 buys – the lowest figure for a light heavyweight championship match since Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell III in February, 2006 – was the latest reminder that even dominant looking Brazillians have a harder time separating fans from their money.

Small fighters have also struggled. While B.J. Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre II drew over 800,000 buys, it fell below expectations and it remains the only show headlined by 170 pound fighters to ever exceed 625,000 buys.

Even with these built-in disadvantages, turning Aldo into a star could well happen. The guy has charisma. Part of it is that awesome scar on his face. Part of it is the fact that he strikes like a cobra. At 23 years old, Aldo is also young. Long winning streaks in MMA are exceptionally rare, especially when working for a company like Zuffa that loves big matches. Still, can anyone imagine Faber stopping him? Or Brown in a rematch? Or Bibiano Fernandes, Yamamoto Kid or any of the other Dream featherweights? If Aldo does keep winning he’ll build a fanbase.

And you never know. He’s Brazillian but there are a few Brazillian stars like Wanderlei Silva who have become draws. He’s small but there may be a day when MMA fans become like boxing fans and start valuing skill over size.

As for the question of Aldo’s place among the pound-for-pound elite, that’s a question that is more difficult to answer. Pound-for-pound rankings tend to favor smaller fighters because they are naturally more capable of showing quickness, flexibility and elusiveness. (Point for Aldo.) Unfortunately, Zuffa’s 145-pound division is more watered down than most of their other weight classes because of the talent overseas. (Point against Aldo.) While it can be said that only one or two of the world’s top ten fighters reside outside of Zuffa’s roster in most divisions, most people would admit that WEC may have as few as half of the top ten featherweights. Dominating wins over guys like Faber, Assuncao, Davis or Brown in a rematch could elevate him, but above St. Pierre? Above Penn? Above Anderson Silva?

Time will tell whether Aldo reaches stardom and the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. Maybe that makes patience the best policy here. But for anyone who follows boxing and sees the glamour and excitement surrounding their best at a similar weight, it’s easy to pine for a Jose Aldo fight that garners interest on the level of a Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather fight.

*********************

Email: benjamiller@me.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/benjamiller

VIDEO: UFC 106 weigh-ins LIVE at 4 PM PT/7 ET

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:48:34 +0100

VIDEO: Dash Venture vs. Bryan Alvarez as discussed on tonight's Bryan & Vinny Show

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:31:12 +0100

Thanks to Emele Waraksa.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Nov. 20 Bryan & Vinny Show: Granny shenanigans, odd ECW, run-of-the-mill TNA, songs, tons more~!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:29:40 +0100

It's the weekend edition of the Bryan & Vinny Show~! Packed program tonight as we'll open with Granny doing her Q&A and talking about how one of her friends got a little too rowdy at a TCW show. Then we've got some TV to review, including a rather confusing edition of ECW which actually had a segment designed to build up a match on a different show, and a TNA Impact that wasn't infuriating but was, you'll be shocked to hear, rather poorly booked. It did have an amazingly great main event match and finish, though. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Changes to tomorrow night's Battle of Los Angeles with TNA star injured

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:02:21 +0100

Chris Sabin aggravated a neck injury at television this week and was advised to take a few weeks off, so was pulled from the annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament that starts tomorrow night.

Sabin will be replaced by local wrestler Johnny Goodtime in a first round match against Roderick Strong.

Charles Mercury, who was not in the tournament, but scheduled to appear at the show at American Legion Post 308 in Reseda, CA, is off the show due to personal reasons. A new non-tournament tag match tomorrow will be Brandon Dustin Cutler vs. Malachi Jackson Ryan Taylor.

The two-day tournament ends Saturday night in the same location. Kevin Steen, Brian Kendrick, Austin Aries Colt Cabana, Alex Shelley and the Young Bucks are all booked on tomorrow night's show.

Nov. 19 Figure Four Daily with Lance Storm: Raw, Impact, old rassler exaggerations, booking, TWITTER

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:59:52 +0100

Figure Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez returns today with our usual bi-weekly guest Lance Storm, and he's got a lot on his mind including TWITTER, the bane of his existence, Facebook, and basically the blight on humanity that these things are. Also, wrestling talk. Impact, tournaments, Raw, old wrestlers lying about stuff, booking shows, WCW memories, and so much more. A fun show as always with Lance, so check it out~!

Rundown of Lesnar and upcoming UFC mains; More on Hogan's role in TNA; Shane McMahon; Hogan book

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:20:53 +0100

dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We've got a lead story on Brock Lesnar, what exactly happened with him over the past two weeks, the UFC heavyweight title picture, as well as a look at the new main event level matches UFC has put together over the past week in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The issue also has full coverage of UFC 105 from Manchester, TNA Turning Point, more on the death of Adam Firestorm, Raw in Madison Square Garden and much more.

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We have an update on Lesnar's condition, a look at the heavyweight division, the snake-bit UFC with so many headliners out at the same time, and updates on Shane Carwin, Quinton Jackson, Randy Couture, Cain Velasquez and more.

We also look at the Hogan effect on TNA, including several wrestling personalities that have been recruited to come in, exactly who is really in charge, as well as a look at Turning Point, one of the company's best PPV shows in years due to the Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe and A.J. Styles vs Samoa Joe vs. Daniels headline matches. We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from the show.

We also look at UFC 105, including the Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera judging, the business notes on the show, comparisons to the CBS show the week before, and how every match on the show did in ratings. We also talk about UFC in the U.K., how over Couture was with the fighters, as well as match-by-match coverage with poll results.

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We also have a look at all the shows of the last week on the WWE European tour.

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--A PPV you never heard of that recently did 850,000 buys and why

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--Man who killed former UFC star sentenced

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right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was
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everything that was said between the two about the match that was going
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and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

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great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

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Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth, and the rise of fall of
Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say
was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

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and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the
plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the
night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined
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*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the
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*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the
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*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and
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there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real
reasons the company fell apart)

*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
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*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bam Bigelow)

*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)

*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)

*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)

*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage--which many are
calling one of the best issues in history)

*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his
influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas
including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original
Strangler Lewis)

*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S.
women's wrestling) .

*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at
the Greensboro Coliseum)

*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
overseas)

*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)

*March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)

*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks
of Flair's meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on
its own, $8 overseas)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers
and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

*September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8
overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

*September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

*September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our
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To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a
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THURS. UPDATE: Hogan keeping up with Flair; UFC loses main match for Saturday, Dana pissed; Ratings

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:01 +0100

dave@wrestlingobserver.com

We're looking for your thoughts on last night's WEC show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Impact tonight on Spike:
*Machine Guns Beer Money vs. British Invasion Sheik Abdul Bashir Kiyoshi
*Amazing Red vs. Scott Steiner
*Taylor Wilde vs. Hamada
*Mick Foley (who doesn't wrestle) Abyss vs. Raven Dr. Stevie
*A.J. Styles Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe Daniels

Superstars at 8 p.m. tonight on WGN America
Shelton Benjamin vs. Zack Ryder
Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Eric Escobar
Mark Henry vs. Cody Rhodes

Unleashed on Spike at 7 p.m.:
Andrei Arlovski vs. Aaron Brink
Arlovski vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Paul Buentello vs. Justin Eilers
Forrest Griffin vs. Bill Mahood

Last night's Ultimate Fighter replays at 8 p.m. before Impact.

We've got a lead story on Brock Lesnar, what exactly happened with him over the past two weeks, the UFC heavyweight title picture, as well as a look at the new main event level matches UFC has put together over the past week in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

The issue also has full coverage of UFC 105 from Manchester, TNA Turning Point, more on the death of Adam Firestorm, Raw in Madison Square Garden and much more.

The issue is available right now to premium subscribers on the web site. You can also get the Observer mailed to your home with details below.

We have an update on Lesnar's condition, a look at the heavyweight division, the snake-bit UFC with so many headliners out at the same time, and updates on Shane Carwin, Quinton Jackson, Randy Couture, Cain Velasquez and more.

We also look at the Hogan effect on TNA, including several wrestling personalities that have been recruited to come in, exactly who is really in charge, as well as a look at Turning Point, one of the company's best PPV shows in years due to the Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe and A.J. Styles vs Samoa Joe vs. Daniels headline matches. We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from the show.

We also look at UFC 105, including the Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera judging, the business notes on the show, comparisons to the CBS show the week before, and how every match on the show did in ratings. We also talk about UFC in the U.K., how over Couture was with the fighters, as well as match-by-match coverage with poll results.

We also have a look at Hulk Hogan's latest autobiography, and some of his stories and what does and doesn't make sense out of them, as he talks his career, his marriage, his childhood and his future.

We also have more on the WWE's new deal with the USA Network, the WWE business on its recent European tour, future guest hosts, lots more on the Linda McMahon campaign including where she is polling in her race for next year, as well as people critical of her due to the content of wrestling, her campaign's response, as well as Superstar Billy Graham being involved in campaigning against McMahon.

We also have more notes on where things stand with a WWE Channel, as well as notes on similar channels, as well as WWE in the U.K., on television, John Cena's next movie, another top babyface injured and who in particular nees to be pushed because of it, an update on Gerald Brisco, talk of the WrestleMania main event for next year, a wrestler expected back in the next two weeks, update on Matt Cappotelli, WWE Hall of Fame, health of Jim Ross, new announcing situation, where Bryan Danielson stands with WWE, former developmental wrestler returns with a new role, house show changes, update on Edge, as well as tons of notes regarding new wrestlers in developmental including two wrestlers who competed at this year's NCAA tournament.

We also have a look at all the shows of the last week on the WWE European tour.

We've got notes on the death of Orig Williams, perhaps the most famous wrestler to come out of Wales, as well as a story on the death of Adam Firestorm, and similarities of his death with many other wrestler deaths in recent years.

We also have a look at the ratings for all the major pro
wrestling and MMA shows on television over the past week.

We also have our usual weekly features such as the results of the
biggest matches of the week and rundown of the major television shows.

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Also in this week's issue:

--Notes on the expected CMLL year-end show main event

--CMLL tour of France notes

--Rival rips on El Hijo del Santo

--Bad news for one promotion in the ratings in Mexico, as well as how Pacquiao did on free TV there compared to Lesnar and Jack Black

--Vampiro talks about his glory years

--More on Dragon Gate over WrestleMania weekend

--U.S. star headed next week to Dragon Gate tour

--Dragon Gate's final big show of the year in Japan

--Update on KENTA's knee injury and his return

--UFC star who wanted to be a pro wrestler before getting into MMA involved in New Japan angle for a match in two weeks

--Rival group star added to Super J Cup tournament

--Notes on attempt to revive FMW

--Women wrestling legends face off this week for the first time ever

--61-year-old former world kickboxing champion makes pro wrestling debut

--Perry Saturn found

--Notes on Ric Flair's wedding

--Update on Gabe Sapolsky's Evolve promotion

--Notes on RVD touring Europe

--Big crowds for independent group in U.S>

--Notes on Battle of Los Angeles

--Brooke Hogan's bad press

--80s star writing a book as well as Hall of Famer talking about doing an autobiography

--More on ROH stars getting WWE tryout and contract situation

--ROH injury updates

--Notes on ROH weekend house shows

--More on the Hogan/Flair angle getting worldwide media attention

--More on TNA's television schedule

--Thoughts on TNA going to Monday

--TNA PPV gets terrible date

--TNA doing on-line marketing

--Wrestlers in TNA signed and cut

--TNA house show and TV taping reports

--Station Casinos update

--Notes on season 11 of Ultimate Fighter

--Notes on Shane McMahon visiting UFC headquarters

--Attempts by UFC to run a show in the middle East

--Former UFC fighter has warrant out for arrest

--Match of the Year TV special

--Several new UFC matches announced including talks with a 90s legend who has never fought in UFC before

--Notes on the Fedor/Affliction lawsuit

--Updates on the next major Strikeforce show on 12/19 in San Jose

--A PPV you never heard of that recently did 850,000 buys and why

--What very dubious distinction did Manny Pacquiao pass Fred Blassie in

--Man who killed former UFC star sentenced

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what
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*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous
wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a
history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation
right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was
said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural
broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but
everything that was said between the two about the match that was going
to take place that same night)

*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon
steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article
and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner
networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such
great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid
trial)

*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)

*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career
ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our
history)

*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career
and life of The Sheik)

*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people
who worked with him and where he stands historically)

*March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino,
Backlund and Backlund era)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally,
the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk
Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth, and the rise of fall of
Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say
was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals
and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the
plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the
night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined
for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the
controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as
historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the
seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s,
Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding
world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of
Road Warrior Hawk)

*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)

*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story,
Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock
Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the
company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the
business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best
and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and
Wrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his
background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on
Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year
with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund,
Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts
as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately,
due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details
of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in
pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle
and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the
history of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a
look at their Hall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW,
as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and
behind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at
the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings,
Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental
territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized
issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul
Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)

*September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)

*October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)

*November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double
issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on
its own, $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New
Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller
Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame
week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class
Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame
inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and
Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from
the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working
in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7
overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of
Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him
tick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how
the industry was changed forever)

*November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How
Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro,
Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania
planned celebrity away)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged
McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and
why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and
Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why
there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real
reasons the company fell apart)

*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
overseas)

*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bam Bigelow)

*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)

*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)

*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)

*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage--which many are
calling one of the best issues in history)

*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his
influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas
including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original
Strangler Lewis)

*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S.
women's wrestling) .

*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at
the Greensboro Coliseum)

*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
overseas)

*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)

*March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)

*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks
of Flair's meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on
its own, $8 overseas)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers
and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

*September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8
overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

*September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

*September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our
most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North
America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24,
$91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50
for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe,
you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
moonsault@mediaplusint.com. For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50
for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for
52 .

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

We also have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our
latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about
the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz,
Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk,
Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry
Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods.

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a
$60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer
articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that
is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is
$12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs
to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You
can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

--Hogan is again trying to keep up with Flair. Just before leaving for Australia, Hogan got current girlfriend Jennifer I'm not Brooke McDaniel an engagement ring. Hogan appeared at the Australian Parliament Hose in Canberra yesterday doing an arm wrestling match with the Federal Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, letting her win. The tour opens Saturday night at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Story is at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/19/2747561.htm

--Karo Parisyan pulled out of Saturday's UFC 106 match with Dustin Hazelett earlier today. Dana White was furious, saying, Karo Parisyan has fucked over the UFC, the fans and his opponent again!!! He will not be fighting Saturday or ever again in the UFC!! White said Parisyan pulled out today with a laundry list of excuses. Parisyan pulled out, claiming a back injury, before the show in Atlanta, at the last minute after undergoing a panic attack. He did fight in January, beating Dong Hyun Kim, but then had the win overturned after failing a test for painkillers. He had been suspended since then and this was his first match since his suspension. Because of Parisyan pulling out at the last minute, there will be no replacement match. Hazelett will get both his purse and his winning bonus. Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann, a three-time All-American wrestler from the University of Minnesota, has been moved to the main card.

--Dwayne Johnson, promoting Planet 51, on the Jack Diamond radio show in Washington, DC, talked about having a great relationship with Vince McMahon and talked about returning for an episode of Raw. The last I heard, it was planned for January, but which date in January I don't know. He said he would like to do more than just host the show.

--Ultimate Fighter last night did a 1.8 rating

--ECW on Tuesday did a 1.1 rating

--ESPN was the top rated network on cable last week with a 2.7 prime time average to 2.2 for USA. Syfy was No. 13 at 1.0 and Spike was No. 14 at 0.9. The two hours of Raw were No. 9 and No. 15 (that's the second hour at No. 15, one of the lower finishes in years). In 18-34, UFC 105 with Couture vs Vera was No. 5 and Ultimate Fighter was No. 10. In Males 18-34, UFC 105 was second only to the Steelers vs. Broncos game and Ultimate Fighter was No. 3. WWE wasn't top ten. However, in 18-49 overall, UFC 105 was No. 6 and the two hours of Raw were No. 7 and No. 8. In 25-54, the WWE shows were No. 6 and No. 8 while both UFC shows were out of the top ten.

--The Punjab Police Department has suspended Dalip Singh Rana (Great Khali) because his leave of absence from the department was supposed to end last December. Arunpal Singh, the Commandant of his unit, said, As per the rule, Dalip Singh Rana was not entitled to any further leave and there was no option other than to suspend him. Story is at http://www.dnaindia.com

--WWE just booked the Staples Center for Smackdown on 3/16

--For the week ending 11/8 in the U.K., Impact did less than 34,000 viewers on Bravo. Raw did 42,000 live and 91,000 for the Thursday prime time replay. Smackdown did 53,000 for the Friday night airing (thanks to Ian Hamilton)

--Mick Foley will be a guest tonight on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central

--Eddie Edwards had his first match back after elbow surgery earlier today at Korakuen Hall for Pro Wrestling NOAH. Katsuhiko Nakajima is out of action for this tour due to the ankle injury suffered Saturday night in Mississauaga, ONT for ROH against El Generico.

--Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black for the ROH title headlines Final Battle on 12/19 at the Manhattan Center

--The New York Daily News gossip column noted Sherri Shepherd going to Raw in MSG cheering on MVP. She was apparently unhappy that he lost.

--The Daily Mail in the U.K. reported on the Hogan/Flair angle, clearly covering it for what it was, noting Hogan bladed and wore a white T-shirt, and how some in Australia reported it like it was a real assault. The U.K. newspaper The Metro had a short article and photos of the incident. Germany's biggest newspaper, BILD, had a story about it, written up like it was real but the last paragraph questioned that it could have been a promotional stunt. That newspaper never covers wrestling. It's also all over the Dutch media, on the web site of the biggest newspaper in the country and even on the TV gossip shows, and wrestling also gets no mainstream coverage and isn't very popular in Holland. (thanks to Tim Graefe, Matt Barker, Bobby Klein and many others)

--Paul Heyman talks about the job Dana White does at http://heymanhustle.craveonline.com/ufc/106/60-news/22720-paul-heyman-ufc -106-a-lesson-in-brand-name-identity

--Next week on Wednesday there will be no Ultimate Fighter new show, however the shows from the past two weeks will be replayed on Wednesday. The final two shows of the season air 12/2.

--The folks in the MTV.com newsroom were star struck because Ted DiBiase and Chris Jericho came for a visit at http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/11/18/chris-jericho-ted-dibiase/ DiBiase was there to plug Marine 2, which is released on DVD on 12/29 while Jericho talked about his new album, Chasing the Grail, which will be released on 1/26

--Which of these matches would you make for the Interim heavyweight title?
Cain Velasquez vs. Shane Carwin 40.3%
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Shane Carwin 31.3%
Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 21.5%
Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez 5.2%
Junior Dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin 1.7%

--What do you consider the real Survivor Series main event?
John Cena vs. HHH vs. Shawn Michaels 41.8%
Team Orton vs. Team Kingston 28.3%
Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho vs. Big Show 25.5%
Rey Mysterio vs. Batista 4.3%

--Should Bruno Sammartino accept going into the WWE Hall of Fame?
Yes, because it will make the fans happy 29.6%
Yes, because it's a real honor 11.7%
Yes, it's a legitimate Hall of Fame and him not doing it makes him come across bad 3.0%
No, it's not a real honor and only a marketing tool 27.2%
No, because he'd be seen as a hypocrite 17.0%
No, his actual fans will see it as selling out 7.2%
No, because he's got no reason 4.3%
--In the 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, Lenny Montana was in The Godfather, which is added to the listing we had yesterday. Also, the 1968 movie Kes starred Brian Glover, who wrestled in the U.K. (thanks to Pete Strover)

--Shane Hollister debuts for ROH on 12/5 in Chicago

--Christopher Daniels on CUBED at http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/cubed-the-life-of-a-pro-wrestler-pt3/ 3569607816 (thanks to Mark Kruskol)

--Ralph Magazine in Australia has notes on Hogan saying he was the first wrestler ever to slam Andre, noting he did it at WM3. Of course that's incorrect. (thanks to James Stanios)

--Capitan Calico Los Chivos vs. Loco Zandokan Sexi Papa Profeta Sr. headline for Lucha Libre Mexicana on Sunday in Los Angeles. Right now there are four different Lucha Libre groups running weekly in Los Angeles, two run three blocks apart. They all draw 100-150 people most weeks.

--Former New Jersey Gov. Donald DiFrancesco attended the NWS show on 11/14 in Basking Ridge, NJ

--A story about an indie promoter in Kentucky is at http://www.timesleader.net/articles/stories/public/200911/18/0004yytt_spo rts.html

--Adrenaline Championship Wrestling on Sunday in Annapolis, MD before 200 fans: Legion of Ungood b Dark Angel Deathstroke and Louis Rich Doyle Day, Adam Cross over Kris Lasek and Adam Cole, Massive Mike b Princeton Pike, Best Around b Hellcats, Bazooka Joe b Prodigy, Brian Hardy b Buddy Landel, Skull NC Kronos, Ronnie Zukko b Kanyon, Annie Social Roxie Cotton b Kylie Pierce Rebecca Payne, Roxie Cotton b Annie Social, Pretty Ugly b Rock Roll Express, Ryan McBride b Steve Diaz, Shane Douglas over Tyler Hilton, Tom Brandi and Ronnie Zukko to become ACW champion (thanks to Joe Burrows)

--Nick Gage and Thumbtack Jack meet on 12/12 at Cage of Death 11 in Philadelphia in a no rope barbed wire match

--The annual Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup tournament takes place tomorrow night in Brooksville, FL at the National Guard Armory and Saturday night in Crystal River, FL at the National Guard Armory. Ron Bass appears on the Saturday night show in a bull rope match

--Ron Bass promoted the show at http://www.studio10.tv/day/thursday/segment.aspx/118072/Outlaw_Ron_Bass

--Insanity Pro Wrestling on 12/5 in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Corp

--BANG on 11/21 in Ocala, FL at the BANG TV Sound Stage has a 7 p.m. show

--UWC Toys for Toys in Pemberton, NJ at the Burlington County College. Admission is an unwrapped toy with at least a $10 value. They also run 1/16 in Browns Mills, NJ at the Firehouse.

--NWA MSW on Saturday night in Mullens, WV at the American Legion Building

Joe Babinsack looks at WSU Excellence DVD

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:12:26 +0100

WSU: Excellence DVD

Women’s Superstars Uncensored

www.declarationofindependents.net

$14.95

Reviewed by Joe Babinsack

Excellence?

In professional wrestling?

You’ve got it here.

When it comes to WSU, Shimmer or Chickfight, I’m hesitant to label it Women’s Wrestling. Because it isn’t a fair to provide a chauvinistic diminishment of that section of the industry: with WSU and the others, it’s not like the WNBA, or women’s college teams or such.

Today, there is no circus side show mentality of the women performers.

With all due respect to the greats of the past, this isn’t the same thing. Women’s wrestling has multiple promotions existing, if not thriving, in the industry. This isn’t about putting on a match that doubles as the intermission, or a specialty match that interchanges ever few weeks with the little people (midgets, as we once called them) or a dedicated and controlled troupe of gals herded by someone more accurately called a pimp, and sadly, was a pimp in more than just the “I’ll take a big percentage of your pay” type of way.

What’s interesting to me, and I’ve said this before, is that the most pure version of professional wrestling is being portrayed in rings with talented female athletes wrestling in them.

These are ladies who aren’t angling for a spread in some girlie magazine, or dieting down and chemically enhancing themselves and filling themselves with saline. These are real athletes, with real bodies and real passion for the sport.

Snicker all you want, but when I want to see hard hitting action in the ring, I’d sooner watch Mercedes Martinez and/or Angel Orsini throwing punches than John Cena. I’d sooner watch an undercard featuring Cindy Rogers or Brooke Carter or Amber O’Neal rather than a dozen interchangeable cogs in one of a variety of men’s wrestling promotions.

And I’d much rather see Missy Hyatt grooming new talent in the ring and on promos, than *cough* any of the WWE’s aging and selfish bunch of quadragenarians.

Top to bottom, WSU’s Excellence is simply an awesome show.

We’ve got dynamics of moving up and down the card. We’ve got newcomers, veterans and ‘stars’ from across the globe. We’ve got angles, skits and promos interspliced with graphics and promotional values far more impressive than the $14.95 price tag.

And most of all, we’ve got talent.

So let me hit the matches.

I’m not so sure about the correlation of the match list on the back of the DVD with what appeared on the DVD, and I’m not so sure about the announcing crew, other than they were a little subdued and they have distinctive New Joisey accents. As a whole, they’re not Prazak/Leonard, but then again, they ain’t pretty boys with no talent like some 800 lb gorilla likes to want to push.

Sassy Stephanie vs Amber O’Neal opens the show.

Well, it doesn’t. Actually, a great backstage opening takes place, as Angel Orsini attacks Rain, pulls her out to the ring, and they do a pull apart that would make Vince Russo do 16 pull-aparts an hour on TNA, if he ever deigned to watch a real professional wrestling show like this one.

What’s crazy, other than the crazy attitude of Orsini and the seamless way this played out, is just how in character Rain was, Orsini was, and how the wrestlers involved in the pull apart played it up. There isn’t any low-brow comedy in WSU, it’s real as real can get.

So we segue into some promos by Stephanie and O’Neal, to set up their match.

I love the white noise/old cable colors graphic divider between the cuts. WSU should overlay its logo on that, and it would be perfect, not just excellent. But I digress.

I can’t say enough about Amber O’Neal. She’s an awesome heel, well worth watching, and she’s old school heel at that, doing the little things that rile up the crowd, enhance the ability of the babyface in the match, and you can tell she has great fun doing it all. Her opponent is even more worth watching, and you get the feel for the dynamic that Sassy will be moving up the card despite where she ends up here.

Let’s just hope she comes around with a better name.

Jana and Jennifer Cruz would never happen on cable, and that’s too bad.

I like watching talented wrestlers, especially those breaking the cookie-cutter mold. There’s something about two wrestlers with a hate on, battling each other in the ring to a finish. Something that’s missing in most places I watch, so I get it where I can. Nice Veteran/newcomer dynamic here as well.

Out comes Missy Hyatt, looking fine, and bringing out Becky Bayless, who is transitioning from one time ROH backstage announcer, to wrestling talent. She’s definitely got something, and who better to learn from than from the mistress of Missy’s Manor.

It’s a nice setup to bring out the only male on the event, Rick Cataldo.

Well, there are snide remarks aplenty waiting to be said!

Bayless breaks out a big promo, and establishes her character, and then breaks out a beating on Cataldo. I’m not quite sure which was better, but it’s well worth figuring out your own opinion.

Two more matches round out the first disc of the two disc set. First is a veterans battle, and then an rookie type fight.

Cindy Rogers touts herself as the Definition of Technician, and has a track record to prove it. Malia Hosaka brings back memories of the Japanese goddess, Manami Toyota, with that long black hair. Ok, maybe not the innovation, agility and superior wrestling talent, but any time I can sneak in Toyota’s name is a opportunity I won’t miss.

Good promos. Solid match. I was a little surprised by the result, but then again, I love the fact that I can watch a match and not figure out by the names, past results or ready speculation what’s going to happen. That’s the sort of mix that means something, and with these ladies, there’s real wrestling going on in the ring, not just high spots galore.

WSU has a title called the Spirit Championship, and it’s a nice approach.

Latasha is the Champion, and she’s taking on Lea Morrison. They’re both a little green, but if you’re not taking chances with new talent, there won’t be any names in a few years, so don’t complain about it, watch the match and learn to appreciate it as the talent learns to work better.

The angles surrounding this weren’t bad, but hey, getting everyone involved in more than just in-ring is just as important.

We then move to the second disc, and two championship matches and an “Uncensored Rules” match.

Main event quality?!?

You got that right.

The WSU Tag Team Championship pitted new champs (Hailey Hatred Jessicka Havoc) against contenders and former champs Alicia (who apparently has returned to the promotion) and Brooke Carter.

First impression I had was wow, that’s some booking putting in the svelte Carter with several big bodies.

What was impressive was seeing Carter bounce around and bump for the physically impressive Hatred and Havoc team. There was a definite dynamic going on here, with the overbearing Alicia, and Carter taking on some big girls in attempting to regain the belts.

But overall, it was a more than solid tag team match, and more than just a little nostalgic – beyond the assortment of national flags as a backdrop for the ring, and the darkened small auditorium reminiscent of Georgia Championship Wrestling for great atmosphere – with the tag team sensibilities and low keyed action.

Afterwards, a nifty angle plays out with the aforementioned Rick Cataldo becoming a manager, and one of the gals revealing her name as Brittney Savage – now that’s a great wrestling name.

The Uncensored Rules match featured the two combatants seen in the opening: Rain and Angel Orsini.

Nice packaging of the feud, and the lead up to this match. This isn’t just one more match in an array of interchangeable matches, or just a stock match with interchangeable parts. This match, like much of what WSU puts on, is built up, set up and laid out professionally.

I’ve seen Rain around, and with a different name, but she really showed a lot in this long, grueling match.

Orsini has an awesome presence. She’s got a body type that ain’t going to get a second look from Vince, but I’m appreciative of her action in the ring, and her personality. Think ODB, but without the comedic overtones, and without the hard edge of a body (but with a much harder edged attitude.)

What’s cool in this match is the ongoing efforts to raise it beyond just a match. This isn’t quite a war, but because it doesn’t go over-the-top, it just feels better. These ladies don’t need blood and guts and bashing of skulls, just pounding on each other, vicious attempts at submitting each other, and a relentlessness on each women’s part to win.

Winning and losing means something.

A couple of cool spots, well, not high spots but creative applications of violence spots, including a punch-fest in the chairs, sitting on the chairs, exchanging forearms and punches and slaps.

This match is well worth seeing.

The WSU Championship follows, and you just know that the finish of the previous match will mean something down the road, maybe even sooner, in a sort of old school type of way.

Mercedes Martinez is the WSU Champion. Well deserving and she wears the gold well. She’s taken on top notch competition across the country, and she’s a throw-back to old school champions. With Martinez, you know the match is going to be a battle, you know it’s going to be a fight, and she has the presence to back up what she says.

And the respect, well earned, and well presented, to deserve the championship label.

Portia Perez and Martinez fought a year ago.

At the time, Perez was still in rookie mode. Still learning the ropes. Still not yet at a main event level.

She spells it out well in her promo.

And says it won’t be the same. But it won’t because Portia Perez, who has outgrown the cute image she once has, has proven capable and worthy of the title shot.

And it’s a well fought battle. I loved the action and the work. Seeing a match built around working an arm, working it, working it, and building up the fight from a psychological base, working the endurance, working the fatigue, working the entirety of the match.

It all played out well.

Somewhere along the match, I realized that Martinez was channeling champions of the past, not those of the present. The title was on the line, and the challenger was worthy, not easily vanquished, and because of it, it never felt anything less than what it should be: a struggle for the gold.

This isn’t about saying every match, every angle, every skit was a Madison Square Garden moment.

But the key is, WSU presented an event that weaved professional wrestling’s past and worked in current top notch talent, and put on a show well worthy of my respect, and I’m sure it will earn yours as well.

Make sure you catch the post match promos and angle. It’s the kind of stuff that promoters used to be able to pull off every week.

Joe Babinsack can be reached at chaosonejoe@yahoo.com. Ring of Honor has been sticking around with its typical level of excellence, and I need to turn my attention back to it. That and much, much more to come.

Nov. 19 Adam & Mike Show~! Zapruder Film (~!), Big Japan, Kofi on Raw, EVOLVE, Hokuto ...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:05:31 +0100

After a small delay, the original alternate has returned to give YOU the fine subscriber of this website an audio orgasm of kayfabulous proportions. This week’s topics include, but aren’t limited to: The Zapruder Film, Taking wkwmatt’s bait on Big Japan’s production of Romeo & Juliet, NOAH’s Winter Navigation, Kofi Kingston and Raw, a meeting of the Michinoku Pro Appreciation Society, Evolving, Herniated Sawa, Mrs. Cotto Be Strongest, New Japan drives radio show hosts mental prior to their Circuit ’09 tour, Evolv’d, the Chicago Blackhawks, Nakajima’s interview and much more. It’s the radio show that refuses to make any food jokes about Akira Hokuto’s cookbook, as they are just too easy (and we’re afraid of Kensuke); It’s the Adam & Mike BIG AUDIO NIGHTMARE~! Proudly here at Vinnyisagoober.com

Nov. 19 Observer Radio: WEC and TUF reviews, Lesnar update, TNA tourney, WWE booking, Hogan/Flair

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:45:20 +0100

Wrestling Observer Radio with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez returns today with a packed show!~! We'll open with guest Mike Sawyer of Tough Talk on this very site to discuss WEC Brown vs. Aldo, including thoughts on the main card and untelevised matches. Mike will also join us as we discuss the latest edition of Ultimate Fighter. Then, Dave and I discuss the latest news including Brock Lesnar's illness, which Dave actually once had, his prognosis, more big fights signed by UFC, the TNA wacky tournament taped Tuesday, WWE booking, the Hogan/Flair scuffle that got worldwide press, and more. A fun show so check it out~!

WEC live coverage from Las Vegas

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:11:08 +0100

Welcome to our live coverage to WEC 44 Aldo vs Brown at the Palms in Las Vegas.

We're looking for your thoughts on the show so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

Prelim coverage by Mike Sawyer

Frank Gomez vs Seth Dikun

Gomez land nice left. Clinch along the cage. Gomez gets takedown. Seth working on a triangle from the bottom. Not happening. Herb Dean stands them up. Gomez gets second takedown. 10-9 Gomez

Seth lands high kick. Gomez recovers. Kick to the body by Gomez. Seth lands nice right hand. Clinch. Gomez back on top. Gelatin attempt by Seth that Gomez escapes. Gomez going for kimora. Moves to mount. Rains down some punches but round ends. 10-9 Gomez

Gomez opens round with nice jab . Clinch along the cage. Gomez ends up on top. Both guys working hard. Seth busy from the bottom. Goes for leglock. Gomez escapes. Gomez going for kimora again. Doesn't get it. Dean stands them up with a minute left. They clinch and fight ends. 10-9 Gomez

Gomez wins 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

James Krause vs Ricardo Lamas

Both guys come out swinging. Lamas on top. Krause rolls for a kneebar. Doesn't get it. Back up. Lamas with takedown and has his back. Can't get the choke. Stands up with 15 seconds left. Good round. 10-9 Lamas

Good exchange to start round 2. Clinch. Krause more aggressive and kicks kicked in the balls for it. Lamas knocks him down. Gets his back. Nothing. They stand. Lamas on top again. They get up again. They exchange to end round. 10-9 Lamas

Great exchange to start the third. Both landing. Lamas back on top. Now standing over him dropping down the occasional punch. Stacks him up. Drops a few more. Krause back to his feet. He is trying, but this is Ricardo's fight. 10-9 Lamas. Got it 30-27 Lamas and all 3 judges agree.

Kenji Osawa vs Antonio Banuelos

Chuck Liddell is in Banuelos corner. Banuelos lands nice shot and drops him with an overhand right. Back up. Good exchange. AB landing more and takes a shot to the balls for his troubles. Spinning back kick by AB. Good round. 10-9 Banuelos

Start the second. Osawa coming forward despite eating a few shots. Nice leg kick by Osawa. AB just winging that right hand. Goes for a takedown. Reverse. Back up. Both landing. Good round. Could go either way. 10-9 Osawa.

Osawa comes forward. Decent exchange. AB bleeding from the nose. Good exchange. Both guys landing. AB lands more to end the round. Crowd on its feet. Good round and a good fight. Close fight to call. I've got it 29-28 for Banuelos. So do all 3 judges...

Cub Swanson vs John Franchi

Franchi gets takedown. Cub back up. Clinch. Good knees by Swanson. Cub lands spinning roundhouse kick. That was nice. Drops a few punches to the teeth. 10-9 Cub

Good exchange. Both fighting mean. Uppercut by cub. Flying knee lands. Cub fighting with aggression, but gets taken down. Back up. Cub showboating. He better relax. Cub gets takedown with 30 seconds left. Good round. 10-9 Cub

Come out swinging in the third. Cub goes for takedown. Doesn't get it. Clinch. Now he gets it with a beautiful throw. Both staying busy. Cub controlling the round. Guillotine. Its tight. Its over. Winner: Cub Swanson. Good fight.

LC Davis vs Diego Nunes

Long clinch to start things. LC gets takedown. Nunes back up. And back down. They clinch. Both working hard. Huge takedown. Another takedown. Nunes guillotine. Can Davis survive. He does. 10-9 Davis

Start second with a Davis takedown. They get back up. LC landing some shots. Nunes pushes forward for a takedown. Gets it. Back up. LC gets guillotine but can't finish. 10-9 LC

Takedown by LC to start the third. Back up. Nunes gets a point taken away for grabbing the fence. Davis gets another takedown. Back up. Nunes misses spinning backfist. 10-9 LC.

I got it 30-27 for LC Davis. This should be an easy call. It is. Winner LC Davis.

Will Kerr vs. Kamal Shalorus opens the TV show

Shalorus was throwing hard punches and Kerr was doing nothing to block them, which is never a good strategy. Shalorus got a knockdown with a left in the first exchange. He rocked Kerr in another exchange and decked him with a second right and Steve Mazzagatti stopped it in 1:26. Shalorus, a 37-year-old former wrestler who is from Iran and talks EXACTLY like the Iron Sheik, I mean you'd think he was trying to imitate him, except he makes more sense.

Shane Roller vs. Danny Castillo

Castillo won the first round, getting the better of the striking game and taking the three-time All-Americna wrestler down three times. The second time saw the best exchange, as Roller reversed and grabbed a guillotine, but Castillo escaped. Roller nailed Castillo with a knee on the third takedown attempt but he still got Roller down and kept on top until the round ended, doing some eak ground and pound. 10-9 Castillo

Good second round. Castillo scored with a hard right and then took Roller down. Roller came back and finally got a takedown, went or a guillotine, then got Castillo's back and threw punch after punch to Castillo's right ear while working for a choke. Castillo came back late and hurt Roller with a punch late. 10-9 Roller, even going into the third.

Roller went for an early takedown, but Castillo sprawled and got on top. Castillo did some damage. Roller escaped and scored a takedown and immediately got Castillo's back and got the choke for the tap out.

Karen Darabedyan vs. Razor Rob McCullough

First round all standing and boxing. There were several big exchanges and it was mostly an even round until the end when Darabedyan cut McCullough on the bridge of the nose and scored with strong punches. 10-9 Darabedyan

Darabedyan got a takedown right away in the second round, and connected with some body and head shots and some elbows. McCullough got out of trouble and scored with some punches and low kicks in the middle of the round. Darabedyan came back with punches. The announcers said McCullough won the round but I thought Darabedyan took it and is up 20-18.

This is going to be a close decision. Third round was all standing, as Darabedyan's lone attempt at a takedown was blocked. McCullough connected with a lot of low kicks. Darabedyan did some hard counters but McCullough was controlling most of the round. So the second round should decide it. I've got Darabedyan 29-28.

Scores were 30-27, 27-30 and 29-28 for Darabedyan. I have no idea how a judge could go 30-27 either way.

Leonard Garcia vs. Manvel Gamburyan

Slow first round, not what would be expected. Maybe a slight edge to Garcia with kicks. Gamburyan had one takedown but Garcia was up quickly from it and Garcia did have the striking edge. Gamburyan had him off his feet and ready to throw just as the round ended. 10-9 Garcia

Gamburyan came on strong late in the round. He ended up with three takedowns and had some ground and pound late in the round. 19-19

Gamburyan connected with hard punches and set up takedowns and did some more ground and pound. Gamburyan even did a spinebuster slam early in the round. Gamburyan never really hurt Garcia but there's no way he didn't take this round. Garcia never established enough of an offense. I see this as a pretty solid 29-28 for Gamburyan.

30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 all for Gamburyan

Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo Jr. for the featherweight title

Aldo has been too quick and he's been able to keep Brown from taking him down. But Aldo hasn't been as aggressive as usual. He's mostly connecting with body kicks. One time he had Brown in a little trouble but Brown closed the distance and went for takedowns and only had Aldo down for a brief moment. 10-9 Aldo

Aldo came out aggressively and Brown tried a takedown and couldn't get it. Aldo ended up landing in a mount, and then Brown turned his back and Aldo threw one quick hard shots from the Hughes/Gracie position and Brown wasn't doing anything to get out of trouble and ref Steve Mazzagatti stopped it giving Aldo the title. Also looked scary good in this match.

Raw rating was a

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:01:14 +0100

3.5