Symbolic end of 3 major eras, plus head-to-head PPVs, Lashley MMA future; Legend retires
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A look at symbolic end of eras for Pro Wrestling NOAH, K-1 and Ring of Honor on shows over the weekend is our lead story in Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. With a big week of international news, we look at all the major events including the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial show at Budokan Hall, and its significance. We look at how K-1's show in Seoul, South Korea ended a last link to the glory days of that promotion. And we talk about the departure of Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness, with their final two matches in Ring of Honor, as well as the hiring of Jim Cornette, and that promotion going forward.
We also talk about the 9/19 PPV battle with HBO boxing vs. UFC, which updated numbers. We look at the many lessons that the weekend showed. We look at what Mayweather's camp credited his increase in drawing power to. We also look at three more major battles involving boxing, UFC, Strikeforce and WWE over the next two months as the competition for PPV dollars only increases.
We have updates on TNA's Bound for Glory with several matches not yet announced, a change with a major TNA group, reaction to Jim Cornette being gone as well as how the tapings last week went without him, and notes on the futures of Vince Russo and Jeff Jarrett, as well as an update on booking and TNA's problems with a longtime media supporter.
We also update Bobby Lashley's MMA situation including why he has no new fights scheduled, what show he's been told he's on, but probably isn't and why this would be. We also look at a note on TNA attempting to get one of the greatest wrestlers in history to make an appearance at Bound for Glory in one of its already scheduled matches.
We also look at a movie with three onetime major wrestling stars in it, including the roles they play, and have notes on TNA's international shows.
We also have notes on Dana White talking about Herschel Walker, talks regarding the return of an MMA icon to UFC and why right now it's not happening, lots of new UFC matches being signed, Tito Ortiz talks promos and pro wrestling, as well as trash talk between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin.
We also have updates on the Strikeforce show on CBS.
We've got more notes on Linda McMahon and Jerry Lawler running for office, WWE's COO talks more about the success of UFC, one of the reasons why Raw has been lackluster of late as well as why creative has so many inherent problems, a major angle that was put on hold and a lawsuit filed by a former WWF champion against the company.
We also look at the announced retirement of the person who was a major pioneer in Japanese MMA.
We also look back at Lester Welch, as well as a background of the Fuller/Welch/Golden/Fields wrestling family in the Southeast, looking back on the famous war in Atlanta. We look back at the first pro wrestling show ever held at the Omni in Atlanta, as well as the first sold out pro wrestling event at the Omni. We also look at how Lester Welch was responsible for the worked home town of one of the WWWF's biggest all-time stars.
We also have a look at AAA's Antonio Pena Memorial Show and the major storyline angle, as well as the return of a major star and what happened in negotiations with ex-WWE talent, as well as a more detailed look at the CMLL Anniversary show, as well as coverage of the last UFC Fight Night.
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 issues:
--Promoter says he'll have a new TV deal within weeks
--Mistico vs. Jushin Liger for the IWGP jr. title
--Major annual tournament's entire idea gets thwarted
--Lots of attempts from promotions to recruit stars from other promotions
--Promotion following WWE's lead as well as concepts knowing they have to battle WWE
--International promotion gets high recommendations regarding ROH stars from its wrestlers
--Notes on Satoshi Kojima winning the Triple Crown plus former ECW wrestlers vs. former WCW wrestler battle for championship
--Worked rematch of a legendary shoot match from 15 years ago
--One of the world's all-time fattest tag team champions and it's not Team 3-D
--A look at the NOAH jr. tournament
--Longtime Japanese stars undergoes major surgery and will be out for a while
--IWGP heavyweight title change
--One of Japan's most famous athletes, who was the inspiration of the character of a multi-time WWF champion, makes his debut on a pro wrestling show next week
--The teams in the annual G-1 Climax tag team tournament
--Notes on the world wrestling championships held this past week
--Update on the Hulkamania tour
--Hulk Hogan goes off on Vince Russo and talks Chris Jericho
--Dwayne Johnson's upcoming projects
--Legends and Japanese headliner at a training camp this week
--Trish Stratus video game
--Former WCW and WWE wrestler taken to jail last week
--ROH business updates
--A look at the big ROH weekend shows, behind the scenes, problems with tickets in New York, Bret Hart and more
--Update on Sting's contract situation
--TNA announcing
--Two upcoming TNA television specials on Spike
--Tito Ortiz talks past pain killer issues as well as building matches
--Promotion switches its style of ring
--Olympic silver medalist makes debut this past week and what happened
--Movie scheduled regarding bank robbery by former MMA star
--And another MMA star tries to copy that bank robbery in real life this past week
--Chris Jericho talks brand extension and praises news stars, and warns against what killed WCW
--Jericho's ten best performers in Smackdown history
--Pat Patterson tribute show
--Who was under the mask as the fake Cedric the Entertainer
--WWE stars and text messaging
--A look at the WWE international events of the past week
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*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as
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*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
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*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)
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*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women's wrestling) .
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*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)
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