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TNA Impact on Spike tonight:
*Taylor Wilde & Sarita & Christy Hemme & Hamada vs. Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne & Alissa Flash & Traci Brooks
*Suicide & Daniels vs. D'Angelo Dinero & Homicide
*ODB vs. Tara for Knockouts title
*Kevin Nash vs. Hernandez for Legends title
*Samoa Joe vs. Amazing Red for X title
*Matt Morgan & Abyss vs. Mick Foley & Kurt Angle
TNA's third hour will be Global Impact II, taped on 1/4 at the Tokyo Dome, so you can see for the first time, Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley winning the IWGP jr. tag titles that they've lost months ago and Team 3-D winning the IWGP tag titles they've also lost months ago:
*Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro defend IWGP jr. tag titles against Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley (very good match)
*Togi Makabe & Toru Yano defend IWGP tag titles against Team 3-D (hopefully edited because there were some problems in this one)
*Kevin Nash & Kurt Angle & Masahiro Chono & Riki Choshu vs. Giant Bernard & Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
Superstars tonight:
*Shelton Benjamin vs. Sheamus
*Evan Bourne vs. Ted DiBiase
*Cryme Tyme vs. Hart Dynasty
There is also an hour of Unleashed at 8 p.m. tonight with Rory Singer vs. Josh Haynes, George St. Pierre vs. Sean Sherk and Anderson Silva massacring Rich Franklin.
An examination of the WWE major programs, where they stand, and how they are handicapped by the current PPV theme situation, is the lead story in one of two issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter coming out this week.
A second issue lead story will be the history of the golden age of pro wrestling in Northern California. We used the Hall of Fame biography on Roy Shire, who promoted pro wrestling in Northern California from 1961-1981, as a theme to look back at one of the strongest territories during those years. This is one of the biggest historical pieces we've ever undertaken, as we look back at who Roy Shire was, who Ray Stevens was, Pat Patterson, Moondog Mayne, Pepper Gomez and so many others.
Both issues are available right now on the web site to premium members. Details are below on getting the issues themselves delivered via mail.
We look at the background of Punk vs. Undertaker, what happened, why it happened, and decisions that have been changed and where things go from here. We also look at the other main event programs in the company going forward.
The San Francisco feature looks at the heyday, the many ways the wrestling industry today has been impacted by Shire as a booker, the legend of Ray Stevens, the story behind the famous Cow Palace Battle Royals that led to the Royal Rumble, a look at the most famous shows Shire put on, his biggest feuds, and a rundown of 20 years of ups and downs.
We look at Roy Shire as a wrestler in the 50s, how he got started as a promoter, the heyday of National All-Star Wrestling, one of the highest rated wrestling television shows in the country, with lots of comments from people who were around from the start. We look at Roy Shire's first show ever at the Cow Palace, Shire's first big angle, his most remembered angles, the Stevens vs. Gomez feud, Shire's philosophy of what a wrestling match was, and the ironies of his run and how that relates to Vince McMahon, Verne Gagne, Bill Watts and others who came after him.
We look at Stevens vs. Sammartino, the Texas death matches, the atmosphere during the heyday of wrestling at the Cow Palace, the end of the Ray Stevens era, the Pat Patterson era, how television shaped the history of pro wrestling in this part of the country. We look at Shire burning out as a booker, the heyday of Moondog Mayne, Bob Roop, Kevin Sullivan and Buddy Rose, attempts to buy and steal the territory and what actually killed the territory.
We look at his decision to shut down, his final show, as well as the first pro wrestling personality to pose on a Playboy cover (and it was more than 30 years before Sable) as well as the alumnus of Roy Shire's wrestling who went on to become a major television star and had one of the most successful wall posters of anyone over a ten year period.
We look at Shire's philosophy of television, as well as the big name sports star he tried to lure into pro wrestling as well as his famous feud with a boxing Hall of Fame legend. We look at his problems getting along with people, some of the most controversial issues during his run, and so many of the obstacles he dealt with. We look at his attempts to kill pro wrestling after his run was over.
We also have full coverage of the two major shows of the week. We've got coverage of the WWE Hell in a Cell show, with poll results, business notes, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and more. We also have coverage of Dream 11, looking at the good, bad, ugly, with match-by-match coverage and more on the company's next show.
We also look at Kimbo Slice and UFC setting record ratings with the Ultimate Fighter reality show. We look at just how strong the show was with Males 18-34, the records set as well as other records which were not set. We look at the change in marketing of Slice, the fight itself, Roy Nelson talks about Kimbo and his future and lessons to learn regarding marketing of Slice.
We also have a look at the SummerSlam buys, how they compare with last year both worldwide and domestic, and the key lessons of this year's show now that the numbers are in.
We also have updates on Jeff Hardy and his court situation, Rock's appearance, Linda McMahon's campaign, Undertaker's future, Jim Ross' future and things to look for, as well as a former WWE star who canceled an interview saying he was negotiating to come back, injury updates, some new WWE doctrines, more on Matt Hardy, the WWE's best selling DVDs this year, as well as updates in other business categories.
We also have a look at a new WWE signing, who was top three in the world in another sport, what former WWE star actually set up a famous Hollywood marriage, as well as the origin of the name of the current WWE star.
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:
--More notes on Bound for Glory
--TNA title change
--TNA TV specials on Spike
--ROH wrestler booked on an upcoming TNA date
--Lacey Von Erich causes controversy
--Pilot shot of several former WWE and TNA Divas
--Mick Foley talks philosophies of gimmicks
--A look at the TNA European tour and the recent TNA Impact tapings
--An updated look at UFC revenue and how it compares with WWE revenue
--Lots of new UFC matches
--Dana White gets high ranking
--UFC cuts and why
--The next season of Ultimate Fighter
--Matt Hughes talks future
--Movie about to come out featuring three former or current UFC champs
--Sentencing for UFC fighter in a car chase with police
--Jim Lampley talks UFC
--Update on Strikeforce matches
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--Second Misawa memorial show
--Surprise on Japanese tour
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--After his incident being arrested for trying to fight hotel nurses trying to help him after attempting to OD, UFC yesterday fired Junie Browning. Kevin Iole at http://www.yahoo.com has a story on it, with an interview with trainer Shawn Tompkins, who has lived with Browning in the past. Tompkins said he believes Browning was trying to kill himself.
--White said, "Obviously I'm very disappointed. I haven't heard anything regarding Junie where he's acted up or been bad in a long time. You could tell on the show he had issues. I saw (fighting) as an opportunity for the kid to turn his life around and make something of himself. Physically, he's very gifted. He is good at everything. Stand-up, he has great ground, he has an unbelievably good chin. He was given an amazing opportunity, but he has some serious issues that are beyond me and what I can do. I'm there for the guys and realize nobody is perfect and guys are going to get into trouble. When that happens, I want to try to help and do something for them. But he needs more help than I can give him. I did what I could for him." Tompkins believes Browning won't ever fight again.
--Dana White was on with Jim Rome yesterday. He did well. Said the same stuff he always says. He said he, at 40, was too old to fight when responding to the challenge made by Herschel Walker. He ripped on CBS for trying to use him at 47, ripped on people who compare Walker at 47 to Randy Couture fighting at 46 (he said it would be like Couture trying to play in the NFL now at 46) and said that Walker was a great football player but why isn't he playing now if he's such a good athlete, and it's because he's too old, and if he's too old to play a game he knows, why should he be starting a new sport. He asked what commission will sanction Walker. He was also nicer to Fedor, saying that Fedor isn't afraid to fight in UFC, but said "He's got nutty managers. These guys are from Russia. They come to America and try to strong arm into same deal that we won't ant. Go do that to the butcher down the street in Russia. That doesn't work here in the United States. If the guy wants to come and put himself up against the beset fighters in the world, he'll eventually make it to UFC."
--With the return of first-run major network shows, cable ratings are down across the board. ESPN won the race last week big-time with a 2.6 prime time average to 1.9 for USA. Syfy was No. 8 at 1.0 and Spike was No. 10 at 0.9, even with the monster number of Ultimate Fighter. Last week's Monday Night Football dominated, with Ultimate Fighter featuring Kimbo Slice vs. Roy Nelson at No. 2. The two hours of Raw were No. 6 and No. 8. In 18-34, neither hour of Raw was top ten while MNF was No. 1 and Ultimate Fighter was No. 2. In an interesting note, there were more men 18-34 watching Ultimate Fighter than the combined number of men and women watching every other show on cable last week except football. In 18-49, Ultimate Fighter was No. 2 while the two hours of Raw were No. 5 and No. 6. More men 18-49 watched Ultimate Fighter than the combined men and women viewers of Raw last week by a wide margin as Ultimate Fighter had 3,047,000 men 18-49 watching. Raw had 2.1 million total of men and women 18-49 watching.
--Reuters today ran a story on the next WWE film called "Knucklehead" starring Paul "Big Show" Wight with Melora Hardin and Mark Feuerstein. Feuerstein plays a fight promoter in debt looking for a great attraction to pick up gates. He finds a giant orphan (Big Show playing a nearly 7-foot version of Jack Black) and well, you know how it goes. Story is at http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSTRE5970Q120091008
--Last night on Showtime's Full Color Football, the history of the old American Football League, they talked about Wahoo McDaniel and Ernie Ladd, who were two of the more famous players in the league's history, showing clips of them wrestling with Bill Belicheck talking about seeing them wrestle, Wahoo selling and coming back with the tomahawk chops. (thanks to Shawn Heimberger, Alberto Valenzuela, Neal Baker and many others)
--Dan Wentzel has a story on Brock Lesnar at http://www.yahoo.com in the UFC section. Dave Doyle also has a new interview with Dana White, regarding video blogs, Kimbo Slice and being a father.
--There is already one $75,000 bid on the 1975-85 NWA world title belt that Highspots is auctioning off
--Still no update regarding the co-main event on the 11/21 Las Vegas UFC show. Mark Coleman suffered a knee injury and is out, leaving Tito Ortiz without an opponent.
--Preview for next week's Ultimate Fighter: "Zak Jensen faces mockery at the house and problems in training. Matt Mitrione tests Rashad's patience with an on-again/off-again shoulder issue. Rampage looks to break his losing streak in the fifth preliminary fight." No mention at all of Kimbo in the preview.
--ECW rating for Tuesday night was a 1.1
--Cris Cyborg has officially pulled out of the 11/7 CBS show for Strikeforce due to a shoulder injury suffered while competing at the world submission championships in Spain on 9/27. She will not require surgery.
--Expected rating for last night's Ultimate Fighter
2.0 to 2.3 19.6%
2.4 to 2.7 25.5%
2.8 to 3.1 32.7%
3.2 to 3.5 13.1%
3.6 to 3.9 4.7%
4.0 or better 4.4%
--Plans regarding Bound for Glory
Am watching, usually or always watch TNA PPVs 10.5%
Am watching it, sometimes watch TNA PPVs 4.8%
Am watching it, rarely watch TNA PPVs 5.5%
Not watching it, never watch TNA PPVs 45.9%
Not watching it, sometimes watch TNA PPVs 5.1%
Not watching it, rarely watch TNA PPVs 25.3%
Not watching it, almost always watch TNA PPVs 0.4%
Would watch it, but not because of the increase in price 2.4%
--Who is the best of these wrestlers
Roddy Piper 40.9%
Dusty Rhodes 34.9%
Argentina Rocca 17.8%
John Pesek 3.8%
Yvon Robert 2.6%
--Former Olympian and two-time Hodge Trophy winner Ben Askren has signed with Zinkin Entertainment for MMA management
--Wrestler Michael Verdi (Trent Acid) was arrested on 10/3 on a possession of a controlled substance charge in Philadelphia. He was released on a non monetary bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for 10/30
--ROH Friday night in Collinsville, IL at the Gateway Center featuring Jim Cornette, plus Austin Aries vs. ? for the ROH title, Davey Richards vs. Kenny Omega, Tyler Black vs Chris Hero, Young Bucks vs. Kenny King & Rhett Titus, Kevin Steen vs. Roderick Strong, Briscoes vs. House of Truth and more. Saturday night is Indianapolis at the State Fairgrounds with Cornette, plus Aries & Richards vs Briscoes and the Survival of the Fittest tournament
--Eddie Edwards had surgery to repair an elbow broken in two places on Tuesday and has started physical therapy. No word on his return.
--Story on a Ric Flair autograph signing in Morhead City at the North Carolina seafood festival is at http://www.carolinacoastonline.com
--Sandman pulled out of his Saturday appearance for NWS in Manville, NJ saying that he is in the hospital today and getting his knee scoped. With Sandman out, they have added Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney and Danny Doring to the show
--Tim Patten, a former Roller Derby skater talks about Whip-It and his own battle with HIV over 26 years and the movie jam at http://www.poz.com/articles/tim_patten_hiv_skate_401_17365.shtml
--Frank Shamrock answers questions at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vDXozCNb10 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiCXIJhscq8 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBCENdOFgDw
--Kizarny, wrestling as Sinn Bodhi, headlines for AWF in Australia on a tour from 10/9 to 10/18. Shows are 10/9 in Campbelltown at The Cube, 10/10 in Wallsend at the Pioneer Memorial Hall, 10/11 in Fairy Meadow at the Fraternity Club, 10/16 in Elizabeth East at the Eastern Wolves Sports & Social Club, and 10/17 in Parramatta at the PCYC. He also has a seminar on 10/18 at 2 p.m. at the AWF Dojo in Minto
--Carlos Newton vs. Shonie Carter, billed as the biggest fight in Gatineau history, takes place on Saturday night at the Robert Guertin Arena for the W1 promotion. Among those scheduled to appear at the show include Miguel Torres, Tom Atencio, David Loiseau, Sam Stout, Patrick Cote, Chris Horodecki, Jonathan Goulet and Antonio Carvalho. They aren't fighting. Newton vs. Carter is billed for the W1 welterweight title.
--Road Dogg and Bob Holly headline for Varsity Pro Wrestling in the U.K. during October. They are trying to put together a DX reunion with Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and X-Pac
--Dynamic Championship Wrestling on 10/10 in Minster, OH
--Monday night in Puebla: Blue Center & Centella de Oro b Akron & Espiritu Maligno, Rene Guajardo Jr. & Inquisidor & Kid Tiger b Guerrero Maya Jr. & Sensei & Trueno, Angel Azteca Jr. & Angel de Oro & Angel de Plata b Nosferatu & Vangelis & Virus-DQ, La Mascara & Toscano & Valiente b Dragon Rojo & Misterioso Jr. & Sangre Azteca, Hector Garza & Shocker & Strong Man b El Terrible & El Texano Jr. & Ray Mendoza Jr.
--Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Evola & Skaxy & Divino & Virgo, Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno b Egipcio & Leon Blanco, Mascara Magica & El Satanico b Astaroth & Horus-DQ, Dr. X & Hooligan & Loco Max b Fabian el Gitano & Metro & Neutron, Mistico & El Hijo del Fantasma b Atlantis & Ultimo Guerrero
--Sunday in Nuevo Laredo: Astuto & Ziboth b Amenza del Norte & Rio Bravo, Bella Karina & La Parkita & Sexy Flor b Chacala & Mini Cibernetico & Sexy Pisces, Solar & Super Astro & Ultraman b Black Terry & Negro Navarro & El Signo, Oriental & Rossy Moreno won the IVP (which sounds like a volleyball league rather than a wrestling promotion) mixed tag team titles over Pentagon Black & Xochitl Hamada-DQ after Zumbido & La Diabolica were first eliminated, Porky & El Hijo del Santo & L.A. Park b Blue Demon Jr. & Charly Manson & Rayo de Jalisco Jr.-DQ
--Friday night's Arena Mexico main event is Black Warrior & Shocker & Strong Man vs. Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro & Okumura, plus Mascara Dorada & La Sombra & Volador Jr. vs. Averno & Mephisto & Ephesto. Strong Man is Jon Anderson. Saturday in Saltillo has Konnan & Chessman vs. Marco Corleone & Electroshock. Sunday in Santiago Escuintla has Jack Evans & La Parka vs. Alan Stone & Tigre Cota. Sunday in Ciudad Juarez has Mesias vs. Cibernetico vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. Perros Del Mal have their first TV taping on Sunday with Alebrije & Porky & L.A. Park vs. Perro Aguayo Jr. & Damian 666 & Halloween plus a TLC match with Mr. Aguila & Scorpio Jr. & Veneno vs. Histeria & Mosco de la Merced & Psicosis. The next Tijuana are 10/16 with Porky & El Hijo del Rey Misterio & Super Parka vs. Arandu & Star Boy & TJ Boy, and 10/23 with Blue Demon Jr. & Intocable vs. Charly Manson & Scorpio Jr.
--There is also an AAA show on 10/22 in Dallas at Escapade 2001 with Jack Evans & La Parka & Laredo Kid vs. Teddy Hart & Silver King & Dark Ozz (thanks to Kris Zellner)
--CZW on Saturday at the Arena in Philadelphia has B-Boy vs. Drake Younger, Eddie Kingston vs. Sami Callihan, Jon Moxley & Nick Gage & Nate Hatred vs. D.J. Hyde & Scotty Vortekz & xOMGx, Devon Moore vs. Ego Fantastico and Best Around vs. Blkout
--Dory Funk's next show in Ocala, FL is 10/17 at the Funking Conservatory with a women's Battle Royal, plus Shane Chung vs. Jumbo Elvis Sharp vs. Blain Rage and Dory Funk vs Hack Meyers
--Time Warner on Demand has a preview of UFC 104 in their Events Free Preview section (thanks to Suji Abraham)
--Promoter David Farmer at
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is looking for a contact for Iceman King Parsons
--Tri State Wrestling Alliance reunion show on 10/24 in Voorhees, NJ at Flyers Skate Zone has added Blue Meanie, Jimmy Cicero, Crybaby Waldo and Cueball Carmicheal to the show
--During Sports Center earlier today, during a Dodgers-Cardinals game highlight, Stan Verrett got a base hit and it was called a "Ric Flair" hit since he gave a wooo and said the player styled and profiled to first base (thanks to R.L. Green)
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