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        A three-hour "Super Impact" tonight, which also includes the Countdown to Bound for Glory special, patterned after a UFC TV show:

*ODB & Awesome Kong & Tara vs. Lacey Von Erich & Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne

*Amazing Red vs. Suicide for the X division title

*Hernandez vs. all 3 members of the British Invasion under Royal Rumble rules

*Daniels vs. Pope D'Angelo Dinero

*Hamada vs. Alissa Flash in falls count anywhere (told this match was real good)

*Bobby Lashley vs. Rhino in a stretcher match

*A.J. Styles vs. Kurt Angle (this will air commercial free and said to be the best match on Impact in some time)

 

        WWE Superstars tonight at 8 p.m. on WGN America:

*Tommy Dreamer vs. Vladimir Kozlov

*Mark Henry vs. Chris Masters for a Team Raw spot

*John Morrison vs. C.M. Punk 

 

        Versus will be airing Saturday night's WEC show at both 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. featuring the Donald Cerrone vs. Ben Henderson fight which has gotten a lot of talk based on both it being a match of the year contender, and also because of who should have gotten the decision.  

 

        Also on Spike tonight  is Unleashed at 7 p.m. with Dave Strasser vs. Karo Parisyan and Renato Sobral vs. Travis Wiuff, along with a replay of last night's Ultimate Fighter show at 8 p.m.

 

        A look at who are the biggest and most popular names in wrestling, MMA and boxing in 2009, as well as a comparison to 2008 leads off Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  The list is derived from web activity based on the major names, and is interesting to note in the sense everyone has a list of where they think people rate, including promotions.  

 

        We look at the surprises, as well as what this tells us in advance about what in some ways when it comes to long-term is the most important show remaining in 2009, which is the Strikeforce debut on CBS on 11/7 and where Fedor does or doesn't stand.

 

        We also have a look at how the last few weeks if you attended the two major shows, it would appear Japanese pro wrestling has made a comeback.  We look at why that probably isn't the case, as well as look at notes on the 25th anniversary of the pro debut of Masahiro Chono.  We look at Chono's career highlights, as well as look at New Japan's next major events, and what major Japanese celebrity was part of the show including what WWF champion was created based on this celebrity. 

 

        We've got an update on the Bragging Rights PPV and the Bound for Glory PPV with new matches, new stips and how WWE changed from the original direction.  We look at the promotion of the Raw vs. Smackdown match and Cena vs. Orton match.

 

        The issue is available right now on the web site for premium subscribers.  It is also available to be delivered to your home with subscription details below.  

 

        We also have thoughts on the divas shuffling of the deck, and why this should lead to several turns in upcoming weeks.  We have notes on a future guest host, Maria Menounos talking about her appearance on Raw, a lot of thoughts on the AP story including comments that have had a lot of people laughing at Vince McMahon, McMahon acknowledging the emergence of UFC is affecting the product, as well as more in detail on the most interesting part of the WWE new direction story that is being missed.

       

        We've got notes on the upcoming Smackdown tour of Mexico, changes in PPV names, possibility of WWE doing War Games, who is behind the push of  Drew McIntyre and why.  We also look at the plight of Jack Swagger, MVP and The Miz on Raw.

 

        We've got a lot more on the first salvo of criticism by Republican party leaders to Linda McMahon, as well as what her opponents in the senate race are saying.  We also look at some of the early television commercials Linda McMahon has done.

 

        We've got a long series of stories regarding Booker T and his future, including the different thoughts addressed within WWE regarding him coming in as well as what seems to have led to the end of his tenure in TNA.  We look at the differences in expectations in WWE and TNA, the potential of Sharmell and plenty of other issues regarding Booker including issues rarely talked about from his last WWE run.

 

        We have more notes on Big Show's new movie.

 

        We also look at ethnic audience differences when it comes to interest in WWE and UFC PPV events.  We look at WWE combating TNA and the Hogan tour in Australia, as well as a part-time WWE wrestler talks about wanting one last match with his most famous rival.

 

        We also have a look at Steve Austin, talking about his WWE career, his favorite wrestler of all-time, his favorite match he was ever in, and his thoughts on his acting career, Vince Russo, Ed Ferrara and even ROH.

 

        We also look at the WWE media situation in the U.K. and how a petty squabble has changed things as well as looking at that squabble.

 

        We look at several new people signed of late by WWE, noting the new trend of what they are looking for.  Dolph Ziggler talks about his drug suspension as well as his days as an amateur wrestler, some funny commentary looking back from more than a decade ago, Ted DiBiase responds to criticism of his working in WWE after all the things he had said in the past, as well as a look at the weekend WWE arena events.

 

        We have more on the near death experience in recent days of a popular former WWE woman star, the death of Harley Race's wife, B.J. Race, and the son of a Hall of Famer who at one time was one of the most heavily recruited high school football players in the country who is about to debut as a pro wrestler.

 

        We also look back in history about a former pro wrestler who is little remembered in football but actually was one of two people who broke the color barrier in the NFL and was talked about in this week's Sports Illustrated.

 

        We have a ton of behind-the-scenes notes from TNA regarding not only Booker T, but the future of several of the older wrestlers.  We also look at TNA and the price of its PPVs, we've got an update on Kurt Angle's legal situation, an update on the creative team, an update on Bobby Lashley in MMA and plenty of stories regarding Lacey Von Erich.

 

        We also have a look at the WEC show from the weekend, including TV audience, and questions about judging coming out of the Donald Cerrone vs. Ben Henderson main event.   

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

 

        In this case, we also have details on what segments hit and missed on TNA, as well as how a TNA vs. WWE head-to-head battle did, and interesting notes on where WWE, TNA and UFC's audiences over the past week changed very notably from the prior 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:

 

--Former WWE star being talked about as returning to Mexico

 

--How CMLL business has been doing and the latest lesson of the long-term of price discounting

 

--Big stipulation matches being teased

 

--Charly Manson talks about leaving AAA

 

--AAA fires a former major draw

 

--A new promotion gets major national television and is trying to raid other promotions for talent

 

--A look at the first TV taping from that group including the big angle shot

 

--Former TNA star wins overseas top title

 

--Update on the next Dragon Gate USA show

 

--Hustle brings in new celebrity star, how the big show does with him

 

--A return of the oldest annual tradition in pro wrestling that dates back to 1977

 

--Return of Naomichi Marufuji

 

--A look at the NOAH jr. heavyweight tournament and the G-1 Climax tag team tournament

 

--Dream match signed for later this month

 

--Update on Bobby Heenan

 

--Update on bidding for Ric Flair's old world title belt

 

--One of biggest U.S. stars of 80s writing an autobiography

 

--Hulk Hogan update

 

--Son of 80s star now a college football starting quarterback

 

--Sad story of a murder of an independent pro wrestler

 

--Update on Eddie Edwards and ROH tag team titles

 

--What ROH did at weekend shows that I've never heard of from a TV promotion

 

--Former ECW star coming to RH TV

 

--Wrestling personality gets engaged

 

--Mick Foley talks politics, Linda McMahon, health care and gives details on his next pro wrestling book

 

--Jeff Jarrett/Kurt Angle update

 

--Jim Cornette talks TNA and ROH

 

--TNA Global Impact notes

 

--What team has really held more world tag team titles than any team in history

 

--TNA house show news

 

--A look at upcoming UFC PPV events

 

--Junie Browning attempts to kill himself, and UFC signs new fighter shortly after he also attempted suicide

 

--Mirko Cro Cop talks suicidal thoughts after his last match

 

--UFC conducting seminars with all fighters under contract and why

 

--Notes on Ultimate Fighter

 

--Notes on ticket sales for upcoming UFC events

 

--Notes on UFC running in new markets and getting legalized and regulated

 

--Lorenzo Fertitta talks about which fighter he thinks can be the mainstream star to really push the company up next year

 

--What NBA team paid significant money to get UFC into its arena

 

--UFC goals for next year

 

--UFC magazine's first issue sales vs. WWE magazine sales of late

 

--Rashad Evans talks next fight

 

--Brock Lesnar builds up Shane Carwin fight

 

--The nephew of what former pro wrestling superstar is Lesnar's main coach

 

--MMA awards notes

 

--CBS promotional plans for Fedor and the next show

 

--The complete CBS lineup and thoughts on its marketability, as well as how live tickets are doing

 

--Strikeforce signs a former wrestling champion

 

--Notes on the Dream ratings in Japan and the boxing lead-in

 

--Celebrity scheduled to debut in a month fighting MMA

 

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--Funeral info on Captain Lou Albano:  A private wake will be at the Balsamo-Cordovano Funeral Home in Carmel, NY at 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow.  If you are interested in sending flowers you can do so at 845-225-4623 which is the Carmel Flower Shop.  The mass takes place Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the St. James the Apostle Church in Camel, NY.

 

--The New York Times obit for Albano is at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/sports/15albano.hmtl

 

--Mike & Mike on ESPN 2 paid tribute to Albano playing a sound bite from "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."  Bob Golic noted Albano was a great athlete as well an entertainer.  I don't know about great athlete, but he was an athlete.  Both Mikes talked about being big fans of his and started talking about various 70s and 80s WWWF/WWF stars like the Samoans, Valiant Brothers, Roddy Piper, etc.

 

--Justin Kendall wrote a story on the brain injuries of former Kansas City Chief Kyle Turley, and spoke with Chris Nowinski, who also spoke about the wrestling industry at http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/10/retired_kansas_city_chief_kyle_turley_donating_brain_to_research.php  

 

--Torrie Wilson updated her condition saying, "Thanks so much for the love and concern regarding my lil hospital stint!  I have thyroid problems and was given medicine that had a horrible adverse reaction for someone with thyroid issues.  My heart was slowly stopping and was down to 30 bpm!  I was getting cold and my arms and legs were getting numb like I was having heart failure!  So Scary, but I am fine now thank GOD."    

 

--Ultimate Fighter did another 2.2 rating last night, which I would consider a very good sign because it was not promoted on the back of Kimbo Slice and still held up.

 

--ECW did a 1.0 rating on Tuesday.

 

--Some new notes on Bound for Glory.  Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Consequences Creed & Jay Lethal has been added as a match at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time that will air for free on the PPV channel.  Amazing Red has been added to the Ultimate X match with Homicide, Suicide, Daniels and Pope Burke and it's now a title match, Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley is now a submissions only match and Scott Steiner & Booker T vs. British Invasion vs. Beer Money vs. Team 3-D is Full Metal Mayhem with both sets of tag titles (TNA & IWGP) at stake, which is Tables, Ladders, Chairs and Chains legal.  Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society will be performing the national anthem.  There is a story at http://www.blabbermouth.net on Wylde doing the show.   

 

--With the new lineup, do you think Bragging Rights will do:

Better than usual B PPV shows 11.1%

Worse than usual B PPV shows 40.0%

The same as usual B PPV shows 48.9%

 

--What do you consider the real main event at Bragging Rights

John Cena vs. Randy Orton Iron Man match 49.1%

Undertaker vs. Punk vs. Mysterio vs. Batista 26.4%

7 on 7 Raw vs. Smackdown match 24.5%

        That's a bad sign, because the show is being marketed around the idea of doing Raw vs. Smackdown will draw viewers who usually don't buy the shows, and people aren't even thinking it's the top match on the show.

 

--Who is the best wrestler of these Hall of Famers?

Jumbo Tsuruta 55.2%

Genichiro Tenryu 32.7%

Dos Caras Sr. 4.9%

Perro Aguayo Sr. 4.6%

Canek 2.6%

   

 

--U.K. ratings for the week ending 10/4.  Impact didn't make the list so it did less than 38,000 viewers.  Raw did 56,000 live.  Smackdown (this was the show Rock was on) did 84,000 viewers.  TNA has added Impact on Friday nights on Virgin 1 in the U.K. at 9 p.m. starting 10/30, which will open TNA up to a lot of new households. (thanks to Ian Hamilton)

 

--Mick Foley was on Fox News' website "Strategy Room" at http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=10631176&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/ (thanks to Jeff Gagliardo)

 

--Men's Fitness will be publicizing Hulk Hogan's new book in the November issue that comes out Monday with excerpts from his new autobiography.  Anyway, they sent out some publicity quotes and regarding the reviewers who thought Hogan was honest and open, holy shit, it's the exact same as his first book except new stories.  The best is how he completely destroyed his knee in the match with Iron Sheik where he won the title, but had to gut it out for the rest of the match.  His knee was so blown that he was wrestling the next night.  He also talks about shooting on Sylvester Stallone and pinning him.  Well, at least it's Stallone and not Riki Choshu, Hiroshi Hase and Tatsumi Fujinami.

 

--Several of the wrestlers on the Hogan Australia tour will be now wrestling under their real names instead of gimmick names.  Not Hogan and Ric Flair, but the undercard guys.    

 

--Quinton Jackson at http://www.Rampage-Jackson.com has a new blog where he defends himself and blames the editing for making him look bad on the Ultimate Fighter episodes.  He blamed Rashad Evans for acting for the cameras.  He's still cutting promos on Evans, saying, "Rashad is so full of himself, even though he just got knocked the hell out by Machida.  It was the worst showing of his fight career.  Now that he is a one and done champion he thinks that the show is about him.  It was hard for me to do this show because I know how fake Rashad is and what kind of person he is.  Most of the real fans can tell, too, that's why he gets booed all the time."

 

--Barri Griffiths of Wales, who was Barri 10 foot on the U.K. Gladiators show, was offered a developmental contract by WWE.

 

--Stacy Keibler is listed as one of Baltimore's 64 biggest celebrities in a Baltimore Sun poll where they are doing a tournament to determine the top celebrity from the city.

 

--GHC jr. champion KENTA's next two ROH TV matches will be taped 11/5 in Philadelphia against Tyler Black, and 11/6 it's KENTA & Black vs. Austin Aries & Kenny King.  Also on 11/5, will be Colt Cabana vs. Chris Hero.  KENTA vs. Roderick Strong was announced for 11/7 in Edison, NJ., and also on that show with Davey Richards and a mystery partner against Kevin Steen & El Generico, as well as Sonjay Dutt vs. Kenny Omega.

 

--Diego Maradona told reporters to "Suck It" after his Argentina team qualified for the next round of the World Cup.     

 

--FX will be airing an "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," episode with Roddy Piper on 10/22 with an episode entitles "Wrestling For the Troops" with Piper guest starring as a maniacal pro wrestler. 

 

--Lyoto Machida, Shogun Rua, Cain Velasquez, Ben Rothwell, Antoni Hardonk, Pat Barry, Chael Sonnen, Rob Kimmons and Kyle Kingsbury on UFC 104 have all been completely cleared as of yesterday.  That would mean the other names on the show likely still have medicals to to through.

 

--Jeff Marek, formerly of Live Audio Wrestling, starts on 10/26 as the morning sports anchor on CBS Newsworld.  He'll continue to host Hockey Night in Canada radio w-f on Sirius as well as continue on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights.

 

--Forbes Magazine at http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/14/ has a story on The Most Powerful Women in Sports.  No. 2 was not a McMahon, but Donna Goldsmith, the COO of WWE 

 

--D-Lo Brown pulled out of the NOAH tour citing personal reasons, which is likely his job with TNA.

 

--GHC heavyweight champion Go Shiozaki is suffering from the mumps

 

--The July 19, 2008, Ultimate Fight Night headlined by Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin will air from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. tomorrow night on Spike.

 

--On 10/24 in North Brunswick, NJ has an NWS show at the North Brunswick Township High School with appearances by Terry Funk, Kevin Sullivan, Lacey Von Erich and Superstar Billy Graham.  Sullivan will be wrestling on the show. 

 

--Yesterday's Metro in New York at http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/14/05/4515-8-2/index.xml has a photo of UFC ring girl Natasha Wicks and noted that last Wednesday, TUF beat all three major league baseball playoff games in Males 18-34.

 

--Even though Time Warner has dropped HDNet, Dream 10 is available on their OnDemand PPV channels (thanks to Jeff Buss)

 

--Mixed Fight League on Saturday night at the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal with a 13-fight show.

 

--CMLL on Monday night in Puebla:  Asturiano & King Jaguar b Alarido Nocturno & Ares, Diamante & Guerrero Maya Jr. b Caligula & Messala, Pequeno Damian 666 & Pequeno Warrior b Electrico & Tzuki, Volador Jr. won Torneo Cibernetico over Averno, Mephisto, Flash, Mascara Dorada, Sangre Azteca, Ephesto, Sagrado, Black Warrior, Valiente, El Texano Jr and La Mascara, Mistico & La Sombra & Strong Man b Felino & Negro Casas & Mr. Niebla-DQ

 

--CMLL on Tuesday night in Guadalajara:  Angelo & Saturno b Egipcio & Evola, Acertijo & Malefico b Metal Blanco & Samurai, Angel del Mal & Mascara Magica b Gallo & Hours, Nosferatu & Vangelis b Angel de Oro & Angel de Plata, Hector Garza & La Mascara & Strong Man b El Terrible & Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro

 

--Tonight in Zacatecas has Elegido & La Parka vs. Chessman & Cibernetico.  Naucalpan has Los Oficiales vs. Barba Roja & Hijo del Pirata Morgan & Pirata Morgan Jr. for the IWRG IC trios titles.  Gomez Palacio has Ultimo Guerrero defending the CMLL world heavyweight title against Yujiro. 

 

--Future Stars of Wrestling on 11/15 in Las Vegas at 5 p.m. at the Silver Nugget Casino with Kenny King, Michael Modest, Derrick Neikirk and Disco Inferno.

 

--Minnesota Independent Wrestling on Saturday night in Mounds View, MN at Robert's Sports Bar headlined by Austin Aries vs. Big Brody Hoofer

 

--Tuff N Uff on Saturday at the Casa Blanca Resort and Casino in Mesquite, NV has a big MMA show at 7 p.m. featuring up and comers

 

--GCW on 10/22 in Oshawa, ONT at Royal Canadian Legion Hall