THURS. UPDATE: Ross update, Gaspard talks, new UFC main, TNA star KO's drunk; Fedor TV special


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        TNA Impact at 9 p.m. tonight:
*Amazing Red vs. Homicide for X title
*Matt Morgan vs. Scott Steiner
*A.J. Styles & Daniels vs. Samoa Joe & Kevin Nash
*Awesome Kong vs. Raisha Saeed
*Rhino vs. Hernandez
*British Invasion vs. Beer Money in a cage match for TNA tag titles
*Motor City Machine Guns vs. Lethal Consequences in an Ultimate X match to determine No. 1 contenders for the tag titles
        The show also features the debut of Desmond Wolf, the former Nigel McGuinness, starting a program with new babyface Kurt Angle and Kristal Lashley as a new female character.
 
        Superstars at 8 p.m. tonight
*Gail Kim vs. Kelly Kelly
*Matt Hardy & R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre & Eric Escobar
*Tommy Dreamer & Goldust vs. Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson   
 
        A look at Shane McMahon's departure from WWE with comments from several people who have worked with him in recent years, possible future, and analysis is the lead story in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 
 
        The issue looks at his resignation, the reaction of Vince McMahon, and possible reasons why this is taking place now.  We also look back historically at several different times when Shane McMahon was expected to run a promotion and that in all cases for a variety of different reasons it never materialized.  We look at what league he is in financially when it comes to being able to start a franchise.
 
        We look at what he would and wouldn't bring to a new venture, reactions to his job running a division from both the inside and outside, and a look at people in other businesses in similar situations.
       
        Monday's issue is available right now to web site subscribers.  You can also get the Observer by mail subscription with details below.
 
        We have a huge feature on the life and times of Lou Albano that will be out next week.
 
        We've got a look at where TNA stands after Bound for Glory, including the pros and cons of the current direction.  We look at the problems continuing with the company's inability to get paying customers, even to its biggest show of the year.
 
        We look at the Kim Couture angle and why it's doomed to fail, the injuries on the show, how everything builds to Turning Point as well as a TNA major main event scheduled for after.
 
        We've got notes on the signing of Nigel McGuinness and how it happened and why he is in the main event picture so quickly, as well as notes on the short-term direction of Kurt Angle and Mick Foley.
 
        We also have an updated Turning Point lineup, match-by-match coverage with star ratings for Bound for Glory as well as poll results on the show.
 
        We also have the story behind the changing of the main event at Bragging Rights.  We also look at the funny story to some, but not to at least one of the participants who ended up not there, regarding the match where the Smackdown team changed.
 
        We've got notes on Jerry Lawler's reaction to the Memphis mayoral race, one of the last significant business deals put together by Shane McMahon that will affect PPV buys, Maria Menounos talks about being a wrestling fan, notes on the change to Kofi Kingston, John Cena being pulled from house shows soon, several WWE surveys regarding PPV numbers being down as well as the effect of MMA.
 
        We've got a major story on Linda McMahon's political campaign, including the early days and involvement of pro wrestling, as well as new places her comebacks have made her vulnerable to opposition.
 
        We also have notes regarding two Hall of Famers who are in talks about guest hosting Raw and updates on time frames they are looking at.  We've got funny notes on WWE booking, updates on FCW, Punk talking about who he wants to face at WrestleMania and hints at a stipulation, as well as a rundown on all the weekend WWE events, including some huge shows in Mexico.  We also have notes on how WWE has changed the Mexico landscape and scary numbers for the locals with the new ratings being released.
 
        We also look at names announced for what will be most likely the most-watched television event of the year worldwide, the annual New Year's Eve Dynamite show.  We look at who has been chosen for the main event, what matches are scheduled and what four major pro wrestlers are headlining.
 
        We have an update on Jim Ross, notes on his Bell's Palsy attack as well as a look back at his past history with the malady, how it has affected his career, a look at his career dating back 35 years, and how, in various situations, he was brought back after the decision was made to take him off announcing, including what two wrestlers got him back in 1999, and how fan reaction at a show literally saved his job two years ago, update on his negotiations, as well as why he ended up with WWF and the strange circumstances of the announcement.
 
        We've also got the updated business charts for WWE and TNA, looking at the summer with live attendance, gates, ratings of all the major TV shows, and PPV buys for both companies, so you can see where things are up and where things are down.  We look at the first month where WWE showed a PPV increase, but how it is tempered by SummerSlam numbers.
 
        We also look at a new promotion debuting in April that already has a three-pronged television deal for MMA, which will include weekly two-plus hour live shows on national television, as well as a major network recap show.  We look at the schedule, as well as the viability of the project, and the format.
 
        We've got a story on the death of longtime Japanese journeyman wrestler Ryuma Go, including how and why he got one of the biggest reactions on what can be argued was the biggest show, in terms of talent, in pro wrestling history that took place in 1995.  We look at a wrestler who started at the age of 15, and went all over the world, and at one time was a cult television star in Japan.  We also look back on his most famous program, where he ended a famous winning streak in a match 30 years ago this month that is still widely remembered in Japan.
 
         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:
 
--Former WWE star returning in two weeks to Mexico
 
--CMLL brings back one of the most well known Luchadores
 
--Grizzly murder of a wrestler
 
--Latest from AAA TV tapings
 
--Notes on first Perros Del Mal show
 
--A national sports hero coming in for a managing role on a big show
 
--Former star from another sport now holds title belts in two different promotions simultaneously
 
--Notes on the Misawa Memorial show
 
--Update on NOAH junior heavyweight tournament including a huge upset featuring an ROH star beating one of the top stars in the world
 
--Update on New Japan tag tournament
 
--One of the two or three biggest stars of the last 30 years has secret surgery
 
--Hall of Fame wrestler announces this week he is running for Governor
 
--Notes on former indie wrestling star making his pro boxing debut soon
 
--Bill Goldberg and others in a look at the most requested wrestlers by overseas promoters
 
--More on the funeral and death of B.J. Race
 
--A women who has lifts in some cases ahead of those of Mark Henry is now a pro wrestling champion
 
--Son of 90s legend scheduled to debut in two weeks
 
--Updated talk on the effect of concussions in sports and Chris Nowinski talks about WWE 
 
--Torrie Wilson updates an explains her recent hospitalization
 
--Update on Hulkamania ticket sales
 
--How WWE is forcing changes to the tour
 
--Notes from Hulk Hogan's new autobiography with some interesting stories
 
--Third generation wrestler and brother of WWE star looks to be starting as a pro wrestler
 
--Update on Boogeyman
 
--New ROH matches
 
--Where TNA has its most popularity
 
--Notes on how TNA and Jakks Pacific are pushing their new product line
 
--Notes on next round of TNA action figures
 
--Update on Mr. Kennedy
 
--Sting talks retirement
 
--Notes on TNA Impacts and where they lead
 
--UFC plans for 2010
 
--Notes on the UFC debut in Australia
 
--Is UFC for sale?
 
--Update on UFC and Dan Henderson as well as where all the 1/2 main events stand
 
--Notes on the UFC show lineup going head-to-head with Raw, including a potential major counter by WWE
 
--Lots of new UFC matches signed
 
--Former UFC star talks about steroid use of early MMA names
 
--Notes on big shows in Japan on U.S. TV
 
--One of the most horrid crimes ever by a fighter and a television show coming next week detailing it      
 
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--Regarding Jim Ross, from speaking to someone who spoke to him personally, they said his voice sounds perfect, so from that standpoint this setback wasn't as bad as his prior two setbacks.
 
--It now appears Jon Fitch will be facing Thiago Alves, but the match is being moved to 12/12 in Memphis.  Fitch beat Alves a few years ago before both became considered generally the No. 2 and No. 3 welterweights in the world.  Ricardo Almeida suffered a knee injury and had to pull out of the match with Fitch which was originally on 11/21 in Las Vegas.
 
--Showtime announced a special called Fight Camp 360 to build up Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers.  The show airs on Showtime at 9:30 p.m. on 11/3 and will be repeated several times on Sho 2, and the tape is also being sent to all CBS stations if they want to air it at some point.
 
--Ultimate Fighter last night did a 2.1 rating
 
--ECW on Tuesday did a 1.1 rating 
 
--Shad Gaspard's story on getting ill and pulling out of the ten man tag on Smackdown taped Tuesday night is that he got sick coming back from Mexico, and got real sick on Tuesday, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.  He got a shot of Phenergan from the WWE doctor which made him drowsy and gave him cold chills and left to go back to the hotel room where he suffered from vomiting and diarrhea all night.  AS noted earlier this week, the wrestlers thought Shad was fine on Tuesday and then suddenly claimed he got sick after learning he was doing the job for Matt Hardy in a ten-man tag match.  Gaspard told people earlier today he had no problems doing jobs and must have done a good job faking being well earlier in the day.
 
--The Daily Telegraph in Australia today at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au has a quick blurb on Lyoto Machida drinking his own urine.  That's a real story.  He said he learned it from his father and believes that it strengthens his immune system.
 
--Awesome Kong knocked out some drunk guy who was messing with her after the Bound for Glory show I think at the hotel.
 
--As has been expected, Chris Horodecki, the former IFL star, has signed with WEC 
 
--On Tuesday night's taping, the reason the did a five vs. four (supposed to be five) match instead of five singles is both because five singles would have to be rushed and also because they didn't want either Eric Escobar or Drew McIntyre losing on television.   
 
--The 2010 Guiness Book of World Records, which used to be a huge deal when it came out, on page 241 lists an item as the most wins of the WWE championship (male), and lists it as HHH with 8.  They only list that specific title.  It has a photo of him and lists his name as Paul Levesque. (thanks to Troy Snyder)
 
--Poll on Countdown to UFC 104
Excellent 19.5%
Good 62.2%
Average 7.3%
Fair 3.7%
Poor 7.3%
        57.9% of those responding didn't see the show
 
--Who do you expect to win the Smackdown title match on Sunday?
C.M. Punk 39.4%
Batista 30.2%
Undertaker 24.9%
Rey Mysterio 5.5%
 
--Who is the best wrestler of these Hall of Famers?
Bret Hart 50.5%
Shawn Michaels 40.8%
Jerry Lawler 5.1%
Wahoo McDaniel 3.6%
 
--What are your thoughts regarding the change in the Smackdown team at the last minute?
An excellent sign for creative stability 3.7%
A good sign for creative stability 3.7%
No sign at all of anything 18.1%
A bad sign for creative stability 23.5%
A real bad sign for creative stability 51.0%   
 
--WEC announced its complete lineup for 11/18 at the Palms in Las Vegas.  November is going to be one crazy month as that will be on a Wednesday, the same week as UFC events on both 11/14 and 11/21, and in the same city as the 11/21 show.  Matches are:
*Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo Jr. for the featherweight title
*Manny Gamburyan vs. Leonard Garcia
*Razor Rob McCullough vs. Karen Darabedyan
*Shane Roller vs. Danny Castillo
*Kamal Shalorus vs. Alex Karalexis
*L.C. Davis vs. Diego Nunes
*John Franchi vs. Cub Swanson
*Kenji Osawa vs. Antonio Banuelos
*James Krause vs. Ricardo Lamas
*Frank Gomez vs. Seth Dikun     
 
--Chris Jericho will be appearing tomorrow night at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival.  The event runs at the Colonial Theater, which often holds area pro wrestling shows.  They will be playing the movie "Albino Farm" which he starred in. 
 
--Paul Heyman noted the similarity between Rhiannna's new cover (barbed wire wrapped around her body) and the 1998 ECW Extreme Music with barbed wire wrapped around Sandman's body.  There is a story at http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/
 
--Nigel McGuinness is expected to release a statement either today or tomorrow regarding his signing with TNA. 
 
--Mauricio "Shogun" Rua interview at http://www.heavy.com/post/mauricio-shogun-rua-exclusive-heavycom-interview-1012/ talking about his early problems in UFC and match with Lyoto Machida 
 
--Mick Foley headlines Total Extreme Comedy on 11/2 at the Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan.  He will be performing on stage with Colt Cabana.
 
--Austin Aries vs. Davey Richards for the ROH title headlines 11/13 in Detroit. 
 
--Eddie Edwards, recovery from surgery to repair a broken elbow, will be appearing at the ROH tapings on 11/5 and 11/6 in Philadelphia 
 
--The Miz got himself some press at http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/10/22/pro-wrestler-wants-to-pummel-mangini  Basically it's Miz complaining about the Browns (he grew up in Cleveland) and coach Eric Mangini, Brady Quinn (hey, no messing with Brady Quinn), Derek Anderson, Dwayne Johnson and any other names he can think of.  It actually stems from this interview at http://sports.espn.go.com/videogames/news/story?id=4577492   The Miz character in the video game was given John Cena's physique
 
--Giant Silva headlines on 10/30 for NWS in Long Branch, NJ at Seashore Broadway Gym. Silva faces four men.
 
--Daniel Puder and the San Jose PAL are teaming up for the 17th annual PAL Golf tournament in San Jose on Monday at the Silver Creek Golf and Country Club.  There is a drawing for two tickets for the pre-tournament luncheon, green fees and a cart, course beverages, tee prizes, the awards dinner and no-host cocktails party at http://www.starzlife.com/20091019/enter-to-win-golf-with-daniel-purder-and-the-sjpal/
 
--There is a Kyle Kingsbury after party on Saturday night in Los Angeles at Capital City Sports at 1615 N. Cahuenga Blvd., after UFC 104   
 
--GXW on Friday night in Richmond, VA at the Blackwell Community Center
 
--On the newly released UFC 100 DVD, they edited out Dan Henderson's comment about throwing the second punch to shut up Michael Bisping as well as Brock Lesnar praising Coors Light and flipping off the crowd.  Editing was said to be good in that you can't tell there is a cut (thanks to Todd Harkness)
 
--River City Wrestling on Saturday night at Church Triumphant in San Antonio headlined by Hernandez and Marty Jannetty
 
--CMLL from Tuesday night in Guadalajara before only 750 fans:  Acertijo & Evola b Divino & Saturno, Angel del Mal & Dragon b Hierro & Palacio Negro, Lady Apache & Marcela b Princesa Blanca & Raven Hiroka, Blue Panther & La Mascara & Maximo b Dragon Rojo & Misterioso Jr. & Sangre Azteca, Black Warrior & El Terrible & El Texano Jr. b Brazo de Plata (making his CMLL return) & Hector Garza & Shocker
 
--Monday night there was a head to head battle in Nuevo Laredo
 
AAA:  May Flowers & Polvo de Estrellas & Yuriko b Black Fenix & Kendor & Malefico, Cinthia Moreno & Tiffany b Estrellita & Esther Moreno, Aero Star & Estrella Universal & Hombre sin Miedo b Black Mamba & Rey Infernal & Sobredosis, Elegido & Laredo Kid & Rocky Romero b Dark Cuervo & Dark Escoria & Dark Ozz
 
Perros del Mal:  Mini Cibernetico & Mini Oriental & Mini Scorpio b Mascarita de Oro y Plata & Mini Laredo Kid & La Parkita, Alebrije & Sangre Chicana & Cassandro b Corazon de Barrio & Hator & Magno, Histeria & Maniaco & Psicosis b Hijo del Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000 & El Hijo de Universo 2000, Oriental & Rossy Moreno won three-way over Zumbido & La Diabolica and Pentagon Black & Xochitl Hamada, Perro Aguayo Jr. & Damian 666 & Halloween b Charly Manson & Groon XXX & Lizmark Jr.
 
--Monday night in Mazatlan for CMLL:  El Angel & El Barbaro & Mazatleco II b Argus & Black Street & Spartan, Palacio Negro & Serpiente Marina b Malefico & Sargento Negro, Metal Blanco & Mario Mora & Relampago b Mascara Magica & Rey Trueno & Mr. Trueno, Blue Panther & Hector Garza b Felino & Misterioso Jr.-DQ, Mistico & La Mascara b Dragon Rojo & Sangre Azteca
 
--AAA is doing a television taping tomorrow night in Mexico City for Fox Sports Espanol headlined by Elegido & Marco Corleone & Mesias vs. Cibernetico & Electroshock & Kenzo Suzuki, and Dr. Wagner Jr. & Jack Evans vs. Alex Koslov & Teddy Hart
 
--Upcoming Tijuana shows are 10/30 at the Auditorio with the return of Mistico, taming with La Sombra & Volador Jr. vs. Felino & Negro Casas & Ultimo Guerrero, and 10/31 at the Palenque with Perro Aguayo Jr. as the top star, teaming with Damian 666 & Halloween against L.A. Park & Super Parka & Brazo de Plata (thanks to Kris Zellner) 
 
--Eric Young is holding an auction for Eric Young TNA worn gear to aid in fund raising for Steve Williams' health care costs.  The auction is at http://www.wrestlersrescue.org 
 
--Paradise Warrior Retreat and M-1 Global announced a celebrity retreat on 11/7 and 11/8 in Chicago in conjunction with the CBS show.  On 11/7, Andrei Arlovski, Pat Milietch, Renato Sobral, Shawn Tompkins, Sean Bormet and Dr. Doug Magno will be doing an MMA instruction clinic at Team Curran Gym in Crystal Lake, IL.  On 11/8, there will be a luncheon featuring Fedor Emelianenko and Gegard Mousasi.  for more info go to http://www.paradisewarriorretreat.com or call 1-888-PWR-1001
 
--The Village Voice at http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2009/awards/best-place-to-watch-straight-men-get-all-homoerotic-1436500/ as a unique award for ROH shows at the Manhattan Center and Hammerstein Ballroom
 
--Silas Young, Shane Hollister, Johnny Gargano and Arik Cannon have been added to the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup tournament on 11/20 in Brooksville, FL and 11/21 in Crystal River, FL.  80s star Ron Bass vs. Sean Davis in a bullrope match has been added to the second night.
 
--NWS on 11/6 in Belleville, NJ at the Knights of Columbus Hall with Giant Silva and 11/7 in Dunellen, NJ at the Knights of Columbus Hall with Silva and Sunny
 
--Nasty Ronnie's Hot TV Wrestling on 11/15 at Grass Flats Bar & Grill in Clearwater, FL with free admission 
 
--CHIKARA Pro on 11/21 at the Palmer Center in Easton, PA features Hydra vs. Tim Donst in a loser leaves town match
 
--There is a story at http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/ on Neil Sands,, The Golden Boy, performing in a musical at Saffron Walden's Town Hall this coming Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.  Sands was a former British wrestler. 
 
--Story on a wrestler pretending he was once in the WWF at http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_293010042.html  Jerry Seavey was a smalltime indie guy in New England, but if he ever worked for WWE, it was only as a TV job guy.
 
--Linda Bollea will have a statement shortly on her first reaction to the book excerpts.  Nothing you wouldn't expect.
 
--CZW Tournament of Death is Saturday at 2 p.m. at 179 Ebenezer Church Rd. in Townsend, DE, featuring Zandig vs. Nick Gage in a glass pane match, Thumbtack Jack vs. Jon Moxley in a four corners of fun dog collar match, Masada vs. Brain Damage in a new age Texas death match and Sami Callihan vs. Danny Havoc in a Caribbean Pits of death match.
 
--MMA author Sam Sheridan will be at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/TheBlowhardExperiment at 10 p.m. Eastern tonight
 
--Irv Muchnick appears tonight at 8:05 p.m. Mountain time on AM 770 CHQR in Calgary at http://snipr.comsnpzk

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