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We're looking for your thoughts on last night's Strikeforce Evolution show, last night's ROH Internet PPV, last night's WEC show and tonight's TNA Final Resolution show so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match on all of these shows to
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Tonight the wrestling world centers on Orlando, where TNA does Final Resolution at the same time WWE Smackdown & ECW are being taped for the Christmas night show, since they don't want to tape this week on Tuesday. Smackdown has two title matches with DX vs. Hart Dynasty for the tag titles and Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio for the World title.
We're also looking for reports on tonight's Raw house show in Tallahassee, last night's Raw house show in Albany, GA, last night's Smackdown show in West Palm Beach, and Friday night's WWE shows in Miami and Mobile.
Tonight's lineup:
*A.J. Styles vs. Daniels for the TNA title - I don't know if this is a PPV match that will do any special numbers, but it's likely to be a very entertaining title match. I can't see a title change with everything lame duck and things built toward Styles vs. Angle next, so the show is there largely to bridge the gap.
*Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe in a series of three matches, first match ending via pinfall, second via submission and third via escaping the cage. One again, figuring where they are going next, Angle really should win. The key here is how Angle's back is doing, but Angle is a guy who looks like he can barely walk and then goes into the ring and does great matches. He'll probably pay for that later in life, and really is probably already paying for it in real life. But these two had an excellent match last month and the odds are they'll follow with one close to the same level this month.
*Bobby Lashley vs. Scott Steiner in a last man standing match. It'll be a brawl. Lashley had a tough weekend as he was snowed in for a few hours in Denver, flew to San Jose to appear on the Strikeforce show doing an interview, then flew out of San Jose to Orlando cross-country all night. If Lashley is winding down his time in TNA, then he should lose. If not, since he lost last month, he'll probably win. His interview last night at Strikeforce gave the impression he'd like to do both, but MMA is his priority and he was no longer talking as strongly about doing both as he had in the past. Unlike Hulk Hogan, Lashley made sure to talk about TNA whenever there was an opening.
*Mick Foley & Abyss vs. Raven & Dr. Stevie - You know what you're getting here. Weapons and lots of blood. Raven is better than most at laying out these kind of matches and Foley is better than almost all in the same scenario. Plus, Abyss is there to carry the bulk of the work on his side. Probably good for what it is.
*Matt Morgan & Hernandez & Pope D'Angelo Dinero & Suicide vs. Team 3-D & Jesse Neal & Rhino - This is an elimination match but Hernandez must start on his own for five minutes and survive against all four. The heel team has gotten the better of this feud in almost every angle, so it's the faces turn to come back here.
*ODB vs. Tara for the Knockouts title - Weird how you had the street fight on TV, which the champ won, to build to a straight title match. Even Steven booking gives Tara the edge but it's not so important that it can't go either way
*Feast or Fired Battle Royal with Samoa Joe, Robert Roode, James Storm, Kevin Nash, Eric Young, Sheik Abdul Bashir, Kiyoshi, Homicide, Jay Lethal, Consequences Creed and Cody Deaner. They will announce who got what briefcase at the show. One person gets a singles title shot (on TV they are hinting it to be Joe), one team gets a tag title shot (hinted at Roode & Storm), one gets an X title shot (figure Lethal since they are burying him on television so they probably figure this rehabs him) and one guy gets fired (Deaner is the favorite but if Kiyoshi is supposed to go back to Japan, it could be him).
Notes from backstage. Just heard that the expectation is that it will be a very good wrestling show.
Tomorrow will be the final pro wrestling shows before Christmas from the major companies. Raw will be live in Tampa and they are scheduled to do the Little People's Court segment with DX and Hornswoggle. That may be taped today at the Smackdown tapings since all three are scheduled for Orlando. Nothing else has been announced. Impact's New Year's Eve show (no Impact this Thursday) will be taped tomorrow night in Orlando with an eight-woman tournament which I presume is to get a shot at the women's title either on TV or the January PPV.
Exclusive coverage on Bret Hart's return to the WWE is the headline story in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The issue goes through the details of Hart's return, how long talks have been going on to build to this return, how much the return of the Monday Night Wars had to do with it, notes on the planned program and the times in the past Hart had been given offers to return to the company.
We look back at what led to the infamous Survivor Series screw job in 1997, the ending of Hart's career as an active wrestler in 2000 and his WWE appearances since that time. We look at different angles suggested over the years for Hart's return including a major one earlier this year that didn't happen. We look at various incidents in 1997 that led to what happened in Montreal and the timetable of his return and how long he's staying.
We also look at plans for WrestleMania up to this point, as well as a look at that disastrous Raw Slammy Awards show, which got the award for one of the worst episodes of the year. We look at what went wrong, the inside rips, the silliness and plans going forward.
We also have a huge story on how a major media business change that took place has already affected UFC, and how it may also affect WWE in a positive way, particularly in giving the company possible leverage in television negotiations.
We also look at the new Frank Mir in his quest to beat Brock Lesnar, as well as an update on Lesnar's health, the proposed Mir vs. Shane Carwin fight and the UFC vs. WrestleMania battle this year.
The issue is available now to premium subscribers on the web site. You can also get the Observer mailed to your home with details below.
We also have a complete rundown of UFC 107, with business notes on the show, crowd reactions and match-by-match coverage with poll results.
We also look at the biggest international pro wrestling event of the year, the annual Tokyo Dome show coming on 1/4, including the return of one of the biggest feuds in Japanese wrestling history, as well as notes on the negotiations to put the show together with the inter promotional theme.
We also have full coverage of the WWE's Tables, Ladders and Chairs PPV, including a look at new champion Sheamus and his background, the announcing, WWE's new policy on blood as well as match-by-match coverage, poll results and star ratings on the show.
We also have a story on how the WWE and pro wrestling is starting to affect Linda McMahon's campaign for the U.S. Senate, including reaction by those in political battles with her regarding the deaths in the business and were policy on health care and how that relates to pro wrestling.
We also have some updates and clarifications on the WWE Wellness policy, and in particular how these changes relate to a potential return of Jeff Hardy, as well as why certain guys look like they are still on steroids, and an update on the company's treatment of marijuana test failures.
We also have major WWE business news including one of the leading owners of the company looks to be getting out, reaction to Umaga's death, future of Shane McMahon, Shawn Michaels and Bryan Danielson.
We also look at the concussion issue in wrestling, update on the Little People's court segment on Raw, new WWE television deal, former world champion talks about returning to WWE next month and best selling DVDs of the year.
We also look at the 2009 Tokyo Sports pro wrestling awards, looking at who the press in Japan named MVP, Most Outstanding, Tag Team of the Year, Match of the Year, Rookie of the year and the other big awards. We also have a 36-year history of the Japanese pro wrestling MVP award, including what American was the only winner in history.
We also have a rundown on AAA's final major show of the year, Guerra de Titanes.
We also have a story from Europe on a pro wrestling gimmick that has transferred over to MMA this past week, drawing some of the best ratings in the history of that sport. We look at a newcomer who is the type that would have done pro wrestling in another era, as well as look back on the famous strong men in pro wrestling history.
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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--Wrestler copies 60s gimmick and gets national television exposure from it
--Ratings from Mexico
--Last AAA TV tapings of the year notes
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--What WWE star will face a world champion of an international promotion on a big show early next year
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--Bracketing for the upcoming Super J Cup
--Coroners report on the death of Edward "Umaga" Fatu
--Update on charges filed against Verne Gagne's granddaughter Gail
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--Updates on Bobby Heenan and Steve "Dr. Death" Williams
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--What former WWE contracted wrestler will play Anna Nicole Smith in a movie
--Cage of Death notes
--More on Hulk Hogan coming to TNA
--Update on Ric Flair and TNA
--Notes on TNA's New Year's Eve programming
--Notes on the new TNA television show
--More on Bobby Lashley's signing with Strikeforce
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--More tales from Hogan, such as shooting on Inoki
--Notes on Mick Foley's next book
--An unbelievably bad angle not shot for television
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--Steve Mazzagatti defends himself against charges by Dana White
--More UFC international expansion
--Possible future matches for B.J. Penn
--Why Kimbo Slice chose UFC
--Judge in Rua vs. Machida fight now thinks Rua won
--Notes on the next CBS MMA event
--Updates on Fedor Emelianenko, Gina Carano and Frank Shamrock fighting
--Update on the EA Sports MMA video game
--Update on the New Year's Eve show
--Former Olympian signs contract
--Former gold medalist starts MMA training
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--Last night's Tribute to the Troops is the WWE's class show of the year. It was interesting as you could see from the show that they knew DX would be winning the tag titles on 12/4, but still were planning on John Cena and John Morrison to be champions at the time after the TLC PPV. The show did 2.39 million viewers on the fast nationals and an 0.8 in the 18-49 demo, making it the second lowest rated show of the night. It did barely half of what the CBS Strikeforce show did last month. We don't have a rating but it would be in the 1.4 range. But this show is not about ratings, because if it was, they would have stopped doing it years ago. I don't think NBC or WWE were expecting ratings much different and I think both will continue doing it as an annual tradition.
--For those who didn't see it, last night was a pretty amazing night of MMA with two great shows. Like we would say when a PPV overachieves, Strikeforce in particular is one that you should try and check Sho 2 on Wednesday night at 11 p.m. if you get the station because there will likely be replays and it's a show that even if you aren't a fan, you'd like.
--At last night's Strikeforce show, Scott Coker announced Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis for the newly created Strikeforce welterweight championship as the main event for 1/30 in Sunrise, FL. That's a total Hardcore fan match since nobody knows Zaromskis in the U.S. Zaromskis was an unknown in Japan who won the tournament to become Dream welterweight champion with a series of spectacular high kick finishes. They also announced Cris Cyborg vs. Marloes Coenen for the women's title. When they did the face-off, it was scary just how much bigger Cyborg was. She looks like she's about 180 and not fat at all. You couldn't help but feel sorry for Coenen when they squared off. Lashley, Jay Hieron, Herschel Walker and Melvin Manhoef were all talked about for the show.
--On Showtime, they also officially announced April, without a date or place, with Fedor and Dan Henderson as the headliners, as the next CBS show. It was teased Fedor vs. Fabricio Werdum and Jake Shields vs. Henderson for the middleweight title. Henderson came across as a huge star and pickup for the promotion in the arena last night. We have a lot more on how that all went down in the audio report from last night up on the site. Coker talked about wanting Alistair Overeem and Gina Carano on the show. Keep in mind this is what he wants, and nothing right now is signed.
--Hornswoggle was told to be in Orlando tonight for the Smackdown tapings and pulled off the Raw house show. Mae Young was called to be at Raw tomorrow night in Tampa.
--The Hartford Courant ran a story on Linda McMahon at http://www.courant.com/news/ talking about her background, being bankrupt in the 70s after Vince made bad investments, and coming back from it, and her belief that she would be a French teacher when she was growing up. An interesting note is that Lowell Weiker, a longtime member of the WWE Board of Directors, was quoted in the story saying he is supporting Christopher Dodd in the race.
--The Young Bucks, Nick & Matt Jackson, are going to TNA's tapings tomorrow night for a tryout.
--MVP talks about pro wrestling having saved his life at http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/dec/20/wrestling-saved-my-life/
--Jesse Ventura talks about his favorite books at http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/books/in_my_library_jesse_ventura_Uy rCEtcjnBVcQoCl783j2K
--The post also talked about Jay Glazer and Randy Couture working together with a training program called MMAAthletics where Couture and Glazer design MMA workouts to get NFL players in shape at http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/the_rumble_YmWzAPtNF5c3VShWNrx vII They've been doing it in Las Vegas and California and are going to expand the program nationally.
--We will be back late tonight with Observer radio (we have an update show from last night's events already on the site) and if you've got questions on wrestling or MMA, you can send them to us at the address on the front page and we'll get to as many as we can.
--Sorry to report the death of Carol Evans, the wife of Reginald Love (Johnny Evans) of Ontario's famed Love Brothers tag team, who worked Maple Leaf Gardens throughout the 70s, due to cancer. She was 79. The funeral service is 12/18 at the Bay Gardens Funeral Home in Burlington, ONT at 3 p.m.
--Poll on Impact from Thursday?
Excellent 17.1%
Good 28.1%
Average 18.6%
Fair 6.7%
Poor 29.5%
33.3% of those responding didn't see the show
--Poll on Superstars on Thursday?
Excellent 21.1%
Good 21.1%
Average 21.1%
Fair 11.8%
Poor 25.0%
63.5% of those responding didn't see the show
--Best of the current world champions
A.J. Styles 35.7%
Undertaker 19.4%
Austin Aries 13.6%
Sheamus 11.9%
Naruki Doi 8.9%
Shinsuke Nakamura 4.0%
Takashi Sugiura 3.8%
Mesias 1.4%
Satoshi Kojima 1.4%
--On the Mike Francesca show on WFAN in New York, the subject of Randy Savage came out and Francesca said he met Savage in a charity softball game where Savage came out in his wrestling gear, and said Savage was a heck of a nice guy. Francesca then asked his producers if anyone could name a current pro wrestler. Not one could name even one, although one producer asked if Hulk Hogan was still wrestling. That's telling that none of them even knew Hogan was still on the scene.
--The Sports Illustrated web site had Josh Gross list the ten best MMA fighters of the decade, in order. Gross' list was Fedor, Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Dan Henderson (way too high), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Wanderlei Silva (maybe too high but a case could be made because he was really a superstar in Japan), Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre (too low), Randy Couture and B.J. Penn.
--Tribute to the Troops in St. Louis didn't air in prime time, but was instead moved to 12:30 a.m. for paid programming to promote a White Christmas special at the local theater on the NBC affiliate. No advance warning was given (thanks to Steve Murphy)
--A note on the Planet 51 movie and video game, several games based on the movie have been made already. The new thing by Autodesk is a 3D model to make the movie and game. (thanks to Michael Langan II)
--Planet 51 opened in Australia at No. 6 with a first weekend gross of $1.5 million (thanks to James Stanios)
--USWO from Friday night in Nashville before 109 fans: Saint & Psycho Medic b Bad Boy Dixon & Tiny Bear, Shane Smalls & Ty Blade b Dyron Flynn & Chic Canyon, Miss Rachel b Tasha Simone, Jeff Daniels b L.T. Falk, Bill & Jamie Dundee b James Duncan & Mitch Ryder, Petey Wright b Eric Trent-DQ, Eric Hodge & Mr. USA b Josh Crowe & Damien Payne-DQ, Nore Havoc won three-way over Jerry Lynn and Shawn Schultz
--Big Time Wrestling on 3/19 in Danbury, CT at the Ice Arena with Jim Duggan, Mick Foley, U-Gene, The Patriot, Rick Fuller, John Walters and John Cena Sr. appearing
--Hoosier Pro Wrestling on 1/2 at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus, IN with Diceman Ronnie Vegas & T.J. Powers vs. Pastor Pain & ?
--El Hijo del Santo vs. Blue Demon Jr. headlines the Christmas night special show at the Auditorio in Tijuana
--Juggalo Championship Wrestling from last night in Pontiac, MI: Santa Bu (Sabu) dressed as Santa carved up Chris Combs in a bloody beating, Vito & Sal Thomaselli b Necro Butcher & Mad Man Pondo, Weedman b Buff Bagwell (crowd went crazy for this match), Corporal Robinson b Kevin Thorn to keep the JCW title. There were also musical performances on the show
--BANG on New Year's Eve at The Funking Dojo in Ocala, FL, with Jimmy Hart appearing and Dory Funk teaming with Johnny Magnum vs. Hack Meyers & Shane Chung in a cage match with Hart managing Funk and Magnum
--Danny Doring challenged anyone from the TV show Jersey Shore to appear at the ISPW show on 12/26 in Freehold, NJ. He's in a Money in the Bank ladder match plus doing a talk show that night. Among those appearing are Crowbar, Ace Darling, Danny Inferno, Tammy Sytch, Ricky Reyes and Big Vito.
--Last night's IWF show in West Paterson, NJ was canceled due to the blizzard, but they are running at 5 p.m. today and the second night of the Tournament of Champions will now be Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at the IWF Centre.
--Vanguard Championship Wrestling on Saturday night in Virginia Beach, VA before 150 fans: Mr. Integrity b Sean Denny, Ace Montana b Ray Storm, Phil Brown b Landon Thomas, Chatch & Krotch b Idol X & 6D6 in a hardcore match, J-Sinn & Lance Lude b Carlos Hotness & Victor Griff, Damien Wayne b Chris Escobar (thanks to Justin Russell)
--Actress Brittany Murphy, who was in the movie "The Expendables" that was filmed earlier this year with Sly Stallone, Steve Austin, Randy Couture and many others, passed away from a heart attack this morning at her home in Los Angeles. She was only 32. A 911 call was made at 8 a.m. this morning from the Los Angeles home of her husband, Simon Monjack, and she was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
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