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The final night of TNA Impact tapings, which means everything through mid-February will be completed, takes place tonight in Orlando. Kevin Nash vs. Mick Foley will be one of the matches taped tonight. We're looking for reports on the show to
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There will be two hours of UFC Unleashed tonight from 7-9 p.m. featuring very old fights like Forrest Griffin vs. Elvis Sinosic, Evan Tanner vs. Dave Terrell, Jeff Monson vs. Brandon Lee Hinkle, Tim Sylvia vs. Cabbage Correira, Mike Swick vs. Steve Vigneault, Renato Sobral vs. Chael Sonnen, Sobral vs. Mike Van Arsdale and Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell.
A note that for all people who subscribe today either on-line or to the print Observer, you will be getting our 30th annual awards issue that comes out in late January, which is our traditional best selling issue of the year.
A look at the chaos of TNA, both the pluses and minuses early on of the new regime, the Genesis PPV and backstage craziness is the lead story of this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We look at the nature of the television, comparisons in thinking (not the same style, but the same type of mentality) as another period in wrestling history and why the similarities are there. We look at a lot of the booking decisions, changes in matches, style of booking, the next PPV show, have poll results on Genesis and early indications on how the show did.
We look at the controversy over the ring, how fan booing Hulk Hogan led to fans being told what they should and shouldn't be doing and reactions to the famous speech. We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings of the Genesis show, as well as notes on where things are going from here.
We also have an update on what is going on with Jeff Hardy.
The issue will be available on the web site today for web site subscribers.
We also look at changes made, and other changes being talked about regarding UFC's schedule for the first half of 2010, and how boxing is impacting one of those changes.
We have a biography on the life of Bob Shamrock, whose adopted sons, Ken and Frank, were two of the biggest stars in the early days of UFC. We look at his influence on Ken's life and life's of many others. We also look at how Bob's passion for Roy Shire's pro wrestling led to how everything ended up turning out because of Ken's influence in the history of MMA in the U.S. and Japan. We also look at the heyday of Ken and Frank Shamrock as fighters as well as comments from others on the scene at the time.
We also have a look at the Bubba the Love Sponge/Awesome Kong incident, work vs. shoot, the consensus reaction, and strange lack of punishment.
We also have a feature on the second Monday night wars, which got less publicity, but had its own interesting notes about people switching from one show to the other looking at 1/11 with Raw vs. UFC Fight Night. This is actually quite interesting because when comparing Raw vs. TNA and Raw vs. UFC head-to-head on television, the data shows some very big surprises.
We also have more on the Linda McMahon senate campaign and how the entire landscape changed this past week, and her reaction to the latest poll numbers.
We have a lot of changes in how WWE is doing movies, breaking with former partners and the new strategy that will lead to more releases, a change in philosophy of how wrestlers are going to be used in movies, notes on new movies and more.
We've got more on the WWE Hall of Fame ticket sales, Randy Orton's version of what happened last week in Boston where an assault and battery charge went out against him, Dwayne Johnson talking about his return to WWE as well as his getting started as a pro wrestler.
We've got more on the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart's angle, TV changes, more on releases and returns of major stars. We also have notes on a performer talking about leaving at some point, the Shawn Michaels DVD, and notes on the weekend WWE house show tour.
We also have a look at what undoubtedly will be one of the best PPV shows on 2010, the Freedom Fight from Dragon Gate USA. We've got notes on how Dragon Gate USA is doing up to this point in various different revenue streams, thoughts on the Freedom Fight tournament, the good and bad on the show, the must-see matches, and why it will be more difficult than ever to see the show for many people.
We also have a complete list of every significant and some insignificant WWE stars in 2009, and their won-loss record for the year. This also shows how many matches every major star had.
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.
The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering
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The Observer is now in its 28th year of being the leading insider
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Also in this week's issue:
--TV ratings in Mexico and how wrestling compares to major NFL games there
--First AAA TV taping of the year
--One of WWC's biggest events of the year featuring main events that include current WWE performers and the battle for Puerto Rico's Wrestler of the last Decade
--Former world champion suffers broken arm
--Main event of the first Budokan Hall show of the year
--Tournament for GHC jr. tag team championship
--Imminent return to action of one of the world's best wrestlers
--Update on the annual NOAH tag team tournament
--Notes on death of former wrestler, referee and trainer Katsuhisa Shibata
--Retirement due to injuries of New Japan star and another two stars in bad shape physically
--Aftermath of the death of Tony Halme
--Former WWE tag champ on reality show
--A look at the life of 50s star Ida Mae Martinez
--Debut of Evolve promotion and where it is headed
--ROH goes into Charlotte and who is taking on the responsibility of promoting the show
--Eric Bischoff talks what he's learned
--Future TNA PPV show notes
--Details of Ken Anderson's NA deal
--Update on how everything has gone down so far regarding Bobby Lashley's proposed Strikeforce fight
--What changed TNA's philosophy on promoting Lashley's MMA career
--Abyss talks life before wrestling
--TV star trying to get into TNA
--Talk of a former TNA character returning
--Japanese star headed to TNA
--Notes on TNA weekend house shows
--Notes on what has been taped for upcoming television shows
--Business of Brock Lesnar's return
--More on UFC 108 business
--Strongest markets for the show
--Update on promotion of the Newark show
--Notes on the next UFC video game
--Chuck Liddell files lawsuit
--James Toney on his UFC negotiations
--More on Quinton Jackson's role in The A Team movie
--Thoughts on boxer vs. MMA gimmick
--Fighters changing weight classes
--Tons of new matches in preparation or finalized
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what
major story (ies) of the past 11 years you are most interested in and
we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got
coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every
major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings
and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits
into those descriptions over the past 18 years, as well as our biggest
issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial
issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue. Our most requested issues in
our history are:
*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous
wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a
history of in-ring double-crosses)
*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation
right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was
said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural
broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but
everything that was said between the two about the match that was going
to take place that same night)
*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon
steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article
and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)
*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner
networks)
*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such
great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)
*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid
trial)
*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)
*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career
ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our
history)
*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career
and life of The Sheik)
*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people
who worked with him and where he stands historically)
*March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino,
Backlund and Backlund era)
*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally,
the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk
Hogan)
*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth, and the rise of fall of
Lex Luger)
*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say
was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)
*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals
and friends)
*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the
plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the
night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined
for a joint show and what happened)
*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the
controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as
historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)
*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the
seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s,
Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding
world title and much more)
*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of
Road Warrior Hawk)
*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)
*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story,
Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)
*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock
Lesnar)
*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the
company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the
business changed)
*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best
and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and
Wrestlemania history books)
*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his
background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)
*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on
Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)
*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)
*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year
with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund,
Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts
as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately,
due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)
*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details
of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in
pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)
*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle
and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the
history of TNA)
*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)
*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a
look at their Hall of Fame)
*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)
*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW,
as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and
behind the scenes of both shows)
*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at
the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings,
Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental
territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized
issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul
Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)
*September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)
*October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)
*November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double
issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
*December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on
its own, $7 overseas)
*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New
Year's Eve 2005 coverage)
*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)
*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller
Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)
*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame
week)
*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class
Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)
*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame
inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and
Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from
the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working
in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7
overseas)
*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of
Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him
tick as his real objectives)
*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how
the industry was changed forever)
*November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How
Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro,
Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania
planned celebrity away)
*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
there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real
reasons the company fell apart)
*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
overseas)
*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bam Bigelow)
*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)
*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)
*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)
*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage--which many are
calling one of the best issues in history)
*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)
*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)
*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his
influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)
*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas
including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)
*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S.
women's wrestling) .
*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at
the Greensboro Coliseum)
*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)
*September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)
*September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our
most in-depth bios)
You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228,
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We also have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our
latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about
the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz,
Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk,
Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry
Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods.
To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a
$60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer
articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that
is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is
$12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs
to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You
can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.
--Jim Cornette talked about deaths of wrestlers and blames who the promotions have pushed and changes in the wrestling business as the catalyst
at http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2815458/Jim-Cornette -blasts-WWE-over-number-of-grapplers-who-have-died-young.html He says nothing than anyone else doesn't say all the time, but it's rare that anyone will say it publicly within the industry.
--Still no opponent for Bobby Lashley. The latest in the mix is Wes Sims. Sims was on the last season of Ultimate Fighter and is the guy who wanted to be Brutus Beefcake all season. He's done some indie pro wrestling and was in the final countdown before not getting picked for the WWE's 2004 Tough Enough season. They are hoping to finalize the match ASAP.
--When Rey Mysterio did a satellite interview last week to promote Royal Rumble in Mexico, he said it would be a three-way with Batista and Undertaker. Whether that means they are going to add Batista to it at the last minute, or that was the plan at the time he did the interview (and it was the plan originally), we don't know.
--TNA has announced these matches for the upcoming European tour:
Saturday night in Glasgow at Braehead Arena: A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe for singles title, Hernandez & Matt Morgan vs. Team 3-D in a tables match for the tag titles and Amazing Red vs. Chris Sabin vs. Daniels vs. Suicide for the X title (which makes no sense to announce that today if Doug Williams is champion).
Tuesday in Bournemouth at the International Centre: Styles vs Desmond Wolfe for singles title, Joe vs. Kurt Angle I Quit match, Hernandez & Morgan vs. 3-D vs. British Invasion vs. Beer Money for tag titles
Wednesday in Cardiff at the International Arena: Styles vs. Joe for singles tile, British Invasion vs. Beer Money and Eric Young vs. Rob Terry for the forgotten Global title
The 28th in Coventry at Sky Dome: Styles vs Wolfe, British Invasion & Eric Young vs. Beer Money & Pope & Suicide, Awesome Kong & Hamada vs. Taylor Wilde & Sarita for Knockouts tag titles
The 29th at the Manchester Evening News Arena: Styles vs. Joe vs. Daniels in a ladder match for TNA title, Angle vs Wolfe, Hernandez & Morgan vs. 3-D for tag titles
1/30 in London at Wembley Arena: Styles vs. Angle for TNA title, British Invasion vs. Beer Money, Red vs. Pope vs. Daniels vs. Sabin vs. Suicide in what is billed as an Ultimate X match for the X Division title
--Awesome Kong on her twitter:
"Apologies to all my supporters for the lack of tweets lately. Trying not to give certain talentless hacks publicity." Another was: "Kongfucious say: sometimes you must feed someone a fist to make them eat their own words."
--It appears Serena Deeb will become a regular woman performer on Smackdown as the bald headed woman in the C.M. Punk entourage
--The WWE web site has a Where are They Now with Dan Spivey at http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wherearetheynow/spiveypart1 which is very good, talking about starting in Crockett Promotions as groundskeepers for a minor league baseball team with Scott Hall, his famous backstage fight with Adrian Adonis (Adonis tried to take him down and Spivey beat the holy hell out of him) and how working in Japan took five years off his career.
--There is a presale today for tickets to the 4/19 Raw show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ at ticketmaster using the access code "Access"
--Dwayne Johnson, as part of promoting "Tooth Fairy," which opens Friday, will be doing several ESPN shows in Bristol, CT, tomorrow. There is a new interview with him which is pretty funny at http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=alipur/100120 talking about bench clearing brawls (which he was in a few of) while he played college football at the University of Miami
--Smackdown on Friday in New York won't be airing until 11:30 p.m. due to the station airing a Hope for Haiti fund raising special. There are some other markets where Smackdown will have a time change as well on Friday so check local listings.
--ROH has announced the creation of the new ROH television title which will be largely defended on HDNet. There will be an eight-man tournament that will be filmed on 2/5 and 2/6 at the next tapings at the Arena in Philadelphia.
--A story on Georges St. Pierre training for Dan Hardy is at http://www.heavy.com with an interview with coach Firas Zahabi. He said St. Pierre is far beyond where he was a year ago. He said he can't even put him in with welterweights in training because no welterweights can hang with him, and they are bringing in Gegard Mousasi, and have brought in Nate Marquardt and Rashad Evans to try and give him competition.
--John Pollock's interview with Hulk Hogan is up at http://www.youtube.com/thefightnetwork
--The TV deal for Wrestlelicious, an all-women's promotion similar to the 80s GLOW wrestling, will debut on 3/1 on MavTV, whch is Ch. 361 on The Dish Network. The show will air both Monday and Friday nights in prime time. MavTV has some syndication stations. They also have 15 other syndicated stations that will debut in February with Dallas and Atlanta being the biggest markets. They also say they will have clearance in Bermuda, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Jamaica through Caribbean Cable Cooperative, Ltd. They claim that they will have 17 of the Pro Wrestling Illustrated's top 50 women wrestlers in the promotion. It will also air in Canada on Bite TV.
--Lineup for Saturday night's Dragon Gate USA show in Chicago at the Congress Theater is: BxB Hulk vs. Dragon Kid for the Open the Freedom Gate title, Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Davey Richards for the FIP title, Shingo & Yamato vs. Young Bucks vs. Masato Yoshino & Naruki Doi three-way, Cima & Super Crazy vs. Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw, Brian Kendrick vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Gran Akuma vs. TJP (T.J. Perkins) plus Silas Young defends the AAW title and a six-way with Arik Cannon vs. Lince Dorado vs. Hallowicked vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kyle O'Reilly vs. Jon Moxley. The top matches will be taped for a March PPV. There will also be a surprise appearance from someone who will most likely be Tommy Dreamer.
--Poll on Raw from Monday
Excellent 9.4%
Good 32.0%
Average 22.7%
Fair 11.6%
Poor 24.3%
14.6% of those responding didn't see the show
--Poll on ROH from Monday:
Excellent 30.2%
Good 41.3%
Average 7.9%
Fair 6.3%
Poor 14.3%
69.7% of those responding didn't see the show
--Who should Brock Lesnar fight next?
Frank Mir 35.7%
Shane Carwin 27.1%
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 12.7%
Mirko Cro Cop 10.8%
Cain Velasquez 5.0%
Junior Dos Santos 4.3%
Randy Couture 4.3%
--CMLL from Monday night in Puebla before 4,000 fans: Mr. Rafaga & Police Man b Asturiano & SWAT, Bam Bam & Fantasy & Ultimo Dragoncito b Pequeno Damian 666 & Universito 2000 & Pequeno Violencia, Sagrado & Angel de Oro & Angel de Plata b Nitro & Nosferatu & Okumura, El Hijo del Fantasma & La Mascara & Valiente b Sangre Azteca & Dragon Rojo Jr. & Vangelis, Ultimo Guerrero & Felino & Mr Niebla b Shocker & La Sombra & Volador Jr.
--CMLL from Tuesday night in Guadalajara before 1,500 fans: Nube Roja b Skaxy, Acertijo & Exterminator b Idolo & Virgo, Astarroth & Hierro b Ebola & Rafaga, Stuka Jr. & La Mascara & Metal Blanco b Mascara Magica & Sangre Azteca & Dragon Rojo Jr., Shocker & Valiente b Ephesto & El Texano Jr. Main event set up a match where Ephesto defends the CMLL light heavyweight title against Valiente, who made him submit in the third fall.
--We will be back later today with Wrestling Observer radio talking TNA, answering questions (you can ask questions on the front page) as well as talking the return of Brock Lesnar.
--Freddy Prinze Jr. talks about how much he loves WWE and Bret Hart's return at http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/106/1061173p1.html
--Former UFC heavyweight champ Ricco Rodriguez headlines on 2/26 in McAllen, TX as the Convention Center against Patrick Miller for the South Texas Fighting Championships (thanks to Leo Avila)
--Chris Masters is on the Nickelodeon TV show "Big Time Rush" in an episode that airs this week, playing a school teacher with the name Mr. Masterpiece.
--Tag Team Promotions on 3/13 in the Gateway Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta claims they have a show featuring eight different world tag team champion although none in specific are listed.
--Zach Gowen headlines for EWF on 3/13 in Muncie, IN at the Ross Community Center
--Bob Saget ("Full House") is doing a show for A&E on American society off the beaten path and wants to do an episode on backyard wrestling. Welcome to 1999. He's looking for high impact, high flying, hard hitting over 18 backyard wrestlers with their own bring, costumes and gear. For more info you can e-mail
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--There will be a Legend of the Ring Fanfast on 5/15 in Monroe, NJ at the Crown Plaza Hotel with El Gigante, Jeff Jarrett, Jinsei "Hakushi" Shinzaki, Jack & Gerald Brisco, Bruce Prichard, Lisa "Ivory" Morretti, Pete Gas, Rodney, Joey Abs, Sean Mooney, Tiger Jackson, Kurrgan, P.N. News, Mantaur and Mike McGuirk. For more info you can go to www.legendsofthering.com
--3X Wrestling on 2/5 in Des Moines at the Social Club
--Platinum Championship Wrestling runs every Friday night in Avondale Estates, GA at the Academy Theater
--CHIKARA has announced Gran Akuma & Chuck Taylor & Icarus, Fire Ant & Soldier Ant & Green Ant and Mike Quackenbush & Hallowicked & Frightmare as three teams in the 16 team trios tournament that takes place 4/23 to 4/25 in Philadelphia at the Arena.
--The former Boogeyman, who will go on the indies as Marty Wright, The Night Crawler, is taking indie bookings through Bill Behrens at
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Wright will do autograph shows, personal appearances and will attempt to wrestle in the ring if requested.
--Oh Dear God. former pro wrestling promoter Don "Moose" Lewis is claiming he is going to start a new pro basketball league called The All-American Basketball Alliance. The league would only be open to white people born in the U.S. He wants to launch the league in 12 cities. There are some awesomely insane quotes, saying while he doesn't hate people of color, but white American-born players are the minority now so he wants a league where they can play "fundamental basketball," instead of "street ball" played by "people of color." "Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?" he asked. "That's the culture today, and in a free country, we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction." I wonder which company is now going to hire him as booker and claim he's a misunderstood genius.
--Bill Dromo will be on Ringside Rap with Rich Tate, Les Thatcher and Mike Sempervive at 8 p.m. at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/psp/2010/01/21/ringside-rap. Dromo, who is in his 60s, does one match a year, every year.
--Dory Funk has posted a Funks vs. Ted DiBiase & Harley Race match on his web site at http://www.dory-funk.com
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