Bryan Alvarez:
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Dave Meltzer:
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The big event of the weekend is the UFC PPV tomorrow night from Las Vegas with Mark Coleman vs. Randy Couture headlining. We'll be looking for your thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle plus votes for best and worst match to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We're also looking for reports from Raw tomorrow in Alexandria, LA, Smackdown tomorrow in Waco, TX, the Raw/Smackdown supershow on Sunday in Lake Charles, LA (worked hometown of Buddy Wayne), plus Raw on Monday at the Cajundome in Lafayette, LA and the Smackdown/ECW tapings on Tuesday night in Baton Rouge. The Smackdown show was originally scheduled for New Orleans but switched due to a parade celebrating the win or loss (either way) of the New Orleans Saints in the Superbowl Sunday, and those tickets will only be honored on May 28th when Raw runs a house show at New Orleans Arena.
TNA is tonight in Wichita, KS, tomorrow in Joplin, MO, and tapes TV from Orlando on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
Don't forget tonight's WWE show in Philadelphia has been postponed until Thursday the 11th due to inclement weather.
ROH has TV tapings in Philadelphia tonight and tomorrow (please drive safely) with the first round of a tournament to crown a new TV champion. Matches include Kevin Steen vs. Rhett Titus, Colt Cabana vs. Eddie Edwards, Davey Richards vs. Delirious and El Generico vs. Kenny King. If you attend these shows, please send results and a full report if possible to both This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Smackdown tonight has a series of Chamber qualifying matches including:
* Punk vs. Batista
* Matt Hardy vs. Jericho
* Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler
* John Morrison vs. Kane vs. Drew McIntyre (yes, they put Kane in this)
* R-Truth vs. Mike Knox
* Also, a non-qualifying match with Mickie & Beth vs. Michelle & Layla
We've got a loaded issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter coming out Monday, including a look at the life and career of Jack Brisco. We also have an update on the next chapter of the Monday Night Wars, an analysis of the situation, and looking at a lot of comments made by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. We also have news on the death of ECW, as well as exclusive notes on different ideas talked about for the new show in its place, and what the good and bad points are of those ideas.
We've got coverage of the Royal Rumble, the MMA debut of Herschel Walker, lots on the Saturday night TV ratings battle with UFC and Strikeforce and why UFC did such big numbers for a tape of a several month old show. We look at whether Walker will fight again, the future of Bobby Lashley and a show rundown.
We also have full coverage of what happened with Chris Jericho and Gregory Helms, discussing the blow-by-blow of the situation, repercussions, coverage and more.
We also have a very interesting story on the UFC brand name and how acceptable it is or isn't with some very surprising poll results.
The issue will be available today for web site subscribers. For those interested in getting the Observer mailed to your home, ordering details follow.
Our lead story talks about the legend of Jack Brisco, who he was, looking back at the early 70s, Brisco's later health problems and death, why Brisco was so popular with promoters, his amazing wrestling background as well as his football background, how he got started in pro wrestling, his early major supporters, his meeting with Billy Robinson in Australia, the rivalry with Dory Funk Jr., his two world title runs, and second part of his career as a former champion, the debut of Hulk Hogan, the turn of Dusty Rhodes and the sale of Georgia Championship Wrestling to Vince McMahon.
We also analyze TNA going to Monday, WWE's reactions, and TNA's growing pains with its audience. We also look at where TNA's television audience has grown the most. We look at where Hogan and Flair are drawing hte most from, the affect on revenue streams, and surprising things said about Sting.
We look at the end of the ECW name, the attempts by WWE to market the ECW brand, and the new ideas and what the pluses and minuses of them are.
We look at the Royal Rumble, the Elimination Chamber match and the road to Wrestlemania as well as Rumble business notes.
We have more on WrestleMania 27 coming to Atlanta, and the reaction of the Atlanta media, as well as Antonio Inoki in the WWE Hall of Fame and a look at Inoki's WWF title run and the controversy that went down during that period. We also look at why WWE and TNA women's matches are different, updates on John Cena, updates on WWE developmental and the talent there, a former WWE star that has been talked with about returning, a WWE star looking at writing his second book and WWE house show notes.
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 pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.
Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sites and has the most complete look at the business as a whole anywhere.
The Observer is now in its 28th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling industry as well as the MMA industry, from bookers, to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest current names, both on camera, and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed as long as 20 years or more straight. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world and an accuracy from having the most inside sources that can't be found on the web. Everyone from Wall Street to the major offices to the TV networks in U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business. If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. Just send your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can order by faxing that information to 408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at www.paypal.com and using the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it address or subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card, by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.
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-- TNA did a 1.2 rating and 1.6 million viewers last night, and there was much unhappiness when this number came out.
-- NXT officially debuts on February 23rd. From talking to a WWE source yesterday, they may not have any idea what they're doing with the ECW Title yet, and there is a chance Christian may end up on another brand, most likely Smackdown. Brickstone Kid at the Wrestlecrap forums took a screen cap of the NXT logo, which you can see here.
-- Weigh-in results for tomorrow's show:
1. Mark Coleman (205) vs. Randy Couture (205)
2. Nate Marquardt (186) vs. Chael Sonnen (185)
3. Mike Swick (171) vs. Paulo Thiago (170)
4. Demian Maia (186) vs. Dan Miller (185)
5. Matt Serra (169) vs. Frank Trigg (171)
6. Justin Bucholz (156) vs. Mac Danzig (156) prelim airing on Spike
7. Melvin Guillard (169) vs. Frank Trigg (171) prelim airing on Spike
8. Rob Emerson (155) vs. Phillipe Nover (155)
9. Phil Davis (205) vs. Brian Stann (205)
10. Tim Hague (263) vs. Chris Tuchscherer (263)
11. Joey Beltran (238) vs. Rolles Gracie (247)
-- We'll have weigh-in video up on the front page shortly.
-- Colt Toombs, the son of Rowdy Roddy Piper, and David Bollea, the nephew of Hulk Hogan, both fought on the Palace Fights 3 show in Lemoore, CA last night. Toombs, in his pro MMA debut, lost a unanimous decision to Art Becerra on scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27. He went undefeated as an amateur. Bollea beat Tim Denham with an armbar submission in 1:48 of the first round. He's now 2-0 as a pro, winning both fights via armbar.
-- Dave has a look at Mark Coleman up on Yahoo here.
-- Tonight is a huge news night in Mexico and we've got all the details on the new Dr. Lucha show for members on the front page. It's likely to be so big, in fact, that we're going to double up on shows and he'll return this coming Wednesday as well to look at the fallout.
-- Couture was on ESPN radio today and put over Mark Coleman. He said he had 10 more pounds to cut before weigh-ins today at 4 PM Pacific. Yikes. He said if he won the fight he wanted Machida next, and that is pulling for the Saints on Sunday.
-- Brock Lesnar will be on the cover of UFC Undisputed 2010.
-- Stacy Kiebler on Psych did a 2.2.
-- A story on Undented.com says that Mick Foley will be donating half the proceeds from his Countdown to Lockdown book to RAINN, the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network.
-- Jericho's next book, The Highlight of the Night, comes out February 17th, 2011 in the UK. Thanks to Breffni O'Sullivan.
-- Inside MMA on HDNet tonight will focus on football players who have gone into MMA.
-- Dan Henderson and Tyrone Woodley have been added to the EA Sports MMA roster.
-- WWE returns to the Convention Center in Wildwood, New Jersey on August 28th, 2010. Thanks to Devin Cutting.
-- Andrew writes: After several weeks of wondering why ECW was not shown in its regular time slot (Sat 12-1AM EST), I browsed the TV Guide and noticed that ECW now airs on Global on Sun at 3AM EST. I just thought that you might want to pass that along to your readers. Better watch it while you can.
-- The Daily Star has a look at GSP vs. Dan Hardy here
-- Project founded in South Florida aims to tackle football concussions. Chris Nowinski is mentioned in here.
-- Irv Muchnick looks at Linda McMahon here
-- Speaking of Linda, the term "fucking retarded" and the Eugene character have now been introduced into the debate. More here.
-- Shark Fight 8 runs tonight with UFC veteran Josh “The Dentist” Neer vs. Anselmo Martinez in the main event for the Shark Fight interim welterweight title. Don Frye will be commentating the event.
-- Wrestling For A Cause & NWA Pro Wrestling Fusion Presents BASEBRAWL 2010, Saturday - March 6, 2010 Doors Open 7PM - Bell Time 7:30PM, North Tampa Youth Baseball Sports Complex, 6800 N. Rome Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33604
-- RF VIDEO and Georges Collectables will be doing an autograph session with former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy and former WWE/WCW superstar Shannon Moore on Monday February 22, 2010 from 7pm-9pm at George's Cards & Collectibles store located on 7755 New Falls Road, Levittown PA 19055.
-- Allison Danger, breakout superstar of SHIMMER Women Athletes, will be holding a pro-wrestling training seminar on Saturday, February 6 from 12pm - 3pm at West Hoke Middle School in Raeford, NC. To register for the seminar, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
-- Pro Wrestling Blitz runs the VFW Hall in Joliet, IL on February 6th with the New Age Outlaws.
-- Ed, Cutrer and Craig interview Dave Prazak on the Drunkcast tonight here
-- Dan Severn has an MMA weekend camp March 19th through 21st at $195 per participant. More info at dansevern.com
-- Steve Blackman's second MMA show in Harrisburg, PA is Saturday night at the Zembo Shrine at 7:30. Ticket sales were apparently strong and they may sell out the 2,000-seat building.
-- CHIKARA debuts in Pottsville, PA on February 28th with an all-ages show at GoodFellas Sports Bar, located right off Route 61 in Schuylkill County.
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