Bryan Alvarez:
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Dave Meltzer:
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The big event of the weekend is the UFC PPV tonight 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 tonight in Alexandria, LA, Smackdown 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 ran last night in Wichita, KS and we're still looking for reports, plus they run tonight in Joplin, MO.
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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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
-- Line up and weights for tonight's UFC 109 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)
-- Dave and I will be back late tonight with a brand new edition of Wrestling Observer Radio running down the event in detail with tons of notes from backstage, since Dave is there live in Vegas. Both Dave and Mike Sawyer will also be doing live running play-by-play on the front page as well starting around 4:00 PM Pacific.
-- There is a big article on Mark Coleman up here.
-- Very sorry to report the death of Will Heyden, 29, who was the owner of the largest trading and selling wrestling website, Crazymax.org. Apparently he passed away suddenly on January 25th. Thanks to Bob Barnett.
-- After Smackdown last night, the two Elimination Chamber matches scheduled for the February 21st PPV of the same name will be:
* For Raw: Sheamus vs. HHH vs. Orton vs. DiBiase vs. Cena vs. Kofi
* For Smackdown: Taker vs. Jericho vs. Punk vs. Morrison vs. Truth vs. Rey.
-- The latest WWE dividend of 36 cents per share will be paid out on March 25, 2010.
-- The first official WWE Hall of Fame 2010 name should be announced this Monday on Raw.
-- It is also expected that Batista will make more Raw appearances in the next few weeks and Cena will make more Smackdown appearances.
-- UFC 112 on April 10 from Abu Dhabi will air live on PPV starting at 1 PM Eastern/10 AM Pacific. It will also replay in the usual 10 EST/7 PST timeslot that same day.
-- DGUSA reached an agreement with TNA and the Young Bucks will appear on their Phoenix shows.
-- Last night wasn't as big a news night in Mexico as had been expected. Don't be surprised to see huge news coming out of AAA at their taping on Sunday, unless something has fallen through. In CMLL, Mascara Dorado and Atlantis, representing Guadalajara, beat La Mascara and Negro Casas, representing Mexico City, in the finals of the tournament to crown the first-ever Mexican National Parejas Increiblas Champions (Incredible Partners (heel and babyface) Tag Champs). Volador Jr. also beat Mistico, who apparently went full-fledged rudo, in the main event with his own la Mistica finisher.
-- WrestleReunion announced that they will be heading back to LA on January 28th-30th, 2011.
-- Ron Simmons is saying that his match tonight for Historic Parks Championship Wrestling will be his retirement match. He's promised a Q&A afterwards for the first 100 fans who request admittance and says he'll answer any questions. He'll also be inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on February 20th in Macon.
-- More on Linda McMahon and Eugene up here.
-- Colin Delaney will be appearing at the Pro Wrestling Rampage event in Erie, Pennsylvania on February 19th, 2010.
-- Ohio Valley Wrestling is moving it's weekly TV tapings to Fridays. The first Friday taping will be on March 5th, 2010. For many years, OVW has held it's tapings on Wednesday nights. Thanks to Devin Cutting.
USWO/ATL Nashville, TN 2/5 before 125: Chrisjen Hayme b Tommy Mercer to win the ATL Championship, Seven & Crusher Eric Hodge b Convict & Kevin Jones when Seven pinned Convict, Steven Green b Shawn Hoodrich to win the vacant ATL Jr. Championship, Tasha Simone vs Miss Rachel went to a double countout as they brawled to the back, Rudy Switchblade & Johnny Punch b Dyron Flynn & Tiny Bear when Punch pinned Tiny Bear, Kevin Dunn b Bad Boy Dixon, USWO Tag Team Champions Josh Crow & Damien Payne b LT Falk & Cody Weatherby when Payne pinned Falk, USWO Champion Nore Havoc b Jeff Daniels (w/Dominique) by DQ when Dominique interfered. Thanks to Jimmie Daniel.
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