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We're looking for reports on tonight's WWE house show in Quito, Ecuador with the Smackdown crew, and tonight's TNA house show in Charlottesville, VA at
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TNA Impact tonight on Spike. We didn't get a card ahead of time, but based on what was taped at the last tapings and hasn't aired, it should be something close to this:
*The Pope vs. Orlando Jordan - I think this is for a spot in Sunday's Eight Card Stud tournament for a title shot
*Kurt Angle & Mr. Anderson vs. Desmond Wolfe & Hernandez in the TNA version of Parejas increibles
*Matt Morgan vs. Suicide (who would have been better off this week if he adhered to the sacred mask rules of the great Mil Mascaras--always take showers with your mask on) - I think this is also a tournament match
*Doug Williams vs. Amazing Red for the X title - I was told this was a very good match
*Tara & Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky & Madison Rayne & Lacey Von Erich
*Beer Money vs. Brutus Magnus & Rob Terry
TNA Epics airs after Impact at 11 p.m. tonight with a feature on Sting showing PPV matches with Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe.
Superstars tonight:
*JTG vs. Dolph Ziggler
*Santino Marella vs. Jack Swagger
*Chris Masters vs. Chavo Guerrero
*Christian vs. Zack Ryder
UFC tonight on Spike has the June 12, 2007 Fight night with Spencer Fisher vs. Sam Stout as the main event at 7 p.m.
One of the biggest biographies in the history of the Observer, a look at the life and career of Jack Brisco, is the subject of one of two issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter coming out this coming week.
A look at WrestleMania this year, how it's shaping up, the top matches, the Elimination Chamber preceding it and how the past several years shows have performed is among the other lead stories.
For those into wrestling history, we have one of our biggest features ever on the career of Jack Brisco. In particular, we look at one of the greatest feuds in pro wrestling history with Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk Jr. over the NWA world heavyweight championship, the psychology behind it and go back to when that was considered the classic wrestling match worldwide. We also talk with some of the greatest wrestlers in history on Jack Brisco, as well as look back at comments about the feud, Brisco, and what was going on from other major power players in the industry at that time.
Both issues are available today for web site subscribers. For those interested in getting the Observer mailed to your home, ordering details follow.
We look at the night Dory Funk Jr. won the NWA title, the process of becoming world champion, Jack Brisco growing up, his early interest in pro wrestling, his heroes growing up, the night he teamed with his idol to win his first major title, his thoughts on Funk Jr. becoming world champion and how that day changed his career.
We look back to the first Funk Jr. vs. Brisco world title match, and how the program heated up including a record setting sellout streak, Terry Funk establishing himself as a top draw, the length and breath of the feud, his background, his personal standards, the announcing of Gordon Solie, Brisco vs. Billy Robinson, the night he was originally supposed to win the title and what happened, his debut in St. Louis, the first Brisco vs Funk Jr. match in that city, the Brisco Brothers vs Funk Brothers, setting the all-time Florida record gate, the longest matches in modern wrestling history and the setting up of his world title run.
We look at the build for Brisco vs. Funk Jr. in Houston, the title change to Harley Race, the win over Harley Race and how it was covered at the time, as well as comments from people like Dory Jr., Ric Flair, Terry Funk, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, Bill Watts and many others.
We also have major career record rundowns on Brisco, life outside of wrestling, health issues, the hotel story with Billy Robinson, outside the ring stories, behind the selling of WCW, Black Saturday, Jack's final NWA title match, how he first got over, his leaving wrestling and so much more.
This is, size wise, one of the biggest biographies in the history of the Observer, and really couldn't be fitting because Brisco was a consensus all-time great.
We also have tons more on the WWE NXT show, including different ideas talked about, as well as a reaction of someone close to the situation regarding thoughts on the currently planned direction.
We also have notes on the 2010 schedule for Shawn Michaels.
We also have a look at the end of the careers of Ron Simmons and Mark Coleman.
We've got full coverage of UFC 109, with business notes, why the TV ratings were up, early buy rate indicators, the debut of Phil Davis, plus match-by-match coverage, poll results and payoff records for the night.
We also have a detailed look at step-by-step, what happened with Davey Richards, ROH and Dragon Gate USA.
We've got a look at Ron Simmons, noting his college football success, how he got into pro wrestling, his early days in Florida, the tag team of Doom, the story behind his WCW title win and his tenure in WWE, plus a look at the first African-American stars to have held world titles.
We've got an update on WWE video game sales. We've got more on WWE WrestleMania week plans, how Serena Deeb made it to the main roster, an update on the Linda McMahon campaign for the senate, attempts for Vancouver too get WrestleMania, future of ECW talent, Fozzy and WWE new CD record sales, more on the Marella sitcom, Royal Rumble all-time records, PPV site change, Mickie James' first record, Cena knocks Hogan, update on developmental, new WWE guest hosts and house show rundowns.
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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Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus
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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 issues:
--Talent for Dragon Gate's WrestleMania weekend shows and big show main event
--Unlikely Sumo Hall main title match
--2010 Champion Carnival tournament
--Unique pro wrestling show coming in a few weeks including world champion from rival organizations, one worked and one shoot, doing a match as well as top stars from rival organizations forming a tag team
--Wrestling Hall of Famer's governor election coming this week
--Crazy match-ups on Inoki's next show including brawler of the year against cult MMA favorite, legends match
--Dreamer goes to Japan and draws advanced sellout
--Notes on Against All Odds PPV
--What happened with Scott Steiner
--RVD in TNA update
--Notes on Foley's comedy show in Las Vegas
--Injury to TNA star
--Injury to WWE star
--Update on Bobby Lashley
--More on major lawsuit against Hogan
--New businesses Ric Flair looking to open
--Update on Honky Tonk Man in TNA
--Flair talks about his return to the ring as a wrestler in TNA
--Notes on weekend TNA house shows
--Details of WEC's first PPV
--Notes on UFC Undisputed video game for 2010
--White talks future of Ultimate Fighter
--Earliest start for a UFC PPV show coming up
--Notes on upcoming UFC schedule of events
--Pride ratings
--Tons of new matches added to upcoming shows
--Notes on Herschel Walker's Strikeforce payday
--Business notes on the show including how much the main fighters earned, how much Showtime paid for the show, and who has challenged Walker to a fight
--Former gold medalist announces retirement match at Budokan Hall
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues can get free issues from the last 18 years. You can get 2 free back issues by ordering 40 or more issues and one for 24. Let us know which stories 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)
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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
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can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.
--We can confirm the Tatame story that due to a shoulder injury, Vitor Belfort is out of his middleweight title match with Anderson Silva on 4/10 in Abu Dhabi. I would expect Chael Sonnen to get the first chance, although he looked pretty rough at the end of the match on Saturday.
--TNA Impact ratings have increased dramatically in the U.K., where U.S. nostalgia is big. Week by week numbers were 57,000 on 1/3, 68,000 on 1/10, 103,000 on 1/17, 83,000 on 1/24 and 103,000 on 1/31. (thanks to Ian Hamilton and Stephen Lyon)
--The biggest thing at today's WWE investors conference was Vince McMahon announcing the end of Survivor Series, the second oldest PPV behind WrestleMania and one of the longest lasting annual traditions in the history of pro wrestling. Story is elsewhere on the front page.
--With the dropping of Survivor Series, they are looking at replacing it with either a one-night tournament, ala King of the Ring but with a different name, a Battle Bowl event (which will die on PPV nowadays), a Money in the Bank PPV, a Night of Legends breaking back stars from the past, a Spin the wheel gimmick PPV, using the draft as a PPV event, A street fight PPV (how that differs from Extreme Rules?) and they are even considering War Games, which Vince for years has been against.
--We'll have complete details next week, but for the fourth quarter, WWE had $117.3 million in revenue and $11.2 million in profit. Last year's totals were $125.4 million in revenue and $13.6 million in profit. Merchandise and licensing is way down, particularly revenues from video games, but with the new Mattel deal, the company's feeling is that they will be blowing away numbers in the licensing segment this year. House show average attendance is down, but they made more money because they ran more events, and because the changes in the value of the dollar against foreign currency made the average price higher. PPV was up very slightly, with the difference being Mexico. For the year, the basics of everything is revenue was down, profitability was up due to lots of cost cutting (the goal was to cut $20 million in costs and Vince said they nearly doubled that), the actual presentation of events live is healthy, they think PPV has stabilized as aside from Survivor Series, the other shows all beat last year's number, largely due to the foreign market. The merchandise end is significantly down, but that is expected to turn around and they are expecting 15-20% increase in profits next year.
--For the year, revenue was down from $527 million to $475 million, but profit was up to $50 million from $45 million.
--Vince called it a good year, but not a great year, but there was a lot of belief that creative is stronger and the three PPV's being up was credited to that.
--Sunday's TNA Against All Odds as far as the $14.95 Internet PPV, that is available worldwide except North America, Germany and Australia.
--Basil DeVito, who has been in-and-out of WWE since it went national, is back as a member of the Board of Directors.
--Did anyone see the HBO piece on drug testing in sports that is currently airing on Real Sports? Looking for what Travis Tygart said about drug testing and WWE.
--ROH announced its first major international deal, with Dhalia TV in Italy. They have signed to air 60 first-run hours of programming.
--ECW did a 1.0 rating on Tuesday
--An update regarding John Morrison. As best we can tell from information from Smackdown wrestlers, they don't believe the ankle injury is serious and he flew to Ecuador for tonight's WWE house show. Morrison posted on Twitter yesterday that he broke his ankle in three places, but that was apparently meant as a joke.
--Jack Brisco's funeral was earlier today in Tampa. We haven't gotten reports but tons of major names in the industry were expected to be there. Jim Ross was scheduled to speak. Terry Funk flew in. I believe Ric Flair flew in. He was scheduled to at least. Plus all the Tampa guys.
--There is a Q&A with Mick Foley, talking about wrestling, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and the Monday Night Wars with Brian Fritz. Good interview at http://www.fanhouse.com/2010/02/11/mick-foley-still-motivated-in-next-lif e-with-tna-wrestling/
--Chris Hero will headline the next Evolve show on 3/13 in Rahway, NJ which also includes Aeroform, Gran Akuma, Brad Allen, Chris Dickinson, Cheech & Cloudy and Shane Hollister.
--Chael Sonnen was on Fox News earlier today talking about running for the state House of Representatives in Oregon. Sonnen is rapidly making a name for himself on interviews, such as saying that everyone in the business knows he's really the best middleweight and everyone also knows that Cain Velasquez is really the best heavyweight.
--Should UFC have cut Mark Coleman?
Yes, he can't perform at UFC level 44.4%
No, they should have kept him for a fight with Tito Ortiz 42.6%
No, they should keep him because he's still popular 13.0%
--Do you think the change from ECW to NXT will affect ratings?
Yes, will go up 18.7%
Yes, will go down 14.0%
No, won't make a big difference 67.3%
--What company will increase in popularity the most this year?
Strikeforce 25.8%
TNA 24.7%
UFC 21.5%
WWE 13.7%
ROH 5.6%
Dragon Gate USA 4.8%
Bellator 2.4%
AAA 1.6%
--TNA's house show in Charlottesvile tonight has A.J. Styles vs. The Pope for the title, Kurt Angle & Beer Money vs. Desmond Wolfe & British Invasion, Beautiful People vs. Tara & Angelina Love, plus Jeff Jarrett and Generation Me. They run Norfolk tomorrow.
--WWE announced a tribranded show in Chicago on 2/19 with Undertaker & Edge & John Cena vs. Sheamus & Randy Orton & Batista, plus Big Show & Miz vs. MVP & Kofi Kingston (thanks to Keith Lipinski)
--The company has also announced a return to Canada on the 5/14 to 5/18, with dates in Barrie, Kingston, Halifax, St. John, Moncton and London.
--The Nevada State Athletic Commission today released that everyone drug tested on Saturday night passed their test. Those tested were Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, Nathan Marquardt, Chael Sonnen, Paulo Thiago, Demian Maia, Matt Serra, Mac Danzig, Paul Davis, Chris Tuchscherer, Joey Beltran, Melvin Guillard and Rob Emerson.
--Not that this means anything, but Sky Sports in the U.K. is listing ECW's show tonight as WWE NXT (thanks to Rob Slater)
--WWC on 2/13 in Aberdeen, OH at the Municipal Building
--Shingo Takagi vs. Masato Yoshino has been announced for the 3/26 Dragon Gate USA show in Phoenix
--PWO on 2/20 in Cleveland at the Hispanic UMADAOP Youth Center with Johnny Gargano vs. Marion Fontaine
--IWS on 3/6 in Laval, Quebec at Le Skratch
--CHIKARA Pro on 2/28 in Pottsville, PA at GoodFellas Sports Bar with Eddie Kingston vs. Gran Akuma on top
--Awesome Kong is giving away an iPod Nano and an iPod Shuffle in a Valentine's Day contest for those who follow her on twitter
--UFC will be repeating its Countdown of the 100 greatest fights in history from 3-8 p.m. this coming Monday
--Countdown to UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez debuts a week from tonight after Impact
--Cleveland All Pro Wrestling tomorrow night at Belindas Nite Club with Mitch Ryder vs. Chris Hamrick
--The Telegraph in the U.K. at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ has a story on Marcela and Hiroka, two woman wrestlers from CMLL
--CMLL is now airing Monday nights at 11 p.m. on The Fight Network in Canada, although the shows are one year behind, as they are airing stuff from January 2009 right now.
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