SAT UPDATE: TNA morale, more Impact and MNW thoughts, WEC line-up, DGUSA replay, Gail Gagne trial

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The weekend itself isn't loaded, with the biggest event being the WEC show tonight, before the return of the Monday Night Wars, full-time.

We're looking for your thoughts on the Dragon Gate USA PPV show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We're looking for reports on last night's ROH TV tapings in Philadelphia at the Arena at 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 There is another taping tonight as well.

Tonight's major show is WEC from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH, with Brian Bowles defending the bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz and Joseph Benavidez vs. Miguel Angel Torres to determine the top contender for that title. In addition, it is likely do-or-die for Jens Pulver, as he faces Javier Vazquez. With four straight losses, and six losses in his last seven fights, it is only his popularity, being likely the second most popular fighter in the company behind Urijah Faber, that has saved him from being cut. The show will air live on Versus starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time, with L.C. Davis vs. Deividas Taurosevicius and Karen Daradebyan vs. Bart Palaszewski rounding out the live show. Chad Mendes, one of the top featherweight prospects, who placed second in the 2008 NCAA tournament and is unbeaten in MMA, makes his WEC debut against Eric Koch in an undercard match.

We're looking for reports on tonight's Raw show in Salt Lake City and Smackdown show in Pullman, WA. Sunday has Raw in Boise and Smackdown in Yakima.

Monday has a live Raw in Portland, featuring Criss Angel as the guest host, John Cena vs. Vince McMahon and Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase. Spike will air Impact live from Orlando with Hulk Hogan & Abyss vs. Ric Flair & A.J. Styles as the only match announced, but it is believed that Sting and Rob Van Dam will appear on that show. Sting is confirmed.

Tuesday will have a Smackdown and NXT taping in Seattle, while the Impact show for 3/15, against a Steve Austin-hosted Raw, will be taped Tuesday night in Orlando.

Between unique wrestling shows, crazy promos, legal actions, more on WWE's business year in review, the most updated analysis of the chess game between UFC and Strikeforce, the death of Umaga, more on the Ric Flair situation with his wife, where MMA stands on CBS as well as the next planned show, we've got two issues of the Observer coming out this week.

Both issues are now available on the web site.

We look at the Frank Mir reaction to his own apology, and his reaction to his reaction, as well as comments by Brock Lesnar, and then the story behind Marcus Davis wishing a death of AIDS to Dan Hardy and why this stuff is more dangerous in UFC right now then if it was to happen in pro wrestling or boxing.

We also look at the UFC vs. Strikeforce promotional war regarding April, how the signing of James Toney fits in, proposed opponents for Toney, and a look at how ratings and buy rates could be affected depending on when the head-to-head battle takes place. We also look at Toney going in, his unique contract, his background as a boxer, the first time Toney was talked with about coming to UFC and his opponent scheduled at the time and more.

We also have as part of our business year in review, live attendance for WWE arena dates averaged for the last 18 years, ratings comparisons for the last several years, as well as TNA's numbers for the past few years.

We have more on the death of Edward "Umaga" Fatu, looking at his cause of death, his career, his getting fired by WWE and post-WWE.

We also look at the 10 questions for Linda McMahon, the reality of the situation and what questions are easy and difficult for her to answer.

We also have a look at the audience that watches, UFC, Strikeforce, WWE, TNA along with the NBA, NFL, boxing, NHL and baseball and compare and contrast, both in ages, ethnicity, education and earnings. This is some very interesting information that relate to advertising as well as showing the major differences in UFC vs. Strikeforce, UFC vs. WWE and TNA vs. WWE.

We also have more on the Ric Flair situation with the release of the 911 call by Rene Beems about the incident with Flair and Jacqueline Beems, the content of the call and more information on the incident.

We also have a look at the situation regarding Awesome Kong and Bubba the Love Sponge, and the unique situation it has put TNA in. We look at her claims, his responses, and more on the original incident between the two.

We look at the next Strikeforce show on CBS, the Strikeforce/Dream relationship, matches planned for the company's next two major events, why this CBS special is important and if it's successful, how that impact the business going forward. We also look at how CBS is going to cross-promote the show with one of its major prime-time series, a look at the three CBS matches, who is Shinya Aoki, as well as more on Herschel Walker, as well as obstacles put forth in the path of the company's PPV idea of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Alistair Overeem.

We also have a complete rundown of the Dragon Gate USA show that plays throughout March, with notes on the show and coverage of all the matches and angles.

We also have more on WWE business in 2009, including more notes on live attendance throughout the year, the drop in North American PPV vs. the drop in international PPV and why, a look at the government incentives WWE has been able to take advantage of, the growth in some revenue streams and losses in others. We look at the profitability of every aspect of company business as well as a chart showing which revenue streams are the most and least important right now. We also look at how much WWE spent on an average PPV in 2008 and 2009, and it's quite the eye opener.

We also have a look at comparing now to 1995, as where WWE and TNA are now leading into the new Monday Night Wars, and where WWF and WCW were leading into the first Monday Night Wars.

We also have a WrestleMania update, more update on WWE changes in PPV in 2010 and why one of the weakest PPV shows of last year wasn't cut. We also have a rundown of WWE firings over the past week, who was and wasn't expected, why and notes on all involved including some comments from people on the firings. We look at each person's chances with TNA, a bio of Mad Dog Vachon, lots of more Hall of Fame notes, more on NXT and different ideas that were batted around and may or may not show up in future episodes.

We've got more on Jim Ross' future, probably the most-watched pro wrestling match on U.S. TV of the 70s, update on guest hosts and injuries, several new wrestlers signed, new DVDs, some new angles talked about, something about NXT and finishing moves that came up, more on comments by Shad Gaspard, developmental news as well as business notes and highlights from the weekend house shows.

We also have updates on the Linda McMahon senatorial campaign and how pro wrestling is being dragged more and more into the campaign.

We also have a rundown of the next season of Ultimate Fighter, with a complete look at the cast, who they are, their record, what they've done and personality notes.

We've got a rundown of two major Japanese events, the NOAH show at Budokan Hall and atmosphere of NOAH vs. New Japan, as well as the pro wrestling world champion vs. kickboxing world champion match and pro wrestler bench press contest held at a unique show this 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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-- Morale, obviously, is way down in TNA. Just one person after another astounded by Thursday night's Impact. They not only did a terrible job building up Monday, and keep in mind they have at least three surprise names set to debut on that show that they didn't plug at all, but they did zero to build up the Destination X PPV. The whole show was about building up Hogan, and they couldn't even build him up as a killer, they built him up as an old cripple who shouldn't be in the ring.

-- Also, a correction from last night's Bryan & Vinny Show. The only PPV match I thought they built towards -- and poorly at that -- was AJ vs. Pope, but that's not even on this PPV. It's actually the main event of Lockdown. So I have no idea of a single match for Destination X.

-- I should also note, as it has been pointed out to me today, that the Hulk Hogan angle doesn't make any sense at all. Hogan claims he was called out, punked out and challenged, and that he has to do this match on Monday to get his self-respect back. What actually happened was that AJ and Flair attacked Abyss last week and Hogan took it upon himself to come out and make the save. He threw the first punch, and then after he got beaten up he was the one who challenged the heels and booked himself in the match. So he wasn't called out or challenged, and he was punked out because of something he did on his own. Not to mention I still have absolutely no idea why Hogan bloodying up and destroying Ric Flair is supposed to make us want to see their match on Monday. The babyfaces already got their revenge and completely destroyed the heels, so what are they wrestling for?

-- They're saying they have a huge angle planned for the first five minutes of the show. But it's a secret.

-- Dave has a look at UFC vs. Strikeforce here

-- WEC line-up and weigh-ins for tonight:

For Saturday night's show in Columbus, OH
Bendy Casmir (155.5) vs. Ricardo Lamas (155)
Courtney Buck (145) vs. Fredson Paixao
Leonard Garcia (145) vs. George Roop (145)
Danny Castillo (155.5) vs. Anthony Pettis (154.5)
Chad Mendes (145) vs. Eric Koch (144)
Scott Jorgenson (135) vs. Chad George (135.5)
Live matches starting at 10 p.m. Eastern on Versus
Bart Palaszewski (155) vs. Karen Daradebyan (156)
Deividas Taurosevicius (145) vs. L.C. Davis (144.5)
Jens Pulver (145.5) vs. Javier Vazquez (145)
Miguel Torres (134.5) vs. Joseph Benavidez (135)
Brian Bowles (134.5) vs. Dominick Cruz (134) for WEC bantamweight title

-- The Dragon Gate PPV replay at 1 PM Eastern Sunday.

-- Rogers Cable is listing Monday's show as "Global Impact".

-- There is a thirteen minute audio interview with The Miz up here.

-- Colin Moore writes: Local media are reporting that the New England Patriots have resigned Stephen Neal. Looks like we won't be losing him to MMA.

-- Gail Gagne is preparing to go to trial

-- A look at the Strikeforce vs. UFC battle here

-- Scott Hall has his own Youtube channel. Trouble in the making there.

-- Jereme writes: Top Rank's Bob Arum told the Associated Press on Thursday that the deal is complete for Yuri Foreman to defend his 154-pound title against Miguel Cotto at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York on June 5. The stadium will be configured for between 30,000 and 35,000 fans. The hold up had been that the stadium had been booked for a Bar Mitzvah that day. (It was the Bar Mitzvah of the son of the largest bond lawyer in New York. This lawyer did the majority of the bond work to pay for this new version of Yankee Stadium.) There is tremendous irony in this as Foreman is training to be a rabbi. The last boxing match at Yankee Stadium was at the old Yankee Stadium on September 28,1976. That was the first year Yankee Stadium had re-opened after being renovated. It was a Top Rank show that saw Muhammad Ali defend his heavyweight titles against Ken Norton, Sr. via 15-round unanimous decision. I guarantee this show will not be that good.

-- Regarding the WrestleReunion note yesterday, and this has been changed in the update, it's actually WrestlingReunion, not WrestleReunion.

-- IPW runs "A New Age Of Punishment", Saturday, March 6, 2010, The Fountain Square Salvation Army Corp, 1337 S Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203

-- CWE in Kenora, Ontario at The Golden Eagle Bingo Hall (End of Golf Course Road). Time: Doors open at 7:00pm, bell time 7:30pm. Tickets: Kids 14 and under $12 in advance ($15 at the door), Adults $15 in advance ($18 at the door). Tickets available at the Super 8 Motel (240 Lakeview Dr.). Billy Gunn vs. Gangrel headlines.

-- DMW "Time Well Wasted" in Hamilton, Ontario, 16 Mckinstry St, 6PM March 13th

-- CSE "Turbulence" March 6th, Rockland, Ontario, Knights of Columbus, 954 Giroux St.. Tickets for CSE Wrestling are now available. Front Row VIP: $20

-- Iceman b Van Hawk, The Prophet & Sexxxy Eddy won a tag team gauntlet match, Steve Rush b Big Daddy V, Pierre-Carl Ouellet b Hernandez, Samoa Joe b Franky the Mobster, Sylvain Grenier b Darkko & Dru Onyx in a casket match. They also honored former NWA champion, Édouard Carpentier.