Bryan Alvarez:
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Dave Meltzer:
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We're looking for reports on tonight's WWE Raw show in Denver at the Pepsi Center (yes, the same arena owned by Stan Kroenke where Vince McMahon ruined an episode of Raw because his team made the playoff--funny now since WWE has moved how many house show dates since that time?) and TNA show in Erie, PA at the Civic Center. The Raw show has John Cena & DX vs. Sheamus & Randy Orton & Batista plus Miz vs. Kofi Kingston vs. MVP for the U.S. title. TNA's weekend shows feature Kurt Angle, A.J. Styles, Jeff Jarrett, The Pope, Abyss, Desmond Wolfe and Beer Money.
Tomorrow night has Raw in Fresno at the Save Mart Arena, Smackdown in Stockton at the Arena with Undertaker and Rey Mysterio both on the show along with the rest of the regular Smackdown crew, and TNA in Pittsburgh as the Ches-a-Rena Entertainment Center.
Sunday has Raw in Bakersfield at the Rabobank Arena, Smackdown at the Cow Palace in San Francisco for the first pro wrestling event in that historical building in many years, and TNA has a 4 pm. show in Wheeling, WV at the John Marshall Field house.
Raw will be live from San Diego on Monday with Steve Austin as guest host, the Bret Hart-Vince McMahon contract signing, plus John Cena vs. Big Show, HHH vs. Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho. Impact is taped from Tuesday headlined by A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy i a non-title match.
Smackdown and NXT are taped Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Smackdown tonight has
* Truth vs. Miz
* Morrison vs. Big Show
* Drew McIntyre vs. Aaron Bolo for a Money in the Bank slot
* Michelle McCool vs. Tiffany
* Cryme Tyme vs. Hart Dynasty
* Kane vs. Luke Gallows
* Highlight Reel with Jericho and Edge
* Great angle with Punk and Rey to open the show
The most complete look at what the numbers said on Monday night is our lead story in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We look through the spin, look at the pluses and minuses of TNA's full-time move to Monday, promotional mistakes, things that can be done that would immediately, at least for the short-term, increase the ratings significantly, at what went wrong.
We look at why the tapings after Destination X are so important, as well as look at every segment of Raw and Impact on Monday, the gains and losses of viewers, and what that says about people switching channels.
We look at the departure of several people from TNA over the past week.
The issue is available on the web site today. For those wanting the print edition, there are details here on how to get it delivered to your door each week.
We also have a lengthy look at the life and career of Angelo Poffo, including a look at the early days of Randy Savage, and why it took Savage so long to become an international star. We look at one of the most heated promotional wars of all-time, a television battle that makes the Bischoff vs. Vince war seem absolutely tame in comparison, including threats and realities of actual violence between the sides, including the filing of a multimillion dollar lawsuit.
We look at the peak of Angelo's career, Randy Savage's beginnings in pro wrestling, the legend of the ICW/Jarrett feud, the debut in wrestling of Miss Elizabeth. We look at the promoter who started signing away their talent, yet ended up giving what Randy Savage would later say was the career advice that ended up changing his life in giving up an angle that would have been between two of the biggest stars of the 80s.
We look at Poffo setting the sit-up record, how he got started in wrestling, his role in the origination of the popularity of the manager character and his controversial WCW Hall of Fame induction.
We also look at the career of Jens Pulver and his role in establishing lighter weight fighters, his interview that was one of the most memorable in MMA history, as well as his future, along with a rundown of WEC 47, with poll results, details on the show and how much all the fighters got paid.
We also look at a new form of pro wrestling production that took place featuring some of the biggest stars of several different promotions that took place over the weekend.
We also have a look at how the Royal Rumble did, comparisons with UFC 109 held a week later, a look at what the price increase meant and comparisons to how the Rumble has done in the two previous years.
We update the lineup for WrestleMania, looking at where the top talent fits in, have more on Raw guest hosts, WWE web site stats, the return to Madison Square Garden, updates on Steve Austin, Bret Hart thrilled to meet a guest host, several WWE talents released talk about being gone, as well as injury updates. We also have more on senior executives getting major cash for stock selling, cutting of a Playboy model, the story of Chuck Austin and his lawsuit against WWE, update on WWE scouting as well as a look at the house shows over the weekend, with business notes and highlights.
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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-- It's a little disheartening to read stuff by Dixie Carter, Mick Foley, Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff among others all talking about how proud they are of the show Monday night, and how if they keep producing shows like that things are going to turn around. Do they not have access to their own ratings? They did a show last Thursday night where the audience turned off the show in droves. Putting on more shows like that is going to turn things around? They did a show Monday with Hogan and Flair in the main event and those guys did an 0.76 opposite Vince McMahon and John Cena doing a 3.6. And doing the same thing is going to result in those numbers turning around? I don't expect them to come right out and bury the show, saying it was a failure or anything like that, but there are things you can say to let people know that you've learned some lessons about what didn't work and have ideas to try different things. Maybe they have and things will change after next week's show (which has already been taped and looks nearly as nonsensical as Monday), but if we take these statements at face value their problems are only going to get worse.
-- Eric on Facebook: "We are all convinced (as are most fans) that we proved definitively that we can produce a superior product. While it is going to take some time (and consistency) to gain the market share we hope to gain, we are thrilled with the product we presented, and are more than excited about the future."
-- Foley on his blog: Thanks for checking in with me again, especially during this historic time in the wrestling business. There sure seemed to be a little magic in the air this past Monday, as we kicked off what we all hope will be a very exciting time for the company, with what I felt was an excellent "Impact". I know the rating wasn't quite what we are hoping for, but if we keep delivering the type of show fans saw Monday night, I have to believe that eyeballs will start turning our way and the ratings situation will take care of itself.
-- Dixie on Twitter: I'm humbled by all your comments re:iMPACT last nite. I'm so proud of our talent, staff & the show we put on. It's only going to get better.
-- Bob Carter got the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award this week.
-- TNA added a four-way ladder match to the PPV with Kendrick, Kazarian, Daniels and Red.
-- Dave has an interesting article on what is going on between Strikeforce and Fedor Emelianenko here.
-- Wednesday will have part two of Countdown with St. Pierre vs. Hardy followed at 10:30 by Countdown to Mir vs. Carwin. Hopefully part two of St. Pierre vs. Hardy is more exciting than part one.
-- Dream announced for 3/22 at the Yokohama Arena that Josh Barnett would fight, but had no opponent named for him, and also announced Yoshiro Maeda vs. Cole Escovedo.
-- CMLL superstar El Valiente will make his debut at King of Trios on April 23rd in Philadelphia. More at chikarapro.com.
-- Dan writes: Bobby Horne, aka Mo from Men on a Mission, has been diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease of the kidneys (more here). He is in need of a kidney transplant. The cost, as you can imagine, is going to be astronomical. To raise awareness of this disease and to also raise the necessary funds to cover the cost of a transplant, donations are being sought. All donations of $25.00 dollars will receive the T-shirt (which reads "Save A Life! Be A Donor) and information about the disease. Please send your donations in Kind care of The MAIN FOUNDATION INC. at 460 Depot St. PB 120 Franklin NC 28734. The Main Foundation is a registered not-for-profit in the state of NC.
-- Roddy Piper talks wrestling, Cold Case (he's on this weekend), and more here. He said he asked Vince why he was inducting Wendi Richter into the Hall of Fame and Vince told him, "You're the only one alive."
-- Jonathan Snowden has a look at Cole Konrad here.
-- Mickey Rourke apparently broke his arm in an arm-wrestling match.
-- Jeremy Botter has got part 3 of an interview with Jim Ross talking MMA here.
-- A look at Nick "The Goat" Thompson here.
-- Hunter talks WWE to the Wall Street Journal here. Lots of funny stuff.
-- Line-up for EVOLVE 2 in Rahway at the Rec Center tomorrow has Brad Allen vs. Chris Dickinson, Gran Akuma vs. Brodie Lee, Aeroform vs. Up In Smoke, Kenn Doane vs. Silas Young, Ricochet vs. Chuck Taylor, Kyle O'Reilly cornered by Tony Kozina vs. TJP, Claudio Castagnoli cornered by Chris Hero vs. Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez vs. Sumie Sakia, Johnny Gargano vs. Jimmy Jacobs, Team Frightening vs. Team Lightning vs. The Colony vs. The Osirian Portal, Chris Hero cornered by Claudio Castagnoli vs. Ikuto Hidaka. They have a $5 off sale at EVOLVEwrestling.com until 6 PM tonight. I'll be watching EVOLVE 1 on DVD probably tonight and have some notes in the newsletter next week.
-- The latest Last Call with Scott Hall is up here, which includes him watching last Monday's Impact with Larry Zbyszko while Larry buries guys left and right, including AJ and Flair.
-- Tonight's Inside MMA on HDNet includes James Toney calling out Brock Lesnar. Wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that one. ROH has also announced that a "pro wrestling personality is set to mix it up" on the show as well.
-- Bill writes: I went to the movies this weekend and their advertising showings of UFC PPV's on the big screen. They had cardboard stand-up's of fighters in the lobby.
-- Melissa Anderson, aka Raeesha Saed and Alyssa Flash, is interviewed here about her time in TNA.
-- Vinny and I are back in action this Saturday night at the Pacific Rim in Tulalip, WA in a parejas increiblas match with Vinny & Ideal Reflection vs. Chris Ryseck and I. For more information, click tulalipchampionshipwrestling.com.
-- Reader Tom Robinson, who once did some indy wrestling, is promoting a comedy show at Brownies 23 East in Ardmore tonight. More info is up here.
-- Gilbert Melendez, Jason Miller, King Mo, Meisha Tate and Luke Rockhold will all be on MTV2 this Saturday at 11 AM counting down the top music videos of the week.
-- Evan Ginzburg's Wrestling Reunion has added Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA for their September 11th convention in Rahway at the Rec Center.
-- CZW is doing a legitimate double-shot this weekend (two shows on the same day, as opposed to two shows on the same weekend) with a WXW Germany show on Saturday at the CZW Arena in South Philly at 2:30 PM, following by a straight CZW show that same night in the same building at 7 PM.
-- Mike Quackenbush is interviewed here.
-- Showtime All-Star Wrestling returns to the Nashville Fairgrounds Sports Arena on Saturday, March 13. SAW International Title: Champion Chase Stevens vs. Andy Douglas; Tennessee Street Fight: Hammerjack vs. "Maniac" Marc Anthony; SAW Tag Team Title Match: Derrick King Enterprises (Derrick King & JT Stahr with Sista O'Feelyah) vs. PG-13 (Wolfie D & JC Ice); "Nature's Greatest Miracle" Rick Santel vs. "Grand Master Sexay" Brian Christopher. Jon Michael Worthington vs. Ryan Genesis. Plus "Teen Excitement" Drew Haskins and the return of Downtown Bruno. Special 7pm bell time. Tickets available at www.sawonline.tv.
-- Buddy Wayne is on the Drunkcast tonight here.
-- Pro Wrestling Phoenix runs tomorrow night, 3/13, at the National Guard Armory in Council Bluffs, IA.
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