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        We're looking for your thoughts on both WrestleMania and UFC 111, 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

 

        Raw is live tonight from Phoenix, and the day after Mania show is usually among the biggest of the year.  The stars of Hot Tub Time Machine, Rob Corddry and Clark Duke, will guest host.  Both were at WrestleMania last night. 

 

        Impact is a taped show from last Tuesday, airing head-to-head with Raw:

*Motor City Machine Guns vs. Team 3-D for the No. 1 contendership for the tag titles

*Shannon Moore & Kazarian vs. Doug Williams & Brian Kendrick

*Tara vs. Daffney in a first blood match

*A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Jarrett in a non-title match

*Beer Money vs. Jay Lethal in a handicap match

*Pope D'Angelo Dinero vs. Desmond Wolfe

*Jeff Hardy & RVD & Eric Young vs. Kevin Nash & Scott Hall & Sean Waltman in a cage match

        From people there live last week, they just said it wasn't as good as last week's show, but okay overall.  Bubba the Love Sponge joins The Band.

 

        Spike has two hours of Unleashed from 7-9 p.m. before Impact with no big names. 

 

        Smackdown and NXT will be taped tomorrow in Las Vegas.

 

        The 11th season of Ultimate Fighter debuts on Wednesday night on Spike.  They are apparently going to focus more on the personalities of the fighters and their unique backgrounds this year.  There is a live two-hour Fight Night special on Spike starting at 8 p.m. before the show stars, from the Bojangles Arena in Charlotte, with Takanori Gomi vs. Kenny Florian, Stefan Struve vs. Roy Nelson, Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera and Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver as the TV matches.

 

        Thoughts on the biggest weekend of the year leads off today's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, as we look at business predictions for the show as well as UFC 111.

 

        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 have more on the autopsy report of Edward "Umaga" Fatu, including a past medical history and more on his heart ailment.

 

        We've got an update on the Linda McMahon campaign for senate including lessons of the past week, whether McMahon will address the steroid issue publicly, John Cena's reactions, and more old angles that are becoming part of campaign issues.

 

        We've got more notes on Mickie James' staph infection that required two operations, an update on WWE's plans to launch its own television station including a son of names that have been suggested for the station.

 

        We've got more on WWE banning chair shots to the head.

 

        We also have the background of the Punk-Mysterio angle, where it came from, how it changed, and what was not allowed which gives an insight into the current WWE mind set regarding angles.

 

        We have notes on post-WrestleMania lineups and what they may or may not say, including advertising out for a major show in a few months that specifically mentions two wrestlers scheduled to be leaving after Mania.

 

        We also have coverage of a ton of major events held around the world over the past several days.  We've got a look at the UFC show on Versus, including who is Jon Jones and why he is getting so much attention.  We look at where he came from, as well as a look at the UFC heavyweight division with the emergence of Junior Dos Santos as a top contender.  We look at different potential opponents for Dos Santos, the talked about Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez match and the two sides that story as well as other potential next opponents for both. 

 

        We also look at the return of Brock Lesnar and which three opponents are possible for him to face and the scenarios that would lead to those matches.

 

        We also have business notes on UFC's debut on Versus, how it did in the U.S. and how it did in Canada and how strikingly different that was.  We've also got the match-by-match rundown, the bonuses and poll results.

 

        We've got notes on TNA's Destination X PPV, thoughts about the finish of A.J. Styles vs. Abyss, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

 

        We've got a major feature on the life and career of longtime WWWF star Baron Mikel Scicluna, who passed away this week.  We look at what he was best known for, his 31 years as a pro wrestler, his greatest success, how he got started in pro wrestling, his time as the babyface Mike Valentino, and life after wrestling.  We have notes a friend of recent years talking about what he had been doing and what he was scheduled to do this week that he was looking forward to.  We look at his main events in major arenas, as well as his biggest win ever in Madison Square Garden and the storyline of that match that got him over to challenge Bruno Sammartino.

 

        There are some interesting notes about how they told stories to get contenders ready, how they sold a gimmicked finish, as well as a look at his runs as tag team champion in WWE.  We also look at his international exploits in places like Japan and Australia.

 

        We've also got a feature on Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Rich Franklin and TUF season 11 which starts on 3/31.  We look at what has happened regarding the coaches match, what Dana White has said, and the ramifications of everything. We also have a rundown on all the fighters on the show this season, with their backgrounds, as well as who are the favorites.

 

        We've got coverage of the Dos Leyendas show, the first major event of the year at Arena Mexico, and how the show went down.  We also look at how the CMLL vs. AAA war in Mexico went down this past week with tings heating up.

 

        We also look at what has to be the biggest surprise major title change in years, the story behind Ryota Hama bringing the place to tears in winning the Triple Crown.  It's a story that goes back to the history of the title, both why the win got such an amazing live reaction, and thus, why it was so controversial as to the decision.  We have coverage of All Japan's Sumo Hall event, including the Funaki vs. Suzuki match, the first cage match in the history of the company.

 

        We also have notes on yet another wrestler running for national public office.

 

        We've also got notes on the annual Japan Cup tournament, the annual Champion Carnival tournament and the annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

 

    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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Also in this week's issue:

--TripleMania date and place

 

--Ratings in Mexico

 

--More notes from AAA's Rey de Reyes and Mexico City events

 

--What happened with Latin Lover and AAA

 

--Major star asks to take time off to become an actor

 

--NOAH team takes tag title in AAA

 

--Dragon Gate vs. ROH rivalry heats up

 

--A look at the A&E reality show on pro wrestling and who the wrestlers are that are being featured

 

--Next Budokan Hall NOAH main events

 

--A look at the Global tournament

 

--Bad scene at NOAH show in outsiders style match

 

--One of the biggest stars in history breaks ribs in a non-wrestling accident

 

--Two Hall of Famers meet for the first time ever 

 

--Roddy Piper update

 

--Bill Goldberg update

 

--Overseas promotion looks to be getting a national U.S. major outlet for TV starting in two months

 

--Most successful indie group in the U.S. when it comes to drawing

 

--Jerry Lawler goes heel, reprising 1997 angle

 

--What match would TNA not allow on the indie scene and why

 

--Notes on ROH weekend events

 

--Update on Jeff Hardy trial

 

--Notes on attempts to recruit Paul Heyman for TNA

 

--Daughter of TNA star captures state title in her sport

 

--Background of TNA's Chelsea

 

--TNA house show notes

 

--Notes on the next Impact show

 

--Next UFC lineups

 

--Location of the next Versus UFC show

 

--More on Versus/DirecTV settlement and how UFC played a part in it

 

--Update on the UFC's television problems in Germany

 

--What the ramifications are right now

 

--Why UFC is still on TV there this week

 

--Dana White talks about a new business venture having nothing to do with MMA, and something very similar to what Vince McMahon did in the 90s

 

--Predictions of 50,000 people at a spring UFC event

 

--Georges St. Pierre linked with famous athletes in an endorsement deal

 

--Several MMA stars in release of new DVD movie

 

--Update on health of bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz

 

--More new UFC matches

 

--Story behind high school senior who took Arianny to his prom over the weekend

 

--Talks of Fedor's return

 

--Who could be a very highly paid free agent because of contract timing--if he wins his next fight

 

--First Dream show of the year

 

--PPV numbers for Pacquiao-Clottey and what it means

 

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--Shawn Michaels had told friends for months that this year's WrestleMania would be his final show.  Whether WWE convinces him to come back, which has happened in the past, or he changes his mind, which happens to almost every wrestler who retires, is unknown.  At this point he is telling everyone his retirement is legit.

 

--Undertaker is expected to take time off, although he is booked for some upcoming TVs, but not on the European tour.

 

--The Toronto Star has a story at http://www.thestar.com/sports/wrestling/ on Toronto attempting to get WrestleMania in two years.  WWE is now taking bids from cities when it comes to awarding the next three years worth of shows.  Toronto was the front-runner for 2012, ten years after the Hogan vs. Rock match, but Mania generates so much money for local economies that WWE can play cities off against each other for who brings the best overall deal to the table.  The WWE has asked cities to bid for years 2012 through 2014 and the best three bids will get one of those three years.  Cities listed as bidding are Miami, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Orlando, Tampa, Houston, New York, Detroit, Dallas, New Orleans, Vancouver and two other cities have put in bids.

 

--The Arizona Republic today at http://www.azcentral.com/ had a story listing Mania as the biggest grossing event ever at the University of Phoenix Stadium, saying it outdrew the Super Bowl in the same building.  That may explain the 72,219 announced number.  The show was not sold out, although it was estimated at 95% full, and there was the reverse scalper effect in that people were trying to unload tickets in front of the building for in many cases well under half face value.  Plenty of tickets were available at the end for $15 and some even less.

 

--Did anyone see the UFC show at theaters?  We haven't gotten any reports on theater attendance other than  Radio City Music Hall did well.  Booker T was reported at the Century City, CA theater to see the show.

 

--Today's Metro had a UFC 111 article at http://metro.us/us/article/2010/03/29/06/0454-82/index.xml

--By far the most talked about subject aside from things that happened at the show itself was Jim Ross not being involved in the show.  He was acknowledged by Jerry Lawler during the Hall of Fame show and got a huge reaction.  As is everything of that caliber of decision, it was a Vince call.  The subject was brought up many times in the last few weeks.   

 

--We will be doing Wrestling Observer radio tonight after both Raw & Impact.  If you have any questions regarding WrestleMania or the weekend, you can send them to the questions link on the front page and we'll try and get to as many as we can.  Please limit the questions to stuff from the past few days because that's really the topics most people would be interested in right now.  We'll start with regular questions later in the week.

 

--Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers was the celebrity most talked about as far as being at the show last night.  Linda McMahon was there for the weekend.  Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins was hanging around the hotel during the week 

 

--Live reports noted that this was very different from an arena setting in that in some parts of the arena, different matches were and weren't over.  Rick Hale noted that in his section, they treated Cena vs. Batista like the main event and people were leaving during the main event and it didn't come alive until the moonsault on the table spot.  He said he talked with others who said Cena vs. Batista was dead where they were sitting.  The TV sound probably best generalizes the stadium as a whole.

 

--The Rey Mysterio ring entrance was botched which was why he was so slow getting to the ring.  He was supposed to do his old entrance where he popped out of the stage, but the elevator deal didn't work, so he had to climb out.  Nobody watching on TV would have known better.

 

--Ted DiBiase story at http://dailystar.co.uk/inthering/view/127980/He-s-the-Daddy-but-now-I-m-a-contender/  Patrick Lennon, who wrote the story and deals with a lot of pro wrestlers, praised the younger DiBiase while knocking others in the business saying, "Ted radiates charm(in person) unlike some of his more insincere colleagues."

 

--Brian Burke noted that where he was living, Mania was not offered by Comcast in High Definition.  Did anyone else have this issue?

 

--In the U.K., some Virgin Media customers were unable to purchase the show due to technical issues (thanks to Michael Fear) 

 

--Tomasz Drwal had no fractures in either the knee or leg from the heel hook from Rousimar Palhares on Saturday night's UFC show.  Palhares was suspended for three months by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board for not breaking the hold, although fighters usually don't fight in three months in UFC.  

 

--Poll on Smackdown

Excellent 19.8%

Good 17.4%

Average 17.4%

Fair 19.0%

Poor 26.4%

        30.5% of those responding didn't see the show.     

 

--Best TV show of the past week

Raw 29.3%

Impact 28.3%

UFC prelims on Spike 11.5%

WWE Hall of Fame 8.4%

Smackdown 5.2%

NXT 4.7%

CMLL 3.7%

Strikeforce Challengers Series 3.1%

Superstars 2.1%

Inside MMA 1.6%

King of the Cage 1.6%

AAA 0.5%

 

--Who do you predict in this match?

Brock Lesnar 73.5%

Shane Carwin 26.5%

 

--People are really bullish on Mania as these are the North American predictions for buys

Under 525,000 6.9%

526-560 2.9%

561-620 4.1%

621-655 3.5%

656-690 4.6%

691-725 6.8%

726-760 8.7%

761-795 5.1%

796-830 7.7%

831-865 7.0%

866-900 8.3%

More than 901,000 34.4%

        As a comparison, last year's show did 582,000 and they've only topped 700,000 in North America twice in the last decade.  The median, half above, half below, is around 800

 

--UFC 111 buy rate picks

Under 450,000 10.2%

451-500 4.1%

501-550 7.0%

551-600 6.1%

601-650 8.4%

651-700 9.9%

701-750 12.2%

751-800 9.7%

801-850 7.3%

851-900 5.2%

901-950 6.5%

More than 951,000 13.4%

        So the median is 701-750. 

 

--Poll on NXT

Excellent 7.9%

Good 22.5%

Average 26.2%

Fair 15.1%

Poor 28.4%

        40.7% of those responding didn't see the show.  Show is clearly losing interest by the week. 

 

--Raw next Monday in Canada will air at midnight because The Score in carrying the NCAA basketball finals at 9 p.m.

 

--WrestleMania was a strong trending topic on twitter and Yahoo, with the twitter peak during Michaels vs. Undertaker.  It did not trend as highly as wrestling did three weeks ago on the Monday head-to-head show on 3/8.  Today, nothing from Mania was top 20 on Google searches which is a surprise. On Yahoo, WWE was No. 1 today, UFC No. 2 and Mania No. 4 (thanks to Brian Henke)

 

--Alistair Overeem vs. Brett Rogers on 5/15 in St. Louis was confirmed by MMAjunkie.com and Strikeforce officials as being a heavyweight title match. 

 

--Another Hartford Courant story on Linda McMahon talking about allegations against the company and her campaign is at http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/  The article was hard to understand, with the reporter just making fun of the McMahon side for answering every allegation about the product by using the term "soap opera."

 

--The National Post, one of the most influential newspapers in Canada, ran an editorial about legalization of UFC.  The editorial was not positive regarding UFC, but their editorial board felt that whether you like it or not, if the company wanted to run an event in Ontario, they should be allowed to and the public can decide for themselves if they want to attend.  They did compare UFC unfavorably to WWE because WWE violence is fictional and to boxing, claiming it was a more ritualized version of combat.     

 

--Elaine (wife of Big John) McCarthy's Let's Get It On promotion that is doing tournaments to crown 155 and 170 pound Canadian champions announced a deal with Strikeforce in that the tournament winners will get contracts to appear on the Strikeforce Challengers Series.   

 

--The UFC Best of 2009 three-hour special will air again from 7-10 p.m. tomorrow night on  Spike.  There are also Unleashed hours from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. tomorrow night.  Wednesday will have an Unleashed show from 7-8 p.m. headlined by Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a bout that finished high in Match of the Year balloting leading into the live show at 8 p.m.  Thursday from 9:30 to 11 p.m. in the old Impact time slot will be a special on Chuck Liddell from a few years back.

 

--Brock Lesnar on Herschel Walker in yesterday's New York Daily News.  "I'm happy to see he's got the (guts) to get in the ring.  He beat one guy, but he's old enough to be my father."  Lesnar said "this is one of the hardest things in my life.  Your life could end in the octagon, it's no joke." (thanks to Jeff Sheridan)

 

--Reader Mark Coale on the new WWE comic book:  "Very campy and over the top, like a b-movie horror flick mixed with WWE action.  Some kind of crazy evil demon that appears to look like HHH killing people over time.  Presumably leading to some kind of confrontation with Undertaker.  Funniest thing is how its continuity is off from WWE storylines, as it appears Batista is a babyface and Edge is a heel.

 

--The current issue of Sports Illustrated has a long article by Frank Deford on his sportswriting career and changes in the sports world.  He has a few graphs talking about more than 40 years ago when he toured one winter with the Roller Derby. 

 

--Classic Championship Wrestling on 4/24 in Lebanon, PA at the Eagles Hall

 

--The documentary "Canvasman," about 66-year old Robbie Ellis of Maine who wrestles on indie shows (a very good documentary) will play in Portland, ME at the Nickelodeon cinemas on 4/22 at 7:30 p.m.  It will then be sent to film festivals around the world. 

 

--Lucha Libre Mexicana from yesterday in Los Angeles:  Sandarin b Jose Murrieta, Wolfman b Ultra Star, Alas de Oro b Rey Vulcan, Capitan Calico & Sexy Chino b Darkside & Monje Mondito, Los Chivos b Supernatural & Dave the Bruiser

 

--Future Stars of Wrestling on 4/11 in Las Vegas at the Silver Nugget Casino at 5 p.m. with Kenny King, Derrick Neikirk and Michael Modest

 

--Courtney Marshall is looking for an e-mail address for ks2tapes.tripod.com

 

--Hoosier Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Columbus, IN at the 4-H Fairgrounds

 

--Jimmy Jacobs vs. Danny Duggan headlines in Winnipeg on 4/23 at the Maples Community Center for CWE

 

--Hunter Worsham, a member of the U.S. Army and son of Cal Worsham (who fought in early UFC events) will face Zach Underwood in a prelim match on the 4/17 Strikeforce show in Nashville carried on CBS.  It was noted that both Worshams fought on the same show once in 2007  

 

--Future Shock Wrestling from yesterday in Stockport, Cheshire, UK:  Dirk Feelgood b Sparx, Danny Sensation b Lance Lenehan, Freak Show b Heavy Hitters, Lovely Hamish b Zack Gibson, Vitamin C b Blond Jovi, Mike Fitzgerald b Chris Egan, Alex Shane won three-way over Danny Boy Evans and Jimmy O'Shea, Swedish Tigress b April Davids, Raynaldo b Danny Hope.  Next show is 5/23 with Raynaldo vs. Shane   

 

--Time Warner on Demand has the Lethal Lockdown match from last year's Lockdown show and a UFC 112 preview on the Events Free Preview section (thanks to Suju Abraham) 

 

--Colt Cabana talks doing stand-up comedy at http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/03/26/13364066.html

 

--Dave Morgan of Scranton, PA, who beat Josh Aarons to win the Cage Fight amateur flyweight title, a former Division III standout, did a Hogan gimmick wearing a red and yellow "Morganmania" T-shirt which he tore off and started posing and ear cupping. (thanks to Neil Trama)

 

--Ryan Couture, Randy's son, drew with Sean Bollinger in the main event for Tuff N Uff on Saturday night at the Orleans in Las Vegas.  Couture, 4-1-1, fights at 155 pounds.

 

--EWF ran a show on Friday night headlined by Amelia Earhart Elementary School Principal Brad Fisher and John Glenn Middle School Principal Marcus Wood, which drew 450 fans in a benefit for both schools as well as the local La Quinta High wrestling team.  The Desert Sun, the local paper, ran a story on the event.

 

--Slam Championship Wrestling from Saturday in Gloucester City, NJ:  Zack Lorenzo b Shane Harris, Twiggy Ramirez b White Lotus, Patriot (Tom Brandi) b Sheik Ali, King Kaluha b Doink the Clown, Breaker Morant b Sal Sincere (Brandi)-DQ, Blue Meanie b Patch.  Sincere on the mic claimed that he challenged both Cena and Mysterio to a match in Gloucester, but both came up with lame excuses that they were busy. (thanks to Paul Verlander) 

 

--BANG from Saturday night in Ocala, FL:  Dory Funk & Johnny Magnum & Shane Chung b Damien Steele & Blain Rage & Luke Spencer, Claudia Reiff & Shane Chung b Rachel Moore & Blain Rage, Luke Spencer won four-way over Damien Steele, Mad Dog Madetzke and Walter Roberts, Jose Salinas b Johnny Romano, Mad Dog Madetzke b Christian James.  Jimmy Hart managed Funk.