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        We're looking for reports from last night's TNA TV tapings in Orlando as well as from tonight's show.  Tonight's show will feature a Mick Foley vs. Ric Flair promo debate that is apparently the build for the two wrestling each other at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

        There is three hours of UFC tonight from 7-10 p.m. featuring old tapes.  The new UFC television season starts a week from tonight with a live show from Austin, TX as well as the first episode of the new season of Ultimate Fighter. 

 

        We have one of the most extensive looks at the two different parts of the same problem--the real problem which is long-term health issues in pro wrestling, as well as the immediate political offshoot of the issue, the press reaction to Linda McMahon's senate run pertaining to these issues, as one of the lead stories in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

 

        The issue also covers TNA building Bound for Glory and the No Surrender show, the CMLL anniversary show, more on the history of the MMA linear championships as well as an update on the WWE PPV business.

 

        We also look at HHH's new role in the company and what it means in the big picture, as well as a look at WWE's future star power, the "death clause" in WWE contracts and what other companies have them, as well as how the story has also become a political issue.  We also look at WWE's rights of termination, unwritten rules of termination and exceptions to those rules, an update on the Night of Champions PPV with the lineup, as well as updates on company web business and the company's most successful DVD releases of 2010.

 

        We also have more on the new NXT show, including what happened with the giant and a background look at her replacement, Kaitlyn, as well as tons of backstage news from the taping of the first show including reactions.

 

        The issue will be on the site today.  We will have the second issue on the site tomorrow from June 1993.  All are available right now for web site subscribers in the Wrestling Observer listings on the top of the page.  You can also get the Observer delivered by mail, with details below.  For those who are web site subscribers, not only do we have issues once and in big news weeks, twice every week, but also release one back issue per week, covering 1993.  
 
        We look at a lot of the media coverage in the past week of WWE as it pertains to the McMahon campaign, including a look back at the problems and ideas as to why they haven't been addressed.  We also look back at a lot of WWE history, including the Chris Benoit aftermath, Signature Pharmacy story, and ask a lot of questions regarding WWE.  There's also talk from Lance Cade's father, details on how WWE takes care of talent while hurt, warning signals in many of the recent deaths, possible upgrades to certain policies, and some suggestions.  WE also look at the company's rehab program, addictions to OxyContin, Mick Foley talks about Linda McMahon and Luna Vachon, whether wrestling is picked on or gets a free pass and why the same problems don't seem as plentiful in other countries.

 

        We also look at TNA's building of Bound for Glory, behind the Angle vs. Hardy matches, the future of Hulk Hogan with his back injury, as well as complete coverage of the No Surrender show.

 

        We look at heavyweight and lightweight title history in MMA, as well as Money in the Bank's success as a concept PPV and how business was compared to the same time last year.

 

        We also look at the ratings for every national MMA and pro wrestling television show in the U.S., as well as the segment-by-segment numbers for the major shows. 
 
        We also have our weekly results from the major league arena events held around the world as well as the major TV show reviews.
 
        The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.
 
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Also in this week's issue:

--Promotion in Mexico bringing in U.S. stars weekly

 

--Another wrestling magazine bits the dust

 

--Promotion nearly doubles its usual national rating this past weekend

 

--Major upcoming Dragon Gate matches

 

--Wrestler promoting his 15th anniversary show using legends of the past

 

--NOAH doing a major jr. singles match show

 

--Upcoming New Japan big shows with some strong matches planned

 

--More on the arrest of Jim Neidhart

 

--Update on two promotions that seem to be hovering on the brink and whether they have any future

 

--Battle of Los Angeles notes

 

--More on Luna Vachon

 

--Bryan Danielson's final indie match

 

--70s legends headlining a minor league baseball stadium show next week

 

--Thoughts on TNA's upcoming angles

 

--Details on Hogan's back injury

 

--Why TNA Impact was preempted for a week

 

--Wrestler whose contract expired in TNA working there as a non-wrestler

 

--Paul Heyman update

 

--TNA star looking at finishing college

 

--TNA stars on Family Feud

 

--UFC numbers from Boston, official payoff numbers as well as gate for the debut show

 

--Interesting notes about who attended the show, who didn't, and what it says about UFC live event attendance that is completely different from WWE live event attendance  

 

--Biggest match set for early 2011

 

--Sonnen talks the Edgar vs. Maynard fight

 

--Chuck Liddell talks future

 

--Surprising UFC return of Parisyan and thoughts on subject

 

--Update on Shogun Rua's return

 

--Thoughts on interim titles and time limits for defending titles

 

--One of MMA's most well known companies sold

 

--Josh Koscheck responds to Yves Lavigne

 

--Notes on Lesnar vs. Velasquez buildup

 

--Lots of new UFC and WEC matches signed

 

--Surprising UFC firing and hints as to why

 

--Update on next Dream show

 

--MMA fighter in murder suicide and a look at suicides and suicide threats among name MMA fighters

 

--The disaster that is the Shine Fights last week before the PPV

 

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*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the
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--The latest of the Linda McMahon campaign stories focusing on how WWE was run, this one being negative, is at http://www.fairfieldweekly.com/news/featured-news/the-business-of-death 

 

--Dwayne Johnson confirmed today he is doing a Journey to the Center of the Earth remake with New Line and Warner Brothers.  They were looking for an action adventure with physicality and humor and it is the largest budget for a movie he's ever starred in.

 

--The UFC's U.K. web site had the official listing of the new season of Ultimate Fighter debuting on 9/21 (six days after the U.S.) at 10 p.m. on Sky Sports.  This would be the first time UFC has gotten a deal with Sky.

 

--ROH signed its first overseas TV deal, with MCM in France.  The shows will start airing in mid-September. 

 

--ROH has signed Eddie Edwards to a contract extension.

 

--There is a story on the impending death of Jerry Lawler's Memphis Wrestling promotion at http://rasslinriotnews.blogspot.com  Basically the story says it will need a miracle for the TV show that airs this coming Saturday to not be the last show due to a breakup of the Lawler/Joe Cooper business partnership.

 

--Besides the matches already listed in the newsletter, added to Bound for Glory are the Motor City Machine Guns vs. Generation Me in an Ultimate X match.

 

--Tonight's Impact tapings will include A.J. Styles vs. Brian Kendrick, Beer Money vs. Tommy Dreamer & Rhino in a lumberjack match and Samoa Joe vs. Mr. Anderson.  Tonight's show is being taped for 9/30 and we're looking for reports.   

 

--We've gotten a confirmation of Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera on the 1/1 UFC show in Las Vegas, and George Sotiropolous vs. Joe Lauzon on the 11/20 UFC show in Auburn Hills, MI.  It doesn't look like Sotiropolous vs. Lauzon will lead directly for a Sotiropolous title shot as has been speculated.

 

--There has been a lot of controversy over Dan Hardy's comments about the performance of Nik Lentz at UFC 118.  I'd suspect a lot of people are unhappy about it, particularly since the dull match did a number on the ratings.  He wrote that Lentz didn't come to fight, and instead, came to avoid a fight.  Story is at http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Dan-Hardy-Column/article-2610453-detail/article  Hardy said fighters should be out there trying to finish, but using wrestling to stalemate opponents without any ground and pound or submission attempts.

 

--Hulk Hogan was on the phone from his hospital bed in Clearwater, FL, where he's laid up, on Bubba the Love Sponge.  He talked about how he's going to no longer sit back, how he's going to change the business and he's telling everyone from this point on the way it's going to be in TNA.  He didn't come across well, but he's in a lot of pain.  He put over Matt Hardy as the ideal wrestler he's looking for because Matt gets it and would love to have him.  Then he realized what he said and backed off, saying he didn't want people to charge him with interference (since Matt is under WWE contract) (thanks to Christopher Porter)

 

--The Oklahoma Professional Boxing Commission has said it will not attempt to get an injunction to ban Friday night's Shine Fights PPV show.  The promotion is doing a non-commission show on Native American land near Norman, OK for a one-night eight-man PPV tournament on a show moved a few days ago from Fairfax, VA.  They also announced today that Marcus Aurelio is off the show, being injured in training, and would be replaced by former UFC fighter Shannon Gugerty.  No word on whether Aurelio also pulled out of his match with Shinya Aoki on the 9/25 Dream show but we'll update.

 

--We'll also be running down the Dragon Gate USA PPV on the site later tonight, which debuts Friday night at 10 p.m..  It will be on a secondary channel on Friday so some inDemand systems won't carry it.  It will be on the primary channel at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

 

--BxB Hulk vs. Akira Tozawa was announced for the 9/25 Dragon Gate USA PPV taping in Chicago.   

 

--Jim Ross talks NXT and the Smackdown debut on Syfy from Oklahoma City at http://www.jrsbarbq.com 

 

--NXT is going to be very interesting.  The wrestling is doomed to be horrible.  It's a very interesting test on whether pretty girls can carry a one hour wrestling show.  I do think they were smart to tape the show first instead of after Smackdown.  As far as the live crowd goes, airing it after Smackdown could be challenging.  This is really just this year's version of the Diva Search.  Those segments did good ratings early, but the last few years people didn't care.  But there has been a few year break, but this is having to carry the show instead of being a segment on a regular wrestling show.  Vickie Guerrero was great.

 

--WWE is sending talent to some theaters for opening night of "Legendary" on Friday for the 7 p.m. shows.  Hornswoggle appears in Wilmette, IL, Matt Striker in New York at the Clearview First & 62nd Cinemas, Beth Phoenix in Tampa at the Channelside Cinemas, Eve Torres in Santa Monica at Laemmei's Monica 4-plex and R-Truth in Raleigh at the Mission Valley Cinemas.  All wrestlers will be doing autograph signings at the show.   

 

--More on the arrest of Jim Neidhart, including daughter Jenni commenting on his drug issues is at http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Anvil+Neidhart/3493079/story.html  Brother-in-law Ross Hart also comments in the story.  At one point yesterday Jim Neidhart was the most searched name in the U.S. on Google. 

 

--A brief synopsis of the Billy Gunn story involving the Winnipeg woman he had an affair with that went public is at http://www.adultfyi.com/read-hp/?ID=43943

 

--PWInsider.com has a detailed update on the Highspots.com lawsuit against Ric Flair, as well as Flair's lawyers responses to the suit.  Highspots claims they are owed $35,000 in a loan as well as additional money for advanced payment for appearances, one of which they claim Flair still owes them.  Flair claimed he did his appearances until one was canceled, and that he had agreed to pay off the loan in doing future autograph sessions. 

 

--John Cena appears Sunday night at 9 p.m. on the debut of Comcast Sports California's new Sunday Night Rap show.  Gary Radnich, probably the area's best known sportscaster, hosts the show.

 

--Reader and movie critic Joe Shearer looks at "Legendary" at http://www.thefilmyap.com/2010/09/08/legendary/  He called it a giant sports movie cliche in a less-than mainstream sport.  He said the acting was so-so, with Clarkson giving the worst performance he's ever seen, that star Devon Graye isn't a lead but was likeable, but overall passable.  He praised Cena, saying he was passable in a role that didn't require him to do more than express quiet, stone-faced regret, but did it well and had a good dynamic with Graye.  He said at the end it is the inspiring sports movie it aspires to be.

 

--Bryan and I will have Chris Hero as our guest tonight on Observer radio talking about Saturday's ROH iPPV show.  We'll also talk current news.

 

--We've got a new episode of Tough Talk on the site with Michael Bisping as guest talking about Chael Sonnen, Dan Hardy and Patrick Cote at http://media001.f4wonline.com/free/090710tt.mp3  Mike and Oliver also preview Wednesday's UFC Fight Night and talk UFC 118.

 

--Poll on Raw

Excellent 10.9%

Good 45.3%

Average 24.4%

Fair 6.0%

Poor 13.4%

        15.5% of those responding didn't see the show

 

--With it being all women, are you more or less interested in the new season of NXT

More interested 19.5%

The same 27.8%

Less interested 52.7%

 

--Which show are you most interested in this weekend

ROH iPPV 65.0%

Shark Fights PPV 17.5%

Dragon Gate USA PPV 14.7%

Shine Fights PPV 2.8%  

 

--Best TV show of the past week

Raw 26.9%

Impact 18.8%

ROH 11.3%

NXT 7.5%

Smackdown 7.5%

Bellator 6.9%

Reaction 5.0%

MMA Live 4.4%

Superstars 4.4%

AAA 3.8%

Inside MMA 3.8%

 

--Best wrestler in the U.S. right now

Kurt Angle 28.6%

Chris Jericho 19.5%

Daniel Bryan 18.3%

Davey Richards 8.9%

A.J. Styles 6.0%

Randy Orton 5.8%

Christian 4.2%

Rey Mysterio 3.3%

Undertaker 2.1%

Edge 1.7%

Desmond Wolfe 0.8%

Tyler Black 0.8%

 

--Who will be the next UFC champ to lose his title

Frankie Edgar 28.4%

Shogun Rua 26.8%

Anderson Silva 21.2%

Brock Lesnar 16.7%

Georges St. Pierre 6.9%

 

--More on the University of Waterloo football player who failed a test for GH (only the second person in history to actually be caught by the new testing procedure) is at http://bit.ly/cwcwpW (thanks to Dave Deibert)

 

--Regarding the question about Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Monday night's show, Korakuen Hall opened in 1962. (thanks to Tim Noel)

 

--Regarding East Carolina University football, they play Undertaker's theme on third downs when the opponent has the ball.  They also play Ric Flair promo sound bites during the games. (thanks to Mike Godwin)

 

--Legendary sportswriter Bob Ryan of Boston was on Dan Lebatard (a big UFC fan) last week and again said he thought the show (UFC 118) was boring and that fans don't want to see people fighting on the ground.  Well, he was right that the show was boring overall, but the hottest crowd reactions of the show were when fights were on the ground.  Lebatard told Ryan that he may have had a different opinion if he saw UFC 116 or 117.  Ryan did note how nice and professional everyone at UFC was. (thanks to Mark Coale)   

 

--Lance Storm noted after hearing about Raw's record setting 900th episode, that his in-laws watch a show originating in the U.K. called Coronation Street, that debuted on December 9, 1960, and airs in prime time, and this past week aired its 7,416th episode.   

 

--M-1 Global announced a night of crowning champions on 10/28 at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.  There are three title fights involving Russian fighters to crown the first M-1 Global champions.

 

--ASW on Friday night in Tamp at Strokers Billiards.

 

--Trish Stratus will be attending the Toronto International Film Festival this week.

 

--Rulon Gardner is being inducted into the Greco-Roman Hall of Champions on 10/9 on the Augsburg College campus in Minneapolis.  Jim & Olive Morgan will be given a legacy award as they had three sons who won a combined ten national Greco titles and two world titles.  Son Marty is Brock Lesnar's head trainer.  Jim & Olive are related to longtime pro wrestling star and Hall of Fame candidate Red Bastien.  Gardner was the 2000 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, scoring one of the most famous wins in amateur wrestling history when he beat Alexander Karelin.   

 

--CWE on 9/18 in Fisher Branch, Manitoba at the Fisher Branch Arena.  They also run 9/28 in Winnipeg at the One World Studios with Eugene, Davey Richards, Kenny Omega and Mentallo.  Those stars also wrestle 9/29 in Dauphin, MB at the Rotary Arena, 9/30 in The Pas, MB and Metis Hall, 10/1 in Thompson, MB at the Rec Center and 10/2 in Gilliam, MB at the Rec Center.    

 

--Wrestling for a Cause on Friday night in Tamp at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple headlined by Kip jams vs. Buck Quartermaine and Mike Sullivan vs. Steve Madison plus Big Vito and TNA signee Becky Bayless.  Former Tampa Bay Bucs star Derrick Brooks will appear at the show.

 

--The X-1 show on Saturday night called Heroes from the NBC Arena in Honolulu headlined by Niko Vitale vs. Kala Hose will be streamed live at X1Events.com starting at 7 p.m. Hawaiian time (1 p.m. Eastern) and will also air on Oceanic Time Warner PPV on the Islands.

 

--New England Championship Wrestling on Saturday night in Quincy, MA at the National Guard Armory with the second annual NECW Classic, eight teams in a tournament for a shot at the NECW tag titles.

 

--Former pro wrestler Josh Rafferty (who even appeared once on Smackdown taking bumps for Rosa Mendes) is fighting on tomorrow night's Bellator undercard. (thanks to Anthony Sullivan)

 

--Ground Breaking Pro Wrestling on 9/26 in Mt. Clemens, MI headlined by a four-way that includes Colt Cabana.  Also N8 Mattson vs. Shawn Spears.   

 

--APW Gym Wars on Saturday night in Hayward at the Garage headlined by Jody Kristofferson vs. Derek Sanders for the APW Universal title

 

--Maven  Bentley has a show on 9/16 at the Arena in Philadelphia at 8 p.m. as an autism awareness benefit with a $5 suggested donation.  Appearing are Adam Cole, Sami Callihan, Joe Gacy, Ryan Slater, Drew Gulak and more.

 

--Liberty Wrestling on Saturday night in Lodi, NJ at the Boys & Girls Club

 

--Rico Costantino has been added to the FSW training staff in Las Vegas.  He joins head trainer Michael Modest.  There is also a referees class taught by former WWE ref Mike Twomey.  For more info on the school you can go to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

--Dangerous Women of Wrestling debuts at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday night on WMCN Ch. 44 in Philadelphia.  The show also airs in Canada on The Fight Network on Saturday nights at 2 a.m.

 

--IndyGurlz on 9/18 in Boonton,NJ at the Elks Lodge features an eight woman tournament for their title with Sumie Sakai, Kellie Slater, Mercedes Martinez, Sara Del Rey, Roxxie Cotton, Jana and Brittney Savage plus one name to come.

 

--Former WWE writer Paul Guay, who wrote the movie "Liar, Liar," plays Renfield in Dracula opening Friday night at the Westchester Playhouse in Westchester, CA.