Bryan Alvarez:
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Dave Meltzer:
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We're looking for reports on tonight's WWE show in Melbourne, Australia, as well as last night's show in Christchurch, and TNA's second show today in Liverpool, England 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
A couple of major shows this weekend, with the big ones being Elite XC on Showtime on Saturday night at 10 p.m. Eastern healined by K.J. Noons vs. Yves Edwards for the lightweight title and Nick Diaz vs. Muhsin Corbbrey for the next title shot. Dream is live on HD-Net from Japan at 4 a.m. late Saturday/early Sunday Eastern time with a show built around the quarterfinals of the middleweight tournament including a scary Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Melvin Manhoef match, plus Shinya Aoki vs. Katsuhiko Nagata in the lightweight tournament. We'll have live coverage of Elite XC on the site Saturday night.
WWE continues its Smackdown overseas tour on Saturday in Adelaide and Sunday in Sydney. Most shows have Edge vs. Batista on top with Undertaker (on the tour, they are doing a gimmick where they say he's reinstated for a farewell tour) & Kane vs. Mark Henry & Great Khali.
The Raw tour has house shows on Saturday night in Boise, ID and Sunday in Ogden, UT before the live Raw on Monday night in Salt Lake City. That show is either sold out or close to it, and will feature the second week of the $1 million giveaway. The plan is to inject more comedy into the presentation, which actually may make it even worse. The comedy may be the set-up to get out of the idea.
We're also looking for reports on TNA house show Saturday in Conventry and Sunday in Essex.
Tonight's Smackdown taped from Fresno:
*Fit Finlay vs. John Morrison
*Tommy Dreamer vs. Mark Henry
*Cherry vs. Maryse
*C.M. Punk vs. MVP
*Matt Hardy vs. Chuck Palumbo
*Jesses & Festus vs. Deuce & Domino
*Batista vs. Great Khali - If Batista wins he gets a title shot, if he loses he must retire from wrestling. Hmmm.
We've got tons of inside WWE news in this coming Monday's jumbo-sized issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We look at the Million Dollar idea, other WWE giveaway ideas, the reaction to the show on Raw, the reaction inside the company to the rating and if there is a little bit of good news in the rating, what it was.
We also look at how the money would have been better invested and a look at why the business is starting to flatten out and how it is paying for mistakes made several years ago.
In that regard, we talk about those mistakes, talk about plans to slowly rebuild although this won't pay dividends for a long period of time.
We've got news on the return to the writing team of Michael Hayes with a lot of news on how everything is going down and how and why there are many concerned this could be temporary.
We also have an in-depth look at Smackdown right now with a look at the recent TV taping in San Jose and a lot of funny notes on the show.
We've got a look at the tragedy at the TNA Slammiversary show, as well as business notes on the show, early PPV buy rate indications along with poll results, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
We also have similar coverage for UFC 85 from London, including why UFC officials were not upset at Thiago Alves for not making weight and how come he got a big bonus, real bad news from early buy rate indicators, as well as a lot of controversy regarding the officiating, including fouls called and the usage of instant replay on referees decisions in MMA.
We've got a journalistic note regarding a pro wrestling story from earlier this year that really saddens me. We've got notes on one of the WWE's major executives leaving the company, an update on Undertaker and his return, a McMahon family update, more on the suspension of Jimmy Wang Yang, another drug testing update as well as an injury update.
We also have notes on WWE getting slapped in legal action by another wrestling promoter.
We've got an update on Ric Flair including a sports team that is adopting him this season.
We also have an update on Bryan Danielson, his summer bookings, what WWE officials thought about his tryout and his future ROH and AAA plans.
We've got updates on WWE DVD sales, and how the changes in the WWE web site appear to have affected traffic. We've also got updates on another son of a legend starting in WWE developmental, best selling DVDs, a hilarious irony from a WWE 24/7 broadcast, an update on Mick Foley's latest charitable cause, a WWE star who over the weekend appeared on television with one of the longest-standing promotions in the world and why he was there, house show business notes from the weekend and high show notes.
We've got an update on buy rates for WWE's Backlash PPV with an official number, as well as early trend indicators leading to an early prediction on the 5/24 UFC buy rate.
We also have a major review on the movie, "Bigger, Faster, Stronger," on steroid use in sports, put together by former WWE writer Chris Bell, whose two brothers were pro wrestlers. We look at what MMA promoter purchased distribution rights, how the movie has been reviewed, as well as a look at the movie and what he avoided, while talking about the enormous level of hypocrisy and the probable future of our sporting competitions.
We also have notes on the IFL as it looks to be on death's door.
We also have our usual features including not just the ratings for all the national wrestling and MMA shows, but segment-by-segment numbers of the major shows so in WWE and TNA, you can see which performers and segments gain and lose viewers and what it means. We also have results from the major league arena events over the past week as well as the major TV reports.
Each usual weekly issue of the Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.
Every weekly issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sites and has the most complete look at the business as a whole anywhere. The Observer is now in its 27th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the industry, both from bookers, to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest current names, both on camera, and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed as long as 20 years or more straight. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world and an accuracy from having the most inside sources that can't be found on the web. Everyone from Wall Street to the major offices to the TV networks in U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business. If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. Just send your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can order by faxing that information to 408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at www.paypal.com and using the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it address or subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card, by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.
Also in the issues:
--One of Mexico's biggest stars and more details on his being suspended for one year in one of the country's most lucrative markets
--Why the punishment was so severe
--Update on Mexico business
--ROH and AAA business update
--What all-time WWF legend is AAA hoping to bring to its next big event, Verano de Escandalo
--Ideas being thrown around for the WWC Anniversary show in July involving two of the biggest names in wrestling history who are retired
--Former WWE wrestler starting in All Japan
--Interpromotional tag team tournament in Japan
--Update on Cima
--Jesse Ventura's latest political rumors
--Update on Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Wrestling
--Update on The Fight Network, a 24-hour Canadian channel with pro wrestling and MMA all over the place, coming to the U.S.
--Notes on many of the biggest names in pro wrestling and TV reality show ideas for them
--Wedding notes of two independent wrestlers
--New TV series with Luchadors as characters
--Notes on the NWA show in Atlanta with the Hall of Fame ceremony and how Flair was handled
--Results of former WWE star making his MMA debut this past week
--Promotional touring idea for four WWF 80s stars on tour
--Revival of the last remnants of the regional wrestling territory days
--A look at the major ROH weekend shows
--The good and bad news regarding the PPV taping and plans for the next PPV show
--TNA with more international deals
--Matt Morgan "American Gladiators" update
--Lots of news regarding TNA's World X Cup
--Early format ideas for the tournament
--UFC new business deals
--Proposals for new UFC rules
--Dana White talks about big fights he's looking at doing and others that he isn't looking at doing
--New signings
--Member of Ultimate Fighter cast write scathing piece about this season
--Update on operation by one of the biggest draws in the world, and how this operation may change his future
--Plans for the next CBS main event for Elite XC
--Notes about the next date
--More on the rating of the show
--More reaction from CBS on the show
--Different accounts regarding the ear of James Thompson
--Update on the Affliction show and how the promoters are predicting numbers come in so they can break even
--Update on future Strikeforce events
--Several Olympic medalists announced as signing to do major league MMA
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major story (ies) of the past 11 years 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 11 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)
You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.
Rates are:
For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24. $101 for 40 and $131 or 52 In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For the rest of the world, rates are $14.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.
We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, 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 articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.
-- A couple more notes on the website. First off, a huge thank you to everyone who has signed up thus far. Because all the Observer traffic is being re-directed here and we've seen a huge rush with people trying to figure out what's going on, the site may be slow for a few days. Hopefully everything will be even out in a few days and the speed will be back to normal. Remember, if you have any questions feel free to e-mail myself or Dave, or if you have technical/administrative issues please e-mail Tony at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . That includes not getting a password very quickly after signing up.
A few quick answers to some frequently asked questions. If you have an Observer print subscription and you don't want to change anything, then you don't have to do anything. The print Observers will still be mailed on the usual schedule.
If you have an Observer hardcopy subscription you can transfer it to online by e-mailing Dave at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you already have a Figure Four Online subscription and also receive the Observer, you can cancel your Observer hardcopy and ADD time to the end of your F4W subscription by e-mailing him. However, if you're on recurring with F4W Online, we cannot add to the end of infinity, so you will likely have to retain your hardcopy subscription.
For those looking for the latest Observer, since the newsletter doesn't have a headline, once you log in you can click OBSERVER ARCHIVE and all the newsletters will be there in order. So if you miss a couple of weeks you can just jump in there and see everything you missed.
Within a day or two we will have info up about how to order Figure Four and Observer hardcopies. HARDCOPY AND ONLINE ARE NOW COMPLETELY SEPARATE. If you want Observers you can purchase them from Dave, and if you want the Figure Four you can purchase it from me. Online is a totally separate operation, so there will not be any "Online Plus Hardcopy" packages being offered.
Again, thanks to everyone for your support, and if you have any questions or comments please e-mail all of us.
Also, for subscribers, if you haven't checked it out we've posted the following in the last two days:
* Two new issues of the Observer, the June 9th and 11th issues. The June 16th issue should be up soon
* The first Observer back issue, from 1991, will be posted later today. There are currently about 350 Figure Four Weekly back issues up dating back to 2001
* A Bryan & Vinny Show from last night covering ECW, TNA and Ultimate Fighter
* A Figure Four Daily with Paul Lazenby talking pro-wrestling and MMA
* A new Karl Stern History of Wrestling audio show
* An exclusive members-only story by Dave Meltzer about the next two EliteXC shows, who will be in the title matches, and more!
* Dave and I will also be returning for another show this weekend
- With Dave now doing three shows per week, his old bi-weekly Thursday slot on Figure Four Daily will be taken over by Lance Storm. A huge thank you to Lance for agreeing to that. He'll alternate Thursdays with Buddy Wayne.
-- Also, for those asking, Observer Live on Sports Byline and Sirius on Sunday nights will continue.
-- Michael Brendli, aka Mike Mondo, was released from WWE today. He had been hit with a DUI last week, clocking in at an 0.094, just above the 0.08 legal limit. Of course, people will be asking questions about this since both Ted DiBiase Jr. and Santino have also gotten DUI's of last. Of course, there were plans for both of those guys and Mondo hadn't done much at all since the Spirit Squad was axed. He was likely on the bubble before this happened.
-- It's a huge night in Mexico as CMLL and AAA are both going head-to-head on PPV with major shows. CMLL at Arena Mexico has Flash & Mascara Purpura & Stuka Jr. vs. Arkangel de la Muerte & Loco Max & Skandalo; Hijo del Fantasma & Maximo & Sagrado vs. Misterioso II & Olimpico & Sangre Azteca; Dr. Wagner Jr. & Hector Garza & La Sombra vs. Averno & Ephesto & Mephisto; Blue Panther & Dos Caras & Mistico vs. three mystery men for the Trios Titles; and in a cage of death match where the last guy in loses his hair, the participants are Perro Aguayo Jr. (not losing), Damian, Mr. Aguila, Terrible, Texano Jr., Shocker, Marco Corleone, Heavy Metal, Negro Casas and Alex Koslov.
-- AAA has TripleMania with Aerostar & Laredo Kid & Super Fly vs. Cuervo & Escoria & Ozz, Alan Stone & Octagon & Super Porky vs. Black Abyss & Mr. Niebla & Psicosis, Brian Danielson & Jack Evans & Teddy Hart vs. Extreme Tiger & Halloween & TJ Xtreme vs. Crazy Boy & Juvie & Ricky Marvin; Fabi Apache vs. Mari Apache in a women's hair match; Vampiro vs. Mesias under EXTREME RULES; Bobby Lashley & Electro Shock & Kenzo Suzuki vs. Chessman & Mystery Luchador & La Parka Jr; and Cibernetico vs. Zorro for the AAA SUPER MEGA HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.
-- Didn't get much of a report on it, but the WWE press conference in New York yesterday was largely just Vince talking more about the Million Dollar Giveaway. Apparently the segments this coming Monday on Raw are supposed to be more fun than the ones this past week. Vince got Rick Rolled this past week, that's going to be hard to top.
-- Hong-Man Choi underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a tumor from his pituitary gland, which had prevented him from being able to fight in the United States, including on the first K-1 show at the LA Memorial Coliseum. He won't be able to fight for at least six months to a year.
-- This is awesome. Warrior's return to wrestling later this month for NWE in Spain will be sold on his website, UltimateWarriorTV.com, as a pay-per-view. Seriously.
-- TUF did a 1.1 this week.
-- There is a review of Get Smart with Rock and Great Khali up here.
-- Devin Cutting writes: WWE has finally acknowledged on it's website that the ECW brand will be doing joint shows with Raw starting this summer. The Live Events section at WWE.com now has Raw events listed as Raw/ECW beginning with the house show on August 1st and Smackdown events starting August 2nd listed as Smackdown-only.
-- Also: The house show in Rockford, Illinois on August 15th will be a tri-branded Supershow. It was originally advertised as a Raw event. Go to http://www.prowrestlingevents.tk for info about upcoming shows.
-- Kyle Wolf writes: Just a history note, Cedar Rapids, the Iowa town all over the news today for the major flooding downtown, was host of UFC 21 and UFC 26 at the Five Seasons Center in 1999 and 2000.
-- Chris also notes that it's the site of the first NWO SOULED OUT, and that Clash of the Champions where Hogan got Nancy Kerrigan'd.
-- ROH has noted that they gave Bryan Danielson permission to work the Raw dark match on Monday night. He beat Lance Cade. Danielson is in Mexico tonight for AAA.
-- The flooding is also endangering the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo. A story on the situation is here.
-- Smackdown pre-empts for tonight: Friday Night SmackDown for June 13, 2008, Sacramento, CA (KMAX): Fri. June 13, 10p-12a, Hartford, CT (WTXX): Sat. June 14, 8-10 p.m., Wilkes-Barre, PA (WSWB): TBD.
-- TNA has house shows scheduled for Corpus Christie, TX on August 1 and Laredo, TX on August 2.
-- Galavision this weekend has AAA on Saturday from 4 to 7 PM with an overnight replay starting at 3:00 AM and a repeat Sunday starting at 2 PM. Thanks to Dominick Valenti.
-- Dates for the WWE tour of Spain in September: September 24th - Bilbao, September 25th - Madrid, September 25th - Barcelona (Badalona), September 26th - Barcelona (Badalona). Thanks to Devin Cutting.
-- Foywonder writes: Thought I'd pass along some news for you about Raven co-starring in a new movie. There's this company you may or may not have heard of called The Asylum that specialize in what have come to be known as "mockbusters", which are really low budget knock-offs of Hollywood blockbusters usually released to DVD the week of the big screen versions. Past Asylum mockbusters have included such movies as Snakes on a Train, Transmorphers, Alien vs. Hunter, I Am Omega, and, most recently, Allan Quartermain and the Temple of Skulls. Asylum movies are typically wretched, usually not even laughably bad - just cheap, boring, and barely watchable. This August a big screen remake of Death Race 2000 is hitting the big screen simply entitled Death Race. The Asylum has a mockbuster cleverly titled Death Racers scheduled to come out on September 23rd; Death Race was originally scheduled to open in theaters on September 26th before the release date got pushed up. The plot to Death Racers: "In this grim vision of the future where brutality is a virtue and mercy will cost you your life, contestants participate in a cross-country death race where killing is how you win the game." Strangely enough, that plot means The Asylum's mockbuster will actually have more in common with the original Death Race 2000 than the Hollywood remake. The reason I pass all this along to you is that the stars of the film will be Raven and (continuing the wrestling tie-in) the Insane Clown Posse. Don't know yet exactly what role Raven plays but ICP play themselves driving around in an ice cream truck killing people for points. Movie just finished filming in Los Angeles. A trailer should be available soon.
-- From the CSAC: James Toney has fully complied with all terms of his disciplinary action. Effective immediately, he has been released from active suspension in California. His officially listed suspension period in CSAC records is from the conclusion of the bout on May 24, 2007 through June 11, 2008.
-- Florida Championship Wrestling tonight in New Port Richey at the Bourbon Street Nightclub with Heath Miller vs. Shawn Spears, Sheamus O’Shaunessy & ‘Sterling’ Jack Gabriel (Challengers) VS. ‘The Empire’ Drew McIntyre & Stu Sanders (Champions) for the Florida Tag Ttiles, Katie Lea vs. Nicole Bella, AFA VS. EVAN BOURNE, and more.
-- Brooke freaked out over mom's romance
-- More Hogan drama: Linda wants Hulk in jail
-- Irv Muchnick reviews Ring of Hell
-- Local boy does good in Million Dollar Giveaway
-- Interview and feature on MVP
{plug}
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