SUNDAY UPDATE: LATE RUMBLE NOTES; CENA PULLED FROM SHOWS; NO WAY OUT TOP BOUTS; LAST NIGHT NOTES
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We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's Royal Rumble, as well as tonight's WEC show on Versus and last night's Affliction PPV. You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to
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Tonight is traditionally the WWE's No. 2 show of the year, the Royal Rumble. An interesting twist is tonight's show is apparently not going to set up the two main events at Wrestlemania. Based on advertising in the Seattle market, where No Way Out is scheduled, there will be two Elimination Chamber matches, like last year, and both Chamber matches will be championship matches. So essentially, a contender for one of the titles will be determined tonight, but they aren't going to be making the title matches until 2/15.
Tonight's Royal Rumble lineup:
*Royal Rumble
*John Cena vs. JBL for the World title with Shawn Michaels as the key component at ringside
*Jeff Hardy vs. Edge for the WWE title with the possible debut of the mystery assailant of Jeff Hardy as the finish
*Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy for the ECW title in a title match that may not have any outside interference
*Beth Phoenix vs. Melina with Rosa Mendez and Santino Marella likely at ringside
The Rumble booking was changed at some point between the Smackdown tapings and the airing of Friday night's show. The show that aired on Friday was supposed to be based around building to HHH entering first, as it was taped in Omaha. But the commentary and interviews were redone, eliminating all references to that storyline.
Names listed for the Rumble at this point are Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Brian Kendrick, John Morrison, Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella, Dolph Ziggler (those two are competing for the Bushwhackers title I think), Vladimir Kozlov, Shad, JTG, Carlito, Fit Finlay, Kane, C.M. Punk, HHH, Big Show, R-Truth, Undertaker and Miz. There are six names that will be added to this list.
Raw is tomorrow night in Cleveland with ECW being taped with Raw. Two episodes of Smackdown will be taped on Tuesday night in Indianapolis. Impact is being taped Monday and Tuesday night in Orlando. We're looking for reports on all these shows.
WEC 38 airs at 9:30 p.m. Eastern:
Prelims
Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Njokuani
Blas Avena vs. Jesse Lennox
Charlie Valencia vs. Seth Dikun
Scott Jorgenson vs. Frank Gomez
Dominick Cruz vs. Ian McCall
Hiromitsu Miura vs. Edgar Garcia
Live matches
Danillo Villefort vs. Mike Campbell
Jose Aldo vs. Rolando Perez
Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver
Jamie Varner vs. Cowboy Donald Cerrone for the lightweight title
What is traditionally our best selling issue most years, the 29th awards issue of the Wrestling Observer is available today to web site subscribers and can also be mailed today for new print subscribers. Details are below on how to order subscriptions.
The issue is a double issue, featuring the winners of our 2008 readership awards in a number of categories. We have top ten place winners, honorable mentions, as well as analysis of the voting and why. We also have a special feature with a listing of all the previous winners of the awards, many of which date back to 1980.
Categories this year are
--Lou Thesz/Ric Flair Award (Wrestler of the Year)
--Mixed Martial Arts MVP
--Most Outstanding Wrestler
--Most Outstanding MMA fighter
--Best Box Office Draw
--Feud of the Year
--Tag Team of the Year
--Most Improved
--Best on Interviews
--Most Charismatic
--Best Technical Wrestler
--Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler)
--Best Flying Wrestler
--Most Overrated
--Most Underrated
--Promotion of the Year
--Best Weekly TV show
--Pro Wrestling Match of the Year
--MMA Match of the Year
--Rookie of the Year
--Best Non-Wrestler
--Best TV announcer
--Worst TV announcer
--Best major event
--Worst major event
--Best move
--Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic
--Worst TV show
--Worst Match of the Year
--Worst Feud of the Year
--Worst Promotion of the Year
--Best Booker
--Promoter of the Year
--Best Gimmick
--Worst Gimmick
--Best Book
--Best DVD
The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.
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This week's issue also has an update on the road to Wrestlemania, looking at the potential main event scene leading to the biggest pro wrestling event of the year. We look at the Randy Orton/Vince McMahon angle, where that leads Orton and different directions it can go as well as look at possibilities for the biggest stars in the company.
We also have updates on two major sets of negotiations that affect two of the major players this year, including who ends up with regular slots on one major network and two premium networks.
We also have more on WWE cuts, with several new names that were let go including why one of the cuts was really a surprise when it comes to timing, as well as another who was planned for a major push just a few weeks ago.
We also have more on the future of MyNetwork TV, a new WWE television show, as well as some new WWE business notes as well as an interesting note comparing the main events in WWE in 2000 with those in 2008.
We also look back at the career of Victoria in WWE, her background, how she got into wrestling, her heyday and why she left.
We've got complete coverage of UFC 93, looking at the Coleman-Rua fight and how people saw it differently, the judges scorecards if that fight had gone to a decision, business notes on the show, poll results on the show as well as a look at the upcoming new main event matches for the next few months.
We have more on WWE developmental, notes on the videogame business, notes on an international star and his negotiations, a new WWE autobiography, best selling DVDs and WWE house show news.
We also have our usual features with ratings of the national shows, results from the major league arena events over the past week as well as major TV show reviews.
Also in this week's issues:
--Paco Alonso gives rare interview, talking about departure of two of his biggest stars
--Mexico 2008 awards
--CMLL rebuilding plan
--Update on CMLL business
--International promotion announces dates at major U.S. arenas
--Notes on big shows in 2009
--A new promotion announces videogame and movie release
--Major promotion tries to expand to a new country because of the feeling in its regular country things are headed down
--Long-time star leaves New Japan
--TNA vs. New Japan matches at the next Sumo Hall show
--Return of Hiroyoshi Tenzan
--Giant Baba TV special and a look at wrestling in the 60s, 70s and 80s
--News on death of Paul E. Normous and Lanny Kean
--A look at the heyday of Bruiser Brody
--Ric Flair reality show notes
--Latest funny Hulk Hogan claims
--ROH fan reaction to changes in how they do shows
--A look at the ROH weekend shows and directions things are going
--Update on Kevin Nash, Sting and Awesome Kong
--More matches for the next TNA PPV show
--The decision making on Kip James on the PPV
--Notes on TNA European tour
--More notes on the St. Pierre vs. Penn shows including claimed cost and how many new buys needed for it to pay off
--Lessons already learned from boxing on these type of shows
--Sports Illustrated and New York Times cover MMA
--Lots of new TNA and WEC matches
--Update on sale of Pro Elite
--Freddy Roach wants to have Andrei Arlovski fight for a heavyweight boxing title soon
--HBO talks about its 2009 plans and first PPV
--Former UFC contender gets arrested twice in the same week
--Update on Ken Shamrock vs. Tank Abbott
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:
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*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career and life of The Sheik)
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*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth, and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)
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*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
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*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as
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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
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*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,
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--Don't know if this means anything for tonight or tomorrow, but John Cena was pulled from next week's Raw house show tour. Main events were advertised as Cena defending against Chris Jericho, and have been changed to Rey Mysterio vs. Jericho in 2/3 fall matches. (thanks to Jeff Wyatt)
--There are a couple of stories on the criticism of Linda McMahon being appointed to the Connecticut Board of Education. One is at
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/localnews/ci_11546012?source=rss Phil Mushnick write about this at
http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252009/tv/primetime_151571.htm Not surprising his take on it, although when talking about schools banning WWE T-shirts and TV stations dropping the programming due to objectionable sexual content, the former was from many years ago and the latter may have happened, but again, it's from a different era. But he did bring up Vince's testimony before the Waxman committee and noted she was appointed just days after it was released.
--Last night while broadcasting the Margarito-Mosely fight on HBO, Larry Merchant made a snide remark about how De La Hoya was paid $5 million to appear for "a T-shirt company doing a mixed martial arts event" in explaining why he wasn't at the fight. Merchant said they would have to pay him that amount for him to go to an MMA show. Jim Lampley then responded by laughing. They said it while showing a statue of De La Hoya in front of the Staples Center made it clear the line was planned out in advance. (thanks to Josh Nason)
--One of my friends at the boxing show last night said that everyone was talking about that De La Hoya story and swearing it to be true. The boxing match was loaded with celebrities, far more than any MMA or pro wrestling event anyone can ever recall. He also noted that everywhere he went, all the important media people and stuff were bashing MMA left and right. He said it was so bad he knew he had to keep his mouth shut.
--We got a report that the Affliction show was unavailable for Comcast subscribers in Sarasota, FL, and when asked by one of our readers about it, they were told Comcast in Tampa also couldn't get the feed.
--Poll on the second episode of UFC Prime Time
Excellent 25.1%
Good 40.9%
Average 16.6%
Fair 6.8%
Poor 10.6%
39.3% of those responding didn't see the show
--Royal Rumble buy rate poll for North America
Less than 250,000 10.0%
251,000 to 300,000 16.0%
301,000 to 350,000 26.8%
351,000 to 400,000 20.4%
401,000 to 450,000 13.5%
More than 451,000 13.4%
I think 301,000 to 350,000 is the safest range to predict
--Predictions on UFC 94 buys
Under 500,000 11.2%
501,000 to 600,000 7.4%
601,000 to 700,000 9.9%
701,000 to 800,000 17.7%
801,000 to 900,000 19.1%
901,000 to 1 million 18.2%
1.0 to 1.2 million 8.5%
1.2 million to 1.3 million 2.9%
More than 1.3 million 5.2%
--Ken Hoffman, a long-time wrestling fan of the Houston Chronicle wrote this past week on, "The Wrestler," saying it was okay but that "Beyond the Mat" was more insightful into the business (thanks to James Hold)
--In the useless Rumble stats, if Undertaker eliminates three people tonight, he will tie Steve Austin's all-time record for Rumble eliminations with 36. Undertaker enters at 33 and Kane at 31 (thanks to Emerson Witner)
--Jersey All Pro Wrestling from last night in Rahway, NJ before 400 fans: Da Heavy Hitters b Osirian Portal, Don Juan b Sexy Eddy, Eddie Kingston over Dan Maff, Kevin Steen and Arcadia, Homicide b Jay Briscoe, Bandido Jr. b B-Boy, DNA over The Best Around and Garden State Gods, Prince Ali over Amazing Red, Flip Kendrick and Louis Lyndon, Hernandez b Necro Butcher. Post show saw Jay Brisco, Necro Butcher and Brodie Lee all beat down LAX (thanks to Mike Omansky)
--Johnny Saint of the U.K., one of the great technical wrestlers of all-time, is coming to the U.S. for the first time in his career at the King of Trios tournament from 3/27 to 3/29 at the Alhambra in Philadelphia. Saint will team with Mike Quackenbush & Jorge Rivera. Three other teams announced are Hallowicked & Fightmare & Delirious, El Generico & Nick & Matt Jackson as Team PWG and Amasis & Ophidian & Escorpion Egipcio.
--The story of Bob Orton Jr. flying to Detroit in yesterday's update wasn't true as he flew to West Virginia on Friday and wrestled last night in Danville, WV.
--ROH announced on 2/7 in Orlando the return of Kenny King, teaming with Rhett Titus vs. Chris Gray & Tommy Taylor, the British Lions. They also announced on the 1/31 PPV taping in Chicago a match with Rhett Titus vs. Grizzly Redwood
--Renegade Outlaw Wrestling on Friday night in Amarillo before 188 fans: Mosh Pit Mike b Shane Garrett, Benny Benitez b Mark Wilson, El Gringo Loco b Chad Thomas, Matt Maverick DCOR Nathan Briggs, Jayzon Zane & Shane Garrett b Mosh Pit Mike & Mad-1, Ricky Romero III b Josh Pain to keep ROW heritage title. Promoter Chris Youngblood announced they have purchased a six-sided ring and will debut with it on 2/6
--Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Katana b Dragon, Azaroth b Angel del Mal, Mr. Rafaga b Virgo, Metal Blanco b Semental, Neutron b Mr. Trueno, Loco Max & El Satanico b Angel de Oro & Angel de Plata, Hector Garza & Toscano & Volador Jr. b Felino & Negro Casas & Ultimo Guerrero-DQ.
--AAA tapes TV tonight in Salamanca with Mesias & La Parka & Silver King vs. Electroshock & Joe Lider & Nicho as the main event. CMLL tapes at Arena Coliseo with Dos Caras Jr. & Marco Corleone & Shocker vs. Atlantis & Mr. Niebla & Ultimo Guerrero. Guadalajara has Mistico & Volador Jr. & Mascara Dorada vs. Averno & Mephisto & Rey Bucanero. Puebla tomorrow has Mistico & Shocker & La Sombra vs. Atlantis & Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero
--GCW on 2/19 in Port Perry, ONT at the Scugog Community Rec Centre with Honky Tonk Man, Lufisto, Shawn Spears and Sexxy Eddy. The same crew also works 2/20 in Oshawa, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall and 2/21 in Lindsay, ONT at the Victoria Park Armory
--Geza Kalman Jr. and Colin Delaney appear on Friday night in Hamilton, ONT at 34 Lincoln St. for Pure Wrestling Association
--Jorge "Macaco" Patino, an early MMA name will headline for Karrien Abdallah Productions on 2/7 in Newark, NJ at the Essec County College Gym for an Internet PPV show at
www.mobilevisionplayer.com
--SCW from last night in Paulsbo, WA: Patrick Large b Kellen Raeth, Azul Angel over Christopher Ryseck and Larkin the Decimator in a three-way, Dash Ventura b Aaron Bolo, Big Red Rum & Marion Gein & Lylah Lodge b Travis Marcum & Sunni Daze & J.D. Mason, Dean da Drifta b Steven Rush, Havoc & Iron Budda (managed by Nickla "Baby Doll" Roberts) b Jimmy Flame & Hoss Tull. Next show is 2/28 (thanks to Charles Short)
--Julie Hart of "Wrestling with Shadows" is doing her first interview since the release of the Bret Hart book in the U.S. at 9 p.m. Eastern tonight at
www.UnholyMatrimonyShow.com
--Greg Valentine has been added to Wondercom in San Francisco from 2/27 to 3/1 (thanks to Dave Stiegman)
--TVAtlas.com is selling a semi-exclusive three DVD set with Hogan & Backlund replacing Flair & Slaughter for $39.95 in a 3-DVD Legend of Wrestling set, or all six DVDs at $54.95
--NWA Charlotte from last night in Charlotte before 400 fans: Joey Agony & Ryan Chaos b Jeff Lewis & Kimo, Dylan Kage b Joey Silvia, Truitt Fields b Ryan O'Reilly, Derrick Driver & Steven Walters b Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens, Mike Jackson b Ultimate Dragon, Ivan Koloff b Barbarian in a chain match with Tommy Young as referee, Phil Shatter DDQ Mikael Judas, Adam Pearce b Brent Albright to become No. 1 contender for he NWA title. Next show is 2/14 with MsChif defending the NWA women's title against Awesome Kong, plus an appearance by Nikita Koloff. They said they would be running every other week from that point on. They played a video to start the show talking about the NWA champs from the past and gave a slogan, "Get ready to believe again." Promoter J.D. Costello said they were going to give fans pro wrestling, and not sports entertainment. (thanks to Blake Arledge and Larry Goodman)
---EWF from Friday night in Covina, CA: Jeremy Jaeger b Vintage Dragon, Chris Kadillak b Mondo Vega, Ryan Taylor b Damien Slater, Matt & Nick Jackson b Anchors Away, Cyanide b Roger Ruiz, Black Metal over Vizzion, Jason Watts and Brandon Gatson, Liger Rivera b T.J. Perkins in a loser leaves town match
--Wayne Ferris, the Honky Tonk Man, turns 56 today, while Michelle McCool turns 29.
--Rich Tate's Atlanta wrestling nostalgia:
55 years ago today in Augusta: Mildred Burke won two straight falls from Catherine Simpson to keep the World women's title
46 years ago: Verne Gagne beat Bronko Lubich via DQ in the main event
35 years ago: Ron & Terry Garvin kept the Georgia tag title over Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller via DQ and Mr. Wrestling II beat Tim Woods via DQ so II kept the Georgia title
32 years ago in Warner-Robins: Mr. Wrestling I (Woods) & II beat Terry Funk & Dick Slater
26 years ago in Charleston, WV Ric Fair beat Butch Reed via DQ to keep the NWA title and Ivan Koloff & Buzz Sawyer beat Paul Orndorff & Tommy Rich
--Missy Hyatt appears 2/6 to 2/8 at the New York Comic Con at the Javits Center, on 2/7 at the Staten Island Super Signing at 11 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn and on 3/7 in Boonton, NJ she will be inducted to the women's wrestling Hall of Fame at the Darress Theater with Malia Hosaka and Sherri Martel
