WED. UPDATE: GAGNE INCIDENT UPDATE; KENTA TO ROH; WEC MAIN EVENT CHANGES; MAJOR PPV REPLAYED ON TV
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Spike will be airing a tape of the June 28, 2006 Ultimate Fight Night from 9-11 p.m. tonight, which features Anderson Silva's debut in the promotion against Chris Leben, as well as Mark Hominick vs. Jorge Gurgel, Stephan Bonnar vs. Rashad Evans and Jonathan Goulet vs. Luke Cummo.
The changing face of WWE business is our lead story in this coming Monday's jumbo-sized issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We look in depth at the quarterly report and see the different places where changes in the national and world economy have affected business going forward. We look at the changes made as well as criticism from outside, expenses that the annual report doesn't show which is why the company's balance sheets had a huge decline over the past year even with the company remaining profitable.
The issue is available now to web site subscribers. We look at the unique factors in the business over the last quarter, as well as updates on how significantly the changes in the U.K. economy have already affected WWE and UFC. We look at the areas in WWE of the most decline, more on just how badly Cyber Sunday performed and the reasons, with no change in price, that WWE is taking in significantly less per PPV order than even a few months ago.
We look at the aspect of the business that has declined the most, as well as the aspects of the business that are holding their own. We look more at business changes in the infrastructure to combat what is expected to be a trying year as well as why the company is still projecting a long-term optimistic look at its business. We also have an update on the WGN television show.
We have notes on what percentage of revenue comes from different parts of the world, as well as an analysis of the house show business, as well as how merchandise is selling, and a rundown of recent PPV shows both worldwide as well as domestic buys.
We look at the gimmick match that appears to have been a huge success, as well as a lesson regarding the use of Steve Austin on PPV, and whether UFC affects WWE numbers.
We look at the category where revenues are fixed based on contract, but the possible problems regarding the future.
We look at the DVD business, the toy business, magazine business and Internet business, plus what percentage of company revenue comes from each segment.
We also have our annual WWE entertainment business history, with a look at how much the company took in and how much they earned for the last 15 years.
We also have exclusive notes on Mickey Rourke's current role at Wrestlemania, what Vince McMahon has been saying about the Jericho match, more notes on Wrestlemania 26, Hulk Hogan talks Wrestlemania and Verne Gagne, update on WWE Hall of Fame, notes on Freddy Prinze Jr. leaving WWE, more on recent WWE releases, more on the draft including the person most expect to be the big move and discussion of other moves and why. We have notes on the advance fro Wrestlemania, more on the Jericho-Piper segment, merchandise declines and the Randy Savage DVD.
We also have updates on best selling DVDs, some new gimmicks being developed and new names, new book releases as well as a look at the weekend WWE house shows around the world.
With the tragic case involving Verne Gagne, we both look at the case itself, what apparently happened, as well as a look at who Verne Gagne was in pro wrestling, sports before wrestling, how he became such a huge figure in the wrestling industry as well as the politics during the network television era of wrestling that involved Gagne and Thesz, why Gagne never got the NWA world title, the creation of the AWA, its heyday, the lifestyle and its decline, as well as Gagne's post-wrestling life. We also look back at the original movie "The Wrestler," produced by Gagne, how Vince McMahon's expansion affected him, and the loss of Hulk Hogan.
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We have a look at how UFC 95 affected the different weight classes, including sorting out the middleweight division with the different contenders and different possible directions. We look at how people moved into the upper class and a key star on the show who moved out of it.
We also have ratings for the show, as well as how every match on the show did, including the surprising demo the show was weak in, as well as live business notes, notes on the crowd, as well as match-by-match coverage with poll results.
We also look at who is Yoshihiro Akiyama and both the political ups of his signing as well as what nobody will publicly say about his UFC prospects.
We also have complete details on the how and why of TNA's highest rated episode of Impact in its history. We also look at what television show in recent weeks has had a noticeable and direct effect on how the TNA audience is. We also have all the regular ratings rundown.
We also have our usual weekly features including results from the major league pro wrestling events held around the world over the past week, as well as reviews of the major TV shows.
Also in this week's issues:
--Update on CMLL's first major show of the year
--Rey de Reyes update for AAA
--Former WWE tag champ debuts in Hustle against Akebono
--Details on the Pro Wrestling NOAH TV situation as well as how the mainstream media covered the story of one of the longest running programs in the history of network television anywhere in the world getting axed
--Kenta Kobashi's net return
--Update on health of Kantaro Hoshino
--Details of the arrest of Great Sasuke and what went down
--Hall of Fame pro wrestler undergoing surgery this week
--Updates on the movie "The Wrestler" as well as the steroid distribution arrest of one of its cast members
--Dwayne Johnson's next movie gig
--Update on Martha Hart ten years after Owen's death
--Two more pro wrestlers in new movies, one of whom has a starring role in a straight to video release
--Paul London and Colt Cabana back on the indie scene
--Updates on ROH on HDNet
--Plans for the Lockdown PPV
--Notes on TNA releases
--Updates on the Destination X PPV show
--Huge offer made for Station Casinos
--UFC advances for upcoming shows
--All-Star cast for Randy Couture's movie with Stallone
--Lots of new UFC matches
--Karo Parisyan talks about his drug test failure
--First K-1 Max show of the year
--Notes on the next Dream show on HDNet
--Update on first Strikeforce show on Showtime, as well as the second show
--Fedor Emelianenko update
--Ken Shamrock vs. Frank Shamrock update
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--The Hennepin County medical examiner's office listed homicide as the cause of death of Helmut Gutmann, the 97-year-old man, and in specific, complications from a broken hip he received when he was allegedly thrown to the ground by Verne Gagne. It is doubtful any charges will be filed against Gagne due to his suffering from Alzheimer's related dementia.
--KENTA returns to ROH, appearing on 3/20 in Elizabeth, PA, 3/21 in New York at the Hammerstein Ballroom for the anniversary show, as well as the pre-Wrestlemania shows on 4/3 and 4/4 in Houston. ROH also today said a wrestler from AAA is being talked with about doing the two shows in Houston (Jack Evans?)
--Brent Albright vs. Claudio Castagnoli was announced for the 3/1 ROH TV tapings at the Alhambra in Philadelphia. It will be the main event of the fifth TV show.
--Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards for the ROH tag titles in a no DQ match has been added to the 3/21 show at the Hammerstein Ballroom
--Bryan and I will have Wrestling Observer Radio up early this evening. Besides discussing the current news, we'll be taking phone calls. Check the site at around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time for details if you want to call in.
--Brian Bowles pulled out of his WEC bantamweight title match with Miguel Torres on 4/5 in Chicago today due to a back injury. Takeya Mizugaki, on a five fight win streak with Cage Force, is the new main event of the show for the title.
--Affliction Day of Reckoning, the PPV show headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski, will air on 3/13 on HDNet at 10 p.m. This will be a different broadcast from the PPV, with Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice doing the voice overs for the matches.
--TNA will return to Europe for an October tour. Today they announced a show on 10/3 in Dublin, coming to the O2 Arena. Other shows will be in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
--Although WWE on Raw cited the show as the highest rated show last week on cable, the two hours actually finished No. 2 and No. 4, with The Closer on TNT at No. 1 (4.6 rating) and Monk on USA was No. 3 (4.0) rating. USA was No. 1 with a 2.6 prime time average, well ahead of Fox News at 1.8. Spike was No. 13 at 0.9 and Sci-Fi was No. 19 at 0.8. Raw's hours were No. 1 and No. 3 in 18-34 (Family Guy No. 2), No. 1 and No. 2 in 18-49 as well as 25-54
--Kurt Angle will be on the Preston & Steve Show on WMMR radio tomorrow morning in Philadelphia pushing the Lockdown show. Ticket presale starts tomorrow at
http://www.liacourascenter.com using the code ICON
--Backlash tickets went on sale today at Ticketmaster for the 4/26 show in Providence with the code BACKLASH
--WWE announced shows on 5/28 at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico and a return to Los Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on 5/30 (thanks to Devin Cutting)
--Starz will be airing "A Night with Dwayne Johnson," which thankfully won't be anything like the TNA promotion of "A Night with ODB." It will be on 3/8 as he will host a block of three of his favorite movies, National Treasure Bok of Secrets, The Game Plan and College Road Trip.
--What do you expect to be the biggest PPV number of the spring?
Lesnar vs. Mir 52.9%
Wrestlemania 34.9%
Hatton vs. Pacquiao 12.2%
--Poll on Raw from Monday
Excellent 14.5%
Good 48.8%
Average 23.1%
Fair 5.6%
Poor 8.0%
17.5% of those responding didn't see the show
--What March show are you most looking forward to?
UFC 96 Jackson vs. Jardine 59.8%
TNA Destination X 23.6%
WEC Brown vs. Garcia 8.3%
Dream featherweight tournament 7.8%
Sengoku featherweight tournament 0.5%
--Do you want to see Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania
Yes 16.0%
I would say yes, but he hasn't wrestled in 15 years and I'd rather remember him as he was 21.7%
Would rather see him face Austin 39.9%
Would rather see him face Hogan 7.9%
Would rather see him face Lawler 2.7%
Would rather see him face Flair 1.4%
Would rather see him face a current star 10.4%
--WWE Greatest Stars of the 90s DVD will be released on 4/14 and cover Shawn Michaels, Yokozuna, The Rock, Kevin Nash, Owen Hart, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Hulk Hogan, HHH Bret Hart, Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman, Lex Luger, Sting, Razor Ramon, Undertaker and Steve Austin, with Tazz as the host. Lots of vignettes as well as Flair vs. Hogan from Madison Square Garden in 1991, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels from the 1992 Survivor Series, Hulk Hogan vs. Yokozuna when Yoko won the title, Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart for Wrestlemania X, Diesel vs. Razor Ramon, Sting vs. Vader, Bret Hart vs. Diesel, Alundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano, Michaels & Diesel vs. Yokozuna & Davey Boy Smith, Owen Hart vs. Michaels, Michaels vs. Vader, Mankind vs. HHH cage match, Hogan vs. Luger on Nitro, Austin vs. Undertaker from 1998 SummerSlam, Sting vs. Bret Hart and HHH vs. The Rock in a strap match
--Countdown to Jackson vs. Jardine will air on 3/5 after Impact at 11 p.m.
--For booking Jimmy Rave, whose TNA contract is expiring, you can go through Bill Behrens at
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--Brock Lesnar appear during an MMA show called Beatdown 4 on 3/21 in New Town, ND at the 4 Bears Casino and Lodge (thanks to Steven Voeller)
--A correction from Monday, the Bobby Fish vs. Eddie Edwards match in Woburn, MA took place on Sunday, not Saturday
--All Star Wrestling on Saturday night in Spring Hill, FL at the Town Square behind Chilli's
--NWA Wrestling Showcase TV tapings at the Columbia Square Studios in Hollywood, CA on 3/7 at 2 p.m. and 3/8 at 11 a.m. featuring Blue Demon Jr., Skullkrushers, Mike DiBiase, Apolo from Puerto Rico, Brent Albright, Lance Cade, Trevor Murdoch, Bryan Danielson and more. Tickets are available by e-mail only so if you are wishing to attend, write to
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--XICW from Sunday in Warren, MI: Zach Gowen won six-way over Kid Hybrid, Jeff Brooks, TD, Sonny Scarboni and Kid Tatik, Eddie Venom b Gutter, Brain Damage b Levi Blue, DBA b N8 Mattson, Skull Ganz b Devil Dawg, Jaimy Coxxx b Truth Martini, Marty Jannetty b Jimmy Jacobs, Necro Butcher b Toby Klein. Next show is 3/22 at the Ritz in Warren with the Malcolm Monroe Memorial tournament with Necro Butcher vs. 2 Tuff Tony, Gowen vs. Josh Raymond, Jacobs vs Klein and Venom vs. ?, plus 3/14 in Dearborn, MI at the Elks Lodge features Greg Valentine (thanks to Brian Gorie)
--Danny Havoc vs. Thumbtack Jack headlines for CZW on 3/14 at the Alhambra in Philadelphia
--Championship Wrestling Alliance on 2/28 in Kingsport, TN with the Best of the Best tournament
--FIP on 3/28 in Crystal River, FL at the National Guard Armory with Erick Stevens & Roderick Strong vs. Sal Rinauro & Chasyn Rance plus Nigel McGuinness, Davey Richards, Dark City Fight Club and more
--Tito Santana and Haku have been added to the 3/7 Lucha Libre show put on by FCW in Cudahy, CA at the Sports Center
--AIW tomorrow night in Lakewood, OH at Put in Bay with Drake Younger headlining
--Mike Kingston of comic book "Headlocked" has a column on working with Jerry Lawler at
www.comics101.com
--Insanity Pro Wrestling on 3/7 in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Community Center
--Nunzio (James Maritato) opens his wrestling classes is Hasbrouck Heights, NJ tomorrow. For more info go to
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--Jimmy Hart appears along with Awesome Kong on Dory Funk's next show on 3/1 in Ocala, FL
--There is an NWA booked on 8/30 at the Alhambra in Philadelphia (thanks to Joe Zanolle)
--Victory Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Centereach, NY at the VFW Post 4927
--David Taylor makes his debut with CHIKARA Pro on 3/27 in the trios tournament where he'll team with Claudio Castagnoli and a partner to be named later
--Steeltown Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Gimli, Manitoba at the Viking Inn
