MON. UPDATE: LOTS OF NOTES ON TONIGHT'S SHOW; UFC PPV CLOSED CIRCUIT IN NEW YORK; HOGAN COURT CASE
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We're looking for your thoughts on Saturday night's UFC 99 as well as the ROH PPV, so 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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We're looking for reports from Friday night ROH in Manassas, VA, Raw in Belgrade, Serbia, TNA in St. Joseph, MO, Saturday night's Smackdown house show in Binghamton, NY and TNA house show in Council Bluffs, IA, as well as yesterday's WWE Smackdown house show in Hershey, PA and a live report from Charlotte with any dark matches or Superstars matches.
Raw is a three-hour special on Monday night from Charlotte's Time Warner Arena with the WWE title being decided with HHH vs. Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Big Show, the Smackdown title with C.M. Punk defending in a three-way against Jeff Hardy and Edge, Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio for the IC title, and the ECW title with Tommy Dreamer defending against Christian.
Smackdown is being taped on Tuesday night in Roanoke.
Sorting out the chaos that is WWE over the past week is the lead story in today's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The issue also has full coverage of WWE Extreme Rules, WEC 41 and Strikeforce, as well as a look at the buy rates for several of the most recent big shows including Wrestlemania, what they mean, as well as the numbers for the recent MMA events.
We sort out the booking moves that were made this past week involving Batista, Umaga, and others, who knew what when, as well as why Vickie Guerrero left, when she made the decision and what reasons she gave. We look at the long-term ideas that were on the table for Batista and Umaga that are now off, as well as notes on an even bigger star that some of the WWE wrestlers were talking about possibly being the next to leave.
We go through the Batista injury, the next PPV, the next Raw, Batista's injury record, Punk's future, the original plans with Vickie Guerrero, as well as updates on Jeff Hardy and Kane.
The issue is available right now for web site subscribers, and you can get a mail subscription to the Observer with information below.
We also look at the Extreme Rules PPV, with an interesting note on the number of major title changes the company is doing and comparing it with other companies, poll results, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.
We examine the PPV numbers for Wrestlemania and Backlash, how much each show is down from last year, the key element of why Wrestlemania did surprisingly well, as well as updates on records set.
We also look at the WWE's new signing on why so many questions are being asked about it, as well as looking at Donna Goldsmith's statement about MMA not having any stars or storylines, as well as some fears regarding comments being made by a WWE personality having the potential to hurt the company from the sponsorship side, and where WWE right now is the most popular, and how much the popularity has gained in the past few months.
We also look at where the WEC is after its biggest fight in history. We look at the company going forward, what the ratings of the show told, who is watching and who wasn't watching. We also have business notes on the show and match-by-match coverage with all the fighters purses, and poll results.
We also have a feature on the Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg fight and if it will hit its potential, why the decision was made to put it where it is, the weight issue, and more notes. We also look at the ratings for the most recent Strikeforce show and match-by-match coverage.
We also have our usual weekly features including ratings for all the major national shows, broken down with demo numbers, as well as results from the major league arena events held around the world, and 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:
--Top star knee surgery update
--Top star in international group threatens to join WWE
--The tournament of champions event in Mexico
--Court case before a major show regarding whether a top star can appear as well as update on battles with the commission
--Update on Santo and AAA
--Final update on TripleMania
--The biggest attended match in Mexican history and feud is being brought back this week
--Updates on Teddy Hart and Jack Evans
--WWE titles to be defended outside WWE on an overseas show
--TNA cut back to Puerto Rico as a top star
--Update on Dragon Gate USA shows
--Hall of Famer does first traditional pro wrestling match in two decades
--A look at Keiji Muto's 25th anniversary show
--An 18-year-old being talked about already as a potential international top star
--Kenta Kobashi wins first title in four years
--More on Kobashi's summer plans
--First meeting of two world championships
--Lots of big matches coming for NOAH
--NOAH star entering bodybuilding competition
--New Japan Best of the Super Junior tournament news
--Hulk Hogan, Linda Bollea, drug testing and court cases
--Notes on next ROH PPV show
--Notes on next ROH TV tapings
--HDNet makes a call on a wrestler they didn't want on the show
--Update on Slammiversary
--Notes on Samoa Joe's planned return
--TNA overseas plans
--TNA looking at international superstars
--TNA house show notes
--Business notes on UFC 98
--More on the bill to legalize MMA in New York and notes on why the bill is completely unfair
--UFC's popularity peak
--Plans for Machida's first title defense
--More news for next season's Ultimate Fighter including a former champion will be in the cast
--Notes on lawsuit filed against Tito Ortiz
--More on Mirko Cro Cop's relationship with UFC
--Show held in Las Vegas on UFC 100 weekend
--Top star in next to last match and his opponent announced
--Update on Super Hulk tournament
--Gold medalist decides against doing MMA for three years
--Former Heisman Trophy winner says he will debut in MMA this year
--Former IWGP champ faces the man who beat Fedor last year
--What was ordered confiscated at the last WWE tapings
--WWE marketing to Hispanics
--More on the Jim Mitchell situation with Steve Keirn in Florida
--Best selling wrestling and MMA DVDs
--Lots more cuts
--Bourne on the old vs. new ECW
--RVD and his movie career
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
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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
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*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
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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
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
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*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
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*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
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*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)
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*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)
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*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
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*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bam Bigelow)
*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)
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*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
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*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)
August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)
September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)
September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)
September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)
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--Ric Flair and Carlos Colon are at Raw tonight and Vince McMahon is appearing. The belief is they'll announce a new G.M. to replace Vickie Guerrero. Among those also advertised as being there are Great Khali and Shelton Benjamin. As of Saturday, and this can always change, the plan was for Dreamer vs. Christian to be starting just before 9 p.m., the C.M. Punk vs. Edge vs. Jeff Hardy match to start just before 10 p.m. and the main event slot to go to the Raw title match. I can see if it's a G.M. announcement that they would save it for the main event slot. For whatever this is worth, and given how often things change, probably almost nothing, radio ads in Cedar Rapids, IA, which gets a house show on 8/14, changed the ad from Randy Orton vs. HHH for the WWE title as the main event to John Cena vs. Big Show as the main event for the title.
--Mike Pavone has been named as the Executive Vice President of WWE Studios. Pavone had been on the WWE creative team and worked as a writer on a number of television shows.
--UFC 102 tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. to the public at the Rose Garden box office and local ticket outlets. The Fight Club presale starts on Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific time on UFC.com and an Internet presale to UFC newsletter subscribers will start Friday at 10 a.m. at UFC.com The main event is Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Tickets are $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50.
--UFC announced a closed circuit showing of UFC 100 at Radio City Music Hall in New York with Frankie Edgar and Matt Hamill appearing. It will air in HD on the largest screen (70 feet high) ever to broadcast a UFC event. Tickets are $25, and will go up to $30 on 7/3.
--Hulk Hogan had another court hearing today to try and drop Linda's alimony to less than $40,000 per month. Hulk's lawyer called witnesses that said that Linda is spending her money to buy drugs and clothes for boyfriend Charlie Hill. Tracy Morgan, Linda's hairdresser, testified she cashed checks for Linda who said she needed the money to buy prescription pain pills, but then claimed she actually bought drugs with the money, saying she saw Linda with pot and pills in her possession. She also claimed Linda bought and served alcohol to minors and let them do drugs in the house during a party for Nick the day he got out of jail. Linda's attorney claimed it was a complete lie, that Linda actually wrote checks to Morgan because she was paying in advance for hairdressing work as she felt sorry for him because Morgan talked about having financial problems with a terminally ill granddaughter. Next hearing is in five weeks.
--Impact on Thursday did a 1.1 rating.
--On the UFC decisions on Saturday and who you thought won the fights
Rich Franklin 48.7%
Wanderlei Silva 37.8%
Draw 13.5%
Dan Hardy 67.3%
Marcus Davis 26.0%
Draw 6.7%
Caol Uno 60.6%
Spencer Fisher 29.4%
Draw 10.0%
--ROH TV show thoughts
Excellent 31.6%
Good 32.9%
Average 10.5%
Fair 2.6%
Poor 22.4%
64.8% of those responding didn't see the show
--After losing to Ray Mercer on Saturday night in ten seconds, Tim Sylvia was taken off the 8/1 Affliction show where he was to face Paul Buentello due to it being less than 60 days after a knockout. Tom Atencio noted he made the call himself, and it was not made by the California State Athletic Commission. Atencio expects Buentello to face whoever wins the 6/27 match with Gilbert Yvel vs. Pedro Rizzo. More at
http://mma.fanhouse.com//2009/06/15/tim-sylvia-off-affliction-trilogy/
--UFC schedule for this week on Spike. They have two hours from 8-10 p.m. against Raw tonight with Rich Franklin vs. Edwin Dewees, Franklin vs. Ken Shamrock, Franklin vs. Evan Tanner, Renato Sobral vs. Jason Lambert, Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine, Brandon Vera vs Justin Eilers and Assuerio Silva vs. Frank Mir. The final Ultimate Fighter episode of the season with Frank Lester vs. James Wilks, winner faces Damarques Johnson live Saturday in Las Vegas, will be Wednesday at 10 p.m. and again at 11 p.m. There will be two hours of Unleashed from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, an Ultimate Fighter marathon from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday leading into the live final and seven straight hours of Ultimate Knockouts from 3-10 p.m. on Sunday.
--Paul Heyman talks Tommy Dreamer winning the ECW title at
http://www.thesun.co.uk and talks about when Vince McMahon wanted to fire Dreamer in 2006 and how Stephanie and John Laurinaitis went to bat for him.
--Mascarita Dorada and Pierrothito have been signed for CHIKARA on 8/15 in Easton, PA
--Chris Strub on the show in Binghamton on Saturday night, which included Ricky Steamboat beating Drew McIntyre, at
http://tinyurl.com/mgkoo8
--Jessie Gibbs vs. Rob Broughton, in a spotlight for the M-1 TV show, have been added to the 8/1 Affliction show in Anaheim. I'm guessing this will be on HDNet. Broughton is on Team England in the M-1 series on HDNet, while Gibbs is on Team Benelux.
--ESPN.com had the Misawa death on the front page of the site last night at
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id-4258830 Tried apparently to keep it vague to act too cool to cover wrestling other than the novelty. But they rarely cover sports in Japan.
--Jan Niedbala at
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is looking for photos of Misawa for a magazine in France.
--There is a homecoming for Tito Santana (you know there is actually no such place as Tocula, Mexico, someone messed up on Toluca and over the next 15 years it never got corrected) on 6/27 at Edinburg Stadium in Edinburg, TX, near Mission, TX where he grew up. Santana faces Sheik Abdul Bashir in the main event
--On WGN America during the Cubs vs. Twins game on Sunday, in almost every commercial break they were advertising the DVD release of "12 Rounds" and to watch Superstars to win a special "12 Rounds prize pack. (thanks to Dustin Jones)
--Jake Roberts is going on tour with Jim Rose for the "When Legends Collide" circus tour. They will be doing wrestling matches as part of the tour. (thanks to Chris Yandek)
--Ultimo Guerrero vs. Averno headlines in Puebla tonight, plus La Parka & Octagon & Elegido vs. Chessman & Electroshock & Kenzo Suzuki headlines in Tehuacan and Konnan & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Charly Manson & Mesias headlines in Nuevo Laredo (thanks to Kris Zellner)
--Real Championship Wrestling from yesterday in Baltimore before 250 fans: Steve Diaz & Core & Jimmy Starz b Zach Matthews & Skull & Simon Rhyme, Greg Excellent b Rhett Titus, Queenan Creed b John Kermon, BlkOut b Best Around, Human Tornado b Delirious, Drake Younger b Atsushi Sawada to keep the CZW title, B-Boy b Devon Moore, Sonjay Dutt b Claudio Castagnoli
--CZW from yesterday in Philadelphia at the Arena saw Ego Fantastico win the Best of the Best trophy. B-Boy b Ryan McBride, Carter Gray b Scotty Vorktekz, Sami Callihan b Greg Excellent, Devon Moore b Pinkie Sanchez, Shiima Xion b Sabian, Ego Fantastico b Drew Blood, Callihan won three-way over Gray and McBride, Fantastico won three-way over Moore and Xion, Rich Swann b Halo, D.J. Hyde over Thumbtack Jack, Danny Havoc and Jon Moxley, Drake Younger b Trent Acid, Ego Fantastico b Sami Callihan to win. Nick Gage returned after his hospitalized last week, and The Best Around poured gasoline on him and threatened to set him on fire until Nate Hatred made the save.
--BANG from yesterday in Ocala, FL: Hack Meyers b Damien Steele, Damien Steele b Johnny Romano in a dog collar match, Claudia Reiff b Sar-Ah, Dory Funk b Blain Rage, Shane Chung b Wahoo McDaniel Jr. in 2/3 falls. They did a ten bell salute to Mitsuharu Misawa, who Dory Funk had a hand in breaking in.
--AAW from yesterday in Berwyn, IL: Nick Brubaker b Dewey Dawson, Northstar Express b Irish Airborne, Phoenix Twins b Shane Hollister & Matt Cross, Dan Lawrence & Silas Young b Best Around, House of Truth b Zero Gravity and Jordan Mcentyre & Knight Wagner in a three-way, Jay Bradley b Dewey Dawson, Jay Bradley b Krotch, Matt Cross & Dash Phoenix b Northstar Express to keep tag titles, Arik Cannon b Shane Hollister to keep AAW title, House of Truth b Silas Young, Danny Daniels b Marek Brave, House of Truth b Matt Cross & Dash Phoenix to win tag titles and the one-night tournament. Next show is 7/11 with Jay Bradley vs. Tyler Black, Arik Cannon vs. Shane Hollister and Jimmy Jacobs vs. Danny Daniels
--The Grand Opening of Ken Shamrock's new Lions Den Reno takes place Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the gym at 5995 S. Virginia in Reno. There will be a UFC Undisputed XBox tournament with $500 going to the winner. For more info contact
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--Former NCAA wrestling champion Phil Davis will be fighting on the debut of MMA at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh on 6/27
--In Saturday's update, the In Your Face Wrestling on 6/20 listed at the Holiday Inn in Rutland, VA is actually at the Holiday Inn in Rutland, VT, which is a difference.
