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We're looking for live reports on tonight's ROH TV taping in Orlando as well as tomorrow night's taping, as well as the Sunday WWE house shows in Kalamazoo and Dubuque at
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Spike TV tonight is airing the January 23, 2008 Fight Night with Mike Swick vs. Josh Burkman, Michihiro Omigawa vs. Thiago Tavares and Drew McFedries vs. Patrick Cote. Certainly a show worth skipping if you've never seen it before.
We've got two issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter coming next week.
Our two lead stories include a look at the commercial free Raw and what the ratings mean. We look at the last time WWE drew ratings at this level, how Raw ratings usually work and the effect of not having commercials, its affect on PPV, the financial considerations of the cost of Raw for USA Network, exactly how much this Raw will mean to USA's weekly rating, the advantage and disadvantage of Raw for a network as well as the viability of doing such a show again.
We look at DVR viewership and how this affects Raw and Smackdown today, who watched Raw this week, details behind the Trump storyline from both this week and last week, where the dual ownership idea was first talked about, who was talked about for the role in creative and why Vince McMahon always nixed it in the past, as well as the reducing of the money.
We also look at the career and life of Mitsuharu Misawa. We look at his beginnings, his most famous matches, behind the scenes, family, his future plans, many wrestlers speak about him and others wish they could have wrestled him. We also have his extensive career title history, his career in a plethora of awards, and a rundown of every major arena match he ever had in Tokyo, and the records for being a box office draw that he set during his career.
The first issue is available right now on the site for premium members and the second issue will be available tomorrow.
The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.
Each 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 pro wrestling industry as well as the MMA industry, 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
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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.
We also have an in-depth analysis of the ratings of The Ultimate Fighter season-by-season, including the relationship between TV ratings and PPV, as well as if being in season for TUF helps buy rates.
We've got full coverage of the Ultimate Fighter finals, with a look at the Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida match, how many viewers the match added, reaction to the judging, reaction from both fighters, comparisons with Brown vs. Faber, match-by-match viewership and how much each match added to the show, comparisons with other shows on television that day, future of Sanchez and Guida, match-by-match coverage including how much each fighter made on the show and reaction of the crowd.
We also have full coverage of TNA Slammiversary, including business notes on the show and what they mean, the Samoa Joe turn, where the angles are going, television production as well as match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.
We also have more news on Gerald Brisco, notes on the Bash PPV, updates on WWE and Rey Mysterio, WWE injury updates, WWE and Ric Flair, How much WWE spent on its last two movies, details behind the dropping of Candice Michelle and Sim Snuka, the signing of a huge bodybuilder and a member of a famous wrestling family who is a former MMA star and the background of the signing.
We also have an exclusive update on UFC legalization in New York as well as UFC television in the U.K. and Dana White getting a national award.
We also have notes on new PPV name, developmental notes, drug testing, a look back at the strange coincidences involving D-Lo Brown and Darren Drozdov, best selling DVDs as well as coverage from the weekend house shows.
We also have our regular weekly features including the ratings for all the major shows, results of the major league arena events held around the world and the major TV show reviews.
Also in this week's issue:
--Reaction to the death of Misawa
--Where NOAH goes next
--Possible Japanese match of the year
--Rundown of the biggest junior heavyweight tag team tournament of the year
--Death of Billy "Red" Lyons
--More on what happened with Brian Blair
--TNA adds a new service
--Taz in TNA
--UFC and Vitor Belfort
--Upcoming UFC shows
--Advances for upcoming UFC shows
--What pro wrestling major star used to be the roommate of what UFC world champion
--UFC injury notes
--Notes on the Kimbo season of Ultimate Fighter and who many of the other fighters are as well as their backgrounds
--UFC 100 in Australia
--Plans for a new country to have a major UFC PPV in 2010
--More new UFC matches
--Andrei Arlovski's future
--Next Affliction show
--CMLL tournament of champions ends with a Universal champion crowned
--50th anniversary of wrestling at Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara and special guests brought back for the show
--Notes on Cibernetico's return to AAA
--Next major show AAA planned main event
--Update on the cocaine and assault arrests involving AAA stars and the repercussions
--Update on a wrestling show in a few weeks that features both current TNA & WWE stars, as well as a future Hall of Famer in another sport
--Update on Dragon Gate shows outside of Japan
--All Japan's annual junior heavyweight tournament and lineup
--Notes on Hiroshi Tanahashi winning the IWGP title and New Japan's big show in Osaka with Team 3-D
--What interesting match headlines the next New Japan major show
--Notes on Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley defending their titles in Japan
--Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts
--ROH summer schedule
--ROH/Ric Flair update
--Bryan Danielson update
--A look at the ROH TV tapings
--Bas Rutten on Kimbo Slice
--Next Kid Yamamoto match and why
--Last Strikeforce show and more business numbers from St. Louis
--Real PPV numbers for Hatton-Pacquiao
--Is Bobby Lashley a star?
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)
*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)
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
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. For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for
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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.
--Story on Billy "Red" Lyons is at http://news.therecord.com/Sports/article/558528
--UFC announced today that appearing at the Fan Expo on 7/10 and 7/11 will be Lyoto Machida, Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, Quinton Jackson, Kenny Florian, Steve Cantwell, Shane Carwin, Marcus Davis, Tyson Griffin, Clay Guida, Dustin Hazelett, Keith Jardine, Anthony Johnson, Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck, Joe Lauzon, Junie Browning, Nate Marquardt, Gray Maynard, Karo Parisyan, Diego Sanchez, Sean Sherk, Nate Diaz, Efrain Escudero, Renzo Gracie, Gary Goodridge, Heath Herring, Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio Shogun Rua, Miguel Torres, Mike Brown, Jamie Varner, Urijah Faber, Jens Pulver, Brian Bowles, Joseph Benavides, Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, Benson Henderson, Alex Karalexis and Mike Swick
--ECW last night did a 1.1 rating
--In the cable ratings, and this is for last week, so Monday's Raw isn't factored in, USA was No. 1 with a 2.9 prime time average to 1.8 for TNT. Spike was No. 18 at 0.8 and Sci-Fi was No. 21 at 0.7. The three hours of Raw were No. 4, No. 8 and No. 13. Top three were The Closer on TNT (4.9), Royal Pains on USA (4.6) and Burn Notice on USA (4.2). Raw was No. 1 and No. 4 in 18-34 and Nos. 1, 3 and 9 in 18-49.
--U.K. ratings for the week ending 6/14. Impact drew 35,000 viewers. UFC 99 live on Setanta Sports had 43,000 viewers live and 23,000 for the replay. Raw had 53,000 live and 43,000 for the Thursday replay. Smackdown had 28,000 for the first run show (unusually low) and ECW had 18,000 (also unusually low) (thanks to Ian Hamilton)
--Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler will be signing autographs on 9/6 at the Dragon Gate show in Chicago at the Congress Theater.
--Lee Murray is a free man. The Moroccan Supreme Court affirmed him as a citizen of the country today and let him walk. Expect a movie. Or two.
--Bill O'Reilly showed the clip of Cris Cyborg choking out Aaron Tru on Monday on the O'Reilly Factor at http://www.mmaworldwide.com/blog/Aaron_Tru_interviews_Chris_Cyborg_Choked _Out_Mid_Interview/ (thanks to Jeff Gagliardo)
--Colt Cabana in The Redeye published by the Chicago Tribune at http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/geektome/2009/06/geekin-out-wrestling-cu ttin-loose-with-colt-cabana.html
--There is a story today on Todd Grisham at http://www.baldwincountynow.com/articles/2009/06/24/sports/ It talks about his love for soccer (he does soccer announcing on weekends) before becoming a TV sports reporter in a small Iowa market and signing with WWE in 2004.
--Variety credited Trump for the ratings, but not the commercial free nature of the show. Unreal. Story is at http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005305.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&ref=b d_tv
--Mike Graham defends Brian Blair, saying he was only defending his wife from his son at http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/
--Poll on Raw
Excellent 12.6%
Good 26.9%
Average 22.0%
Fair 11.2%
Poor 27.3%
12.5% of those responding didn't see the show
--Best fight of the weekend
Clay Guida vs. Diego Sanchez 88.6%
Joe Stevenson vs. Nate Diaz 4.9%
Jorge Gurgel vs. Conor Heun 2.2%
Sarah Kaufman vs. Shayna Baszler 2.2%
Kevin Burns vs. Chris Lytle 1.6%
Cyborg Santos vs. Joe Villasenor 0.5%
--Who is the best of the current group of world champions
C.M. Punk 24.6%
Kurt Angle 22.9%
Randy Orton 18.9%
Austin Aries 8.7%
Hiroshi Tanahashi 7.8%
Tommy Dreamer 5.5%
Go Shiozaki 4.3%
Ultimo Guerrero 3.1%
Dr. Wagner Jr. 2.9%
Yoshihiro Takayama 1.5%
What was the best TV show of the past week?
Ultimate Fighter finals 35.3%
Smackdown 31.2%
Impact 10.2%
Raw 8.6%
ROH 7.1%
AAA 1.8%
ECW 1.6%
Superstars 1.6%
Strikeforce Challengers Series 1.3%
Ultimate Fighter 0.8%
Inside MMA 0.5%
--What was the best of the major weekend shows?
Ultimate Fighter finals 66.8%
TNA Slammiversary 29.7%
Strikeforce Challengers Series 3.5%
--A correction from the web report on the Ultimate Fighter show on Saturday. The EA sponsorship on the mat for a video game was of EA's Fight Night Round 4 game, which is a boxing game, not an MMA game. The EA Sports MMA game which will feature Randy Couture, will be out next year.
--Tito Santana vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir headlines on 6/27 in Edinburg, TX at the Stadium. It's billed as the homecoming of Santana, who grew up in nearby Mission, TX.
--Next show in Tijuana is 7/11 with Elegido & Mesias & La Parka vs Chessman & Zorro & Electroshock
--Pro Wrestling Guerrilla on 6/28 at 5 p.m. at American Legion Post 308 in Reseda has Necro Butcher vs. Joey Ryan, Kenny Omega vs. Roderick Strong, El Generico vs. Scott Lost and more. Bryan Danielson will be missing the show due to his staph infection.
--Grapplers Quest hosts the 2009 U.S. nationals of submission wrestling in Morristown, NJ at the Mennen Sports Arena. Among those competing are former UFC stars Vinny Magalhaes, Dante Rivera, Matt Arroyo and Brian McLaughlin as well as former IFL fighter Jamal Paterson and Bellator fighter Wilson Reis.
--Chris Romero at http://www.myspace.com/chris_youngblood1 talks about his personal experience with John Laurinaitis, Mitsuharu Misawa, WWE and the Four Horsemen.
--Outlaw Wrestling on Friday night at the Nat Ballroom in Amarillo and Saturday night in Borger, TX at the Frank Phillips Community Center
--NWA MSW on 6/27 in Mt. Hope, WV at the Community Building
--Feintuch Ventures has released a two-disc documentary on Marty Jannetty at http://www.themartyjannettystory.com which is an autobiographical DVD
--Insanity Pro Wrestling on 6/27 in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Corps with Drake Younger vs. Chuck Taylor for the CZW world title
--GOUGE on 6/27 in Stem, NC at the Fire Hall
--TWA from Saturday night in Sunridge, ONT: Damian Hodge & Chris Summers b Matt Garrett & Ryan Dennim, Holly Hilton b Kaitlin Diemond, Scotty Turner b Tornado, Robbie Reckless & Kris White b Creed & Ray Malice, Kriss Thorn NC Kwan Chang, Greg Boyles b Big Daddy Hammer, Robbie McAllister b CK Sexx, Canadian Extreme b Robbie McAllister and Tornado (thanks to Steven Ashe)
--Prairie Wrestling Alliance on 7/4 in Edmonton outdoors at the Century Casino Grounds features Mick Foley, Al Snow, Jay Lethal, Bryan Danielson, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky. There is also a meet & greet with them at 2 p.m. that day with the wrestling show starting at 5:30 p.m. It's an all ages show.
--Ontario Championship Wrestling debuts on 6/27 in Gananoque, ONT at the Gananoque Arena with Pat Tanaka
--The annual Clash at the Cove 11 at Covaleski Stadium in South Bend on 8/29 has Greg Valentine & Brian Knobs vs. Brian Costello & Jim Neidhart, plus Bob Orton vs. Andy Chene
--Kenny Omega and El Generico are in the annual Premier Cup tournament tonight in Winnipeg at Dylans on Pembina
--Spike is going to replay Fight for the Troops a week from tonight. Spike starts the Countdown of the 100 greatest fights in history on 7/5 at 9 p.m. and Frank Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz doesn't crack the top 100 because UFC decided against nominating any fights from certain fighters.
--WAR on 7/28 in Sidney, OH with all seats $5 and kids under 12 free headlined by Buff Bagwell at the Shelby County Fair at 7 p.m.
--Layfield Energy promotes a show on Sunday in Melrose, MA at 590 Main St. with Superstar Graham, Awesome Kong, ODB, Spike Dudley, John Cena Sr. and John Bradshaw Layfield all appearing. JBL will manage Slyck Wagner Brown and Luke Robinson on the show. Kong vs. ODB vs. Isis (managed by Graham) is also on the show.
--Kayfabe Bookings at 402-637-6396 is booking Warlord, Barbarian, Sandman, Ernest Miller, Kamala, Mike Modest, Mr. Hughes, Koko Ware, Stro Bull Pain, Lanny Poffo, King Kong Bundy, Balls Mahoney, Chase Stevens, Andy Douglas and Gangrel.
--Tony Atlas will be inducted into the New England pro wrestling Hall of Fame on 7/12 at the Bright Ridge Club in East Providence, RI. For tickets you can contact Joe at
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If Atlas can't attend because WWE pulls him from the show or books him that night, his wife will attend and accept the award. Also honored will be Jason Sanderson, Dave Padula, Sheldon Goldberg, Bobby Riedel, Gino Martino, Ox Baker, Paul Lauzon, Power Twins, ref Willie Jackson, the late Steve Bradley, Jim Kettner and Kevin Landry. Appearing also will be Simon Diamond, Brutus Beefcake, Jimmy Hart and Ted DiBiase Sr.
--Wrestling for Charity has a show at California's Great America Theme Park in Santa Clara on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with matches every hour, with a Battle Royal as the main event at 6:30 p.m.
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