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We're looking for reports on the WWE Smackdown crew shows Friday night in Palm Springs and last night in San Diego, as well as the Raw show last night in Auckland, New Zealand at
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Smackdown has a travel day today and runs in Honolulu
on Sunday, and then runs Tuesday and Wednesday at Budokan Hall in Tokyo.
We're also looking for reports on Sunday's Raw show in
Brisbane, Monday in Adelaide, Tuesday in
Melbourne and Wednesday in Perth.
ROH on HDNet is pre-empted tonight due to the holiday. Raw on Monday is a show taped last Monday in San Jose headlined by John Cena vs. HHH. ECW won't be airing on Tuesday this coming week, and will air on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Our lead story in Monday's issue of the Observer looks at the WWE
mid-card shakeup, plans for the next WWE PPV, next week's Raw TV show, a
look at the newcomers to WWE and how they are being viewed right now, as
well as coverage of The Bash, with poll results, match-by-match coverage
and star ratings.
We also have a look at changes in UFC policy that has made a lot
of people unhappy and looks to cut into the income of fighters as well as
the latest shot fired in the video game wars.
We've got a ton of stuff from the Raw tapings, including how the
crowd was different, the reactions to different wrestlers, and where the
angles are going.
We also have an updated look at Bobby Lashley, his fight with Bob
Sapp, as well as the Ultimate Chaos PPV show.
The issue is available today for subscribers to the web site.
The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words
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Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus
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The Observer is now in its 27th year of being the leading insider pro
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We look at the match Lashley had to turn down scheduled for this
summer with another former major pro wrestling star, Lashley's promo
ability, Lashley's goals for the next year, as well as Tom Atencio's
fighting and talking.
We also have a feature updating Lee Murray, as well as a detailed
look at The Ultimate Fighter reality show, who watches the show, and how
the audience has changed in every major demo since season one. We look
at the TUF season and does that make it easier to sell PPV shows,
paradoxes about the rating and who watches, as well as how rival coaches
fighting on PPV after the season is helped by the show.
We've got an update on the condition of Gerald Brisco, more on
Lilian Garcia leaving WWE and possible replacements, first word on
Wrestlemania tickets and scalping, PPVs being dropped, TV show changes
We've also got a detailed look at the ratings, including
segment-by-segment on Impact and Raw and lots more on the biggest Raw
number in years. We also look at how USA's quarter was affected by the
big Raw number, as well as an updated look at DVR's and their effect on
ratings. We also look at how each segment on the commercial-free Raw
did, including a few surprises as far as what was the highest rated
segment, and what key segment actually lost viewership.
We also have our regular weekly features including results of the
major league arena shows held around the world, as well as the major TV
show reviews.
Also in this week's issue:
--What WWE wrestler named his son after what MMA champion
--Edge on ladder matches
--Discussion of drug testing, Jeff Hardy and Umaga
--Who HHH pushed as the company's best new stars
--Why Smackdown is so much better than Raw
--WWE vs. UFC on the web, where each one has the advantage over the other
--Several new WWE signings
--New WWE international tours
--New PPV names being discussed
--Best selling MMA and wrestling DVDs
--Developmental notes
--WWE house show note
--Wrestlers brought back to arena they headlined 50 years ago this week
--Former WWE developmental wrestlers heading to Mexico
--AAA video game news
--Update on a major show with both current WWE and TNA stars on the same
show, as well as two recently fired WWE stars on the show
--Update on debut of Dragon Gate in Philadelphia
--Hall of Famer says he will retire in a few weeks
--NOAH business post-Misawa
--Hall of Famer with 25th anniversary show coming soon
--TNA stars headline next New Japan show
--Affliction star doing major pro wrestling show a week after the next
card
--How networks carrying MMA and pro wrestling are doing
--Famous wrestling arena about to be torn down
--Former Stampede wrestlers pass away
--Former wrestler and MMA fighter sentenced to life in prison
--Update on Brian Lawler
--Former wrestling headliner going on tour with the circus
--Wrestlers invited to the White House
--ECW nostalgia show notes
--24 man tournament coming
--Father of pop star fights pro wrestler turned gimmick celebrity
--Indie wrestler on VH-1 reality show
--ROH weekend notes
--TNA Victory "Road lineup
--Update on TNA video game license
--Update on Raven and Shane Douglas
--80s star now on TNA TV
--New TNA signing this past week
--Notes on upcoming TNA TV shows
--UFC 99 early buy rate trending patterns
--Live business for the last UFC show
--UFC stars nominated for major sports awards
--Lineup for next WEC show as well as 8/29 UFC show
--Notes on first issue of UFC magazine
--Update on business of WWE magazine
--Magazine listing of best UFC matches in history
--How UFC's magazine list differs from the list UFC gave Spike and who is
obviously excluded
--Top UFC star sued over auto accident
--Update on Indiana regulating MMA
--Guida vs. Sanchez thoughts
--What happened with Limp Bizkit and UFC 100
--New title match signed
--More on rating for Joe Rogan special
--A few UFC cuts including a popular fighter
--Update on Jens Pulver
--Bas Rutten rips on Kimbo
--Lots of new UFC fights signed
--Update on CBS and MMA
--Strikeforce schedule for the rest of the year
--Boxing vs. MMA head-to-head on PPV
--ESPN looking at giving MMA more visibility
--Japanese MMA star sentenced to prison time
--Tito Ortiz talks his future
--College wrestling legend gets outwrestled and loses in UFC fight
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
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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)
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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
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America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.
--Pretty quiet news day other than the injury to Edge at the house show last night in San Diego. Edge was wrestling Jeff Hardy, and I believe it was a leapfrog spot and when he landed, he tore his Achilles tendon, which is a serious injury. We don't have any more updates other than what was put up last night. A decision on how to explain the injury and what to do about the tag team titles will be made prior to 7/13, which is the next live TV taping. Because Edge appears on the show that airs on 7/10, it is most likely that for TV purposes they won't be mentioning anything (they may on the web site) about the titles until that point. That injury would normally need surgery and probably eight months or longer of recuperation. The injury has ended many careers of athletes but probably won't be a career threatening injury because losing a step of speed, which usually happens after this surgery, isn't as big a deal to a wrestler.
--Jeff Hardy did an interview for TV in Spain where he said that he had a few weeks left on his contract but that he had not signed a new deal.
--Results from last night in San Diego:
Evan Bourne pinned Shelton Benjamin
Ricky Steamboat beat Drew McIntyre
Great Khali beat Dolph Ziggler
Tommy Dreamer won a four-way over Christian, Jack Swagger and Mark Henry
Jeff Hardy beat Edge - Edge ruled unable to continue after the torn Achilles tendon and was helped out
Melina & Gail Kim beat Michelle McCool & Alicia Fox
Chris Jericho beat John Morrison
C.M. Punk beat Rey Mysterio due to distraction from Jerich. Punk was full fledged heel, as he and Jericho beatdown Mysterio after the match until Hardy made the save
--Results from earlier today in Sydney, Australia
Goldust beat Chavo Guerrero
Sheamus beat Jamie Noble
Santino Marella beat The Brian Kendrick
Miz pinned MVP
Kofi Kingston beat William Regal to keep U.S. title in the best match on the show
Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes beat Carlito & Primo Colon (no tease of a breakup after the match)
Kelly Kelly beat Maryse in a non-title match
HHH & John Cena beat Randy Orton & Big Show when HHH pinned Show after a pedigree
--J.D. Costello announced that NWA Charlotte is closing up. He cited the loss from the closing of their home arena and of buiding new sets and setting up a new arena were too high with the current economic times.
--Real Deal Wrestling on Sunday has an afternoon and evening show in Hull, England with Awesome Kong and Doug Williams as headliners, as well as 70s star Johnny Kidd, all appearing at Gemtec Arena
--Wanderlei Silva on TSN's Off the Recod is at http://tsn.ca/shows/otr/
--Ring of Fire on 8/1 in Broomfield, CO at the Event Center
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