| MONDAY UPDATE: DANIELSON/KENTA TEAM; RATINGS; TNA ADDITION; LINDA MCMAHON, BIG SHOWS NEXT FEW DAYS; |
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This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We're looking for your thoughts on last night's TNA No Surrender PPV, as well as Saturday night's UFC 103 PPV, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We're looking for reports on tonight's Raw tapings in Little Rock, with any notes on Superstars matches, dark matches or anything else not notable on the live show. Cedric the Entertainer is the co-host and it will be Lilian Garcia's final night with the company. We're also looking for reports on tonight's TNA tapings in Orlando which will include Bobby Lashley wrestling, Taylor Wilde & Sarita defending the Knockouts tag titles against Tara & ODB, Suicide vs. Pope D'Angelo Dinero in a street fight and Booker T & Scott Steiner vs. Mick Foley & Abyss for the tag titles. We're also looking for reports on Saturday's WWE house show in Moncton, New Brunswick. Also today will be the opening episode of Dancing with the Stars featuring Chuck Liddell. Tuesday has both TNA tapings in Orlando as well as Smackdown & ECW being taped in Tulsa. Smackdown main event is Batista vs. Big Show and ECW main event is Christian vs. Zack Ryder for the ECW title. ROH on HDNet tonight Jimmy Rave vs. Necro Butcher Erick Stevens vs. Brandon Day Austin Aires vs. ? Bryan Danielson & KENTA & Roderick Strong vs. Chris Hero & Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards Also, late Tuesday night (3 a.m. Eastern, midnight Pacific) will be Sengoku live from Saitama, Japan on HDNet. We've got one of our biggest non-double issues of the year of the Observer out today for print readers and it is also available right now for web site members. We will be following it up next week with our Hall of Fame issue, our most talked about issue of the year, and the most purchased back issue most years. Our lead story is the most detailed look available regarding Jeff Hardy, his arrest, how his friends are viewing it, details of the law and why the charges are what they are, what on paper has area lawyers thinking he's in a lot of trouble, future in pro wrestling, WWE reaction, what led to the Sunday Breaking Point interview and how that is being reacted to by some internally. We look at why Jeff Hardy never followed up with a public statement, how this affects his other projects, a look back at how he got started in wrestling and his history with behavior that has caused him to get dropped by both WWE and TNA in the past. We look at Hardy's popularity, when it peaked, why he was being used in the world title picture even with two strikes against him, the publicity of the story and more. We also have a huge story on the new Hulkamania promotion, including both short and long-term plans, who is on board, a look at Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff's past, why Hogan brought in Flair as his opponent, plans outside of wrestling for the two to work together, WWE reaction, who Hogan & Bischoff are working with, Hogan's name value in Australia and visibility leading to the tour. We also look at Hogan from a legal front, the Graziano lawsuit, selling of his homes, divorce settlement, suing his lawyers and much more. The issue is available today on the web site for premium members as is a back issue from 1992, put up this week for premium members on the site. We also have notes on an ongoing power struggle with several veteran wrestlers careers currently at stake and the arguments on both sides on how to handle financial issues. We look at Kurt Angle's case with Trenesha Biggers (Rhaka Khan) and why most of the charges were dropped. We also look at what could be the biggest head-to-head battle of the year coming in a few months and how a U.S. station may have to make a choice on which big show to carry. This includes the debut of a national hero going against a traditional television blockbuster. We've got our usual coverage of the WWE Breaking Point, with poll results, star ratings, why the Morrison match was dropped, the booking of the Undertaker match, what the early business trends show as well as match-by-match coverage. We also have part two of our look at the 2009 Hall of Fame ballot. In this issue, we run down names like Seiji Sakaguchi, Kensuke Sasaki, Hans Schmidt, Sgt. Slaughter, Jimmy Snuka, Wilbur Snyder, Sting, Kiyoshi Tamura, John Tolos, Enrique Torres, Vampiro, Villano III, Dr. Wagner Jr., Dr. Wagner Sr., Mr. Wrestling, Mr. Wrestling II, Lou Albano, Jim Crockett Jr., Gary Hart, Jerry Jarrett, Gorilla Monsoon, Dr. Alfonso Morales, Don Owen, Roy Shire and Jesse Ventura. We also have a look at a tournament coming next week where fighters from UFC, WEC, Dream and Sengoku join Olympians in wrestling and one of Strikeforce's biggest stars. We look at why so many of the biggest names in the sport, including Cris Cyborg, Urijah Faber, Gabriel Gonzaga and Ben Askren are headed to Spain. We've got a look at Linda McMahon running for senate. We've also got notes on the WWE Royal Rumble date change, story behind someone who was a major part of the organization for more than a dozen years leaving, Vince McMahon talks Chris Benoit, Mr. Kennedy on Randy Orton, a look at the decision to switch to one tag team and if it would make sense to have a similar singles champ working both brands, next three-hour Raw, Vince McMahon and announcers, Rey Mysterio update, Jim Ross honored, Show/Khali update, new PPV concepts, and a rundown on the WWE cuts over the past week. We also have notes on WWE injuries, WWE filming round tables, a new giant WWE was looking at, tons of new name changes as well as WWE house show rundown for the weekend. We also look back at Kerry Brown, who passed away this past week, looking at his life and career, including his days as a Montreal headliner against some of the biggest names of the past 25 years, his battles with drinking, dressing room brawl, Stampede Wrestling and the early careers of Lance Storm & Chris Jericho that involved him. We also have our usual weekly features such as the results from the major league events held around the world over the past week, and rundown of the major television shows. --First-ever Jushin Liger vs. Mistico meeting and where the angle is going --Major city may lose one of its weekly big shows --Former WWE star talked with about going to Pena Memorial show but falling through --All Japan, New Japan and NOAH all have Korakuen Hall shows this week and how each group did --Update on the Misawa Memorial shows in Tokyo and Osaka --A look at Masahiro Chono's 25th anniversary show featuring many legends and current stars and a dream trio main event --Son of Hall of Famer, now 17, makes debut on memorial show for his father --Second youngest boy ever signed by Japanese promotion set to debut in a few weeks --Patrick Swayze wrestling connection --One of the most talked about wrestlers of the 90s featured in a new book on football called "Schoolboy Legends." --Update on Tyler Black and his contract --A look at ROH TV tapings --Notes on firing of Jim Cornette and B.G. James by TNA --Update on Angelina Love visa situation --Jenna Morasca lashes out at TNA --Jeff Jarrett's promotional tour of Australia --Update on Bobby Lashley's next MMA fight --A major note on who watches Ultimate Fighter and how it differs from WWE --Updates on all the major UFC events --Update on new UFC international television deals --Ticket sales for all the upcoming shows --Faber talks about going to UFC --Bob Sapp's absolutely insane schedule with pro wrestling, kickboxing and MMA between now and the end of the year --Update on Sapp and a major U.S. pro wrestling organization --Two-time Olympian's MMA debut --Former NCAA champ suspended for five months in MMA 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: --UFC programming for the week on Spike. Spike has a Fight Night from 8-10 p.m. tonight from January 23, 2008 with Mike Swick vs. Josh Burkman. You can skip that one. From 10 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. they have the February 7, 2009, show from Tampa, with Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens. That show was pretty good. Wednesday has Unleashed from 8-10 p.m. with the fist hour headlined by the famous Stephan Bonnar vs. Forrest Griffin fight from 2005, and second hour by Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping from UFC 100. 10 p.m. and replaying at 11 p.m. is Ultimate Fighter. The storyline is that Rashad Evans finds Roy Nelson "uncoachable" and Rampage tries to teach Kimbo new skills. Also Unleashed before Impact on Thursday featuring GSP vs. Frank Trigg and the first episode of Ultimate Fighter from last week will air after Impact on Thursday. --Lacey Von Erich is scheduled to be part of The Beautiful People in TNA. She was under contract to Wrestlelicious for another 45 days but Jimmy Hart got them to release her from the deal. --We'll have our post-Raw radio show late tonight and be taking phone calls at about 11:30 p.m. Pacific time --John Cena has an interview at http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/09/20/11019561.html mostly defending the company's more family friendly direction. Cena was in Canada for The Score to do a sportscast and working with Gillette which has a sponsorship deal with him. --A correction on Tomassino from yesterday's report. He has not been signed to a WWE developmental contract although he did appear on Smackdown on Friday as a security guard. Story is at http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/09/20/11020616.html --The Los Angeles Times today has a poll for best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. As of a few hours ago, Fedor Emelianenko had 5%, Brock Lesnar had 1%, Floyd Mayweather Jr. had 29%, Shane Mosley had 5%, Manny Pacquiao had 50%, GSP had 5% and Others had 5% (thanks to Houston Mitchell) --Last nights Cowboys vs. Giants game may have hurt TNA's PPV as it was the highest overnight rating for a Sunday night game in history, doing a 16.5 rating, and beating the Emmys, which did a 10.0. The old record was 15.6 for an Eagles-Patriots game in 2007. --We're going to be getting lot of these comedy stories on Linda McMahon's campaign staff at http://jockandballs.com/2009/09/21/linda-mcmahon-campaign/ --Footage of the Bryan Danielson vs. Davey Richards angle from Dragon Gate USA in Chicago is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PSO32onlyU&feature=player_profilepage --Cima was announced for the 11/28 Dragon Gate USA show's Open the Freedom Gate tournament. They also have the DVD of the 7/25 show in Philadelphia out today at DGUSA.tv --WWE is doing a tri-branded house show on 12/30 in Syracuse, NY at the Carrier Dome -Alex Marvez has a great story on the problems the NFL has enforcing its drug policy at http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/10080324/Starcaps-case-is-a-blow-to-NFL-drug-policy This right now doesn't have a connection to pro wrestling because nobody is going to sue to get reinstated the way the business is, but it could down the line have an effect on drug testing in all sports. --A story on Josh Kelly of Hammond River getting a tryout at Breaking Point at http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/798152 He said his tryout was in front of 25,000 in Montreal. Well, not quite that many. He had a preshow tryout and then performed as security in the DX vs. Legacy match --WWE Superstars debuts today in India on Ten Sports in a 4:30 p.m. time slot. They already air Raw, Smackdown and ECW there. --I want to thank all of our readers for their generosity as the site raised $400 in the first two days alone to help Richard Handley and improve his quality of life. For more info you can go to http://handleyhf.wordpress.com --Poll on Impact Excellent 25.0% Good 35.5% Average 17.1% Fair 4.6% Poor 17.8% 46.5% of those responding didn't see the show --Poll on Superstars Excellent 27.2% Good 30.9% Average 19.8% Fair 3.7% Poor 18.5% 62.1% of those responding didn't see the show --What was the reason for Wednesday's TUF setting a ratings record Kimbo Slice 89.7% People called friends during the bloodbath 3.3% Marketing the NFL players angle 2.5% Quinton Jackson 2.0% Big guys 1.7% Rashad Evans 0.8% --Poll on Smackdown Excellent 16.4% Good 45.6% Average 22.2% Fair 7.6% Poor 8.2% 22.6% of those responding didn't see the show --Best TV show of the past week Ultimate Fighter 22.8% Smackdown 17.9% Ultimate Fighter Night 17.2% Impact 15.3% Raw 9.3% ECW 5.6% ROH 5.2% UFC 103 prelims 3.7% AAA 1.9% Superstars 0.7% Inside MMA 0.4% --Who would you like to see Anderson Silva face next Vitor Belfort 47.1% Dan Henderson 42.5% Nate Marquardt 8.2% Rich Franklin 2.3% --On the HDNet fights on Friday night, they compared one of the fighters to Badnews Brown and talked about the ghetto blaster, but then Guy Mezger soberly talked about Brown's death and how he was a real life legit shooter. (thanks to Andrew Lutzke) --Roy Nelson will be hosting TUF screening parties every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. in Las Vega as Badda Bing Gentlemen's Club --CHIKARA on 10/18 in Philadelphia will have a 16-man Torneo Cibernetico, its sixth annual event of this type. --Mike Cruscuolo has two seats for the 11/17 Smackdown tapings in Philadelphia and is looking to trade for someone who has one or two tickets for 10/6 in Trenton, 11/23 in Hershey or 11/30 in Baltimore --Bret Hart interview at http://chicago.decider.com/articles/ talking about going to ROH shows, watching wrestling on TV, The Simpsons and running a wrestling school. --William Cipiriani at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is looking to purchase a Ric Flair lottery ticket --NWS on 10/3 in Brick, NJ at the Elks Lodge with Nasty Boys and Sal Sincere --A story on the fire in North Attleboro that destroyed Jack Witschi's Sports Arena, a fixture for WWWF in the 70s, back in 1979 was looked back on today since it's the 30th anniversary of it happening at http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2009/09/20/news/6108114.txt --Smackdown on Friday night in New York will air at 11 p.m. due to baseball (thanks to Jeff Sheridan) --Slam Championship Wrestling from Saturday night in Gloucester City, NJ: Ryu Lee b Kevin Cunningham, Breaker Morant b Bear, Patch b Anthony Graves, Big Slam b Johnny Calzone, White Lotus b Twiggy Ramirez, Patch b Glen Osbourne (thanks to Paul Verlander) --Terri Runnels recently went to London to be at the side of Martin Duggan, a 29-year-old fan who needs a kidney transplant. Duggan had to lose substantial weight first, and then find a donor. She paid for most of the trip out of her own pocket, although Dawn Marie and Wrestlers Rescue were able to raise $500 to help with the costs. Wrestlers Rescue has a number of fund raisers trying to raise money for Steve Williams to get a voice box. You can also check for info at http://WrestlersRescue.org --NWA Fusion from Saturday night in Mattaponi, VA: Tex b Justin Hodge, Horrorshow b Brandon Day, American Ranger b Krotch, Hatriot & Vulstag b Sean & Mark Denny, Assault & Battery b Hall Stars, C.A. Elliott b Zach Hilton, Preston Quinn & Grail DCOR Jefferson Early & Bobby Shields, Jimmy Cicero b Mike Booth (thanks to Tim Noel) --Empire Wrestling Federation from Friday night in Covina, CA: Devon Wills b Vintage Dragon, Alexander the Brute b D.K. Murphy, Omjsar Duncan b Mike Mountain, Jeremy Jaeger & Roger Ruiz b Liger Rivera & Terex, Freddy Bravo b SoCal Crazy, Chris Kadillak NC Peter Avalon, Scorpio Sky b Human Tornado --Pro Wrestling Renaissance from Saturday night in Portland, IN: Dylan Bostic b Bobby Black, Mr. Main Event & Mr. Old School b Brian Bender & Kris Konflict, Aaron Williams b Jake Omen, General Lee b G.T. Vega, Osyris b Troy Van Zant, Flash Flanagan b Drake Younger, Dustin Dillinger b Jon Moxley --IWC on 10/3 in Clearfield, PA at the County Fairgrounds is headlined by Shiima Xion vs. Jon Bolen and Jimmy Snuka vs. J-Rocc --WAR on 10/10 in Lima, OH at the UAW Hall --The spot where they showed a close-up of Abe Wagner's cut was edited out of the UK airing of Ultimate Fighter over the weekend (thanks to Paul Clay) --The New York Post has a story on Wrestle Va Voom and Cassandro, who signed with TNA and was then never used at http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/grapple_in_the_apple_xmjx9mCQyhFVwn6hX9FT7I --The Globe has a full page of John Graziano being released from the hospital and The Sun in the U.S. has a big article on the Mildred Burke book (thanks to Paul Kacprzak) --Pro Wrestling World-1 on 9/26 at Langan Baseball Field in Morganville, NJ with a Rumble and Steve Corino as the headliner --Dynamic Championship Wrestling on 9/25 in Sidney, OH at the Haunted Woods and 9/25 in Urbana, OH at the Urbana Chili ookoff and Rock of the Town Festival --Showtime All-Star Wrestling TV taping from Friday night in Millersville, TN before 60 fans: Derrick King & J.T. Stahr b Lani Kialoha (an early ring name of Jimmy Snuka) & Chrisjen Hayme, Derrick King b Vordell Walker, Arrick Andrews b Andy Douglas, Chase Stevens b Big Bully Douglas, Kid Kash b Ricky Morton, John Michael Worthington b Jesse Emerson, Rick Santel NC Hammerjack, Sean Casey b Lani Kialoha, Micah Taylor b David Young, Scorboni Brothers b Boy & Dell Tucker, Kliff Hanger b Kevin James (thanks to Larry Goodman) --3X Wrestling from Friday night in Des Moines: Rory Fox (MTV True Life) over Devon Cater and Tony Sly, Krotch & Maddog McDowell b Mark Sterling & Gage Octane, Casanova b Jimmy Rockwell, Zach Thompson & Mike Sydal b Sheik Abdul Bashir & Arya Daivari, Ryan Slade & A.J. Smooth b Aaron Masterson & Ricky Kwong, Jeremy Wyatt b Al Snow-DQ --NYWC on Saturday night in Deer Park, NY: Maverick d Josh Daniels, Naturally Fly Latinos b Dirty Rednex, Dan Eckos b Joey Braggiol, Papdon b Quiet Storm, King Mega b Dickie Rodz, Francis Kipland Stevens b Syther & Crusher Doogan, Alex Reynolds b Big John Silver, Bruno Marciano b Rob Eckos-DQ, Celtic Saints over All Money is Legal, Blake Morris & Mike Reed and Big Time Rush. Next show is 9/26 (thanks to Kenny Lippe) --IHWE on 10/4 at 1 p.m. at Wolfpac Gym in Fort Worth. The show was originally scheduled for 10/3 --GOUGE from Saturday night in Stem, NC: Trailer Park Heat b Wrestling Superstar, Otto Schwanz b Andrea the Giant, Popo the Klown b Caprice Coleman, Damien Wayne b Jimmy Jack Funk Jr., Cue Ball Carmichael b Seymour Snott-DQ. Next show is 10/10 at the MVP Sports Factory in Wake Forest, NC --Pro Wrestling Fusion on 10/17 in Fort Pierce, FL at the PAL Center --Brew City Wrestling on Friday night in West Allis, WI: TW3 b Ashton Vaton, Urban Assault Team b 450 Hammett & Dave Rydel, Derek St. Holmes b Dave Demone, Brandon Blaze b Mason Quinn, Frankie DeFalco & Craven b Erico & Kamron King, Steve Stone b T.C. Washington-COR, Jet Bennett b Nick Colluci-DDQ, Steve Corino b Dinn T. Moore --Greg Valentine appears on 11/8 at Pizza Party 9 at 6 p.m. at Rinks Flea Market in Mt. Healthy, OH --Sport Fight 26 on 10/2 at the Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde, OR headlined by Chad Nelson vs. Enoch Wilson\ --House of Horrors on 10/17 in Kalaska, MI at the Civic Center |
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