Bryan Alvarez: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dave Meltzer: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We're looking for reports on Thursday night's Raw show in Guatemala City, Thursday night's Smackdown show in Madrid, Spain, Friday night's Raw show in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico and Saturday night's Raw show in Guadalajara, Mexico, as well as today's Smackdown brand house show in Paris at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The 10th anniversary episode of Smackdown will be taped tonight in Boston with Undertaker & DX & John Cena vs. Legacy & Randy Orton & C.M. Punk in the all-star main event, plus a taped appearance by Dwayne Johnson and a scheduled live appearance by Vickie Guerrero. TNA has a show on Tuesday in Dortmund, Germany.

The 2009 Hall of Fame issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, one of the largest issues in our history and what is traditionally the best selling issue of the year, is out today for print subscribers and is also available right now on the web site.

The main focus of the double issue is a look at the six new members of the Hall of Fame as voted by reporters, historians, and people both in the current business and people with long histories of being in the business. Because of the size of the bios, we only have bios of three of the six new acts in this week's issue, and there will be bios in upcoming weeks of the other three new members which span periods from the 1930s through modern times.

We look at what the Hall of Fame is, how people get in, a complete rundown not only of the final voting but also the top ten in each different category and an explanation as to how each guy got voted in, as well as a detailed look at why others who came close didn't reach the magic 60% mark. We also have notes on people who will not be on next year's ballots, as well as who will be added to next year's ballot.

We look at the close calls, including three top active stars who almost made it and what kept them from getting in. We look at who made the biggest strides as well as the biggest drops, as well as look at the first year on for Edge.

We evaluate all the new members and talk about those on next year's ballot for the first time.

The highlight is our lengthy bios which talk about three very different and distinct eras in wrestling and some very unique individuals that made it in.

We also have the updated list of everyone in and the year they were put in, divided into several different categories.

We also look at Saturday night's UFC 103, the head-to-head battle with boxing and different numbers that are out there. We look at the business of the show, what came out of the show, and full coverage of the event.

We also have an update on the first week of Linda McMahon's run for the U.S. Senate. We look at her strategy in running, as well as in the first week what stories have come out regarding pro wrestling and her candidacy. We look at financing her campaign, as well as a political strategist evaluates her chances.

We also look at the retirement of Quinton Jackson, the ratings of the first episode of Ultimate Fighter and how they rank among other big shows in the history of the show. We look at Jackson's complete statement, an update on other fighters who have said similar things and what has happened, and perhaps a reason why these things happen.

We look at how the show fared in Males 18-34 this past week, as well as how the Fight Night show did, and a look at how season 10 is stacking up.

We also look at the return of MMA to CBS with the Fedor vs. Brett Rogers Strikeforce match, as well as a look at the signing of Herschel Walker to an MMA deal, his expected debut, and more on plans for the CBS show.

We've got the most detailed look at what is going down politically in TNA, including the departures of Jim Cornette and B.G. James, the hiring of Ed Ferrara, and how everything is intertwined, including reactions from many in the company.

We also look at Batista's move to Smackdown and the move being rushed, the return from suspension of Rey Mysterio, one of the biggest stars in company history in talks, feelings on the booking of three Hell in a Cell matches on one show, Hardys update, Lilian Garcia's future, Jim Ross pushes for someone who is a surprise to get into the WWE Hall of Fame, Miami bidding for Wrestlemania, notes on the 10th anniversary Smackdown show, Injury updates, Jericho talks his character, Pat Patterson's 50th anniversary of being in the business, a new signee as well as details on the WWE weekend shows.

We've got a rundown of TNA's No Surrender show, including why it doesn't look like it will do well on PPV. We look at the wrestling, the booking, and match-by-match coverage with star ratings.

We also have a look at CMLL's biggest event of the year, the 76th anniversary event at Arena Mexico with the Mistico putting his mask up against the hair of Negro Casas main event.

We also have tons of updates on Hulk Hogan's promotion and Hogan promoting the events.

We also have a look at the ratings for all the major pro wrestling shows on television over the past week, including the Batista return to Smackdown and Cedric the Entertainer on Raw battling against Monday Night Football.

We also have our usual weekly features such as the results of the biggest matches of the week and rundown of the major television shows.

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 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or you can order by faxing that information to 408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at www.paypal.com and using the This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 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.

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 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 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 52 .

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.

-- Jeff Hardy's preliminary hearing is tomorrow on charges of felony trafficking in opium; two counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver a Schedule III controlled substance; felony maintaining a dwelling to keep controlled substance; felony possession of cocaine; and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

-- Chuck Liddell did better on Dancing with the Stars this week, tying for second place in the tango with 19 points. He is, however, currently in 11th place overall.

-- Colt Toombs, the son of Rowdy Roddy Piper, fights this week at Sportfight 26 at the Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Rhonde, OR. His opponent is Matt Slosser.

-- Kimbo on a media call today said tomorrow's fight with Roy Nelson was one of his best ever and he wasn't crying about anything. He also claimed that he never turned down a fight with Seth Petruzelli, and that if Dana wanted to put that fight together in UFC he'd jump at it.

-- Dave looks at the Kimbo/Nelson fight here.

-- The Yankees are auctioning off their replica WWE spinner championship belt over the next two days. It was introduced to the club by Johnny Damon, a hardcore wrestling fans, who presented it to the Player of the Game and that person had to wear it and be responsible for it until the next player was crowned. It's signed by a whose who of the club and is currently at $5,005. You can bid by going here.

-- There is a story here about Congress looking into the issue of tainted supplements.

-- As it turns out, the Ayako Hamada interview in the "Tokyo Sun" was, in fact, made up by someone. So the good name of Yoshi Tatsu has been cleared. Why anyone would make up such a strange story is beyond me.

-- Lilian Garcia was married yesterday. She's already starting to take wrestling convention dates.

-- Latest word is that Vickie's appearance on the 10th anniversary of Smackdown will be in the role of giving tribute to Eddy Guerrero and not as the old heel GM.

-- Smackdown did a 1.9 this week.

-- Impact did a 1.0 and 1.4 million viewers.

-- Best wishes to Buddy Wayne, who goes in for open heart surgery tomorrow morning. You can still send get-well wishes to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it He wants to thank everyone for their emails and letters thus far.

-- Regarding last night's Observer Radio, Swagger stole the belt back from Kofi after the cameras had stopped rolling in order to have everything make sense for Raw and not screw up the continuity for Superstars Thursday.

-- Round 5 announced today the first set of UFC action figures: Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans, Kenny Florian, Clay Guida and Lyoto Machida.

-- Story here about Atlanta hoping to get WrestleMania in 2011.

-- Larry Matysik, former host of television’s “Wrestling at the Chase,” will sign and discuss his third book Drawing Heat the Hard Way: How Wrestling Works at Borders in Fairview Heights on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can check out the book by clicking here

-- Dan Wahlers writes: I heard you guys talking on last night's audio about Linda McMahon's campaign commercials running in the New York market. Something further on that is that I saw two of her ads run during the NY Giants/Tampa Bay Bucs football game on Sunday afternoon on FOX. To buy ad time enough for two spots during a football game in this market had to have cost her a small fortune. That's prime advertising time. I've also heard from a friend that says she's seen a couple Linda ads running locally on MTV, as well. So she sure is trying to get her name out there. It will end up being for nothing in the end, since she doesn't have a prayer. Former Congressmen Rob Simmons has the inside edge to win the Republican nomination, according to most polls. The New York TV stations reach well up into Connecticut, though. So she is reaching a lot of her target demographic. But the vast majority of the people that are seeing the ads don't even live in Connecticut. And I'm sure a lot of people will be having the same reaction as my father when he saw the commercial, and knowing a little bit about wrestling and who Linda McMahon is, he just laughed and said "Are you kidding me?"

-- Jonathan Snowden looks at Kimbo Slice here

-- A local look at Tommy Dreamer is up here. He says he has his retirement planned, but not scheduled. He also talked about a recent episode of food poisoning. Shocking that something the man ate made him sick.

-- Who is the best of these wrestlers?
Harley Race 62.8%
Billy Robinson 17.1%
Rikidozan 14.7%
Masa Saito 4.4%
Kintaro Oki 1.1%

Who do you expect to win Wednesday's fight?
Roy Nelson 63.8%
Kimbo Slice 36.2%

If Slice loses, will he still be a big draw for his next fight
Yes under any circumstances 30.3%
No, he can't draw big with one more loss 8.6%
Depends on how he loses 61.1%

What is the real main event for Hell in a Cell?
Punk vs. Undertaker 66.7%
Cena vs. Orton 18.1%
DX vs. Legacy 8.9%
Jericho & Show vs. Batista & Mysterio 6.2%

-- JWA-United Wrestling presents the first Halloween party of the season, “The Thriller Night,” this Saturday, October 3 at the VFW Hall in Sayreville, New Jersey (across from The Starland Ballroom) with a 7:30 p.m. belltime.

-- Fight-Stream.com will present a Warriors in Combat live internet pay-per-view on www.fight-stream.com on Saturday October 3rd at 7:30pm EST 4:30pm PST for $7.99. Gabriel Gonzaga will be fighting on the show.

-- NWS returns to Manville, NJ on Saturday Night 10/10 with Sabu, The Sandman, Julio Dinero, a TLC match and more