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| Updated: Saturday November 21st, 2009 09:56:37 AM PST |
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| THURS. UPDATE: TUF RATINGS UPDATE; JEFF HARDY'S CASE; MATT HARDY FOOLS EVERYONE; CELEB RAW HOST |
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TNA Impact tonight on Spike: *Five way ladder match for an X division title shot with Sheik Abdul Bashir, Amazing Red, Kiyoshi, Consequences Creed and Jay Lethal *Kevin Nash vs. Dr. Stevie *Christy Hemme vs. Traci Brooks in the Battle of Playboy Playmates *ODB vs. Awesome Kong for Knockouts title *Hernandez vs. Kurt Angle *Matt Morgan vs. Eric Young *Team 3-D & Bobby Lashley vs. Doug Williams & Brutus Magnus & Rhino Said to be a pretty good show. Superstars tonight on WGN America: *Tyler Reks vs. Sheamus (they taped two matches so evidently this will be the match deemed the better of the two) *Shad Gaspard vs. Tyson Kidd *Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz for the U.S. title A look at symbolic end of eras for Pro Wrestling NOAH, K-1 and Ring of Honor on shows over the weekend is our lead story in Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. With a big week of international news, we look at all the major events including the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial show at Budokan Hall, and its significance. We look at how K-1's show in Seoul, South Korea ended a last link to the glory days of that promotion. And we talk about the departure of Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness, with their final two matches in Ring of Honor, as well as the hiring of Jim Cornette, and that promotion going forward. We also talk about the 9/19 PPV battle with HBO boxing vs. UFC, which updated numbers. We look at the many lessons that the weekend showed. We look at what Mayweather's camp credited his increase in drawing power to. We also look at three more major battles involving boxing, UFC, Strikeforce and WWE over the next two months as the competition for PPV dollars only increases. We have updates on TNA's Bound for Glory with several matches not yet announced, a change with a major TNA group, reaction to Jim Cornette being gone as well as how the tapings last week went without him, and notes on the futures of Vince Russo and Jeff Jarrett, as well as an update on booking and TNA's problems with a longtime media supporter. We also update Bobby Lashley's MMA situation including why he has no new fights scheduled, what show he's been told he's on, but probably isn't and why this would be. We also look at a note on TNA attempting to get one of the greatest wrestlers in history to make an appearance at Bound for Glory in one of its already scheduled matches. We also look at a movie with three onetime major wrestling stars in it, including the roles they play, and have notes on TNA's international shows. We also have notes on Dana White talking about Herschel Walker, talks regarding the return of an MMA icon to UFC and why right now it's not happening, lots of new UFC matches being signed, Tito Ortiz talks promos and pro wrestling, as well as trash talk between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. We also have updates on the Strikeforce show on CBS. We've got more notes on Linda McMahon and Jerry Lawler running for office, WWE's COO talks more about the success of UFC, one of the reasons why Raw has been lackluster of late as well as why creative has so many inherent problems, a major angle that was put on hold and a lawsuit filed by a former WWF champion against the company. We also look at the announced retirement of the person who was a major pioneer in Japanese MMA. We also look back at Lester Welch, as well as a background of the Fuller/Welch/Golden/Fields wrestling family in the Southeast, looking back on the famous war in Atlanta. We look back at the first pro wrestling show ever held at the Omni in Atlanta, as well as the first sold out pro wrestling event at the Omni. We also look at how Lester Welch was responsible for the worked home town of one of the WWWF's biggest all-time stars. We also have a look at AAA's Antonio Pena Memorial Show and the major storyline angle, as well as the return of a major star and what happened in negotiations with ex-WWE talent, as well as a more detailed look at the CMLL Anniversary show, as well as coverage of the last UFC Fight Night. We also have a look at the ratings for all the major pro wrestling and MMA shows on television over the past week. 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 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 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. Also in this week's issues: --Promoter says he'll have a new TV deal within weeks --Mistico vs. Jushin Liger for the IWGP jr. title --Major annual tournament's entire idea gets thwarted --Lots of attempts from promotions to recruit stars from other promotions --Promotion following WWE's lead as well as concepts knowing they have to battle WWE --International promotion gets high recommendations regarding ROH stars from its wrestlers --Notes on Satoshi Kojima winning the Triple Crown plus former ECW wrestlers vs. former WCW wrestler battle for championship --Worked rematch of a legendary shoot match from 15 years ago --One of the world's all-time fattest tag team champions and it's not Team 3-D --A look at the NOAH jr. tournament --Longtime Japanese stars undergoes major surgery and will be out for a while --IWGP heavyweight title change --One of Japan's most famous athletes, who was the inspiration of the character of a multi-time WWF champion, makes his debut on a pro wrestling show next week --The teams in the annual G-1 Climax tag team tournament --Notes on the world wrestling championships held this past week --Update on the Hulkamania tour --Hulk Hogan goes off on Vince Russo and talks Chris Jericho --Dwayne Johnson's upcoming projects --Legends and Japanese headliner at a training camp this week --Trish Stratus video game --Former WCW and WWE wrestler taken to jail last week --ROH business updates --A look at the big ROH weekend shows, behind the scenes, problems with tickets in New York, Bret Hart and more --Update on Sting's contract situation --TNA announcing --Two upcoming TNA television specials on Spike --Tito Ortiz talks past pain killer issues as well as building matches --Promotion switches its style of ring --Olympic silver medalist makes debut this past week and what happened --Movie scheduled regarding bank robbery by former MMA star --And another MMA star tries to copy that bank robbery in real life this past week --Chris Jericho talks brand extension and praises news stars, and warns against what killed WCW --Jericho's ten best performers in Smackdown history --Pat Patterson tribute show --Who was under the mask as the fake Cedric the Entertainer --WWE stars and text messaging --A look at the WWE international events of the past week 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 18 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial 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. We also 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. --We don't have last night's actual Ultimate Fighter rating, but it will be almost surely the largest in history. 5.3 million viewers would indicate a number between probably 3.5 and 4.0. The replay did another 1.5 million viewers. Essentially out of out every 12 Male 18-34 in the U.S. last night watched either the live or replay show, comparable to probably the biggest sporting events in our culture other than NFL championship level games. The rating will be updated in the story on the rating already up on the site. The fight sucked but the company's editing of the television show to remake Kimbo from this world's toughest street fight to a likeable newcomer just learning was very well done. Plus, they know who is drawing because the show ended with a tease that someone could be injured and he could come back. --Jeff Hardy's case was continued until 11/4 at his hearing yesterday. --Matt Hardy claimed that he was not sending a message in the middle of the night after the show about being upset about his booking plight when he said he was exhausted from being punished because of someone else's sins. He said the tweet was to fool reporters on the Internet and in fact, what he meant was that he was mad because at dinner after the show, that some of the guys shorted the server on the tip and he made up for it and that's what the line was in reference to. He said he bet someone that we would pick up on it and believe it to be related to something else and won the bet. Matt said, "It's not surprising that I won the bet, it's exactly what I anticipated happening. Just another example of how they're looking for any comment they can to translate however into hits for their site and reader views." Not as easily amused was the company. Even though Hardy may very well be telling the truth, as he was part of a huge party of wrestlers eating at Kowloon's outside of Boston Tuesday night, two different sources internally noted people not happy with him, with one outright saying they were extremely skeptical of his story and the other saying they didn't believe his story, thought it was a cover up, and they felt he really meant what everyone reading it thought he meant. Hopefully he called Vince at 2:30 a.m. in his room to let him know the real truth before the rest of the company woke up and read it. Oh well. --The Boston Herald at http://www.bostonherald.com/ had a story on how the folks at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel were to handle Vince McMahon. All company rooms have to be pre-keyed (so nobody has to waste time checking in) and every room has to be non-smoking. That's hilarious. Because Vince detests cigarette smoke, even the guys who do smoke have to have non-smoking rooms. It also noted names of some of more than 70 wrestlers eating with Matt Hardy at Kowloon's after the show. --I don't know why this would be the case, but there is a lot that is hard to figure out, but early this morning before the TUF rating came out there was fear from creative that the shit will hit the fan and things will change if TUF beat Raw in the ratings this week, as ended up happening. That makes no sense. Raw got hammered by going head-up against the 7th most watched regular TV show in the history of cable (the Cowboys game). And it's not like TUF beating Raw would be indicative of a new pattern emerging like Nitro beating Raw, but is likely a fluke that will happen rarely if ever again. --Ice-T and wife Coco said WWE called them about hosting Raw and they are trying to work it into their schedule and said it is more than likely to happen later this fall (thanks to Monday Night Mayhem radio) --Hulk Hogan is signing copies of his new book, "My Life Outside the Ring" on 10/27 at 12:30 p.m. at Barnes & Nobles on Fifth Avenue in New York, 10/27 at 5 p.m. at Barnes & Nobles at the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, NY; 10/29 at 7 p.m. at Borders at North Michigan in Chicago; 10/30 at 6 p.m. at the Barnes & Nobles at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN; 11/5 at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Nobles on Grove Dr. in Los Angels, and 11/6 at 7 p.m. at Book Soup on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, CA (thanks to Michael Kraus) --Of the next set of major events, what are you most looking forward to? UFC 106 Lesnar vs. Carwin 53.7% WWE Survivor Series 10.1% WWE Hell in a Cell 9.2% TNA Bound for Glory 7.9% Strikeforce on CBS Fedor vs. Rogers 7.5% UFC 104 Machida vs. Rua 5.8% UFC 105 Couture vs. Vera 2.4% WEC Brown vs. Aldo 1.3% Dream 10/6 0.9% WWE Bragging Rights 0.9% WEC 10/10 Henderson vs. Cerrone 0.2% --What do you consider the top international promotion? New Japan Pro Wrestling 29.1% Dragon Gate 25.3% Pro Wrestling NOAH 18.2% AAA 14.4% CMLL 9.8% All Japan 3.2% --Which of these Hall of Famers do you consider the best wrestler? Kurt Angle 44.2% Steve Austin 39.6% Nick Bockwinkel 11.7% Farmer Burns 2.9% Fritz Von Erich 1.5% --Not only is Colt Toombs, Roddy Piper's son, fighting at 145 pounds on tomorrow night's Sportfight show at the Spirit Mountain Casino outside of Portland, facing Matt Slosser, but Randy Couture's son, Ryan Couture, faces Nick Albert in a 155 pound weight class fight. Enoch Wilson vs Chad Nelson headlines. --Maxim Magazine had a list of 100 people to follow on Twitter at http://www.maxim.com/humor/stupid-fun/84357/100-twitter-accounts-every-gu y-should-follow.html?p=5 and No. 7 was the Iron Sheik --Cris Cyborg suffered a shoulder injury competing in the Abu Dhabi grappling tournament in Barcelona, Spain over the weekend and is now doubtful for the 11/7 Strikeforce show on CBS. There was talk of Cyborg defending her title against Merloes Coenen, although the match was not finalized. --In yesterday's report, when noting the taping of the WWE 24/7 Legends roundtable show, Joey Styles was there to host the shows and not serve on the panel. Jim Ross, who was to host, was on the panel with J.J. Dillon, Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes. Bill Watts missed the taping over travel issues. --We're going to have a crash course in Japanese K-1 with the biggest events of the year coming over the next two months with announcer Michael Schiavello on a special edition of Wrestling Observer radio. The big events all air both live in the middle of the night, as well as a next day prime time replay on HDNet. --The TNA European tour continues with shows tomorrow night in Zurich and Saturday night in Dublin. We're looking for reports on those events. --Larry Matysik has a book signing on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Borders in Fairview Heights, IL for his book "Drawing Heat The Hard ay." KZQZ (1430 AM) in St. Louis will broadcast a St. Louis nostalgia wrestling show live from the signing at 11 a.m. --Here's a crazy one. Jonathan Sarpolis was watching ESPN yesterday and saw a commercial plugging the WEC show on Versus with Miguel Torres vs. Brian Bowles. The fight took place on 8/9. --TNA in Wayne, NJ on 11/13 headlined by A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe, plus Sara Del Rey will appear on TNA in a singles match defending her Jersey All Pro Wrestling women's title against a woman on the TNA roster. --The Boston Globe web site has a photo feature on Smackdown's Tuesday tapings at http://www.boston.com/thingstodo/gallery/29/smackdown/ --Jim Cornette will be appearing on the 10/9 ROH show in Collinsville, IL and the 10/10 show in Indianapolis, and will be doing preshow autograph sessions at both events as well as selling his Midnight Express books and DVD. --Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has refused to comment on Ben Roethlisberger hosting Raw on Monday. Roethlisberger, who usually talks to reporters every Wednesday, refused to answer any questions yesterday. One of many stories on it is at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/63043867.html --Warriors in Combat 8 man no gi grappling tournament with a $2,500 prize package takes place Saturday at the Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee, MA. This event will be on the Internet at www.fight-stream.com and feature a singles grappling main event of Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Roberto Alencar --In Your Face Wrestling on 10/10 in Ballston Spa, NY at the Community Center --Tuesday night in Guadalajara: In Memoria & Relampago Azul b Divino & Meteoro, Angel del Mal & Dragon b Idolo & Metatron, Gallo & Palacio Negro b Malefico & Rey Trueno, Mictlan & Rouge b Shigeo Okumura & Virus, El Terrible & Ephesto & El Texano Jr. b Maximo & Toscano & Shocker --Konnan & Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Mesias & Cibernetico headline tonight in Ensenada, Mexico --AAA has a show on 10/22 in Dallas at Escapade 2001 Night Club with Jack Evans & La Parka & Laredo Kid vs. Silver King & Teddy Hart & Dark Ozz (thanks to Kris Zellner) --Rubber Guard Radio anniversary show at http://www.angrymarks.com/index.php?ArticleID=8376 --Pro Wrestling Ohio on 10/11 at the Cleveland I.X. Center features a meet and greet with Greg Valentine, King Kong Bundy and Brutus Beefcake. Beefcake & Valentine team up in the main event. And Gray Maynard and Dolph Ziggler's high school wrestling teammate Mike Tolar faces Johnny Gargano for the PWO title --A bunch of wrestling names, including Al Snow, Sojo Bolt, Roni Jonah and Cyndi "Bobcat" Snow are in a movie called The Legacy" about a group of young people on a camping vacation stalked by an unknown psycho. --Luke Rockhold vs. Jesse "Little John McCarthy" Taylor has been added to the 11/6 Strikeforce show in Fresno. Yes, they are doing shows that week on a Friday night in Fresno and Saturday night in Chicago. |
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