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        We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's WWE Bragging Rights PPV as well as last night's UFC 104, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

        We're also looking for reports live from Pittsburgh tonight with any dark matches, attendance, etc., as well as from last night's TNA house show in Racine, WI, and today's TNA house show in Green Bay.

 

        Tonight's lineup

*Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly & Melina vs. Natalya & Michelle McCool & Beth Phoenix - Probably should be at least decent filler as they have the best athletic women on the roster in there.  Well, that and Kelly Kelly.

*John Morrison vs. The Miz - Neither the IC or U.S. title are at stake.  But should be a strong match

*Undertaker vs. Batista vs. Rey Mysterio vs. C.M. Punk for the World title.  Undertaker shouldn't retain for all the reasons given when he won it three weeks ago.  Any result is possible because I can see them not wanting to take it so quickly from Undertaker, but Batista needs a heel turn and having the belt and stealing the win is a way to get it started.  Punk did well as champion and it was taken too soon.  Match should be good if it's not to unwieldy

*Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a 60:00 Iron man match for the WWE title.  If Orton wins, then Cena must leave Raw.  Logic has Cena winning, and since they changed two titles three weeks ago, you'd think they wouldn't want to change two again here.  But it's a heavy stip and putting Cena on the lower rated show to me doesn't make business sense.  Ted DiBiase costing Orton the match seems like a finish one would consider.

*Team Raw:  DX & Mark Henry & Big Show & Jack Swagger & Kofi Kingston & Cody Rhodes vs. Team Smackdown:  Chris Jericho & Kane & Matt Hardy & Fit Finlay & R-Truth & Hart Dynasty.  Should be fast paced and you'd hope the team that loses will implode to lead to new angles on the show.  That's why I can see Team Raw losing, because everyone expects them to win.           

 

Live coverage of the show starts tonight on the site at 8 p.m. 

 

        Raw runs in Buffalo tomorrow live coming off tonight's PPV.  Smackdown and ECW will be taped on Tuesday night in Rochester, NY, with Christian vs. Yoshi Tatsu for the ECW title as the ECW main event.

 

        A look at Shane McMahon's departure from WWE with comments from several people who have worked with him in recent years, possible future, and analysis is the lead story in tomorrow's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

 

        The issue looks at his resignation, the reaction of Vince McMahon, and possible reasons why this is taking place now.  We also look back historically at several different times when Shane McMahon was expected to run a promotion and that in all cases for a variety of different reasons it never materialized.  We look at what league he is in financially when it comes to being able to start a franchise.

 

        We look at what he would and wouldn't bring to a new venture, reactions to his job running a division from both the inside and outside, and a look at people in other businesses in similar situations.

       

        Monday's issue is available right now to web site subscribers.  You can also get the Observer by mail subscription with details below.

 

        We have a huge feature on the life and times of Lou Albano that will be out next week.

 

        We've got a look at where TNA stands after Bound for Glory, including the pros and cons of the current direction.  We look at the problems continuing with the company's inability to get paying customers, even to its biggest show of the year.

 

        We look at the Kim Couture angle and why it's doomed to fail, the injuries on the show, how everything builds to Turning Point as well as a TNA major main event scheduled for after.

 

        We've got notes on the signing of Nigel McGuinness and how it happened and why he is in the main event picture so quickly, as well as notes on the short-term direction of Kurt Angle and Mick Foley.

 

        We also have an updated Turning Point lineup, match-by-match coverage with star ratings for Bound for Glory as well as poll results on the show.

 

        We also have the story behind the changing of the main event at Bragging Rights.  We also look at the funny story to some, but not to at least one of the participants who ended up not there, regarding the match where the Smackdown team changed.

 

        We've got notes on Jerry Lawler's reaction to the Memphis mayoral race, one of the last significant business deals put together by Shane McMahon that will affect PPV buys, Maria Menounos talks about being a wrestling fan, notes on the change to Kofi Kingston, John Cena being pulled from house shows soon, several WWE surveys regarding PPV numbers being down as well as the effect of MMA.

 

        We've got a major story on Linda McMahon's political campaign, including the early days and involvement of pro wrestling, as well as new places her comebacks have made her vulnerable to opposition.

 

        We also have notes regarding two Hall of Famers who are in talks about guest hosting Raw and updates on time frames they are looking at.  We've got funny notes on WWE booking, updates on FCW, Punk talking about who he wants to face at WrestleMania and hints at a stipulation, as well as a rundown on all the weekend WWE events, including some huge shows in Mexico.  We also have notes on how WWE has changed the Mexico landscape and scary numbers for the locals with the new ratings being released.

 

        We also look at names announced for what will be most likely the most-watched television event of the year worldwide, the annual New Year's Eve Dynamite show.  We look at who has been chosen for the main event, what matches are scheduled and what four major pro wrestlers are headlining.

 

        We have an update on Jim Ross, notes on his Bell's Palsy attack as well as a look back at his past history with the malady, how it has affected his career, a look at his career dating back 35 years, and how, in various situations, he was brought back after the decision was made to take him off announcing, including what two wrestlers got him back in 1999, and how fan reaction at a show literally saved his job two years ago, update on his negotiations, as well as why he ended up with WWF and the strange circumstances of the announcement.

 

        We've also got the updated business charts for WWE and TNA, looking at the summer with live attendance, gates, ratings of all the major TV shows, and PPV buys for both companies, so you can see where things are up and where things are down.  We look at the first month where WWE showed a PPV increase, but how it is tempered by SummerSlam numbers.

 

        We also look at a new promotion debuting in April that already has a three-pronged television deal for MMA, which will include weekly two-plus hour live shows on national television, as well as a major network recap show.  We look at the schedule, as well as the viability of the project, and the format.

 

        We've got a story on the death of longtime Japanese journeyman wrestler Ryuma Go, including how and why he got one of the biggest reactions on what can be argued was the biggest show, in terms of talent, in pro wrestling history that took place in 1995.  We look at a wrestler who started at the age of 15, and went all over the world, and at one time was a cult television star in Japan.  We also look back on his most famous program, where he ended a famous winning streak in a match 30 years ago this month that is still widely remembered in Japan.

 

         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.

 

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Also in this week's issue:

 

--Former WWE star returning in two weeks to Mexico

 

--CMLL brings back one of the most well known Luchadores

 

--Grizzly murder of a wrestler

 

--Latest from AAA TV tapings

 

--Notes on first Perros Del Mal show

 

--A national sports hero coming in for a managing role on a big show

 

--Former star from another sport now holds title belts in two different promotions simultaneously

 

--Notes on the Misawa Memorial show

 

--Update on NOAH junior heavyweight tournament including a huge upset featuring an ROH star beating one of the top stars in the world

 

--Update on New Japan tag tournament

 

--One of the two or three biggest stars of the last 30 years has secret surgery

 

--Hall of Fame wrestler announces this week he is running for Governor

 

--Notes on former indie wrestling star making his pro boxing debut soon

 

--Bill Goldberg and others in a look at the most requested wrestlers by overseas promoters

 

--More on the funeral and death of B.J. Race

 

--A women who has lifts in some cases ahead of those of Mark Henry is now a pro wrestling champion

 

--Son of 90s legend scheduled to debut in two weeks

 

--Updated talk on the effect of concussions in sports and Chris Nowinski talks about WWE 

 

--Torrie Wilson updates an explains her recent hospitalization

 

--Update on Hulkamania ticket sales

 

--How WWE is forcing changes to the tour

 

--Notes from Hulk Hogan's new autobiography with some interesting stories

 

--Third generation wrestler and brother of WWE star looks to be starting as a pro wrestler

 

--Update on Boogeyman

 

--New ROH matches

 

--Where TNA has its most popularity

 

--Notes on how TNA and Jakks Pacific are pushing their new product line

 

--Notes on next round of TNA action figures

 

--Update on Mr. Kennedy

 

--Sting talks retirement

 

--Notes on TNA Impacts and where they lead

 

--UFC plans for 2010

 

--Notes on the UFC debut in Australia

 

--Is UFC for sale?

 

--Update on UFC and Dan Henderson as well as where all the 1/2 main events stand

 

--Notes on the UFC show lineup going head-to-head with Raw, including a potential major counter by WWE

 

--Lots of new UFC matches signed

 

--Former UFC star talks about steroid use of early MMA names

 

--Notes on big shows in Japan on U.S. TV

 

--One of the most horrid crimes ever by a fighter and a television show coming next week detailing it      

 

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--Just for the record, everyone near me at press row scored the fight for Shogun Rua.  When they announced the winner, I had 0% doubt in my mind Shogun was winning the title.  Shogun and his corner believed he had won all five rounds, and there were people who had that opinion at press row, although most had it 49-46 or 48-47 for Rua.  Several people were already writing articles on Shogun having won the title.  ESPN.com actually had the headline go live that Shogun won the title.  Dana White said they would do a rematch immediately, which they have to do.  It would be when Machida's injuries from the fight would heal up.  There were people who thought Machida won, but they were the minority and the crowd, which hated Rua at the start, had turned to him by the second round and most were in shock at the decision. 

 

--We will have our usual post-PPV recap tonight after Bragging Rights, as well as answering questions so you can send questions to the address on the home page and we'll get to as many as possible. 

 

--There is a long Bret Hart interview at http://www.nzpwi.co/nz  He talks about the lack of reaction to his book from wrestlers.  He noted that he still hasn't heard one word from HHH or Shawn Michaels in the past 12 years.  He said he was blown away by Michaels vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania this year but he's not a fan of them reviving the DX gimmick.  He also brought up the idea of being a guest host on Raw and said he was open to the idea, but DX would have to be discussed first.  He loves Randy Orton (his favorite current wrestlers are Orton & A.J. Styles) but isn't a fan of how he's being booked.  He also praised Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio as workers.

 

--Jim Ross on his blog noted he did attend the Oklahoma vs. Kansas game live yesterday, but he doesn't have a timetable for a return.  He hinted at Miz vs. Morrison opening the show, but my impression is that's what he would do and not necessarily that is what is being done.

 

--At today's Colts vs. Rams game, one of the announcers praised James Laurinaitis, saying how he was telling them at their production meeting he would go to broadcast footage of games and listen for cues and timing when he scouted the opposing quarterbacks.  One of the commentators called him the smartest NFL player he's ever spoken with, and talks like he's a ten-year vet instead of a rookie (thanks to Denny Burkholder)        

 

--Congrats to Gabe Sapolsky and his family on the birth of his first child yesterday, his son. 

 

--Poll on Impact

Excellent 45.8%

Good 34.9%

Average 11.2%

Fair 2.8%

Poor 5.2%

        29.1% of those responding didn't see the show.  Great results. 

 

--Poll on Superstars

Excellent 11.0%

Good 22.0%

Average 29.3%

Fair 7.3%

Poor 30.5%

        64.0% of those responding didn't see the show

 

--Who is the best wrestler of this group of Hall of Famers?

Kenta Kobashi 40.0%

Mitsuharu Misawa 39.1%

Cowboy Bill Watts 11.1%

Tatsumi Fujinami 9.8%

 

--There is an Ultimate Fighter marathon from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. tomorrow on Spike

 

--A note on New England prelim wrestler Jerry Seavey who we wrote about a few days ago.  Seavey was never on tour with WWE as he claimed in an article, but he did some TV jobs when they would come to the Northeast.  Told he was pretty bad, although a nice guy personally.

 

--Almost all the betting in the Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin fight is coming in on Griffin, who because of it, went from being a slight underdog to a heavy favorite.

 

--Hulk Hogan will be in New York on Tuesday for his book promotion tour.  He'll be on The Today Show on Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. talking about his attempt at suicide.  He'll be doing a Q&A in Madison Square Garden in the mall at 2 p.m.

 

--Fortune Magazine listed Merideth Whitney, the wife of JBL, as one of its Top 40 in U.S. finance who are under the age of 40 

 

--A preview for tomorrow's Raw in the Buffalo News with an interview with Donna Goldsmith at http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/837532.html  Usual stuff about the change to PG 13 and using celebrities to boost the Raw number.

 

--Story on C.M. Punk visiting sick children on his day off at http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_649577.html

 

--Very sorry to hear about the death of Shiloh Pepin, at the age of 10,  passed away on Friday.  She garnered national attention for living with so many birth defects and was called "The Mermaid Girl" because of it.  Several in wrestling, including Karl Lauer at Cauliflower Alley, John Cena Sr., Superstar Billy Graham and New England promoter Dan Mirade worked hard on fund raising events for her, and got her to attend the Backlash PPV in April, and raised $1,800 to get her to summer camp.

 

--Tri-State Wrestling Alliance reunion last night in Voorhees, NJ before 300 fans:  Blue Meanie & Crybaby Waldo & Kid
America b Cue Ball Carmichael & Jimmy Cicero & Johnny Calzone, Michael Bruno b Don E. Allen, Cujo the Hellhound b Brian Rancid, Al Snow b Steve Corino (using head), Larry Winters b Jimmy Jannetty, Tony Stetson b Breaker Morant, Glen Osbourne b Buddy Landel to win  TWA title (he was the last champ when the company closed in 1992.  They announced a 12/8 date.  Original TWA promoter Joel Goodhart was there and announced an eight-man Battle Royal for the next show (thanks to Frank Douglas)

 

--Newsday on page A57, but not on the web site, has an article on Tito Ortiz. 

 

--The New York Daily News at http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2009/10/24/2009-10-24-_class_dismissed_binghamton.html?page=2 has Bernard Hopkins calling MMA "two grown men wrestling with panties on" from boxingscene.com and Dana White saying, "Boxing can coexist with MMA.  Bernard, don't ask for $15 million next time you fight.  Stack a card. Don't ask for crazy ridiculous money when you guys will go out there, run around in circles, and not fight anyway."

 

--Patrick Reusse has a story about Brett Rogers in today's Minneapolis Star-Tribune at http://www.startribune.com/sports/65915132.html?page=1&c=y (thanks to Kyle Wolf) 

 

--USWO from Friday night in Nashville before 68 fans:  Psycho Medic b Dyron Flynn, Steven Green & Travis Star & Chic Canyon & Convict, L.T. Falk b Bryan Casey, Shane Smalls b Bad Boy Dixon, Damien Payne & Josh Crowe b Kevin Dunn & Matt Korbaine, Shaun Tempers b L.T. Falk, Ace Rockwell b Mitch Ryder, Tommy Mercer b Chris Michaels   (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)

 

--Lucha Libre from Friday night in El Paso:  Principe Red d Drako, Metro & Pequeno Suicida b Hermes Jr. & Duke, Maquina 45 Jr. & Black Panther b Scorpio Jr. & Peluchin Maldad, Takeda & Muneco Infenal & Crazy Boy 32 b Rocky Santana & Cinta de Oro & Tigre Sagrado-DQ, Hijo del Santo & Cassandro & Mr. Leo b Mystico & Bestia Jr. & Pierroth II.  Santo was given a cake and a plaque to commemorate 27 years in pro wrestling. (thanks to Albert Cerda)

 

--A story on former pro wrestler John King, whose trailer was wiped out by Hurricane Wilma is at http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1298285.html

 

--That Paul Heyman deal accusing Rhianna of stealing the old ECW album cover is getting pub all over the world on gossip sites 

 

--Peter Stasko at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is looking for tapes of the ROH weekly shows.

 

--The movie "Ultimate Death Match" is being filmed on Tuesday at the Davis Arena in Louisville.  Among those in the movie are Al Snow, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, X-Pac, Sabu, Sandman, Kid Kash, Dan Severn and more. 

 

--Best Buy has a WWE Raw video game deal which gives you a $10 rebate if you purchase a PPV show, and give him a $5 rebate for another gift.

 

--Greg Valentine appears at Pizza Party '09 on 11/8 at 6 p.m.  For more info call Michaelle at 513-225-9617

 

--XICW in Detroit was featured on WWJ radio and there is a video on the Detroit Free Press site at www.freep.com/express

 

--Showtime All-Star Wrestling from last night in Millersville, TN:  David Young b Aiden Scott, Drew Haskins b Vordell Walker, Rick Santel b Flash Flanagan-DQ.  Next show is Saturday night with Andy Douglas vs. Chase Stevens in a ladder match

 

--Ashley Massaro was at Arena Mexico on Friday night with some Playboy Playmates promoting a Spanish version of Playboy.  She said it's great to be back working in wrestling and she's getting into contact with Paco Alonso about wrestling more regularly in Japan.

 

--Today in Mexico City.  Guadalajara has El Hijo del Fantasma & Mistico & Strong Man vs. Dragon Rojo & Negro Casas & Mr. Niebla.  Arena Mexico has Brazo de Plata & Hector Garza & Shocker vs. Ray Mendoza Jr. & Tetsuya Naito &Yujiro.  Tlahuac has Juventud Guerrera & Charly Manson & Alebrije vs. Histeria & Monsther & Psicosis (thanks to Kris Zellner)

 

--Mike Motley at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is looking to get in touch with Cory Van Kleeck and Anthony Sullivan

 

--Grame Shelvey noted he was watching Dream earlier today at a sports bar near Tokyo and the cocktail menu listed drinks called Nogueira, Mirko, Silva, Josh, Fedor, Baka Survivor (Aoki) and Ikuhisa Minowa.

 

--XICW on 11/15 in Warren, MI at The Ritz with DBA vs. Necro Butcher 

 

--Southern States Wrestling on Friday night in Kingsport, TN before only 32 paid and 40 total:  Shane Royal d D.P. Holiday, Jamey Gibson b Nathan Stiles, Barry Rudge & Scott Dee b Brian & Jerry Stone, Ray Idol b Bobo Brown, Misty James b Rebecca Lynn-DQ, Beau James & Ricky Morton b Jamey Gibson & D.P. Holiday.  They have a free show on 10/31 in Kingsport at the Calvary Baptist Church and a regular show 11/6 in Kingsport at the Boys and Girls Club