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A pretty quiet weekend coming up.

We're looking for reports from last night's TNA house show in Clovis, NM, as well as tonight's show in Rio Rancho, MN and tomorrow night's show in Loveland, CO, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

WWE and ROH have the weekend off. Raw will be taped on Monday night in Worcester, MA with Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne as the guest hosts. ECW & Smackdown will be taped on Tuesday night in Providence, RI with Matt Hardy vs. Batista as the only match announced.

HDNet tonight at 10 p.m. will be airing a replay of the Dream show from 10/25. Tomorrow night at 10 p.m., HDNet will be airing for the first time the K-1 World Max Grand Prix finals, which last year may have been the best show of the year.

Smackdown tonight has:
* John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler AGAIN
* Chris Jericho vs. Kane
* Eric Escobar vs. Mat Hardy
* Fit Finlay vs. Drew McIntyre
* CM Punk vs. Scott Armstrong
* Diva PG Halloween Costume Contest. I hope they dress them in costumes like a ghost, where they are completely covered with a sheet, or a worm, where they obscure them completely with a tube.

With the full story on Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff going to TNA, including more on what the deal entails, what the deal is regarding television deals and a look at the biggest names in wrestling not with WWE and where they say they stand regarding the new TNA is our lead story of a double-issue coming out Monday.

The issue also includes a lengthy life and times piece on Lou Albano. The issue is available right now to web site members and can be ordered via weekly mail deliver with details below.

We talk about the Australia tours, Vince Russo, a new booker name that has surfaced, as well as a look at new talent and where they stand at press time.

We also look at Brock Lesnar pulling out of UFC 106, including when Dana White got the word, details on the illness and his training camp, as well as UFC plans from January of next year. We look at new matches coming up that will be main events, what top name is not interested in fighting right, and why new main events haven't been announced yet. We also look at the mega-match they were trying to build for the spring, where and why, and how Lesnar's pulling out of UFC affects the timing of that plan. We also update the situation with the Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans match.

We've got notes on the folding of a promotion that was once in the running for a long-term deal with Steve Austin, and had Bill Goldberg under contract after WCW.

We have a major look at the life and times of Captain Lou Albano. We look at his active career as a wrestler, how he became a manager, his first program as a manager and how it went including records set, we've got a list of all the men he managed to championships over his long career as well as awards.

We look at the cause of his death, comments from friends, family, people from his city and fellow wrestlers. We look at the Ivan Koloff title win over Bruno Sammartino and background of it, the emergence of the Grand Wizard and Fred Blassie as WWWF managers, violent fans, terrorizing Vince McMahon, the story behind the Cyndi Lauper angle and his importance in the rise of WWF.

We look at the WWF national expansion, the story behind "The Brawl to Settle it All" and "The War to Settle the Score," why there were no more MTV specials after that point, interesting notes about the Moolah vs. Richter match, the rise of Hulk Hogan as a celebrity outside the wrestling audience, the beginnings of Saturday Night's Main Event, the glory period of pro wrestling at Madison Square Garden, Albano's frequent firings, acting, his parents, his days as a real athlete, his breaking into pro wrestling, the gimmick that got him run out of town at a time when wrestling was on fire in Chicago, the real story behind his winning the tag team title in 1967, his record as a wrestler and manager in MSG, what all his matches were like, his role in major turns, the change of the business in the 80s, Albano as the media go-to-guy, and his falling out with Bruno Sammartino in real-life.

We also have more on the surprise resignation of Shane McMahon, including what happened, and why it appeared to happen, with thoughts from many in the company on his strengths and weaknesses and the Shane vs. Stephanie dynamic. We look at his attempts to run various companies and how they fell through, the plans for international expansion and his role that fell through, as well as what recent happening showed just how much power he had lost.

We've got full coverage of WWE building Survivor Series, thoughts on Bragging Rights both as a first show and doing forward, the Iron man match and what it told about Randy Orton and John Cena, a well as match-by-match coverage, business notes, star ratings and poll results on the show.

We also have a look at the Machida vs. Rua decision, how the three judges voted, how the public reacted, reaction from Machida, judges and why Machida won, how it was as a live show, match-by-match coverage including how much the fighters earned, business notes and poll results on the show.

We also have an update on the condition of Jim Ross, notes on the WWE announcing changes, notes about who attended WrestleMania this past year, notes on two WWE movies, notes on 2010 PPV shows, wrestler looking at a new career, plans to combat UFC, more on the Cena movie 12 Rounds, why the Smackdown team changed at Bragging Rights, a new angle idea, new WWE signing, Shad Gaspard talks about missing Smackdown, Bret Hart talks about his book, former WWE Diva rips on the company, notes on new giant that was signed, story behind Hornswoggle role on recent TV show, and house show notes.

We've also got notes on the total unknown who was chosen to headline the biggest show of the year, and why that is now in danger, as well as coverage of both the K-1 World Max tournament final and the most recent Dream show.

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.

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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.

-- Lots of UFC news and notes:
* Lyoto Machida needs surgery on one of his hands, so the immediate rematch with Shogun Rua has been delayed indefinitely
* Thiago Alves is hurt and has pulled out of his December 12th fight with Jon Fitch in Memphis
* Kurt Pellegrino vs. Frankie Edgar on December 5th in Las Vegas is also off as Pellegrino pulled out today with a back injury
* Anthony Johnson vs. Josh Koscheck is official for UFC 106
* Phil Baroni vs. Amir Sadollah has been moved to the UFC 106 main card
* Ring girl Natasha Wicks tries on sexy Halloween costumes here

-- Time Magazine has an interview with Hogan here. There are young fellows in TNA that don't understand the business or the art form and he needs to help them learn. I hope he's talking about the people who wrote last night's show.

-- A dude from the New York Times does a video interview with the Hulkster here. Nothing new, although it does include cut-ins to Hogan doing a nutty promo.

-- Kaval, AKA Low-Ki, returns to Florida Championship Wrestling tonight for the first time in almost a year.

-- Davey Richards has been booked for both DGUSA shows on WrestleMania weekend. That means he's off the Friday ROH show for sure and almost surely off Saturday unless both shows don't run head-to-head that day and he wants to work twice.

-- Some screen shots from the EA video game are up here. The company will be providing a first look at the game during the November 6th EA Sports press conference at the Chicago Sears Centre Arena.

-- Just a quick note that if you are a subscriber and you ever have a problem with your subscription, please email Admin Tony at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (his address can also be found by clicking Full Staff Contact Information at the bottom of the page). Most of these issues can be solved very quickly if you just send us an email. We will be adding a help section to the top of the main menu as well within the next few days.

-- Also, for those who have ordered a signed copy of Death of WCW and haven't received it yet, we ran out of books and a new shipment should be here any day, at which point they will be mailed out. If you'd like to order one, click here.

-- Clips of Awesome Kong on Hollywood Insider are up here. She has a meeting with Hulk and he puts her over.

-- Adam writes: Poor Kevin Nash should have checked some of the exchange rates of Iranian "dollars" or Rail in this case, because the 60,000 Rail he accepted for the Bound For Glory match is worth just a little above $6! Nash is definitely not the business man he use to be.

-- ROH is doing a DVD sale where you can save 35-40% with no minimum purchase at ROHwrestling.com.

-- Billy Evangelista and several others will be doing an open workout at the Gold's Gym in Fresno on Tuesday at 2:00 PM.

-- There will be no Inside MMA on HDNet as it's pre-empted for football.

-- Chyna was at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch party last weekend and was apparently so wasted that they had to ask her to leave.

-- WWE returns to the Oil Palace in Tyler, Texas on February 5th, 2010. Thanks to Devin Cutting.

-- The correct link to the Jim Cornette article yesterday in the Toledo Free Press is here.

-- Jerame on why this coming Monday's Raw rating is probably going to be pretty bad: The Yankees won tonight. That guarantees that Raw will be head-to-head with Monday Night Football and the World Series in most of the country for the entire show.

-- And it probably sucked to be TNA last night at the World Series last night did another 19 or so million viewers.

-- Line up for the upcoming WWE: History of the World Heavyweight Championship. Thanks to Susan Johnson.

Disc 1: Documentary & NWA Matches

Chapters:
*Origins of Wrestling
*"An American Hero" Frank Gotch
*Ed "Strangler" Lewis
*National Wrestling Alliance
*Lou Thesz
*Buddy Rogers
*New Breed of Champions
*1970s World Champions
*A Flair for the Gold
*Crockett's World Champion
*NWA to WCW
*WCW Withdraws From NWA
*Revolving WCW Champions
*The Undisputed Championship
*World Championship Returns
*Legacy Lives

Matches
*Chicago 1961 - 2 out of 3 Falls: Pat O'Connor vs. Buddy Rogers
*Florida 2/11/69 - Gene Kiniski vs. Dory Funk Jr.
*Florida 12/10/75 - Jack Brisco vs. Terry Funk
*Florida 8/21/79 - Harley Race vs. Dusty Rhodes
*AWA SuperClash - Ric Flair vs. Magnum TA
*Great American Bash '90 - Ric Flair vs. Sting

Disc 2 - WCW

*Clash of Champions XIV - Ric Flair vs. Scott Steiner
*Great American Bash '91 - Lex Luger vs. Barry Windham
*Baltimore 8/2/92 - Vader vs. Ron Simmons
*WCW Saturday Night 10/16/93 - Vader vs. Ricky Steamboat
*Halloween Havoc '94 - Career vs. Career Steel Cage Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair
*SuperBrawl VIII - Sting vs. Hollywood Hogan
*Nitro 7/6/98 - Hollywood Hogan vs. Goldberg
*Bash at the Beach '00 - Jeff Jarrett vs. Booker T
*No Mercy '01 - The Rock vs. Chris Jericho

Disc 3 - WWE
*Unforgiven '02 - Triple H vs. Rob Van Dam
*Taboo Tuesday '04 - Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels
*No Way Out '06 - Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker
*SmackDown 4/7/06 - Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
*Armageddon '07 - Batista vs. Undertaker vs. Edge
*Survivor Series '08 - John Cena vs. Chris Jericho
*Extreme Rules '09 - Ladder Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Edge

-- Poll on Ultimate Fighter
Excellent 30.1%
Good 45.9%
Average 13.0%
Fair 2.7%
Poor 8.2%

2009 Finals of the Best Wrestler of all-time
Ric Flair 42.5%
Bret Hart 37.9%
Kenta Kobashi 19.7%

What November PPV show are you the most interested in
UFC 106 Ortiz vs Griffin 33.2%
TNA Turning Point Styles vs. Joe vs. Daniels 25.9%
WWE Survivor Series Cena vs. Michaels vs. HHH 22.3%
Dragon Gate 11/6 18.6%

-- Patrick Lennon writes of a kickboxing death in the UK: Young firefighter Daniel Edmonds, who died after a kick-boxing tournament, had been competing in his first full contact match, his fire service said today. Mr Edmonds, 26, from Abbotts Langley, Hertfordshire, suffered head injuries in the tournament at the Lava & Ignite nightclub in Hemel Hempstead on Sunday.

-- Great Khali is a PERSON OF WAL-MART

-- Larry Matysik will be a guest on the Drunkcast today talking his new book, Drawing Heat the Hard Way: How Wrestling Really Works

-- Wrestling for a Cause presents: Pro Wrestling, Friday, October 30, 2009, Match Time: 7:30 pm. American Legion Seminole Post 111, 6918 North Florida Ave., Tampa, Florida

-- CZW Night of Infamy '09, Saturday, November 14th - 7pm, The CZW Arena, 7 W. Ritner St. - South Philly, PA.