| WED UPDATE: Stalking Hogan, pushing TNA, ratings, Lesnar v Carwin, WWE tweeting, Bryan wrestling |
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By Bryan Alvarez
Bryan Alvarez:
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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. 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. -- Dave not only had a computer crash that resulted in it being sent to the shop, but the power went out on his entire block as well. At least he didn't smash up the bumper of his Ferrari F430 like Dana White did today. As a result, this will be a shorter than usual daily update as we've got a show to record with guests booked at 4 PM PST. We'll catch up on news later today or tomorrow. Pretty much everything you need to know as of 5:00 AM Pacific time is in the new issue of the Observer that was just posted, including the very latest on Hulk Hogan and TNA. -- Speaking of Hulk, I was at a book signing he did in Lake Forest Park, WA yesterday. Hundreds of people showed up, and he asked most of them if they watched TNA, and if they said no he told them to check it out on Spike TV because he was about to head in, bring in a bunch of his guys, and turn the place upside down. He was pushing it much harder than I'd have expected. I have a 20 minute soliloquy on his appearance on last night's Bryan & Vinny Show. -- Dixie Carter today sent out a tweet saying that Hogan was tearing it up on the book tour, which would be in reference to the one I was at, and that he told her "the TNA response is on fire". Actually, well more than half the people said they didn't watch it or hadn't heard of it. -- Among the better moments was the girl who said she was a huge wrestling fan but then admitted that she'd never heard of RVD. Hogan asked if she started watching wrestling last week. -- Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin has been removed from the UFC 108 page on UFC.com. Not a good sign. Todd Duffee is also off UFC 107, so another one bites the dust. -- ECW last night did a 1.1. Vince Archer is the former Lance Hoyt of TNA fame. -- I doubt this has anything to do with what I wrote yesterday about Shad, but WWE talent has now been advised to limit their usage of Twitter and certainly stop using it after midnight. -- Just an addition to the story yesterday about Kurrgan in Sherlock Holmes. Everyone on the set loved him because he told old-school wrestling stories, but then they stopped loving him so much after he accidentally punched Robert Downey Jr. and nearly broke his jaw. -- In an update from yesterday, all signed copies of Death of WCW were mailed out today. We still have additional signed copies available here. -- A lot of the WWE guys are talking about how they'd love to go to UFC in Manchester since they'll be touring that same week.
-- Regarding the story about Hulk Hogan teaching Vince McMahon how to lift weights, Larry Matysik in his new book, Drawing Heat the Hard Way: How Wrestling Really Works -- Sean Morley, aka Val Venis, called CMLL yesterday and told him that he wasn't going to be coming back after all due to "personal reasons". -- For those in the area I will be wrestling this Saturday night at the Pacific Rim in Marysville, WA for Tulalip Championship Wrestling. More info is up here. Becca from MTV Made will be appearing at the show as well. I plan on showing her how to take a monkey flip. Several people from the website are going, including I believe Vinny and Craig, so hopefully more of you can make it out. I'll also be working the November 14th show at the Tulalip Tribal Center, 6700 Totem Beach Road. -- Bret Hart will be a live guest on The FDH Lounge with Rick Morris on SportsTalk Network.com tonight at 7pm ET to promote his book coming out in paperback. Thanks to Steve. -- There is an article on Fedor in today's Chicago Sun Times. Didn't get a link for it. -- Front Row Wrestling returns to the American Legion on 93 Easter Ave in Rochester, NH on Friday, Nov. 6th with a bell time of 8pm. -- Batista to host music awards
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