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        We're looking for your thoughts on both last night's Dragon Gate USA PPV and tonight's Strikeforce on CBS shows, 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 looking for reports on last night's Raw house show in Newcastle, England and TNA show in Murray, KY, as well as tonight's Raw show in Minehead, England, Smackdown show in Dusseldorf, Germany, TNA in Tupelo, MS (A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe) and ROH in Edison, NJ (Kevin Steen & El Generico vs. Davey Richards & Chris Hero; Tyler Black vs. Kenny King; Roderick Strong vs. Delirious).
 
        Strikeforce on CBS begins at 9 p.m. Eastern as well as 9 p.m. Pacific time on West Coast tape delay:
Prelim matches
Christian Uflacker (1-0, 156) vs. Jonatas Novaes (4-2, 155.5)
Louis Taylor (4-0, 185.5) vs. Nate Moore (5-1, 184)
John Kolosci (10-5, 171) vs. Shamar Bailey (9-1, 170)
Jeff Curran (31-12-1, 145) vs. Dustin Neace (18-14-1, 149.6)
Mark Miller (9-5, 171) vs. Deray Davis (5-1-1, 170.5)
Marloes Coenen (16-3, 145) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (13-4, 140) to determine top contender for Cris Cyborg's women's title for a match scheduled for January
Live matches
Antonio Silva (13-1, 263) vs. Fabricio Werdum (12-4-1, 242)
Gegard Mousasi (29-2-1, 205) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4, 204)
Jake Shields (23-4-1, 184.5) vs. Jason Miller (22-6, 184) for Strikeforce middleweight title
Fedor Emelianenko (30-1, 1 no contest, 232) vs. Brett Rogers (10-0, 264)
 
        The Sengoku show (results are up on the site, said to be a good show) from Sumo Hall in Tokyo that took place earlier today airs a prime time replay at 8 p.m. Eastern tonight (5 p.m Pacific) on HDNet.
 
        In competition, UFC has six straight hours on Spike tonight.  At 7 p.m. will be Sean Sherk vs. Benji Radach, Karo Parisyan vs. Nick Diaz and Georges St. Pierre vs. Frank Trigg.  At 8 p.m. will be a one hour special on the Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva fight.  From 9-11 p.m., and replayed from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., will be Main Event night airing the recent Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, B.J. Penn vs. Kenny Florian, Anderson Silva vs Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort fights that have headlined UFC 101, UFC 102 and UFC 103.
 
        Tomorrow has WWE house shows in Liverpool and Nottingham, England, and TNA in Jackson, TN.
 
        Monday has Raw TV tapings in Sheffield, England with Ricky Hatton as guest host and Smackdown in Cardiff, Wales, plus TNA is running in Nashville featuring former NFL star Frank Wycheck wrestling on the show.
 
        Tuesday has Smackdown & ECW tapings in Sheffield, England, with Christian defending the ECW title against William Regal and John Morrison defending the IC title against Dolph Ziggler as two matches announced, plus Undertaker vs. C.M. Punk in a casket match as the dark match.  Raw will run in Cardiff, Wales.
 
        An update on the Hulk Hogan/TNA relationship is the lead story in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look at the real questions related to Hogan as far as running TNA, including what has been told to wrestlers he is recruiting about competition with Vince McMahon including a start date, as well as what those in TNA know and what Spike TV is saying.

        We look at how history looks at this, as well as both the advantages and disadvantages of promoting pro wrestling in 2010.  We look at when Hogan is likely to return, as well as the one example of Raw vs. Impact head-to-head historically and why that example changed a lot of minds about going to Mondays.

        We look at Hogan's income and what it will take for him to stay in TNA, thoughts from people in the company, where things stand, people who look to be safe, those who aren't, as well as the track record of Hogan since the folding of WCW, and Eric Bischoff.  We look at the good and bad of the first TNA rating since Hogan, Hogan's drawing power in WCW.  We also look at the level of media interest and fan interest of the announcement of Hogan coming in and comparing it with other major events in TNA history, including what two wrestlers led to significantly more fan interest based on Internet responses than Hogan, as well as their effect on long-term business.

        The issue is available right now to premium subscribers on the web site.  You can also get the Observer mailed to your home with details below.

        We also have a look at the death of the Hustle promotion, the press conference talking about it, the hopes to revive it, as well as the unique list of major stars who performed for the promotion during its nearly six years of existence.

        We also have a review of what is one of the best PPV shows of this year, the taped Dragon Gate "Untouchable" show, with match-by-match coverage and star ratings, including what was and wasn't good on the show.

        We've got some updates on Survivor Series and even WrestleMania, ridiculous politics and Linda McMahon's campaign, notes on WWE PPV shows in 2010, notes on some guest hosts for Raw upcoming as well as how TNA ratings came up in WWE this past week.

        We look at the HHH interview with Powerslam magazine and what does and doesn't make sense, as well, some notes on the 2010 Hall of Fame, an update on Edge's return, WWE movie notes, new DVD release and awards given the promotion.

        We have notes on UFC's injuries and illnesses and how they affect and totally change the big show at the end of the year.  We've got a detailed update on Brock Lesnar as well as a timetable of when he can possibly return, as well as what Paul Heyman was talking about regarding Lesnar turning down a movie role.

        We've got updates on how UFC 104 looks to have done and comparing it with UFC 102.  We also have tons of new UFC fights including the next probable Kimbo Slice match, as well as the lawsuit against a current member of the cast of Ultimate Fighter regarding a wrongful death.  We have an update on UFC coming to a major market in 2010 and perhaps its first stadium show.

        We also have more on DVR usage and how that affects Ultimate Fighter viewing this season as compared to last season.

        We also have a rundown of the Pro Wrestling NOAH jr. heavyweight tournament, as well as an update on KENTA, and final standings.  We also run down the New Japan tag team tournament.

        We also have a history piece on the Super J Cup, leading to its fifth edition later this year.  We look at the first four shows, including two shows that won Big Show of the Year, one of the great one-night performances in pro wrestling history, as well as how the Super J Cup led to one of today's biggest stars getting his first U.S. major league break, as well as spawning the tournament that led to the formation of today's top indie group.

        We also have an addendum to the Bill Miller Hall of Fame story, with a look back at the start of the Bruno Sammartino vs. Bill Miller feud and the unique angle, which included a rare pin fall loss by Sammartino in a singles match.
 
         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
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Also in this week's issue:
 
--El Hijo del Santo talks about what is going wrong with the local Mexican promotions

--Updated ratings from Mexico continuing a pattern

--A look at where Raw actually beat the World Series head-to-head on Monday

--Major star returns to promotion and his debut bombs

--Perhaps the worst wrestling crowd ever at Arena Mexico was this past week

--Sons of legends all put their masks at stake

--Wrestler who in his retirement ceremony couldn't get out of his wheelchair

--A company other than WWE does Groundhog Day bit show booking

--New shoot angle

--Lawsuit over names of characters

--Update on the next Dragon Gate USA show

--A look at the Dragon Gate European tour

--Legends meet for the first time in upcoming tag team tournament

--Scary main event for major arena

--What top ten MMA heavyweight gets belt reminiscent of the world champion in the 80s and issues open challenge for it

--New celebrity athlete talks about going into pro wrestling

--Retirement of 90s star

--An update on the affect of DVRs and the modern television business

--Former wrestling star will host new TV show debuting in a few weeks

--A new level of trying to work the public

--Notes on Hulk Hogan's book

--Hogan talks TNA

--Linda Hogan talks Hulk's book

--Wrestler on biggest woman's show in history gets elected to FILA wrestling Hall of Fame

--Legendary wrestling announcer Dave Brown talks about his years in the sport

--Former wrestler talks about health hazards from his use of steroids during his career

--Notes on an MMA movie that features tons of 80s pro wrestling stars

--More on color barrier being broken in the NFL by a pro wrestler

--Update on Bound for Glory with matches announced and not yet announced

--Notes on negotiations with Bobby Lashley when it comes to fighting

--Update on Kevin Nash in TNA

--Notes on TNA house shows and TV tapings over the past week including 80s WWF star coming in

--Fedor files lawsuit

--Strikeforce signs overseas champion

--Notes on the last Dream and K-1 shows

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--Very sorry to hear the news of the death of Adam Dykes (Northwest independent wrestler Adam Firestorm) on Thursday night at the age of 32 from an apparent suicide.  Dykes appeared with Bryan on this web site's radio shows on several occasions and was a regular on the message board.   
 
--On last night's Strikeforce show on Showtime, Cung Le announced that he would be headlining the 12/19 show in San Jose.  He said he didn't know his opponent. The name Scott Smith has surfaced but yesterday Scott Coker said there are a number of names, Smith being one of them, under consideration.   Smith was on TV and said it was the first he'd heard about it.
 
--Both Coker and Dan Henderson denied yesterday that they had reached terms for a new deal.
 
--Bryan and I will be back late tonight for our audio show covering tonight's Strikeforce card.
 
--A story on Brett Rogers is at http://www.citypages.com/2009/11-04/news/brett-rogers-vs-fedor-emelianenko-the-baddest-man-on-the-planet
 
--Countdown to Couture vs. Vera airs Monday night after Raw at 11 p.m. on Spike
 
--Monday's Raw is the 12th anniversary of the Montreal screw job, and Ricky "Hit Man" Hatton is the guest host.  
 
--I thought this was funny.  The web site RememberTheSpectrum.com has a quote from Vince McMahon:  "Since the inception of our company, World Wrestling Entertainment has had a rich and storied history in the city of Philadelphia.  Some of our most memorable moments took place in the historic Wachovia Spectrum.  from our various live events throughout the 1980s and 1990s, to SummerSlam in 1990 and the King of the Ring in 1995, the Wachovia Spectrum was host to some of the greatest events in the history of the WWE.  We are proud and honored to be part of this venue's rich tradition and we will always remember and cherish its place in the history of the WWE."  God, the least he could have done was not specified just about the worst major PPV the company ever produced.
 
--WWE canceled the 1/1 show in Erie, PA, the 1/2 shows in Youngstown, OH and Altoona, PA, as well as the 1/3 shows in Bowling Green, OH and Charleston WV.  
 
--Spike will be doing another UFC TV marathon a week from today from 1 p.m. though 3 a.m. with 14 straight hours of coverage.  UFC 105 airs on same day tape delay from Manchester, England from 8-11 p.m.
 
--Mr. Lobo, the guy who acted like he was offended by Chris Jericho calling him "Hadji," did an Andy Kaufman like video with a neck brace challenging Jericho, so he's just using this as an angle
 
--Rapper DMX, who was supposed to debut in MMA in a few weeks in Birmingham, and then had the match changed from MMA to boxing, signed for the match, and then his manager sent the promoters an addendum to the contract stating that all parties involved agree that DMX is going to win the fight.  The promoters refused to sign it and are looking for a replacement.  The promoters are talking about a lawsuit against him for breach of contract. (thanks to Chris Najdek)
 
--Speaking of Chris Jericho, he and Kelly Kelly are not in Europe, because they are in Phoenix since WrestleMania tickets went on sale to the public today.  There is a story at http://www.azcentral/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/11/07/20091107wr estlemania  No word yet on how first day sales went.
 
--There is a New York Times book review on Hogan's book "My Life Outside the Ring" at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/books/review/Itzkoff-t.html?_r=3  The review points out how honest the book is.  Ya got worked.      
 
--TNA results from last night in Murray, KY before 1,200 fans:  Suicide b Pope D'Angelo Dinero, Rob Terry b Kip James, Alissa Flash b Sojo Bolt, Hernandez b Homicide, Rhino b Abyss, A.J. Styles b Samoa Joe  
 
--Big Time Wrestling, The Sheik's company, run by son Ed Farhat Jr., begins airing for the first time in 35 years on WHRP-TV in Lansing, MI at 9 p.m. on Monday nights starting 11/28.  They are doing a TV taping on 11/14 at 6 p.m. at the TV Studios in Highland Park, MI.  The new matches will air on television as well as features on the show with old matches of The Sheik's old promotion
 
--Thoughts on WWE raising PPV prices
Always buy WWE PPV shows,makes no difference 2.1%
Always buy, will eliminate buying some next year 2.1%
Usually buy, makes no difference 1.4%
Usually buy, will eliminate buying some shows next year 3.0%
Sometimes buy, makes no difference 6.7%
Sometimes buy, will buy less or not at all 20.1%
Never or rarely buy, makes no difference 64.5%
        Based on this poll, some of the shows buy rates should be cut in half next year.  Somehow, I don't see that happening
 
--Poll on Impact
Excellent 16.5%
Good 26.3%
Average 19.5%
Fair 10.5%
Poor 27.1%
        44.8% of those responding didn't see the show  
 
--Poll on Superstars
Excellent 8.9%
Good 42.2%
Average 20.0%
Fair 8.9%
Poor 20.0%
        75.3% of those responding didn't see the show
 
--Which of these shows do you expect to draw the highest TV rating
Strikeforce on CBS 80.6%
Smackdown 11.0%
Ultimate Fighter 8.4%  
 

--Bryan Alvarez will be wrestling tonight in Marysville, WA at the Pacific Rim.  For more info go to tulalipchampionshipwrestling.com

--CZW on 11/14 at the Arena in Philadelphia has Drake Younger & Eddie Kingston & D.J. Hyde vs. Jon Moxley & Nick Gage & Nate Hatred, B-Boy vs. Dan Maff, Drew Blood vs. Jason Hades, Scotty Vortekz vs. Devon Moore and Greg Excellent vs. Ryan McBride
 
--Marcus Sursa vs. Trevor Prangley face off for the Shark Fight light heavyweight championship on 11/28 in Amarillo at the Azteca Music Hall.  The local ESPN radio station will be broadcasting the fight live   
 
--Cleveland All Pro Wrestling on 11/13 in Cleveland at Belindas Nite Club on 11/13 with Stro, Mitch Ryder and Malia Hosaka
 
--Adrenaline Rush Wrestling on 11/14 in Chatsworth, GA at Murray County High School
 
--Alec Settee wrote that even though the release date is Tuesday in Canada, that his local Wal-Mart in Winnipeg already has copies of "Roller Derby Chronicles."  The DVD won't be out until next month in the U.S.
 
--If anyone is interested in booking Gerald Brisco or Bruce Prichard for autograph sessions or conventions they can be booked through Georgiann Makropolous at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
--Two movies released on DVD on 11/29 are:  Death Warrior from Lions Gate, starring Quinton Jackson, Georges St. Pierre, Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine; and End Game from First Look, starring Kurt Angle and Jenna Morasca.  In fact, it's that movie role that led to Morasca being in the worst match of the decade.  (thanks to Anthony Sullivan)
 
--Amanda Lucas, the adopted daughter of George Lucas, will be fighting in Tulsa at the Million Dollar Elm Casino on the undercard of the Shonie Carter vs. Anthony Macias main event.  
 
--USWO from last night in Nashville:  Psycho Medic b Eric Hodge, Lee Cross & Harold Knight b Dyron Flynn & Convict, Bad Boy Dixon b Shane Smalls, Tim Renesto NC Jeff Daniels, Tommy Mercer b Chris Michaels, Matt Korbaine & Kevin Dunn b Damien Payne & Josh Crowe, Mitch Ryder DCOR L.T. Falk (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)
 
--Insanity Pro Wrestling tonight in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Corps has a one night junior heavyweight tournament with first round matches of B-Boy vs. Chrisjen Hayme, Chuck Taylor vs. Flip Kendrick, Billy Roc vs. Louis Lyndon, Aaron Williams vs. Ricochet, Ryan Rich vs. Tim Donst and Marion Fontaine vs. Dustin Rayz.  
 
--GCW on 11/28 in Oshawa, ONT at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall with Cody Deaner, Lufisto, Melissa Coates, Jamie D and Robbie McAllister as headliners
 
--Here are copies of the two Sports Illustrated articles that Frank Deford wrote on Roller Derby during its heyday.  The famous article, which was one of the biggest articles the magazine had ever done up until that time, from 1969 is at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazineMAG1082148index.htm  A smaller article about the 1970 world championships at the Cow Palace is at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084141/1/index.htm   Check out the attendance and TV audience notes in that article.