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        We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's WEC show, 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
 
        The show airs on Versus tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Pacific time, so it goes up in all but the West Coast against Ultimate Fighter.
 
Prelim fights
Seth Dikun (136) vs. Frank Gomez (136)
Ricardo Lamas (155) vs. James Krause (156)
Antonio Banuelos (136) vs. Kenji Osawa (136)
Cub Swanson (146) vs. John Franchi (145)
Diego Nunes (146) vs. L.C. Davis (146)
Kamal Shalorus (156) vs. Will Kerr (155)
 
Live fights
Danny Castillo (156) vs. Shane Roller (156)
Razor Rob McCullough (155) vs. Karen Darabedyan (156)
Leonard Garcia (146) vs. Manny Gamburyan (146)
Mike Brown (145) vs. Jose Aldo (145) for WEC featherweight title
 
        Countdown to Ortiz vs. Griffin replays tonight at 11 p.m. after Ultimate Fighter.
 
        Spike is also replaying Saturday night's UFC 105 from 7-10 p.m. tonight with Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera and Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy.
 
        Ultimate Fighter at 10 p.m. features Brendan Schaub vs. Jon Madsen, plus Dana White tries to get to the bottom of whether Matt Mitrione can fight again, and now Kimbo Slice is injured as well.
 
        We're looking for reports on the WWE house shows on Thursday night in Birmingham, England, Friday night in Lyon, France and Hamburg, Germany, and Saturday night in Lyon, France.

        A look and analysis at the aftermath of what was the most important show of the year when it comes to impact of the future, the Strikeforce debut event on CBS, is one of our two lead stories in this week's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
 
        The issue also has the most in-depth look at the WWE business in every category, what is changing, how it is changing, behind the company's changes in the PPV model as well as the inherent problems with the direction they are headed.
 
        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 look at what was shown, both good and bad, about non UFC MMA on network television in prime time and without Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano.  We look at how Fedor Emelianenko performed in the main event spot, how CBS did in comparison with what they usually do on Saturday night, how the show did in the important demos, who they did against college football, how Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers did on the list of the most watched MMA TV matches in history, how the numbers compared with this season of Ultimate Fighter and how the audience for the CBS show differed from the UFC audience.
 
        We also look at the best and worst cities for NBC for the show as well as how the key UFC markets did.  We also have a lot of comments from Scott Coker and Dana White, an update on Emelianenko's health, how the Elite XC shows on CBS did as a comparison, the MMA show on CBS that was a disaster, how the UFC's attempt to counter the show came across, how every match on the show did as well as full coverage of the event itself.
 
        We've got the most in-depth look at the WWE's business over the past several months.
 
        We start with a look at the PPV business, including how much the new price increase will cost someone who orders every WWE PPV event over the course of a year, and the number will probably surprise a lot of people.  We look at how the price increase affected UFC when it made the similar jump in 2008, as well as how the last WWE price increase affected buys.  We look at the WWE poll as to why PPV business is down, how much money this means for WWE if numbers stay steady, exactly how much PPV has dropped in North America this year, which is a very carefully hidden number, as well as the 2010 PPV calender for WWE including a lot of notes on the schedule and the only conflict of dates with WWE so far on next year's schedule.
 
        We look at how WWE has reacted to PPV shows that haven't drawn well.
 
        We also look at why WWE stock has gone up over the past week, including Vince McMahon's projections for company business over the next three years.
 
        We examine the company's business over the first nine months of 2009, both total revenue and profitability, as well as the success of the company's many cost cutting measures.  We look at the plans for a new WWE TV channel and why Vince McMahon has felt it is important for the past four years.  We also look at updated plans for the WWE film division, and what part of the company they expect to make huge increase next year, and why.
 
        We look at what parts of the world company revenue is coming from by percentage, as well as more on the departures of Linda and Shane McMahon from WWE.
 
        We then look at every category of WWE business.
 
        We look at live events, including where the company was at its popularity peak.
 
        We look at the merchandise business, television ratings, what is misleading about the perception of the ratings, notes on the value of the celebrity guest hosts and why even Raw ratings increases may mislead people when you look at all the other revenue streams, and why that is.
 
        We also have a chart with the PPV numbers for 2009 and comparisons with 2008, both worldwide and in North America.  
We break down the PPV business over the summer, a WWE PPV this year that did worse domestically than Cyber Sunday and what concept flopped.  We also look at how much SummerSlam declined in North America as well as overseas.
 
        We look at the television rights fees, how much WWE now spends per television taping as well as how much the company now spends per PPV event.  
 
        We look at the WWE Classics on Demand business, the DVD business, the five best selling DVDs of 2009, licensing revenues, sales of Smackdown vs Raw 2009 and sales of Legends of WrestleMania.  We also look at magazine sales and web business.
 
        We also have a chart to show the total profitability (not including staffing and office) from each revenue stream and what the actual importance when it comes to the bottom line of each division is, and how greatly it has changed over the past year.
 
        We also have more on WrestleMania ticket sales, an update on WrestleMania weekend, notes on Survivor Series, more on Shane McMahon leaving and his worth, notes on yet another three hour Raw, usage of Twitter and a lot more details on the WWE movie that was just completed involving Big Show.  We also look at the former 90s pro wrestler who made it famous after he left wrestling who will play Big Show's antagonist in the movie.  We also look at a British wrestler the company is interested in due to his background, and why that created a very strange scene on last week's Raw show.
 
        We also look at Chris Jericho's TMZ play, what wrestler claims the other wrestlers are jealous of him, Linda McMahon's campaign spending, more on talk of the 2010 Hall of Fame Class for WWE including someone just arrested that came up in the talks.  We have a lot more on developmental including the debut of someone who was tops in the world at their sport, and the return of an international star.  We have more on Jim Ross, return of Maryse and tons of news from the European tour.
 
        We have more on UFC being snake bit, including an update on the injury situation, the heavyweight division, Brock Lesnar and the early year UFC schedule.
 
        We also have a look at New Japan's Sumo Hall show from last week.
 

         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:

--Wrestler gets a gig on a TV show
 
--Mexican legend arrested for drunk driving, gets mad at media for reporting it
 
--More on the next Dragon Gate PPV tapings
 
--What legend from the 70s and 80s has joined Dragon Gate and is drawing on he road
 
--NOAH plans for first Budokan Hall since the Misawa Memorial event
 
--Update on New Japan's grouping
 
--Update on Perry Saturn
 
--More on the death of Adam Firestorm
 
--More on the ownership of the old NWA title belt
 
--Update on the Hulk Hogan Australia tour
 
--A look at promoters projections for the tour
 
--What daughter of one of Ric Flair's biggest rivals is now scheduled to become his manager
 
--Why certain former WWE stars pulled out of the tour, and why certain people are on the tour
 
--Notes on Gabe Sapolsky's new promotion
 
--A look at Mad Dog Vachon
 
--Mr. Kennedy talks leaving WWE
 
--Former WWE star wins celebrity popularity contest
 
--How to own the 5,000 square foot custom made home of one of pro wrestling's all-time greats
 
--Update on Eddie Edwards
 
--Notes on the recent ROH TV tapings
 
--More on the Dixie Carter speech
 
--More on Hulk Hogan's tour including the Undertaker story
 
--How the book is selling
 
--Planned date for Hogan's debut and what two other major stars they want for that debut
 
--Preposterous name Hogan is claiming he is working on bringing to TNA
 
--More on the legal issues with Kurt Angle and Rhaka Khan
 
--Notes on Angle's next movie and what pro wrestler is trying to get onto the movie and what star the producers wanted
 
--Notes on a major TNA vs. WWE head-to-head battle coming next month
 
--Notes on the TNA U.K. tour
 
--Just how bad has TNA attendance become
 
--Huge sponsorship deal signed by UFC star
 
--Notes on ticket sales for upcoming UFC events
 
--Notes on the rest of the season of Ultimate Fighter
 
--Next major Strikeforce show and update on who is on it
 
--Notes on the EA Sports MMA video game
 
--Notes on the Strikeforce show from Fresno
 
--Official main event change in the biggest show of the year in Japan
 
--Funny reason celebrity pulls out of a fight
 
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--Unbelievable how much press the Hogan/Flair angle in Sydney, Australia got, not just as a major story in Australia but even on TMZ.com  More amazing is anyone taking it seriously.  Story is at http://www.news.com/au/story/0,23599,26367110-2,00.html?from=public_rss and http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/the-hulk-hulk-hogan-injured-in-bloo dy-sydney-brawl-with-ric-flair-and-media/story-e6freuy9-1225799294243 (thanks to Caleb Palmer, Steve Wettlaufer and many others)
 
--TMZ coverage at http://www.tmz.com/#ixzz0XEb5ac9M  The story used an unnamed source in the Hogan camp who insisted the thing was real, the blood and the injuries.  I'll bet they're quite the laughing stock today.  The Chicago Tribune at http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ has photos from it as well.
 
--Hogan later admitted to reporters while attending another press conference that the fight was staged for publicity according to contactmusic.com
 

--The UFC 105 show did a 1.9 rating, which is a disappointment.  They are pushing they beat CBS in the younger demos but fell short overall.

--WWE announced Verne "Mini Me' Troyer as guest host on 11/30's Raw, Mark Cuban on 12/7 and Dennis Miller on 12/14.   

--A note that Monday's issue of the Observer will be on the web site tomorrow instead of today due to me being in the U.K. last week.
 
--We will have another Observer radio show tonight after the WEC show and Ultimate Fighter covering all the latest news.
 
--Regarding Monday's show when talking about ROH, the Bryan Danielson interview that didn't air on Monday's TV show is being saved for the 12/28 Year in Review show on HDNet
 
--The newest issue of 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die still only has three movies with a wrestler as a featured player in it.  The three are "The Wrestler," "The Princess Bride" (Andre the Giant) and "Goldfinger" (Harold Sakata).  (thanks to James Stanios)
 
--For those in the U.K., ESPN U.K. will start their programming late Saturday night at 1:30 a.m. with an All Access show on Forrest Griffin, followed by a one hour Countdown show (we only got 30 minutes of it on Spike) at 2 a.m., and then the PPV goes live at 3 a.m. from Las Vegas.
 

--Gabe Sapolsky talks last night's Smackdown and ECW tapings in Philadelphia and plugs a number of things Dragon Gate and Evolve related at http://www.Myspace.com/rohgabe

--American Wrestling Rampage from yesterday in Strasbourg, France before 2,500 fans:  Scottie the Hottie b Lord Paul Tracey, April Hunter b Portia Perez, Suicide Machine & Mascarita Sagrada b Omen & Mini Omen, Sid (Vicious) b X-Pac, Delicious Dunkie D over Pac and Shawn Maxer to keep No Limits title, Rob Van Dam b Sabu in a hardcore match, Rene Dupree b Joe E. Legend to keep AWR title.  Raven did TNA TV on Monday and is flying in for the rest of the tour.  Mark & Jay Briscoe pulled out of the tour to do a WWE tryout last night. (thanks to Celian Varini)
 
--Today's Hartford Courant has a story on Superstar Billy Graham campaigning against Linda McMahon at http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-superstar-mcmahon-critic-111,artn ov18,0,2728609.story  He makes valid points but he's probably not the best guy for making those points.
 
--Linda McMahon is also discussed at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/17/223041/84
 
--Poll on UFC 106 buys prediction
334,000 to 367,000 3.8%
368,000 to 400,000 6.7%
401,000 to 433,000 9.6%
434,000 to 467,000 8.7%
468,000 to 500,000 9.9%
501,000 to 533,000 11.5%
534,000 to 567,000 5.8%
568,000 to 600,000 8.3%
601,000 to 633,000 8.7%
634,000 to 667,000 4.2%
More than 668,000 13.1%
 
--Poll on Worldwide Survivor Series buys
Less than 250,000 25.6%
251,000 to 275,000 17.7%
276,000 to 300,000 19.7%
301,000 to 325,000 18.9%
326,000 to 350,000 6.7%
351,000 to 375,000 3.9%
376,000 to 400,000 3.5%
401,000 to 425,000 0.8%
More than 425,000 3.1%
        On this one, I think 275-325 is the probable range.
 
--Poll on Raw
Excellent 26.2%
Good 39.8%
Average 16.4%
Fair 5.7%
Poor 11.9%
        20.0% of those responding didn't see the show
 
--What show are you most looking forward to
UFC 106 46.6%
Survivor Series 34.4%
WEC tonight 19.0%
 
 
--Chris Jericho apparently did a great promo after taking the tombstone from Undertaker after a dark angle last night in Philadelphia at the end of the show.  Lots of comments about how dead the crowd was but Vickie Guerrero got her usual nuclear heat (thanks to Joseph Furia and many others)   
 
--An Oakland County, MI judge has ordered an injunction to stop the sale of the Pontiac Silverdome to a yet unnamed Canadian company after a complaint was filed about the proceedings by attorney H. Wallace Parker, who is trying to develop the building as a horse-themed development (thanks to Paul Nucci)
 
--Alfonso Castillo talks and tries to convince Bruno Sammartino to accept an invitation to the WWE Hall of Fame at http://www.newsday.com/blogs/sports/the-steel-cage  My feeling is Sammartino should do what he wants on this one, he owes WWE nothing and that if the Hall of Fame didn't have Pete Rose or Koko Ware or James Dudley, perhaps there would be an argument for him to do so.  Since it does, any argument that it's legitimate is out the window.  Besides, you have no idea how many times I've discussed this Hall of Fame with people directly involved when it comes to who is and isn't in who always emphasize that it is a marketing ploy and nothing else.  Given that is the case, if they make him a financial offer he chooses to take, fine, and if they don't, it's fine.  It's not worth getting emotional about a marketing ploy that doesn't even have a legitimate voting system for inclusion.  Quite frankly, if you want to debate Sammartino on the Hall of Fame, at least the one in Amsterdam, NY, voted him in, and it was a legitimate vote, and they haven't inducted joke candidates.  Many of the people inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame outright have said it's nothing they take seriously and recognize it for what it is, which is a different kind of an event the company puts together which is usually a nice night, and for old guys still working, the WWE Hall of Fame moniker is a nice tag line to help indie bookings, but if you want to discuss him accepting a Hall of Fame invite, make it at least the Amsterdam version with some legitimacy.
 
--Gabe Sapolsky's Evolve promotion announced its debut event on 1/16 in Rahway, NJ at the Rec Center. Tickets go on sale on Monday.
 
--Ricky Reyes is back from Puerto Rico where he spent the last ten months, and is looking for bookings, based in Philadelphia at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
--TWA Toys for Tots Holiday show on 12/5 in Williamstown, NJ at the St. Matthew's Baptist Church featuring Chad Diety from the play "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety,: plus Larry Winters, Steve Corino, Matt Riviera of Vh-1, Jimmy Cicero talks about his campaign against autism and D.C. Drake makes an appearance.  They are also looking for donations of new, unwrapped toys in the Toys for Tots benefit aspect of the show.
 
--Nunzio headlines the last pro wrestling show at the Pioneer Club in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, which is being torn down, on Saturday night.
 
--A correction from what we had early Monday, the AIW show in Cleveland will be 11/27, not 11/17
 
--In Your Face Wrestling on 12/12 in Ballston Spa, NY at the Community Center
 
--New England Championship Wrestling on Saturday night in Quincy, MA at the National Guard Armory with The Toxic Waltz, a 10-man gauntlet match, where two men start.  The loser of each fall picks the next person to come in.  Nine men announced are Kris Pyro, Davey Loomis, Alex Payne, D.C. Dillinger, Scott Levesque, Mr. Munroe, Brandon Locke, Scott Osbourne and T.J. Richter.  The final person will be a surprise and the winner becomes top contender for their Triple Crown and gets a title match in February.       
 
--Pro Wrestling Phoenix on Saturday night in Council Bluffs, IA:  David Clark b Stephen Saint, Zac James & Ryan Slade b Pierre Abernathy & Davey Vega, Super Electro b Gary Jay, Chris Havius & Donnie Peppercricket b Brett Young & Joey Daniels, Tony Cortez b Evan Gelistico, Abu Colossus b Arik Cannon, Vic Victory b Jaysin Strife to win PWP title.  Next show is 12/19 at the National Guard Armory in Council Bluffs. (thanks to Chris Metry)
 
--The next Shark Fight show in Amarillo will be 11/28 at the Azteca Music Hall headlined by Trevor Prangley vs. Marcus Sursa.  Weigh-ins are 11/27 at the Westgate Mall's interior atrium area.
 
--Championship Wrestling Alliance tapes its 300th episode of TV on 12/1 at the Legion Street Rec Center in Johnson City, TN.  Kids under 12 can get in for $3.  Robbie Cassidy vs. Tony Givens headlines the show.  Honky Tonk Man will also appear.
 
--Thanks to Tammy Sytch, Sable was No. 4 on the most searched list on Google yesterday.
 
--HWA show in LaVergne, TN raised $6,214 to benefit 12-year-old Tyler Morton with 550 fans paying $2,700 and the rest coming from auctions and donations at the show.  Steve Neely & Ben Jordan b Tim Renesto & Dante, Torch Hudson b Jeremiah Plunkett, Susan Morton b Misty Heat-DQ, Ted Allen b Forsaken, Blackjack Brown b Gypsy Joe (former Japan star), Jamie Dundee & Brady Stevens b Matt Dillinger & Mike Woods, Hammerjack & Shane Eden & Faron Fox b GQ & Lee Condry & D'Angelo, Doug Harrison & Yukon Jack b Bit T & Buzz Dupp, Gary Valiant & Steve O b Lawrence & Jason James, Anthony White d White Tiger, White Tiger & Tommy Mercer b Shawn Schultz & Jeff Daniels, Mexican Dragon b El Lobo, Devon Domain & Phil White & Double D & Shane Morton & Susan Morton & Bubba Morton & Steve Morton b Bobby Lowe & Petey St. Croix & Scott Burt & Misty Heat & Kayla & Chris Kern & J.P. Jones when Tyler Morton hit Kern over the head with a chair (thanks to Aaron Camero and Lekisha Oliver)
 
--Angelina Love & Velvet Sky will team up for Pro Championship Wrestling on Saturday night in Midlothian, IL at the Don Preston Rec Center
 
--Insanity Pro Wrestling on Saturday night in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Corps
 
--TWF on Saturday night in Sacramento at the Colonial Theater
 
--Pro Wrestling World One on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Neptune, NJ at the Fire Hall headlined by Steve Corino vs. Ace Darling.  They also have a 5 p.m. show that day with Corino vs. Ricky Reyes
 
--Brutal Bob Evans continues his run of Iron Man matches this week.  He's wrestling tonight through Friday in Moosup, CT at the VFW on 1 Lake Street with one hour matches each night.  On Sunday, he lost 10-9 to Nick Westgate.  On Monday he lost 8-7 to
Billy King.  Last night he drew 11-11 with Matt Taven.  He will be doing six matches this week to set a record for most Iron Man matches in a row.
 
--IHWE on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Wolfpac Gym in Fort Worth featuring Slick as a manager  
 
--Jersey All Pro Wrestling on 1/23 in Rahway, NJ at the Rec Center for its 12th anniversary show headlined by Dan Maff vs. Christopher Daniels plus B.J. & Kip James, Sara Del Rey Sumie Sakai, Eddie Kingston B-Boy and Rhett Titus.   
 
--Amber O'Neal did a photo shoot for an upcoming issue of Hustler (thanks to Daniel Lark)
 
--Tuff N Uff amateur fights at The Orleans in Las Vegas on 11/27 featuring former kickboxer and WWE Diva trainee Latasha Marzolla
 
--A once in a lifetime rugby kick earning a guy in the stands more than $400,000 is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfokd5Sk6nc (thanks to Kelvan Clegg)
 
--Paul Bradley, of TUF season seven and a college wrestling All-American with a 12-1 record is looking for a fight in December or January after his 12/18 fight fell through.  His agent can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it