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By Bryan Alvarez Bryan Alvarez:
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We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's WEC and Strikeforce 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 tonight's Raw show in Albany, GA, tonight's Smackdown show in West Palm Beach and tonight's ROH Final Battle show at the Manhattan Center.
We're also looking for reports from last night's Raw show in Mobile and Smackdown show in Miami at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tonight has Strikeforce on Showtime at 10 p.m., headlined by Cung Le vs. Scott Smith, Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez to unify the lightweight title, Matt Lindland vs. Jacare Souza and King Mo vs. Mike Whitehead in a four-match television show coming from San Jose. I know the advance is not anything to brag about for this one. Tomorrow night also has the WWE's annual Tribute to the Troops one-hour special on NBC, and a WEC show from Las Vegas on Versus headlined by Ed Ratcliff vs. Cowboy Donald Cerrone, Anthony Njokuani vs. Chris Horodecki and Joseph Benavides vs. Rani Yahya. ROH also debuts on live Internet PPV with final Battle headlined by Austin Aries vs. Tyler Black for the ROH title and Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards vs. Mark & Jay Briscoe for the tag titles, from the Manhattan Center in New York. WWE also has a Raw house show in Albany, GA and a Smackdown house show in West Palm Beach. Sunday is TNA's Final Resolution PPV, which if nothing else, will probably have two outstanding main events in A.J. Styles vs. Daniels for the TNA title and Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe in three matches, a pinfalls match, a submission match and an escape the cage match, plus Feast or Fired featuring a wrestler getting a TNA title match, X title match, tag title match, and someone getting fired in briefcases. This year they will announce who got what briefcase on the PPV. There is also the Smackdown & ECW TV taping for the week from Orlando, with DX vs. Hart Dynasty for the tag titles as the Smackdown main event. There is also a Raw house show in Tallahassee. Monday will be Raw from Tampa, with Johnny Damon as guest host and there will be only one day of TNA Impact tapings after the PPV, the New Year's Knockout show which will be an eight-man single-elimination women's tournament. Exclusive coverage on Bret Hart's return to the WWE is the headline story in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The issue goes through the details of Hart's return, how long talks have been going on to build to this return, how much the return of the Monday Night Wars had to do with it, notes on the planned program and the times in the past Hart had been given offers to return to the company. We look back at what led to the infamous Survivor Series screw job in 1997, the ending of Hart's career as an active wrestler in 2000 and his WWE appearances since that time. We look at different angles suggested over the years for Hart's return including a major one earlier this year that didn't happen. We look at various incidents in 1997 that led to what happened in Montreal and the timetable of his return and how long he's staying. We also look at plans for WrestleMania up to this point, as well as a look at that disastrous Raw Slammy Awards show, which got the award for one of the worst episodes of the year. We look at what went wrong, the inside rips, the silliness and plans going forward. We also have a huge story on how a major media business change that took place has already affected UFC, and how it may also affect WWE in a positive way, particularly in giving the company possible leverage in television negotiations. We also look at the new Frank Mir in his quest to beat Brock Lesnar, as well as an update on Lesnar's health, the proposed Mir vs. Shane Carwin fight and the UFC vs. WrestleMania battle this year. The issue is available 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 complete rundown of UFC 107, with business notes on the show, crowd reactions and match-by-match coverage with poll results. We also look at the biggest international pro wrestling event of the year, the annual Tokyo Dome show coming on 1/4, including the return of one of the biggest feuds in Japanese wrestling history, as well as notes on the negotiations to put the show together with the inter promotional theme. We also have full coverage of the WWE's Tables, Ladders and Chairs PPV, including a look at new champion Sheamus and his background, the announcing, WWE's new policy on blood as well as match-by-match coverage, poll results and star ratings on the show. We also have a story on how the WWE and pro wrestling is starting to affect Linda McMahon's campaign for the U.S. Senate, including reaction by those in political battles with her regarding the deaths in the business and were policy on health care and how that relates to pro wrestling. We also have some updates and clarifications on the WWE Wellness policy, and in particular how these changes relate to a potential return of Jeff Hardy, as well as why certain guys look like they are still on steroids, and an update on the company's treatment of marijuana test failures. We also have major WWE business news including one of the leading owners of the company looks to be getting out, reaction to Umaga's death, future of Shane McMahon, Shawn Michaels and Bryan Danielson. We also look at the concussion issue in wrestling, update on the Little People's court segment on Raw, new WWE television deal, former world champion talks about returning to WWE next month and best selling DVDs of the year. We also look at the 2009 Tokyo Sports pro wrestling awards, looking at who the press in Japan named MVP, Most Outstanding, Tag Team of the Year, Match of the Year, Rookie of the year and the other big awards. We also have a 36-year history of the Japanese pro wrestling MVP award, including what American was the only winner in history. We also have a rundown on AAA's final major show of the year, Guerra de Titanes. We also have a story from Europe on a pro wrestling gimmick that has transferred over to MMA this past week, drawing some of the best ratings in the history of that sport. We look at a newcomer who is the type that would have done pro wrestling in another era, as well as look back on the famous strong men in pro wrestling history. 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.
-- Spike president Kevin Kay on January 4th, to Multichannel News: "I think it will be huge — Hulk Hogan is the most iconic wrestling superstar in the world. Going head to head with the WWE is a great way to start off the year. If it's successful, I'm not opposed to moving it to Monday nights. This is the time for this … TNA has a lot of momentum with Hulk Hogan and we have the ability to market and promote it." He said they might offer quarterly special regardless. -- There is nothing to the story of Brock Lesnar on his supposed Facebook account saying he will be fighting in July. It was posted there, but according to people very close to him it's not true. He's not making any decisions for at least the next six weeks, and when there is official news about anything, UFC will break it, not Brock. Lesnar doesn't even have an Internet connection, let alone Facebook account. -- Weigh-ins for tonight's WEC show from The Pearl at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas Weigh-ins for tonight's Strikeforce show on Showtime at the HP Pavilion in San Jose -- As noted in the preview, a crazy weekend of action with Strikeforce, WEC, Tribute to the Troops and ROH Final Battle tonight, plus TNA on PPV tomorrow night. Mike Sawyer is in Vegas and will be doing WEC play-by-play on the front page starting later this afternoon. Dave will be doing the same from San Jose for the Strikeforce show. Dave and I will be up late tonight talking tonight's action, then back again tomorrow night talking all the news and the TNA PPV. -- A video preview for Final Battle is up on the front page right now, and don't forget you can stream the show live from your computer at gofightlive.tv tonight. -- Regarding the massive snowstorms tonight, the ROH crew has made it to New York City and the show will go on. -- However, tonight's NECW event at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, MA, which was to be the premiere TV taping for Comcast SportsNet, has been cancelled due to an impending blizzard that looks to dump nearly two feet of snow in some areas. -- TNA did a 1.0 and 1.4 million viewers Thursday night. It started to fall at the 45 minute mark and finished at an 0.88. -- As noted a week ago, Johnny Ace will be at Ohio Valley on January 6th. Info is up at ovwrestling.com. If you want to be involved you'll need to be licensed but they can expedite the process for you. Drop them an email for more information. -- The World According To Dutch -- Bill Simmons on wrestling, from his newest column: If you think football is bad, check out pro wrestling. It might not be a real "sport," but it combines every bad thing about every other sport. Steroids, painkillers and PEDs? Hell, yeah. Repeated concussions from chair shots? Absolutely. A union that doesn't look out for its members? There is no wrestling union, so I'm going to say yes. Fixed outcomes and shady referees? You betcha. Athletes getting paralyzed or dropping dead? And then some. (Google "dead wrestlers" sometime. Your eyes will pop out of their sockets.) The "sport" is a disgrace. They eat these guys up and spit them out. My friend Sal is friends with Roddy Piper and happened to be eating dinner with him the night Umaga, a WWE wrestler, died. When Roddy heard the news, he just started crying. His attitude was, "Another one … and there's going to be more … and nobody cares …" -- WEC will be airing live in Canada tonight on TSN2. -- A look at Handsome Jimmy Valiant here. -- Pro wrestlers try for comeback in southern Okla. -- Grant writes: Walmart here in Peterborough has Round 5 Series 4 (all 5 figures) on sale right now for only $5 each. Normally they are $16.95 ++. Not sure if this is in US stores as well. -- Purks International Championship Wrestling returns to the historic Purks Building in Cedartown, Ga on Saturday, January 2 with a special appearance by "Diamond" Dallas Page. The card is as follows: Purks Champion Bobby Hayes & Alexander the Great vs. "Diamond" Dallas Page & Air Paris; Lumberjack Match for the Purks Tag Team Titles: Champions Hardcore Properties (John & Adam Arden) vs. Thunder & Lightning (Chris Ganser & Chris Lightning); Rematch: Simon Sermon vs. Shaun Banks; Former TNA Star Jimmy Rave debuts vs. Terry Lawler; Nigel Sherrod vs. Too Tall Shortts. Bell time is 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
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is now available on Amazon.com. If you missed his interview on Figure Four Daily Thursday, go back and check it out because it's really good and we've gotten some great feedback on it. Same with Wednesday's Bret Hart show. And Lance is always great, also from this past Wednesday. Send us a news tip: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
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