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SAT. UPDATE: More WWE PPV changes; Hogan likeness in TV commercial; Bischoff on ratings; Piper PDF Print E-mail
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        We're looking for reports on last night's WWE Raw house show in Amarillo, as well as tonight's Raw house show in Lubbock and the Smackdown brand house show in Tyler, TX at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
        The biggest weekend show is tomorrow as Pro Wrestling NOAH has its first major event of the year at Tokyo Budokan Hall with Takashi Sugiura vs. Togi Makabe for the GHC title, Takeshi Rikio & Mohammed Yone defending the tag titles against Yoshihiro Takayama & Takuma Sano, and the return of Toshiaki Kawada, facing Takeshi Morishima.
 
        Raw runs tomorrow in Wichita Falls, TX and Smackdown runs in Abilene, TX.
 
        Monday's Raw will be in Oklahoma City.  Bret Hart will be on the show, setting up his match with Vince McMahon.  Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase is the lone announced match and Cheech & Chong are guest hosts.
 
        Smackdown and NXT are taped on Tuesday night in Wichita.,

        We update the road to WrestleMania, as well as look at the Elimination Chamber PPV, what happened this past week with Undertaker and Ric Flair, a previous incident somewhat similar to what happened with Undertaker that never got any publicity as among the lead stories in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
 
        The issue also includes a complete rundown of UFC's debut in Australia, more on WWE's change in PPV philosophy, as well as an interesting list regarding the men who have wrestled the most matches in modern WWE history. the men who wrestled the most matches in mode.
 
       The issue is available right now to web site subscribers.  For
those interested in getting the Observer mailed to your home, ordering
details follow.

        We look at the booking leading to WrestleMania, the matches that have been announced, the matches that are being built that haven't been announced, as well as more on where the former ECW wrestlers are going and thoughts on the debut of NXT.
 
        We have a complete rundown of what happened to Undertaker, as well as what was going on backstage when it all happened.
 
        We've got our usual coverage of both the Elimination Chamber and UFC 110, with business notes on both shows and match-by-match rundowns as well as poll results for each show.
 
        We look at the Australian crowd, how the show did on television in Australia and the market, problems with running in what would probably be UFC's strongest city in that country, how things differed from debuts in other markets, as well as where Cain Velasquez fits in, and clarifications of what happened with the fighters who pulled out at hte last minute and the Stephan Bonnar-Krzysztof Soszynski fight.
 
        We update the WWE change in PPV philosophy, with a look at the shows that have been dropped, the shows that have been added, and how things may be changing again from here.
 
        We also have a bizarre story about a wrestler who was arrested this past week on a murder charge.  
 
        We have notes on what happened with Ric Flair on Sunday night, ramifications, and more of what is going on with his life.
 
        We've got a listing of the 15 men who look to have wrestled the most matches in the modern history of WWE.  We look at who is No. 1, how long his record appears safe for, and notes on the active wrestlers on the list.
 
        We have two months worth of business charts for both WWE & TNA, looking at house shows, ratings and PPV numbers and comparisons of this time last year with this year to see what is up and what is down.
 
        We also have notes on a WWE star hosting an awards show, update on guest host plans, update on the Hall of Fame, more on The Miz-Daniel Bryan angle, updates on several WWE movies, Steve Austin talks about a major angle that he did that was a mistake and have a profile of Wendi Richter, including her famous match, and the strange way her tenure with the company ended and what she did after wrestling.
 
        We've also got an update on Jim Ross, including some interesting comments he made, one of which goes completely against the WWE corporate doctrine.
 
        We also have the comments in context made by Frank Mir regarding Brock Lesnar, as well as the UFC reaction, and why the comments, while never smart, were really ill-timed at this point in history
 
        We've got more on the Washington Post story on Linda McMahon, including what is hopefully a misquote or is something that sounds really silly to say regarding steroid use in sports.  
 
        We have notes on a new member of the WWE creative team, the Michael Cole "heel turn," several new wrestles signed and their backgrounds including the return of a former tag team champion, a unique idea for a show, an idea for fall house shows, as well as business notes and highlights from the weekend WWE house shows.
 
   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:

--A look at CMLL & AAA's first major events of the new year
 
--More on the Mistico heel turn and its affect on business
 
--Wrestling star robbed at knife point this past week
 
--A TV wrestling angle copied from one of the biggest news stories of the 70s
 
--Independent promotion swings a TV deal and planning on stadium shows in two months using some major stars
 
--Pro wrestler bench press contest contestants
 
--GHC jr. tag team tournament finals
 
--Two of Japan's most famous legends make NOAH debut in a few weeks
 
--Wrestling Hall of Famer in election for Governor, and then talks his retirement  
 
--Two Hall of Famers meet in a singles match for the first time in a few weeks
 
--MMA teacher vs. pupil headline a major pro wrestling show
 
--MMA star faces Bruiser Brody award winner in pro wrestling match over the weekend
 
--Athlete who garnered a lot of media attention over being kicked out of his sport over drugs now in negotiations to become a pro wrestler
 
--One of pro wrestling's biggest stars of six years ago having a rebirth overseas as a TV spokesperson in two new markets
 
--Lots more on the career of Jack Brisco, including first match, last match, debut in Florida, program with Billy Robinson, appearances as a guest star in other promotions, last match with Championship Wrestling from Florida and other career milestones
 
--A look at the night Ole Anderson tried out Jack Brisco
 
--Well-known wrestling diva really is pregnant with twins
 
--Notes on Cauliflower Alley Club
 
--A look at a long forgotten wrestler who taught Bill Watts what he says to this day was one of the most important lessons he learned about booking
 
--A look at DVR usage when it comes to Impact, Smackdown and Raw and which show of the three has the most movement due to it
 
--A look at TNA's Destination X PPV with matches not announced yet on the card
 
--Update on Sting
 
--Changes at the last TNA tapings
 
--A look at the buildup for the new Monday Night Wars
 
--Update on the Suicide gimmick in TNA
 
--More on the Orlando Jordan angle and identity of his seconds
 
--A look at how TNA has revamped its house show production
 
--Hulk Hogan new national TV ad
 
--Bischoff talks a variety of subjects
 
--TNA house show notes
 
--Full details on the resolution of the UFC vs. Ken Shamrock lawsuit
 
--A look at aspects of the contract
 
--A look at what the lawsuit shows about UFC PPV numbers
 
--Notes on the official signing of what is expected to be one of the biggest UFC fights in history
 
--UFC files lawsuit against Internet pirates of its PPV shows
 
--Lots more on the recent UFC PPV shows when it comes to business and what is and isn't clicking
 
--More on UFC's trouble of getting a show in Toronto
 
--Advance sales of the major UFC events
 
--More on UFC deal for movie theater closed-circuiting the night before WrestleMania
 
--Another lawsuit filed against Zuffa
 
--Dana White talks Fedor
 
--Update on Fedor most recent competitions over the weekend and what happened
 
--More on UFC's wall poster deal
 
--Update on the first WEC PPV including the complete lineup for the live portion of the show\
 
--Possible next foe for Wanderlei Silva
 
--Notes on several new UFC matches
 
--Mick Foley funny story about a mistake he nearly made at the last UFC show he attended two weeks ago
 
--The second female main event of a major U.S. promotion show coming this week
 
--Network doing an experiment linking two promotions together for plans for a major night with the idea of creating new stars
 
--NFL star who beat Brock Lesnar in college hints at going into MMA and the realities of the situation
 
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and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

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*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such
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*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid
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*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career
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Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth, and the rise of fall of
Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say
was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

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*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the
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*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the
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*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the
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*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of
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*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)

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*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock
Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the
company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the
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*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best
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*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his
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*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on
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*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year
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the industry was changed forever)

*November 20, 2006 (History of WCW part two, Why Jim Ross left WCW, How
Bischoff changed the company, signing of Hulk Hogan, Beginning of Nitro,
Jesse Ventura, Brian Pillman, Chris Jericho and signing Wrestlemania
planned celebrity away)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged
McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and
why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and
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*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8
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*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bam Bigelow)

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*March 19, 2007 (Life and Times of Ernie Ladd)

*April 4, 2007 (Life and Times of Badnews Allen Coage--which many are
calling one of the best issues in history)

*July 2, 2007 (Part one of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 5, 2007 (Part two of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 10, 2007 (Part three of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 19, 2007 (Part four of the Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*July 25, 2007 (Part six of Benoit double murder-suicide)

*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his
influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

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--We have a new audio update today talking about the WWE cuts as well as last night's Strikeforce show.     
 
--WWE has made more PPV changes. The show called Wild Card on 5/23 in Detroit is now called Over The Limit.  They also officially announced they are bringing Bragging Rights back, although I have no idea why they would bring that back and dump Survivor Series. Show is on 10/24 at the Target Center.  They still don't have a new name for the November show.  TLC PPV this year will be 12/19 in Houston at the Toyota Center.
 
--Maria will be interviewed at 9 p.m. tonight on Sirius 197
 
--The first Mayweather-Mosley press conference will be Tuesday at Noon at the Nokia Theater Times Square in New York
 
--We're looking for someone who is interested in covering the Wrestlelicious debut on MAV TV, which will be 11 p.m. Eastern time on Ch. 361 on the Dish Network and Bite TV in Canada.  A press release for the show says it will be 2/3 sketches and character development and 1/3 in ring wrestling.  In other words, twice as much wrestling as TNA.  They call it an action comedy, a cross between The Man Show, Hee-Haw and Female Wrestling.  Yes, Hee-Haw, a show that was a hit how many decades ago.
 
--There is a story on Mickie James building up Tuesday's Smackdown tapings in Wichita at http://www.kansas.com/2010/02/26/1199834/wrestling-with-fame.html  She talks about the Piggy James character, WrestleMania, singing
 
--There is a Wrestling Legends on tour event in the St. Louis area at the St. Charles Convention Center from 5/7 to 5/9 that we've written about in the past.  They now have a web site up at http://home.roadrunner.com/~wrestlinglegends/  There will also be tributes to Bruiser Brody and Road Warrior Hawk.  Among those confirmed as attending are Harley Race, Dory Funk, Terry Funk, Ted DiBiase, Jimmy Snuka, Paul Orndorff, Ken Patera, Bob Orton Jr., Road Warrior Animal, Tommy Rich, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson, Buck Robley, Greg Gagne, Abdullah the Butcher, Kamala and Mark Lewin.
 
--Poll on Impact
Excellent 21.0%
Good 20.5%
Average 16.5%
Fair 6.8%
Poor 35.2%
        29.3% of those responding didn't see the show
 
--Poll on Superstars
Excellent 13.5%
Good 28.8%
Average 32.7%
Fair 1.9%
Poor 23.1%
        64.9% of those responding didn't see the show
 
--Ratings prediction for Impact on 3/8
Less than 0.8 5.5%
0.8 1.0%
0.9 1.9%
1.0 6.5%
1.1 9.4%
1.2 11.3%
1.3 16.8%
1.4 18.8%
1.5 15.9%
1.6 4.9%
1.7 1.6%
1.8 or greater 6.5%
 
--NXT is available on Hulu at http://www.hulu.com/wwe-nxt (thanks to Scott Random)
 
--Kurt Angle, Brian Bowles and Mike Brown will be appearing for GNC at the Arnold Sports Festival 3/5 to 3/7 in Columbus, OH.  WEC is running a show in conjunction with the Festival.  Last year, a ton of MMA fighters and pro wrestlers was there.
 
--Cocoa Pebbles serial is doing a commercial that the lawyers hopefully did due diligence on because Bulk Boulder the wrestler certainly sounds and looks like Terry "The Hulk" Boulder at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7S7KFKmYP4
 
--MMAWeekly.com is reporting Darren Elkins (9-1), was signed by UFC to take the spot of the injured Spencer Fisher on the 3/21 Broomfield, CO show (Versus 1) against Duane "Bang" Ludwig.  
 
--A story on the Hulk Hogan Fu Manchu gathering at Mike Shannon's restaurant in St. Louis to promote Lockdown is at http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/feb/26/st-louis-celebrates/mustac he/
 
--A Daniel Bryan interview is at http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/articles/13639330/bryaninterview
 
--There will be an on-line discussion on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern on the Niagara Falls Review's web site at www.niagarafallsreview.ca  It's a debate between Corey Larocque, who doesn't want MMA legalized in Ontario, and the many people who were critical of an article he wrote on the subject a few days ago.  The problem that runs into his favor is the mentality of those who thus far have criticized him has only made him look good by comparison, and he's clearly having a field day with people who can't write intelligently defending the sport.
 
--Eric Bischoff on Thursday's rating:  "How did the Olympics do?  Think there were many men 18-49 watching?  Seriously, we have known from day one that the way to gain market share and grow ratings is just like I did in 95.  The wrestling audience gathers on Monday nights.  Have for almost 2 decades.  Giving them an option and getting them to sample our product will increase the ratings."
 
--Chris Jericho's Fozzy plays 4/28 at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in New York
 
--Roddy Piper and former UFC fighter Justin McCulley appear in Sunday's episode of "Cold Case" at 10 p.m. on CBS
 
--John Morrison & The Miz appear on Destroy Build Destroy on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. on the Cartoon Network
 
--Aaron Aguilera, Zodiac in All Japan, shot an episode of "CSI New York" this past week
 
--Jesse Neal will be speaking tomorrow at the Church of Christ in Melbourne, FL (thanks to Chuck Koelsch)
 
--CWE on 3/7 in Winnipeg will have a tag team gauntlet match including Arik Cannon & Arya Daivari (Shawn's brother), and Keith Walker & Michael Elgin as teams.    
 
--USWO from last night in Nashville before 117 fans:  Kevin Dunn b Tiny Bear, Bad Boy Dixon b Saint, Nore Havoc b Damien Payne, Crusher Eric Hodge & Psycho Medic b Tatsu & Kevin Jones, Steven Green won three-way over Dyron Flynn and Shawn Hoodrich, Johnny Punch & Rudy Switchblade b L.T. Falk & Cody Weatherby and Damien Payne & Bad Boy Dixon (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)
 
--Former UFC heavyweight champ Ricco Rodriguez beat Patrick Miller last night in 2:20 of the second round.  Crowd booed the finish but Miller wasn't defending himself on the ground while Rodriguez was landing shots.  Told it was kind of a boring fight (thanks to Leo Avila)
 
--Combat Championship Wrestling from last night in St. Petersburg, FL:  David Mercury b Toxic, Chi Chi & J.J. Cruz b Milo Beasley & Joey Knight, Titan b Johnny Knockout, The Sheik & Cuban Assassin b Nooie Lee & Ultra Boy, Eric Escobar b Bam Nealy-DQ, Tyrone Jones b S.C. Hell, Sean & Phil Davis b Butch Long & Marc Mandrake in a bullrope match, Moose Madison NC Bruce Santee, Jesse Neal & Ricky Ortiz b Sinn Bodhi (Kizarny) & Shawn Spears.  Next show is 3/12
 
--Al Snow headlines tonight in Dundalk, MD for Maryland Championship Wrestling's anniversary show
 
--ODB is taking indie bookings through Bill Behrens at www.sbibookings.com based out of Minneapolis.  Behrens is also booking indie dates for Savio Vega out of San Juan and Consequences Creed out of Atlanta.
 
--Dan Severn has a training camp in Charleston SC 3/13 to 3/15 at $165 per person.  You can contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 517-278-4908  He's also doing a camp 3/19 to 3/21 in Coldwater, MI.  Severn, who is now 51, is fighting on a 4/18 MMA show in Newcastle, England and the Metro Radio Arena in the main event of a show that also includes a 16 man open weight Grand Prix
 
--OVW Retribution tomorrow at the Davis Arena in Louisville at 6 p.m. 
 

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What did you think of the final episode of NXT?
 
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