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        We're looking for reports on last night's WWE Raw house show in Denver, as well as last night's TNA house show in Erie, as well as tonight's WWE Raw show in Fresno, the Smackdown show in Stockton and the TNA show in Pittsburgh featuring A.J. Styles vs. Kurt Angle for the TNA title and Jeff Jarrett & The Pope vs. Beer Money as well as a Knockouts tag tile match with Angelina Love & Velvet Sky vs. Taylor Wilde & Sarita, Doug Williams vs. Kazarian vs. Amazing Red for the X title and Rob Terry vs. Brutus Magnus for the Global title.  The Raw main events this weekend were to be the same as last week with DX & John Cena vs. Batista & Randy Orton & Sheamus.  Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho and Edge headline the Smackdown events.  You can sent reports to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it    

        Tonight is also Pacquiao-Clottey on HBO from Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.  It was said that 41,000 tickets were sold for the fight as of a few days ago.  Apparently Bob Arum and Dana White have smoked the peace pipe together since Arum is pushing at how White is coming in for the show and even doing a ticket give away.

        Sunday has Raw in Bakersfield, the return of pro wrestling to the Cow Palace in San Francisco with the Smackdown crew, as well as a TNA house show in Wheeling.

        Monday's Raw is in San Diego with Steve Austin as guest host.  Top matches are John Cena vs. Big Show, Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (possibly for the last time) and HHH vs. Randy Orton.

        Tuesday night will be Smackdown and NXT tapings at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

        Impact on Monday night was taped this past Tuesday night with A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy in a non-title match as the main event.  

        The most complete look at what the numbers said on Monday night is our lead story in this coming Monday's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  We look through the spin, look at the pluses and minuses of TNA's full-time move to Monday, promotional mistakes, things that can be done that would immediately, at least for the short-term, increase the ratings significantly, at what went wrong.

        We look at why the tapings after Destination X are so important, as well as look at every segment of Raw and Impact on Monday, the gains and losses of viewers, and what that says about people switching channels. 

        We look at the departure of several people from TNA over the past week.

        The issue is available on the web site today.  For those wanting the print edition, there are details here on how to get it delivered to your door each week.

        We also have a lengthy look at the life and career of Angelo Poffo, including a look at the early days of Randy Savage, and why it took Savage so long to become an international star.  We look at one of the most heated promotional wars of all-time, a television battle that makes the Bischoff vs. Vince war seem absolutely tame in comparison, including threats and realities of actual violence between the sides, including the filing of a multimillion dollar lawsuit.

        We look at the peak of Angelo's career, Randy Savage's beginnings in pro wrestling, the legend of the ICW/Jarrett feud, the debut in wrestling of Miss Elizabeth.  We look at the promoter who started signing away their talent, yet ended up giving what Randy Savage would later say was the career advice that ended up changing his life in giving up an angle that would have been between two of the biggest stars of the 80s.

        We look at Poffo setting the sit-up record, how he got started in wrestling, his role in the origination of the popularity of the manager character and his controversial WCW Hall of Fame induction.

        We also look at the career of Jens Pulver and his role in establishing lighter weight fighters, his interview that was one of the most memorable in MMA history, as well as his future, along with a rundown of WEC 47, with poll results, details on the show and how much all the fighters got paid.

        We also look at a new form of pro wrestling production that took place featuring some of the biggest stars of several different promotions that took place over the weekend.

        We also have a look at how the Royal Rumble did, comparisons with UFC 109 held a week later, a look at what the price increase meant and comparisons to how the Rumble has done in the two previous years.

        We update the lineup for WrestleMania, looking at where the top talent fits in, have more on Raw guest hosts, WWE web site stats, the return to Madison Square Garden, updates on Steve Austin, Bret Hart thrilled to meet a guest host, several WWE talents released talk about being gone, as well as injury updates.  We also have more on senior executives getting major cash for stock selling, cutting of a Playboy model, the story of Chuck Austin and his lawsuit against WWE, update on WWE scouting as well as a look at the house shows over the weekend, with business notes and highlights.

    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:

--Lineup for CMLL's first major show of the year with the biggest name in Mexico putting his mask up

--Current NFL star wrestles this week in Mexico

--How WWE is affecting the mentality when it comes to business in Mexico

--Wrestler fired for associating with the wrong wrestler

--TNA makes overseas talent deal

--Updates on Dragon Gate USA business

--Annual King of Gate tournament notes

--One of the all-time greats needs another knee operation and insiders question if this Hall of Famer's career may have ended this week

--Former WWE star debuts in All Japan at Sumo Hall this week

--First cage match in All Japan history features two former MMA headliners against each other

--World champion breaks elbow, out indefinitely

--Lots of news regarding the school named after Tiger Jeet Singh

--The only other known school named after a pro wrestler

--Eric Bischoff's latest pro wrestling show idea

--Wrestling announcer recovers from stroke

--Notes on the recent ROH TV tapings

--Updated lineup for TNA Destination X

--More on TNA roster changes

--What TNA personality credits the dropping of ratings to his not being on TV as much

--Problems with the build to the first Monday show

--A.J. Styles wrestles tag team partner when he first broke in

--Funny story on U.K. reporter doing a story on TNA

--Desmond Wolfe talks his start in TNA

--Funny story from Vince Russo's book

--RVD TV series update

--RVD talks Umaga death

--Scott Steiner update

--TV star looking to get into TNA

--UFC PPV number updates

--Dana White talks weight class change for one of UFC's biggest stars

--UFC gets a network prime time deal overseas and network predicts a 10.0 rating for the debut show

--TV show canceled

--Jens Pulver talks the Miletich camp

--UFC now available in several new countries

--Lots of new UFC matches

--Update on Herschel Walker fighting

        New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues can get free issues from the
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right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was
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everything that was said between the two about the match that was going
to take place that same night)
 
*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon
steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article
and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)
 
*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner
networks)
 
*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such
great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)
 
*July 8, 1991 (Ric Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid
trial)
 
*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)
 
*May 13, 2002 (the life story of the most incredible pro wrestling career
ever, a look at Lou Thesz, in one of the largest issues of our
history)
 
*January 27, 2003 (part one of the two-part series covering the career
and life of The Sheik)
 
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who worked with him and where he stands historically)
 
*March 24, 2003 (history of the WWWF title, inside behind the Sammartino,
Backlund and Backlund era)
 
*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally,
the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk
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)
 
*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals
and friends)
 
*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the
plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the
night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined
for a joint show and what happened)
 
*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the
controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as
historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)
 
*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the
seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s,
Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding
world title and much more)
 
*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of
Road Warrior Hawk)
 
*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue)
 
*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling, Jack Tunney life story,
Royal Rumble and Battle Royal history)
 
*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
business changed)
 
*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best
and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and
Wrestlemania history books)
 
*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his
background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)
 
*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on
Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)
 
*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)
 
*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year
with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund,
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*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details
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*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle
and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the
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*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)
 
*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a
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*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW,
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*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at
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Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental
territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized
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*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul
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*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class
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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
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why it didn't click)
 
*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and
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*July 23, 2007 (Part five of Benoit double murder-suicide)
 
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*August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his
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--There is a story at http://www.mmajunkie.com that the scheduled Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell match on 6/12 in Vancouver has been replaced by Liddell vs. Rich Franklin.  The story is that during the filming of the new season of Ultimate Fighter, something happened with Ortiz, which wound up with him off the show and Franklin taking over as coach.  Whatever this was also led to Dana White pulling Ortiz from his main event.  However, Dana White has since posted that Franklin's next fight would be with Randy Couture, which kills rumors of a Couture vs. James Toney fight.

--There has been a lot of talk in the MMA world in recent days regarding Jim Ross broadcasting MMA after the interview with Jeremy Botter was published where Ross talked about how he would like to give it a try and what he perceives the weaknesses are in that genre, in particular that the announcers are trying to get too technical with their calls to satisfy the vocal hardcore fans, not realizing that they are talking about the head of the masses.  I sense that more of an issue on TV broadcasts than PPVs, as there should be a different approach to each, particularly on CBS where you have to go with the assumption a large percentage of viewers are not familiar with the sport. 

--Ross also wrote on his web site that he doesn't believe he will be returning to weekly WWE television.  Ross has said that he doesn't want to travel every week.  "Would I love to work with King again?  Certainly.  Is this my call?  Nope.  Do I think that I will ever be paired with Lawler again on a regular basis?  Highly unlikely."  This is likely a new development since WWE was supposed to be getting back to Ross with their ideas of what they would want him to do if he were to sign a new contract.  Ross' deal ends on or around 3/20, but he's also made it clear he is going to Phoenix for WrestleMania.

--RVD has agreed to do his first TNA house shows on 4/22 and 4/23 with shows in Macon and Albany, GA

--Daniel Bryan's name ws removed from the talent page on the FCW web site, while all the other NXT talent is still on the site. (thanks to Steve Wood)

--Bret Hart will be continuing with WWE after WrestleMania.  His is booked to be part of the Smackdown tour in the European show as his name was announced as a special enforcer for Edge vs. Chris Jericho matches.

--Poll on UFC Prime Time: St. Pierre vs. Hardy

Excellent 32.5%

Good 40.9%

Average 10.4%

Fair 5.2%

Poor 11.0%

        43.8% of those responding didn't see the show

--Poll on Thursday night's Superstars TV show

Excellent 12.5%

Good 29.2%

Average 27.1%

Fair 8.3%

Poor 22.9%

        57.5% of those responding didn't see the show 

--Dana White is headed to Toronto on 3/23 for a free Q&A talk show at 1 p.m. that day at the Eaton Center on Yonge St. to help promote UFC 111.  He will also be in New York on 3/24 at 3 p.m. with Georges St. Pierre, Dan Hardy, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin for a pre-fight press conference which is also free and open to the public.

--TNA Epics, which was to air on Monday at 8 p.m. before Impact, has been moved to Tuesday night at 11 p.m.  No reason was given for the late change.  The show will feature the A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels match which is considered by many as the single greatest match in the history of the promotion, plus a 2008 Steel Asylum cage match with Kazarian, Jimmy Rave, Johnny Devine, Shark Boy, Curry Man, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley and  Consequences Creed, as well as the Ultimate X match from last year's Bound for Glory with Amazing Red, Suicide, Daniels, Homicide, Sabin and Shelley.

--Funeral arrangements for John Steel Hill, who wrestled under a ton of names including Stomper Guy Mitchell and Gentleman Jerry Valiant, and held a major version of the world heavyweight title in 1966 in Australia when that was the top wrestling territory in the world, is that visitation will be tomorrow from 3-7 p.m. at the Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center in Franklin, IN.  You can call for more information at 317-738-0202. 

--The Foxnews.com web site has a Miesha Tate photo gallery at http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/entertainment/2010/03/12/lovely-talented-miesha-tate?test=faces  With Gina Carano doing movies and possibly not fighting again, she's going to be promoted as the new hot looking fighter.  

--Aaron Riley, Tom Lawlor, Jorge Masvidal, Braulio Estima are in Richmond, VA at MMA Institute doing a seminar all weekend to help raise money for Haiti Earthquake victims.

--Eve Torres threw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers spring training game in Phoenix on Thursday.

--A story about the wedding of Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga is at http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/jennifer-hudson-plans-honeymoon-1135246

--Blue Demon Jr. vs. Adam Pearce vs. Phil Shatter headlines tomorrow's NWA New Beginnings show at the University Hilton in Charlotte. 

--Regarding the WWE Hall of Fame induction of Bob Uecker, which may be announced Monday, the person inducting him will be Dick Ebersol, the head of NBC Sports.

--There will be a King of the Cage show on 4/16 at Cobo Arena in Detroit headlined by Jeremy Horn vs. Jake Rosholt, Former boxing champion Ray Mercer vs. Ron Sparks and Joe Doerksen vs. Chad Herrick.  This show will air live on HDNet.

--Bill Simmons on ESPN's web site had a Q&A were someone asked how Canada could justify not having Bret Hart in the opening ceremonies at the Olympics.  It was  funny question joking that it was as bad as if the Olympics were held in Uganda and the opening ceremony excluded Kamala. (thanks to Matt Schreiner)

--Mickey Rourke apparently suffered a broken bone in his arm while arm wrestling.

--The WSU promotion (an all women's group) has signed a TV deal with The Fight Network in Canada.

--Dan Bishop of the University of Buffalo, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury in last weekend Mid-American Conference wrestling championships is now off a ventilator and has been able to move one of his legs after undergoing emergency surgery.  Bishop was injured in a semifinal match of the tournament last Saturday at Central Michigan University.  He sustained a fracture of two vertebrae in his neck as well as damage to a major artery.  Bishop ended up finishing in second place in the meet at 125 pounds.

--Smackdown will air at 8 p.m. tonight on Ch. 33 WBFS in Miami.  It was preempted last night.  FCW also debuts on Ch. 33.  The first show aired at 11 a.m. today and will air in that time slot, which was the station and I think the time slot that Championship Wrestling from Florida aired during the glory days of the promotion, for one month, building a 4/3 event at the Dade County Fair.  If ratings are strong, the show may continue past its four-week scheduled run.   

--A story on the forgery charges against David "Kid Kash" Cash being thrown out when the woman who accused him of stealing her credit card didn't show up for the court hearing, is at http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9021316  There are discrepancies between what the police say happened regarding the particulars of the case and what Cash told pwinsider.com in an interview.  

--Tonight in Tulalip, WA at the Pacific Rim, Vinnie V & Ideal Protection face Bryan Alvarez & Christopher Ryseck in a parejas increibles match.  For more go to http://www.tulalipchampionshipwrestling.com

--Gregory Pratt at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is looking for any books, tapes or anything else related to the wrestling career of Jack Veneno or other Dominican Republic wrestling stars like Relampago Hernandez or Los Hermanos Bronco.  Veneno and Ric Flair once drew 30,000 fans at a stadium for a match where Flair lost the NWA title by calling an audible in the ring fearing a riot, in one of those title changes that isn't listed among his "16."

--Even though the Friday night Pride shows have been canceled on Spike, a week from today they are doing a Pride marathon from 1-7 p.m. airing the shows that have already aired.

--CHIKARA's King of Trios on 4/23 to 4/25 at the Arena in Philadelphia will be bringing in Mexican national welterweight champion Valiente, as part of a trio with Jorge "Skayde" Rivera and Turbo.

--Player Uno of the Super Smash Brothers is out of action with an AC joint separation and will be off the 3/19 and 3/20 ROH shows in the Detroit and Toronto areas.  Kevin Steen vs. Player Dos will be on the 3/20 show while the Briscoes, who were to face the Super Smash Brothers, will now face the House of Truth.

--The Kings of Wrestling face Scorpio Sky & Scott Lost on the ROH show on 3/26 in Phoenix, while Jerry Lynn vs. Steve Corino was added for the 3/27 show.

--A review of the new WWE comic is at http://www.wrestle-zone.co.uk/wwe-book-reviews/8084-throwing-in-the-towel-comic-book-review-wwe-heroes-1.html

--A story about indie guys working for New Midwest Wrestling is at http://www.sj-r.com/carousel/x427964550/Pro-wrestlers-personas-belie-their-everyday-lives

--Colt Cabana vs. Bob (is that the guy in the Enzyte commercial?) headlines at the Ross Community Center tonight in Muncie, IN for EWF

--USWO from last night in Nashville before 76 fans:  Saint & Psycho Medic b Tiny Bear & Kevin Jones, Seven b Crusher Eric Hodge, L.T. Falk & Cody Weatherby b Dyron Flynn & Bad Boy Dixon, Shawn Hoodrich b Kevin Dunn, Chrisjen Hayme b Jeremy Flynt, Rudy Switchblade & L.T Falk b Damien Payne & Jason Xavier, Jeff Daniels b Nore Havoc (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)

--In Your Face Wrestling on 3/20 in Ballston Spa, NY at the Community Center