Kronus, left, with Jasmine St. Clair. Photo credit: Mike Lano

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Sorry for the lack of daily updates over the course of the past week, I finally hit the wall and needed to start axing certain things. Hopefully we'll largely be back to normal starting with today.

This week's new 25,000-word Figure Four Weekly newsletter is packed with pro-wrestling and MMA news and analysis from around the world! Our cover story looks at the results of the Benoit family toxicology reports and what it all means. We'll look at the drugs that were found in Chris, Nancy and Daniel's systems, what they are used for and what doses they were in. We'll discuss the testosterone vs. steroids debate, what the government says about the issue, and what WWE is trying to claim. We'll break down Chris' T/E ratio, explain what it means, and look at what it would have meant in any other sporting organization in the world that tests for drugs. Also, what the coroner said about Nancy's BAC, what this reveals about the manner of Daniel Benoit's death, what the media wanted to know about the situation, whether or not it was roid rage, WWE's official response to the situation, quotes from other steroid and drug experts as well as the head of WWE's drug policy, the results of Benoit's previous tests, what friends said about his recent steroid use, tons of notes on the media over the past few days, including thoughts on McDevitt and Dr. Black on Nancy Grace and other shows, what Black was trying to claim about replacement therapy and what the truth is, a raid on Dr. Astin's office and what they found, the latest on his case and when it might go to court, tons of notes from the funeral of Nancy and Daniel, who showed up, who did not show up, what people were saying about Vince in the days after the death as compared to what they're saying about him now, what the backstage reaction to toxicology was, what made Vince 1000 times more angry that same day, how the WWE stars were prepped before being sent out, why Vince chose Fit Finlay and others in particular, a real list of dead wrestlers that is not sensationalized like the ones you see on TV, how all these people died and what it shows, a huge rant about Ken Kennedy both in his blog and on TV, the blatant lies he told and what the truth is, Cena also looking bad, update on Olympic ratios, the exact wording of the WWE policy and a look at how similar it is to the NFL policy, Congressman looking into regulation, my thoughts on regulation and whether it's even possible, a look at what would be necessary for it to happen, drug testing in MMA and how it works, more WWE names revealed as patients of Dr. Astin, NFL players also dying young and why, Ted DiBiase speaks out and a look at all that he said, Booker T on Benoit's death, another Benoit story I don't think I've ever told, Angle on the tragedy, notes on what the WWE schedule really is like as opposed to what people are claiming, notes on Benoit's diary that he wrote to Eddy Guerrero, and tons more. The coverage is definitely not slowing down on this story, but we also made room for tons of other non-Benoit-related stories, including a look at the Victory Road PPV, star ratings for all the matches and backstage notes, a blow-up backstage at WWE, what it was about and who calmed Vince down, which writer is getting abused regularly by Vince, new World Champion, the circumstance behind it and what happened, the Smackdown title curse, WWE lawsuit regarding JBL, Mark Henry with some great quotes about life in WWE, Flair off TV, ratings news and notes, UFC and Spike close to huge deal, plans to run another major state, line-ups for a number of upcoming UFC shows, two new stars backstage at TNA Sunday, why one of them is ridiculous this week but it's really no surprise, this person's history of being fired from companies, TNA backstage person released, plans for some babyface and heel turns, big lucha show in LA results, yet another Iron Sheik story, Scott Hall wrestles Carlito this week (seriously), tons of other MMA, indy and Mexican news notes, Vince reviews Florida Brothers Volume I, I review DERBY CITY WRESTLING, the OVW developmental group, full reviews of every major TV show including Raw, Smackdown, and TNA, and TONS more! Of course, as a member you also get full access to ALL new and archived radio shows dating back to 2005, plus all the new and archived (280-plus issues) Figure Four Weekly newsletters dating back to 2001. To sign up, please click here, or PayPal users can use the Quick Buy link at the top of this page to be online within 60 seconds. Rates start at just $7.99 per month (27 cents a DAY), so it's a steal. Thanks for your support!

Our latest FREE radio show, the July 17 Bryan & Vinny Show, can be downloaded here.

My newest Fight Network column is here with a look at hope for change in the pro-wrestling business. If you like the columns, they're about 1/25th the length of each issue of Figure Four Weekly, and we've got 300 back issues archived from 2002-today, all available 24/7 with an online membership to this site. See below for more info and ordering details.

To access our first ten days of coverage of the Benoit tragedy, which includes links to dozens and dozens of articles, radio and TV links, and more, please click here.

Not sure what Dave Meltzer's schedule is looking like, but we hope to record his Figure Four Daily very late tonight (posted around 1:00 AM PST). If he's unavailable or swamped, as has been the case quite a bit recently because there is just so much going on with the Benoit story and I think he's been doing two-issue Observer weeks for most of the past month, we'll reschedule for later in the weekend as we did last time around. RD Reynolds is our guest tomorrow and Don Callis will be on next Wednesday, and you can also check the "Upcoming Shows" link at the top of this page to see the latest schedule.

John Cena on Larry King Live

Chavo on Greta Van Sustern is here

Nancy Grace on Wednesday clips: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

Luger and Poffo on Hannity and Colmes

ECW did a 1.34 Tuesday night. TNA did a 1.01 last week. Raw, as noted many times, did a 3.4, and Vince blew a gasket.

ROH in Tokyo from this past weekend was headlined by Takeshi Morishima beating Nigel McGuinness in a great match.

ROH in Osaka was headlined by CIMA & Bryan Danielson & Naomichi Marufuji beating Rocky Romero & Davey Richards & Masaaki Mochizuki.

ROH also has the RACE TO THE TOP TOURNAMENT~! starting this weekend. Friday is in Deer Park, NY at the Community Center, and Saturday is in Edison, NJ at the Inman Sports Club.

Speaking of ROH, the Respect is Earned PPV debuts on InDemand tomorrow night.

The Diva Search is back. You can send in your application here. You are also welcome to send it to me first and I'll let you know if you have what it takes.

There will be a four-disc WSX set coming out this November.

Just to compare wrestling in America with sports television around the world, the two biggest TV stations in Germany, ARD and ZDF, dropped coverage of the Tour De France after a single rider tested positive with a high T/E ratio.

Lance Storm has a great column up here. He has been an awesome guest on the few mainstream shows he's done, and he needs to be on plenty more.

Mauricio Shogun Rua vs. Forrest Griffin is confirmed for Anaheim.

I can also confirm that the FSM show on August 3rd, where I was scheduled to face Larry Sweeney for the ICW/ICWA Texarkana TV Title in the first round of the FSM Title Tournament, has been cancelled.

JR's latest blog

WWE in spin mode over Benoit findings

Bernard Hopkins: "Boxing Will Survive The UFC"

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