The most in-depth coverage of the WWE draft, including the decision making process that took place in the last week, leads off two issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that will be out over the next week.  The first issue is available right now if you are a premium subscriber to this web site and comes out Tuesday otherwise.  A special issue will also come out Wednesday with more coverage, and will be available to web site subscribers within the next few days.

        We look at the Vince McMahon angle, the build to it, timing of the McMahon angle and a look back at last year's attempt to do something similar.  We also look at how this shows the difference in mentality between the different U.S. promotions and what they look at every week.

        We look at all the draft changes, including analysis of the good and bad of each move.  We look at who did and didn't know ahead of time and how this affects the PPV.  We look at WWE's new goals for Smackdown and the different reasons HHH's move was made.  We look at notes out of the meetings that led to these changes being made.  We also look at one of the key changes that is, at least tentatively, slated to include one of the main events at next year's Wrestlemania.  We look at the moves that were sure things.  We look at a wrestler who didn't move that the company is looking to repackage and look at some ideas shot down.

        We also look at how the Jim Ross thing went down in creative, on television, his reaction at first, and his later change of mind.  We look at what Ross did that seemingly guaranteed the move would be made according to those close to the decision making process.  We also look at the business reason why the move wasn't a good one. 

        We also look at the draft rating and how it compares with other draft ratings that didn't give away $1 million.  We look at the funny press release WWE sent out when the rating came out that touted the success of Million Dollar Mania and more business thoughts on the show.

        We also look at a lot of the other strange goings on in WWE over the past week.

        We've also got a look at what Lorenzo Fertitta going full-time to work in UFC may or may not mean.  We look at Fertitta's previous role and from a financial standpoint how significant and seemingly crazy this move is.  We look at Fertitta's background, why he said he made the move and look at the major differences between UFC's attempt to expand internationally and WWE's success in doing the same thing.  The story looks at Fertitta's outside business interests and when put in comparison to where UFC currently is, shows just how major a move this really is.

        We've also got coverage of the Ultimate Fighter final, with a complete rundown of the ratings, match-by-match ratings and how the ratings pattern was very different for this show than most MMA shows and what that means.  We look at some amazing stuff when it comes to ratings, as well as the future for Amir Sadollah as compared to other TUF winners, the future of Evan Tanner, C.B. Dollaway talks both about whether he tapped and what happened with Jesse Taylor that got him on the show, as well as poll results and match-by-match coverage.

        We look at what Vince McMahon has publicly said about MMA, and how privately his company reacts completely different behind-the-scenes.  We've got updates on Randy Orton, Ric Flair, the business notes from the recent Australia and New Zealand tour, how the changes in schedule at the last minute led to a main star and several key behind-the-scenes personnel missing Raw.  We look at more outside business ventures from a WWE main star, as well as a look at the departure of 21-year-veteran promoter Bob Collins from the organization.

        We have notes on McMahon getting an award, as well as business analysts predicting WWE's growth in 2008.  We have notes on a funny conclusion in a magazine article on WWE and how this is reminiscent of articles from another generation.  We have a look at the best selling pro wrestling DVDs, a guy in developmental being given a Bill Goldberg gimmick, a funny quote from a WWE wrestler about his childhood, changes in one of the top heel characters, an update on Carlito, a gimmick a new wrestler is expected to get, Shane McMahon talks about WWE's priorities in the Japanese market and business notes from the past week.

        We also have an historical look back at Japanese pro wrestling in the 70s with the death of the Great Kusatsu as well as a look back at what may have been the biggest night in the history of Japanese pro wrestling on television.

        We also have our monthly WWE & TNA business rundown, covering arena business, television and PPV and how each facet is doing as well as look at the trends.

        We have the most detailed rundown of ratings of every national wrestling and MMA show of the past week, including segment-by-segment of the major shows and Canadian numbers.  We look at the star segment once again on TNA, what did and didn't click on Raw, as well as the first Elite XC show after CBS airing on Showtime.

        We also have results from the major league arena events held around the world and the major TV show rundowns.
 
Each usual weekly issue of the Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world.
 
Every weekly 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 industry, both 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.
 
Also in the issues:

--More on the Pro Wrestling NOAH crew going to Europe and the match of the year candidate in Coventry

--Reaction to the Convetry show

--Major TNA injury

--TNA major show copies something WCW tried in the past that was a failure

--Update on Joe vs. Nash feud

--Notes on Frank Trigg becoming a regular pro wrestler

--Rock star dating TNA woman and how it happened

--Notes on new TNA signings

--Booker T talks his current TNA tenure

--TNA weekend house show news and updates

--A look at TNA TV over the next three weeks

--Detailed update on UFC coming to New York state and what has delayed it

--Update on ticket sales to UFC events

--Buy rate updates on UFC

--More matches for the head-to-head battle on 7/19 between UFC and Affliction

--More matches talked about and falling through

--A look at a head-to-head battle last year and what that seemed to show

--Former top international star cut

--John McCarthy update on why he doesn't expect rule changes that UFC favors to happen

--A look at the next UFC PPV

--Next European show

--Updated talk about doing a major stadium event

--This week's episode of Tito vs. Dana

--Update on Brock Lesnar's training

--Jesse Taylor talks about his being kicked out of the finals

--Another legendary announcer has falling out with the major promoter and what happened

--Story behind a wrestler being immortalized in a national postage stamp

--Update on Mistico injury

--Another major turn

--Update on wrestlers leaving AAA

--Major wrestling star to marry famous model next month

--Wrestling doing a spoof on the K-1 World Grand Prix

--Legend doing an autobiography

--Two more junior heavyweight tournaments

--Update on Japanese magazine industry

--Japanese indie gets TV deal

--MMA fighters doing pro wrestling this past week

--Major national TV specials on 60s and 70s wrestling stars

--Former wrestling star gets national endorsement deal

--Funny story with Dwayne Johnson at Congress this past week

--Death of one of the U.S. greatest heavyweight wrestlers and his brief pro wrestling tenure

--Update on wrestling Hall of Fame flood

--Lots more on the Hogan family for this week including Hogan losing a deal and an update on his TV shows

--Update on Bobby Lashley doing MMA

--Update on reality show looking to use a current pro wrestler as its lead

--Network loans a promotion $3 million

--Lots more on the next CBS show for Elite XC

--Future of Phil Baroni

--Fighter on Affliction show who needs to make amends or won't be able to fight

--Update on wife of legend and son of another legend fighting over the weekend
 
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major story (ies) of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those
descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue. Our most requested issues in our history are:
 
*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)
 
*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but 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)
 
*February 3, 2003 (Part two on The Sheik including thoughts from people 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, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)
 
*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)
 
*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)
 
*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 look at their
Hall of Fame)
 
*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)
 
*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)
 
*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, 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 issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
 
*August 24, 2005 (2005 Hall of Fame issue with career profiles of Paul Heyman, HHH and Freebirds plus debut of MMA Hall of Fame)
 
*September 12, 2005 (History of Mid South Wrestling)
 
*October 10, 2005 (Life and Times of the Ultimate Warrior)
 
*November 21, 2005 (Life and Times of Eddy Guerrero and Crusher, double issue $6 on its own and $7 overseas)
 
*December 5, 2005 (The Eddy Guerrero special issue, double issue $6 on its own, $7 overseas)
 
*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)
 
*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)
 
*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)
 
*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)
 
*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)
 
*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)
 
*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)
 
*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how 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 Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)
 
*January 22, 2007 (2006 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
 
*February 14, 2007 (Life and Times of Bam Bam Bigelow)
 
*March 5, 2007 (WWE begins plans that will change the business)
 
*March 12, 2007 (Life and Times of Mike Awesome)
 
*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)
 
*October 15 (2007 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas including inductions of The Rock, Tom Packs and the original Strangler Lewis)
 
*November 12, 2007 (Life and times of Fabulous Moolah and history of U.S. women's wrestling) .
 
*December 31, 2007 (History of Ric Flair and the heyday of wrestling at the Greensboro Coliseum)
 
*January 21, 2008 (2007 Awards issue, double issue $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
 
*March 17, 2008 (Life and times of Johnny Weaver)
 
*March 24, 2008 (Life and times of Gary Hart)
 
*April 10, 2008 (Farewell to Ric Flair; My thoughts, Shawn Michaels talks of Flair's meaning to him; Hall of Fame; Wrestlemania double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas)
 
You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.
 
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We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods. To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.