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        We're looking for live reports on tonight's ROH TV taping in Orlando.
 
        Tonight on WWE Superstars on WGN at 8 and 11 p.m.:
*Evan Bourne vs. Jack Swagger
*Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Dolph Ziggler
*Kofi Kingston vs. MVP vs. Matt Hardy for U.S. title.  This is the match Hardy tore his ab muscle in
 
        Tonight on Impact on Spike at 9 p.m.:
*Brother Ray vs. Brutus Magnus
*Abyss vs. Kevin Nash
*Taylor Wilde vs. Daffney in a 10,000 thumb tacks match
*Robert Roode vs. Scott Steiner
*James Storm vs. Booker T
*Amazing Red vs. Cody Deaner
*Kurt Angle & Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles & Jeff Jarrett - TNA title is up in a tag team match tonight
        Not sure if all of these matches will air.  These were the matches taped on Tuesday but it's possible one or more were taped for a different show as they weren't taping completely in order.
 
        Spike has these matches on Unleashed between 7-9 p.m. tonight:
*Tyson Griffin vs. Frankie Edgar - this was a great match
*Spencer Fisher vs. Thiago Alves
*Michael Bisping vs. Eric Schafer
*Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie
*Jens Pulver vs. John Lewis
*B.J. Penn vs. Din Thomas
*B.J. Penn vs. Caol Uno
 
        We've got two issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter coming next week.

        Our two lead stories include a look at the commercial free Raw and what the ratings mean.  We look at the last time WWE drew ratings at this level, how Raw ratings usually work and the effect of not having commercials, its affect on PPV, the financial considerations of the cost of Raw for USA Network, exactly how much this Raw will mean to USA's weekly rating, the advantage and disadvantage of Raw for a network as well as the viability of doing such a show again.

        We look at DVR viewership and how this affects Raw and Smackdown today, who watched Raw this week, details behind the Trump storyline from both this week and last week, where the dual ownership idea was first talked about, who was talked about for the role in creative and why Vince McMahon always nixed it in the past, as well as the reducing of the money.

        We also look at the career and life of Mitsuharu Misawa.  We look at his beginnings, his most famous matches, behind the scenes, family, his future plans, many wrestlers speak about him and others wish they could have wrestled him.  We also have his extensive career title history, his career in a plethora of awards, and a rundown of every major arena match he ever had in Tokyo, and the records for being a box office draw that he set during his career.

        The first issue is available right now on the site for premium members and the second issue will be available tomorrow.

          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.

        We've got full coverage of the Ultimate Fighter finals, with a look at the Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida match, how many viewers the match added, reaction to the judging, reaction from both fighters, comparisons with Brown vs. Faber, match-by-match viewership and how much each match added to the show, comparisons with other shows on television that day, future of Sanchez and Guida, match-by-match coverage including how much each fighter made on the show and reaction of the crowd.

        We also have full coverage of TNA Slammiversary, including business notes on the show and what they mean, the Samoa Joe turn, where the angles are going, television production as well as match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

        We also have more news on Gerald Brisco, notes on the Bash PPV, updates on WWE and Rey Mysterio, WWE injury updates, WWE and Ric Flair, How much WWE spent on its last two movies, details behind the dropping of Candice Michelle and Sim Snuka, the signing of a huge bodybuilder and a member of a famous wrestling family who is a former MMA star and the background of the signing.  

        We also have an exclusive update on UFC legalization in New York as well as UFC television in the U.K. and Dana White getting a national award.

        We also have notes on new PPV name, developmental notes, drug testing, a look back at the strange coincidences involving D-Lo Brown and Darren Drozdov, best selling DVDs as well as coverage from the weekend house shows.

        We also have our regular weekly features including the ratings for all the major shows, results of the major league arena events held around the world and the major TV show reviews.

        Also in this week's issue:
 
--Reaction to the death of Misawa

--Where NOAH goes next

--Possible Japanese match of the year

--Rundown of the biggest junior heavyweight tag team tournament of the year

--Death of Billy "Red" Lyons

--More on what happened with Brian Blair

--TNA adds a new service

--Taz in TNA

--UFC and Vitor Belfort

--Upcoming UFC shows

--Advances for upcoming UFC shows

--What pro wrestling major star used to be the roommate of what UFC world champion

--UFC injury notes

--Notes on the Kimbo season of Ultimate Fighter and who many of the other fighters are as well as their backgrounds

--UFC 100 in Australia

--Plans for a new country to have a major UFC PPV in 2010

--More new UFC matches

--Andrei Arlovski's future

--Next Affliction show

--CMLL tournament of champions ends with a Universal champion crowned

--50th anniversary of wrestling at Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara and special guests brought back for the show

--Notes on Cibernetico's return to AAA

--Next major show AAA planned main event

--Update on the cocaine and assault arrests involving AAA stars and the repercussions

--Update on a wrestling show in a few weeks that features both current TNA & WWE stars, as well as a future Hall of Famer in another sport

--Update on Dragon Gate shows outside of Japan

--All Japan's annual junior heavyweight tournament and lineup

--Notes on Hiroshi Tanahashi winning the IWGP title and New Japan's big show in Osaka with Team 3-D

--What interesting match headlines the next New Japan major show

--Notes on Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley defending their titles in Japan

--Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts

--ROH summer schedule

--ROH/Ric Flair update

--Bryan Danielson update

--A look at the ROH TV tapings

--Bas Rutten on Kimbo Slice

--Next Kid Yamamoto match and why

--Last Strikeforce show and more business numbers from St. Louis

--Real PPV numbers for Hatton-Pacquiao

--Is Bobby Lashley a star?
    
        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,
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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)
 
*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)
 
*September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)
 
*September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)
 
*September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)
 
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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
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--Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett dying on the same day is quite the news.  

--Lee Murray wasn't free for long.  The British government, after finding out he was released and was now a citizen  of Morocco, went to the Moroccan government and asked that he be arrested and charged in Morocco as opposed to being extradited into England, with the bank robbery.  He was put back in prison and will undergo a trial in Morocco.
 
--ROH on Friday night in Detroit at the Michigan State Fairgrounds and Expo Center with a Ric Flair meet and greet at 6 p.m., Tyler Black vs. Jimmy Jacobs in a cage match and American Wolves vs. KENTA & Roderick Strong for the ROH tag titles, plus Nigel McGuinness vs. Claudio Castagnoli.  Saturday night in Chicago at the Frontier Fieldhouse has a 5:30 p.m. Flair autograph session, plus Austin Aries defends against McGuinness and KENTA vs. Tyler Black.
 
--Diego Sanchez, Clay Guida, DaMarques Johnson, James Wilks, Ross Pearson, Andre Winner, Chris Lytle, Joe Stevenson, Brad Blackburn, Nick Osipczak, Melvin Guillard and Tomasz Drwal were all randomly drug tested on the Saturday night UFC show in Las Vegas by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and all results came in negative.
 
--BxB Hulk vs. Yamato has been added to the 7/25 Dragon Gate debut in Philadelphia at the Arena
 
--The San Jose Mercury has a story on Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes plugging Monday's double Raw taping at http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_12672125?nclick_check=1  They are advertising it as the first Raw taping in San Jose in four years.  The story claims WWE's increase in popularity is due to the decision to make it kid friendly.  I'm not sure about an increase in popularity and if it was, that would hardly be the reason.  Rhodes said that he overheard John Cena and Batista at a recent show in Washington, DC saying how they were used to seeing lots of pretty girls in the arena, but now it's all kids.  Then Cena told Batista, when there were pretty girls, the arena was half full and now it's full.  Someone in DC let me know about a half full Raw with pretty girls and a sold out recent show.  Rhodes said he was offered a wrestling scholarship to Penn State but the wrestling bug caught him.  Actually, he and his sister moved to Los Angeles after high school because both wanted to get into acting.  When that didn't work out, he got into wrestling.        
 
--There is a short piece reported on WFSB in Connecticut about the movie "Opponent" being filmed soon in Berlin, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, CT that stars Roddy Piper.  The movie is about the owner of a junkyard who offers a reward to someone who can kill the aliens that crashed into her barn.  Story is at http://www.wfsb.com/news/19855646/detail.html  Piper is the lead in the movie, playing a priest.
 
--Who is the most popular UFC/WEC fighter?
Chuck Liddell 29.7%
Georges St. Pierre 27.2%
Randy Couture 25.1%
Forrest Griffin 5.1%
Clay Guida 3.2%
Quinton Jackson 3.0%
Urijah Faber 1.9%
Anderson Silva 1.3%
Lyoto Machida 1.1%
B.J. Penn 0.8%
Matt Hughes 0.8%
Michael Bisping 0.8%
 
--Who is the most popular WWE wrestler
John Cena 33.4%
Jeff Hardy 28.4%
Undertaker 19.5%
Shawn Michaels 9.8%
Rey Mysterio 5.2%
Randy Orton 2.1%
HHH 0.6%
 
--Who is most popular among this group?
Ric Flair 57.0%
Gina Carano 15.5%
Kimbo Slice 6.9%
Tito Ortiz 5.2%
Mick Foley 4.1%
A.J. Styles 3.4%
Sting 3.4%
Kurt Angle 3.1%
Cung Le 0.7%
Frank Shamrock 0.5%
Nick Diaz 0.2%
 
--How will the Bash do on PPV
Above average for a B show because so many people watched Raw on Monday 7.0%
Average for a B show because so many people watched Raw on Monday 34.8%
Below average for a B show, Monday's new audience won't help the buy rate much if at all 58.2%
 
 
--Former pro wrestling and MMA star Don Frye has a role in the movie "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp, which debuts on 7/1.  Frye also has a role in the movie "Salt" starring Angelina Jolie.  Frye is training for an MMA fight in August.
 
--Bruno Sammartino will be in the front row at Saturday night's MMA show at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.  For those attending, he's extremely gracious and approachable.  It will also be the first MMA show he's ever seen.
 
--UFC has confirmed Roger Huerta's final fight of his contract will be against Gray Maynard on the next live Spike TV show on 9/19 from Oklahoma City.
 
--There is a short notice opening on that show as Dave Sachs was hospitalized and had to pull  out.  They need a 146 pounder on short notice to fight Brock Kerry of Florida, who has a 4-3 record.  The purse is $1,000 guaranteed and a $1,000 win bonus.  Airfare will be taken care.  You have to have HIV, HEP B and HEP C blood work and a complete physical on record.  Contact Lion Heart management at 814-280-1982 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it immediately if interested.
 
--WWE tickets go on sale Saturday for Raw TV tapings on 8/31 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit
 
--Elite Fighting Challenge on Saturday night at the Norfolk Scope Arena with 14 fights headlined by Phillip Wyman vs. Mike Medrano and Charles Diaz (Ultimate Fighter season 8, once lost to a great submission by Rumina Sato, look it up on youtube although he went by a different name in those days) vs. Patrick Curran (Jeff's cousin).  Weigh-ins are at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Granby Theater across the street from the Scope Arena.  Jeff Curran is doing a seminar from 1-3 p.m. at the Granby Theater.  For more info go to efcfights.com  This is believed to be the first MMA event at the Scope.   
 
--Former TNA and WWE/OVW Wrestling Mikey Batts has been training with the American Top Team in Danbury, CT and makes his grappling debut at the East Coast Submission Championships under his real name of Mikey Altieri, as a 155 pounder on Saturday night at the Twin River Casino in Rhode Island.   
 
--Former skateboarding star Jason Ellis was on Howard Stern yesterday and they got into a discussion of Chyna.  He said Chyna was on a guest on his (Ellis' show on Sirius) show and she asked him out after the show.  He also said she was in an altered state while on the air.  So they went to her apartment and had sex.  "She was screaming" Ellis said, who claimed Chyna told him that he was bigger than HHH (poor girl needs to move on, it's been how many years?, I hope to got she wasn't doing that when she was dating Sean Waltman because what could be creepier than having sex and having the girl obsess about one of your best friends?).  He said he freaked out because Chyna was drunk at this point, and then was taking Ambien.  He said he tried to leave, but she fell asleep on his arm.  Jason needed to talk to Stan Lane about this predicament.  I think you're supposed to chew your own arm off at the shoulder at this point.  Then, Chyna's assistant showed up with a cell phone because she had an early morning radio interview.  He said Chyna was naked in bed doing a radio interview while he got dressed as fast as he could and tried to leave.  She then chased him down the hall and he ran to the elevator and pressed the down button.  Ellis said she kept calling and he told Chyna he was getting back together with his wife.  He said she would still call him when she got drunk after that. (thanks to Jeff Cohen)  
 
--There is a story on C.M. Punk promoting a 7/2 Smackdown house show in Palm Springs, CA.  He claims C.M. really stands for championship material.  Story is at http://www.mydesert.com/article/2009/0625/LIFESTYLES01/  He also talks about learning the business from Ricky Steamboat.
 
--For Smackdown tomorrow, it will air at 12:30 a.m. tomorrow night in Honolulu, and 10:30 p.m. (or after the baseball game) on WCTX in Hartford and WWOR in New York.
 
--NWF tomorrow night in Fort Wright, KY at Shimmers Ballroom headlined by Chris Harris vs. Anthony Bryant.
 
--PWO on 8/9 in Cleveland at the Nautica Pavilion at 3 p.m. with Matt Cross vs. Mike Tolar  
 
--Sandman vs. Sabu with Terry Funk as ref headlines Francine's Cancer benefit show on Saturday night at the Arena in Philadelphia.  It's an ECW reunion with Shane Douglas vs. Al Snow, Chris Hamrick vs. Crowbar, BWO vs. FBI, Raven vs. Justin Credible, Rhino vs. Spike Dudley, Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney vs. Da Baldies, C.W. Anderson vs. 2 Cold Scorpio, Jack Victory vs. Scott Anton vs. Jamie Dundee and Pitbull Gary Wolfe, Joel Gertner, Fonzie, Todd Gordon and more.  How come they never do WCW reunion shows?
 
--Cage Fighting Championship on 7/11 in Carrara, Gold Coast, Australia at the Carrara Indoor Stadium healdined by Rob Hill vs. Adrian Pang
 
--Tuesday night in Guadalajara:  Novato b Relampago, Metatron DCOR Rafaga, Placio Negro b Saturno, Casanova b Asesino Negro, Mascara Magica & El Satanico b Metal Blanco & Neutron, Princesa Blanca b Lady Apache, Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro & Shigeo Okumura b Blue Panther & Toscano & Volador Jr. (thanks to Kris Zellner)
 
--CPW NSW on Saturday night in Scranton, PA at The Ice Box headlined by Honky Tonk Man
 
--Wolfie D is taking independent bookings through Bill Behrens at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Wolfie and Jamie Dundee were the PG-13 tag team in the USWA and later were in the Nation of Domination as the rappers in the Ron Simmons days.  He can be booked out of Nashville.
 
--Today's New York Daily News mentions Steve Beverly's game show newsletter in an article on the death of Kenneth Roberts.  Beverly did a wrestling newsletter in the late 80s and early 90s and also worked with us on the Wrestling Observer Hotline with Bryan and myself
 
--Danger Zone on Saturday at the Sturgis Armory in Sturgis, MI for an MMA show promoted by Dan Severn
 
--There is a story on Todd MacPhee who talks retiring from wrestling and has some funny stories on how timing screwed with him getting into WCW and WWF.  His career hopes with WWF ended at the 1997 Survivor Series in Montreal, he says.  Story is at http://springhillrecord.com/index.cfm?sid-263711&sc=482
 
--Premier Championship Wrestling last night in Winnipeg before 259 fans with the annual Premier Cup tournament:  Robby Royce b Chad Tatum, Mike Angels b Adam Knight, Kenny Omega b Antonio Scorpio Jr., El Generico b Anderson Tyson Moore, Generico b Royce, Angels b Omega, Nate Hardy & Marty Labossier over Ludicrous & Pete Chee, Chris Marxwell & JP Kaos and Joe Dixon & Sabertooth, Mike Angels b El Generico with the dreaded stomach claw submission to win.  Next show is 7/22 with Omega vs. Angels (thanks to Andrew Shallcross)