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We're looking for reports on the WWE shows Sunday in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday night in Palm Springs, Friday night in San Diego and Friday night in Auckland, New Zealand at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Smackdown runs tonight and Wednesday at Budokan Hall in Tokyo. Raw runs tonight in Melbourne and Wednesday in Perth and then both crews are off until next Monday's TV tapings in Orlando.

The Sci-Fi Network rebrands as Syfy today and they're premiering a new show, Warehouse 13, in the regular ECW timeslot. ECW is being bumped to Thursday.

Tonight will have a three-hour UFC block on Spike with yesterday's episode of the greatest fights at 8 p.m., the new episode at 9 p.m., and Countdown to UFC 100 with the Lesnar vs. Mir build at 10 p.m. We'll run our buy rate poll on the site after that episode airs.

Our lead story in today's issue of the Observer looks at the WWE mid-card shakeup, plans for the next WWE PPV, next week's Raw TV show, a look at the newcomers to WWE and how they are being viewed right now, as well as coverage of The Bash, with poll results, match-by-match coverage and star ratings.

We also have a look at changes in UFC policy that has made a lot of people unhappy and looks to cut into the income of fighters as well as the latest shot fired in the video game wars.

We've got a ton of stuff from the Raw tapings, including how the crowd was different, the reactions to different wrestlers, and where the angles are going.

We also have an updated look at Bobby Lashley, his fight with Bob Sapp, as well as the Ultimate Chaos PPV show.

The issue is available today for subscribers to the web site.

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 look at the match Lashley had to turn down scheduled for this summer with another former major pro wrestling star, Lashley's promo ability, Lashley's goals for the next year, as well as Tom Atencio's fighting and talking.

We also have a feature updating Lee Murray, as well as a detailed look at The Ultimate Fighter reality show, who watches the show, and how the audience has changed in every major demo since season one. We look at the TUF season and does that make it easier to sell PPV shows, paradoxes about the rating and who watches, as well as how rival coaches fighting on PPV after the season is helped by the show.

We've got an update on the condition of Gerald Brisco, more on Lilian Garcia leaving WWE and possible replacements, first word on Wrestlemania tickets and scalping, PPVs being dropped, TV show changes

We've also got a detailed look at the ratings, including segment-by-segment on Impact and Raw and lots more on the biggest Raw number in years. We also look at how USA's quarter was affected by the big Raw number, as well as an updated look at DVR's and their effect on ratings. We also look at how each segment on the commercial-free Raw did, including a few surprises as far as what was the highest rated segment, and what key segment actually lost viewership.

We also have our regular weekly features including results of the major league arena shows held around the world, as well as the major TV show reviews.

Also in this week's issue:

--What WWE wrestler named his son after what MMA champion

--Edge on ladder matches

--Discussion of drug testing, Jeff Hardy and Umaga

--Who HHH pushed as the company's best new stars

--Why Smackdown is so much better than Raw

--WWE vs. UFC on the web, where each one has the advantage over the other

--Several new WWE signings

--New WWE international tours

--New PPV names being discussed

--Best selling MMA and wrestling DVDs

--Developmental notes

--WWE house show note

--Wrestlers brought back to arena they headlined 50 years ago this week

--Former WWE developmental wrestlers heading to Mexico

--AAA video game news

--Update on a major show with both current WWE and TNA stars on the same show, as well as two recently fired WWE stars on the show

--Update on debut of Dragon Gate in Philadelphia

--Hall of Famer says he will retire in a few weeks

--NOAH business post-Misawa

--Hall of Famer with 25th anniversary show coming soon

--TNA stars headline next New Japan show

--Affliction star doing major pro wrestling show a week after the next card

--How networks carrying MMA and pro wrestling are doing

--Famous wrestling arena about to be torn down

--Former Stampede wrestlers pass away

--Former wrestler and MMA fighter sentenced to life in prison

--Update on Brian Lawler

--Former wrestling headliner going on tour with the circus

--Wrestlers invited to the White House

--ECW nostalgia show notes

--24 man tournament coming

--Father of pop star fights pro wrestler turned gimmick celebrity

--Indie wrestler on VH-1 reality show

--ROH weekend notes

--TNA Victory "Road lineup

--Update on TNA video game license

--Update on Raven and Shane Douglas

--80s star now on TNA TV

--New TNA signing this past week

--Notes on upcoming TNA TV shows

--UFC 99 early buy rate trending patterns

--Live business for the last UFC show

--UFC stars nominated for major sports awards

--Lineup for next WEC show as well as 8/29 UFC show

--Notes on first issue of UFC magazine

--Update on business of WWE magazine

--Magazine listing of best UFC matches in history

--How UFC's magazine list differs from the list UFC gave Spike and who is obviously excluded

--Top UFC star sued over auto accident

--Update on Indiana regulating MMA

--Guida vs. Sanchez thoughts

--What happened with Limp Bizkit and UFC 100

--New title match signed

--More on rating for Joe Rogan special

--A few UFC cuts including a popular fighter

--Update on Jens Pulver

--Bas Rutten rips on Kimbo

--Lots of new UFC fights signed

--Update on CBS and MMA

--Strikeforce schedule for the rest of the year

--Boxing vs. MMA head-to-head on PPV

--ESPN looking at giving MMA more visibility

--Japanese MMA star sentenced to prison time

--Tito Ortiz talks his future

--College wrestling legend gets outwrestled and loses in UFC fight

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)

*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)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

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.

-- Don't forget the UFC 100 Countdown show tonight on Spike at 10 PM. Said to be must-see TV. There's no ECW to watch so no excuses.

-- Edge underwent surgery for his torn Achilles tendon today with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham. We'll have an update tomorrow. WWE is, in fact, acknowledging the injury on WWE.com, which is interesting because Edge does a run-in on Friday night's Smackdown which was taped last week.

-- The October 25th WWE Annihilation PPV, which used to be Cyber Sunday until getting changed last week, was changed back to Cyber Sunday yesterday. This stuff is so wildly entertaining.

-- WWE at Nippon Budokan in Japan today: John Morrison b Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry b Evan Bourne in 6'46 with the World's Strongest Slam, Michelle McCool w/ Alicia Fox b Melina in 7'55 with the Styles Splash, Great Khali b Shelton Benjamin in 5'27 with the Punjabi Plunge, Tommy Dreamer defended the ECW title by beating Jack Swagger & Christian when Dreamer pinned Swagger in 10'48 with a DDT, Rey Misterio kept the IC title by beating Chris Jericho in 25'41 with a Springboard Splash (Ricky Steamboat was the referee and after the match, Jericho got into a confrontation with Yoshihiro Takayama at ringside), and CM Punk retained the Heavyweight title by beating Jeff Hardy in 18'26. There is a photo of Jericho confronting Takayama here.

-- Nick Diaz vs. Joe Riggs for the vacant Strikeforce World Welterweight Title has been added to the Cyborg vs. Carano undercard on August 15th.

-- WrestleMania 26 travel packages go on sale this week at WWEshop.com.

-- Matt Hardy has disgusting details of his stomach injury here. He's out eight to ten weeks after surgery.

-- Jerry Lawler is once again talking about running for Mayor of Memphis and said he would be making an announcement perhaps later this week. He has more comments in a Sun article here.

-- Jim Ross has a new commentary up here in which he advises Lawler to just say NO to the Memphis gig. Also says Jericho vs. Rey on Smackdown Friday is must-see TV.

-- The deaths of La Parkita and Espectrito II made the New York Post this week.

-- Holly Madison of Girls Next Door fame will be a guest Octagon Girl for UFC 100 on Saturday night.

-- Lance Storm also suffered an ankle injury last week but was already back in the ring training on Monday. He's got a commentary on it here and we'll talk more about it with him on tomorrow's Figure Four Daily. He also talks about meeting up with Harry Boy Smith and Tyson Kidd this week and exchanging road stories and the like.

-- GSP was scheduled for Up Front on Off the Record today, and Dana White will be doing a one-on-one segment on Friday. Thanks to Rishi Malhotra

-- Tommy Dreamer in Local Boy Done Good story

-- Ryo Saito and The Young Bucks have been added to the September 6th Dragon Gate USA show in Chicago.

-- KENTA has been added to the next set of ROH tapings on August 14th and 15th. Night one, Death Before Dishonor VII, features Austin Aries defending the ROH Title against Nigel McGuinness, Tyler Black and Jerry Lynn in a four corner survival match.

-- Cookie Jar gets into Mexican wrestling

-- Cage Wars Championships in the UK signed a deal with SunSports, which reaches over 6 million homes in Florida and via satellite around the US. They'll be airing tapes of old shows featuring fighters including Shonie Carter and Jeff Monson.

-- Takanori Gomi vs. Rafaello “Tractor” Oliveira added to the Affliction Trilogy PPV.

-- Chuck writes: I heard Heidi Hamels, the wife of Philadelphia Phillies World Series MVP Cole Hamels, on sports talk radio this morning in Philadelphia. She was promoting Wednesday nights' E-Entertainment THS special about Baseball Wives. Anyway, she said there is a scene on the show where her and Cole go to a TNA Wrestling show to see their friend. She did not name her friend, but I imagine it is Jenna Morasca whom Heidi appeared with on the reality show Survivor.

-- Several people wrote in to note that Mick Foley was shown on the screen during the Yankees vs. Mariners game on July 1st at Yankee Stadium. He was featured as the "Fan of the Game" and got a surprisingly big pop every time he was shown. I believe former WWE creative writer and frequent (but not frequent enough) Figure Four Daily guest Court Bauer was there as well.

-- In a correction from last night's Figure Four Weekly and other places, Espectrito 2, who was murdered last week, was not also Guerrerito del Futuro, who is still alive and well.

-- Rey Misterio Sr. underwent back surgery this past weekend after he fell down in his house. His doctors had wanted him to get this surgery ever since he hurt himself last year. They said it went well and he's in stable condition. Thanks to Kris Zellner.

-- Anyone from the site who wants to join us for dinner on Friday night at Samba's in Vegas around 9 PM, please click here ASAP and add yourself to the list so we can make reservations.

-- The Shinya Hashimoto Tournament will take place Friday night, August 28 at the Langan Baseball Arena, 712 Ginesi Drive, Morganville, NJ. Signed so far are Alex Anthony, Eddie Osbourne and Erico with five more to be announced.

-- Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 7/18 CPW show at the Ice Box in Scranton, PA was canceled. The next show will be 8/22.

-- CZW "Starting Point", Saturday, July 11 - 730PM, The CZW Arena, 7 W. Ritner Street - South Philly, PA

-- The San Francisco Bay Bombers roller derby team returns to the Cow Palace for the first time in 25 years on September 12th for the World Championship Playoffs. It's the Bombers vs. the Brooklyn Red Devils (does Fedor Emelianenko skate for them?), and the SF Bombers hotline is at (510) 636-9300.

-- WAR Wrestling at the Shelby County Fair, 655 Highland Ave., Sidney, Ohio 45365 on July 28th. Bell time 7:00pm / Doors 6:30pm. Buff Bagwell will be there.

-- Ken Kennedy is doing his first autograph session on July 25th 2009 at the Radisson Hotel in Carteret N.J for Wrestlefest convention put on by K&S Promotions. He will be appearing from 11AM until 2PM.

-- Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling on July 11th at the ISPW Arena (3-2 Count Athletic Training Facility) in Freehold, NJ with a 20-man Royal Rumble to crown a new champion.

-- NWA at the Italian-American Memorial Association Showgrounds at 195 West End Avenue in Long Branch on August 1st with GENE SNITSKY VS. BALLS MAHONEY IN A CAGE. That just sounds so great.