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TUES UPDATE: Miz update, more from Smackdown, Roger Gracie tough battle, too much info on Hogan and Bubba, Matt Hughes admits retirement, tons more



By Bryan Alvarez

Bryan Alvarez: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

@bryanalvarez

We're looking for your thoughts on Sunday night's TNA Bound for Glory, as well as Saturday night's UFC and ROH shows, so you can leave a thumbs up,thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We're also looking for reports on Sunday's WWE house show in Knoxville as well as Friday night's show in Jonesboro, AR.

Smackdown will be tonight in Memphis. Jerry Lawler is scheduled to appear at the show.

        A look at the Raw ratings and the WWE shakeups after the 15 year low on October 1 is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.  It's an issue jammed with news, including the most detailed look at the Hulk Hogan sex tape scandal with a lot of new information, Vince McMahon's response to the ratings, the C.M. Punk incident hitting the fan in Sacramento, A look at TNA's Bound for Glory show, Steve Austin vs.C.M. Punk, the New Japan PPV show, the ROH booking change and WrestleMania 2013.
 
        Both the issue and a back issue from 1995 will be up on the site today.
 
        The lead story looks at changes made regarding bringing Vince McMahon back, what happened with Brian Gewirtz, how his role had changed, how the writing team is structured, who are the lead writers, the McMahon vs. C.M. Punk brawl, as well as the current A and B plan for Hell in a Cell.
 
        We also have a detailed look at Hogan and the sex tape.
 
        We have notes on the incident with C.M. Punk and the fan, as well as local coverage of the incident and reaction from both WWE and Punk.
 
        We've got a rundown on Bound for Glory, looking at the programs going in and the fan reaction to the major angles.
 
        We also look at one of the best PPV shows in recent years, the New Japan King of Pro Wrestling show featuring the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki match.  We look at business numbers on the show, a very positive stat as well as another stat which isn't nearly so positive.  We've got match-by-match coverage as well as star ratings.
 
        We also have a look at the ROH booking change and update the situation with that company as it builds for Final Battle in December.  We look at the inherent problems with the promotion, the new role of Jim Cornette and the reaction to the Kevin Steen vs. Jay Lethal finish.
 
        We also look at UFC's show this past week, why two matches didn't happen, the injury that led to the main event ending fast, business notes, ratings and more.
 
        We also look at the C.M. Punk vs. Steve Austin rivalry, the taped seeming beginning of an angle, the Linda McMahon campaign, what people in Connecticut really think of pro wrestling, WWE end of the year television schedule and why they have two shows that will almost surely do record low numbers before the year is out.  We also look at Sara Del Rey in WWE, just how valuable C.M. Punk has been to WWE of late, more WWE firings and departures that have not gotten out, Chris Jericho talks his future, the latest on Ric Flair and WWE, update on WWE injuries, as well as business notes from the past week and a look at all the weekend WWE house shows.
 
        The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.
 
        The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world.  The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe.  Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively.  They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world.  Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the 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 sent your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, card number and expiration date to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
        You can also order by paypal by sending to www.paypal.com and directing the funds to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
        You can also 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 also look at Dave Bautista going into MMA and his fight with Vince Lucero.
 
        We also have coverage of Heroes Inmortales, AAA's latest major show featuring Jeff Jarrett and Abyss, plus a cage of death and the Antonio Pena Cup.
 
         We also have a look at the ratings of all the major shows and complete details on how every segment of Raw and Impact this past week did.  We look at what segments gained and lost viewers
 
        We also have results from all the major league arena events over the past week as well as a look at all the major television shows.
 
Also in this week's issue:
 
--Notes from Arena Mexico
 
--Son of former WWF and WCW star now in Mexico
 
--U.S. belts defended in Dragon Gate this past week
 
--What would have been a major dream match in the 90s is announced as a Hall of Fame candidate comes out of retirement at the age of 51 to face a current world champion he never faced in his heyday.
 
--All Japan creates a TV champion and notes on the tournament
 
--Next major All Japan show lineup
 
--Pro Wrestling NOAH's show that went head-to-head with the new Japan PPV with Morishima vs. Akiyama
 
--A look at the upcoming Global  League singles tournament
 
--Notes on New Japan jr. heavyweight tag team tournament
 
--Zuffa heavyweight appearing on pro wrestling show next week
 
--The latest on Tammy Sytch
 
--Adam Copeland talks about no longer being Edge
 
--When he targeted ending his career originally
 
--More on the death of  Bobby Jaggers
 
--Notes on Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore promotion debut show
 
--Target for a second show
 
--Linda Hogan's latest arrest
 
--Notes on next ROH iPPV card and direction
 
--Weekend ROH house show note
 
--King Mo situation
 
--What former TNA star is close to returning
 
--TNA house show notes
 
--How the change in a television channel could affect UFC
 
--More problems with the next Strikeforce show
 
--Why UFC is adding a new clause in all future talent contracts and what led to it
 
--Notes on the Brazil PPV
 
--Two UFC stars will be forever linked together
 
--UFC does one of its best ever television commercials
 
--Notes on UFC's year-end show
 
--Several UFC cuts
 
--Dana White talks TV numbers and what they learned from the England show
 
--Dana White cuts a promo on Spike TV
 
--Promotion's biggest star in his probable last match before leaving
 

 
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 spambots. 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.
 
Today's News, Notes and Links

-- UFC Tonight will have a lot of news on Jon Jones and the situation with his elbow.

-- Lots of audio on the front page already today including a new Wrestling Observer Radio covering Raw and tons of news, a new breaking audio with Dave Meltzer and I talking Chael Sonnen and Jon Jones coaching TUF and having a fight next year, and a new Figure Four Daily with Brady Malibu talking World of Hurt season 2 with Roddy Piper and his new TV show, the Gym, which airs across America in January. He's got another pilot being looked at by HBO and Showtime, so it's a good show to listen to in order to get perspective on someone you might be hearing a lot more about soon.

-- Miz was scheduled to undergo more tests this afternoon to determine whether he would defend the IC Title against Kofi Kingston at the WWE Main Event taping tonight before Smackdown. As of this morning, one person in WWE believed that he didn't suffer a concussion, only a head laceration. Footage of the kick Kofi laid him out with is on the front page right now.

-- Jerry Lawler, of course, will be at the show in Memphis tonight. Whether he'll appear before the live crowd on TV is another matter entirely.

-- There is video hereof Roger Gracie vs. Buchecha from this weekend's Metamoris BJJ iPPV. I saw this show and will talk about it in the new Figure Four Weekly that comes out tomorrow.

-- TMZ has a story hereon Bubba the Love Sponge and what he had to say about Hulk Hogan on his show today the day after Hogan filed a $15,000 lawsuit against him and the former Mrs. Love Sponge. Bubba claims Hogan begged him to sleep with his wife (Hogan claims the wife pressured him to have sex with her for years), and said he had never seen the tape, among things.

-- More on Hogan and Bubba here. This is going to get really ugly. Uglier.

-- Probably tomorrow, actually, as Bubba will be on Howard Stern to talk the situation.

-- Ricky Henry has written a new children's comic book called "Monster Wrestler" that I have written the forward to which you can check out and order here.

-- Thanks to Terri for pointing us to this interview with Edge regarding Haven.

-- Great article on Matt Hugheshere talking about his MMA career, admitting that at this point it looks like he's retired. Like Brock Lesnar, he wakes up every day and can't wait to get out on the farm.

-- Impact officially did an 0.9 rating this week.

-- The next season of Redneck Island with Steve Austin debuts on November 10th at 9:00 PM on CMT.

-- Daniel Cormier says he hopes he gets Frank Mir at Strikeforce's next proposed show in January. He had asked to coach opposite Jon Jones on Ultimate Fighter, but Jones didn't think he had a big enough name, and, well, we don't have to worry about that at this point.

-- Shane (not McMahon) noted: I just think its interesting with the Punk-Austin WWE 13 interview with JR that Punk has the belt because it was filmed in August and now its being released so they must have been pretty adamant that Punk keep the belt through this promotion so you would think he keeps it until the Rumble.

-- WWE is doing another Super Smackdown on Syfy on November 6th, though instead of airing live they'll be taping it earlier in the day from England. Ironically, even though it's SUPER Smackdown, most of the Raw crew can't be there since they'll be working a house show at the same time.

-- UFC Prelims from Saturday night rose slightly from the last show to 1.0 million viewers. Bellator was also up to 175,000 viewers for the final match of Eddie Alvarez before likely signing with UFC.

-- On the Road with Tammy Sytch trailer, filmed just before everything went downwith five arrests.

-- For the first time ever, the critically acclaimed Bloodstained Memoirs: Special Editionalt documentary will be made available on DVD in America and Canada. Bloodstained Memoirs: Special Editionalthas teamed up with leading distributor Revolver Entertainment to present the Special Edition DVD where in addition to a brand new transfer of the documentary starring Chris Jericho, Great Muta, Roddy Piper, Rob Van Dam, Christian and Ultimo Dragon, you'll be able to watch newly created and archive special extras. Click any of the above links to order on Amazon.com.

-- Cody Deaner, who was a ton of fun to watch on Impact awhile back, is now up on Twitter @codydeaner. That's pretty much his only social media outlet at this point as he doesn't have a Facebook account.

-- Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart will be doing a signing together at Dave & Busters in New York on April 4th. All the info is up here.

-- For Final Battle on December 16th in New York at the Hammerstein ROH has announced Kevin Steen, Jimmy Jacobs & Steve Corino, Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, Michael Elgin, Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, Jay Lethal, Briscoes, Kyle O'Reilly, Rhett Titus, BJ Whitmer, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin so far.

-- MVP joins Konnan & Court Bauer on MLW Radio today talking about when he got into a fist fight with John Laurinaitis right before he was granted his release, rumors about his immediate WWE return, cornering Dave Bautista in his MMA debut, dealing with Brian Gewirtz, WWE Divas and a new TV project MVP is developing. Listen here.

-- On this week’s “UFC Tonight,” Host Todd Harris and Analyst Kenny Florian are joined in the studio by former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, who discusses who he wants to fight next and more. Also, Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo tells us when he’ll be ready to get back in the Octagon. We have updates on Stephan Bonnar’s future and Jake Shields suspension. And Chael Sonnen has a message for Jon Jones, plus much more. In this week’s “UFC Ultimate Insider,” flashback to the UFC on FX 5 event in Minneapolis as only Ultimate Insider can, where a title contender was crowned and others cemented their status as division elites. See why Carlos Condit’s Albuquerque roots define his success and get a tour of his hometown as he prepares for his UFC 154 showdown with Georges St-Pierre. Find out when, where and why fighters “flip the switch”; and Joe Rogan counts down the Ultimate 8 fast finishes.

-- IWA East Coast returns to the Kings Way Center in Nitro WV on Saturday October 27 at 7pm headlined by Goldust vs Chance Prophet! For the IWA EC Title: BJ Whitmer defends against Facade! A no DQ grudge match between Mad Man Pondo and Ron Mathis and much more

-- Daniel writes: USA Today reported on Monday that CM Punk will be writing the introduction to the forthcoming book that will collect all twelve issues of the Avengers vs. X-Men series published by Marvel. The hardcover edition of the collection will be released on November 7.

-- World’s Best Wrestling is proud to announce WBW: Pinnacle Saturday Nov 3rd, 2012 in Sardinia, Ohio at 116 College Ave in the old school gymnasium. Bell time will be 7 PM. Pinnacle will feature the finals and crowning of the first ever World’s Best Wrestling Champion. Also scheduled to appear is former WCW and TNA Impact Wrestling star Sharkboy.

-- James writes: These are the dates for ticket sales to UFC (Sotiropoulos vs Pearson) December 15 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre at Gold Coast, Australia. UFC Fight Club Presale: Wednesday October 17 2012 @ 10.00 am. UFC Newsletter Presale: Thursday October 18 @ 10.00 am. Public On-Sale: Friday October 19 @ 10.00 am.

-- Josh writes: Colt Cabana is the guest co-host for Sklarbro County on the Earwolf.com site. The podcast is a mainstream sports show hosted by the Sklar brothers (Randy and Jason). The Sklar's regularly host the Jim Rome radio show, have a show on statistics on The History Channel, and countless other acting and comedy credits. The show has a strong following and this is a huge step up for Colt. You can listen to it here. He has a lot of interesting insight into the Punk vs. The Fan incident from last week and more.

-- Ed, Craig and Cutrer talk the news of the week here. Want to make sure to send condolences to Ed on the death of his cat, who he'd had for 19 years. Really sad.

-- CM Punk will be among those attending this year's Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2.

Send us a news tip: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com

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