Also in this week's issue:
--CMLL setting up battle of its trios champions
--A look at matches on Dragon Gate shows in the U.S. in a few weeks including John Morrison's debut in the promotion
--More on why Ric Flair is getting back into the ring for another match just before his 64th birthday, when and why
--A look at All Japan's traditional opening the year show with two major title matches and the Battle Royal
--Changes in NOAH with several stars leaving and who they are bringing to the promotion in January
--A disastrous New Year's Eve show with both pro wrestling and MMA
--What MMA star is looking at competing in the 2016 Olympics and why they could be in the medal picture
--Mirko Cro Cop faces another pro wrestler
--Genichiro Tenryu back in the ring with several of Japan's biggest stars
--Unique Onita/Akebono angle
--Coverage of the Extreme Rising show from Philadelphia
--Company plans going forward
--Why New Jack was there after the promotion said he wouldn't be
--Ideas for TV
--Jerry Lynn and his imminent retirement
--Former WCW star running for mayor
--Former WWF star now marketing tea
--A look at two new books coming out in the spring catalogue, bios of two former WWF names
--Former WWE wrestler to debut in MMA in March
--Former UFC fighter appears this week at a TV taping
--Hart Legacy Wrestling notes
--Jim Cornette breaks silence, talks about why he's away from ROH, his future and taking stock of his life
--Indie star set to debut in ROH
--Notes on upcoming ROH shows
--The opening of Hogan's Beach on New Year's Eve
--Media coverage of the event
--Plans for the bar/restaurant
--Hogan gets dubious award
--Names hinting they are coming to TNA
--Velvet Sky talks missing the Poughkeepsie house show due to accident
--A look back at one of the best angles of its era and how TNA can copy it
--A look at the weekend TNA house shows
--More on UFC advances
--Thoughts on Rousey vs Carmouche
--Numbers for the 12/15 UFC show in Las Vegas
--Plans for the women's division going forward
--Tito Ortiz and Dana White butting heads again
--More UFC international plans
--More on Alistair Overeem getting licensed to fight Bigfoot Silva and what he looks like these days
--Notes on the new season of Ultimate Fighter
--The idea this year's show has a star
--Hector Lombard talks his fight with Rousimar Palhares
--Strikeforce fighter and his battle with insurance for his injuries
--More new fights
--Debut of Bellator on Spike notes before the first live show
--Former Strikeforce fighter gets national attention for stopping a robbery of the grocery store
--Dan Severn announces his retirement
--Another major fighter seems to have second thoughts after announcing retirement for the third time
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories 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 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
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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.
THURSDAY'S NEWS, NOTES AND LINKS
--Saturday night's prelims of UFC 155 did 1.4 million viewers, making it the most watched UFC TV show on FX since July.
--If you didn't see WWE Main Event last night, they announced C.M. Punk vs. Ryback in a TLC match is happening on Raw. There was never anything to the Paul Heyman match since Main Event was taped the next day.
--An injury to Erick Silva has led to Jay Hieron now facing the debuting Tyron Woodley, the former Strikeforce star, at the 2/2 UFC show in Las Vegas.
--The Japanese arm wrestling TV show with Bob Sapp, Alistair Overeem, Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Hunt, Asashoryu, Semmy Schilt and others that was written about in the new Observer as well as talked about on last night's show is on YouTube:
Part 1 &
Part 2.
--The Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas is now trying to get Toys R Us to remove all UFC action figures from its stores.
--U.K. boxer Tyson Fury issued a challenge to Cain Velasquez, saying he would meet him under MMA rules. Fury is rumored to be on the new season of Celebrity Big Brother in the U.K. He called Velasquez a midget and a small stiff idiot. (thanks to Sam Parker and others)
--With Paul Daley unable to come to the U.S. due to a visa issue, Bellator has given him permission to take a fight on 2/23 in Dublin, Ireland for the Cage Contenders promotion. Daley has issued a challenge to former UFC fighter Marcus Davis.
--On E!'s "Love You, Mean It" with Whitney Cummings, she and comedians Chris D'Elia, Stevie Ryan and Will Sasso watched a TNA clip of Hulk Hogan, Brooke Hogan and Bully Ray from a few weeks ago. Ryan said it was cute how Brooke calls her husband dad. You know, because Hulk's wife and daughter look exactly alike. D'Elia said that the role of Brooke Hogan was being played by Daniel Day Lewis. As if. Sasso on the other hand said he watches this stuff and then did his Hogan impression that he did once on Raw a few years back. Sasso once wrestled Bret Hart on Nitro and for a celebrity match, it was way better than anyone had a right to expect. (thanks to Greg Beitel and Michael Bernstein)
--Manny Chaij, one of the most unlikely headliners in Madison Square Garden history known as The Amazing Zuma, passed away on 12/29 at the age of 86. We'll have a story in the next issue about how a journeyman wrestler literally set wrestling on fire in two matches with Argentina Rocca in New York like it had only been on fire a few times up to that point in history.
--Gloria Scicluna, the widow of the famed Baron Mikel Scicluna, passed away on 12/26 at her home in Pittsburgh.
--ROH's TV tapings on Saturday night in Baltimore will have the Top Prospect tournament with ACH, QT Marshal, Antonio Thomas, Tadarius Thomas, Silas Young, Matt Taven, Mike Sydal and Adam Page. There will be a pre-show autograph session with Kevin Steen Steve Corino, Jimmy Jacobs and Matt Hardy at 6 p.m. Other matches include Briscoes & Jay Lethal vs. Steve Corino & Jimmy Jacobs & Rhino and Michael Elgin vs. Roderick Strong,.
--Kevin Steen vs Tadarius Thomas was added to the 1/18 ROH show in Dearborn, MI.
--Weigh-ins for the Invicta show in Kansas City take place tomorrow at 5 p.m. Central time (6 p.m. Eastern) at the Aladdin Holiday Inn in Downtown Kansas City. They are open to the public. There is a live stream of the weigh-ins at InvictaFC.com.
--After the success of the early episodes, Challenge TV in the U.K. will be replaying TNA British Boot Camp, the reality show, at 10 p.m. on Friday night.
--Today in wrestling history
> 49 years ago - The Destroyer beat Mad Dog Vachon to win the Pacific Northwest title in Portland
> 48 years ago - Pat Patterson beat Pepper Martin to win the Pacific Northwest title, Johnny Valentine beat The Sheik in Toronto to win the United States title
> 36 years ago: Bruiser Brody beat Fritz Von Erich to win the American heavyweight title, Dutch Mantel & David Shults beat Danny Little ear & Chief Thundercloud in Memphis to win the Southern tag team titles
> 35 years ago: Randy Savage beat Bulldog Don Kent to win the Mid-American title in Birmingham
> 33 years ago: Jimmy Valiant beat Jerry Lawler to win the Southern title in Jackson, TN
> 30 years ago: Great Kabuki beat Al Madril in Fort Worth to win the Texas TV title
> 30 years ago: Tully Blanchard beat Bob Sweetan in a tournament final in San Antonio to win the Southwest heavyweight title
> 27 years ago: Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes & Buddy Roberts, the Fabulous Freebirds, beat Kevin & Kerry Von Erich & Brian Adias to win the World Class six-man titles
> 26 years ago: Bill Dundee beat Sam Houston to win the Central States title in Topeka
> 25 years ago: Moondog Spot beat Tom Prichard to win the Alabama state title in Montgomery, AL
> 17 years ago: Doug Gilbert & Tommy Rich beat Jesse James Armstrong (Road Dogg) & Tracy Smothers in Memphis to win the USWA tag titles (thanks to Brian Hoops)
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF TUESDAY'S DREAM TV SHOW?
Excellent 17.2%
Good 62.1%
Average 17.2%
Fair 0.0%
Poor 3.4%
76.6% of those responding didn't see the show
WHAT SHOW THIS MONTH ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN?
Royal Rumble 61.6%
New Japan show 1/4 18.4%
UFC 1/19 show Belfort vs. Bisping 7.1%
UFC on FOX 1/26 Johnson vs. Dodson 5.9%
TNA Genesis 4.7%
Bellator 1/17 2.4%
WHO IS THE BEST OF THE CURRENT UFC CHAMPIONS?
Anderson Silva 59.6%
Jon Jones 12.8%
GSP 11.1%
Ronda Rousey 10.2%
Benson Henderson 3.0%
Cain Velasquez 2.1%
Jose Aldo Jr. 0.4%
Dominick Cruz 0.4%
Demetrious Johnson 0.4%
PREDICT THE RATING FOR THE 1/17 BELLATOR SHOW:
0.4 or less 22.7%
0.5 9.4%
0.6 11.7%
0.7 18.0%
0.8 14.1%
0.9 6.3%
1.0 9.4%
1.1 3.9%
1.2 2.3%
1.3 0.8%
1.4 or more 1.6%
WHAT MATCH AT THE TOKYO DOME ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN?
Tanahashi vs. Okada 55.3%
Devitt vs. Low Ki vs. Ibushi 18.4%
Tanaka vs Benjamin 9.0%
Nakamura vs. Sakuraba 8.3%
Nakanishi-MVP-Strongman-Akebono vs. Sapp-Iizuka-Yano-Takahashi 3.0%
Nagata vs. Suzuki 2.6%
Muto-Otani vs. Kojima-Tenzan 1.9%
Archer-Smith Jr. vs. Anderson-Goto 0.8%
Makabe vs. Shibata 0.8%
--Birthdays today include Eric Tovey (the famed Lord Little Brook) turning 84, Jim Ross is 61 and New Jack is 50.
--Mexican 80s star Kung Fu passed away 12 years ago today at the age of 49.
--Jason Lambert vs. Hector Ramirez, two former UFC fighters, was added to the 1/17 Bellator show in Irvine, CA. I believe this will be a spike.com match and not air on the live show on Spike.
--ECWA on Saturday night in Newark, DE at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club
--NWA Wrestling House Party 2013 on 1/12 in Kingsport, TN at the Civic Auditorium featuring Ricky Morton and Christian York.
--Big Time Wrestling in Fremont, CA has an open house for its wrestling school at 4588 Peralta Blvd. Unit 25.
--Coastal Pro Wrestling on 3/9 in Hammonton, NJ at the Rollway Skating Rink.
--New England Championship Wrestling has postponed tomorrow night's show in Randolph, MA and moved it to 2/1 at the Knights of Columbus. NECW said there were too many injuries and illnesses which affected every single advertised title match and felt it was best to move it back a month when all the advertised matches could take place.
--
Future Stars of Wrestling on Sunday at Sam's Town Live in Las Vegas with Kenny King, Disco Inferno, Rico Costantino, Brandon Gatson and more.
