Also in this week's issue:
--Coverage of Pro Wrestling NOAH's first big show of the year with KENTA vs. Takeshi Morishima
--What major star looks like they are starting with NOAH
--The return of the famous Von Erich iron claw to Japan
--Update on the entire Tammy Sytch situation
--ROH vs. New Japan match
--Kurt Angle talks the future of his career
--Angle talks about whether you can do pro wrestling and MMA at the same time
--Update on Hulk Hogan's health and legal battles
--The Brooke Hogan/Bully Ray storyline
--Why Taz was put in the position he's in
--Update on TNA's Lockdown show
--Full coverage of TNA's European tour
--Details of TNA television between now and the end of February as far as matches, directions and angles
--Details on Quinton Jackson, money, future, how much he earned, how much he was earning for PPV shows and more
--Details on all the new matches made this past week in UFC
--A look at this week's UFC show
--What in MMA is about to get really nasty
--Dana White talks about the proposed Fedor vs. Lesnar fight that fell through
--What nobody is talking about regarding those negotiations
--Notes on UFC fighters who have been released of late
--Jon Jones talks moving to heavyweight
--What pressure hit UFC just before the FOX show last week
--Nick Diaz change of face
--A look at UFC's FOX ratings as compared to other major sports events of 2012
--A look at what advertisers have paid to sponsor UFC events
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.
Friday's News Update
--Regarding rumors of a drug test failure, what we have been told by those high up on the food chain is that there is a test from Sao Paulo, Brazil that involved irregularities and it is being retested (or a second sample is being tested). Results are not in nor will they be in for a few days. So there is smoke to the fire when it comes to the rumors.
--Jose Aldo Jr. has stitches above his eye for whatever that is worth.
--Dana White said that if Rashad Evans wins tomorrow and wants to drop to 185 to challenge Anderson Silva, they will consider either he or Chris Weidman for the next Silva fight. Evans indicated if he was offered the fight, he'd take it, even though he said he has trouble just getting from nearly 230 (his real weight) to 205. He did wrestle in college at 174, but that was a long time ago.
--Weigh-ins will be on the site tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern. We'll also have live coverage today of Smackdown starting at 8 p.m.
--Countdown to UFC 156 airs at 10 p.m. Eastern on Fuel tonight.
--As noted yesterday, Dixie Carter's announcement was pulling out of the Impact Zone for TV tapings and going on the road. They only pushed the 3/14 date at the Sears Center in Chicago. It'll be interesting to see the reaction in Orlando on 2/28 and 3/7 for the live shows since they are live. They'd have done this long ago but the idea was it wasn't worth the financial risk. So either Spike is backing them, or the money they are saving or expect to save by cutting back on PPVs can be earmarked, although the savings would be a drop in the bucket compared to costs of taping everything on the road. But their shows have looked better outside Orlando when they are in arenas and they do a good job of making a small crowd appear to be substantial the way they produce the shows.
--C.M. Punk called into the Abe Kanan show on Sirius yesterday and ended up on the air with Thomas Dotterer, the liquor store robbery victim who was shot in the eye but said Punk losing to Rock was the worst thing that happened to him. Dotterer talked about being a wrestling fan dating back to seeing Gorgeous George in the 40s and said he's a fan of ROH and TNA and said Punk's hard work and dedication is why he was so mad Rock was booked to win. Punk wanted Dotterer to be his special guest when he's booked in Syracuse on 3/3.
--WWE Studios purchased some local market ads during the Super Bowl promoting the movie "Dead Man Down" starring Colin Farrell. While these are not the millions of dollar national ads on CBS, they are super expensive, the most expensive local market ads of the year. This is a very ambitious buy.
--Jack Brisco, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of the last 50 years, passed away on this date three years ago at the age of 68. We had some huge bio issues of him at the time. In the early 70s, Brisco was just about the best of the best, a super athlete who was state champion in wrestling, All-State in football and second in the state in the high jump. He turned down a football scholarship at Oklahoma and a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys because his heroes were Lou Thesz and Danny Hodge and wanted to be a pro wrestler. He only lost one match in three years wrestling at Oklahoma State, and then because the NWA champion from 1973 to late 1975 having a Hall of Fame level career.
--Masa Saito, an Olympic wrestler from Japan who is also in the pro wrestling Hall of Fame, turned 71 today. Dennis Condrey, yet another Hall of Famer as part of the Midnight Express tag team, turned 61. Nick Mitchell, who is the only person to have fought MMA, held a WWE tag team title (as part of the Spirit Squad) and lived with Torrie Wilson, turned 31.
--Also, Luis Hernandez, the stepfather of Gino Hernandez, passed away 31 years ago today. Hernandez had a heart attack while wrestling in Japan.
--Smackdown tonight has Kane & Daniel Bryan vs. Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara in a non-title match, Great Khali vs. Jinder Mahal, Sheamus vs. Damien Sandow, Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton in a non-title match, and Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler in a non-title match.
--Ric Flair will be appearing at the NXT show on 2/24 in Melbourne, FL.
--Yet another anniversary, of the most famous pro wrestling feud ever in Northern California between Ray Stevens and Pepper Gomez, 50 years ago, was the subject of this story at
http://thedaleyplanet.net/articles/archives/676#comment-93710
--Full Impact Pro has an iPPV tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern from Ybor City, FL headlined by Jon Davis vs. AR Fox for the vacant FIP title and Caleb Konley & Scott Reed vs Dos Ben Dejos (who had been on TNA under other names) for the tag titles.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE REAL MAIN EVENT OF UFC 156?
Jose Aldo Jr. vs. Frankie Edgar 67.9%
Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio Silva 28.1%
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Rashad Evans 2.6%
Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia 1.5%
HOW MANY BUYS DOES UFC 156 DO?
Under 200,000 10.6%
201-225,000 4.9%
226-250,000 5.7%
251-275,000 11.4%
276-300,000 10.6%
301-325,000 17.1%
326-350,000 4.9%
351-375,000 7.3%
376-400,000 8.1%
401-425,000 3.3%
426-450,000 4.1%
More than 451,000 12.2%
POLL ON WWE MAIN EVENT
Excellent 18.2%
Good 27.3%
Average 34.5%
Fair 7.3%
Poor 12.7%
56.3% of those responding didn't see the show
--The One Fighting Championship has an iPPV at
www.onefc.livesport.tv called Return of Warriors starting at 9 a.m. Eastern time tomorrow from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia (yes 9 a.m.)
--Today in pro wrestling history by Brian Hoops
63 years ago today - Bobby Managoff beat Yvon Robert to win the Montreal world heavyweight title
61 years ago: Ray Gunkel & Blackie Guzman beat Ivan Kalmikoff & Duke Keomuka to win the Texas tag team titles in Houston
50 years ago: Lou Thesz beat Killer Kowalski in Houston. This was a big deal match. Kowalski had beaten Buddy Rogers in Montreal when Rogers said he broke his ankle (Rogers was supposed to lose to Lou Thesz a few days later, but it wasn't supposed to be a world title change). So in Texas, they billed Kowalski as champion. Rogers healed and lost to Thesz as the NWA wanted, which created the WWWF title largely because Vince McMahon Sr. couldn't get the media to pretend the Thesz vs. Rogers match never happened. So Thesz beating Kowalski was to clean up the residue.
48 years ago: The Fabulous Kangaroos, Al Costello & Roy Heffernan, beat Gene Kiniski & Don Leo Jonathan in Vancouver to win the Canadian Open tag team titles
45 years ago: Bulldog Bob Brown & Bob Geigel beat Ron Etchison & Klondike Bill to win the North American tag team titles
41 years ago: King Curtis Iaukea & Baron Mikel Scicluna beat Karl Gotch & Rene Goulet in Philadelphia to win the WWWF tag team titles.
40 years ago: Bob Geigel & Rufus R. Jones beat Harley Race & Roger Kirby in Kansas City to win the North American tag team titles
39 years ago: Killer Karl Krupp & Kurt Von Steiger beat Dutch Savage & Jimmy Snuka to win the Pacific Northwest tag team titles
33 years ago: Tatsumi Fujinami beat Steve Keirn in Sapporo to win the NWA International jr. title
33 years ago: Ted DiBiase beat Mike George in Shreveport to win the North American title
32 years ago: Bad Bad Leroy Brown & Ernie Ladd beat Junkyard Dog & Killer Karl Kox in Lake Charles to win the Mid South tag team titles
20 years ago: The Moondogs, Spot & Splat beat Ron & Don Harris in Memphis to win the USWA tag titles
--The Argosy Casino in Alton, IL is presenting a legends of St. Louis Wrestling get together on 5/10 and 5/11 with Harley Race, Baron Von Raschke, Bob Orton Jr., Jerry Brisco, Greg Valentine and Larry Matysik. On 5/10 will be a meet and greet and Q&A. On 5/11, there will be a wrestling show with the legends appearing. The plan is to use this event as a kickoff, running events every few months at the casino.
--Premier Wrestling tickets for 3/24 in Gilroy at the 9 Lives Club are on sale for the debut card featuring a four-man tournament to crown a champion with A.J. Kirsch Dave Dutra, Timothy Thatcher and Dylan Drake. Also Oliver John vs. Brian Tennen and former Olympian Jeff Cobb vs. Kaimana from Hawaii. The show is at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale at
http://www.showclix.com/event/PREMIERHEAVYWEIGHTCHAMPIONSHIP
--Bellator will run a TV shoot on 3/21 in Lewiston,ME at the Adnroscoggin Bank Colisee. Plans right now are for the finals of the current welterweight tournament to be on that show, plus the Bellator debut of Marcus Davis and of kickboxing world champion Michael Page. The local New England Fights promotion that runs the building will be involved with promotion of the live event.
--Former wrestler G.Q. Money, real name Brady Laber, is doing TV play-by-play for Northern Kentucky basketball.
--All Star Wrestling on 2/8 in Maple Ridge, BC at the Ridge Meadows Senior Centre.
--KSW, a Polish MMA promotion, runs 3/16 at the Torwar Arena in Warsaw, with former Olympic judo star Pawel Nastula of Pride, former Pride fighter Goran Reljic and former UFC fighter Oli Thompson.
--ESPN in the U.K. announced that Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche will start at 1 a.m. with the prelims live and the main card at 3 a.m.
--Nicole Matthews and Portia Perez will be at the Shimmer show on 4/6 in Secaucus, NJ at the Meadowlands Convention Center.
--IWF on 4/13 in Nutley, NJ for an American Cancer Society benefit show with Tito Santana, Marty Jannetty, Tommy Dreamer and Robbie E.
