Also in this week's issue:
--Notes on crowning the new CMLL light heavyweight champion
--Serious injury from a botched move
--King of Flyers three-week tournament in Mexico
--International group making plans for U.S. expansion
--A look at the weekend AAA TV tapings
--Gape Sapolsky talks working with John Morrison
--A look at the last Dragon Gate USA weekend
--Notes on Reed Flair in Japan
--All Japan rookies
--NOAH newcomers
--New Japan attempts international expansion and details
--A look at New Japan's biggest show of the year
--New title contender created and probable New Japan anniversary show main event
--Upcoming iPPV notes
--90s star retirement show attracts 90s shooters
--A look at the next strange Inoki Genome Federation lineup
--Legends gathering at Japanese show
--Grandson of Rikidozan training for pro wrestling
--Notes of the debacle that was the Hart Legacy promotion show
--Notes on people who hadn't been paid
--Who in the Hart family was involved and who stayed clear of it
--What international group was hoping to work with them to bring back the old days
--Pro wrestling legend just inducted into Sports Hall of Fame
--Notes on National Pro Wrestling Day
--Who were the standout performers
--Strange backstage goings on
--A look at the life of Tito Montez
--New promotion starting next month using old WWE and TNA stars
--Notes on Crossfire Wrestling and legal isssues with promoter
--Possible biggest indie show of 2013 and politics behindthe show
--A territory's all-time wrestling legend who retired years ago, now making a comeback
--Former pro wrestler and two twin sons of a former pro wrestler working together to market Vodka
--Notes on the next ROH iPPV show
--A look at the ROH TV tapings and angles shot
--Who wasn't at the tapings and why
--Build for the next iPPV show
--Jeff Hardy talks TNA vs. WWE
--TNA release
--Notes on weekend TNA show
--Update on Dana White post surgery
--Thoughts on UFC rankings and the first official list
--Why they are being done and why it makes no sense to do them
--Advances for all the upcoming UFC shows
--Future of fighters on this season's Ultimate Fighter
--Issues of current UFC booking
--What happened with Dana White and Randy Couture and how Ryan Couture fits in
--New UFC matches
--More on the Bellator reality show
--Talk about format and coaches and what the winner gets
--Unique method of booking fights for the season
--Notes on Couture deal
--Bellator champion signs with different promotion
--Business notes on the first Bellator show on Spike
--Return of Kig Mo
--Women's boxing champ signs with Bellator
--Former WWE top level exec becomes CEO of new promotion
--Olympic gold medalist set to debut in MMA in a few weeks
--Another promotion folds
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.
Wednesday's News Update
--Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer radio. Bruno Sammartino is scheduled as the guest on tonight's show.
--Ariel Helwani on how UFC's negotiations with Josh Barnett have stalled
--A couple of updates on Monday's Raw rating. When we first had the rating last night we listed a 3.6, but the actual rating was a 3.5. The difference is that Neilsen has updated the number of homes that get cable and it rose in the last month by about 100,000, which was the difference between a 3.6 and 3.5 rating. It's still an excellent number for a three hour show. Also, it was not the most watched cable show of the night. More detailed note show that Pawn Stars on The History Channel was No. 1 for Monday and Raw was No. 2.
--Must be something to be Michael Bisping. Bisping is one of the more outspoken critics of steroids in MMA, and he's now lost three times to fighters who came into the fight with an exemption based on using testosterone replacement therapy.
--USA won the prime time ratings race going away this past week, averaging 2.77 million viewers to 2.18 million for Disney. FX was No. 8 with 1.49 million. Syfy was No. 14 with 1.09 million. Spike was No. 22 with 764,000. The three hours of Raw last week rated No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5. No. 2 and No. 3 were episodes of Pawn Stars on The History Channel. In 18-34, two of the hours were No. 4 and No. 5. In 18-49, the three hours were No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4.
--Today's Daily Telegraph has an article on Dixie Carter in the Women's section of the paper. It talks about how she got into wrestling. (thanks to James Watkins)
TODAY IN WRESTLING HISTORY (thanks to Brian Hoops, add John Dananay)
137 years ago: William Muldoon, the first U.S. wrestling star, won the American collar and elbow championship from James Owens in Boston
55 years ago: Lee Fields & Lester Welch beat Corsica Joe & Corsica Jean to win the Gulas version of the world tag team titles in Hattiesburg, MS
49 years ago: Hard Boiled Haggerty beat Neff Maiava in Honolulu to win the Hawaiian heavyweight title. Neff Maiava, the first Samoan pro wrestling star, is who Peter Maivia got his ring name from.
48 years ago: The Sheik beat Johnny Valentine to win the U.S. title in Detroit
46 years ago: Dutch Savage & Don Jardine (later the Spoiler) beat The Golden Greeks, John & Chris Tolos to win the NWA world tag team titles in Vancouver
43 years ago: Abdullah the Butcher beat Billy Robinson to win the North American title in Calgary
42 years ago: Cowboy Frankie Laine beat Ripper Collins to win the Hawaiian heavyweight title in Honolulu
40 years ago: Buddy Colt beat Mark Lewin to win the Southern title in Tampa
36 years ago: Bobo Brazil beat The Sheik in Toronto to win that city's version of the U.S. title. Yes, the main title at that time in Toronto was the U.S. title. Go figure.
30 years ago: Stan Lane & Steve Keirn become Southern tag team champions when the belts were stripped from The Sheepherders
29 years ago: David Von Erich, substituting for Kevin, wrestled the last match of his career, beating the Missing Link via DQ in Fort Worth. Von Erich died four days later in Japan.
29 years ago: King Parsons beat Super Destroyer #1 (Scott Irwin) to win the Texas TV title in Fort Worth
29 years ago: Ron Bass & Black Bart beat Mike David & Mike Rotundo to win the U.S. tag team titles in Fort Worth
23 years ago: The Clash of Champions took place where the Four Horsemen kicked Sting out f the group and Sting later tore up the patella tendon in his knee, putting him out of action for five months
23 years ago: Rick & Scott Steiner won a titles vs. masks match over Doom, in Corpus Christi, winning the NWA tag titles and Doom unmasked as Butch Reed & Ron Simmons
23 years ago: Robert Fuller & Brian Lee won the USWA tag titles over Steve Doll & Rex King in Louisville
18 years ago: Jerry Lawler beat Sid Vicious to win the USWA title in Memphis
THOUGHTS ON UFC MAKING ALDO VS. PETTIS
Best title match possible 50.7%
Not the best title match, but a good match 21.7%
Don't like it because Pettis hasn't fought in the division and doesn't deserve a shot 27.5%
THOUGHTS ON BRUNO SAMMARTINO GOING INTO WWE HALL OF FAME
Am fine with whatever decision Sammartino made 66.3%
Played the game smartly in hindsight 21.6%
Should have gone in years ago when first asked 7.0%
Don't like the decision, he had his reasons for not going in and things haven't changed enough 5.1%
WHO WAS THE STAR OF RAW?
Brock Lesnar 37.3%
C.M. Punk 27.3%
Mark Henry 12.1%
Paul Heyman 9.1%
Chris Jericho 6.3%
Brad Maddox 5.6%
Alberto Del Rio 1.2%
The Miz 0.7%
Big Show 0.5%
POLL ON RAW
Excellent 11.2%
Good 47.6%
Average 24.3%
Fair 7.5%
Poor 9.4%
12.2% of those not responding didn't see the show
--Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster for the 3/14 Impact tapings in Hoffman Estates, IL by using the password cod TARA
--Lorenzo Fertitta Jr., the son of the UFC owner, signed a letter of intent today to play football at Villanova.
--Sunday CMLL results from Guadalajara: Brllante & Azteca de Oro b Demonio Rojo & Thunder Boy, Mr. Trueno & Rey Trueno b Idolo & Alteno, In Memoriam & Malefico & Exterminador b Sky Kid & Black Metal & Gallo, Leo b Sadico, Atlantis & Titan & La Sombra b Averno & Mephisto & Volador Jr. Mephisto pinned Sombra clean and challenged him to a match for the NWA world middleweight title which will take place this coming Sunday in the same arena.
--CMLL from last night in Guadalajara: Rafaga & Infierno b Metatron & Halcon de Plata, Escandalo & Arkangel de la Muerte & Hooigan b Magnus & Super Camaleon & Bengala, Sangre Azteca & Vangelis & Black Warrior b Stuka Jr. & Diamante & Sagrado, Dragon Rojo Jr. b Titan to keep the CMLL middleweight title, Thunder & Atlantis & Rush b Psicosis & Olimpico & Kraneo.
--On Monday night in Puebla, Negro Casas retained the NWA welterweight title beating Valiente in 2/3 falls. (thanks to Steve "Dr. Lucha" Sims)
--There will be a Shine iPPV on 2/22 at 9 p.m. from the Orpheum in Ybor City,FL headlined by Amazing Kong vs. Rain and Leva Bates vs. Kimberly in a last woman standing match, and Nikki Roxx vs. Mercedes Martinez. Daffney will be the hostess.
--Glory Sports Road to Glory middleweight tournament takes place on Saturday night in Inglewood, CA at the Hollywood Park Casino.
--Canadian Pro Wrestling from Saturday night in Ingersol, ONT: Supreme Fantastico b Jake O'Reilly, Jeremiah Bradley b Retro Rex Atkins, Cody Deaner b John Greed, Tyler Tirva b Crazzy Steve, Courtney Rush b Leah Von Dutch, Krimson b Highlander Robbie, Tyson Dux won Battle Royal. Next show is 3/22 in Woodstock, ONT.
