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TUES UPDATE: Legendary match anniversary, watch clips, more from Raw last night, Tito gets his way, what replaces Bellator Thursday, UFC 158 Countdown, tons more



By 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 Lockdown PPV, 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 from Sunday's Raw show in Loveland, CO and Smackdown in Milwaukee.

We're also looking for reports from these shows:

*Raw Friday night in Broomfield, CO

*Raw Saturday night in Colorado Springs

*Raw Sunday in Loveland, CO

*Smackdown Sunday in Milwaukee

Smackdown, Saturday Morning Slam and Main Event are taped on Tuesday in Fort Wayne.

        We've got a double issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter this week, featuring a look at the life of Bill Moody/Paul Bearer/Percy Pringle, the building of Fox Sports 1 and how it affects UFC, an update on WrestleMania, a look at the career and retirement of Jerry Lynn, an in-depth look at the TNA PPV business, plus coverage of all the changes and new matches in UFC, ROH's big angle and more.
 
        Our lead story goes into detail on the passing away of Bill Moody, his health issues, his thoughts on the WWE Hall of Fame, response by major names in wrestling to his death, coverage of his death, his life-long passion for pro wrestling, what famous wrestling stars he grew up with on the Gulf Coast, his start as a wrestler, and how he broke into the business full-time as a manager.
 
        We look at why he first got out of wrestling, as well as his return, his tenure in Texas, as well as the secret story of the first time he managed The Undertaker and what pro wrestling legend it was against. 
 
        We also look at where the names Percy Pringle and Paul Bearer came from, Mini Paul Bearer, his managing and programs involving Undertaker and Kane and a lot more.
 
        We've got more on UFC's move to Fox Sports 1, both the good and the bad and the struggles looking at it both short and long-term.  We look at the network, plans for live events, issues with the Wednesday night shows that people haven't talked about, future of Ultimate Fighter, and more.
 
        We've got a look at the upcoming WrestleMania matches and what is being teased.
 
        We also look at Rock in WWE after WrestleMania, Rock talks about why he came back and why he chose to work with John Cena a second time, injury update on Rey Mysterio, updates on Steve Austin, Bruno Sammartino, which stars are booked for Raw over the next few weeks, future WrestleMania notes, post-WrestleMania cards, WWE broadcast partner in trouble over footage that made television, a main event planned for Extreme Rules and more.
 
        We've got an update on the health of Jerry Lawler and WWE movies.
 
        We have comments from Chris Jericho on The Shield, Cesaro as U.S. champion, what former star was coaching this past week, DVR viewership of Raw as well as business notes for WWE from the past week and details from all the arena events.    
 
        We look back at the career of Jerry Lynn as he comes to retirement, looking at his final show, his first career breaks, his ECW run, his TNA and WWE tenure, as well as his ROH tenure and thoughts on his final show.
 
        We also have a look at TNA's new start in the PPV business with Lockdown this week.  We look at the card, changes from previous years and are they significant, TNA cutting back on PPV shows and what in hindsight is perplexing about their product right now as well as how this show has been marketed.
 
        We also look at plans for next week and the different taped PPV shows that are in the offing and where talent from the outside is coming from.
 
        We've got a full rundown of the UFC show from this past week in Japan, looking at the emotional response to Wanderlei Silva and Mark Hunt and their great fights, business of the show, how the audience was different from a usual show in Japan, the match that made Silva legendary, business of the show and why Mark Hunt really is even in UFC.
       
        We look at the improvement of Hunt, what Japanese favorite really got robbed, thoughts on judging, the story behind the ratings including a lot of information that will surprise you as he show broke every Fuel record.  We also have match-by-match coverage.
 
        We've got coverage of New Japan's 41st anniversary show with the IWGP champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. jr. champion Prince Devitt main event.  We look at the match, and also rundown this year's New Japan Cup tournament.
 
        We've got coverage of the ROH 11th anniversary show, including the big angle at the end, the current major storyline, what aspect of the angle wasn't getting over and what was, the business of running TV tapings the day after PPV shows, lineup for the next ROH iPPV including a number of matches not yet announced.
 
        We also have match-by-match coverage of the show.
 
        We also look back at the career of MMA pioneer Mark Coleman, running down his career from amateur wrestling, UFC, Pride and pro wrestling as he ends his athletic career.
 
        We also look at what really happened with the proposed Coleman vs. Brock Lesnar match.
 
        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 have a look at the ratings of all the major shows as well as details of how every segment on Raw and Impact did and what 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:
 
--Tease for what would be the biggest match in Mexico in years if it really happens
 
--A look at the current Parejas increibles tournament
 
--A surprising title change
 
--An insurance plan for pro wrestlers
 
--First news on this year's TripleMania
 
--A look at the building and the lineup for this year's Rey de Reyes event
 
--Unique reason a wrestler has vacated their title
 
--Surprising return to AAA and how it happened
 
--A look at the retirement show of the former Villano V, Ray Mendoza Jr.
 
--A look at two title changes in Japan involving American wrestlers who had things in common
 
--More on what has been happening in All Japan after the buyout
 
--What is being said in a unique angle
 
--Notes on this year's Champion Carnival tournament
 
--Lineup and notes for All Japan's Sumo Hall show featuring a number of outsiders and title bouts
 
--Grandson of one of the biggest names in wrestling history is about to debut and why it will be tough for him
 
--A U.S. promotion doing an invasion angle with New Japan
 
--A legends promotion in Japan
 
--Zero-One's 12th anniversary show
 
--Ric Flair on Wife Swap TV show
 
--Changes in CZW
 
--More on arrests of two former major names in the business
 
--16 Carat Gold tournament notes
 
--More on protests of the Olympics dropping wrestling
 
--New markets getting ROH television
 
--A look at the next month plus of ROH TV
 
--More Hulk Hogan bookings
 
--Roode talks TNA roster
 
--Bret Hart talks Hogan, Bischoff and A.J. Styles
 
--TNA house show notes
 
--Update on UFC struggles in New York
 
--How things have changed
 
--Why the way the laws work there involving MMA are completely crazy
 
--How popular MMA is in the New York metro area
 
--Latest UFC hit pieces
 
--Tons of new UFC cards and matches on those cards
 
--Major irony regarding an upcoming main event
 
--Working ideas for UFC's July show
 
--Notes on Alistair Overeem's injury and testosterone levels
 
--One of the biggest myths about TRT
 
--Update on pay of Robbie Lawler
 
--More on UFC 157 PPV figures
 
--Why Che Mills wasn't rehired
 
--Lots of UFC injury updates regarding top stars
 
--Rousey media coverage
 
--A look at the new Bellator app and how this one can help business
 
--More on the arrest of Daniel Straus
 
--A look at this past week's show
 
--Controversy over trans gender MMA fighter
 
--A look back at the Cro Cop career and background of the Pride heyday in Japan
 
--Gold medalist Henry Cejudo's MMA debut
     
Rates are:
 
        For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $36 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 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 $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $84 for 24, $136 for 40 issues and $176 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

-- Today is the 30th anniversary of the Slaughter-Kernodle vs. Steamboat-Youngblood match. One of the 2 most famous matches in the history of the Carolinas. You can watch the final minutes of this legendary match by clicking here.

-- No live Bellator this week. From Spike:

Bellator MMA's takes a week off to air Bellator 360 - Road To The Championships.

Road To The Championships is Bellator's review / preview show for season eight. The half hour special takes a look back at the season so far and at the tournament championships that lie ahead. Host Jimmy Smith takes us through the five current tournaments and breaks down each championship fight to take place over the next month on Spike. Guests include Fight Master coach Joe warren, lightweight world champion Michael Chandler, welterweight tournament finalist Ben Saunders, light heavyweight tournament finalist Emanuel Newton, Middleweight tournament finalist Doug Marshall and Bellator analyst Manny Rodriguez.

Bellator 360: Road To The Championships airs at this Thursday at 11pm.

-- Paul Bearer's two sons were backstage at Raw last night.

-- While John Cena wasn't on the show he was in the building last night, and teamed up with Ryback to beat the Shield vs. DQ in the post-show main event. Good guys hit the bad guys with all their finishers afterwards for good measure. They also did a deal right after the show ended where Undertaker and Kane went to the top of the ramp, turned their backs to the crowd and did the one fist salute to Paul Bearer's image on the TitanTron.

-- TV ads for next week's Smackdown taping in Cincinnati have Alberto Del Rio vs. The Big Show, The Shield vs. Sheamus, Randy Orton and Ryback, and an appearance by Chris Jericho.

-- Countdown to UFC 158 airs at 11 PM tonight. Heard the show is great. Would be tough not to be given the participants.

-- Luiz Dorea, Junior dos Santos' coach, said in an interview with Sherdog that this was the second time a JDS vs. Alistair Overeem fight had fallen apart, and thus in his opinion he believed Alistair didn't really want this fight.

-- Andre Arlovski told MMA Weekly that he wants to prove he deserves another shot in the UFC. Not sure I see that one happening at this point in his career. I suppose I also wouldn't have expected Mark Hunt to theoretically be fighting for a heavyweight title shot this May.

-- We have a new free interview up with Trina Michaels on the front page right now talking DGUSA, pro-wrestling, Mick Foley and the Hall of Fame, wrestling vs. adult films, and tons more.

-- Highlights from last week's Bellator show on Spike up here.

-- This is something else. Ben Henderson, reigning UFC 155-pound champion, doing a local BJJ tournament in the brown belt division.

-- Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Tito Ortiz tweeted today that UFC paid for his knee surgery.

-- Maria Menounos talks her pro-wrestling career and what she wants her name to be here.

-- Matt Hardy promo pushing Extreme Rising here.

-- The AAA coming to America press release was carried in a number of news outlets. Long story short, new working agreement and the possibility that they'll be on TV in the US sometime after January 2014 when the new El Rey Network launches on cable. People in lucha are cautiously optimistic, the operative word being "cautiously". We'll talk a lot more about this with Dr. Lucha Steve Sims on Figure Four Daily Wednesday.

-- Jim Ross' latest blog posting is up here.

-- TMZ story herelisting Hulk Hogan as one of a number of celebrities who have been contacted by the FBI about hackers trying to access their bank accounts.

-- JBL has a blog up hereabout his latest mountain climb, a near-disaster where two other hikers were killed.

-- Former Val Venis talks to Alex Jones about the Jack Swagger angle here. He's not thrilled.

-- Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, has signed an agreement to launch in Portugal on ZON on March 19, 2013, making the channel available to its significant subscriber base.

-- Platinum Championship Wrestling returns to Porterdale, Georgia on Saturday, March 16th! We're there every First and Third Saturday of the month! 2001 Main Street Porterdale, Georgia 30070

-- 1965 - WWWF World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeated Bill Miller via disqualification in Pittsburgh, PA.

1983 - Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood defeated Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle in a steel cage for the NWA World Tag Team Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. NWA World Champion Ric Flair fought NWA US Champion Greg Valentine to a 60-minute time-limit draw

1983- Andre the Giant won a 20 man battle royal and WWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned WWF IC Champion Don Muraco in a Texas Death Match at an event in Landover, Maryland

1983 - In Baltimore, Maryland, Rocky Johnson defeated Superstar Billy Graham by countout and Big John Studd defeated WWF World Champion Bob Backlund by dq.

1984 - Mr. Wrestling II defeated The Junkyard Dog in New Orleans, Louisiana to win the Mid South North American Heavyweight Title

1987 - NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated the Great Wajima at an All Japan Pro Wrestling event at Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

1987 - Jim Crockett Promotions ran Sunrise, FL at the Musical Theatre. Barry Windham fought Lex Luger to a 20-minute time-limit draw; NWA Tag Team Champions Rick Rude & Manny Fernandez defeated Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson; NWA US Champion Nikita Koloff pinned Arn Anderson and NWA TV Champion Tully Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes via disqualification

1988 - In Chicago, Illinois; Randy Savage, WWF Tag Team Champions Rick Martel & Tito Santana defeated WWF IC Champion the Honkytonk Man, Bret Hart, & Jim Neidhart in a steel cage match

1989 - Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich defeated The Stud Stable, Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden, to win the World Class Tag Team Titles.

1990 - Jerry "The King" Lawler defeated Jimmy Valiant in Memphis, Tennessee for the USWA Unified Heavyweight Title

1992 - Sting and Ron Simmons defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude and Larry Zbyszko and Rick and Scott Steiner defeated Steve Austin and Bobby Eaton at a show in Camp LeJune, NC.

1993 - Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka defeated Glenn Osbourne in a tournament final in Radnor, Pennsylvania to become the ECW Television Champion.

1993 - in Erie, PA; Rick & Scott Steiner defeated the Beverly Brothers and WWF World Champion Bret Hart defeated Bam Bam Bigelow

1994 - in Dresden, Germany, 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Paul Orndorff & Paul Roma, Vader pinned Cactus Jack with the powerbomb. (match where Jack lost his ear) and Sting & Ricky Steamboat defeated WCW US Champion Steve Austin & Ron Simmons

1995 - in Denver, Colorado, WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & the Patriot; Randy Savage & Sting defeated Avalanche & Big Bubba and WCW US Champion Vader defeated Jim Duggan

1999 - In Trenton, New Jersey; ECW Tag Team Champions - ECW TV Champion Rob Van Dam & Sabu defeated Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley and Jerry Lynn defeated Lance Storm.

1999 - At Anaheim, CA WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett defeated Triple H & X-Pac and Steve Austin & Mankind defeated WWF World Champion the Rock & Kane in a Texas Tornado match

2000 - In Albany, New York WWF Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz defeated Matt & Jeff Hardy and Edge & Christian in an elimination match and The Rock & Kane defeated WWF World Champion Triple H & X-Pac

2000 - In Danbury, CT Lance Storm & Justin Credible defeated ECW Tag Team Champions Mike Awesome & Raven and Tommy Dreamer & Masato Tanaka in a Three-Way Dance to win the titles

-- Do you think wrestlers with TNA and WWE are employees or independent contractors
Employees 71.9%
WWE wrestlers are employees, TNA wrestlers are independent contractors 17.0%
Independent contractors 9.9%
WWE wrestlers are independent contractors, TNA wrestlers are employees 1.1%

Who do you expect to win this fight?
Georges St-Pierre 85.5%
Nick Diaz 14.5%

Who should win between Rock and John Cena?
Cena 64.9%
Rock 35.1%

Who was the greatest wrestler in Montreal history?
Bret Hart 29.8%
Edouard Carpentier 18.9%
Killer Kowalski 8.1%
Lou Thesz 7.7%
Yvon Robert 7.2%
Mad Dog Vachon 6.8%
Rick Martel 5.7%
Hulk Hogan 4.5%
Dino Bravo 3.3%
Pat Patterson 3.3%
Johnny Rougeau 3.1%
Buddy Rogers 1.5%

-- On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, we have analysis, breakdowns, and predictions of the epic UFC 158: ST-PIERRE VS DIAZ card. Plus, Chael Sonnen has a response to these Jon Jones tweets from yesterday: "This will be Chael Sonnen's last chance at a title and I am going to train that way,” and “I will dominate my opponent in a way that no one has seen before …"

And, would you rather be Anderson Silva or Chris Weidman? Would you rather have Dan Henderson or Rashad Evans’ career? Would you rather be Renan Barao or Dominick Cruz right now? Our guys debate.

This week on UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu masters Rener and Ryron Gracie break down Georges St-Pierre’shistoric arm bar against Matt Hughes at UFC 79, and provide the context for what makes GSP so great. Then Joe Rogan ranks the greatest feuds in UFC history.

Although he suffered a defeat in his welterweight championship fight, nothing has changed for Carlos Condit. He enters the prime of his career with renewed vigor and determination in anticipation of his showdown with rising star Johny Hendricks. Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champ Daniel Cormier is one of several high profile Octagon newcomers. Cormier provides his expert analysis on his fellow Strikeforce fighters making the transition to the Octagon in The Takedown.

-- Upset Big 10 wrestler throws his medal in the garbage.

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