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Also in this week's issue:

 

--New top contender for CMLL heavyweight title

 

--Arena Mexico weekly coverage

 

--New idol tournament and two other championship tournaments

 

--What happened at the TripleMania press conference and what TNA stars were brought to Mexico City

 

--What TNA tag team is being put back together, but not in TNA

 

--AAA trying to copy U.S. reality shows

 

--Three former WWE stars form a trio in Mexico on major show

 

--A look at the Dragon Gate USA tour and big matches

 

--The two year anniversary of the death of Mitsuharu Misawa

 

--Update on Manabu Nakanishi

 

--Details of the 2011 Best of the Super Junior tournament

 

--Former star returns to promotion after 11 years

 

--90s star announces his retirement and just had final match

 

--A look at the Urban Wrestling Federation

 

--Pittsburgh Studio Wrestling reunion

 

--Roddy Piper vs. Terry Funk in 2011

 

--One of wrestling's most famous arenas being shut down

 

--Update on the next major ROH show  

 

--A look at the departures of both Mick Foley and Tommy Dreamer from TNA

 

--A look at the backstage mentality in TNA

 

--Foley talks WWE Hall of Fame

 

--Foley talks chair shots to the head in wrestling

 

--Wrestlers TNA is planning on giving major pushes to

 

--Will Chyna return?

 

--How television usage is changing

 

--Notes on UFC 131

 

--New UFC video game with a twist

 

--More on GSP vs. Nick Diaz

 

--Interesting political move by Spike

 

--The attempt to get MMA legalized in New York

 

--What aspect of its business is UFC pushing

 

--UFC's debut in Milwaukee

 

--More on upcoming Strikeforce shows

 

--Upcoming UFC shows

 

--New UFC matches announced

 

--Joe Warren makes a title defense

 

--Former star fighter in another sport heads to MMA

 

 

       New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues can get free issues from the last 18 years.  You can get 2 free back issues by ordering 40 or more
issues and one for 24.  Let us know which stories 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 18 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 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
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We also 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.

 

 

--Cael Sanderson, who was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame, is coming out of retirement with no notice for tonight's U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City.  Sanderson is competing at 185.5 pounds in Freestyle wrestling, looking to make the team and compete for the world championships in September, with the ultimate goal of the 2012 Olympics.  Sanderson turns 32 this coming week, and his coming back after winning a gold medal in 2004, staying in the sport, training and coaching the national championship team at Penn State, is considered a tough deal, so imagine what the odds are regarding Kurt Angle, who turns 43 this year, with a ridiculous amount of injuries and history of prescription pill issues, coming back after having not competed in any sporting event since 1996.

 

--Tonight is the first of three straight nights of Observer radio.  We'll be talking UFC 131 tonight after the show.  Tomorrow night we will be covering TNA Slammiversary and Monday night we'll be covering both the three-hour Raw from the Nassau Coliseum as well as the TNA Impact first night of tapings.  You can also send in questions for the show at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

--Next weekend is one of the bigger ones of the year with Strikeforce, WWE, All Japan, New Japan, CMLL and AAA all having major shows.  That would include the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix, WWE Capitol Combat, All Japan at Sumo Hall, New Japan in Osaka with a loaded show, CMLL's Juicio Final and AAA's TripleMania, featuring a number of TNA stars with a three main events of Mesias putting up his hair against the mask of L.A. Park, Zorro defending their world title against Jeff Jarrett, and RVD vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. for the Latin American title.

 

--Regarding the Impact rating on Thursday, the NBA game had 18.3 million viewers.  Those trying to attach any significance to the Impact number are wasting your time and breath.  As a general rule, the Impact ratings variation in recent weekly has been directly based on the audience the NBA game that opposes it gets.  They are neither in a growth or declining pattern, but a pattern based on whether LeBron James is playing against them.

 

--During last night's Vancouver vs Boston NHL game, they showed Kenny Florian coming out wearing a Boston Bruins jersey and Diego Nunes coming out wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey.  Florian wore a Shawn Thornton jersey.  The two of them are friends.  So expect Florian to be the heel tonight in that fight . (thanks to Mark Coale, Grant Zwarcych and many others). 

 

--Starting tonight, the price of PPVs in Australia for UFC rises from $39.95 to $44.95 (thanks to James Stanios)

 

--Bill DeMott is teasing the idea of a comeback, just saying, "I am training for something.  Take that any way you want."

 

--A story on Alberto Del Rio is at http://espn.go.com/espn/print?id=6648844&type=blogEntry talking about working under a mask, the difference between Mexico and the U.S. and more.

 

--Sergio Pettis, the younger brother of Anthony Pettis, now 17, is training for an MMA career.  He'll debut in September.

 

--Ted DiBiase accidentally double booked himself both for the Wizard World Convention in Philadelphia and a series of appearances in St. Louis.  DiBiase is scheduled to be appearing in St. Louis and not Philadelphia.

 

--Alex Marvez talks with Crimson about his background at http://public.shns.com/content/marvez-ring-tommy-crimson-mercer

 

--Tonight in Memphis is Tommy Dreamer's final appearance with TNA, as his contract expires imminently and it's not being renewed.\\

 

--If Bellator moves to Spike TV in 2012 are you:

Likely to watch it even though didn't watch it on MTV 2   23.9%

Did watch it on MTV 2, will continue to watch it  22.1%

Would watch it when I know the fighters involved, won't watch MMA without knowing the fighters 18.0%

Won't watch it because I'm not an MMA fan 15.3%

Won't watch it because I won't watch non-UFC MMA  8.6%

Likely to watch on a weeknight, not Saturday because other things are going on 6.3%

Likely to watch on a weeknight, but not Saturday due to competing sorts events 3.8%

 

--What did you think of the Countdown to UFC 131

Excellent 19.6%
Good 53.6%

Average 10.7%

Fair 7.1%

Poor 8.9%

        61.1% of those responding didn't see the show

 

With a fresh headliner in R-Truth, how do you think Capitol Combat will do?

More than usual WWE B show numbers 22.2%

The same 48.3%

Less 29.5%

 

--Fox News actually covered the Hulk Hogan/Ultimate Warrior stuff at http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/06/09/the-ultimate-warrior-accuses-hulk-hogan-of-wife-swapping-and-cocaine-use/?test=faces

 

--Impact post-game show at http://bit.ly/k9UZbB?r=td with Mickie James, Jeff Jarrett, Alex Shelley, James Storm and Bobby Roode.

 

--The All Wheels Wrestling TV taping on 6/29 at the Impact Zone in Orlando is a pilot that TNA is involved with for the Speed Channel.

 

--There is a huge story on The National, the newspaper I worked at from 1989-1991 which the goal was to get the national All-Star team of sportswriters in one spot at http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id?6629257/the-greatest-paper-ever-died 

 

--WWE has a house show on 8/20 at the Tacoma Dome.

 

--The new US Weekly magazine has in the "Who wore it best" page both Stacy Keibler and Kelly Kelly.  Keibler goes against Stephanie Pratt while Kelly against Pia Toscano. (thanks to Steve Murphy)

 

--The Big Event on 11/11 and 11/12 in East Elmhurst, NY at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel has a convention with Rick Martel, Stan Hansen, Larry Zbyszko, Jacques & Raymond Rougeau, Shane Douglas, Tito Santana, Matt Morgan, Paul Roma, The Godfather, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Candi Divine, Judy Martin, Leilani Kai, The Berzerker John Nord, Del Wilkes, Road Warrior Animal, Paul Ellering, Howard Finkel and Rachel Summerlyn.

 

--An interview with Kyoko Inoue, who is wrestling for CZW tonight in Philadelphia against Sumie Sakai, is at http://RingbellesOnline.com 

 

--NWA New Jersey on 6/18 in Mays Landing, NJ at the Watering Hole Cafe.

 

--British tennis player James Ward claims his upturn in his game was as a result of training with Argentinean MMA fighter Diego Visotzky, who he said taught him to be more prepared and more ruthless.

 

--Dory Funk's BANG on 6/25 in Ocala, FL at the BANG V Sound stage features Bert Prentice, the long time Nashville promoter.    

 

--Scott Hall works tonight in Orlando at the Downtown Rec Center for I Believe in Wrestling.  Also on the show are Larry Zbyszko, Jesse Neal, Santana, Lince Dorado and Alex Porteau. 

 

--On ESPN's Pardon the Interruption on Friday, when talking about Detroit Lions' defensive tackles Nadamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, Michael Wilbon said they were the best tag team since Blackjack Lanza & Blackjack Mulligan and said "for those who are AWA fans."  (thanks to James Solomon, Shawn Robinson and many others). 

 

--USWO from last night in Nashville before 40 fans:  Fireball Roberts b Toby Farley, Nick Iggy b Shawn Hoodrich, Jason Xavier b Panther-DQ, Jocephus b Mike Cobbs, Josh Crow b Saint, Tim Renesto b Gary Valiant-DQ, Chris Michaels b Damien Payne (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)

 

--IWC Super Indy X on 6/18 in Elizabeth, PA at the Court Time Sports has a tribute to Larry Sweeney, plus the Super Indy tournament with first round matches of Samuray del Sol vs.  El Generico, Facade vs Adam Cole, Ricky Reyes vs. Jason Gory and Ego Fantastico vs. Pinkie Sanchez, plus Super Hentai vs. Colt Cabana.  Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli challenge IWC tag champs Jimmy Vegas & Dennis Gregory on the same show.

 

--SoCal Summer Classic finals tonight in Escondido CA at Escondido Sports & Fitness with Kid Caramba vs. Joey Barone, Johnny Paradise vs. Carlos Castillo, Nick Lovin vs. SoCal Crazy and Johnny Yuma vs. Ricky Mandel.