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TUES UPDATE: Heyman's WWE future, CM Punk apologizes, TNA YouTube push, tons more



By Bryan Alvarez | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We're looking for your thoughts on Saturday night's UFC on FOX, 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 looking for reports on yesterday's Smackdown in North Charleston, SC, Saturday night's Raw show in Knoxville, Saturday night's Smackdown show in Asheville, Saturday night's TNA show in Bakersfield and Friday's Raw show in Huntsville, AL, and TNA show in Ontario, CA.

We're looking for reports on tonight's Smackdown and NXT show being taped in Roanoke.

New Observer Alert: Brock's First Match Back

Between Brock Lesnar's first WWE match in years, the WWE stockholders meeting with tons of comments by Vince McMahon about the company's future, the life and times of 70s icon Chief Jay Strongbow, behind the drug test failure of Rey Mysterio and much more, there will be two issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter out this week.

The first issue is already up on the site and the second will be up later today.  A back issue from 1995 is also up covering the life and times of Eddie Gilbert as well as the first ever Hulk Hogan vs. Vader major match.

Our lead story looks at the WWE Extreme Rules show, what Brock Lesnar brought to the table, why the company decided to beat Lesnar in his first match, what happened after the match ended, and why that decision all depends on what you believe Lesnar is there for.

We look at how Vince McMahon was thinking, as well as looking at a lot of similar situations in wrestling history and how promotions handled them.  We look at what the response was, what the future is for Lesnar vs. Cena, a look at the numbers.  We also look at the business of the show, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from the show.

We also look at the WWE philosophy that has become so strange and paranoid, as well as the success of the Youtube prelim fight.

We also look at the change in the movie business philosophy, plans for movies, more plans for the network, Vince McMahon guarantees the company will grow over the next year and strange quoting of statistics.  A look at the real statistics when it comes to ratings and house shows for WWE this year.  We talk a lot of the business moves, a new television show being taped that is being kept secretive, PPV numbers, plans for a lot of upcoming movies, PPV on TV vs. Internet, UFC vs. WWE on PPV, WrestleMania outdoors and future of TV and movies.

We also look at the life and times of Chief Jay Strongbow, including his career records and biggest matches.

We've got notes on the suspension of Rey Mysterio, what happened, when the test took place, wrestlers who have two strikes, what the policy is regarding wrestlers who have two strikes and then leave, his previous violation and a look at the last few years of his career as well as his world title reigns.

We also have a feature on the Extreme Reunion show over the weekend put on by Shane Douglas and Dr. Mark Keenan.  We look at the legacy of ECW, its unique popularity, the promotion going forward, the good, the bad, the business and the disasters that happened before, during and after the show.

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 or you can order at www.paypal.com and use the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it address.

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 our in-depth look at the ratings of the national shows, including how every segment of Raw and Impact did, what gained in audience, and what lost in audience.

We also have our weekly features with the results from the major events held around the world over the past week, as well as reviews of the major television shows.

Also in this week's issue:

--Update on Buff Bagwell and more details regarding his accident.
--Death of independent wrestler Prince Malik
--Arrest of a former wrestler Whipper Watson Jr., the son of one of Canada's two most popular wrestlers in history.
--Jury overturns the verdict against Penthouse in the case of publishing nude photos of Nancy Benoit.
--More notes on the change in time slot of Impact and the good and bad of it
--Dixie Carter talks why PPV is declining
--Is PPV declining?
--More on the deal to get Ric Flair to attend the WWE Hall of Fame
--Dixie Carter talks the Garett Bischoff push, and compares his in-ring to several wrestlers on the roster
--Hulk Hogan threatens a lawsuit but nobody backs down
--Hogan says he's got new ideas for TNA going forward, and if they don't work, he's leaving
--Story behind cutting Anarquia
--Hogan's wife changes her story, says Hogan & Ed Leslie were not gay lovers
--Kurt Angle teams with Dwayne Johnson
--Sacrifice PPV lineup
--TNA weekend touring
--Notes on the next TNA television shows
--More on Nick Diaz's lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission
--What he's looking for and can he get it
--The whole medical marijuana controversy involving Diaz
--UFC fighter arrested for a DUI
--Main matches for UFC's debut in Calgary in July
--Updated info on UFC 147 in Brazil
--Early notes on UFC 150 in Denver
--Early notes on the August UFC show on FOX including storyline that will be built for the main event
--Thoughts on Mayweather vs. Cotto
--Notes on the New Jersey show on FOX
--Notes on what UFC is scaling the gate for and potentially its second biggest gate in history for Silva vs. Sonnen
--Dana White talks about bringing Sonnen to Brazil
--Fighter turns down an offered title shot
--Update on Rampage Jackson
--Lots of new fights and changes in cards due to injuries
--Dana White talks this season of Ultimate Fighter and ratings
--White criticized for talking gambling lines
--Update on contract situation with one of biggest stars of the past decade
--Chris Jericho's schedule for the summer
--More on the Bella Twins leaving
--Return of a star in a few weeks after knee surgery
--Wrestler in trouble for working too stiff
--Indie promotion without TV draws almost 4,000 fans with nostalgia lure bringing back 90s stars
--Wrestling PPV main event in jeopardy when world champion suffers legit biceps tear
--Wrestler on Bachelor like TV show doing a unique gimmick
--Karen Jarrett returns to wrestling managing Jeff
--Update on the Champion Carnival tournament
--Finals of NOAH's annual tag team tournament
--Two Hall of Famers meet for the first tie in a singles match
--Notes on the early days of Ricky Steamboat's career
--Notes on ROH Border Wars show
--ROH weekend show notes
--Notes on new TNA signee Alex Silva
--Dana White says he'll pull out of California if new bill passes, a look at the bill
--Marketing of Jon Jones
--Ronda Rousey challenged in grandstand play

Tuesday's News & Links

-- Paul Heyman is expected to be a somewhat regular character on TV building to Lesnar vs. HHH at SummerSlam. They need someone to keep the story alive since Lesnar has limited dates built into his contract and WWE burned through four of them very quickly last month.There is no better person in the world than Heyman to do so, since he understands Brock's character better than anyone.

-- CM Punk got into a war of words on Twitter after tweeting his support for gay marriage and being lambasted. He told one fan to kill himself and another fan to drink bleach. Later, he ended up apologizing. "I was pretty worked up today. The amendment 1 situation had me all wound up. I stand by my thoughts on gay marriage 100%. How I defended... That stance was 100% wrong. I admit it. You can't stoop to others levels. Sometimes I fight fire with fire and it isn't ways the best way." Regarding wishing death on a follower, he wrote: "I apologize. I don't want you to kill yourself. I want you to better yourself. Just as I want to better myself."

-- As noted on the front page, the final rating for UFC on FOX Saturday night was a 1.5 with 2.4 million viewers. The prelims on FUEL did 86,000, by far the lowest of all time.

-- TNA is going all out with their entire library of archived PPVs dating back to 2004 is now available on YouTube and the 2011 and 2012 PPVs will be added shortly. They're available for one week viewing at 99 cents each, which is actually a hell of a deal for the 2006-07 period where they were doing awesome shows more months than not. They noted that you can purchase the shows on Youtube, TNAonDemand.com, Xbox Live Marketplace, iTunes, Sony Playstation and both Netflix and Hulu soon.

-- Baseball player fails second drug test and blames it on children's cough syrup. Thanks to Jim.

-- A story on MMA and the New York legislature here. There's always 2013.

-- The Arthur (DDP client who has been discussed numerous times on our radio shows) video that went viral has now been seen by over two million people. Click here if you are among those who have not.

-- Jim Ross has a new blog up here

-- Oh, Ricardo.

-- Lots of radio notes. Dave and I did shows all weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Monday's show is free. Today we've got a great interview with Sami Callihan (one of the biggest stars on the indy scene today) talking this weekend's EVOLVE shows. ROH is also running this weekend with the big Davey Richards vs. Kevin Steen ROH Title match. Tomorrow Bruno Sammartino, arguably the best WOR guest of all time, returns to the show. Lance Storm is also on later this week talking the booking of Brock Lesnar, plus all of our other regularly scheduled shows.

-- The Joe vs. Punk trilogy on DVD and a new Eddie Edwards T-shirts are on sale right now.

-- UFC 149 for July 21 in Calgary has Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch for the featherweight title, Shogun Rua vs. Thiago Silva, Cheick Kongo vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Thiago Alves and Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch.

-- John Cena's appearance on Dream Machines airs tonight on Syfy.

-- LEGENDS OF THE RING 14 on Saturday June 2, 2012 Doors open at 8:30 am Crowne Plaza Hotel – Monroe, New Jersey Exit 8a NJTPK.

-- Shannon Moore will be making his first interview since taking his hiatus from TNA. Shannon will appear on Highway2Helms this Wednesday night, May 9th, at 7pm EST.

-- Beat The Streets -- the New York City-based not-for-profit organization that has brought wrestling to thousands of middle and high school students in New York City, along with USA Wrestling and the New York City Department of Education, today announced that for the second straight year, an international freestyle wrestling match featuring some of the world’s greatest Olympic-class wrestlers, will be held in Duffy Square in New York’s Times Square on Thursday, June 7.

-- Several of the biggest superstars in professional wrestling history will be on hand for the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction weekend in Waterloo, Iowa, on July 13-14. The Hall of Fame is located inside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. This year’s class of inductees are Kurt Angle, Don Curtis, John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL), Joe Laurinaitis (Road Warrior Animal), Dan Severn, and Bill Apter. Weekend activities include a professional wrestling tryout with Gerry Brisco, professional wrestling show hosted by Impact Pro wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts seminar with Dan Severn, Fan Fest at the Dan Gable Museum, autograph signings, and the Hall of Fame induction banquet.

-- Undefeated 19-year-old prospect Guilherme Bertholdo (6-0), the nephew of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, will look to extend his perfect run in Muay Thai’s amateur ranks and move one step closer to turning professional when he faces off with Chris Lazaro (7-2) of Las Vegas in a welterweight (147 pounds) matchup on the undercard of the Lion Fight Muay Thai VI: Schilling vs. Marcus II full-rules Muay Thai event at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, May 12.

-- Future Stars of Wrestling featuring ROH superstars Kenny King and Roderick Strong, TMDK, Michael Modest, Johnny the Bull, Alkatrazz, Shaun Ricker, Brandon Gatson, Brian Cage, Reno Scum, Willie Mack, along with new addition Shawn Daivari, are excited to add former WWE Tag Champ and TNA X Division Champion Brian Kendrick to its roster. FSW can be seen 24/7 online with new episodes of its weekly show premiering Thursdays at 7 PM EST/10 PM PST.

Who should Urijah Faber face on 7/7?

Renan Barao 29.3%
Michael McDonald 25.6%
Kid Yamamoto 22.2%
Miguel Torres 17.5%
Bibiano Fernandes 2.7%
Masakazu Imanari 2.0%
Chris Cariaso 0.7%

If you watched UFC on FOX before but skipped this past weekend's show, what best describes your feelings on the 8/4 show?

Am likely to watch it unless other plans get in the way 29.1%
Won't watch it 20.5%
Will watch if it's a PPV caliber card 16.4%
I will watch if fights look good on paper 11.5%
I will watch if there is a major title fight 8.6%
Would have watched Saturday's show but had other plans, will watch 8/4 no matter what 7.8%
I will watch it if some name older fighters are on it 4.9%
I will watch it with a minor title bout 1.2%

Who should be the next person to win a WWE or World title?

Daniel Bryan 43.5%
Brock Lesnar 27.4%
Dolph Ziggler 9.6%
Chris Jericho 4.6%
Alberto Del Rio 3.2%
John Cena 3.0%
Randy Orton 2.1%
Cody Rhodes 2.1%
The Miz 1.6%
Kane 1.5%
Mark Henry 1.1%
Big Show 0.3%

-- Over the Top Radio celebrates 200 episodes.

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