We also have our usual weekly features with results of the major arena shows from around the world, and the major TV show rundowns and reviews.

       

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Also in this week's issues:

 

--All Japan junior heavyweight tournament notes and where that division goes next

 

--Pro Wrestling NOAH annual tag team tournament final results and what matches that sets up next, including how the Kings of Wrestling did

 

--Complete rundown of the New Japan PPV show this past week involving interpromotional matches and a number of title matches including an ROH star, the company's biggest feud and something of a dream match

 

--Newcomer looking to fit into the New Japan main event picture

 

--First look at the 2011 G-1 Climax tournament

 

--Notes on ROH's probable next iPPV main event and this coming weekend's shows

 

--Update on Ric Flair's shoulder injury

 

--A look at the TNA Sacrifice PPV card

 

--What match was changed

 

--Hulk Hogan's latest legal action

 

--Notes on Jeff Hardy in TNA

 

--TNA sets a ratings record

 

--Details on TNA taking a big step backwards in one of its major international markets

 

--The real story behind Mick Foley to Raw for Rock's birthday show

 

--Kurt Angle once again talks getting back to real sports and few believe him

 

--TNA house show rundowns

 

--What is scheduled for the next few weeks of TNA Impact

 

--UFC in Philadelphia updated show

 

--Update on Fedor vs. Dan Henderson

 

--Update on health of B.J. Penn and Kid Yamamoto

 

--Lots of new UFC matches

 

--Notes on the next three Strikeforce shows

 

--Crazy period for shows by Zuffa

 

--Notes on the 55th anniversary show of pro wrestling at Arena Mexico

 

--A look at a unique idea for a pro wrestling tournament that is getting good reviews and how it's being done but why it wouldn't work in the modern U.S. environment

 

--A unique reason why a main eventer is getting a push slowed down

 

--Update on Perro Aguayo Jr. and rumors and his claims regarding his health issues

 

--Major U.S. stars coming to TripleMania

 

--The unique Inoki Genome Federation show featuring 80s superstars, one of the biggest late 80s feuds, as well as a kickboxing legend faces the IGF's biggest star

 

--Pro wrestler sentenced in bank robbery

 

--Update on Paul Orndorff

 

--A look at Lance Storm's reality show

 

--Lou Thesz Hall of Fame inductees for 2012 and notes about the ceremony and who will be there

 

--Wrestler now facing 11 counts and a potential of 120 years in prison

 

--Note about the town hit by the hurricane and how it ties in with pro wrestling

 

--A look at Don Kernodle as he goes in for major surgery

 

--Mike Graham admits to something on video which led to one of the biggest jumps of personnel of the last 15 years

 

--CHIKARA honoring Larry Sweeney

 

--Notes on the Super 8 tournament

 

--Usage of social media as a promotional tool

 

--More on Strikeforce sale to UFC

 

--Notes on the UFC Fan Expo

 

--Lots of notes on Dana White

 

--Update on why Cris Cyborg hasn't been fighting

 

--UFC fighter doing a smaller show

 

--Strikeforce fighter competes and wins national tournament in another sport and talks Olympics

 

--Krzysztof Soszynski talks about how Badnews Allen got him interested in MMA

 

--Update on Bellator

 

--Promoter of top MMA indie is now out of the picture

 

       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
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*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous
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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
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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,
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*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
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*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)
 
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*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New
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*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
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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)
 
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*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)
 
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*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers
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*September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8
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--The WrestleMania 27 DVD comes out tomorrow.  It is already available on iTunes at $17.99 for HD and $14.99 for SD or $2.99 HD or $1.99 SD per match.

 

--The web site http://www.TMZ.com reported on the Shane Helms motorcycle accident over the weekend.  The police report noted that a witness told police Helms was riding home from a restaurant in Smithfield, NC at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday night when he went through a stop sign, lost control of the bike, and rove straight through a metal chain link fence.  Another witness told police that he saw Helms at the restaurant and was sure he had been drinking.  A blood sample was taken from Helms to check his blood alcohol level but it could take months to get the results back.  At this time, no charges have been filed.

 

--Velvet Sky, who at one point was Helms' girlfriend, is trying to raise money for medical bills for Helms.

 

--There will be a non-UFC affiliated fan expo in conjunction with UFC 131 in Vancouver on 6/11 and 6/12 at the Vancouver Convention Center.  There will be amateur tournaments, BJJ tournaments, No Gi grappling tournaments and more, as well as youth divisions, teen and adult divisions.

 

--Bryan and I will be back tonight for Wrestling Observer radio covering all today's MMA and pro wrestling news.  If you've got any questions you can send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

 

--The title of the next John Cena movie, originally called "Blood Brothers," is now "Family Reunion."  This is a film that was done several months back.

 

--WWE has also announced a new horror movie that starts filming on 6/13 in New Orleans called "No One Lives."  Ryuhei Kitamura (Midnight Meat Train) will be the director.  No wrestler was announced for the movie to market around as of yet.

 

--The Anaheim Angels attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing masks tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. when they have wrestling mask night for their game against the Chicago White Sox.  They are expecting 40,000 fans, and will be giving away an Angels wrestling mask to all fans and they ask everyone wear the mask for at least ten minutes and Guinness will then certify the new record and hold a ceremony to announce it later in the game.  Guinness lists the current record of people gathering wearing wrestling masks at 250.

     

--Hulk Hogan's son Nick that he is getting engaged to girlfriend of three years, Brena Tiesi.  He announced to TMZ.com that he was purchased the engagement ring and that he and his girlfriend have been talking about getting married for some time.  

 

--Two matches added to the ROH Supercard of Honor on 5/21 in Chicago are Davey Richards vs. Charlie Haas and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Shelton Benjamin.

 

--Mark Coale has started a web site looking at Mid South Wrestling in 1984 at http://russianflagburial.blogspot.com

 

--Week two of Lance Storm's World of Hurt TV show in Canada is at http://www.youtube.com.watch?v=5kPYK-1G0gg

 

--There is a Justin Gabriel interview at http://bit.ly/aqN2AH

 

--Pro Wrestling Syndicate on 5/27 in Elmhurst, NY at the Elks Lodge for an iPPV show featuring Mick Foley as commissioner, Dan Maff vs. Sami Callihan, Psycho Sid Vicious vs. Eddie Kingston, Sonjay Dutt vs. Kevin Matthews, Aaron Epic vs. Danny Demanto and more including Ox Baker appearing.  There is also a live autograph session at 7 p.m. with Sid, Foley, Velvet Sky, Dutt and Amazing Red.  Red will be appearing live but his match won't be on  iPPV.  The iPPV will also include a taped match of Teddy Hart vs. Jack Evans.

 

--There will be a Ric Flair guest appearance on 6/25 at The Bistro on 2561 Hylan Blvd. in Staten Island.  They are doing a lunch for Flair for $150.  There is also a Q&A and autograph signing.   For more info you can go to http://www.sportsfanpromotions.com/ or call Debbie at 973-985-9925   

 

--Pro Wrestling Eve in honor of its one year anniversary is releasing a free match to air at http://tinyurl.com/3nsqxtd

 

--Poll on Pacquiao vs. Mosley

Excellent 2.8%

Good 15.6%

Average 21.1%

Fair 22.0%

Poor 38.5%

        54.8% of those responding didn't see the show

 

--Poll on Bellator

Excellent 13.9%

Good 52.8%

Average 19.4%

Fair 0.0%

Poor 13.9%

        71.0% of those responding didn't see the show

 

--Best TV show of the past week

Smackdown 24.6%

Tough Enough 23.6%

Raw 17.8%

Impact 16.8%

Ultimate Fighter 8.4%

CMLL 2.1%

Superior Fighting Challenge 2.1%

AAA 1.6%

Inside MMA 1.6%

Bellator 1.0%

MMA Live 0.5%

 

--TNA announced its next Gut check session, which is a tryout you pay for and clinic, will be 6/25 in Troy, OH.

 

--WWE has a Raw & Smackdown super show on 7/16 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

 

--CHIKARA Pro runs Saturday night in Burlington, NC at the Mid Atlantic Sportatorium.  The CHIKARA wrestling game through Filsinger Games will be released on 6/24 in Chicago at the Logan Square Auditorium with creator Tom Filsinger as special guest of the show and you can meet him if you purchase the game.

 

--World Championship Fighting on 6/18 at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA.

 

--Dave Branch (UFC, Bellator) vs. Jeremy May (Ultimate Fighter) was announced as the co-main event for the next Shark Fights show at the Santa Ana Star Center in New Mexico.  The main event was already announced as Chris Camozzi vs. Joey Villasenor.

 

--According to Mike Sawyer's new web site https://toughtalkmma.com/Home.html both Randy and ex-wife Kim Couture ended up at the same dentist this morning.  She was there for a root canal.  He was there to get a replacement of the tooth Lyoto Machida knocked out last week.