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 issue:
--A look at this past week's Arena Mexico show
--More on the retirement of Tinieblas
--Mexico ratings
--Notes from this past week's AAA TV taping that included Jeff Jarrett and Abyss
--Major debut this week
--A look at Dragon Gate USA's next series of shows
--A look at a number of new Dragon Gate title matches
--All Japan vs. New Japan & Big Japan main event
--More on the New Japan tour of the Northeast
--Two major stars team up for the first time in nine years on a major show main event in August
--Shinya Hashimoto's son faces another major test
--Notes from the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions
--Mark Lewin, Ivan Koloff, Destroyer and others induct people
--Notes on the debut of the new Urban Wrestling Federation on PPV
--One of the greatest wrestlers in U.S. history in the Danny Hodge era passes away
--Dory Funk Jr.'s return to St. Louis
--What happened with Terry Taylor in TNA
--Mick Foley's charity work
--TNA star whose contract expires shortly
--Desmond Wolfe talks
--Someone who was going to be brought to TNA is now on hold
--Plight of the X Division
--A look at the TNA weekend house shows
--A look at UFC in New York and the steps of how it may or may not get approval
--A look at the next UFC show
--Update on Jose Aldo Jr.
--Upcoming ticket sales for UFC events
--Update on Nick Diaz's career
--Major new sponsor headed to UFC and another close to coming
--What quote motivates Lorenzo Fertitta
--Demographic studies of UFC and what is shows about popularity on the current sports scene
--Notes on UFC's two major sponsors and how long they are committed for
--Another UFC fighter imitating Ric Flair
--The Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans feud from this week
--More on the guy Tito Ortiz bailed out and how it is giving UFC bad local publicity
--Nevada commission makes judging concession
--Dana White talks women fighting
--White compares UFC to boxing and wrestling
--Dietary change causes UFC fighter to lose 30 pounds
--Lots of upcoming UFC fights
--A look at Bellator's summer tournament
--Pacquiao vs. Mosley numbers
--Two former UFC stars arrested this past week and details
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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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 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.
--Kharma is expected to do an interview on Raw on Monday to explain her leave of absence.
--We've got a ton of new interviews up on the site in the last 24 hours including one with Brock Lesnar where we talk his health, his pro wrestling days, and what he's got coming up next. We've got another show tonight talking UFC 130 and current MMA news with Mike Coughlin. You can send questions for tonight's show to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
--In the ratings for last week on cable, TNT due to NBA coverage took first at a 2.4 in prime time to 2.0 for USA and 2.0 for ESPN. Sy Fy was No. 21 at 0.7 and Spike didn't crack the top 25. Raw was No. 7 and No. 11 last week. Bulls vs Heat playoff games did 7.4 and 7.1 ratings for the top two spots. The 7.4 was against Over the Limit, which isn't good news for that show. Raw was No. 9 and No. 10 in 18-49, trailing 5 NBA games, two episodes of Inside the NBA Playoffs and Tosh.O.
--Randy Orton somehow, in flying home from Spokane to St. Louis, got on a flight to Fayetteville. Luckily, he didn't sit down and fall asleep, as before the plane took off, he realized he had gotten on the wrong plane, and he was allowed to de board and go to the correct plane.
--Jon Jones was on a Syracuse radio show today and said he expects to fight again in October, and mentioned either Lyoto Machida or Rampage Jackson (if he beats Matt Hamill) as his next opponent. When asked about that at today's UFC press conference, Dana White said that was premature.
--Dragon Gate USA on 6/3 in Revere, MA final lineup has
Pac & Masato Yoshino vs. Yamato & Akira Tozawa for the tag titles
Austin Aries vs. Johnny Gargano
Cima & Brodie Lee vs. Chuck Taylor & Rich Swann
Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Sami Callihan
Ricochet vs Susumu Yokosuka
AR Fox vs. Arik Cannon vs. Scott Reed vs. Tony Nese
6/4 in Deer Park, NY at the NYWC Sportatorium which is a PPV taping for August
Pac vs Ricochet vs. Chuck Taylor
Yamato vs. Cima vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Masato Yoshino
Caleb Konley vs. Flip Kendrick vs. Jon Davis vs. Louis Lyndon vs. Pinkie Sanchez vs. Rich Swann vs. Sami Callihan vs. Scott Reed
Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Arik Cannon
Austin Aries vs. Susumu Yokosuka
Akira Tozawa vs. AR Fox
Brodie Lee vs. Tony Nese
--A story on teaching John Morrison how to overcome his weakness on interviews that is holding him back from being a headliner is at
http://social.comedyworkshops.com/profiles/blogs/from-wrestling-to-speaking Basically Morrison is attending public speaking classes. You have to hand it to guys like Morrison and Miz who go out of the box to improve their marketable skills for this business.
--WWE house show on 8/29 in Topeka has been canceled.
--Smackdown will be taped on 8/9 in Sacramento at the Power Balance Pavilion.
--Tickets for the UFC Fan Expo in Houston on 10/7 and 10/8 at the George R. Brown Convention Center will be priced at $40 for one day and $55 for both days. They are not on sale yet.
--Joseph Benavidez vs. Eddie Wineland and Alex Caceres (Bruce Leroy) faces Leonard Garcia on the 8/14 UFC show from Milwaukee that airs on Versus. Benavidez vs. Wineland is a good fight on paper.
--An M-1 Global show will air live on the
http://www.M-1Global.com web site at 11 a.m. Eastern and 8 a.m. Pacific on 6/4 from the National Circus Arena in Kiev, Russia. Rafal Moks faces Yasubey Enomoto in the main event.
--There was an interesting weekend note in boxing. In the U.K., new WBO champion Nathan Cleverly's first title defense scheduled for last Saturday night against Tony Bellew was canceled because Bellew failed the British Board of Control's checkweight system. For all championship matches in the U.K., fighters are weighed three days before the fight and if they are more than 3% over their contracted championship weight, the fight is off. The idea of this is to prevent fighters from crash weight loss the night before. (thanks to Will Cooling)
--Kaiju Big Battel takes place on 6/3 at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
--Howard Stern today briefly mentioned the article on the number of deaths from the 1991 WrestleMania show. (thanks to Robert Miqueli)
--Jake and Jared Rosholt, both former Oklahoma State All-American wrestlers, have been added to Friday night's Titan Fighting Championship show in Kansas City on HDNet. The late addition came after Rory Markham and Drew McFedries both pulled out of the show. McFedries has an infection and Markham got a film role that would have him leaving the country this week. Jake faces local favorite John Ott, who had a super hot match with Bobby Lashley. Jared (2-0), faces Kirk Grinlinton (2-2). Main event is Jens Pulver vs Brian Davidson (6-3).
--Poll on Tough Enough from Monday
Excellent 35.9%
Good 48.0%
Average 7.5%
Fair 4.3%
Poor 4.3%
19.9% of those responding didn't see the show
--Best of these on interviews
Bobby Heenan 52.0%
Steve Austin 48.0%
--Who should win Tough Enough?
Luke 44.1%
Jeremiah 36.0%
Andy 19.8%
--Poll on Raw
Excellent 7.8%
Good 31.5%
Average 24.8%
Fair 13.5%
Poor 22.4%
10.0% of those responding didn't see the show
--Two others brothers, Danillo (13-3) and Yuri Villefort, both debut in Strikeforce on the 6/24 show in Kent, WA. Danillo faces Antwain Britt in a middleweight bout, while Yuri (6-0) faces Travis Bush (5-2-1). Danillo's fight will air on Showtime. Yuri's is not scheduled on Showtime.
--A note on this week's issue. At the Chael Sonnen hearing, when he was talking about getting paid for an interview, it was not for Inside MMA on HDNet. The belief is that it was for a different television interview. At the hearing there was a quote regarding Sonnen TV interviews saying that they are entertainment and that he charges for them. Inside MMA does not pay for interviews.
--Kyle Matthews vs. Ace Rockwell is the first second round match in the NWA North American title tournament. It takes place on the 5/21 NWA Anarchy show in Cornelia, GA.
--Dory Funk's BANG on 5/28 in Ocala, FL at the Funking Conservatory Sound Stage is headlined by Dory Funk Jr. & Jose Salinas vs. Fuschicho Masuku & Arachnaman
--Adam Cole vs. Ryan McBride headlines Acid Fest II, a fund raiser to pay the funeral bills of the late Trent Acid, which takes place on 7/10 at The Arena in Philadelphia.
--SWA on Saturday night in Loris, SC at the Kingston Business and Education Center.
--World Championship Fighting on 6/18 in Wilmington, MA at the Aleppo Shriners Auditorium headlined by Dan Lauzon, a former UFC and Affliction fighter, facing Noah Weisman for their lightweight title.
--Classic Championship Wrestling announced a 6/4 show in Rutherford, PA at the Youth Center.
--Former WCW wrestler Rob "Stro" Kellum will be at the Pittsburgh Horror Film Festival on 6/3 and 6/4 at the Monroeville Expo Mart.
--IWC on 5/27 in Elizabeth, PA at the Court Time Sports Center features John McChesney vs. Shiima Xion vs. Super Hentai for the IWC title and Jason Gory & Facade vs. Jimmy Vegas & Dennis Gregory for the tag titles. Adam Cole, Ricky Reyes and Michael Elgin are also on the how. The 10th annual Super Indy tournament will be on 6/18 in the same building.
--CHIKARA on 6/26 in Lakewood, OH at St. Gregory's Byzantine Hall with The Colony & Mike Quackenbush vs. FIST & Vin Gerard and Brodie Lee vs. Eddie Kingston in the 12 Large tournament.
--CZW on 6/11 at the Arena in Philadelphia with Philly's Most Wanted defending the tag titles against Azrieal & Bandido
--Wrestle Jam 7 on 7/16 in Hamden CT at the Elks Lodge headlined by Amazing Red vs. Gran Akuma vs. Frankie Arion and Bobby Fish vs. Tommaso Ciampa.
