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Also in this week's issue:

 

--A look at all the major shows coming this week

 

--Major network announces a movie on two pro wrestling Hall of Fames

 

--Title tournaments

 

--TripleMania preview

 

--What Hall of Famer was being talked about for a major show for AAA and why it's not happening

 

--Brodie Lee injury update

 

--Update on the turmoil in All Japan after the stroke suffered by Super Hate

 

--All Japan Sumo Hall preview

 

--A look at foreign teams in Pro Wrestling NOAH jr. tag team tournament

 

--Antonio Inoki running major show head-to-head with biggest show of the year

 

--Two women in a loser must expose their breasts match, what happened

 

--40th anniversary of the Japanese debut of one of wrestling all-time legends show announced for October and the legends on the card

 

--A look at not just Kurt Angle, but three other former world champion wrestlers who this week made it clear they are going for the 2012 Olympics

 

--Dick Togo's career winding down

 

--A look at the career of Duncan McTavish

 

--Danny Davis out of retirement for one match

 

--Former WWE star makes headlines in Las Vegas this past week in a whatever happened to

 

--ROH talent updates including contract issues

 

--Former WWE star set to debut in ROH

 

--New television pilot being shot

 

--Mick Foley talks leaving TNA

 

--More on Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior

 

--Producer of Hogan Knows Best talks family

 

--Hogan says who he'd like to wrestle in a retirement match

 

-- Hogan on who he thinks can be the guy to carry TNA in the future

 

--Eric Bischoff rips on all kinds of people

 

--Newcomers to TNA

 

--TNA's first baseball stadium shows of the summer coverage

 

--Background of Crimson

 

--Why Austin Aries came to TNA

 

--What will be on TNA TV over the next several weeks

 

--Update on attempts to get MMA legalized in New York

 

--What blow may have killed the passing of the bill at the last minute

 

--Popularity of MMA in New York

 

--New weight class to be added to UFC

 

--Notes on Nick Diaz vacating Strikeforce title

 

--What message this sends

 

--Future of UFC champion vs. Strikeforce champion fights

 

--Future of Strikeforce guys appearing on UFC shows

 

--Lots of new UFC and Strikeforce matches

 

--Late notes on Dallas show

 

--Why one fighter in the Grand Prix tournament has so much of an effect on the timing and future of the tournament

 

--This next season's Ultimate Fighter looked at

 

--New UFC grudge match and why fight will almost surely not happen

 

--Brother of UFC star entering MMA

 

--Update on UFC Milwaukee debut

 

--Yet another MMA show added to the national TV schedule next month

 

--Former NCAA champion announces going pro

 

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--Josh Barnett did the Dusty Rhodes "Hard times" interview, talking about his suspension and things like that but using pretty much the Dusty promo today, practically word-for-word when promoting his match with Brett Rogers at Saturday's Strikeforce show at today's open workouts.

 

--Want to make mention that I just got the remake of the 1995 Lou Thesz autobiography "Hooker" with updates.  This is one of the best wrestling books ever written because Thesz was in so many places and involved in so many things first-hand, plus the new version goes through a lot of historical updates, time line corrections and such.  It's available at http://www.crowbarpress.com and I'd highly recommend it.

 

--Also a note if you haven't checked it out yet that we did an interview with Dave Bautista on the site yesterday which turned out excellent.  Also, Bautista's Gracie Fighter Gym will have its grand opening on Saturday from 4-8 p.m. in Tampa on North Dale Mabry Highway.  Batista and Cesar Gracie, who are partners in the gym, will both be there signing autographs.

 

--Dana White and several fighters including Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira were in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for a press conference and for the ticket on-sale for the 8/27 show in Rio at the HSBC Arena, which holds nearly 17,000 fans for the show headlined by Silva vs. Yushin Okami.  They are pricing tickets from $163 to $1,000 for the first UFC show in Brazil in more than a decade.  White said this would be the start of regular shows in Brazil.

 

--A Smackdown taping has been announced for 11/29 in Charlotte at the Time Warner Cable Arena. (thanks to Devin Cutting)  

 

--Not sure what this means, because sometimes the hardest tickets to sell are the most expensive ones for MMA, but as of Noon today you could still get second row for the Strikeforce show in Dallas.  The show has gotten little local publicity due to all the coverage of the Mavericks winning the NBA title.  Herschel Walker (who lives in Dallas) and Josh Barnett have done some press a few weeks back. (thanks to Cory Van Kleeck)

 

--Chris Jericho is raving about seeing a Motley Crue concert in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, hanging around with James Durban of American Idol and talks about it at http://www.sixxsense.com/pages/podcast/?uri=channels%2F444211%2F1375887 (thanks to Jeff Gagliardo)   

 

--Wrestling with Cancer launched a web site at http://fighting-back-ca which is a group of wrestlers looking to raise money and awareness for cancer research. They are doing a show on 8/12 in Ottawa and Tudor Hall.  The group is in memory of Phrank Morin, the 23-year-old independent wrestler who passed away from cancer a few months ago.  They as well as C-4 wrestling tomorrow night in Ottawa and Inter Species Wrestling on 7/23 in Danbury, CT are also involved in fund raising.

 

--Sports Illustrated writer Joe Posnanski wrote a great story comparing LeBron James with Ric Flair (although he got Flair's age wrong, saying he was 66) at http://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/2011/06/case-for-rooting-against-lebron.html

 

--Justin Kendall has an interview with Trevor Murdoch, talking about his farewell to Metro Pro Wrestling tomorrow night and going back to WWE at http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2011/06/trevor_murdoch_metro_pro_wrestling.php

 

--Jim Ross is home recovering from abdominal surgery yesterday.  He needed 11 staples, was sent home, but started bleeding and had to go back today.  He wrote that he was sore but okay.

 

--For those looking to bet on fights this weekend based on what Randy Couture says, here's got two videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciXuyJhiT4&feature=channel_video_title and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjXTnj-91q8&feature=channel_video_title

 

--There is some irony about how Vancouver was trying to hit up UFC for extra money for additional police costs for fear of rioting and problems because of the fan base they were supposedly going to bring to town, with the riots that took place yesterday. 

 

--Jakks Pacific was awarded the Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association Best Sports/Sports-Themed Entertainment Licensee of the Year award for excellence at the awards last night in La Vegas for its UFC line.

 

--Strikeforce weigh-ins will be covered live starting at 6 p.m. on HDNet with Herschel Walker, Guy Mezger, Kenny Rice, Bas Rutten and Ron Kruck.

--WWE and Eurosport have renewed a television deal for another two years, for the TV shows This Week in WWE and WWE Vintage Collection which will be airing starting at 9 p.m. CET.  This Week in WWE is a Eurosport exclusive rundown show.

 

--The Carroll County Times talks to home towner Alex Riley, talking about his background as a former linebacker at Boston College, building to his match on Sunday vs. Miz in Washington, DC.  Riley grew up in nearby Fairfax, VA as the son of Kevin Kiley Sr., a well known sports broadcaster.  Story is at http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/entertainment/

 

--Who do you expect to win in the Overeem vs. Werdum fight?

Overeem 80.3%

Werdum 19.7%

 

--Who do you expect to win in Barnett vs. Rogers?

Barnett 83.3%

Rogers 16.7%

 

Which of these people would you have most liked to see do MMA in their prime?

Bruce Lee 25.6%

Kurt Angle 23.8%

Danny Hodge 13.8%

Mike Tyson 9.7%

Andre the Giant 8.8%

Alexander Karelin 5.0%

Rickson Gracie 3.9%

Muhammad Ali 3.0%

Karl Gotch 2.9%

Billy Robinson 2.3%

Cael Sanderson 0.9%

Dan Gable 0.4%

 

--What was the biggest news story in February

Rock returns to WWE 66.6%

UFC sells 52,000 tickets immediately in Toronto 10.6%

Antonio Silva beats Fedor 6.9%

WWE signs Mistico 6.9%

Rashad Evans injured, Jon Jones gets title shot 6.0%

Michael Bisping hits Jorge Rivera with an illegal knee and spits in his corner after Rivera and his team insult him on videos 1.3%

Chris Jericho autobiography released 1.0%

Anderson Silva beats Vitor Belfort 0.6%

 

--R-Truth talks about Sunday's match with John Cena at http://bit.ly/jiAyLo

 

--Joe Laurinaitis interview at http://www.wdfn.com/pages/wrestling/.html with WDFN radio in Detroit.

 

--Alex Marvez interviews Bill DeMott and promotes his new autobiography that just came out at http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/62312  DeMott said he didn't think the people on the show this season were as hungry for success in wrestling as the crew he coached in earlier years but he did praise Andy Leavine.

 

--A preview of The Voice vs. Badr Hari at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjBjK1Vr8Ls  The entire episode will air on 6/24.  

 

--An interview with Jesse Ventura is at http://www.gerweck.net/2011/06/14/audio-my-interview-with-jesse-the-body-ventura/

 

--Monday night CMLL in Puebla:  Fuerza Chicana & King Jaguar b Asturiano & Centella de Oro, Dr. X & Hooligan & Loco Max b Lestat & Stigma & Tigre Rojo Jr., Ayumi Kurihara & Luna Magica & Marcela b Amapola & Princesa Sugei & Mima Shimoda, Ephesto & Misterioso Jr. & Virus b Metal Blanco & Palacio Negro & Valiente, Brazo de Plata & Maximo & Rush b Atlantis & Shinsuke Nakamura & Ultimo Guerrero

 

--Tuesday night CMLL in Guadalajara:  Virgo b Leo, Camaleon & Trueno b Angel del Mal & Malefico, Guerrero Bala Jr. & Hombre Bala Jr. & Starman b Arkangel de la Muerte & Escandalo & Rafaga, Amapola b Lluvia to keep CMLL women's title, La Mascara & Toscano b Mr. Aguila & Volador Jr. (thanks to Kris Zellner)

 

--The night before TripleMania, tomorrow night in Tijuana, has Mesias & La Parka vs. Cibernetico & L.A. Park at the Auditorio (thanks to Kris Zellner)   

 

--BANG on 6/25 in Ocala, FL at the BANG TV Sound Sage has Dory Funk Jr. wrestling and Bert Prentice will be brought as in a guest referee for a women's tag team match.

 

--Awesome Wrestling Entertainment will be announcing its main event for the 10/15 show in Fisherville, VA on Monday.  Names already announced for the show are Terry Funk, Diamond Dallas Page, Tully Blanchard, Baby Doll, Bobby Eaton, C.W. Anderson, Eugene, Jim Duggan and Fit Finlay.

 

--Fight Night Entertainment on 7/9 in Bellevue, WA at the Meydenbauer Convention Center will have MMA fights and live music headlined by Len Bentley (former TUF fighter who was the guy who had problems with Brock Lesnar this past season) vs. Rob Yundt.  There will be live music by Seattle group Island Trybe.  The show will also air as an iPPV through GoFightLive.tv

 

--A story on former WWF announcer Todd Pettingill, who will be part of a new Fox TV show "Dish Nation" starting next month is at http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/06/16/2011-06-16_scott_todd_to_dish_it_out.html  The story has a sentence about Pettingill's days with WWF. 

 

--GXW on Saturday in Hopewell, VA and they also have a Meet and Greet before the show at Noon at Bojangles