By Dave Meltzer |
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We're looking for your thoughts on tonight's Elimination Chamber show as well as Wednesday night's UFC on Fuel, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to
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.
We're also looking for reports on all three TNA house shows this weekend, which were Friday night in Huntington, WV, Saturday night in Beckley, WV, and tonight in Glenville, WV.
The Elimination Chamber PPV is tonight from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Here's the lineup with some thoughts:
- John Cena vs. Kane in a loser leaves via ambulance match
- C.M. Punk vs. The Miz vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth in a WWE Championship Chamber match
- Daniel Bryan vs. Great Khali vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Wade Barrett vs. Big Show vs. Santino Marella in a WWE World title Chamber match
- Beth Phoenix vs. Tamina Snuka for the WWE Divas title
They will probably add one, if not two more matches to the show. John Laurinaitis has promised a major announcement that will be a game changer, while Christian has teased being there. As far as the matches go, the Elimination Chamber shows are historically very good as with six people, it's hard to have a bad match, although the Smackdown one is really lacking in star power.
The Divas match will be notable because Snuka has been limited to short matches of late to do her Jimmy Snuka spots but we haven't seen her work even a 5:00 singles match. She's clearly a natural as far as the way she moves in the ring, but is pretty inexperienced and working 1:00 tag matches on TV doesn't give you a lot of experience.
It will also be interesting to see Cena vs. Kane as far as heat goes. One would think there will be a Zack Ryder influence in the match in some form. In the Chamber matches, one would expect at least one of the titles to change.
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering the Elimination Chamber show as well as the rest of the weekend news with Wrestling Observer radio tonight. We'll also be taking questions on pro wrestling and MMA that can be sent to
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.
Raw will be live Monday in Minneapolis. Smackdown, which will include stars from Raw, will also be live on Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Syfy, The Score and in the U.K. on Sky.
This Week's Observer: Nick Diaz, Inside The Elimination Chamber
The saga of Nick Diaz, his future, and a look at his track record, as well as coverage of Vince Russo being out of TNA, the new IWGP champion, coverage of the TNA and New Japan PPVs, and the latest on Rock, Cena and the road to WrestleMania leads off this week's issue of the Wrestling Observer.
The new issue is up on the web site right now, as is a back issue from 1994.
We look at the plight of Diaz, what his pot use has cost him so far in his career, notes on his failed test, when it was administered, and what the test showed. We look at the idea of pot testing, what is next for Diaz as far as protocol, possible suspensions, prior athletes in Nevada who have tested positive twice for pot, as well as how this affects Carlos Condit.
We've got more on PPV buys for Diaz vs. Condit, why Condit was agreeable to the rematch and what happens next. We also look at how Georges St. Pierre fits into this story. We look at UFC disciplinary problems of the past, the background of how Diaz's UFC career has gone to date, as well as a blow by blow of Diaz's track record from 2006 to the present. We also look at other major stars who have tested positive twice.
We've also got the background of what happened to Vince Russo, how it changes TNA, Russo's background with the company dating back to 2002 and why he left.
We also look at the 2013 WrestleMania and early plans, more Rock television appearances, Elimination Chamber updates and how the replacement for Randy Orton went down as well as a look at the Orton injury.
We've got more on Rock's latest movie, as well as his next movie and notes on his movie career. We've got more on Shawn Michaels and Undertaker appearances on Raw, a major internal shakeup in WWE including one of the highest-ranked executives with the company being let go this pats week. We also look at how his link with WWE is being talked about in Rick Santorum's presidential campaign.
We look at the biggest WWE merchandise sellers, why some WWE stars were not booked to Abu Dhabi this past week, more on WWE's commitment to market a certain demographic based on their perception of the future of the business, and why the dates of WWE's return to Japan may not be the best.
We've also got more on Steve Austin's next movie, more on Legends House, Bury the Miz week in WWE, the next two live Smackdown on Syfy, John Cena and his wheels, a new DVD being released that will air classic WCW matches, and Linda McMahon's campaign.
We also have more on an MMA fighter copying a WWE star's finishing move, the new R-Truth character as well as WWE business notes from the past week and house show highlights from both the Abu Dhabi tour and the California tour.
About The Observer
The Wrestling Observer ranges from 25,000 to 40,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sites and has the most complete look at the business as a whole anywhere. 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 industry as well as the MMA industry, from bookers, to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest current names, both on camera, and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 countries subscribe.
Many have subscribed as long as 20 years or more straight. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world and an accuracy from having the most inside sources that can't be found on the web. Everyone from Wall Street to the major offices to the TV networks in 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 send your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to
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or you can order by faxing that information to 408-244-3402. You can also subscribe via paypal at www.paypal.com and using the
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address or 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 ratings for all the national shows for the past week. We also have how every segment on Raw and Impact did as far as gaining and losing viewers, as well as who did what in the key segments and who appeals to what.
We also have our regular weekly features with results of all the major arena events around the world, as well as all the major TV show reviews.
More On This Week's Observer: New Japan & TNA PPVs, WWE news and results, Jesse Sorensen updates, Mike Bernardo retrospective
We also look at Sunday's New Japan PPV from Osaka, the three title changes, background of new IWGP champion Kazuchika Okada, thoughts on the show, on Hiroshi Tanahashi's title reign and whether changing the title was a mistake or not.
We also have full coverage of Against All Odds, including the Jesse Sorensen injury and a health update, more on Taz not being on the show and commentary, the double-edge sword of Orlando and why they don't do more PPV shows outside the Impact Zone, as well as the booking, match-by-match coverage, poll results and star ratings for the show.
We also have a look at the career of Mike Bernardo, one of the biggest stars of the glory days of K-1, where he fit in, his feud with Peter Aerts and why he was one of the most famous and popular foreign athletes in Japan of the 90s and why his career ended the way it did.
We also have a look at how one cable company is looking at changing the way they offer the product, and the very significant affect this will have on both MMA and pro wrestling is more companies in an attempt to keep from losing customers, follow in this direction.
We also have ratings for all the national shows for the past week. We also have how every segment on Raw and Impact did as far as gaining and losing viewers, as well as who did what in the key segments and who appeals to what.
We also have our regular weekly features with results of all the major arena events around the world, as well as all the major TV show reviews.
Also in this week's issue:
--A Hall of Famer gets financial backing and is trying to raid a major promotion to get talent
--CMLL's first major show of the year, the main event and angles building it
--Hall of Famer captures world title
--One of the best wrestlers in the world and his start date with CMLL
--Incredible partners tag team tournament
--A look at AAA's booking with the different factions
--Notes on Jeff Jarrett's return to AAA
--Notes on new stars AAA is grooming
--Update on AAA's first major show of the year, the Rey de Reyes show
--Dragon Gate USA offers bargain priced PPV show
--Next major Dragon Gate match in Japan
--Top two matches for the next NOAH big show
--Kensuke Office name change and first show under the new name
--Retirement of Japanese wrestler
--New factions and a heel turn in NOAH
--Interpromotional title match
--More notes on the folding of a promotion that was headed by a former WWE and ECW star
--Zero-One 11th anniversary main event
--Two Hall of Famers meet in March for the first time ever
--More on what may be the biggest indie show of the year involving major name U.S. talent
--Update on Batista
--Ultimate Warrior appears at a pro wrestling show for the first time in years
--A name to look out for as a potential pro wrestler or MMA fighter
--How the JBL character came to be
--One of biggest arenas in the country books a pro wrestling event next month, not for WWE or TNA
--Biography on one of the early world champions who set a longtime Madison Square Garden record gate
--Tribute to wrestler who passed away draws a number of former stars
--New markets that will be getting ROH TV
--New ROH big show notes
--Thoughts on recent ROH television
--Injured ROH star returns
--Real TNA numbers for England
--Hulk Hogan talks TNA and what is has, what it lacks and the mentality of the wrestlers
--Notes on the reaction to New York Giants star Brendan Jacobs and the two weeks worth of angles he shot
--How the Jacobs deal went down
--Update on Ring Ka King television and ratings
--TNA agent in a movie that gets released next week
--Sting talks about doing WrestleMania
--Daughter of longtime wrestling name wants to get into TNA's Knockouts division
--TNA house show notes
--TNA television for the next few weeks
--Notes on the TNA Victory Road PPV and Lockdown
--Gate numbers for Diaz vs. Condit
--Lorenzo Fertitta talks a number of big UFC fights over the next few months
--Notes on Ultimate Fighter Brazil and airing in the U.S.
--Final rating for UFC on FOX
--Why there is a four-hour PPV coming up
--Gina Carano's second leading role
--Notes on UFC's return to Japan
--Full details on the next UFC special on FOX as well as the competition that night
--More on Alistair Overeem's legal issues with Golden Glory and how much they are now asking for after the Lesnar fight
--ESPN magazine covers UFC when talking about greatest feuds in sports
--Top UFC star hinting retirement
--Rules in UFC on three round vs. five round main events
--Overeem joins new camp
--Fights added and fights that have fallen apart in the last week
--Details on the next season of Ultimate Fighter and the Faber vs. Cruz plans
--Something people may not have thought about regarding airing Ultimate Fighter live every Friday night
--One of the best athletes in sports contacts Dana White for marketing ideas
--Lots of title fights announced for Bellator's new season
--Reports regarding the future of Bellator's leading star
--The Bob Sapp indie pro wrestling and MMA update
The Most Popular Observers Of All Time
New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years 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 11 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 America or $5 overseas.
Rates are:
For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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. For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .
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 now 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.
Sunday News & Links
--If you haven't seen the Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger UFC on Fuel show from Wednesday night, it replays at 10 p.m. Eastern tonight on Fuel.
--Greg Jackson told Jon Jones yesterday that he would be in his corner for their UFC 4/21 match with Rashad Evans. Previously, Jackson had said that he would help train Jones, but he would not corner him against Rashad Evans.
--Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was No. 4 this weekend at the box office with a $20.9 million take, which was only a 27% drop from the first weekend. That is actually considered awesome, as you expect 45-55% second week drops. Right now, the movie is at $53.2 million domestic and its worldwide number is at $132.4 million.
--ROH announced Lance Storm returning to the promotion for a 3/30 match over WrestleMania weekend against Mike Bennett.
--Jason "Mayhem" Miller revealed on Twitter that he will be facing C.B. Dollaway at May 26th's UFC 146 in Las Vegas, NV.
--With far less fanfare, a second All Together Now show took place earlier today in Sendai. The big match was Kenta Kobashi & Keiji Muto teaming up for a second time, beating Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori when Muto pinned Akiyama, so they used the match to help build the Akiyama vs. Muto Triple Crown match on 3/20. They couldn't do the three world champions main event like the first show, since Akiyama was in this match and because when the lineup was announced, Hiroshi Tanahashi was IWGP champion and he no longer is. So it was Takeshi Morishima (GHC champion) & Tanahashi & Suwama beating Seiya Sanada & Tetsuya Naito & Go Shiozaki in the main event.
--There were a couple of edits on U.K. replay shows. For WWE, they edited the botched Randy Orton RKO spot on Big Show, and on the replay of the TNA Against All Odds PPV, they showed Zema Ion going up for the moonsault, but cut away to a crowd shot and didn't show the impact. They also edited all replays off the airing, which was the first airing of the event in the U.K. since they don't get TNA on PPV and it airs the following Wednesday on regular TV (thanks to Ian Hamilton and others)
--Best recent show?
UFC 141 Aldo vs. Mendes 26.5%
WWE Royal Rumble 26.1%
UFC on Fuel Ellenberger vs. Sanchez 19.1%
UFC 143 Diaz vs. Condit 9.6%
TNA Against All Odds 5.7%
UFC on FX Guillard vs. Miller 4.8%
UFC on FOX 4.3%
TNA Genesis 2.2%
Strikeforce Rockhold vs. Jardine 1.7%
--Biggest upcoming Japanese title match?
Jun Akiyama vs. Keiji Muto 68.0%
Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito 17.6%
Takeshi Morishima vs. Takashi Sugiura 14.4%
--Will the May UFC on FOX beat the Smackdown rating from the previous night?
Yes 64.2%
No 35.8%
Pretty sad it used to be comparing to the Raw of the same week and now we're comparing it to the Smackdown of the same week.
Will UFC 144 Edgar vs. Ben Henderson beat the Aldo vs. Mendes buy rate?
Yes 76.0%
No 24.0%
Poll on Smackdown
Excellent 12.5%
Good 54.9%
Average 24.3%
Fair 7.6%
Poor 9.0%
30.0% of those responding didn't see the show
--Here's a TV news report on the promoter who had advertised a number of autograph signings with stars including Ultimate Warrior and Edge, gotten money paid in advance, and then closed up shop, and the police investigating the matter.
--There is a Titans in Toronto fundraising breakfast on 4/15 at the Doubletree by the Hilton at the Toronto Airport with a buffet breakfast at 10:30 a.m. This will be to help raise money for the Amsterdam, NY based Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. Those scheduled to appear are Bruno Sammartino, Rick Martel, Tito Santana, Jimmy Hart, Gene Okerlund, Vader, Shane Douglas, Harry Smith, Road Warrior Animal, Roddy Piper, Tommy Dreamer, J.J. Dillon, Larry Zbyszko, Domenic DeNucci, The Destroyer Dick Beyer, Fit Finlay, Reginald Love, Wolfman Willie Farkus, Sweet Daddy Siki and Bobby Bass. Tickets are $50, with $10 from each ticket going to the Hall of Fame. For more info, contact Greg Oliver at
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.
--In a shocker, Rob Van Dam did an interview backing Nick Diaz.
--Kevin Sullivan & Vampire Warrior (Gangrel) will face Steve Madison & Cassidy Riley at the NWA Ring Warriors show on 3/30 in Fort Lauderdale as part of WrestleMania weekend.
--Chuck Langerman's daily pro wrestling trivia concerns Low Ki. Born Brandon Silvestry, he graduated North Bergen High School in North Bergen, NJ in 1997. He was influenced greatly by their legendary trainer Ira Wolfe. He started training for pro wrestling with Homicide and Jim Kettner, and started in 1998 using the Low Ki name. The name comes from the lyrics of the song "No Diggity" by the American R&B group Blackstreet, featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen.
--Jinsei Shinzaki will be the guest on the NHK Taiga drama show Taira no Kiyomori that airs on 3/25. I think there are cable systems in the U.S. that carry NHK. (thanks to Jose Gonzalez)
--Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling before a sellout 280 fans in East Carondolet, IL: Tony Raze & Max Archer b LMC & Jamie Lyte, Gary Jackson b Bobby D, Big Texan b Purple Passion, Waco b Chase King, Dave Vaughn & Chris Hargas b Alexander Rudolph & Sean Vincent, Hargas pinned Jackson in the finals of a St. Louis style Battle Royal, Ron Powers NC Ricky Cruz. Next show is 3/24 with Powers vs. Cruz in a 2/3 fall match. (thanks to Larry Matysik and Patrick Brandmeyer)
--Kevin Nash has chopped off his hair.
--Kurt Brown and friends look back at MS 1 and the Blue Panther vs. Negro Casas hair vs. hair match in two weeks.
--A few weeks ago, a 20-year-old named Quavondo called into the Suze Orman TV show on CNBC for the "Can I Afford It?" segment. He was calling to ask Suze if he could afford going to pro wrestling, which would cost him $3,500. Orman said that when she was a kid (late 50s and early 60s) living in Chicago, pro wrestling aired in the middle of the night and when her parents went to sleep, she'd wake up, roll the TV into her room and watch wrestling and loved it. Quavondo said his monthly income was $529, his expenses were $97 and had saved $5,827. Orman said she thought it was a good idea because he had so much money saved for being so young, and had passion, and that when he has his first match, she said she wanted to be there. (thanks to Jeff Gagliardo)
--USWO from Friday night in Nashville before 80 fans: Jason Xavier b Saint, Tim Renesto & Hot Rod Biggs b Mike Revick & Josh Prada, Josh Crow b L.T. Falk, Mike Jablonski b Bully Douglas, Wolfie D b Damien Payne, Jocephus b Gary Valiant (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)
--New Era Wrestling from last night in Shelbyville, IN: Joey Owens won three-way over T.J. Kemp and Donny Idol, Damian Cole b Anthony Lee, Kasey Lofton b Darlin Niki, Flash Flanagan b Tom Van Zant-DQ, Shawn Cook b Appollo Starr, Miss Heidi b Camron Star in a women's cage match, Dylan Bostic & Bobby Black b Jon Wall & Troy Van Zant to win tag titles
--Millennium Wrestling Federation on 3/24 in Melrose, MA at Memorial Hall features Low Ki, Fit Finlay, Carlito, Paul Bearer, Al Snow, Bushwhacker Luke Williams, Zema ion, John Cena Sr. and more, as well as Sylck Wagner Brown vs. Tommaso Ciampa.
--Here's my appearance yesterday on Ringtalk.
--ECWA on 3/3 in Newark, DE at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club
--All Pro Wrestling from last night in Hayward, CA: Colt Cabana b Billy Blade to keep the Internet title, Adam Thornstowe b Sheik Khan Abadi, Boyce LeGrand b James Watkins in a street fight, Damian Grundy b Daniel Torch Carnival of Shadows b Mr. Wrestling IV & Dalton Frost & Great Tenchismo, Dos Perfectos b Matt Carlos & Shane West to keep the APW & Vendetta tag team titles, Will Rood b Dave Dutra in a last man standing match, Rik Luxury b Colt Cabana to win the Internet title, Timothy Thatcher b A.J. Kirsch (Tough Enough), Dylan Drake and Jeckels to win the Universal title in a four-way. Cabana vs. Luxury said to be a great match as was the finals of Thatcher vs. Kirsch in the elimination match main event.
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