This weekend we’ll be doing polls for UFC 192, WWE in Madison Square Garden, TNA Bound for Glory and AAA Heroes Inmortales, so a huge weekend of big events.
Smackdown tonight on Syfy
Bella Twins & Alicia Fox vs. Sasha Banks & Naomi & Tamina
Kevin Owens vs. Ryback for IC title
Neville & Lucha Dragons vs. Stardust & The Ascension
Dudleys & Demon Kane vs. Seth Rollins & New Day
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
If you saw the JBL interview with Eric Bischoff, or even if you didn’t, we have what is already one of the most talked about and praised issues of the Wrestling Observer this year up on the site right now. The main theme is fact vs. fiction, covering both the WWE historical view of the Monday Night Wars and the Eric Bischoff version, going through every point and cutting through things like outright B.S., faulty memories and interesting truths.
The new double issue also covers SummerSlam in Brooklyn, the real story behind the UFC announcing a show in Madison Square Garden, Jon Jones’ legal punishment and future, coverage of both of the New Japan PPV shows this past week as well as a look at their direction as they build toward King of Pro Wrestling and later, the Tokyo Dome show, UFC in Japan and a look at that business, the retirement of Rich Franklin, a Hall of Famer running for Mayor, the retirement show of Genichiro Tenryu, more concerning drug testing questions, SummerSlam PPV numbers and what we can learn from them, as well as the death of German legend Axel Dieter Sr.
The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter: October 6, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Analysis of Bischoff Network interview, Jones plea and tons more.
You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date [email protected]” target=”_blank”>[email protected]
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For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to [email protected] For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.
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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.
We look at Eric Bischoff and his role, both good and bad, in what the pro wrestling industry has turned into. We look at the WCW boom, the creation of Nitro, the early war, the NWO era, the peak and the fall of WCW.
We look at the mistakes made, the fall of WCW, the emergence of Bill Goldberg, the real origination of the streak idea, We look at the rapid decline of the company and why. We look at how and when things went down, as well as why, how history shows the merger excuse doesn’t hold water, the complete b.s. of the WWE’s Monday Night War narrative. We look at the dying days of WCW and Eric Bischoff’s plan he never got a chance to implement.
We look at Eric Bischoff’s background, how he got into wrestling, his first meeting with Verne Gagne, his WWF tryout as an announcer, his connection with Japan, the unique case of Sonny Onoo, and the death of the AWA.
We look at the sale of Georgia Championship Wrestling, Vince McMahon’s one-year run on TBS and problems with Ted Turner, where Bill Watts fit into the scene then, and the scene prior to the launch of Nitro.
We look at WCW before Bischoff got power, what really happened with Jim Ross and WCW, , moves by Bill Watts, . We look at the first Nitro, the real story behind Lex Luger, what Lex Luger really got, what really happened in WCW with HHH and Mick Foley, Foley getting into WWF, the story behind Bischoff’s firing of Steve Austin, the cruiserweight division and its double-edge sword, what was the point of no return, the Montreal screw job and why so many, even in wrestling, missed key points in that story, Mike Tyson at WrestleMania, Kevin Nash as a booker, DX invades Nitro and the Bischoff vs. McMahon challenge to a fist fight and the story behind the PPV that went 30 minutes over.
In the UFC Madison Square Garden announcement, we look at the thought process behind the strategy.
FOR A FULL WRESTLING OBSERVER PREVIEW CLICK HERE
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THURSDAY’S NEWS UPDATE
Updated lineup for Saturday’s show at Madison Square Garden on the WWE Network
Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show
John Cena vs. Seth Rollins in a cage match
New Day vs. Dudleys for tag titles
Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho for IC title
Randy Orton vs. Sheamus
Dolph Ziggler vs. Rusev
TNA Bound for Glory on Sunday from Concord, NC
EC 3 vs. Matt Hardy vs. Drew Galloway for the TNA title with Jeff Hardy as ref
Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards vs. Trevor Lee & Brian Meyers for the TNA tag tilters
Abyss, Aiden O’Shea, Chris Melendez, Jesse Godderz, Ken Anderson, Mahabili Shera, Tyrus, Eli Drake and Robbie E in a Gauntlet for a title shot
Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong for Knockouts title
Tigre Uno puts up X title in an Ultimate X match
Bobby Roode vs. Bobby Lashley for King of the Mountain title
Kurt Angle vs Eric Young
Ric Flair is booked on the November U.K. tour as a guest General Manager on one of the tours. Bayley is also booked on that tour.
Dixie Carter said she has a major announcement on Monday at Noon. Given that she will make the announcement with Mahabili Shera, it sounds like it’ll be the announcement of the TV tapings in India. Talent has been told already about the one week tour.
Tomasso Ciampa last night was the modern Rick Rude. Due to taping, he ended up being on both TNA and NXT last night.
For those attending WrestleMania, there will be a bus from the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas to AT&T Stadium which will leave at 4 p.m. and leave the stadium at 10:30 p.m. for $35. There are 50 seats available at http://store.wrestling-online.com
Ronda Rousey will be on the Tonight Show on 10/6 and with Kelly & Michael on 10/12 promoting her fight with Holly Holm.
WWE will be promoting breast cancer awareness all month starting with Raw on Monday night.
Dwayne Johnson signed a deal with Ford for TV commercials that will start on 10/12. It’s a multi-year contract.
For what it’s worth, neither John Cena nor Brock Lesnar are being advertised for Raw on 10/26 in San Diego Cena may have project going on outside of wrestling because he’s been taken off advertising on a lot of shows in November.
Here’s the UFC TV schedule for the week:
There is a Karyn Bryant interview with Forrest Griffin tonight at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on FS 1.
Weigh-ins are tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. on FS 1 with Ariel Helwani, Brian Stann, Dominick Cruz and Megan Olivi. The Ronda Rousey vs. Cat Zingano fight airs tomorrow ninth at 8 p.m. on FS 1.
FS 1 will have the pre-fight show on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. leading to the prelims at 8 p.m. The post-fight show airs at 1 a.m.
Jake Roberts and Scott Hall were live in studio this morning with Preston & Steve at WMMR in Philadelphia. “The Resurrection of Jake Roberts” movie plays at the Ritz Five Theater there with a Q&A after the movie tonight with Roberts, Hall and DDP. The interview was said to be really good.
New Evolution Wrestling on 10/31 in Elizabeth City, NC at the National Guard Armory.
Blue Demon Promotions on 10/24 in El Paso features Blue Demon Jr. & Cassandro vs. Pakal & Peluchin Maldad.
Rocker Boy Promotions on 10/8 in Laredo at the Coliseum has Laredo Kid & Shocker vs. Hernandez & Pirata Morgan.
There is another show on 10/24 in El Paso at the Southwest University Event Center with Volador Jr. & Mr. Aguila vs. La Sombra & Rush.
New England Championship Wrestling on 10/10 in Hampstead, NH at the Phan Zone.
There will be a Shine iPPV tomorrow night with Santana Garrett vs. Evie and Allysin Kay vs. Saraya Knight anything goes, plus Jessicka Havok vs. Kay Lee Ray, Madison Eagles vs. Su Yung, Leah Von Dutch vs. Malia Hosaka and more.
Maria Kanellis, Matt Taven and Michael Bennett appear on 10/16 in Toronto at the Franklin Horner Community Center.
Bullet Brawl tomorrow night in Barnesville, GA features Tama Tonga & Micah from TNA, who are brothers, teaming up for only the second time, plus Amber Gallows appears in a lumberjack strap match against manager Al Getz, plus former WCW star Glacier Ray Lloyd.
Former Pancrase lightweight champion Isao Kobayashi debuts with Bellator on 10/23 at the Mohegan Sun Casino, acing Goiti Yamauchi in the prelims on Spike.com
Former NCAA champion Bubba Jenkins faces Jordan Parsons on the 11/20 Bellator show in Thackerville, OK, which is headlined by Melvin Manhoef vs. Hisako Kato.
Bushwhacker Luke Williams and Honky Tonk Man appear on 10/10 for the IWF at the IWF Centre in Nutley, NJ.
Undertaker, Seth Rollins and Charlotte will be at Wizard World on 10/24 in Tulsa.
Liberty All-Star Wrestling on 11/14 in Phoenixville, PA at the Technical College High School Pickering Campus. Tony Stetson from the 80s and 90s will appear on the show.
Lucha Toronto on 10/18 at Liveact.ca in Whitby, ONT featuring Too Cold Scorpio.
Santana Garrett can be booked at [email protected] Her old e-mail of [email protected] is no longer being used.
Great North Wrestling on 11/17 in Rockland, ONT at the Jean Marc Lalonde Arena featuring Bushwhacker Luke and Hannibal.
Combat Zone Wrestling on 10/10 at StreamCZW.com from Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ the Danny Havoc & Devon Moore & Lucky & Conor Claxton vs. Dave & Jake Crist & Eric Ryan & Alex Colon, plus Matt Tremont vs. Blk Jeez.
A Paul Boesch interview with Ric Flair has been added to NWAClassics.com.
Right Coast Pro on 10/10 at the Life Community Church in Newark, DE.
The French pro wrestling magazine “Puissance Catch,” folded this month. It was launched in 2008 when there was a WWE inspired wrestling boom in that country and was the last survivor of a number of magazines that had gotten started during that period. It lasted longer than most because is was run by real fans. (thanks to Tony Bouin)
Brian Fritz talks to Ethan Carter III
A story on Bill Behrens, who books a lot of the top indie talent
Nick Gage talks from jail
A look back 30 years ago this week as Jerry Lawler vs. Ric Flair set the all-time Memphis live gate record
Roman Reigns talks Dean Ambrose, the 49ers and other subjects (thanks to Lou Pickney)
Story about a World Class Championship Wrestling display
A story comparing Vince McMahon and Donald Trump
A scary power bomb spot gone wrong
The Huffington Post looks at women’s wrestling in Toronto
ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY INTERNATIONAL (thanks to Graeme Cameron)
1981 – Perro Aguayo beat Fishman in Los Angeles to win the WWF light heavyweight title
1991 – Giant Haystacks beat Kendo Nagasaki in Croydon to win the CWA heavyweight title
1996 – Tarzan Goto & Mr. Gannosuke beat Cactus Jack & Tracy Smothers to win the IWA tag team titles
2010 – Fabi Apache & Pimpinela Escarlata beat Alex Koslov & Christina Von Eerie in Ciudad Madero to win the AAA mixed tag team titles