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  • TNA Impact July 1 TV Results and Recap – EC3 vs. Kurt Angle World Title Match

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    Last week was an eventful one for TNA Wrestling. Jeff Jarrett returned on the live-to-tape edition of the show, Tigre Uno won the X Title, EC3 beat Lashley, The Dirty Heels tied up the tag title series via cheating, and Vader faced Bram. The company also had what could be its final PPV event ever in Slammiversary, which saw Jarrett win the newly-created King of the Mountain title. It’s the former Legends/Global/World Television Title and Josh wondered just what this meant. If history is any indicator, it will be quickly abandoned and/or won by Devon. The PPV wasn’t all that good, but did feature the final appearances (for now) of James Storm, Magnus, and Austin Aries. Tonight, we get the Angle vs. EC3 match that has been built up for a good portion of the year, and EC3’s campaign trail ends tonight.

    The show begins with a Kurt Angle hype video while we see EC3 beat every TNA hall of famer to this point, including Kurt Angle himself. Josh runs the card down and we’ll get the first part of a Mike Tenay sit-down interview with Jeff Jarrett. Josh announces that the BDC vs. The Rising will force the losing team to disband, which wasn’t announced before. It’s also an elimination match. Hernandez’s return is shown. The Rising comes down with Drew in black while his partners are in yellow and black.

    Match One – BDC vs. The Rising – Losing Team Disbands

    Drew and MVP start things off with punches. Drew wins this war and MVP goes to his corner and tags in Low-Ki. Ki charges away and gets some nasty corner chops before landing some on Ki too. Mica comes in and gets a big legdrop for 2. King comes in and talks smack for a bit. He gets 2 off a snap suplex and tags MVP in. Josh says that if the BDC loses, he’ll just make a new group called something else. Well, that’s certainly a new way to kill a stipulation. King and Ki come in and double-team Mica to take him out. Josh points out that it’s now 2-on-4, so The Rising agreed to this match with high stakes despite having the odds greatly stacked against them. What morons. An EC3 hype video airs made by DA.

    Ki and MVP attack Drew, who eats a back suplex from Ki for 2. Ki locks on an abdominal stretch and we get a Dixie Carter Twitter plug. Drew escapes and gets a backdrop. Eli gets some punches in on MVP, who tags in and also eats a flying lariat. He hits a smooth pop-up superplex while Drew takes out Hernandez. Eli dives out and says he can’t go – he heard a pop. The BDC is overjoyed by this and Drew goes in to the battle and manages to come off like a badass in the process.

    Hernandez and Drew exchange slaps and chops in the corner. Hernandez tags King in, who lands a corner dropkick. Ki misses a kick and hits King, and Drew pins Ki off a schoolboy. King is out from Ki’s kick and gets beaten 2. Ki and Drew brawl on the floor. Hernandez comes back in and eats forearms. Sick kick hits hard, but MVP attacks him. Hernandez gets the Border Toss while MVP comes in to pick the scraps. MVP lands the Play of the Day and tells Drew to stay down. Drew tells him “up yours” and eats a Drive By kick for the loss. Josh says the Rising must disband and then they just “to the back” it for match and interview graphics.

    BDC talks backstage while King says that Ki might’ve separated his shoulder. King and MVP argue for a bit over Hernandez being brought in. Magnus comes out and the show’s video and audio go weird for a few seconds. Magnus tells Storm he’s sorry his parents didn’t love him as a kid, but that the human spirit is the biggest driving force in the world. He introduces Mickie, who looks fantastic after being tossed onto train tracks. Luckily, Magnus got revenge on Storm for this at the PPV. This wasn’t brought up at all. Mickie says that they have real love and then Storm’s theme hits while Mickie is overjoyed and wants him to bring his “coward ass” down there.

    Storm comes down looking like a disco cowboy while Khoya is in a bland white and red shirt that says “I took the pledge”. Storm says if he pushed her harder, she’d be able to hold her son in a wheelchair. Storm says he didn’t want Mickie – he just wanted to manipulate a woman. Mickie mocks him for trying to get followers – maybe he should try paying for some on Twitter. Mickie thanks him for bringing the crazy out of her and promising one more match. She wants him to find “one woman” and she’ll kick her ass. Mickie was awesome here. A graphic for the iron man match is up next. But first, EC3 and Tyrus train a bit backstage with a “Win EC3 Win” shirt on EC3. Josh says that Full Metal Mayhem is still a trending topic on Twitter. Josh says this match came about due to Aries winning at Slammiversary – so nearly 40 minutes into the show, and we know one match result from that show. The Heels sadly don’t attack Davey while he does his goofy pose on the ropes.

    Match Two – The Wolves vs. The Dirty Heels – Iron Man Tag Title Match

    Aries and Davey get a collar and elbow and Davey kicks out quickly from a cradle. Roode tags in for a cheapshot to the ribs. Davey comes back and tags Eddie in. Back and forth babyface tags lead to more arm wringers. Aries comes in for a cradle and gets 2. Roode gets a second rope axehandle to the arm and we get a dueling bearhug/front chancery from Aries and Davey. Davey runs wild with kicks and gets 1. Inverted atomic drop leads to a kick and double stomp to Aries and double leg stretcher to Roode mid-ring. Aries cheapshots Eddie and sets up a brainbuster, but Eddie counters with a suplex. 

    Davey runs wild and gets a dragon screw and a modified Indian deathlock. Wolves attack in the corner. Aries stops a backpack stunner with an eye rake. Heels run wild and get a fake tag to get an edge. Aries destroys the knee with holds and Eddie gets the rope. Eddie gets some chops and eats a boot to the gut from Roode. Roode elbow drops the knee to keep the momentum rolling there. After 10 minutes, we get a clock on-screen with no falls at this point. Josh corrects Christy for saying there were 10 minutes left since only 10 had gone by.

    Eddie gets a double rana to both Heels and tags in Davey. He dropkicks Roode to force a DDT to Aries. Davey t-bones Roode, but Aries comes in for a 2. Roode eats a flying headbutt from Eddie for 2. Everyone’s down at the 14 minute mark, with 16 minutes left in the match. After the break, we have 11:50 left and Aries gets 2 off a cover. Aries gets the axehandle to the floor for 2. Dirty Heels got a powerbomb>missile dropkick combo, but Eddie comes in for a save at 2.9.

    Davey gets a double stomp to Roode as the commentators once again ponder this match either having no falls or it just getting one late in the game. I love this because logically, world-class guys shouldn’t be beaten in an iron man match any faster in this match than any other. Backpack stunner hits for Eddie and only get 2.9 – Roode just barely got his shoulder up in time. Eddie chops away in the corner, so Aries slaps his shoulder. Davey gets a big dropkick for 2.

    Aries prevents the powerbomb>backstabber and they get their own backbreaker>pendulum elbow for 2.  Roode gets a gourbuster setting up an Aries somersault senton and the Last Chancery, but Davey gets a sliding dropkick to break it up. Aries eats a two-man Alarm Clock and a pair of double stomps for a 2.9 thanks to Roode breaking it up. There are five minutes left with a 0-0 fall count. Aries gets a rana and a corner dropkick. Spinebuster hits and sets up a 450 for a 3 count. The Heels get the first win here with 4 minutes remaining. Aries goes for quick pins on the weakened Eddie, but only gets 2. Aries tries to keep them on the floor to run the clock down.

    They tag in and out to keep a fresh man in. This is an excellent strategy and it makes for a compelling match even on a wrestling-heavy night like this where it can be easy to lose focus. This is a far better overall match than Mundo vs. Puma was, and isn’t nearly as gimmick-heavy. Eddie gets some chops and punches while Christy says there are two minutes left, so the Wolves need two wins to get the gold. Aries slugs away in the corner, but he eats a powerbomb>backstabber, so it’s now tied up 1-1.

    Roode hits a belt shot to Eddie, but Eddie kicks out with 30 seconds to go. Roode’s in and goes for the DVD, but Eddie rolls him up and gets the third fall! Roode gets the crossface, but he can’t get the tap – the Wolves regain the titles. This was a stellar match overall, and this was a great tag team title series. While the tag title turmoil has really hurt the tag division in TNA, things like this do remind you of what makes TNA work when it does, which is why it’s sad to see the company in the state it’s in. Josh plugs EC3 vs. Angle tonight. 

    The “athletic, sexy, and powerful” knockouts ad airs, and is completely different than WWE’s old “smart, sexy, and powerful” ads for the divas. Kong comes out to face Brooke and Taryn in a three way for the title. It sure looks odd for the Dollhouse to have this fairly big setup with props and yet no time elapses for the intros. Taryn wrestling in lingerie strangely works for her.

    Match Three – Taryn’s Got a Belt vs. Brooke’s Got a Booty vs. Kong’s Got an Implant Buster

    Josh talks about how the heel is outnumbered here with WWE math. Kong gets tired of missing stomps, so she just grabs Taryn to attack her. Kong charges into Taryn and Brooke X factors Taryn. Brooke and Kong go at it with Taryn on the floor. Kong gets a spinning sleeper to Brooke, but eats a missile dropkick. Taryn gets a clunky shortarm clothesline and rubs Brooke’s face in the mat for 2. Pope says that Josh should have his face rubbed in the mat for basically talking too much smack. Taryn gets a snap suplex. Kong gets punches and a palm strike to Taryn. Chokeslam hits, but the Dolls trip her up to the floor. Brooke elbows away at Taryn mid-ring and spears her down. Dolls prevent a flying elbow from Brooke, who takes a nasty bump on her hip on the apron. Kong goes to splash Taryn, but Jade kicks her back and Taryn cutters her for the win. Taryn has now made history as the longest-reining knockouts champion ever. Does that really mean much with the company going dark for three months? The fire-filled video packages were all for Gail, who has a revamped theme and fire-themed graphics. Jarrett’s interview is next and then it’s title match time.

    Mike meets with Jeff and Karen for their interview. He asks about what this all means for TNA and GFW. Jeff says that coming back was surreal and the win and the buzz says that there’s definitely a future with TNA and GFW. Well, that was it – it took maybe three minutes. EC3 comes out with a big intro, as does Kurt. TNA really does get the big match intro right – this feels like a huge deal with them going backstage for each guy and using expanded themes they never use otherwise.

    Main Event – Kurt Angle vs. EC3 for the TNA World Title

    Mid-ring, we get a tie-up and a dueling EC3/SUCKS chant. EC3 wins out and bows amid a “you can’t wrestle/yes he can” chant. Kurt starts working on the arm, but EC3 gets some punches. Kurt gets an overhead belly to belly and the rolling Germans, but EC3 blocks a third, so Kurt just tosses him to the floor – nice. EC3 elbows out of a German on the floor, but he eats a belly to belly. EC3 gets covered for less than 1. Rolling Germans once again, and EC3 avoids a third and gets a running lariat for less than 1. EC3 gets a chinlock as Josh talks about him having the Carter genes on his side. EC3 lands a belly to back suplex and gets a Stinger splash and a TKO for 2.5. 

    Pope says he can take the moves because he retired Sting. EC3 chops away in the corner, so Kurt just punches him. Kurt misses a shoulder charge and eats a DDT on the apron. That was scary in 2003 and much scarier in 2015. After an ad break, EC3 gets a mid-ring kneeling full nelson. Kurt powers out while Pope talks about the power of Kurt’s neck after working on it to protect it after surgeries. Kurt gets a corner charge boot and a lariat. Kurt goes for the rolling Germans once again and lands them all. Kurt’s readying the Angle slam, but EC3 avoids that and takes more Germans!

    After a trifecta, Kurt gets 2.5. EC3 misses the Stinger splash and eats an Angle slam for 2.5. Kurt gets the ankle lock on, but EC3 rolls Kurt to the floor. Tyrus clotheslines Kurt down on the floor, resulting in a big Pope rant. Josh buries Pope for making a valid point. Kurt ducks out of the headlock driver and gets the ankle lock again. He counters and eats more Germans. Kurt tosses EC3 into Tyrus and gets one more Angle slam for 2.5!

    A “that was 3” chant breaks out. EC3 is in the ankle lock again, but a roll through doesn’t hit the ref. Instead, an overhead belly to belly does with a boot. Tyrus attacks Kurt again. EC3 does the Taker situp and goes for the headlock driver again. It hits and gets 2.9! EC3 is shocked, which puts that move over nicely. Tyrus gets a chair and nudges the ref with it. Brian Hebner kicks Tyrus out, resulting in a yes chant from Pope. EC3 is absolutely terrified now, and Josh is now against Tyrus.

    EC3’s finisher is countered into an ankle lock mid-ring. He grapevines the leg, which has been a deathknell in TNA in 2015. EC3 puts his wristband in his mouth to avoid submitting, but gets near the ropes. Kurt goes for it again, but EC3 kicks away. EC3 gets a cradle out of the Angle slam and wins the title. This was a good finish for doing a rematch – EC3 won reasonably clean by the end there, and EC3’s rise is one thing that TNA has done perfectly since 2013. EC3 closes out the show holding the title above his head. This was a must-watch show with a lot of really fun matches.

    To see every screen taken for the show, just click here.

  • Lucha Underground July 1 TV results and recap: Prince Puma vs. Chavo Guerrero, Alberto El Patron

    By Jeremy Peeples, WrestlingObserver.com

    Last week, Sexy Star and Super Fly had a sloppy and sometimes scary match that Fly won. Aerostar won a medallion in a giant multi-man match, and Mil Muertes demolished Drago to become the number one contender to the Lucha Underground Title. As a result, he’ll receive a title shot at UltimaLucha. This week’s show begins with a recap of Chavo turning his back on Black Lotus and siding with Dario Cueto. The Texano vs. Daivari feud is recapped, followed by Catrina threatening Cueto to ensure that Mil got a shot at the LU title.

    Cueto meets with Chavo in his office and Chavo asks for a request – he wants a title shot for giving him Black Lotus. Cueto makes it a no DQ match so the Crew can get involved and he also wants Konnan banned, so Cueto says if Konnan gets involved, Chavo wins the title. Mexican Dubwiser plays us in while Daivari is in the ring with Big Ryck. Striker puts Texano over as a young man who made history by being the youngest AAA champion ever.

    Daivari vs. Texano

    Texano backdrops Daivari, who hides behind Ryck. Daivari hits him with punches in the corner, while Texano counters with giant overhand chops. Ryck trips Texano and Daivari clips the knee. Daivari attacks the knee and gets 2. Vamp ponders why the Globetrotters aren’t in the NBA Title picture and Striker says that they aren’t in the NBA while Daivari gets a figure four. Texano reverses it, but Daivari attacks him in the corner with knee strikes. Daivari X factors his way out of a powerbomb for 2. Texano ducks a bullrope shot from Ryack and hits a seated powerbomb for the win!

    Puma works out and Konnan tells him that having the deck stacked against Puma won’t hurt him. Chavo isn’t a champion, but Puma is. Catrina teleports in and tells Puma that Muertes will destroy Puma and implies that Konnan will be taken out too. We get a cool Muertes vs. Puma staredown and Konnan tells Puma to avoid letting her get into his head.

    Back in the Temple, Konnan talks to someone about how Mexico needs to pay Chavo back for what he did to Blue Demon Jr and okays an attack since he can’t be there. Hernandez comes out to face Drago, who is a huge babyface now thanks to his return from exile.

    Hernandez vs. Drago

    Vamp loves Drago wearing black. Hernandez tries to overpower him, but he eats some kicks and clubbering on the back. Drago gets a springboard dropkick and a senton before kicking his chest in. Striker talks about Hernandez winning 20 major titles and Vamp wants proof, and Striker can’t offer any. Vamp talks about being KOed by a potato shot from Hernandez in Puerto Rico years ago. Hernandez snapmares him down for a neck vice submission. Train Wreck backbreaker hits for 2. Hernandez gets a one-armed powerslam-positioned gutbuster for 2. Drago comes back with kicks, including corner dropkicks. Hernandez goes up top, but gets stopped and eats a rana for 2.

    Drago low-bridges Hernandez and hits a flip dive. Drago gets a springboard flip diving kick to the floor, which Vamp says proves that potatoes make for a great side with salad. Drago eats a Border Toss on the apron. Hernandez intimidates a “fan” and takes his belt off to whip Drago. Drago gets choked and Hernandez loses via DQ after they talk about Cueto wanting things to get a bit crazier before UltimaLucha. Hernandez says the dumbass fans don’t realize that dragons aren’t real and Drago’s just a man whose ass just got whipped. If anyone has a problem with that, he’ll kick their asses too.

    Chavo shadow boxes backstage and Catrina tells him that a victory means his celebration will be short-lived. No matter what, Mil Muertes will destroy the champion. Chavo disrespects him and Muertes screams. Marty the Moth sniffs Melissa Santos and gets a “creeper” chant. Alberto comes down with the AAA Title and a huge “El Patron” chant. Alberto is in new blue and gold gear that looks slick.

    Marty the Moth vs. Alberto El Patron

    Alberto gets a shove into the corner and kicks away at him too. More kicks and punches land in the corner. Armbar codebreaker hits and the armbar is locked on. Alberto in squash match form is awesome, and the new color scheme looks sharp. A massive “El Patron” chant breaks out while Alberto grabs the mic. Alberto calls out Johnny Mundo and thanks for the wake-up call as it woke up something inside of him. He’s got a sadistic side and that’s what he’ll bring at UltimaLucha. Alberto is fantastic in squash matches and in long-form stuff too. Vamp talks about the main event and loves the anti-Konnan stip.

    Melissa Santos brings us in and Chavo comes down with The Crew. Vamp says that Chavo isn’t riding on his family’s coat tails and could be champion. Vamp asks what’s happened to Bael since he’s been missing for weeks. Striker offers no update on him after his meeting with Matanza. Puma comes down with Konnan. Santos recaps the stipulation involving “Conan” while a fan calls Cueto a madman.

    Lucha Underground Champion Prince Puma vs. Chavo Guerrero

    Mid-ring, they flip around a bit off a collar and elbow tie-up. Chavo gets a side headlock mid-ring, but eats an armdrag and an armbar. Puma flips over Chavo, and The Crew attacks with the kendo stick and a cheapshot. Puma sends the goons into each other, but eats a double stomp/DDT combo. Texano comes down as Konnan’s enforcer and runs wild on the goons. 630 hits and Puma wins. Well, this was the most nothing Lucha Underground Title match ever. Texano says that Mexico’s coming to Chavo, while Striker says that Chavo should be commended for doing whatever he could to “Guerrero” the title.

    The show closes with skyline shots taking us to the locker room. Blue Demon Jr. comes in and says he doesn’t fight those who are already hurt. Chavo talks smack and gets slammed into lockers over and over. Chavo smiles because he apparently got what he wanted.

  • Ups and down of Buddy Landel, Aldo injury, Slice vs. Shamrock work or not, heyday of women’s wrestling; How to order print version of Wrestling Observer and specials

    A story about the life and career of Buddy Landel, plus the Jose Aldo injury, Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock and whether it was or wasn’t real and Cora Combs and the last link to the heyday of U.S. women’s wrestling are the main stories in the June 29 issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

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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 first look at the injury to Jose Aldo Jr. and thoughts on the 7/11 fight with Conor McGregor.  We look at the different options UFC had in this situation.

    We’ve got a major story on the life and career of Buddy Landel.  We look at the circumstances of his death, why Landel never reached the level of success his ability should have gotten him, his life before and after wrestling, and the story that, at the age of 24, changed the direction of his career.

    Landel talked about getting fired from Crockett Promotions at what turned out to be the high point of his career, examine the talk of his being given the world title at the time, as well as his own very candid thoughts about if he had won the title.  We look at what was planned for him, and how his firing changed the entire history of the business because it in a roundabout way led to the creation of the Four Horseman.

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    We also have a lot more about the records set for the fight, as well as future matches that both or either could do going out of this.  We also look at other business notes for the show, as well as Bellator’s next major event in September, and full coverage of the TV event.

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    We’ve also got a story on the life of Cora Combs, the last link to the Billy Wolfe/Mildred Burke glory days of women’s wrestling.  We look at her career, her decision in the promotional split that ended up taking the women’s side of wrestling down, the Moolah years, being in the first woman’s match ever held in New York and the story behind it.  We also look at the last period of her career, as Lady Satan, working against her daughter, as well as look at some of the oldest wrestlers of all-time and the oldest living wrestles..

    We’ve also got full coverage of the weekly UFC show in Germany and the rise of Joanna Jedrzejczyk.  We look at her unique stardom, as well as other coverage of the show.

    We also have notes on how the WWE’s Payback PPV did and where the PPV business currently stands.

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    –More on AAA’s Verano de Escandalo show

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    –Ricochet returns to Japan

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    –More G-1 Climax notes as far as TV goes

    –New Japan heads to Singapore

    –Notes on Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rogers

    –More on Global Force Wrestling

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    –Notes on Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore show

    –Pro wrestling returns after 20 years to one of its most famous former arenas

    –More on Lucha Underground

    –Notes on upcoming ROH shows

    –A look at the next month of ROH television

    –More on people leaving TNA

    –Story behind Hernandez coming to TNA

    –More on TNA PPV show

    –TNA wrestlers appear on Destination America programming

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    –Major official leaves UFC

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    –More talk about UFC events in the future in Mexico City

    –Why Dana White didn’t go to the UFC show in Germany

    –Dana White talks about a reality show he’s filming

    –Latest on the heavyweight title picture

    –Lots of changed matches on the UFC shows

    –UFC injury updates

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –Stiffest MMA suspension to date to a former champion

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    *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)

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    *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 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.

    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., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

  • WWE Tough Enough ratings for week 2

    Tough Enough did 1.05 million viewers Tuesday night, a drop from 1.21 million the previous week. The replay of Raw did not crack the top 100 shows in the 18-49 demo on cable last night.

  • On this day in pro wrestling history (July 1): Ric Flair stripped of WCW title, Von Erichs win WCCW tag titles

    By Brian Hoops, WrestlingObserver.com

    1933 – In Des Moines,Iowa; John Pesek beat Henry Graber in 2 straight falls and Alan Eustace drew Abe Kashey.

    1934 – In Waterloo, Iowa; Bronko Nagurski beat Earl Wampler (Wampler was a late substitute for Ray Steele).

    1940 – At Riverview Park in Des Moines, Iowa; World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Allen Lovelock

    1942 – At Riverview Park in Des Moines, Iowa; World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Ray Steele 2 falls to 0, Tom Zaharias beat Carlos Rodriquez 2 falls to 0 and Jack Kennedy and Cowboy Luttrall went to a 30 minute draw. According to the Des Moines Register, Steele was called a “stablemate of Bill Longson, the National Wrestling Association’s champion” and Brown was “recognized by the Midwest Wrestling Association as its world champion.”

    1949 – Cavernario Galindo defeated Tarzan Lopez for the Mexico National Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico

    1950 – Leo Wallick defeated Bob Cummings to win the Pacific Coast Wrestling Junior Heavyweight Title.

    1958 – Fritz Von Erich and Hans Hermann defeated Doc and Mike Gallagher in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Title

    1961 – Steve Stanlee defeated Frankie Talaber to win the Ohio Heavyweight Title in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

    1962 – Rikidozan and Toyonobori defeated Mike Sharpe and Buddy Austin to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan

    1963 – Arthur Riccaldo defeated Norman Walsh to win the European Heavyweight Title in Beaumont, England.

    1965 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas; Cowboy Bob Ellis and Sonny Myers beat Bob Geigel and Dutch Savage and Johnny Valentine drew Pat O’Connor.

    1966 – Michiaki Yoshimura and Giant Baba defeated Killer Karl Kox and Eddie Graham in Hiroshima, Japan, for the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title; Mark Lewin and Dominic DeNucci defeated Larry Hennig and Harley Race to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia; Rene Guajardo defeated Jerry London to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico

    1967 – Tamaya Soto and Great Yamaha (Kantaro Hoshino) defeated Billy and Jimmy Hines for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Titles in Chattanooga, Tennessee

    1968 – Abdullah the Butcher and Armand Hussein defeated Don Leo Jonathan and Haystacks Calhoun to win the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

    1970 – Billy Robinson and Johnny Barend defeated Pedro Morales and Bing Ki Lee for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii; The Mysterious Medic defeated Bob Kelly to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama; Bull Ramos defeated Terry Funk for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title in Lubbock, Texas.

    1971 – Patty O’Hara and Texas Red defeated Jumbo Miyamoto and Aiko Kyo for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan; Sputnik Monroe defeated Len Rossi to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title; In Kansas City; Bob Ellis & Rufus R. Jones & The Viking defeated Buddy Austin & Bob Orton & Tor Kamata via DQ and Harley Race defeated Baron Von Raschke in three falls; Bobby Duncum defeated Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Jacksonville, Florida.

    1972 – Len Rossi and Bearcat Brown defeated Don and Al Greene for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At that same event, Sputnik Monroe and Tommy Gilbert defeated Ron and Don Wright to win the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title; Sarah Lee defeated Aiko Kyo to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan

    1973 – Before 6,182 fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat The Crusher & Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls, Billy Robinson beat Lars Anderson by dq, Ivan Koloff beat Ken Patera and Geoff Portz beat Rene Goulet.

    1976 – In Dixon, Illinois; Larry Hennig & Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Nick Bockwinkel & Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum, Baron Von Raschke beat Bull Bullinski, Buddy Wolff beat Buck Zumhofe and Peter Maivia beat George Gadaski

    1977 – Texas Red (Red Bastien) defeated Mando Guerrero for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California.

    1978 – Invader I defeated Dick Steinborn to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico; El Nazi defeated Raul Mata for the Mexico National Heavyweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico.

    1979- In Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Tag Team Champions Verne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon beat Nick Bockwinkel & Bobby Duncum, Greg Gagne beat Ray Stevens on a reverse decision dq, Super Destroyer Mark II beat Billy Robinson and Paul Ellering drew Jesse Ventura.

    1980 – Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada defeated Kevin and Kerry Von Erich to win the vacant World Class American Tag Team Title in Amarillo, Texas

    1984 – Ron Garvin defeated Jake Roberts for the NWA World Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia. At the same show, The Spoiler defeated Brad Armstrong to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title; Killer Brooks defeated Bobby Jaggers to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Heavyweight Title in San Antonio, Texas

    1988 – Kevin and Kerry Von Erich defeated Iceman Parsons and Terry Taylor for the World Class Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas

    1989 – Joe Malenko won the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Mitsuo Momota in Omiya, Japan.

    1991 – WCW strips Ric Flair of the WCW World Heavyweight Title. 

    1994 – Chris Adams defeated Rod Price in Dallas, Texas to win the GWF North American Heavyweight Title

    1996 – Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee defeated Flex Kavana (The Rock) and Bart Sawyer to win the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee

    2000 – The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated Rudy Boy Gonzalez and Bonecrusher to win the Texas Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas.

    2003 – At a SmackDown taping in Rochester, New York, Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri to win the WWE Tag Team Title

  • WED. UPDATE: Giant history month, Aldo vs. McGregor off, surprise drug tests, WWE Network July, more

    By Bryan Alvarez | bryan@wrestlingobserver.com | @bryanalvarez

    We’re looking for your thoughts on Sunday night’s TNA Slammiversary show, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    We’re also looking for reports from Sunday night’s WWE show in Reading, PA, as well as the weekend NXT shows in Cocoa Beach, FL on Friday night and Citrus Springs, FL on Saturday night.

    A story about the life and career of Buddy Landel, plus the Jose Aldo injury, Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock and whether it was or wasn’t real and Cora Combs and the last link to the heyday of U.S. women’s wrestling are the main stories in the June 29 issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    The Latest Wrestling Observer June 29, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Buddy Landel obituary, Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice coverage

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site are at  Sign up here for as low as $9.99 per month!

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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.

    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 first look at the injury to Jose Aldo Jr. and thoughts on the 7/11 fight with Conor McGregor.  We look at the different options UFC had in this situation.

    We’ve got a major story on the life and career of Buddy Landel.  We look at the circumstances of his death, why Landel never reached the level of success his ability should have gotten him, his life before and after wrestling, and the story that, at the age of 24, changed the direction of his career.

    Landel talked about getting fired from Crockett Promotions at what turned out to be the high point of his career, examine the talk of his being given the world title at the time, as well as his own very candid thoughts about if he had won the title.  We look at what was planned for him, and how his firing changed the entire history of the business because it in a roundabout way led to the creation of the Four Horseman.

    We look at the situation with Crockett Promotions in the middle of a hot period in 1985, the Starrcade 85 show, and the Flair vs. Rhodes program.  We look at the story behind Landel’s statement that he and Flair broke Elvis’ attendance record in Raleigh and the true story of that night.

    We also look at his run in Tennessee including the last sellout at the Mid South Coliseum and the angle leading to that, as well as the famous 27 fall Texas death match that was among the best matches of the 80s. We look at his start in sports, growing up as a fan, and how Landel got into pro wrestling.  We look at his early years, his first push, the creation of the Nature Boy gimmick, working with Junkyard Dog in Mid South, his return to Crockett Promotions and why he never got another chance, what Buddy Rogers told him, and the last stages of his career and life after wrestling.

    We also look in depth at the Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock right.  We look at different kinds of works, and the ones that could not have happened and the ones that could have.  We look at what the person closest to the action said about it, as well as a look at the background of Ken Shamrock.

    We also have a lot more about the records set for the fight, as well as future matches that both or either could do going out of this.  We also look at other business notes for the show, as well as Bellator’s next major event in September, and full coverage of the TV event.

    We also have an update on Daniel Bryan, Bret Hart talks Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns and others, Dolph Ziggler’s future prospects, Talk of another NXT live special this summer, More on the next WWE network special show, notes on a former tag team of the year candidate team that WWE is looking at getting, more on Tough Enough, as well as Dwayne Johnson projects and injuries to Jamie Noble, Erick Rowan and Tyson Kidd.

    We also have notes on why Randy Orton wasn’t at TV this past week, frustration from the inside on WWE creative, Hogan talks WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels in a movie, WWE house shows, the sad plight of Chyna, as well as a look at the weekend NXT and WWE house shows as well as weekend business.

    We also have coverage of the ROH Best in the World PPV show, and where the company is headed.

    We’ve also got a story on the life of Cora Combs, the last link to the Billy Wolfe/Mildred Burke glory days of women’s wrestling.  We look at her career, her decision in the promotional split that ended up taking the women’s side of wrestling down, the Moolah years, being in the first woman’s match ever held in New York and the story behind it.  We also look at the last period of her career, as Lady Satan, working against her daughter, as well as look at some of the oldest wrestlers of all-time and the oldest living wrestles..

    We’ve also got full coverage of the weekly UFC show in Germany and the rise of Joanna Jedrzejczyk.  We look at her unique stardom, as well as other coverage of the show.

    We also have notes on how the WWE’s Payback PPV did and where the PPV business currently stands.

    The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.

    We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.

    Also in this week’s issue:

    –More on AAA’s Verano de Escandalo show

    –Former WWE star signs major deal as a brand ambassador with one of the biggest movie companies in the world and his duties

    –Another former WWE star working big shows in AAA

    –Notes on future AAA shows

    –Ricochet returns to Japan

    –Notes on the next Dragon Gate iPPV show

    –Final event of the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial tour

    –Notes on the upcoming NOAH GHC jr. tournament

    –More G-1 Climax notes as far as TV goes

    –New Japan heads to Singapore

    –Notes on Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rogers

    –More on Global Force Wrestling

    –Lots of PWG notes

    –Notes on Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore show

    –Pro wrestling returns after 20 years to one of its most famous former arenas

    –More on Lucha Underground

    –Notes on upcoming ROH shows

    –A look at the next month of ROH television

    –More on people leaving TNA

    –Story behind Hernandez coming to TNA

    –More on TNA PPV show

    –TNA wrestlers appear on Destination America programming

    –UFC press conference coming

    –Major official leaves UFC

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –More talk about UFC events in the future in Mexico City

    –Why Dana White didn’t go to the UFC show in Germany

    –Dana White talks about a reality show he’s filming

    –Latest on the heavyweight title picture

    –Lots of changed matches on the UFC shows

    –UFC injury updates

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –Stiffest MMA suspension to date to a former champion

    Today’s News, Notes and Links

    • If you are a subscriber and a fan of wrestling history, THIS IS THE MONTH FOR YOU. Karl Stern is doing his annual July blitz of 30 shows in 30 days, and this year the theme is historical bios. Every day he’ll have a new show up highlighting the career of a famous historical wrestler, dating all the way back to the pioneer era. First on the docket is William Muldoon. Each show is full length, about an hour long, and you can check out the shows on the front page or in the audio archive.
    • In a shocker, at least if you haven’t been paying any attention at all, WWE announced that July is a FREE MONTH~! for first-time subscribers or people who can figure out how to get a new email address.
    • In another shocker, at this moment the Authority is scheduled to be back on Raw Monday.
    • Also, if you missed it, Dave and I did a breaking news audio last night on Jose Aldo pulling out of his fight with Conor McGregor, plus tons of notes on the terrible Raw ratings from Monday night. We’ve got Observer Live, Observer Radio and Figure Four Daily with Lance Storm all coming up later today.  Breaking News: Jose Aldo out of UFC 189, Conor McGregor to fight Chad Mendes
    • I will be doing a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Thursday afternoon/evening 4:00 PT/7 ET. For more information, click here.
    • I have to say I love that we live in a world where it appears the sole method of communication between Reebok and angry UFC fighters is Twitter.
    • I’ll be interested to see the two-hour Raw rating from Tuesday night, which was set up to try to boost the Tough Enough rating. I doubt it had any bearing whatsoever on Monday’s rating, but I do know that I knew they were doing it in advance, and if this wasn’t my job I’d have chosen the two-hour version over the three-hour version.
    • The Conor McGregor fight change is the top sports story on the main Irish TV news program this evening. Thanks to Shane.
    • Conor on Aldo: “If a man is scared for his life, we cannot force him to step inside and face me. I feel he’s afraid. The doctors have cleared him to fight, it’s a bruise, but he has still pulled out. Rightfully so, the belt should be taken from him and we should contest for the interim belt or, in my opinion, the real belt.”
    • There is a Conor interview herewhere he rants about how everyone says he’s all talk, but of the two of them he’s the guy still ready to fight and Aldo has pulled out.
    • Ronda Rousey promo heresaying she’s never wanted to beat someone as badly as she wants to beat Bethe Correia. Even Bryan Caraway?
    • Dave has a story up hereabout this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night ratings.
    • The CSAC did a surprise drug test of every single fighter based in the US who is scheduled to fight on the July 15th show.
    • Mexico notes from Kris Zellner:
    • * AAA officially announced today that Triplemania will take place on August 9th at Arena Ciudad de Mexico City.
    • * Chilanga Mask announced last night that Raymond Rowe will be meeting El Barbaro Cavernario in a Submission Match at their show at Arena Coliseo de Coacalco on 7/19.
    • Disney/Marvel announced the new series CM Punk is writing about features the Drax character that Batista plays in Guardians of the Galaxy. Have to love that tagline as a play on Punk’s best in the world (“Best in the Galaxy”). Thanks to Michael O’Brien.
    • JJ Dillon talks memories of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
    • Maria Kanellis interview for Channel Guide Magazine.
    • Z STORM, the action-packed Hong Kong crime thriller film from legendary Director David Lam (First Shot), debuts on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD August 18 from Well Go USA Entertainment. The story revolves around Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and its investigation of a charity fund that has become involved in a Ponzi scheme. Z STORM stars Louis Koo (Drug War, Election), Gordon Lam (IP Man), Dada Chan (Flirting in the Air), Michael Wong (Transformers: Age of Extinction), Lo Hoi Pang (Iceman, Drug War) and Liu Kai Chi (Stool Pigeon). Bonus materials include a making-of featurette and interviews with key cast members.
    • EVOLVE announced that Chris Hero will compete on every one of the group’s shows all summer.
    • Renowned wrestling artist, Rob Schamberger, also known as the Artist of Champions, returns to Waterloo, IA to celebrate the 2015 induction ceremonies at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum with a new body of work that includes 28 donated paintings and a 12’ x 8’ mural that will be displayed in the museum. Over the past several weeks, Schamberger has focused on creating a new collection of 28 paintings that depict the 2015 Hall of Fame honorees and past inductees, including Kurt Angle, Verne Gagne, Beth Phoenix, John “Bradshaw” Layfield and many more. Schamberger will donate the full collection to the museum, adding to several pieces of his work that are already on display.
    • Vikram writes: I have released a wrestling documentary titled The Old Boys last week. You guys mentioned it on your news feed when I released the trailer few months ago and I would like to thank you for that. I was hoping if The Old boys could get a mention of it’s release on your news feed? It features never before seen interviews and footage with Roddy Piper, Bret Hart, Jake Roberts, Scott Hall, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boys Smith, Demolition, Animal, Honky Tonk Man, Marty Jannetty, Ted DiBiase, Iron Sheik, Terry Funk, Paul Roma and so many more. It is a film about the behind the scenes in the 80’s and 90’s. It is available to buy on DVD and ON DEMAND at www.theoldboysmovie.com
    • My main man Emerson notes: Could you please plug this week’s edition of the Wrestling Outsiders Podcast either today or tomorrow? It’s tomorrow night at 10pm EST and we will be joined by former TNA personality and Survivor: Pearl Islands contestant Jonny Fairplay! The link to the site is BlogTalkRadio.com/WrestlingOutsiders
    • Booker T, Ariane Andrews, and Virgil have been announced as doing signings in the giant Autograph Section all four days of the San Diego Comic Con from July 9-12. All three are scheduled to do signings for half the day on all four days with Booker and Ariane sharing the same time schedule (2:30pm-7pm Thur-Sat and 1:30pm-5pm Sun). All three are listed in separate tables, though Booker and Ariane will probably be next to each other. Thanks to Daniel Short.

    Today in History with Brian Hoops:

    1933 – In Des Moines,Iowa; John Pesek beat Henry Graber in 2 straight falls and Alan Eustace drew Abe Kashey.

    1934 – In Waterloo, Iowa; Bronko Nagurski beat Earl Wampler (Wampler was a late substitute for Ray Steele).

    1940 – At Riverview Park in Des Moines, Iowa; World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Allen Lovelock

    1942 – At Riverview Park in Des Moines, Iowa; World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown defeated Ray Steele 2 falls to 0, Tom Zaharias beat Carlos Rodriquez 2 falls to 0 and Jack Kennedy and Cowboy Luttrall went to a 30 minute draw. According to the Des Moines Register, Steele was called a “stablemate of Bill Longson, the National Wrestling Association’s champion” and Brown was “recognized by the Midwest Wrestling Association as its world champion.”

    1949 – Cavernario Galindo defeated Tarzan Lopez for the Mexico National Light Heavyweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico

    1950 – Leo Wallick defeated Bob Cummings to win the Pacific Coast Wrestling Junior Heavyweight Title.

    1958 – Fritz Von Erich and Hans Hermann defeated Doc and Mike Gallagher in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Title

    1961 – Steve Stanlee defeated Frankie Talaber to win the Ohio Heavyweight Title in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

    1962 – Rikidozan and Toyonobori defeated Mike Sharpe and Buddy Austin to win the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title in Osaka, Japan

    1963 – Arthur Riccaldo defeated Norman Walsh to win the European Heavyweight Title in Beaumont, England.

    1965 – At Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas; Cowboy Bob Ellis and Sonny Myers beat Bob Geigel and Dutch Savage and Johnny Valentine drew Pat O’Connor.

    1966 – Michiaki Yoshimura and Giant Baba defeated Killer Karl Kox and Eddie Graham in Hiroshima, Japan, for the JWA All Asia Tag Team Title.

    1966 – Mark Lewin and Dominic DeNucci defeated Larry Hennig and Harley Race to win the International Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title in Sydney, Australia.

    1966 – Rene Guajardo defeated Jerry London to win the NWA World Middleweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico

    1967 – Tamaya Soto and Great Yamaha (Kantaro Hoshino) defeated Billy and Jimmy Hines for the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee

    1968 – Abdullah the Butcher and Armand Hussein defeated Don Leo Jonathan and Haystacks Calhoun to win the Vancouver version of the NWA Canadian Tag Team Title in Vancouver, British Columbia.

    1970 – Billy Robinson and Johnny Barend defeated Pedro Morales and Bing Ki Lee for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

    1970 – The Mysterious Medic defeated Bob Kelly to win the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Title in Mobile, Alabama.

    1970 – Bull Ramos defeated Terry Funk for the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title in Lubbock, Texas.

    1971 – Patty O’Hara and Texas Red defeated Jumbo Miyamoto and Aiko Kyo for the WWWA World Tag Team Title in Tokyo, Japan.

    1971 – Sputnik Monroe defeated Len Rossi to win the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title.

    1971 – In Kansas City; Bob Ellis & Rufus R. Jones & The Viking defeated Buddy Austin & Bob Orton & Tor Kamata via DQ and Harley Race defeated Baron Von Raschke in three falls

    1971 – Bobby Duncum defeated Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Title in Jacksonville, Florida.

    1972 – Len Rossi and Bearcat Brown defeated Don and Al Greene for the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At that same event, Sputnik Monroe and Tommy Gilbert defeated Ron and Don Wright to win the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Title

    1972 – Sarah Lee defeated Aiko Kyo to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan

    1973 – Before 6,182 fans in Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Tag Team Champions Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens beat The Crusher & Wahoo McDaniel in 2 out of 3 falls, Billy Robinson beat Lars Anderson by dq, Ivan Koloff beat Ken Patera and Geoff Portz beat Rene Goulet.

    1976 – In Dixon, Illinois; Larry Hennig & Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Nick Bockwinkel & Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum, Baron Von Raschke beat Bull Bullinski, Buddy Wolff beat Buck Zumhofe and Peter Maivia beat George Gadaski

    1977 – Texas Red (Red Bastien) defeated Mando Guerrero for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California.

    1978 – Invader I defeated Dick Steinborn to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title in Caguas, Puerto Rico

    1978 – El Nazi defeated Raul Mata for the Mexico National Heavyweight Title in Monterrey, Mexico.

    1979- In Green Bay, Wisconsin; AWA Tag Team Champions Verne Gagne & Mad Dog Vachon beat Nick Bockwinkel & Bobby Duncum, Greg Gagne beat Ray Stevens on a reverse decision dq, Super Destroyer Mark II beat Billy Robinson and Paul Ellering drew Jesse Ventura.

    1980 – Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada defeated Kevin and Kerry Von Erich to win the vacant World Class American Tag Team Title in Amarillo, Texas

    1984 – Ron Garvin defeated Jake Roberts for the NWA World Television Title in Atlanta, Georgia. At the same show, The Spoiler defeated Brad Armstrong to win the NWA National Heavyweight Title

    1984 – Killer Brooks defeated Bobby Jaggers to win the Southwest Championship Wrestling Southwest Heavyweight Title in San Antonio, Texas

    1988 – Kevin and Kerry Von Erich defeated Iceman Parsons and Terry Taylor for the World Class Tag Team Title in Dallas, Texas

    1989 – Joe Malenko won the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Mitsuo Momota in Omiya, Japan.

    1991 – WCW strips Ric Flair of the WCW World Heavyweight Title.

    1994 – Chris Adams defeated Rod Price in Dallas, Texas to win the GWF North American Heavyweight Title

    1996 – Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee defeated Flex Kavana (The Rock) and Bart Sawyer to win the USWA Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee

    2000 – The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated Rudy Boy Gonzalez and Bonecrusher to win the Texas Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Title in San Antonio, Texas.

    2003 – At a SmackDown taping in Rochester, New York, Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri to win the WWE Tag Team Title

    TODAY’S PRO WRESTLING VIDEOS (thanks to Thomas Rude)

    WWE/NXT

    WWE Network:  Triple H And Sting Recall Recall The Most Pivotal Moments Of The Monday Night Wars

    6/29/15 WWE RAW “Fallout”-The Miz Has It All Figured Out

    6/2915 The Prime TIme Players Chat With Washington Mystics’ Ivory Latta And Stefanie Dolson

    WWE Canvas 2 Canvas:  SGT. Slaughter Hits The Canvas

    6/30/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  Daniel Bryan Shares His Experience

    6/30/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  Mada Unloads On Tanner

    6/30/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  Lita Warns Amanda That She Needs To Stand Out

    6/30/15 WWE Tough Enough Digital Extra:  The Coaches Predict Who Will Rise To The Challenge

    6/30/15 WWE Tough Eough Digital Extra:  Into The Wild

    WWE Fury:  28 Tombstones That Will Put You In The Ground

    6/29/15 WWE Exclusive:  Bo Dallas Stays Positive After Hitting Rock Bottom

    6/29/15 Top 10 RAW Moments

    MISC. STUFF

    Top 5 Moves OF Blaster McMassive

    CHIKARA Podcast-A-Go-Go (Episode 422)

    Shawn Michaels And Bret Hart On “The Apter Chat”

    INDY TV SHOWS

    West Virginia Championship Wrestling TV (Episode 234)

    6/27/15 Southern States Wrestling TV

    West Coast Wrestling Connection TV (Episode 57)

    Anarchy Wrestling TV (Episode 490)

    6/28/15 NWA Southern All-Star Wrestling TV

    6/29/15 RESISTANCE Pro TV HD

    Action Coast Empire TV (Episode 5)

    3XWrestling “All Stars Of The Midwest” TV (Episode 22)

    America’s Most Liked Wrestling TV (Season 1, Episode 10)

    Covey Pro Wrestling TV (Episode 212)

    TNA

    The Question Mark (Episode 14)

    Jeff Jarrett After #Slammiversary-What’s Next For The KOTM Championship?

    What Is Next For Angelina Love?

    Micah Discusses The Chance That The Rising May Be Forced To Break Up

    LIVE SHOWS

    Pro Championship Wrestling “Pandemonium 2015”

    TOMORROW’S WWE NETWORK SCHEDULE (thanks to Bert Duckwall)

    12:00 AM ET
    WWE UNFILTERED WITH RENEE YOUNG Renee’s back! Join the Unfiltered host for an exclusive interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the cast of Terminator Genisys!

    12:15 AM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Brie and Bryan get married, and Nikki’s marriage is finally exposed to John. The Divas compete at WrestleMania for the Diva’s Championship.

    1:00 AM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Nikki plans a future without boyfriend John Cena. Eva’s life is turned upside down when she must decide between family and her husband.

    2:00 AM ET
    WWE BEYOND THE RING Relive the classic feuds with John Cena himself as he gives insight into the rivalries that defined his WWE legacy!

    4:00 AM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK In an epic confrontation the Undertaker teams with Diesel and Shawn Michaels to battle some of Jim Cornette’s devastating clients.

    5:00 AM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK Bret Hart battles Dr. Isaac Yankem in a Steel Cage in the main event. Plus Hunter Hearst Helmsley, The Smoking Gunns, and much more.

    6:00 AM ET
    PRIME TIME WRESTLING Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan shows his holiday spirit as he and Gorilla Monsoon host an exciting Thanksgiving edition of Prime Time Wrestling!

    7:35 AM ET
    HULK HOGANS ROCK N WRESTLING On this Rock ‘n’ Wrestling, Hulk and the gang must prove Andre the Giant’s innocence when he is accused of stealing at a costume party.

    8:00 AM ET
    WWE THE BASH 2009 Randy Orton defends WWE Championship in Three Stages of Hell match vs Triple H. CM Punk defends World Title vs Jeff Hardy.

    11:00 AM ET
    OLD SCHOOL Old School Card from Philly features Bob Backlund defending the WWWF Title against Spiros Arion. Bruno Sammartino vs. Ken Patera and more.

    12:00 PM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK Razor Ramon defends his Intercontinental title against Yokozuna. Plus, Jeff Jarrett, Fatu, and a tribute to the career of Shawn Michaels.

    1:00 PM ET
    CLASH OF THE CHAMPIONS Clash of the Champions XXVII features Sting and Ric Flair battling to unite the World Heavyweight Championships and much more.

    3:00 PM ET
    WCW MONDAY NITRO ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage battles The Giant in the main event. Ric Flair faces Eddie Guerrero. Madusa makes a shocking announcement.

    4:00 PM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK Razor Ramon defends his Intercontinental title against Yokozuna. Plus, Jeff Jarrett, Fatu, and a tribute to the career of Shawn Michaels.

    5:00 PM ET
    WCW GREAT AMERICAN BASH 1995 WCW’s annual summer spectacular features Nature Boy Ric Flair taking on Macho Man Randy Savage. Sting faces Meng for the U.S. Title.

    8:00 PM ET
    WCW MONDAY NITRO ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage battles The Giant in the main event. Ric Flair faces Eddie Guerrero. Madusa makes a shocking announcement.

    9:00 PM ET
    RAW FLASHBACK Razor Ramon defends his Intercontinental title against Yokozuna. Plus, Jeff Jarrett, Fatu, and a tribute to the career of Shawn Michaels.

    10:00 PM ET
    SWERVED R-Truth gets a lesson in gym safety, a frisky granny invades Axxess and Kofi locks the champ out of Extreme Rules.

    10:30 PM ET
    FINN BALOR: THE DEMON REVEALED An in depth look inside the life, career and future of NXT Superstar Finn Balor.

    11:00 PM ET
    WCW MONDAY NITRO ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage battles The Giant in the main event. Ric Flair faces Eddie Guerrero. Madusa makes a shocking announcement.

  • WWE Smackdown July 2 spoilers: Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins hijinks

    From Hershey, PA, for air Wednesday in Canada and Thursday in the U.S.:

    – The show opened with WWE Champion Seth Rollins, Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble out.  They announced Rollins vs. Roman Reigns and Mark Henry vs. Ryback in singles matches.

    – Bray Wyatt b Dean Ambrose

    – Adam Rose was doing a promo. R-Truth as King What’s Up came out which led to a match R-Truth won.

    – Mark Henry did an interview challenging Ryback.

    – Ryback b Mark Henry with the Shellshock.

    – Brie Bella b Naomi due to interference from Alicia Fox.

    – WWE Tag Team Champions Prime Time Players b The Ascension

    – Rusev did a promo that got super heat.

    – Evidently there is a segment on the show where Reigns takes a beating. Rollins came out for the main event and said that Reigns had a ten count to get to the ring or Rollins wins by forfeit. Reigns came out and ended up making a comeback until Noble & Mercury hit the ring for the DQ. They were beating down Reigns until Ambrose made the save.  Rollins and Noble ran off, leaving Mercury by himself to be laid out by Reigns and Ambrose.

  • WWE Tough Enough Episode 2 Results and Recap

    By Kenneth Nida @knida89

    Last week’s episode was an uneventful introduction to the show. Many of the people who stood out in the try outs faded into the background.  The episode was predominantly ZZ’s show, as he was the only person to show any sort of personality that wasn’t negative. If ZZ goes home, there’s going to be a large void of charisma in his absence; luckily I don’t see voters letting him go home even if he’s in the bottom 3 every week.

    The second episode started off with Chris Jericho and Renee Young introducing the judges. They talk with them briefly about the contestants. They go back over the rules of elimination, and show the contestants reactions to last week’s elimination. More fighting between the contestants, with almost everyone declaring they want Dianna to go home. There’s also an amazing argument between Patrick and Alex about whether having knowledge about wrestling is important. The highlight being Alex declaring that “Knowledge is nothing!”

    The next challenge is a courage challenge consisting of swimming in alligator/snake infested waters to an airboat which has a title belt attached to it. The contestants then have to swim back to shore with the belt. ZZ is simply amused, while others are beyond terrified. Dianna ends up winning for the women, and Tanner wins for the men. Some of the contestants required assistance, with Alex needing to be rescued by a life guard. Billy Gunn is very upset with Daria for losing her title in the water, causing her to cry.

    Back at the barracks, Josh is upset, feeling that Tanner cheated. He basically challenges him to a fight. Giorgia consoles Daria, and confesses she thinks Dianna cheated.  

    Roman Reigns is in the ring when all the contestants enter the training area. Most of the women swoon, with Gabi even declaring that she swears she got wet at seeing him. Roman speaks briefly about taking a Spear or Superman Punch, and introduces Bull Dempsey who shows off his top rope finishing move. We go briefly back to the judges for their thoughts on the challenges.

    Back from the break, the contestants take turns taking flat back bumps. The second courage challenge is to take a flat back bump from a platform on the tope rope. Everyone does so, with Dianna taking a long time because she’s afraid, even though she swore she wasn’t afraid of heights. The judges declare that Patrick and Giorgia were the best, and congratulate everyone but remind them that someone has to go home.

    More arguing and shouting between the women. Dianna is not pleased with her Princess Dianna nickname, and she gets into a shouting match with Daria and Amanda. Dianna gets ZZ to agree to trade rooms with her and encourages him to snore and fart in his sleep to drive the other women crazy.

    The judges interview the contestants. Daniel Bryan brings up Alex’s comment about knowledge not mattering. Alex says knowing all the statistics in the world won’t make you a better athlete. Paige points out that Amanda and Sara Lee are blending into the background a bit, and encourages them to show more personality.

    The bottom 3 are chosen. Daniel Bryan chooses Alex, Paige chooses Sara Lee, and Hogan chooses Dianna. Each contestants gets 30 seconds to plead their case. The judges decline to use their saves this week. Sara Lee gets 50% of the vote, Dianna gets 35% of the vote, and Alex is eliminated with 15% of the vote.

  • Breaking News: Jose Aldo out of UFC 189, Conor McGregor to fight Chad Mendes

    Dana White just appeared on ESPN’s Sportscenter to announce that UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo is out of UFC 189 on July 11 due to his rib injury. Conor McGregor will now take on Chad Mendes for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship in the main event of UFC 189 on July 11th.

  • TUESDAY UPDATE: Unveiling of UFC/Reebok gear goes badly, iffy Jose Aldo news, Raw ratings, and more

    by David Bixenspan | davidbix@wrestlingobserver.com | Follow @davidbix

    TV/show notes for tonight:

    USA Network has a Raw replay at 6:00 p.m ET. This is the edited version that’s posted on Hulu Plus, which runs two hours with commercials. It’s an experiment to see if they can build a bigger audience for…

    Tough Enough at 8:00 p.m. ET. In an episode titled “Swamp Stories,” we know that Roman Reigns shows up and it looks like the contestants start to learn how to take bumps.

    SmackDown and Main Event will be taped tonight in Hershey, PA. If you’re attending and would like to write a spoiler report, please send it to newstips@wrestlingobserver.com.

    **** 

    The recipient of rave reviews so far, the newest issue of Figure Four Weekly is up on the site for subscribers (subscribe here) with an extensive look at the recent events in the WWE stockholders class action lawsuit, specifically the back and forth over whether or not Brian Maddox (the former Vice President, Global Sales) acted as a whistleblower to help the plaintiffs and if so, what he revealed. Among the topics covered are:

    * How much USA gets for a 30 second ad on Monday Night Raw.

    * What WWE’s internal research says about how big their American fanbase actually is.

    * WWE’s actions that upset and drove away advertisers.

    * Maddox’s affidavit to support WWE’s effort to get the case dismissed and how the plaintiffs are fighting back against it.

    And much more. If you’re interested in WWE business stories, this is a must-read.

    And much more. Plus, as always, we have  all of the usual reviews and international news.

    Also, now available for the first time on Kindle (meaning Kindle devices and anything with the Kindle app) is Fall Guys, the seminal 1937 book that has been described as being like the 1930s version of the Wrestling Observer. It was surprisingly not on Kindle already, so we put together a nice version with a full table of contents w/ chapter marks, proper formatting on everything, etc. Right now it’s available from the American, Canadian, and Australian Amazon/Kindle stores OR you can also buy it from anywhere in the world on PayHip, who will provide you with both Kindle and ePub (every other e-reader) format files, and you can either sideload them to your device or have them email it to your Kindle. 

    **** 

    A story about the life and career of Buddy Landel, plus the Jose Aldo injury, Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock and whether it was or wasn’t real and Cora Combs and the last link to the heyday of U.S. women’s wrestling are the main stories in the June 29 issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    The Latest Wrestling Observer June 29, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Buddy Landel obituary, Ken Shamrock vs. Kimbo Slice coverage

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show in the history of the site are at  Sign up here for as low as $9.99 per month!

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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.

    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 first look at the injury to Jose Aldo Jr. and thoughts on the 7/11 fight with Conor McGregor.  We look at the different options UFC had in this situation.

    We’ve got a major story on the life and career of Buddy Landel.  We look at the circumstances of his death, why Landel never reached the level of success his ability should have gotten him, his life before and after wrestling, and the story that, at the age of 24, changed the direction of his career.

    Landel talked about getting fired from Crockett Promotions at what turned out to be the high point of his career, examine the talk of his being given the world title at the time, as well as his own very candid thoughts about if he had won the title.  We look at what was planned for him, and how his firing changed the entire history of the business because it in a roundabout way led to the creation of the Four Horseman.

    We look at the situation with Crockett Promotions in the middle of a hot period in 1985, the Starrcade 85 show, and the Flair vs. Rhodes program.  We look at the story behind Landel’s statement that he and Flair broke Elvis’ attendance record in Raleigh and the true story of that night.

    We also look at his run in Tennessee including the last sellout at the Mid South Coliseum and the angle leading to that, as well as the famous 27 fall Texas death match that was among the best matches of the 80s. We look at his start in sports, growing up as a fan, and how Landel got into pro wrestling.  We look at his early years, his first push, the creation of the Nature Boy gimmick, working with Junkyard Dog in Mid South, his return to Crockett Promotions and why he never got another chance, what Buddy Rogers told him, and the last stages of his career and life after wrestling.

    We also look in depth at the Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock right.  We look at different kinds of works, and the ones that could not have happened and the ones that could have.  We look at what the person closest to the action said about it, as well as a look at the background of Ken Shamrock.

    We also have a lot more about the records set for the fight, as well as future matches that both or either could do going out of this.  We also look at other business notes for the show, as well as Bellator’s next major event in September, and full coverage of the TV event.

    We also have an update on Daniel Bryan, Bret Hart talks Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns and others, Dolph Ziggler’s future prospects, Talk of another NXT live special this summer, More on the next WWE network special show, notes on a former tag team of the year candidate team that WWE is looking at getting, more on Tough Enough, as well as Dwayne Johnson projects and injuries to Jamie Noble, Erick Rowan and Tyson Kidd.

    We also have notes on why Randy Orton wasn’t at TV this past week, frustration from the inside on WWE creative, Hogan talks WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels in a movie, WWE house shows, the sad plight of Chyna, as well as a look at the weekend NXT and WWE house shows as well as weekend business.

    We also have coverage of the ROH Best in the World PPV show, and where the company is headed.

    We’ve also got a story on the life of Cora Combs, the last link to the Billy Wolfe/Mildred Burke glory days of women’s wrestling.  We look at her career, her decision in the promotional split that ended up taking the women’s side of wrestling down, the Moolah years, being in the first woman’s match ever held in New York and the story behind it.  We also look at the last period of her career, as Lady Satan, working against her daughter, as well as look at some of the oldest wrestlers of all-time and the oldest living wrestles..

    We’ve also got full coverage of the weekly UFC show in Germany and the rise of Joanna Jedrzejczyk.  We look at her unique stardom, as well as other coverage of the show.

    We also have notes on how the WWE’s Payback PPV did and where the PPV business currently stands.

    The Observer is the world’s most detailed weekly pro wrestling publication, in its 32nd year of publication, and is read by the biggest names in the pro wrestling, industry, MMA industry, sports world and on Wall Street.

    We also have our regular features such as the most complete look at ratings, plus results of the major house show events each week in pro wrestling and MMA, and complete inside rundowns of all the TV shows.

    Also in this week’s issue:

    –More on AAA’s Verano de Escandalo show

    –Former WWE star signs major deal as a brand ambassador with one of the biggest movie companies in the world and his duties

    –Another former WWE star working big shows in AAA

    –Notes on future AAA shows

    –Ricochet returns to Japan

    –Notes on the next Dragon Gate iPPV show

    –Final event of the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial tour

    –Notes on the upcoming NOAH GHC jr. tournament

    –More G-1 Climax notes as far as TV goes

    –New Japan heads to Singapore

    –Notes on Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rogers

    –More on Global Force Wrestling

    –Lots of PWG notes

    –Notes on Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore show

    –Pro wrestling returns after 20 years to one of its most famous former arenas

    –More on Lucha Underground

    –Notes on upcoming ROH shows

    –A look at the next month of ROH television

    –More on people leaving TNA

    –Story behind Hernandez coming to TNA

    –More on TNA PPV show

    –TNA wrestlers appear on Destination America programming

    –UFC press conference coming

    –Major official leaves UFC

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –More talk about UFC events in the future in Mexico City

    –Why Dana White didn’t go to the UFC show in Germany

    –Dana White talks about a reality show he’s filming

    –Latest on the heavyweight title picture

    –Lots of changed matches on the UFC shows

    –UFC injury updates

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –Stiffest MMA suspension to date to a former champion

    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.

    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)a

    *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 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.

    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., $20 for shipping costs to Canada and $25 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

    ****

    Tuesday Daily Update

    — UFC and Reebok unveiled the new “UFC Fighter Kits” (uniforms) today at a media event in New York City, which you can watch on UFC’s YouTube channel. These outfits are what every fighter will be wearing starting with International Fight Week next week. While it had been said that fighters will be able to keep their individuality, almost all of the uniforms (with the exception of the design for the champions) are the same pattern and some fighters get the colors of the flag of their country of origin. The shorts/jersey combos look like soccer uniforms to the point it’s almost distracting.

    There was a lot of hype about Reebok’s specific fabrics and seamless designs. With Ronda Rousey endorsing it, they claimed that their “Fight Bra” is the first sports bra designed specifically for women competing in combat sports, which may not be true. 

    — Reebok also opened up sales of the UFC fighter replica jerseys on their website. So far, this has been a disaster. Lowlights include:

    * Misspelled names, most notably “Giblert Melendez” and “Connor McGregor.” Those two have been taken offline for the time being.

    * Weird mistakes involving nicknames, like Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza becoming Jacare “Ronaldo” Souza and Lyoto Machida being merged with TUF Brazil 3 alumnus Marcio “Lyoto” Alexandre Jr. Those have also been taken down.

    * Lots of fighters being referred to by their legal names, even if they’ve never been referred to by those names on UFC programming. Cub Swanson is now Kevin Swanson, Demian Maia is Demian Baptista, Jussier Formiga is now Jussier da Silva, etc. Strangely, even though this suggests Reebok some kind of UFC real names database, Renan Barao and Rony Jason, who don’t go by their real names, are listed by their correct public UFC names. 

    * CM Punk is Phillip Brooks (the UFC roster page has him as “Phil ‘CM Punk’ Brooks”) without any reference to “CM Punk.” That got pulled, too. Jimy Hettes is now “James ‘Jimy’ Hettes” while our own “Flithy” Tom Lawlor has joined The York Foundation as Thomas Lawlor.

    * Whether or not a fighter gets his country’s colors seems completely random. Ben Handerson, whose mother is from South Korea, was listed as a representative of South Korea with the associated colors even though he’s always been billed as an American in the UFC. That got pulled. “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, who’s a South Korean national, has the generic coloring. That one is still up. Alexander Gustafsson and his All-Stars temmates from Sweden also have generic colors.

    * No jersey variations are being offered for the opposite sex for the time being. So women are stuck with men’s cuts for male fighters and men don’t have viable options for female fighters.

    Not the best start for this deal.

    — Last nights Raw averaged 3.46 million viewers, down from last week’s 3.67 million, for the lowest number of 2015 thus far. The three hours averaged, in order, 3.36 million, 3.54, and 3.48 million viewers. 

    — Today, Jose Aldo was originally scheduled to train and report how he felt back to UFC. He’s now postponed the training session to Friday. That’s not good.

    — Jeff Jarrett tweeted that tomorrow night, Impact will feature a sit down interview with him and Mike Tenay discussing the future of TNA and GFW working together.

    — Big match added to Northeast Wrestling’s August 1st show in Fishkill, NY: Rey Mysterio and Alberto El Patron vs. The Young Bucks, which is an incredibly intriguing match on paper. NEW is, for those who aren’t aware, if not the most conistently well drawing indie in the United States, then right up there.

    — Correction to last night’s radio show: Noelle Foley was not on Raw.

    — Dave’s wrap-uparticle on Saturday Night’s UFC card is up at MMAFIghting.

    — This week’s edition of Southern States Wrestling’s TV show is built around tributes to both Cora Combs and Buddy Landel. Really nice stuff, worth checking out.

    — The newest episode of Kris Zellner’s Exile on Badstreet podcast has myself and Dylan Hales on for our own Buddy Landel tribute.

    — The Wrestling Outsiders Podcast tomorrow night at 10pm EST and we will be joined by former TNA personality and Survivor: Pearl Islands contestant Jonny Fairplay.

    — Tyrus/Brodus Clay (well, he’s being promoted as Brodus Clay) will be headlining CWE’s Alberta tour On August 26th through August 29th in Camrose, Sherwood Park, Red Deer, and Calgary, Alberta.

    — Barrie Wrestling: CANADA DAY CHAOS! lineup for Wednesday at Couchiching Park on Terry Fox Circle in Orillia, Ontario: Vaughn Vertigo vs The D Man, Joey Valentyne vs Nick Watts, Big John Greed vs Preston Myles,Lionel Knight vs Playboy John Atlas, and more.

    — Mecca Pro Wrestling: Headlock for Hospice  from Saturday in Cornwall, Ontario: The Insignia’s Bret MacLeod (with Randy Berry in his corner) defeated the debuting Buxx Belmar, El Phantastico was victorious over Cheeky (with Deeno in his corner.) Deeno and Cheeky then proceeded to fight to the back, “Magic” Mario Bryant scored the win over Jeff Fury and the debuting Jake Hunter, Total Devastation defeated the debuting Generation Kill, MPW Pound For Pound Champion Crimson X beat Derric Hamilton in their rematch. After the match, Bret MacLeod stormed the ring and destroyed the Pound For Pound Trophy, Decker “Axe Man” Leduc defeated Bearicade in a true battle of the big men, The returning Kira beat the debuting Stacy Thibault in a tremendous back-and-forth match, “The Queen of Mean” Persephone Vice made her way to the ring and proceeded to obliterate both competitors with thunderous Vice Bombs, and The Insignia (MPW Heavyweight Champion Payne, MPW Tag Team Champions Ray Steele and KL Shock, with Randy Berry in their corner) won by disqualification over The Barbarians (Damien and Myzery) and their surprise mystery partner, Ruffy Silverstein!

    TOMORROW’S WWE NETWORK SCHEDULE 

    12:00 AM ET
    WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end. 

    12:30 AM ET
    THE WWE LIST Whether it’s winning the Diva’s Championship, or posting a very flattering photos on Twitter… These Divas do it all to stay trending.

    1:00 AM ET
    MONDAY NIGHT WAR Media mogul Ted Turner launches WCW Monday Nitro in direct competition against Vince McMahon and WWE

    2:00 AM ET
    TUESDAY NIGHT TITANS Vince McMahon hosts Tuesday Night Titans with Lord Alfred Hayes. Guests include Nikolai Volkoff, Captain Lou Albano, and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

    3:00 AM ET
    TUESDAY NIGHT TITANS Vince McMahon hosts Tuesday Night Titans with Lord Alfred Hayes. Guests include Sky Low Low, Captain Lou Albano, and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

    4:00 AM ET
    PRIME TIME WRESTLING Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan shows his holiday spirit as he and Gorilla Monsoon host an exciting Thanksgiving edition of Prime Time Wrestling!

    6:00 AM ET
    MONDAY NIGHT WAR Media mogul Ted Turner launches WCW Monday Nitro in direct competition against Vince McMahon and WWE

    7:00 AM ET
    WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end. 

    7:30 AM ET
    THE WWE LIST Whether it’s winning the Diva’s Championship, or posting a very flattering photos on Twitter… These Divas do it all to stay trending.

    8:00 AM ET
    LEGENDS HOUSE The legends play a polo match…WWE style! Back at the Legends House, Tony Atlas and ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan attempt to co-exist.

    9:00 AM ET
    MONDAY NIGHT WAR Media mogul Ted Turner launches WCW Monday Nitro in direct competition against Vince McMahon and WWE

    10:00 AM ET
    WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end.

    10:30 AM ET
    THE WWE LIST Whether it’s winning the Diva’s Championship, or posting a very flattering photos on Twitter… These Divas do it all to stay trending.

    11:00 AM ET
    LEGENDS HOUSE The legends play a polo match…WWE style! Back at the Legends House, Tony Atlas and ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan attempt to co-exist.

    12:00 PM ET
    MONDAY NIGHT WAR Media mogul Ted Turner launches WCW Monday Nitro in direct competition against Vince McMahon and WWE

    1:00 PM ET
    WWE TOUGH TALK Join The Miz as he recaps all of the TOUGH ENOUGH highlights and sits down with the eliminated competitor whose WWE journey came to an end. 

    1:30 PM ET
    THE WWE LIST Whether it’s winning the Diva’s Championship, or posting a very flattering photos on Twitter… These Divas do it all to stay trending.

    2:00 PM ET
    LEGENDS HOUSE The legends play a polo match…WWE style! Back at the Legends House, Tony Atlas and ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan attempt to co-exist.

    3:00 PM ET
    WWE COUNTDOWN Counting down the Top Ten Most Epic Smackdown Moments of all time!

    4:00 PM ET
    WWE UNFILTERED WITH RENEE YOUNG Renee’s back! Join the Unfiltered host for an exclusive interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the cast of Terminator Genisys!

    4:15 PM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Brie and Bryan get married, and Nikki’s marriage is finally exposed to John. The Divas compete at WrestleMania for the Diva’s Championship.

    5:00 PM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Nikki plans a future without boyfriend John Cena. Eva’s life is turned upside down when she must decide between family and her husband.

    6:00 PM ET
    SWERVED R-Truth gets a lesson in gym safety, a frisky granny invades Axxess and Kofi locks the champ out of Extreme Rules.

    6:30 PM ET
    THE WWE LIST Whether it’s winning the Diva’s Championship, or posting a very flattering photos on Twitter… These Divas do it all to stay trending.

    7:00 PM ET
    WWE BEYOND THE RING Big Show lays claim to the title of World’s Largest Athlete. An in-depth look at the 7-foot giant’s career both inside the ring and out.

    8:00 PM ET
    WWE NXT The future is here. Witness the entertainers, the leading men and women, the Superstars of tomorrow – this is NXT!

    9:00 PM ET
    WWE UNFILTERED WITH RENEE YOUNG Renee’s back! Join the Unfiltered host for an exclusive interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the cast of Terminator Genisys!

    9:15 PM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Brie and Bryan get married, and Nikki’s marriage is finally exposed to John. The Divas compete at WrestleMania for the Diva’s Championship.

    10:00 PM ET
    TOTAL DIVAS Nikki plans a future without boyfriend John Cena. Eva’s life is turned upside down when she must decide between family and her husband.

    11:00 PM ET
    WWE NXT The future is here. Witness the entertainers, the leading men and women, the Superstars of tomorrow – this is NXT!