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  • Fan Feedback: UFC sponsorships and Mexico training

    Submitted by Mark Libell

    I wanted to write and share a few thoughts about the UFC/Reebok deal in the context of the the Mexico card as the Reebok deal is about to go into place July 1. I’ve heard a lot of commentary in the media comparing the UFC to NFL/NBA etc. with regard to advertising on uniforms and the league ultimately controlling the uniform’s content. 

    I think the better analogy though is NASCAR, not because fighters and drivers have the same demands on them, but because both are sports where the competitor funds their product. NASCAR teams find their own sponsors to subsidize the costs of fielding a car. MMA fighters have to subsidize the costs of training. NBA/NFL/MLB/Hockey/Soccer all are sports where the league/team covers the costs of training and the athlete doesn’t have to worry about raising money for that.  NASCAR is privately owned by the France family while UFC is privately owned largely by the Fertittas. 

    In NASCAR/MMA, the athlete is responsible for helping recruit sponsors to subsidize the costs of competing. NASCAR drivers are walking billboards, oftentimes with sponsors that may compete with sponsors of NASCAR the entity. They need all those patches on their uniform or stickers on their car though to pool the money to have the equipment necessary to compete at a high level. Unless UFC is willing to put fighters on salary, or cover the costs of training, fighters should be able to make money off of sponsors fight week. Look at the recent Mexico City card. 

    Gilbert Melendez has taken grief for not going to Mexico City sooner and is viewed as having wasted prior purses because he said he couldn’t afford it. (some folks seem to think the cost of moving a training camp to Mexico is as cheap as a spring break trip to Cancun, not factoring in the number of people involved, the necessary food/supplements, quality lodging for everyone, etc). But when you consider a fighter is living off of maybe three fight purses a year, is paying 35-40% or more of that in state and federal taxes, is paying a cut to managers and trainers and sparring partners, and has no retirement from the UFC, I can certainly believe it wouldn’t make financial sense to pay for extra weeks in Mexico in a world where sponsors have been dropping fighters ahead of the July 1 Reebok deal taking effect. In the UFC of a year ago, pre-Reebok announcement, maybe Melendez lines up enough sponsors to offset the costs of 3 or 4 extra weeks in Mexico. 

    To someone making $40,000 a year, Melendez or other fighters might appear to have it made making $100,000 a fight or more, but they don’t factor in what the actual takehome pay for that fight is after tax/training and the years at the beginning of a fighter’s career where they make next to nothing and have no health insurance and could be running up debts,and the years after retirement where there is no fight-related pension. Fighters make a choice to go into this profession, but mma fighters in particular receive a fraction of the revenue they generate and can have short careers with extended periods of inactivity during them. 

    With sponsors dropping fighters ahead of Reebok taking effect, rolling the dice on not going to Mexico was probably the smart financial risk. It was a close fight that Melendez could have won in which case he would have had win and show money and not incurred the costs of extra weeks in Mexico. Cathal Pendred went to Mexico early, won a boring fight and said he lost money on the deal. Melendez even with a win was still several fights from getting another title shot, and has a chance to redeem himself in San Diego in July. It’s easy to say in hindsight because he lost that going to Mexico early was the smart decision, but the economic realities for fighters make those decisions much more complicated, and those choices will only get tougher once Reebok takes effect and you can’t have any additional fight week sponsors. 

  • Life, times and disappointments, the career of Buddy Landel, plus Kimbo vs Shamrock, work or shoot, Lots of WWE injury updates; Details on how to order the print edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter

    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 new issue is up on the site at http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/43241-including-

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show on the history of the site are at  http://www.f4wonline.com/member/signup.php

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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.

  • NWA launching online video service with complete Paul Boesch Houston wrestling library

    By Josh Nason, WrestlingObserver.com

    On Thursday, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) announced they are jumping into the on-demand video ocean, launching a cost-effective service on July 4th that will feature classic matches from the promotion’s history.

    Here’s the details:

    – The service will be called NWA Classics 24/7 and will launch on Saturday, July 4th. NWAClassics.com will launch next week.

    – It will have the entire Paul Boesch Houston Wrestling library with many of the matches complete with original commentary by Boesch himself. The matches span the late 1960’s through 1986. The library was stored in an air conditioned unit, and the quality and clarity of the audio and color is said to be amazing. Some of these matches have not been seen in over 40 years.

    – The cost will be $8.99/mo which includes unlimited access to the library. A year’s subscription will be reduced to $99.99 (basically 2 months free).

    – 50 matches will be released in the first month with 30 new matches added monthly. NWA president Bruce Tharpe said they have enough vintage content to keep up that pace for years.

    – Some of the matches included in the first month’s release:

    – Harley Race vs. Andre the Giant for the NWA World Title
    – Butch Reed vs. Magnum TA
    – NWA World Title Match – Ric Flair vs. Wahoo McDaniel
    – Kevin Von Erich vs. Chris Adams
    – Dory and Terry Funk vs. Mil Mascaras and Jose Lothario
    – Gino Hernandez vs. Ivan Putski
    – Butch Reed vs. Buddy Landell in a “Shoeshine Match”
    – Ivan Putski vs. Abdullah the Butcher
    – Brad Armstrong vs. One Man Gang
    – NWA World Title Match – Ric Flair vs. Terry Taylor
    – NWA World Title Match – Ric Flair vs. Butch Reed
    – Nick Bockwinkel vs. Bruiser Brody
    – $20,000 Two-Ring Battle Royal
    – Early Shawn Michaels footage, the JYD, Jake “the Snake” Roberts, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, The Rock n’ Roll Express, and more.

  • Life and times of Dusty Rhodes part one, WWE direction, Altitutde, Tough Enough, How to get a print subscription to the Observer and get this week’s special double issue

    Part one of the life and career of Dusty Rhodes is the feature in the new double issue of the Wrestling Observer.  We also look at WWE coming out of the Money in the Bank PPV and where things are going next, UFC in Mexico City and the Fabricio Werdum win over Cain Velasquez, more on how Mayweather & Pacquiao set PPV records and who was buying, the debut of Global Force Wrestling, Tough Enough and Verano de Escandalo are also covered.  

    The new issue is up on the site at http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/43096-june-22-2015-wrestling-observer-newsletter-part-1-of-giant-dusty-rhodes-obituary-gfws-1st-shows-and-much-more

    Web site subscriptions, which include access to both current and older newsletters as well as every audio show on the history of the site are at  http://www.f4wonline.com/member/signup.php

    You can also order the print Observer right now and get it delivered to your door via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com”>dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    You can also order at www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com

    Rates are:

    For the United States, it is $13 for 4 issues, $32 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $14.50 for 4, $35 for 12, $67 for 24, $111 for 40 and $144 or 52.  In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to moonsault@mediaplusint.com  For the rest of the world, rates are $16.50 for 4, $44 for 12, $85 for 24, $141 for 40 issues and $183 for 52.

    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.

    The lead story covers the life and early career of Dusty Rhodes.  We have a lot of his career records.  We look at fact vs. fiction about his life before wrestling, and his road to the top in wrestling.  We have an overview of the key points of his career, as well as rundown his early territories and the build to his babyface persona.  We’ve got comments by many people most associated with him during his career.  We look at health issues, the outpouring of emotion, an eerie thing written by Rhodes just ten day before his death where exactly what he didn’t want to be most remembered for was brought up.  We look at the WWF character and the real reasons behind it. 

    We also look at the rise and fall of Jim Crockett Promotions, the fall of the UWF, the last year of JCP, the TBS purchase, why Rhodes was fired from the company and how Rhodes ended up back in WCW.  We also look at why he retired from the ring, and the irony of what he said about who could and couldn’t book wrestling in the late 90s. 

    We look at Rhodes mentions on spots shows this past week,  and his role in helping talent currently on the main roster. 

    We look at the original Dusty Rhodes, his doing backyard wrestling, his college days going to matches, West Texas State football and how he got into pro wrestling.  We look at his early territorial work, his first pushes and his rise to prominence.

    We look back at the Texas Outlaws tag team with Dick Murdoch, how they got publicity as the top tag team of 1970 with two world tag team titles at the same time, his first run in Florida and how big he was put over on the first TV show there, his brief time in Australia as world tag team champion and who his manager was.  We look at why the run was so short, his working for Bill Watts as a single star, the Crusher vs. Dusty Rhodes dynamic, the first taste of Rhodes as a babyface, who Dusty pitched to Eddie Graham about bringing in as his younger brother, why Dusty was able to be a much better promo in Florida than he could in the AWA, Rhodes vs. Lou Thesz, Rhodes vs. Jack Brisco, the American Dream turns babyface and the quest for the NWA title achieved.

    We also look at the direction for Battleground and full coverage of Money in the Bank.

    We also look at the stories behind UFC 188 and have full coverage of the show.

    We also look at the upcoming Hogan lawsuit, more dates booked for Brock Lesnar, wrestler who was on Raw last year trying out for Tough Enough, Kevin Owens talks John Cena, Dwayne Johnson movie notes, more notes from the WWE camp, More NXT road dates, WWE stock notes and network predictions, Chyna at WWE headquarters, plus more notes on the last NXT tour and a rundown of the business and weekend house shows and an interesting note about that business.

    We look at why bought Mayweather-Pacquiao and what can be learned from it.

    We look at the debut of Global Force Wrestling and the problems facing the promotion, its first weekend of shows, second weekend and first television tapings.

    We also look at AAA’s Verano de Escandalo show.

    We look at the finalists for this season of Tough Enough, who they were and where they came from.

    We also have an interesting look at DVR usage during pro wrestling shows and what it says about the various products.

    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:

    –First notes on the annual Universal champion of champions tournament

    –An interesting result where a major promotion’s top star put over an indie wrestler clean

    –The Busca en un Idolo tournament

    –What CMLL show drew the biggest crowd of the week and it was outside of Mexico City

    –Update on Negro Casas concussion

    –Latest from Arena Mexico

    –Former world champion boxer marries pro wrestling star

    –International stars coming to PWG

    –Wrestle-One comes to the U.S. and Philadelphia show notes

    –Dragon Gate changes several championships and a look at the next two big shows

    –What U.S. stars are headed to Dragon Gate shortly

    –Mitsuharu Misawa Tribute week in NOAH and what legends attended the big show

    –GHC title match with neither wrestler being associated with the NOAH brand

    –Update on Takeshi Morishima retirement match

    –Notes on G-1 Climax ticket sales

    –Update on Yoshitatsu

    –Shinya Hashimoto Memorial show lineup

    –A note on the Hashimoto legacy

    –Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roderick Strong rematch and how it came to be

    –New Japan stars headed back to England and a look at their most recent England appearance

    –New Japan stars headed back to ROH soon

    –Current MMA world champion headlines IGF pro wrestling event

    –King of DDT tournament notes

    –Notes from the Championship Wrestling from Florida tribute event this past week

    –Update on Blackjack Mulligan

    –Details on Josh Alexander and his upcoming neck surgery

    –Former WWE developmental talent on a CBS reality show

    –Former wrestlers drop lawsuit against WWE

    –How rules in New York affect indie groups and what rule in the books isn’t enforced at all

    –What are the biggest expenses

    –Major movie with Kevin Nash coming out soon

    –New promotion debuts on national TV in July

    –80s star writing an autobiography

    –Notes on some stadium shows coming this summer

    –Case reopened on the murder of an 80s pro wrestler

    –Notes on Ultima Lucha

    –Two wrestlers under consideration for season two of Lucha Underground

    –Notes on the New York ROH shows and complete lineup

    –Notes on ROH on Destination America

    –TNA makes big play for former WWE major star

    –Changes in the TNA PPV show

    –Return of King of the Mountain

    –Update on Jeff Hardy

    –More on Slammiversary

    –Problems with weight cutting

    –Details behind drug test controversy with Jose Aldo in Brazil

    –This week’s UFC show

    –More on UFC deal with Titan Fighting Championships

    –UFC debuts in Saskatchewan with action main event

    –Future of Johny Hendricks

    –Update on C.M. Punk and his UFC debut

    –Lots of new UFC fights

    –Kimbo/Shamrock notes

    –Kimbo and Shamrock favor allowing PEDs in MMA

    –Looking at the Bellator show

    –Retirement of Peter Aerts and his legacy

    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.

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    *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)

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    *August 15, 2007 (The legend of the God of Japanese wrestling and his influence on MMA, Karl Gotch)

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    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.

  • TNA News: Update on Jeff Jarrett deal, what it means for Global Force Wrestling

    By Dave Meltzer, WrestlingObserver.com

    While details are still sketchy with everything regarding the Jeff Jarrett deal with TNA, it will include some form of TNA participation at the July 24th Global Force Wrestling TV tapings in Las Vegas, NV. Magnus is believed to be booked on that show and there may be others.

  • UFC announces plans for July 11

    The UFC announced tonight that Jose Aldo does not have a fractured rib, but has a bone bruise and cartilage damage in his ribs.  It is not certain whether his match with Conor McGregor will take place on 7/11.

    The company announced that if Aldo can’t fight on the show, that the new main event would be McGregor vs. Chad Mendes in a match that would be a five round fight for the interim featherweight title.

  • VIDEO: Jeff Jarrett returns to TNA Impact

  • WWE Smackdown June 25 TV results & recap: Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

    By Steve Khan, WrestlingObserver.com

    – Airdate: June 25, 2015 (June 24 in Canada)

    – Location: Huntington Center in Toledo, OH

    The Big News:

    Seth Rollins beat Dean Ambrose again.

    Show Recap:

    Jimmy Uso, in his gear and face paint, was on commentary, and is replacing Byron Saxton for the next few weeks. This was Uso’s first appearance on Raw or SmackDown since WrestleMania. Also, Eden is back as ring announcer.

    They aired a long recap of Seth Rollins and company beating up Brock Lesnar on Raw. Rollins came out with Kane and Joey Mercury to start the show. Rollins said The Authority is back and they burned Suplex City to the ground.

    Rollins reminded us that he broke up the Shield and called The Authority his family. He acknowledged that Jamie Noble suffered three broken ribs at the hands of Lesnar. People cheered. Rollins said he and Mercury spent all night in the hospital with Noble and dedicated SmackDown to him.

    Rollins put over Kane and they shook hands. Kane said nobody, including Lesnar, could cross The Authority without consequences. Kane said Big Show wasn’t here because of Ryback. Kane asked Ryback to come out and of course he did.

    Rollins said Ryback should take lessons on how to act like a champion from him. Ryback called himself a real champion and ripped on Rollins for being an overprotected sellout. Kane put himself in a match with Ryback.

    As the heels left to Kane’s music, Rollins told them to cut the music and said he’s tired of being disrespected. (He waited until being far away from Ryback to say this.) Rollins said he didn’t just barely beat Dean Ambrose at Money in the Bank, he annihilated him. Rollins put himself in a match with Ambrose tonight.

    Sheamus beat Dolph Ziggler (w/Lana) via pinfall

    Rusev came out almost immediately, pleading with Lana to go back to him. She didn’t, so Rusev yelled that he was done with her. Sheamus tried a Brogue kick but Ziggler dropkicked him to the outside.

    After a break, they went back and forth with quick counters and Ziggler hit a superkick for a near fall. Uso dropped a “superkick party” reference. Sheamus crotched Ziggler on the top rope and hit a Brogue kick for the win. Weird finish. Sheamus should win matches like these but Ziggler just lost like it was nothing.

    Backstage, Rusev was freaking out and Summer Rae told him Lana isn’t worth it.

    They replayed Rollins turning on The Shield last year. Throughout the show, they aired more recent clips from the Rollins-Ambrose rivalry to push tonight’s main event.

    Alicia Fox (w/Bella Twins) beat Naomi (w/Tamina) via pinfall

    They asked Uso what he thought of Naomi’s recent actions. Uso said he supports his wife and he’s going to leave it at that. Good answer. Naomi got in the Bellas’ faces outside the ring, and Tamina superkicked both Brie and Nikki. Uso again called this a superkick party. Naomi celebrated, but when she re-entered the ring, Alicia caught her with a stupid-looking move for the win. This was dumb.

    Backstage, JoJo asked The New Day about their cold streak. Big E was in the middle of preaching but the Prime Time Players interrupted to remind New Day that they suck. Titus did his best Big E impression and said one of the New Day members would have to sit out at Battleground.

    Titus and Darren left, and Bo Dallas jumped in. Bo likes New Day and asked The Authority to join them in a match tonight. New Day like Bo Dallas, and they gave him some clap therapy. This was fun. Big E is amazing.

    Ryback beat Kane (w/Big Show) via DQ

    Big Show jumped Ryback during his entrance and beat on him for a while. He dumped Ryback in the ring and Kane demanded the referee start the match. Kane pinned Ryback but he kicked out at two.

    Kane kicked him around for a while but Ryback made a comeback, hitting a spinebuster and clothesline. He went for a shell shock but Show interfered for the DQ. Show chokeslammed Ryback twice. I actually thought this was a fine angle, but it suffered from the problem that will never go away–that it involved Kane and Big Show getting all the heat.

    They recapped Tough Enough and announced that Roman Reigns would be on the show next week.

    8-Man Tag Match: Prime Time Players & Lucha Dragons beat The New Day & Bo Dallas via pinfall

    As the heels worked over Sin Cara, Xavier Woods asked Jimmy Uso how his brother was doing. Sin Cara used a hurricanrana on Kingston and made the hot tag to Kalisto. Everyone eventually jumped in to hit a move, leading to Sin Cara hitting a dive on Kingston, Big E and Bo outside the ring. Kalito hit Woods with a 450 splash for the win. I guess this sets up the Lucha Dragons as contenders when New Day get their titles back. Or maybe it doesn’t.

    Backstage, Dean Ambrose told Roman Reigns he’s tired of Bray Wyatt and thought they should search every hallway in the building and take him out Cincinnati-style, which would include using a 5-pound weight and a sock.

    Reigns said they’re not in Cincinnati, that he’s a grown man, and would beat Bray’s ass at Battleground. Reigns told Ambrose he should watch his back now that Rollins and The Authority are on the same page. Reigns then said he had Ambrose’s back tonight.

    After Ambrose left, Reigns noticed a picture of himself with “Anyone But You” scribbled on it. Then, moments after saying he was a grown man, Reigns lost it over this and stormed off.

    After a break, Reigns was hunting for Bray. Reigns asked a backstage geek where Wyatt was. The guy didn’t know, so Reigns took off the guy’s headset and said they better find him. Kane caught Reigns harassing an employee, so he had Reigns ejected. Security came but Reigns left on his own.

    WWE Champion Seth Rollins beat Dean Ambrose via pinfall – Non-Title

    Rollins worked over Ambrose’s knee but he was able to come back with a double-underhook suplex off the middle rope. Ambrose nailed a face buster for two and tried another suplex off the ropes, but Rollins hit a superkick for two.

    Kane tried to interfere, so Ambrose caught him with a suicide dive. Ambrose nailed a top rope elbow on Rollins but Mercury distracted the referee. Ambrose whipped Rollins into Mercury and used a school boy for a near fall, followed by a tornado DDT for another near fall.

    Ambrose sent Rollins to the outside and took out all three heels with a top rope elbow. Ambrose turned Rollins inside out with a rebound clothesline. Mercury tried to interfere again, so Ambrose pulled him into the ring and tried Dirty Deeds. Rollins jumped in and hit a pedigree for the win.

    The finish was messy with Mercury getting in the ring and the referee just standing there watching. Ambrose technically pulled him in, but still. Also, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Roman Reigns never came back since everyone just blindly does what they’re told.

    Final Thoughts:

    A mostly mundane show. Ambrose vs. Rollins is always fun, but we just saw them have a ladder match less than two weeks ago, and this was just a backdrop to the larger story, that The Authority always wins. Suplex City isn’t the only thing they’re burning to the ground.

    Also, with Noble out, perhaps now would be a good time to give Rollins some new muscle. Like, I don’t know, Cesaro.

  • WWE NXT June 24 TV results & recap: Finn Balor vs. Rhyno II, Greatest Video Package Ever II

    By Emerson Witner, WrestlingObserver.com & Wrestling Outsiders Podcast

    The Big News:

    We got part 2 of THE GREATEST VIDEO PACKAGE EVER and part 2 of the Finn Balor-Rhyno rivalry.

    Show recap:

    The show began with the entire NXT roster on the stage, including Hideo Itami and Sami Zayn, as Triple H paid tribute to Dusty Rhodes. Most of them were on the verge of breaking down with Kevin Owens heavy breathing and Mr. Regal wiping away tears. Everyone stood for a 10 bell salute.

    After the proper open of the show, we are joined by Hideo Itami with his arm in a sling. We get reminded that Kevin Owens just happened to walk by Itami lying on the ground. Greg Hamilton, who is still a better announcer than JoJo, interviewed him. Hideo, who is out 3-4 months, cannot wait to be back. He is just returning from a trip to Japan promoting the NXT Title match July 4. He promises to be there to challenge the winner. Of course this brings out the champ!

    Kevin Owens said it is very nice that he will be in Japan to see his wife and kids, but too bad he won’t be competing. Owens said that he will end Balor for good on July 4. Kevin stumbled over his words in trying to say Hideo is delusional, which he then said he sounded like Hideo trying to speak English. However there is no way he is leaving Tokyo without the NXT Title. Owens said he had nothing to do with Itami’s injury and if he did he would be in the hospital next to Sami Zayn. Owens also said he is demanding an apology because Itami called Owens a bad person a few weeks ago.

    Itami called him a great champion, but a terrible human being. Owens took offense and went to take him out, so of course Finn Balor ran down to attack him. Balor was about to do a dive off the ramp when Rhyno attacked him! Rhyno threw him off the stage and stood happily over the #1 Contender.

    Enzo Amore & Colin Cassidy defeated Jason Jordan & Sylvester Lefort

    Justin Henry’s favorite tag team kicks off the in ring action this week as the Long Islanders continue their quest to becoming the NXT Tag Team Champions. Enzo and Sylvester Lefort feuded last year and their Hair vs Hair match led to Marcus Louis getting his head shaved. Plus Sylvester is Jason Jordan’s second potential partner. When will he just take Chad Gable? I wonder how many times Jason slammed the heavy bag on Tough Enough last night? Colin never tagged into the match as the heels beat on Enzo who surprised Jordan with a roll up for the sudden win! I approve of this.

    – Last week, Samoa Joe cut a promo saying he still wants to fight Kevin Owens.

    Dana Brooke (w/Emma) pinned Cassie

    Brooke returns from competing in fitness competitions to grapple with Cassie. Byron Saxton noted that Cassie and Emma are both from Australia, which caused Corey and Rich to make fun of him the entire match for that. Emma looked completely bored by this match while the crowd chanted “Dana sucks” in the same way they would chant “New Day sucks”. Cassie got a fiery comeback, including a running spin kick, but she got beaten with the sit out Death Valley Driver.

    – Charlotte cut a promo backstage saying she is going to kick Dana’s ass as soon as she gets the chance.

    – We got Part 2 of the GREATEST VIDEO PACKAGE EVER documenting the career of Finn Balor. If you didn’t watch Part 1, not sure what you are waiting for and now go watch both that and this part. He talked about legos and New Japan. We saw Jason Albert talk about him in Japan paying his dues. We got pictures with him and Karl Anderson, Taka Michinoku, Yuji Nagata and Hiroshi Tanahashi. They also showed a little bit of match footage and a bunch of Bullet Club stuff.

    Next week is Part 3. July 4 at 5:30am EST, Finn wins the championship from Kevin Owens.

    – Bull Dempsey has been ordered to get in better shape. Seriously, whose Cheerios did he piss in? We got a bunch of pictures of Bull eating and being sloth-like.

    The Hype Bros defeated Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins

    Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder now have a team name. Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins do not have a team name, but they should be teaming with Jason Jordan, since they all wear their amateur singlets.

    This team actually works. Who thought that if you take two annoying people and put them in a team together that they would be a good team? They got the heat on Mojo, which seems like the backwards thing to do. Fulton and Dawkins did the Charlie Haas/Shelton Benjamin leap over each other and come down on the back of their foe.

    Ryder made the hot tag and a Pier 6 brawl broke out with Ryder eventually pinning Dawkins with the Rough Ryder off the middle rope as Mojo held him up.

    – Mr. Regal was texting someone when Eva Marie walked in and asked for a match. Mr. Regal became the biggest heel in the company by giving Eva an opportunity. They didn’t set a match up for her, but sadly it’s coming.

    Finn Balor pinned Rhyno

    Three weeks ago Finn pinned Rhyno clean, so Rhyno gave him a Gore on the ramp. Then earlier this evening Rhyno threw Finn off the three foot high ramp. The NXT Champion came out before the match and settled himself down at the commentary table. It never fails to be entertaining when Owens goes to the table because Saxton sells it as if Owens was Brock Lesnar and Saxton was Michael Cole.

    Owens accused Saxton of calling Kevin a liar since Byron keeps asking him if he had anything to do with attacking Hideo, which Kevin has said time and again he had nothing to do with.

    Kevin said he will celebrate Independence Day, calling it a great movie, when he beats Itami in Tokyo. Owens kept going off on Byron for constantly asking him questions instead of talking about the match, where Rhyno beat down the #1 Contender.

    Rhyno went for a clothesline, Balor ducked it and hit the Pele Kick. Another head kick later and Owens went to ringside. Rhyno hit a belly to belly suplex off the distraction, but Balor came back with the Slingblade and the Coup de Grace for the win! Owens hit the ring as soon as the match was over and we got a 2-on-1 beat down on Balor. Finally, Samoa Joe ran in to make the save, causing the heels to scurry away.

    That does it for this week! Until next week, when it is the go home show for July 4, remember to say your vitamins and take your prayers!

  • Update on Aldo vs. McGregor

    Dana White just tweeted out “I don’t everyone not to worry” and a graphic indicating Aldo vs. McGregor is still on.