Message-ID: 

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com

9/18/2003 2:36:00 PM

Thursday update: Angle sad irony, Smackdown preview and early reviews,
Hogan, Dome line-up announced, Pride line-up announced, Tito on Leno,
Cage match DVD, Ratings, Best selling books and much more
 
by Dave Meltzer

dave{at}wrestlingobserver.com

We're looking for your thoughts on last night's NWA TNA PPV show, so
you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along
with a best and worst match to dave{at}wrestlingobserver.com.

Of course, tonight is the Smackdown show headlined by the one hour
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar match. Most of the live reports indicated
it was among the best wrestling TV shows in years, so we'll see. The
rating is also very important, because if it doesn't do well, I don't
think we'll be seeing anything over 30 minutes for a long time. If it
does, we'll probably see more long matches (which isn't good, because
these should be kept few and far between on television). Complete
line-up:
*Chris Benoit & Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri & Rhyno
*Torrie Wilson & Nidia vs. Shaniqua
*Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas vs. Chavo & Eddy Guerrero for tag
titles
*Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar for Smackdown title in Iron Man rules
match
We're interested in your feedback as to where this ranks among the
most famous long matches in modern U.S. wrestling history, such as HHH
vs. Rock (2000), Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (1996), Curt Hennig vs.
Nick Bockwinkel (1986), Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (1986 and 1987),
Ric Flair vs. Sting (1988) and Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (1989).

This is from a reader who doesn't want his name out who saw it live on
the dish Tuesday night: "Match was superb. I had high hopes going in
and was actually expecting to be disappointed. Certainly was not.
Outstanding show. I personally think it would have to go back to some
of the great Clashes to compare it with this week's Smackdown. It was
one of the top five wrestling programs ever to air on TV in North
America. Because it will be the most watched of all the Match of the
Year candidates this year, I think it will win for sure. It will
probably be the most watched legit Match of the year candidate dating
back to Flair-Steamboat." (Note: Far more people will watch this match
than Flair-Steamboat even though it won't do nearly the rating, just
because so many fewer homes had cable in 1989).

--In a bizarre coincidence, ABC interviewed Kurt Angle on the subject
of angina on Monday afternoon for a story that was posted this morning
on abcnews.go.com. That was just a few hours before the death of his
sister from heart problems. The reporter was not aware of the death of
his sister when posting the story. Angle is off all the house shows
this weekend and the WWE did announce later yesterday that Lesnar vs.
Undertaker in a cage match will headline Madison Square Garden on
Saturday night.

--The new season of Survivor opens today with independent wrestler Jon
Dalton as the lead and most obnoxious character. Survivor web sites
list him as one of the first people voted off the show. I wonder if
the networks at their stockholders meetings complain that internet
spoilers are the reason Survivor's ratings aren't what they once were.

--New Japan has a press conference scheduled for tonight. It is
believed to be to announce the Hogan vs. Chono match, if the deal can
be put together. The company held a press conference earlier today to
announce Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the IWGP title,
Josh Barnett vs. Yoshiki Takahashi for the King of Pancrase open
weight title, a Junior heavyweight Royal Rumble with Jushin Liger,
Koji Kanemoto, El Samurai, Tiger Mask, Heat, Masahito Kakihara,
Masayuki Naruse, Gedo, Jado and Katsushi Takemura

--Pride announced earlier today the following matches for its 10/5
show at the Saitama Super Arena: Carlos Newton vs. Renzo Gracie,
Dokonojonsuke Mishima vs. Ralph Gracie, Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Daniel
Gracie, Daijyu Takase vs Rodrigo Gracie and Kazuhiro Hamanaka vs. Ryan
Gracie. Four more matches will be added to the show. It won't air on
PPV in the U.S. until 12/21, so nobody will care much about this one.

--Shelton Benjamin will be undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery today
and be out for a few weeks

--Tito Ortiz and Bruce Buffer will appear in a skit on the Jay Leno
show on Friday night. Also featured in the segment were Fabiano Iha
and Dean Lister.

--Sunday Kimo vs. Rene Rooze match on the K-1 show at the Yokohama
Arena has been changed to Rooze vs. Ivan Salaverry (much smaller guy
but also much better fighter). This will be an MMA rules match and not
a K-1 rules match. Kimo had to cancel due to an ankle injury.

--TOP 15 BEST SELLING PRO WRESTLING BOOKS (based on amazon.com
rankings from earlier today)
1. Lita by Amy Dumas (1,140)
2. Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling by R.D. Reynolds
(9,141)*
3. Classy Freddie Blassie by Fred Blassie (12,244)
4. Have More Money Now by Bradshaw (12,283)
5. Bobby the Brain by Bobby Heenan (17,796)
6. Hollywood Hulk Hogan by Hulk Hogan (17,807)
7. Stone Cold Steve Austin by Steve Austin (18,952)*
8. Hardy Boyz by Matt & Jeff Hardy (20,706)
9. In the Pit with Piper by Roddy Piper (28,148)
10. The Rock Says by Rock (31,571)
11. I'm Next by Bill Goldberg (34,813) 
12. Positively Page by Diamond Dallas Page (45,500)
13. Bodyslams by Gary Cappetta (51,758)
14. Foley is Good by Mick Foley (51,890)
15. It's Good to be a King Sometimes by Jerry Lawler (53,583)
*Based on advanced orders for books not released 
Notes: The Lita book was released two days ago to very little fanfare
and an uncharacteristic lack of hype on WWE television, but it is
still opening strong. I figured, like the Hardys book, this would have
a strong open because of their cult following, but didn't figure on
the lack of hype. I haven't read the book so can't comment on it, but
the staying power will probably not be strong unless it's a really
good book. Aside from that, none of the books are selling right now.
Mick Foley's Tietam Brown was at 10,510.

--Results from Arena Coliseo in Mexico City on Tuesday night for the
TV taping: Astro Boy & Sombra de Plata & Zetta b Polvora & Sakura &
Vaquero, Dr. X & Starman & Alan Stone b Halcon Negro & Mogur &
Valentin Mayo, Ringo Mendoza & El Sicodelico Jr. & Tigre Blanco b
Hooligan & Mazada & Veneno-DQ, Tag team tournament with heel & face
partners: Rayo de Jalisco Jr. & El Satanico b Dr. Wagner Jr. & Villano
III, Black Tiger & Vampiro b Olimpico & Universo 2000, Rayo & Satanico
b Tiger & Vampiro, Atlantis b Black Warrior in more than 30:00 to keep
Tohoku Jr. title (thanks to Kris Zellner)

--WWE will be releasing a five-and-a-half hour double DVD set of
famous cage matches featuring Bruno Sammartino vs. Ivan Koloff (1975),
Bob Backlund vs. Pat Patterson (1979), Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko
(1980), Backlund vs. Stan Hansen (1981), Backlund vs. Jimmy Snuka
(1982), Snuka vs. Don Muraco (1983), Magnum T.A. vs. Tully Blanchard
(1985), Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes (1986), Rock & Roll Express vs. Ole
& Arn Anderson (1986), Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff (1987), Flair vs.
Ron Garvin (1987), Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (1993), Bret Hart
vs. Owen Hart (1994), Bret Hart vs. Isaac Yankem (Kane) (1995), HHH
vs. Mankind (1997), HHH vs. Rock (1999), Vince McMahon vs. Steve
Austin (1999), Edge & Christian vs. Hardys (2000), Kurt Angle vs.
Chris Benoit (2001) and Edge vs. Angle (2002) (thanks to Frank
Douglas)

--Raw's two hours finished No. 5 and No. 10 in the cable ratings this
week. They won't see No. 1 until January at the earliest with the NFL
having the top spots. The Sunday night ESPN game was first, and the
pre-game show was second. The movie "Sex and Single Mom" was third on
Lifetime and a SpongeBob episode was No. 4.

--Mediaweek.com has already written that after debuting at No. 88 with
a strong lead-in, the chances of "The Mullets" taking it are
"grim."

--The City Council in Norwich, England pulled the plug on a 10/4
wrestling show because promoters Ricky and Julia (Sweet Saraya) Knight
didn't have correct permits for a show scheduled to be headlined by
Jake Roberts. The two had a public entertainment license, but failed
to get a sports entertainment license, which take 28 days to be
approved.

--The Florida Times-Union reviewed the new K-1 video game called K-1
World Grand Prix, and noted that Bob Sapp is not in the game. How do
things like that happen? (thanks to Wes Jones)

--Today is the 10 year anniversary of the day Paul Heyman had his
first show as ECW booker on September 18, 1993 with the debut of
Public Enemy. (thanks to Jeff Schoun)

--WWE is advertising for a Storyline Researcher, whose job is to help
the writing staff maintain continuity in storylines and research
future storylines for continuity issues, chart Neilsen ratings to
provide analysis of trends (jeez, just buy an Observer), generate
ideas. One of the requirements is knowledge of past and present WWE
talent and storylines. They also want 2 plus years of soap opera
writing experience.

--TNA Xplosion results from last night: Erik Watts b Rip Stone, Elix
Skipper b Jerrelle Clark, Christopher Daniels b ?, C.M. Punk & Julio
Dinero b J-Rocc & ?, Sean Casey b Kato (thanks to Jimmie Daniel)

--NWC tonight in Charleston, IL at Stix Bar and Grill on the EIU
campus with a 10 p.m. show headlined by Honky tonk Man and Tracy
Smothers

--The Hall of Fame banquet in New Rochelle, NY we've written about was
canceled because the club it was scheduled at wouldn't be completed.
They are looking for both a new location and a new date.

--Bryan White at HomelessBastid{at}aol.com is looking for tapes of the X
division tournament show and the one cent TNA recap shows.

--ACW on 10/4 in Charlotte at the West Charlotte Rec Center

--Major League Wrestling has added Mikey Whipwreck vs. Norman Smiley
to tomorrow night's show in Fort Lauderdale


--- Internet Rex 2.29