WON News + Notes

[The Decemberists 0]

Normally my Observer arrives Friday or Saturday. Well this week it didn't turn up till today, but better later than never I guess

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Wrestlemania 23 is already the all-time record holder for the largest gate in North American and WWE pro wrestling history. The company sold out it's first allotment of nearly 50,000 tickets on 11/11 even with no matches announced, hinted, or even planned out. The current advance is $4,350,000, which breaks the all-time record set of $3,846,033 set on March 17th 2002 for Wrestlemania X-8 headlined by Hulk Hogan vs The Rock. There will be about 28,000 more tickets put on sale at different intervals over the next several months, and are also likely to be sold quickly upon release. Ford Field is being set up for 78,000 fans, so this will be end up being one of the three biggest crowds in company history and five biggest crowds in what is at least verifiable pro wrestling history. Interestingly the current record is based on the exchange of the $6,143,822 Canadian drew for X8. With the current rate that would be $5,429,910 - a number that would challenge even the biggest Japanese gates of all time. The all-time pro wrestling gate record is just over $7,000,000 and was set by New Japan Pro Wrestling on the 4th of April 1998 for the retirement of Antonio Inoki, who beat Don Frye in the main event after Frye had won a tournament of 'shootfighters' earlier in the show to win the honor.

 

All-Time $2 Million Gate Club (not including Japan)

 

1. $4,350,000 - 4/1/07 WWE Wrestlemania 23, Detroit Ford Field

2. $3,846,033 - 3/17/02 WWF Wrestlemania X-8, Toronto Sky Dome (Hogan vs Rock)

3. $3,530,905 - 4/1/01 WWF Wrestlemania X-7, Houston Astrodome (Austin vs Rock)

4. $3,490,857 - 4/1/90 WWF Wrestlemania VI, Toronto Sky Dome (Hogan vs Warrior)

5. $3,452,123 - 7/8/06 UFC 61, Las Vegas Manadalay Bay Events Center (Ortiz vs Ken Shamrock)

6. $3,447,600 - 2/4/06 UFC 57, Las Vegas Manadalay Bay Events Center (Couture vs Liddell)

7. $3,073,080 - 8/26/06 UFC 62, Las Vegas Manadalay Bay Events Center (Liddell vs Sobral)

8. $3,020,000 - 8/10/02 WWE Global Warning, Melbourne, Australia, Colonial Stadium (Rock vs HHH vs Lesnar)

9. $2,900,090 - 5/27/06 UFC 60, Los Angeles Staples Center (Huges vs Royce Gracie)

10. $2,760,635 - 3/30/03 WWE Wrestlemania 19, Seattle Safeco Field (Hogan vs McMahon)

11. $2,575,450 - 4/16/05 UFC 52, Las Vegas Manadalay Bay Events Center (Couture vs Liddell)

12. $2,500,000 - 4/2/06 WWE Wrestlemania 22, Chicago All-State Arena (Cena vs HHH)

13. $2,401,000 - 3/14/04 WWE Wrestlemania 20, New York Madison Square Garden (HHH vs Benoit vs Michaels)

14. $2,336,550 - 8/20/05 UFC 54, Las Vegas MGM Grand Arena (Liddell vs Horn)

15. $2,191,450 - 4/16/06 UFC 59, Anaheim Arrowhead Pond (Ortiz vs Griffin)

16. $2,100,000 - 4/30/05 WWE Wrestlemania 21, Los Angeles Staples Center (HHH vs Batista)

17. $2,056,444 - 10/21/06 Pride Real Deal (Emelianenko vs Coleman)

 

 

Steve Austin was in Connecticut this week to view an early cut of his movie 'The Condemmed' which will be released on 4/27, just a few weeks after Wrestlemania. There is nothing formal planned, but common sense would suggest that Austin will return as a major part of TV as a regular early next year (the tentative return date is around February). Austin once against turned down the idea of having a match at Mania earlier this week.

 

Hulk Hogan has not fully committed to Mania either. The chances of him wrestling have been cut further with the Big Show now no longer being a certainty to still be around by then. However with the advance being as big as it is, and with it being the 20 years since WMIII something will probably be worked out so Hogan can claim he drew the house. Hogan is super cautious about who he faces as he doesn't want a repeat of the Orton programme earlier in the year which he felt fizzled out before the match took place - obviously this was Orton's fault and nothing to do with the Hulkster. However the only part of that feud which flopped was Hogan beating up the fake-Hogan, which had nothing to do with Orton.

 

Smackdown on 11/10 did a 2.66 final rating and 4.33 million viewers. The show did a 2.9 in New York (3.2 for Kennedy/Undertaker angle), 3.6 in LA (4.4 for Booker vs Lashley), 3.1 in Chicago (3.8 for Batista vs Finlay), 2.6 in Philadelphia (2.9 for Kennedy/Undertaker), 1.8 in Boston (2.0 for Hardy & Yang vs Helms & Sylvan), 3.6 in Detroit (3.9 for Batista vs Finlay), 1.8 in DC (2.1 for Kennedy/Undertaker), 3.6 in Detroit (3.9 for Batista vs Finlay), 3.7 in Atlanta (4.4 for Kennedy/Undertaker) and 3.9 in Houston (4.4 for Undertaker/Kennedy).

 

Booker vs Lashley gained no viewers, Hardy & Yang vs Helms & Sylvan lost 162,000, Kennedy/Undertaker gained 485,000, Benoit vs Janes and Boogeyman vs Dalton lost 162,000, Batista vs Finlay gained 324,000.

 

The final number for Smackdown on 11/3 was a 2.80 rating and 4.63 million viewers. Of those viewers 21% spoke Spanish and not English are their primary language. The show did a 5.3 among Hispanic households, and 2.51 in English language households.

 

Nobody with any power backstage seems to have made the connection of Smackdown's recent success and the appointment of Michael Hayes as head writer.

 

If you haven't noticed, WWE will have three PPV's in four weeks. Survior Series is 11/26, ECW a week later and then the Smackdown Armageddon show two weeks after that. On the 12/10, which is the only Sunday without a WWE show, TNA have a PPV.

 

'The Marine' held up far better than expected this past weekend, at No. 19 in the charts grossing $705,576. At press the total domestic gross is $17,979,486 and $686,708 overseas.

 

Steph has decided that she wants Daniel Rodimer on Raw by January and that he will be THE NEXT BIG THING~! and be the biggest start in the history of the world etc etc etc. The feeling of people who have actually seen Rodimer work is that having him good enough to be on the main roster by January 2008 would be pushing it... However, Rodimer has 'the look' more than anyone else in developmental and more than most of the main roster. He's the guy the company wanted to win Tough Enough in 2004 and push hard from that but he sucked so bad he got eliminated very early on. He's actually not a bad athelete, he played college football at the Uni of South Florida, but he certianly wasn't any sort of star there. Comparisons are being made to Chris Masters, although in his defence Rodimer does have more natural charisma and is bigger. Plus Masters at least had a few years in UPW and OVW before being rushed up because of his physique, but Rodimer has only been in OVW for a few months. He gets over there as he's 6'6 and 300lbs and has a bit of the SuperStar Billy Graham thing going for him, but as over as he gets personally as soon as the bell rings any connection he has with the crowd goes quckly.

 

With the dropping of ECW house shows the whole dynamic of the brand has changed. The biggest change is that Champion doen't actually need to be able to draw anymore (if it ever mattered at all) because'll he'll be working on the undercard of Raw or Smackdown live events. The underneath guys like Guido are going to get screwed as they just won't get any bookings when the ECW roster is dished out to Raw and Smackdown and many of them signed up for only $500 a week basic, which is less than developmental talent gets.

 

Rey Mysterio's contract ends right around the time he's due to come back, around May/June time. Angle is likely to make a play to get him into TNA.

 

Rapper "The Game" has claimed that HHH has threatened a lawsuit against him for use of the same. His response was to challenge HHH to a fight, saying "If I was Vince McMahon, I would tell him to shut the fuck up and sit down before they sell me some more albums."

 

Ashley Massaro will be posing in Playboy for the annual WWE woman gets naked just before Wrestlemania issue. This explains why her contract was renewed recently.

 

The company has began what is being called a "Bikini Model Signing Spree!". Johnny Ace has been told to sign '10-15' bikini models, regardless of if they have ever seen pro wrestling before in their lives. You'd think the people running the company would be following the trends of audience who either don't care or out right switch off when the woman are on these days. But for some people backstage the ratings are secondary compared to the chance of getting some 'fresh meat' backstage for certian people to hit on...

 

There is talk of WWE going back to doing a PPV event from Europe, with either the fall of 2007 or the spring on 2008 being looked at as a venture between the company and its in TV provider in the UK, BSkyB. No word yet if this would be broadcast live only in Europe,as PPV shows from 1997-2003 were. By the end though these shows were just televised house shows.

 

According to those in WWE the Bob Sapp deal is dead. Sapp's idea was to try and mix WWE and Pride, with the idea that doing Pride would give him 'real' credibility, which doing WWE would get him over in the US and help sell him Pride appearence on US PPV. WWE though wanted him full-time 365 days a year and Sapp wouldn't commit to the number of house show dates that they wanted. He apparantly also requested time off to prepare for Pride fights and for movie rolls, both of which the WWE felt they couldn't agree to. Pretty much everything you see Lashley do in ECW for the next month or so is pretty much what Sapp was planned to do.

 

Edge is now an 11 time World Tag Team champion in the WWE. Although considering Billy Gunn is number 2 with 10 titles it's questionable how much of a honor this is.

 

JBL is itching to get back in the ring and will probably work a Foley-like schedule from 2007 onwards.

 

There was an article in the Halifax Chronicle Herald about actor James Rogres, which is currently in Nova Scotia shooting a movie called "Outlander" (he's a very minor charcter, not even in the top twenty in the acting credits) where it claims he's signed a three year deal with WWE. Meltzer has been told it's actually a three month contract and he'll be trained personally by Booker in Houston. He's 6'2 with really long hair.

 

The Score, the Canadian station that airs both Raw and Smackdown, released its financial books for the year. The company took in $29,075,000 and made a profit of $13,036,000.

 

The World Wildlife Fund has failed in an attempt to get the rights to WWF.com. Gregory Ricks of Texas had purchased thte domain name in 2003 and used it as a WWE forum. In the orginial case, that the Fund won, which resulted in the WWF becoming the WWE in 2002, it only banned WWE from using the web site name because Vince had signed a deal with the Fund in 1994 saying he would not market the initals outside North America, and then proceeded to ignore the terms he had agreed to. A man named Frank Baach opened up a WWF.com website and then sold it to Ricks for a reported $10,000 in January 2003. The World Intellectual Property Organization ruled against the Fund in their claim to rights to the site. One of the reasons the WIPO ruled against the Fund was that it took them three years to make the claim.

 

Claudio Castagnoli is heading to OVW in January.

[cabbageboy 0]

Okay I have to ask after reading this: Who the hell is Daniel Rodimer? It said he was in OVW but I don't know who he is. The only guy that sounds 6'6 and 300 lbs. down here is Jacob Duncan.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Okay I have to ask after reading this: Who the hell is Daniel Rodimer? It said he was in OVW but I don't know who he is. The only guy that sounds 6'6 and 300 lbs. down here is Jacob Duncan.

 

Here are some pics of him.

 

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profi...el-rodimer.html

[SamoaRowe 0]

He looks like someone spliced the genes of Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy together.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

He looks like someone spliced the genes of Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy together.

 

 

OVW

[AlaskanHero 0]

Am I the only one who thinks he looks like Test?

[Thanks for the Fish 0]

Daniel Rodimer is in Deep South Wrestling at the moment, he had a dark match/house show match against Val Venis(I believe) that was pretty much crapped on by those in attendence. However wwe regularly rushed green talent if they have the look, so "The Big Deal" will likely be no different. In DSW he recently added Brooke Adams as his valet.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

but common sense would suggest that Austin will return as a major part of TV as a regular early next year

Greeeaaattt

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Normally my Observer arrives Friday or Saturday. Well this week it didn't turn up till today, but better later than never I guess

 

This week marked the first time since mid 2005 I received the Monday issue on Monday. I was quite happy as History of WCW Part 2 was a good read (and part 1 was still fresh in my head as that did not arrive until last Friday)..

[Wyld Cannon 0]

I also really enjoyed part 2 of Bischoff/WCW. It was probably the best observer i've gotten so far (I only started with the Pillman issue).

 

Is it worth it to renew?? Are there really intriguing pieces like this throughout the year, or are they few and far between? I'll probably renew again to at least get the 2006 awards, but is it more hit and miss over time?

 

as an aside, i am an MMA fan so the coverage doesn't bother me.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Can't wait for all the beer baths and random stunners. Maybe he can resume his thrilling feud with Jonathan Coachman!

 

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

I also really enjoyed part 2 of Bischoff/WCW. It was probably the best observer i've gotten so far (I only started with the Pillman issue).

 

Is it worth it to renew?? Are there really intriguing pieces like this throughout the year, or are they few and far between? I'll probably renew again to at least get the 2006 awards, but is it more hit and miss over time?

 

as an aside, i am an MMA fan so the coverage doesn't bother me.

 

Well, I was all set to say "when Meltzer doesn't have wrestling news or articles to write, it becomes MMA heavy", but that doesn't seem to be an issue to you. It's not as if there is a timetable to say "this is when big stories will break out, be a subscriber then" but he does usually make the best with what is available. With so many PPVs these days, almost every other issue (or more at the moment - next week will be Genesis, then Survivor Series, and then ECW, then the December TNA PPV, etc.) has a good in depth review of one.

[BUTT 0]

Anyone want to summarize the History of WCW stuff? My subscription just expired and I probably won't be able to get a new one for at least another month.

[Mecca 0]

There is no way Mysterio is going to TNA.......the guy was thought to be such a big WWE mark that when he originally took a contract from them he took less than he could have really gotten.

[haVoc 0]

I could careless if Rey retired at this point. His matches don't entertain me any longer and he makes me sick with the Eddie stuff and the way he whores out his son. Rey is all about money and I've come to the conclusion it's been that way for a long time.

 

I use to think he was such a victim of politics. Boy, he had me fooled.

 

"Poor Rey. That evil WCW made him take off his mask." Bullshit. He did it for the pay day.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW wouldn't release him from his contract so he could jump ship with the Radicals." He stayed with the bigger contract.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW held him back!" He worked there for a good 5 or 6 years. He must have signed a new contract at some point during those "unhappy" times.

 

I'm sure there are other things as well. I don't blame the guy for wanting to make a good living, but you don't have to sell your balls and soul.

[2GOLD 0]

I dunno, Konnan might be able to convince him but I wouldn't bet on it. I'm sure Rey will want to remain in the WWE.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

If you missed out on the first part of Dave's WCW story, you can get both parts e-mailed to you right away as part of a special:

 

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/h...t.asp?aID=17959

 

 

We have a special lasting until midnight tonight where you can get the first two parts of our History of WCW feature e-mailed to you as soon as we process either a paypal or credit card order for a new subscription to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

 

All subscriptions in this special will include the rest of the entire series of WCW special issues mailed to you as they come out. All orders of 16 or more issues also include our traditional biggest issue of the year, the 2006 awards issue.

 

You can order via credit card by sending your name, address, Visa or Master card number and an expiration date to [email protected]. Specify how long you would like to subscribe for.

 

You can also order by sending to www.paypal.com and directing the order to [email protected].

 

Rates in the U.S. are:

$21 for 8 issues

$37 for 16

$55 for 24 plus you can get one free classic issue of your choice

$91 for 40 plus you can get two free classic issues of your choice

$118 for 52 issues plus you can get two free classic issues of your choice

 

In Canada:

$22 for 8

$39 for 16

$58 for 24 plus you can get one free classic issue of your choice

$96 for 40 plus you can get two free classic issues of your choice

$125 for 52 plus you can get two free classic issues of your choice

 

Rest of the world

$27 for 8

$49 for 16

$73 for 24 plus you can get one free classic issue of your choice

$121 for 40 plus you can get two free classic issues of your choice

$157 for 52 plus you can get two free classic issues of your choice

[Mecca 0]

I could careless if Rey retired at this point. His matches don't entertain me any longer and he makes me sick with the Eddie stuff and the way he whores out his son. Rey is all about money and I've come to the conclusion it's been that way for a long time.

 

I use to think he was such a victim of politics. Boy, he had me fooled.

 

"Poor Rey. That evil WCW made him take off his mask." Bullshit. He did it for the pay day.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW wouldn't release him from his contract so he could jump ship with the Radicals." He stayed with the bigger contract.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW held him back!" He worked there for a good 5 or 6 years. He must have signed a new contract at some point during those "unhappy" times.

 

I'm sure there are other things as well. I don't blame the guy for wanting to make a good living, but you don't have to sell your balls and soul.

 

Ok it's shit like this that pisses me off to no end......you don't know Rey Mysterio, for you to jump up and down and attack his character is frankly ludicrous. This whole IWC bullshit that they know more about Eddie Guerrero than people like Rey, Chavo and Vickie is beyond fucking retarded. If you don't personally like the angle fine but it's a complete nother thing to act like everyone involved is a piece of shit.

 

You do realize you are poster on internet saying you know more abou the situation than people that really knew the man including his wife? Think about how retarded that is.

 

So simply put in an industry like pro wrestling for you to attack a mans character that you don't even know is frankly stupid. And if you want to watch people of high character and high morale you shouldn't be watching wrestling this is a scummy sleazy business always has been.......still doesn't mean you should personally attack people you don't even know.

[CanadianChris 0]

but common sense would suggest that Austin will return as a major part of TV as a regular early next year

Greeeaaattt

Actually, that's terrific news, since we all know common sense is a completely foreign concept to WWE.

[mfn 0]

I could careless if Rey retired at this point. His matches don't entertain me any longer and he makes me sick with the Eddie stuff and the way he whores out his son. Rey is all about money and I've come to the conclusion it's been that way for a long time.

 

I use to think he was such a victim of politics. Boy, he had me fooled.

 

"Poor Rey. That evil WCW made him take off his mask." Bullshit. He did it for the pay day.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW wouldn't release him from his contract so he could jump ship with the Radicals." He stayed with the bigger contract.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW held him back!" He worked there for a good 5 or 6 years. He must have signed a new contract at some point during those "unhappy" times.

 

I'm sure there are other things as well. I don't blame the guy for wanting to make a good living, but you don't have to sell your balls and soul.

He's mexican, what do you expect him to do? Not take a big pay day??

[LivingLegendGaryColeman 0]

I dunno if Rey would stay or go, I'd say 50-50. Sure, WWE is the big time and he had his highest success there, but I'd say he'd be an NWA Champion sooner than we'd see him a WWE champion again. Also, less hectic schedule, Konnan and others, I'll be interested in seeing where this goes.

[haVoc 0]

I could careless if Rey retired at this point. His matches don't entertain me any longer and he makes me sick with the Eddie stuff and the way he whores out his son. Rey is all about money and I've come to the conclusion it's been that way for a long time.

 

I use to think he was such a victim of politics. Boy, he had me fooled.

 

"Poor Rey. That evil WCW made him take off his mask." Bullshit. He did it for the pay day.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW wouldn't release him from his contract so he could jump ship with the Radicals." He stayed with the bigger contract.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW held him back!" He worked there for a good 5 or 6 years. He must have signed a new contract at some point during those "unhappy" times.

 

I'm sure there are other things as well. I don't blame the guy for wanting to make a good living, but you don't have to sell your balls and soul.

 

Ok it's shit like this that pisses me off to no end......you don't know Rey Mysterio, for you to jump up and down and attack his character is frankly ludicrous. This whole IWC bullshit that they know more about Eddie Guerrero than people like Rey, Chavo and Vickie is beyond fucking retarded. If you don't personally like the angle fine but it's a complete nother thing to act like everyone involved is a piece of shit.

 

You do realize you are poster on internet saying you know more abou the situation than people that really knew the man including his wife? Think about how retarded that is.

 

So simply put in an industry like pro wrestling for you to attack a mans character that you don't even know is frankly stupid. And if you want to watch people of high character and high morale you shouldn't be watching wrestling this is a scummy sleazy business always has been.......still doesn't mean you should personally attack people you don't even know.

 

That's all we do. We attack these guys and girls after reading second, third and forth hand accounts. Why is Rey so special he should be off limits?

[Mecca 0]

I could careless if Rey retired at this point. His matches don't entertain me any longer and he makes me sick with the Eddie stuff and the way he whores out his son. Rey is all about money and I've come to the conclusion it's been that way for a long time.

 

I use to think he was such a victim of politics. Boy, he had me fooled.

 

"Poor Rey. That evil WCW made him take off his mask." Bullshit. He did it for the pay day.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW wouldn't release him from his contract so he could jump ship with the Radicals." He stayed with the bigger contract.

 

"Poor Rey. WCW held him back!" He worked there for a good 5 or 6 years. He must have signed a new contract at some point during those "unhappy" times.

 

I'm sure there are other things as well. I don't blame the guy for wanting to make a good living, but you don't have to sell your balls and soul.

 

Ok it's shit like this that pisses me off to no end......you don't know Rey Mysterio, for you to jump up and down and attack his character is frankly ludicrous. This whole IWC bullshit that they know more about Eddie Guerrero than people like Rey, Chavo and Vickie is beyond fucking retarded. If you don't personally like the angle fine but it's a complete nother thing to act like everyone involved is a piece of shit.

 

You do realize you are poster on internet saying you know more abou the situation than people that really knew the man including his wife? Think about how retarded that is.

 

So simply put in an industry like pro wrestling for you to attack a mans character that you don't even know is frankly stupid. And if you want to watch people of high character and high morale you shouldn't be watching wrestling this is a scummy sleazy business always has been.......still doesn't mean you should personally attack people you don't even know.

 

That's all we do. We attack these guys and girls after reading second, third and forth hand accounts. Why is Rey so special he should be off limits?

 

Ripping on someone because you think they're a shitty worker or because they play politics like HHH does is a little different than attacking someone because you believe he is a piece of shit as a person, and that is basically what you implied, without even knowing the guy.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

Am I the only one who thinks he looks like Test?

 

He reminds me more of Heidenreich.

[UZI Suicide 0]

I don't recall anyone ever calling Rey a "piece of shit", but how can you argue that most of his career decisions seem to be motivated by money?

 

Anyway, thanks for posting these Decemberists, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Rey in TNA when his deal is up.

[trackc53 0]

OH MY GAWD

[Scroby 0]

I'm surprised there wasn't a mention of Super Crazy in there. He's been off tv for what now? About a month?

[Hawk 34 0]

I might be wrong but I thought they said he was having visa problems?

[Bruce Blank 0]

Am I the only one who thinks he looks like Test?

 

He reminds me more of Heidenreich.

A retaded Heidenreich at that (if that's not redundant) that's what Stephanie McMahon consideres "the look"? why did Mark Jindrak fail then? why is Masters not setting the world on fire? This guy looks like 800 other generic guys they¨ve tried - short hair, some tattoos, bland & heatless. He's Charlie Haas without the talent, he's Mark Morgan without the lame studdering gimmick.

 

Give me a break

[Black Lushus 0]

I don't recall anyone ever calling Rey a "piece of shit", but how can you argue that most of his career decisions seem to be motivated by money?

 

I don't know about the rest of you, but most of MY career decisions are motivated by money...