Behind the Scenes with WWE

Behind the scenes with WWE in Puerto Rico; The strongest men in wrestling history; WWE business rundown and tons of contract news; details of Jan. 17 Observer, ordering info and how new readers can get 2 free issues of their choice


Dave@wrestlingobserver.com

A preview of the January 17th issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and ordering info. All subscriptions to the Observer will include what is traditionally our biggest issue of the year and fastest selling issue, the 2004 awards issue, which comes out in two weeks.

This coming Monday's issue has tons of news both in the ring and behind the scenes from the WWE's trip to Puerto Rico, from fears of the promotion, the reason the company hadn't done a show in such a fertile wrestling ground for 20 years, the injuries, how the fans in Puerto Rico reacted to the show afterwards, the politics behind the title situation, the business at the show, the transportation issues, what really happened with Ric Flair and Victor Quinones and much more. We also have a special feature this week on the strongest men in pro wrestling history and some of the strongest men who ever lived. We run down such powerhouses as Andre the Giant, Superstar Graham, Bruno Sammartino, Paul Anderson, Doug Furnas, Ken Patera Alexander Karelin and many others with what they legitimately accomplished and could lift and who has to be considered the greatest wrestler of any of the world's strongest men types that got into the business. We've also got the complete rundown of the show, the story behind the Hector Garza arrest and realities of steroid use among wrestlers and how wrestlers don't get busted more often for similar offenses, as well as the almost comedic attempt that Garza made to defend himself. We also have the story behind the double murder arrest of the former Bruiser Bedlam, as well as a background on him and his career in wrestling. We also have an update on how WWE is doing with PPV, as well as our monthly business rundown of house shows, PPV and television ratings. We have Pride's plans for 2005, plans for a celebrity wrestling match on U.S. PPV very soon, and complete details of several contract situations that fell apart in recent weeks.

This jumbo-sized issue is one of the most newsworthy issues in a long time, and the prelude to next week, which will be one of the biggest issues of the year, out 25th annual awards issue.

Each weekly issue of the Observer ranges from 25,000 to 35,000 words of text covering pro wrestling and MMA all over the world. The Observer, in its 22nd year, has been the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world since its inception, with thousands of readers in all 50 states and 30 different foreign countries. It is subscribed to by the biggest names both currently and in the history of the industry, and many of the biggest names from around the world spend an hour a week going through the publication on lengthy plane trips. It has been awarded the best pro wrestling publication in the world award for several consecutive years.

To get a subscription started, you can do so by Visa or Master Card by sending your name, address, phone number, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to Dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by faxing to 408-244-3402. You can also subscribe through pay pal by sending to http://www.paypal.com. You can also subscribe by check, cash, money order or Visa or Master Card through the mail by sending to Wrestling Observer, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

All new subscribers ordering 40 issues can pick any two major news stories from 1991 to the present and we'll send the issues with the most comprehensive coverage of each of those stories. If you order 24 issues, you can get one free issue of your choice. In addition, you can order any of our most requested issues as listed underneath if you are a current subscriber, or if you aren't ordering a long subscription, for $4 each. We've got coverage of every major star leaving a promotion, every major show, annual Awards and Hall of Fame issues, obituaries and profiles of every major star who has passed away or retired as well as histories of such promotions as WCW, FMW, New Japan and RINGS. Our most requested issues are:

*November 17, 1997 (exactly what led up to the most famous match finish of modern times at the 1997 Survivor Series and a history of famous in-ring double-crosses. If you think you know the Survivor Series story or just saw WWE Confidential, if you haven't read this, you don't even know 10% of it)

*December 21, 1998 (the word-for-word conversation between Vince McMahon and Bret Hart just before that match, so you'll know exactly what was asked, what was said, what wasn't said, as well as a year later looking back on that story and the movie Wrestling with Shadows--this is the unedited version of the conversation that aired on WWE Confidential so you can hear the part of the conversation the WWE didn't want you to hear)

*August 1, 1994 (the most comprehensive coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial)

*May 13, 2002 (complete career story of the amazing life and wrestling career of Lou Thesz)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done about it)

*July 8, 1991 (Flair leaves WCW as world champion/Zahorian steroid trial coverage)

*February 8, 1993 (the life and times of Andre the Giant)

*January 27, 2003 (Part one on the greatest heel of the modern era, The Sheik)

*February 3, 2003 (Part two on the story of The Sheik)

*February 24, 2003 (the life and times of Curt Hennig from people who knew him well)

*March 24, 2003 (A look into the behind the scenes and history of the WWF title from 1974-83, the Sammartino, Graham and Backlund eras)

*April 21, 2003 (The most crucial period in business history, 1984-88, Vince McMahon takes over, Hulkamania era, death of the territories)

*May 12, 2003 (A look at the life, career and sad demise of Elizabeth Hulette and the fall from grace of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (The largest issue of the past decade, with the beginning of the WWF vs. WCW wars history and what some say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling history, plus part one of the life and times of Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (A look at the life of Fred Blassie from some of his longest friends and greatest rivals to get an insight between the man behind the myth)

*July 28, 2003 (WWF vs. WCW promotion war part two with a look at what was going on both in the ring and behind the scenes in 1990, why the title changes happened, biggest joint promotional show ever, Sting, Warrior, Flair, Hogan at a turning point and much more)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with the ups and downs of the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, plus Chris Benoit career profile, and complete listing of Hall of Fame members, what they are best known for and 2003 voting)

*September 22, 2003 (WWF vs. WCW pomotion war part three with a look at what was the beginning of the end of the glory period of hte WWF, Flair leaves WCW, scandals begin to Rock WWF, and the big mistakes that cost WWF its network, Hulk Hogan his vitamins and ultimately pro wrestling its popularity)

*October 27, 2003 (The life and times and legacy of Stu Hart and Stampede Wrestling)

*November 3, 2003 (The story behind the formation, career, and life of the Road Warriors)

*January 19, 2004 (2003 Awards issue including all awards winners dating back to 1980)

*February 2, 2004 (History of Toronto wrestling; Royal Rumble history; Battle Royal history; Jack Tunney bio)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF covering 1991-92; Flair vs. Hogan; Why Hogan left the company; the real story behind the scandals that pinned WWF and the end of the business' first glory period)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania with wrestlers and fans voting for best matches, best and worst shows, plus a rundown of Wrestlemania's greatest performers of all-time and lots of Wrestlemania records)

*May 10, 2004 (History of famous works and shoots throughout history in pro wrestling and MMA)

*July 5, 2004 (A look at the book and career of Ric Flair, his demons, Hogan, Bischoff, health problems and more)

*July 12, 2004 (A look behind Ric Flair's book, Vince McMahon, a look at Foley, Flair's thoughts on Hart, background of Hart vs. HHH and more)

*August 16, 2004 (Coverage with background stories on everyone from the Summer Olympics who later went on to pro wrestling, with both their wrestling career highlights as well as how they did in the Olympics)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on Kurt Angle, Undertaker, Masahiro Chono, Kazushi Sakuraba, Bob Backlund, Tarzan Lopez and Ultimo Dragon, voting breakdown and huge story on how different people voted for different candidates)

*October 4, 2004 (The look at the life and career of Ray "Big Bossman" Traylor as well as the life and times of one of pro wrestling's biggest power brokers in its history, Jim Barnett, and his role in shaping pro wrestling over the past 54 years)

*November 15, 2004 (The entire story of the Kurt Angle-Daniel Puder shoot on Smackdown and how it all backfired plus the week that makes or breaks TNA)

All of these back issues are available for $4 each, except for the 8/23/04 issue which is $7

Rates are:

United States
$11 for 4 issues
$28 for 12
$54 for 24
$90 for 40

Canada and Mexico
$12 for 4
$30 for 12
$57 for 24
$95 for 40

Europe
You can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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Rest of the world
$14 for 4
$36 for 12
$72 for 24
$120 for 40

There is a $1 processing fee for all credit card and paypal orders

A Preview this week's issue:

--What made this trip to Puerto Rico different from a usual WWE trip

--The problems both in and out of the ring

--What angle was predicted to have problems getting over before the show

--Injuries in WWE over the past week

--A look at the title situation

--Business notes from Puerto Rico

--Early indications of the PPV business for the show

--What those indications say

--Why it took WWE 20 years to run a show there

--The reputation of Puerto Rico in wrestling

--What Vince McMahon told both sides of the Puerto Rican wrestling war

--Full details of what happened with Ric Flair and Victor Quinones

--Match by match coverage from New York's Revolution with star ratings

--Story behind the Hector Garza arrest

--What was found on Garza

--Usage of steroids in pro wrestling and why there aren't more arrests of this type

--How laws differ in Mexico and the U.S.

--What screwed up Garza's attempt to claim he had a prescription

--Who is Johnny K-9, the wrestler accused of double murders

--His prison background

--What he was most well known for outside of wrestling

--The funny story regarding a feat of strength he was supposed to do on television in a new territory

--How he got the job with Jim Cornette

--His WWE tryout and why he didn't get the position

--A look at the strongest men in the history of pro wrestling and what they have done in competition

--The legend of Paul Anderson

--The realities of Andre the Giant

--The attempts to make stars out of Tom Magee, Ted Arcidi and Bill Kazmaier

--Amazing facts about Alexander Karelin

--Strength marks by wrestlers that still hold up in the record books today

--What became of the various strong men after their wrestling days were over

--Details on the Armageddon buy rate

--Ratings notes from the past week

--The monthly WWE business rundown of live attendance, live gates, ratings and PPV

--Results from the major league arena shows around the world

--Major TV show rundowns

--More front office shakeups

--WWE going to Japan and how the advances have been

--Lots of injury notes

--A wrestler who wanted it so bad, ends up turning down the deal

--Hogan DVD

--Update on ECW DVD and HHH book

--Update on a movie involving a WWE legend

--Recent WWE star looking to leave wrestling

--Wrestlers emulating 80s stars

--Loaded house shows

--Funny HHH quote of the week

--Women wrestlers confused

--Foley on the Hassan angle and his participation in it

--Two current major stars in different parts of the world who were weight training partners five years ago

--Matt hardy update

--Funny New Jack WWE story

--More on the Hall of Fame

--Former ECW star stars on OVW TV

--Business notes from the past week

--House show highlights

--Raw vs. Smackdown business

--Big tournament upcoming in Mexico

--Wrestler suffers heart attack in Puerto Rico

--The latest in the soap opera regarding the career of Apolo

--Why wrestlers on the island legitimately want a piece of him

--Full details of what went down with Abyss

--A look at IWA's big show in competition with WWE

--What ex-WWE stars were there

--How business was

--Update on the AWA title

--Giant Baba tribute show line-up

--Another future major player in Japan

--Rundown of NOAH's last big sold out Budokan Hall show

--TV results from the New Japan big show

--Antonio Inoki's crazy comments of the week

--More from Brock Lesnar in Japan

--Sable's comments about what she wants in Japan

--A crazy movie about wrestling making Jim Herd a visionary

--Women's star retires

--Big nostalgia wrestling event

--Newsweek covers wrestling movie release

--More on the fire that threatened a promotion

--More on Samoa Joe vs. C.M. Punk

--Joanie Laurer losing it

--Goldberg notes

--Pro wrestlers listed on historians all-time greatest American wrestlers list

--Former WCW tag champs reunite

--Update on sons of wrestlers

--A monthly PPV show in trouble

--Top Lucha stars coming to Chicago

--Next celebrity angle planned

--Full story behind Abyss/TNA split

--Chris Candido update

--Future TNA angle

--Looking at TNA's big plan

--Former WWE star interested in TNA and another ready to start with an angle

--More on New Year's Eve ratings

--UFC gets mainstream pub

--Pride plans for 2005

--Big match of next year

--UFC signs an interesting character

--Ortiz looking for an interesting trainer

--New UFC match

--Two non-UFC or Pride matches coming next month to PPV, one featuring a unique main event from another sport

--Yabushita update


Source: liveaudiowrestling