--On last night's Raw, the fake Hogan was played by Richard Doo, who does Hogan impersonations obviously. Larry Sweeney, who works for CHIKARA Pro, played Nasty Nick Hogan.

--It didn't come across on TV, but we had several reports from last night indicating both Cena being heavily booed, but also a lot of people leaving after Cena's match. Even some internally who are instructed to believe that DX is what's drawing right now had it kind of hammered home that the person, at least on Raw, people are coming to see is Cena, whether it be to cheer him or boo him. People were leaving before HHH was taken out and Michaels' match had been pushed all week.

--There was a momentary problem during the West Coast Raw feed last night. They for some reason cut to the finish of last week's show. At about 9:06 p.m. Pacific time, the problem was fixed and they joined the McMahons and DX in the ring together

--Even though the Hammerstein only holds 2,500, it was not sold out as of yesterday.

--Some more matches made official for SummerSlam, were Undertaker vs. Great Khali last man standing (Khali was medically cleared), DX vs. McMahons and Edge vs. Cena with the title being able to change if Edge gets DQ'd.

--For Smackdown on Friday, it will air in its regular time in New York, however there are these scheduled preemptions:
Los Angeles (airs Saturday at midnight which means some horrible ratings in the No. 2 market)
Philadelphia (Saturday at 8 p.m.)
Sacramento (Friday at 10 p.m.)
Chico (Saturday at 8 p.m.)
Eureka (Saturday at 8 p.m.)

--Official Impact rating from Thursday was a 0.8.

--Just days after the Tampa Tribune story on him, Bam Bam Bigelow was arrested yesterday for an outstanding warrant stemming from his motorcycle accident last year. The warrant was month's old for a DUI, DUI with property damage, DUI with serious bodily injury, driving without a motorcycle license, and driving with a suspended drivers license. Bail was set for $5,000. Bigelow was arrested because he came to court to contest a traffic citation. The story is in today's St. Petersburg Times at www.sptimes.com/2006/08/01/Hernando/Former_pro_wrestling_.shtml

--There are ticket forms on ebay that were given to people who attended the TV tapings in Detroit that allow you to get pre-sale Wrestlemania tickets. If you have a form, you can get four tickets ringside or up to eight tickets anywhere else at face value, with no ticketmaster fees. Tickets don't go on sale to the public until 11/11. If you get a form, the presale ends on 8/11 so you've got to move fast on this one.

--Roddy Piper is booked from 8/25 to 8./27 at the Monster Mania 666 Horror Movie Convention in Cherry Hill, NJ (thanks to David Frederick)

--Piper's appearance on Wednesday in Ontario has been canceled, as has the Great Canadian Wrestling Expo schedule. However, Piper will be coming to the Fan Expo 2006 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 9/1 to 9/3 (thanks to Steven Ashe)

--Poll on the best TV show of the past week
Raw 21.1%
ECW 10.0%
Impact 52.0%
Smackdown 8.6%
CMLL on Canal 52MX 4.6%
AAA on Galavision 3.7%

--Samoa Joe and Christian Cage were both on another episode of the G4 Filter show covering top 15 firsts. In a funny one, Joe was listed as "Samoa Joe," without any reference to being a pro wrestler or a real name. Christian was listed as "Jay Christian Cage Reso-TNA wrestler." (thanks to Paul Fontaine)

--The National Roller Derby Hall of Fame Weekend takes place in San Francisco from 8/11 to 8/13. They are going to induct Carol "Peanuts" Meyer, Jan Vallow and Sherri Erich into the Hall of Fame. Please don't ask me about the latter name. On 8/11 at 6:30 p.m. there is going to be a celebration open to the public free of charge at Kezar Pavilion to celebrate the life of Ann Calvello. On 12:30 p.m. on 8/12 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. Keith Coppage, a noted Derby historian, will host a discussion of "Everything You Always Wanted To Know about Roller Derby But Never Had a Chance to Ask." The Hall of Fame dinner is at 6 p.m. at the Ramada. For more info you can write Roller Derby HOF@...

--24/7 is replacing the ECW weekly show with a show called "The Territories," which will cover ECW as well as the other tape collection territories the company owns. This begins in September. The 8/28 to 9/3 show will feature Cactus Jack in SMW, Vader & Nasty Boys in AWA, Curt Hennig & Scott Hall in AWA, Koko Ware in Mid Atlantic (?), Rockers in AWA, Hulk Hogan vs. Ted DiBiase from MSG, Ultimate Warrior from WWE, Bobby Heenan vs. Lord Al Hayes in AWA, Big Bossman in Mid Atlantic, Rick Rude vs. Kevin Von Erich in Texas, DDP i AWA and Iron Sheik vs. Antonio Inoki from MSG. The same stuff will be repeated the entire month of September.

--Pat Miletich's Silverbacks will be headed to Wrigley Field on Thursday before the Cubs game. Miletich will be hosting MMA clinics in 8/5 and 8/6 at the Wizard World Convention in Rosemont, IL Other coaches present at the convention will be Bas Rutten, Maurice Smith, Matt Lindland and Renzo Gracie.

--Pro Wrestling Unplugged on 8/19 at the ECW Arena features what is billed as the first ever women's first blood match sanctioned by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission with Mickie Knuckles vs. Amy Lee. There is also a steel cage panes of death match with Ian Rotten vs. Corporal Robinson. Competitors dip their hands in glue, roll them in broken glass on both sides, and there were be four panes of glass in the ring, one in each corner. 2 Cold Scorpio and the SATs will appear, with the latter team doing a ladder match.

--SWA from Saturday night in Lafayette, TN: Tony Grande b Damien Payne, Big Digger b Dale Dangerous-DQ, John Watts b Jason Nesmith, Ray Spears b John Watts, Tim Scruggs & Loose Cannon NC American Psycho & Anthony Wayne (thanks to Lekisha Oliver)

--The Stro will be the Grand Marshal for this year's Magnolia Fireman's Day Parade in Magnolia, NC on 10/7

--Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling has a Best of the Midwest 32 man tournament that goes five months long starting in September at The Ritz in Warren, MI. The first two rounds take place on shows from September through December, with the final eight doing a big show in January. Announced so far are Jimmy Jacobs, Zach Gowen, Conrad Kennedy III, Josh Abercrombie, Truth Martini, N8 Mattson, Izzy High and C.J. Otis

--Ray Sefo vs. Azem Maksutaj has been added to the K-1 show on 8/12 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The show also features an eight-man tournament for a spot in the World Grand Prix which starts in September, with Alexey Ignashov, Michael McDonald and Carter Williams as the biggest names, as well as Duane Ludwig vs. Fernando Calleros in a 154-pound match and Ruslan Karaev vs. Dewey Cooper

--Lucha Libre on Thursday night in El Paso at the Castle Ballroom

--The build-up in Japan for tomorrow's Koki Kameda boxing match is more than any match anyone can remember. This morning, all six of Japan's major daily sports papers gave it full, front page coverage to the contract signing, rules meeting and press conference. There will be even more coverage later today for the weigh-in. Kameda is expected to win a version of the world title in Yokohama, but the bigger story are the ratings, as this could challenge the highest ratings for a boxing match ever in Japan, and certainly in the last 20 years. (thanks to George Guida)

--Yesterday's Houston Chronicle had another UFC story at www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/other/4082861.html. It talked about UFC coming to Texas as a natural expansion with Marc Ratner saying the battle plan is to run in the Southwest, before returning to the Northeast. He confirmed what we'd reported that there will be more than 20 live UFC events in 2007.

--The Elite Fighting Championships has been given clearance to promote three shows in Vancouver while the City Council decides what action to take regarding MMA. The City Council made a ruling to ban MMA, but before the ban was implemented, the Vancouver Athletic Commission had already given sanctioning for three EFC dates. To avoid litigation, the shows are scheduled to go on, starting with a 9/29 date at the PNE Agridome.

--Sports Illustrated's web site noted that former Florida State quarterback Chris Rix will be Jonathan Coachman's broadcast partner on CSTV college football coverage in the fall.

--There was a Lucha Libre show on Saturday night in San Diego at Montgomery High (I think that's the school Rey Mysterio went to): Los Gallineros III & IV b Bino Gambino & Disco Machine, Diablo & Matt Twiztid & SoCal Crazy b Huracan Negro & Wama & X-Storm, Phoenix Star & Zokre b Quicksilver & Scorpio Sky, Depredador & Fobia & Infierno b Arandu & Rubi Gardenia & TJ Boy, Angel & Konnan & Super Astro b Abismo Negro & Kaos & Rey Misterio Sr.

--Tonight at Arena Coliseo has Blue Panther & Heavy Metal & Rey Bucanero vs. Atlantis & Averno & Mephisto. Guadalajara has Mistico vs. Black Warrior. Pachuca has Dr. Wagner Jr. & Rey Bucanero vs. Olimpico & Ultimo Guerrero (thanks to Kris Zellner)

--There is a Muay Thai/MMA show on 8/18 in Sydney, Australia at the Entertainment Centre which includes former UFC fighter Elvis Sinosic and Ian Schaffa, a lighter weight star in Japan (thanks to James Stanios)

--MSPW from Sunday in Coal City, IL: Mike Horning b Xavier Mustafa, Egotistico Fantastico b Chris Black, Nick Colluci b Bobby Valentino, Derek St. Holmes b Mickie McCoy, DDS b Tony Rican, Din T. Moore b ADD, Adam Evand b Al Barlic, Jason Hades won over Dysfunction, Flannery and Justin Dredd, Steve Stone won over Colt Cabana and Silas Young. Next show is 8/26

--ACW tonight in New Port Richey, FL at Bourbon Street Night Club

--River City Wrestling from Saturday night in San Antonio: Andrew Dalton b Don Juan, Big Dogg b Quinten Allen, Ikaika b Chris Marval, Johnny Ender & Kris Kronie NC Joey Spector & Eddie Vegas, Mike Dell b Takeshi, Great Kazushi (Miyamoto) b Dell, Hotstuff Hernandez b Masada to keep RCW title (thanks to Brandon Oliver)

--BANG from Sunday in Ocala, FL: Johnny Magnum NC Blain Rage with AMW from TNA interfering, AMW b Dory Funk & Jon Davis using the death sentence on Funk, Russell Paul Williams b Lord of Discipline

--FSPW on 8/4 in Palmetto, FL at the Olympia Theater and 8/12 in Pinellas Park, FL at the Boys & Girls Club

--The San Francisco Chronicle at www.sfgate.com had a story on Sunday about a reporter going to Tijuana to see El Hijo del Santo wrestling.

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/

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