August 15, 2007 Observer Newsletter: More on the life and career of Karl Gotch, second congressional letter to Vince McMahon

Some notes regarding the letter. First off, Dr. Phil Astin did prescribe testosterone to Chris Benoit under the guise of replacement therapy. So there was medical usage and one could even argue, medical need for such therapy. Whether it was being abused is a different question. The idea he was prescribing ten months worth every three to four weeks would seem to indicate that, although Astin has not yet been indicted on any charges related to his treatment of Benoit.

The noting of pro wrestling as an unregulated form of entertainment, and asking the question as to whether there is need for Federal regulation of the industry right there shows it is a subject that is at least under discussion. If this happens, it would be due to the industry as a whole largely (not completely) ignoring 20 years of both warnings and problems, and it should be noted that most states in the 80s were regulating wrestling and allowing far more rampant drug problems than exist today to go unchecked.

Subscribers can read the rest of the newsletter here.

August 6, 2007 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Karl Gotch passes away, Congress launches pro wrestling investigation

Karl Gotch, a very controversial figure who was far more myth than man in Japan where he was nicknamed “The God of Wrestling,” passed away at 9:45 p.m. on 7/28 at a hospital in Tampa, six days before what would have been his 83rd birthday.

Through both his training and his guidance, Gotch was a significant figure in both pro wrestling and MMA in Japan, dating back to his training Antonio Inoki in 1968. He trained many of the greatest wrestlers of the modern era, and was a strong catalyst behind the direction of Akira Maeda in making pro wrestling matches look more legitimate, and of Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki in actually making them legitimate. When it comes to Japanese pro wrestling, he was right near the top of the most influential wrestlers of all-time, both when it comes to the moves and the mind set of two generations of wrestlers who would change the business.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

Shooter-themed Hidden Gems coming to WWE Network tomorrow

Content highlighting professional wrestling’s shooters is coming to the WWE Network tomorrow.

WWE Network News reports that this week’s WWE Hidden Gems content relates to professional wrestling’s shooters. These matches will feature shoot wrestlers/athletes such as Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, Danny Hodge, Nobuhiko Takada and Billy Robinson. These matches span several decades in multiple promotions, including Stampede Wrestling, AWA, WWE and the Florida and Texas territories.

The matches that will be uploaded include:

  • Lou Thesz vs. Wild Bill Longson (Texas Rasslin’, 6/17/52)
  • Karl Gotch and Rene Goulet vs. The Rugged Russians (WWE MSG event, 1/31/72)
  • Danny Hodge and Jos Leduc vs. Pak Song and Toru Tanaka (Championship Wrestling from Florida, 11/12/74)
  • Nobuhiko Takada vs. Athol Foley (Stampede, 8/12/83)
  • Billy Robinson vs. Rick Martel (AWA, 10/18/84)

Most recently, WWE has uploaded themed content to the collection including rare Undertaker/Triple H bouts, matches featuring Hispanic wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio and Pedro Morales and matches featuring Mae Young Classic talent.