<P> The WON's earlier years were also marked by revealing insider news and various behind - the - scenes happenings in the industry, a groundbreaking approach in a kayfabe - heavy era . Meltzer's approach benefitted from professional contacts, a historic perspective, and his own analysis of trends, data, and events . The WWE's 1997 "Montreal Screwjob" was exhaustively covered by the WON, which featured accounts from within the backstage rooms where some of the interaction occurred, including from Bret Hart himself . Meltzer published data - based evidence suggesting inflated "record" attendance figures for WrestleManias III and 23 . He gave extensive space to various wrestling scandals, including Vince McMahon's 1990s steroid trial, the Chris Benoit murder investigation, and the high drug - fueled death rate within the wrestling ranks . His newsletter was also known for its lengthy obituaries of deceased wrestling figures, as well as a desire to chronicle the deaths of every wrestling figure possible, no matter how minor . </P> <P> Meltzer stated that this new, more journalistic approach to covering wrestling earned him scorn from many within the wrestling business . However, Terry Funk and Bill Watts were acknowledged as early supporters of the WON from within the business, and at the start two of the very few . Around when readers first began hotly debating whether wrestling promoters actually read the publication or not, Meltzer published a letter to the editor from Watts, at the time still promoting . He also credited Houston promoter Paul Boesch for taking him under his wing in the 1980s and teaching him how the business works . As the business evolved along with the newsletter, Meltzer gained a little more acceptance . </P> <P> Since major wrestling promotions would never acknowledge the existence of any dirt sheets, Meltzer had to find other ways to advertise his newsletter . Advertisements and other promotion were often published in kayfabe and semi-kayfabe publications . Early sources for knowledge of the WON's existence were The Wrestling News published by Norman Kietzer, as well as Factsheet Five . The latter was decidedly a non-wrestling publication, though the WON and other wrestling "sheets" made up a significant amount of its coverage . Other magazines such as Wrestling Main Event and Wrestling Eye also provided mention . Meltzer was also able to advertise his publication during various guest appearances on wrestling radio shows and guest editorials in various national newspapers . </P> <P> With the ubiquitous emergence of the Internet and wrestling web sites that are able to provide news in real time, today's WON differs in the way it covers the wrestling scene in that it provides more of an editorial and analysis on the news and what impacts it could have on the business . Wrestlers such as Konnan have noted seeing copies of the WON on Vince McMahon's office desk . It is believed many, if not most, of the biggest stars in WWE and other major promotions are subscribers, although few would admit it publicly . Several subscribed under their birth names, instead of ring names, thinking Meltzer would not find out their true identities . Howard Finkel's wife was publicly acknowledged by Meltzer as an early WON subscriber, and at the time, the closest reach the publication likely had to McMahon, which was in response to a reader questioning the likelihood of McMahon himself reading the publication . </P>

When does the wrestling observer newsletter come out