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Updated throughout the day, it's the Torch News Ticker with all the news and info that's not fit for print. Bookmark it every Monday!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

9:00 p.m.

- In the semi-main event of NOAH's show in Tokyo today, Nigel McGuinness retained the ROH Title in 22 minutes against Go Shiozaki. In the main event, Akira Taue & Jun Akiyama & former ROH champion Takeshi Morishima beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Marufuji & Kotaro Suzuki. Results courtesy puroresupower.com.

- Lex Luger is making "remarkable improvement" after his spinal column short-circuited a few months ago, according to Nikita Koloff on a wrestling-radio.com interview with Evan Ginzburg. Koloff, who traveled with Luger on a cruise in June, said he has made two visits to Luger since the health scare. Luger is able to move his legs and torso, but remains in a wheelchair. Radio link.

- We are looking for a house show report from the Smackdown/ECW brand house show in Salisbury, Md. today.

7:00 p.m.

- Canadian readers: Tomorrow night's Raw will be broadcast in HD on The Score. The live show will start at 9:15 p.m. EST following a pre-game show at 9:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

- WWE details transition to HD ahead of tomorrow night's Raw for the premiere HD broadcast on USA Network. Details on Torch main listing.

- Mike Mooneyham's Sunday column details Paul Wight's imminent return to WWE, and recent history with WWE that included him renouncing his "slave name" of Big Show. Column link.

- The Orlando Sentinel has 24 questions about WrestleMania 24. Article link.

- We are looking for reports from last night's Raw house show in Jamestown, N.Y. and the Smackdown/ECW house show at Penn St. University.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

11:00 p.m.

- WWE Raw brand sells out Jamestown, N.Y. house show tonight, according to local paper. 3,200 fans at the Ice Arena where Shawn Michaels beat Umaga in the semi-main event and Randy Orton beat Jeff Hardy in the main event. Newspaper story.

- Independent women's wrestler April Hunter announces she will retire from in-ring wrestling due to an accumulation of injuries. According to doctor opinions in U.S. and Canada, Hunter said on her official website: "I have to stop wrestling as soon as possible. Not only will I be crippled, but I'm headed towards internal organ failure as well." April includes secondary reason: "There is a staggering lack of ‘professionalism’ in ‘professional’ wrestling. ... Wrestling is a selfish business and it’ll treat you like a racehorse if you let it. They’ll ride you into the ground and make as much off your ass as they can while feeding you just enough to get by." April Hunter website.

- Friday night at Booker T's PWA show in Pasadena, Tex., Brother Devon was in a tag team tables match without Brother Ray, who missed the show due to family issues, according to PWA's message board. Two of PWA's top stars, Neico and PWA champion Brett Idol, were powerbombed by Devon through tables to send the folks home happy. Show results.

5:00 p.m.

- WWE Smackdown from last night averaged a 2.8 rating to finish last on the night out of the five broadcast networks. The show averaged a 2.7 first hour and near 3.0 second hour, to finish ahead of a "Desperate Housewives" re-run on ABC. The rating is a slight drop from last week's 2.9 overall rating.

- WWE Raw brand is in Jamestown, N.Y. tonight. Smackdown and ECW brands are in State College, Pa. on campus at Penn St. University. If you attend one of tonight's shows, be sure to send in a report!

2:00 p.m.

- Jim Ross has signed a new two-year contract with WWE as the lead play-by-play announcer on Raw, according to Ross's website. More details to come.

- We are looking for reports from last night's Raw house show in Syracuse, N.Y.

***

Friday, January 18, 2008

10:00 p.m.

- Former wrestling icon Dr. Death Steve Williams and WWE ring announcer Jim Ross were on hand at the Oklahoma Sooners's amateur wrestling competition in Norman, Okla. tonight. The highly ranked Sooners wrestling team defeated Univ. of Tennessee-Chattanooga 21-13. Story link.

- On the campaign trail in South Carolina, Republican candidate Mike Huckabee proclaimed tongue-in-cheek to potential voters that Chuck Norris would be his secretary of defense and Ric Flair would be head of Homeland Security if he became president. Campaign recap

7:00 p.m.

- An Ohio man who impersonated police officer and pulled over Batista following Canton, Ohio house show earlier this month had a similar incident previously. Jesse Johnson, 18, had impersonated an officer in August 2007 and given 180 days in jail. This time, he surrendered to authorities when he heard of a search warrant being issued for the man who pulled over Batista while pretending to be a cop. Johnson pled not guilty on Thursday, with a pretrial hearing set for Tuesday. Story link.

6:00 p.m.

- TNA averages highest viewership for two-hour broadcast on Jan. 17 show. Overall rating of 1.22 with 1.62 million viewers. Global Impact that followed Impact averaged 949,000 viewers. Story on Torch main listing.

5:00 p.m.

- WWE house show: The Raw brand is in Syracuse, N.Y. tonight at the War Memorial. If you attend the event, be sure to send in a live report.

- WWE has a free watch giveaway for viewers who order the Royal Rumble PPV. The watch, valued at $75, will be given to viewers who send in a copy of their cable or satellite bill as proof of purchase. Giveaway details.

- A Boston sports website has a quick look at Bud Selig being extended as commissioner of Major League Baseball. The contention with the extension is the label of Selig as a "steroid era enabler". The story shows a photo of Vince McMahon, with the caption for McMahon: "Must have been unavailable to take the job." Story link

2:00 p.m.

- Ahead of the Royal Rumble PPV in New York City next Sunday, Gamestop will be hosting a video game tournament for wrestling fans. The "WrestleMania Fan Axxess Tour" will be held Jan. 25-27 at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport. Ric Flair is scheduled to attend. Event details.

11:00 a.m.

- New study in Canada shows direct link between concussions and depression. Published in Archives of General Psychiatry, study on elite athletes suggests athletes with history of concussions should be more aggressively treated for depression. Story link

- Japan: IWGP Hvt. champion Shinsuke Nakamura will travel to Orlando for the TNA Impact tapings on Jan. 21 and 22 with Tiger Mask. They will be promoting the unification match at the Feb. 17 New Japan show in Tokyo between Nakamura and IWGP 3rd Title holder, Kurt Angle. Also on the Feb. 17 NJPW show, A.J. Styles vs. Tanahashi.

- NWA TV tapings tonight in Las Vegas at the Plaza Hotel and Casino. Show will air in the Wednesday night timeslot on Colours TV, available on the DISH network. Scheduled to appear at the tapings: NWA champion Adam Pearce, NWA Jr. Hvt. champion Mike Quackenbush, NWA tag champions Joey Ryan & Karl Anderson, Awesome Kong, and Nick Bockwinkle.

10:00 a.m.

- Smackdown tonight: C.M. Punk & Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero & Edge, Great Khali vs. Finlay, Undertaker promo to start the show, a flair for the gold with Ric Flair as special guest on MVP's VIP Lounge.

- ROH tonight: The fourth PPV delivered by Ring of Honor premieres tonight on InDemand and TVN cable systems and DISH Network. "Undeniable" PPV features Morishima vs. Nigel McGuinness for the ROH Title.

- Rock band "Smashing Pumpkins" has signed with ROH to deliver the soundtrack to tonight's Undeniable PPV. "As a long time fan of Ring of Honor, I am thrilled that our song 'Doomsday Clock' has been chosen to be the theme music for the newest PPV," Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan said on ROH's website. "To me, the highlight video captures the intensity, passion, and stark ambition that is at the core of this groundbreaking promotion."

- WrestleMania 2010 possibly to be held at Univ. of Phoenix stadium in Glendale, Ariz. WWE negotiating with stadium officials. Story details on Torch main listing.

9:00 a.m.

- Ric Flair will be campaigning with Republican candidate Mike Huckabee in South Carolina today.

- TNA announced that Norfolk, Va. will host the Destination X PPV on Sunday, March 9. The event will be held at the Norfolk Scope arena. "Norfolk and the entire state of Virginia have always supported great professional wrestling action and we’re thrilled to bring the most innovative and exciting event in pro wrestling today to these great fans," said TNA president Dixie Carter.

- Booker T's PWA promotion runs tonight in Pasadena, Tex. featuring special guest Team 3D. PWA bought local TV advertising in Houston during recent Impact and Raw broadcasts to promote the show.

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