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Updated two or three times per day, the Torch News Ticker delivers a stream of news and information from WWE, TNA, ROH, Japan, the independents, and whatever else pops up. Keep it open in a new tab and bookmark it every Monday! Promoters and readers: Send in news, upcoming events, interview highlights, or wrestling-related information to the Torch News email address, Wade Keller, and James Caldwell for inclusion on the Ticker. Contact link.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Morning Update

- REPORTS WANTED: A very busy weekend continues today. From last night, we're looking for reports from the Raw house show in Youngstown, Ohio, the SD/ECW house show in Hampton Beach, N.H., the TNA house show in Fayetteville, N.C., and the ROH show in Toronto. And tonight, we have report requests for Raw in Wheeling, W.Va., SD/ECW in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., another WWE show in Cohasset, Mass., TNA in Florence, S.C., and ROH's PPV taping in Detroit.

- Honky Tonk Man says Vince McMahon wanted him to be a babyface character when he first started in WWE 20 years ago. "I developed the character as a bad guy and I knew how to make it work, but Vince didn't see it that way," Wayne Ferris told Tim Baines of the Winnipeg Sun. "He said, 'I can see kids in jumpsuits, buying scarves.' To see someone, especially in wrestling, do a knockoff of Elvis, (the fans) were going to boo that."

Honky is self-deprecating discussing the 30-second Intercontinental Title loss to Ultimate Warrior at Summerslam 1988. "Anything longer than a five-minute match would have exposed the Ultimate Warrior for not being very talented in the ring and it would have exposed me for not being able to carry him," he said. "And if it exposed us both, that would do nothing for the company." Article link.

- Indiantelevison.com reports that WWE is launching a product line of thumb-wrestling figures in India. The two-inch figures will slide over the thumb for "safe" combat between friends. WWE is partnering with My Baby Excels, whose CEO said, "Children can indulge in the WWE experience in a safe manner without risk of any physical harm." Well, except to the thumb. Article link.

- Today's strange story of the day goes to Indiainfo.com, which has a story on a Bollywood actor who allegedly filmed a few scenes with eight WWE wrestlers from Australia. The photo of these men clearly indicates they are not WWE wrestlers, but rather generic bikers you might see at Sturgis. One of these alleged WWE men, named Chris, even taught the lead actor a thing or two about arm-wrestling. Of course, this will all lead to an epic battle against Khali. Article link.

***

Friday, July 25, 2008

Morning Update

- REPORTS WANTED: A very, very busy day today in wrestling. We're looking for reports from the Raw house show in Youngstown, Ohio, the SD/ECW house show in Hampton Beach, N.H., the TNA house show in Fayetteville, N.C., and the ROH show in Toronto.

- Jim Ross says tonight's Smackdown battle royale that will air tonight to determine a new #1 Contender to the WWE Title "far exceeded my expectations." On the Saturday Night's Main Event taping, Ross believes it will be an hour show taped on Monday prior to Raw in Washington, D.C. "As I write this on Thursday, I have no idea who will be broadcasting the show or who will be competing on it, but I do know that I have not heard any thing about being personally involved," Ross said on jrsbarbq.com. Ross also comments on the Brooke Hogan story, Brock Lesnar's next MMA fight, and other topics. Blog link.

- Today's Brooke Hogan story comes from People Magazine. Brooke told the magazine she made false accusations against Hulk when Linda wanted her to sign an affidavit with a list of physical and verbal abuses made by Hulk during the marriage. "I did it under significant pressure from my mother," Brooke told People. "It was only after I learned all the facts that I realized I made a big mistake in signing it." She's currently living with Hulk and hopes to reconcile with Linda one day. People article link.

- JAKKS Pacific CEO Jack Friedman said in the company's recent conference call with investors that the company will be "OK in that area" of replacing WWE action figures in 2010 with the new UFC and TNA line of figures. Jakks also reported $2.2 million in legal fees, mainly related to the ongoing lawsuit from WWE in Connecticut state court. Despite the ongoing litigation and losing the WWE product line in 2010, Jakks said WWE's line of figures is still a priority. "It's still important to us, of course. It's a focus," said CEO Friedman. "We continue every six weeks to roll out new products." Conference call transcript.

- Bruno Lauer, better known as Harvey Wippleman, says he doesn't managing, but he misses the older days of territory-era wrestling. Lauer details his experiences in his recently-released book from Crowbar Press. "I don't miss that (managing on TV) whatsoever," Lauer told Alex Marvez for his weekly column. "Honestly, what I miss is something that will never be there again -- the old days of wrestling. I remember showing up at little shows at armories in Mississippi and Arkansas with the fans hanging from the rafters trying to attack you when you left the arena. I've got a dream job now (with WWE), but there is a difference from how it was back then." Article link.

- The Bollywood movie starring Great Khali that he filmed during his summer adventure opens on October 2 in India. Article link.

***

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Afternoon Update

- Today's big story is apparently Brooke Hogan teasing that she's willing to pose for Playboy. Virtually every news outlet is covering this, including FOX News. The official stance from the Hogan camp is that "no decision has been made at this time." FOX News report.

- Brooke Hogan says the cameras being present in their home to film "Hogan Knows Best" affected the relationship between her parents. "Let's just say my parents were fighting; they couldn't just let it all out on national television," Brooke told the Baltimore Sun. "So I think it kind of suppressed it to the point where it almost let it explode, but I think that it would have come sooner or later." Brooke also details the difficulties watching her brother taken away in handcuffs and her relationship with him. Article link.

- USA Network had a near-clean sweep of last week's TV cable ratings, picking up seven of the top 12 shows with six original TV programs. ESPN's coverage of the Home Run Derby drew nearly 10 million viewers, but USA was still first for the week. Raw averaged 4.75 million live viewers for first place of all entertainment programs on cable among people 18-34. With DVR viewing added in later, the total viewing number should be a respectable 5.5 million or so. Press release.

- The Miz says he's had to work hard to gain the respect of the WWE audience after coming from MTV. "At first, I didn't get a lot of respect from the hardcore WWE fans, but as I progressed, I was working my butt off and they started to respect my abilities," Miz told the Poughkeepsie Journal. "It's been a great transformation from MTV to WWE. It's always been my dream to get to WWE. I worked so hard to become what I am today." Miz said hearing boos from the audience is a great-confidence booster that he's entertaining the crowd. Interesting look into a heel's mindset. Good interview. Interview link.

- More changes for Midway as it relates to the TNA Impact video game. Midway announced they are combining their Los Angeles and San Diego offices to work better with the TNA Impact development teams in Chicago, Austin, Seattle, and the U.K. They hope it will fuel growth for the combined Southern California office and help develop the Impact game, which is due out in September. Press release.

- ROH NOTES: ROH's final show in Detroit for 2008 is this weekend, as scheduling conflicts with the venue won't put them in Detroit again until 2009. ... ROH is booking an Honor Rumble (similar to the Royal Rumble) for the Detroit show on Saturday with the winner picking up an ROH Title shot on August 1 in Manassas, Va. ROH Newswire with card for Toronto on Friday.

- The Sandman's bail has been set at $10,000 to spring him from jail following his outburst in a New York restaurant on Sunday. He is expected to be released today. Article link.

- WWE picked up a good amount of unwanted press related to the WNBA fight on Tuesday night. TMZ headlined: "WNBA Turns WWE - WWJD?".

***

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Morning Update

- Variety reports that WWE is making a conscious effort to tone down all three of their weekly TV broadcasts in an effort to achieve a PG rating. WWE TV has been classified in the TV-14 rating ever since the Attitude era, but the company wants to reach the younger demographic by having a lower rating.

Variety reports, "WWE stressed that its shows wouldn't become tamer, as a result of the change. They'd just focus more on its over-the-top characters and storylines, rather than attention-grabbing stunts that may have been considered too outrageous in the past." A representative for WWE said for the article, "It's the continuing evolution of the company to create content for our growing audience of younger viewers." Variety article.

- Larry Zbyszko says the wrestling business would be better off if people listened to his ideas. "There are things in the wrestling business I'd like to do," he told Jim Varsallone in an interview for the Miami Herald. "It would be much better off if some of these organizations would listen to me in terms of how to do their wrestling show and their business. It would be fun to help the business out from behind the scenes. We'll see what happens."

Zbyszko critiques TNA for the off-the-wall storylines that no one cares about in an effort to be like WWE TV. "A lot of these young guys are great athletes who can do some great stuff, but instead of letting them become these athletic guys, they have them do these silly, stupid skits," Zbyszko said. "They're all doing skits about everyone's in love with someone else's wife, and no one believes it or cares. Hopefully, they'll wise up." Zbyszko also details his career highlights, including the matches against Bruno Sammartino. Interview link.

- New York Daily News is the latest newspaper to question CW's decision to drop WWE in favor of more shows aimed at the younger female demographic. Article link.

- Matt Morgan has a lengthy interview with UGO.com on his start in WWE, current run in TNA, and the American Gladiators opportunity. He points to one of the differences he believes between WWE and TNA. "Dixie Carter went to bat for me (on Gladiators). She hired a lawyer I couldn't afford. And this guy went and got my contract redone so I could do Gladiators and wrestling, and both sides could be happy with the agreement," he said. "And it's worked perfectly. And that's a situation where if I was still in WWE I don't think it would've happened." Article link.

***

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Evening Update

- Some more details on the incident with The Sandman. He was at a party for Cpt. Lou Albano's 75th birthday at a restaurant outside of Yonkers, N.Y. where Sandman had too much to drink and became quite rowdy, leading to the glass-tossing incident. The impending "psychiatric evaluation" might be work $10 on PPV. UK Sun article.

- Bill Morningstar, an executive VP for CW, has reportedly jumped ship to the new MLB TV network. Morningstar had been with the network in some capacity since 1994. There are obviously problems with CW right now, as the network's revenue has dipped to $385 million from $575 million the year prior. AdWeek article.

- After Go Shiozaki spent some time training at Harley Race's WLW school in Missouri, Race says Shiozaki is quickly learning how to be a star in pro wrestling. Referring to Go's match against Oliver John at the Cauliflower Alley Club Convention last month, Race told Slam Wrestling, "When you've got 99 percent of the people watching it have been involved in wrestling, and they stand and give you a standing ovation, you know you're doing something right."

ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky says Shiozaki associating with Larry Sweeney's group will help develop his personality. "I think you are really going to see some personality with him too now that he has joined Larry Sweeney," said Sapolsky. "He is a great pro wrestler in a traditional sense, but he wrestles a totally modern style. He definitely has that 'it' factor." Shiozaki might hang around the U.S. past September, which is when Race's camp ends. "I haven't decided when I will go back to Japan," Shiozaki said. Slam Wrestling article.

- WWE issued a press release on the Saturday Night's Main Event with Jenny McCarthy airing next Saturday. WWE chairman Vince McMahon apparently recovered from his debilitated state on TV to issue this statement: "Many of our viewers have children or friends who are affected by autism and the WWE is committed to helping fund programs for families in need and advancing research that will help this generation of children." Press release.

- Stacy Keibler will be appearing at the Comic-Con Convention in San Diego this Friday at 1:30 p.m. "I am so excited to reconnect with all of my wrestling fans," Keibler told Kevin Eck of the Baltimore Sun. "I hope everyone will stop by and see me. I will be signing autographs from 1:30 p.m. in the ABC Family booth. I will also be shooting 'A Day in the Life' segment [for Extra], and I would love to record as many of you as I can." Keibler will mainly be promoting the Samurai Girl series airing on ABC Family in September.

Morning Update

- Jim Ross responded to rumors of an announcer switch, with Ross possibly returning to Raw. "As best I know this is nothing more than a weak rumor," Ross said on jrsbarbq.com. "No one from the WWE has mentioned the possibility of this matter to me in any shape, form, or fashion." He added that he's happy with his current schedule on Smackdown and wouldn't want to return to Raw. "(I) would be reluctant to leave a more wrestling heavy Smackdown to return to my old address," he said. Blog link.

- WWE executives dumped a significant amount of stock yesterday. It was part of the regular executive stock compensation program, but a total of 61,309 shares went back on the market, diluting the stock price. The big movers were Kevin Dunn and Michael Sileck, who cashed in 21,442 shares and 20,160 shares respectively. At $16.27 per share, Dunn's pre-tax total was a cool $348,861. Don't worry, he still has 121,150 shares outstanding.

- The Sandman was arrested in New York on Sunday night after a bar fight. Sandman allegedly started throwing glass at people in a Yonkers, N.Y. restaurant where pro wrestlers were gathered. Some newspapers labeled him a current WWE wrestler, which certainly didn't make WWE officials happy to be associated with a negative story they had nothing to do with. AP reported that Sandman was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. AP report.

- In other crime-related news, two fans at the Great American Bash PPV on Sunday tried to steal chairs backstage immediately after the show concluded. A WWE worker spotted the 20-year-old hooligans in the parking lot with the chairs, then one of them tried to throw a bottle at the worker before he was apprehended. They were charged with burglary and assault. Full story including mug shots.

- Ticketnews.com has an interesting look at where WWE ranks among other sports and entertainment franchises in terms of ticket sales. The ticket-tracking website has a "power ranking" score assigned to each franchise, with WWE placing sixth among sports franchises, behind the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dallas Cowboys. Article link.

- Hector Guerrero says he has lost contact with Vickie Guerrero after the death of Eddie nearly three years ago. "Vickie Guerrero is not Vickie Guerrero anymore," Hector said in an interview with Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald. "She is Vickie Lara. ... We know why she kept the family name, but she's not reached out to us. She is loved by us, and we wish her the best. We just wish should we love us back and return the gesture of communication."

Hector talks about his Christian faith and how it has carried him through his wrestling career to his current opportunity with TNA. He also comments on the LAX team. "They are a great, great tag team," he said. "You have the complete combination of heart, spirit and eagerness to win. All they needed was a different look to help themselves so they could achieve what they could achieve, and that, by the grace of God, is what I was given an opportunity to do." Interview link.

- TNA raised some eyebrows yesterday when they announced on their website that Kaz is leaving the company. Turns out it's only to promote his TV storyline of being a failure and unable to win matches. He'll be on the premiere episode of Karen's Angle this Thursday to explain himself. TNA wishing Kaz the best on his future endeavors.

***

Monday, July 21, 2008

Morning Update

- Raw preview: No official matches signed at this point, but the show will have the fall-out from C.M. Punk retaining the World Hvt. Title without pin or submission, the status of John Cena after losing to JBL, and more follow-up on Shawn Michaels's health after his match against Chris Jericho was stopped.

- Variety published a significant article on WWE changing up its films division. No longer will it be WWE Films, but WWE Studios, as the company is now going to be producing filmed content for TV beyond the standard wrestling shows. "We're now in filmed entertainment, not just the film business," said WWE Studios president Michael Lake. "If we're going to be in this business, we need to be in the business." Several movies are in the works, including John Cena's "12 Rounds," Mr. Kennedy's role in "Behind Enemy Lines 3," and a new movie starring Big Show.

The current plan is two theatrical releases per year with a $10-20 million budget, four-to-six straight-to-DVD releases at $5 million, and quarterly TV movies on cable. Variety writes: "WWE is also developing scripted action hours, half-hour comedies, and reality fare that would air in the U.S. but could also travel overseas." The projects will air with WWE stars, but also with legends, such as Steve Austin, Ric Flair, and Roddy Piper. "Current stars can't be everywhere," Lake said. "The legends are a real asset." Variety article link.

- Tickets go on-sale this Friday, July 25, for TNA's tour of New York in September. They have shows Sept. 5 in Westbury, N.Y., Sept. 6 at the Manhattan Center in New York City, and Sept. 7 in Albany, N.Y. Ticket details.

- Dragon Gate has officially announced preliminary details for their debut show in Los Angeles in Sept. 5. They will be at John Anson Ford Park in Bell Gardens, Calif. featuring El Generico vs. Genki Horiguchi. Also, Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa vs. Necro Butcher, and Taku Iwasa & Keni'chiro Arai vs. Dragon Kid & Dos Caras. More matches will be announced in the coming weeks. Card details.

- The wedding singers from the Edge-Vickie wedding on Smackdown are a pair of local Christian music industry recording artists, who were contacted by WWE to perform at the show in Charlotte last week. "That’s a whole different world," their manager said in an interview with a local paper. "It was like going into the twilight zone." One of the singers, Bethany Crooks, said she was nervous despite singing the National Anthem in larger stadiums before. "This was different," she said. "There were the cameras and just not knowing exactly what was going on. It made me nervous." They also commented on the wrestlers trying to kill each other in the ring, then high-fiving each other backstage right after the matches. Good story. Article link.

- North County Times (Calif.) published an interesting article looking at the history of WWE stock and Martha Stewart's Omnimedia stock, which both infamously debuted on the same date in October 1999. The article looks at the dramatic ups-and-downs for both companies with image problems over the last 10 years. Article link.

- Tri-Star is auctioning off a free dinner with Kevin Nash at Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse in Rosemont, Ill., on July 30. The proceeds will benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Auction details.

***

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