Updated daily, 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.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Afternoon Update

- There will be a wrestling fundraiser for Killer Kowalski on Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Maiden Irish American in Maiden, Mass. to help raise funds for the medical expenses for Kowalski's family. “We’ve got a lot of big names who are very interested in coming and paying their respects and being there for Walter,” close friend Richard Byrne told the Beverly (Mass.) Citizen. “I think it’s going to be a great send off. It will definitely be the biggest event at the Irish American. It will be packed wall-to-wall.” Story link.

- Some important links on the lawsuit against WWE by Raven and Kanyon. The actual lawsuit is available in .pdf form here. In the U.K. Sun, Jerry McDevitt said the lawsuit is unfounded based on the wrestlers signing contracts at the time of their hiring that stated they are independent contractors. “The IRS has never challenged the treatment of our wrestlers and they have audited the company several times," McDevitt said. Sun article link.

- Paul Heyman says he knows why John Cena is Vince McMahon's favorite wrestler because of the 24/7 dedication to WWE that he gets from Cena. Heyman column in U.K. Sun.

- Midway Games has a Q&A with wrestling video game fans on IGN.com regarding the TNA Impact video game. "The gameplay is geared towards quick-thinking with entertaining animations and situations," said Midway in a release. "We've focused on the highlights of what makes wrestling great and provides a great video game experience." IGN article with video trailers.

- ROH Notes: ROH promised a big day of news and this is what they delivered. On the Sept. 20 Glory By Honor VII in Philadelphia, Kensuke Sasak will face Claudio Castagnoli while Katsuhiko Nakajima will face Bryan Danielson. ... Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin return to ROH on Oct. 24 in Hartford and Oct. 25 in Edison, N.J. with matches to be announced soon.

***

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Afternoon Update

- TNA Impact preview: Tonight on Impact features Kevin Nash vs. Kurt Angle in a qualifying match for a TNA World Title shot at the next PPV. ... Other matches on the card include Taylor Wilde & Roxxi vs. Beautiful People, Awesome Kong in a squash, Petey Williams & Daivari vs. Jay Lethal & Consequences Creed, and Curry Man vs. Jimmy Rave. ... Also, Sting speaks.

- Jim Ross weighed in on John Cena's backstage appearance at the Smackdown taping on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, just hours after "emergency surgery" put Cena on the shelf for 2-4 months. "Cena's surgery wasn't as drastic or invasive as what some other WWE Superstars have endured and one thing that helped was the quick response time of Cena himself," Ross said on jrsbarbq.com. "If John had ignored the symptoms this matter would have ended up an entire different story without the quick and positive results of Tuesday." Blog link.

- WWE spokesperson Jennifer McIntosh says Cena isn't bigger than WWE, so the company will continue to roll on. "There are on occasion planned and unplanned hiatus periods," she told the Stamford (Ct.) Advocate. "For instance, while John Cena was filming the upcoming feature '12 Rounds,' he was out for three months and business was excellent. As much as he is appreciated, no single individual makes the WWE." Article link.

- Ahead of this weekend's Raw house show in Peoria, Ill., C.M. Punk compared his character to Steve Austin in terms of being authentic with the volume turned up. "I think my popularity is partly driven on it being who I am, like Steve Austin," Punk told the local Journal Star. "Obviously we are night and day on the beer drinking stuff. But I'm not trying to be a garbage man or astronaut or something I am not. What you see is what you get with me." Yes, thank goodness he isn't Duke the Dumpster Droese. Article link.

- The Aug. 18 edition of Raw on USA Network finished fifth in overall viewers on cable for the week. The Closer, TNA's Monday night success, continues to win the weekly cable ratings. Raw was well ahead of the Monday Night Football pre-season game that aired on ESPN. Cable ratings link.

***

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Afternoon Update

- WWE issued an official press release on John Cena's emergency surgery performed yesterday in Pennsylvania. WWE reports that Cena will be out of action for approximately three months. Press release.

- TNA will be releasing a nationwide TV commercial advertising the TNA Impact video game this week. They will premier the commercial on their homepage at 4:00 p.m. EST today. Article link.

- FOX News has a transcript of Candice Michelle and Batista appearing on Greta Van Susteren's "Off the Record" show last night where Candice and Batista talked about WWE's campaign for young voters to vote. FOX News article link.

- Financial website seekingalpha.com says WWE's stock might be too-good-to-be-true in terms of buying shares based on WWE's high dividend yield. The author points to WWE's earnings taking a hit over the last two years while still paying out a hefty dividend. WWE is currently trading at $16.27 this afternoon, which is within the range of the last month after a major surge on July 17. Seekingalpha article.

- U.K. Sun published an in-depth look at Dave Finlay's background growing up in Belfast, Ireland all the way to the present working with Hornswoggle. Fascinating interview that's worth a read. Finlay talks about his wrestling career nearly ending in 1998 when he was sent through a table by Brian Knobbs and nearly lost his leg. Interview link.

- Speaking of Belfast, the local newspaper gives WWE's Smackdown vs. Raw lunch bag a 7 out of 10 for the kids going back to school. The lunch bag is available in the U.K. at Woolworths. From the Belfast Telegraph's recommendation: "Characters from the bouts feature on the front of the waterproof bag, which is zip fastened and insulated to keep food fresher for longer. More effective bag and therefore more expensive." Article link.

- Ric Flair is officially paparazzi material, as TMZ posted a video of Ric Flair stepping into STK Restaurant in Los Angeles. Flair briefly talked about appearing on Best Damn Sports Show while in L.A. TMZ video.

***

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Afternoon Update

- John Cena faces surgery on his neck with a severely bugled disc that grows worse with every movement he makes. "It's a different injury than the pectoral tear because that was more of a muscle injury," Cena said in a WWE website article. "This is concerning my bones, which has a lot less blood flow than muscle tissue. It also has to do with my neck, which is a very fragile area. Every moment I stay away from the table is another moment something bad can happen. The disk is so bulged out and inflamed that any sudden move could make it worse."

U.K. Sun is reporting that other main event wrestlers are hurting but don't want to lose top main event spots. Sun quoted a WWE insider that Edge is taking a few weeks off to recover after the recent promo time on Smackdown helped him stay on TV without wrestling. Also, Undertaker reportedly came back early from a knee injury for the Hell in a Cell match against Edge. One more injury could put him out of action for a while. Sun article link.

- WWE, THQ, and Jakks Pacific announced in a press release that WWE's Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 video game has achieved "Greatest Hits" status based on the volume of sales on the Playstation system. THQ will be putting out the 2009 version later this year. Currently, the 2008 version will be put out at a suggested retail price of $19.99 with the "Greatest Hits" label. Press release.

- Candice Michelle set the tone for Day 2 of the Democratic Convention in Denver with an interview on FOX News, as the Democratic party tries to dispel rumors of in-fighting. Rocky Mountain News says the Republicans are ready to step into the ring against the Democrats now. Article link.

- Law.com published a story on WWE facing suit from the likes of Raven and Kanyon regarding independent contractor status in WWE. Head attorney for WWE, Jerry McDevit, predictably called the suit "bogus" but he would not reveal his argument. He's reportedly saving the details for a motion to be filed in federal court this week. Article link.

- ROH Notes: Go Shiozaki captured the FIP Title from Erick Stevens over the weekend, and ROH is working on a title defense in ROH for Shiozaki. ... Roderick Strong will challenge Nigel McGuinness for the ROH Title at the Sept. 19 PPV taping in Boston. Also signed for Sept. 19 is Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio vs. Shiozaki. ... Tickets are currently on-sale for ROH's debut in St. Louis on Dec. 5.

***

Monday, August 25, 2008

- Raw Preview: Raw is on Sci-Fi tonight without any matches announced ahead of time. Raw will be replayed at 11:00 p.m. EST on USA Network.

- Jim Ross posted his weekend blog talking about the Legends of WrestleMania video game due out in April, the Shelton Benjamin vs. Finlay match from Smackdown, old school wrestling, and plenty of football. Entertaining read. Ross blog link.

- Mike Mooneyham of the Charleston Post and Courier published a recap of the NWA Fan Convention last weekend for his Sunday column. Article link.

- Wrestling author Scott Williams returns to the Galveston Daily News with a column on WWE facing possible lawsuits stemming from their classification of wrestlers as independent contractors. Williams takes a broad look at the issue, which will inevitably see the light of the day in a court room. Article link.

- When it comes to backstage food fights, the operations manager at the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Miss. says WWE is the worst. "The wrestlers, themselves, had somehow decided to have a food fight in the dressing room," said Craig Russell. "We had mashed potatoes on the light fixtures." Article link.

- ROH Notes: ROH will be making its debut in the wresting hotbed of St. Louis on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, Ill.

***

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