By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010

-- Torch Back-issue News Item Of the Day - Torch Newsletter #585 (dated Jan. 22, 2000): The Torch detailed chaos in WCW that led to Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn leaving WCW before appearing on WWF TV one week later.

It may go down as the most bizarre weekend in WCW history. And yes, that is saying quite a bit. It began Friday when WCW decided that due to Bret Hart's concussion they were going to have to change the main event of the Souled Out pay-per-view two nights later. Then later that afternoon, Jeff Jarrett's wife called WCW and told them her husband was planning to wrestle with a concussion. WCW took Jarrett off the show. That meant four matches would need to be changed.

Then Bill Busch - fresh off of Hogan's disastrous meeting with Brad Siegel the day before that included Hogan threatening to sue WCW over merchandise money - decided to make the biggest decision since he hired Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara 15 weeks earlier. He decided to demote Russo to merely a member of the booking committee. He planned to promote Kevin Sullivan to the head of the booking committee and make Kevin Nash his top assistant. Russo found out late Friday. He was surprised, perhaps blind-sided by the move, and turned down Busch's request. ...

When WCW wrestlers began to find out Sullivan was taking over as booker, some were happy, others were not. ... Some also strongly believed Sullivan is the worst of all alternatives. Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn, Shane Douglas, Eddy Guerrero, Kidman, and Konnan were the most outspoken. They confronted Busch on Sunday afternoon before the PPV. They said they did not want to work under Sullivan and asked for their releases. Torch VIP members can read the entire back-story from ten years ago right now. Find out how to sign up for VIP membership.

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WWE News/Views

-- Color me confused on Jerry Springer and now Cheech & Chong booked to guest-host upcoming episodes of WWE Raw in a PG TV environment. I'm sure they won't be bringing incest storylines and marijuana pipes, respectively, but it sends a confusing message to the marketplace. WWE doesn't need to book Barney the Dinosaur every week, but they're stretching the PG TV boundaries.

-- It's good to see someone in WWE represented by an agency that protects performers. WWE profiled diva Mickie James as an official member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) now that she's an official country music artist with her first album coming out in March. ASCAP membership includes "an exclusive, tailor-made benefits package that includes health and instrument insurance, a credit union, discounts on musical accessories, travel and much more."

-- Trevor Murdoch says he might be coming back to WWE this year. The former tag champion was released from WWE in July 2008, then worked briefly for TNA until November. VIDEO of Murdoch's new restaurant and a cameo from Harley Race is available on the CBS affiliate in Jefferson City, Mo.

-- Jim Ross published a new blog last night with reaction to him finally appearing on "The View" yesterday via the infamous below-the-belt shot from Linda McMahon. Ross also joked about Barbara Walters not knowing Ross by name. There's an angle here for follow-up if WWE continues the cross-promotion started by Sherri Shepherd and MVP. Jim Ross's latest blog.

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TNA/Other News

-- CNN is the latest publication to offer a negative review of "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson's new "Tooth Fairy" movie. Johnson has said all the right things on his whirlwind movie tour about the movie simply being there to "make you laugh," but critics are seeing the flaws and not the humor in the movie.

-- Dragon Gate USA executive Gabe Sapolsky was interviewed by Jessie Virtusio of the SouthtownStar newspaper to promote Saturday's DGUSA show in Chicago. Sapolsky presented DGUSA as the future of wrestling compared to WWE and TNA still doing angles from ten years ago.

"WWE is the McDonald's of wrestling. They serve a lot more people than we do, and they sell a lot more hamburgers than we do. What we are is that really fine restaurant, one that is not a chain restaurant," Sapolsky said. "You go to that restaurant for that special dining experience, and that's what we try to do with Dragon Gate USA."

-- Steve Corino was interviewed by Alex Marvez for his weekly column. Corino says he might not ever get a shot at WWE, but he plans on being part of the wrestling business until he dies. Sad, but true quote from Corino recalling what Terry Funk told him.

"I talked to Terry Funk a little while after that and he told me, 'There are no real retirements from wrestling until you die,'" Corino said. "That's so true. Once you get wrestling in your blood, it's the coolest bug in the entire world. It's not just a sport, but entertainment, art and so many different things. You just can't get rid of it."

-- A.J. Styles recorded an interview with Marvel Comics after Styles, Daniels, and Desmond Wolfe made a recent trip to New York City. The interview is below.

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