PWTORCH.COM
VIP SIGN-UP JUMP TO VIP
CONTACT US VISIT MMA TORCH




Select Next Article by Category



WE ARE A PROUD UGO AFFILIATE SINCE 1999




Pro Wrestling Illustrated

Support Our Sponsor: PWI!

===========================

CHECK OUT OUR AFFILIATE WRESTLING NEWS SITE - THE FASTEST GROWING PRO WRESTLING SITE IN 2008! (click on logo)

prowrestling.NET




WWE News
WWE News: All the news items you can handle from Saturday's newspaper coverage of WrestleMania
Mar 29, 2008 - 12:12:27 PM


Email This Article- Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

| subscribe to this feed

By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

The latest news from Saturday's newspaper articles in Florida and elsewhere covering WrestleMania includes aerial photos from the Citrus Bowl, interviews with wrestlers, and the now-infamous Nipplegate that has taken on a life of its own.

- Local Ch. 13 in Orlando published aerial photos of the Citrus Bowl, where a dome-shaped structure is covering the ring at the 50-yard-line. The rest of the stadium is completely vulnerable to the weather. "Actually to have an event like ours in a stadium which has no place to hang lighting or sound or anything, we really do have to construct this infrastructure to support all of that,” said CEO Linda McMahon. Ch. 13 is promoting a candid, sit-down interview with Ric Flair on their OnDemand cable channel. Article link.

***

- Miami Herald published a story with quotes from the family and colleagues of the WWE Hall of Fame inductees. The main event portion of the ceremony airs on USA Network tonight. Gordon Solie's daughter, Pam Allyn, told Jim Varsallone on Gordon being inducted into the Hall: "We are very grateful to Vince McMahon and WWE for this honor. For the family, this will be an experience full of memories to behold for many years. I only wish that dad were here to accept the accolades."

Matt Hardy had several things to say about Flair. "I think Ric Flair is the best in-ring performer that has ever been in our sport," he said. "You look at guys like Hogan who's extremely popular and a money making machine and Steve Austin, but no one had that span that Ric Flair did. For 30 years, this guy has been in a top spot and a top money maker."

Flair has repeatedly referenced the "twice on Sundays" line in recent promos. Cody Rhodes shed some light on where that might have come from during a recent conversation with Flair. "I asked Ric one night in Tokyo, Japan, `When you were the world heavyweight champion, how often were you working?' He said, 'Eight days a week.' I said, 'There are seven days in a week.' He said, `Twice on Sunday.'"

You also see the influence Flair had on the great Santino Marella, who said Flair changed his entire outlook on wrestling after his out-of-the-crowd IC Title victory in Italy last year. "When I won the [Intercontinental] title in Milan, Ric gave me a speech that night, and it changed my attitude toward the business forever," Santino said. "It made me really, really appreciate what I am a part of.''

Elijah Burke commented on the influence of Rocky Johnson in a tough business for minorities at the time of Johnson's career. "He was one of the guys, far and few between at that time, that we had to look onto and gave us hope that, hey, I too, one day, can be a WWE superstar," Burke said. "There wasn't many that we had. We had Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas and then we had the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, daddy.''

Hall of Fames Quotes article.

***

Orlando Sentinel published three articles this morning covering the WrestleMania hype and Flair vs. Michaels.

- Scott Maxwell in the Orlando Sentinel has a story on "Nipplegate," which has picked up buzz in Orlando because the nipples of wrestlers have been removed from posters and banners in Orlando. Mayor Buddy Dyer said there's a city ordinance against the display of men's nipples. "It does seem a little overboard," he said. Maxwell wrote that there is no city ordinance against the display of men's chest in public. Apparently it was a mix-up when city officials asked WWE to create less-provocative posters and signs to promote Mania in the city. Article link.

- Andrea Adelson published a story on how Michaels and Flair are approaching the potential retirement match for Flair. Michaels said the realization Flair may no longer be part of the regular roster hasn't quite sunk in.

"It's sort of like getting out of bed and seeing the sun shining," Michaels said. "It's something that's been a part of you every day that you've allowed yourself not to appreciate it at times. But when it's cloudy and dreary and ugly, you say, 'Man, I miss when the sun is shining.' I think that's something we're going to realize when that day comes."

Adelson also has a break down of the Hall of Fame inductees, with a "scorecard" of information for the Hall of Fame ceremony tonight. Article link.

- Brian Fritz interviewed several wrestlers for his Orlando Sentinel piece on who's going to steal the show at this year's Mania. Shawn Michaels said it's come to the point where it's tough to steal the show when everyone already expects you to steal the show. "The thing is, when you say something and then do it, it becomes part of you and people always expect it," Michaels said. "After a while, it becomes hard. It becomes your challenge. Can you meet that challenge? Can you rise to the occasion? That's all I ever try to do." Article link

***

- U.K. Sun published an interview with Big Show, who talked in character about not caring whether his match against Mayweather looks good. "I just want to embarrass the hell out of him," he said. Show, apparently in a grumpy mood during the interview, commented on Steve Austin and Chris Jericho doubting Mayweather's $20 million payoff.

"Steve’s so damn negative he’s not going to believe anything. He has got to be the richest grumpiest man I have ever met," Show said. "Steve has got so much money, that if I had his money I’d burn mine."

He continued, "But I fully believe that Mayweather has the incentives that if he does a certain number of PPV buys he’ll get every bit of that $20 million. As for me, I actually paid to be in this match just to get my hands on the little bastard." U.K. Sun article.


Download Audio Sample:

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA, ROH
visit our affiliate: JASON POWELL'S PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC AND MMA NEWS & BLOGS
visit our affiliate: MMATORCH.COM - now featuring the MMATorch Daily Audio Update!

REACT TO THIS STORY IN OUR FREE PWTORCH FORUM

PWTORCH VIP SIGN-UP INFO - NO ADS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

| subscribe to this feed

WWE News
Latest Articles by Category
WWE News: Raw ratings for Labor Day edition with Michaels-Jericho contract signing
TNA News: Mick Foley confirms he has come to terms on a deal with TNA, plus discusses other aspirations
WWE News: Mick Foley's bio officially removed from WWE.com Smackdown online roster
8/31 WWE in St. Louis, Mo.: Full Raw and Smackdown taping results including final Unforgiven hype
WWE News: Shawn Michaels suffers serious arm injury, match with Jericho likely off
WWE News: Jakks Pacific claims WWE lawsuit dismissed; WWE to continue suit
WWE News: A YouTube video puts new spin on Shawn Michaels-Chris Jericho saga
Ratings News: John Cena surgery a success, estimated time out of the ring determined (w/Keller's Analysis)
Ratings News: USA replay audience added to live Sci-Fi audience makes up for drop in rating
Ratings News: Raw ratings way down below 3.0 up against Democratic Convention (w/Keller's Analysis)
8/24 WWE in Bethlehem, Pa.: Cody & Ted vs. Cryme Tyme, Jericho & Kane vs. Cena & Batista
8/23 WWE at MSG in NYC report: Cena & Batista vs. Jericho & Kane, Punk vs. JBL in a cage, Mickie vs. Glamazon

(c) 1999-2008 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.

Latest Free Podcasts
PWTorch Free Podcast
9/5 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - An improvement over last week, Styles tells Sting what needed to be said (85 min.)
9/3 Nostalgia Audio: Nostalgia News, This week in wrestling history, WCW Monday Nitro
9/2 Daily Keller Hotline: Detailed analysis of Monday's Raw segment by segment (29 min.)
9/3 VIP East Coast Audio: ECW - Final ECW hype for Unforgiven, Dirtsheet delivers, Ricky O catching on (54 min.)
WWE Raw 9/1 Post-game Show: Caldwell and Penick discuss Raw (6 min. clip)
8/31 Nostalgia Audio: Remembering Killer Kowalski, Tony Schiavone, and independent contractor status





LATEST PRO WRESTLING TORCH NEWSLETTER #1040 (18 PAGES)

This issue begins with a cover story by Wade Keller looking at the final scene of SummerSlam and why it's bad for WWE not in and of itself, but due to the context it's put in... In-depth coverage of the WWE SummerSlam PPV including Keller's match report with star ratings and the newsletter-exclusive Roundtable Reviews and Reader Reax... Jason Powell's "Page 2 Buzz" with scoops and insider analysis on Mick Foley, TNA's expiring contracts, and more... Bruce Mitchell's Memo further reviews the latest Ric Flair DVD... WWE Newswire, TNA Newswire, and ROH Newswire with insider news, big story analysis, and notebook tidbits... Plus Keller's reports on Raw, Smackdown, and Impact, the Top 5 Stories of the Week, and more... PDF EXCLUSIVE features include the Jon Mezzera's Weekly Hits & Misses and Greg Parks' look at SummerSlam and Smackdown...

INFO ON SUBSCRIPTION TO NEWSLETTER AND AD-FREE VIP SITE

DOWNLOAD RECENT (5-10-08) SAMPLE OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTER (PDF)


PWTORCH READER POLL

What are your thoughts on the WWE Championship Scramble concept?
Big thumbs up. I'm excited to see it.
Tentative thumbs up. I'll need to see it first.
Tentative thumbs down. It sounds like a mess.
Big thumbs down. A disaster in the making.
I have no idea. I'm totally confused by it.
  


VOTE IN OR SEE RESULTS OF PREVIOUS POLLS

UPCOMING EVENTS LISTING

Articles Grouped by Category
Torch Today
TORCH NEWS TICKER 9/5: Mickie on USA tonight, Reports Wanted, Nash and Joe interview, Henry previews Unforgiven, WWE vs. Youtube
TORCH NEWS TICKER 8/29: Kowalski fundraiser, WWE lawsuit update, Midway Q&A on TNA video game, ROH Notes
TORCH NEWS TICKER 8/22: Results Wanted, Austin return date, Batista comments on Cena match, Kofi and DDP interviews
WWE News
WWE News: Raw ratings for Labor Day edition with Michaels-Jericho contract signing
TNA News: Mick Foley confirms he has come to terms on a deal with TNA, plus discusses other aspirations
WWE News: Mick Foley's bio officially removed from WWE.com Smackdown online roster
TNA News
TNA News: Latest on Gail Kim, as her future remains up in the air (w/Keller Analysis)
TNA News: Mick Foley confirms he has come to terms on a deal with TNA, plus discusses other aspirations
TNA New: Impact Ratings down up against Obama speech, Sting's big speech draws top rating of show (w/Keller Analysis)
ROH News
Interview Highlights: Roderick Strong on his stint with TNA, lagging promo skills, indys working together
7/25 ROH in Toronto: "That show was the first thing to make me proud to be a wrestling fan in a LONG time."
ROH News: Lance Storm interview on working with ROH wrestlers and injuries in pro wrestling
Other News
Torch Indy Weekend Results: Low Ki in PWG and new tag champs, Albright, Nunzio, Rhino
Obit: Walter "Killer" Kowalski dead at the age of 81 - wrestling star and trainer of many
Torch Indy Weekend Preview: Steen in IWS, Shiozaki in FIP, Delirious in Elite Pro
PPV Reports
CALDWELL'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV
KELLER'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV event
KELLER'S TNA HARD JUSTICE PPV REPORT 8/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of event - Samoa Joe vs. Booker T in cage
TV Reports
9/5 WWE SMACKDOWN: Parks's Ongoing "Real-Time" Coverage of the final hype for Unforgiven
9/4 TNA Impact Recap by Wilkenfeld: Sting, AJ, and Christian try to save the show from itself
9/2 ECW on Sci-Fi Report: Mayer's "alt perspective" report including Super Crazy, Ricky Ortiz, The Dirty Sheet
Arena Reports
8/31 WWE in St. Louis, Mo.: Full Raw and Smackdown taping results including final Unforgiven hype
8/24 WWE Smackdown in Canton, Ohio: Triple H & Undertaker vs. Khali & MVP, R-Truth vs. Carlito, Michelle vs. Maryse
8/24 TNA in Wichita, Ks.: Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles, Morgan vs. Kip, Knockouts Title Match, Lethal vs. Dutt
MMA / UFC Coverage
UFC News: Lesnar vs. Couture announced, Lesnar blasts legend, more MMA news and audio
UFC News: Paul Heyman comments on Brock Lesnar's controversial post-fight antics last Saturday
KELLER'S UFC 87 LIVE PPV REPORT; On-site ongoing coverage of Lesnar's second UFC fight, full card coverage
KELLER'S TAKE
VIP - KELLER: More crazy G.M. ideas for WWE to consider (PWTorch Newsletter #1037)
KELLER: An overhaul is in order for Raw before ratings drop further - several specific suggestions
KELLER: McMahon Returns for That? Nothing Funnier than a DUI! Let Me Shift So You Can Hit Me!
MITCHELL'S TAKE
MITCHELL'S BLOG: Notes From the 2008 NWA Fanfest - Ric Flair
WWE News: Flair's departure from WWE amicable, nostalgia convention circuit could be next
VIP - MITCHELL'S MEMO: DVD Liner Notes Part 3: Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
MCNEILL'S TAKE
Ready To Roll! McNEILL previews WWE SummerSlam
Rap It Up: McNEILL previews TNA Hard Justice!
VIP - MCNEILL FACTOR: Twenty Years of Summerslam, part two
CALDWELL'S TAKE
CORNER CUBE THURSDAY 9/4 - Should I stay or should I go? Gail Kim's options
CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 9/2 - Thoughts on Raw with HBK-Jericho, Kane-Rey, and the next C.M. Punk
CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 8/26 - Raw delivered highlights, but was heavy on filler
RADICAN'S TAKE
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/5: TNA video game will succeed where promotion of PPVs ultimately fails
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/4: Nice days coming to TNA?
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 7/23: McGuinness & Jericho setting standard for heels in 2008
The Specialists
Nostalgia News: Former AWA wrestler Rick Renslow dies at age 53
CAREER PATH: Kurt Angle's career high point, low point, and what if he had never left WWE?
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - 9/4 TNA IMPACT: What I noticed on the show that you might not have
Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: What's wrong with Raw this year? A lot. But one core problem trumps the rest
EDITORIAL: Tag Team Divisions will not get over until squash matches return
EDITORIAL: C.M. Punk needs a prominent program to make him the star of Raw
Torch Feedback
WWE ECW Reax #1: "Striker's 'and vote Republican' was so awesome. Not because I am Republican, because I am certainly not, but..."
WWE Raw Reax #1: "The fire in Punk's eyes showed that those two could possibly have a meaningful fued later on."
DRAFT PICKS - Batch #7 featuring top picks of Chris Jericho, C.M. Punk, and Edge, plus Undertaker, Aries, Tomko, Briscoes...
Ask the Editor
Ask the Editor: Wouldn't incorporating MMA-style holds into pro wrestling matches just be trying to be something it's not?
ASK THE EDITOR: Have the Michaels-Batista promos crossed a line with use of insider terms, references to "jobs"?
ASK THE EDITOR: Why do wrestlers in WWE refer to wrestling as "the business" and not "the sport"?
DVDs - VGames - Books
WEEKEND DVD SPOTLIGHT: SHIMMER Vol. 18 (Kong-Busic,Del Rey-MsChif)
RADICAN: Al Snow discusses his wrestling career, philosophy, time in OVW, and more in new interview
DVD Review: ROH "Glory By Honor VI, N2" with Kenta vs. Misawa, 110307
Torch Flashbacks
KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (9-4-03):Angle vs. Taker, plus Rey, Vince, Stephanie, Brock, Big Show, Cena, APA
KELLER'S TNA REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (9-3-03): War Games-style ten man with D-Lo, Raven, Jeff Jarrett, plus Vince Russo on commentary
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (9-1-03): Lawler vs. Coach, Christian vs. Jericho, Molly & Gail Kim vs. Trish & Ivory
VIP Exclusive Features
9/5 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - An improvement over last week, Styles tells Sting what needed to be said (85 min.)
9/4 Daily Keller Hotline: Mickie James on dating and nude pics, Nash reminisces, Gail Kim & Foley Updates (5 min. free clip)
VIP - PWTorch Today Bulletin #15 (PDF): New Samoa Joe Interview Analysis, Nash Reminisces, Foley Note
Torch Trivia
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Henning? - Part One
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Champion vs. Champion matches?
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about SummerSlam - Part 3
Torch Instant Polls
POLL: What are your thoughts on the WWE Championship Scramble concept?
POLL: Should the TNA Knockouts women wrestlers be paid in the same ballpark as the male wrestlers?
POLL: Who is your pick as the MVP of the August 11 edition of WWE Raw?
PWTorch Free Podcast
9/5 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - An improvement over last week, Styles tells Sting what needed to be said (85 min.)
9/3 Nostalgia Audio: Nostalgia News, This week in wrestling history, WCW Monday Nitro
9/2 Daily Keller Hotline: Detailed analysis of Monday's Raw segment by segment (29 min.)
Annual Obituaries
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 1999 - Muchnick, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Renegade...
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2000 - Solie, Albright, Duncum, Tsuruta, Blue Demon, Al Costello
SPECIALIST: List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2001: Johnny Valentine, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams, Bertha Faye, Helen Hart