Wednesday Torch Today – Takeover post-game show, Balor talks NJPW to NXT, Triple H arrives at Takeover, Ross filming Flair ESPN special, Rock reads Mean Tweets, Rumble gag entries, Duggan signs for NFL player, Jessie lands movie lead, Quackenbush talks love of wrestling, POLL RESULTS – is Reigns’s push sustainable?

By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor


SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

TORCH TODAY – Wednesday, December 16

– 5:30 p.m. EST: PWTorch Livecast NXT Takeover post-game show with Pat McNeill & Travis Bryant of the East Coast Cast after the Takeover special concludes. Listen live/call in at PWTorchLivecast.com.

– 3:00 p.m. EST: WWE’s NXT Takeover special on WWE Network. COMPLETE LIVE RESULTS. (Read PWTorch specialist Tony Donofrio’s Takeover preview column)

– NXT champion Finn Balor talked to wrestling announcer Kevin Gill on the “Kevin Gill Show” about his transition from New Japan to WWE NXT, the creative process of his ring entrance, and staying positive.

“Sometimes you just have to take a step back and admire the landscape. It is a very competitive place NXT right now,” Balor said. “Japan was an incredible chapter. I was kind of very reluctant to move on from Japan and very unsure of what I was getting into when I came to NXT. I can honestly say it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. Here maybe 14 months now and I’ve been having a blast.”

Triple H resurfaced after selling Roman Reigns’s beating at the TLC PPV. Hunter tweeted that he arrived at the Takeover special in London.

Triple H was then interviewed by ITV News to discuss the Takeover special and which footballers would make for good prospective wrestlers. (Video Clip at ITV.com)

– Former WWE announcer Jim Ross will be interviewed for ESPN’s “30 for 30” special on Ric Flair. Ross n0ted Wednesday morning that he is heading to Charlotte for the interview.

Ric Flair talked to “Fan Theory” as part of the Asbury Park Press promoting an appearance with Divas champion Charlotte in New Jersey on Friday. Asked what sets apart Charlotte from second-generation sons or daughters who did not work out in wrestling, Flair said he he started her working out with personal trainers at eight-years-old and Charlotte has a strong work ethic to be successful. (Full Interview w/light audio from Flair at APP.com)

“The Rock” Dwayne Johnson closed out a recent edition of Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” segment where celebrities read tweets about them. Rock’s Twitter post to read was about Rock being everywhere and being a “candy ass movie star.”

– POLL RESULTS: We asked on PWTorch.com whether the flip on Roman Reigns from last week to this week is sustainable. We also asked on Twitter how long Reigns will hold the WWE Title. These were perhaps the most mixed poll results on a single topic with no majority votes, reflecting not enough information at the moment to see clear direction.

Is Reigns’s new-found momentum sustainable?

26% – Need to see more than TLC & Raw
22% – No, it’s the same Reigns who bombed last week
19% – No, I don’t think WWE is capable of sustaining this
17% – Yes, I believe Reigns has found his groove
15% – Yes, I believe WWE can sustain this new version of Reigns

How long will Reigns hold the WWE Title?

44% – Lose after WM32
33% – Lose at WM32
23% – Lose before WM32

– In the betting world, international oddsmaker Paddy Power has added two gag entries to win the Royal Rumble. Recent WWE football celebrity Wayne Rooney and WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump are listed for the match. Of course, they’re very big underdogs since they won’t actually be in the match. (Thanks to PWTorch correspondent David)

– Washington Redskins NFL player and wrestling fan Ryan Kerrigan recently showed off a signed 2×4 from “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. (Story at Redskins.com)

– TNA wrestler Jessie Godderz has booked a new lead role playing Conan the Barbarian in the new comedy movie “Kid Barbarian.” The independent movie is a project of Paper Tiger Films, LLC, set for release in 2016. Godderz also set the stage for TNA’s move to Pop TV when he took over as host of Pop’s “Big Brother After Dark” show in September.

– New Japan “Road to Tokyo Dome” Results for Wednesday via PuroresuSpirit.net.

Chikara released footage of owner Mike Quackenbush talking about his love of pro wrestling and promoting wrestling at an “Ignite Philly” conference.

– Good Wednesday Morning.

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