SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
TORCH TODAY – Tuesday, March 8, 2016
– John Cena announcing Tuesday that he will not compete at WrestleMania is not only the end of his 12-year streak, but in some ways feels like the end of an era. The top spot is there for Cena when he returns from injury, but it might not be the same. So, does he shift into a legacy role, similar to Triple H in the mid-2000s when he really did not need the WWE Title anymore, but could rotate into a title feud when needed? Cena is now entering an interesting phase of his career.
– Meanwhile, WrestleMania 32 is unabashedly being built around the spectacle of Shane McMahon vs. The Undertaker. Now, maybe things change when Roman Reigns returns after Roadblock, but WWE is all-in with Shane vs. Taker receiving the most attention and focus on the Road to WrestleMania. It’s a reminder of the McMahons making themselves the centerpiece of the show, even WrestleMania, when options are limited and they’ve booked themselves into a corner.
– Jim Ross wrote about Monday’s Raw, the WrestleMania build, and all of his irons in the fire in a new blog at jrsbarbq.com.
– At PWPodcasts.com: On-demand access to Monday’s Raw post-game show, plus recent interviews with Mick Foley and Jim Ross.
– At MMATorch.com: Fall-out from UFC 196 over the weekend as UFC starts building toward UFC 200.
– Variety reports that WWE is planning a new mobile game called “WWE Champions.” The game is part of a deal with a company called Scopely that will be developing a WWE-themed puzzle game along the likes of Candy Crush. About 100 main roster WWE stars and legends will be playable characters. The game is scheduled for release later this year.
– WWE sent out a new survey to their “Fan Council” about community outreach programs. WWE said they wanted surveyors to help WWE “refine its messaging on a community program and how best to help WWE achieve its goal of leveraging the power of its brands and platforms to address important social issues.” (Thanks to PWTorch VIP member David)
– Event organizers behind “WaleMania” wasted no time announcing “WaleMania III” for Thursday, March 30, 2017 in Orlando wrapped around WrestleMania 33 in Florida. Rapper Wale will be joined by MLW Radio for a weekend series of events.
– In Japan, New Japan’s “New Japan Cup” tour continued Tuesday featuring more of Kazuchika Okada trying to recruit Hirooki Goto to CHAOS. Also, NOAH’s Spring Navigation tour continued Tuesday featuring NXT recruits TMDK’s final set of matches.
– Finally, Kurt Angle officially wraps up his TNA run tonight on Impact when he faces Bobby Lashley in a match taped on the January U.K. tour. TNA released a “career retrospective” ahead of Angle’s farewell match.
With no Cena at wrestleMania and Cena in Summerslam poster Summerslam may become the real 2016 Wrestlemania!