Monday 2/8 Torch Today – Bryan’s retirement, Cena’s interesting WM32 comment, WWE/Cricket Wireless, Sgt. Slaughter’s official role, WWE dabs Super Bowl Champs, JR to make announcement, Jake & DDP get Booked, L.A. Times on L. Underground, why did Linda start new business venture?, Khali to open five wrestling schools, NJPW Results, long-time columnist Mooneyham retires

TORCH TODAY – Monday, February 8, 2016

– Daniel Bryan got the jump on day-long speculation about what his involvement on Raw will be by announcing his retirement on Twitter. Of course, it is the wrestling business, where everything and anything can be turned into a storyline, such as Bryan being forced by The Authority to continue being on WWE TV (hoping to boost interest in WrestleMania). Or, he’s simply done-done, like Edge announcing his retirement five years ago because of the condition of his neck. Monday’s Raw just got a boost of interest to see how this plays out.

– John Cena sent out an interesting tweet Monday morning linking the NFL’s historic Super Bowl 50 to WWE’s upcoming WrestleMania 32 event. Cena will presumably be part of the event, but whether he can recover from injury to compete is another thing. He also used the word “possible” to describe WWE’s attempt to break records at AT&T Stadium for WM32. That seems like a break from the norm where Cena typically comes across 100 percent optimistic about WWE matters.

Congrats to @NFL 50yrs of #SuperBowl Now,counting down to a possible record breaking 32nd #WrestleMania certainty a MUST see @WWENetwork 4/3

— John Cena (@JohnCena) February 8, 2016

– WWE announced Monday a partnership with Cricket Wireless to give away a trip to WM32. Starting Monday through March 20, fans can enter a sweepstakes by visiting a local store or entering online at CricketSweepstakes.com/wwe32.

– Also related to WM32, Sgt. Slaughter continued his Texas Tour trying to drum up local interest in the big event. This time, Slaughter talked to the Dallas Observer about his ambassador role for WWE, nostalgia, and the current WWE talent roster.

“I work for the WWE as an ambassador and a lot of charity work. Work with MDA and Make-a-wish, Special Olympics. We go around the country and raise money for those causes. I do a lot of work promoting WWE events. There’s so much to promote now that they need all hands on deck. You have to keep up with it,” Slaughter summed up his role.

– WWE is sending a WWE Title belt with Denver Broncos sideplates to the Broncos to recognize their Super Bowl victory on Sunday.

Congratulations to #SB50 Champs @Broncos! A special gift is on the way from @TripleH! https://t.co/h9bF4S4XQb @NFL pic.twitter.com/CsIdtCaw2y

— WWE (@WWE) February 8, 2016

– Former WWE announcer Jim Ross has an announcement on the way Tuesday.

Stay tuned for an announcement Tuesday re: another career move on our side. Business is Picking Up, AGAIN!

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) February 8, 2016

– Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon was interviewed about what drove her to start a new business focusing on women’s leadership in the business world. “I was a bit skeptical at first because I really, quite frankly, didn’t see as much of a need as [her business partners] were explaining that women really needed in the marketplace,” McMahon told the Greenwich Time. “I was so busy doing what I was doing, growing a company, that I really wasn’t, I don’t think, listening as much as maybe I ought to have been listening to women in the marketplace.” [ Full Interview ]

– The Los Angeles Times published a feature article on Lucha Underground finding a home in the Boyle Heights section of L.A. to film their cinematic-style product. “Latino culture is very pop culture now,” said Chavo Guerrero. “People think, ‘Oh, “Lucha,” it’s a Mexican show.’ Uh, no. Look at the fan base. It’s wrestling. Wrestling is African Americans, whites, Asians. It’s all different. In the wrestling world this show is the first thing that’s been different in years.”

– WWE personality Booker T is hosting a screening of Jake Roberts’s new documentary at his next big ROW event on March 9 in Texas City (Houston). Roberts and Diamond Dallas Page are scheduled to appear at the event. Booker opened the new World’s Gym Arena over the weekend.

Just announced! March 9th! @RealDDP & @JakeSnakeDDT will be at #WorldsGymArena! Special screen of @JakeSnakeMovie. pic.twitter.com/MQhulvG4Qb

— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) February 7, 2016

– Great Khali is planning to open five wrestling schools in his homeland of Punjab, India. Khali’s goal is to give underprivileged children a place to train for free and keep them out of trouble. (Full Story at MeriNews.com)

– Results from Sunday and Monday New Japan events continuing to build to this week’s “New Beginning” shows.

– Finally, long-time wrestling columnist Mike Mooneyham announced his retirement from the newspaper business. Mooneyham reflected on 40 years of work, mainly for the Post & Courier, and covering a young upstart named Ric Flair.