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TV Reports
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 1/12: Complete coverage of show headlined by John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels, plus Jericho is fired by Stephanie
Jan 12, 2009 - 11:01:27 PM


By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
JANUARY 12, 2009
SIOUX CITY, IOWA


[Q1]

-The show opened with JBL and Shawn Michaels sitting in a limo next to each other. JBL told Michaels had he not fallen on hard times, he could have been fighting for a title instead of a paycheck from his employer. He said with him in his corner tonight against John Cena, he can consider this his Wrestlemania. Michaels had that look that Michaels always has these days.

-After the Raw opening aired, Michael Cole introduced the show as Stephanie McMahon walked out onto the stage. She slapped a few hands on her walk to the ring. Cole and Jerry Lawler previewed the show. Stephanie said everyone is looking forward to the Royal Rumble, but also next week when her father, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, returns to Raw. As she began to gush about her father Chris Jericho's music interrupted. Jericho walked to the ring. Jericho walked into the ring and said, "You are a liar, Stephanie. You're no worse than all these hypocrites in this arena right now." (He meant, "You're no better.") He said when Vince returns, her days running Raw will come to an end and he will right all of her wrongs. He said he'll take JBL out of the title match at the Rumble and put him in his place. He said Mr. McMahon respects the locker room and respects him. He reminded her he is the 2008 Superstar of the Year.

Steph spoke up and said, "Raw is my show, Chris." Chris laughed and told her she doesn't have a clue what's going on. He said she didn't even know he was returning until he told her. He asked her if Mr. McMahon approved of Mike Adamle being appointed G.M. Steph blamed Shane for that, then said he might still be champion if he was more concerned with his title defenses than her decisions. Steph said the JBL vs. Cena match becomes official with a contract signing on Raw next week. She told him to focus on the Royal Rumble match because that's the closest he'll ever come to the World Title. Jericho said he won't compete in the ring again until the World Title is at stake. He said he's above anything else. Steph said he's not above that or anybody else in the arena. Jericho said he's done talking to her because her time as an authority is running out. "The real McMahon is coming back, and next week at this time, nothing he you say will mean anything," he said. Steph said it's not next week, it's this week, and she's still in charge. He asked what she's going to do. She said since he's putting her on the spot, she's lost his opportunity to compete in the Royal Rumble and he'll never get another World Title match again. Jericho said nothing she says means anything. She leaned in and said, "Maybe you'll give a damn about this. You're fired!" The crowd cheered as Stephanie left the ring. Jericho looked a bit stunned and taken aback.

[Commercial Break]

[Q2]

-Steph firing Jericho was recapped, which rewards those who didn't watch the start of the show and frustrates those who did by making them sit through it again.

-They showed Jericho being escorted out of the arena by security.

-Cole and Lawler were shown on camera reacting. Lawler said Stephanie showed who's boss. Cole had a strange facial reaction. He does look like he's lost some weight. He doesn't look as bloated as just a couple months ago.

1 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. THE MIZ

Cole said John Morrison isn't on Raw after the grueling Tables Match he had on Smackdown on Friday. Aren't wrestlers assigned to rosters? Why does WWE continue to flippantly allow some wrestlers to indiscriminately float from one brand to another any given week? Miz got in most of the offense, but Rey finished him clean after a 619. Solid short match. No shame in Miz losing clean to Rey, but it seemed to come pretty quickly.

WINNER: Rey in 3:00.

-Afterward, Mike Knox jumped Rey from behind. Rey lifted a boot when Knox charged at him and then he head scissored him out of the ring. The crowd popped for Rey successfully fending off the bully.

-They cut backstage to Candice Michelle talking to a mystery person off camera about McMahon returning next week. She said in a ditzy voice circa Maria 2006 that she didn't think he'd be back after that accident. She said she thought he died. The camera panned back and C.M. Punk had his back turned to her as he warmed up for his match. He had headphones on and didn't hear her talking. He said he had to get ready for his match and basically blew her off. Strange. I'm not a fan of the "camera zooms in on someone talking to someone off camera" routine. It's occasionally useful, as in maybe three times a year, but WWE does it excessively for no reason too often.

[Commercial Break]

- A video package aired on Vince McMahon. It included very early footage of McMahon as an announcer and clips from his DVD including Eric Bischoff saying he didn't want people to know he was owner of WWE.

[Q3]

2 -- WILLIAM REGAL (w/Layla) vs. C.M. PUNK - IC Title match

Lilian Garcia explained if Regal is DQ'd in this match, he'll lose the title. A "Breaking News" crawler repeated that Jericho was fired by Stephanie earlier. Cole must've been reading the monitor as he said during a near fall by Punk, "Jericho may be closing in on the Intercontinental Title!" Lawler called him on it. Two minutes in, Punk punched Regal in the gut. Regal sold it like it was a low blow and the ref DQ'd Punk immediately. Cole called it "referee's discretion." Punk protested the call.

WINNER: Regal via DQ.

-Mickie James told Cody Rhodes that they night get stuck in Iowa because of the snow storm. She said they've closed down the Interstates. Manu and Sim Snuka walked up to Cody, angry with his decision last week. Cody said he is just taking advantage of an opportunity, and if they were in his shoes, they would have done the same thing. Manu said they're going after Orton tonight, and you're either with them or against them. He said they've brought some back-up, someone who feels like they do, "second-generation, just like us." Cody lookoed curious.

-Cole plugged Kane vs. Randy Orton was coming up. Lawler plugged the Michaels-Cena match.

[Commercial Break]

-WWE Fact: Last week Raw was "again" the n. 1 show on cable, continuing it's streak as the longest-running episodic weekly series on television.

-Todd Grisham interviewed Regal backstage. He said he's glad the challenge is over and he stands as the IC Champion. He said he is very satisifed. Steph walked up and said next week they'll have the third and final match between those two to determine the IC Champion, and it'll be a no-DQ match.

[Q4]

-The camera panned the crowd, including a huge "Cena Sux" sign, followed by Cole throwing to a big announcement: "The night before WrestleMania, the man who revolutionized an industry, will take his place in history." They cut to an image of Austin walking to the ring as fans chanted "Austin, Austin." Career highlights aired including that historic "Austin 316 says I just kicked your ass" line. Lawler told Cole he wants to be the first in line in Houston on Saturday when tickets go on sale.

-JBL asked Michaels if he thinks Steph will still be in charge come WrestleMania. JBL said Steph can't fire him because he works for him. He said Jericho saved his money and didn't lose in the stock market like he did. He said with him in his corner, he can't lose against Cena. Michaels said, "If this is my WrestleMania, I don't need you in my corner to beat John Cena." He said he's going to prove on his own he's the headliner, the main event, the Showstopper. JBL said, "That's why I hired you."

[Commercial Break]

-Another shorter McMahon vignette aired. They showed the blizzard conditions outside of the arena in Sioux City. Lawler and Cole then announced Rey would face Knox one-on-one next week.

3 -- KANE vs. RANDY ORTON (w/Cody Rhodes)

Kane dropped Orton with an open hand slap to the head early. Then he clotheslined to the floor. They cut to an early break.

[Commercial Break]

-A plug aired for ECW on Tuesday for the undefeated Jack Swagger getting an ECW Title shot against Matt Hardy. "Will he be the new face of ECW," asked the narrator. For ECW traditionalists, I'll say with confidence that Swagger is someone Paul Heyman would have run with if he was around in the ECW V1 era.

[Q5]

Orton was on offense after the break. Cody watched nervously from ringside just like Sunshine did when Jimmy Garvin faced a tough test at the Sportatorium. Kane came back at 7:00 with a big boot off the ropes and a hard clothesline in the corner. Lawler said fans dislike Orton so much, they're actually cheering for Kane. This is a strange match to feature at the start of the second hour for that very reason - that there's no one here for the fans to rally behind. Orton hit a neckbreaker out of nowhere. He then went for an RKO, but Kane blocked it. Orton caught Kane coming off the top rope with a dropkick, then covered him for the clean pin.

WINNER: Orton at 9:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Decent match, but with a chunk in the middle that didn't air, tough to really evaluate. It wasn't there to be a showcase match, so whatever purpose it had, it probably served it, playing off of the whole Kelly Kelly deal that's been clumsily handled.

-Afterward, Manu and Sim Snuka walked out. They asked if he was with them or against them. Snuka said they were bringing back-up, and then out walked Ted DiBiase. Cody remained on the floor on the opposite side of the ring as the other three entered the ring and cornered Cody. Orton looked to Cody for help. He slid into the ring to provide apparent back-up. Lawler said this could be the end of Orton. Orton milked the moment, but DiBiase, Rhodes, and Orton jumped Manu and Snuka in a three-on-one attack. Lawler and Cole tried to make sense of the chaos. Orton, Cody, and DiBiase left Snuka and Manu lying KO'd in the ring. They stood in a row on the Raw stage as the segment ended.

-They went to a clip of Steph firing Jericho earlier. Lawler said Mr. McMahon is returning next week, but Jericho won't be around to see it as he's now fired.

-Grisham interviewed John Cena. Cena reminisced about surprising everyone last year by sneaking into the arena and returning that night. Cena said anything can happen at the Royal Rumble. He said this year he has to defend against JBL. He noted that he's a former WWE Champion and he's responsible for some of the most responsible matches he had in WWE. He said he also has bought himself "the best" in the form of Shawn Michaels. He said Michaels is every bit as good as he says he is. He complimented him as the Show Stopper, Heartbreak Kid, and Main Event. He said earlier he left one out, he's also Mr. WrestleMania. He said tonight he competes against Michaels in his WrestleMania. he seemed a little broken up and even teared up talking about the hard times that have forced Michaels's hand.

[Commercial Break]

[Q6]

-Kelly Kelly came out for a scheduled tag match. "When Kelly Kelly smiles, you need sunglasses," said Lawler, who added, "I've seen the angel I want to be touched by." As Melina made her ring intro, she was attacked by a member of the paparazzi. It was really Rosa Mendez in disguise. Beth Phoenix threw Melina into the security wall as soon as security dragged Mendez away. Phoenix shoved a camera in her face because "you've never looked so glamorous." Jillian Hall laughed in the background. The tag match is apparently off. Imagine traveling cross country for Raw if you're Jillian and the entirety of your job that day is to walk to the ring and then smile as you watch your partner attack an opponent, then leave.

[Commercial Break]

-Another short McMahon vignette aired, hyping his return next week. He's been away long enough that his return should now mean something. The clip this time was McMahon getting his star placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

-Lawler and Cole plugged the Royal Rumble line-up.

-Cody and Orton thanked DiBiase for tipping them off about Manu and Snuka's plans. Orton said they both proved tonight they deserve to be part of his Legacy. DiBiase said it's time to move on to the Rumble. He noted all three are in it. Orton said there can only be one winner. DiBiase and Cody nodded in resigned agreement.

-They went backstage to Jamie Noble, Goldust, Cryme Tyme, and Dolph Zigger waiting outside of Steph's locker room, trying to get a spot in the Rumble. In an Ameircan Idol type scene, Santino walked out and celebrated getting a pass to Austin! He said he'd see some of them at the Rumble, but not all of them.

-They showed Michaels heading toward the entrance tunnel with JBL trailing behind.

[Commercial Break]

-Cole plugged the Regal-Punk IC Title match scheduled for next week.

-Ring intros took place for the main event. First JBL's music played as the limo drove into the arena. When JBL and Michaels stepped out of the limo, Michaels's music played. He made his way to the ring in a reserved, low-key manner. No dancing, but he did let out a little pose and flex. Cena came out next.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- JOHN CENA vs. SHAWN MICHAELS (w/JBL)

They went back and forth early, neither gaining a sustained advantage. At 2:00 Michaels chopped Cena. Cena backdropped Michaels seconds later, and then clotheslined him over the top rope to the floor.

[Q8]

By 5:00 Michaels regained control and applied a figure-four. Cena escaped and shook off his legs, then kicked Michaels in the gut and set up an FU. Michaels esceaped, but Cena countered quickly with a running neckbreaker. He climbed to the top rope. Michaels sidestepped his awkward dive and applied a crossface at 7:00. Cena reached the bottom rope to force a break, rolled out of the ring, and they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

After the break, they showed a clip from during the break of Cena reversing Michaels hard into the turnbuckle, with Michaels bumping over the top rope to the floor. Cena back suplexed Michaels. Cena went on offense, settling into a bearhug in center ring for two minutes. Michaels powered out and then caught a charging Cena with a knee.

[Q9]

After a collision, Michaels nipped up. Cena ducked a clothesline and shoulder tackled Michaels to the mat. He followed with an atomic drop attempt, but Michaels reversed leverage into a two count attempt. Michaels then climbed to the top rope. Cena met him there. Michaels slipped down and powerbombed Cena to the mat for a near fall, the first believable near fall of the match, at 18:00. Michaels then went for a top rope elbow, and Lawler said, "This is Michaels's WrestleMania." But Cena moved. Michaels lay on the mat as Cena climbed to the top again. He hit Michaels with a legdrop to the back of Michaels's neck this time. Cena held his hand up to signal for the You Can't See Me routine. He hit the fistdrop, but when he lifted Michaels, Michaels countered into a DDT for a near fall with one arm draped over Cena's chest. Michaels hit a top rope elbow on target, then played of the crowd to a mixed reaction. He positioned himself for Sweet Chin Music, stomped the mat, and went for the kick. Cena ducked and then hit a sudden Throwback (formerly the FU). Cole didn't call it anything. Cena made the cover and Michaels kicked out at two. Cole declared, "Michaels showing the world why indeed he is the Main Event." Cena lifted Michaels. Michaels surprised him with a superkick for a near fall at 21:00. The crowd chanted, "Let's Go Cena!" A competing Michaels began. Cena lifted Michaels, Michaels rolled through into a sunset flip, and he scored a near fall. Cena then locked on the STF (formerly the STFU), which Cole did call by name. Michaels winced in pain near the ropes where JBL cheered him on. He reached for the ropes. JBL yelled, "Come on, Shawn!" Michaels did grab the bottom rope, forcing a break. Cena lifted Michaels for a Throwback, but Michaels escaped. . He shoved Cena into the ropes. When JBL reached for him, Cena hesitated. Michaels then superkicked Cena and scored a pin.

WINNER: Michaels in 24:00.

STAR RATING: **** -- A solid four stars, but I wouldn't go any higher. The build was pretty slow, and there wasn't anything concrete at stake, other than JBL wanted Michaels to win. They were two pros throughout, and the final five or so minutes was very good.

-Afterward, JBL stood over Cena and stared at him. The slo-mo replay of Michaels nailing Cena looked dead-on target. Cole said the question is who will be World Champion in two weeks at the Rumble. That match was good, but it didn't do a lot to make fans think JBL is a threat to Cena, nor was he that bad of a guy where you had added reason to want to see him lose or "get what's coming to him."

Comment on this Article Below

(CLICK FOR COMMENTS RULES OR TO REPORT ABUSE)

jason97782
12 Jan 2009, 18:07
hmmmmm.........does anyone else thing that this is all leading to JBL beating cena for the title, and the HBK winning the rumble: setting up a HBK/JBL title match at Wrestlemania?

just a thought..........
Jason
12 Jan 2009, 18:25
I'm normally a fan of Keller's reports and writing style and will usually defend him against the 'haters', but seriously, stop whining about the lack of a true 'brand split'. Miz/Morrison are the hot new thing, and you expect them to fester on ECW, where there aren't any other tag teams?

We get that they don't acknowledge it anymore. No need to mention it nearly every week. Yes, this used to annoy me too, but I've gotten over it long ago.
Drew
12 Jan 2009, 18:42
While I agree with Jason that Miz and Morrison should not waste away on the "ECW" roster, I have to side with Wade on that one. The constant ignoring of the brand split drives me up the friggin' wall. Either get rid of it or commit already!
Jay
12 Jan 2009, 18:44
Jason, I think they are building towards JBL/HBK at Mania but not for the title. I'm sure HHH or Orton will win the rumble to set up Edge/HHH and Orton/Cena for Mania.

Keller what is the delay tonight?
Jay
12 Jan 2009, 18:52
Hey Drew haven't they had all three brands on every ppv all last year? I mean the whole split deal has already been classified as a touring distinction by wwe.

That horse has been dead for 2 years already, no use beating it.
TED
12 Jan 2009, 19:00
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BRAND SPLIT IS TO HAVE 2 MULTIPLE TOURING GROUPS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.

AS FAR AS TV GOES, WHO CARES ABOUT THE BRANDSPLIT? ONLY A ANAL RETENTIVE SKINNY TWIT LIKE KELLER KEEPS BRINGING IT UP.

ECW TAPES BEFORE RAW SO MATT, MORRISON, MIZ ETC ARE ALL THERE.

THE GOAL OF TV IS TO GET RATINGS SO ANY WWE STAR SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR WWE TO USE ON ANY SHOW AT ANY TIME BECAUSE THEY ALL ARE A PART OF THE WWE UNIVERSE.
kelvSYC
12 Jan 2009, 19:07
I think that Miz and Morrison are just gaming the supposed "ECW talent exchange" system. By all indication, why aren't other ECW talent doing the same and being booked in Raw and SD matches? Right now, Miz and Morrison is technically bigger than the champion Matt Hardy - neither is identifiably ECW, and both are just there for the convenience of being able to be on two (or all three) shows in one week. (or is it a sign of Teddy being an inept GM, as a payment to Vickie/Steph to keep a struggling ECW afloat?)

Also means that when the draft comes they're clearly going to be moved.
Will
12 Jan 2009, 19:32
Come on Wade! It looks pretty bad when you're half an hour after the show and you don't have the rest of the results up yet! Also you're "assistant" editor has had his results posted right when the show went off, so what's your excuse? Maybe a job switch is in order?
graves9
12 Jan 2009, 20:13


I think it's funny that a lot of the Austin clips were of him beating on guys that aren't exactly in the WWE's good graces. Foley, Scott Steiner, Nash, Angle 9multiple times), and Brokc were all shown getting owned by the Rattlesnake. Vintage McMahon.
Oh yeah WWE you want more than crickets chirping when the Legacy beats someone down? Well have them beat someone down that the fans care about.
ted
12 Jan 2009, 20:36
shut up graves9. you are a jackass. wwe can show austin beating up anyone they like and who cares about angle, foley, steiner etc. they work for the enemy.

it is in wwe's best interests to portray angle, foley etc as has beens sinc e they no longer are in wwe.

the reality is that austin drew more tv ratings, merchandise sales, and money for wwe, etc than angle, foley and steiner and booker t combined.
Jay
12 Jan 2009, 20:38
So a great match must have a "title" on the line? Oh please! you always come up with some excuse for not giving great wwe matches their due.

Clearly Wade, with HBK having beaten Cena and being in JBL's corner, the title could be in serious jeopardy at the Royal Rumble. Don't assume that Cena will retain because you think you know the Mania plans.

On top of that wwe has done a tremendous job of putting a ton of heat on JBL for "forcing" HBK into a heel role that Michaels is executing perfectly.

Lastly, I find it hard to de-value a match regardless of what imaginary, suspension of disbelief storyline it did or didn't have, when the entire arena bought into the match and was on its feet until the finish.

My girlfriend popped for every nearfall HBK had. She wanted HBK to win in spite of JBL and she loves Cena.

That gets 4.5-5 stars from me.
graves9
12 Jan 2009, 22:34
ted smoke some more crack fool. you can say that about HHH who tore down everything Austin built up. Angle is one of the best in ring workers of all time no need to put him down and Foley had a huge part in the WWE turning around the ratings war.
ian
13 Jan 2009, 01:47
@ graves9 - also interesting to note during the vkm video package was him telling angle and foley that they were fired. you can't honestly tell me that's not designed to show that you "fired" 2 of TNA's top stars to the average not-knowing watcher.
Steve Andrews
13 Jan 2009, 03:24


Jay:

Keller gives star ratings to MMA fights. No need to ever take him or his star ratings seriously. Michaels vs. Cena is an early MOTY candidate if you're not a cynical, self-absorbed egomaniac like Keller.
Bobaloo
13 Jan 2009, 03:34
jason97782 — No, I don't think that it will be JBL-Michaels for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. However, I noticed Michaels mouthing something to JBL toward the end of the match. I sense something is going to happen at the Royal Rumble.
Bobaloo
13 Jan 2009, 03:36
By the way, is this the end of the Kane-Kelly Kelly angle? I bet not, even though nothing new happened (other than possibly Orton-Kane).
gary
13 Jan 2009, 06:14
its like children argueing above.... thought this was an adults site. stop over analsying the material, just watch and enjoy. austin dserves the hall of fame, angle doesnt, hes got too much a big head and too much pride, and too brokenup, hbk be there way before kurt crashes down from his small tna mountain.
Brian J. Adkins
13 Jan 2009, 09:27
@Jason97782:That won't happen per the conditions set by JBL last week that HBK will not be in the Rumble match. HBK will only be in JBL's corner at the ppv.
JFK
13 Jan 2009, 09:58
It's "Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass", not kicked. Sorry to be a stickler, but it is one of the most iconic phrases in wrestling history.
JFK
13 Jan 2009, 10:03
Also, there's no way in hell that match was worth four stars. It wasn't even close to their WrestleMania match, or their hour-long RAW match. Three stars tops.
1-Stu-3 Kidd
13 Jan 2009, 15:14
JFK- Now if Cena had Goldust in his corner as a special enforcer to keep an eye on JBL, then the match would have been at least 4.5-5 stars on pure entertainment value alone.......lol
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FOURTH OF JULY: Fun facts from the Great American Bash 10 & 20 years ago
TORCH MONTHLY AWARD VOTING: Polls OPEN for best/worst in pro wrestling from the month of June (Part 2 of 2)
TORCH MONTHLY AWARD VOTING: Polls OPEN for best/worst in pro wrestling from the month of June (Part 1 of 2)
WWE News
WWE News: Quarterly WWE Raw TV ratings report - Comparing January-March to April-June "WM25 + KFC gimmick" season
WWE News: John Cena says where he will be in ten years, talks about "feud" against The Rock
WWE News: Tommy Dreamer interview, Hacksaw Jim Duggan working on a book, Breaking Point PPV update
TNA News
TNA News: Latest episode of the Spin Cycle with Sting, Jarrett, Cornette, Foley greatness (w/VIDEO)
TNA News: TNA video game franchise without a home after Midway Games bought out; Analysis of interesting domino effect involving WWE
TNA News: Sting talks Shockmaster with Jeff Jarrett, Jim Cornette (w/VIDEOS)
ROH News
ROH News: Lance Storm's first match out of retirement announced, details on second match against Chris Hero
ROH News: Notes on Toronto Gauntlet match, Nigel McGuinness below-average performances into storyline, ROH selling PWG DVDs
TOP FIVE STORIES - Weekend edition: Three WWE PPV title changes, WWE announcer leaving, Lashley blasts Sapp, Jerry Lawler's son arrested, "State of TNA" address
Other News
Other News: Torch Talk All-Star Lanny Poffo Video interview, great poem on taking out Hulk Hogan
Other News: Brian Blair denies hitting his children in Father's Day Fight; local news runs 911 call leading to arrest (w/VIDEO)
Other News: New clip of Rob Van Dam doing a stunt for his upcoming movie (w/VIDEO)
PPV Reports
THE BASH PPV COVERAGE: Listing of the Torch's WWE PPV coverage - Title changes, Jericho writes on Rey match, Miz on Cena match
RADICAN'S WWE THE BASH PPV BLOG 6/28: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Orton vs. Hunter PPV
CALDWELL'S WWE THE BASH PPV REPORT 6/28: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Orton vs. Triple H, Punk vs. Hardy
TV Reports
WWE VINTAGE COLLECTION TV REPORT 7/5: Awesome show - Tiger Mask '82, Randy Savage vs. Dynamite Kid, Malenko vs. Rey Mysterio
TNA EPICS TV REPORT 7/4: Jeff Hardy vs. Abyss, Infamous Sabu vs. Abyss "Barbed Wire Massacre" match
7/2 TNA Impact Recap by Wilkenfeld: The oddly-invincible Jeff Jarrett
Arena Reports
7/3 WWE in San Diego, Calif.: First-hand report on Edge's apparent injury, Punk vs. Rey Mysterio, Ricky Steamboat in action
6/27 ROH in Chicago: Austin Aries vs. Nigel McGuinness, KENTA vs. Black, Petey Williams looks odd, Crowd eats up Flair's generic promo
6/28 PWG in California: Joey Ryan vs. Necro Butcher, Davey Richards vs. Young Buck, Michael Jackson entrance themes
MMA / UFC Coverage
UFC News: Kimbo Slice, Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans plus rest of cast of TUF 10 to be revealed...
UFC - ENNIS COLUMN: The Lay of the Lane - A look at MMA's top heavyweights from Brock to Mir to Carwin to Fedor to...
MMA: Plan a week of UFC and other MMA viewing with the Torch's viewer's guide including Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
KELLER'S TAKE
KELLER: How bookers, like Jeff Jarrett last night, show that they're the toughest SOBs in the world
KELLER'S TNA IMPACT TAKE 7/2: Thoughts, observations, nitpicks, and quotebook
KELLER'S ECW ON SCI-FI REPORT 6/30: Results, star ratings, thoughts, observations, nitpicks, and quotebook
MITCHELL'S TAKE
MITCHELL SHORT: WWE Proving Once Again That Life is Easy...
MOJO MITCHELL'S 6/29 Raw Stream Of Randy Orton Faces ECW and Loses and That's The Main Event
Mitchell Short: Your Thank-You Note to WWE
MCNEILL'S TAKE
The Names Have Been Changed To Protect The Buyrates: McNEILL Previews WWE Bash 2009!
Redemption: McNEILL previews TNA Slammiversary 7!
MCNEILL BLOG: A Modest Proposal For Monday Night Trump
CALDWELL'S TAKE
CALDWELL: Analysis of WWE's roster shuffle from the 15-person trade - who benefited, which brand needs help
CALDWELL: Instant Reaction to key storylines on Raw and post-PPV developments
CALDWELL: WWE Smackdown/The Bash PPV analysis - Don't Mess with C.M. Punk's dynamic character
RADICAN'S TAKE
RADICAN: Torch readers sounds off on Mark Henry's shining moment on Raw (w/Radican Reax)
RADICAN: Mark Henry's shining moment on Raw leaves a bad smell in the room
RADICAN: A follow up on the Death Before Dishonor audio with Feinstein with notes on Special K angle, Punk-Raven feud, where's Misawa now?
The Specialists
DEROSENROLL's ROH HISTORY: Classic Feuds v.7 - Matt Hardy vs. ROH fans
GARDNER'S KEY MOMENT OF THE WEEK: ECW brand's star power, identity, purpose extinguished by The Trade
HITS & MISSES - TNA IMPACT 7/2: Kevin Nash's moneyball, Eric Young wins a match, SuperJJ thinks he's Triple H, Matches too short (as usual)
Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: Historical perspective on Austin Aries's ROH Title victory - his journey from main event to mid-card back to main event
EDITORIAL: TNA needs to K.I.S.S. the King of the Mountain match to make it more appealing to TNA viewers
EDITORIAL: How WWE could have better handled the Vickie-Edge segment on Raw and caught up with the year 2009
Torch Feedback
Smackdown TV Reax #1: "Fresh match-ups, superstars, and storylines just create great TV"
Thursday Night TV Reax - SS/Impact: "X Division, we hardly knew ya after Abyss beat up the only two representatives who showed up"
ECW TV Reax #2: "Yoshi is already on the road to being the next Funaki at this point"
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
RADICAN'S ROH DVD REVIEW SERIES: 2/7 "Proving Ground: Night 2" (Danielson-Generico, Steen-Richards)
RADICAN'S TORCH DVD REVIEW SERIES: YouShoot with Sabu: Sabu opens up about working in WWE, incident with Kurt Angle, negotions with TNA, more...
RADICAN'S PWTorch DVD review: The Best of RVD TV Vol. 1: RVD trains MMA with a UFC fighter, talks the power of the mind with The Ultimate Warrior, discusses love on a beach with Samoa Joe
Torch Flashbacks
KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT (5 Yrs. Ago): Eric Young headlines, Jerry Lynn, R-Truth, Dusty Rhodes, Sabu, A.J. Styles, Jarrett, D-Ray 3000!
OWEN HART 10 YRS. AGO: Bruce Mitchell Feature Column - The Fluke Death of Owen Hart - May 23, 1999
OWEN HART 10 YRS. AGO: Torch Newsletter #550 cover story on Owen Hart's death (PART TWO) - May 23, 1999
VIP Exclusive Features
7/5 Wade Keller Hotline - The News: Cena says he wants to be doing same thing in ten years, but can he last? Plus Duggan, Dreamer, Raw, Submissions PPV (12 min.)
7/4 Bruce Mitchell Audio Show, part two: The Vickie Guerrero Injustice, Torrie Disrespect, Jericho Laments Schedule, Wrestler Twitters Going Too Far, Punk's Surprising Hardy Comment, TNA's Ho-Hum Kidnapping of Lauren (76 min.)
7/4 Wade Keller Hotline - The News: Edge Injured, Jeff Hardy's Uncertain Future, WWE PPV Strategy, Wrestling on FX? (19 min.)
Torch Trivia
TORCH TRIVIA 2/28: Which wrestler backed out of a WWA PPV in February 2002?
TORCH TRIVIA 2/27: Who said this quote about Hulk Hogan's athleticism 11 years ago?
TORCH TRIVIA 2/25: What said this quote about WWE's mid-1990s drug testing policy?
Torch Instant Polls
TORCH WEEKEND POLL: What should WWE do with the Unified tag titles following Edge's injury?
FOURTH OF JULY POLL: What's your favorite July 4th "gimmick" in pro wrestling?
7/3 SMACKDOWN MICROSCOPE POLL: What related topic from tonight's Smackdown do you want to see analyzed Under the Microscope?
PWTorch Free Podcast
6/23 Nostalgia Audio with Brian Hoops: Former WCW rapmaster PN News joins Brian Hoops to preview upcoming Midwest shows (10 min.)
FREE AUDIO: Keller & Mitchell Discuss Randy Savage's Place in WWE History, Elizabeth's Strengths and Weaknesses
FREE FOR ALL TODAY - 5/31 Keller Hotline: Tons of info on Kennedy situation, immediate future, plus what top star's days in TNA are numbered, what's working against Kennedy getting big push in TNA, much more
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