Torch Newsletter back issues from five years ago and ten years ago are republished at the Torch VIP website (www.pwtorch.com/members) every week featuring full reviews of Raw, Nitro, other TV shows, and PPVs, plus the Torch cover story, WWF Newswire, WCW Newswire, ECW Newswire, ETC Newswire, "Torch Talk" interviews, columns, and more. The following is an excerpt of that feature with a full review of WWF Raw from five years ago this week.

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Torch Newsletter Archive
By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor
January 22, 2000 - ECW on TNN TV review
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #586
Cover dated: January 29, 2000

1.3 rating

(Taped Jan.15 in Philadelphia, Pa.)… [Q1]… Joey Styles and Joel Gertner introduced the show from mid-ring. Gertner ripped Cyrus by saying he looks like "Alanis Morrisette and Pee Wee Herman had a kid." Cyrus came to the ring and fired back verbally at Gertner. Eventually, Cyrus said he will "kick Joel's fat ass if he ignores my authority." Styles held back Gertner as Cyrus left the ring… The opening montage aired… The Impact Players came to the ring and cut a promo bragging about winning the tag titles. Danny Doring, Roadkill, and Electra walked to ringside. Doring asked for a tag title match, but the Players said they call the shots. Storm called Roadkill and Doring newly elevated mid-carders and told them to wrestle newly demoted mid-carders, Raven and Tommy Dreamer. Raven and Dreamer's music played and they ran to the ring as the show cut to break. This was illogical as it seemed like Raven and Dreamer were waiting for the Players to give them their cue… [C]

[Q2]… (1) Danny Doring & Roadkill (w/Electra) beat Raven & Tommy Dreamer (w/Francine) at 4:53. Late in the match, Francine and Electra started to fight. Dawn Marie ran in and hit Francine with a frying pan. Raven ran in, placed Francine in his arms, and carried her to the back leaving Dreamer to fight alone. Dreamer held his own with Doring and Roadkill but eventually lost when Doring hit him with an elbowdrop. Afterward, Steve Corino and Jack Victory came to the ring and beat up Dreamer. Dusty Rhodes walked through the crowd and received a strong pop. Dusty hit the Bionic Elbow on both heels until Rhino ran in and speared him. As the heels beat up Rhodes, Sandman came to the ring and caned Rhino. Rhino no-sold the cane shots but was pulled from the ring and held back by Corino and Victory… [C]

[Q3]… (2) Super Crazy beat Tajiri at 12:05 in a Mexican Death Match. [C] Tajiri tied Crazy upside down on the ropes and hit him with a dropkick. Crazy bladed. Later, Crazy made his comeback as he fought Tajiri in the crowd. Crazy placed Tajiri on a table and then climbed atop a row of bleachers. Tajiri dove off the bleachers and hit a moonsault on Tajiri. Crazy directed Tajiri toward the ring and then rolled him inside. By this point, Tajiri had bladed. Tajiri came back and hit an Asai Moonsault at ringside. Tajiri set up a table in the corner of the ring. Crazy chased Tajiri from the ring and then set up another table in the other corner. Tajiri brought a pipe into the ring and jammed it into Crazy's mouth. Crazy came back and set Tajiri on one of the tables. Tajiri sprayed his green mist at Crazy, but Crazy powerbombed him through a table and scored the pin…

[Q4]… [C] Mike Awesome and Judge Jeff Jones stood in the ring. Awesome grabbed a mic and talked about beating Spike Dudley at the PPV. Awesome played a heel as he told a fan at ringside, "Shut the f--- up, punk." Awesome hyped himself as the most awesome wrestler in the business. The fans began chanting "RVD." Awesome noted that he is the ECW Champion and said it makes him the "Whole f---'in show." Rob Van Dam came to the ring with Bill Alfonso. RVD grabbed a mic and said Awesome is a great champion but is just part of the show. The crowd continued to chant "RVD." Awesome ripped on the TV Title and challenged RVD to come after the ECW Title. RVD agreed to the challenge but the lights went out. When they came back on Sabu stood in the ring with a chair in hand. The crowd chanted, "Three-way dance." Awesome said he could beat both RVD and Sabu. Just as RVD was about to lunge at Awesome, Sabu threw a chair at him, hitting him in the face. Alfonso ran in but Sabu attacked him. Spike ran in for the save but was outnumbered by Awesome and Sabu. Awesome and Sabu continued to beat up all three men as the show went off the air. A really hot angle which drew the show's highest rating to date. Awesome is already coming into his own on the mic… The best ECW show so far. Every portion of the show featured a hot angle or an excellent match… [JP]

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