The following is a reprint of the Torch Newsletter ETC. Newswire from five years ago this week.

-Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

* * *

Torch Newsletter Archive
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
ETC. Newswire
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #499
Cover dated: June 20, 1998

EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING
ECW Notebook: Shane Douglas had elbow surgery last week and is expected to be sidelined until the November to Remember ECW PPV...

Atsushi Onita will be at the June 27 ECW Arena show. It's not a lock he will wrestle, but he might. There is still interest in doing an exploding landmine match at an outdoor venue this summer with Onita involved...

ECW moved the site of their Aug. 2 pay-per-view from Indianapolis, Ind. to Dayton, Ohio. Matches slated for the event are New Jack vs. Jack Victory, Justin Credible vs. Jerry Lynn in an Iron Man Match, Chris Candido vs. Lance Storm, Taz vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, Dreamer & Sandman & Spike Dudley vs. Buh Buh & D-Von & Big Dick Dudley (w/Joel Gertner), and a tag match with Sabu & Rob Van Dam against Masato Tanaka & a partner to be named (perhaps Hayabusa)...

INDEPENDENT HIGHLIGHTS
Pro Wrestling Federation: June 13 in Gastonia, N.C. at the Armory: Super Ninja beat Superbrat to retain the PWF Jr. Title, American G.I. beat Man of Thunder to retain the Eastern States Title, George South beat Black Angel to retain the PWF Title, The Breeze beat Strutter, The Gladiators beat Italian Stallion & Superstar to retain the PWF Tag Titles, American G.I. won a 15-man battle royal. [Shawn Blanton]

American Championship Wrestling: June 6 in Brosville, Va. at the Middle School (broadcast live over Chatmoss Cablevision): Tornado Tammi beat Ken Steel (w/Miss Kimberly) via countout, Rolling Thunder beat Executioner, Scotty Blaze beat Jackhammer Phelps to win the ACW TV Title, Eclipso & Freddie Rich beat Col. Spud Wasde & Sgt. Allen Pain, Mike Williams beat Johnny Blast to retain the ACW Universal Title, Big Block & The Bandit beat Willie T. Bumps & The Brute to win the ACW Tag Team Titles. [Erin Montgomery]

Eastern Wrestling Alliance: June 6 in Lewiston, Maine at the Armory (#00): Richie Rich beat Detroit Rocker (Ricky Sexton) via DQ, Steve Ramsey pinned Ivan Grunoff, Robbie Ellis pinned Jason Quick, Rick Fuller pinned Freight Train, Dave Vicious pinned Colorado Kid, WCW's Power Company fought Hercules Kelly & Scotty the Body to a DCO, Kid USA pinned El Mascarado to win both lt. hvt. titles, Tony Atlas pinned Iron Sheik to retain the EWA Hvt. Title. Iron Sheik was a last-second replacement for the advertised Greg Valentine. Valentine was called in for TV tapings for WCW earlier in the week. [Jason Withee]

United States Championship Wrestling (promoter Sal Conte): June 5 in Washington, Pa. at the Middle School (700 SRO): Balde pinned The Beastmaster, Dan Rage beat Francis, Big Slam beat Nasty Nick Crane via DQ, Jimmy Brasco (w/The Iron Warrior) beat Sam "The Hammer" Sledge via DQ, Malice (w/The Judge) beat Tantalizing Tony (w/Blade) via DQ, Iron Warrior pinned Beastmaster to retain the USCW Hvt. Title, Sledge beat Blade, Iron Warrior & Brisco beat Crane & Malice, Warrior pinned Malice to retain the USCW Hvt. Title, Phi Beta Kappa beat Crane via DQ, Tantalizing Tony pinned Blade to win the USCW Lt. Hvt. Title. Bruno Sammartino was special guest ring announcer. The event was taped for Johnston, Pa. TV (Ch. 19). [Tom Dobbin]

Southern California Championship Wrestling: May 31 in Los Angeles, Calif. at the Fountain Valley Rec Center: American Wildchild beat Super Dragon, Yakuza beat Fabulous Blitzkreig via coutnout, Yakuda beat Mr. Excitement, Guerrero Azteca won a triple threat match over "White Trash" Johnny Webb & "High Flying" Johnny Hemp, "Iceman" Joe Bowman beat Brian McCoy, Cincinnati Red beat Sheriff Jess Hansen, Samoan Kid beat Chester Ike Adams, Nick Beat beat Kaos 1. [Rick Mandell]

National Championship Wrestling: May 31 in Valleyfield, ??: Dream Warriors beat Cosa Nostra & The Viper to win the NCW Tag Titles, Black Eagle beat Cobra, Marz beat Dream Killer, Jackal beat Mark Thompson, Dreamer Killer beat Viceral Vince, and Iceman beat Piranah. [Bertrand Hebert]

Heartland Wrestling Association: May 30 in Hamilton, Ohio at the Armory: "All American" Chad Collyer beat Bobby Kane via DQ, "Lighting" Mike Fugate beat G.Q. Masters III, Cousin Elmer beat "Expert" Brian Taylor (w/Masters), Leviathon (wHoneysuckle Rose) beat Chap Fairway via countout, Terik the Great beat Shark Boy to retain the HWA Cruiserweight Title, Chip Fairway & Fugate & Elmer beat Leviathon & Taylor & Kane. Return date: July 18. [Kerry White]

International Championship Wrestling: May 30 in Cloverdale, B.C. (432): Rich Richards beat Mike Jones, Dream Warrior beat Yamagucci (w/Ivan Gorky, Stoney Edwards) via DQ, Nick Allen beat Inferno via DQ, Dr. Bob Miller beat Ivan Gorky via DQ, "Lucious" Lenny Fontaine beat Randy "The Pimp" Taylor, Marvin the Lunatic beat Combat Girl, The Model Americans ("Stunning" Steve Rivers & "California" Ken Johnson) fought "Heart Throb" Buddy Wayne without partner Ed "Moondog" Moretti to a no contest after which the ICW Tag Titles were held up, Tim Flowers fought Sumito to a no contest. Return date: July 25. [Neil O'Brien]

Inter-Continental Pro Wrestling: May 29 in Booneville, Ar. at the Armory (250): Jeff Jett fought Ted Napier to a draw, "Atomic Dogg" Steve Sharp beat "Crazy" Luke Graham Jr. (w/"Sexy" Sam Dollar) via DQ, Austin Rhodes beat Steve Frost, "Tiger" Treach Phillips Jr. beat Johnny Morton to retain the ICPW Lt. Hvt. Title, Johnny Jet & "Nitetrain" C. Crane beat Bill Ash & Motley Cruz in a non-title match. Upcoming date: July 11 in Russellville, Ar. at the John Tucker Coliseum with Mabel. Butch Reed wrestled Steve Sharp in the main event on Apr. 4 in Russellville. ICPW is working to get television on KASSN 38 out of Little Rock/Pine Bluff, Ar. [Matt Duffield]

Pro Wrestling Federation: May 22 in Wheeling, W.Va. at the Civic Center (1290): The Breeze beat Russian Assassan (w/Black Maverick), The Bodyguard beat Robert Gibson thanks to interference by Ted DiBiase, Meng beat Overlord, Itallian Stallion beat George South to capture the PWF Hvt. Title, Jimmy Snuka beat The American G.I., Hector Guerrero & Eddie Guerrero beat The Black Angel & Super Ninja to capture the PWG Tag Team Titles after an Eddie frog splash. Nikita Koloff and Superstar Billy Graham entered the ring and talked about how their lives have changed since they got out of professional wrestling. DiBiase came to the ring and tried to buy them for $1 million. They refused. He upped the offer to $5 million. They said no, that they weren't for sale and that they belonged to Jesus Christ. They talked with fans after the event. The low attendance was considered a big disappointment. [Rick Belon]

Global Wrestling Alliance: May 9 in Lima, Oh. at the Civic Center: T. Voeltz beat Dexter Dementia via DQ, Larry Destiny beat Armageddon, Sex Kitten won an eight-man light heavyweight royal rumble to gain a title shot against Jimi V, Sex Kitten pinned Jimi V to capture the GWA Lt. Hvt. Title (after which Crusher Kline (GWA Hvt. Champ) ran out and unmasked Sex Kitten showing that it was "Beautiful" Brian Fury, a heavyweight wrestler, thus the title was returned to Jimi), "Beach Boy" Johnny Rayz beat Super Ninja III, Crusher Kline & Jimi V & Kasey Thunder beat Alexis Machine & Brian Fury & Mr. Main Event (w/The Producer).

ETC. Notebook: July 17 in Concord, N.C. at the Motor Sport Park, New Dimension Pr Wrestling headlines with Tully Blanchard vs. Buddy Landel, Superfly Snuka vs. Iron Sheik, Tony Atlas vs. One Man Gang, Abdullah the Butcher vs. Beastmaster Rick Link, The Bushwackers vs. The Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton), Manny Fernandez vs. Willie Clay, and more. Former WCW announcer Chris Cruise will be there. Ticket info: 336-882-4921...

June 20 in Stroudburg, Pa. at the Tamiment Resort and Conference Center, IPW features Tito Santnaan vs. Iron Sheik, Public Enemy vs. Pitbulls, plus Stevie Richards...

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