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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 #455
Cover dated: August 30, 1997
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Mark Coleman suffered a knee injury last week while training. He tore his ACL and will undergo surgery and will need six months to recover. Therefore, the Maurice Smith vs. Mark Coleman rematch for the Oct. 17 PPV is off. Instead, Smith will defend the title against someone else, possibly Vitor Belfort. Belfort is signed to wrestle on that event, but originally it was to be against a different opponent. Smith is the one who would apparently have to approve the change in the match to Smith, otherwise Mark Kerr or Randy Courture are possible opponents for both men if they aren't matched against each other.
JAPAN HIGHLIGHTS
All Japan Aug. 17 in Toda at the Sports Center (2,700): Kentaro Shiga pinned Yoshinoku Kanemaru, Mitsuo Momoto & Rusher Kimura beat Haruka Eigen & Masanobu Fuchi, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Tamon Honda beat Daisuke Ikeda & Tatsuo Nakano, Takao Omori & Giant Baba beat Jun Izumida & Kimala II, Lacross & Gary Albright & Steve Williams beat Maunakea Mossman & Johnny Smith & Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace & Kenta Kobashi beat Masao Inoue & Toshiaki Kawada, Satoru Asako & Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa beat Yoshinari Ogawa & Hiroshi Hase & Akira Taue. The main event was the first time Hase and Misawa have ever faced each other...
Aug. 26 in Sapporo, Kobashi beat Hase at 32:49 in a singles match.…
All Japan Women Aug. 20 in Tokyo at Budokan Hall: Before the card Kyoko Inoue broke the news that she is going to leave AJW to become a freelance wrestler, a la Aja Kong. Yoshiko Tamura & Miho Wakizawa beat Saya Endo & Nanae Takahashi when Tamura pinned Endo, Misa Okada (SPWF) beat Chiharu (SPWF), Momoe Nakanishi beat Emi Motokawa (IWA) to retain the AJW Jr. Title, Chaparita Asari & Yuka Shiina beat Misae Genki & Tanny Mouse, Shark Tsuchiya & Crusher Maedomari beat Rie Tamada & Yumi Fukawa, Kaoru Ito beat Contal Christelle, Aja Kong fought Manani Toyota to a 30 minute draw, Yumiko Hotta beat Kyoko Inoue via submission to capture the WWWA Title, Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda beat Watanabe & Maekawa to retain the WWWA Tag Titles.
Michinoku Pro Aug. 24 in Yahaba (750): Tiger Mask beat Oriental, Shoichi Funaki beat Gran Hamada, Dick Togo & Men's Teoh defeated Naoya Hashikawa & Masato Yokushiji, Great Sasuke pinned Super Boy in a ladder match. They rang the bell ten times in memory of Plum Mariko.
MP booker Sasuke says he is going to search Asia for more wrestlers since the roster has taken a beating lately. Taka Michinoku is expected to wrestle full-time for the WWF, Super Delfin has disappeared, Gran Naniwa has a broken right leg, Yone Genjin has a broken right hand, Willie Wilkens hasn't been on recent cards, Shiryu is out with a broken right eyebone, Hanza Nakajima is out with a right knee injury, Gran Hamada is wrestling with an injured neck, and Yakushiji also has an injured neck.
EMLL Aug. 16 in Tokyo at Korakuen Hall (1,850): Kazushige Nozawa & Mitsunobu Kikuzawa beat Sanshiro Takagi & Asian Coaga, Shinobi & Tsubasa beat Brandon & Torubenzzeno, Muerute & Futooro & Bukanero & Ferino, and Nimbra won a battle royal.
FMW Aug. 24 in Fuchu (1,900): Shark Tsuchiya pinned Miss Mongol, Masato Tanaka & Ricky Fuji & Ricky Morton beat Tetsuo Kuroda & Hayto Nanjyo & Mr. Pogo, Wing Kanemura pinned Super Leather, Jinsei Shinzaki & Hayabua & Koika Kagawa beat Gladiator & Mr. Gannosuke & Shooter.
INDEPENDENT HIGHLIGHTS
Week of July 20-26: New Jack City Wrestling: July 23 in West Long Branch, N.J. at the Gymnasium, Big Bobby G beat Highlight Billy Reel, Ghetto Blaster beat "Mr. Puerto Rico" Ralph Soto, American Kickboxer beat Blaze, Reckless Youth (mgd. by Donnie B) beat Ace Darling to capture the New Jack City Lt. Hvt. Title, "Dirty" Don Montoya & "Lost Boy" Dan Wolf (replacing Julio Caesar Sanchez) beat Overweight Lover & Twiggy Ramirez and J.R. Ryder & Lupus in a three-way match (after which Lupus attacked Ryder), Mr. Lucifer beat Magic after using a fireball, Super Nova beat Rick Ratchet (w/Donnie B) to retain the Hvt. Title, and Ian Rotten beat Bull Pain in a blood fest...
National Championship Wrestling: July 24 in Sylvia, N.C. at Bailey's Bar & Grill (125), Chris Hamrick beat Sweet Dreams (Mark Hoard), Heroin (Bobby Hayes) beat Rick Justice, Rick Michaels beat Ricky Rockett, Ghetto Boyz (D-Rock Cain G) beat Bodycount (David Young & Rick Savage) & Rough Cut (Dave Jericho & Rusty Riddle) to win the NCW Tag Titles, Surge beat Venom to win the NCW Hvt. Title in an I-quit match...
Week of July 27-Aug. 2: All Pro Wrestling: Aug. 1 in Hayward, Calif. (160): Mike Modest beat Vic Grimes, Westside Playaz (Shooter Tony Jones & Jay Smooth) beat Rob Thompson & Donovan Morgan, Tiger Khan beat Jason Clay via submission, Dr. MM beat Boom Boom Comini, Gigilo Steve Rizzono beat Chris Cole, Steve Rizzono beat Ric Turner...
Northern Wrestling Federation: Aug. 2 in Erlanger, Ky. at Peels Palace: Duggan the Lumberjack beat Crazy Jeff Davis, King Kahuna & Prince Justice beat The Contractors, Bill E. Bear beat Isha Dekimasu, Wildcat Chris Harris beat Kid Collins, Wildcat Chris Harris won a six-man survivor match, "High Style" Billy Niles fought Angel to a DCO, Chris Harris beat Lord Beautiful Bobby to win the NWF Title. Return date: Sept. 6...
Southern Championship Wrestling: Aug. 1 in Laurens, S.C. at the Fairgrounds (100): "Cat Daddy" J.J. Justice beat Stone Cold Kid, Horseshoe (WCW Power Plant trainee) beat Hunter Thompson, Kevin Kirby beat Johnny Attitude via DQ, S.W. Steele fought Cruiser Lewis to a no contest (after which Jake Mulligan & Madd Maxx Miles attacked both men), Phoenix & Lelani Kai beat San Antonio Rose & Susan Green, Mike Hart beat Big Daddy Kane to retain the SCW Hvt. Title...
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