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Torch Today
BENOIT STORY REFERENCE ARTICLES: List of Torch articles covering call to action for industry
Jul 2, 2007 - 12:00:00 PM |
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The following are key articles featured on the Pro Wrestling Torch during different eras of covering the industry. Despite the time differences between some articles, the key thread that links them all together is a focus on industry problems, their probable solutions, and a call to act for wrestlers, fans, and promoters.
TORCH EDITOR WADE KELLER
- Why the steroid/HGH story matters to wrestlers, industry, fans
While some wrestlers, employees of wrestling companies, and media members write off change to the wrestling business, Wade Keller looks at the heart of pro wrestling's problems to discover changes that can improve lives, keep wrestlers alive, and clean up an industry that's over-due for change.
- Roadmap for wrestlers looking to change industry for their betterment
Shortly after Eddie Guerrero's death in late 2005, Wade Keller looked at the history of crookedness in the wrestling business that has prevented change in pro wrestling. He looks at how adding a few simple, logical, yet never-before-implemented occupational changes would enhance the lifestyle of wrestlers in the sport.
TORCH SENIOR COLUMNIST BRUCE MITCHELL
- Pro Wrestling's "Culture of Death" from July 2003
After Vince McMahon went on HBO's "Real Sports" show to defend WWE from hard research into their business's contribution to premature deaths in wrestling, Bruce Mitchell looks at all the reasons he's been told WWE isn't responsible for the deaths, but how all of those reasons can be refuted with one simple reason that Vince McMahon has had more to do with creating the culture of death in wrestling than anyone else.
- A call to action for the industry's wrestlers in March 2006
After WWE implemented its Wellness Policy following Eddie Guerrero's death, Bruce Mitchell looks at the key issues of what happens when the results of a random drug test don't work in WWE's favor, and what their response would be. The relevance to the Chris Benoit story is important, as the Policy has come under harsh scrutiny from drug testing experts now that the Benoit story has generated mainstream interest.
- Flashback to Feature Column on Death of Eddie Guerrero
Days after Eddie Guerrero's death, Bruce Mitchell looks at the problem of smaller wrestlers - such as Eddie and Chris Benoit - having to look a certain way to mask their size and be considered "heavyweights" in a world of giants. Mitchell looks at how Eddie's body began to break down as he tried to maintain unnatural body size, which eventually took his life.
WRESTLER INTERVIEWS
- Sean Waltman: Among most in-depth, first-person look at drugs in wrestling
Wade Keller's "Torch Talk" interview with Sean "X-Pac" Waltman was conducted in November 2005, right after the death of Eddie Guerrero. This is one of the most in-depth, insider, frank discussions from a long-time drug addict wrestler who had been through Vince McMahon's drug testing system and was friends with many wrestlers who have died young. The article contains a majority of the 90-minute interview that focuses on problems permeating pro wrestling and costing too many lives - unnecessarily. This interview originally ran in three installments in Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter in late 2005.
- Chris Benoit: Keller talks with Benoit about steroid use, family life, travel stress, more
Excerpts of a "Torch Talk" interview PWTorch editor Wade Keller conducted with Chris Benoit in August 1995, before he became a nationally known star in WCW and later the WWF.
HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE
- WWE Wellness/Drug Testing Policy Detailed: Cover story of March 2006
Following the death of Eddie Guerrero, WWE instituted a company-wide Wellness Policy to test wrestlers for the abuse of drugs. The cover story details the policy's nature and intent, as well as its potential effectiveness, which has been criticized following Chris Benoit's death.
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Torch Today
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LATEST PRO WRESTLING TORCH NEWSLETTER #1040 (18 PAGES)

This issue begins with a cover story by Wade Keller looking at the final scene of SummerSlam and why it's bad for WWE not in and of itself, but due to the context it's put in... In-depth coverage of the WWE SummerSlam PPV including Keller's match report with star ratings and the newsletter-exclusive Roundtable Reviews and Reader Reax... Jason Powell's "Page 2 Buzz" with scoops and insider analysis on Mick Foley, TNA's expiring contracts, and more... Bruce Mitchell's Memo further reviews the latest Ric Flair DVD... WWE Newswire, TNA Newswire, and ROH Newswire with insider news, big story analysis, and notebook tidbits... Plus Keller's reports on Raw, Smackdown, and Impact, the Top 5 Stories of the Week, and more... PDF EXCLUSIVE features include the Jon Mezzera's Weekly Hits & Misses and Greg Parks' look at SummerSlam and Smackdown...
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DOWNLOAD RECENT (5-10-08) SAMPLE OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTER (PDF)
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| Articles Grouped by Category |
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| Torch Today |
| PRIORITY DRAFT TRADITION CONTINUES: Which ten wrestlers would you start a promotion from scratch with? |
| TORCH NEWS TICKER 8/29: Kowalski fundraiser, WWE lawsuit update, Midway Q&A on TNA video game, ROH Notes |
| TORCH NEWS TICKER 8/22: Results Wanted, Austin return date, Batista comments on Cena match, Kofi and DDP interviews |
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| WWE News |
| WWE News: A YouTube video puts new spin on Shawn Michaels-Chris Jericho saga |
| Ratings News: John Cena surgery a success, estimated time out of the ring determined (w/Keller's Analysis) |
| Ratings News: USA replay audience added to live Sci-Fi audience makes up for drop in rating |
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| TNA News |
| Interview Highlights: Chris Jericho talks about Guitar Hero, Reinventing his Character, Short Tights |
| TNA News: Details on Gail Kim's reasons for leaving TNA come to surface this week (w/Keller Analysis) |
| TNA News: WWE legend Mick Foley agrees to terms with TNA, set to debut as soon as September (w/Keller Analysyis) |
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| ROH News |
| Interview Highlights: Roderick Strong on his stint with TNA, lagging promo skills, indys working together |
| 7/25 ROH in Toronto: "That show was the first thing to make me proud to be a wrestling fan in a LONG time." |
| ROH News: Lance Storm interview on working with ROH wrestlers and injuries in pro wrestling |
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| Other News |
| Torch Indy Weekend Preview: Steen in IWS, Shiozaki in FIP, Delirious in Elite Pro |
| Torch Indy Weekend Report: Sabin & Shelley, Lynn, Jake Roberts, ROH results |
| ETC. News: Jesse Ventura in talks for a court show, according to TV Week (w/Keller Analysis) |
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| PPV Reports |
| CALDWELL'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV |
| KELLER'S WWE SUMMERSLAM REPORT 8/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV event |
| KELLER'S TNA HARD JUSTICE PPV REPORT 8/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of event - Samoa Joe vs. Booker T in cage |
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| TV Reports |
| 8/28 TNA IMPACT Review by Wilkenfeld: Sting steals the show |
| CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 8/28: Nash vs. Angle, Sting speaks, Jarrett teases return, Knockouts in main event |
| CALDWELL'S ECW TV REPORT 8/26: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of WWE's Sci-Fi show |
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| Arena Reports |
| 8/24 WWE Smackdown in Canton, Ohio: Triple H & Undertaker vs. Khali & MVP, R-Truth vs. Carlito, Michelle vs. Maryse |
| 8/24 TNA in Wichita, Ks.: Samoa Joe vs. A.J. Styles, Morgan vs. Kip, Knockouts Title Match, Lethal vs. Dutt |
| 8/24 WWE in Bethlehem, Pa.: Cody & Ted vs. Cryme Tyme, Jericho & Kane vs. Cena & Batista |
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| MMA / UFC Coverage |
| UFC News: Paul Heyman comments on Brock Lesnar's controversial post-fight antics last Saturday |
| KELLER'S UFC 87 LIVE PPV REPORT; On-site ongoing coverage of Lesnar's second UFC fight, full card coverage |
| UFC 87 PREVIEW: Fight analysis, predictions, odds for Lesnar vs. Herring, GSP vs. Fitch, Huerta vs. Florian |
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| KELLER'S TAKE |
| VIP - KELLER: More crazy G.M. ideas for WWE to consider (PWTorch Newsletter #1037) |
| KELLER: An overhaul is in order for Raw before ratings drop further - several specific suggestions |
| KELLER: McMahon Returns for That? Nothing Funnier than a DUI! Let Me Shift So You Can Hit Me! |
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| MITCHELL'S TAKE |
| MITCHELL'S BLOG: Notes From the 2008 NWA Fanfest - Ric Flair |
| WWE News: Flair's departure from WWE amicable, nostalgia convention circuit could be next |
| VIP - MITCHELL'S MEMO: DVD Liner Notes Part 3: Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection |
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| MCNEILL'S TAKE |
| Ready To Roll! McNEILL previews WWE SummerSlam |
| Rap It Up: McNEILL previews TNA Hard Justice! |
| VIP - MCNEILL FACTOR: Twenty Years of Summerslam, part two |
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| CALDWELL'S TAKE |
| CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 8/26 - Raw delivered highlights, but was heavy on filler |
| CORNER CUBE MONDAY 8/18 - Shawn Michaels showed strength, not weakness by not attacking Jericho |
| CORNER CUBE WEDNESDAY 8/13 - Finally, Matt Striker has found his calling with ECW on Tuesday nights |
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| RADICAN'S TAKE |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT 7/23: McGuinness & Jericho setting standard for heels in 2008 |
| DEJ's Kevin: Covering Pro Wrestling Ohio - The Ladder Match for the Heirloom Swords Part I |
| TALES FROM THE PULPIT 7/21: The man who talks poopy and defies fire can’t escape the windshield of doom! |
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| The Specialists |
| CAREER PATH: Christian Cage's career high point, low point, and what if he had never left WWE? |
| UNDER THE MICROSCOPE - 8/28 TNA IMPACT: What I noticed on the show that you might not have |
| MAGIC, MEMORIES AND MANIA: The Top Ten Draft Picks to Build a Wrestling Company |
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| Guest Editorials |
| EDITORIAL: What's wrong with Raw this year? A lot. But one core problem trumps the rest |
| EDITORIAL: Tag Team Divisions will not get over until squash matches return |
| EDITORIAL: C.M. Punk needs a prominent program to make him the star of Raw |
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| Torch Feedback |
| DRAFT PICKS - Batch #5 featuring top picks of Sting, Rob Van Dam, Edge, plus Danielson, Shelley, Bourne, Briscoes |
| DRAFT PICKS - Batch #4 featuring top picks of Nigel, Edge, Awesome Kong, plus CIMA, Bourne, Hogan, Ross, Kim |
| DRAFT PICKS - Batch #3 featuring top picks of Mick Foley, Brian Danielson, John Cena, plus Abyss, Shiozaki, Teddy Hart |
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| 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"? |
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| DVDs - VGames - Books |
| WEEKEND DVD SPOTLIGHT: SHIMMER Vol. 18 (Kong-Busic,Del Rey-MsChif) |
| RADICAN: Al Snow discusses his wrestling career, philosophy, time in OVW, and more in new interview |
| DVD Review: ROH "Glory By Honor VI, N2" with Kenta vs. Misawa, 110307 |
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| Torch Flashbacks |
| KELLER'S TNA REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (8-28-03): Truth, D-Lo, Abyss, Sandman, Raven, Styles, Dusty |
| KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (8-25-03): Gail Kim vs. Trish, Jericho headlines Raw against... Shane McMahon? Linda a guest on Highlight Reel, |
| WWE Smackdown Reax #1: "This is the worst wrestling show I have seen in a long time with booking that defies all logic and common sense." |
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| VIP Exclusive Features |
| 8/27 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - A show that did everything it could do to turn people away from wrestling (79 min.) |
| 8/28 Daily Keller Hotline: Analysis of lawsuit contending WWE wrestlers should be employees (5 min. free clip) |
| VIP - PWTorch Today Bulletin #12 (PDF): McDevitt comments on lawsuit regarding employment status of wrestlers |
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| Torch Trivia |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Champion vs. Champion matches? |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about SummerSlam - Part 3 |
| Torch Trivia: How much do you know about SummerSlam - Part 2 |
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| Torch Instant Polls |
| POLL: What are your thoughts on the WWE Championship Scramble concept? |
| POLL: Should the TNA Knockouts women wrestlers be paid in the same ballpark as the male wrestlers? |
| POLL: Who is your pick as the MVP of the August 11 edition of WWE Raw? |
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| PWTorch Free Podcast |
| 8/27 VIP East Coast Audio: Impact - A show that did everything it could do to turn people away from wrestling (79 min.) |
| 8/28 Radican Audio Showcase with Burgan: Foley to TNA, HBK-Jericho capture the heart and mind, Torch Draft, more! (5 min. free clip) |
| 8/28 Daily Keller Hotline: Analysis of lawsuit contending WWE wrestlers should be employees (5 min. free clip) |
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| 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 |
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