Updated daily, the Torch News Ticker delivers a stream of news and information from WWE, TNA, ROH, Japan, the independents, and whatever else pops up. Keep it open in a new tab and bookmark it every Monday! Promoters and readers: Send in news, upcoming events, interview highlights, or wrestling-related information to the Torch News email address, Wade Keller, and James Caldwell for inclusion on the Ticker. Contact link.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Afternoon Update

- REPORTS WANTED: ROH is in Boston tonight to tape its next PPV featuring Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong for the ROH Title. We're looking for live reports in addition to Sean Radican's in-person perspective. ... TNA has the weekend off and WWE will be in Ohio on Sunday.

- TMZ published its account of Jeff Hardy being kicked off a plane earlier this week in Nashville. Check the main listing for the latest details. TMZ article link.

- Batista's promotional appearance in India generated Khali-like buzz in India, with Batista making an appearance with students who won a contest to hang out with Batista. Indiantelevision.com reports that Batista "spoke about self-development and emphasised the importance of education as the cornerstone of success." Yes, indeed. Article link.

- Paul Heyman published his thoughts of WWE being booked for an audience of one, with that one person being Vince McMahon. U.K. Sun article.

- Showbiz Ireland published a story on Sheamus O'Shaunessy capturing the Florida Hvt. Title at WWE's developmental territory. Sheamus picked up the belt from resident ECW talent Jack Swagger. Article link.

- Frank Trigg is the subject of a story in ESPN Magazine regarding the various pursuits he has outside of MMA. One of those is TNA, of course. The writer claims Trigg has been feuding with Kurt Angle. Never would have guessed it. Trigg claims in the article he broke a producer's nose during a storyline skirmish involving Karen Angle. ESPN article link.

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Afternoon Update

- TNA Impact preview: This isn't a spoiler, as TNA has it plastered on its homepage, but Mick Foley debuts with TNA tonight on the broadcast. ... Questions for the show: Will Jeff Jarrett address his help of Samoa Joe, how will Kurt Angle react, and what happens with the build-up to Joe vs. Sting at Bound for Glory? ... Matches signed include Styles & Christian vs. Shelley & Sabin, Jay Lethal vs. Booker T, and Taylor & Rhino vs. Velvet & the Kipper. TNA preview.

- Dwayne Johnson is rumored to be headlining a future Disney movie based on their "Tomorrowland" theme ride at Disney parks. After the success of "The Game Plan," Disney might be looking to lock up Johnson for future Disney projects as a franchise actor. Story link.

- To promote this weekend's house show tour, Maria was interviewed by the Columbus Dispatch about her career and such. A WWE p.r. spokesperson had a great line about Maria: "She can pin you, design you a wardrobe, or fix your car." Story link.

- Charlie and Jackie Gayda Haas welcomed their second child into the world yesterday. Taylor Suzanne Haas weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. Baby details.

- ROH Notes: New GHC Jr. Hvt. champion Bryan Danielson will make his first title defense on Saturday night in Philadelphia against Katsuhiko Nakajima. ... Also for Saturday, the winner of Nigel vs. Roderick Strong for the ROH Title on Friday night will defend against El Generico. ROH Newswire.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Evening Update

- WWE continues to expand its TV offerings in Mexico. After announcing a deal with Televisa last week, WWE announced today they have signed with TV Azteca to air Smackdown on Friday nights. During WWE's press conference in Mexico City today, Shane McMahon said the TV deal is an exclusive agreement to air Smackdown at 10 p.m. CT on Friday nights starting Oct. 3. Press release.

- In India, WWE programming will now air simultaneously with WWE programming in the U.S. Previously, WWE TV was airing on a three-week delay in India. At the request of Ten Sports, which airs WWE programming in India, WWE increased satellite access for the programming to air the same week it airs in the U.S. "WWE fans have been complaining that they wanted quicker access to the shows and we've been pressing WWE for satellite access for some time," said the channel's VP. The eventual goal is a major international tour of India by 2010. Press release.

- Also in India, WWE and Kids Media India signed an exclusive toy distribution deal where KMI will sell and distribute all of WWE's merchandise in India. KMI expects sales of WWE-licensed products to increase from $1 million to $10 million over the next three years. WWE claimed in the press release that India has the second largest viewing audience for WWE programming in the world. Sounds like a smart move, then. Press release.

- WWE can scrap the "more viewers than Monday Night Football" item they've had on the Did You Know segments. Now that the pre-season is over, ESPN is expected to take the top-ratings honors on a weekly basis for the next 15 weeks or so. For last week's ratings, USA Network, on the strength of the Sept. 8 Raw, had a strong showing, but finished third behind FOX News. Multichannel News report.

- MyNetworkTV is gearing up for the big fall season launch the first week in October by.... changing its line-up. Not a good sign, but MyNet is changing around Wednesday nights ahead of WWE's debut on MyNet on Oct. 3. On Thursday, Oct. 2, WWE divas will have their own themed show on "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed." The episode will air at 9:00 p.m. EST against the first hour of Impact. Futoncritic.com article link.

- Jim Ross published two new blogs on jrsbarbq.com, one commenting on Raw and the other commenting on the SD/ECW taping. On the Charlie Haas imitation on Raw, Ross quipped it's a road that's been traveled before. He added that it led to higher-than-usual BBQ sales on the website. Raw blog and TV taping blog.

- TNA Notes: Tickets go on-sale this Friday for TNA's first tour of California to take place the first weekend in November. First show is Oct. 31 in Ontario, then Nov. 1 in Anaheim, and Nov. 2 in Bakersfield. ... TNA has a Knockouts DVD coming October 7 featuring "interviews, sexy videos, action-packed matches" and the obligatory never-before-seen footage.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Afternoon Update

- WWE signed former New Japan wrestler Naofumi Yamamoto to a developmental contract in an effort to expand the company's presence in Japan. Yamamoto had his visa approved, and he will report to Florida Championship Wrestling to begin training. Press release.

- WWE picked up an award with mun2 for its Quincenera sweepstakes earlier this year that gave a WWE fan her ultimate 15-year birthday celebration. The "Emma" award recognizes successful marketing campaigns by a Multi-Ethnicity Communications association. Press release.

- Good to see WWE's rehab money going to good use. TMZ posted video of Jake Roberts's meltdown over the weekend at an independent show, including his "promo" in the ring. The man needs prayer. Video link.

- Midway is working on an issue with the TNA video game on X-Box systems. Sorry to disappoint, but it does not involve a T&A glitch in the middle of fake MMA matches. Bug details.

- TNA's video game did debut at the number three position on X-Box's weekly sales chart for its debut last week. Top 10 list.

- ROH Notes: Title matches signed for this Friday's PPV taping in Boston is Nigel McGuinness vs. Roderick Strong for the ROH Title and Jacobs & Black vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico for the ROH Tag Titles. ... Also signed for Friday night is a tag team Scramble involving the Briscoes, Vulture Squad, and Necro Butcher by himself. Only him. ... ROH Newswire.

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Monday, September 15, 2008

Afternoon Update

- Today's funny TNA story of the day involves Kurt Angle, who told Slam Wrestling prior to Sunday's TNA PPV that PPV main event matches should be one-on-one affairs without interference. "I believe pay-per-view matches should be straight up, one-on-one," Angle said. "One on one, or tag on tag, nobody else involved, no run-ins, no gimmicks." Angle continued: "We don’t need to have gimmick matches. We have the talent to have great wrestling matches. That’s why we are different than WWE. We have amazing wrestlers that can put on incredible matches."

Angle also changed his tune on Vince McMahon from being completely negative to complimenting McMahon on certain aspects of his decision-making. "There are a lot of things you can learn from Vince McMahon; he’s a genius," Angle said. "He does make a lot of great decisions, a lot of smart decisions. But at the same time, he’s made some bad ones, too. So you can learn from a guy like that. I believe TNA needs to take that manual, and do what works. What WWE is doing right, (TNA should) take those steps; and when we see them do something wrong, we (should not) make that decision." Slam Wrestling article link.

- Darren Aronofsky, director of The Wrestler, says he hopes WWE and Vince McMahon will appreciate the movie for opening up the public eye to take wrestling more seriously. "I hope that they like the movie because I think it actually takes wrestling very seriously and it shows wrestling as an art and it shows the men that do it as true performers and true athletes," Aronofsky told firstshowing.net in an interview. "And I think a lot of people think that wrestling's a joke and that it's fake, but what the film really shows is that yeah, sure it's fake, they're not trying to kill each other, but you jump off the top rope and you're 250 pounds and you fall six feet, you show me anyone who can do that and not wake up bruised or potentially really hurting themselves." Interview link.

- Jim Ross addressed rumors of Steve Austin preparing for one last wrestling match in his latest blog. "For those of you that are interested and in the spirit of perpetrating more rumors, Stone Cold is reportedly in awesome, physical condition as he prepares for his film role which will apparently be physically demanding," Ross said on jrsbarbq.com. "No, this doesn't mean that Austin is returning to the ring any time soon. Or does it??" Blog link.

- The Sun in the U.K. is giving away VIP tickets to WWE's European Tour stop in Madrid. Part of that will be watching THQ's European Superstar video game challenge on Sept. 25 with wrestlers competing on the new 2009 version of Smackdown vs. Raw. C.M. Punk, Santino, and Kelly Kelly are confirmed for the video game challenge. Contest details.

- Vince McMahon will be granting a wish for a 13-year-old boy with serious health issues prior to tonight's Raw in Memphis. Devon Pilgrim's wish through Children's Wish Foundational International was to meet McMahon. "He has been real down," said the boy's mother. "He is beyond happy (about having his wish granted). This lifted his spirits.” Story link.

- Visionary Comics will be presenting the latest installment of Michael Kingston's "Headlocked" comic book series at the Sept. 27 and 28 Comic Con in Baltimore. Kingston will be appearing to talk about Jerry Lawler and Daivari being on board with the project. Appearance details.

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