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, October 10, 2008

Morning Update

- Batista continues to branch out into entertainment projects, as he will be appearing on "Head Case" in spring 2009. The show is an "unscripted" comedy series where host Ali Wentworth interviews celebrities as if she is their personal therapist. The show is produced by Starz Entertainment, but the press release does not indicate when it will air in spring 2009. Article link.

- WWE is picking up some "mainstream talk" before the Rays-Red Sox ALCS series that starts today. Big Papi David Ortiz name-dropped WWE in a recent interview. "Bad blood?" Ortiz asked rhetorically about whether there will be tension between the teams. "There's no bad blood. This is not the WWE. It's a baseball game, bro." Article link.

- One side-effect of WWE moving Smackdown from CW to MyNet is found in Kentucky where the signal on MyNet is unable to reach a significant portion of the region. Kentucky.com published an article on the local outlet not having the technology strength and not being available for comment on why they haven't addressed the problem. This is just a sample of some of the issues that caused the 30 percent drop in viewers from the last CW broadcast to the first MyNet broadcast last week. Article link.

- Matt Morgan has a lengthy interview in the Miami Herald discussing his basketball career, asking Vince McMahon for a job opportunity in WWE when he was trying to break into wrestling, and how TNA can create an "NWO-era" type feel to Impact. "TNA is on that course to do something different, and that's what it's going to take to get those college kids to have pizza and kegs in their dormitory again, watching Spike TV on Thursday nights, because they're going to see somebody do something or act something they've never seen before," he told Jim Varsallone. "For me, it was the whole NWO thing. 'Wow, this is real. That part's real. Maybe that's not, but this is real.' Anytime you have that, and you can't tell what's real and what's not, that's awesome. That draws anybody." Except when it's not well done. Good interview from Morgan worth reading. Article link.

- Darren Aronofsky, director of "The Wrestler," says the one revelation he found researching independent pro wrestling for the movie is "a lot of sadness." He told IFC.com: "These wrestlers aren't organized. They have no union, no pension and no insurance. You meet wrestler after wrestler who sold out Madison Square Garden ten years ago, basically running on fumes today. There's a lot of drama there." He said he incorporated a great deal of comedy into the movie to capture the wackiness in the world of wrestling. Independent Film Channel interview link.

- MediaLife Magazine published a story on a big year of TV events drawing significant ratings. They touched on WrestleMania outdrawing the NBA All-Star Game and the PGA Masters based on the yearly buzz for a significant event that draws outside the wrestling circle of fans. "There is inherent value in properties that are broadcast only by pay-per-view means. WWE also upped its online presence in '07 and '08, including branded channels on YouTube, MySpace and Facebook," they concluded. Article link.

- Sad twist in the Benoit family tragedy story, as a federal judge tossed out Nancy Benoit's family's legal claim against Hustler Magazine for re-printing nude photos of Nancy from 25 years ago. TMZ reports: "A federal judge tossed the case, saying the photog and the mag had the right to publish the pictures -- even if the pics were 'offensive and distasteful.'" They also report that the family is still considering a wrongful death suit against WWE. Article link.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Afternoon Update

- WWE announced a new corporate hire, as Jared Bartie has been hired as WWE's Executive VP and General Counsel. Bartie will handle "legal and business affairs" pertaining to lawsuits and business practice. Bartie has been part of general counsel for the Charlotte Bobcats and BET. Press release.

- Looking at Raw's ratings from this past Monday against the competition, Raw averaged a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49, while TBS's playoffs coverage averaged a 1.9 rating. ESPN's coverage of the NFL averaged a 4.6. When considering WWE typically draws a stronger rating with young teens, WWE's overall rating should surpass the playoffs coverage. Adage article link.

- Hollywood Reporter cuts through the TV marketing b.s. to show MyNet's brand strategy for acquiring the rights to Smackdown on Friday nights. Says James Hibberd: "MyNet's brand is 'anything that gives us a triple-digit percentage increase, so (who) cares if WWE viewers can't be enticed to watch 'Celebrity Expose.' Plus, MyNet beat CW on Friday, and a win is a win. 'Sixth place' ... don't like the sound of that, do you CW?" Blog link.

- USA Today made it two weeks in a row promoting Smackdown's success up against competition. Last week's ratings indicate Smackdown topped the replacement TV programming on CW by 1.0 million viewers, but Smackdown had its lowest audience on MyNet since 2006. Apparently it's going to take time for viewers to find Smackdown on its new station. USA Today article link.

- Express Night Out published a report on a Jeff Hardy autograph signing in Bethesda, Md. last week. Good recap of the signing, the fans in attendance, and Hardy's interaction with the fans, although the author missed the memo where Jeff moved to the Smackdown brand. Article link.

- Here's just a great story. The Corbin Public Library in Corbin, Ky. is promoting Teen Read Week by giving away subscriptions to WWE Kids Magazine and entering contest winners in WWE's WrestleMania Reading program. Basically, the kids read books, keep a log on how many they read, and then receive a free sub when they submit their log to the librarian. Article link.

- TNA Notes: TNA wrestlers have some upcoming appearances scheduled around the country, including LAX at the Texas State Fair in Dallas on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Kurt Angle will be making an appearance on Friday at the Best Buy in Schaumburg, Ill. prior to Bound for Glory. ... TNA's Fanfest in Chicago on Saturday is sold out. No tickets are remaining and no tickets will be sold at the door. ... Top matches for Friday night's show in Davenport, Iowa include Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage, Booker T vs. A.J. Styles, and Beer Money vs. Abyss & Morgan. Friday card line-up.

- ROH Notes: Some changes to the Oct. 25 card in Edison, N.J. Jerry Lynn's match against Davey Richards has been changed to Lynn vs. Tyler Black. Richards will face Brent Albright. ... ROH has rescheduled the Florida shows that were cancelled for this weekend. The shows will now take place Feb. 6 in Coral Springs and Feb. 7 in Orlando. ROH Newswire.

***

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Afternoon Update

- News of WWE's successful debut on MyNetworkTV last Friday night was picked up my several major entertainment websites. Broadcasting & Cable ran with the item from MyNet president Greg Meidel that Smackdown will be a "promotional locomotive" for the up-start network. WWE can't give away champion vs. champion vs. champion every week, but they have somewhere to start from.

- "The Wrestler" will make its much-anticipated West Coast debut in one month at the Grauman's Chinest Theater in Hollywood on Nov. 6. The debut is part of the American Film Institute's AFI 2008 Fest, with "The Wrestler" playing in the centerpiece screening slot. The movie was well-received last week at the New York Film Festival and IFC.com posted a video of a press conference with Mickey Rourke and Darren Aronofsky. Story link.



- TNA Notes: TNA is increasing the price of the "Bound for Glory" PPV this coming Sunday to $34.95. TNA hopes to capitalize on interest for their signature PPV of the year for the one-time-only price increase. Future PPVs will remain at the $29.95 price point. ... Former U.S. champion and Chicago Bear Steve "Mongo" McMichael will be making an appearance at the PPV as special guest referee for the Monster's Ball four-way tag team match. ... TNA's "Knockouts" DVD goes on-sale today at major retailers. ... Mick Foley has been added to Saturday's Bound for Glory Fanfest at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at O'Hare Airport. Pretty much the entire roster is expected to participate in the Fanfest.

- ROH Notes: LAX's opponents for Oct. 24 and 25 have been named. LAX has been inserted into a four-team 30-minute Iron Team match involving the ROH tag team champions Kevin Steen & El Generico on Oct. 24 in Danbury. The next night in Edison, N.J. will feature LAX vs. Jay & Mark Briscoe. ... Jerry Lynn is officially on the roster and he will face Claudio Castagnoli on Oct. 24. ... ROH's New Horizons PPV replays Tuesday and Thursday on DISH Network. Check local listings for inDemand replay times. ... ROH Newswire.

- PWG Notes: The first four men announced for the annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament on Nov. 1 and 2 are Davey Richards, El Generico, Chuck Taylor, and Masato Yoshino. PWG is returning to the 16-man tournament format with two nights instead of three nights booked in Burbank, Calif. BOLA line-up.

***

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