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Torch Today
9/24 TORCH NEWS DIGEST - Thursday: Daily Summary of The News, Torch Features, Eric Bischoff Torch Talk Snippet, TV Previews Sep 24, 2009 - 6:00:00 PM
We're starting a new feature that we hope to keep running every evening recapping all the news and features that you might have missed during the day or just want to review at the end of the day.
Table of Contents
-- Eric Bischoff Torch Talk
-- Columns & Analysis
-- TV Previews
-- The News
ERIC BISCHOFF TORCH TALK SNIPPET
Question 10 - Bischoff on shooting down a "dumb" storyline idea
I remember I was in Los Angeles in the middle of a meeting and I got a text message, excuse me, an email laying out that Michael Hayes thought it would be a great idea of Eric Bischoff joined the "Kiss My Ass Club." And it was really early, maybe three months, four months, five months into my tenure there. I looked at that and said, "That's the dumbest damn thing anybody could come up with. Once that happened, there's nothing else I could do." It's just stupid, no offense to Michael Hayes, because I like him. It was a dumb idea at the time.
Torch specialist Greg Parks looks at Angelina Love's possible options after her TNA release. Does she wait for TNA to work out her Visa issues or does she look to WWE? Read Greg Parks's Specialist column.
Bret Hart should not return to WWE
We posted a guest editorial from Jason Combs arguing that Bret Hart should not return to WWE and compromise his beliefs and recent statements against WWE. Read the argument against Hart returning.
Bret Hart should return to WWE
In response to the Guest Editorial that Bret Hart should not come back to WWE, Torch reader Russ Hornug said he thinks Hart should come back to create some closure in his life. Read the argument for Hart returning.
ECW Hits & Misses
Torch specialist Jon Mezzera posted the Hits & Misses on Tuesday night's episode of ECW TV breaking down the three key segments on the show. Did the ECW Title match between Christian and Ryder receive a hit or miss? Read the Hits & Misses list.
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TV PREVIEWS
WWE Superstars - 8:00 p.m. EST
WWE will be featuring Matt Hardy vs. Kane in a singles match on tonight's Superstars on WGN. Other matches include Raw's Superstars specialist Chris Masters in a singles match and divas action featuring the Smackdown brand. Read the complete WWE Superstars match listing.
TNA Impact - 9:00 p.m. EST
TNA will be focusing on new TNA World Hvt. champion A.J. Styles on tonight's edition of Impact following the No Surrender PPV on Sunday. TNA is also advertising two tag title matches. Read the complete TNA Impact preview (w/VIDEO).
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THE NEWS
Dennis Miller to host upcoming Raw
Comedian Dennis Miller said this week he will be guest-hosting an upcoming edition of WWE Raw. Miller did not specify when he will be hosting the show. Read the complete Torch Report.
Bret Hart interviewed on possible WWE TV return
WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart avoided the subject of whether he is open to returning to WWE in an interview this week. Hart said he's going to follow his "guiding rules in life" to determine whether he returns to WWE TV. Read the complete Torch Report with Bret Hart's quotes.
Caldwell's Analysis: After listening to the interview, I got the sense that Hart is content sitting at home writing a few more books, studying the history of the wrestling business, and not worrying about the stresses of constant travel. Hart doesn't sound like a guy who's looking for another payday or really needs life on the road again. If he does return as a WWE on-air authority figure, I imagine a lot of his segments would be "Jack Tunney style" with him appearing on the video screen from a make-believe "WWE office" to make "official" decisions when necessary. I never got the sense in the interview that Hart was interested in being back on the road full-time working for WWE. He could have been playing coy, which I believe he was at times during the interview, but I would be very surprised to see him pick up a regular or semi-regular schedule working for WWE again.
Bret Hart accuses Ric Flair of drinking problem
Bret Hart accused Ric Flair of having a drinking problem, which he says led to Flair popping off against Hart in a recent interview. Flair infamously said on the Live Audio Wrestling show that Hart is a "pissant" and didn't draw money in the wrestling business. Hart responded that Flair's behavior is "pathetic." Read Bret Hart's quote on Ric Flair.
What Reverend Al Sharpton will be promoting on Raw
Next week's WWE Raw guest host Reverend Al Sharpton will presumably be promoting his education reform tour during his appearance on WWE TV this Monday night. On Tuesday night, Sharpton begins a tour through four major U.S. cities to promote education. Read the complete Torch Report
Chris Jericho says WWE doesn't have the talent for a brand split
Chris Jericho says WWE wouldn't be able to pull off a brand split if they started it in 2009 because they don't have enough stars to fill two separate rosters. Jericho singled out wrestlers on the roster he feels are capable of being future stars. He also singled out wrestlers he feels need a lot of work. Read the complete Torch Report w/Jericho's Quotes
WWE considering PPV name change
WWE is considering re-naming the annual No Way Out PPV in February to follow their recent pattern of re-naming their "off-brand" PPV events. The event will feature Elimination Chamber matches in the main events. Read the complete Torch Report w/list of possible new PPV names.
WWE re-news TV deal in Canada
WWE and Score Media announced today their current TV partnership in Canada has been extended for another three years to air WWE programming on The Score. Shockingly, a McMahon thanked WWE's Canadian fans in the press release. Read the complete Torch Report with Shane McMahon's quote.
How much is Linda McMahon's campaign costing?
Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon is reportedly spending over $1.0 million for the first round of her political ad campaigns running in New York and Connecticut this week. The Connecticut Democratic Party spoke out against McMahon for her general campaign message and lack of experience in political office. Read the complete Torch Report with more details.
Taz defends PPV announcing
TNA announcer Taz defended the announcing at the No Surrender PPV last Sunday by saying not every line in a three-hour show will be a "home run." Taz said he feels criticism of his announcing with Mike Tenay has been too harsh. Read the Complete Torch report w/Taz's quote.
Caldwell's Analysis: It's not one or two sentences that are the problem, but the overall tone and feel of how the product is being called. It's live TV and mistakes are going to happen. Jim Ross is going to call one of Jeff Hardy's move a Swanton Bomb instead of the Twist of Fate. The surface-level response "Oh, I was entertained" is not a valid defense. It takes more critical thought than that. Taz laughing at a back drop into a dumpster took away the believability of the "fight" Suicide and Dinero were supposedly having. If it's funny, then it shouldn't be off the PPV or it should be presented as an obvious farce of a match like Hornswoggle vs. Chavo. That slowly, little by little, chips away at the believability of the product, which affects the entire product......Read the rest of Caldwell's Analysis.
New wrestling book details uneasy WWE work environment
Wrestling author Larry Matysik has a new book out, "Drawing Heat the Hard Way," with a detailed look at the uneasy work environment Vince McMahon has created in WWE. Matysik looks at McMahon's tactics to keep his employees on their toes by not allowing people to get inside his thought process. Read the complete Torch Report with Matysik's quotes and book details.
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AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?
