By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

-- I'll try to make this a regular feature in the daily blog dipping into the Torch Newsletter archives looking for an interesting, strange, or surprising news item from 5, 10, or 20 years ago. (Want access to over 1,000 Torch Newsletter back-issues right now? Find out how to become VIP.)

Torch Newsletter #585 (dated Jan. 22, 2000): WWF announced the wrestlers who are going to participate in the Royal Rumble. They are: Prince Albert, Steve Blackman, Big Bossman, British Bulldog, Christian, D-Lo Brown, Godfather, Edge, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Scotty Too Hotty, Grand Master Sexay, Crash Holly, Kane, X-Pac, Val Venis, The Rock, Big Show, Test, Rikishi Phatu, Mosh, Thrasher, Mideon, Gangrel, D-Von Dudley, Buh Buh Ray Dudley, Viscera, Mark Henry, Al Snow, and Kurt Angle. The only wrestlers with a perceived chance of winning are Big Show and The Rock, which makes for an anti-climactic match.

The Rock ended up winning by eliminating Big Show and the Final Four were Rock, Big Show, Kane, and X-Pac. Here are some stats on the announced list. Six wrestlers are still with WWE - (Christian, Edge, Matt Hardy, Kane, Mark Henry, and Big Show). Seven wrestlers are with TNA - (D-Lo Brown as an agent, Jeff Hardy, X-Pac, Val Venis, D-Von, Buh Buh Ray, and Kurt Angle). Four wrestlers have died - (Bossman, Bulldog, Crash, and Test).

-- Chris Jericho appears in the March 2010 issue of Men's Fitness that comes out January 25. Jericho teased on Twitter a match-up vs. The Rock in 2010 based on Johnson appearing in the latest issue of Muscle & Fitness simultaneous to Jericho's cover.



-- Former WWE champion "The Rock" Dwayne Johnson appeared on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike show this morning to promote the "Tooth Fairy" movie and talk sports. Johnson didn't cover wrestling-related subjects, but it's an interesting interview with Johnson talking about celebrities in one specific entertainment field wanting to switch places with people in other entertainment fields.

For instance, Johnson said he wouldn't have wanted a 12-year NFL career, whereas his college teammate, former NFL player Warren Sapp has told him he would like to do movies like Johnson is doing. Johnson also gave his NFL Playoffs for this weekend. He picked the Vikings over the Saints and Colts over the Jets. Listen to Johnson on Mike & Mike.

-- DGUSA executive Gabe Sapolsky posted a new blog on MySpace recalling an ECW story with Tommy Dreamer, who Sapolsky is teasing to appear on DGUSA's Saturday night show in Chicago. Definitely a good read. Sapolsky MySpace blog.

-- Abyss has a new "Monster's Blog" on TNA's website talking in-character about the Genesis PPV and Mr. Anderson's debut. It's mindless reading on current storylines involving Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan. Abyss Blog.

-- TNA is partnering with Knotice to tighten up their marketing efforts to communicate better with TNA fans via email, cell phones, and Internet. That's about as much sense as I can make out of this press release.

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