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PWTorch Newsletter #1023: Backlash Coverage, Regal Pulls Plug, Smackdown Roster Evaluation, Powell's Pg. 2 Buzz
Apr 30, 2008 - 3:46:08 PM


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Pro Wrestling Torch, a weekly 12-16 page print newsletter delivered via traditional postal mail, has been published since 1987.

The table of contents for this week's 16-page Torch Newsletter (#1023) has just been posted online for VIP members. The articles were posted on the VIP Main Listing earlier this week and the paper copy was mailed to print-edition subscribers on Thursday afternoon, April 24.

This issue includes a cover story on WWE's risky call to end Raw in controversial fashion with William Regal pulling the plug on the main event feed at the climax of Triple H vs. Randy Orton... In-depth WWE Backlash PPV coverage including Keller's match report with star ratings and the VIP-exclusive Roundtable Reviews... Pat McNeill's "Raw Highlight Reel" returns... Bruce Mitchell also writes about "One Weird Raw"... Wade Keller's annual roster evaluation of Smackdown... Jason Powell's "Page 2 Buzz" looks at the Michaels Hayes suspension and the bigger picture of WWE's creative process... Plus The Raw Page, The Smackdown & ECW Page, and The TNA Impact Page featuring Keller's big picture newspaper-style analysis of the programs, in-depth WWE Newswire, ROH Newswire, TNA Newswire, and more...

Torch VIP members can access the newsletter contents right now. Just click here.

Complete access to at least the previous six editions of the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter are available online right now for VIP members. Sign up today and it's like getting six bonus Torch Newsletters right away!

If you aren't a Torch VIP subscriber, you can find out how to subscribe (and get free VIP membership which includes access to our ad-free VIP website with tons of exclusive features and VIP Email Express service throughout the week). Just click here: Torch VIP Info

P.S. If you subscribe today, you will also gain instant access to dozens of Torch Talk installments with many major names ("There are interviews, and then there are Torch Talks"), dozens of Bruce Mitchell articles (widely regarded as pro wrestling's best and most historically relevant columnist for the last 15 years), dozens of Wade Keller feature editorials, dozens of Torch Newsletter back issues from the '90s, the James Caldwell Library, Pat McNeill Library, Jason Powell Library, dozens of WWF PPVs from the '90s covered in detail Torch-style, hundreds of the latest of audio updates, full access to months of VIP Email Express articles, the ROH Special Section with detailed reviews of dozens of ROH events and other special articles and interviews, and a key into the perhaps the best online message board anywhere including interaction with Torch staffers and writers throughout the week.


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10/12 TNA Bound for Glory PPV Roundtable: Keller, Mitchell, McNeill dissect and rant and analyze event (20 min. segment)
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2003 Torch Newsletter Series: Brock and Goldberg win WWE World Titles, Powell on WWE production, McNeill at the Bar
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10/11 Mitchell Audio Show, pt. 2: Economy's potential effect on wrestling, Raw thoughts, Essential DVDs, Listener Questions (10 min. free)
2003 Torch Newsletter Series: Rock & Hunter movie stars, Raven Torch Talk on Heyman's methods, Powell, McNeill, Mitchell
2003 Torch Newsletter Series: 2003 Draft Issue with theme columns by Keller, McNeill, Mitchell, Powell, plus news
2003 Torch Newsletter Series: Keller on Kane Angle, Powell's Hitlist, Raven Torch Talk on being hated
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2003 Torch Newsletter Series: Raven says he was male stripper, SummerSlam '03 coverage, Mitchell, McNeill, Powell, Keller
2003 Torch Newsletter Series: Konnan Torch Talk on disrespectful fans, ROH expands, Mitchell, McNeill, Powell
9/7 DEJ Audio Experience: The Sweat Hogs, John Cena's return, Mick Foley's tired act (31 min.)

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What option best reflects your thoughts on Jarrett incorporating his wife's death and young daughters into his return storyline?
It's a great way to define his motivations in a real-life way. Fair game and effective.
It's bordering on going too far, but it's Jarrett's life and his cards to play.
It goes a bit too far. Exploiting his wife's death was tasteless. Bringing his daughters into it makes it worse.
Totally utterly tasteless. A real turnoff and a desperate cashing in of tragedy to try to get himself over.
  

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UPCOMING EVENTS LISTING

Articles Grouped by Category
Torch Today
TORCH NEWS TICKER 10/10: Batista branching out, WWE in Rays-Sox series, MyNet problems, Matt Morgan interview, "The Wrestler" notes
TORCH NEWS TICKER 10/2: Big night of TV, Impact preview, WWE financial analysis, USA Network wins quarter
Raw bullet points: Matches announced for Raw tonight and PWTorch live coverage
WWE News
Ratings News: ECW ratings up a notch with guest appearances by Kofi and Punk (w/Keller's Analysis)
Ratings News: WWE Raw ratings down a notch from last week, well below two-years-ago average (w/Keller's Analysis)
Interview Highlights: Bret Hart defends his disrespectful walkout at banquet, questions Flair's greatness, remarks on Montreal Swerve (w/Keller Reax)
TNA News
TNA News: Impact ratings fall below 1.0 even with Mick Foley acquisition, Jarrett's return (w/Keller Analysis)
Interview Highlights: Jeremy Borash of TNA speaks about spreading word about Mick Foley, Mongo's return, more
TNA News: Mick Foley vs. Sarah Palin - Prime Time Ratings Most Unlikely Battle, and the results are in (w/Keller Analysis)
ROH News
9/20 ROH in Philadelphia, Pa.: Aries & Briscoes vs. Age of the Fall & The Necro Butcher
ROH News: Matches and talent rosters for upcoming events, Sapolsky's last entry on Japan trip
Interview Highlights: Roderick Strong on his stint with TNA, lagging promo skills, indys working together
Other News
Torch Indy Weekend Report: Jake Roberts' antics, PWG cancels, Doinks, Balls Mahoney
Etc. News: Dawn Marie launching "Wrestlers Rescue" program to aid retired wrestlers
Torch Indy Weekend Report: Jacobs vs. Mercury in AAW, Quackenbush, Shannon Moore, Chris Harris
PPV Reports
CALDWELL'S TNA BOUND FOR GLORY PPV REPORT 10/12: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV
KELLER'S TNA BOUND FOR GLORY PPV REPORT 10/12: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event
KELLER'S WWE NO MERCY PPV REPORT 10/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event
TV Reports
10/11 WWE Smackdown: Valdez's "alt perspective" report including Big Show vs. Triple H for World Title
KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/11: Big Show challenges Triple H for WWE Title, No Mercy fallout, R-Truth vs. Shelton
PARKS' WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Triple H vs. Big Show
Arena Reports
10/10 TNA in Davenport, Iowa: Wrestler elbowdrops McCain/Palin sign, homophobic heels, Foley literally phones it in
9/20 ROH in Philadelphia, Pa.: Aries & Briscoes vs. Age of the Fall & The Necro Butcher
9/19 ROH PPV taping in Boston: Nigel vs. Strong and Steen & Generico vs. Age of the Fall
MMA / UFC Coverage
UFC Fans: Did you know MMATorch's Jamie Penick offers near-daily MMA Audio news updates for free - latest on Kimbo Slice's post-loss controversy
MMATorch: Penick's live coverage and perspective on CBS Elite XC fight special
UFC Fans: Did you know MMATorch's Jamie Penick presented 18 free audio updates in September on MMA News? Click for listing...
KELLER'S TAKE
KELLER: Why the finish to the Sting vs. Joe main event at Bound for Glory was utterly stupid
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
MITCHELL'S TAKE
MITCHELL: Whatever Happened To Bad Wrestlers? Every silver lining has its cloud
MITCHELL: Paul Newman And the Best Pro Wrestling Movie Ever
MOJO MITCHELL'S WWE RAW 9/22: Stream of No, I Haven't Written 800 Raw Mojos, It Just Seems Like It To Me
MCNEILL'S TAKE
Sweet Home Chicago: McNEILL previews TNA Bound For Glory!
All Nightmare Long: McNEILL previews WWE No Mercy!
Take Off To The Great White North! McNEILL previews TNA No Surrender!
CALDWELL'S TAKE
CORNER CUBE THURSDAY 9/4 - Should I stay or should I go? Gail Kim's options
CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 9/2 - Thoughts on Raw with HBK-Jericho, Kane-Rey, and the next C.M. Punk
CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 8/26 - Raw delivered highlights, but was heavy on filler
RADICAN'S TAKE
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/24: Who won "The Taint" for the week of 9/24? Nominations and award revealed inside, plus first inductee into "The Taint" HOF!
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/23: Kevin Steen & El Generico produce rare genuine moment at ROH PPV taping in Boston
TALES FROM THE PULPIT 9/17: Who won "The Taint" award for the week of 9/17? Nominations and winner announced!
The Specialists
DEPTH PERCEPTION 10/12: Champion Power Rankings and a Depth Chart of Their Contenders
KEY MOMENT OF WEEK: R-Truth and Terrible Comedy
FAST FORWARD 10/12: Main Event Prediction, Mid-Card Prediction, Fingers Crossed and Please No Predictions
Guest Editorials
EDITORIAL: Ten Suggested Changes for TNA - Stop Referencing WWF, Drop Trying to be MMA, Stop the Run-ins, Stop the Stupidity...
EDITORIAL: An Open Letter to the TNA Booking Team - I have a bone to pick with you regarding Mick Foley's debut
EDITORIAL: Movie review for "The Wrestler" at the Toronto International Film Festival
Torch Feedback
TNA Bound for Glory PPV Reax #1: "I just cannot forgive Joe for putting himself in such a stupid stupid stunt."
WWE Raw Reax #1: "The Lance Cade Experiment looks to be over, and I feel sorry for him. There was so much potential."
WWE Raw Reax #1: "I hope I'm not the only one who thought Khali's Kiss Cam was funny."
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"?
DVDs - VGames - Books
Weekend DVD Spotlight: FIP's Dangerous Intentions 2008 (Strong-Stevens, Richards-Black)
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
Torch Flashbacks
KELLER'S TNA PPV REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (10-8-03): Dusty Rhodes challenges A.J. Styles for NWA Title, Vince Russo involved, plus Raven, Truth, Sabin
KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 5 YRS. AGO (10-7-03): Goldberg main events, Trish, Flair, RVD, Bischoff, Michaels, Austin, Shane-Kane angle
WWE NO MERCY ROUNDTABLE 5 YEARS AGO (10-19-03): Keller, Mitchell, McNeill, Powell rate and review PPV event
VIP Exclusive Features
10/12 TNA Bound for Glory PPV Roundtable: Keller, Mitchell, McNeill dissect and rant and analyze event (20 min. segment)
10/12 VIP East Coast Audio Interview: Indy wrestler Teddy Fine talks about indy scene, battling diabetes, his career ahead (10 min. free)
2003 Torch Newsletter Series: Brock and Goldberg win WWE World Titles, Powell on WWE production, McNeill at the Bar
Torch Trivia
10/10 Real Deal with Pat McNeill Audio: Intercontinental Title DVD, Shiozaki vs. Strong, Scott Hall, Rocky Romero & More (Free clip)
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Hennig? - Part Two
Torch Trivia: How much do you know about Curt Hennig? - Part One
Torch Instant Polls
PWTorch Instant Poll: TNA Bound for Glory - three polls including Score - Best Match - Judgment Call on Jarrett Using Wife's Death in Storyline
POLL: Rate your enthusiasm for the TNA product right now
POLL: Rate your enthusiasm for the WWE product right now
PWTorch Free Podcast
10/12 TNA Bound for Glory PPV Roundtable: Keller, Mitchell, McNeill dissect and rant and analyze event (20 min. segment)
10/12 VIP East Coast Audio Interview: Indy wrestler Teddy Fine talks about indy scene, battling diabetes, his career ahead (10 min. free)
10/11 Radican Audio Showcase with Burgan (pt. 2): Scott Hall drunk in public again, TNA Spin Cycle, No Mercy, Kelly Kelly not going nude, more! (free segment)
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