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March Through 2004 Begins: Bill Apter Torch Talk, Jonny Fairplay Torch Talk, Top 50 Stories of 2003, more (#791) Jan 4, 2009 - 9:16:18 PM
Torch Newsletter #791 (cover-dated January 3, 2004) has just been added to the Torch VIP Archives. VIP members can access the complete Torch Back issue by clicking here, or just click on the VIP Torch Archives button in the upper right cover of this webpage, then go to "Torch Newsletter Back Issues 2004" for a list of all 2004 back issues since the beginning of the year.
You can read this back issue online in two ways: either as text on a web browser or as a PDF (which is also printable) so you can see the news and features as they were originally formatted and featured - a new feature for select PWTorch Newsletters.
This issue begins with a Cover Story on the Top 50 Stories of 2003... Pat McNeill's part two of "It's a Wonderful Life, Jeff Jarrett," taking a look at what TNA wrestlers would be doing if TNA didn't exist... Jason Powell's December Hitlist with the best and worst in wrestling during the final month of 2003... Torch Newswire featuring the latest news and insider tidbits from WWE, TNA, and elsewhere... Torch Talk with Bill Apter, part three featuring Apter discussing the origins of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the concept behind it, the struggles to get two wrestles to post together for the first ever PWI cover, the first time Apter was scared for his own safety when fans didn't like how he treated a babyface during a TV segment, and more... Bruce Mitchell's column taking an in-depth look at the Ric Flair-Rick Steamboat feud in his ongoing series of insider "Liner Notes" on the Ric Flair DVD... Torch Talk with Jonny Fairplay, pt. 2, featuring his story on how he met Roddy Piper and came to work for him, including some bizarre details about his early interaction with Piper and insight into Piper's daily lifestyle... End Notes with Wade Keller featuring thoughts on the Smackdown from Iraq, including a quote from a Torch reader who was at the event... And more...
Original Torch Newsletter Preview:
-The Top 50 Stories of 2003 by Wade Keller including analysis of the top 10 and a listing of the rest of the top 50, plus the list of the top 10 stories from each of the past two years. VIP subscribers can access detailed listings of our Top 50 Stories of the Year features over the last several years in the "VIP Appendix" area (the upper right button in the top-of-the-screen menu).
-Torch Talk with Bill Apter, part three featuring Apter discussing the origins of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the concept behind it, the struggles to get two wrestles to post together for the first ever PWI cover, the first time Apter was scared for his own safety when fans didn't like how he treated a babyface during a TV segment, and more.
-Bruce Mitchell's column taking an in-depth look at the Ric Flair-Rick Steamboat feud in his ongoing series of insider "Liner Notes" on the Ric Flair DVD.
-Pat McNeill's part two of "It's a Wonderful Life, Jeff Jarrett," taking a look at what TNA wrestlers would be doing if TNA didn't exist.
-Jason Powell's December Hitlist with the best and worst in wrestling during the final month of 2003.
-Torch Newswire featuring the latest news and insider tidbits from WWE, TNA, and elsewhere.
-Torch Talk with Jonny Fairplay, pt. 2, featuring his story on how he met Roddy Piper and came to work for him, including some bizarre details about his early interaction with Piper and insight into Piper's daily lifestyle.
-End Notes with Wade Keller featuring thoughts on the Smackdown from Iraq, including a quote from a Torch reader who was at the event.
-James Guttman's part two of "Greatest Moment in Wrestling History that Never Happened" with the inside story on Hawk & Animal's doll, Booker T's original gimmick, Stacy's pregnancy, and more.
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The VIP section adds two or three new complete Torch Newsletter back issues roughly every week to the Torch VIP Archives section - one from 20 years ago this week, one from ten years ago this week, and another from five years ago this week. The back issues catch you up on insider stories and controversial commentaries at a very different time in the wrestling industry. Learn how we got to where we are today one week at a time as a VIP member! Sign up today and catch up on all of the posted back issues from 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 now available, with new ones being added every week. Over 700 complete back issues have already been posted, available right now for VIP members!
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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?
