Thursday 12/31 Torch Today – Final Smackdown on Syfy, Network, King Mo wins Hvt. tournament, NYE in Japan, Joe reflects on TNA to NXT jump, Balor’s big 2016 prediction, will Rock wrestle at WM32?, new Ross blog, new “Drax” issue, Pro Wrestling eBook honored, more

TORCH TODAY – Wednesday, December 31, 2015

– WWE wraps up 2015 with the final Smackdown airing on Syfy. The New Year’s Eve edition will be going head-to-head with the College Football Playoffs semi-final games, creating a tough match-up for Smackdown. (Full SPOILER Results) (Non-Spoilers Match Line-up)

– WWE NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS: The Network is wrapping up 2015 with a “Legends House” marathon, an airing of WrestleMania 31 at 10:00 a.m. EST, then a variety of top programs from 2015.

– Former TNA star King Mo won the Hvt. division tournament at Rizin Fighting in Japan on Thursday. King Mo won the semi-final round over Teodoras Aukstoilis, then returned to beat Jiri Prochazka in the finals.

What a week! 3 wins in a row. And now… I am the New #Rizin's Tournament Heavyweight Champion #Rizinff #覇者 pic.twitter.com/6ltaOfBOJ0

— King Mo (@KingMoFH) December 31, 2015

– A big night of pro wrestling on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, Japan included the finals of the Shuffle Tag Tournament. (Full Coverage via PuroresuSpirit.net)

Now, the focus shifts to New Japan’s “Wrestle Kingdom” Tokyo Dome Show on January 4.

https://twitter.com/Machinegunka/status/682480138144059392

– Jim Ross published a new blog at jrsbarbq.com breaking down this week’s hot topics in pro wrestling while in Miami for the CFPlayoffs. Ross also relayed a conversation with “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson as it relates to WrestleMania 32.

“He’s a one man conglomerate who will be appearing at WrestleMania Texas in April but I’m doubtful that he will be in a match but I hope that I’m wrong,” Ross wrote.

– Samoa Joe reflected on making the jump from TNA to WWE’s NXT brand in 2015.

Farewell to a year of flux, gambles, & transformation. Welcoming a year of bigger gambles, new frontiers, & added chapters to the saga.

— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) December 31, 2015

– NXT champion Finn Balor is predicting big things for 2016.

2016 we will change the business pic.twitter.com/c67XFOjXnP

— Finn Bálor (@wwebalor) December 31, 2015

– ECWA announced John Skyler as the fourth entrant in the Super 8 tournament scheduled for January 23 in Woodbury Heights, N.J. TNA tag champion Davey Richards headlines the next field. (Event Info)

– The second issue of Marvel’s new “Drax” comic book series was released on Wednesday. Former WWE star C.M. Punk has a writing role in the series.

Drax #2 is on shelves today. Act accordingly. @Challengers @Marvel @cullenbunn @DaveBautista @AgentM @POTUS pic.twitter.com/jre1NcwRyU

— Coach (@CMPunk) December 30, 2015

– A pro wrestling eBook “Pro Wrestling Through the Power Slam Years: 1994-2014” has been named one of the top books of 2015 by Den of Geek. Authored by Findlay Martin, the book is available through Amazon HERE.