NEWS ITEMS: Obit on Doug Somers, FiveThirtyEight on Wrestlers Box Office Power, Jack Swagger, Cena’s movie future, Kenny King, more

-“Pretty Boy” Doug Somers has died, according to multiple reports. He was 65. Somers is perhaps best known for his run as AWA Tag Team Champions with the late “Playboy” Buddy Rose. They feuded with The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) in the AWA, including a bloody battle on ESPN that is regarded as a classic and among the most memorable of the AWA’s time on ESPN. He was a respected “carpenter” of in-ring work, but he let the effusive Rose to the majority of the talking.

Mick March, a former PWTorch columnist who also worked for the AWA during Somers’ time there, wrote this on his Facebook page: “I am deeply saddened as I am reading reports that former AWA Tag Team Champion (with Buddy Rose) Doug Somers has passed. I have known Doug for more than 50 years, from the time he was helping with ring set up and taking tickets at the old AWA TV tapings at the Calhoun Beach Hotel in Minneapolis, to his early days as a referee, on to the days he was an enhancement talent, right on through his illustrious days teaming with Buddy. In my estimation, that tag team was criminally underrated, and their matches with The Midnight Rockers in the mid-’80s were off the charts. Doug was a journeyman wrestler who was a consummate professional. I last saw him at the NWA Legends Fanfest in 2011. To a friend and colleague, I say rest in peace. Thank you for your work and your camaraderie. May you enjoy your next journey.

-John Cena told the Toronto Sun he hopes to have another full-fledged career in movies. “Man, that would be great if it could happen. [Laughs] I’m certainly more comfortable now with the roles I have than I was 10 years ago. Anyway, I’m glad if you think so — hopefully it means I can make some more movies!” More quotes from Cena are available at our sister website, PWPodcasts.com, in this story: John Cena on if he’ll ever play a superhero in a movie, who supported his dreams as a kid, being a role model

-The FiveThirtyEight website has put together a couple charts on pro wrestlers success at the box office and among movie reviewers. The Rock and Dave Bautista are at the top of the list, which isn’t a surprise. John Cena isn’t there yet, but hopes to be in that conversation some day.

-Jack Swagger, now wrestling as Jack Hager, is advertised for an MCW Pro Wrestling event on Friday, June 9 in Joppa, Md. Also advertised: Stevie Richards (of ECW and WWE fame), Gail Kim, and James Storm.

-This Saturday night, May 20 (7 p.m.), Future Stars of Wrestling returns to Sam’s Town Casino for its eighth anniversary show including FSW Heavyweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. Funny Bone, Kenny King vs. Lucha Underground’s Willie Mack, and 86ers vs. Bonu$ Boys for the Vacant FSW Tag Titles in a Street Fight.

NOW CHECK OUT THIS PRIOR NEWS UPDATE: NEWS ITEMS: Rock is tied with two other movie stars in odds of becoming next President of the United States, Roman’s next feud, Total Divas Season Finale viewership

Send news tips and results to pwtorch@pwtorch.com.