Thursday Torch Today – STONE COLD on the Livecast, Obits – former head of WWE security & Lucha legend Lizmark, Cena featured for Royal Rumble, strong Xavier Woods interview, Khali seeking successor, new Fla. promotion, Japan try-outs, more

TORCH TODAY – Thursday, December 17

– 5:00 p.m. EST: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin returns to the PWTorch Livecast with PWTorch editor Wade Keller! Call in live at PWTorchLivecast.com or email questions to pwtorchlivecast@gmail.com.

Austin & Keller will be following up on the TLC conversation from the latest edition of the “Steve Austin Show.” Listen to Austin’s podcast at PodcastOne.com.

– Full Thursday Events Center: WWE Smackdown, 2CW, JCW Rassle Rap, WWE Network Highlights.

– Obituary: Former head of WWE security Jim Dotson died at the age of 49 last week, according to friends who started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs. (Read more at Prowrestling.net)

– Obituary: CMLL in Mexico announced that legendary lucha wrestler Lizmark has died at the age of 66. Lizmark was the father of Lizmark, Jr., who wrestled frequently on WCW TV in the 1990s.

El CMLL se une a la pena que embarga a la familia luchistica por el sensible fallecimiento del Geniecillo Azul, Lizmark. Descanse en paz.

— CMLL Lucha Libre (@CMLL_OFICIAL) December 17, 2015

Sad to hear of passing of Lizmark Sr. From being 1 of my favs as a kid, 2 roomating with him on lucha tour, he was always Legit in my eyes.

— Masked Republic (@maskedrepublic) December 17, 2015

– WWE released new Royal Rumble marketing material centered around John Cena, who has been off WWE TV since October. Cena’s advertised TV return is the final Raw of 2015 on December 28 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

– Xavier Woods, part of the heel New Day trio, gave the most babyface interview of the year to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. Woods talked about his use of video games to connect with fans, using his psychology background to understand what makes pro wrestling fans tick, his ultimate wrestling goal to get Kofi Kingston to the World Hvt. Title, wanting to work with kids who have autism, and inspiring children to pursue their goals. The in-depth interview can be read at SI.com.

– Former WWE star Great Khali says that he is not retired from pro wrestling after his WWE contract expired last year. However, he said that he is focused on finding the next Great Khali. “I don’t want to be the last Indian who became a WWE star,” Khali told the Economic Times of India.

Khali also hyped WWE touring India in February 2016, which he says will only strengthen Indian’s connection to pro wrestling. He classified wrestling as the #2 sport behind cricket at the moment. … The interview ended with Khali quipping about his wife’s reaction to him having to do the Kiss Cam on WWE TV. “She wanted me to leave wrestling and return home,” he said.

– Over in Japan, the Wrestle-1 promotion is holding try-out camps for prospective wrestlers in Tokyo, Japan. The camps are scheduled for February, March, and May for all international wrestlers. (Full Info via PuroresuSpirit.net)

– The latest upstart pro wrestling promotion in Florida is “REAL Pro Wrestling,” which is scheduled to debut on January 15, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. at the Community Center. The promotion is run by long-time fan and radio host Kim Artlip. Promotion & Event Info at REALProFL.com.