Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter
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Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly is a wrestling newsletter. It was founded in 1987 by Wade Keller. It has been a primary source for insider information, respected commentaries, and newsbreaking interviews for nearly 20 years. It is wrestling's no. 1 widest read weekly wrestling publication and has been voted the "Best Wrestling Newsletter" by Global Wrestling. To view some historical covers of the Torch Newsletter from the past 15 years, click here: HISTORICAL TORCH COVERS
The Torch Newsletter is widely read by wrestlers, promoters, and executives in wrestling companies all over the world. Torch editor Wade Keller has been interviewed as a wrestling expert by dozens of TV and radio stations across the country; he has also been quoted in dozens of major newspapers and magazines across the world. Media entities that have featured Keller in stories covering wrestling include National Public Radio, Fox News Channel, ESPN Magazine, the New York Post, Entertainment Weekly, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He also hosted his own weekly two hour wrestling talk show on KFAN sport radio in the 1990s. He is currently the host of the nationally-distributed Ultimate Insiders DVD series.
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[edit] Torch Talks
Over the past 20 years Keller has also interviewed, one-on-one, wrestling's top names for in-depth "Torch Talks" and feature articles including powerbrokers such as Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Jerry Jarrett, Bill Watts, Jim Cornette, Jim Crockett, Jim Herd, Paul Heyman, Terry Taylor, Kevin Sullivan, Jim Ross, Gabe Sapolsky, Ed Ferrara, and Vince Russo; top wrestling stars such as The Rock, Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, Rick Steamboat, Jerry Lawler, Bill Goldberg, British Bulldog, Road Warrior Hawk, Honky Tonk Man, Jesse Ventura, and Hulk Hogan; and legends such as Lou Thesz, Gordon Solie, Bruno Sammartino, Roy Shires, Terry Funk, and Verne Gagne.
"Torch Talks" also feature tomorrow's stars such as early-career interviews with Al Snow, Lance Storm, Sean Waltman (1-2-3 Kid/X-Pac), Shane Douglas, Amazing Red, Sonjay Dutt, Samoa Joe, Jack Evans, Jimmy Rave, Jerry Lynn, A.J. Styles, Ron Killings, and Sabu.
[edit] Staff Columnists
The Torch Newsletter staff also features columnists Bruce Mitchell, Pat McNeill, Jason Powell, James Caldwell, and Sean Radican; their opinion articles (known as "Takes") are regarded as among the best in pro wrestling.
- Bruce Mitchell of Greensboro, NC has brought his controversial, sardonic, insightful, intelligent writings to the Torch since September 1990. He records a weekly audio program -- the Bruce Mitchell Audio Update -- which is one of the many audio recordings available for podcast downloading. Mitchell also writes recaps of WWE programming in a stream-of-consciousness style, known to readers as "Mojo Mitchell." He also works as an elementary school teacher.
- Pat McNeill of Fairfax, VA has brought his sometimes humorous, sometimes biting perspective to the pages of the Torch since February 2001. He was a contributor to PWTorch.com before joining the newsletter staff and is author of the book The Tables All Were Broken. McNeill also does a weekly audio program, called "The Real Deal," known for its Listener Mail Q & A segment, as well as topical discussions on wrestling news on- and off-screen. He is also a practicing attorney.
- Mitchell (a Democrat) and McNeill (a Republican) often engage in partisan debates on the Torch's subscriber-only VIP Forum, but still remain good friends.
- Jason Powell has been on the Torch staff since August 1998. He contributes a full-page newsletter column, as well as insider news he gathers each week, from dozens of insider sources with whom he has established relationships over the years. Powell also edited the Wrestling Times newsletter in the late 1980s.
- James Caldwell joined the Torch staff in 2005 after specializing in TNA coverage for PWTorch.com the previous year. He writes regular columns for the Newsletter, plus The Caldwell Report for Torch VIP Email Express, hosts a weekly Audio Update, and writes Caldwell's Takes at PWTorch.com. He has also helped behind the scenes with the Ultimate Insiders DVD series.
- Sean Radican got his start at PWTorch.com in 2003, writing recaps for WWE Smackdown. He joined the Torch staff in October 2005 with his "ROH Focus" columns, and has been a columnist for the newsletter since July 2006. While he regularly contributes to discussions on other promotions, his specialty is Ring of Honor, and it can be said he has his finger on the pulse of that promotion.
- Mark Madden was a regular columnist for the Torch prior to finding employment with WCW.
[edit] Newsletter Layout
The Torch Newsletter consists of 12-16 pages packed with text wrapped in a pleasant, easy-to-read layout. It is mailed to thousands of subscribers across the U.S. and the entire world each week. The Torch is known for its timely insider news, in-depth coverage of major stories, unmatched staff of writers, and newsbreaking "Torch Talk" interviews (as written about in Mick Foley's first book). It is also known for its quality of writing and dynamic, easy-on-the-eyes layout.
