By Wade Keller, Torch editor

Joseph Borzotta asks: Who else is on the TNA writing committee besides Mike Tenay, Jeff Jarrett, Scott D'Amore, and Dutch Mantell?

WK: Bill Banks is also on the committee. Banks's experience dates back to working with Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara in WCW. It's also probably not accurate to say Jeff Jarrett is part of the committee. He's more along the lines of Stephanie McMahon - someone the creative team tries to satisfy with the final script. He's not really "a member of the committee."

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Mark DiNatale asks: With cable's current status of a zillion channels, I do not understand why OVW can't be on TV. Back on the mid-'80s There was WWF, NWA, and World Class (World Class actually came on before WWF Superstars back then) also, since I lived in Florida at the time I was watching Florida wrestling with Gordon Solie. How come this can't be put on TV in today's era of content, content - content, when it comes to TV? The stuff I read on the Torch on OVW sounds better than TNA and anything the WWE has done in at least two years.

WK: There are several reasons OVW isn't likely to make it to national cable, although I don't agree with them. One, WWE doesn't want its wrestlers, current and future, exposed on national TV in gimmicks they don't approve of, matches they don't book, and a presentation that they don't have control over. There is also the issue of whether OVW looks big budget enough to justify a national clearance. I personally think there is a charm in the production values of OVW that would draw a sizable audience, since it doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is - a regional developmental territory. I think Vince McMahon, deep down, is concerned that if another way of presenting wrestling matches and angles was exposed to fans nationally, it would affect how they view his product. As Stephanie McMahon has made clear, the McMahon family believe they have a divine right to own and control all aspects of the industry. The clearances of all of the regional wrestling shows in the '80s was a result of a particular set of circumstances in television at the time, when syndication was taking off and pro wrestling provided cheap programming and relatively reliable ratings compared to other syndication options.

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Brian Hamilton asks: If TNA is given a Thursday night slot as anticipated, what do you think are the odds of Vince McMahon Jr. lobbying the new station to return to Thursday night to attempt to derail any momentum they may achieve?

WK: I don't think Vince McMahon wants to create a "competitive night of wrestling" buzz that a head-to-head match-up would create. I also don't think it is logistically possible. UPN/CW wants Smackdown on Fridays, since they are trying to build a strong sitcom line-up on the more advertiser-desired Thursday nights. Raw is going to remain on Mondays no matter what. McMahon doesn't really have any other programming. The only possibility, and it's slight, would be for WWE to air some sort of "Best of" show on USA on Thursday nights, but I don't think USA wants to have a second-tier wrestling program in prime time simply to crush a competitor. They are the top ranked cable network and aren't going to sacrifice a key prime time hour for that reason.

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Jeremy Bennett: First of all I'd like to know are you guys still doing Ask The Torch? I saw on the site the last time it was updated was December. I hope you keep it up, it's always been one of my favorite aspects of your site! I'm just getting back into wrestling after a layoff of about a year or so. I happened to catch Tazz on Bubba The Love Sponge's Sirius satellite radio show the other day and they were talking about guys who had fallings out with WWE and Christian was one of the names mentioned. They didn't go into details. What exactly happened and is there any chance Christian will return to WWE anytime soon? Thanks a lot guys. Keep up the good work!

WK: We are still doing Ask the Torch, but just not as often as I'd like. My first obligation is to update the Torch VIP features and get the Torch Newsletter published each week. The free stie features sometimes don't get updated as often as I'd like. However, I am taking some steps to free up more time for me to write on the site more often (such as outsourcing our Torch Newsletter mailings), so you should see an increase in content from me in coming weeks and months. As for Christian, he didn't have a falling out with WWE so much as he felt he could live a better life as a TNA wrestler. He was offered a renewal from WWE, but as I reported in the Torch Newsletter when he left WWE, he was taken aback by Vince McMahon making it clear to him that he saw him as nothing more than a mid-card comedy act without much upside. Christian was in a unique position of having his contract come due at the same time that TNA was looking to sign a significant name away from WWE to impress Spike TV and their viewers. He was given a nice offer from TNA which included a nice salary and a much less strenuous work schedule. He would probably be welcome back in WWE, especially if McMahon believes he could make money for him after a long stretch of time gaining credibility as a headliner with TNA. But for now, I think Christian is extremely satisfied with his choice to leave WWE for TNA. He is getting the push he always wanted, more creative freedom with his character than ever, and a lighter schedule with solid six-figure pay.

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Background on Torch editor Wade Keller: Torch editor Wade Keller founded Pro Wrestling Torch in September 1987. He 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 All-News Channel, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He also hosted his own weekly two hour wrestling talk show on KFAN sport radio in the '90s. Over the past 17 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, Ed Ferrara, Terry Taylor, Kevin Sullivan, Jim Ross, and Vince Russo; top wrestling stars such as The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, Matt & Jeff Hardy, Rick Steamboat, Jerry Lawler, Bill Goldberg, British Bulldog, Road Warrior Hawk, Jesse Ventura, and Hulk Hogan; and legends such as Lou Thesz, Gordon Solie, Bruno Sammartino, Roy Shires, Terry Funk, and Verne Gagne.

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