By Wade Keller, Torch editor

A. Roenquist of Norway: Can you help me clarify on the situation regarding C.M. Punk? Everybody (especially indy fans) knows what a great asset this man is, yet WWE hasn't brought him on television yet, which kind of bothers me every time I see the Spirit Squad show up on Raw. And what is up with all that heat on Punk backstage. Some Internet wrestling sites bring up once in a while that Triple H, HBK and others are unhappy with his workrate. Can you please elaborate on this?

WK: Punk was a great fit in Ring of Honor and deserved his hard-earned rep as one of the top wrestlers of 2004 and 2005. There is a downside to all of that acclaim. WWE tends to like to chop people down who are considered "Internet darlings." I do know from talking to people in Ohio Valley Wrestling that his WWE experience has been eye-opening in that he's learned a lot about how working WWE-style is different from ROH, and for good reason based on the different audience, context, history, surrounding, fan expectations, and schedule. Punk is also someone with a strong personality and he can rub people the wrong way, but this may be a case of people in WWE looking for a reason to chop him down to size. His participating on the ROH show last week with TNA contracted wrestlers got him heat behind the scenes, although it was a mix-up since Tommy Dreamer actually Punk permission to do the show. There have been comments from people in positions of power in WWE that Punk's tattoos are offensive or distracting. He is seen as thinner than a typical WWE heavyweight, but he's probably too tall to be a cruiserweight. He's like an NBA player who has shooting guard skills but point guard size, and he may ultimately not be a great fit for WWE. I think he would have been much better off signing with TNA, and I know he agonized over the decision to choose WWE over TNA. However, he can talk, and once he pays his dues, no matter how overblown or unnecessarily excessive, his skillset may win out and he could end up in a strong position in a year or two. But fans of his must be patience and let the system, for better or for worse, play itself out. I had predicted Punk would get along great with Triple H because both are such students of the game with similar senses of humor, but I don't know that they've had a chance to even become acquainted.

***

Shane in Vancouver, B.C.: Hey Wade, with the WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony taking place on April 1st this year, do you see McMahon trying to pull one over on Bret Hart. In my mind I can see McMahon come strutting onto the stage right before Hart is about to be inducted and claim it was all an April Fool's joke. In Vince's world, this would give him the one-up on Hart. I'm sure they would have to have a lot of security around Bret to hold him back from getting at McMahon. Do you think that "evil" Vince would try a stunt like this?

WK: Yes. I think there is a chance that Vince will pull a humiliating stunt on Bret Hart. He could claim it was in character, while never having to actually make good on it. I think the odds are against that happening, but because of the situation between Bret and Vince, and how Vince obviously lied to Bret's face before, it's possible Bret is being set up. It would be cruel to do it to Bret at this point since, because of his stroke, he might be quick enough to even react to what's happening in a respectable manner. There are a lot of theories going around of what could be planned for Bret, and I believe that Bret's circle of friends are warning him to be alert to any such possibilities. In the end, though, odds are stronger that it will be a classy induction because I think Vince will feel that, more than anything, will redeem him in the eyes of those who hold the 1997 Survivor Series incident against him.

***

Bruce W. Catherman III of Minneapolis, Minn. asks: Whatever happened to the Raw GM search?

WK: It has been delayed until WrestleMania. The plan was for Dusty Rhodes to be named G.M., but Vince decided he wanted to pull string for a while longer as part of the Shawn Michaels storyline.

***

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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. He is also host of the nationally distributed Ultimate Insiders DVD series.

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