Welcome to a new website-exclusive PWTorch feature! I am PWTorch founder and editor, Wade Keller. I've been covering pro wrestling since 1987 when I started the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter while still in high school. Over 25 years later, PWTorch reaches more wrestling fans every week than any other independent brand. When we launched PWTorch.com in 1999, one of the features I enjoyed doing the most was "Ask PWTorch." I haven't done it recently on the website, but did revive it in recent years in an audio format for PWTorch VIP members on my Keller Hotline. We reintroduced it to the website audience this month.

If you have a question you'd like me to respond to, send your question to askpwtorch@gmail.com. I, along with the Torch staff, will address you questions.


PWTorch reader Jeff from Michigan asks: If Ric Flair comes back to TV full-time what would be the best fit? As GM or manager? Would a Flair-Ziggler pairing actually work or would he be better off with Big E, Miz, Orton, Titus O'Neil, or even Richie Steamboat or Joe Hennig?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: I don't think Flair works particularly well as someone trying to get someone else over. Flair was someone who was good at promoting himself, but I just don't see tremendous value in him as a manager or advisor. Certainly the whole thing with Miz was and continues to be an odd fit. I don't think anyone seeing any connection between Miz and Flair in any way personality-wise or in-ring style. If you did pair him with someone, I think being the leader of a faction of three or four guys at the level of Titus O'Neil and Big E. might make sense. Randy Orton certainly is beyond needing or benefiting from Flair being his advisor or manager.

My preferred role for Flair, and I've said and written this over the years, would be to represent the official Championship Committee and in a dignified manner wearing a suit like only he can, he would appear on TV to announce upcoming World Title and WWE Title matches, or top contender matches to determine future title shots. I think Flair should be well past being the crazed maniac heel or partying baby face character. He should be presented as a dignified elder statesman whose judgment is revered when it comes to who deserves title shots. I'd even have him be the person who the champion hands the belt to after ring introductions. Then Flair sits at ringside and hands the belt to the winner of the match. Then he's being used for something age-appropriate that also fits what he is best known for in his prime years. It also could be an excuse to get rid of the antiquated "Heel G.M." character when it comes to announcing title matches.


PWTorch reader David D. asks: As a current free agent, is Vince Russo someone who could help WWE make their programming more engaging than it currently is?

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: This question is moot, since current WWE management will not afford Mr. Russo the opportunity to contribute to their programming. And, since Mr. Russo hasn't thought up an original storyline idea since the Clinton Administration, WWE shouldn't bring him back. But I'll play along. What the heck?

Since Vince Russo's time in WWE, the writing process has been restructured, and the creative team members are under the direction of Stephanie McMahon. In order to have any actual influence, Russo would have to have Brian Gewirtz's old position, where he reports directly to Ms. McMahon without going through a supervisor. That's unlikely.

WWE writers have been told that it's not their job to argue with Mr. McMahon about booking decisions, but to follow Mr. McMahon's direction. That's not how Mr. Russo has operated in the past, and I can't imagine Russo changing his mind now.

Finally, one of Russo's specialties was coming up with ideas for the midcard and lower card wrestlers. With Mr. McMahon exercising more direct control over the scripting process, that hasn't been a priority for WWE.

The bottom line is, even if Russo had anything to contribute to the current WWE product, either Russo or Mr. McMahon would have to compromise in order to work together, and they're both very stubborn. I don't see this happening.


PWTorch reader Jamie asks: I'm interested in what you've said recently about Jay Briscoe. Regarding his recent derogatory comments on Twitter, you didn't seem to be that outraged with his comments and I think in some terms even defended him using Twitter as his outlet for his views. I find it interesting because previous you have wrote editorials about Bully Ray's comments and now Austin Aries actions and you called for much bigger action to be taken against them. I'm just wondering, not challenging you or saying your biased, I'm just generally curious, as to why you seem to be less angered towards Brisco then you have for Aries and Ray.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: I'm glad you asked this. I think the two situations, while both having anti-gay aspects, are very different. I don't think Jay Briscoe should be restricted from having a view that gay marriage shouldn't be legal or shouldn't be taught to children as normal. I don't agree with that viewpoint, but I wouldn't want his right to express it to be restricted. If nothing else, it can be conversation starter where he could hear from some of his fans, including ROH fans who happen to be gay, and maybe his views would soften. The issue I had with Jay Briscoe's statement was vowing to shoot someone who carried out a policy that that he disagreed with.

Also, unlike Bully Ray, Briscoe's comments were made on Twitter, not at an actual ROH wrestling event. I think comments made on a personal social media page should be looked at in a different context than comments made directly to fans at a live event.

The biggest difference, though, is that while Bully was in character and Jay arguably wasn't (although he inferred in his apology that he was), Bully used the anti-gay "f-word" multiple times and dressed down a specific fan in the crowd while using that vile word several times. It was done in earshot of fans, perhaps families with kids. So to me, the anti-gay aspect of Briscoe's point of view was not the issue, but rather the vow of violence associated with that viewpoint. With Bully, it was the anti-gay epithet and the fact that it was aimed at a fan as a personal insult at an actual event. So there were many differences.

Briscoe is entitled to his views on gay marriage, and unless ROH had a policy against wrestlers on social media stating opinions on such public policy matters, he shouldn't be reprimanded for that, although certainly fans can decide whether his strong anti-gay stance affects their willingness to support ROH. If we step back and look at Briscoe's history on Twitter, he had used the anti-gay "f-word" before and also made derogatory comments about "she-he" in New York City during Hurricane Katrina. I'd say his previous comments were worse when it comes to gay issues, but this latest one was awful because of the vow to shoot people whom he disagreed with.

As for Aries, like the Bully Ray situation, what he did was aimed at a particular person at an actual live event with a clear desire to intimidate someone. In each case, the target was in a vulnerable position.

None of the situations are good. All of them are worthy of criticism. Briscoe's situation wasn't as alarming for being anti-gay as it was chilling because of his vow to shoot people he disagreed with. It was more abstract and less specifically targeted because of the context, and that makes it different.

On a side note, Chavo Guerrero should just stop talking about anything ever. (See today's news story on his defense of Aries based on inaccurate information about the incident.)


PWTorch reader Simon C. asks: Following recent comments from Bret Hart saying that Joe Hennig should be the one to end the Undertaker's WrestleMania streak, I was wondering if you see a bright future for him in WWE and do you think they would be better off using his real name and pushing the fact he is the son of "Mr Perfect"? He seems grossly underused to me. Also, speaking of third-generation wrestlers, do you see any sort of main-event future for Ted Dibiase after a lackluster 2-3 years since the Legacy push? Thanks.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: A few years ago if you told me the progress of every wrestler in the same "class" as Ted DiBiase (wrestlers around his age introduced to the main roster within a year of him), I'd have been most surprised at DiBiase's lack of progress. I think Vince McMahon sees him as too bland, too "goody-goody" perhaps, to be someone he can fully invest in. I've asked around and other than McMahon thinks he's boring, I haven't heard a good explanation for his lack of a push. I think he has a great look, great pedigree, carries himself like an alpha-male without being stereotypically aggressively macho, has good size, and a solid look. He might be a little "old school" in terms of maybe fitting in better with a different era, but I think there's something there to work with. I'll continue to ask around and try to figure out where he lost his favor with WWE management.

As for Joe Hennig (Michael McGillicutty), I didn't see enough in him to be an obvious or even short-list choice among younger wrestlers to end Undertaker's streak. I have stopped looking to Bret Hart for well-reasoned, objective opinions on pro wrestling. I think he's like that local sports columnist or radio show host who finds reasons to praise people he has personal connections with and inflates their value, while disparaging the qualifications of those he doesn't get along with - sometimes to an absurd, credibility-killing degree. I'm not saying Joe can't contribute, and I definitely think he would benefit from a change to his real name, but I don't see what Bret sees, that he would anytime soon be even a slightly reasonable choice to be one of Undertaker's very final WrestleMania challengers.

NOTE: You can ask PWTorch staff questions live on the PWTorch Livecast (www.PWTorchLivecast.com) Monday through Friday. Mondays the show airs at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT in the hour before Raw and Tuesday through Friday at 5:30 ET / 2:30 PT. The show airs five days a week and you can talk to PWTorch staff members Bruce Mitchell, Travis Bryant, Pat McNeill, James Caldwell, Greg Parks, Sean Radican, and me on other days during the week.

READ PREVIOUS "ASK PWTORCH" FEATURES BY CLICKING HERE.

(Send your question for PWTorch editor Wade Keller and the PWTorch staff exclusively to pwtorch@gmail.com for consideration! You can hear expanded conversation on the above topics from Wade Keller by becoming a VIP member and gaining access to the daily Wade Keller Hotline, posted every day for VIP members for over 1,000 days straight. Sign up at www.PWTorch.com/govip)

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