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.

SPECIAL NOTE We have launched a new FREE PWTorch Email Alert service today where you can receive BREAKING NEWS ALERTS on occasion plus TOP FIVE STORIES OF THE DAY reports. To sign up (you can easily unsubscribe anytime), click here.)


PWTorch.com reader Mario Conde asks: I read with great interest about the end of the "Brand Extension" yesterday. It's sad to see that Smackdown doesn't have a unique identity it used to have with young stars and the crusierweight division. With that said, how long do you think will WWE keep two world champions on roster? With the end of the brand split how long until the World Heavyweight Champion is retired?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: This is one of those things people have been predicting for a long time, but I do think we're getting closer to the end. The reason there are two champions even though the brand split is no long in effect is to allow a champion to defend with each house show touring group, instead of one tour having a champion and one not. But because that's basically the only reason to have two separate major champions at this point, I could certainly see WWE deciding it's no longer necessary to carry two. Plus, it's hard to argue against the possible ratings or buyrate increase WWE may get for a unification match.

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: Back in 2002, the original plan was for WWE to make the Intercontinental Title more prestigious, and use it as a second world title. What ended up happening instead was WWE creating a second World Title, and that World Title is now treated the way the Intercontinental Title used to be treated.

The sticking point is that WWE likes to have two groups of wrestlers on tour every weekend, and that if there's only one World Heavyweight Title, the group without the World Title won't be seen as a big show. The counter argument is, that's already happened. The shows with WWE champion John Cena draw better than the shows with the Smackdown champion.

If WWE plans to unify the titles, the best way to do it would be a program where there are strong champions on Raw and Smackdown who hold the belts for at least six months each, and they have the unification match at WrestleMania. Since WrestleMania 30 is already going to be built around returning part-time stars, I wouldn't expect a unification match until at least April 2015.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller adds: I have talked about this topic at length on recent VIP Keller Hotlines, including yesterday's. One thing I'll add to my previous thoughts is that if WWE moved the WWE Title to, say, Ryback on Sunday, they could build one house show eventually around Ryback defending the WWE Title against a top baby face, and having John Cena without a title headline the other house show in a grudge match. For WWE to merge the WWE and World Titles (or just eliminate the World Title), I believe they'd have to feel they had someone able to headline the second house show each night without a world title belt at stake. To me, that would mean Cena without the WWE Title.


PWTorch.com reader David D. asks: Has the effective end of the brand split in the past couple of years helped or damaged the star power of the roster?

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: I think it has helped and hurt in different cases. Some wrestlers such as Sheamus, Henry, and Ziggler have benefited from being on both Raw and Smackdown when they would have otherwise been exposed to a smaller portion of the audience by being just on Smackdown. I think the more people who see different members of the WWE roster on both shows, the more they have a chance to get over.

On the other hand, when WWE stuck to their guns and kept the brands split, more wrestlers were given opportunities to shine because they were exclusive to a specific brand. In recent years as more and more wrestlers have been included on both shows effectively ending the brand split, there's probably some wrestlers that have taken longer to get more visible roles on television because of the amount of wrestling from the same wrestlers eating up valuable airtime on Raw and Smackdown.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: I think that it has helped some, in that by appearing in main events on Raw AND Smackdown, the wrestlers seem like that much of a bigger deal than if they only main-evented one show. It allows more eyeballs and more viewers to see them as main event guys as opposed to those who only watch one show and may miss them on the show they don't watch. However, it's hard to argue against the theory that two separate brands gives WWE two sets of main eventers instead of just one to rotate onto both shows. WWE could have double the number of main eventers they currently have if they adhered to the brand split. Those main eventers would be seen as the stars, increasing the star power in the company.

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: I'm not trying to evade your question, but I think it's the other way. The lack of star power on the roster was one of the reason WWE ended the brand split. If the separate Raw and Smackdown pay-per-views had created new stars, WWE wouldn't have cut back on the number of pay-per-views and consolidated the brands.

It's hard to say whether the end of the brand split has helped. Combining the rosters means WWE has more options for filling three hours of Raw. Also, you'd think having Sheamus, Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, and Alberto Del Rio on both shows every week would make the ex-Smackdown guys seem more important. But it hasn't translated into better ratings or more pay-per-view buys. I'd say the end of the brand split hasn't had much effect at all.


PWTorch.com reader Damion K. asks: I know this is a personal question, but it seems Triple H is the only guy Stephanie McMahon ever dated. Have you heard of any other serious boyfriend?

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: Stephanie McMahon graduated from Boston University in 1998, and debuted on WWE television less than a year later. By 2000, she and Triple H were an onscreen couple. Given that Stephanie went to Boston University (and not a convent) I'm guessing she dated other people at some point. No, I don't know if she had a serious boyfriend before that, and I don't remember her discussing the topic in interviews. Have you tried asking her about that on Twitter?


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)

We suggest these recent related articles...

ASK THE SPECIALISTS ROUNDTABLE: Who will be WWE's Next Top Star?

SATURDAY’S ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 4/11: How should WWE cater to Texas at WM32? Does WWE using Sting and Hogan add to chances more TNA wrestlers are hired? Do NXT gimmick wrestlers have a chance? Is El Generico really Sami Zayn?

THURSDAY’S ASK PWTORCH ALL-STARS 4/9: Are El Generico & Sami Zayn the same person? Next MITB cash-in for IC or U.S. belt? What match do you show non-fans so they get it? Why don’t heel teams cheat?