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 Mark H. asks: What are the legacies of Chris Jericho and The Big Show. Jericho was viewed as "the next great main event act" coming into the WWE, and while he's had a distinguished career, has never been a top level draw, drawn tons of money, or been considered The Man in the company. Same with Big Show. Were they held back by politics, overrated coming in, misused by WWE, or a combination of all of the above? Thanks

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: Jericho's legacy will be that he was the first undisputed WWE Champion, beating The Rock and Steve Austin in the same night. Okay, maybe not, but he repeats it so often it's bound to be one of the facts remembered about Jericho's career, and deservedly so. I think Jericho's legacy will be as a guy who was never THE guy, but was still on top for quite some time, and whose popularity rarely waned. He was a trendsetter in different areas, always willing to try new ways to get or stay over. I think he's a guy who will be remembered for his in-ring work, as well as his offbeat babyface character and at times, chilling heel character, most notably in his feud with Shawn Michaels in 2008. As for what held Jericho back, yeah, it was politics to some degree when he first came into WWE, but I think even he'll admit he made some mistakes as far as how he handled things, too.

Unfortunately, Big Show's legacy may be more of the "wasted talent" type. He has had well-documented issues with his weight that at times has held him back in WWE. That doesn't seem to be a serious issue anymore, but now that he's older, the potential for having really good matches isn't there, either. He's still done some solid work as of late, most notably in his heel turn and feud with John Cena. But he's a guy who, to a lot of fans, signals the "same old, same old," and when he's elevated to main event status, many fans use that opportunity to wonder why someone fresher isn't getting that spot. He's a nice utility guy at this point, and it's hard to say he wasted his potential given how long he's been on top and in a relevant position in WWE, but during his run in WCW, it did seem like he could've been much, much more.

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: Chris Jericho's legacy is going to be that he is remembered as a second tier star. Jericho has had a very good career and has star power, but he's never been a top guy. I think Jericho was held back by politics and, once he was pigeon holed into that second tier of stars after unifying the WWE and World titles, it was hard for him to overcome being Stephanie McMahon's stooge boy. If Jericho had been pushed differently once he got to the top and not been overshadowed by Triple H, I think he would have been a much bigger star.

Another big part of the problem with Jericho in terms of being unable to be a top tier wrestler is that his face and heel characters were comedy-oriented and, if he had gotten away from that and had a more serious side to his character, he would have had a better chance to be a top-tier staple. Jericho has done some great work since becoming a part-time act.

When I look at Big Show, The problem I see with him rising to the top are his weight issues. Big Show had a lot of potential when he broke into WCW and he was athletic and intimidating for a guy his size. As the years went on, Big Shows weight issues have gotten in the way of him being a true top-tier wrestler. If Big Show's weight and injury issues hadn't slowed his mobility over the years, I feel he could have been a top guy consistently. Big Show has had a good career, but if he had been able to manage his weight issues, it's hard not to wonder what could have been given his charisma.

PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell answers: It's interesting that you mentioned both Jericho and Big Show in the same question, as I believe both never reached that "centerpiece star" level because of their size. Jericho because he wasn't quite big enough, physically, to be at the Cena/Rock/Austin level. Big Show because he was too big, which positioned him as a special attraction, but not a centerpiece star.

That doesn't take away from each wrestler's body of work, longevity, and multiple money-drawing runs. Jericho had one of the best programs of the post-Attitude Era working with Shawn Michaels in 2008, while Show has reinvented himself numerous times to still be an effective player on the main roster working with the likes of John Cena in multiple programs.

Neither story is done, though. It's possible Jericho will work part-time for another five years and find new opponents to elevate to the next level, while it's likely Big Show will be involved in another main event program before his career is over. Neither wrestler will reach that John Cena level, but I don't think either would complain about the variety of successes they achieved during their careers, both individually and benefitting WWE.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: I think Jericho had the career he deserved to have. I didn't see him, when he arrived in WWE, as future centerpiece star. I saw him having the career he had, and it's been a very good one with many visits to the main event level. I think he's a bit overrated as a world class level worker, but what he did that many wrestlers never achieved was connect with the fanbase in a very strong way. That survives to this day, even as a part time Legacy Star.

A lot of people think Big Show should have been portrayed more as a special attraction giant rather than a regular every week type of wrestler. Maybe in another era that would have made total sense, where he could travel from territory to territory, but in this era to earn his full time pay, WWE wanted him - understandably - to work a full time schedule. Still, because of his size and weight issues, he - like Jericho - visited main events but never stayed there for a long stretch. I think Show is at a point in his career where he probably would be best utilized as a special attraction on occasion - the big name Legacy Star who shows up when a top babyface needs a special enforcer where the fans ideally react with "Ohhhh, the heels are in trouble now."


Paul D. asks:Previously, I asked you guys why the Miz was a bad face for treating his opponents like the Rock and Stone Cold did and you guys said its because the Miz is smug, obnoxious, and the biggest fan of his own jokes, which aren't appealing as a face. This was the point I was trying to get across. The Rock and Stone Cold are the very same way: smug, obnoxious, and they love their own jokes. In fact, they're worse than the Miz, but they're lauded for being that way, while the Miz gets constantly criticized. Why is this? And you can't say it's because they're more charming or charismatic because that's not the case. They're still bastards.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: So you're saying we begged the question, huh? Fair enough. The reason Miz isn't over by being smug, obnoxious, and the biggest fan of his own jokes is because he's not in the league of Austin and The Rock when it comes to charisma and, well, actually being funny. Miz's jokes and charisma just isn't in the same category as Austin and Rock; not even close. Same with Mr. Anderson/Mr. Kennedy. Some people can pull it off and others can't to the same degree of success. I think Miz is trying to be something that he can't pull off. I'm a fan of Miz, in general, and was a booster of him as a future main event star for a long time, but he seems to be a really bad fit personality-wise for his current babyface act, and it's actually kind of difficult to even watch him now. I cringe a lot.


PWTorch reader Louis of Wantagh, N.Y. asks: Because WWE is now pushing its App more than ever on Raw, urging everyone to download it and watch it during commercials - you have to believe that the USA Network can't be happy about that! After all, viewers are now being urged to pay attention to the App rather than the commercials and advertisers that are paying to get publicity on Raw TV. Do you know if this has been raised as a concern at all, and if WWE has addressed it? And doesn't WWE/USA Network risk losing crucial advertising dollars because of the App?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: On the contrary, the goal of engaging viewers with the App is to get them to stay put on the couch and watch Raw live rather than getting up during commercials or watching on DVR and speeding through the show later. Also, there's just an understanding among advertisers, TV networks, and programming providers that hyping "second-screen experiences" and mobile apps and websites is standard course now.


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NOTE: You can ask PWTorch staff questions live on the PWTorch Livecast (www.PWTorchLivecast.com) Monday through Friday. Mondays the show airs at 6 p.m. ET / 3 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.

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