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 Iazlo B. asks: I've been wondering when Jeff Jarrett will be returning to TNA. At this point, it seems clear that will be never. Plus I keep seeing stories about quality wrestlers floating around the indy circuit like Matt Hardy, Goldust, Jay Lethal, John Morrison, Rhyno, etc. And then here's TNA with a national TV contract and short on good "name" talent, so what exactly is the story there? Is it just that people hate Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, or is there more to the story?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: None of those names you listed jump out at me as helping TNA all that much. Jay Lethal is fine, but not a potential rating changer. Dustin Rhodes can't work as "Goldust" for TNA, and I'm not sure he's looking to work full time for what TNA. John Morrison wouldn't be a bad pick-up to give the X Division a dose of star power, but he again might not be willing to break away from his non-wrestling projects to work for what TNA is willing to pay. So in short, TNA probably has enough "known names" or "ex-WWE wrestlers" on payroll. Where they should be looking is the indy scene for unknown names that they can turn into stars, but that would require a willingness to clear away some of the members of the roster who aren't difference-makers who also don't have much of an upside, or clearing away some of the veteran names eating up TV time who are draining their salary budget and not changing ratings for the better. I don't think people's feelings toward Hogan and Bischoff has much to do with their willingness to work for TNA.

As for Jeff Jarrett, he might return to TNA when Kurt Angle is no longer there. I just think the drama associated with that situation has precluded Jarrett from returning. I ask think at age 45, with some financial security, Jarrett might be in permanent retirement. Based on their Twitter posts, it looks like Jeff and the former Karen Angle are having a blast traveling the world together. I don't think at this point Jarrett is an answer to any of the questions lingering regarding why TNA can't get traction with ratings.


PWTorch reader Diego S. asks: I think WWE has made the mistake of portraying John Cena and the part-timers as bigger than the WWE Championship. Proof of this is Cena main eventing almost every PPV while C.M. Punk was the champ and the steel cage match closing Extreme Rules last night. I believe this is a big mistake because it takes meaning away from what should be portrayed as the most important thing in the business, making the fans wonder why they should invest in a champion as The Man when other wrestlers are main eventing pay-per-views just because of their name or status within the company. My question is, how can WWE begin to rebuild the prestige of their biggest prize? Has the perception of championship meaning been lost in the top WWE officials?

A: Jim Ross used to say on commentary that if you're not in the business to win the World Title, you shouldn't be in the business. That comment could be seen as a "message" sent to certain Superstars backstage who were satisfied with coasting; it also helped get across the importance of the major title to the viewers. WWE has done a poor job emphasizing the title, and the greatest example of this is not making it the main event of PPVs, specifically during C.M. Punk's run last year and again at Extreme Rules this past week. The title did seem to be a big deal in the build-up to John Cena vs. The Rock at WrestleMania, so at best, the prestige of the title has been presented haphazardly and inconsistently. If WWE were to do a better job making the World Title or WWE Title the focus (perhaps combining them into one super-belt would be wise at this point, too), it would give fans one tangible "thing" that all the wrestlers should be fighting for. But with WWE wanting to go with drama and storytelling over the sport of trying to be the best and capture the gold, they tend to fall in love with complicated storylines that don't involve the title. That's why we're seeing what we've been seeing lately


PWTorch reader Murray Linday of Florida asks: In Hell in a Cell with Mankind and Undertaker, was the second bump planned? It looked like the cage was rigged so he would fall through. If it was, how would they have known Foley would have been able to continue after taking the first bump?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Mick Foley insisted that the second bump wasn't planned, and I never believed him for the reasons you stated and others. I think Foley was pretty confident - maybe too confident - he'd be fine after the first bump. He had been taking increasingly big stunt bumps over the course of years, so he had a pretty good idea how to fall and what the variations were. He was the Evel Knievel of bumps, in that he had things calculated in his head pretty well after years of incremental increases in the height and risk-factor of his bumps. Remember, crashing through a table makes for a great visual and audio impact, but the table helps break the fall. I'm not downplaying the risk of serious injury involved if something went a little wrong, I'm just explaining why Foley felt comfortable doing it. He was leaping off of his garage as a teenager and survived, so he probably was less nervous (although still somewhat nervous, I'm sure) about it than it would seem.


PWTorch reader Jeff from Michigan asks: While there are some exceptions (Air Boom, Miz/Truth) why does WWE stick wrestlers of the same race together like Rhodes Scholars, Primetime Players, Primo & Epico, etc.?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Each situation is different, and there is no single rule that applies to all pairings. Sometimes tag teams are created because partners "look alike" (called "bookend tag teams") or have similar physiques, styles, or looks (Chris Jericho & Lance Storm were paired as "The Thrill Seekers" because they were young, good looking, athletic, fit wrestlers who could be Cornette's team that appealed to women for sex appeal and men because they were cool and athletic). The same applied to Paul London & Brian Kendrick, Tom Zenk & Rick Martel, The Rockers, etc.) Sometimes wrestlers are teamed together because they represent a country or a culture or a trend. Sometimes it's because they are buddies outside of the ring and come up with a gimmick and present it to creative. Sometimes it's because they're both fat (Natural Disasters, Tons of Funk). Sometimes wrestlers are teamed together because they contrast in an interesting way (The East-East Connection of Brooklyn's Adrian Adonis and "Souther California's" Jesse "The Body" Ventura). The reason most tag teams consists of two white guys is because most wrestlers are white guys, so most pairings even if it were random would be two white guys (i.e. Rhodes Scholars, Team Hell No)!


PWTorch reader Alex from Norwich, England asks: Hi Guys, I've just finished reading your responses to a reader question regarding Titus O'Neill and whether he could be a future main event singles star. I'd like to pose the same question, but regarding Alex Riley. I've attended a number of WWE events both in Europe and America and Riley, when on the card, has always received a good babyface reaction from the crowd. Personally, I think he did some very good work in his feud with The Miz a while back and have been surprised to see him slide down the pecking order in such a meteoric fashion since. Do you think, with the right push at the right time (especially as WWE is struggling for top babyface stars), Riley could ever be a main event player?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: When it comes to the question, "who deserves a bigger push?" a lot of the times, we hear the same names: Kofi Kingston, Antonio Cesaro, et al. However, Alex Riley is an interesting name to bring up. He has been used sparingly on TV over the last several months, which is strange as he really shined as a heel associated with Miz, and seemed to show promise as a babyface once he turned. He's got the size and look Vince McMahon wants in his top stars, but he may fall into the Cesaro or Ted DiBiase category of being too "bland" or "boring" in the eyes of the top brass. It's unfortunate because he does have potential. Riley needs to continue to show patience and wait for his time to shine. We saw Monday night that it can happen out of nowhere, as it did with Curtis Axel.


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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.

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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