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 Itay A. asks: My question is about the TNA Hall Of Fame. It is now known that the next inductee will be announced on Slammiversary. Who do you think it would be? Who it should be? What's your opinion about the "one inductee at a time" concept of the TNA Hall Of Fame?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Strictly storyline-wise, it should be Jeff Jarrett since he was such a centerpiece star for the early years and a co-founder of the company. Since they've set a precedent for inducting people who are still active with the promotion, A.J. Styles would be an interesting choice, especially in light of his current storyline of being disgruntled. The Hall of Fame induction could be the moment that flips his loyalty to TNA. So could Kurt Angle, who is in a similar situation as Sting - a big name star who signed on with TNA "and gave them credibility at a key time." They could also bring back the first TNA-based NWA World Champion Ken Shamrock. He's a big enough name overall between his UFC and WWE exposure to feel like a worthy addition. My personal choice would be Jerry Lynn, as I think he's the best fit in terms of being the glue that held the X Division together (along with A.J. Styles) in the early years, plus he just retired this year so it's perfect in that sense. Raven would be a dark horse if only because he might be available, it unaffiliated with WWE now, and was a pretty big part of TNA's early years, also. Ten years ago this week, TNA booked C.M. Punk in an opening card X Division match against Paul London (who won), Jason Cross, and Kid Romeo. Maybe they'll create waves by inducting Punk for his unnoticed (by TNA) undercard matches for a short time in TNA's early years. Or not.


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 reader Murray L. asks: What was supposed to happen with Kurt Angle and Triple H in the Fall of 2000? Common sense would have said that Angle gets Stephanie and Triple H turns face. It would have made so much more sense and I consider this one of the angles that jumped the shark. It didn't make any sense that they just stopped feuding and it was soon forgotten that Angle tried to pick up HHH's wife. Great potential for this angle.

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: I went back and read through the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter back issues on the VIP website from 2000 to refresh my memory. Believe it or not, what ended up happening WAS the original plan for the Triple H vs. Angle storyline, or something very close. But in the eyes of the McMahons and the writers, the idea was that going after Triple H's wife would turn Kurt Angle face. (Oh, it's true.) Once it became obvious that the fans were siding with Triple H, various writers suggested that the story would get over better with Angle as the heel. Triple H was part of the weekly productions, and had a lot of pull backstage. Triple H did not want to turn babyface. He fought the idea tooth and nail. So the story ended with Stephanie sticking with The Game.


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 reader Efren of Phoenix asks: What was the reasoning/logic behind Andre the Giant going over in the main event of the first Survivor Series while Hulk Hogan got counted out mid-match? I've always wondered.

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: It was a simpler time, Efren. The first Survivor Series was in November 1987. At that point, WWE still planned its major storylines out months in advance. Hogan defeated Andre at WrestleMania III, and WWE spent months teasing a rematch. That's how we got Team Hogan vs. Team Andre in the main event of Survivor Series. The finish was set up to protect both wrestlers. Andre was the invincible monster, and Hogan got eliminated without having to do a job. Six weeks later, WWE taped the contract signing, and in February 1988, Hogan and Andre had their rematch live on NBC. One thing led to another, which is how storytelling is supposed to work.


PWTorch reader Jason D. asks: If - and I know it's a big IF - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is healthy and could wrestle C.M. Punk at WrestleMania 30 or 31, how big would that match be? How much money could it draw? Bigger than Hogan-Andre? Hogan-Savage? Austin-Rock? Rock-Cena? etc.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: It would be big, but I don't think it would be bigger than Hogan vs. Andre or even Rock vs. Cena. After leaving wrestling, Rock stayed in the public eye as a huge mainstream star and his return was a big deal. Austin, aside from a few small roles and hosting a show on CMT, has not been as visible as Rock and he has made many returns to WWE in non-wrestling roles. Plus, C.M. Punk isn't on the level of John Cena as far as star power goes, so that doesn't really compare either. I think it could draw a great amount of money for the company, but depending on how WWE markets it, I don't think it would compare to Rock vs. Cena.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: I agree with Greg's rationale. I think Rock, at least in terms of the way WWE has framed the Attitude Era history on TV lately, has leapfrogged Austin as the top star from that era. Fans who lived through it know better, but I think today's fans see Rock as a bigger deal because of what he went on to in Hollywood and how he has been featured in the last three years on WWE TV. If WWE went all-out, though, and "reintroduced" Austin to the WWE audience and framed him as the biggest star in WWE history who saved WWE from demise at the hands of WCW and as the primary rival of Mr. McMahon, there's probably a way to elevate Austin back to the level he deserves. Austin probably hasn't skipped a beat in terms of his promo ability and connection with the crowd, and since he and Punk get along, there'd probably be good chemistry in building a feud, without the awkwardness often present with the Cena-Rock promos. It'd be interested in seeing it, as long as Austin felt comfortable health-wise and that he could live up to his former self at age 48 going on 49 or 50 by the time the match took place. He has too much pride to come back for a payday if he looked like a shell of what he once was. Business-wise, there's a big upside, but I don't think - primarily due to Punk's drawing power compared to Cena and Hogan - that it would come up short of some of the matches you mentioned in terms of butyrate impact. But Austin and Punk are so good and so smart, I wouldn't bet against them doing great business.


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.)

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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