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 David from Memphis, Tenn. asks: There has been a lot of criticism this week about how the launch of Michael McGillicutty as Curtis Axel was handled. I'm holding back judgment because I'm curious to see where this goes in the storylines. A major part of wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s was a manager-led stable such as the Heenan Family or the Jimmy Hart's First Family. Paul Heyman (as Paul E. Dangerously) even had the Dangerous Alliance. Could you see a new "Dangerous Alliance" being created in WWE with C.M. Punk, Brock Lesnar, Curtis Axel, and perhaps a couple more mid-card talent (a heel Zack Ryder, perhaps)? Who else would you put with Heyman in the new stable? They could feud with John Cena, Triple H, Team Hell No and others.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Because the term "Dangerous Alliance" is associated with Paul Heyman's previous wrestling name, Paul E. Dangerously, WWE and Heyman himself may consider it passé or dated or "too WCW." I don't have a problem with giving a name to Heyman's group, even "The Dangerous Alliance." I have a feeling Vince McMahon and Triple H might see factions like that as too much like old school "pro rasslin'" for their tastes. However, so far Heyman seems to have strategically kept Brock Lesnar and C.M. Punk apart. I think fans are intrigued to see them share the screen together, and also now mix with Curtis Axel. The dynamic between the two of them share the screen together, and also now mix with Curtis Axel. The dynamic between them, and how they react to Heyman, could help drive storylines and eventually one of them turning.

I don't think they should water down Heyman too much by having him manage too many people, especially someone lower on the card like Zack Ryder. If they really believed in Ryder as a potential top act once he turned heel, that's fine, but I don't sense they do see him as that. I wouldn't be against Heyman adding a tag team or even a female wrestler to the mix. I grew up watching the Bobby Heenan Family and The Shiek's Army in the AWA, and I know how effective factions like that can be with a manager leading the way and perhaps making up for some of the weaknesses on the mic of some of his wrestlers (not that that's an issue with Punk; remains to be seen with Axel).

Sean "X-Pac" Waltman was my guest for over 100 minutes yesterday on the PWTorch Livecast. He was really close friends with the late Curt Hennig and has known Curtis Axel (Joe Hennig) since he was a little kid, and he's followed his career from the start. In the VIP-exclusive PWTorch Livecast Aftershow, he discussed in-depth Curtis Axel's debut, why it took him until age 33 to get a push on the main roster, his thoughts on his strengths as a performer and his upside as a main evener, and how he compared to his dad Curt and his granddad Larry "The Axe" Hennig. (To sign up for a VIP membership, click here.)


PWTorch reader Alejandro B. from Venezuela asks: First, I'd like to congratulate you for the great job you do at PWTorch. I enjoy your analysis and reviews since it shows that you love the business. I have a couple of questions: First, Is there a chance of former/retired Superstars to come back as mouthpieces of younger talent, pretty much like they did in early '80s? I'd love to see Sgt. Slaughter being Ryback manager, for example.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Some of those ex-wrestlers who were managers in the 1970s and 1980s such as Freddie Blassie, Mr. Fuji, Johnny Valiant, and Arnold Skaaland did tend to run out of steam as managers by the end. I'm not sure McMahon believes in having babyface managers as it's an added expense on payroll and travel, plus babyface managers don't really serve much of a purpose. The main role of a manager in pro wrestling is to give the heel, who otherwise would come up short against a babyface rival, an illegal advantage through distractions or cheating, plus get heat on his wrestler with heelish promos.

I think the best role for a babyface manager is to be a retired wrestler acting as a mentor for a young up-and-coming babyface who needs some guidance, and sometimes that can lead to the wrestler turning heel when he feels he outgrows the advice of his manager and gets a big head. Sgt. Slaughter advising someone like Ryder might work as a way to transition Ryder from babyface jobber to babyface mid-card title contender to a heel who gets a big head when he starts winning and doesn't give proper credit to his advisor.


PWTorch reader Itay A. asks: Q: 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 columnist Greg Parks answers: A: I thought Sting was a solid choice for the first inductee last year. Some of the more deserving inductees are also still active in TNA (A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, Mike Tenay even). I think it would be best to honor someone not currently on the roster. Unfortunately, the pickings are slim when it comes to possibilities beyond those currently employed. Jeff Jarrett would be a choice that make sense, as he meant a lot to TNA for a long time and is currently off TV. Perhaps someone behind the scenes, like a Bob or Dixie Carter, could also be options. Given TNA's history, I think the one inductee per year quota fits them - they don't have a deep roster of people to choose from, and it'll prevent them from running into the situation that WWE has run into as far as putting too many in per year.

PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell responds: Great question, Itay. First, I'm of the school of thought that TNA should not be in the business of having a Hall of Fame at this stage of their history. TNA has not made a historically-significant impact (excuse the pun) on the wrestling business in their 11 years of existence to credibly qualify for a Hall of Fame. Simply being the default #2 promotion in the U.S. and trying to fill the void of WCW without advancing the pro wrestling genre is not enough. Kudos to them for surviving 11 years in a WWE-monopolized industry, but TNA's overall body of work shows limited contributions to the pro wrestling genre outside of a few moments such as Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle at Lockdown 2008 and the Golden Era of the X Division.

That said, the #2 inductee should be co-founder Jeff Jarrett. The promotion was built as a vehicle for Jarrett to be the centerpiece star of a nationally-televised promotion, so TNA's current standing and presence in the wrestling industry is tied to Jarrett. Who will the #2 inductee be? If it's storyline-driven, I could see A.J. Styles being inducted as a means of TNA president Dixie Carter's character extending the olive branch to Styles as part of a long-term story arc going back to the Claire Lynch angle from 2012.

As for TNA inducting one person each year, I think that's the best method if TNA is intent on having a Hall of Fame. Perhaps down the road, TNA will induct multiple individuals at a time, but I believe it's best to start slow by establishing the cornerstone pieces of the promotion before inducting groups of past and present wrestlers.


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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