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.

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PWTorch reader Chad asks: I was wondering why WWE has not given any type of character development, feud or sustained push to Kofi Kingston in the last 5 years. He has consistently been one of the best in ring talents and when given time on the mic he has been solid. Is he not well liked backstage or is it just a case of bad luck?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: It's probably more of a case of Kofi Kingston being a really good mid-card babyface and WWE not wanting to mess with what works. For a certain percentage of fans, yourself included apparently, they see Kingston as someone who should be higher on the card than he is. And that may be true, but Kingston is fulfilling an important cog in WWE's machine: He's a family-friendly babyface who the kids love, and as long as he can go in the ring and stay out of trouble, there will always be a place for a wrestler like him on the roster. And there's something to be said for that, even though he may never be a major champion. To my knowledge, he doesn't have attitude issues that would hold him back, but as former creative team members have mentioned on the Pro Wrestling Torch Livecast, mid-carders like Kingston really need someone in creative to go to bat for them in meetings to get a bigger push. And maybe Kofi just doesn't have that right now.

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: Kofi Kingston hasn't gotten a push because he's not good on the mic and has limited charisma. I think WWE sees him as a valuable mid-carder, but I don't think they see him as anything beyond that at this point.

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PWTorch reader Damion Kyng asks: If u could b any wwe jobbr 4 one week who would u b? would u play it safe n enjoy da ride or punch hhh n demand a push?

PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: See, this is what's wrong with the Internet.

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PWTorch reader Iain B. asks: Hi guys, long time reader and fan from Scotland. I'm really enjoying the Ask The Torch feature. My question is about Andre The Giant and the awe-struck way in which seemingly all wrestlers talk about him. Did I miss something? Was he a technical marvel or a high flyer in his young days? I've watched wrestling since 1989, and all I ever saw of Andre was someone who was slow moving,no-selling and barely understandable on the mic. Is the reverence due to something I just didn't see or is it more a case of old school "respecting those who came before"? Thanks for all your work, guys. Keep it up.

PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: Wrestlers usually made more money when Andre was on the card, he had awe-inspiring size and strength, and he was a prodigious eater, drinker, and carouser in a time and place where that was greatly valued.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Andre was better as a big-man worker in his younger days - much better than in his last several years. Had Andre been as limited in the ring and immobile from the start of his career as he was at the end, he wouldn't have lasted and wouldn't have been respected. Andre was a locker room presence and leader, too, in that he could make or break your locker room reputation by accepting you or rejecting you. He also was legitimately tough, and during his time that also was respected by his fellow wrestlers. He was a world traveler and territory traveler, so wherever he went, he also had stories to tell of headlining as a special attraction in more places than just about any other wrestler. He was a "special attraction" in that it wasn't ideal for him to stick around one territorial promotion too long. His greatest value was stopping by and being a novelty, then moving on before he blended in with the wallpaper.

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PWTorch reader Jeff from Michigan asks: Is Jake Roberts's dream of being in the Royal Rumble match realistic? Could Vince or Triple H simply deny him a spot?

PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: How realistic Jake Roberts's goal of being in the Royal Rumble depends on how realistic WWE feels the chances of Roberts remaining sober are. WWE employs Brian James (Road Dogg) and Billy Gunn as agents after they both struggled with addiction. Vince McMahon and Triple H will make the final decision.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: I do think it is realistic, although his recent relapse (having a couple drinks with a friend) perhaps makes it less likely at this point. But there is a lot of time between now and January. Roberts has gotten into decent shape (not that you need to be in great shape to do a few Rumble spots and get tossed) and if he's in the right frame of mind, could parlay the Rumble appearance into a Hall of Fame induction. Sadly, I think any chance of him being of any further value to the wrestling industry behind the scenes has probably passed. To answer your second question, yes, Vince and Triple H could simply deny him a spot by ignoring his requests. To my knowledge, WWE hasn't publicly commented on or acknowledged Jake's Rumble desires.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Jake is a sharp wrestling mind and respected behind the scenes in that regard. Along with his stellar on-air character and solid career despite his abuse issues, he is someone that people in the industry are rooting for. That all helps his cause. If people didn't respect his wrestling mind and the career he had, I don't think his chances would be good. I think it's great that Jake uses that as a motivation to get and stay sober and get himself into shape. WWE would need to feel that booking him and advertising him (a) wouldn't put him in a situation where the pressure would make him more likely to relapse; and (b) that he'd show up and be able to perform as advertised. Those big "ifs" could make the odds less than 50/50 that even if Jake got into shape and stayed sober for a long stretch that WWE would do it. Maybe an unadvertised surprise appearance, pending his condition backstage before the show, would be more likely.

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PWTorch VIP MEMBER Brad asks: A couple of years ago I had a couple of my emails published as guest editorials and it remains my greatness wrestling achievement :) . Ok onto my question... Today I was browsing through a few PWTorch Newsletters from when WCW was being sold to WWE. In those newsletters it seemed that Vince was able to buy WCW for a cheap price because he was pretty much buying a tape library since there was no T.V. deal. I even remember Chris Jericho making the remark that if he knew how cheap WCW was being sold for, he would have bought WCW himself! So my question is, what if Dixie Carter and Panda Energy were to offer Vince a deal to buy the rights to the WCW name? Do you think this would be possible in any way? The WCW name could potentially bring back some old fans. I know it will likely never happen. But would Vince be willing sell the rights to WCW to Dixie if the price was right?

(This is part of the VIP-exclusive portion of Ask PWTorch. I am now adding a segment exclusively for VIP members to this article as a bonus for VIP members. I will select questions sent by VIP members to my VIP Ask the Editor email box that I usually answer on my VIP Keller Hotline during the week and writing a text answer. To go VIP and get all PWTorch VIP content on our app and our website and our Audio RSS feed, www.PWTorch.com/govip.)

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This marks over 60 straight days of Ask PWTorch being featured as a daily website-exclusive (available on the PWTorch App for VIP members) at www.PWTorch.com. If you have missed any of the previous Ask PWTorch features, you can read them here:

-ASK PWTORCH - FREE WEBSITE.
-CLICKING HERE - ASK PWTORCH - VIP VERSION

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(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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