What's up with all the criticism of the reunion of the Wolfpac? What's the difference between it and WWE giving DX a lengthy run ten years after it was formed? If booked properly and reintroduced to the audience, the Wolfpac could be a good thing. It's fair to say that TNA looks in the past, but WWE does the exact same thing, yet they aren't criticized as harshly for it...
I was never in favor of making pro wrestling seem real; I wanted it to seem more interesting. I believe wrestling is more interesting to watch if you're not reminded unnecessarily of it being fake. But I've always said dating back to my original newsletter column on this subject last year that I would not eliminate highspots. This is not advocating a UWFI style. What I've always said it eliminate the highspots that are the most fake looking and stick with the ones that are both exciting and plausible. There are so many moves and holds to choose from, only unimaginative, lazy-minded wrestlers would resort to a move that is both fake looking and boring...
I just wanted to ask you a question. In professional wrestling, the majority of us know what a "worked shoot" is. To be honest, I love when a storyline borders between what is real and what is fake. But when I saw the April 4th edition of Smackdown, I was a little bit unsettled by the Shawn Michaels and Batista promo. First of all it was obvious from the start that they would have some sort of encounter just because there was no other reason for Shawn to be there. Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't that segment slated as Shawn Michaels coming to the ring to talk about his "mixed emotions" (how lame). I was kind of unsettled that Batista would come out and say "you couldn't lay down, huh? Cause Shawn Michaels doesn't job for anyone." I am 27 years old, and when I was a child I watched wrestling all the time. Unfortunately, I think that the majority of little kids grow up and...
It's long been a bone of contention with me. I think it sounds odd and does break suspension of disbelief a little. They're not totally alone as I've heard many pro athletes say regarding their sport, "This is a business," but usually it's in the context of a contract squabble or trade rumor that could send them away from their current teammates...
I really enjoyed the question you and Bruce had recently on a "Bruce Mitchell Audio Show" (VIP) asking why certain wrestlers never had a WWF Title run. My question is why wouldn't Curt Hennig be a good choice for ever a transitional champion run in his first WWF stint? Ted DiBiase's gimmick was he was the Million Dollar Man and Bruce said that's one reason why he didn't need a title run. Well, Curt Hennig's gimmick was he was Mr. Perfect, so wouldn't the WWF title around his waste help solidify his gimmick more than his ability to throw a football 60 yards down field to himself? He was a great worker, a good talker, and always had great heat. Am I crazy or was he not considered for a main event push against Hogan? Just wanted to know your thoughts...
Jesse Ventura was not highly thought of by the end of his first term as governor of Minnesota. He didn't run for reelection, I believe he would have if he thought he would win. Losing a reelection bid would have been humiliating to his massive ego. One thing we Minnesotans learned during his term as governor that was lost during his stints as a talk show host which introduced his political viewpoints to Minnesota is he had a huge ego. He turned out to be surprisingly thin-skinned - even by politician standards. He also governed transparently on a self-centered basis. If he liked to water ski, he was against any sound regulations in the areas where he liked to ski. If he visited prostitutes in his past, he wanted prostitution to be legal...
The Dudleys (a/k/a Team 3D) absolutely should be listed. If Christian Cage, who works for TNA is listed, then so should Team 3D. If The Nasty Boys made the list, so should Team 3D. This is a case of someone at WWE.com not knowing their WWE history well, which is possible, it was an honest oversight, WWE is sensitive to listing a current top act from TNA, or there is more heat on the Dudleys than WWE wishes to acknowledge. No excuse is valid, though, because listing The Dudleys doesn't do anything to give TNA publicity. If someone knows about TNA, they know the Dudleys are still wrestling. If someone doesn't know about TNA, they won't find out by WWE.com acknowledging the Dudleys as a top tag team...
Once a decision is made that someone like a Val Venis or Scotty 2 Hotty or Super Crazy isn't worth pushing in a prominent spot, they have two choices: (a) release them; (b) use them as "utility players" who can give them reliable squash matches. I think they make the right choice by keeping them on board. I miss jobbers. One of the great pleasures of being a wrestling fans in the 1970s and 1980s was the weekly squash matches with memorable jobbers who each had their own special way of being weak and pathetic (and use that term endearingly)...
I'm a big proponent of "protecting moves," meaning that once a wrestler establishes a special move as one of his signature moves, other guys should have to get permission to use it. There is obviously a limit of three or four signature moves that you can protect. Any more than that and you're getting greedy and hoarding moves, and it's more than the average fan can keep track of. When one wrestler uses another wrestler's signature move when facing them, it adds some drama to a special match-up. Also, by protecting certain moves, you prevent one wrestler from using someone else's finisher as a transition move. For example, John Cena's FU works because it's protected and leads to finishes. It's the worst finishing move, when it comes to actually looking like it hurts, since the Lionsault...
John Lucas asks: Ask the Editor is my favorite feature on the website. Here's a question. Vince McMahon has always put aside bad feelings towards others in the interest of doing business and making money. However, this does not hold true for Mach Man Randy Savage. What is the problem Vince McMahon has with Randy Savage? Does Savage have an issue with McMahon?...
Carlito was planning to leave, but he got talked into staying by Vince McMahon. My hunch is that McMahon saw that TNA would likely snatch up Carlito in a second and probably utilize him better than WWE had been. With the signing of Booker T, the image that TNA was a destination for WWE wrestlers would further solidify if Carlito showed up. I think if TNA didn't exist, McMahon may have left Carlito leave, assuming he could convince him to return in the future. But with a TNA offer likely, he pressed him to stay. Carlito has had a rep for years for not having the drive necessary to really stand out among the young wrestlers, and it has frustrated management, and that has led to Carlito being frustrated with his position on the roster...
First, thanks for your thoughtful letter on this serious matter. I print your letter because it represents several emails I've received that are similar. Just to be clear, there is a difference between imagining what could have prevented a death and using that to absolve the guilty part of his actions. Benoit did what he did. Unless somebody injected his body with drugs and poured wine down his throat or made him drink it at gunpoint, he's as guilty as any drunk driver out there who lost their sense of judgment and killed somebody while driving...
Jeff Barbieri of Folsom, Calif. writes: Hey Wade, I'm a fairly long time Torch reader and 36 year old business professional. One question that's been bothering me: Why doesn't ANYONE of clout in the WWE locker room (i.e. an Edge), make a stand - quit, go to the media, or do something, to show their disgust to Vince McMahon and the WWE on their work environment?...
Jason Western of Australia writes: Wade I like your idea about the weight divisions and I think it could work. It is quite a drastic change from the norm because right now we have wrestlers of all sizes interacting with each other however IF given enough time to build it could work I believe. WWE has three shows and I think they could have Raw as Heavyweight, ECW Welterweight, and Smackdown as Light Heavyweight. Would this work, though? Separating the divisions into each show?...
In the middle of this horrible situation with Chris Benoit, and all the pain that has come out of it, two things have struck me to the most. The first thing was Edge's statement during the tribute show when he said something along the lines of, he had three people he could talk to in this business and there was only one left. And the second was the link that one of your readers sent in to Benoit's tribute to Eddie...
Thanks to everyone for your emails this week regarding the Benoit family and our coverage of it. You've helped with links to news stories, radio show and TV segment summaries, reacting to our coverage, and just releasing emotions. I've read every email I've received on the Benoit situation this week and it has helped shape my coverage and direct the staff with their coverage...
Heyman will have considerable creative input, but everything ultimately goes through Vince McMahon who can veto anything he doesn't understand or approve of. Tommy Dreamer's power is limited to administrative duties, not booking matters. The wrestlers will be allowed to wrestle their own style, as long as it fits Heyman's vision for the promotion...
You can enjoy whatever style of wrestling you want. I think there is a reason to pause and rethink praising a style of wrestling that obviously is dangerous beyond a reasonable degree to the participants, be it crazy use of weapons, excessive bleeding (especially on indy shows where participants are probably not tested for diseases), and wild highspot matches where wrestlers are pushing beyond their skill levels in order to try to make a mark or impress people (or just get a thrill). Garbage wrestling...
My understanding is TNA has paid wrestler by the match, with a certain minimum number of matches per year guaranteed. When wrestlers are kept off a show, they see it as one less chance to make more than their "minimum." It was a blow to morale when Buff Bagwell, Lex Luger, and Rick Steiner were brought in for the last TV taping while a number of lower-card regulars were told to stay home. Bagwell, Luger, and Steiner were just brought in for one-shot, though...
I've heard frequently in the past couple years from people who are around Taker that he feels tremendous wear and tear on his body and joints from his years in the ring. It's just a case of a body breaking down from years of travel, bumps, and the grind of being a wrestler. I've been told, though, that his hips are the major issue he has to deal with after his career...
I don't know when his contract ends, but his work schedule shouldn't be read into as a sign he's retiring or leaving. He has had a deal worked out with Vince McMahon for years to work a light schedule. After all of his years in wrestling, he has earned enough tenure to negotiate a special agreement, and nobody resents it. His body is also ailing badly from all of his years in wrestling. He has bad hips which will need to be replaced and a number of other serious health issues that would prevent him from working a full time schedule even if wanted to...
What he did has not been reported officially by WWE. I have been told by numerous people that he violated WWE policy backstage on WrestleMania weekend flagrantly and arrogantly, and it wasn't the first time. However, the final straw was just that - a final straw in a series of many actions that upset not just WWE management, but also his fellow wrestlers. Triple H is said to have been in favor of suspending Orton. I have been told Undertaker has despised Orton for a long time...
How many wrestlers in WWE read the internet wrestling websites often? I think Vince said a while back that he doesn't want bookers or wrestlers reading the net cause it's too negative, but how many actually do? As far as internet rumors and spoilers, why would people within the industry (be it wrestlers or other insiders) leak out information on feuds and storylines early when it hurts business for people to know ahead of time what the plans are for future programming?...
Punk was a great fit in Ring of Honor and deserved his hard-earned rep as one of the top wrestlers of 2004 and 2005. There is a downside to all of that acclaim. WWE tends to like to chop people down who are considered "Internet darlings." I do know from talking to people in Ohio Valley Wrestling that his WWE experience has been eye-opening in that he's learned a lot about how working WWE-style is different from ROH, and for good reason based on the different audience, context, history, surrounding...
I was wondering what you thought about a storyline idea where, to get the ultimate swerve on Vince, HBK brings Bret Hart back to stick to him (Vince). That way they can get his DVD promoted and it can get some heat up for the HOF ceremonies. They could go all sorts of directions with this idea. I think and it would be a ratings draw with Hart coming back. Just an idea...
With cable's current status of a zillion channels, I do not understand why OVW can't be on TV. Back on the mid-'80s There was WWF, NWA, and World Class (World Class actually came on before WWF Superstars back then) also, since I lived in Florida at the time I was watching Florida wrestling with Gordon Solie. How come this can't be put on TV in today's era of content, content - content, when it comes to TV? The stuff I read on the Torch on OVW sounds better than TNA and anything the WWE has done in at least two years...
WWE has drawn large gates in domes, but there are only so many domes they can run in. They can't really draw the WrestleMania buzz at the same dome time after time, and selling out domes hasn't always been easy for WWE in the past; only when they're product is reasonable hot. They don't want to risk running outdoors due to weather unpredictably that could ruin the PPV show. They also aren't able to charge the same ticket prices in domed stadiums as they are in smaller arenas because the seats so quickly become such a great distance from the ring at domes...
Sting's conversion did affect his wrestling career in a sense because he was picky about what he would and wouldn't do on camera in case it conflicted with his religious morals. However, his character was never based on being raunchy or controversial, so the effect was minimal. It did give him a sense of peace behind the scenes that probably helped him stay sane during the crazy locker room days of WCW Nitro at its peak. I've never heard of a wrestler being discriminated against, much less blackballed, due to being an openly devout Christian. Molly Holly, in her recent "Torch Talk" interview in the Torch Newsletter, said she never felt her open faith was used against her...
Now that Smackdown is on Fridays, has WWE thought about making Smackdown live? I wouldn't think it would be so bad. In between Raw and Smackdown they could have house shows going on. One other Question. Why didn't UPN just delay to a later time? I mean here in Chicago they show That '70s Show and King of The Hill after Smackdown and they're reruns anyway, so why not just push Smackdown back an hour. That way it would have been able to debut properly and all of it would have been shown and everyone would be much happier...
The circumstances of Sean Waltman's no-show of the TNA isn't known at this point, although he was apparently spotted at the hotel in Orlando before the PPV. Whether he had a falling out with management or disappeared for other reasons isn't confirmed either way at this point, although nobody in TNA is saying they had warning he wasn't showing up. The attitude from TNA management was that he blew it and will need to produce an incredible excuse to be given another chance to work there. That said, if he has a better offer from WWE on the table, he may end up showing up on WWE TV soon...
Could you explain the events that led Lex Luger to jump from WCW to WWF. Is it true he wrestled for WWF On Sunday then WCW on Monday. Was the last time he appeared on WWF TV was Summer Slam '95 when he tried to help Diesel against Mabel when Mo was interfering. Diesel didn't think he could trust Luger so he booted him out of the ring and he ran back to the dressing room...
I've heard nothing at all of Shelton having any heat with management. The thing holding him back right now is that it's perceived that he can't cut a "money promo" at this point. WWE management, though, sees him as a real asset down the line, and are just being patient as he continues to mature as a character...
OVW is only available in the Louisville, Ky. area. It isn't meant to be a national show and isn't syndicated anywhere outside of that region. Many OVW fans who watch it on tape have suggested WWE might draw some good weekend ratings by putting it on instead of or in addition to some of their weekend shows. That was never likely considered, and now that they're cutting back to one weekend show, it's not in the cards at all....
We broke the story in last week's Torch Newsletter that Triple H was planning to take roughly two-to-three months off from wrestling starting in August or September. He's only been working non-televised matches lately, stepping aside to let Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels have the Summerslam spotlight. Rather than be lost in the shuffle with the influx of Hogan, John Cena, and others from the draft, he took an early break from TV. Originally the plan was for him to face Ric Flair at Summerslam...
During my time in the WWF, Bradshaw was a guy I enjoyed working with. I never had any problems with him, and we got along quite well. As soon as we had left, however, he did a 180 and became one of our most outspoken, venomous "critics," which should say something about how much of a straight-shooter he is (or was). I had heard plenty of tales about his bullying tendencies, and had even seen it happen in the ring on several occasions (most notably one night when he completely stiffed Public Enemy in the ring to "test them")...
That's a tough one, because I tend to think of angles in terms of long-term storylines that would play out over a series of weeks, with a build-up to a big finish. Unfortunately, we didn't have a helluva lot of those, due to the ever-changing nature of the booking team and philosophy. I would have loved to have seen how our main storyline (that I described in an earlier "Ask Ed") involving the reformed NWO would have played out, not to mention the subsequent angle involving Goldberg...
I found out the next day at the Raw taping, after an excruciatingly painful night of almost no sleep (anytime I would cough or try to sit up in bed, I'd see stars), that I had popped my sternum. Francois Petit, who was our resident "witch doctor" backstage (he'd work on the boys - shiatsu, bone/muscle manipulation, etc.) checked on me, and I told him I was in a ton of pain. He felt around my chest and ribcage and matter-of-factly told me "You're sternum, she ees popped. You want me to feex? Stand against ze wall"...
Yes, every bit of it. If WWE really wanted to have it come across as a "shoot," they would have skipped the backstage attack (which was inserted into the script to create a "teaser" going into the commercial break at a key point during Raw). Then, when Hardy jumped the railing, they would have cut away or had the camera pan away quickly. Then the announcers would have talked vaguely about a fan jumping the railing and seem to not be sure what to do next. Then they could have had a camera "find" Kane and Gene Snitsky brawling in the crowd...
Since we left the WWF, I've had no interaction with VKM. Russo and I have been in contact regularly over the past couple of years - we speak on the phone on average every couple of weeks, and we're actually closer now than we ever had been. The days we shot the footage for the Ultimate Insiders DVD were, however, the first time we were in the same room together since I left Nashville in 2003...
Don't know what the current clime is, but in the past (especially WWF), management thought it was a blip on the radar. "Why concern ourselves with a group (i.e. internet fans/"smarks") that comprises less than 5 percent of our audience?" If they're smart (debatable topic), they'll have changed their position by now...
There was one time during the Sullivan regime right after Russo stepped away when Scott Steiner was to go out and deliver a scripted promo. I don't even remember what it was about - whatever angle we had planned for him at the upcoming PPV. Scott went out and went into business for himself. He completely tossed the promo he was supposed to deliver, and cut a scathing promo on Ric Flair. It was completely unplanned (well, at least by everyone except for Scotty, I'm guessing). Steiner wanted a program with Flair, and went into business for himself to get it...
With One Night Stand still fresh in everybody's mind....did you and Vince Russo keep an eye on ECW during your days together, especially during your run in the WWF. Were they ever doing anything that you wish you could have brought to the WWF and did what they were doing having an influence at all in how you handled the booking duties. It seems to be an accepted fact that that the WWF Attitude Era was pushed along because of what ECW was doing...
I've not spoken to Jim about it (or anything) since I left WWF. Do I wish I had apologized? Yes... but I feel that time has long since past. The damage has been done and there's nothing I could say to him that could make good for the pain I caused him by cruelly mocking him. I know that J.R. didn't have a helluva lot of respect for me during our time together - we were constantly at odds - and that was one of the reasons I constantly gave myself for doing it while I did it. So much water has passed under the bridge since then, that I don't feel like opening those old wounds again...
Hi. I loved you and Russo's writing during the Monday Night Wars. I was wondering, when you guys left WWF for WCW, iIt was mentioned that you both left them with a Raw and Smackdown already written. Did WWE go with the scripts or was McMahon upset at the abrupt departures of you both and didn't use them?...
Over the last year, many of the people I've interviewed for "Torch Talks" have agreed to answer reader questions in the VIP Forum once the interview was completely published, including Honky Tonk Man, Tom Prichard, Jack Evans, and Terri Runnels. Now, Ed Ferrara, who along with Vince Russo were the two head writers for WWE during Raw's rise in taking over as the winner of the Monday Night War era, has agreed to take it one step further...
It's pretty amazing that with all the hype Steiner got before his WWE debut that he has been completely abandoned so quickly. I'm not sure if he'll get thrown into a match at WrestleMania or not, but it certainly won't be a major match. With Kurt Angle out for a year after WrestleMania and with Steve Austin back in the mix, WWE could use Steiner as a heel on either roster to shore up the lack of roster depth a little...
Smackdown has one year left on the UPN contract. WWE is pretty resigned to the likelihood that UPN won't be renewing it, at which point it would have to switch to a new network. It might be USA, or it could be another station. The cable shows now on Spike TV are moving to USA, and that takes place this fall...
I would like to know if there's anyone that knows how the ECW pay-per-view is going down? I mean, are there going to be any ECW Titles? Are wrestlers like Tommy Dreamer, Lance Storm, or Tazz going to wrestle or is it going to be all the wrestlers who work for WWE right now? And will non WWE wrestlers be a part of it? Also are the ring and stage going to be like the way ECW did it or the way WWE does it? I'm just hoping it's going to be an ECW style PPV and not a WWE style PPV?...
I listened to the great interview with Luther Reigns and the guy is smart to the business and straight-shootin' which I admire. Real cool dude who never got a fair opportunity in WWE. He was talking about the budget cuts and the dress code. Who are the wrestlers and management trying to impress by wearing suits to every show? It's entertainment, no stock-holder is going to be offended if some wrestlers come out in jeans and a t-shirt. Has there ever been a situation within WWE where a wrestler, agent, or employee mentioned to WWE that maybe, just maybe, his daughter and the creative staff's way of writing TV might be causing these revenue declines?...
Perhaps Hulk Hogan is thankful for the fact that he can earn $300,000 in one night. However, in his mind, there was more money to go around and Vince was keeping more of it than was fair. Hogan may have believed that some of Vince's payoff to himself (I assume also $300,000) should have gone to him instead because Vince makes millions and millions from his business in other ways, including dividends. Also, Hogan is used to making more than three times that for matches that in his mind were less prestigious and historical, both in the WWF and WCW in years past...
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.
He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.
He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).
He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)
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