WWE has been criticized by Torch readers for heavily pushing Shane McMahon, who is acknowledged by WWE broadcasters as a non-wrestler, against one of the company's top heels, Randy Orton.

This week, members of the Torch VIP Forum have debated the merits of SuperShane's TV push and whether the general viewing public accepts Shane's seemingly superhero powers as a non-wrestler or if they express the same concerns as Torch readers.

Torch VIP members can join the debate right now in the Wade Keller Zone. Not a VIP member? Check out the benefits of subscribing to a Torch VIP membership today!

-- We published the first part of the debate this weekend and the discussion has picked up steam since then. Be sure to join in the discussion and offer your thoughts.

Torch VIP member lawknight1 poses the opening question in the Shane McMahon Debate thread: Sure, it's beyond ridiculous that Shane is holding his own against a trio of top full-time wrestlers. But, this is the same Shane McMahon who held his own against Shawn Michaels two years ago on SNME in a match with tables and a ladder. And, Shawn Michaels gamely played along. What Shawn mumbled under his breath, I can only speculate, but I'm guessing he broke a commandment.

What I do wonder is whether Shane just seems ridiculous to those of us here or whether the public at large thinks it's silly. I was thinking that maybe since the general wrestling fan has always been conditioned to see Shane as a superhuman force, that maybe they just accept it at face value. Any thoughts on the public perception of Shane McMahon?

Part Two of the debate continues...

Torch VIP member Kirk Angel wrote: The last thing Shane McMahon did on TV (prior to this storyline) was playing whipping boy to Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Shane was so much of a whipping boy in fact, that he, his dad, all five members of the Spirit Squad, AND The Big Show (who is getting pushed right now as the man that can take out John Cena and The Undertaker with one good right hand) looked like fools compared to the mighty DX.

Now, WWE is desperately trying to establish that Orton and Legacy are good enough heels that they find a way to defeat the mighty Triple H. (The same Triple H that managed to make Shane, his dad, The Spirit Squad, AND The Big Show look like complete fools by outsmarting them and beating them with help from his sidekick Shawn Michaels).

Now...Looking at this as a fan that has only watched TV and not read a single internet page...How then does it look when Shane, (who had not been seen since he played whipping boy along with his dad, all 5 members of The Spirit Squad, AND The Big Show to Hunter), can just walk back into the picture and easily hold his own against the three top heels that managed to find a way to defeat the mighty Triple H?

Torch VIP member synopsisav responds: The same way Big Show, who played whipping boy along with Vince, Shane, and all five members of the Spirit Squad, and also was beaten by Floyd Mayweather, can hold his own with Undertaker, Cena, and Edge.

Kirk Angel responds again: That doesn't explain anything. Floyd Mayweather hasn't been used again. Floyd also cheated to win. Shane McMahon was defeated by Triple H via DX (and later Lashley) despite cheating, yet he's holding his own fairly well with the guys that beat Hunter? Big Show, Cena, Undertaker and Edge have all been run over by Triple H. How then is someone that has been made to look exponentially weaker than Hunter handling the heels that defeated him?

Dan Wahlers also responds: The difference is Big Show man-handled Mayweather for most of their match, and it took his entire posse, and a pair of brass knucks for him to beat Big Show. Mayweather didn't dominate Show like he was a nobody the way Shane mowed right Orton, Rhodes, and DiBiase. Shane is a 39-year-old pudgy non-wrestler, playing, as Wade says, "fantasy wrestling." He's beating the ass of a couple 20-something-year-olds, one of whom happens to be the WWE Champion. And the only way they can get the upper hand on him is to gang up on him, and smash his ankle with the ring stairs. It's embarrassing, it's self-serving, and it's incredibly insulting.

I get that maybe you're playing the devil's advocate here, but I don't really see how anyone could legitimately defend the way Shane McMahon has been booked since his return as an on-air performer earlier this year. It's been beyond ridiculous, and judging by the ratings, I think it's something that turns off a lot more people than the idea of Shane wrestling the WWE Champion draws in.

Torch VIP member lalagideon writes: I don't think "the masses" are quite as fed up as any who would read this forum, but I definitely think it's rapidly approaching the eye-rolling state for even the casual fans. It doesn't take a wrestling insider to recognize how pathetic Shane's god-awful jumping clothesline is, nor does it take much to recognize his stupid in-ring attire. (Last week, it read "ORTON vs. SHANE." I don't know about you, but I ALWAYS make shirts about any upcoming competitive events I have.)

I try not to get too emotional over SuperShane, but I can't help it. I feel he's like the villain in a crappy horror film: he just won't die and the sequels are even worse.

Torch VIP member MWRM5S writes: I like Shane McMahon. He really, really, really has a true passion for wrestling. In fact he was content to work behind the scenes forever but just like any of us would do; he took the chance to go out and get in there.

Sorry but Mick Foley is nothing more than a bump machine and in my opinion, Shane McMahon has shown that bumping like that and doing crazy stuff is less indicative of talent as he has done things nearly as crazy as Mick. He has also done them well and the fans have popped big for it.

Should he be beating up three heels? NO.

However I think it could be ok if he were to go at it like Michael Douglas in "Falling Down" and be the crazy ass executive who is willing to jump off of a ladder and throw down with three top heels.

Douglas's character in "Falling Down" was a badass and I don't know of anyone who said that he would have been more believable if he were 6'5" and built like an American Gladiator.

Of all the McMahons, Shane is the one I'd most like to see on TV as I had more of a problem watching Vince manhandle Undertaker than Shane winding up and swinging those crazy punches.

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE PPV REAX #1: "I wanted the biggest event of the summer to end with an exclamation point; it ended with a semicolon and a question"

WWE PPV REAX #1: Battleground finish generates mixed reactions...

WWE PPV REAX #2: In-Person Battleground Report on overall show, reactions, more