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ASK PWTORCH ALL-STAR PANEL 6/27: Do big name indy wrestlers dictate whether they win or lose? How much has Benoit affected changes in industry? Will there be two champions after MITB? Do WWE wrestlers think NXT is better? What is Usos’ gimmick?

Jun 27, 2014 - 12:00:08 PM
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The PWTorch All-Star Panel features an array of contributors answering your questions who have worked in various facets of the pro wrestling industry, plus PWTorch contributors join in. You get an unmatched mix of perspectives including first-hand insights from people who have worked in the ring and behind the curtain.

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PWTorch reader Morgan asks: You guys do a wonderful job with the site. I'm a daily reader. I have a question about bookings on indy shows. When a big-name independent wrestler gets booked on an indy show, does he know whether or not he's going to do the job before he signs on? For example, if Justin Credible gets offered a one-off booking with promotion ABC, does he accept based on his price, and then find out if he's going to be jobbing when he gets to the event? Or does it not matter as much because wins and losses don't matter as much as the performance?

VETERAN WRESTLING ANNOUNCER Mick Karch (announcer for three decades including the AWA on ESPN, the NWA, and LPWA, former PWTorch Newsletter columnist in 1980s, President of the Nick Bockwinkel Fan Club in the 1970s) answers: I have been involved with both. I know there are some vets who flat out refuse to do the favor at an indy show. I know of one who wanted $500 extra, on top of an already pretty high appearance fee, if he was going to job. To me, that's absolutely insane. If you're not on TV full time, if you're collecting a good payday (and trust me, I know what it has cost promoters in Steel Domain and Heavy on Wrestling,for example, to bring in "name" free agents), and it doesn't affect your career in any way, why be a prima donna? I will take a guy like Tommy Dreamer any day over some of the others who are sticklers for “going over.” He worked a pretty high profile show for HOW against a midwest indie wrestler, Darrin Corbin. I suggested Tommy maybe do a DQ job to Corbin, who works very frequently in this area. Tommy's response was "let's just give the kid the pin." No ego, no pretense, just professionalism. SDW also booked another former star who got a nice payday just to come in and sign autographs. When I asked if he would cut a two minute promo in front of the house, he wanted more money. Give me a break.

INDY PROMOTER & ANNOUNCER Brad Stutts (Follow @cwfmidatlantic and @stuttsy and listen to his podcast at www.WrestlingWithOptimism) answers: It depends on how the independent promoter does his business. Typically speaking, I like to be as up front with guys as possible on things but a LOT of people, even some who I respect otherwise, feel it's best to get the guy there and THEN pitch whatever to him or add new stipulations onto the agreement or whatever, thinking it'll be harder for him to say no now that he's already here and it’s the day of the show. Basically it just boils down to what kind of questions the talent asks (usually if they are someone who cares about that sort of thing they'll ask) and how up front the promoter handling the booking is with information. There's no set rule or standard practice.

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PWTorch reader Dan C. asks: So I'm watching WWE lately and the image of the two title belts hanging above the ring for the ladder match has me thiking: If they are going to hang those above the ring for the match, that is going to be awkward to pull both down. Do you think this is a set up for a title split again? Two different guys get one belt at the same time?

MAINSTREAM WRESTLING MEDIA REPORTER Brian Fritz (host of Between the Ropes podcast, former AOL Fanhouse and Yahoo Sports reporter) answers: They could do any of those scenarios but I don't think they are splitting the belts right now. Maybe down the line but they just united them late last year and it would be too quick to split them again. I already looks awkward with the champion carrying around two belts and it will probably look awkward with someone having to pull down two titles at MITB but that's the way it is right now in the WWE.

EX-ECW CHAMPION AND LONGTIME WWE WRESTLER Justin Credible (also current IWE Champion, visit www.TheJustinCredible.com and on YouTube here including his ongoing Wrestling 101 Series) answers: It will be awkward to pull down both belts. I have a funny feeling that the title will be spilt in two once again. WWE should've played that possibility up on TV.

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PWTorch reader Will from London, England asks: I've asked this question before, but I would like to attempt it again as I am curious as to your opinion. My question is, how much has Chris Benoit's death shaped and influenced the WWE as it is today? For example, the Wellness program, the PG Era, fewer chairshots to the head, etc. Would WWE have gone in this direction had the Benoit situation not happened? Has a good thing come out of something bad? Look forward to reading your take on this.

EX-ECW CHAMPION AND LONGTIME WWE WRESTLER Justin Credible (also current IWE Champion, visit www.TheJustinCredible.com and on YouTube here including his ongoing Wrestling 101 Series) answers: It’s had a big Impact, especially with the Wellness Program and concussions. It has sparked a new protocol for concussion testing and other big time test.

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PWTorch reader David Q. asks: What is the Usos' gimmick?

EX-WWE CREATIVE TEAM MEMBER John Piermarini (ex-WWE Creative Team member 2009-2010, frequent PWTorch Livecast guest) answers: They finally have an exciting, talented, entertaining, OVER tag team and you're complaining? They're gimmick is everything I just mentioned.

REALITY TV STAR & EX-TNA MANAGER Jonny Fairplay (@jonnyfairplay was also former personal assistant to Roddy Piper and a frequent PWTorch Livecast guest) answers: They wear face paint. One dates or is married to a Diva. They dance sometimes, too, like most non-whites in WWE.

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PWTorch reader Evan asks: This is for Justin Credible in particular. Not sure if you speak with any of the wrestlers in WWE anymore, but if so, what's the locker room opinion of NXT shows? Do the wrestlers or writers realize (or believe) it's a better show than Raw since it focuses on wrestling? I'd rather watch Sami Zayn or Adrian Neville or any of the NXT Divas rather than the Bellas or Curtis Axel or Great Khali. Furthermore, I think there are guys on NXT who could be a shot in the arm for some stagnant careers. For instance, I think Zayn and Christian could put on a great show for an Iron Mike Sharpe's Canada's Greatest Athlete trophy.

EX-ECW CHAMPION AND LONGTIME WWE WRESTLER Justin Credible (also current IWE Champion, visit www.TheJustinCredible.com and on YouTube here including his ongoing Wrestling 101 Series) answers: I don't think they believe it's better, but it's more wrestling than Raw. Like has been said, some gimmicks don't play as well on Raw as they did on small stage in NXT. Same could be said that when guys go to the main roster they are once again small fish in a huge pond. That said, I totally agree those guys could kill it. A lot of times on Raw it's whether you are allowed to do certain things or not. NXT could help many wrestlers’ careers.

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(Send questions for a future Ask PWTorch to: askpwtorch@gmail.com. If you have a particular person on the All-Star Panel you'd in particular like to direct your question to, include that in the subject line, but multiple panelists may also answer.)

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Catch up on past Ask PWTorch articles...

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

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In case you are new to this feature, let me introduce you to our All-Star Panel…

EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION: By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

Thanks to Pat McNeill and Anthony Jeselnik for the name of this feature. Just as "CSI" spawned "CSI: Miami," "Ask PWTorch" spawned "Ask PWTorch: All-Star Panel." Only without David Caruso. In any case, we are excited to present to you a new cast for the Ask PWTorch spinoff, which is available exclusively on the PWTorch App (or, for VIP members, on the VIP website too). You are reading this, so you are either a VIP member or have already downloaded the free PWTorch App on your phone or tablet. If you aren't a VIP member, why not? With VIP membership, you gain full access to both Ask PWTorch features on all devices you use to visit PWTorch - our App and our Website.

The "Ask PWTorch All-Star Panel" edition is scheduled to be published first thing in the morning (although not necessarily every single day, like the afternoon website-based Ask PWTorch is; we'll see about that as we move forward). It will feature an entirely different panel of experts and analysts than the afternoon Ask PWTorch does. We have assembled a wide range of contributors, which may expand or change over time, with the goal being to give PWTorch readers new perspectives from people who have particular areas of expertise. Along with our All-Stars from outside of PWTorch, several of our PWTorch contributors (but not the main staff who contribute to the website-based original Ask PWTorch!… you will be quizzed on all of this, so take notes) will also be regularly contributing, especially to current-events-related questions.

Let me introduce you to our panel…

Justin Credible: Current pro wrestler and former ECW Champion and longtime WWE wrestler in the 1990s and 2000s, Justin Credible (P.J. Polaco) currently is the IWE Champion. He travels as indy champion from Maine to Mexico with the title. He posts new Wrestling 101 YouTube videos at www.TheJustinCredible.com or on YouTube at his YouTube Channel.

John Piermarini: Ex-WWE Creative Team member who will provide a behind-the-scenes perspective from his years working for WWE including alongside Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and John Cena. He has been a frequent PWTorch Livecast guest and was the subject of a comprehensive five-hour Torch Talk interview several years ago about his experience with WWE for most of 2009-2010.

Greg Oliver: SLAM! Wrestling reporter and wrestling book author (and hockey book author), Greg will provide a Canadian perspective on many wrestling topics. If you are a fan from Canada or have Canadian-related wrestling questions, Greg can help you. He is a wrestling historian who published a wrestling newsletter during the boom period of insider wrestling newsletters starting in the late 1980s. We were pen pals in the early 1990s and first met at a 1989 wrestling convention in Chicago run by Jon Gallagher of the Wrestling Forum (the first insider wrestling newsletter I ever received in the mail in early 1987).

George Schire: Author of "Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling," former Pro Wrestling Focus radio cohost with me in the early 1990s on KFAN, former contributor of history pieces to the PWTorch Newsletter, and multi-time guest on PWTorch Livecast "Interview Friday," he will be providing a historical perspective to Ask PWTorch.

Johnny Fairplay: Reality Star and Wrestling Manager, perhaps best known as Pat McNeill's Regis Philbin. He was an old neighbor of PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell who watched PPVs at his house long before he became a contestant on Survivor twice. He has been on many reality TV shows, the PWTorch Livecast numerous times, and follows wrestling very closely. You can read more about him on Wikipedia.

Brian Fritz: Host of the long-running "Between the Ropes" podcast, and now working for Yahoo! Sports radio, he also has been a guest on the PWTorch Livecast (and I've been a guest on his podcast), he brings years of reporting on wrestling including on-site interviews with wrestlers at major press events over the years. He follows today's wrestling and will provide his perspective and take on your questions.

Mick Karch: An early PWTorch Newsletter columnist over 20 years ago, Mick has been an announcer for virtually every national wrestling promotion other than the WWF, WCW, and TNA in the last 25 years. He currently works as an announcer on Minnesota indy wrestling shows. He got his start in wrestling running the Nick Bockwinkel Fan Club in the 1970s and is known for his sense of humor, strong opinions, and tremendous insight into wrestling's past dating back many decades, but he also watches today's wrestling regularly and can provide valuable perspective as a result of that span of time following and participating in the industry.

Brad Stutts: He has worked behind the scenes in wrestling in many roles, including taking jackets to the back, setting up and tearing down rings, running websites for indy promoters, running lights and music at live events, and performing as a manager, announcer, wrestler, and promoter. He currently is the lead announcer for CWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling in North Carolina.

Jim Valley: Long time wrestling fan and Torch subscriber. He won a National Edward R. Murrow Award and several regional awards during his 20 year broadcast career. He has done TV announcing for several independent wrestling promotions, hosted his own wrestling radio show, interviewed many top stars and was flown our to Stamford to audition for WWE. He took second to Todd Grisham.

Current PWTorch Contributors: A mix of current PWTorch contributors will provide their opinion on today's wrestling scene and modern wrestling history questions, including Shawn Valentino, Michael Moore, Ben Tucker, Jon Mezzera, Brian Leahy, Jimmy Eaton, and Mike Roe.

You can send your questions for the All-Star Panel to the same address as always: askpwtorch@gmail.com. We will make sure they are directed to the appropriate panelist for potential inclusion in a published Ask PWTorch feature here on the PWTorch App or VIP Website. You may see your question asked in both versions of Ask PWTorch (the Afternoon original website-exclusive version and app-exclusive All-Stars version) so check both versions. Different groups of panelists may tackle your question on different days, so keep checking back. Because they all come from different backgrounds and have different experiences as both fans and working in some capacity in the business or covering it for the Torch, you're going to get some strong specific points of view from them.


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