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ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 6/4: What did Goldberg mean when he said he and Triple H have unfinished business? Should Goldberg be brought back? Why did WWE do theme PPVs? Is Kayfabe dead? Why no more criss-crosses?

Jun 4, 2014 - 3:31:55 PM
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Pro Wrestling Torch was established in 1987 by Wade Keller. One of the primary traits PWTorch has been credited with over the years is assembling the best and most diverse staff of columnists with broad knowledge, but also areas of specialty where they have a particularly strong grasp of history. Every day PWTorch.com presents that team of writers answering your questions, some of which are fact-based and others of which are opinion-based. Either way, we've got you covered with Bruce Mitchell, Pat McNeill, Sean Radican, Greg Parks, James Caldwell, and Wade Keller. Collectively they have over 80 years working for the Torch, writing about wrestling and studying industry history and trends.

If you have a question you'd like us to respond to, send your question to askpwtorch@gmail.com. I, along with the Torch staff, will address your questions in this feature and also the “Ask PWTorch: All-Star Panel” edition which is also published most days here at PWTorch.

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PWTorch reader & VIP MEMBER Rob C. asks: When did they stop doing the criss-cross and why?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: It's more of a comedy-match move. I think we've seen Santino do it at times. It somewhat takes you out of the match, if it's a serious one, because of how silly it looks.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: A generation of wrestlers, probably in the mid-to-late ‘90s, began weeding through some of the moves that had been common in wrestling and decided that was just a little too silly to keep doing. I tend to agree, although the idea was it was a strategic series where both wrestlers engaged in a contest to see who could counter the other one and surprise them with an unexpected move. The most prevalent pro wrestling style is constantly evolving over time.

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PWTorch reader Tim R. asks: I'm a long-time reader and admirer of the work you do in covering the business. I'm appreciative of the coverage you provide for both knowledgable long-time fans and young fans who are trying to learn more about the industry. My question is this: Kayfabe is essentially dead at this point, considering how WWE currently books its product. They practically tell the audience that these are simply athletic actors playing roles with no real stakes and that entertainment is much more important than realism, which flies in the face of the pro wrestling concept completely. Series such as Total Divas which show supposed rivals as close real-life friends only further dilute the stories. So with all of the talk by Jeff Jarrett about Global Force Wrestling "revolutionizing" fan interaction and taking them farther inside the product than ever before, what can he really do differently outside of simply turning his workers into puppets that the fan-base can control via social media or live attendance (a wrestling equivalent to “Who's Line Is It Anyway?”), thus making them the bookers in his promotion? Is kayfabe salvageable at all? Thanks. I look forward to your thoughts.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Kayfabe is salvageable because it exists in most of entertainment - TV shows, movies, Broadway plays, and even rock ’n’ roll. Those genres understand the best way to entertain the audience is to “give them a story to believe in” with a straight face and get over the notion that it’s an insult to the audience to pretend it’s real. It’s actually cheating the audience out of an immersive sports-like experience to do anything but pretend it’s real from the opening to closing scene of every show and every match. As soon as a promoter with money and power figures that out, there will be a whole new generation of fans who see how great wrestling can be when they aren’t being pandered to by insecure promoters and bookers who think they need to “put the fans in control” and give them the impression they are all there to entertain them. The way to really make money is to let people know that you know what you’re doing and it’s their privilege to witness it in person - which is setting up a ring where greatly skilled tough athletes battle for something really important.

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PWTorch reader & VIP MEMBER Scott Passner of Jamesburg, N.J. asks: I’ve been a VIP Member since last July and I enjoy every aspect of VIP and, by far, my favorite feature is the Bruce Mitchell Audio Show. My question is based on Goldberg's comments: "Hunter and I will always have unfinished business until the day I die," Goldberg said, referring to their behind-the-scenes issues from Goldberg's first WWE run over ten years ago. What is the heat between the two? I remember that Goldberg had a very disappointing run in WWE. Also, do you think Goldberg could sell Network subscriptions in the fall?

PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: Bill Goldberg rightfully felt the promotion of his established money-making character was botched by WWE, from the moment he first appeared on TV and they made him slap a blonde wig on his bald head, and he points to Triple H as one of the main culprits responsible for those creative decisions.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: There was a sense in general that WCW wrestlers were beneath the WWF wrestlers at the time, and had led a privileged existence with a lighter schedule and a lack of accountability by having guaranteed flat-rate contracts. Goldberg was seen, in a way, as the poster child of someone who paid relatively no dues, had a certain look and marketable intensity that lender itself to an undefeated streak, but was a one-trick pony who “needed to be humbled” before being built back up. They wanted to test his ego rather than inflate it.

Yet, it cost them money, but ultimately the culture of the WWE locker room relies on a certain sense of camaraderie and mutual trust. Goldberg’s rep for being a bit reckless in his attempt to keep himself over, which Bret Hart felt the blunt of in a needlessly stiff kick that was probably the final straw of his career, just played into that perception. Imagine at your workplace a bunch of people coming into your office or factory or whatever it is from another company that you just outworked and drove out of business, and now those workers walk in like they are something special and a great addition to your successful operation. There would be chips on your shoulder about it. Certain guys, such as Booker T, passed the tests and earned the respect of the locker room, and others didn’t.

I’m not ignoring that WWE lost money in the short-run, but I also understand the mentality that led some of their actions that seem indefensible outside of the mindset of wrestlers who travel full time on the road together and feel dues have to be paid before trust is given. Without a doubt WWE wrestlers and Vince McMahon himself could have protected Goldberg more and made money in the short-run, but they had just driven WCW out of business and felt pretty good about themselves and were given a lot of reasons to look down at the acumen, attitude, and professionalism of the WCW wrestlers they inherited in the buyout.

That said, what Goldberg said about “unfinished business” could have been just an attempt to plant a seed for a match based on hyping the tension between them back then. Yes, Goldberg could help sell WWE Network subscriptions. His DVD continues to sell very well and WWE would make money bringing him back for another return match or two.

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PWTorch reader Adam A. asks: Why did WWE start making theme PPVs? Elimination Chambers, Hell In A Cell, TLC, Fatal Four-Way. I never cared for this. I felt the match had more of a draw when they used it randomly throughout the year instead of having a specific month when these matches occurred. That, and when they had more than one match on the card with the same stipulation it didn't have the same impact. Speaking of which, isn't this an idea from TNA?If WWE doesn't pay attention to TNA, then how did they decide to all of a sudden come up with themed PPVs?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: You can trace WWE's theme PPVs back much further, to the creation of the Royal Rumble and Survivor Series. They are theme PPVs as well, though Survivor Series has become less so lately. I agree that the theme shows are problems at times because no matter where a storyline is in its progression, you have to fit it into the theme of the special event. WWE's thinking is that they want to differentiate the shows from each other, making it more enticing for the buyer to get something "special" that month rather than just the same old matches under a different name. TNA only had a few themed PPVs, so I don't think it would be accurate to say WWE stole the idea from them.

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