The "Ask the Specialists" Roundtable is the latest spin-off from the "Ask the Torch" feature. CSI led to CSI: New York and CSI: Miami, which is where you'll find the Specialists tackling a daily topic submitted by PWTorch readers to askpwtorch@gmail.com.

Ask the Specialists Roundtable #43: Wade Barrett returns to WWE TV at the Battleground PPV on Sunday to present the Intercontinental Title to the new winner. But...

- Question from PWTorch reader Chad Gelfand: Do you think that since Wade Barrett can't compete for a few months that he could join the commentary team for Raw or Smackdown? They could even do a storyline where Cesaro is the IC champ and every week he continuously taunts Wade about not being able to wrestle and how he's a better champion then Barrett ever was. Then one week Cesaro can make an open challenge to anyone who thinks that they can beat him for his IC title and then Barrett stands up from the announcers table and says "I've got some Bad News for you Cesaro, I'm cleared to compete." Barrett can then win the title and Cesaro can move on to bigger and better things. Thanks for your time.

- "Hits & Misses" Jon Mezzera responds: I like the idea of having Barrett join the announce team for Smackdown since WWE does not need a fourth announcer on Raw. And, I like the scenario you laid out whether it is Cesaro or someone else. I can see Bad News Barrett becoming a babyface and delivering that Bad News to a huge pop. At the very least, I hope they keep him on TV to deliver Bad News from time to time while he is rehabbing his injury.

- "Mr. PPV" Nathan Kyght responds: I think it's an interesting idea, and Barrett is very good on the mic. They did the same thing a few years back with C.M. Punk to keep him on television. I'm not sure it's in the plans necessarily, but it would be a good way to keep Barrett on TV while he recovers. Either way, I think he'd be good in the role.

- "Common Fan" Jimmy Eaton (@TheCommonFan) responds: I think commentary would be a great place for him, Chad. It would keep him relevant and on-screen so people can still know he's there. With how well the "Bad News" moniker has been received, I think that it's instrumental in keeping his character in the minds of fans. I have a feeling this will not happen, though, and that he may end up popping up every few weeks.

Overall, hopefully his recovery goes well and he can get back on track. He's another one of the numerous mid-carders that have more than enough talent to make it to the main event level. Barrett, like Jack Swagger, I think could also benefit from turning face to take on someone like Cesaro. I've noticed that a lot of these guys with simple catch-phrases can turn on a dime, which makes things a bit more interesting. Thanks for the question!

- "Instant Reaction" Ben Tucker (@BTuckerTorch) responds: It's a fine idea for a storyline, but WWE normally likes to keep injured wrestlers off the radar to make their eventual return feel like a "big surprise."

- "Mr. TV" Justin James (@Justin_M_James) responds: Chad, good questions. Barrett actually did commentary for FCW before it became NXT, and the reports on his work at the time were quite positive. Barrett's ability to talk has always impressed me and I would love to give him a chance in the booth; he would certainly be a great replacement for the very inconsistent (in terms of character) JBL.

Your proposed storyline isn't bad as a concept, though it does remind me a bit of when C.M. Punk was in the booth not too many years ago, so it may be a bit too soon for something like that. The other issue is that heel/heel does not really work well, and I don't think that Bad News Barrett translates to the face role too well.

- "Showstopper" Shawn Valentino responds: Thank you for your question, Chad. As a huge fan of the heel color commentator, I think that Wade Barrett could play that role well for a few months as he heals. Nothing can possibly be worse than Raw's existing commenting team of the three spineless dorks with no constitution or consistency. Commentary the last ten-plus years has been absolutely abysmal. Michael Cole is barely serviceable at best, Jerry Lawler should have been ousted over fifteen years ago, and JBL was an excellent commentator on Smackdown, but he has been an inconsistent goof since he has returned.

If Barrett plays an unabashed heel and tells the story from that perspective then I would not mind seeing him at the table, but sometimes it is good for a wrestler simply to take time off of television. The Bad News act has grown steam in recent months so perhaps it would be best that he leaves fans wanting more for a while in order to build up to a comeback. I think Barrett is a great talent that can slide between the upper mid-card and the main event so hopefully WWE books him properly so he can live up to his lofty potential.

***

[ FYI: The specialists consist of a mix of current PWTorch contributors providing their opinion on today's wrestling scene and modern wrestling history questions, including Shawn Valentino, Michael Moore, Ben Tucker, Jon Mezzera, Justin James, Brian Leahy, Jimmy Eaton, Nathan Kyght, Tony Donofrio, and Mike Roe. ]

We suggest these recent related articles...

ASK THE SPECIALISTS ROUNDTABLE: Who will be WWE's Next Top Star?

SATURDAY’S ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 4/11: How should WWE cater to Texas at WM32? Does WWE using Sting and Hogan add to chances more TNA wrestlers are hired? Do NXT gimmick wrestlers have a chance? Is El Generico really Sami Zayn?

THURSDAY’S ASK PWTORCH ALL-STARS 4/9: Are El Generico & Sami Zayn the same person? Next MITB cash-in for IC or U.S. belt? What match do you show non-fans so they get it? Why don’t heel teams cheat?