PWTorch.com - ASK PWTORCH ALL-STARS 10/05: What will the next WWE era be about? Why does Reigns have the old Shield music and should he? Who is Cena's most likely WrestleMania 31 opponent? Should Spike force the ouster of Dixie? Low Ki-Lay Cool?

Ask PWTorch
ASK PWTORCH ALL-STARS 10/05: What will the next WWE era be about? Why does Reigns have the old Shield music and should he? Who is Cena's most likely WrestleMania 31 opponent? Should Spike force the ouster of Dixie? Low Ki-Lay Cool?

Oct 5, 2014 - 7:17:45 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 Adam A. asks: So the Shield brakes up. Dean Ambrose gets new attire and new music. Seth Rollins gets new attire and new music. Roman Reigns, the soon to be new top star, stays the same? Am I the only one that thinks this is odd? I personally feel that is what's missing with his single push. I don't think he should be using the Shield's old music (doesn't have the same effect with out the beginning), and he's still using the same attire from the Shield. He hasn't broken away from the Shield gimmick because he's still using it and it doesn't seem right for him to still do so. I know he still has a long way to grow until WrestleMania 31, but I feel his singles push should have had the change from the beginning. How do you guys feel about this?

REALITY TV STAR & EX-TNA MANAGER Jonny Fairplay (@jonnyfairplay was also former personal assistant to Roddy Piper and cohost with Sean Waltman of weekly podcast at www.ProWrestling.net) answers: I think Reigns was rewarded with the Shield music and entrance because he is the chosen one. I still expect tweaks to his appearance going in to his push at the beginning of WrestleMania season.

INDY PROMOTER & ANNOUNCER Brad Stutts (Follow @cwfmidatlantic and @stuttsy and listen to his podcast at www.WrestlingWithOptimism) answers: I think the initial idea was that the stuff everyone loved about the Shield would stay with Roman and he'd get a bit of a rub from maintaining the Shield music/look/etc. Now that it's been a few months, I agree it's time to establish HIS character and identity.

PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTER Jim Valley (Long time wrestling fan, Torch subscriber, and currently PWTorch Livecast guest host. 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 out to Stamford to audition for WWE. He took second to Todd Grisham.) Usually when a team breaks up, historically the rising star changes his appearance and the other one keeps the teams attire like Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. The Hardys are also exceptions. Characters and costumes evolve in WWE. I wouldn't be surprised to Roman Reigns slowly change his look up to or after WrestleMania, assuming he stays on track.

[Roman Reigns photo credit Wade Keller]

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PWTorch reader Adam A. asks: Since Spike ousted Bjorn Rebney, is it possible they can do the same with Dixie Carter? If so, should they?

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 would be definitely interesting if Spike TV took over TNA. I would certainly prefer that than the management that is going on right now.

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PWTorch reader Matt from Sydney, Australia asks: With Lesnar vs. Reigns the likely WrestleMania main event, who do you see Cena facing at WM31?

EX-WWE CREATIVE TEAM MEMBER John Piermarini (ex-WWE Creative Team member 2009-2010, frequent PWTorch Livecast guest) answers: Based on the talent on the roster and how they're being booked my guess would be Rusev.

REALITY TV STAR & EX-TNA MANAGER Jonny Fairplay (@jonnyfairplay was also former personal assistant to Roddy Piper and cohost with Sean Waltman of weekly podcast at www.ProWrestling.net) answers: My current guess is Rusev and I don't have a problem with it.

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 do not know what this time who he will face. I think someone will come out of the woodwork to face John Cena. Maybe Sting will get his match at WrestleMania versus Cena.

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PWTorch reader Uzoma I asks: I once did asked about if Low Ki didn't mind being paired with LayCool due to most people's objection to it considering Low Ki's seriousness and dedication to wrestling. Because of how Daniel Bryan being paired with The Miz went out on the first season of NXT's initial incarnation and regardless of how Low Ki felt, was Low Ki being paired with Layla El and Michelle McCool for the second season good or bad?

PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTER Jim Valley (Long time wrestling fan, Torch subscriber, and currently PWTorch Livecast guest host. 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 out to Stamford to audition for WWE. He took second to Todd Grisham.) I don't think it mattered. WWE saw Low Ki in a certain light and he was slotted before he ever climbed in a WWE ring. On top of that, Low Ki does not have the best reputation for getting along with management.

REALITY TV STAR & EX-TNA MANAGER Jonny Fairplay (@jonnyfairplay was also former personal assistant to Roddy Piper and cohost with Sean Waltman of weekly podcast at www.ProWrestling.net) answers: I thought it was horrible and reason enough not to watch, so I didn’t.

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PWTorch reader Wouter G. asks: We all have heard/seen the Golden Era, The Attitude Era, and now the PG Era. I just want to know what do you guys think will the the new era be all about and when do you think the new era will start?

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'm guessing it will be the "We Better Do Something Awfully Damn Fast" era, and it will start as soon as WWE realizes they have a ton of untapped talent waiting to be unleashed, besides giving the deserving guys currently on their roster (Dolph Ziggler, Damien Sandow, Jack Swagger, etc,), a sustained push so they can shed the "mid-card" label. Then, have someone really teach Roman Reigns how to cut a promo if he is to be the next hot ticket. The Network didn't turn out to be the be all,end all, and they are bleeding money right now. Clearly, what they are doing now isn't working. It's time to shift course.

INDY PROMOTER & ANNOUNCER Brad Stutts (Follow @cwfmidatlantic and @stuttsy and listen to his podcast at www.WrestlingWithOptimism) answers: Feels like we are in the Corporate Buzz Word Era. Not sure where the next one will come from to be honest. Excited by the prospect of discovering it though.

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: The new era will start soon. I don't know what it's going to be like, but I feel something is about to pop. Pro Wrestling is due for a boom period. Maybe Roman Reigns?

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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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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.