Ask PWTorch ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 10/31: Could a point system work in WWE? Should WWE create a Botchmania special hosted by Mike Adamle? How big of a problem is WWE announcers not selling heels cheating? WWE Magazine shutdown?
Oct 31, 2014 - 9:58:41 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 you 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 Rachel asks: Was WWE Magazine ending production an "all of a sudden" thing or was it planned far in advance, especially with print media dying ever since the advent of the internet? Thanks!
PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: WWE Magazine, like most magazines, had been losing circulation steadily for many years. It had also struggled to find an identity, particular in competition with this site, and others like it. WWE Magazine had been expected to fold sooner or later for years before it did.
PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: It was likely a cutback made, along with others, to trim expenses due to low WWE Network subscriber numbers. The magazine didn't make a great impact on WWE's bottom line, so it was a relatively easy cut, especially with magazines being less and less in demand.
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PWTorch reader Patrick D. asks: How much of WWE's problem with the "cool heels/lame faces" issue is that WWE announcers won't (or aren't allowed to) show appropriate outrage when the heel acts heelish?
PWTorch audio host Travis Bryant answers: How much of a problem is it? A HUGE damn problem!
PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: It's a huge problem. It has damaged several wrestlers and their potential to connect with the audience. Check out my recent take that addresses the issue here
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PWTorch reader Lionel from New Orleans asks: Do you think a point system could work in WWE? Something simple for fans to follow and for announcers to explain, like in Chikara (where one win earns one point, and three points earns a title match). It would be a different way of determining a #1 contender instead of beating the champion.
PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: I don't think a point system would work in WWE because they are an entertainment brand and being disciplined enough to the point to have a wrestler pick up three straight singles wins to get a title shot and have it make sense would be awfully hard on the creative team. I like how CHIKARA builds up their challengers and gives them credibility leading into their title shots, but WWE has top guys going against each other every week with storylines that they have to play into when booking the matches and it would take an entire overhaul of the way the company books Raw and Smackdown, so I don't see a point system working with the type of product they produce now.
PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: If WWE wanted to treat their product more like a sport, then yes. However, WWE is in the business of telling stories, and keeping track of a point system could get in the way of that. Plus, we know WWE is not great at keeping track of their own storylines and long-term planning is not always their strong suit, so this wouldn't stand a chance.
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PWTorch reader Phil L. asks: Two questions: (1) Do you think that media such as the YouTube series Botchamania hurts pro wrestling as an overall product? Does pointing out mistakes like that take away from the business? (2) Do you think we'll ever see WWE put together a "worst/best of" botches DVD compilation? Just think... Mike Adamle can host it, and 95% of it will come from the WCW and ECW libraries.
PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: (1) No. (2) No. (3) Maybe, but WWE really, really shouldn't do that. Seriously, why do people think Botchamania hurts the business, but they don't think the actual botches chronicled on Botchamania hurt the business? Way more people see the actual botches than see Botchamania. Do people really believe that people noticing mistakes and pointing them out are somehow worse than the actual mistakes?
(Send your question for PWTorch editor Wade Keller and the PWTorch staff exclusively to pwtorch@gmail.com for consideration! You can hear expanded conversation on the above topics from Wade Keller by becoming a VIP member and gaining access to the daily Wade Keller Hotline, posted every day for VIP members for over 1,000 days straight. Sign up at www.PWTorch.com/govip)
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