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MONDAY’S ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 11/24: Would WWE add EC3 to the roster after his strong TNA stint? What old rule would you bring back? Will we see Cena vs. Rusev at WrestleMania 31? Does Botchmania on YouTube hurt pro wrestling?

Nov 24, 2014 - 10:02:23 AM
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NOTE: This version of Ask PWTorch today is an APP EXCLUSIVE and not available at our free www.PWTorch.com website (although it is also available at our VIP website, where members enjoy full access to every article on every one of our platforms). Thanks for your support of our App and keep spreading the word about PWTorch to your friends who are wrestling fans!

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 Aaron P. asks: (1) How about John Cena vs. Rusev at WrestleMania 31? (2) If a huge star like Cena was to get let go by WWE for some reason and go to TNA, would it even make any difference at all?

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: (1) If everything holds up, I think Cena will finally be the one to beat Rusev at WrestleMania. (2) You could send any wrestler to TNA and they wouldn't make any difference at all, especially given their current situation.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: (1) I think that's a strong possibility at this point. (2) I can see him making a small difference, but he's not a long-term solution for TNA.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: I reported months ago on the VIP Keller Hotline that Rusev vs. Cena was being strongly considered by Vince McMahon for WrestleMania 31.

As for Cena going to TNA, it would make a big difference if TNA coupled it with a rebranding effort and marketing campaign to be sure people knew about his jump and not relying on social media and Internet reports to spread the word. He would be one of the few who would have the potential to make a big difference. Daniel Bryan might, also, because he’s just so good in every way that matters in 2014.

PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell answers: The path is certainly there for a Cena vs. Rusev clash at WrestleMania. WWE is presenting Rusev as strongly as anyone on the roster right now, so you know the end-game is a big opponent on a big stage. Cena at WM31 certainly qualifies, and there aren't too many other options to conquer Rusev and make a difference in business.

As for a huge star going to TNA, it wouldn't make a difference. TNA has had "major acquisitions" such as Sting, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Christian, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, Team 3D/Dudleys, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and others, yet it hasn't led to sustained business. It comes down to not being able to market the stars they have, not having a platform/stage to present the stars, and Creative not being lined up to take advantage of the roster.

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PWTorch reader Phil L. asks: (1) Do you think that media such as the YouTube series Botchamania hurts pro wrestling as an overall product? (2) Does pointing out mistakes like that take away from the business? (3) 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 percent of it will come from the WCW and ECW libraries.

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: (1) No. The botches themselves hurt the business. (2) Again, no. See the answer above.

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?

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PWTorch reader David C. asks: Let's say you can create or bring back one rule of your choosing to WWE. Which would you choose? Personally, I'd bring back time limits.

PWTorch audio host Travis Bryant answers: Admittedly I'm going with the first rule that popped in my head. That rule would be no punching with a closed fist! That used to be such a big deal when I was a kid. It added another layer to in-ring psychology, gave the heel another tool to work with, and I always loved hearing a ref admonish a wrestler by telling him to "open up that fist!"

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: I really like Travis’s answer. I strongly oppose babyfaces using a punch as a key move. There were many good reasons closed fists weren’t allowed in the first place, including how fake it is that guys don’t get knocked out from punches during a match (it’s embarrassing, really, that wrestlers can’t knock opponents out our more often with all the punches they throw) and that they don’t bruise or swell up. Also, as much as punching is truly a skill, in the context of pro wrestling it just seems like a brutish shortcut to athleticism and technique. I think it’s something holding back Roman Reigns. I think a portion of the fancies sees Reigns as someone relying too much on the Superman punch.

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Ethan Carter seems to be one of only a few talents on TNA that is enjoyable. Would WWE be interested in him again if he were to leave TNA?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: He's great in the Carter role, but it's not one he could play in WWE. Would WWE have enough confidence in him that the good work he's done with his current act would translate into a different one in WWE? If they thought that, they probably wouldn't have let him go in the first place.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: First, readers didn’t see it because I corrected it, but I love that your spellcheck turned “Ethan” into “Ethanol.” Anyway, yes, he’s great. He’d be a tremendous mid-card to upper-mid-card agitating heel whom fans would look forward to irritating them on promos and then getting beat up in matches. I’m not sure why they let him go in the first place, but WWE should look at what they didn’t see in him in the first place and make sure they don’t overlook someone with as much talent as him again for those reasons.

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PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

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He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


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