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 #67

- Question from Reg in London: I think it is fair to say that there's a general belief that Seth Rollins is a natural face and Dean Ambrose is a natural heel, but is that belief actually wrong? It seems to me that Rollins is brilliant at being unlikable, as opposed to Ambrose, who would almost certainly be cheered as a heel, you know, because that's what modern wrestling fans do! Also, Dean has been much better as a face than perhaps a lot of people expected, maybe to the point where his long-term future is as a good guy, and not a villainous character; the same can be said of Rolllins. What are you lots' thoughts on the situation?

- "Mr. ROH" Mike Metzger (@mD0uble responds: I don’t think someone is technically wrong if they believe the conventional wisdom that Rollins is the natural face and Ambrose is the natural heel. We will never know how the first chapter of their singles careers would have played out if their roles were initially reversed, but I think WWE made the smart move for the reasons you mentioned. Rollins might have flopped as a face, and Ambrose would have almost certainly been cheered as a heel. What about the next chapter in their respective careers, though? You might get your answer someday if Rollins matures into an exciting, high-flying babyface and/or if Ambrose drowns in frustration to the point he devolves into a ruthless, despicable heel.

- "Mr. PPV" Nathan Kyght responds: I think this is definitely a case where WWE played against type.... and it worked. Seth as the smug addition to The Authority made him a central figure on TV, and Ambrose is gaining a lot of momentum as a more unhinged version of the character that 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper made famous.

- "Falls Count Anywhere" Tony Donofrio (@TonyDonofrio) responds: I think both of these guys are so young that you haven’t seen their best work yet, whether it be as a heel or a face. In the indies, Dean Ambrose (as Jon Moxley) was a remarkable heel! I have no doubts that when the time is right he will be able to pull of the same thing on the big stage that is WWE.

Seth Rollins also had a nice run as a heel during his final run in ROH (as Tyler Black) as their world champion. Sadly, it was cut short because he did sign his WWE Developmental contract while he was still champion. I also think that we’ll eventually see a great run with Rollins as a babyface but right now, in my opinion, he’s just too good as a heel to even think about that. As I stated, both men haven’t even hit their stride yet and have long careers ahead of them. To see both of them excel, whether as heels or faces, has to put the smiles onto faces of those that truly love pro wrestling because they’re both a testament to what those fans want to see.

- "Common Fan" Jimmy Eaton (@TheCommonFan) responds: Thanks for the question, Reg. I was thinking the same thing for a while. But, like you said, it seems to be the opposite recently. I think it shows how much talent the guys really have and when given the chance, they've shined as one of the few bright spots recently in WWE. Ambrose has been my biggest surprise. Here's hoping they can be at the top of the food chain for years to come.

- "Instant Reaction" Ben Tucker (@BTuckerTorch) responds: I think the last five months of television have proven this notion to be completely wrong. Ambrose (up until the last few weeks of TV) has shined as an underdog face and Seth Rollins has exceeded the largest of expectations as a heel, delivering a run not unlike Triple H's ascent to the top in 1999. That being said, I think both could also work with the roles reversed, particularly Ambrose as a deranged heel. Either way, both have proven that they deserve to be at the top of the roster.

- "Showstopper" Shawn Valentino responds: Thanks for your question, Reg. When Ambrose and Rollins were in The Shield, I definitely believed that Ambrose was the more natural heel and Rollins the babyface. Surprisingly, each has been highly successful in the opposite roles. Rollins has been an excellent weaselly villain and Dean has been very good as the cool, rebellious face, despite some awful segments by "creative." That does not mean they could not be excellent if their roles were reversed.

I think Ambrose would be even better in the long-term as the crazy, psychotic heel. He is a natural bad guy, but it is his cool factor that has made him a good hero. They desperately need to stop putting him in lame segments with slime, hot dog carts and the like, and whoever designed the "unstable" shirt needs to be fired. In the future, I see him being money-drawing, frightening antagonist. Rollins has the flashy moves and the athletic face that the WWE sorely lacks, but they should keep him as a despicable heel because he has been incredibly at being unlikeable. He is proof that a wrestler with spectacular moves can still be a heel, but he will be a great face eventually.

- "Mr. TV" Justin James (@Justin_M_James) responds: I think Rollins made a good face in NXT and Ambrose made a good heel in NXT, as well as during The Shield’s debut. Until Shield's face turn, Rollins didn’t have much of an impact as a heel, in my opinion. I feel that both are able to play face or heel and do a fine job of it. Currently, what the fans cheer or jeer has little to do with what the wrestlers are good at portraying... look at the cheers for Dolph Ziggler despite his inability to create any kind of babyface character for a good example.

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[ 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, Mike Roe, and Mike Metzger. ]

[Torch art credit Travis Beaven (c) PWTorch.com]

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