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 #69

- Question from PWTorch reader David C.: 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.

- "Mr. TV" Justin James (@Justin_M_James) responds: David, after reading your first sentence I immediately said to myself, “time limits.” I think they are a simple touch that costs WWE nothing to implement and gives the product a much more realistic sports feel. They also allow for some much better booking options. I’d rather see a match like Ziggler vs. Cesaro go to a 10-minute limit on Raw as a way of showing that they are evenly matched, and leave me wanting a longer match, than the current formula of a screwy, unsatisfying finish.

- "Mr. PPV" Nathan Kyght responds: I'm with you, David. Jim Ross also shares the same view on his podcast; adding a time limit not only adds a sense of urgency to a match, it also gives the creative team an "out" without having to beat either guy or rely on a tired DQ/count-out finish.

- "Hits & Misses" Jon Mezzera responds: The only rule that jumps to mind is the old rule that titles have to be defended every 30 days. I would like to see that, but it won't happen while Brock Lesnar is the WWE World champion. But, more than bringing back old rules like time limits (which would just lead to more non-finishes), I would rather see more consistency with how the rules are enforced by the referees. Recently in a tag match, we saw Kane do one move (a big boot) as the illegal man in the match and earn an immediate disqualification, yet we see the illegal man break up pin attempts to attack their opponent all the time without being DQ'd. I recently complained in a Hits & Misses about the lack of consistency in how the refs apply ten counts in terms of why they sometimes break the 10-count when one wrestler roles into the ring, but not others. Getting to the ropes is supposed to force a wrestler to let go of his opponent, yet sometimes that wrestler simply pulls his opponent back into the middle of the ring without actually breaking the submission hold. They should have to let go of it entirely, but they only do sometimes and not always.

I have a lot of other questions about the rules that don't make sense to me like why can a wrestler ram his opponent's head into the stairs, but can't pick up the same stairs and hit his opponent with them? The rules of street fight or hardcore or steel cage tag matches don't make any sense to me at all. For the most part, I don't really care what the rules are, but my focus is on having those rules be clear and stay consistent. I am much more concerned about those issues in terms of the rules than some old rule that might be brought back.

- "Common Fan" Jimmy Eaton (@TheCommonFan) responds: Great question. I would probably tend to agree with you on time limits, as it gives guys a chance to build credibility without burying anyone else. If I had to choose another, it would be... actually, at the moment I have nothing. Bring back legit time limits with the first being Sami Zayn drawing with Cesaro after an hour! Thanks for the question.

- "Showstopper" Shawn Valentino responds: Thanks for your question, David. I cannot imagine what bringing back time limits do. I can think of very few matches that I have seen where the time limit played a factor in adding any sense of entertainment or value to the match. I cannot even think of one rule because the rules in WWE are so arbitrarily followed, and the referees are asked to so randomly apply them. I think WWE should write out a formal rulebook that the fans can download as a PDF off their website. It would ideally give them some more discipline in putting together their matches and create more of a framework to build heels and faces in the context of a contest.

- "Instant Reaction" Ben Tucker (@BTuckerTorch) responds: Closed fists being illegal by a country mile. It's such a subtle way to differentiate between a face and a heel. Plus, over-using closed fists can completely destroy suspension of disbelief.

- "Mr. ROH" Mike Metzger (@mD0uble) responds: Personally, I’d like to see some common sense return to tag matches. I absolutely hate when the ref counts a pinfall while other wrestlers are still in the ring. I had come to accept this practice until a few years ago, when Ricky Steamboat wrestled in a multiple-man tag match on Raw. There was a typical sequence in the match where the babyfaces hit their big moves before the finish. As Steamboat’s partner went for the cover, Ricky quickly rolled out of the ring because, technically, the ref shouldn’t begin counting while other wrestlers are still illegally in the ring. It’s just a minor detail, but it made me miss the days when matches and ring psychology were well thought out, unlike the lazy booking and execution we’ve grown accustomed to today.

***

[ 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. ]

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?