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 #70

- Question from Lionel in New Orleans: Do you think a point system could work in the 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.

- "Mr. TV" Justin James (@Justin_M_James) responds: As a concept a point system sounds good. Anything that makes the product feel more like a sport is a winner in my book. But, I don’t think the audience would be able to make sense of a points system, and WWE certainly lacks the discipline to do it and stick with it.

- "Common Fan" Jimmy Eaton (@TheCommonFan) responds: Unfortunately, no, I think a system like that goes against the grain for the "entertainment" WWE tries to put on. Also, the patience factor would be another issue as I can't see WWE having enough to do a system like that properly. Thanks for the question!

- "Hits & Misses" Jon Mezzera responds: I would like to see the outcomes of matches mean something more than they do now. I'm not sure that a point system would work. Do a certain number of points earn you an Intercontinental Championship match, but a different number earn you a United States Title match, and then even more get you a World Title opportunity? Your question is about something simple to follow, but I would be worried that WWE would never be able to come up with something simple and I have great doubts about whether or not they could keep track of something like that and be consistent. Is it a good idea? Maybe. But, I don't think it could work in WWE.

But, I am definitely in favor of making wins and losses matter and for coming up with new ways of having a wrestler earn a title match other than just beating the Champion in a non-title match. Having a non-heel authority figure announcing that Wrestler A has been named the #1 contender for the U.S. Title based on a current winning streak which has included victories over two former U.S. champions (and name them) would be enough to show that the authority figure is paying attention to wins and losses (which the fans should do also) and that wrestlers are being rewarded for their actual win/loss record. You could do it without a point system or a ranking system of some sort which might get too complicated and could also turn off some viewers.

- "Instant Reaction" Ben Tucker (@BTuckerTorch) responds: WWE can barely keep faces and heels consistent from week to week and frequently drop storylines like they mean nothing. Adding a points system would only further complicate the booking and put the already-struggling writing team under even more pressure. It would be incredibly hard to make this work and incredibly easy to royally screw up.

- "Showstopper" Shawn Valentino responds: Thank you for your question, Lionel. I would like a better sense of logic when it comes to keeping tracks of wins and losses, but I do not think a point system is the way to go. I think that a point system is overly-structured, and it will not necessarily make it a better show. At the same time, there should be some sense of meaning added to the matches so there is a sense of stakes that the shows sorely lack. I liked it when Jesse Ventura and Gorilla Monsoon talked about how winning meant making more money and rising up the ranks to a championship match. I believe a Top 10 ranking may be good to add some sense of gravitas to the matches, and it would give the competitors a journey that would make the shows more intriguing.

- "Mr. PPV" Nathan Kyght responds: I like the idea in concept, but I think that wrestling fans (specifically WWE fans) have been conditioned to such great lengths to expect a certain presentation, that a point system wouldn't be accepted. I do like it as a way of determining contenders, but I doubt that the WWE brass would ever push the idea. It's intriguing, though.

- "Mr. ROH" Mike Metzger (@mD0uble) responds: I was recently educated on Chikara’s point system during an edition of Radican’s Wrestling Community Audio. I think this is an excellent idea, as it would add stakes to the countless (and many times pointless) re-matches we see each week on WWE TV. Unfortunately, I don’t see this happening while Vince McMahon is still in charge of the company. After following the product for over 20 years, its obvious that McMahon does not like to box himself in when it comes to storytelling. Heck, most weeks he can’t even be bothered to have a main event in mind for the next show. Triple H and Stephanie might look at things differently in the future, but so far there’s little indication that they would appreciate the sports-like nature of a point system.

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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. ]

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