Email This Article - Contact Us - VIP Sign-Up - Back to Home Page

|

TORCH MORNING POLL 5/7: How should Bobby Lashley be utilized in TNA storylines? Prior to last week's TNA Impact broadcast, we asked Torch readers to make their selection on how Bobby Lashley should be utilized in TNA storylines.

So far, he's been presented as a "neutral" participant in the Main Event Mafia vs. Frontline storyline. He's simply pointed his finger and walked around the Impact Zone, but he hasn't been scripted to commit one way or the other yet.

We gave Torch readers several different options on how Lashley should be utilized. The top vote-recipient, however, was for Lashley to stick to MMA and not become involved in TNA storylines. 34 percent of Torch readers who voted in the poll felt this way.

That's a strong word against Lashley in TNA, perhaps because readers feel he doesn't bring much to the table, he hurts his MMA career by mixing pro wrestling and MMA, or because readers don't have confidence in TNA to utilize him properly. Regardless, Torch readers aren't enthralled with the idea of Lashley in TNA.

As for the specific choices related to what Lashley could do in TNA, the top vote was for Lashley to "be his own man and not be part of the feud" between Mafia and Frontline. This received a strong 24 percent of the vote.

Lashley in that Goldberg role of being his own man is a good choice. I don't think TNA is paying Lashley big bucks to be his own man and not part of the top feud in the company, though.

It certainly appears he will eventually pick a side in the storyline, but Torch readers don't like the idea of him in the Mafia or in the Frontline. The two options with the least amount of votes were for Lashley joining the Frontline (8 percent) or Lashley joining the Mafia (9 percent).

Lashley doesn't seem like he would fit in the Mafia despite having instant credibility in TNA's world since he wrestled in WWE. Lashley doesn't have 20 years of experience or multiple World Title reigns to fit in the Main Event Mafia much the same way Matt Morgan doesn't fit, but Lashley has the amateur background like Kurt Angle and Scott Steiner to be made an exception to the rule in the storyline.

Then, there's the Frontline, which is lacking some momentum. Lashley could boost the young-stars (I made that up) group by associating with A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe, but he could also be dragged down by associating with the Frontline, which hasn't been positioned to be anywhere near Mafia's level.

Clearly, Torch readers would rather see Lashley on his own and not part of either the Mafia or the Frontline. If anything, they would like to see him stay neutral. The voting option for Lashley to stay neutral in the Mafia-Frontline storyline and not to pick a side received 14 percent of the vote.

Completing the poll options, 11 percent of Torch readers voted for Lashley to chase Mick Foley for the TNA Title regardless of affiliation or neutrality. Lashley was a star in WWE based on his size and WWE's booking that put him in the "main event feud" of WrestleMania 23, but he never was at the level of a John Cena, Randy Orton, or Triple H.

Lashley would need to show some serious personality on camera and convey to the general wrestling audience that he's a bigger star than he was in WWE. A few more MMA victories under his belt would help him boost his and TNA's profile to warrant a TNA Title push.

Overall, Torch readers who voted in our poll says they don't want Lashley involved in TNA storylines, - for whatever reason - but if he's going to be utilized, he should be his own man and not dabble in the Frontline vs. Mafia storyline.

Poll Results as of 6:00 p.m. CST on Monday evening
-- Join the Main Event Mafia ... 9%
-- Join the Frontline/Originals ... 8%
-- Remain neutral in the Mafia-Frontline feud ... 14%
-- Be his own man and not be part of the feud ... 24%
-- Chase Mick Foley for the TNA World Title ... 11%
-- Stick to MMA and not get involved in TNA storylines ... 34%

-- Complete Poll Results.

Torch readers write back! How do you see the voting? Have additional thoughts on the poll results? Send in your feedback to pwtorch@gmail.com

Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.

For more BREAKING NEWS on WWE, TNA!
VISIT OUR AFFILIATE - PROWRESTLING.NET

For UFC & MMA NEWS & BLOGS:
VISIT OUR SISTER SITE - MMATORCH.COM

Upgrade to PWTORCH VIP: DETAILS & SIGN-UP INFO

(c) 1999-2009 TDH Communications Inc. - All rights reserved.