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By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Pro wrestling - specifically WWE - has been in the news quite a bit the past two weeks. It's not positive, either. But, does it matter? Let's examine.

Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon is taking all that money from her days as company CEO to push her campaign for Senator in Connecticut. Remember the $39.95 you dropped on that really, really bad Smackdown brand PPV in 2004? Your campaign contribution is welcome.

Is McMahon qualified? Who knows, says the mainstream news, but didn't she kick some guy in the crotch one time? Yeah, that makes for a better story.

There is a general lack of apathy by voters in America. It's similar to how 5-10 percent of the general wrestling audience is hardcore enough to get on the Internet, subscribe to a wrestling newsletter, and/or download the Torch iPhone App (subtle, wasn't that?) compared to the other 90-95 percent of the audience that watches free TV and shows up to the arena when the circus comes to town.

They don't know the issues, similar to how many voters just watch a few talking head talk shows and show up at the voter's booth ready to vote a straight ticket Republican or Democratic. Politicians running against McMahon in Connecticut will seize that McMahon crotch kick and capitalize on voter apathy to belittle her campaign.

It's similar to WWE storylines being designed for the masses. Why is Sheamus a bad guy? Oh, I don't know...because he has red hair and he's from a foreign country! Ya, that works! Why is Linda not qualified to run for Senator? Oh, I don't know...because she kicked a guy in the crotch! Ya, that works!

The real issues in play are WWE's history of exploiting racism, xenophobia, and homophobia for profit, WWE classifying their exclusive wrestlers as independent contractors to save on taxes, and the long history of drug-related deaths in the pro wrestling business.

To the masses, WWE is the unfortunate keeper of wrestling history with their propaganda DVDs that are marketed toward the mass audience. That doesn't mean they're going to get it right; it just means they're going to sell as many DVDs as possible. As the keeper of the wrestling business, they are also held accountable for so many wrestlers dead before the age of 45 years old.

Will any of these issues see the light of day in a Senate debate between the five Republican candidates running for the nomination focusing on McMahon's history as the CEO of a company with its track record? I highly doubt it. Bret Hart appearing on WWE TV would probably happen first. Oh wait, that would have applied back in February. Nevermind.

Flash forward to tonight where Reverend Al Sharpton is hosting Raw. He hasn't even appeared on the show and he's already drawn plenty of chatter. He's stooping to WWE's level. WWE is crazy bringing him in while Linda McMahon is running a conservative campaign.

The situation seems so bizarre I can't even wrap my head around it until he appears live in living color on Raw.

In the middle of it all, WWE is promoting a PPV on Sunday. I haven't even tried to wrap my head around the C.M. Punk vs. Undertaker feud. It's not worth killing brain cells trying to even understand the bizarre logic of that screwy storyline that appears to have been conceived on a paper napkin during a Linda McMahon campaign brainstorming session.

Anyways, the key is what does this mainstream attention mean for WWE? WWE is used to being looked down upon for their brand of entertainment. As long as "sweaty men in tights" are appearing on TV, that will always be the case.

WWE even tried to take ownership over it by "wink wink, nod nod" acknowledging it twice on Raw last week. See, we can make fun of ourselves, too! It's all tongue-in-cheek anyways!

But, what's at stake now is a Senate campaign. Linda McMahon is planning to spend $30 million on this thing. WWE is very serious about it. The political machines of the world are also very serious about digging dirt on candidates.

Linda's Senate campaign and Sharpton on Raw have brought the mainstream attention to WWE they desire. But, at what cost? Will the real issues actually come into play? Or, will apathy continue to rule the wrestling and political worlds with the focus at the voter's box being "Hey, didn't that McMahon lady kick some guy in the crotch one time?"

We continue another bizarre politics & pro wrestling season with Reverend Al Sharpton on Raw tonight. Buckle up, Teddy.

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