By Jon Cudo, PWTorch Specialist

TRUE; QUICK HITS - NASH, KOFI, AND ZIGGLER

True: Kevin Nash is getting less comfortable on the mic. After coming back and having to find his footing, literally and figuratively, he doesn't seem to have found his stride on the microphone. The overly-intense Nash version is more Snitsky than the Kevin Nash who had such impact in the Monday Night War era. Being tied in a feud with Hunter, it's hard to bury this storyline on TV, but that might be where this is headed if Nash can't find his voice and focus.

True: Flying under the radar, Kofi Kingston had perhaps the best wrestling gear at Survivor Series... ever. I don't think I heard a single word about it, but Kofi had a Stay Puff Marshmellow Man-themed trunks and pads for the New York City setting. I always admire guys who spend the extra money to make a PPV special with a themed outfit (like Rey Mysterio does) and Kofi's were simply hilariously fantastic.

True: Dolph Ziggler will main event a pay-per-view in the next year. Dolph is perhaps the fastest-rising star in years. While he has technically held the Heavyweight Title, that short fluky run will likely be forgotten as he continues to climb the ladder. While they probably don't need him to, he could be the perfect fit for the Royal Rumble challenger (when WWE typically has non-established main eventers headline). I do see his rapid rise taking him into a real PPV main event in the next year. His in-ring work is perhaps only bested by Randy Orton right now, and Dolph is certainly in the top three or four. His mic work is improving and his reliance on Vickie Guerrero is less and less each week. Monday's match against Punk showed he can carry his end of a great PPV-level match, and the fans buy it all.

True: WWE has quietly restocked its upper tier of prospects

Joining Dolph is the resurgent Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes. Cody is still working out the kinks in his act and his character seems further from his true self than the others, making the trip up the card more challenging. But, these three fresh faces - two who have already shown they fit at the very top - put WWE in a great position for 2012 and beyond.

FALSE: PUNK VS. ZIGGLER WAS A MODERN DAY BRET HART VS. CURT HENNIG

False. It's better. I should start by saying that I love both Bret Hart and Curt Hennig. Both were world-class wrestles and overall skilled performers who redefined the expectations for workrate and created compelling and believable characters.

The comparisons of Ziggler to Hennig are fair and accurate, but I think this is a young Ziggler who is further along than Hennig was with a higher ceiling. As noted above, I think he's on the way to PPV main events and the very top of the card, a position that Hennig visited only briefly.

Punk has always reminded me of Bret Hart. While some smirked at how Bret took his position and the business "too seriously," it helped make everything he did seem more real and convincing. Behind the scenes, it may have caused some eye-rolling, but in front of the crowd I think it was a real asset for Hart. Punk has a slightly different twist on how seriously he takes his craft, which probably causes less eye-rolling, but is also a huge plus in front of the cameras. His emotions are real and more based on the pride he takes in being a professional wrestler. Punk feels more authentic than anyone else and it helps him in his delivery and his connection with the audience.

Together for 16 minutes on Monday, Punk and Dolph provided a huge flashback moment, but also an indication of what's to come. And, what's to come from these two (together and independently) is going to be really really good.

TBD: DANIEL BRIAN CAN BE BUILT INTO A WRESTLEMANIA 28 MAIN EVENT WITH MARK HENRY

When Daniel Bryan won the briefcase at Money in the Bank, he did the most logical thing: he put himself in the WrestleMania 28 main event. The question then, and now, is can WWE create a compelling long-term storyline for him.

I will add this caveat to this discussion. I presume that Daniel is challenging the Champion at WrestleMania. And I presume the champion will be Mark Henry. I note this since many have suggested that Bryan will be waiting on the stage to challenge the Champion after the champ faces another wrestler in a WrestleMania match. First, being the rare babyface holder of the briefcase, that isn't any more honorable than being the opportunist who cashes in on a weakened champ after a beat down. He is challenging the champ at WrestleMania (again, my interpretation of what has been said).

Now that WWE is less than six months away from WM, Bryan has been interjected into Henry storylines, presumably to start to set the table for Wrestlemania. While many storylines feel rushed, I can't help but think that this one looks to be too drawn out. Given four more PPVs before WrestleMania and 20-plus episodes each of Raw and Smackdown, I wonder if there is enough story to tell.

I'd like to see a run of strong Daniel Bryan matches to provide a vision to fans that this undersized technical wrestler has a legitimate chance against the dominant champion, some sign that Mark Henry would be vulnerable to Daniel Bryan, and more clarity on how the briefcase will be used. WWE has months to plan, plot, and execute and whether or not they can get this potentially entertaining storyline right for WrestleMania remains to be determined.

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Jon Cudo is the newest PWTorch Specialist, presenting the "True-False-TBD" format. Jon has worked in the sports entertainment industry for over 20 years, including major league sports teams and Nike. He has been a life-long pro wrestling fan and has attended WWE, WCW, and ROH events in person, including backstage access at multiple events. He grew up in Minnesota and now lives in Cleveland. He runs his own business, www.GameOps.com, a web site designed to connect sports teams and event producers with ideas and tools that will enhance the entertainment value for fans attending their events.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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