Pro Wrestling Torch was established in 1987 by Wade Keller. One of the primary traits PWTorch has been credited with over the years is assembling the best and most diverse staff of columnists with broad knowledge, but also areas of specialty where they have a particularly strong grasp of history. Every day PWTorch.com presents that team of writers answering your questions, some of which are fact-based and others of which are opinion-based. Either way, we've got you covered with Bruce Mitchell, Pat McNeill, Sean Radican, Greg Parks, James Caldwell, and Wade Keller. Collectively they have over 80 years working for the Torch, writing about wrestling and studying industry history and trends.

If you have a question you'd like us to respond to, send your question to askpwtorch@gmail.com. I, along with the Torch staff, will address you questions in this feature and also the “Ask PWTorch: All-Star Panel” edition which is also published most days here at PWTorch.

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PWTorch reader Will S. asks: With John Cena the top dog in the WWE for the past years and for the near future, I can't help but think that his presence at the top is holding back the rest of the roster. Many wrestlers who had good prospects and came up against Cena seemed to take big step backwards. Examples include Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, Mark Henry, Damien Sandow, The Miz, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, Ryback, and even Zack Ryder - just to name a few. All of these guys mentioned were to some extent looked upon as being future top guys of the company, but their fall from grace has been pretty substantial since going against Cena. It's likely not his fault, and it's not a pop shot at him but what are your thoughts on this?

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: I don't agree. I think as Cena's career has gone on, he's gotten better in the ring and has given some of the names you mentioned the best matches of their career. Damien Sandow comes to mind first when it comes to guys that Cena had made look good. WWE is going to ride Cena as the top babyface for as long as they can and I don't think the names you mentioned could ever match his popularity. Plus, Cena put over C.M. Punk and Daniel Bryan like a million bucks. Has WWE done a poor job of creating stars to compete with Cena for the top spot in the promotion? Absolutely. I just don't think it's a case of Cena holding guys back; it's more of a case of WWE not finding the right talent to challenge him for the top spot. Another part of it is they are scared to make Cena look weak, so if a guy like Lesnar can't even get over strong on Cena and WWE feels the need for him to get what amounted to a near visual win over Lesnar the month after SummerSlam, that's very telling about their philosophy behind how they push Cena.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: My thoughts are that WWE is about protecting John Cena at all costs, and if it means someone below him on the roster takes the fall and ends up looking bad, so be it. WWE's belief is anyone who looks bad at some point can eventually be built back up. None of the guys you mentioned were ever really looked at as being the next John Cena, or the next star to carry WWE for the next ten years, so while some damage was done, I don't see it being for the long-term.

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PWTorch reader Forrest M. asks: First, I really should acknowledge that this is my favorite wrestling site. I send in a lot of questions and I really enjoy that I can and I get good feedback for them. I sent in a question previously about how I used to enjoy squash matches and how it could enhance big PPVs or other big match shows. One reply was how it's the television companies wanting the big matches for bigger ratings. With that in mind, I started to think about TNA. Could TNA get better ratings showing fewer promos and squash matches during "regular" shows building to their PPV-themed television shows which would then have the big matches? (I understand that this might be a little to late question since TNA needs to focus more on staying on TV.)

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: This isn't the same wrestling audience as it was twenty-five years. You're not going to find a lot of fans willing to sit through an hour's worth of squash matches. But I don't see a problem in having one old-fashioned squash match per show, as a way of building up a wrestler without having to beat a member of your roster. As for promos, I think two short promos are more effective than one long one.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: Some of it depends on the network as well. Spike TV may not want to see so many squash matches, thinking no one will tune in to see them. They therefore could exert pressure on TNA to show more big-time match-ups. It would take a lot of time and effort to re-educate fans on the value of squash matches, and time is not something TNA has on its side right now, as you alluded to.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: First of all, Networks shouldn't be telling wrestling promoters how to format their TV shows. That's ridiculous. They should stay out the way and only second-guess when ratings aren't what they should be. I'm a proponent of squash matches being in the mix. I grew up with them in the late 1970s and then 1980s. There is nothing that has changed that disqualifies squashes from being exciting and effective. I've made long-form editorial comments about this before and remain convinced,l if done right and presented right, it would be better for TV ratings. Main event matches would seem like bigger deals if big name wrestlers fought each other less frequently. Squash matches actually fit today's society better than in the 1980s because of people's short attention spans and demands for their eyes with smart phones buzzing every few seconds with Facebook and Twitter updates.

A squash match is a way to see a colorful larger-than-life personality come out to really cool entrance music and then show off his best moves while a scrawny jobber takes crazy-ass bumps for him. Then the big name wrestler celebrates and leaves. It's like stripping away all of the boring stuff from Raw and just watching the good stuff - the ring entrance, the big moves, the crazy bumps, and the celebration. It's a way for a name wrestler to establish his personality and big moves, and have those big moves be effective and look devastating. And his personality gets to be the sole focus for 2 or 3 minutes instead of sharing the spotlight with the other name-guy he's battling for 12 moves with a commercial in the middle.

Squashes also build anticipation for seeing name-wrestlers face each other, and anticipation is a huge missing component to today's over saturated TV wrestling scene. I absolutely am an advocate of weaving squashes into every wrestling TV show, and I think instantly fans would enjoy the faster pace of the shows and the wider range of personalities and ring entrances and finishing moves (not to mention the scrawny or pudgy sad looking saps jobbing to them - that's half the fun of wrestling in the 1970s and '80s newer fans don't know about). And the side effect would be name vs. name match-ups would feel more scarce and premium and less taken for granted and overexposed. So yes, once again, I strongly advocate for a return to squash matches as a major part of every TV wrestling show. I would argue it's exactly what pro wrestling needs right now, more than just about any other change (other than getting rid of bad celebrity skits and little people dressed up as animals).

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PWTorch reader Aaron P. asks: Why did they seem to give up on Bo Dallas so quickly? I love the Honky Tonk Man/Kurt Angle type gimmick where the fans hate them, but he seems to think they love him.

PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: I think WWE is struggling with how best to position the gimmick. I think the announcers have done a poor job explaining why fans should hate the guy. If they had given up on it, he'd be off television.

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