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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 Ryan B. of Buffalo N.Y. asks: Love all the work you guys do. My question is about all of the independent stars that make their way to WWE and receive name changes - Bryan Danielson, KENTA, Prince Devitt, Claudio Castagnoli, El Generico, and PAC are just a few who were given new names. Is this just a case of WWE thinking they have a better name for them, or could it be that WWE wants to avoid association with the companies they previously worked for. Also what allowed C.M. Punk to keep his name? Thank you and keep up the great work.

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: In terms of the name changes for top independent talent, WWE wants to brand their character with a gimmick that they own the trademark to. I do like WWE's change in philosophy recently in terms of acknowledging the names of top independent and international talent before they change their name like they've done recently with KENTA and Prince Devitt. I believe the story with Punk is that Paul Heyman was able to advocate for him to keep his name when he was in OVW.

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PWTorch reader Forrest M. asks: I'm a lifelong fan of pro wrestling. I miss the days of shows where a wrestler used the TV time to squash their opponents. It made the big events so much more exciting and must-see, like the PPVs, SNME, Clash of the Champions, etc. I know that after the Monday Night Wars it seems like the fans will only accept big matches all the time. However, their business is declining. Would the old format of showing shorter shows with the main roster showing off their character and moves work today? I think it would make fans beg to see live events and big PPV offerings. I would definitely pay for that. However, I might be in the minority. Your thoughts?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: I think in the long-run, it would help the PPV/Network business and get fans more excited for big TV matches. But it would be a long, painful transition for WWE and the fans who are used to seeing marquee match-ups every week. Training the fans to sit around for squash matches is probably not high on WWE's list or priorities right now.

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PWTorch reader Prince of Jersey City, N.J. asks: WWE spent 10 years creating two separate, distinct brands with Raw and Smackdown. However, when they ended the brand split, instead of having a huge event to celebrate the occasion, they just let it gradually fizzle out. I always envisioned the brand split ending with some kind of big payoff, like a final Raw vs. Smackdown inter-brand event and then a celebration with lots of fanfare to unite the brands and officially create one massive mega-roster. Did WWE miss a big money opportunity by having it be a slow, gradual thing that was never formally acknowledged? Thanks for all the great work.

PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell answers: More than having a blow-off or pay-off to the brand split, WWE missed a big opportunity to help their storytelling on a week-to-week basis in the three-hour Raw era. Now, you might think it's crazy to have a brand split when WWE is desperate for talent to fill three hours of Raw each week, but that's the problem. Because they have access to the entire roster (a weakly-developed one, at that) on a weekly basis, they've become lazy and complacent in their storytelling. If WWE disciplined themselves to only having access to 25 wrestlers on Raw and 25 wrestlers on Smackdown, both shows would benefit because it would force WWE to focus in on the wrestlers available to them, creating a tighter, better-developed Raw roster and a relevant, meaningful Smackdown roster. Instead, Raw feels hastily thrown-together, almost like WCW Nitro when they had a ridiculous number of wrestlers on the roster and just threw people on TV to fill a quarter-hour or two, and Smackdown would be important again.

(Editor’s Note: Former WWE Creative Team member Matt McCarthy was part of the writing team in 2011 and 2012 as the brand split began to disintegrate, and he spoke about that time with me on last Friday’s PWTorch Livecast interview. You can hear that interview here. It’s worth checking out as it provides a ton of insight into behind the scenes operations.)

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PWTorch reader Uzoma I. asks: Seeing how indy stars are (or have) thrived on the current NXT and it has such a heavy focus on the wrestling, I want to ask: While I don't mind that he's back in TNA and he doesn't plan on going back to WWE, how would Low Ki fare on NXT compared to when he was on Season 2 of the original version?

PWTorch senior columnist Bruce Mitchell answers: I believe that Low Ki wouldn't benefit from NXT indoctrination at his age and at this point in his career. If WWE is going to get the most out of an investment in him, they should put him on the main roster, give him resonant promo material to work with (he can be very good in that area), and position him as a credible threat. Maybe they could come up with a new masked gimmick for him.

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