Welcome to a new website-exclusive PWTorch feature! I am PWTorch founder and editor, Wade Keller. I've been covering pro wrestling since 1987 when I started the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter while still in high school. Over 25 years later, PWTorch reaches more wrestling fans every week than any other independent brand. When we launched PWTorch.com in 1999, one of the features I enjoyed doing the most was "Ask PWTorch." I haven't done it recently on the website, but did revive it in recent years in an audio format for PWTorch VIP members on my Keller Hotline. We reintroduced it to the website audience at the start of May 2013.

If you have a question you'd like me to respond to, send your question to askpwtorch@gmail.com. I, along with the Torch staff, will address you questions.

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PWTorch reader Ozz from Michigan asks: Knowing that WWE likes to rename newcomers for trademarking purposes, how did C.M. Punk manage to stay C.M. Punk when he arrived in the company a few years back?

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill replies: C.M. Punk debuted on the ECW brand in June 2006. At the time, Paul Heyman was the head writer for ECW, and he convinced WWE management to let Punk keep his indy name, because that's what would have happened in the original ECW. At that point, Extreme Championship Wrestling was WWE's third brand, and it wasn't considered a big deal.

The other reason WWE went along with the decision is because Punk gave them permission to trademark the C.M. Punk name. WWE owns two live trademarks on C.M. Punk, one for his character, and one for his merchandise. The first trademark states "The name "C.M. Punk" identifies Phillip Jack Brooks, a living individual whose consent is of record." This means Punk negotiated the trademark deal as part of his contract with WWE. I also believe it means the current Punk (Phil Brooks) is the only person allowed to use that name. But I'm not a trademark lawyer.

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PWTorch reader Amy L. asks: I have been reading the site and listening to the PWTorch audio shows for a long time now. I hope to continue to do so in the future. This past week, “Total Divas” premiered on E! While I found myself laughing at how bad it was at times, I couldn’t help but latch on to a few things that were said by some of the cast members. One of them was by Nikki Bella, when she found it necessary to remind JoJo and Eva Marie that they are “veterans,” and thus have earned the privileges of… whatever they think they’re entitled to. I cringed at that because I don’t believe a veteran is determined by just longevity or tenure. A person is considered a veteran when they have earned the respect of their peers. There are a lot of long-timers in the company who don’t have nearly the respect some of the guys with half of the tenure have. Those guys are not really considered veterans as much as they are just old-timers. Are the Bellas respected by their peers? I don’t mean liked – they can be nice girls, but not really respected. Have they really earned their titles as veterans, or do you think they are misunderstanding the difference between a veteran and a seasoned performer? Are they referring to themselves as veterans in the hopes others see them as such too?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: I think you probably read way too much into that comment. In all seriousness, I think it was just the Bellas' way of telling JoJo and Eva Marie that they are more "veteran" than the new women, as far as their number of years in the business.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: A veteran is defined as someone who has been around a few years. A respected veteran is what you're talking about. There are respected veterans and then there are plan ol' veterans due to duration of years in wrestling. The Bellas are veterans relative to a newbie, and they needed a storyline to play up on the loosely guided "reality show" and that was one of them that was obvious to play into.

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PWTorch VIP member David from Memphis, Tenn. asks: Recently watched Mad Max 2 and wondered if that non-wrestling related movie had the most impact on the sport than any other. Both the Road Warriors and Lord Humongous character originated in the film. The War Games match also came out of that film series I think. Is this Hollywood's biggest contribution to wrestling?

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill replies: It's either that, or Tiny Lister's character inventing the six-sided ring in "No Holds Barred."

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PWTorch reader Paul D. asks: During the Attitude Era, Michael Cole started off as a meek interviewer who got picked on by wrestlers, like the The Rock, Stone Cold, and DX to name a few. He had the same thing going on as an announcer. From late 2010 to 2011, he broke out into his own character as an irritating, conceited heel announcer. Since then, as much as I hate to say it, it seems as if the position of the mild-mannered interviewer/announcer who gets picked on has been bestowed upon Josh Matthews. Can you see Matthews breaking out into his own character in the future? Or will he remain in his position as the mild, picked on interviewer?

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: Before he was removed from the Smackdown announce desk, it seemed as if he or WWE was preparing for him to be more heelish. I think his transition to a "character" would be easier than, say, a Michael Cole or someone else with a straight news background. Mathews has experience as a wrestler so being a "character" shouldn't be as challenging. Then again, sometimes it just depends on what kind of personality you have and what you can tap into to make you that character.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Just because WWE made an awful business decision and indulged in turning their lead broadcaster into an obnoxious heel doesn't mean any of us should think that's normal or should ever, ever, ever be repeated. Matthews's job is to hold the mic for wrestlers and let them talk. Quit looking for him to be something more than that. Asking if an announcer should "break out into his own character" makes as much sense to me as suggesting WWE should begin giving individual names to turnbuckles pads like Fred, Becky, and Spot. It's totally superfluous to anything pro wrestling is supposed to be about. Sometimes an interviewer or announcer is meant to, you know, be an interviewer or announcer, not a "breakout character" with a personality that causes conversation and controversy. Pro wrestling benefits when it sticks to the basics and trusts that inherently the art and simulated sport of pro wrestlers fighting in the ring for titles and pride is enough. When well done, it is, and everything else just gets in the way of that.

=== VIP EXCLUSIVE ===

PWTorch VIP member Jamal of Columbus, Ohio asks: I've been watching a lot of Japanese pro wrestling lately. I have two questions. (1) Where does Madusa rank among U.S. female wrestlers in history, and among Japanese female wrestlers? (2) How do American and Japanese wrestlers communicate in the ring? It's seems when the Japanese face each other it's smoother. (They could just know each other better.)

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: This is part of the VIP-exclusive portion of Ask PWTorch. I am now adding a segment exclusively for VIP members to this article as a bonus for VIP members. I will select questions sent by VIP members to my VIP Ask the Editor email box that I usually answer on my VIP Keller Hotline during the week and writing a text answer. To go VIP and get all PWTorch VIP content on our app and our website and our Audio RSS feed, www.PWTorch.com/govip.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This marks over 90 straight days of Ask PWTorch being featured as a daily website-exclusive (available on the PWTorch App for VIP members) at www.PWTorch.com. If you have missed any of the previous Ask PWTorch features, you can read them here:

-ASK PWTORCH - FREE WEBSITE.
-CLICKING HERE - ASK PWTORCH - VIP VERSION

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(Send your question for PWTorch editor Wade Keller and the PWTorch staff exclusively to pwtorch@gmail.com for consideration! You can hear expanded conversation on the above topics from Wade Keller by becoming a VIP member and gaining access to the daily Wade Keller Hotline, posted every day for VIP members for over 1,000 days straight. Sign up at www.PWTorch.com/govip)

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