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EDITORIAL: What happened to shades of grey in pro wrestling being okay? (with Reader Poll)
Mar 18, 2008 - 2:54:23 PM


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GUEST EDITORIAL
By Jadran Mandekic of Rijeka, Croatia, PWTorch.com reader


Some people want clear cut heels and faces. I was reading this week's Raw feedback and once again I can't belive how people are complaining about not knowing who the faces and who the heels are.Torch reader Maynard Damon asked if Chris Jericho was a heel suddenly and is The Big Show suddenly a face? I ask everybody: Does it matter?

To me, wrestling is at it's best when it emulates reality. In the real world, what would I be? Would I be a heel or a face? I mean, I could cheat on my girlfriend and then break up with her, leaving her completely devastated, and then a half hour later I could go out and help an old lady cross the street. What am I then? Am I a heel or a face? In life everything is relative; why can't it be in wrestling?

People are complaining about TNA, and they say there are no clear cut heels or faces, but I don't understand why is it important? People with no wrestling knowledge, who are not wrapped in a wrestling bubble and don't care about wrestling terminology, watch the show and decide who they like, and who they don't like. The members of the NWO were heels in terms of storyline, but they often acted in a manner that made the people like them. Why is it so hard to grasp for some people? There are people doing bad things all around us, but they have a way of making themselves likeable and there are people who are considered to be good, but have skeletons in their closets. Clear cut good guys and bad guys exist only in comics, cartoons, and stupid action movies.

Wrestling was at its best (or most watched at least) in the late-'90s when it turned more toward the reality of the characters or, as Vince put it at the time, shades of grey. Did it really matter if Steve Austin was a heel or a face? Austin would beat up an innocent referee or an interviewer because he was pissed off, and at the same time fight the good fight against an evil manipulative promoter. And Steve would not do it because he was a heel or a face, he would do it because he was fighting for himself and to hell with everything else. Was Steve a heel or a face? Judging by his success and WWF's overall success, it didn't matter. Why should it matter today?

If the storyline is good, believable, mind stimulating, and the characters are entertaining, knowing who the good guy and who the bad guy is isn't the most important thing. Sure, there will always be characters who we will cheer for because, despite all of their flaws, they are generally “good,” but we do not need to define them clearly as faces or heels. They could also sometimes do the “bad” thing, but if we understand their motives it will not instantly make them the ultimate bad guys. Or maybe WWE should bring back another evil clown character to make it simple for us. [Vote in the Poll Below on this issue.]

You are invited to submit a "Torch Guest Editorial" for possible publishing on this site in future days. For submission guidelines and the current email, click here.


Would you like characters in WWE and TNA better defined as heels and faces than they are now?
Yes.
No.
  




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LATEST PRO WRESTLING TORCH NEWSLETTER #1045 (20 PAGES)

This issue begins with a cover story by Wade Keller on Jake Roberts's indy show meltdown... Keller's BBL looks at WWE's decision to put all three World Champs in a Triple Threat on the MyNetwork debut of Smackdown... Page 2 Buzz with Jason Powell features tons of insider news items from WWE and TNA... Part three of the "Torch Talk" with Lanny Poffo... Pat McNeill's "At the Bar for Unforgiven" column... In-depth coverage of the TNA No Surrender PPV including the newsletter-exclusive Roundtable Reviews from Keller, Mitchell, and McNeill... Plus WWE Newswire, TNA Newswire, and ROH Newswire, Keller's reports on Raw, Smackdown, and Impact, the Top 5 Stories of the Week... PDF EXCLUSIVE features include the Greg Parks's review of the new Mr. Perfect DVD and Brian Hoops looks at pro wrestlers with Olympic backgrounds........

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Articles Grouped by Category
Torch Today
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Raw bullet points: Matches announced for Raw tonight and PWTorch live coverage
WWE News
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TNA News
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Interview Highlights: Jeremy Borash of TNA speaks about spreading word about Mick Foley, Mongo's return, more
TNA News: Mick Foley vs. Sarah Palin - Prime Time Ratings Most Unlikely Battle, and the results are in (w/Keller Analysis)
ROH News
9/20 ROH in Philadelphia, Pa.: Aries & Briscoes vs. Age of the Fall & The Necro Butcher
ROH News: Matches and talent rosters for upcoming events, Sapolsky's last entry on Japan trip
Interview Highlights: Roderick Strong on his stint with TNA, lagging promo skills, indys working together
Other News
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Etc. News: Dawn Marie launching "Wrestlers Rescue" program to aid retired wrestlers
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PPV Reports
KELLER'S WWE NO MERCY PPV REPORT 10/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event
CALDWELL'S WWE NO MERCY REPORT 10/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV
RADICAN'S ROH "NEW HORIZONS" PPV REPORT (Black-Danielson, McGuinness-Castagnoli)
TV Reports
PARKS' WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Triple H vs. Big Show
KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/9: Final hype for Bound For Glory, Styles vs. Booker, Knockouts Tag
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Arena Reports
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9/19 ROH PPV taping in Boston: Nigel vs. Strong and Steen & Generico vs. Age of the Fall
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KELLER'S TAKE
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MITCHELL'S TAKE
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CALDWELL'S TAKE
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CORNER CUBE TUESDAY 9/2 - Thoughts on Raw with HBK-Jericho, Kane-Rey, and the next C.M. Punk
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WWE NO MERCY ROUNDTABLE 5 YEARS AGO (10-19-03): Keller, Mitchell, McNeill, Powell rate and review PPV event
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