To begin 2012, we're starting a new Roundtable feature with PWTorch specialists/contributors answering a Question of the Day on a hot topic in the news or from a recent TV/PPV event. Check back throughout the week for our panel of PWTorch contributors offering their thoughts on the topic of the day.

Question: After debuting his new "funky" gimmick, can Brodus Clay still develop into a legitimate, main-event-level heel, or is he destined to be a mid-card, "WWE comedy" act?

Ben Tucker, PWTorch specialist

I love Brodus Clay. He has the "it" factor, the moves, the agility, etc. The only think working against him now is this gimmick, and it's a shame. As Greg Parks interestingly mentioned on Twitter during Raw last night, this could simply be a bump in the road for Brodus Clay, akin to Mark Henry's Sexual Chocolate days. If they wanted to, they could easily get Brodus to just snap one day and instantly return to his monster heel status. Whether or not that does end up happening is another question, though, which could be predicated on whether or not the act ends up getting over.

Do I feel that Brodus can still become a monster heel? Yes. Will that end up happening? Right now it's a 50/50 shot, but if they did it with Mark Henry they can do it with Brodus. To give him some credit, Brodus is great at the role he's been given - too bad it's a terrible gimmick. (Read Tucker's "Instant Reaction" following each week's Raw, Impact, and Smackdown.)

Charles Cress, PWTorch Doctor of Funk

I'm feelin' funky guys! Stayin' alive! Stayin' alive! As the official Funk Specialist at PWTorch (I once owned shiny silver sneakers, so...you know, I think that more than qualifies me), allow me to drop some knowledge on you cats (that means educate you guys...I think. I hope it does anyway): Brodus "Funkasaurus" Clay is the man! Is the gimmick absurdly silly? Of course. He's from Planet Funk. Allow me to say that again: Planet Funk. 'Nuff said. But, Henry was once Sexual Chocolate, Edge was once the original pretty vampire, and Dolph used to be a cheerleader. Things can and do change. However, I pray this gimmick lasts a long funkin' time. This is one silly gimmick that I enjoy. I want him to win the U.S. Title and make a Funkified version with a leopard print strap. I want him to have a "Disco Ball on a Pole" match. I want him to win every house show dance off. I want t-shirts!

Main event heel later? Sure. That sounds nice. But, I want to enjoy this ride. Plus, if a neon-skinned steak knife salesman like Zack Ryder can be a near-main-eventer, the Funkasaurus can become the next undisputed WWE champion. (Read Cress's Alphabet Soup humor column after each week's Raw and Smackdown.)

George Chiverton, PWTorch specialist

Not only did I think this was a terrible idea, I thought it was terribly executed. That's literally all I want to say. What a disappointment. I just hope Brodus has his Ringmaster realization (see Stone Cold's Austin 3:16 promo) and swaps back. (Read Chiverton's NXT Rankings & Evaluation column every Wednesday, where Chiverton has greatly anticipated NXT alumni Clay's main roster return.)

Mike Cupach, PWTorch contributor

I think that if he keeps the comedy stuff out of the ring and is a badass in the ring, then he can move up the card. A guy like him will get the laughs while he does his Planet Funk stuff and that is all well and good, but once the bell rings if he turns into a strong monster babyface then he will get an even better reaction, and there will be no choice but to put him in a main event.

I'm willing to keep a open mind on him until the Royal Rumble. If he enters and destroys ten guys, he will be over huge. If he enters the Rumble and wants to dance around and be a idiot, then he will go nowhere. You have 19 days to officially win me over, Brodus. Make them count! (Read Cupach's alt. perspective review of WWE Smackdown every weekend.)

Brian Leahy, PWTorch specialist

While initially I wasn’t exactly thrilled by the transformation of Brodus Clay from “The Mastodon of Mayhem” into “Rikishi 2012” (though the Scott Taylor/Brian Christopher stand-ins were vast improvements), with some time to reflect on his return I can’t help but cling to the silver lining: he’s back on television with a gimmick that can work.

Let’s be clear on something, first: this is indeed a test for Clay. Never mind being saddled with the “Funkasaurus” moniker; the announcers were flat-out laughing at Brodus for jukeing and jiving his way around the ring, and the repeated “better call yo Momma” scoffs got tiresome before they even started.

That being said, my hope is pinned firmly on Clay’s reaction to Hawkins’s punch; he went from smiling dancer to sneering monster in a split-second. The playful, but dangerous wrestler gimmick has been done before: The Public Enemy in ECW were two fun, hip-hop loving guys until the bell rang and they became blood-thirsty brawlers. This can work, it’s just a matter of Clay timing when he flips that switch in a match. Clay is a beast, and no gimmick good or bad can hide that, but what this gimmick can do is provide Clay with a memorable “Jeckel” persona, making his beastly “Hyde” side all that more shocking.

Clay is in the unfortunate position however of being physically larger than most of the men he’ll face on the mid-card. This means, until he comes up against someone who’s physically a match for him, he'll continue to be in matches with the ilk of Curt Hawkins. In order for this character to work at its best, the initial face push must be followed by the reveal that the monster side of his character is the dominant personality, and the dancing (if it simply has to stay) becomes an infrequent, crowd-mocking, side attraction. Once the gimmickery has subsided, Clay should still be capable of filling a Mark Henry-esque main event heel slot, but there’s a road that must be travelled first if WWE is serious in running with the “Funkasaurus." (Read Leahy's regular independent wrestling DVD reviews and contributions to ROH iPPV coverage.)

Check back on Wednesday for Part 2 of the Clay Roundtable.

[Photo credit WWE.com]

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