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For this week's Question of the Week, we asked Torch readers about Shawn Michaels's crossface hold at Survivor Series, and whether there's ever a place in wrestling again for that hold. You can still contribute! Click on the "Contact Us" link above and send me an email with your response.

Sam Robinson, Torch Reader: I didn’t watch Survivor Series, but when I read this morning that Michaels used the crossface, I had little to no reaction. I’m sure that some folks will get uppity and defensive about it, but the fact remains that the hold is a part of wrestling history and legacy whether or not Benoit was a murderer or a saint. I think the biggest spit in the face was that Michaels used the Sharpshooter (on the damn near tenth anniversary of the Montreal Screw Job) and the Ankle Lock (a blatant shot at TNA World Champ Kurt Angle). I understand that these things happen, and will continue to happen but it almost seems to me that the ridiculous stips that were put on the match were just so Michaels could break out “his” submissions and spit in the face of 3 former stars. I have no proof or even hearsay to back up my next claim, but it just seems to me like something he would do. Tell me that the stips and the three choice holds weren’t Vince’s idea, it just seems something the ego of Vince would do to lash out at those he feels have wronged him. Though, in my opinion, what Benoit did was wrong, Vince shouldn’t be mad at him, as there was no way any of the wrestling world could have ever seen it coming.

Matthew Dansie, Torch reader: To be honest, Shawn Michaels using the crossface doesn’t bother me at all. Why? Because it’s just a wrestling move. Banning moves because of real life issues is a real slippery slope. Basically what moves could then be allowed in what context? Can wrestlers choke each other with the television cables at ringside knowing that some one may have died that same way? What about the Chokeslam? That is a move in which some one is choked, albeit reather “softly”, but choking some one is considering assault. Just because a move is linked to a killer doesn’t mean it should be banned or not used, it just means it shouldn’t be trotted out in every match or put into the spotlight.

Jackie Davis, Torch reader: I think it was perfectly acceptable for Shawn Michaels to use the crossface finishing move. It has not been proven beyond any doubt that Chris Benoit murdered his family and committed suicide. There are too many unanswered questions. WWE cannot be truly discussed without Benoit’s name being brought up. He was one of the greatest and that is how he will always be remembered to me, not someone who is a murderer. Great going Shawn!

Joe Latzo, Torch reader: I personally believe that Shawn Michaels using the crossface was in bad taste. A lot of us are still hurting from the Benoit situation, even though it's been close to six months. I don't think that the move should be banned altogether, though. I'm all for someone using that hold one to two years down the line, but with the stuff that happening inside WWE right now (Congress, steroids, the Wellness Policy) it might be in their best interest to avoid all possible heat they can attract. Last time I checked, Vince McMahon said he was going to erase all memory of Benoit from the WWE. This doesn't help.

Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.

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