By James Caldwell, Torch columnist

Tom Morey of Columbus, Ga., Torch reader: I thought that Shawn Michael’s use of the cross-face made sense within the context of the match. He had to use submission moves that the crowd would recognize as potential match-enders and went with ones people would recognize: sharpshooter, crossface, ankle lock, and an abortive figure-four. He couldn’t use the triangle choke since that was being held for the final match. I don’t know that there are many other submission moves that most of the current WWE audience would recognize.

Adrian Nerenberg of Orangevale, California, Torch reader: Disbelief. That was my first reaction to the crossface applied by Shawn Michaels. I had to close my eyes, shake my head and even then I did not believe it until I heard Jim Ross utter the word crossface. Considering the religious family man that Michaels claims to be, I cannot believe he agreed to use the move. What in the hell was WWE thinking? Less than five months ago, Chris Benoit quite possibly used that very move to murder his son, now WWE is using it in the context of a match? Shame on you Vince McMahon, shame on you Shawn Michaels. Even shame on you Randy Orton for allowing that move to be applied to you. As far as I am concerned, last night you spat on the grave and memory of Nancy and Daniel Benoit.

Stephen McCabe, Torch VIP member: When Shawn Michaels applied the crossface, my initial reaction was "Oh my God, I can't believe that he is doing that move", but the more that I think about it I realize that I am not offended by it. In a strange way, I am glad that he did it. Chris Benoit committed a heinous crime and that should never be forgotten or glossed over but by not mentioning his name and refusing to do any of his signature moves, his shadow will always loom over the wrestling industry. In my opinion the best way to remove that shadow and allow wrestling fans some closure, is to do what Shawn Michaels did last night and that is to treat the crossface, sharpshooter, German suplex, knife edge chops etc. as just another move. Some people might say that not enough time has passed since the murders to begin this process but I think that there was never going to be a good time to start it - whether it had been six months or six years the first time that you see someone apply the crossface it was going to dredge up the memory of Benoit. As more and more wrestlers use these moves then the less people will associate them with Chris Benoit. The key is to ensure that it is not seen as some sort of tribute to Benoit - his name and legacy should never be mentioned again. The process will take time and will initially drag up some painful memories but in the long term it allows the fans and wrestlers to take ownership of the situation and remove the control that Benoit still exerts.

JJ of Wisc., Torch reader: My initial reaction to HBK using the crossface last night was that of shock and disappointment. It does not surprise me at all that the WWE would allow for the hold to be used, but it does surprise me a bit that HBK was the one to do it. I read HBK’s book, and it’s obvious the past couple of years that he is a different person than he was years ago. He claims to be a Christian, and appears to show more of those values on WWE programming (e.g. not participating in some of HHH’s immoral antics as part of DX). For that reason, it shocked me to hear that he would want to call attention to such an evil act, by using that hold. On the WWE’s side of things, nothing surprises me anymore. In the past year they have done such things as have a 10-bell salute for a fake death, and also allow all choke holds to continue directly after the Benoit incident.

On the flip side, I cannot say that I believe the hold should never be used again. However, I have no idea where that line should be drawn. The line between the WWE and reality gets blurred so often, that I am not sure what the proper “healing time” should be before anything “Benoit related” should be allowed. Take Stone Cold for instance. He’s been accused by his ex-wife Debra (not sure if anything was proven) of spousal abuse. However, we still see him enjoying violence on women on TV. He has no problem stunning the likes of Linda McMahon, etc. Violence on women does not occur only with Austin, but many other performers as well. TNA seems to really enjoy this. (I should point out that TNA is not innocent in all this either. They apparently think it’s good TV to have Black Reign stick Abyss’s head in a vice. Are you kidding me?) In closing, I felt it was bad taste for HBK to use that hold last night. It is still too soon.

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