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Following is reader response to this week's Torch Newsletter column on the lack of mainstream coverage for the Mayweather vs. Big Show developments, and yesterday's Corner Cube blog on the Hornswoggle developments following Raw.

Mayweather vs. Big Show program

Zach Marcus, Torch reader: An aspect you didn't mention in your article was TNA. Like it or not, the Pacman Jones thing has hurt the Big Show angle. ESPN and other sports outlets covered that, but Pacman never got in the ring and did anything. I feel that the networks feel burned by pro wrestling after that, and are very hesitant to get back into it.

Terrie Nielsen, Torch reader: Being that I was there for the No Way Out PPV, I was observing the crowd when Mayweather got involved. I have to admit, I'm not much into boxing, but the moment itself felt important. The moment got the pop that it was meant to get, but it didn't feel like it was the mega-reaction WWE was hoping for. Here in Las Vegas, the talk is more about UFC than boxing. And, as far as boxing goes, there's really only two names: Mayweather and De La Hoya. WWE may want to consider injecting De La Hoya into the mix somehow, maybe in place of Mayweather's entourage. Yes, they are competitors in the boxing ring, but the brotherhood that is boxing (so this story goes) bands together when cornered.

Meanwhile, you're right that as hot that the moment was, you'd think that it would be big news here. Well, no. All that I've been really able to find in terms of coverage has been a brief blurb in the Las Vegas Sun and an article on KTNV that doesn't take it seriously.

Robert Kosimar, Torch reader: Just figured that I would chime in on this topic. I, too, was very surprised not to see any mainstream media coverage of the incident at No Way Out. On Monday, I did not see one news piece on any sports-related programming on ESPN or anywhere else. I asked a lady that I see at the gym every day that works at the local ABC affiliate if anything came across the wire about it and she said that the story came through Monday afternoon. I asked her if they were going to run the story, and she sad that the sports anchors balked at the idea, stating that (get ready for it...) "Wrestling is all fake". She said that she attempted to get them to watch the footage, so they could see that he really hit him and broke his nose. They would not listen. I would imagine the reaction is largely the same at many mainstream media outlets.

Here is what I do not 'get'. I was sitting at home on Tuesday watching ESPN. On each and every program (First Take, Around The Horn, PTI, OTL, SportsCenter) they talked on and on about Jason Taylor taking part in the next season of Dancing With Stars (conveniently on another Disney-owned channel), but did not even mention anything about Mayweather-Show. How in the world is Taylor dancing a story, but the best boxer on the planet getting in a legit fistfight with the largest athlete in the world is NOT a story? That makes absolutely no sense. There is not even a mention of it on ESPN.com's Boxing page! The only mainstream coverage at all that I have seen so far was on "Jim Rome is Burning" this afternoon. He talked about it in his 'Final Burn' for the day. Very strange, indeed.

I think it is possible that people have been so conditioned to the "Wrestling is fake" mentality that even when they see a video of someone clearly punching another person in the face, they still think it is fake. I also would surmise that mainstream media is hesitant to portray wrestling in any kind of attention-grabbing light, aside from things that are negative and will hurt the business, not draw more viewers and dollars in. Seriously, though, if people are going to make a big deal about Jason Taylor on DWTS and spend time reporting on it, then it seems to be a ridiculous double-standard to treat that as news-worthy, while treating a near-melee between the greatest boxer of the generation and a giant as a "nothing" story.

***

Hornswoggle angle

Brian Bazinet, Torch reader: It could just be a case of naivety on my part, but I didn't see any insidious hidden messages in the Hornswoggle angle last night. Neither did any friends I talked to, or "smart fans" on several message boards I viewed to see their thoughts on the matter. I honestly just felt that the medical updates are their way of writing the Hornswoggle character out without actually killing him off.

I'm sure if you want to find parallels to the Benoit tragedies that you can find them if you look hard enough and choose to think of them that way. People will view things the way they want to. But I didn't get the impression that there was any intention to play off of that and neither did anyone I talked to.

JC: I certainly hope Brian is right. I would be glad to be wrong on this being any way related to anything Benoit-related. The reason why I brought it up in the blog is because WWE has a recent history of exploiting death for TV storylines. If WWE had a clean reputation of handling sensitive issues with sensitivity, then it would be wrong to suggest this angle has anything to do with the Benoits. But, you have to look at WWE's recent track record. One was Eddie's death being exploited for storylines involving Rey and Chavo. That was followed by Vince faking his own death and WWE sending press releases promoting a distasteful TV storyline as a real-life event.

Matt Smith, Torch reader: Regarding the way the Hornswoggle follow up went down on ECW, I knew they were slipping in an F.U. to people regarding the Benoit deal, one Christopher Onionskins in particular, when they needlessly added in the whole brain damage bit. You know how Vince loves to interject his real feelings about outside media involvement in his storylines. That Irwin R. Schyster cameo rant was proof enough of that.

Having said that, depending on where week 2 takes us, I'll reserve complete judgment for the time being. My hope and gut feeling tells me that, while McMahon will fully get what he wanted out of his faux death angle, the end result will still be Finlay beating the crap out of him and JBL for their actions. I still thought the angle was done excellently, even though last night's ECW update was far too much.

Josh Jackson, Torch reader: First and for most, I would like to say that I have watched wrestling since I was 8 years old. I'm 23 now. All of my friends that I watch wrestling with are all the same - life-long fans. For some reason, we all love Hornswoggle, even though he is what I always complain about when I talk about WWE - a non-wrestler taking up TV time. The guy is special, though. He has the It factor. And you using the term "everyone's little brother "hit the nail on the head.

So Monday, as the event unfolded, I started to get upset. My friends start to get upset as we're sitting on the edge our seats screaming at the top of our lungs for someone to help him. Then JBL lawn-darted him into the cage, and I stood on my feet and screamed, "Wow dare they do this." The angle was only furthered by Finley screaming, "take it out on me" repeatedly. And for this I have to say Bravo for Vince and the WWE. I don't think I have ever been moved so much by an angle. We were all completely bummed. To have three grown men almost moved to tears, is a great accomplishment.

If they follow through with the storyline the way you think that they may, I will no longer be a fan of WWE. But I honestly think, as of this moment, it's the best TV the WWE has produced in ten years, if not ever. I'm the last guy to ever back the WWE. I have spent the past two years trying to convert my friend to TNA. But this angle has "license to print money" written all over it.

JC: The angle was great on Monday night. WWE spent about a good year protecting Hornswoggle, having him escape any and all stacked decks, and always leaving a big man's world safe and sound. Mike Roe and I used to half-joke on the C&R audio that Hornswoggle was the most popular wrestler on Smackdown because he never had to sell. He was like Hogan in the '80s because he was invincible. So, when the odds finally caught up to him after 12+ months of being protected, it actually meant something. It was epic TV

I'm conflicted by the follow-up, though, and where this might be going. I hope I'm wrong, as WWE created a great TV angle that can propel the undercard leading to WrestleMania. Like Matt and Josh said, the next few weeks of TV will be very telling on the tone WWE sets for the follow-up.

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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