CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCAST IPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
Pro Wrestling Torch
Pro Wrestling Torch Reaches The Most Wrestling Fans Every Week: #1 in iTunes • #1 on iPhone and iPad • #1 on Android • #1 on Kindle
GOT THE PWTORCH APP YET?
iPhone & iPad
Android
Amazon Kindle
Windows Phone
PWTorch Phone App
Ask PWTorch
ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 10/22: Why does The Rock seem more comfortable now than during his Cena feud? Did Low Ki really get fired by WWE? Should Reigns return as a heel? Has Vince McMahon had other altercations with wrestlers?

Oct 22, 2014 - 8:53:08 PM
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO BOOKMARK US & VISIT US DAILY


KingstonKofi_GGwide516_1.png


NOTE: This version of Ask PWTorch today is an APP EXCLUSIVE and not available at our free www.PWTorch.com website (although it is also available at our VIP website, where members enjoy full access to every article on every one of our platforms). Thanks for your support of our App and keep spreading the word about PWTorch to your friends who are wrestling fans!

Pro Wrestling Torch was established in 1987 by Wade Keller. One of the primary traits PWTorch has been credited with over the years is assembling the best and most diverse staff of columnists with broad knowledge, but also areas of specialty where they have a particularly strong grasp of history. Every day PWTorch.com presents that team of writers answering your questions, some of which are fact-based and others of which are opinion-based. Either way, we've got you covered with Bruce Mitchell, Pat McNeill, Sean Radican, Greg Parks, James Caldwell, and Wade Keller. Collectively they have over 80 years working for the Torch, writing about wrestling and studying industry history and trends.

If you have a question you'd like us to respond to, send your question to askpwtorch@gmail.com. I, along with the Torch staff, will address you questions in this feature and also the “Ask PWTorch: All-Star Panel” edition which is also published most days here at PWTorch.

===

PWTorch reader Eddric M. asks: With Roman Reigns losing a little bit of luster after the initial Shield break up and his current injury, do you think it would be smart to turn him heel once he returns? I think this would buy him time for an eventual babyface WM championship push at WrestleMania 32 and also create a bigger reaction from fans as a heel than what he was getting pre-injury. I got the feeling that most fans were developing an annoyance towards his obvious babyface WrestleMania 31 push so a surprising heel turn would give him a nice boost when he returns. Also, his mic skills at least as of now, suit a destroyer type heel (Brock Lesnar, old Kane, etc.) more than a face. Another year as a heel would give him time to develop that as well.

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: I think it's too early to abandon the babyface run. Most fans complain of wrestlers turning too often, and when you think about it, Reigns has already turned from heel to babyface since his debut. I think Reigns can get over as a face, but the booking of him needs to change. That sounds simple, and in some ways it really is. Reigns has shown signs of being a successful babyface, so I'm not on board for a heel turn yet.

PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell answers: I feel like Reigns's character is too fragile to go through a heelish stage. That feels like a short-term fix to the issue. I would argue that Reigns needs to return in heroic form making the save for a high-profile babyface in a sympathetic position after a long run of the heels getting one-ups. I'm picturing Daniel Bryan fighting uphill against The Authority for months and months and months this time last year. Unfortunately, The Authority is no longer a strong heel faction since they've tried to be cool at times and Stephanie McMahon is just "having fun" out there, so it's hard to set up a major opposition for Reigns to return against.

Could Seth Rollins, individually, be that guy? Perhaps. Brock Lesnar? Depends on how Lesnar is re-introduced. But, I think WWE starts with setting up a long beat down on a top, sympathetic babyface, Reigns makes the save in a supporting role (as opposed to instantly overshadowing the wrestler he saves), Reigns plays more of a silent assassin character for a while, and then he grows into the top babface role WWE wants him in. Where all of this fits on a timeline as it relates to WrestleMania is the big unknown. I think a reasonable destination is Summerslam 2015 for Reigns to organically grow into his main event shoes, then we'll see what happens for WM32.

===

PWTorch reader Uzoma I. asks: I have a new Low Ki question to ask. If Low Ki has been stating that WWE actually fired him rather than him asking for his release, why did they do so?

PWTorch columnist Pat McNeill answers: Low Ki was brought on to NXT because certain people in WWE wanted him to fail on live television, thus proving that non-WWE wrestlers stink and the people who raved about Low Ki's abilities didn't know what they were talking about. Instead, Low Ki got over and won NXT, and that pissed WWE off. So, they jobbed him out and fired him. The end.

===

PWTorch reader Chad G. asks: Did you see the excerpt from Chris Jericho's book about Kofi and Vince having a scuffle on an airplane? If Vince supposedly respected Kofi Kingston for standing up for himself why do you think he was never given a decent push? Also do you know of any other times Vince McMahon has had physical altercations with other wrestlers or officials?

PWTorch columnist Sean Radican answers: I haven't gotten a chance to begin reading the book yet other than skimming through it a bit. I hadn't seen the story on the Kingston-McMahon confrontation. I think Kingston has never been given a decent push because he hasn't been given the chance to get over. Even if McMahon respected Kingston after their conversation, he still has to believe Kingston can deliver as a performer and Kingston hasn't done a lot to show me that he's worthy of a push. nI have heard of the Kurt Angle story that WrestlingInc.com referenced in their article about the story. One of my favorite McMahon stories is him taking finishing moves from other wrestlers to show how tough he is behind the scenes. I can't remember where I heard the story, but there's a great one involving McMahon taking the Hart Attack finish from the Hart Foundation at a bar. That's the best behind the scenes story I've heard involving Vince that I can recall right now.

===

PWTorch reader Ludovic L. from France: Hi from France! I love the Ask PWTorch section! It seems to me that, since his return in 2011, The Rock is much more comfortable with the microphone when he is around just once in a while (his return speech in 2011, his segment with Rusev...), rather than during his feud with John Cena I feel like he was a little bit off when he was on Raw every week. Do you agree on that? If so, do you have any explanation? Thank you, and keep up the great work!

PWTorch columnist Greg Parks answers: I think some of it may have to do with having less pressure now, not having your mic work scrutinized because it's leading up to the main event of WrestleMania (though it's hard to see someone like The Rock succumbing to that kind of pressure). The mic battle with Cena was also a lot more personal and Cena was on another level talent-wise than some of the other guys (and women) he's interacting with now. That could have something to do with it, but that's just speculation on my part.

PWTorch editor Wade Keller answers: Remember when Rock was around for three WrestleManias, WWE set up a storyline that portrayed him as someone who got a big head and dared to leave the "family of WWE" for Hollywood, and then thought he was a big shot who could just walk right back to WWE and welcome again. Cena's promos were centered around his sticking around and being loyal to WWE (as if there is even a tiny chance he would turned down Rock's massively more lucrative movie offers and stayed in WWE if he actually had the same choices Rock had). So rather than Rock being able to be Rock, he was cast against a babyface (and a company) that was bashing him and planting seeds in the minds of fans that Rock was stealing spots and trying to return home after abandoning them. So of course he was uncomfortable. Rock being able to just be Rock and play off of heels plays to his strengths. Rock having to stand there and take the type of counter-productive, nasty criticism he faced with the Cena feud of course made him seem less in a groove.

===

Catch up on past Ask PWTorch articles...

-ASK PWTORCH - FREE WEBSITE.
-CLICKING HERE - ASK PWTORCH - VIP VERSION

********

(Send your question for PWTorch editor Wade Keller and the PWTorch staff exclusively to pwtorch@gmail.com for consideration! You can hear expanded conversation on the above topics from Wade Keller by becoming a VIP member and gaining access to the daily Wade Keller Hotline, posted every day for VIP members for over 1,000 days straight. Sign up at www.PWTorch.com/govip)


We suggest these recent related articles...
ASK THE SPECIALISTS ROUNDTABLE: Who will be WWE's Next Top Star?
SATURDAY’S ASK PWTORCH STAFF for 4/11: How should WWE cater to Texas at WM32? Does WWE using Sting and Hogan add to chances more TNA wrestlers are hired? Do NXT gimmick wrestlers have a chance? Is El Generico really Sami Zayn?
THURSDAY’S ASK PWTORCH ALL-STARS 4/9: Are El Generico & Sami Zayn the same person? Next MITB cash-in for IC or U.S. belt? What match do you show non-fans so they get it? Why don’t heel teams cheat?
prowrestling.net
CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE PW.NET HEADLINES


CLICK TO EMAIL THIS ARTICLE
CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING

NEW! SIGN UP FOR FREE PWTORCH BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS
BECOME A PWTORCH VIP MEMBER
-FORMER MEMBERS LOGIN HERE TO RENEW
-NEW MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
SELECT BY ARTICLES CATEGORY
SEARCH PWTORCH.COM



CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF UPCOMING PRO WRESTLING EVENTS
MORE HEADLINES AT AFFILIATE SITES
MMATorch
LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR MORE MMATORCH HEADLINES



LATEST HEADLINES - CLICK TO READ CLICK HERE FOR EVEN MORE INC HEADLINES

_
LATEST FREE AUDIO SHOWS - CLICK TO LISTEN VIEW MORE PWTORCH LIVECAST EPISODES
DOWNLOAD PWTORCH LIVECAST APP
SUBSCRIBE TO PWTORCH LIVECAST IN ITUNES


ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
500 MILLION CLICKS & LISTENS PER YEAR
MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


**SIGN UP FOR VIP ACCESS HERE**

CONTACTABOUTFACEBOOKTWITTERPODCASTIPHONE APPANDROID APPAMAZON APPRSS
VIP SIGN-UP
VIP LOGIN
THE TORCH: #1 IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE | © 1999-2013 TDH Communications Inc. • All rights reserved -- PRIVACY POLICY