By Jon Cudo, PWTorch specialist

TRUE - RIC FLAIR WILL APPEAR AT WWE's HALL OF FAME CEREMONY

The hubbub over Ric Flair appearing at WWE's induction ceremony of the Horsemen is much ado over nothing. While Flair is always in the discussion as the greatest of all time, in 2012, publicly elevating him means little to WWE, and TNA should be inclined to let him appear. It is not as though putting Flair on a USA special that draws less than a weekly Impact Wrestling show is going to translate into a massive ratings boost for TNA.

Dropping by to raise four fingers with Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, and Barry Windham would be a fun night for Flair, and any ancillary publicity for TNA is a bonus. Appearing at the live show or on TV would only elevate Flair in a way that walking down the aisle with Gunner could never do. TNA would be foolish to impede Flair from attending, and they have less reason than WWE to limit him being a visible participant on TV or for the live crowd.

WWE may have some reservation from showing Flair on TV, but TNA is hardly WWE's biggest concern. Also in the context of showcasing the once charismatic Flair as a Hall of Fame legend doesn't exactly create a money player for TNA. TNA hasn't shown much ability to capitalize on a money player when they have one, anyway.

WWE has consistently treated the Hall of Fame with restraint and consideration, and not as a place for petty games and storyline angles. With that in mind, some benefits to TNA, Flair's place in history, and his connections within WWE, I assume we will see Flair at the 2012 Hall of Fame ceremony.

FALSE - A FUNKASAURUS IS A MONSTER

Brodus Clay might be a lot of things, a wrestling monster even...but it's unlikely that this Funkasaurus version will be. What debuted Monday is much more likely to be pushed and treated as a mid-card comedy act, which I would also argue could be the best place for Brodus at this time. His role on NXT and as Alberto Del Rio's bodyguard did not point to a breakout star, rather a big man with upside. Rushing him into a main event is not likely to work and could end up damaging how people perceive him in the future. It's easier to grow into the main event after being saddled with a weak gimmick than it is to be accepted as a talent after a failed or aborted main event push. In the first case, fans see growth and in the latter they see a re-hashed failure.

There has also been talk that Brodus could follow the Mark Henry path from a really silly, off-beat gimmick like Sexual Chocolate and WWE could be planning to turn the Funkasaurus into a monster heel down the road. Sure, that's true they could follow that path...but this is not WWE's pattern of growing characters. Let's not forget that Sexual Chocolate was a character 12 years ago. So, unless WWE is hoping for Brodus to headline PPVs in 2025 it is unlikely that is the plan.

TDB - BRODUS CLAY

The likely reality is that the WWE didn't think that Brodus was ready for prime time, which I agree. He has potential, but it's years away, not months.

It is also likely that what you see is what see is what you get with his funky persona, it's not the launch pad for his next character. This won't be an immediate impetus for Brodus to rebel and unleash his inner monster on John Laurinaitis. He's just going to be a dancin' fool for a while. Characters like Chris Jericho are taking us on a journey, characters like Brodus are taking us to the dance floor.

If anything is clear from Brodus's reintroduction over the last two months is that this was booked on the fly, changed to reflect how WWE perceives Clay, and meant to get a laugh, not create an opponent for John Cena or Randy Orton.

While this has sparked a great deal of talk and speculation, the real future of the man from the Planet of Funk has yet to be determined. [And, I can't believe I just typed that.]

***

Jon Cudo is the newest PWTorch Specialist, presenting the "True-False-TBD" format. Jon has worked in the sports entertainment industry for over 20 years, including major league sports teams and Nike. He has been a life-long pro wrestling fan and has attended WWE, WCW, and ROH events in person, including backstage access at multiple events. He grew up in Minnesota and now lives in Cleveland. He runs his own business, www.GameOps.com, a web site designed to connect sports teams and event producers with ideas and tools that will enhance the entertainment value for fans attending their events.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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