By Wade Keller, Torch editor

The following is the "Ask the Torch" article originally published on Jan. 24, 2001...

Willy Malibiran of San Francisco asks: Do you know of a WWF Wrestler named The Masked Superstars. He wrestled in the 1980s along side Hulk Hogan and Don Muraco. I never knew who this wrestler was. What is his full name and is he still active as of today?

WK: Masked Superstar was Bill Eadie. He has wrestled on the indy scene periodically over the past few years. His last national exposure on a large scale was as Demolition Axe.

***

Joseph Harker asks: I heard that Kerry Von Erich wrestled with a prosthetic leg. I was wondering if that was true?

WK: Yes, it is true. Von Erich lost his foot and part of his ankle in a motorcycle accident. Rather than exploit the story of his miraculous comeback from such an injury, the situation was hidden in false shame that he was "handicapped." Kerry showered with his boots on and denied that he lost his foot even to other wrestlers. The story only became widely known after his death of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest stemming from his frustration with years of drug problems and run-ins with the law.

***

Toby asks: What the heck was that Armband test was wearing on Raw when he beat Regal for the Euro Belt? It read "Morley." Did Val Venis die or something?

WK: Test wore the armband in honor of his friend Val Venis, real name Sean Morley, who was grieving the death of his mother.

***

William Kemp of Atlanta, Ga. asks: I recently saw a tape of a squash match on Raw a couple of years back between the Public Enemy and the Acolytes. At least, I think it was a match. The Acolytes came down and beat the PE within an inch of their life and then left. What was that about? Now that I think about it, I remember the PE being abused during that entire run of theirs. What did they do to deserve what the Acolytes gave them?

WK: Public Enemy were hired on the recommendation of Terry Taylor, who was part of the booking staff in the WWF at the time. It didn't take long for Flyboy Rocco Rock and especially Johnny Grunge to be exposed for being below-par workers and Vince McMahon soon turned them into jobbers before releasing them. It was talent decision like that that contributed to McMahon and others in the WWF souring on Taylor's scouting ability. Public Enemy's weaknesses were masterfully camouflaged by Paul Heyman in ECW since they primarily brawled through the crowd and did table spots. Once put in a position to work an actual wrestling match in the ring, they were out of their league in just about every way. They also looked really undersized in the WWF. Grunge was especially in terrible shape. Of course, WCW snatched up Public Enemy after the WWF discarded them and found out the hard way the same thing - that almost none of the other wrestlers wanted to work with them.

***

Joe B. of Teaneck, N.J. asks: Back in '97, when Shawn Michaels relinquished the title because of a supposed knee injury and he was returning home to "find his smile", what was the real reason he left?

WK: Shawn Michaels was notoriously immature during his run on the top and the "find his smile" line was largely an attempt to get out of dropping the title by doing a high profile job. He did have injuries that he was wrestling with, and they did need time to heal, but virtually nobody in the WWF - management and wrestlers included - believed Michaels relinquished the title when he did for any reason other than he wanted to avoid doing the job. The WWF might be getting themselves into the same position this time with Michaels, since friends say Michaels isn't that different than he was before despite his loud proclamations that he has matured compared to three years ago. However, unlike last time, Michaels is just one of many top tier players and he won't have the leverage he once had. If the WWF is investing big money in him, though, they better be taking into account his past and making sure they have ways in writing to leverage him into appropriate conduct. The last thing they need is another Big Show or Mark Henry - an expensive guaranteed investment with an attitude or work ethic problem that makes them more trouble than they are worth.

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Background on Torch editor Wade Keller: Torch editor Wade Keller founded Pro Wrestling Torch in September 1987. He has been interviewed as a wrestling expert by dozens of TV and radio stations across the country; he has also been quoted in dozens of major newspapers and magazines across the world. Media entities that have featured Keller in stories covering wrestling include National Public Radio, Fox News Channel, ESPN Magazine, the New York Post, Entertainment Weekly, the All-News Channel, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He also hosted his own weekly two hour wrestling talk show on KFAN sport radio in the '90s. Over the past 17 years Keller has also interviewed, one-on-one, wrestling's top names for in-depth "Torch Talks" and feature articles including powerbrokers such as Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Jerry Jarrett, Bill Watts, Jim Cornette, Jim Crockett, Jim Herd, Paul Heyman, Terry Taylor, Kevin Sullivan, Jim Ross, and Vince Russo; top wrestling stars such as The Rock, Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Rick Steamboat, Jerry Lawler, Bill Goldberg, British Bulldog, Road Warrior Hawk, Jesse Ventura, and Hulk Hogan; and legends such as Lou Thesz, Gordon Solie, Bruno Sammartino, Roy Shires, Terry Funk, and Verne Gagne.

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