More like condemation.

Ok, I am not going to state matches here. There is really no reason to. All it has been that Smackdown, even though its the B (read Bush-Leauge) show- doesnt have the owners of the company basicly rampaging all over the Program. At least there are a few workers there, that might start to become stars. It makes no sense when McMahan is trying to get Lucha stars for the RAW based program...

Or maybe it does? Because it seems to me its indictive of the demographic changes that are happening all over the United States(part of it is based on Illegal Immagration, but then again- I am not in the buisness of talking Political issues.)

WWE has there PPV's numbers recounted, and a 4th Quarter Dividened. So now they make two BONEHEADED moves. The first was to take Jim Ross off of RAW. The second was to humilate him on live TV.

I dont even want to talk about the writing on the show. Other than Alexis Larree (who in her OVW days looked like Magumi Toyota, only 15 years younger- and back in 1989-1990 Toyota had appered in anime and her own MANGA) getting the X-Men Ladies look (if you ever read the comics you would understand what I am talking about), John Cena for all of his problems, is writing his own stuff again, and HHH keeping his rants to 10 mins, the rest of the show was off and got off kilter.

Now "The Power Is Back" it seems (wait- doesnt a Power Company own that now?) and they are going to find somebody Younger to replace Jim Ross. That seems intresting (didnt many in the boards wanted JR to go because he was a shell of his former self?) However, many on the IWC- want JR to stay. He might be the best since Solie (and after JR is Styles)- but is it time for new blood? Or Training at least to find new blood?

They had the perfect time to do so back in late 2000, they had time do it in when Chris Benoit won the title (which should have ended the 'tude Era in WWE- but now its nearly 2 years late) So why the delay?

Is it because the WWE screwed the pooch when they realized that Coachman and Cole was lambased by the fans (which the company also fired...how Ironic)

Then came the major changes to the WWE site (started way back with the ECW One Night Stand)

Then the WWE tried to get Mike Goldberg from the UFC- because Goldberg is not stupid, he stayed with UFC (remember- When Jim Ross was taken from the Crocket Era NWA-WCW, he was put in as a color man first and Vince was the Play By Play man)

Now Coachman- (who is not - a pretty man- by any strech, according to my "GF") is saying the IWC has no balls.

Now people are wondering (via this half shoot/half worked storyline) what is going on?

Its simple. The writing is trying to recapure the 'tude era of 1996-200(and when will it end?) and Failing majorly.

Its getting bad when catfights get started over copying of charators.

Its getting bad when the bush league show gets even more bush league (The sandman anyone?)

Its getting worse when midgets get to use illegal moves- and make the show even more bush league.

The intresting thing is about this week, it tells everything we need to hear about RAW, Smackdown and WWE- hell the whole pro game as well.

With all the money they have- and all dividends they will make and can make- there in crisis. TNA (where as Batista is doing the circa 2002 NJPW style half shoot/half work while talking about how AJ Styles sucks in the ring? I love ya Batista- your honest- but PLEASE. AJ has been in a few more **** star programs than you have yet. Your best chance AT one is the IWPG Heavywight Champ. He could have another **** match in Bound By Glory...) despite all there issues, is NOTHING compared to what happend with the WWE, and all the DRAMA, which need more in the ring and compent writers to tell that story- but we have nither. I am not a huge fan of TNA- but if Jarret was a smart man, he needs to remember the Jim Crockett days of NWA-WCW, where Corrnette based his bread and butter on when he was in OVW- and produce that type of product and make it fresh and exiting. If it worked with flair and steamboat- it can work for the Heavy division for TNA- where as the X division needs the NJPW/CMLL/AAA/ROH influance more. I see aspets of that in NOAH's Heavywaight matches. They need to create a system that ROH uses for Title Matches for ALL of there belts (it works somewhat in UFC-but they need to use this more often) Then the writing needs to be competant. Thats all. I can live with ** 1/2 matches once every four matches (which they can do- they have the talent to do so to do ***'s and up)

In a way, This week has been an clearing of the air of things I have kept to myself about The Brand for a while. They have been exposed badly, and if anybody was smart in this business, they will know what NOT to do by learning what the WWE has done this week.

The WWE right now is a caricature of popular culture which in itself is a caricature of the sum of the insecurities of human beings. From a psychological standpoint, does anyone besides me think that the WWE in it's current state(and you could make a case for 20 years ago) is all of Vince's insecurities come to life?

Lets look at what the WWE did this week before, during and after Raw:

Todd asked Coach when he joined the company six years ago, how J.R treated him. Did he take him under his wing and “show him the ropes” in the business. Coach says he would tell anyone who asked in interviews etc that J.R was the greatest voice of all time, but the bottom line is that J.R was miserable. He’s miserable all the time. He never wanted to help Coach, or Cole, or even Grisham, to which Todd said he needed help. Coach added he needed a lot of help. The bottom line is as great an announcer as J.R was, all the “Internet geeks” who have been emailing The Coach the last few days whining about J.R. being fired, they don’t know what J.R was like behind the scenes. He was miserable, he wasn’t nice to anybody. So why not make a change? When they moved to USA network, that’s what they needed to do. So we can write whatever we want. Coach knows nobody likes him. The Internet doesn’t like him. The “internet geeks” don’t like him. Then he goes on about how he called out Dave Scherer, who he claims also doesn’t like him, two weeks ago, and Dave was a ‘wuss’ for not even writing about it on his website when he got called out. (My guess is when he called Dave out two weeks ago; he probably wasn’t loud enough for Dave to hear him) Todd got a bright idea and said since this is an open forum (sure, it is), if Dave Scherer is watching to call in. Coach extended that invitation to any “internet geek” who has a problem with him.

 

Jonathan Coachman continued to "call out" PWInsider.com's Dave Scherer, during his appearance on WWE.com's talk show ByteThis! (he had originally made comments about Scherer during a WWE.com "Coachcast"). Following is Dave Scherer's statement, posted earlier today on PWInsider.com:

 

I don't know what Coach wants to happen with mentioning me on on WWE.com programming. I don't know what he said about me two weeks ago, but when he mentioned me on his Coachcast last week (which I assume is what he is referring to), I did post a tongue-in-cheek mention of it here on the site. I don't know what else he wants from me so I will just leave it at this. I have heard he's a nice guy. I think he's an entertaining heel character. But, he is just not a good play-by-play man. In addition to not knowing most of the moves he is supposed to call, he has a really bad habit of saying things at the wrong time. He also bears the brunt of saying all of the things that Vince McMahon feeds him into his headset, but that is his choice. I do have to say that I find it really surprising that a WWE contracted talent is looking to start a web flame war, on the official WWE site no less, with a reporter. It certainly shows a change in philosophy by the company and is pretty interesting.

You've more than likely heard the story by now. Vince McMahon offered a huge announcing contract to Mike Goldberg, who has been the UFC's play-by-play man for many years. The multi-year WWE contract that was offered to Goldberg had a total value of more than $1 million over the life of the contract, and it was offered to Goldberg partially as an attempt by WWE to hurt the UFC, and partially because WWE already planned to fire its own long-time play-by-play man, Jim Ross, due to the fact that Ross has Bell's Palsy and is not as physically "attractive" as WWE would like. Goldberg seriously considered WWE's offer, before ultimately re-signing with the UFC.

 

However, there is more to the story, and these additional details shine a bright light on just how dirty Vince McMahon's business tactics can be when he thinks of himself as being "at war" with another organization. Vince McMahon's original plan was to secretly sign Mike Goldberg before the WWE vs. UFC showdown on October 3rd, and then have Mike Goldberg no-show the UFC event without notice, according to a report by the Wrestling Observer.

 

If McMahon's plan had gone as he hoped, the UFC would not have heard from Mike Goldberg at all on October 3rd, and would not even have known where he was. Goldberg would have no-showed the UFC event, and Zuffa would have found out that Goldberg had signed with WWE by seeing him appear on live television as the lead announcer of WWE Raw on USA Network that same night.

 

By doing this, Vince McMahon would have not only signed Mike Goldberg away from the UFC, but he would have left the UFC with literally zero notice to find someone to do play-by-play on the UFC's live broadcast on Spike TV. And while this detail wasn't part of the Observer's report, sources tell MMAWeekly that WWE was ready and willing to pay Mike Goldberg a one-time bonus in the high five-figures (possibly even as much as $100,000) simply for the act of no-showing the UFC event without notice in order to sign with WWE.

 

So, why didn't the double-cross take place as Vince McMahon wanted it to? Quite simply, because not everyone thinks like Vince McMahon does, and Mike Goldberg is a decent human being who wouldn't do something like that. As the Observer reported, "The only reason it didn't go down as planned by McMahon is because Goldberg was professional enough to refuse to no-show the UFC event."

 

Not only did Goldberg refuse to double-cross the UFC by no-showing the October 3rd event without notice, but when he arrived in Las Vegas for the UFC event on October 3rd, he told Zuffa about the double-cross offer that had been made by WWE.

 

At that point, with Goldberg fulfilling his play-by-play duties on the UFC's October 3rd Spike TV show, while also missing the October 7th UFC pay-per-view because of a previous committment, Goldberg would spend much of the next week trying to decide whether he was going to sign with WWE or re-sign with the UFC, and he eventually decided to re-sign with the UFC.

 

Promotional tactics like this are nothing new from Vince McMahon, as numerous pro wrestling promoters from the 1980's and 1990's could tell you. When McMahon views himself as being in competition with an organization, he will do anything to hurt that organization. The Observer report on McMahon's offer to Mike Goldberg stated that WWE deemed it to be extremely important to "send a message to its competitors and get the paranoid mind games advantage."

 

The Observer also reported that despite Vince McMahon's long history of doing these kinds of things, Zuffa was completely naive about it and didn't think such a thing could happen to them. The Observer reports that the whole experience with the Goldberg double-cross offer from WWE was "a major eye-opening for the UFC, as those in the company had largely believed it was bullet-proof from McMahon's direct business attacks because of the difference in the product."

 

In reality, if Vince McMahon thinks he's at war with you, then he's at war with you, regardless of whether you're running a pro wrestling company or an MMA company. Further evidence of WWE aggressively going after the UFC was the fact that the "WWE Homecoming" special re-aired on USA Network last Friday night at 10:00 PM, not-so-coincidentally head-to-head with the UFC's pay-per-view.

 

In the process of finding someone to do play-by-play for the October 7th UFC show, Zuffa kept Craig Hummer's name very quiet because it was widely believed in both the pro wrestling and MMA industries that WWE would have offered Hummer a very large amount of money (likely well into five-figures) not even to work for WWE, but simply to no-show the UFC's pay-per-view without notice. Hummer did the UFC pay-per-view as scheduled on Friday night, so either WWE couldn't get in touch with him on Friday, or they did get in touch with him but he turned down their offer.

 

MMAWeekly.com also just posted an interview with Goldberg. Here are some comments:

 

“They contacted me through a talent agency six weeks ago…” Goldberg told MMAWeekly.com. “I got the message through my agent, that they had a great interest in me and I’ve always heard they were a great organization so they were interested in talking to me and I was interested in hearing what they had to say.”

 

“I was skeptical leaving everything I’ve done for years, meaning the UFC and my sports broadcasting background with Fox Sports Network. I was not really skeptical of the WWE though. They treated me with great class through the whole thing. They are the best at what they do which is sports entertainment. I believe the UFC is the best at what they do and that's Mixed Martial Arts. What I was originally hopeful for was that I could still have a role with F.S.N and the UFC and begin a role with the WWE. I wanted to see what my other employers would say about working for both companies, because at the time the WWE was still with Spike TV, as was the UFC. When it got latter in the process I found out I would have to leave my other things and make a decision one way or another.” Goldberg said.

 

So after a six week negotiation period with the WWE, Goldberg verbally accepted a deal with the WWE. “We agreed to financial terms at one point, but we still had to work some things out contract wise. I never signed anything however. If I signed a contract I would have been with them. That’s how I do business. If I sign something I stand by it.”

Earlier today, Jim Ross underwent a medical procedure to his colon in hopes of alleviating pain he has been enduring for several weeks.

 

“They found something massive in my intestines,” said J.R. in a phone conversation with WWE.com. “They don’t know what it is, but they will have to cut out part of my intestines.”

 

Ross’ surgery is scheduled to take place next week in Oklahoma. As a result, he will be hospitalized for three to five days. WWE.com will have more information on J.R. as it becomes available.

 

COACH TELLS THE WORLD HE'S A BIG PWINSIDER.COM FAN, SMACKDOWN TO GET TRUE FIRST TEST ON FRIDAY THIS WEEK, HEAT TO AIR LIVE ON WWE.COM SUNDAY AND MORE

by Dave Scherer @ 10:30:00 PM on 10/5/2005

 

Well, he really didn't, but during his latest edition of Coachcast on WWE.com, The Coach ranted on internet websites, and myself in particular.  I wasn't even going to mention it, but I have gotten a ridiculous amount of email from people about it so I figured I better put an item up about it on the site so that they all know they don't need to email me about it any more.  All I have to say is thanks for reading and supporting the site Coach, and I won't even hold it against you that you mispronounced my last name!  Coach also had Christian on for a few minutes for an in-character interview.  For those that want to listen to it, go the main page of WWE.com.

I know that there's going to be people who don't understand. I'm sorry... I can't help the way I feel about HER (I Hope you know who HER is). I tried my best to get along with the girl. It's just not meant to be. I don't know if you've seen America's Next Top Model and how cady girls can be on that show... well, welcome to my world with HER. She hated me from the day I I showed up to Louisville. She made sure my life there wasn't great. You WOULD think it was a new person thing, but when new people came around, I was still the one who got her crap. But you know, as she tried to break me.... I just got stronger and tried harder. Our work got us on tv and She hated that I was on tv first.

 

She hated that I got any attention at all. You know.... I don't consider myself pretty. Not at all. Not like the other girls. And I am cool with that. Like I have said before, looks come and go but the way I am, the way i treat people and the things I accomplish in life... that can never be taken away from me. I can die right now knowing how I touched peoples lives.... I know that I did things on my terms. I never took off my clothes, kissed ass or slept with anyone to get my spot. I worked hard. I'm not perfect but I give the people my all.

 

Which brings up something else. Do you think I am in wrestling to be on tv? I'm a shy person. I'm not very social. I love living my life surrounding myself with people who love me and care about me. But here I opened a door where people treat me like crap because they are jealous and scared... But you know what? I love wrestling very much. I feel like I'm perfect for it. And I'm just going to get better with time. When I worked as Kyra I had little girls come up to me and they loved me. That really meant the world. I want to be a strong woman that other women look up to... if you notice, heal woman are normally slutty, my character isn't. So I try.

 

SOME PEOPLE are willing to do anything to be on tv. They would do porn, sleep around, and do absolutely ANYTHING to be there even be very ugly to people.

 

I could care less about what SHE does but she made it a point everyday to purposely hurt me. To go out of her way to say things. To steal moves that I have and use it on ovw tv knowing that my character can't wrestle but hers can... by spreading rumors about me. By talking behind my back to people.... OMG! I thought I was done with all that in high school! Why would a person go to all that trouble? Wouldn't it be easier to just do your job and be happy with your life? Of course I'm not going to think fondly of her. Not only was she not so cool with me but she treats my best friend the way and she BADLY hurt someone I love repeatedly knowing what she was doing.

 

I was so happy to go to Smackdown. To not have to deal with the high school drama. I thought her fixation on me would die but she continues to ATTEMPT to dress like me. She would even try say certain phrases I would say. She would try to do my entrance in class everyday. And the weirdest thing is that no one said anything about it.

 

She went to smackdown this week and everyone was commenting on how she had her hair like me and was dressing like me. Even had a jacket like mine. She debut with boots that I have. I hate dealing with this. I just want to have fun in wrestling. Some one brought up that if she was supposed to be Trish's crazed fan... why didn't she dress like Trish. I had people backstage saying she was my lunatic fan.

 

On that subject, If you ever watched OVW and followed it, you would see that she used to wear regular wrestling gear before I got there.Then it all changed when I debut on OVW.

I've always been kinda different. I like to create things and be original. But it's not cool to copy ya know?

 

You guys, I know she is a decent wrestler. Her knowledge of stuff is more impressive than her ability. She always hated me because I can top her athletically but I just don't have the years of knowledge. I was impressed with her when I first got to Louisville but she got fatter and lazier as time went by. It's a shame. And while the other girls would work hard and bump their asses off she would conveniently go to the bathroom. I worked injured a lot. Jillian did too. It's because it sucks to not be able to wrestle. We couldn't just watch. But SHE would have an "injury" (sometimes similar to mine) but would use it as an excuse to get out of training. I have no respect for that.

 

When I went to OVW my goal was to get better at wrestling while I was there. I wanted to learn faster. I wanted to have dramatic improvement from when I first got to OVW to when I got to the WWE. I am proud that I did that. As for her.... she didn't improve. She actually got worse. It's sad how she goes through the motions when the art in wrestling is feeling it. And for me She isn't believable. She wrestled great with Jillian because Jillian would cover up al her mistakes and Jillian is strong enough to base her heaviness for moves. She has no hops. But I'm happy for what I accomplished there.

 

I can't wait to wrestle Especially with Jillian. Bubba Dudley told us our matches were like Trish and Lita. We were believable. I can't wait to have matches with her. It kills me to not wrestle. But I WANT to manage. Why go down in history like every other female wrestler. I want to do it all. And if you think being a manager is easy, it's not. That's why there isn't many out there. I am a part of my guys match. I have to know where everyone is at all times, to be aware of absolutely everything, I'm directing guys to where the cameras are (my extra tid bit) and I have to know the rules. The newer girls just stand there. Which job is easier? It kills me to hear people say I don't do anything or that my job is easy. You have no idea. As a manager I am a part of wrestling and I have learned a lot. YES, I want to wrestle but if managing is a way to be apart of it, I AM SO going to do that. I want to be a part of it anyway shape or form.

 

Back To ....HER. She is just not cool. But I can understand you want to see people who know how to wrestle on tv... I wish I can hire girls who are cool, are athletic, and are great entertainers but It's not my job. I also understand that you just want to enjoy the show not knowing anything else that would alter your enjoyment of the show. SO, I'm going to save the rest for when I write my book. I hope my book will inspire people to keep going when people hold you back.... that even when people steal your ideas, come up with new ones.... don't let them ever hold you down.

 

As for her career. Congratulations is all I can say even though I don't care.

 

LAST time Dave Batista spoke to us, his views on the wrestling business were so controversial he was blasted by WWE boss Vince McMahon and had good friends turn their back on him.

 

But even that experience hasn't stopped Batista - now the company's world heavyweight champion - from speaking his mind.

 

In this new and exclusive webchat, The Animal gives his honest opinions on everyone from JBL and Brock Lesnar to Muhammed Hassan and Bobby Lashley.

 

Batista also answers your questions on winning the WWE title from Triple H at WrestleMania 21, the new Ultimate Warrior DVD, Ultimate Fighting and much more.

 

And you can catch The Animal in action when the WWE hit Europe in November. They will be visiting cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Coventry, Sheffield, Hamburg and Helsinki. For ticket info click here.

 

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When we interviewed you before WrestleMania you said Smackdown made you "sick" and that some of the stars were "not there to work" - did you get much heat for those comments?

The LilsBoys

 

Oh yes - tons of heat!

 

I got lectured by Vince McMahon, The Undertaker and all the way down. I had good friends who just turned on me. Well, I thought they were good friends. Some of them are not with the company now.

 

But I spoke from my heart then and I still feel that today.

 

Maybe I chose the wrong forum to voice that opinion but I was speaking from the heart.

 

When we were having that discussion we were talking about the competition between Raw and Smackdown.

 

I didn't mention anybody on Raw, but there were guys on Raw I had the same sentiment about - who were absolutely lazy, had no passion and I thought should not be there.

 

The same goes now. I'm putting my foot in my mouth again but I still think there are guys on both shows who are lazy, couldn't care less and show no dedication. But we're slowly weeding those guys out.

 

I want everybody in this company to work as hard as me, Triple H and The Undertaker do. I want them to sack the guys who lack the passion for this business and this company - I don't want them to be part of my show.

 

Some of the guys who I think should be on their way out the door are still being given opportunities to shine, and it's up to them to take the bull by the horns and show that they really want to be out there.

 

Then there are some guys, like Christian, who are dying for that chance and aren't being given that opportunity.

 

I'm a huge fan of Christian - I enjoy every aspect of his work, the fans love and appreciate him, he has a great attitude, awesome work ethic, is always in shape and is very smart about the business. I feel very strongly that he's underutilised.

 

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How far in advance of your switch to Smackdown did you find out you were going? Did you have a say in the move?

Karl Carthy

 

I had no say about changing shows. I wasn't told but I found out about three weeks before.

 

When John Cena came to Raw I said to Vince: "I guess this means I'm going to Smackdown." And he replied: "Yes you are."

 

The only other thing I said about it was to ask him when.

 

I knew he was putting me into a leadership role and I was nervous about it, but also really excited.

 

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Do you see being on Smackdown as a demotion of sorts, as Raw is clearly the bigger show right now with bigger stars and better creative.

Karl Carthy, Laois, Ireland

 

Looking at the two shows compared to last season I wouldn't say Raw have a stronger talent base.

 

On Smackdown we have Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and The Undertaker. That's a very strong line-up.

 

I get a sense that we're starting over and building the brand - telling new stories and starting new feuds.

 

Right now we're in the transition phase and once we get our feet under us - especially now we're on Friday nights - it's going to be a whole new Smackdown.

 

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How special was it to win your first world championship from Triple H at WrestleMania 21?

Brian Westcott, Meridian, Idaho, USA

 

It still feels like a dream. I've always wanted it so badly, and fought my ass off to get it, but it's something I never thought would happen.

 

In the week leading up to WrestleMania I couldn't sleep at all, I was running on pure adrenalin.

 

In the three and a half hours before my match I was trying to stay as calm as possible and spend time with my family.

 

I know it sounds strange but I tried my best not to think about the match, because every time I did I started shaking and getting nauseous.

 

I watched a little bit of WrestleMania on the night, but I couldn't sit still long enough to see an entire match.

 

It is absolutely the most terrifying thing I've ever done in my life.

 

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Which of your three matches with Triple H did you like the most and why?

Joe Eye Joe, Hackney, London

 

Definitely the Hell In A Cell match at Vengeance.

 

Just watching that match as a fan - and I do still enjoy wrestling as a fan - the drama was wonderful.

 

For the finish I picked Triple H up for the Batista Bomb and he had a sledgehammer in his hand - so right up until the very last second of that match the fans didn't know who was going to win.

 

That's why I love it so much.

 

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Hi Batista. Did anyone, especially Triple H, question you beating him all three times?

Phil

 

No, there was no politics at all.

 

When Triple H picked Randy Orton and I for Evolution he was choosing who he wanted to be the next leaders of the company.

 

I owe everything to Triple H - I can't say enough about what he's done for his career.

 

Before he took me under his wing I had no direction or sense of who I was.

 

I was just a musclehead goofball carrying a box around and couldn't let what little personality I have shine through.

 

Then I joined Evolution and was trying to find myself as a performer, when Triple H actually said to me: "I see a bit of Clint Eastwood about you, so I suggest that's what you do on screen."

 

So I'm just playing myself now - I go out there and have fun!

 

I remember the moment, after I joined Evolution, when everything changed.

 

Vince told me: "I want you to got out there and be this insatiable camera hog." So I modelled and posed and hogged the camera as much as I could.

 

When I came back Vince was so fired up and was screaming: "That's money, that's money, I smell money."

 

I don't remember the show or what city we were in, but I'll never forget Vince screaming at me.

 

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Hi Batista. I have to be honest - I didn't like your programme with JBL half as much as your feud with Triple H? What was it like working with JBL?

Richard, London

 

It was very difficult and I was a little disappointed with our matches.

 

JBL and I have absolutely zero chemistry.

 

Enough said about that.

 

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Are you looking forward to the Triple H v Ric Flair programme? Could Evolution ever reform now all four of you have gone your separate ways?

Lorrie McDonald

 

Absolutely - it's going to be good! Triple H and Ric have awesome chemistry and, as a fan, this is a dream match.

 

I was there for the Homecoming show and the mood in the building when Triple H attacked Ric was very emotional, you could feel the tension in the building.

 

As for Evolution getting back together - never say never.

 

Now's not the time but what we had in Evolution was incredible and it was an amazing thing for all our careers.

 

One thing we're all serious about is that we don't want to recreate it or add other people in.

 

Evolution is Evolution and if something was to happen in the future then it would have to be all four of us.

 

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How often do you now speak to Triple H? Is it hard not having him on Smackdown with you?

Kevin, Tottenham

 

It's not hard, but I am still getting used to Triple H not being there.

 

I still look to him for advice, he's got a mind for this business like nobody else. We speak at least once a week.

 

Triple H won't be critical unless I ask him, because he and the company made this decision for me to be my own man and carry this company on my shoulders. But I do ask a lot!

 

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How well did the WWE's feeder federation OVW prepare you for the big time?

Kev

 

I really wasn't prepared well for the WWE in OVW and when I came up there were a few times where my job was in jeopardy - and I think that's not fair.

 

There are still people brought up without the right preparation. Look at Bobby Lashley - I don't even think he's close to ready.

 

Bobby Lashley, if held back for a while, could have been another Brock Lesnar. He's got the amateur accolades and he's an incredible athlete.

 

Then there's guys who get brought up and given bad gimmicks. Take Mordecai, I don't think there's anybody in our company who could have pulled off that character. It was a bad choice.

 

But with Muhammed Hassan, a different person would have made that character work.

 

He was helped a lot with his promos and in the ring I don't think he held his own at all.

 

Daivari, on the other hand, was perfect - if only we could have taken Daivari's mind and stuck it in Muhammed Hassan's body.

 

I liked Mark Copani as a person, but he's one of the people whose heart just wasn't in it. He said he could live "with or without" wrestling and that is hard to listen to for guys like me who live and breathe for this business.

 

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Hello Batista. What do you think of UFC - both the show itself and its fighters? Would you ever have a match there?

Rey, El Cajon, California

 

I'm a big fan of UFC and some of my good friends are UFC fighters. Tim Sylvia is a very close friend of mine.

 

Competitively I think UFC is going to have a following, but it will never have the following professional wrestling has - for the simple fact that in the WWE we control the excitement and entertainment.

 

With real fighters it's exciting to a certain point but we can turn up the volume when we have to and they can't.

 

UFC is not something I'd consider - there's not nearly enough money in it for me to go and get my face pounded in by guys who've trained all their lives as UFC fighters.

 

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Do you ever watch any NWA:TNA? Do you think competition would be good for the WWE? Are there any TNA wrestlers that have impressed you?

Vikram Sangar

 

I've actually not ever watched any of their shows. I saw a press conference that they did, which I wasn't very impressed with.

 

I've also seen clips of their car wreck matches with AJ Styles doing his stunts. That's not wrestling. Wrestling is storytelling.

 

But at the same time, I have friends in TNA and I wish them the best. Those type of matches definitely have their place, it's just not my thing.

 

I also welcome the competition, which I think can only be good for the wrestling business.

 

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What do you think of the new Ultimate Warrior DVD, which buries a wrestling legend many fans still love today?

Shaun Johnson, Nottingham

 

I have not seen the DVD and don't know much about it.

 

I have never met The Ultimate Warrior - or guys like Bret Hart and Randy Savage - and would never judge anybody before I meet them.

 

I haven't heard anybody say good things about Warrior, but the one thing you can never take away is that he was exciting.

 

He's like Goldberg. He was someone who was not the most technical wrestler, didn't have the best moves or psychology - but at the same time you just had to respect his intensity and people loved him because of that. That simple element can draw people in.

 

I did like The Ultimate Warrior, but I was always more a fan of The Warlord and Ricky The Dragon Steamboat.

 

My rope shake is a total Warrior rip off - I've never denied it!

 

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Would you like to see a Raw v Smackdown feud or should the shows be kept completely separate?

Thomas, Leeds

 

I would love to see Raw v Smackdown and more cross-promotional matches, especially on big PPVs.

 

I would love the opportunity to work with Kurt Angle and John Cena and for selfish reasons I'd love to be undisputed WWE world champion.

 

An undisputed championship match is something that could happen one day in the future, but not until much further down the line.

 

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Who would be your dream opponent for WrestleMania 22 in Chicago?

Jim, Ipswich

 

Brock Lesnar, without a doubt. It's a dream match for a lot of people, including myself.

 

We could have the bout that Goldberg v Lesnar should have been. People expected so much from that, but neither one of them had their hearts in it. I think if Brock did return my heart would be in it, as would his - we've always had a healthy competition between us.

 

I have sent the message out to Brock as much as I can, I really hope he comes back.

 

He said he's done a lot of growing up and mentally I believe he's ready to return. So much weight was put on his shoulders at the time so fast, and he was just a kid then, that he couldn't cope with it.

 

I remember having a drink with Undertaker before I won the title. I told him I was enjoying myself and he said: "Enjoy it while it lasts, because when you win that title you'll be working your ass off."

 

Being world champion is physically so demanding, ask anybody who has held the belt. You're constantly travelling and working and there is also the mental pressure, as you're stressing over business aspects that you've never had to worry about before.

 

If I'd had that much pressure put on me at Brock's age I wouldn't have lasted.

 

I don't know what the problem is between him and the WWE right now, but there would be nothing but good things in store for Brock if he returned.

 

Everybody in the company would be happy to see him, as he would bring up attendances and we'd all make more money.

 

I don't personally bear him any animosity over how he left, although he definitely could have handled it more smoothly, and he'd be welcomed back into the locker room with open arms.

 

Although the fans might not be too nice to him!

Since the firing of Jim Ross on Monday, WWE has received more than 1,000 e-mails and phone calls from fans. The following is a small sampling:

 

Name: Joe F.

Comments: Bring back JR. The way he was treated was awful. To treat the best wrestling announcer ever in such a manner after so many years of dedicated service is beyond reasonable to me. I have been following the organization since the the 60's and this is one of the worst things I have seen yet. Until JR is back you have lost one Raw viewer who felt in the past it was must watch TV.

 

Name: Michael H.

Comments: I'd just like to say that I sincerely hope that what happened on Raw with Jim Ross was not the last appearance he'll make on WWE TV. Aside from how terrible it would be to not honor JR the way he deserves if he was really leaving, I cannot even begin to imagine turning into Raw and not hearing JR do the commentary. I'm sure millions of WWE fans feel the same way, and we all hope that he'll be back in his chair on Raw as soon as possible.

 

Name: Ben R.

Comments: Just wanted to say that if that's JR's last appearance on RAW then it really is a sad day. He has given a lot to the company and for his last "day" to be like that it's just wrong.

 

Name: Mike

Comments: The release of Jim Ross, perhaps the greatest commentator and personality in the history of the company, is an abomination and a classless act. It upsets me that they can release a man who has been so dedicated to the business and who puts more emotion than anyone ever could into calling a match. Raw is not Raw without Jim Ross. Wrestlemania is not Wrestlemania without Jim Ross. The WWE is not the WWE without Jim Ross. And I will not be viewing your programs without Jim Ross.

 

Name: Jennifer M.

Comments: After watch Raw this Monday night I have come to realize that there is no true heart in your company and seeing how you fired J.R. I have to say you will no long have me and my entire family as viewers. I will no longer buy per-views, or watch your show. I'm sad to say good-bye, but what you did is just wrong.

 

Name: Steve H.

Comments: I've recently heard that Jim Ross may be replaced on the announcing team for RAW. If this happens it will be one of the absolute most worst decisions WWE could ever make. I happen to feel that Ross is the most entertaining announcer in the company, and he is certainly the most talented. Nobody could ever take his place, and moving him off the show would dramatically lower the quality of RAW, and give me one less reason to watch every week.

 

Name: Dustin

Comments: I have loyally been a fan of the WWE since I was 6 years old. When Hall and Nash jumped to WCW and put on pay-per views featuring the nWo, the 4 Horsemen, and let cruiserweight actually compete, I still made my dad order the WWE pay per views. But now that you have removed Jim Ross from RAW, I am vowing to no longer watch WWE programming.

 

Name: Steven G.

Comments: The WWE has made the biggest mistake ever. Vince Mcmahon is indeed a genius so he should be able to see the genius of Jim Ross. He is the voice of RAW and the best commentator wrestling has ever seen. RAW will truly not be the same for me. I am disappointed and don’t know if I can watch raw without Jim Ross. I can’t understand why anyone could give up such talent. I hope for my sake and all other fans sake that this will not last.

Name: Jennifer G.

Comments: I have watched your programming for over 10 years - Raw, Heat, SmackDown, etc and most of the PPVs. I can't tell you how disappointed I am with Jim Ross being terminated. Surprisingly enough, it probably will affect my future decisions to watch Monday Night Raw. I know that you have brought back other entertainers in the past - I hope you consider the same for Jim Ross.

 

Name: James C.

Comments: I really hope this is NOT the last of Jim Ross we will ever see. This man is without a doubt, the BEST broadcaster in the history of the business. His insight, knowledge of the business, and overall professional nature has made watching RAW these past 6 years a pleasure. I looked forward to his comments during the matches, he always pointed out things I missed, and I truly trusted the words coming out of his mouth. If the WWE wants to promote a younger announcer with limited experience of the business, so be it, but Jim Ross deserves that spot.

 

Name: Thomas T.

Comments: I do realize that if you must get rid of J.R., you must. It's a fact of life that he couldn't be the Play-by-play announcer forever. But getting rid of him like that was just distasteful and makes his departure seem like an angle instead of something legitimate. I hope whoever you get to replace "Good Old J.R." is good, because my enjoyment will depend on it.

 

Name: Rob H.

Comments: I am usually very tolerant of your storylines and I realize there are usually up and downs with my favorite personalities. However, I felt compelled to write after watching this week's RAW featuring the firing of Jim Ross. Truth be told, J.R. is as much a reason for me watching RAW as any of the other Superstars. I really hope this is simply part of a larger storyline and that J.R. will return to the broadcast table soon. I have faithfully watched you for just about 20 years, I do not know if I want to watch RAW without J.R. So, again I hope it will not come to that, but I honestly can't consider it RAW without J.R. and I don't know if I would even want to tune in. So, here's hoping Mr. Ross returns to his job soon. I will continue to tune in until I know what the outcome is, but I hope it will not be left like this.

 

Name: Laurie S.

Comments: I have never e-mailed you before. I watch RAW every Monday and if I am unable to watch it, I tape it. I order every RAW pay-per-view. I have been a long time fan of the WWE. But with the firing of Jim Ross last Monday, I don't know if I will ever watch it again. Jim Ross was an excellent commentator and loved the sport. You could tell that in his voice. There was no reason to fire him or take him off the show and it upset me greatly.

More later...