Promoter

Well, the history is there. Stuff like Katie Vick has been said to be the genius of Stephanie and Vince Mcmahon. How about the Billy and Chuck saga? Or how about Stephanie and Triple H booking the undisputed title match for WM 18? Just look at the stuff done by wwe before Heyman even appeared in the company such as the Higher Power angle. I might have to tend to believe this crap is the brainchild of "Mr. Entertainment" himself Vince Mcmahon. Let's not even think about the crap thrown at the wall during the drak days. Vince Mcmahon is very good at taking good ideas and improving on it. I'm not saying everthing bad is his fault, but he is the final say who let's it get by which means he must like the crap.

This title stuff is always a headache. Thanks a lot pro wrestling/sports entertainment. Which title is more important in the here and now? The world heavyweight title, but not by much. I honestly do not see the title Bradshaw wearing as the same one that Hogan did although I know it is. The problem is cosmetics. The title Orton wears now looks like the title Flair wore in the 80's with the likes of Ricky Steamboat. I think that is the intent. While, the wwe title doesn't even sound like the same title or look like the same title Hogan and Savage wore. Now, they are booking it as inferior as well. As someone said I think 2002's booking messed up a lot of things. I believe the wwf title has been dead in many people's minds since Brock went to smackdown and became "wwe champion". The undisputed title scenario imo was a much better idea, but I understand why they split the titles. The funny thing is that the wwe title really is still the more important title if it just has some tweaks made to it. Look how Orton had to say WWE heavyweight champion the night after SummerSlam? That was not by accident imo. World Heavyweight Champion sounds more presitigious, but we all know WWE in front of the word gives it more oomph. There have been hundreds of world champions in the history of wrestling. At first, I disagreed about the complaints about how Trips got the title initially because of how the storyline went and the intent of handing Trips the title, but in retrospect the title has only really got respect from Mania XX this year imo. Trips had turned heel by turning on HBK. He won the #1 contender's match against Taker who ended up challenging Brock anyways on smackdown(another botched element in the split) and the champion ran(another bothced storyline for character development). Trips was handed the belt for heat just like Bradshaw basically was this summer(at least Trips won a damn contender's match). They had him go over Ric Flair that night to give the illusion it was the same belt Flair had won in years past(I won't get into that debacle). They also took the hardcore and I-C titles away initially because those titles had more value in the eyes of the fans. That is why they took the titles away for months to allow the world title to get the spotlight. I think both titles are kind of watered down anyways. The title situation has been screwed up since the Invasion. They somewhat salvaged the confusion from then, but the wwe title is looking weak right now. It was fine around WM XX. I think the illusion was that Brock would do anything to keep the belt and Triple H did the same for the raw side of things. Raw still has this to an extent, while smackdown is just there with Bradshaw and the former champs aren't even caring for it like Eddie and Angle. UT is just there.

A Creative Team Proposal Memo: Vincent Kennedy Mcmahon Vince Mcmahon it has come to my knowledge that you have realized the weaknesses of the creative team. That since September of 2000 the ratings and attendance for the business has been falling. I ask you this? Who became the head of creative in this timeframe? Stephanie Mcmahon. She must be under scrutiny like other employees under your watch. I will give credit where it's all due as well. She was responsible for the fantastic WrestleMania X-7 ppv event. However, this could just be due to the fact that the wrestlers and build up were intermingled with the hype of the wwf purchasing wcw, Rock and Steve Austin's WM rematch that was anticipated for 2 years, UT and HHH going at it where the outcome was unpredictable, and Angle facing Chris Benoit(with horrible build up). The creative team got away with the weak build up for some of these matches because the wresters were very over at the time. Vince Mcmahon I ask you to look at things post Mania 17 until the present and evaluate what could have been with what was. The creative team has failed you. Vince Mcmahon I think you have also failed yourself. The fire and taking the competition by its throat and squeezing it has long disappeared in your heart. Right now, you are trying to head a sinking ship that should not be sinking. The problem starts from the crowned czar of sports entertainment. I believe Vince Mcmahon IS the best man for the job of creative team editor, but the main problem is Vince Mcmahon wanting to hear and see what he wants instead of having faith in the people he hires. Vince Mcmahon also has to gain more respect for actual professional wrestling and remember that his product is one that puts pro wrestling on television and not have it be a television show about wrestling. The wwe loses its unique feel when done in this manner. It worked in 1999-2001 because there was competition and alternatives where the fans would not get tired of the same formula over and over again. Vince Mcmahon you also have Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman under your watch and paying them money for what they did not do best while in competition with you. You need to put them on the creative team and put some ideas into the brands. You must remember that Vince Mcmahon does not always have the answer and that you are indeed fallible with 1993-1997 as proof, while the competition rose to compete with you. You once needed Paul Heyman's organization to fend off the ratings monster that Eric Bischoff created. The same Eric Bischoff that once called you the Verne Gagne of the 90's. Yes, Bischoff did use Ted Turner's money to gain the superstars of the 80's, but also take note that these were the men you felt were no longer valuable. He made guys like Scott Hall and Kevin Nash much bigger stars than you ever did with the new generation campaign. Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage were made into a running joke that came back to bite you on the ass. Bischoff was also responsible for creating a strong undercard/midcard with guys like Jericho and Benoit who you turned away in the mid 90's. Vince Mcmahon your company needs a makeover and as someone stated in an earlier thread maybe it is time you had Stephanie Mcmahon and Shane Mcmahon take the lead(although you and your wife would still run things)by showing up on media outlets giving a new perspective on the Mmchaon family name instead of the negative image you created since the early 90's. I believe you need to give your creative team time off every six months and alternate where the people who are off use their time off to recoup and create storylines and characters for when they return to the table. This way you don't burn out your top talent and have them leave. Most important of all have faith in the people you put on the team which means hire COMPETENT writers and hire COMPETENT bookers for the matches. Cut out the politics of certain employees and also cut out the nepotism. Hire former wrestlers to add a wrestler's perspective to the creative team. Not people like Tommy Dreamer either who never drew a dime or was apart of any classic matches. I'm talking about men like Mick Foley, Ric Flair(who should do a retirement match and call it quits since he is not helping getting anyone over and just stealing the heat from younger guys), and wrestlers who are injured. I would also take advice from guys who disagree with your philosophy such as Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart, Steve Austin, and Hulk Hogan. It's ironic that none of these men are around to help give ideas and they were the men who were apart of the legendary feuds and matches in your history. They might have an idea on what the hell is wrong. It's good to have a mixture of very old school, old school, and new school. You are the company that basically runs the past, present, and future of the business. Represent this. Actually, start a competition between your brands for their own good. I'm pretty positive that you would not allow one to completely destroy the other because this is not a situation where you don't want competition to further the business in fear that your entity would be the one to fall to the wayside. Until these suggestions are taken with some real thought and you put the gigantic ego aside(which is somewhat merited due to being the last man standing, but don't forget you were also on your back a short lucky 7 years ago) then the annual shake-ups would not do anything to improve the product. Fix the creative staff and allow them to run with their ideas until the Royal Rumble. See how much damage or see how much improvement they can do within half a year. If any adjustments need to be made you can do so in February just in time for WrestleMania. If anything when and if you return the leader will be back with a refreshed mind and can be seen as the saviour. As Russo once claimed wcw's biggest problem was not allowing him time to re-direct the company within a time period. You have to give the creative staff the faith and chance of turning things around and then step in. PS: I will wait for my cheque in the mail if this advice is taken by No Way Out and hopefully get the big WM bonus.

You know I was thinking the same thing about Evolution dumping Triple H for Orton. That would make the rumours make sense. Orton turns "face" and goes back heel. That would extend things. If Evolution goes back to Orton by Survivor Series then the traditional pacing comes back into effect as HHH does the chase. If Orton goes over everyone and Triple H included in the next few months it would at least help make him a certified main eventer if he has to lose to HHH at Mania 21. I still don't think HHH as a face is a good idea though.

No, no, no. Virgil was his "bodyguard" because he did not want to be touched by the "low class" who were in awe of his money and power. Virgil became a slave in 1991 when Dibase was no longer useful in the main event scene. Orlando's an assistant to........I dunno they haven't really told us.

Where was I when they shot down..... Piper's Pit and Mr. America vs. Piper? How about Piper and Snuka last year? Rene Dupree's version of Flower Shop? Or the Mcmahon family saga part 2 zillion just last fall with Steph and Vince? Or how about Eugene's push as the new millennium George Steele? Bradshaw as the new million dollar man and OJ as Virgil? Booker T as Papa Shango? La Resistance as Fabulous Rogeaus circa 1989? Orton channeling The Rock? Mordecai being more old school Taker than Taker himself? Teddy Long playing Farooq 1996-97 on raw? Booker T trying to relive the Benoit/BT best of series with Cena? Cena as Austin and Angle as Mr. Mcmahon? This one little writer sure must be doing a good job with those lips to have this much influence

Also rumoured in the year 2004 is Benoit will go to raw after winning the Royal Rumble(beating Flair's record by going in number 1) and main event WM XX with Triple H(I can hear the moans of Benoit doing the job now on the net). On that very Rumble ppv show Bob Holly will challenge Lesnar for the wwe title on a major ppv. Brock Lesnar is leaving to enter the NFL and pursue his real dream righ before Mania. The wwe have used all their appearance dates for Goldberg and he won't be on any shows building toward WM after the No Way Out ppv. Bradshaw is going to challenge Eddie Guerrero for the title on ppv instead of Booker T. Nick Dinsmore is going to be a wrestling retard. There will be the first ever til death do us part match, but first we will see the first actual death match on ppv. The coup de gras of rumours this year is Randy Orton facing Benoit and becoming champion instead of HHH at SummerSlam.

Return of the Nation of Domination?? Take this with a grain of salt, however 1wrestling(oh, how the mighty have fallen) has a bit up reguarding this topic. Anyways, it goes on to quote a wrestling beat writer how has heard through sources that the WWE is recruiting to bring back former wrestlers to flesh out the unit. Now I assume they'd be talking about Ron "Faarooq" Simmons and Charles "Godfather/Kama bin Mustapha" Wright, and if that was the case, I really don't think they'd have to recruit but rather make an offer and both would jump at it. Faarooq was close to retirement when he was canned last year, and with Long as the mouthpiece, I don't know if there is a spot for him. Godfather is supposedly really tight with Undertaker - so that could be his ticket to returning. I assume this would be a Smackdown faction, and though Teddy Long has been good in his GM role, however I wonder if this president role coming up won't change things for the gm roles. What is Bischoff's situation? Could they replace him as well? Conjecture on my part, but the WWE recently trademarked "The Establishment", and it makes sense for this to be the monicker of the new NOD. What wrestlers could fill out this role?? Rodney Mack is on Raw and isn't coming over as Jazz is on locked in with the Womens division. Orlando Jordan I guess is a possibility, and I want to keep Shelton Benjamin hella far away from this. TNA's Ron Killings is locked in a contract, as is D'Lo Brown and rising star Monty Brown, and Elix Skipper, I guy I like however the WWE passed on him earlier this year after a few tryout matches. Mark Henry has to be due for a return sooner rather than later as he was taken out before WM last year. I assume this would be a vehicle to get OJ over, as I don't believe there is any can't miss OVW black wrestler at the moment, Da Beast seems to have a good look to him, however I can't say anything about his workrate.

I'm a backer of Kurt Angle, but the truth is he IS over-rated(which doesn't mean he is not good). I think that column earlier in the thread told the truth. The fact of the matter is that Kurt Angle should have made a bigger impact on the business than he has. Guys, honestly look at his career. Vince gave him the golden push initially because he was an Olympic gold medalist. If it was anyone else most people would be calling his first year the push from hell. Vince knew his credibility would help his push though. He comes in with an undefeated streak which is always a bonus. He captures the I-C title within months. Never loses that said title by clean pinfall and could claim he was the better man. By the end of the summer he is in the main event of the second biggest show of the year with the top storyline involving Triple H and Stephanie Mcmahonn. Now imagine if that booking was given to Jericho instead? How about Benoit? At the time they were much more seasoned for the push. As someone said Angle was booked better. The wwe put him into the mix to break up The Rock/HHH feud since Mania. He was thrown in as a distraction and to fit into the Olympics for the summer. It was timing why Vince did that angle and yes they did screw it up. If they had Angle take Stephanie and turn Triple H face the wwe could look very different right now. He was actually promoted for a little while as the champion defending against Austin at WM 17. It's no coincidence he kind of started to fit in as a main event type guy post Mania 17 with Benoit. Of course, they had to go screw it all up with the goody two shoes stone cold wannabe Angle crap later in the year. Now, imagine if they had went with that where Austin had to turn heel to defeat Angle? Angle would most likely become a bigger draw and would actually mean a lot more for his rivalry with Brock Lesnar. I think Angle was a bit disappointing when it came to the dream match with Lesnar. It didn't live up to the hype. People were expecting Flair/Steamboat or Savage/Steamboat or at the very least Angle/Benoit(RR). Angle/Lesnar should have done much bigger business. I don't know if this was down to horrible booking or what, but the fact remained this was the time Angle and Lesnar should have revolutionized the business. I honestly think Angle's time to capture the imagination of the mainstream audience has been long gone. The wwe screwed up with Angle because he was very dumb to the business(he stated this himself on OTR when he was champion the first time). If Brock Lesnar comes back I believe he has the chance in what Angle could have been. Sure, people knock HBK for not drawing as champ in 1996, but he also kept the wwf afloat from the onslaught of the nWo(I mean HBK/Bret's rivalry was the big thing until Bret/Austin, but it still led back to Hart/HBK). I mean, the wwe just could not compete at that time with wcw. I think some forget HBK was apart of the roots of the wwe's climb back to the top as well. He just bowed out right before things took off because of his injury. HBK imo is superior to Angle from his tag team days til his 1996 run. HBK it can be argued is better than Angle right now. However, I did remember people not liking the idea of the wwe keeping him as a main eventer full-time until he was capable of doing it. I think the jury is still out on Angle. I mean not jinx anyone, but look at Edge at the moment. They should not build with Angle period until they could see him performing at a real main event level. If he sustains all the way to Rumble then book him for the main event of Mania since they can go with different paths in Cena, Eddie, and Taker. I believe Eddie should go over this week if it is indeed the blow-off. Eddie needs the damn win. He has basically been jobbing ever since he defeated Angle at Mania. Angle has made him lose his title and also made him lose at SummerSlam. Angle going over makes no sense. If he is indeed asking management for Eddie to face Luther than have them feud over Luther costing Angle the match for Eddie. Have Angle then proceed against Taker for Survivor Series as someone stated and do the title match there. Then they can build the contenders in Cena, Eddie, or Taker and go with who's hot. It still leaves them open for the Rumble with the former GM and now champ against the men he has screwed. This unstoppable Taker vs. unstoppable Angle is a stupid move. What would they do after the match? Taker shouldn't lose that streak to Angle imo. With Eddie they can have him finally regain his title or have Cena go over Angle for his first title(yeah I know Cena needs to improve, but.....ORTON remember and he has heat when given good material to work with).

The original source for the UT/HBK backstage stuff is none other then........... THHHHEEEEE UUUUUUUNNNNNNDDDDDDDEEERRRRRRTAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (TSN's OTR March 2002)

Good stuff here, but The Rock WAS turned face after SummerSlam. He was a face all the way heading into Survivor Series where they did the swerve and had him turn back heel. That is why I say we can't say for sure what they will do here. Orton can go back into Evolution by losing his title and then slowly burn back to a face against Hunter for Mania 21. I wouldn't put it past them to so something like this. As for Austin's big build to his win at WM 14 there are circumstances that prevented it from happening before hand. It is rumoured Austin would have got the title at Final Four in February 1997. Then there are other rumours that UT was promised a title reign in 1997 along with Bret Hart. Those were the days of long term booking. Don't forget we had HBK running all over the place and Lord only knows what politics he would have pulled to keep the title if he was "healthy" for most of 1997. They clearly want Orton to main event WM 21 here, but I believe this angle really should have happened post Mania 21. Wanting him to main event WM 21 AND BE OVER as a draw will mean overpushing him now. It is rushed. At least there is some long term planning here. It's better to try to get him over within six months as a main eventer than waiting until Royal Rumble and taking a big gamble with the most important timeframe in the wwe year with trying to get him over as a face with 2 months build. If he flops now at least they can change course with the plans for Mania 21.

Whoever said to not listen to Meltzer on Bob Bcklund is right. Meltzer doesn't really like the guy. If you go to his dirtsheets in the early 80's you would see this. Meltzer is leaving out things about Bob Backlund like the NWA suggesting Vince Mcmahon Sr. to have Bob Backlund as WWWF Champion. As we know, the NWA board was the brass that was most respected in the business and for some odd reason the WWWF never really acknowledged being apart of the NWA then(that is a whole other thread). Verne Gagne(AWA) also liked Backlund and would have used him post 1984, but Backlund it seemed couldn't care less to compete in the business anymore. Vince Mcmahon wanted Backlund to dye his hair black and turn heel against Hogan. There was even an angle that was partly done where Backlund did the Owen thing from WM X(watching Bret's celebration) looking at Hogan during a match shortly after winning the title from Iron Shiek. Backlund refused to turn heel. The night he lost the title was also known. Meltzer doesn't know what he's talking about in this instance or is trying to sell his stuff with the controversy. The problem with Backlund in '83 was that he made a big deal about jobbing the title to an actual wrestler with amateur background and Iron Shiek/Masked Superstar(Ax) were the two chosen men to get the title onto Hogan. As mentioned above he did not want to turn heel. They went with Iron Shiek. The "screwjob" is Backlund claiming that Vince swerved him with his rematch at MSG on the night Hogan won the title. It was advertised Backlund would get his rematch, but Hogan was billed at the last moment to take his place because Backlund was still "injured" from the Persian clubs. I have this stuff on tape. This led to the problems later with Backlund and him quitting a few months later. That is why he never showed up anywhere else after this went down. He was fed up and remember he was on top for 6 YEARS. Backlund was still over in his last couple of years, but the problem he faced was the same thing Triple H had about 2 years ago. He ran through everyone and started to repeat matches. They could only run the underdog champion gimmick for so long(and they did actually for 6 years). Now, for more correction with his 90's run. Vince Mcmahon brought Bob Backlund back because the business was down and Vince wanted to get back to the roots(which is why they did raw in the small Manhattan Center just like Backlund doing tv tapings as champ in Hamburg, Pennyslvania). After the big boom and the wwf going through all the court problems bringing in the clean cut Bob Backlund was a way to help the damaged image of the company. He did not take off as a face though because he was too dull, but that was the whole point. Vince using Backlund as a transitional champion was apart of his plan to usher in a New Generation with Diesel playing Hogan coming out of nowhere to win the big title. Vince made him break the Bruno record of winning the big title in hopes that Diesel would be bigger than Bruno and Hogan combined which I know many are falling out of their seat with laughter now (which is why I disagree wholeheartedly against those who say Hogan was just in the right place and just lucky with the wwf machine because of that was the case Diesel would have taken off the same way). Vince just used the same gimmick he wanted Backlund to do in 1984 against Hulk Hogan. Meltzer is full of it with saying no one wanted Backlund. Backlund in 1984 when he left was just the CHAMPION OF A MAJOR PROMOTION FOR 6 YEARS. Verne Gagne actually offered him money. There are shoot interviews out there that go against what Meltzer claims in terms of Backlund from Masked Superstar to Bob Backlund to Iron Shiek etc.

In Flair's book he mentions Vinnie Mac offered him a main event match with Savage at the first ever SummerSlam. OK, do you guys think Flair should've accepted the deal, or are you happy he stayed in the NWA organization? Plus who would you guys pick to be the winner of that PPV match. That wouldv'e been such a GREAT feud and match back in'88. Savage was just on fire and drawing well as champ. How would someone book Flair's jump?

Again, think like how Vince thinks. Vince and Triple H aren't going to change their plans and watch people be sheep and start backing Orton. Of course, Vince is forcing this down people's throat, but he also did this with Brock Lesnar in 2002, Angle in 2000, Rock in 1997, and so on. Look how the internet has calmed down over Bradshaw as champion. Some are actually getting into his reign. I still hate the idea of this guy being champion. Again, I have already stated how I would have done this thing, but I've been watching so long I kind of can see how Vince's mind operates. I still believe these reactions at house shows(where fans are backing Triple H which could explain that maybe some do see the turn as Trips going face) would have still happened down the line. They probably want Orton to go over Triple H to create a new star. If they had turned Triple H face and had Orton keep Evolution as well as go over Triple H where would that leave Triple H in a face role? There are many equations to this whole thing and I don't think they have made that bad a move YET(not what I would do, but I can see some of their logic). Remember, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin did have INDIFFERENCE to crowds in 1996 after the KOR speech. The fans really started to catch on months later and I say around Rumble '97 the water was starting to boil. Hulk Hogan won the title out of nowhere(where it's even debated whether Backlund even knew he would get replaced in MSG). It's just looking back on history it seems like everything fell into place. I admit Hogan was already massively over from another company. However, Hogan was also not ripping arenas open with fans either until a year later after the pre-Mania push. The point is that coming out of nowhere doesn't exactly equal things being an instant flop. I still say give this some time. Rome wasn't built in a day. Niether was the 80's and 90's empire of the wwf/e. They clearly have a long term plan here with Orton imo. How they get there is the question mark. You see that's why I think they have kept Triple H the central focus of Evolution. Imagine if Triple H is out of the group you would have Orton/Batista/Flair as Evolution. Evolution is weakened as where if Trips stays in the group the gimmick can still groom future stars by a revolving door that has Triple H and Flair(who are getting the pops for respect and being seen as the real stars). Going up against the main core of Triple H and Flair is an easier way to create a new star in theory. Having someone take over from Triple H and surpassing him is a harder thing to do. This is not like Rock overtaking Farooq in the Nation. Farooq never built up a career as strong as Triple H's, so Rock taking over and surpassing him was easier to do. There was a reason why the nWo fell apart once Hogan, Hall, and Nash were ripped away as the core. Even two of the three could have gone against each other, but it was just not the same. They created the group and established themselves on a high level. The same with Trips/Flair with Evolution. I think a problem with some fans backing Triple H is that both men were heels and they never really told the story of who is in the wrong here. Orton was a prick at the beginning of the show and he never really got his heel comeuppance as usually done with heel to face turns. In some ways Trips/Evo beatdown was his heel comeuppance. Last monday was a start with the story that Trips just wants the title handed to him. Now they got to strengthen to story for fans to get behind Orton. Of course, I could be extremely positive here and blinded to the fact this company has screwed up so many damn times. The flipside to that is Vince has done things to turn business around before and survived. (Hopes as the ratings and attendance doesn't sink even lower with Orton being groomed as the top star).

Maybe he should have a little chat with HBK. He got some serious karma right after Survivor Series '97 didn't he? I admit JBL/Jordan were funny last night. Jordan did look good with the belt. Maybe this is all a dream like JR(JBL) in Dallas.

I guess we should expect more 2 match pony shows on the horizon. They first did this with the ironman raw and got the same rating. Vince might think he has found the solution although the ratings are still well below what TNN thought they would get in the deal.

Strange as I think the SummerSlam match was the best match in the series. WM 19 was kind of boring. The ironman match was solid I thought. Lesnar is better than Orton. Orton has been surrounded with Flair and Triple H, while Lesnar was pushed on his own and originally with Heyman.

Maybe he can come on the internet and start ragging fans about using heels and faces instead of good guys and bad guys like Ric Flair did

he following is an interview with Hulk Hogan conducted by USA Vanguard’s Nadia Mohandessi: Q: How hard was it to body slam Andre the Giant? A: “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Everyone tried to pick him up and couldnít. And in practice, I couldnít do it either, but we did it. Unbelievable.” Q: What happened to Hulk Hogan Vitamins? A: “They went down the trail. There was a huge problem with the federal government and they indicted Vince McMahon for distributing steroids while I was in WWF and he was innocent and just the bad press made the vitamins go away. They were awesome. I have a couple boxes left in my freezer now. Iím saving them.” Q: Do you think the media and the entertainment industry is taking over the wrestling industry? A: “Oh, definitely. Thereís too many choices now. Itís a bad Jerry Springer show now, brother. The art form is lost. Like when I would start a fight with you. If this was like November and I would start a fight with you, weíd start in November and maybe wrestle in March. Now you turn on the show at 8:00 and Iíll start a fight with you. We fight by the end of the show. TV moves so fast trying to keep up with the Joneses because thereís so many choices with Satellite and also the reality shows. People surf so much that theyíre afraid to lose the quarter hour. They live by the numbers. If you have a bad quarter hour thereís all kinds of meetings, people panicking. They donít let things ride. People are job scared. Itís a whole different business now. I think that if you really gave them something with some meat on the bones and really got back to the art form of creating emotion and good vs. evil. Itís real easy stuff. Itís the KISS theory: Keep it simple stupid. And theyíre just over-thinking things.” Q: What’s next for you? A: “Iím getting ready to do a VH-1 show on a consistent basis with my family. Fox and ABC have pitched shows to do a reality wrestling show. And I was like ‘How in the hell do you do a reality wrestling show?’ And basically the premise of starting out in minor league wrestling doesnít mean anything to anybody. Basically, they approached me with Hulk Hogan with one foot in the glue factory. All of a sudden, he takes his foot out and saves the art form. Because of some of the guys who want to work for me that used to work for me when I ran Turnerís company like Goldberg, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Sting want to work for me. The whole thing is that everyone knows that the WWF means wrestling but so does one name: Hulk Hogan. And the public opinion is to start my own thing like the past is now the future type deal. That with Goldberg and Sting and Stone Cold and Nash, we could probably take over pretty easily. Iím thinking about it. We may go back to the old days again for a while.” -------------------------------- I just thought this was interesting. Hogan agrees about the business rushing things. Maybe Hogan had more than simple monetary issues with Vince Mcmahon in their last falling out.

Yeah, I would think they would want another Steve Austin or Hulk Hogan. Those are franchises. So, is the Rock, but he left for hollywood. I don't think we need another Triple H. Who would he marry to get into the family? So basically, Vince is looking for another Brock Lesnar type of situation here by giving someone big money and a big push over the whole roster who most likely won't have the same passion as guys like Benoit that have been busting their ass for years without complain.

The Rock can't be blamed for the length of the Diva Search. The wwe pulled that crap with Kamala too. That ran pretty long as well. I agree with those who say Rock comes off much more charismatic and improvisational than the whole damn roster. I don't understand the reasoning of using The Rock with the "Divas" when he could have been put to good use with Randy Orton. His history with Triple H and his interaction with Orton this year. Rock could have helped Orton's face turn. However, I'm sure the wwe might have thought Rock would overshadow the champion which says a lot. What I don't like about Rock is his damn over-selling in matches at times.

Actually, I remember a rumour about a year or two ago about some wrestlers asking management to bring back the old belts. The reason being that they felt that it took away from the historical aspect of championships. Someting like the NHL making a new Stanley Cup or changing the design of the gold medal shape.

Didn't the ironman raw do the same rating? I would think Vince would have thought this raw would do better because of the "entertainment". Of course, this is coming off the break up Evolution from last week as well.

Actually, Ted Dibase was recognized as champion at Madison Square Garden the weekend Andre surrendered the title. However, the following week on superstars Tunney did not recognize it. So, yeah Dibase isn't a former champion , but kudos to them for THIS detail as well.

I think historians have given the wwe flack over the Orton marketing. First they had Orton say youngest WWE Heavyweight Champion(which I believe was purposely done). Second, on the recap shows they edited Orton's speech with him saying world heavyweight champion. Then on raw the wwe slipped it by everyone by saying he is the youngest world champion in WWE HISTORY. Yeah, they pay attention to THIS detail.