Bob Holly Interview

January 11, 2003

Maybe when he goes back to TE3, he can tell the kids the time he tried to do his hard man act on Brock Lesnar and got dropped on his head for his troubles.

January 11, 2003

For the guy who asked why they'd even let Holly near the kids, I guess they're thinking the same thing from this last quote: "I'd like to do Tough Enough IV. Al (Snow) probably won't let me because I'm too hard on those guys."

January 11, 2003

both sides do have a point.

up to that point, the TE kids really had been pampered & sooner or later the winner would have to wise up to the fact that some guys work stiff and beat the shit out of you. i shudder to think what might have happened to matt if chris benoit had chopped him or suplexed him. if you're a wrestler, you will work with guys who put you in a lot of pain.

however, the objective is always to have a good match. if you get the shit beat out of you along the way, then so be it, but the match always comes first. this was an impromptu match, right? bob holly's objective with matt was not to have a good match. his sole objective was to beat the shit out of him. if you're going to stiff somebody, fine, just do it in the context of an actual match. stomp him for a little while, then work the crowd or something so he can get his thoughts straight, then send him in to the turnbuckle for a reversal...whatever, just don't pummel his brains in solely for the sake of pummeling his brains in. it's unprofessional and it sets a piss poor example.

there's at least a dozen guys in the fed who work stiff (regal, angle, benoit, etc), yet holly's the one most often used to "break guys in." why? from what i can tell benoit works stiffer than holly, but (with the sole exception of team angle), he's never been used to "break guys in." i think holly does it because i think he takes a certain amount of glee in beating people up. he was intentionally harder on the kids last season than anybody else, and he seems to generally be a bully at heart.

when steve regal was a guest on TE he gave the kids a beating too. yet nobody ever complained about it. why? because he was PROFESSIONAL about it. they got stiffed in the context of being taught other things about wrestling, and regal actively helped them. and when somebody didn't take his moves too well, he very calmly explained that if they couldn't take that, they shouldn't be in. he didn't piss and moan about them being a crybaby.

January 11, 2003

both sides do have a point.

up to that point, the TE kids really had been pampered & sooner or later the winner would have to wise up to the fact that some guys work stiff and beat the shit out of you. i shudder to think what might have happened to matt if chris benoit had chopped him or suplexed him. if you're a wrestler, you will work with guys who put you in a lot of pain.

however, the objective is always to have a good match. if you get the shit beat out of you along the way, then so be it, but the match always comes first. this was an impromptu match, right? bob holly's objective with matt was not to have a good match. his sole objective was to beat the shit out of him. if you're going to stiff somebody, fine, just do it in the context of an actual match. stomp him for a little while, then work the crowd or something so he can get his thoughts straight, then send him in to the turnbuckle for a reversal...whatever, just don't pummel his brains in solely for the sake of pummeling his brains in. it's unprofessional and it sets a piss poor example.

there's at least a dozen guys in the fed who work stiff (regal, angle, benoit, etc), yet holly's the one most often used to "break guys in." why? from what i can tell benoit works stiffer than holly, but (with the sole exception of team angle), he's never been used to "break guys in." i think holly does it because i think he takes a certain amount of glee in beating people up. he was intentionally harder on the kids last season than anybody else, and he seems to generally be a bully at heart.

when steve regal was a guest on TE he gave the kids a beating too. yet nobody ever complained about it. why? because he was PROFESSIONAL about it. they got stiffed in the context of being taught other things about wrestling, and regal actively helped them. and when somebody didn't take his moves too well, he very calmly explained that if they couldn't take that, they shouldn't be in. he didn't piss and moan about them being a crybaby.

That about sums up my opinion. If Holly had been actually trying to have a match with Matt, and just working stiff along the way, then fine. But he went out of his way to kick the shit out of him, and that's pretty sad.

January 11, 2003

I really don't like to be apart of the minority, but I don't see the big deal about all of this. I don't like Bob Holly, but the fact of the matter is... his style is similar to many wrestlers, in that he wrestles stiff. Benoit also wrestles stiff. The Tough Enough kids are pampered, and what Bob Holly was brought in to do, was teach them what they might face in the ring. I don't really understand why he singled Matt out... I personally think that he should've been that stiff with all of the kids.

Besides, anyone remember that tag match at the end of season 1? The match where Jaqueline almost takes that ones chick's head off (her name eludes me at the moment... the HOT chick that should've won) with a mega stiff clothesline?

I just think all of this anger is here because most of you hate Bob Holly. I don't like the guy either... and I agree that he does come across as a bitter fuck... but let's face it... if that were Chris Benoit in the ring doing the exact same thing, most of you wouldn't be complaining I'm sure

January 11, 2003

There was no lesson taught, besides that you can't trust any of your opponent. Wow, mistrust instilled in the trainees, that's a great thing to do. Holly didn't even have the decency to explain why he did it - he just trashed him on the website and said he's a pussy.

As for Benoit, he was already on the show and didn't do what Holly did, thus no one said anything. Your "if it was him" argument holds no water, as I think he wouldn't get the reputation he has if he constantly acted like Holly.

January 11, 2003

He kicked him in the face a few times and chopped the shit out of him. If he had broken something it would be an entirely different matter. The guy got a black eye, a busted lip, and a bruised ego.

And yes my argument does hold water, because I guarantee that some of you, not all of you... but some of you, wouldn't complain if Benoit had replaced Holly in this role.

Infact, read up on respected wrestlers beating the shit out of rookies. Read Mick Foley's first book where he describes that in his first WWF match, a tag match, Dynamite Kid and the British Bulldog beat the LIVING SHIT out of him... breaking his fucking jaw among other injuries.

The guy that trained Hogan broke Hogans leg ON PURPOSE, and you know what? Hogan usually doesn't complain about that. He came back when his leg healed and he was respected because of it

January 11, 2003

Of course, no one said anything about Dynamite Kid but if you want to grasp straws...

What I am trying to explain to you is that the Benoit we know of today probably wouldn't have acted that way, and if he had in the past then he would not be held to the regard he currently has.

Finally, Matt had an ego? I could understand if it was done to Jonah.

January 11, 2003

Of course, no one said anything about Dynamite Kid but if you want to grasp straws...

What I am trying to explain to you is that the Benoit we know of today probably wouldn't have acted that way, and if he had in the past then he would not be held to the regard he currently has.

Finally, Matt had an ego? I could understand if it was done to Jonah.

I'm not grasping at straws, I'm adding to my argument that it's not that big of a deal. The TE kids are getting their shot the easy way. Almost every wrestler that I can think of, from Mick Foley to Steve Austin to Hulk Hogan to Lou Thesz had to get the living shit beat out of them either in training or in their first few matches. It's life... it's the business, and the way I see see it... Holly was teaching them a lesson that he had to be taught, and almost every wrestler on the roster learned the same way

And I'm not even talking about how Benoit has acted in the past. I'm saying, THEORETICALLY that IF Benoit beat the living crap out of the rookie, then some of you wouldn't be complaining

January 11, 2003

Your examples were from 20 and 25 years ago. Why stop there? Why not bring back more archaic practices in the form of "old school", like segregation?

I love "if" statements as a form of justification. It wasn't Benoit, so get over it.

January 11, 2003

Yes, they are pampered.

But, there's a difference between teaching someone a lesson, and unmercifully kicking someone in the face.

I bet Ol' Baldcore Holly feels proud. I mean, he stiffed a kid who had no idea what the fuck was going on, and proceeded to trash him later on for being a pussy. O...K. How are Bob's actions permissable?

Matt wouldn't retaliate because:

1- If Al or Bill sees him retaliate on Bob, it goes against the way that they've been taught. Have respect for your opponent. If Matt went back at Bob, it'd be a sign of disrespect not only to Al and Bill, but the way that Matt was taught, and he'd be robbed of his chance to win.

2- He doesn't really know how to fight back. Al and Bill have been teaching the kids how to work safely, not hurt their opponents, and have a match without getting hurt. That's why Matt broke down. He was confused by what happened.

January 11, 2003

Your examples were from 20 and 25 years ago. Why stop there? Why not bring back more archaic practices in the form of "old school", like segregation?

I love "if" statements as a form of justification. It wasn't Benoit, so get over it.

lol now who's grasping at straws?

If you want a modern example, when Maven went down to OVW after he won the first TE, he was supposedly "roughed up" by a few of the OVW alumns in the ring during practice matches.

January 11, 2003

Yes, they are pampered.

But, there's a difference between teaching someone a lesson, and unmercifully kicking someone in the face.

I bet Ol' Baldcore Holly feels proud. I mean, he stiffed a kid who had no idea what the fuck was going on, and proceeded to trash him later on for being a pussy. O...K. How are Bob's actions permissable?

Matt wouldn't retaliate because:

1- If Al or Bill sees him retaliate on Bob, it goes against the way that they've been taught. Have respect for your opponent. If Matt went back at Bob, it'd be a sign of disrespect not only to Al and Bill, but the way that Matt was taught, and he'd be robbed of his chance to win.

2- He doesn't really know how to fight back. Al and Bill have been teaching the kids how to work safely, not hurt their opponents, and have a match without getting hurt. That's why Matt broke down. He was confused by what happened.

You hit the nail right on the head.

he was supposedly "roughed up" by a few of the OVW alumns in the ring during practice matches.

Ah yes, "supposedly". I'll believe that.

January 11, 2003

He stiff kicked him in the face twice... and with just enough power to bust his lip and blacken his eye... the kick wasn't thrown with intentions to break his jaw or anything, and if he had broken his jaw, then maybe you could have an argument. It's not like Holly unloaded on him like someone would in a real fist fight

January 11, 2003

Again, many of you are missing the point. It was a damaging experience because his trust was violated. He wasn't upset about the injuries. It's about the respect they were supposed to learn.

Chris Benoit did a stiff suplex to Matt. Suplexed him right out of his boots. Matt was fine. Chris Benoit works stiff, Bob Holly commited Assault. There is a difference.

January 11, 2003

There is a difference between Benoit or Regal working stiff with someone to try and put on a good match or teacch them something and Holly beating the shit out of someone because he doesn't like them. Holly is an asshole.

LaParkaYourCar · January 11, 2003

My question is why didn't Matt's tag team partners come in and make a save? They were having a match weren't they?

All they had to do is come in and attack Holly and get him off Matt. They didn't even have to do it stiff. Just get in there and continue the match.

January 11, 2003

I admire Holly's ability to beat up a young man who has been training to become a wrestling for 2 weeks, then talk shit on him afterwards. After what he did, you can tell he is one tough bastard! I don't understand why you guys don't like him.

January 11, 2003

I'll have to agree with Anglesault on this one. Working stiffly and beating the shit out of someone are two different things.

January 11, 2003

My question is why didn't Matt's tag team partners come in and make a save? They were having a match weren't they?

All they had to do is come in and attack Holly and get him off Matt. They didn't even have to do it stiff. Just get in there and continue the match.

Because they may of been scared shitless?

January 11, 2003

I think we all have to agree that Tough Enough was EMOTIONAL~! Bill Demott cries! Matt cries! Holly beats the shit out of Matt!

Awesome, awesome show.

January 11, 2003

You know, even DeMott didn't seem to "Into" defending Holly. He said what he had to to prevent DISSENTION~! among trainers, but that's it.

Yuna_Firerose · January 11, 2003

About the kids not learning not everything...well, obviously, we don't see much. It's only a half-hour and there's no way they can sum up a week, or however long it is, in one half-hour.

My question is, where do the kids go when the tapings are done? When they pick the kids it's "live", supposedly. So, do all the kids just sit at home until the live show or what?

January 11, 2003

Yeah, and from what I hear, the winners will be chosen online by the fans.

Yuna_Firerose · January 11, 2003

Which is even more risky, I think. Take the current poll at WWE mag (or is it Raw mag? whatever) anyway, the question was, which diva would you like to catch under the mistletoe? The lead, last time I checked, was Jazz.

The online poll of TE will probably get a head start by the staff, but it's still risky. Besides, what if one of the kids, who was "supposed to" win, goes home and parties too much or gets out of shape?

January 11, 2003

Love how Bob talks about working with Benoit and Angle, because those days are long over.

When all other wrestlers get stiffed through their first matches, its usually through suplexes, slams and drops.. not punches and kicks. Bob is a fucking cretin and I'm still happy that Brock "nash-bombed" him.

Conspiracy_Victim · January 11, 2003

OK I said it on the Smackdown thread but I guess I'll put it in this one.

Yes Matt took it a bit harder than I expected. He got beat around well, but he's a big kid. HOWEVER, the reason Matt was so upset (as several people have pointed out) is that Al and Bill spend all days drumming into their heads that the business survives because people are willing to put their health into the hands of others. Then Sparky comes in and beats the piss out of Matt for no discernable reason other than to prove how the business "really" is. He nearly swells Matt's eye shut, busts his lip open, and turns his upper chest black and blue. For all of you who defend it (Rudo, et al.) how often do you see guys looking like Matt after a match? Hardcore matches don't count either because this was a straight up wrestling match.

Do guys work stiff? Sure, Benoit and some of the others really look like (and probably do)they pound the crap out of people. However, they still make sure that safety comes first. When was the last time Benoit purposely dropped some poor shmuck on his head doing a German? Accidents happen, but this was no accident. Sparky went out with the intent of hurting someone and Matt was the convenient target.

Finally, who wants to guess what would have happened had Matt fought back and taken a legit shot on Mr. Plugg? My guess is that after they pulled Sparky off him, Matt would've been let go for not "respecting the business". Matt showed more class than I would have in shaking that bitter old bastard's hand, and one would think Bob would've known better about doing shit like this to new guys after Mr. Lesnar did the Nash patented "Giant killing powerbomb of DOOM!" on him.

Yuna_Firerose · January 11, 2003

You sum it up quite nicely, Conspiracy. Although one really has to wonder just what we DIDN'T see on that episode/day.

Conspiracy_Victim · January 11, 2003

I see your point Yuna, but even if Matt spent all day calling him "Sparky" (like I shall do from now on in honor of this event) and making NASCAR references there's just no excuse for it. I would hope that Al or Bill (or better yet, one of the kids) would have stiffed him in return to let him know that shit wouldn't fly, but the chances of that were happening are probably up there with 3H jobbing to RVD and Y2J in meaningful matches. It's just an example of Sparky being Sparky, and even getting some in return won't teach him a lesson.

January 11, 2003

Allright, I haven't watched TE yet, so did Matt really call Bob "Sparky"?

Bob Holly Interview

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