Big Show argues the office

[Enigma 0]

"A big topic in the Smackdown locker room this week was an incident that took place at the talent meeting before the show on Tuesday. Neither Vince McMahon nor Jim Ross, who are usually at the meetings, attended this week’s. Ross was in Louisville for OVW. I am not sure where McMahon was.

 

This left John "Ace" Laurinaitis ran the meeting. He reportedly mentioned, in a chastising sort of way, an incident on the first flight of the last week’s long and brutal South Africa trip. It happened on the WWE charter from Kansas City to Atlanta, which was the flight right after Smackdown was taped on February 24. The Smackdown crew then flew from Atlanta to South Africa.

 

At the meeting on 3/2, Laurinaitis started off by "getting tough" on the Smackdown crew, even though it was common knowledge to everyone there that problem in question was just Bradshaw putting away a few cold ones and getting boisterous. As Laurinaitis continued the speech, The Big Show spoke up and challenged him. Big Show reportedly asked how the company can expect the talent to sit through a session in which the man who is second in command for talent relations doesn't even thank the talent for the brutal tour, and instead chastises them for something that wasn’t really a big deal. From what I was told, Show felt that if the office didn't like a talent’s behavior, they should place direct blame on that person instead of disrespecting everyone's contributions. In the eyes of some, they felt that there was some favoritism shown here since it was Bradshaw, who is tight with the office, that was the person in question and not named.

 

Later in the meeting there was another incident in which Kurt Angle started to speak up, but when Laurinaitis started looking at Kurt, Angle reportedly backed down and started saying how he wishes everyone was more professional.

 

In the end, the general feeling was that the wrestlers gained a lot of respect for Big Show and probably lost some for Angle."

 

CREDIT: Dave Scherer/PWInsider

[Guest Krazy Karter]

Angle's a bitch.

 

Nothing newsworthy.

[Boner Kawanger 0]

In what Bizarro World are we living in, when in the past year or so, the BIG SHOW is becoming an anti-office workhorse who can actually entertain people?

[Eclipse 0]

What happens OUTSIDE of the WWE is more interesting than what happens in the ring....well...at least for the Big Show that is..

[haVoc 0]

I'm surprised the report didn't continue with....

 

"Many also lost respect for Eddie Guerrero at the meeting. The feeling is Eddie has become a corporate figure in the office now he's champion. Instead of being a lockerroom leader and speaking up for the boys he let John Laurinaitis speak down to them.

 

One source in the back told me since Eddie became Champ he is now more worried about his spot on the card then the morale in the back, which has cost Eddie Guerrero the respect of his peers.

 

Also, Brock Lesnar wasn't on the flight with the rest of the boys because he took his own private jet on the trip which angered many in the back."

[CanadianChick 0]

Damn, and I thought I'd be able to let go of the high school attitude after I graduate. Guess not, with 'news sources' like the Torch around.

 

 

Seriously though, this can be a high school situation.

Student #1: OMG! Did you totally hear Jessica stand up to Mr.Smith in English after getting a bad mark on her paper?

Student #2: Yeah I did! She is SOOOO cool! Not like that loser Mark though. He is such a wuss. HE didn't stand up to him!

Student #3 (with a relatively high IQ): Uh, guys. Neither did anyone else.

[Enigma 0]

I think the point was the fact that Angle started to speak up until Laurinaitis leered at him. I think they lost respect for Angle for backing down and not so much not speaking for what Big Show spoke for.

[2GOLD 0]

Big Show got shipped to OVW because they didn't like the weight he had on him. And when he lost it, came back and they told him they didn't like him with the lack of weight.

 

I don't think Show gives a damn what the office really thinks anymore about him. All he has to do is call Billy Crystal, tell him he thinks he can be the next Andre, show him the SNL tape and the next thing you know the Show is in MY GIANT 2 with one of the major starring roles on his way to a solid career as either monsters or villians.

[Enigma 0]

Big Show never had a lack of weight. He came back at Royal Rumble 2001 looking fatter than ever.

[Art Sandusky 0]

The last time Big Show actually looked in good shape was in early 2000.

[Guest Anglesault]

Why wouldn't Angle want Ace mad at him?

 

I have theory, and don't attack me for this, but Kurt may be pencilled in to win at Mania and Ace's glare made him realize he should shut up if he still wants to win.

[Tawren 0]

Big Show > *, and he has been since he jumped to SD.

[haVoc 0]

I doubt Ace has the type of power to decide who wins and loses at Wrestlemania 20.

[Enigma 0]

Kurt winning at Mania would be retarded for a couple reasons:

 

1) Kurt's had the title 4 freakin times in less than 4 years. Back off.

 

2) It'll make Eddie, who is proving to be a draw, look like a supreme loser by getting his ass kicked every week AND losing at Mania. All his marketability would go out the window and no one would ever look at him credibly as a main-eventer and/or WWE Champion again. His No Way Out title win would become a fluke.

 

3) If WWE really wants Angle to slow down his work and are willing to demote him to mid-card status for him to do it, with a guy who hides his injuries so much, how much sense does it make to put the title on him? Who's going to want to slow down their work when you have the demand of putting on main-event caliber matches?

[Guest Anglesault]

I doubt Ace has the type of power to decide who wins and loses at Wrestlemania 20.

Doesn't he hold something similar to Ross's job.

 

1) Kurt's had the title 4 freakin times in less than 4 years. Back off.

 

I don't want him to win, but I don't get that.

 

2) It'll make Eddie, who is proving to be a draw, look like a supreme loser by getting his ass kicked every week AND losing at Mania. All his marketability would go out the window and no one would ever look at him credibly as a main-eventer and/or WWE Champion again. His No Way Out title win would become a fluke.

 

And why, exactly, do you think WWE wouldn't do that? they did it to Angle AND Jericho.

[Fökai 0]

I have theory, and don't attack me for this, but Kurt may be pencilled in to win at Mania and Ace's glare made him realize he should shut up if he still wants to win.

 

Nah, it's more likely that Angle is worried about his card placement post-Mania.

[Enigma 0]

I never said they wouldn't. I'm stating that it would be insane and stupid to do it. But then again, "insane" and "stupid" has never stopped WWE before.

[Guest Anglesault]

I have theory, and don't attack me for this, but Kurt may be pencilled in to win at Mania and Ace's glare made him realize he should shut up if he still wants to win.

 

Nah, it's more likely that Angle is worried about his card placement post-Mania.

...

 

He's not gonna retire, is he?

[Enigma 0]

I have theory, and don't attack me for this, but Kurt may be pencilled in to win at Mania and Ace's glare made him realize he should shut up if he still wants to win.

 

Nah, it's more likely that Angle is worried about his card placement post-Mania.

...

 

He's not gonna retire, is he?

There was some talk that WWE would be willing to demote Angle to mid-carder if he didn't slow down his work as a way of trying to deal with him.

[Guest Anglesault]

He really needs to retire.

 

Demoting him to midcard solves nothing. That just treatens his health in meaningless feuds as opposed to threatening his health in major feuds.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Meh lately I've liked Show better than Angle so go Paul Wight!

[brokentusk16 0]

What happened on the flight? I totally missed that; was it another Europe flight disaster?

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

To answer that question, I'll post this from Lords of Pain:

 

I am an employee of the airline that operated the charter flight for the Smackdown! group from Kansas City to Atlanta. While I was not directly involved with the charter flight, I know the people that were. Here is a some more info on incident.

 

The main disruption that started this whole mess was not after Bradshaw had a few too many drinks while on the aircraft, it was actually before they departed, or rather, before they even got on the airplane. Apparently, most of the WWE employees traveling on the flight were not happy about this, but Bradshaw was by far the most vocal...they did not want to be wanded with the hand-held metal detectors. The charter flight did not leave out of the main terminal of the airport, and therefore they did not have to go through the same security as any other commercial passenger would. However, in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations, all passengers must be screened.

 

Apparently, Vince McMahon was not present at the time of the incident, but he did get on the flight prior to departure. He got wind of the incident and was furious, according to our staff. He assured our staff that he would take care of the problem.

 

Next incident...While on board, some of the wrestlers demanded an open bar from the flight attendants (Bradshaw was once again the most vocal). Normally, an open bar would be paid in advance by the company purchasing the charter flight. I do not know if it was overlooked by WWE, or if they just never intended to have an open bar on board, but either way, it was not paid in advance. From what I understand, some of the flight attendants felt threatened by the very large wrestlers grumblings to the point where they did open the bar, to which WWE officials did step up and agreed to pay for separately.

 

While Bradshaw was by far the most vocal and unprofessional, the entire group as a collective unit was far less than cordial. While Big Show is correct in saying that the one causing the problems (Bradshaw) should be spoken to separately, he was not the only one causing problems...he was simply the most vocal. With both Vince McMahon and Johnny Ace were on board the aircraft and witnesses to the events that unfolded on board the aircraft, this speech to all the talent was very justified.

 

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2004/articles/1078613204.php

 

Gee, this doesn't exactly inspire me to change my long-standing opinion of Bradshaw. Ever heard of AA?

 

Speaking of the SA tour, notice how very little was posted about it on the news sites in terms of results? I read one full show report from Rajah, and one match result listing at Obsessed with Wrestling. And that's it. Considering all four shows were sellouts and there were reports for every show from last year's tour, this surprised me.

[Ravenbomb 0]

they did not want to be wanded with the hand-held metal detectors.

 

Anybody else think of that scene in This Is Spinal Tap when they read this?

[AndrewTS 0]

Big Show got shipped to OVW because they didn't like the weight he had on him. And when he lost it, came back and they told him they didn't like him with the lack of weight.

I thought that was Mark Henry, or did they do that shit twice?

 

Also, I fear Angle will be doing the same crap Foley is right now in about 4 years.

[Fro 0]

Big Show got shipped to OVW because they didn't like the weight he had on him. And when he lost it, came back and they told him they didn't like him with the lack of weight.

I thought that was Mark Henry, or did they do that shit twice?

Both Henry and Show got sent to OVW to lose weight. Some folks on the net used to call it a "Fat Farm" for a while after that.

[Guest Choken One]

the thing was...Henry actually LOST the weight.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Yes. I totally believe this news story.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

So basically they were on some long ass flights and Vince is pissed because they were bitchy and wanted some booze.

[LucharesuFan619 0]

The wording of this thread's title make it sound like a day in kindergarten, LOL.