Vince McMahon Talks TNA, Hogan, Bret, Storylines

[Guest wrestling365]

The Raw crew were in Bethlehem, PA last night with Shelton Benjamin over Christian, Daivari over Rhyno, Simon Dean over Rosie, Lita over Molly Holly, Chris Masters over Tajiri, William Regal/Eugene over La Resistance, Edge over Chris Benoit, Gene Snitsky over Val Venis, and Randy Orton/Chris Jericho/Maven over Evolution.

 

The Smackdown crew were in Charleston, SC with Spike Dudley over Billy Kidman, Chavo Guerrero and Shannon Moore in a four-way match, The Bashams over Paul London/Nunzio, Jesus over Hardcore Holly, Undertaker over Heidenreich, Miss Jackie over Dawn Marie, Kenzo Suzuki/Rene Dupree over Rey Mysterio/RVD, and Eddie Guererro/Booker T over JBL/Orlando Jordan.

 

Ric Flair has been back in the ring over the weekend. He's still not 100 percent but is medically cleared to wrestle. Randy Orton tweaked his shoulder in Philly on Saturday but I don't think it's considered serious. As noted in issue #291 Chris Masters a developmental talent in OVW received a call up last week. He's gone over everyone at Raw house shows including Bob Holly (non-televised) at last week's Smackdown taping, which is something that doesn't normally happen. I'm under the impression, and those around him are, that he will make his TV debut tonight on Raw.

 

The Charleston Post and Courier interviewed Vince McMahon talking about a variety of subjects, including TNA. McMahon said: "I don't know if they (pose a threat) or not. It's not a disjuncture in comparison. In terms of product value, cost of doing business and professionalism, the startup cost to emulate what we do is astronomical. It's not a good business model. If, on the other hand, TNA sprouts up as one of a number of TNA-type operations, (and our hope is that throughout the years they will), it gives us an opportunity to reshuffle some talent."

 

He added: "It's an opportunity for our wrestlers to continue wrestling, just not with us. In some ways they're like the minor leagues. I'm not sure whether or not it's their desire to be a major league. You'd lose huge sums of money if you tried to set up and compete on this level. Honestly, I don't know if they're making money or not. With all we're doing at WWE, I don't have the time to watch them."

 

McMahon also talked about Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart: "I think they both definitely should be in the Hall of Fame. We didn't ask to be the only game in town. In the past, we only brought in former WWF stars and things of that nature, but now that we bear sole responsibility for the legacies of wrestlers with NWA, AWA, and such, it is incumbent upon us to induct a variety of individuals."

 

"There will always be recognition for people who paid their dues, Hogan and Bret Hart, no doubt about that, as well as many others. Harley Race is recognized as an extraordinary figure. There's Vern Gagne of AWA. If I tried to list all the guys that deserve to be inducted, I'd be sure to leave someone out. What's most important is to carry on the legacy of the genre. It's not just who Vince thinks should be there, it's who the fans think deserve to be there."

 

On the subject of over-the-top storylines: "There have been many ideas we didn't proceed with, and there have been some things we've done in the past that we thought went over the top. We probably have gone too far with certain things, not in terms of subject matter, but more in terms of good taste. We're often misunderstood because we don't fit into a category. There's nothing like WWE in this world, this unique combination of characters and athletes and soap opera and humor and action adventure and reality."

 

He added: "We're not everyone's cup of tea, nor do we strive to be. If we had pulled the stunt with Katie Vick's dead corpse on Saturday Night Live, I don't think we'd have gotten the flak. It's all in the presentation. At the same time, we have a responsibility to address certain social issues, sensitive issues. Why should we be different than anyone else? As far as how we address social issues and the degree of sophistication, I think we've gotten better. We're trying to open the product in every way possible."

 

"Lida's pregnancy was a tremendous issue, and I think we handled the socially important items with some dignity and some class. We've learned from our mistakes. Our fans are very vocal. They tell us what they like and, more importantly, they tell us what they don't like. It keeps us on our toes."

 

Mike Mooneyham interviewed Rey Mysterio for his weekly wrestling column. Mysterio talks about the Smackdown product and the cruiserweight division among other things: "I think we can do a lot more with the show. When I first stepped foot in Smackdown, there were tremendous storylines. Of course we had The Rock and Triple H back then, and the roster was different and exciting. All of a sudden the ball drifted, and Raw was getting the better hand. We've tried to work very hard to pick up to where Smackdown is interesting and people want to watch."

 

He added: "I think the cruiserweight division has a lot more potential than what we're doing right now. As far as people categorizing Smackdown as the B show, I don't think most of the boys see it that way. Wrestling is in one of its down periods right now. We look at what we can do to improve our show. We want to try different things and make the show one that the fans want to watch."

 

NBC sports Czar Dick Ebersol was seriously hurt and his 14-year-old son was missing yesterday after their private jet crashed on takeoff from the ski resort town of Telluride, CO. Ebersol was instrumental in helping Vince McMahon get Saturday Night Main Event and the XFL on NBC.

 

Old-time wrestler "Dandy" Jack Donovan passed away on Saturday at the age of 76.

 

Randy Orton's appearance on TSN's 'Off The Record' has been cancelled. Instead, Triple H will be on the show December 7, and I believe Ted DiBiase is on tonight. Bret Hart is also on December 13.

 

The Toronto Sun noted over the weekend that Bret Hart secretly got married to an Italian lady called Cinzia in September. Here is a picture of the happy couple: http://tinyurl.com/47oqp

 

Jerry Lawler (55) and John 'Bradshaw' Layfield (37) both celebrate birthday's today.

[Exslade ZX]

Wow...Tajiri gets the same punishment as Hardcore Holly, wonder what he did. >_>

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Lida's pregnancy was a tremendous issue, and I think we handled the socially important items with some dignity and some class.

 

Is he joking?

[Guest ShootingStylesPress]

Yeah, who the hell is "Lida"?

[Guest wrestling365]

Yeah, who the hell is "Lida"?

 

Must be the accent kicking in

[Guest Fook]

We're not everyone's cup of tea, nor do we strive to be. If we had pulled the stunt with Katie Vick's dead corpse on Saturday Night Live, I don't think we'd have gotten the flak. It's all in the presentation.

Yeah, you're right Vince. It has nothing to do with the fact that no one wants to see necrophilia (simulated or not). It's all about presentation.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh]

Whoa...I wonder if Bret's new Italian wife will put on 300 pounds like the Canadian wife did.

[Guest LooneyTune]

I'm somewhat shocked Vince didn't actually bash TNA as a bush-league company and because it's main "draw" (or loser of money) is Jeff Jarrett.

 

Glad to see he recognizes Hulk Hogan & Bret Hart for being wrestling Hall of Famers, although his comments on Necrophillia & the Abortion Pregnancy angles were pretty stupid.

[Guest Trivia247]

I'm somewhat shocked Vince didn't actually bash TNA as a bush-league company and because it's main "draw" (or loser of money) is Jeff Jarrett.

 

Glad to see he recognizes Hulk Hogan & Bret Hart for being wrestling Hall of Famers, although his comments on Necrophillia & the Abortion Pregnancy angles were pretty stupid.

The bashing will begin once TNA truly gets a Live Cable Show and ratings start to go head to head with the WWE.

 

Recap shows and 10 buck per week PPVs isn't at the WWE level of competition yet.

[Mole]

The bashing will begin once TNA truly gets a Live Cable Show and ratings start to go head to head with the WWE.

If that even happens.

[1234-5678]

Whoa...I wonder if Bret's new Italian wife will put on 300 pounds like the Canadian wife did.

She (Julie) just looked she was a major boozer while he was on the road.........it was all booze fat.

[LaParkaYourCar]

We're not everyone's cup of tea, nor do we strive to be. If we had pulled the stunt with Katie Vick's dead corpse on Saturday Night Live, I don't think we'd have gotten the flak. It's all in the presentation.

Yeah, you're right Vince. It has nothing to do with the fact that no one wants to see necrophilia (simulated or not). It's all about presentation.

I see that Vince still hasn't learned his lesson from the Katie Vick debacle. Yet he says something a few lines down about learning from mistakes. Does Vince not realize that the whole Katie Vick thing was just dumb to begin with? Does he really think it was because of the presentation?

 

Everytime someone brings up Katie Vick he tries to make excuses like "well if it were on CSI (or SNL) no one would care!" Last time I checked SNL or CSI never did anything like Katie Vick and probably never will.

[Guest wrestling365]

I'm somewhat shocked Vince didn't actually bash TNA as a bush-league company and because it's main "draw" (or loser of money) is Jeff Jarrett.

 

Glad to see he recognizes Hulk Hogan & Bret Hart for being wrestling Hall of Famers, although his comments on Necrophillia & the Abortion Pregnancy angles were pretty stupid.

The bashing will begin once TNA truly gets a Live Cable Show and ratings start to go head to head with the WWE.

 

Recap shows and 10 buck per week PPVs isn't at the WWE level of competition yet.

 

lol Like TNA will ever go head to head with the WWE

[RavishingRickRudo]

He added: "We're not everyone's cup of tea, nor do we strive to be. If we had pulled the stunt with Katie Vick's dead corpse on Saturday Night Live, I don't think we'd have gotten the flak. It's all in the presentation. At the same time, we have a responsibility to address certain social issues, sensitive issues. Why should we be different than anyone else? As far as how we address social issues and the degree of sophistication, I think we've gotten better. We're trying to open the product in every way possible."

 

"Lita's pregnancy was a tremendous issue, and I think we handled the socially important items with some dignity and some class. We've learned from our mistakes. Our fans are very vocal. They tell us what they like and, more importantly, they tell us what they don't like. It keeps us on our toes."

 

*head explodes*

[Lord of The Curry]

That Vince is such a card.

[iggymcfly]

It's kinda funny that Vince used SNL in his analogy. I remember when SNL used to be the funniest show on TV, and I remember when I used to count the minutes until Raw would start.

 

Now though, I can hardly stand to watch either one for more than 15 or 20 minutes.

[bobobrazil1984]

At the same time, we have a responsibility to address certain social issues, sensitive issues. Why should we be different than anyone else? As far as how we address social issues and the degree of sophistication, I think we've gotten better. We're trying to open the product in every way possible."

 

"Lida's pregnancy was a tremendous issue, and I think we handled the socially important items with some dignity and some class. We've learned from our mistakes. Our fans are very vocal. They tell us what they like and, more importantly, they tell us what they don't like. It keeps us on our toes."

 

BAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAAHAAAA!!!!

[Guest dreamer420]

Whoa...I wonder if Bret's new Italian wife will put on 300 pounds like the Canadian wife did.

She (Julie) just looked she was a major boozer while he was on the road.........it was all booze fat.

I remember when I seen her for the first time on Wrestling With Shadows. It was like the death of the Bret "The Hitman" Hart character. I always pictures much better for him.