SEScoops Mailbag for March 25th
(submit YOUR questions to [email protected])
Q: Just wondering, if WWE isn’t having a Money In The Bank Match, then why is it both mid-level champions are being used in squash matches on a weekly basis? Without a MITB match, they will need a US or IC title defense [on the WrestleMania card] and both Bryan and Kingston barely get TV time and when they do they get demolished. Your thoughts? – Mathew
A: I agree that your champions, mid-level or otherwise, should not be used as squash guys. I really think WWE is making a mistake by not utilizing actual jobbers for one or two squash matches a week on TV to help younger guys get their moves over. I’m not saying a return to the days of Superstars and Wrestling Challenge would be a wise move (for ratings it certainly wouldn’t be), but those matches do have a place in today’s product. These days, a new guy will make his in-ring debut against an established player on his first night in instead of building to a credible challenger over the course of several weeks. When a veteran like Rey Mysterio puts over Alberto Del Rio and his new submission hold in his very first match on TV, that works great and gives Del Rio instant credibility, but how often does that actually happen?
Q: I want to know that why hasn’t WWE toured India more than once in all these years? And why are there no Indian wrestlers in WWE except The Great Khali? WWE toured India in 2004. Was that an unsuccessful tour or is WWE simply not interested in expanding their business in Indian market? Also, don’t you think Great Khali was a high profile star when he debuted in WWE, but he became underrated soon [even though] his fan following [remained] quite high? – Sagar Punjabi, India
A: WWE is always looking to expand their international business. I believe it was on their tour of India in 2002 that several superstars fell violently ill from food poisoning, including William Regal who nearly died a few months later. The wrestlers complained loudly about the conditions and some vowed they would quit the company before ever touring India again. I would imagine that has something to do with it. As for Khali, I know he’s revered as a big star in that part of the world, but here he’s just another big guy that can’t work. He’s got some personality, but I just don’t think it translates as well to the North American audience. He wasn’t really a “high profile” star here when he debuted, he simply got a big push because of his size and now he’s in the role that he belongs in.
Q: Do you think Vince McMahon will let Ric Flair or any member of the TNA roster into the Phillips Arena to see Shawn Michaels get inducted into the HOF? – Rory
A: The better question is whether TNA would allow it. In the past, they have not, although I believe some of their talent has snuck in before. If Ric Flair wants to go to the Hall of Fame and TNA allows it, I don’t see Vince McMahon stopping it.
Q: Would TNA have been better served to send out another member of Immortal, like Matt Hardy, to have a no build-up, 15 minute match with Sting than the sham they had at Victory Road? I know WWE would have done that. – Trust, Germany
A: You can’t even make that comparison to WWE in this situation because they never would have allowed for it to happen in the first place. He never would have been even been sent to the ring. To be fair, if Jeff Hardy is ultimately fired from TNA and doesn’t serve jail time on his pending drug charges, WWE will try to sign him up in a heartbeat. They would likely require he attend rehab first and foremost, but they are as guilty as TNA when it comes to this stuff. They will turn a blind eye and try to get him back under contract. Now, should TNA have sent Matt Hardy out to replace his brother? I’d have sent out Samoa Joe seeing as how Matt already wrestled earlier against A.J. Styles and Joe wasn’t even on the show. Joe and Sting have had matches before that I recall as being pretty good. Really, you could have sent any able-bodied wrestler from the back, heel or face, to at least give the fans a serviceable main event instead of the atrocity that we saw. I don’t feel the least bit sorry for TNA. They put themselves in this situation and deserve all of the blame. Jeff seemingly doesn’t know any better and the warning signs existed long before Victory Road, so I can’t even blame him.
Q: I just recently read online that Sid Vicious pooped his pants in his match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 13. Is there any truth to this? – Phil M.
A: Pure folklore, it’s never been confirmed. People have said that Taker himself has confirmed the story in the past, but I have yet to see evidence of such an admission. That said, wrestlers have, in fact, LITERALLY lost their shit during matches, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility. There’s the infamous story of Andre the Giant having diarrhea during a 6-man tag match while sitting on Bad News Brown’s (pun absolutely intended!) face in the corner. Also, John Cena noted in a WWE Magazine interview in 2008 that he once got sick during a match with Scott Steiner in Winnipeg. He was suffering from food poisoning and went underneath the ring at one point during the match to vomit. Unfortunately, he also crapped his pants at the same time. Barney’s turd, indeed.
Q: Everyone is talking about how Undertaker/Cena is the only WrestleMania match that could end the streak if Triple H fails. What about Taker/Jericho? – Ryan B.
A: Absolutely not! Perhaps, and I stress perhaps, they could have done this a year or two ago and built it up as the first-ever meeting between two of the company’s biggest stars, but they blew that the moment they put them in the ring against each other on Smackdown. They had a unique match that had never been done before and wasted it on a TV match that not many people are likely to remember. To be honest, even if they never had that match, I cannot fathom anyone on planet earth believing for a second that Jericho would actually have a shot at ending the streak. I think Y2J is a fantastic performer, the MVP of the promotion in fact in 2008-2009, but it’s not the right booking for Taker on the biggest show of the year. I do think that matching Taker up with Cena next year would force them to tone down dramatically on the comedy with him, which would be a gigantic plus, and you’d have plenty more people believing that if anyone can end the streak, it’s the man who has been involved in a championship match in every single WrestleMania he’s ever been part of.
Q: I’ve been wondering, why hasn’t WWE turned guys like Rey Mysterio heel at all? It’s just flippin’ weird, almost every WWE superstar turns heel somewhere in their career, but why not Rey Rey? – Brad L.
A: First of all, I like the fact that he has remained a babyface throughout his WWE run. Too many guys are turned for no good reason, and then you have stars like Kane and Big Show who have turned so many times in the last 10 years, I’ve lost count. Ricky Steamboat is the most well-known example of a major star who not only never turned in his WWE career, but played the role of babyface throughout his entire career. He did just fine for himself. Secondly, turning Rey heel at this point would be about as successful as Jeff Hardy’s heel turn in TNA (minus the 90-second match with Sting). Rey’s not really a great talker and if he turned heel, he’d have to do one hell of a job on promos getting the fans to hate him. You already have people who boo him, but that’s more smart fan backlash, a la John Cena. Plus, much like Hardy, you’re sacrificing millions in merchandise money by turning one of your top sellers. It’s also worth noting that his small size makes him more suitable to be a babyface than a heel.
Q: If you could pick one TNA home grown star that you think could go to WWE and become a big star, who would you pick? – Ryan
A: I could go the easy route and say A.J. Styles or Samoa Joe, either of whom if used properly could be a HUGE star in WWE, but I’m going to be more practical and say Robert Roode. He’s got the size and look that WWE loves and he’s one hell of a talented performer who has improved ten-fold during his TNA tenure. I believe he signed a lengthy contract extension fairly recently, so good for him and I think Beer Money is a great act, but he’s wasted potential as long as he stays there.
Q: Did Rob Van Dam get his name due to his likeness to actor Jean Claude Van Damme or is it pure coincidence? – Matt from Kent, UK
A: Indeed, he was given the name for that very reason back in 1991 by Florida promoter Ron Slinker, who also helped get him into WCW (as Robbie V). Beyond the physical resemblance, Slinker also felt they shared similar styles. Since you brought up JCVD, this gives me the perfect excuse to tell people to visit YouTube and type in “bloodsport mentos” for a hilarious, mock Mentos commercial synced to footage from one of his movies. Anyone who remember those cheesy ads from the 90’s will appreciate it. I guarantee you’ve never seen a more authentic-looking parody.
Keep those questions coming to [email protected] and remember to include your name!