SEScoops Mailbag for February 25th
Got a Question? Submit it with your name to: [email protected]
Q: Why did they wait so long to debut the new WWE championship belt? Was it because they wanted The Rock to [unveil] it or just disagreements on the look? – Kyle Gray
A: A story on WWE.com about the creation of the new belt indicated they ran into some issues with the title being too heavy and it needed more work before completion. That likely delayed things, and I also think them wanting Rock to debut the new look had something to do with it. After eight years of the Spinner, I’m surprised they couldn’t wait two more months and unveil the title in April to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the championship.
Q: If Lex Luger didn’t leave the WWF in September of 1995, do you think he would have become WWF champion eventually? Was he headed for a heel turn after Summerslam [that year]? And if he was on the card at WrestleMania 12, who would he have faced? – Jay from Ft. Lauderdale
A: If Luger was going to win the title, which had been the plan at one point, it would have already happened by then. So no, I don’t think he would have been champion. He had already been phased down to the mid-card by the time he left for WCW. His partner at the time, the British Bulldog, ended up tagging with WWF champion Diesel on an episode of Raw and turning on him, so Luger himself was not headed for a heel turn. It’s interesting they would have had Davey Boy turn on Diesel and not Luger, which doesn’t speak very highly for how they perceived Luger at the time. As for WM12, my guess is he would have gotten one of the spots in that 6-man tag that opened the show against Vader, Owen and Bulldog.
Q: What are the odds of Dolph Ziggler cashing in [his MITB contract] at WrestleMania, which would make him the first person to do so? I could even see where Vickie [Guerrero] doesn’t book him in a match and he cashes in to spite her and turn babyface. – Dustin from Flair Country
A: If the idea is to phase down Jack Swagger’s character after WrestleMania as punishment for his recent arrest, I think the odds are good. I could see Del Rio beating Swagger with Ziggler cashing in immediately after, and then have Del Rio chase Dolph for the title. However, if Swagger is to remain in the title picture, that makes it unlikely, especially with he and Dolph both being heels.
Q: If you were trying to convince a non-wrestling fan to appreciate pro-wrestling and could choose one match for them to watch, which match would you choose? – Jonathan from the U.K.
A: I’m gonna pick two. One is more “wrestling heavy” than the other, but both tell fantastic stories and are exciting in their own way. Steve Austin vs. Dude Love at “Over the Edge” 1998, with Vince McMahon as guest referee, and Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25.
Q: If top WCW stars such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Sting, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and a few others were part of the invasion storyline, do you think it would [have been] more successful and would have last beyond Survivor Series 2001? – Ravonn from New York
A: Absolutely, they could have kept it going at least through WrestleMania the following year, if not longer. Build to a supercard with several big matches and either have the WWF come out on top, or split the wins between them and the invaders, which would give way to running WCW as a separate brand. That had been the original plan before Booker T and Buff Bagwell wrestled in Tacoma.
Q: In your opinion, has TNA killed Mister Anderson? – Brian from Orlando
A: You can’t kill something that’s already dead.
Keep those questions coming to [email protected] and remember to include your name!
