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SEScoops Mailbag for January 20th
(please submit YOUR questions to [email protected])
Q: If CM Punk vs. Bryan Danielson were to happen at a future Wrestlemania, and they both were given little to no restrictions as to what they were allowed to do in the ring (wishful thinking), could that match surpass Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat or Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (either one if you consider either of their Mania matches [to be] the greatest of all time) as the greatest Wrestlemania [ever]? – Trey A.
A: This is a totally subjective question for which there is no answer. Of course they may have a better match than either of the two you mention, or they may not. Who is to say you won’t think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread (#2) and I don’t think that it sucks? Having seen what both men can do in the indie scene without the proverbial handcuffs, I have no doubt they could tear the house down.
Q: I was watching the brutal “I Quit” match between The Rock and Mankind at the 1999 Royal Rumble PPV the other day. When Foley took that ugly bump into the electronic equipment, I saw Shane [McMahon] and other officials coming out trying to stop the match, but Rock, who obviously remained [in character] said something like ”No, not this. No nothing! This SOB is gonna say I quit!”. My question is, did officials try to stop the match for real or it was just another great display of kayfabe? Did they actually [break the fourth wall]? – Marko
A: It was all part of the show. The spot was planned and they were not trying to stop the match. Looking back and knowing what was yet to come with the chairshots, I wish they would have stopped it then.
Q: What’s the history between Chris Jericho and Goldberg? Why don’t the two get along? – Jay Holla
A: Goldberg did not want to work with Jericho during their WCW days. Jericho began mocking Goldberg on TV each week, which he figured would build to an eventual match where Goldberg would destroy him. That match never came and, as he talks about in his first book, Goldberg was none too happy about being made fun of by the “smaller” Jericho. Not getting the Goldberg match was one of the things that led to Jericho leaving the promotion. Later, there was an incident between them backstage at a WWE taping that ended with Jericho trapping him in a front-face lock before they were pulled apart.
Q: I watched WrestleMania 19 recently and I was amazed at how excellent this show was from top to bottom, excluding the [Miller Lite] cat fight girls of course. One of the things that struck me the most was the build up for these matches, especially the Hogan and McMahon match. What is your opinion on this WrestleMania and for 2003 in general for wrestling? – Richard Sanders
A: 2003 was a fantastic year for Smackdown. It was arguably the A-show for most of the year, just a ton of great talent and kick ass wrestling matches. As for WrestleMania 19, it really did have several marquee matches on top, but oddly enough, it did terrible business on PPV relative to most other Mania shows of the past decade. I’m not quite sure why, but I thought it was a very good show.
Q: I’ve always been a big fan of Bryan Danielson, but there’s something I never got around to asking about him and that is what is up with his body? I’m sure most people have noticed these weird white discolorations on Bryan’s body, which are most apparent on his arms and elbows. What is the deal with those? – John Heaney
A: Bryan has admitted to having vitiligo, which is a skin disorder that results in loss of pigmentation. It is the same condition that Michael Jackson suffered from. Apparently, he has had it from a young age on various parts of his body (face, shoulders, elbows, legs) and uses a tanning cream to cover up any white spots.
Q: Do you think the Paul Burchill/Katie Lea incest angle that never happened may have been one of the many factors that led to the PG turn? – Jonny, London, UK
A: Actually, Burchill has claimed the reason the angle was scrapped was because WWE officially went PG just two weeks later. I don’t believe one caused the other, it was just a bad twist of fate. Or a good one, depending on your view of the angle.
Q: About a month or two ago, Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank on Mark Henry, only to have it reversed because Henry was not medically cleared to compete. On RAW, Jack Swagger beat Zack Ryder for the US title when Ryder wasn’t medically cleared. This inconsistency was not touched on or explained on RAW (figured John Cena would bring it up to Johnny L.) Once again, does WWE think we’re that dumb and are supposed to just forget this writing flaw? – Joe B.
A: Yes.
Keep those questions coming to [email protected] and remember to include your name!
