Q&A thread - Your Questions Answered! **no chat**

Ageyev

Wrestling, certainly US or WWE wrestling at least, is far more performance art than before. I heard Dave Meltzer refer to the WWE style as like "a dance, not a fight". Hard to argue with that, it is not usually presented as a fight or competitive contest. Somewhat ironically though, the physicality and injuries seem to increase more fake it looks.

I saw a sign backstage from a WWE documentary that said "SELL INTENSITY" or something so there's that.

jaykhunter

WWE looks like a legitimate street-fight compared to lucha. Jaysus, that's performance art, so much closer to ballet.

Anyways, I heard most WWE Network subscribers watch current programming & documentaries, and old PPVs aren't that popular. Any news articles/more info on this?

Whosthis

Back in 2013 when Sammartino was inducted into the hall of fame there was talk of both a documentary and a biopic movie being made. As far as I remember one or both were part of the negotiations. What's happening with them? The last I heard was that the documentary is finished but still no sign of it. I also seem to remember that the WWE pulled out of the biopic. Were either supposed to be WWE productions? Any potential release dates?

Lord TSC

Whats Brian Kendrick up to nowadays? (Other than smoking a load of pot :P).

Reading he was at the NXT show last night, and have to admit he was one of my favorite characters for quite a while (both as a tag team with London, and as THE Brian Kendrick). Curious to know if he's doing anything. Last I heard he was in TNA for a spot...

rovert

Lord TSC wrote: »

Whats Brian Kendrick up to nowadays? (Other than smoking a load of pot :P).

Reading he was at the NXT show last night, and have to admit he was one of my favorite characters for quite a while (both as a tag team with London, and as THE Brian Kendrick). Curious to know if he's doing anything. Last I heard he was in TNA for a spot...

I knew about it 2 weeks ago. :P

Actually I did in October when he told some people I know in the UK. I thought I posted about it here actually but couldn't find it.

Brian is 35 years old, broken down and has a wife and child. He is going back to WWE cap in hand. He realises he **** the bed in his last stint with WWE. He is/was a hard sell to Triple H who ultimately signs off on hiring people. Brian's verbiage is that he is willing to "sweep the floor." The pitch back in October was being just a guy who works live events wrestling NXT guys before their main roster debuts. Seems like now he is coming as a Performance Centre coach.

The main two people vouching for him are William Regal and Daniel Bryan. He has given up the pot completely.

Before this he worked on the indies and a couple of random New Japan tours. He opened his own Wrestling school in the last year or two.

rossie1977

jaykhunter wrote: »

Anyways, I heard most WWE Network subscribers watch current programming & documentaries, and old PPVs aren't that popular. Any news articles/more info on this?

barrios talked about that a few weeks ago

Barrios was asked about most-watched programming and noted that pay-per-view shows are by far the most-watched and the next tier down is Main Event, followed by the live NXT specials and the RAW pre-show. Next would be Legends House and Monday Night War

http://www.allwrestlingnews.com/wwe-news/wwe-cfo-george-barrios-talks-watched-network-content-password-sharing-subscribers/

rovert

This ISN'T a spoiler as it is a dark match:

https://twitter.com/NINaylor/status/543547121505697792

I forgot to add Kendrick hiring is being held as a real sign that Regal is gaining influence at the expense of Bill Demott.

Stereomaniac

Was that Solomon Crowe in the ring with the rest of them after the main event last night, and was Brian Kendrick in the ring at the end as well? It's good to see him back with the company.

rovert

Stereomaniac wrote: »

Was that Solomon Crowe in the ring with the rest of them after the main event last night, and was Brian Kendrick in the ring at the end as well? It's good to see him back with the company.

Yes on Crowe. But I don't recall Kendrick - you may be right he was backstage.

Know too much about Crowe's NXT stint for my own good. NXT has totally destroyed his confidence with mixed signals. But more importantly his father passed away from throat cancer about two months ago. A long battle he had his voice box removed and Crowe had to move from Philly to Florida leaving him behind. His father gave his blessing as he knew it was Crowe's dream. Friends were hoping Crowe would make his NXT TV debut before he passed away. Never happened sadly.

jaykhunter

Remember when Rollins ran in to break up a tag, and caused a DQ? I remember Ambrose explained it on commentary. What was it called when you break up a tag (you get one free breakup)...burning your tag?

rovert

jaykhunter wrote: »

Remember when Rollins ran in to break up a tag, and caused a DQ? I remember Ambrose explained it on commentary. What was it called when you break up a tag (you get one free breakup)...burning your tag?

No idea what the terminology but ex-WWE ref Jimmy Koredias confirmed that SECRET RULE that is never explained on commentary.

jaykhunter

Cheers. Arrgh! This is gonna bug me now!

rovert

jaykhunter wrote: »

Cheers. Arrgh! This is gonna bug me now!

I believe you are right for the record. I think Jimmy says what it is called during a F4Daily appearance.

Stereomaniac

rovert wrote: »

Yes on Crowe. But I don't recall Kendrick - you may be right he was backstage.

Know too much about Crowe's NXT stint for my own good. NXT has totally destroyed his confidence with mixed signals. But more importantly his father passed away from throat cancer about two months ago. A long battle he had his voice box removed and Crowe had to move from Philly to Florida leaving him behind. His father gave his blessing as he knew it was Crowe's dream. Friends were hoping Crowe would make his NXT TV debut before he passed away. Never happened sadly.

No I was just asking if he was in the ring, I can hardly remember him from back then.

Cianan2

jaykhunter wrote: »

Cheers. Arrgh! This is gonna bug me now!

Didn't Davey boy Jr explain that in a shoot he did when leaving WWE about some unwritten rules that the audience just don't even know about?

Ageyev

Cianan2 wrote: »

Didn't Davey boy Jr explain that in a shoot he did when leaving WWE about some unwritten rules that the audience just don't even know about?

2.25 in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCbr28zz2I4

orestes

The text of the newsflash around two minutes in:

News Flash: There are rumours at this time that CM Punk is due to win the 2014 Royal Rumble and challenge for the WWE title at Wrestlemania XXX, and because of the recent events many think it will be against Brock Lesner.

Yeah, about that.....

JaMarcusHustle

2 very random questions.

1. I've read elsewhere that Bob Holly is a massive, how shall I put it, asshole. Why is this, and are there any stories that back up this opinion?

2. Have there been any really serious injuries in CZW?

Stereomaniac

It was discussed on here a couple of years back I think. Apparently Bob Holly was caught going through guys' bags in the locker room a couple of times. I'm sure someone knows the story. Also, the guy was a pretty stiff worker which made him not so popular with a lot of workers.

Palo Alto

JaMarcusHustle wrote: »

2 very random questions.


2. Have there been any really serious injuries in CZW?

I know that Nick Mondo suffered a punctured vertebral artery when taking a disgusting bump from Zandig off of a roof at Tournament of Death. He was then bandaged up and wrestled another match after.

They had no doctors on scene, only nurses or medical assistants.

It's all covered in the Nick Mondo documentary which is worth a watch. Guy had talent and charisma, I think he could have been Jeff Hardy type character if given the chance instead of wrecking his body.

Sadly, I could have seen him being signed now but at time WWE wouldn't touch CZW guys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeDWwtqy7ik

Hangballlouie

I'll get thorn apart for these questions in the mma forum so I'll ask them her as they are relatable.

1. Is it true that many of the early mma fights were a work?

2. I think I know the answer to this but want to confirm it. Did pro wrestling start out as a shoot and did it evolve to a work because of drawing money etc?

3. Is there any possibility that The Punk fights will be a work? What would be the point signing him to lose his first match? The man will draw so it makes sense to get someone in who will do the job.

Garseys

Stop Searching My Posts wrote: »

3. Is there any possibility that The Punk fights will be a work? What would be the point signing him to lose his first match? The man will draw so it makes sense to get someone in who will do the job.

There is no way it will be a work. Its a sport. Som People watch MMA to see certain guys get destroyed and will pay good money for it. Anyway the NSAC would be all over that in an instant.

rovert

Stop Searching My Posts wrote: »

I'll get thorn apart for these questions in the mma forum so I'll ask them her as they are relatable.

1. Is it true that many of the early mma fights were a work?

2. I think I know the answer to this but want to confirm it. Did pro wrestling start out as a shoot and did it evolve to a work because of drawing money etc?

3. Is there any possibility that The Punk fights will be a work? What would be the point signing him to lose his first match? The man will draw so it makes sense to get someone in who will do the job.

1. Not many. Very few. Depended on the promotion.

2. Yes and to perverse the competitors bodies.

3. Absolutely not the owners of UFC have Casino licences. They need to be sweaky clean.

Whosthis

Stop Searching My Posts wrote: »

I'll get thorn apart for these questions in the mma forum so I'll ask them her as they are relatable.

1. Is it true that many of the early mma fights were a work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgWOA8sS8k

Ageyev

Stop Searching My Posts wrote: »

I'll get thorn apart for these questions in the mma forum so I'll ask them her as they are relatable.

1. Is it true that many of the early mma fights were a work?

2. I think I know the answer to this but want to confirm it. Did pro wrestling start out as a shoot and did it evolve to a work because of drawing money etc?

3. Is there any possibility that The Punk fights will be a work? What would be the point signing him to lose his first match? The man will draw so it makes sense to get someone in who will do the job.

Some Pancrase that Ken Shamrock was a work or at least had pre-determined winners. Some Pride fights were too and they also did dodgy stuff with their booking where they would give their favoured winner decent notice of a fight and give the person who they wanted to lose short notice.

Part of the reason pro wrestling is worked is because it is/was possible to pass it off as real. Fixed boxing matches tend to look fake.

Stereomaniac

It's crazy to think how long it went with people thinking it was real on a wide scale, however. I mean, looking at some of the early Starcades on the WWE Network, and the audiences are just rabid. But initially, in the carnivals, pro wrestling was based on shoot contests.

MitchKoobski

What was the story with "Off The Record with Michael Landsberg"?

Couple of wrestlers were allowed on for a while, but none of them have gone near it in years. Any story why?

Ageyev

MitchKoobski wrote: »

What was the story with "Off The Record with Michael Landsberg"?

Couple of wrestlers were allowed on for a while, but none of them have gone near it in years. Any story why?

Well WWE are more strict these days with media appearances and they've to toe a line to an extent. I think it was mostly WWE related guests he had on and some of the better interviews were a bit controversial and antagonistic - Vince's, Edge talking steroids, Undertaker talking about beating up Shawn Michaels etc.

Also, not sure that Landsberg was that big into wrestling over sports he covered. There are other outlets now (in Canada anyway) with The LAW radio and Aftermath. There's loads of Podcasts too obv.

CastorTroy

Is there any kind of rule in place of whether or not wrestlers should stay in character for interviews? Seems to vary wrestler to wrestler

Stereomaniac

I would imagine that it's down to the individual. Bray Wyatt seems to have eased off over time.