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Sound Off 214: Scott Hall is a Mess, But Leave Kevin Nash Alone

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 214)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 39 minutes

Solomonster previews the TNA Lockdown PPV with James Storm vs. Bobby Roode, plus thoughts on Raw and The Three Stooges, a terrible live Smackdown (with an awesome Piper’s Pit), The Bellas leaving WWE, more on the Mick Foley/Dean Ambrose angle, the latest sad chapter in the Scott Hall story and why people need to lay off Kevin Nash and MATCH ANATOMY returns featuring Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena…nine years ago this month! Plus, we’ve got some good mailbag Q&A this week.

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MAILBAG: Should The Undertaker Ever Lose At WrestleMania?

SEScoops Mailbag for April 13th

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Do you think that WWE will hire ROH star Davey Richards in the future? – Evan

A: No, I don’t. He doesn’t have the size or charisma they typically look for in a talent.

Q: What was Rhyno doing at WWE’s Hall of Fame [ceremony]? He was sitting next to Edge’s mother. Might this be an indication that he will be back with WWE? – Roberto Rivelino from Portugal

A: Rhyno is very good friends with both Edge and Christian and was in attendance to see his friend inducted. Edge even shared a funny road story from their early days involving Rhyno during his speech. I wouldn’t read into anything beyond that.

Q: Why won’t WWE recognize Andy Kaufman and add him to the Hall of Fame? He became the most hated person at one point was he was a comedian with the stuff he did in the squared circle. – Coty K.

A: WWE likes to induct celebrities into its Hall of Fame to garner publicity. While they may get some press for inducting Kaufman, and I do think he is deserving, he’s been deceased now for almost 30 years and became famous not in WWE, but in Memphis for his antics with Jerry Lawler. Both of those things work against him. Funny story is that Kaufman originally reached out to Vince McMahon Sr. about doing something with his company, but McMahon wanted nothing to do with him and he ended up in Memphis. The rest is history.

Sound Off 213: Thoughts From WrestleMania Weekend in Miami!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 213)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Solomonster is back from Miami after an amazing WrestleMania weekend with live accounts from WrestleReunion, including meeting Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, as well as the 2012 Hall of Fame, WrestleMania XXVIII at Sun Life Stadium and Monday Night Raw with one of the most raucous crowds of all time! We’ll run down and rate the Mania matches, where the show ranks all time, talk about Rock vs. Cena, the return of BROCK LESNAR, a confrontation between Dean Ambrose and Mick Foley you may have missed, and TNA’s new deal with SpikeTV!

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Sound Off 212: On Location in Miami with WWE Superstars!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 212)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes

Solomonster is on location with guests Noah Mark and Bryan Blade in Miami, the site of WRESTLEMANIA XXVIII, with a rundown of the entire card, predictions for the big event and a live account from WWE Axxess, including FCW action with a former ROH star!

As if that isn’t enough, we have an interview with one half of the WrestleMania main event, JOHN CENA! Plus, interviews with World Heavyweight Champion DANIEL BRYAN, SHAWN MICHAELS, EDGE, KOFI KINGSTON and The Horsemen, ARN ANDERSON & TULLY BLANCHARD! It’s an amazing edition of the Sound Off in Miami, so kick off your Mania weekend the right way and download now!

A big thank you to CBS Radio and Noah Mark for joining forces with us to help bring you these exclusive interviews with the WWE superstars. Check out our photos and more here:

http://buzz103.radio.com/2012/03/31/wwe-wrestlemania-xxviii-noah-interviews-john-cena-shawn-michaels-edge-and-more/

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Sound Off 211: Shane Douglas “Invades” Raw, Nobody Cares

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 211)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Solomonster is here one week before WrestleMania with a special announcement about the next show. But first, we talk Raw and Shane Douglas making an ass out of himself, the arrival of LORD TENSAI, Yokozuna’s induction into the Hall of Fame, Rock’s unlikely training partner, separating fact from fiction with the FCW story, Evan Bourne’s latest setback, Kurt Angle goes nutty on Twitter (again), The Walking Dead and more.

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Sound Off 210: Rock Concert Edged Out By Cena Rap On Monday

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 210)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Solomonster is back with a special SAINT PADDY’s DAY edition of the Sound Off! Episode 210 covers the musical battle between John Cena and The Rock, who came out on top, a better idea for how WWE should have reintroduced The Funkasaurus on Monday night, Hornswoggle and Eric Bischoff embarrass themselves on Twitter, Vince Russo offering BOOKING SEMINARS (no really, stop laughing), WWE reviving a horror franchise and THE MAILBAG, featuring a look back at how No Holds Barred with Hulk Hogan fared in theaters and the murder of Bruiser Brody. Grab your four-leaf clover and enjoy the show!

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MAILBAG: Is Rock vs. Cena The Biggest Match In History?

SEScoops Mailbag for March 15th

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Has any special guest referee ever called a pinfall for themselves? HBK said he knew who would win [in the Triple H vs. Undertaker HIAC match], therefore everyone will speculate [on who the] superstar is he will screw. But I was thinking maybe after HHH delivers a Tombstone to Undertaker, Michaels would swoop in and give a thunderous Sweet Chin Music and pin either or both of them, making himself [the winner and] thus ending the streak. What do you think? Is this even possible? – Shin K.

A: Not only has it happened before, but it was in a match that also involved The Undertaker! The dead man fought his brother Kane for the then-vacant WWF Title at the Judgment Day 1998 pay-per-view with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin serving as the guest referee. Undertaker knocked out Kane with a chairshot and when Austin refused to count the fall, Taker complained and ate a Stunner for his troubles. Austin then counted both men’s shoulders to the mat and declared himself the winner, even though the match was called a no contest.

Q: What do you think John Cena will do after WrestleMania? Who do u think he will feud with and when do u think he will get back into the title picture? – mGt

A: House show plans tentatively have Cena and Mark Henry working together, though that may not be until several weeks after Mania. If not, I could see them putting Cena and Miz back together, though I would strongly prefer they not do that. As for when Cena gets back in the title hunt, probably not for several months.

Q: Daniel Bryan and Sheamus had a feud last year for the US championship and were supposed to have a match at WrestleMania 27, but it was bumped from the card because of time restraints. Did WWE even mention this in their promos or anywhere, or do they just think the fans will forget everything like always? – Dave

A: I don’t recall it being mentioned on Raw or Smackdown, but maybe I missed it. I would mention it just to illustrate how far these guys have come in a year, but I wouldn’t belabor the point because, realistically, how many casual fans even realize those two guys got bumped off the card and had a dark match last year?

Q: Do you think WWE’s future in, say, the next 5-10 years is in dire trouble due to them lacking star power already, and not pushing younger talents as often as they should? – Victor

A: The same thing was said about 5-10 years ago about WWE and they’re no closer to going out of business now than they were back then. If anything, they’re stronger because they have so many additional sources of revenue that can sustain them when business is down. That said, it’s not a pretty picture even now. They haven’t created enough new stars to rival the ones that are retiring and it’s going to get worse with them having only one developmental system in Florida. They have a talented core of talent down there right now with Rollins, Ambrose, Ohno and Cesaro, but it’s not enough.

Sound Off 209: How The Funkasaurus Changed One Man’s Life

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 209)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Solomonster talks about John Cena’s empty arena promo from Raw, the intriguing Joseph Park character on TNA Impact, Madusa working with WWE again, the Hulk Hogan sex tape, Road Warrior Animal saying Sting is no icon, and an incredible story from one of our listeners of how THE FUNKASAURUS inspired him to change his life (yet another reason to get that man back on TV!). A great way to start your week!

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Sound Off 208: Which Match Should Open WrestleMania 28?

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 208)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes

This week, Solomonster raves about Ronda Rousey’s fight at last night’s Strikeforce show and what WWE could learn from it, he discusses the death of Doug Furnas, the latest updates on the WWE Network, Triple H signs a new deal (ending his TNA career before it ever had a chance to blossom), the controversial Zema Ion promo on Jesse Sorensen, two ideas for how the 2001 Invasion SHOULD have been booked, and dating advice for wrestling fans. Plus, looking at the Chris Jericho/CM Punk and Rock/John Cena promo battles from last Monday, Rock’s crib notes and whether they were planted, who came out on top, and booking this year’s WrestleMania card, including which match should probably go on first. This one may cause some debate.

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MAILBAG: What Jump To WWE Would Hurt TNA The Most?

SEScoops Mailbag for March 1st

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: I was wondering if CM Punk and Shawn Michaels ever had a match? – Dallas

A: No, they never did. But they did have a good verbal joust on the June 27th Raw last year, the same show where Punk cut his memorable worked-shoot promo that started his main event push.

Q: Why does the WWE keep Michael Cole? He is annoying and insulting. I know he is supposed to be a heel commentator, but he goes way over the line, making fun of the passing of one’s mother is way overboard. As for Johnny Ace, he is just plain useless. He has the personality of an egg plant. He adds nothing to the business and IMO that is why the ratings for the second hour of RAW drop, people just get sick and tired of them two goofs. I think WWE should just put Teddy Long in charge of both shows. – Hilda D.

A: So your solution to WWE’s ratings woes is to get rid of Johnny Ace and Michael Cole and give more TV time to Teddy Long? Not sure about that one. To be honest, I don’t think we need anyone “in charge” of any shows. The GM concept is beyond played out. We all know Vince McMahon is the chairman and is certainly capable of coming out and making important decisions on occasions where they need to be made. That should be enough. We did just fine in the 90’s when there was one figurehead WWF President who rarely appeared on the shows. Cards were already booked in advance before going on the air. What a concept!

Q: Do you think the women division will ever pick up in WWE again? They have the right talent, yet they are [using them wrong]. Plus, there have been rumors of WWE bringing back the Womens tag team belts. How are they going to run two womens belts when the last time they tried that, they failed? – Cristian A.

A: First, they’re not belts, they’re championship titles. Second, I would slightly disagree that WWE has “all the right talent” when it comes to their Divas division. Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Kharma and Eve (to some degree) are fine workers, but then the division falls off a cliff. Meanwhile, they let go of people like Mickie James and Gail Kim while turning a blind eye to independent workers like Sara Del Ray because they don’t fit the mold of what a WWE Diva should look like. Besides, why even consider Womens tag titles when your average women’s match on Raw goes about 30 seconds every week? They would be well-suited to assign somebody backstage specifically to help repair the damage they’ve done and investigate why TNA Knockouts segments on Impact have done some of that show’s highest ratings while Diva segments typically drive viewers away.

Sound Off 207: Giving Rock’s Critics A Harsh Dose of Reality

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 207)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 24 minutes

It’s been a while since Solomonster has really ranted about something – well, he makes up for that this week. He has something to say about the fans in Minneapolis disrespecting Undertaker on Raw, then defends The Rock from his “anonymous” critics behind the scenes upset over his involvement in this year’s WrestleMania. During this 7-minute rant, Solomonster throws down a challenge to these same people. Plus, he discusses the Chris Brown/CM Punk saga and a double standard Punk may have to answer for, John Cena’s promo from Monday night, Ultimate Warrior torturing rock bands and THE MAILBAG! This one is a must listen.

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Sound Off 206: Happy Days Are Here Again, Russo Leaves TNA

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 206)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 24 minutes

Solomonster is here to cover one of the busiest wrestling weeks he can remember, including the end of the Vince Russo era in TNA, what led to it, and could we see him end up back with WWE? Plus, looking at Santino replacing Randy Orton in the Elimination Chamber and predictions for the PPV, the latest on Jesse Sorensen’s condition and a question that has to be asked about his medical bills, WrestleMania 29 comes to New Jersey and a look at the potential main event, Chris Hero gets his new name, Alex Koslov makes a jackass of himself, thoughts on Chyna’s new “movie”, the death of Whitney Houston and MUCH MORE! Get your pre-Chamber fix right now!

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MAILBAG: Will WWE Move CM Punk Over To Smackdown?

SEScoops Mailbag for February 17th

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: What are the odds that the WWE writers have completely gone off the deep end and we’ll start to see Zack Ryder tied to a set of train tracks while covered in dynamite and Kane sitting behind the engine of a 15 car locomotive? I sort of feel like this is where the natural progression of this story line is headed. – Seth from Parts Unknown

A: Only if he’s tied to the train tracks while wearing his neck and back brace. If that doesn’t work, perhaps Kane can drop an anvil on his head.

Q: What actually happened with Goldberg wrestling one more match ? I remember he wanted to wrestle somewhere in Africa late last year, but did that ever happen? – Tom from Germany

A: He had been scheduled to wrestle at the “Rumble in the Jungle II” on October 12th in Kinshasa at Martyrs Stadium, but I don’t believe that ever happened. Goldberg has teased returning for a WrestleMania match many times in the past, expressing an interest in wrestling Brock Lesnar or The Undertaker. Either way, it’s not going to happen.

Q: Do you think WWE will move CM Punk to Smackdown because, in my opinion, they don’t trust him with ratings? The only reason I couldn’t see them doing it is because Smackdown has Orton and Sheamus and Raw has always been the number one show. – Josh M.

A: I would argue that Raw was the #2 show when Smackdown was at its peak during that 2002-2003 period. Anyway, I can’t see them moving Punk to Smackdown without moving Orton, and WWE does not want Orton and John Cena on the same brand right now. Of course, this is comical seeing as how every Raw is considered a Supershow, which means they’re all on the same show anyway. If there’s any chance of doing Punk and Steve Austin for next year’s WrestleMania, rest assured, Punk will be a Raw superstar.

Q: Why is it acceptable for Jerry Lawler to wrestle on a semi-regular basis and be on TV every week, but the general consensus is Ric Flair should just go? [While pretty much identical in age], why, is the King seen as a legend and Ric Flair as a sad story? This is about what they bring to the business, not anything to do with their personal lives. – Stuart B.

A: I think at its core, Ric Flair was always held to a different standard when it came to his performance. He was known for his mouth, sure, and he can still talk as good as anybody. But as a worker, he could bring the best out of an average worker, and with a great worker, he could have a five-star classic. Obviously, Flair can no longer “go” like that in the ring. I would argue that right now, Lawler is a much better in-ring performer than Flair. That’s one reason people give him a pass. Then you have the issue of Flair getting the greatest retirement ceremony of any pro wrestler in modern history, only to return to the ring. Most people figured he probably would, but that still rubs some people the wrong way. Lawler never said he was retired. In fact, he has said that if given the choice, he would prefer to wrestle rather than announce, and he still works independent shows on the weekend.

Q: Would someone have been fired if they made the mistake similar to Michael Cole during WrestleMania 15 when he inadvertently revealed that he would have an interview after the main event with “the new champion”? With social media being prevalent now, what kind of punishment would [they likely face] for spoiling the main event before it happened? – Luis from Illinois

A: Bobby Heenan got a ton of heat, but wasn’t fired for basically spoiling the famous “Bash at the Beach” finish when Hulk Hogan turned heel and joined the nWo. These things happen, but they’re honest mistakes and don’t happen frequently enough to warrant firing someone. Social media has nothing to do with it.

Q: Can you please explain why these ungrateful people continue to sound like little girls that dont get their way? The state of New Jersey is the host of next year’s WrestleMania and so far, I’ve seen nothing but negative feedback from people about this. Also, why do people continue to complain about the promos knowing that almost everything these guys say is scripted? – Jonathan F. from New Jersey

A: I see you are from New Jersey, so I assume you’re taking this criticism personally. Don’t fret, I think most people are upset that Mania is once again coming to an east coast city. And really, I can understand that frustration with the show having been in Atlanta last year and still rumored for NYC in 2014 (which I think is unlikely). Also, some people are not thrilled at the prospect of attending Mania outdoors in April and having to dress in layers. I, for one, am happy that NJ will now be known for something besides Tony Soprano and Snooki. As for why people complain about promos, the fact that they are horribly scripted likely has something to do with that. Just a wild guess.

Q: Do you think WWE should bring back the Tables, Ladders and Chairs match? – Cordell M.

A: I didn’t know it ever left.

Keep those questions coming to sescoops@gmail.com and remember to include your name!

Sound Off 205: Impressive Impact From The UK, Better Than Raw

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 205)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 21 minutes

Solomonster watched his first full episode of Impact in ages this week and actually thought it was a better show than Raw. He discusses one pet peeve with the UK crowd, the greatness of Bully Ray, the failure of the Garett Bischoff angle, Undertaker’s bizarre obsession with Triple H, Miz failing to protect R-Truth and his backstage heat for it, an airdate for WWE Legends House, TNA gets 14 million people to watch one of its shows (really) and THE MAILBAG, including a rant on idiot fans who hop the barricade and cause trouble!

Want your question on the air? Send feedback to THESOLOMONSTER@gmail.com.

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MAILBAG: Cena vs. Rock, Who Should Go Over At WrestleMania?

SEScoops Mailbag for February 9th

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Can you name one event that marked the end of actual women’s wrestling on WWE programming. In my opinion, the beginning of the end was the introduction of the Diva search competition. This caused an influx of women with very little, if any, wrestling ability. – Dustin C.

A: The Diva search may have sped up its demise, but I think the departures of Trish Stratus and Lita had more to do with it than anything else. They were two of WWE’s most over female performers for years and once they were gone, it seemed like the women became less of a priority. Now you have women like Beth Phoenix and Natalya who can work, but they barely get 30 seconds of TV time and they have Natalya passing gas every week for comedy. I hope the next time she does, someone lights a match and blows up the entire writing staff.

Q: I have been puzzled as to why TNA signed Hulk Hogan to a fat salary for seemingly little return, but being based in the UK and seeing Hulk in the UK and the impact it has made on the British media, Hogan on mainstream TV and Radio at peak time, on the front page of the national papers and on the homepage of the BBC website, no other tour from any company including WWE has ever received so much publicity in my living memory. He was continually pushing and promoting the TNA product, and suddenly it all makes sense, the rise in the profile of the company could never have been achieved without him. Does this justify Hulk’s contract? – Rob S.

A: I don’t know how much Hulk’s contract is worth or how much of it is being paid by Spike TV, but that is precisely the reason Hogan was signed in the first place. Does some media attention overseas justify spending a boatload of money when PPV buyrates continue to embarrass and television ratings have barely moved an inch? Considering how much emphasis TNA puts on those weekly ratings, you can argue it has not been worth the investment. I would argue that replacing Vince Russo as head writer (even though he still writes the shows) and pushing fresh faces like Bobby Roode and James Storm has been more of a positive for the product than signing Hogan or Bischoff has been.

Q: Is it true that Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels were supposed to have a rematch after their Summerslam match with HBK winning, but Hogan said he couldn’t do it cause he had a ‘knee injury’? – Steve D.

A: If Hogan is to be believed, he was down for a rematch until Michaels went on Raw the night after Summerslam and cut an unprofessional promo about him. Of course, I’d sooner believe a politician running for office than I would anything out of Hogan’s mouth. Michaels wanted to win their match at the PPV and was told by Vince McMahon that Hogan was going over. He had 100% creative control in his contract and that was that. It was then proposed they have a rematch in a cage the next month where Michaels would go over, giving each man one victory over the other, which Hogan also refused unless he won that match as well. Basically, Michaels, who was notorious for playing political games back in the day, got out-politicked by the master himself and pouted about it on TV the next night. What goes around comes around.

Q: I don’t see a “Hogan vs. Andre”, “Razor vs. Shawn Ladder Match” or even a “Hogan vs. Rock” caliber matchup in the near future for WrestleMania. There is, however, one glaring moment that has not been seen yet and maybe it never will be. I know why the situation is what it is, but consider this. Who was the WWWF Champion from 1963-1971 and again from 1973-1977? Of course, the great Bruno Sammartino. Has the WWE gotten far enough from the worst of the DX-type stuff that Bruno hated? Can Vince and Bruno ever bury the hatchet??? If they could, imagine that ultimate HOF induction at a WrestleMania held in Sammartino’s adopted hometown of Pittsburgh. What do you think? – Bill from Ohio

A: I don’t know that enough of those older fans are still around to warrant Bruno’s induction being viewed as any sort of “ultimate” Mania moment. He is certainly worthy of being acknowledged by WWE for its Hall of Fame for the records he set and his overall impact on the promotion. At the end of the day, he has turned down their offers at every opportunity. If he doesn’t want to go in, then there’s nothing the company can do. When the day comes that Bruno is no longer on this earth, Vince will be free to induct him posthumously if he wants to, and he should because Sammartino was a big part of that company’s history.

Q: I feel WWE really dropped the ball when it comes to Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. After the whole Legacy thing, I believe their careers should have really taken off, but they are still in mid-card matches for some reason. Did something happen or is it just bad storylines? – Tyler

A: The goal was always to elevate DiBiase to main event status and he seemed to be on his way, but they killed him dead because they felt he lacked charisma. To me, their mistake was going with DiBiase over Rhodes. What could have been his defining moment came on that Raw show where his father, Dusty Rhodes, was the guest host and was attacked by Randy Orton at the end of the show. That shot of Cody steaming mad in the corner, refusing to lash out at Orton while the fans chanted his name reminded me of WWE pushing Orton after the breakup of Evolution, only for the fans to end up getting behind Batista instead. Sometimes, when the fans call for it, you need to pull the trigger. They had something with Cody back then and squandered it. Thankfully, he’s finally getting a proper push now.

Q: How do you think Rock vs. Cena will play out? I’m thinking if Rock wins and does not come back, how will Cena get his revenge? If Cena wins, Rock can’t show his face again in WWE. I just hope it’s not a [disputed] finish. Also what would Cena have to do to turn heel at Mania, besides give Rock a beat down, and convince the audience of his turn? – Dennis M.

A: Realistically, Cena should win. Like him or not, he’s WWE’s guy and will be around far more than Rock will after the show. Plus, it’s been a rather lopsided feud so far with Cena taking a Rockbottom at last year’s Mania, leading to his loss to The Miz, and again at Survivor Series after Rock scored the winning fall for their team. As for a Cena heel turn, he’s already going to be booed out of Sun Life Stadium. There’s no need to go full-blown heel with him unless Rock has agreed to stick around for a rematch after Mania.

Q: I [recently] took my daughter to a Raw house show in Jackson, MS. There was a fan that was just way to into all of [the action], had signs for everything, the wrestlers all had banter with him, his facial expressions were just way to over the top. We sat ringside and even my 9 year old thought he had to be an actor. Well because I have nothing else better to do with my time I did some research online and couldn’t find anything. Two weeks later, I was watching Raw on my DVR and BOOM, there he is in the same damn outfit. I was wondering if you guys know who he is and what’s the point in planting actors at house shows? – Clay

A: The “actor” you are referring to (based on the photo you attached) is no actor at all. He is a WWE superfan named Rick Achberger, or “The Sign Guy” as others know him. He appears at roughly 30-40 live events each year, always wearing his backwards red hat and blue shirt. He actually won over $100,000 on “Deal or No Deal” a few years ago with John Cena, Edge, Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley all sent by WWE to make appearances.

Q: A friend of mine went with his homies to the Raw Supershow on January 16 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. When the guards went up to them, they flashed their tickets and were booted out of the building. The same incident happened at Summerslam at the Staples Center and at Survivor Series in my hometown of New York City (I’m originally from the Bronx). Has there been controversy during a Monday Night RAW or a taping of Friday Night SmackDown where some security guards come up to a member, or in this case, members of the WWE Universe, tell them to flash their tickets to see if they are legitimate enough for them to be in the audience? Or are there specific rules when you buy the tickets online? – Luis A.

A: I’ve never heard of security kicking out fans with legitimate tickets. Tell your friends to quit buying their tickets outside the arena from the same guy who first tried to sell them a gold watch and some weed.

Keep those questions coming to sescoops@gmail.com and remember to include your name!

Sound Off 204: Undertaker Return Makes For A “Hairy” Situation

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 204)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 37 minutes

Solomonster is back with a Sound Off Special for Superbowl weekend! We’ll talk about one of the worst Royal Rumble matches of all time, followed up by one of the best Raw shows in ages, Undertaker’s wig, a review of WWE’s new YouTube shows, an update on Sting’s injury, TNA on the road in the UK and a GIANT MAILBAG! Let’s go Big Blue!

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Sound Off 203: Final Rumble Thoughts and a Salute to Cena!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 203)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes

Solomonster offers some final words on the Royal Rumble before discussing the latest on Sting’s injury, thoughts on the debut episode of Ring Ka King and why both TNA and WWE need to change things up with their own shows, UFC on FOX and Chael Sonnen’s unimpressive win, Raw thoughts and a salute this week to John Cena, Mankind returns on NBC and then its return of the FACEBOOK MAILBAG! All you need to know is that Solomonster sings on this show. Not very well, but he does. So download now!

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Sound Off 202: Evan Bourne’s Suspension Reeks of Selfishness

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 202)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Solomonster is back with some thoughts on the sad state of both Marty Jannetty and Chyna, Evan Bourne’s suspension and selfishness, predictions for the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV and the return of MATCH ANATOMY celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Royal Rumble, including Ric Flair’s victory in the greatest Rumble match of all time!

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MAILBAG: Does WWE Really Think Its Fans Are Stupid?

SEScoops Mailbag for January 20th

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

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 sescoops@gmail.com and remember to include your name!

Sound Off 201: Making a Case For Why The Funkasaurus Will Work

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 201)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 13 minutes

Solomonster starts out with a rant on people who think a return to the Attitude Era will solve WWE’s ratings problems, then we discuss RAW GETS FUNKY with the return of Brodus Clay, potential WrestleMania locations for the next two years, the latest on Shaq’s WWE deal and ideas on how he could be used, WWE delays the launch of its new network, John Cena’s true worth to the company and THE MIGHTY MAILBAG. Make love to your woman while listening to this week’s show. Or better yet, don’t do that.

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Solomonster Sounds Off by The Solomonster is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Sound Off 200: Chris Jericho Returns – Brilliance or Bad TV?

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 200)

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Est. Runtime: 2 hours, 4 minutes

It’s the BICENTENNIAL EDITION of the Sound Off! 200 episodes and still going strong, Solomonster discusse one of the most polarizing returns in quite some time as Chris Jericho returns to Raw, the absolute greatest moment of the week on Smackdown, nine TNA stars who could be WWE bound this year, CM Punk appearing on a UFC show, the first name confirmed for WWE’s Legends House with two more that should be added and the return of THE MAILBAG! We turn the show over to you guys to answer any and all questions. Thank you for all the support and here’s to many more shows to come!!

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MAILBAG: What Is With All The Internet Hate For Randy Orton?

SEScoops Mailbag for January 6th

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Why is it that so many people dislike Randy Orton? He is regarded as one of the best (if not THE best) in-ring performers in WWE. Yet, despite this praise, he continues to be vilified by the internet wrestling community and is regarded as being on the same level as John Cena. What’s with the hate? Is it because he’s had too many championship reigns? Is it because he transitioned from a heel to a face? Or is it a different reason altogether? Please explain. – Gary

A: Let’s not get carried away now. I don’t believe the hate for Orton is quite as intense as it is for Cena. Some people feel Orton is dull and monotone in the delivery of his promos, some people resent him for being pushed to nine World titles and hogging the spotlight, and some people are bored by his matches. I happen to think his matches have been among the best on WWE television the last few months. I also think he did a great job of helping to put over Mark Henry with two straight, clean wins on PPV to help get the big guy over as a monster champion. Believe me, if he didn’t want to do that, he could have pitched a fit. Orton also took the losing fall at Survivor Series to further his feud with Wade Barrett, another guy WWE has been trying to bring back to life of late. The idiots celebrating his recent injury need to get a life.

Q: Since Kane came back, it looks like a different character. Do you think it still is the same Kane or [someone else]? – Devin

A: Aside from the hair, he looks exactly the same. Reason being it is the real Kane. For the record, it has always been the same person playing the character. Same goes for the Ultimate Warrior who, if rumors are to be believed, first died in a car crash 20 years ago. He looks good for a dead guy.

Q: This may sound stupid, but having been a life long fan of Triple H, I have to ask this. Do you think we will see HHH holding any championships again? Also, with talk of HHH vs. Taker 3 with his career on the line, do you think he will actually retire? – Ravi

A: I honestly believe we have not seen the last WWE or World Heavyweight Title run for Triple H. Even if it is just a token title win at some point for a few days or weeks, he will hold gold again. As for a potential retirement match in Miami next year, that is the word going around. He may be finished as a full-time performer, but the Game will wrestle again, mark my words. As soon as WWE experiences the next rash of injuries to a bunch of main eventers, he will be back in action.

Q: Besides Undertaker, Rock and HBK, has there been anybody else who spent their entire career with WWF/WWE without jumping ship to/from WCW/TNA? Also, after the Undertaker, who are the next longest tenured wrestlers with WWE? – Jay H.

A: Aside from Undertaker and Triple H, who both spent time in WCW prior to their WWF arrival, the longest tenured active star to have spent his entire career with the company would likely be Mark Henry, who made his debut in 1996. The next longest tenured wrestlers would be Kane and Big Show.

Q: Between the Nexus and the CM Punk leaving WWE with the title storylines, which one do you think the WWE dropped the biggest ball on? I think the Nexus storyline was one of the best ones WWE pulled off in the last 10 years. Great name, look, theme song, and so on. Did they end the Nexus thing too soon? Or was it time for it to go? I could have seen the original Nexus still going strong as a unit way past its breakup. As far as the Punk storyline goes, not much too say there. Clearly everything was ruined by putting Punk back on air so soon. Or was it? – Jeremy County

A: The Nexus was killed dead once they lost to Team Cena at Summerslam. Even back during the 2001 Invasion angle, they at least were smart enough to give Team WCW/ECW a win over the WWF guys at the Invasion PPV before going on to screw things up. They couldn’t even do that with Nexus to at least make them look strong and keep things interesting. As for the Punk angle, keep him off television for one week before bringing him back was clearly a mistake. Having Kevin Nash punk him out every week without getting any retribution and then losing to Triple H on PPV didn’t help his cause either. But in the end, it doesn’t matter because he’s a main event player now and in a much better position than he was six months ago.

Q: My question concerns Triple H. Why did his COO character suffer a premature death? Everybody in the world of wrestling thought it would last for a year or so. Why did WWE pull the plug on it so quick? – Trust S.

A: Perhaps we each live in different “worlds of wrestling” because I, like most people, figured it would die out quickly, which is exactly what happened. Why? Because WWE is like a small child who suffers from attention deficit disorder. They just cannot help themselves. Patience is not a virtue of theirs. In fairness, Hulk Hogan works for TNA and has made similar comments about how the world is different now and you can’t have storylines and angles that progress over the course of several months because people’s attentions spans are much shorter. I do find it funny how WWE tends to botch storylines by ending them too quickly, yet they dragged out the Anonymous GM angle for a year without giving us any payoff, and they’ve committed to this Michael Cole character for over a year now, which has actually done significant damage to their product.

Q: Was it intentionally planned for [Shawn Michaels] to retire at WrestleMania 26? – Tyler D.

A: No, he simply forgot to come back. I’m sure if you Tweet him about it, he’d appreciate the reminder.

Keep those questions coming to sescoops@gmail.com and remember to include your name!

Sound Off 199: Brock Lesnar Retires And 2011 Year In Review!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 199)

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Est. Runtime: 2 hours, 26 minutes

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! The first Sound Off of 2012 features a Year in Review for WWE, TNA and ROH, including a top 25 list for WWE and an impassioned rant on one thing that is killing its product and must change right now. Solomonster also has some frank words for the folks cheering Randy Orton’s injury, thoughts on the Kane promo from Raw last Monday, Brock Lesnar’s retirement from UFC and possible future in wrestling and a lot more. At nearly two-and-a-half hours, it’s also one of the longest shows ever, a fine way to start the new year!

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Sound Off 198: Kevin Nash Retires, Looking At His 5 Best Matches

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 198)

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WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE:
Sound Off 198 Christmas Show!

Est. Runtime: 2 hours

Ho ho ho, it’s the Sound Off Christmas show! Episode 198 is full of holiday cheer as Solomonster reviews last Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view and shares his thoughts on the retirement (for now) of Kevin Nash, including a ranking of his top 5 greatest matches. Plus, we’ll talk about Raw and the start of a new era, troubling ratings signs, early Survivor Series numbers, a rumored celebrity match at WrestleMania, an update on Chris Hero and WWE, a review of SANTA’s SLAY starring Bill Goldberg and a huge mailbag! If you have two hours to spare, hit what’s left of the eggnog and enjoy the show.

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MAILBAG: Why Does WWE Allow Michael Cole To Belittle Talent?

SEScoops Mailbag for December 22nd

(please submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: I was wondering who’s idea it was and who authorized Mick Foley being thrown off the Hell in a Cell and going through that table? And apart from getting good ratings, were they not worried about what damage it would have done to the company on a live PPV and with all those kids in attendance if that stunt had gone horribly wrong, especially as they were competing with WCW at that time? – Kev

A: Competing with WCW is precisely the reason they began pushing the envelope in the first place back in those days. They did dangerous things all the time. It was Foley’s idea to do the jump off the cell. Vince McMahon had to have known it was going to happen because his production people knew. You could tell by the way the camera pans out just as Undertaker tosses Foley off the structure. Foley maintained in his book that his second bump through the roof of the cell was not planned, but I’ve never bought that. Based on the way Undertaker delivers that chokeslam (without much in the way of force), they knew it was breaking.

Q: I realize [Shawn Michaels] came back and fought HHH at Summerslam 2002 in an epic match, but HBK returned in the NWO earlier in the year. Did he ever go away [first and then] come back for that matchup? I can’t remember because I was 11 at the time and I am having no luck on YouTube. – Ozzie

A: Michaels returned to WWE television in June 2002 when he joined the nWo. Booker T had also joined the group around the same time, though he ended up being kicked out. Then Kevin Nash tore his quad muscle in a match on Raw and at that point, Vince McMahon decided to kill off the nWo for good. There was no explanation for Michaels essentially going from heel back to face and he transitioned right into a program with Triple H. If Nash doesn’t get injured, the group lives on, though probably not for much longer anyway.

Q: Could you provide some insight as to how matches are actually taped for television? Specifically, since “most” matches are called on the fly, does the producer/director simply direct cuts and shots based on in-ring action as it happens, or is there some element of pre-production (apart from obvious things like run-ins, turns, etc) and planning before the match begins? – Shawn

A: There are definitely certain spots that Kevin Dunn is aware of in advance so they can be prepared for those shots. That would usually be reserved for major stunts or anything done outside the ring (e.g. in the crowd). That said, it’s not a situation where the wrestlers need to alert them of all of their key spots before they go out. In the context of a basic match, cuts and shots are directed as it happens. They have many more cameras than they used to placed strategically in various areas, so it’s rare they would miss anything significant.

Q: Why does WWE continue to put Michael Cole in storylines and let him belittle the talent? The Cole/Lawler feud was enough, and now every week on Smackdown, he is talking down Daniel Bryan and others. If it weren’t for DVR, I wouldn’t be able to watch. Do you believe Cole as a heel announcer is actually helping faces get over or just hurting the product? – Josh M.

A: Absolutely not. The Cole character is killing the product. The more he talks about how someone doesn’t belong or how boring they are, the audience starts to believe it, not rebel against him for it. Cole as a heel color announcer might have worked if the play-by-play guy was strong enough to fight back against him, like a Gorilla Monsoon/Bobby Heenan dynamic, but having your primary announcer do these things, especially when he’s supposed to convince you to buy PPV’s on the go-home shows and have at least some credibility, is completely preposterous. But Vince McMahon gets his rocks off on it, so it’s not going to stop.

Q: The Nation of Domination should make a return to WWE. The members would be Mark Henry, Ezekiel Jackson, R-Truth, Percy, Titus. Faarooq or Teddy Long should manage them. Do you agree? – Chris T.

A: No, I do not agree.

Q: As I recall, cutting yourself in order to bleed (or “blading”) during a match was banned in WWE around 2008/2009. I was watching John Cena vs. Randy Orton from Hell In A Cell 2009, in a Hell In A Cell match. Orton hit that unique backbreaker he does from time to time, and when Cena fell to the mat, it was very clear that a small shiny object came out of his wristband. The referee picked it up and nothing was ever mentioned. Were there plans to blade in that match? – Connor from Las Vegas

A: If blading was banned, then there were no plans for John Cena to blade in that match. It’s just that simple.

Q: Would you rather watch John Cena and Mason Ryan headline WrestleMania in an Iron Man Match or do Big Show and Mark Henry’s laundry by hand for a month? – Brandon

A: This sounds a great premise for the next Saw film.

Q: I was playing WWE ‘12 and the Stone Cold character had “101 proof” on his vest. What is 101 proof? – Elvir Bajric

A: 101 proof is what I have to drink when browsing the comments section on SEScoops.com.

Keep those questions coming to sescoops@gmail.com and remember to include your name!