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Sound Off 197: What TNA Must Do Now With Its Pay-Per-Views

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 197)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 26 minutes

Solomonster is back with TLC predictions, more on Kane’s return on Raw and folks believing it was Undertaker, Triple H’s new developmental philosophy, Batista lashing out at WWE, TNA’s handling of the Roode/Styles main event and what the company should do right now with its PPV shows, a rant on Linda Hogan and a review of the movie WRESTLEMANIAC starring Rey Misterio Sr. as a killer luchador who rips people’s faces off. What can be better than 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 196: Never Has A Mask Made Millions So Happy!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 196)

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Est. Runtime: 40 minutes

Solomonster checks in with a review of last night’s three hour SLAMMY AWARDS edition of Monday Night Raw, featuring the return of Masked Kane, a tease for Undertaker’s opponent at WrestleMania, an award for TRENDING ON TWITTER (I kid you not), a rant on commercials during the main event, exploding pipebombs and more. Plus, we now have a date of death for WWE Classics On Demand, why it’s happening and why it’s still very depressing.

This bonus show won’t be a weekly thing, so enjoy them while you can.

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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 195: Revisiting Kennel From Hell So You Don’t Have To!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 195)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Solomonster is back with a look at the new WWE Network, when it will launch and what it needs to succeed (and more importantly, what it does NOT need). Plus, more on Michael Cole mocking Lillian Garcia and Jim Ross’s looks on Smackdown, James Storm’s GREAT promo from Impact, Lita’s recent arrest and Match Anatomy returns with a review of the KENNEL FROM HELL match at Unforgiven 1999! This was something else.

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

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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 194: Are You Serious Bro? Raw Is Ryder (Overkill)

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 194)

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Solomonster Sounds Off 194

Est. Runtime: 40 minutes

Solomonster sounds off with a bonus show this week recapping Monday’s Raw from South Florida, a less than stellar effort compared to recent weeks. Plus, news on Lillian Garcia’s return to WWE and taking more of your mailbag questions, including details on WWE’s sordid sex scandal from 20 years ago.

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

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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 193: Looking At Steve Austin’s New “Bottom Line” DVD

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 193)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes

This week, Solomonster reviews Steve Austin’s new DVD, THE BOTTOM LINE, including where the documentary ranks among WWE’s best and what was annoying about it. Plus, a full rundown of Monday’s good Raw show, an enjoyable live Smackdown with a great main event, Hulk Hogan’s dumb Twitter remark, a Beyond The Mat star fights cancer and THE MAILBAG with a defense of Sin Cara. Download it!

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MAILBAG: Someone Actually Asked a Question About Brakus!

SEScoops Mailbag for December 2nd

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

Q: A few mailbags ago you said that “Cult of Personality” was the first song to be licensed for a entrance theme. There have been a few superstars that have used popular music as entrance themes. Bastista used “I Walk Alone” by Godsmack, Undertaker used “American Badass” by Kid Rock along with “Rolling” by Limp Bizkit, and Orton uses “Voices” by Rev Theory right now. So how can C.M. Punk be the first to have Vince license his music for him? – Nick

A: If you are referring to the September 9th mailbag, I never said Punk’s music was the first to be licensed by WWE. A reader alluded to the company spending a great deal of money on the rights to the song, which is correct. What differentiates that from those Limp Bizkit songs is that WWE does not have to overdub the music on their DVD or On Demand content with Punk’s song. Secondly, Godsmack’s song was actually called “I Stand Alone”, which was used in The Scorpion King film and not by Batista. Third, Rev Theory recorded the song “Voices” exclusively for Randy Orton and WWE to use. Hope this clears up any confusion.

Q: With CM Punk and almost every single member of the WWE Universe expressing extreme displeasure with the current WWE title belt design, why does the [company] insist on keeping the belt like that? – Kon from New York

A: Did you really just use the term WWE Universe in my mailbag? I’ll forgive you, but just this once. They have kept the current design as long as they have for two reasons. One, it is associated with John Cena’s character (although admittedly, it’s moreso his old rapper gimmick than the Marine gimmick he’s been using for the last few years) and Cena remains the face of the company. But the real reason probably has to do with the money they’ve been making off replica belt sales. I don’t have the exact figures, but if it wasn’t making them any money, they would have switched it up long ago. With WWE.com doing a two-part feature this week on essentially how dated the current design is, I’m hopeful a change is going to be made very soon.

Q: After reading that RVD wants to come back to WWE after his contract is up in TNA, I have a question. If you were Vince McMahon, would you bring back superstars like RVD, Mr. Kennedy, Kurt Angle or Jeff Hardy after going to TNA to trash talk WWE, saying the company sucks and they would never go back? – Elvir Bajric

A: I believe you are referring to a recent Tweet from Powerslam Magazine in the UK, which claimed that someone told them Rob Van Dam was seriously considering a return to WWE. We’ve heard nothing beyond that and RVD still has some time left on his TNA contract. Could it be true? Sure, but it would go against everything Van Dam has talked about with respect to having an easier schedule in TNA and also not having to deal with WWE’s Wellness Policy, which forbids the use of marijuana and any synthetic substitutes. Either he’s hard up for money or I just don’t buy it. As for bringing back old names that have trashed the company after leaving, if I’m Vince McMahon, I do what’s good for business. If he thinks he can make money off RVD and Jeff Hardy, then he will sign them (make no mistake, they would take Hardy back in a heartbeat). Except for Mister Anderson. I’d let him rot.

Q: It seems you don’t have to be 6’4 250 to mean something in WWE anymore. [Since] banning steroids, we’ve seen guys like Rhodes, Ziggler, Bryan and others get big pushes though only being around 200lbs. Do you think we will start to see more smaller guys getting big pushes or is Vince still stuck on the big guys like [Mason] Ryan? – Rob

A: Vince still has and will always have an infatuation with big guys. That has never changed and is why we have Mason Ryan on our TV each week, or why Jackson Andrews got brought up to TV only to be sent right back down because he was too green The reason smaller guys are getting opportunities to shine, besides them being very talented, is because WWE doesn’t really have any choice in the matter. There aren’t enough big, jacked up dudes talented enough to fill up an entire roster. They’ve gutted their own developmental system since severing ties with OVW and have no choice but to push guys like Ziggler, Rhodes, Bryan and Miz or else their company is going to be in a lot of trouble in the next few years. Even when they bring a guy up who *is* big and does have talent, but might not have that look they like (e.g. Husky Harris), they get sent right back down to Florida. Their entire mentality has to change.

Q: I just read a question on CM Punk on what he says when he comes to the ring, which brings me to Triple H. When he goes on the ropes after a win or before a match, I see him talking to the crowd, but for ten years now I can’t figure out what he says. Can you help me out with that? – Shaun Perez

A: I always thought he was repeating “Bow down to me, little jobbers” over and over again, but I could be wrong. Really, I think it’s just a bunch of gibberish, kind of like what Chris Jericho would mutter to himself whenever he walked to the ring.

Q: Back in 1998 when an influx of mid-carders debuted (Val Venis, The Godfather, Edge, and Salvatorre Sincere), I can vaguely recollect a wrestler debuting by the name of [Brakus]. He was billed as the German-suplex machine, and came to the ring with a manager (who I do not remember). He did not stay with the company very long, but I remember him being built up as WWE’s response to WCW’s Goldberg. He even wore traditional black tights and boots, and was mechanical like when coming down to the ring, no nonsense intensity. Years later when seeing Brock Lesnar debut, I immediately thought that [Brakus] returned and WWE repackaged him as “The Next Big Thing”. So was Lesnar’s gimmick a rebooted version of Brakus? Who was the German-suplex machine and what became of him? I can not find ANYTHING documenting his run ANYWHERE! I know I am not hallucinating, I swear on The Truth Commission. – Robby

A: You’re not hallucinating. Brakus was a German bodybuilder (surprise surprise) and former Mr. Olympia contestant with a great physique, but there was a slight problem. He couldn’t wrestle worth a shit and could barely speak English. “He’s Coming” vignettes featuring the guy actually began airing on TV in 1997, but to the best of my knowledge, he didn’t show up until the WWF’s Mayhem in Manchester PPV a week or so after WrestleMania 14, losing to Jeff Jarrett in the opening match (he may have had a loss to Goldust on “Shotgun Saturday Night” the month prior, but I can’t find footage of this). Around this same time, with Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman working together, he had a brief stint in ECW (as in one match where he lost to Taz). A few months later, he was embarrassed by Savio Vega in the opening round of the Brawl For All tournament. That killed whatever aura he may have had and after that, he had one match on Raw where he squashed Jesus of Los Boricuas and was done. In short, he was a big guy that Vince thought he could turn into a star and failed miserably. With Lesnar, he succeeded, but Lesnar was a star athlete with actual talent. If you want to learn about perhaps the most epic fail when it comes to big man hopes, look up Tom Magee.

Q: Why is Cody Rhodes now wearing knee pads? When did he start wearing them? – Trust

A: I believe he started at Survivor Series. It was all anybody was talking about in my section at MSG when he walked out. Hopefully he did it because someone smacked some sense into him and told him his career might last longer if he did.

Q: Have you played WWE ’12 yet? If so, what do you think of it? – James T.

A: WWE ’12? You mean there were 11 others before this!? I’ve got some catching up to do.

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

Sound Off 192: Live Thoughts From Survivor Series at MSG!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 192)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 42 minutes

Awakened from his post-Thanksgiving turkey coma, Solomonster is back with a live report from Survivor Series at MSG, Rock’s post-show promo and the five most over names of the night – plus, more on Sin Cara’s injury, R-Truth’s 30-day vacation, Undertaker’s WrestleMania opponent, John Morrison leaving WWE, the death of Bison Smith and “WILD” BILL ASS! Oh yes, this is a mailbag to either remember or forget, I haven’t decided which yet.

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

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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 191: Next Stop, MSG! Survivor Series Predictions!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 191)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Before heading over to MSG for Survivor Series, Solomonster is here with a full rundown and predictions for WWE’s big show, including The Rock’s first match in nearly 8 years! Also, thoughts on last Monday’s three-hour Twitterfest (including the return of BULL BUCHANAN!) and the debut of a new segment called Match Anatomy, the first of which recounts Goldberg’s US Title win over Raven from WCW Monday Nitro in April 1998! Add in THE MAILBAG with yet another poor soul who still thinks the Montreal Screwjob was a work and you’ve got yourself an entertaining show. Enjoy!

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

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MAILBAG: Who Was REALLY Responsible For The Death Of WCW?

SEScoops Mailbag for November 18th

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

Q: I’ve been curious over the last couple months, what does CM Punk yell out every time he comes [to the ring]? – Elvir Bajric

A: It’s clobberin’ time! He borrowed that battle cry from The Thing, a comic book character from The Fantastic Four.

Q: Was the fight between Mr. McMahon and Bret Hart (where Bret came out and started shouting about HBK being the referee at Summerslam) on Raw in 1997 real? I’ve heard different stories from different sources. Based on the video, it looks fairly real because the usual forearm shots weren’t there and Owen Hart seemed to be getting really wound up about the whole thing. – Ben

A: The whole thing was a work. I’d love to know these “sources” you’ve heard otherwise from. Kevin Nash wasn’t involved, so of course there were no forearm shots.

Q: In [the 11/4 mailbag], someone asked what the most devastating finishing move would be. I’d like to rephrase the question and ask what would you consider the most dangerous finishing move that if done wrong could cause serious injury or death. – Andrew from Michigan

A: Any move executed incorrectly can result in injury or death. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. Breaking your neck would probably be the quickest way, so I’d be careful with powerbombs, piledrivers and wacky flips.

Q: Is it just me or has Mason Ryan been using some moves that Batista used to implement in the ring? – AJ Saldivar

A: THAT’s the first comparison that hits you when you see Ryan and Batista? Are you serious, bro?

Q: Who do you blame for the death of WCW? I know many names come to mind, but I’m wondering if you agree with me that Kevin Nash, Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo are specifically the ones that immediately come to mind. In his book, Bischoff blamed everyone but himself, mainly the suits at AOL who continually “undermined his decisions.” Nash was responsible for idiotic company killing blunders like putting himself over Goldberg and the infamous “Fingerpoke of Doom.” Russo was responsible for genius ideas like bringing in Master P and David Arquette. Many people blame Hogan, but I don’t think that’s a valid argument because it’s been revealed that Hulk was actually the one who took a chance by going heel and suggested being the “third guy” which essentially electrified the concept of the NWO, and I think Hulk actually proved he was a team player by putting Goldberg over clean. You can’t blame Hogan for promoting himself, but in the end, he did what was best for WCW. Do you agree with my argument, and if not why? – Travis

A: Make no mistake, Hogan always put Hogan first and did what was best for himself. If WCW happened to benefit from some of those decisions, like the heel turn, then so be it. He had to be convinced to do the turn and only did it because he was already being booed by a majority of the fans who had tired of his “Real American” shtick. It wasn’t like the Steve Austin heel turn at WM17, which was a calculated risk on Austin’s part to freshen up his character at a time when the fans clearly didn’t want him to turn and it backfired. As for putting over Goldberg, yes, it was the right move for business, but he did so with the caveat that he be the first person to end the streak and get the title back. He did get the title back, though Nash booked himself to be the first to beat big Bill. Hogan is every bit as responsible as Bischoff and Russo and the rest of them for killing that company. But to answer your question, the person responsible for killing WCW (and creating a WWE monopoly) was none of those four, but rather a Turner Broadcasting executive named Jamie Kellner. Kellner is the man who declared that wrestling would no longer air on TBS or TNT, at which point the deal Eric Bischoff had hoped to swing to buy the company was killed.

Q: Where’s Drew McIntyre? It’s as if one day he’s Intercontinental champion & Vince McMahon’s Chosen One and now he’s a jobber. What happened??? – Arthur Lewis

A: Tiffany happened. Don’t ever get married. Ever.

Q: I have been watching a lot of old school wrestling, but one thing has always bugged me. What’s wrong with Brother Love’s face? – Kieran

A: Not enough fiber in his diet. He’s straining too much. We’ve all been there.

Q: Can you name any superstar that’s been heel [for their entire] career and one that’s been babyface for theirs?

A: Ricky Steamboat has been a babyface his entire career and John Cena has been a heel for his. :)

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

Sound Off 190: If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 190)

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Solomonster Sounds Off 190

Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 24 minutes

This week, we’re Sounding Off on the Penn State sex scandal and how a former wrestling announcer fits into all this, remembering Eddie Guerrero, UFC on FOX thoughts, Raw thoughts from the UK, controversy over Evan Bourne’s suspension, TNA’s new developmental territory, sad stories regarding two ex-WWE stars and THE MAILBAG, including harsh words for the Occupy WWE protesters!

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

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Sound Off 189: The Muppets Could Do A Better Job Booking Raw

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 189)

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THE FIRST TWO EPISODES ON YOUTUBE:
Sound Off Vintage Series (Episodes 1&2)

Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes

This week, we celebrate the FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the Sound Off the way we always do, with the good and the bad from this week in wrestling! Raw was terrible, but Smackdown was enjoyable and the James Storm/Booby Roode stuff from Impact was better than anything WWE had to offer this week. We’ll also talk about the likely reason behind Evan Bourne’s suspension and why a comment on Twitter is more likely to sink him than his suspension, plus a review of the Memphis Heat documentary and a word of caution before you watch it. All that, plus THE MAILBAG and a special surprise for YouTube subscribers! Thank you for 4 fabulous years…here’s to 4 more!!!

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

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MAILBAG: Should Mick Foley Challenge Undertaker At WM28?

SEScoops Mailbag for November 4th

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

Q: I’ve been curious over the years what happened to The Patriot (Del Wilkes), and what caused him to leave WWE in 1997? He was basically a lower mid-card talent in WCW in the early ’90’s, then was pushed right into the main event scene in WWE on RAW with Bret Hart and the Hart Foundation. Bret Hart wrestled The Patriot at Ground Zero in September 1997 for the WWE Championship, and then in a tag match at Bad Blood in October. After that, he was rarely seen. Did he only sign a short term contract with WWE at the time? Did he have some sort of dispute with anyone causing his departure? – Vinny in Connecticut

A: It is rather amazing that Wilkes started with the company in July and was headlining for the title two months later. After Badd Blood, he was scheduled to be part of Team USA in a Survivor Series elimination match, but suffered a torn triceps and was unable to compete. WWE released him a few months later. No animosity or angst between the two sides that I’m aware of, just a bad injury and they lost interest in him.

Q: We all know that Jim Ross gets no respect from Vince McMahon. Even though J.R. has proven to be a company man and is known as THE Best Announcer in wrestling, he is constantly humiliated and disrespected by Vince. What did J.R. do to deserve this kind of treatment? Or is it just Vince being a bully? – Adrian Ramlochan, Trinidad, West Indies

A: Vince McMahon is a man child. That is why he behaves the way he does. The best way to deal with someone like that is by standing up to them, but I don’t know that Ross has ever done that. At the end of the day, he still makes VERY good money and is working less, plus WWEShop is now the sole distributor of JR’s BBQ products, so I wouldn’t go crying for the man. But simply as a matter of respect, I find it repulsive.

Q: With Mick Foley returning to WWE, what would you think about Mankind vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania? No one has a win/loss record against Taker like Mankind did. WWE could bill him as possibly the only man that could end the streak. – Stephen D.

A: When was the last time Mick Foley even won a match? Foley poses less than a zero percent threat to Undertaker’s streak. He’s more famous for putting other people over than himself. For nostalgia, it might be nice to see him and Taker in the ring together, but they’re both so old and broken down at this point, I just don’t see the value. On your point of his win/loss record against the dead man, is it REALLY all that impressive? If we’re just talking PPV battles, I’m pretty sure Foley only took their first two matches back in 1996 (KOTR and Summerslam), both of which were not 100% clean wins. I’d hardly call that dominant.

Q: I know wrestling is staged, but what finishing move, excluding the Tombstone, do you think would cause the most damage and why? – Threen

A: This is an impossible question to answer. I suppose being on the receiving end of CM Punk’s GTS or being Pedigreed by Triple H on concrete could do a great deal of damage, but why not John Cena’s Attitude Adjustment? If he dumped you off the roof of a 20-story building with it, I don’t think you would be getting up. Everything is relative, you see. In terms of damaging one’s pride, I’ll go with the People’s Elbow. At least with Santino’s Cobra, you really could put somebody’s eye out with that move.

Q: This past summer, WWE’s writers and creative staff seemingly had a renaissance moment with the CM PUNK/VINCE/HHH feud, featuring some of the best writing, promos and plot twists the product has had since the height of the “Attitude Era”. So what the hell happened? Why does it seem like we are back to the stale matches, the typical Face/Heel feuds and the stagnant “I’m gonna beat you up” promos? Is there any hope that we will get back to the pre-Summer Slam style writing any time soon? – Seth, Parts Unknown

A: Hindsight is 20/20 and I think it’s safe to say that WWE got lucky. It was never a matter of great writing or plot twists. Punk’s contract was legitimately coming to an end and he was going to leave when they decided to take a real-life situation and let it play itself out on TV until Punk signed a new deal. You’ll notice that once Punk signed his new deal and won the title, we had the great promo at Comic-Con in San Diego and then things went to shit when they brought him back the following week. What great writing did I miss here? Nothing is going to change because nothing ever really changed in the first place.

Q: It appears that WWE is putting all cards on the table and taking a huge gamble with this new WWE Network. Do you think this could be another failure like the XFL or do you think this is a smart way to grow a company and industry that has remained in stagnant water for the last 10 years? If it fails, do you think WWE could be in serious financial trouble? – Glenn Danford

A: Let’s put it this way. If this network is a flop, with the millions that WWE is prepared to pour into it, it could jeopardize the future of the company. I’m not saying they would die within a year or anything, but it would deal a very serious blow to their health. If they’re going to do this, it HAS to be a success. Cable clearances are going to be their biggest obstacle.

Q: Old timers discuss the importance of the territories back in the day when numerous “entertainers” could achieve main event exposure, so when wrestlers joined another territory, they were already developed into a main event talent. I would assume it is not a coincidence that a decade after WWE bought and folded WCW and ECW that there is a real lack of main event talent. Does WWE need TNA and Ring of Honor? Do they need a strong number two to help develop talent? – Cyrus

A: Absolutely, they need a stronger number two, three and four. WWE has done a horrendous job of churning out new talent in recent years, especially talent up to the quality of OVW in the early 2000’s. Right now, they have quality independent workers like Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Antonio Cesaro (and Chris Hero shortly) down in FCW, all of whom were developed elsewhere including ROH. If you figure WWE will actually use only one or two of them correctly and get them over as stars on their TV shows, it doesn’t bode well for the future, but imagine how much worse the future would be without these guys? That’s scary.

Q: If John Cena and Randy Orton were to retire tomorrow, who would you pick if you were Vince McMahon to be the face of your company? – Dakota Maxwell, Killeen, TX

A: CM Punk would be the face, but Michael Cole would still be the ass.

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

Sound Off 188: It’s Ghouls, Goblins and Godawful Booking!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 188)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 39 minutes

It’s a special HALLOWEEN EDITION of the Sound Off, complete with ghouls, goblins and godawful booking! Solomonster has a frightening tale to tell as he discusses the Impact spoilers including another major title change, John Cena loses control of his bodily functions while choosing a partner for Survivor Series, Michael Cole’s challenge to Jim Ross, Maryse’s release from WWE, Viacom’s purchase of Bellator and why TNA should be happy, the latest on Barry Windham and a review of the new Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels DVD, featuring a cryptic comment from The Hitman that is sure to freak you out! I know it did me. All that, plus a MONSTER mailbag! Mwahahahaahhaha!

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

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MAILBAG: Does John Cena Deserve To Be WWE Champion?

SEScoops Mailbag for October 28th

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

***WE NEED YOUR QUESTIONS, SO GET THEM IN NOW!***

Q: I was thinking the other day, guys like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, JBL, Edge, and to an extent Jeff Hardy have gone on to have successful singles careers after breaking out from a tag team. Did the powers that be in WWE know that they were going to have successful careers or [were they] surprised how much they got over when they transferred to singles competition? – Kieran A.

A: I just got done watching the new Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels Rivalries DVD (highly recommended) and they talked about being the workhorses of the company back during their tag days, having better matches than many of the big men WWE had been pushing. The company knew what many of these guys were capable of, but they could not have known how big each would become. In the case of Bret Hart, they always had plans to push him as a singles guy, but felt he wasn’t ready when he first came in and paired him off with Jim Neidhart, specifically to help groom him for a singles career down the line. In the case of Edge, he started as a singles star and the company definitely had high hopes for him in that role, even after he started teaming with Christian.

Q: Any update on the negotiations between Chris Hero and WWE? – John Johnson

A: There was some sort of snag in the paperwork. Hero is still allowed to wrestle independents until the deal is done, and the expectation is that it will happen shortly.

Q: Why is Booker T still on commentary? You can hardy understand him half the time and he doesn’t make a lot of sense. Why does WWE still have him out there? Wouldn’t they be better off adding [Matt] Striker back to the announce table? – Chico Salazar

A: They have him out there because he’s a big name from the past who is approaching 50 years of age, but still has loads of charisma. The one thing about Booker on commentary, as horrible as he is, is that he expresses genuine enthusiasm and at least tries to get guys over, unlike Michael Cole who goes out of his way to bury everyone. Striker was good in his role and is a student of wrestling history, which actually worked against him. Only in WWE.

Q: Sometimes when I watch Raw, I see that there’s a guy with a blue button down [shirt] and red cap always holding signs. I also remember that he was the WWE fan on “Deal or No Deal”. Who is he? – Kyle G.

A: That would be Rick “Sign Guy” Achberger.

Q: Why is everybody down on John Cena winning or having the World title all the time? He’s one of the hardest workers in the company. He works hurt, never complains, just keeps on going like nothing is wrong. When he does give up the belt, it usually is to go make a movie for WWE, so why shouldn’t he get it back? Plus, he has [granted more wishes] for Make-A-Wish than any other celebrity. – Anonymous

A: All of those things are true. But why mention Make-A-Wish? The title, while meaningless these days, is not a charity award. You put the belt on someone because you feel it’s their time and they’ve earned the opportunity, or because doing so results in a noticeable increase in business. Cena is in a position where he doesn’t *need* the title and there’s money in him chasing for it every now and then. But when he gets it every other month, it doesn’t mean nearly as much.

Q: I always have been curious since CM Punk won the WWE Championship back at Money In The Bank, was CM Punk winning the championship the original plan? Or did Vince [McMahon] change scripts before the PPV like usual? – Syed Rizwi

A: In the time it took you to ask that question, Vince has already changed his mind on 16 different things. As I understand it, the plan heading into the weekend of the PPV was for Punk to win the title and have Alberto Del Rio successfully cash in his MITB briefcase that night. Obviously, plans changed and they held off on doing that until Summerslam.

Q: One of the most insulting things to me as a fan is the idea that all of the babyface wrestlers are loosely aligned and that all of the heels are loosely aligned. Generally it isn’t too bad, but the problem for me lies when a wrestler turns. Suddenly all of his former enemies are now allies despite whatever happened during their respective feuds and it honestly just isn’t believable. An example of this would be Sheamus or CM Punk backing HHH. Do you think that WWE could benefit from consistency in character relationships rather than doing a blanket babyface/heel dynamic? – Dan Kincaid

A: I think *any* wrestling product can benefit from consistency in storylines. It is rather ridiculous in September to have CM Punk insulting Triple H’s wife and in October, they behave like the best of friends. Better yet, think about how personal in nature the feud was between Triple H and Randy Orton heading into WrestleMania 25. Orton physically attacked the man’s wife and gave her a rape kiss on national TV, yet now it appears to be water under the bridge. They want so badly to be seen as episodic TV, yet I don’t know too many television shows where that sort of lazy writing would be tolerated.

Q: If you had to choose between WWE’s announce team (Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Booker T) or TNA’s announce team (Mike Tenay and Taz), who would you choose? – Brandon

A: That’s like asking someone if they would like to be shot in the face or the scrotum. I’ll let you figure out which is which.

Q: Is it true that wrestlers tape their wrist to hide a razor that’s used for ‘blading’?
And also, I would like to know why is it that Triple H tapes the tips of his fingers? – Adrian Ramlochan, Trinidad, West Indies

A: That is one of the reasons wrestlers would tape their fingers and wrists, but most do it as protection against sprains and breaks. Obviously, in WWE these days, they don’t do it for blading since blood is banned. With the fingers, it can also provide a better grip on ropes, cages and foreign objects. In the case of Triple H, I think he may have gotten the idea from Ric Flair who also used to tape his fingers. D-Von Dudley does that as well.

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

Sound Off 187: Interview with ROH TV Champion Jay Lethal!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 187)

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OR WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE:
Sound Off 187

Est. Runtime: 50 minutes

The Sound Off gets a “lethal injection” this week as Solomonster chats with the reigning Ring of Honor World Television champion, JAY LETHAL! In this 30-minute interview, the champ discusses his return to ROH and TV Title win over El Generico, his release from TNA and whether or not it came as a surprise, the number one thing he feels the company is missing, a great analogy comparing TNA’s treatment of the X Division to an episode of Seinfeld, this year’s Destination X show and what TNA did (or didn’t do) leading up to it that shocked him, the Black Machismo character and speaking with the real Randy Savage on the phone, who came up with the Legends Open Invitational on Impact and what the original idea was supposed to be, what it was like when Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff came to TNA, working with Ric Flair and their amazing promo battles, if he would ever work for them again, possibly working with WWE in the future and more! Lethal holds nothing back, especially when it comes to TNA.

Solomonster also speaks with “The Prodigy” NATHAN BANNER for an interview that any current or aspiring independent wrestler should listen to. He discusses growing up with (and being trained by) Jay Lethal, working for Zero 1 and HUSTLE in Japan, being part of the first beginner’s class in FCW and tips on what WWE is looking for, working the Macho Man memorial show in Canada and getting high praise from Lanny Poffo, and a whole lot more.

It’s a special double interview on this bonus Sound Off, so enjoy and rate the show in iTunes!

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Sound Off 186: Sorry About Your Damn Luck, Bobby Roode!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 186)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 27 minutes

Solomonster raves about CM Punk and Dean Ambrose in FCW, then dives right into a very noteworthy week for Impact Wrestling including a horrible end to Bound for Glory, the Hogan vs. Sting “Philly Miracle”, a 40-minute opening segment on Impact and James Storm wins the World title. Plus, WWE Vengeance predictions (yay, another PPV this weekend), Raw in Mexico disappoints, Mick Foley’s return, great tag match on ROH TV, thoughts on the Scott Hall ESPN piece and a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT concerning the next Sound Off! You don’t wanna miss this!

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

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Sound Off 185: Hulk Hogan Wrestled PRIDE Fighters In Japan?

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 185)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Solomonster is back with a 90-minute Sound Off and some additional comments on WWE’s sorry excuse for a TV show last Monday, an amazing job posting, a new creative hire for TNA (it’s not as exciting as you may think), Hulk Hogan buries Bobby Roode and a rant about his love for Jailbird Hardy, an impressive ROH TV debut for Tomasso Ciampa and a review of Paul Bearer’s HITS FROM THE CRYPT from WWE Classics! All that plus a mailbag and really, what more could you ask for?

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

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MAILBAG: The Absolute Worst Chant In Wrestling History?

SEScoops Mailbag for October 14th

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

***WE NEED YOUR QUESTIONS, SO GET THEM IN NOW!***

Q: Why was Brock Lesnar mainly based on Smackdown? He was the main guy in the company at the time and Raw is the flagship show. Why wasn’t he on Raw? Apart from The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and HHH, do WWE superstars have any influence as to which brand they wrestle on or is that all decided on by the WWE? – Trust

A: Lesnar WAS on Raw for a time, until he won the title and then moved to Smackdown for the remainder of his career. As I recall, they wanted Brock to help carry the brand and on that show, he was able to establish himself as a true top guy in the company. But really, the reason was that you were not going to have two champions on one show (which WWE doesn’t seem to care about these days) and there was no way in hell they were moving Triple H over to Smackdown. He was always going to be champion on the “A” show and Raw simply wasn’t big enough for the both of them. Another factor to consider is that Shawn Michaels had made it known to the company that he could not work Tuesdays because it would interfere with his weekly Bible study class back home the following day, and with him scheduled to return in the fall and feud with Hunter, he could not have been moved to Smackdown anyway. Lesnar and Triple H being kept apart was the absolute BEST thing for Brock’s career in WWE.

Q: When did Degeneration X start doing those Michael Buffer impressions in their promos like “For The thousands in attendance and for the millions watching around the world, let’s Get Ready to sucka.” Was it after Shawn Michaels temporarily retired in 1998 or was this thing started by The Originals, Shawn and Hunter himself? – Aasir from India

A: Pretty sure it didn’t start until after Hunter took over as the leader of DX following WrestleMania 14. I don’t recall them doing it as heels. By the way, I’m fascinated that you think it’s “sucka” instead of “suck it”. The PG conversion is now complete.

Q: Who do think are some of the top guys that had “the total package” (yes pun intended), but weren’t ready like a Sid or Lex Luger? – Andrew from Michigan

A: Big Show is someone who comes to mind. When he debuted in WCW, he was but a young lad at age 23 and was immediately thrust into a feud with Hulk Hogan, the biggest star in the company. It wasn’t long after that he won his first World title. He had the look, the size, great agility for a giant and was a decent enough promo, but he was green as goose shit (thanks Bill DeMott) and didn’t really know how to work. Obviously, he grew into the role and has had a very successful career for himself, but you can make the argument that he absolutely wasn’t ready when he got his first big break. If you open this question up to mid-card talents who were pushed before they were ready, we would be here all day. Then again, there are very few I would call the “total package”, so maybe not.

Q: Where do you rank Diamond Dallas Page as an in-ring performer? And is true that Vince Russo gave Booker T his first break to be WCW World champion? – Troy M.

A: I thought DDP was rather underrated as a performer. People often ragged on him because he was friends with Eric Bischoff and they said he was old, and that may all be true, but he worked hard to get himself over with the audience. He also did one hell of a job getting the Diamond Cutter over as an exciting, believable finishing maneuver that he could hit you with from any angle. As for Russo, one thing about him is that he does try to get younger guys over (and often fails) and he was, in fact, behind the push for Booker T in 2000.

Q: I was watching Raw two weeks ago and during the [vote of confidence] segment at the end with HHH, one of the referees and Jerry [Lawler] said that this was the most chaotic and dangerous enviroment since they have been in WWE. But years ago, didn’t the referees go on strike because of how the stars were treating them? Plus with HHH giving Cena title shots, giving [Zack] Ryder more TV time, CM Punk saying that it’s not [Hunter’s] fault and even hiring back Jim Ross, how could one person not say anything nice or positive? Make me believe this story. – Anthony from Frederick, MD

A: I can’t believe any of this nonsense myself, so why would I try to convince you that it’s any good? Yes, the WWF referees first went “on strike” during an angle in 1999, so this would hardly be the first time the refs felt threatened by things that were going on in the company. You also hit the nail on the head when it comes to Triple H bringing Jim Ross back to the announce booth and giving Zack Ryder more TV time than he ever got under Vince McMahon. For the two of them to walk out on him during that angle made absolutely no sense whatsoever. I mean, what a bunch of ingrates! The better question is why should any of us care who has the power in WWE? Just give us the best talent (both in the ring and on commentary) and the best matches and let the folks you pay to come up with creative ideas actually implement those ideas instead of changing them or rejecting them outright just because you have a narrow view of what wrestling should be. Rant over, I’m going back to my happy place now.

Q: I was just thinking about the What! chants during the promos on Raw and Smackdown. Would you agree that the crowd doesn’t give the wrestler a chance to cut a good promo before tearing into them with those chants? I know some of the wrestlers have overcome them by talking lower and slower, but do you agree that it probably gets to most of the wrestlers and puts them off? – Rob from England

A: The “What?” chant is one of the worst things to happen to the wrestling business. For all of his positive contributions, both creatively and financially, Steve Austin screwed over scores of wrestlers (primarily heels, though babyfaces have been affected by it as well) in the process. He may not have even realized it at the time, but that’s exactly what he’s done. But I also have to say that some of these wrestlers get what they deserve. Take Mark Henry for example. The man is your World Heavyweight Champion, and while someone like R-Truth is a comedy character that has incorporated the “What?” chants into his shtick, Henry is someone we’re supposed to take seriously as a vicious monster. However, when he’s out there cutting promos (and I do think his promos have been great of late), he speaks in sentence fragments. Just. Like. This. First, nobody talks like that in real life (I’m looking at you, Cody Rhodes). Second, you’re just setting yourself up for trouble by doing that. I actually thought Vince McMahon did a brilliant job of not allowing the fans to talk over him on Monday night when he came out. Chris Jericho had also mastered the art of beating the “What?” chant when he was doing all of those serious promos last year. I’m not saying you shouldn’t take a breath and talk like a bullet train, but every little pause gives those fans in the audience a chance to interrupt you.

Q: Do I have a better chance of marrying Triple H’s daughter or will I see John Cena without the WWE championship for more than 4 or 5 months? – Udit Sharma from India

A: So, where’s my invitation to the ceremony? Lost in the mail, I’m sure. Give Aurora my best.

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

Sound Off 184: Eviscerating The Worst Monday Night Raw Of 2011

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 184)

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Est. Runtime: 60 minutes

Monday Night Raw stooped to new lows this week and, frankly, was the probably the worst Raw show of the entire year. Solomonster simply could not wait until the weekend to tear this show to shreds, hence this rare weekday episode. We’ll also talk about Brock Lesnar being in the new WWE video game and challenging Steve Austin, Tyson Tomko’s arrest for stealing pills and we’ll answer a few mailbag questions. If you’re easily offended by harsh language, if you liked Raw and are easily offended by opinions that differ from yours, or if you’re simply afraid to hear to the truth, then skip this show. For everyone else, enjoy.

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

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Sound Off 183: Russo Demoted, Yet Still Remains Employed

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Solomonster Sounds Off

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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 183)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Solomonster has more on Vince Russo no longer serving as head of the TNA creative team and why it’s a positive move (as if any explanation is necessary) but may not be enough, plus Hulk Hogan’s new deal and a look at the Bound for Glory lineup, the completely ridiculous walkout angle from last week’s Raw, another WWE Wellness suspension, looking at another fine episode of ROH with a REALLY fun main event, some candid comments on the death of Steve Jobs and more. Check it out!

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Sound Off 182: Exclusive Interview with George Napolitano!

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 182)

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Est. Runtime: 62 minutes

Sound Off 182 is here and features Solomonster’s exclusive hour-long interview with photographer and author GEORGE NAPOLITANO, a man with over 40 years in the wrestling business. We discuss the glory days of the magazines, his iconic photo of Andre the Giant, Ric Flair’s NWA title defense in the Dominican Republic and why both he and Ric were scared for their lives, his relationship with Flair today, Paul Heyman and why the other photographers tried to have him barred from ringside when he first started, an interesting take on the Montreal Screwjob (which he was ringside for), taking photos of Randy Savage while he was still playing baseball, meeting a young Triple H at a high school gym and so much more. If you’re a fan of wrestling history, you’ll love this!

His new book is called “Hot Shots and High Spots: George Napolitano’s Amazing Pictorial History of Wrestling’s Greatest Stars” and is available right now on Amazon.com and other fine retailers. Leave feedback in the comments section below or e-mail me directly at thesolomonster@gmail.com. Thanks to George for the fun chat!

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

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Sound Off 181: The King Suffers Some “Royal Pains” This Week

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 181)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 18 minutes

Episode 181 delivers a preview for this weekend’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view and a harsh critique on why WWE has killed the concept dead, plus “Raw is Anal Bleeding” reviewed, breaking down the first episode of ROH on Sinclair, yet another wrestler arrested for DUI and some words on my interview set to air on the next episode. The first of TWO Sound Offs for the week is here, so get it now!

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MAILBAG: When Did John Cena Become The Face Of WWE?

SEScoops Mailbag for September 29th

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

Q: Why does Impact Wrestling and Impact pay-per-views have 4 hot chicks in the front every single week? They are always in the same spot too. So is Impact paying hot chicks to stand up front, are they that desperate? – Abbas R.

A: They are plants. And I don’t mean that as an insult, I have no idea what their IQ is, they may well be as smart as a potted plant, but they are not there every week because of their passion for wrestling.

Q: Why does it seem like the WWE Title is better and more recognizable to have than the World Heavyweight Title? To me the World Heavyweight Title would be better because your the champion of “the whole world” as opposed to being the champion of just “the WWE”. And isn’t the World Heavyweight Championship the old title that all the other legends held? – John P.

A: WWE doesn’t care much for acknowledging that any world exists outside their little bubble, so to them, carrying the WWE Title is far more prestigious. A big part of why it gets more recognition has to do with that title being the centerpiece of their flagship brand. Any Raw title is going to have more emphasis placed on it than a Smackdown title, that’s just the way it is. As for whether this WHC is the “old title that all the other legends had”, that simply isn’t the case. The physical belt bears a resemblance to Ric Flair’s old “big gold” belt because that is what it is modeled after, but the lineage of the current title starts with Triple H pulling it out of a briefcase on Raw in 2002. It has no connection to the title that Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Sting and others once held.

Q: When did [John] Cena become the face of the company? Was it around WrestleMania 22 or 23 during his feuds with HBK, Triple H and Edge? – Marc

A: Those feuds helped solidify him as a main eventer, but I would say that when he was drafted to Raw in June 2005, while still WWE champion on Smackdown, the decision was made for him and not Batista to be the face of the company. It’s quite a sobering thought when you stop and realize that Cena has already been the “face” of WWE for double the amount of time Steve Austin was. As a matter of fact, he’s quickly approaching Hulk Hogan in that department.

Q: What are your thoughts on [John] Cena matches? Do you happen to think Cena is lazy? And what are your thoughts on Chavo [Guerrero] not wanting Cena to surpass Ric Flair’s 16 title reigns? Why isn’t he hating on Sting and Kurt Angle who hold the title a lot in TNA too? – James

A: You can dislike John Cena for a lot of reasons, but being lazy is not one of those reasons. In fact, the guy is about as far from lazy as one can get. He travels wherever the company sends him, including on his days off, and rarely sees the inside of his own house. He goes above and beyond for WWE, which is a big part of why he’s in the position he is in. Is he lazy because he doesn’t spend time learning new moves? Hulk Hogan made plenty of money and did just fine sticking with his routine when he was on top in WWE, too. It’s not as though people are going to suddenly stop hating on the guy if he busts out a hurricanrana (I’d pay to see this) and a few submission holds, so why bother? As for Chavo, he’s clearly craving attention. Who could possibly care? And I laughed heartily at the last part of your question. I can picture Master Splinter at the end of a Ninja Turtles movie shouting, “I made a funny!”

Q: I was looking up old promos for PPVs, and I saw one for Randy Orton vs. Edge from 2005. The match was for the Intercontinental title and the promo was well done, it had a good feud behind it and I realized something. When was the last time we got good build up for a mid-card title feud? The last one I can think of is Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio. Do you think that WWE can do anything to help the IC title gain its prestige back? – Matt from Wisconsin

A: The days of the IC title meaning what it used to in the mid-to-late 80’s are over. It’s just a different era now and there are many more titles than there were back then. People have been conditioned to think that only the World titles mean anything, and even then, they’re rarely treated as anything special these days with how many times they change and how many title shots a person can get (see John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Christian just to name a few). However, you can work to bring SOME of that prestige back by doing two things. First, get rid of the U.S. Title. Now that Smackdown guys can appear on Raw, it’s completely pointless having two secondary titles on TV. Second, put the IC title on someone like CM Punk, a person the fans care about and can get behind, who is viewed as a true top-level talent and who can go out there and have great matches with almost anyone. They’ve put the strap on main event guys before (see Triple H, Chris Jericho and Kane in 2001), which is the key here because without it, fans aren’t going to care. The goal then over time would be to have them help put over a mid-card guy who’s missing that one ingredient until they finally win the championship. Now you’ve made a new superstar AND made the title mean something. This is not rocket science.

Q: I was watching COPS and they were in North Carolina following officers. I’m wondering how it is possible I watched two full episodes and not once saw Matt Hardy getting popped for DUI/DWI. Did I blink? – Joe

A: Kurt Angle probably happened to be in town.

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

Sound Off 180: Can Anything Be Done To Save Smackdown?

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 180)

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OR WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE:
Sound Off 180

Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 53 minutes

Our hosting service is still on the fritz, so courtesy of Sendspace (sorry iTunes subscribers), episode 180 is finally here and includes thoughts on Night of Champions, WWE changing their Pay-Per-View model, Ric Flair undergoing surgery, Sting vs. Hogan spoilers from Knoxville and is Smackdown dying right before our eyes? What can be done to stop bleeding. Plus, a MONSTER mailbag!

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

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Sound Off 179: Thank Kevin Nash For Rock’s Return To Action?

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 179)

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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 41 minutes

This week, Solomonster gives his quick predictions for Night of Champions and discusses the Survivor Series news that The Rock will team up with John Cena. Why WWE may be doing this (and why it will backfire) and how we may have KEVIN NASH to thank for Rock’s wrestling return being bumped up. Plus, thoughts on the first Sting vs. Ric Flair match in 10+ years and Flair’s injury coming out of that match, Impact spoilers that may change the “Bound for Glory” main event, ripping on Hulk Hogan’s “Micro Championship Wrestling”, ROH returning to TV and an ex-WrestleMania headliner is threatened by an 80-year old announcer. All that, plus THE MAILBAG make this show a win!

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