Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 151)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 2 hours, 20 minutes

Solomonster is back with a MEGA SOUND OFF as packed as any you’ve ever heard! We’ll cover the events of this weekend, including the death of Sir Oliver Humperdink, the shocking ROH title change and Johnny “Bones” Jones’ slaughter of Shogun Hua at UFC 128 (which leads to a rant on fighters who don’t speak any english).

Then, we’ll get to your mailba…oh wait, there’s more? That’s right, TNA had a PPV last weekend and Jeff Hardy made a jackass out of himself. More importantly, he made an ass out of the promotion he works for and Solomonster explains why they deserve every bit of it and more. Plus, thoughts on Raw and the latest Rock promo with news on whether or not his tune has changed on wrestling John Cena, Drew Carey going into the Hall of Fame and who will induct him, WWE proves they are ASHAMED to be a wrestling company and what one of their publicists said that you won’t believe, WGN cancels Superstars and has Fatal Four-Way met its demise?

Finally, your questions in the mailba…wait, what’s that? EVEN MORE? That’s right, we have FOUR exclusive reviews for your listening pleasure this week. Some final thoughts on Chris Jericho’s new book including a disturbing Chris Benoit story from Eddie Guerrero’s funeral, a review on the True Story of WrestleMania documentary, the latest WWE Legends Roundtable featuring Bret Hart as a panelist and why he’s full of shit, and lastly, a review of the indie horror film RIVER OF DARKNESS. What’s so special about it, you might ask? Well, it features Kurt Angle as a small town sheriff hunting zombie versions of Kevin Nash and Psycho Sid Vicious and … GLACIER! I shit you not, this is cinematic gold right here, folks. One for the ages.

Oh yes, then we’ll get to the mailbag. Wait no longer, grab a drink and enjoy the show!

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

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SEScoops Mailbag for March 17th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Hey Solomonster, been listening to your Sound Off since 128. On episode 148, you mentioned how it was ironic that Sunny (Tammy Sytch) and Shawn Michaels were going into the WWE Hall of Fame at the same time. I don’t know what happened between them, in I guess what would be the mid-to-late 90’s. Can you please elaborate? – Zane Decker, New Jersey

A: For one thing, Shawn’s “Sunny Days” comment to Bret Hart on Raw back in 1997 led to a backstage brawl between the two of them, as Shawn was insinuating some sort of relationship or sexual encounter between the two of them. The ironic part about that was what happened, according to Sunny, between her and Shawn the year prior. It was during a shoot interview several years ago (available online) that Sunny spoke of being in a relationship for several months with Shawn during his first run as WWE champion. She claims he was totally smitten with her and wanted them to move in together, but she decided against it. It’s hard to separate fact from fiction, but there are photos online of the two of them together from around that time that make them appear to be more than just friends.

Q: In 1999, Buff Bagwell and Scott Steiner were so over and entertaining. I think their tandem could have been as good as DX, with Steiner’s crazy but charismatic promos and Bagwell’s energy. Why did WCW break them up so quick? – Troy

A: Was Scott Steiner crazy, yet entertaining? Absolutely. Even when I didn’t understand half of what he was saying, it was like watching a trainwreck (check out the “Steinermania” series on YouTube). Buff Bagwell? Not so much. But to say they could have been as good as DX? Have you seen many Bagwell or Steiner matches (moreso Bagwell) from 1999? Michaels and Helmsley could wrestle circles around them and have far better matches, which makes any such comparison hollow at best.

Q: During the 2001 invasion angle, Triple H was out with an injury. If WWE was planning this angle months in advance, did they have any plans for Triple H (assuming he wasn’t injured)? Was he gonna defect to the Alliance like Stone Cold and Kurt Angle or was he gonna be on the WWF side? – Michael

A: Triple H tore his quad in May of that year, with the supposed invasion kicking off about a month or so later. As mentioned in Chris Jericho’s new book, Undisputed, the plan for Hunter was for he and Steve Austin, who were teaming as the Two Man Power Trip, to begin a breakup with Austin feuding with Jericho for the title and Hunter feuding with Chris Benoit. There was no talk of which side he might fall on during the course of the invasion angle, which was already over by the time he returned in January. Ironically, since that time, the closest thing to another invasion was the Nexus debut on Raw last June and Hunter missed that one as well, as he was filming two movies and nursing other injuries.

Q: I have a question regarding contract signings for World title matches. Are they just symbolic or are the wrestlers actually signing a contract? They have title matches on Raw & Smackdown and you never see a contract signed for those matches. – Owen Hamilton

A: They are symbolic. Those are not real, binding contracts. In fact, they actually look rather amateurish. A quick little story about this. When WWE returned to USA Network in 2005, NBC Universal (the parent company) hosted a WWE exhibit in their NBC Experience store in New York City. I took the time to visit it and one of the items on display was the bloody contract for the Vince McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan match at WrestleMania 19. It was basically a logo on top with the name of each participant in giant bold lettering, like something you would whip up in a Word document in about 60 seconds. I chuckled at its simplicity, but did think Hogan’s dried up, crusty bloodstains made it quite the collector’s item. I mean, it’s not Tiger Blood, but few people have such plasma coursing through our veins.

Q: Yo, what the [hell] happened during last year’s WrestleMania when Undertaker told HBK to stay down. Was it part of the script for him to just stay down or did he taunt Shawn for better impact? – Keith

A: It was all part of the story of the match. Shawn Michaels was the stubborn old goat who would take all of the abuse Undertaker could dish out and he just kept coming back. It showed frustrating on Taker’s part, until Michaels slapped him in the face and ate a Super Jumping Tombstone for the finish. The two of them had great chemistry and told a wonderful story in all of their matches.

Q: When Raw left Spike TV for USA, TNA debuted the same week. Which side decided not to renew the deal for Raw? If it was Spike, do you think they’re regretting the decision? – Ryan

A: As I recall, both sides were in negotiations for a new deal, but Spike was not interested in paying WWE the same amount, or more, that they had been paying in TV rights fees for Raw. It’s safe to say they were expecting Attitude Era numbers from WWE and quickly realized two sobering things: 1) many of those casual viewers from the late 90’s had long since deserted pro wrestling, and 2) wrestling fans have a tendency to watch their show and leave, so any new programming Spike would hope wrestling fans might stick around for would not get the ratings bump they may have been hoping for. WWE decided to play hardball and made public that they were exploring offers from other networks, which pissed off Spike who decided to simply pull out altogether. It was a risky move on WWE’s part that backfired because at that point, they lost whatever leverage they may have had, and were it not for Bonnie Hammer (a USA Network executive who adored the McMahons) helping consummate a new deal with USA, they would have been in a lot of trouble. As for Spike and whether or not they regret their decision, they’re very happy with their relationship with UFC.

Q: I’ve always wondered why hasn’t an organization like WWE, TNA, ROH or even WCW or ECW tried to get a show on HBO or Showtime? Basically, a network that would allow a mature rating for their show and not worry about blood and such. Could it be because the business doesn’t want anymore negative attention, or maybe they’re worried about not getting ratings? – Cody Short

A: For an organization struggling to get national TV, it might make sense. Otherwise, it makes no sense at all. Once upon a time, WWE made their own advertising deals for Raw, which I don’t believe they do anymore, but that would be one pretty good reason to avoid a channel without commercials. Also, WWE could care less about blood and foul language unless it is somehow going to increase their business. They are paid a handsome sum each year in rights fees by USA Network for Monday Night Raw and are unlikely to get anything close to what they get now from an HBO or Showtime. You’re also neglecting the fact that the number of homes those channels reach, by virtue of people having to pay extra for them, doesn’t come close to the 90+ million that have USA. Presently, if Raw averages five million viewers each week, you could slice that number in half (likely even more than that) and that’s how many people would be watching the show on a premium channel. It’s the same reason that when, and if, the much-discussed WWE Network goes live in 2013, you shouldn’t expect to see Raw heading over there.

Q: How can WWE retire The Undertaker just right instead of just making him disappear as they have many times before? – Boabel

A: Actually, given how he often just vanishes during his storylines, I think it would appropriate for him to leave the same way. I’d have him go over John Cena at next year’s WrestleMania to improve to 20-0 and then, after some posing in the ring, have one of two things happen. For one, smoke begins to envelope the ring and the lights go out, so Taker is no longer visible to the audience. When the smoke clears and the lights return, he is nowhere to be found. One other idea might be to have Paul Bearer (yes, I know last we saw them together they were feuding, but they’ve made up before, too) come down to the ring holding the urn up high as druids wheel a giant casket to the ring. At that point, Taker salutes the urn one final time and voluntarily climbs into the casket. The lid is shut slowly and he is wheeled off to the darkside.

Q: Does TNA have their own version of the Wellness policy? – Ryan B.

A: Apparently not as their front office and creative team seem to be suffering from dementia or some other serious brain malfunction. As for the wrestlers, TNA claims they do have their own drug testing policy, but choose not to divulge any further details about it, including what they test for and how often they test. That makes me as skeptical about it as I am about the WWF’s policy back in 1987 when they would claim they had a drug-free locker room. No really, stop laughing.

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

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 150)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 2 hours

Solomonster is back from Mets spring training and dives right into big breaking news on UFC’s purchase of Strikeforce, the parallels to WWE buying WCW ten years ago this month, Cena busting out the pearl necklace in an ATROCIOUS promo from Monday, the Raw segment that turned away over 1 million viewers, Edge & Christian’s reunion on Smackdown, thoughts on Chris Jericho’s new book thus far and an impromptu review of WrestleMania IV! Does it hold up after all these years?

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

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Visit The Solomonster on Twitter @ twitter.com/solomonster

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Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 149)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Solomonster’s headed south, but before he departs, he brings you a gift in the form of Sound Off 149! We’ll talk the good, the bad and the ugly from Monday night, news on Michael Cole’s guest referee, who the Rock/Cena feud is hurting the most, Dixie goes all stupid again, Jericho goes dancing on ABC, Cyborg’s supposed offer from WWE, a mea culpa from last week regarding a certain Japanese star and THE MAILBAG! Oh yeah, and he’s fat!

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

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Visit The Solomonster on Twitter @ twitter.com/solomonster

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SEScoops Mailbag for March 4th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: I was wondering why WWE always visits the smaller Allstate Arena when it visits Chicago, rather than the larger United Center? It’s the biggest arena in the United States and can easily seat nearly 6,000 more fans for a wrestling event for a capacity of 23,000. The Allstate Arena only gets 17,000 when extra seating is made available. Chicago is always a huge draw for WWE and I have always wondered [why they do] this. – Alex

A: WWE ratings and overall interest are on the rise with the return of The Rock and the buildup to WrestleMania. However, up until the last two weeks or so, their house show business continues to struggle. Chicago is no exception to this. When they are able to do so, WWE will run the smaller venue because they’re likely not selling out the bigger arena. It’s just a sign of the times.

Q: Assuming HBK gets involved with the Triple H/Undertaker storyline, how would you feel if Taker was screwed over by Michaels? I can’t see the point; WWE has spent years building up this undefeated streak and Taker has gained a lot of respect along the way. Don’t you think it would be disrespectful for Michaels to screw him over and have the DX duo telling him to “suck it” as he lies defeated in the ring? [Thing is,] I don’t know how else you could end the streak. – Chris M.

A: It’s a work, brother. If Michaels were to screw Taker and dance on his dead carcass, it’s hardly a sign of disrespect. That said, there would be absolutely no point to this whatsoever. Unless HBK agrees to come to back and wrestle another match against the dead man, which is not going to happen (nor should it, Taker may wither away to dust any day now), what is gained by having him assist in ending the streak? You’d get more mileage out of having someone on the active roster, not named Triple H, do the deed and get some rub from it. Even then, it would be foolish to end the streak. It’s a great marketing gimmick for as long as Taker wants to continue wrestling and the only thing keeping his Mania matches interesting at this point, assuming you have him in there with the right opponent who fans might actually believe has a shot at beating him. Triple H is not that guy, but John “Super” Cena would be.

Q: It has been a while, and I mean a while, since I’ve seen a SWEET Intercontinental title match. If I recall, the (then) Johnny Nitro vs. Jeff Hardy saga was a nail biter! But now, we have a title match here, a little confrontation there and worst of all, we got dudes like ‘Ziggles’ with the title. I can hear the ratings drop. So, my question is, can we please get Vince to see that he’s got young dudes with their thumbs up their asses and so much wasted talent in the back begging for a fight? – Adrian R., Trinidad

A: Let’s be honest, the Intercontinental title hasn’t really meant anything for about a decade now. The last great IC title feud featured a series of fantastic battles between Benoit and Jericho in 2000. The fact that from 2003-2008, there was not a SINGLE match for the title at WrestleMania speaks volumes. There’s a plethora of great, young talent who, if given the chance, could put on some classic matches that help build up the value of the belt (oops, sorry Vince). Kofi Kingston is a great babyface, but having 632 matches with Jack Swagger when neither guy is really pushed as anything special won’t accomplish that goal.

Q: Do [you realize] that when commentating, Booker T is kind of trying to make mid-carders look strong? – Mohammad

A: What a novel concept. Having your announcer go on TV and make the talent in the ring look good instead of going into business for yourself and making them seem completely inferior. The fact that they have Booker, a color guy (no pun intended), out there doing this while their primary play-by-play voice tears down talent at every opportunity (calling them boring, fat and nerdy among other gems) just shows how ass backwards that company operates when it comes to announcing.

Q: Any idea what’s going on with [Awesome] Kong? She’s been with WWE a while now and there is no sign of her! – Owen Hamilton

A: No sign of her in Florida either, but that’s a good sign. That means she may hit the main roster any day now. Far more people end up in FCW and flounder there for months before (and even if) they are brought up to TV. With the rumors of MMA female fighter Cyborg Santos possibly signing with WWE, I wouldn’t mind seeing both women beat the hell out of one another, or team up to wipe out the rest of the Divas division.

Q: Do you think that there will be a draft, and if so, when? Or do you see the brand extension coming to an end? Thanks! – Rachel

A: In the past, draft specials have been three hours in length. With Tough Enough premiering the night after WrestleMania and stretching for 10 weeks, that creates a weekly 3-hour block of WWE programming, and I take that to mean no draft until at least the summer. I don’t see the brand extension coming to an end, but I don’t see the need for a draft either. Why bother when we see Smackdown stars on Raw every week anyway? To steal a phrase from Chris Jericho’s first book, the comedy never ends. Just the mere thought of having a draft now is laughable.

Q: I just wanted to ask how do Buried Alive matches work? Do the wrestlers get buried alive or do they somehow escape? – Adam

A: There is a side door that allows for the person being buried to escape unharmed. If they were actually buried alive, I don’t think they could hold their breath for that long, nor do I think the weight of all that dirt would do their internal organs any favors.

Q: Do you think WWE will do what TNA did and give the Divas tag team belts? – Charles

A: They won’t and they NEVER should. As it is, those belts in TNA are overkill. I mean, they released one half of their Knockouts tag champs while she still had the title! What does that tell you about how well they are valued? Hell, WWE should probably just retire their existing tag belts, as well. Cut the dead weight.

Q: Why doesn’t WWE use the canvas and/or the padded barricades for advertisements, as the UFC and other organizations do? – Gavin

A: This would be a great idea. WCW did this many times for their PPV shows, often promoting Slim Jim as a sponsor. UFC, as you mentioned, does it all the time. Then again, I’m not sure how well-received a giant Kmart logo on the mat would be. On occasion, WWE has branded their event logo on their canvas, as they did at WrestleMania 12 back in 1996. I mention this because I actually own a piece of that canvas.

Q: Back in 2006, when Trish Stratus was with Mickie James, there was a backstage segment where Trish was in the shower and Mickie took her towel. When Trish went to get it, it was gone and she stuck her head out and asked Mickie for it. Mickie told Trish to come and get it, then Trish stepped out and Mickie said wow Trish, nice boobs. Did Mickie actually see Trish’s boobs when she came out of the shower? – Keith

A: What a disturbing question. Sadly, I wasn’t there, so I have no idea what Mickie actually saw. Now if you’ll excuse me, YouTube and I need some quiet time alone.

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

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 148)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 2 hours

This is becoming a bad habit as Solomonster brings you yet ANOTHER packed two-hour edition of the Sound Off! There’s a lot going on in the wrestling world and in episode 148, we’ll address Raw from last Monday including Cena’s retort to The Rock and two big returns, revealing the rest of the 2011 Hall of Famers, news on Tough Enough, Mistico’s big press conference, TNA’s “shocking” surprise, a major Impact spoiler for next week and THE MAILBAG!

Get crack-a-lackin’ and download this show now!

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

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SEScoops Mailbag for February 25th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: What’s WWE’s plan for Tyler Black (aka Seth Rollins)? I know he’s been in developmental for a while and had a few dark matches, but I thought we’d see him on Smackdown or even Superstars by now? Any word on when he’ll make his official television debut? – Matt

A: Rollins debuted in FCW on September 30th and while that does seem a bit excessive for someone at his skill level, it’s actually not as long as some others have been floundering in FCW before being called up to the main roster. No word yet on an official debut, but I would not have minded him in the role currently filled by Mason Ryan in Nexus, building to an eventual face turn against fellow ROH alum CM Punk.

Q: I was thinking about how Evan Bourne should be returning soon and
since Daniel Bryan is currently not feuding with anyone, I thought this would make for a great program for the U.S. Title. I would love to see this play out and would be satisfied if it lasted about as long as the program Miz had with Bryan. Your thoughts? – Michael R.

A: Bourne is penciled in to return from shoulder surgery on the March 14th tapings in St. Louis. However, he may not be ready by that date and his return may be delayed. I think a Bryan/Bourne feud, for a title or not, would be fantastic and again, a battle between two former ROH stars. That said, I cannot see WWE pitting two small wrestlers, let alone small babyfaces, against one another in a program on Raw.

Q: Do you think Kurt Angle will return to WWE after his TNA contract expires? – Anonymous

A: I don’t think Kurt will return to WWE in 2011. Rumor has it his TNA contract is due to expire this summer and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t already in discussions with them about a renewal. The schedule TNA offers is much more beneficial than what WWE would offer and while I do think he should end his career where it began, I think he will stay loyal to Dixie Carter and the folks in Orlando.

Q: Am I the only person who noticed that nobody even acknowledged the fact that Vince McMahon was supposed to have been in a coma for the last 6 months or so and then he shows up on RAW two weeks ago and announces there will be a special guest host for Mania and nobody says a word about it!? Why does WWE just drop storylines like this? It really just insults the audience’s intelligence. – Glenn Danford

A: WWE never said Vince was in a coma. That was one isolated skit on a show back in November that was done with their tongue planted firmly in their cheek. If they had referenced it again since that episode or made a real storyline out of it, then I would be just as frustrated as you are. But they didn’t, so I don’t hold that against them. And really, of all the start-and-stop storylines over the years, THIS is the one you complain about?

Q: On Twitter, Billy Kidman keeps hyping WWE Tough Enough. I have no proof other then he keeps talking about it, but I think he could be one of the trainers [for the new season.] – Mathew Cross

A: First, Kidman is a trainer for the company down in FCW, so he’s likely just being a good employee by pimping their new show. Second, it has since been confirmed that he is, in fact, not a trainer for Tough Enough. Bill DeMott (the former Hugh Morrus of WCW fame), who was a trainer for previous incarnations of the show, is being brought back to join Steve Austin, Booker T and Trish Stratus.

Q: I never understood the May 19th storyline with Kane in 2006, but I do know that it ruined his relationship with the Big Show. Why didn’t he freak out two years later when [Raw fell on May 19th] again? – Boabel

A: It was a storyline created by WWE to help promote their first feature film, See No Evil. As you might guess, Kane was the star of that film. He would hear the date and it would drive him insane, a clever idea on WWE’s part to drive that date home with viewers. Big Show was teaming with Kane at the time and, in trying to calm his friend down, he repeatedly said the date and was promptly beaten for his troubles. Kane didn’t freak out two years later because he didn’t have another movie coming out. He’s a master of self-promotion!

Q: I saw an article saying that Undertaker was spotted at an airport in Austin, Texas. Then it was removed and replaced with an article saying he was spotted at the airport in Houston, Texas, waiting for a flight to California. I wanted clarification, so I went [and found a different article stating] he was spotted in the Austin, Texas airport. I’m just really confused right now. – Jason

A: I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I just had to include this as it reminded me of those awesomely cheesy skits from 1994 with the firemen and the deli butcher who claimed to have spotted The Undertaker during this period where nobody knew where he was. Thankfully, they brought in the late Leslie Nielsen to help solve the case.

Q: At SummerSlam 2010, Undertaker showed up inside the casket after it had already been opened twice. How did he sneak inside the casket since it was a regular one and not one of the “double wide, double deep” ones? – Ryan Begley

A: There was a trap door either directly underneath the casket or on its side closest to the ring, allowing him easy entry without being seen by the crowd. It’s the same way he escaped certain extermination at the 1998 Royal Rumble when Kane set the casket ablaze at the end of the show, presumably with him inside.

Q: I was doing a search on John Cena fans on the internet and I came across your e-mail address. I just have one quick question that I would like to ask you. If I could show you how to watch John Cena wrestling on all WWE Pay Per Views with no monthly fee and get 2,500 cable channels including movies for a one time fee, would you be interested? – Mark Flowers

A: Dear god, no.

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

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 147)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 2 hours

Solomonster is back with a post-PPV edition of the Sound Off, clocking in at TWO HOURS! Thoughts on a pair of awesome Elimination Chamber matches and why the right people won, Justin Roberts’ faux-pas that not many people may have noticed, The Rock’s return and why I laugh heartily at the people thinking he would actually wrestle John Cena, taking issue with one of JR’s tweets, new names for Dolph Ziggler, a great sign for Tough Enough being a success and, of course, a MONSTER mailbag! Happy 2.21.11 :)

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

Wanna subscribe to the Sound Off via iTunes? CLICK HERE!

Visit The Solomonster on Twitter @ twitter.com/solomonster

Friend The Solomonster on Facebook @ facebook.com/thesolomonster

SEScoops Mailbag for February 18th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: I was wondering where was the Mr. McMahon’s dead storyline leading to before it was nixed due to the Benoit tragedy? – Joe

A: I believe it was to be revealed that Linda McMahon was behind the whole thing, although that may not have ended up being the final plot twist. It was an absurd storyline, especially when you’re doing it with someone as visible as the chairman of the company. Suspension of disbelief can only be stretched so far.

Q: Will there ever be another diva in WWE that could become as popular as the likes of Trish Stratus, Lita, or Mickie James? What can WWE do to get fans interested in women’s wrestling once again? Will the same fate that [befell] the cruiserweight division also happen to the women’s division? – Jaleesa B.

A: Absolutely, there will come a day where a new diva fills that role. Unfortunately for WWE, that sometimes works against them as these women get so big (not literally, although that wouldn’t be good either) and their heads expand so much, it usually results in them leaving the company. Sunny, Sable and Chyna immediately spring to mind. Stacy Keibler was given permission to do “Dancing With The Stars” and never returned. Mickie James was fired due to problems behind the scenes. As for getting fans more interested, they need to treat the division as more than just a joke. 30-second matches every week that mean nothing is not going to accomplish that. Bringing in women who actually know how to wrestle would be a start. Building one or two storylines with real depth would be another (see the great Trish/Mickie feud from 2006). It’s a crime that Sara Del Ray hasn’t been given a chance by either of the two big promotions. Well, she did have a dark match with TNA some time back and was told that she doesn’t have the “look” to be a Knockout.

Q: What is currently going on with JBL? I’d really like for him to come back. Do you know what he is up to? – Dayron

A: JBL does a great deal of travel for leisure these days. He’s also an avid golfer and if the posts on his Twitter page are any indication, he’s pretty good at it. He also has his own radio show and I believe is still overseeing Layfield Energy products, so he keeps himself rather busy. He seems to have left the wrestling business behind and I say good for him. If you really miss him that much, just watch Smackdown on Friday nights, play some Mariachi music in the background and enjoy the greatness that is Alberto Del Rio.

Q: During the infamous streak, was Goldberg’s house show victories counted in the streak number? – Big Mike

A: In theory, yes. WCW greatly exaggerated the number of victories to the point of hilarity. If you were to go back and add up the numbers, I believe the number of wins during that period did not even match up with the number of shows he was wrestling on. For some, it killed the aura of the streak, though I think that was only for those of us to paid attention to details like that. Judging by the crowd reactions at most arenas (especially when he won the title from Hogan), it didn’t really matter.

Q: After watching the Smackdown 10 Year Anniversary DVD, I was wondering [when] Brock Lesnar superplexed Big Show and the ring collapsed, was that real or was the ring rigged to do that? – Kevin

A: The ring was rigged to collapse like that. To this day, it’s one of the most visually awesome stunts I’ve ever seen in wrestling and the crowd went bananas for it. Looking back, if I had to nitpick, it was pretty stupid for those guys to lay there and play dead with paramedics rushing to the ring for what was essentially a basic superplex spot. You just know that if this was Onita in FMW back in the day, there would have been C-4 explosives in the middle of that ring. At least that would have made sense.

Q: I recall the biggest failure in WrestleMania history, Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg at WrestleMania XX. What the Hell happened to that match? I mean, they were hyping that match since Survivor Series in the previous year. It was 10 minutes of Annoying Staredown, 5 minutes of Boring Bullfight and just an F-5 & a Jackhammer in the end, and Brock was done. Even Goldberg’s entrance was longer than the match itself. This match could have been perhaps the best match in WrestleMania history. We all know that both were leaving the company, but was it necessary for Stone Cold to give them each a stunner in the end, giving them the worst farewell ever and making them look like fools? – Cyber Criminal

A: You answered your own question. A majority of the fans at MSG that night were aware that both men were leaving the company and they resented them for it. If that match was held at almost any other building, perhaps the reaction would have been different. Both men were clearly caught off guard by the reaction and it had a negative effect on their match. As for Stone Cold, I had no problem whatsoever with him laying both men out after the match. The company invested a LOT in Lesnar in the short time he was with WWE and he was essentially throwing it all away to go play football, which is all well and good if that’s what he really wanted to do, but if you’re not going to be around anymore and the crowd just crapped all over your match, then why not give them something to cheer about? Same with Goldberg, who was also leaving and had no reason to be protected. Now if WWE was having Austin come out and give stunners every week to Dolph Ziggler, a young guy they are supposedly trying to get over, then I would have a problem with it. But here? Nothing wrong with it. In fact, I almost wish he had picked them both up and given each another stunner just for shits and giggles.

Q: With the great return of The Rock, is he going to be used on TV and house shows leading up to WrestleMania? I would think it would definitely increase ticket sales if fans knew they were going to have an opportunity to see The Rock one last time. – Joe

A: I’d be shocked if he did any house shows. Even for TV, if he appears again live in the ring, I’d have to think it would only be once more before WrestleMania. The problem is that as great as Rock may be, once he starts showing up on a regular basis, he loses some of his luster and if you’re banking on him to mean extra buys for the PPV, then you’re basically shooting yourself in the foot.

Q: WOW, seeing the Rock return brought tears to my eyes and chills up and down my spine. I then watched WrestleMania X8 with Rock v. Hollywood Hogan. That crowd in Toronto was unbelievable. My question is if WWE puts on the Undertaker v. Sting match, will it match the crowd excitement from that iconic Mania match? – Terrell from Virginia

A: I think the only match that could possibly garner that sort of crowd reaction in 2011 would be Rock vs. John Cena, which is not going to happen. Undertaker and Sting would have great appeal for many fans, don’t get me wrong, but neither man is Rock or Hulk Hogan. Those two names are on a whole different level than everyone else, along with maybe Steve Austin, and it would be unfair to compare anyone else’s reaction to theirs. Plus, Hogan nostalgia always get a big pop and there are far more WWE fans who are likely to know Hogan than Sting.

Q: Do you think John Morrison will win the Elimination Chamber to get the final push he needs to win the WWE championship against Miz at WrestleMania? – Sean P.

A: I won’t say that Morrison can’t win the Chamber because I could see them doing that just to swerve everyone. Having said that, I feel comfortable saying that there is a ZERO percent chance of Morrison fighting Miz for the title at Mania. There’s simply no way they would put two young guys like that in the title match on their biggest show of the year, especially with one half of their other big championship match already featuring a name that has never main-evented the show before. I’d have Morrison win in “Money in the Bank”, if they decide to still do it at Mania, and announce it in advance when he’s ready to cash in his shot. No more of this back-door bullshit.

Q: In the latest 2.21.11 promo, we finally see Undertaker in the house, although can it be that the person in the cloak outside can be someone else like Sting? Maybe this promo isn’t just for Taker, maybe it’s a promo for a feud? – Boabel

A: Sorry to disappoint, but it’s not Sting. It’s actually Diamond Dallas Page, who is once again stalking The Undertaker. Poor guy didn’t learn the first time, I guess. I only hope their Mania match is as epic as their “fight” at the King of the Ring in 2001.

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

SEScoops Mailbag for February 11th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Why do they show people like The Undertaker, Triple H, John Morrison and John Cena in the opening video to “WWE Superstars” if they’re never even on the show? – Ryan Begley

A: Because showing people like Yoshi Tatsu, Zack Ryder, Tyson Kidd and Tyler Reks doesn’t exactly scream starpower, now does it?

Q: Will WWE ever go back to the completely random drafts where they roll the cage and pick out a superstar like in 2004, or will they keep this pre-arranged draft? – Rory

A: I think they should just ditch the draft altogether. Explain to me what the point of having a draft is when Smackdown guys are showing up all the time on Raw and vice versa? It drives me insane. I actually have no problem with it, until they start talking about a draft again each year and it makes me tremble with anger. It would be the equivalent of the New York Jets drafting Tom Brady out of college (hey, we can dare to dream) and then just letting him show up one week and start playing for the Chargers. Either do a draft and keep the brands completely separate or just end the brand split and unify the rosters.

Q: I’d like a proper answer on what the deal with Desmond Wolfe. Where is the poor bastard? – Jovan, Australia

A: He has been sidelined with an undisclosed medical condition. He’s ready and waiting for TNA to put him back on television, and they even shot some vignettes for his return several weeks ago, but then decided against airing them for whatever reason.

Q: Do you have any insight on the Royal Rumble that saw Lex Luger and Bret Hart tie? Was that the planned ending? This seems like something they had to work on a lot, kind of like Morrison’s move this year. – Trey Fowler, Atlanta, GA

A: I’m not sure if they actually rehearsed going over the top rope before the show, but yes, that was the planned ending to the 1994 Royal Rumble. It was done as a way for the WWF to gauge crowd reaction to both Luger and Hart after the match. As you may recall, they first announced Luger as the winner to a tepid response from the fans. Then, as the referees argued further, Bret Hart was announced as the winner and the fans in Rhode Island went crazy. It was at that point that Vince McMahon likely decided Bret Hart was getting the title back at WrestleMania 10.

Q: At WrestleMania 23, Mr. Kennedy won the MITB [briefcase], only to lose it to Edge later on. I also noticed that Edge was wheeled out of [Mania] that night and Kennedy’s MITB storyline lacked depth as he didn’t do the normal things a heel would do. Was Edge meant to win that night but couldn’t due to being injured in the middle of the match? It just seemed like a waste to have Edge lose, along with his [Mania] undefeated streak at the time, just to have him obtain it anyway. – Adam Meads

A: No, Kennedy was scheduled to be the winner all along. Undertaker, who was hurting bad at the time and in need of surgery (this is my shocked face) for a torn bicep, was the World champion and they had to get the belt off him fast. The original idea that Kennedy would begin a countdown to cash in his title shot at the following year’s WrestleMania was tossed out in favor of him taking the title from Taker, but then Kennedy suffered an injury himself. It was believed to have been more serious than it actually was, so instead of needing surgery and being out for several months, Kennedy was only out for a few weeks with a bad bruise. Unfortunately for him, by the time they figured that out, it was too late. They had Edge beat him quickly on Raw for the briefcase and cash in on Taker the next night to win the World title.

Q: In 2004, they had that storyline where John Cena was stabbed in a nightclub. Was there any realism to that? It seemed like they pushed it pretty hard because they even mentioned it on Raw. – Ryan

A: If you’re asking me whether or not John Cena was really stabbed, he was not. The storyline here involved Carlito, who was feuding with Cena over the U.S. Title at the time, allegedly having his bodyguard, Jesus (played by Aaron Aguilera), stab Cena in a nightclub. If they pushed it pretty hard, it was because the idea of someone getting stabbed is not your typical, run-of-the-mill wrestling angle. If they wanted to get it over, they had to go for the hard sell.

Q: How come they’ve never given Vicki Guerrero an entrance theme? – Nate

A: She doesn’t need one. As soon as you hear her screeches of “Excuse me!”, she garners ATOMIC heat from the crowd. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Q: I just finished reading Mick Foley’s “Countdown To Lockdown” and I noticed he and Edge kind of have the same pre-match talk with their opponent(s) about certain bits of their match and never go over anything permanent, so it got me wondering. I know it’s scripted with who will win, but do they go over [the entire] match or just make it up as they go along. I have always wondered, even though it’s probably a silly question. – Karl

A: It depends on the people involved. A veteran like an Edge or Mick Foley is not going to script out a match move for move. This doesn’t mean there aren’t people who do this. Randy Savage was adamant about mapping out his match with Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania 3 right down to the exact move and it was something they memorized for months in advance. My sense is that most wrestlers, at least in WWE and TNA, know the outcome and how to get there, plan a few key spots that the office wants them to include, and they wing the rest of it.

Q: In the previous mailbag, you mentioned in reference to Stone Cold in 2003: he ‘knew when it was time to move on’ and that other superstars could learn from this. Can you expand upon this? There are some obvious candidates (Flair, Hogan) but could you pinpoint a date, match and/or storyline that should have signaled the end for some superstars? Any that left the business/retired too early? – Dustin S.

A: I see you already mentioned Ric Flair, but I’m going to mention him anyway. Flair probably should have retired from in-ring competition in 2004. There were rumors for a brief time of Flair wanting a singles match with Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania 20, which never happened, but that would have been a fine way for him to hang up the boots. If it wasn’t going to happen that way, then he should have stayed true to his word and retired after Mania 24. He got the greatest sendoff a pro wrestler has ever received over the course of that 3-day period, but he just couldn’t help himself. Mick Foley is another great example. When he “retired” in 2000, only to be coaxed back just one month later into the Mania 16 main event, that was a mistake. He did have a great match with Randy Orton in 2004 and that would have been another great opportunity to step aside with his head held high and his body still (mostly) in tact. Another example would be Terry Gordy of the famed Freebirds, who was a fantastic worker, but was never really the same after the OD that caused him to lapse into a coma in 1993. He continued to wrestle until his death many years later, but his run as The Executioner in the WWF was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen. As far as people that retired too early, The Rock has to be at the top of the list. He retired in 2004, but had many, many more years of great matches left in him. He wanted to fade away quietly and pursue other things in his life and I respect the hell out of him for it.

Q: In 2005, we saw Batista beat Cena in the Royal Rumble and win the WHC from HHH while Cena won the WWE Title from JBL. Then Cena lost his title in January 2006 while Batista had to forfeit his WHC a couple of days later due to injury. Was Batista meant to be the face of the WWE over John Cena? And if not, why did they have John lose the Rumble match if he was gonna be the face of WWE? – Justin S.

A: What makes this all rather funny is that it was neither of those two men who were figured to be “the man” at that particular time, but rather, Randy Orton. When Orton was kicked out of Evolution and turned babyface, it was assumed he would be wrestling Triple H in the WrestleMania main event the following year, but what ended up happening is his turn was handled so poorly and he dropped the title so quickly, it took him years to recover. Meanwhile, the fans started to get behind Batista in a big way and he essentially took that spot. By this point, yes, they realized they were going to go all the way with Cena, but until he shifted over to the Raw brand, he was always going to be #2 by virtue of being on the perceived “weaker” brand.

Q: There’s been a lot of talk about facial expressions as being key for wrestlers lately. I recall someone talking about how guys with short hair have to be better with facial expressions to make up for the fact they don’t have long hair to fly back when they get punched. Of course, they use facial expressions to sell a lot more than punches. Punk used them pretty nicely at the end of Raw to sell the bit where Lawler handed a chair to Cena, who subsequently cleared the ring leaving Punk on the floor. Do you have any comments or observations on facial expressions in the wrestling business? – Bill Rigsby

A: First off, while whipping your long hair back on a punch does make for a nice visual effect, there have been quite a few wrestlers who have done well for themselves without long hair, if any hair at all, regardless of their facials. Steve Austin says hello. That said, facial expressions and mannerisms play a HUGE role in wrestling. You can enhance a character or create a memorable moment simply by smirking or raising your eyebrow in a certain way. The best thing that ever happened to Dos Caras Jr. was being forced to take off his mask while in FCW because that signature smile and wink is such a big part of his current Alberto Del Rio persona. Kane losing his mask was a mistake, in my opinion, but the one thing about him now without it that’s so great are his fabulous facial expressions. Lastly, one of the all-time classic WrestleMania moments involved a bloody and demented Vince McMahon outside the ring peering up over the apron during his match with Hulk Hogan. No words were said, but that image is still etched in my brain to this day.

Q: I was wondering who you think is the most underrated tag team in history? I say Haas and Benjamin, and maybe Harlem Heat. – Chase

A: The Jumping Bomb Angels. They don’t get nearly enough recognition for their talent. Seriously, look up some of their matches on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean.

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

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 145)
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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Solomonster is amused by Eric Bischoff’s remarks on Impact about Kevin Nash and has LOTS to say about the Royal Rumble, Lawler getting a PPV title shot against The Miz, the mysterious 2.21.11 video including who it’s REALLY for and the latest on a possible Sting vs. Undertaker match, Mistico signs with WWE, Ric Flair suffers an injury, Tough Enough gets a new trainer and THE MAILBAG!

One hell of a show, so listen now!

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SEScoops Mailbag for February 4th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: I remember back during WWE’s nWo invasion when Hogan, Hall and Nash came in and they busted a cinderblock over Stone Cold’s knee. How did they do this or was it a case where they went off script? – Cody Short

A: I can assure you that Scott Hall, no matter how drunk he may have been, is not stupid enough to “shoot” on the biggest star in the company by shattering a cinderblock across his bionic knee. It was a planned spot and they used a lighter, more easily breakable material for added effect. It was still really stupid.

Q: Ric Flair wrestled in the Dominican Republic against Jack Veneno and had to lose the NWA World Title on purpose because he was afraid that the hometown crowd would riot. But later, Veneno gave back the title and was never was recognized as NWA champion.. What’s up with that? – Troy, Puerto Rico

A: I believe Ric Flair talks about this story in his book. Indeed, there is some rare footage of this match floating around on YouTube and based on the rabid crowd reaction, I tend to believe Flair was telling the truth when he says he feared for his safety had he won that match. Supposedly, he recognized this and decided to change the finish during the match, shouting at the referee to count three and then left the country without even taking the belt with him. The NWA had Veneno ship the belt back to the States. Phantom title changes were done with greater frequency back in those days and there have been some famous ones, such as Pat Patterson supposedly becoming the first Intercontinental champion in a tournament in Rio de Janeiro (it never happened) or Antonio Inoki beating Bob Backlund for the WWF Title in 1979, a reign that is not formally acknowledged by the promotion. I think WWE may have actually mentioned this in Inoki’s Hall of Fame induction video last year, which if they did would be the first time they’ve ever done so publicly.

Q: In multiple person non-title matches such as Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank, what happens if the guy who was supposed to win gets injured or, in the Rumble, accidentally eliminated? Do they have a backup winner? – J. Walker

A: I don’t believe they make it a point to assign a “backup winner” for the Rumble each year. What they would likely do in that situation is call an audible to one of the many referees at ringside. In 2005, both John Cena and Batista fell over the top and hit the floor in an unplanned spot. In that case, nobody knew what to do and in a fit of rage, Vince McMahon himself left the gorilla position and stormed down to the ring, tearing his quad in the process. It’s not exactly the same thing, but using the most recent Rumble as an example, Alex Riley accidentally eliminated himself early when he fell off the apron and hit the floor. He was to play a role in John Cena’s elimination later on, so they were forced to improvise and thankfully, Miz was already sitting at ringside doing commentary.

Q: Did Vladimir Koslov do something to piss of Vince McMahon big time a few years back? One second he’s in a World title match with HHH and the next he is in the minor leagues (aka ECW). Seems like he was getting a push and then nothing. He’s a tag champ now, but he’s still pretty much a clown. I’ve always wondered if he did something to make someone mad. – Ryan L.

A: Yeah, he pretty much sucked. That’s a surefire way to piss off your boss. His workrate was awful and his promo ability was even worse. They gave him plenty of opportunities because of his size, but like Khali, he just didn’t get better. Putting him in tag matches is a smart way to hide some of those weaknesses.

Q: Am I the only one who’s reminded of a young HHH when Drew McIntyre is in the ring? There’s obviously some fine tuning left to do, but I can’t help but think the kid is on the right track. – War Machine

A: Funny you should say that since Triple H and Shawn Michaels were both said to be big supporters of Drew when he was first getting his big push on Smackdown. Hell, no less of an authority than Mr. McMahon himself came on TV and proclaimed McIntyre to be the golden child. He also reminds me a lot physically of a young Hunter Hearst Helmsley, so perhaps HHH sees a little bit of himself in Drew. Unfortunately for him, he’s rubbed some people the wrong way backstage in the past and an incident last year with his wife where the cops were called didn’t exactly endear him to those in power. He also comes off as a rather bland character (something young Ted DiBiase also suffers from) and that needs to be addressed. He does have a great look and awesome theme music, so at least he has that going for him.

Q: If Stone Cold had not walked out in 2002, how much longer do you think he would have wrestled before having to retire anyway? I heard that at WrestleMania 19 against The Rock he was in a lot of pain, so it had to be his last match and he was relieved when it was over – Michael

A: I think he would have made it to the next Mania anyway, but there’s no way of knowing for sure. Part of the reason Austin left was lingering neck issues that were bothering him (not just the creative stalemate involving Brock Lesnar). He knew when he came back in 2003 that he was on his way out. That’s why they fed Eric Bischoff to him in an easy slaughter his first match back and rarely, if at all, had him wrestle before his battle with The Rock. The man knew when it was time to move on. You have to respect that. If only more wrestlers could learn from this.

Q: I think it would be a sweet idea if WWE pushed young stars to main event WrestleMania this year like Miz vs. Morrison and Del Rio vs. Ziggler. What do you think? – RJ

A: Del Rio against Ziggler? You lost me there. That said, Miz and Del Rio are likely to make it there, so you should be happy about that.

Q: I remember the heart punch being one of the most feared finishing moves back in the day, but now it’s all but disappeared. I researched it online and came up with nothing about the heart punch being banned anywhere. Just wondering why we don’t see it these days, specifically in the WWE or TNA. – Bill Rigsby

A: Is it bad that my only memory of a wrestler using the heart punch as a finish is Crush? I know others used it, too. I assume it’s not used because it’s not as flashy as many of the finishes used on TV today, but I would have no problem with someone using it. So many guys on the WWE roster alone seem to have the SAME finishing maneuver, it really makes you wonder what ever happened to creativity. As a matter of fact, in the same span of a week that Ezekiel Jackson made his return on Smackdown and Mason Ryan debuted on Raw, I believe they BOTH used the same uranage slam! Within days of each other! I’m begging for someone to bring back the powerbomb, but the heart punch works too.

Q: Just read on your site that Kevin Nash made a verbal promise to Dixie Carter to return to TNA, but clearly lied. Didn’t he do the exact same thing to Vince McMahon before jumping ship to WCW many years back? – Ryan

A: I don’t recall things going down that way, but I admit, I may not be privy to all of the details. If I remember correctly, Nash informed Vince in February of 1996 that he would be accepting a more lucrative deal from Turner to jump to WCW when his contract expired in May of that year. Oddly enough, WWF posted this as a news item on AOL (remember the days when keywords actually meant something?). Even more odd, after Diesel lost to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 12, they named him top contender to HBK’s newly won championship and put Nash in a PPV main event against his friend less than a month before his departure. Granted, it was done to help put over the new champion and make Michaels look like a legit badass (similar to their mentality more recently having Miz beat John Morrison in that Falls Count Anywhere match), but if that were anyone else, the last thing they would have done was keep him on TV, let alone on PPV before jumping over to the competition.

Q: Will pro-wrestlers ever be able to draw the kind of reaction ”Stone Cold” Steve Austin and The Rock got from the crowd? Hell maybe I’m setting the bar too high. Will the likes of Sheamus, Ziggler, McIntyre and Del Rio ever be able to draw the kind of reaction Booker T and Diesel got at the Royal Rumble? – Trust Sakupwanya

A: Yes, someone will come along at some point (where it’s any of those four guys or not) and be the next big breakout star. You could even argue that John Cena is already that guy. That said, make no mistake about it. What Booker and Nash got at the Rumble were pure nostalgia pops. Go back at the end of each of their last runs with the company and tell me if they were getting those kinds of reactions. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Hell, even I popped big for them when they came out, but it’s not like they would be getting reactions even half of that if they were still wrestling on TV a month from now. Ten years from now, if Sheamus was out of the company for a while and made a big return at the Rumble, he too would get a big pop.

Q: At WrestleMania 18, Jim Ross kept referring to The Undertaker as “Booger Red”. What’s the story there? – Ryan Begley

A: Maybe he suffered from constant bloody noses? I don’t really know. I do recall JR possibly saying something about it referring to Taker’s red hair.

Q: I read a section in last weeks “Mailbag” and it talked about closed caption mess-ups. I noticed a couple of weeks ago when I accidentally turned ON the captions during RAW that Michael Cole came up as Vince McMahon??? What the hell? – Jake Hack

A: Uh oh, have we uncovered the true identity of the anonymous Raw GM?

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

Who’s The Big Surprise On 2.21.11?

10 POSSIBLE CANDIDATES AND THEIR BETTING ODDS
by The Solomonster (thesolomonster@gmail.com)
Podcast | Twitter | Facebook

WARNING: Potential spoiler included below.

Welcome to WrestleMania season, traditionally the most exciting period for wrestling fans as WWE builds to its annual crescendo and inducts a few more legendary names into the Hall of Fame that exists within the walls of Vince McMahon’s mind. Even non-WWE fans can find what to get excited about as promotions like TNA, ROH and Dragon Gate USA often schedule big events in or around the host city for WrestleMania to take advantage of all the fans traveling in from various places. Bottom line, it’s fun for the fans.

You know what’s just as much fun? Playing the guessing game! So when WWE decided to air a rather cryptic vignette not once, but twice during Raw on Monday night touting an appearance by a mysterious, cloaked figure on 2.21.11, the internet practically exploded in its pants with theories about who this person could be. Is it the return of an injured superstar? The arrival of someone new? Surely, whoever it is, it must be a big name since this is all happening in the midst of WrestleMania season? Whoever it turns out to be, there are several names that are being bandied about, so I thought it would be fun to list the most obvious (and maybe not so obvious) ones here and their chances of actually showing up on Raw in Fresno.

The Undertaker

The Phenom

Some might say all of this speculation became a moot point once the Save Mart Center website decided to post a spoiler touting “THE RETURN OF THE UNDERTAKER” for the 2/21 Raw show. This, they say, is PROOF that the video is referring to an Undertaker return. I’m not so sure. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Undertaker won’t be on the show, but who says one has to do with the other? That being said, you have to believe there’s a strong chance that it is a promo for the dead man, getting him back into the mix in time to start a WrestleMania program, but with who? It’s hardly a lock that Taker will even be able to wrestle on the show, and even if he does, all signs have been pointing towards a Smackdown opponent with either Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson or Kane being his most likely adversary. In any event, the cowboy boots and long, black trenchcoat have me thinking the reaper of wayward souls is on his way back from the grave to begin his march to 19-0. Odds: 2-to-1

Sting

The Icon

Easily the favorite amongst fans online. In fact, many have already convinced themselves that an Undertaker vs. Sting dream match is inevitable for this year’s WrestleMania. Forget the fact that Undertaker hasn’t even returned to television yet, or that there has not been a SINGLE confirmation of Sting signing a deal with the company (a company, mind you, that he has never worked for). And before people start throwing a small item in a New York Daily News report in my face that said Sting had signed a one-year deal with WWE, let’s get real. If this news is true, you’ll hear it first on sites like this one, not in the freaking DAILY NEWS. That being said, Sting has reportedly not re-signed with TNA, which has been his home since 2003. At 51-years old, he’s not getting any younger. Kevin Nash recently said Sting would be a fool to not accept a WWE deal if one were offered, and it’s no secret that signing him is one of the goals the company had in mind for 2011. WrestleMania is in Atlanta this year, the former home of WCW where he made a name for himself. Why not sign a short-term contract, get a Mania payday, maybe a Hall of Fame nod and a 3-disc DVD treatment? Odds: 5-to-1

Triple H

The King of Kings

I never thought I’d say this, but I miss The Game. He’s been out of action since last April, close to a year now, after being “taken out” by Sheamus. Since that time, Triple H has filmed two movies, suffered and rehabbed from a torn biceps, and has taken a more active role in backstage affairs as Vince McMahon’s right-hand man. In recent interviews, he has talked about no longer working a full schedule and being more of a special attraction, but that he fully expects to be part of this year’s WrestleMania card. I was shocked to not see him as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble, which begs the obvious question – at what point in the next 30 or so days does he make his triumphant return? You know it’s coming. But could it really be him in that video? I mean, since when does Triple H wear black boots and a trenchcoat? But what if it’s all a red herring just to throw us off? Or better yet, what if he’s trying to reinvent himself? Wouldn’t seem to make much sense for a man who now admits his time as a performer is limited, but stranger things have happened. Anything would beat that awful getup he had at the Mania show in 2006. Odds: 20-to-1

Chris Jericho

The best in the world at what he does

Ever since Randy Orton punted him in the skull back in October, Chris Jericho has not been seen on WWE television. I suppose, if we kayfabe it, he’s either in a coma or recovering from a pretty serious concussion. In reality, his contract expired and Jericho chose to focus on his music career and a sequel to his successful first book, due out this month. He’s given interviews stating pretty directly that he would not be at WrestleMania and had no imminent plans to return to WWE. Yet in his most recent interview, he says a new deal with WWE is “90% done”, though he still gave no indication that he might be coming back anytime soon. Add to that the fact that Jericho has talked about having to reinvent himself over time in order to freshen up his character. That’s why he started wearing suits on TV at a time when almost nobody else was doing that. Perhaps he feels it’s time for yet another change in wardrobe? Remember, if anyone knows how to spike fan interest through the use of viral videos and such, it’s Jericho. The millennium countdown for his 1999 debut is one of the all-time great wrestling debuts, and he followed it up with the SAVE.US.222 campaign when he last returned to the company in 2007. Odds: 50-to-1

Awesome Kong

Bubba the Love Sponge’s favorite diva

The former TNA Knockouts champion recently signed a contract with WWE and has yet to make her television debut. She was backstage at the Royal Rumble, but was not used. Rumors have her linked with the Bella Twins as part of their ongoing angle with Gail Kim and Daniel Bryan, potentially reigniting her feud with Kim from their days in the Impact Zone. If so, then 2.21.11 is unlikely to have anything to do with her. However, it would be the single best way to get her over as a big deal to an audience that has never seen a female superstar receive such treatment in advance of their debut. That fact alone makes me even more skeptical that it’s her. Still, she’s a new star under contract that is set to debut any week, so there is at least a chance, however slim it may be. Odds: 100-to-1

Skip Sheffield

The Cornfed Meathead

I have high hopes for Mr. Sheffield. Anyone who has listened to my podcast on this very site (cheap plug) knows that I see him as a potential breakout star and apparently, I’m not alone. A former WWE writer who recently blogged some intimate details about the creative process (and then promptly pulled that blog) revealed that Vince McMahon himself sees Sheffield as a potential #2 babyface at some point, behind only John Cena. The guy was a goofball on the first season of NXT, but during his time in Nexus before he suffered a broken ankle this past August, he showed a certain intensity and aptitude for being a giant ass-kicker that reminded me a bit of Brock Lesnar or Bill Goldberg. The point is, if he can stay healthy, he will be given opportunities because of his size that not many others are afforded. As such, his recovery time was listed at around 6 months and, wouldn’t you know it, it’s right about that time. If they’re going to push him, then this would be one hell of a way to make a splash. I don’t see this happening, but it has to at least be considered given that he’s due back at anytime and WWE recognizes the need to get more young guys over. Odds: 250-to-1

Tyler Black, errr…Seth Rollins

Former ROH World Champion

There once was a pretty damn good wrestler with a great look called Tyler Black. He even held the ROH World Heavyweight Title for a time. Then, he signed a WWE contract and was promptly sent down to Florida Championship Wrestling because, as with everyone else who they send down there, he doesn’t “know how to work” and had to be taught the WWE style. Not only that, but they gave him a new name, too – Seth Rollins. In reality, it could’ve been far worse (*cough*Eli Cottonwood*cough*), but I digress. With the youth movement in WWE in full effect, you have to expect that we will be seeing Mr. Rollins on TV sooner rather than later. If we pick apart the 2.21.11 video, there are noticeable similarities to the early Tyler Black character in ROH, who was part of a dark faction led by Jimmy Jacobs called The Age of the Fall. To take that one step further, ROH even used cryptic messages to hype the arrival of AOTF with the code name “Project 161” (corresponding with the promotion’s 161st show, which is where he debuted). Just an interesting little fact to keep in mind, though I doubt WWE is even aware of this. Odds: 500-to-1

”Macho Man” Randy Savage

Future WWE Hall of Famer

I know what you’re thinking. Solomonster, are you pouring vodka shots through your eyeballs again? No, I actually gave that up, but hear me out on this one. Think back to the last time we saw Randy Savage on TV with a major promotion and you’d have to go all the way back to TNA in 2004. Do you remember what Savage was wearing? That’s right, a long, black trenchcoat and black boots. Add to that, while Savage has been persona-non-grata with Vince McMahon ever since his departure, within the last 18 months, we have seen the release of a Macho Man DVD set, his first action figure in more than a decade, and now his inclusion in the next WWE video game. While Mattel and THQ may have had more to do with those last two things, it appears the door may be creaking open a bit for an eventual return. Plus, let’s be honest, Vinnie Mac needs more big names for the Hall of Fame. Now, fantasy aside, would Vince not only welcome the nearly 60-year old Savage back with open arms, but actually bring him in with vignettes normally reserved for newer, younger stars? Probably not, but then again, 61-year old Jerry Lawler is getting a title shot at their next PPV, so anything’s possible. Odds: 1000-to-1

The Man in Black from Halloween 5 & 6

What a stupid storyline in an otherwise fine movie series

I’m a big horror movie fan and I LOVED the original Halloween films (yes, even the third one). In part five, we were introduced to a mysterious stranger dressed in all black who, at the end of the movie, breaks Michael Myers out of a police station. In part six, we discover this so-called “Man in Black” to be Dr. Wynn, a character from the original Halloween, who is part of a some weird cult hell-bent on stealing Michael’s DNA in an effort to harness his evil powers and introduce them into fetuses during in-vitro fertilization. Cool, eh? Anyway, I really just wanted to find a way to talk about this insanely stupid storyline and given that the “Man in Black” apparently uses the same tailor as the mystery man in the 2.21.11 teaser, I figured why not. Hell, he could very well be a candidate, were it not for the fact that Michael slaughtered him and his entire group in part six. Odds: TNA will turn a profit first

Vince McMahon

The Greater Power returns!

Has anyone given thought to the idea that perhaps this is all just an elaborate way to re-introduce Mister McMahon to our TV screens? The last we saw of him, he was assaulted and left for dead by Nexus v1.0 (not counting the stupid election skit, which was supposedly a dream anyway). He was also once part of an angle that was dragged out for several weeks with a reveal that included him hiding under a dark cloak before being exposed as the so-called “Greater Power” on Raw in 1999. Swap out that cloak for a trenchcoat and voila, it’s the Attitude Era all over again! Okay, maybe not. Odds: 5000-to-1

Who do YOU think will be the person revealed on 2.21.11? Let your voices be heard in the comments section below!

thesolomonster@gmail.com

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 144)
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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Solomonster lost his shit during Raw on Monday night and he’ll explain why — plus making a prediction for the Royal Rumble, news on Stone Cold’s return to WWE, what Ric Flair and Charlie Sheen have in common, and more Facebook mailbag questions! Settle in before the Rumble and listen to the Sound Off!

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SEScoops Mailbag for January 28th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: A lot of people say that due to WWE’s PPV policy, fewer people buy their shows. But they don’t suggest the popularity of live streamings [as a reason why]. Don’t you think this factor is being overlooked? – Anonymous

A: I’m not sure what you mean by WWE’s PPV policy. Are you referring to the policy of requiring fans to, you know, BUY their pay-per-views? I think I understand the point you’re trying to make and while it’s a concern to them, by no means do I attribute the drop in PPV business to live internet streams. They account for a low percentage of views, relative to the actual number of people who typically buy these shows. If a typical WWE PPV (not named WrestleMania) would do 400,000 domestic buys a few years ago and is now pulling in 200,000, there’s a much bigger issue here than live streams. Remember, these streams existed when they were still doing good PPV business several years ago, so I don’t buy that as an excuse.

Q: When did the first ever Steel Cage match take place?. The WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 game says it was in the 1930’s, but I don’t believe it. – Anonymous

A: Well, believe it. The earliest records of anything resembling a cage match date back to July 2nd, 1937 and a match between Jack Bloomfield and Count Petro Rossi in Atlanta, GA where the ring was surrounded by chicken wire. Bloomfield won that match.

Q: I was wondering what ever happened to Maven? He just popped in my head today I don’t know why, but I don’t remember what happened to him. Did he get released? Where is he now? – Brian Collins

A: Maven Huffman, who won the first season of WWF Tough Enough on MTV, was released by the company in July 2005. I always thought he had great potential, but he was rushed on TV way too fast for someone with little experience, which is why WWE is only accepting people with wrestling backgrounds for their latest incarnation of Tough Enough. Maven currently works for the Home Shopping Network as a wellness expert on their morning show, HSN Today.

Q: Vince McMahon has two of the best play-by-play announcers in the world working for WWE, that being JR and Joey Styles. Why in the world are they not using them? Also why do they not focus on calling the matches these days? It’s so annoying having to listen to Matthews and Cole argue. – Anonymous

A: Blame Vince. He produces the announcers and shouts instructions in their ear during the shows. He wants them to be “storytellers” and not wrestling announcers. I’m not as willing as you are to call Joey Styles one of the best PBP guys in the world, but JR would certainly do wonders for their product if they put him back on TV. I’d say even if it was just for pay-per-views, but ideally you would want Ross back on Raw so that he could help sell you on buying those shows in the first place, something he is much better at than Michael Cole. Part of that is a credibility issue, but part of it is also that when you listen to JR, he just sounds so much more emotionally invested in the product. You can’t fake that.

Q: You mentioned in the Jan. 21st edition of “The Mailbag” that Bryan Daniels and The Miz have a history. I have never heard about this. Can you give me a little background as they are two of my favorite performers? Thanks. – Nick Ivey

A: Bryan Daniels doesn’t have a history with Miz as far as I know, but Daniel Bryan does. Miz was his pro during the first season of NXT and the two of them did not get along. In fact, they would often come to blows. When Bryan reached the main roster, he even had a few matches with Miz where he made the current WWE champion tap out to the LeBell Lock.

Q: What would’ve been the plans for Shawn Michaels (and maybe even DX for that matter) had he not suffered his career-threatening back injury in 1998? Would he have continued to feud with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin after WrestleMania XIV? – Jesse

A: There’s no way of knowing for sure because I don’t think they ever had plans mapped out that far for him, especially once they knew Shawn would need time off for his back. I would think it’s a near certainty that he and Austin would have at least had one more PPV match after Mania, likely with some sort of stipulation. The other way they could have gone was have Triple H dump him from DX the next night on Raw and turn Shawn babyface again to have him feud with the new group, maybe even aligning himself with Austin.

Q: My brother swears that when Kane was first introduced into WWE, someone else played the character and, if so, was it Abyss? Please set him straight. – Joe Rampage

A: You sure your brother wasn’t doing bricks of cocaine with Charlie Sheen the other night? No, the character has always been played by Glen Jacobs. There was one time when Undertaker was revealed as wearing the Kane outfit on Raw and then, years later, they did the fake Kane angle with Drew Hankinson playing the role (aka Festus and Luke Gallows).

Q: I was watching the UFC “Fight for the Troops” special and kept noticing that the fighters rarely if ever take their opponents legs when they have their guy grounded and they’re kicking up at them. Would any pro wrestling submisson holds like the Boston Crab or Texas Cloverleaf work realistically or am I just living in a fantasy world? – Andrew

A: Stick to an arm bar (one of Chris Jericho’s famed 1004 holds) or sleeper hold. Any sort of leglock like a Sharpshooter or Boston Crab is pointless because it requires cooperation from your opponent, and because it would very easy for them to simply reach back and grab your leg in order to cause an imbalance and break the hold.

Q: What’s REALLY HOOD MY G! Anyways, yo, I understand dat ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair is a ‘RECOGNIZED’ 16x World Champ, however, Bob Backlund ISN’T ‘RECOGNIZED’ as a 3x WWF Champ, Harley Race ISN’T ‘RECOGNIZED’ as a 8x NWA World Champ, so ‘UN-OFFICIALLY’ how many World Heavyweight titles has Ric Flair won?! I count 17-19 (I use PWI’s mags & almanacs for my info). What says you?! – Slic Ric

A: Flair recognizes himself as a 21-time World champion, so that’s good enough for me. Belieeeee-dat!

Q: I was looking at the Title History page on WWE.com and was wondering, would it be better if instead of wrestlers winning titles numerous times if they would just stay champion for longer periods of time? For instance, instead of the Hulkster winning the WWF Championship five times, he was just champion for 5 years before losing it to someone else. Do you think the fans would be OK with this if it was the case today, even if it means that most likely Cena would still be our champion since 2005? – Brock Benningfield

A: Wait, Cena HASN’T been reigning as champ since 2005? It sure feels like he has. With Cena, they actually did give him a very long title reign (by modern day standards) back in 2007 and I think it brought some prestige back to the belt, so I would concur that longer reigns are more effective than the quantity of those reigns in getting titles over. Given the use of your Hogan example, it’s funny to note that he did have a four-year reign as WWF champion (1984-1988) and yet he still went on to win the title four more times. God bless the Hulkster.

Q: Has WWE lost faith in Drew McIntyre already? It feels as though he has been downgraded to the lower card, or are they just trying to get Trent Barretta over? – Trust Sakupwanya

A: They are not trying to get Barretta over. There have been times where WWE had big plans for Drew, but they’ve always been hesitant to pull the trigger. A former WWE writer who recently posted a blog that was quickly taken down noted that Drew was originally slated to win the Smackdown “Money in the Bank” match in July, but when they realized that there were too many heels already winning on the show, they decided to go with a babyface in Kane instead (funny since they immediately turned him heel). At another point, Drew was to be revealed as the person who buried The Undertaker alive. I think it’s a combination of bad luck and a bad rep backstage for having a chip on his shoulder. It doesn’t help that his wife (former diva Tiffany) also has a big mouth, which may work out great for him between the sheets, but not so much when she’s spouting off on Twitter and radio shows bashing the company her husband works for.

Q: Does WWE have control over the closed captioning for their programming? Whenever Michael Cole starts to speak, it comes up as Jim [Ross] or JR. – Ryan B.

A: I’m not sure if WWE provides the closed captioning folks with a list of character names, but regardless, they do not have control over it. At least, I’d like to think they don’t as I’ve seen some rather sexually-suggestive and downright hilarious captions in recent years that are more entertaining than the shows themselves. As an experiment, I urge everyone to watch an episode of Raw with the captions on. It may not be the same for everybody, but when Randy Orton makes his entrance, if the caption for the start of his theme music should read “I ate poison, now I’m dead”, then you’ll know it works. I’ve also seen it as “I have oysters in my bed” and “I have boys in my shed”, which is downright disturbing.

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

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 143)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Solomonster discusses this year’s 40-MAN Royal Rumble and a forgotten Rumble that WWE has all but erased from history, a great Raw main event, the debut of Batista Junior, Jeff Hardy’s never-ending drug trial, concern for Kurt Angle, major events that changed history 10 years ago this month, The Secret Files and the return of the FACEBOOK MAILBAG! Don’t miss this show.

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SEScoops Mailbag for January 21st

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: I was wondering when did Undertaker’s undefeated streak come to light and the writers start taking advantage of it? Was it always planned for someone to build up that kind of record? – Kieran A.

A: I do recall the announcers making mention of Undertaker behind undefeated as early as WrestleMania 12 or 13, but they didn’t really play it up until 2001 on the show where Taker went 9-0 against Triple H. It’s not something they planned in advance, either. At a certain point, they realized he had never been defeated (which is amazing when you consider how many times Taker was beaten by screwjobs and interference through much of the mid-90’s) and were going to use it as a marketing tool for the show each year.

Q: This could be a long shot here, but let me know if you agree with this scenario regarding Daniel Bryan. He seems to be doing nothing but being a pro on NXT right now. This season, the winners get a shot at the Tag titles. Do you believe Bryan and [Derrick] Bateman will win this season so Bryan can be in the same position Miz was in months ago (holding the US and tag titles at once)? This could set up a Miz/Bryan feud and finally give Bryan a direction. Maybe I’m totally over-thinking the situation, but it might explain why Bryan is doing next to nothing these days. – Justin Erickson

A: You’re totally over-thinking the situation. While I would be in favor of elevating Bryan enough to contend for the WWE Title against Miz (and I think if done right, the fans would get behind it too), that’s absolutely not their plan right now. That’s too bad because the heat those two had during their feud felt “real” and often times, that is the best type of emotion to play off of when doing an angle with two guys. It doesn’t feel manufactured. You know these two guys have a history together and you know they hate each other’s guts. I guess they feel the WWE Universe can’t handle that.

Q: With Shawn Michaels being inducted into the Hall of Fame and Triple H returning soon, I see Sean Waltman, Kevin Nash and Scott all say they are going to be there for the ceremony. I was wondering if it would be a huge ratings grabber for WWE if they got all those guys together one more time to form the old Kliq to do something against Nexus. Any thoughts? – Brian O’Connor

A: First off, Waltman is the only one who has said he will be at a ceremony for sure. Nash has said he’d like to be, but if he re-signs with TNA or is still in Costa Rica filming a movie at the time, he won’t be there. I haven’t heard Hall say anything about it one way or the other. Second, this wouldn’t grab any ratings. Hall has no business being on TV after all the opportunities he’s blown and a Kliq reunion that sees them get the better of Nexus (and don’t think for a SECOND they would do anything to help put Nexus over at all because you’re a fool if you do) serves no purpose other than to bury the young guys. WWE does a fine job of that on their own, they don’t need any help.

Q: In 2002, was there ever a plan to have Stone Cold win the Royal Rumble and for The Rock to defeat Chris Jericho that night for the title to have a Rock vs. Stone Cold match at WrestleMania? Or was the plan always to have a returning Triple H win the Rumble and face Jericho at Mania, leaving Rock and Austin to feud with the nWo? – Michael R.

A: I don’t believe WWE had signed Hall, Nash and Hogan to their contracts in time for the Rumble, so they likely did not have any plans set in stone for them just yet without their signatures on the dotted line. I’m fairly certain they would have had Austin in the slot that Rock got against Hogan, but Austin made it quite clear he did not want to work with Hulk. As for yet ANOTHER match with Austin and Rock, that was never the plan. I know they ended up doing it a year later, but they weren’t doing it two years in a row. The plan was for Jericho to have a relatively short reign and put over Triple H for the belt, so that didn’t change.

Q: I was disappointed that Sting was not on WWE’s top 50 greatest list. I know that he is with TNA, but so is Jeff Hardy, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle and a few others. Do you think Sting should of made it?

A: On a list that includes Junkyard Dog, yes I believe Sting should have been part of it. They can claim it’s a WWE-only list now, but that’s not what they were saying before when it was announced and I don’t ever remember Lou Thesz or Gorgeous George wrestling for WWE.

Q: Is Even Bourne going to be coming back anytime soon? He left when CM Punk and Edge traded brands, due an injury if memory serves, and I don’t remember hearing anything about him since then. – Christoff

A: Yes, Evan is targeting a late February/early March return to the ring following shoulder surgery he underwent in October to repair a torn rotator cuff. As a matter of fact, he and Triple H are both advertised for the 3/19 live event at Madison Square Garden. Perhaps they will return as a tag team wearing tassles and neon spandex a la The Rockers. I’d pay to see that.

Q: You have mentioned numerous times on your podcast about how great War Games matches are, but which match did you think was the best ever? – Daniel

A: Check out the War Games match with Sting’s Squadron against The Dangerous Alliance from “Wrestle War” 1992. The nWo vs. WCW one from “Fall Brawl” 1996 was pretty good, too. Avoid the one from 1995 like you would the Ebola virus.

Q: In the first ever Mailbag and the most recent one, it was said that Edge & Christian are brothers. However, Wikipedia says they were childhood friends and doubting Wikipedia’s intelligence is like doubting Shawn Michaels’ wrestling ability. Also, on SmackDown when E&C met for the first time after Christian’s return, Edge said they have known each other since the 6th grade. Now, throw your knowledge on that. – Addam Azkaban

A: No such thing was said in the first mailbag, or any mailbag for that matter. Not from this website. Edge and Christian are FRIENDS in real life. They grew up together and both watched wrestling. When Christian followed Edge to WWE, the STORYLINE was that they were brothers. They said this on the air for years until recently when they decided to acknowledge them on the air as friends and not brothers, basically dismissing their own storyline. You see, yet another reason to hate WWE’s lack of storyline continuity. Not only does it make for bad TV, but it makes me have to answer the same question over and over.

Q: Was there any heat on Owen Hart after he injured Stone Cold Steve Austin? Do you feel that Owen could have been as big of a star as his brother if he didn’t die? – Joe Rampage

A: To the best of my knowledge, Owen had no heat with anyone in management over what happened. They looked at it for what it was, an accident. That said, Steve Austin did have heat with Owen over what happened and the fact that Owen never bothered to call him after it happened to apologize or check in. Even Bret has said Owen was wrong for that. I don’t believe Owen ever would have been as big a star as Bret if he hadn’t died. Could he have been a World champion? Sure, a short reign as a heel to help transition the title to the babyface. But he was already 34 years-old at the time of his death with plans to retire in the not-too-distant future. It just wasn’t going to happen.

Q: Why did JR only announce the main event at WrestleMania 15? – NateOB

A: Jim Ross had suffered his second bout with Bells Palsy only a few months earlier and was taken off TV during that time. They did the short-lived “heel JR” angle with Dr. Death shortly before Mania, but that was quickly dropped. Steve Austin and The Rock, who were wrestling in the main event that night, both went to Vince McMahon and made it clear they wanted Ross to call their match, which is why Michael Cole walked off and was replaced by JR. Conversely, at last year’s WrestleMania, both Shawn Michaels and Undertaker went to Vince and asked that Ross call their match and they were turned down. JR, who was in attendance and could have easily called the match, instead sat up in one of the luxury boxes and watched HBK’s final match from afar.

Q: I don’t know about everyone else, but I couldn’t help but notice that Tyson Kidd’s ‘bodyguard’ Jackson Andrews hasn’t been seen since he received a ‘World’s Strongest Slam’ from Mark Henry a few weeks ago. I didn’t hear anything about him being released or sent down, so what’s the deal? – Superstar Nick Adams

A: Someone realized he was too green and wasn’t ready to be on TV, so he was sent back down to FCW. Mason Ryan, beware.

Q: I was wondering if you have any information about some infamous backstage fights that happened in WWE. Can you name a few? – Mark

A: Way back in 1992, Vince McMahon was attacked and nearly choked out by Kevin Wacholz (Nailz) over what Wacholz perceived to be a low payoff from his appearance that year at Summerslam. He would later claim that McMahon tried to sexually assault him during the incident, but no one believed him. In 1997, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels got into it once at a Raw taping, possibly in the bathroom, which resulted in Bret walking away with a clump of HBK’s hair. Vince McMahon had to go on the air that night and inform the audience that due to unprofessional conduct, neither man would be appearing on the show. Of course, later that same year in Montreal, Bret knocked out Vince McMahon with a punch and Davey Boy Smith hyperextended his knee in trying to drag his son Shane away from the ensuing scuffle. In 2003, Chris Jericho famously confronted Bill Goldberg backstage at Raw over comments Bill had made about him and when they got into it, Jericho took him down with a front facelock. In 2004, Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle got into an altercation at a Smackdown taping after the final segment of the show. As they came through the curtain, they exchanged words in front of everyone with Angle taking Eddie to the ground before being pulled off by some of the agents. In 2006, Booker T and Batista got into a brawl that Booker dominated and Vince McMahon actually refused to put the title back on Batista for quite some time after that, losing respect for him getting beaten so badly. Let us not also forget Stocky Balboa (Joey Styles) knocking down JBL with a punch to the jaw while overseas in Iraq for Tribute to the Troops in 2008. Boys will be boys.

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

Here are the quick results from last night’s ROH on HDNet:

-Jay & Mark Briscoe def. The Elite (Ted McNaler and Adam Revolver) by pinfall after a Doomsday Device on Revolver.

-MsChif def. Daizee Haze by pinfall with the Desecrator DDT. After the match, MsChif refuses to shake hands with Haze and sprays mist in her eyes to add insult to injury.

-In the ring, Jim Cornette interviewed the “World’s Greatest Tag Team” of Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas. They want a tag title shot, which brings out the Briscoes who take issue with both their remarks and their WGTT moniker. In the end, Cornette makes a match between the two teams at the next ROH iPPV in Chicago with the winners becoming the #1 contenders. Fair enough.

-“The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels def. Chris Hero by pinfall with the Best Moonsault Ever to become the #1 contender for the ROH Television Title.

ROH has announced that this Saturday, January 22nd, the final “ROH on HDNet” main event at The Asylum in Philadelphia will feature a 6-Man Tag Team Grudge Match pitting ROH World Champion Roderick Strong and World Tag Champions Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli against Jay & Mark Briscoe and Davey Richards.

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 142)
*right-click, “Save As”, or stream it!

Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes

Solomonster has LOTS to say about Shane Helms bashing HBK once again, Matt Hardy’s delusions of grandeur, Sean Morley’s pathetic worked-shoot, Ring of Honor parting ways with HDNet, Scott Steiner’s return to TNA, Undertaker’s Mania opponent, Triple H’s confession, WWE’s hiring practices and THE MAILBAG! A packed show for your Martin Luther King weekend!

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

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SEScoops Mailbag for January 13th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: After reading your last mailbag, and the reactions about Chris Benoit being erased from WWE, I was wondering if Benoit had only killed himself and spared his family, would WWE react differently to him instead the way they do now? Could they then put him in the Hall of Fame if things turned out differently during that horrible weekend in 2007? – Frank the Tank

A: Wrestlers have committed suicide before and have not been erased from WWE history, so yes, it would have been a much different situation. I do believe that at some point, they would have inducted him into the Hall of Fame. I don’t want to keep beating a dead horse here, but once you murder another human being (let alone your own wife and child), all bets are off.

Q: Why is Alex Riley still carrying a briefcase to the ring? What’s supposed to be inside there? – Michael

A: It’s simply become part of his gimmick. D-Lo Brown wore that chest protector long after his injuries healed at the hands of Dan Severn. Same with Bob Orton and the cast. Maybe WWE forces him to keep a breathalyzer in there and carry it around with him at all times, just in case.

Q: I know WWE isn’t necessarily about the “long-term plan”, but [here’s an idea]. An up and comer wins Money in the Bank [at Mania], e.g. Del Rio, Barrett, Bryan. Then, instead of holding onto the briefcase and using it on a vulnerable champ, they say they will wait to ensure that they are able to headline WrestleMania next year. WWE could spend the rest of the year building this person up to the point where they can legitimately be viewed as someone who could main event the biggest show of the year. I know the scenario is highly unlikely, but if done right it could potentially skyrocket one of the newer stars into upper card status. What do you think? – Geremy Kerr

A: I would have no problem with that idea. In fact, I’ve advocated this in the past and am disappointed they continue to go the predictable route of having virtually every MiTB winner cash in on a vulnerable champion and win. If I recall correctly, after Mr. Kennedy won the briefcase at Mania 23, he had started a countdown to Mania the following year where the plan was that he would cash in at that time, but then he got hurt, Edge took his spot and they got the title off an ailing Undertaker. I know WWE saw that match between Miz and Morrison on Raw as a way to “toughen” Miz’s image in the eyes of the fans, but it would have worked far better to have him hold onto the briefcase and announce in advance that he was planning to cash in against the champion at Mania. He would have taken on the champion head on and proven himself worthy of main event status with a strong performance, even in defeat.

Q: I heard from a friend that when Hulk Hogan wrestled and did his legdrop, he would put some bars in his boots to make it hurt more. This is probably fake, but do you know if it’s true? – Harrison M.

A: Bars? Like Hershey bars? Gold bars? Lever 2000? Okay, enough of that. No, it’s not true. Maybe your friend should stay away from bars, if you catch my drift.

Q: I was recently watching The Rock vs Brock Lesnar at Summerslam and realized how much people were booing Rock and cheering Lesnar. Was this because they knew Rock was leaving so they booed him, [similar to] when Lesnar left and everyone knew he was leaving? Also, did The Rock know he was only back for a short time when he returned that year? – Michael R.

A: I think that was part of it, and also because they were in New York (Nassau Coliseum) and fans tend to think they’re smarter when it comes to stuff like that. Plus, Brock had his share of fans at the time as well as he had been booked like a monster up to that point. As for Rock, yes he knew he would not be back for a long run. That’s part of the reason they made him a transitional champion and he had no problem putting over Brock as, no pun intended, the next big thing.

Q: If you could pick the Hall of Fame class for this year, who would you pick? And when is Vince McMahon going to be inducted in the HOF? – Joe Rampage

A: My personal picks would be Randy Savage and Elizabeth, Jake Roberts, Rick Rude, Bob Backlund and Demolition. If we’re doing a WCW/NWA-themed class since Mania is in Atlanta, I’d go with Sting, Lex Luger, Big Van Vader, Arn Anderson, Ron Simmons and the Road Warriors. Referee Tommy Young would be a fine choice, as well. As for Vince, he will definitely take his rightful place in the Hall of Fame, but not until he is dead or retired because, well, that would just look bad.

Q: Could Jonathan Coachman be making a return as the Raw GM? We all know that Vince was very fond of him and when Vince announced the new anonymous GM, he seemed pretty happy. – Rory

A: Check the recent mailbags as I addressed a question about Coachman already. He’s very happy working for ESPN and will not be the Raw GM.

Q: Is there a specific reason why Shawn Michaels didn’t say a single word the whole time he was on screen on Monday? He grabbed a microphone and everything. – Ryan B.

A: That’s just the way the segment was scripted. They don’t want him saying too much before the Hall of Fame so they can save it for the actual ceremony and DVD release. They’re counting on him to be the big draw for it this year.

Q: Any chance we will see a possible WrestleMania rematch between Sheamus and Triple H? Their WM26 match was fantastic. – Mark

A: There’s a fairly good chance, although part of me wonders if Hunter would want to do that same match two years in a row. Perhaps if Triple H returns at the Royal Rumble, they will set up for a singles match between he and Sheamus at the Elimination Chamber PPV and then shift him into a different program for Mania. Either way, it’s a safe bet you will get to see the rematch sometime soon. My concern is that with all the clean jobs Sheamus has been doing of late, he really can’t afford another loss here.

Q: If MMA (and UFC in particular) had gained popularity and recognition at an earlier point in time, for example in the mid 90’s or earlier, which WWE/WCW superstars do you believe would have bypassed wrestling and gone in to MMA? Which of those do you think would have fared well and which would have ended up in wrestling anyway? – Paul Phillips

A: This is an impossible question to answer, but it’s fun to try. Vader in his prime would have made a great heavyweight. Even in WCW, he was legit beating the crap out of people left and right to the point where people shivered if they saw their name listed opposite his on the board backstage. Haku/Meng was known to be one of the toughest and most feared men in wrestling, so he likely would have had a shot with the proper MMA training. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, even though he didn’t fare too well in WWF’s Braw for All years later, would have been another good choice. Despite what he says now, if Undertaker would tried MMA early in his career, I believe he would have ended up right back in wrestling.

Q: Do you know if Vicki Guerrero has a finishing move? May I make the suggestion of the “5 Star Hog Splash”? – Bright Knives

A: That might have been funny if the woman had not shed over 30 pounds in recent months. I hate it when WWE mocks her for it because other people follow like sheep. Way to keep your product classy, Vince. I’m sure you’ll get those car commercials you want in no time.

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

In a surprising turn of events, Ring of Honor’s TV deal with HDNet has expired and they will no longer be airing on the network after April 4th.

The promotion released the following statement late this evening:

“Ring of Honor completed its 2 year TV contract with HDNet. During this time “ROH on HDNet” fans witnessed many great matches, the introduction of the ROH Television Title, and the crowning of new tag champions, among other historical moments. HDNet will air new episodes of ROH until 4/4/11. Please continue to support ROH and watch these new shows on HDNet.

The final ROH on HDNet TV tapings are scheduled for January 21st & 22nd in Philadelphia, so come out and support ROH as we close out our weekly run on HDNet.

ROH on HDNet premiered in March 2009. The split is said to be amicable and, as the ROH statement alludes to, they are in talks for at least one live special on the network that would air sometime this year. They are also now free to pursue a new TV deal with another network.

Here are the quick results from last night’s ROH on HDNet:

-“The Prodigy” Mike Bennett (w/”Brutal” Bob Evans) def. Nick Dinsmore in his debut match by pinfall with a spinebuster.

-Jim Cornette interviewed ROH Tag Team champions The Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, in the ring. Kenny King and Rhett Titus (“The All Night Express”) are introduced by Cornette mid-way through and are announced as the new #1 contenders to Hero & Claudio’s tag belts.

-Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole def. Mike Posey and Corey Hollins by pinfall after hitting Hollins with a double lungblower (backcracker).

-ROH World Champion Roderick Strong (w/Truth Martini) def. Colt Cabana by pinfall with a Sick Kick in a non-title match.

Next week, Chris Hero will battle “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels to determine the #1 contender for the ROH TV Title. Also, Daizee Haze faces MsChif.

Solomonster Sounds Off

DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 141)
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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Solomonster offers up a MEGA Sound Off this week, clocking in at 100 minutes discussing a story that isn’t getting nearly the attention it deserves, that being the likely end of Hulk Hogan’s career, plus thoughts on a great WWE Title match on Raw and a STELLAR edition of Smackdown, Tough Enough airing on Mondays and Triple H is THE CHAPERONE! Oh yeah, and after a one week absence, the mailbag returns!

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SEScoops Mailbag for January 7th

(submit YOUR questions to sescoops@gmail.com)

Q: Despite all the controversy surrounding his last run, do you think there may be a possibility of bringing Mark Magnus (Muhammad Hassan) back to the WWE? – David Foster

A: If Mark Copani wanted to return to WWE, he’d have to work his way through developmental to get another shot. He made the most of his controversial character before UPN (the former home of Smackdown) ratcheted up the heat and forced his demise. He then chose to leave wrestling, move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in acting. As far as I know, he has no desire to return to wrestling at this time.

Q: When ECW started up again, it was full of big power players like RVD, Big Show, Kurt Angle and Chris Beniot. They later added Test, Kevin Thorn and Hardcore Holly, all of whom were getting big pushes. 1) What was the reason for Kurt leaving WWE? 2) What happened to Big Show after losing the title to Bobby Lashley at December to Dismember 2006? 3) If the Benoit tragedy didn’t occur, along with the releases of Van Dam, Sabu, Kurt and Show, would ECW have lasted a little longer? – Shane

A: Angle had failed at least one drug test and, physically and mentally, was an absolute mess at this point. Some of his WWE colleagues at that time would often speak of bewildering text messages they’d receive from Kurt, not unlike Chris Benoit in his final days. WWE thought he might die on their watch and granted his release, which he had asked for. In hindsight, it was the best thing that could of happened for the man. As for Big Show, his back was in really bad shape at the time and he was simply burned out and needed a break. When he returned in 2008, he had lost well over 100 pounds and was much healthier, in large part due to the boxing training he had been doing in preparation for a career that didn’t pan out. Lastly, the ECW experiment was doomed to fail the way it was executed by WWE. Perhaps if Benoit had not killed himself and ECW originals like RVD and Sabu were kept around it would have survived longer, but ultimately, SyFy didn’t like the ratings it was pulling and would have ended it anyway.

Q: I understand that during the invasion angle, WWE kept all WCW titles and afterwards the WCW Title became the World Heavyweight Title, but why did they only change the title name and not the design? Also, where is Gangrel these days? – Michael

A: Why would you want to change the design of the belt? It’s such a beautiful prop, as Vince Russo might say. In reality, I think it had more to do with what that design represented to many people (Ric Flair’s Big Gold Belt), which believe it or not, was still something of value and class. As for Gangrel, he still wrestles on the independent scene and, in 2007, he signed on to direct 12 films for New Porn Order. That’s a lot of porn.

Q: How long does AJ Styles have left on TNA contract? Do you ever see AJ Styles coming to WWE? – John Corona

A: I don’t know how much time Styles has left on his TNA deal, but I would be shocked if were to bolt for WWE. He was offered a developmental deal there many years ago and actually turned it down because he didn’t think his style would have meshed well with what they expected out of talent. I’d have to agree that he made the right move at the time. He’d likely make more money and would gain greater notoriety working on WWE television, but he seems happy in TNA and has been the backbone of that company from day one. As sad as this sounds, WWE probably wouldn’t know what to do with him.

Q: There is a rumor about the reason Randy Savage is never mentioned for the WWE Hall of Fame is because of alleged reports of him wanting to sleep with or having slept with a young Stephanie McMahon. Do you think this is true and what is your opinion about this situation? – Brianne In Lafayette, Louisiana

A: This story is so old, I’m starting to think the Egyptians started the rumor while they were building the pyramids, just to amuse themselves and kill time. No, I don’t believe this to be true. If I were Vince and believed this to be true, you would have found a Macho skull and various appendages floating in a river by now. Though he may not (yet) be in the Hall of Fame, it’s not as though Savage has been erased from history like Chris Benoit. His name is often mentioned on TV, he was recently included in the company’s list of top 50 all-time great performers and they even released a DVD of his matches this past year. Let’s put this shit to bed now, shall we?

Q: With John Cena injured, is his storyline with CM Punk compromised??? Will he be able to wrestle in time for WrestleMania??? Also, WWE show sales (PPVs) have decreased a lot since 2009. What might be the cause of this??? – Dashing Flint

A: John Cena will be fine for WrestleMania. In fact, he’ll be fine for the Royal Rumble, too. As for the reason for the decrease in PPV buys, take your pick. The rise of UFC, too many PPV shows, not enough time in between PPV shows to adequately promote them, turning your top play-by-play voice into a heel character when he is responsible for selling you on the shows, giving away the same matches for free the next night on Raw, charging too much money, the creation of gimmick PPV’s, too much comedy, etc. As you can see, there’s no one, singular reason.

Q: Why did WWE erase everything about Chris Benoit? He wasn’t mentioned in the Top 50 Superstars of All Time DVD, he wasn’t even mentioned in WWE.com’s top 10 submission specialists countdown and I can’t even click on his name to see which date he won a title. Just because he had issues in his life and murdered his family and himself doesn’t mean he wasn’t a great perfomer. He gave 5 star matches many times and should be considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. – Kreten Skrete

A: If you can’t click on his name on their title history pages, then I admit that’s rather ridiculous. Aside from that, I’m fine with WWE’s decision to exclude him from any lists or countdowns. You really thought they would include a man who murdered his WIFE and SON in their own countdown of the top 50 GREATEST wrestlers in history? A man who, from a public relations perspective, caused as much anguish and embarrassment for that company as he did? The man was great, no doubt, perhaps the best, but he’s poison now. He went and flushed his own legacy down the toilet. Vince McMahon did not do that. He did. It’s the same reason he’s never going into the Hall of Fame, nor should he. There are just some things in life you simply cannot ignore when it comes to separating the person from the performer. Karma is a bitch.

Q: Do you think that the Vince McMahon wants TNA to succeed to some extent? I mean he’s openly admitted that he LOVES competition. But do you think he’d give TNA a little bit of chance to succeed and actually compete with his product? – Fabian Robullozo

A: I really don’t think he does. Most times, when a TNA performer attains some level of success and jumps (or jumps back) to WWE, the manner in which they are then booked makes it almost seem like they are being punished for doing well there. So it’s not as though Vince wants guys to get over in TNA so he can bring them over and have a ready-made star to thrust into the main event. Plus, if he wanted TNA to succeed so much, he wouldn’t be so strict with those 90-day clauses he puts in everyone’s contract. If he could buy them tomorrow, raid some talent and retain rights to their copyrights and video library, he would do it without hesitation.

Q: How come in the 1990’s WWE said Chris Jericho was from Canada, but in the 2000’s they said he was from New York? – Brian

A: It was a Vince McMahon call. They were doing the same thing with Benoit around this time where they stopped billing him from Edmonton, Alberta and instead started billing him from his current hometown of Atlanta, GA. He didn’t want them billed from Canada because he thought it might affect their heat. Basically, it’s proof that Vince started losing his mind over a decade ago. These days, he just bans the use of the word “belt” and apparently hates the city of Wilkes Barre (on Raw last Monday, the wrestlers were instructed to say the name of the state – Pennsylvania – and not the city where John Cena suffered his injury against Wade Barrett).

Q: I’m watching TNA and wandering if Jeff Jarrett is so good at MMA, why does he not join UFC?? He would have a distinct advantage if he utilized his pro wrestling moves, like the Stroke, piledriver and suplex. – Eric Fuchs

A: Cocaine’s a hell of a drug.

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

Here are the quick results from last night’s ROH on HDNet:

-Eddie Edwards def. Mark Briscoe by submission in 12:18 with the Achilles Lock to retain the ROH World Television Title.

-Mike “The Giant Killer” Mondo def. Grizzly Redwood by pinfall in 5:41 with a superplex.

-The World’s Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas) def. The Bravado Brothers (Lance & Harlem Bravado) by submission in 2:54 when Charlie locked in the Haas of Pain on Lance.

-Homicide def. Claudio Castagnoli (w/Chris Hero & Sara Del Rey) by pinfall in 11:58 with an Ace Crusher.

Next week, ROH World Champion Roderick Strong battles Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana in the main event. Also, “The Prodigy” Mike Bennett will make his in-ring debut on HDNet.