SEScoops Mailbag for February 4th
Got a Question? Submit it with your name to: SEScoops@gmail.com
Q: With Rock’s current contract limitations, and the fact they’re just using him for another big payday at WrestleMania after which he will be gone promoting movies, could he be considered a paper champion? – Ernesto
A: If your definition of a paper champion is more of a transitional champion, then yes. Rock is only expected to be champion for a limited period of time and get the title back onto John Cena. However, if by paper champion you mean someone who is not deserving of the title or someone who lacks respect, then I disagree. Of course, it’s silly to even use such a phrase in pro wrestling because no one ever really “wins” a title.
Q: I was watching Armageddon 2005 and was wondering what the deal was with the Tim White suicide storyline? – Tom B.
A: Just some dumb fun to amuse the writers, or Vince himself I would imagine. Tim White was forced to retire from officiating because of a chronic shoulder injury and they just wanted to give him something to do. Was it in poor taste? You bet. Suicide isn’t something to make light of (especially in the wrestling business). But for what it was, I actually thought he and Josh Mathews were pretty funny in those skits.
Q: If you can, go back and watch the Royal Rumble match between The Rock and CM Punk around the end. I notice at times you can catch the wrestlers calling out spots and it looks to me like MAYBE CM Punk was supposed to kick out [after the People’s Elbow]. Of course, it’s hard to tell exactly what is being said, but what do you think? Do you think CM Punk was supposed to kick out, but decided not to? – Avery T.
A: I’ve heard nothing to suggest the finish was anything other than what they had planned. If you watch some of Rock’s matches, he has a tendency to say something to his opponent before he covers them for the finish. I can’t make out what it is, but I’ve seen him do it before. CM Punk did not change the finish on the fly. Perhaps he should have though because using a Rockbottom would have been more effective in ending a 434 day title reign than a simple People’s Elbow.
Q: How do you think CM Punk is really feeling about the possibly of missing out on the WrestleMania main event again? The man was champion for well over a year and once again, it’s looking like “Dwayne” and Cena will headline the event. To me, it’s an odd equation because you could argue that Punk wouldn’t have been champion for nearly as long as he did without the Rock match set in stone for the Rumble. I really think the only thing that would match the Cena/Rock main event would be a Punk/Austin match, which won’t happen. But, if I was Punk, I’d feel like I’d taken a nice girl out for a date, got her back to her place, gone upstairs, gotten in her bed, [only for her to turn around and tell me to] go f*ck myself. – Jake from the U.K.
A: If you’ve watched his DVD, I’m sure he’s not thrilled about it. At the same time, he’ll still be featured in a prominent role and will make a ton of money. Hard to feel too badly for anyone like that. Who knows, if Undertaker bows out of the show this year, Punk may yet end up in the main event after all.
Q: CM Punk commented on the January 7th Raw that Daniel Bryan had been reduced from being a dangerous man to a guy that needs a catchphrase to get over. From a mega-mark’s point of view, that’s true. But it’s also not the worst thing in the world. Take a look at Kurt Angle. Angle was a goofball the first 2 1/2 years of his WWE career. Then Vince McMahon wanted him to go bald and be more serious; and while Angle still had goofball moments and the “You suck” chants, he was a no nonsense “Wrestling Machine” until he left for TNA in 2006. That could still happen for Daniel Bryan down the line. The bottom line is that after Bryan won the U.S. title, he became boring and vanilla. If he didn’t run with the popularity of “Yes!” after WrestleMania, he’d be nowhere. He’s got to be a goofball now for his long-term survival. – Cliff
A: You’re right, it’s not the worst thing in a world. He has a role on the show and is over with the audience. But I disagree that he *has* to be a goofball now to ensure his long-term survival. If he dropped his shtick tomorrow, shaved the beard and went all serious, he would be just fine. The man is talented enough to make either role work. The comedy stuff is fine for now, but at some point, it gets old.
Q: Do you remember back in the 90’s when Tammy Sytch gave Elmo a “Sunny day” in that skit on Shotgun? I can’t remember if they showed it here across the Atlantic or not and it was only brought to my attention during an interview I listened to on YouTube. She swapped a Tickle-Me Elmo for a Fondle-Me Elmo! – Andrel from Northampton, England
A: Thank you for the lovely visual.
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