MAILBAG: Was Sting The Cloaked Figure In The 2.21.11 Video?

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!