TNA executive Eric Bischoff recently spoke with Wrestling101. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Scott Steiner’s recent Twitter rants:
“Scott is a 50-year-old man and is at a stage of his life where in his mind he is a much bigger star than in reality and he is having a hard time adjusting to that. It is sad to see, especially with people at one time you thought were friends become so bitter because their identities are so diluted in this wrestling character that they think it is their life.”
“I look at the WWE now and am so very impressed with what Vince McMahon and his family, staff and company have done.”
Working with Vince McMahon:
“I respect the hell out of Vince McMahon in a lot of ways and my only regret is that I didn’t have a chance to work more closely with him when I was in the WWE because I could have learned from him in a lot of ways.”
– WWE has big plans in store for Ryback, who has continuously steamrolled enhancement talent since debuting on SmackDown in April.
SuperLuchas.net reports Vince McMahon has notified creative to script Ryback as dominant as possible in future outings. The WWE Chairman is very high on the SmackDown Superstar as he feels he can be his company’s version of Bill Goldberg.
– Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Ahmed Johnson, who is now retired, resurfaced Saturday at a wrestling convention in Monroe, New Jersey. Now 41, the former WWE star appeared unrecognizable to some attendees as he has put on a great deal of weight during his time away from the spotlight. He has moved on from the industry as he returned to college following retirement and earned a degree in criminology from Huston–Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.
– Former WWE star Rob Conway is scheduled to compete in a NPC Bodybuilding contest on Saturday.
WWE has attempted to distance themselves from Chris Benoit since his career and life ended in a murder–suicide on June 24, 2007. With the exception of his results and listings in WWE.com’s title history (though summaries of his title reigns have been removed), and select content published when he was alive, he is generally not acknowledged by the sports entertainment organization. All mentions of Benoit have been removed from archived footage broadcast on WWE Classics On Demand whenever possible. Matches and other footage involving Benoit have appeared very sparingly on new video releases. Benoit was, however, listed in the first WWE Encyclopedia volume released in 2009, where his wrestling career up to where he lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Randy Orton in 2004 is detailed, along with title history. A second volume is scheduled for release this September and author Kevin Sullivan confirmed that Benoit is once again listed.
When asked via Twitter whether the new edition will have a Benoit section, Sullivan responded, “Yes, he does.”
Vince McMahon stated during a 2009 interview with WWE Magazine for “The Untold History of the WWE” issue that it is okay to acknowledge Benoit within a historical context but not in a promotional manner.
“It’s not right to pretend he didn’t exist,” he said when asked whether Benoit’s history can be acknowledged by WWE. “It’s one thing to include him as part of a historical perspective, which I believe is okay, and it’s another thing to promote him, which is not okay.
“The situation is very similar to that of O.J. Simpson—despite his controversy, O.J. was still a part of the NFL scene. You can’t deny that he existed.”
Over a three-day period ending on June 24, 2007. Benoit killed his wife, Nancy Benoit, strangled his seven-year-old son, Daniel, and subsequently committed suicide by hanging.
— Starship-Pained.com conducted a Q&A with John Morrison on Saturday at the Motor City Comic Con and the former WWE Superstar discussed working with Vince McMahon.
“It was great and interesting. He’s a wrestling genius. He has a phenomenal mind. He’s comical. However, what he wanted always conflicted with what I wanted, but he has a clear vision & he had confidence. It was really cool to be around him,” Morrison said.
Regarding being ECW Champion, he stated, “It was awesome. Think about all the history. RVD, Tommy Dreamer, Taz, the ECW Ballroom. It was the watered down WWE version of ECW but it was still an honor.”
Morrison also commented on future plans, CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, The Miz and more. The full interview is available here.
— Lex Luger has arrived to WWE.com as he is now featured in their Alumni section (link). The website says of The Total Package, “With his impressive physique and powerful abilities, Lex Luger became one of the most popular competitors of the 1990s. Check out Luger’s profile, photos and videos, the latest addition to the Alumni section!”
Former WWE creative team writer Dan Madigan appeared on the Review-a-Wai podcast with John Pollock and Wai Ting to commemorate the anniversary of MAY 19TH when WWE released See No Evil. The full review of the film and interview with Madigan is up on The LAW website and here is an excerpt from the chat regarding an idea Vince McMahon had for Kane’s character, Jacob Goodnight:
“I get a call from Gregory Dark, the director. He says, “We’ve got a little problem here.” This call is from Australia. I said, “What’s the problem?” He goes, “Vince has a suggestion about the movie.” I said, “Well, it’s his movie.” He goes, “Vince wants this scene in the movie where Kane’s character pulls out his penis, and he wants it to be three feet long.” I thought there was a connection problem, I said “Greg, can you just back up and repeat that last line for me?” He goes, “Yes, Vince wants Kane’s penis to be three feet long, and none of the producers are saying anything about it.” So I sat there, I go, “Oh, this is not good. This is not good. This is really not good.” In the right movie, that’s genius, that’s absolutely brilliant, but not for this movie.
“When the script was finally okayed, they brought someone else in to rewrite me. As a writer, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up; it’s an ego thing to be honest. So, they brought in someone to touch up my stuff. I read their version of my script, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t good. Every cliche that I purposely wanted to take out, they had put back in.”
Linda McMahon political opponent Christopher Shays bluntly argued this week that the former professional wrestling executive should not be running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate position for Connecticut because she is an unsuitable candidate. McMahon, whose background with WWE became an unflattering focus of her last campaign, was once again railed for her past ties to the professional wrestling organization.
In an interview with The New York Times, Shays listed “some of the more distasteful episodes” in the history of WWE, including husband Vince McMahon’s penchant for dropping his trousers and underwear in the middle of the ring and having wrestlers kiss his bare buttocks. It is known as the “Mr. McMahon Kiss My Ass Club.”
“You’re clearly not a social conservative when you do those things, and you’re clearly not a fiscal conservative when you spend $50 million so wastefully,” Shays says.
McMahon created the “Mr. McMahon Kiss My Ass Club” following the collapse of The Alliance in November 2001, which consisted of various WWE personalities being ordered to kiss his posterior under the threat of suspension or termination. Members of this exclusive club include William Regal, Jim Ross, Shawn Michaels, Shane McMahon, Mick Foley and Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle, however, did not actually kiss McMahon’s derriere, instead biting him. The WWE Chairman ruled Hornswoggle as an official club member since his lips came in contact with his backside.
The club even spawned its own online cartoon, “Mr. McMahon’s Kiss My Ass Club – The WWE’s Most Valuable Asset. The cartoon series, produced by Animax Entertainment, debuted on WWE.com in November 2006. The cartoon was later canceled as part of a settlement between WWE and Cartoon Network due to the show’s similarities with Cartoon Network program Assy McGee. If you haven’t seen the short-lived cartoon – here it is:
In part two of his MLW Radio appearance, which you can listen to here (MP3), Ultimate Warrior spoke about fighting Vince McMahon in court for years and spending over a million dollars in the process. Warrior also commented about the respect he developed for Vince after the long battle.
“It went on for almost five years and it was about to start trial. It was a Friday. Vince and Linda were there with their counsel, Jerry McDevitt, and I was there with my counsel. It had gone on for five years. There were 30,000 documents. There were 30 or 40 depositions that had been taken in all different places all over the country. There were 900 exhibits. It was incredible. I was already into it for a million dollars in paid legal fees.”
“I think [Vince] was surprised as time went on. In those kinds of things, Vince has the money to throw at them all day long. He doesn’t really sit and think about the consequence. He just doesn’t. It was different for me because I was so close to it and it just kept dragging on and on. Vince is stubborn. Both Linda and others in their depositions under oath said the problem between me and Vince was that we were so much alike.”
“At the end of the day, after all the fighting and everything, I respect Vince more than anybody else. The writing is on the wall while you’re there. All the guys that are bitter about where they ended up in their lives, that wasn’t Vince’s responsibility. Vince’s loyalty was to his company, himself and his family. He wasn’t going to let anybody stand in the way and even though outsiders can see some of the things he did as vicious, I happen to admire that.”
Part two of Ultimate Warrior on MLW Radio with Mister Saint Laurent is available on MLW.com, iTunes and syndicated by Stitcher.com.
– According to ABC News, WWE CEO Vince McMahon has donated $2,500 to U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
– THQ announced yesterday that Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, Edge, Eddie Guerrero and Curt Hennig have been added to the WrestleFest mobile game. A new RAW is WAR arena has also been added.
– WWE’s website has a new article up with SmackDown’s Damien Sandow, looking at the top 10 ignoramuses in WWE history. He listed Steve Austin, Mankind, Santino Marella, Ultimate Warrior, Zack Ryder, Dusty Rhodes, Brodus Clay, Brooklyn Brawler, Booker T and CM Punk.
– The latest episode of WWE’s Outside of the Ring features Mark Henry visiting the Arnold Schwarzenegger museum in Austria. Henry was not at last weekend’s RAW live events or this week’s RAW & SmackDown TV tapings, so he was apparently overseas:
— With Linda McMahon running for Senate in Connecticut this year, Vince McMahon is once again contemplating a second “Stand Up for WWE” campaign to refute all the negative media coverage he expects his sports entertainment organization to receive.
The WWE CEO has told people that the company will be more aggressive toward the persecution from “the liberal media” given what is expected to occur once the Senate race heats up. An individual close to the matter said that if Linda doesn’t perform well in the campaign, the organization will be very outspoken.
— WWE developmental wrestler Kassius Ohno is currently sidelined due to a cervical sprain. The injury occurred at the April 26 Florida Championship Wrestling television tapings in Tampa, Florida when Antonio Cesaro attempted a twisting dive maneuver onto numerous wrestlers but fell short and on top of Ohno’s head. He finished the match but he was taken to a local hospital for X-rays.
— Mike Shaw, who performed as Norman the Lunatic for World Championship Wrestling and Bastion Booger for the World Wrestling Federation, would have turned fifty-five years old on Wednesday. He died of a heart attack on September 11, 2010.
– Vince McMahon was reportedly encouraged by YouTube viewing numbers for the United States Championship Match between Santino Marella and The Miz before Extreme Rules. He felt with more promotion the numbers could be even higher.
– Ezekiel Jackson responded to a Twitter user relaying an online rumor that misbehavior backstage resulted in WWE abandoning plans to push the SmackDown Superstar again. He wrote, “Wow, and u witnessed this? Or rumours?”
– The May 5 episode of A.M. Raw garnered a 0.61 cable rating, with 723,000 viewers.
(Sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, PWInsider)
During a recent interview with Mister Saint Laurent of MLW.com, the Ultimate Warrior talks about Vince McMahon firing him and British Bulldog back in 1992 during the federal steroid investigation. Vince McMahon claimed that Warrior and Davey Boy Smith were released for failing WWE drug tests, but Warrior says that is a complete lie.
“Vince was feeling the heat from the federal investigation in what ultimately became an indictment over the steroid thing,” said Warrior. “It’s another one of those instances where he did what he had to do to protect his foremost interest, which was himself and his business. He made the claim that me and Davey Boy, Davey Boy got let go at the same time, that we had violated the drug policy at the time, which wasn’t true.”
Warrior added that the doctor in charge of WWE’s drug testing policy testified under oath that Warrior was not fired due to failing a drug test:
“We deposed Dr. Di Pasquale, who was in charge [of the drug policy]. We went to Canada and deposed him as part of the litigation and he said it wasn’t true. He was the guy that had the absolute authority in the program to decide who should be let go or if there was a different way of evaluating something. If they saw something on a wellness program test or something, it was up to him. He said he was totally shocked and surprised when Vince let me go and fired me. He never got a reason.”
– WWE CEO Vince McMahon has been furious with the staff of WWE.com and there’s a good chance WWE’s upcoming releases will include several members of the website staff.
Aside from soft website traffic, Vince could not believe that nobody from the WWE.com staff was at the WrestleMania 29 press conference several weeks ago when Vince met with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
– Vince McMahon also recently told his live events coordinators that there are to be more planning and rehearsals done for the shows. He also wants writers and producers to communicate more.
As hands-on as Vince already is with WWE events, a source in WWE said that televised and live events will be even more rigidly scripted moving forward.
AAA matchmaker Konnan has launched his new weekly podcast, MLW’s Konnan Show presented by Masked Republic’s LuchaShop.com. A variety of topics were discussed this week and Konnan even had some surprise callers, including AAA star Teddy Hart. Konnan had previously appeared on MLW Radio and told a story about how Kurt Angle had claimed to him that Vince McMahon mails flowers to Angle every week with a note asking Angle to return to WWE. Kurt Angle recently responded on Twitter and accused Konnan of lying. Konnan had this to say about Angle’s twitter rant:
“All I can say is that it did happen. Obviously, when people are embarrassed or don’t remember, they’re going to refute it. If we can get him on the show one day, I’ll say it to him over the phone. There’s no problem. He did tell me that. He said, ‘Yeah man, Vince McMahon sends me flowers every week hoping for me to come back.’ I was just thinking to myself, yeah right.”
You can listen to MLW’s Konnan Show for FREE at MLW.com, on iTunes (search: KONNAN SHOW), and syndicated via Stitcher.com. Other topics include Konnan’s thoughts on the fake Konnan Twitter account, Andre the Giant and Yokozuna wrestling in Mexico, what wrestling companies can learn from successful companies like Nike and more.
WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff appeared on Inside The Ropes on Thursday night and slammed Bret Hart, Ric Flair and Ultimate Warrior (audio available here) . Highlights are are as follows:
Facing Ric Flair in 1982 for NWA World Championship: “He was just another body. Some are better than others. I believed in making it look real. I was probably hard to work with because I wanted it to make real and I knew how to wrestle.”
Experience of working at the first WrestleMania in the main event: “It was special. There were so many people. It was the largest crowd to ever watch it. And then the pay per view of it was just ungodly. This was my opportunity to be really noticed and be seen. My paycheck….it was huge. I made more money in that 30 minutes than I did in a whole year with the NWA. People expected it and they were gonna get it from me.”
Working with Mr. T in the main event of WrestleMania: “I wasn’t crazy about it. I was very protective WrestleMania 1of the business. I was taught that. You take care of it. You don’t give out all your trade secrets. But then again you look at somebody like Ric Flair and you can say how can you hide something when they look like that? So I guess I started to give in a little bit.”
Transition in WWF from wrestling to entertainment in mid 80’s: “It depends on your personality. I protected it. To me that wasn’t protecting it. As you can see right now, because they didn’t protect it, where it is now, there’s only two shows now. Look how many there was, there was one in every state, now look where it is.”
On Vince McMahon using guys like Ultimate Warrior, more about the body: “I thought it was the worst move they could’ve made. Vince did it on purpose. He did it so he could be the only one.”
On Ultimate Warrior: “He never paid his dues. You gotta pay your dues, go and learn your trade that’ll make it better when you are on that big stage. It’s called experience and nobody has any now, because there’s nowhere to go to get it.”
Right decision on giving belt to smaller stars like Randy Savage and Bret Hart?: “No. Absolutely not. It’s like putting the belt on someone who wants to be a wrestler. It didn’t work. It downgraded, made the belt worthless. When Terry Funk, Harley Race had world titles, it meant more.”
Opinion on long rumur that Hogan wouldn’t drop the belt to Bret Hart in 1993…: “I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t have either. Bret Hart was a nobody from Canada and Hogan was the greatest star in wrestling. I don’t blame him. He did the right thing.”
Quick Fire Thoughts
Ultimate Warrior: “I gotta go to the bathroom………………..NEXT!”
– Vince McMahon is said to be a huge fan of Eve Torres, which is the reason she was promoted on RAW as the new Executive Administrator to General Manager John Laurinaitis. Eve has been one of his favorite Divas for a long time.
– Josh Mathews is in “stable condition” after he was attacked by Brock Lesnar on RAW. WWE’s Dr. Michael Sampson was interviewed by the company website and said Matthews is going to be undergoing an MRI this week:
“When [Josh] was thrown through the set, he did land and twisted his neck, and he’s experiencing some neck stiffness, tightness. [We want] to make sure there’s no other serious damage other than just a neck sprain, which is a good sign.”
– Rosa Mendes tweeted the following after RAW about tag team champions Primo and Epico not getting the respect they deserve:
“Lots of action on #Raw tonight, we still aren’t getting the RESPECT we deserve! We are tag team champs para Siempre!”
On RAW, Abraham Washington confronted the tag champs backstage and expressed the same frustration to the champs and tried convincing them to let him represent them.
– WWE announced this week that they will report their First Quarter 2012 financial results on May 3rd. WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon will host a conference call on 5/3 at 11am (Eastern) to discuss the results.
Considering the fact that WWE’s stock hit its 9-year low this week, it will be interesting to see how Vince assures investors that WWE is still a company worth investing in.
– Several fans who have attended live WWE events this week in Europe have reported that WWE officials have asked the audience to stop chanting “YES!”
– Following his storyline departure from NXT this week, Tyler Reks tweeted the following:
“1st @TheCurtHawkins turns on me. Then that piece of crap @RealKingRegal fires me from NXT. Well, here’s a middle finger to all y’all.”
The Wrestling Observer reported Thursday that morale is low among members of WWE’s creative team after many of the were not invited to the annual post-WrestleMania party Sunday night in Miami, Florida. The report says the party snubs “hurt a lot of feelings.” There is an account on Twitter parodying company head Vince McMahon’s real-life demeanor (located at CrankyVince) and several messages were posted Tuesday night foreshadowing the behind the scenes report. The individual behind the account wrote:
“EAVESDROPPING ON WRITERS, WHO ARE B******G ABOUT BEING BARRED FROM POST #WRESTLEMANIA™ COMPANY WIDE PARTY. HMPF, THE VIRGINS ARE A BUZZKILL.”
“OUTSIDE WRITERS ROOM, STILL LISTENING TO THIS FAST-TALKING L.A. RUNT B***H ABOUT NOT BEING WELCOMED AT THE #WRESTLEMANIA AFTER PARTY. F****R.”
“AND F**K THESE DISPOSABLE WRITERS FOR B******G ABOUT MY G*****N #WRESTLEMANIA AFTER PARTY. EAT ME, THEN GO F**K YOURSELVES. F**K YOU.”
“YELLING AT WRITERS: “IF ANOTHER ONE OF YOU SORE P*****S CRIES ABOUT NOT BEING WELCOMED AT THE #WRESTLEMANIA AFTER PARTY I’LL GUT YOU.”
“GETTING OUT OF ORLANDO, FAR AWAY FROM THIS HUMIDITY & P***Y WRITERS & THEIR B******G ABOUT NOT BEING INVITED TO THE WRESTLEMANIA AFTER PARTY.”
— Figure Four Weekly writer Bryan Alvarez stated Friday afternoon on Twitter that a ‘big name’ is in Miami, Florida for this weekend’s WrestleMania XXVIII festivities.
“So there is a big name here in Miami this weekend. #WrestleMania,” he wrote.
— From Mr. T teaming up with Hulk Hogan to Donald Trump shaving Vince McMahon’s head, WWE.com remembers the ten biggest guest celebrities to appear at WrestleMania. The feature is available here.
— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Power Slam.
— WrestlingFigs.com reports Nitro Girl Spice has been added to WrestleReunion 8, which takes place April 13-15 at the Doubletree Toronto Airport 655 Dixon Rd. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
John Cena sat down with Brian Soscia of The Soscia Network for a Q&A session with fans. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
Who is left if he defeats The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII: “Honestly, this is what I like about April 1, you have a definitive number one being decided. I think at that point it is anybody’s game to try to take somebody off the mountain. We’re at a period in WWE, WrestleMania is truly the end of an era. Triple H vs. Undertaker, Shawn Michaels is a special referee, John Cena vs. The Rock. One of those names, one of those names is a full-time employee for this company and you’re looking at him.
“So I think WrestleMania is a platform, as it always is, for new Superstars – Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, C.M. Punk, Cody Rhodes, Team Laurinaitis, Team Teddy Long. Anyone can step up. I’m going to be there on the top of the mountain with my fists up waiting for someone to challenge me. I think everybody is going to watch WrestleMania and enjoy it, but I think everyone behind the curtain, behind the wall that I’m not supposed to talk about, is going to be watching as hungry as they can be knowing that they want to face the winner of that match.”
Advice to younger wrestlers: “Never give up. Back in 2003, 2002, when I was just wearing boots and tights and I was supposed to be the ruthless aggression young good guy, nobody in the company liked me. I know Vince McMahon won’t admit this, but he wanted me fired, Triple H wanted me fired, everybody hated me. They just wouldn’t give me a forum to showcase my talents. I’ve always been able to connect with the audience if given the ability to speak.
“I got that ability and I was off to the races. I was up against all odds. I wasn’t born into this business. I’m not a third generation guy or a second generation guy. I’m just a dude who grew up a fan like all you guys and I wanted to do this my whole life. And I never gave up. That’s the advice I give to all the young cats, all the guys who have been trying and trying, trying to make it, attempt after attempt. I’ve failed many times, but you never ever give up.”
— On Monday’s RAW, WWE ran an angle where CM Punk finally snapped as a result of Chris Jericho’s taunting and delivered a devastating beatdown on Christian. It was announced during RAW that Christian was injured and “was medically ruled out” of the Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Long match at WrestleMania 28. WWE.com is reporting that Christian re-aggravated his neck injury and cannot compete this Sunday.
No word yet on whether Christian is legitimately injured, but the fact that he’s been pulled from WrestleMania just days before the show is an indication he is indeed injured.
Drew McIntyre will replace Christian on Team Laurinaitis.
— Vince McMahon is said to be “fired up” as WrestleMania 28 approaches this weekend.
McMahon apparently made several revisions to the RAW script on Monday and has not been indecisive at all. One source backstage described him as “energetic.”
Vince also apparently struck up several random meetings with talent backstage to talk about their storylines, which is unlike him.
— Today marks the eleven year anniversary of the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro. The show began with Vince McMahon appearing via satellite from Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the site of that evening’s Raw is War broadcast on TNN, announcing that he had purchased World Championship Wrestling. The show ended with a simulcast on Raw with an appearance by Shane McMahon on Nitro as he interrupted his father’s gloating over the purchase to explain that he actually owned WCW.
WWE has posted several clips from the episode including Ric Flair’s emotional WCW farewell speech, Booker T vs. Scott Steiner: in a Title vs. Title Match, Shane Helms vs. Chavo Guerrero in a Cruiserweight Title Match, Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo vs. Lance Storm and Mike Awesome, Shawn Stasiak vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, Vince McMahon firing Jeff Jarrett, Sting vs. Ric Flair and Shane McMahon saying he bought WCW.
— Kelly Kelly says “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson is her favorite ’80s Superstar. She says of the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame inductee to WWE Magazine in an interview, “I admire everything he accomplished in the ring. He was the greatest bad guy ever.”
She also reveals the best thing about being on the road as a WWE Diva: “Traveling with the girls. We have a lot fun getting in trouble together.”
— Multiple sources have confirmed to the Pro Wrestling Torch that there is legitimate tension between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena, which reflects in their war of words. Furthermore, Vince McMahon is doing nothing to stop it as he and those in upper management love the conflict.
As in the past, McMahon enjoys seeing top stars challenge other. He feels the audience will sense real friction between two wrestlers, thus furthering interest in the match he’s trying to sell. In the case of Johnson and Cena, the top circle likes that fans are sensing their friction and believing that they may legitimately come to blows at WrestleMania XXVIII.
— WREG-TV in Memphis, Tennessee profiled “The Ugandan Giant” Kamala on his career and health issues. After having is leg amputated late last year, the legendary wrestler now uses a wheelchair and is learning to use a prosthetic leg. However, he doesn’t want his fans to feel sorry for him.
“Don’t think of me as oh, please help me. I want them to think of me as uplifting,” he says. “That’s the way I want them to think of me.”
Kamala also discusses his character and pay discrepancies with his WWF opponents. The video piece is available here.
Boris Zhukov appeared on World Wrestling Insanity with James Guttman (interview available at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com via ClubWWI).
Boris Zhukov wins the award for the most unexpected voice from a ClubWWI.com guest. A good ol’ boy, Boris talks to James Guttman about his talent for doing impressions and changing his voice. The difference is so startling that JG asks if there was ever a consideration to work an angle with Zhukov suddenly speaking with his southern drawl. Unfortunately, WWF never did that and no other company ever had the chance. Why? Because when Boris left full time wrestling with WWF, he had no options left. For some reason, Vince McMahon saw to that.
“Full time duty I pretty much left in ’91 because I was training to be a truck driver in January of ’92. When I left Vince and stuff, I was never able to go to WCW because he never would release me out of my contract. I couldn’t even go over and do jobs in WCW back in the day. Dusty couldn’t use me at all.”
James responds with a “Wow.” As the ClubWWI.com interview continues, Boris explains that Dusty Rhodes had said he would use him, but never was able to…and it was all because McMahon had a spot in mind for Zhukov on WWF’s roster.
“After I officially left and everything, Vince kept trying to bring me back just to do jobs on TV. I said, ‘No. I’m done.’ I started doing independent shows. But he made it hard for me. Even when I worked for Universal Wrestling or whatever, they couldn’t even put me on TV. I couldn’t even get booked on WCW to do jobs.
“They wouldn’t use me at all and the territories at the time were quickly dropping out of sight. The only one left was Portland and I had no desire to move to Portland because it was all dying out anyway. I saw that happening when I was with Vince. Vince told us at a meeting one time that the territories were going and we pretty much just had to work for him. We didn’t have any place else to go and that’s pretty much what his whole goal was.”
Guttman tells Boris that this situation seems to come up a lot, especially with some tag team guys from his time period. One second, Vince was friendly and the next he was battling you. As JG points out, it didn’t sound like Zhukov had any heat with WWF but was being treated like he did. Boris explains to ClubWWI.com members that all seemed to be going well until he had to return and serve as a sub for an injured star.
“Well, he talked to me about leaving, you know. It came up after the run with Nikolai. (Nikolai turned babyface) when Reagan did the thing with ‘tear down the wall’ with Gorbachev and all that happened. There was pretty much nothing he could do with me. He told me I’d be finishing up and he got me booked in Japan and all that and pretty much gave me my notice. After we all that was worked out, I remember Macho Man had got hurt. He was in an angle with Jim Duggan.
“So Macho Man got hurt and he brought me in to take his place. I had a little run with Duggan until Macho Man came back. Then he just wanted me to come back and start doing jobs on TV because he started offering to pay for my rental car and hotel room and I knew exactly what that was. I said, ‘I ain’t doing that.’ They said, ‘Where else you gonna go?’ I said, ‘I’ll do something else for a living.’ I learned that when I first went to Atlanta and got started, old timers said, ‘Be ready for when you have to get out.’ Baron Von Raschke said to me, ‘Jim, there’s a day you get in, but there’s a day you have to leave. You have to have something else to do on the side.'”
Pro Wrestling Torch reports Mark Henry may be on his way out of WWE.
On the December 12, 2011 episode of Raw, Henry pulled his groin during a match against John Cena. Testing done during the week revealed that the injury was more severe than was originally believed. The majority of WWE’s creative forces wanted to give him an easier schedule for a few weeks to let the injury heal. Vince McMahon, however, was described as being less than sympathetic to Henry’s plight and decided to have him lose the World Heavyweight Championship to Big Show the following week at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. McMahon didn’t think Henry should have taken time off to heal and pushed him to continue making his scheduled dates. This has led to frustration on Henry’s part.
Henry’s contract with WWE is set to expire this year and the Torch says that tension could have led Henry to not renew, thus explaining why he’s losing the majority of his television matches.
With WrestleMania 28 just weeks away, WWE is taking extra precautions to make sure the main event match that’s been almost a year in the making is not jeopardized due to an injury.
WWE has seen a slew of recent injuries to top stars, including Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Alberto Del Rio, Christian, Sin Cara and Wade Barrett, with several others including R-Truth and Dolph Ziggler having scary close calls.
According to a report at WrestleZone.com, WWE chairman Vince McMahon has instructed any talent that works with Cena to be very careful in the ring and not to take any “unneeded” risks.
WWE has millions of dollars at stake with the big John Cena vs. The Rock match and an injury would be absolutely devastating.
The Rock won’t be wrestling any matches between now and WrestleMania.