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PWINSIDER Q&A: HOW TNA CONTROLS THE NWA TITLES, WHY JOHN CENA WON'T BE TURNED HEEL, RIOTS IN WRESTLING, THE ATOMIC NOOGIE & MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2006-09-19 10:00:00

I've got a multiple part Unforgiven question. First, I heard that the Cell was different, and some even knew that nothing was going to happen on top of the cell. What was so different about it? Was the top rounded like the Elimination Chamber? Also, it was said that the cell was a "full person" bigger than the last, and is now 20 Feet tall. But correct me if I'm wrong, but when Mankind was thrown off of the Cell and through the table, doesn't WWE always say that it was a 20 foot fall? Have they changed the cell throughout the years.

It was just a marketing thing done to differentiate the Cell as well as give a storyline reason that prevented them from going to the top. As for the 20 foot deal, WWE has always routinely overestimated heights, sizes, etc. to make things seem more impressive than they actually are. That's pure promotional hype.

After reading the reports of the Canadian crowd at Unforgiven. Also with the recent rebirth of ECW. Do you know of a time a crowd ever rioted or flooded the ring in anger? Also if not do you think a crowd or select members of the crowd would ever do so?

There have been riots a number of times in professional wrestling, including a famous one in Madison Square Garden on 11/19/57 following Argentina Rocca & Eduord Carpentier beating Dick the Bruiser and Dr. Jerry Graham which led to $2,600 in fines (which was a lot of money back then), a November show being canceled and the State of New York actually coming close to banning pro wrestling. There have been unruly incidents and crowds throughout every territory. I think today, we see less of it because audiences go more to enjoy then to "believe and cheer their heroes" the way someone would live or die by their sports teams.

I know TNA was a part of NWA when it started, but after that my question is, how exactly did TNA acquire the rights to the NWA world and tag team titles. What processes did they have to go through?

TNA negotiated a price for control of the belts and signed a contractual agreement. I believe there is even a clause that after a certain number of years, they would have the option to purchase the NWA outright, although I don't believe it would be in their best interest as their brand is and should be TNA...and having the NWA name pushed hard only muddies things.

I have a Cena question. I'm one of those people who thinks Cena is a waste of my time. But as I take a look back, while his in ring performance leaves something to be desired, he has done a lot as far as trying to get himself over, for example most recently putting on a decent TLC match. My question is being that they can't seem to get this guy over one way or the other, why not take a heel turn? I was a big on him when he was a heel and just rapped. I mean it would make sense since they are trying to get ECW going to send him over there as the biggest heel ever since they all hate his guts anyway right?

They have no interest in turning John Cena heel because he is one of the top merchandise sellers for the company and brings them a demographic they want, young females, to their TV and live events. I think Cena not getting over is because guys hate him when women cheer, there are guys who see his limited style and reject him, and there are those who just don't like him. As time has gone on, I've seen that slowly go away and it's impossible to deny how hard Cena has worked, carried himself, and grown. He's a legitimate star, not an attempt to force one upon the audience.

The other day you mentioned a move called "The Atomic Noogie" in reference to unbelievable submissions. Please tell me that you being sarcastic with this and no one's ever used this as a finish.

Sgt. Slaughter did indeed use a noogie as a finisher during his heel run as an Iraqi sympathizer in 1990 and 1991.

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