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PWINSIDER Q&A: DOUBTING ANGLE'S MMA ASPIRATIONS, THE HULK MACHINE, RUBBER MATCHES AND MORE

I read on your history column that Hogan fought as the Hulk Machine in the mid 80's. Why was this? Wasnt he WWE Champion and Hulkamania running wild at the time?

Yes, but he worked a few tag matches as "Hulk Machine" playing off the Machines tag team as a house show gimmick. They never hid it was Hogan. I am pretty sure Roddy Piper did some house shows as the "Piper Machine" as well.

Why does ECW in Canada have such a late timeslot?

That was the best deal WWE could get for the brand at this time.

You only half answered the question so I'll ask it again. Where does the phrase rubber match come from and if it started in boxing what does it mean? Is rubber match an abbreviated way of referring to the third match in a feud where each wrestle has won one pin fall?

Yes, you answered your own question. The slang term denotes the tie-breaking encounter, usually the third after each side has won a previous bout. The actual history of the term dates back to the 16th century although whatever sport it was originally used in description of has been lost to the passage of time.

Why on earth would anyone have doubts about Kurt Angle succeeding in the world of Mixed Martial Arts? Kurt Angle was an NCAA champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and the best home grown talent the WWE ever produced. He has achieved the highest accolades in every single thing he has done, so it really makes me wonder why anyone would doubt his abilities to achieve the same level of success in MMA. Kurt has done all of the before mentioned feats while injured, why would this be any different?

There are a number of factors. His age and physical well being are obviously the most easy to point out, but there's also the factor of how talented and dangerous most of the top flight MMA fighters are at this point. Does anyone truly believe Angle could defeat Tito Ortiz or Chuck Liddell? It seems to be too good to be true. I think most fans who are doubting Angle are also hoping that he realizes that this likely isn't something that can be good for his long term health. There's a reason why he didn't step back into the Olympics when he wanted to a few years ago, and those wrestlers won't punch you in the face looking for a submission.

Do you think WWE will have an Austin or Rock DVD?

They've already released several DVDs on both Austin and The Rock, which you can find at our good friends over at www.Highspots.com. As far as new titles, I haven't heard of any in the pipeline, but one would think they could always do something down the line.

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