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PWINSIDER Q&A: NOSTALGIA, CHRIS BENOIT'S TOOTH, TNA VS. WWE, IRONMAN MATCHES AND MORE

Answered on 10/20

If WWE wants to bring nostalgia acts into their product, shouldn't they go for something that will generate fan interest and therefore, generate dollars for them? Jim Duggan has a ton of charisma and talent but in 2006, he's just a cheap pop. Sensational Sherri made a cameo last year and my God, the woman hadn't been with the company in 12 years but her screaming in an ankle lock for 20 seconds was far more "real" and compelling to me than hearing 10 "HOOOO's" during a 5 minute Duggan match today. That's the kind of nostalgia they should be utilizing. Besides, the nostalgia they're drawing from is from 15 years ago. That's my fan base! Don't they know that THAT fan base expects a quality product considering the product 15 years ago was actually good? During the Orton/Undertaker feud prior to WrestleMania 21, Jake Roberts showed up on RAW. He looked like hell, but his promo gave me chills. Half of today's roster is so green, they belong on local access cable wresting programs, not in the Big Time (and that's WWE's fault). If I were Vince McMahon, I'd be using Ted DiBiase, Dusty Rhodes, and Sherri on TV, not as stars, but as managers or spokespersons for the guys that shouldn't be talking. I would also have any of those 3 plus Jake Roberts, Steamboat, Foley, or Terry Funk either on the creative team or, more importantly, teaching new wrestlers how to do effective promos. It just seems to me there is so much talent that is available (even already under WWE contract!) and while DiBiase, Steamboat, and Rhodes are being used in one capacity...they and the others I named should be juiced dry of their FULL capacity by WWE in my opinion and it's sad that they're not. Your thoughts?

Nostalgia is a funny thing.  In some cases, it draws (Hulk Hogan), in other cases it sells T-Shirts (DX) and in other cases, no one cares (Tatanka).  Wrestling has always borrowed from the past and revisited things in an attempt to milk some more money out of them.  At the same time, many fans feel the past needs to be left alone, and that bringing back past stars and concepts just end up tarnishing the memories that you have of the "glory days". 

What do you think the chances are of the WWE ever doing another 60 minute Iron Man Match and what current wrestler's do you think could pull off a match worth watching for that length of time?

Honestly, I don't see it happening anytime soon.  WWE has only gone down that road a few times (Rock vs. HHH, Angle vs. Michaels, Angle vs. Lesnar) and it has never been a resounding ratings success.  As for current wrestlers in WWE that could pull it off, I would say Chris Benoit and CM Punk would be the two most obvious picks, as they have shown that they have the stamina to pull it off successfully. 

If you could make a match between any current WWE and TNA wrestler, who would you most like to see have a match? 

Just off the top of my head, I'd like to see Samoa Joe vs. Chris Benoit or Christopher Daniels vs. Shawn Michaels. 

With all the talk of 5 star matches, has there ever been a 5 star tag team match and if not what is the highest rated tag team match of all time?

Star ratings is just a method that fans use to rate wrestling matches, and it is totally subjective.  Yes, there have been tag team matches that some fans will say were "Five Star" bouts, but that is just their opinion.  There's no scientific basis for the ratings.  I could tell you that Dory & Terry Funk vs. Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka is a ten star match, but it really is just my opinion. 

How and when did Chris Benoit loose his tooth?

Despite all the stories that it happened while training or in the ring, the actual story is that it got knocked out when Benoit's pet Rottweiler knocked it's head into Benoit's chin. Benoit's father tells the story as a hidden extra on Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story.

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