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PWINSIDER Q&A: WWE MSG CLASSICS ON TV, WHY BOOKING ISN'T SIMPLE, TNA USING AN INTERPROMOTIONAL FEUD & MORE

This definitely cannot happen now, nor should it, but I have a hypothetical question. If TNA would have a sort of promotional feud, like the NWO and WCW, or the invasion in WWE, would it work? Lets say, with the current roster, they have Angle, Christian, The James Gang, Spike (top stars from the other promotion, feud with tope stars that TNA has built, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Daniels, Petey Williams, etc. I ask this because I still see these former WWE synergy stars as just that since they are fairly new to TNA, so I think the feud has potential for a long term run that of the NWO feud.

The only way a promotional feud would work is if TNA had a stronger following, which then led to some new faces coming in . Having names that have been part of the company for some time turning heel and suddenly being "outsiders" would be a lame idea that's been done to death. TNA needs to come off as a fresh, cutting edge company, not as one that's doing retreads of older angles, some of which have been recycled to death as it is.

What happened to WWE's MSG Classics show? Is it gone or is it coming back someday?

WWE Madison Square Garden Classics will return next year with a new slate of episodes. I am looking forward to that as it was one of the best wrestling shows all year.

Lance Storm recently wrote in his commentary "Give me some wrestlers I can care about, make me believe they don’t like each other, and then book them in a match so I can see them fight." Isn't this simple booking 101, yet WWE and TNA don't seem to do so? Your thoughts...

It is indeed simple booking 101, but at the same time, it's a lot easier to book in theory then it is in reality. There will always be politics involved, wrestlers who can't or won't work up to the level they are expected of, injuries, and performers/angles that just don't succeed as hoped. WWE and TNA can both be stronger in their creative efforts, but it's important to remember that at times, factors work against them as well.

In today's Q&A, the NWA was refered to as a "shell of its former self." While I agree that it is true, what exactly IS left of the NWA?

You have TNA, which licenses the rights to the championships. Beyond that, you have a small collection of independent promotions that pay for the rights to use the initials, hoping to give themselves some additional credibility. Sometimes it works, but the letters mean very little on a national basis in 2006, thus my comments.

What makes a gimmick successful?

If a gimmick gets over and sells tickets/PPVs/merchandise, it's a success in my eyes, even if diehard fans hate it.

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