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PWINSIDER Q & A: TNA FIGHTING WWE, ARN ANDERSON, FLAIR ON HIATUS, TAKER THE ULTIMATE PRO, HEELING A PROMOTION AFTER A WRESTLER LEAVES AND MORE

When wrestlers in one company do things to humiliate another company on TV, most recently being Rhino's actions w/ the ECW title and VKM's ongoing skits, it obviously jeopardizes their chances of being hired by that other company in the future. If these guys decline to participate in the angles, do you think management be understanding or would they be punished?

Generally, guys tend to agree to do those kinds of angles because they don't see there being much, if any, chance that they will go back to the company that they have left.  They also often do them because they have issues with where they left, so returning isn't something that they are thinking about when they heel those companies.  In essence, they do the angles because they want to.  I can't remember ever hearing of someone being forced to do an angle like that.  I think if someone were asked and turned it down, they wouldn't have any obvious heat but I also don't think that the respective creative group would be in any hurry to get them into a different storyline.

Why has TNA increased taking shots at the WWE? Is it because of Vince Russo? It seems a bit pathetic to me, with the whole VKM thing and now Killings 'calling out' Cena. And is there a hatred for WWE among TNA wrestlers? I always seemed to get the impression they saw WWE as something 'evil'.

The whole storyline screams Russo to me, yes.  But you have to remember that TNA management has the final say and they are doing it.  Personally, I am of the opinion that TNA would be better served pushing their own strengths and not pointing out to people that they are number two and WWE is number one.  TNA has so many positives going for it that I feel that they should promote those things and never mention WWE at all, just as WWE doesn't mention them.  It makes no sense to me to acknowledge the industry leader because I just don't see how they make money doing so.  I would instead give the fans a great product and let them decide who the best is themselves.

Some guys in TNA have issues with WWE, for sure.  They feel they weren't used properly or given a chance or given the credit that they deserve or some mix of the above.  Hell, most of them have, at least, a semblance of truth to base their feeling on.

My wife asked me about a few of the older guys during Survivor Series, particularly Arn Anderson. I believe I've heard Jim Ross say a few times that Arn's "career was ended by a surgeon's knife"? Did Arn simply decide to retire after having surgery or was the operation botched somehow? Or am I completely mistaken in recalling Ross say that at all?

After years of wrestling, Anderson suffered extensive damage to his upper spine and neck and was told by doctors that if he wrestled again, he was risking serious, life-changing injury.  He was forced to retire because taking a bump could be literally detrimental to his health and quality of life.  There was no botched surgery, just years of abuse on his body taking their toll.  It was such a shame because Arn was the ultimate pro and one of my personal favorites.

How come Taker is the only veteran that is willing to work with rookies?  

That is a great question.  I don't have a good answer other than Taker is a consummate pro (kind of like Arn Anderson) and has put the business in front of any personal gain he that he could easily attain at this point in his career.  Frankly, he sets a great example for the young talent and also one that some of the vets in the company could learn from.  They know who they are.

Was there a reason why HBK and HHH were being so warm and friendly and giving Flair hugs and stuff a lot after the match...or was WWE Creative just setting it up so that HHH and HBK really respect the guy a lot, which would further set up for the party scheduled later that night for Ric Flair? 

I have heard a few reasons for Flair's emotions coming out on last week's Raw.  One is that he is taking time off to deal with personal issues (which he will be doing).  Another is that some people in WWE have told me that he was upset upon learning that Roddy Piper had been diagnosed with cancer, since Piper is one of his best friends.  I also wouldn't be surprised if, in addition to those factors, Flair got caught up in the moment.

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