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PWINSIDER Q&A: KANE, WWE IGNORING FORMER STARS, SHAWN MICHAELS AND MORE

Answered on 1/4

My question is about the WWE burying former talent. In my 2006 WWE wall calendar, the month of November featured Big Show choke-slamming Brock Lesnar. If that wasn’t bad enough, they added insult to injury by air-brushing off Brock’s tattoos. Now I hear you guys saying that we should expect to soon see video montages that include Kurt Angle being beaten. If WWE wants to punish these guys, wouldn’t it make more sense to not give them any publicity at all, so as not to remind the fans that they even exist?

I agree, usually the best move is to ignore the wrestlers, rather than remind people that they aren't around any longer.  I haven't seen the calendar, but it would seem to me that part of the reason WWE airbrushed the tattoos off might have been so you don't recognize him as Brock (although, that then begs the question, "Didn't they have a picture of him chokeslamming someone else?").  Regardless, there's been somewhat of a history of promotions taking potshots at former stars, so it really shouldn't surprise any of us when it takes place.

I have a question about the recent WWE DVDs.  On earlier DVDs such as the Jake the Snake and the Dusty Rhodes one, the commentary from Jesse Ventura was edited out of some of the matches due to his past litigation with the company.  I found that this took away from the actual matches because part of the enjoyment (for me) of the matches was the commentary of both broadcasters and it seemed like Monsoon or whomever was doing the commentary at the time was talking to himself and it sounded ridiculous.  I was always upset that they edited out Ventura's commentary.  Now, on more current titles like the WWE Championship DVD, the Hulk Hogan Anthology, Piper, AWA and others, Ventura's commentary and likeness is left in.  Did WWE come to some sort of agreement with Ventura to use his voice and likeness, and did they realize that by leaving him out of the dvds, it took away from the final product like so many others seem to realize?  Thanks.

As I have always understood it, because of Ventura winning his lawsuit against WWE, the company has to pay him residuals whenever they use his voice or likeness on a DVD.  Obviously, WWE made the decision to edit out his voice from matches on some DVDs, rather than cutting him in on the profits.  In other cases, like the ones mentioned, WWE decided that Ventura's performance was important enough to be included in the releases.  So, whenever you hear Ventura on a DVD, you can be certain that Ventura is getting a paycheck out of it. Personally, I am really glad to hear the original commentary on the matches more often. 

While everybody is assuming that Shawn Michaels was referring to Kurt Angle in his promo this week, his "greatest in-ring performer, I still haven't faced that guy" line led me to believe that he was referring to The Rock. Do you think the same thing? Even though The Rock has said that he won't work with HBK, do you think that match could happen at Wrestlemania 23 for the right price.

When Michaels made the "I still haven't faced that guy" line, I think he was actually pointing out that WWE often hypes wrestlers as being the "greatest in-ring performer", to the point that it is ridiculous. I don't think it was a shot at The Rock (although, you never know), and it did seem to be directed more towards Kurt Angle and perhaps the Voodoo Kin Mafia, with the comments that they are "curtain jerking" in another place. Mike Johnson has more on the motivation behind HBK's comments in his hotline this week.

Any idea how much money Kane is making off See No Evil?

Honestly, no.  Given that it was his first film, and that he was billed by his WWE-owned name, with WWE producing and pushing it, I would imagine his payoff for it wasn't that large by Hollywood standards.  However, I would think that he gets some sort of residuals for the amount of money the movie has brought in, both in theatres and video. 

Whatever happened to the man behind women wrestling promotions GLOW, POWW & WOW David McClaine?

David McLane has occasionally dipped his foot back in the wrestling pond, trying to bring back new versions of the infamous GLOW product.  However, he's also involved himself in other television productions for sports, including Polo. 

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