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PWINSIDER Q & A: WWE SUING TNA, BRET AND SHAWN, MARIA AND PUNK, WRESTLING RELATIONS, WWE COMEDIANS AND MORE

My question is about families in wrestling, particularly the WWE. At the moment, the WWE seems to be giving a lot of attention to two of their most recent signings, Harry Smith and Nattie Neidhart. There have also been a lot of attention to the Orton family, the family link between the Rock-Rikishi-Rosey-Jamal-etc, the Guerreros, and previously the Flair family in WCW. The one family they haven't brought up is the Reiher family, better known as Jimmy Snuka and Deuce Shade. I know they are related to the afore mentioned Rock-Rikishi-Rosey-Jamal-etc group, but why hasn't the link between Snuka and Shade been established? Wouldn't this help people identify him, and link him to his very popular father?

I think you are jumping the gun a little bit here.  I don't see what the purpose would be in linking a new heel character whose gimmick is a 50s hoodlum type to a popular babyface legend.  Actually, it would even be counter-productive.  Down the line, if it makes sense, I can see them doing so but now, there is just no point in doing so. 

Bobby Heenan was a huge character because he also happened to have that innate ability to do comedy. If Bobby was never a wrestling manager or a commentator, he could've easily done standup comedy. Why has WWE never hired a comedian to develop into an interviewer, commentator, or TV host? I mean they hire models, writers, actors, etc. Why not a comedian?

They actually did in the past, at least once. When they first started Raw, they used a New York area DJ/comic named Rob Bartlett.  He did an OK job, but wasn't great.  The feeling is that when you have guys in the booth that are just concerned with telling jokes, it means they are only able to do part of the job.  When a guy doesn't understand what is going on in the ring, it comes across to the viewer. 

If Vince wanted to, could he sue TNA for defamation of character?

You can sue people for pretty much anything you want in the US but I don't see any grounds that WWE would have to do so.  After all, what VKM is doing is parody and it's not like WWE does it themselves (just ask Rosie and Donald).  How could they really justify trying to sue TNA for something that they do themselves?  It would be a waste of time and money for WWE.

About the Montreal Screw Job: Why was there bad history between HBK and Bret Hart? What were/are the feelings between Hart and HHH like? 

Bret and Shawn were the two top guys in the WWF at the time of Montreal (while Steve Austin and The Rock were on the rise).  In a nutshell, Bret was an old school, do your job and don't play politics kind of guy.  He was laid back, quiet and largely just a pro going to work every day.  He also was very serious about the business and its integrity.  Shawn, on the other hand, was very political, brash and had a history of not wanting to lose titles.  He and his Kliq buddies ran the back in WWE and pretty much had Vince McMahon as a hip pocket ally, meaning Shawn largely got his way most of the time.  In essence, he was the anti-Bret and they didn't get along (mostly Bret not liking Shawn's approach to the business).

Do you think that Maria and CM Punk would have been paired together by now if Punk was well liked by certain people in "upper management"?

Given that they are on different shows, probably not.  I don't think that Punk's status right now has anything to do with whether he is with Maria on camera or not.  I will tell you that there are a lot of people in the company that are jealous and/or envious of Punk that the two are a couple.  I can't say I blame them!

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