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PWINSIDER Q&A: HOGAN VS. AUSTIN, UNDERTAKER, WRESTLEMANIA AND MORE

Answered on 2/1

I keep reading that WWE would like to have next year's Wrestlemania somewhere in Florida like say Orlando or Miami? My question is why wouldn't they want to have it in New Orleans? They have at least 2 places where they can hold it at, the Superdome or the New Orleans arena where the Hornets play at. Wouldn't WWE rather have some positive news which I'm sure they could use right about now and do something good instead of just trying to prove to their competition (TNA) that they can hold an event in their area? It would bring them at least a little bit of respect, it would also bring a lot of money into New Orleans which I'm sure the area could use. I don't know about you, but I just see way too many positives of holding next year's Wrestlemania in New Orleans instead of say Florida...

Obviously, it has now been confirmed that Wrestlemania will be taking place in Orlando in 2008.  While I agree that having the event in New Orleans would be great for that area, the location for Wrestlemania has to be, first and foremost, a business decision for WWE.  Unlike say, the Superbowl, which will draw a sold-out crowd no matter what the location is, Wrestlemania needs to be placed in a market where WWE is strong and will have a solid base of local fans to draw from.  Yes, people do travel to Wrestlemania, but the difference between 15,000 and 30,000 fans is how many of the people in that area will come out for a WWE event. 

Is there light at the end of the tunnel for CM Punk? He lasted almost 30 minutes in the Royal Rumble and Michael Cole put him over several times on the mic. I know he didn't get to eliminate anyone, but he did last twice as long as most people would have expected him to given the recent stall to his push. Also, how long of a contract did Punk sign? Just in case that tunnel caves in on him, of course. 

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?  About the people that can really answer that question have the last name McMahon.  At best, Punk is going through the "break him down before pushing him" practice that WWE has used for years.  At worst, Punk is being punished for getting over "before he was supposed to" and being a favorite of Paul Heyman's.  I'm hopeful that WWE will realize the huge upside Punk has, and get back to working him up the ladder. If not, I'm sure WWE has the usual 90-day review clauses if they wanted to release Punk. 

I just watched the inaugural episode of Wrestling Society X and it was like watching TNA on speed (and that's not a compliment). It was like every guy just wanted to hit the craziest moves and threw any semblance of ring psychology or telling a story out the window. Do you think this is where wrestling is headed? It just seems like wrestling (outside of WWE who errors on the other extreme of too much storytelling and not enough action) seems more focused on the next move that will top the 630 splash rather that on compelling storylines and getting the fans really drawn into each performer.

I don't know if that is where wrestling "is headed", and while I'm not always in favor of the "highspots for the sake of highspots" style of wrestling, I don't blame Wrestling Society X for going with that style.  They want to make a splash and so something that will differentiate it from WWE and TNA.  They also want to present something fast-paced that will appeal to a younger audience.  WSX went for a debut show that would get your attention.  Now, the question is whether the program grows over the next few episodes and gets you to care about the characters, or if it just comes across as a slew of car crashes every week with no meaning to them. 

If yo u guys have Undertaker win the championship at Wrestlemania, who would you make him lose it to, considering its not Batista?

If Undertaker were to win the title, and provided WWE doesn't make changes to the rosters, I could see him losing the belt to either Ken Kennedy or Chris Benoit, with possibly King Booker or Fit Finlay worked in there as well.  On Smackdown, there isn't a large gap between the main eventers and the midcarders, like on Raw, so there are plenty of possibilities they could explore.  Personally, I would love to see a Benoit-Taker series, and then have the final winner of that feud go on to give Kennedy "the rub". 

Why won't Steve Austin face Hulk Hogan at Wrestle Mania 23 or any of the other big PPV's? Wouldn't it be a huge draw for both men and Vince? Not from a wrestling match standpoint but from having the those two names in the same ring at the same time?

Honestly, I think Steve Austin just enjoys seeing how much it drives Hogan and Vince nuts that they can't get him to agree to the match.  Seriously, from those close to the situation, Austin doesn't really have any desire to come back and get "one more big payday".  That's not saying he won't come back, and you can bet that he'll be making some appearances in conjunction with promoting The Condemned, but he doesn't care about having "the biggest match of all time" the way Vince and Hogan does.  I think there is a dollar amount and match finish that Austin would agree to do it for, but apparently WWE hasn't offered it yet. 

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