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PWINSIDER Q&A: UMAGA, LESNAR VS. SHOW, WRESTLERS RESPECTING FANS AND MORE

Answered on 2/2

What do you think of wrestlers who disparage fans? There seems to be quite a bit of the attitude going around amongst wrestlers these days that goes along the lines of "if a fan has never written a book then he/she doesn't know a good book if he/she read one." But there are also wrestlers who, for God only knows what reason, seem to go out of their way to belittle fans in general. Aren't these the same fans who (at least on the indy) are basically the ones who are paying the paychecks?  I think I'm wrong but what's your opinion? 

I can understand why some wrestlers get annoyed at "know-it-all" fans who they feel criticize without knowing what they are talking about, but at the same time, I don't think any wrestler should disparage a fan publicly.  You might be annoyed at some of them, but at the same time, they are the ones buying tickets and paying your wages.  If there are no fans, then there is no show, and there is no money.  Wrestling in an empty building doesn't give you a career, so wrestlers should always have respect for the people that make it possible for them to do what they love and get paid for it. 

What were you guys initial reaction to the Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show stretcher match they had a few years ago? Is that match common outside WWE?

I thought it was great that they brought it back.  I know WCW had a few of them, and ECW had a famous one with Sabu vs. Rob Van Dam, but the last time I recalled WWE doing one was back with Andre The Giant and Killer Khan.  I also was interested in seeing how they would book it, since by the very nature of the rules, one wrestler has to show complete dominance over his opponent in the end.  I wouldn't say the match is common at all, in or out of WWE. 

Do you know of any wrestlers that will be retiring in the next year or so ? I heard King Booker T opened up a wrestling school so I wonder if he is scheduled to retire soon.

I haven't heard of any impending retirements, other than speculation that Big Show will not be returning to wrestling.  Booker was supposedly considering retirement a year or so ago, but that was followed by one of his biggest pushes ever, so I don't think he's going anywhere right now.  Obviously, as wrestlers enter their 40's, the idea of retiring comes up, but as we've seen in this business, not many walk away on their own. 

Hey, I am just wondering if this is a good idea and if WWE would ever do it.  Let's say Ken Kennedy beats Batista at the Royal Rumble which is highly unlikely but it could happen. Undertaker wins the Rumble and he and Undertaker get into a little feud that they have been going on for the past few weeks which leads into No Way Out where Undertaker puts his Wrestlemania Title shot on the line. Undertaker is about to win but Kennedy comes in and makes it a No Contest. Kennedy thinks he has nobody to defend it now but TL says Triple Threat Undertaker/Kennedy/Batista. At Wrestlemania its up to them, Batista pins Kennedy or Kennedy pins Batista but Undertaker does NOT get pinned creating controversy over has Taker lost at Wrestlemania since he wasn't pinned? I personally think its brilliant...What do you think?

Honestly, I hated it when TNA would have Samoa Joe lose three-way matches without getting pinned, and then still claim he was undefeated.  So, I think it would be pretty weak to blemish Undertaker's Wrestlemania streak with that kind of disputed finish.  If Undertaker is going to lose at Mania, so be it.  But let it be a real loss to a deserving opponent, not a non-loss that people will just argue about forever. 

Who is responsible for the current successes of Eddie Fatu? Is it Eddie? Is it Armando? Or did Creative have this one in the bag the whole time?

Who the hell is Eddie Fa.... oh, Umaga!  Just kidding.  I think the success is a combination of WWE Creative booking him well (although I don't agree with the lame way they had him lose his first match), and Umaga busting his rear end and working hard to get over what many saw as an outdated gimmick.  Armando has done a great job in his role, but I think Umaga himself deserves a lot of the credit for becoming a believable monster with an 80's gimmick. 

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