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PWINSIDER Q&A: MONEY IN THE BANK, BOB BACKLUND, WRATH AND MORE

Answered on 3/1

I collect wrestling figures and i have this old one named Wrath. Do you think you can give me some details?

Wrath was Bryan Clarke, who also wrestled as the Nightstalker in SMW, Adam Bomb in the WWF, and was Wrath in WCW before going back to being Bryan Clarke and teaming with Brian Adams as Kronik. The team had a very (VERY) brief WWF run in 2001, losing to Undertaker & Kane.  In fact, I think their WWF tenure was less than a month long. 

What do you think about having it be an unwritten rule (or maybe even a written rule) about the Money In The Bank ladder match having only guys who have never been a WWE World champion before? It just seems to me that with guys like King Booker and Edge (who, don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of both of them), but by having them in the MITB match, it loses its effect. I know Edge's first WWE title "run" (if you could call it that) was because of the MITB stipulation, but if you had the rule of only having non-WWE or World champions, you could see who is the next big thing in WWE.

I see your point of view, and I do like the idea of Money In The Bank being a way for someone to be elevated to World Title status.  After all, does anyone think that Edge won't be getting WWE Title matches in the months following Wrestlemania?  On the other hand though, having former champions in the match gives you stories like last year's where Ric Flair was in MITB trying to get a title shot for "one more run at the top".  

I had a question about Bret Hart's current relationship with WWE. I read on another site that Bret is upset that WWE hasn't inducted Owen Hart into the Hall of Fame yet. From what I read over the years, I was under the impression that it was Owen's widow who still has some ill feelings from Owens' tragic accident and WWE has repeatedly reached out to her over the years in an effort to get Owen into the Hall of Fame and she has always refused. What's the real deal here?

I don't know anything about Bret Hart being upset with WWE over Owen not being in the Hall Of Fame.  From what I understand, Owen's widow has more than "some ill feelings" towards WWE, and I imagine that would be a big reason for him not being put in the Hall Of Fame.  In all honesty, WWE would look pretty bad if they put someone in their Hall Of Fame against the wishes of that person's family.  

It's common knowledge that Vince usually breaks a character that had a good run in other company, so that he may build it back in WWE. Is it possible that he's doing the same thing with ECW? Is it possible that this new ECW vs. old ECW storyline is going to escalade into a real extreme ECW?

I just don't see that being the case.  The whole point, at least in WWE's view, in "breaking" someone is so that WWE can evaluate whether the person can handle it when they aren't being pushed.  ECW isn't a person, so there's no point in breaking it.  ECW has been dead for years, so it isn't like WWE was assuming control of an active company that had an established way to doing things.  WWE, from the start of this "relaunch" has had full control over everything with the ECW name attached to it.  As for the current Originals vs. New Breed storyline leading to a "real extreme ECW", I don't see it happening, at least in terms of violence. 

What's up with Bob Backlund? He's a former WWWF champ from the 70's, yet he dresses and acts like he's from the 50's (bow tie, naming all the presidents for an autograph, ect) and he mumbles and acts weird? Is that his TV character or is he really that strange?

It's a character.  However, Backlund will portray the character 24/7, even to the point of keeping the gimmick going when in public and when he's only around fellow wrestlers.  Backlund, to his credit, knows that doing so will set him apart from the rest, and he is hopeful for one more big run as an active wrestler before retiring. 

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