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PWINSIDER Q & A: BACKSTAGE TAKER, WELLNESS, BURYING BENOIT, WRESTLERS BLOWING OFF FANS, A DAY IN THE LIFE AT PWINSIDER AND MORE

Before WWE live events, as many people probably know, a select number of superstars come over to meet fans waiting to get an autograph.  However, other stars completely blow us off without even a wave. My question is does Vince McMahon tell certain stars to take pictures with the fans before events, and other stars to avoid the fans? Or is it the superstars decision whether or not they want to do that?

Where shows are concerned, it's pretty much up to the talents what they do and don't do.  One thing you need to consider is that you don't know what the people who blew you off were dealing with getting to the show.  They could have had a bad flight.  They could have had car trouble.  You also don't know if they are late for a meeting or need to use the rest room, so take that into account.  If you want to get some friendly time with WWE stars, go to scheduled appearances that they have.  If they blow you off there, there's no real excuse for it 99% of the time.

Just out of curiosity, how do you guys go about doing your job on a daily basis? I assume there's no 9 to 5 set schedule, so how do you guys spend your day? When news happens, is it usually a result of you guys calling your sources and scooping out the latest happenings, or do your sources usually contact you? I understand if you don't want to detail everything that happens, or something that may potentially compromise how you do business better than anyone else. I'm just curious to know more of how you guys are able to be the best!

The one rule of this job is that there are no set rules!  Ours is a job that requires that you work at least some time every day doing content for the site.  In my case, I have to work every day since I also manage the back end, which means doing subscriptions and checking ad code.  So, wherever I go my laptop and/or PDA go with me.

My day usually starts and ends by checking the company account and activating any new subscribers, since they are the lifeblood of the site.  After that, I check my voicemail, text messages and then my email.  If there is nothing pressing that needs to be reported, I update the subscriptions that came in overnight and then attend to other back end stuff.  Luckily for me, I know that Mike and Buck are also gathering news so I can do the management stuff for an hour or so after I get up then report my stuff later since they will have content on the site.  Then, I post what I have.  

After that, I return and make phone calls and texts throughout the day.  The contact goes both ways there.  Every day, from around 3 to 5 p.m., I go to the gym and work out because I know I will put more hours in when I get home and it's important to get the workouts in.  I let myself put on 50 pounds a few years ago and I will never, ever do that again.  After dinner, I monitor the site and check in periodically until I go to bed.  That is my routine Monday through Friday.  The weekends are a little easier, but I still put 5 or 6 hours a day in on most weekend days.

So, it adds up to 60 plus hours a week and I love it.  Personally, if we are the best (and thanks for saying so) I feel it's due to one reason: We work harder than our competition to deliver as much as we can on the site.  Hard work always pays off.

How is the Undertaker backstage? I keep reading that he refuses to job to anyone and only put himself over in every feud and when it comes to politics he is worse than Hogan and HHH. Is any of this true?

Not one thing you said was true.  If you are reading that stuff at other sites, the best advice I can give you is stop going to them.  Taker is a locker room leader on Smackdown and has been a pro at elevating younger guys.  He is a straightforward, call it like he sees it guy who most people backstage respect highly.

I just read the report on Sports Illustrated's article which quoted that the wellness policy bans "performance enhancing drugs". That got me wondering, in an activity that is co-operative and worked, what exactly constitutes performance enhancing? I mean, steroids and HGH may make you look better, but they don't improve your performance do they? They don't make you a better wrestler, don't give you a greater understanding of ring psychology, and certainly don't give you charisma, so surely that gives WWE the scope to dismiss negative results for these drugs if they choose to?

That is an interesting question because you are correct, in a worked sport the term "performance enhancing" doesn't make a lot of sense, for the reasons you mentioned.  Perhaps "physique enhancing" would be a better phrase.  My guess is that WWE used that terminology because that is what other sports use and they just didn't put any thought into what it means to wrestling.  Honestly, I never did either until I got this question.

Four moves and a tap out from Chris Benoit? Is this still 1988? Seriously, doesn't Benoit of all people deserve better? For a while i didn't think Sean Michaels should win at Mania, now I'm begging for it. John Cena will never be the Rock, or Hogan. Shouldn't he make a concerted effort to find another move or two? I was calling that match move for move once Cena hulked up. Your thoughts?

In this particular case, I have no problem with it.  WWE is trying to sell you a fifty dollar PPV.  Cena is in one of the main events so they felt it was important to give him a strong win over a quality opponent, and that is what they did.  If they had done this match another time, I would agree that Benoit should have been booked stronger but this close to Mania, I have no problem with it.  And, keep in mind that I am someone who usually hates to see WWE squash mid to upper midcard guys.

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