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PWINSIDER Q & A: TITLE CHANGES, TORRIE, PILLMAN THE LOOSE CANNON, TOO MANY BIG SPOTS AND MORE

So far WWE has had two title changes overseas on regular TV in less than a week (Smackdown tag team titles and Raw IC title). In America we RARELY get title changes for free. What's up with that? Plus, I know why they had debuted the Italian "fan" and had him win the IC title... but that was in his home country where people cared. When he's back in the U.S., he is going to have no reaction. So what was the point? I believe it was premature.

I disagree with you on the Marella title win.  I think that if they follow it up well tonight, they could tell a very fun "underdog" story with him because there is a lot that they can do with it and I enjoyed the angle last week.  As for the tag belts, they changed hands on Raw last week so I don't see what the issue is to be honest.  They are on a very important tour so I don't see any problem with them booking title changes on the tour. It only adds to the perceived importance of them touring worldwide.

What are your thoughts on Torrie Wilson? She has been in the WWE since WCW closed over six years ago. She always seems to win the "beauty contests" like the fashion show on Raw. Her wrestling skills are mediocre and she has no mic skills as well. Torrie is a beautiful girl and I am surprised that they haven't released her like the other divas.

There was actually talk a year or so ago that she was going to be released due to her high salary.  Then suddenly, the issue was dropped.  It wouldn't surprise me if she agreed to rework her deal or agreed to a new one because I agree with you that while she is a beautiful woman, she really doesn't bring a lot extra to the table.  She definitely could be easily replaced if WWE chose to do so.  She isn't a great worker in the ring and the company has a ton of eye candy now, so she isn't overly important to the product.  With that said, if the sides are happy with each other, I see nothing wrong with her staying around either.

I'm probably in the minority in that I was never a fan of Brian Pillman's Loose Cannon angle. I don't like "fooled you" storylines. Must be why I don't like Vince Russo & never saw Borat. My question is was there anyone who absolutely didn't buy into his act?? People who had been around him for several years and knew that he was doing an angle??

I am not sure what you mean.  If you bought the act, that would mean you believed he was shooting.  I didn't know anyone who thought that (though I am sure some less educated fans did).  I knew he was working, but found him interesting.  And I also liked that he was so good at doing the character that he actually got WCW to release him so he could go to WWE.  That is a pretty effective job of doing your character!

After watching Lockdown and the Electrified cage match and thinking about all the things that were wrong with the match, there was one thing that was really bothering me. At one point both Hernandez and Devon were down, and Buh Buh Dudley hit a *HUGE* powerbomb on Homicide, only to have Homicide kick out with just a near fall. So my question is, when did wrestling become "lets go back and forth, then one of us will hit our finisher" and who is to blame for this way of doing things.

It depends on how you look at it.  Overall, I think the Japanese promotions are to blame, especially All Japan.  Back in the early 90s, the main-eventers there would almost kill each other in matches and they took what used to be finishers and made them near fall moves.  Their bouts were so physical that they continued to up the ante, to the point where guys almost had to incapacitate his opponent to win.  Later in the US, ECW picked up the philosophy and WCW and WWE followed suit in some of their bouts.  It definitely raised the bar to the point where it got harder and harder to no do a ton of big spots in a bout.  WWE has made a conscious effort to tone it down over the last year or so, which is good for the long-term health of their workers.

Do you think the grabbing of the ropes to either add additional damage during a submission move or allowing an easier pin is not realistic sometimes. I’m thinking when Tommy Dreamer pinned Kevin Thorn on ECW this week. He had to stretch pretty far to grab that rope. Or during an abdominal stretch the person will grab the ropes and it will be so much more painful. Sometimes it is believable, but other times … not so much.

I definitely agree that there are times when it looks like grabbing the ropes actually takes away from the leverage that a guy has, as happened with Dreamer on ECW last week.  From creative's standpoint we are just supposed to accept that it's a move where guys get added leverage.

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