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PWINSIDER Q & A: LASHLEY AND VINCE, MUHAMMAD HASSAN, MANIA, CONWAY, KENNEDY AND MORE

I was really shocked to hear that Mr. Kennedy announced WrestleMania 24 as the place for his Money In The Bank - TitleMatch. Is that really the plan right now??? I know, you like the idea of waiting till Mania 2008. My problem with this situation is: Why already announce it instead of teasing the title match all the time between now an WrestleMania ? Also, why in general wait so long, when Kennedy is super hot right now? Wouldn't it make sense for a "smart" guy like Kennedy to cashing the contract in after a brutal Last Man Standing or Hell in a Cell Match? There is also a possibility, that he could be injured and not even make it to WrestleMania next year. And, when he really cashes his money in the bank contract in at WrestleMania 24, what should I expect from now on till WrestleMania as it would be so clear, that he wouldn't win a world title till next year. So, Mr. Kennedy on Friday Night SmackDown! is meaningless from now on.

Obviously this came in before Kennedy's injury but yes, it was the plan.  Honestly, I liked the idea.  I have been very critical of WWE not having any long-term direction and I think it was a good idea to try and look ahead in the booking and set some places that they wanted to go within the booking.  I agree with you about the logic of Kennedy going after someone when he is weak, but let's be honest here, it's not like WWE spends a lot of time making sure that their storylines hold up to that kind of scrutiny.  Logic and WWE are often very mutually exclusive.  I think had Kennedy held the shot for a year, they could have booked some very interesting storylines around it.  It's a shame that he got hurt and we will never find out. 

Prior to Wrestlemania, Bobby Lashley and Vince McMahon cut a promo in the ring ( believe it was the one where Lashley threatened to break him in half), and at some point Lashley referred to McMahon as “Vince.” Vince replied, “Did you just call me Vince?” Lashley never called him Vince again, and that part of the exchange was edited out when the promo was replayed in subsequent weeks. Did Lashley slip, or was that part of the scripted promo, to show a lack of respect to Vince? If he slipped, did he get into any trouble backstage?

I never heard of Lashley getting heat for it and creative is extremely anal about telling the workers EXACTLY what to say, so I believe it was a scripted remark.  If it weren't, we would have heard about it.

Hi Guys, love the site (keep coughing Dave!!). I was searching for something on the net, and after many links through wikipedia I got to Mark Copani. I loved the whole Muhammad Hassan character and storyline. One thing that I read was that Hassan was booked to win the World Title off Batista. Is this plausible? Also, what are your thoughts on the Hassan character? Personally, I loved it because it was something hard-hitting and fresh!!

First off, since anyone who wants to can post whatever they feel like posting, true or not, on Wikipedia, take what you read there with a grain or six of salt.  I don't ever remember hearing that he was booked to win the title.  I know that there were some in the company that questioned his commitment to the business (and ended up being correct).  Usually, when they have those kinds of doubts, they don't put the belt on a guy.

As for his character, I didn't care for it.  I am not a fan of doing a character based off of a situation where people are dying in real life.  I am not a prude or anything, but I think the line has to be drawn with certain things being included in storylines such as war, cancer, personal family situations, etc.  I don't think a person who is grieving over losing someone in Iraq should ever turn on wrestling looking for an escape and have to deal with a character like Hassan reminding them of their loss.  I don't find characters like that edgy.  I find them insensitive.

What is up with Rob Conway? Is he being repackaged since he was "fired" by Vince a couple of months ago on RAW

He was released by the company last week.  He had been working down at OVW before being let go.

I am a little confused. Wrestlemania is being held at a huge venue, but so far their does not seem to be any difference between Wrestlemania and any other PPV this year. Do you think Vince really thought "hey, Cena vs. HBK, Umaga vs. Lashley, Edge vs. Orton will sell out a football arena"? From everything I have hear, Vince is supposed to be a really talented businessman. Is their something that will happen between now and then (other than the obvious Stone Cold as Special Guest Ref) that would give us a reason to buy a ticket or PPV? Is this just Vince's greatest trick?

While I agree that Mania, more and more, is becoming "just another PPV" to those of us who follow the product religiously, to the casual fan, it's still wrestling's Super Bowl and something that will sell tickets and PPVs based off of the name alone.  Since WWE has gone to running the big stadiums for the show in recent years, they don't want to go backward so they continue to book them (and do great business).  In a way, I agree with you.  It is a testament to what Vince has created that even largely ordinary events can sell out big stadiums.

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