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PWINSIDER Q&A: SPINNER BELTS, LAST BATTLE OF ATLANTA, DEATH MATCH IN WWE AND MORE

Answered on 5/17

I absolutely hate the spinner WWE Championship Belt made famous by John Cena. I honestly think it is the most ridiculous looking thing I have ever seen. My question is, when someone finally does beat Cena for the WWE championship for a reign longer than a month or two, will the WWE go back to the belt used by JBL or are we stuck with Cena's title. I can't see Triple H walking out with that thing.

I think the WWE Championship belt will constantly be evolving, with new versions being created, while the World Title will remain true to the "big gold belt" design.  Just as Edge had his "Rated R" spinner belt for a time, I see whoever beats Cena for the title having his own version of the belt as well.  To be honest, it just gives WWE another belt to make replicas of and sell to the fans.  

Regarding cage matches, the "Last Battle of Atlanta" between Buzz Sawyer and Tommy Rich seems to get a ton of recognition. I realize there is no known footage of the match, but what made this cage match live in infamy the way it has?

I think it can be attributed to a number of factors.  First, it was a red-hot feud in the territory, with Rich being the ultimate babyface and Sawyer being the despicable heel.  Second, it was reportedly a very good match, and got a lot of play in the wrestling magazines (which were very important in the industry at the time).  Third, because there is no footage of the match, it has taken on an almost mythical stature in the minds of fans. 

Do you think Vince McMahon would every want to have part in any of the hardcore/deathmatch kind of wrestling? I see these wrestlers on the internet and they are so brutal. They don't have the muscles like Lashley or Batista but they sure are tough. Is that a market that can make money or is it just for local indy fans?

Honestly, no.  WWE can get a bit violent and have the occasional crazy spots, but you'll never see them go head-on into that style the way Big Japan or CZW does.  For one reason, it takes a tremendous toll on the performers.  Second, to do that style on a national level would draw a lot of criticism from media that ignores independent wrestling.  Third, the deathmatch style it is what Mike Johnson often refers to as "niche wrestling".  There's a certain segment of fans that will support it, but there is a limit to how big the audience will get. 

What is happening with WWE? It seems to be a very up and down promotion. Late last year I enjoyed it more than I have in years - Unforgiven, No Mercy and Armageddon were all solid/great PPV's, the Royal Rumble was the most thrilling thing (mostly for the last fifteen minutes) in years and felt unpredictable. Wrestlemania, whilst not blow-away like it was in 2005, 2004 or 2003, was a really good event. Since then, it's plummeted and I'm not enjoying the product. Cena, who I was a great admirer of his work ethic in those past few months, is now being booked as Hogan-II, which is not how he works best; people like Jeff Hardy, Nitro (people who worked their asses off in late 2006) are being squashed and pushed down the card by Umaga, Lashley (who I like but are booked awfully) and pushed down by Vince, who gets FAR too much air time. So my question is, what is up with the booking? It seems that if it's not the months leading Wrestlemania or SummerSlam, they de-push the product.

To me, it all falls on WWE Creative.  The workrate is obviously there, as you can see from Michaels vs. Cena, Benoit vs. MVP and Edge vs. Orton in recent weeks. There are stars that are tremendously over, regardless of how they are used, like Matt Hardy.  Yes, there have been injury issues, but even before Kennedy and Undertaker got hurt, WWE seemed to be totally stagnate in the creative department.  They just haven't done anything to build off of Wrestlemania, their most successful PPV ever. 

Regarding today's Q&A about WWE and World Wildlife Fund, when the then-WWF lost their court battle with the Fund in British Court, what would the ramifications have been if WWF has simply chose to ignore the ruling? I'm guessing that the British court would only have had jurisdiction in that country. Or would giving up the British market cost WWF too much money?

The issue was global use of a name and trademark.  If WWE decided to ignore the ruling and continue to use the name in other countries, like the U.S., then the Wildlife Fund could file an injunction and sue them in U.S. Court, and with the British judgment behind them, easily beat WWE again (and probably grab a ton of cash as well), since the U.S. courts would uphold the decision.  

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