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PWINSIDER Q&A: WWE FOCUSING ON IN-RING WRESTLING, ROH'S BEST SELLING DVD, WWE IN SOUTH AMERICA AND MORE

What is the best selling DVD that Ring of Honor has released?

The October 2005 Joe vs. Kobashi DVD from New York City, featuring Kenta Kobashi vs. Samoa Joe, has been long considered the best selling DVD release from Ring of Honor according to sources.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I initially thought the Austin Starr persona that Austin Aries re-debuted with back at last year's Bound for Glory PPV was loosely based off of the Macho Man Randy Savage. Now we have Jay Lethal's "Black Machismo" gimmick taking off like wildfire in TNA. Nothing against Lethal, but Starr had it first. Is it due to Austin's reported backstage attitude that he hasn't received more credit for it?

I think Starr utilized some of Savage's mannerisms, but Lethal is doing a full blown impression, which are two completely different scenarios. I don't think Aries' backstage issues are the reason as much as the best TNA had for Lethal was to make him a Savage-esque persona.

Has WWE or any big company for that matter ever done shows in South America? If they ever decided to do some outdoor shows in say Brazilian soccer stadiums they could get a ton of people to see them.

At this year's shareholders meeting, Vince McMahon said that breaking into the South American market is one of the company's long-term goals for international expansion (the other was China), so while it hasn't happened yet, it's on the drawing board. I absolutely agree that an event from one of the larger soccer stadiums could create an amazing atmosphere.

What do you think of the recent Tag Team of Johnny Nitro & Kenny Dykstra? I saw them last week on Heat against Cryme Tyme and tought, they had a good showing. I would like to see them broke out as singles star, but (in defense of the often for all things wrong in pro wrestling critiqued WWE creative team) you can't push all guys at the same time. Your thoughts please.

I don't see them as a tag team as much as two talented guys who were tossed together because there's either no interest in pushing them or no idea on how to push them. There's no real cohesion (i.e. matching outfits, team name, etc.) much less a storyline putting them together. It's just basically a way of fitting them into the shows and the roster, instead of creating a long-term plan for one or the other, which is a shame since both have a lot to offer to the future of the company.

Was Ric Flair always supposed to be the Black Scorpion?

When the character was created by Ole Anderson, there was no set plan of who was going to portray the character. At one point, Dave Sheldon, who wrestling as Angel of Death in World Class and the UWF was going to do the role, but balked. Different performers including Al Perez and Bill Irwin would play the role on house show events, while WCW often hired magicians to do stunts at televised shows. Ole performed the voice of the character. In the end, with no other ideas, Ric Flair was revealed as the "real" Scorpion in a probably the only truly bad Flair vs. Sting match ever, as Flair worked a different style so as not to reveal himself.

With regard to the question about the resurgence of the importance of referees, I've noticed that the WWE is making at least tentative movements back to its roots. The referees, as mentioned, plus it seems there's more mat wrestling mixed in with the high flying and impact moves; it's not all clotheslines, power bombs, hurricaranas, and the like. There are headlocks, chanceries, hammerlocks, etc. Also, for the first time in ages, there's going to be a two out of three falls match without any other gimmicks. I've been a wrestling fan since the days of Antonino Rocca and Karl von Hess, and I hope this trend continues. Will it?

It will continue as long as Vince McMahon wants it to.

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