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PWINSIDER Q&A: HOGAN & BEEFCAKE, ECW INVASION OF TNA, PIPER VS. VALENTINE AND MORE

Answered on 5/22

Hey guys, I was just looking at the latest Q&A session and a question made me sit back and think about something. The question was about the Monday Night Wars and what caused the death of WCW. Knowing what we know about the things that were going on in WCW then and looking at what TNA is doing now, I don't think that TNA is really going to be around for much longer. TNA is already doing exactly what WCW was doing then. They are taking whatever people WWE is letting go and pushing them over the home grown talents. Their booking has seriously taken a turn for the worse to the point that they are giving away "Money" matches on free television with little or no buildup. They are not making the money that they need to be making in order to sustain their talent. They are already dropping the ball with all of the talent that they are getting from WWE as far as showing the world that they can use them better than WWE. I used to never miss a Impact show, and would watch tapes of their PPVs regularly. Now I'm just not interested in what they are doing because they are no different than WWE as far as storytelling. If it wasn't for guys like Samoa Joe and AJ Styles I wouldn't be watching them at all. Am I wrong in my assessment or would you guys agree with me?

Do I think TNA is dropping the ball creatively in many aspects?  Yes, and I've discussed that many times on Elite Audio.  Do I think they are picking up every WWE "castoff"?  No.  There's plenty of WWE released talent that hasn't cropped up in TNA yet, so it isn't like they are jumping on every guy that is let go. As for TNA being around much longer, I don't see any reason to sound the death toll for them yet.  First of all, TNA is finally running house shows and creating more (and better) merchandise, so there is some new revenue streams.  They are also running PPV events in new markets, so they are actually making money off of ticket sales.  In the end though, TNA's fate lies with Dixie Carter and Panda Energy.  They've been footing the bill for quite some time, so as long as they are willing to put money into the company, it will remain alive. If they decide they want out, then there's reason for concern.  

My dad told me a story about how my dad once saw Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake in a restaurant called The Frog Pond in Redington Beach, Florida. He mentioned that the wrestlers once feuded at the time, so it was a strange sight. My dad also said that there is a relation between the two. Can you verify this?

I don't know you Dad, so I can't verify what he has seen in his lifetime.  I also can't say for all certainty that Hogan & Beeface ever ate at The Frog Pond.  Heck, I can't even tell you if there is a restaurant called The Frog Pond.  I can say that it is possible they were in a restaurant together while they were rivals, and I can tell you that there is no relation between them (although earlier in their careers, they did work as a brother tag team). 

Paul Heyman and Sabu are both gone from the WWE, and now we see the very real possibility of Rob Van Dam leaving the company as well. Do you see TNA signing all three men and maybe having Paul Heyman manage both guys, working it into some sort of "invasion" angle? It could build into something special if booked right (heel or face). Heck, even Rhino could join the faction and get involved as the "enforcer" or in some type of role (seeing that he seems to be lost in the shuffle with TNA booking as of late), or who knows, maybe even Paul Wight could be involved down the road. Your thoughts on this being a possibility?

This seems to be a very popular scenario amongst readers lately.  Last I heard, Paul Heyman is still under WWE contract, and he seems very content to be paid to sit at home and do nothing while pursuing non-wrestling projects.  So, he isn't free and clear to do such an angle yet.  Could TNA bring in Rob Van Dam and Sabu?  Well, once RVD is free and clear of WWE, I think TNA would be insane to not at least consider it and make Van Dam and offer.  Will they bring in Sabu?  While it seems that some in TNA are against the idea, I could see it happening, especially as a tandem with RVD.  As for making Rhino part of the mix and doing some sort of "invasion" angle, I just don't see that happening. 

Why was the Dog Collar Match at Starrcade 83 between Valentine and Piper billed as a US Title Match? Piper won the match but not the title.

I was always under the impression that it was a non-title match, and billed as such, because the chain match was "unsanctioned" and no one would take responsibility for the bout due to Piper's ear.  If it was billed or announced anywhere as being a title match, then it was a mistake. 

Why did WWF/E start the program with Perry Saturn and the mop? In my opinion the whole idea was stupid and I'm just wondering who he ticked off to get that storyline.

I have heard that some feel that Saturn was given the "moppy" gimmick as a punishment for when he roughed up enhancement talent Mike Bell.  However, I never heard of pushing someone for that long with a gimmick and spending TV time on it as punishment.  I think it was just a WWE comedy gimmick given to Saturn, and while he hated it at the start, he has admitted that it got over to a degree, and that given more time, it would have gotten over more as a mid-card comedy bit.  

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