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PWINSIDER Q&A: WHY WRESTLERS GO TO TNA, SHANE VS. STEPHANIE, FLAIR VS. LAWLER AND MORE

Answered on 6/7

Financially speaking, why would anyone want to join TNA? No way can TNA match WWE pay. Also with TNA refusing to allow wrestlers to work indy's like ROH, they are taking away a lot of revenue from wrestlers. Sure, TNA offers a chance to get your name exposed on a syndicated TV show, but its at the risk of not having the flexibility to make ROH appearances, or get freedom to sign with WWE. Your thoughts?

Different wrestlers have different reasons.  First of all, it isn't like TNA isn't paying their wrestlers a good wage.  Several TNA stars apparently are very happy with what they make for working essentially three times a month.  Second, some wrestlers, like Christian Cage, would rather make less than they were in WWE, but work a MUCH less rigorous schedule.  A WWE full-time performer can wrestle four times a week (more during overseas tours), and have to pay for their own hotel and rental cars.  Also, while TNA wrestlers are prohibited for working for ROH, performers like Homicide, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and others seem to have no problem finding other independent shows to work when not doing TNA shots.  As for the "freedom to sign with WWE", that is a decision that some have made.  AJ Styles for example, turned down a WWE developmental offer.  Christian decided not to re-sign with WWE.  Sting decided not to sign with WWE.  Some others, simply had to decide whether to go with TNA, a company that wanted them, or hope to get a WWE offer "someday".  That's another thing to remember, not every wrestler is going to get a WWE offer, and TNA might be the better option, simply because it is their only option. 

I see Shane McMahon as a guy who regardless of being the boss's son, as a great wrestler, and someone who the locker room respects. Now with Stephanie marrying HHH, do you feel Shane is going to end up on the short end of the stick? I mean when Vince is long dead, company decisions will more likely be dictated by Steph and HHH than Shane (2 against 1). I'm surprised Shane hasn't gotten more authority in the company, especially since I imagine that Shane's reputation with the boys is better than HHH's reputation (given HHH's history of politics). So how do you feel Shane's future will playout in the WWE compared to his sister and HHH? Also, do you think the creative direction would have been better if Shane, and not Stephanie was groomed to be head of the creative dept.?

It's pretty obvious that Stephanie, as head of creative and talent relations, wields a lot more decision making power in the company than Shane at this point.  Part of it is because Stephanie "wants the job" and Shane, from most accounts, does not. That's not to say Shane doesn't have a say in what goes on in the company, but Stephanie (and HHH) are higher on the food chain that Shane.  In fact, the only person higher than Stephanie is Vince.  I think Shane will continue to be an important player in WWE for the rest of his life, but at this point, it would seem that Stephanie and HHH will have a bigger hand in the product, while I could see Shane ending up more involved in the business aspects (like his mother is now).  As for the creative direction being different with Shane in charge instead of Stephanie, that's all just speculation.  I will say that if Shane had been in charge instead of Stephanie, the ECW re-launch would have been VERY different, as Shane was a proponent of keeping ECW a smaller "niche product" as opposed to a full-scale WWE brand. 

Simple question. What do the three of you think of JBL as a color commentator? I think his background as a former wrestler both tag team and singles as well as his references to old school wrestling families and tag teams like the Von Erichs and Freebirds makes for very credible commentary.

I won't speak for the others, but as someone who does Smackdown thoughts on the site every weekend, I can tell you that JBL has developed over the course of the past year into a fantastic color commentator.  At first, he seemed obsessed with getting himself and his character over at the expense of everything else on the show. Over time, he began to call the matches more, and actually apply his knowledge to what he was calling.  Now, it is obvious that he is putting in a real effort to be a great announcer, and uses historical references, his own past experience, and storyline background to truly add color to what is going on during a broadcast. 

When did Jerry Lawler wrestle Ric Flair? On a recent Monday Night Raw The King referred to how Flairs chops when The Nature Boy was smacking his opponent in the chest as if Lawler had experienced it first hand.

Back in the days of the traveling NWA World Champion, and when the Memphis territory was part of the NWA in the earl 80's, Ric Flair would travel through Memphis regularly and face the top contenders in the territory, which obviously included Lawler.

A quick question, last year in May, the WWE did the King of The Ring Tournament. Was that a one time thing, or will they bring it back again this year after the draft? I think that would be a good idea for Vengeance, since it's the Night of The Champions, they should do the entire tournament on that night. What do you think? Thanks.

I have not heard a definite on whether the King Of The Ring tournament will take place again this year, but if it does take place (and I think it will), expect it to be spread out over several shows, and not just one night.  As for Vengeance, the plan is for that to feature all of the Champions defending their belts, so it would not be a King Of The Ring tournament. 

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