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PWINSIDER Q & A: HHH AS HEAD WWE BOOKER, SAMOA JOE'S PUSH, JEFF HARDY, WRESTLER DEATHS AND MORE

Since the news media seems to be all over the WWE (and the wrestling business in general) about how many wrestlers have died before the age of XX. Do you know of any research that shows how many players from the NFL, or NHL, or MLB, or NBA have died before a certain age?

I have seen some articles on the subject and the numbers aren't even close when comparing mainstream sports death to what is going on in wrestling.  What makes it even worse for the wrestling business is the fact that there are far more baseball, football and hockey players than there are wrestlers so that makes the ratio of deaths of grapplers even more out of whack.  Only someone with their head in the sand would think that wrestling doesn't have a serious problem where early deaths are concerned.  The reason why the media is able to cover the story, and in some cases somewhat sensationalize it, is because there is so much truth to what is being reported.

I am no fan of HHH, but I have to admit he has a love for the business. When the time comes for Mr. Grapefruits to step down, do you think HHH would change the direction of the company, or do you think he will be ground down into the McMahon mold? I will grant you, Stephanie may insist on maintaining control, but let me live in fantasy land for a moment.

While some would say that HHH is already the head booker in WWE, that isn't the case.  It's no secret that H grew up a wrestling (as opposed to sports entertainment) fan and he has a healthy respect for the history of the business.  It's also no secret that the current WWE product is shaped and influenced by Vince McMahon (and to a lesser degree Kevin Dunn) and as long as Vince is in charge, we probably can't expect things to be much different than they are now.  But, Vince will have to step down some day and when he does, I have a lot more faith in HHH being in charge of the booking (especially if he is no longer an active wrestler) than I do his wife Stephanie since she hasn't done much to impress me since taking over as head of creative (and to be fair, she does have to deliver a product that her dad likes, which can be an albatross).  I don't ever see the company going back the old days but I could see them incorporating more "wrestling" aspects into the show with H in charge.  I think that would be a good thing. 

I remember a couple of months ago, in answering a question, it was mentioned that TNA was planning a big push for Samoa Joe. What happened to that push? Did it end with him simultaneously holding the X-division and tag title? Why didn't he win at Hard Justice since the fans are craving it? Also, does the lack of a push have anything to do with the potential Lesnar signing? Why isn't Joe a world champ?

It's all a matter of perspective, especially if you look at it from TNA management's point of view. Joe didn't become the champ but he certainly did get a push recently.  He had belts and he was in a program with Kurt Angle at the top, which qualifies as being at the top there.  The bottom line in TNA is that Kurt Angle has a ton of power and he is the top dog, so Joe is only going to get pushed so far.  I agree with you though, the fans want to see Joe on top and I think he should have gotten a run.  As for Brock Lesnar, Joe not winning and Kurt Angle lobbying to bring in the former WWE champ are two different things altogether.  I think Angle is looking for a future victim in Brock.  Again, it comes back Angle being the top guy and having a lot (maybe too much) power.

Hello my name is Mike, and even though you have been asked this question a million times I am going to ask it again. Why hasn’t Kane been given a title reign longer than a day. Your answer was he has credibility as a solo wrestler and there is no need to give him one. Would not a title reign prove his credibility as not only a main-eventer and professional entertainer, but as a champion willing and able to hold his own at the top. He has been used way too much as the measuring stick to determine whether a wrestler can stand alone with some of the WWE’s top talent. It also seems as if his win/ lose record is overshadowed with more loses than victories. This man is Kane the brother of the Undertaker. The man everyone feared at one time even the fearless Undertaker. How can this be his destiny? I feel this is a waste of an extremely rare and talented individual, and character for the WWE. His status should be up with the greats, instead he will fall into the category of Undertakers brother.

You feel differently about Kane than a lot of people in WWE do and frankly, differently than I do.  Kane has had a great run and Glen Jacobs has had a great career playing him but at this point in time, he just isn't a true top guy.  He doesn't sell much "top guy" merchandise and he's not a great interview.  Those things are important in WWE.  Wrestling is a work so it doesn't matter if he is "the brother of the Undertaker" or whatever.  He is a guy who has been around a while, isn't fresh and is being used exactly the way that he should be in helping to elevate new talents by playing off his character's reputation.  There is nothing wrong with that and it doesn't reflect on the man at all negatively.  In fact, it does just the opposite as far as I am concerned.

I keep reading all these snippets of news regarding Jeff Hardy’s WWE suspension, but nothing really says WHAT the hell he’s been suspended for. What is it??

It has not been officially announced what he was suspended for, only that he has been (and that was in a column by Jim Ross on his personal site).  I have heard one reason, which I believe to be true, but since I can't confirm it 100% it would be irresponsible to report it.  I think it's fair to say that it was a serious issue given that he was suspended at a time when he was being pushed in a big match at SummerSlam.  For that, WWE deserves credit for putting their rules ahead of what would have worked better for them on one of their biggest PPVs of the year.  With that said, at a time when they have the media and Congress looking closely at their company, I think they made a mistake in not disclosing why Jeff was suspended.  When people can only guess at the truth, they tend to assume the worst.

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