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PWINSIDER Q & A: IS VINCE A GENIUS, HARDY AND H, WWE TAKING SHOTS AT TNA, VAMPIRO IS NOW FIGHTING CRIME AS A GUARDIAN ANGEL, AND MORE

I have been away from the wrestling scene for a few years and when I came back, I went to 1wrestling to see what you guys were up to.  To my surprise, none of you were there any more.  I did a Google search and found Dave here.  My question is, what happened?  By the way, I love PWInsider.  I just subscribed to the Elite section!

In a nutshell, in early 2004 the time had come for me to move on.  Back at 1W, I was working with Bob Ryder and Joey Styles.  They owned the site and I supplied content.  My contract with them was expiring and I just decided it was time for me to go out on my own and have complete control over the site I worked for, since my work is my passion.  Buck Woodward, Mike Johnson and Jess McGrath all chose to come with me, which wasn't surprising since we had all been friends and worked together for years.  In January of 2004, we started PWInsider.com and it has worked out best for all involved.  I am glad you enjoy the site!

Hey guys, great site. I've been a wrestling fan since I was 1 year old (18 years ago) and don't watch other sports. I've been proud to admit that I'm a fan. But since DX returned, Vince stomping on the good name of ECW when he changed the style of the brand and when TNA began their attempt to out-sports entertainment WWE, I've kinda lost the passion for this business. Sometimes I wonder when people call Vince a genius, does the statement come from people outside WWE's opinions, or is it a marketing tactic by WWE to put over Vince? I mean, come on! If he's truly a great leader, then why won't he listen to criticisms? Internet fans have complained for years about WWE's programming. WWE Magazine keeps calling the internet fans as "wrestling geeks" that want nothing but in-ring action and zero entertainment. That's not true. So, my question to you is, is it fair to blame the creative team for WWE's declining quality? Since Vince is the one who has the final say in everything, I don't think Brian Gewirtz and his team have the balls to argue with Vince over creative ideas. 

Honestly, I think the people that call Vince a genius are living in the past.  I think in the mid-eighties, when he ate up all the territories and took his company national with Hulk Hogan leading the way, the moniker was certainly warranted.  But by the early 90s, the WWF's business was slipping badly and he wasn't able to adjust and make it the monster it was.  Vince could then be called a genius a second time in the late 90s, when the Attitude era took off (though I believe that circumstances and contributions from others were more responsible than McMahon himself for WWE's success then).  But now, again the bloom is off the rose.  Also, as we have seen in the past every time he has ventured outside of the wrestling business the results have not been pretty.  A genius should be more than a one trick pony.  I think the best way to describe him is very opportunistic and sometimes having great instincts about the wrestling business.  Of course, his own people still put him over because they know who writes their checks.

As for his role in WWE, I have said many times that the buck stops with him.  He is indeed the head of creative and the writers are just trying to pop him, often much to our dismay.  It's hard to say how much talent the team has because they are not able to show it to us.

My question is what has Vampiro been up to?

It's funny you should ask because I just saw an article in the New York Daily News where they state he has joined the volunteer crime-fighting group The Guardian Angels and will be on patrol in Mexico City.  The article refers to him as a retired wrestler.  To read the piece, click here.

So I'm pretty sure I'm # 127 of 1000 who will ask you all about what Kennedy said Monday, But just for your info I know of one other time WWE took a shot at TNA like that. It was after Sting signed and he did not show up to the December Pay Per View and Vince came out and said something like "We don't Bait & Switch". So my question is was it smart for WWE to even acknowledge it? I know you guys don't like when they try to get to "Inside"  but you have to admit a little part of you giggled when you heard that.

Personally, I am not a fan of promotions taking shots at each other.  I think that they should just focus on their own business.  Inside comments can be funny, and if they are going to do them it makes sense to not actually name their competition, but to me when you acknowledge your competition, you are actually legitimizing them.  WWE is the top dog, they gain nothing out of even alluding to TNA.  It just validates TNA in the eyes of people who got what the comment meant. 

Should Jeff Hardy lose the WWE Intercontinental Title before Armageddon to make people believe he has a chance to not only win against Triple H at this PPV but also against Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble (which he obviously has not)?

I don't think it matters one way or the other.  As long as the title isn't on the line (and HHH doesn't want it) it doesn't matter if Jeff has the belt or not in my opinion.

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