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PWINSIDER Q & A: JEFF HARDY AS WWE CHAMP, FLAIR WINNING A BELT ON HIS WAY OUT, WHERE'S MATT, THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND MORE

Here's another Ric Flair retirement scenario you've probably heard a million times. Some people want him to lose...some want him to retire as champ. What about Flair winning the ECW title (which he's never held) at Wrestlemania, retiring, and ECW having a tournament to "reinvent" itself with somebody fresh in the top spot? Kinda seems like a no lose scenario, doesn't it?

That works for me.  It's not like the ECW Title means much of anything anyway, given the way it has been booked while Dave Lagana was still with the company.  Having Flair win that belt, which let's face it has basically been a mid-card strap, wouldn't hurt its value in the least.   

Is Matt Hardy taking some time off or he is injured? 

He is recovering from a burst appendix that he suffered in November.  It is a very serious health situation. He is currently healing up and will be back in action soon.

Everybody seems to mention, that Jeff Hardy should become WWE Heavyweight Champion at the WWE Royal Rumble. I have to question: why? Only because he is over with the fans shouldn't guarantee you a title win (take a look back at guys like Jimmy Snuka). Also, in my opinion I would see more money in Jeff winning the title at WrestleMania (if WWE decides to give him the title anyway). I don't think, it would generate more PPV-buys with defending champion Jeff hardy wrestle Randy Orton or somebody at Mania. Jeff should challenge, not defending at Mania. This big time moment shouldn't be at the Royal Rumble - WrestleMania was and still is the land of rising stars. Your thoughts please.

Personally, I have been campaigning for Hardy to win the title at WrestleMania, not the Rumble, for a while now.  I am on the record with that.  I agree that just because a guy is over that it doesn't mean he should be made champion, but in Jeff I see a guy who is connecting with the fans, sells merchandise and should be given a chance to see how he would draw on top.  I think it's just smart for WWE to make as many top guys as they can.  Part of their recent problems have stemmed from the fact that they repetitively push the same people over and over again. There is also the problem of them ruining a lot of guys by taking them to the precipice of getting a big push, only to not deliver it and kill the guy's credibility in the eyes of the fans.  Let's face it, John Cena is way over as a top guy.  So is Triple H.  And Shawn Michaels.  If WWE wants to keep things fresh and attract new viewers, they need new acts to do that with.  Whatever match Cena or HHH is in at Mania will be a huge just because they are in it.  They don't need to be in a championship bout.  Having Hardy win the WWE Title at the show could very well create a new top star for the company and that should always be their goal.

My friends and I are always throwing out some fantasy booking to each other. They are convinced if I could talk to Vince I would be head booker in 5 minutes. I agree I have few good ideas from time to time. How would I go about contacting the WWE to try and interview for a position?

With all due respect, if that was your attitude going in, you wouldn't last two weeks.  Working for WWE is all about knowing what you role is and doing it.  It's also about being able to deal with some substantial political situations.  Don't take it as an insult.  A lot of people have great ideas for booking.  But in WWE, you have to things the way they expect them to be done, which isn't always the way you would think makes sense.

The head booker is Vince.  Always has been, always will be as long as he is around.  What the creative team does is write for him.  They come up with ideas to fit his vision of who with be programmed into feuds and also what they know will personally get over with him.  A lot of great ideas have been pitched only to be shot down by the big boss.  To book for WWE, you have to book for Vince.  If you still want to try, send a resume to the Human Resources department at Titan Towers in Stamford.

I have noticed that a competitor website of yours often follows up after you break a story with one of their own saying "More on fill-in-the-blank-story" in the headline.  As a reader, I feel insulted just seeing that.  How do you feel as someone who actually did the work to break the story?

Well, my view on it is if you haven't reported the story yet on your site, it's kind of hard to have "more" on it.  I feel you need to run your site as if it's the only one that the reader will see.  You can't assume that he/she will read the rest of the details elsewhere before coming to you or after they leave your site.  So, I think it makes no sense to write "more" about a story that you have yet to cover.

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