PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

PWINSIDER Q & A: WWE'S LATEST BIZARRE MOVE, JEFF HARDY'S PUSH, REY AS CHAMP AGAIN, TITLE LINEAGE AND MORE

OK, so now WWE is adding "Hot NEWZ" to their website.  All of the sites that they have chosen to "quote" are garbage and steal news from other places.  Is WWE doing this to take a shot at real sites like PWInsider and Dave Meltzer that actually break the news?  And, why is WWE even doing this?

Well, let's just say I would be stunned to see either of the two sites you mentioned quoted by WWE.com any time soon.  I think it speaks volumes that they are choosing the sites that they are to credit for "breaking news" when in fact those same sites largely credit other sources for their information (or at least should because that is where they get it).  I also think the whole concept is insane.  Shouldn't WWE know what is going with Rey Mysterio Jr. or Vince McMahon, without having to quote a secondary site, especially when you consider how little the McMahons think about sites that cover wrestling to begin with?  They are on the record as saying they think said sites are incorrect, etc., then they put them on their company website.  Is that insane?  Yes, I think so.  And, why they would mention TNA or ROH, I have no idea (but both companies are happy to let their products be mentioned by the top dog).  If I am them, I focus on MY business and that alone.

As for why they are doing it, I have heard two theories.  One is to try and increase their page view count.  The other is that they hope it will put sites like this one out of business (it ain't happening Vince).  Whatever the reason is, I think it's crazy and wouldn't be shocked to see that idea die a quick death when Vince realizes what is going on.  The scary thing is, creative has control of the website, so it's actually Steph and company that is OKing this!

From what I've seen lately, I don't think that Rey will get another title run, but I'm not the expert so, Will Rey Mysterio ever get another run with the title?

I can't say that he won't ever get another run.  It doesn't seem likely right now though, both with how he has been pushed recently and also with his recent biceps surgery keeping him on the shelf.  I think at this point, the best chance of him getting the strap again would be if they needed him in that role to promote something or reach a certain demographic.  Otherwise, he's probably had his run.  And honestly, as small as he is, it defies belief that he could be the champion anyway.

Regarding title histories changing hands, do you tend to differentiate between a company that literally goes bust like ECW (where WWE just bought the footage from the bankruptcy court), or WCW where it was still an ongoing concern, even though their best days were behind them, and WWE bought it and then ran it into the ground? Compare that to situations like JCP (I think) buyng out UWF or Turner buying WCW from JCP. Or, for that matter, Time-Warner absorbing Turner, or AOL and Time-Warner merging. Does it make a difference to you if the person or company that does the buyout already runs a wrestling company? A lot of people consider Turner buying WCW a valid inheritor of JCP's NWA title histories, but not WWE's buyout of WCW.

Here is my way of looking at it.  If a company buys another promotion and runs said promotion as the entity that it was, then the title lineage stays in tact.  If they buy it and kill it, like WWE did with WCW and Crockett did with the UWF, the titles die at that point to me.  I am one who concurs about the lineage of the NWA belt when Turner formed WCW.  They kept the company going so the belt stayed legitimate. 

In a recent Q+A, You said that the WWF/E Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship was worthless even though Jeff Hardy, in my eyes, has done a great job as the IC Champion. At one point, The IC title was no longer defended and actually dropped by the WWF/E until Steve Austin brought back the belt stating that the title did have a lot of value and should be defended. I have always been a big fan of the IC Championship. Some of the greatest wrestlers in the WWF/E were IC Champions (Tito Santana, Don Muraco, Greg Valentine, Bret Hart, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat are just a few examples). But with your statement comes one very painful question. Do you feel the WWF/E should eliminate the WWF/E Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for good??

I agree that Jeff has done a great job recently but the IC belt has had nothing to do with it.  Hell, when Randy Orton would rather get DQ'd against Jeff than bothering to try and win it, that says it all to me about important it is.  I agree with you on the past importance of the belt, but that was back when it was the number two title in the company.  That made it relevant.  Now that they have the World and WWE belts, the IC Title just doesn't mean much of anything.  It's not the "springboard" that it used to be, largely because WWE doesn't book it that way.  I would say this about its future.  If they don't make a commitment to making the title mean something then yes, they should just put it out to pasture.

Do you see Percy Pringle AKA Paul Bearer in the WWE Hall of Fame this year. I think he should go in this time. And having Taker going one on one with Edge for the Title is a good thing. They can make Pringle show up as Paul Bearer and walk down with Taker. It is WM and all WM's have a shocker in them.

I think he has earned the spot in the Hall of Fame but to me, the perfect time for him to go in is with Taker.  Their careers were so intertwined for years that I think they should enter the Hall in the same class.

You can send us questions for the PWInsider.com Q&A by clicking here.

We also have a new Q and A up today on PWInsiderXtra.com.

 

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet