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PWINSIDER Q&A: KONNAN'S LAWSUIT AGAINST TNA, UNDERTAKER RETIRING, GREAT WRESTLING BOOKS, MOOLAH DVD & MORE

I was wondering what you thought of Konnan suing TNA over his health issues?

First, it's hard to really form an opinion without seeing the actual lawsuit and I don't want to comment based on second and third hand reports.  My personal gut feeling is that, at its base, this is a situation where Konnan feels TNA owed him more than TNA feels they do and that's where the problem lies, not in anything else.  

Konnan was probably hurting for a long time in some fashion before he came to TNA, so the injuries to his hip were from the overall effect of his career.  TNA did lend Konnan money for his initial surgery.  At the same time, I understand he needed more money and kudos to everyone that ran a donation drive to help him when he learned he needed a kidney transplant, which was a wonderful, selfless act.  Was it TNA's responsibility to cover it?  That's for a judge to decree.

In my mind, Konnan did work for years making huge money in AAA and then WCW.  It's not like he was working the bottom of the card the length of his career and if people who make nowhere near what Konnan made could afford medical insurance, he could have as well.  All full-time workers deserve medical insurance, but the reality is that Konnan worked for WCW, the WWF, AAA, ECW, Ring of Honor and CMLL as well as promoted his own shows, so why single out TNA?  Why not sue everyone he ever worked for (that still exists), leading a class action suit in an attempt to try and force a real impact and change in how the business is run?  He's not doing that - he's suing TNA.

It's a shame Konnan was ill.  I'm happy he's doing better because as someone who had my own health issues in the past, I don't want anyone to suffer for even a second, much less deal with a debilitating injury or illness.    Still, I think suing a company he technically owes money to, might not have been the best way to go about things.  Again, once I read the lawsuit, I might feel differently.  Konnan certainly was within his legal rights to file the suit.  

I'll have more of an opinion once I get my hands on the actual suit, but until then, I can't say for sure anything for sure without reading the suit other than it's a shame it's come to this, because Konnan added a great dimension to LAX.

I recently read Bret Hart's book and loved it.  What other autobiographies can I read and enjoy without reading page after page of someone putting themselves over?

To be fair, if I wrote a book about myself, I'd probably put myself over too - if I don't, who would?  Anyway, books I've read and enjoyed, in no order, are Lou Thesz, Mick Foley's first opus, William Regal, Lita, Hardy Boyz (especially Matt Hardy's part), Freddie Blassie, Penny Banner and Chris Jericho.

What is your opinion on Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia being inducted into the Hall Of Fame? Is WWE inducting them only to get The Rock  to appear at WrestleMania? Are they truly deserving of being in the Hall?

From everything I've read about Peter Maivia, yes, absolutely.  Rocky Johnson was a really popular performer in his day, but wasn't the breakout star that Maivia was.  He was, however, one half of the first African-American WWF Tag Team champions, alongside Tony Atlas, so historically, that is a major deal.  Since the Hall is basically whoever Vince McMahon wants in it, yes, they are deserving.

I know the Undertaker is more closely associated with Wrestlemania, but when he retires, wouldn't it be more fitting for him to do so at Survivor Series?   Particularly, I would like to see him retire at the 2010 Survivor Series so they could say he retired exactly 20 years after his debut.  What do you guys think?

It's an interesting idea, but my feeling is that the guy should continue to wrestle as long as he wants to and is physically able to contribute.  He's the only performer to last and headline through the last several evolutions of the business and continues to evolve with it.  In many ways, I see him similar in that regard to Terry Funk, although they are two different styles of in-ring talents.

This may have been asked once before but, are there any plans
for the WWE to produce a DVD of The Fabulous Moolah? What do you think of the idea? Any chance?

I haven't heard of any plans for this in the pipeline, but you never know.  I think the idea wouldn't sell a lot of DVDs, but would be a nice idea for a small print run exclusive DVD.

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