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PWINSIDER Q&A: JOHN GRAZIANO'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THE NICK HOGAN CRASH, WWE HIRING DRIVERS TO PREVENT DUIs, SAVAGE-SURREAL LIFE, LASHLEY-TNA & MORE

Here's a question I haven't seen anyone address regarding the Nick Hogan fiasco, and a point where I think you guys are letting your Hogan bias get in the way of good reporting (because whether or not you like him if it wasn't for the Hulkster you guys wouldn't have jobs doing this).  So here's my question  was john awake when Nick Hogan who he knew was a minor was drinking. Of course being a beloved member of our military he wouldn't have been drinking with Nick would he? After drinking with Nick who he knew was drinking underage, John wouldn't have been stupid enough to get in a car when he was with him after he knew Nick was driving would he? After all he was a war hero, and of course after getting in a car with an underage driver who he knew was drinking, he again wouldn't be stupid enough to not wear a seat belt??!!! While not wearing a seat belt  in a car with a drunk underage driver, are we to believe Graziano probably wasn't encouraging Nick to race? (OK we don't know about that part but he probably wasn't telling him to stop) and after seeing your drunk underage friend racing at that point wouldn't you buckle up? Now Nick is at fault to for being a stupid jackass and putting friends family and strangers at risk after getting behind the wheel.. but John needs to take the blame too just as much as Nick.  I mean Nick is a stupid kid and John was a war hero. which one should have known better?  I would appreciate a response either in email or on the site.

First, if you change the word Hulkster to ECW, you'd be correct.  I have this job because of events set into motion when I met Dave Scherer and Buck Woodward via ECW.  Period.  Now, as far as John Graziano's responsibility, let me bluntly state that anyone who gets into any car for any length of time - I don't even care if you are pulling the car out to put it on the other side of the street - and doesn't wear their seatbelt is an absolute imbecile.  Things can happen in 10 seconds time that can completely change or ruin your life forever and wearing the belt can help protect you.  Had Graziano been wearing his belt, chances are he wouldn't be a vegetable today, as sad as it is to say that.  Does Graziano deserve some of the blame for all of the things you've written - absolutely, I agree with you.  Does that blame then make Nick blameless - absolutely not.  The reality is that both of them made stupid choices that day and neither of their decisions completely exonerates the other.  Still, Nick was behind the wheel, with alcohol in his system, racing, so that's where the brunt of the blame lies. As far as getting in the way of good reporting, I disagree with your opinion.

I have a stupid idea/question for you regarding all of those DUI arrests in Florida. Why doesn't WWE either hire drivers via taking something out of a wrestler's paycheck to pay for them or paying those wrestlers that do not drink for whatever reason extra to be driver's for those that choose to drink? I'm sure like with many businesses that not everyone involved with Florida Championship Wrestling drinks.  I know people like the freedom of driving, but I'm sure if it keeps up that someone will either be fired or suspended because of their DUI.

This certainly sounds like a good idea in theory, but when you are talking about a developmental that hasn't gotten their TV show or house shows off the ground, not to mention they still haven't gotten permits to allow fans to attend shows in their training facility, hiring drivers isn't going to be anywhere near the top of the checklist.  I also don't think the company is going to hire drivers to take the workers drinking, since part of the point of WWE developmental is to weed out those who won't make it on the road - both from an in-ring standpoint as well as when it comes to maturity issues.  Plus, the reality is that WWE started deducting pay from the developmental talents' salary, they'd hardly have anything to show for it - these guys aren't getting paid big dollars to begin with. 

I heard a rumor Lashley signed with TNA - is it true?

Everyone seems to expect it will happen, but no one within TNA has given any credence to the rumors.  Lashley just signed a MMA contract with upstart group AFL, so my guess is his priorities will be in fighting and winning decisively so he can begin to build his name in that genre.

With Great Khali back in India, WWE hasn't pushed or promoted him.  Is he he done or coming back?

Khali remains with WWE.  He went home for a number of personal reasons, including needed a knee operation but is expected back.  WWE has mentioned all the large scale media attention Khali has been getting in his homeland, but not non television since he was technically destroyed by Undertaker and is "out injured" in their storylines.