PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

PWINSIDER Q & A: MICHAELS AND HHH, STYLES ON ECW, HALL OF FAME, AMAZING RED AND MORE

Why didn't WWE put Joey Styles back in the announce booth for ECW when they removed Mike Adamle from the show?  Wouldn't that have been the logical move?

Vince McMahon did not like Styles' way of calling play-by-play.  That led to him being replaced by Mike Adamle and to Styles working with WWE.com.  Given that Vince didn't like him in the announce role, it wouldn't have been logical to put him back there.  What made sense is for Vince to give someone else a shot and so far, Todd Grisham has done very well.

I know there are a lot of great wrestlers that will never be inducted into the WWF/E Hall Of Fame. But, there are three men who I feel who should be in the HOF and I am not sure of the reasons why since Pete Rose and William Perry are in the HOF and don't deserve to be there. Tony Garea was a 5x WWF/E World Tag Team Champion and is one of the top agents in the current WWF/E. Rick Martel was a 3x WWF/E World Tag Team Champion, was really good as a babyface or heel wrestler and was AWA World Champion. Dominic DeNucci was a 3x WWF/E World Tag Team Champion and was one of the top wrestlers in the 1960-70's. He also is the man who trained Shane Douglas and Mick Foley. I feel these 3 wrestling greats deserve to be in the WWF/E Hall Of Fame. What are your thoughts? If you don't think they deserve to be there, I would like to hear your reasons why.

First off, keep in mind that the Hall is at the discretion of the top WWE execs.  Merit is only a part of how one gets in there.  It also helps to have someone who wants to put you in.  Of the people you mentioned, Garea has the best chance of gaining entry.  He still works for the company and obviously is on the good side of the important people.  Martel was a good hand but I would not be outraged if he didn't make the Hall.  In fact, in my personal Hall he would be a guy who was on the ballot but didn't get in.  I don't remember enough about DeNucci to say one way or the other but training Foley and Douglas would have zero effect on whether he would get in to my Hall.    

I believe it was mid 2007 when I last saw Andrew "Test" Martin in TNA. He was only there very briefly and then suddenly disappeared. If I remember correctly, I read somewhere that TNA was concerned at the time that Andrew was "too muscular" and, especially in the wake of the Chris Benoit tragedy, felt his look was very closely associated with enhancer usage. Any truth to this?

I don't remember it that way.  I just remember it as for whatever reason, he didn't work out and later announced his retirement from the business.

Do you guys find it extremely hypocritical as I do regarding the use of the Crippler Crossface by Triple H and Shawn Michaels of all people? I completely understand why WWE wishes to erase Benoit from DVDs and 24/7 and one of the reasons why I can see this being done is so that we are not reminded of him and his horrific actions. However, why is the move being used then when one person and one person only springs to mind when the move is being done? The move was deleted in the latest video game and yet it is still being done today especially in light of the rumor that it was used to murder Daniel Benoit. And do you feel the fans are hypocrites as well? They boo Chavo Guerrero and CM Punk when the three amigos is being used when it is obviously done as a tribute...yet the Crippler Crossface consistently gets a pop from the crowd. It just doesn't make any sense to me and I just want some of your insight.

I understand how you feel.  The move is connected to one person and there doesn't seem to be a reason for anyone current to do it.  It's not like when guys use the Sharpshooter.  At least then they can say it's being done to honor Bret Hart (whether that is true or not is another issue altogether).  There is no such reason to do the Crossface.  I understand that guys want to do cool moves and all but given the connation that it has, that one should stay off limits. 

What is the status of Amazing Red's injury and is he still under contract with TNA?

On 7/28 Bill Behrens, who handle's Red's bookings, wrote:

"Red is not confirmed for anyone at this time.  When he is ready to return I'll be assisting him with bookings.  He has accepted no booking at this time, and should not be promoted.  He and his wife recently had their second child and his work schedule has him home for only 8 hours at a time most days.   When that changes he plans to work out in the ring then decide how and when to return.  I wish promotions would stop promoting him in any fashion."

As of 8/18 he was being advertised as working for Pro Wrestling Syndicate on 8/31 but as Mike Johnson reported earlier today, that has been canceled.

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

 

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