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PWINSIDER Q & A: JERRY LAWLER, GIMMICKED GUITARS, THREE WAYS, WHICH BRAND WOULD YOU PICK AND MORE

Scenario: You're a highly praised WWE developmental talent in your early 20s. You're about to be called up to the big time. You're asked which brand you would most like to debut on. What's your answer? (No kiss ass "Which ever brand you want me at, sir" answer.)

You may not like that answer, but it's the smart one.  Since I am a smart guy, that is what I would say.  WWE is such a political place, it's smart as a young guy to not put a bulls-eye on your head early by being perceived as cocky.

In his October 15 blog, Jim Ross made a mention of Jerry Lawler never having any merchandise for sale at WWE live events. The way he worded the statement seemed like a nod to a larger story or joke. Is there anything interesting to that?

I think that JR was just stating something that came into his head when he was writing his story, and maybe it was a rib at his former partner who, despite approaching 60 years old, still wrestles on weekends for indy promotions because he loves to do so.  It would make sense that Lawler's stuff wasn't for sale at WWE house shows since he doesn't wrestle on them.

Where do promotions get the "gimmicked" items they use? Things like guitars, glass tables, etc. I can't imagine there is an entire industry dependent on New Jack, Jeff Jarrett and Team 3-D.

I remember with New Jack back in ECW that he just got his guitars from discount stores.  They weren't gimmicked.  They were just cheap so they broke easily.  With tables, ECW got them office stores like Staples.  They never cut them or gimmicked them either.  They just knew to do the big spot in the middle of the table so that they would break easily (since that is the weakest part of the table).  The only key to the table was to make sure that they didn't have the metal support underneath because when the table broke that could cut the guys.  So, the key is to use cheap props that break easily.

A recent Q&A explained that ESPN can use WWE catch phrases without infringement because of their venue (sports reporting) is not in competition with the WWE product. So exactly what grounds did the World Wildlife Fund have to sue the WWF since they are clearly not in the same field?

The difference there was that both companies were known internationally and marketed themselves as "The WWF".  They both did business under that name, hence the Fund could make the case that how the Fed marketed themselves could reflect poorly on them.  That is a far cry from ESPN making references to WWE catchphrases.

After watching all of the "John Cena is the world's toughest and most polarizing person in the wrestling world" videos for a couple weeks now, I can't help but think that Cena is the perfect person for a Triple Threat match. I know the concept was around long before he was even a wrestler, but wouldn't this type of guy be the sole reason for an effective three-way-dance, and, therefore, the sole reason for the creation of such a contest? Two faces versus a heel and vice versa does not have the appeal when compared to a face versus heel versus some-people-love-him-some-people-hate-him match. Do you know when such a match was created, and am I giving way too much credit to the creator?

I don't remember who was the first to do it but ECW certainly made it a staple of their promotion back in the day.  Yes, I think you are putting too much thought into it.  I always felt the purpose of the three ways was to add an extra guy to the match, not to worry about face-heel connotations.

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