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WHY ISN'T CENA ON SMACKDOWN DEBUT?, AEW VS. NXT RATINGS, INTERVIEWING NORDHOLM AND MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2019-10-03 10:00:00

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Why wouldn't WWE have John Cena advertised for the FOX Smackdown debut?

Cena has been announced as part of the cast for the new Suicide Squad film and that began filming in Georgia this week, so he's likely not available.  It's possible he pops up as a surprise, but with everyone else scheduled, they are better off leaving John as something special down the line.

You interviewed Ed Nordholm?  I thought the narrative was you hated Impact!  What was the interview like?  Was there anything he declined to talk about?

I am sure someone will say I still do.  Part of the gig.  The interview was like any other phone conversation.  The entire transcript is online.  He did not decline to speak about anything and there were zero limitations on the questioning.  The door is open for him to return as well.

In a perfect world, what are the best ratings for AEW vs. WWE night one?  What's the worst scenario?

I don't think this is going to happen, but I'd like to see both sides end up with three million viewers each.  What a huge paradigm shift that would be for pro wrestling if that happened and was maintained.  It won't happen but that's my perfect world scenario.  I think we are really going into the unknown here and it's exciting but also scary.    The worst scenario, to me, is AEW splits the 1 million+ audience that NXT has had the last few weeks, so each side ends up with 550K, giving off the idea that there is a small bubble that wants these shows.  That would NOT be good for anyone in pro wrestling.

I know I am crazy but I seem to remember you interviewing someone and they compared tigers and bears as workers in the ring.  Am I crazy?

You are NOT,  This conversation actually happened when I interviewed the late Smith Hart.  It can be found in the Elite archives.

Taz has teased coming back to commentary of late.  Where do you think he will go?

I haven't heard of a potential definition, but I'd like to see him call MLW myself.  He'd be perfect for calling Timothy Thatcher, Davey Boy Smith, etc.

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