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I read your report about Dana White searching for CM Punk?s first opponent via a YouTube reality series. While I would guess this was said and done to attached Punk?s name to the series and thus draw viewers, do you think that it devalues Punk as an serious MMA athlete? I mean, the way it came off was that Punk is some sort of a side show attraction with a game show to find his first opponent. I would assume Punk signed because he wanted to compete against somebody of merit, and thus, prove he belongs. Is this announcement from Dana a set back to Punk in your mind?
How is a setback? It's putting importance into Punk's first fight. CM Punk is a rookie with name value. I have no idea what his skill set is going to be like when he steps into the Octagon. If UFC put him into the ring with a top notch name, there's no chance it would be fair. Dana White looking for someone at a similar level of experience and skill and giving him the chance to face Punk in a bout that would give him, if he wins, some attention. That sounds like trying to build an asset no matter who wins to me.
Considering their woeful creative direction and abysmal ratings, do you think Vince will try to lure Paul Heyman into helping the creative department? And would Heyman accept?
It's a great idea but I think both Heyman and WWE are happier with Paul just working as a performer. I don't see Heyman accepting such a job unless it paid a lot of money and he had the ability to work without Vince McMahon overruling him, which we know would never happen. Heyman and the McMahons clashed a lot when he was on creative. I think all their lives are easier when they aren't constantly battling.
Since Vince has shown no desire to book WWE the way NXT is done, do you think Vince considers the NXT fanbase a 'small fringe' of the wrestling fans and he doesn't think NXT's product would ever get over with the masses? I get the sense he looks at it in a similar way to how he saw ECW.
I can't speak for Vince's mindset but based on the way NXT has been referred to of late, you get the impression that there are some in the company who see it as a smaller, niche thing. I'd like to remind those that the smaller niche thing drew a crowd the same size as Summerslam inn August.
So, The League of Nations. WWE's latest "threat" to all that is good and righteous. Just to be clear... Was their formation based on the fact that they are all foreign or was it based on the fact that between the 4 of them, they collectively hold about 3 televised wins in the passed 4 months?
I feel your pain. We'll see if WWE can rehab that.
I remember reading or hearing the tape of the New Jack/Mass Transit Incident had "disappeared", but I just read that the Kulas family appeared on Inside Edition years ago and footage of the match was shown. What's the real story?
The tape never disappeared, just was wisely taken off the market. The damage from it's release had already been done at that point, leading to the first ECW PPV being canceled at one point, New Jack being criminally charged (he was later found not guilty) and a civil lawsuit. All of that is recounted, week by week, in the Wrestling Lariat archives in the PWInsider Elite section.
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