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INDUCTING THE HART FOUNDATION, THE PRESENTATION OF THE WWE TITLE, SUMMERSLAM'S BIG ANNIVERSARY, SOURCES AND MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2018-07-21 10:00:00

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This may be cause for pure speculation, and I apologize, because I know you kinda hate that, but...What's with VInce not likign calling any of the talent Junior?  (Other than Cousin Junior)  Rey Mysterio couldn't be Jr.  Chavo couldn't be Jr. (Which caused a problem when they brought his dad in, though, "Classic" was...well... classic.  Is it because all the bpys called HIM Junior when his Dad was around, and he didn't care for it?  Though, I did notice Piper still called him Junior on occasion, and got away with it, but, hell, he was Piper.  Sorry for such a strange question!

I've never heard of any distinct reason for that, but it's possible that you are hitting on why.  It just may be that McMahon doesn't like the way Junior sounds phonetically during ring announcements.   It's his company so he gets to have and not have whatever he wants.

Loved your answer to the Owen Hart-HOF question & I think I thought of an interesting option and I wanted to hear your opinion on it. Why not induct the whole Hart Foundation! Not only is Owen worthy of a space in the Hall, but so are the late Davey Boy Smith and Brian Pillman as well as Jim Neidhart.

I'd be more than fine with the entire faction being inducted, but that doesn't change the fact that Martha Hart would be extremely opposed to the situation.

This year marks 30 years since SummerSlam debuted (1988). Why hasn't WWE played that up this year? Also, Do you think WWE would ever bring a "old school" PPV with the old set and logos like they did with Old School Raw a few years ago? It would be cool to see the classic SummerSlam look again.

WWE has a DVD celebrating the 30 year anniversary coming out next month.  I could see the company doing an old school show at some point.

I was disappointed to see the iron man match close the WWE Extreme Rules PPV. I have felt the WWE does not promote the WWE Championship as a top title. To me it has the same meaning as the European title did. why did they stop calling it the WwE World Heavyweight Championship? I think the name alone makes it feel like a stronger title, or at least as equal as the Universal Championship. Your take?

They stopped calling it the WWE World Heavyweight Championship because that distinction was for the unified WWE and World titles and once they instituted the Universal title, they were back to two titles, hence no reason to remind anyone of the unification.  I don't think it matters what the belt is called.  It matters how it is presented and they don't present the belt in the strongest light currently.

I was wondering how you handle the loss of sources.  Obviously you have been doing this for a long time but there has to be a turnover of people leaving and entering different companies.

I think I have handle it the same way reporters elsewhere do writing about other subjects.  You try to build and maintain relationships.  Sometimes sources won't give you stories but will confirm whether you have heard the correct thing elsewhere.  Sometimes, sources seek you out.  Sometimes, they disappear when they get signed somewhere because there is a paranoia about getting caught.  I've never had an issue where someone left working company X and stopped talking to me because they were still in communication with others who worked at company X and still had insight.  Reporting isn't a game of chess where you have a strategy and if you lose your pieces, you are screwed.  The process ebbs and flows depending on the day and there's no one way to handle it. There are people I hear from every day and some I hear from once.  The turnover rate and process has no rhyme of reason, so it's not something I ever concern myself with.  I just do my job to the best of my ability.

Have you ever outed a source?

NO.  There are two sources who later revealed themselves during PWInsider Elite audio interviews over the years and that was their choice.  Beyond that, I have never ever revealed a source and never will.

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