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While cleaning, I found an old ticket stub (remember those?) from a Raw I attended years ago. At that show I remember being lucky enough to have seen C.M. Punk vs Matt Cappotelli in the pre-show dark match. My question to you, with all the shows you've been to over the years were there any dark matches that, at the time, didn't seem like much, but in hindsight, were something special? Thank you and keep up the great work.
There was a MSG taping that comes to mind in January 2002 that featured Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton, neither of whom had moved beyond OVW at that point. It's been forgotten by time for the most part, to the point Brock Lesnar didn't even remember it when I interviewed him prior to his Summerslam 2016 bout against Orton in NYC. That's the one that really comes to mind, although I fondly remember getting to see Jerry Lawler vs. Mr. Perfect at a 1993 Raw and enjoying it because it was a rematch of the match that saw Lawler win the AWA title in 1988. I also witnessed Howard Finkel vs. Harvey Whippleman in a Tuxedo Match in White Plains, but the less said about THAT one, the better!
With the HHH news, who do you want to see in the WWE Hall of Fame?
Off the top of my head, Kamala, Demolition, Cyndi Lauper, Brian Pillman, Ivan Koloff, King Kong Bundy and Victoria. Kamala is the number one talent I'd personally like to see inducted and I am bummed it never happened before he passed. Ivan is the only former WWWF Champion not in, which is just stupid to me. Bundy headlined Wrestlemania 2 and was a major part of the company. Without Cyndi, there's no rock and wrestling connection that leads into Wrestlemania. Brian Pillman is self-explantory. Demolition was a major franchise team for WWF, to the point that by the time The Road Warriors came to the company, there were fans I knew who thought THEY were Demo knockoffs, as silly as that sounds. Victoria was always a great utility player who did everything asked of her and is as deserving as anyone to be honored.
What did you think of Jordynne Grace denying your report she would be Indianapolis this weekend?
I laughed. I never get offended at things like that. At the end of the day, wrestlers are magicians in many ways and we write about how the magic is created. I can never get offended if they try to protect how they do their magic tricks. If Grace wants to say she's not at the Rumble, she can. Adam Copeland did that too, and we know how that turned down - with PWInsider.com being the only outlet to report he was going to return and when. We'll see in a few hours whether Grace is celebrating her mother's birthday in Texas or if she's walking the aisle. I'm excited to see what she's going to accomplish in WWE and I look forward to seeing her do it.
Was there ever a Wrestlemania moment that made you sad? I know people talk about The Undertaker stream ending. Was there a sad moment for you?
I don't remember being sad at The Undertaker loss, just amazed at how quiet it was in the Superdome and thinking that this was what it must have been like when Ivan Koloff pinned Bruno Sammartino. I'm sure there were matches I didn't think lived up to my personal hope at times, but the only moment that comes to mind was Wrestlemania 33 in Orlando where Howard Finkel didn't come out to introduce the WWE Hall of Fame. I knew that meant his streak of being at every Mania on camera was over and I was sad for him. It later turned out that it was his call because he was hurting and didn't want to walk all the way to the ring, as there was a MASSIVE ramp and felt it was time to call it a day, which I respected, but I was sad to see that run end, because he was the best ring announcer of all time (MY OPINION) and was a truly, genuinely wonderful person. The world could use a lot more people like Howard Finkel.
Any talk of Brie Bella returning to WWE alongside the potential Nikki return?
Nothing that we have heard.
A few weeks ago on The No Name Show with Dave, you made a reference to an Uncle Floyd. Dave knew who this was but I didn't, so who was he? An old wrestling manager? Your actual Uncle? I'm curious.
None of the above. "Uncle" Floyd Vivino is a comedian and musician who had a pretty lengthy and beloved series The Uncle Floyd Show that aired in the greater New York City and New Jersey area, featuring comedy sketches, musical guests and vignettes over thousands of 30 minute episodes. The show ran from 1974 until 1998 and was, for a time, syndicated into other major markets as well. He was very much a NYC/Jersey thing and was a very talented, funny comedian and singer who made a lot of other TV and film appearances, sometimes not even as Uncle Floyd. I don't recall him ever having a pro wrestling crossover. I simply made the reference to make myself laugh and because I know Floyd is currently recovering from a stroke, so I just wanted people to think about him for a second if they knew who he was. Uncle Floyd was a pretty big part of my childhood, trying to stay up late to see him and Saturday Night Live. He had everyone from The Ramones to Jon Bon Jovi on his show and even David Bowie was a fan. In short, Uncle Floyd was and is pretty awesome and I hope he's doing well and can one day return to performing. These days, he's been doing a podcast talking about memories of the show from the in-patient facility he's doing therapy in, and I wish him the best. For more on Floyd, click here.
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