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We are on site at the NWA Legends Fanfest  in Charlotte, NC.  The convention will open with a special Q&A sessions featuring the two men who headlined the first-ever Starrcade event in November 1983, Ric Flair and Harley Race.  

There is a big backdrop promoting the forthcoming Ric Flair "Wooo" lottery game, which will debut for the North Carolina Lottery next month.

Chris Cruise welcomed everyone to the weekend.  He said there were some true legends tonight and everyone gave Flair and Race a standing ovation.  Cruise talked about the history of the first Starrcade event, discussing how it was the beginning and end of different NWA championship eras as well as the first branded supershow event using closed circuit technology over several states.

Race was asked about the responsibilities of being the NWA World champion.  Race said that in that era, traveling the world used to be a much harder hassle.  He said that one had to be able to go to wherever you were sent and take whoever you were facing and then deliver the absolute best you could deliver.  He said that he felt he did that as did the person sitting next to him.  Flair said that he met Harley in 1973 before he even came to Charlotte the first time.  He said that growing up in Minneapolis, there was a place called the Chestnut Tree where a lot of toughs congregated.  He said that Race, who was teaming with Larry Hennig at the time, walked into the place and Flair told his friends someone was going to get their ass kicked.  He found out later from his father that Race was stabbed in a fight there and that made him an even bigger hero. 

Flair said that there were names you idolized when he get into the business for their work ethic like Race, Ray Stevens, Dick Murdoch, etc. and talked about meeting Race and riding with him to Denver when he first broke into the business.  He said Race drove 100 miles an hour in a snowstorm and 100 miles an hour was normal for Race to drive no matter what.  He said that they were going over mountains, drinking at 100 miles an hour in a rental car.  He said that as his career grew, he saw Harley became World champion.  Race set the bar "so high" for the champion because he went into the buildings with whoever he was facing and took them to a new level.  He said Race "was like God" and always came to the buildings dressed nice and said Race was what he wanted to be.

Flair said that sometimes you went to venues to face people who weren't world class performers but if you were the World champion, you had to take them to the level you needed them to be.  He said that if you were the World champion, "you were in the mack daddy seat" and had to carry the load.

Race was asked about when Flair's name began to be circulated around as a potential World champion.  Race said that it wasn't long after he debuted because Flair had a style and demeanor right away.  He said there were eight members who could put you in the race for the title and when Race heard Flair's name bandied about, "I couldn't recommend him enough" as Flair could take guys who were limited to good and great matches.  Race that anything complimentary Flair said about him so far, if you reverse them, they fit Flair.

They were asked about their first-ever meeting in the ring.  Race said they wrestled so many damn times, it's like the first one was the last one.  He praised Flair's class and work.  Flair said that the first time he wrestled Race was St. Louis.  He didn't believe Race was the champion at the time.  He said that he used to chop guys really hard and Race was one of the few who would say hit me harder.  In return, he would then give it back.  Flair said it was a learning process and imitated how Race would call spots in the ring.  Flair said after five minutes in the ring, he was exhausted.  He said he picked up things from Harley and now Triple H has taken them from him. 

Flair said Race was the first person to do the vertical suplex and even did it to Andre the Giant.  He praised Race for his innovative moves like suplexing someone outside the ring and going to the floor together, going over the top, etc.  Flair said he was told like Dory Funk Jr. and was told if he wanted to get over in the business, he had to get over in St. Louis.  Flair asked how and Funk told him to take bumps like Race because the ring was like concrete and no one bumped in it.

Flair was asked about the Crocketts putting him in contention for the NWA title.  Flair said he used to bug Race and Dusty Rhodes about being the World champion.  Race finally told him he had told him all he could now and it was up to him.  The Crocketts told him in 1980 he was a possibility.  He was sent to St. Louis as part of the process and it was a really political journey.  Flair said when he left Charlotte, it hurt the territory a bit but in the long run made it a bigger company.  Politically, the NWA was run by multiple territories so when it came time to talk about who would be champion, it was about skill, presentation and being able to draw money.  He said that you had to be skilled and you had to be skilled with political allies.  He said it was a much tougher business back then.

Race was asked about working the Charlotte area.  Flair said he has the relationship they have because as heels, they were able to travel together in the territory.  Race said they traveled a lot together and when he came in as NWA champion, putting them together was what it made it work the best.  Fans wanted to see Flair become World champion and they were disappointed when it was time for him not to be there. 

Race said that Flair came in during a period where they all wrestled seven nights a week, then did everything Race did and more, because Flair was still a young man when he was given the belt.  Race said that he set a bar that Flair couldn't go lower than, so Flair ran right at it and went over it and still today runs at it.  He said Flair was the greatest thing to ever walk into the squared circle.  Fans gave Flair a standing ovation and he got very emotional, tearing up.  Race said that the way the fans just responded, that's the type of respect Flair gets around the world.  Flair said that he felt like he was just inducted into the Hall of Fame again and thanked everyone.

Reid Flair was brought up on stage, wearing a suit jacket and hugged Race and his father.  Flair said that Reid's heard all the Race stories before.  Flair said there is always someone who wants to be a wrestler and Race has a great school.  Flair said having the opportunity to be around someone like Race and learning what's "inside" that helps people become great wrestlers and that's why he sent Reid to live with Race for several months.

Flair told a story about being in Japan at Budokan Hall with Race wrestling Jumbo Tsruta.  They wrestled for an hour and at one point, Race was inadvertently dropped on his head and everyone was scared.  Race returned to the locker room and he was mad.  He told Flair he was going to teach Ric a lesson about the business.  He took Flair to Giant Baba's locker room.  Tsrutua came to Race and thanked him for the match.  Race asked Jumbo if he asked him to suplex him.  Jumbo said, "No but crowd like."  Race popped him and put him down on his rear, then told him not to ever do that again.  Two years later, Flair as champion toured All Japan and the NWA sent Harley as his bodyguard to protect the title.  Harley was in Ric's corner as he defended against Tsruta and the entire time, Race called for Jumbo to suplex him again and again.  Flair said he took like 50 German suplexes.

Ric was asked about his role leading into the first Starrcade.  Flair talked about the entire show being built around him and that the show did well but would have done even better if on the day before and Thanksgiving Day, there wasn't 12 inches of snow.  He said the feeling of all the fans pulling for him to win the World title was awesome.  Flair said they did a lot to build to the show over the year, including Race putting a bounty on him and other territories played up the storyline as well.  He said Race was at a point in his life where he wanted to go home and relax and promote St. Louis.  Flair said it was a great moment.

Race talked about being offered to walk away from the NWA title and go to the WWF right before Starrcade in 1983.  Race said that there are things and moments where you have to make a decision and it has to come from what you, as a person, truthfully believe.  He said that he couldn't believe in what they were trying to get him to do and had too much respect for himself, Flair and the wrestling business.  He said that he couldn't do it and Flair didn't deserve to have that happen to him.  He said Flair had the NWA title for a short period and deserved "his just try to go everywhere in the world with it."  Race said that cheating Flair out of that run wasn't an option and if he had to do it again, he wouldn't "change a damn thing."

Race was asked if he was offered money.  He said there were certain stories that weren't meant to be told in front of an audience and to be recorded and replayed over and over.  Flair said he talked about some of it in his book and said that had Harley not come to Greensboro, it would have changed the face of the business and the business wouldn't be where it is today.  He said the evolution of the NWA and WCW would have been very difficult.  He said that only Race knows the truth of what happened but he doesn't think anyone involved in the business would have thought for a second that Race wouldn't be there.

Flair was asked about the art of cutting a money drawing promo.  Flair said that for him, the business was so real and he believed 90 to 95% of what he said.  He said that he had passion for it and when they put the microphone in front of him, he felt it and noted that when you are wrestling one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, it wasn't hard to get the words to come out.  Flair said it's an emotional process that's just right there for him and sometimes it works for him and sometimes it doesn't.  Race praised Flair for his promos and said that when someone talks from the heart, it reflects onto the fans.  Race said they were both gifted at cutting promos.  He said his last hope at that time was to see Flair become what he eventually did.  He said that no one deserved it then or now more than Ric did.

Flair said that after his match with Shawn Michaels, Reid came running to him in the locker room and told a story about Race getting up clapping for the match and looked around the room, so everyone knew to get up and clap or else.  Flair thanked Race.  Race said that their era will survive what is out there now.

Race was asked his reaction to losing the belt.  Race said it was two-sided deal as passing the torch was the best thing he ever did in the ring.  He said that he knew he was passing it to a person that thought as much about the importance of the title as Race did.  He said they did Lord knows how many 60 to 90 minute matches and he knew he wasn't passing the title to someone who wouldn't take it and do the same that Race did.  Race said his body was telling him it was time to drop it.  He said that the way he walks today, he has no one to blame but himself now.  He said that Flair being able to take the same drive in the ring made Race feel that he couldn't and wouldn't have dropped it to a better choice.  Race said that when he passed the torch, he decided the only time he'll ever dress in a suit is a wedding or funeral, which is why he dresses the way he does.

Flair was asked about the feeling of winning the World title that night.  He said it was a great feeling and that having it and being able to prove yourself was an awesome feeling.  He said Race advised him to get to TBS and get on cable.  He said the first time he was World champ, he would go to places where there were no fans because no one knew he who was.  The second title win really elevated him to being a true champion as opposed to a flash in the pan deal. 

Flair was asked if his first title run was something of a tryout.  Race answered saying at the time, there were a lot of political arguments going on about who got the most votes to make what needed happen.  He said Flair was caught up in the middle of an argument that worked great for Race and bad for Flair, but in the long run, set Flair on the path to his greatness.

Flair and Race were asked about how intense the locker rooms were back during the territories.  Flair said there were times that there was legitimate heat between the wrestlers and that it was a whole different world.  Flair said with no contracts you were working to be at the top of the card and there was legitimate animosity and competition to get into the top spots.  He said it created a whole different atmosphere than the business has today.

A fan asked about Gene Kiniski refereeing the match and whether he got in their way.  Flair said Kiniski did and Race "told him."  Flair said Kiniski was called a "clumsy son of a bitch" and told that some things never change.  Flair said Kiniski took it the same way everyone did when Race did something, he took it and kept quiet.

A fan asked about the art of storytelling in the ring and how it's lacking today.  Flair said that the business is different now since it's all about television and about getting the viewing audience.  Flair said that there are guys good enough to do anything he and Race did but that's not what their job is.  He said it could be their passion but they won't get the chance because the changes in the business.  He said Undertaker, Randy Orton, Batista, John Cena, Triple H, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels could all do it.  He said the younger ones have it in their hearts to do it even if they don't have the experience.  Flair said people think he puts up for Triple H but the reality is he doesn't need to get in the ring every night and goes for 30 minutes.  Flair jokes that he watches him and thinks "he's seen this before" because it's Flair's old deal.   Race said there are names that can perform at every level and do a heck of a lot more on the house shows than they do on the WWE TV.  He said that's the way it should be but it's TV so when you watch it, you see what you get.   Flair said he'd like to see any of the names he mentioned drink all night with Harley Race and then make TV at 9 AM before going to a double shot that night.

A fan asked when they had the time to talk to the other wrestlers about what they were going to do.  Flair said, "Are you kidding me?" and commented that they only talked about it in the ring, certainly never before or after.

A fan asked if they tried to go out of their way to make Starrcade 83's main event "more special" than any previous bout.  Flair said that they saw each other all of two minutes.  Flair said usually Race said, "It's like Greyhound, leave the driving to me" although he didn't that night out of respect.

A fan asked about Dusty Rhodes hogging up the spotlight the night of Starrcade and asked if Flair ever wanted to slap him for it.  Flair disagreed and said that the show was built around him and that was Dusty's call.  The fan mentioned Rhodes being credited with killing Crockett's company with bad booking.  Ric disagreed and said what killed Crockett was going West of the Mississippi River when they didn't have the TV strength.  He said that if they hadn't, Crockett would still be in business.

A fan asked about the phantom title changes in New Zealand.  Flair asked if everyone wanted to hear the truth.  Race decided they were going to change the title themselves because promoter Steve Rickard was a good guy and needed the help.  Flair said they were going to get in trouble and Race told him they were doing it, so Flair said, "Yes sir!"  Flair said that if Paul Boesch hadn't been there, no one would have known.  He said that if Harley wanted to do something, he had the respect to pull it off.  Flair joked he was actually a 17 time World champion and kept going up on numbers.  Race said that he knew he was going to get chewed out over the switches and "it happened from every angle you could imagine."  Flair quipped they happened over the phone, not face to face.

Flair was asked about their thoughts on World Class, Fritz Von Erich and the Von Erich family.  Race said he started wrestling in St. Louis and Fritz was a good sized name there.  He said that when Fritz took over the Dallas territory, everyone in the NWA stood up to help him.  He said getting one Von Erich into the business was a good idea but three or four didn't work out so well.  Race said that David was the best of them.  He said that the time, if you could get in and out of St. Louis, you would be in contention because all the TV was sent to all the NWA promoters.  He said he and Ric were lucky to be in the right point and time and spot in St. Louis.  He said that he didn't think anyone deserved the NWA title more than himself or Ric.  Race said that in that era, you needed to pull out an hour with anyone you were put in the ring with and none of the Von Erichs could have done it.  Race said it was never planned for David to win the World title from him.

A fan asked if they ever got tired of carrying the World title around.  Flair said never.  It was noted that Flair had 12 robes stolen so at times, he had to stop checking them on airplanes.  Flair said that everyone took care of the belt but didn't have the same respect for the robes.  Flair said he took a lot of his mannerisms with the robe and the belt from Race.  He said the respect in the business changed as it went from returning to the locker room to find the robe laid out and smoothed for him in 1981 to it being tossed in a ball in a corner in 1995.

A fan asked about working and carrying the Von Erichs in the ring.  Flair said the Von Erichs put together a phenomenal promotion and had amazing TV behind them but the "boys never had a chance."  Flair said that Fritz was in denial and no one wanted to deal with the problems, from David on down.  Flair said that everyone knew what was going on but the family was in denial with themselves and the boys.

Flair was asked about the night Baby Doll joined forces with the Horsemen.  Flair said that she always had eyes for him.  Baby Doll was in the back, so Flair called her onto the stage.  He said that she was such a huge part of the promotion and her coming over to them was a huge coup.  He said she had more fun with them.  She said that growing up in the business, being put with them was amazing.  She said she was the biggest mark in the business and was honored to even be asked to come up.  She said that in her first match, when she was told her first finish, that was when she learned how it was done.  She said that unless you were on the jets and in the limos, you don't really know what it was like and thanked everyone.

Race said that there's no one who hasn't been physically involved in wrestling that understands what it's really like to do the business and do it safely.  He said there are people who talk about what they would do but that's part of why the business has fallen apart.  He said if they taught what they know and Triple H knows, the business would be in a better spot than it is right now.

Flair said that today is better for the wrestlers than it was during their era and they are both happy for that since there are contracts and guys being paid when there are health issues.  He said they don't wish they could make the money John Cena makes because they are happy to see the business at the level it is at now.  Flair said sometimes he doesn't like socializing with guys who don't like the business today because everyone made their own beds and laid in it, himself included.  He said the business is a guy's soap opera now.

Race was asked if there were other names in the early 1980s who could have been in Flair's position to replace him.  Race said there were a lot of qualified people, but only one Ric Flair and that was the right call.  He said time passed him by but it still hasn't passed Flair by and Flair could still make Joe Blow look like Mr. Wrestling.

Flair was asked about wrestling Vader at Starrcade '93 and Race's memories of managing Vader.  Flair said it was something that worked out as Vader was supposed to wrestle Sid Vicious.  Flair said Leon White was a great guy but didn't think he wanted to lose.  Flair said Vader tested him in the ring.  Vader had respect for Race and when he was told to do the right thing, he said "Yes sir" like everyone else.

A ten year old fan asked for advice for someone who wants to be in the wrestling field one day.  Flair said he advised his parents to get him into an amateur wrestling program because it builds self-esteem, which you need in the business.  He said to finish school and get through college.  He said if you still want to do it in ten years, go to Harley's school and if that doesn't exist, go to Tampa, FL (WWE developmental).  Race said amateur wrestling shows everyone that you have the drive and that you are capable to do whatever you want to do.  Race said that if by chance, he's still running a school in ten years, go to www.harleyrace.com.

Flair and Race were asked about Dick Slater and Bob Orton's roles leading into Starrcade 83.  Race said that he had cut a promo putting a reward out on Flair's head but that was as far as his knowledge in the angle went.  He said Flair was involved in it and worked it to a tee to pull it off all over the Carolinas and got everyone in the United States talking about it.  Race said he was lucky to be part of the lucky end of the product and had the weather been better, they would still have records that stood.  Race said he was lucky to get  a great payday in part thanks to that angle.

Flair said Slater and Orton were both World champion caliber wrestlers.  Flair said that he wrestled them with various partners for three months leading into Starrcade and it was a great time.  Flair said they made the people believe and they conducted themselves really seriously.  He said the business is still the same, but the word entertainment changed it so much.  He said that everyone who knows and loves the business knows its a sport.   He said it changed for the better long term.

A fan talked about how nothing in the business makes him want to watch anymore.  He said that the last thing he wanted to watch was Flair's last run.  He said there are no older fans at the shows now and he'd rather watch these two cut promos than anything in the business now.  Flair said he and Race like hearing that but he doesn't know that's the truth.  He said he'll never be the guy who says things aren't better now because he has friends that work there and they have the stresses of a different environment.   He said the structure and camaraderie of the business has changed so much.  He said life has changed and we all have to make that adjustment.  He said they respect that the fans care so much about their accomplishments.

Ric was asked when he really realized he could carry the World title and a promotion.  Flair said he never really thought of it like that and he's had self-confidence issues periodically.  He said he just wanted to hear from a few people that he was doing the right thing and if Race and Blackjack Mulligan felt he was doing well, he was happy.  He said that if he tells someone something, they don't need to ask anyone else because he's that good.  He said that he knew his peers were that good.

Flair was asked about Kerry Von Erich's initials being on the NWA title.  He said it wasn't.  He was asked why he still has the World title belt and Flair said they never asked him for it to be returned and he was sure they would ask for it back, but they never did.  He said they replaced it with the big gold belt and he kept the old one and eventually mounted it.  He said the gold one is in Hogan's possession, which fans booed.

They were asked about the stresses of the travel and pressures.  Flair said he had five unrecorded nervous breakdowns.  You were in the ring for an hour every night in different places, sometimes with the same person, sometimes with different.  He said that even if you wanted to sleep, there was no time.  You got out of an Arena at 11 PM and had to be on a plane at 6 AM.  It was his life and he never thought twice about it and regrets nothing.

Flair was asked about Race working as a substitute for Vader in WCW against Flair.  Flair said it never happened.  Race was asked about his final match and he said he doesn't truthfully know.  He said it was in the mid-90s but he'd have to look it up to tell fans.  He said that to sum his career, it would be a coin flip over who had the better career.  Race said they were both on an untouchable career.  Race said he thought he set a mark, but then can Ric.  He said there was very, very little about his career he would change.

Flair was asked about the Internet and things he'd like to dispel.  He had taken some jabs at it earlier.  Flair said he was being facetious since he'd remember working Race in the 90s. 

A fan who was at Wrestlemania 24 asked Flair about the experience.  He said Shawn Michaels was next to none in the ring.  He said that what fans need to understand about Michaels and Triple H is the level of respect they have for names like Flair and Race.  Michaels wanted to be Ric when he grew up and Ric described him as a unique, special guy with unique level of performance.

Flair was asked about Four Horsemen candidates he wanted that didn't come to pass.  Flair said it wasn't his call, but he wanted people who could talk and wrestle and they, including J.J., could all do it.  Flair was asked about a fantasy Horsemen lineup and he said himself, Harley Race, Dick Murdoch and Jack Brisco.  Flair said you'd never imagine the hell Race and Murdoch raised.  Race said he's surprised they are even free.

A fan asked if they ever watch their own matches.  Flair said that he does it with his son Reid and he likes watching the 80s.

They were asked about Dusty Rhodes.  Flair said he was their best good guy opponent and that at no point could Dusty not hang with them or keep up.  They praised him a lot.  They were asked about Ricky Steamboat.  Race praised him as a performer and person.  Flair said he wanted to tell a story about Steamboat at the Hall of Fame.  Flair told a story about busting open Ricky on the floor of WRAL in Raleigh, NC and Race was visiting.  Race wasn't happy with the final result so he told David Crockett to get some sandpaper and used it on Ricky's face to make it look rougher and harder of a beating.  He said that Steamboat cried the entire time but he did what he needed for the business, because back then it was more real.

They were asked about their favorite wrestlers.  Race said it was Flair and that there was no one out there today who could equal what Flair accomplished.  He said Flair leaped into it in the early 70s and is still in it today and healthy.  Flair said it was a gift that God gave him.

They were asked if they ever felt disrespected by storylines about legend killers, etc.  Race said they were just that, storylines.  Race said they have told their stories and have done it.  Flair said, "Who's going to kill Ric Flair and Harley Race? Nobody."  Flair said he loves when they call him to come to TV and can't wait to see what they have in store for him.  He joked he almost got killed wrestling Randy Orton for 15 minutes (and he said "wrestling").  He said he doesn't take anything for granted.

They were asked to address the fans who assembled from around the world for the convention.  Race said that if it wasn't for the fans, there never would have been a Flair or a Race.  He said if they went into an empty Arena, there wouldn't be pay for long for them.  He said the fans gave them both everything they have.  Race said that they may have been entertaining but it was thanks to the fans and asked them to thank themselves.  Flair said they both have so much respect for the fans and the parents of the fans who came before them.  He said that the fans continue to give them respect even when they are past their prime.  He said normal people don't understand because what they did wasn't normal and thanked everyone.

Jim Cornette hit the stage while referee Tommy Young made his way around the room with a wireless mic.

Cornette was asked about Dave Batista's comments that he never learned anything during his time in Ohio Valley Wrestling.  Cornette said that what was best for Batista at the time may not have been the best for the company he worked for, especially since he wasn't best friends with the "son-in-law" at the time.  Cornette said that Batista didn't show a drive or ambition, and given his lack of ability, he had to be pushed as a main event attraction because he couldn't have been a guy in the third match doing armdrags and hiptosses.  He said that a lot of other hungry people like Randy Orton and John Cena learned a lot and there's only been two complaints about OVW for all the time they were part of developmental.  He said he predicted Batista would be a Wrestlemania main eventer, and he was - but because he learned to work out with the "son in law."

The next fan asked Cornette his thoughts on the WWE Nexus angle.  Cornette said he can't knock it because he doesn't watch the show, but reaads what's going on with it.  He said it aggravates him after awhile.  Cornette said WWE should have been getting the younger talent exposed and over a long time ago, but using them now is a step in the right direction.  He said whether you need to expose new talent in groups is another story.

A fan asked Cornette to tell the famous Dairy Queen story from the SMW era.  You can see that footage at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id4rZhN_LEg.

Cornette was asked what was the "craziest situation" he has found himself in.  He joked that he was in a jail cell in Baton Rouge for 90 minutes where everyone knew who he was.  He hit a cop by accident when he went to nail a fan that hit him.  The other person in the cell was laying on a bench with a blanket over it and Cornette was sure it was a dead body, but he was relieved because everyone else in the jail probably would have taken a shot at him because he was such a heel.

When asked about the ECW themed TNA PPV, Cornette joked they are finally up to 1996.  He said it's sad because there are a lot of dedicated fans who loved ECW at the time when wrestling was cool.  He said that while it's "newer" talent, it's guys in their early 40s as opposed to guys from WCW in their early 50s.  He said TNA needs to get new talents over and not pigeon hole them or kill their push after six weeks because someone gets mad at them.  He said he doesn't want to waste time on "that cretin" Vince Russo but asked everyone to imagine what could have happened to TNA if they had spent their money on applying themselves by doing a more serious style similar to UFC instead of doing yet another restart and another attempt to make a first impression or to be Dixie Carter's vehicle to be a TV star with her own promotional photos.

Cornette then told a story about being in a production meeting for TNA.  He jokes there's usually someone from SpikeTV complaining about Russo's spelling.  He talks about how Stevie Richards, who's been a wrestling star for over a decade, is now a therapist.  He told of a vignette that was written where Richards would drug Abyss and beat him up, only Russo didn't know what the name of the "miracle drug" would be.  Then, they would go to commercial and go right to the next segment with no follow-up at all.  Cornette said it was so frustrating, employee's immediate families didn't want to watch.  He compared it to Ring of Honor, which he said hasn't used up millions of dollars and aren't hiring people who were over in 1996 or were professional models, and is trying to do a more serious style.

A fan asked him his thoughts on Ed Ferrara being fired by TNA.  He said that Ferrara lasted all of nine months and was just "the sh**s" to the point he wasn't even fired in an entertaining manner.

Cornette was asked about Bobby Heenan.  Cornette said that one of the reasons he enjoyed working for ROH is because it was the first time he got the chance to work opposite him at ringside because they never had the opportunity before.  He said that many of the things that he did on TBS were things he lifted from Heenan in the old Dick the Bruiser territory.  Cornette said that Heenan perfected the animated manager at ringside and was a better worker than anyone he ever managed except Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel.  Cornette said that he's really sorry that Heenan is having health issues again because he was looking forward to seeing him.  He recounted a story of Heenan's first match, where he saw a backstage brawl, a fan attack him, saw a wreck on the way home and was paid $20, then wondered when he could do it again.

He was then asked a "What if" question of who he would book for a Wrestlemania main event if he was somehow given that power.  Cornette said that he doesn't watch the show but the only way to book a match like that is to start a year in advance deciding who he wanted to be in that position and begin that build as soon as possible.  He said he would want someone young but someone who carries themselves with maturity.  He praised John Cena as someone who gets knocked but does everything that is asked of him and will be responsible and do everything that is asked of him.

The best and worst wrestler of all time - Cornette said that he was going to get heat for anything he answered.  He said the epitome of the worst was The Ultimate Warrior just based on stories he's heard from Bobby Heenan.  He said Warrior wasn't a fan, didn't want to learn to get better and hurt Bobby Heenan by clotheslining him when he wasn't ready, causing Heenan's neck problems.  He said that the nostalgia for Warrior is more self-created than box office.  He said that Warrior's attitude is what makes him the worst.  He said that if someone wants to put everything into his look but not care about anything else makes him the worst.  Cornette said he was picking Don Fargo as the best because there is no way to get heat for naming someone who has been around since the dawn of network television.

A fan asked about Bobby Eaton's health and whether ROH could be on their way to being the number two company.  Cornette said Bobby is doing well and may be there this weekend.  In regard to ROH, he said that when you look at it who loses the most money, that would make ROH the number two organization already since they didn't hire Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.

Cornette was asked if he's had any further contact with Terry Taylor of late.  Cornette joked that his old friend hasn't called him lately.  Cornette said in regard to TNA "he doesn't give a f***"  He said that he doesn't care to help them any more because he would only give himself a stroke trying to get mad and aggravated about them.  He recounted the story about emailing Terry Taylor and how that landed him a legal letter from TNA over his comments about Vince Russo in said email to Taylor.  He said Taylor has known him for 30 years and others in the company knew him for many, many years so what did they think was going to happen when he received the letter?  He was going to have some fun.  He said that he wanted to frame the letter because it included the statement "Vince Russo is in extreme fear of you."  He said he wanted to have that on his tombstone.  He laughed about them saying he was breaking his confidentiality by discussing Vince Russo with Terry Taylor, the man who hired Cornette.  He said that Terry Taylor "flunked the stooge test" and he put the letter on his website to "f*** with them."

A fan asked which tandem was the best version of the Midnight Express.  Cornette said he wasn't going to name his favorite version.

Cornette was asked how hard Baby Doll hit and told a story about that.

Cornette was asked his opinion on the most underrated wrestler and tag team of all time.  Cornette said that if people saw Davey Richards on a national scale and won't be rated on the level that he should be until he's seen on a major scale.  He said the same thing about the Briscoes, noting their work is great and their promos aren't scripted and they are just being themselves and having fun with all their emotion and passion.

Cornette ragged on a fan for having the courage to wear a John Cena shirt to an NWA Legends Fanfest.  That fan then asked about the Midnights vs. Midnights feud.  Cornette said it was a lot of fun but didn't make any money.  Dusty was fired as the booker so the feud ended up as the second match of the show.  Jim Crockett was booking and didn't like Randy Rose's work, so after six weeks, he wanted to get rid of Rose via a Loser Leaves Town match.  Dennis Condrey was so mad they were going to break up the team, he left.  The George Scott became the booker and wanted to get rid of Cornette, Eaton and Stan, so it became a whole big mess.

A fan asked about short term and long term ROH plans.  Cornette joked that he wanted to make a little bit of money followed by a large amount of money.  He said they want to make more markets viable and more television outlets.  He is looking for more talent and noted they are about to sign a talent from the UK that recently did an ROH camp.  He said that there's room for a harder hitting style. 

Cornette asked about NWA champ Adam Pearce.  Cornette said he does a great job balancing by wrestling in the NWA and booking in the ROH and is a pretty underrated talent.

A fan asked about the ratings and why fans who used to watch WCW and WWE don't flock to ROH.  Cornette said that the "people with the knowledge don't have the money.  The people with the money don't have the knowledge", crediting Dutch Mantel with the quote.  He commented about the "Shyster" in Florida with a friend with all this money.  He said that if people would just try to have a fresher, more logical, more thought out version of pro wrestling, they'd have a chance to build something.

Cornette was asked about the Mulkey Brothers.  He said that Randy and Bill Mulkey were two brothers who just loved wrestling but had no physical skills beyond being able to take an asskicking and taking crazy bumps, splattering on the floor.  He said that fans just loved them and Dusty decided they would run the Mulkeys' hometown in Anderson, SC with the Mulkeys challenging the Midnights for the United States Tag Team championship.  It tickled Dusty to push this so they pushed it on TV and they packed 1,800 fans in a tiny little room.  Cornette said that there was no real chance that a team with zero wins was going to get the belts but they were Anderson natives and everyone came to see it.  Cornette wanted to do a DQ but Dusty wanted the MX to go over so Cornette had them go twenty minutes with the Mulkeys killing the Express the entire time and then the MX getting a fluke win.  Cornette said they ran right out to the waiting car and all they saw behind them were fans streaming out of the building ready to kill because the Mulkeys should have won.

A fan asked Cornette his feelings on Paul Heyman.  He said Heyman could sh** a better TV format than Vince Russo could write, but even Heyman realizes there's nothing he can do with TNA.  So, Heyman babyfaces himself by asking for points and keeps his streak intact if it doesn't happen.  He said that Dixie is giving out parcels of the company to anyone she thinks might be able to turn it around but it's real simple "Fire Russo!"

Cornette was then asked his real feelings on Bubba the Love Sponge.  Cornette said that he watches the January 4th Impact special and the best homegrown team in the company, Beer Money, are laid out on the floor of the show with Bubba the Love Sponge squatting over them to tell fans he knows who did this.  He said that TNA hired him because he was friends with Hulk Hogan and because of a false belief that he would bring viewers to them and in the end, all they did was sacrifice their best tag team for nothing.  Cornette mentioned that Bubba played a tape of Cornette's podcast where Cornette ripped on TNA and didn't even respond to the points, but ripped on the audio quality of the podcast.  He said Bubba gave him a lot of traffic for free and helped Cornette get his points across, but he didn't respect the business and is glad Bubba is gone.

Cornette told a story about working in MA for the first time on a World Class house show that drew 8,000.

He was asked to talk about some of the specific things he brings to the Ring of Honor product.  Cornette said the talents were trying to concentrate on having a great wrestling match but now he's trying to help them open up and show the world who they really are, because that makes people care more about your matches.  Cornette said that he's trying to help show the world who the top stars and contenders are in the company.  He said that he works with tag teams like the Kings of Wrestling and the Briscoes because he loves tag team wrestling and that in ROH, the Tag Team belts can still headline shows.  He said that these are wrestlers who love the wrestling business and aren't trying to become movie stars.

Cornette was asked about the change in ROH from Gabe Sapolsky to Adam Pearce.  Cornette said that he wasn't there at the time so he can't speak on it.  He said Gabe is very creative but Cary Silkin wanted to make a change.  He talked about Adam Pearce's work and talent in maintaining a TV show that is taped far in advance, a company where no two lineups are the same and much more.

In regard to comments Eric Bischoff made about him, Cornette joked about Bischoff saying Cornette was selling fake autographs and bootlegs.  He asked how he could forge his own autograph?  He commented that Bischoff said that the business passed Cornette by, but he's the guy who says that MMA has nothing in common with pro wrestling when it's all about personalities fighting and trying to sell tickets. 

Cornette was asked for advice on how to draw money on an independent level.  He said that you need to keep providing a quality show that makes fans want to keep coming back.

Cornette was asked for some Dennis Coralluzzo stories.  Cornette said Dennis was the Sopranos without the blood and talked about all the crazy characters that populated Dennis' backstage area.  He told stories of Coralluzzo mentoring and fostering names like Chris Candido, Tammy Sytch and Danny Inferno, among others.  He said that if you were a sponsor, Dennis would figure out a way to get an extra percentage for himself but he always tried to take care of the boys.

A fan asked how you can book a monster character that are built on  being unbeaten to lose without destroying their aura.  Cornette said that the Road Warriors were built on being unbeatable but after a certain point, no one believed they could ever lose, so when they did, it hurt them.  He said the Goldberg streak was great but in the old days, characters like Andre were sent to different areas to keep the gimmick fresh.  He said that the booking hurt Goldberg and his idea would have been not to give them any ideas, since that's what ruined Goldberg.

Cornette was asked his take on Brock Lesnar snapping and quitting WWE.  Cornette said he was always a great natural beast for the business, but felt Lesnar really didn't want to do it or work hard for it.  He said Brock was making five times what most did in developmental, so he should have worked five times as harder.  He questioned how Brock got himself into a seven figure job and then decided he didn't want to travel.  He said he's happy to see Brock in MMA where he obviously is great and loves that genre, but Cornette wasn't shocked he left because he didn't ever feel Brock was passionate about the wrestling business itself.

A fan wondered how the business could still shock everyone after all the things that are given away on free television over the last few years.  Cornette said that the problem is no one has any restraint because they look at it as a television show without respecting what the guys have to endure physically in order to accomplish what is written on a piece of paper.  He talked of Abyss being off TV for six months because he had done it all and within a few weeks of being back, they set him on fire.  He said that no one seems anything wrong with this and it's preposterous and doesn't mean anything.  He asked if there has ever been a ladder spot in a real bar fight?

When asked about Stephanie McMahon taking over for Vince McMahon, Cornette said that when Vince's black heart goes, we'll all hear the noise coming from the power grab in Stamford.  He said that WWE is too big for running it to be enjoyable anymore.  He said its a billion dollar publicly traded company that's too big for it's own good and it doesn't matter who's going to run it at this point.

Cornette was asked about whether Davey Richards will really retire at the end of the year.  Cornette said he can't speak for Davey but at times he's so driven he wants to be the best and isn't there yet and at other times, he wants to move on because he gets frustrated.  Cornette commented that we'll have to see.

When asked about CHIKARA, he said that hasn't seen much of it but it's a good Lucha product made up of talents that love Lucha and do some comedy as well and it draws good houses.

Cornette was asked about the Ron Wright in a wheelchair deal in Smoky Mountain Wrestling.  Cornette said a few people did send him a few dollars after Wright claimed he needed donations.  He said that the gimmick worked because Wright was such a well known personality and they left him in the chair for nine months, so people bought it and then when he got out of the chair, people were pissed because they "knew he was lying".  He said that it was great having a legend like Wright in his locker room.

A fan asked for memories of working with Yokozuna in the WWF.  Cornette said he'd watch Yokozuna would put away a family sized basket of KFC while waiting to do promos.  He said Yokozuna and Undertaker had great matches because you had a good, agile monster heel against a big monster babyface and both took big bumps.  He said working with Fuji and Taker was really rewarding and he would get goosebumps when  he was in the ring and watched the lights go out and the gong hit for Taker's entrance.

A fan asked Cornette how things went so bad over the last year in TNA.  Cornette said he thinks it was three year rib on him.  He said he promised Jeff Jarrett he wouldn't admonish Russo personally and then had to adhere to it when Jarrett went home and Dutch Mantel was let go.  He said that he finally told Russo "I will help you" and the next week he was fired, so he sometimes wonders if they all pulled this elaborate rib to see if they could get Cornette to even say he'd be civil with Russo.

The same fan asked about working with Jim Mitchell in SMW.  Cornette said that Mitchell was a great talent to have around at the time and was entertaining for the Mummy character he wanted Mitchell to manage.

Shawn Michaels retirement: Michaels had a great career except for when what he pulled outside the ring outshined his ability.  He said that at times, Michaels was abysmal to get along with and was sour to be around towards Vince, Cornette, Jose Lothario and Bret Hart among others.  Cornette said that he deserved a classy sendoff for his retirement but all the times Michaels lost his smile and went home soured Cornette personally.

Owen Hart stories:  He told the story of a rib being pulled on him by being tricked into thinking he was talking to a Stu impersonator when it was really Stu.

Cornette was asked to compare the MX feuds against the Road Warriors and the Rock N' Roll Express.  He joked that the Express didn't' beat them up while the Warriors did.  He talked about the psychology of the power spots and the way that putting a match against the Warriors.

New Jack: Cornette said he and Jack reconciled  because they are both old and crippled.  He said Jack wasn't a great worker but worked hard and could talk and riled people up.  He said that in ECW, Jack was encouraged to do things that a person shouldn't be asked to do.  He said that the locker room was never dull with New Jack around.

Star Ratings for Matches: Cornette said his friend Norman Dooley initially did it after Cornette suggested it to Dooley as a rib.

Linda McMahon's Senate Run: Cornette joked about it being closer to Damian and the Omen.

A fan asked what happened to Vader that he "fell off" in WWF as compared to other places, like WCW.  Cornette said they almost gave Leon White a nervous breakdown trying to remake him as "The Mastadon".  He tells the story of Vader taking out Gorilla Monsoon and they were all over him about not getting over as a babyface while being a heel.  So, he would work harder as a heel and Shawn Michaels would go nuts because Vader was working rough with him.  He said there was an element of danger to Vader in WCW but in the WWF, he was Dr. Jeckyl and not Mr. Hyde because they kept getting into his head and making him doubt himself.

Ric Flair: He worries for Flair's personal safety but he obviously can still go and fans still enjoy seeing him.

How Cornette would react to an invitation for himself and the Midnight Express in the WWE Hall of Fame:  Cornette said Bruno Sammartino isn't in the Hall of Fame but Vince Sr.'s limo driver is in it, s how do you take it seriously.  He said that it's more about a feel good induction for the market, who's life are we optioning for a film, what tape library did we buy.  He said the boys have done a good job of making it an emotional night but it's more of a marketing thing.  He said there is no real wrestling Hall of Fame where people would vote people in.  He said that it's never going to happen but they would have to offer him a lot of money to make him want to be around a lot of people he doesn't want to see...or no.

WWF mentioning SMW when Cornette debuted in 1994: Stan Lane left wrestling and Jimmy Del Rey replaced him.  Del Rey was supposed to be a cousin of Bruce Prichard and they shot a promo with Tom Prichard and his dad to introduce him.  Bruce Prichard sees the promo and people in the company thought it would be a good idea to use Cornette and the Bodies.  He came to TV and they mentioned SMW so people in the SMW territories didn't think he and the Bodies wouldn't make the towns.  Once he got there, suddenly, he was asked to manage Yokozuna.  He said that for some reason, WWF gave him publicity and he was happy to take it and that led to WWF stars working SMW towns.

Bret Hart's Screwjob and Return: He wasn't surprised Hart came back after being screwed on a wrestling finish, but he was surprised due to the Owen Hart situation.  He said that maybe Bret just wanted to come back one more time but we're all older and it's time to let the younger guys go.  Cornette then joked that maybe he didn't have the ambition.

When asked about Jim Ross not being used as an announcer, Cornette said he didn't want people to think he's lambasting WWE for it but he doesn't get it because everyone who's younger and who's replaced Ross haven't been able to do Ross' job as good or better.  He said that Ross doesn't want to be on the road full time anymore but still, he's the best there is and he doesn't get it,

The Steiners: They were young and strong and a dream to work with.  They were great matches, but thats' why WCW rarely booked them against each other.

PG Wrestling: A show about violence can't feature violence?

A fan asked Cornette's thoughts on the ECW Reunion.  Cornette said he would be featuring new faces and homegrown talent, not others' talent.  He said you have to be an original, unique product.

The first NWA Clash of Champions and the Fantastics vs. MX bout on that card:  Cornette said that he loved working with Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers because they worked hard and wanted to get people involved in the match by selling their asses off.  He said that there was going to be a 45 minute draw with Sting and Flair and they saw they only had seven minutes on the show.  So, they decided to just go all out and steal the show and it worked, so everyone remembers it fondly.  He said that there's a moment in the bout where Eaton bulldogs Rogers on a table and Rogers was hit so hard he was blinded and they had to keep going.  He said that the match got over and everyone remembers it.

Necro Butcher: He's an attraction like Andre or Abdullah.   He's a gimmick and you can't put him on every show and have mayhem all the time.  Cornette said he is amazed the guy does what he does barefoot.  He said that if Butcher could be a traveling attraction for different companies, but he doesn't want to see the guy do that style constantly and kill himself.

Cornette Shooting on WWF Television: Cornette said they had Byte This on the WWF website, which no one saw, and he cut an evil promo on Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.  They received a ton of feedback so they decided to do it on TV.  Cornette said he was just telling the truth so after a few weeks, they realized he was knocking WWF as well because he wasn't making them look good.  They wanted to try and script it and he said that when they wanted him to say what he wanted to say, he would do it again.  He joked that at some point, he would have said something that would have gotten him fired.

Cornette was asked about the Randy Savage-Stephanie McMahon rumors.  Cornette said he would love to slander a member of the McMahon family but he never heard it when he worked there, he doesn't believe the timeline and there's nothing to it.

A fan praised Tommy Young's work as a referee.  He asked for a funny story on Young.  Cornette praised Tommy's facial expressions and how he made you believe he did believe in what he was officiating.  He said that a good referee is important and you could see that Young loved his job because he worked so hard.  Cornette praised Nick Patrick, The Hebners, Brian Hildebrand and several others.  He told a story of the referees being assigned by the New York State Athletic being old and inept while Young was reduced to playing music.  He said the ref they put on the match (Midnights vs. Z-Man and Pillman) was nearly dying because he couldn't keep up with them athletically and talked about how a bad ref can ruin a match.

Tommy Young put over Charles Robinson as a referee.

Cornette let Young ask the last question.  Young asked him for a job.  Cornette told Young he could carry his bags and have a job and the business. They hammed it up to close out the night.