Hulk Hogan's Radio Interview

Hi there everyone,
Hope you are all as well as I am. I'm enjoying my two days off so it's all fantastically good. :)
Anyway, time for some gossip....
Hulk Hogan did a radio interview on Sirius Radio's Busted Open in which he talked about Robert Roode, James Storm, and on Jeff Hardy.
On Robert Roode he said....

".....he's not ready. He's not the next guy. Ya' know, they might think he is. Dixie Carter might think he is. The whole world might think he is. He's not the next guy." 

"This is much more than being a wrestler, this is crossing barriers, medias, ya' know media barriers,and, and entertainment barriers of all kind. Getting your character down verbally has 90% to do with getting over."

Honestly! Hulk Hogan! Why would he say stuff like this? When I first read this I was like "He's basically putting down a young upstart wrestler!" I don't understand what he has against B. Roode but I think Hulk Hogan needs to look away from the past wrestlers and look towards the wrestlers of the future. Robert Roode is a great wrestler. He's fantastic on the mic and has been involved in some of the best storylines that TNA has ever had. I like Robert Roode so I may be a bit biased but come on! I think he's the next guy and I think that he will prove that at Bound For Glory.
On the other hand, Hulk has nothing but nice words for James Storm, Roode's tag team partner.

"I'd go with James Storm all day long. Mainstream brotha'!......if you ask me to choose who to run with', and you gave me those two choices? That's my opinion."

I like both Storm and Roode personally although as a main eventer I think Roode does have what it takes. I don't fully understand what Hogan is going on about, but then again, he isn't one that I fully trust either. 

In terms of Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan has basically said that if he can keep himself clean and get back to being the charasmatic enigma that we all know and love, he will be the guy!

".....I'd say Jeff Hardy's the next guy if he keeps his act together. Well, I think he's got a lot of shine to him, I mean he just doesn't have 5 star matches. He shines outside the ring. He walks through the mall, and people know who he is. He's got a look, he's got an air about him. He's got the 'IT' factor.........Jeff Hardy has the potential to really be the guy."

 

 This is what I like to hear. Positive stuff being said by people in higher powers about wrestlers. Not burying them. I think Jeff deserves his chance. He's cleaned up and he's been doing everything possible to propel himself back into the front line. Let's hope that at Bound For Glory, he gets a match and it shows to the audience and the boys in the locker-room at TNA that the "HARDY PARTY BEGINS!!!!!"

 

Honestly, I think Hulk Hogan really needs to be careful with what he says and who he says it about. I can't imagine that Roode is going to take too kindly to being basically buried by someone who is a so called "legend". I think the Hulkster needs a reality check and fast. 

Anyway, that's my two cents worth for today.

Until next time,

You know you love me xoxo

Interview with Stephanie McMahon from 2007

Now, I said in my previous blog that I would go into more detail about an interview that took place. I first heard about it this morning when checking the wrestling news on a site that I go to and it said about an interview with Stephanie McMahon done in 2007. The interview was conducted by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in response to, basically, the Benoit murders. If you are not sure about what I mean by that, click here.
It was also done, stemming from that, as part of the "...committees investigation into allegations regarding the abuse of steroids and illegal drugs in professional wrestling." (ref. pg. 3).
It starts with a little bit, actually, a lot, about what Stephanie McMahon does in terms of working for the WWE. She has three main roles in the WWE. She is the Executive Vice President of Creative Writing, Talent Relations and Live Events. She has held that position for a couple of months. It talks a little about what she did prior to her current positions. She then is asked to explain about what she does in each of the positions that she has. As part of the creative team, she is in charge of all the script writing that goes on for all the three different brands in WWE (RAW, Smackdown and ECW). She talks about how it works and how many staff that she has with her doing the writing and how the ideas process works into actually making it to the TV. She also explains "babyfaces" and "heels" and what their roles are in terms of main events and their own individual storylines. She talks about her other roles (Talent Relations & Live Events) and what she does there as well. She mentions her dad Vince McMahon and how they interact in terms of business. "I call him Vince in business......At home he is Dad. And Linda is the same way; in business she is Linda, and at home she is Mum." (ref. pg. 14)
There is reference to a little of the history of WWE in terms of buying WCW and ECW and how ECW has a cult following (ECW information here).
It then goes on for a few pages about the talent and how the other two brands (RAW and Smackdown) differ and interact.
On page 22 it starts to talk about Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan and how these two had so much going for them and thats what made them as famous as they are today. Stone Cold "....changed his character." and made himself a "....self-made superstar." (ref. pg. 22) whereas Hulk "was a terrible wrestler, and he still is." (ref. pg. 24) but because he could tap into the audience and was charismatic, thats what made him a star.

On pg. 58 we start to get some reference to the Benoit tragedy. She mentions in an answer to a question that "Chris is such a tragedy, but he did force us to look at our business in a different way." and "So Chris Benoit, while a tragedy, I think has helped in some wasy because it's helped us to look at our talent and how we can treat them better (ref. pg. 58) She says that the company is look at how they treat their performers in a "....how can we help? What can we do as a company?" (ref. pg. 60) She says that there have been educational seminars with the talent to try and help them and to try and get them to get health insurance and to have financial planning.

It then goes on to talk about developmental territories and scouting and on pg. 72 the question is asked, "Are you aware of whether any scouts have ever reported back that a potential hire was rumoured to be a steroid user?" In response to the question, Stephanie says that if the decision was in fact to hire someone like that then they, like everyone else, would have to go through the precontact screening.

Now getting to the part which attracted my attention on the site I go to (click here to see), the question is asked "...When was CM Punk made champion?" to which Stephanie replies "I'm really not sure. I would say within the last year. It was recent."
It is then asked whether it was because of the death of Benoit and she replied "Yes, it was. Ironically, Mr. Benoit was supposed to become ECW champion that night, but he didn't show up at the pay-per-view because he was dead." (ref. pg. 81).
I would like to add here, personally, that this is not the case. Because of Benoit not turning up to Vengeance that night (the Pay-per-view) Johnny Nitro was brought in to replace Benoit and subsequently won against CM Punk. Punk won the ECW Championship later that year.

After alot more about the talent and the running of things in WWE, on page 44 it starts to bring up the topic of steroids/prescription drugs/illegal drugs. It comes about in asking about whether the topics play a role in who to promote or not. Stephanie explains that it only ever becomes an issue to her when the talent has been suspended and they need to get the people off of television. She talks about how after November 2007 that the names of wrestlers who were suspended were being made public, that the company needed to rechange the policy.

It goes on to talk about the wellness policy that WWE has in place and then starts talking about whether Stephanie has heard anyone talking about using, or talking about other people using steroids or illegal substances. She says that she has not witnessed it but "...I am the bosses daughter in real life. So I think people are a little careful how they might speak around me as well." ( ref.pg. 90)

It the goes on for a little while longer about what happens in terms of injuries and who is at ringside for the performers if they are hurt. It also talks about concussions and what goes on with certain moves and props.

It also talks about an incident which happened on October 22nd, 2007, where Candice Michelle (WWE Diva) was knocked unconscious in the ring and the referee "....appeared to have directed the other wrestler to pull her by her neck and her underarm to the....middle of the ring for a pin to end the match." (pg. 127) Stephanie replies that the referee was severly reprimanded for that incident and that they have the ability to end the match and that that is reinforced constantly.

Towards the end it starts to talk about health insurance, injuries and time off. The interview is conclude with Stephanie being thanked and interview concluded.

That is the end of the blog. There are references throughout this blog but if you would like to read the full 138 pages of the interview with Stephanie McMahon click here and it will take you to the interview. Thank you for reading.

First blog for 2009

Well, its a new year and there have been some stories out lately that I thought I might write about. The first is that David Tennant, as some may be aware, is leaving the show after he finishes the four special episodes this year. Luckily, there is a replacement in the form of an unknown London Stage performer and star of political TV drama Party Animals, 26 year old Matt Smith. He will officially become the youngest actor to play the doctor since the show started. He will be the 11th Doctor to date. Doctor who draws around 10 million viewers each episode in Britain.
I am sad to see David Tennant go. I like how he has portrayed the Doctor and I think that it will be hard to watch another person take over that roll which I have grown to love because of David Tennant. Bye David Tennant :( I will miss you as the Doctor :(



Sad news on Saturday. John Travolta and Kelly Preston's oldest son, Jett Travolta, has died. He was found unconscious in the bathroom of the holiday home in the Old Bahama Bay resort community. He was found in the bathroom by the house caretaker and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. John Travolta's lawyer released a statement that said that Jett "...had a seizure at around 10am (4am AEST) on [Friday] morning.'
Jett suffered from Kawaski disease which lead to heart disease and this was diagnosed when he was younger. It is thought that carpet cleaning products brought on the disease.
John and Kelly also have an 8 year old girl, Ella Blue. They have asked people to respect their privacy at this time.

In a bit more lighter news, Lily Allen seems to have gotten a new lover, if the reports are anything to go by. The new love interest is one of her father's friends, 45 year old Jay Jopling. They have been photographed, and have set tongues wagging, by kissing, cuddling and laughing aboard a luxury yacht. Jay Jopling is an art dealer and a close friend of Lily's dad, Keith Allen. This is the latest relationship after her relationship with Ed Simons, 38, where they were together for five months and separated after her miscarriage.
I don't know about the age difference between these two but I know that in Hollywood, anything can happen. I hope that Lily is well and this all works out for her in the end.

Now for some wrestling news. There is only one lot because the second lot that I had I will make into a seperate blog as it is about an interview that took place between Stephanie McMahon and the US government over the Chris Benoit scenario. If you would like to read the article in question please click here.

Getting on to the last bit for today, a rumor that I found is that Shawn Michaels wants Jim Ross, current Smackdown commentator, to call his last match.
"When HBK retires, which hopefully won't be any time soon, he told me he wanted me to call his last match too. I asked what if I'm not on the air any longer and he said it didn't matter and that I could come back for one more match".
I think that it's nice that Shawn would want a specific commentator there when he inevitably does leave WWE. I think that Jim Ross is the best commentator and if

Well, that's all from me for now. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and new years (I know I did) and I will blog some time at some point about the interview.

References:
Doctor Who- Relative Unknown to take lead in Doctor Who
Jett Travolta- Travolta's teenage son dies
Lily Allen-Lily Allen's new 45-year-old lover
Shawn Michaels- Shawn Michaels wants JR to call his last match