So yeah, hey, how about that Elimination Chamber. It was a WWE show, I’ll say that for it. Also, I wouldn’t worry about the Danhausen debut – I’ve had folks asking if it was somehow worse than the Gobbeldy Gooker debut and all I have to say is…are you serious? One was a turkey man hatching from an egg. One was Danhausen. Come on guys, try harder. Let’s see what you all have to say…
Nevs C kicks us off with…”Biggest blown opportunity; Cena Heel Turn or Invasion 2001?”
Invasion by far. That could have been something that had it been done properly generated interest (and income) for years and years, and it was blown off within a few months. The Cena heel turn was stupid and badly booked, but it had a definitive end date. The Invasion did not. But as is often the case, egos took over and ruined things. I think sheer stupidity took over the Cena heel turn.
Dustin N ponders…”If Money Inc. had used “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” by Pet Shop Boys as their entrance music, would they have been the most over tag team in history?”
Short of shooting Mike Rotundo out of a cannon, nothing could make Money Inc. over to me. Pairing poor Ted with IRS was cute but sapped every bit of charisma the guy had out of him.
James B wants to know…”If you could switch two peoples gimmicks with each other, who would it be?”
Raven and Johnny Polo. Wait, they were the same guy???
James C asks…”Whats your opinion on WWE destroying Rhea’s badass character by turning her into a giddy schoolgirl obsessed with Iyo? The hugging, little touches and longing gazes don’t fit Rhea’s mystique – the crowd is eating it up and I just don’t get it.”
I’ve learned that there are many things in WWE today I don’t get. You’re not alone. I’ve never understood Rhea like at all, but goth girls have never been my thing. I remember when Paige/Saraya debuted, I didn’t get that either. Sometimes you just have to remind yourself that everything isn’t targeted to you…which is something I am seeing more and more these days.
Arya W wants some fantasy booking…”Who would you book against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania? Do you think another Cody match is a good idea?”
Case in point: I think I am the only person on the planet who views Cody as just meh, and it’s been that way since his debut. I’d just like to see someone new in a WrestleMania main event personally, but that ain’t happening.
Pete S inquires…”I’ve been listening to the Fannin’s Flashbacks Podcast and one of the guests mentioned a short stint in WCW…….O. Any other memories of the your time in the Kentuckiana indy scene?”
It was super weird, but it was a lot of fun. It was fun because of the brainstorming Casey & I would do just coming up with the stupidest stuff we could think of – we knew the promotion we were working with wasn’t going to get anywhere based on in-ring athleticism or production values, so we decided maybe, just maybe, if we were the weirdest, silliest promotion around we could get a cult following. That was the idea behind Uncle Burt sending his illegitimate nephew to flea markets and dilapidated furniture stores to turn them into franchisees of the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater. It didn’t catch on of course, but you have no idea how hard we laughed coming up with such nonsense.
SPEAKING OF nonsense, Cyndi S asks…”Would you ever consider putting up full episodes of your time running PWI? I bet there’s more gold there than what you put on the DVD way back when.”
Dan puts them up on his Facebook page from time to time. Plus you can catch him acting in wacky commercials. My favorite is one where he is a grandfather to a little girl, and what is supposed to be a touching scene is jarring as it looks like the young lass is utterly horrified of him. Follow the fun rightchere!
Rob L gets me back to work with…”Any chance you’ll ever induct the urban wrestling federation? The Bryan and Vinny reviews of it back in the day were hysterical and would love to see the WC take on those shows”
That would be good, and a deeper look at Wrestling Society X is long overdue. EXPLOSIONS BABY!!!
And on that note, time to call it a day. Keep those questions coming in and I’ll keep answering them!