Very sad to hear of the abrupt ending of RJ City’s Hey (EW), which was one of my favorite things in pro wrestling for the last couple of years. If you’ve never seen it (or maybe even heard of it), it was an interview show featuring most (not all) of AEW’s top stars, and heck, even some folks that weren’t on the roster. Questions weren’t about your favorite opponents, matches, any of that – it was asking Adam Cole if he’d ever mature to be Adam Cole Toddler instead of Adam Cole Babay. It was quizzing Taz to recite his lines from Stacker 2 commercials. It was giving Red Velvet new catchphrases like “I’m going to give you a yeast infection.” It was more than anything a showcase for RJ’s comedic chops and we got it basically every Sunday. Many times I’ve said to myself that he’s way too clever for the wrestling business. Not sure what’s going on, but I do know this – wherever RJ goes, he’s going to be a success. Onto the mail bag.
Arya W kicks us off with…”If you had a direct line to TK, what match would you like to see booked on the next AEW show?”
RJ City in any role. Can’t let that guy just sit on the sidelines, he’s way too talented. Thinking he’d be a great addition as a manager in the women’s division to be honest. You can have that one for free Tony. Use him while he’s still around, as I could totally see folks outside wrestling looking for the wit he supplies.
Sean B ponders…”What bad Vince Russo penned storyline in WCW would you redo, bro? I would redo the Franchise vs Kidman storyline myself”
I don’t know that it could possibly be improved, but I think the Sid storyline where he had a streak where losses counted as wins and then had his car crushed into a cube needs to be brought back every ten years no matter what.
Meagan N wants to know…”How do you feel about Gunther going over Bill Goldberg and John Cena in their final matches in the same year”
If you think Gunther is beating Cena in his final match, let me know what you want to bet. I got a kid in college and could use the extra cash.
Dustin N asks…”What was your favorite wrestling championship that was meaningless but with a cool belt? (Ex: the WWF European title)”
As stupid as it was, in hindsight that ridiculous co-women’s title belt that Michelle McCool and Layla split in half was a level of absurdity that even I can appreciate. That or maybe I just miss Layla. She was a smokeshow but her personality eclipsed even that. She was so fantastic and sorely missed.
Joseph is on the other end of the tin can and string with…”Hi Deal! Been listening to some “RD & Blade” episodes lately, and something I have always wanted to ask you about are the intros and end bumpers. I still laugh at the “car crash openings”- were they as fun to put together as they were to hear, and for the end clips, did you seek out certain sound bytes or did they just come as you watched old Prime Times?”
In general, the sound effects and such were things I just kinda thought were funny and would keep in my back pocket to use as needed. We always thought the show was a complete car crash – so having that in there just made sense. The old Prime Time bits just spoke to us as we were such huge fans of that show. Heck, I’m hoping to go visit Tony Packo’s to see if Gorilla and Bobby’s signed buns are still on the wall! Stay tuned friends.
Matthew J inquires…”Will Super Giant Ninja ever appear on Wrestlecrap?”
Long overdue for sure. Honestly, it’s probably just a matter of finding enough footage to make the induction possible. If you find some, email it my way and we’ll see what we can do.
Richard P shows us his Bomb Squad membership card via…”I don’t get a lot of the Bryan Clark hate I see online – Adam Bomb was a pretty cool (if goofy) gimmick but for the life of me I don’t know why they paired him with Whippleman. Do you think Clark would have been something special if he’d have debuted right when Vince was obsessed with power dudes, like in the early 2000s? I know he was in WCW and Kronik obviously but by that time I think he was winding down a bit.”
Are you forgetting his run as Wrath? It’s really too bad the whole Blood Runs Cold thing was such a disaster, because there was a lot of fun stuff they could have done with the likes of Wrath along with Mortis. Not sure what happened when he wound up in Kronik but everything seemed to go totally sideways there, especially when they went to WWE. So yeah, I’m with you, he was better than what folks make him out to be today.
Mike M has a question about the professor…”Why the heck has Mike Tenay NEVER worked for the WWF/E, not even for an interview or two?”
That’s a good question. It almost feels like WWE has something against the guy, which is weird as I’ve never heard anything negative about the guy and in my very limited dealings with him personally, he’s been incredibly nice. Right up there with “what was in the Baby Doll-Dusty Rhodes photos” as one of wrestling’s great mysteries.
My old friend Derrick G wraps us up with…”Let’s talk about your role as the man in the suit. I read/watched a lot of commentary from Mick Foley on the sacred nature of the role. I got it, but I didn’t get it…….. until I was tasked to don the suit at my work last December:
Then I really got it, the feeling, the responsibility, the whole gig. So, as one who also, as Tony Stark said, put on the suit and went a couple rounds, I’d like to hear your take on what representing the jolly ol soul means to you.”
Not sure if it’s something that comes naturally to me or what, but I absolutely love the Christmas season – the lights, trees, songs, movies, you name it. Putting on the suit is something my grandfather did for I don’t know how many years, but Pop was always there in the middle of our little hometown bringing joy to everyone. He had the full natural white beard, something I don’t see me ever doing, but he would often be spotted in July by folks and asking the same question, “Santa, aren’t you awful early?” As for me…
…like I said, I love Christmas. I love to help others, I love to bring joy to folks. If I can do that at our charity arcade, I’m totally onboard. The way we do it, it kinda allows me to have some extra fun, as those little kids like to talk smack when playing air hockey…and Santa RD ain’t afraid to do the same! It’s a blessing to be sure to be able to do it.
That’s it for this week…but as always, keep sending those questions my way!