What Would Kevin Do?
10-08-2006, 05:22 PM
Here is a write up on it.... I dunno, Vince doesn't come off sounding senile... In fact, ALOT of what he says makes sense... Whether he's breaking kayfabe, and if he's saying what sounds good even though it's not what he does, I'm not sure.
NoDQ.com (http://nodq.com/) > WWE (http://nodq.com/wwe/) > Vince McMahon speaks on Kurt Angle's departure
Posted by Aaron Rift (arift@socal.rr.com) on 10/07/2006 at 01:36 PM
Credit: PWTorch.com
- The WWE.com Byte This interview began with clips from DX vs. the McMahons/Big Show at Unforgiven. Todd Grisham is hosting. McMahon cut him off and told him to introduce the show without the usual over-acting. Grisham introduced the show in a normal voice. McMahon wanted to know if the questions would be intelligent.
- First question about having his face shoved in Show's ass. "I thought you said the questions were intelligent," McMahon said. He said it's like diving into a stinky Grand Canyon, a cesspool.
- On what he liked about The Marine script, McMahon said it wasn't a cheesy script; that you go to the film not to think, but to feel. He said it's action adventure as an extension of what they do in the ring.
- On why he began WWE Films, McMahon said it's a logical extension of storytelling and using their characters. McMahon said he would rather not to discuss Steve Austin's upcoming movie because that's not opening next weekend. Grisham tried to introduce a clip of The Marine, but McMahon cut him off and told him to try it again by making it feel organic rather than overdone.
- Grisham brought up McMahon's comments about WWE.com Sucks. He said it's not as fan-friendly or interactive as it should be. McMahon said there are too many stories about the same people. He said there's news all the time, but they cover the same people two or three times a day. "Why am I up there on the website twice?" McMahon asked. He said there are many other interesting characters that need exposure. "There's not enough sexuality on the website," he said. McMahon said there should be at least one diva on the splash page everyday. He said the diva site is one of the more popular websites on the site and they should be presented in a classy way, not in a gratuitous titillation type of way.
- On what his favorite websites are, McMahon said ESPN and a few others he would rather not mention.
- On Eric Bischoff's book, McMahon said he has not read the book, but it's from Eric's point of view. He said they, as human beings, have a tendency to re-write history as they presented it or wanted it to be. "I think that's what Eric has done," he said. McMahon said it's true that WCW didn't fit the new Time Warner culture, but he uses that as an excuse for why they lost $85 million. "That takes talent," McMahon said. He said when they bought WCW, they took that on. McMahon said that doesn't make sense if he's working for Time Warner so he understands why they wouldn't want to keep WCW on the books.
- On what would have happened if WCW bought WWE, McMahon said he doesn't know if he would have appeared on WCW. He said he brought Bischoff on board as an on-air character because he thought it would be a good move for the fans. "I always put my personal ego aside, which people find hard to believe, to do what's right for business," he said. McMahon said even if he was bought out or driven out, he would still be in the wrestling business. He said he could always go back to promoting local events. He said it's the business he loves and he has no idea what he would be doing otherwise.
- On the meeting with Hulk Hogan in his office, McMahon said it was about appearing on Hogan Knows Best. He said the concept of Austin-Hogan is an interesting paper concept, but it's not a realistic match and he doesn't expect it to happen. McMahon said it's an interesting concept, but there's no way it's going to happen.
- On living up to WM III, McMahon said there is a pressure with every live event to succeed the previous one. He said it's the best in terms of in-ring attendance, but they've succeeded in following that WrestleMania with even better Manias. McMahon said they have to better themselves with every passing show, as their audience demands. McMahon said they give them excellence with every Mania. He said he would like to see Hogan in some capacity at Mania.
- On how ECW is faring, McMahon paused for a while then said "fair, but pretty good." "We're a long ways away from what it can be," McMahon said. He said people are accustomed to seeing car wrecks and it gets old after the sixth straight week. McMahon said human beings are interested in people. He said they have to make people care about the individuals who are in the gimmick matches. McMahon said once they make people care about the wrestlers, the brand should take off. "It has a long ways to go," he said. McMahon said there is a possibility ECW would go to two hours in time. "Let's produce a really hot one hour and build up the talent roster," he said.
- Grisham said they received the most emails on Kurt Angle. McMahon said losing Angle was a big hit for the company. He said Angle was very competitive, but it's that competitive streak that will be his demise in the business. McMahon said he pushes his body far beyond his body can sustain. He said Angle has suffered many permanent injuries and his neck is no better since 1996. "His neck has constantly deteroriated since then," he said. "You can't go at the pace Kurt Angle goes and not get hurt every night." McMahon said his concern is Angle's individual health. He said he explained to Angle that he can't think long-term when he doesn't want to think long-term. McMahon said Angle is the guy who thinks about getting it now. He said you should want to be able to bend over and pick up your kids or grandkids.
- McMahon said some of the Angle story is confidential, but the story revolves around his health. On Angle being with "the competition", McMahon said he wishes Angle would have taken a lot of time off before he got back in the ring. He said the idea was Angle would take time off, get his health back as much as possible, and then get back in the ring. He said he's not upset with Angle for making money and providing for his family, but he was hoping and he thought it was an understanding that Angle would get better before coming back, especially to WWE where the door was wide open. "I'm concerned for Kurt's personal health," he said.
- On when Chris Benoit might be back, he said Benoit has been training. McMahon said it's going to be a big return. He said he knew he needed time off and he made the call to get back in shape and recover from injuries. McMahon said it's not good in the long-term to push yourself so hard. He said Benoit wanted to enjoy the fruits of labors, even after acknowledging that he doesn't always do that.
- On when divas went from wrestlers to divas who just know to strip, McMahon said that's harsh, but a good point. He said as time goes on, it's not necessarily a better situation if you enjoy women's wrestling. McMahon said there's Trish and Lita, who do know how to compete, but there is no training facility that is specific to training women. He said the standpoint and what he's trying to do is to have the sexiest women on television. McMahon said the younger male audience would rather see them wrestling or involved in relationships. "Times have changed," he said.
- On who the future of the WWE is, McMahon said it's a difficult question. He said it might be Cena or Fit Finlay. "You just don't know in this business," he said. "You don't know who the fans will push and who they want." McMahon acknowledged they often times decide who WWE should push then it's his job to make that happen.
- McMahon said he often sees promising wrestlers who look like they should make it in the business, but then they reach plateaus, don't want to push themselves, don't want to grow, and they max out on their potential.
- On Cryme Tyme, McMahon said it's the opposite of racist. He told viewers to go to the Corporate website to see why it's fun and that's what they're doing. McMahon said the audience determines whether something is successful, and it's not up to his personal taste. "C'mon, you have to laugh at it," he said. McMahon said people take it too seriously.
- On the WWE Magazine, Grisham said you read it for the pictures and the articles. McMahon said the divas are a part of the magazine, but they can't compete with men's magazines. He said it has a financial and artistic success blending the Raw and SD magazines into one magazine. McMahon said the original magazine talked down to their audience and the new magazine is more fan-friendly and reflective of the audience. He said it's more insightful on who the wrestlers are. McMahon said he will drop the magazine on someone's desk after a meeting to leave an impression.
- On putting the McMahon-Hunter wedding on PPV, McMahon said he thought he was ribbing when he made that suggestion on the PPV. Grisham said it could have made some money. "It very well could have," McMahon said. On where his TV character ends and where his real personality begins, he said there are parallels and contradictions. He said some people say he's a real-life Mr. McMahon, but he doesn't see himself that way.
- On the Bob Costas interview, he said that wasn't Mr. McMahon TV character, and he was on the defensive to defend the organization and the fanbase. He said when someone is insulting to his company, he's going to say something. "I boil over when that happens," he said. McMahon said if you really want to piss him off, then talk down about his company. He said he would have jumped Costas or slapped the crap out of him if he were bigger and taller. "That was me," he said.
NoDQ.com (http://nodq.com/) > WWE (http://nodq.com/wwe/) > Vince McMahon speaks on Kurt Angle's departure
Posted by Aaron Rift (arift@socal.rr.com) on 10/07/2006 at 01:36 PM
Credit: PWTorch.com
- The WWE.com Byte This interview began with clips from DX vs. the McMahons/Big Show at Unforgiven. Todd Grisham is hosting. McMahon cut him off and told him to introduce the show without the usual over-acting. Grisham introduced the show in a normal voice. McMahon wanted to know if the questions would be intelligent.
- First question about having his face shoved in Show's ass. "I thought you said the questions were intelligent," McMahon said. He said it's like diving into a stinky Grand Canyon, a cesspool.
- On what he liked about The Marine script, McMahon said it wasn't a cheesy script; that you go to the film not to think, but to feel. He said it's action adventure as an extension of what they do in the ring.
- On why he began WWE Films, McMahon said it's a logical extension of storytelling and using their characters. McMahon said he would rather not to discuss Steve Austin's upcoming movie because that's not opening next weekend. Grisham tried to introduce a clip of The Marine, but McMahon cut him off and told him to try it again by making it feel organic rather than overdone.
- Grisham brought up McMahon's comments about WWE.com Sucks. He said it's not as fan-friendly or interactive as it should be. McMahon said there are too many stories about the same people. He said there's news all the time, but they cover the same people two or three times a day. "Why am I up there on the website twice?" McMahon asked. He said there are many other interesting characters that need exposure. "There's not enough sexuality on the website," he said. McMahon said there should be at least one diva on the splash page everyday. He said the diva site is one of the more popular websites on the site and they should be presented in a classy way, not in a gratuitous titillation type of way.
- On what his favorite websites are, McMahon said ESPN and a few others he would rather not mention.
- On Eric Bischoff's book, McMahon said he has not read the book, but it's from Eric's point of view. He said they, as human beings, have a tendency to re-write history as they presented it or wanted it to be. "I think that's what Eric has done," he said. McMahon said it's true that WCW didn't fit the new Time Warner culture, but he uses that as an excuse for why they lost $85 million. "That takes talent," McMahon said. He said when they bought WCW, they took that on. McMahon said that doesn't make sense if he's working for Time Warner so he understands why they wouldn't want to keep WCW on the books.
- On what would have happened if WCW bought WWE, McMahon said he doesn't know if he would have appeared on WCW. He said he brought Bischoff on board as an on-air character because he thought it would be a good move for the fans. "I always put my personal ego aside, which people find hard to believe, to do what's right for business," he said. McMahon said even if he was bought out or driven out, he would still be in the wrestling business. He said he could always go back to promoting local events. He said it's the business he loves and he has no idea what he would be doing otherwise.
- On the meeting with Hulk Hogan in his office, McMahon said it was about appearing on Hogan Knows Best. He said the concept of Austin-Hogan is an interesting paper concept, but it's not a realistic match and he doesn't expect it to happen. McMahon said it's an interesting concept, but there's no way it's going to happen.
- On living up to WM III, McMahon said there is a pressure with every live event to succeed the previous one. He said it's the best in terms of in-ring attendance, but they've succeeded in following that WrestleMania with even better Manias. McMahon said they have to better themselves with every passing show, as their audience demands. McMahon said they give them excellence with every Mania. He said he would like to see Hogan in some capacity at Mania.
- On how ECW is faring, McMahon paused for a while then said "fair, but pretty good." "We're a long ways away from what it can be," McMahon said. He said people are accustomed to seeing car wrecks and it gets old after the sixth straight week. McMahon said human beings are interested in people. He said they have to make people care about the individuals who are in the gimmick matches. McMahon said once they make people care about the wrestlers, the brand should take off. "It has a long ways to go," he said. McMahon said there is a possibility ECW would go to two hours in time. "Let's produce a really hot one hour and build up the talent roster," he said.
- Grisham said they received the most emails on Kurt Angle. McMahon said losing Angle was a big hit for the company. He said Angle was very competitive, but it's that competitive streak that will be his demise in the business. McMahon said he pushes his body far beyond his body can sustain. He said Angle has suffered many permanent injuries and his neck is no better since 1996. "His neck has constantly deteroriated since then," he said. "You can't go at the pace Kurt Angle goes and not get hurt every night." McMahon said his concern is Angle's individual health. He said he explained to Angle that he can't think long-term when he doesn't want to think long-term. McMahon said Angle is the guy who thinks about getting it now. He said you should want to be able to bend over and pick up your kids or grandkids.
- McMahon said some of the Angle story is confidential, but the story revolves around his health. On Angle being with "the competition", McMahon said he wishes Angle would have taken a lot of time off before he got back in the ring. He said the idea was Angle would take time off, get his health back as much as possible, and then get back in the ring. He said he's not upset with Angle for making money and providing for his family, but he was hoping and he thought it was an understanding that Angle would get better before coming back, especially to WWE where the door was wide open. "I'm concerned for Kurt's personal health," he said.
- On when Chris Benoit might be back, he said Benoit has been training. McMahon said it's going to be a big return. He said he knew he needed time off and he made the call to get back in shape and recover from injuries. McMahon said it's not good in the long-term to push yourself so hard. He said Benoit wanted to enjoy the fruits of labors, even after acknowledging that he doesn't always do that.
- On when divas went from wrestlers to divas who just know to strip, McMahon said that's harsh, but a good point. He said as time goes on, it's not necessarily a better situation if you enjoy women's wrestling. McMahon said there's Trish and Lita, who do know how to compete, but there is no training facility that is specific to training women. He said the standpoint and what he's trying to do is to have the sexiest women on television. McMahon said the younger male audience would rather see them wrestling or involved in relationships. "Times have changed," he said.
- On who the future of the WWE is, McMahon said it's a difficult question. He said it might be Cena or Fit Finlay. "You just don't know in this business," he said. "You don't know who the fans will push and who they want." McMahon acknowledged they often times decide who WWE should push then it's his job to make that happen.
- McMahon said he often sees promising wrestlers who look like they should make it in the business, but then they reach plateaus, don't want to push themselves, don't want to grow, and they max out on their potential.
- On Cryme Tyme, McMahon said it's the opposite of racist. He told viewers to go to the Corporate website to see why it's fun and that's what they're doing. McMahon said the audience determines whether something is successful, and it's not up to his personal taste. "C'mon, you have to laugh at it," he said. McMahon said people take it too seriously.
- On the WWE Magazine, Grisham said you read it for the pictures and the articles. McMahon said the divas are a part of the magazine, but they can't compete with men's magazines. He said it has a financial and artistic success blending the Raw and SD magazines into one magazine. McMahon said the original magazine talked down to their audience and the new magazine is more fan-friendly and reflective of the audience. He said it's more insightful on who the wrestlers are. McMahon said he will drop the magazine on someone's desk after a meeting to leave an impression.
- On putting the McMahon-Hunter wedding on PPV, McMahon said he thought he was ribbing when he made that suggestion on the PPV. Grisham said it could have made some money. "It very well could have," McMahon said. On where his TV character ends and where his real personality begins, he said there are parallels and contradictions. He said some people say he's a real-life Mr. McMahon, but he doesn't see himself that way.
- On the Bob Costas interview, he said that wasn't Mr. McMahon TV character, and he was on the defensive to defend the organization and the fanbase. He said when someone is insulting to his company, he's going to say something. "I boil over when that happens," he said. McMahon said if you really want to piss him off, then talk down about his company. He said he would have jumped Costas or slapped the crap out of him if he were bigger and taller. "That was me," he said.