TPWW Forums - New William Regal Interview: Discusses Eddie, Smackdown, Burchill & more...

TPWW Forums (https://www.tpwwforums.com/index.php)

- wrestling forum (https://www.tpwwforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10)

- - New William Regal Interview: Discusses Eddie, Smackdown, Burchill & more... (https://www.tpwwforums.com/showthread.php?t=40288)

New William Regal Interview: Discusses Eddie, Smackdown, Burchill & more...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...000123,00.html

Highlights

Quote:

Can you share your memories of Eddie Guerrero with us?

It was such a terrible terrible shame when Eddie passed away.

The first time I met Eddie was in 1994 in Japan, when he was teaming with Art Barr.

We got on straight away and went through a lot together.

There are a lot of people coming out of the woodwork saying they were Eddie's best friend. I know who Eddie's best friends were and I wasn't one of them, but we were close.

We talked a lot, especially as we both had the same problems and could really relate to each other.

There is also the camaraderie that comes from travelling around the world together, which I also share with Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When you heard about Eddie's death, did you think that it could have been you?

Without a doubt. That was me!

I had the same thing as Eddie, heart failure, I was just lucky I was already in hospital when they discovered it. I had some symptoms beforehand that caused me to get checked out.

Two or three weeks before he died, Eddie came and sat next to me in Los Angeles. If he ever came and sat next to me it would always be something serious.

He said: "I'm having trouble with my stomach. It's swelling up and getting hard. I feel tired."

I said: "Don't mess about, go and get it checked out. I started off like that and you should get tested for all kinds of stuff - you just never know."

A week after he told me: "I was eating a lot of oatmeal and I've cut down on that, so it's got a bit better."

I said: "You still need to get tested and find out other things as well."

That was the last real conversation I had with him.

Eddie was obviously feeling something but he didn't get it checked out or, if he did, he didn't get it checked out by the right people.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

What did you think of the Smackdown special, where Rey Mysterio prayed to Eddie to win a wrestling match and then Eddie's car was spat on and used in an angle to 'kill' The Undertaker?

I don't think for a second Rey meant anything other than heartfelt, genuine emotion for Eddie - and that was his way of showing it.

As for the other stuff, we live inside our own little world and obviously see things completely differently to those on the outside - but it doesn't mean we are doing things for the wrong reasons.

Fans obviously care enough to wear Eddie's T-shirts and chant his name, so by giving them something that involves Eddie it keeps his name alive.

I didn't see anyone in the building that night who was outraged by it, it was only when people had time to sit and think.

You can get outraged by anything if you analyse it for long enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

What is your current role in the WWE?

I don't really have one!

Everyone seems to like my tag team with Paul Burchill but the problem is fitting us in, as the WWE has a lot of tag teams right now.

Hopefully 2006 is going to bring something up, because since I moved to Smackdown I haven't done anything.

Luckily I've had a few matches with Chris Benoit that have made people realise I can still do this and be a bigger part of our show.

The one thing I'd love to do before I finish in this business is a long PPV match with Chris, without any kind of interference or going to breaks. He would be my dream opponent at WrestleMania 22 in Chicago.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How is Paul coming along? Do you think he could be the WWE's first ever British world champion?

I think the sky is the limit for Paul and I don't see why he can't go all the way and win the world championship. He's definitely got the potential for it. As long as he keeps his head together he'll be fine.

It's actually really good for Paul right now that we're not on TV every week. He's getting that time to season himself on house shows, so by the time he gets a good role he'll be ready for it.

The only way you get really good at what we do is to perform in front of live crowds - you can't learn your craft doing short TV matches.

I didn't see the car get spat on.

WWE knew that was going too far and changed the angle, but you could see Big Show about to do it.

A nice long clean match between Regal & Benoit @ WM = :drool: :love:

That was a really great read.

Quote:

Everyone seems to like my tag team with Paul Burchill but the problem is fitting us in, as the WWE has a lot of tag teams right now.

:lol: That's actually true, oddly enough. It just doesn't seem that way at all.

Regal's always held a certain amount of respect in my eyes for being a great guy, good mind in the biz, and reformed substance abuser (I didn't know him until he arrived at the WWE though, so yeah). He definitely knows his stuff, and a Regal/Benoit feud would definitely be a great way to go out.

Fantastic read. Regal has a wrestling mind. I could see him promoting shows when he retires.

I'd love to see him vs Benoit in a long match. The one at the Pillman Memorial? was great.

Quote:

<b>What do you think of the WWE's current product? Where can it be improved?</b>

It can always be improved.

I think they need to make some decisions on long term goals and where they want to go.

There has been nothing but changes over the last few months, which have thrown things into an uproar.

I think they now need to set some goals and work out who they want to be in certain positions.

They need more guys in positions where, if something happens to a wrestler on top, they can move up.

That's something I don't see so much any more. There are the top guys, but then that's it.

I see TV as a problem, because you're putting people in situations where they're just doing short matches that don't really do anything for anyone.

All the stars of yesteryear never got over like that - they all had time put into developing them.

I also think there should be a lot more classic wrestling promos, guys on set doing short interviews. You get the fans more involved that way.

William Regal is so awesome. What I want to see happen between Chris Benoit and William Regal is this:

-On an edition of SmackDown!, William Regal & Paul Burchill walk out of Booker T's lockerroom, and everyone assumes William Regal will be Booker T's replacement in the Best of Seven Series finale against Chris Benoit at the Royal Rumble.

-Chris Benoit comes out and is ready for William Regal. Sure enough, here comes William Regal ready to go. He's being accompanied by Burchill. Regal walks around the ring and gets a mic and says that he knows Benoit like the back of his hand, etc. He basically teases that he will face Benoit, but then all of a sudden Regal says he isn't going to replace Booker T, and Paul Burchill attacks Benoit from behind.

-Have Benoit beat Burchill, in a very close match, and then have Regal pissed off things didn't go too well. Benoit faces Burchill again at No Way Out, and again beats him, which forces Regal to finally step up and face Benoit in a match at WrestleMania 22.

That was a good read, and I agree with what Regal said about WWE's current product.Eveyerthing was spot on, fact is, having played Smackdown vs Raw(got it for christmas, it could be a lot better if they put some serious thought into it)it was fucking tough booking with only 20 superstars on the roster in GM mode,and having to do 6 matches aswell as 2 promos everytime.Now I know WWE has the option to put together however many matches/promos they want, but this game has confirmed to me that splitting the rosters in half is not a good idea and is the reason why they're where they're today.They're practically killing their own company by splitting themselves in half.

REGAL VS BENOIT AT WM22 = I'M BUYING THE PPV

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alienoid06

Do you always have to play the role as booker? Just agree, god damnit. :wtf:

Regal sounds like an absolute nice guy.

IMO, they need to move a couple of the Smackdown teams over to Raw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaton

Do you always have to play the role as booker? Just agree, god damnit. :wtf:

This thread is all about Regal so far. I just wanted to spread some Burchill love in here...

Chris Benoit vs. William Regal must happen at WrestleMania 22, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alienoid06

I just wanted to spread some Burchill love...

:heart: