The Machine won't let the Wrestling Thread Win

[Wheels]

Since this is going to go on forever, can we talk about who would end Fandango's WrestleMania streak instead?

I say everyone. t:

Michael Cole. Then he beats Taker and owns all the undefeated bragging rights.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Michael Cole. Then he beats Taker and owns all the undefeated bragging rights.

And the next day, WWE converts itself into a discount bedframe manufacturer.

 

[The Sage]

Kurt Angle was recently interviewed by WEEI 93.7 FM. Here are some highlights:

If he would return to WWE: “I can’t say I’ll never go back. My contract is up in eight months, so we’ll see.”

His relationship with Vince McMahon: “Vince is all business, but when the curtain goes down, he’s also a great friend. He was like a father figure to me. I have a lot of respect for him. I have to give him credit for taking what I had and producing it the way he did. It was a blessing. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Being a heel when he started: “It was Vince’s idea. He saw what happened with The Rock when he started. He tried to start him as a baby face and it blew up in their hands. With me, he knew what was going to happen. When I started to get booed, he had me respond to the fans. He was looking for any kind of chant from the fans that I could respond to negatively and get myself much more heat. Vince is brilliant. He knew that all along, even though I didn’t, but that’s why he’s the man.”

As noted earlier, AJ Styles was interviewed by Wrestling Observer Radio earlier this week. Here are some highlights:

* AJ confirms he’s a free agent.

* AJ said he’s interested in going to Japan and is looking forward to his upcoming ROH appearances.

* AJ said never really thought he’d be gone from TNA because he’d been there so long and felt he was valuable.

* AJ said he didn’t think it made much sense that TNA continued to build things around him in the autumn if they didn’t think he was sticking around.

* AJ said changing the ring to four sides was one of the biggest mistake in company history.

* AJ said at first he didn’t get along too well with Eric Bischoff, but they got friendlier over time.

* AJ said that the door is still open for him to return to TNA.

* AJ said that he had tried to accommodate TNA as much as he could during negotiations, but it just didn’t work out.

* AJ said he would absolutely go to WWE if they made the right offer, but he’s not in talks with them at the moment.

* AJ told a story about a tryout he had with WWE where Triple H told him he needed to “slow down.” He thinks it was good advice and he has tried to slow down in recent years.

http://dailywrestlingnews.com/kurt-angle-think-will-ever-return-wwe/
http://dailywrestlingnews.com/aj-styles-says-will-go-wwe-right-offer-door-still-open-tna-return/

 

[The Batman]

I'd love to see Angle back in WWE, even if he'd be on a part timer schedule.

Especially if he'd end up facing Punk or Bryan.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Hoping AJ stays with ROH for at least another year or two while accepting other bookings.

 

[Big Green]

I'd come out of my seat if Angle was a surprise entrant and won the 2015 Rumble. He needs to finish out back in the E.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Kurt Angle sucks.

 

[TX85]

I want Kurt back in WWE so much even if in a light schedule

 

[The Sage]

- WWE now has their developmental talents doing classes and seminars, treating it like it’s almost similar going to college. The idea is that they are trying to teach talents to not screw up like most people from the past had done and have skills for a post-wrestling.

They are going to have talent classes in marketing themselves, programs in teaching how to manage finances, college tuition reimbursement programs, media training and language courses.

WWE has formed a partnership with Money Management International to help the talents with their financial planning for the future. They will have classes that teach budgeting, debt control, help with choosing a tax professional, as well as helping them choose people to be financial planners and to help them with taxes.

They are also working with Kevin Sullivan Communications (not the WCW Kevin Sullivan) to teach talent media training, like how to avoid bad press on Twitter. Sullivan is the former White House Communications Director under George W. Bush

Developmental talents will also be given seminars in injury prevention and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

- As noted, WWE stock almost doubled over the past year. WWE is now worth $1.25 billion and the McMahon family is close to billionaire status with their company stock.

The rise in stock is based on optimism based on what the company has said about the Network and their 2014 TV rights fees negotiations. The expectation is things will rise until those two things come to fruition, and at that point, the price will depend on the new deal and the success of the Network.

Regarding those rights fees, there is some speculation that Spike TV could make a play for SmackDown. If Spike acquired SmackDown, it would be a great lead-in for Bellator MMA on Friday nights.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

http://dailywrestlingnews.com/wwe-lots-new-programs-help-talents-future-money-health/
http://dailywrestlingnews.com/mcmahons-close-billionaire-status-wwe-worth-smackdown-spike-tv/

 

[Wheels]

I'd love to see Angle back in WWE, even if he'd be on a part timer schedule.

Especially if he'd end up facing Punk or Bryan.

I'd add Angle vs Del Rio as well. Del Rio would have been an Olympian had Mexico sent a team in '00 . Maybe Angle vs Rollins and Angle vs Sami Zayn.

 

[runawayboulder]

It sounds like the WWE is going to lift the Benoit ban on old footage.

 

[Wheels]

It sounds like the WWE is going to lift the Benoit ban on old footage.

Huh? Where did you read that?

 

[Pink Ranger]

6.5 years. Someone note the time elapse for future reference.

 

[Big Green]

Chris Beniot is back.

 

[cabel]

I guess it has to do with the E apparently putting out more WCW DVDs. If its true at all.

 

[Wheels]

F4Wonline.com reports that WWE has sent out a memo stating that Chris Benoit footage will be allowed on its new Network broadcasts. There will be an advisory played before every show he appears on.

http://nodq.com/wwe/390716043.shtml

 

[cabel]

So it's gonna be like the jackass logo with Beniot's face on it?

Cue the photoshops

 

[TX85]

He exists in history again!

 

[The Sage]

It's been awhile since I watched TNA. Madison Rayne looked pretty good in the ring tonight.

 

[runawayboulder]

It's been long enough. WWE made it clear that his actions were reprehensible.

 

[Warhammer]

I wish Jericho wasn't a part timer because I'd love it if he was the one that ended the streak. I wish Punk could do it, but since he already lost to Taker at Wrestlemania, it doesn't feel right. I'm not a fan of Cena doing it because Cena has been the face of the company for the past decade. I'm all for Bryan doing it, but only after a year of consistent booking instead of this bulls*** rollercoaster booking they've been doing to him post-Wrestlemania 29.

And hell no to Orton.

 

[TX85]

Would the lifting of the ban just be old footage or is there any chance of possible new merchandise like..Have Benoit be a playable character in 2K15?

I'd settle for just old footage though

 

[Warhammer]

I'd love to see Angle back in WWE, even if he'd be on a part timer schedule.

Especially if he'd end up facing Punk or Bryan.

If he came back, I'd mark out like crazy. If it were against Punk or Bryan, holy s***.

 

[Warhammer]

Would the lifting of the ban just be old footage or is there any chance of possible new merchandise like..Have Benoit be a playable character in 2K15?

I'd settle for just old footage though

It will be old footage and that only. No way in hell will they have him as a toy or on a video game only for kids who don't know who he is to ask their parents or figure it out themselves. The media backlash would be devastating. It's still promoting a murderer.

 

[Superark]

TNA feels so much like WCW in 2000 right now.

Between the depleted roster, poor booking, Dixie becoming the new on-air Russo and financial issues it isa sad state of affairs.