Vince McMahon Interview

Vince McMahon was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter today to promote Wrestlemania XXV.

Some interesting highlights of the interview:

WHETHER WWE IS CONCERNED WITH TNA AS COMPETITION

"My concern with TNA is not in terms of competition. My concern with TNA is that they are TV-14, and we are PG. They have to change with the times. I think some of the things they do on television are reprehensible, but it is a TV-14 rating. That's the only bone I have to pick with them. Their TV ratings are a fraction of ours."

MMA AND UFC'S IMPACT ON WWE

"Most people thought at one point that we would be competitors. But it turns out they are not competition to us at all, or hardly at all. They are sport, we are entertainment; it's a huge difference. The revenue they have cut into is that of boxing."

TRIPLE H SLEDGEHAMMER DURING HOME INVASION OF RANDY ORTON

"Right. What we try to do in situations like that is use things that you can't find around the house. You will never see us use a baseball bat. You don't find folding metal chairs around the house. We are very selective. You can go up to the line. It's storytelling; that's how our business thrives. If you have well-defined characters and put them in the right story line against other characters, people care about their welfare."

Vince McMahon also discusses the use of celebrities at Wrestlemania, the idea of building regional stars for specific markets, the best international markets for the company, Wrestlemania XXV and more.

You can read the complete interview by clicking here.

Huge Kurt Angle Update

Here's a huge update on WWE turned TNA star Kurt Angle.


HOWARD STERN

Kurt was interviewed on the Howard Stern radio show - here are some highlights:

-Howard asked Kurt about Vince McMahon. Kurt said they had a falling out, and claimed Kurt wanted to go to rehab, but Vince wouldn't let him because ECW just started. Kurt says Vince wanted him to get clean, but do it without rehab.

-Howard asked Kurt if he divorced his wife because of this stuff or because of Spice Boy. As background, there is a belief among the "Stern Crew" that one of the reasons the Angle's got divorced is because Karen was participating in phone sex with Spice Boy, a member of the crew of Bubba The Love Sponge's show. Kurt basically said that he made Karen a millionaire, and she cheated on him with someone in the locker room - he is positive. Kurt throws a low blow saying Karen wasn't the best sex he's ever had.

-Conversation then turns to Kurt's interest in Robin. Kurt said he wrote her a poem. He says he's dated black women since he got divorced, and he thinks he has some black heritage in him on his mother's side. Kurt said he isn't very "large", but he'd do whatever to make her happy. Kurt read his poem to Robin, and it mentioned many Stern inside jokes insinuating that either Kurt is a huge fan of Howard Stern Show, or this was written for him. Everyone thought the poem was great. Robin said that she was impressed. She said that he hasn't asked her out yet so she's not sure if she would or not. Howard asked if she was ready to be a step-mom to his kids. Robin said she loves kids so she would do that. Then Kurt asked her if she would go out. She said yes to that. Kurt figured that she'd say no to him so he wasn't prepared for that. There was a lot of talk about what a sexual experience between Kurt and Robin would be like, and they discussed setting up a date when Kurt returned from his current tour abroad.

-They brought up Kurt dating Rhaka Khan - he said she was a great person, but they met at the wrong time.

-They brought up Kurt's web reality show and, specifically, a girl that Kurt was dating threatening his wife. Kurt said Robin wasn't in danger.

-Howard read that Kurt once made out with a woman who turned out to be a transsexual. He didn't know it at the time but found out weeks later when he went on the Rikki Lake show. The woman claimed to be Kathy Ireland's sister. Kurt said that this woman had contacted him and flew him out to meet her. This was years ago when he was in the Olympics. Kurt said that the chick fooled him and he had no idea. He said that he made out with that chick for 7 hours! They got into further details and Kurt said he'd kill her if they ran into each other again.

-Iron Shiek called in and got in a shouting match with Kurt Angle. Angle said Shiek never made the Olympics and Shiek said he'd kill Angle.


Angle stayed in the offices after he came off the air, and was working the phones, and hanging with the crew, so its possible more story/bits will come out tomorrow.

OPIE AND ANTHONY

Kurt Angle also appeared on Opie & Anthony.

Highlights:

They talk about the wrestling organization that he is in now, TNA, and his falling out with the WWE He mentions that he went to Vince for help with his drug addiction and Vince pretty much told him to fix it while he was on the road. He claimed it took about 5-6 months to fully get off the pain pills.

Opie asks Kurt more about what went down with his problem he had with pain pills after one of the five times that Kurt broke his neck. I believe he said that he took upwards to 20+ pills a day. Kurt talks about the addiction that he had to them and says that he won't take them anymore even if he needs them for something else.

Kurt talks briefly about the drug policy that TNA and WWE have. Says that Vince has made it possible for former stars to go to rehab at no cost. Also stresses that BOTH companies need to be around for everyone to succeed, and touches on the number of guys that have gone back and forth between the two companies, mentioning Christian by name.

Opie then asks Kurt about steroids which they talk about for a little while. They talk about MMA and Kurt's opportunity to get into it - he says that he will get into it but wrestling will remain his top priority. He says that he already has had some MMA training. Kurt talks about the few people from WWE whom he still keeps in touch with. The Rock and Stone Cold are two guys he wishes still stayed in touch, but understand they are busy with other projects and movies.

Opie asks "Primetime" Sam Roberts of NYSWF fame if they covered everything they should with Kurt and Sam asks Kurt about Internet rumors of someone Kurt dated. Kurt tells them about his divorce and kids, and how this is the third time he has split with Karen. They goof around about Mick Foley a little, Jim Norton asks Kurt what he thought about The Wrestler movie he loved it and felt that they took a lot of Jake the Snake and put it into the movie, and they end by goofing about Vince McMahon a little.

They promoted TNA on Thursday nights and the upcoming PPV.

FINAL THOUGHT

Probably one of the best interviews I've read regarding Kurt Angle.

Evan Bourne Shooting Star Comments

Evan Bourne has been interviewed in the new issue of the WWE Magazine.


BOURNE TO INTERVIEW

In the new issue of WWE Magazine, Evan Bourne is asked how he was able to bring back the once-banned Shooting Star Press (pictured, above) and commented,

"Honestly, when I signed my contract with WWE, there was no mention the move was banned. I did the maneuver all over Japan, so when I got to WWE, I wanted to use it. It's my specialty. Once I showed them how I perform it, I was encouraged to use it."

FINAL THOUGHT

Guess WWE just had a grudge against Kidman for injuring Chavo Guerrero.

And to think, Chavo has come such a long way since then...

Ric Flair Injury

Ric Flair has suffered an injury, less than 2 weeks away from WrestleMania 25


NATURE BOY BUSTED

On the 23rd March, 2009 episode of Monday Night Raw, Ric Flair and Chris Jericho were involved in a segment whereby Jericho viciously assaulted Ric Flair - to the point where Flair was busted open - literally.

Ric Flair needed close to a dozen staples in order to close a legitimate wound opened when Chris Jericho nailed him with the WWE HD video camera during the segment.

Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal Update

There's been a slight change to the 25 Diva Battle Royal at WrestleMania.


TWO DOWN

Gail Kim was removed from the WrestleMania XXV Miss WrestleMania Battle Royal graphic last night on Raw as she hasn't "officially" debuted yet. Her inclusion last week was a mistake.

Candice Michelle was also removed from the graphic, which may be a sign WWE doesn't expect her to be medically cleared from her ankle injury by the PPV. If so, that would be the second straight WrestleMania she would miss due to injury as she missed last year due to a broken clavicle.

FINAL THOUGHT

So with a large amount of ex-WWE Divas are saying no to the battle royal, what is the solution?

Kick two more Divas off - Yay!

Trish Stratus New Look

Trish Stratus makes a surprise return to the screen, by doing the weather and sporting a brand new brunette look!

This honestly took me by complete surprise.

Trish then speaks on her current lifestyle and her successful Yoga business.

The news anchors also ask Trish if she misses being in the ring, to which she replied

"I did make a little return in December...I get my fix every now and then"

FINAL THOUGHT

Bring back Trish! *clap clap clap clap clap*

Kane Interview - Fight with UFC Star?

WWE Superstar Kane has recently conducted an interview with popular newspaper, The Sun


HELL, FIRE AND INTERVIEWS

Earlier this week, blogs and internet forums were reporting that Affliction fighter Sylvia had suffered a broken nose and black eye at the hands of the Big Red Machine.

They had supposedly traded blows at a venue in Detroit with the 7ft, 320lbs wrestling star, real name Glen Jacobs, said to have come out on top.

However a WWE spokesman immediately dismissed the story, saying:

"This is a total fabrication."

Pals of the pair added that neither man had been in Detroit at the time of the alleged incident.

And now, for the first time, Kane has spoken out about the rumours.

KANE:

"I was sitting at home at the time and someone told me – that was the first I’d heard about it.

"I hear I handled it pretty well though. I’m happy with myself!

"I’m pretty sure Tim won’t hold a grudge"

FINAL THOUGHT

Funny little interview with Kane. Glad to see that a monster inside the ring, still has a killer sense of comedy, outside of the ring

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