JBL, Success In WWE/TNA, Booker's Gimmick, More

Written by Richard Gray on May 13, 2008 - 9:10:05 AM

This is not a new installment of Ask WNW. I am currently traveling so this is a special retro edition of Ask WNW with questions mixed in from past installments. Enjoy!

Is JBL really a self-made millionaire or is that just part of his gimmick?

John “Bradshaw” Layfield really did get rich by investing in the stock market. Actually they tweaked his gimmick to fit his real-life persona rather than the other way around which is done for most performers. JBL is considered an expert at the stock market and even provides analysis for news networks and trading publications.

Thanks for posting my last question. I highly respect your opinions. When wrestlers like Christian Cage and Kurt Angle went to TNA, they were used better. When wrestlers like Monty Brown and Kazarian went to the WWE, they were not used much at all. What wrestlers in TNA do you think would be better off in WWE and vice versa? Do you see either Ron Killings or Chris Harris being successful?

Thank you for the compliment! I somewhat disagree with your opening statement. I don’t feel like TNA has used Kurt Angle “better” than WWE. He was still a main event caliber talent in WWE and I actually feel that TNA has done a very mediocre job of booking him. Sure they book him over on all PPVs, but there are several occasions in my opinion where he is booked to look too “soft.” As for Monty Brown he was climbing the ladder in WWE but due to personal problems, he ended his relationship with the company. Kaz needed more size to be a contender in WWE. For him to get a shot in WWE he needed more of a defining characteristic. Even at 215 pounds he was not heavy enough for his height. With all of this being said, there is no “perfect” situation for anyone. To be successful in the wrestling industry you almost have to be in the right place at the right time. Christian was booked to be a main eventer in TNA because he couldn’t get past the “smaller” stigma in WWE and TNA wanted to capitalize on his popularity from WWE. As for Killings or Harris I don’t see either one making much of a run past mid-card status. I hope that I’m wrong, but Harris was really just a mid-card guy in TNA and while Killings was a top caliber talent in TNA, he’ll have a hard time at competing with people like Edge, The Undertaker, etc. One thing you have to understand is WWE has far more top names than TNA and a wrestler that is considered a “big deal” in TNA such as Killings is nothing more than a mid-card performer on WWE’s roster. Excellent question!

With Booker T now a TNA talent, how is he not only able to use the Booker T name but the entire gimmick including the catch phrases? Wasn’t that owned by WCW which obviously is now WWE?

No, Robert Huffman (a/k/a Booker T) owns all of the trademarks to his gimmick as well as the Booker T ring name. He is free to use it whenever he wants and he could actually be the one that would be able to pursue legal action against WWE should they use any mentions of his gimmick (not that they ever would). However, WWE owned the rights to the King Booker gimmick which is why he dropped it after parting ways with WWE.

Chris Jericho's return to the WWE was hyped up to be a huge deal and yet he's nothing but a mid card performer. Would Chris Jericho's return be considered a failure as far as the expectations were concerned?

No not at all. Chris Jericho was very well aware that if he went back to WWE that he would have to work as an upper-mid card performer under the likes of John Cena, Triple H, and Randy Orton. Is that to say that he will never get another run at the WWE Championship? No but he was well aware of what his position would be in the company before he signed a contract to comeback. I have talked to people very close to Chris and they tell me that he loves being back in the business. Jericho is still making very good money and feels rejuvenated in WWE.

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