The MCMG, HBK's Work Rate, D-Lo, Jobbers, Russo

Written by Richard Gray on Jul 14, 2008 - 2:36:03 PM

What are your thoughts on why TNA does not use Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley to their advantage? They are obviously talented and enjoyable to watch, so shouldn't they be given more of a push?

From what I have heard the biggest thing that has held them back in the company is that they are not very likable and have a tendency to rub people the wrong way. There was an incident several months ago where one or both of them refused to blade in a match which resulted in their push being derailed. We [the wrestling media] had both Sabin and Shelley in a conference call back in March and from seeing how they interacted in that call – it's no wonder that they are held back as neither had a very good personality and even rubbed me the wrong way and I was just listening! Nonetheless Alex Shelley did get the pin in the 12 Man Elimination Match last night so maybe things are changing.

I have noticed recently that Shawn Michaels has rarely, if at all, wrestled outside of pay-per-views on Raw he has just been doing promos. Do you think this is to save his body and try and extend his career or is it something else?

WWE tries not to overwork Shawn Michaels because he is in his 40s and suffers from problems with his knees and back. However, he still works house shows and does not wrestle entirely on pay-per-view. Shawn does have his fair share of political stroke in the company which gives him a little more say in how often that he works although I still think that he works a fair share of matches.

I'm glad to hear D-Lo is back on the books, always liked watching him compete. What's your opinion of him and how do you feel he will be used on his return to TV?

I think that D-Lo is a great worker and has a lot of knowledge of the wrestling business. At 35 years old there is still time for him to have another good run with WWE. I doubt he'll be a main eventer on Raw but I could see him fitting in nicely as a mid-card talent.

I understand that jobbers are needed to build up a wrestler's gimmick, but what I don't understand is why build up a wrestler then a year or two later bury them. Case in point is Super Crazy (Mexicools), Nunzio (F.B.I.), Funaki (Kaientai) etc. I just don't understand why guys such as these stay under the thumb of Vince McMahon. Is it because creative has no story for them or are they just doomed to be jobbers?

It’s all about testing crowd reactions. Obviously to get a WWE contract a worker has to display a tremendous amount of potential and prove to the scouts in the company that they are capable of becoming a superstar. Once a worker makes it and pays their dues by jobbing to the established workers, then they may get a push. If that push fails than the company has to backtrack on that particular push. I know that Funaki is completely satisfied with his position in the company. He does not mind being a job guy and is actually very well liked backstage.

Why does Vince Russo still have a job? I ask this after reading the results of the Victory Road pay-per-view (Joe vs. Booker specifically).

I wish that I could answer this question. Vince Russo is one of the biggest problems with the wrestling business today and I do not understand how someone that has devalued the industry still has a job in it today. Vince Russo is doing a terrible job in TNA and it is about time that someone took notice. If not, they may learn the hard way. Last night's pay-per-view was inexcusable.

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