Fact or Fiction: A-Train, Billy Gunn, TNA's Future, WM Ticket Prices, and much more
Submitted by Phantom Lord on Monday, August 18, 2003 at 9:17 PM EST



Welcome back to the hottest wrestling column on the net, Wrestling’s Fact or Fiction, the column that pays tribute to the great ESPN segment…Fact or Fiction. Tito is once again taking some much needed time off so joining yours truly and Da Ref is Villiano 187. Villiano is a long time member of the Lords of Pain Message board and in addition to being one of the moderators he is the President and CEO of the Psychotic Wrestling Alliance, LOP’s Official E-Fed. He is our Mr. McMahon except he actually puts on a good show each week. Well with my help of course since I am his Vince Russo. But enough of the cheap plugs, on to the first question.

Fact or Fiction: Despite his current push once again, A-Train will never be over with the WWE fans in any shape or form

Da Ref: FACT. A-Train or Albert or whatever his name will be next week just can't get over with the fans. So far, the only sort of reaction he gets are "Shave Your Back" chants. However, there are a number of wrestlers that got chants because of one thing but never really got over beyond that. When I think about it, that may be a big reason why he's on Smackdown. If you think back to the Invasion angle, there was talk that the then-WWF was editing out the pops that Rob Van Dam, who was aligned with the heel Alliance group, was getting on Smackdown because they were upstaging some of the pops that the major faces were getting. Based on that, I have to wonder if maybe the "Shave Your Back" chants are really as loud as they seem to be on TV.

Villiano: This one is a tough one, but I'm going with Fiction. Even though his gimmick of being an overly hairy big guy isn't getting him over, the guy may find a gimmick that works for him. He was over with the fans when he had the Hip Hop Hippo gimmick and was teaming with Scotty 2 Hotty. If he gets the right gimmick and works on his in ring work and develops mic skills above slobbering on his opponent, he could get over in the future.

Phantom: Yeah like this is a tough one. Listen to the dubbed in heel heat for the answer. This is Fact. There was a time that I thought that Albert possibly could be the next Vader. But then I came to my senses and realized the only way he can ever look good is for him to beating up cruiserweights or women. Vince has a hard on for big sweaty men. He lives in the world of yesterday where big slow men made the money. The money is in guys like Lesnar, Angle, Mysterio. Guys who are very agile and can put on a great show. The most Albert will ever be is the fat guy who back hear and the piercing’s.

Fact or Fiction: Billy Gunn, despite coming back from an injury and being paired with Torrie Wilson will never be as over as he was with the NAO and D-X.

Phantom: This is an absolute fact. Billy Gunn could be led to the ring by a naked Torrie Wilson and even that could not get people to care about him in the ring. Billy is best in tag matches because he needs someone to carry him for starters and in tag matches your flaws get covered. If you have any lingering doubts that Billy could still be a great singles star, I direct you to Gunn vs. Benoit where Chris destroyed him in the ring. Any lingering doubt will be erased after that match. But once again Vince has a special spot for guys who act really gay, and for Billy that comes natural.

Villiano: This is a Fact. Even though he does break out some innovative moves here and there, the fans really don't like him. I've been to many live shows where he's performed, and believe me, the cheers you hear for him on Smackdown are piped in. He wasn't the reason he was over back in the D-X days, Road Dogg is the reason Billy Gunn got over. Billy Gunn is just hanging on to the twilight of his career and is getting all he can out of it before bowing out.

Da Ref: Absolute FACT. There has never been a time where Billy Gunn has been truly over. He may have gotten some sort of reaction at first. However, that has slowly died down each and every time after he has been wrestling for a while. It's actually been a pattern that has been seen in a number of wrestlers. They're over as part of a team or group. Yet, when they're on their own in singles, they can't even come close to that type of popularity.

Fact or Fiction: Signing former WWE stars will cause NWA-TNA to eventually go bankrupt and out of business.

Da Ref: I'm going to give two thoughts on this one:

-I'll say FACT if the thought is to just sign these guys just because they were with WWE. It was a problem that WCW had during their big upswing of success. Some of the guys that were signed like Hogan, Hall, Nash, and to some extent Savage were put to major angles and given prominent roles. However, you also had guys like Duggan, Neidhart, British Bulldog, and Beefcake who were just....well, there. While most of the guys signed who were not used that much had somewhat low-end deals compared to the bigger names, they still ate away at what WCW could make.

-On the other hand, I'll also say FICTION for a couple of reasons. First of all, a lot of the guys being brought in are guys that have been big with the Internet crowd, which is who NWA-TNA caters their product to. By signing them and giving them better roles than they had in WWE, you automatically keep your audience. Meanwhile, one thing to remember is that while TNA has a TV deal (sort of), they are still considered to be an independent organization with the workers free to work wherever they want as long as it doesn't interfere with Wednesday nights. Plus, the fact that they can be seen regularly on National television can be used as a bargaining tool for working various independent shows.

Villiano: This is pure Fiction. NWA-TNA has been smart and selective on which former WWE guys to sign. I don't know the exact financial figures for the guys that they have signed, but it can't be too much. I feel that them signing WWE guys will help their business by bringing in some of the casual fans who's favorite wrestler was picked up by NWA-TNA.

Phantom: I’m gonna say Fiction on this one. NWA-TNA has made it way past the point anyone gave them credit for. They are wise in who they sign. They were practically handed Raven and D-Lo by the WWE simply because the Hollywood Writers didn’t know what to do with two guys who are good on the microphone and in the ring. If anything, TNA might go bankrupt from being on PPV since they apparently just break even each week with buyrates. But as for getting former WWE stars, that won’t put them in the poor house. If anything they end up making the WWE look stupid because they take the guys they couldn’t give a gimmick to and turn them into big stars on the Indy circuit. Let me put it this way. In the WWE, Kanyon is a curtain jerker. In the NWA…He would be World Champion. See my point.

Fact or Fiction: The Intercontinental Title is all but ruined now that Booker T lost the title to Christian at a non-televised event

Phantom: This is Fiction. The title was ruined when Triple H threw a fit about the Intercontinental title being the top belt on RAW and he made them dust off The Big Gold Belt just so he wouldn’t be second to Kurt Angle or Brock Lesnar in the WWE. Ever since then it has been booked as an inferior title with only momentary bits of glory (RVD vs. Tommy Dreamer at MSG comes to mind). Christian could be a great heel champion, but when you make him look like a joke week after week, all the belt becomes is an accessory piece. That’s what it is right now. It will take something on the scale of Steamboat/Savage to rekindle the respect for the title.

Villiano: The WWE ruined the IC title when they got rid of it. I'm going with Fiction because the title has already been ruined. It has nothing to do with Booker T losing it at a house show.

Da Ref: I'm going to say FICTION because that wasn't the point where the title was ruined. I've been catching heat for this on the forums but I'll state it in this column. I never saw Christian as someone that could carry a major WWE singles title. I've been someone that has criticized the WWE creative team for not using guys to their potential and not giving people more of a chance to show whether or not they can shine on the big stage. When I talk about that, I'm referring to the guys that get a great reaction from the crowds wherever they go even when they're curtain jerking and have no serious angle. With Christian, he's yet to get a seriously good reaction from the crowd. I think back to RAW last week when the crowd went from popping loud after Booker T's music started playing to the crowd going silent when Christian came out with the IC Title. Now, that sort of angle where one guy uses the entrance of someone their feuding to get heat has been done before and it has a pretty good success record, which becomes excellent when the guy pulling the gimmick is quite over. So, I think the problem is the fact that they gave the title to Christian, a guy who can't really get over in singles.

Fact or Fiction: If Brock hadn't turned heel, they would have brought Paul Heyman back to join with Kurt again.

Da Ref: I'd have to say FICTION. Right now, Heyman still isn't cleared to return to the ring from taking the F-5. It would be hard to let him come back and risk further injury. Plus, it would be in the best interest of the company to put Heyman with someone that has almost all of the tools needed to be a superstar but lacks the microphone skills. To me, Paul Heyman has to be considered one of the absolute best managers of all time. He knows what his role is. He's not there to get himself over. He's there to get his charge over followed by the guy they're feuding with. By doing that and his guy getting over with the crowds, then he gets over. It was the same when he was an announcer. To waste that on someone that is already over would be a crime.

Phantom: I’m gonna say Fiction simply because Paul Heyman didn’t work as Kurt Angle’s manager the last time. Heyman would be perfect for Haas and Benjamin who are quickly becoming this generations Midnight Express. Angle doesn’t need a mouthpiece. If anything, Heyman should go back with Lesnar just to get Brock away from being Vince’s henchman. It’s the WWE. It wouldn’t be the first time someone did a 180. Heyman could say it was his plan all along to fool you the fans into thinking Brock Lesnar had feelings. At least that’s what I would do. But hey, I’m just the poor man’s Vince Russo for a lowly online fed on a message board. What do I know.

Villiano: Fiction, fiction, fiction. Why would the WWE pair Heyman with Kurt Angle? Angle already has superb mic skills and doesn't need a "manager" figure. Heyman is best used when he's the mouthpiece for others who have no mic skills or are still working on their mic skills. Look at how he got Brock Lesnar over, and he even did pretty good with Big Show. Heyman is needed elsewhere in the WWE, Kurt doesn't need him.

Fact or Fiction: Sting will sign with the WWE and he will debut by Wrestlemania 20

Da Ref: I have to believe FICTION. The talk went on for what seemed like forever that Sting would be with WWE in time for this past Wrestlemania. Then, there was talk that he'd be with the company in time for the one of the first brand-only PPV's(Bad Blood or Vengeance). Then, that talk intensified when he dropped the WWA Title to Jarrett. Now, the talk has died down. Maybe he just wants to go back to being a husband and father. When you think about it, how much of a good career move would it be? I was listening to an audio show and the question came up about which former WCW wrestler that wrestled for the company when it was bought out not only survived but thrived. You know who the overwhelming answer was? Shane Helms. He went from wrestling opening matches to being sporadically involved in the main event picture, getting more TV time, and is getting a sizeable chunk of change from merchandising. Meanwhile, you have a number of guys that have slipped down the ladder. Who's to say that wouldn't happen to Sting?

Phantom: I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say Fact on this one. As we know the power of Christ and money go hand and hand and Sting would probably see a few million reasons why he should give it a go in McMahon Country. Sting still has a strong fan following and if say Bischoff said he signed someone and they would debut at Wrestlemania to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Title (Yeah, Like he isn’t gonna be champion around then), that would create an enormous buzz for Wrestlemania and judging by one of the questions down below…they need all the buzz they can get.

Villiano:It's a long shot, and I don't see it happening. Vince won't shell out the money on any former WCW star at this point because of the disappointment Goldberg has been. Add in the fact that Sting is a born again Christian and stands by his faith, he won't want to work in an organization based on the smut business. If Sting shows up at WrestleMania XX, I'll mark out like everyone else will, but until then it's Fiction.

Fact or Fiction: The decision to make ringside seats $754 per ticket at Wrestlemania 20 will be looked at as one of Vince's worst financial decisions ever made.

Phantom: Sucka’s gots to know this is a FACT. I mean my jaw dropped when I first read this little gem. Granted, a portion of the price is from Ticketmaster, but Vince does set the price to begin with. I mean for the common fan or non-beautiful person it’s gonna be damn near impossible to score tickets to WM 20 unless your willing to sign over your first born to a ticket broker. It’s like I said on the board, Unless JESUS VS. SATAN is the main event then there is no justification for these ticket prices.

Da Ref: Considering the price mixed with the fact that we have no clue about the card, I'll go with FACT on this one. It boggles my mind that $754 for one ticket(oh, can't forget the commemorative chair also) could be considered a good price. Plus, you look at the number of people that come from other states and even other countries to see Wrestlemania. If you add those costs to the price of one ringside ticket, you have to seriously question whether or not the "atmosphere" of Wrestlemania is worth spending a couple thousand to take in.

Villiano: Fiction. It may be one of the most genius things that Vince McMahon has ever thought about financially. WrestleMania is the Super Bowl of wrestling, and no matter what the price is, someone will be buying floor seats for Wrestlemania XX. It sucks for us poor fans, but there are enough people who can afford those seats that will fill them with ease.

Fact or Fiction: At Wrestlemania 20, we will see what will be The Undertakers retirement match

Da Ref: I'll say FICTION. I realize that it would seem like a big deal for the Undertaker to end his career at Wrestlemania. However, it would be an even bigger deal to end it at Survivor Series, the PPV he debuted at. They could air segments from the various Survivor Series matches he was in on Confidential with interviews with Calloway talking about them. Maybe that's just me.

Villiano: I can wish and wish and wish, but this is Fiction. Vince and The Undertaker both know that he can still go for at least a few more years, even though he's slower than a sloth. The undertaker will be in the Main Event of Wrestlemania XX, but I see him winning the WWE title instead of retiring.

Phantom: Just like KISS is on they’re farewell tour, WM 20 will be The Undertakers final match. Oh wait, that’s right. KISS is never gonna stop ROCK & ROLLING ALL NIGHT AND PARTYING EVERY DAY and The Undertaker isn’t going to retire at WM 20. Spits out Tobacco: You better believe this one is Fiction

Retro Fact or Fiction: ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin has done more for Professional Wrestling and the WWF/E then Hulk Hogan ever did

Da Ref: I've criticized Hogan in the past but even I know that's FICTION. Austin's done a lot in the business. However, Hogan played a major role in it crossing over into the mainstream. Hogan made it possible for wrestlers to be recognized outside of the wrestling business. He helped it get attention from the media that simply bashed it and made it more credible as a form of entertainment. In reality, Hogan made it possible for Austin to be the major public figure that he became because of his success in the wrestling business.

Villiano:Hahahaha, that's one of the funniest statements I've ever seen in print. Hulk Hogan made professional wrestling mainstream in American society. Austin turns face and heel every week and no one cares. When Hogan turned heel in WCW, people were outright hurt and felt betrayed. Hulk Hogan is the epitome of professional wrestling. Stone Cold may have brought in a new generation of fans, but there would be no WWE today if there was no Hulk Hogan. More people know who Hulk Hogan is than Steve Austin. The thought of Austin being anything close to Hogan is Fiction, more like pure fantasy for Stone Cold fans. If anyone believes this statement, they are delusional.

Phantom: This one is Fiction. Austin 3:16 might have been the cool thing to say in 97-98, but that ran it’s course. Granted he got Wrestling back into the main stream, but Hogan was the one who put it there in the first place. It would be interesting to see how a Hogan/Austin match would be billed. I would of went with Hogan/Austin at WM 18 instead of Hogan/Rock since The Rock only became big simply because the cog that force fed baby faces to us the fans broke and people saw right through him.

Retro Fact or Fiction: If Bret Hart did not put over Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 12, The Klique (HBK, Triple H, Nash, Hall) would of never built up the power they had.

Phantom: This is Fiction. Bret could of no sold all of Shawn’s moves and made him look like a joke in the ring and it would of done nothing. Shawn’s entrance into the arena that night was a small example of how large his ego was. The Klique became strength in numbers and they managed to play they’re cards right and damn near control an entire company with out signing the pay checks.

Da Ref: I'm saying FICTION because the Klique had the power they had BEFORE Wrestlemania 12. If you look back, the title picture from 1994 up to Wrestlemania had members of the Klique involved. Waltman, Nash, and Michaels were holding the tag team titles. Nash, Michaels, and Hall were IC Champions. Then, you had Nash as World Champion for almost a year from just after Survivor Series 1994 to Survivor Series 1995. Plus, by the time of Wrestlemania, the Klique wasn't that big anymore. Hall and Nash were signed with WCW. Waltman was out with an injury and the talk was that he would be joining WCW also. That left Helmsley and Michaels and their power being dropped was shown with the fact that Helmsley was punished for the incident at MSG.

Villiano: Michaels was going to break the glass cieling if Bret Hart wanted him to or not. Michaels was the future of the business and Vince knew it. No matter if Bret Hart put Michaels over or not, the Klique would have still gained enough influence backstage to get to the power that they eventually had. Fiction.

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