WWF Byte This! Report with Jerry Lawler: 12/14 Submitted by Kevin Gregg on Friday, December 14, 2001 at 5:58 PM EST
WWF Byte This! Report with Jerry Lawler: 12/14
Friday, December 14, 2001 Hosts: Kevin Kelly and Howard Finkel Guest: Jerry Lawler Report by: Kevin Gregg of PowerWrestling.com
Kevin Kelly and Howard Finkel kicked off the show from the Byte This! arena, and Kevin said that the rain is falling in Stamford, Connecticut, and water is rushing over Titan Tots! Kevin and Howard talk about Vengeance. History was made, and Chris Jericho is a very deserving athlete to hold the Unified Championship. Howard said that WWF.com asked him to name who he thought was the Superstar of the Year, and before all this happened, he said Chris Jericho. Why? Because he finally grabbed the brass ring. Howard feels that Chris Jericho was the right choice, and it'll elevate him to higher heights. Kevin shifted gears to Rob Van Dam against the Undertaker, and we're staring to see another form of the Undertaker. Howard said for those who think they know it all, just when you think he's dead and gone, he comes right back, and that match with RVD, in Howard's opinion, was tremendous.
Kevin said that the Undertaker has always continued to evolve over time. He never stayed the same, and with that, that's how you move into a second decade of destruction. Howard said that's how a character stays fresh. Kevin pointed out that Jerry Lawler will be the guest on WWF Byte This!, today. Kevin gives a special shout out to the chat room guys. He doesn't know if anything is going on in the chat, because his screen is completely blank. Howard said that there's nothing in the chat room, so if you're chatting, they can't see it. Kevin said a little later on, they'll do Out Think the Fink, plus, they will end today's Byte This! program with a special classic clip. This week's clip is going to be WWF Championship matches at the Royal Rumble.
* Slaughter vs. Warrior: 1991 * Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels: 1998 * Mankind vs. The Rock: 1999 * Triple H vs. Cactus Jack: 2000
Howard said that there's some that were left out of that poll. There are some fans who enjoy the Royal Rumble match, and they'll talk about that at the end of the show. Droz joined the show, and they talked about Tazz's win on Smackdown!. Droz credited Tazz's tag team partners for that win. Kevin asked Droz what he thought of Chris Jericho becoming the Undisputed Champion? Droz said that it was shocking. Not that he deserved it, but it was shocking. Droz didn't think that Chris would get past his first round match against The Rock. Kevin said that Chris had a little bit of help in that last match with Stone Cold. Droz said that it never fails. Whenever a heel pulls that title out, he gets a little bit of help. Howard said that Chris Jericho deserved what he got. He's been in the Federation for over 2 years, and people thought he couldn't do it. Howard said that Chris Jericho was always on the merry go round, trying to reach that brass ring, and he finally got it. This is going to be a tremendous boost in Chris Jericho's persona.
Droz agreed, and he said that Chris has been around in the wrestling business for a long time. He definitely deserved it. To have Chris Jericho come out on top, it was shocking, because everyone thought it would be The Rock or Stone Cold. The only thing it's going to do is boost his career that much higher. Kevin shifted gears to Matt vs. Jeff, and that wasn't as good as a match as it could have been done. Is it the type of thing where they work well as a team, but not against each other? Droz said that they are still brothers, no matter what happens. Even though you have a competition, and you're going against somebody else, but when that someone else is a brother, you aren't going to do everything you can to win a match. They've worked so well together over the years. Against other competition, they'd be great, but against each other, it's not there. The chat room came back, and Kevin read some comments from the chat room. One asked who would win a Hardcore fight? The Sandman or Big Country's mom?
Droz said that it would depend on if the Sandman was sober enough. Kevin said they met Big Country's mom about a month ago, and she's very attractive. She's in that hot late 40s age. Droz thought that they were being brutal, but they claimed to be being brutally honest. Howard talked about Booker T rubbing up against Mr. McMahon. Considering all of this, a question about Julie. Droz's wife is a big part of the backstage scenes. Does she like to go to the super market and shop? Droz said after that, he doesn't know. That was clean up on every aisle. That was a great thing that went on there. Droz would have been entertained if he was walking down an aisle and see a cart roll by with Booker T in it. They got another comment from the chat room about Big Country's mom, and Big Country got pissed and argued with Kevin Kelly. Howard said to email bytethis@wwf.com if you want to get Big Country's mom on the phone on Byte This!. Big Country said the mother joke is so old, and Kevin accused Big Country of hating the fans.
Howard asked Droz to put himself into the shoes of Lance Storm. He came in from WCW, and he lost his job when the Alliance was disbanded. Lance came in looking for a job, and he's 0 for 2. Do good things come in threes for this guy? Droz thought that after he ended up with The Big Show, he'd end up against Kane. Being tossed at those guys is like being tossed to the wolves. Hopefully he'll get another chance. Kevin said that he has a lot of respect for Lance Storm's skill and his dry sense of humor. They are missing the boat. If you want to put a tag team together, they could put Lance Storm and Justin Credible back together. Kevin talked about Christmas. They have one more Byte This! show before the Holiday, and they are going to do a best of. Kevin asked Droz what's up his sleeve for the Holidays? Droz said that his wife is sitting there, so he's not going to talk about it. Plus, she can get on the Internet and check it, so they'll talk about that later. Droz said that they can't put a tree up, because of their cats. They are nuts. They fly over everything.
They would trash this place, so they do what they can, but it's not much, because of the cats. Howard asked Droz about his column, and Droz said he's talking about the Jericho thing, and the return of the Hurricane. And the match that Crash and Tajiri put on was an unbelievable wrestling display. It's great to see the smaller guys go out there and turn it loose. Howard said that it reminded him of the Lucha style. Kevin said that it was a great pairing, and it was a great spotlight for the return of the Hurricane and the WWF does need more super heroes. Howard talked about the 3 hour program on New Years Eve. If Droz were to pick the best match of 2001, what would it be? Droz thought about it, and he said he doesn't even know. There are so many of them. He doesn't know what he'd pick. Kevin told Droz that they'd get him the list from WWF.com, and he can pick from that. They wrap up Droz's segment, and he leaves the show. Kevin said that the best of will be a three hour special on New Year's Eve. They go to a caller, and Kevin asked the caller if he wants to see HBK in the ring again?
The caller said that he does. When he was growing up as a kid, he was his idol. He's his favorite of all time. Howard said that tomorrow night on Excess, we'll be able to get some answers. Shawn looks tremendous, and he entertained the crowd last night at WWF New York. Shawn Michaels will be the guest on WWF Excess tomorrow night at 10pm EST. It's time to Out Think the Fink. This week's winner will win the Just Bring It T-shirt with the American Flag. Howard said that when you submit your answer, include your shirt size down, because Biggie is very bad at guessing sizes. This week's question concerns today's special guest. Jerry Lawler. For three decades, he's been a monumental force in this industry. What college / university did Jerry Lawler attend? Out Think the Fink trivia answers go to bytethis@wwf.com. Tazz joined the show, and Kevin said that he got a big win on Smackdown!. Tazz said that he was good until about 15 minutes ago when Country decided to call him, so he can listen to the 'ha ha' on Byte This!. Tazz didn't seem to like the fact that he had to sit on hold like a mark and listen to this.
Kevin, Howard and Tazz talked about a Holiday get together. The employees and Superstars got to meet and talk to each other. They had Tazz, Tommy Dreamer, Spike Dudley and Triple H was there. Tazz saw the opportunity to politic and market himself. He talked to the President of WWF Canada for what seemed to be an eternity! Tazz said that his whole gimmick is this. The WWF wants him to go places, he'll go, but he's going to work. He's working everyone, doing his whole thing, and he wants and needs to get over. He needs more T-shirts and hats. He worked the room. He was there, and he needed stuff from everybody. Kevin said that he and Dreamer stood back and said "Look at Tazz work this room. He doesn't stop..." Howard asked Tazz what he thinks he accomplished, and Tazz laughed, saying that he's probably going to get his notice next week! Tazz walked around and he had some water and french lemon, and he had the pinky out. He was very classy! He was speaking perfect English to everybody. He was signing all sorts of stuff, and people loved him. Howard told everybody to watch him on Smackdown!, and Tazz called Howard a liar!
They talked about Tazz's win on Smackdown!, and it was a great match. Tazz said that everybody looked good in the match and it didn't hurt anybody. They didn't have a ton of time, but with the time they had, they made the best of it. Howard said that they were in Bakersfield, and he thought the crowd was great. People were right on top of one another, and the crowd was great throughout the show. Tazz said they were all right. They were no Chicago, New York or Pennsylvania. Bakersfield is like the arm pit of California! Howard asked Tazz if he would like to team up with Scotty and Albert again? Tazz was quick to say no. He likes those two guys, but he likes to do his own thing. He's a lone wolf. Kevin switched gears to Chris Jericho, and he did something that hadn't been done. The last time there was one World Champion was in 1932. Tazz said that he's wrong. It was 1996 when Tazz was the ECW Champion! Kevin and Tazz laughed, and Kevin said that he had a hell of a performance this week.
How does Tazz think the perception of Jericho is going to be, now that he's accomplished what he has? Tazz said two words: Top guy. That's where Jericho is, and that's where he should be. He's earned it, and he can carry it. Personally, Tazz has wrestled Chris many times in the WWF and in ECW before he went to WCW. He's always worked like most of the wrestlers and given it 150% in the ring. He's a creative guy and a smart guy. He's a business man, and all he thinks about is sports entertainment. He's went to the highest level. No one expected him to come out on top, and he did. Chris went through a lot in the company when he first came in. He's past that, though. Tazz is happy for him. He deserves it, and he can carry it. He's the Undisputed Champion and to have Ric Flair hand the belt to him, that's cool. Kevin said that he was worried that Chris would be a transition Champion, and what that would mean for his credibility. Now, he feels that he's going to get some legs under him and run with it for a while.
Tazz said that in this business, there are things that you can't control. You can't control anything that's done with you. Creatively, you can't, but when the music hits and you walk through that curtain, it's in your hands to make chicken salad out of chicken shit. He loves those types of challenges. Tazz said that if he doesn't feel some creatively, he tries to make it work. Some guys are like that, and some guys aren't. You go out there, suck it up and do what you can, bottom line. Tazz said that he was at a Deli last week, and he's on line, minding his business, and a guy comes in, and he was standing behind him. He was really tall. Like 5'10. He was an older guy. Like Kevin, late 50s or 60s. Bald head, old. He looked at Tazz and recognized him. He shook his hands. He said that he was a big fan of him in ECW, and he followed him in the WWF, and it was nice to meet him. The guy then said don't worry, things will get better. Wow. Tazz said does he have a disease that he doesn't know about? The guy said that the WWF is killing Tazz.
Tazz didn't like that, and the fans don't know this. When Chris Jericho first came, everybody thought that the company wasn't using Chris Jericho the right way. Chris went past that. He went through a growing period. Tazz is going through that now. Not just Chris, not just Tazz. A lot of guys go through this. Not everybody comes in with a Gold Medal. Chris doesn't need to prove himself to anybody. He has done it. The whole win the big one thing was a storyline, in Tazz's opinion. Tazz has always thought that Chris Jericho was a top star in the World Wrestling Federation. People think that if you don't win the big one, a wrestler's career is on a downward spiral. They don't get it. And if it is on a downward spiral, what are you going to do about it? Tazz said the deception of Tazz when he first came to the WWF was that he was going to be a big star. All these so called Internet Experts, and dirt sheeters say that this guy doesn't know how to loose a match. Once he loses a match, his attitude shows. What?
Tazz said that he thinks he's proven these so called experts wrong. People assume that because if you get a certain push somewhere else, that's really powerful, and you come into a company and it's not as strong of a push, that you're going to complain about it. That's not the case at all. Tazz said that in ECW, he lost like one match a year. Literally. That wasn't his choice, or his decision. That was the boss' decision. Name one wrestler in this business who's going to disagree with the boss when they're told they're going to win all these matches. Nobody would do that. Kevin said that it made him think about Ric Flair. Making chicken salad out of chicken shit. Flair was a guy who could go out there and have a good match wit just about anybody. Tazz said that he learned that from Paul E. When he was the TV Champion in ECW, he was eating people up, and he was told to be a great Champion, you've got to make your opponent. Tazz realized that then, and he watched certain guys like a Ric Flair, or The Rock when he was WWF Champion.
The selling and the bumping and making an opponent, that's what a great Champion is. As a heel, Chris Jericho will be a great Champion. He's going to make his opponents. Tazz thinks that Chris is going to be great, and he hopes that he does. Kevin asked what the feeling is in the locker room with the potential split of the company. They don't know anything on the creative end, but what are the boys talking about in the locker room? Tazz said what? Who's splitting? Matt and Lita? Kevin said that you hear about the creative direction on the Internet. Tazz said that if it happens, it'll be good, because there will be less competition, and there is only a certain amount of spots on RAW. Most of the times, they have too much talent to fill those slots, so some of the guys are not put on that show. Most of the talent is figuring that if this thing splits that it might be a good thing, and there will be a lot more opportunity. It'll only make sense. It could be a good thing, and we'll have to see what happens.
Kevin asked Tazz about going back to commentary on Heat. Christian will be there on Sunday, and it should be entertaining. Tazz said that he loves doing Heat. That's his show. He's got heat, always will have heat, and he loves Heat. Kevin said they named the show after Tazz! Howard mentioned the poll, and there's a clip that's not in there. Who made his debut at the Rumble and made it successful? It was Tazz's debut, and that wasn't included by Big Country. Tazz said that in the words of Michael Cole: What a shot. Howard changed the subject over to baseball, and they talked about baseball for a moment. Next Friday's Tales from the Hook will be from Miami! Tazz said that he's going to go to The Rock's house and lay in the pool and do it on the cell phone. Howard asked Tazz to make up a Christmas Wish List for next week. Tazz said it's a good idea. Kevin read a chat room question, and it asked if Big Country's mom will 'split' the two companies! Kevin said that he doesn't know what that means, but it's a good question. They wrapped up Tazz's segment, and he left the show.
They took a look at the Classic Clip Poll, and the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels from the 1998 Royal Rumble was in the lead with Cactus Jack vs. Triple H not too far behind. They took a look at Triple H's WWF Desire video as a 'break' on Byte This!. Kevin said that was a tremendous video, and the Desire clips are fantastic. Howard said that they are emotional. Kevin read a chat comment, and it asked about Triple H's return. Kevin said that he'll be back in the month of January. Howard said that he's chomping at the bit, and Jerry "The King" Lawler joined the show. Kevin welcomed him back to the WWF, and Jerry thanked them. Kevin asked how it feels to be back? Jerry said it's great. He guesses it's almost as if he never left. It's so much the same, but when he looks back, he was gone for 9 months, which is a very long time. Immediately, they didn't miss a beat. So many of the guys are the same guys that were here when he left. It was just like walking back in after only being gone a week.
Kevin said the commentary was so different with Paul Heyman and Jim Ross. It was a lot darker, and it had a different energy. Kevin said that on the same night that Lawler returned, Ric Flair returned as well. Jerry said that he's so excited to be back, and he guesses that so many people don't accept changes very readily. Paul and Jim Ross was a different combination, and the people weren't used to it. Over the past 9 years, he and Jim Ross acquired a certain chemistry. It was what the people were comfortable with. It was just different with Paul being in there. Not that it's bad, but it was different. Jerry said that when he's in there, he's all about having fun. Jim Ross is the best at selling the storylines and keeping everything up to date. Jerry is there to have a good time and have fun. That combination works. With Jim and Paul, it was like they were both doing the same thing. They were both really driving the storylines home really hard, and they were both selling the action really hard.
In doing that, the show lacked a little bit of fun that the people were used to seeing. Combine that with what the country went through on Sept. 11, the people have seen enough serious, dark and negative TV. They were looking for an escape. Something they can have fun with and smile about. Howard asked Jerry to take us back to his return. In the years he's been involved in wrestling, he's had many highlights. Where does the moment when he returned in Charlotte rank? Jerry said there are a couple of things that stand out in his mind as far as fan reactions. Probably the biggest thing was when he was the main featured star in Memphis back in 1983. He broke his leg playing in a football game and was out for almost an entire year. When he finally came back, they had this big entrance where it was like something he had seen in a Kiss concert. The stage was at the back of the coliseum, and it was sold out. The smoke started billowing up, and they had him on a platform that rose up.
It was a unique entrance, and this was back in a time when guys just walked out to the ring for their matches. That entrance and the way the fans responded for his first time back in action in almost a year. That was probably the biggest one ever. Then in 1988 when he won the AWA World Championship from Curt Hennig after years and years of having title matches and never getting the victory. Finally getting to do that in front of his hometown crowd, that was probably number two. His return was probably right behind that. It was just the way the fans reacted. The entrance was nothing special. He walked out and passed Paul Heyman. He looked at him, pointed and laughed at him screaming and kicking, and that's what people wanted to see at the time, because the roof came off that building and that sent chills up and down his spine. Kevin said that since he was gone, there had to have been some changes. Has anyone improved a lot since being gone? Jerry said the guy that he's constantly amazed at is Kurt Angle. He just amazes him, especially coming from the Olympic background.
People just don't realize how foreign it is. When you grow up in the amateur and olympic style background, it's usually very foreign to go professional. It's great to have accomplished everything that he's accomplished. Kurt was already really impressive when Jerry left, and he's only gotten better. Kevin mentioned Chris Jericho's title win at Vengeance. As the Champion, he's had to wrestle a different match and make the guy that he's in there with. It's a different environment as a Champion, and Ric Flair was known for that, as well as Jerry Lawler. What's going to be the difference, now that he is the top guy? Jerry said that you have to have a different mind set when you're the Champion. He had the AWA Championship in 1988. Years before that, they had the Southern Championship. He's probably held that longer than anybody. Your mind set has to be different when you're the Champion as opposed to any other time. You have to be less selfish, because this is a business of self promotion and looking out for number one.
If you don't, there's a ton of guys behind you, waiting to take your place. When you have that Championship, you have to be self assured enough that the Championship is yours, and that is what sets you apart from the rest of the guys. When you are the Champion, your job is to make everybody else look like they can beat you. That is what makes a great Champion. You need to help your opponent to convince the fans that he is as good or better as a wrestling talent. It takes a different mind set. Most guys go into the ring and have one thing in mind, and that's making themselves look as good as possible, and rightfully so. When you are the Champion, you have to be confident enough that the Championship is what signifies that you are the best, and then you go out there with the mind set of letting everybody think that your opponent is better than you are. They went to a caller, and the caller asked him how he's doing, Mr. Mayor. Jerry said that's not going on anymore. People probably think that, because of his web site. The caller asked how and why and when he decided to get into color commentary.
The caller could see himself sitting at the right hand of that ringside table some day. How would he suggest that as someone like him could get into that? Jerry said that he doesn't even remember exactly how it came about, other than the fact that one of his strong points as a wrestler was that he was a good talker. That is what was in Vince McMahon's mind when he asked Jerry to sit in with the guys and do a little commentary. Bobby Heenan was still there, and Vince, and Macho Man Randy Savage were doing the show. The best he can remember, one day, they got ready to do a Monday Night Raw, and everybody looked around and said where's Randy Savage? That very night, Randy showed up on the competition's Television show, and he was thrown into the frey and has been there ever since. It's not the job that he wanted when he came to the WWF. He went there to be a wrestler. Jerry would much rather be wrestling than doing the commentary. It sounds like he's having a lot of fun, but it's not that much fun, so to speak. It's a lot of hard work, and there's a lot of pressure.
He'd love to have a five to ten minute wrestling match, rather than commentating. Howard said that Jerry has been around for a long time, and a lot of time in the industry, once someone departs, Howard agrees with what Jerry is saying, but he does this so well. Jerry is with the WWF for the time to come. Jerry said that is a way to extend your life in the business and career. It's not physical. You're not risking any injury. Of course, being out there with Jim Ross and Michael Cole can be fairly dangerous. Looking back, he would have never got into the business to be a commentator. His first love was in the ring performing and that sort of stuff. As for getting into commentary, the guys that come in from all sorts of backgrounds, the color commentators, it's best if they actually have some in ring experience, because then they can speak with experience. As far as being a play by play guy, they come from various backgrounds. Michael Cole had a background in radio. Jim Ross had done NFL broadcasts. There's no set rule or way that you have to get into broadcasting, but you'd definitely have to have some sort of broadcasting background to play off of.
Kevin said that they had their Holiday party in Stamford, and Jerry said that his Invitation must have gotten lost in the mail! Kevin and Howard joked, as if they saw Jerry there. Kevin said that the theme yesterday was passion. When did that passion really begin, for the wrestling business? And how is that passion level today? Jerry said that he thinks the passion for him began the first time he stepped foot in a ring. He was a wrestling fan as a kid, growing up. He and his dad always went to wrestling shows, and watched it on Television. Quite honestly, as he was just a fan, he certainly enjoyed it, and who wouldn't fantasize about being a wrestler? Never once did it ever dawn on him that he would become a professional wrestler. It all came about a series of coincidences that were based on his artistic background. Jackie Fargo wanted to take advantage of Jerry's art work, and he wanted to start up a sign company with using his name and Jerry to do the art work and most of the work. Jerry was tickled to death to be associated with him.
They became friends, and from there, he met a couple of other guys, and that's when he started to think that he would love to try to do this. At the time, he thought if he could just have one match to see what it was like, he'd be the happiest person on earth. Finally, he sort of told a couple of half truths and promised some sign painting, and the next thing you know, he got a match. That was it. The very first time he stepped into the ring in front of fans, that passion started, and it's stayed. He can only imagine how a drug addict would feel. Once you get that fix or whatever it is as far as the adrenaline, it's something you feed off of, and you feel like you have to have it. Jerry has seen tons of guys fall by the way side, but for Jerry, he's kept the passion for wrestling. Like Vince says, if you truly have a passion for whatever you do, you're going to do it well. That's been the secret of Jerry's success over the years. They teased Jerry Lawler with a caller from Cleveland, but he moved to New York! AW! They then talked about baseball for a few moments, and Howard did the best he could to get under Jerry's skin.
They went to a caller, and the caller asked Jerry if had any luck in finding a new Mrs. Lawler? Jerry said that he hasn't had a lot of luck. Jerry talked about the day that he and Stacy split up, and he came from Cleveland, and was hit with the news when he returned to Memphis. They are still in the process of going through the divorce. There has been very little communication between the two. The lawyers are handling everything. They are taking as long as they can on this thing. While they are going through that, you aren't supposed to be looking for a new Mrs. Lawler, but he's had the opportunity to meet a couple of nice young ladies, but nothing real serious right now. Kevin said that they've learned a lot about reading stuff on his site of KingLawler.com, and he poured his heart out. Any regrets? Jerry said that it served a double purpose at the time. It was therapeutic as he was truly bearing his soul on there, and it helped, because he was there by himself. It helped to get some of the feelings out, and at the time, he hoped that Stacy would be reading it, as well as everyone else around the world, and she would know how much he cared for her.
Since that time, it's been one of those situations where probably some of that stuff that he said during that time, he was probably more open and honest than he should have been. Jerry's feelings have changed, and if he knew what he does now, he would have felt different. Kevin asked Jerry if he has any regrets on walking out on the WWF, and Jerry said definitely. Like he said, if he knew then what he knows now, it would have been different. Jerry talked about Smackdown! in Memphis, and Jim Ross and Bruce Pritchard called him to say hello, and Jim invited him to come to the Pyramid and see everybody. He assured him that he would be welcome, and not to feel uncomfortable. He talked to Vince, and Vince had a big hug for him, and he'd like to say hello. Jerry said that was the ice breaker, and had that call not been made, he wouldn't have gone down there, because he would have felt uncomfortable. That broke the ice. When he went down, it was like he never left. He saw all his old friends, and Howard even shed a little tear. It was really good to be reunited with everybody.
Vince gave him a big hug, and he said "King, you know the WWF is your home, and we want you back here whenever you get your personal life straightened out. We'd love to have you back." Jerry said that made him feel great, because he was worried that they came to a point that he'd never be back. Howard asked Jerry what went through his mind when he left, and Jerry said it was great to see everybody, and the statement from Vince was reassuring that the WWF was his home. The funny thing was that he didn't want to hang around and be in the way. He left at about 6:30 or so, and around 7:30, just as the show was starting, he got a telephone call, and it was Harvey Wippleman, or Downtown Bruno. He asked where Jerry was, and Vince was looking everywhere for him. Vince wanted Jerry to go in front of the crowd and say hello to everybody. Jerry said that would have been tremendous, and that was the week after 911, too. Howard said next month, we kick off 2002 with one of the most exciting pay per view events, next to Wrestlemania. That's the Royal Rumble.
Howard asked Jerry if he would like to get in the Rumble, and Jerry said he'd love to be involved in that. He's even jumped up from his announce position and inserted himself into the Rumble. The Royal Rumble just begs for the King's participation. He'd love to be involved in that. He remembers one time, he hid under the ring and was in there for quite a while. It would be fun. Kevin mentioned the best of the year poll, and there's a lot of great moments. If Jerry could vote, he'd vote for either the gravy bowl match or the lingerie match with Torrie and Stacy. Jerry said he'd vote for the Gravy Bowl Match, because he got to see that up close and personal. Howard asked Jerry for his thoughts on Torrie and Stacy. Jerry said the only problem he has with Stacy is her name. She's a pleasure to be around, and she's so friendly. When he first got back, he never met them, and Stacy came right up to him and expressed her feelings that she was so glad that he was back. Jerry takes a special interest in the women's matches in the WWF. They get a different treatment from the King.
The girls realize that it helps set them apart and it puts extra attention on their matches. Stacy told him that, and she appreciated the fact. She's so easy on the eyes and is a pleasure to look at and be around. The same thing with Torrie. It's a great group of Divas in the WWF. Howard asked Jerry the Out Think the Fink Question, and the question was: What college / university did Jerry Lawler attend? Jerry said that he attended the University of Memphis. At the time, it was called Memphis State University. They have a winner, and the winner wins a Rock T-shirt. Jerry put over the basketball team for the University of Memphis, because they are great. Kevin thanked Jerry for his time and being on the show and they are thrilled to have him back in the World Wrestling Federation. Now, it is a very special time, because Seth Mates, the push up kid turns 23, and they took a special look at his birthday cake, and it was a picture of a chubby guy on a cake, with a candle on his crotch. Seth came in front of the camera, and Kevin said that he loves the fact that he never knows what to do, and which camera to look at.
Kevin got Seth Mates to do 23 push ups on the show, and he's the 'announcer trainee.' Howard does his weekly shill, plugging the upcoming shows. The winner of the Byte This! poll was the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels from the 1998 Royal Rumble. Next week on Byte This!, Dr. Tom will be in the studio. Howard will be in Miami. They end their shows with clips, and this week was for the Royal Rumble. None of them were the Royal Rumble match. Why don't they put Royal Rumble match classic clips? Howard would like to lobby for one, and he'd like them to have the 1992 Royal Rumble match when Ric Flair became the Champion. He's not talking about a snippet. He thinks they should go off the air and show the whole God damn thing. Kevin said that you can't have clips of the Royal Rumble match. If you want that, then email bytethis@wwf.com. Kevin and Howard agreed that was the greatest Royal Rumble in the history. They wrapped up the show and they showed the clip from the 1998 Royal Rumble with HBK against the Undertaker in the Casket Match.
