Ask 411 Wrestling: Should Sting Do The Rafters Gimmick Again?

Hello, and welcome to Ask 411 Wrestling, maybe?

I’m Mathew Sforcina, and I was fired last week by the Authority, but no-one’s turned up since then so I can only assume they realised they’d made a mistake and didn’t want to own up to it. So let’s get on with the show!

Got a question for the column? [email protected] is where you send it, and then you just have to sit back and wait a period of time for the answer. Ain’t life grand?

You know what else is grand? BANNER!

Zeldas!

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Bob Holly on Tough Enough: Ross wrote in, and since he has first hand knowledge of the situation, I’ll let him have his say.

Not sure if Bob reads Ask411 but I do (my regular Wednesday lunchtime treat!) and given the whole having written his book with him thing (available here and now with 100 five-star reviews, by the way!), I figure I’m in a better situation than most to weigh in on the Bob/Matt Cappotelli Tough Enough situation so here’s my tuppence.
Whilst I wouldn’t seek to dissuade you from the attitude of any intentional beating being the wrong move, I think there’s a difference between working stiffer and beating a guy up. Yep, the stuff you quoted from that interview with Bob is all above board but a couple of things we go into in the book which weren’t covered in that particular interview will hopefully give a little more insight…
Firstly, I think you’ve got to take into account the edit – obviously MTV wanted ratings and controversy is as good as way to get people talking as any. Definitely worked in this case for sure! They made sure to show that Bob was laying a few boots and forearms in but they didn’t show that, before all of this started, the trainees were generally goofing about and not showing a great deal of respect for their training or trainers.
Secondly, that episode was taped after Bob’s match with Brock in 2002 but before he had surgery – which means he had turned up to help coach this kids with a broken neck. I don’t know about you but if I’d turned up to do my job despite having a broken neck and some kids who were going to get nationwide TV exposure weren’t taking me seriously, I’d be tempted to lay my shit in a little stiffer than usual as well.
Next, watch the video again – not really *that* stiff, is it? The kicks don’t look at all like proper, full-on “I’m going to hurt you” kicks, they look like worked kicks. Matt is also moving around quite a bit too – you know just as well as I do from having actually got in the ring that if a person with way, way, way more experience puts you somewhere, you stay put, you don’t squirm or struggle. If you do, what is meant for your cheek might end up connecting with your nose.
Last thing, and this is a personal note; I’ve been in the ring with Bob in front of a crowd and I’ve taken his forearms, kicks and chops (about a dozen of ’em!) and I can tell you this – yep, he works stiff but in no way did I feel taken advantage of, bullied or abused. In fact, I felt totally the opposite – after the match, he shook my hand, congratulated me for being in the right place at the right time and taking it all “like a man”. Before that match, he and I had worked together in training and he was pleasant if reserved but I knew he had doubts about my toughness so laying a few shots in pretty snug – but no snugger than I would have experienced if I’d been in there with Bradshaw, Jericho, Regal or the like – was his way of showing me what I was getting into whilst seeing if I was, pun absolutely intended, tough enough.
Anyways, I think if you add all the elements together, especially the spin that MTV put on it to make it more sensational for their program, it gives a more rounded view of the situation. Some people will no doubt continue to think that Bob got it wrong that day and that’s their prerogative but I think it’s important that they know all of the facts before they make their mind up.

Yeah, obviously there’s a lot of factors in play here, certainly I’ve been involved in a couple of TV deals and editing always occurs to make stuff look different. Plus I wasn’t there, nor have I ever met or wrestled Holly, so all I can say is my general opinion about being stiff/roughing up the newbies. I should been clearer last week about that, but then if I put in grain of salt statements for every statement in a column I wasn’t 100% sure about I’d double the word length. But thank you for the counterpoint dude, appreciate it!

Trivia: If I don’t write the question, I have to rely on the answer given to me by the person writing it, and if the answer they give doesn’t match up with the answer given, I have to point that out, but I’ll try and be less dismissive in future.

Of course, if I write it, then I know when it isn’t right. For example…

The Trivia Crown

Who am I? My first ever wrestling title reign ended in a way that is against a basic rule of wrestling. I debuted on PPV on a show that is considered one of the best of all time. My first singles title reign ended at the hands of a third. I once had double Ds. Every singles reign I had in one specific company ended in vacating the title at hand. I’ve used the Freebird Rule, I’ve teamed with Jerry Lynn, and I’ve been a Loner. I’ve had issues with my offspring and guns, and I’m in at least one Hall of Fame, I am who?

jhcfov had the answer, mostly.

Who am I? My first ever wrestling title reign ended in a way that is against a basic rule of wrestling. –

-w/Curt Hennig lost AWA Tag Team belts to Rose and Somers by countout.

I debuted on PPV on a show that is considered one of the best of all time.

-Great American Bash 1989

My first singles title reign ended at the hands of a third.

-WWC Heavyweight Championship lost to Super Medic III

I once had double Ds.

-Diamond Dolls (?)

Every singles reign I had in one specific company ended in vacating the title at hand.

-WCW United States Championship – foot injury, forfeited title

-WCW Television Title – vacated, threw it into a trash can

I’ve used the Freebird Rule

-with NWO Nash and Syxx

I’ve teamed with Jerry Lynn

-ECW in 2000 against Justin Credible & Rhino

and I’ve been a Loner.

-“Lone Wolf” in WCW

I’ve had issues with my offspring -son Cody
– and guns – murder Charge in the 80’s

and I’m in at least one Hall of Fame -WWE
I am who?

You are Scott Hall

He’s right, but the Freebird rule was in TNA with Nash and Eric Young, the double D was when he was the Diamond Studd, and the offspring and guns was because Cody just joined the Bullet Club.

Who am I? I began my career with an animal themed name, although it didn’t last long. I once won a singles title in a tag match. I won my last match in the company I worked for before I joined WCW, I won my last match in WCW, and then I won my last match in the company I joined after I left WCW. I’ve beaten CM Punk, but not John Cena. I’ve had at least one title reign that shouldn’t really count, not so much because of what I did but what the ‘title’ was. One of four men to hold a specific Triple Crown, a man who broke his own gimmick multiple times in a company, and a guy whose wife has a gimmick name, I am who?

Getting Down To All The Business

…

Well, no-one is here, so I guess I’m in the clear. So, first up we-

*BANG*

… Oh come on, couldn’t you just use the hole from last week? Why make another one?

I gotta make an entrance.

Corporate Kane?!?

Not today, no today I am Question Kane. So run along, little man.

I’m 6’8 and… OK, fine.

Why is nothing happening?

Well you have to type, obviously.

I don’t do typing. You, fatboy, type.

I’m… Fine, whatever. Connor is up first.

What was with Road Dogg attaching himself to the bottom rope in the 2000 Royal Rumble?

Well he-

Ahem.

Road Dogg Jesse James was attempting a clever strategy to prevent elimination from the Royal Rumble event. As you know, to be eliminated from the Royal Rumble, you must be thrown over the top rope and both feet must hit the floor, the Shawn Michaels rule as it’s known in the rulebook.

Thus, by remaining hidden and out of the way for a long period of time, and by holding onto the bottom rope, Road Dogg intended to ride out most of the Rumble and then be fresh and ready to fight near the end of the match, in the hopes of winning a chance to headline Wrestlemania and compete for the richest prize in the game, the WWE Championship!

… And, you know, the dude had a severe flu, and thus wasn’t physically fit to wrestle a full match, but they needed star power, so he got tossed in (after a very short tag match) and thus he just hid in the corner and thus was able to come off as a dick while not having to do all that much.

I don’t understand what you’re talking about.

Fine, we’ll try another question. Brad asks about managers.

Why is it that managers are not used anymore? I used to love the Heenan Family and the slickster etc…. Heyman is awesome to watch but I really feel that using managers to unite people and attack common foes would be great to see again.

There are several managers currently active in WWE. Along side ‘The One Behind the One in 21-1’, Paul Heyman, there is ‘The Ravishing Russian’ Lana, Zeb Colter, and ‘The Stunning Latina’ Rosa Mendes, and others. Each of them is working hard to try and assist their clients to the top of the mountain, or in the case of Mr. Heyman, to keep him there. Thus, managers are used today, so you are wrong, sir.

Ugh.

Yes, there are managers right now, and the fact that two of them are part of the reason why one act is over (Rusev) and the main reason one of them still has an act (Lesnar) should be a positive thing overall for managers, but the problem is that WWE wants main event talent to be able to talk, and thus that means upper mid card has to be able to talk, and thus midcard needs to speak, and so on. WWE doesn’t want wrestlers who are unable to cut a promo, unless they have a very good gimmick reason why they shouldn’t (Rusev, again). The days of WWE hiring people because they’re good at the wrestling and then giving them a manager to make up for the lack of being able to talk are over, pretty much, now if you can’t talk, you don’t get in the door, most of the time. Which is a shame, given that managers help out a lot, in terms of working matches, telling stories, being able to have talented wrestlers who can’t cut a promo still able to be on the show and do well…

You know, if you’re here, I should take advantage of the situation.

Uh… Look kid, um, you seem nice enough, for an Australian, and I appreciate that you haven’t tried to steal from me yet, but I’m not into guys in that way, regardless of what you’ve heard, I mean, me and Chyna was-

I meant in terms of questions about yourself, like this question about you from Rex?

Oh… Oh, sure.

dear matthew im a long time reader of your weekly ask 411 wrestling column great job love it is my favorite! now then i have a question about kane.

ok in 2003 -2004 going into 2005 kane got a what i would call a monster heel push after he lost his mask to triple h he dominated rvd,shane and shane mcmahon in his feuds with them and also him tombstoning linda mcmahon on the stage and i cant remember didnt he also tombstone arn anderson and chokeslammed bischoff off the stage and setting jim ross on fire why did wwe push kane so hard as a monster in 2003 and not have him win the world title? was it ever even considered putting the world championship on kane in 2003-2004? or just simply built up as a monster and fed to undertaker for no apparent reason at mania for the 2nd time yet again?and then in 2004-2005 he feuded with matt hardy,dominating him then snitsky and edge so was there ever any plans to put a title on kane and if not then why not?

Excuse me, I just need to refresh my coffee.

OK…

No, there wasn’t any plans to put the belt on Kane, simply because he was on Raw, and the World Heavyweight Title was welded to Triple H’s waist until he was set to drop it to Goldberg, and then when that ‘failed’ it had to go back to Hunter as he was the hottest heel on the show. WWE was still trying to get the World Heavyweight Title over as a concept, to a degree, and having someone like Kane who, in storyline, wouldn’t really care about the title at that point, having him hold it would have been counter productive. Plus at the time, the major angles on Raw were Triple H vs Whoever and Kane vs Whoever, putting the belt on Kane would lessen Triple H’s program, and thus you’d be left with one main event program rather than two.

So yeah, it was never really in the cards, he didn’t need the belt, the belt would have been damaged if he’d held it, and it would have robbed WWE of a main event program. To my knowledge, at least.

Ahhh.

Good coffee?

Yeah.

Anyway, I was… In a bad place back then. I’ll admit that some of my actions were… Regrettable, and if I had my time over again, perhaps I’d have done things differently. And certainly, had I won the title, I’d like to think that it would helped me focus, but it was not to be, so no point crying over spilt blood. Not everyone can be World Champion, and as a three time World Champion I’ve been more fortunate than most. And hey, I’ll be in the Royal Rumble, so perhaps number four is in the cards…

You haven’t been announced as entering the Rumble.

Oh come on, of course I’ll be in the Rumble. I have a record to take back after all.

Fair enough…

I normally have videos here, this week it’s HoganVsFlair, very funny stuff.

Is it WWE related?

… Yes?

Fine then.

Still, Question Kane, while you’re here, I have to ask about Katie Vick, and-

NO NO NO. I will not talk about her, thank you very much. Was bad enough when you implied she slept with guards in that Horsemen Schematic thing.

Oh, you read the Evolution Schematic?

Read it? Do you realise how close you came to blowing my cover? I’ve worked hard to manipulate…

I, that is… This is boring. I’m leaving.

Oh, well… That was Question Kane, then. I guess I’m able to-

Hold it!

… OK, Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble, welcome.

We’ll be Q&A Security for the purposes of this exercise, and don’t you forget it, weirdo!

OK, although speaking of names, I lost this person’s, so forgive me, but they asked-

You can’t even keep track of a name? No wonder you’re stuck down here!

This Question:

Hi Mat, I have a fact question:

Is Kofi Kingston the WWE wrestler who has won the most secondary title runs (US, IC and Tag Team) without having ever won a world title? (my question is only about titles won in WWE, and does not take into consideration the Hardcore Championship). Who are the other leaders in that midcard pack? Out of my head I also think of Morrison and probably Matt Hardy, but I’m probably missing some.

Thank you!

Oh, it’ll be Raven, he held a gajillion Hardcore titles.

He said without the Hardcore belt.

Oh well screw this guy, if you’re gonna throw in arbitrary rules like that, forget it!

I don’t have that option, gentlemen. Anyway, WWE.com did a review of this late last year, and in their top 15, minus those with world title reigns, and ignoring the Hardcore title, they have Goldust with ten, although that includes some WCW US title reigns (and he only got in the list because he also had nine Hardcore reigns). Bubba Ray Dudley also has ten reigns without the Hardcore belt.

However, I found a Sporcle Quiz that lists them, and the winner, according to that list, is The One, Billy Gunn, with 12 reigns, 11 tag, one IC. Regal also clocks in with 10, although he should have more, as does D-Von Dudley and Kofi. So Kofi is close, couple more reigns and he’ll tie.

I feel like we should be saying something now.

Yeah… You suck Sforcina!

Look, if you’ve got nothing nice to say, why not run along and find an adult to join me?

Why you… Wait till we tell!

Huh. If only it was that easy to get rid of security usually. OK, next is-

A proper introduction for someone like me.

Sigh.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Queen, Mrs. Game, The Principal Owner of WWE, and The Chief Brand Officer of the WWE, Stephanie McMahon.

A bit dry, but acceptable. Although today, I am the Billion Answer Princess.

OK, that one’s not horrible. You want a question?

Well of course. It’s why we’re here to help you, after all. You’re clearly unable to provide answers in a timely fashion, and thus you clearly need assistance to help get this column from a barely acceptable C- to, with time and coaching, I think this could be a solid B column. Gotta aim high but achievable, after all.

Well gee, thanks. Ben has a question right up your alley.

So… With the re-emergence of The Authority and Sting’s arrival in WWE…

How cool would it be for Sting to go “back into the rafters” with his gimmick ala NWO?

That would be a terrible idea. Even ignoring the fact that I’ve put in place a strict order to all security details that Sting is to be taken into custody as soon as he appears, so that myself and the COO of the WWE, my husband, The Game, 13 time World Champion Triple H, can discuss his actions at Survivor Series, the rafters are a very dangerous place, it takes much training to learn how to safely navigate such structures, and I would not wish Sting to suffer an injury up there. Not at all.

It’d be pretty cool, but there’s a couple of problems with it, namely that the rafters and WWE have a slightly different connotation than they did in WCW, what with Owen Hart and all. But even ignoring that aspect, which is debatable, the fact is that Sting’s contract is for, reports state, six appearances.

Total.

He’s already blown one, at Survivor Series. Assuming WM is the end game, that’s two. So you have exactly 4 appearances left. Kinda hard to pull off the Rafters gimmick with just 4 appearances.

Now, they can adapt it, and have Sting things appear in the rafters, vultures, scorpions, face painted people, Sting paraphernalia can be up there, but Sting himself? Once tops, simply due to how his contract is laid out.

That is a lie, he’s not under contract! Why would I sign him to a contract after he screwed us over at Survivor Series?

Why indeed?

Although, speaking of screwing over, since you’re here, I have to ask about you and Randy-

If the next word out of your mouth is ‘Savage’ then so help me every single match, promo and mention of Victoria will be deleted from the WWE Video Library by noon tomorrow!

… Orton.

Very well, proceed.

Nightwolf?

1. With Randy Orton turning face this past Monday on Raw, alot of people have been talking about how stale Randy Orton is as a face. I actually have an idea to make Randy Orton interesting again. Have Randy Orton fall under the influence of Bray Wyatt. Hold On, Hear Me Out, Hear Me Out! Have Randy Orton feud with Seth Rollins and the Authority and end up losing over and over again! Have the Authority tell Randy that he’s washed up, that he is the past and Seth Rollins is the future. Have Randy Orton disappear from t.v. Have him return a few weeks later and cost Seth Rollins a match with say Roman Reigns at a PPV. Have Randy come out the next night in all black. Have him explain that he has heard the voices in his head and has seen a new light. Have Randy Orton reveal that he has fallen under the influence of Bray Wyatt. Have Luke Harper and Erik Rowan rejoin Wyatt so that it is: Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erik Rowan, Randy Orton, and the Ascension. Have them start waging war on the Authority as a new twisted version of the Ministry of Darkness. Have a WWE Diva ( I don’t care which one) reveal to be influencing them as Sister Abigail. It would make things interesting. What do you think?

’The Eater Of Worlds’ is indeed an intimidating, unusual entity in the WWE today. As ‘The New Face of Fear’, Bray has made it clear that he will not stop until all of the WWE is dancing to his tune. And certainly having ‘The Viper’ Randy Orton under his control would be a huge asset to him, and would almost certainly lead to Wyatt seizing control of the WWE and spreading his message far and wide.

But, I feel that Randy has not turned on The Authority so much as he has had one of his episodes. More than anyone, I know just how crazy Randy can be at times, what with his IED condition. While that would give Bray Wyatt a hook to perhaps turn Orton to his will, Orton is a strong willed man, and I’m sure that he can resist the temptation, and once he recovers fully from his injuries, he will see the error of his ways and rejoin The Authority and we can get back to the business of giving you, The WWE Universe, the programming that you deserve.

Even ignoring the issue of the Wyatt family disbanding, Orton falling under Wyatt is a huge step backwards for him. The Daniel Wyatt angle would have worked because Bryan had sniffed at the main event then had it stolen from him (except that it was the exact wrong story for that time and with that performer, of course), Orton has been a main eventer for around a decade now, and for him to sudden follow a guy like Bray is… A back step I don’t see working out, especially as heel V heel in modern WWE is not going to happen. Certainly you won’t be seeing any Ministry stuff, Bray’s slowly becoming more and more cartoonish deliberately to curb that sort of stuff, I don’t see WWE doubling down on it any time soon.

You can’t just ignore my comments and give your own.

You mean I shouldn’t, or perhaps I may not do it, since clearly I’m physically capable.

You want Victoria to be Wolverined?

No ma’am.

Then show some respect.

He has another question…

2. I read recently that Dean Ambrose was compared to the late great Brian Pillman. What is your take on that? Do you see similarities between Dean Ambrose’s current gimmick and Brian Pillman’s ” Loose Cannon” Gimmick?

I would think that Mr. Ambrose, if you asked him that during one of his more lucid moments, would probably make a stupid joke about not being Canadian, and then try and smash a pizza over your head. Certainly he’s as deranged as Pillman, and about as dangerous. And, like Pillman, I am confident he’ll burn himself out sooner rather than later.

… That’s pretty harsh.

The truth often is.

Well, from where I sit, there’s an element of truth there, but Pillman was always crazy with an edge behind it. Once he went off the deep end during the Horsemen run, he was always acting like a maniac but you could see him behind the mask, as it were. The Bookerman stuff, he wasn’t crazy for the sake of crazy, he was a working insane.

Whereas Ambrose, mostly due to booking, is just an idiot. The dude is unstable for the hell of it, he’s not working towards a goal so much as he is just doing shit and seeing what happens.

Language!

But that’s down to the booking, having him take banana peels, and stupid ones at that, doesn’t help. Pillman once pulled a gun, and was set to steal the girl he was chasing. Ambrose somehow manages to blow up TVs by looking at them and attacks people with mustard.

I mean, Ambrose has given a diplomatic answer on this, he’s said, to quote in bold for a change:

Everybody is always going to get compared to someone else. I’ve been watching everything all my life, studying everybody. Something might rub off from somebody, but the list would be so expansive and eclectic. I’ve never wanted to pattern myself after somebody, I make everything up as I go along. I have no idea what I’m gonna do when I go to the ring, especially live events where we aren’t constrained by time or commercials. It’s flattering to be compared, but I’m trying to be me.

And yeah, I can certainly see why you’d go with Pillman, it’s certainly one of the closest approximations, but I don’t think it’s accurate. Pillman got stuff done, which Ambrose so far has failed to.

Don’t you have any women’s wrestling questions? The WWE Divas are just as relevant to the WWE Universe as the men.

Depends, you want to talk about the laundry?

… I didn’t realise you were so sexist.

No, no, Criss asked about gear.

Couple questions/opinions pertaining to wrestling gear.

Watching WWE with my lady, she pointed out that Paige has worn the same shorts for the last 6 weeks and commented, “Damn, she must be cheap, the new Divas champion can’t afford new gear every week?”

Because of this comment, I started noticing that about 90% of the roster has new “gimmicks” every week, even low-card guys and Divas, but some wear the same thing week in, week out. So I thought I’d ask you:

Who makes the call when it comes to new gear for the wrestlers? Does talent have any say in wanting to try “something new”?

I withdraw the sexist remark.

But I also refuse to answer questions like this, I have a business to run, excuse me.

It’s pretty much down to the individual, in that WWE has to approve of the design/look, and they have, on occasion, dictated that certain looks or color schemes are off limits (Black and bright green, for instance, is DX exclusive) but in terms of changing looks up, that’s up to the wrestler. Some people will only wear tights a few times and then get rid of them, they’ll go through new tights every couple of months. Others will use them until they’re not wearable no more.

Also, who makes gear for workers in the “big leagues” (ie, WWE, TNA, ROH, New Japan, etc)? I’ve noticed some really “cheap” looking gear on guys on NXT, just wondering if they get it made in-house or they just order it from Highspots.com like a lot of workers?

Thanks, hope these get answered. Have a good one!

WWE has seamstresses on staff, in fact one of them is a semi-regular character on Total Divas, Sandra the Seamstress has appeared in several episodes when the Divas are looking at new clothing or complaining or what have you. So you can totally go in house, WWE has people on staff, you can go to them, order stuff, they make it, and quite probably they just deduct the cost from your next paycheck or something.

On the other hand, some guys go out of house, and use guys they’ve used for ages, be it former WWE tailors or people they’ve known for ages. No-one on the big leagues, to my knowledge, uses Highspots. Even if you’re perfectly formed, for ring gear to really fit well, you need to be measured and stuff, there’s only so far writing down numbers can take you. Certainly I’ve not looked back since I found my local tight maker, she’s always done excellent work for me.

But yeah, some guys will use Highspots and EZtights and the like, some guys will have friends or personal tailors (Lance Storm’s wife made all his WCW gear, for instance), but the higher up you get, you either go in house or you get a referral to a high quality professional.

And I think I’m home free, as-

Think again.

OK, fine, should have expected this. Triple H everyone, yay. What’s your oh so witty nickname?

The Knower of Knowers.

Who is coming up with this crap?

Aurora.

And awesome names they are too!

Well, I have Connor again to finish, so if you want take it…

Shoot.

I was reading an interview with IRS in an old WWF magazine the other day, he states he was supposed to win the Intercontinental title from Bret Hart in 1992 but plans were changed at the last minute, is there any truth to this?

Well I wasn’t there, of course, but no, there isn’t any truth there. Bret has going to lose the belt at Summerslam, and it was going to be to either Bulldog or Shawn in a ladder match, depending on if it would be in London or Washington. Bret’s said this in interviews. And anyway, for all of 92 IRS was in Money Inc, in the tag reigns, him winning the IC title would be weird.

MAYBE at some point he was considered, perhaps before Money Inc was put together, but no, it was never seriously in the plans, I don’t think.

…

That was good!

Well of course it was. You’re not the only guy who knows stuff, and who has access to the internet, genius. What else you got?

Well here’s the question list.

Let’s see…

That’s oddly specific.

How the hell would anyone know that?

That’d take WEEKS to sort out!

Oh that is it!

Screw this! Kid? You can have this back, I don’t want anything to do with this anymore.

Remember, you can watch the Royal Rumble for just $9.99 on the WWE Network!

*BANG*

Oh come on, you didn’t… Oh forget it.

In fact, probably best you forget about this whole thing. We’ll be back to regular programming next week, hopefully.