Post by mercennario1080 on Mar 29, 2008 11:45:56 GMT -5
IT’S the question everyone always has before WrestleMania - what do the WWE stars really think of the line-up?
And now, thanks to another world exclusive Sun interview, you need wonder no more.
Here, Chris Jericho – whose brilliant book A Lion’s Tale is in shops now – gives his thoughts on every match on the show covering topics from the money Floyd Mayweather is making to Jeff Hardy’s drugs suspension.
Let’s start at the top with the Floyd Mayweather v Big Show match. What are your feelings on this one?
My first thought was that the match was a little bit of a strange combination, because the size differential was so huge. But the WWE have done a great job of building it up. It might not be a five-star classic, but it will be a memorable spectacle if nothing else. It will be a freak show and that’s why people will check it out. So mission accomplished in creating a buzz for the show. Sometimes when you put these things together it looks like it’s going to be a train wreck, but they’re going to be working their asses off to make sure it’s not.
What’s Floyd Mayweather like? On telly he comes off as the most dislikable man on the planet but I hear he is popular backstage.
The thing about Floyd is he knows how to sell himself and sell a PPV. This is showbusiness. The more he gets under people’s skin, the more they want to see him get beaten up. He does exactly the same thing I’d do in this situation, and I respect that. I don’t know if I’d ever go to his house for Christmas dinner, but as far as being a character on a show he is doing a tremendous job.
The WWE claim Floyd is earning $20million for WrestleMania. Do you believe that figure?
No. Maybe there are incentives and bonuses, but I find it very hard to believe they are just giving him a cheque for $20million. But there’s no doubt in my mind he’s making millions.
As a previous headliner of WrestleMania does it upset you that he is probably earning more than you did?
That’s business. I never spent my career worrying about what other guys were making. It’s none of my business and there’s nothing I can do about it. The thing about the WWE is, the more money that’s made the more money everyone gets. It’s a trickle down effect and if he draws a huge buy rate it’s more money in my pocket, so more power to him.
Coming on to your match – are you looking forward to Money In The Bank?
I can’t wait. I was in the first ever Money In The Bank match and it actually came from an idea I had back just before WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles. Now it has become a standard and is always one of the highlights of WrestleMania – as an out and out spectacle. It’s a stunt show with lots daredevil moves and hard-hitting brutality. I’m as excited to be involved with it now as I was four years ago.
There were meant to be eight men in the match but Jeff Hardy has been suspended after failing a drugs test. Have you spoken to him?
I don’t really talk to Jeff outside of the business, but on his last day I think he was ashamed and embarrassed about it. Hopefully he can come back in 60 days and learn from that. He is going to have to, because he’s only got one more chance.
On that last day you won the intercontinental championship from Jeff. I guess it’s not ideal to win it from someone being suspended?
I kinda disagree. It’s not the ideal thing, but it wasn’t a present from anybody. The fact is we still had a great match that people were talking about the next day, before people even knew he was suspended. And that’s the idea.
After the big build for your comeback, many fans are disappointed you’re not in the Raw or Smackdown world title matches. Do you share that?
No, because you look at those title matches and they were in play long before I ever came back. Obviously everyone wants to be in a championship bout at WrestleMania, but it’s fine and I’m excited to be in the match that I’m in. It’s going to be the showstealer and that’s what I do. Whether I’m in the main event, a paddle match or selling popcorn in the stands – I do everything I can to steal the show every night.
Of the two title matches, which are you most looking forward to and who would you like to win?
I think they’ll both be great matches. For Raw, Randy Orton has done a tremendous job as champion, Cena was great and Triple H has had it so many times before – so you could go in any direction and have a champion who is a great performer. Personally I’d like to see Orton retain, as he is one of the few heels in our company who people actually hate. Undertaker v Edge will be great, especially with the streak on the line. The streak has to end at some point in time and if anybody is going to do it, it should be Edge. Although I have to say Taker is going to take it. But for me the match which is the unofficial main event is Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. I’m a huge Shawn Michaels fan and I had my favourite match in the WWE against him at WrestleMania 18. He really is Mr WrestleMania and Flair is one of his idols and best friends. In my opinion this will be Ric’s last match and a very special emotional one that I’d watch from the stands if I could.
Is that how most of the boys in the back feel - that Flair v Michaels is the real main event of WrestleMania?
I think so. How can it not be? There will probably never be another guy with the impact, and high level quality maintained over such a long period, as Ric Flair. He is the last of a breed and there are just so many things about his career that make it special. Ric Flair’s had the greatest career of all time. And the fact that, in my opinion, it is going to end at WrestleMania makes everyone want him to go out and steal the show for one last time.
How about the rest of the card? What are your thoughts and predictions?
JBL’s not from Belfast, so Finlay will have all the tricks to win their Belfast Brawl. And Hornswoggle coming back out to bite JBL on the ass has to be the feel good moment of the night. Batista v Umaga will be very good. Batista has really come into his own and Umaga is the most underrated guy on the roster. I would work with him every night if I could. One of the things about WrestleMania that is very cool is that Vince likes to share the wealth and makes sure everyone gets a chance. And people like battle royals so doing one of them for everyone without a big story or angle for an ECW title shot is a good idea and, once again, will be a good spectacle. Finally I don’t know any of the girls who are in the BunnyMania match, but I just know they’re all hot and that’s all that matters. Stick a bunch of hot chicks in a match together and what more do you need?
________________________________________________
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article959004.ece
And now, thanks to another world exclusive Sun interview, you need wonder no more.
Here, Chris Jericho – whose brilliant book A Lion’s Tale is in shops now – gives his thoughts on every match on the show covering topics from the money Floyd Mayweather is making to Jeff Hardy’s drugs suspension.
Let’s start at the top with the Floyd Mayweather v Big Show match. What are your feelings on this one?
My first thought was that the match was a little bit of a strange combination, because the size differential was so huge. But the WWE have done a great job of building it up. It might not be a five-star classic, but it will be a memorable spectacle if nothing else. It will be a freak show and that’s why people will check it out. So mission accomplished in creating a buzz for the show. Sometimes when you put these things together it looks like it’s going to be a train wreck, but they’re going to be working their asses off to make sure it’s not.
What’s Floyd Mayweather like? On telly he comes off as the most dislikable man on the planet but I hear he is popular backstage.
The thing about Floyd is he knows how to sell himself and sell a PPV. This is showbusiness. The more he gets under people’s skin, the more they want to see him get beaten up. He does exactly the same thing I’d do in this situation, and I respect that. I don’t know if I’d ever go to his house for Christmas dinner, but as far as being a character on a show he is doing a tremendous job.
The WWE claim Floyd is earning $20million for WrestleMania. Do you believe that figure?
No. Maybe there are incentives and bonuses, but I find it very hard to believe they are just giving him a cheque for $20million. But there’s no doubt in my mind he’s making millions.
As a previous headliner of WrestleMania does it upset you that he is probably earning more than you did?
That’s business. I never spent my career worrying about what other guys were making. It’s none of my business and there’s nothing I can do about it. The thing about the WWE is, the more money that’s made the more money everyone gets. It’s a trickle down effect and if he draws a huge buy rate it’s more money in my pocket, so more power to him.
Coming on to your match – are you looking forward to Money In The Bank?
I can’t wait. I was in the first ever Money In The Bank match and it actually came from an idea I had back just before WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles. Now it has become a standard and is always one of the highlights of WrestleMania – as an out and out spectacle. It’s a stunt show with lots daredevil moves and hard-hitting brutality. I’m as excited to be involved with it now as I was four years ago.
There were meant to be eight men in the match but Jeff Hardy has been suspended after failing a drugs test. Have you spoken to him?
I don’t really talk to Jeff outside of the business, but on his last day I think he was ashamed and embarrassed about it. Hopefully he can come back in 60 days and learn from that. He is going to have to, because he’s only got one more chance.
On that last day you won the intercontinental championship from Jeff. I guess it’s not ideal to win it from someone being suspended?
I kinda disagree. It’s not the ideal thing, but it wasn’t a present from anybody. The fact is we still had a great match that people were talking about the next day, before people even knew he was suspended. And that’s the idea.
After the big build for your comeback, many fans are disappointed you’re not in the Raw or Smackdown world title matches. Do you share that?
No, because you look at those title matches and they were in play long before I ever came back. Obviously everyone wants to be in a championship bout at WrestleMania, but it’s fine and I’m excited to be in the match that I’m in. It’s going to be the showstealer and that’s what I do. Whether I’m in the main event, a paddle match or selling popcorn in the stands – I do everything I can to steal the show every night.
Of the two title matches, which are you most looking forward to and who would you like to win?
I think they’ll both be great matches. For Raw, Randy Orton has done a tremendous job as champion, Cena was great and Triple H has had it so many times before – so you could go in any direction and have a champion who is a great performer. Personally I’d like to see Orton retain, as he is one of the few heels in our company who people actually hate. Undertaker v Edge will be great, especially with the streak on the line. The streak has to end at some point in time and if anybody is going to do it, it should be Edge. Although I have to say Taker is going to take it. But for me the match which is the unofficial main event is Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. I’m a huge Shawn Michaels fan and I had my favourite match in the WWE against him at WrestleMania 18. He really is Mr WrestleMania and Flair is one of his idols and best friends. In my opinion this will be Ric’s last match and a very special emotional one that I’d watch from the stands if I could.
Is that how most of the boys in the back feel - that Flair v Michaels is the real main event of WrestleMania?
I think so. How can it not be? There will probably never be another guy with the impact, and high level quality maintained over such a long period, as Ric Flair. He is the last of a breed and there are just so many things about his career that make it special. Ric Flair’s had the greatest career of all time. And the fact that, in my opinion, it is going to end at WrestleMania makes everyone want him to go out and steal the show for one last time.
How about the rest of the card? What are your thoughts and predictions?
JBL’s not from Belfast, so Finlay will have all the tricks to win their Belfast Brawl. And Hornswoggle coming back out to bite JBL on the ass has to be the feel good moment of the night. Batista v Umaga will be very good. Batista has really come into his own and Umaga is the most underrated guy on the roster. I would work with him every night if I could. One of the things about WrestleMania that is very cool is that Vince likes to share the wealth and makes sure everyone gets a chance. And people like battle royals so doing one of them for everyone without a big story or angle for an ECW title shot is a good idea and, once again, will be a good spectacle. Finally I don’t know any of the girls who are in the BunnyMania match, but I just know they’re all hot and that’s all that matters. Stick a bunch of hot chicks in a match together and what more do you need?
________________________________________________
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article959004.ece
