Post by wwemark1 on Jul 21, 2007 9:53:06 GMT -5
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Both Finlay and Kennedy were congratulated by their peers backstage at this past week's events for their appearances on television last week. In the case of Finlay, everyone was telling him how awesome he did on Nancy Grace last Friday by "putting everyone in their place." There were those that felt differently, but they also knew to keep things quiet.
While there were those who genuinely felt that Finlay handled himself well on the show, most recognized that his appearance on the show was a bit of a disaster. Finlay was lucky because Marc Mero and Bryan Alvarez have a lot of personal respect for him and they chose not to make him look bad when they probably could have. Finlay left himself open to a lot of stuff, but Alvarez wasn't on during those moments because the producers really only wanted Finlay and Mero to debate. For instance, Finlay told Mero that there was no proof that steroids played a part in Eddie Guerrero's death. However, Guerrero's death certificate specifically points out that steroid use was a major contributing factor in his death. There were some complaints in regards to how Finlay represented himself because he is not the "independent contractor" the wrestlers are purported as being. In addition to having a talent contract, Finlay is also a road agent, thus making him a company employee. Due to that, he gets 401K, medical, dental and employee stock purchase plans. The wrestlers don't get these perks. Finlay didn't represent that all those things are taken care of by WWE for him, while speaking for "the boys" that things are fine with them not getting it.
As noted before, Kennedy appeared on Greta Van Susteren's show on the Fox News Channel last Friday. When asked if he used steroids, he denied it outright. There were actually some people in WWE hot at him for saying that, but the way the question was phrased was about the present tense, not if he had ever used steroids during the course of his life.
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source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
-- At Tuesday's SmackDown tapings in Laredo, Texas, most, if not all of the people backstage, very much had the "Us vs. Them" mentality regarding all the stuff going on in the media concerning WWE these days. A lot of people backstage were also talking about the Benoit toxicology report. Vince McMahon was said to be very pleased that no illegal drugs came up in the toxicology report, but he didn't make a big deal about it. On the otherhand, television producer Kevin Dunn couldn't conceal his glee. Two hours later, Vince received the bad Raw ratings news and was furious to say the least. Vince isn't necessarily blaming the low ratings on the Benoit fallout, but rather, the writing. It was the first time anyone saw Vince blame Raw writer Brian Gewirtz, as he went off on him. Stephanie McMahon intervened and the situation was diffused immediately.
Both Finlay and Kennedy were congratulated by their peers backstage at this past week's events for their appearances on television last week. In the case of Finlay, everyone was telling him how awesome he did on Nancy Grace last Friday by "putting everyone in their place." There were those that felt differently, but they also knew to keep things quiet.
While there were those who genuinely felt that Finlay handled himself well on the show, most recognized that his appearance on the show was a bit of a disaster. Finlay was lucky because Marc Mero and Bryan Alvarez have a lot of personal respect for him and they chose not to make him look bad when they probably could have. Finlay left himself open to a lot of stuff, but Alvarez wasn't on during those moments because the producers really only wanted Finlay and Mero to debate. For instance, Finlay told Mero that there was no proof that steroids played a part in Eddie Guerrero's death. However, Guerrero's death certificate specifically points out that steroid use was a major contributing factor in his death. There were some complaints in regards to how Finlay represented himself because he is not the "independent contractor" the wrestlers are purported as being. In addition to having a talent contract, Finlay is also a road agent, thus making him a company employee. Due to that, he gets 401K, medical, dental and employee stock purchase plans. The wrestlers don't get these perks. Finlay didn't represent that all those things are taken care of by WWE for him, while speaking for "the boys" that things are fine with them not getting it.
As noted before, Kennedy appeared on Greta Van Susteren's show on the Fox News Channel last Friday. When asked if he used steroids, he denied it outright. There were actually some people in WWE hot at him for saying that, but the way the question was phrased was about the present tense, not if he had ever used steroids during the course of his life.
==========================================
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
-- At Tuesday's SmackDown tapings in Laredo, Texas, most, if not all of the people backstage, very much had the "Us vs. Them" mentality regarding all the stuff going on in the media concerning WWE these days. A lot of people backstage were also talking about the Benoit toxicology report. Vince McMahon was said to be very pleased that no illegal drugs came up in the toxicology report, but he didn't make a big deal about it. On the otherhand, television producer Kevin Dunn couldn't conceal his glee. Two hours later, Vince received the bad Raw ratings news and was furious to say the least. Vince isn't necessarily blaming the low ratings on the Benoit fallout, but rather, the writing. It was the first time anyone saw Vince blame Raw writer Brian Gewirtz, as he went off on him. Stephanie McMahon intervened and the situation was diffused immediately.
Gerwitz.
