Jim Ross Q&A Session: Bret Hart, Chris Benoit, Michael Cole, More
Posted by Ashish on 04.18.2008
More from JR...
Jim Ross has a new Q&A session article up. Highlights are below.
On Bret Hart: As I have said many, many times Bret Hart is one of the all time greats and is in my top five without fail. The wrestling business needs more men like Bret Hart, whose in ring work was rock solid and whose vision regarding the product to this day is still impeccable.
On WWE distancing from Chris Benoit: The WWE distancing itself from Chris for the time being had to be done. How long will the moratorium last? I have no idea. Chris's actions the last few hours of his life doesn't diminish that he was a great in ring wrestler. I think the WWE Wellness Program is still and perhaps always will be a work in progress. However, education at an early stage of one's career and not tolerating senseless drug use will help deter any epidemics in the future, but for one to think that any drug policy will 100% eliminate the problem of drug abuse is ill advised. We are dealing with humans here and some humans are simply stupid, have self destructive personalities or have on going issues that need long term, managed care, which should eliminate them from the profession of wrestling.
On Michael Cole: Michael Cole is the undisputed voice of Smackdown, so my guess is that when I am no longer around that the WWE will go with a fresh young face who doesn't have a southern drawl and Cole will stick with Smackdown. That is making one change and not making two.
Posted By: JMAC (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 02:45 PM
wwe has the right to distance itself from chris benoit.
wwe is a billion dollar public company.
it has an obligation to maintain a good public image for stockholders.
wwe associating with chris benoit is like virginia tech putting seung hui cho's picture in their annual brochure for prospective students.
wwe wants to forget that benoit ever worked for them.
Posted By: ted (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Ted.Exactly.
Posted By: Propagandhi (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Obviously you two have not been paying attention, as currently the 'E is putting Benoit back into their stuff...
Posted By: Travis (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 04:12 PM
I doubt that Ted, give it time they'll be putting out a DVD soon about Benoit. As Vince has said before "Its all about the money"
Posted By: TWilliams (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 04:13 PM
JR said it best, Cole is definatly the undisputed voice in smackdown. No 2 is a tie with Tazz and JBL.
Posted By: WWE fan (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 04:24 PM
wwe will never release a benoit dvd because they will not want the bad press of making money or exploiting these murders.
wwe does not want the bad press.
wwe is already a cash cow and valued at 1.4 billion.
vince does not need to associate with benoit again.
the only reason why benoit is in bits and pieces on wwe 24/7 is because it is too costly money wise to erase him from everything he did in wwe and ecw and wcw.
as long as benoit is not shown in a match or giving a promo, wwe can feature him as background filler in old footage.
Posted By: TED (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 04:33 PM
"wwe will never release a benoit dvd because they will not want the bad press of
making money or exploiting these murders."
You talking like you're part of the company. I'm the type that goes with never say never because only the future will tell. Just because WWE is valued at 1.4 billion doesn' t mean Vince wants to stop there. Money makes people do crazy things and I'm sure Vince would agree that any press is good press.
Posted By: TWilliams (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 05:19 PM
WWE has already lightened up on removing Benoit in old footage, at least somewhat.
Right on WWE 24/7, the 7/7/97 Nitro is airing, and Benoit helps Ric Flair and Steve McMichael beat down Roddy Piper. For some reason, though, despite leaving in that segment, they removed the match he was in on that same show (teaming with McMichael aganist Rick and Scott Steiner).
Posted By: Guest#6264 (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 05:22 PM
JR is the master bullshitter.
Posted By: Rick Landis (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 06:07 PM
I think they'll eventually release a Benoit DVD, but it might take 15-20 years (of course, they probably won't be making DVDs anymore by then, but you get the point).
Really, the Benoit tragedy is not that much worse than all the suicides and ODs of the Von Erichs and other World Class wrestlers, and WWE had no problem putting out a DVD that highlighted that.
Posted By: subtlefuge (Registered) on April 18, 2008 at 06:09 PM
"wwe associating with chris benoit is like virginia tech putting Seung-Hui Cho's
picture in their annual brochure for prospective students."
So Ted, a man who gave many years to a professional sport and put his body on the line to help Vince make his millions can be compared to seung hui cho's and his association with Virginia tech? These two situations are that much alike?
Really....Interesting.
Posted By: Guest#3451 (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Ted, WWE hasn't been a billion dollar company since 2000/2001. And even though Cole sucks, it'd be strange without him on SD because he's been on the show forever.
Posted By: JJ (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 07:49 PM
the point is benopit put a black mark on wwe just like cho did to virginia tech.
Posted By: ted (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Yes, it is EXACTLY the same as the VA Tech guy. This is a PERFECT analogy. Sure Cho killed a LOT more people, but both of these assholes will be remembered as equally despicable people. I loved Benoit as a wrestler, but call me crazy, once he kills his family, he ceases to be worthy of praise.
It may not "diminish his in-ring legacy" as so many people like to latch onto, but that doesn't mean shit anymore. That would be like saying, "Sure that Michael Devlin did some awful things, but man could he make a mean pepperoni pizza in his day. Let's not let his actions diminish his standing as a fine pizza chef!!"
Posted By: Give Me a Break!! (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 08:00 PM
benoit did not help make vince any millions. he actually cost vince millions when wwe stock dropped in price value once the public learned that benoit was the killer.
Posted By: ted (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 08:02 PM
"Ted, WWE hasn't been a billion dollar company since 2000/2001."
Actually, it is. The company has more revenue streams today and is bringing in more money now than it did then, which quite impressive.
Posted By: Guest#2089 (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 09:01 PM
The Benoit situ is obvious, slowly bring him back into video. He'll not be cared about by the news media beofre long. Bring him in slowly, and avoid scandal. That's the technique I think they are executing, and from a business sense, I can't blame them.
Posted By: ButchReedMark (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 09:10 PM
So for now they are allowing Benoit to be on TV as long as he isn't in a match or making a promo. Soon they will only allow promos. Soon after they will only let him have televised matches as long as he loses. Soon after that, they will only allow showing him winning in exhibition matches, not title matches of any kind. After that, everyone involved will give up and allow everything to be shown again. It's all just a matter of time.
Posted By: Adam! (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Thing is, with the Benoit situation ... it's kind of like the OJ Simpson situation -- ALMOST exactly like it by my read of the evidence, although twelve people decided otherwise, and if he'd ended himself during the slow-speed chase, it would have REALLY been 'exactly'. Thing is, OJ was an all-time great in football, and, like I've said, no one can argue that the three greatest wrestlers of all time are Flair, Michaels and Benoit -- they can only argue about the order. So Benoit HAS to be dealt with in some way, because the history of the flipping industry collapses without him in there somewhere.
Posted By: MadmanJack (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 10:08 PM
To say the history of the industry collapses without Benoit in it is preposterous. Yes, all us internet folk knew/respect(ed) what he did in his job before he offed his family, but the fact is, the history of the industry now has nothing more than yet another black eye thanks to his cowardly acts. He can and will be replaced.
To quote the great Jesse, "That....That is the face of a man who no longer matters in the discussion of greatest in ring technicians."
Believe me, it pains me to have been put in the position to say these things about a man I once admired, but it IS possible to lose ALL respect for someone if they do something heinous enough. Leave any rationalizations and coping mechanisms to his family -- those who really need it. Families are the ones who can/should provide unconditional love & support, not wrestling fans. It's time for fans to get over it and move on.
Posted By: Give Me a Break!! (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 11:39 PM
benoit for life..
Posted By: sid (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 06:36 AM
"wwe associating with chris benoit is like virginia tech putting seung hui cho's
picture in their annual brochure for prospective students."
True, then again he didnt help BUILD the fn university. A moratorium is fine, there are many pussies in this world and they need their coddling time. I anguished over this for a week, I NEVER MET CHRIS BENOIT THE MAN. I ONLY KNOW THE CHRIS BENOIT IN THE RING. I will let those most affected by his actions judge the MAN, I admired the WRESTLER for years and will continue to do so. WWE is already showing Benoit as a Horseman on 24/7 so im guessing the moratorium wont be too long. nuff said
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM
WWE isn't erasing Benoit... Vince McMahon has but Benoits image on the back burner for now but give it time and there will be a Benoit DVD. We all know it. What Vince is waiting for is the whole Benoit incident to fade in peoples minds before he brings it back up.
Vince erased Owen Hart... that was a big enough mistake. He won't do it to Benoit.
Posted By: Colonel Perfection (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I still think Kevin Sullivan did it. #1- Chris stole his "spot" #2-Chris styole his "Woman" #3- Kevin is a devil worshipper
Posted By: GregGagneSucks (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Its not unimaginable that a "Self-Destruction of Chris Benoit" type DVD is released as a cautionary tale with commentary from friends who say his determination and unwillingness to slow down and take some time off led to his condition which ultimately led his tragic fate. (Talk about a run-on sentence...) Just so long as its done with an outwardly good intention (even if its REALLY only to make a buck) and theres no Benoit impressions by current wrestlers.
Posted By: beezy (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 02:40 PM
I see there are still idiots blaming the murders on Kevin Sullivan.
Posted By: The Man (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 03:01 PM
So Ted, a man who gave many years to a professional sport and put his body on
the line to help Vince make his millions can be compared to seung hui cho's and
his association with Virginia tech? These two situations are that much alike?
Really....Interesting.
Posted By: Guest#3451 (Guest) on April 18, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Wow, you CANNOT be that stupid can you? Who cares about "giving his body for McMahon to make money", I'm pretty sure the guy who did the shooting at Virginia Tech gave them his money while he was going to the school and buying things. And, just like Benoit, he murdered people. So yes, they are similar. A murderer is a murderer, I don't care WHO he made money for. You can't put a price on human life.
Posted By: The Man (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 03:04 PM
True, then again he didnt help BUILD the fn university. A moratorium is fine,
there are many pussies in this world and they need their coddling time. I
anguished over this for a week, I NEVER MET CHRIS BENOIT THE MAN. I ONLY KNOW
THE CHRIS BENOIT IN THE RING. I will let those most affected by his actions
judge the MAN, I admired the WRESTLER for years and will continue to do so. WWE
is already showing Benoit as a Horseman on 24/7 so im guessing the moratorium
wont be too long. nuff said
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Benoit didn't build the WWE. Both murderers are as big a part of their universities/wrestling organization, as the other.
Posted By: The Man (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 03:07 PM
I wouldnt be surprised that in 5-10 years a "The Chris Benoit Tragedy" DVD is released by the WWE
Posted By: natedoggcata (Guest) on April 19, 2008 at 10:40 PM
if McMahon wont even commision a best of randy savage DVD what chance does Benoit have?
WWE have relised over the years that they dont need anymore bad press than they already attract so they will never release a best of Benoit DVD
Posted By: Evin (Guest) on April 20, 2008 at 12:53 AM
WWE Should put aside what benoit did and remember what a great wrestler Benoit Was
Posted By: Alex (Guest) on April 20, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Doesn't Benoit already have a DVD?
Posted By: Burt Price (Guest) on April 20, 2008 at 09:26 PM
