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Professor Wrestling: Answering Your Letters

You Write, I Respond

Friday, August 5, 2005 – updated: 10:49 am PDT August 5, 2005

Listen up!

Class is in session. This week, it's a dip into the summer mailbag to answer some of your questions. Thanks for all the letters, keep 'em coming.

Let's get to it, with a note from Stu, from Knoxville, Tenn.:

Dear Professor: You are so lame. How did you get this job anyway? Did you flunk high school? - Stu

Thanks, Stu, really appreciate the feedback. For your information, I'm a college graduate and I started this column because I know there's tons of TV wrestling fans out there. Making my initial pitch with brass knuckles also didn't hurt.

Our next letter, from Darlene in Rapid City:

Hey Prof: What's the deal with TNA? They used to be on FOX Sports Net, but I don't see 'em anymore. What gives? - Darlene.

Darlene, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling still does a weekly show, but right now it's only seen on the TNA Web site and in a few TV markets. Later this fall, TNA's "Impact" will be shown on Spike TV. Next, a fascinating query from Frank of Minneapolis:

PW: Why is Hogan vs. Michaels the marquee match at "SummerSlam?" - Frank

Well, let's put it this way: Incredible as it may seem -- with all their talent -- HBK vs. Hulk is the best WWE writers can do at this point. Oh, by the way, I'm not sure there would be a match if Hollywood didn't have a reality series on VH1. And by the way, neither wrestler can hold a candle to Ric Flair as far as all-time in-ring performance. Wooo! Let's hear one from Greg from Boston:

Professor: What do you know about wrestling? Have you ever been in a ring, you moron? - Greg

Yes, Greg, I have. Let me take you back to 1985. The Duluth Arena. For some reason, Mean Gene Okerlund failed to show up to do the introductions for the matches, and the promoters needed a last-minute fill-in. They turned to me.

I remember making the initial announcement. "Folks, Mean Gene couldn't be here tonight, so I'm here instead." The round of boo's was deafening. I also remember the mat being extremely soft, like you were walking on pillows. Then I stared down Hercules Hernandez for some reason, like I was going to do anything to him. Here I was, a young punk, refusing to back down from a monster. At least he didn't hit me. Afterwards, I tried to get my money (cold, hard cash) from Blackjack Lanza, who was running the show that night. Folks, he tried to lowball me. True story. I was promised something like $75 for the gig, and he tried to give me $35. That scoundrel! Anyway, that was my one and only night -- in the ring. One more, this one from Brenda of Houston:

P.W.: Is Bret Hart ever going to wrestle in WWE again? - Brenda

I'm not sure if he'll ever mix it up with WWE Superstars, but WWE.com is reporting that Hart will work with Vince McMahon to release a DVD of the Hitman's best matches. After the infamous "Survivor Series" incident, (where Hart thought he was going to win against HBK) this one kind of shocks me. I thought Bret would never, ever team up with Vince again. Oh well, you know what they say: money talks.

OK, that's it. Mailbag emptied. If you have a question, complaint or compliment, shoot me an e-mail right here. I'll do my best to answer your questions.

Next week: A preview of TNA's next pay-per-view, "Sacrifice." And after that -- WWE's "SummerSlam!"

Class dismissed. Scram!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting. He once again urges you to rush out and buy Ric Flair's autobiography, "To Be The Man," on sale everywhere in paperback.)

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