Continued ...


2012 - Brian Kendrick announced plans to open a pro wrestling school in California.

2013 - TNA broadcast Impact Wrestling. Stu Carapola filed the following TV report:

Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Report here on PWInsider.com!

Ronnie Lang and Atlas Security meet Taz at the entrance to the building and inform him that Hulk Hogan won't allow him in the building tonight. Taz tells Ronnie he's known him a long time, but Ronnie won't let Taz in.

Mike Tenay and Jeremy Borash welcome us to the show, and bring us to the latest video from the Mystery Man, who says that August is here and that we'll all know who he is by the end of the night. I'm betting money on Bob Holly.

Austin Aries comes out to the ring as the fans chant his name, and Aries says it's good to know that they know his name. Aries is focused on one thing: the TNA World Championship, and he wants to congratulate Chris Sabin on winning the title, but with that congratulations comes a warning: he is now the hunted. He knows what it's like to go from the X Division Title to the World Title, and Sabin is looking at the man who will win the BFG Series and become the next World Champion. The fans spoke, and now for the first time on SpikeTV, he will face AJ Styles, a match everybody has been dreaming about since he walked back into this company. Not just the fans are talking about this match, the wrestlers, the Knockouts, the referees, everyone wants to see them go at it and they're going to get it. It's the Phenomenal One vs the Common Denominator Of Greatness, but Aries says it's AJ Styles, the man who carried Impact Wrestling on his back for a decade, against Austin Aries, the man who will carry it on his back for the next decade. If anyone out there has any doubts of what he says, he'll erase them tonight.

Bobby Roode comes out to the ring for a chat with his on again, off again partner, and says he wants to talk about the nightmare he's been living since Aries beat him last year at Destination X. His life has been crap since that time, and everybody, including himself, has forgotten what Bobby Roode is capable of doing in this ring. He was the longest reigning, most dominant champion in the history of Impact Wrestling, he was the leader of the Selfish Generation, and dammit, he was the It Factor of Professional Wrestling, and starting tonight, the game is going to change, because Bobby Roode is going back to what brought him to the dance the first time, he'll do the things he did to become a World Champion the first time around, and from here on out, the only thing that matters is winning back the TNA World Title, and he'll prove that it pays to be Roode. Aries will agree with everything Roode says, but he hopes Roode gets his mojo back and makes it to the finals of the BFG Series so he can beat him again. Aries wishes Roode luck, and walks off as Hernandez comes out to the ring to face Hernandez. Roode jumps Hernandez on his way to the ring, and we're off and running!

Bound For Glory Series: Bobby Roode vs Hernandez

This is a must win, as both men have yet to score any points in the BFG Series. Roode beats Hernandez up around ringside, but Hernandez begins working him over with power offense. He goes for the over the shoulder backbreaker, but Roode slips out the back and hits a spinebuster, then takes Hernandez outside and rams him into the ring steps. Roode brings Hernandez back inside and nails him with a charging clothesline in the corner, Hernandez skins the cat to the top rope, Roode tries to stop him from hitting whatever and Hernandez shoves him off, but Roode moves out of the way of a top rope splash and gets Hernandez in the Crippler Crossface right in the middle of the ring. Hernandez gets free and lays Roode out, then goes up the ramp and sprints down for the flying shoulderblock over the ropes. Hernandez goes for the Border Toss, Roode slips out and bumps the ref on his way down, low blows Hernandez, and rolls him up with the tights in hand, but Hernandez kicks out at 2. Roode loses it and goes outside to grab a chair, slamming it into the steps before tossing it in the ring. The referee takes the chair away from him, but Roode pulls out a beer bottle from under the ring while the ref is getting rid of the chair, nails Hernandez with it, and covers him for the win.

Winner: Bobby Roode

Roode finally scores his first points in this year's BFG Series! Huzzah!

Jason Hervey catches up with the Main Event Mafia as they arrive at the arena, but I didn't quite catch what they said, so I guess we'll find out what they're up to later on tonight!

Frankie Kazarian is backstage, and he's...TWEETING!

We look at the BFG Series leader board, and it looks like I was wrong and Hernandez scored 7 points somewhere. But, he and Roode are still way down at the bottom and have a long way to go if they're going to come back from this.

Eric Young is backstage with ODB as she's getting ready to get back in the ring, then Joseph Park comes in and EY says he has the way for Park to get back to the top of the mountain. EY hands Park a bag and Park asks what's in it, and EY just tells him to wear it tonight. I hope it's not ODB's lingerie.

Chris Sabin walks in on a maskless TJ Perkins and says how proud he is of him for becoming the X Division Champion, and Perkins talks about how he didn't accomplish a thing for 15 years until the Manik mask gave him a new identity that brought him the X Division Title. Sabin says that's why he's proud of him and why he wanted his first match to be with Manik: because they're not the biggest or that baddest, but they have the heart that brought Perkins the X Division Title, it brought Sabin the World Title, and Perkins better bring his best tonight because Sabin damn sure will.

One of those big ass limos with monster truck tires pulls up outside the building...is the mystery man inside???

Bound For Glory Series: Joseph Park vs Jay Bradley

Joseph Park comes out with EY, and is wearing his gift...one of those smooshy Golden Gloves headgear things. Bradley tries ramming Park's head into the top turnbuckle, but it obviously doesn't hurt, so he goes about just pounding the snot out of Park the old fashioned way instead. Bradley misses a running boot in the corner and Park rolls him up for 2, but Bradley hits a second big boot attempt and drops a series of elbows for 2. Park comes back with a series of clotheslines and goes to the second rope, Bradley drags Park down by the headgear, but Park gets a double leg and puts Bradley in a Boston crab. Bradley makes it to the ropes, gets his boot up on a charge from Park, and picks him up and hits a back suplex into a backbreaker. Bradley pulls the headgear off and goes for the Boomstick, but Park ducks and hits a Samoan drop for the win.

Winner: Joseph Park

Well, Park's still in the red but at least he's taking baby steps back.

The Main Event Mafia is backstage and Sting says they accomplished one of their missions: Bully Ray is no longer the TNA World Champion. Angle says the next thing is to make Aces & Eights an offer they can't refuse, Rampage Jackson says he came here for a fight, and Angle says he knew he liked him.

TNA World Title Match: Chris Sabin vs Manik

Unlike when Sabin turned in the X Division Title for a shot at the World Title, Manik will walk out with both titles if he wins here tonight. They have a back and forth feeling out process to start, then trade takedown attempt before winding up at a stalemate as we go to commercial.

Manik catches Sabin with a flying headscissors as we come back from commercial, he tries the McGuinness headstand in the corner, but Sabin dumps him out to the floor and fireman's carries him face first onto the ring apron, then rolls him back inside and covers for 2. Manik comes back with a flying headscissors and a springboard dropkick to the apron, then another one back inside, and a cover gets 2. Manik with a sitout powerbomb for 2, then he goes up top where Sabin nails him and hits a delayed superplex for 2. Sabin snaps off a Diamond Cutter, a superkick to the face, and hits the Cradle Shock for the win.

Winner: Chris Sabin

Sabin is successful in his first defense of the TNA World Title, proving himself to still be the best X Division wrestler in the process by beating the champion. Bully Ray comes out of nowhere and attacks Sabin from behind, beating on him with his chain while yelling that he told Sabin he should have handed that title back. Bubba gives Manik a shot when he tries to help Sabin, but that gives Sabin an opening to nail Bubba and drive him out of the ring. Bubba stands at the top of the ramp yelling that it's him and Sabin in a cage.

We go back outside to the limo tank thing in the parking lot, but Taz walks up to it and says that if Hogan won't let him be with his brothers tonight and wants to leave him out here in the heat, he'll show everyone Hogan's big surprise right now. Taz opens the limo door, laughs, and tells the camera to look what's inside. We see inside the limo, which only contains a laptop playing the August 1 hype video.

ODB is backstage, and she's...TAKING A SWIG OF LIQUID COURAGE!

Bad Influence will face each other next week in the Bound For Glory Series, and they say that letting the fans make this match isn't Bad Influence, it's bad sense. Daniels says that he's undefeated and he has 21 points, and poor Frankie is 0-3, but Frankie cuts him off and says not to be that guy, and he knows he is that guy, but not to be that guy with him. Daniels says he's not just going to give him those points, and Kazarian says he knows and dumps out Daniels' appletini and walks off. Daniels nods and goes "Okay." and walks off the other direction.

Gail Kim vs ODB

Gail shoves ODB, so ODB tackles her and beats her out to the rampway. ODB charges down the ramp and splashes Gail against the ropes, but they go back inside and Gail nails her coming back in and starts working her over with hard strikes. Gail with a clothesline for 2, stops to blow kisses to the fans, and hits the running crossbody in the corner for 2. ODB mounts a comeback and hits a running powerslam for 2, kicks Gail into the ringpost, and follows her out to the floor. Gail drop toeholds ODB into the ring steps and pummels her with right hands until both girls get counted out.

DOUBLE COUNTOUT

The bell doesn't stop Gail from attacking ODB, but she gets up and ODB comes raging back after her, and the brawl continues out at ringside while officials try to separate them.

AJ Styles is backstage and says that this dream match tonight is a joke, and he's not the dreamy eyed kid he used to be, he's the greed-fueled man he became. Dream matches are BS just like the one with Jeff Hardy was BS, because it's all about the top spot and the money that comes with it. This may be a dream match, but he's about to become Austin Aries' nightmare.

Aces & Eights is backstage and Bully Ray says that the Main Event Mafia has seen the Godfather one too many times if they're planning to make an offer they can't refuse, then tells his VP Ken Anderson that it's up to him to take care of Aces & Eights. Brooke comes up to Bubba after the rest of them leave, and Bubba asks if she wants to go under the bleachers, or if she's asking for the divorce she's never going to get. Brooke says that "Mark" should stop thinking like that, because like the saying "Happy wife, happy life" goes, he should know that a happy ex-wife also makes for a happy life. She worked some unfavorable conditions into the contract for his match with Sabin, and blows him a kiss and walks off as Mark is left wondering what that's all about.

It's main event time!

Bound For Glory Series: AJ Styles vs Austin Aries

Aries and AJ go back and forth for a moment until they think they're going in different directions and hit head to head on a blown something. Aries staggers out to the ramp, takes a breahter, then comes back inside and they go back and forth again until AJ goes for the Calf Killer. Aries blocks, rolls AJ into a banana split, and AJ rolls out of that and we're back at neutral. They go out to the floor where Aries gets some good shots in and comes off the top rope with a double axhandle, but he rolls AJ back inside and goes up top and AJ dropkicks Aries to the floor. AJ comes over the top and wipes Aries out with a dive as we go to commercial.

We're back as AJ drills Aries with a nice dropkick and then stops to scowl at the crowd. AJ folds Aries in half with a dragon suplex and then locks him in a chinlock, but Aries gets free and knocks AQJ silly with a big left hand. AJ blocks the brainbuster, so Aries gets a backslide for 2. AJ backdrops Aries to the ring apron and Aries lands on his feet and hits a neckbreaker over the ropes, then comes off the top with a missile dropkick. Aries hits the IED, puts AJ on the top rope (with AJ desperately trying to fight him off with kneestrikes), and Aries tries to hit a brainbuster off the top, but AJ lands on his feet and turns it into a neckbreaker off the top for 2. Aries avoids the springboard 450, hits several kneestrikes to the face, and gets AJ in the Last Chancery. AJ gouges Aries in the face and counters into the Calf Killer, but AJ crossfaces his way out and hits the brainbuster, but is too tired to hook the leg and AJ barely gets his shoulder up at 2. Aries goes for the 450, AJ gets his knees up, and AJ tries to clothesline Aries over the top rope, but Aries doesn't quite make it over and rolls underneath to the ramp instead. AJ goes for a springboard something, but Aries shakes the rope and hangs AJ up, then tries a brainbuster on the ramp. AJ reverses momentum and hits a gourdbuster and tries for a Styles Clash on the ramp, but Aries backdrops AJ off the ramp and he hits the floor with an audible thud. Aries tells the referee to count, then shoves him out of the way so he can hit a dive through the ropes. AJ sidesteps and sends Aries crashing face first into the steps leading up to the ramp, and they both barely beat the count back in. They trade shots in the middle of the ring, AJ connects with a flurry, but Aries drills him with a big elbow, suplexes him right on his head, and AJ responds with a Pelle kick. They both go down and each has an arm over the other, but Aries has the presence of mind to roll his shoulder just before 3, and that's enough for a pinfall win.

Winner: Austin Aries

Awesome, awesome match! Top 5 on Impact this year for sure.

The Main Event Mafia is backstage, and they're...WALKING! We'll find out what their offer to Aces & Eights is...NEXT!

The Main Event Mafia comes out to the ring, and Sting says they still want to get their hands on Aces & Eights, and will do that by giving them an offer they can't refuse. Ken Anderson brings out Aces & Eights and says that they know the Main Event Mafia likes to fight dirty, but so do they and they're not going anywhere. Angle says in that case, it'll be Hardcore Justice for Bully Ray on August 15th, but also for the rest of them because they want a 5-on-5 match and the loser of the fall will be out of TNA forever. Aces & Eights rushes the ring and the two sides brawl, the Main Event Mafia fights them off, and Anderson says they've got their match.

Suddenly the lights hit and dramatic music plays, and out of the back comes...MMA legend Tito Ortiz! Okay, great, more non-wrestlers. Everyone looks scared except Rampage Jackson, and he shoots Ortiz dirty looks as Ortiz shoots scary looks all around him, and we call it a night.

Thanks for reading the Impact Wrestling Report, I'll be back tomorrow to discuss Impact and more with Dave Scherer on the Stu & Pid Show!

2014 - WWE released developmental talents Garett Dylan, Travis Tyler, Slate Randall, Mac Miles and Dani Jax.

2015 - The Mid-Atlantic Legends Fanfest was held in Charlotte, NC. Here is Mike Johnson's coverage of the Q&A events that took place over the course of 8/1 -

Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of The HonkyTonk Man Q&A at the Mid-Atlantic Fanfest.

Honky was asked about The Ultimate Warrior and Roddy Piper. He said Warrior was a good businessman. He said it was weird in that it sounded like he gave his own eulogy. He said Piper's passing was sad and he looked ill in recent photos. It's always sad when someone from the industry dies. When he was young and starting in the business, he was worried about being stabbed in West Virginia or in a car accident. He said wrestlers have to learn they can't live the way they were in their 20s and 30s. He said he's 62 now.

Honky was asked about Hulk Hogan. Honky said it was brought up in a recent interview with a newspaper in Canada as he's going there in a few weeks. He said it's a tragic situation in that it could happen to anyone from any walk of life anywhere in the world of any religion. Tiger Woods did things he was not proud of but you can't wipe him out of history and say he can't exist anymore. He said you can't take away from what people achieved in their lives and history and that's what WWE is doing. They are publicly traded and he understands what they are doing and why but that's not going to work for fans. He said Hulk Hogan changed wrestling. And that's the truth.

Honky asked why Bubba the Love Sponge is always in this situations and said he warned Hogan through Jimmy Hart to distance himself a long time ago. He said he really has no axes to grind but everyone has their differences and joked he just had a fight with his wife because he was back on the road.

Honky was asked about the build to his Wrestlemania 3 bout with Jake Roberts. He said the build was great but he did not hit Jake Roberts and send him to rehab. What sent him to rehab was not the guitar. Jake wrestled a year more before he went to rehab. He nailed Jake with the guitar and turned Jake babyface. It was Jake's idea to bring in Alice Cooper since he was from Detroit and they had the snake connection. After he won the IC belt, Jake was gone and he lost to substitutes in non-title matches and allowed him to go on TV and say he was the greatest of all time.

Honky was asked of memories of the Blonde Bombers. He said that is a part of history that seems to have been lost and God bless YouTube for bringing them back and making them available. He doesn't know if there is a lot from Larry Latham online. They were put together in Tampa for a tournament and put them together since they both had blonde hair. They worked 5 or 6 matches going to the finals losing to The Briscoes. They were asked if they could stay in Tampa, then they went to Memphis where they had the Tupelo Concession Stand brawl. Jerry Jarrett needed something and came up with that brawl. None of it was planned out. They were told to win the belts and then tear the building down so they did. The cameras would come on Friday and filmed it. He said they created hardcore and ECW although they weren't the only ones who did it. They captured people's Imagination and it worked.

When he went to Puerto Rico, the worst thing was telling Larry he was moving on and Larry never forgave him for it. Wrestling isn't a team sport and they had to do their own things. Larry died in the ring and it was a sad situation. He said God bless him.

He was asked his favorite and least favorite independent wrestling promotions. He said he doesn't remember names because there are so many. There are really good ones and bad ones. Sometimes it's promoters going out the back door and sometimes it's a bad venue or bad equipment. He said WWE isn't perfect and have work bad days too. The good independent promotions are the ones who will work on promoting but sometimes you have promotions you just send posters to the venue and they never get pushed. He doesn't want to go home and not get paid.

He told the story of a "monster truck guy" who was hanging out with fans two hours after a show instead of paying the boys. HonkyTonk told them they have to get paid and the promoter was angry he was embarrassed. Later on at the hotel, the guy told The Iron Sheik he wanted to go beat up Honky and Sheik warned him not to do that.

Honky said that he doesn't care about anything else but getting paid. He doesn't want to hear about plans or TV or anything. "Do you have my money!" His daughter is about to go not veterinary school and the school wants their money.

He said every Indy show is trying to be Wrestlemania with 40 matches and hours upon hours. He told a story about having to wrestle at the end of a show and at 12:45 AM he was waits be paid and he's got a 6 AM flight. He said if promoters don't want to pay him, don't call him.

Honky was asked about refusing to drop the IC title to Randy Savage and whether it was true he refused because the company planned to repackage him. He said yes. When he came to WWF he was in a handshake deal and promised he would be protected on TV. He had worked hard to create his character so he could fulfill his dreams of working in a high level position in Madison Square Garden and the NYC territory. He got the belt and was drawing as a heel against Savage as fans wanted to see Randy Savage get his belt back. He was called to a meeting with Savage and Elizabeth and they ignored him and told Randy he was getting the belt. Honky was told he was losing and Jimmy Hart would pull him out of the ring and he would never be seen again. Honky took that to mean he was fired, so he called Jim Barnett in Atlanta and they had a private meeting. Honky made sure he had a place to go in the NWA and then told Vince McMahon he wasn't losing. Vince lost his mind and he wishes he had that on tape. Vince is a forgiving man but he's also vindictive man and he made Honky suffer for sure. He said he told Vince if he wanted the belt he can come get it off his mantle in Memphis if he wanted to put on the tights.

Honky said his podcast is never coming back. They did it weekly. They would set up guests and then when they would call, they wouldn't be around. They tried to get advertisers and we're going to do one after Wrestlemania but then Warrior passed (his webmaster Steve Wilton was friends with Warrior and worked with him) and they decided they didn't do one.

Honky joked his was the reincarnation of Ole in that he didn't care. People want the truth and then get mad when they hear it. He said you can't get mad if he says Ric Flair can't come back to North Carolina. He said Flair will be Flair until the day he dies. He said if he doesn't have money he's still Ric Flair. He wondered why Flair wrote Honky would have been nothing without Hulk Hogan as Honky worked all over the place in territories and Hulk Hogan was nowhere to be found.

He mentioned Eric Bischoff saying he was happiest to fire Honky. He said that of all the people that were fired, what did he do to get this honor? He said Bischoff told him that he was only hired because Jimmy Hart kept pestering him. Bischoff didn't want him because he didn't like his look. How do you want me to look? He said that all he did was draw money for two years for WWF with that look.

WWE was asked about being in the WWE Hall of Fame. He was called to go in the year they were in Phoenix but he was already contracted to do 12 Wizardworlds and that week he was in Toronto. He was called just four weeks before and then they wanted a three month no compete. He told them he had a booking and WWE said that he could just cancel because eh would understand. He wondered if WWE would have understood if he canceled on them? He said WWE hadn't called him in five or six years and then wanted him to drop everything.

He was asked about Michael Hayes. He told a story of the Freebirds coming to Memphis. Larry Latham was worried they were going to replace them as a heel team skin when they work, they acted like complete cowards and got all the heat. They remained and the Birds left after a few weeks.

Jimmy Hart was responsible for making sure Honky did a ton of promotional appearances and that helped him create the gospel of being the greatest of all time. He said Hart kept him from be just like all the other lazy wrestlers. They always dressed up and looked like Honky and Jimmy Hart. Dick Clark used to tell musicians on the Dick Clark tour that if they dressed like he audience, they would be sitting in the audience. So they were always seen in costume and Jimmy took that to heart. Honkytonk Man was asked about shoot interviews. He said he doesn't do them anymore but did a few for Rob Feinstein. Some people booed. Honky said he got heat from doing them but everyone forgets that people talking them on interviews might have led to them getting booked on shoots of their own. He said they aren't productive in any way at this point and he got tagged as being bitter and resentful. He said bad things about the business and about people who did wrong by him. Everything he spoke about was generally about him.

Honkytonk had used the name in Pensacola, Florida before WWE while wrestling Austin Idol. He wanted to change his hair as the blonde color wasn't working for him anymore. You have to recognize when it was time to make a change. He went to the Fullers and pitched a hair dye match where there was only room for one man in the territory and it did well for he territory. He ended up as a greasy character with black hair based off Schneider from the TV show "One Day At A Time." When WWE tried to sue him for the name and character, he found old programs and photos to prove he had them pre-WWE and Case Closed.

Robert Fuller was the one who suggested the guitar. He cannot play it. Hillbilly Jim tried to teach him as did Hulk Hogan. The guitar used on Jake was way too big and way too heavy. He. They precut it and had to hide it so guys didn't touch it or play it.

Honky was asked about Memphis wrestler Chris Colt. Bye was fabulous in the ring and if he was around today, he would be a cut above.

Honky talked about the artwork of wrestling. He said the guys getting in the business aren't people who aren't wrestling fans, they are fans of a TV show called Raw. He said two years ago when he went to Raw, Natalya said hi and AJ Lee introduced herself and none of the other women knew who he was and thought he was coming in.

He said Mark Henry got his job because he was a wrestling fan who took off from his training regimen to watch wrestling. Vince McMahon found out and invited Mark to talk to him and that's how he got in. He said Henry suffered more in the locker room then anyone else. He said Henry once blew out his knees and the boys his his crutches and Honky found them and returned them.

He was asked the origins of The Shake, Rattle and Roll. He needed a finish and Vince gave the guys who had been around the trust to come up with something. He needed something that would fit the character and had here weeks to come up with something. He up with the swinging neck breaker and used the name. Vince liked it but After the first time, Vince suggested adding him shaking his rear end, roll the guy back and forth before nail in the move.

Rick Rude suggested the Rhythm and Blues name because Honky was the rhythm and Greg Valentine was the blues since he mopes around. Valentine didn't put his all into it as he didn't want it just like Billy Gunn didn't want to be Rockabilly and if you don't put your everything into it, you will fail as a wrestler.
**

Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of the Ricky Steamboat Q&A hosted by Jim Ross. Ross was a little late as he was filming material for the Mid-Atlantic Memories DVD extras and told a story about how he hates being late. He was once late for a meeting with Bill Watts and was fined $40 when he was only being paid $25. So, Watts made a profit on it.

Steamboat joined Ross on stage. This was by far the most attended session and Steamboat received a long standing ovation.

Ross said the Flair-Steamboat rivalry will love forever. He said that when Steamboat came to the NWA to do his program, Ross didn't know what to expect but booker George Scott did. Steamboat said they were put together in the 70s by Scott. Ross said the only thing Scott did with him that he didn't like was being told Ricky was getting the belt as they went out to call the Chi-Town Rumble show. He said it was like getting a Christmas present and being told what it was before you unwrapped it.

Ross asked Steamboat of his memories of that match. He said that he gets asked about the trilogy of matches a lot but his favorite is the New Orleans bout as they got to go close to an hour and show what they can really do. The night in Chicago, he asked Scott what the plan was after weeks of Scott not telling him what the plan was. They had to start to think of a game plan. The show was underway and Scott didn't know tell him the finish. Steamboat had so much nervous energy burned up by the time he found out. They had worked so much they just needed to worry about the last three moves. They spoke about that and separated and called the rest in the ring. Steamboat had to mentally and emotionally recover from finding out he was getting the belt so he wasn't spent and blown up 5 minutes in. Ross knew before Steamboat did.

Ross said he saw Lance Russell this weekend and he's a treasure and the only letdown this weekend is that Bob Caudle wouldn't be here. He said as a fan, all he wanted was a photo with himself, Bob Caudle and Lance this weekend.

Ross brought up the Best of Three Falls bout. Ross said it was the bout that probably got George Scott fired. They didn't promote the live aspect of the show and only drew 6 thousand in the Superdome. Ross got called in the office and was called out for not promoting tickets and the live event aspect. Ross said he was told not to. They talked about Flair submitting in e first fall and how it was smart booking since he was the challenger desperate to get the belt back submitting in the first fall. Steamboat said it was Flair's idea. Ross said they didn't do a lot of submission finishes.

At Wrestlewar 89, they decided to bring back the judges from the first Clash of Champions. Ross joked about the awful judges from the Flair-Sting bout and asked, "What the hell were we thinking?" They had Lou Thesz, Pat O'Connor and Terry Funk as judges in Nashville. Ross said they had a hell of a match that night. Steamboat agreed. He said all three were completely different from start to finish. Steamboat didn't know they were doing the Terry Funk angle until he was walking up the aisle. Ross said that wasn't good communication. They talked about who was booking then and decided it was "That stupid committee." Ross said booking committees in theory is a good idea but when they cast, write and star in the stories, it won't work.

Steamboat said the guy with the pencil is always go into be on top. Ross added, "and make the most money." Ross said the most powerful weapon in wrestling was the eraser because they could change plans.

Steamboat said early in his career, old timers would take care of you if you liked you but if they didn't, they would bloody you or knock you around and you dare not say anything about it. He said Mr. Fuji would always give him advice on things he can do better. Fuji said he wanted to show him a hold in the shower. He said if anyone gives him a problem in the ring, this is his equalizer. It's called the five on two. The boys all knew what was coming and sure enough, Fuji grabbed his nuts and Steamboat screamed. He said that was his initation and he joked it always worked.

Steamboat then told a story about wrestling Flair in Mid-Atlantic at the old Charlotte Coliseum. They had done a 60 minute draw previously there. George Scott said to do something to get Ric hot and they don't need to go 60. They can do it in 25 minutes or so. Ric says when it feels right he'll beat Steamboat with his feet on the ropes. He expects it to be short but they end up going 58 minutes in or so. The fans know they go that long, it's going to be a draw. They hit 59 minutes and Steamboat is going for a comeback as they count down with 10 second left, Flair covers him. They go 59:57 total. Steamboat said there was a lull in the crowd and suddenly fans start throwing all this stuff. Flair leaves the right but not before looking at Ricky and saying, "We got them tonight kid!"

They went to the Q&A portion.

Steamboat was asked about finishes today and how you can run long programs the way things are. Steamboat said they have been prostituted. You'll see guys kick out of big moves at a major show like Wrestlemania and the idea he guesses that the idea is that these guys are in a war and it gets to the point of who is endorse for wear. Steamboat said prior to he last 8 years or so, it was always that if a guy got a finish on you, that was it. Ross said guys are lazy and working for a pop. He said the "This is awesome" and "You still got it" chants are awful. He knows that's going to get people saying he's a bitter old bastard. Ross said at Wrestlemania 17, it's the first time he remembers The Rock Bottom and the Stone Cold Stunner being kicked out of. Ross said that he story the announcers have to tell is that this is a big night and the guys have to dig down deep but you have to tell that story. Guys now when you watch wrestling across the board you see guys use a small package after all this flying stuff. Guys do the damnedest moves and work faster then the fans can process. Guys don't sell and they blow off finishes. The DDT was once the most feared move in wrestling and now they are transitions like a side headlock takeover. Ross said you have to use chainsaws to beat someone. Ross said there are smart guys backstage putting these matches together and they have to be sick to their stomach because it's counter-productive to what they really believe. Ross said they make music in the ring but they have to let the announcers sing the lyrics by slowing down.

Steamboat said you see all those major moments where guys go through tables and then they are back in the ring. He said you take that moment and throw it away. Ross said the few matches he was forced to be in by the creative department, he looked at it from a broadcasting perspective and was trying to tell their stories. He said the business is going down a road of shortcuts and a lack of fundamentals. If they gave the announcers the time to tell the stories, they don't need to do as much. Ross said you can punch someone ten times and there's no damage and that's an expose.

Steamboat said that in the ring, it's their responsibility to tell the story that allows the announcers to do their job. Ross said he was manipulated out of retirement to call the New Japan WrestleKingdom PPV with the Eddie Haskell of wrestling, Matt Striker. There was a big multi team tag with The Young Bucks and they asked him if he wanted to know what they were going to do. Ross said No and they acted like he didn't care but he wanted not to know. He said once you got past that cluster and they got to singles matches where they could tell good stories, it was one of the best announcing experiences in some time. He said guys wanted to do hot moves instead of trying to win. He said the style is changing and he doesn't know where we are heading. He said wrestling will never go away but we will probably relish the older material more.

Steamboat was asked about his 1991 return where he was just The Dragon and was wasted. Steamboat said they wanted to repackage him and he wasn't even Steamboat anymore. He said he didn't feel in his heart because the world knew who he was. He said it was one of those things where he was being patient and was waiting for that door to open. He was working second from the bottom after working main events with Flair and Steamboat. After ten months, he knew it was time to go.

Steamboat said he worked with Haku for months on end. They didn't do anything major but the chops and kicks were solid. Chief Jay Strongbow told them they needed to tone down because the main eventers were complaining. Steamboat told him they weren't doing anything but wrestling and please don't take away their ability to perform. Strongbow thought about it and said,"You are right. Screw it."

Steamboat was asked to compare the Flair and Savage programs. He said It was apples and oranges. He and Ric had years. Savage and Steamboat was a six month program. It was gratifying thing with Randy. Savage had a good mind and they went in wanting to steal the night because they knew Andre had a bad back. Flair taught him so much and he wouldn't be anywhere as good as he is without Flair wanting to work with him in Mid-Atlantic. Ross said Flair was instinctual but Randy was meticulous and obsessed with perfection. Ross said Randy was his most difficult partner to broadcast with because he didn't trust anyone and Ross wanted to feel the out while Randy wanted it all laid out.

Steamboat and Savage laid out the entire match and they would put it all down in paper to memorize it.

Steamboat was asked about bringing his family to the ring. Steamboat said it drew a contrast from Flair, but he was uncomfortable with it. Ross said he was worried it would alienate the audience. Ross said you have to know your audience and it put Steamboat in a disadvantageous position. Steamboat said his ex had a lot to say about wanting to be involved.

A fan asked why Wrestlewar 89 started at 4 PM. Ross said it was a cable company clearance thing. They were asked why Flair and Steamboat went on in the middle. Ross said some of the matches didn't air. I think he confused the Clash 6 show with Wrestlewar. Steamboat told a story of how Lex Luger was pissed after the Best of Three Falls bout because he wasn't going to make the Clash broadcast.

Steamboat was asked about the comeback against Chris Jericho and what it meant to you. Steamboat said it meant a lot, but his fear was coming back and not looking the same. His plan was to do 20 years and retire as long as he was financially able to. He ended because he injured his back and never wanted to come back because he didn't want the fans to see him as someone who should have stayed out. Wrestlemania 25 was an opportunity for the legends to work with Jericho and since there were three of them, he could do it. Ross pointed out Mockey Rourke was There and buried him. Snuka was limited and Piper was banged up. A lot of the match came down to him and Jericho and it worked and the crowd liked it. They put him in the Backlash singles match which was a shock to him.

Ross said its been a rough month with the passing of Dusty Rhodes and Roddy Piper. He asked Steamboat for thoughts on them. He and Dusty didn't always see eye to eye. Steamboat went to the WWF in 1985 because Dusty became the booker. Ricky was a top babyface and Dusty was going to be the top babyface. It was time for Ricky to go after eight years but he was disgruntled because he knew how he was going to be used. He said a few years later, it was his moment to thank Dusty because of he hadn't made those moves, Steamboat wouldn't have elevated his notoriety as a wrestler. Dusty joked once that Steamboat left him and Ricky said, "Dusty, I didn't want to!"

Ricky teamed and worked against Roddy Piper. Steamboat said that he tells talents to develop a character that they can immediately identify you with. He said in the ring, to be honest, Roddy was probably a seven but on the mic it was off the charts. Ross said there was no writer for Roddy. Ross said most of the heels want to work to be cool and get a pop and sell merchandise. Ross said no one wants to hated. Roddy had no fear and the more you detested him, he happier Roddy was and if you wanted to confront him, be prepared because there was no fear. Piper was living on the streets and didn't have a nice hotel and iPads. He had no fear, period and had a swagger.

Piper told Steamboat he figured out how to get to the main events and that was not show up until after intermission.

Ross asked whether Steamboat could sense how special Steve Austin could be when they worked in the 1990s. Steamboat said he knew then. Ross asked him what attributes set Steve apart. Ross said Austin never felt he had a good match. Steamboat said you run into a lot of guys who think they know it all, but Austin always wanted to know what more he could do and was very coachable. As hard as they went in the ring, no matter how winded Austin was, he was always there in the right place to feed for the comeback for Ricky.

Ross asked about the Hulk Hogan situation. Steamboat said Hogan would have been smart enough to know he was being recorded. He felt like it was something used in conversation. It shouldn't be used at all in language no matter who you are. Ross said for Hogan's sake, hopefully he can rehabilitate his image but it's a damn shame we still have racial issues in 2015. Ross called for everyone to be more tolerant of others no matter who they are.

**

Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of the Lance Russell Q&A hosted by Jim Cornette at the Mid-Atlantic Legends Fanfest.

Cornette opened up with some amazing stats on Russell's career noting 300 million people chose to watch him over and over spanning 30 years. Lance did his old Memphis wrestling opening.

Russell said he was lucky the Memphis tapes went to Louisville because it allowed him to see Jim Cornette in his prime. Cornette questioned he ever had a prime. Russell told a story of a young Cornette chasing wrestlers down for photos.

Cornette said Lance made a career of talking good about people. Cornette said he was also responsible for hiring Dave Brown, the only Memphis TV personality to rival Lance's popularity.

They opened the floor for questions.

The first fan said Memphis wrestling was chaos but Lance held it all together. He said Lance acted as if he believed it and asked how he put so much believability to the product. Cornette said you weren't smartened up right away but once they knew they could trust him they let him in. Russell would turn down going to meetings where they would discuss the plans for the show. He saw it as a race and didn't want to know who would win. He said it was the best decision he could have made. Cornette said he knew the flavor but didn't need to know the specifics.

Cornette said when you see old footage and hear Lance Russell, that is the soundtrack of the promotion. Russell said when they entered an empty arena and it's so silent, it's hard to believe how hard it is to call a match without the crowd reaction and feedback. Cornette said the Empty Arena match showed how hard it is to do wrestling without the passion of the fans.

They told a story of Lance calling a TV show live after a bomb threat was called in to the Memphis TV studio. It was a tough situation as they ride to get by without letting the viewers knowing they were clearing the building. They went to commercial, got everyone out and came back to a 20 minute Lance and Jerry Lawler promo as the cops searched the building. They couldn't announce it because it would lead to someone doing that every week.

Lance was asked about Jos LeDuc cutting his own arm on TV for a blood oath. Lance said no one was more shocked than he was. Lance said when he did it. It was a scary thing and he didn't know. He also didn't know when Bill Dundee and Gorgeous George Jr. did the promo when George called him Dundee a chickenshit on TV. Lance took the mic out of his hands and stuck it in his jacket.

Cornette asked him about the show where Eddie Gilbert tried to run over Jerry Lawler win a car. Lance said he was inside and didn't know they had two idiots working for them. Cornette said Lawler said he used to do this in High School but apparently they had different cars then. Lawler went over the hood, the windshield and the roof and Doug Gilbert thought Eddie had killed him. People flooded the switchboards and the police. Lawler had to go back in TV to show everyone he was OK and stop the calls.

Lance was asked if he had any good stories of ribs being pulled on him. He told a story of The Road Warriors grabbed him and carried him to the ring then told him to put his arms out and slide. He asked how he could slide with this nose.

Cornette talked about the banana nose nickname. He's linked with Lawler and asked Lance who were the other guys he enjoyed working with. Lance said at 98 his mind isn't as quick as Corny's but he loved working with Cornette. Cornette said don't just say it because it's true. Cornette brought up Sputnick Monroe. Lance said he was savvy guy and was as a safe as working with a loaded gun verbally. He said Monroe gets credit for breaking down color barriers and he would make all sort of remarks to the ladies...all in good taste he joked. Jackie Fargo really taught everyone by setting the stage with his way of speaking.

They were asked about the angle where Lawler was found drunk and despondent after losing the Southern title to Bill Dundee. Lance said he was called to Lawler's house and found him sitting outside his house a complete mess. That began the rehab of Lawler to get him back to form.

They discussed how Memphis was ahead of the curve with on location videos and music videos. Lance said when he went to WCW, a lot of guys knew about Memphis TV but weren't too happy about it. Memphis had serious drama and sadness but they also had lighthearted moments and others in the business felt it was making fun of the business.

Lance told a story of working with Honkytonk Man on his first promos. He also told a story of going into a locker room and seeing how beat up Lawler was and he was shocked. Lawler said to go see the other guy, who was Bill Dundee. Dundee was beat up even worse. The fans loved it and Cornette said Dundee joked that even they believed their feud.

A fan said one if the great thing was the unpredictability and asked Lance about the most outrageous moments. Lance said he was being honest with everyone. He said sometimes he doesn't remember everything and wishes he could remember everything. He told the story of Jimmy Hart and himself running the entire show because everyone was late because of weather come from Nashville. Hart decided to dump a huge bag of flour over Lance without telling him. Lance ran back to a shower during a break and when the water hit the flour, he ended up with glue. Hart left Memphis that day.

Cornette said Lance didn't do physical angles because the belief was he announcer had to keep us credibility and not be seen as one of the boys. Russell said the guys were doing some dynamite stuff. He said Cornette was so serious with that tennis racquet that fans believed the character and some made the mistake of finding out that tennis was a 'contact sport.'

Cornette told the story of Dream Machine grabbing Lance so hard they fell. When fans would ask him if he was scared, Lance said the wrestlers were told not to touch Lance because he had to be back the next week. Cornette said that when Dream Machine grabbed Lance, it was seen as an assassination attempt.

They were asked about Austin Idol. Russell said he remembers him well. They talked about the angle where Tommy Rich was under the ring when Lawler wrestled Idol. They sent a Rich to the ring before the crowd was let in and gave him a case of beer. He was there for hours and attacked Lawler and it was a real memorable deal. Idol could be counted on for intensity but trying to get Idol, Rich and Paul Heyman out the ring was so hard. Cornette said that was the first time Heyman got a taste of Memphis Heat and could see what Cornette went through.

Lance said Andy Kaufman also got a ton of heat. He told the story of Lawler hurting Kaufman with a piledriver and Andy refusing to leave until they called an ambulance. They had to call him one and Lawler grabbed the mic and said to call him a Taxi. Cornette said Andy portrayed himself to be a lot of things but he loved what the wrestlers did and saw it as a performance art. Russell said Andy grew up loving it and it was part of who he was. Andy would fly himself in and wrestled for free. When he asked to be paid, he never cashed the check and framed it.

They were asked about the Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl. They were told they could do anything but don't touch the popcorn machine. Russell said they would go to Tupelo which was 80 miles away and film material then bring it back and air it as a B show for that market. The venue was a former auto body shop and wasn't attractive for TV. Lance actually said "damn" on TV and he said it was a legitimate reaction to that brawl. Lance said mustard was everywhere. Cornette said that line was repeated in high schools all over the area that week. The brawl was outrageous to the point they played it again the following week by popular demand because there were no VCRs. It was in the middle of switching bookers and with half the crew they had, the attention this received brought all the business up within a month. They tried to repeat it a year later and it didn't work as well. Russell said other promotions tried to do it but it didn't work as well.

Lance was asked about leaving Nick Gulas for Jerry Jarrett. lance said it was hard because he was leaving a station where he had worked to get in line to become station manager one day. Cornette said that when the show went on the air and there was no Dave Brown and Lance Russell, everyone got on the phone with each other wondering where Lance was. Six weeks, they were back with Lawler and Jarrett. Lance said the replacements didn't even know wrestling.

Lance was asked about the reaction when he decided to leave Memphis for WCW. Lance said Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler were really angry about it. Cornette said it was the end of the territories. Lance was offered a ton money and made the decision he should go. Cornette said Memphis business was still remarkable for the time but you could see where things were going. Lance said it was a tough decision because he loved all those people in the Memphis and surrounding markets. He said the interaction with the people he loved and it was a difficult decision. He said it was a practical decision but it was hard.

Cornette said Lance will see the 60th anniversary of calling his first match. Everyone applauded. He saluted Lance. Lance thanked everyone for their support.