WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel recently spoke with NorfolkNavyFlagship.com to promote the upcoming WWE live event in Norfolk. Here are some highlights:
JM: How does it feel to be one half of the first ever father/son pairing to win the Intercontinental Championship?
CA: Leading up to that whole pay-per-view, the whole week before, the thoughts going through my head were, “What was going to happen if I were to win? What was I going to be thinking?” My grandfather (Larry “The Axe” Hennig”), I talked to him about it. When I finally won at Payback, man – I just couldn’t stop thinking about my dad (“Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig). Holding that same Intercontinental Championship that he held. He would bring (it) home and I would hold it and wear it as a kid. I now possess this thing. I had goose bumps and was pretty emotional. My grandfather and mother were emotional about the whole thing, too. (My father and I) never got to stand in the same ring as each other, but now I feel honored that I get to stand in the record books with him.
JM: As “Michael McGillicutty,” your heritage wasn’t a major focus. Now that you’ve become “Curtis Axel,” does this allow you to become more of yourself and tap into a different side of your character?
CA: At first, they (WWE) didn’t want to bring up where I came from – which they have totally 180’d on. If I incorporate moves that my father and grandfather did, it’s to pay homage to them – to my family. Family is number one and will always be number one to me. Even as Michael McGillicutty – I still wrestled as myself. I think it was a good thing – even though that name sucked. I hated being Michael McGillicutty and having to tell people my name. It was embarrassing. Even signing that five-syllable name is ridiculous. I always wanted to be “me” in the long run.
JM: Who are the guys, now, that offer up the most advice about your matches and your promos?
CA: Paul Heyman. Just being with that guy – listening to him before the show and after the show, riding up and down the roads with him between events. He has so much information. He’s like a library – he’s got stories, and if you have questions, he has answers. He is the best tool I’ve got right now. When I am off the road – my grandfather. I talk to him two or three days a week. He has critiques of my work. He is super old-school, which I have to take into consideration, but he is a beast.
JM: You were on NXT Season 2. Being in that kind of environment, being introduced to the world in this reality show of sorts – what are some lessons you learned from that whole experience?
CA: NXT was a nightmare. I was really excited to be brought up – I knew I was ready. I saw what those kids had to go through in season one – getting the microphone shoved in your face and doing these stupid challenges. I was kind of bummed, but at least I was being brought up. Then they told me my name was Michael McGillicutty (and) it broke my heart. You never knew exactly what was going on. They said, “OK, you guys have a match, a contest – here’s the microphone.” It was a surprise every single week. You had to stay on your toes – it was scary ‘cause everyone in the back and everyone at home were watching. I think being involved in that atmosphere – it kind of toughens you up. I feel, now, that I am prepared for anything.
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July 6, 2013
Interview with Curtis Axel
July 5, 2013
July 4, 2013
Triple H In Sports Illustrated
Triple H and Jane Geddes (SVP Talent Relations & Development) were featured in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated. You can read the article here.
A Storytelling Lesson From World Wrestling Entertainment’s Darkest Chapter
B.J. Mendelson of SocialTimes has a story on why WWE distancing themselves from Chris Benoit since his career and life ended in a murder–suicide in June 2007 is damaging to the sports-entertainment organization in his eyes.
Benoit is not acknowledged by WWE on television, as references to the deceased Canadian grappler are solely limited to historical perspectives and matches on new video releases involving multiple wrestlers. For instance, when commentators mention the fact that only two men have won the annual Royal Rumble match starting from the number one spot, with Shawn Michaels being the first to do so in 1995, followed by Benoit in 2004, Benoit is not acknowledged.
Mendelson feels the exclusion of Benoit from many of the company's properties creates a "black hole" and also sets a problematic precedent. He writes, "By erasing Benoit, WWE is erasing a good chunk of history within their fictional universe. This creates a black hole where his and other wrestlers storylines once existed. And since the true wealth of the WWE rests in its possession of the world's largest video library of professional wrestling, creating a near limitless resource for DVDs, merchandise, retrospectives, and repurposed programming, you can see where creating a black hole could represent a problem for the company and its shareholders. Especially if this decision to delete a wrestler established a precedent that would be followed and expanded to include performers who did things the company, its shareholders, or the public frowned upon. Because they're not only deleting the offending party, you're also deleting the other wrestler's match as well, which limits the exposure that wrestler has, hampers his or her ability to sell merchandise (which is how WWE determines which wrestler to put their efforts behind), and damages one of the key assets of the company."...More?
More on TNA Payment Delays
Wrestlingnewsworld.com is reporting that TNA has “never” been six weeks late on payment. There was one particular incident described to Alex where a paycheck was delayed by four days when Panda Energy’s accountant was on vacation. We’re told these small occurrences are rare and not a big story.
The McMahon Family Storyline Being Booked for WrestleMania XXX, News on SummerSlam Creative
Regarding head writer Dave Kreizman being credited with the direction for this year's WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view, the main stuff booked was not his doing. The main direction this year is all Vince McMahon, with Triple H leading the proposed McMahon family heel turn angle. Kreizman isn't mapping out ideas, just interfacing with other division that have to be kept up to speed. Ed Koskey and Dave Kapoor have been rounding up the ideas from the writers.
As far as top storylines, everything planned out a month back is going exactly as scheduled for WrestleMania XXX. Whatever changed being made before TV hits the air are not changing the big picture for New Orleans.
The planned main angle, which will get bigger as SummerSlam approaches and explode at some point after that for WrestleMania, is the current angle with the McMahon family. The main reason for this storyline is because the McMahons came up with it as the key angle for next year's WrestleMania.
source: wrestling observer
WWE Named In Lawsuit After Woman Dies In 2008
The woman, 36 year old Susan Prim, told her family she was having trouble breathing so they left the arena. The woman collapsed, passed out and her son told the paper that her brain damage was so severe, she went from respiratory arrest to cardiac arrest and died. Her death is listed as a severe asthma attack and the lawsuit blames WWE's pyro after the main event. WWE along with the Conseco Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers, the pyro company and 16 other defendants have been named in the lawsuit.
2008...really?....
Rumor Mill - Why Triple H Didn't Punish Daniel Bryan at RAW
Regarding Daniel Bryan not being punished over the recent confrontation with Triple H backstage, some witnesses say Vince McMahon was there and others say he wasn't present. Apparently Vince has given Triple H full control of managing talent and when Triple H didn't want to punish Bryan for his outburst, Vince didn't overrule him.
July 3, 2013
Rumor Mill - Details on Issues with Rip Rogers in TNA Developmental, Alleged Extortion & More
According to a TNA/OVW trainee, Rip Rogers was reportedly trying to extort money from the company. He was trying to get paid from the trainees for their instruction in the advanced class.
These TNA "refugees" were basically winners on Gut Check first and then told about going to OVW. WZ was told this is probably why Adam Pearce didn't "win" because he wasn't going to take the OVW assignment.
It was reported earlier that today's talent releases were mostly a cost cutting measure, and in an update on Doug Williams, who was also recently released from TNA, WZ was told "Why wouldn't TNA pay Doug Williams when they promised him a job as trainer? Because they didn't want to pay to renew his visa."
source: wrestlezone.com
