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Jim Varsallone is the youth sports coordinator and pro wrestling editor for the Miami Herald. Jim has been with the Herald for 13 years and has also written for Wrestling Digest, Total Wrestling, and WOW magazines.
Submitted by duke from lebanon
Q: Hi Jim What ever happend to guys like superstar billy Graham? Nick Bockwinkle, and the Masked Assassins ? do ever see WWE going back to that kinds of format? I think Rick Flair would be a good GM. or be good as a manager Arn Andedrson did a good job keeping his back in the days. Could You See him being HHH manager or somelike that? How do you see the undertaker coming back? Maybe he will spiol the wedding. have a good day east west connection.
Answered 07/16/08 14:08:32 by Jim Varsallone
A: Superstar Billy Graham and Nick Bockwinkel will do wrestling autograph sessions and wrestling conventions. Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair and Graham are supposed to do one in August. It's in the "Wrestling events, shows" item on the wrestling page here. Flair would be a good GM. I don't want to see him as a manager. Maybe an announcer. Let's see what happens with Regal upon his return. Regal can return this month, if they use him. I would like to see Taker spoil the wedding.Submitted by jim praessel from marathon,florida
Q: was up jim,what do you think the chances of ric wooooooooooo flair becoming the new gm on raw.i think it would be awesome
Answered 07/16/08 14:05:21 by Jim Varsallone
A: I agree. Regal should be returning this month. Let's see if he tries to regain his old rule with Mr. McMahon sidelined, so to speak.Submitted by metal star from Uniondale, New York
Q: Hey Jim, why did JBL and his team get DQed when he broke Cena's submission? That ALWAYS happens in tag matches and no one gets DQed.
Answered 07/16/08 14:04:27 by Jim Varsallone
A: What I enjoyed about the original ECW, Paul Heyman's version, there were basically no DQs.Submitted by ELIOT from NEW YORK
Q: DEAR JIM I ASK SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE NOT ANSWERED HERE THEY ARE AGAIN I HEARD THAT THE WWE HAS TO WEAR SUITS EXCEPT A SELECT FEW I WAS AT A SHOW ONE TIME AND SAW TAKER JEANS T-SHIRT LEATHER JACKET ONE OF THE ROAD AGENTS SAID SOMETHING TAKER SAID GET OUT OF MY FACE VINCE WAS THE ROAD AGENT LOOK AT VINCE VINCE SAID NOTHING IS IT TRUE THAT TAKER SCARES PEOPLE.ALSO ILIKE TO KNOW IF JERICHO AND MICHAELS GET ALONG AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ANTONIO BANKS ( MVP) DO YOU KNOW IF THEIR IS GOING TO BE ANY PPVS COMING TO FLORIDA ANY TIME SOON.
Answered 07/16/08 14:03:24 by Jim Varsallone
A: Like many businesses and companies, WWE does have a dress code. TNA star Rhino, who worked for WWE, was publicly annoyed by the WWE dress code. I don't think anyone scares Mr. McMahon, not even the government. I can see Taker bucking the dress code, but I can also see a meeting set-up between Mr. McMahon and Taker to have addressed the dress, if that's true. You don't want renegades in your company who buck the system. It's not good for morale. Though, if anyone is going to buck the system, so to speak, and get away with it, it would be Taker. He's done so much for so long. It's like former Dallas Cowboys and University of Miami football coach Jimmy Johnson said. A guy trying to make the Cowboys' squad fell asleep during a film session during pre-season, and Johnson cut him on the spot. The great Emmitt Smith fell asleep, and Johnson said, "Hey, wake Emmitt up." Of course, Emmitt Smith remained with the Cowboys. Whether right or wrong, Johnson's point was there could be different types of rules, depending on the talent. HBk and Jericho work for the same company on the same show and are professional with each other. Whether they are really friends or don't like each other, it really doesn't matter at this point. MVP is an outstanding talent. He had a rough life, living in the inner cities of Miami and went to prison. He made mistakes and turned his life around for the better. He has come a long way. He has an inspirationall story which Scott Fishman wrote.Submitted by Al from brooklyn new york
Q: hey jim i was just wondering ever since kane has turned heel and is going crazy all of a sudden many people are starting to wonder if whats in the bag hes carrying is his mask.many are saying that the monster that he once was is coming back out.now i dont know how they will get him to harness the mask again if it goes this way but i think if it does the wwe will really improve.what are your thoughts about it.thanks
Answered 07/16/08 13:50:38 by Jim Varsallone
A: I don't know if a mask will make a company better. It will be good for Kane and the company financially with merchandising. It could be the mask. It could be the Paul Bearer or Taker urn. We shall see. Kane is supposed to film a sequel to the WWE Films movie See No Evil. That was the movie plan. I like Kane as a psycho bad guy.Submitted by MKN from Miami,FL
Q: The EDGE and VICKY wedding is back on. It will take place next Friday.What are your chances that u will be at the ICW show July 19 on a scale from 0 to 100.
Answered 07/11/08 22:33:32 by Jim Varsallone
A: Will Taker return? As for ICW, the show in Davie? Remind me next week.Submitted by sean Martin from CHCH NZ
Q: What was the deal with that guy running in front of batista and whats happening with sydal??? Is he sydal or Evans??? seems a bit stange to call him sydal 1 week and evans the next
Answered 07/11/08 17:56:15 by Jim Varsallone
A: He is Evan "Air" Bourne in WWE. Can he become a Rey Mysterio or Jeff Hardy? He is a mix of both, an aerial specialist. Can he talk? We shall see. He has potential.Submitted by eliot cohen from new york
Q: dear,jim i was wondering why vince gave away millions of dollars did the people really get this money do you think he will do it again.do you think shawn michaels and jericho get along what do you think about tripl h vs udertaker vs edge at summer slam what do you think about mvp (antonio banks) from ccw is their going to be more from is school. why did vince do what he did on raw when half of the set fell.
Answered 07/11/08 17:50:31 by Jim Varsallone
A: I was not a big fan of the money giveaway, but it did create a buzz. It was his money - not the company's money, per se. He had to get approval from the board, since WWE is a publicly traded company, and the board did not want to do it or gave that impression. So, Mr. McMahon did went into his own personal account and gave away his money. Didn't Ben Stein do that and make a game of it? Eric Bischoff was hyping a big money giveaway when he ran WCW, but the idea was dropped because he had already given away a lot of money to the workers with guaranteed contracts, unheard of at the time. Though, if he did not do that, the chances of having Hogan in WCW and an nWo would have been slim.Submitted by Carlos from Miami, FL
Q: Hey Jim, I was just wondering if you see Raw getting a GM anytime soon? Or will they keep it as it is?
Answered 07/11/08 17:46:43 by Jim Varsallone
A: I'd like to see Flair as the GM or Regal return and somehow land the job with an "injured" Mr. McMahon.Submitted by mike rubin from boca raton fl
Q: jim going back to the original discussion, im not saying every newsletter is factual but certain one have been right alot. They do't make up stories just to sell newsletters generally, and the newsletter writers source are usually accurrate, and to the person who called me names, you a re a small minded person, thats all i have to say.
Answered 07/11/08 17:45:14 by Jim Varsallone
A: Whether they are right or wrong, when you use sources (especially un-named sources), you are open to exaggerations, gossip, rumors and misinformation, and if you run it, you take responiblitiy for it. For as many times as they are right or close to right, they are also wrong or close to wrong. That's not good. The reason you all don't know just how many times it is exaggerated or wrong is because they hide that fact. I've had more respect for the newsletters and web posts, if they wrote, we had misinformation, exaggerations or were wrong, and here is the truth, but you don't see that. What you read is an "update" on the situation. Still have not found the Bruno interview.Submitted by Doug from Naples, FL
Q: To Mike R., I had the opportunity to attend a WWE event in Orlando as a guest of Sgt. Slaughter. We arrived at the O-rena 6 hours before the event and watched the wrestler's for each match practice together their prescripted matches. WWE hadd reps present to walk through the script with the wrestler's. The MC Mahons were there for final details, the announcers were practicing their lines from their scripts. The pre-filmed interviews were taking place. It is a well orchestrated event. In fact Slaughter works just behind the entrance where the wrestlers make their event appearance. He makes sure the wrestlers know what they are doing before entering, he makes sure the right wrestler enters. He also talks to the referee during the match. The refs have radio transmitters that allows WWE to control the length of the match. If WWE wants to shorten the match or to lengthen it, Slaughter tells the ref who tells the wrestlers. In addition if a wrestler gets hurt, the ref will tell Slaughter to have medical personel ready. Or if a fall looks bad on TV, Slaughter will have the ref check with the wrestler to see if he or she is okay.
Answered 07/11/08 17:38:24 by Jim Varsallone
A: Thank you for the information. I appreciate this because it is something you witnessed - not something you read somewhere else. That's a major point. Bring something to the table here you witnessed or read directly quoting an individual. Much of the rest is rumors, gossip, exaggerations and misinformation, and rarely do you hear or read a correction.Submitted by Gerald McCully from Mt. Pleasant
Q: Mike Rubin, ok that was not Donald Trump, I was just foolng you. My first joke was..... you are the weakest link. You are off the Island. But those are lame, too. I wish that it was real, or that the WWE was the old WWWF and selling it. I wish that I could believe what you believe. Wrestling was awesome when I was watching Dusty Rhodes and The Great Malenko at the Bayfront or Fort Homer Hesterly. You must enjoy those shows 10X more than me. God bless you. I have seen Marty Lyons(Alabama/The Jets) in HS at St. Pete Catholic heckle a wrestler at the Bayfront. I think it was Steve Kiern. When Kiern got over to Marty, Marty stood up 6'6" and a lean 280, I thought it was on. Kiern the professional walked away, after he talked junk, and security seperated him. Mike Rubin, keep writing, keep arguing, I like your attitude.
Answered 07/10/08 16:34:39 by Jim Varsallone
A: Like I said, I have no problem with any of that as long as you don't treat the rumors, exaggerations or misinformation as facts, when you really don't know. Discuss it if you want, formulate an opinion on your own from those actually involved in the incident, but don't tell me I don't know, when I do know how the information is gathered and to just beware. Oh yeah, it was a lot different back in the day. It was interesting believing the wrestlers wanted to rip each other's head off in the ring. I think the Iron Sheik/Hacksaw Jim Duggan incident played a role in the change. When the two WWF combatants were feuding - Iran vs. USA - and then they were arrested together for possession of illegal substances while driving in the same car. Well, let's not kidd ourselves. New Jersey wanting to tax wrestling as a sport really brought the reality of pro wrestling/sports entertainment to the forefront. Mr. McMahon then admitted in court under oath it was staged with pre-determined results. Sports paid a heavy tax in Jersey. He told the truth, ruining the perception, but saving the company a lot of money. It's all about the mo-nay.Submitted by cesar torres from miami fl
Q: mike rubin from boca you are an idiot. keep doing your thing jim every tree has to have a bad apple in this case a rotten one
Answered 07/10/08 16:21:14 by Jim Varsallone
A: I don't want to get into name calling, really. I don't blame him totally because he, like others, are a product of all the newsletter and web post negativity. Look, if you constantly watch or read something that's telling you each day how bad things are, you are going to believe everything is bad. It's mind manipulation, even at this level. Advertisers do it with the products they are selling. Nobody wants to read how Bret Hart and Taker got along so well. Unfortunately, they want to read about Bret Hart and HBK. Problem is when you only read that, which is what the newsletters and web posts are driven mostly by, you can't help but think everything is bad and everyone wants to hurt everyone. You go by the exaggerations, rumors and misinformation and start treating them all as facts. Just have an open mind and look for some signs when reading the newsletters and posts. It is sports entertainment.Submitted by Chris M from Mesa, AZ
Q: Hey Jim, It was great to see Tony Atlas on ECW Tuesday night. Will we see him again? Perhaps as Mark Henry's manager or was this just a one shot guest appearance?
Answered 07/10/08 16:14:42 by Jim Varsallone
A: That was cool. I'm all for legends returning to manage or do something backstage. I think if they wrestle it can be difficult. When you get older, it's harder. Ric Flair is the exception, so to speak. That's why I don't really like seeing older wrestlers return way past their prime to compete. Once, maybe twice, but not long term. Hacksaw Jim Duggan knows his limitations at his age and does OK. He was a punch and power guy which he can still do to a degree. Tag teams are good for older talent. They don't have to work as much or carry the match. I think Hacksaw is doing OK.Submitted by Wooooooooooo from Miami, FL
Q: Good morning, Jimbo. Whew... too much he said/she said talk about wrestling. Whats the deal with Ashley (cant spell her last name right) from WWE asking for her release? I read on her blog that her child was/is sick. Can you gimme anymore?
Answered 07/10/08 16:09:33 by Jim Varsallone
A: You have to remember her name appeared in a Playboy type call-girl scandal recently. She denied it, saying it was someone else. No charges were filed against her that we know. I did not know she had a child. I think it is good for her to take care of her child, of course, and it also gives her time to rest her injured body, if she does decide to return. How many divas are getting hurt or hurting others (accidentally) because they are too new to pro wrestling?Submitted by eliot cohen from new york
Q: dear jim i would like to know who you think is going to be the top star on raw since triple h is gone i heard cena what have you heard and when orton comes back i think it should be a triple threat match orton cena punk and is it true that triple h can come and go as he pleases since he is on smack down his wife runs the show and is it true that everybody has to wear a suit except aselct few i heard triple h and undertaker told laurinitas togo to hell and vince said nothing abot it.
Answered 07/10/08 16:06:26 by Jim Varsallone
A: Mr. McMahon adores John Cena. Women and kids love Cena. Others, especially old school fans (generally speaking) do not. Whether you like Cena or not, he is one of the hardest working workers/champs in history. How he handles his schedule is amazing. Appearances, commercials, movies, wrestling. MVP wanted to share some of that busy workload, elevate himself higher. Cena told him instead of sharing what's on that plate, he suggested putting more on the plate. MVP, Punk and Kennedy have bright futures. Top stars on Raw. Cena, Batista, HBK, Orton, Kane, Mysterio, Y2J and JBL. How about an Orton turn, but he still remains arrogant and nasty against the other bad guys.Submitted by hko
Q: jim do u think ortons injusry is real or he just wanted time off personally i think its real u can here him tell the ref he hurt his collar bone.do u think he will come bakck face maybe and beat punk for the title?
Answered 07/10/08 01:12:30 by Jim Varsallone
A: It is ironic that his wife is having a baby, but after weighing "all" the facts, the indications are it was a legit injury - accidental. His doctor, WWE officials and Orton have commented on the injury as well. Like Cena, he will return prior than what the newsletters and web posts were claiming. I also think he will beat Punk for the belt.Submitted by sportsnut4 from orlando, FL
Q: Hey jim, I love what the WWE is doing since the draft. It really was time to mix things up and elevate some new people. As far as wrestling being real or not, come on people, this is not 1980 anymore. There is big money invested in the company and these wrestlers, and they are not going to allow that kind of behavior. Sure there is backstage turmoil but the wrestlers realize that if they are not professional in the ring someone gets seriously injured. Jim i'd like to share a link here if that's not all right please just go ahead and delete the link. http://www.total-e-sports.blogspot.com
Answered 07/09/08 18:43:57 by Jim Varsallone
A: I do, too. I think WWE is doing very well since the draft, trying to elevate others into the big picture and moving big stars to different brands. I also agree. Some people just won't listen. They basically believe everything they read even with un-named sources. I tried to explain how the information is gathered from these un-named sources and give some insight of how they operate. That doesn't strike you as odd when someone is exchanging positive publicity for information which can very well be exaggerations, rumors or incorrect? I guess some people want to hear all the rumors and negatives (exagerrated, truth or not) and believe in all of them. Just look at the newsletters and web posts online. When you can not quote someone directly, that should be the first sign of a red flag. It's that simple. If you have someone being quoted, then at least you can determing better for yourself whether the information is accurate or not. It's a subject for journalism and all writings these days. Let's take the Randy Orton injury issue. The newsletters and web posts posted/shared how he would not return until October. Orton refuted that. So then the newsletters and web posts did not say how they were wrong but rather just updated the information. How can you say Randy Orton will be out until October, per se, without checking first with Randy Orton or at least a quoted WWE representative. I'm sorry. Even in this day and age, that's not good journalism, and it won't stop, but I hope at least people here can be a little more educated on how it all works. We live during a time where everyone and everyting is wanted so quickly - via Internet, texting, TV scrolls/updates - and unedited blogs. Mass information - some ture, some exagerrated, some not. It used to be you needed three sources before you could write a controversial, per se, news story. Not anymore. Still, I believe it's not about getting the information first but rather getting it right. I'm not one for breaking news, per se. I like interviewing people and telling their side. I leave the other stuff to the others. I just hope they do it professionally. That's getting lost today.Submitted by Jan Stuer from Beveren (Antwerp), Belgium
Q: I think Kane is responsible off the McMahon-accident. He's just wondering what's the condition of Vince because Shane & family want to keep Vince's condition private. Just thinking out loud..
Answered 07/09/08 18:16:59 by Jim Varsallone
A: Good thought.Submitted by Albert from Miami,FL
Q: Whats up Jim. I think Kane is going to be responsible for the McMahon accident and that is why he went nuts asking is he dead or alive since the past two weeks we don't know how Vince is doing. My question is about the WWE Championship. Who wins at the Bash and is it true that Taker and HHH don't like working together? I've heard conflicting reports so I wanted to see if you knew anything. How about HHH VS Taker at WM for the belt.
Answered 07/09/08 18:16:08 by Jim Varsallone
A: Good thought on Kane. I don't know who will win at the Bash. For some reason, I think Vickie and Edge will dupe Triple H. I would think CM Punk holds the belt until Orton comes back. Triple H and Taker have a professional working relationship. In every business, every sport, everything in life, you are with people, per se, you like and dislike. That's human nature. Taker really doesn't hang out much with anyone. That does not mean he does not like anyone. He spends his free time with family. Austin would not work with Hogan because of Hogan's backstage politics. It happens. Say what you want about Triple H, but how many times has he lost a title match on the big stage in a big event for WWE? Several times. That's more than I can say for other top stars in their prime. Triple H vs. Taker at Mania would be huge. It is a long way down the road, but I think Cena vs. Batista, Taker vs. HBK and the then long awaited rematch of Edge vs. Triple H is a strong top for WrestleMania.
