WWE website crew interviews Kanyon and Terri

WWE Byte This review
Friday August 9, 2002
What: Weekly Internet Talk Show at WWE.com
Host: Kevin Kelly and Dr. Tom Prichard
Regulars: Droz and Tazz
Guests: Kanyon and Terri
Report by Michael KopStick, Torch Team Contributor

After a very disappointing Byte This last week due to the new staff having a rough adjustment to their first show on the job, I wonder what to anticipate this week as the show begins by playing this past week's Smackdown's main event of Hogan vs Lesnar.

Kevin and Dr. Tom welcome us to the show and announce the debut of a new segment on Byte This called Outwit the Twit where a WWE staffer, who Kevin considers "a Rain Man of wrestling trivia,." will take trivia questions from callers. (An interesting replacement for Outthink the Fink. Speaking of Fink) Dr. Tom bashes Howard Finkel for ditching Lillian Garcia, causing her to be beaten up by the Island Boys (I wonder if their names will be spelled Boyz like the Hardyz and Dudleyz were). Kevin did appreciate the physicality of the new tag-team however. He realizes that TSN did not air the clip so he plans to air it later for the Canadians that missed it.

Dr. Tom points out that on Kanyon's web site he put up pictures of the gap in his shoulder where his injury was. Kanyon has been recuperating well by training in OVW, Prichard updates.

Droz calls in and they discuss the debut of Victoria and then move on to the rumors that Ric Flair is considering running for government. Droz thinks that Flair will add some flare to the office.

About Shawn Michaels returning, Kevin feels that Shawn gave one of his best and most emotional performances on Raw two weeks back. (I, however, couldn't keep my thoughts off of Michael's bad acting throughout the whole ordeal. The pacing of the whole "Okay we have video footage and I haven't seen it yet so let's do that now…Omygod it was you Hunter. Therefore I want you at Summerslam" was awful. First off, why wouldn't he have seen the tape before, why wait until Raw? So he could keep himself in suspense? That's silly. And then how awful was that switch from finding out that the attacker was Hunter and then right away challenging Triple-H to a match. I know that if this was me, I would have needed at least a week to take it all in that my best friend just turned on me. The writers didn't give him and the audience to let it sink in, Shawn just accepted what happened, made an angry "naughty naughty Hunter" face, and moved on to challenging Triple-H, making the whole segment seeming rushed and not believable. But that's just my opinion. I'd like to know if anyone out there agrees with me since all I have read so far is praise for that badly acted segment.)

OUTWIT THE TWIT

Time for Outwit the Twit. We meet the new guy, Stevie Bats, who will take callers' challenges. Dr. Tom remarks that the show is getting better and better in the past few weeks but all he's heard is complaints and cannot understand why (For a concise answer to his bewilderment you can check out my last report where I detail how unsmooth last week's show went. But, hey, I'm not your average internet shmuck and I'm ready to praise a good episode when I see one and so far the show doesn't look so bad and it's even 17 full minutes into it.).

The first caller, Andy from Michigan, attempts to Outwit Stevie with his question: During one Survivor Series the survivors would go on to their own tag team elimination match. Who was the winning team? (That's easy, I say, Hogan and Warrior and Santana with Tito being eliminated. Unfortunately The Twit isn't as smart as I am and) Bats can't answer the question, but gets excused because the caller himself couldn't answer his own question. Morons.

Next caller Rob takes a shot with his question: What was the major box office record that the Scorpion King broke (I think it was the largest opener for its weekend). Stevie doesn't have any answer and is zero for two. (This is awesome. I'm smarter than the Twit…Um, okay, that doesn't sound as prestigious as it did in my head.) The correct answer was that it was the biggest opener in April (so I was basically right).

Final caller Brad from Newfoundland, Canada asks: At Wrestlemania 6 Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake took on Money Inc (It was Wrestlemania 9 actually but who's counting, right?) Hogan had a cut over his eye, due to what? (Before I hear the answer I don't know for sure but I would guess it was due to Irwin R's briefcase, as I remember the team was beating Hogan with something, causing Jimmy Hart to take pity on the Hulkster.) Stevie draws another blank and squirms by saying that he doesn't like the question and it's a little too hard even for him and Kevin agrees (oh geez). The true answer is that Hogan dropped a dumbell on his head prior to the match. Speaking of dumbells, Kevin sends away the Newfie with a prize and sends away the dumbell in the studio but surprisingly invites him to come back next week. (Uh, great show so far guys. Seriously, if this is a joke and your working us and the whole shtick is that the Twit will never get an answer correctly then that would actually be a pretty funny angle. But it seems to convincing and, most importantly and unfortunately, sad.)

TALES FROM THE HOOK

Tazz, after being absent from the program for a few weeks, calls in and first expresses his displeasure with Matt Duda (hey, get in line), calling him "Matt Doody" (what a lame way to make fun of someone I wonder where he got that fr…oh, wait, never mind). Apparently when Tazz asked him to call back in three minutes he took more like fifteen, proving again that Matt Doufus is unfit for his role (I really shouldn't be doing this, making fun of people for attacking their last names, when mine is KopStick. I'm practically setting up my own trap here.)

They hype Summerslam and discuss Brock Lesnar's chances of becoming WWE champ. Tazz remembers when he and Spike were tag champs and they wrestled the team of Batista and Lesnar in a dark match. Comparing then to the present, Tazz feels that Brock is more polished and relaxed in the ring now.

The future of wrestling is on Smackdown. Not that Raw is a bunch of old guys, Tazz is quick to acknowledge, they're just more established (Yeah, established 50 years ago).

"I was very proud to witness the debut of Michael Cole getting his cherry broken," Tazz says regarding Cole's encounter with Nidia.

Tazz then leaves and they play the Lillian Garcia getting beaten up by the Island Boys for the Canadians that missed it.

KANYON INTERVIEW

Kanyon calls in to update everyone on his surgery. At first when he dislocated his shoulder, he decided to stick with it and continue wrestling but then it got infected and he almost died. This, along with an ACL injury, has really set him back this year.

Was he concerned about his job when he heard about the WWE downsizing because of increasing costs and less revenue coming in? He answers by pointing out his small push with the US championship and becoming the Invasion MVP. He feels that when he was in WWE he proved that he could perform. And a good thing about WWE, he says, is that they don't fire someone when they are hurt. "They don't kick you when your down…people talk a lot of negative about the company but I haven't seen anything but positive." (Heh heh, Positively Kanyon)

How he feels about bringing Eric Bischoff in to WWE: "I almost wished we brought him in when the original invasion wasn't doing too well and was losing steam…I think his character is tremendous." He thought that in WCW Bischoff's role was too cool for a heel but his character is much better now.

While he was recovering, he appreciates that Jim Cornette called him to see how he was doing, and this was even a week after Corny's mother passed away. He was also moved by the calls and messages that he received from wrestlers and other friends and acquaintances in the business. He says that pro wrestling creates a bond between the guys that is rare.

He says that as he looks at the current locker room, he is inspired by guys who not only don't complain about being double booked but look forward to it as an opportunity. They have such a love for wrestling that he wishes to learn from that.

Interview with Terri

Terri joins the program. Kevin says that she has changed men's lives because of her in-ring performances. He says that they watch her entertain and they "enjoy themselves for five, six minutes straight." "Oh, golly gee," Terri bashfully replies. Dr. Tom says that he especially likes when she leans over the ropes at the start of her protégé's matches.

Kevin figures he wasn't blunt enough his first time around and decides to ask her if she has a name for "them," i.e. her twin towers. After some prodding, Terri says that they do not have a name, however "let's just call them precious." "Mmm they are indeed," Kevin agrees.

How has she enjoyed working being an announcer? "I love it, and I would even love it more to be able to have a little bit more spontaneity and have some more time behind the mic. But I really love it to be able to show a different side of me (giggles) so to speak." They discuss the UnAmericans. "Aren't they hideous?" Terri feels. Terri really doesn't think that Lance should be out there saying the things he does, especially after what the United States is currently going through. Dr Tom, though, doesn't mind it since wrestling is entertainment where people should be able to suspend their beliefs and relax with what they see. (I'm agreeing with Terri on this one. Just because writers couldn't think up an angle for those three individuals and had to resort to rehashing an angle that was done twice already and only properly the first time doesn't mean they should prove to us that they can also do it worse than WCW did. The group is getting cheap heat and the way that they just suddenly jumped into this angle with no buildup (Bret's build was incredible and that's why it worked so well) makes me nauseous already. Add that to the fact that it's now post-September 11 and WWE is just not being smart with this one. The only positive side is that it looks like those guys are getting away with it and the angle is actually taking off successfully. I'm sure that when they come to Canada they will get a huge ovation. So although WWE is going a little too far, they are using a formula that is working very well for these three. And they certainly do deserve a push like the one they are getting after their years of hard and good work.) Dr. Tom remember the heat that some wrestlers used to get in that they would need extra security when they left the arena because their act went over so well. This is the heat that he sees the UnAmericans are getting.

They talk about Terri's new column in Raw magazine entitled "Raw Sex." Kevin thought at first that it was fake (like I believe Shawn Michael's "Advice to the lovelorn" and Jeff Jarrett's column was) however after reading what Terri has to say he understands that it has to be her. "Oh absolutely. They send me the questions and I go through them and decide which questions I'm going to answer. And I want to ask you guys, do you want to see more salty questions in the columns or more relationship questions? What do you want to see, because that's what I want to give. I want to give my adoring public whatever they want." AskTerri@WWE.com will get your question to her.

Robert from Miami asks her when she's going to pose for Playboy. Surprisingly she says that "because I have a beautiful child, I will probably never do that."

About Goldust, her former husband, who she has her beautiful child with, she says "I am so proud of him. I think he does not only an amazing job in the ring but he also keeps me in stitches. I mean I love watching him and Booker T together. He is truly incredible in this industry and this sport and I am proud to have a child with him and am very proud of what he does in the ring." (No mention of the embarrassing serenade that Dustin gave her on the plane a while back.)

They discuss Lillian Garcia and what happened to her on Raw. Terri says that she is an amazing woman while Kevin coughs "ahemBitchahem."

Donovan from Syracuse asks his favorite question, if she's shaved. "Let's just put it this way, I'm nice and neat."

She looks for confidence, brains, humor, and someone who bathes on a regular basis in a man.

After Terri goes, Kevin and Dr. Tom discuss if The UnAmericans are crossing the line. Prichard likes the angle and thinks people are too sensitive and they should relax. Kevin thinks they may be stepping over the line and if anyone wants to ask him anything or send them comments they can do so at KKelly@wwe.com.

They end with the Classic Clip of Rock vs Triple-H for the Intercontinental Championship in Madison Square Gardens for Sumerslam 1998.

The show ran a lot smoother than last week and, although the Twit couldn't answer a single question correctly, the show was still pretty solid and even the witty banter was kept to a minimum. But I'm still keeping a watchful eye on this Duda guy. I also still think that Big Country is more fun given all the bashing he took from the hosts and Instant Feedback participants about his mother and given his fun character which came off as a miserable producer who didn't get along with anybody, getting angry and even dropping the f-bomb one time. He never really cared or at least never acted like he cared about what anyone thought of him so he said some entertaining things while Duda looks like he's trying to kiss everyone's ass to make them happy and that's no fun.

Enough of my BC eulogy. I'd like to take this time to interact with the feedback that I have been receiving from my great readers and fans. One superfan wrote: "I'd stick to the Byte This report and quit attempting the smart-ass humor. Regarding the former, it's a pretty meandering report. Regarding the latter, you're not at all funny." Thanks! I love your suggestions! That's what helps make this report better right? Exactly.

Last week Booker T was on the show and made mention of the fact that he may want to retire soon but still has a goal of becoming WWE champion. One person e-mail me that he came off with the impression that Booker will still be in WWE for a long time because he wants to be WWE champ. I agree with that statement but I don't think he'll stay there because he wants to be there. If Booker wants the Undisputed title and once he gets it he'll leave, Vince will be smart and keep him away from that title as long as he can so that Booker will remain wrestling. Therefore Booker wasn't so smart by mentioning this goal of his publicly. Pat McNeill wrote something similar in this past week's Torch Newsletter and feels that because Booker said these comments he is being held back even now while Edge and UnAmericans are getting the monster pushes. So it looks like we're all right: Booker and anyone else working for WWE or any other company for that matter shouldn't publicly talk about eventually wanting to leave as a goal. Jeff Jarrett's character did that in 1994 to get him heat when he said "I'm using WWF as a stepping stone to launch my music career."

Correction (thanks to Mrobert21): Booker T made those retirement statements when he was in WWE and not during his WCW days. He was on the Howard Stern show because Stern thought it was funny that when Booker was on the Weakest Link he came off as stupid.

Speaking of stupid, I shouldn't be taking my sweet little time here talking about everything under the sun when I have a Border City Wrestling event to attend four hours away from here in Toronto in Windsor, Ontario. Jerry Lawler is going to be there as well as Paul Orndwarf and Terry Taylor! Taylor, who told Wade Keller that he was quitting the writing part of wrestling, figured he would do so until he came to this incredible organization to wrestle only, but the enthusiasm that the workers here display got him excited about this business once again. Cool.

So I must be going but e-mail me with your thoughts at Mublumm@aol.com. I am especially curious to know what you think about what I said about the Michaels/Triple-H angle and the UnAmericans angle. So take good care of yourself and each other. Peace.

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