Random thoughts on Bart Scott, Chris Jericho and Vince Russo
New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott shot back at those in the sports media who have questioned whether he may have violated his NFL contract by doing an angle with TNA.
“It would be like going on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ ” Scott told ESPNNewYork.com recently.
I totally agree with him. Look, I understand that NFL teams have millions of dollars invested in their players, and that’s why it’s standard to have a clause in player contracts that prevents them from participating in physical activity outside of football that could jeopardize their health.
But it’s not like Scott took any bumps during his appearance on last week’s episode of TNA Impact. His brief backstage scuffle with Kazarian was basically just Scott lying on his back, holding onto Kazarian and throwing some really weak-looking worked punches. And when Kurt Angle put him in an ankle lock, I’m pretty certain that Angle didn’t apply any real pressure.
There’s probably a greater chance of Scott getting hurt engaging in horse play with his small kids than in anything he did with TNA.
In fact, I'm not even sure that Scott's “Dancing with the Stars” analogy holds up. When former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler competed on the show, she suffered an ankle injury and a pulled groin.
***
I appreciate all the positive feedback on the Chris Jericho interview. Any interview is only going to be as good as the subject, and Jericho obviously is a fantastic subject. One of the reasons for that is his candor, which leads me to my next point.
Several people who watched the five-part Jericho interview have made the comment that he seems full of himself. I understand where they’re coming from, but I have a different point of view.
While I have no doubt that Jericho enjoys being Jericho, I just think that he’s secure enough with himself that he will give you his honest opinion. If he thinks he bombed at something, he’ll say so, but on the other hand, if he thinks he put on a great performance, he won’t do the false-modesty routine; he’ll tell you that he put on a great performance.
I find that ability to recognize and acknowledge his own strengths and weaknesses to be refreshing.
***
TNA’s Cookie said in a recent interview with The Miami Herald that her and Robbie E.’s characters were created because “[TNA head writer] Vince Russo’s daughters love ‘Jersey Shore.’ They actually have him watching.”
So let me get this straight: Because Russo’s daughters are fans of the MTV reality show, wrestling fans are subjected to an act with go-away heat and lame angles with annoying “Jersey Shore” cast members.
Well, all I can say is that if I ever get the book in TNA, be prepared for the debut of Sesame, a tag team comprised of sweater-clad best friends Kurt and Bernie.







Comments
Chris is in no way full of himself .He is very confident and secure in himself .You people are full of [it] period.
Posted by: LILLIAN | March 7, 2011 11:35 AM
"Well, all I can say is that if I ever get the book in TNA, be prepared for the debut of Sesame, a tag team comprised of sweater-clad best friends Kurt and Bernie."
I can already picture a vignette of Kurt Angle in a bubble bath playing with a rubber duckie.
Posted by: loco | March 7, 2011 12:05 PM
And apparently a Jersey Shore cast member will be appearing on Raw next week. Why on earth do these companies think that wrestling fans and Jersey Shore viewers are an overlapping demographic?
Posted by: Go Fish | March 7, 2011 12:23 PM
Hi Kevin, love the blog.
I agree with you regarding Scott... it's a non-issue.
The Jericho five-part video interview was simply very well done.
Three for three> TNA's continuance in having Russo captaining the content is, and has been, a terrible idea. TNA will continue to wallow in mediocrity with Russo there. They need to drop the old WCW vibe.
Out of curiosity, how long would you anticipate Bischoff, Hogan, and Russo will remain at TNA?
--Greg
Posted by: Greg | March 7, 2011 12:27 PM
snuffleufagus ftw!
tmz posted today that Snookie will be on Raw next week. Honestly, i'm not so sure what any of creative in either company are thinking.
Posted by: josh | March 7, 2011 12:42 PM
Russo's daughters must be giving advice to Vince and company as well because now we're subjected to that awful Snooki on Monday Night Raw.
Posted by: Russell | March 7, 2011 12:47 PM
I hope you get the TNA job, Kevin. Gunner and Murphy could really use that repackaging.
Posted by: Katie Morgan | March 7, 2011 12:56 PM
I guess WWE Vince's daughter likes Jersey Shore too 'cause they got Snooki.
Posted by: Xelpzat | March 7, 2011 1:20 PM
Kevin, I agree 100% on your comments regarding Jericho. There's a fine line between cockyness and self-confidence and Jericho is a very self confident man. I mwould pay to see a handicap match between your tag team of Sesame against Big Bird.
Posted by: Magnificent Mark | March 7, 2011 1:48 PM
I don't think Chris is full of himself. He is the best. :)
Posted by: Sharan | March 7, 2011 2:15 PM
I like your Sesame gimmick. Would you go more Edge & Christian with it or more Billy & Chuck?
Also, I think Cookie is covering for Russo. 3 Count was well before his girls could have loved boy bands.
Posted by: James C | March 7, 2011 2:19 PM
Re: Jericho
Let's put it this way about professional athletes. To get to where you are, you have to be confident. Whether it's football, baseball, pro wrestling, curling, whatever, you don't make it to the top by being humble. You have to be confident in your abilities.
Does it come off cocky occasionally? Sure, but that's the winning attitude you've gotta have.
Posted by: scottydanger | March 7, 2011 2:38 PM
Question: What is sillier than booking Jersey Shore into a wrestling show for the amusement of immediate family members?
Answer: Booking Jersey Shore into a wrestling show for the amusement of family members who watch the real Jersey Shore while the wrestling show is on.
Oh. There is the DVR, I guess.
Posted by: Christopher | March 7, 2011 3:57 PM
Good job Kevin. You just gave Russo an idea for TNA next great tag team, Bert and Erni with special enforcer Big Bird.
Posted by: Norm | March 7, 2011 6:58 PM
I don't think the issue is really that people think Scott should get in trouble for getting "physical" on Impact, but rather that if he had somehow gotten injured it could have cost him a ton of money. I can recall more than a few players that have cost themselves millions or their contracts injuring themselves doing something as simple as playing a game of H.O.R.S.E. It could have been a freak injury or an accidental one and he'd have risked voiding his contract or insurance for it. The way contracts are set up he pretty much is covered for anything that could occur inside his home. I remember when Thomas Jones was covered when he broke his hand answering his phone, or Sammy Sosa hurting his back sneezing.
So it could have ended up a really stupid decision. Also TNA comes across as the kind of company that would tell you they won't make you do anything that could risk injury and then do it anyway. They're desperate enough to try things that aren't a safe idea. I'd trust WWE in a situation like that way before I'd trust TNA.
Posted by: MechanicalBull | March 7, 2011 8:07 PM
I'm thinking the booking of someone from Jersey Shore on Raw may be WWE laughing at TNA's attempt to steal their thunder by copying their Undertaker promos and bringing back Sting.
To me it says WWE knows that Sting in TNA is not the big deal it used to be. Sting vs. Undertaker would have been huge. However, if you want to mess with the big dogs they'll mess back.
How long has the Jersey Shore gimmick gone on? How much time and money has TNA put into it? All WWE had to do was book one star from Jersey Shore and they just undermined all of that.
Yes we'll hate it but at least WWE is smart enough to only do it one week and they're doing it to make a point I think.
Posted by: Matthew | March 8, 2011 3:20 AM
Today I saw all the Jericho videos. And never did I find him to be full of himself. His interview was indeed an refreshing one. Jericho's interviews always strikes gold with the audience.
Btw, his entrance was really funny, when you totally build the excitement around him and he came and started sweeping floor. LMAO =))
Though I wish that you would have also kept that part(when Jericho was interacting with fans) in the video. All in all great video. Proud to be a Jerichoholic.
Posted by: Kunal | March 8, 2011 8:01 AM
Go Fish: it was confirmed on RAW last night that Snooki will be the guest star on RAW from St. Louis next week.
Posted by: Mike From Dundalk | March 8, 2011 8:20 AM
Kevin,
I agree that the Jersey Shore run ins lately have had fast forward heat on my DVR. But in January, I went to a TNA TV taping down in Orlando and then the house show in Hagerstown. I was surprised to see that Robbie E.'s character is mildly over. When he came out, a lot of the people in the crowd started fist pumping! And he's got some wrestling talent. I think he's making the most of a bad character.
Now, I can't say anything about Cookie, because she wasn't at either of the shows.
Posted by: chris | March 8, 2011 8:51 AM
Remember me? Hi Kev...
It is really make me laugh all day long.. You got a sense of humor on this! Sesame.. a team of Kurt and Bernie... Hahaha
Posted by: Juan Cena | March 8, 2011 11:15 AM
It's not just TNA anymore. Snooki is supposed to be on RAW next week.
Posted by: Wrestling Rumours | March 8, 2011 11:23 AM
Since this was a random thoughts post..
Kev, did you happen to catch Brian Kendrick as a contestant on The Price is Right today? Lulz..
RESPONSE FROM KE: I read about it but I didn't see it.
Posted by: John Basedow | March 8, 2011 1:29 PM
Abyss could do a very convincing cookie monster.
Posted by: Johnny Hallyday | March 8, 2011 1:57 PM
Had I known, I would have come running to offer Stacey some physical therapy! BTW, her going out before Jerry Rice was he biggest travesty of all time! Leggy gorgeous blondes are always discriminated against! It is also the only season that I watched the show (it wasn't for Jerry Rice or Nick Lache's brother).
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | March 8, 2011 10:50 PM
Since this are random thoughts I too have a question:
Will you review NXT Season 5? Can´t blame if you don´t. I´ve just read somewhere that Hornswoggle is a Pro?! OMG!
RESPONSE FROM KE: Yes, I will post something later today.
Posted by: XDreamItchy | March 9, 2011 4:54 AM
Kurt and Bernie, huh? So, since this is TNA and TNA likes to bring in football players, Kurt and Bernie can only mean one thing: the dream tag team of Kurt Angle and Bernie Kosar.
Posted by: Cliff | March 9, 2011 5:58 PM