Source: Miami Herald
BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com
Someone’s missing the boat.
With the Osbournes, Hogan Knows Best and other reality type TV shows dominating the programming skeds, it’s a wonder no one asked Jim Cornette to do one.
Cornette is the only person involved in TNA and WWE simultaneously. That alone should send a message to television execs.
Still, Cornette, the new face of TNA, is happy to be working with TNA. He also owns a piece of Ohio Valley Wrestling, the main feeder group to WWE in his homeland Louisville, KY.
“The only promotion I’m part owner of is the only one I’m not allowed to be on TV.”
Cornette, who also worked commentary in OVW for local television, had a fallout with WWE.
“We had a moron [Johnny Gee Basco] in our [OVW] wrestling school, sitting in an area by ringside during a show. The Boogeyman was scaring the Be-Jesus out of everyone in sight. People were running and screaming in fear.
“This one guy thought he was tough. He was not going to get up. He wasn’t going to run. He was going to laugh. I took exception to it especially with it on TV.
“I called him in. He said nobody told him anything about it.”
Cornette said he made some remarks and presented some scenarios to him pertaining to knowing what to do and what not to do in situations.
“The angry Boogeyman was probably going to break him in half.”
Internet reports said Cornette slapped the guy.
“[WWE vice president of talent relations] John Laurinaitis is a liar. That was the excuse they used because they were looking for a reason to get rid of me because I wouldn’t swallow their crap. I agreed to step aside, and I refused to do business with WWE.”
Even though Cornette remains part owner of OVW, he is off OVW TV. With WWE still occupying OVW developmental talent, Cornette is a muzzled partner, an agreement with the sports entertainment conglomerate.
Landing on his feet once again, Cornette works for Ring Of Honor as its commissioner and most recently management director of TNA. OVW is a training ground for talent. ROH is a solid indie promotion based in Philadelphia, and TNA is an established player, exceeding expectations.
“Pro wrestling is colorful characters who have conflicts. Let guys with personalities, show them… who have abilities, use them.
“Fans like to see the ones they don’t like get their butts kicked. Great talent and good matchmaking make pro wrestling.
“If somebody can talk, let him talk. If someone can wrestle, let him wrestle. If he can’t tell jokes, don’t let him. I’ll take anything the fans like and what they’ll pay to see.”
Cornette noted TNA is pro wrestling, and WWE is not. WWE has writers not bookers, creating sports entertainment.
“Vince Russo, the demon seed of pro wrestling, made writers into stars because of his own ego and his way of getting a pat on the back.”
Advertising also played a major role in the shaping of sports entertainment.
“WWE has diluted themselves into believing, thinking they are not wrestling. Vince McMahon devised sports entertainment to fool the big advertisers, thinking they weren’t buying into low rent, travel park entertainment.
“Do you ever hear anyone say, `Did you see the sports entertainment show on TV last night? Did you see that sports entertainment match? Did you see that sports entertainer? Did you buy a sports entertainment ticket?’
‘When I was working for WWE, Shane McMahon actually asked this question in a meeting: `What should we call our talent?’ I said, `How about wrestlers. They wear wrestling boots, wear wrestling tights, compete in a wrestling ring. What do you want to call them? They are wrestlers.’
“They [McMahons] are billionaires or millionaires because of wrestling, and they don’t want to admit it.
“Still, I’ll work with you. I’ll call a lamp a table, but just as long as you know I know it’s a lamp.
“WWE created a new fan base that thinks wrestling is supposed to look like that. WWE blows credibility to anybody who wants to try pro wrestling.”
TNA is changing the perception, delivering a solid mix of old school and new school pro wrestling – emphasis on pro wrestling.
“TNA is a major international promotion with big money for big stars and directed to compete with WWE. I’ve been involved in a little bit of everything and want to help TNA anyway I can.
“Fans don’t want bad comedy, bad taste, special effects, cars being blown up. They want to see pro wrestlers. TNA is all wrestling. We’re not ashamed of it.
“My reputation is I don’t play well with others. More times I’ve been successful than unsuccessful. TNA wanted someone to lay down the law to the wrestlers and tell the fans what’s happening.
“I’m the liaison between TNA management, the fans and the wrestlers. I have no problem telling TNA who I think is talent, who I think is money and who I think isn’t.
“I’ve been involved in wrestling for so long [25 years]. I do what I do regardless what situation I’m in.
“WWE will run anybody crazy. That’s why I’m not in WWE. I respect everyone in TNA.
“I’m at this stage of my career I don’t want to be a superstar. I want to facilitate the young talent and make it easier for them. I’m sort of the grease. I’m not the wheel. I miss it a lot but only because of the guys I managed.”
Cornette and his friend Danny Davis formed Ohio Valley Wrestling after Davis retired from in-ring action.
“In 1993, I ran into [OVW co-owner] Danny Davis in Louisville when I was visiting home. I was in Stanford [working for WWE] and wanting to move south. I suggested since WWE had no formal training program to start one to give wrestlers local TV experience and a chance to wrestle in front of crowds.
“Along with Jim Ross and Danny Davis, we set that up. We all bought into the promotion [OVW], and it was successful as long as J.R. was in charge of talent relations for WWE.
“When he [Ross] stepped down, WWE started to take over and tell us everything we could do.
“We had done great things in OVW. It was the highest-rated local program on TV on Saturdays. We produced future WWE champs like Brock, Batsita and Cena. We developed quality talent.”
“The problems began when they wanted to tell us everything we could and could not do. The inept writing, the Junior McMahon, the irresponsibility of a talent relations chief [Laurinaitis] who used to ride a skateboard. Suddenly, I realized what was happening.”
Cornette once managed Laurinaitis who was known as Johnny Ace.
“I was ashamed of being involved in sports entertainment and what pro wrestling had become in WWE. I was ashamed to watch WWE. [After the fallout] I told people I was retired.
“With TNA, I got the old feel again. With TNA, I’m not ashamed of being involved in the pro wrestling business. There are some break-through stars, and I am amazed at the condition Sting kept himself. I’m pleased with the whole experience in TNA, and I’m not ashamed to watch TNA.
“TNA will gain in popularity. It’s a quality alternative to the dog and pony show being presented today.”
It’s not a show for kids.
“Heck with the kids, I don’t want to watch WWE, and I think other dogs are headed to the pound.
“I love wrestling. I’ve been a wrestling fan since I was 9. It hurt me so bad to see what has developed with WWE.
“WWE honestly is what people view as pro wrestling. The concept insults your intelligence. The religion and the sexual preference. It’s become a joke and a farce. New talent is being held down.”
WWE creative [McMahon] attempts to surprise fans, especially with various Internet spoilers.
“Everyone thinks you have to fool everybody and surprise everybody nowadays. It’s like a square peg being forced into a round hole. That’s not it.”
Wrestlers weigh their options, and it’s good to have options. According to Cornette, Samoa Joe realized WWE wasn’t for him. TNA was his path to stardom.
“Samoa Joe was smart enough to realize he wouldn’t be used the way he wanted to be used, could be used, should be used in WWE.
“There is a lot of talent trying to get into TNA. They don’t want to go to a company where they are told what to do, what to say and what to be. Let the fans decide.
“The cream always rise to the top. Unfortunately, so does the scum at times.”
Gone are the days of Cornette, the manager, swinging a tennis racquet to assist his wrestlers including the legendary Midnight Express (Loverboy Dennis Condrey and Beautiful Bobby Eaton).
He swings a different racquet these days.
“I wanted to take a look at the landscape of TNA. I had a lot to chew on my first appearance in TNA.
“It wasn’t hard deciding to join TNA. This was something I really wanted to be involved with. I’ve had experience in management and television. I’m older and not going to swing a tennis racquet.”
With the rise of TNA and a new, limited house show schedule, WWE decided to resurrect ECW.
“Some people said the only reason WWE picked ECW is to run small arenas. Well, what better pick than ECW to run small buildings. Still, you can’t polish a turd, and I think WWE is finding that out.”
• Cornette answered many more questions during the TNA/Spike TV conference call on Tuesday, July 11.
About Ric Flair wrestling
“Ric Flair is better than 60-percent of the guys in the business nowadays. If he wants to wrestle when he is 75 and he can, let him do it. He loves it.
About flying
“After Sept. 11, me and airports don’t mix.”
About Lance Storm
“Lance Storm and Chris Jericho [The Thrillseekers] worked their first matches in the United States for me in Smokey Mountain Wrestling. They are very talented, and Lance is tremendous.”
Storm was a wrestling trainer in OVW. Although they didn’t see eye-to-eye on everything, Cornette and Storm respect the other.
About MTV’s possible Wrestling Society X
Spike TV and MTV are sister channels
“It is two different things. I don’t know much about it, but the Wrestling Society X project and TNA are separate entities.
“I’ve heard it’s a different style.
“Before there is any cross promotions, TNA is going to want to cement its audience on Spike TV and its audience on PPV.”
About former OVW talent John Cena
“John Cena to me is the total package. He is a quality human being, a great talent. He is the most humble person in the world. He remembers the fans by name who supported him.
About former OVW tag team the Heartthrobs
“WWE pulled the Heartthrobs up too soon, and we told them that.
“They wouldn’t let them do what they could do, and they failed.”
About other past OVW talent and Diva contests
“It’s a shame a guy like Matt Morgan can’t find a spot in this country.
“Rob Conway, Eugene, Doug and Danny Basham. What talents they are. They can talk. They can wrestle. I pushed for months and years. Why aren’t you using them?
“[WWE] will take these useless Divas. Anyone see anything more annoying than these Diva search contests? I like ice cream and ketchup, too, but not together.
“Here you got great young talent sitting at home not being able to show what they can do.”
About the knee
“I’ve been struggling with my knee rehab.”
About his throat problems
‘I was doing announcing on OVW shows at the top of my lungs and giving everything I had. The doctor said, `Don’t yell. Don’t have stress. Don’t eat spicy foods.’ My throat is tons better. The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.”
About St. Louis
“I had a lot good times in St. Louis. The highlight of my young career was in 1985 in the Kiel Auditorium. I thought I died and gone to Heaven.”
About the business
“Any jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build it.
“They’re [WWE creative] just not patient enough these days.”
About TNA live
“The iMPACT Zone live was incredible. The pay-per-view was incredible: the production, the fans. It was great.”
TNA’s Victory Road pay-per-view is Sunday, July 16 from Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
