Former WWE Star Says Older Talent May Challenge WWE Network for Residuals
Former WWE backstage interviewer and commentator Ken Resnick sat down with the VOC Wrestling Nation to discuss the differences between today and the 1980s, the WWE Network, and the lack of enthusiasm in the current storylines heading into Wrestlemania 30.
Here is a sample of what the former WWE and AWA talent had to say:
On his work after leaving WWE in 1987:
“After I left WWF, I was out of wrestling for a bit. I did the LPWA, which was a women’s league that foreshadowed today’s “divas”. It was a little ahead of it’s time; program directors back in that day weren’t warm to the idea of women beating up other women. I also did roller jam for a little while.”
On being back on TV with the WWE Network Archives:
“A lot of people have reached out to me on Facebook, reminding me of things that I had long forgotten. Someone recently reached out to me about work that I did on commentary with Gorilla Monsoon; that was a nice trip for me down memory lane.”
On whether talent should be paid when they appear in WWE Network archives:
“I thought about it just a little. I don’t have a copy anymore of the contract I signed back then, but I’m guessing that residuals aren’t in there because it wasn’t (relevant) back then. I give credit to our former Governor here in Minnesota (Jesse Ventura); he was really the only one who went head to head with Vince and beat him on residuals. At some point maybe that will resurface.”
On WWE going against the cable companies:
“Showing the PPVs on WWE Network means that they aren’t going to have to share the revenue with the cable systems, who typically got fifty percent. They’re going against the grain, challenging cable providers who relied on that revenue stream from WWE; it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out.”
On the differences between WWE and AWA:
“Everything we did in the WWF was so focused on promoting the next house show, TV show, or merchandise. Vince was focused on bringing that revenue stream to the forefront (of production). In the AWA, we just went (week to week with no focus on marketing).”
On the differences between the 1980s and today:
“Everything we did, there was so much spontaneity both in the ring and on the microphone. That part of the business is gone. On the other hand, some of the high impact moves that are part of today’s shows, the guys (in the 80s) wouldn’t have had the conditioning to do that.”
On the current product:
“I didn’t like the bit between Triple H and Daniel Bryan, where Hunter was beating him up while he was handcuffed. The crowd was just watching; they weren’t really into it or reacting to it. The people writing aren’t in the business. The whole angle was a direct takeoff from Occupy Wallstreet. I just kind of scratched my head a little bit (at the choice of storyline).”
On watching the WWE grow:
“The WWE has truly gone from a wrestling company to an incredible television production entity, producing 6 new shows a week, 52 weeks a year. That is truly astounding.”
On the lack of places for talent to work:
“Not only is there nowhere else to go, but there’s nowhere else to go where they can come close to making what they make in WWE. Talent in the past had options, and because of that, they had a voice in the direction of their character. Because of the (WWE being a monopoly), the talent has no voice.”
On the WWE’s top star following Wrestlemania 30:
“I would have thought Daniel Bryan, but based on the way they’ve handled him, it doesn’t look like he has the respect within the company that he probably should. If I was going to put money on it, I would say John Cena. I don’t know of anyone else that they’d feel (comfortable) with.”
The VOC Nation Radio Network was born out of AM Radio in Philadelphia, and has grown into one of the largest and most successful modern media networks in the world. A recent merger with the popular IN THE ROOM Internet Radio Network brought average monthly listener counts above 60,000.
The VOC Nation Radio Network's roots began in pro wrestling with the VOC Wrestling Nation drawing tens of thousands of weekly listeners at WNJC Philadelphia. In 2012, Bruce Wirt left WNJC and took VOC Nation into "the cloud", providing live, daily programming in multiple genres.
VOC Nation ranks in the top 1% of online listenership, and provides listeners with guests from all walks of entertainment. Hulk Hogan, Sting, Roberta Flack, Lou Ferrigno, Corey Feldman, and Jesse Ventura are just a few of the many talented guests that have appeared on VOC Nation programming.
Visit us online at: http://www.vocnation.com
Subscribe: http://podcast.vocnation.com
Find us on Stitcher Radio for Smartphones: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=23776&refid=stpr
Follow us on twitter: @vocnation
Former WWE Star Says Jake Robers Should Have Been Inducted Years Ago
Former WWE star Sam Houston joined Who's Slamming Who podcast with Tommy Fierro and discussed his Hall of Fame brother Jake "The Snake" Roberts and up-and-coming daughter Samantha Starr, plans to resume his own in-ring career, classic ribs backstage, and Dusty Rhodes and Iron Sheik impressions.
Who's Slamming Who airs live weekly, Thursday nights at 7 PM ET over the VOC Nation Radio Network on http://vocnation.com and syndicated on http://thebradyhicks.com.
Here is what the brother of 2014 Hall of Fame Inductee Jake "the Snake" Roberts had to say:
On Jake Roberts' WWE Hall of Fame Induction:
"It was earned. I'm so happy that my brother finally got it. It's something that should have happened, probably, a long time ago. But I can understand both sides of the story but it should have happened a long time ago. When I was in [the] WWF, he was like the #3 guy there on top. It was Hogan, Savage, and Jake. He’s my brother, and yes I may be biased, but the guy is phenomenal. He has a mind like no other for this wrestling business. No matter what any problems [he had] – this, that, or the other – that you might travel through on your journey, you still need your props. You still deserve your respect."
On His Own Highs and Lows:
"One night I came back from the ring and Paul Ellering was sitting there. He was watching my match through the curtain. I come up the steps and he goes, "Sam, do you know why I love watching your matches?" And I said, "No." And he said, "Because you go that one step further." I lost that somewhere along the way … I don't know if I got lost in my addiction after I got injured. I lost that somewhere along the way and I became complacent. I became comfortable with just doing enough to get by. It took those years of incarceration that I spent to get that back in myself."
Listen to the full broadcast at http://vocnation.com
Now is also the time to vote for your favorite females in entertainment as VOC Nation Presents: Babe Bracket 2014. Last year's winner Allie Parker is back to defend her crown against a highly competitive group of talented female performers. The winner of #BabeBracket2k14 receives a the coveted Babe Bracket Trophy, a 50 minute massage or facial compliments of Hand and Stone USA, and free promotion of all endeavors for the upcoming year courtesy of the VOC Nation Radio Network. The voting for each round closes every Tuesday at 11:59PM ET; winners are determined exclusively by fan voting.
Call the show live on Thursday nights toll free at (855) VOC-RADIO.
Follow VOC Nation on Twitter @vocnation
You can also follow WSW on Facebook or send Tommy an e-mail at whosslammingwho@gmail.com.
About VOC Nation Radio:
The VOC Nation Radio Network traces its roots back to 2009 in suburban Philadelphia. Bruce Wirt took over the afternoon shift on the Voice America Health and Wellness Network and proclaimed himself, “your new ‘Voice of Choice’ in afternoon radio.” The V-O-C in VOC Nation was born.
The VOC Nation Radio Network spun away from WNJC Philadelphia in October 2012 and took to the “cloud”, using their solid fan base to instantly become one of the most listened to mediums on the Internet. VOC Nation Radio has forged partnerships with BlogTalkRadio, IN THE ROOM, Fightin for Philly, Stitcher Internet Radio, Podomatic, iTunes, and GoDaddy to bring daily live entertainment and downloadable podcasts to over 45,000 listeners monthly on VOCnation.com. VOC Nation has over 100,000 twitter followers and has consistently ranked in the top 1% of podcasts worldwide as ranked by Podomatic. VOC Nation Radio merged with Brady Hicks' popular IN THE ROOM network in 2014, expanding the live programming schedule to over 30 hours weekly.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
