Vince McMahon Speaks On Angle/TNA, ECW, Hogan/Austin

Credit: Buck Woodward of PWInsider.com

Vince McMahon was featured WWE's Byte This today, taking questions from the fans while hyping tomorrow's No Mercy PPV and next week's nationwide release of The Marine. Here is a recap of the show.

- Right at the start of the show, Vince McMahon berated host Todd Grisham for being over the top, telling him to speak in a normal voice. Vince was referred to as "Mr. McMahon" during the show, but was out of character for the most part.

- Vince was asked how he was feeling, since the last time he was seen on WWE programming was at Unforgiven. Vince responded with "Next question". Vince was then asked how Shane was doing, and he said "Not bad".

- Vince said having his face shoved in Big Show's ass was "unpleasant" and was "like a stinky Grand Canyon".

- Asked what he liked about the Marine script, Vince said you don't have to go to the Marine to think about the plot, and that it has a "good time feel" to it. Vince said it is what they do in the ring, just up on a screen and with more explosions.

- When asked why WWE Films was created, Vince gave his standard "we tell stories" line, and said that going into the movie business was a logical extension of what they do, and a good use of their talent.

- Grisham tried to talk about The Condemned, but Vince said that was in the future, and he wanted to talk about Cena's movie, not the Steve Austin movie, the Big Show movie or the Eugene movie. He appeared to be joking about the last one.

- After showing a clip of where Vince McMahon said WWE.com "sucked", Vince elaborated on the comment. He stated that he doesn't feel the site is as "fan friendly" or interactive as it could be. Vince said that they feature too many items on the same superstars, while ignoring others. Vince noted that he was featured on the splash page twice today, when they could have combined the two stories into one. He also said they need to make better use of the Divas on the website.

- When asked what his favorite websites were besides WWE.com, Vince named ESPN.com, saying he felt they have a very good side, and "a few others I'd rather not mention".

- McMahon has not read Eric Bischoff's book yet. He says that it is Eric's version of the story, and noted that everyone likes to rewrite history in their own way. Vince says that Eric's statement that the AOL-Time Warner merger resulted in the demise of WCW because it didn't "fit in" with their vision of the company is true to an extent. However, Vince said that WCW lost $85 million, and that if the company was making money, the execs would have found a way to "make it fit" in their vision and it would still exist.

- If WCW had purchased WWE, Vince doesn't know if he would have accepted an invitation to be a character on their shows the way Bischoff accepted an invitation to be on theirs.

- Staying on the topic of "if WCW had won the war", Vince said that he would have remained in the wrestling business, and gone back to promoting small, local shows. Vince said he "loves the wrestling business" and on some level would still have been involved in it.

- The meeting with Hulk Hogan this week was about appearing on Hogan Knows Best. Vince didn't say the meeting had to do with anything other than that.

- The topic of Hulk Hogan vs. Steve Austin was brought up. Vince said he doesn't think the match will ever happen. He noted the injuries and age of both men, and said that it was like Muhammad Ali vs. Rocky Marciano, in that people will speculate on what could have been if they met in their primes. Vince reiterated that he doesn't think the match will ever happen.

- The idea that Wrestlemania III was the greatest event of all time was mentioned. Vince feels that they have done shows better than that, and that it is their job to constantly try and top themselves and have better shows.

- Vince likes the idea of Hulk Hogan being involved in Wrestlemania this year in some capacity, since it is the 20th anniversary of his match with Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania III, and it is taking place in the Detroit area.

- Concerning ECW, Vince feels it is doing "fair to good, mostly fair" and says that it is a long way from where it could be. Vince compared some of the matches to stuntfests and car wrecks, saying that people watch the spectacle, but don't care about the people involved. Vince says that once they get fans to care for the people involved, ECW will go far.

- There is a "possibility" that ECW will expand to two hours a week. However, Vince stressed that they are more concerned with producing "one hot hour" and building up the roster right now.

- When asked if there will be cross-branded matches at the Raw Family Reunion on Monday, Vince said that there would be some very interesting things that fans have never seen before.

- Kurt Angle was brought up, and Vince was asked if his departure hurt WWE. Vince said it had and that "Kurt is an extraordinary human being. He has an unbelievable competitive streak, more so than anyone I have ever known. That competitive streak will be his demise." Vince said that Angle can't say no, and just pushes his body. McMahon noted that Kurt as "a number of injuries, some of which are permanent". He talked about Angle's neck, and noted that it has "constantly deteriorated" over time. Vince said that while Angle leaving is a big loss for WWE, his concern is more for Kurt's individual health. Vince said that Kurt is like many young people that can't think long term. Vince said Kurt "wants to get it now" and pushes himself. Vince said that you want to be able to bend over and pick up your children and grandchildren when you get older, and if you push yourself too hard, you won't be able to.

- Concerning Angle's release, Vince said some of it was confidential, but that it did revolve around Angle's health.

- When asked about Angle's decision to go work for "a competitor" Vince said that he would have liked to have seen Kurt take a lot of time off before getting back in the ring. Vince said that he is upset that Angle is not taking time off to heal his body, not that Angle is trying to make a living somewhere else. Vince said that Kurt was given a full release with "no strings attached", but that the door was left wide open for him to return. Vince said the door is still open for him, but that he wanted Kurt to make sure that his health was of primary importance to him. Vince stressed several times that he was personally upset that Angle was not taking time off from the ring to allow his body to heal.

- Vince is not certain when Chris Benoit will make his "big return", and noted that Benoit is missed right now. However, Vince praised Benoit, saying he was "smart" and wanted to take the time off, both to rest injuries that had build up over time, and also to spend time with his family. Vince noted that while he doesn't always practice what he preaches, he does feel it is important for people to "stop and smell the roses" now and then, and that Benoit was wisely doing that.

- A pointed question was asked about WWE no longer having women wrestlers, but rather just "women who know how to strip". Vince noted there is no training facility specifically for women that produces wrestlers. Vince said they still have women who do more than strip, but only named Trish Stratus (noting she just retired) and Lita. Vince then talked about how the young make demographic likes the "sexiest women on TV" and then said the audience wants to see women in relationships and different roles, before finally just giving the "times have changed" answer.

- Vince said that he has met Trish Stratus' husband, and that he is a great guy. Vince noted that he isn't a bodybuilder or anything, but just a regular guy.

- Vince was asked who the future of WWE is. Vince said it might be John Cena, or it might be Fit Finlay. He said you never know who the fans are going to push, and they decide who the future is. Vince talked about young talent, noting there are guys you expect great things from, but they just plateau and never improve.

- McMahon said that Cryme Tyme is "the opposite of racist". He said "it's fun, that's what we're selling". Vince said no once can claim their organization of being racist. McMahon said some will take exception to the characters but, "If I'm not pissing someone off, then I'm not doing my job". Katie Vick was something he thought was hilarious, but others didn't. He's in the entertainment business, and sometimes people will be offended. Vince reiterated that he thought "you have to laugh" at Cryme Tyme.

- Combining the Raw and Smackdown magazines into one publication was "an artistic and financial success". He feels the new magazine reflects their audience.

- Vince hasn't watched his own "McMahon" DVD yet. He said that he was ribbing when he talked about putting Triple H and Stephanie's on PPV, and he was never serious about it.

- The subject of whether Vince McMahon is really like "Mr. McMahon" was brought up. Vince said there are some parallels and contradictions between the two, but that overall he really doesn't see himself as being the same as "Mr. McMahon".

- The Bob Costas interview was mentioned, and Vince said that wasn't "Mr. McMahon", that was the real him. Vince said that he is proud of "our fans and our organization" and when someone is insulting to it, he has to say something or he will boil over. Vince said if anyone wants to "piss him off", all they have to do is disparage his product and his fans. He said that if Costas was "6 foot and three hundred pounds" he would have jumped him, or at the least, slapped him.

- Vince said that the XFL was a lot of fun, and a good business venture. He takes chances in life, and that was a calculated risk. It wasn't successful, but the upside of the risk-reward ratio was huge. He said he hadn't counted on dealing with the relationship the media had with the NFL. Vince said there were many in the media that never wanted to see the XFL succeed. Vince said if their TV partner hadn't backed out, the XFL would have continued.

- Vince knows who MVP will face tomorrow at No Mercy, but won't tell us who it is.

- McMahon thinks Fit Finlay is a throwback to another era. He said Finlay "has a little age on him, but that's good". Vince put him over as a "tough, rugged bastard" and that when you wrestle Finlay, you leave with more respect for the business.

- Vince thanked USA Network for giving them three hours this Monday, and seemed very confident about the show. Vince then talked about doing a live show, and that you have to just "roll with the punches" when problems come up and just accept that "that's what was supposed to happen".

- His favorite part of what he does is working in creative. Vince said working with stars and trying to get the best out of them and motivate them is what he enjoys.

- Vince feels their biggest event of the year is not Wrestlemania, but it is when they go overseas for the troops and noted they will be going again this year around Christmastime.

- Vince said putting John Cena in a starring role in a film was a calculated risk, noting that Cena had never acted in a film before. Vince said Cena was just a fun-loving guy who does his own stunts, noting "which we need to talk to him about". Vince also put over Cena's drive, and how he wanted to fly back from Australia (where filming took place) as often as possible, so that he wouldn't miss many shows.

- Asked if he would ever star in his own film, Vince thinks it would be a blast, and even has a script idea in his head. However, he said there's just no way he can see being in a position where he can take three months off from his business to go make a movie.

- Vince said that while he does have some regrets in her personal life, he has no regrets for any business move he has made. He stated that "some things don't work out, you get knocked down, and you get back up".

- Vince doesn't have a personal favorite match. He personally likes Benoit, Finlay and the physical matches the most though. He thinks Hogan slamming Andre at Wrestlemania III is probably the greatest moment he has seen in the business.

- Asked if his issues with DX were now resolved, Vince said "It is time for me to forgive, and go about my business, but that all depends" and then left the sentence (and I guess the feud) openended.

- When asked why he did the Cell match, Vince said that he enjoys the physicality.

- Asked if it was hard to ever let any piece of talent leave the company, Vince noted that it was hard to let go of Kurt Angle. Vince said he gets close to some of the talent, and when they turn their back on you and leave, it hurts. Vince said it was an unfortunate situation all the way around.

- Vince was asked if he had seen Triple H at any family functions. Vince carefully noted that he hadn't, and the next family function would be Thanksgiving, and that he might "stuff the turkey with Triple H".

- As they were about to close the show with more Marine hype, Vince chastised the crew, noting that No Mercy is next, the Marine isn't until Friday. So they closed with hype for No Mercy instead.