JJ Dillon On Bischoff & Russo; Candice Talks WWE Release, Snooki At 'Mania & More
– Legendary manager JJ Dillon was on Busted Open earlier this week on Sirius 125/XM 241 and had this to say about Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo: "In anything in life you usually have one shot at a first impression and six, seven, years ago they had a shot at a first impression of an alternative product. I think the biggest mistake they made and because there is perception among people who are not wrestling people inside that the business model is the WWF/WWE. To be successful we gotta do what they do. Well that's not true because they do what they do better than anybody and no one will ever be able to catch them. All you do is look like somebody who is a cheap imitation, so you have to form your own product, develop your own brand, and they didn't do that. Everybody that they picked up because Vince [McMahon] can't hire everybody and when they picked up somebody they would give them a microphone and say what they wanted. Than variably everyone said 'Well the reason I left there is because somebody didn't like me or they you know didn't give me a chance, they held me back, so how am I going to be excited about something when I'm listening to somebody that's sour grapes about when they were at the WWF for WWE. They just missed their opportunity to create that first impression and now you know they have to struggle to make it. For the good of business I hope they do."
– The new season of The Ultimate Fighter premieres next Wednesday and features former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar as one of the coaches. FightLine.com has the first five minutes of the premiere episode available, you can check it out by clicking here.
– Former WWE Diva/WWE Women's Champion, former Playboy cover model, & Go Daddy Girl Candice Michelle was one of the featured guests on this week's live edition of Monday Night Mayhem. Here are some interview highlights, courtesy of The Mayhem's official correspondent, Paterson from New Jersey:
Her transition from leaving the WWE into the role of motherhood & why she believes that her WWE release came at a perfect time in her life: "For me, it's been an awesome transition. I think it's because I loved my time at the WWE. I loved the people I worked with, and I felt blessed there. And then when my released happened, I think it came at a perfect time in my life. I don't think I was quite ready to say 'I'm done,' but when they released me, I realized that my life had a new venture. And then when motherhood came along, it was the best thing in the world. Her smile warms my heart everyday, so it's been an awesome transition, and I feel very blessed in life."
Her message to the WWE Divas that may feel like their WrestleMania spot in being taken by Snooki: "The WWE is smart for putting her in WrestleMania because of the advertising it will bring. However, if I was a WWE Diva currently in the locker room, I'd be pissed off. You're busting your ass every night, you're going overseas, and traveling, and driving, and someone just comes in that has never wrestled a day in their life and has your spot? That's sh*tty. My advice to them is be who you are, do the best you can, and get noticed. Snooki is noticed for what, being a drunk on a TV show being wild & crazy? Do I respect her? Yes. Does she deserve that spot? No."
Why she feels the in-ring chapter of her career is closed & whether or not she was approached by TNA to join their Knockouts division: "When I first left WWE and my non-compete clause was coming to an end, there was a mention that there was an interest in that door to be opened. For me, I was on the biggest stage that there was, and it felt like it was just a time in my life to close that chapter. I think TNA is great, and I sometimes prefer to watch TNA. My friends are there. I think the product is awesome. I love what they do with the girls division over there. It's different. I feel like I've been watching the same thing over & over sometimes with the storylines getting redundant on WWE. I've always said 'never say never,' but in reality, I think that chapter is closed for me."
Much more is contained in Candice's exclusive interview, including her candid thoughts & comments on her legacy as a WWE Diva, her fondest WrestleMania memories, the Divas she enjoyed working with, Trish Stratus' recent WWE return and much more! You can check out the full interview at MondayNightMayhem.com by clicking here.