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I wasn't saying it was a noble goal. Putting over Flair in his retirement match is just something he could do to deflect the heat he'll inevitably get both online and from wrestlers behind the scenes when the fans get tired of his super push. Also a retiring Flair would be the hottest opponent he could go against at WrestleMania, with the possible exception of a still loathed Cena hogging the World title for another six months.

Shouldn't Triple H be past the point where he has to protect himself given he's the son-in-law of the boss, especially from someone who's so old? This isn't about protecting himself, it's about Triple H being a mark for himself and using his power to subtly tarnish the legend of anyone who's seen as a bigger star than him. I've said this before, but if Triple H was smart he'd offer to put Ric Flair over in his retirement match at WrestleMania next year because it would build up even more good will and respect with the smarks than he's got already and thus he could dine off that job for years and years.

Meanwhile, on the WWE website one of the headlines is "Rey Mysterio nearly had his skull caved in by The Great Khali". I know Smackdown was taped before the results of Benoit's brain examination came out, so they had already shot the angle where Khali laid out Mysterio with a head crush, but it would really be prudent to avoid hyperbole like skulls nearly being caved in at the moment.

It's a good thing that none of the current WWE Divas have ever suffered any health problems like that whatsoever.

Not just Danielson, pretty much the whole ROH roster, as it's clear most of them idolised Benoit and tried to emulate him in the ring and other workers of his ilk.

Well even Nancy Grace didn't fall for Fit Finlay's company BS, so even Congress having that level of knowledge would be very problematic.

I loved how Rob seemed more concerned about the long term effects of flying on wrestlers in that interview than concussions or drug abuse. That said, I don't really expect rational thoughts from a guy whose brain is probably fried by a combination of concussions, pot and years of brainwashing.

I'm not sure that would really be feasible, as I'd guess all the veteran wrestlers in WWE have at least two concussions during their career. I do think WWE at the very least need to institute regular neurological testing of their performers, stop their performers from working through concussions and completely ban unprotected chair shots to the head. I agree that this is bad news for WWE, as it opens up another can of worms for WWE to deal with and strengthens the case for regulation of professional wrestling, but I don't think WWE will see it that way. I'm sure they'll be overjoyed that they've been proved right that the murders weren't due to roid rage and they'll look forward to flaunting that fact in front of Congress. Of course, that's besides the point.

All that means is he isn't as ridiculously juiced up as he used to be. Look at Edge, everyone said he was clean after the Wellness policy was introduced because he lost a lot of muscle, yet there he was still obtaining growth hormone and steroids from Signature Pharmacy up to February of this year.

Yeah, that's what WWE and Jerry McDevitt is going to argue. The problem is it's a really dumb tack to take because they'll get laughed out of Congress. This isn't Larry King where John Cena can play dumb without being called out on it. Don't believe me then read this article from the New York Daily News: "The WWE does not have a drug policy that's worth a flip" - U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.)

That's probably what Congress will think when Cena does Rafael Palmeiro's routine again.

It sounds just like the sort of pep talks Triple H used to give that also went down like lead balloons.

Pretty much, except Dave usually only puts wrestlers on the ballot that he's sure will get some votes.

HGH gut?

Wade Keller still thinks headlocks are evil and need to be eliminated for the good of mankind:

There is already a Fighter of the Year category, so the only solution would be to ban shoot fighters from being eligible for Wrestler of the Year. Anyway, people have been sniping at Dave about the stupidity of this for years and he hasn't changed anything, so I doubt it would do any good. The only thing that might force his hand is if Couture wins and the backlash from readers is so vociferous. That said, I think a lot of smarks will begrudgingly accept it rather than rush to the aid of John Cena.

Someone should send Congress a copy of that DVD. Sure there is some BS in it (for example, I would love Jim Ross to repeat to Congress that he believed Brian Pillman died of a broken heart), but it's clear from the DVD that management knew that to be able to wrestle on his surgically repaired ankle he had to take ridiculous amounts of painkillers that were screwing him up mentally, but they continued to let him perform.

Some people will never vote for him because he covered up Bruiser Brody's murder and pushed the murderer as a top babyface for a long time afterwards. Of course, those same people are happy to vote for similarly morally bankrupt characters like Rey Mysterio, who has been happy to exploit the death of his best friend in WWE. I think that argument is really silly, but that and the ignorance of many voters to Puerto Rican wrestling history will make it an uphill battle for him to be inducted.

WWE's updated response to Congress. Perhaps the most intriguing item in the letter is WWE seemingly having lost all their drug testing results pre September 21st 1998.

That makes Jim Wilson's claims in Chokehold with regards Jim Barnett a lot more believable.

Actually I think Benoit would have gotten into the WWF eventually through his connection with the Harts. He did have a tryout with the WWF shortly before he joined WCW in 1995, but I think a deal couldn't be struck because Vince was unwilling to work around his Japanese dates. That said, I doubt he would have gotten above the level of a dependable mid card technician if he had never made his name in WCW first.

It's very interesting that you mention JBL, because I don't see him as that much of a liability. Sure, he's a meanspirited bully behind the scenes, but I can't see the mainstream media ever really caring about his cruel hazing. What they care about is steroids, drugs and premature deaths. On those counts JBL is a safe pair of hands. He also handled the stress of being on top and eventually losing that spot a lot better than most.

Ask yourself this Jingus. Why do we know so much about Orton's difficulties, when people who are obviously much more troubled than he ever was, like Chris Benoit, we are oblivious to their problems until their lives spiral completely out of control? Maybe, it's because he's an egomaniacal prick like you say and is widely hated in the lockerroom, so people love to bury him to all the sheet writers. If he was well liked and respected behind the scenes, then we probably would not have heard about any of his discretions and they would have all been conveniently covered up.

Bruce's explanations for his decisions regarding the MX, RnRs and Steiners:

How would that be Randy's fault when there was nothing stopping his dad from telling everyone? Anyway, the problem wasn't that no-one in the company knew, it was that John Laurinaitis knew and didn't tell The Undertaker about it or tell Bob not to blade during the match.