Alright, I have re-opened the Mailbag section with the help of two individuals, Kayfabe and Grandpa. Hopefully, it will work out better this time, as the above individuals will handle the great BULK of the emails.

Here are the steps to take if you like your question answered in the Mailbag section:

1. Please check to see that your question(s) have not been answered on any other sections of the page. Take great note of the FAQ Part I and FAQ Part II as well as the mailbag archives at the bottom of the page. .
2. Send a legibly written question or comment to mailbag@rajah.com. Please limit yourself to only one question per person per email. This allows us to update the mailbag more frequently.
3. ALL email sent there may potentially be included in the Mailbag. If you do not want your response posted, do NOT send it there!
4. If a name is included, I will post it along with the email. If you do not want your name published, do NOT write it!
5. Remember, it is impossible that every email I receive get posted on this page. Only the best and most popular questions/comments will likely make it on.
6. Also remember, that questions will be answered by either Kayfabe or Rajah, so any personal remarks should be addressed accordingly. The following color scheme will be used:

Rajah - GREEN
Kayfabe - YELLOW
Vegas - AQUA

From:François a.k.a. Edge76

Hi Raj', Kayfabe & the 3rd guy in blue (Grandpa or Aqua, I don't know which one is in anymore) !!
My question may appear as stupid but there was a large portion of WWF history that I wasn't able to witness because of the way TV channels air wrestling shows over here in France. There is only one channel that airs wrestling shows and it only has contract with one federation at a time until November 1996, we had the WWF. Then it switched on to WCW until February 2000 when the WWF came back. My problem is that French commentators Raymond Rougeau & Phil Hartman made no effort summing up what occured in the 4-year gap we experienced.
My question may be sutpid, as I said earlier, but I am gonna ask it anyway: when did The Rock, Triple H, Hardcore Holly et Stone Cold went from their former gimmic names (Rocky Maivia, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Bob Holly and Ringmaster) ? It's a meaningless question and I know it but I just want to know. What is wrong with that ?
Well, I hope you'll put this one in the next Mailbag. Keep on the good work, your site is awesome !! The best I've seen on the net so far. Let's hope French sites will take lessons from you guys.
See ya.
Thanks

Well, since you're French...just kidding. Well, Vegas (that's me) thinks: Mostly, these men left the gimmicks by either A) "leaving" and coming back without the name or B) just letting the old gimmick die out over time. As far as the reasoning, it all boils down to marketing. The old gimmicks weren't exactly "cool" (some were just hokey as a matter of fact), so they all moved to edgier gimmicks and names to market themselves better. In the grand scheme of things, do you really want someone known as the Ringmaster as the World champ (assume that this isn't the 1980s)?

From:Dogboy 737

Hey, Paul Heyman did a pretty good job commentating for his first time on WWF TV. My question is, how did he know all of the info about the wrestlers and storylines? Does he watch RAW every week or did the writers just tell him what he needed to know before the show?
thanx

Heyman is a very knowledgeable man. They probably prepped him on minor details, but I'd say he had most of it already in the old memory bank. He's still quite the student of the game.as they say.

From: Erik

I submitted a question in the last mailbag. It could be one that was deleted by the computer. My question was: Why has the WWF devalued the IC and Hardcore titles so much? For a brief time, the hardcore title was like the #2 title in the WWF, next to the world title. It was held by the likes of Mick Foley, and Billy Gunn and the Road Dogg when the New Age Outlaws were the #1 team in the WWF. Now it's crap. Sure, the WWF is trying to revive interest in it by giving it to The Big Show. Also, the IC title was held by greats such as Bret Hart, HBK, Diesel, Razor Ramon (my all time fave WWF wrestler), and to a lesser extent Jeff Jarrett. It was a main-event caliber belt, and led to some excellent matches. That ladder match at WM 10 is one of the greatest of all time. Now the belt has been held by Chyna, Chris "the glorified Jobber" Jericho, and Chris Benoit. Nothing against Benoit. He is a great wrestler, but nobody seems to give a damn about the IC title anymore. Why?

Ironic, Diesel is ranked as a great, but Jericho and Benoit aren't good enough. Just kidding, everyone is entitled to an opinion, even Aree has one. Anyway, titles in general aren't that important anymore. If you look at the World Title for instance, it even seems to have become subordinate to good, emotional storylines. That's what draws the fans, so they obviously have to promote them. As far as the IC belt is concerned, it does have a great history (unlike the Hardcore belt, which is a gimmick well past its time). As a matter of fact, possibly the greatest match of all time was fought over it, and it wasn't at WM 10, even though that was a good match. Unfortunately, it's just not that important in the grand scheme of things. The key is in the storylines. In a time when tradition just isn't that important, the fans are going to cheer no matter what. With that said, the WWF is just doing what works, and it's still getting guys over.not bad I'd say.

From: GuyGTI

Dear Rajah
In regards to the person who emailed you in regards to the truth commision.
The idea behind that angle was that the group were meant to be White South African Militants who did not share the spirite of racial harmony and reconsiliation in post apartheid south africa. The name "the truth commision" actually comes from an Inquiry held by the newly elected black dominated south african government into the abuses and atrocities commited in Aparthied era South Africa, which aimed to try and heal old racial divisions in the country.
I remember the group wearing military fatigues,which are commonly worn by white militant groups who are anti black, anti ANC (the black ruling party in south africa) and anti democracy. The time they appeared in the WWF coincides with the setting up of South Africa's Truth Commission. If you remember, that old guy who was the leader before being fired talked in a south african accent. Perhaps the idea for bringing the truth Commission into the WWF was to start a controversial racist angle, but it would seem that Vince McMachon and the WWF backed away from it. I hope you found my input helpful.....keep up the good work on the site.
Regards

This was just too interesting to pass up. Unfortunately, the racism in Africa still continues as all sides are slow to remove old hang ups (much like in the US). I wish the people well.

Shelly writes:

Do you really think Benoit will be a full-fledged face, or is this turn a ruse like HHH's?Do you think it'll work(him being a face)? And is Jericho ever going to be pushed to upper midcard or even main event after WM? He like Benoit is long overdue, and both have been teased if not promised to be pushed upward.Can you see Jericho feud with HHH again, even over Steph?Please reply!!!!!!!!

Well, she said please. As far as Benoit's face turn, it's supposed to be a legit one, but if it doesn't start picking up, I'd say it's back to Heelsville for everyone's favorite Wolverine personification. As for Jericho, you may have to wait a while.which is sad, since he is thirty. Unfortunately, the top is packed right now, so it'll likely be a little while if he does make it to the main event.

From: rob

Vegas is the biggest moron ever. There is no point of having footholes in the hell in the cell. It totally disproves the point of having them trapped insise the cell, which HBK and Taker match was all about. So HBK couldnt leave. Who cares about the entertainment part, the point is having them trapped inside the cell. Footholes ruin the point of having nowhere to go in the cell, instead of climbing on top. Maybe a smart man like Rajah will agree

OK, I'm pretty sure the fans care about the entertainment part, since that is the whole point. Believe it or not, wrestling is supposed to be entertaining (you know, it's an entertainment business and all). As hard as it is to believe, the fans like it when the wrestlers go on top of the cell.as witnessed by the fact that they (including myself at times of weakness) all cheer like crazy when Mick Foley takes big bumps from up there. Also, the action was inside the cell for the big Taker/Bossman HITC, and you see how well that went.
Compare this to rightist theory. In that theory the greatest right supercedes the rest. Now, apply that theory to business requirements. Ask yourself if the WWF's need to be entertaining supercedes its need to stay true to a match structure.it's an obvious answer. Even in theory, making for an fun match is the right thing to do.
You see, expectations rise, and after the HITC in 1998, fans want to see the guys go up top. That's the point of the footholds.nothing more, nothing less. Besides, I don't know anyone who'd want to watch a guy fall four feet off the ground trying to get atop the cage, hurt himself, and have to have the match stopped, but I guess we could just bring back the tag ropes (even though Kayfabe and I would love that) so we would be true to matches.....or not.

Send ALL Mailbag-related email to mailbag@rajah.com.

The rajah.com Mailbag Archives

FastCounter by LinkExchange