From Meltz in this week's WO...

 

Chris Benoit's contract is also expiring in three weeks and word has it he was also given a lowball offer.

Morale will DIE if they do something stupid and make Benoit leave. Not that Benoit is a huge draw or anything, but I do think WWE would miss him in a big way if he were gone. Especially the next time they're trying to elevate some stiff to the top of the card and they need someone to make him look convincing on the way up.

Man, lowballing Benoit especially is a stupid idea. If anyone would love to go back to Japan it would be him.

 

Christian is also talking with TNA and might've signed according to PWI.

 

Also did they have any buyrate info for Bound For Glory?

Haha, Meltzer said in an e-mail that Jericho had no clue about everything with Christian until he read it on the Internet. Surprising, but considering that Meltzer probably talks to Jericho, I guess he would know.

I take it Benoit leaving would probably mean Guerrero and Misterio bolting whenever their contracts come up.

Wrestlers sticking together in weird times does accomplish things and benefit all of them. If anyone knows that, it's Chris Benoit and Eddy Guerrero. Considering that all of the free agents, borderline free agents and possible free agents are at the very least casual friends (with Jim Ross being the possible exception), it wouldn't surprise me to see them stick together. I'm not predicting it or anything, but stranger things have happened.

 

BTW, what does the WON say about Christian's decision and his future? Is he wanting to go to TNA?

 

Before anyone says TNA couldn't afford all that talent, remember that Panda Energy has way more money than WWE. They can get whatever they want.

PWI said he's in talks and slightly and said there are some rumors that it might be a done deal already.

 

I've heard he'll probably get a similiar deal to Matt Hardy which is a six figure salary instead of per appearance and creative control.

PWI said he's in talks and slightly and said there are some rumors that it might be a done deal already.

 

I've heard he'll probably get a similiar deal to Matt Hardy which is a six figure salary instead of per appearance and creative control.

I read what PWI said and all they did was speculate. Looks like someone spun things around and posted it at other places, but they didn't mention hearing any rumors that Christian was already going to TNA. In fact, all they said was "All we can say is that we've heard the rumors too."

Even if they do not view TNA as competition at the moment, I don't understand why they wouldn't want to lock up talent who either are coming near the end of their better years or are hitting their peak, for the long-term. If anything, I'm surprised they aren't trying to stifle TNA by signing up young talent, dead-ending them in OVW, while locking up the guys who they feel have something to offer still, into long-term contracts that are similar to their old ones. Low-balling is insulting, not just to the guys that the offers are directed but to everyone in the locker room.

I think the problem is that they don't view Benoit, Christian or Jericho as draws and that they can be replaced by generic OVW guys.

 

All that matters in the WWF right now is HHH, Michaels, Batista, Orton, the McMahons and JBL.

Cost cutting measures. They can probably trim $1 million or more in wage expenses in just _one year_ by offering guys these contracts (and even more if they quit). It then starts to be a cost-benefit scenario - can the WWE make $1 million + by having these guys on the roster? Is Chris Benoit, Christian, and Chris Jericho the reason why people watch the WWE, or would they watch the WWE no matter who they have on simply because they are the WWE? I would suggest that, after all the shit the WWE has put out there, the loyalty from the fans relies with the name of the company more than those who are in it at this point.

I would doubt it. They were only pulling 2s in 96 when the mid-card was an absolute mess. Jericho, Benoit and Christian by themselves might not be enough to get fans to leave but together they might.

No Buyrate info on Bound for Glory

 

What Meltz says about Christian...

 

 

---(Verbatim) From a name standpoint, he was Christian Cage on the independents before coming to WWE, so with prior usage, at worst he could call himself Christian Cage, and most likely, keep the Christian name.

 

Meltz bases this off past precedence with the Honky Tonk Man who was able to continue using the name because he came into the relationship with the name and character.

 

--- He was obviously unhappy, with his lsot and lack of mobility, even though he was getting himself over. He had been losing momentum without a good program and constant TV losses. Wrestlers are told to get themselves over but when they do, it doesn't matter. It just reinforces that the company decides and slots everyone ahead of time.

 

--- Christian is good friends with Scott D'Amore. Those close to him belive he is going to start with TNA immediately but at press time, he has not been signed. There is believed to be no non-compete clause.

 

--- It is believed that the lack of push was only one reason he didn't re-sign. He is said to be up for a significant part in an upcoming movie and wanted free time to study acting and prepare for the role. He also lives in Florida and is about 90 minutes away from Orlando where TNA tapings take place. Even though his contract already expired, he agreed to continue working through Taboo Tuesday since his name was a potential participant in the SD vs. Raw match.

Man, lowballing Benoit could have a very bad impact in the lockerroom. I'd imagine he's 1 of the very few universally respected guys on the roster, and if the rest of "the boys" see the company disrespecting a guy like Benoit, then what's to convince them it won't happen to them? Why risk pushing guys away to your competition, especially guys that can really help your competition?

The Christian stuff makes perfect sense. Thanks!

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see with Christian.

I figured it would be something to do with acting.

Thanks for the info on Benoit and Christian, Will. Neat stuff!

 

Seriously, I'm guessing when Austin walked out, he left a chunkload of beer behind, and the McMahons decided to see if they can run the company drunk. That's the only explanation and reasoning I have if they did lowball Benoit. Mad Dog's explanation makes sense, however.

there may not be a whole lot that benoit can do other than just take the offer or walk. he can't really point to much in the way of tangible results as reasons they should give him more money, like "look how much merchandise i've sold" or "look how i brought viewers in while i was champ." plus he's getting up there in years.

 

seems he's been getting by with vince on a kind of gentleman's agreement, with a tacit understanding that he's valuable in certain intangible ways and keeping him relatively happy to show that he's appreciated, without really relying on him as a big moneymaker. if vince's faith in him is lost in that respect, there isn't much benoit can do to really PROVE the kind of value he has. one of those things you have to lose to find out how much it was worth.

Leave Benoit. Just leave. That's all I got to say.

Benoit had to make some pretty coin in 2004.

This hasn't really been mentioned but I don't know how Benoit or Jericho would fare in a 6-sided ring. For the new guys, I can see why they would be able to adjust but for guys who have 10-15 years experience, it may serve as more of a hindrance.

Maybe, maybe not. Most rings are totally different in size in different promotions. The NJPW ring is nothing like the WCW ring, and neither is like a WWE ring. I think they could adjust, given time. I know Benoit could anyway. Jericho I'm not so sure about.

All Benoit would need is to roll around the ring before the show to get a feel for it. Which he would do.

 

Chris Jericho, imo, would benefit more from the 6 sided ring. He likes running the ropes, he likes sprining off the ropes - it would offer him more possibilities.

I can imagine Benoit just staring at that ting and coming up with stuff in his head. Heck, I do that when I daydream.

Another interesting bit is Heyman's contract is up at the end of the year too, so WWE is going to have to either re-sign someone Steph absolutely hates or risk letting go someone who could really push TNA to become a solid challenger.