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00:00:11I'll see you next time.
00:00:59I'll see you next time.
00:01:15I'll see you next time.
00:01:43I'll see you next time.
00:01:44And this week, you have the opportunity to talk to the gentleman on my left, the world heavyweight champion, Triple
00:01:50H.
00:01:51Welcome, everyone, to this week's edition of Bite This.
00:01:53I'm Howard Finkel.
00:01:54I've been thrown into the mix, out of the woodwork, substituting for Dr. Tom Pritchard, Josh Matthews, who's normally here.
00:02:00He's somewhere.
00:02:01Dr. Tom's on assignment in Mexico with the Divas shoot and Triple H.
00:02:05It's always a pleasure to see truly the game.
00:02:08Bottom line is they had nobody else could do this gig, so they came and drug you out of the
00:02:13closet.
00:02:14So I came out of the closet.
00:02:15Is that what you're insinuating?
00:02:16How have you been out of the closet for?
00:02:17Oh, Jesus.
00:02:18All right.
00:02:19Well, the game.
00:02:19The world heavyweight champion is with us today, Triple H, and he's going to be with us for the duration
00:02:23of the show.
00:02:24Let me just give you a brief rundown of what's going to be happening today.
00:02:27Triple H is here.
00:02:28We're going to talk about Unforgiven and what should be a mega matchup this Sunday against Goldberg for the world
00:02:33heavyweight championship.
00:02:34We're also going to be joined, as the show progresses, by a fellow Evolution member, Randy Orton, one of the
00:02:39young bucks, one of the upstarts, one of the brightest futures in our business.
00:02:43He will be here today via telephone.
00:02:45Also, the regulars will be around, Droz, and he'll offer his two cents worth, and I know he's got something
00:02:50to remind you about today, Triple H.
00:02:52Droz's always got something to remind me about every time I see you.
00:02:54There's no doubt about it.
00:02:54And also, from the SmackDown group, we're going to hear tales from the hook with Taz, and Taz certainly is
00:03:01going to be, I would imagine, trumpeting what's going to be a marquee matchup tonight on SmackDown.
00:03:06I know you're aware of it.
00:03:07It's the Iron Man match for the WWE championship between the champion, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar.
00:03:14Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, Iron Man match.
00:03:16I'm very interested in that.
00:03:18You know, having been in an Iron Man match before, I know how tough it is.
00:03:22I know how brutal it can be, and I know both guys.
00:03:26I've been in the ring with both guys that are in it.
00:03:27They're both tremendous talents, and it's going to be a hell of a match.
00:03:30It should be very interesting.
00:03:32Speaking of Kurt Angle, certainly there's a lot on his mind, but we'll get into that in a little bit.
00:03:38But you're very natally attired, and I know the world heavyweight champion always represents himself in sartorial splendor.
00:03:44It's a custom-made suit, Howard.
00:03:45It's a custom-made suit.
00:03:46The suit probably costs more than you made last month.
00:03:49Gross or net?
00:03:50Oh, no, gross.
00:03:51Okay.
00:03:52All right.
00:03:52Well, I will say one of the reasons today you're very natally attired, I know you represented Raw today in
00:03:58Madison Square Garden in New York.
00:03:59It was a very interesting occasion.
00:04:02Our own Mr. McMahon, Vince McMahon, was inducted into the Madison Square Garden Walk of Fame, and that is a
00:04:08very prestigious honor.
00:04:09And it's very deserving of our chairman because of all the great, great, great events, magical moments, and fine sports
00:04:16entertainment that he has brought into the world's most famous arena.
00:04:19And certainly, Triple H, I know you were there today.
00:04:21I know it was a very touching moment for him.
00:04:22Yeah, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
00:04:24You know, it was an honor to be sitting there and watch Vince McMahon in the house that he helped
00:04:32build, that his father built, that his grandfather built,
00:04:36to be able to be able to sit there and to watch him get inducted into that Walk of Fame
00:04:39with some other greats from the sporting world.
00:04:41And to be the first of any type of wrestling personality to be involved in that was a tremendous honor.
00:04:49But, you know, it was just a great thrill to see Vince be put on a pedestal where he should
00:04:55be because, you know, like you know, Howard, Vince McMahon is such a visionary.
00:05:00Vince McMahon, you know, has created this industry, has made this industry what it is today, and has done so
00:05:07many things.
00:05:08He's pretty much basically created the pay-per-view industry.
00:05:11I mean, you know, all those things he's done, and to see somebody give him props for that, pat him
00:05:16on the back for that, and tell him how great he is.
00:05:18It was nice to see.
00:05:20It was a great moment.
00:05:21And Steph and Shane were there bringing him into the hall, and it was just quite a moment.
00:05:28Certainly.
00:05:29Not a dry eye in the house.
00:05:30I wouldn't doubt it at all, and is that not poetic justice to a point?
00:05:33Because here today, Mr. McMahon gets inducted into the Walk of Fame, the building, the magic moment, and it's just
00:05:39going to continue as we springboard towards March 14th of 2004, WrestleMania 20.
00:05:44That's the thing.
00:05:45WrestleMania 1 for Madison Square Garden, WrestleMania 10 for Madison Square Garden, WrestleMania 20 for Madison Square Garden.
00:05:51And I don't think there was ever a question of what arena to have, you know, the biggest WrestleMania of
00:05:56all time in, WrestleMania 20.
00:05:58I think it was never a choice but to go to the, you know, the mecca, to go to the
00:06:03building, to go to Madison Square Garden.
00:06:05Well, we are less than six months away from WrestleMania, and the reason I mention that is I'm sure your
00:06:09vision and your firm belief is when March 14th, 2004 comes around, notwithstanding any diversions in the road,
00:06:16you fully intend to be the world heavyweight champion representing your raw company in Madison Square Garden.
00:06:22But this coming Sunday, Triple H, Goldberg is an immense roadblock.
00:06:27We know full well that if Goldberg is defeated by you, that's it.
00:06:32Bye-bye, so long, farewell from wrestling.
00:06:35And if I know you like I do know you, you're going to literally, and I'll say this, pull out
00:06:39all the stops to ensure that that happens.
00:06:41Oh, yeah.
00:06:42You know, I'm walking in this ring more prepared than I've ever been for anything in my life.
00:06:47I look at this match against Goldberg as something that's been a long time coming since Goldberg was a supposed
00:06:54champion in WCW, you know, since he was cleverly marketed and mass produced and put out in front of people
00:07:03to be a wrestler's wrestler and, you know, given a couple hundred guys to mow down so that he looked
00:07:07great.
00:07:09And basically was allowed to run his mouth and talk trash and think that he was the greatest thing in
00:07:13the world.
00:07:14I'm here to show the world that he wasn't.
00:07:16You know, the thing is, if Goldberg would have been here five years ago, I'd have loved to drop him
00:07:20then.
00:07:21I'd have loved to take him out of the business then.
00:07:23We had to wait a little while, but here it is, the dream match, me and Goldberg, and I'm going
00:07:28to show him what this business is really all about.
00:07:30I think you have the advantage in the wrestling acumen and perhaps a little bit of the psychology acumen, and
00:07:36I know one of the things that took place this last Monday on Raw Triple H was the key word
00:07:41hype, the hype.
00:07:42It seemed that we saw Goldberg highlight in different forms of his career, and this is exactly what I'd like
00:07:48to ask you.
00:07:49Is hype everything in your estimation?
00:07:51Do you have to bring it to the ring, or can he back up the hype with possibly a victory
00:07:56this Sunday?
00:07:57You know, whether Goldberg can back up the hype or not, the bottom line is, that is what he is,
00:08:02is a lot of hype.
00:08:04You know, it's been a long time coming.
00:08:07Goldberg has been just basically what I feel is a carefully manipulated product.
00:08:13He's been something that's been put before people.
00:08:16He's like the shiny car with the great rims on it, the nice tires, the great paint job.
00:08:21Looks like you can go 100 miles an hour, but when you pop the trunk, when you pop up the
00:08:24hood, there's nothing there.
00:08:25There's nothing behind the engine, you know, which is very aproposant.
00:08:30His car usually doesn't start on TV, but, you know, that's what I feel, is Goldberg is an image, and
00:08:38this business is not just about images.
00:08:41Yes, we showed a lot of footage Monday night about Goldberg beating a lot of people.
00:08:45Bottom line, I beat all those people too, Goldberg.
00:08:49Beyond that, we showed a lot of clips of Goldberg beating a lot of people.
00:08:53If they showed all the clips of the people I beat Goldberg, we didn't need longer than a two-hour
00:08:56show.
00:08:57Probably so.
00:08:58Yeah.
00:08:58Another question I'd like to ask you.
00:09:00Certainly all your title defensives, some have been easy, a lot have been hard.
00:09:05The match against Goldberg, personally, I think there could be an overriding factor in this match, and I'm not talking
00:09:10about evolution.
00:09:11I'm talking about the third man in the ring, and that's not the referee.
00:09:15But fan support in any sport, no matter where you go, if an individual is getting the proper fan support,
00:09:22a lot of times Triple H, that works to his advantage and pushes him forward.
00:09:26How do you combat that, and what are your thoughts on that?
00:09:28It can push him forward, but it can't push him over the line, Howard.
00:09:31Bottom line is, Bill Goldberg has to be the best in this business.
00:09:36If he wants to become the world heavyweight champion, if he wants to be the man,
00:09:39Bill Goldberg has to pin me or make me say I quit.
00:09:43I say he can't do either one.
00:09:46Bill Goldberg has to be the one to take it to me.
00:09:49I don't have to take it to Goldberg.
00:09:51The fans can't push Goldberg over the line.
00:09:55He has to be the one to do it.
00:09:57And I'm saying right here, Goldberg, I'm looking at you, you look at me.
00:10:01I'm saying you can't get the job done.
00:10:03You never could get the job done.
00:10:05You've talked a good game, but the game ends now.
00:10:09You've walked through a million guys, whatever.
00:10:12Great.
00:10:13Now you're hitting the measuring stick, Jack.
00:10:15And when you come on Sunday, you better bring everything you've ever had since day one in your career,
00:10:21because I'm going to kick your ass like it's never been kicked before,
00:10:24and I'm walking out with the world title.
00:10:25So, Triple H joins us this week here on Bite This live in the studio.
00:10:29We welcome your phone calls.
00:10:30We welcome your e-mails.
00:10:32We have a lot in store.
00:10:33And, of course, Triple H, just shifting gears for a moment.
00:10:37Certainly, you've never really been a member of a group, per se, unless it was a good reason.
00:10:43You've always seemed to walk by yourself.
00:10:45You've always walked alone in this industry,
00:10:47and it's really given you a measure of success beyond belief, in my view.
00:10:50However, earlier this year, some seeds were planted.
00:10:55A hybrid of past, present, and future was formed, namely evolution.
00:10:58Yes.
00:10:59I want to get your thoughts on evolution, but before I do,
00:11:02I want to bring one of our guests this week onto the program.
00:11:06This is, well, if you look at the past, and I don't mean it in that sense,
00:11:10Ric Flair, truly a legend.
00:11:12The present, the world heavyweight champion.
00:11:14And the future joins us right now, part of evolution, second generation, third generation,
00:11:19excuse me, wrestler, Randy Orton.
00:11:21Randy, it's Howard Finkel, along with the world heavyweight champion.
00:11:24Welcome to Bite This.
00:11:28Randy?
00:11:29Are you there?
00:11:31Randy?
00:11:33Push the chick off the bed and answer the damn phone, kid.
00:11:38I think Randy probably has, I don't know where Randy...
00:11:42Well, she must be good, because he won't even talk on the phone.
00:11:44I guess not, but nevertheless, Randy is here.
00:11:48We're having a few technical difficulties.
00:11:50He might be having some technical difficulties.
00:11:51I think Randy's still partying from the other night, maybe, or something like that.
00:11:55Well, while we're waiting for Randy, give us your...
00:11:58Go ahead.
00:11:59Orton, drop the phone, stop taking little videos with it,
00:12:03push the chick over, and just try to get some business done for a minute, would you, kid?
00:12:07I think he's in the process of doing that.
00:12:09But while we wait for Randy to do exactly what you say, your thoughts.
00:12:13You've never really been a member of a group or a team, per se.
00:12:18Except for DX.
00:12:18D-Generation X, which was tremendous.
00:12:20Biggest group in the business.
00:12:22There's no doubt about it.
00:12:23But you also have always, in my opinion, always excelled individually.
00:12:28It's got you tremendous accomplishments.
00:12:30Evolution came about.
00:12:32You went for it.
00:12:32Why?
00:12:35I think that there are times in the business when, you know, groups are something that's great.
00:12:42When DX came around, it was the perfect time to do it.
00:12:46We were, you know, depending on the variation of the group,
00:12:50it was either a couple of guys to four guys, you know,
00:12:53with five members that were all on the same page business-wise.
00:12:56We all had the same goals in mind.
00:12:58We all wanted to do the same things, and that was be the best.
00:13:01Evolution, same thing.
00:13:02Rick Flair and I, mutual respect for each other, fans of each other,
00:13:12decided that it was time to ensure that, you know,
00:13:15that the next level in this business came about, you know.
00:13:18And we looked around, and we saw a guy like Randy Orton that was sitting there
00:13:23that was just had all the tools and was just a piece of coal waiting to be pushed into that
00:13:27diamond.
00:13:27And that's what we think we've done here with Randy is he is the next diamond.
00:13:32And this is the diamond today.
00:13:34Randy's the next one.
00:13:35Well, speaking of diamonds in the rough, I think we finally roused the man out of what he was doing.
00:13:40Randy Orton, have you joined us?
00:13:42What's going on, guys?
00:13:43Hey, Hunter, apparently Goldberg does not only make microphones but cell phones as well
00:13:48because mine wasn't working there for a second.
00:13:50So we need to have a talk.
00:13:53It's a Goldberg electronics store.
00:13:55Nothing would work just like him.
00:13:58Randy, welcome to Bite This, and thanks for taking some of your time today to join us,
00:14:02of course, with the World Heavyweight Champion.
00:14:04We're just talking about evolution.
00:14:06Certainly you being a third-generation wrestler
00:14:09and you keeping the Orton tradition, shall we say, very much intact.
00:14:14Since you've been back in the WWE after a few injuries here and there,
00:14:18your momentum has seemed to have excelled.
00:14:20What are your thoughts about being involved with two of the greatest players in our industry,
00:14:25Ric Flair and Triple H?
00:14:26Well, my thoughts, Howard, are that I'm sitting pretty, man.
00:14:30I'm in a very good spot, and I'm very lucky.
00:14:33I'm in a very good company, you know, you could say.
00:14:36If it wasn't for Hunter and Ric, you know, being by my side and tutoring me, so to speak,
00:14:42you know, I wouldn't be, you know, like you said, having the momentum right now that I do.
00:14:48So I owe them both, you know, a great deal for what they've given me as far as knowledge and
00:14:53everything.
00:14:54Well, you know, the thing is with Randy is you have to be able to know what to do with
00:14:58knowledge
00:14:58that is given to you, and you have to be able to take the advice and manipulate it.
00:15:02Somebody can help you, but you have to be able to do it.
00:15:06Randy Orton, you know, Ric and I didn't just come along and decide to create evolution without thought.
00:15:12This one, I mean, legitimately, there was a lot of thought put in this for a lot of months.
00:15:16Ric and I, before it was ever seen on television, there was a lot of talk.
00:15:20A lot of time went into it, and Randy Orton was the guy, you know, when we saw Randy, this
00:15:25is the guy.
00:15:25You know what I mean?
00:15:26This is the guy right here.
00:15:27He's the next guy.
00:15:28He's got, you know, he stands out head and shoulders above everybody else, and he's the guy that's going to
00:15:33get it.
00:15:33And, you know, that's exactly what evolution is.
00:15:35It's the three greatest players in the business that I feel today, past, present, and future.
00:15:42Not to butter bread, but again, rubbing up to Triple H and Ric Flair being a part of evolution,
00:15:47and also having the savvy and the guidance of your dad, Cowboy Bob Orton, himself, a former WWE superstar,
00:15:54and, you know, Bob Orton Sr. as well.
00:15:57Randy, you know, it seems that everything's coming your way, and it's to the point where, you know,
00:16:02you could just say, I've got it all, I'm just going to go.
00:16:04But you're determined.
00:16:05You're determined not only to be successful, but you really want to be the best of what you can be.
00:16:10And I see that for sure.
00:16:12But this coming Sunday at Unforgiven, there is a match that I'd like to discuss with you at this time.
00:16:17It's the legend against the legend killer.
00:16:20And first of all, I want to ask you, why in God's name did you do what you did to
00:16:26the fabulous moolah this past Monday night?
00:16:28That was absolutely deplorable.
00:16:31Well, Howard, you've got to look at it like this.
00:16:33You know, Sean's backstage, you know, I didn't have a match for Monday, you know, booked,
00:16:41and I needed to get his attention somehow.
00:16:43You know what I'm saying?
00:16:44I needed to make a point.
00:16:46Now, him being a legend and the fabulous moolah being a legend, you know, they're in the same boat as
00:16:51far as, you know, that's concerned.
00:16:54So I just got his attention, Howard, simple as that.
00:16:57I want him to know that I mean business.
00:16:58You know, an 80-year-old lady on her face pretty much makes that point.
00:17:04I look at it like this.
00:17:07There are opportunities that present themselves in business every day,
00:17:10and a smart businessman takes advantage of those opportunities.
00:17:13If you step inside that ring, you are nothing but an opportunity for evolution.
00:17:18You are nothing but an opportunity for a legend killer.
00:17:21If you're a legend and you step through those ropes, you're fair game for Randy Orton.
00:17:24If you think you've got it all going on and you step through those ropes, you're fair game for evolution.
00:17:30That's just the way it works.
00:17:31We're smart businessmen.
00:17:32We will take an opportunity where the opportunities come.
00:17:35And, you know, the fabulous moolah found out this is still a rough business.
00:17:41Monday night she found out.
00:17:42You want to be a legend?
00:17:43Be a legend on the outside.
00:17:45You want to be a legend that steps in the ring?
00:17:47You better watch out for legend killers.
00:17:49Hey, and Howard, you know, I didn't only, you know, give her the RKO.
00:17:53I did wish her a happy birthday before.
00:17:56All right.
00:17:56Yeah, it wasn't like he was unpleasant about it.
00:17:58Yeah, I was.
00:17:59It was basically greetings and salutations Orton style, evolution style.
00:18:04The man has respect.
00:18:05His father's a legend.
00:18:07His grandfather was a legend.
00:18:08He has respect for the business.
00:18:10He has respect for what moolah has done.
00:18:11Do you have respect for Shawn Michaels, Randy?
00:18:14I have the utmost respect for Shawn Michaels.
00:18:16But I think it's time for him to step down.
00:18:19And it just so happens that I'm going to be the one that's stepping up.
00:18:23And like I said, Monday, he'll just be helping me while I'm taking that step, my stepping stone.
00:18:30You know, and it sucks it had to be him.
00:18:31You know, I looked up to him, you know, a couple years ago.
00:18:34I was really into Shawn Michaels, watched all his matches, and I've still got a lot of tapes.
00:18:39And you can bet your ass that I'm watching those tapes as we speak, you know.
00:18:44What advice?
00:18:45Every day out, I'm studying his stuff, and I will be ready Sunday.
00:18:48Even though Triple H has a matchup against Goldberg this Sunday at Unforgiven,
00:18:53can you let me know and let our viewing audience know what advice, if any,
00:18:58has Triple H given you towards Shawn Michaels?
00:19:01Because he and Shawn Michaels traveled up and down the road together,
00:19:05certainly have had some battles that have been classics.
00:19:08Can I ask a little bit of a game plan here?
00:19:11Well, Howard, I've been with Hunter for, you know, a matter of months now,
00:19:16five or six months strong, and I've learned a lot from Triple H.
00:19:21And when it comes to Shawn Michaels, you know, him and Hunter were very close.
00:19:25But I'm not going to talk about, you know, on the air here, you know,
00:19:29exactly what my game plan is.
00:19:31That wouldn't be the smartest way to go about it.
00:19:33People are listening, Howard.
00:19:34Yeah, which is why Howard asked you.
00:19:36We're smart businessmen.
00:19:37We take opportunities when they're given, when they're there, when we see them.
00:19:41And right now, this would be a perfect opportunity for Shawn Michaels to tune in
00:19:45and hear what Randy Orton has to say about his game plan for Sunday at Unforgiven.
00:19:50Howard, are you in cahoots for Shawn?
00:19:52Is he in your back pocket, buddy?
00:19:54By no means.
00:19:55By no means.
00:19:56You know, I watch every match that I can possibly watch very, very much impartially.
00:20:01Because from my perspective, when I watch matches, I look for great contests.
00:20:07And whoever wins, well, the way I feel, congratulations.
00:20:10Let's see if you can do it again.
00:20:11It's your chance to move on, Randy.
00:20:13This is Sunday.
00:20:14He doesn't have them in his back pocket, but he was actually just stating to me earlier
00:20:17that he kind of wished he had them in the back door.
00:20:19I don't know what that means.
00:20:21Ugh.
00:20:23Okay.
00:20:24I won't.
00:20:25Hunter, I refuse to comment on that.
00:20:28I think I'll take the fifth or drink a fifth after that comment.
00:20:30But by the same token, another question.
00:20:33Evolution has been your golden opportunity, Randy, to make strides
00:20:37and to get on board a medium of evolution that is very well.
00:20:43Even though you're in the WWE now for a little bit
00:20:46and you are in a very, very good position from a standpoint of where you are
00:20:50with Triple H and Ric Flair,
00:20:52do you ever get any feelings that, my gosh, I'm Randy Orton,
00:20:57Triple H is Triple H, Ric Flair is Ric Flair,
00:21:01and these guys have accomplished more than I have,
00:21:04and I'm getting itchy to see if I can do better than them?
00:21:08You know, Howard, what I think you're talking about here is goals
00:21:10and possible goals that I've set for myself.
00:21:13Am I correct?
00:21:14Absolutely.
00:21:14Well, right now, the long-term goal that I have is longevity in this business.
00:21:22You know, I've only been doing this for three years, three and a half years,
00:21:26and, you know, everyone knows about the injuries I've sustained.
00:21:29Although flukes, you know, I still sustain them.
00:21:33And right now, my long-term goal in this business is to be in it as long as I can,
00:21:39to stay healthy as long as I can.
00:21:40You know, as long as I'm in the ring, I'm going to be happy, Howard, you know.
00:21:44And it's just going to be my nature to, you know, never plateau,
00:21:51to always be on the rise, always be getting better.
00:21:55So I think the future is inevitable.
00:21:57I just think that longevity right now is what I'm most concerned with,
00:22:02what my, you know, main long-term goal is.
00:22:04Randy Orton is a smart guy, Howard.
00:22:07You know, and...
00:22:08Thanks, Trips.
00:22:09Yeah, you know, you are.
00:22:10You're smart.
00:22:11You're a book reader.
00:22:12I've seen you reading them.
00:22:15But, you know, he's a smart guy, and he has goals in his career,
00:22:19but goals are reached one step at a time.
00:22:21Okay.
00:22:22They're not reached by making stupid decisions and, you know,
00:22:27like other people have in the past where they think,
00:22:30well, you know, I'll just jump on Triple H or I'll just jump on Ric Flair
00:22:33and see where I stand because that's like, you know,
00:22:38that's a risky proposition because you either succeed or you fail,
00:22:41and when you fail, you fail hard.
00:22:43Well, I'm not one Triple H.
00:22:44Excuse me.
00:22:45Go right ahead.
00:22:45Oh, and, you know, just if you're going to ask stupid questions,
00:22:48expect to have the whole answer.
00:22:49Well, I'm not one to stir any drinks around here,
00:22:52but by the same token, Randy Orton...
00:22:54It's because your stir is too small.
00:22:55All right, well, my question is this, Triple H.
00:23:00I'll direct this to you.
00:23:03Should you be successful this coming Sunday at Unforgiven against Goldberg?
00:23:07Okay, whatever may come your way beyond that, we have no idea.
00:23:11There's many people out there that are looking
00:23:13and would love to have an opportunity to wrestle you
00:23:15and possibly become the World Heavyweight Champion.
00:23:18Let me just play the devil's advocate.
00:23:20Here's Randy Orton.
00:23:21One of the things about our industry that is very interesting
00:23:24is sometimes people who come into our company
00:23:28and get out of the starting gate like a lightning bolt
00:23:30can attain success quickly.
00:23:32There's been people that have done that.
00:23:34What if Randy Orton came up to you and said,
00:23:36Trips, I want you.
00:23:37I'm ready.
00:23:38I feel I can challenge you for the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:23:40What will your answer be?
00:23:41Well, first up, I don't think Randy would be the kind of guy
00:23:44that would ever walk up to me and say he wants me.
00:23:46You might, but I don't see Randy saying that.
00:23:51But I've seen you say I want you to a lot of guys usually unsuccessfully.
00:23:57But, you know, yeah, I'm sure, you know, hey, Randy Orton.
00:24:00You don't bite the hand that feeds you.
00:24:03You just don't do that.
00:24:05I have too much respect for the man to even question, to even think about that.
00:24:11Right now I have so much to learn, it's unfathomable.
00:24:13And I'm going to learn as much as I can, as quick as I can, granted.
00:24:17But right now, you know, like you said, one step at a time.
00:24:21I look at it like this.
00:24:22If I was Randy Orton, I would want to stand next to two guys
00:24:26until I learned everything they had to learn.
00:24:29And once I'd learned it all, then I'd make my move.
00:24:32But until then, I'd sit back and I'd learn.
00:24:35And I think that's what Randy's smart enough to do.
00:24:37And when the day comes, when Randy decides to try the game,
00:24:39we'll deal with that then.
00:24:40But I don't think he's going to come for a while.
00:24:43Randy, what does your father think of you being involved with the game
00:24:45and Ric Flair and Evolution?
00:24:47You know, about my father, it's great to have him at home when I come home.
00:24:52You know, he critiques my matches.
00:24:53I talk to him on the phone, you know, after the shows on the road.
00:24:57And as far as what he thinks about, you know,
00:25:01my position right now in the company with Ric Flair and Triple H is, you know,
00:25:05he knows that I appreciate it.
00:25:09And he really, really beats it into me that I need to let everyone know I appreciate it.
00:25:14Because I'm sitting pretty, man.
00:25:16And he knows how this business is.
00:25:19And for me to be in the position I'm in,
00:25:21I must have done something right along the way.
00:25:23So there's praise there.
00:25:24But at the same time, you know, you've got an old-timer, you know,
00:25:27letting you know, you know, not everything's, you know.
00:25:30You don't know everything, kid.
00:25:32Just kind of keep your mouth shut and your ears open kind of thing.
00:25:36But lots of good advice from my father.
00:25:38We all just had dinner the other night, Randy and his dad and me and Ric.
00:25:43And, you know, we had a great time.
00:25:45And his dad is, you know, I think if you were to pull a lot of guys in the locker
00:25:50room,
00:25:51the guys that know the difference,
00:25:53a lot of guys would tell you that Randy's dad was one of the greatest workers in the business of
00:25:59all time.
00:25:59Agreed.
00:26:01And I think that there's, you know, much respect from our side to Randy's dad.
00:26:05And, you know, I think it's a great mix of everybody.
00:26:10You know, Randy's got the world right now.
00:26:13You know, what better position could you be in?
00:26:16You know, exclude me from the thing.
00:26:18If you could just stand next to Ric Flair every day and learn from him
00:26:21and then come home and learn from Cowboy Bob Orton, how could you be in a better position?
00:26:26For sure.
00:26:27Exactly.
00:26:28No question.
00:26:28Randy, I want to wish you the best of luck this Sunday at Unforgiven as you step into the ring,
00:26:33the legend killer facing the legend, Shawn Michaels.
00:26:36And I'm sure that you will do your very best to hold the evolution flag up high.
00:26:43Thank you, Howard.
00:26:46Go back to tapping that chick or whatever you were doing before we called you.
00:26:49Well, actually, I was just getting ready.
00:26:51I got a hot date tonight with the Rams, a cheerleader, actually.
00:26:55So I do need to let you guys go, if you don't mind.
00:26:58Very fitting that she's a cheerleader for the Rams.
00:27:01Very fitting indeed.
00:27:04Randy, we'll see you Sunday at Unforgiven, huh?
00:27:06Later, gents.
00:27:08See you, kid.
00:27:09All right.
00:27:10Randy Orton joins us.
00:27:12Evolution indeed.
00:27:13We welcome your phone calls.
00:27:14We welcome your emails.
00:27:15Triple H, we have a couple of emails that were submitted prior to the show.
00:27:18And as long as you're amenable to answering these, I'd like to fire some of these questions away.
00:27:23Fire away, Howard.
00:27:23All righty.
00:27:25There was a story circulating recently that you canceled some meetings to meet a few children in New York at
00:27:32some area hospitals.
00:27:33I want to know if that's true, and can you tell us about that day, and why did you make
00:27:38it a point to do these kinds of things?
00:27:39That was a submitted question.
00:27:41The question's a bit confusing.
00:27:43Why do I make it a point to do these kind of things?
00:27:44But first up, let me hit the point.
00:27:46The story is screwed up.
00:27:47I did not cancel appointments to meet with sick children in New York.
00:27:51I actually went to meet one sick child in New York, and it ended up being an all-day thing
00:27:55as I went to different hospitals
00:27:58and met other sick kids that I heard about from the first hospital, and I did multiple children all that
00:28:03day.
00:28:04Not bragging about it.
00:28:05I think it's an important thing to do.
00:28:08The question was asked.
00:28:10You know, everybody in this company, the WWE, goes out of their way with Make-A-Wish, with, you know,
00:28:16sick kids all over the place.
00:28:17And any time you can put a smile on the face of a sick child that looks up to you
00:28:24or any other wrestlers and, you know, thinks that you're it,
00:28:29and if you can put a smile on that kid's face for five minutes and make them forget their problems,
00:28:35that's actually worth more than all the money, than all the fame, and all the everything else that goes with
00:28:39our business.
00:28:40That's what it's all about.
00:28:41I appreciate that.
00:28:42We do have a phone call right now, Triple H.
00:28:44Scoop, what's that number to call again?
00:28:461-88-LIVE-WWE.
00:28:481-888-LIVE-WWE.
00:28:50Our first phone call.
00:28:51Let me just clarify that, Howard.
00:28:52That's WWE, not W.
00:28:55Oh, WWE.
00:28:56Yeah, yeah.
00:28:56That's how they professionally say it.
00:28:581-888-LIVE-WWE.
00:29:01Our first call on this week's edition of Bite This goes to Linda from New Jersey.
00:29:05Linda, welcome to Bite This.
00:29:06Here's your opportunity to speak with the game.
00:29:10Linda?
00:29:11She's on a Goldberg cell phone, too.
00:29:13Is this Randy's?
00:29:14I think, yes.
00:29:16Linda, are you a Rams cheerleader?
00:29:18Must be a Rams cheerleader.
00:29:20Well, it seems, well, you know, there's our crew here once again figuring out how to use all the equipment
00:29:25first day on the job.
00:29:26Well, our producer, the great Phil Scoop Spear, told me there's a hurricane on the East Coast today.
00:29:31He's going to use that as a lame-ass excuse not to have phone service today.
00:29:34Phil, just push one of the buttons, for God's sakes.
00:29:37Get something rolling.
00:29:39Unbelievable.
00:29:39Look at them, there's like two monkeys trying to figure out how to open up a can.
00:29:44Triple H, let's just shift gears for a second.
00:29:48I want to get your thoughts about SmackDown.
00:29:49Now, of course, you know, before Raw and SmackDown became just that, two separate entities within the framework of the
00:29:57WWE,
00:29:57certainly everybody was under one umbrella, but to move some of the superstars into two distinct and unique groups,
00:30:04I think it's been very, very challenging, rewarding, and gratifying to a lot of people.
00:30:09From a standpoint of being the world heavyweight champion at Raw, I'm sure you're, as you are a tremendous student
00:30:14of the game,
00:30:15I'm sure you watch SmackDown every week.
00:30:16What is your take on the SmackDown group?
00:30:19Do you see anybody in that group beyond who you've wrestled before that you would like to possibly take on?
00:30:26Oh, God, there's a lot of guys that, you know, again, the great thing about splitting into two brands is
00:30:32it's kind of like having your,
00:30:34we're our own competition, in a way.
00:30:36They work for the same company, but it truly is, from a backstage standpoint, two different companies.
00:30:41We don't see those guys, you know, now.
00:30:43Now, as you know, Howard, we do not see the SmackDown guys, you know,
00:30:47except for occasional pay-per-view here or there when we're on a mixed pay-per-view.
00:30:50And even then, you know, we were just at SummerSlam, and, you know, all the SmackDown guys were on one
00:30:55side of the cafeteria.
00:30:55Is that not the truth?
00:30:56And the Raw guys were on the other side in their own little groups, and it was almost like, you
00:30:59know, lost friendships in a way.
00:31:02But, you know, there's a lot of guys on SmackDown with a lot of talent that I would love to
00:31:06wrestle.
00:31:07You know, the obvious being, you know, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, obviously.
00:31:11Guys I love to work with.
00:31:13Undertaker, who we've, you know, had brief things in the past, but never really fully explored that.
00:31:20You know, you've got guys like John Cena coming up.
00:31:23You know, always you have Eddie Guerrero and Chris Ben-Raw, two of the best.
00:31:28You know, you get guys with, you have a lot of variety.
00:31:32You've got a Rey Mysterio, who I would love to get my hands on.
00:31:35I've salivated the opportunity of a Rey Mysterio.
00:31:40You've got a lot of guys over there, Big Show and A-Train, and there's just a lot of talent
00:31:44over there, a lot of up-and-coming guys.
00:31:47And, you know, again, when you sit on one side of the fence and you look on the other side
00:31:52of the fence, it's easy to see things a little clearer sometimes.
00:31:55There's just a ton of talent over there.
00:31:57Would you entertain the possibility of you being the World Heavyweight Champion?
00:32:04Let's say an offer came in front of you, and if all the conditions were good, would you love to
00:32:08have a dream matchup with the WWE Champion?
00:32:11Oh, definitely.
00:32:12If, you know, I think if the time came down to it when they could have a Super Bowl match,
00:32:17I think it would be huge.
00:32:19I think that, you know, whoever it would be, whether it be Kurt Angle or Brock Lesnar or The Undertaker
00:32:24or whoever, would be their champion.
00:32:26If I was champion at the time, I would love to make that match happen.
00:32:29Obviously, it would need to be at the right event, the right venue, the right everything.
00:32:34But I think we could get it done, and I think fans would enjoy it.
00:32:37And, you know, I think it would be a one-time deal.
00:32:40But I think it would be huge.
00:32:41I think it would be, too.
00:32:42And that's the beauty of Raw versus SmackDown, the two separate groups, because in football, you have a Super Bowl.
00:32:49In baseball, you have a World Series.
00:32:51And we have WrestleMania, and there's nothing like WrestleMania.
00:32:54It's still the grandest event of all, coming to New York City on March 14th.
00:32:58Well, I was just, you know, today at the induction ceremony for Vince at the Walk of Fame at Madison
00:33:03Square Garden.
00:33:04And, you know, the guy that runs the Garden now is sitting there telling a story about how, you know,
00:33:08he's not a huge wrestling fan,
00:33:10but the one time that he went by the garden and he couldn't believe all the fans outside and all
00:33:14the stuff was going on,
00:33:15so he stopped in to see what the deal was.
00:33:17When he walked in, it was one of our shows, and he said he had never felt electricity like that
00:33:22in the building before.
00:33:24And, you know, that's what our events are all about.
00:33:25It's totally off the charts, and coming next March in New York City,
00:33:29I believe tickets are going on sale a week from Saturday on the 27th,
00:33:33and you can go to WWE.com for some more information on that.
00:33:37Trips, we have a couple of more questions.
00:33:40And here's an e-mail from McMahon2K, and I'll segue this into a question that I have here.
00:33:47It's Markman.
00:33:47I can't see it.
00:33:48You can't even read.
00:33:49No, my eyes are going on me.
00:33:50I'm sorry.
00:33:51I don't need carrots and Bob Backlund.
00:33:52I can't get the carrots anymore.
00:33:55From Markman.
00:33:56Triple H, is it right that you, well, he wrote it wrong,
00:34:00is it right that you make a movie next time?
00:34:02I think what he's trying to say is this.
00:34:04We had a question tied this in with an e-mail.
00:34:07Laura from Columbus, Ohio, sent an e-mail to Triple H, and it said,
00:34:10I'd recently heard you accepted a minor role in the next Blade film
00:34:15and that you'll be working on a WWE Films project in the near future.
00:34:19Do you feel that this sidetracks in Hollywood?
00:34:23I can't even read this.
00:34:24I'm sorry.
00:34:25Do you feel that these little sidetracks to Hollywood will interfere with your focus as a wrestler?
00:34:30Does anybody have a magnifying glass for how we can read the next question?
00:34:34I'm going to put my cheaters on.
00:34:35But you guys can't even figure out how to run your own equipment.
00:34:37How are you guys going to know?
00:34:39Yes, I am.
00:34:40I'm going to do a role in Blade 3.
00:34:46And I also have gotten an offer through a man named John Milius,
00:34:52who wrote Apocalypse Now and Conan, to do something down the line with him.
00:35:02Hollywood, to me, is kind of a give-and-take situation in a way.
00:35:09I do see the opportunity to expand our business in that way.
00:35:14You know, any time you hear a guy say movie, you hear the word sellout.
00:35:18You know, he sold out, he went to Hollywood, he this or he that.
00:35:22My goal in doing that would not be to sell out.
00:35:25I love the wrestling business and I would never want to leave it.
00:35:29But my goal more so would be to take wrestling to a higher level.
00:35:35It wouldn't be for the WWE to make me a movie star.
00:35:39It would be for me to make, you know, or for the WWE to put me in Hollywood.
00:35:43It would be for me to bring Hollywood to the WWE.
00:35:46That would be my goal more so.
00:35:49You know, again, opportunities come up.
00:35:52You kind of just try to make decisions as they come up.
00:35:55Is it going to take me away from wrestling?
00:35:56No, I just, I don't see myself leaving this business, you know,
00:36:03and I don't necessarily mean as a performer.
00:36:05Obviously, everybody has to leave the business sooner or later as a performer.
00:36:08But I just mean as a, being around the business in general.
00:36:12It's, you know, it's in my blood and it's part of me.
00:36:15And, you know, if you cut me, I'll bleed WWE.
00:36:18Oh, there's no doubt.
00:36:19And I just could never see walking away from this business to, you know,
00:36:23go sit in a trailer for 16 hours a day.
00:36:26This is what I do.
00:36:27If you ask me, I'm not a movie star.
00:36:29I don't think I ever would be.
00:36:31If you ask me that, no matter what I'm doing, I'll probably tell you I'm a professional wrestler.
00:36:35And a damn good one.
00:36:36Joining us now, all the way from The Hook, this is, I'm really looking forward to bringing this individual.
00:36:43I haven't talked to him in a while, and he certainly has a lot to talk about concerning tonight's SmackDown
00:36:48telecast.
00:36:50And I'm sure he'd like to have a little chit-chat with you.
00:36:52From The Hook in Brooklyn, it's Taz.
00:36:54Taz, welcome to Bite This.
00:36:55What's up, Fink?
00:36:56Good.
00:36:57How are you doing?
00:36:58Triple H is with us this week, Taz.
00:37:00You got the champ there.
00:37:01What's up, Trips?
00:37:01How you doing, man?
00:37:02Good.
00:37:03How you been?
00:37:03I'm good.
00:37:04Hey, how are things in The Hook?
00:37:05Are you preparing for whatever may be of a hurricane?
00:37:08Yeah, I know.
00:37:09My car just flipped over.
00:37:10The wind blew it, and my house is twirling around here.
00:37:13It's windy.
00:37:13I don't know.
00:37:14My car didn't flip over.
00:37:15That was just a bad joke.
00:37:16It's just really windy here, so I don't know.
00:37:18I'm really not scared of rain, no.
00:37:19You know what?
00:37:20I feel for you, Taz, because you're out there in the bad weather, and I'm sitting here with
00:37:23Howard, and he blows.
00:37:26Well, that sucks.
00:37:27Outstanding.
00:37:27Very good.
00:37:29I can't follow that one, Hunter.
00:37:32Taz, let's just talk about this week's edition coming up of SmackDown,
00:37:36which you'll be seeing tonight on many, many stations on the UPN network.
00:37:41It is going to be, I would suggest, nothing short of a sensational television show from
00:37:47start to finish, headlined all by the Iron Man match for the WWE championship between champion
00:37:53Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar.
00:37:55Give us your take.
00:37:57It's going to be, this is a match to see.
00:38:01I mean, especially if you're a hardcore wrestling fan.
00:38:03I mean, even if you're not a wrestling fan, just you want to see two guys in their prime
00:38:08lock horns.
00:38:10This is something to see.
00:38:13I mean, Triple H, I know you, and I know how you feel about the business, and you're a
00:38:18student of the game.
00:38:19You'll love this.
00:38:20Yeah.
00:38:20This is off the hook, man.
00:38:22This is a great, great matchup.
00:38:23It's a must-see deal.
00:38:24I can't wait to see, you know, especially with two guys, with Brock and Kurt, that match
00:38:29up in so many ways, you know, with the amateur background and, you know, all that stuff.
00:38:34They just match up in so many ways, and they're both such great talents.
00:38:39And, you know, the unbelievable thing is that they've not been, either one of them hasn't
00:38:43been in the business that long.
00:38:45And I know how brutal and grueling our matches can be, and I can't wait.
00:38:51Yeah, it really is.
00:38:53I mean, I'll tell you, sitting there calling it, you know, obviously physically it's not
00:38:57as demanding as being in.
00:38:58The lowest match I've ever done was 30 minutes.
00:39:00I've never done a 60-minute, but sitting there calling 60 minutes, it's a lot harder
00:39:07than I thought it would be.
00:39:09Yeah.
00:39:09Try and sit and just talk for one hour straight, and yell, and then be entertaining and interested.
00:39:15And it's not easy, and it was tough.
00:39:17But a lot, I mean, obviously with Angle and Lesnar doing it, it's a lot more physically
00:39:23demanding, and those guys busted their ass in there, and it's an unbelievable contest,
00:39:28unbelievable outcome.
00:39:30You know, we use that word a lot around here in the WWE, unbelievable, but this one fits
00:39:34unbelievable.
00:39:34Yeah.
00:39:35It really, it's a match to see.
00:39:36Unfortunately, it's a word that gets thrown away a lot, right?
00:39:40You know, it's...
00:39:40Absolutely.
00:39:41The words like unbelievable, and legends, and best ever, and things like that get thrown
00:39:46away a lot, but I think that this one will definitely deliver, and it's funny that you
00:39:51say how difficult it was for you.
00:39:53It's like so many of our fans don't understand that it's not just Kurt and Brock Lesnar putting
00:39:58on a product for them.
00:39:59It's a lot more effort from that, from cameraman to announcers to, you know...
00:40:04Referee.
00:40:05You know, there's three guys in that ring, there's two guys calling it.
00:40:08It's all one big product, and it is.
00:40:10You know, an hour match like that, it's a strain on everybody, and it's a, you know,
00:40:16a testament to everybody that pulls that off.
00:40:18You know, now, I learned the hard way why we don't do these things a lot.
00:40:22Yeah.
00:40:23Right.
00:40:23There's a reason for it.
00:40:24But it really is, if I'm interrupting, it's hard to hear you guys, so if you're still
00:40:30talking, Tripp's like, I can't hear you that good.
00:40:32I hear you, but the connection's really crapping out here.
00:40:36That's all right.
00:40:36That's our cracks technical staff here in Stanford.
00:40:38Yeah.
00:40:38I'm surprised you're even on the phone.
00:40:40Yeah.
00:40:41Well, I have nothing else to do.
00:40:42Well, no, it's just that Phil's running the equipment over there, and it seems like he
00:40:46doesn't know what the hell he's doing.
00:40:47Yeah, no, he's brutal.
00:40:48Phil needs to, you know...
00:40:49He's got a nickname, guys.
00:40:50You know, we call him Scoop.
00:40:52Scoop.
00:40:52Absolutely.
00:40:53You should see me.
00:40:54You've got to be getting ready after this Sunday, huh, Hunter?
00:40:57Yeah, I'm getting ready for this Sunday.
00:40:59This is a match I've been waiting for for a long time, and, you know, it's finally a put-up
00:41:03or shut-up time for Goldberg, and I'm going to make sure that I'm ready to make it shut
00:41:07up and not put up.
00:41:09Pick him up, Taz.
00:41:10Who do you think's going to win?
00:41:11Let's put you on the spot.
00:41:12I've never been in the ring with Goldberg.
00:41:14I don't really know the guy that well.
00:41:15I've wrestled Triple H, and not just because Triple H is on the phone, and I'm not blowing
00:41:20smoke up his ass, and Hunter knows me better than that, but I'm going straight up.
00:41:24I believe Hunter will retain the title.
00:41:27I just think, and this is no knock on Goldberg, and I hope a bunch of these internet fans don't
00:41:32start ripping me up for what I'm about to say, but I just don't think Goldberg is well-versed
00:41:36as Hunter is in the ring.
00:41:37You know, I just think that's going to be, if Goldberg relies just on strength and rage,
00:41:44you know, the guy sitting next to you there, Howard, is called the cerebral assassin for
00:41:48a reason.
00:41:48You know, believe me, take it from me.
00:41:50I've been in there with the guy, so, and I had the home field advantage when I wrestled
00:41:55you, Triple H, on SmackDown a few years ago in Philadelphia, and it didn't help me.
00:42:00So, I think Goldberg's got a long Sunday evening ahead of him.
00:42:04You know, Taz, the thing that I find funny, what you just said, is you hope that some internet
00:42:08fans don't tear you apart for it, and the thing is, everybody's got an opinion, but it
00:42:13doesn't change facts or facts, whether you like it or not, whether you're going to type
00:42:17your little name in there and bitch about it, whether you're going to complain, whether
00:42:20you're going to say, I'm an asshole, it doesn't matter.
00:42:22The bottom line is, facts are facts.
00:42:24Taz is stating a fact.
00:42:25That's his opinion, and that's a fact, and that's the way it is, you know.
00:42:29I hear you.
00:42:30Too many of these guys complain all the time that, ah, this is said and that's said, and
00:42:34you know what, you don't like it, that's too damn bad.
00:42:36Well, so, you know, hump the road, you know, 260, 270 days a year.
00:42:41Damn right.
00:42:41Get your body torn apart, be away from your family, and once every month, fight with your
00:42:47wife or your girlfriend or your parents or whatever your situation is, because you're
00:42:51gone all the time, and then maybe you can have an opinion.
00:42:53Yeah, you have the right, you have the right to have that opinion.
00:42:56You've paid your dues, you've earned all of it, and you have more than the right to have
00:43:01your opinion and have nobody knock it.
00:43:03And I believe you, and I appreciate that, thanks, and I believe you would say that to
00:43:07me, even if I, if I would have, if I went the other way and picked Goldberg, you know,
00:43:11because I know you.
00:43:11Yeah, it's not, it's not a matter of who you've picked, it's just a matter of what you've
00:43:15said, and it doesn't really even matter what you've said, it's just that you have
00:43:18an opinion, and you have that ability, you've paid your dues, you've done it all, you can
00:43:23have an opinion.
00:43:24You know what I mean?
00:43:24You've laced your boots up, and you've kicked ass, and you've done it all, and you've paid
00:43:28all the dues to have that opinion.
00:43:29And people that haven't, don't get one.
00:43:32No, I'm with you, bro.
00:43:33I really, I, you know, I know what you're saying, and I pray, that means a hell of a
00:43:37lot coming from you, and right back at you with you.
00:43:39I mean, you know, Howard, you've got to start lacing your boots up a little bit more.
00:43:43What's your deal, man?
00:43:44Howard's had a match, though.
00:43:45He fought Harvey Wippleman one time.
00:43:48I've had some of the greats in this game.
00:43:49What about Chimmel?
00:43:50Didn't you fight Chimmel?
00:43:51One time Chimmel, too?
00:43:52My record is flawless.
00:43:53Jack Doan one time, he fought Jack Doan.
00:43:55It wasn't an official match, but Jack Doan German suplexed him on his head twice, and I almost
00:44:00urinated myself watching it.
00:44:01That was a classic moment.
00:44:02I wound up with a banged up shoulder, but such is the business.
00:44:05Yeah, oh, wow.
00:44:05You know, hey, Taz, let me get an opinion on Unforgiven this week, because now, certainly
00:44:11you, along with Michael Cole, have certainly become a real prominent broadcast team in
00:44:16our company.
00:44:16You guys do a flawless job.
00:44:18You guys really are very well prepared when you get into the commentating end of it.
00:44:24As you know this Sunday, you're welcome.
00:44:25As you know this Sunday at Unforgiven, we have a most unique matchup on the card, with
00:44:29the winners of the match becoming the announced team on Raw the following night.
00:44:33So let's pick another matchup.
00:44:35How about the coach teaming up with Al Snow, Jonathan Coachman and Al Snow, against good
00:44:39old J.R.
00:44:40Jim Ross and Jerry the King Lawler?
00:44:41Well, I've got to go with the guys.
00:44:43You know, again, I might get blasted from another end.
00:44:45I've got to go with the guys that are under 40.
00:44:48And you know, but then again, Al Snow's pushing that.
00:44:52No, okay, in the side.
00:44:54I don't know.
00:44:54I just think, I don't think, I like the chances of Al Snow and Coach in that one.
00:45:01I mean, what is Coach?
00:45:041-0, right?
00:45:05He's like the only undefeated WWE superstar right now, right?
00:45:07Yeah.
00:45:08Well, he is Athletic Al.
00:45:09Yeah.
00:45:11That's right.
00:45:12A lot of people don't know that, but when you have your own doll named Athletic Al.
00:45:16Yeah, you better be a pretty tough son with it.
00:45:17Pretty tough, yeah.
00:45:19Chris, you've got to be an anatomically correct, though.
00:45:21Now, the stipulations are what?
00:45:22Now, correct me if I'm wrong.
00:45:23So the winner of this match gets Raw as the announced team?
00:45:26Yeah.
00:45:26Right.
00:45:27Wow.
00:45:27That's some heavy stips right there.
00:45:28Yeah, I might run in just so JR and King can win this thing.
00:45:32Yeah, I think you might need to save the day.
00:45:34Yeah.
00:45:35If Coach and Al win, I can guarantee you I'll probably run in and just beat Coach Senseless
00:45:39just so my matches aren't called by him for the next six months.
00:45:44Another line I can't follow.
00:45:46Hey, Taz, this Tuesday, SmackDown heads to your favorite city next to New York,
00:45:51and that's going to be at the FU Center, shall we say, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
00:45:56Whenever you get down to Philly, Taz, it's always a good feeling for you, and I know that.
00:46:01Yeah, it's cool.
00:46:02You know, I mean, everybody thinks, for the longest time, people thought that I was from
00:46:05Philly because I wrestled there so many times, but no offense on Philly.
00:46:09I'm glad I'm not from there.
00:46:12But, no, it's always cool going back to Philly.
00:46:15Even though I'm not wrestling, it's cool to go back and get a pretty cool response.
00:46:19A lot of the people remember that they were ECW fans, but I've been at ECW like four years now.
00:46:26ECW's gone, and I really wish people would just look at me as a guy who's part of the WWE
00:46:31now,
00:46:32but I do appreciate the fans that remember that and were supportive of the territory we had back then.
00:46:38And, you know, we were like the rebel, you know, crazy guys, whatever you want to call what we were.
00:46:43We were like the guys going against everybody else, and we were brainwashed to boot.
00:46:49Yeah, you drank the Kool-Aid.
00:46:51Yeah, I did.
00:46:52Bro, I had a humongous quart of it.
00:46:54Yeah.
00:46:55But I'm sobered up now.
00:46:58You know, having a family and a mortgage will do that to you.
00:47:00Yeah, I was going to say, you sobered up and realized, damn it, those checks didn't cash.
00:47:05Another line I can't follow.
00:47:07Oh, God.
00:47:08Hey, Taz, we do appreciate it, as always.
00:47:11I'm happy to have a chance, as always, to come on Byte This, and when you're on, I'm always happy
00:47:15to talk to you.
00:47:16And next week, if I'm here and you're here, what can we expect in Tales from the Hook?
00:47:21Well, Tales from the Hook usually delivers the same thing, and that's basically the thrills and spills and absolutely nothing,
00:47:27more or less.
00:47:28I don't know why we even call Tales from the Hook.
00:47:30It's just me talking about stuff.
00:47:31Yeah.
00:47:32So whatever.
00:47:33All right, Taz.
00:47:35Well, listen, everything goes well for you.
00:47:36We're going to look forward to hearing you and Cole call the Iron Man match.
00:47:39And real quickly, another match is pick-em time tonight again on SmackDown, if I may, Champ.
00:47:44We're talking SmackDown for a moment.
00:47:45Go ahead, Howard, pick one.
00:47:46The WWE Tag Team Championship.
00:47:48It's a tough test tonight for Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, a.k.a. the self-professed world's greatest tag
00:47:54team,
00:47:55as they meet the reuniting of Chavo and Eddie Guerrero.
00:47:58But, wait, I disagree with you, Howard.
00:47:59How could it be a tough test for Haas and Benjamin, being that Eddie Guerrero, I mean, he's definitely in
00:48:05ring shape and all that good stuff,
00:48:06but Chavo's been out for many months with a bicep injury, so there's a good chance Chavo might have a
00:48:11bunch of ring rust on him,
00:48:12and Chavo and Eddie haven't tagged for, jeez, like five months, and Haas and Benjamin, besides being the self-proclaimed
00:48:20world's greatest tag team
00:48:21and the tag team champs, these guys have been, you know, up and down the roads day after day, and
00:48:26they're a cohesive, well-gelling unit.
00:48:28So, that being said, I think the favorites in this one would still be the champions to retain.
00:48:34I got to go with Taz in that. You know, Chavo's been pounding burritos for the last few months, so
00:48:38he's going to come out looking like you, Howard.
00:48:42And there's absolutely everything wrong with that.
00:48:44Well, no, wait a minute, he can't get that bad at that short of time.
00:48:47Trips, do you enjoy tag team wrestling?
00:48:49Huh?
00:48:49Do you enjoy tag team wrestling?
00:48:50Not the way you're thinking of it there, Fruity.
00:48:55Taz, thanks for being with us. I've got to deal with the champ here, I guess.
00:48:58Good luck, Fink. You're going to need it. Hey, Hunter, good luck on Sunday, bro.
00:49:01Thanks, bro. We'll see you there.
00:49:02See you, man. Bye.
00:49:03Enjoy.
00:49:03Taz, tails from the hook every week. Fruity?
00:49:06Oh, yeah.
00:49:08Seriously, do you enjoy tag team wrestling?
00:49:10A great tag team match is really nothing like it.
00:49:13If it's done right, if there are guys in there that are just great tag team wrestlers,
00:49:19you know, some of my favorite matches in the past, you know, Anderson's in the, you know, rock and rolls
00:49:27and things like that.
00:49:28I mean, you know, when it's done right, it's just great.
00:49:31It's a tag team wrestling to me, you're right. If it's done properly, everything does come out fine in a
00:49:36match like that.
00:49:38I've enjoyed, you know, even when you had, when you were with DX, there were a couple of times.
00:49:41Oh, yeah, yeah. I enjoy being in them. I enjoy, you know, watching them. It's great.
00:49:47That's cool.
00:49:47But, you know, again, I prefer, personally, I prefer to be a singles wrestler, but I enjoy tag team matches
00:49:53very much.
00:49:55Well, that's great. We have some other questions here. We're waiting for some more phone calls, but let's stop right
00:50:00in our tracks,
00:50:01because I know our next guest here this week on Bite This Triple H has ripped.
00:50:05It's good that you know that, Howard, since Phil just wrote it on the board.
00:50:08Well, certainly. You think I'm going to, why do you think I call them idiot cards?
00:50:12Okay.
00:50:12All of a sudden, he's like Karnak or something like that. Oh, wait.
00:50:16Howard, if you guys are talking to me, I can barely hear you, brother.
00:50:19Well, let's speak up for you.
00:50:20Roz, how are you?
00:50:21Oh, there we go. You're yelling. It's coming in a little better. Not too bad. Not too bad.
00:50:25Let me tell you what's going on here in Stamford, and this is what they're pointing off here. Scoop Spear,
00:50:29Vallo, Arno,
00:50:30they're all saying that there's a hurricane coming up the coast, and I know you live down in the Atlantic
00:50:35City area,
00:50:35and I haven't even touched there yet. You're saying the hurricane is here, and that's why they're having phone problems.
00:50:40Well, yeah, I was going to say, you guys sound like you're a million miles away.
00:50:43Our power here has been going on and off right now in Jersey.
00:50:46I'm down near, you know, about 20 minutes outside Atlantic City, and about the last 20 minutes, it's been clicking
00:50:52on and off right now.
00:50:53Well, Roz, we're glad you're here. Power or no power.
00:50:56And, of course, with us is Triple H, the World Heavyweight Champion.
00:50:59And I know you've got a very interesting story to talk about Triple H in a match you had with
00:51:03him with a knee brace.
00:51:07Roz?
00:51:08Howard, I'm sorry. I can barely hear you.
00:51:12All right.
00:51:13The phones are...
00:51:14Howard was asking you about the match we had with my knee brace.
00:51:20Roz, can you hear me now?
00:51:21I can...
00:51:22Just barely, Howard.
00:51:24Did you...
00:51:24We'll try this one more time, and I'll just put the microphone up here.
00:51:27Oh, wait. That's getting a little better.
00:51:29All right.
00:51:29Roz, we wanted to ask you to reminisce a little bit about a story that we've heard about a match
00:51:34that you had with Triple H,
00:51:35and it involved a knee brace.
00:51:38Oh, yeah.
00:51:38Back in the day when he used to wear his knee braces.
00:51:41I remember that...
00:51:44I think we were in Toronto, I believe it was, and...
00:51:47I don't know.
00:51:48I'm trying to remember what the show was.
00:51:49But anyway, of course, I lost.
00:51:53Go figure.
00:51:54But anyway, I took the pedigree, and something wasn't right, and actually, Hunter afterwards actually asked me if I was
00:52:03okay.
00:52:03I'm like, yeah, I'm fine.
00:52:04And then I looked down, and I had blood pouring down my chest, and I'm like, okay, something's wrong here.
00:52:10And I kind of went in the back, and evidently his knee brace, the plastic part, it kind of slid
00:52:14through my cheek.
00:52:16And I went in the back, and I'm looking in the mirror, and for some unknown reason, I kind of
00:52:21spread my cheek apart,
00:52:23and I put my finger in the hole in my cheek.
00:52:25And then I'm looking at my finger sticking part of my cheek, and then I'm asking myself, why am I
00:52:30doing this?
00:52:31So I couldn't exactly figure it out.
00:52:32But yeah, I think it took like 24 stitches, but I still had a good time out there, too, though.
00:52:39So I was okay.
00:52:40Part of the business.
00:52:41So did I.
00:52:41It ended up better for me than you.
00:52:43I don't have a permanent scar from it, but.
00:52:46Scars are part of it, man.
00:52:47They give character.
00:52:49That's true.
00:52:50Absolutely.
00:52:51One of the things that we like to do at Draws on Bikeness on the eve of a raw pay
00:52:54-per-view is Draws brings the crystal ball out.
00:52:57And maybe we can just have you become prognosticator for a little bit, if you don't mind.
00:53:03Okay.
00:53:03Maybe we can predict some matches, if you so choose.
00:53:05Draws, you want to give us your take on some of the great matches coming at Unforgiven this Sunday?
00:53:10Well, of course, the tuner's there.
00:53:13You know, we have a career, maybe, career-ending match between he and Goldberg, if Goldberg loses.
00:53:20So, you know, especially after what happened Monday night, I don't know.
00:53:24I figured you'd be at home resting right now, getting ready for the match.
00:53:27But, you know, I guess you're doing a little talking today.
00:53:30And I guess you're confident enough to be ready to go out there Sunday and put a whooping on him.
00:53:38Hmm.
00:53:39I don't know.
00:53:40I will have to wish you the best.
00:53:42But, you know, I honestly have to pick Goldberg on top, considering his career is, you know, could be ended
00:53:49if you win this match.
00:53:51Nothing personal.
00:53:54Well.
00:53:54It's never taken personal, Draws.
00:53:57But, you know, I just hope you're not planning on Goldberg winning this, because if you're putting money down on
00:54:02it, you're going to be sadly, you know.
00:54:04He's right near Atlantic City.
00:54:05Yeah, you're going to be sad on Monday.
00:54:07That's the only thing.
00:54:08All right.
00:54:08Let's throw another match out for you.
00:54:11And let's ask Hunter also.
00:54:12And this has every inkling of being a very aggressive and brutal contest.
00:54:18And that's the last man standing match between Shane McMahon and Cain.
00:54:23Draws?
00:54:24Yeah.
00:54:25You know what?
00:54:27Shane, when I talked to him a couple months ago, and when that happened with Linda with the pile driver,
00:54:33things like that,
00:54:34he goes out there every time, and you get the holy S chance going with him.
00:54:41Last man standing.
00:54:43I'd love to see Shane come out on top here, but, you know, in the end, we're definitely going to
00:54:48see things from Shane.
00:54:50Every time he goes out there, you never know what he's going to do.
00:54:52But I just can't see Cain not being the last man standing in this one.
00:54:58All right.
00:54:58Triple H, you.
00:54:59I think that Shane is exactly what you said.
00:55:04He's a holy S guy.
00:55:06That's what he does.
00:55:07But to beat Cain that way, he's going to have to hit him with a lot of those.
00:55:11And the things with high-risk moves are, they're high-risk.
00:55:14You can only roll the dice so many times before you crap out.
00:55:17You know what I mean?
00:55:17That's very true.
00:55:18And I think that it's going to come down to high-risk after high-risk after high-risk after high
00:55:24-risk.
00:55:24And when he craps out, that's it.
00:55:27You've had your differences with Cain in the past, and now things have changed a little bit.
00:55:31I've had my difference with both of them.
00:55:32Absolutely.
00:55:33With Shane also.
00:55:33Yes.
00:55:34Let me just isolate on Cain for one second.
00:55:35Since the mask was removed and the stipulation mask that he had, do you think the monster's been let out
00:55:40of the cage, per se?
00:55:42It certainly seems that way.
00:55:44I mean, I've known Cain in this industry for a long time, and I've never seen him on this kind
00:55:50of a tear before.
00:55:51And it's the first time I've seen him without his mask on.
00:55:53And so, I mean, it's almost like that has released a side of Cain that you've never seen before, literally.
00:56:00And, boy, he's on a hell of a tear.
00:56:02And I think it's going to be really hard for Shane McMahon to be the guy to stop him.
00:56:07Should be interesting.
00:56:08Of course, Roz, earlier on the program this week, we had the legend killer, Randy Orton, Evolution member.
00:56:15And this Sunday at Unforgiven, he goes one-on-one with the legend, Shawn Michaels.
00:56:20What's your take on that?
00:56:22Well, you know what?
00:56:22I'm looking forward to seeing a great match there.
00:56:25You know, of course, he's part of Evolution, and Hunter's been, you know, training him.
00:56:29And Rick have been training this kid right.
00:56:31I mean, he is a superstar.
00:56:34And we'll see about legend killer, though, with Shawn.
00:56:37That's going to be a tough legend to kill out there.
00:56:41I just want to go back a little bit to Monday night, and poor Moolah.
00:56:46I know.
00:56:47It's terrible being that old.
00:56:49It is.
00:56:50Poor Moolah.
00:56:50I mean, jeez.
00:56:51Have you seen her up close?
00:56:53I've seen her up close.
00:56:54Last time I was at a show, I saw her.
00:56:56Yeah, poor Moolah.
00:56:57But, oh, that was, I felt the pain all the way through the TV on that one.
00:57:03It's like an elephant's ass with an ear hanging over it or something like that.
00:57:08I don't know.
00:57:09I'm sure May would have loved to have been involved, too, if she could have.
00:57:13What about the triple threat match draws for the Intercontinental Championship this Sunday,
00:57:18with the champion Christian taking on or defending the title or putting the title up against Rob Van Dam and
00:57:26Chris Jericho?
00:57:27Well, I'd love to see Van Dam come on top of this one.
00:57:30With all quick, you know, of course, Monday night we saw with Christians whining and complaining.
00:57:34I think we've been dealing with that for a long time.
00:57:36I'm not on a pay-per-view.
00:57:38Well, now he's getting his chance.
00:57:40And, you know, what was supposed to be somewhat of his supposed friend, Jericho, you know, got to see exactly,
00:57:48I think, what he's all about.
00:57:49Of course, everybody wants to keep their title.
00:57:52But hopefully Van Dam, I think, will be able to pull this one out.
00:57:55We don't have to listen to Christians whining anymore, at least for a while anyway.
00:57:59Triple H?
00:57:59I'm going to go with Jericho.
00:58:01And the reason I say that is I think he's got the most experience of the group.
00:58:04He's been a former world champion.
00:58:08You know, he's a guy that can pull the trigger.
00:58:11I've seen him do it, you know.
00:58:13And I think that the rest of them, I'm not taking anything away from Christian.
00:58:16He's been an intercontinental champion for a while.
00:58:18Rob Van Dam's been an intercontinental champion for a while.
00:58:20Both great competitors.
00:58:22But I'm going to give to the edge to the guy with the experience, and that's Jericho.
00:58:25Okay.
00:58:26The tag team table match, the six-man tag team table match with La Resistance and Rob Conway
00:58:32against Bubba Ray Devon and Spike Dudley, Dross.
00:58:35Well, I'm just glad.
00:58:37Well, hopefully Spike's going to be able to get out there.
00:58:40After the past two weeks of what he's been through, you know, Spike is one little tough SOB.
00:58:46He's the toughest man alive.
00:58:48Time and time again.
00:58:49But, you know, of course, two weeks ago when he went back of his head first into that table
00:58:55and then last week with the table smash.
00:58:57But I think the Dudleys definitely have something to prove here.
00:59:02I mean, you know, it's three on three, and I have a feeling the Dudleys are going to definitely
00:59:07put a hurting on La Resistance and Rob there.
00:59:10It's payback time, and they've got to get it back for their brother.
00:59:13And I'm hoping Spike is a big part of it.
00:59:16I really do.
00:59:16I'd like to see him get back and get some payback for what's happened to him.
00:59:20Triple H?
00:59:24I'm not sure.
00:59:25Okay.
00:59:26Yeah.
00:59:27I don't know.
00:59:27That's a toss-up.
00:59:28That's a toss-up.
00:59:29I mean, it's a tough spot for the Duds, you know.
00:59:33I mean, I've got to give props to Spike.
00:59:37He's the toughest man alive, though.
00:59:39I've got to give him that.
00:59:40And if he gets out there, that'll change it.
00:59:42But if it's a handicap match, I don't think the Dud's got a lot of chance.
00:59:46From there, we go with the match between Test and Scott Steiner, with the stipulations
00:59:54in that contest draws that if Test is defeated and loses, Stacey Keebler's services go back
01:00:00to Scott Steiner.
01:00:01However, if Test emerges victorious, he retains Stacey's services and gains Scott Steiner's
01:00:10services.
01:00:11Now, that to me, although I'd like to see Steiner win, this is definitely one where I'd
01:00:15like to see Test win, because I'd like to know exactly what services he's winning from
01:00:20Scott Steiner.
01:00:21That could definitely be an interesting twist there.
01:00:25I'm not sure about that either.
01:00:27I'm not sure the type of service that Steiner can give you.
01:00:30I mean, he's the big, bad booty daddy, right?
01:00:34Well, and that in itself is scary.
01:00:36Yeah, I'm just not sure that that's the kind of service Test thinks he's going to get.
01:00:42Now, Howard, over here, might love that kind of service.
01:00:46I'm not really sure.
01:00:47But I think Howard is actually rooting for Test to win just so he can watch the service
01:00:51happen.
01:00:52You know what?
01:00:52I believe that.
01:00:57Moving on, we're speaking, we have a Divas match this Sunday, and we have Gail Kim and
01:01:06the women's champion, Molly Holly, taking on Trish Stratus, and the diva who returned to
01:01:13action this past Monday night literally exploded onto the scene, Lita.
01:01:17Boiling.
01:01:19What?
01:01:20Droz?
01:01:20Well, you know what?
01:01:21I couldn't have been happier to see Lita back in the ring.
01:01:23I mean, you know, she's been out for such a long time, and to see her come out like she
01:01:28did, you know, saving Trish and getting right back in the swing of things, you know, like
01:01:34it was just great to see her out there, and I have to root for Trish and Lita, I mean,
01:01:38and I'm hoping to see, you know, and I'm sure we will see big things, you know, right
01:01:43again from Lita, you know.
01:01:44I think she's, you know, she stepped right back in that ring, and she's doing the things
01:01:47that she did before, and, you know, I wish her the best, and, you know, I'm just looking
01:01:52for great things from her on Sunday.
01:01:54Triple H, do you think, you know, from your position as World Heavyweight Champion, do
01:01:58you think that the divas division is a division of good competition with the talent that we
01:02:03have in the field?
01:02:03Oh, I definitely do.
01:02:04I think that when you look at the women that we have, I mean, just look at where women's
01:02:09wrestling has gone in the past, you know, if you go 10 years, it was none, it was non-existent,
01:02:15and to see what the girls are out there doing now, you know, women like Lita that have revolutionized
01:02:21that side of it, Trish Stratus who's taken it to another level, Gail Kim now, just all these
01:02:26different women, and then you have women like Molly Holly that are just, you know, technically
01:02:30sound, and, I mean, it's a great division, I wish there was more of them, you know, the
01:02:34unfortunate thing with the women is they get caught in the rut of kind of only having a
01:02:39small group of each other to work with and to wrestle with and to challenge each other,
01:02:45but, you know, my hat's off to them because I think they really work hard and they, you
01:02:51know, they put it all out there, and I've got to give them respect for that, I just wish
01:02:55there were more of them, without a doubt.
01:02:57Now, last match on the card, we know what Triple H said earlier, Droz, what's your take
01:03:01on the winning team, become the announcers on Raw, the coach and Al Snow against Jerry
01:03:06the King Lawler and good old J.R. Jim Ross?
01:03:09Oh boy, that could be the interesting match of the night, I guess, you know, seeing the
01:03:18announcers out there, I mean, we have, you know, basically two guys that are wrestlers and
01:03:23two guys that aren't, and I'm actually interested to see good old J.R. out there and seeing what
01:03:30he can do.
01:03:32Of course, I have to root for J.R. and King, I mean, you know, they've been the voice of
01:03:36Raw for so long, and, you know, it's just, I think also with King, with his experience,
01:03:41and, you know, he knows that basically better than anyone else how to win a match by any means
01:03:48is necessary, and I have a feeling he's going to give J.R. a couple tips there to, you know,
01:03:54to figure out how they can win it by any means, and it's definitely going to be interesting
01:03:59to see those guys out there in the ring, but I got to root for J.R. and King.
01:04:04You know, I'm going to go back to what I said before, and I got to root for J.R.
01:04:09and King
01:04:10just based completely on Coach Sucking, but beyond that, you know, if King and J.R. do
01:04:19win, I just hope that J.R. can catch his breath by Raw so that he can continue to announce
01:04:25because it really only is, there's probably what, you know, a 10-hour period, no, it's
01:04:31going to be a 12-hour period probably between the two shows, maybe 24 hours even.
01:04:35But that's, I've seen the kind of shape J.R. is in.
01:04:38It's going to be down to the wire whether or not he can breathe by the time Raw hits the
01:04:42air.
01:04:43Boy.
01:04:44Well, with that in mind, Draws, certainly Unforgiven is going to be an event worth going to be in
01:04:49Hershey if there are still a few tickets available at the Giant Center this Sunday.
01:04:53And, of course, you good folks can order Unforgiven this Sunday on pay-per-view via your cable company,
01:04:59and I believe, Phil, www.com can give you information as well.
01:05:04Draws, what do you have in your column coming up this week on WWE.com?
01:05:07Well, of course, you know, every pay-per-view I've got to, you know, put my two cents in
01:05:11there with the picks, and that's pretty much what I stick with, you know, right before
01:05:16a pay-per-view.
01:05:17So I'll go there, and I might even make some changes.
01:05:19I'm not really sure, you know, what I just said, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to stick
01:05:23with my guns there.
01:05:24Are we going to see you in Philly on Tuesday, Draws?
01:05:26Yeah, I'll be in Philly on Tuesday to check everybody out.
01:05:29Great.
01:05:29I was wishing, I haven't seen the Raw crew in a long time, but, you know, I'll get around
01:05:34and check those guys out soon enough.
01:05:36No question, Draws.
01:05:37Hopefully it's soon.
01:05:39Without question.
01:05:39Hopefully it's soon.
01:05:40Draws, as always, we really appreciate your contribution to Bite This each and every week,
01:05:45and your two cents worth is a must-read on WWE.com, and I'm sure next week you're going
01:05:51to have, either you're going to be eating crow or you're going to be gloating over your picks.
01:05:55Hunter, man, best of luck out there, and you stay safe, brother.
01:05:58Thanks, man.
01:05:58I really appreciate that, Draws.
01:06:00I'll see you soon, buddy.
01:06:02All right.
01:06:03Draws joining us.
01:06:05Let me ask our illustrious producer, Scoop Spear.
01:06:08Do we have any phone calls today?
01:06:11We are having, so we should apologize to our listeners?
01:06:13Try the big buttons.
01:06:14When you pick up the thing, there's big numbers on there.
01:06:17Push some of those, see how it works.
01:06:20Idiot.
01:06:22Well, we do have tons of emails.
01:06:24Let me ask you this.
01:06:24How can the phones not work, but the other guests can call in?
01:06:31Speak up, speak up.
01:06:32So, like, the phones work for the guys that work here only?
01:06:36Is that how it works?
01:06:38Oh, I see.
01:06:40We have time for a few more questions, some emails in, if you're gracious enough to stay a few more
01:06:44minutes with us.
01:06:45Oh, it's what I live for, Howard.
01:06:46All right.
01:06:46Talk a little bit about music and wrestling, okay?
01:06:49Talk a little bit about your association with Motorhead and the group Motorhead.
01:06:53Of course, the game was certainly a composition that they wrote.
01:06:56Evolution, or evolution, if you will, is another composition that Motorhead has recorded.
01:07:02Do you enjoy the music in our business?
01:07:06Do you like some of the songs?
01:07:08And tell us about your association, in particular, with Motorhead.
01:07:12Sure.
01:07:12I think music is a huge aspect of our business.
01:07:15I think, you know, you can look at your life, Howard, and you can go back to certain times in
01:07:20your life.
01:07:21When you hear a song, it just takes you to that moment.
01:07:23The certain time, you know, you were hearing that song.
01:07:27You know, a certain song comes on the radio.
01:07:29It's the first time you kissed a guy.
01:07:30Something like that.
01:07:31Where, you know, it brings you right back to that moment.
01:07:34And, you know, it's the kind of thing that it always just, music is emotional grab for you.
01:07:40And it's no different in our business when a certain guy's music hits.
01:07:45You know, whether it's, you know, Goldberg's music or Austin's music or whoever, when that music hits, it's an emotional
01:07:52rush for you.
01:07:52It takes you to that moment.
01:07:53The music that we play in the background of, you know, our packages and our promotional stuff, it all, you
01:08:01know, brings a certain emotion.
01:08:02So I think it's huge.
01:08:03And I was thrilled in the beginning with just the prospect of being able to be involved with Motorhead,
01:08:12because I was a huge fan of theirs for years.
01:08:14And over this course, when it was suggested and we've done the songs,
01:08:18Lemmy has become a good friend of mine, the lead singer, Motorhead.
01:08:22Phil Campbell from Motorhead has become a friend of mine.
01:08:24Mickey D has become a friend of mine, the drummer.
01:08:26And, you know, they're all just great guys.
01:08:28And it's really just been a great thing for me.
01:08:34Did you turn that off?
01:08:35Because you saw the one that said Triple H slap Howard across the back of his head.
01:08:39This is what I enjoy about this guy.
01:08:40He never misses a beat.
01:08:42Which brings me to another...
01:08:43He knows me well.
01:08:44There you go.
01:08:45Go ahead.
01:08:45You can do it.
01:08:46Which brings me to an email from Crystal of East Hampton, Connecticut, right up the road from us.
01:08:51What's going on through your mind when you hear your music start to play as you're waiting to go out
01:08:56there into the squared circle?
01:08:59Well, you know, there's a moment, and I think it's different every time, certainly,
01:09:03but there's a moment when you're standing at the top of, you know, at the top of that ramp and
01:09:08you're behind the curtain
01:09:09and your music is about to hit, whether your opponent's already gone to the ring first or whether you're going
01:09:13to the ring first.
01:09:14And you're standing there waiting and your music, the first chord of your music hits.
01:09:19That's kind of like...
01:09:21Did you ever see the Sylvester Stallone movie, the arm wrestling movie, where when he turned his hat around, it
01:09:27was on, you know what I mean?
01:09:28Well, that's kind of the thing.
01:09:29When that music hits, boom, it's on.
01:09:30You become what you are in that ring.
01:09:33You know, when that music hits, I become Triple H.
01:09:35I become the game, and it's on, you know, and I mean that from an entertainment standpoint.
01:09:41That's the switch that takes you from being just a regular guy to being that machine or whatever it is
01:09:50that you see on TV, you know,
01:09:51and I'm sure it's that way for a lot of guys, you know.
01:09:53I'm sure, you know, when Austin's, you know, when the glass breaks, that it's on for him, you know what
01:09:58I mean?
01:09:59And that's the way it is.
01:10:00We all take a lot of pride in what we do, and I think that that's the switch for most
01:10:07guys.
01:10:08No doubt about it.
01:10:09Music and wrestling, when I started with this great company, there was nothing.
01:10:14There was absolutely nothing.
01:10:16And then in the early 80s, started to come in.
01:10:20Even Howard Finkel now has entrance music.
01:10:23And that's called what?
01:10:24Guns and Roses, Welcome to the Jungle.
01:10:26Yes.
01:10:27You use it at every show, right?
01:10:28Right.
01:10:28Pretty much.
01:10:29Right.
01:10:30And, you know, that's your switch, right?
01:10:32I've seen you stand there numerous times.
01:10:34I'm not messing around, Howard.
01:10:35You're looking at me waiting for the shoe to drop here like I'm going to hit you with a joke
01:10:38or something.
01:10:39No, I know you are.
01:10:40I've seen you stand in the hallway waiting for that curtain to open up so you can go out and
01:10:44start the show off,
01:10:44and it's an important job that you do to go out there and, you know, get those people up into
01:10:48high gear.
01:10:49And, you know, when that music hits, you get just as hyped up as we all do.
01:10:52And that's a testament to you because you're a true professional at what you do.
01:10:55And you go out there and you light those people up.
01:10:58But I know that that music is part of what you do.
01:11:01When that music hits, that's your jump.
01:11:04There's nothing like it.
01:11:05It's a rush.
01:11:05I mean, I'm out there.
01:11:07I mean, and I appreciate your compliment because I still believe after all these years that nobody does it better
01:11:13than me
01:11:13in the ring from an announcing standpoint.
01:11:16I'll give you that.
01:11:16It's a very important part of the whole presentation.
01:11:19And, you know, I think without music in this industry, it would be so vanilla.
01:11:25This guy wants me to slap you again.
01:11:28Oh, jeez.
01:11:29There's a lot of slap, Howard.
01:11:31No, go ahead.
01:11:31Slap him.
01:11:33Yeah, please smack him.
01:11:34Pedigree, Howard.
01:11:35Pedigree, yeah, that's a bit much.
01:11:37Oh, and there, well, we don't want to go into that, but that's all right.
01:11:40Nevertheless, we're not going to get any phone calls today, huh, Phil?
01:11:45That's not right.
01:11:47All right.
01:11:48Well, I do believe we should start.
01:11:50The technology of life, right?
01:11:51We can send video over the Internet.
01:11:54You can watch us live.
01:11:55You can talk to all that stuff.
01:11:57But we can't get the damn phones to work.
01:12:00What an insult to the champion.
01:12:02Yeah.
01:12:02Well, you know.
01:12:03What an insult to the champion who takes time out of his busy schedule to join us.
01:12:08This is a rare day, not only to have Triple H here, but to take him away from what he
01:12:13was doing today.
01:12:14And yet we don't have the phones today.
01:12:17And the only response you get is that sheepish little look he's got in his face.
01:12:21Matter of fact, he promised you catering.
01:12:23Did you see catering in this studio today?
01:12:25It was like a week-old sandwich over there with some mold on the end.
01:12:27I've got to show them this, if I may.
01:12:29Go ahead and get it, Howard.
01:12:30All right.
01:12:31That was pretty good.
01:12:32Howard just ripped his ear off his head.
01:12:34All right.
01:12:35Well, I don't know if you can hear me, but this is what they brought in today for catering.
01:12:39Catering.
01:12:39Let me just get my microphone back up here.
01:12:42This is what they brought in for catering today.
01:12:44Do you see this sandwich?
01:12:45I think it's Spam.
01:12:47It's a Spam sandwich.
01:12:48It's a Spam sandwich, and they expect you to eat the toothpick that's in it also.
01:12:53So this is the sandwich that they brought in today.
01:12:55Phil, you're the best, though, regardless.
01:12:57We love it.
01:12:58Oh, wait a minute.
01:13:00That's not a toothpick, Howard.
01:13:01It's that guy with spare leg.
01:13:02Oh, can you really say that?
01:13:05Oh, my God.
01:13:05It's a good thing there's the Internet.
01:13:07But that's what we have here.
01:13:08We have catering galore today.
01:13:10Triple H, I do want to take this opportunity.
01:13:13Unless you want to take some more questions from no callers, I mean, you know, I want to
01:13:18take this opportunity.
01:13:19Thank you very much for joining us today.
01:13:21Appreciate it.
01:13:21All kidding aside, this is one of the dear friends that I have in this business.
01:13:25He is truly the best at what he does.
01:13:28Make no mistake about it.
01:13:29And when they write a history book about WWE and the champions, this guy arguably is
01:13:34going to go down as the greatest champion we've ever had.
01:13:37And that's not butter and bread.
01:13:38That's coming from the heart, Triple H.
01:13:39Thank you, Howard.
01:13:40And I hope the opportunity presents itself again, where you'll take some time and come
01:13:44to this show and be on Bike This and take some phone calls and take some emails, and we'll
01:13:49do it live.
01:13:50If the phones work.
01:13:51I agree.
01:13:52Who are our guests?
01:13:53Whoa, don't count me down yet, Scoop.
01:13:55Hold on.
01:13:56Who's our guest for next week?
01:13:57Because I don't look at copy now.
01:13:58JR live in the studio.
01:13:59Oh, live in the studio next week?
01:14:01It'll be good old JR and Jim Ross.
01:14:02He should have caught his breath by Thursday, so it should be okay.
01:14:05Stone Cold on the phone.
01:14:06And the co-commissioner of the WWE, the co-general manager.
01:14:10Stone Cold.
01:14:10Stone Cold.
01:14:11Stone Cold.
01:14:11Stone Cold on the phone.
01:14:12By the way, do you like the way the...
01:14:15Are you pleased with the way Mr. Bischoff and Mr. Austin have tried to coexist?
01:14:20Do you like that?
01:14:21First up, the whole Mr. Bischoff thing, that's heat.
01:14:23I'll give you saying Mr. Austin, but Mr. Bischoff is heat.
01:14:27Okay.
01:14:27What about Eric Bischoff and Mr. Austin as co-general?
01:14:30I think it works out pretty good.
01:14:32I enjoy it every now and then.
01:14:33Like Eric said, all right.
01:14:34But, you know, I enjoy Austin dropping him on his head every now and then.
01:14:37It's fairly entertaining.
01:14:39There you go.
01:14:40All right.
01:14:40Triple H this Sunday at Unforgiven.
01:14:43Bill Goldberg, the opponent.
01:14:45Three.
01:14:46We'll see you next...
01:14:46Wait a minute, Phil.
01:14:47Don't cut us off yet.
01:14:47Don't cut us off yet.
01:14:48That's the only thing I want to say.
01:14:48One more thing.
01:14:49Just screwing Phil up.
01:14:51He's horrible at his job.
01:14:52He gets so wound up, he's over the...
01:14:53Five, four, three, four...
01:14:54The poor guy.
01:14:55The poor guy's trying to do a good job.
01:14:57Let's do it.
01:14:57Nah, just do it.
01:14:58Look at five, four, three, two, one.
01:15:00We'll see you next week on Bike This.
01:15:01Triple H, Goldberg this Sunday at Unforgiven.
01:15:03One more thing.
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