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READER ALERT: For all the latest wrestling happenings, check out our News & Rumours section.
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The Wrestling Show with Bill Apter - July 22, 2003
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Show Date: July 22, 2003 at 15:00 |
The Wrestling Show with
Special Guest Bill Apter
of Total Wrestling Magazine
Join us on Tuesday July 22nd at 3:00pm ET.
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Greg |
Join me with Special Guest Bill Apter of "Total Wrestling Magazine" on July 22nd at 3pm ET.
They have just launched which their magazine in North America (its British-based). |
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Bill |
You can send questions in advance by clicking on the ASK A QUESTION button below. |
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Greg |
Were pleased to have the one and only Bill Apter here with us today for a chat for an hour. He is currently editor of Total Wrestling, a UK-based magazine that is now available on newsstands across North America. (In Canada, try Chapters and Indigo.) Now, on to the many questions for Bill...
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ginomassari |
is the wwe is going to have a toll free number |
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Bill |
What a great idea for the WWE. I dont work for them but will send them your suggestion! |
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ginomassari |
do you have a e mail address |
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Bill |
Yes. Its Farburn1@aol.com |
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D.G. |
Seriously,is the state of wrestling ever going to improve? It just seems that it is the same old thing, going on. Why cant they come up with something new? Im a big fan,I just wish the action and excitement would come back, instead of stars from the 80s. |
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Bill |
I wish I had the magic answer. A lot of what we see today is still top quality like the Shawn Michaels-Y2J match last night on RAW. Coming up with something new every week -- for both Raw and Smackdown -- and the syndicated shows -- is a thankless job. They keep trying new things but so much if it hasnt worked. I feel strongly that something has to happen in a very positive manner down the line. |
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Scott Brown |
Jerry Lawler says in the early 80s he couldnt get a mag cover because he wasnt from new york or atlanta who else do you think deserved more press at that time? |
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Bill |
Sure, there were lots of guys who desereved it but Lawler and many others failed to see that their TV was regional and the publisher I was working for wanted the big stars on the cover for sales purposes. The object of magazine publishing was, and still is, sales. You put the hottest guys (or gals) known best by the fans on the cover with hopes that it will sell. |
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Gary Lemon |
why are there never naked women in total wrestling |
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Bill |
Same reason why there are no naked men! |
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im just wondering if guys in your position, feel that the wwe can keep going in this direction with the brand extentions?.
also do you think they will be able to get back to where they were in the in the mid to late 90s ie, stone cold era as most call it? over all every one was good and story lines were 10x better . who do you see on there rosters be able to take them to the top again. |
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Bill |
I still see Kurt Angle as "the guy." I was not and still am not a fan of the brand extension. I think it did more harm that positive things to the company. |
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Midi |
Is Total Wrestling Magazine available on newstands in Canada? If so which newstands and, if not, why not? |
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Bill |
Yes at most of the Chapters stores (and thanks for asking! |
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Quickstorm |
With all the classic matches hes had with great wrestlers, will Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat ever be considered one of the best ever? |
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Bill |
Ricky Steamboat IS one of the best ever! |
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Nat Arnold |
What do you think of the idea of bringing in more people in a managerial capacity? Paul Heyman and Teddy Long have been great modern day mouthpieces for talent with underdeveloped mic skills. |
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Bill |
I have always been a fan of managers and I think they are under utilized in the WWE. |
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Greg |
Sorry about the delay.
Bill will be right back.
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Jim Bailey |
Who are the top five journalists in wrestling today? |
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Greg |
Since Bill is away for a minute, Ill take a quick stab. For one, Bill probably wouldnt name himself. The ones I personally respect the most are Mike Mooneyham, Dave Meltzer, Alex Marvarez -- guys with legit newspaper backgrounds. (And John Powell and the rest of the SLAM! staff too, of course!) |
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Jimmy Reedyk |
Who was your hero or mentor when you were growing up? |
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Bill |
In wrestling, my hero was Nature Boy Buddy Rogers. Showbizness, my hero was Jerry Lewis. |
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mr m |
which diva should be next to pose nude for playboy? and you think the wwe should do a special called wwe divas uncensored? and one more question you looking forward to the reality of amy dumars book? |
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Bill |
The rest of them.
A Lita book, as long as its not a run of the mill story, would be great to read. |
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LoneWolf |
Who was your favorite interview ever? |
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Bill |
Thats a great question. Ive done so many of them. A contemporary guy would be Ric Flair. |
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Aladdin |
Hi there Bill...!Ive read alot of the mags that youve written for, and I really enjoyed them, only I want to ask: Why is it that the mags run kayfabe stories and politically correct news and dont give their readers the behind the scenes stuff that the wrestling websites and news letters do...? |
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Bill |
Regarding kayfabe stories in other magazines, I cannot comment on it. |
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John Pollock |
What is the best event youve ever been ringside for? Best Match? |
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Bill |
There are several of them, but the one that comes to mind was in Texas Stadium when Kerry von Erich beat Ric Flair for the NWA World heavyweight championship in honor of Kerrys late brother David. The feeling that day was one of extreme electricity that I have rarely felt to this day. Perhaps my personal relationship with David had something to do with the way I still feel about that event. |
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Bill Apter Fan |
What wrestler do you think should have made it but just fell short? |
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Bill |
Ill have to give it some thought. |
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Canadian Bulldog |
Ive always wanted to know this.... how did you manage to get two heated rivals on the phone with each other during those `one on one segments, without either of them yelling or swearing at each other? Or hanging up? |
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Bill |
Due to my affiliation with Total Wrestling, Im not free to discuss any deep facts about the companies that I worked for. (And that is a VERY deep fact.) |
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Canadian Bulldog |
Dont you think the Internet has ruined wrestling for everyone?
And what ever happened to Matt Brock and Eddie Ellner? |
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Bill |
Not for everyone, no. The only negative aspect of the internet seems to be people who knock everything. It appears to me that once someone gets on the internet they feel its their job to look at something negatively. its okay to be negative but it would be nice if these same people pointed out the positives, of which there are plenty. There is also a way say something when you are critiquing where it doesnt have to be vicious as so much of the internet "reporters" seem to style their writing. |
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Whats the Wrestling scene in the U.K like? Any names we should look out for? |
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Bill |
I do live in the U.S. however Ive made several trips to the UK, and was very impressed with people like Jody Fleisch, Doug Williams, Johnny Storm and others. |
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Will tna-nwa get a tv deal? |
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Bill |
From what I understand, they are working on it. But if it doesnt happen, they are satisfied doing what they are doing with their live pay-per-views every week. |
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mike allen |
did hulk hogan ever have legit tension with paul orndorff behind the scenes |
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Bill |
You had at that point two of the strongest egos in the universe so I wouldnt doubt that there may have been some real heat, but I dont it to be fact. |
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Robert Monticciolo |
Who is your favorite wrestler in ther WWE |
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Bill |
Im supposed to be impartial due to the nature of my business, but anyone who knows my history knowing that Mil Mascaras was my all-time favorite (I idolized Buddy Rogers growing up), I cannot lie that I LOVE watching Rey Mysterio Jr work. Thank goodness they put the mask back on. |
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Laura |
Just wondering if you could comment on the death of the First Lady of Wrestling, Miss Elizabeth. She was an inspiration to many young woman and I feel she is a legend in the sport. She will be missed. |
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Bill |
My column in the next issue of Total Wrestling will have two pages of my thoughts on her. She was a lovely lady and I still cant believe shes gone. |
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jason |
were you personally ever employed by any of the federations that "your " magazines covered during the 80s Also how were the interviews performed or were they invented? |
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Bill |
I was not employed by any of the organizations, however I did serve a very brief time on the WWF hall of fame committee helping them procure memorabilia from some of the legends. The rumors about me being paid by Dusty Rhodes and the NWA are completely false.
Again, because of my currently publishing commitment, I cant answer any questions about the past magazines. |
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Great Molumba |
Do you think putting the Raw and Smackdown brands back together would improve ratings and storylines? |
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Bill |
Yes I do. As I mentioned earlier Im not a fan of the brand extension. I think the WWE needs their entire team to pull together on each product and not divide it looking like two different companies. |
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Vince |
Raw has the Hurricane, Smackdown has Shannon Moore is there a posibility that we the fans could see a THREE COUNT reunion by the WWE brining in Evan Courageous |
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Bill |
It would be fun to see them back together again but I seriously doubt that the WWE feels they would be a money draw. If they felt they would have been, Three Count would have come in to the WWE as soon as WCW folded. |
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Gator - UK |
What is Paul Heymans current role for the Smack down show? When he was co writing; the scripts, booking and use of talent were excellent. Since his departure the brand has go the way of WCWs Thunder. I know he got demoted after a verbal with Vince but surely with Vince burying so many hatchets in the name of business (Sable, Hogan, Bishoff) he could recognise the value in Heyman as a writer?
Also did Benoits original contract include a guarenteed World Title reign? If so....When is his time?? |
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Bill |
Paul Heyman was legit injured by Brock Lesnar and is off TV at the moment.
As for Benoit, I have never heard of that contract. The WWE would never agree to a contract like that with a wrestler. To more knowledge, at least. |
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gino |
is the wwe is going to have a 24 hour channel? |
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Bill |
I think that if they did it would hurt the current product.
I just want to thank all the fans for sticking with Wonderful Willie for all these years. If you want to email me personally, farburn1@aol.com. Please be sure to demand your local dealer carry Total Wrestling magazine. And Ill see YOU at the matches! |
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