Ask the Tart: Archive 1

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Thread archived from https://www.606v2.com/t2445-ask-the-tart - Kiwireddevil

CrippledTart wrote:
By popular demand (Miky), here is a v2 verson of my 606 thread "Ask Me Ref".

As stated on the 606 version, this isn't just for people to ask me questions (I do not consider myself to be the biggest wrestling genius in the world contrary to the impression you get from some of my posts!), it's for people to ask questions and ANYONE who knows the answer to provide it.

This is not an opinion thread, per se. It is for those random wrestling musings you may have had but never got the answer to.

So if there's anything you ever wondered about wrestling, and never knew who to ask, go for it.

Bobby Roode wrote:If Hogan and Bischoff could create their perfect wrestler, who or what would it be like?

Hero wrote:2. Austin.
He’s widely regarded as one of if not the greatest ‘star’ to grace the industry. Whilst Hogan & HHH are often derided by the IWC for using their influence and power backstage, Austin seems above derision. Firstly what abuse of politics has Austin been guilty of, and why does he not fall into the Hogan/HHH category in the eyes of the IWC?

Good question. Steve Austin definitely used his political clout at times, but it was when he thought something was bad for business. Triple H and Hogan have a tendency to bury wrestlers they see as a threat, whereas Austin to my knowledge never acted that way.

He was fiercely protective of his character, and a student of the industry who had a good idea of what was good and bad for business. He was also accused of being paranoid at times.

Austin refused to work programmes with Jeff Jarrett and Billy Gunn in the summer of 1999. Gunn because he didn't rate him, Jarrett because the two had personal heat over Jarrett criticising the "Austin 3:16" gimmick as blasphemous. There were rumours he wouldn't put over Triple H in 1999 as well, but these are believed to be unfounded (he did a job for him at No Mercy). He also refused to do the job in an unadvertised match with Brock Lesnar on Raw in 2002, arguing that it would be bad for business. Austin's logic was that, as the biggest name in the company, it would have more effect if Brock ran through others on his way to a big PPV showdown between the two, where he would be happy to put Brock over.

The business he did in 1998 and 1999 was phenomenal, and meant that he had no political challengers. However Triple H's ascendance led to tension, and Austin felt insecure in his spot as the top guy. This led to a drastic change around 2000, when he suddenly became harder to work with. Austin did not take well to Vince having a new favourite, and protected his territory any time he felt challenged. He did not last much longer as a full-time main eventer, mainly because of his condition but also largely because the situation had diminished his passion for wrestling.

Another key was Austin's character: He was the toughest guy in the room. He took on all kinds of numbers and usually won. This made incredible money but did not lend itself to putting others over. In fact the WWF didn't want him doing jobs to anyone when they could help it - even tainted ones - while so much money was rolling in. Austin's character was dominant, not just physically but also in that he took up everyone's attention. This was a big plus for the WWF in his peak run, but in his latter years it became a hindrance. As the sheriff, when he was for all intents and purposes retired, he undercut every wrestler he came into contact with. And without great feuds to sink his teeth into, his promos suffered, he relied more on the tired beer drinking routine, and became something of a parody.

Austin didn't boost an awful lot of careers, but it wasn't with malice. Therein lies the difference between him and Triple H or Hogan. For the most part, he did what he thought was right for business.

What is the relationship between the WWE and the various publications / dirt sheets that surround the industry?

I can't imagine that the WWE would look too kindly on stories being revealed given the Internet age we all live in, though at the same time I would have to be naive if I didn't suspect that some of the rumours we receive aren't plants from the WWE anyway.

Are they seen as threats of merely an easy and cheap way to connect with a different fan base (the IWC), that doesn't necessarily buy into the traditional forms of advertising and promotion that the WWE use?

Thankyou Davie! Somebody else who actually respects Mysterio, I could never work out why so many people despised him.

Only think I dislike is his finisher and how the opponent falls onto the ropes. He in-ring ability is 2nd to none,he's a crowd favourite and isn't afraid to put people over or take bumps. Rarely do you ever see a bad match out of him.

I prefer the WCW rey rey to the one we have now. I remember him pinning nash and I kind of marked out. I was a kid back then though!

When and why did Smackdown become the "lesser" brand?

JoshSansom wrote:What is the relationship between the WWE and the various publications / dirt sheets that surround the industry?

I can't imagine that the WWE would look too kindly on stories being revealed given the Internet age we all live in, though at the same time I would have to be naive if I didn't suspect that some of the rumours we receive aren't plants from the WWE anyway.

Are they seen as threats of merely an easy and cheap way to connect with a different fan base (the IWC), that doesn't necessarily buy into the traditional forms of advertising and promotion that the WWE use?

It seems to change regularly. WWE has always tolerated the sheets, and even used them when it wanted to get good press. For example Vince McMahon tried to get the Torch onside when he got upset about WCW signing away his talent for big money. As far as I know, newsletter journalists have always been welcomed backstage and usually socialise with wrestlers at events they attend.

The most openly hostile WWE has ever been towards the sheets was when the company held a meeting around 2003 imploring wrestlers to stop speaking to them and threatening the wrestlers with termination if they did so, but nothing ever came of this.

Nowadays the recent trend of worked shoot promos seems to be embracing the very fans who read newsletters.

I think like any media, they see the sheets as a pest. But they have to walk the same fine line that people in power have to walk with the newspapers; try to use them for your own advantage, and don't do too much to upset them.

In fact Wade Keller, editor of the Torch, recently spoke of attending a WWE Smackdown taping and going out for drinks with the wrestlers afterwards. He was surprised at how freely the wrestlers interacted with him, whereas once upon a time they'd have been self-conscious about being seen talking to him. That would indicate that there isn't a great deal of hostility towards the sheets in 2011.

I think the advent of social networking has also shattered many myths that surround the industry and made the wrestlers so much more accessible to fans that WWE doesn't see it as a battle worth fighting any more.

invincibleILeak (CL-6WF) wrote:When and why did Smackdown become the "lesser" brand?

Raw has always been Vince McMahon's priority. It was, after all, the programme that made him a billionaire. He has made an effort at times to push the two programmes as equals, but Raw is where his heart lies.

I think Smackdown has always been the lesser brand. Even in the glory days of the Smackdown Six, Raw had the stars and Smackdown had the workers. But the main factor is probably a network thing; I imagine Raw makes WWE far more money from USA Network than Smackdown does from Syfy. Perhaps the times Smackdown has had more stars (such as Triple H's run around 2008) it was getting bigger network fees.

Im just watching the rocks dvd. Against Kurt angle at no way out 2001, he hit the rock bottom but only got a 2 count even though angle quite clearly didnt kick out. He then hit another rock bottom and got the pin. What the hell was that all about?

Also, who is that red capped dude with all the signs? Whats his backstory?

UpsideDownFace wrote:Im just watching the rocks dvd. Against Kurt angle at no way out 2001, he hit the rock bottom but only got a 2 count even though angle quite clearly didnt kick out. He then hit another rock bottom and got the pin. What the hell was that all about?

I remember that. I think they just messed up the finish. It only takes one person in the ring to forget the finish and make everyone look stupid. My guess is that Angle was supposed to kick out but he forgot. It happens quite a lot, and I think it would be far more realistic if the referee kept counting when it happens. If the wrestler loses because he forgot to kick out, that's his problem! (although in this case Angle was losing anyway)

UpsideDownFace wrote:Also, who is that red capped dude with all the signs? Whats his backstory?

Not sure who you mean but I'm guessing it's someone along the lines of the famous Sign Guy in ECW, who was always in the front row with a variety of signs and became a cult hero in his own right. I guess someone wants to be just like him. Expensive hobby though!

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:

UpsideDownFace wrote:Also, who is that red capped dude with all the signs? Whats his backstory?

Not sure who you mean but I'm guessing it's someone along the lines of the famous Sign Guy in ECW, who was always in the front row with a variety of signs and became a cult hero in his own right. I guess someone wants to be just like him. Expensive hobby though!

Cheers my man! This is guy I mean http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=sign+guy&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=621&tbm=isch&tbnid=906r9hbz0NmbkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.myspace.com/wwesignguy/photos/27638147&docid=CiayZrpcpJyngM&w=325&h=349&ei=vlZCTrbSFszusgbN9s34Bw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=281&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=139&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=51&ty=62

I remember him being at quite a few WWE events over the past few years. Always on the front row, just about dead centre. He always seemed to be there when I was watching always Raw or PPV's. Does anybody know in more detail?

Oddly, he is on twitter, and I have read in various books and on the net that he is well known and in with many of the wrestlers.

follow him @RickWWESignGuy if you want to know more about him...

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:

UpsideDownFace wrote:Im just watching the rocks dvd. Against Kurt angle at no way out 2001, he hit the rock bottom but only got a 2 count even though angle quite clearly didnt kick out. He then hit another rock bottom and got the pin. What the hell was that all about?

I remember that. I think they just messed up the finish. It only takes one person in the ring to forget the finish and make everyone look stupid. My guess is that Angle was supposed to kick out but he forgot. It happens quite a lot, and I think it would be far more realistic if the referee kept counting when it happens. If the wrestler loses because he forgot to kick out, that's his problem! (although in this case Angle was losing anyway)

Not quite - it was a mistake by Earl Hebner. Kurt was due to lose on the first Rock-Bottom, hence he didn't kick out. Earl thought he'd kick out, and then lose on the second one.

Rock nailed his finisher again, and thus won the match as planned. The best bit of the whole incident is the glare he gives Hebner just after the finish.

Yeah you are right Demonic, I remember that now.

Just goes to show how important the ref is in ensuring a match runs smoothly.

Can you ever see a Wrestlemania Taking place in the U.K?

FreekShow wrote:Can you ever see a Wrestlemania Taking place in the U.K?

No.

The obvious time differences would mean it starting at midnight over here to meet with the USA time-zones.

Plus, and one that most people overlook, our beloved Noise Abatement laws that stop the majority of gigs at 11. Can you imagine the local resident's reaction when a Wrestlemania fireworks display goes off at 4 a.m. of a Monday morning over Wembley Stadium?

DemonicTruthSpeaker wrote:

FreekShow wrote:Can you ever see a Wrestlemania Taking place in the U.K?

No.

The obvious time differences would mean it starting at midnight over here to meet with the USA time-zones.

Plus, and one that most people overlook, our beloved Noise Abatement laws that stop the majority of gigs at 11. Can you imagine the local resident's reaction when a Wrestlemania fireworks display goes off at 4 a.m. of a Monday morning over Wembley Stadium?

Fair point.

FreekShow wrote:Can you ever see a Wrestlemania Taking place in the U.K?

Really good question. I wouldn't say never, but I think it is unlikely.

It's something WWE has considered before, and the UK is, I believe, the company's second biggest market outside North America. And of course we had Summerslam 92 at Wembley stadium.

But Wrestlemania is such a big event that I think WWE would be concerned about alienating its North American audience by holding it overseas. As weird as it sounds, there is an attitude in the US that they want to watch American things, featuring Americans and based in America. Canada is fine as a venue, because you wouldn't even notice unless it's pointed out, but the UK may be taking things too far, literally.

It is also very beneficial to hold Wrestlemania in American cities because the event generates so much money for the local economy, and with it goodwill towards the company.

Plus, the logistics of setting up Wrestlemania are difficult enough already. Imagine the headaches from hauling those massive sets overseas. You also have to factor in the time difference; WWE wouldn't want to air a taped PPV in the US, especially in this day and age where the results and footage are so easy to obtain online, which would mean changing its usual PPV starting time in the US, a big risk given that viewers do not like being forced to change their habits, or alternatively starting the event at midnight over here and running until 4am! Summerslam 92 was shown in the US on tape delay, but that was in the era before the internet and video phones.

I think the thing that would make a UK Wrestlemania most likely would be if WWE business started to really suffer in the US. That is certainly possible, but I think a UK Wrestlemania is something WWE would prefer to avoid if they can.

Can you see more UK / overseas based PPV's in future though?

Bring back Insurrexion!!!

Hey Cripps, I've been watching some of the old Bulldog matches and recently became interested in some of Dynamite Kid's work, i have gathered however that most people do not have fond memories of this guy (there are even some suggestions that his current condition is deserved form of karma). And there are mentions of a specific serious incident that has damned him to the wrestling world. If there is one what was it?

Ché Guerrero wrote:Hey Cripps, I've been watching some of the old Bulldog matches and recently became interested in some of Dynamite Kid's work, i have gathered however that most people do not have fond memories of this guy (there are even some suggestions that his current condition is deserved form of karma). And there are mentions of a specific serious incident that has damned him to the wrestling world. If there is one what was it?

I don't know what the one specific incident would be. He was, and presumably still is, a deeply unpleasant human being. His autobiography is fascinating, a great book, but it doesn't do him many favours. Bret Hart's book is also very useful for finding out about Dynamite, who was very close to Bret during their Stampede and early WWF days (they even married two sisters).

I have certainly read a few stories about him that really disgusted me. He really was a nasty person. I can understand why some may say he's a victim of karma, although I obviously wouldn't wish his condition on him.

JoshSansom wrote:Can you see more UK / overseas based PPV's in future though?

Do you mean the ones that are only on PPV in the UK? I never really understood the point of those! I think it was in the days before their PPVs were on Sky Box Office; now we pay for most PPVs anyway so I don't see what the incentive would be for the fans.

I think that their current setup is just about right. We get their TV programmes, we pay for most of their PPVs and we are rewarded with a couple of Raws and Smackdowns and two house show tours by each brand each year.

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:

JoshSansom wrote:Can you see more UK / overseas based PPV's in future though?

Do you mean the ones that are only on PPV in the UK? I never really understood the point of those! I think it was in the days before their PPVs were on Sky Box Office; now we pay for most PPVs anyway so I don't see what the incentive would be for the fans.

I think that their current setup is just about right. We get their TV programmes, we pay for most of their PPVs and we are rewarded with a couple of Raws and Smackdowns and two house show tours by each brand each year.

No, I meant can you see there being some "B" list PPV's hosted in the UK, Europe or Asia for example?

New question.

Monty Brown/ Marcus CorVon - what happened, what were the plans for him and what is he up to now? Will he ever return?

Hobo wrote:New question.

Monty Brown/ Marcus CorVon - what happened, what were the plans for him and what is he up to now? Will he ever return?

Brown was a guy with serious potential; he was perfectly passable in the ring, but it was his charisma and uniqueness that stood out. Sadly, it seemed he didn't have the dedication to make it to the very top though.

I remember when he was in TNA he was considered to have attitude problems. As a former NFL player he perhaps felt a sense of entitlement, that he had already made it as a star. When he went to WWE, he had to go through the system and pay his dues like any newcomer, and maybe he didn't enjoy it. Definitely, attitude problems were generally cited for holding him back.

If he'd shown a little more humility and been willing to learn and improve, mostly just by honing and refining his act, I think he had WWE main event potential.

He's not a young man, I think he's about 40, so I don't see much future for him in professional wrestling. Like Goldberg, he came into the business late hoping to make big money in a short amount of time. It worked for Goldberg but Monty wasn't quite as successful. I'm not sure what he's doing now, but I think it's a shame he didn't last longer in wrestling, as he quite clearly had a real aptitude for it.

Is it true Andre liked to "oil check" his opponents? I've heard rumours but I've never seen a footage to prove it.

how many wrestlers get input into the storylines? obviously the top couple but how faar down does it go? would someone like justin gabriel get any say at all?

crips, can you shed any light on why The Undertaker has spent almost all of the post brand-split era on SD as opposed to Raw? Just wondering really, being as big a star as he is, he seems more of a Raw guy...

Ché Guerrero wrote: Is it true Andre liked to "oil check" his opponents? I've heard rumours but I've never seen a footage to prove it.

I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know what this means??!

steveo1986 wrote:how many wrestlers get input into the storylines? obviously the top couple but how faar down does it go? would someone like justin gabriel get any say at all?

Well, everyone has the right to voice their own ideas on what to do with their character, but as far as input into storylines it would tend to be veterans and/or main eventers. However, it does vary from one individual to the next.

It would usually depend on tenure, experience, whether the wrestler has been relied upon in a featured position, and whether the wrestler has proved himself to be a student of the game.

Some veteran wrestlers just don't care for the booking intricacies and just want to go out and do whatever's in the script. Mark Henry is an example of this. However, Goldust, who has similar tenure and experience, is seen as a great wrestling mind.

Randy Orton is around the same age as Alex Riley, but obviously he has tenure and main event experience on his side. CM Punk has only fleetingly been a major player in WWE, but is considered to be really smart to the business, so he has greater input than someone of similar tenure and experience, such as The Miz.

Justin Gabriel is about as far from any of these things as it gets, so he'd have to have some really good ideas for anyone to take any notice of his suggestions!

I think in general, someone who has been around a long time and handled a major spot on the card would be more than welcome to add his thoughts, especially if that wrestler has shown himself to have a good mind for the business.

I thought I would ask for your thoughts on this subject.

For me a big crime was that Davey Boy Smith never won the WWE Championship. William Regal I feel never got the 'near' headline feud his talent deserved. Sheamus has been WWE Champion and seems to have disappeared into the background. Do you think that the WWE is somewhat sceptical that a UK Champion cannot be the face of the company and be it's WWE Champion?

sodhat wrote:crips, can you shed any light on why The Undertaker has spent almost all of the post brand-split era on SD as opposed to Raw? Just wondering really, being as big a star as he is, he seems more of a Raw guy...

I have always assumed it's because he doesn't want to be competing with others for top billing. He has had a nice spot on Smackdown for many years as the legendary veteran who comes and goes but is pretty much always in a main event role.

If anyone gets really hot on Smackdown, they are moved to Raw, so he has never had to deal with challengers to his throne as the king of Smackdown.

Raw has always had a much more cluttered main event scene, with people jostling for position, and a general greater sense of urgency to proceedings. You're right - Raw is where the marquee names are found.

But, as the exception to the rule, Undertaker gets to be the undisputed star of Smackdown, where he has been able to just be the Undertaker and be a legend without any of the hassle.

legendkillar wrote:I thought I would ask for your thoughts on this subject.

For me a big crime was that Davey Boy Smith never won the WWE Championship. William Regal I feel never got the 'near' headline feud his talent deserved. Sheamus has been WWE Champion and seems to have disappeared into the background. Do you think that the WWE is somewhat sceptical that a UK Champion cannot be the face of the company and be it's WWE Champion?

Sheamus isn't from the UK!

To a degree, you may be right that Americans want to see Americans. But I think you're also probably just overestimating the abilities of Davey and Regal.

I don't think WWE is scared of having an Irishman or a Brit in the main event scene; after all, they stand out for the very reason that they are Irish or British. Sheamus and Wade Barrett have had main event matches in the last couple of years. if the company was scared, they wouldn't have given these wrestlers the major pushes they got at the time.

I just think that, as a Brit (presumably?!), you will notice Davey and Regal more. Similarly, if you were from Montreal you'd probably wonder why Jacques Rougeau wasn't given a greater push. I'm not saying that Davey and Regal were not good performers, but what I do feel is that both had hugely impressive careers that were just around the level their abilities merited. Neither ever stood out to me as wrestlers who could be true headline acts. Davey Boy Smith certainly wouldn't have been a joke as world champion somewhere, but neither does it strike me as a crime that he never got a world title. Regal is a really good talker but his wrestling style is maybe too plodding for this era, and there is something about him that is a bit too cartoonish for a main event level wrestler. I think he could make a great manager at main event level though.

My feeling, which obviously I can't prove either way, is that were you Chinese or Croatian or indeed American, you would not have anywhere near the same level of interest in the possibility of Davey or Regal as headliners.

Back to the having a say question, an article posted on this board a week or two ago was interesting, it was talking about Punk's push, but what really stood out for me is that it was John Morrison who suggested the slow motion thing and a lot of the character, and considering he would have only been very much a bit-part player at that point, with only three years under his belt I was surprised his ideas were taken on board so much.

invincibleILeak (CL-6WF) wrote:Back to the having a say question, an article posted on this board a week or two ago was interesting, it was talking about Punk's push, but what really stood out for me is that it was John Morrison who suggested the slow motion thing and a lot of the character, and considering he would have only been very much a bit-part player at that point, with only three years under his belt I was surprised his ideas were taken on board so much.

The wrestlers are encouraged to contribute to their own characters' development. Often the creative team is merely paying lip service when it says this, but good ideas are taken on board.

Crips - Any idea how much C Lo Green received for performing at Summerslam?From my experience the audience goes quite when a music act appears historically at a wrestling event.... Is it just Vince seeking mainstream recognition

On a similar point did the raw guest hosts get paid? If so how much

Brady12 wrote:Crips - Any idea how much C Lo Green received for performing at Summerslam?From my experience the audience goes quite when a music act appears historically at a wrestling event.... Is it just Vince seeking mainstream recognition

On a similar point did the raw guest hosts get paid? If so how much

I have no idea! I'm not even sure the guest hosts were paid - they were always on Raw to sell something, so it was mutually beneficial. I expect Cee Low Green was paid, but I have no idea how much. I'd never heard of him, but then again I'd never heard of Pitbull, and he is apparently a major star.

WCW used to pay celebrities ridiculous amounts of money to appear, but WCW was nowhere near as savvy as WWE. I would have thought that artists would be lining up to appear on a wrestling show in front of thousands in attendance and hundreds of thousands on PPV.

I think when they bring in music stars they're hoping fans of that artist will tune in to see them sing and then stick around and get pulled in.

Davieswasacrippledtart wrote:

Hobo wrote:New question.

Monty Brown/ Marcus CorVon - what happened, what were the plans for him and what is he up to now? Will he ever return?

Brown was a guy with serious potential; he was perfectly passable in the ring, but it was his charisma and uniqueness that stood out. Sadly, it seemed he didn't have the dedication to make it to the very top though.

I remember when he was in TNA he was considered to have attitude problems. As a former NFL player he perhaps felt a sense of entitlement, that he had already made it as a star. When he went to WWE, he had to go through the system and pay his dues like any newcomer, and maybe he didn't enjoy it. Definitely, attitude problems were generally cited for holding him back.

If he'd shown a little more humility and been willing to learn and improve, mostly just by honing and refining his act, I think he had WWE main event potential.

He's not a young man, I think he's about 40, so I don't see much future for him in professional wrestling. Like Goldberg, he came into the business late hoping to make big money in a short amount of time. It worked for Goldberg but Monty wasn't quite as successful. I'm not sure what he's doing now, but I think it's a shame he didn't last longer in wrestling, as he quite clearly had a real aptitude for it.

The reason monty brown left wwe was because of family issues, I remember reading about it in Powerslam magazine at the time. He is Currently working as a personal trainer

Crips - In the squash matches on TV that were commonplace in the late 80's and early 90's on WWF and WCW, featuring local talent, were there any upsets? The local wrestler actually being booked to beat the well known.

Also, was Ron Simmons always planned to win the WCW against Vader in the early 90's or was he a late substitute for someone else? If it was planned, how much of it revolved around Ron's African-American heritige?

Reason I ask is I remember watching them draw lots to face Vader (or maybe it was a battle royal that Ron won) and him winning the title was totally unexpected.

Crips, what does the term 'Bigfooted' mean? I saw it used a few times in reference to the end of Summerslam....

What happened at the PPV (over the edge?) when Owen Hart died? How did it come across to the viewers at home? Did anyone on here watch it or seen it since? What was going on while he was being treated? Where did the PPV go after it happened? Sorry, but I dont really know that much about the incident.

Also, just watching RR 2001 and honky tonk man came out. Whats his story? He is before my time. Ive heard his name mentioned quite a few times but to me, he just looks like a fat Elvis impersonator

Didnt know R-Truth used to be in WWF as K-Kwik. He has just come out in the rumble.

And big show should grow some hair. He looks seriously bad ass in this rumble

UpsideDownFace wrote:What happened at the PPV (over the edge?) when Owen Hart died? How did it come across to the viewers at home? Did anyone on here watch it or seen it since? What was going on while he was being treated? Where did the PPV go after it happened? Sorry, but I dont really know that much about the incident.

If i remember correctly they cut to an interview pre recorded with owen during the entrance and cut straight to JR saying owen had had the accident. the event carried on as they argued it would have been what owen wanted
here is what was shown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXWoYRErgW4

UpsideDownFace wrote:Also, just watching RR 2001 and honky tonk man came out. Whats his story? He is before my time. Ive heard his name mentioned quite a few times but to me, he just looks like a fat Elvis impersonator

The honky tonk man was the longest reigning IC champion of all time.

ncfc_Tooze wrote:

UpsideDownFace wrote:Also, just watching RR 2001 and honky tonk man came out. Whats his story? He is before my time. Ive heard his name mentioned quite a few times but to me, he just looks like a fat Elvis impersonator

The honky tonk man was the longest reigning IC champion of all time.

Seriously!? Fair enough then, seems to be legit.

Yeah he was, and I'm pretty sure that "a fat Elvis impersonator" was his gimmick.