The Steel Cage

Hi Seth. Good to see you moved on to bigger, better and less political things! You may not remember me. I lived with Phil Speer while I was an intern in the tower up in Corporate Communications. I moved over to TV just at the tail end of of your tenure on creative (I think you and Country left at about the same time if I remember correctly). I actually ended up getting a try out for an on air announcer, I even got past Big's screening of my tape, but nothing ever came of it. I ended up going back over to the tower and working with Mike Archer in the Consumer Products Group. (Sidenote: I know Mike was a worker back in the day, do you know his gimmick name? I never asked him.) I have a few things I'd like to run by you:

1. Thank you. You may not remember, but you warned me about the creative side of the business. I had illusions of what it would be like and in hind sight, I would have been miserable had I had the chance. I'm working in Boston now. I fell back on my computer background. I book/write for a small Indy company up here. It's fun, but it's real nice knowing I can just get up and leave if it gets too shitty.

2. Your AOL IM on Christmas once read: "Merry Christmas, or as us Jews say, Merry Wednesday." Complete gimmick infringement; I stole that line and have used it every year since then.

3. If you'r4 ever nostalgic, I have some pictures up from a couple meet a greets that I did with Sue Aitchison on my myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/lewinbn

I look forward to some good stories. Take care.

-Ben

Hey Seth,
You and I share some interesting past as I am friends with your sister Robin and worked for 6 summers at Ruby's on the Coney Island Boardwalk. I am a huge wrestling fan, and have received write-in credit on several sections of 411Mania. I loved the idea of RVD and Brock dominating the company, and it is funny because you can look at today's WWE as almost having the same problems. You have Cena and Triple H and Shawn and Taker. Orton, Batista, Kennedy, the Hardys, MVP, Shelton, Punk etc will never seem to break through that glass ceiling while these guys are around. All angles and feuds irrevocably lead to these main superstars. I find it hard to enjoy after a while knowing that as WM 24 approaches I am doomed to another calnder year of Triple H feuding with Cena. This is why I am addicted to WWE 24/7 and the awesome old school stuff from the entire wrestling world.
The blog is extremely interesting and keep up the good work.
Dan from Brooklyn

Hey Seth, Great job, I have a question for you Do you think any of the original four horsemen will be invited to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony? I think it would be great to see Arn, Ole, Tully and even Barry Windham there. Do you think Vince is smart enough to invite them? thanks

I'm so steailng Ben and Seth's line in December. Yasher Koach

Congrats on newday things...have a potato for me and I'll tell the dead Newman you say hello

Hey Seth,

I have a different kind of question for you. I'm curious if you were ever involved in hiring of the creative team at WWE. The reason I ask is I'm interested in what they look for when someone applies to a creative team position. I graduated from college in 2002 and I applied a few times to a couple of different positions over the years. I actually do have experience in television production and writing and felt I would at least get a phone call screening.

I realize that hundreds of fans probably apply for these positions because everyone is a "know it all" when it comes to storylines in wrestling. Anyway I last applied in 2005 and I actually met a contact in WWE who worked in another department and she said she would drop my info to HR with an internal recommendation. She later got back to me and said that they know who I am and that they pretty much ignore me. I've applied like 6 or 7 times over 3 years.

I really don't look at job openings anymore because it seems like a dead end for me at that company. Anyway, not bitter but just curious. As for your column, I find it interesting and glad you aren't just another basher. Nice to read something truthful.

Seth, email me back... would like to have you on my show at www.bizzleshow.com if you are interested!!!

Enjoying the site, keep up the good work!

Hi Seth. Paul Heyman has his show now:

A new episode of Paul Heyman's "Heyman Hustle" show is now online. This week, Heyman interviews soap opera star Lauretta Vaughn, reveals which male celebrity he would sleep with for $40 million and calls the WWE creative team members "puppets". [credit Rajah.com]

How would you respond to his comments in regards to the creative team?

Hey, great blog!

I have a question for you. What was the whole Vince Russo thing back in 2002. Russo comes in and then leaves within a week. What happened?

Judging from your past, I name you as a prime suspect:

msnbc.com -

FONTANA, Calif. - Al Wilson, the soul singer and songwriter who had a number of 1970s hits including “Show and Tell,” has died. He was 68.

Seth do you recommend leaving the news business for wrestling? I'm an anchor and reporter for a news station in Florida.

I've always loved wrestling and wanted to be a backstage reporter/interviewer, commentator or ring announcer. I know I have the skills and look to do it, just wondering if it's the right move? Do you lose credibility if you leave WWE and return to news?

Is the WWE steering more towards women who show cleavage, and less of the clever entertaining Mean Gene Okerlund types? Seems like all Todd Grisham gets is ridiculed for asking questions.

Dusty Rhodes says send in a tape. Is there something specific they look for?

Mark J: Just an FYI, WWE has posted a job opening for a writer:

http://www.wwe-careers.com/wwe/jobboard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*AC5F80BAD409E322

hey Seth do you have an e-mail address?

years later even after WWE you STILL rock. We used to drive up from Brooklyn to Stamford to go to work waaaaaaaaaaaay back before the E went public. I just found this blog and I'm so glad someone with good knowledge and a love of the business is writing about things and talking about real issues. Well done!!

Seth,

My name is Shawn Bryan. I am the voice of a new wrestling promotion based on Long Island called FTW Wrestling. We wanted to inform you of our upcoming event on June 21st at the Rapid Fire Arena in Moriches.

We are interesting in speaking with you more. When available, please drop us a line at staff@ftwprowrestling.com

Please be sure to check out our website at www.ftwprowrestling.com and www.myspace.com/ftwprowrestling

Thanks

Shawn Bryan

Seth,

My name is Shawn Bryan. I am the voice of a new wrestling promotion based on Long Island called FTW Wrestling. We wanted to inform you of our upcoming event on June 21st at the Rapid Fire Arena in Moriches.

We are interesting in speaking with you more. When available, please drop us a line at staff@ftwprowrestling.com

Please be sure to check out our website at www.ftwprowrestling.com and www.myspace.com/ftwprowrestling

Thanks

Shawn Bryan

Mark, I might be a little late in answering this, but no, I don't recommend leaving the news business for wrestling. Not even close. Within a few months of starting at WWE you'll be begging to get back into news again.

There are a lot of wrestling books coming out right now. I know you said Bret Hart's was a good read; suggest any others? Ring Of Hell, Tito Santana's, Ted DiBiase's?