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The World According To Dutch: Time For Dutch's Mailbag

Posted: Nov 10th 2009 By: CMBurnham

The Dirty Dutchman will be making a RARE IN RING APPEARANCE, Saturday night, November 14th , 2009 in Princeton, Kentucky at 7:30PM at the Caldwell County High School, Highway 91 North.

My opponent that night will be none other than my ex-good friend from TNA, the King of the Mountain Jeff Jarrett, who officially was named by the Governor of Kentucky, the Most Hated Man in Kentucky, when he signed the contract to face me in the match. Needless to say, I'm very popular in the old Bluegrass State.

I'm looking forward to this match. The last time I looked forward to a match this much was the time I kicked the s**t out of Jerry Lawler in his hometown of Memphis. I'm looking forward to November 14th and I hope to see a lot of fans there that night.

Last words to Jeffrey or Double J or The Founder of TNA or Guitar Man...or whatever you're using today. I mean, how many names does a guy really need to have? Anyway, bring your A game. And bring that beat up guitar. I'm bringing ShooBaby. To the uninformed, I used to whip Jeffrey's ass quite regularly back in the day and while I've gotten older, I've gotten a wee bit wiser. What I'm really doing is doing the job his old man should have done a long time ago and kick the crap out of Double J to teach him some respect and some southern manners.

To the historically minded out there, this is, most likely, MY LAST MATCH. Yep, this is the LAST PICTURE SHOW for the Dutchman. It's been a long ride but now, I'm getting off this horse and laying my ass up in the weeds. But I need to stomp ole Jeffrey's ass before I do.

TIME FOR DUTCH'S MAILBAG !!!

A lot of you have sent me questions so with that said, let's start with the answers.

DISCLAIMER: All my answers will have a margin of error of 100% so don't quote me on anything.

The leading questions concerned TNA and Hulk Hogan. Let's get the obligatory questions out of the way. Here is one of them.

Lance from Albany, NY writes: Love your blog. I'm a big fan of yours dating from your days in Memphis. My question is since you and TNA have parted ways, what are your true feelings on TNA as you look back?

Dutch: Thanks for the question and thanks for the compliment on the blog. One thing about the wrestling business. It is always in a state of flux whether it's WWE or TNA. There is no bitterness on my end, although I would have preferred a different outcome. Disappointment yes. But the good thing was that I had 6 good years with TNA. TNA treated me well. I was taught early on that the wrestling profession was not permanent no matter what position you were in. I'm just glad that I made it as far as I did in this crazy business. Truthfully, TNA was the best wrestling company I've ever worked for.

I have a ton of respect for the Carter family and Dixie personally and Jeff has been my friend for a long time, except for November 14th in Princeton, Kentucky where I'll stomp the crap out of him.

I have thanked both Dixie and Jeff, personally and in private, for the time I worked there. It was a great ride but eventually, the roller coaster comes to a stop and it's time to get off and let some more people on. Will I get back on? Oh I'll be on some roller coaster somewhere and if it's not TNA's, it could be with somebody who's not on any radar screen right now. The more things change in the wrestling business, the more they remain the same. I've communicated with Dixie several times via email and lest anybody forget, the wrestling universe is a very small group of people. It truly is. The door has been left open. That's good for everybody concer because closing doors is never a good option for business. Never say never in pro wrestling.

I sincerely wish TNA the very best in all of their future endeavors. I've always wanted to use that line and I finally got a chance to use it. Yes!!!

Jason from Duquene, Illinois: I really enjoy your blog. This is a real treat for me to be able to ask you a question so if you answer it, I'll be thrilled. The question is...what is the real story between Jim Cornette and Vince Russo? Do they really hate each other as I've always read?

Dutch: Well Jason. It's funny you asked that question. I have a chapter in my book, The World According to Dutch, detailing what I consider the animosity between Jimmy and Vince. So here's my answer.

Hate is a strong word, Jason. I never use the word, hate. I hate hate. And I won't tolerate intolerance. So let's dispense with all the hate talk. Despite what you've heard, one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that Jimmy Cornette and Vince Russo do not hate each other.

I would never use the word 'hate' to describe the relationship between Jimmy and Vince. The more appropriate word that would describe their relastionship would be 'detest'. Detest is a much more focused word. But of course, the word 'loathe' comes to mind and could be applied equally as well. And let's not forget the old standby, "abhor". But hate, no.

The feelings between Cornette and Russo transcend just using an ordinary word to categorize it. All I can say is that both men don't harbor kind feelings about the other one and they certainly don't share the same philosophy about the wrestling business. In my book, I spill the beans on the whole story starting with their first dealings years ago in the WWF. Jimmy and Vince co-existed for three years in TNA and I served as a buffer between them many times. The story unfolds in my book so I'll let you, the reader, determine for yourself who's right. Or wrong. Or not.

Russell from Enid, Oklahoma wrote: Congrats on the blog. Great!! I check it every day to see if you've added something else. I will be ordering the Special Collector's Edition. I was a big fan of yours when you were in Mid South with Bill Watts and Jim Ross. What are your impressions about TNA signing Hulk Hogan? Do you think Vince Russo and Hulk can co-exist after what's gone down between them?

Dutch: Well, first off Russell, I don't do impressions unless it's John Wayne. But my take on Hulk and TNA is that both parties made a wise move. TNA gets the Hogan name worldwide for the next 3 to 5 years which will help them tremendously in their international affairs. With all the publicity that Hulk has had in the last two years in the Hulk drama, he is known all over the world. Hogan also made a good business move in that it keeps him in a high profile TV spot and he is probably the only wrestling guy left on the planet with the juice to do what Hulk can do. But making good business moves is just the first step. Now the entire marriage will depend on how Hulk and TNA handle the job from here on out.

Can Hogan/Russo co-exist? Hmmm...good question. I can't say yea or nay. Hopefully, they can but a lot depends on the ratings. Since Hogan will have more power, that question depends on Hogan. Both men need to store their baggage from their last encounters in WCW but that's easier said than done.

Gary Harden from Shelby, NC wrote: I read that you invented the Abyss character in TNA. Is that true? Looking forward to the book. I want 2 books and a Special Collector's Edition book also.

Gary, you got it dude. Did I invent Abyss? Yes I did. But don't hold that against me. I also invented standing in line and post-it notes too. Abyss is a great talent and a good friend. He has done very well for himself. I helped launch Abyss' career when I booked him in Puerto Rico so technically, he could also be considered another alumni of the University of Dutch but he didn't graduated due to being expelled. I can't say why he was expelled due to federal privacy legalities but it was something concerning a woman, a bottle of tequila and a deck of cards. Use your imagination. Abyss was a bad boy but he didn't learn it at the University of Dutch. I think he learned it from Jeff Jarrett probably. Jeff's a bad influence on a lot of people. The cheeky bastard!!!

Travis Smithfield from Destin, Florida: I love your blog. Your blog is well written, funny and makes a point. My question is why is the InterNet so negative about wrestling and TNA in general?

Dutch: Travis, now how in the hell would I know? Do I look like a mind reader to you? I have no idea. You could ask Sylvia Brown or the girl who plays Ghost Whisperer on TV and see what they think about it. Or why don't you email some of the website gurus like Jason Powell or Wade Keller or Dave Meltzer and ask them. They would probably have a better response than I will.

So since I don't know, I'll just do the next best thing and make something up. That's what the websites do. This is what I think.

Wrestling websites deal in rumor and innuendo first and fact later. Or some of them do. Their main thrust is getting people to click on their site. To get fans to click, the headlines have to be interesting, shocking or intriguing. It's all in the presentation. Anybody can post anything, pro or con, about the wrestling business whether they know anything about the subject they're talking about or not. Hell, I could post on foreign domestic policy on the political websites but it doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about. Who cares? It's the InterNet. They can be 12 years old or 96 and on life-support. Doesn't matter. That's the problem.

One thing that I've always hated about the wrestling websites is that they preach doom and gloom and that carries over to fans who frequent those sites. If fans don't like RAW/SmackDown/ECW or Impact, they immediately run to their computers and pan the show by saying it sucks and so and so sucks and everything sucks. I've never heard the word 'suck' more than on wrestling websites. The show sucks, the booker sucks, the writers suck, the wrestlers suck, the announcers suck, the production sucks. Everything sucks, sucks, sucks. I've often wondered what enjoyment can fans get out of watching a show, week after week, that, according to them sucked big donkey balls the week before. Now that to me would SUCK!!!

My opinion is, if I went to a restaurant and it sucked, the last thing I would do is run to a computer to post emails or reax' to everybody on a website telling them how crappy the food or service was and how much it sucked. What I would do is leave the restaurant and never go back there again. I would be done with that eatery. End of story.

Long story made short. If the show sucks, turn the friggin show off and don't watch it. Simple.

Jeremy Sikeston, Holyoke, New Jersey wrote: How can I get into wrestling?

It's simple. Best way I know is the next time you see a wrestling show advertised, go to the show and buy a ticket and you can walk right in.

Christopher in Dalton, Georgia writes: I love the Knockouts in TNA. They are so different than the Divas in WWE and I have heard that you helped create the KnockOut Division in TNA. Is that true? And who do you feel is the best KnockOut on the TNA roster?

Well what you heard is true. I didn't create the Knockouts. That credit goes to Dixie Carter. But, I did create the KnockOut Division. There is a great chapter in my book where I detail the whole 2 month process in which the entire KnockOut concept was developed. The concept was simple. I firmly believed that female competitive wrestling had a market just waiting for someone to tap into it. WWE has always done well with the girls even when they were doing silly stuff. In my opinion, if female wrestling was produced seriously , you get the best of both worlds. You get the guys who like to watch the girls, no matter what they do and, at the same time, you satisfy the purists who want actual wrestling. The KnockOuts chieved both goals.

In my book, (have I mentioned that I have a book coming out?), I talk about the opposition I got in initially trying to sell the idea and how it was kicked back several times. But eventually, persistence paid off and the KnockOuts were born. It's a fascinating read detailing what really goes on behind creative's closed door where hardly anybody gets to see or hear about. Entertaining chapter.

Best KnockOut on the roster: Every KnockOut was a STAR. Period.

Belinda from Baton Rouge, Louisiana writes: Hi Dutch. I'm loving the blog. I especially liked the University of Dutch series and Kane story. Any plans to come out with any University of Dutch T-Shirts or TWATD shirts? My friends and I would love to have one.

Dutch: Well, since you put it that way, the answer is yes. I wasn't really planning on doing anything other with this blog but to promote my book. You're about the 10th person that has emailed me and asked that question. Look for them as hopefully, the T-Shirts will be offered for purchase soon.

Vince Russo from Long Island, New York writes: Dutch, I miss you. Please come home.

Dutch: Can't do it Vince. Having too much fun on the beach in Puerto Rico to come back and have a heart attack. But thanks for asking. If you want, you can show up in Princeton, Kentucky next Saturday and we can both kick Double J's ass. I know you would love that. That's always good for stress relief. Take care Vince.

Dutchism of the Day:

Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

Next time on the blog....WRESTLING IN JAPAN FOR A SHOOT GROUP. It's a story about me going on an overseas Japanese tour without knowing all the facts. By the time I found out everything, the tour was about over. Fascinating read on how to wrestle, travel, eat, sleep and get the living dog s**t beat out of you in a foreign country without the benefits of cell phones nor being able to speak the language.

Tags: Dutch Mantel, TNA, Jeff Jarrett, WWE, Jim Cornette, WWF, MSW, Bill Watts, Jim Ross