The "Ask Tito" Wrestling Thread

[Tito]

Argh - The prior thread was going to be a basis for my columnist comeback on answering questions of the past...

Here we go again... Ask any question of the past and we can discuss it here.

[Spartacus]

Tito! Man have I missed your work, I have went back and read just about every single column you have wrote, over on your website. I strongly urge you, if still willing to write, to make a comeback. Either on the forums, or on main page. Just take topics thrown around here and go at it. I along with many, many other folks would absolutely love to see you make a comeback, and love to read columns of past scenario's and the such. I will start a petition if I have to. Just consider it man, strongly consider it. We'd all love to see, even if a monthly-ish appearance, it'd all be good. We need you back dude, god willing, and Tito-willing.

[LHARR]

Tito! Man have I missed your work, I have went back and read just about every single column you have wrote, over on your website. I strongly urge you, if still willing to write, to make a comeback. Either on the forums, or on main page. Just take topics thrown around here and go at it. I along with many, many other folks would absolutely love to see you make a comeback, and love to read columns of past scenario's and the such. I will start a petition if I have to. Just consider it man, strongly consider it. We'd all love to see, even if a monthly-ish appearance, it'd all be good. We need you back dude, god willing, and Tito-willing.

Wow, I am in the right forums, am I?

[Spartacus]

Ha. What's that mean sir?

[Tito]

Tito! Man have I missed your work, I have went back and read just about every single column you have wrote, over on your website. I strongly urge you, if still willing to write, to make a comeback. Either on the forums, or on main page. Just take topics thrown around here and go at it. I along with many, many other folks would absolutely love to see you make a comeback, and love to read columns of past scenario's and the such. I will start a petition if I have to. Just consider it man, strongly consider it. We'd all love to see, even if a monthly-ish appearance, it'd all be good. We need you back dude, god willing, and Tito-willing.

It's already in the works, brother...

I will say this... I tried writing one night and I hit a wall. It's not easy to write creatively like I used to, especially about wrestling. Writing economic reports all day at a Bank and for the university is probably burning my creativity out.

But for now, I need good questions... There are several stored in my head from the old thread that I'll use, but I need more!

[nishant1985]

Shame the earlier thread had just about touched 400 posts..now we start all over again...well, i don't have any new question to post ask right now... but just to help you i will mention some of the topics which we discussed in the old thread... Many were related to TNA product...how it can be changed.. what would you do if u were in TNA... Many were WCW related(their fall mainly, best matches, best tag match, NWO)... I remember asking about Which Austin being better (1997-1999, Pre surgery) or (2000-2001, post surgery)...

Well, i dont think you would be aware of this since u dont follow the product anymore... but BRET HART has been named as new RAW GM... what i wanted to ask you is do you think Bret Hart returning is a good thing... Not in terms of finding a closure to Montreal... but in terms of being an influence on younger wrestlers... He was an extrememly talented wrestler... In my opinion, the best ever... You know, he can be a good mentor, guide, teacher etc...

[Wevv Mang]

What are your thoughts on WWE stock? Do you recommend buying, holding, or selling?

[Spartacus]

Wow, Tito himself, returning, Im certainly excited for this! As for questions. I got some. How about, what do you think the current state of wrestling would be like today had Bischoff bought WCW. What was your all time favorite PPV card from that era? What would have been your all time favorite card from that era? By that I mean if you could book a WM during that time, what would it have looked like as far as your favorite matches, feuds, dream matches, etc.

Im sure that I can think up many more for ya, and ill post them here first thing. God will and good luck!

[nishant1985]

Also, i wanted to ask although HBK was not part of the attitude era as an active wrestler... he claims that it was his idea...is it true?

Also, one more question... if you notice undertaker and HBK's resume... they had their best matches in the latter half of their careers... HBK had his best matches after coming out of retirement... Undertaker has had his best matches in last 6-7 years after nearly 10-12 years of being in WWE... does this mean that first time round they just weren't serious enough or WWF was not just good enough back then... or maybe focus was more on characters than actual in ring ability...

[Tito]

Shame the earlier thread had just about touched 400 posts..now we start all over again...well, i don't have any new question to post ask right now... but just to help you i will mention some of the topics which we discussed in the old thread... Many were related to TNA product...how it can be changed.. what would you do if u were in TNA... Many were WCW related(their fall mainly, best matches, best tag match, NWO)... I remember asking about Which Austin being better (1997-1999, Pre surgery) or (2000-2001, post surgery)...

Well, i dont think you would be aware of this since u dont follow the product anymore... but BRET HART has been named as new RAW GM... what i wanted to ask you is do you think Bret Hart returning is a good thing... Not in terms of finding a closure to Montreal... but in terms of being an influence on younger wrestlers... He was an extrememly talented wrestler... In my opinion, the best ever... You know, he can be a good mentor, guide, teacher etc...

I think it's good that Bret has forgiven the past. The stakes were too high to just let him leave the WWE as champion. Now, I'm more surprised he has forgiven Vince for not taking better safety precautions with Owen...

Bret was a good wrestler... Too one-dimensional for my tastes, though.

What are your thoughts on WWE stock? Do you recommend buying, holding, or selling?

Wow, at $16.13, good question... They had a fantastic 1st quarter: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=WWE

Honestly, Wevv, it depends how much you bought it for. If I owned WWE stock and I see other stocks getting crushed right now, I'd consider a HOLD. I'm quite a big fan of any investment that will pay a 8.8% rate of return, and that's what you get with the WWE stock from an annualized dividend.

If this stock dips below $14 during these turbulent times, I'd buy buy buy. With the dividend paying out nicely, I'm struggling against selling unless you bought very low and need to make a quick buck.

Hold?

Wow, Tito himself, returning, Im certainly excited for this! As for questions. I got some. How about, what do you think the current state of wrestling would be like today had Bischoff bought WCW. What was your all time favorite PPV card from that era? What would have been your all time favorite card from that era? By that I mean if you could book a WM during that time, what would it have looked like as far as your favorite matches, feuds, dream matches, etc.

Im sure that I can think up many more for ya, and ill post them here first thing. God will and good luck!

We'll see... I'm older and rustier...

It would have probably failed. WWE would have crushed them, having gone corporate during 2000. I don't think many realize how efficiently run the WWE's finances are (thanks, Linda McMahon), as well as having the power of equity. Right now, the WWE has $337 million in total shareholder equity. Who can compete with that as a capital base?

And Bischoff, when going it alone, wouldn't have Ted's money to spend his way out of poor executive management skills. WWE would have crushed him.

[Tito]

And to that point, let me reiterate that the WWE is NOT scared of TNA. WWE knows how thin they are on finances and the WWE could step it up on a major talent raid if they so choose. In fact, I figure the WWE will raid them sometime in the future...

But the WWE is corporate... This isn't your older WWE where it was the McMahons directly financing it and taking risk... No, it's corporation raising liquidity on a much larger scale. This is a pretty damn good balance sheet: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=WWE

I've had a few of my older sources tell me that Vince wants TNA to exist just so that he can have something to raid and to allow individuals to not get bored of his product. Vince is a smart bastard and he can exterminate TNA if he so chooses. But what good is that? Maybe a better run promotion will then step up to the plate. Vince knows TNA quite well and is not afraid of them. If they were to have continued the January 4th success, Vince would have started to spend money...

[ChrisBear]

Tito! Man have I missed your work, I have went back and read just about every single column you have wrote, over on your website. I strongly urge you, if still willing to write, to make a comeback. Either on the forums, or on main page. Just take topics thrown around here and go at it. I along with many, many other folks would absolutely love to see you make a comeback, and love to read columns of past scenario's and the such. I will start a petition if I have to. Just consider it man, strongly consider it. We'd all love to see, even if a monthly-ish appearance, it'd all be good. We need you back dude, god willing, and Tito-willing.

Want a tissue for your chin?

[Wevv Mang]

I agree with you on the WWE stock, and that's the price I recommend to buy at too.

Do you think the business structure of the UFC is strong enough to continue to sustain them if they have a bad year?

[Durandal]

Neither UFC nor TNA is a publicly traded company, right? How do you evaluate whether they're making money (for UFC) or losing money (probably for TNA)?

[Tito]

I agree with you on the WWE stock, and that's the price I recommend to buy at too.

Do you think the business structure of the UFC is strong enough to continue to sustain them if they have a bad year?

Yes... UFC is very tight in its budget (do you see Fedor in UFC?) and it has a lot of corporate backing, although it's not corporate itself. UFC is very cheap on its payouts, notably on the lower card...

I bet they go public real soon, though...

[Irishsara]

What do you think are the top 3 technical matches of all time and what do you think makes a great technical match?

[Marvin]

Tito, what do you get out of watching wrestling?

[123456787654321]

Mr Tito,


1) Is it true that Triple H personally doesn't like Chris Jericho? I tend to believe everything is a work, but as far as I can remember every single time they are in the ring together, whether on the mike or on the mat, Jericho always ends up being Triple H's bitch, which leads me to think there's something going on behind the scenes.

2) What really made Kurt Angle leave WWE? I believe he was trying to be the top heel on RAW and performed very well, yet during the draft he was pushed to ECW. It was totally unbelievable that a top talent like Angle would be used in ECW to mentor rookies. Shortly after he jumped to TNA, so I think he was simply too proud not be a main eventer in the main show. I got the feeling he would rather be the main eventer in a small show than a non-eventer in a big show.

3) Any thoughts on the career of the late Andrew Test Martin? I just kind of liked him but couldn't figure out why his pushes always went no where. As far as his ring work was concerned, I saw him as a fast and athletic big man who really put the boot in every single one of his Big Boots. He didn't just raise his leg, it was like he really rushed forward with all his weight to use his leg to snap the other guy's neck off.


Thanks for reading.

[TeamFarrell]

3) Any thoughts on the career of the late Andrew Test Martin?

Thoughts on Test? Well, for one, people started calling him "Test" because he was on more test than anyone they'd ever seen, so there's always that.

[snootz]

Is it true that Lesnar messed up the powerbomb on purpose to hurt Bob Holly who is said to be a big bull backstage or did Holly mess up the move on purpose?

[trajik lastat]

The WWE is looking for the next Black superstar, who do you think has the best chance?? Who has the worse chance??

Kofi Kingston
R-Truth
JTG
Shad
Mark Henry
MVP
Eziekiel Jackson

[Brooklyn]

I'm not Tito lol but Traj I'm thinking maybe an R Truth or Kofi because their personalities seem to be a little stronger. I'll throw MVP in there as well. I'd consider them the most entertaining(ring wise/personality combo) of the list you provided. I think all three could be like one big feud away from becoming/staying mainevent. Ala the Kofi-Orton thing. Worst chance...hmmm Maybe Shad or Mark Henry. To me if Mark Henry was going to break out, he would have by now. I think he's found his niche as the midcard beast whenever he's a heel. Big Shad could very well have a career along that same line. I have the Brooklyn Bias in terms of wanting to see him make it but he needs to improve all around. Big Zeke has an imposing look that could get him far as a heel but we have to see how he'll connect with fans once he returns.

[Westward-ho]

Big T

Do you think Paul Heyman could change TNA around for the better if he was incharge of booking and the like at TNA.

[Thurl]

Here is a question for you. What does WWE need to do to get you back as a regular viewer? Or maybe, who do they have to fire?

[Tito]

New Blog - "Top 10 Best Wrestlers since 1985": http://www.lopforums.com/entry.php/4...985-My-Opinion

Enjoy!

What do you think are the top 3 technical matches of all time and what do you think makes a great technical match?

Flair/Steamboat Wrestlewar 89 and Clash of the Champions 2 out of 3 Falls, and the "I Quit" match between Ric Flair during 1989. A great technical match needs to be loaded with psychology, good chain wrestling, and manufactured drama about the match itself that the stakes are very high and both wrestlers sell it to the fans with sheer wrestling ability.

Tito, what do you get out of watching wrestling?

I don't watch right now, Marvin, but when I did, it was just enjoyable for the sport of it, even though it's not technically a sport. I find that a great 4-5 star match is as good or better than any sporting event.

Mr Tito,


1) Is it true that Triple H personally doesn't like Chris Jericho? I tend to believe everything is a work, but as far as I can remember every single time they are in the ring together, whether on the mike or on the mat, Jericho always ends up being Triple H's bitch, which leads me to think there's something going on behind the scenes.

2) What really made Kurt Angle leave WWE? I believe he was trying to be the top heel on RAW and performed very well, yet during the draft he was pushed to ECW. It was totally unbelievable that a top talent like Angle would be used in ECW to mentor rookies. Shortly after he jumped to TNA, so I think he was simply too proud not be a main eventer in the main show. I got the feeling he would rather be the main eventer in a small show than a non-eventer in a big show.

3) Any thoughts on the career of the late Andrew Test Martin? I just kind of liked him but couldn't figure out why his pushes always went no where. As far as his ring work was concerned, I saw him as a fast and athletic big man who really put the boot in every single one of his Big Boots. He didn't just raise his leg, it was like he really rushed forward with all his weight to use his leg to snap the other guy's neck off.


Thanks for reading.

1) Everybody is Triple H's bitch. HHH is on the creative committee and married to Stephanie. I think for much of Jericho's career, he's been believed to be undersized and with McMahon wanting height in his champions, it's hurt Jericho on booking. Jericho hasn't helped himself by being honest about what management thinks of him... Jericho is reportedly much different now and appears to be working harder at his craft than sort of expecting it to come easily to him before.

2) Tired of the schedule and the way it was causing him to frequently get his neck worked on. I guess he asked for time off from Vince but was told "no". With TNA, Angle has a light schedule and can remain in wrestling longer instead of being potentially crippled with the way the WWE was working him to death.

3) Test was a great worker and athlete in the ring, but had zero personality to go along with that. WWE tried hard to push him, but the fans just never stuck to him because he could never put together the personality or marketing side of wrestling.

Thoughts on Test? Well, for one, people started calling him "Test" because he was on more test than anyone they'd ever seen, so there's always that.

He was definitely on something, as they all were during the 2000's. I always heard that Test, for whatever reason, refused to brush his teeth. My sources said his mouth was absolutely disgusting and I guess Stephanie was repulsed during their storyline if she needed to kiss him. LOL

Is it true that Lesnar messed up the powerbomb on purpose to hurt Bob Holly who is said to be a big bull backstage or did Holly mess up the move on purpose?

I can't remember, nor have I heard this rumor... I can't imagine a wrestler purposely injuring another guy, notably with a move so dangerous as a powerbomb. *looks up powerbomb*

OUCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnBK1qvofK8

Seems like Holly deadweighted it, but I don't know? I can't imagine anyone doing this on purpose.

The WWE is looking for the next Black superstar, who do you think has the best chance?? Who has the worse chance??

Kofi Kingston
R-Truth
JTG
Shad
Mark Henry
MVP
Eziekiel Jackson

Not watching religiously since 2007... I don't know some of those wrestlers... I do like MVP, but he seems undersized for what the McMahons want out of someone in the main event. It's a shame that it took Mark Henry over 10 years to "get it". Crazy investment made by the WWE there...

I'll trust what Brooklyn is saying...

I've heard good things about Kofi, but we'll see...

Do you think Paul Heyman could change TNA around for the better if he was incharge of booking and the like at TNA.

For one, Jarrett and other management there wouldn't give him full reign. That's what Heyman needs to be successful. He could make TNA better, but TNA has more of a talent problem than anything... Too much reliance on older WWE/WCW/ECW stars instead of their homegrown talent.

Here is a question for you. What does WWE need to do to get you back as a regular viewer? Or maybe, who do they have to fire?

Better booking and better wrestlers. WWE was losing me during 2005 and writing columns became a chore during much of 2006. When I watch it now, it's roughly the same product that I was becoming bored with in 2005. I would probably need the next coming of the Rock/Austin to fully pull me in, or if my son happens to become a fan of it.

WWE and TNA do nothing for me in their current states.

[Westward-ho]

Another question (I love this thread)

If you had to chose betwwen Paul Heyman and Jim Cornette to book your wrestling show who would you chose.

[Tito]

Heyman... Cornette is too old fashioned in his booking ideas, whereas Heyman is innovative.

[TeamFarrell]

He was definitely on something, as they all were during the 2000's. I always heard that Test, for whatever reason, refused to brush his teeth. My sources said his mouth was absolutely disgusting and I guess Stephanie was repulsed during their storyline if she needed to kiss him. LOL

One of my buddies who was friends with Test on the indys told me the story about how he got his name. It always makes me laugh.

[Savior4Hire]

Given that you started the book club thread on the old forums, which is your favorite wrestler autobiography?

[Tito]

Given that you started the book club thread on the old forums, which is your favorite wrestler autobiography?

Foley's first book, "Have a Nice Day" by a mile... It's in Foley's words, but not only that, it gives you a taste of things in Japan, WCW, ECW, and WWF at very interesting times in wrestling history. I love hearing him talk about the HORRIBLE days of WCW during the early 1990's, while hearing him discuss the transition between Cactus Jack to Mankind is quite awesome.

DDP, Dynamite, and possibly Flair's or Piper's books are the next best.

[nishant1985]

Bret Hart vs Steve Austin - WM 13
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart - WM 10
Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker - WM 25

If you were to rank these three matches which one would be on top and which one on bottom? Also, why?

Which are your favorite Kurt Angle matches? Do you think he is closest wrestler to match HBK's in ring skills? Like you said in your column once, HBK could wrestle a broom stick to a good match...I am of the opinion that so could Kurt Angle...

[Tito]

Bret Hart vs Steve Austin - WM 13
Bret Hart vs Owen Hart - WM 10
Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker - WM 25

If you were to rank these three matches which one would be on top and which one on bottom? Also, why?

Which are your favorite Kurt Angle matches? Do you think he is closest wrestler to match HBK's in ring skills? Like you said in your column once, HBK could wrestle a broom stick to a good match...I am of the opinion that so could Kurt Angle...

OUCH - Painful question... Probably HBK vs. Undertaker #1, Austin vs. Bret #2, and Owen vs. Bret #3

Good question on Angle... I'd probably consider him a hybrid of HBK and Chris Benoit but in pure technical ability and also adapting to wrestler's abilities. In think any of his matches against Benoit or HBK are the top shelf ones. I think his feud through 2003 was most excellent, leading to Angle getting his head shaved and becoming permanently bald to this day.

[RIPbossman]

During the original ECW's first month on TNN in 1999, The Dudley Boys and Taz were signed to WWE contracts. WWE took a number of wrestlers from ECW over the years, but do you think that these particular signings were done to purposely hurt ECW and lessen their chances of becoming a big time force in the wrestling world?

[T.O.]

I think his feud through 2003 was most excellent, leading to Angle getting his head shaved and becoming permanently bald to this day.

Nope. Shaved head at Judgment Day 2002 after a match with Edge.

[Tito]

During the original ECW's first month on TNN in 1999, The Dudley Boys and Taz were signed to WWE contracts. WWE took a number of wrestlers from ECW over the years, but do you think that these particular signings were done to purposely hurt ECW and lessen their chances of becoming a big time force in the wrestling world?

Taz wanted paid and felt that he reached his potential in ECW, while the Dudleys were potentially let go because TNN executives were concerned about their language from their promos not working well with TNN's standards and practices. Plus, like Taz, they felt they accomplished all they could in ECW.

Nope. Shaved head at Judgment Day 2002 after a match with Edge.

Damn it, I'm getting my 2002-2003 years mixed up lately.

[mcg82688]

Hey Tito, it's conspiracy time.

1.) I know the question has been asked a million times, but do you believe that the Montreal Screwjob was a shoot or work? It just seems to me after doing some reading and thinking that the idea of it actually being a work isn't completely nuts. The three main parties involved all got what they wanted. Bret was able to leave for WCW as perhaps the hottest free agent in pro wrestling history. I don't buy the fact that the incident weakened him at all. Anyone with two eyes could see he never gave up. He was the uncrowned WWF champion heading to WCW. In regards to Vince, the incident really started the whole "Mr. McMahon" character. Looking back now, one of the greatest characters ever. In addition, Shawn was the champion again. Those facts combined with the whole "Wrestling with Shadows" documentary wherein Bret was wearing a wire the whole time and nobody ever noticed, as well as the seemingly perfect camera angles, I feel, make a pretty strong case. So is it crazy to believe that this COULD have been a work. Could the real reason why Bret was gone so long be more about the Owen situation as opposed to the "Montreal Screwjob."

2.) Could Vince Russo going to WCW really have been a plan orchestrated by the WWF to "pull the plug" on WCW. I know, the phrasing makes it seem crazier. The one thing that really had me thinking about this was a column you wrote on October 4th, 1999. By the way, I've been reading a bunch of your old columns recently and have been enjoying myself doing so. Anyway, in this column you state that the WWF.com itself was the one who broke the news on Russo leaving for WCW. Why would the WWF release the fact that an integral part of their creative committee was leaving for the competition? You combine that with the stuff the he actually booked once he was in WCW, there's at least room for debate. I mean even then, I was 11 or so, I was wondering what the hell was going on. Now I don't feel this is as strong a case as the "Screwjob," as far as the number of exhibits of evidence, but the atrociousness of WCW during it's dying days, or dying hours at that point, I believe compensates.

3.) Now lets take a trip to Dallas, Texas. It's November 22, 1963...Just kidding. Thanks Tito, as always, for your time.

[TeamFarrell]

Its not completely out of the realm of possibility that it was a work. I don't believe that it was, but it meets the "Crash TV" thing that was going on, nobody knew what was going to happen next. And you're right, everyone got what they wanted.

Its entirely possible that they planned it and it took off so hugely they all involved agreed that as far as they were concerned, it would be a shoot. And realistically the reason for Bret not to come back after WWE bought WCW was that he was retired after the concussion.

Again, I don't personally believe it but stranger things have happened in wrestling.

[Tito]

Hey Tito, it's conspiracy time.

1.) I know the question has been asked a million times, but do you believe that the Montreal Screwjob was a shoot or work? It just seems to me after doing some reading and thinking that the idea of it actually being a work isn't completely nuts. The three main parties involved all got what they wanted. Bret was able to leave for WCW as perhaps the hottest free agent in pro wrestling history. I don't buy the fact that the incident weakened him at all. Anyone with two eyes could see he never gave up. He was the uncrowned WWF champion heading to WCW. In regards to Vince, the incident really started the whole "Mr. McMahon" character. Looking back now, one of the greatest characters ever. In addition, Shawn was the champion again. Those facts combined with the whole "Wrestling with Shadows" documentary wherein Bret was wearing a wire the whole time and nobody ever noticed, as well as the seemingly perfect camera angles, I feel, make a pretty strong case. So is it crazy to believe that this COULD have been a work. Could the real reason why Bret was gone so long be more about the Owen situation as opposed to the "Montreal Screwjob."

2.) Could Vince Russo going to WCW really have been a plan orchestrated by the WWF to "pull the plug" on WCW. I know, the phrasing makes it seem crazier. The one thing that really had me thinking about this was a column you wrote on October 4th, 1999. By the way, I've been reading a bunch of your old columns recently and have been enjoying myself doing so. Anyway, in this column you state that the WWF.com itself was the one who broke the news on Russo leaving for WCW. Why would the WWF release the fact that an integral part of their creative committee was leaving for the competition? You combine that with the stuff the he actually booked once he was in WCW, there's at least room for debate. I mean even then, I was 11 or so, I was wondering what the hell was going on. Now I don't feel this is as strong a case as the "Screwjob," as far as the number of exhibits of evidence, but the atrociousness of WCW during it's dying days, or dying hours at that point, I believe compensates.

3.) Now lets take a trip to Dallas, Texas. It's November 22, 1963...Just kidding. Thanks Tito, as always, for your time.

1) It was a "shoot". More people knew it was coming than you know and someone, with a grudge, would have blurted out "work" by now. The issue was getting the belt off of Bret before he jumped to WCW and embarrassed the WWE by having their champion merging with the WCW title.

2) No - As with any conspiracy, you need a bunch of people remaining quiet and the payoff being satisfactory. Russo wanted credit for his work and attempted to replicate his success elsewhere. He tried to captain a ship that was sinking anyway and made it go down faster with his bad management of the company.

3) Lone gunman.

[nishant1985]

Ok..i was watching an old interview of Jericho..he basically did not have many nice things to say about Eric Bischoff... he mentioned that "Bischoff basically stole the NWO idea from Japan and it clicked leading him to think that he knew everything about pro-wrestling and was a genius which in fact he was not"...would you agree with this comment from Jericho? and secondly, i did not know NWO was a stolen idea...was it? some details on that?

[Tito]

Ok..i was watching an old interview of Jericho..he basically did not have many nice things to say about Eric Bischoff... he mentioned that "Bischoff basically stole the NWO idea from Japan and it clicked leading him to think that he knew everything about pro-wrestling and was a genius which in fact he was not"...would you agree with this comment from Jericho? and secondly, i did not know NWO was a stolen idea...was it? some details on that?

Jericho is bitter over Bischoff because how quickly the Bill Goldberg feud was squashed (Jericho's promos were making Goldberg look bad, according to Eric), while Jericho got buried in the NWO fold. You have to understand that Jericho is a very brutally honest guy and he'll tell you what's on his mind instead of being toeing the company line. He was like that before his initial 2005 "retirement" in the WWE. Just the way he is.

As for the Japan/NWO thing, he's right, partially. I believe New Japan did an invasion angle (not sure if it was an All Japan-style angle or not? Help me, CoLD?) and Bischoff greatly admired the angle, so looking for great storylines to inject into Nitro, he opted to create a WCW vs. WWF feud within WCW through the signing of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. They were coming anyway and Bischoff wanted one more "outsider" to complete their group, namely another bigtime WWF star they could swipe from the roster. They wanted Bret Hart, but the WWE made the 20 year deal with him (not sure if Nash/Hall would have been excited for that). With Hulk Hogan taking time off after Uncensored 1996, they got creative with their booking and made history.

So yeah, New Japan probably helped inspire an invasion-like angle. But Bischoff, and his bookers (Terry Taylor was HUGE in his influence on 1996-1997 storylines) made it into a WWF invasion of WCW. Of course, WWF's lawyers took WCW to court, and Hall/Nash had to publicly admit on camera shortly thereafter that they weren't part of the WWF. Funny thing is that this copyright lawsuit was an eventual win for the WWE during 1999, I believe, and they were granted exclusive rights to negotiate first with WCW if WCW was ever for sale.

Nothing more fantastic than this in Pro Wrestling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO9zxsRzN-M