Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Shawn Michaels, and Robert Roode questions answered

If you have a question you would like to have answered in the Powell’s Mailbag section, send an email to dotnetjason@gmail.com and label it as “mailbag question.”

Do you know if they're going to be turning Shawn Michaels heel for his match against Ric Flair or will it be a straight babyface vs. babyface bout for WrestleMania 24?

Gosselin

Powell replies: I don’t think HBK will turn heel. He may show some heel tendencies if his promo on Monday was any indication. He might get a little cockier and more defensive than usual, but I don’t think he’ll turn full fledged heel, although cheating to end Flair's career would be a hell of a way to turn. I’m sure Michaels realizes more than anyone that the fans are going to side with Flair at WrestleMania because it’s being positioned as his last possible match, so I’m guessing he’ll feed into it before and during the match, but ultimately share a handshake and a hug with Nature Boy afterward.

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I really enjoy your new site and I wanted to take advantage of your Mailbag section. At the end of Goldberg and Brock Lesnar’s final match at WrestleMania, they both got Stunners from Steve Austin. Could Vince McMahon have done anything to them if (after the match and after all the heckling they received from the crowd) they both just walked to the back and didn’t stick around for the Stunners?
 
Alan Powell,
Cambridge, Ontario

Powell replies: It would have been highly unprofessional and both wrestlers would have lost respect among their peers. Brock was trying to get out of his contract, so Vince could have make that process a lot more difficult if he strayed from the script.

Goldberg was on his way out and it doesn’t seem like he has any desire to be involved in pro wrestling any longer, but why burn a bridge and develop a reputation for not being professional? Furthermore, the office controls the payoffs. Had they not done business, one can only assume that their paychecks would have been much lighter, and I assume they were probably a lot lighter than they would have been had they not been on their way out of the company.

By the way, are we related?

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What are your thoughts about Robert Roode’s future? I’ve always liked great heels (Mr. Perfect, Ted DiBiase, Rick Rude, etc.) and I think he’s the best heel in the business right now. However, I’m not sure TNA’s illogical booking will ever allow a “pure” heel like Roode to climb the ladder to the world title. Am I right to be skeptical?
 
Steve Kiggins

Powell replies: I think you’re right to be skeptical based on the sappy gimmick he’s been saddled with. As I’ve noted before, he just doesn’t click as the rich character he’s playing. If he does get over, it will be in spite of that gimmick. Nevertheless, the powers that be clearly have high hopes for him. People involved in the writing process feel they have a lack of main event talent and the fact that they are trying to elevate him by having him feud with Booker T says a lot about his standing.

It helps that TNA officials see him as a homegrown talent. Booker, Kurt Angle, and Christian are imports from WWE. Samoa Joe made a big name for himself in ROH and on the indy scene. Rhino got his break in ECW and had a run with WWE. I think A.J. Styles is the pride and joy of the TNA office as far as homegrown talent goes, but Roode is high on the list of guys who got their first dose of national exposure in TNA. So while I think he has a ways to go before he’ll be ready for a title run, TNA officials are clearly high on him and are doing their best to elevate him.