It's a rare occasion that someone in the wrestling business impresses us. Mostly because we're hopelessly cynical, but also because the wrestling business is full of snakes, and not the awesome kind.
Definitely not this kind But every now and then, someone does something that catches our attention and makes us think, "This guy's got some balls." Whether it be something downright ridiculous or an act of sheer bravado, they show that even though they're probably still a weasel, they can be pretty awesome at the same time.
TNA president Dixie Carter is one of those people.
well, aside from the whole "having balls" thing Ms. Carter took a trip up to Capitol Hill recently as part of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's investigation into steroid abuse in professional wrestling. Judging by the picture, and seeing as how she's from Tennessee, we'd like to think her interview went something like this:
Ms. Carter enters the room with a plate full of fried chicken, okra, and homemade cookies, which she passes around the investigating panel. Her lawyers follow her in with jugs of sweet tea. She curtsies and says, in a dainty Southern lilt, "Now, what could busy and important men such as yourselves have to ask lil' ol' me about the rasslin' business? Surely I can't be of much use, but I would ask y'all to help yourselves to seconds. Wouldn't want you to blow away, now would I?"
The House of Representatives, however, has seen fit to provide a full transcript, single-handedly destroying what would have made a great episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. It doesn't prove that didn't bring some of grandma's famous poundcake, though.
During her testimony, she seemed very open in discussing all matters of the wrestling business. Allow us to provide some choice quotes from her time in Congress. The entire transcript, as well as an overview and other interviews with people such as Vince McMahon, can be found here.
Who purchases the TNA action figures?
"...it is more in the collectible side where guys keep the toys and they keep them in their boxes and then they increase in value and things such as that...Have you seen the 40-Year-Old Virgin with that man that has all the toys?"
How does hiring Pacman Jones fit in to a more family friendly image?
"Well, you know, in this country, I believe you're innocent until proven guilty. And the last I checked, you know, most all of his incidents, several of them have been cleared during his tenure with us and even some since then."
By the way, Ms. Carter, we're expecting a check for two uses of the phrase "you know" (tm), and the fine is doubled because it was used during House testimony.
What causes the problems with older wrestlers?
"...that's what [the guys over 40] feel like the real travesty is, this schedule...and then you combine it when their 15 minutes of fame is over, they weren't that famous to begin with, they didn't save any money, they are depressed as hell, and it is a sad existence."
Do the wrestlers feel like they have to use steroids to get the top spots?
"I have chubby, I have very chubby, I have downright fat guys that work for me, and they are accepted and they are pushed as hard as anybody else."
Are the wrestlers really taking these chair shots to the head?
"I mean, they know how to protect themselves....But I do notice a few dummies that just sit there and take it and then we have to tell them backstage you have to, you know, put your hands up."
CHA-CHING!
Do the wrestlers do more extreme things now that people know it's not real?
"They are not doing anything now that they didn't do before..and really what it is, it is no different for a movie. For a period of time, you sit there and you suspend disbelief. You suspend disbelief that Tom Cruise...really is this person in Mission Impossible. It is the same thing here."
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. But we have said it.
We encourage you to take the time (a LOT of time; it's over 100 pages) and read the whole interview. It's rather interesting. Because of that, we here at LOL, Wresslin' would like to salute Ms. Dixie Carter for her honesty and her ability to understand what drives the common wrestling fan.
Also, we'd both totally hit that
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