Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Sunday, September 17, 2006 at 5:37 AM EST

The following was transcribed by Andy J. of wrestlingweekly.com:

On September 5th, Wrestling Weekly hosts Doc Young and Les Thatcher were joined by Figure Four Weekly's Bryan Alvarez and TheHistoryOfWWE.com webmaster Graham Cawthon. Wrestling Weekly airs every Tuesday at 8pm Eastern at www.wrestlingweekly.com.

Bryan is the first featured guest, Doc says that he is non-stop wrestling and that he will be wrestling his friend Vinny this Sunday. Les says himself and Doc have to make a prediction on Bryan's match, saying it could get more viewers than the pay-per-view. Alvarez says WWE might beat them as they have the TLC, Hell in a Cell and Trish's retirement, however, his goal is more viewers than pay-per-view buyers. Les talks about the contract signing, which he found quite funny and Vinny not turning up on time. Bryan says that Vinny complained about his pay-off and is really always late. Alvarez continues talking about pro-wrestlers being asked to be actors and that it's easy to speak your mind and himself and Vinny spoke from the heart. Doc asks what would happen if Vinny didn't want to do the show anymore after the match, Bryan responds by saying maybe they will beat each other so badly they could be better friends.

Bryan says there will be no play by play Sunday, but there will be a commentary track on the DVD itself, similar to movie DVDs. Doc says with no commentary it can rival the Mankind/Undertaker 'Boiler Room Brawl', Alvarez states that he would like it compared to Samoa Joe vs. Kenta Kobashi.

Mark from the chat room asks about the 'Death of WCW' and who the funniest person was to interview. Bryan says he didn't interview anyone on the record, but did talk to a lot of people, some of whom worked for WWE, therefore he couldn't get on the record comments. Les says there was a record on the amount of people passing the buck in regards to the fall of World Championship Wrestling. Doc says there is one culprit in the book who's at fault, but you have to read the 'Death of WCW' to find out who that person is.

Les states that Bryan is coming out of retirement to wrestle Bryan, but Alvarez says it is a one time early return at this point.

"Professor VNS" in the chat room asks if Dave Meltzer has issued a challenge to the winner of the Bryan and Vinny match. Bryan says he would be happy to have a match with Dave, but he doesn't think it is ever going to happen. Alvarez says Meltzer has always worked out and that Dave is getting back into working out again. Bryan says for a 45 year old guy that he's in good shape and say's he is 'timeless'. Meltzer has been doing the Observer newsletter for 25 years.

Doc asks about the 'Hot Topic', which is Randy Orton's failed drug test. Bryan explains how the drug testing (Wellness Policy) was introduced by WWE after Eddie Guerrero passed away, saying it was to be very strict. The Drug Testing would be overseen by a third party, who was responsible for everything - choosing wrestlers to be tested, handing out punishments etc. Vince claimed power was out of his hands. First offense was 30 day suspension, second was 60 days, third was termination. First test no one was punished, second round of testing in July, of the 'SmackDown!' roster before the 'Great American Bash' saying Lashley and Kahli got 'busted' and both were pulled from the pay-per-view, which had to be reshuffled.

At this point, McMahon decided everything had to change. Now for the first offense in regards to the 'Wellness Policy' is 30 days without pay, but not taken off television; second offense is 60 days without pay and no one knows what the third strike is yet. Back in the day, there was no three strike rule and mentions Scott Hall who was suspended after saying he was going to WCW. Orton has a 30 day suspension, without pay, but will have road expenses paid. He was pulled from two weeks of house shows too. Bryan talks about that now no one is taken off TV that nobody has to know. He says everything is more secretive and even high up employees of WWE didn't know about Randy Orton failing the drug test until it was seen on the Internet.

Alvarez says you can argue whether or not it's fair or not and has to work TV for free. Les talks about the legalities of working for nothing. He says that instead of the money going back to WWE why not have it donated to the wrestler's chosen charity. Bryan says that WWE could rewrite the policy, and if it states that if you fail the test you have to work for free and the wrestlers don't agree, WWE can release them. Alvarez continues by saying the wrestler's would want to be released as they wouldn't be making the same money as they would be in WWE.

Bryan continues on this topic by saying he was told other 'Raw' wrestlers tested positive, but the only one he is aware of is Randy Orton, but there are others.

Doc asks about the change in the Wellness Policy which happened two days before the news about Orton, Bryan Alvarez replies that the changes were implemented well before then. Les says the Wellness Policy disrupted the storylines which is why it was changed.

Les and Bryan then discuss MMA and make comparisons to pro-wrestling, with Les stating there are no powerbombs in the UFC. Alvarez says the training is most brutal as it's done everyday and it's done at 80%. The fight itself results often in very little damage.

Les picks Bryan to win his match as he is a better athlete. Doc picks Bryan too for the same reasons which Les states as Alvarez is more into the training. Bryan thanks them both for their support. Doc concludes the interview by saying you can check out Bryan's website with the radio shows Figure Four Daily and the F4W newsletter at www.f4wonline.com and that you can hear Bryan on the Wrestling Observer radio show with Dave Meltzer. Les wishes Bryan luck and Doc tells Alvarez to stay healthy.

Check out f4wonline.com to see the classic battle.

The second featured guest is Graham Cawthon. Doc says the website is comprehensive and Les takes his hat off to Graham for doing extensive research for the 'History of WWE'. Cawthon says that his way of giving back after the compliments his website has received from those associated with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Les says that Howard Finkel, who fans will be familiar with as the ring announcer 'The Fink', is a walking encyclopedia of WWE history. Les says that he should talk to Finkel and didn't know this until the 'WrestleMania' in Toronto. He then continues to tell a story about a trivia quiz which the Fink hosted and he knew when people were right or wrong with the answers. Les then states Howard Finkel memories it all and that the 'The Fink' is the only employee to be at every 'WrestleMania'. Graham says he has been a fan since watching at ten years old, the match which got him more into it was the late British Bulldog vs. Bret 'Hitman' Hart from 'SummerSlam 92' at Wembley Stadium. Les says that Cawthon's history on his website is more factual than WWE's. Graham says that this is his goal. What keeps him going is the historical matches. He talks about Bret winning a dark match against the Bulldog which most people aren't aware of.

Les says he finds Graham's, Mid-Atlantic Gateway and Kayfabe Memories websites interesting. He continues by stating there is one which has listings of his win and loss record/matches in the Carolina's in 1971. Les asks how many hours Graham Cawthorn has put into the website. Graham responds by saying he launched it for himself. His favourite section of PWI was the Arena report. He went on the Internet looking for a collection of them. Graham then put all the information online and people found out about it and interest in the website increased. The site went online in 2002. Cawthon states he has a ton of help, but does as much as he can. Getting information from newsletters and magazines to add to the website. Graham says he doesn't know all the finishes at house shows for example, but does get people e-mail him about this. Les asks how long he's been in the newspaper business, Graham Cawthon says a year and he's a newspaper reporter for his regular job. In a given week, dependent on him working irregular hours, he can't usually sit down and watch all the WWE shows but adds what he can, when he can. Les jokes Cawthon is like superman and is a newspaper reporter who turns into a wrestling historian. Graham tries to attend as many independent shows as he can and attended the ECW show. He says for a $35 front row ticket, he had a hell of a time at the show. Graham continues highlighting the fact that there is criticism for the new ECW, but they put on a good show live. Les says that once people understand it isn't going to be the old ECW, people can take it or leave it.

Shockage in the chat room asks if WWE wanted to buy his website, would he sell it to them? Graham says WWE goes there and emphasizes that the newspaper clippings on the new WWE DVD are from his website. He would have to sell the website and would be inclined to do it if he could be running it himself. Another question, which would be choose between reporting an important story for the newspaper or front row seats at 'WrestleMania', Cawthon replies 'WrestleMania'. Doc asks what else is on the site, Graham says it is still a work in progress, but there are VHS/DVDs listings of the matches on the video cassettes, up to and including the new WWE championship DVD. Doc finishes by telling the listeners to visit the website www.thehistoryofwwe.com. There is also a Myspace link at www.myspace.com/thehistoryofwwe. Les says that Graham Cawthon lives in an area which has a wrestling history. He then asks when the information on the site goes back to, Graham says his website dates back to the days of Sammartino/Rogers, this was when WWE was known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Les says it is the most complete history of WWE out there and that is his goal. Doc thanks Graham for being on the show and then Les thanks him for all his hard work.

Next weeks guest will be Scott Norton and the following week, the 'King of Old School' Steve Corino will be the featured guest on 'Wrestling Weekly'. For more future guest information, visit www.myspace.com/docyoung (the official Myspace site of 'Wrestling Weekly'.

Wrestling Weekly is a part of the Wrestling Radio Network at www.wrestlingradionetwork.com, and replays can also be heard at www.audiowrestling.com. The Wrestling Weekly radio program featuring Doc Young and Les Thatcher can be heard every Tuesday from 8:00-10:00pm EST at www.wrestlingweekly.com.