The future of SmackDown vs. Raw
We sit down with the man who makes the WWE decisions and pick his brains
GR: THQ now has the licenses for WWE and UFC. How do you feel about the company being the dominant name in videogames when it comes to sweaty men rolling around in tights?
KK: We're very proud of course! The WWE brand is the top-selling fighting-game franchise. We're extremely proud of working with the WWE and extremely proud to be making games with them. Now we have a new fighting franchise, UFC, that's starting to get really popular. They're growing in leaps and bounds. We're very proud to have the opportunity to use the expertise that we have in order to make products for both brands.
THQ doesn't see the two products being at all competitive. We see the markets for each game being completely different. The gameplay is going to be completely different. However, both products will be portals into the brands. You have to admit that THQ does a great job at taking the brand and infusing it into the game itself. We don't ignore the brand at all. We take the best parts of the brand and put it into the game.
Thankfully, both companies understand what gaming means to their brands. The gaming industry is continually growing. The importance of gaming is continually growing. So our games have a lot to give back to both brands.
GR: THQ now has the licenses for WWE and UFC. How do you feel about the company being the dominant name in videogames when it comes to sweaty men rolling around in tights?
KK: We're very proud of course! The WWE brand is the top-selling fighting-game franchise. We're extremely proud of working with the WWE and extremely proud to be making games with them. Now we have a new fighting franchise, UFC, that's starting to get really popular. They're growing in leaps and bounds. We're very proud to have the opportunity to use the expertise that we have in order to make products for both brands.
THQ doesn't see the two products being at all competitive. We see the markets for each game being completely different. The gameplay is going to be completely different. However, both products will be portals into the brands. You have to admit that THQ does a great job at taking the brand and infusing it into the game itself. We don't ignore the brand at all. We take the best parts of the brand and put it into the game.
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Thankfully, both companies understand what gaming means to their brands. The gaming industry is continually growing. The importance of gaming is continually growing. So our games have a lot to give back to both brands.
GR: Okay, we got a little off topic there, but I'm going to take it back home. Who is your personal favorite WWE superstar?
KK: Rey Mysterio by far - I love Rey Mysterio! I have a son that's a huge Rey Mysterio fan, so that's the guy we love together. My son got to go with me to WrestleMania 22 and he sat on my shoulders for the entire event. We got to see Rey win the Heavyweight Championship. That was exciting as it can possibly get. I love Rey. I'm looking forward to him getting back to the ring after he recovers from his injuries. If you ever come down to my office, you'll see that I have a Rey Mysterio shrine. Rey's signed a lot of posters and memorabilia for me. Rey's the man!
GR: How many seconds do you think you could last in Ric Flair's figure-four leg-lock?
KK: I think I could probably last around... maybe .6 seconds - one second at most, before I had to tap out.
GR: Okay, we got a little off topic there, but I'm going to take it back home. Who is your personal favorite WWE superstar?
KK: Rey Mysterio by far - I love Rey Mysterio! I have a son that's a huge Rey Mysterio fan, so that's the guy we love together. My son got to go with me to WrestleMania 22 and he sat on my shoulders for the entire event. We got to see Rey win the Heavyweight Championship. That was exciting as it can possibly get. I love Rey. I'm looking forward to him getting back to the ring after he recovers from his injuries. If you ever come down to my office, you'll see that I have a Rey Mysterio shrine. Rey's signed a lot of posters and memorabilia for me. Rey's the man!
GR: How many seconds do you think you could last in Ric Flair's figure-four leg-lock?
KK: I think I could probably last around... maybe .6 seconds - one second at most, before I had to tap out.