By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

ESPN producer Ben Houser went into detail on producing the "E:60" documentary on Scott Hall airing Wednesday night with Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald. The following are highlights:

-- Houser said they allowed the wrestling figures interviewed - Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, Stephanie McMahon, Kevin Nash, and Hall - to tell the story about Hall in the 17-minute feature and did not include a reporter voicing the story. Houser claimed it allowed them to "tell the truth" on Hall's descent to near-death and addiction.

"We decided to take ourselves out of the story and let all the people we interviewed tell all Scott’s story including Scott," Houser said. “Hall gave us a lot of his medical records to review. He gave us a lot of his personal photos. Hall allowed us into his house. He went through the pills that he takes on a daily basis, the different medicines that he takes.

“So there’s really no slant, no angle. We’re telling the truth from what happened. We just lay out those facts on television and let everybody take us through the narrative of the Scott Hall story.”

-- Houser's interview on the documentary suggests there's a mixed takeaway that (a) Hall's personal problems preceded wrestling, therefore, wrestling is not to be blamed for Hall's personal struggles and/or (b) being in the pro wrestling business exacerbated Hall's pre-wrestling issues. The wrestling people interviewed for the story (especially WWE VP Stephanie McMahon representing the "new era of WWE" and a Wellness Policy) have a vested interest in making sure the first conclusion is stressed.

Houser said, “Scott Hall is almost a dinosaur from an era of wrestling that essentially does not exist anymore today. Speaking to just about everyone we did for this story...all of them collectively say wrestling is not the cause of Scott Hall’s problems.

"He (Hall) didn’t blame wrestling. It’s all personal choices. You’ll have a guy like Scott Hall, but you’ll also have a guy like Tito Santana who has done very well."

“They also say wrestling today is not like it was back then," Houser said before discussing the change away from a 'rock 'n roll' lifestyle (without examining whether new vices have emerged in pro wrestling). "That probably is a big takeaway from this story - which is big picture - not as much about Scott but more about professional wrestling in general.”

Houser also talks about Hall's painkiller addiction during his pro wrestling career still affecting him today, which supports conclusion (b).

"The journalist Mike Mooneyham said it very well. It was an era where there were real injures involved, and a lot of guys became addicted to painkillers. Those painkillers and addictions affected them later in life. I think that also affected Scott to this day. He has a lot of different health problems," Houser said.

Caldwell's Analysis: It will be interesting to see what the finished product looks like tonight on ESPN. Unfortunately, it sounds like allowing the wrestling people to tell the story without vetting for carny talk or "protecting the business" talk could lead to a slanted piece. We'll see. WWE wants to present an image that wrestling has completely cleaned itself up and there's a "new era" away from the rock 'n roll lifestyle (see "family guy" Andy winning Tough Enough over "rock 'n roll" Luke Robinson), but that's a corporate-friendly, PG front when real wrestler health issues still exist in pro wrestling. It will be interesting to see how much focus the only independent voice cited for the story, author Mike Mooneyham, is given in comparison to the views from those with vested interests in the image of pro wrestling in 2011.

[Torch photo credit Wade Keller (c) PWTorch.com]

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