Jul 16, 2021 4:13:13 GMT UT said:

Lugers loaded forearm finisher is so illogical. It’s lost me.

I can see the logic and it was a clever way to include a real life incident with his motorcycle accident, it just looked lame.

Jul 16, 2021 4:30:35 GMT Shootist said:

Jul 16, 2021 4:13:13 GMT UT said:

Lugers loaded forearm finisher is so illogical. It’s lost me.

I can see the logic and it was a clever way to include a real life incident with his motorcycle accident, it just looked lame.

It don’t make sense. Why would he ever trade punches or even punch anyone? If he can land a fist he can land a forearm… why go through a whole match.

Or even if you want to say he needs momentum to make it more effective than why ever use a clothesline? You’re already there with your arm - just knock him out and be on your way.

Just stands out to me as silly. I know there are more finishes you could use the argument for but it just bugged me.

Back at last, as UT creeps further and further into the future.

SUPERSTARS | S07 E21 | 05/23/1992

Jobber to the Superstars: Mark Kay
Kay's partner Jim Powers again gets passed over due to being a former "name" thanks to his Young Stallions run. So Kay gets the nod here for a decent look and ring gear which kinda give me Dean Douglas vibes. Runner-up is Dublin Destroyer for the hilariously bad name. Had he bothered to dye his hair red, he might've gotten the nod instead.

Squash of the Week: Money Incorporated vs. Jim Powers & Mark Kay
No standout squashes this week, so I'll give this match the nod since Powers & Kay stood out most among the JTTS ranks, and the finish was one of the better ones featuring a crisp DiBiase snap powerslam and a better Write Off from IRS.

Match of the Week: N/A
Guess this category only applies certain weeks when big names clash with other big names. Absolutely nothing wrong with squashes, but I already feel a little spoiled and miss my marquee main events.

Interview of the Week: The Ultimate Warrior
Warrior cuts a pretty coherent (for him) promo regarding the effects of Papa Shango's voodoo curse. Then he oozes motor oil from his forehead, and walks off selling it in a way more subdued fashion than you'd think such a thing warrants.

Other Random Thoughts:
Memorial Day episode was pretty un-memorable.

Jul 10, 2021 11:06:18 GMT 🤯 said:

- Correct Posture Day has to be one of the most random madeup holidays I've ever heard of.

Can't believe this is a real thing. Looked it up only to find it has grown in importance since 1992. May is now National Correct Posture Month!

I loved Lex's loaded forearm as a heel finish. Had it high on my list when we did a Greatest Finishers countdown a few years back. Jobbers and commentary sold it huge. I liked the initial mystery behind it. Would have been the best finisher in the business if not for a certain 568 pound WWF Champion making people go SPLAT by sitting on them from the second turnbuckle.

It didn't work so well as a babyface finisher and I get where UT is coming from. You could make a similar argument for a good amount of finishers though. I'll provide examples later if any of you insist. 

Jul 17, 2021 0:29:43 GMT Baker said:

Jul 10, 2021 11:06:18 GMT 🤯 said:

- Correct Posture Day has to be one of the most random madeup holidays I've ever heard of.

Can't believe this is a real thing. Looked it up only to find it has grown in importance since 1992. May is now National Correct Posture Month!

I loved Lex's loaded forearm as a heel finish. Had it high on my list when we did a Greatest Finishers countdown a few years back. Jobbers and commentary sold it huge. I liked the initial mystery behind it. Would have been the best finisher in the business if not for a certain 568 pound WWF Champion making people go SPLAT by sitting on them from the second turnbuckle.

It didn't work so well as a babyface finisher and I get where UT is coming from. You could make a similar argument for a good amount of finishers though. I'll provide examples later if any of you insist. 

I agree that there is a ton of finishers you could say the same about but I still insist for the giggles.

Jul 17, 2021 1:13:14 GMT UT said:

I agree that there is a ton of finishers you could say the same about but I still insist for the giggles.

You can be cruel sometimes.

Austin occasionally used the snapmare. It's the same set up as The Stunner! He also used the jawbreaker. It's basically the same move as The Stunner!

Anytime a wrestler with a splash/leg drop/elbow drop finisher runs the ropes and does a move to a downed opponent other than their finish.

Anytime a wrestler with a top rope finish does a top rope move other than their finish. First example that came to mind was Steamboat often using the flying chop rather than his flying body press finisher, but there are dozens of others. 

Owen and Bret often used the Figure Four. Why not just go for the Sharpshooter?

Sid often used the Whirlybird. It's the same setup (and practically the same move!) as his Powerbomb finish.

Terry Funk occasionally used the Powerbomb in ECW. It's the same setup as his Piledriver finish.

Anytime JBL or Hansen ran the ropes and delivered anything other than a Clothesline.

I saw Jake use the front face lock at least once. Why not just literally fall down backwards for the DDT?

*That's just off the top of my head. I could probably give you a dozen other examples if I thought about it for 5 more minutes. 

Just in time for UT's favorite... National Dairy Month!

SUPERSTARS | S07 E22 | 05/30/1992

Jobber to the Superstars: Mike Fury
Gets the nod for being the first and only 7' JTTS I've ever seen. For a second I was wondering if this might've been proto-Kurrgan or something, but he wasn't THAT tall. Runner-up was Rich Mitchell for taking a decent Doomsday Device for being such a fat schlub.

Squash of the Week: The Natural Disasters vs. Duane Gill & Mike Fury
Aside from being impressed by Fury's lumbering height for an enhancement talent, I was impressed by Gill trying to keep his team alive late in the bout. I was also impressed by the Disasters, who seemed more fluid and motivated than usual here.

Match of the Week: Rick Martel vs. Jim Powers
Technically a squash, but Martel is so generous, and Powers has that lingering name value and a million dollar look. They work so well together I can't help but imagine how good a Can-Am Connection and/or Strike Force vs. Young Stallions series would've been. So far is this Superstars WatchThru is inspiring anything, it's a Jim Powers deep dive.

Interview of the Week: The Nasty Boys
Nasties continue to low key impress in every aspect of pro wrestling. Although they didn't have much competition this week as far as promos go. Tatanka was runner-up, with Crush nipping at Tatanka's heels. I'm glad I rated the Nasties on my tag list, although wonder if I should've had them higher if being more objective. Anyway... Then stooping to beef with High Energy at the moment feels like such a downgrade for the former champs.

Other Random Thoughts:
- Papa Shango one million percent needed to feud with Undertaker. Either in this run, or in 1995.
- Nailz would've had to have been more effective with virtually ANY other hairstyle. Impressive debut assault on Bossman in theory, but it's hard not to fixate on his hair.
- The repeated Repo and Bret promos were an odd production choice. How hard is it to film a fresh promo?

Time for a Saturday morning stream of consciousness ramble...

You better believe 🤯 bringing up a 7 foot jobber I don't remember sent me down a Mike Fury rabbit hole.

His ring gear is what people wore to the gym in the early 90s. He gives off slight Crush vibes. He is tall, but there's no way he's a 7 footer even if you're using one of those wacky wrestling tape measures. Had a good head on "The Hitman" though. If I ever rebook this era I'm totally pairing Fury with memorable one off 400 pound jobber Stymie Richards as "The Giant Jobbers."

Fury is best known for a cup of coffee in ECW where he played the FBI's Big Guido. But I know him more from the Apter Mags as Primo Carnera III. A 1997 Carnera vs. KING KONG BUNDY(!) match got a good deal of Apter Mag publicity because they broke the ring. I reviewed it a few years back. It was not good.

Another Fury match I just watched saw him team with "DUBLIN DESTROYER" Brian Donohue against the Natural Disasters. Fury didn't look so big now that he's in there with some bonafide behemoths. Quake hit a dropkick! Ok, it was a light dropkick, but still! He also hit his GOAT tier powerslam before the Disasters won with an Earthquake followed by a Typhoon Splash. Now THAT's a finisher. Ain't nobody getting up from that combo.

Then I found an honest to goodness tribute video to "Dublin Destroyer" Brian Donohue that I assume was created by his wife, daughter, or sister judging by the uploader's name. Very wholesome.



Did anybody of that era have a better "just happy to be here" career than Jim Powers? He was a WWF regular for a full decade from 84-94. Yet the only push he ever received lasted a year- year and a half tops, and it was only a half-hearted push in the first place. Then he goes to WCW and gets so jacked he could have  passed for Scott Steiner's body double. Yet still no push during a 15 month run despite being one of the most jacked dudes on the roster.

Here's hoping Jimmy P just wanted to live a stress free life while traveling the world and making enough money to afford those sweet, sweet roids.

I feel that's the majority of the roster these days. It's a position in life that I feel gets shit on too much. Not everyone wants to be stressed out at all times. Sometimes a comfortable rut is all you need.

Jobber to the Superstars: Mike Fury
Gets the nod for being the first and only 7' JTTS I've ever seen.

Is he the first?

He certainly isn't the only.

I caught Baker slipping on him for the 1996 Draft.

Jul 17, 2021 1:39:23 GMT Baker said:

Jul 17, 2021 1:13:14 GMT UT said:

I agree that there is a ton of finishers you could say the same about but I still insist for the giggles.

You can be cruel sometimes.

Austin occasionally used the snapmare. It's the same set up as The Stunner! He also used the jawbreaker. It's basically the same move as The Stunner!

Anytime a wrestler with a splash/leg drop/elbow drop finisher runs the ropes and does a move to a downed opponent other than their finish.

Anytime a wrestler with a top rope finish does a top rope move other than their finish. First example that came to mind was Steamboat often using the flying chop rather than his flying body press finisher, but there are dozens of others. 

Owen and Bret often used the Figure Four. Why not just go for the Sharpshooter?

Sid often used the Whirlybird. It's the same setup (and practically the same move!) as his Powerbomb finish.

Terry Funk occasionally used the Powerbomb in ECW. It's the same setup as his Piledriver finish.

Anytime JBL or Hansen ran the ropes and delivered anything other than a Clothesline.

I saw Jake use the front face lock at least once. Why not just literally fall down backwards for the DDT?

*That's just off the top of my head. I could probably give you a dozen other examples if I thought about it for 5 more minutes. 

I agree with most of these , you aren’t wrong.

The Sharpshooter I would argue needs to be applied with your opponent in a weakened state. Just not a run of the mill attempt. Bret also used the abdomen punch which was a similar setup.

The Stunner clearly was given more power by the kick and bird first.

The Hansen and JBL is identically silly. As is the Roberts one.

Jul 17, 2021 15:18:37 GMT @ness said:

I feel that's the majority of the roster these days. It's a position in life that I feel gets shit on too much. Not everyone wants to be stressed out at all times. Sometimes a comfortable rut is all you need.

Darn tootin'

Jul 17, 2021 18:14:46 GMT Big Pete said:

Is he the first?

He certainly isn't the only.

I caught Baker slipping on him for the 1996 Draft.

D'oh. Don't even recall considering Big Ron Studd when I did my 1996 draft. How can I ever forgive myself? Digging the Mr. Backlund avatar by the way.

Speaking of Avatar...Al Snow using the bodyslam when the Snow Plow is right there has to be one of the most egregious examples yet of what UT and I have been discussing. 

I think the most egregious as you eluded to was going to the top rope and not hitting your finish.

Then it’s Lex/Stan or JBL.

This thread reminded me that as a youngster I was a Jim Powers fan. That little kid thing of rooting for the underdog, but also recognizing he was better than most of the underdogs, so it was the same vibe of wanting your baseball team to be better, just wanted Jimmy P to get some more wins.

UT, Bam Bam was never booked well anywhere for long periods of time outside of ECW. He didn't seem to have important supporters.

Did I miss an episode somehow, or is my labeling off? Anyways...

SUPERSTARS | S07 E23 | 06/06/1992

Jobber to the Superstars: Reno Riggins
Decent look for a JTTS. I'm familiar with the name but never associated it with a face before. He's like a low rent Jim Powers with an early days DDP gimmick? Despite the name, his trunks purport he's from Las Vegas... Not Reno? Anyways, Reno takes some pretty decent bumps to highlight the Nasty Boys.

Squash of the Week: The Nasty Boys vs. Reno Riggins & Major Yates
I'd give Yates the runner-up JTTSotW nod, as he's just as good of a bumper for the Nasties as Reno. Nasties look great, and they cut an insert promo later on too that continues to have me beginning more and more of a fan of their work. Guess this was a warmup match for the Nasties to prepare for High Energy and what it's like to wrestle a half black, half white tag team?

Match of the Week: N/A
Didn't apply this week.

Interview of the Week: Money Incorporated
DiBiase still has IT on the stick. Hart and IRS hold their own for their parts.

Other Random Thoughts:
- First ICOPRO plug!
- Kerry Von Erich looks lost on his way to the ring, but still looks good in the ring she cuts a decent insert promo. He strikes me as like the love child of the Ultimate Warrior and Bret Hart. He's got the look, albeit slightly more subdued, but he can clearly move and wrestle well... Despite an amputation. That's as impressive as it is sad realizing he'll kill himself seven months or so after this episode.
- For as goose shit green as he is, ESPECIALLY in the ring, Virgil cuts a pretty decent promo.
- The Beverlys continue growing on me the most week over week. Also, dafuq is up with Genius's voice? It's uncomfortably deep and smooth and soft all at the same time. And a million percent NOT the voice you'd expect to come out of Lanny.
- Crush's head vice is such a terrible finisher, especially for a face... But I love UT's idea for the blood capsules as a heel. I'm pissed they didn't do that!
- Repo Man's trench coat is pretty dope. As good as his kick pads look, they don't make any sense considering his offense.

Fun fact 🤯 , Kerry Von Erich HATED working with Mr. Perfect. 1 of the reason was Kerry hated Henning's love of ribs.  :rofl:

Jul 18, 2021 21:57:23 GMT Ed said:

Fun fact 🤯 , Kerry Von Erich HATED working with Mr. Perfect. 1 of the reason was Kerry hated Henning's love of ribs.  :rofl:

I don't blame Kerry. By all accounts, Perfect sounded like a huge asshole.

Any time a wrestler is described as a "huge ribber" my first reaction is, "Oh, I would probably hate that fucking guy." Something a bit psychopathic about really into pranks guy.

Jul 18, 2021 11:57:02 GMT 🤯 said:

Jobber to the Superstars: Reno Riggins
Decent look for a JTTS. I'm familiar with the name but never associated it with a face before. He's like a low rent Jim Powers with an early days DDP gimmick? Despite the name, his trunks purport he's from Las Vegas... Not Reno? Anyways, Reno takes some pretty decent bumps to highlight the Nasty Boys.

Reno Riggins sighting! Nice. 

He was one of the more frequently used jobbers of that era and is memorable for one reason...

Bobby Heenan had a running gag where he would put over the dreaded "RenoPlex." The punchline being we never saw this allegedly lethal maneuver. 

As for the Reno/Las Vegas thing, maybe he just REALLY liked the state of Nevada? Reminds me of mid-late 90s Apter Mag darling Colorado Kid who, according to the Apter Mags, had never actually been to the state of Colorado. Oddly enough I think both guys hail from Tennessee in real life. 

Riggins other claim to fame is teaming with Steve Doll (Dunn of Well Dunn) as the "Tennessee Volunteers" in late 90s Music City Wrestling. The lesser MCW was a Nashville based indie with local TV and Apter Mag coverage. I viewed it as the successor to the recently folded USWA. 

I used the Tennessee Volunteers in my late 90s indie fanfic project for the sole purpose of making the RenoPlex A Thing 
pwcom.proboards.com/thread/3607/nwa-king-independents


 

I know it’s probably been said 12000 times over the years but the Owen/Bret stuff is magnificent. The subtle Owen cues in all the interviews leading up to the Rumble was WWF at its finest. Similar to the Mega Powers stuff.

Watching the Rumble again now. Can’t wait for WMX when it’s some of the finest piece of single night story telling I can remember.

Austin Steele looking like a Flair/Heenan love child.

Jul 18, 2021 23:51:10 GMT Kilgore said:

Any time a wrestler is described as a "huge ribber" my first reaction is, "Oh, I would probably hate that fucking guy." Something a bit psychopathic about really into pranks guy.

I'm sure there are levels to wrestling ribbing. I mean, yeah, Henning may have been a jerk about ribbing sometimes but not to the level of Dynamite Kid.

I wonder if Owen's rigging was a payback rib gone wrong orchestrated by someone who didn't appreciate all his ribs?

-_-

Jul 19, 2021 16:10:28 GMT UT said:

Austin Steele looking like a Flair/Heenan love child.

You fellas know how to keep a guy coming back. First Reno Riggins. Now Austin Steele!

Mainstay of the incredibly named Professional Wrestling Federation in 90s North Carolina. No less than the 6th greatest "Nature Boy" in wrestling history. Teamed with Terry Austin which I always got a kick out of when reading my Apter Mags because "The Austins" had a cool 'Steve Carlton Fisk' thing going on. And most importantly participated in many Lawlermanias as staple of the USWA upper midcard.

Jul 19, 2021 22:54:24 GMT Baker said:

Jul 19, 2021 16:10:28 GMT UT said:

Austin Steele looking like a Flair/Heenan love child.

You fellas know how to keep a guy coming back. First Reno Riggins. Now Austin Steele!

Mainstay of the incredibly named Professional Wrestling Federation in 90s North Carolina. No less than the 6th greatest "Nature Boy" in wrestling history. Teamed with Terry Austin which I always got a kick out of when reading my Apter Mags because "The Austins" had a cool 'Steve Carlton Fisk' thing going on. And most importantly participated in many Lawlermanias as staple of the USWA upper midcard.

Professional Wrestling Federation just might be the greatest promotion name I've ever heard of.

Jul 19, 2021 19:25:15 GMT 🤯 said:

I wonder if Owen's rigging was a payback rib gone wrong orchestrated by someone who didn't appreciate all his ribs?

-_-

Outstanding.

"Teach that Canadian fuck to hide my ring gear..."

Nobody gets blown up like IRS gets blown up. 4 minute squashes even. :lol:

Jul 20, 2021 3:09:38 GMT UT said:

Nobody gets blown up like IRS gets blown up. 4 minute squashes even.

UGH, I'll stick to watching paint dry.

How sure are we IRS was blown up and not just dehydrated?

Asking because I'm not sure I've ever seen a sweatier wrestler.

So much salt water would be involved if IRS and Bossman were ever in the ring together, it might as well be billed as an Under the Sea Match.