Feb 13, 2022 22:37:24 GMT 🤯 said:

Scott Taylor of January 1998 looks like a skinny fat shrunken Val Venis.

My friend in 8th grade always had a sticking point here. Peak Russo here spelling it like this.

He couldn't wrap his mind around why it was spelled this way. Porn star, penis. His entrance video literally had a power drill screwing and him rising up from a BJ from then hottest porn star JJ... what else could it mean you hard-r? I guess if Val Venus existed he could buy him as a serious main eventer. Must be why he went by Chief Morley for a minute.

Anyway since you're going into 98 I should start that 98-02 PPV thread.

Also just realized outside of a few work acquaintances that may have been my last friend...

I've always wondered why Val Venis lost as a younger fan growing up. I believed in kayfabe so much back then when Val's Venis started to soften, (his push was stalling] I realized wrestling was scripted.

Feb 11, 2022 19:18:21 GMT Ed said:

I wonder how fans would have reacted to Stevie winning the title in the 3 way Dance instead of Terry Funk.

I think they would have been ok with it. There would have been a smattering of boos when Funk was eliminated, but Stevie was over like rover, and I would argue he had a stronger storyline with Raven at the time than either Sandman or Funk. I've mentioned this before, but not getting to see the Raven/Stevie storyline play out to its conclusion in ECW was such a bummer. 
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I'm with you guys on Val Venis. Thought he would be a bigger star. He just sort of fizzled out after a year. His gimmick was both a help and a hindrance. It got him instantly over but there is only so much you can do with that character before it becomes stale. 

The thing with Val was that if you gave him his pre-match joke he could nail it, but outside of that the guy just wasn't as charismatic as the other main event talent. You can usually tell who has it when they're on commentary and Val was just so shy and boring that you could tell he'd hit his ceiling.

He still had a great run though and got some impressive longevity. He's one of those acts I always associate with 1998, but he arguably had his best match in 2000 against Rikishi and won the IC title when the division picked up again.

I also feel like I'm not the only person who actually bought the Chief Sean Morley gimmick. I genuinely bought him in that William Regal way where he could hang with the Booker Ts, Rob Van Dams, Chris Jerichos, Randy Ortons etc. of the roster.

Would JBL have been close enough to as effective if he'd just been the Honky Tonk Man for the U.S. title?

I ask this wondering if Kurt was healthy enough to pick up the WWE title from Eddie in some rematch, then hold it and be the one to drop it at WM21 to Cena in more of a poetic book-end type deal (alluding back to Cena debuting in WWE with a hard-fought loss to Kurt).

Meanwhile, JBL, having been the one to end Cena's U.S. title reign becomes de facto #1 contender to kick start Cena's reign with a program still featuring their decent I Quit or Last Man Standing (whatever it was).

Mar 2, 2022 16:45:02 GMT 🤯 said:

Would JBL have been close enough to as effective if he'd just been the Honky Tonk Man for the U.S. title?

I ask this wondering if Kurt was healthy enough to pick up the WWE title from Eddie in some rematch, then hold it and be the one to drop it at WM21 to Cena in more of a poetic book-end type deal (alluding back to Cena debuting in WWE with a hard-fought loss to Kurt).

Meanwhile, JBL, having been the one to end Cena's U.S. title reign becomes de facto #1 contender to kick start Cena's reign with a program still featuring their decent I Quit or Last Man Standing (whatever it was).

So it looks like Kurt returns from injury more or less just in time for SummerSlam 2004. So let's say he avenges being cheated at WMXX and wins the WWE title from Eddie there. This means Eddie has to hold onto the title for a little longer than real life. Not a major problem unless we're concerned about JBL, I guess. I'd probably still run Eddie vs. JBL at Judgment Day and then the Bullrope at Great American Bash (just with Eddie barely retaining).

The question is whether to make JBL the U.S. champ prior to SummerSlam or not. I feel like a surprise win over Cena on TV is the kind of thing that would've been way more likely to happen in real life to try to pop a rating or compliment a RAW PPV. Plus, running Cena/JBL in a bullshit match on TV to swap the U.S. title (vs. PPV) makes their clashes in 2005 feel fresher, I suppose.

I suspect Tony Khan is gonna buy ROH from Sinclair.

Mar 2, 2022 16:45:02 GMT 🤯 said:

Would JBL have been close enough to as effective if he'd just been the Honky Tonk Man for the U.S. title?

I ask this wondering if Kurt was healthy enough to pick up the WWE title from Eddie in some rematch, then hold it and be the one to drop it at WM21 to Cena in more of a poetic book-end type deal (alluding back to Cena debuting in WWE with a hard-fought loss to Kurt).

Meanwhile, JBL, having been the one to end Cena's U.S. title reign becomes de facto #1 contender to kick start Cena's reign with a program still featuring their decent I Quit or Last Man Standing (whatever it was).

Ya know around Summerslam 04 it felt like Kurt as GM was feuding with both Eddy and Cena at the same time (so much that I didn't rule out Kurt/Cena @ the big show instead of Eddy rematch) so it would be fitting if he dethroned him and then did the honors to Cena at the same time it did happen.

Could bring about some decent TV matches with JBL putting over America on top of World and how for all of Cena's talk... America HATES him.

Sept 21, 2021 20:33:53 GMT 🤯 said:

This reminds me...

Joining UT for his Superstars watch-along inspired my impulse to buy this Sid Justice t-shirt:

Fuuuuck yes! I need this 

Listened to Bradshaw & Brisco's podcast with special guest Tommy Dreamer earlier today. A storytime and some highlights...

Always thought Tommy Dreamer was a sawft name that didn't fit the blood & guts style of ECW. True Story: First time I encountered the names Tommy Dreamer & Sandman in an Apter Mag I just assumed they feuded in East Coast Wrestling over who had the better sleeper. Also thought it would be cool if Sandman entered to the only Sandman-themed song I knew of in 95-96. I am of course referring to the oldies classic Mr. Sandman (Bring Me A Dream). Kilgore once wrote an amusing post about Dreamer's moniker as well. Something like "Tommy Dreamboat is too soft. Tommy Nightmare is too hard. Tommy Dreamer? Ooh yeah! That's the sweet spot." I got a kick out of Tommy Dreamer being to ring names what the baby bear was to Goldilocks.

Well, I finally learned the origin of the Tommy Dreamer name. It was his tribute to the man who hooked Dreamer on the business after his previous hero Bob Backlund snubbed him on an autograph- "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.

But it gets better. Dreamer wanted to be called Tommy Acid! He was going to be a cross between Sting & Muta who spit acid rather than mist! Sadly Dreamer's trainer Johnny Rodz told him he'd be billed as "Tommy Dickhead" if he didn't come up with something better. And thus Tommy Dreamer was born.
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Also discovered an AWA podcast today done by 3 old timers including AWF (Where We Wrestle In Rounds) commentator Mick Karch. View counts are predictably only in the hundreds. Unfortunately Karch reported my man Jake "The Milkman" Milliman is in poor health. Milkman is in my holy trinity of jobbers. WWF had Barry Horowitz. WCW had The Gambler. AWA had The Milkman. Here's hoping he pulls through.

Mar 8, 2022 1:24:46 GMT Baker said:

Kilgore once wrote an amusing post about Dreamer's moniker as well. Something like "Tommy Dreamboat is too soft. Tommy Nightmare is too hard. Tommy Dreamer? Ooh yeah! That's the sweet spot." I got a kick out of Tommy Dreamer being to ring names what the baby bear was to Goldilocks.

That sounds verbatim to me, Baker's memory still undefeated.

So was My Way born to be associated with wrestling? A lot can be said about the build how it was almost lazy, Debra inclusion to bring in drama that has no need here. And yet when you start playing... on my own again FREE AGAIN.

THIS TIME IMA STAND UP AND SHOUT
GONNA DO THINGS MY WAY MY WAY
MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

When you're gonna go...
Check check out my melody

It's like the No Mercy theme but as a real song.

ONE MORE FIGHT ILL BE HISTORY
LEAVE YOUR SHIT
THE ONES WHOS LEFT
MISSING ME
YEAHHHHHHH

Baker, mention of JBL's pod improves my belief that JBL seems nicer in retirement.

Mar 10, 2022 18:04:49 GMT Ed said:

Baker , mention of JBL's pod improves my belief that JBL seems nicer in retirement.

Listened to a few more episodes since my last post (Bubba Ray & Kevin Sullivan) and can confirm. 

What's the 1 match you can watch over & over without getting tired of it? mine is the 4-way match in 1996.

Mar 13, 2022 17:34:13 GMT Ed said:

What's the 1 match you can watch over & over without getting tired of it? mine is the 4-way match in 1996.

1996 4-way?

Mine is Kurt vs. Rey from SummerSlam 2002 or HBK vs. JJ from IYH#2.

Mar 13, 2022 17:34:13 GMT Ed said:

What's the 1 match you can watch over & over without getting tired of it? mine is the 4-way match in 1996.

Douglas vs. Pitbull 2 vs. Scorpio vs. Jericho from ECW?

I'll go with Flair vs. Funk- Great American Bash 1989.

Yes, the TV title match. I rewatch it at least once a year. I normally don't rewatch things on Peacock.

A lot of matches I've rewatched are due to easy access, having them on tape or instant downloads helps a lot.

WM20, big pimped shit from 02... seen Bret/Owen a ton. I don't have "one" though.

I was a big fan of the ECW TV Title 4 Way as well Ed . Had it as my 4th favorite ECW match when I did a Best of ECW project in the late 2000s. Haven't watched it since then though. 

Mar 13, 2022 19:01:49 GMT Baker said:

Mar 13, 2022 17:34:13 GMT Ed said:

What's the 1 match you can watch over & over without getting tired of it? 

I'll go with Flair vs. Funk- Great American Bash 1989.

Prior to discovering the greatness of Flair/Funk in 95-96 my most watched match was Andre/Hogan from The Main Event. Not Wrestlemania III. The Main Event.  Also went through a big time Slaughter/Warrior phase when I borrowed a tape of Royal Rumble 91 from my middle aged mailman ex-neighbor in the wake of that show. Proof I have always had impeccable wrestling tastes.

Also watched a pair of Midnight Express/Fantastics matches (1st Clash of the Champions and Great American Bash 1988) almost as much as Flair/Funk back when I was into rewatching matches. I bought/rented a lot of NWA tapes in those days and the same matches would show up over and over again. No way I was going to skip Flair and the Midnights even if I had already seen the matches in question so many times that I pretty much knew them by heart.

Mar 13, 2022 17:34:13 GMT Ed said:

What's the 1 match you can watch over & over without getting tired of it? mine is the 4-way match in 1996.

To name one, Warrior/Hogan at Wrestlemania for a least likely candidate. Just perfect theatrics on the grandest stage of them all.

Mar 13, 2022 22:32:38 GMT @ness said:

I don't have "one" though.

You've always seemed like a HBK vs. JJ IYH#2 guy to me.

The 1992 Royal Rumble.

Mar 14, 2022 12:48:33 GMT 🤯 said:

Mar 13, 2022 22:32:38 GMT @ness said:

I don't have "one" though.

You've always seemed like a HBK vs. JJ IYH#2 guy to me.

Truly only seem it once or twice... which tells you how great it is. It may be the #blueprint for a perfect 90s wrestling match. Maybe a rewatch and it's own thread is in order.

Mar 14, 2022 12:51:15 GMT UT said:

The 1992 Royal Rumble.

Good shout. Probably my most watched Rumble. What other Rumbles have near equal REPLAY value? 2001, 2002, 1990?

Mar 14, 2022 15:36:39 GMT 🤯 said:

Mar 14, 2022 12:51:15 GMT UT said:

The 1992 Royal Rumble.

Good shout. Probably my most watched Rumble. What other Rumbles have near equal REPLAY value? 2001, 2002, 1990?

I would say most of the old ones for their own reasons. I’m not much for watching most matches again and again , aside from Rumbles which are really easy and fun to rewatch.

Mar 14, 2022 12:51:15 GMT UT said:

The 1992 Royal Rumble.

With a tear in my eye! this is the greatest moment of my life. That is my favorite Ric Flair promo ever.

A work buddy came in to work today, wearing a Chris Jericho Ass Clown t-shirt, which was pretty awesome. Anyways, we spent a good portion of the day, talking about old school wrestling. He was curious about what Jericho was doing these days, so I ended up telling him about AEW, I think I might have gotten him interested in it.

Mar 14, 2022 15:36:39 GMT 🤯 said:

Mar 14, 2022 12:51:15 GMT UT said:

The 1992 Royal Rumble.

Good shout. Probably my most watched Rumble. What other Rumbles have near equal REPLAY value? 2001, 2002, 1990?

For me, the 1998 Royal Rumble is one I always enjoyed rewatching. All three of Foley's gimmicks appearing in the same Rumble was always classic to me. I remember rewatching it with a friend a few years back, and a funny moment occuring during Tom Brandi's appearance. And one of the DOA members (8-Ball I think) getting dropped out of the ring and hitting the ring steps on his elimination.