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QOTD: Rob

This came in from a Rob M.  Thought it'd make good discussion...

"Favra, I'm typically just an onlooker but have a QOTD I'd be interested in.

Say you had the ability to travel in time to match up wrestlers of different eras, specifically say Austin in 01, Savage in 88, HBK 97, etc.  What two wrestlers, time specific, would the blog put in to fill the following criteria..

- greatest technical match?

- most entertaining feud, specifically promos and the ability to sell a match?

- highest grossing/drawing match of all time?

- worst technical match ever?  Thanks



Comments

  1. Best technical match: Ricky steamboat vs Daniel Bryan.

    Best feud: the rock vs macho man randy savage (or cm punk vs Jake Roberts)

    Highest grossing: Steve Austin vs hulk Hogan

    Worst match: el gigante vs great khali

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  2. My question is... if Punk '04/'11 were to face Roberts '87/'91, who would be the heel?

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  3. Just turn Darren Young into John Cena. We can have Cena vs. Cena just like Taker vs. Taker.

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  4. Man vs. Man, Elbow vs. Elbow!

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  5. WrestleMania has been a huge pass since 24.

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  6. He'll just make the match restart because he doesn't want Montreal to happen again.

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  7. That was some super trolling right there.

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  8. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 10:59 AM

    Please don't say that too loud. Vince may be watching.

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  9. But, Cena's not going to win it.

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  10. I can't find one on You Tube, so I don't know. By the time the Steiners got good Dynamite Kid's back was irreparably screwed, so I doubt such a match ever happened.

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  11. Technical: Bret 93 vs kurt 03
    Entertaining: rock 00 vs flair 85
    Draw: hogan 87 vs austin 98 vs rock 00 vs flair 89
    Worst; Zeus vs Giant Gonzalez ironman match

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  12. That draw would be a tough one to beat.

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  13. One of my biggest what ifs from history is if bret stayed for 3 more years in wwe, there would be so many money making feuds:
    Bret/kurt
    Bret/rock
    Bret/foley
    Bret/hhh from 2000
    I was actually thinking about some of those for most entertaining and most technical.

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  14. But a guy who probably won't be around by the 2015 Royal Rumble is rumored to win the 2014 one. That diminishes my interest.

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  15. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    Technical: Steamboat vs Angle
    Entertaining: Rock vs Flair
    Draw: Hogan vs Austin
    Worst; Khali vs Giant Gonzalez scaffold match

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  16. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:18 AM

    You type English better than you speak it, Khali.

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  17. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:18 AM

    That Benoit/Joe match is intriguing.

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  18. I didn't want to copy anyone else, and wanted guys who could go in ALL areas... submission, striking, grappling, power, aerial... neither guy's perfect, but both are close enough to make it damned fun.

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  19. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:21 AM

    I was thinking Midnight Express vs. the Rockers and Angle vs. Dynamite Kid for my dark horse matches. Those would cover a lot of areas,

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  20. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:22 AM

    I for one would LOVE to see that Andre/Hornswoggle match if it was in a cage.

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  21. - greatest technical match? - 70s Billy Robinson vs. 80s Ricky Steamboat

    - most entertaining feud, specifically promos and the ability to sell a match? 1984 Jerry Lawler vs. 1985 Roddy Piper

    - highest grossing/drawing match of all time? - 1985 Hulk Hogan vs. Hollywood Rock (w/ 1987 Bobby Heenan)

    - worst technical match ever? - The Maguire Twins vs Big Daddy & the Great Khali

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  22. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:23 AM

    The better question is: which chick would Jake slap? AJ, Lita, Beth....

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  23. Ricky Morton getting the shit kicked out of him in an elimination tag would be interesting.

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  24. I think the consensus is that some combination of Kurt Angle, Bret Hart, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Ricky Steamboat would produce the greatest matches EVER!

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  25. Addendum: Hulk Hogan (1986) with Mr. T vs. Hollywood Hogan with Dennis Rodman.

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  26. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 11:26 AM

    I don't know where it fits, but I would LOVE to see Muta vs. the Undertaker, if only for the dueling entrances:

    http://youtu.be/sRvFekn44dw

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  27. Andre in his prime probably would have made it work. Andre in 1990-91? Not so much.

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  28. And we know Punk woulda fucked Mrs. Roberts.

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  29. I think something like this was predicted in the TNA Open Thread last night.

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  30. I'm in the minority here but I think Punks a slightly better worker then D bryan

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  31. - HHH vs HHH
    - HHH vs HHH
    - HHH vs HHH
    - not HHH vs not HHH

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  32. I think Punk is more adapted to the style than Bryan is at this point, and it helps him work a better variety of matches.

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  33. Technical: Dean Malenko (1997) vs. Daniel Bryan (2012)
    Entertaining: Scott Steiner (1989) vs. Kurt Angle (2002) OR Macho Man (1988) vs. Steve Austin (1997)
    Draw: Hogan (any) vs. Austin (any)
    Worst: Mongo (1998) vs. Rodman (1998)

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  34. Holy crap, that's a shocking level of stupidity. If he wasn't arrested for the crime, he probably would have been shot and robbed after posting all of those pics.

    What an idiot.

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  35. When it comes to that time, Cena's entrance music should have changed lyrics:

    "My time is up, your time is now.

    You CAN see me, your time is now.

    You're the franchise, you're shinin' now

    You CAN see me, your time is now."

    Of course, it will probably be passing the torch to his own kid after a match at WrestleMania L......or 50 if you're lost on the roman numerals.

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  36. Was Goldberg a big draw outside of his title win? How were starrcade's and havoc's buy rates that year he main evented.
    I personally think that big show gets short changed in his wrestling ability. I watched his DVD on netflix streaming a few months ago and it talked about him doing the technical stuff. He basically got the advice early on that when you are a giant, you don't work the same match as a small guy. Of course, he doesn't have that many great matches, but he is not a stiff.

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  37. Technical:Benoit(2004)vs D-bryan
    Entertaining:Sting(1997) vs Undertaker(2010)
    Draw:CM Punk vs Austin(1997)
    Worst:Khali(any) vs MONGOOO!!!

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  38. I'm a huge fan of your series,keep up the good work.

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  39. Bret (94), Benoit (04), Dynamite (83), Rey Misterio (96), and Brock Lesnar (02) vs. Scott Steiner (93ish), Angle (03), HBK (96), Tiger Mask (83), Vader (92)

    The format I'd want to see is that of an awesome joshi match from the mid-90s. It starts with five 5-minute one-on-one iron man matches and then goes into a 35 minute iron-team match.

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  40. Just noticed cena is not in any of these. He can put on 5 star matches and has main evented some of the biggest wrestlemanias.

    Do any of you think that he will become more respected in 5-10 years?

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  41. Technical: 1989 Scott Steiner vs. 2001 Kurt Angle

    Entertaining: 1998 Austin vs 2009 - 2010 CM Punk (when ever SES was)

    Draw: 1986 Hogan vs. 1998 Austin

    Worst: Any Year Giant Gonzales vs. 2013 Great Khali

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  42. Really spent every bit of smark in your smark tank there

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  43. Mentally exhausted

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  44. Do you wish to subscribe to his newsletter?

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  45. You have a time machine, get HBK in DX as well

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  46. The 1 Dislike is from the guy who will eventually send said e-mail. :)

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  47. Angle is in almost everyone's technical match... he is pretty good at wrestling some would say.

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  48. Ricky Steamboat '89 vs. Bret Hart '94
    Randy Savage '89 vs. The Rock '99
    Hulk Hogan '87 vs. Steve Austin '98 - nothing else is CLOSE, sorry.
    Andre the Giant '90 vs. The Great Khali '13 - see above commentary

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  49. I reckon cena vs Vader (from when Vader was in wcw as champion) would be brill.

    Cena vs cactus jack in his prime in a fall's count anywhere match would be awesome.

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  50. O/T but does anyone else want to see Brock Lesnar win the WWE title and have him just destroy every challenger he faces? Imagine Heyman as the hyper promoter promoting the title bouts. It's been A LONG time since we've had a monster heel as champion. Just picture Daniel Bryan getting destroyed by Lesnar in a 15-20 minute match. The heat for when Bryan makes a comeback would be off the charts. Sooo many good babyface in peril challengers for Lesnar's title: Bryan, Punk II, Cena II, Christian, Dolph, Cody, Goldust, Rey. and even monster vs. monster matches: Batista, Reigns, Sheamus, Henry, Undertaker, Cesaro, Swagger. Man, I just want Lesnar to get a year or two long reign.

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  51. The biggest draw one is interesting. I think it depends on what era you have the match in. It's cause and effect also but how well does Hogans babyface act get over and sell in 2004? Does Austins act get I've as huge in 88? No idea.

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  52. Sting and Steiners (in their prime) vs the shield would be brill.

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  53. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 12:27 PM

    So would Sting vs. Cena or Rock/Cena.

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  54. Best Technical: 3-way: R.Steamboat (1989) v. K.Angle (2001) v. C. Benoit (2004)
    Most Entertaining: The Rock (1999) v. Ric Flair (1985) OR nWo (1996) v. 4 Horsemen (1986)
    Biggest Draw: Hogan (1987) v. Stone Cold (1997)
    Worst Technical Match Possible: .....Jackie Gayda/Christopher Nowinski (7/8/02) vs. Bradshaw/Trish (7/8/2002)....NOT EVEN CLOSE

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  55. Can you imagine the promos for Lawler v. Piper at Mid-South Coliseum????

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  56. I vote AJ, only because she might like it.

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  57. Lots of good ones on here. I just want to add 1993 Vader vs 2010 Jeff hardy would have been pretty fucking amazing.

    94 Bret vs 89 flair would work for me too.

    Or what about 2013 Daniel Bryan vs...2013 Brock lesnar

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  58. Miz vs danny Davis would suck pretty bad too

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  59. Special guest 1999 Torrie Wilson.


    SEND FOR THE (SNAKE)MAN!

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  60. Or 1996 yokozuna vs 1990 Andre the giant

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  61. Steiner 89? Not 99?


    (Entertaining)

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  62. Not sure. Even the snarkiest fan would admit Cena is talented, and I believe people are really just sick of his act, so maybe in once he goes away well appreciate him more.

    The tthing is I've never really ENJOYED Cena. I know he's a pretty great worker at this point, has done some great promos in the past, and is talented but I could never connect with him.

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  63. Any year after '89 was entertaining for Steiner.

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  64. Xpac on a pole match?

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  65. Agreed. I watch them work and my inclination is to say Bryan's the better worker. Punk's just so unathletic, his brawling is sometimes weak, and he just generally lacks physical grace (see: Macho elbow).



    But he also has more great matches than Bryan. Just this year I'll take Punk vs. Cena, vs. Taker, and vs. Brock over any Bryan match. Can't argue with the results. When Punk's angry and motivated there's no better wrestler on the planet right now.

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  66. Shoemaker's the best wrestling scribe out there right now. Articulate and knowledgeable. Glad to see him reaping coups like this.

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  67. THIS X 50. Cosigned. Watching them, I know in a vacuum Bryan is a better worker. Punk sometimes looks a little clumsy and just "off" for the lack of a better term. Using eye test and subjective "which matches do I like better" test, Punk wins in my book.

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  68. I don't think it has anything to do with Cena, really. He's very well-rounded, but he's not arguably the BEST at anything. Who would take Cena over Steamboat or Hart in technical skill, or Rock or Flair in entertainment, or Hogan or Austin in drawing power? And that's just a handful of names. I also think nostalgia and staleness play into it.

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  69. So you are saying is more of a b+ guy

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  70. To sort of quantify it as a skill-set, I think Punk's psychology and selling are probably the best going right now. He manages to work within the WWE-style, but subvert it in enough places to surprise, and stand out, so that by the end of the match you're marking out instead of knowing what's coming.

    And the guy just has an instinct for what psychology will make a great wrestling match against a given opponent. The Cena, Taker, and Brock matches were about as different as you can get within the confines of WWE-style.

    Bryan's execution is a lot crisper, and his striking is snugger, but his matches tend to follow the same formula. And even then, when Punk's motivated he works a lot cleaner. The Brock match was damn near flawless, and his brawling was unusually stiff. He was just teeing off on Brock.

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  71. Yeah, that's a great idea, but Lesnar's contract doesn't allow for that.

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  72. Just a few that I'd enjoy, without category. I'm a little fuzzy on years, so if I say Steiners 89 and their best year was CLEARLY 90 because of blah, blah, blah, then cut me some slack.


    Steiners (89)/Bulldogs (86)
    Hart (93)/Angle (03)
    Rockers (89)/Edge & Christian (00)
    Hennig (88)/Rock (00)
    Savage(88)/Punk(modern)

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  73. Also pre-hiatus HBK vs modern Brock Lesnar with a convincing Lesnar victory, just to see HBK bump his ass off for the monster.

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  74. Difference is that Bundy and Sarge had more credibility than Bray Wyatt. That Slaughter-Hogan WM 7 match is criminally underrated as well.

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  75. I'd bet he does. The nascent 'smart' crowd shit all over Dusty 8 days a week but with time most people would call him an all-time great. If I were to guess I'd say most people here want John Cena to be a three-dimensional hero, the guy everyone knows he can be.

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  76. Not to open this can of worms, but no Benoit inclusions for best technical match? He was the best worker on the planet for a few years. Think that 2-3 wwe stretch he had has one of the greatest workrate stretches ever

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  77. Saturday mornings with Piper and Lawler going at it with Lance Russell (!) in the middle. They'd have to rent a baseball stadium.

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  78. I'd LOVE this. I picture it being along the lines of Punk/Lesnar but with a few bigger spots and slightly better...and I thought Punk/Lesnar was near perfect

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  79. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    I'd love to see Benoit vs. Dynamite Kid.

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  80. There was that report a couple months back about Bryan getting in Triple H's face about a match getting stopped prematurely due to a minor injury. He probably would fight for certain things if he has to but it is a matter of picking the right fights and/or moments.

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  81. Great Khali (13) vs. Loch Ness (whenever he appeared in WCW). I'll let you guys decide the cateogry this fits in.

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  82. Lol what an asshole

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  83. It'd be like Link vs. Dark Link!

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  84. Well said. I had to think about it but you hit the nail on the head for why I prefer Punk...the diversity of his ring psychology and work. Bryan is great with all the tangible physical things but he tends to work mostly "wwe formula" matches while Punk can work numerous styles with great divere psychological undertones.

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  85. I think I would use my time travel abilities to go back to the end of June 2007 and shoot Chris in the head.

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  86. Steiners vs Hardyz
    Savage vs Eddie would be fun
    Hogan vs Cena for the sports entertainment, guilty pleasure
    Bryan vs Bret
    Joe vs Vader

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  87. Isn't it also entirely possible he has no desire to be the top guy and would rather spend time with his friends/family/aforementioned attractive wife, making a lot of money doing what he does with tons of fan and critical support.


    Seriously, I am not crying for Bryan. (Hey that rhymed!)

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  88. That's how Lagana got canned from WWE IIRC.

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  89. Oh, rest assured, I agree with you. It wouldn't be a good idea. But that's irrelevant, really.

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  90. 11 guys?


    Hey, he tied Kane for most eliminations!

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  91. Triple H will be better utilized when he figures out a way to go back in time and have Steve Austin before King of the Ring, the Undertaker before the casket match in 1998, and the Rock before he beat Triple H for the Intercontinental Title, all murdered in mysterious circumstances.

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  92. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 2:40 PM

    Threadjack: Westbrook has knee surgery, out until after the All-Star Break.

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  93. Fuck. Same knee as last year?

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  94. Ha. I endorse this idea

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  95. Porn-Peddling Jef VinsonDecember 27, 2013 at 2:42 PM

    Yep.

    http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10201848/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-knee-surgery

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  96. Ugh. Repetitive injuries to a knee or ankle are never a good sign. Big fan of his

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  97. Several people have him in their best technical match

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  98. I think you copied and pasted this from somewhere else. I have seen this exact quote before

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  99. I did use a derivative of the joke before.

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  100. Or Scott Cena ...

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  101. I already proposed Cena v dancing negroes...

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  102. HBK I'm hid prime has gotta be in there I think.

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  103. God that's awesome

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  104. which seems like a good comparism in other aspects, too. just like Foley, who also never was THE guy I think Bryan will never get past that certain level (which I think is perfectly fine. I mean, most workers would murder someone to have the same kind of career Foley had).

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  105. I remember saying something similar about a month ago and people were insistent that Bryan was merely "towing the company line" and had to be unhappy =) Sometimes the simplest explanation (as you had above) is the best one.

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  106. Actually, Cena is. There was a portion of the WWF's audience that vehemently hated Backlund, especially during the second half of his run when he went to the crew-cut, let himself go a bit physically, and cut back on the brawling in favor of slower matches.

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  107. Triple H can put himself over till the day he dies: he'll never be remembered the way Piper, Roberts, Foley, Steamboat... or probably Bryan, will be. I bet those five guys combined haven't won as many titles (midcard or otherwise) as Hunter has.

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