July 19, 1986
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon
This week, King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd will take on Paul Orndorff & Hulk Hogan in the main event.
Eric Cooper vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage w/ Elizabeth
Savage starts by taunting the crowd then cheapshots Cooper against the ropes after refusing to break cleanly. He then puts Cooper in the tree-of-woe position and brutalizes him for a minute as we see an insert promo from Capt. Lou Albano on the behalf of George "The Animal" Steele and how he has detected a weakness and will make him pay because he is abusive towards Elizabeth. Savage then slams Cooper before putting him away with the flying elbow drop (2:35).
Thoughts: It looks like Savage is back to feuding with Steele based on Albano's promo. The feud also made a star out of Elizabeth so it worked out.
WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. Once again, this week's focus is on the Machines. We are shown a clip of the Machines wrestling in Japan as Okerlund says that the Machines are here to stay.
Al Navarro & Gino Carabello vs. The American Express
Yes, this is what they called the team of Dan Spivey and Mike Rotundo tonight. Spivey and Carabello start with an Irish whip sequence that ends with Spivey hitting a backdrop. Rotundo tags and uses a flying headscissors on Carabello then works a side headlock on the mat. Carabello tries to get something going but Rotundo takes him down with an enziguiri. Navarro tags and the American Express use quick tags to isolate him until Rotundo gets the win with an airplane spin (2:47).
Thoughts: With the matching tights and going on and slapping the fans hands, looks like Spivey and Rotundo are getting a push. The Mid-Hudson Civic Center crowd digs them (Rotundo did go to school in Syracuse) but the rest of the country wasn't so hot for the team.
Ken Resnick is running down the August 9th show at the Boston Garden. He brings out Adrian Adonis & Randy Savage, who will be facing Hulk Hogan and his hand-picked partner, George "The Animal" Steele. Interesting that they would announce Hogan picking Steele instead of his friend Orndorff before their match against Studd & Bundy.
Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff vs. Jimmy Jackson & Don Driggers
The heels take turns beating on Driggers then we see an insert promo by Corporal Kirchner, who looks as crazy as ever. Jackson tags but Nikolai beats him up for a minute. He hits a backbreaker then tags the Sheik who suplexes to set up the Camel Clutch and the win (3:02).
Thoughts: Odd not seeing Blassie out there this week but he was nearing the end of his managerial career and would be gone within the year.
Resnick is with Jimmy Hart and Freddie Blassie. They will have their teams face off in a number one contender's match as the Hart Foundation will face off against Sheik & Volkoff at the next Boston Garden show. They go back and forth about who has the better team with Blassie tripping all over his lines. This would be the beginning of the Hart Foundation push.
Lane Anderson & Gary Semones vs. Sivi Afi & King Tonga
Tonga starts off the match and ends up clearing both men from the ring. Afi tags and catches Anderson with a drop toehold and a slam. He tags after hitting a dropkick and Tonga takes control. They take turns beating on Anderson then Tonga pushes him towards his partner and ends up hitting Semones with a thrust kick before getting the win with a splash (2:50).
Thoughts: Poor Tonga. He went from having a potential feud with Studd to stuck tagging with Sivi Afi in the span of less than a month. Afi was never seen as anything more than a cheap Jimmy Snuka knock off which was unfortunate as he was not that bad in the ring.
The Flower Shop with guest Hercules Hernandez. Adonis asks him if he is in fact the real Hercules and if Blassie found him in Mount Olympus. Adonis takes this further by asking if he parties with Zeus and brings up some other mythical stuff as Hercules plays along as if he actually is the character. Odd stuff that ends with Hercules telling Hulk Hogan to watch out.
As Bobby Heenan, Studd, and Bundy are waiting in the ring, the camera cuts backstage to Orndorff and Hogan. Orndorff paces back and forth, still angry over Hulk not picking up the phone at the gym, as Hulk said that he was at the squat rack and after the fourth ring, he went over to get the phone and no one was there. Hulk then tells Orndorff to forget about the phone call and take care of business in the ring.
Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy w/ Bobby Heenan vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff & Hulk Hogan
The crowd is amped for this match. Orndorff and Studd start of the match. Studd goes to slam Orndorff, who floats over then takes down Studd with a sunset flip after pulling him down by the tights and that gets two. Orndorff takes down Studd with a hiptoss then Bundy tags into the match. Bundy takes down Orndorff with an elbow smash but misses the splash then a charge in the corner and Orndorff hammers away. Studd tags as Orndorff signals that he is going to slam him but fails. Orndorff takes down Studd then Bundy with a dropkicks, who then regroup outside with Heenan. Hogan reaches out for a tag and Orndorff finally tags him. Studd and Hogan trade punches then Hogan catches Studd with a slam that has the crowd going nuts. Orndorff is shown looking upset on the apron as we go to a commercial. Back from break, Hogan hits Studd with an atomic drop then chops him in the corner. Hogan whips Studd into the corner but ends up getting clotheslined. Bundy tags as he and Studd double team Hogan. Bundy slams Hogan then Studd comes in but Hogan headbutts him then get pushed backwards and ends up inadvertently knocking Orndorff to the floor and sells that he got hit in the ear. Hogan gets double-teamed as the announcers state how the match has been ruled a DQ, despite us not hearing a bell, then Orndorff finally comes in and clears Studd & Bundy from the ring (6:04). Orndorff helps Hogan get up and raises his hand then takes him down with a clothesline!!! The crowd is completely stunned as Orndorff then hits him with a piledriver and even mocks Hogan's hand to his ear pose. He then waves in Studd and Bundy but Spivey, Rotundo, Sivi Afi, and King Tonga come out for the save as Orndorff leaves with the heels.
Thoughts: This was of the most memorable moments ever in WWF history. It started the Orndorff/Hogan feud which lasted through the Summer, leading up to a huge show in Toronto, "The Big Event." One of the biggest moments in WWF history.
The camera follows Orndorff to the locker room as he is congratulated by Adrian Adonis. Heenan comes in the locker room and yells "Wonderful" as the camera shows Hogan being carried out as the crowd loudly chants his name.
Ken Resnick comments on what we just saw then bring out Tito Santana, who also is shocked by what Orndorff did and mentions how he became close friends with Orndorff who has not been returning his calls lately. He will be facing Bob Orton at the August Boston Garden show. He leaves then Ricky Steamboat enters and says that he likes watching the Boston Celtics play as much as he likes beating on Jake Roberts. He then says that he will play mind games with Jake in Boston.
Bruno and Vince comment on the main event then show a replay of the finish, providing commentary.
Final Thoughts: The main event made this a must-see show. Just wonderfully done and it gave Hogan a feud, which he had been lacking. With Studd, Bundy, and now Orndorff joining Heenan, the WWF has an impressive heel stable to work with. The rest of the show wasn't much, other than a segment in which we learned that the winner of the Hart Foundation vs. Sheik & Volkoff match in Boston will become the #1 contender for the Tag Team Championship. If you have not seen the main event, do so immediately.
And just a quick programming note, I have now made a schedule for when and what I will be posting my reviews. Here is the schedule and give or take about 30 minutes for the times.
Tuesday: 80's WWF 8:00pm
Thursday: Shoot Interview Recap 12:30pm (If a two-disc shoot, the second disc will be posted on Friday at the same time)
Friday: 80's WWF 3:00pm
Saturday: RoH Shows 8:00pm (starting from the company's debut in 2002 going in order.)
Sunday: 80's WWF 8:00pm (unless their is a WWE PPV)
Any feedback is welcome at BBayless781@gmail.com
Your hosts are Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahon
This week, King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd will take on Paul Orndorff & Hulk Hogan in the main event.
Eric Cooper vs. Randy "Macho Man" Savage w/ Elizabeth
Savage starts by taunting the crowd then cheapshots Cooper against the ropes after refusing to break cleanly. He then puts Cooper in the tree-of-woe position and brutalizes him for a minute as we see an insert promo from Capt. Lou Albano on the behalf of George "The Animal" Steele and how he has detected a weakness and will make him pay because he is abusive towards Elizabeth. Savage then slams Cooper before putting him away with the flying elbow drop (2:35).
Thoughts: It looks like Savage is back to feuding with Steele based on Albano's promo. The feud also made a star out of Elizabeth so it worked out.
WWF Update with Gene Okerlund. Once again, this week's focus is on the Machines. We are shown a clip of the Machines wrestling in Japan as Okerlund says that the Machines are here to stay.
Al Navarro & Gino Carabello vs. The American Express
Yes, this is what they called the team of Dan Spivey and Mike Rotundo tonight. Spivey and Carabello start with an Irish whip sequence that ends with Spivey hitting a backdrop. Rotundo tags and uses a flying headscissors on Carabello then works a side headlock on the mat. Carabello tries to get something going but Rotundo takes him down with an enziguiri. Navarro tags and the American Express use quick tags to isolate him until Rotundo gets the win with an airplane spin (2:47).
Thoughts: With the matching tights and going on and slapping the fans hands, looks like Spivey and Rotundo are getting a push. The Mid-Hudson Civic Center crowd digs them (Rotundo did go to school in Syracuse) but the rest of the country wasn't so hot for the team.
Ken Resnick is running down the August 9th show at the Boston Garden. He brings out Adrian Adonis & Randy Savage, who will be facing Hulk Hogan and his hand-picked partner, George "The Animal" Steele. Interesting that they would announce Hogan picking Steele instead of his friend Orndorff before their match against Studd & Bundy.
Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff vs. Jimmy Jackson & Don Driggers
The heels take turns beating on Driggers then we see an insert promo by Corporal Kirchner, who looks as crazy as ever. Jackson tags but Nikolai beats him up for a minute. He hits a backbreaker then tags the Sheik who suplexes to set up the Camel Clutch and the win (3:02).
Thoughts: Odd not seeing Blassie out there this week but he was nearing the end of his managerial career and would be gone within the year.
Resnick is with Jimmy Hart and Freddie Blassie. They will have their teams face off in a number one contender's match as the Hart Foundation will face off against Sheik & Volkoff at the next Boston Garden show. They go back and forth about who has the better team with Blassie tripping all over his lines. This would be the beginning of the Hart Foundation push.
Lane Anderson & Gary Semones vs. Sivi Afi & King Tonga
Tonga starts off the match and ends up clearing both men from the ring. Afi tags and catches Anderson with a drop toehold and a slam. He tags after hitting a dropkick and Tonga takes control. They take turns beating on Anderson then Tonga pushes him towards his partner and ends up hitting Semones with a thrust kick before getting the win with a splash (2:50).
Thoughts: Poor Tonga. He went from having a potential feud with Studd to stuck tagging with Sivi Afi in the span of less than a month. Afi was never seen as anything more than a cheap Jimmy Snuka knock off which was unfortunate as he was not that bad in the ring.
The Flower Shop with guest Hercules Hernandez. Adonis asks him if he is in fact the real Hercules and if Blassie found him in Mount Olympus. Adonis takes this further by asking if he parties with Zeus and brings up some other mythical stuff as Hercules plays along as if he actually is the character. Odd stuff that ends with Hercules telling Hulk Hogan to watch out.
As Bobby Heenan, Studd, and Bundy are waiting in the ring, the camera cuts backstage to Orndorff and Hogan. Orndorff paces back and forth, still angry over Hulk not picking up the phone at the gym, as Hulk said that he was at the squat rack and after the fourth ring, he went over to get the phone and no one was there. Hulk then tells Orndorff to forget about the phone call and take care of business in the ring.
Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy w/ Bobby Heenan vs. "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff & Hulk Hogan
The crowd is amped for this match. Orndorff and Studd start of the match. Studd goes to slam Orndorff, who floats over then takes down Studd with a sunset flip after pulling him down by the tights and that gets two. Orndorff takes down Studd with a hiptoss then Bundy tags into the match. Bundy takes down Orndorff with an elbow smash but misses the splash then a charge in the corner and Orndorff hammers away. Studd tags as Orndorff signals that he is going to slam him but fails. Orndorff takes down Studd then Bundy with a dropkicks, who then regroup outside with Heenan. Hogan reaches out for a tag and Orndorff finally tags him. Studd and Hogan trade punches then Hogan catches Studd with a slam that has the crowd going nuts. Orndorff is shown looking upset on the apron as we go to a commercial. Back from break, Hogan hits Studd with an atomic drop then chops him in the corner. Hogan whips Studd into the corner but ends up getting clotheslined. Bundy tags as he and Studd double team Hogan. Bundy slams Hogan then Studd comes in but Hogan headbutts him then get pushed backwards and ends up inadvertently knocking Orndorff to the floor and sells that he got hit in the ear. Hogan gets double-teamed as the announcers state how the match has been ruled a DQ, despite us not hearing a bell, then Orndorff finally comes in and clears Studd & Bundy from the ring (6:04). Orndorff helps Hogan get up and raises his hand then takes him down with a clothesline!!! The crowd is completely stunned as Orndorff then hits him with a piledriver and even mocks Hogan's hand to his ear pose. He then waves in Studd and Bundy but Spivey, Rotundo, Sivi Afi, and King Tonga come out for the save as Orndorff leaves with the heels.
Thoughts: This was of the most memorable moments ever in WWF history. It started the Orndorff/Hogan feud which lasted through the Summer, leading up to a huge show in Toronto, "The Big Event." One of the biggest moments in WWF history.
The camera follows Orndorff to the locker room as he is congratulated by Adrian Adonis. Heenan comes in the locker room and yells "Wonderful" as the camera shows Hogan being carried out as the crowd loudly chants his name.
Ken Resnick comments on what we just saw then bring out Tito Santana, who also is shocked by what Orndorff did and mentions how he became close friends with Orndorff who has not been returning his calls lately. He will be facing Bob Orton at the August Boston Garden show. He leaves then Ricky Steamboat enters and says that he likes watching the Boston Celtics play as much as he likes beating on Jake Roberts. He then says that he will play mind games with Jake in Boston.
Bruno and Vince comment on the main event then show a replay of the finish, providing commentary.
Final Thoughts: The main event made this a must-see show. Just wonderfully done and it gave Hogan a feud, which he had been lacking. With Studd, Bundy, and now Orndorff joining Heenan, the WWF has an impressive heel stable to work with. The rest of the show wasn't much, other than a segment in which we learned that the winner of the Hart Foundation vs. Sheik & Volkoff match in Boston will become the #1 contender for the Tag Team Championship. If you have not seen the main event, do so immediately.
And just a quick programming note, I have now made a schedule for when and what I will be posting my reviews. Here is the schedule and give or take about 30 minutes for the times.
Tuesday: 80's WWF 8:00pm
Thursday: Shoot Interview Recap 12:30pm (If a two-disc shoot, the second disc will be posted on Friday at the same time)
Friday: 80's WWF 3:00pm
Saturday: RoH Shows 8:00pm (starting from the company's debut in 2002 going in order.)
Sunday: 80's WWF 8:00pm (unless their is a WWE PPV)
Any feedback is welcome at BBayless781@gmail.com
Fuck this child murdering, wife beating piece of shit. Can't believe we are giving him any publicity.
ReplyDelete...uh, except Angle (the who was supposedly buried) was working main events 2 months later, champ 3 months later,and a star at least 3 years before the murdering piece of shit. Yeah, that Undertaker. He really screwed Angle over big time.
ReplyDeleteI like my wrestling foreign and exotic. Not like you commoners and that domestic swill you enjoy. Now where have I misplaced my monocle?
ReplyDeleteYou're nuts.
ReplyDeleteBoD RAW needs a strong heel champion, not some Nancy boy riding the fence.
ReplyDeleteWell he's dead, so if it makes you feel better, he doesn't know we are giving him publicity. He also didn't kill his family for the press like a lot of stupid school shooters. He did, because his brain was fucked.
ReplyDelete*Hands Dock Muraco a tiny cowboy hat and a ukelele*
ReplyDeletePublicity might be the wrong word. Glorifying maybe? And Benoit is Benoit. "Hey Benoit, that diving headbutt is really gonna fuck you up, just like Dynamite Kid..." "I don't give a fuck about no consequences!"
ReplyDeleteThe fizzling out of Angle/HHH after Unforgiven was such a terrible waste.
ReplyDeleteYou mean the same kind of grandiose pagentry that UFC fighters, boxers, and your city's Starting 5 get when they take the court? That's not exactly a marquee that reads "20% Sport, 80% Entertainment"
ReplyDeleteHow many times was a fight promoted on the strength of Kim Couture's dislike of whoever Randy's opponent was married to? The day that happens we will all know that UFC is officially in the shitter.
If there's one guy on the roster that can get it over........
ReplyDeleteThe LMS match was indeed fantastic. It's in the discussion.. The Angle matches, while very good, never got all they way there for me..
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's pretty great being a wrestling fan though. Within hours this match and the Usos/Wyatts 2/3 fall we're held. That's pretty great.
ReplyDeletePeople act like the character stuff doesn't predate "sports entertainment."
ReplyDeleteIt does. I like pro wrestling storylines and characters. Not bullshit reality hour and endless corporate power struggles
Could have led to such a great blow-off at Wrestlemania, if they had gone all-in on Steph leaving HHH for Kurt
ReplyDeleteCan't stand that. I remember disliking Kidman too for that kind of no selling. I'll take Taker/HHH "laying around, aka SELLING THE BEATING" at WM 27 over the " killer spot, back up at 100% 6 seconds later for the next spot" any day of the week.
ReplyDeleteThat was the single best post you've ever had. Legit LOL.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Angle did just fine for himself doesn't change the match at Fully Loaded.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0EZobdiJ4M
ReplyDeleteWow thanks for posting this. Just finished watching. Holy shit! ****1/2 I'd say. Maybe ****3/4
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was weird. They had done such a great job of making Benoit a no-nonsense ass-kicker, then he is suddenly pulling childish pranks with Shane?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how they can keep this up for the next two weeks, but someway, somehow they will. This "Okada Era" run they've been on for the last 2 and half years is up there with any era, any company.
ReplyDeleteI can't shit on a guy for posting a link to cool match I wanted to see. Calling it ajs best match is hyperbole (I've seen better vs CD for instance) but hey its a tight match most of us didn't see.
ReplyDeleteI've followed a few of your posts. I'm enjoying your stuff here and there for sure fwiw. Also it seems like every other week I see a link here to some insane okada match. I have no clue about NJPW history other than from wcw and misawa but the last 3 years have pumped out top shelf shit/
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone's shitting on him for posting the match, which was really good, it's the whole thing of "oh well, if you don't love this then you're an ignoramus who only likes bad soap opera". It's the same thing Vince Jordan does every tuesday but in reverse.
ReplyDeleteI mean shit, I love Japanese wrestling, if i could only watch one guy's matches for the rest of my life, it'd probably be Kenta Kobashi, but that doesn't mean I to be a hipster about it and act like US wrestling is worhtless, because it isnt, and I wouldn't have discovered Japanese stuff in the first place if it wasn't for the WWF hooking me in back in the day.
Here's my critique of puro stuff as a ugly american. 2 things. 1. I have a hard time with how long so many of the matches run. Vince has broken me into thinking 20-30 minutes is the ideal time for a big match. I do enjoy the occasional iron man match but I'm talking once or twice a year per fed. 2. Too many matches have too much chest chopping. I don't like that shit. My two cents. Having said that almost all the NJPW I've seen through the BoD is fantastic but 60 minute matches are hard for me to get with.
ReplyDeleteShitting was too strong of a word. Ruffling feathers is more what I meant.
ReplyDeleteIt does change the idea that he was buried or sabotaged. Working with the Undertaker is, in and of itself, an elevation. It is almost a given you're going to lose and be no sold. Just working with the guy, implies that you have his attention, that you're worthy of his attention. That alone puts you over.
ReplyDeleteOr you can. Whine about a match that in the end was just another stop on the Angle Express
WWF in 2000 man. Just about all of the ppvs were great shows
ReplyDeleteHey, watch it! I have *NEVER used the term "Ignoramus!!" that's... That's all I got right now.
ReplyDeleteI never really kept up with it. I'd read about it from the usual suspects, but the combination of iPPV and Daily Motion over the last 3 years basically makes it the #2 wrestling company in North America.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how anyone can not enjoy chops. I have a bigger issue with the clothesline being a deadly finishing move.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have a link to the Ishii match from G1?
ReplyDeletePeople like Drake, too. I'm not mad at them, and I'm not mad at you if you enjoy these non-wrestling shows that are disguised as Monday Night Raw. I'm more of a Wu-Tang man myself, and the more watered down the art gets, the more I can't understand peoples admiration of it.
ReplyDeleteI can't comment intelligently on Japanese wrestling, but it seems in N.A., if matches go over 30 minutes or so, guys run out of stuff to do.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't say Angle was buried per se, just that Undertaker no sold most of his offense, which is true,
ReplyDeleteThat's precisely the problem I have, too. Those matches are just too freaking daunting for me. 30-40 minutes is fine for me if it's a fast paced brawl like HHH/Austin 3 stages of hell or has more of the WWE style but for the most part I just can't get into them.
ReplyDeleteAs a Wu-Tang Clan fanboy who hates Drake, I don't think you could've worded this any more like a condescending dickass if you tried.
ReplyDeleteBret explained it perfectly in his book. Wrestling is supposed to be fake, aka, you try not to hurt your opponent. Chops may look good, but they legit hurt like hell. Just like say, unprotected chair shots to the head, I'd be fine with never seeing another chop again.
ReplyDeletei read alot of "this is my fav match or one of my favorite moments" and i turn rather quickly in curiosity as to how it is.. so now it is my turn to say it cos this IS one of my fav matches for some reasons idk why.. so much madness!
ReplyDeleteThe playlist I posted down the thread has all the matches from day 1
ReplyDeleteGlad to see fans here, iv been a super die-hard Wu fan for almost 15 years
ReplyDeleteSweet.
ReplyDeleteI still cant believe hes the same "random Japanese guy" randering around in TNA years ago. Guy has IT
ReplyDeleteYeah, those are the things that should be banned.
ReplyDeleteCool, thanks.
ReplyDeleteYeah, everyone looks like a face there.
ReplyDelete:bust out laughing:
ReplyDeleteStyles was great at mocking the crowd.
ReplyDeleteI hate the term Swag, but he had more Swag in this one match than his entire run as Nature Boy 2..
ReplyDeleteI was hoping they would turn Misawa's wife into a top heel and have the guy who suplexed him marry her.
ReplyDeleteTell that to Jeff Hardy in 2002.
ReplyDeleteThe poor ending of the Angle-Steph-HHH is the moment I think of where Vince should have been a billionaire and ended up a millionaire. I remember how popular wrestling was then, everyone talked about it, even other girls were openly into it. After that, it was never the same, and probably never will be.
ReplyDeleteand 3 months later Rock made Angle look good in the match that gave Angle his first reign as champion.
ReplyDeleteThe Rock really showed that he could hang with Benoit here.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, the crowd was just BEGGING HHH to turn face and destroy Kurt Angle, but nope....none of that.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, primarily because he was allowed to be himself rather than a Flair clone.
ReplyDeleteUFC doesn't really do grandiose entrances. Haven't since early in the Zuffa era. Pride did, but ~30% of Pride was a work.
ReplyDeleteThat finish tho...
ReplyDeleteOn his fucking FACE
AJ has had better singles matches (vs Joe at TP05, Daniels at AAO06, Angle at HJ08).
ReplyDeletehim vs Shibata is a match i can't wait to see. That could be a worldy
Yeah its too gruesome for me. I have zero problem with a guy throwing three chops when his opponent is in the corner or flair chopping someone and then begging off when they no sell it. But when these dudes start just trading chops over and over I don't care for it. That Joe vs kobiashi match in ROH everyone loved where they chopped the shit out of each other until there chests were torn apart grossed me out.
ReplyDeleteBut Vince DID become a billionaire that year anyway. And had the most successful year in wrestling history. I don't understand what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteYeah the guy that pretended to hurt people on TV wasn't the same guy who really did it, obv.
ReplyDeleteI hated Joe/Kobiashi.
ReplyDeleteYa know, goddamn it... Benoit really was the perfect example of what the perfect wrestler is. He was absolutely flawless in the ring and he could make you love or hate him.
ReplyDeleteNah, they'd tip the weights machine over...
ReplyDeleteOh wait, you mean in the RING... yeah I agree, he always held up his end of the bargain whenever he faced 'ring technician' types like Angle, Benoit and Jericho. I'd argue that all of the Hollywood glitz overshines how good he was physically as a wrestler.
How much has Daniel Bryan lost before his win at Wrestlemania?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that the more you job the more titles you will get after it. Or look how much Austin loste in 96/97 until he got the final push and even then he didn't win every match.
I think the in-ring stuff of more recent years is of a generally far high quality than 2000 - unless you're talking about Backlash, which still stands as one of the best shows the company ever put on. Many of the highly esteemed PPVs aren't actually that great, and towards the end of the year things fell off a cliff in terms of quality (Unforgiven, Survivor Series, Armageddon). What these shows really had going for them were an insanely exciting atmosphere - very hot crowds, great booking. Strip that away, and the shows lose a helluva lot.
ReplyDeleteThat year's Summerslam, for instance, is regarded as an all time great show, but beyond Benoit/Jericho and TLC, there's nothing majorly awesome or good, even. The main event is, I suppose, very decent - but nothing we hadn't seen a million times before. In fact, the undercard is actively horrible (Chyna winning the IC, the DX match, the RTC brawl, the fucking stupid Lawler/Tazz feud, the stinkface debacle, UT/Kane for the billionth time, a shitty Shane/Blackman match elevated to parapets of unrealistic quality thanks to THAT bump off the Tron). Fully Loaded is another well-regarded PPV with two stunning matches and little else going for it. No Mercy is, again, the definition of a two match show (HHH/Benoit, Rock/Angle). Many more recent WWE PPVs have way more quality consistency top to bottom.
Angle is one of the wrestlers who is so good on the mic, he can get himself over just by talking, even after losing several times in a row. Udnertaker had nothing to do with Angle winning the belt. That was all Angle (and some Rock to be honest).
ReplyDeleteI have yet to see anyone "whine" about it in this conversation. I also said nothing about him being buried or sabotaged.
ReplyDeleteFact
ReplyDeleteNot even close to what I meant. Nice try though.
ReplyDeleteI liked T&A (the tag team to HAAYYOOOOOO) and thought they were progressing well into a fairly athletic hoss team.
ReplyDeleteBenoit was a brilliant performer, and when he killed his family I basically lost interest in wrestling for a few years because I was really conflicted about it.
ReplyDeleteFreaking fantastic match. To me, this was the best match on a great show. I think it holds up a lot better than the LMS match, which is good in its own right. One of Rocky's best performances in a string of great ones.
ReplyDeleteOk
ReplyDeleteThe 190 lb tag wrestler? Uh...how about I tell it to the 2007 solo star Jeff Hardy with a belt round his waist. And that ladder match w Taker helped legitimize the guy.
ReplyDeleteFair enough. But then I don't get the point? So what if he no sold his offense, it still legitimized him and arguably led to character development. (Arguably because I don't remember weekly TV shows from 00. )
ReplyDeleteEverything had something to do with Angle getting the belt. My point is why are we even talk g about the supposedly hurtful Taker match (his first against a bonafide main eventer) when it didn't hurt him, he main evented the following Ppv.
ReplyDeleteI watched this show on scramblevision back in the day, and shut it off right before Foley came out to reverse the decision. That was an interesting morning the next day in school.
ReplyDeleteI hated it at the time, but looking back I prefer Mark the Biker to Mark the Zombie (I've never been a big fan of the guy anyway though). I wish he would've stuck with the character and let it evolve instead of just reverting back to the Deadman, I can't believe supernatural powers could fly in 2004 when he came back.
ReplyDeleteSo, it's okay if a zombie no-sells everything, but when a biker does it it's a travesty?