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October Classics - Kurt Angle vs. Steve Austin - RAW 10/8/01

Kurt Angle had defeated Austin to win the WWF Championship in his hometown of Pittsburgh at Unforgiven 2001. Austin had been off TV for a couple of weeks after that loss, and was then granted a rematch for this episode of RAW. The Invasion angle may have been botched, but it did offer plenty of memorable moments, this being one of them.

Comments

  1. You have no problem with him not defending the title again until most likely Royal Rumble?

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  2. Gunther the Nasty LoserOctober 23, 2014 at 1:39 PM

    In other words, because Meltzer

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  3. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©October 23, 2014 at 1:40 PM

    But we don't know for sure, more in development.

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  4. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:41 PM

    I honestly thought he was dead after the first fall. I can't chalk it up to being 12 years old that's still one of the most unbelievable things ever

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  5. In fairness he can't be certain of something Vince hasn't changed his mind on 12 yet.

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  6. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:43 PM

    Brock busting open Cena less than 30 seconds into their ER12 match was awesome. It felt like a fight and not a Main Event Style match

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  7. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:45 PM

    SMB1 or 3, Galaga in terms of arcade games. TMNT 2: TAG is pretty awesome though

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  8. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:45 PM

    One of the top dozen ganes ever

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  9. Remember that UT was working with a broken foot and Foley was pretty much heatless at the time. They had to gimmick the match up as much as possible to make any impression at all.

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  10. Eh, I think there's a limit to how many guys you should be pushing that high at once. Dilutes the spotlight.

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  11. 1) I'd rather HHH & Steph be off TV altogether, but if they insist on being there I'd rather they be babyfaces as they represent the company and workin fans are supposed to be rooting for the company.

    2) Contracts in wrestling work the way they say they work. And I don't mind them having some egg on their face because it at least shows them as vulnerable. As it is they never lose. Even when they lose they don't lose. Do have them be outsmarted for once, show some humility to justify the face turn.

    3) It's not about what they did with Cesaro, it's what they could yet do. Triple H announcing a match between Cena & Lesnar, then having Cesaro come out and swing the shit out of Cena, would be a better push for him than what they gave him doing now.

    4) Orton already seems on track for a face turn so this would fit that. Rollins, you have Heyman buy him off. Triple H announces he's going to face Lesnar himself, Rollins clocks him with the briefcase, opens it to reveal it's full of money from Heyman. "Guess I'm a 'Paul Heynan Guy' now!"

    5) The whole idea is to replace the tired Heel Authority Figure dynamic with a variation on the Invasion angle. It would literally become Lesnar & Heyman versus the entire WWE roster. Heyman builds an army: A new Dangerous Alliance. Cesaro, Rollins, have him bring in the Ascension. Hell--add Nikki Bella to the group so they have someone they can put in the ring against Steph, or go after the Divas Title. Or someone like Tamina Snuka. Hire ODB. Who knows? Grab up all the belts. He could lure Rusev into the group, have him win the US belt. Now he's not just an evil foreigner but worse: A slimy sellout, even to his own mother Russia. Distrust would run through the company as no one knows who'll be the next to sell out. And the endgame of it all is some babyface riding to the top to face Lesnar.

    Let me repeat that: It all builds to a big match with Lesnar. And once Lesnar is beaten the story is done, because WWE'd have its belt back. A main event storyline would actually have a finish to it.

    The details are all debatable, but the idea is pretty sound I think.

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  12. YankeesHoganTripleHFanOctober 23, 2014 at 1:46 PM

    I don't have DX/Legacy. However I haven't seen Taker/Orton very often....And Orton's in the cell this weekend so it appropriate....Yeah good call!!

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  13. I really like this line of thinking, actually. You're not banking the whole event on a Reigns main, because the Rumble is always more of a draw than whatever the World Title match is. You keep Reigns away from some crowd favorites so the fans aren't forced to choose. And you use the Rumble-Mania hot period to develop Reigns, instead of tossing him in the cooled-off zone post-Mania and hoping for the best. Reigns is a guy who needs some protecting, because he's not quite experienced or mic-comfortable enough to win over a bored or hostile crowd. Getting the fans ready for him at that level when they're more excited for the show is a great move.
    And I love the idea of Brock putting over two younger guys instead of just one; the money spent on Brock is mostly about popping ratings, yes, but the importance of having Brock around at this point is making the guy who finally manages to beat him. If you can carry that over and help elevate two guys instead, then that's your best bet. I know they're conditioned for the big Mania closing ceremony, but that'll still mean plenty of Reigns keeps his title against Cena; you can totally do the torch passing thing there.

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  14. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©October 23, 2014 at 1:47 PM

    Lol
    That is very true.

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  15. Shittier Guests: Ross or Colt? It's scary what's happened to Cabana's podcast once stars like Austin and Jericho decided to dip into the medium, poor guy.

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  16. Gunther the Nasty LoserOctober 23, 2014 at 1:47 PM

    No, that's my name, Barf!

    I'm a Mog: half man, half dog.

    I'm my own best friend.

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  17. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:48 PM

    Jeanie Bus saying anyone who doesn't want to play with Kobe is a loser they don't want (her words) just makes it clear that they're fucked as a franchise for a long time as long as the Buss kids stay dysfunctional

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  18. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:50 PM

    It can be silly and still good. They made 21 Jump Street of all things into a good time, but a THREE HOUR Transformers movie is cinematic waterboarding

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  19. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©October 23, 2014 at 1:51 PM

    And when he comes back, they'll probably repackage him.

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  20. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©October 23, 2014 at 1:51 PM

    Well, that's why I don't watch them.

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  21. Yet they'll be still be on national TV 10 times for some reason.

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  22. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:53 PM

    Who DIDNT know the answer was "Marty?"

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  23. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 1:56 PM

    For the Lakers fans in denial who just want to see Kobe gun for 40 and for Laker haters like me who will savor all their ass whoopings

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  24. That's the idea the story's shooting for, but here's the question: in what way is John Cena doing what they DON'T want him to do? Even in-universe, he's the guy that supports the troops, does tons of Make a Wish visits, advocates charities, makes public appearances, sells millions in merchandise...What aren't they, as company owners, getting from Cena that some abstract notion of "control" would give them? Alright, so he won't suck up. They don't need him to! He does everything asked of him and more, so what do they possibly gain by demoralizing or running him off?

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  25. Not too much. I enjoy him so I'd like to see him more regularly, but the big-time prize fight champion who rarely defends is new territory and I like new.


    Lesnar's absence isn't what's wrong with the product. It's the fact that those who write the storylines are lazy, stubborn, and unoriginal.

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  26. I'll admit I haven't listened to Colt's podcast much lately (and have never listened to JR's) but I've my enjoyment of podcasts doesn't depend all that much on how much I'm a fan of, or know about, the guest.

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  27. They should be talking about Lesnar all the time. Every week the announcers should be saying "the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is being held at the mercy of Brock Lesnar!"

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  28. Meh. I don't know that I need A-listers every week for JR to be interesting but the guy who draws pictures of wrestlers was pushing it a bit.

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  29. Agreed, that game where the Clippers whooped the Lakers by 40 at home gave me the biggest smile and I don't even like the Clippers either!

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  30. Virgil's Gimmick TableOctober 23, 2014 at 2:08 PM

    It can if done wrong, but if they keep them separate and let them get each other over like Rollins and Ambrose have, it can work. Look at WWF in 2000. That was doing it right.

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  31. Virgil's Gimmick TableOctober 23, 2014 at 2:08 PM

    No wonder his laugh always sounded pained.

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  32. Virgil's Gimmick TableOctober 23, 2014 at 2:09 PM

    Well now you've hurt my feelings.

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  33. He named her after the game, too. There's a little segment of them playing Zelda together on YouTube.

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  34. If he's referring to the article Jim Ross wrote about it for Fox Sports, then what I found intriguing was them saying that the 2nd fall through the cage that knocked Foley out WAS planned, just the chair following him down wasn't and wound up knocking him out. Maybe Ross misquoted, but that explains the chokeslam up there. No way they thought that wouldn't bust right through at the time...esp. when just walking around up there a piece came loose. Matter of fact, that's probably why it did.

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  35. Only one I'd add would be the Shield appearance and then GOING OVER in that first PPV match.

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  36. Slobberknockereeeeeee!

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  37. Yep. Even with the controversial finish, I slightly prefer Lesnar/Cena to Lesnar/Punk because the former felt like a unique, shoot-ish spectacle whereas the latter was just a great no-DQ match. That, and I prefer Cena to Punk.

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  38. I can totally see Seth & Ambrose pulling off something like an elbow from the top of the cage to the outside, but they know it'll get them severely punished. Or y'know, die.

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  39. I vaguely recall on a DVD or something Undertaker saying something like, "It was a brutal match, but if I had to do it again, I would." (I can't find it anywhere now, though.) I wonder what Foley thought about that.

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  40. Given these things I'm still not sure why the match was even booked, other than Russo's crash TV philosophy.

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  41. Heyman's return to the company just before that was a huge surprise as well. And I don't know if the dirsheets predicted/reported it beforehand, but the end of SummerSlam last year with HHH's turn and Orton's cash-in was a shock to me as well.

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  42. Dying is a pretty severe punishment in itself.

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  43. Yeah, it buries you pretty deep in the underworld...card.

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  44. Never understood why they messed with Austin's music.

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  45. Not in the locker room! :)

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  46. One of the most exciting matches ever, wouldn't shut up about it at school the next day. It was awesome and literally out of the box that they started on top of the Cell. I'm sure Foley would do it all again considering what it meant for his legacy

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  47. I get a kick out of JR pushing this as the greatest, most memorable HIAC match of all time. It seems very self-serving, because doing so helps the effort to keep his now-famous call at front-of-mind for casual and lapsed fans. To me, the first HIAC will always be superior to the second, if not all of them...

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  48. Happy Diwali to the Great Khali, Jinder Mahal and that dude from India TNA signed!

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  49. Why is he broken down? He looks great in the pre season. I say kudos to gutting out in his 19th season with the same team even though they are bad.

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  50. Well Taker was supposed to chokeslam him on top of the cage with the roof bending down. Foley was not supposed to go through the cell.

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  51. Gunther the Nasty LoserOctober 23, 2014 at 2:29 PM

    Do you agree with the following sentiment from Cena about why he won't turn heel, that doing so erases all of the good that'sbeen done?

    Cena on why he won’t turn heel: “When you do that, everything you
    said, everything you stand for gets erased. It’s a poor business
    decision. [Cena met an eight year old who beat cancer twice] He was shy
    and reserved but simply said, ‘I never give up because you tell me not
    to.’ It’s tough to win that eight-year-old kid back (with heel turns). I
    don’t want to lose them. Athletics has become such a business.
    Everything is circulated around the almighty dollar. It’s tough to find
    people to look up to.”

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  52. In terms of the match itself definitely, Shawn/UT is probably one of the top five matches of all time.


    But as far as hype and all, few things surpass Foley/UT in the cell.


    Actually, that's kind of fun, what match gets talked about more than this match? Obviously Montreal is *far and away* the leader, but what comes after that? This match and then...?

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  53. Spurs fans will always be mad at Kobe for how bad he owns their ass in the playoffs. If I was spurs fan I'd hate that guy too. I'm not though, so I don't.

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  54. The first cell match is one of my favorite matches ever but Foley/Taker is absolutely one of the most memorable matches ever and is way more talked about in the pantheon of wrestling legend than the first cell match.

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  55. Hogan/Andre? Steamboat/Savage maybe?

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  56. Yeah I think it was intended to be "OH MY GOD the cell almost broke!"


    Foley writes in his book that he figured the structure would be much stronger because Shawn was taking backdrops and stuff on it. I think the combination of all that added weight and that the Cell had been taken apart and put back together that made it so much weaker.

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  57. Hogan/Andre's probably #3


    1) Montreal
    2) Taker/Mick
    3) Hogan/Andre


    Seems legit

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  58. I'm more outraged about the tiger woods game being dropped.

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  59. Taker needed something to do until SummerSlam, he and Foley had a long rivalry and return of the Hell in a Cell is an easy selling point.

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  60. With Russo I wouldn't even be surprised if the whole match got booked *only* because he wanted to have Cell antics in the main event without actually booking Austin/Kane as a HitC match.

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  61. Inevitably someone will come along and say "Hogan/Andre is way more famous than those two idiots" note: were talking about legacy and infamy of the match and how much it's talked about in WWE and Wrestling legend. Not how big it was at the time.

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  62. That match oughta be Hell in a Cell 2.5.

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  63. Yeah I don't care what the mainstream talks about more, I'm thinking strictly threads and posts and articles written by wrestling nerds themselves.


    I would bet more was written about Montreal after the first 24 hours than was written about Hogan/Andre after the first 365 days.

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  64. Absolutely. If both those matches somehow happened on the same card today "Montreal" would get way more talk.

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  65. Gunther the Nasty LoserOctober 23, 2014 at 2:38 PM

    Jobber Jobber bo bobber
    Banana fanna fo fobber
    Fee fy no mobber, Jobber

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  66. He didn't care so long as the bass line stayed how he liked it.

    That's actually how his "That's the bottom line cos Stone Cold says so" catchphrase was born.

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  67. I recall the HHH turn and Orton cash-in being pretty well speculated around these parts. I would have been more shocked if it didn't happen.

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  68. Cena vs Lesnar Extreme Rules
    Punk vs Cena MITB
    Sting vs Hogan Starcade

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  69. Austin is so badass at the end there

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  70. So if TNA doesn't get a TV deal and has to fold, who on their roster would WWE want? I think EC3 deserves another shot in WWE. He's gotten pretty good on the mic, decent in the ring, and awesome at the intangibles. Bram has potential. I don't know how WWE left its relationship with Lashley and MVP, but they'd be good acquisitions too.

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  71. It is the most memorable HIAC match of all time

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  72. Maybe Jeff Hardy and that's probably it

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  73. You were in school that late?

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  74. I'd say no.. because it's an act. He would have to actually do real world criminal acts to "erase what he stands for. i understand his view point and have respect that he is actually touched by and cares that all these kids look up to him and that is something to admire. On the other hand kids grow up and tend not to look up to the same kind of people, just like you don't listen to the same bubble gum pop you listened to when you were 8. That is why Hulk's heel turn worked. I've always thought that if they REALLY tried they could make it work where he wouldn't have to go full blown heel. He could be to kids what Bret was to Canada. OR is that what he is already?

    Also does it matter at this point. Would heel Cena reinvigorate him and make him fresh in people's eyes or would those who are tired of him already go..yea he is acting different but...still in all the main events and still all over my tv?

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  75. I had Reigns penciled in as the big surprise Rumble entrant. Either there or at Survivor Series. (Team Cena/Ambrose's mystery partner.)

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  76. This has been brought up a few times. I think the answer is nobody.


    WWE has had the chance to sign anybody before, and they never did.

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  77. And unless Hardy is so clean his blood can be used to wash away dirt, he's doubtful.

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  78. Tecmo Super Bowl, NBA Live 96, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat

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  79. Dudleys will get some sort of Royal Rumble/nostalgia run and a Hall of Fame at some point.

    I'd say with their roster right now they would be crazy not to toss Joe out there and see if he caught on. There is some other talent that I'm sure would get a shot.


    I don't know if they should let Hardy back in....but maybe bring in Willow.

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  80. I was 19 and thought the same thing. It was absolutely insane. Stating the obvious there, but still. Sounded like a train wreck

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  81. It's on a short list of the most famous pro wrestling matches, not HIAC matches but just MATCHES, of all-time. HBK/Taker in the cell isn't even close as far as being memorable.

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  82. Different times though too with internet and all. Hogan/Andre was huge though. Not saying it's more important or talked about historically than Montreal (it's not) but it was a big deal at the time.

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  83. I thought this Rey news was *old* news

    /shrug

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  84. Yeah but it's not like he threw foley off unplanned or anything. Foley knew the risk and what he was getting into, it was his idea. And I've never heard him regret it, so why would UT?

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  85. If they wanted Samoa Joe they could have had him at any point in the last ten years. They don't want him.

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  86. Seems like every few days someone reports something to the extent of "He's pissed...they're pissed...something something contract"

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  87. Yeah I'd mostly agree, but they're dying for some star power and at least he's nowhere near as fucked as Angle. Angle there's zero chance he'd ever be brought back. Hardy I could see as an outside shot.

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  88. For sure there's definitely a much bigger microscope on everything...if that makes any sense at all. Maybe #2 then? I suppose strictly historically Hogan/Andre is at least number two.

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  89. In 1998? Yeah I was 13

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  90. Well then I circle back to my crazy point. because he would have injected some life in to the card..even at mid card.

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  91. What sucks for me, is that I was at the previous week's show when Austin was absent. WHY COULDN'T THEY GIVE ME THAT MATCH WHERE *I* LIVE?!?

    Bastards.

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  92. Thank you, my friend is still swearing he is going to hear those Medal horns kick in at the Rumble. No chance...if Vince hasn't completely lost it anyway.

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  93. You know, this was during a period where I didn't miss a single PPV for several years.
    But I missed this one for reasons lost to the sands of time, and I've never yet seen this match in its entirety.

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  94. Maybe Jeff, maybe Kurt if he did a three year stint in a rehab and only wanted to be a trainer with a private-hired Smoky to follow him around every single minute.

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  95. I actually think they're past their sell by date on a Cena heel turn. Might as well keep him a face, use him to put over some new faces when the chance arises (Cena's awful at getting young heels over but great at getting new faces over), and eventually slide him into a part-time role. Not really worth a heel turn at this stage.

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  96. Hopefully it'll come back as Rory McIlroy Golf next year.

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  97. Oh yeah, personally I'd love to see Joe wrestle in WWE even just as a glorified jobber. But it's pretty obvious they have zero interest, and him getting older/fatter/slower/less-famous doesn't help matters.

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  98. I really can't understand how they can't come to terms like "Rey go do whatever you want and get paid, until your contract ends we still get to sell the fuck out of your masks at our agreed percentage."


    That's all he's worth at this point anyway, let the poor guy dodge cartel bullets for his final matches if that's what he wants to do.

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  99. If we're counting "talk" as actual words--spoken and typed--then far and away the most talked about match of all time is Rock - Cena One.

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  100. ( ͡° ͜Ê– ͡°)

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  101. The difference now is that without TNA available as negotiating leverage, these guys will come at a lower price tag. And don't discount the possibility of people at WWE changing their minds. Maybe they didn't want a guy a year ago but they like him today.

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  102. I think Magnus would do well in WWE, he's young, good on the mic, decent in the ring.

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  103. I forgot about the Knockouts. WWE would surely take a long look at Velvet Sky, Taryn Terrell, Brooke Tessmacher and whoever else they think is hot.

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  104. I can see the reasoning, sort of. Heroes are supposed to be incorruptible.


    But that doesn't matter really, if these are actually his feelings on the issue it's better he doesn't play a heel anyway, he clearly doesn't want to.

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  105. Oh, yeah there might be some talent there I've never really watched any TNA so I don't know who any of those girls are.

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  106. what? seriously?

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  107. Gunther the Nasty LoserOctober 23, 2014 at 3:33 PM

    People talk about age being an issue, but for "older" guys like Roode and Storm, they already bring a lot to the table. This isn't Boogeyman or Batista starting out at an older age type deal.

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  108. Thought they were going this way post summerslam, but didn't.


    Cause WWE

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  109. I love how Austin flips out after Angle's last-gasp kickout after the title-shot to the head, dropping F-bombs and temper-tantruming like there's no tomorrow.

    I also love Angle's sell of the Stunner.

    I love everything about this.

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  110. Signing the Dudleys for a Legends deal seems the most obvious. Even a short Outlaws-style run wouldn't be out of the question, I'd imagine.
    I don't know what the situation with MVP's health is, with the heart murmur and all. But as a manager or authority figure (he could be the heir to Heyman's slimy sports agent throne), or as a trainer, I could definitely see.
    I think Roode or Storm should seriously be looked at, despite their age. They have a lot to offer and could easily be perennial upper-midcard guys.
    Not sure there's anyone on the current Knockouts roster WWE would want - their best is Gail and she left on bad terms. They might be interested in getting Brooke back, it seems like she's improved. I'd pick up Havok. They haven't had a monster Diva since Kong didn't pan out. It'd be worth another try, and her style/gimmick is pretty modern.

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  111. Taker says he thought Mick was dead on the second fall.

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  112. That SummerSlam finish was definitely called on the 'tubes.

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  113. They started the match on top because Taker already had an injured ankle going in, and the early megabumps gave them an excuse not to go balls to the walls crazy early on.

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  114. Already fired Taryn once for being crazy once. No Velvet because of the tats. Maybe they'd take Brooke back?

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  115. There are so many fans that have no idea what Montreal is. It never hit mainstream. Hogan Andre is 1

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  116. They just let Bram go like a year ago.

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  117. The "you deserve it" chant Daniel Bryan got at SmarkMania III would've been warranted for Foley too, sure.

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  118. It is awesome! And there is a character and after you beat him he says "barf!" I thought real fans of the game would find that amusing so I posted it.

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  119. I actually appreciate the idealism of his sentiment. You could probably accuse him of buying into his own image, but based on this he seems to be saying that if the image affects people, you have to go all-in on it. I get that line of thinking.
    I don't really think they need a Cena heel turn. In fact, I wish he'd act more like a face (standing up for people, helping out people who are getting attacked by the Authority or whoever). His whole 50-50 face thing actually makes his big matches feel more like legit athletic contests.

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  120. I've heard that it was supposed to be gradual, like the section was supposed to sag and give Foley a chance to roll off.

    Busting straight through into a however many foot dead drop onto the back of the head? Even in 1998 I don't think they would've intended that.

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  121. Then how were they supposed to get down? And why was there a camera focused inside the ring to get a perfect shot of Mick falling into it?

    You'd think they would have mentioned the "original plan" by now if that wasn't intended.

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  122. I was 17 at the time and going into the match I totally expected Foley to go off the cell (HBK had gone through the table from halfway up in the prior one) and yet when it happened it was still fucking amazing.

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  123. love the heelish austin!

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  124. The interesting part to me was JR saying he and King were not told about the throw off the top of the cage, so all the classic calls were their honest reaction. I forget whether he said both big spots were unknown to them, but I definitely remember him saying they did not know Mick was going to be flying off the cage.

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  125. As many times as they say it wasnt supposed to happen I can't believe they thought friggin zip ties would keep that section up with a 300 pounder bumping on it.

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  126. I think he means late in the year since King of the Ring was in mid or late June. Maybe you had summer school?

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  127. I think he meant the lateness of the month, KotR '98 was on June 28.

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  128. "If I had to let another dude take hellacious bumps while I hobbled around, I would." -The Undertaker

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  129. Plus his mother died in a fart so you have natural sympathy for him.

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  130. Now imagine Cole/JBL/latter day Lawler calling this match. Ewwww.

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  131. Oh right my bad, yeah schools in the UK can finish up to mid July

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  132. I always thought it would've been better if they started by climbing from the inside and then had a chicken fight above the ring.

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  133. Oh, didn't know that. Was he in NXT?

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  134. Brooke has some mainstream notoriety right now from being on Amazing Race. I imagine WWE would be attracted by that.

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  135. Because it was so awesome when 90% of scaffold matches ended that way!

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  136. As far as full-timer wrestlers go, are Mark Henry and Kane the two longest-tenured guys in WWE? I feel like I'm definitely forgetting somebody...

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  137. They should have dumped the thumb tacks in the ring BEFORE Foley took his bump through the cell.

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  138. JBL: "Get out of there, Mick. Get out of there!"
    Cole: "OHMYGODNO!"
    Lawler: (High-pitched scream)

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  139. The sad thing is, originally, I don't think Angle was supposed to win the title in the first place.

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  140. It was originally supposed to be Foley getting another shot at Austin in the Cell, but it was changed to Taker.

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  141. I'll click through the 10 shitty screens on whatculture to answer this!




    Michael Cole, started 1997
    Mark Henry, started 1996
    Kane, started in 1995
    Triple H, 1995
    Lawler, started 1992
    Taker, started in 1990
    Mike Chioda, started in 1989 (holy crap)
    Kevin Dunn, started in 1985 (and only because Dunn's father was one of Sr's cronies...damn I never knew that, that explains SO much)
    Tony Chimel, started in 1983
    Howard Finkel, started in 1976 (HOLY SHIT)






    So yeah, as far as active full time guys, Kane's the longest-tenured by about 10 months.

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  142. Everyone thought he'd fall off. Undertaker straight-up threw him off. One of my favorite moments is when they are raising the cage to get all the help out there for Foley, the crowd chants for the Undertaker like he is the baddest bad-ass on the planet. My other favorite moments are: After the slam through the cage, JR exclaiming "will somebody stop the damn match!!!"; and when they discuss what's in Foley's nostril and JR suggests a tooth... Lawler's quiet "oh god" is just perfect.

    I watch this match about once a month since subscribing to the Network. It may be my favorite match of all time.

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  143. What does Kevin Dunn do? And has he ever had an on-screen role? If not, I'm surprised anybody who's had a power position the company that long was able to resist putting himself in front of the camera.

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  144. They had a short lived deal on Sunday Night Heat where they had guys talk about famous matches out of character. UT did his in character and that's where that soundbite originated. Actually, Hell in the Cell may have been the only match they ran the segment on.

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  145. I didn't realize that Chimel or Chioda were around that long at all.

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  146. Dunn's basically in charge of all the TV stuff, he's the guy that says stuff like "They're not belts anymore" to Vince and Vince buys into it.


    He purposely doesn't go on TV as far as I can tell, dude is terrible looking, if he put himself out like that one of the real stars would've eaten him alive.

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  147. I was telling people that Chioda is going to be in the WWE Hall of Fame someday simply because he's been around for so long and been involved in so many big matches.

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  148. And never stole merchandise.

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  149. What other refs might get in? Teddy Long? Tim White? Charles Robinson?

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  150. I would think they wouldn't bother with refs ever, and if they ever do Earl has to be the first inductee.

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  151. They've put in ring announcers and managers, why not refs? They're just as crucial to the on-screen product.

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  152. I don't know, they walk such a weird line between real/fake these days, like I can totally see them in one breath talking about how matches are put together and then in the other saying ref's can't be appreciated for how well they relay cues from the back because it's "exposing" or something.

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  153. Still better than Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan.

    Bobby: That'll give you excedrin headache number nine.
    Tony: Indeed it will.

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  154. Yea that's what I meant. That sucks. I hope you still get a few months off

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  155. What about Taz - Sabu?

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  156. September 11th happened... and they just HAD to put the title on the American Hero on PPV.

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  157. Probably reasons related to sex.

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  158. His sped up heel music with horror movie strings was bad ass.

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  159. I don't think they'd have to expose the business to recognize refs. Legit sports have put officials in their Halls of Fame. Just act like the guy (Chioda, Hebner, etc.) earned it for being involved in several historic matches.

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  160. Savage: Four Years in the main event
    Bret: Five years
    Warrior: one year
    Hogan: 10-11 combined in WWE
    Austin: Five years with some time off for injury
    Rock: Four-Five with some time off
    HHH: 10 years, give or take

    So Cena and Orton have been in the main event longer than just about anyone.

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  161. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 4:46 PM

    LEE CARVALLO'S PUTTING CHALLENGE

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  162. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 4:47 PM

    I totally buy that and if anything, I think they should keep him face as the draw for women and children and simply build up another guy as face #1b for everyone else, like Punk and Bryan.

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  163. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryOctober 23, 2014 at 4:49 PM

    And he cut a promo where he pointed out another problem with a turn: it's not like smarks who hate him are gonna cheer him anyway, so why bother pleasing them?

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  164. It's funny how the media is so eager to crown McIlroy as The Man. Whenever he wins a tournament it's like a mass coronation, then he doesn't do well the next week and it's silence. But whenever Tiger doesn't do well, it's big news.

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  165. CruelConnectionNumber2October 23, 2014 at 4:59 PM

    General consensus of the IWC was "This match is gonna be TERRIBLE!" for the Taker/Foley HIAC because Taker has a bad (ankle?) injury and the feud didn't have a lot of steam, recently rekindled and playing second banana to the Austin main event. Starting it up top RED HOT and making Foley take all the abuse helped limit what Taker had to do the entire match (not a whole lot) and make it great.

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  166. Joey Marella should have been inducted with Gorilla, IMO.

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  167. Red hot reminded me of Foley's book where his goal was to get back up there and have a slugfest with UT before the chokeslam, but his arm wouldn't allow it.

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  168. Mark Madden: DOWN GOES FOLEY! DOWN GOES FOLEY! DOWN GOES FOLEY!

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  169. Half of the Ascension.

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  170. They have, but those other guys didn't stick around as long post main event push as Cena and Orton did. And Orton's been a main eventer for seven years officially, but he spent most of his post-Henry feud SmackDown run outside of the main event, so that number isn't really accurate. And while Cena's been the top guy for close to a decade, he, too has had several feuds (especially in the past few years) outside of the main event (the Wyatt feud being the most recent example).

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  171. Let's not forget that this match was the first component that eventually led to the birth of the Kiss my @$$ club!!

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  172. If the question is to name the Main Eventers of 2007-2014 WWE, their names are there. Regardless if they're last on each PPV.

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  173. Mark Madden: FLY FAT-ASS FLY!

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  174. "When he won the IC title, he felt his career was a success [...]"

    a statement like this seems so weird in the current WWE.

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  175. austin/Angle had a lot good matches during that period...

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  176. Kevins: Mooney & Dunn

    http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/972/979/mooneydunn_large_original_original_original_display_image.jpg?1330458263

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  177. That about sums it up.

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  178. As long as triple h didnt make sure HE was the one that was only good enough to dethrone brock, then this sounds like a great idea actually. Kinda like when vince had to get Austin's help when undertaker was trying to take over

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  179. Atari era: Pitfall! or River Raid



    8-Bit: Contra, River City Ransom, and as a dark horse, I'm not kidding here, Friday the 13th.


    16-bit: Nothing wrong with Turtles in Time, it's one of the best beat-'em-ups ever. But I'm going Earthbound or Clock Tower.



    32/64-bit: Persona 2: Eternal Punishment and Lunar: Silver Star Story. (For N64, GoldenEye or Smash Brothers.)

    Arcade: I could get behind Simpsons or especially X-Men, but Galaga is my all-time most played.

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  180. Teddy should get in just so he can say, "Lemme holla atcha playa" one last time.

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  181. HIS CAREER IS OVER MAGGLE.

    VINTAGE FOLEY.

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  182. I think Lesnar beating Cena at SummerSlam was a pretty big suprise (the top star losing in that way in a big ppv match for the title... has something like this EVER happened before?)

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  183. to be fair, from a "workrate perspective", the match is pretty terrible.

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  184. Yeah I always loved it too.

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  185. so you don't any WWE dvd? because it's included on almost every single one.

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  186. Outsiders vs. Sting/Savage/Luger

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  187. how could he really know what he was getting into? (he had taken crazy bumps before but afaik not that crazy)

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  188. Say what you will about the Invasion, this time period had an all star roster and some classic matches.

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  189. I am surprised no one said it...

    That poor dog.

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  190. Correct. Angle says it was his idea too.

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  191. Austin really went back into the stratosphere as far as work rate is concerned in 2001

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  192. John Cena vs. Mark Henry, the night after Wrestlemania 29 was the last World title defense on RAW.

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  193. D'oh! You're absolutely right.

    Kevin Mooney was the bass player for Adam & the Ants on "Kings of the Wild Frontier" and later formed Wide Boy Awake.

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  194. In the arcades: Omega Race, Star Castle, Zorf, Tempest, Berserk, Arch Rivals, Defender, Robotron 2084, Super Off-Road...

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  195. I still think Barrett should have the beginning of Bryan's music play followed by him saying "I have some bad news" and his music hitting. Good times had by all.

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  196. I was looking at all the replies to this and i see no love for Super Metroid. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!

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