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A Look Back At: The 1995 PWI 500 Rankings

95-Winter

The fifth installment of looking back at the PWI 500 starting the beginning in 1991 continues with the 1995 edition. This year, the grading period was from August 1st, 1994 to August 1st, 1995.

To view the complete list of where the wrestlers were ranked click HERE.

Here are the notable rankings for the year 1995.  
Kevin Nash(1)
The Top Ten:
1.) Diesel
2.) Shawn Michaels
3.) Sting
4.) Bret Hart
5.) Sabu
6.) Hulk Hogan
7.) Big Van Vader
8.) Randy Savage
9.) Razor Ramon
10.) Mitsuharu Misawa
Early on in the grading period, Diesel was one-half of the WWF World Tag Team Champions with Shawn Michaels, who is ranked number two. Diesel would win the WWF World Championship in eight-seconds by pinning Bob Backlund on November 26th in Madison Square Garden. Diesel would continually defeat Backlund on the house shows. Diesel wrestled a near thirty minute classic with Bret Hart at the Royal Rumble that ended in a draw. Diesel successfully defended the championship against former friend Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XI in what was the lone bright spot on the show. Diesel’s reign continued with a feud against Psycho Sid that lasted most of the summer. Diesel pinned Psycho Sid at the July In Your House that was competed under a lumberjack stipulation. Diesel was a dominating champion for the grading period.

Michaels run started in 1995 when he won the 1995 Royal Rumble after being the first entrant in the match and last eliminated the second entrant, Davey Boy Smith. Michaels came up short in his WrestleMania title match against Diesel, but still stole the show despite the loss. Michaels would feud with Psycho Sid after Sid turned on him after Mania. Michaels would defeat Sid in a cage match at a June MSG house show. The end of the grading period saw Michaels win his third WWF Intercontinental Championship when he pinned Jeff Jarrett at In Your House #2.

Despite not being in the main event scene during the grading period, Sting was still ranked as the best WCW wrestler in the publication. Early in the grading period Sting focused on a feud with Avalanche and Big Bubba teaming Randy Savage often times. Struggled in a feud against Big Bubba losing at UnCensored but got a victory at Slamboree. At the Great American Bash, Sting won the WCW United States Championship when he defeated Meng in the finals of a tournament. Meng was an undefeated heel monster since debuting for WCW. Sting won a rematch against Meng at the Bash at the Beach pay per view in July. It was evident that Sting was playing the third tier baby face behind Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

The Hitman was the WWF World Champion at the start of the grading period and successfully defended the championship against Owen Hart at SummerSlam inside a steel cage. Bret would lose the belt to Bob Backlund at Survivor Series. Hart was unable to regain the championship at Royal Rumble. Bret continued his feud with Bob Backlund winning an I Quit match at WrestleMania XI. Hart was also able to end his long-running feud with Jerry Lawler at the King of the Ring when he won a Kiss My Foot match. Hart would win memorable matches against Hakushi throughout the spring, as well. Hitman remains in the top five after consecutive back to back number one rankings in 1993 and 1994.

Sabu getting into the top five is a huge accomplishment for ECW as the company was still a company based mainly out of Philadelphia but gaining traction. Early in the grading period, Sabu got big victories over 2 Cold Scorpio and Cactus Jack in the fall. He won the ECW Tag Team Championships with Taz by defeating Public Enemy in February ’95. Sabu would leave ECW and head to Japan where h ewon the IWGP junior heavyweight championship from Koji Kanemoto on May 3rd. Sabu was a battered man who often would wrestle despite broken bones and was loved by fans for doing so. He would soon return to ECW as it will be addressed in the next edition of the series.
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Hulkamania slips a few spots but remains in the top ten of the PWI 500. Hogan started the grading period beating Ric Flair in a steel cage match to force Flair into retirement. Hogan won the main event at Starrcade against the Butcher, his former best friend. Hulk started a long feud with Vader in 1995 wrestling on pay per view many times. Hogan would win at Superbrawl by disqualification, defeated Ric Flair (who was still retired) despite wrestling Vader in a strap match at UnCensored. Hogan brought his friend Randy Savage into the feud to defeat Vader and Flair at Slamboree. Hogan ended his feud with Vader by winning a cage match at the July Bash at the Beach pay per view.

Vader was unsuccessful in his attempt to win the WCW World Championship from Hulk Hogan throughout 1995, but he never suffered a pin fall loss to the Hulkster. Vader ended 1994 by winning the WCW United States Championship from Jim Duggan at Starrcade, but vacated the belt to go after Hogan’s gold. After the failed attempts, Vader turned into a good guy by siding with Hogan against the Dungeon of Doom though Vader would leave WCW soon afterward and would never return to WCW.

Last year, the Macho Man was ranked number forty-four in the PWI 500. Savage returned to in-ring competition on a full-time basis and ranked up to the eighth spot. Randy teamed with Sting to win a feud against Big Bubba Rogers and Avalanche. Had a brief singles feud with Avalanche winning a match at Uncensored. Savage would go back to feuding against Ric Flair losing to Flair at Great American Bash but winning a rematch at Bash at the Beach in July with a lumberjack stipulation.

The Bad Guy regained the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Diesel at SummerSlam with Walter Payton in his corner. Ramon held the title until the Royal Rumble when he lost the belt to Jeff Jarrett. Ramon regained the belt briefly by winning the title at a house show, but lost it two days later back to Jarrett. Ramon was also a USWA heavyweight champion during the grading period for a brief time. Razor was likely a contender to win the 1995 King of the Ring but was out of the tournament due to injury.

Misawa is the first Japanese wrestler to reach the top ten in the PWI to this point. Misawa won the Triple Crown championship from Stan Hansen on May 26th. Was voted as the best scientific wrestler in Japan.

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11.) Jeff Jarrett
12.) Owen Hart
17.) Eddy Guerrero
18.) Rey Mysterio Jr.
20.) Ric Flair
Double J kicked off the grading period pinning Mabel at SummerSlam and continued to be lost in the shuffle in the mid card until early 1995 when he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Razor Ramon. Jarrett and Ramon traded the belt in May with Jarrett coming out as the champion. Jarrett lost the championship to Michaels at In Your House #2 before departing from the WWF.

Owen nearly won the WWF World Championship at SummerSlam inside a steel cage but settled for costing Bret the championship at Survivor Series and helping Bob Backlund win the gold. Owen would team with Yokozuna at WrestleMania XI to win the WWF World Tag Team Championships from the Smoking Gunns.

Eddy Guerrero went from 141 all the way to the seventeen spot this year. Guerrero was really starting make a name for himself competing in NJPW and ECW. While wrestling in ECW, Eddy was having memorable clashes with Dean Malenko over the ECW Television Championship that many still regard as the best matches the company had ever put on.

Rey Mysterio Jr. also moves up the ranks as he won the Triple A light heavyweight championship from Juventud Guerrera during the grading period.

The Nature Boy was retired thanks to losing a cage match to Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc. His retirement lasted until May when he and Vader lost a tag match to Hogan and Savage. Flair did pick up a huge victory the following month by pinning Randy Savage while Randy’s father was at ringside. PWI was quoted as saying, “Career finally appears to be winding down.” That couldn’t have been further from the truth.

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23.) Lex Luger
24.) Arn Anderson
26.) Tracy Smothers
28.) Shane Douglas
30.) Bam-Bam Bigelow

Luger was once seen as the likely WWF World Champion and second coming of Hulk Hogan, but failed to connect with fans and was thrown to the mid card ranks. Had an infamous feud with Tatanka that saw his former friend turn on him after a singles match at SummerSlam. The feud would continue on for many months with Luger winning a cage match prior to WrestleMania XI. Luger formed a tag team with Davey Boy Smith but failed to win the WWF World Tag Team Championships.

Despite losing a feud against Dustin Rhodes at the end of 1994, Anderson was able to win the WCW Television Championship from Johnny B. Badd in early 1995. Arn defeated Badd in a lumberjack match at the pre-show telecast prior to Superbrawl V. Anderson suffered a loss to Johnny at Uncensored in a boxer vs. wrestler match. Arn handed Alex Wright his first loss at Slamboree to retain the WCW Television Championship but would lose the belt the following month to The Renegade at the Great American Bash.

Smothers had a lengthy feud with Bryant Anderson which saw Smothers win numerous I Quit matches at the end of 1994. Formed a successful tag team with former rival the Dirty White Boy to win feuds against the Gangstas and the Headbangers.

“The Franchise” Shane Douglas threw down history when he won the NWA World Championship after winning a tournament on August 27th and renamed it the ECW World Championship. Douglas retained the title against the likes of the Tazmaniac, Ron Simmons and Mikey Whipwreck throughout the second half of 1994. Douglas would feud with Tully Blanchard during the first few months of 1995 retaining the championship. Douglas would lose the belt to the Sandman at the Hostile City Showdown on April 15th. Shane would leave ECW for the WWF, which wouldn’t end up as being a good career decision.

Bigelow had a memorable confrontation with Lawrence Taylor at the Royal Rumble, which would lead to a main event match at WrestleMania XI. Bigelow would lose and soon his heel stable members would turn on him. Bigelow became a good guy and aligned himself with Diesel to defeat Psycho Sid and Tatanka at the King of the Ring in June.
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31.) Cactus Jack
32.) Yokozuna
34.) Sid Vicious
36.) Lord Steven Regal
43.) Steve Austin

Cactus Jack didn’t have a great start to the grading period when he lost to Kevin Sullivan at WCW Fall Brawl 1994 causing him to leave WCW forever. However, the change of scenery ended up being a blessing in disguise as Cactus headed to ECW. While in ECW, Cactus won the ECW World Tag Team Championships with Mikey Whipwreck which they held from August to November ’94. Cactus had a lengthy feud with the Sandman which would eventually be over the ECW World Championship. Early in the feud, Cactus would get many wins, but when Sandman became champion, Jack was unable to defeat him. Cactus pinned Terry Funk twice in April of ’95, as well.

Yokozuna’s stock in the WWF was quickly plummeting as his run as a main event player was coming to an end as 1994 came to a close. Yokozuna lost a casket match against the Undertaker at Survivor Series and wouldn’t be seen again until WrestleMania XI. At the event, Yokozuna was revealed as the surprise partner for Owen Hart and the duo won the WWF World Tag Team Championships from the Smoking Gunns. They would retain the titles over the likes of the Allied Powers, Savio Vega & Razor Ramon, and Men on a Mission. They were still the champions as of press time.

While on competing in WCW or the WWF at the start of the grading period, Sid was the USWA Heavyweight Champion which he won in July of 1994 and held until February of 1995 when he lost it to Jerry Lawler. After the loss, Sid would return to the WWF where he quickly turned on Shawn Michaels and unsuccessfully challenged for the WWF World Championship on two occasions on pay per view.

Regal lost the WCW Television Championship at Fall Brawl in September of ’94 and would continue a trend of losing singles matches against the likes of the Guardian Angel, Jim Duggan and Sting. By early 1995, Regal would form a tag team with Bobby Eaton known as the Blue Bloods. They got a decent push but failed to win the WCW World Tag Team Championships from the Nasty Boys at the Great American Bash.

Austin was once seen as a top rising star in WCW, but by the end of 1994 he was losing to Jim Duggan in under three minutes and was out of a job by the spring of 1995. I have no idea how Austin could have possibly been ranked so high considering he was also injured for many months.
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48.) Hakushi
49.) Mabel
54.) Alex Wright
60.) The Sandman
62.) Dustin Rhodes
Hakushi’s run in the WWF started off very well as he had an undefeated streak for half the grading period with victories over the 1-2-3 Kid, Bob Holly, and enhancement talents. He would suffer his first loss to Bret Hart at the first In Your House in May. Hakushi would continually lose to the Hitman for the remaining three months of the grading period, though they were some of the best matches the WWF aired during the year.

With his partner Mo out due to injury, Mabel tried his hand at a singles push that saw him lose to Jeff Jarrett at SummerSlam. Mabel would trade wins with the likes of King Kong Bundy and IRS to close of 1994. 1995 saw an attitude change by Men on a Mission and Mabel was the unlikely winner of the King of the Ring meaning he would be the number one contender to the WWF World Championship. He defeated the Undertaker and Savio Vega on his way to winning the crown.

Das Wunderkind was another wrestler who had a lengthy undefeated streak as he spent several months in 1994 establishing himself over enhancement talents. Wright finished 1994 with an impressive victory over Jean Paul Levesque at Starrcade. Alex continued his success by winning feuds against Bobby Eaton and Paul Roma in early 1995. Wright suffered his first loss to Arn Anderson at WCW Slamboree in a WCW Television Championship match. Wright had a great match with Brian Pillman at the Great American Bash, which he won. During the grading period, Wright also worked a few matches with Ric Flair but was not successful in defeating the Nature Boy.

At the end of 1994, Sandman was on the losing end of a feud with Tommy Dreamer. As noted before, Sandman struggled in a feud with Cactus Jack that lasted over six months in 1995. Despite his struggles, Sandman was able to win the ECW World Championship from Shane Douglas in April. Sandman would successfully defend the championship against Cactus Jack in a barbed wire match over the summer.

‘The Natural” won his feud with Arn Anderson at the tail end of 1994 that included teaming with his father Dusty Rhodes and the Nasty Boys to win War Games in September. Dustin would lose a singles match against Vader in November before returning to his feud with the Stud Stable, mostly the Blacktop Bully. Dustin lost both matches he had on pay per view losing to the Blacktop Bully at Superbrawl V and in a King of the Road match at Uncensored. Following the latter pay per view, Dustin was fired for bleeding in the match. He’d go under an extreme makeover in the next installment of this series.

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65.) Kama
76.) Bob Holly
79.) Jean Pierre Lafitte
82.) Big Bubba Rogers
84.) Hunter Hearst Helmsley

Previously known as Papa Shango, Kama made his debut in January 1995. His first six months saw Kama not lose on television and was involved in a lengthy feud with the Undertaker over the urn. Despite not losing on television, Kama would often lose to the Undertaker on the house show market.

Spark Plug was not getting much momentum at the end of 1994 as he was regularly losing to various mid card heels. However, Holly teamed with the 1-2-3 Kid to win the WWF World Tag Team Championships at the Royal Rumble. Their reign lasted all of twenty four hours when they lost the titles to the Smoking Gunns. In April, Holly won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Jeff Jarrett, but the title was held up and Jarrett regained the belt. Holly pinned Chris Benoit in what was Benoit’s tryout match.

Previously known as Quebecer Pierre, Jean Pierre Lafitte made his debut as an evil pirate would get victories over the likes of Virgil, Duke Droese and Doink the Clown during the grading period. His only memorable feud was with Bret Hart due to stealing Hart’s ring jacket and his sunglasses, though no match between the two had happened as of press time.
He was known as the Guardian Angel who wasn’t quite able to get into the WCW World Championship scene. Angel ended up turning on Sting by the winter and would team with Avalanche in a feud against Sting and Randy Savage. Bubba found some success in his feud against Sting, winning a singles match at Uncensored, but wasn’t able to continue the momentum into anything that was noteworthy.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley made his debut in April and was primarily working with undercard wrestlers such as Doink and Bob Holly. Hunter hadn’t suffered a loss as of press time. He had worked as Jean Paul Levesque in WCW for a portion of the grading period, but wasn’t heavily push aside from a loss to Alex Wright at Starrcade.
Unabomb
Unabomb
87.) Psicosis
92.) Meng
100.) Brian Lee
101.) Unabomb
113.) Jim Duggan

A breakout year for Psicosis as he won the Mexican welterweight championship from El Hijo del Santo. The victory is seen as the moment that made Psicosis a superstar in Mexico.
Meng hadn’t made his in-ring debut until March of 1995 where he defeated Jim Duggan at Uncensored. Meng received a good push and made it to the finals of the WCW United States Championship tournament, which he lost to Sting at the Great American Bash and a rematch at Bash at the Beach. The brief run showed that Meng still had something to offer in the ring after leaving the WWF a few years prior.

Lee lost the tag titles with Chris Candido to the Rock N’ Roll Express just a few days into the grading period. Lee played the fake Undertaker role at SummerSlam, where he lost to the real Undertaker but returned to SMW. After being fired by Tammy Fytch, Lee would feud with Chris Candido and they would trade victories although there was not a conclusive end to their issues.

Unabomb teamed with Al Snow to win the SMW Tag Team Championships from the Rock N’ Roll Express in April of 1995. They’d hold the belts until July when they lost the titles to Tracy Smothers and Dirty White Boy. Would debut in the WWF by the summer as Dr. Isaac Yankeem to help Jerry Lawler in his feud with Bret Hart.

Hacksaw didn’t waste any time in winning a championship in WCW when he pinned Steve Austin at Fall Brawl to win the WCW United States Championship. Duggan remained champion until he was destroyed by Big Van Vader at Starrcade. Duggan feuded with the Stud Stable mainly Bunkhouse Buck and Meng. Lost to Kamala at the Bash at the Beach pay per view in July.
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114.) Raven
120.) La Parka
122.) Crash the Terminator
126.) New Jack
237.) Kevin Sullivan

Raven made his debut in January and targeted Tommy Dreamer as his first rival. Throughout the eight months of the grading period, Raven dominated his feud with Dreamer, though Dreamer did get a pin fall victory over Raven on April 14th, which is seemingly forgotten about. Along with Stevie Richards, won the ECW World Tag Team Championships on June 30th by defeating the Public Enemy.

Parka was previously a heel but was turned into a baby face during his feud with Jerry Estrada, whom he lost the Mexican lightweight championship to.

Crash the Terminator was the PCW Heavyweight Champion and was feuding with Johnny Gunn. Apparently, Crash had a WWF tryout but did not sign with them.

New Jack first arrived in Smoky Mountain Wrestling where he and Mustafa made Jim Cornette and the Rock N’ Roll Express lives a living nightmare. By the fall of ’94, the Gangstas were the SMW Tag Team Champions. He was champion for about two months before losing them back to the Express in December. By the summer of ’95 Jack made his debut in ECW and was involved in a violent feud with Public Enemy.

Sullivan’s main focus was to eliminate Hulk Hogan but failed to do so throughout the year. Kevin was successful in defeating his brother Dave Sullivan in one of the least interesting feuds that WCW had to offer. Sullivan became the leader of the Dungeon of Doom, the infamous group that had many people from Hogan’s past to eliminate him from wrestling forever.
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245.) The Renegade
295.) Moadib
306.) Luna Vachon
423.) The Ultimate Warrior

The Ultimate Warrior ripoff, the Renegade, made his debut in March of 1995 aligning himself with Hogan and Savage. Won the WCW Television Championship at the Great American Bash by defeating Arn Anderson in June and was still champion as of press time. Successfully defended the championship against Paul Orndorff at Bash at the Beach in July.

Moadib, who would be better known as Ahmed Johnson by the end of 1995, was making a name for himself in the Texas independents as a rule breaker.

Luna Vachon was busy working in ECW mainly teaming with Tommy Dreamer to take on male tag teams and was doing pretty well in defending herself in the land of Extreme.

Apparently, the real Ultimate Warrior only had one match as he returned to in-ring action to defeat rival the Honkytonk Man.

What are your thoughts on the PWI 500 for 1995? Would you have ranked anyone higher or lower?

Leave your thoughts below!

For more wrestling reviews and columns, head over to WRESTLING RECAPS.

Thanks for reading.

Comments

  1. YOU FUCKED UP
    YOU FUCKED UP
    YOU FUCKED UP

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  2. I always enjoyed reading through the PWI 500, moreso for all of the later guys just to see which indy nobodies ended up in there, lol.

    Ya mind putting up the Daily thread, too?

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  3. I love the debate they had over LT's ranking

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  4. I choose Team Bret...with a tear in my eye.

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  5. I think it says it all that you took that as a criticism of her, and thus think waffle house waitresses who strip on the side are the worst. That's on you. Rest of us are cool with women who do that.

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  6. Polio is pretty bad, I get the feeling you're joking here, Dougie.

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  7. Apparently Austin may have injured his knee here, but it’s hard to tell for sure since he didn’t break down and cry or blame it on his lack of smile.

    This line killed me.

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  8. Sad day when someone posts a review you don't like. Chin up, it'll be okay.

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  9. His description of her was not meant as a compliment.

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  10. First Perro Aguayo and now this?

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  11. (Hey, if you’re
    into the former stripper turned Waffle house waitress who constantly
    smells like mouthwash and off-brand cigarettes look, I get it – after
    all, I’m not one to argue with Brock Lesnar)

    Understanding why someone would like that isn't really a criticism, but okay.

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  12. Nice review, dude. Had me laughing a fair bit.

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  13. In his defense, I've never had any interest in Sable. The above was meant as criticism.


    Plastic fake bitch with a plastic fake attitude and body. Bleh.

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  14. Just thinking about how all four participants in the main event each had, in my mind, career-defining moments all involving HBK.
    -Bret Hart: The obvious, of course.
    -Steve Austin: Won first World Championship from HBK.
    -The Undertaker: Many amazing matches/retirement.
    -Vader: The 1996 SummerSlam Match is significant to me for Vader's WWF Career as that match kind of killed his credibility a little bit, and I don't think he ever recovered as an unstoppable badass because of it.
    All four guys would go at it with each other at different points, of course (though I would have liked some more of Bret-Vader and Austin-Vader then we ending up getting), but kind of interesting how even HBK's absence permeates the future/past of all the competitors involved.

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  15. I'm not attacking the guy. It's a funny line regardless of whether it's a 'criticism' or not. Unless you're a puritan.



    Now what KB wrote... well, that makes me laugh regardless.

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  16. Leave Johnny Polio alone.

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  17. Now now, Raven had gout, not polio. Know your "Walking is hard" medical conditions, and you've won half the battle.


    The other half involves dangerous doses of "lol" and "u mad bro", which should be avoided at all costs.

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  18. RAVEN: What about me, what about Cravendale?

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  19. Who said anything about Randy Savage? I just want HHH to take the tumble for my future amusement.

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  20. Is TJ Perkins still portraying Manik?

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  21. And if he gets injured in said tumble, my amusement will be even higher.


    Dead? Nah, too far. Crippled? See Dead. But something that cancels/messes with the match? WINNER!

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  22. YankeesHoganTripleHFanMarch 21, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    Wasn't CM Punk a heel when he paid tribute to Savage?

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  23. They're investigating the death as a possible manslaughter. What?

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  24. Where did you see that?

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  25. Vince: "This wouldn't have happened had he stayed in WWE forever like a good indentured independent contractor"

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  26. Depending on the area, any death of that nature is considered a possible manslaughter until the inquest/investigation is complete.

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  27. ...really? do you lack that much of an understanding about the way wrestling works

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  28. Was this Rey's first match since his WWE release?

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  29. He started doing it after his faceturn. when he turned heel he kept it but it was part of his normal move set at that point, so there was no "WOW, he's paying tribute to Savage." Doing a move and orchestrating a massive entrance are also on an entirely different scale, and you should know that.

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  30. Who's singing it? Rusev should interrupt and put them in the Accolade.

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  31. It was more than a fart

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  32. I hope they play the U.S. and Russian(or Bulgarian wherever Rusev is billed from) anthems and raise the flags and all that. Do it Summerslam 1993 style. Build it up.

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  33. Drag Volkoff out of moth balls, and have him sing the anthem.

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  34. We just created something beautiful, you and I.

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  35. Too bad he's passed, but they could have Steve Allen do his bit, as well

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  36. Fart that was exerted too hard and turned into full on shit.

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  37. I was never a fan of Rey, but I feel so bad for him. I hope he is able to come to grips with what happened so he can get on with his life and continue to do what he loves.

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  38. Brain Fart.

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  39. And I watched from the corner

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  40. Hands where I can see them.

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  41. "How is your sister tonight?'

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  42. Shit for brains not making that an all out war. "You DDT'd my wife and kissed her while she was unconscious and cuffed to the ropes...COLLAR AND ELBOW TIE UP!"

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  43. ... you do know who you're arguing with, right?

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  44. You know it's awful when Triple H on his own DVD admits the match sucked and the booking of the stipulation was stupid.

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  45. Yet I'm like, dude holds no power to tell Vince, "no blood cause of PG? Sure. But let's beat the hell out of each other at least".

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  46. What I like to do is watch the segment where Orton DDT'd Steph and kisses her, then watch the pre match video package, and then watch their Last Man Standing match from No Mercy 2007 and pretend that's their WrestleMania match.

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  47. Have another knee surgery?

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  48. I always found the stuff with Steph to be uncomfortable, actually, especially for the PG era

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  49. I always found Steph to be uncomfortable.

    FTFY.

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  50. I loved that. One of my favorite segments of the last however many years. That and Orton punting Vince had me sold on that match.

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  51. She pegs HARD, yo

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  52. True. plus Rock doesn't need WWE to promote his shit.

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  53. Just the way Hunter likes it.

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  54. Maybe it's b/c of everyone around them losing their shit that added to the discomfort

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  55. Crowd lost it lol.

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  56. Well, in particular HHH handcuffed on the other side of the ring screaming like crazy

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  57. Orton should have had Andre getting pelted by garbage coming to the ring at Wrestlemania heat.

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  58. He halfway had that heat but then he had halfway most over Babyface in the company heat too.

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  59. If he was neck first, not chest first, that'd be weird to me. Usually the guy is chest first against the ropes, with the ropes kind of under his arm pits.

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  60. It is hard to have sympathy with Steph. 99 being forced to marry Taker? Sure, we knew little to nothing about her. But, almost 10 years straight heel, with the brief babyface role in 2002/2003 as Smackdown GM, you're waiting for her to get hers.

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  61. "Fozzy's latest CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED album is set to be released tomorrow, Universe!"

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  62. Terrific. Can't see how anyone couldn't have loved Orton after that.

    Oh and That No Mercy match rewlz

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  63. Yeah that No Mercy match was incredible. One of the best Last Man Standing matches for sure. And a personal favorite of mine.

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  64. WM25 MITB was WAY better than I remembered. Only black mark is MVP fucking up the sunset flip powerbomb. There was more emphasis on drama and suspense than trying to top prior matches with overly contrived spots.

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  65. I love how even Orton has a shocked reaction when he punts Vince. Not remorseful, just "Oh fuck did I really just do that?!"

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  66. Was this Kofi's or was it the next year? Used the ladders as stilts?

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  67. Yeah, that one. CM Punk wins.

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  68. 1996 called. It's for you.

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  69. Oh God, that Kid Rock concert that NEVER ended. Skipping.

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  70. And, Punk was the only back to back winner too.

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  71. Vince-punting Orton was incredible. I had trouble explaining to my semi-lapsed/now-casual-fan buddy that there were times when Orton was awesome, but he's only ever gotten to see stale douchebag Orton.

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  72. I would've liked to have seen Vince punt Orton. Probably would have tore another quad.

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  73. It wouldn't have been so bad if it was 1 song, that was used as an entrance or some shit, but he sang 4 songs back to back.
    Killed the crowd dead.

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  74. Everything I've heard about Rey from the people who have worked with him is that he's pretty much the nicest person they've ever met. I imagine he wanted to go to Mexico for one last run before retirement; I wonder if this tragedy will cause him to just call it a career now.

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  75. It was all to set up Santina sneaking into the Divas battle royal

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  76. I've never understood his appeal. He's a Southern redneck from Detroit?

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  77. LOL, that's exactly how Nash described Rick Steiner during the awesome "all shoot" episode of Thunder in late '99 where he was on commentary

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  78. JR and the Chicago crowd are nuts for that match too.

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  79. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:18 PM

    Maybe she should take her rings off first.

    ReplyDelete
  80. You're from Detroit. Shouldn't you want to kill yourself? Rather than 4x4 through the woods listening to Waylon Jennings?

    ReplyDelete
  81. "You're from Detroit."


    You have me mistaken for Bobo Brazil

    ReplyDelete
  82. How many cock rings does the woman need?

    ReplyDelete
  83. Pft, and he had the nerve to quit like a petulant child

    ReplyDelete
  84. I didn't mean you specifically. I mean Detroit people in general. Lions haven't won a championship since the 50's, automotive industry isn't what it once was, and the mayor doesn't want a statue of Robocop. What's the point?

    ReplyDelete
  85. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    Steph: "You can NEVER have enough cock rings!"

    ReplyDelete
  86. What do you mean "I didn't mean you... people"?!

    ReplyDelete
  87. Serious question: Was there this much incident-related joking/dark humor among the IWC the day Owen Hart died? Would there be as much if Daniel Bryan died in the ring, or if Bryan was involved in an in-ring death? I'm just wondering if people are overall more douchey in 2015 than in 1999, or if it's more to do with Perro being an unknown among many US wrestling fans and Rey being unliked by a lot of the IWC.

    ReplyDelete
  88. DANCE FOR ME KOFI!

    ReplyDelete
  89. I think it's widely accepted most, if not all of us are assholes.

    I still feel bad for his family, and for Rey.

    ReplyDelete
  90. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:23 PM

    "I'm Titus O'neil, sir."

    ReplyDelete
  91. He sold that really well. Just a top notch segment overall.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Grumpy THE Cat remember. Vince wanted to bring him in as Cat Grumpy.

    ReplyDelete
  93. I watched that live and my reaction was "fuck I have to wait a whole week for raw!??!"

    ReplyDelete
  94. Dude is all about the old school NWA. He knows that shit backwards and forwards I'm sure.

    ReplyDelete
  95. I was online at the time but I honestly don't recall.

    I'd say no for the simple fact that it was unprecedented

    Not that any subsequent occurrence lessens the impact, but you know, shock and all that

    Now, it's like "oh shit, another one?"

    ReplyDelete
  96. No, there wasn't. Not too impressed with the ol' BoD today.

    ReplyDelete
  97. Now it's "ah crap, it's already been a week. time for another raw"

    ReplyDelete
  98. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    No. people took Owen's death personally. It also helped that there was no footage of it (if any exists at all)

    ReplyDelete
  99. Lotta deaths in Wrestling since '99

    ReplyDelete
  100. Tearable news! I was just watching his match with Alberto Del Rio from TripleMania 22 last night! Rest In Piece, Perro.

    ReplyDelete
  101. There's always a rumor that there are 2 pieces of film (copies, whatever) locked in a safe somewhere: Droz's accident (since it was at a SD taping) and the footage from the one of the cameras in the arena when Owen fell

    ReplyDelete
  102. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:29 PM

    If that happened now TMZ would have cameraphone footage of it.

    ReplyDelete
  103. Oh hell yes. The Owen Scale was created.

    ReplyDelete
  104. What a youngster!

    ReplyDelete
  105. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:29 PM

    But how many in the ring?

    ReplyDelete
  106. Yeah, for sure

    There are pictures of Owen in the rafters getting ready, plus a shot of the ring crowded with people working on Owen and you can see his arm laying on the mat

    ReplyDelete
  107. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:31 PM

    Never saw the one of him in the rafters.

    ReplyDelete
  108. Owen's fall happened during a PPV with upwards of 6 rolling cameras. I'm sure the impact was caught on film but it'll definitely never see the light of day.

    ReplyDelete
  109. Enough that it's no longer "wow, I never thought that would happen."

    ReplyDelete
  110. Actually, you can clearly tell it's Owen. Just did a search

    ReplyDelete
  111. http://slashwrestling.com/guests/crud.html

    ReplyDelete
  112. True - can't think of any outside of Misawa off the top of my head

    ReplyDelete
  113. Not sure if this is legit (not graphic)

    http://forum.ewrestlingnews.com/showthread.php?13997-OUCH!-Your-most-Look-Away-Moments/page6

    ReplyDelete
  114. one of the Moondogs and I think Gary Albright

    ReplyDelete
  115. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:36 PM

    People crack jokes on 9-11. i haven't been impressed with people as a whole.

    ReplyDelete
  116. "At the time of the incident Aguayo was not immediately attended to by a physician and was actually taken from the ring on a piece of plywood instead of a stretcher, which lead to some criticism of the event organizers. The Tijuana wrestling commission later explained that the doctor was backstage, attending to two other injuries that happened during the show. One of those injuries was a spinal injury and they did not want to remove that wrestler from the stretcher he was on, which was why they used the plywood to move Aguayo from the ring."

    What the fuck is going on in Mexico??

    ReplyDelete
  117. Kevin Kelly mentioned once that it does exist and it is in the WWE vault

    ReplyDelete
  118. You poor, sheltered soul!

    ReplyDelete
  119. I don't want to be the word police but I've never seen terrible spelled like that.

    ReplyDelete
  120. The jokes are whatever but I was put off by the guy who felt "perverse smugness on his dark side"(his words) at Perro's death because he hates flippy mask wearing shitheads(paraphrased words)

    Shit, I dislike the Lucha but I'm not getting an erection of vindicated psychotic smugness when one does either.

    ReplyDelete
  121. You didn't get around the IRC circles much, did you?

    ReplyDelete
  122. Undernet FTW!

    ReplyDelete
  123. Well, maybe you should rip up your sheet of the paper listing all of the rules of grammar and spelling

    Since it is...

    tearable

    ReplyDelete
  124. You're turrible, you nerd!

    ReplyDelete
  125. Yeah, I cracked a lame joke earlier, and immediately regretted typing it.

    The "perverse smugness" was really out of left field. Yes, we understand they're "not real wrestlers" or whatever. A death is a death, how he "worked" in the ring should have nothing to do with it.

    ReplyDelete
  126. At least I'm not like Daniel Bryan

    Turdible

    ReplyDelete
  127. I make dark jokes as a way of insulating myself from horrible tragedy.

    I probably would have made a "Goddamn it Owen. Just because you're a superhero doesn't mean you can ACTUALLY fly" joke.

    ReplyDelete
  128. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:42 PM

    I know Lillian fucks up a lot but she doesn't deserve THAT.

    ReplyDelete
  129. I mean yeah, there'll always be jerks, but the day Owen died wrestling fans were just wrecked. Most of the talk online was debate over whether or not Vince should have stopped the show. After the RAW tribute show there was debate over whether Austin's beer tribute was heartfelt. Any joking there might have been was not met kindly. I recall Craig Kilborne cracked some kind of joke about it on his show and wrestling fans were pissed (I made note of it in that week's Monday Night Recap).

    ReplyDelete
  130. Ahh, see I was hoping it was a male singer.

    ReplyDelete
  131. People are always cracking jokes about death. Hell I'm not immune I've done it.

    But feeling a sense of vindication or whatever weird psycho-sexual feeling he got from Perro's death was just weird.

    ReplyDelete
  132. We shouldn't fight. We should go, hit the EDM clubs together and rock it like DJs.

    It'll be turntableable.

    ReplyDelete
  133. "I make dark jokes as a way of insulating myself from horrible tragedy."

    And thus we have the only explanation ever needed for what goes on during during the live Raw threads

    ReplyDelete
  134. IRC channels were the sewer pipe under the Information Superhighway.

    ReplyDelete
  135. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:44 PM

    How would a male singer putting her in the Accolade make it any better?

    ReplyDelete
  136. i know he is an anti-smark moron regardless but is Yankees a second name for another poster?

    ReplyDelete
  137. Lawler strangely snapped back to being a heel commentator during the Matt/Jeff match

    ReplyDelete
  138. The jokes could be some people's ways of coping and/or dealing with it. Flippy masked wearing shithead seemed to be said just for the sake of saying it.

    ReplyDelete
  139. Maybe he's not as strong as Rusev, so it wouldn't hurt as much?

    ReplyDelete
  140. In other words, an absolutely necessary piece of plumbing.

    ReplyDelete
  141. "that week's Monday Night Recap"

    All of which you can relive on the "http://rspw.org/petrie/" network for only $9.99, Maggle!

    ReplyDelete
  142. Too bad he didn't stay there.

    ReplyDelete
  143. I don't remember there being a bunch of jokes made. Most of us were in absolute shock.

    ReplyDelete
  144. Is this being used as the default daily thread cuz I gotta say, that's kinda morbidly obese.

    ReplyDelete
  145. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:46 PM

    ....ah.

    ReplyDelete
  146. This thread is very fat?

    ReplyDelete
  147. Same thing with Eddie's death.

    ReplyDelete
  148. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:47 PM

    It appears so.

    ReplyDelete
  149. Business as usual?

    ReplyDelete
  150. Shit, you couldn't monetize the MNR even with the Underwear Gnome formula.

    ReplyDelete
  151. That being said, just started Backlash 99 if anyone wants in.

    ReplyDelete
  152. Like fallopian tubes and the vas deferens

    ReplyDelete
  153. And some woman wrestler in the '50s

    ReplyDelete
  154. Shit's gotta go somewhere...

    ReplyDelete
  155. I made a comment giving you props for Coheed and Cambria yesterday

    "MAN YOUR OWN JACKHAMMER, BITCH"

    ReplyDelete
  156. I wasn't on as much then, but I'd agree. Benoit was probably the first time you saw a lot of gallows humor.

    ReplyDelete
  157. Maaan i was actually yelling at the t.v. saying "kick his ass Hunter!!!"

    ReplyDelete
  158. I thought there's at least one clip that was played at the wrongful death suit court hearing.

    ReplyDelete
  159. Matt/Jeff was good, but was basically just a spotfest with no real flow or story.

    ReplyDelete
  160. I dunno, i think a lot of people were glad the future Doc left the Festus gimmick behind

    ReplyDelete
  161. That describes like every Jeff Hardy match ever.

    ReplyDelete
  162. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 4:57 PM

    "I make dark jokes....."


    RACIST!!!

    ReplyDelete
  163. Me, too!

    Thing is, the TV yelled back

    :(

    ReplyDelete
  164. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 21, 2015 at 4:58 PM

    Yeah, just another reason why I'm not sure why anyone would want to work there.

    ReplyDelete
  165. This is what? The second best major Rock/Austin match? Was the UK match any good?

    ReplyDelete
  166. What a sad finish to Steve Nash's career.

    ReplyDelete
  167. Oooh, a fellow cat lover eh?

    *starts using cat like nunchucks like Michelangelo in the first Turtles movie*

    ReplyDelete
  168. I would put it second behind Wrestlemania X-7. Haven't seen their UK match.

    ReplyDelete
  169. Oh there was lots of nasty owen stuff

    http://forums.delphiforums.com/nwwwo/messages/?msg=1117.1

    ReplyDelete
  170. I think so. But most say it's the worst of the Mania trilogy.

    ReplyDelete
  171. Dude is one those guys like Iverson or Tony Gonzalez in the NFL, who should have at least one ring, but we're never on the right team, at the right time.

    ReplyDelete
  172. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 21, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    Everyone can join in, it's tons of fun.

    ReplyDelete
  173. Backlash, not wrestlemania

    ReplyDelete
  174. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 21, 2015 at 5:02 PM

    The moment someone draws out an actual illustration....

    ReplyDelete
  175. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 5:03 PM

    Screw you hippie! Now i gotta get back before my parents know I'm out.

    ReplyDelete
  176. I've never liked iverson. He complained too much about practice

    ReplyDelete
  177. Yeah, but he did a lot more than anyone ever expected of him.

    Hall of Famer?

    ReplyDelete
  178. Absolutely; he's a 2x mvp

    ReplyDelete
  179. "We talking about the game. Ya'll talking about practice. Practice?"

    I hope he gets an office role with the Sixers.

    "Meetings? Ya'll talking about meetings. Meetings?"

    ReplyDelete
  180. Had he stayed with Dallas for at least 2 more seasons he could've gotten one

    ReplyDelete
  181. Definite HOF.

    ReplyDelete
  182. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 21, 2015 at 5:07 PM

    He's paid. He'll be fine.

    ReplyDelete
  183. Actually the blow job grandstanding for Owen was particularly bad. People were calling for him to get an honorary WWF title run. Or have the IC title renamed the Owen Hart title or something like that. The Owen Scale was written in response to all of that.

    ReplyDelete
  184. Ah. I'd say only Mania 17 was better

    ReplyDelete
  185. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 21, 2015 at 5:07 PM

    I saw a joke on YouTube saying that he was the only guy not wearing a mask, therefore he was experiencing the "Mexican Punishment".

    ReplyDelete
  186. Favorite guy to never win a title: Reggie miller. I totally wanted him to beat Jordan in that game 7.

    ReplyDelete
  187. Mine is Barkley. Just because if he did, you know he would be bragging about to this day in his special way.

    ReplyDelete
  188. Man, that'd be turrible.

    ReplyDelete
  189. Barkley, than Nash.

    Goddammit it sucks rooting for the Suns.

    ReplyDelete
  190. Well he tried in houston to get a ring

    ReplyDelete
  191. I always kinda liked the Suns. But, they could never get over the hump.

    ReplyDelete
  192. Shit. I totally missed that!

    MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!

    ReplyDelete
  193. I had a co-worker when he heard the news - kept calling Owen - The Red Blazer. So yeah there is darkness when death comes when you don't know the light.

    ReplyDelete

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