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Smackdown - March 5, 2015

Smackdown
Date: March 5, 2015
Location: Verizon Center, Washington DC
Commentators: Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Byron Saxton

Reviewed by Tommy Hall

With just a few weeks to go before Wrestlemania, one of the main stories has been the Intercontinental Title scene. We're definitely getting the big ladder match, but it's not entirely clear who is going to be in it. It's also not clear who is going to hand over the title belt to have it hung above the ring as everyone keeps stealing the thing. Let's get to it.


Opening sequence.

Here's Dolph Ziggler with the Intercontinental Title. He says he never got a rematch for the title against Bad News Barrett because he got fired by the Authority. This is the fifth month that storyline has now been mentioned in. Even Vince Russo didn't let stories go that long. Dolph officially enters the ladder match, but thinks there's still something missing. Last year, someone did everything he could and never stopped fighting to become champion. The fans chant YES and Dolph agrees, but he gets Bad News Barrett instead.

Barrett says Ziggler has something he wants. Dolph: “Looks? Charisma? A great Twitter account?” Bad News gets in the ring but Luke Harper sneaks in and decks Ziggler. The champ goes for his belt but Luke steps on it. Ziggler gets back up and everyone brawls so here's Dean Ambrose to get in on the fighting. The champ is knocked to the floor because he's just another guy in this story. Everyone brawls on the floor again so R-Truth sneaks down in spy mode, crawling on the mat and getting the belt before hiding under the ring.

Truth is in the back (VERY quickly too) and says he got the title in advance. “It's like when I eat when I'm not hungry, so when I get hungry I don't have to eat.” He tries to give the belt to Renee Young but she politely declines. “Where's Gene Ambrose?” As usual, Renee Young is incredibly cute. I'm convinced she could be bald and still be adorable.

Cesaro/Tyson Kidd vs. Los Matadores

Non-title. Diego and Kidd start things off but both guys tag out less than thirty seconds in. Fernando hurricanranas Cesaro down and Diego does the same with a headscissors, only to get caught in a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. A double stomp gets two for Cesaro and we hit the chinlock. Everything breaks down and Cesar goes after Torito, who kicks him in the leg. That's not a DQ for some reason but Natalya trips him up, allowing the Cesaro Swing into a dropkick from Kidd to get the pin on Fernando at 2:25. This was a good squash for the champs that we haven't seen before.

Kane and Big Show both say they'll win the battle royal.

We recap the main event from Monday with Reigns getting pinned by Rollins but cleaning house to end the show. Yeah, the dive over the top and big spear were cool, but it's like a cool fireworks display after your home team loses a ball game. It's a fun visual, but your heart isn't in it.

Ryback vs. Kane

Big Show stares at the Andre trophy at ringside. Kane stomps him down in the corner but runs into some spinebusters. Big Show offers a distraction to no avail as the Meat Hook ends Kane at 2:07. Now why did it take us this many months to get here?

Kane makes Big Show vs. Ryback for right now.

Big Show vs. Ryback

This is joined in progress after a break with Big Show getting in the ring and pounding Ryback into the corner. A clothesline puts the smaller bald power monster down and Show follows it with a slam. Ryback fires some shoulders in the corner but dives into a chokeslam attempt. The KO Punch misses and Ryback hits an awkward looking spinebuster. Kane gets dragged in for offering a distraction and takes a second Meat Hook, allowing Big Show to KO Ryback at 2:58. Dang that was close. We almost saw someone get one over on the Big Balds and I just wouldn't want to live in that world. What was this supposed to prove anyway?

We look at Bray Wyatt lighting the casket on fire on Raw.

Bray Wyatt wants an answer from Undertaker. He has something Undertaker can relate to, and he'll unleash its spirit this Monday. Not even Undertaker can outrun his own fate. The camera pans down and shows the urn.

Sheamus return video.

Video on the Daily Show segment with Jon Stewart from Raw. That might be the best celebrity appearance ever. If not then it's WAY up there.

Brie Bella vs. AJ Lee

I'm not a fan of how Eden says “this is a Deeeeevas match”. This is fallout from AJ returning to help Paige on Monday. Nikki brings up the “Give Divas A Chance” line but says that doesn't apply to AJ. The Bellas have been giving the Divas a chance since AJ has been gone and no one has lived up to their standard. It's why they're the stars of Total Divas and they don't care who comes at them.

The match starts after a break with Paige now at ringside to balance things out. AJ cranks on an armbar and elbows Brie in the face. A high cross body gets two on Brie but she comes back with a nice middle rope dropkick for two of her own. Back up and AJ has to stop so Brie can clothesline her before we hit a chinlock.

That goes nowhere so Brie dropkicks her down again, followed by a clothesline for some two counts. A Hennig necksnap gets an even closer two as the fans don't seem all that interested. We hit another chinlock before the running knee to the chest staggers AJ again. Brie immediately goes to the corner but misses another middle rope dropkick. Back up and AJ hammers away with kicks to the ribs to send Brie out to the floor. We get a big staredown outside before the Black Widow makes Brie tap at 7:42.

Rating: C. This was better than your usual Divas matches but a lot of that is due to it actually getting some time. Brie seemed to almost run out of offense about halfway through though. The Bellas are decent enough as the better than you heels and I can live with them far more when they're not being treated like all time greats who just happen to be heels now. And when they're not dominating the show. That really drove me insane.

Daniel Bryan thinks the Intercontinental Title picture is very interesting right now and can't wait to see who comes out with the belt.

I really can't stand the theme song for this year's Wrestlemania and I keep forgetting that's what the song is for when it starts up.

New Day vs. Miz/Damien Mizdow

Woods is the odd man out this week. Before the match we get a look at the commercial from Monday with Miz being embarrassed. Miz slapped Mizdow as a result but we still didn't get the big face turn. Kofi and Miz get things going by trading armdrags until Miz runs him over for two. Some kicks give Kofi a breather and Mizdow tags himself in and cleans house. Cesaro/Kidd/Natalya are watching in the back as Mizdow's figure four attempt is broken up. Miz tags himself in and orders Mizdow to the floor but Mizdow gets in his face. During the argument, Big E. gets the tag and it's the Midnight Hour for the pin at 3:15.

Rating: D. This was the same thing they've done multiple times now but at least it was Miz taking the pin instead of Mizdow. I really wouldn't mind if Woods was left outside as a permanent manager as he doesn't add much to the team. The match wasn't very good though and it just reenforced the same things we've established for weeks now. In other words, it's a Smackdown match.

We look back at Heyman's speech from Raw.

Brock Lesnar video.

Reigns says Heyman is known for running his mouth, but it's true that Lesnar is going to hurt him at Wrestlemania. Everyone that gets in the ring with Lesnar gets hurt and he'll be no different. The difference is Reigns will get up, lock his fist and hit a Superman Punch. Then he'll spear Lesnar in half to win the WWE World Championship, and then Heyman and Lesnar will believe that. As usual, this was far better because they kept it short and simple.

Jack Swagger vs. Rusev

Non-title and Swagger is thrown to the floor a second after the bell. Back in and Swagger throws Rusev to the floor as we take a break. Back with Rusev getting two off a dropkick and we hit the chinlock. Swagger fights up and tries the Vader Bob but has to settle for the Patriot Lock, sending Rusev to the ropes. Back up and Rusev kicks him in the face and Accolades him for the submission at 7:50.

Rating: D. Egads find someone new for Rusev to beat up. This didn't prove anything and was the exact same match these two have had roughly 19 times. Yeah we get it: Rusev is big and strong and can beat up Jack Swagger. We've known that for almost eight months now. FIND SOMEONE NEW.

Rusev poses but Curtis Axel pops up on screen and says don't change the channel BROTHER. He's often imitated but never duplicated DUDE. This Monday he's going to put Rusev down 1-2-3 and then coming for the US Title at Wrestlemania. Whatcha gonna do when Axelmania runs wild on YOU??? If Buddy Landel can get over by being Ric Flair, Curtis Axel can get over by being Hulk Hogan.

Cameron thinks it's time someone gives her a chance. Summer Rae comes up and says she should be getting the chance. Eva Marie thinks the two of them have no chance. This is what I was worried about when this thing started up. There are far more talented girls to give this spot to, but instead it's going to the girls on the reality show.

Bad News Barrett/Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler/Dean Ambrose

Truth is on commentary and doesn't quite get the rules of the ladder match. He also doesn't like how heights look when you look down at them. Harper Gator Rolls Ziggler to start but has to break up a sunset flip attempt. The running DDT is easily countered and R-Truth thinks he's talking to Byron Jackson. A double tag brings in Ambrose to stomp on Barrett in the corner before the standing top rope elbow drop gets two. Ziggler and Ambrose clear the ring but nearly come to blows as we take a break.

Back with Barrett elbowing Dean in the face and handing it off to Harper for an elbow of his own. We hit the chinlock from Harper, who Truth accuses of not buying his shirt. Barrett comes back in and gets caught in a tornado DDT. Truth wants the match turned into a stepladder match and claims ladder discrimination.

The hot tag brings in Ziggler to speed things up but the big elbow drop gets two on Harper. Now the running DDT connects but still only gets two. A big side slam gets the same for Harper but Barrett and Ambrose come in to fight right next to them. Those two head back to the floor and Ziggler superkicks Harper, setting up the Zig Zag for the pin at 10:03.

Rating: C-. Totally standard midcard tag match here but it's very nice to see that headlining the show instead of more dull stuff. It also helps that this is a logical part of the storyline and fits what they've been doing so far. Truth continues to be funny on commentary with a bunch of “what did he just say” lines. Oh and Barrett didn't get pinned! Life is good.

Post match Barrett goes for the belt but Ambrose dives on him. Truth kicks Harper low but Daniel Bryan shows up to look at Truth holding the title. Truth hands him the belt and starts a YES chant. Bryan poses with the title but Stardust jumps Bryan and grabs the belt to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. The show went by fast enough and it's really nice to have stuff away from the main event feud for a bit. It's also nice to not have the Authority making my blood pressure go through the roof but that's a different story. This still doesn't feel like a major show but I like the Intercontinental Title picture when it's not as all over the place and the battle royal is starting to look a lot better. This was a nice way to cool things down and bring them back to normal after a bad Raw, but it's still not a great show.

Results
Cesaro/Tyson Kidd b. Los Matadores – Cesaro Swing into a dropkick from Kidd
Ryback b. Kane – Meat Hook
Big Show b. Ryback – KO Punch
AJ Lee b. Brie Bella – Black Widow
New Day b. Miz/Damien Mizdow – Midnight Hour to Miz
Rusev b. Jack Swagger – Accolade
Dolph Ziggler/Dean Ambrose b. Bad News Barrett/Luke Harper – Zig Zag to Harper


Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6 

Comments

  1. "Video on the Daily Show segment with Jon Stewart from Raw. That might be the best celebrity appearance ever."


    Sounds like someone forgot about Kathie Lee and Hoda...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I always liked Samuel L. Jackson appearing as Shaft. Someone (Crash?) shows up and asks him for protection. Jackson: "Did you ask the APA?"


    Simple, funny, and put over APA.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "With just a few weeks to go before Wrestlemania, one of the main stories has been the Intercontinental Title scene."

    It's such a main story that it was completely cut from the Hulu RAW edit!

    ReplyDelete
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IijyFbtqDq8

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  5. They were really popular several years ago. Now, they are struggling badly.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Or Shatner singing the entrance music.

    Or Bob Barker meeting Chris Jericho.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Uh, whatever. You're telling me that after months of whining I heard about every Raw ever from people like you, you still prefer it to SmackDown? Or are you just saying that to say I'm wrong, which wouldn't be a first?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shaft! Now THERE'S a sweet gimmick that's just waiting for some young indy worker.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well, at least BNB didn't get pinned, so progress. And the Matadors didn't defeat the tag champs in a non-title match with a distraction roll-up finish to set up a title match next week.


    And Cameron, Summer, and Eva having a short segment is better than them having a match, right?

    ReplyDelete
  10. So instead of the DustDust Wrestlemania payoff that they've been teasing for the past couple of years, they're going to waste Stardust on the IC title car wreck. How many more guys are they going to get to fight over the jobber belt?

    ReplyDelete
  11. kbwrestlingreviewsMarch 5, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    I have zero problem looking at Summer Rae. The other two.....well it depends on how fast I can mute my TV.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pretty much the rest of the roster that doesn't have a match or isn't in the Battle Royal. Maybe next year they'll combine the two.

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  13. Who's worse: Cameron or Eva Marie. I know the easy choice is Eva Marie, but we've (unfortunately) seen enough Cameron matches to know just how awful she is.

    ReplyDelete
  14. RAW i will watch (at least partially) because it's newsworthy.

    Smackdown I never watch, because it's so meaningless that the WWE World Heavyweight Champion hasn't been on the show in over a decade.

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  15. kbwrestlingreviewsMarch 5, 2015 at 10:12 PM

    I'd say Cameron is by far worse. Eva Marie is only there for the sake of looking good and doesn't have a ton of experience. Cameron didn't know how a pin worked. I really don't think that can be topped.

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  16. Given half of the midcard is in the Ladder Match, that leaves the Battle Royal as a real jobberfest. Stephanie's friend Andre would no doubt be beaming with pride at the tribute they've created for him.

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  17. I'm not saying more meaningful. I'm saying more watchable.

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  18. http://youtu.be/xXOC6XqeK0A -- Axe Boom-Bah

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  19. Wuh...


    How...how did it take this long for me to find this?

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  20. Because Bischoff told him too.

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  21. 1. Should have always been x-WWF guys only.

    2. Starcade should have been a near squash with Sting going over Hogan, and Bret pulling an Owen's on Sting after.

    3. This would set up a few things. A Sting vs Bret feud, the NWO imploding from within, and WCW starting to do that same shit they did to them.

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  22. If he hadn't had so many demons, Scott would have a great mind for the business.

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  23. Before everything got fucked up, it truly was a magical time to be a fan.

    I think that's the problem with so many great storylines through the years. They begin so perfectly and end far from it because that get played out for too long.

    That's why I will always love the Flair/Funk feud.

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  24. In fairness, her and Kurt were done and it's not like Angle was the poster child for fidelity or anything.

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  25. Mine was Kelly. Sadly as the night went on I came to realize Kelly was a guys name in this instance.

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  26. Cameron. Eva Marie is useless, but she is quite pretty. I don't get what they see in Cameron.

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  27. It wasn't all that much impressive last year. Who, beyond Cesaro, Show, and Sheamus, were even pushed as having a shot of winning? Ryback is no lower on the card than Cesaro was this time last year, Sheamus is rumored to bein it to win it, and hey, KANE is in it. Everyone loves Kane! OK, last one was major sarcasm.

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  28. I'd say Cameron has the edge on looks, but both in the ring... I say Cameron. Eva Marie can't do basic stuff, and Cameron has had 4 years to learn and still can't do basic stuff like running ropes and going for pins.

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  29. No mention of Dominatrix Natalya? Highlight of the show.

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  30. This is Ric Flair though. The man that built the house and the man fans were chanting for even when he wasn't there. It wasn't about having the world revolve around him, it was about acknowledging that he was still a key figure.

    WCW having to turn to the one force that had tortured them for so long for help against the NWO made sense. Then when it was done you could have the horseman back to their old shit. Would have created a whole new feud out of it too.

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  31. Something with no meaning has zero watchability to me.

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  32. kbwrestlingreviewsMarch 5, 2015 at 11:31 PM

    I love how she's the old lady of Total Divas, despite being three years younger than Rosa.

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  33. Just to give an idea of how much title value and competent champions actually matter, if you center the giant clusterfuck match around the U.S. title, it's a far more compelling idea. Mostly because you can actually buy Rusev killing everyone, while Barrett has been booked to trip over his shoelaces over the last few months.

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  34. Truth continues to be funny?
    When did he start?

    And is Bryan in that terrible IC match or will we get a Mania without him?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Truth: It's a conspiracy. C-O-N ....SPIRACY.

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  36. Yeah, I'd much prefer shaking his hand to shaking anything else.

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  37. How could anyone not be a fan after that.

    gee, maybe the problem never was him for those saying he's boring, but rather the potatoes that run creative at the E.

    I saw charisma out the wazoo in that video package. Couple that with a good look and he's a star.

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  38. Yeah, what happened there? Did they finally wake up one day and realize he looks like Ron Jeremy but with way less charisma?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??? The Vaudevillians are awesome, well minus the shitty music.

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  40. I think it was probably all of the above. A lot of guys didn't care for Jarrett, who benefitted greatly from nepotism and didn't have a lot of real talent. Austin was also VERY protective of his spot (given what he'd suffered through for it), and I would imagine that a loser like Jarrett being tied to him could be a big negative.

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  41. It's nice that they're putting focus on the IC title, and post-Mania there is an established set of guys who are challengers for the IC title.

    That said, as much fun as a clusterfuck IC title ladder match will be, it never really puts anyone over in the same way as a well-structured feud would. I just hope they don't forget about the IC title after Mania and start some proper programs and feuds over the belt.

    PS. I'm a mark for Battle Royals

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  42. I don't mind Truth when he's being "batshit insane" Truth.

    I just find the rapping entrance, and everything he does in the ring, to be fairly dull.

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  43. Given the names who are in the IC ladder match for WM, I think my earlier prediction that Sheamus will win the Andre Battle Royal is pretty much a sure thing now.

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  44. Some folk are just born old, though. I'm 33, but I'd say I'm older, personality wise, than some of my friends who are 5 years older than me.

    I know what you mean, tho.

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  45. I honestly think the person who does the Hulu edit of Raw is on some serious medication.

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  46. At least Cesaro was in for a push! And then someone informed vince that he was Swiss and then suddenly he couldn't get over!

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  47. MaffewOfBotchamaniaMarch 6, 2015 at 6:23 AM

    Bryan's in the Elephant Graveyard IC Title Match?

    People are being paid good money to come up with this stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I was the emailer, finally decided to make an account after about a million years. I agree about the graphic being false(because of the sponsor) but I distinctly remember looking forward to that match and wondering why it didn't happen. I have most of the 97 Shotguns so I'll have to check the July shows. I'm assuming I saw this on either Superstars or Livewire which I'm sure is near impossible to find as they were only recap shows.

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  49. Thanks for the backup. I'm a Rhode Islander but it's possible I got WPIX still at that time which lends credence to the NY theory.

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  50. Wow thank you for the repsonse. I should have realized I was wrong about what I remember because I read your reviews.(Unbelievable by the way, I feel like I'm 12 again) Also your love of B Shows impresses me. I was a devout Saturday Night watcher until it became Saturday morning for a few weeks(then cancelled)

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  51. From Thehistoryofwwe.com "prior to the bout, still photos were shown of Hennig defeating Ric Flair in their No DQ match the previous night at World War III; it was also noted Flair suffered an ankle injury in the match and would have to take a few weeks off;" I did notice that he wrestled Hennig on the 12/15 Nitro so maybe it was jsut WCW f'ing up the biggest show in their company's history.


    Quick list:
    1) No Flair vs Hennig cage blowoff
    2) Obvious Sting stuff (getting pinned to a slow count and whatnot)
    3) No Nash vs Giant - replaced by a qucik Scott Hall segment
    4) No Raven vs Benoit. Saturn was good but we had seen that matchup a few times already
    5) Luger jobs to Bagwell again only to win the next night on Nitro in a squash (acceptable if the main events work out fine)
    6) Bischoff vs Zbyszko - Wasn't going to be a masterpiece but I still remember it being awful, especially the phantom kick with the fore...international object flying into the crowd


    The one positive I can think of is Savage being a surprise replacement for Konnan (just read the unfortunate reason why Konnan missed the show)

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  52. He also jobbed to Hector Garza in Sept 97. I doubt it was a changed finish but it just shows he had no qualms about showing ass.

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  53. Great rebook, DDP vs Hall and Benoit vs Hennig. Raven was out anyway (I think a legit injury). Have Flair at ringside and even let them cheat like mofos since cheating against the NWO is still a face move.


    If you read between the lines enough, you can connect it to Hennig not cheating well enough for Flair to beat Savage at WM8.

    ReplyDelete
  54. The Answer we were looking for, Bad News Barrett, is Amy Schumer. Thanks for playing, enjoy your year's supply of Rice-A-Roni

    ReplyDelete
  55. So it's official: WWE considers Daniel Bryan to be at the same level as R-Truth and Cody Rhodes.

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  56. Considering how dead the crowd was for their match at Fast Lane, their hand might have been forced.

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  57. I know people feel like it's bringing Bryan down to be in this, but I think that having a guy who was just in serious contention for the Heavyweight go after the IC title is a way to make it look more legit--kinda like they're doing with Cena and the US title.

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  58. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    I really hope that they just put Daniel and Dolph in there to make the match better, but knowing WWE.....

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  59. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    I'll take it over a match against Bryan at Mania.

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  60. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:22 AM

    I'm a battle royal mark as well

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  61. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:23 AM

    "He's the C O O......that's coo coo!"

    ReplyDelete
  62. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    He's really has had some bad news.....for himself.

    ReplyDelete
  63. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:25 AM

    Which is why Cena should have been in it, he can overcome the odds.

    ReplyDelete
  64. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 6, 2015 at 9:28 AM

    You better not watch that Rise and Fall of WWE trailer then.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Agreed with your second part, not your first. No way DiBiase would've worked as well as Bischoff. At that point in their careers, Bischoff was the one who had the passion to deliver great promos and generate great heat. Ted was there for a check.

    ReplyDelete
  66. The gimmick didn't die until 1998, after a good year and a half of some pretty damn great Hall and Nash comedy. Mixed with serious stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Yet another example of how the HHH-led DX ripped off the nWo.

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  68. That seems harsh. I think Jarrett had plenty of talent.

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  69. Exactly. Smarks get mad that Cole/JBL/etc. spoon-feed them the storylines, but when something is actually done subtly, people ignore it and complain it isn't spelled out.

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  70. Can't we all just agree that all of it is shit

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  71. I am in a world of shit.

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  72. Actually, I think there were some bread crumbs leading to the Bischoff heel turn. In the fake Sting angle, Bischoff was the one who said, "No, Sting, YOU stick it." And in the weeks leading up to the Hogan/Savage match at Havoc, Bischoff was the one showing Savage the latest messages from the nWo. I actually used these as support for my theory that Bischoff was going to turn when I told Bill Apter two weeks before it happened.

    Yes, really.


    Bill used to have a side business doing event videos (weddings, bar/bat mitzvah), and his cousins went to my temple. He did my bar mitzvah video, and when I saw him a year and a half later, I made the call.

    ReplyDelete
  73. Actually, I think there were some bread crumbs leading to the Bischoff heel turn. In the fake Sting angle, Bischoff was the one who said, "No, Sting, YOU stick it." And in the weeks leading up to the Hogan/Savage match at Havoc, Bischoff was the one showing Savage the latest messages from the nWo. I actually used these as support for my theory that Bischoff was going to turn when I told Bill Apter two weeks before it happened.

    Yes, really.

    Bill used to have a side business doing event videos (weddings, bar/bat mitzvah), and his cousins went to my temple. He did my bar mitzvah video, and when I saw him a year and a half later, I made the call.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Watched this show again tonight.

    That might have been the most sexually provocative pinning situations I've seen in a woman's match before.

    ReplyDelete
  75. the commercial may have aired in other nearby markets to sell tickets to the show but when I saw it air during WWF NY it was on NY TV 55 which was a local station unlike that somewhat broader ranged wpix in the area

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  76. Just confirmed Sid vs Vader. It is on WWF New York from 7/12/97 which was channel 55 like you said. I likely saw it on Livewire, Superstars, or Shotgun which was basically the same as WWF NY. The Autoland sponsor thing is legit. Either they were replaced by Stridex or they were a local secondary sponsor.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Nice. Good work. Yeah I remember autoland being all over the summerslam 97 magazine/paper insert inside the Daily News the weekend of the show, so they likely were just the local company promotion.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 9:39 AM

    That's OK though. They had Hogan, Nash, and Hall, who could all do a heel promo. That's who people cared about, not Bischoff. They didn't need a mouthpiece. All they needed was a kayfabe reason that the nWo could actually get away with the things they did, get their videos played, win matches with WCW refs, etc. Dibiase as the "money man" gives you that. Crooked refs getting paid off, dudes in the production trucks getting intimidated, etc. Bischoff as the head of the company AND head of the nWo was just too much

    ReplyDelete
  79. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 9:40 AM

    Yeah and the Benoit-Raven match can still happen at Souled Out '98 only for the US title now. DDP gets way more out of beating Hall, then maybe challenging Nash later on, than he gets out of the US title at that point

    ReplyDelete
  80. I totally disagree. Bischoff added a much-needed weaselly heel dynamic to the group. While Hall and Nash would sell the shirts, Hogan and Bischoff were getting the heat.

    Plus it was revolutionary in terms of presenting the heel authority figure character.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 12, 2015 at 1:18 PM

    I agree to an extent. I just think there needed to be a larger "WCW Authority" that prevented Bischoff from having on-screen total control. It hurt the "reality" element they were going for. If you already have the guy who runs the whole show on your team, it gives them too much power. If Eric was just a stooge with booking power, then there would at least be some restraints on his kayfabe authority.

    ReplyDelete

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