Monday Nitro #219
Date: December 20, 1999
Location:
Baltimore Arena, Baltimore, Maryland
Attendance: 8,915
Commentators: Mike
Tenay, Bobby Heenan, Tony Schiavone
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
We're just past
Starrcade and......I have no idea what we're supposed to do now
actually. Bret is still World Champion, Sting is out of action again
and the rest of the show was pretty much a big waste of time with
short matches that went nowhere or that only Russo and company care
about. Let's get to it.
We
open with a recap of Piper calling for the bell on Goldberg to end
the title match against Bret. Yes, that's their big idea: Montreal
part 58.
So you might be asking
how the big fallout show starts. After last night, we're ready to
start on the new road forward for WCW. I promise, I'm not making
this up. This is really how this show began.
Here
are Madusa and Spice for a chat. Madusa brags about being the first
female Cruiserweight Champion and how the women of WCW are taking
over with their T&A. Right now she wants any man in the back to
come out here so she can neuter him. As luck would have it, Buzzkill
is in the crowd campaigning for equal rights, so Madusa calls him to
the ring for a title match right now.
Cruiserweight Title:
Madusa vs. Buzzkill
Madusa takes the sign
and blasts Buzzkill in the head, followed by the missile dropkick for
two. The German suplex is blocked though and Buzzkill dropkicks her
down. The Russian legsweep should have the title won (because it's a
Russian legsweep) but Spice has the referee. In the distract, Spice
throws in a foreign object and Madusa knocks Buzzkill silly, setting
up the German suplex to retain.
I
need a minute here. After last night's disaster of a Starrcade,
Vince Russo, the man who actually takes credit for the Attitude Era,
decided that the big idea was to open Nitro with a match between a
comedy character and Madusa, who is flat out saying she has one of
the most popular titles (well at least it used to be) in the company
because of how she looks. That's their big way to open the
post-Starrcade Nitro. Imagine if the night after Rollins cashed in
Money in the Bank or after Bryan overcame the Authority, we opened
with a Nikki Bella promo and match. That's basically what they did
here and it's making my head hurt.
The announcers talk
about Goldberg getting screwed last night. I'll set the over/under
for use of that word in this story at about 6,000.
Russo tells Curt Hennig
to get rid of Hugh Morrus tonight. Why Russo has issues with Morrus
isn't clear, but I'd bet it's a nuance of a plot point that I missed
in Russo's 19 segments a night. Creative Control is sent to find
Piper.
Speaking of Piper, he
arrives with his assistant and son because of reasons I don't want to
be told. The kid tapes Piper's wrists and Creative Control comes to
collect him.
Hugh Morrus vs. Curt
Hennig
Before
we get started, it's time for an another angle that no one will care
about but we need to force it in there anyway. This time it's Shane
being beaten down by a guy in a Scream mask with what looks like a
pipe. As for the match, here's Tony's take on it: “I've never been
so confused coming out of a WCW pay per view.” I can't believe I'm
saying this, but preach it Tony. Morrus slugs Hennig into the corner
to start as the announcers don't explain Hugh's issues with the
Powers That Be, likely because they don't exist.
After a big running
splash in the corner, Morrus gets distracted by some old guy in a
hospital gown who wanders from the crowd to the ramp. For the love
of......JUST HAVE A WRESTLING MATCH! Morrus goes outside and helps
the man he calls Pop to the ramp so he stays out of harms' way.
Hennig gets in a few shots as Pop comes back down to ringside. In
the distraction, Hennig hits the PerfectPlex for the pin.
Rating:
D-.
I would ask why this is happening and what this is supposed to mean,
but I really, really don't care. Hugh Morrus is getting a story now?
Apparently about his father who just wanders around ringside after
leaving a hospital? As usual, Russo doesn't get that you have to
make us care about a person before you just throw them into a story
that makes no sense on the surface. I don't care about Hugh Morrus
because he's never done anything worth caring about. Therefore, I
don't care about his Pop or whatever they're doing with him. Again,
just let them wrestle and THEN come up with a story.
Pop
checks on his son, who is still down after a devastating suplex.
Piper is in Russo's
office where Russo talks about Piper making some sort of deal with
the devil, meaning Piper can't touch Russo. It's not over though
because Piper has to go out there and tell everyone that he sold out
and that Russo had nothing to do with it. So who did he sell out to
if Russo wasn't involved? That question is immediately wiped from my
memory as Russo says that Piper will take his heat. Piper talks
about going out there to “shoot on the marks” and how he and
Hogan built this sport. The audio screws up so I can't hear the rest
of it but do I really need to?
So to recap: Russo is
the mastermind behind screwing Goldberg out of the title and gave
Piper something in return for ending the title match last night and
now Piper has to go and take the rap for it. This is going to be a
SHOOT, because all those times where Piper was evil and made his big
name were just him acting and we should believe how much he cares for
wrestling? Can we go back to Hugh and Pop?
And
now, a word from Tony Schiavone about how Vince McMahon screwed Bret
Hart out of the WCW Title. Russo worked for McMahon at that time, so
rumors are speculating that Russo scripted the ending to that match.
I don't even know how to respond to that so we'll move on to Tony
talking about how Kevin Nash is defending Goldberg in the locker
room. You know, the SHOOT locker room.
This
brings out Kevin Nash, who talks about living by a code in wrestling.
There are certain rules you have to live by no matter what happens.
Yes people, KEVIN NASH is talking about ethics in wrestling. Just go
with it and maybe it'll be over soon. There are two groups of people
behind the curtain: the boys and the office. The boys are all a
fraternity and the office doesn't care about any of them. Nash
doesn't care about Goldberg, but what happened last night was.....a
word they don't actually censor. TV-14 it is I suppose. Hart
screwed one of the boys and now he has to pay.
Creative
Control says Nash is the biggest politician in the locker room. So
yeah, it's clearly a big worked shoot (in case it wasn't obvious
before) and the audience, after sitting through Madusa vs. Buzzkill
and Hennig vs. Morrus/Pop gets to hear a lot of stuff that is
probably going over their collective heads while Russo jerks off to
this nonsense because it makes him feel so much smarter than everyone
else. I understand what they're talking about and it's just so dumb.
Tank
Abbott vs. Jerry Flynn
No
holds barred of course. They trade slaps/punches before shoving the
referee, drawing out security to break it up. Flynn is put in
handcuffs and Tank knocks him out cold. This didn't last a minute
and the fans are rightfully booing it out of the building.
Goldberg
arrives.
Here's
the Revolution for what is actually the most interesting part of the
show so far. Douglas talks about how the Revolution was proven right
at Starrcade, but we pause for a word from Saturn about Tootsie Pops.
He calls out Jim Duggan to denounce America, but Jim doesn't want to
do it. Instead, Duggan says he lied and gets beaten down. The
Revolution goes to burn the American flag but the Filthy Animals
(minus Eddie) return for the save. Great. It's this feud again.
Shane's look of shock when the Animals came out (walking at about
half a mile an hour) is great.
Here's
Piper for his big explanation as Goldberg and Hart watch from
backstage. Piper lists off some of the evil things he's done in the
past before going into a mini rant against Russo's writing. Couldn't
they just call it like, match making? Anyway, Piper knows people
just want to see the wrestlers fight. After listing off his
accomplishments from the 80s, Piper says he's a real fighting and
quits. His son comes out to walk to the back with him, but Goldberg
comes out to block their way.
Goldberg
has stayed up all night trying to make sense of this (now THAT is
probably a shoot comment). He's looked up to a few guys all his life
and until last night Piper was on that list. Piper made the wrong
decision last night but Goldberg doesn't think Piper would ever sell
out. Roddy apologizes and things seem to be a bit better until Bret
comes out to pick it up all over again. As far as he's concerned,
there's no point in blaming Piper and the title is vacant. Bret goes
to the back to tell the Powers That Be what they can do with their
title. Keep shooting people. You'll hit something eventually,
though it's likely your own foot.
Post
break, Hart yells at Russo, but the boss says that was an attempt at
making up for Montreal. Yes seriously, THAT'S THEIR BIG STORY. Bret
throws the belt at Russo so he makes Hart vs. Goldberg for tonight.
Nice to see them continue their tradition of airing the same match
the night after Starrcade. I mean, it's gone so well before.
Meng/Norman
Smiley vs. Fit Finlay/Brian Knobbs
Hardcore
of course. So why would Meng want to team with Smiley here? My
question is quickly answered as Meng goes after Smiley before their
opponents come out. Knobbs and Finlay come out to watch as the
announcers try to explain the psychology. Apparently Knobbs and
Finlay want Norman to keep the Hardcore Title so they can take it
from him with less of a fight.
Therefore,
we're supposed to ignore the two of them knocking Smiley out cold
with a pipe so Norman could pin him with one hand last night, proving
that they could beat Meng with ease. As for the match, Norman gets
chased through the crowd, objects are thrown, a bathroom is invaded,
Norman's head is put in a toilet and Knobbs gets the pin.
Rating:
F.
We're over an hour into this show and this is the second best match
of the night so far. I'm not sure if it's good or horribly stupid
that they're trying to add psychology to this division. Yeah there's
an idea to it, but the idea is stupid. The joke isn't funny though
and Meng was just kind of there most of the “match” as everyone
else was “fighting.”
Piper tells his kid to
wait in the limo and gets a ball bat.
Video
of the Artist Formerly Known As Prince Iaukea's recording session
where he doesn't actually sing. Somehow this sounds like one of the
more logical things on the show.
Hart is walking and
runs into Piper. Bret tries to talk but Piper is back to babbling to
himself.
Maestro vs. Evan
Karagias
It's
a flashback to the NWO days as the announcers ignore what's going on
in the ring to talk about the backstage stuff. Maestro runs him over
to start but Evan hits a springboard spinning cross body. Evan rains
down right hands in the corner until he gets dropped throat first
across the top rope. We get a bit of a tease as Maestro loads up a
chinlock but slaps Evan in the face with both hands instead.
The
announcers talk about Montreal with Tony saying it's unbelievable
that Russo wants to make up with Hart. Evan fights up and counters a
hurricanrana into a powerbomb. Symphony gets shoved onto the apron
but Evan has a quick change of heart to check on her. The
distraction lets Maestro hit a knee to the back for the pin.
Symphony is of course fine. Tony: “She sold that knee.”
Rating:
D.
Total mentions of Evan losing the title last night: zero. Then again
it's fairly clear that there's no future to the title so losing the
belt might have been the best thing possible for Evan. Maestro and
Symphony are a nothing pairing but at least they're not victims of a
stalker anymore.
Piper
literally destroys the Powers That Be's office. Piper: “How about
Adrian Adonis and Gorilla Monsoon?” And yes, he breaks the fourth
wall.
Chavo Guerrero tries to
sell Evan a book on how to pick up chicks. Thankfully, this ends in
a beating.
Chris Kanyon vs. Bam
Bam Bigelow vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Kanyon
says this isn't Hollywood and talks about destroying the Triad.
Bigelow and Page come out and double team him with Page hitting a
Rock Bottom and Bigelow adding a headbutt. A clothesline and another
headbutt have Kanyon reeling but Page and Bigelow argue about which
finisher should end Kanyon. Page offers a handshake but pulls
Bigelow into a Diamond Cutter. It's angle time though as Page drops
to the floor, kisses a fan, and leaves. J. Biggs throws Kanyon a
briefcase but the referee cuts him off, allowing Kanyon to hit
Bigelow with a champagne bottle for the pin.
Rating:
D+.
Well that happened. They spent the entire summer building up the
Triad and then the blowoff (I guess?) match takes four minutes with
no announcement on a Nitro? Sounds appropriate to me. At least
Kanyon has a new character and he's getting as close as he can to
thriving in it.
Bigelow is busted way
open and Kanyon is bleeding from the hand. Were they stupid enough
to use a real bottle???
Creative Control vs.
Kevin Nash
There's
no referee so I don't think this is a match. Actually that makes
sense given how things worked earlier. Hall accompanies Nash on
crutches. Since this isn't a match (no bell), the twins tag. Nash
slugs away at Patrick in the corner and kicks Gerald in the face as
the tagging part is already done.
The
numbers catch up with Nash and Gerald takes him down for a cover but
there's no referee. Heenan praises Nash for having the guts to say
what he said earlier in the night. They start going after Kevin's
knee and the tagging starts up again. Hall gets bored and comes
inside for some crutch shots to the twins. Creative Control walks
out to end whatever this was.
Luger
and Liz are amused at Sting having a broken jaw. Why they're in the
rafters and why Luger is dressed as Sting isn't clear but I don't
think I want to know.
US Title: Chris
Benoit vs. Jeff Jarrett
Another
ladder match with Benoit defending because there's no reason not to
do it again twenty four hours later. At least it was good last night
so maybe it works again here. They slug it out to start and Benoit
takes over with a pair of dropkicks. Benoit ties him in the Tree of
Woe for a running dropkick but Jeff crotches him against the post to
take over. Back up and Benoit is the first to the ladder but he has
to side step the baseball slide.
Benoit throws him into
the chair in the corner before nailing the back and knee with the
same chair. Jeff stays on the floor and holds his leg as Benoit
breaks the ladder by stepping on the rungs. Tony: “Someone has
gimmicked this ladder!” Tenay: “You know who it is!” Heenan:
“Kidman?” The other side's rungs break as well and it's a guitar
shot to Benoit as Jeff's leg is fine. He grabs a fresh ladder and
wins the title because SCREW YOU BENOIT FANS! YOU'RE GETTING JARRETT
WHETHER YOU CARE OR NOT!
Rating:
D+.
They said the word gimmick for the ladder about ten times in two
minutes near the end as the levels of obnoxiousness get higher and
higher every single week. Benoit winning the title last night and
being in the main event of a pay per view last month already seem to
be nothing but memories.
After
a bunch of replays, Curt Hennig tells Jarrett that the Powers That Be
need to see him.
Sid Vicious vs. The
Wall
Sid
kicks him in the face to start and takes it outside for some right
hands to Wall's face. Back in and Wall hits him right back, only to
eat a chokeslam. Cue Berlyn for a distraction, allowing Wall to load
up a chokeslam of his own. Not that it matters as Berlyn missile
dropkicks Wall for the DQ.
Sid
powerbombs Berlyn and shakes Wall's hand to complete the face turn.
Russo
tells Jarrett that it's going to happen tonight.
Disco offers to pay the
mafia but Tony Marinara's dad tells him he can join the Family or
spend the rest of his life in a coma.
Harlem Heat vs.
Varsity Club
Rotundo/Steiner
here with Sullivan on commentary, where he spends the whole match
referring to Rick as Robbie (Rick's real name) because SHOOTING IS
COOL AND HIP AND MAKES US SMARTER THAN YOU SO HA! Stevie quickly
runs Rotundo over to start before it's off to the partners. Booker
kicks him in the face a few times but it's too much to ask Steiner to
sell so it's a big clothesline to put Booker on the floor. Things
get a bit confusing as the Varsity Club decides they're the Freebirds
(they're from the right time period) and start changing places with
Rotundo going to commentary.
That
lasts all of eight seconds before Mike runs back in and misses a
charge, allowing Booker to plant him with a Rock Bottom. Stevie
comes in off the hot tag and cleans house but there go the lights
because it's Midnight. Ever the genius, Stevie yells at her,
allowing Mike to roll him up for the pin.
Rating:
D.
More mindless brawling here with Booker doing everything he could to
make it a match. I still have no idea why the Varsity Club is back
as Rick was the only one doing anything, even though he's one of the
least likeable people on the roster. I'll give them this though: at
least this felt like a match, even with the screwy ending.
PG-13 runs in and
attacks the Varsity Club. They can't be serious.
The
yet to be named Daffney is getting a Surge when the Misfits come up
to hit on her. For reasons of crazy, she knees Jerry Only low and
runs off.
Here's
David Flair for a chat but he beats up David Penzer first. Flair
calls out Vampiro, who says he has no problem with David. Vampiro
yells at Daffney but eats a crowbar shot. Jerry Only comes out and
takes a beating as well, leaving David and Daffney to kiss.
Buff
Bagwell comes out with something to say. He's had a good career in
WCW but now he wants some gold around his waist. Gene goes way out
in right field and asks about rumors regarding Bagwell and Kimberly
Page. Buff pushes the mic away and whispers to Gene, but Okerlund
says that sounds like an admission of guilt. Bagwell admits that
Kimberly is a knockout and if Page wasn't a factor, he would, and I
quote, “put his stuff all over Kim.” He mentions his bed and
Page comes out to jump Bagwell.
Piper
says goodbye to the locker room and calls Sid a kid. He rambles on
about how hard wrestling has been on him and wants the boys to fight
back against the Powers That Be.
WCW World Title:
Bret Hart vs. Goldberg
The
title is officially vacant coming in and Jeff Jarrett is watching on
a monitor in the back. Goldberg hammers him in the face to start and
chokes with a boot in the corner. They head outside with Goldberg
hammering away even more as Bret has been on defense almost all
match. Back in and a powerslam drops Hart but he grabs the ropes to
break up a leg lock.
Bret
starts going after the leg with kicks to the knee before wrapping it
around the ropes. The referee goes down because of course he does
and Bret slaps on the Figure Four. Cue the Outsiders with ball bats
to beat up Goldberg. Bret lets go of the hold and beats on Goldberg
as well so Piper comes back to try and protect Goldberg as the
referee calls for the bell. There was a cover in there somewhere and
Bret has won the title.
Jeff
Jarrett comes out with spraypaint and......THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER!
Bret tries to say something but his mic doesn't work. Everyone
celebrates with their new titles to end the show.
Overall
Rating: W.
That's W for waste. I've watched a lot of wrestling shows in my day
(upwards of 4,000 last I checked). In the course of my time as a
fan, I don't remember a show that felt like a waste of my time. That
has changed after this show. I can live with a show where nothing
happens. I can live with a show full of bad matches. I can live
with a show where the company loses its way for a night.
That's not what
happened on this show. This show was about eliminating every single
concept and idea of logic and common sense from what used to be World
Championship Wrestling. I'm not going to go into the long, long list
of things this show did that made no sense, as A, I don't have that
much memory on this computer and B, I don't think my blood pressure
can take it.
Let's sum up the major
flaw in logic on this show. The idea is that Russo and company are
in charge of booking the show and have turned it into a shoot.
Ignoring how absolutely stupid that is to point out (from a kayfabe
perspective, wrestling is always supposed to be a shoot), let's go
with Russo's theory (I'll ask for forgiveness later). Let's say that
Russo has complete authority and is writing himself into this
position.
If
that's the case, why have any of his guys ever lost a match and why
did we need some big conspiracy? Why didn't Russo just book his boys
on top the second he debuted? Why are we having some big conspiracy
with Jarrett having to win the title back? Why am I supposed to
believe anything that happens if Russo is just in charge of the whole
thing? Did he book Nash to fight back against his authority or is
Nash going into business for himself?
I
get that it's what Russo is going for, but it leaves so many
ridiculous holes in the story and makes the whole thing so completely
illogical that you can't buy into anything going on in this company.
Ninety percent of the show is scripted but THIS RIGHT HERE is real?
Why should I believe that? At the end of the day, this is wrestling.
I shouldn't need a scorecard and a flow chart to keep track of
what's going on, nor should I have to hear all these insider terms.
This is the definition of too much going on and making things way too
complicated.
This stopped being
wrestling and became Russo having fun and deciding to make this show
his big personal playground. He's removed logic and common sense
from this show in order to turn it into some insider fest. I know I
say this a lot, but I literally do not think it can get worse than
this. They've taken away any the basic core principles of wrestling
and made this a B movie. There is however one bright spot to this
whole mess: Jim Cornette suddenly makes so much more sense to me.
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6
Genius Vince Russo, ladies and gentlemen.....
ReplyDeleteYou are a brave, kind and generous soul to sit through the Vince Russo Nitro's AND PPV'S. They are beyond train wreck and into some kind nuclear strike or something ...
ReplyDeleteWRONG YEAR, HALL. WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.
ReplyDeletePoor Russo. If only he hadn't been shackled (SHACKLED, I say!) by Turner Standards and Practices, all of this would have made sense.
ReplyDeleteNitro was completely unwatchable by this point. Utter garbage.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about the rebooted now stuff until I saw the wars thing on the network. This was a bleak period. WCW was getting destroyed and it was light years behind the WWF. Which would be ok had they not been so on top of their game just two years prior to this.
ReplyDeleteThat Bret-Goldberg match was a mess for a few of reasons -
ReplyDelete1) Goldy's "sell" of a ball shot (who falls backward with their hands raised, THEN holds themselves?)
2) Piper's slow slow slow slow slow slow slow fall after getting hit with the guitar.
3) The ref counted the pin for PIPER?!
If you wanted to know how to break brains, those 10 minutes will do it.
Crabwalk.
ReplyDeletejust his wife. is that better?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a difficult question. On one hand at one time it was absolutely a top 10 Rumble and would have been ranked as such. However, if you are making a list today, one would assume you are watching all the Rumbles to create the list. Based on what happened, that obviously will change how many see the match. On a third hand (yes I have three today), lists of the all time best runners or rushing seasons or Heisman trophy winners or USC players don't leave OJ off. History is history, regardless of whether what occurs later makes you not want to watch the perpetrator do anything again (wrestling, football, Naked Gun Movies, etc.).
ReplyDeleteme either. One move guy and his "charisma" was much like Warrior. Nonsensical promos.
ReplyDeleteOf course it is. Are you kidding?
ReplyDeleteU mad bro?
ReplyDeleteDave Taylor as in the Squire? I didn't know anything about this...you havea source?
ReplyDeleteI could've sworn it was just a bit earlier than '82, but my best guess would be that Vince (Jr) was waiting for the right guy with "it" to push to the moon. Backlund was still making money, so waiting for the right moment made sense.
ReplyDelete"wrestling fans weren't ready for him as a long-term champion"
ReplyDeleteBased on what?
Lots of sources, in books that reported it and police reports. He waa affiliated with wwe and lived in the area.
ReplyDeletePeople who were around back then have said the same things, though. Paul Heyman has publicly talked about how Graham should've held the title for YEARS longer than he did.
ReplyDeleteAre we really arguing about levels of depravity in killing someone? Both are reprehensible. It's like asking if you would like your feet or your hands cut off. I'm sure on some level one is "better" but both suck. Same thing with killing your girlfriend (I misspoke, wasn't his wife technically) or your kid.
ReplyDeleteYou asked. Both are awful, but if you don't think that killing a defenseless child is worse than killing an adult woman, I'm not sure what to tell you. That child depended on him to keep him safe. There's a reason that people that do things to children are at the bottom of the foodchain in prison.
ReplyDeleteDon't ever change Dougie
ReplyDeleteBacklund humping the Canadian flag.
ReplyDeleteThe last 10 minutes of the match was Big Shows best match ever. Too bad WWE can't promote that anymore because that is the only time in history you get to see Big Show of all people carry Angle Cena and Benoit
ReplyDeleteWas Flair's run even meaningful? Just a few months before losing it to Savage and a couple months before Hart.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't count Flair, than the next meaningful heel reign is Yokozuna. Either way, it was a good 15 years before WWF did another lengthy heel title run.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Vince Jr. was waiting to get Hogan -- or someone like him -- to launch the national expansion
ReplyDeleteFinally, Dancin' Stevie's prediction in 1996 came true....HE...TOOK...OVERRRRRRRRRRR!
ReplyDeleteYeah Yoko makes sense. He had the title almost a year and actually beat some guys, like the Undertaker at RR. I don't think Flair can count. Do you?
ReplyDeleteOJ was found not guilty.
ReplyDeleteBob's matches in the 70s/early 80s are better than any old WWWF matches i've seen from that era. He didn't need much personality since back then the heels carried the feuds with their promos and evil ways. Bob just had to do his job in the ring and get revenge which he did very well.
ReplyDelete"after some Benoit matches I like to chill out and watch Over The Edge'99, great show"
ReplyDeleteWhen I see a Bulldog or Owen match, I still feel a little bit sad. When I see a Benoit match, I don't feel anything in particular.
ReplyDeleteIIRC, Piper missed his cue and covered Goldberg early. He was supposed to cover Goldberg after the match and protect him from shots from the nWo. He did it too early and nobody really knew what to do.
ReplyDeleteu mad bro?
ReplyDeleteEver? In the history of time?
ReplyDelete1992 and 2004 have always seemed to be the ones put forward as the best ever, whenever the topic pops up.
ReplyDeleteThe Pop story shows Russo's biggest failing, he never thought "how does this lead to a match?". The fact he thinks people will watch crappy dinner theatre when they can change channels shows how deluded he really is.
ReplyDeleteThat Bob Backlund vs. Diesel match was certainly stellar. I remember wondering what what the point was in bringing Backlund back in 1993. Kids whose first exposure to wrestling was Hulkamania had no clue who this old, Opie Taylor looking guy was.
ReplyDeleteCould be a way to associate that sequence with Show and to DIS-associate that with Benoit.
ReplyDeleteKind of like when HBK (I think) broke out the Crossface not all that long after the murder as a traditional move during one of the PPV's. In the moment, I remember thinking "holy sh*t!!!! What are they DOING?", but at the end of the day, it's just a move. The more diluted it becomes, the better.
This...I mean...wow. Once more, trash current WWE if you want, they are nowhere NEAR the levels of utter pain, inanity, insanity, idiocy and just overall crap this period of WCW was. At least they keep to some sense of logic and not pushing "THIS IS ALL A SHOOT" stuff all over the place.
ReplyDeleteI heard it was a bet he had with Eddie graham that he could get bob over. Bob also had stacked undercards so it's not to hard to draw I'm not knocking him though
ReplyDeleteHe still could draw especially around the northeast where they were having trouble according to Bruno. And he announced because wwe owed him money after screwing him on payoffs
ReplyDeleteYou read Cornette's rants on Russo and think it's Cornette being a jackass and such. But then you actually watch what the man gives us and you suddenly understand Jim far more.
ReplyDeleteCornette is certifiable but he genuinely loves wrestling, this soulless and confusing shit designed to score points for personal grudges, the crowds don't give a shit about, at the expense one of the last places Wrestlers could earn a decent pay check (as well as insulting his friend JR for no reason) must have pushed his short temper past its limit. After the Dairy Queen incident I'm surprised Corny only thought about murdering Russo for getting him removed from his job in TNA.
ReplyDeleteI would because it's Flair and he won the title in significant fashion. But either Flair or Yoko, it means that WWF went from 1978 to the early 1990s without having a significant world title reign by a heel.
ReplyDeleteI just watch the 2005 Rumble, which was pretty awesome, has most of the same guys in it but with a different ending.
ReplyDeleteNo that was Punk's go to promo style. The whole make shooty comments deal was his corner of the market when he was around.
ReplyDeleteExcept didn't Cornette book Ring of Honor for a year or two? I know he didn't do what Russo did in 99 but he didn't exactly set the world on fire either. So for all his talk of "this is the way its supposed to be" he didn't move the needle for ROH either. In fact haven't they declined in business since he took over (I know he's since left).
ReplyDeleteWasn't Pop played by the guy who was Billionare Ted in the 1996 WWF. That was what I thought.
ReplyDeleteI think it was a reason to bring back Billionaire Ted and mock Ted Turner actually:
ReplyDeleteAt 17 I was pretty into this storyline. The nWo had reformed and I think its on the next show the show closes out with the nWo fighting against Sid/Benoit/Dustin Runnels and I was like cool Benoit's getting a big push. I didn't even mind the nWo reforming it was actually a solid group of guys to build a stable around Steiner/Outsiders/Hart/Jarrett all over guys and they were pushing Benoit as a top guy. I know it was mentioned how they had forgotten about him in this review but I disagree. He main evented the November ppv, he was in a high profile, match of the night at Starrcade and now he's about to be the number 2 guy in the main event feud. Hell isn't it this upcoming Thunder that Goldberg busts his arm up on the limo its this one or the one after I just remember it being Thunder. I'm not saying that this stuff was the greatest stuff ever but if you look at the positives it wasn't void of them. Solid heel stable, Benoit was getting a push, Goldberg was in the main event title storyline, The Revolution and the Filthy Animals were full of guys that the IWC really wanted to get pushes at the time and they were heavily featured. It might not have been perfect or even good but I prefer this over the 1980's that it becomes in Febuary and March with that stupid strap match between Flair and Hogan and the goofy promos. Just my opinion of course
ReplyDeleteI only remember the nWo reformation at the end of this show, but I have no doubt this is an accurate recap and boy does my head hurt trying to follow along.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to make a joke out of "Russo thinks Sami Zayn couldn't get over" by trying to tie it to "Russo watching himself book this show" and I'm just going to slam my head into an open filing cabinet instead because that makes more sense than what I just read.
Yep. Like early 80's Mid South crowds.
ReplyDeleteI admit Cornette didn't win favors with his way too old-style run but at least he tried to give us WRESTLING and not just endless skits and angles with no set-up or payoff.
ReplyDeleteI attended this show. I have not been to a wrestling show since.
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between setting the world on fire and fire bombing it to make yourself warm.
ReplyDeleteThey both suck.
ReplyDeleteMan how did you ever come up with an anti-smark gimmick? So creative and original. Lord knows we've never seen anything like that around here before. Clearly you are going to blow our minds with your witty rejoinders.
ReplyDeleteIf someone with weeping sores asks you to share a needle do us all a favor and go for it, k?
So because I said Punk makes shooty comments thats being an anti smark? Seriously did you not listen to his promos in 2011? It was nothing but shooting on the company and the guys he was working with. I didn't say it was bad but it was the truth. The guy was shooting every promo in 2011. I find it hilarious that my comments make you so upset that you want me to start sharing needles with strangers. Rest assured I have a close knit community of needle sharers so I don't need to borrow a strangers.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you can halfway agree with a filthy anti smark who should be sharing dirty needles progress in the world is warming to my heart.
ReplyDeleteHim telling Kevin Nash that "click" was the sound his knees make was probably my favorite shooty promo he did.
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase Scott, it's like cross-dressing Frankenstein driving a circus train into a munitions dump.
ReplyDeleteI'm not disputing that but its apples and oranges. Russo accomplished way more booking pro wrestling than Cornette ever did to my knowledge. Even if you go through the "Vince was his filter" gimmick Cornette was in a similar position as was Jim Ross. If it were me I think I'd be ok being the most accomplished as well as the worst booker in a generation. Hell I still say Sullivan was much worse than Russo but thats just me. If I was playing baseball I'd rather have made the all star team and then kicked out of Single A ball than to have been a utility guy in the majors.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great shooty comment. As was the one where he was telling Triple H his balls were in Steph's purse, as was the one where he went off on Vince McMahon on multiple occasions. The guy had some fun shooty comments. That was my point his entire promo style in 2011 was "I'm going to say whatever everyone on the message boards says daily".
ReplyDeleteI'm 6'5 and I came up to his shoulder when I met him in the Atlanta airport two years ago; he's still got the height, just not the pythons, brother. Also, if he's that big, I can't imagine how big Andre was.
ReplyDeleteHe also did this weird dance my friends and I now call "The Backlund Wiggle" that made him look like a giant dork.
ReplyDelete1993 babyface Bob was truly horrendous.
Seriously, I've wondered for almost 20 years, who were the actors in the BT skits?
ReplyDeleteA year of Sports Education would've been better than a year of Diesel Power.
ReplyDeleteIs this the same show where Piper is supposed to protect Goldberg from the nWo and was told to not let go, thus resulting in the non-finish since Bret couldn't get the pin?
ReplyDeleteI agree with that. I think the whole 'I find it hard to watch Benoit matches' is actually self important crap from the person saying it - unless they knew the family, were friends and colleagues or somehow involved in their lives personally.
ReplyDeleteOf course people can be disgusted by what he did, or find it tragic what happened to him to get to that point in the first place - or a combination of both. But I think it's a self regarding act saying to people 'Look at me. Look how much I care, look how much I feel. A complete stranger did a wicked thing and now I am so angry/sad/emotionally distressed [delete where applicable] that I can no longer watch them perform perfect choreography with a Japanese anime superhero'.
You're right. Murder is totally relative and just a matter of severity.
ReplyDelete(lol)
I had a similar awkward moment when I started working at the Dahmer & Bundy Meat Packing And Distribution warehouse.
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence sounds like WCW 2000 in a nutshell.
ReplyDeleteChris Kanyon. I've found it very hard to sit through hardcore gay porn ever since. Sorry, difficult, I've found it very difficult.
ReplyDeleteHow did "Really?" make it to 2015?
ReplyDeleteHe was important in the sense that, before him, the WWWF often looked for ethnic champions that would carry the company and serve as the main drawing card (Bruno, Morales). Graham was the exception, but he was a heel and was never going to be the long-term guy a la Bruno. Backlund proved you didn't need to appeal to a certain ethic group to be a top babyface champ.
ReplyDeleteThat was like two months of his entire run in the company.
ReplyDeleteI want to hear his reaction to Big T in June 2000.
ReplyDeleteI was a big Ahmed fan so it's going to be a bit of happiness and then crushing disappointment.
ReplyDeleteCornette is awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt was from about august until December which is why I specifically said 2011 about six times.
ReplyDeleteYes, and therefore he was not imprisoned. I'm still very comfortable with calling him a killer.
ReplyDeleteEh, I can top that. I have a friend named Richard Ramirez.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is, compared to his late 80's-90's look, early Hogan doesn't look like he was on the gas much at all. I'm sure he was, but he looked almost natural.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, for the most part Backlund's matches were by far the highlights of the house shows from that period. Most of the other matches were just long, boring, tedious affairs.
ReplyDeleteCrushing? What, did he sit on you?
ReplyDeleteYou see, he was quite fat.
Punk's shoot-style comments pretty much always made sense within kayfabe, though.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds right
ReplyDeleteWatching a dude who choked his wife and kid put people into a choke hold during a match is pretty eerie if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI still do the Backlund Wiggle when the occasion calls for it. Never fails to get a laugh, even though no one gets the reference
ReplyDeleteThen again, that dorky, out-of-touch veteran face character of Backlund's made it all the more surprising (and even terrifying) when he completely snapped on Bret Hart and turned heel.
ReplyDeleteNo occasion calls for the Backlund Wiggle. Not even a White Boy Dance Party
ReplyDelete