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Thunder - December 16, 1999

Thunder
Date: December 16, 1999
Location: Mobile Civic Center, Mobile, Alabama
Attendance: 3,889
Commentators: Mike Tenay, Scott Hudson, Juventud Guerrera

Reviewed by Tommy Hall

It's the final show before Starrcade and the big question is how can WCW screw this up even further. In theory we're getting big stars again tonight, but as we saw last week, that means nothing if the longest match is like four minutes and nothing comes from it. Also, how many big names lose heading into the biggest show of the year? Let's get to it.


Here are Sid and Benoit to open the show, apparently having forgotten Sid destroying Benoit at Fall Brawl three months ago. Sid talks about the war with the Outsiders and guarantees that it's a war they can't win. There are no escapes or retreats, but plenty of surrenders. Actually there won't be because you made sure it was a powerbomb match so neither guy has to job.

Benoit talks about Hall's history in ladder matches, while making sure to name drop the WWF as many times as he can. This Sunday, Benoit becomes the new king of the ladder. A challenge is made for a tag match tonight but here are Hennig/Creative Control/La Parka/Shane. Curt says the Outsiders are busy fighting Goldberg/Hart in a House of Pain match tonight, so Benoit and Sid can fight each other or be suspended for six months without pay. Who gave Hennig authority?

Juventud Guerrera comes out for commentary and does two Rock lines before the segment is over. I get the idea here but it's just not that funny.

Sting jumps Diamond Dallas Page for the attack on Monday. Page looks for Sting after a break.

Vampiro vs. Buff Bagwell

For the first time, we hear about Vampiro getting five minutes with Oklahoma if he beats Dr. Death on Sunday. A bad shoulder puts Vampiro down and here's Oklahoma to watch. Vampiro strikes away in the corner but gets slammed down off the top. Buff counters a hurricanrana with a powerbomb but let's look at singer Aaron Neville in the crowd along with the less than 2000 people who paid to get in. A superkick puts Buff on the floor but Vampiro has to glare at Oklahoma, which brings in Jerry Only and Williams for a standoff. As they fight, Oklahoma gets in a barbecue bottle shot, setting up the Blockbuster for the pin.

Rating: D. This was another waste of time with the match just being there as a backdrop for the Oklahoma/Williams/Misfits nonsense. But at least we got to see the barbecue spot, and that's funny because it's something Jim Ross done and Jim Ross being himself is funny in some way I guess. Right?

Vampiro gets covered in barbecue sauce to continue the unfunny joke.

Prince Iaukea and Paisley don't have much to say. Literally, Prince's new thing is he doesn't talk.

The Artist Form of Prince Iaukea vs. Evan Karagias

Non-title and Evan now has Spice with him. Well that's an upgrade. Juvy says this will be the jabroni match of the week. Jot that down: a champion is a jabroni. Prince points at Evan so Evan twists the finger back. Some right hands set up a springboard cross body for two on Prince but Iaukea dropkicks him out to the floor. Cue Madusa to fight with Spice because this show can't have a five minute match without someone coming to the ring. Paisley gets beaten up as well as Evan hits a missile dropkick on Prince. He tries to break up the girls though and Iaukea grabs a rollup for the pin, three days before a title defense.

Madusa slaps Evan post match so he leaves with Spice.

Page and Sting go at it in the back when another Sting comes up to go after the original Sting. It's clearly Luger, but in case it wasn't obvious enough, Page shouts LUGER as the fake Sting leaves.

Jim Duggan/Midnight vs. Asya/Perry Saturn

Shane sits in on commentary. The guys start things off with Duggan cranking on the arm and putting on a chinlock maybe 45 seconds into the match. Back up and Duggan starts a clubberin before clotheslining Saturn into the corner. It's off to the girls with Midnight dropkicking her down so it's off to Saturn for MAN ON WOMAN VIOLENCE! Where would we be without that?

Saturn hammers away in the corner and scores with a suplex as Harlem Heat comes down. The girls collide and it's back to the guys with Duggan coming in for his old 80s offense. Everything breaks down and Midnight is sent to the floor, but Stevie throws her right back in. Shane comes in and clotheslines Saturn by mistake so Dean brings in the 2x4, only to have Duggan take it away and nail Saturn for the pin.

Rating: C-. Somehow, that's 7:20 worth of wrestling but even worse, it's probably as good as this show is going to have. The amount of time helped it a bit, but the problem this company has isn't the lack of good wrestling but the lack of wrestling period. It's very telling that I'm so starved for actual wrestling on these shows that a thirty second run from Duggan, who was a total brawler for most of his career, was one of the best parts of either Thunder or Nitro this week.

The Revolution beats down Duggan but Aaron Neville and Booker T. make the save. Was Neville really necessary there? WWF had Mike Tyson the year before this, but WCW has some country singer in his late 50s at this point.

David Flair screams at Gene Okerlund for no logical reason.

Sting swings his ball bat and looks for Luger.

Hardcore Title: Norman Smiley vs. David Flair

Norman, in Alabama football gear, uses a trashcan to block an early crowbar shot. They trade trashcan shots, followed by Norman's spinning slam. David breaks up the spanking dance with a trashcan lid to the head but Meng comes out and destroys David's teddy bear, sending Norman running away for.......wait for it.......a countout in a Hardcore Title match. Since that's against the rules, doesn't that mean that this match is still going on over fifteen years later?

Smiley runs from the arena.

Sting wants Luger out here right now because he knows it was him under that mask. Cue Luger, still dressed as Sting, for a beating from the real version. Juvy thinks it's Ric Flair (Black Scorpion reference?) as Luger blocks the third Stinger Splash by raising a boot. Liz pulls the bat away from Luger, allowing Sting to Rack him (there's a rarity). That knocks Liz down though, allowing Luger to get in some cheap shots with the bat on Sting before running away.

Post break, Sting doesn't want medical help.

Luger drives away. Bye.

The Wall vs. Steve Williams

Oklahoma jumps in on commentary because what else is he going to do? Wall's shoulder block is stopped by the powers of AMERICA before Williams hammers away with right hands and a slam. Williams charges into a boot and let's cut to Chavo Guerrero selling stuff in the crowd. The fans chant for Chavo as Berlyn chases Oklahoma off and nails Williams with some foreign object for the DQ.

Rating: D. So not only are we seeing Ferrara as the Jim Ross impersonator, but now we have to sit through Steve Williams getting matches on TV? He's fun to watch for a power guy, but you would think there are other people who could perform the role just as well. Like, the Wall for example?

Wall and Berlyn argue.

Nitro recap.

Buzzkill has fans sign a petition. He doesn't actually say for what, but hopefully it's his release so he can go be Brad Armstrong in the indies.

Curt Hennig vs. Dustin Rhodes

Before the match, Dustin calls Jeff Jarrett slap happy and promises to be his daddy Sunday night. Hennig jumps him to start but Dustin slams him right back down. This brings Shane inside but he gets caught in the corner for Shattered Dreams. Curt hammers away again and there go the lights. JUST LET THEM WRESTLE! Some guy dressed like Seven flies to the ring with a guitar and nails Dustin for the DQ. My goodness. You have Curt Hennig and Dustin Rhodes and think they need a screwy finish? Those two could wrestle a passable match in their sleep but they get two and a half minutes and a run-in? Really?

Jarrett (like it was going to be anyone else) and Hennig destroy Dustin post match.

After a break and some ads, Jeff Jarrett calls the Rhodes Family a bunch of slapnuts.

Chris Benoit/Sid Vicious vs. Creative Control/Curt Hennig/Shane/La Parka

Sid wants the Powers That Be to come out here and fight like men. The twins go after Benoit to start as Sid mauls the other three. Benoit comes back on the twins as Sid beats Hennig up on the floor. The twins get beaten up by Benoit's ladder but Gerald saves Patrick from the Crossface. Curt gets back in and nails Benoit with the ladder and that's a DQ. Nice two minute seven man handicap match.

Sid and Benoit get beaten down. What this has to do with or makes me want to see Sid vs. Nash and Benoit vs. Hall is beyond me. But at least the heels get to look strong and heels are cool right?

Piper is going to be the gatekeeper for the cage match tonight. Oh yay.

Kanyon vs. Diamond Dallas Page

Why this isn't on Starrcade instead of Page vs. David Flair is another of life's great mysteries. Guerrera calls Kanyon Shampoo instead of Champagne. The Champagne character works fine as Kanyon being in a movie and letting it go to his head makes sense, especially when you consider how minimal his contribution was (he was a stunt man) compared to all of the wrestlers who starred in the movie and don't act all stuck up. Now of course that wasn't intentional in this company, but it's a nice touch. Anyway, Page comes out to talk trash of his own but gets gum spat in his face to get things going.

Biggs does commentary as Page hits a neckbreaker but can't hit an early Diamond Cutter. A Rock Bottom gets two for Page until Kanyon comes back with a lot of choking. Kanyon loads up a tilt-a-whirl but Page busts out a headscissors of all things to take Kanyon down. That's a new one for him. The announcers babble on about green cards as Kanyon stomps away in the corner. Page comes back with a clothesline and some punches but Biggs gets up on the apron, only to hit his client by mistake. There's the Diamond Cutter but David Flair comes in with the crowbar to knock Page silly and give Kanyon the win.

Rating: D+. Not a horrible match but the run-in continues to screw with whatever good stuff this show could have going for it. At least Kanyon has a new character which works well enough for him, but what has happened to Diamond Dallas Page recently? The guy has gone from World Champion to just there in about eight months.

Bam Bam Bigelow runs in but gets laid out by a champagne bottle.

Piper beats up Creative Control with a pipe.

Bret walks to the ring until the director yells CUT.

Nash can't find Hall. Uh oh.

Starrcade ad.

A medic runs into the Outsiders' locker room, apparently due to an attack on Scott Hall.

Tag Team Titles: Outsiders vs. Goldberg/Bret Hart

The Outsiders are defending and this is a House of Pain match, which means a cage with a roof on it but you win by handcuffing your opponents to the cage. In other words, it's a way to keep people from having to job. Roddy Piper is gatekeeper but Creative Control and Jeff Jarrett beats him down during the entrances. Nash and Hart fight in the ring as Goldberg runs out and attacks Jarrett and the twins as Piper shrugs off a beating, including a series of lead pipe shots, to clean house.

Goldberg rips the cage door off so he and Piper (now with the lead pipe) can come in. Jeff follows them in with guitars for Goldberg and Piper but Goldberg shrugs it off and spears Jeff down. Nash gets the pipe and hits Goldberg, allowing Jeff (fine ten seconds after the spear) to help chain Goldberg and Hart to the cage, presumably retaining the titles. Piper gets chained as well and Nash and Jarrett attack with the pipe before leaving. Goldberg rips the handcuffs from the cage to end the show.

No match of course but WOW. Nash just beat the main event of Starrcade in less than three minutes. Piper no sold pipe shots, Goldberg no sold a guitar shot, Jarrett no sold a spear, and then Goldberg no sold a beating with a pipe and ripped the handcuffs off. The World Title match wasn't mentioned throughout this mess and basically the entire thing was a way to blow off a meaningless TV angle instead of focusing on the main event of Starrcade. Finally, well done on bringing that cage in. I'm so glad WCW spent the money to have it shipped over for a five minute appearance.

Overall Rating: F-. We are three days before Starrcade. Think about that as you look at the card and you'll understand why this is a failure. Vince Russo has turned this company into a show where I'm looking forward to Janitor Jim Duggan appearances because I might get thirty seconds of brawling disguised as wrestling. That's what I've sunk to after all these messes over the last few months and now I get to see the Granddaddy of Them All dragged through the mud. It can't......it can't.......it's going to get worse isn't it?


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Comments

  1. Oh, God, your Starrcade rant is going to be utterly epic to read.

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  2. The Ghost of Faffner HallMay 9, 2015 at 8:34 PM

    I'm still waiting for the day when, instead of kicking off each rant with "Let's get to it," you open with, "Let's get it over with."

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  3. Hennig/Bigelow vs Hart/Dustin 45 minute tag match could have taken up that same meaningless tv time and would be a match still hunted down today... instead Russo gave us that

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  4. Only Russo could screw-up the build to Hart/Goldberg

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  5. Aquaman...my favorite Entourage joke in the series.

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  6. Leighton Meester as Justine Chapman was uber hot. I don't think they ever hooked up.

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  7. I could never get into Entourage. It's different from Seinfeld, Curb, or It's Always Sunny - I''m actually supposed to care about these assholes, not laugh about them? Bleh.

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  8. Macklin, Man Without FearMay 9, 2015 at 9:48 PM

    Johnny Drama and Ari are legends. Otherwise, fuck those guys. Love the show but it's mainly because of Ari and Drama.

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  9. Reese is still a babe.

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  10. Macklin, Man Without FearMay 9, 2015 at 9:50 PM

    She's so great as Dana Gordon. One of the many great Ari punching bags.

    "I still have the pictures from Cancun. I'm going to start a website at iamahollywoodexecutivewhore dot com"

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  11. to each their own I guess http://www.profightdb.com/img/wrestlers/thumbs-600/af30f895cfreese.png

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  12. Macklin, Man Without FearMay 9, 2015 at 9:52 PM

    It bummed me out so much when Jeremy Piven unleashed Summerfest on us because I'm such a fan of Ari Gold. Massive disappointment.

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  13. Ew really? I think he's awful

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  14. The very first WWF show I ever attended. Memories...

    http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/88.htm



    Sika pinned Lanny Poffo

    Sam Houston defeated Danny Davis

    Demolition Ax pinned Ken Patera after Mr. Fuji tripped Patera from the floor

    Jim Duggan pinned King Harley Race

    Don Muraco pinned Butch Reed

    WWF Women's Tag Team Champions Leilani Kai & Judy Martin defeated the Jumping Bomb Angels

    The One Man Gang defeated Bam Bam Bigelow via count-out



    Only thing is was that last match from my memory ended with a Bigelow roll up for the win.

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  15. Macklin, Man Without FearMay 9, 2015 at 9:53 PM

    Jeremy Piven or Ari Gold? Your response here could dictate the future of all interactions we have going forward.

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  16. Macklin, Man Without FearMay 9, 2015 at 9:54 PM

    I hadn't watched an episode since 2011 before restarting a few months ago on HBOGO.

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  17. Macklin, Man Without FearMay 9, 2015 at 9:55 PM

    Phew. We're fine. Ari Gold is probably the best thing Piven has done. I've never seen him in anything else and have no desire to lol. But he did have Ari Gold.

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  18. My first live show - MSG 3/16/81


    Yosiiaki Yatsu pinned Baron Mikel Scicluna at 8:39 with a small package
    SD Jones pinned Johnny Rodz at 9:41 with a diving headbutt after Rodz missed a move off the middle turnbuckle
    Moondog Rex pinned Rick McGraw at 6:38 with a shoulderbreaker after avoiding a charge in the corner
    Dominic DeNucci pinned Larry Sharpe at 6:53 with a small package
    Stan Hansen defeated WWF World Champion Bob Backlund (w/ Arnold Skaaland) via count-out at 12:02 after the champion suffered the loaded lariat on the ring apron, knocking him to the floor; after the bout, Backlund cleared the ring of his opponent
    WWF IC Champion Pedro Morales pinned Moondog King at 4:48 with a roll up as King charged at him; prior to the bout, Capt. Lou Albano escorted King ringside
    Andre the Giant defeated Sgt. Slaughter via disqualification at 7:58 when Slaughter grabbed the referee and used him as a shield when Andre charged at him
    WWF Tag Team Champion Rick Martel pinned the Hangman at 15:37 with a flip and roll up
    WWF Tag Team Champion Tony Garea pinned Bulldog Brower at 10:56 with a roll up
    Tony Atlas pinned Hulk Hogan at 7:08 after crotching Hogan on the top rope; Hogan had his foot on the middle rope during the cover but the referee failed to notice; after the bout, Hogan attacked referee Dick Kroll, bodyslammed him, and gave him a legdrop

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  19. Lol! A Carl Winslow impersonation in 2015!

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  20. Adam "Colorado" CurryMay 9, 2015 at 10:00 PM

    He was pretty funny in PCU.

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  21. My first show. I was like four, but I remember it because it was an auspicious show even if I don't remember anything from the show.

    The very last St. Louis Wrestling Club Show, 4 Jan 1985




    Six Man Tag Team Match

    Dave Peterson, Marty Jannetty & Mike Bond defeat Gary Royal, Sheik Abdullah & TG Stone




    Singles Match

    Ken Timbs defeats Art Crews




    Tag Team Match

    Bulldog Brown & Rufus R. Jones defeat Mr. Pogo & Roger Kirby




    Singles Match

    Wahoo McDaniel defeats Terry Funk




    Singles Match

    Bob Backlund vs. Harley Race - Draw




    Singles Match

    Kerry von Erich defeats Buzz Tyler




    NWA World Heavyweight Title Match

    Ric Flair (c) vs. King Kong Brody - No Contest

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  22. Is this the reason why they had the steel cage rematch that I saw on WWE Network?

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  23. That's a lot of star power

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  24. Yes. Backlund & Hansen traded countout wins to set up that match. By June, Hansen was gone, never to work for the WWE again.

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  25. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but it really DOES seem plausible that Turner was using WCW as one big tax write off.

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  26. St. Louis Wrestling Club shows always had huge stars for their monthly shows. Since it wasn't really a territory, Mr. Muchnick made all his money on his monthly Arena show and he'd bring in all the stars from NWA, AWA and sometimes WWWF.

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  27. Stranger in the AlpsMay 9, 2015 at 10:04 PM

    A man had so much work assigned to him, that he got permission from his boss to be cloned. The clone got to work in the office, while the man worked from home. One day, his boss calls him at home and says that he needs to come down to the office and do something about his clone. The clone apparently was cussing at his coworkers. The man shows up at the office, confronts the clone about his behavior, and the clone cusses him out also. Finally, the man had enough and attacked the clone and threw him out the thirteenth story window.


    Police showed up and charged the man with making an obscene clone fall.

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  28. Adam "Colorado" CurryMay 9, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    It's not really a conspiracy theory at all, companies do shit that the time. Why else would TNA still exist?

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  29. Adam "Colorado" CurryMay 9, 2015 at 10:14 PM

    Nah, I bet Bischoff would have found a way to fuck it up too. He fucked up everything else involving Bret.

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  30. Adam "Colorado" CurryMay 9, 2015 at 10:15 PM

    I hadly remember that show? Is that were the nWo Silver gets started?

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  31. "so Benoit and Sid can fight each other or be suspended for six months without pay."


    And Vince Russo wonders why stipulations meant DICK!

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  32. Has jason mantzoukas ever been on a show he hasn't stole the scene in.

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  33. Batista's smirk and now as Groot is killing all those people on Ronans ship always makes me laugh.

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  34. I'm making cabbage rolls tomorrow.

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  35. That's the Nitro after. Though to be fair on the next Thunder, they show a bunch of clips where Russo was at least planning ahead from back in late October with Bret Hart & NWO by showing Bret Hart being the benefactor of MANY Outsiders run ins. Too bad the endgame was just an NWO rehash.

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  36. LOL, I actually forgot Ari fired the wrong guy regarding the Aquaman news of James Cameron directing.

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  37. Owens is a much better talker and more believable in his role, Rollins always sounds like he's just playing a character.

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  38. That is exactly what he looks like though. He probably never got asked for his autograph at Indy shows since he blended in with the crowd so well.

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  39. Bischoff isn't great, but at least he's somewhat competent as a booker. Sure him booking Goldberg v Bret may not have set the world on fire, but I'm pretty sure it would have been better than Russo's alternative.

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  40. "Vince Russo has turned this company into a show where I'm looking forward to Janitor Jim Duggan appearances "

    Awesome. =)

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  41. Isn't Owens more of a Vader type monster?

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  42. Owens to Vader is like comparing Roman Reigns to Kane.

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  43. I saw a house show "street fight match" (no hadokens,though) with Rollins vs. Cena the last time they were near me. Rollins had the mic during the whole match. He'd insult Cena for 3 minutes,then insult the crowd,then do like a clothesline.
    In this 20 minute 1 on 1 match he probably wrestled 4 minutes,and spent the rest of the time on witty put downs like " I don't suck,it's YOU PEOPLE that suck!" And "Cena,you're stupid."
    I know he turns it up for TV but he came across as super lazy that night. Maybe he was hurt or something.

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  46. I think that is just the house show main event style sometimes. One show I went to, the main event was Kurt Angle Vs Brock Lesnar, and in the 15 minute match Angle had Brock in a body scissors for about half of it.

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  47. I honestly don't think he will fuck him up

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  48. He's kind of like a mixture of Brock Lesnar/Mick Foley trapped in Tommy Dreamer's body, I could believe him beating the shit out of Cena because he just gives off the aura of an ass kicker even if he's not the biggest guy around

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  49. Rusev got the dominant monster push though.

    That's a point in his favor not against

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  50. Yes, yes it is.

    that is my favourite compilation Dvd ever. The whole Generico feud (until they picked back up in 2012) and beyond.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hmm I don't know I think Rollins is 100% believable as the whiney asshole whenever he takes the mic. His voice suits his character perfectly and he speaks as confidently as anyone on the roster now. I thought Owens was a little clunky in that sit-down interview with Cole but obviously improve over time

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  52. The "pissed off garbage man" description reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7gIpuIVE3k

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  53. Dominating over midcarders, sure, but guys like that don't dominate main-eventers.

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  54. I'll admit I don't know much about corporate taxes...but for this theory to have weight, I feel like someone should explain how an entire unprofitable entity could be a "tax write off". How does that work?

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  55. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMay 10, 2015 at 12:02 PM

    Owens seems like an example of a guy who is better off as a "big fish in a small pond". I hope he gets to superstardom on the main roster, but I hope he's not a more talented version of the ECW approach: he's a believable monster on that scale, but loses his aura when he makes the main roster

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