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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Smarks



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Graham
Date: Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 11:37 PM
Subject: Great wrestling visuals (re: the rebirth of Brock Lesnar)

I just rewatched Summerslam and the greatest highlight for the match for me took place after Brock's victory.

With Punk writhing in pain on the canvas, a spent Lesnar crawled over to the upper right corner not to aid Paul Heyman but to retrieve the folded steel chair that insured his victory. He held it up on its side and rested his forehead on the metal. The camera cuts back to show Punk clutching his leg, selling the damage done.

Then Dunn in the truck quickly cuts back to an extreme close up of Lesnar's profile, head still digging into the steel chair...smiling like a gargoyle.
http://s980.photobucket.com/user/matthewpatrickgraham/media/Lesnarshot_zps7d9e2a34.png.html

What a haunting, all-telling, terrific shot.

Got me thinking though. What do you think are some of the best visuals or shots since in the last thirty years of the business aside of Austin bleeding in the sharpshooter?

One shot that doesn't get enough love is of Punk blowing a kiss at Vince before taking to the crowd with his newly won WWE title at MITB '11.

You know, you may not think it doesn't get any love, but try poking around a wrestling msg board, you'll see it about 30 times in 2 posts.

For me, I love the shot of Vince looking over the apron, covered in blood from WMXIX.

As you mentioned, Stone Cold with the blood and such is probably the greatest of all time. Hell, it made it to a t-shirt. 

Comments

  1. The MegaPowers shaking hands for the first time.

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  2. The Outsiders leaning on each other with the WCW titles
    Austin holding up the belt at WM 14
    HBK bowing to the title at WM 12

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  3. A few randoms off the top of my head..

    Savage holds the ropes open for Elizabeth at WM7

    Anytime Vince gets stretchered off after a beating and is giving the middle finger to everybody as he's wheeled up the aisle (I believe he did it at WM vs. Hogan and Vs. HBK)

    Rock's face when he reads the 3:16 on his pager

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  4. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 21, 2013 at 3:24 PM

    "For me, I love the shot of Vince looking over the apron, covered in blood from WMXIX."


    This, esp. the evil fucking look on his face.


    Also, Vince's smirk after his hood is removed and yells "IT'S ME, AUSTIN!"

    Another would be Eddie and Stevie Richards hugging in the middle of the confetti'd ring at WMXX

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  5. AJ's butt when leaning on the apron.

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  6. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 21, 2013 at 3:25 PM

    Anytime AJ's midriff is onscreen.

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  7. I was just about to say, Vince peering over the apron slowly with the sick grin. So funny, but legendary!

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  8. Does Cornette face count? That and the Man Mountain Rock picture gag on Wrestlecrap, always makes me laugh.

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  9. I like that picture of Hillbilly Jim where he's in the middle of his hoedown dance with the horse shoe swinging around his neck and a huge smile on his face. I believe it was used for his WWE Legends trading card. It's such a great reminder of how fun and joyful professional wrestling can be.

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  10. Undertaker's face when HBK kicked out of the Tombstone @ WM25

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  11. Bobby Roode eying the bottle before he smashes it of James Storm to win the TNA title

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  12. I can remember a moment from TNA of all places. Christy Hemme being carried off by Lance Hoyt, blood trickling down from her nose. She had just been battered into mush by Kong and for some reason that image has always stuck with me...even when TNA itself has failed to do that overall.

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  13. OH, that was good...

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  14. After the Hardys/Dudleys tables match at Royal Rumble 2000, the Dudleys laying in the wreckage of the tables, shaking hands.
    The look on Edge's face when he handed over the first MITB contract and pointed at the ring.

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  15. Going old school here:


    Wrestlemania VI, with Warrior on the ring ropes posing with the Hogan head in the background was always an awesome visual.


    Hogan-Andre standing toe-to-toe at the start of the WM3 match.


    Savage dejectedly riding the ring cart back after losing the title at WM3 also.


    I remember, the day after WM2, the Daily News back cover was Hogan, standing on the middle rope, with the cage behind him and Bundy falling from the turnbuckle, before Hogan climbed the cage to win the match. That was an awesome shot and to this day, I can't believe that made the back page of one of NY's biggest tabs.

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  16. Yeah, dude, I don't know either.

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  17. The best part is, if his Art of Wrestling episode is any indication, the real man isn't all that different

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  18. Yeah I thought that shot looked awesome in the VT that kicked off Raw

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  19. Stranger in the AlpsAugust 21, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    Doink the Clown going from laughing to evil glare and back to laughing again. So much character depth in just a few seconds worth of facial tics. Also, the constant freeze-framing of Marty Jannetty going through the Barber Shop window.

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  20. The way HBK collapses at Mania 19 after Jericho kicks him in the nuts. He has this look on his face and body position that scream "Are you kidding me? You met your idol on the biggest stage and this is what you do?"

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  21. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 21, 2013 at 4:04 PM

    'One shot that doesn't get enough love is of Punk blowing a kiss at
    Vince before taking to the crowd with his newly won WWE title at MITB
    '11.'


    that actually gets lots of love

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  22. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 21, 2013 at 4:05 PM

    i always have loved at wm iii when steamboat baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaackbody drops macho over the top rope and then collapses to his knees in pure exhaustion. something about it just screams valiant effort, fighting spirit, etc

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  23. Probably the best of the past 10 years, even over Punk blowing a kiss.

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  24. Triple H's seething anger after Orton RKO'd Steph in the build-up to their match at WM25 has always been one of my favorites... even if the ensuing match DID suck ass.

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  25. From one of my favourite feuds ever, HHH/Batista:


    They had that Raw in Japan, pre-thumbs down, and Batista/Flair helped HHH beat Edge in the main event. Afterwards they're doing the celebrating in the ring, Batista holding HHH's arm (which is holding the World title), and HHH notices Batista is looking at the belt, and then their eyes meet. Great camera work to capture both guys' expressions at exactly the right time.

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  26. Also, my favorite of Team ECK's five-second poses: The Jug Band.

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  27. Some that I love:
    Jim Cornette hanging from the scaffold at Starrcade '86
    The Hogan/Andre faceoff at WM 3
    Savage holding up Elizabeth after winning the WM 4 Tournament
    Edge spearing Jeff Hardy at WM X-7
    Shawn Michaels "I'm sorry, I love you"
    Punk sitting on the stage while giving the "Pipebomb" promo

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  28. I also LOVED the start of Austin/Bret at Mania (my favourite match), where the camera is looking over Austin's right shoulder as Bret walks up to him to start the match. It seems like they're gonna do a pre-match staredown ala Bret/Shawn from the previous year. Austin looks to his right so now you can see the side of his face, then suddenly looks straight and spears Bret down to start the match. Awesome.

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  29. "Elizabeth was mine, big man, before she was yours!"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSb1Ed9Jwug


    We all know Elizabeth cheated with Ric. The picture is all the proof I needed. Wooo!! ;-)

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  30. The classic second replay shot of Foley as he's falling from the Cell.

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  31. Vince peeking over the apron, covered in blood, with those psycho eyes... both my best friend and I still fall into hysterical laughter when we see that visual. That cameraman deserved a HUGE raise.

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  32. Bret Hart limping as he raises his second WWF championship at WMX

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  33. My personal favorite shot/use of a camera in wrestling history, from Backlash 1999:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NedQJLXGTkE

    A tremendous visual, and the ONLY time I've ever seen wrestling play with the camera/perspective in such a way. It's a pretty simple set-up/reveal, but highly effective.

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  34. Not a huge moment now, but at the time. ECW. Taz has destroyed everyone and is full on heel. Sabu has been gone for over a year while Taz trashes him. Finally November to Remember, lights go out and come on to reveal Sabu pointing to the sky and Taz totally expecting it and standing in his arms folded pose.

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  35. I didn't see the actual footage, so I don't know much context, but early in Angle's TNA career I saw a picture of him facing the camera, and Samoa Joe was behind him looking like he was about to beat the everloving shit out of him.


    Viking Space Lord Brock Lesnar kicking Cena's fat, stupid hat out of the ring.


    The shot of Heyman from Raw a couple weeks ago when Lesnar's music hit and you saw the stage as he arrived over Heyman's shoulder.


    The "Slowly I Turn" bit when the ECW side if the invasion first happened.

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  36. Backlash. Hogan vs Triple H... Hogan in the ring while Triple H doing his water spit thing with Hogan standing in the background

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  37. Victor Rodriguez JrAugust 21, 2013 at 7:13 PM

    Rocky being stretchered out while holding up the ic title

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  38. Scream09_HartKillerAugust 21, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    I don't know if there's a picture of it, but Vince at Wrestlemania 15, right when Austin got the Vince - he looks distraught. I think Foley roughed him up before that, Austin won the title - just really selling how defeated he was.

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  39. An old one - the look on Magnum TA's face after the "I Quit" match against Tully Blanchard, when TB is writhing in pain and fear on the mat as TA approaches him.

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  40. Vince being stretched away after being beat down and using the last bit of his energy to give the middle finger

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  41. Jake's snake chewing on Macho Man's arm while he was tied up in the ropes. That always creeped me right out. Savage's selling was legendary.

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  42. I didnt read all of the posts, but mines is when Rocky and Austin lock eyes in Royal RUmble 2001.


    You knew at that point SHIT. WAS. ON.

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  43. From TNA: Angle's debut. He headbutts Joe and works the crowd and Joe rises up behind him with blood running down his face.

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  44. After Jake Roberts had his snake bite Randy Savage and they carted his twitching carcass out on a stretcher, Jake Roberts dropped to the canvas and looked at his pet Cobra who was standing up and smiling at him. Jake smiled back.

    http://s18.postimg.org/ps6nei6mx/snake.png


    I paid hundreds to have that photo ripped from a quality source, cleaned up, enlarged and printed into a 4x4 poster that is currently in storage. That shows how iconic that image is in my mind, ok?

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  45. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 21, 2013 at 8:59 PM

    I love the way he just slinks against Jericho like he'd been shot. I miss HBK's sell jobs.

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  46. I was thinking along those lines, but when he was going to shove the broken piece of chair in to TB on more time and then just tosses it away with disgust- but the second before he makes that decision, TB is giving the greatest example of how to look like a cowardly heel in history.

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  47. The Love-Matic Grampa!August 21, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    One of my favorite angles, possibly even my all-time favorite (it's a tossup with Marty going through the "Barber Show" window). That snake was one heck of a worker, too.

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  48. HBK climbing up the Undertaker with his last ounce of strength even as UT is begging him to stay down (right before HBK give UT the throat slash).


    Steamboat using his last ounce of strength and an assist from George Steel to raise the IC title belt at WM3


    Austin prepping the enema tube for Vince in his tighty whities- I know it is not "iconic" but it really encapsulates what made the era so much fun.


    There is a shot from an old PWI where Tiger Mask is in the air and Magnum TA is about to catch him in a Belly-To-Belly at the first Crockett Cup- I have always thought it was one of the best match finishes ever.


    It is taboo now, but Benoit celebrating at the end of WM20 with Eddy in the ring behind him,


    Right after Austin had saved Stephanie from getting married to the Undertaker and she hugged him, and he refuses to hug her back.


    Ric Flair celebrating on the shoulders of other wrestlers at Starrcade 83.


    Hogan posing in the ring as a dejected Andre rides away in the ring cart at WM3

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  49. To name a few:
    Hogan and Warrior in the 1990 Rumble.
    Warrior Running in at Wrestlemania 8.
    Rocky Holding the belt up from the stretcher at Wrestlemania 14.
    Vince giving the finger from the stretcher at WM22, or giving the finger to Austin in the cage match.

    HBK kicking out of the tombstone at WM25, Undertaker's face.

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  50. * Undertaker doing the zombie situp while in the Vice at WM29....we just got the image for a second, but it was worth it to see UT's mad-as-hell face and Punk looking terrified

    * Eddie after winning the title, jumping into the stands to celebrate with the fans, and then hugging his mom (who's legit crying) and Mondo at ringside

    * Edge twitching post-match, after having pinned Foley via the flaming table spear at WM22

    * When Foley reintroduces Cactus Jack prior to the 2000 Royal Rumble, Triple H is in the ring and instantly went from cocky smirk to just open-mouthed horror

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  51. Oh, also, Hogan and Rock agreeing to their match at WM18. The two guys going face to face, and the red-hot Chicago crowd going from 'Rocky! Rocky!' to "Hogan! Hogan"

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  52. Sid on the barbershop before Wrestlemania 8, cutting an epic heel promo to nuclear heat... with a face full of shaving foam.


    What always cracks me up is when he hits the shelf with the chair, the cannister flies back and smashes him in the face, followed by the camera slowly panning down to look at Beefcake's hedgetrimmers. Almost as if to say "How could anyone be so evil that they would fuck up this poor man's barbershop..."

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  53. agree. especially as a kid, I was a bit terrified because to me Sid looked like the biggest monster ever in that segment.

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  54. related one: WrestleMania 2000. the replay of the spot when Jeff Hardy jumped from the ladder in the aisle.



    the initial shot was great but the replay in wide angle with Hardy posing on the ladder was absolutely breathtaking for me because then you actually realize how high up he really was.

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  55. Yeah, here it is:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWZa8G2boSA


    From 2:40 onwards was just crazy, but it wouldn't have been as crazy had he not had all that crap all over his face. It just made him look like a complete nutcase.

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  56. Got that "Slow Turn" was awesome. I remember not realizing that all those guys were ECW, and then when they stopped I was like "hey, wait a minute... OH MY FUCKING GOD THOSE ARE ALL---"

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  57. My favourite was when they were doing some sit-down "nobody notices the camera" thing backstage, and HHH gets up to do something. And Batista is just sitting there, and notices the World Title left on the seat. Then just picks it up and STARES at it. The crowd slowly built up their energy from the moment he looked at the thing, to basically going "OH YES THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT GUY WE WILL CHEER" when he picks it up. Brilliant work there.

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  58. His hat is fat?

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  59. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 22, 2013 at 6:09 AM

    If it means so much, why is it in storage?

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  60. 10 - 1 it is because of a girl...

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  61. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 22, 2013 at 6:12 AM

    I love that instead of just doctoring the photo, they actually took the photo, so when you look at them side by side you can tell things are different.

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  62. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 22, 2013 at 6:16 AM

    Haha. Oh man, I don't know why I didn't think of that.

    I swear, anytime I hear of a guy getting rid of his comic book/action figure/wrestling memorabilia/other sports memorabilia collection, it's always, ALWAYS because of a woman. Yet you never hear, not ONCE, of a guy making a girl do that. Except for when Susan had that doll that looked like George's mom.

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  63. I made Sara get rid of the majority of her unicorn memorabilia and stuffed animals before I bought her a house.


    On the other hand, I willingly dumped off all my old wrestling VHS tapes without persuasion.

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  64. I'll take that last one a step further and say the shot of Edge holding the WWE Championship for the first time. Genuine emotion that he couldn't hold back.

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  65. One that hasn't been mentioned... Triple H after he hits Shawn with the sledgehammer following their SummerSlam '02 match.


    Blood dripping down his face, barely able to stand, and with all the evil intentions in the world... WHAM!

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  66. Lawler's cane shot on Tommy Dreamer's nads, and the scream from it.

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  67. Brock Lesnar screaming, "JUST DIE, EDDIE!" at No Way Out '04. He's so frustrated and angry and it's just a great moment.

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  68. It was a recent one but Daniel Bryan holding the title and smiling through the ropes and thanking his parents. Really set up the knife of Orton cashing in.

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  69. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if Austin doesn't hurt his neck in 1997 he's the greatest of all time in a walk.

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  70. Punk blowing the kiss is one of mine. I mentioned a couple others and some people hit on moments I liked. There was Eddie and Benoit but that's ruined now. A few others:


    Bret/Austin toe-to-toe at Survivor Series 1996. Just got goosebumps when I watched it.
    Eddie Edwards putting the title on Davey Richards at Best in the World 2011. Yeah, I know opinion on Davey has soured (I know mine has) but at the time it was after a great match and it was a great moment.
    Shawn cradling the title like it's his first child at the end of Wrestlemania 12.
    Foley in midair diving towards the fans after his title win.

    Brock with Hogan's blood on his chest.

    Raven on his knees after he returned in NYC, smirking after he won the tag titles with Dreamer.

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  71. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 22, 2013 at 8:46 AM

    Your wife is heavy into Unicorns? Or is this a reference that I'm not getting?

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  72. The very end of the first hell in the cell match. After Shawn gets the pin, the camera zooms in on his bloodied, mangled face as "I think I'm cute...I know I'm sexy..." plays over the PA.

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  73. The snake smiled! That was worth a $200,000 downside guarantee and a year-long reign as WWF Champion right there.

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  74. Yeah, a woman, and I had it made when I was 22 and I'm 29 now, and she knew I had it made when I was 22 and that was part of her argument. So it's in there with my giant British cinema poster for House of 1,000 Corpses and my German bus ad for Devil's Rejects.


    Bitch made me lose my original "The Real World's Champion" Ric Flair poster from 1992, though.

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  75. The Love-Matic Grampa!August 22, 2013 at 8:55 PM

    It actually makes the segment, because a legitimately deranged person in the middle of a fit of rage wouldn't even react to the powder, let alone stop to wipe off their face. Sid played it perfectly.

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  76. and "I'm gonna rearrange your face" (especially in that tone) is pretty terrifying as well.

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  77. I've always been partial to the last image of Brock on top of the Hell in a Cell cage following the brutal match he and Undertaker had. He looked like King Kong up there, like an absolutely unbeatable monster. http://www.wwenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/brock-hiac.jpg

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  78. Oh yeah, that whole scene is great. Triple H cuffed to the ropes and Orton does the creepy kiss to an unconcious Stephanie.

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  79. Yeah I seem to remember a lot of new Champion celebrations, with Fink announcing the winner and Hebner presenting the belt. Shawn at WrestleMania 12, Bret getting his first I-C Title at SummerSlam '91, and unfortunately now,, but Hebner presenting a kneeling, crying Benoit the Big Gold Belt.

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