Tonight, on THIS VERY NETWORK, WWE presents SummerSlam '02 on the live stream at 8:00 PM ET. There are more than a few people that will be watching along, so if you have access, why don't you join in? The card includes Rey Mysterio vs. Kurt Angle, Ric Flair vs. Chris Jericho, Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero, Booker T & Goldust vs. Lance Storm & Christian for the tag team championship, Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Benoit for the IC title, The Undertaker vs Test, Shawn Michaels returns to the ring against Triple H in a street fight, and The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. Helluva show, so check it out.
Nationals/Braves is your Sunday night baseball; Big Brother on CBS; preseason football on the NFL Network has Niners/Ravens followed by Seahawks/Broncos.
Bring whatever you got.
Nationals/Braves is your Sunday night baseball; Big Brother on CBS; preseason football on the NFL Network has Niners/Ravens followed by Seahawks/Broncos.
Bring whatever you got.
It took them 19 innings, but the Tigers came through with another loss.
ReplyDeleteIll be skipping because I'm watching Arrow on Netflix. I also watched this show last week!
ReplyDeleteThat was a really good Summerslam. The Triple H/HBK match was crazy good.
ReplyDeleteI watched all 19 innings of the Sox-Angels last night. 6 1/2 hours I will never get back.
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Stranger!
ReplyDeleteI do wanna add that I loved this Summerslam. WWE hit home runs with several of their second half of 02 PPVS.
ReplyDeleteI still think Scott's rant on this was half-right: Trips and Shawn did more damage to the business in 2002 than that match, awesome as it was, could've healed. Not to mention no one thought Shawn had like 9 mroe years after this.
ReplyDeleteNow you know what it's like to be a Jays fan this year.
ReplyDeleteDamage? Shawn was the only thing that made Raw watchable in 03
ReplyDeleteSo you actually had the choice to go to a Thunder taping?
ReplyDeleteHuh. I'd always thought Thunder tapings were a kind of mobile correctional facility, "Stay in school and don't do drugs, or you'll have to stay for another 2 hours". My mind is blown.
That match was like Shawn never left...
ReplyDelete... scratch that... that match was like Shawn got better every single day in his 4 year layoff.
... and that's coming from a guy that hated Shawn Michaels.
So just watching the end of NXT again on the stream tonight, and how the hell can they not have Zayn & Rose as the final challenges for the Ascension? Talk about a perfect payoff for Zayn's ultimate underdog character that would be.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the issues with baseball. I know that doesn't happen every game, but 6 1/2 hours is an insanely long time to ask someone to commit to one game.
ReplyDeleteProps to the pitchers of both teams for the last half of the game. Talk about shutting the door.
ReplyDeletePayoff? Zayn?
ReplyDeleteCan you tell Mirror Universe Scotsman to not create NPP while you're over there?
So you're saying that they never should have had the match at all?
ReplyDeleteApparently, the Angels were supposed to have post-game fireworks, but as the game dragged on they cancelled them, then about 1/3 of the ballpark emptied.
ReplyDeleteAnd it would've been more watchable if they redistributed talent across both brands better and didn't take the first opportunity to clip Goldberg at the knees.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, but how does that relate to the Summerslam match?
ReplyDeleteIt's cooking up to be Zayn/Rose vs. Sin Cara/Kalisto in a helluva match maybe?
ReplyDeleteDo they dare pull the trigger on Sin Cara/Kalisto as challengers?
You bring the Smackdown Six to Raw and Shawn's still the man. I don't bring any blame to HBK. Had a decent feud with Jericho too.
ReplyDeleteThree day weekend went way to fast. Getting that horrified feeling about work tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAnd people point out that you're still spending a few hours watching basketball or football games, but it doesn't seem like that. I love baseball, but there are times when it feels like nothing is going on.
ReplyDeleteBecause Trips caused damage to the business by continuing to hog the limelight and ride the feud to diminishing returns, particularly in 2004.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that.
ReplyDeleteWell I, in 96, would've eased off Shawn Michaels because of the drug problems, which in hindsight would be a ridiculous decision but at the time it might've seemed good because do you really want "WWF Champion Commits Drug-Fueled Felony Assault in Local Bar" as a NY Times headline? Perspective, people, perspective. Yet a lot of people ripped into Scott for suggesting he use his bad back as a sacrifice to Lesnar to get him over, who was looking questionable in-ring and didn't really find his style until the series with Angle, but was clearly gonna make bank down the line as an absolute monster heel.
ReplyDeleteNow, the only impact we feel from this PPV was what Rey Mysterio gave to this business, which wouldn't have been possible if Angle hadn't actually made him look semi-credible (Not to mention Rey could've Sin Cara'd). And to an extent, it furthered the complex Shawn/Trips thing, but they rode that into the ground eventually anyways.
Coming back to college next week and I have to show up in 9 days for the army inspection.
ReplyDeleteArmy inspection?
ReplyDeleteWhen you're gonna make 18 years old you have to register your name in the army and later confirm the sign, then you can choose if you wanna work in there or not. Since I'm in college they have to let me go. :)
ReplyDeleteMan, I miss the Kurt Angle we used to have before he lost his mind.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe forcing people into the army in a non-dictatorship is a thing. In 2014.
ReplyDeleteThat's good lol.
ReplyDeleteI think this is one of the fastest shows ever.
ReplyDeleteThat's a damn good opener. Man, i almost wanna watch this show again.
ReplyDeleteBrazil has an army?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of flying by?
ReplyDeleteSo those that aren't in college have to go to the Army?
ReplyDeleteThe more I write about TNA, the more I wonder if Vince Russo was instructed by McMahon to destroy his competition. As absurd as it sounds, it is the only logical explanation for how incompetent Russo's booking was.
ReplyDeleteYep.
ReplyDeletemore or less painful than last year, when I remember the Jays were being tipped as AL East favorites?
ReplyDeleteMind you, this season isn't exactly fun at my end either, as a Yankees fan. Stupid Orioles...
TNA announced their 2015 UK tour today.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm addicted to Skyrim. Not sure how many people think its overrated trash, but it just seems like Lord of the Rings done right. Not to mention the game provides a lot of tension and the atmosphere is tremendous, without the stupid Minecraft AUTOSAVE EVERYWHERE LOL bit.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I watched this match recently on... something. Good stuff.
ReplyDelete*Card subject to OUT OF BUSINESS*
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I watched it last week and felt like only a half hour went by and it was already at Michaels and HHH.
ReplyDeleteI'll be one to say this even if it is against the grain but I miss Rey.
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt they'd immediately die with no TV. Just look at that profitable house show business!
ReplyDeleteAll those papered tickets!
ReplyDeleteYou can say No,but if you're working or in college it's easier to get out of that crap..
ReplyDeleteYour winner...and NEW TNA Champi--wait a second...
ReplyDeleteI miss going back and watching all of his stuff before say, 2007.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever read that opinion about Skyrim. Everywhere I've gone, I've seen universal praise. Is it common that Skyrim gets hate?
ReplyDeleteI think Hogan was spy too.
ReplyDeleteThey've filmed SIX WEEKS of tapings!
ReplyDeleteOut of a 10, how excited are you for next week's Summerslam? I'm at about a 6.
ReplyDeleteAs much as NJPW has made tons of great matches this year I think Bryan/HHH is the MOTY.
ReplyDelete5.
ReplyDelete6, also.
ReplyDelete"You tell Eric Bischoff to try and top that match."
ReplyDelete"How's Scott Norton vs. Ice Train sound, Steph!"
I think you confused Eric Young and Magnus with Bryan and HHH
ReplyDeleteAnyone ever watch True Blood? There is a heel faction called The Authority... the leader was just talking about how they must evolve or perish...
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. I think that could get bumped up to *****
ReplyDeleteIt's hilarious reading old TNA reviews where the reviewer is just SHITTING on Eric Young.
ReplyDelete3.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Steph have a fully appointed office (complete with Japanese blinds for quick costume changes!) in a random arena
ReplyDeleteThe EY title reign was so stupid.
ReplyDeleteWell, its popular, so there has to be some form of dissent amongst people who think that popular things are overrated and awful. And to be fair this game is a tad overrated but thats coming from the perspective of someone who rarely plays games in a first person view and is therefore terrible at any form of combat involving blind spots. I've been ambushed by so many wolves on a plain because they just sneak up and theres no way to detect except the noise it makes right before it bites.
ReplyDeleteOther than in Team Canada, his career has been a joke.
ReplyDeleteYes, but the strategy is comprised of letting the enemy get really close and then pulling them into their guard.
ReplyDeleteYou know, for a while, Kurt Angle was the stealth MVP of Summerslam, frequently having some of the best matches on the show -- sometimes quietly, sometimes very clearly.
ReplyDelete2000: WWF title three-way, which was fun, if nothing else.
2001: WWF title match with Austin which was north of four snowflakes, IMO
2002: Rey Mysterio
2003: Brock Lesnar
2004: Eddie Guerrero
2005: A surprisingly good match with Eugene
I was at a 7 or 8 a couple weeks ago. Now I'm at a 5.
ReplyDeleteThat was something that always annoyed me: Authority figures having offices set up in every arena.
ReplyDeleteSummerslam is NEXT WEEK?!
ReplyDeleteShit, I guess I'm a 4 then.
What music is this for Flair? It sounds like a ripoff of his usual theme...
ReplyDeleteOr they needlessly showboat and almost lose to real estate agents, before ass-pulling a victory and then falsely claiming they were handicapped before the confrontation. And then they get broken in two by someone who is significantly less popular.
ReplyDeleteIt's really weird just how quickly Ric Flair melted between 2002 and 2003. He still looks fairly normal here.
ReplyDeleteThat match with Austin would have been an all-timer with a good finish.
ReplyDeleteThey used that theme during his 2002-2005 run. Probably because they didn't want to pay for the other one.
ReplyDelete"Looks and sounds like a human being" Ric Flair is my favorite Ric Flair.
ReplyDeleteYep, he always delivered the goods. Can't think of any match in WWE Kurt bombed in.
ReplyDeletetmnt beat gotg's opening?
ReplyDeletethat's wiggety wiggety whack
Flair looks great here.
ReplyDeleteThey used that for DVD releases. Something to do withe music rights. All that shit makes no sense.
ReplyDelete2.
ReplyDeleteOnly ones that come to mind were the ones that weren't meant to be good. Taz' debut, the Showster, etc.
ReplyDeleterewatching these reminds me that Earthquake was a pretty awesome heel, too. He was built up right by squashing midcarders left and right and then crushing Hogan. He was at least decent in the ring, I've heard in shoot interviews from guys like Bret that working with Tenta was easy. He could cut a decent promo. For what he was, he was really good at it.
ReplyDeleteWell he didn't get himself suspended so he could avoid losing the IC title, and he walked out because Bret beat him up backstage, not because he wanted to get out of losing the tag team champion. As for the knee injury, exactly how do we know he wasn't hurt? Because Bret Hart continually said so?
ReplyDeleteAsshole, yes, but being an asshole and refusing to lose the title are two different things. He's said it numerous times, he could be an asshole, he'd fight with Vince, but at the end of the day he did what Vince wanted him to do.
ReplyDeleteHe probably picked up all that money that was left on the table and used it for this.
ReplyDeleteI could be remembering it wrong, but doesn't Nash say the injury wasn't real on his 1995 Timeline shoot?
ReplyDeleteGuys like 1996 Shawn and (especially) 1995 Nash get way too much flak for "tanking the business" during their runs on top. It's not their fault Vince didn't understand how to book a top babyface during the 90s.
ReplyDeletegotcha
ReplyDeleteAgreed, and once Nash went to WCW and started doing the more realist stuff he pushed for in WWF, and Shawn did the same with DX, they became more successful and entertaining than they were during their face runs. In WCW fans turned on Hogan. Sure, it probably had something to do with his act being old, but it could have been because fans just didn't care for the good guy hero any more. It happened with Bret. When was Sting at his most popular? When he dressed in black and beat people with baseball bats. Realism and the anti-hero were in, Vince was behind the times.
ReplyDeleteThe "Shawn likes the summer's off" comment? I thought he was talking about Shawn taking the six weeks off after WM11 there but I haven't watched it in a while.
ReplyDeleteOr because Shawn didn't know which leg to limp with whenever he was on television when he relinquished the title or at Wrestlemania 13.
ReplyDeleteYeah I used to go along with the "haha Nash was the lowest drawing champ ever! take that Big Lazy!" crowd, until I watched Nash's awesome 95 Timeline. It never occurred to me how badly he got fucked over (changing his character, couldn't beat Bret, Shawn outshining him at Mania, MABEL, etc). His failure is 100% on Vince.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Nash was magnetic as a tweener. If they'd let him be one, and booked him to go over Bret and Shawn strongly things could have been VERY diferent.
ReplyDeleteHow does that prove anything? It was over a month after he gave up the title, maybe it felt good enough that he didn't have to limp? Walking without a limp and having a wrestling match are entirely different things.
ReplyDeleteAnd he didn't have to fake an injury to get out of losing to Bret because I doubt that was going to end up happening anyway. Even in Bret's own book it seems obvious him beating Shawn at WM13 was what he wanted to do, no necessarily what Vince wanted to do.
Yeah, but if it's someone other than Shawn that gets pissed at him working stiff and yells at him it's probably not a big deal and people acknowledge Vader shouldn't have been working stiff on house shows. Personally I like when guys work a little snug, but I don't expect it from them and if Shawn doesn't feel like getting roughed up for real why should he?
ReplyDeleteYup I was in the same boat at this point. I've to enjoy him more now, but as a kid I HATED him.
ReplyDeleteYeah the PTW one with him and Vince is really good. He's insanely calm.
ReplyDeleteYup, in the early 1990s cable TV was still somewhat in it's infancy and you just didn't have the ratings or subscribers to really make it worth putting an SNME on USA.
ReplyDeleteIn 1990 you had about 93 million households with access to NBC and only about 54 million with access to cable -- and only a certain % of that had USA Network on the package (although I think it was pretty ubiquitous on cable packages).
Yeah they pretty much blame the ref. Who was the ref in that match?
ReplyDeleteI went to one in I believe October. It was fun, though I was only ten.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like Bret was Captain jobber himself either. He only ever lost by pin to Yoko, Owen, HBK, and Davey during his singles run from '91-'97.
ReplyDeleteThe yoko loss was due to salt being thrown in his eyes, and the hbk one to me never meant as much as it would if it hadn't been that stupid ironman stip that went no where and having the match restarted.
All that said he was always good though at putting people over even if they didn't pin him.
Austin being the greatest example.
And obviously I get that main eventers aren't suppose to lose that much in that spot. Just funny when ever one main eventer comes down on another for not jobbing more.
Drug addicts are assholes
ReplyDeleteStory at 11
The little jab aside, I give the guy all the credit in the world for turning his life around. Whether it was becoming a father, his faith, or the combo of the two he did a lot of growing up.
ReplyDeleteSavage was really into the long form story as well. Probably the best handled star wrestler of that era. Built up to the belt, beaten by Hogan while making Hogan look good, repackaged, built back up, etc.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's triggered my memory of where I read it. I remember thing it might have been "one of those PWI things", like where they'd never write "Mr. Perfect" and always call him "Curt Hennig", years after the name change. Not that his real name wasn't acknowledged, but, you know.
ReplyDeleteTriple H didn't get bass in his voice until like, 2003. Even when he hit his stride as a heel in 2000 he still had that goofy ass, high pitched New England voice.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think it's both. It's like when Scott once wrote about "TV years" being used as measurement for when they were just too old, rather than their actual age.
ReplyDeleteRey Mysterio, evil foreigner from...San Diego!
ReplyDelete"Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages. Degeneration X proudly brings to you the WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD...the Road Dog Jesse James...the Bad Ass Billy Gunn...the New Age Outlaws!" --recited from memory, please don't sue me.
ReplyDeleteYou didn't like his shakey-shakey knee drop?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was the "wibbly wobbly woogily knee drop"?
ReplyDeleteSay that five times fast.
ReplyDeleteCardinals, too, but they're generally too busy giving themselves self-congratulatory blowjobs.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first wrestling show I ever attended. Seeing Hogan live was great.
ReplyDelete