The SmarK Rant for Monday Night RAW – 07.24.95
Live from Louisville, KY
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jerry Lawler
Meltzer on the Dungeon of Doom this week: “The 7/22 Saturday Night show had perhaps the all-time most poorly-acted and dumbest skit in history. Hulk Hogan visited the Dungeon of Doom. Anyway, they're on the set and Hogan is beamed into the Dungeon by a saying, "Where is this? Where am I?" obviously showing he has the good sense not to waste his time watching his own television show. He and Kevin Sullivan then got in an argument when the really tall guy, who I believe was called The New Warrior (Paul Wight), came through the wall, dressed up like Andre with a new afro and an Andre ring outfit and gave Hogan the legendary Zeus choke and Hogan went right out. To make matters worse, for the rest of the show the announcers never acknowledged what happened, probably due to personal embarrassment, but you were left with the idea Hogan was dead. After that segment, the horrible tag title change where Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck beat Harlem Heat for the straps looked like an All Japan main event. Anyway, they've got Dungeon of Doom segments booked on the Saturday show at least through October, which should make the Saturday show a shoo-in for several Emmy Awards by the end of the year.”
So another new era for RAW, with redone graphics and the iconic RAW letters now forming the entranceway, a look that basically stuck around until the RAW is WAR overhaul in 1997.
Shawn Michaels v. Jimmy Del Ray
I thought the Heavenly Bodies were long gone, but maybe they were doing a one shot deal because they were in SMW country? Also, why is there no SMW on the Network? Shawn is of course fresh off winning the IC title in a ***** match, and in fact Jeff Jarrett and the Roadie both walked out of the promotion immediately after the show. How Roadie managed to get his job back after doing that, I have no idea. I guess Vince REALLY liked him. Shawn puts Del Ray on the floor after an atomic drop and follows with a baseball slide. Back in, Del Ray takes over with a floatover DDT for two. You know, given the time period, I’m wondering why Vince didn’t repackage Dr. Tom Pritchard as an actual wrestling doctor, perhaps one who distributed illicit substances to the other wrestlers. Certainly would have been better than what we got. Del Ray with a neckbreaker for two. He hits the chinlock and goes up with a flying splash that misses, and Shawn makes the comeback. Flying elbow gets two and he superkicks Pritchard off the apron, but Del Ray catches him from behind. So Shawn superkicks him as well to finish at 5:20. Short but sweet. **1/2
Meanwhile, Vince McMahon insinuates that JJ may not have been singing at his own concert, and that’s the last we see of Jarrett for quite a long time.
The Smoking Gunns v. John Faulkner & Rick Stockhauser
The jobbers try to double-team and Stockhauser gets slugged down for his troubles. Vince clarifies that the Gunns know “how to mix it up, tag team style”. Well that explains everything. Body vice into Billy’s top rope bulldog finishes at 2:00.
Barry Didinsky shills the cassette of “With My Baby Tonight.” What the fuck is a “cassette”?
GOLDUST is coming.
Meanwhile, Fatu takes us on a tour of San Francisco because he’s MAKIN’ A DIFFERENCE. It’s so weird how we were just supposed to buy that this guy was a samoan savage who couldn’t even figure out a pair of fucking boots just a few weeks before this, and now suddenly he’s a social crusader from California.
Waylon Mercy v. Gary Scott
Waylon tosses the jobber around and dumps him, then offers him a chance to get back in before snapping the bottom rope on him. Ha! Back in, he picks him up at one and then finishes with his CRAZY EYES SLEEPER at 2:00. Vince points out that Mercy is, in fact, showing no mercy at all. Thank you Captain Obvious.
In Your House 2 Wrap-Up with Todd. The Allied Powers want a rematch at Summerslam but…that didn’t happen. Also, Sid wants a shot at Shawn’s new IC title! And that doesn’t happen either.
Bret Hart v. Hakushi
Like you care about this.
Next week: Yoko & Owen v. Razor & Savio for the tag titles!
Just kidding.
Bret Hart v. Hakushi
Hakushi attacks on the floor and sends Bret into the railing, but tries a pump splash in the ring and hits Bret’s knees. Bret pounds away in the corner, but Hakushi reverses him into the post and then dropkicks him in the ribs. OUCH. We take a break and return with Hakushi hitting a handspring elbow and a broncobuster in the corner. Bret comes back with a legsweep, but Hakushi puts him down with a spinkick and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Diving headbutt gets two. Hakushi with the nerve pinch, but Bret fights out of it and gets sent to the floor. Hakushi teases a dive as we take another break. Back with the TV debut of the SPACE FLYING TIGER DROP, but Bret has had enough and hits Hakushi and Shinja with a quebrada because FUCK YEAH. Back in for a backbreaker and middle rope elbow that gets two. Shinja comes in and Bret beats on him again, then bulldogs Hakushi for two. Small package gets two. Hakushi with a backdrop suplex and he goes up and misses the flying splash, and Bret follows with a superplex. Sharpshooter finishes at 13:31. Shinja gets piledriven right into the unemployment line for good measure. Sadly, Jean Pierre steals the severed head of Bret Hart afterwards to lay the groundwork for their ridiculous feud later in the year. Anything in 1995 with a Space Flying Tiger Drop just gets **** automatically, it’s the law. ****
Meanwhile, Dean Douglas aims to educate us. The gimmick was fine, but Shane was wooden as hell here compared to his ECW promos.
Next week: The tag titles are on the line!
I saw this show not too long ago and was really impressed with the Bret-Hakushi match. It didn't really come as much of a surprise given the participants, but it was really good for a Raw match.
ReplyDeleteActually Jeff Jarrett returned by the end of the year for a very short run,including a very unmemorable match with Ahmed Johnson at the '96 Rumble. Then he left again and signed with WCW for a unmemorable 1 year run before returning to the WWF for a... you guessed it another unmemorable 2 year run.
ReplyDeleteYou shortchanged that match! But yeah, really innovative stuff. I remember marking out bigtime for that match when first aired and still holds up today. And Hakushi busting out the SFTG out of nowhere totally took me by surprise. Awesome match (in case I never mentioned that before)
ReplyDeleteWhy did he leave anyway? I'm sure I've heard the story, but given that JJ is boring as hell I think I've forgotten
ReplyDeleteI believe Road Dogg being brought back in '96 was directly related to Jeff Jarrett debuting in WCW. Lord knows why Vince would want to bury a midcard hack, but... actually that seems pretty Vince of Vince.
ReplyDeleteHis last WWF run did give us Debra's business tits.
ReplyDeleteJeff Jarrett is easily the most unmemorable main-event level wrestler in the last 20 years. Seriously, I'll never understand how that guy was pushed on top for as long as he was.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet the dude acts like he was as good as Triple H around that time.
ReplyDeleteAh! It's not hot!
ReplyDeleteFor as crappy as 1995 was, they actually had a pretty solid talent roster. Just one they completely misused.
ReplyDeleteRazor, HBK, Bret, Owen, Davey Boy, Lex, Taker....you could build something strong around that. So of course they pushed Nash, Mabel and a wrestling dentist. Unreal.
Jarrett winning the WCW title caused me to stop watching them. I find Russo and Arquette to be better WCW champions.
ReplyDeleteHis run on top in WCW was literally maybe 4-5 months. His reign atop TNA is pretty self-explanatory.
ReplyDeleteGood mid-card guy but no one aside from Vince Russo ever saw him as a main event level guy, well Russo and himself of course.
It's too bad he looked like crap b/c Del Ray was a damn good wrestler. I remember he (wrestling as Jimmy Graffiti) and Malenko had a pretty awesome cruiserweight title match on one of the Dec 96 Nitros.
ReplyDeleteIn Foley's second book he says that Shawn convinced everyone that the title match had to be one on one but he was also pushing for it to be Foley/Austin.
ReplyDeleteIve checked around before and couldn't find anything.
ReplyDeleteCould it be argued that Road Dogg had the better career than JJ or is that too much of a stretch? Probably thanks to Russo wcw that's too much of a stretch but I wonder if the naos were a bigger draw overall?
ReplyDeleteAnd I am still able to do Online classes - so I am where God wants me to be.
ReplyDeleteWas it just that he'd JUST done his big song and he felt it was the wrong time to have him lose his title?
ReplyDeleteThat would make sense given the Clique's issues with Rocky.
ReplyDeleteJust the 1996 Royal Rumble, came out one after the other.
ReplyDeleteHe hosts Vintage Collection over in the UK. Does that even air in the US?
ReplyDeleteHim and Renee Young host WWE Vintage, a international syndicated show highlighting all the old footage.
ReplyDeleteGreat show and it actually does take advantage of the massive vault. Damn WWE and Rogers for removing it from Canadian air last month!
The New Age Outlaws undoubtedly drew more money, his time on top in WCW was a disaster on every level and during his entire time in TNA i genuinely doubt they ever made a dime in profit.
ReplyDeleteMike Graham was right!
I think RD had a better/more memorable career and it's not even close actually. He was in a memorable stable, had a catchy saying, multiple mid-card title runs. JJ hit people with a guitar, dressed up like sting, called people slapnuts and rode a horse to the ring once
ReplyDeleteWho knows, i mean tons of guys have walked out before but how many do it after a MOTYC? Especially when it's a title match and you're dropping it to an undisputed top level guy like HBK?
ReplyDeleteMaybe the 1-2-3 Kid shit in his cowboy hat?
Better career might be stretching it. Jarrett may be boring as all hell, but he was pretty good in the ring, was over in Tennessee and Texas, won some pretty big titles, and had longevity. Road Dogg was a catchphrase that was over for 2 years, tops.
ReplyDeleteJust realised today's date. Please now solemnly and seriously join me in a moment of silent respect. It has now been thirteen long years since The City of New York vs Homer Simpson has been shown unedited, if at all, on TV.
ReplyDeleteThe WWF not doing more with Hakushi was a fucking travesty.
ReplyDeleteThe retro Summerslam report he did was fucking gold. He should do that all the time.
ReplyDeleteWhy isn't Vintage on the Network?
ReplyDeleteThey should have turned Lex heel and given him a big push.
ReplyDeleteFollowed by an unmemorable 10 year run in an unmemorable promotion.
ReplyDeleteI think WCW offered him more money.
ReplyDeleteBecause the WWE is run by people who make their living ashamed of being a wrestling company.
ReplyDeleteThe show must be completely off their radar because the last half dozen episodes i saw were 1 hour look backs at the Jericho/Malenko feud,the Eddie/Chavo one and a career look back at the Road Warriors with matches from the AWA,NWA & both WWF runs.
They show it on TV all the time, and have since about a year after 9/11.
ReplyDeleteKliq politics? Too foreign? Bret says that Hakushi was too nice and dudes took advantage of him in the ring.
ReplyDeleteAnd Jacobs was a talent, too. He was Sid with less charisma but more working ability. But let's make him a dentist instead.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't add up, he didn't debut in WCW until Oct.96 ,6 months plus past his second WWF walkout.
ReplyDeleteWhen he left in 1999, it was no doubt due to money and more importantly Vince Russo gaining the book and promising him the world.
He and Roadie were both against splitting the act up, both believing it was too early.
ReplyDeleteHmm...who's a better worker? Bret Hart or Curt Hennig?
ReplyDeleteYup i've seen it plenty of times. One bit of editing they did shortly after 9/11 was that scene in a completely different episode where Ned Flanders shoots down a plane with his flare gun when he Homer & Bart are marooned at sea.
ReplyDeleteWhy they felt that had to be edited was a bit puzzling.
I'm hoping for one of those to be released right before every big show from now on. Mean Gene was awesome in that thing.
ReplyDeleteI bet Vince writes everything in all caps whether it be emails or text messages.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the type.
"After that segment, the horrible tag title change where Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck beat Harlem Heat for the straps looked like an All Japan main event."
ReplyDeleteWasn't there some screwiness going on with that, like that match was taped before HH even won the titles or some bullshit like that?
Also, I'd rather watch DoD skits than 90's AJPW. I hate the Kings Road style with a passion.
Radio Shack still sells cassettes. I was shocked too.
ReplyDelete"I have Mountain Dew and crab juice"
ReplyDelete"Yuuuuuuuck! I'll have the crab juice"
It was just shown unedited during The Simpsons marathon on FXX a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteReally? Do they have VHS tapes too?
ReplyDeleteI was just impressed that Vince was using email in 1999 (or whenever that angle was).
ReplyDeleteAgreed -- the guy did a nice beer toast, but how disingenuous would it be for him to be like, "Owen was the greatest guy ever, I loved him!" No you didn't -- he nearly crippled you doing a move in a dangerous way. The Foley deal -- yes and no. He was and is friends with Mick so I doubt he actively shut him out so much as he (and others) rightly pushed for a singles match. The next year they did the four-way and that sucked. Not only that but Austin was the WWF's big money guy and there was no reason to risk having a potentially split fanbase for someone that hadn't proven himself to be the earner that Austin was -- Foley drew a lot of money, but nobody save for Hogan and maybe Rock can talk about being in Austin's class for merchandise, PPV and ticket sales. What happens if a quarter of the audience or even worse half starts to cheer Foley and boo Austin? Let's not forget it was in the middle of a war with WCW that WWF was just starting to win -- you want to damage your top guy for no real reason?
ReplyDeleteLooking back I find it wasn't the roster but the product itself that was behind the times.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly he never wanted the WCW title because he didn't want to be known as the guy that tanked the company, but ended up with it anyway. 4 times, I think.
ReplyDeleteDid the cigarette thing happen live at Rumble or was that an alternate take.
ReplyDeleteBret by a country mile.
ReplyDeleteWere ANY of the episodes censored/not shown during the marathon?
ReplyDeleteGOLDUST is coming.
ReplyDelete-Giggity
I always thought Rock was calling Kelly "Hermie" given the time(s) he called him a hermaphrodite rather than "Herbie."
ReplyDeleteNever heard about Brian Lee (wasn't that the name of the Underfaker?) helping with Stone Cold's promos.
Good job as usual, Mr. Bayless.
Yeah in 95 he didn't show up in WCW (if he had he'd probably manage to tank Nitro). When he came back that second time he did the quasi shoot interview where he said he held Vince up for more money, etc. Leave it to JJ to be totally boring even in a shoot interview.
ReplyDeleteRoad Dogg shot on Triple H too and still got a job again.
ReplyDeleteThat was live on the show after the Ric Flair win.
ReplyDeleteKnowing the backstage stories of what a bunch of drug abusing scumbags that existed in the WWE at this time and watching try to put on "family entertainment" makes these shows surreal to watch. Especially the babyfaces high-fiving kids when they are eating pills like life savers, H-Bombing girls, shitting on other peoples property etc ...
ReplyDeleteBased on my memories as a naive 5-8-year-old, I thought they were fairly close in WWE (didn't see either in pre-WWE days). I know everything in wrestling is formulaic but don't recall Henning having the rep of "moves of doom."
ReplyDeleteWCW especially the tag-team titles saw a LOT of that insanity, even past the '93 Orlando debacle.
ReplyDeletePhrasing.
ReplyDeleteI thought Kelly said "Herbie" in the interview but just saw the promo on YouTube and it was indeed "Hermie." I have made the change.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about the NFL really.
ReplyDelete"His run on top in WCW was literally maybe 4-5 months"
ReplyDeleteI honestly didn't believe you until I looked it up. He was in the main event scene longer than that. His first PPV championship match was SuperBrawl 2000 (February 2000) and he was out of the title picture Bash at the Beach 2000 (July 2000).
Holy shit, did that drag. I could've sworn Jarrett was stinking up WCW main events for two years.
5 if you count his loss to Hulk Hogan at the Bash and then being awarded it again immediately after.
ReplyDeleteHis entire run on top is less than 3 months.
Looked like All Japan main event! HA! It's funny cuz it's TRUE!
ReplyDeleteI could repeat my take that Bret could have made superstars out of Hakushi and Lafitte had he lost to them, as the loss wouldn't have hurt him one bit, but I don't wanna sound repetitive or anything. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah we should make a thread of great wrestlers with zero marketable attributes. Miguel Perez would probably be on top of the list.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think there's also something to Vince liking the guy because it seemed he was going to get a good push if he hadn't had left.
ReplyDeleteAnd one guy that gets overlooked during this period is Kama. The dude was working hard and deserved better than being another Undertaker victim.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about Jarrett when most people tend to bury Jarrett's accomplishments, but you can't bury Road Dogg either as he was the big reason NAO were over as they were and helped carry the team.
ReplyDelete"Kelly said that Vince is a lousy writer but the greatest editor as he can turn a great idea in gold and a terrible idea into something."
ReplyDeleteWell, we sure do get a lot of something now.
Anyway, I love KK. His yearly retrospectives on the TPTB podcasts are great, as well as his own solo podcast The Kevin Kelly Show is great as well. He's a little opinionated on some things, but no worse than anyone else in wrestling.
Did they? That means it's officially okay to make any kinds of jokes that reference 9/11 at last! Which means it's officially no longer cool to make any kinds of jokes that reference 9/11.
ReplyDeleteI think it'd doubtful, raper-of-poodles.
ReplyDeleteBret pulled out a QUEBRADA on a Raw in 1995?
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, we're stuck with Diesel Power as champ.
I love how Homer is disgusted by the klufkallash (sp?) and then is seen licking the stick clean.
ReplyDeleteDon't you mean Al Perez? Wait, he did have some muscle tone...
ReplyDeleteWas it an actual quebrada? Like a moonsault kind of move?
ReplyDeleteIIRC it was like a Vader Bomb to the floor. He tried the same thing against Davey Boy at the December IYH and got powerslammed on the floor.
ReplyDeleteThe grudge against Jarrett is well known, and let's not forget, Austin was a wife-beating drunk. Him being an asshole politician backstage is absolutely believable.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. "Okay, okay--when they rescue him, they'll rescue us" is the funniest or second-funniest gag in that episode (along with the dying seagull).
ReplyDeleteAnd lord knows Jarrett went through a hell of a hazing ritual when he came back.
ReplyDeleteThe evidence is on the side of no creator. There is no scientific evidence of a creator. None. The only person ignoring the evidence is you.
ReplyDeleteJust because you can't understand the science, doesn't mean the science is wrong. It just means you need to go back to school.
I was a christian for 17 years. Then I read a book that wasn't targeted for christians. You know, unbiased.
Let's also not get into the gigantic leap that goes - "I don't understand how the universe works, so god did it." but "Not only god did it, but it's my Christian god that listens to my prayers." Because physical evidence sure proves all of that.
Anyway, I know none of this is getting to you because you're a troll who doesn't understand, so it's okay. I'll just stop right here.
Miguel was actually a hell of a worker. Al was a bore.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so
ReplyDeleteBret was a better worker than Curt. Both excellent, but one's list of great matches vastly outnumbers the other's.
ReplyDeleteIs that because one had a longer injury free run? I am curious to match up their bouts with common opponents.
ReplyDeleteBrakus!
ReplyDeleteScheiße!
Do you have the same problem with the 80s?
ReplyDeleteKelly comes off as a total idiot here.
ReplyDeleteGood read, I liked this.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff. Bret or Curt being the better worker is pretty much a "what's your flavor" question. But I always thought Hennig was pretty versatile and had some great stuff in the AWA that I have a great appreciation for watching now.
ReplyDeleteHowever the Wrestlemania 15 main event came around it was probably the best decision.
Not really I don't know that much about the backstage from than but every interview I here about the guys from around 1995 or so sounds like EVERYONE messing with some kind of pills and acting total degenerate (pun not intended). Michaels seemed like the greatest thing ever to me during that time and (by his own admission) was a miserable drug addict. I don't have a problem with it, it's just weird to see him acting like that for the audience knowing what things were really like.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely could've made something out of hakushi. I think that lafitte was dead in the water the minute he put on the eye patch. Guy could wrestle but he was much better in a tag team.
ReplyDeleteBeing a coke fiend in the 80's is a hell of a lot cooler than doing 2 dozen Somas and then passing out in a hotel room.
ReplyDeleteTriple H takes credit for saying "Fuck it, if he doesn't want to do business, we'll do business for him."
ReplyDeleteAnd Vince actually backs up his version I think. But Vince came up with the screwjob because he had to green light it and see it's execution through.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKayfabe-wise, Jarrett's sudden exit made sense. "With My Baby Tonight" was a hit, so he immediately left the WWF for country music stardom, like he wanted all along!
ReplyDeleteAm I crazy in still thinking that WMBT was actually a pretty decent song?
Every year I make this joke on Facebook, followed by a reminder that I will never stop making the joke:
ReplyDeleteNever forget, Sept. 11, 2001. The day our world changed forever.
Yes, 13 years ago today, Jay-Z's "The Blueprint" hit stores and hip-hop would never be the same.
I think it's more of a factor that Vince needed Shawn in the mid-90s. He needed Shawn to make the next big thing, Austin. Shawn wasn't going to take not being in the forefront so kindly and probably wouldn't have been a good influence backstage. It was one more main eventer gone, but Austin could blow through challengers and Foley, Taker, Kane were credible enough when tied with the Mr. McMahon story, and HHH and Rock were coming down the pipe.
ReplyDeleteIs that on Sky? I've never even heard of it!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was thinking. A quebrada? From Bret?
ReplyDeleteThing is, he really was blind in that one eye, which I didn't know at the time.
ReplyDeleteMiguel Perez. My lord, well remembered. Jose Estrada and Jesus Castillo I have no idea if they were any good as the gimmick was so boring.
ReplyDeleteGot it. Still, it's interesting that neither Russo nor Cornette say that Triple H was involved, and Vince and Hunter both say otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThere are no Hulkamaniacs here!
ReplyDeleteAye, has a random theme each week. The last one I watched was the Guerrero family feud from mid 98 WCW, following the feud through Nitro and the PPV matches. Normally a fun little show.
ReplyDeleteIt is really good. It's exactly the kind of thing some people have been requesting the Network do, little packages of storylines all together.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they were decent at least and I'm guessing they were handpicked by Savio, but when you're wrestling DOA everynight it's understandable that they didn't bother trying.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing. Agreed that he was obviously never as big as Hogan, and he wasn't as charismatic and Michaels, but I absolutely think he was a better worker than Hennig.
ReplyDeleteI'm gathering neither Russo or Cornette had anything other than second-half knowledge.
ReplyDeletePierre was a terrific worker, but very bland. The best push he could have gotten was being a strong midcarder so being part of a tag team was perfect for him.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem: If you read HBK's book the clique hated him and said as much to Vince when they had that big meeting.
ReplyDeleteYes he was. Nor did I. I blame it on age and lack of Internet at the time.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Goddell didn't know about THAT either.
ReplyDeleteWhen they first announced him from Hollywood California, I thought it was Steve Austin (I think they just shows the sign and golden glitter) because...well the Hollywood Blondes and so... and then I was a little bit disappointed when it was Dustin Rhodes...
ReplyDeleteHe mentioned it in one of his promos, but I thought it was part of the act.
ReplyDeleteWell Kliq hated anyone who dared upstage them in the ring.
ReplyDeleteI liked it. Not a country fan but it was catchy.
ReplyDeleteSo you're agreeing with me?
ReplyDeleteRoadie singing it on Shotgun Saturday Night along with audio problems while Vince complains about his non-functioning mic was a highlight.
ReplyDeleteI'm making different points but agreeing with you. Had no problem with the eyepatch though since he was blind, but the pirate thing was stupid.
ReplyDeleteHeenan: " Tito Santana had me over for dinner last week and his wife made Quebradas. Gave me terrible heartburn."
ReplyDeleteMonsoon: "WILL YOU STOP!!"
Not exactly, that would be suicidal. He went to the second rope from the ring apron, hung onto the top rope and then basically did drop to hit both guys with his feet. Not that I'd do it or anything, but it looked safe enough. Above didn't mean a Vader Moonsault, but the other move Vader did whereby he just faced turnbuckle, held the tope rope and then slashed the guy laying down...Check out the match though, it's quick and awesome
ReplyDeleteSorry to be the one to break it to you then, but the '80s were a pretty debauchery-filled time too.
ReplyDeleteAll I meant by that was he was a great quebecer but when they changed him into a pirate singles star he was doa.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about it. All I ever hear about the 80's is the general statement that guys were on drugs and pulled ribs. Not incredibly scummy stories of of the mid 90's WWE locker rooms.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Quebecers too, but pushing Pierre as a singles star with the same Quebecer gimmick would have been death.
ReplyDeleteRoad Dogg > Jeff Jarrett. Wouldn't have pushed Road Dogg to the moon or anything but he was smart worker who understood and could make an audience pop. I'm kind of surprised Road Dogg never but a country/rap album as he was a talented musician and Vince is always looking for a guy that can have some mainstream appeal.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Del Ray's physique in the time he missed went from "nothing special" to "a big plastic bad of milk" here.
ReplyDeleteI was still dubbing stuff to VHS as recently as a few years ago... I think WalMart stocked them exclusively because I would still buy them.
ReplyDeleteYeah looking back, I'd change the In Your House 1 finishes to Hakushi beating Bret due to Lawler's interference and Bret beating Lawler later on in the night.
ReplyDeleteI vaguely remember Road Dogg and K-Kwik doing a vignette where they were recording some songs. Kwik was fired shortly after so not sure if this was something WWF was going to implement.
ReplyDeleteOr just not have the Lawler match in the first place as it didn't serve any purpose and the show was running long as it was.
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely the biggest problem in 1995... they really botched using those guys. The PPV cards tell the story, big names left off every month and they all pretty much avoided each other. They could have done the late 96/early 97 story of five to six top contenders even earlier on. Let the title bounce a bit because you have a group of even contenders that all are gunning for the title.
ReplyDeleteHakushi wanted to leave for Japan. The Raw match with Bret was supposed to be his last. What were they supposed to do? He decided to stick around a little bit longer as a babyface. He also couldn't talk, so kinda limited.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish they treated Lawler like a threat instead of gradually reducing him to the joke he is today.
ReplyDeleteEven though he was limited, he was still a talented guy, so you just book a guy to his strengths. Not rocket science.
ReplyDelete''When asked about 1996 Survivor Series, Kelly said that it was a terrible show.''
ReplyDeleteAustin vs. Bret, Sid vs. HBK say different, you eunuch.
GETTIN' ROWDY~!
ReplyDeleteGONNA MOVE SOME THANGS!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it would have been cool if WWF acknowledged his Memphis history and treated him like a wrestling legend. The only time WWE did that was when Lawler feuded with Miz.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I remember watching wrestling with some kids that knew nothing about his past. When they announced him getting a HoF ring and they said, "Why? He sucks as an announcer."
ReplyDeleteHis mistake was not going to WCW. No, he would have never been a big star or anything, but I'm sure he would have won a couple cruiserweight titles, plus he would have made more money and would have been able to work in Japan in his free time.
ReplyDeleteQuoting the bible to prove the bible is circular logic.
ReplyDeleteSo Jesus the philosopher existed, but you're deluding yourself if you actually believe that social scientists and Historians have reached a consensus real miracles were performed. You mention historical documents of Jesus' miracles, but then how do you explain historical documents of the miracles Zeus and the pantheon preformed. They have the same credibility as the bible. How do you know which is correct and which isn't.
You can't. Logic, and an understanding of ancient history, dictates that the overwhelmingly likely answer is that neither are true, and that the religions developed as a natural part of societal and cultural growth.
Aristotle also believed Women had no part in the DNA of her children. (not called DNA obviously but the it's easier then typing out the whole plant/soil metaphor he used.
He's also been dead for over two thousand years.
He also was dead by the birth of Christ, so he certainly didn't worship him. Guess that means he's in hell now.
While an important figure, and a brilliant philosopher, his scientific conclusions are more then a little out of date.
And you're correct. There is no point if we weren't created by a divine being. if this is it. That's the great joy and tragedy of life.
It's inherently meaningless.
Definitely, they had really good chemistry. They had about three matches around that time (including at "Royal Rumble, 2010"), and all were very good.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about house shows and all that, but as far as merch goes, the NOA were apparently the third highest sellers in 1999, behind Stone Cold and Rocky.
ReplyDeleteHe was around until mid 96 at least right (maybe spring of 96)? He turned face, feuded with Waltman and was part of the barry horowitz push too if I recall.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to be comfortable to be good.
ReplyDeleteThat's the only explanation that makes sense. that Austin had the talent but didn't really enjoy it.
and even then i'm skeptical
"Sid with less charisma but more working ability"? So, not Sid at all, then...
ReplyDeleteBut if fairness, he really has sucked as an announcer since like 2000. That's a significant portion of his career.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Bodies were both good workers, but had "Jobber" plastered onto their foreheads. I know Cornette hates the physique-oriented nature of Vince's business, but I think a wrestler should look like he could AT LEAST defeat the guy at the concession stand.
ReplyDeleteWhat type of shoot do you want for next week:
ReplyDelete70's Stars
80's Stars
90's Stars
WWF/WWE Guys
WCW/NWA Guys
ECW Guys
AWA Guys
Territory Guys
80's Tag Teams
90's Tag Teams
Face Off
YouShoot
Behind Closed Doors Series
"When asked about 1996 Survivor Series, Kelly said that it was a terrible show."
ReplyDeleteInvalidates interview.
The rest was shit
ReplyDeleteVince emailing "GREAT SHIT"...can't stop laughing...
ReplyDeleteI bet he's got that saved as a keystroke shortcut.
Yeah that show had some good matches.
ReplyDeleteThe match with the Rock was a pile of shit though
What gets to you about King's Road? The minutes at a time of lying on the ground? The guys dumping "miracle restorative water" on the wrestlers? The endless repetition of their "Easy Match Finishers"? The Head-Drop Style that would finally kill Misawa?
ReplyDeleteUT vs Mankind was also almost ****
ReplyDeleteGREAT SHIT! is now going to be my response to anything that is even above average.
ReplyDeleteA hopped-up Juvi. Like we haven't seen that before.
ReplyDeleteYeah I don't know about that. It may have been the best fucking show of 96 for the WWF
ReplyDeletedoesn't undo his 140+reigns as Memphis champion though
ReplyDeleteMcCaffrey
ReplyDeleteThey did... whoops, that was WCW. Even they knew how to use Luger better than Vince did.
ReplyDeleteCrazy Tori
ReplyDeleteor 80's tag teams if you must
YouShoot
ReplyDeleteI too wouldn't mind reading about that.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Id still rather just be a raging alcoholic.
ReplyDeleteJust like Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson lol!
ReplyDeleteIT'S NOT NOT!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBobby Eaton. He looked like a damn trailer park lesbian.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't see the physical resemblance between Jacobs and Sid, then I don't know what else to say to you. Ray Charles would point out that they looked alike.
ReplyDeleteI had no problem buying the Bodies as threats against the Steiners. They were smart, sneaky, crafty, and Del Ray was a great flyer.
ReplyDeleteBret.
ReplyDeleteI remember PWI hinting that Dustin was coming in to be part of dibiase's stable, and actually broke kayfabe to announce he was coming in as a heel (or 'rulebreaker', in their parlance)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of that match is the Gigolo gyrating, and Vince responding by saying, "that was repulsive."
ReplyDeleteAccording to how many different instances I've seen in Botchamania, those "audio problems" happened way too often not to be intentional. My favorite one was when the graphics bar with his name came up, the TV truck put "...he's really singing!" at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteOne of the women.
ReplyDeleteI'm headed to Australia now...
ReplyDelete80s (tag teams or otherwise).
ReplyDeleteI think that's why I'm more okay with today's PG Era. So far as we know, the locker room is a LOT cleaner than it used to be.
ReplyDeleteSorry, you lost me at Limp Bizkit. =p
ReplyDeleteIf Hakushi was eating Superkicks here people would still be complaining about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying it was Bret's call, but I took Hakushi as a serious threat to him going into the matches, then Bret just won and that was that.
ReplyDeleteKelly sounds like he has Chris Benoit brain
ReplyDeleteNash kinda had the last laugh a little more than a year later when he bailed on the WWF a month after Shawn's title run, formed the now with Hall and Hogan, and basically killed Shawn's title reign in terms of Monday night ratings. Funny how that stuff works.
ReplyDeleteIt had more to do with a Midgard pirate refusing to put over the WWF Champion.
ReplyDeleteWow, holy outdated. And cassettes are to.
ReplyDeleteIt was a decent song...but really weird when Jesse James sang it to the ring every time he wrestled.
ReplyDeleteThere's that famous poster of Jake The Snake Roberts telling kids not to do drugs.
ReplyDeleteMcCaffrey ran the Declaration of Independents (DOI) website for quite some time. Basic copy & paste wrestling news/gossip site. He did have Hyatte writing up stuff for his site for a little while. He also was the booker/possibly co-owner of Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), one of the major women's promotions in the country. Funny enough, that promotion is now co-owned by CZW Owner DJ Hyde.
ReplyDeleteI can feel the hatred deep inside you. Who died or left you or what prayer didn't get answered?
ReplyDeleteAnd since when is atheism unbiased? It is one of the most biased worldviews of all the worldviews.
Again, I can quote your "unbiased scientists" that logically say the case of a creator is possible. They have to reject it or they would have to admit they were a sinner and going to hell without Christ.
I've read Dawkins's and he made a very erroneous quote that when he talks about the God delusion - that he isn't talking about Einstein's God. I can actually cite the page later if you like?
Anthony Flew in his atheist days - so you don't use the senile argument - said if certain parameters are met -- it is not improbable that the resurrection occurred.
As a former skeptic, I saw things as you now see them - but I rejected God because He wouldn't give me what I wanted in my time of wanting it. It is all about His timing.
Hey I'm done.
That's one of the problems when newcomers face established stars. After the loss, there's nowhere for the guy to go but the bottom of the card. It usually takes some pretty ballsy booking to allow a newcomer to get a win over one of the established guys.
ReplyDeleteI'm really gonna miss these rants when/if you stop them due to WWE Network stupidity, Scott. I've said it before, 1995 was not a great era to be a WWF fan by any means, but it holds a special place for me because it's the first time I really became a smark. I'd been watching wrestling for 7 years by this point, read PWI, knew that wrestling in general was a work but had little idea how things actually worked backstage. No chance of posting on the rspw boards with my 386 computer either, lol. But I got a free newsletter in the mail early in 1995 called the "Wrestling Tribune" by Eric Chmiel in upstate New York. In retrospect, those newsletters were about as bad as the product at the time was. They were a rip-off of the Observer, with the same layout, font, and other stuff Meltzer used. And if it's somehow possible, Chmiel was as bad a writer, prose-wise, as Meltzer was and is. But I read them religiously every week and was lucky enough to stumble on them before the Monday Night wars began. I remember the Tribune saying that many in the industry were expecting Nitro to fall flat on its face. Mainly because everyone assumed WCW would simply take the crap they aired on WCW Saturday Night (Evad Sullivan vs. Johnny B. Badd is your main event!) and put it head-to-head with WWF on Mondays. I don't think anyone expected they'd get Hogan to show up regularly (his TV appearances were limited, Lesnar-style, by his contract) or that they'd bring in guys like Luger, Sabu, Benoit, Guerrero, etc. Also, Nitro was the first time a company committed to putting feature matches from start to finish on a weekly program. It was really Nitro that killed off jobbers. Finally, I don't think people realized how big it was that Nitro was going to be live every week. With the WWF only taping one live RAW a month after PPV's, the difference really showed (and of course, Bischoff did his best to rub it in).
ReplyDeleteExactly what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't quite a smark, but I was slowly smartening up to the business at this point too thanks to the Powerslam UK magazine and last i heard they're going out of business, which is really sad news to hear.
ReplyDelete