The SmarK Rant for WCW Starrcade 1995
Well, we’ve apparently run out of RAW shows to review again, so we might as well just say fuck it and go back to WCW for a while. I was going to repost this one from years ago, but have you READ IT? UGH. So here’s a fresh version. Although I was drifting back to WCW at this point, I wasn’t dropping the $30 on this show. That’s, like, 20 weeks worth of instant noodles and hot dogs.
Live from Nashville, TN
Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan & Dusty Rhodes
Chris Benoit v. Jushin Liger
So this WCW v. New Japan as a concept, which might have been one of the worst-promoted PPV concepts ever, as none of the Japanese guys got any screen time leading up to the show and they barely even announced the lineup out of the triangle main event. Also, why didn’t they bring in Muta for this? He was always good to pop the crowd and probably could have had a cool match with Johnny B. Badd or something. Tony notes that Liger and Benoit know each quite well, which is a massive understatement. Benoit takes him down a couple of times to start, but Liger sends him running with armdrags and follows with a baseball slide and somersault off the apron. Back in, Liger hits him with a koppo kick, but walks into a backbreaker that gets two. Liger reverses out of a powerbomb and dropkicks Benoit out again, but can’t get his dive this time. Benoit with a snap suplex and a backdrop suplex to take over, and he follows with a Liontamer. Dusty goes on an epic soliloquy about whether the current Horsemen are better than the 80s Horsemen and even Tony gives up trying to translate Dusty into English after that. Benoit with a german suplex for two, but Liger takes him down for a bow and arrow and Dusty is INTO IT. It’s an unclin’ situation, Tony! Liger with a rear chinlock but Benoit escapes with an electric chair and they fight over a tombstone. Liger gets that one and goes up, but Benoit brings him down with a superplex for two. Diving headbutt misses and Liger hits him with the rolling kick in the corner and follows with a Ligerbomb for two. Brainbuster gets two. Liger gets cocky and Benoit comes back with the rolling germans, but only two. Powerbomb and he goes up with the diving headbutt, but Kevin Sullivan comes out to cause trouble, leading to Liger getting a sloppy rana for the pin at 10:30. Japan 1, WCW 0. So this was quite the opener. ****1/4 Would have been higher with a better finish, but as it was, the suplex-crazy offense was tremendous stuff.
Koji Kanemoto v. Alex Wright
Koji is an awesome dick heel so this should be an easy transition for him. Koji goes to work on the knee, but Wright gets an enzuigiri and they trade wristlocks. Wright with a headscissor takedown and they fight to the floor, where Wright hits him with a dive. Back in, Wright goes to the chinlock, but Koji throws chops in the corner and then LEVELS him with a spinkick. Wrights gets hung in the corner and Koji dropkicks him there, putting Wright on the floor. Kanemoto follows with a dive, but Wright fights back on the floor like a MAN. Back in, Koji wraps him up in a tiger suplex for two and follows with a moonsault, but he doesn’t want the pin. Wright comes back with a german suplex for two and fights back with a leg lariat and goes up with a slingshot splash for two, but a missile dropkick goes badly for him and both guys are out. Wright with a crossbody for two, but Koji escapes the german suplex and kicks him down into a moonsault for two. Back up and this time Wright blocks the missile dropkick, then pops up and hits his own. They fight to the top and Wright gets a superplex for two, but Koji drops him with Snake Eyes and rolls him up for the pin at 11:44. Another great match! Wright was the plucky kid way out of his league who decided to man up and keep fighting, but just couldn’t finish. Koji was on another level as a worker at this point, doing all these vicious kicks perfectly. Japan 2, WCW 0. ****
Lex Luger v. Masa Chono
I don’t sense this will be very good. Luger overpowers Chono, but gets put down with forearms and a big boot. Chono chokes him out in the corner and goes to a chinlock, then puts Luger down with a Scorpion deathdrop and into the STF. Luger makes the ropes and they slug it out, but Chono puts him down with a Yazuka kick. Chono goes up and lands on Luger’s elbow, and the Torture Rack finishes at 6:40. Japan 2, WCW 1. *1/2 Total style clash here.
Johnny B. Badd v. Masa Saito
Saito is looking particularly old and grizzled at this point. So someone had the brilliant idea of giving Kimberly promo time before the match and talking is not her strong suit. To say the least. It’s like the world’s worst “yo mama” battle or something, which probably explains why she almost never talked again. Saito takes Badd down and goes to a chinlock, and then they slug it out with chops because Saito is 53 (!!) and obviously isn’t taking any bumps here. Saito with a side suplex for two and a clothesline gets two. Sonny Onoo gets some choking in and Saito gets a Russian legsweep for two, but Badd comes back with a double axehandle and a sunset flip for two. Saito no-sells the knockout punches and Badd stands around waiting for Onoo to hit his cue, and Saito throws Badd over the top for the DQ at 6:00. Why did they drag Saito out of mothballs for this embarrassment? DUD Japan 2, WCW 2.
Eddie Guerrero v. Shinjiro Ohtani
This would be the “pivotable” match in the tournament, according to Dusty. Ohtani takes him down with an armdrag and immediately acts like a dick, clawing at the face just because. Eddie hits him with a low dropkick, but Ohtani goes to the leg and controls on the mat again. Eddie fights out with a rana to put him on the floor and Ohtani gets some advice from Sonny Onoo. That advice? Fuck if I know, I don’t speak Japanese. Back in, Eddie with a slingshot senton and a Boston crab, but Ohtani makes the ropes. Eddie with a powerbomb for two. Brainbuster gets two. Eddie charges and Ohtani slickly ducks out of the way, then dumps Eddie and follows with a springboard dive to the floor. Back in, dropkick and Ohtani chokes him down on the mat and follows with a sleeper, but Eddie escapes with a backdrop suplex for two. Ohtani snaps off a german suplex for two and it’s pretty badass. Springboard leg lariat and Ohtani goes up, but Eddie follows him up with a rana for two. Eddie with Splash Mountain for two. Ohtani suddenly wraps him up with a heel hook, but Eddie makes the ropes. They fight to the floor and Eddie follows with some insane hangtime on a springboard dive. Ohtani manages to suplex him back in and follows with a springboard dropkick. That’s usually his setup, but Eddie escapes the suplex and they trade sunset flip reversals until Ohtani ends up on top for the pin at 13:30. They were letting it all hang out here. **** Japan 3, WCW 2.
Randy Savage v. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (spelled “Tensan” here)
Tenzan, who today is 44 and totally broken down, is still kicking around New Japan as a kind-of top guy still. He had not yet met hetero life partner Satoshi Kojima yet, sadly. They fight for the lockup and Tenzan chops him down and pounds away for two. Tenzan chokes him down in the corner and it’s punch punch punch as Savage has little interest in doing anything but selling tonight. More punching and Savage bails to the floor, but Tenzan beats on him out there as well. Back in, Tenzan with the flying headbutt for two, but Savage comes back, drops him on the top, and finishes with the miracle elbow at 6:50. This was pretty embarrassing even by Savage’s low standards at this point. Japan 3, WCW 3. ¼*
World Cup Final: Sting v. Kensuke Sasaki
Just to troll the Sting truthers a bit more, Sasaki was voted into the WON Hall of Fame last year, and Sting still isn’t in. Sting, it should be noted, has his face painted like a Reese’s Pieces. Could this signify a secret alliance with ET? TUNE INTO NITRO TO FIND OUT! Sasaki attacks and chokes him out, but Sting fights back with a dropkick and clotheslines him to the floor. Back in, Sasaki gets a powerslam and Northern Lights Bomb and grabs an armbar on Sting. Armdrag into a slam gets two. Sasaki gets his own Scorpion deathlock, but Sting makes the ropes and comes back with an enzuigiri before finishing with his own Scorpion at 6:51 to win the World Cup. That’s it, put him in the Hall of Fame right now! This was OK. ** Oddly, Sasaki dropped the US title to One Man Gang in a dark match at the end of the night while working as a babyface, in a match where Gang got the win and then the match was restarted and Sasaki got the win. But apparently they only used the Gang portion. Because WCW.
Triangle match: Ric Flair v. Sting v. Lex Luger
Winner gets Randy Savage for the title immediately after. We actually have an hour left in the show so there’s some time to burn here. This is slightly different than current three-way rules, as one guy has to be on the apron and tag in. Sting starts with Flair and gets the press slam and clothesline for two, but Flair immediately bails. Back in, he works on the hammerlock and slugs away on Sting, but Sting no-sells and starts beating on him again. Bulldog sends Flair out of the ring again and this time Sting follows and keeps up the beating. Back in, he misses a dropkick and Flair takes over. Dusty goes on a crazy old man rant about playing possum while Flair trolls Luger and tosses Sting for some abuse on the floor. Back in, kneedrop gets two. Suplex, but Sting pops up again and we get another press slam to set up a superplex for two. Neat moment as Luger comes in to save and the crowd goes “ooooooo” but the buddies smooth things over. Luger finally tags in against Flair, but quickly gets hit with a cheapshot and no-sells that. Poor Flair gets pressed again and we get a Flair Flop for two. Flair goes to the knee, however, and goes to work on that. Flair goes low (“He must have lost his balance…” notes Heenan) and gets the figure-four, but Luger uses the power of his pecs to reverse the move. Suplex gets two. Flair goes up and gets slammed off, and Luger no-sells his chops and decides to tag out to Sting. So we get the long-awaited Sting v. Luger showdown. They fight over a lockup and exchange shots in the corner, as Luger suddenly goes heel again and begs off. Lex pounds him in the corner and gets a clothesline, but Sting comes back with a bodypress for two. Man, this segment is just DYING. Pretty shocking lack of heat for something that was supposed to be the top program. Sting misses a pump splash and Luger drops an elbow for two. Sting slugs back and gets the Scorpion, but Luger goes low about as blatantly as possible. Sting gets a small package for two and a sunset flip for two, and makes the comeback with a bulldog and Stinger splash. A second one misses and Luger gets the Rack, but the ref is bumped and Flair sneaks in with a chop block to break it up. Both Sting and Luger land on the floor, and the ref revives and counts them out at 28:00. What a shit finish that was. Sting-Flair was entertaining, Luger-Flair was entertaining, and Sting-Luger was shit and killed the crowd. Man, what a terrible finish, though. **1/2
WCW World title: Randy Savage v. Ric Flair
Savage beats on Flair to start as Paul Orndorff joins us at ringside in a neck brace for an angle that ended up going nowhere. Flair with an atomic drop on Savage, but he can’t get the figure-four, and Savage dumps him and follows with the double axehandle. Flair nails him on the way down, however, and takes over in the ring by working on the giant bandaged arm. You’d think people would take that low-hanging fruit more often in 1995. Savage fights back, but walks into a sleeper before slugging Flair down for two. Clothesline gets two. Savage goes up and gets caught coming down again, and Jimmy Hart’s megaphone gets involved, resulting in Savage nailing Flair with it and tapping a gusher. Big elbow, but the ref is still with Jimmy Hart, and the Horsemen run in behind the idiot ref’s back, leaving Arn to nail Savage with brass knuckles six inches from the ref’s head, and Flair wins the title again at 8:40. *1/2 This would kick off the era of women’s shoes as deadly weapons, but we’ll get to that later on Nitro.
The Pulse
Although the main event didn’t deliver, the World Cup gave us an astonishing 3 **** matches, so you can’t complain very loudly about that. I still think World War III was an overall better show from an entertainment standpoint, but this was a better wrestling show.
Recommended.
"Well, we’ve apparently run out of RAW shows to review again, so we might as well just say fuck it"
ReplyDelete"Sure, fuck it! That's your answer! That's your answer for everything! Tattoo it on your forehead! Your revolution is over, Mr. Lebowski! CONDOLENCES! The bums lost!"
*random comment about TNA/Bound for Glory 2014*
ReplyDelete*sits back and lets the upvotes pour in
How could you forget Dusty Rhodes' rant against Bobby Heenan?
ReplyDeleteJust a fantastic bladejob by Flair here on what couldn't have been a weaker shot by Savage.
ReplyDeleteSavage gigged him
ReplyDeleteAnd good.
ReplyDeletegiggity.
ReplyDeleteBoD needs an app where you can get all the current blog stuff and all the old rants in one spot.
ReplyDeleteThat has to be one of the bigger drops from a previous review to a new review for the Triangle match, no?
ReplyDeleteIIRC it was **** in the last review.
Awesome show. Late 95-early 96 WCW is awesome to watch.
ReplyDeleteI was picking out some bon mots from Dusty where I could, but by the main event I was just unable to process what language he was speaking in.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I noticed that too. I definitely found myself getting bored and annoyed by the repetition in the triangle match this time around and agreeing more with Meltzer's take on the match.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's the WORST, most perfunctory shot ever. You can tell the whole time he was distracted, just trying to focus on the blade job. "Don't kill him, don't kill him, don't kill hi.. FUCK"
ReplyDeleteI have never heard the phrase "bon mots" before.
ReplyDeleteThe BoD is nothing if not educational
Yeah, I saw it live and I think it felt about ***-ish. I remember being a little disappointed overall with it and thinking it'd probably been close to ***** if it were like 1989.
ReplyDeleteThat's more where I have it. I feel like it's the last great "WCW" match. You know, BEFORE "WCW" became all about ex-WWF guys and nWo nonsense.
ReplyDeleteThe BOD is just a guy in SASKATOON.
ReplyDeleteI'm aware of where all the old stuff is, it's just annoying/laziness. I miss that old site that had all of Scott's rants in one place.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting thought actually -- it kind of is the last of that era, and really just a very NWA-like diversion during the Hogan era in general.
ReplyDeleteNot really. The goal isn't to tap am artery. It was way too messy and kinda dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI love that whole rant about the german suplex haha.
ReplyDeleteIf I just dumped all the content at once and made it easy for everyone to access, then no one would sign up for another six months! What kind of business plan is THAT?
ReplyDeleteHey, I did pay few bucks a while ago for a nice handy RAR file! It sits happily extracted on my PC to this day.
ReplyDeleteExactly. The whole period when Hogan isn't involved in April until his turn had a similar feel. I really enjoyed WCW before Hogan came in.
ReplyDeleteWON HoF'er Sting vs Regal at Great American Bash '96?
ReplyDeleteDid you pay nine dollars and ninety-nine cents though?
ReplyDeleteNot as good as this 3-way.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to start giving away the star ratings to your copy and pasted Raw rants.
ReplyDelete"The big guy gives the match with the little guys three stars."
Yeah, but that wasn't a main event level match.
ReplyDeleteThat's what she said
ReplyDeleteIN ANY ARENA, ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY
ReplyDeleteBhahahahaha.
ReplyDelete"No need to read the re-rant, it's been in the can for years and my review is live!"
The Scot Sez is the BoD equivalent of standing in front of green screen.
ReplyDeletePiper's promos aren't as good when he's not on coke.
ReplyDeleteHogan buried Sting at Starrcade 97! The three count was a controlled demolition! WAKE UP SHEEPLE!
ReplyDeleteBobby's reaction after that rant killed me. This might be the best WCW commentating performance ever
ReplyDeleteDustin Harris finally admitted Benoit probably did it, though you can't say with 100 percent certainty.
ReplyDeleteThe commentary here was overall pretty memorable. I think the best job these three ever did.
ReplyDeleteI'm not re-upping until Scott Sez ECW rants are added.
ReplyDeleteThe booking of this show makes no sense. Sting and Luger have no problem with the fact that Flair goes in fresh while they have another match?
ReplyDeletePlus Sting, Savage and Luger wrestling twice gives away that they are winning their matches. And the show was on a Wednesday. WTF?
Also Regal was not a Crockett guy. The other three were.
ReplyDeleteSomeone who knows more about Japanese wrestling can explain how Sasaki is in the Hall of Fame. That guy sucks. He also killed someone in training.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder sometimes what it would have been like if Gorilla Monsoon had slid over to WCW with Bobby. Gorilla dealing with Dusty and Bobby at the same time on commentary could have been a lot of fun haha.
ReplyDeleteMonsoon was a WWF lifer
ReplyDeleteGorilla showing up in. WCW would have been the most shocking jump of all time.
ReplyDeleteYes, well I believe he had a golden parachute there per the conditions of the selling of the company from VM Sr. to VM Jr.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of those things that just doesn't seem feasible. Gorilla Monsoon in WCW would be like seeing the New York Yankees being cheered on their own merits in Boston.
ReplyDeleteInstead of that, how about Dustin and Dusty stay in WWE in 91. Dusty retires and becomes a booker/agent for them and joins Bobby and Gorilla for PPVs.
ReplyDeleteThrow in a special appearance by Art Donovan for the hell of it
ReplyDeleteMonson was guaranteed a job for life with Vince Jr. bought the company from his old man.
ReplyDeleteBecause Meltzer?
ReplyDeleteThat works too. Imagine Summer Slam 1991... I think the earth would explode if Piper and Dusty were on the same commentary team though.
ReplyDeleteHe worked twice for ROH and sucked. I heckled him and called him a murderer. It made the WON!
ReplyDeleteSting was defending MURICA from dem dirty JAP-O-NESE, Luger was being Sting's buddy and they could have just doubled up on Flair any time they wanted to.
ReplyDeleteI just want Dusty to analyze a Warrior promo.
ReplyDeleteI know Sting doesn't have a brain but this made him and Luger look like morons. Well that's why Flair's the dirtiest player in the game.
ReplyDeleteFlair having to wrestle back to back was also kind of bullshit
I really don't feel like going to work. Not even that I don't want to work, I just don't feel like walking there. I really need to get a car.
ReplyDeleteThat never happened in WCW?
ReplyDeleteCall a HandiCar. The drivers all wear HandiCaps.
ReplyDelete(South Park reference)
When I get out I'm going to get some Shitty Wok.
ReplyDeleteMy bad, didn't know I accidentally clicked on your personal twitter account. Could have sworn I was reading about Starrcade 95.
ReplyDeleteWow, dick comment
ReplyDeleteHe was white hot in the Summer of '06 though. I also would put the Edge "Sex and Violence" shirt as one of the top wrestling shirts ever that isn't nWo/Hulkamania/DX or Austin 3:16 - it should have been sold longer. Glad I still have mine.
ReplyDeleteBest booking move ever that was hated at the time: Edge destroying Matt Hardy in 4 minutes and bleeding him out at Summerslam 05. PERFECT. Talk about backing the right horse. I loved the booking of that match. I wish wrestling had taken that direction, more realistic and violent like UFC.
I would say the last great "WCW" match was Sting vs Flair from Clash of the Champions in 94 before the Hogan debut match at BatB. When Hogan came with Savage, Earthquake, Beefcake, Jim Duggan... ex WWF was all over WCW.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were from Cleveland. Or is that Abeyance? Whatever, Rust Belt shithole is Rust Belt shithole, says the guy from fucking Buffalo.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know Hogan had the whole "I've done my dates in my contract, BROTHER!" and did an angle where he was suspended for attacking the Giant with a chair on Nitro, but that's still WCW's fault. If you watch the 1995 Nitros in order, it really pisses you off that we never got Megapowers vs. Sting/Luger.
ReplyDeleteScored a goal in all 3 games so far. Best in the Woooooooooorld
ReplyDeleteFuck Ryan Miller too.
ReplyDeleteThat match isn't very good
ReplyDeleteCrosby has dick sucking lips.
ReplyDeleteHow many fights did he instigate then pussy out of?
ReplyDeleteTell me about it. She wouldn't shut up
ReplyDeleteAnd goal scoring wrists. Wooooooooooooo!
ReplyDeleteThat bit always cracks me up. Heenan and Dusty just start laughing and mocking Tony.
ReplyDeleteLet the great veteran live...
ReplyDeleteThey were shooting
ReplyDeleteI don't know why she felt that I needed to know about it.
ReplyDeleteI know it's hard to find out this info in a place like Buffalo that has no hockey.
ReplyDeleteAbey, Mikey, White Thunder, and WWF1987 are from the Cleveland area
ReplyDeleteCult and I are Pittsburgh. Not sure if Pirates is actually from here or just like the Pirates. There's a couple of other people I'm blanking on
Then a few months later WCW had Konnan beat him for the belt a few days before they were supposed to fight for the title at SuperBrawl. Made no damn sense. The U.S. title was in really bad shape in late 1995-most of 1996. You had Sasaki win it from Sting, the One Man Gang, Konnan, Ric Flair for a short while, then this messy situation with the title getting vacated due to the Giant stealing it and saying it was his, to a U.S. title tournament that Eddie Guerrero won over DDP. Things started to get better after that, since Dean Malenko and a few other good workers got inserted into the title picture, but the U.S. title picture was god awful over that period.
ReplyDeleteRespectfully, as much as Hogan wants one last mega-pay check - I do not want to see him wrestle ever again. Not even if his opponent was another old fart. Hogan has had two decent matches as a broken down old man -- and they weren't necessary great. Seeing 81 year old Hogan wrestle Cena would be laughable. WWE probably wouldn't clear it either after the Lawler incident. And seriously, as much as I would love seeing Hogan have a old man rage attack and put over that youngster Cena -- the match would be worse than him dogging that May 2002 Taker match.
ReplyDeleteHis serious promos were goofy, overacted and most irritatingly,
ReplyDeleteover-enunciated (Jericho has the same problem; maybe it's a Canadian
thing?
Thank you for illuminating the biggest problem I've always had with both guys and their promos (although Edge suffers the worst from the issue). Bret and Owen suffered a bit from this, too, but Owen actually worked it into the gimmick (if that makes any sense) as did Lance Storm. Maybe it comes from trying to suppress their natural accents and sound more "American"?
Better Edge movie: The Edge with Alec Baldwin and Anthony Hopkins or Edge of Tomorrow with Tom Cruise and Bill Paxton?
ReplyDeleteLoose lips sink ships suck dicks
ReplyDeleteEvery Sting vs Flar matches were good (IMHO). :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm an Avalanche fan.
ReplyDelete(Wait, they suck too? Goddamnit...)
I ate at a really neat hot dog place a few years ago when I went to the area of a concert at Darien Lake (it was the closest place the band was playing to me).
ReplyDeleteI forget the name, though. :( It was at a big intersection not far from the highway. There was a non-Taco Bell chain place near it.
Haven't seen the former but I did really enjoy the latter.
ReplyDeleteNo one is discussing this, but sure!
ReplyDeletePiper's Summer Slam 91 commentary was fantastic...not just the Virgil match...he was pretty damm good during Hart/Perfect too and it's always fun to listed to him and Bobby squabble.
ReplyDeleteJeter was.
ReplyDeleteFancy stats are real apparently.
ReplyDeleteNot sure, Darien Lake (HORRIBLE place to see a concert, BTW) is about an hour or so from the city, I don't know the area too well.
ReplyDeleteOh, the non-Taco Bell was almost certainly a Mighty Taco.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Flair get all pouty about this title change. He didn't win the title by enough or something? No doubt it caused another skin pinching anxiety attack.
ReplyDeleteI hear he knows best.
ReplyDeleteHuh?
ReplyDeleteThe Pivot Table match? Sourced from a SQL Analysis Services Instance or Oracle Database?
ReplyDeleteEveryone said the Avs were going to regress based on stats like Corsi and Fenwick where they were disproportionately lucky last season. And that's what's happening.
ReplyDeleteHe did? He probably wasn't thrilled with Savage tapping an artery.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was an Iron Maiden show and Bruce was going off about how the stage was too small so they have to cut one of their bigger stage props.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, it was Mighty Taco. The area I was was about... 20 minutes or so outside of DL? Can't recall the name.
Just found it: Ted's Hot Dogs
Hah- it's funny because the entire Internet was enraged over Matt jobbing so badly. We are such bad judges of character when it's guys whose work we enjoy or feel sympathetic towards.
ReplyDeleteI'd put the odds of Edge ever coming back at less than 10%. Maybe less than 5%.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone is HBK.
Yes, but even that one was a decade after the big Wendy Richter / Moolah one.
ReplyDeleteUltimately I think the folks inside the 'biz who knew Matt knew he was pretty much as troubled as Jeff and destined for the same problems. That's probably why they cut him in the fall out from the Lita relationship, and who knows what was going on with those two if he was smacking her around or what.
ReplyDeleteI believe so- it's odd because I grew up close to the Harts, yet Americans are always surprised that I don't have any kind of an accent (in NY and Southern California). I constantly hear people say "aboat" where I live, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd while we're at it, I just don't think babies should drive cars!
ReplyDeleteIt's wrestling, nobody stays away. Plus the paydays are better when you've been gone. Part timing works great when you don't do it the fool way that RVD and Jericho do it where you show up to fight in the midcard during the doldrums season.
ReplyDeleteThey still kinda tried to play it like Edge had never lost at Mania since he didn't get pinned or submitted and didn't get to finish the match. Didn't really work for anybody.
ReplyDeleteAnd Austin is coming back at 49 after nearly being paralyzed in the ring. Who in professional wrestling has a healthy neck? Falling on it isn't good. I guarantee he misses the crowds and misses the paydays. I'll be shocked if you don't see him back.
ReplyDeleteIn his book he accuses Randy of blading him without telling him beforehand which is pretty fucked up if true, and had thought all the interference cheapened his win.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad Lita was such a bad promo, because her "you don't KNOW us, and don't know what was going on!" thing was basically correct. Though everyone knows she's a cup dumpster Groupie anyways... if all those online rumors are true, of course.
ReplyDeleteYeah he complains that it took too many guys to help him win the title.
ReplyDeletePlus they lost their best player and their goalie sucks.
ReplyDeleteI actually loved the finish of the triangle match. Clever way for Flair to sneak a win in. And technically it makes sense, if those 2 guys are counted out, then Flair is the only guy who doesn't lose.
ReplyDeletebrother.
ReplyDeleteOh, Teds? That's a local chain place too, like a Buffalo staple. They run the hot dog game here.
ReplyDeleteOh boo hoo. Heels are supposed to win cheating.
ReplyDeleteAustin hasn't come back yet.
ReplyDeleteListen, ten years ago, I'd have agreed with you. But with WWE being a scrutinized publicly traded company, things are much different now. The doctors refused to clear him in 2011, which is why he had to retire in the first place. All they need is for Edge to come back and get paralyzed (or worse) on live TV after what was supposed to be a career-ending injury. The company is risk-adverse as it is now, so they're not taking that chance (also see: Angle, Kurt).
I think Matt was probably a locker room cancer a lot of people were glad to have gone. Edge seems loved and respected.
ReplyDeleteThe story that came out through the dirt sheets was that Edge, who plays a sleazy heel on TV, is nailing the GIRLFRIEND of Matt Hardy, who plays a plucky babyface on TV. So real life and pro wrestling got all mish-mashed together and the Internet fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Bottom line is we are still marks, just takes different stuff to make us marks.
I guess he thought it was just too overbooked. Or maybe his philosophy is that cheating like that should NOT lead to the cheater winning? Who knows.
ReplyDeleteAustin says "I am training for a comeback" and "I am returning to the ring." I mean, I don't buy newz ever but when the guy himself says it I think it's happening. I also don't foresee the WWE saying to their most popular wrestler ever, "We don't have a spot for you to do your comeback." They're probably the ones behind it after 2014 was their worst year since 2003 and their hottest star got sidelined for the year.
ReplyDeleteUltimately you are right about them being more risk averse but WWE isn't governed by athletic commissions. They can let anybody they want to wrestle outside of states like Maryland that actually do enforce commission rules in wrestling and even then it's just strange, archaic ones like having female wrestlers take pregnancy tests.
If you have a problem with overbooking you shouldn't be working for WCW in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThe key to me was that Matt came right out and gave his side of the story online. Also, Edge was cheating on his wife with his best friend's girl. Even assuming there was other stuff going on there, ain't nothing making that sound right.
ReplyDeleteRoss Geller would win a Pivot sofa match.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that what people do in their private relationships is a poor way to judge their character. Maybe Edge's marriage was desperately unhappy and maybe Matt's relationship with Lita was as well. Were they really best friends? I guess it takes some kind of friendship when you come up together at the same time and build your careers together as peers; and certainly it takes some trust to count on someone to catch you for spots in something as dangerous as a ladder match but who knows. I thought Christian was Edge's best friend, you know?
ReplyDeleteEdge today has what seems like a quiet, happy marriage with Beth Phoenix and they had their first kid this year. There's probably a lot less drama for them outside of the chaos of being in the locker room at the peak of your career.
Really? I honestly didn't know that the story came straight from Austin himself. I'm actually surprised he's doing so, but even as an Edge fan you'd have to agree that there's a difference between WWE taking the risk for him and taking the risk for Stone Cold.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right, WWE can do whatever it wants. However, if something happens and Edge's doctors say "hey, we warned them", then WWE is in for a public-relations nightmare. Given how hard they've worked to restore their public image, it just seems unlikely to me that they'd take that particular chance. I've been wrong before, though.
It'd make perfect sense to him.
ReplyDeleteBig Show stronger career than Edge? It certainly was longer...
ReplyDeletePlus it setup the Luger/Sting feud.
ReplyDeleteHe brought it up in the 10/5 podcast but didn't go into the specifics of when it would be, opponents, etc... You can see it in the pictures he is tweeting too, he has actually been pretty consistently larger and in better shape in his post wrestling life than he was in the ring (I love his quip about hating wrestling Vince because of Vince always being in better shape) but he's put on even more mass and looks stronger than ever. Plus I think good will toward Austin is at '98 highs with how popular his podcast has made him again.
ReplyDeleteWWE will do what any shady pseudo-sport does, they will have their own doctors clear Edge in writing. If there is money to be made, like say, Mania in Toronto, they will make it. Their reliance on the past has been fairly consistent and they are not exactly about turning down one shots for people.
While their reputation is definitely better than the post-Benoit all time low they are considered by the general public to be on a moral level in between "Human traffickers of child prostitutes" and "Guys who deal crystal meth on playgrounds."
I love how all the young guys have the great matches and lose but the old guy have shit matches and win.
ReplyDeleteAs long as I am smack talking Flair I just thought of a great line Shawn could have used on HHH had they feuded post 08. "You call yourself The Game? You cause yourself the Cerebral Assassin? Well I did something you never had the guts to do. I took Flair out back and put a Sweet Chin Bullet in his head"
ReplyDeleteFlair ALWAYS had the Horsemen help him win matches. It's not like Starrcade '95 was the first time it happened.
ReplyDeleteWow...you should be writing promos for WWE right now!
ReplyDeleteThe Avs are killing my fantasy team so far! Duchene and O'Reilly need to step it up!
ReplyDeleteThanks! (I think. I am never quite sure if people are being serious or sarcastic around her.)
ReplyDeleteJust follow what your heart says.
ReplyDeleteI am not the most popular guy around here, (I was friends with Caliber and Farva...but...ummm...yeah) so I really don't know
ReplyDeleteHooray for the Rust Belt! I miss living near Pittsburgh.
ReplyDeleteTry the shitty chicken.
ReplyDeleteHey check my bio
ReplyDeleteWonder why Alex Wright never got a go in WWE. He's far for horrible and he seems like a dude Vince would love.
ReplyDeleteThe World Cup was mostly built on the B-and-C shows when Bobby Heenan "sold" part of them to Sonny Onoo.
ReplyDeleteCatching up on Total Divas
ReplyDeleteThese are not good people
You also encouraged me to kill myself once
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody remember the Sting promo that aired before the show and during the week? Always thought that was a pretty good promo to bridge the gap on the Sting character a bit and promote the triangle match.
ReplyDeleteDid everyone do an impression of Savage saying "What it is, is what it is?" in late 1995? Maybe they were trying to get it over as a new catchphrase.
They could have thrown Flair into Badd's speech spit on the card.
ReplyDeleteScripted or not, Nikki is such a bad person
ReplyDeleteEdge was the reason Smackdown stayed as relevant as it did.
ReplyDeleteThe whacky races thing was so fucking funny to me.
ReplyDeleteOh you're just being a misogynist.
ReplyDeleteI'm flipping through the old Nitros, and catch the show immediately following Bash at the Beach 1996. The outdoor venue at Disney/MGM is such a cool shot aesthetically, and it makes me that much more desirous of a visual change on Mondays. I'm not saying they have to go outdoors every week or anything, but just changing up the look would do so damn much to freshen things up.
ReplyDeleteYeah this show was awesome. The triangle match was kind of the bathroom break part but I thought that the savage match after was good. The cup format was something that I found to be pretty cool and 5 of the matches ranged from very solid to awesome so thats pretty amazing for a wcw ppv. I think this show gets way too much shit as a bad card.
ReplyDeleteI know some people think that it should have been a more traditional card because it was starrcade, but this is far from the worst gimmick starrcade they came up with.
You were over the top wallowing in self pity. You deserved it.
ReplyDeleteDon't take that personally. I think most people here that drop one on others. Mostly when discussing if John Cena should turn heel or not.
ReplyDeleteFunny how in New Japan and WCW, the best workers were under card Cruiserweights, with a lot of slugs on top. A few good Main Eventers, but that was it.
ReplyDeleteWas Chono ever really that good? He got a lot of hype, but I've only ever seen him be lazy.
Savage blading him without telling him is awful, if true
ReplyDeleteHe was skinny as hell- didn't Vince hold down someone else like that because he didn't think it looked like he could beat anyone? I'm drawing a blank to the name...
ReplyDeleteTrue....Flair had bladed 10,000 times before that but it was blade 10,001 courtesy of the Macho Man that made him the shell he is today.
ReplyDeleteNot doing yourself any favors, bud
ReplyDeleteI have courage of my convictions.
ReplyDeleteMissing the point, but sure
ReplyDeleteThe thing I always hated the most about Chono was during his feud with Rick Rude. Supposedly they had this amazing moty in japan, then just a few days later they wrestled a 25 minute match on a wcw ppv that is one of the very very worst matches I have ever seen on tv. It's not a botch fest or anything like that, but just a completely lazy and boring match.
ReplyDeleteYou don't want someone else slashing your forehead open with a razor blade. Either have the other guy agree to do it himself before the match or don't do it.
ReplyDeleteGreat to look at though.
ReplyDeleteFlair v. Savage is the only match that occurred at both Wrestlemania and Starrcade.
ReplyDeleteHaha, his big, fleshy lips are so gross.
ReplyDeleteWe can never count out that Hogan vs. Beefcake could still pull it off...
ReplyDeleteWas everyone on top an old slug though?
ReplyDeleteI've heard Chono disparaged a lot but his contemporaries seem to get a clean billing from Puro fans.
John Morrison?
ReplyDeleteYes! That's the one. Vince is a MUSCLE fetishist, not a body fetishist. He would never go for a gay porn star look like Wright.
ReplyDeleteWhether he bladed before or not is irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteSlicing someone with a razor blade against their will is assault.
You mean botching?
ReplyDeletePeople seem to love Hashimoto online, but Chono and Muta have reps for laziness. There was one MMA guy who got a huge push because MMA guys are to Inoki what muscles are to Vince, and he wasn't any good, either.
ReplyDeletePuro fans tended to act like apologists for a lot of this, but a few would take Inoki to task.
Link on the killing a guy?
ReplyDeleteEdge of Darkness with Mel Gibson.
ReplyDeleteyou aware how "taste" works?
ReplyDeleteThe most recent thing he's said (2 days ago) is that he's not coming back.
ReplyDelete...which, I'd have to guess, was written for him on the script he was reading from...
ReplyDeleteA good line is a good line. If he can deliver it well it doesn't matter who wrote it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a little bit of everything said below. To say Michael is the best play-by-play guy because he handles so much traffic as the lead announcer is misleading. Gorilla never had to steer three hours of live programming every week while serving network plugs, hashtags, etc. There's no comparison. Honestly, Vince could have probably handled the equivalent workload in the 90s. As such, with regards to his peers, I compare Cole to Ryan Seacrest. Both are good at what they do, but in this current state, there's nothing about Michael Cole himself I would tune in to listen to. Dick Clark would connect with the audience the same way Gorilla could. Agreed with the others that Michael is better when he's allowed to be himself.
ReplyDelete