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Monday Nitro - January 31, 2000

Monday Nitro #225
Date: January 31, 2000
Location: First Union Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 7,514
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Mark Madden, Mike Tenay

Reviewed by Tommy Hall

We're officially in the Madden era now, meaning things are clearly dying all around us. The big story here is that Sid is World Champion again after winning it back from Nash after having it stripped earlier in the night after an off air referee's decision. Also, Ric Flair is back. Let's get to it.


We get a quick clip of the Nash vs. Sid three day saga from last week.

Nash isn't going to be here tonight but he's named Jeff acting commissioner.

Here's the NWO to get things going complete with their girls. Jeff repeats that Nash isn't going to be here tonight but he's in charge. Well done with already changing the power. Steiner rips on the women here in Wilkes-Barre and offers the Harris Brothers a spot on the team. Well you had to expect that would happen. It's back to Jeff, who says he's going to get the first shot at Sid at SuperBrawl. Tonight it's Jeff/the Twins vs. Sid/two partners of his choosing. Jarrett is open to bribes and that's it. They kept this short and got right to the point so well done.

Sid, Flair and Harlem Heat arrive in order.

Funk asks Arn to go get Flair but Anderson tells him to go find Flair himself.

Cruiserweight Title Tournament First Round: Lash Leroux vs. Evan Karagias

Lash makes the mistake of going after 3 Count to start and walks into a powerslam from Evan. The band takes him to the floor and Evan hits a big dive to take them out again. Back in and Lash knocks him off the ropes and does the Bourbon Street Blues (the punches into the splits) but 3 Count makes another save. Evan's full nelson doesn't work but Lash comes back with a Diamond Cutter Russian legsweep (Whiplash 2000) for the pin. Really, really dull stuff here.

The NWO sends their bad catering to Sid.

Dustin Rhodes tells us not to try this at home. That's not something you often hear in WCW.

David, Crowbar and Daffney are insane and Crowbar talks like Gordon Solie. Now this actually sounds insane instead of some of the other modern CRAZY wrestlers. The Mamalukes attack and the match starts fast.

Tag Team Titles: Mamalukes vs. David Flair/Crowbar

They head outside to start with Vito being backdropped onto a bunch of snow. That's about it for being outside as everyone comes inside with Crowbar carrying a shovel. I'm going out on a limb and guessing this is a street fight. Vito drives a trashcan lid into David's crotch and the other two come inside.

Cue Ms. Hancock to watch from the aisle as Johnny slams Crowbar a few times. Crowbar fights back with a slingshot legdrop onto a chair onto Johnny's face. It's table time but Crowbar, being a bit off, puts the table on top of Johnny instead of the other way around. Disco breaks up a moonsault, allowing Vito to splash Crowbar through the table to retain.

Rating: D. Another ECW style brawl with too many moving parts to have any really stand out. I'm sure we'll get one more pay per view matches out of these teams, even though they've pretty definitively eliminated any chance of the titles changing back. At least Crowbar and Flair are entertaining with how out there they've gotten.

Brian Knobbs has a bribe for Jarrett in exchange for putting Finlay in the ring against Luger later. Jeff promises they'll be in there at the same time.

Here's Booker T. with something to say but his music stops halfway down the aisle. This brings out J. Biggs who says that music is the property of Harlem Heat, meaning only Stevie Ray and Big T. can listen to it. Instead, Booker can use this song instead. A generic rock song plays and Biggs calls it a meaningless song for a meaningless man.

Now we get to the infamous part of this story: Biggs says that the T, as in of Booker T., is also Harlem Heat property, so Booker can't use it anymore, or the flames on his attire either. So yes, somehow this feud is over Harlem Heat, which is apparently an entity instead of just a tag team, owning the rights to a letter of the alphabet. Harlem Heat leaves and Midnight shows up to go after Biggs, but Harlem Heat comes back out for the save. We're officially in one of the dumbest stories WCW ever did and you know how much ground that covers.

3 Count beats up Norman Smiley.

Jarrett tells Finlay that he'll be in the same ring as Luger, as he referees a match between the Total Package and Brian Knobbs.

Norman gets inside the Demon's casket and the lid closes. Instead of fighting for the US Title, he's inside a coffin to help him fight off a boy band.

Kidman vs. The Wall

Rematch of that Cell match they had a few weeks back. Kidman slugs away to start but gets kicked in the face. A backbreaker sets up some choking from the Wall, before he blocks a sunset flip with even more choking. Well no one ever accused him of being the most versatile guy in the world. Wall plants him with a clothesline but YOU CAN'T PUT KIDMAN ON THE TOP ROPE, as he kicks Wall away and hits a missile dropkick. His high cross body is countered into a powerslam though and Wall grabs him by the throat again. This brings out Vampiro to kick Wall in the back, giving Kidman a roll up win.

Rating: D+. That ends the run of match of the night for Kidman but given who he was in there with, it's hard to argue against him being the hottest thing in the company at the moment. Kidman is trying really hard lately and was able to carry Wall to a passable match. That alone makes him into a more impressive performer than most.

Here's Flair for his big return speech. He brags about being bigger than the Steelers, Eagles and Pirates and lists off some hockey players who aren't as big a star as he is. Ten years ago there were some people who could run with him, but Space Mountain still has the longest line. A few weeks ago the Powers That Be asked him to be the commissioner, but he turned them down because he's the greatest wrestler alive today. He came up here because the deal was right and now he needs to say something to Terry Funk.

Flair can't believe that Funk has been implying that Flair would support him, because there's a big difference between Ric Flair and Terry Funk. This brings out Funk, who is loudly booed. He calls Flair banana nosed and horse toothed but praises him for all those World Titles. However, Funk senses some jealousy in Ric's voice. Maybe it comes from Mick Foley saying Flair isn't in Funk's league in his book? STOP PROMOTING OTHER COMPANY'S STUFF!

Anyway, Flair needs to grow up and help in the fight against the NWO, but then tells him to go be Governor of North Carolina and leave the fight to himself and Arn Anderson. Flair wants to fight, even though he's head to toe in Armani. Funk comes in, punches him down, and puts on the spinning toe hold until security comes out for the save. So yeah, they're fighting over who is a bigger legend and Flair seems to be a heel, even though the fans booed Funk. This is one of the top stories in the company at the moment.

Jarrett thinks Funk and Flair will be Sid's partners.

Sting is in some movie.

Sid isn't worried about the NWO.

Ms. Hancock wants to know why Lenny and Lodi haven't been wearing their suits but they say they're done. That's not cool with Hancock, who reminds them of the West Hollywood Blonds stunt that almost got them fired. Lenny, and I quote: “Oh yeah, we're REAL lucky to have a job in WCW.” They're sick of this stupid “gimmick” and tell Hancock to come find them when the bun is out of her hair. So much for the fourth wall.

Total Package vs. Brian Knobbs

Liz and Luger have the Sting stuff with them. Fit Finlay is guest referee here for no apparent reason. Knobbs jumps Luger to start and elbows him in the face. The Pit Stop is loaded up but Finlay pushes Brian's arm down for some reason. Knobbs responds by.....doing it anyway. They head outside with Knobbs whipping him into the barricade, only to have Finlay blast Knobbs from behind.

Back in and Brian, apparently not hurt by a shot to the head, fires off clotheslines and drops some elbows as this is the most motivated he's been in years. Brian goes up for a splash but Finlay stands in front of him, allowing Liz to hit Knobbs with a bat. That's it for Finlay as he leaves, allowing Luger to Pillmanize Brian's arm. We get some smack talk about Hogan and I'm assuming it's a no contest.

Rating: D-. So we have Finlay vs. Knobbs in an actually interesting feud (gah that's hard to say) and then Luger wanting to fight Hogan for no reason other than the script says so. Knobbs now has a broken arm, so maybe he'll be off screen for a bit? Somehow this was better than I was expecting.

Norman Smiley comes out of a coffin dressed as the Demon. Egads.

Dale Torborg is mad that someone has stolen his outfit. So much for staying in character.

Shane Helms vs. Norman Smiley

Norman is the Demon because he's the original Santino Marella. Helms starts fast with a Russian legsweep but Norman pops up like a skilled guy stuck in a horrible comedy gimmick and slams Shane down. In the middle of this match of all things, we hear that Hogan will be on Thunder this week. That doesn't get a big segment of its own? Well of course it doesn't. Helms busts out an airplane spin but Norman comes back with a giant swing. It's time to dance but the other 3 Count members have to be dispatched. The Norman's Conquest is good for the quick submission.

Cue Torborg with the cops to chase Norman off.

Page and Kimberly are in the back when the Mamalukes come up. Vito gets a quick feel of her but Kimberly thinks it was Disco, who calls her a bimbo for accusing him. Page beats Disco up out of principle.

Diamond Dallas Page vs. Disco Inferno

Page drags Inferno into the arena and they get all up in DJ Ran's area. DJ Ran still had a job in 2000??? They fight through the crowd with Page in control and the bell finally rings once they're inside. A top rope clothesline and Rock Bottom knock Disco even sillier (yet doesn't mess with that perfect hair) but he comes back with, what else, a low blow. Disco's usual neckbreaker and middle rope elbow set up the dancing, only to have Page plant him with a helicopter bomb. The Diamond Cutter ends this in a hurry, as it should have. I guess Page is a full on face again.

Jeff Jarrett/Harris Twins vs. Terry Funk/Sid Vicious/Ric Flair

And there's no Flair. It's a brawl in the aisle to start with Sid fighting the Twins and Funk not being able to keep up. Sid takes we'll say Ron inside and Funk throws in a chair, which the Twins quickly throw back out. You can hear a fan complaining about his eye hurting because the fans are that silent. Ron gets backdropped to the floor but Don breaks up a powerbomb on Jarrett. So the powerbomb is legal again?

Things settle down with Funk working on Ron's leg, only to get chaired in the back by Don. Off to Jarrett to hammer away in the corner, only to have Funk grab a quick piledriver for a breather. It's off to Sid to clean house and here comes Flair to go after Funk as we flash back to 1989. Actually that's a great thing. Security drags him away and Ron gets chokeslammed with Don making a save. That earns Don a powerbomb but Jeff comes in with the guitar to knock Sid cold for the pin.

Rating: D. So is Flair a heel? Because that would be about the dumbest thing they could do right now. Therefore, we'll go with the idea that Flair is a heel at the moment. The match was there so Flair could come out and attack Funk to set up their match down the road, even though I'm not sure how much interest there is in the two of them fighting, as they're a combined 106 years old at this point.

Overall Rating: D-. So they bring Flair back and turn him heel, again leaving Sid and Funk as the top faces in this company. At this point, I really can't bother getting annoyed anymore. Between that and Finlay and Knobbs having one of the most developed stories on the roster, this company really is just melting before our eyes. On top of all that, it's becoming clearer and clearer that Jarrett is just going to hold the US Title without frequently, or even occasionally, defending it, meaning a big chuck of the roster is just running around fighting for no reason. It's such a waste but it's what we're stuck with.


Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with cheap wrestling books at:


http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Comments

  1. I think I've always said that Seth is a shit champion. Agreeing with me is generally going against the blog zeitgeist.


    As for you, your lack of understanding of assembling hexagons shows that your being right about this was probably a fluke.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 24, 2015 at 3:52 PM

    AAA uses a 6 sided ring, I think. There's some promotion in Japan that uses it too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. TNA should have partnered with those people for Bound for Glory.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oprah NoodlemantraJune 24, 2015 at 3:55 PM

    Somewhere Vince Russo makes a note...

    ReplyDelete
  5. On TEW I started a 91 scenario, cheated and brought in Flair, Arn and Tully and had them recruit Perfect to the Horsmen with Heenan filling the Dillon role and had them run rough-shed from RR 91 to WM 8

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unless Jarrett has a TV deal in his back pocket that no one knows about, what's the point?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Let's be honest. Does it really matter?

    ReplyDelete
  8. If they were doing Triple Threats before the attitude era, then Savage v Warrior v Hogan.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So THAT'S the language he spoke in his promos!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hogan destroying a 14 year old Cena would have solved a lot of problems

    ReplyDelete
  11. What business metrics are they referring to? It's such a general term. How can they tell immediately after Cena loses to Owens that it was bad for business?


    It makes no sense.

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  12. Yeah, nice try, bro.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You're the one internet nerd who believes that Owens doesn't have a bright future? Because that's what you're saying.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This sort of feels like that time Michael Scott had his paper company, only it had no real value and he just threated to keep renaming it. I don't understand how two companies with no real value behind them would merge for. What economies of scale/scope are the hoping to pick up by doing this?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yeah, I get the Executive Auteur theory and all, but I still grit my teeth when I hear it. When you have enough money you can survive the things that would sink other companies. That WWE had money to pay promoters into folding has a lot to do with them sinking the territories. Attitude Era was great but for at least a year and a half, WWE was a dinosaur that didn't want to catch up to changing times.

    McMahon deserves a lot of credit but much of his success also has to do with having enough money to roll with his failures long enough for the ship to get right. He didn't think pushing Stone Cold was the right move until Bret Hart said 'put this guy in a program with me.' What would McMahon's system have looked like without that?

    His current system is different too. I'd call it the diminishing returns era.

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  16. I know that if I was voting, I would have voted to keep him around. Of the three of them, I thought he had the possibility of being the most distinctive and entertaining.


    As far as being out of shape, didn't we just lay to rest one of the greatest of all time, who was overweight but could cut a ridiculously entertaining promo? Sure, ZZ's a bit of a doofus, but he's a swaggering charismatic doofus, and I want to see what he can do with some training. The guy who went home was generic.


    I don't always agree with how much you get down on some of the stuff, but your snark is always world-class--and I think your fiancee is even more spectacular in that area.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Found this gem on Facebook:

    "People should just forget about 9/11 once and for all, its been almost 15 years already, and that was a total load of crap."

    ReplyDelete
  18. GWF probably still has more cache at this point.

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  19. I don't have an issue with being out of shape. Several wrestlers have been. The problem is that ZZ doesn't seem interested in being a wrestler. Dude's 18 and I think he's in "party mode". I have a feeling that he could steal the thing -- but I think Tanner's too good.

    And thanks for the compliments. :)

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  20. >Ok, first, I'm not the "target audience". I never will be. I'm here to review the stuff WWE puts on the air (and do so for two other blogs who count on me to review it for clicks) and decided to do this because it's fun to write. Being the "target audience" doesn't enter into it.

    Then why are you bothering to watch the show in the first place? The original commenter was right, whether Tough Enough was good or bad, your review indicates that you're immediately writing it off and it makes the rest of the review not worth reading.

    >But the arguments that I'm "negative" and that I'm "not the best person" are completely moot.


    Not in the slightest and I would argue they are in fact quite relevant. For a while your RAW reviews were criticised for being 3 hours of nonstop negativity and the fact you were only reviewing to get as many snarky comments as possible, completely overlooking segments of the show that were positive or getting things wrong about the show, all in the name of making another unfunny comment and it made them hard to read.


    Same with Tough Enough. I don't think any of us need Danielle's unfunny and uninteresting asides.


    If the first line in your review indicates where you're going with this, why should I even bother?

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  21. Yea, but MST3K was funny.

    ReplyDelete
  22. "why should I even bother?"

    Good question. Have a good one.

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  23. You underestimate his ability to know when to listen to people. What if he just did every fool thing that Vince Russo thought up, instead of separating the wheat from the chaff?

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  24. WWE has also given several seasons of Tough Enough that were great TV and I loved watching.


    Not to mention the documentaries they have produced.

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  25. If Matt hates reality TV and hates the way WWE produces reality TV, why is he even bothering to watch this show?

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  26. I really, really, really, want a 2nd promotion to succeed. Can we crowd-source or own it like the Green Bay Packers? I have a fear that wrestling will not be around for my grandkids. That bothers me more than the Confederate Flag.

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  27. Their docs are different than their Reality TV fare which has gotten worse with each passing year. Tough Enough is a shell of what it used to be.

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  28. It's getting to the point where you have to look for good wrestling via alternative means. It's out there, you just have to look for it.

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  29. Maybe TNA and GFW will get together and do Superclash IV.

    ReplyDelete
  30. V. Read about IV here, because you'll never see it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SuperClash#SuperClash_4

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  31. He listens eventually. Sometimes it's in time, sometimes its too little, too late. The Cena era has been dominated by too little too late. Something like the "Yes" movement involved him saying "no" to easy money on multiple occasions and the stalled pushes of some very talented mid carders makes me wonder how good his batting avg actually is.

    I'm not saying he isn't a brilliant mind or that he isn't creative; but he's not someone who would always succeed if he lost his ability to stack the deck or if a few things didn't fall his way.

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  32. Jesus, time really is cyclical and we're reliving the early '90s again. This is the WCCW and CWA merger that led to the USWA. I guess that makes Dixie Fritz Von Erich?

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  33. Another thought: if Jarrett got some kind of severance package or go away money to leave TNA in the first place, after having already sold the controlling portion to the Carters years before, and this merger is really Jarrett buying what's left of the company back at a fraction of the price... he's one smart son of a bitch. Think about it: he got paid multiple times by a moron's family for the same product, then buys it up and sells it off to another sucker.

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  34. If you don't like WWE's reality TV, why bother watching Tough Enough?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Do you recap any shows you actually like?

    ReplyDelete
  36. http://www.theworkprint.com/author/matt-perri

    I'm sure you'll find something I said I liked.

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  37. Tying two sinking ships together won't make them float.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I see reviews of Total Divas, another show you disparaged.


    Again, why are you watching it?

    ReplyDelete
  39. It's WWE. I cover it because I like to write about things, for better or worse, and I find myself enjoying their programming.

    ReplyDelete
  40. See response about writer/WWE/because. There's also like 6 pages of reviews of shows, movies and other things.

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  41. The ring would be almost circular, it'd have 36 sides. GFW sounds like it sucks and TNA outside of Angle and the Wolves does suck. A lot.

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  42. I don't think Hogan/Tyson was ever gonna happen. For Hogan/Andre, I don't think that was gonna draw 100k, especially when you factor in how much Andre was phased out in 1990 and that physically he probably couldn't have a match.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Yeah... I got that...


    My joke was based on how tight the ropes would need to be to have a ring with that many sides...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hogan vs Dusty Rhodes?

    ReplyDelete
  45. World War 3 had a total of twelve sides for the ring in that PPV series and I don't think a whole lot of good came from that

    ReplyDelete
  46. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 24, 2015 at 7:06 PM

    Great point

    ReplyDelete
  47. ...and hangs it on a pole

    ReplyDelete
  48. But what if Kurt Angle DOES try this time?

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  49. What do you enjoy about their programming?

    ReplyDelete
  50. "welcome to a land mark night in sports entertainment."

    "I have seen it and i still cannot believe it"

    - Josh Matthews 2015

    ReplyDelete
  51. Nothing says "supercard" more than The Milkman vs. Todd Becker.

    And how stupid was Verne for not taping that show for home video?
    He taped all his other supercards for the home video market, what caused him to decide not to tape that one?

    ReplyDelete
  52. Yeah, I don't get it either. It's not like Impact's staying on the air past September so what is he really getting besides Mike Tenay's contract?

    ReplyDelete
  53. I like wrestling. I've always liked wrestling. Lately, it hasn't been good. I like their documentaries. Those are always a winner because they're compelling. I watch wrestling because I know WWE is better than this.

    Now, I know you think everything is five stars and so on and so forth. I'm not gonna change your opinion. There's no point in me explaining anything to you because I've repeated it, ad nauseum, weeks ago. You missed out because you either don't listen the first time or you're content on mocking people you don't agree with.

    That's your thing, man. You, sitting there asking the same question over and over and not listening to the answers isn't my problem.

    Seriously, it's time for you to move on. A better question is, "If you hate me and hate to read what I write, why do you keep coming back?"

    That's a question that has gone unanswered and I have a feeling that it always will as long as you remain who you are.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Not quite. Impact's still cancelled at the end of September. The only way Jarrett can get a deal with DA is if he takes the same bargain basement deal that ROH took. Discovery's already decided they're not spending $10 million or more per year on wrestling ever again.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Personally, I would much rather read the recap than watch the show, so if he wants to rip it to shreds, that's fine.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Oh wow. I never knew about that.

    ReplyDelete
  57. The USSR was technically still around, but the Baltic states had already seceded or were as good as gone, a failed coup had taken place in the central government, glasnost was several years old...it was a matter of when, not if, for the Soviets.

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  58. I love the Brain but he had become too much of a clown to be the most effective mouthpiece he could be. Gorilla, who had NO fucking clue at all how to get Flair over and was absolutely aggravating to listen to when dealing with Ric, didn't help matters either, and the two sort of encouraged each other, whether intentionally or not.


    I also bring up Heenan because he was the WWF's #2 choice at the time. They wanted Jim Cornette in the role--another outsider. But Jim was fed up with national wrestling at the time and was in the process of starting up SMW, so he wasn't going to do it. It would have been very, very interesting if it happened, though.

    ReplyDelete
  59. He forgot how to press record on his VCR?

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  60. Oprah NoodlemantraJune 24, 2015 at 8:30 PM

    He probably never knew how to use one. Always flashed 12:00.

    ReplyDelete
  61. The WBF was such an odd venture that you have to think he had some ulterior motives for it. I just can't see Vince ever seeing it being some massive success.



    It's just always been a small niche "sport". Even though the XFL failed, I get it. Football was an insanely popular sport -- it's exciting. WWE Films makes sense. WWF NY in Times Square could have been a decent tourist destination in their hottest market. Nobody was getting that excited over bodybuilding.

    ReplyDelete
  62. It wasn't a single connected ring. The power of the ring isn't realized unless it is whole.

    ReplyDelete
  63. But a double negative makes a positive. #metaphorwars

    ReplyDelete
  64. He's getting Jeff Hardy and any future Charismatic Apology paintings

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  65. It was actually mentioned a bunch in The Observer at the time, directly following WrestleMania for the most part. I don't really recall hearing about it after SummerSlam when Warrior was clearly #2 on the pecking order again.


    It was likely one of the reasons they decided to try and 'humanize' the Warrior by doing the 'Amanda Ultimate Warrior' bit, changing his hairstyle, wearing less face paint, etc. There are a couple of reports at TV tapings where they passed out something like 10,000 Warrior masks just to make it look like he had a bigger following.



    Hogan was getting crazy sympathy in the aftermath of WM 6.

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  66. FOLLOW THAT! screamed Milliman as he walked through the curtain.

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  67. It's a fair question

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  68. >Now, I know you think everything is five stars and so on and so forth. I'm not gonna change your opinion. There's no point in me explaining anything to you because I've repeated it, ad nauseum, weeks ago.

    Of course not. I enjoy watching WWE programming, or else I wouldn't watch five hours of it a week. I also wouldn't recap three shows a week if I thought their programming was such drek.

    >You missed out because you either don't listen the first time or you're content on mocking people you don't agree with.

    It's because your explanation is weak. No guys, I actually like the shows I shit on every week.

    You recap these shows as an excuse to just come up with unfunny snarky one-liners each week.

    There was your review of Extreme Rules, which you acted like was offensively terrible and insult to wrestling, when sensible people saw it for what it was, a B show.

    You ripped on New Day for winning the tag titles, which you ended up being very wrong about.

    There's stuff you've missed or glossed over on RAW because it doesn't fit with your all snark all the time mantra.

    >That's your thing, man. You, sitting there asking the same question over and over and not listening to the answers isn't my problem.

    I'm on multiple blogs! No, I like RAW. I like Total Divas?

    >Seriously, it's time for you to move on. A better question is, "If you hate me and hate to read what I write, why do you keep coming back?"

    I didn't read this. Why would I?

    You began the recap with this:

    I know, I know...we're all just so thrilled this show is back on television since it gave us wrestlers we can all agree are pretty OK. Like The Miz and Ryback.

    And I knew the recap was going to be the usual.

    I'm Matt Perri and my other half, Danielle, will be putting in her quips on, this, the first episode of the sixth season of WWE Tough Enough...



    I also saw this, and given that Danielle has never said anything of substance, I knew I wasn't going to enjoy this.


    So I scrolled to the comments and saw you misunderstanding someone's criticism.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Double negatives? You mean you have photographs?

    ReplyDelete
  70. Who do you think you are, Billy Preston?

    ReplyDelete
  71. If we can get 2 more companies involved, we could approximate a circle.

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  72. It's synergy - 0 x 0 = 0.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I'd prefer to see Scott Steiner do the math on this

    ReplyDelete
  74. Of course not. I enjoy watching WWE programming, or else I wouldn't
    watch five hours of it a week. I also wouldn't recap three shows a week
    if I thought their programming was such drek.


    Obviously.

    It's because your explanation is weak. No guys, I actually like the shows I shit on every week.

    No, you just don't agree with my explanation and you're ignoring several shows I've given praise to. But, you know...don't let facts get in the way of your arguments.

    You recap these shows as an excuse to just come up with unfunny snarky one-liners each week.

    And you still read it.

    There was your review of Extreme Rules, which you acted like was
    offensively terrible and insult to wrestling, when sensible people saw
    it for what it was, a B show.

    Man, you're obsessed with that moment, aren't you?

    You ripped on New Day for winning the tag titles, which you ended up being very wrong about.

    In your opinion. And you realize they no longer have the titles...right? Just sayin'...

    There's stuff you've missed or glossed over on RAW because it doesn't fit with your all snark all the time mantra.

    Yep. On occasion. Next?

    I'm on multiple blogs! No, I like RAW. I like Total Divas?

    I've said, several times, I like watching it. If you can't handle what I say about it, then don't read it. It's really that simple.

    I didn't read this. Why would I?

    You began the recap with this:

    I know, I know...we're all just so thrilled this show is back on
    television since it gave us wrestlers we can all agree are pretty OK.
    Like The Miz and Ryback.


    Yep.

    And I knew the recap was going to be the usual.

    So you didn't read it...but you read it?

    So I scrolled to the comments and saw you misunderstanding someone's criticism.


    That's nice. You're done now, right? You'll just stop arguing now? You're wasting your time.

    I'm no longer interested in engaging with one of the children from NPP. The behavior and cyber-stalking from you guys has been creepy as all get out. And the longer you keep at this, the more pathetic you guys seem to me.


    I just let you guys troll every single Tuesday and watch your posts get deleted because even Scott's admins are sick of the act.

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  75. I was thinking the same thing. Super adorable face. She actually looked worse with less clothes because the clothes covered up her much too muscley frame.

    Probably means I'm sexsist but whatever. I like women who don't have bodies that are similar to a man's.

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  76. If I can change ... And you can change ... EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE!!!!

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  77. The minute Hogan created the fifth demandment - that should have been the heel turn.

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  78. Matt I'm curious as to what you thought was rigged. The actual voting or how they set it up for Hank to get the least amount of votes?

    Because I didn't think the actual voting wasn't rigged. I really think people are that stupid and liked ZZ most, for all the things you made fun of: he's Cajun and they call him gator and he takes his draws off in hot tubs etc etc.

    PS: Was I the only one that thought Bryan came off kind of like a dick? He cut people off, basically told Hank he could beat him up, and just had an air about him like "you are all beneath me; not saying it wasn't true or entertaining, just surprised by it.

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  79. Not sure what NPP has to do with it. I'm not "one of the children" from there.

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  80. What feels "rigged" to me is asking viewers to vote on contestants based on manipulated, taped "reality TV" segments. That's really irking me thus far.

    Would love to see more live segments which serve to determine the winners and losers.

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  81. They would need a lot of money. Which isn't impossible, of course. Gotta have big advertising, star luring funds, prime time slot, great production values... you have to look on the same level as Vince. Unfortunately, TNA's run - fairly or not I won't debate - could damage the perception from television executives as far as the viability of a non-WWE wrestling promotion.

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  82. A square can already be considered an approximation of a circle in Indiana.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Pi_Bill

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  83. Hard-wire connection.

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  84. When I was a kid my buddies' Mother wouldn't let us order a TNA PPV. She didn't believe it was really wrestling - must've wondered what her mischievous son had talked me into! We couldn't convince her it was just good old rasslin'.

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  85. Dedicated UnderachieverJune 24, 2015 at 10:50 PM

    You missed my point.


    You complained negatively about Tough Enough being made to begin with. It had nothing to do with the quality of the show. You're introduction was dripping with sarcasm and if you, as a reviewer, already have such a negative opinion about the topic you are writing about then me as the reader, will have that taint all that you say.


    Even how you structured your reply to me keeps the negative flow happening and you are wrong to boot. Total Divas is a E! Network show not the WWE. They collaborate with the WWE on the type of show they want and since they cough up the $$$ for the rights, what we largely see is what the E! wants. USA wanted to reboot Tough Enough as part of the TV rights fee agreement and they are footing the bill for the production. Again, what airs is likely what USA wants. High on "personal" drama, low on actual wrestling.


    My kid and I watched Swerved this morning. He's 7 and laughed hysterically at the 1st episode. Sure it's juvenile comedy but so what? Candid Camera and Jackass survived for years doing this exact same thing. I got a laugh at Hornswoggle running around covered in cheese trying to rub himself up against Rene Young. I got a laugh at the hatred everyone got for Ziggler as they kept getting shocked. Totally harmless fun.


    Knock yourself out with what you want to write. You're the one that has to spend time and effort writing something you had no desire to enjoy in the first place. But more than a few people agree with me and you're the only person to reply with a rebuttal to what I said. Maybe you should take it as constructive criticism and less with the butthurt posturing.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Did they earn enough money from Trump Plaza to justify airing from such a small venue? Obviously there was no getting around that after a point, but still.

    But no, I don't think any match could have sold out 100K by the time WrestleMania VII. Not even Hogan/Flair.

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  87. I think he was just a mark for the male physique, and wanted to run his own event, "promoted MY WAY, dammit!", with his own control.

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  88. Evil Warrior would have been fucking cool. But he'd have gotten way too popular to still be a heel- it was like how Demolition was popular so quickly. I could totally see it as a "Great Muta in Japan" type situation, where he'd unleash Evil Warrior against strong opponents.

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  89. You may be right. The voters may not be the brightest. I just think that they see ZZ as a cute little ratings-grabber. I could sense that ZZ was gonna stay the more he would grin at the camera and do goofy shit.

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  90. That's interesting- for some reason, I always figured that the Sheik was directly inspired by the Hostage Crisis.

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  91. Sure it's juvenile comedy but so what?

    This confirms every I said above.

    But more than a few people agree with me and you're the only person to reply with a rebuttal to what I said.

    That's great. Congratulations on receiving all those upvotes. It wouldn't be the first time a bunch of people agreed with somebody's opinion about me. I've had those moments on the board where everyone agrees with me on something, too. That happens on Disqus. It's pretty common.

    I'm also glad you liked Swerved. Enjoy.

    Maybe you should take it as constructive criticism and less with the butthurt posturing.

    Oh, I do take it as constructive criticism. The problem is that you're missing the point: it's a snark-filled recap. If that's not your thing, sorry.

    Apparently, it works. People like to read me and they hate to read me. I just keep doing it, regardless of what they think. I take my jabs because I think what I say is pretty harmless. I choose to cover it for three reasons:

    1) I like WWE and wrestling in general.
    2) WWE programming recaps are things that get clicks.
    3) I write for this and two other blogs where I'm obligated to produce pieces for them such as the recaps I write and they like the clicks.

    I don't think this is about me "posturing" so much as it's readers taking what I write so seriously. There's a difference.

    I've taken criticism in the past and I've used to be better. I DO respond to criticism that doesn't make sense to me in a sarcastic manner.

    Sorry for sounding like a dick.

    Anyhow, have a good night.

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  92. I've answered it. About a dozen times. You're not interested and you're just here to argue, so...yeah...

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  93. >No, you just don't agree with my explanation and you're ignoring several shows I've given praise to. But, you know...don't let facts get in the way of your arguments.

    You gave praise to several RAWs basically after you were dragged kicking and screaming because your reviews has basically become RAW Is Unfunny Snark.

    >And you still read it.

    You still watch WWE programming. Same thing.

    >Man, you're obsessed with that moment, aren't you?

    Pretty much. It summed up everything bad about your reviews and its style in a nutshell. Had to go for the big hyperbolic moment in a pathetic attempt to generate attention and it fell flat on its face. Ooo you went after a meaningless B-show, my keyboard is scorching from the hot takes.

    >In your opinion. And you realize they no longer have the titles...right? Just sayin'...

    Did New Day not get over? Did they not soon find themselves as one of the hottest acts in the company? Did they not end up getting a lot of heat? Were you wrong?

    >Yep. On occasion. Next?

    Yea, this makes you kind of bad at the whole recapping thing.

    >I've said, several times, that I like watching it. You don't listen because it's more fun for you to argue. If you can't handle what I say about it, then don't read it. It's really that simple.

    If what WWE puts out is so bad, don't watch it. Or you could keep on claiming that you do like it, even if your recaps are pretty much endless negativity. But you do like it, even though you don't.

    You like Total Divas, even though you don't.

    >by WWE who also gave us two of the greatest genre master works ever in "Total Divas" and "Swerved"

    But remember, you like Total Divas.

    >So you didn't read it...but you read it?


    Saw your opening spiel and was immediately turned off by how douchey and unfunny it was and did not read the rest.


    >No. I took the criticism and responded because it doesn't make any sense.


    The guy above was right. Sorry, but it's true.


    >I'm no longer interested in engaging with one of the children from NPP. The behavior and cyber-stalking from you guys has been creepy as all get out. And the longer you keep at this, the more pathetic you guys seem. Not only to me, but to the other people here.


    No idea what this is referring to. Who is "you guys?" What cyber-stalking have I done?


    >I just let you guys troll every single Tuesday and I don't respond and then I chuckle as I watch your posts get deleted because even Scott's admins are sick of the act.


    No idea what this is referring to either.

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  94. >Oh, I do take it as constructive criticism. The problem is that you're missing the point: it's a snark-filled recap. If that's not your thing, sorry.


    This is coming from the guy who basically alienated everyone with his RAW recaps in the spring.


    >1) I like WWE and wrestling in general.


    Wrestling, sure, why not, but if you "like" WWE, I'd hate to see how you respond to things you actually don't like.

    >I don't think this is about me "posturing" so much as it's readers taking what I write so seriously. There's a difference.


    I think it's more that your readers are just tired of this style since you don't do it very well. Snark can work in reviews when the person is funny or biting. You are neither. Most of what you write comes off as eye rolling at best, blank stares at worst. I think Danielle's "contributions" usually merit a head shake.

    ReplyDelete
  95. I like WWE, I'm just going to act like almost every time I watch one of their programs it's torture.


    Got it.

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  96. >This is coming from the guy who basically alienated everyone with his RAW recaps in the spring.

    Hardly. The recap is still getting the same amount of clicks.

    >I think it's more that your readers are just tired of this style since
    you don't do it very well. Snark can work in reviews when the person is
    funny or biting. You are neither. Most of what you write comes off as
    eye rolling at best, blank stares at worst. I think Danielle's
    "contributions" usually merit a head shake.

    And you still read it. And you take hours of your personal time to argue with a guy you hate. I mean, seriously: what do you care what I think? Just enjoy the show, dude. I'm not stopping you.

    I just disagree with you and you can't stand it.

    Oh, and I might add: Bayless had nearly the exact same line of thought on Monday's show that I did. In fact, him and I have lined up well in the last four weeks.

    We've both liked what we've seen and we've disliked what we've seen.

    You're just trying to join what ever mob you think is left.

    Good luck.

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  97. No. I write for this and two other blogs where I am scheduled and obligated to produce pieces. I choose the recap route.

    Anyhow, that's the last time I explain it. By the way, Daniel up there is right.

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  98. >You gave praise to several RAWs basically after you were dragged kicking
    and screaming because your reviews has basically become RAW Is Unfunny
    Snark.

    Yeah, that's delusional as hell and arrogant to boot. I hated it last week -- and so did Bayless. I'm not in the minority. Several others on the boards agreed with my opinion. If I was "forced to like it", I wouldn't have given it such a low rating. The truth is you're in a rage because I dared to trash what you thought was perfection.

    >You still watch WWE programming. Same thing.

    No. It's not. I'm scheduled and obligated to watch and report for who I write for. You're not scheduled nor obligated to be here or to argue with me.

    You don't have an excuse.

    >Man, you're obsessed with that moment, aren't you?
    >Pretty much.

    Thanks for admitting that. You're done.

    Keep reading!

    ReplyDelete
  99. Ring of Honor had a killer episode tonight.

    Lucha is amazing for fans who think the Sports Entertainment part of wrestling is crucial

    PWG is basically the best "Pure" wrestling around

    If you're willing to look, there is a promotion for you

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  100. I don't know that you have to look on the same level as VKM. You could go entirely in the other direction; instead of glossy and polished, gritty and rough. The production values would have to be solid, yes, but I don't see why anyone would ever try to out VKM the WWE again.

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  101. Yes, because all men are ripped and muscular, you can see that in the sea of jacked up Adonises in every WWE crowd. So, yeah, dude, you're sexist, but I guess at least you're...owning it?

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  102. I think Vince genuinely thought that Hogan vs Slaughter coinciding with Desert Storm was going to be massive, and got a nasty shock when it wasn't. Although that said, WMVII was booked for the 100K LA Memorial Coliseum since before even WMVI aired, long before the Slaughter storyline was even conceived of, so god only knows what the thinking was there.
    The funniest part of this whole episode though was when the WWF claimed that they were forced to switch WMVII to the 20K Sports Arena because of "security concerns". LOL. So the fact that they only sold 16,000 tickets had nothing to do with it then?

    ReplyDelete
  103. Dedicated UnderachieverJune 25, 2015 at 1:53 AM

    Not to put too fine of a point on it but I have never read anything by you before. This was my first go and I gave up largely because of the fact you were negative about the show before you even watched it. How do I know this is your "thing"?


    So while your legion of fans may be into it, for those of us reading for the first time it comes across as petty. That's why it matters about first impressions.


    So I did the courtesy and went and read your recap. I really wish I hadn't. There's a difference between satire and sarcasm and just being mean spirited in the guise of being witty. You fall into the latter with a thud. I'm not a PC champion but derogatory gay-bashing humour stopped being funny long ago. It's one of the final refuges of the unimaginative. But hey, you stood up against Big Bad Billy Gunn and his comments about the woman...YOU DA MAN!


    As for this "Danielle" stuff...unfunny, pointless and wholly unbelievable.

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  104. Meltzer reported it at the time

    ReplyDelete
  105. >Hardly. The recap is still getting the same amount of clicks.

    I did read the comments, where everyone was basically telling you to stop and that this RAW is Snark style was not working. As said before, you were overlooking aspects of the show and flat-out getting things wrong if it didn't fit your snark view.

    >And you still read it. And you take hours of your personal time to argue with a guy you hate. I mean, seriously: what do you care what I think? Just enjoy the show, dude. I'm not stopping you.

    I didn't read this. I don't read the Total Divas stuff, because, ugh. Also, I don't watch Total Divas because it's not my thing, which is quite the novel concept. I think your mind was just blown.

    It's a shame I didn't read this, sounds like I missed some good gay bashing.

    >Oh, and I might add: Bayless had nearly the exact same line of thought on Monday's show that I did. In fact, him and I have lined up well in the last four weeks.

    I didn't like RAW either.

    I do read Bayless' recap every week. He gets them up in a timely fashion and he focuses on recapping RAW, not trying to get himself or his girlfriend over with unfunny comments and mindless snark.

    I don't always agree with him, but I can see where he's coming from and he explains himself well. I'm really glad he started recapping RAW.

    >You're just trying to join what ever mob you think is left.


    You were wrong about NPP, so it's not just a generic mob? Okay, then.

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  106. >Yeah, that's delusional as hell and arrogant to boot.


    Completely missing the point, which is what you seem to do when people criticise you.




    >I hated it last week -- and so did Bayless. I'm not in the minority. Several others on the boards agreed with my opinion. If I was "forced to like it", I wouldn't have given it such a low rating. The truth is you're in a rage because I dared to trash what you thought was perfection.


    I didn't like RAW either. No one said you were "forced to like it."


    What I said was your reviews weren't even about the show anymore, it was basically one long blob of text of you trying to get yourself over at the expense of recapping the show.


    Segments were seemingly discarded and details missed if they were not deemed worthy of some unfunny snark.


    >No. It's not. I'm scheduled and obligated to watch and report for who I write for. You're not scheduled nor obligated to be here or to argue with me.


    So, I watch WWE programming because I genuinely like it just got changed to "I'm scheduled and obligated to watch and report for who I write for."


    >Thanks for finally admitting that! You've proven everything I've said to be correct!


    Was I just the victim of another scoring Matt Pierri hot take? Just like segments of RAW he glosses over, he has to gloss over this with unfunny snark if it doesn't fit his formula.


    Where is Danielle to jump in and drag this down even further?

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  107. He was doing the same exact shtick as the Great Hussein Arab, at least 2 or 3 years before the crisis.

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  108. Holy cow. Cornette and Flair together?!?! That would've blown my mind.

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  109. "HULK HOGAN vs a middle aged bald guy."

    LOL - I know you weren't playing this as a joke, but still...

    ReplyDelete

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