Scott,
Is this it for WWE? With everyone knowing HHH and Steph are taking over for Vince, are we left with an unending perpetual Authority storyline. Will Kane and J&J just be here beating guys like Ambrose on distraction finishes forever?! Consider this last year: Team Cena defeats The Authority thanks to Sting at Survivor Series. 5 months later, at Wrestlemania HHH beats Sting, and Authority guy Rollins wins the Title. Now we're 5 months later again, NOTHING has changed. Do you foresee anything in the near future that can deviate this because Raw's ratings are plummeting, and they keep giving free months away. So pardon the expression, but isn't doing something different, dare I say, best for business?
Yes, but the problem is that they've conditioned the audience to tune out when HHH & Steph aren't around because they know nothing of importance will happen, and then when ratings drop as soon they go, they get rushed back onto TV again to repeat the cycle.
At the very least we're getting something different with Cena and Kevin Owens right now, although even then they're already threatening to burn that one out too fast. But yes, they desperately need to just bite the bullet and make someone new on top.
I love that Ric claims that dropping the belt to Luger would somehow be unfair to Sting. Like he couldn't put Sting over also.
ReplyDeleteIndependence Day thread jack:
ReplyDeleteIs there a more patriotic speech than Cap's speech to SHIELD in Winter Soldier? I get all America just thinking about it.
I, for one, am shocked that Flair didnt read the tea leaves correctly and agree to the correct booking decision at the time.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't freedom, it's fear.
ReplyDeleteMCU Captain America is the best superhero ever. Fucking Stark can fuck the fuck off.
They're not going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteLuger never turning turning face hastily and feuding with Sting in 1990 would have been just tremendous.
ReplyDeleteIn about 12 years or less we will have the pleasure of their kids opening up every RAW with a talky segment raging war against Cena. Ok im exaggerating about the cena part. But famous people grow up super fast. Anakan is all grown up and in jail now and the guy from the wonder years is knocking on 50. So sooner rather than later expect Aurora who inexplicably looks Puerto Rican to start cutting promos.
ReplyDeleteSara Del Rey would have been a good one, too. I dunno why they don't involve her more in that stuff.
ReplyDeleteI always get teary eyed when the president of the movie Independance day gives that speech.
ReplyDeleteWe will not go quietly into the night
We will not perish without a fight.
We're going to live on!
We're going to survive!
Today, we celebrate our Independance day!!!!!
Then 10 years later he played a child rapist in Torchwood. That kinda ruined it for me. :(
I still like the Cap in the Millar Ultimate comics the best. Between telling Hulk the bad guys think he's gay and, "You think this A stands for France?" he was just written so well.
ReplyDeleteOh hey Jericho starts off this show! This is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI also never got the idea behind some people saying that Flair didn't put Luger over because he'd promised to sting... in 1988.
ReplyDeleteSorry but Sting was a midcard act being pushed up the card through 88 while Luger was a borderline main-eventer at the beginning of the year. In 1990 I can understand the rationale behind that idea, but not in 88 when Flair should have dropped the strap to Luger and let him run wild.
Maybe she doesn't want to be involved in more stuff?
ReplyDeleteI mean, we talk about this person being a good fit as a trainer or that person being a good authority figure, but we have no idea if those people WANT to do those things.
My guess is that Brianna Garcia might be a little bit religious. Just a hunch off the name.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't have the look they want.
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July to you Americans.
ReplyDeleteThis Neville and Jericho match rules. ****
ReplyDeleteWas Jericho motivated or sleepwalking.
ReplyDeleteMotivated
ReplyDeleteSometimes I forget why Jericho is in my Top 5! This is so awesome. CMON BABAYYYY
ReplyDeleteNo one is bigger Jericho mark than us.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked but Cole and Byron were excellent together on commentary just the two of them.
ReplyDeleteKey part of Scott's comment: "in hindsight." It's easy to look at it now and play "what-if." Who knows if Luger would have been a success or a flop. What we do know is that Luger had plenty of opportunities after this and he perpetually under-delivered. Plus he contributed to Elizabeth's early death, which pissed me off.
ReplyDeleteNope lol. We both love Chris
ReplyDeleteWe'll always have an authority figure of some sort, but when Vince dies it will probably be more the JJ Dillon/William Regal in NXT type than what we've got going on now
ReplyDeleteJust basing that off what's going on in NXT as that seems to be more HHH's vision of how he'd run WWE if it was up to him. As I've said before things will change when Vince goes
Miss Elizabeth your aunt or something?
ReplyDeleteI only want Nick Bockwinkle.
ReplyDeleteLuger's run from his debut on the main stage right up until he actually "won" the WCW title was amazing, all time stuff.
ReplyDeleteHis US title run, loss to Dusty, and face turn at the Bunkhouse Stampede was exceptional and he was *insanely* over as a face; he was also having really, really good matches - people forget how good an athlete Luger was when he was younger. Luger was among, and had a claim as the best overall, the top athletes in major North American wrestling in that era. The dude was a legit 6'4, and had power, agility, went off the top rope regularly, etc. His run with Windham and winning the World Tag Titles from Tully and Arn was UNBELIEVABLE and Windham's turn was just terrific, created the universally accepted "best" version of the Horsemen, and led perfectly and organically into one of the most enduring relationships in kayfabe history, Luger and Sting (with the Crockett Cup win vs. Tully and Arn, again, amazing). Everything with Flair in'88-'89 was pure gold, though the finish for the Bash was goofy and probably should have just been with a DQ via a Horsemen run in - you can also argue Luger should have gotten the belt at Starrcade, but that ERA didn't see titles move that often and that's more retrospective given that Flair never really put him over ultimately.
Luger spent '89 having *fantastic* matches with guys like Windham, Michael Hayes(!), Ricky Steamboat (just exceptional stuff), Brian Pillman, and Flair. His dickhead heel run during '89-'90 was awesome, although he absolutely should have won the title at Capital Combat. The guy spent 89-91 in great angles and having awesome matches with a crazy selection of dudes: Steamboat, Hansen, Spivey, Muta, Flair, Pillman, Hayes, Windham, Koloff, the Steiner Brothers (his and Sting's matches against the Steiners are just TERRIFIC stuff). He doesn't get enough credit as to the variety of guys he had good matches with.
Flair leaving without dropping the belt was awful and his run on top was listless, but that was a combination of booking and Luger's contract. The motorcycle accident before he went into the WWF basically finished him as a really top level worker, but Luger's five year(!) main event status run and overall development from his hour long draw with Flair in '86 to leaving WCW was the best I've ever seen other than Kurt Angle. Much like Angle, you could almost "see" Luger getting better and better and better.
Well you can extend Authority to heel stable in a position of corporate power since 1998 so yes it is never ending. This shit won't stop.
ReplyDeleteThis. That speech crushes them all.
ReplyDeleteIf you include non-USA stuff, I would give you :
ReplyDeleteBranagh's Henry V - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-yZNMWFqvM
Braveheart - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gt_eln1mUU
Churchill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTw3_PmKtc
Did they draw names out of a hat for the main event?
ReplyDeleteWatched Jericho-Neville, skipped the Divas and I'm on Brock-Kofi now. This show is awesome simply because of the different look.
ReplyDeleteThe Divas match wasn't bad. I wouldn't bother with the main event though
ReplyDeleteI probably won't. Not much time this morning since I overslept.
ReplyDeleteJust having the entrance rotated 45 degrees was a simple that really made it look like a completely different thing.
ReplyDeleteEasy night for Brock...
ReplyDeleteAye, this Flair behaviour no longer holds up to scrutiny. How many times do we moan at WWE for not pulling the trigger on someone who's hot and over, like Ambrose, Ziggler or Bryan in 2013, because they have a long time plan involving someone less talented but with a better "look" (Reigns)?
ReplyDeleteSeeing streamers in a WWE ring is kind of insane. I really dug it.
ReplyDeleteEntertaining? Yes. True to the character? Meh.
ReplyDeleteJust finished the 90 minute version of the show (the version where I press stop after Balor/Owens). Really fun show, enjoyed every minute of it. Just so great to see a different atmosphere. Could've done with different announcers too, but still. REALLY wish they'd switch up the way PPVs and TV shows feel more often.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly the sort of redesign Raw needs. This show at least looks fresh and unique.
ReplyDeleteIts been 5 months since Wrestlemania? Man summer went fast.
ReplyDeleteI thought Michael Cole was awesome today.
ReplyDeleteBlimey, Cesaro and Diego went 25 minutes in a dark match. And the Dragons/New Day went just as long as well!
ReplyDeleteThere are certain people who I just don't want to hear anymore no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised, that they had both those matches go for so long to fill a 3 hour show rather than have some local talent face off with WWE guys in the dark matches.
ReplyDeleteAnd bus in some Asian broads for the audience!
ReplyDeleteRewatching the replay on the network. I swear this is what WWE needs. Just stick a camera on the house shows from time to time and let the guys do their thing.
ReplyDeleteFantasy book: Luger beats Flair at Capital Combat with the help of the injured Sting and his sidekick, RoboCop. As the Stinger continues to prepare for his return, he mentions to his buddy Luger how he'd love to have a shot at the title when he comes back, since he was going to have a title show when he was injured.
ReplyDeleteAt the Great American Bash 1990, Sting, Luger and the Steiners team up to take on the Four Horsemen in War Games, beating the Horsemen and getting revenge for injuring Sting, as Sting makes Flair submit to the Scorpion. After the match, the Steiners leave Sting and Luger in the ring alone, and Luger just DESTROYS Sting in the ring, leaving him laying.
Sting beats Luger for the title at Halloween Havoc, beats Flair at Starrcade, pushing the Sid feud into the new year.
Winter Soldier is my favorite Marvel movie. The actual comic storyline (along with the rest of Brubaker's tremendous run on the book) made me a huge Cap fan in the first place where I basically ignored him for many years.
ReplyDeleteLuger question?
ReplyDeleteTAKE A SHOT.
It's quite obvious Vince was yelling in his ear
ReplyDeleteSo, I didn't get the point of the result in the Y2J-Neville match, seemed counter-productive to me. And Cole really is much better tonight with less of the shilling he usually does...
ReplyDeleteYeah Finn is going to be an enormous star for them, like tippy toppy babyface star.
ReplyDeleteThey always wanted Jeff Hardy to be that type of guy but his love lf drugs prohibited that from happening. Now they have that guy who just connects with the audience and he's not s fuckup!!
I didn't really get it either but it was an awesome awesome match. My guess is they have a match at a PPV
ReplyDeleteKeep Luger heel in 1990. Put the title on Robocop. Sting turns heel on Robocop, Luger wins title from Robocop. Flair turns face, beats Luger for the title. Sting beats Flair as heel, then turns face after the match as Robocop turns heel. Then there's no problems at all.
ReplyDeleteThis show felt so fresh without that penis size overcompensating Titantron
ReplyDeleteGIANT GRAPEFRUITS, itty-bitty stem.
ReplyDeleteThe graphic the WWE used on this show to announce the winner of the NXT title match looked straight out of the 1990s.
ReplyDeleteGoing to go for a jog and skip the main event. What a great show. So relaxing and just a happy show, ya know?
ReplyDeleteIt's hardly a novel thought, but Brock Lesnar really is impossibly strong. Like, superhuman.
ReplyDeleteBased on the look Itami had on his face after the NXT Title match, he's gonna be turning on his friend soon.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, FUCK MY JOB! Gonna miss out on the Summer Slam AND Raw and now an NXT TakeOver in Brooklyn because of work? I might just have to take that whole fucking weekend off...
lol ziggler
ReplyDeleteJericho has to win sometimes, and I think Neville is going to be their new Evan Bourne, not someone they see as a top guy.
ReplyDeleteI definitely don't see him as a top guy either, but it seems like they're still establishing Neville and a win over Jericho would have helped.
ReplyDeleteHi, Russo!
ReplyDeleteBalor is definitely going to be a star, but I'm putting my money on WWE finding a way to eventually retire the face and body paint.
ReplyDeleteVince ain't dying.
ReplyDeleteLots of praise for this show. Let me list the reason why:
ReplyDelete1) Different look. No Titan-tron, no entrance ramp. Just an aisleway, basically.
2) No "Double Features" during the matches. Did you notice that? The matches were able to proceed without being interrupted, and I think it made it easier for you to get into the psychology of it.
3) Cole was allowed to call the wrestling matches. He wasn't constantly spouting "twitter!" "WWE UNIVERSE!" and "VINTAGE!" Instead he was talking about Balor's hisotry and IWGP championships.
It felt like a different show AND IT WAS BETTER FOR IT. Someone take note.
Since it is indie as all fuck?
ReplyDeleteI'm only on the second match... but I agree that the different look and production make it feel like a big deal just because it is different.
ReplyDeleteI feel like in 2000, if Mr Perfect and wrestled Chris Jericho in a match and went over, the universe would have exploded.
ReplyDeleteI definitely do not see it as ready for prime time.
ReplyDeleteC BREEZY
ReplyDelete✦✿❋✿✦ . You Can Just Make a gorgeous Of Money At Free Time...❒❑❒❑. last thursday I got a new Buick since I been making $6498 this last five weeks and a little over $10k last-munth . this is actually the best-work Ive ever done . I actually started five months/ago and practically straight away got me over $77... per/hr .
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Charismatic eNegro Jef Vinson
ReplyDelete✦✿❋✿✦ . You Can Just Make a gorgeous Of Money At Free Time...❒❑❒❑. last thursday I got a new Buick since I been making $6498 this last five weeks and a little over $10k last-munth . this is actually the best-work Ive ever done . I actually started five months/ago and practically straight away got me over $77... per/hr .
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Extant1979 - Extreme Superstar
ReplyDelete✦✿❋✿✦ . You Can Just Make a gorgeous Of Money At Free Time...❒❑❒❑. last thursday I got a new Buick since I been making $6498 this last five weeks and a little over $10k last-munth . this is actually the best-work Ive ever done . I actually started five months/ago and practically straight away got me over $77... per/hr .
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Great post. Luger became so one note as a worker in the mid 90's as a face (kind of like Savage, it was get beatdown for an extended time, comeback with clotheslines and the rack for the win) that it's really easy to forget that early Luger was damn good, and with some better booking could have been an even bigger star.
ReplyDelete@
ReplyDelete✦✿❋✿✦ . You Can Just Make a gorgeous Of Money At Free Time...❒❑❒❑. last thursday I got a new Buick since I been making $6498 this last five weeks and a little over $10k last-munth . this is actually the best-work Ive ever done . I actually started five months/ago and practically straight away got me over $77... per/hr .
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With Luger though smarks seem to associate the "choker" label with him as if he was losing let matches.
ReplyDeleteI'll agree that he wasn't as over as he should have been considering his push in '93 but then he was booked as a muscular Uncle Sam and the fan base was over the "American hero" thing
I think Hideo could be a great heel.
ReplyDeleteI think his athleticism coupled with his strength is what's so awesome about him. Like, Mark Henry is strong but he can't move around like Brock.
ReplyDeleteIt's ben ~17 YEARS~ of heel authority figures. Almost half my life! Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Vicki Guerrero, (sometimes) Teddy Long, Stephanie McMahon, Kurt Angle and Paul Heyman over on Smackdown, William Regal, Mike Adamle (you can't tell me he wasn't a heel!), John Laurinaitis, Brad Maddox.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Heel Auhtority Figure trope is going anywhere.
Another issue with the Authority is that they're simultaneously all over the place and only focused on the main event. That was an advantage the Corporation had. You had Bossman in the Hardcore division, Shamrock in the Intercontinental division (and both in the tag team division), Kane (or Big Show) as the upper midcarder, and Vince and Rock in the main event. Hell, you even had Shane McMahon feuding over the European Championship. As a result, guys who weren't necessarily main eventers got a nice little rub from having legitimate feuds with the Corporation. Where is that now? They have this Bellas storyline that makes no sense. What power and influence do the Bellas actually have? It's referenced, but not shown. And they keep mentioning their friendship with Steph.....so why isn't she actively involved in the storyline?
ReplyDeleteI know this sounds like I'm saying "More Authority! More McMahons!" but it's more a criticism of how they tell their stories. We see Dolph Ziggler end the Authority at Survivor Series and then get fired along with Ryback and Rowan. For the next several months they continue their feud with the Authority, and yet not one of them had a WrestleMania match that involved the Authority storyline.
The Authority is there all the time, but nothing involving them seems to have any consequence.
Yeah, Jeff Hardy wasn't a big star with a goofy painted face.
ReplyDeleteNeville will be fine as you can make a guy with super-competitive matches. It's hardly a Cena-esque squash of Bray Wyatt and Rusev.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth didn't have to shack up with him or take drugs.
ReplyDeleteYup the movie is awesome, the comic is somehow even better. I always dug the character but never read his solo comics but that run just blew my damn mind.
ReplyDeletePlease, Jeff Hardy is one of the most forgettable WWE Champions of all time. And I'm willing to argue that fans got to see Hardy's evolution from jobber on Superstars to tag team champion to singles wrestler to legit main eventer - ALL WITHOUT THE GOOFY FUCKING FACEPAINT. Something we did not have with Finn.
ReplyDeleteFlair now tells stories of watching Brody die in Puerto Rico. Hogan's tall tales about Andre bring 7000 pounds is nothing compared to some of Flair's stories now.
ReplyDeleteBecause nobody with face paint ever made it as a major star?
ReplyDeleteDare we call Luger "Underrated"?
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a stretch, but he certainly doesn't get enough credit I believe
Seriously, why NOT put Balor-Owens on last with this show? The main event tag team match would have been fine in the Balor-Owens spot.
ReplyDeleteAgreed 100%.
ReplyDeleteBecause the overall look and routine is, as 'llax put it, really quite Indy. I admit to being wrong about potential superstars before, and I like Balor, I do, I just don't think his current look will fly once he gets to the main roster.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the biggest weaknesses in his character are his finishing move, which I think is definitely Indy, and the performance he does coming down to the ring. It's just TOO over the top and can be toned down a bit (or a lot) when he gets on Raw.
Doesnt matter if he had a forgettable reign as Champion, he was the most over person in the WWE at the time, looking like a King Diamond fanboy, so I don't think wearing face paint is going to hinder Balors progress.
ReplyDeletePlus, it's not like he even wears it every match, this is what the 4th time he has worn in in almost a year in the WWE?
Plus this is where cosmetics come into play, too. Mark Henry is amazingly strong but he doesn't LOOK it. Lesnar looks like a monster.
ReplyDeleteHis entrance is very similar to multiple time WWE champion The Boogeyman
ReplyDeleteHis biggest problem with his finishing moves is I think it'll be very hard to hit on wrestlers of differing sizes/abilities
ReplyDeleteI think he need a different/additional finisher, but apart from that I wouldn't change a thing.
Can I ask a serious question? Why is it that when I make even the slightest negative comment about Finn Balor, people here start frothing at the mouth like I just insulted your sister? Did you not see where I said Finn was definitely going to be a star?
ReplyDeleteOr jobber The Undertaker.
ReplyDeleteReally? Undertaker did a dance routine to the ring every match?
ReplyDeleteYeah I do remember the phase where undertaker would crawl to the ring, good point.
ReplyDeleteLOLCENACLOSESSHOW
ReplyDeletePersonally, I just feel that it is a little silly that the part of his character that you are critical of is one of the most popular and marketable aspects of his character.
ReplyDeleteAs great as WCW 89 was, the main-event booking was little more than Flair circle-jerking.
ReplyDeleteSteamboat was brought so that Flair could have a string of great matches and get him even more over, turning babyface while we're at it, and the Funk feud was more sand for that truck, giving even more heat to Flair when he really didn't need it. Steamboat gained nothing from it (and was exposed as not being a main-event draw) and Funk was done after feuding with Flair, and didn't put anyone else over, so only Flair gained something from the entire thing (and least we forget, Muta was getting over and was buried by the end of the year).
Owens looks like his gut may be making a comeback.
ReplyDeleteFinn is my dad so fuck you.
ReplyDeleteDon't call it comeback...it's been here for years!!!
ReplyDeleteFinally watching this. So you can do a wrestling show without a 1000 foot video screen
ReplyDeleteSomeone take note and send it to vince
ReplyDelete"There's a reason they call him KO!"
ReplyDeleteBecause those are his initials?
The face paint I have no problem with, and they can continue to market the fuck out of that. The FULL BODY paint, plus the choreographed dance he does down to the ring? Not so much. Too over the top.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else check out NWA Classics 24/7? Nice little service, but it needs complete shows.
ReplyDeleteYour mom is Becky Lynch? And you're IRISH?
ReplyDeleteActually his initials are KS
ReplyDeleteSi, senor.
ReplyDeleteActually no, they aren't.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't WANNA go to work!
ReplyDeleteI really didn't like the way Balor's paint blurred into his tights. He too often far too nudey.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Completely skipped the main. Have some 4th of July drinking to do. Also, couldn't care less about any of those guys. When the introd King Barret I laughed.
ReplyDeleteThis is what Raw should be every week. Simple video packages no stupid long winded promos or segments and great wrestling without an overblown set with neon lights everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this? A YouTube channel?
ReplyDeleteWhat was the last match? Was it actually the Cena/Ziggler vs Kane/Barrett match?
ReplyDeleteNo it makes sense. Most great heel stables had influence all over the show and with different titles. Like the Horsemen, Dangerous a Alliance and even the Heenan family.
ReplyDelete4) No overly scripted segments.
ReplyDelete5) No authority figures.
Sorry it took me twenty minutes of watching an old Raw to realize these things were missing.
Ive said it before, I'll say it again: It wont stop because it is essentially what they use to structure their shows (mostly RAW), especially in the 3-hour era where they need to burn as much time as possible. Its like they don't know any way else to "tell stories" or run a TV program at this point. Once they finally decide to leave their comfort zone and try something new again, this is what we are getting.
ReplyDeleteYes, worst match on the card as well, 25 minutes of dullness.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the entire arena in Full Sail doing the routine with him at the last Takeover? Can't you envision 70,000 people doing that as he walks to the ring at WrestleMania?
ReplyDeleteSeriously dude there isn't a bit of Finn that isn't ready for the main roster.
Make him a heel and get him a mouthpiece to cut promos.
ReplyDeleteYeah I went to sleep during it when Cena was in some rest holds.
ReplyDeleteThe Jericho Neville match alone had more flashbulbs than I've seen in total since like 2007
ReplyDeleteEven the nWo.
ReplyDeleteWhat did everyone give Neville and Jericho star wise?
ReplyDelete-***** Neville was BURIED!!!
ReplyDeleteI dunno why but I lost it when he put him in the LionTamer.
ReplyDeleteI think we know why...
ReplyDeleteMARK!
Guess what mark hooked up with a FORTY ONE YEAR OLD last night!
ReplyDeleteBut yes I was annoyed earlier in the match when Jericho did it as a Boston Crb it was nice to see him do it right... and to have Cole call it.
ReplyDeleteI was like "Neville loses again? Does he ever win?"
ReplyDeleteDamn... I guess you were the lion(ess) tamer.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed he seems to do the full Liontamer only for the finish. False finishes seem to be the shitty Crab for a crawl to the ropes spot.
ReplyDeleteThat one NXT show where the ring entrance was a bit longer than usual, but still way short of a WWE entrance ramp, a few weeks back? Finn looked lost and unsure of how to adapt his entrance routine. It works on a small scale, but tends to get tedious after a while.
ReplyDeleteHe's a world class talent who will do well in WWE because he has great in-ring ability and charisma, but his entrance needs an adjustment.
And just because something is over with the guys at Full Sail, who may as well be PG versions of the regulars at the Bingo Hall, doesn't mean it will translate to the main stage.
I agree. I think people are a little generous in their praise of his presentation. And he needs a different routine finisher. Keep the stomp for special occasions like Rollins does the Phoenix splash, but top guys don't USUALLY have top rope moves for finishers.
ReplyDeleteYeah, how dare he have a differing opinion. The dreadlock streamers and wristbands are corny as hell, also.
ReplyDeleteBill Pullman in ID4 still gets the edge
ReplyDeleteTJ: Aldridge to the Spurs.
ReplyDeleteAldridge to $NOTTHELAKERS = celebrategoodtimesCOMEON.gif.
ReplyDeleteNeville/Jericho: ****
ReplyDeleteEverything else...
Divas Title: ***
Brock/Kofi: *
Balor/Owens: *****
"Main Event": ***1/2
Streaming service, similar to the wwe network. No streaming device support yet, but it's good stuff. Right now it's just Paul boesh's Houston library.
ReplyDeleteNwaclassics.com
To be fair, Neville is small enough to TAKE the full Liontamer. Most of Jericho's opponents aren't.
ReplyDeleteThings I never thought I'd see:
ReplyDeleteDavid Crockett WRESTLING, as David Findley.
3.75
ReplyDelete**1/2 for Brock/Kofi, it was awesome.
ReplyDeleteJericho returns the job soon, I am guessing
ReplyDeleteI'd have no problem with HHH as the mostly-neutral authority figure who might lean towards either face status or heeldom depending on which way the wind blows. It's just him paired with Steph in this soul-crushing angle that really turns me off the product most weeks.
ReplyDeleteHis dropkick is about .8 Watts. At least he hits the guy, even if it's uglier than the lovechild of Bastion Booger and Bertha Faye..
ReplyDeleteSting didn't over because there were no credible heel challngers for him (maybe that gets fixed if Luger turns heel after the Great American Bash).
ReplyDeleteLuger would have failed in 88/89/90 for the same reason.
Yeah, Luger in the late 1980's was something else. He did have some really bad periods, though, where he clearly no longer gave a shit and was just collecting paychecks.
ReplyDeleteLuger absolutely should have beaten Flair at Starrcade. He was huge as a heel by then, Flair was the perfect babyface to put him over finally. Make Lex the monster heel, do rematches while Sting gets healthy in early 90. Reverse the dynamic from 1988, where this time Flair cant quite get over on Luger, because Flair is rolling solo and has gone "soft" without the Horsemen. Arn & Ole returned anyway, so work them into the story. Sting returns to finally beat Lex for the title at Bash 90. Flair and the Horsemen turn on Sting. Flair looks like the jealous sore loser and now Sting has the Horsemen to fight thru en route to Sting vs Flair at Starrcade. Sting vs Luger rematches, with the Horsemen stirring the pot too
ReplyDeleteFirst Scott responds to emails from two years ago, now he's responding to emails from the future. What's the problem?
ReplyDeleteIt's not circle-jerking when Flair is literally the best wrestler in the world and best draw in the company. There literally wouldn't have been a WCW in 1989 without Flair (if he wasn't with the company, Turner doesn't buy it.).
ReplyDeleteBalor/Owens should have been the main event. I turned it off after that.
ReplyDeleteSting was a flop because every time wcw built him they dropped the ball with no credible opponents afterwards. I'm mean you have sting beat flair then died with the evil magician called the black scorpion. And let's before you get to starcade 97 were hogans who got involved
ReplyDeleteThe crowd was really into Jericho, so that finish wasn't all that surprising.
ReplyDeleteSeth was doing so well on his own. J&J were HIS lackeys, HE was the guy screwing everyone over. Now, like Orton before him, he's just a little bitch answering to the fickle whims of the capricious Authority.
ReplyDeleteStallone's closing speech in First Blood: Part 2 takes the cake.
ReplyDeleteJackie Gayda was so hot but just so clueless.
ReplyDeleteLet's say a strong 3.98 for Jericho/Neville and 4.12 for Balor/Owens in perhaps the best 1 hour and 12 minute long PPV of all time. Oh --- and 2.98 stars (.5 star added for the Japanese suplex on Kofi's head) for the Brock squash. 2.98 is the highest possible rating for a non-Midnight Express squash.
ReplyDeleteTurner bought it in 1988, not 89. And how did WCW benefited from Flair having those matches? What was the upside? Flair, whom was already over got more over? Steamboat proving he wasn't main-eventer calibre?
ReplyDeleteI'd remind you that the COTC rematch had a very low attendance, which suggests that combination wasn't up to it as far as drawing went.
Is Kofi still alive?
ReplyDeleteWeird idea, they should have some kind of "titles" or "championships" that the various "wrestlers" compete for, then use that to create rivalries that can be settled in matches.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's like having Nicki Minaj as a "talent evaluator" on American Idol when Nicki herself has no talent.
ReplyDeleteLuger was US champ forever. No one even acknowledges that. Who was a better U.S. champ than Luger? Go ahead, I'll wait.
ReplyDeleteIs this the daily thread? Because the Tigers are going to put a beating on the Blue Jays and I'm going to mock them for it all afternoon.
ReplyDeleteBRRRRRRRRRAPPPADDDOOOOOOOOO
ReplyDeleteHe's alive...but he'll never be the same Kofi.
ReplyDelete"We have evolved to the presentation today" ugh. Basically what he told austin when he said why the fuck do u have 30 writers
ReplyDeleteThey should just put a replay of 2000 WCW Nitro on one week just to see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI wish John Laryngitis was still around.
ReplyDeleteno.
ReplyDeleteJuly 4, 2015
ReplyDelete#WeWontForget
10 years before he was driving around in a Winnebago with a talking dog.
ReplyDeleteHe'll be fine. Tomorrow as we know is a NEW DAY!
ReplyDeleteStoned me was terrific in the live thread last night, but I was no match for drunk, fat girl-scorned jobber.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, **** for Neville/Jericho, ****1/2 for KO/Finn, and Brock MURDERDEATHKILL. Loved it. Don't need to watch the rest.
I'm at the top of my game when I'm drunk blogging.
ReplyDeleteI gave it a flat 4, but could be argued to give it higher. Jericho's best match since at least the Punk series, if not even better than those.
ReplyDeleteIt also makes no sense to have the Bellas friendly with the Authority when HHH/Steph have spent the last two years attacking Cena and Bryan.
ReplyDeleteJust watching now...Owens with the flowers!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand it when people link their Instagram to their Facebook and have like 9000 hashtags. It's so terrific blocking them though.
ReplyDeleteClark O'Brien
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You Can see more info....
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So did Flair want to put Sting over because he thought he was the right guy, or was he easier to play politically?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that Triple H doesn't really do the tweener role all too well. He's gotten a lot better over the years, but he's always scripted to be the smartest/coolest person in the room. When he does the tweener bit, he gets conveniently painted in the corner where he doesn't have to get comeuppance against whatever he did to the babyfaces, because he's screwing the heels, too.
ReplyDeletePretty easy solution. Just do the major storyline shit without them, and retrain the audience.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think knowing Flair like we know him now we can look back on these things and stop thinking he was a selfless gentleman who WCW eventually decided to be mean to for no particular reason.
ReplyDeleteIt's slightly more acceptable with Nikki since Cena and the Authority have, for the most part, steered clear of one another (excluding the whole Survivor Series storyline). But it's definitely a headscratcher with Brie.
ReplyDelete"We go to a bar, I get drunk some fat girls appear, one legit hated me, I
ReplyDeletesaid smoke my weed instead, then all of a sudden people were saying I
sucked."
Anyone else think maybe there were details missing in Jobbers story? :)
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN. So good.
There's no hope with dope.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird the way reputations change. Hogan's forgiven for much now that he was derided for at the time, while Flair's gone the other way.
ReplyDeleteI think it works on special occasions, such as this, as a way to represent that he needs to "go there." Fans dig simple things like that, anyway. Little physical changes that show you need to get to a darker or edgier place, like Cena bringing back his chain lock necklace and Kane putting the mask back on. If he does it a few times a year, he'll be fine and it;ll add to his marketability.
ReplyDelete