Al

Big Daddy's an awful wrestler. But weirdly I can also buy him as credible. A man of his stature would be awfully difficult to tackle in a legitimate wrestling match or fight. Particularly in a style such as WOS that eschews brawling. I mean, Daddy just looks immovable.

The problem I had with that '99 Rumble match (well, one of many) is that Vince spent so much time outside the ring. Not that he should of wrestled an hour, Vince was obviously too limited for that. But it ruins the concept of an endurance match when you establish that a competitor can legally sit outside the ring for 45 minutes. I mean, why doesn't everyone try that?

Indeed. And his uncle Larry Hamilton was a notable regional star as well in the early '60s.

If we stripped TNA's booking out of the equation entirely, how do their in-ring matches shape up? How good is their talent?

That's the oddest Cena criticism I've heard yet. Agree with NintendoLogic. If Cena doesn't go over most of his opponents, he ceases to be a strong draw. And Cena hardly buries his opponents. I'd throw Cryme Tyme and R-Truth on Loss's list as well.

It would be interesting to see if Sabu could have a prolonged career wrestling a similar style as his uncle. Sabu's 47. The Sheik hit that age in 1971. The Sheik had that age had a decade of headlining ahead of him yet.

Vince's #2 face in 1985 was the Junkyard Dog. If Dusty worked, I think Vince would've ran with it.

Agreed as well. The heel authority figure is way, way overdone. It rarely even makes logical sense for the person to be in that position of power.

Jim Herd missed the boat. When he wanted to change Flair's gimmick, he should've made him Redneck Flair and teamed him with Dick Murdoch. Tell me that wouldn't have gotten over. Or heck, give him the Skinner gimmick!

When someone's beef is that "he wouldn't go to the strip club with us!", it's hard to take it seriously as objective fact checking. I think every autobiography takes liberties with events. You just don't remember every detail in your life. The big picture of the story is what counts, and you have to take everything else with a grain of salt.

Necro Butcher in a way. The McGuire Twins. But I think Happy Humphrey absolutely takes the cake.

At November To Remember '94, Shane Douglas announced Steve Austin was coming in to team with him against Ron Simmons and 2 Cold Scorpio. Austin wouldn't surface in ECW for nearly a full year.

1970s Dusty would've worked.

That one paid off beautifully. He was working both sides, driving a wedge between the competitors and weakening Savage so that he could lose to Flair. I felt that one was a well worked build into Summerslam.

Thinking a bit outside the box, what about Tanahashi? The New Japan wrestlers always got exposure which made them feel like bigger stars.

I'm actually watching the Rikidozan biopic. Anyone seen it? Has appearances by Shinya Hashimoto and Keiji Mutoh, among others.

Justin Bieber

Checking out the Families Roundtable. "ROGOWSKI" Ole Anderson's real last name.

Sounds like Billy Graham.

The Sheik has to be up there. Couldn't identify his peak. Andre the Giant in '87.

It would be fantastic to see a new poll as Youtube has vastly expanded the available footage and made everything much easier to find and watch.

They're promoting a show. I wouldn't expect them to sell an appearance by "The Modestly Successful" Lance Storm.

I think mentioning the soap opera actor turned challenge eater brings this thread full circle. (And I love Richman's show.)

Agreed. Has a pregnancy storyline ever actually resulted in a baby?

In hindsight, I think turning Sgt. Slaughter heel was a good idea. He was always better in that role. The problem was making it an Iraqi sympathizer angle. I started watching wrestling in Dec. 1990. Within the first 18 months I watched Earthquake squash Damian, the Undertaker lock the Ultimate Warrior in a casket, Papa Shango's voodoo antics, Jake Roberts' snake legitimately biting Randy Savage's arm, etc. I could blame cartoonish angles but they've been going on as long as I can remember. I think honestly I simply outgrew it. I'm 30, engaged, I don't enjoy the same dramas and entertainment most people do. In a way, wrestling hasn't changed as much as I have.