Al

Though technically, isn't this always true?

Angle suffered some kind of serious injury to the point where a lot of people doubted he could wrestle at the event.

From the Raw review: Obviously writers have the right to review wrestling shows and offer criticism. But I think a writer treads into deep water when they start critiquing wrestlers at this level. It feels ripe for the "you've never wrestled" line of attack, and I think there's some validity to it.

NWA World Champion: Thesz. Established the credibility of the title at a time when it was crucially important to do so. WWF World Champion: Hulk Hogan. Obvious. Intercontinential Champion: Randy Savage. Drawing money, having great matches all over the place. US Champion: Tully Blanchard. Gut feel. NWA/ WCW World Tag Champs: Steiner Brothers. Midnight Express and Rock n Rolls were better teams but I can't quite remember what matches are part of their title reigns. WWF World Tag Champs: Adonis/Murdoch. Every match I've seen is great. NWA/ WCW World TV Champion: Lord Steven Regal AJPW Triple Crown (take NWA International title before 1989): Misawa IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Keiji Mutoh AWA World Title: Verne Gagne. Taking a guess. Probably tremendous in the 1960s but we have no footage.

Owen/Benoit would've been the workrate crew. As far as credibility, Earthquake was at his best at this point.

The Bushwackers/Sheepherders?

Guerrero would almost have to rate #1 if you set a decade as 1996-2005.

Here's a question for thought. Of the wrestler deaths, how many were caused by wrestlers hanging on too long? I can think of Misawa and Larry Latham. More often it seems like guys stop wrestling and then give out when they can't adjust to a non-athletic lifestyle (thinking guys like Johnny Grunge).

When is the right time to hang it up? Preferably before your matches look like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2eWqyUvF4s

Thinking outside the box on this. Wrestlemania is a premier event at this point that draws a different crowd than the typical WWE audience (more nostalgia type fans). How many people would watch Wrestlemania if it were on a cable channel as opposed to PPV? 5x? 10x? Depending on ad rates they could lose some money on the show itself. But what if these shows on cable led to a revived interest in WWE/wrestling, with more fans watching who typically don't order PPVs? I've only ordered two PPVs in five years. But I'd damn sure watch Wrestlemania. And I can't be the only one.

Eddie Guerrero was a good choice. The WCW Monday Nitro dvd has the match where Guerrero wrestled Juventud Guerrera. Coming back from a devastating car wreck, Eddie got a sympathetic crowd to completely turn against him in the span of about ten minutes.

Match reviews definitely. Best/worst is always a fun discussion though.

Heenan was absolutely a wrestler. He was a great bumper, but he was such a great manager and good heel that he would only get sent into the ring once a year by the 1980s. Check out this match though, against Sal Bellomo. Heenan at his heel best as a wrestler. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JawspciTz8

Yeah. If Jimmy Lennon is in then Howard Finkel absolutely should be in. There isn't a ring announcer within several miles of Finkel's credentials.

Watching Flair vs Sting. WWE would never have used a high overhead shot with Flair's hairline on display. It wasn't the worst thing in the world.

I know. It just felt awkward to say 14 years.

Looking back a decade ago, Triple H was booked in an authority figure angle of his own. Sergeant Slaughter really did a fine job of coming off tough, standing up as the authority figure but still looking weak enough for the active wrestlers to appear a clear head above him. If that makes any sense.

Williams one vote short? He's going in.

I still fear that it'll end up being 90% contemporary programming and hacked up like every other cable channel anymore.

How about defacing the Russian flag on Saturday Night's Main Event?

Giant Haystacks vs Big Daddy:

This is my big beef as well. Like or hate Kurt Angle, there's no doubt he went in WAY too soon. We need more perspective on candidates before we can evaluate them. IMO, it's really too early to put Edge or Batista in perspective. Or Christopher Daniels for that matter. I'm a fan of a 25 years after debut rule, same as the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Almost has to be Art Donovan at King of the Ring '94, doesn't it?

Historic can be both good and bad.

Ali-Inoki. WWWF showed it closed circuit in Shea Stadium and added Andre/Wepner and Sammartino/Hansen. AWA showed it closed circuit and ran Gagne/Bockwinkel. San Francisco showed it and added Patterson/Fuji. Georgia showed it and added Brisco/Dory. Has there ever been a worldwide wrestling event of that magnitude since?