tsurutaman

In my haste to condemn the "E" - I thought one of the posters had said stuff had been clipped. When they were talking about repeating. (My Bad!) They have clipped matches in the past (Legacy of the AWA -- Verne v. Der Baron fer example) but not on this set. I just get frustrated that they have the keys to the kingdom and the clueless putzes don't even know which matches would be best to put on a collection. Plus they keep repeating matches from collection to collection. embarrassed is my middle name....

Seriously.... clipping matches for a DVD (when time allows full matches) taking out the blood for hardcore adult fans... being totally clueless WHAT matches to choose in your 75,000 hours tape library.... and...having the "McMahonized" version of history shoved down the purchasers throats. Jim Cornette had it right in 2006 The WWE could (Screw Up) a Wet Dream

...other than at a video store ;0)

My point about the bookers wearing tights is they tend to have a limited shelf life. Even Dusty (arguably the most successful in both roles). You either have to have an incredible self awareness to know when something is working better than you are (like say Baba Did) and let it happen or have the eye for the business Watts did and make yourself a special attraction so you're not wrestling all the time but in special angles maybe once a year. Remember when he brought Dundee in with the Midnghts in at the end of '83 -- he didn't want Dundee as a performer -- just to book. Despite Dundee's obvious in ring abilities. It's a very tight balance. I'm not saying they can't book, but the temptation to keep putting yourself in the top program when other people are working better is usually too great for them to resist. With Russo - agreed when he's been given unlimited power it's been a disaster. He needs a gatekeeper(s) to say "those 2 ideas are good Vince, but forget those 8 other ones". (Like he had with McMahon and gained this reputation)

Personally, TNA has to try something different. They have a talent base but it's being misused. I think Paul E. deserves a chance to try and turn it around if he wants as long as he doesn't have his hands on the purse strings which is where ECW went wrong. IF -- big word -- If Dixie Carter could convince Russo/Cornette/Heyman to work together (giving each separate duties). The results would at least be interesting. The only thing we know that DOESN'T work is when the booker wears wrestling trunks. As long as they can separate the two offices. They could make progress Were Angle given the booking position we know it would be Total Nonstop Angle. Just like early TNA when JJ beat everyone no matter what. Hell if they gave it to Nash he'd want the belt as long as his decrepit quads held out.

It is ODB just listen to the voice, speech patten and the hamfisted OTT reference to calling the caller "Sir" by Bubba. Interrrrresting.... SOMEBODY is going to be in deep doo doo over this before it's over.... thank you for the extra info.

My money is on Russo being the "mystery caller" -- he has lived for this kind of shooty/insidery crap since he first got prominence on the WWE booking team. If it's a work it's a good one as it's got people talking about something other than the ABYSMAL in ring TNA product. If it's a shoot -- I agree with the stated views that Kirk Angel couldn't give a crap about who's "rubbin' his rhubarb" -- if they've been having marital problems for as long as has been rumoured. He sees a chance to exert power and this is a perfect way to marginalize Double J.

The horsemen encompass SO many tremendous storylines and matches in that short span (85-88) and were used against the entire face locker room as a way of bringing the faces up. Their presence just gave that added legitimacy as you believed they would win "By any means necessary". Each of them played their parts so well. The promos and the angles not only give the excellent matches context - but in my mind it's the other half of the art of pro-graps. The fact that all four of them could deliver on the mike as well as in the ring I think is what made the group so special. Having watched so much of that live at 6 on TBS I'm thrilled.

I'm surprised that the words "Shitty commentator" have gone on for about a page and the name "Ed Whalen" hasn't been uttered yet. Man, I love the Harts and it was one of the first TVs I saw in the 70s (along with Tomko's All Star Wrestling) but damn could he hack up an interview match or angle like nobody else.

As I remember it Orndorff suffered nerve damage to his left arm/shoulder during the Hogan run which could have impacted his later ring work as -- people are right - matches with Muraco and Steamboat should have been 1st class affairs. Hell he wound up working in SMW shortly after leaving the WWF in '87. How's that for starting back at the bottom? That said, the run with Hogan was some of the best wrestling Hogan did in that period and was as hot a feud as he had on his plate. Vince pushed it too -- everyone remembers the (in)famous 2 winner cage match on Saturday Night's main event. The only opponent Hogan had who was close to the heat and in ring performance would have been Randy Savage.

Agreed, that turn and run with Hogan was, I think even in Orndorff's mind, his big last hurrah. The money he got working with Hogan was so good even a major injury to his left (?) shoulder wouldn't stop him from going out and doing those shows. I think he was a great 70s guy who just happened to get caught up in the "Rock N Wrestling"/Wrestlemania deal with Vince. Where was he by Wrestlemania II?

Imho, "The Bisch" owns the record for most Financial Fuck-ups. Starting at the top. Hogan's contract was ridiculous. (600K per pay-per-view I've heard and they had to use him 6 times a year) and the fish Rotted from there on down. Bischoff put the squeeze on guys who were actually contributing - but thought nothing of paying off , what $500,000 to KISS to play 4 songs on a NITRO and then ensuring they (WCW) had to give the Kiss Demon a push no matter how hard the audience farted on it. And lest we forget the 30 to $50,000 for changing over WCW to nWo sets live during a Nitro. He will go down in history as the most irresponsible official of a wrestling company of all time.

Having the interpersonal skills of shark ? Naw, that's a character flaw not a mistake...my bad. Having a club foot and thinking he's a hot-shit wrestler...there's one. Being Mrs. Baba's Pet....

One of the more endearing things about 1980s wrestling "accidental gay-ness". For some of the most egregious examples were the videos Memphis used to get the "Fabulous Ones" over -- two guys lounging in a haystack, getting dressed together....at the time it got them over like gangbusters. Viewed with our more sophisticated eyes it looks straight out of...like Cyndi Lauper said...Blue Boy Magazine.

Hogan was Hogan He did what he had to, to get over As recently as 1990 he had a really good match with Stan Hansen at the Japan SWS show. Sad Vince didn't bring Stan the Man over to feud with Hogan. I mean, he had him in that damned movie.

I believe we have seen the passing of the gold standard of pro wrestling. Whether as Tiger Mask II, the wars with Jumbo, the off the charts stuff in the 90s with Kobashi and Kawada in the 90s and then reinventing strong style with NOAH. I cannot imagine Puro without him. As for the effect of his death on the business aspect. It may be in everyone's interest if they heal the rift with All-Japan and make a stronger company together. I don't see that as a certainty but it would make for an interesting set of new match ups and be to the benefit of both RIP Misawa San....