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Also, I picked up a Roku streaming stick today, It's like their version of the Chromecast. Fired up the WWE Network app, and despite the interface being (understandably) a bit spartan the actual streaming has been perfect so far. Been the best non-computer version of the Network so far. Tested it by watching Summerslam 1995, and holy shit there's at least 2-3 spots where HBK could have legit broken his leg taking crazy bumps in the ladder match.

Jane Geddes was a fairly prominent pro golfer in the 80s/90s and probably did have an administrative position with the LPGA. Seem to remember reading in the Observer that HHH was impressed by her athletic background, both on and off the course. Wasn't she the one described as a female Johnny Ace in terms of her competence at the job?

Also the UFC twitter was basically subtweeting Dave with comments on how impressive the gate is for the show.

Maybe I don't understand how web logistics work, but I don't get how hits on a CS article has any bearing on someone breaking out of the pack. Especially when Nikki Bella probably has a lot of Total Divas-centric stories boosting her hit counter.

Only in WWE would actually liking the business you work in be seen as a detriment to getting hired.

Hijo del Santo vs Santo Negro was pretty good until the family squashed it.

Why would Cena fans ever lose faith in their hero considering he (sometimes literally) laughs off any defeat or tough times that comes his way in any storyline? Between that and the one comment in the "Mike Sempervive talks to WWE people" thread where it's stated Vince doesn't understand real people don't talk in WWE Speak, I'm concerned he may be beyond being in the bubble and now in a complete reality vortex.

Figures. The same source also noted that most of the more interesting stuff on YouTube and the website is done without going through Vince, but he vets all the original content on the Network. I kind of already assumed this based on the content available, but having it confirmed that the people running the Network don't know about wrestling just depresses me. I think I may have given myself CTE by how hard I just facepalmed.

They did it a few times last year I believe, the announcers don't tell you why when it happens so it's not always clear why the ref calls for the bell. I remember it being discussed on a WO post Raw show that WWE doesn't tell the audience it's a rule for some reason, you're just supposed to know.

The one big difference is that Hogan's numbers were falling across the board, and there really was no reason not to turn him heel. The only thing that would have stopped it would have been Hulk's ego unwilling to pull the trigger.

Every online service at the time (AOL/Prodigy/CompuServe) had message boards devoted to wrestling. In fact, all three promotions of the time would have their guys doing either organized chats or just BS'ing with fans. I remember getting Mortis to send me an autographed photo and acting like a stupid jerk to Stevie Richards and having him block me on AOL. It wasn't as mainstream as it is now where you have hastags in every commercial, but to say it wasn't really around then is a stretch to say the least. I will say as someone who wasn't reading "da sheetz" in 1996, I knew Nash and Hall were leaving for WCW but I was shocked Hogan turned heel.

I pretty much gave up on the Monday Night Wars show after hearing Eric tell about how he threw out two hours of prime time TV as the way to compete against WWF in the belief Ted would never go for it. Despite the fact Nitro was only an hour for the first year or so, there's no way that running against Raw wasn't the idea. Just like how he just happened to offer Lex a deal with no idea it ran out the day before the first Nitro. Come the fuck on. Also hearing Vince play the "They were trying to put us out of business! How DARE THEY" card is such stomach turning bullshit from a guy who literally put everyone else out of business.

Well yes, that's the most likely scenario, but why is he spending the money traveling the globe to do this? Unless he's getting all these groups to pay for his transportation, which seems unlikely since none of the groups he's partnering with would be able to afford it except AAA and New Japan.

Reading the latest round of partners announced for GFW, doesn't it kind of seem like Jeff is trying to build a new version of the old time NWA by partnering with as many territories around the globe as possible? Of course I entirely expect it to be like the modern NWA where it's 90% bullshit, but it would actually be a smart thing to attempt to do if expecting indy promoters to work together wasn't comparable to herding cats.

Pretty sure it's not supposed to be a secret that they're really the Rhodes brothers... It's not that, it's how they are announcing their gimmick names as if they were real names. It's just a typical unnecessary WWE thing they just started doing for no reason.

The new branding of the Rhodes brothers as Gold and Stardust is one of those things that's going to irritate the piss out of me before too long. As if their "shootnames" are actually Gold Dust and Star Dust.

A lot of Thursday games were shitty last year, since teams have a shorter turnaround time for travel and/or recovery from the last game. They're doing even more this year so I would expect there to not be a huge effect to Smackdown after maybe the first week or two.

I've always wondered why, when shooting a guy like Cena who's known for loudly calling spots, they seem intent on getting the closest shots possible as if they were trying to have it broadcast. There's been times where you might as well given him the house mic he was doing it so long.

Was that when he broke his leg in a softball game?

It seems like a lot of people are reading Cena getting destroyed as the sign his time is ending as the ace of the company. It always seemed like Vince was going to ride him until the wheels fell off, and unless he's in way worse shape than he lets on I don't see them not having him back on top. They're more attached to him than Linus is to his blanket. Cena's such a company man he won't fall into a trap of being more of a pain in the ass than he's worth like a lot of past top guys were, so I don't see any motivation for WWE to move past him.

Also lol @ all the people worried about Brock's excess redness at SummerSlam. He's a fair skinned dude in the middle of summer. Speaking from (painful) experience that's what we tend to look like in August.

Maybe Cena can slide off of Lesnar during an F5 attempt due to Brock's excess sweat and roll him up for a pin. I kid, but I would actually kind of prefer that to Distraction Finish #698798797897 of 2014.

I'd wager in the 80s when the WWF started the Rock n' Wrestling stuff. While it was great for business it also kind of ended any pretense that it was anything but a show. That was also when I first recall Vince dropping a few "sports entertainment" bombs in his commentary (lest anyone think that's a new invention).

I can't think of any way to do the "vacate the title for going too far" angle that won't come off as lame or a cop-out. Why would the Authority strip Lesnar of the title when he's their hired mercenary?

If Bryan would have been in that match and it was booked the same way, it probably would have made the Rumble look like a love fest.