Ricky Jackson

It's a weird deal, because the only people I know that watch wrestling these days are friends of mine who, like myself and all of us on this board, have been watching off and on for years and are part of the 5% (or whatever the number might be) of fans for whom wrestling is more than just a casual interest. Ten years ago was a different story, as I knew tons of people who watched wrestling religiously who had no idea about the inner workings, shoot names of wrestlers, used insider terminology, etc.,--that is, those in the 95% bracket. Where are they now? Obviously there are millions of the 95% out there, as Raw still draws ratings that only a handful of cable shows can match. I meet up with former wrestling fans all the time. The story is always the same: they can talk about Austin, the Rock, Foley, Undertaker, Goldberg, Hogan, etc., but have little to no knowledge of anything that has happened in wrestling in the last 7-8 years. (It's always funny when I ask these former fans if they have ever watched TNA, which, besides saying "no", usually garners some variation of the response "What a stupid name") It seems like wrestling in 2011 is extremely uncool, almost like it was in the mid-90s, and that Raw's ratings should really be in the tank, but they are not, and millions still watch every week. It's one of life's great mysteries. I think that there is always a large group of closet wrestling fans out there just waiting for wrestling to be cool again so they can talk about it in public without ridicule. Until then, they will remain the silent majority.

Yeah, I wondered if that was correct. Sometimes it seems like the only thing Dave knows about college football is that the Rock played for Miami at some point. I know. I was expecting a twist ending or something...like the complete stranger Shawn asked how to tie a tie turned out to be Dwayne Johnson when he played for Miami back in 1989. And I know it's been asked before, but who is Chuck Langerman: Wrestling trivia master?

The only thing I could find was this result: A few things: The ten bell salute was obviously for Fritz Von Erich, not Chris Dory Funk Jr vs RVD is kinda random Dennis Stamp was booked and was involved (sorry, couldn't resist) Edit: Found these results: I wonder if there was a plan to bring them in as the bloodthirsty Sheepherders at some point. That would have been pretty cool actually.

It's funny how some of these threads go off on strange tangents that have nothing to do with the original topic. Anyway, for the sake of accuracy, Cawthon has September 15, 1996 as the Bushwhackers last date for WWF, in Nashville vs. the obscure team of Freddie Joe Floyd & Uncle Zebakiah (Dutch Mantel?). I couldn't find anything from 96 or 97 regarding them and Pillman interacting. Even though I hated them during the 90s, I have to tip my hat to the Bushwhackers for surviving long after most of the 80s cartoons were long gone.

Really? Talk about a clash of styles/philosophies/era's. Sort of like when Austin and Doink crossed paths at that Slammy Awards show.

I know I hated this Rumble at the time, with the rushed entries and forgettable characters, and it especially felt poor following a run of 4 or 5 good to great Rumble's in a row. I haven't seen it since 95 and really have no desire to ever see it again. The really quick Bushwacker elimination (Luke, 4 seconds) happened at the 91 Rumble, although both Luke and Butch were eliminated from the 95 Rumble quickly (12 and 19 seconds respectively). Honestly, until I checked wikipedia to refresh my memory, I was unaware the Bushwackers were even still around in early 95. And yes, Murdoch was in this Rumble (lasted 5:08).

Although it sounds so stupid, maybe the plan was to have Flair lose, get buzzed, and come back repackaged as Spartacus. Glad they went with Robocop as the draw instead.

Even though it was only two years ago, I totally forgot the Cena/Orton match ever happened. Was it any good?

Come on now, details on specific instances. It's funnier that way.I wasn't clear, it's not "stupidest babyfaces" it's stupid things they've done. For Sting, it has to be teaming with Flair, who he had feuded with on and off for 7 or so years, not to mention previously being burned when he trusted him back in 1990, to face Pillman and Anderson at Halloween Havoc 95. A 3 year old would have looked at that situation and said to Sting "You're a dumbass if you think you can team with this guy and not have him betray you in the end".

Great stuff so far. I knew Patera started in the AWA, but I didn't know about his Mid-Atlantic babyface run or his first heel run with Watts.

Slaughter wrestled as Super Destroyer "Mark II" in his early days.

I think the Spoiler/Jardine was Super Destroyer in Carolinas (also AWA).

There seems to be a fair amount of 70s Stampede kicking around, or at least the late-70s/ early-DK and Bret era. I'm no expert, but there also seems to be plenty late-70s Georgia TBS stuff, and some Crockett, Florida, and Memphis, among others. Isn't there also a fair amount of AWA from the 70s around? Or is most of this territory footage hidden away in a vault in Stamford? Anyway, I think a decent set could be made of (at least) 75-79 wrestling and it would not have to be overwhelmingly WWWF/Japan. Unfortunately, most of the big house show matches from the main territories were never filmed, so it would be mostly TV angles and matches.

I'm not sure it was the hottest period ever, as I've read that the 70-73 period was maybe the hottest as far as having the most territiories doing record business at the same time is concerned. Also, many once thriving territories like LA, San Fran, Detroit, Vancouver, St. Louis, Amarillo, and Montreal either declined greatly or outright died during the 77-84 period. That being said, it was still a pretty hot era, and in the last few years I've really come to see the 77-84 period (I would even say 75-85) as perhaps the most exciting and diverse period ever. WWF, Crockett, Georgia, Stampede, World Class, Memphis, Toronto, Portland, AWA, Mid South, Florida, etc. all went through super hot periods with tons of memorable characters, matches, and angles during the time, of which I've barely scratched the surface when it comes to watching certain territories. And this is not even factoring in Japan, England and other countries. Just a really fun time, and sometimes I wish I had been old enough to have been a fan then (born in 77, but not a fan until 86).

I was thinking the same thing as Jerry. I think there is no doubt Buddy being a jobber/joke in many fans eyes during his last national run will likely effect some voters opinions. I think Buddy getting in will depend heavily on how many voters are open to seriously evaluating his career through watching the available footage of Buddy's best matches/angles/promos. Also, Dave's excellent bio on him from a few years back made him look like a million bucks and really made a great case for him being a HOF guy, which should improve his chances somewhat for those voters who have read it. I know reading it opened my eyes big time to Buddy and led me to seek out his career highlights. Personally, I'd love to see Buddy get in, but reversing years of negative or underwhelming opinions on a wrestler can be a massive hurdle to overcome. I think Patera and Blackwell, as well as others I've mentioned like Rich and Slaughter (other than his contoversial run in 90/91, he was not big time player after 85 or so), all fall into this area to varrying degrees.

The supposed main event of Lockdown 2012 does not sound very appealing on paper.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss....

Just a random late-night observation, but it almost seems like there is some sort of HOF bias against a lot of wrestlers who did well in the 1977-1984 period, but whose careers dropped off after that point, like Rose, Blackwell, and Patera. You could also add Mr.Wrestling II, Tommy Rich, Sgt. Slaughter, and maybe JYD to that group. Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions.

This is seriously what they are charging for a mask? What a fucking rip-off.

Good. Honestly, I think I'm more interested in seeing the Bad Company vs Funks (w/Mike Shaw!!!) match from that show.

One of my great regrets as a wrestling fan is failing to attend this card even though I lived in Calgary at the time. I know I've seen clips of the show (maybe only when they aired on the local news), but does anyone know if there is any good footage of this match and card in full out there?

I think it is also ironic/interesting that Cornette, the "B" Memphis manager, is in the HOF, and the RnR's, the "B" Memphis babyface tag team, will likely get in, while the "A" manager (Hart) and "A" babyface tag team (Fabs) are not in the HOF and may never get in. I'm not sure how it would work with the Fabs since Lane is already in, or if they even had a HOF run together, despite being very influential.

Maybe the bad timing of Jimmy being involved in a less than spectacular babyface run with Hogan just before the first class was put together, and the general malaise of his career from about 91/92 onwards, contributed to him being overlooked. I know his late-WWF/ WCW run made me forget about his glory days for a long time.

This is a great match, one I believe holds up well today. I can still remember watching it on Raw during the early days of it being broadcast on TSN in Canada, when it was on late at night on a Friday or Saturday (this would not change until early-97). I guess airing the match on TV was a ploy to sway viewers away from Nitro. Anyway, I look at this match, along with the debut of Goldust and Hart regaining the strap, as a symbol of the awakening of the WWF in late-95 after the long coma that was Diesel's run on top. I had missed most of 95 and was just getting back into wrestling when this match aired. The addition of blood, at a time when it was extremely rare in WWF rings (first juice since Mania 8?), helped kick things up a notch, as did Davey's use of the powerslam on the floor and Bret using la magistral for the pin. Just a fantastic match in my books. Totally different and more exciting than their more famous encounter in Wembley.

No Jimmy in HOF.