Kevin Ridge

No other 1997 worth watching post? There has to be a lot out there that didn't make the yearbook.

I couldn't have said things better. What a gripping year as far as WWF/WCW. Really some amazing must see TV that draws you in. WWF is on the rise but cracks are in place for WCW. We have now lost our stable group in USWA which leaves a big whole for US indies. I think it's been a mixes bag for ECW and the US minor groups have not caught on yet. The major groups in Japan are having their issues. Some good stuff from FMW. The down year in Japan has seen stuff like Rings provide some of the better matches. I'm just so low of confidence as far as the shoot wrestling going forward with the emergence of Pride. It will be interesting to see how steps up in 1998.

Sting starts off with more fire but right away gets his ass kicked by Hogan. Too much Hogan again in control. Sting is just another WCW guy after all the build. How the hell could they just go off the air in mid match? Bad, bad finish to things.

Did Hennig deliver any good matches in WCW? That was an awful botch on the Lionsault by Jericho! Chris turning heel is much needed going forward.

Flair talks about the success of Starrcade which he had nothing to do with. Ric Flair wearing reading glasses. Not cool. This reminded me of Eddie Gilbert bringing out PWI magazine rankings to put over himself.

Oh yeah. He should have been thrown immediately into the mix against NWO. Instead he's put up against Flair which is a feud you can do but the focus needed be on him against NWO. Bret makes the challenge against Hogan. Yes, that needed to happen within a few months of Hart's appearance.

Ross makes the announcement that WWF are in negotiations for Tyson to be a part of WrestleMania. This should be a PPV match but the booking was already looking past Owen/Michaels towards Triple H/Owen which wasn't as effective. Triple H wiffs badly on a crutch shot and needs a second attempt to barely graze Owen. They really passed Owen/Michaels too quickly.

Yes, we all watch wrestling shows to see actual wrestling. He doesn't care for WCW, NWO, ECW or WWF. He respects tradition. It's a good rant but his response with the NWA didn't exactly meet expectations.

Outlaws trying to get the cheap heat by wearing Rangers jerseys. Another video segment with Foley's various identities. There is a wooden block up by the stage we briefly see. I wish it was just Terry Funk and not him wearing pantyhose over his face. Charlie launches his chainsaw after the Outlaws.

Get It! 1998 will be better and more action packed. I'll say no but will look to that year with an open mind.

Damn those old people! Rock doesn't care for them. He's so arrogant and love him making a match between Shamrock and Faarooq next week. Faarooq was doing the "Damn!" facial back in 97.

HHH learning from Shawn to duck out on title matches. Michaels pops out of the casket! Chyna looks different. Michaels introduces the two newest members of DX! Ha. DX wil get rid of Owen. Undertaker will get his final shot at Michaels at Royal Rumble. It's a bad boob job.

Kevin Kelly and Michaels Cole seem to be doing the first hour of Raw. Goldust is wearing a diaper. Austin lowers a porta potty into the ring. Goldust takes a bump into the potty.

Sting's skinny arms remind me of Hogan in 93. This match should have been Sting fighting off the NWO right off the start. Maybe have Bret and DDP help out to clear things out. Once everyone is out of there just have Sting destroy Hogan for the clean win. They had this super long build up to Sting versus Hogan and there is so little hatred in this match. Hogan dominates the match and gets the clean three count. What a joke. Not even close to a fast count but Bret had to act like it was another match with someone getting screwed. Fuck you Hogan for pulling this shit. Sting is immediately destroyed on his return match.

Bischoff is the next Rings superstar! Larry really should have beat the crap out of him in a couple minutes. Eric is treated as way too much of a credible challenger to Larry even with Zbyszko not being an active wrestler. Hall loads up Bischoff's foot with a weapon which at least gives him a shot. But then Bret just knocks out Eric! Hart is WCW! But Larry didn't need all this help to beat Eric. I still don't like how they debuted Hart.

What the hell is Valentine doing in WCW at this point? He should have been someone that came back as a surprise in every Royal Rumble. Flair versus Hennig would have been bigger with Ric winning the title. But at least they get it off Hennig who has been very uninspiring as champion.

Watching live and I probably wanted to see Giant versus Nash the most so a total let off. This card went under changes with Konnan and Raven not being able to wrestle. Big powerbomb by Giant on Hall!

The announcer refers to Flanagan as Flash Funk! Death matches aren’t my favorite with the pinfalls that wouldn’t normally happen in a regular match. Wrestling on Christmas Day. I’m for guys getting off holidays to be with families but it use to be a big day for wrestling cards. Wolfie is a bloody. Decent match in the end between the two.

Maeda looks heavy. He’s also not as good as other guys we have seen in Rings. He’s more methodical but his grumpy old man act pales to Fujiwara. Glad that Tamura won at least.

Though it’s NWO Nitro the WCW guys are back in the booth. They rip off the ending to the movie Seven as Hogan freaks out with the gift in a box. Then they rip of Shawn Michaels entrance from WrestleMania 12. Bret must have loved it just standing there watching that. The push for Hogan/Sting in December was poor with so little of Sting being around.

NWO run off the announcers and intimidate the cameramen/crew into putting on NWO shirts. They take apart the WCW Nitro set and invade the production trucks. No WCW guys. No security to stop this. I take away from this and for a good part of the year that WCW guys have little loyalty/fight for their organization. NWO has run rough shot because it gets so little resistance. We get NWO banners and signs. There is even a fancy introduction for NWO Nitro with graphics. Whole NWO comes down to the ring and it becomes a celebration for Hollywood Hogan. The amount of money spent on all this. This whole segment runs close to 35 minutes clock time. Bischoff’s shots at McMahon don’t seem to have the confidence behind them like it did previous months.

Michaels and Triple make a mockery of everything. But at least only the European title was on the line and Shawn dropped a belt in the ring!! Man I can't wait until Shawn versus the Casket in 1998. As bad as Slaughter has looked I still think Dillon came off a lot worse in WCW.

Goldust dressed up as a Christmas tree! He recites Night Before Christmas. Another Santa Claus comes out which bothers Goldust. Vader has the physique to be Santa. It’s bizarre to think about Vader dressing up as Santa to attack Goldust. Wouldn’t he just storm the ring anyways and try to attack Goldust?

Outlaws go looking for Mankind and end up locking him in a freezer. Hopefully Dude Love gets him out of there.