WingedEagle

Let me hear some all time favorite matches or MOTYCs through the years where you don't think one or any participant will rank on your GWE ballot. Personally, I could very easily see myself putting together a hundred names that don't include Dibiase or Duggan despite loving their gimmick classic. Roman Reigns definitely won't be making my list even though I've got him vs. Brock as a top 2 MOTYC at this point. Will try to come up with some others but interested to see what others have. Maybe we won't find anything like Mo Williams or Corey Brewer dropping 50, but hopefully find a few classics from not quite HOFers here.

What about Bryan losing in a flash at Mania to Sheamus? He'd been picking up steam for months but that slap in the face seemed to really bring people behind him starting the next night.

Rock at Summerslam '98, though he was on his way without it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/ClassicPuro '90s AJPW -- pretty easy to get lost here for 72 hours if you want.

Agree with this 100%, but if somehow someway Austin says he wants to work with Brock they'll figure out a way to get there. But no chance it was expected or planned for when they turned him.

Next couple days will confirm, but last night felt like Sting tearing up his knee climbing the cage at the Clash, pushing the inevitable crowning (LBJ winning in Cleveland ) to the Bash (date TBD) while Luger steps in. Not that Cavs winning this one was any kind of luck, but you could make a credible case for them. Its not happening if LBJ is going at it alone.

I love Kikuchi as Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. Not sure its fair to anyone to compare him to the others given his role as tag/six-man underdog or jr. tag captain. He's great for what he is. Some guys are HOFers and others are elite role players.

Thanks! Really enjoying checking this out. Were Crusher & Bruiser that revolutionary on the mic for their time, or just so far ahead of the pack in the AWA/WWA?

I've been going back through my old WON's and just finished the obituary of The Crusher. No idea where my head was at that time, but I didn't remember anything about it and was fascinated the whole way through. I know there really isn't much/any footage from his prime with Bruiser, but what other footage or info is out there about this era? Hoping for some more stories if we ever get part 2 of the Verne obit but not holding my breath.

Not really relevant here, but the people I know who laugh at wrestling will laugh regardless of who is performing. The match is completely irrelevant.

I know Bret was considered a solid promo in his time, but was he really that otherworldly? Cena came along after the peak of the 15 minute promo and while he rarely crushes it -- outside of when he stops the pandering and turns really serious (very rare occasions, which I unfortunately can't name on recall but know there are a handful) -- I think he just as rarely if ever craps the bed. He just does a very good job at something that everyone has been and is doing for nearly a couple decades now. Bret was there before and while that trend was developing. He then also got out before it became overkill. Work a little time travel magic and Bret's routine may very well look like the same old tired routine every week.

CS, I have no doubt you think Bret comes out on top in all of those fields. That's awesome. But its also possible that folks here and in other corners of the world happen to find Cena's work product over the course of his career superior.

Dave is great when on with an interesting, engaged partner who can keep him talking about wrestling history. There is no value whatsoever to listening to Bryan Alvarez.

Owens. Not sure how much run you can get out of a foreign menace character long term.

Context is a huge part of this. NXT is almost like the old Superstars or Main Event-era show with a few simple matches and maybe a couple other segments, but not as squash heavy. Its also fresh now in comparison to years of Raw and Smackdown. Would that be the case with the same formula 20 years from now? NXT also has the liberty of being produced without the goal of generating the almighty dollar. Its not selling a monthly PPV, weekly Raw/Smackdown tapings or even house shows comparable to what WWE draws. With the pressure that comes with those objectives how would it change? Its almost like a an incubator or b-school type of simulation from a business perspective, though obviously they're looking to ramp that up. If you make it a 3+ hour show there's no doubt the dynamic and structure of the show will change. Not arguing that is a fresh and fun product, but I don't think its at all comparable to "WWE" shows.

Should've put 2 and 2 together when it was announced Brock was going to Japan. That'll be fun to watch when I come home on the 5th.

High five!

Do it.

Who has been nominated with fewer matches? Not talking guys with fewer on tape like Destroyer, but literally less matches. Volk Han for sure, but that's a different world.

Kobashi Misawa Kawada Taue Reserving the right to swap 1 and 2.

Definitely have Roddy/Tanahashi as a top 10 MOTY thus far.

Yes. And good luck to anyone who thinks it can be approximated. Different eras, options, economics, opportunities, audiences, etc., etc., etc. all impact what draws. Would Austin have drawn as much business today as he did in '98? I don't know. Perhaps that character isn't as fresh in 2015 as it was in '98 and with the watering down of TV through hundreds of channels, the internet, phones/tablets it wouldn't have been such a ratings draw. And that's before you try to extrapolate PPV numbers from then into today's Network era. Fun to think about though.

Don't have my WON with me but apparently Cueto's brother is pegged to be one of the featured characters going forward. And he hasn't even been cast yet.

Because its entirely subjective. I really enjoy seeing what many people like and why, as it gives me new things to look into. At the end of the day whether we take away different things from a match or wrestler and spend hours trying to rationalize it, if we see it differently there's no trump card anyone can play to win that argument. Folks lose sight of that fact and digging in their heels to the point of obstinacy in knocking someone else's opinions or taste is where it all gets dumb, but hopefully long before that point everybody's found something else to think about and even better watch, since we all love our rasslin'.

Cena, and its not even close for me. Ask me in 1997 and its possible I'd have a different answer, but rewatching Bret on the yearbooks & network has not made a strong case for him here. I think Cena also has a vastly more diverse body of work.