rvd356

Wow cool list. Cesaro was so awesome-shit on in booking so bad-then we get a Raw main event with Danielson that just brings him right back to the forefront of my mind. Lots of work went into compiling this I'm sure. I don't like Lucha much so I am ignorant on 60% of the list and don't even know where you see all this Indy stuff(maybe its free online somewhere?). Hate to be the asshole that questions someone's opinionated list but here's a few: CM Punk- he's got to be higher. Ryota Hama really had a better year? That guy is worthless garbage and I love fat guy wrestlers, even Bundy & Shockmaster & the worst of the worst. I've never seen him in an even decent match. It's hard to believe he was a Triple Crown champion. Held the belt that Stan Hansen attempted murder over & some of the all time best matches occured over. Sometimes I feel like lists are made just to be unique. Everyone does it, I find myself putting random stuff on all my lists just to do it. I'm open to classic or even passable Hama 2013(or ever) recomendations. Different strokes though. I know Punk's a 'Made Guy' now so he doesn't need out love as much as he did in say, 2004 but he's still been outstanding. Maybe not as good as '11 or '12 to most but to me he's refined and even better(maybe). For my money he's had the 2 best matches of 2013: vs. Undertaker @ WrestleMania 29 & vs. John Cena @ Raw 2-25-13. I am a WWE watcher(of current stuff) over anything current by a big margin but I thought these 2 matches were universally praised. Of course Punk/Rock I couldn't even near the hype surrounding it and while I liked it (***) I was totally bummed out because it looked SO good on paper. Didn't see the rematch but I haven't heard anything good about it. Punk/Brock is coming up soon and I have a feeling it's going to shoot right past my other 2 MOTYC's. My 2 favorite talents on the roster, 1 on 1, no bullshit on the #2 PPV(debatable) of the year. Can't believe Summerslam is in LA(a short 2 1/2 hour drive from the hut I inhabit) and I'm missing Brock/Punk, Del Rio/Christian(have a feeling the 75% Mexican crowd is going to finally embrace Del Rio & it will be his moment), Danielson/Cena II(Velocity rematch 10 years in the making! Still remember tuning in to see the Dragon) Will ask more tomorrow, thanks, great post.

Yeah he's the greatest of all time. Hell if he's flat broke I'd let him live in my spare room. Flair's done so much for us as fans he deserves to live it up as an old man. Back to the morality police, what's he supposed to be saving for? His poor boy lost his battle woth the "Dragon" & I don't mean Ricky. I hope Flair's having a good time.

It's simple to me, 95% of the HHHate comes from Trips marrying into the McMahon family and becoming his own booker. Let's just look at recent years: 2008- interjects himself into the Cena/Orton Mania main event which had its own thing going. "Takes on for the team" and makes himself the Champ of Smackdown to "bring up ratings". Books himself against hot(crowd heat) young star Jeff Hardy. 2010- beats young rising star Sheamus @ Mania clean as a sheet(show that millions view). Then puts him over at Extreme Rules which no one watched. 2011- puts himself in the Taker Streak Mania match after seeing the high quality performances that Taker had been pulling out @ Manias, when WWE desperately needs to give this rub(& job) to a young guy. Match was ok. 2011- Jumps on the CM Punk wave of popularity and swipes Punk's "revenge" feud with Nash(Punk never even TOUCHED Nash for screwing him over at Summerslam)....Also he squashes Punk on a PPV main event when Punk seriously needed to be established. You wouldn't see Hogan eat a pin in '84, interferance or not. 2012- Books himself with Taker in a HIAC which headlines over all title matches Danielson, Punk, Sheamus...guys who actually need the company to promote them on top, with Taker in a HIAC would have REALLY given them the rub too. Personally thought the H/Taker Cell match sucked. 2012- Giving him credit with H/Brock I. Great match, perfect booking and a hillarious crowd reaction BUT.... 2013- Again Trips stays on the Lesnar bandwagon and beat him with ease(of COURSE in front of the giant Mania audience & returns the job @the small ER show). Its weird watching s guy book his own legacy. If Austin did the same things all these years people would hate him too. Sure all these moments listed would have been way better w/ Steve but still. Hell people would hate Toshiaki Kawada if he would have married Steph & penned his own legacy, quality or not.

I love Flair. Who cares if he likes to go out and have some fun. Its funny how many people online(Youtube commenters) take such a moral stand against Flair. Wow he partied and banged 1000 hot chicks in his prime, what a terrible guy. Most of these same posters still blow Chris Benoit and mourn his death like he was some kind of victim.

Yeah all of Jake Roberts best angles were kind of racy. I actually watched the Jake Roberts DVD with my new girlfriend(I know I'm not a dork or anything) & she really reacted to all Jakes big angles with raw emotion. She had never even seen a match but the Cobra thing was shocking to her(still is to me) & also Rick Rude manhandling her(twisting her arm) infuriated my girl & she was so happy when Jake saves. That stuff was wicked. Basically Jake had his finger on the pulse of the fans and could draw people in so well. It's too bad he couldn't make it on the booking commitee or ever get back into shape after he bombed out in 92. He was in his prime in 1991 & bombed out of WWE & WCW after a few months in each. Shows what pills, crack & booze can do to your life & career. Off topic bug 20 years later & he's finally doing some good. Do you guys support a Rumble 2014 spot for him?

H'mm really? Better than Powers/Rockers from January MSG show. I have the match up on another pager now(12/28/90 I hope). Nothing can beat Hogan/Warrior I for '90 WWE for me personally, since it was MY match as a small child. & Made me a fan for life but I'm always down for some new Piper. I celebrate the guy's whole career(Like Michael Bolton in 'Office Space' type deal). Of course his best stuff is Portland, The JCP stuff & his first WWE run('84-'87) but since we're talking post 'Mania 3 retirement... First off I love Mountie-Piper @ Rumble 92 when Piper takes the IC strap. It was such a special moment for Piper AND the fans more importantly. Back when their were only 2 recognized singles belts and they meant SO much to us marks. 2nd Bret-Piper from 'Mania 8 is by far his best match. 3rd atcually liked him as a color commentator but as said above his best color performance was Summerslam '90 when he just spoke his mind & didn't kiss ass (which is just what they needed when Ventura took off). I may be alone but I actually liked the brawling portions of the 'Mania 12 Backlot brawl. I always like these 'setting' matches. Of course the OJ Bronco stuff was dumb & was a big MISS. But it was classic Piper brawling & he got a great pop. I know they were going with the 'New Generation' but in '96 Piper was still a draw & he proved that in WCW in December and on into '97. I'm not saying he should have got the WWE strap that year but I think a crazy brawling feud with Mankind & 1 last shot at the WWE title @ Series '96 in MSG vs. Michaels could have drawn some money.(The Shawn feud could have been half jealousy/Gold envy and half to 'toughen' up Shawn and give him an edge). And believe it or not I liked WCW Piper too. Mostly he was just fun to have around but he really held his own in the promo sparring with Hogan(guess that's not suprising but I really liked the feud, too bad the matches were wretched). Also I saw Havoc '97 live in Vegas(my 1st of 2 live shows ever, only WCW show. That match was badd but the cage was a spectacle worth seeing & Savages axe handle from 20 feet was amazing(great all around PPV btw). His best WCW match by far was with Ric Flair @ Bash at the Beach '97. It's a sleeper hit to me. I saw someone in the "Death of Nitro" or whatever marathon review thread give props to Piper-Flair from Slamboree '99 being a fun veteran brawl but the '97 version is vastly superior with all kinds of chops & nutshots and the crowd way into it.

Hold up. kenta won the GHC Heavyweight belt?! Dang I watched the morshima/kenta match in January but turned it off half way because I was bored & my boy wins the big one?! Good for him. Not sure the consensus(probably bad seeing how he does too many cool *moveZ*) but he's been my favorite Japanese pro wrestler since mutoh fell off in 'O7. You've inspired me to watch the Tanahashi matches starting with 10.8.2012 - Hiroshi Tanahashi © vs. Minoru Suzuki. Good spot?(To the avid New Japan watchers??)

I watch bits of it and loved sak/Nakumura & three way Juinor Dome matches. Honestly haven't watched the Tanahashi title bouts cus they're so long *yet* Noah is so poor though these days(draws 1ooo or less). I only check out the kenta stuff. The Nagata match was good , & the marafuJi bout was great of 2o12 stuff. morshima sucks & always did. kobashis last match I will watch. all Japan is worse. So yes.

kind of random but watched him in the Rumble '95 and damn if he didn't look great. His punches looked good course. He really looked better than everyone in the bout but shawn. would like to have seen Dick & shawn do 15 in '95.

Papa shango seems like a lock.

First off 70 bucks are they fucking high. I remember paying 35 for Mania 19 and the next year it was 50 and damn if didn't want to see that card but decided I'd wait a year but it never went down. Damn I want to see Brock. Oh well maybe ill finally make it to summerslam.

some tasteless angles to lead up to mania this year. I for one think using the dead for angles is trashy but hey no one is bigger than the E right

Oh god don't blame Ric for this. Lockdown rehab really. He was 24. my age and nothing and no one deserves blame except Reid This is why i never made the leap to H in my drug use. OC is the closest.

Okay, I change my vote fromm Foley/Austin IYH: Over The Edge '98 to HBK @ IYH: Mind Games not just to move along the thread, but because it is a better match, the 'best' match whereas the Austin 1 is a favorite. Keiji Mutoh. My pick is Tenryu/Mutoh from 8/6/01. I love comeback '01 Mutoh, he got me into Puro back in '01/'02 after seeing him ranked so high on the PWI 500. Funny 6 days later is Nagata/Mutoh, my 2nd pick.

I'll elaborate later: Rick Steamboat. THIS. I always thought there was a missed opportunity to turn him, because his bumping & selling could probably have translated into great stooging & heat for a face. Honestly the Eddie Gilbert thing would have meant 0 outside of the 'hardcore' fans of 1990. But I know its off topic a bit but the best time to turn Steamboat heel would have been at Halloween Havoc '94 as 'The Masked Man'. Yeah yeah he was injured but let's pretend he goes home for a few months when Hulkster comes in & BAM he takes out Hogan in the cage & Flair wins the Unified WCW World strap. Flair, Steamboat, AA & let's say Austin reform the Ultimate Four Horsemen. Starrcade '94 is Steamboat/Hogan for the shot @ Flair that night. Hogan defies the odds etc. I just think a Hogan/Steamer match could have been Hulks best bout of all times.

The Shield vs. The Horsemen(Flair, Arn & Tully) Chicago Street Fight, handicap match The Shield vs. The Road Warriors

I don't get that line of thinking since every ppv is pretty much on the same level now outside of Mania. Plus the June ppv, titled "WWE Payback"(featuring Mel Gibson shooting people in search of his $15,000?) is in Chicago. It would give him over 2 months to heal up & build for that show.(Over the Limit has been moved the October to sit right up with HIAC that month, but thankfully there is only 12 shows this year) Now the tables are turned & I'd be totally cool with Punk main eventing that show over the WWE champ Cena. Ideally you'd have Punk get the biggest win of his career on Taker but that's not going to happen these days. Maybe he could get a win on The Rock for his "Payback"? Probably not. Punk/Cena part 12 in Chicago again would be alright, only if we get another Orndorff Piledriver. BUT the absolute best way to go would be on the post-Mania Raw to have Heyman call out Punk on his losing ways & have Brock take out Punk & build to the "Chi-Town Rumble 2013". It would draw some $. Atleast better the Cena/Big Show WWE title match or whatever they are running this summer.

Wasn't Fandango/Jericho made official on Raw? Can someone explain the Fandango gimmick to me, I have not seen video of him yet, nor do I really want to but I would like to know what his deal is. Also ugh an 8 diva tag match really? When will they give it up on that shit. Brodus/Albert vs. Cody/Sandow? Next. Barrett/Miz? Well it's a real match but it's kinda weird that Miz chased Cesaro & the US strap for months and then 2 weeks out he goes after Barrett & the IC strap. Seems to be a yearly booking rut with the midcard belts, having feuds they can't quite stretch into 'Mania itself. I'm cool with Kofi/Cesaro even with no build if it gets 10 minutes. So hypothetically that gives us: WWE Title: The Rock© vs. John Cena WHC: Alberto Del Rio© vs. Jack Swagger No Holds Barred: Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H The Undertaker vs. CM Punk The Shield vs. Big Show, Randall Keith Orton & Sheamus Tag Team Titles: Team Hell No© vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big Langston IC title: Wade Barrett vs. The Miz Fandango vs. Chris Jericho 8-Diva Tag Team match Brodus Clay & Tensai vs. The Rhodes Scholars Preshow match- US Title: Antonio Cesaro© vs. Kofi Kingston SO 11 matches? This will be like Wrestlemania 5 with 100 4 minute matches, only without Randy Savage, Arn Anderson & Tully to make me care. But I still have hopes that Taker/Punk suprise the hell out of me. Also that Lesnar's raw athleticism provides some WrestleMania Moments™. And I know Cena & Rock have a classic match down deep inside of them, just wish we had Pat Patterson to map one out for them. The rest just looks like a 3 hour Raw. Not a special one with a Jim Duggan match either, just a normal "2 weeks out from the Over the Limit ppv" kind.

Aw nice to see some love for Masters here. I thought he had such potential as a big star. Plus its always a well, plus to have a phsyique like that in my book. As a big HBK 2nd run fan I always liked the Unforgiven '05 match they had. Chris looked like such a beast when he powerbombed HBK into the post. It was comical when Mr. Growth Hormone Levasque called him out on his Wellness bust. Real professional as always. I think had they given Chris the Sheamus push, powerboming jobbers on the floor & beating Cena, that he would have worked his way into a top spot.

vs Steve Austin @ Over the Edge 1998

You guys are right it does seem far-fetched but you guys this is vince McMahon, the guy who spent upwards of 100 million to get a Senate seat for his family, the guy who created a football league to challenge the NFL. This doesn't seem that crazy to me. *****Smackdown SPOILERS BELOW****** So here's the current card. On SD Big Show wanted in on the six-man tag against the Shield but Sheamus & Orton told him they already chose Ryback. But later in the show Mark Henry beat down Ryback so it looks like Show will take his place & Ryback/Henry will be made a match. Dumb that they would do the Ryback/Henry match on tv instead of save it for Mania. Just bad booking all around leading to Mania: * WWE Title Match: The Rock © vs. John Cena * World Title Match: Alberto Del Rio © vs. Jack Swagger * Stipulation to Be Decided by Lesnar: Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar * The Undertaker vs. C.M. Punk * The Shield vs. Ryback, Randy Orton and Sheamus

Jack- I would but don't have a computer. Just a blackberry with a crap browser. Johnny- I'm not real bummed on that honestly. I was mad that he didn't win the chamber but I think Del Rio's face turn is bombing & I'd hate to have Mark blamed for that. Del Rio/Swagger is going to die a sad death @ Mania, it's going to make Del Rio-Edge @ 27 look like Hogan/Rock in crowd heat. I'd rather have in the Ryback match. Its gonna be hot.

Took this from 411mania Wrestling(does someone have a better non pay site? 411 has become the biggest piece of shit site ever. 4/5 times click on a link I get re-directed to an ad. not to mention the floating banners. Fuck. Seriously 13 years ago when I started on wrestling sites I expected this shit but now? Greedy fuckers.): As previously reported, WWE's VP of Creative Eric Pankowski was let go last week which has led to Vince McMahon being more hands-on this week on Raw. The final straw that led to Pankowski's firing was his decision to book Fatal 4 Way match last week on Raw between CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show with the winner getting to be Undertaker's WrestleMania 29 opponent. Pankowski was reportedly told that it was a bad idea, but he went through with it anyway. McMahon signed off on it, but it is believed he did so in order to let Pankowski's work speak for itself. Credit: PWInsider via Rajah Basically McMahon bombed his own angle to justify firing someone. Those roids have mucked up his brain.

This. Every year I get all worked up over the undercard of Mania: make up my own, read others thoughts. And every year I am dissapointed with almost every undercard match. For instance Rey Jr. vs. Punk @ Mania 26. I thought for sure hands down match of the night & match of the year. Eddie/Rey @ Havoc for this decade was what I hoped for. And then it was 6 minutes long. I mean sure it was a great sprint(***1/2 imo) but damn if I wasn't let down. Of course they made up for it @ Capitol Punishment 2011 with an awesome 20 minute match(****3/4 easily, 2nd best MOTY). But almost every year there's 1 really good undercard match I believe. Almost. I think The Shield match will be rockin(they always are) & I have high hopes for Ryback-Henry(like Warrior-Hogan, its a 50-50 toss up on who's going to win). I guess you could say Taker-Punk is an undercard match? Or is every year now a quadruple main event?

Yup I'm happy with Bully as a heel, & top heel at that. His ppv match with Aries last year was possibly my favorite of the year for TNA.