BlueGuy

Actually, 2013 DVD sales figures would seem to indicate that JCP/WCW would appeal to the biggest audience as three out of the top four DVDs were WCW based (the other being WrestleMania 29).

That's great to hear and I've heard it from others as well. I imagine at its best, the colors and sharpness are every bit as vibrant and perfect as a cable HD broadcast. Would the fast motions and camera panning look as good as a Blu-ray or even a DVD? Or, are you seeing a film-like effect that generally isn't seen on cable TV live sports or a WWE release? For example, does it look like cable quality when the batter swings? I just got a new TV that has that motion smoothing effect/higher resolution, but that was after the season was over so I can't comment. I never noticed an issue on my older LCD TV, but maybe it would be noticeable on one of the fancier ones? Good to know. Actually, if you didn't have a problem before, you shouldn't have a problem with motion on the newer sets as they generally offer you the ability to turn off or on the motion smoothing effect to suit your needs.

That's great to hear and I've heard it from others as well. I imagine at its best, the colors and sharpness are every bit as vibrant and perfect as a cable HD broadcast. Would the fast motions and camera panning look as good as a Blu-ray or even a DVD? Or, are you seeing a film-like effect that generally isn't seen on cable TV live sports or a WWE release? For example, does it look like cable quality when the batter swings?

A simple Google search reveals that some MLB.TV subscribers have complained about the video quality of this service, specifically on fast motion and audience panning. When checking MLB.TV, a lot of their FAQ material leads you to believe that while you can watch games on your TV, the service is really meant for watching on other devices (laptops, ipads, etc). Meanwhile, WWE has really pushed the idea that their service will work great on any platform including TVs. Is there any chance at all that WWE Network will be better than MLB.TV? Will it even be any better than their free videos on YouTube? Are they simply hoping that wrestling fans will gladly take any quality and shut up? I really can't imagine inviting a bunch of people (specifically casual and lapsed fans who are intrigued by the Network) over to watch WrestleMania and turning on the TV to reveal something arguably worse than an analog picture, but if it's no better than MLB.TV I guess that's bound to happen.

I know some people who travel for business outside of the United States. Will the feed be blocked when they leave American soil?

There was also another episode where Jerry says something like, "the Three Stooges without Larry would be like professional wrestling without a referee. You don't really need him, but it wouldn't be the same without him." In the Bizzaro Jerry episode, he mentions that his date's massive hands resembled George "The Animal" Steele's. Of course, there was also a Baywatch episode featuring the likes of Flair, Vader, Sullivan, Savage and Hogan.

Among hardcore fans, it's widely known that in the early 1980s and in 1988, you were being strongly considered for the NWA and WWF world championships respectively. Both times, plans changed. Do you feel it was a case of other talent getting in the way, bad timing or were you ever given any indication that there was some management-perceived intangible missing from the "Ted DiBiase presentation" that forced plans to change? Following those changes, were you ever given a timeline as to when you might expect to win either title? In light of how other UWF/Mid South talent was used, how do you think you might have fit into JCP if you opted to join that promotion instead of the WWF? In 1992, the steroid scandal began impacting the WWF's on-screen product. For the first time ever, the company had four consecutive world title reigns with wrestlers weighing less than 250 pounds. Given Flair's departure was there any discussion of you getting the title in late 1992? Aside from Hart, are you aware of anyone else being discussed for the role?

I don't have Netflix or anything like it to know about the type of video quality to expect, so I'm wondering if this new service is likely to have the disgusting film-like quality that plagued Classics on Demand from 2010 to 2012? Even though I watch all the PPVs and love classic wrestling, I'll pass on this service and pay more for the regular PPVs then subscribe to a sub-par quality offering.

And most likely something they're not equipped to do.

I'm in Canada, so I have my doubts it would be available right away. I would take the same approach Loss would though. I've only skimmed this thread at most, are they actually going to even do it here? Seems like Sportsnet 360 is pushing themselves as the one-stop source for WWE in this country right now, and they'd have an absolutely massive fucking gap in their programming if it all goes to a WWE Network. It would be almost as bad as Gol TV post losing La Liga. :-) I'd point out that Sportsnet also broadcasts the NFL Thursday Night game, despite NFL Network being available here as well as a specialty channel. There's a chance Raw at the very least could remain a Sportsnet property and they might not lose it all. Chances are Sportsnet would keep all of their current WWE programming at least until the end of their current deal, much like Syfy and USA network. At most, the few shows that would get duplicated on WWE Network (like Vintage and NXT) could be blacked out or, assuming they air it at the same time, overlapped with the Sportsnet feed. For what it's worth, I'd be shocked to see new Raw and Smackdown airing on the WWE Network. USA Network and Syfy would get the first airings, while Universal HD would get the second airing (currently on the weekend). Raw would have to be at least seven days old before being shown on WWE Network. At that point, there's probably no reason to air it as it'll only confuse people attempting to keep up with the current storylines.

In fairness, almost every single time he mentions that he was happy about WCW shutting down, he makes a point of also stating how he felt bad for those losing their jobs/incomes.

The first two "carry jobs" that come to mind are: Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich fever match. At times, Von Erich even seemed to have a tough time walking. Flair vs. Lex Luger Battle of the Belts

Right around this time, I remember hearing that Hogan was trying to get out of the Starrcade Sting match. Hogan supposedly was harping on the fact that Sting didn't look to be in shape and he was trying to get his Starrcade opponent changed to Flair. When you consider that Hogan had already cut the sleeves from one of Flair's robes and proceeded to wear it during a promo, I have to imagine they had plans for a Flair vs. Hogan match sometime after World War 3. Of course, Flair suffered a broken bone in his foot in the World War 3 match against Hennig, so that probably derailed the plans.

In reality, the Savage feud is probably Flair's most underrated. In some ways, it was like six feuds in one: 1- Flair claims to have had Elizabeth before Savage (February to April 1992) 2- Flair enacts "Plan B" playing minds games to eventually regain his championship (April to September 1992) 3- Flair beats up Angelo Poffo and Savage seeks revenge (May to July 1995) 4- Following the reformation of the Horsemen, a focused Flair re-enters the championship picture at Elizabeth's expense (December 1995 to January 1996) 5- Flair has Savage's women turn on him and proceeds to spend Savage's spousal support payments (February 1996 to June 1996) 6- Savage referees a four-way match and is responsible for Flair losing the title. Their respective entourage (particularly Gorgeous George and Charles Robinson) become primary figures in this less than impressive feud (April to June 1999) Outside of the sixth incident, any single one of these would be enough to be the catalyst to a great feud.

It was filmed around January and it will air at 8pm Eastern on either June 23rd or 30th depending on which source you believe.

Which Horsemen double cross? Are you referring to the 1990 altercation where they removed him from the Horsemen, or 1995 when Flair went face only to turn on Sting at Halloween Havoc? I feel both times worked quite well and served as great catalysts to relaunching the rivalry that first began in 1988. Considering the frequency that the two of them feuded, I can see how you might feel it was formulaic, but I do think you may be underestimating the feud. --------- Regarding Vader, I completely agree that it was another great feud starting with their November Clash match and lasting through to SuperBrawl IV. It was easily one of Flair's all-time best feuds in the 1990s. Looking back, Flair had more memorable feuds in the 1990s (Sting, Luger, Piper, Hogan, Savage, Hennig, Vader, Steamboat, etc), a time when he was already written off, than many guys have in their entire careers.

I'd go with Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes and Sting primarily because of how long those feuds lasted and how many times they were successfully repackaged. He first started feuding with Steamboat in 1978 and they had their last program in Steamboat's last year -- 1994. In total, they had four big runs (1978-79, 1984, 1989, and 1994). The Rhodes rivalry was very similar and while it didn't result in matches anywhere near the same level, the promos were head and shoulders above pretty much anything else. Finally, the Sting rivalry began in 1988 and arguably lasted through to their TNA run. It's hard to leave out some of his other very successful rivalries such as those against Luger, Savage, Race, Funk (which may have produced the best all-around six month rivalry) or several others, but I think these combinations provided such outstanding chemistry that they had the greatest staying power.

Flair was the main booker of WCW when Hogan signed (in fact, dating back to November 1993 following the Sid/Arn incident in the UK). Of course, with Hogan's creative control, he was able to rewrite anything he was involved in -- and generally he did. He also made sure to bring in his buddies (Duggan, Honky, Butcher, etc) and get them prominent roles. As a result, while technically speaking Hogan wasn't the booker of WCW, his influence was powerful enough that he was able to impact far more than just his own programs.

This was one of a very few Mountie matches that aired on Canadian TV in late 1991. Apparently, the real RCMP had issues with the way Mounties were being depicted and, according to the story I read at the time, the WWF simply omitted almost all of his matches from the Canadian syndicated shows. My guess is that because of the angle involved, they figured they had to show it. If memory serves me, when this match aired, the Mountie's introduction wasn't shown and the commentary never referred to him as The Mountie. Not much of a match, but the angle worked quite well.

I think the only lock would be Flair who effectively owned the decade from start to finish. Lawler, Funk, Savage, Rhodes, Race, Bockwinkel and Hogan are, in my mind, the only other ones up for contention to make the list of top 1980s North American performers as they performed at a top level for the bulk of the decade.

I'm guessing you never watched or listened to any of the Coliseum videos or even Prime Time Wrestling or his first few months on Superstars and Challenge. Furthermore, to say his first reign was as a transitional champion is way off and only works if you look at the number of days involved. You don't typically see transitional championship reigns built up over a five month period and lasting three months. That's not to mention that he continued to main event throughout 1992 against the guy he dropped the title to and he did regain the championship from that same guy. Considering he regained the championship from the man who he dropped it to and was in world title matches throughout the year, how can that be considered any type of transition? His second reign likely wasn't intended to be transitional. Injury and philosophical company changes imposed by the increasing steroid scandal pressure forced McMahon to make the switch in late 1992 up to July 1994 to a new champion who, while healthier than Flair at that point in time, was devoid of any kind of athletic physique throughout his career (evidenced by his lack of physique while working for his father and that he was almost completely covered very quickly after arriving in the WWF) in an effort to visibly put over the notion that WWF wrestlers weren't steroid users (in spite of the fact that his new guy had actually used steroids).