bradhindsight

In finishing off the disc, I liked the 30-minute Backlund/Valentine rematch more than the draw also. Went a tick higher *-wise (i'd say 1/4 star better so for me it was **** but this may be on a sliding WWWF scale. I'm waffling if its really four). This one was much different with Valentine taking it to Backlund for the first portion of the match rather than Bob keeping control with headlocks like in the first. The forearms and elbows Greg was throwing were great. Backlund's power-out hope spots were much more powerful. Greg started the leg work earlier in this match also, which is cool psychology since he really started too late in the first match (although no time limit was announced here). And he REALLY worked the leg - from a bunch of angles. Backlund getting the figure-four himself was a molten spot. Crowd went nuts. They were absolutely trained for this submission - even earlier in the match when Valentine hooked on a different hold (that Vince corrected himself on) the crowd started to audibly gasp in anticipation of the figure-four. Now that is a fucking move that is OVER. And here was a cool example of you having to be IN the ropes to break the hold as the ref wouldn't let Valentine use the ropes to pull himself into them (and wouldn't' break the hold either). It's a little wonky once he does ask for the break as Greg puts in a single crab (there wasn't a break per se). The end of course is...weird. Backlund, our hero, tricks Valentine by patting his back so he gets up and he quickly hits the big atomic drop for the pin. Seems odd the baby would do this - and as both you noted, Valentine falling for it was pretty crappy.

That made all the babyfaces up there look like the biggest pussies. Oh, I might get in trouble if I interfere. I'm not advocating that every guy needs to be Stone Cold or anything. They just need someone to show some balls. At least have someone try but get cut off by the heel they're feuding with. Something. To be fair - if someone ran in to help, then the heat shifts to that person. This segment was all about Daniel Bryan. Having someone do that would have marginalized it. I do agree, since that is the case, they should have just kept the guys in the back then. It was a pretty cool visual with everyone looking on though.

She was definitely a manager in that game, although not a selectable character like Divas in future THQ games.

Well, Shawn made a little sense since he had just left but Ahmed Johnson, Bret (especially Bret), and British Bulldog were definitely long gone. Warzone is the last WWF-licensed game Owen Hart was in also. I didn't mind the Acclaim games (Warzone, Attitude - eventually the ECW clones) at the time because that was IT for WWF on the PlayStation. The d-pad combos for the moves were a bit much. AKI certainly had a better formula in place.

Couldn't agree more with Loss here.

URL to the show: http://placetobenation.com/place-to-be-pod...via-semifinals/

WTBBP up at PTBN - with a smaller pic! Where the Big Boys Play #47

Curious, what was the story with this being the last issue then? Did he start back up fairly quickly after or was it just smoke?

If HHH and Orton do form a stable, inserting Punk in there to tag with Bryan and battle that group woud make sense.

Quite an emotional ride at the end of the match. You get the surprise CLEAN pin (this cannot be stated enough - even Punk's MitB win had a lame finish, Cena paralyzed from a distraction so he walks into a GTS and acts knocked out) - Bryan's reaction is priceless and then HHH is pointing around, shaking hands and celebrating. You're waiting for him to turn, then relaxing when the confetti comes out because it seems like the show is over. Then Orton comes out but turns away before Bryan starts yelling at him to cash in. Finally you get the turn (I don't know why we need a HHH heel character in 2013 but this was pretty good). Bryan looked liked a beast here. Orton looks the worst, given he didn't hit a move, but that's ok here since he turned. One of the best endings they've done in a long time. PTBN did a live blog with Soup's star ratings, pbp and commentary last night. Was a blast: SummerSlam PTBN Blog

After I started the first ToW, I quickly stopped listening until I ordered the discs from James and watched the matches in advance. I finished Valentine/Backlund the other night (just listened to that piece this afternoon on the show) with the following stips: - It was my first time watching the match - While I obviously knew Backlund wasn't dropping the belt, I did not know it was a 60-minute draw going in - I was familiar enough with Bob's past work to not be totally aghast at the repeated headlocks and mat work through the first 30-40 minutes - It wrapped around 1am after a long Friday (admittedly this is like mid-afternoon for Parv The Night Owl) but I did not nod off! I told Chad on Sat morning I went ***3/4 here - definitely wasn't going four stars but, as Parv describes on the show, you do feel satisfied at the finish after sitting through the beginning. I thought about halfway through Backlund had a nice shine sequence and I bought it (after the drop kick) as a possible finish before they went right back to trading holds. It was a decent multitasking match too as I fired off a couple emails while I watched (like Parv, I don't like watching on my laptop). I really liked Valentine's work and thought he did do a bunch of little things to make his work, and the match, stand out. Loved when he finally slapped the figure-four on an exhausted Backlund after the bell. Great cap to the match. I do want to watch it again but I completely understand where James was going with diminishing returns on your eventual feeling of the match. I was happy to hear both you guys were at ***1/2 (w/ James noting he was higher originally) as I think we're all on the same wave length.

This is actually solved (for the most part) if you have a N64 Ram Expansion Pack. There are some third party retro ones in circulation (the original came either stand-alone or with Donkey Kong 64).

I'm a pretty big retrogamer and the only wrestling title that has really alluded me is WCW SuperBrawl for the SNES. Not that it's rare or very valuable but not a common one. I was fortunate to be in college from the second half of '97 to '01 so I spent a LOT of time with THQ/AKI games on the Nintendo 64. I have a lot of fond memories. I picked up the Virtual Pro Wrestling games a couple years ago (Stan Hansen!) but haven't played them as much as I should (and there are great translation guides out there). The one game I always thought came closest to mirroring the No Mercy feel was WrestleMania XIX on the GameCube. Yes, the single player mode was, lets just say "non standard" (this was the platforming game where you had to get a briefcase or something from Stephanie and you spent the bulk of it knocking construction-working wrestling villains into an abyss) but the actual wrestling was decent. The collision detection was god-awful but the roster was good (they even snuck in Goldberg). Of the more recent gens, I played a lot of the first Day of Reckoning game (I did not like SvR - nor tortured myself with anything from the oXbox like Raw, Raw 2 or the previously mentioned WrestleMania 21) and like SvR 09 for the 360. I love the Attitude era campagin in WWE '13. I also thought the arcade-y WWE All-Stars game was excellent.

Awesome concept but rolling this out in Cedar Rapids, Iowa always confused me.

They were just in the main event againt Cena,Bryan and Orton recently. While they've settled down a bit, they still have enough cred to slide into a big main event whenever necessary.

PTB Episode 244 - Old School SummerSlam Roundtable BOOM - awesome listen.

Thanks. The site where the files are held has indeed, at the moment, been suspended. We're working on resolving.

If you click on the "listen" icon a description of the show comes up. Good looking out - thanks.

Yes, and I create many of the card stats for the LOW series. Cool. I try to play the game whenever possible as a way to get away from computer monitors and TV. I was going somewhere with this when posting the question and have totally forgotten where I was going with it I'm intrigued - so there is a series of LOW card games? Anyone have a link to more info (or where to get?)? I searched Amazon and eBay and only Amazon shed a little light.

I really enjoyed this episode (my first) guys. Nice job. Is there a master crib sheet of what the topic is for the other 45 episodes? The labels on Talkshoe and iTunes just show EPISODE # Wrestling Culture. Thanks.

I believe this is the Cappetta interview you were referencing Parv: http://placetobenation.com/place-to-be-pod...chael-cappetta/ Good listen and he covers in detail his WWWF time.

Does Xcite run anywhere other than the American Legion? I can't imagine 350 in that tiny building. I've been there for packed 2CW shows, and it's nigh impossible to move, especially with the bar being right there at ringside. I still think 2CW is nuts for putting their next iPPV in that arena, with the rowdy drunk crowd and the tiny arena. Xcite hasn't ran anywhere besides Post 80. The last 2CW show there was the most packed I had seen it from the shows I had seen. 20 for each side of front row. Then 2 sides had 5 rows past that of probably about 17-20. I had front row and I could barely get to my seat because it was put as close as it could to the rail. So that puts us to about 280 max. Then you've got people standing which bumps it up probably another 60 from by the front door to the walls to the back door area. And recently they have opened up the stage for seating which I'd say probably adds another 30+. I probably over estimated Xcite so sorry bout that. Seems like a minor fire hazard there

We're definitely into 90s nostalgia Parv. I'll give you a similar example that I know you'll appreciate. The retrogaming world has shifted to the 16-bit era now. Where the 90s were nostalgic for Atari, and last decade was pretty heavy towards the NES - the shift here is the disposable income of now-adults who were at an impressionable age from 91-95. I think your 05-06 peak is pretty spot-on.