cheapshot

Debuts January 13 – Tatanka May 19 – El Gigante October 2 – Chris Jericho Retirements Otto Wanz (1968–1990) Frenchy Martin (1971–1990) Ann Casey (1962–1990) Nick Kiniski (1985–1990) Ole Anderson (1967–1990) Ray Candy (1973–1990) Raymond Rougeau (1971–1990) Ron Hutchison (1983–1990) Scott Casey (1970–1990) Seiji Sakaguchi (August 5, 1967 – March 15, 1990) Soldat Ustinov (1985-October 25, 1990) Uncle Elmer (1960–1990) Lou Thesz (1932–December 26, 1990) Les Thornton (1957–1990) Deaths January 7 – Bronko Nagurski, American football player and wrestler (born 1908) February 4 – Whipper Billy Watson, Canadian wrestler (born 1915) February - Frank Sexton (born 1914) March 2 – Ivan Gomes (born 1939) April 18 – Gory Guerrero, American wrestler (born 1921)[14] August 15 – Pat O'Connor, New Zealand wrestler (born 1924) August 31 – Bert Assirati, British wrestler (born 1908) November 21 – Dean Hart, Canadian music promoter and wrestling referee (born 1954) December 9 – Mike Mazurki, American actor and wrestler (born 1907) December 31 – Ed Gantner, American wrestler (born 1959)

Debuts May 5 - Hayabusa July 7 - Road Dogg November 20 - Disco Inferno Retirements Rocky Johnson (1964–1991) Angelo Poffo (1949–1991) Smith Hart (1973–1991) Trudy Adams (1987–1991) Tojo Yamamoto (1953–1991) Ron Bass (1971–1991) S. D. Jones (1971–1991) Bugsy McGraw (1967–1991) Bobby Jaggers (1972–1991) Cody Michaels (1986–1991) Dennis Stamp (1971–1991) Donna Christianello (1963–1991) Harley Race (1960–1991) Itzuki Yamazaki (1981–1991) Lady Blossom (1979–1991) Joyce Grable (1971–1991) Mark Rocco (1972–1991) Mike George (1969–1991) Buzz Sawyer (1978-1991) Deaths January 21 – Nick Gulas, American wrestling promoter (b. 1914) April 23 - Frankie Williams (wrestler), American wrestler (b. 1940) June 30 – Duke Keomuka, Japanese wrestler (b. 1921) August 15- Tank Morgan, American wrestler (b. 1933) August 25 – Vivian Vachon, Canadian wrestler (b. 1951) August 27 – Martín Karadagian, Argentina wrestler (b. 1922) September 12 – Chris Von Erich, American wrestler (b. 1969) October 27 - Rocky Hata, Japanese wrestler (b. 1948) October 31 – Gene Anderson, American wrestler (b. 1939) November 10 – Dick the Bruiser, American wrestler (b. 1929) November 9 - Abe Yourist, Russian wrestler (b. 1909) November 12 – Ripper Collins, American wrestler (b. 1933) December 25 – Wilbur Snyder, American wrestler (b. 1929)

1995: WCW Nitro: Kevin Sullivan dressed as an old lady cuts off Hulk Hogan's moustache.

Definitely in consideration for 2026.

A great fit for FMW, I feel the comparisons to Aja Kong have hurt her in people's eyes, as well as having a relatively short career overall.

Jim Breaks could be the most well rounded heel of all time. He was fantastic on every level.

Bobby Eaton had a great year.

For sports, I still feel Cable TV has a good future ahead.

Interesting thread and backs up that Hogan wasn't a month to month draw in large markets. Really makes you think about wrestlers who could be weekly draws in the same town for years and years. Something Hogan could never claim to do.

One of Regal's favourite songs is Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - The Night. This Northern Soul documentary gives you a great flavour for the scene:

It's a breeze to watch most weeks and never goes much longer than 52 mins via the FITE stream (commercial free) - It's my go to show if I have a busy week and only have time for a small wrestling fix.

100% agree.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach's Horseshoe Bar. The Pleasure Beach shows were initially regular Sunday afternoon programmes. The booth started mostly by luck when Bobby booked Abe Ginsberg to wrestle. Bookings were very slow and Ginsberg took hold of the microphone and very soon filled the hall. The Booth was born. Steve Fury was one who worked on the booth and recalled, "I had five matches a day, finished tea time and could wrestle again at night." Others who regularly worked the booth included Rex Strong, Tony Francis, Jack Cassidy, Bobo Matu, The Monster (Jim Green), Pedro the Gypsy and Bobby's wife, Apache Princess. Tony Francis recalled, "All introduced to the hundreds in the crowd by Abe Ginsberg, resplendent in white slacks, scarlet shirt, straw boater, and cane in hand enticing the challengers and filling the hall. Halcyon days indeed!" William Regal made his pro debut aged 15 at the Horseshoe Bar.

Unfortunately the link is now dead.

I definitely went the full ***** on it, even Jack Swagger Jake Hager couldn't drag it down!

I enjoyed the show overall. I'd have made a few different booking decisions and spread out debuts on the PPV and TV this week so to make then more impactful. The Anarchy in the Arena was an absolute blast, the highlight of a thumbs up show from me.

I woke up at 5am GMT and read the news. I've been in a weird state ever since. Like rovert said, he was a true family man, similar to Owen Hart or Kevin Owens, and that's what makes it even more heartbreakingly sad.

Ishii vs. Suzuki was wonderful. ****1/2

My head says Jay White but my heart says Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Which Kevin Sullivan is this?

I thought this was an excellent 10 minute match between Kobashi and the more established at the time Kawada. The crowd really got in to this in the final stretch as did I, not knowing the outcome going in. Both wrestlers worked super hard, with some excellent Suplex's sprinkled in. ***3/4

Meltzer comparing Ospreay with Hana was bullshit. Hana did nothing wrong at all, she was co-opted in to bullshit by the reality company and the fans went for her. Ospreay is people holding him to account. He badmouthed Pollyanna when promotions tried to book her, at the time he was a promoter, that went out of business owing talent, venues and fans a ton of money. Thousands. He booked the guy who Pollyanna accused of raping her. What Dave did is compare someone who did nothing wrong with some who blacklisted a sexual assault victim. He compared reality fans of a TV show telling someone to kill themselves to wrestling fans, to Ospreay who has adulation. He said the people who make the most noise care the least. There are a ton of fans who want promotions to do well and spend a ton of money complaining. You don't have to believe Scotty Wainwright sexual assaulted her or will Ospreay blackballed her, but you can't just dismiss those allegations like Dave did. There is so much circumstancual available, and this wasn't years ago either. It's so frustrating from a journalistic perspective. If we say you're good enough and you don't face consequences that encourages bad behaviour. The media shouldn't make exceptions. It's very enabling from people who should know better should t make exceptions for your friends. That's the issue here.

Really been enjoying this series, especially the John Short tales.

Great to have the show back.