SomethingSavage

To be fair, Matt's done some REALLY good heel work in ROH recently. I know it's not lighting up anybody's radar, but it's there. It's generating some genuine heel heat, trolling & playing up a bit on the "smart" fans actual disdain for him before Batista was doing it. And the in-ring stuff has improved. Again, he's not the Matt of 2005 all over again, but it's hardly as bad as some may remember him. All that aside, I'm not even sure he'd make my list to be honest. Just so much great talent that's contributed such incredibly strong work during that time frame. It's a chore to narrow it down, for sure.

Oh, absolutely. They even ran taped vignettes that KIND OF portrayed them that way. Combine that with the fact that they had Eddie & Vickie's daughter as a mouthpiece, plus one of the Colon Cousins as a third member? Ugh. Just yuck.

They aren't complete garbage, but I'm not exactly itching to rush them onto TV. They still seem to be lacking something to me. The entrance is there. Their presentation as the bruising brutes - like an updated Demolition - works for them and resonates a bit. I think the Total Elimination CAN get over big for them, as it's one of those sudden, instant, snapping moves that tends to pop the crowd. It looks exciting, but I want them to get the execution down. Because it's a hit or miss move, and it goes from looking like sudden death to absolute phantom bump REAL fast. So it requires a little practice & precision. It's like the 3D. It got over for the quickness & the way it came out of nowhere. But it STAYED over, because the timing they snapped it off with was so precise & nearly flawless. The thing that drags them down, for me, is just the gimmick. Not gonna lie. I don't care for the whole Ministry of Darkness, Brood, goth gimmick. I don't see it as anything viable or valuable in this day and age. I just don't. Channeling that True Blood or Twilight fan base is one thing, but borrowing the Barbarian's wardrobe and behaving like... what? Werewolves? I don't even know what they're supposed to be anymore. I guess I'd just like to see them freshen up the CHARACTERS and flesh out their real personalities a bit before getting the call to move up. Because I definitely think they've got the right assets to at least work on the main shows. And somebody clearly wants them there, since they've kept the act going for this long. Victor isn't bad at all. He's been quite good for awhile actually. And Connor has kind of been elevated by way of showing more intensity and urgency within this realm of the tag ranks. But they need more depth. More defined characters. Something. If they were to get called up anytime soon, I don't see them doing much more than IMMEDIATELY taking a backseat to Harper & Rowan anyhow. The Wyatts are just as big and intimidating, but they're more versatile. Plus they have built-in connection with the crowd. And their look as "monsters" is believable and realistic. The Wyatts' modern day Moondogs look is more frightening than the animal hide & leather chap combo of the Ascension. Just my two cents though.

Haha. Yeah. That reaction from the rest of the group was classic. Momentary awkward silence. Followed by a series of what sounded like, "Uck. Yuck. Fuck. Uck." Had me cracking up. Poor Scott. I'm digging his gimmick of being the odd man out in almost every discussion though. This panel was great, by the way. You guys had just enough varying thoughts and impressions to share & put out there. Really like it when there's a little tension & difference of opinion that way. And I'm really glad I waited to finish this one up until after I caught Raw.

I forgot about those jumping jacks he'd do. Tremendous. Gotta keep that heart rate up. Didn't he even bust out a cartwheel during the last babyface run?

Took a slight detour and went for a briefer watch for tonight instead. Caught Eddie vs. Edge - No DQ from SmackDown! 2002. Fun match. Eddie took some BRUTAL bumps to get Edge over in this one. Those last two spots in the finishing sequence are just SICK. Eddie looks like he could have & should have broken his neck on the back body drop in the corner. But then he goes and outshines himself mere moments later with a TREMENDOUS elevated DDT from the top rope. Wow. Just wow. I went into it, thinking I'd come away with the impression that it's another one of those "SmackDown Six" matches that is best left to fond memories. But no way. Definitely worth revisiting again.

I'm all for that. Dylan + Lists = Winning. And yup. Don't see eye to eye on everything about ANYONE'S list, but hey. Agree or disagree. That's the fun in these lists. Hearing other people voice THEIR opinions and be absolutely open to all the praise, criticism, and judgment that comes with it. We enjoy what we enjoy. Own it. If everyone was drawn to the SAME exact thing, then there'd be no need for variety. And pro wrestling's foundation is built on variety. Variety in characters. Variety in action. Variety in LISTS, damn it.

Booker T. Ignoring the WCW run for a moment, Book had a window of opportunity to REALLY breakthrough as the babyface ace of WWE in 2002. I still wish he would have swept through the nWo like a scalpel that summer and went on to bigger & better things by that fall. But the return of Shawn, the teaming with Goldust, and other factors clearly pushed him down the pecking order in terms of priorities. It's really unfortunate. Truth be told, he could have still been salvaged as late as '03 with the WrestleMania 19 match. But... Well, yeah. Anyone else think Booker could have gotten over strong as the top babyface for the company in 2002? Or was the card simply too stacked with stars at the time? They had SO MUCH name value on the roster, but I think that would have been the prime opportunity to launch Book to the top. Say what you will, but the guy was getting mainstream buzz with the Spin-A-Roonie, the hand gesture, and just everything. He was easily one of the most entertaining aspects of RAW for awhile there. And Goldust could have gone along for the ride. No need to bust up their outrageously awesome chemistry for Book to get his singles push. Hogan had his running buddies in the 80's. Rock & Mick were oddball friends. Not EVERY babyface has to be a rebel or a total solo act. Goldie could've done just fine as Booker's occasional tag team partner and general sidekick.

He's had far too many strong matches for me to say I don't give two shits about him. The character is BEYOND stale to me, and I think that's clearly his weakest point. His character HAS been booked very well in the past, but it comes & goes in waves. The problem is - the lows are freaking CANYONS. They're as low as can be, and it's tired. His character is stagnant. And yeah. He's overexposed on TV. Like, by a BIG margin. When he's in a holding pattern, it REALLY feels slow & stalled. But the guy's in-ring work is okay by me. He's not the best, and he's not lighting up the sky with originality all the time. But I'd say he's updated his arsenal enough over the years to keep him relatively fresh enough. He's been in some incredibly entertaining matches over the years, in my eyes. I can't just discount that when he's handled badly. Creatively, he hasn't been given a whole lot to work with, and he's not exactly the kind of guy that has this captivating showmanship and presence to begin with. So when he's given sluggish stories and shit to work around, it practically puts people to sleep. He's also in a weird predicament - because his best character work comes out as the dickish, obnoxious, self-entitled, arrogant heel. But he's SO MUCH better in the ring as a babyface. I think even the most diehard fans of Randy would tell you the same. Just list his best matches, and they're usually going to be when he was portraying the face.

Revisited a lot of the Steen/Generico feud from ROH. Good stuff. Their entire series was great, and I forgot how dramatic some of those visuals came across at the time. Really good stuff from both guys, beginning with the breakup & holding strong up until the end with their Final Battle Ladder War. Also gave their PWG Ladder Match another glance. It's the better of the two, to be honest. Up next will probably be Generico's BOLA win. That entire tournament was awesome (they are EVERY year, frankly), and I recall the celebration with the masked kid to be a genuinely neat moment. Here's hoping it all holds up as well on rewatch. I think it will though. The Hero/Mack opener was one of the first times I remember paying extra attention to Willie also.

Supremely cool idea, for sure. Here's hoping you guys get him on board for a gig.

Oh yeah. I'm all about the wrestling talk. Don't get me wrong. Just think you've got a good blend of everything else mixed in here. Again, nicely done.

Really enjoyed it. It's a brisk, light listen for two hours of content. Good stories and back & forth discussion. Was a little grated and turned away by the early ROH shilling in some episodes, but since I've gone back and revisited some of 'em - it's not so bad. Well worth putting up with to hear what Kelly has to say. I get the sense Kev doesn't get the chance to catch TOO much WWE TV. And that's understandable. But I think, given a closer look, he'd probably be pleasantly surprised by just how diverse & distinct a lot of the characters actually come across. Could still use more in that category, of course. Just my two cents though. ANYWAY... Great guest. Seriously dig the dynamic with the format, the games, the "Flash" features, etc. Mixes things up nicely and plants upcoming episodes firmly on my radar now. The friendly comedy & chemistry between Justin and Kev is a big bonus, by the way. So yeah. Thumbs up to this one, guys.

Premise sounds simple enough. And peeples love lists! Should definitely make for some fun discussion. I'll leave some thoughts later. Hope ya keep us posted as to when any new episodes drop, too.

Yeah. What about Larry Nelson though? Always found the guy endlessly entertaining and incredibly adaptable as an interviewer. Very Okerlund-esque, in that he matched up well with anyone in that setting - except he didn't really overshadow any of the acts. His personality was downplayed enough, yet he still came across like a legitimate journalist at times. Maybe I'm misremembering some things here or there, but I really dug the guy in his role with the AWA. He added a lot to those interview segments for me. Some of those interactions with Larry Z, Bock, Sherri, Hennig, and others are true gems in my book.

Awesome episode, guys. The three of ya really brought the funny tonight. Parv in particular was on fire here. Fiyahh, I say. Parv sure brought the dirt on President Jack Tunney's term. That rundown came across like an "inside edition" special report or something. Fine piece of podcasting there. Simply classic. Guess I didn't fully realize just HOW MANY historical moments he was actually a key part of, but yeah. Looking back, Tunney really was there for a lot of memorable stuff. Crazy to think about. The GMC litmus test is brilliant, by the way. Might borrow that one myself. Loved the Lord Al talk, too. Always enjoyed the guy on commentary, in a "so bad, it's good" kind of way mostly. But hey. Is what it is. Didn't really know what to expect with this, since the title says "Top 6 Wrestlers" and the topic called for everything EXCEPT wrestlers, but yeah. Just loads of laughs right here. Damn good stuff. Kept me entertained for sure.

Agreed. Was hoping we'd get a Takeover reaction pod. Totally understandable if life gets in the way though. Maybe we'll still get the PPV reaction pod for Payback though, and some delayed NXT talk could get lumped in there.

Slaughter, Hogan, Hansen, and more Moondogs? Can't wait. And cool deal. 'Preciate the in-depth response, man. You guys have definitely got a full plate. An all-you-chew BUFFET of battles, if yewww wheeeel.

Nice teaser. I'm stoked that we're going to be getting even more dated, obscure stuff soon. So don't get me wrong. But what's up with '81? Was really looking forward to hearing the gang talk up more Slaughter and (eventually) Muraco & Da Supahfly. Hopefully you guys still get around to it. The specials, too. Especially Mempho and Georgia. Truckloads to look forwards to here on Titans.

Been checking out some of Booker T's Reality of Wrestling. If anyone has the free time to check it out, the main event Steel Cage Match of this episode is one big truckload of fun. It tells a good story, plays up the personalities of both characters, and wraps up a longstanding rivalry in solid fashion. And then there's the finish. And THEN something extra on top of that... Good stuff. Worth the watch. Be curious to hear other thoughts or impressions, if anyone gets around to scoping it out.

Austin needs to get Mark Henry on this thing. Just two Texans shootin' the shit for a couple of hours. I'd be all over that interview. I'd be real interested to hear what Austin thinks of the way Mark broke out these last few years. It's an interesting situation, with Mark having been there - basically dead in the water or an afterthought - for the bulk of Austin's run. It'd be good to get Austin's thoughts about Mark's "late blooming" success, and maybe even get him to pick Mark's brain about what he thought he was missing before that he picked up towards the tail end.

Not that I'm familiar with the app or anything, but wouldn't people technically "see" those entrances via the app anyhow? That's how I've seen it used & treated so far, so that's why I ask. It's there to bridge the commercial gaps. To be honest, I don't even notice who does & doesn't get a "proper" full-length entrance anymore. For a PPV - like the Andre Memorial Battle Royal at Mania - then yeah. It's noticeable. But it's not something I instantly spot and get irritated by on the weekly TV shows. All those intros with guys doing signature poses & whatnot gets repetitive anyway. So any time we can cut right back to the action? Well that's cool by me. It mixes things up, and I don't see what it detracts from in the big scheme of things. Nobody loses luster from lack of a five-minute entrance. No one's value diminishes. All substantial players still seem like stars. And, as you even pointed out, it's not even an indicator of who's going over or being featured anymore, to be honest. So - if anything - labeling it as a "jobber intro" seems out of context and almost outdated these days.

Yeah, but it's just one of those things. People tend to remember who did it best over who did it first. Just the way it goes. Vince is always going to be more closely associated with the role. But hell - before ANY of that, Tom Renesto was playing heel promoter as far back as '85 Mempho anyway.

Oh yeah. There's definitely been a huge upgrade in terms of their strategy. Everything feels thought-out and well-planned. Like you said, at least there's a clear & obvious EFFORT going into these acts. Characters are sleeker, clearly defined, and streamlined to be something specific. And there's a great variety among all of them as well. They've done a tremendous job in spotlighting and featuring each individual's strengths, for the most part. Also, it feels like there's more freedom of expression and input from the workers themselves. Not sure how much of that comes through exactly, but I'm inclined to believe the reports about guys like Bray, Ambrose, etc. having at least a little "say" in how their personalities come across. Honestly, it all has to start with the recruiting efforts. And they've really signed the cream of the crop over the past few years. It seemed to begin with Bryan, and they've essentially grabbed up every TOP indie prospect ever since. A few have slipped through the cracks maybe, but for the most part? They're signing up the best talent. And they aren't pounding square pegs into round holes, like they've notoriously done in the past. They seem to simply take the strengths of these performers & play to them - which just enhances and amplifies the things they're ALREADY good at anyhow. I know a lot of people criticize WWE for making even the most traveled indie guys go through development, but I think it's worked out wonderfully for almost everyone so far. These guys aren't being brainwashed or completely changed as performers down there. They're just being given distinct characters, proper seasoning, and time to familiarize themselves with the WWE system. I see nothing wrong with it, and the results really should speak for themselves. Take Generico for example. The guy was TREMENDOUS enough making the indie rounds. He was freaking phenomenal. No change needed right? Well, sure. But if he hadn't taken off the hood and been handed a mic, how the hell would we ever have known how damn good the guy is as a naturally charismatic, down-to-earth talker? He's a throwback to the original, soft-spoken, genuinely likable babyface. He's got a captivating charm that is really understated and organic. Just seems very natural, but I like it a lot. There's nothing over-the-top, forced, or stereotypical "PRO RASSLIN" about it. Very good stuff that we wouldn't have seen if they'd simply stuck with the routine Generico character.

Ehh. Not a whole lot to figure out, frankly. Tyler Breeze pretty much just had to watch Zoolander, and he was all set. Kruger just needed to watch Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek. Boom. Done deal. He's practically Aldous Snow, with a cast of carnies to help carry the act. I've actually enjoyed both his TV spots from the UK tour. It's great to hear a crowd giving him such a strong reception for a change. Hopefully that carries over back to the States. He's far from a favorite of mine or anything, but yeah. The whole gimmick was JUST thrust onto him before he was called up, after lingering for what feels like FOREVER down in development with different variations of the same shtick. Gotta say though - whether this Adam Rose character flops or not, it was worth a shot. Plus it's still a lot better than that Kraven the Hunter junk he was doing in NXT before.