BigBadMick

Really enjoyed all the limb work here. The Spivey shoulder injury looked very convincing - any word on whether that was genuine? Also, how did Misawa's facelock suddenly become so over? Have I missed him scoring a big win with it?

I noticed a crowd shot and then when they returned to the ring Williams and Kawada seemed in slightly different positions - I assume the edit was there. I'm on the Garretta etc bandwagon - enjoyed this a lot, close to Misawa/Gordy.

The Irish pronouncation is DOOgan. It's an Irish name. Maybe Watts was traditional about these things.

Here it is - http://placetobenation.com/place-to-be-podcast-episode-333-wwe-2003-w-kevin-kelly/ Around 1 hr 17 mins in, Kevin is tearing into HHH and WWE developmental. Scott's fury makes for uncomfortable listening, but some good points for the next 3 minutes or so.

This thread has moved nicely into all the hypocrisies, contradictions and mixed messages sent to talent in wrestling. Great stuff. I remember Kevin Kelly discussing what a mindfuck of doubletalk trainees and young wrestlers are subjected to in WWE. I think it was the last of his 6 month reviews of WWE with Justin and Scott. I'll check, it was fascinating listening. Also, JR has gone off about wrestling being like joining the mafia - difficult to get in, but once there you're a lifer. I think a lot of old timers genuinely believe this.

Interesting show (I mean WTBBP - the Dome show was middling). Chad, really enjoyed your social commentary on Dusty's place in blue collar America. Slightly surprised Parv didn't bring up his fondness for Bob Dylan quotes. Also liked how you both weaved in a little talk about Japanese guys for GWE.

That, and the people that do stay on have a bitter, toxic attitude ingrained in them.

From the Flair-Steamboat podcast - 'I found it fascinating that Steamboat questioned the wisdom of being so tough on trainees. I've never heard that from an old-timer before. And I agreed with him.' Steamboat was wondering how many potentially good workers were put off by 'initiation'. Flair said he didn't feel sorry for any rookies beaten badly because he'd gone through it (a standard veteran pov).

Yeah, I think he's improving too. Could do with a few less wild night out stories, but he's getting better at staying focused and not rambling as much.

What didn't you like? I'll tell you if it's gotten better.

I found it fascinating that Steamboat questioned the wisdom of being so tough on trainees. I've never heard that from an old-timer before. And I agreed with him.

Great episode guys, but HART FOUNDATION V ROCKERS!!!! You were right there, talking about Bret as a great face v face worker

What's this about, Matt?

Two things that jump out at me - Dustin as potential No 1 and Dusty in the Top 10 - Wow! Odd that the two I can't fathom so highly placed are in the same family

Thanks Chad. Worth putting these in as food for thought - WON Wrestler of the Year 1990 Ric Flair World Championship Wrestling 1991 Jumbo Tsuruta All Japan Pro Wrestling 1992 Ric Flair World Wrestling Federation 1993 Vader World Championship Wrestling 1994 Toshiaki Kawada All Japan Pro Wrestling 1995 Mitsuharu Misawa All Japan Pro Wrestling 1996 Kenta Kobashi All Japan Pro Wrestling 1997 Mitsuharu Misawa All Japan Pro Wrestling 1998 Stone Cold Steve Austin World Wrestling Federation 1999 Mitsuharu Misawa All Japan Pro Wrestling WON Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year 1990 Jushin Thunder Liger New Japan Pro Wrestling 1991 Jushin Thunder Liger New Japan Pro Wrestling, 1992 Jushin Thunder Liger New Japan Pro Wrestling, 1993 Kenta Kobashi All Japan Pro Wrestling 1994 Kenta Kobashi All Japan Pro Wrestling 1995 Manami Toyota All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling 1996 Rey Misterio Jr. Extreme Championship Wrestling, 1997 Mitsuharu Misawa All Japan Pro Wrestling 1998 Koji Kanemoto New Japan Pro Wrestling 1999 Mitsuharu Misawa All Japan Pro Wrestling

Chad, just to clarify - 'Hansen had his best singles matches of his career with each of the big three in All Japan in 1993. He performed well almost every time given a chance (Misawa Carny final could be the exception).' Are you saying that Hansen v Kawada (2/28), Hansen v Kobashi (7/29) and Hansen v Misawa (???) are the three best singles matches of his career? Or that they are the best matches he ever had with each of those opponents? If the former, in what order, and what date was the Misawa match? Just checking - value your opinion and keen to get cracking on these soon.

Do you cover early RoH?

Thanks Chad. Couple of things - Liger - I know you're only basing it on the years you've covered in detail, but generally do you feel 94 and 97 were his best years in the 90s? He was injured in Sep 94, so I assume your high ranking there is based on the Super J Cup and Sasuke rematch? I remember loving an Otani-Liger match from Feb 97, seemed like a real return to form after his health scare the previous summer. Vader - Again, based on what you've watched outside the yearbooks, were would he rank in 1991-95? I've a ton of AJPW tv from the early 90s. I was going to watch it all in order but might have to pick and choose to get some rating done for next year.

I may not go with exactly the same picks but my gut was that every year is a nod to AJPW. Not as varied a field as the 80s then?

1995 - Really not sure here either. No-one stands out in WWF, and WCW was only starting to get back on track at the tail end of the year. 1996 - Michaels. 1997 - Bret Hart (he wasn't great every time out, but WM, SummerSlam and the UK ppv were exceptional. Held the promotion together in many ways. BTW such is my lack of certainty on all these that based entirely on v Misawa 20/01 I'm tempted to give this to Kobashi) 1998 - Really don't know. Rewatched a lot of Raw very recently and the best there (Austin, Foley, Rock later in the year) really doesn't feel WOTY worthy to me. WCW had the usual story - great midcarders, mostly inadequate main eventers. Actually, DDP could take it for trying his best when top spots came his way. 1999 - Again, nothing in WWF seems worthy. Liked a lot of WCW in first half of the year. Benoit seems the pick there. Again, I'm fully aware that I've a lot to rewatch closely both in Japan and the US. And none of these are set in stone at all.

I should start this. With the caveat that I've a lot of Japan to watch. And I've rewatched a lot of US matches from this decade in the past 2 years or so. 1990 - Hansen (just awesome, moving into his old grizzled but deadly veteran stage) 1991 - Really don't know yet 1992 - Rude (liked his run years ago, it held up very nicely recently) 1993 - Bret (enjoyed his ppv - KotR and SummerSlam particularly - and Raw matches) 1994 - Dustin Rhodes (really great feuds most of the year, improved tremendously)

Or has this already been covered somewhere in the Yearbooks?

Any Harley matches in particular? I agree it's not commonly mentioned.

Neither guy has a shot at my list but Kerry Von Erich would have to rank higher if I was doing a top 500 or something, Kerry has the big longevity advantage, in the great multi-man matches that they were both in, Roman feels less integral to them than Kerry and outside of the Brock match Roman has never looked great in a singles match. The Bryan match in February? Big Show at Extreme Rules?

Just to get it out of the way - Austin/Bret WrestleMania 13.