BigBadMick

Yeah, I think this was your best so far. Really interesting discussion.

This one was really good. Liked his explanation of half truths and vague comments, suggestions, appraisals made to underneath talent by management - what a mindf*ck!

Just when you mention that, what are regarded as the best SMW matches? I've never seen a list put out, would like to give it a look through sometime....

Your name was mentioned too, Bill.......

Reading the stuff that come out - in less than a week on this - has been really good. The sophistication of argument here is sky high. It has me thinking that podcasts commentating on specific matches would really help illustrate the points being argued. And would be a great incentive for me to rewatch a lot of Japanese/Mexican product with someone knowledgable holding my hand to get me through it. Just so far, I'm thinking Loss, Dawho, Bill Thompson, Matt D and loads of others would be really good at this. Please...... ;-)

That's ok - it's a great read!

as opposed to non-cantankerous moments with Bill Watts. So, if Watts just steamrolls over the usual JR schtick, the interview will be better, right? I'd have no problem with that at all......

Wow! Scott sounded genuinely pissed off during the HHH burial. Just as well this is the last round up!

Prediction - Now there's a man that'll steamroll over the interview, say whatever he feels like saying, not listening to a word out of Ross's mouth.

You haven't been stayin' home to help the missus with the dishes then?

God, that's really saying the wrong stuff on 1993 WWF! Don't remember any of that, but can see that it's fish-out-of-water stuff. Now I'm wondering if anyone pointed out the differences in WWF announcing to him or prioritised laughing at the 'dumb okie'.....

What approach, Loss? Couldn't quite follow what you meant there. Also, watched the three Bret matches at King of the Ring 93 last week, and Ross sounded very good there.

Yeah, it's a pity JR still crowbars in his rants, even when Hansen said he doesn't watch today's product. Great interview, but I felt like it only scratched the surface. I'd love to hear Hansen speak more extensively about Japan, but an interview like this always seems to lean back on generalities.

Is it just me or are a lot of people saying Austin had the potential and ability to have loads more great matches in 1998-99, even if they didn't occur? And, the fact that they didn't occur - because they could have - in no way hurts his standing as an all-time great? I'm not trying to be a dick here, but that's not making sense to me....

'But if TV matches really matter so much, Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee wouldn't be all time greats. Most of their TV stuff is very solid but it was the arena matches that brought them to the next level. I just don't think that looking at TV matches to rate a guy is the best approach.' Maybe, Tim, but I come back to the point that Austin had much better tv matches prior to and after 1998-99. I think if Ric Flair had a two year spell in the 80s were his in-ring tv output was this low, big questions would be asked......

Ok ok, don't shoot! Can I ask though, how many good matches did Austin have on Raw in 1998-99? I can think of a few, but tend to remember those years as very angle-heavy. I like to think of my all time greats having good matches on more than just PPVs. And I know it's not Austin's fault if he didn't get the opportunity to have matches, but that in itself would make me think he's thus an all timer in spite of, rather than because of, 1998-99....

I would argue that, regardless of being less over, Austin was better in-ring in 2001 than 1998-99.

Phew, bit of a mouthful there! I've been reading a lot of Anti-attitude era sentiment on here lately. Or, if not anti-Attitude, at least you-had-to-be-there-Attitude. If I'm correct in saying Attitude era at it's worst is accepted as 1998-99, how does Austin hold up as an all time great? I ask because I never see Austin's standing diminished due to this timespan - did he do enough before and after to avoid falling in people's eyes? Also, what about Undertaker, Rock and Foley? I could understand Undertaker having enough afterwards to remain in people's good graces, but the other two?

That's interesting. Sometimes I wonder how much wrestling I'd watch if I didn't get to share thoughts and read the thoughts of others. I'm sure that's true of most hobbies though.

Tremendous! How can anyone hate on Alvarez? That was great I'm sure he's a nice enough person but I find him insufferable. That voice, the pointless, erratic change of pitch, his long winded rambling.......

Cool, I was wondering how you got all those US releases. Silver Vision were fairly skimpy with the 80s, only really releasing the PPVs and Hogan/Warrior tapes and a few others IIRC. I wondered what was wrong with Rumble 88 - I knew it existed and that Bret was in for ages but it was nowhere to be found on tape here.

Cool, thanks.

Where's the PWO-PTBN podcast network? Can't see it on placetobenation.

Yes, Justin, agreed. I said this the Gorilla Monsoon thread when Fuji was first brought up. It always felt like Gorilla put him over huge. Did you ever have the CHV called "Brains Behind the Brawn"? When I was collecting in the early 2000s, this was one of my sacred gems cos it was very hard to find on UK Pal and it's one of the ones I ended up paying over £10 for. This was one of the very few places to see the footage of One Man Gang becoming Akeem. Anyway, THAT put him over pretty big as well. I think there might be an argument to say that Fuji failed in the role he was put in. I mean, he was put over big on commentary, and featured as a big deal, but always came off as being second rate. One of the interesting things about that tape is that -- similar to the older "Amazing Managers" tape -- the featured managers were all seen on a level parity. It's Heenan, Hart, Fuji and Slick and all four are treated on a par and the sort of schtick of the tape was that Miss Elizabeth trumped them all. Wow Parv - over ten whole pounds! Actually, what was the going rate for vhs's in the early 2000s? Andd how many tapes did you collect? Any chance you could put a few photos up? It would be nice to see what memories come flooding back.

Maybe, Kelly. This is an absolutely hilarious show. The Morton Downey Jr show sounds like a riot, and the post battle royal interviews all sound very dignified indeed.