BigBadMick

http://www.belfasttimes.co.uk/are-you-ready-for-wrestlinbelfast-royal-rumble-special-at-strandcinema/ Just wondering if this thing goes touring round the UK? I was at the January event listed above and another one on 6th April. The January event had highlights from most of the Rumbles, and the complete Rumble '92 and Hardys v Dudleys and HHH v Cactus from 2000. It lasts about 2 1/2 hours altogether with 15 minute intermission. The WrestleMania one had highlight videos covering mania 1-20 (lot of clips from True Story of WrestleMania) and full matches were Flair v Savage and HHH v Benoit v Michaels. Pretty cool to see on the big screen!

Nicely put. And seconded.

Thanks for all that jdw. Recently came across a good write up of his in August 2002 praising Hogan for his selfless work that year with Lesnar, Angle etc.

Hi, just listened to the KotR episode and agree that 2002 was frustrating to watch week in and week out, but looking back on it there's an absolute treasure chest of really good stuff. Makes a nice change from fond memories that evaporate upon closer inspection

Listened to the Q and A with Bischoff today. I thought it was hilarious when the both smirked about Foley's continuing annoyance over Schiavone's comments on the 4th Jan '99 Nitro. To be fair to Foley, I think he's mellowed a lot over the years and isn't as inclined to hold grudges as he once was. Still, the glee in Austin's voice discussing it was funny.

Have to mention this. Bruce and Wade were discussing wrestler payoffs in the new wwe network era, and how uncertain things appear financially as ppv bonuses will have to be restructured. They got going about the old days and wrestlers being more assertive, having the option of competition to get leverage in negotiating etc. Then Bruce came up with a scenario in which, about 4 hours before Wrestlemania, a group of wrestlers come together and demand more money or refuse to perform. He wasn't discussing it as a realistic proposal but - oh boy - imagine if that happened.

Nice collection of matches there, something savage. I'd say 2012 was TNA's best year since 2006.

I liked their matches at SummerSlam and Extreme Rules. The Wrestlemania one was a bit dodgy. That's coming from a single viewing of each though.

Anyone else get a bit uncomfortable when Dave and Bryan start arguing? It's not as bad now as January, but still.....

With that 4-5 hours of older stuff, are you picky there? Girlfriend is another limitation on my wrestling watching too

I know what you mean - I've a Toshiba drive thingy that I plug into the flat screen tv. Much, much more convenient. RIP DVD

I've been thinking about my own viewing habits and wondering if it's typical around here. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine watching all of Raw. I usually get through it in 60 to 90 minutes. If a match on Smackdown takes my fancy, I'll watch that match too, and maybe an angle or two. I watched the Shield v Wyatts from Main Event a few weeks ago - can't remember when's the last time prior to that I watched any Main Event. Similarly with ppvs, Wrestlemania 30 was the first one I've watched end to end since Wrestlemania 29. If there wasn't so much product, and if so much of that product wasn't getting trashed here and there all the time, I'd be more inclined to get the build up to everything. As things are, I'm more likely to seek out hot matches and angles. Also, another aspect of my impatience comes from preferring to take on a big season of viewing. Right now I'm rewatching matches from wwe ppvs. I started with July 04 and I'm up to WM 23 now. I get the impression this picking and choosing approach with current WWE puts me in the minority here. Does it?

Any chance of getting some recommended matches from this year?

What are the best RoH events from 2010-11? Or single matches. It's a real blind spot for me, would like to fill the gaps someday. Also, when did everyone seem to turn against Davey Richards? I tried watching some of matches in 2011 and they were completely overblown. He seemed relatively restrained in 09 though.

'Love the business' was another phrase I meant to throw in my first post. Criticising someone for seeing wrestling as a way to make money rather than a way of life - always though that sounded petty.

One other thing. Zbyszko wasn't WWF wrestler of the year. He just wasn't.

Thanks Loss.

This is a fucking disgrace of a review. The wild brawl at the start automatically becomes a "spotfest". Keith is complaining that there's too many high spots. In the next breath when the Nasties take it to the mat he's complaining about perfectly legitimate, focused work on Scott Steiner's injured back as "restholds". So he doesn't want high spots, and he doesn't want matwork. What does he want? Why is the camel clutch a "shitty resthold"? In what way are the Nasty Boys aping the way Sid works? Or was he just trying to "get his shit in" as a reviewer? Why is the Steinerline in the hot finish criticised for contrivance? What does he want? So a clear ****+ match, in Keith's hands, becomes a **3/4 disaster. Now Matt Peddycord ... **3/4 Now Dark Pegasus ... ***1/4 Now mcc91 from the P2B board ... *** Now some chap called "Scrooge McSuck" who doesn't give star ratings but not too subtely picks up on exactly the same criticisms as Keith: "Good brawl, but too slow at times, particularly the overly long bearhug spots." And really, there aren't that many more HH90 reviews out there. That's pretty much "the field". You see how things snow ball? You understand why I get frustrated? I understand and applaud your frustration Parv. I remember reading a bunch of his reviews a few years ago and wondering why he bothered watching wrestling.....

Haven't come across this being discussed here. Personally, I think the fact that he's been able to overcome having the deck stacked so far against wrestlers in favour of management is commendable. I can understand his co-workers resenting it, but I hope there's still a sense of 'good for him' too, and the boys recognising that you get what you can when you can in wrestling. Or is that an 80s/90s mentality long gone in 'grew up loving the business' day and age? Maybe I'm an old Trotskyist at heart.....

He spoke at length about this with Keller recently. It all makes sense to me too.

Loved 97 WCW. Reminds me how Hogan told Bischoff (I think) that when you're hot you can make mistakes and get away with it. And WCW was SMOKIN'! BTW I meant to explain, in Ireland, something savage can mean 'very much' ie those two were arguing something savage yesterday.

Anyone have some? I made it to the end of 86 on my own, could use some company to finish it off. Thanks.

I'm wondering how tone deaf a wrestler is allowed to become before someone steps in with a few 'suggestions'?

Just wanted to say I'm keen to watch some of this soon and this will be a superb companion to spur me on. Thanks.

This is a match that gets a lot better when you watch the feud in context. If you don't know why they are wearing the tuxedos, or don't know why the crowd goes so nuts when DiBiase goes to slide out, bumps his feet against the Cage and remembers he can't run as Duggan just looks at him like "yea, you're screwed" then you aren't going to think it's as a great as people who saw the buildup. It also helps to understand that Ted had been dropping people with the loaded glove for three years. When Duggan nails him with the coal miner's glove at the end, it was three years worth of catharsis in one punch. Sounds like that would make a bit of a difference. Will have to go through the whole promotion eventually. Man do I hate how long my wish/watchlist is. That's what the post 'mania cool down is for, winged eagle!