TRMD

All 7 were great. Agree with the above poster that the contrast in preference between you two adds a good bit to each episode. And to Jimmy, you're spot the fuck on when it comes to Austin.

It's cool that you would place him number one but what is more interesting is you making the case he is a #1 candidate. I didn't vote so I don't want to stuff up the thread, but I'll just say that he checks every single box I look for when determining a great wrestler. He checks them and then some. He's basically a 10 across my criteria board.

I completely regret pussin' out and not making a list now. Would have given Austin a #1 vote and pushed him even further up the list. Also would've pushed Rose way up as my possible 2.

Brock/Cena at Extreme Rules would be extremely high up there for me. Such an innovative match for modern WWE standards. But I would easily give the number 1 spot to Austin/Rock @ 17. I don't even have to think about it. It's the best match I have ever seen or will ever see. I think it's as close to a perfect match for my tastes as I can possibly imagine. They told the story they wanted to tell absolutely brilliantly. It was a heated and intense as a match could possibly be. Austin's decent from "guy who wants to win really badly" to "most sadistic fucker that's ever stepped foot in a WWF ring" lends itself to the greatest single performance I've ever seen from a wrestler. And Rock is fantastic too. They both bump around. Both bleed. Amazing psychology. I think the finish is perfect. The turn made sense storyline wise. The crowd is as hot as humanly possible. The prematch video promo is the best in history. I could probably write a 100 page book on this match and how much I love it. I haven't even watched it in over a year because it ruins wrestling for me.

All of the reasons why you think he was the shit in the '97 Rumble are the reasons why I think he's the GOAT. He's like this in pretty much every match. He's just unnaturally awesome. With that said, 2001 Rumble would be my pick.

I only caught the Divas Match, Ryback/Kane, Rusev/Swagger, and Ambrose/Wyatt. The Divas Match was actually okay. Nikki actually worked over AJ's back for a portion of the match. Really liked the old school finish. Ryback/Kane was way too slow. At some points they would get some momentum, but it would be squandered by the slow ass pace. Finish also seemed out of nowhere, but not in a good way. I fucking loved Rusev/Swagger. They really got the story of "[insert wrestler] hates [insert wrestler] so god damn much. But he's just not good enough to beat him." down to a science. Ambrose/Wyatt was a solid match in my opinion. I actually liked the finish, because it legitimately caught me by surprise. But there were things in the match that fell flat to me. I thought Ambrose's elbow off of the Super Ladder was very anticlimactic. Maybe I'm just too used to seeing shit like that? Or maybe Ambrose not even climbing to the top step and just kind of falling off of it felt less impactful?

That's a weird ass analogy.

I just watched Reigns accept his award, and while he wasn't great, he actually seemed more relaxed on his "promo" than I think I've heard him to date. Just letting shit flow. He's certainly gotten at least a little better. And his pop was pretty decent. Regardless, what a horrible way to bring someone back.

The Miz beat John Cena in the Main Event of Wrestlemania.

Based on what? Unless they go out of their way to find guys that they know have no business in the Octagon (like Punk) I can't see him beating a guy who has been training for a couple years, even if that guy has only fought a few local MMA fights. I think Punk probably has an insane work ethic and maybe his opponents take him lightly? Like I said, I don't watch UFC. Or any type of MMA. I'm not qualified to have any base of opinion. It's just hard to envision him getting destroyed like some of ya'll are saying.

You can still have a great technical wrestling match while bringing a ton of fire. You of all people should know that. I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

Again, I understand that logic. But to me, when you're handcuffed and beaten and your life is a living hell for 6 months, you're wrestling the guy who not only helped steal the belt from you, but is keeping you from getting the belt back.. AND you watch him have the most elaborate entrance in the history of wrestling... You don't come out on fire? It kills me just thinking about it.

I don't watch UFC but I'm gonna go out on the limb and say he wins at least his first couple of fights. Also, I don't know if you really cut "promos" in UFC. But apparently Sonnen used to have a sharp tongue and get people invested in his fights. Have to imagine Punk is going to light the UFC world on fire with some great "promos".

Maybe that was a bad example. How about I equate it to actual wrestling.. The Austin/HHH build to their 3 stages of Hell match. It was an amazing, hate filled build. Why? Because they both made each others lives a living hell for over a year. So when Austin's music hit, he ran directly into the ring (And I think HHH met him half way) and starting mashing HHH with haymakers. Why? Because it fit the story. I'm not saying anyone is wrong for liking or loving the match, although at the time, I did. Because I felt like everyone forgot the actual build and just loved the match because it had Bryan in it and HHH "wrestled".

I should add that the match that they did actually have was good. In the sense that, HHH succeeded in his performance of trying to wrestle with a wrestler. But it would be like someone remaking Requiem for a Dream and making it a comedy. It could be hilarious, but that's not how Requiem for a Dream should be written. And yes, I also understand your points. Sometimes I try to rationalize the match to myself in the exact same way. But I can't shake it. I hated the way they did it.

He was handcuffed and beaten against his will 2 weeks prior. HANDCUFFED AND BEATEN. Show a little fire.

And completely the wrong type of match. That match should have had a bunch of added hardcore shit in it. But HHH just wanted to show people he could "wrestle". I know I'm in the heavy minority, but it was a horrible match. So, HHH makes Bryan's life a living hell for months. Handcuffs him and beats the shit out of him 2 weeks prior, and yet Bryan legitimately doesn't throw a single strike in the match until it's 3 or 4 minutes in? That's just stupid.

......Dad?

Started watching in '98 when I was 4. Yes, 4. And I have a great memory of a lot of it. I can remember renting PPV's like Wrestlemania 13 and 14. Summerslam '98, and a lot of the IYH's. Wrestling was just so hot back then. I can remember people having Stone Cold bumper stickers and wearing NWO tees. You ever go to the carnival and play the game where you throw darts through balloons? You get a little picture with a glass frame for winning? You better get yours quick, because the wrestling pictures would be all gone in an hour. I can remember vacationing in Panama City, FL in '99. I can remember pretty much every guest in the Motel with their doors open watching Raw. It was this episode http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/29140-vince-mcmahon-steve-austin-and-jim-ross-wwf-monday-night-raw-072699/ I watched a little bit of WCW, too. My brother is actually more nostalgic for WCW than he is for WWF. Because that's what my Pap watched (Who at more than 80 years old, still watches every single Raw, Smackdown, and (Impact) every single week. Literally since 98 or so. Even when he's in the hospital, he watches it. I can remember in 2001, the day after Wrestlemania x7, I didn't watch the PPV, so I was sitting in school so nervous to see who won the Austin/Rock match that I was puking. Literally puking from being so nervous. I watched religiously until 2004. That's when I realized Austin was done. The last PPV I watched as a young die hard was Wrestlemania XX. And yes, I stopped watching because of HHH. But not in a bad way. I just hated him so much. So fucking much. And there was no more Austin. No more Goldberg. No more Rock. No more Foley. No more ABA Taker. I didn't give a shit about Benoit or Guerrero. Didn't care about Michaels, RVD or Rey. So, I just drifted out of wrestling. Keep in mind, when I stopped watching, I still thought wrestling was real..or not scripted. I used to legitimately beat the shit out of kids my age who said wrestling wasn't real. I never completely put wresting out of my life. I think I watched very rarely as a casual viewer from 2004 to 2010.. But very, very, rarely. I did keep in touch with some storylines because of YWC guys. In 2008 I was actually going through the DirecTV guide and saw that Wrestlemania XXIV was on. My mom was rolling in the benjies at the time, so I just ordered it and watched it on a whim. Was very weird. Then, in 2011...Rock came back. I didn't see it live, but I watched it on Youtube the second I heard he did. And It gave me chills and I almost teared up. The pop was so special. Rock's promo was so awesome. I remembered how much I loved wrestling. And I was back. And here we are today..

i mean, Hurricane beat Rock.

Heard an interesting reason today as to why Punk wanting sponsors for himself and the boys is a potentially bad idea.. It could possibly mess with booking. Let's say one guy is sponsored by Pizza Hut and his opponent by Dominoes.. Could Pizza Hut cut in on say.. a Mania match and say "If our guy doesn't win at Mania, we're dropping him."..

Like Coffey, there is nothing that would normally be labeled "offensive" that could offend me Yes.

As probably by far the biggest Attitude Era fan on PWO, I'd expect myself to not pick Russo. But his "Goldberg won't listen to the script" storyline is far and away the worst angle in wrestling history and nothing is even in the same universe. And his defense of it is almost as bad. He wrote some shit in WWF. He wrote a lot of shit in TNA. He wrote the absolute worst shit in wrestling history with WCW. It's Russo.

I feel like Rusev read a pro wrestling for dummies book and just applied what he learned. Mix that with a good look, and you're gonna get a good worker. You're big. Carry yourself as such. (Check) You're russian. Yell random russian words or sentences because it's going to sound imposing. (Check) Sell a body part because moves are supposed to hurt. (Check) Specifically sell your foot because one of your finishers is a kick. (Check) Your main finisher is a Submission. Don't stop applying the hold until well after the bell. (Check) And guess what? It all works and leads to him being a good worker with entertaining matches. Of course, he's brings a little more to the table than basics.

You have to love Austin repeatedly calling it Pro Wrestling even if it was visibly annoying the shit out of Vince.