SmartMark15
-
Posts
920 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Everything posted by SmartMark15
-
Just gonna chime in to say that I fall in the category of people who generally enjoyed both the big matches. I thought Cena-Reigns was good and somewhere in the 4 star range. I happen to enjoy Cena-formula matches but it's obvious that this one is on the lower end of those. There was a thread a while back here that talked about the death of the babyface shine in Modern WWE and this was definitely an example of that. Going straight into Reigns' "heel heat" segment really drained a lot of the energy but they picked things back up in the second half I felt. Lesnar-Strowman was disappointing but it wasn't awful. I wasn't too bothered by the finish because they set up that it was a story going early in the match. I'd like to think Strowman's aura hasn't been too damaged but we'll just have to wait an see.
-
Would you attribute this to a lack of creative quality or the continued exodus of talent? After all, he had such a strong run in 2002 with Smackdown and it says a lot that he got guys like Sandman and Public Enemy over to god like status to the crowds he was working.
-
I think Heyman deserves a little more discussion in this thread. Certainly business wise he was a total flop, but he consistently drew a rabid audience that were devoted to the product. I wouldn't say he had an eye for talent so much as an eye for packaging. He took the crap that washed up on his doorstep and got it over.
-
What are you referring to here? Apologies, I meant WrestleMania IX with the last minute Hogan title change which just led into a second tepid Yokozuna reign.
-
Does Vince win out on the back of sheer longevity? I mean, of course he's had a lot of successes but most anyone who's been on top of a company for that long might. His creative success has certainly risen and dipped the way any other booker's might, it's just that Vince was able to stay in business. And on the business side of things, he's had significant dips in business and we're kind of in the midst of one right now. How do these factors play into this particular argument?
-
I would credit Adam Pearce more for Kevin Steen's success than Sapolsky. Under Sapolsky, Kevin Steen was still just the big bully who started to turn face by being incredibly athletic.
-
I'll cosign the mention for Quack. Great booker in terms of setting up character and big over the top plotlines that always seemed to pay off wonderfully. I think he deserves some credit for experimenting with the form as much as he has.
-
While Vince's success as a booker and a businessman will always be lauded and celebrated, I wonder how much of his legacy will be tarnished by his losers as opposed to his winners. Notable examples include the WrestleMania IX debacle, the Triple H reign of terror in the early 00s, the Invasion, etc. I certainly think that even now he still has some fantastic ideas and plans (just look at how hot the Raw main event scene is) but the misses are certainly in large number.
-
I think Sapolsky deserves a mention here if only for the fact that his eye for talent really paid off in a lot of ways Certainly guys like Low Ki, Bryan, and Joe were already making names for themselves but the way Sapolsky gathered them and booked them in hot angles made them national and international stars. He weathered the storm of 2004 RF scandal as well as several talent raids and still kept business hot and booming for ROH for quite a long time. You can knock him for his last few years with the company but he's produced some really great stuff in his time. Also, I can't attest to this first-hand, but everything I've heard about Chris Kreski's run in 2000 with the WWF lends itself to him at least being in the conversation.I saw a few January Raws and they were kept tight, entertaining, and engaging with some strong plot development.
-
Exhibit #x Jerry Lawler surrounded by women speaking in innuendo is practically having an orgasm as he hypes up the upcoming Ms. Rumble Swimsuit competition. Ivory rightfully calls him a pervert and is thus portrayed as the bad guy for it. Even babyfaces Jacqueline and Luna Vachon who wanted no part of the contest call her a prude and attack her. My girlfriend and I were watching this Raw from 2000 yesterday and this segment almost shattered all the good will the rest of the show had built up for her.
-
[2010-03-28-WWE-Wrestlemania XXVI] Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker
SmartMark15 replied to Loss's topic in March 2010
Rewatched this last night, horrified that some flaws might become more apparent and I would "lose" a classic to maturity and time. Quite the opposite. This match was even better watching it back now than it was at the time. Always preferred this match to Mania 25 for all the reasons listed above: the selling, the pacing, the escalation, that iconic finish. ***** -
Alex Riley is quite the boy indeed.
-
MY BOYS! Spirit Squad is already a whole boy stable as it is. They were some of the first heels I encountered as a wrestling fan so I can't help but have an attachment to them and their stupid jumping trampoline. Also, Paul Burchill as a pirate is BOY CITY in terms of boyness. Definitely have Burchill in there as well.
-
Dolph Ziggler. So grossly bland that it hurts.
-
No one does a heat segment like Abby and Sheik. When they start laying in with their spikes and forks, the heat is palpable. Funk sold the attack masterfully and his arm looked like an absolute wreck so that his comeback was met with a huge pop. I love these four guys together. Abby and Sheik have some of the absolute best heel work in the world of any era and it's on great display here. Surprised that Dory got more ring time than Terry here but he played a decent enough babyface to the heels. Heated start to a legendary rivalry. ****
-
Same thoughts. The match was good but never picked up to that truly great level. Decent final though.
-
Your "So So Good" Top 100 Matches of All Time
SmartMark15 replied to elliott's topic in Pro Wrestling
Well shit, I feel like I need to rewatch it then. That's so strange because when I first heard of it it had the 9/78 date. Parv has that listed in his 5 star matches list and then I found an AJ Classics disc on Lynch's list with the same date. I'll rewatch it. It should probably be on there anyway. Its Funks vs Abby/Sheik. You will know which match it is because it ends with Dory seeing red and Sheik doing an all-time epic sell job on his wrist. Bell-to-bell the 79 match is better, especially as a study in heel psychology. But as a complete spectacle and package, and as something that hits Magnum-Tully levels of transcendence, I'd always cite that 78 one, whatever the date is. It's listed in a lot of places as 9/19/78, including on Highspots DVDs and Mid-Atlantic Gateway, but the date could be 12/9/78, which I think it probably is. I have the match here somewhere, I could throw it up if anyone is interested. Just watched the 78 match on the AJ google drive. Awesome in the arch of the series. The previous year the heels had stabbed the fuck out of Terry's arm and pretty much gotten away with it. This one Dory get his hands on some scissors and gets his revenge. Does anyone have a complete list of their tag matches? -
Shayna Baszler is quickly becoming one of my favorite workers. She's so charismatic in the ring and she's been booked and protected so strongly.
-
[1998-10-31-AJPW-October Giant Series] Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi
SmartMark15 replied to Loss's topic in October 1998
Simple story: Kobashi won't let himself be put down. Perfectly paced. Especially loved Kobashi's cut off spots like going back to his shoulder tackle to try and cut off Misawa's momentum. Then Misawa mounting some big offense by throwing Kobashi to the outside and tossing himself at Kobashi. All of it just leading up to that glorious Tiger Driver off the apron and into one of the best finishing stretches in pro wrestling history. When I consider the idea of "overkill," I think of something like Okada-Omega II where they peaked at 45 minutes and then just keep going to fill the hour. This match is the blueprint for what that match should have been. One Misawa hit that Tiger Driver, it was pretty much over for Kobashi but his resilience and selling kept the match alive. What a shock, an amazing match from All Japan in the 90s. ***** -
Crazy good match. Just nonstop action through all 35 minutes or so that we have on footage. Wonderful heel tactics from Jumbo's team especially all the team ups on the ropes. Loved that it paid off with the faces getting their shots in on the ropes as well. Tsuruta as the spoiler heel played his role to absolute perfection. Misawa is a historically good hot tag. Taue played a good heel despite being somewhat sympathetic during his own heat segment. Then you have a classic All Japan finishing stretch filled with big moves, tense nearfalls, and topping it all off with an amazingly memorable finish. Amazing. ****3/4
-
I always got the feel that Ziggler was quite decent as opposed to great or even very good. What did you find to be his peak?
-
I get that the "Ring of Honor" is meant to get heel heat. But ugh. Cody is just so impossibly boring.
-
But rises again harder and stronger Marked out for this.
-
[2012-05-20-WWE-Over The Limit] CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan
SmartMark15 replied to Loss's topic in May 2012
Even better watching it back now than it was when I first saw it. The pacing was absolutely perfect. Fast and exciting all throughout but when it slows down, they make the best of it. Bryan brutalized Punk's ribs and Punk destroys Bryan's leg. They both sold absolutely perfectly. Loved the Figure Four spot. You could feel the intensity rising organically all the way to that perfect near-draw finish. Amazing match. ****3/4 -
Geniusly laid out with The Shield just completely mugging the three babyfaces. They executed a logical and simple game plan to perfection: isolate each babyface and incapacitate them and they did it with fantastic impact and visual spectacle. The Triple Powerbomb through the table for Ryback, the Spear through the barricade for Kane, and the final top rope Powerbomb for Bryan. Everyone looked fantastic especially Bryan as the fiery babyface as he was getting more and more over with the crowd. But this was The Shield's match without question. They made a statement and there's a reason the three of them are some of the most over members of the roster today. Also, can we mention how cool Roman Reigns is even at this time? "THIS TABLE IS MINE NOW" while clearing the announcer's desk. Just fantastic. ****3/4