goodhelmet

This is depressing. A post who's main focus was the RNR turns into a main discussion on Lanny Poffo's WWF career

Agreed except I remember watching some solid studio matches while converting all of that NWA tv. I know Garvin-Windham were involved in a really long nice match (with the Andersons?) and I enjoyed Tully and Arn's TV title defenses when they would like hell to get to the ten minute mark to retain the belt. I think part of this is because the Fans were working such high-end matches in All Japan long after the RNRs ceased to be relavent. However, in the mid-80s, you can def. make the argument that the RNRs were just as high end as Fans. Also, I have not seen the Fans matches from the Mid South house shows which you said were disappointing. I think that is my biggest problem with many heels of the 80s... their choice of restholds. I hate, hate, hate the friggin nerve hold (if it is the same one I am thinking about). I would rather see the full nelson or bear hug (even though those were probably cliche long before I started watching).

Well, the very nature of the Undertaker gimmick is business exposing.

Back on the Tim Cooke love, I think it was Tim who I argued with about ***** ratings one time long ago. He maintained that the Kobashi/Kikuchi vs. CanAms match was ***** and I maintained (and still do) that we can only assume because it was never shown in full. In my opinion, it is an awesome clip, not a ***** match. Then again, it may have been someone else but I am pretty sure it was Tim.

I like the fact that TNA is getting a positive response but eventually they are going to have to move out of their comfort zone and start touring if they really want to build their fanbase. Right now, it's all fine and dandy but I think part of wrestling's appeal on TV is that eventually you would be able to see your favorites in action live. Right now, I know ROH is not coming to Texas but there is always that possibility they will expand. They have already covered a nice chunk of the NOrtheast and Central states. With WWE, I know they will come through once every 6 months or so. In the 80s, I had the opportunity to see any number of territories pass through San Antonio. With TNA, I know I have to go to the product, the product will not come to me. I can't see a huge chunk of fans getting behind the promotion like that. The Carters have already said they are not going to attempt house shows but they really need to consider taking their TV tapings on the road.

I would agree if the announcers would have put over the Chickenwing Crossface as his finisher. It wasn't even something he attempted in the first few matches on the set. I think it was added to his repertoire later. Yeah and it doesn't bother me if the company stresses and respects submission finishers. For example, in latter-day WCW and even the WWE today, I expect someone to work over a bodypart before hitting a submission because they have taught us that most submissions are weak nowadays. With lucha, I know if a guy is in a submission, he is tapping out right away.

In addition to Jim Duggan and Magnum TA, Murdoch and Adonis are the two wrestlers who have made the most impressions on me since the beginning of the summer. My wrestling history is so weak, I had no idea they were tag champs at one point until this DVDVR set came along. As for the VQ, I am making it my quest to replace the good matches with quality footage. It will happen.

Based on what you said... this kind of relates to the ROH criticism that guys are trying to have the best match possible regardless of their opponent's standing... which doesn't always make sense or is best for business. When Ric Flair is begging off from an inferior opponent, why should we take him seriously against a guy like Nikita who would have murdered George South in 2 minutes on television the week before? EDIT: This was a response to sek but it could apply to what Loss said also.

To turn the tables, how much dirt does the WWE have on JR? It may be nutually beneficial for both sides to keep their mouths shut.

I'm in the camp that thinks that the only reason Ross was removed was because he needed surgery and knew he needed surgery long before Mike Goldberg was asked to join or the McMahons came back or whatever. To be honest, while the HHH and Stephanie rumors are intriguing, and completely believable, the timing of Ross's "firing" and his scheduled suurgery are too close together. I would be interested to se eif Ross rescheduled his surgery when they found out Goldberg would not join them on the 10/3 show.

Before I give my thoughts on these next two matches, keep in mind that these were the only two matches from 1983 that were nominated. I KNOW there has to be more matches from 1983 that deserved to be considered. Bob Backlund vs Ivan Koloff (Philadelphia, PA 6/4/83) --- Since I started watching all of these Backlund matches, I can't get enough of this guy. The earlier matches bothered me because he continued to work on the arm and it never really played into the finish. Now that I am seeing the Crossface chickenwing more often, it helps the mathes immensely. However, this is probably one of my least favorite Backlund matches on the set. I think they ended way too quickly and the work in the ring seemed to imply they were going long. Personally, I like watching Ivan Koloff, and can't wait to see how he is evaluated in the NWA set, but this match will be stuck in the middle somewhere. Don Muraco vs Jimmy Snuka (8/16/83 Philadelphia, PA) --- Man, when Snuka is connecting with his signature spots and throwing headbutts and hopping and jumping and chopping, I can see why he was one of the most popular wresters of the 80s. Butt man, if I never see another chinlock it will be too soon. For the most part, this is a match of dueling restholds. This isn't working body parts and setting it up for a final run. This is laying around until they decide to pick up the pace. It isn't without some merit. Snuka does a pretty good job of working over Muraco's wound after Don starts bleeding. Add a bad looking ref bump and a bad finish and this one goes somewhere deep in the bottom half.

Bob Backlund vs Buddy Rose (11/25/82 Philadelphia, PA) --- One of the first things you notice right off the bat is Rose working to get the lumberjack stipulation over. This is the first one I have seen where the lumberjacks really prevent the wrestlers from leaving the ring. Eventually, Backlund falls to the floor but for the most part they are forced to stay in the ring. I love the way Backlund works over the arm and ries to yank it out of its socket. When Rose gained control, I really enjoyed Rose's offense esp. the stiff stomp to Bob's face and the disturbing knee drop from the corner. If this match has a main weakness, at the end, they don't really build toward a finish. Bob just slaps the Chickenwing Crossface in and calls it a day. At least he had spent a large part of the match working over the arm to make it believeable. This could be Top 20 but I just don't know yet.

I want to touch on something you just said... I have a huge problem with this. George South did so many jobs that he should NEVE be able to look like a viable threat against the world champion. THis is a big criticism against Flair, that he was too giving. How are we to expect Flair to hold his own against a Nikita Koloff or Hawk when he is having trouble with whatever random-jobber-you-choose?

Who would you prefer to watch wrestle? I know we have some hardcore Canucks here but I also know we have some strong Flair fans as well. While Christian-Owen was rather easy to choose, I think this one is a little harder to figure out. Maybe not.

SD! has been the better show for quite awhile. They have definitely been putting on the better matches... uness you are a Kurt Angle fan.

Acc. to Meltz: After the last investors conference, the ECW PPV estimate suddenly went from 268,000 buys to 310,000 buys. This would put the show well ahead of Hogan's return to PPV and Foley's return to PP in recent years. It would make the PPv the 3rd best selling non-major show in the last 13 months. The current company plans are for ECW One Night Stand II on June 11, 2006.

Hell, with all of the Japanese guys coming to the U.S. (Liger, Ebessan, Kobashi & CIMA in the past year alone), that matchup might not be a complete impossibility.