KrisZ

That was the beginning of the downfall indeed plus the fact that a lot of guys just quit caring about wrestling.

Flair coming back to WWE in 2001 looked good as well but that was after being away for 8 months as well.

aww after all that work by Sonnen he still got tapped in the 5th round. All is right in the world.

Dave said today that Chael did the best promo work in UFC history to build up a fight and seriously can we quit calling everything pro wrestling because it features guys talking trash on other guys. It's sports entertainment not pro wrestling, pro wrestling is part of sports entertainment but so is Boxing, MMA, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, etc etc. Babe Ruth calling his shot against the Cubs wasn't pro wrestling it was sports entertainment. George Halas trash talking referees and opposing players wasn't pro wrestling it was sports entertainment. The Broad Street Bullies wasn't pro wrestling it was sports entertainment.

And like I said I like Chael Sonnen a lot but the constant dickriding and this is how pro wrestling should be shit has gotten on my last nerve.

The cartels are more powerful than ever right now in Mexico. You rarely have independent shows anymore in certain cities because of it. Monterrey has become a wasteland lately as it's all locals working now with the exception of the big EMLL show there last weekend. Everyone is running around Mexico City now to stay safe.

This will all end Saturday when Anderson Silva destroys him.

I like Chael Sonnen but goddamn I am sick of hearing about how he is what pro wrestling should be and how awesome he is. Jesus, the asskicking that Anderson Silva is going to give him can't come fast enough.

It was really good for a Flair shoot interview because his memory isn't always great but he does tell some good stories plus he chews tobacco throughout.

At least we got two good shoot interviews out of it.

Tracy Smothers vs. "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers (4/18/09) This is from a Peach State Wrestling Alliance show in Bremen, Georgia and Tracy looks like a mini Paul Varleans here attire wise. Somers isn't so pretty anymore but he still has great heel timing and wears his tights from 1986 along with looking like Dick Murdoch circa 1995. Lots of armwork here by both men along with hair & tights pulling before Somers would start roughhousing Tracy to get the advantage. Smothers fires up though using his Southern Boy Kung Fu and this turns into a slugfest with the referee trying to break it up until Somers puts him down on purpose so they could brawl on the floor. The fans are going nuts now and the ref calls for a DDQ then gets punched by Smothers for his trouble. The brawl would go all the way to the curtain where Tracy would punch Somers through it. There wasn't even 5 holds used in this match but it was so fucking fun watching two guys work a match doing much of nothing and getting the crowd into it. Very fun stuff.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcz5q_bru...ernie-ladd-3176 WWWF Heavyweight Title: Bruno Sammartino © vs. "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd (3/1/76) This is from MSG and Ladd is tremendous here working the ref before the match especially when the ref wants to look at the taped thumb. Ladd was great here being a chickenshit heel as he worked schtick like he was a smaller guy not a 6'9 300 pounder. Ladd works a bearhug both standing and on the mat where he could use the ropes as leverage to tire out Bruno and he does a great job conceling a choke by going around in circles as the ref tries to catch him. Bruno was great on his fired up comeback which was one of his strong points with Ladd begging and pleading for him to stop selling everything like death. Ladd got a chance to go to his tights though and used his taped thumb to work over Bruno but it wasn't long before Bruno fired up again bashing Ladd from pillar to post. Ladd got another chance though and used his football tackle and thumb to stun Bruno again and forced juice this time before hitting some power moves leaving Bruno laying. Ladd then got the idea to climb up top and missed a big flying splash with Bruno rolling on him to get the win. Was this a great match for moves, nope but this was a really good match showcasing two guys who knew how to play their roles especially Ladd who was one of the best heels in the business at this time.

Jamie would turn heel 2 years later

Talk about something coming out of nowhere Congrats Chico, I guess that's why Lance Storm was in town this weekend.

I think what Dave was meaning was that the wrestlers made the AWA back then but now it's the WWE name that is the draw.

Taker has a prime schedule right now he isn't retiring anytime soon.

You gotta take into consideration that Lawler doesn't drink or do drugs which can definitely age you cosmetically like Flair.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XOTgwOTM2Njg=.html Riki Choshu & Masa Saito vs. The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) (11/13/95) Nasties come out to the theme song they sung and man does it suck and it's fun seeing Choshu & Masa team up in 1995. Nasties especially Knobbs plays to the crowd before the match then proceed to beat Masa's ass before he Masa's up and tags in Choshu who goes on a lariato rampage just killing the Nasties numerous times in succession. Sags would try to throw a chair into the ring from the floor but it Masa right in the leg while he was standing on the apron which amused the crowd. Choshu would eventually get the sasorigatame on Knobbs but Sags would catch him with a clothesline to break the hold with the Nasties then getting the heat on Choshu who ate all their power moves and running smashes until lighting up Knobbs with a lariat then getting the tag to Saito. Masa would then nearly kill Sags with a Saito Suplex then getting one on Knobbs after another Choshu lariat to get the win. This was a fun little match and Nasties held their own here being fine as the big gaijin team.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xb78p3_ri...rvin_shortfilms "Ravishing" Rick Rude vs. "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin (2/13/90) This is from a Superstars taping in Phoenix, Arizona and aired on Prime Time Wrestling. God I love Rude's WWF theme and joy we get Tony Schiavone & Lord Alfred Hayes on commentary. Garvin has no music which was great and shook hands with Heenan before the match which was interesting. Gotta love Rude shaking his hips while wrenching in a side headlock. Rude's selling of a Garvin hammerlock was top notch as he ran all over the ring then threw a tantrum on the mat. Garvin even breaks out a nice piledriver here before going for the GARVIN STOMP! with Heenan looking like he is about to cry on the floor. Garvin would set up for the Sharpshooter but Rude breaks free and makes it a slugfest with both men throwing bombs and Garvin KOing him after Rude shook his hips. Garvin then went back to the Garvin Stomp and locked in the Sharpshooter but Heenan distracted him allowing Rude to recover but Garvin maintained the advantage using the atomic drop allowing Rude to give us his patented awesome sell before getting a nearfall on an O'Connor Roll. We would get a double collision of heads and Rude would recover first to cover Garvin getting the pin after Heenan threw his foot off the rope. Garvin would knock Rude over the top rope to get his heat back after the match and this was lots of fun.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTkxNjg1MDM2.html Lance Cade vs. Seiya Sanada (7/4/10) This is from the All-Japan show at Osaka Prefectural Gym. Cade looks like a giant Jerry Lynn here with straight hair while Sanada has stars on his tights which is a lost arm from the 80's. Cade is leaner from the last time I saw him looking a little like Barry Windham about 20 years ago. This is worked like your normal gaijin vs. young lion match with very basic stuff and I liked Cade going to the floor demanding that Sanada come down and fight him then throws chairs in the ring to provoke him so Sanada comes down for a brawl. Cade throws him around from barricade to barricade before going back to the ring where he slams around like a ragdoll but Sanada is pesky trying to fight back and aims for a backdrop suplex numerous times but Cade blocks him until he finally succeeds. Sanada keeps it going with a swan dive dropkick then a senton for a nearfall and even with Cade throwing forearms Sanada comes back with a German Suplex hold for a nearfall making Cade respect him. Cade caught him with a big boot though before doing the Stan Hansen pose preceeding a lariat attempt that he would miss allowing Sanada to catch him with an O'Connor Roll with a bridge for another nearfall. Cade would just drive Sanada into the mat though with his spinebuster before tearing him up with the lariat to get the win. Fun little match.

Josh Daniels vs. Crowbar (6/25/10) This is from a show that was called Championship Wrestling from New York from Bardonia. Jesus, Crowbar has gotten fat and is balding like hell but so is Daniels. Crowbar throws some nice chops here but man is he out of shape as he barely hit a slingshot splash then tried to jump on the ropes but dropped down before turning around and hitting a legdrop showing us this isn't Devon Storm from 1996. Daniels is very unspectacular here and it looks like he was watching World Class with us as he uses a lot of the Mark Lewin nervehold gameplan here. Crowbar then would get back on offense and got some nearfalls on Daniels but he would fight back with some really shitty strikes then kicked Crowbar in the balls who sold like he got shot. Daniels tried to suplex Crowbar but he would reverse it into the Eye of the Storm to get the win. Whoever has praised Daniels over the years as a worker should get their fucking eyes checked because he sucked a fat one here and Crowbar needs to get in better shape damn.

Lawler coming to WCW in that timeframe would've been awesome as the Dangerous Alliance was going to be formed and Lawler/Sting being the top faces would've been phenomenal. That promo is awesome as well.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3afaa_ri...bob-holly_sport "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Bob Holly (August 1990) This is from the 8/25/90 edition of World Championship Wrestling and Holly has quite the mullet going here as he looks like he is ready to shoot a scene with Christy Canyon or something with the hair/thin mustache combo. Flair is one of the all-time greats at these type of matches as got his usual offense in but he would let the jobbers get some offense in as well making them look competitive. Flair is brutal with the chops here but Holly hangs tough although he throws some shitty punches. Flair would just work over Holly towards the end to setup the figure-four as the finish and this was a good showing for Flair although it's back to the Valley and a threesome with Randy Spears & Ginger Lynn for Holly.

"Dirty" Dutch Mantell vs. "King of Rock n Roll" Doug Gilbert (3/6/93) Dougie is working a 50's style rock gimmick almost exactly like Honky Tonk Man while wearing his Dark Patriot gear. Dutch throws some great punches early as Dougie can't stay in the ring as he hems and haws on the floor stalling while talking shit to Dave Brown. Dutch throws a great short clothesline while Dougie does your normal Memphis heel schtick on offense but Dutch would keep the attack going using a nice backdrop suplex. Dougie would get a reverse chinlock grounding Dutch before trying to engage Dutch into a slugfest which was a mistake because Dutch went all fucking Killer Khan using Mongolian chops until Dougie's cohorts at the time PG-13 jumped in for the DQ before Eddie Gilbert would run out to make the save. Eddie & Dougie were feuding at the time and Eddie would lose a LLT match to Dougie just two days later. Fun little studio match with Dutch looking great.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xb7756_ji...bart_shortfilms "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell vs. Black Bart (6/26/90) This is from a Wrestling Challenge taping in Huntington, West Virginia and interesting to see post Killer Bees Brunzell working low-card heel Bart. Mike McGuirk is quite handsome in her suit announcing the participants and we have Sean Mooney & Lord Alfred Hayes calling the match which is your Coliseum Video B-team announcers in this era. Mooney in a Bill Mercer moment calls a Brunzel cross body block a "flying body tackle" which amused me. Brunzell throws some crappy hip tosses before hitting a Jumboesque high knee which I wasn't expecting. Bart works your normal big man heel routine featuring strikes and chokes which prompts Lord Alfred to talk about how stupid it is to choke someone because if you get DQed, you lose your "prize money"....okay. Brunzell gets smart and starts working over Bart's left leg keeping the big man grounded but Bart would get back up leading to some okay back and forth action until Brunzell finished him off with a DROPKICK~!. Yes the patented Brunzell dropkick finished off Bart how embarassing. This was about 5 minutes and it was okay for a Prime Time Wrestling match.