BruiserBrody

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-wrestlemania-1/ I proudly present the 6,329th review of Wrestlemania 1 on the internet! It is a necessary evil as I climb through wrestling history month-by-month. Inside I cover the somewhat surprising story the main event tells -something I don't remember grasping in previous viewings over the years. Plus, Wendi Richter continues to deliver poor matches amid major hype, Buddy Rose is good at this whole pro wrestling thing, King Kong Bundy is a lying liar, Special Delivery Jones may have Wolverine-like recuperative powers, JYD manages to get winded from laying on the mat, the WWF rulebook changes match from match, Captain Lou is sedated, Barry Windham's collarbone gives him CTE, an MSG janitor gets his Wrestlemania moment, and more!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-shoot-interview-with-tully-blanchard/ Tully Blanchard touches on his father's early days as a football player, wrestler and promoter. Next Tully's own background in sports, and how it came together when he became a wrestler himself is touched upon. Blanchard covers the many legends of the sport who served as teachers for him as he grew into a regional star and eventually a nationally known heel. The sad story of Blanchard's friend Gino Hernandez and his fall into a world of drugs in the Dallas underground is gone over, which then transitions into Tully's own woeful tale of drugs wrecking his life. Talk of the glory days of the Horsemen drawing big money and living the high life leads into talk of the downfall of JCP. Blanchard's WWF run and his limited return to wrestling finish out the interview. Along the way we hear stories on the Magnum TA feud, why Blanchard refused to put over Terry Funk in WCW, the injury that ended his dabbling with indy dates, helping prisoners reform their lives and more!!

Is there anything behind Fujinami beating Kerry for the WCCW title right before the Superclash PPV? Just something for the Japan audience vs. Trying to mess with Verne or somesuch?

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-alibis-shoot-interview-demolition/ Barry Darsow and Bill Eadie sit down to cover their run as one of the top teams of the 80's, growing up with a batch of other Minnesota natives who all became wrestlers, Eadie's near death experience which he says verified the fact that there is an afterlife, how Ric Flair helped make Darsow a star, Andre drinking stories, Haku bar fight stories, issues while working with the Road Warriors and Rougeau Brothers, the infamous match in a semi truck bed that led to Darsow being fired from WCW, and more!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-february-1985-part-2/ Wrestlemania 1 shook the wrestling world to it's core in March of 1985. Plus the WWF signed 3 other contracts worth potentially millions of dollars tp their bottom line. Also covered is the stories of Ted Turner and Vince McMahon butting heads over money and other issues as their business relationship crumbles, an Amazon invades the women's division, a celebrity is injured by Hulk Hogan, an infamous murder suspect nearly becomes part of the Mania event, Mr. T proves to be a lousy guest, the headliners Maina paydays cause some ill feelings, Bruno Sammartino thrashes the some WWF stars while doing public relations for the company, plus more news and notes!

AWA legend indicates he's heading to the 2018 WWE HOF

Brunzell was apparently given a $$$ number when he jumped in 1985 as in his shoot he said he gave Verne a chance to match his $90,000 offer from the WWF. Verne told him he wasn't worth it.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-alibis-reflections-mean-gene-okerlund/ "Mean Gene" covers a range of topics including Macho Man's relationship with Elizabeth, breaking in with the AWA, the Russian monster that was suppose to face Hogan before everything fell apart, the WWF taking all of the AWA stars and how Verne handled business meetings with departing talent, what role Gene could play today if he were still in his prime, Pat Patterson's genius, the toughest guys to get a decent promo out of, life with Andre, being an eyewitness to David Schultz attacking a reporter, his uncordial WWF departure, what story caused the WCW hotline to be flooded with calls, Legend's house, the Hall of Fame, sex tapes and more!

There are Liz promos on youtube that are definitely heelish.

Was this the finish where Martel is spared by having his foot on the rope, followed straight up with Bock being pinned after the ref misses his foot being on the ropes?

I may be wrong, but isn't the brace based off Patera tossing him during their "debate"?

The murder portion is on youtube. It runs about 18 mins. I think I'm going to hold off watching it until I get the whole shoot. http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-alibis-supercard-1988-royal-rumble/ "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan takes us through his early days as a stud athlete, being broken in by Fritz Von Erich, how family connections got him a gig with the WWWF, life traveling the territories, homesteading in Mid-South, fighting with the fans as a heel, being arrested with the Iron Sheik while riding together, his subsequent firing which saw him nearly go to the NWA, the JCP/WWF war, being picked to win the first Royal Rumble, knocking Andre the Giant out on TV, the Ultimate Warrior's diva behavior, and more!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-february-1985-part-2/ Ric Flair crossed many time zones to defend his NWA gold against international stars, one of the icons of the NWA and WCW signs with JCP, Barry Horowitz gets his first push...sort of...., Jimmy Hart and Jerry Lawler have their final showdown, Lawler teams with a notorious heel, a champion walks out of World Class without dropping the strap, the Von Erichs continue their blood feud with Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez, one of the most famous matches in Mid-South history is set up, Houston fans are treated to a loaded card, Jim Crockett loses another headliner to the WWF, a former World champion departs JCP as well, plus the WWF invades many southern towns as JCP tries to fire back by heading into a WWF stronghold. Plus more news, notes and results from February 1985!!

This match mortified me as a 7 year old. HOGAN LOSES?!?!?!?!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/the-best-of-mid-south-wrestling-volume-10/ One of the most famous matches in Mid-South history goes down as Hacksaw Jim Duggan battles Ted Dibiase in a steel cage, coal miner's glove, loser leaves town tuxedo match. Ric Flair takes on the challenge of two of the South's toughest young men in Terry Taylor and Kerry Von Erich. Plus the Fantastics tangle with Doctor Death and Jake the Snake!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wahoo-mcdaniel-shoot-interview/ Wahoo McDaniel covers his hard fought wars with Billy Graham, Ric Flair, Johnny Valentine and others as he traveled around the world as a headline star. He also touches on his early days in the NFL, the lengths he'd go to in order to be properly paid by promoters, why JCP failed, the unique experience of watching he and Ric Flair's sons wrestle one another in school, Lex Luger's vanity, wacky times with Dick Murdoch and Manny Fernandez, riots, the fans attacking the heels, adventures with wrestling bears and more!!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-february-1985-part-one/ February 1985 saw the WWF and MTV present "The War to Settle the Score" which directly set up Wrestlemania, the Hulkster goes to the Grammys in style, several Hall of Famers leave the WWF circus, Vince McMahon's love of a pop song alters WWF booking plans, David Schultz shoots on Mr. T and winds up unemployed, a former World champ is arrested, St Louis nearly undergoes a major ownership shift, Georgia turns to rookies to salvage the promotion, the AWA creates a new title, the Road Warriors nearly start another riot, Verne and a headliner have a falling out, Sgt. Slaughter ends up with a very unique partner to face the Road Warriors in Chicago, Pro Wrestling USA puts on a major card in the WWF's backyard despite the promoters feuding with each other and much more!!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/best-mid-south-wrestling-volume-8/ More from the best of Mid-south sees the Rock and Roll Express tangle with both the Guerreros and the Midnight Express for tag team supremacy. Plus Kevin Von Erich and Chris Adams' feud can't be contained to Texas as they come to Watts' backyard for another chance to fight. Brad Armstrong tries to grapple with Ted Dibiase, but Ted is more interested in cheating to win. Plus the "Exotic" Adrian Street attempts to mangle pretty boy Terry Taylor.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wwf-msg-2181985-war-settle-score/ "The War to Settle the Score" sees Hulk Hogan battle "Rowdy" Roddy Piper inside of the mecca that is Madison Square Garden. MTV aired the match live as part of a special that also saw a plethora of celebrities add their opinion on Piper's recent antics. Plus Cyndi Lauper's charge Wendi Richter suffers a major setback, A Donald Trump dream match is booked, Tony Atlas shows his support for female masturbation, plus many bad bad bad matches.... bad.....

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-wwf-philadelphia-spectrum-2161985/ Philly fans are treated to the Hulkster colliding with Brutus Beefcake with the World title at stake, plus Bruno Sammartino returns to the ring to team with his son against Bobby the Brain and Mr. Wonderful. Barry Windham tangles with Dick Murdoch in the match of the night, with Nikolai Volkoff, Tony Atlas, Mike Rotunda, Hillbilly Jim and others taking part in action with lesser competition.

Maybe I missed you guys saying it, but wasn't the Freebirds leaving the UWF partly due to them exchanging shootish comments on TV with Missy Hyatt that had to be edited off?

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-ken-shamrock-shoot-interview/ Ken Shamrock covers his rocky home life growing up poor and fatherless, how Bob Shamrock and sports saved him, his early days training for wrestling with Buzz Sawyer, the beginning of his MMA career in Pancrase, his feuds with Royce Gracie, Tito Ortiz and Dan Severn, his battles with Don Frye and Kimbo, the infamous hotel brawl with the Nasty Boys, how Shamrock feels he'd match up with Brock Lesnar if both men were in their prime, how the Montreal Screwjob ruined Shamrock's WWF run, the WWF wanting to run an incest angle with him, and more!

Surprised a bit you like the MegaBarbers vs Macho and Zeus as much as you did. Last time I watched it I seem to recall how obvious it was that Savage was doing all the work. http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/best-mid-south-wrestling-volume-7/ This round of Mid-South action sees casual racism as Jose Lothario and the Guerreros feud, Jim Cornette gets an unplanned haircut in brutal fashion, before Magnum TA and George Wells head to the big time they have to survive a ghetto street fight with Ernie Ladd and Butch Reed, plus booker Bill Dundee shows off his superhuman side, plus the Rock and Roll Express battle the Midnight Express 20 feet above the ring on a rickety scaffold!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-january-1985-part-two/ The second part of January 1985 includes a look at the death of legendary promoter Eddie Graham and some of the root causes of his suicide, Kerry Von Erich competes in perhaps the most infamous match of his career, a talent swap between Bill Watts and Fritz Von Erich leaves Jim Crockett out in the cold, the WWF attacks all over the country once again, Jerry Lawler and Eddie Gilbert brutalize one another, The WWF marches into Mid-South's region with JYD headlining, Tully Blanchard's "Perfect 10" is revealed, JCP brings in 3 former NWA World champions to compete, Crockett invades a WWF town only for the fans to rebel against their product, AWA and NWA champions collide on a loaded JCP mega show, plus more news and notes!!

Dave irked me twice this weekend. First was the when he excitedly declared ____ kicked off the show with a "Flying Space Tiger Drop" or whatever which then made everyone else go highspot crazy. It struck me more as a circus act than the simulated violence I prefer. Then it was the ******* fat man match where they hit each other with 280 finishers. Selling? Realism? It's better for everyone's health if the fans to accept one big move as a killer than guys kicking out of everything and lessening the impact of moves. There were certainly incidents like this in the past, and it takes me out of the moment watching that as well. Several of my friends are "lapsed" and now watching wrestling with them is just listening to them mock the guys kicking out of everything and then getting pinned with a shitty finish. (See Cena, John)