BruiserBrody

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-gorgeous-george-shoot-interview-review/ "Gorgeous George" reveals what her life was like as the valet and girlfriend of "Macho Man" Randy Savage. She reveals his rampant drug use, the lengths he went to in order to keep tabs on her, his complicated relationship with Lanny, the real reason she feels may have sparked his death, the truth behind the Stephanie rumor, Savage wanting to have sex with her teenage sister and more. Plus George tells of her time in ECW, her abrupt firing from TNA and her infamous webcam video. .

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/antonio-inoki-and-masa-saitos-infamous-island-death-match/ Here's my look at the infamous 1987 battle between Masa Saito and Antonio Inoki. This includes a brief overview of Inoki's career and his promotional war with Giant Baba, plus Saito's history leading up to this feud. Saito and Inoki engaged in a series of matches where the violence escalated with each step, leading to them settling things on a historically significant island, fighting one on one in a uniquely isolated battleground. The length and historical significance of the encounter is compared to one of the most commemorated mixed martial arts fights ever. In addition, I touch upon the follow up island clash that went down four years later. You almost have to appreciate Inoki's outside the box booking to generate headlines for himself and his New Japan crew.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-may-1985-part-1/ May of 1985 saw the debut of "Saturday Night's Main Event", which caused problems backstage between NBC execs and the WWF's booker, Roddy Piper goes outlaw from the WWF to work on a competitor's show, Inoki and McMahon butt heads over Hogan and Andre working in Japan, another old timer puts on the tights to work for the WWF, fans in Boston riot, Jim Crockett runs a stadium show in a WWF town, St. Louis books brawlers from different generations for a unique tag team match, plus more news and notes!

The PWI description of the Island death match made me BADLY desire to see it. I gladly finally added to my DVD collection some 15 years later. The back story. Saito's screaming. The fire on poles. The helicopter filming. The blood loss. Man what a spectacle!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/from-the-wwe-network-world-tour-1991/ "World Tour '91" has a really fun line up. Hulk Hogan partners with the Ultimate Warrior to face Sgt. Slaughter, Gen. Adnan and the Undertaker in a unique headliner. Mr. Perfect grapples with a young Shawn Michaels, Roddy Piper brawls with the Million Dollar Man while fending off Scary Sherri, the Earthquake attempts to squash Jake the Snake, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan has a disaster of a match with Kendo Nagasaki, the "Macho Man" tries to mangle the "Model", the Anvil knocks heads with the Warlord and the Rockers rattle the Orient Express!!!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-reflections-with-ricky-steamboat/ Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat covers his current WWE duties, the injury he suffered at the hands of the NXT kids that nearly killed him, training with Verne Gagne, Eddie Graham giving him his first push, finding stardom in JCP, his plan for a heel run that never came to be, his son's journey in the business, "The Final Conflict", the Wrestlemania 3 classic, his reboot as a fire breathing dragon and more!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/from-the-wwe-network-wrestlefest-91/ "WrestleFest '91" sees the Legion of Doom clashing with the Hart Foundation in the only meeting of two of the eras dominant duos, plus the Ultimate Warrior takes the measure of the massive Earthquake, the Big Bossman battles the Mountie, Kerry Von Erich tries to avenge his IC title loss by tussling with Ted Dibiase, The Hammer and the Model grapple. Plus, the Rockers rumble with Power and Glory and Pat Tanaka puts on a show with Marty Jannetty.

It appears the other thread has been locked after 44 glorious pages. http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-diana-hart-smith-shoot-interview/ Diana Hart Smith delivers a rare interview covering her courtship with Davey Boy, debunking some Hart family rumors, the recent issues with Jake the Snake, the Bulldog's injuries, how she felt about being a heel valet in the WWF, Owen's death, and more!

I thought Ronda was dead on that Samoan drop that looked at first like Rousey took like a pancake flop.

I believe Koloff shows up for a one shot TV match during the 1990 era where Ole was bringing in cheap, older guys.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/from-the-wwe-network-supertape-4/ Supertape 4 has a number of fun clashes. This includes the Big Bossman facing Bobby Heenan, plus another encounter where the lawman brawls with the Earthquake. A rare babyface vs babyface encounter has Tito Santana grappling with Koko B. Ware. The Ultimate Warrior defends America against Sgt. Slaughter, Mr. Perfect tangles with the Texas Tornado, plus the Tugboat and Undertaker have a Botchamania worthy match and the LOD rout the Orient Express!

So at least he was only booked weak in front of his home audience? Roddy Piper fails to show up for his tag team war with Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Snuka, but that doesn't stop things from being so wild that a mild riot breaks out with the fans at the end of the battle. The Junkyard Dog gets another crack at IC champ Greg Valentine...and the rest of the card is true dreck as a parade of squashes and jobber matches pollute the rest of this Boston card from May 1985.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-the-fabulous-ones-shoot-interview/ The Fabulous Ones sit down in 2018 and share their memories from their successful years as a team. Topics include: Lane's early years learning under Bill Watts, Eddie Graham and the Fullers, Jerry Jarrett's MTV inspirations when pushing the Fabs, getting heat with Lawler for becoming Memphis' top act, Lane chasing the rats, Andy Kaufman in Memphis, dangerous ribs that were played on others, why they never made a WWF run, Bruiser Brody shooting on them in the AWA, how the AWA locker room roughed up the Road Warriors to avenge their stiff moves, the night Lane choked out a TV announcer who was mocking wrestling, the Road Warriors refusing to lose the AWA straps to them and how the Fabs got revenge, Dick Murdoch and Blackjack Mulligan threatening Stan Lane for refusing to do a fireball spot, their less successful returns to Memphis, Lane going to the NWA to join the Midnight Express, Jim Herd driving Jim Cornette and Lane out, plus more!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-saturday-nights-main-event-1-may-1985/ The first ever edition of Saturday Night's Main Event sees Vince McMahon pull out his celebrity big guns for the first wrasslin' show on network TV in decades! Paul Orndorff is given a hard push to the top of the babyface ranks, The Animal finds a new friend. The Fabulous Moolah pulls rank in the ring. Vince's love for black stereotypes shows up. Plus there's even some wrestling in between the comedy bits, promos, and other ballyhoo!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/from-the-wwe-network-wwfs-greatest-hits/ The WWF's "Greatest Hits" include a collection of previously aired TV matches strung together for a VHS release: This includes Kerry Von Erich tangling with Mr. Perfect (with special guest ring announcer Ted Dibiase), Hulk Hogan and Tugboat clashing with Rhythm and Blues. the Ultimate Warrior battling the Million Dollar Man, the Bossman butting heads with the Barbarian and the Model grappling with Marty Jannetty

Sean Mooney put up a bit he did while working for a sports show with Joe Namath. Mooney learns to wrestle (including a cameo from a future star). This supposedly got him his WWF gig.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-back-to-the-territories-houston-wrestling-w-bruce-prichard-and-jim-cornette/ Bruce Prichard covers the history of Houston wrestling, with Jim Cornette by his side! Topics include: How Harley Race caused Paul Boesch to create his own World title after the NWA champ screwed him over, how Grizzly Smith ruined kayfabe for Bruce when he was still a kid, Boesch's heat with Gary Hart, the truth behind the rumors of Gino Hernandez being Boesch's son, the night Bruiser Brody tried to kill the Houston territory, legends who got over huge in Houston before the WWWF brought them in to be big city megastars, Tully Blanchard as a booker causing heat in the office and the locker room, the Jack Brisco/Race/Dory Funk world title backstage mess, the night Wahoo and Pat O' Connor got into a shoot in the ring, Bruce's involvement in JCP buying out the UWF, how Prichard ended up in the WWF, Boesch's strained relationship with the WWF, the Boesch family holding the WWF up for money, and more!!!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-wccw-parade-of-champions-1985/ World Class presents a mammoth tag team battle with the Von Erichs and Freebirds forming a shaky alliance to battle the One Man Gang, Kamala, Rip Oliver, Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez and Dr. Death in a mammoth two ring brawl for big money and bragging rights. Kevin Von Erich also takes on Ric Flair with the NWA World title on the line, the Fantastics tangle with the Midnight Express, Kerry Von Erich fights the One Man Gang, Gary Hart provides some awesome managerial moments and Marc Lowrance delivers some fine bits on commentary. A huge crowd braves the Texas heat to see all this and other action!

That just reeked of Tony playing up the shit on things and say outrageous stuff part of the show. He also went on a riff about how the show was too long, when it was half as long as the PPVs they've covered.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/kayfabe-lies-and-alibis-bruno-sammartino-and-jim-cornette-shoot-interview/ In the wake of Bruno Sammartino's recent passing, I felt it was time to review his sit down interview with Jim Cornette. Topics include his boyhood days running from the Nazis and battling a serious illness, his trek to America, being discovered by wrestling promoters, how he was blackballed from wrestling in his early years, some impressive feats of strength he pulled off in the ring and in the gym, how Buddy Rogers turned Bruno into a heel, how he found his way back into wrestling and ultimately the WWWF title scene, the epic match with Lou Thesz that never came to pass, Stan Hansen breaking his neck and how Vince Sr pressured him to return quickly from the injury, his angle with Larry Zbyszko, thoughts on Bob Backlund and Hulk Hogan, a proposed stadium show where he'd face Andre, plus more!

They covered why they redid the Mega Powers. They are playing the hits that will draw in more fans who don't already listen by covering the big names. Ditto HBK next week.

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/from-the-wwe-network-wwf-mega-matches/ WWF's Mega Matches is loaded with stars. They jam in a really fun Randy Savage vs Jim Duggan encounter, the Macho King faces the wrath of the Ultimate Warrior in a cage (featuring Sherri getting stripped), Hulk Hogan out muscling Dino Bravo, Earthquake clashing with Tito Santana, Hacksaw Duggan defending America against Sgt. Slaughter, The Hitman tangling with the Barbarian, a little fun with the Bushwackers and Rhythm and Blues, the Big Bossman getting his hands on the Brain and the British Bulldog's return to MSG after being away for several years. Plus a hilarious bit with the Macho Man on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"!!

http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-wwfs-a-m-chicago-tv-special-with-oprah/ In May of 1985, a star was breaking out on the Chicago airwaves as Oprah emerged as an entertainment force. In an effort to snag some ratings from the buzz of "Wrestlemania", Oprah attended a WWF house show in Chicago, and aired parts on her morning show. What followed was some amusing commentary from Winfrey as she admitted did not watch wrestling. The WWF made an odd choice in her announcing partner, which didn't help. Hulk Hogan is asked the WRONG question and sours on Oprah's presence, She attempts to find the softer side of Jesse Ventura. We get a few ethnically questionable remarks, plus we see some WWF headline action with Hulk Hogan, JYD, Tito Santana and other top stars battling in the ring. A unique thing to view for sure....

I'm watching TNT from Jan. 86 and Capt. Lou described Animal Steele as "homicidal, suicidal!!" etc etc and very much sounded like proto-Paul E putting over Sabu a decade later. Later in the show "Candice Purdue" comes out to talk about her weight lifting training and wrestling career (She's from Moolah's camp). Vince brings a geek with small arms out of the audience to arm wrestle her - and the dude wins. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL The show also sees a great botch as a jobber gets up the wrong way against Davey Boy Smith and he hits a crossbody on the guy anyway. This also seems to be the debut of Adonis' full on gay gimmick. No more teasing the "Relax with Trudy" briefcase. In 2018 this is a babyface promo as Adonis proudly yells about going to the places he wants go to be with the people he wants to be with and "yes, I'm gay!". Vince brings out a flamingly gay makeup artist but McMahon won't even shake the guy's hand, apparently afraid of cooties. --- http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/from-the-wwe-network-supertape-3/ "SuperTape 3" sees Kerry Von Erich in a possibly impaired state as he grapples with Mr. Perfect, Jimmy Snuka sets some kind of record for bad wrestling as he and the Barbarian have a stinker, Jake the Snake shows off his psychology talents as he tangles with Curt Hennig, Paul Roma does his best to have a poor match with Marty Jannetty, the Legion of Doom and Demolition collide twice to establish tag team dominance, Tugboat and the Earthquake test the weight limit of the ring, and the Big Bossman and Ted Dibiase outshine the rest of pack with their efforts in one on one action.

Is 4 hours of RVD in anyway worth listening to?