El-P

Ah, 911 squashed and chokeslamed by Giant in Philly. Totally forgot about that one.

Another strong closing segment. I have no idea why Savage is on crutches though, he sure was walking fine at the end of the PPV match.

Yes. Since the streak is over my first reaction would be to say "No value left", but since the Lesnar match and ending was so underwhelming and anti-climatic, yeah, a nice "Taker's last match" gimmick still has value I believe. Let him have a grand final disapearance act, Undertaker style. Yep. It's called personnality, which is a lot sexier than just stripping down to your underwear.

No. But pro-wrestling's only goal has always been to draw money. Period. You can make music, litterature, cinema, painting for the sake of it, for experimental researches, to express yourself, to protest against injustice, to stay alive, to heal other people. Pro-wrestling never had any other aim but to get money from its spectators. Pro-wrestling is basically psychological mass manipulation. The "pro-wrestling tell stories" argument has become amazingly overstated in recent years. The stories pro-wrestling tell are amazingly simplistic and limited, and aimed right at the reptilian brain. Bad guy = boo. Good guy = cheers. Bad guy cheats = me sad and angry. Good guy beats the shit out of bad guy = me happy. It's a low-brow form of entertainment born from the carnivals, it can be fascinating and great to watch, but no great wrestling match can be compared to a great work of litterature, cinema or music. Nor it shouldn't, because it's different. Now, if you want to compare the pro-wrestling industry with other entertainment industry which are using cinema, music and litterature to generate money, then it's another thing, but it's another point of comparison. And pretty often, most of the biggest money generators in the entertainment industry are shit pieces of "art".

Agreed. Pro-wrestling isn't music (hell, not even pop-music), pro-wrestling isn't litterature, pro-wrestling isn't cinema, pro-wrestling isn't painting. Pro-wrestling doesn't express anything. It's not an art. At best it's a craft industry, and some great workers are terrific craftsmen. And they don't necessarely draw the biggest gates, but they are useful dance partners or supporting members of the team. And sometimes it happens that the great craftsmen also are draws. But in the end, the goal of pro-wrestling is to draw money. Period. So yeah. That's why it can be really a dividing argument, because it can be no fun at all to talk about who drew more when you're only concerned about who entertains *you* the most. Hence threads about The Berzerker or Tim Horner that make this board pretty great. (and if there's no thread about Tim Horner, well, there should, damnit !)

Two rambling irrelevant old guys and a dumb jock who apparently forgot about the whole Horsemen deal the previous year. This isn't good, and it's the first time both Flair and Piper look like dinosaurs with no business working a hot angle on top. People can say whatever they want about Hogan, but infact he carried Piper at Starrcade 96 and at this point he was delivering the goods while Flair looked washed up and dated.

It's pretty notable how patient WCW was at the time, planting the seeds for an nWo split, building anticipation but not delivering yet. Good segment. The crowd is eating this stuff up.

I think Gene didn't even hear it. Sherri sure did though. Anyway, on live PPV no less. Just glorious. I can only imagine people dying backstage.

That bit always cracked me up ! Savage "I'm gonna have 22 women at the party ! Do you got a problem with that ?" Liz "No problem." Savage "Slim Jims for everybody !" Wait, WTF ?! Anyway, to me this is the best Savage match in eons, maybe since 1992. Not great, but still really good, and Savage's insane heeling (beating up Dave Penzer, threatening Buffer, slapping and piledriver the ref) were awesome. It's so great to have Savage as a heel again after years of formulaic babyface work. And Liz is such a bitch too, popping for Nash powerbombing Patrick. Interesting how DDP told the story of Savage wanting to take the Diamond Cutter at a house show and by getting a huge reaction from it deciding it would be the finish for the PPV. You feel DDP really wanted to have one last strong feud putting over someone new. DDP was the perfect foil. The post-match is great, and I like the fact Bischoff prevented Savage from hitting Kimberly a lot, as it really put over Savage as a batshit insane maniac that even the nWo wouldn't approve. Humiliating Kim is ok, but you still don't hit a woman. So yeah, probably the feud of the year in WCW.

The Viper bit is one of the all-time fakest, forced-looking wrestling routine I've ever seen. It's hilarious.

I was halfway expecting that one.

Can't wait to listen to Sulli, who's one of my favourite guy to listen to. The Tommy Young episode was excellent too, so that's 3 in a row for Corny.

You dont say. If I didn't know beforehand, I would have never recognized him. In a good way (expect the coughing). This week's show has Kevin Sullivan, so it should be good again.

Yes. Not to mention, better draw too.

I love how they basically shoot pressuring him to come back early from a severe neck injury. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

I didn't call him a black hole years ago for nothing.

I love this exchange. Yeah, DDP sure can be proud of having his wife get the Playboy centerfold. Hater's gonna hate. Savage is gold here, and DDP's last reply was pretty damn classic. Liz looked to have a lot of fun working as a heel along Savage.

"What the fuck am I doing here working for this fucking idiot ? I'm not coming back in the US ever again, and as soon as my time here is over I'll change my look and have a brand new start in Japan and wash away that WCW stench from the Great Muta." Or something to that effect.

That's the best thing of his entire stint. Hilarious.

The Iaukea push has been a disaster for the TV belt. And they jobbed Regal AND Rey to this guy who had no charisma and not much talent at all. Anyway. Savage finally gets to shine without Hogan taking over the spotlight. Uncle Eric throwing a kick to DDP was so obnoxious. Hall isn't there either. I wonder if this is where he began to have issues with alcohol.

I'm afraid I need you to narrow this down between Adam Rose, Bo Dallas, and Rusev. Adam Rose is the next Fandango. Bo Dallas I really don't see where this is going nor the appeal. And Rusev, well, this segment was dying out there. I'm sure he'll get more chances, but he could end up the next Broadus Clay in no time, while Lana gets a big push up her ass.

Dustin Rhodes. Twice. In WCW in 94/95, as the second coming. A fighting young babyface a-la Ricky Steamboat/Barry Windham. Could wrestle, sell and brawl his ass off. In WWF in 96, as Goldust, heel champ a-la Ric Flair * Adrian Street, with the ambiguous freaky presentation and the glamour and sexyness of Marlena. Could play mindgames, chickenshit and cheat his way to keep his belt, and work freaky brawling garbage matches too.

Hey, a 20 minute dialogue between Stephy & Cena leading to Cena vs ….. Kane. Hey, a new character who's gimmick is already dying. Hey, a swerve and a completely nonsensical turn. Ok. I'm done. Again. Nice try.

Damn, WCW raises up its game and beat down the nWo, with Harlem Heat aligning themselves with the babyfaces. Hogan selling Sting's threat is glorious. Yeah, there was still a good sense of balance at this point, WCW finally got some momentum with Sting at their side.

Savage and Liz up there in the crowd trolling DDP never gets old with me. Such a fun feud.