Beast

Boss Man (100% certain) Hennig Davey Boy Scott Steiner

He's my number 100. I couldn't leave him off because I do like a lot of specific things about his career, but the overall legacy he has of doing a bunch of stuff I don't like means I couldn't actually rank him above anyone on my list.

I learned that I like what I like and what I like is 80s-00s US wrestling. I can respect names like Kobashi and Misawa or Harley and Robinson, but they didn't make my list because that respect didn't cross over enough into love. There were a few names where that respect was so immense that it ended up vaulting a guy higher than I thought, like Terry Funk and Ric Flair.

Over the past year I've gone from being a Dangerous Alliance fanboy to Exile On Badstreet to Between The Sheets to now 6:05. All three are great shows, but I'm so happy this has come out on a consistent basis. Each week, even if the writeup doesn't interest me, I'm always pleasantly surprised by just how much random stuff is covered. Even interviews I don't think I'll enjoy are always worth it. Great (Brian Last) stuff guys!

A joke by definition is funny.

Done.

You know I love the show, but man do you guys beat a joke into the ground here.

Now that we've broken the 21st century seal, June 21-27 has gotta be 2007. 9 years later and with all the craziness of that week, would be really interesting to hear some perspective.

Thought it was good, not great. Felt that it was missing a Flair (charismatic guy who keeps the match moving along) and a Steamboat (babyface who doesn't go more than 3 moves selling without firing something back). Joe just stalked around for 40 minutes and near the end said "Give up, it's not worth your career". Seemed more cute than important. And Zayn's selling of every little thing as a gunshot meant I never once believed he had a chance. It seemed ridiculous for him to be able to "hulk up" at all. Shouldn't have been 2/3 falls.

Perfect, thanks Parv.

In lieu of a better place to post this, can anyone point me towards some of his most entertaining work? I know he went all over the place, but I'm looking for a solid section of months to explore.

Pinfall attempts are sooooooooo dumb and to the detriment of the match flow. Especially after the first few. No excuse for that many in a submission match, even if WWF figured their fans were dumb.

Love that people are actually treating this as a serious thread. He's not in the top 500

Huh? He's more over than Reigns.

I liked Styles and Jericho and didn't see Jericho as being too overmatched. Maybe I'll have to wait for the Botchamania compilation to learn what was messed up other than the top rope Walls of Powerbomb spot. I thought the story was laid out perfectly, with both men trying out new things to finally best the other. The Styles Clash kickout seemed unnecessary, but I liked the match. However, I thought the crowd was dead. I don't see dueling chants as being into the match, especially when they're not reacting to actual comebacks or moves, just mindlessly chanting.

As if I haven't posted enough yet, I just wanted to thank Kris and Bix for being so consistent with these. These shows make it really easy to workout since each week you have 3-4 days worth of listening, even if you listen to some off the treadmill too. I haven't gone back too often, but I feel like these shows will be easily re-listenable since each episode has so much packed in.

Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect - Summerslam 1991 - Probably the match I've seen the most since both are in my top 5 favorites. They work so well together and Heenan/Piper/Monsoon are perfect on commentary. Perfect never looked better in WWF and it's such an important match for Hart's growth as a performer/star. Edge/Mysterio vs. Angle/Benoit - No Mercy 2002 - Was going to go with Angle/Mysterio from Summerslam 2002, but instead went with a much longer tag match. Perfect timing and possibly the peak of the Smackdown Six run. Owen Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith - Raw 1997 - More perfect chemistry. Bulldog is able to pull out of his older, more agile movements and Owen is right there to counter.

Yeah, I was hoping he'd come out a little cleaner after reading his reaction, but his letter is full of lots of misguided phrasing and comments. Like maybe he should have kept it short and sweet. I don't know about the date, just grabbed it from Wrestling Classics.

Also was reading some comments on Wrestling Classics about all this and Scott Williams and Dave Meltzer acknowledged the awfulness of Watts' words, but said he's not a racist and that he's changed his views since then and regrets saying what he did the way he said it.

And... The proceeding is a letter obtained from a TBS source that was sent to TBS executive Hank Aaron by Bill Watts on April 11, 1993: Dear Hank, Mr. Bill Shaw made me aware of a call you received from Mark Madden, a writer for a Pittsburgh newspaper and also for an insider wrestling newsletter pubiished by Wade Keller. (Madden's editorials in this newsletter are in my opinion often very personal, beyond the bounds of journalistic integrity, and probably on occasions the libel and slander status). I was unawre of his call to you or his accusatiuns, and I had alteady resigned for my own reasons from World Championship Wrestling prior to Bill Shaw's revelation of this accusation so it had nothing to do with my departure from TBS. (l'm sure had I not already resigned, I was a "corporate liability.") It is my understanding thst he used an article written by one of these "insider wrestling sheets" some two years ago, taken from an interview with me that because of a small portion of it in it's context and perception by some would label me an avowed racist, thereby becoming an embarrassment to TBS and to you considering your stand on the Marge Schott issue. I also feel we have crossed the Rubicon as to what is now "politically correct" to think or say versus freedom of speech in America. However, I want to present my position to you. 1. That article was in the possession of TBS executives prior to my hiring in WCW; and I had already responded to that very allegation prior to being hired 2. My track record in the wrestling business has been the most pro-black of any promoter/owner in the history of this business! At this point let me regress. I was raised in a non-ethnic environment in Oklahoma. I attended all white schools (not by design, there were no blacks, Hispanics, or Orientals living in our area). At the University of Oklahoma the first black athlete to "break the barrier" was there when I was. Prentice Gaunt was and is a credit to to the human race. Wallace Johnson was the second black player and I considered him a friend also. Prentice went on to a distinguished pro football career and became a Commissioner in the Big Eight. He wrote of his experiences at O.U. and our racist attitudes. I was shocked of his opinions as we all respected and supported him - but that was my perspective, and I realized that from his perspective we were - some naively so and some purposefully. Prior to attending O.U., on a recruiting trip to New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl, I got into an altercation on a street car with whites because I sat with blacks in the back (1957 Sugar Bowl) In pro-wrestling, I considered Bobo Brazil a friend and I respected him. Art Thomas, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Ernie Ladd were blacks I associated with, rode with, worked with, ate with, and had discourse with. When I became a promoter/owner in 1970, I integrated black wrestlers into my promotion. I was called in front of the Louisiana State Athletic Commission because I told the promoter (State appointed) in Baton Rouge they could no longer segregate the seating. I also instigated getting Monroe, Louisiana's Mayor, to allow a black wrestler to wrestle a white wrestler. (Prior to that blacks could only wrestle blacks.) My top box office attraction was a great black athlete, Sylvester Ritter, whom I named The Junk Yard Dog. He set box office records for me throughout the South. I had the first (and only) black "Booker" in the wrestling business, Ernie Ladd. (That's the equivalent of an NFL head coach or baseball manager.) When I came to WCW I made Ron Simmons the first black World's Champion of a truly major wrestling organization. I also made Brenda Smith the Office Manager, and Teddy Long's role as a black announcer was expanded and recognized formally (the first one). All of these people were placed in these positions based on ability not as a "token." Let's see how WCW follows up on that now that I'm gone!? (I discovered Too Cold Scorpio and had the video produced on him.) My position is controversial - admittedly so, but could also be more truthful. I believe all people are racists. If you don't believe that, attend the next riot and see how sides are drawn. However, I believe people through sports, education, understanding, compassion or faith in God, have different tolerance or acceptance levels. I accept people as they accept me, or for their ability. 3. Now to the article: I feel they took it out of the context of what was said, and left part of it out. They made several errors in the article, but other than tell the writer he did, I proceeded no further. Yes, I feel it's a shame we must legislate laws against discrimination. I believe in free enterprise. If a person can start a business and discriminate AND be successful in business - that's free enterprise. Ideally free enterprise should not support such success. I believe that if you own your own business, accept no tax dollars as support, that you should be free to run it any way you see fit that's legal. I believe you should be able to discriminate against homosexuals, filth, dress, or race if you so desire. (To me the Japanese are truly the biggest racists invading the U.S. We as a nation condone that!) Hopefully the economic competition would determine your guidelines rather than radical extremes. As to my statement about "Roots": In that era, slavery was very common. To me "Roots"' presentation was skewed to make the U.S. feel guilty as a country. I do not believe we are "guilty" as it was accepted world wide. Our country was divided over the issue. Our country addressed the issue as no other country and fought an internal civil war! We should be acclaimed for that! I feel the series should also have shown that not all slaves were trapped or taken by force. In many instances their own chiefs sold them into slavery for trinkets or trade goods. Slavery in Africa continued long after the U.S. discontinued it. "Roots" did help to bring together and present black history to solidify black pride - an important process. Now I want to go one step further (and more controversial). Slavery is abominable. But God works in mysterious ways. Israel was enslaved in Egypt for 400 yesrs (to survive a famine). To me the greatest benefit to the black race was being in America (not how they got here - but that they got here!) Through this process, and struggle, blacks got educated and integrated and have been able to be a significant part of America and have been able to help blacks world wide!!! More atrocities have been perpetrated by blacks on blacks than the American slave trade. Idi Amin, Papa Doc, the third world black dictators have mass murdered their own race. Even now in South Africa the black vs. black warfare is predominant. What black country thirty years ago was fiscally solvent? (lsn't it also a paradox that Muslims were very predominant in the slave trade.) So, yes as God used slavery to preserve the Jews (who have been discriminated against as much as the blacks - where complete genocide of their race has been attempted many times) in Egypt, their struggle was their preservation and strengthened their race. Can that too possibly be applied to the blacks and their history in America?! I'm sure you realize Chinese and Irish also died in droves digging canals in New Orleans (7000 on one canal alone) and building railroads. America has had tremendous ethnic struggle. It has helped forge this nation - a land of opportunity, not a guarantee, but an opportunity. The bottom line is - I should not be discriminated against for my views - especially when my actions prove my racial acceptance and encouragement. I believe it proves the viciousness of the person who called you - as my record is well known. Also, I find ridiculous the Klu Klux Klan with their extreme on racism based an God?! It just doesn't compute in my Bible or in Christ's example (and certianly I'm a long ways from most peoples concept of a Christian - but I believe in God). Hopefully my logic, especially my references to a Supreme Being won't label me as a radical - but you'll read this as it is written. Yes, in my life I have used racial expressions in anger and in jest - and probably wi11 continue to do so. When I say racial I do not just mean black, but Hispanic, Polish, Italian, Jewish, Japanese, Greek, Puertorican, etc. I also enjoy jokes about blonds, women, homosexuals, and many other forms of humor - but that doesn't reflect in my business ar personal history. I wasn't running for political office. I also have been the object of such humor by Blacks, Polocks, Japs, and Mexicans, and found it to illustrate very funny traits I have and be able to laugh at myself. The night we rode to the Clash at Center Stage together, I had asked to be in the limo with you in order to meet you - not because you are black, but because of your accomplishments. Thank God for sports. I also feel we shared common ground about how "beyond the pale" sports has gone and how little control of the athletes there is, and that a crisis is inevitable. I'm part Cherokee Indian, and proud of it. The Indians have been and continue to be discriminated, murdered, and enslaved. In Canada and parts of the U.S. we are more racially discriminated against than blacks. Visit one of our reservations - they were before ghettos. Thanks for reading this - at least you have my side of the story. Isn't corporate America insidious and hypocritical?! The corporate term "friend" is a little ambiguous isn't it? Is ever a person's true integrity and ability smeared and discredited by just such accusations and innuendo?!! Sincerely, Bill Watts

Here's Wade's analysis written in response to Watts' comments about the situation on a 2009 WWE produced WCW History DVD: "In Bill Watts's book, "The Cowboy and the Cross," and in this new documentary interview, he leaves out some key details, including the liberal use of the derogatory slang word for gays, and at the very least his poor choice of wording by saying he got into business so he could discriminate. If you're a TBS executive who put Watts in charge of hiring and firing a major division in your company, and that interview was published before you hired him, and now it's been brought to the attention of other Turner executives including an advocate for racial equality in Hank Aaron, you might get understandably nervous. I just wish Watts, rather than ignoring the reality of what he said in my interview with him, would apologize for it and acknowledge that in the midst of a libertarian rant about individual rights, he spoke in the first person when he didn't intend to and used inflammatory language that doesn't reflect his actual views and how he's lived his life. By not acknowledging at all that he really went too far with his wording and did express extremely controversial points of views that might get anyone who hired him in trouble, he comes off as disingenuous and dishonest. It's very difficult to defend words that include saying the best thing that ever happened to Blacks was being brought to the U.S. in shackles and chains and held captive as slaves without voting rights for generations and decades. It's also very difficult for him to act outraged that a publicly traded corporation didn't want someone in a hiring and firing position who used the term "the f---in' Blacks!" and "I should have the right not to associate with fags" and "Why should I have to hire a f---in' fag if I don't like fags?" and "Fags discriminate against us, don't they?" At some point, all Watts can do is perhaps chuckle and say he can't believe the corporate suits hired him in the first place."

I think that overall what he said was preposterous, but I always get stuck on the first part about denying service to whomever you please. In the context, I feel like he was saying that business owners should have the right to deny service to anyone they want, but they'll have to face the consequences when that segregated business model costs them money. Then he goes on to give examples in the first person using derogatory remarks, but what are you going to expect from a guy who grew up in Oklahoma in the '40s? I'd LOVE to hear him share his philosophy while in conversation with someone who'd actually question him about his views. Not that Wade necessarily should have at that time being a 21-year-old sheet writer. Sidenote: Fascinating stuff, but did we really need Kris to read through the transcript for you both to comment on first, before actually listening to Watts, continually pause and comment more? Seemed a bit overkill. Could have spared Kris the horror of reading those thoughts aloud.

It was an epic moment, even only 24 hours removed. It's his opinion, let him enjoy it. The best wrestling tv moment doesn't mean only matches or angles or promos or whatever. This was a wrestling moment on a wrestling tv show. You can't compare this to M*A*S*H unless fans at the time complained about Radar not getting enough screentime despite his popularity and they wrote that into the show. And then a taping got stopped because fans on the set wouldn't stop chanting his name. It's sports and entertainment. It's just as much M*A*S*H as it is Peyton Manning winning a Superbowl for his record breaking 200th victory before possibly retiring.

Because there's nothing else like it. It's like saying WWE Films is the Universal Studios of pro wrestling.

Oh, ok that was my first assumption. But even still, not close. Great moment, would prob be too pick for 95 percent of other slots, but number 3.