Matt D

Flair wanted him to run to the next spot?

-Dave Meltzer from the 1983 Yearbook issue of the WON

You know what? I think Ultimately Lawler would do it. I think it did matter to him, and I think that was very clear in his career and decisions he made later. He'd have a run the length of Flair's early run and be very happy with that. It'd check off a box, would be something he'd have forever, would make him money in the short term, and he'd claim it, very, very happily, for the rest of his career. He'd paint the NWA title on the batmobile he bought when he was 60-something. Yeah, Lawler would do it.

I just get the sense that Flair doesn't get how this works. It's interesting, absolutely. I get the sense that Parv wishes we could have everyone's phones bugged. It's compelling and maybe important for historical reasons. It's just occasionally uncomfortable just like everything else to do with Flair. I think we all came in with low expectations of this podcast and it's been one of the best, but for reasons that aren't entirely above ground.

The Young Bucks are the first wrestlers for the internet troll age. I think they understand pro wrestling pretty well. They've leveraged that understanding into a deconstruction of the form that appeals heavily to people under a certain age. They know how to integrate every aspect of their act, including and especially social media, in their actual in-ring work, which is very impressive. In one regard, the sense that wrestling is about milking money from the marks, they are revolutionary. They're the first wrestlers of the kickstarter era. I'd actually liken them to Brody in a lot of ways, in how they are their own bosses for the most part, in how they refuse to follow any sort of convention and even push against it as part of their gimmick. I think that real life will catch up with them at some point. Their act, as it is now, is not sustainable, both for the speed in which culture changes and inverts these days and just in the fact that they're aging and starting to have more familial responsibilities. In a lot of ways that leads to an end of freedom and their entire existence as they are now, hinges on their freedom to break from form. I respect what they've accomplished. I'm way too old for that shit though.

Tennessee wrestling was Tennessee wrestling. That's true. I think where I fall on this was that he certainly wouldn't have a long run as champion. For starters, I'm not sure he'd be up to it. He was very comfortable in Memphis, with his TV show, with the loop, with everything else. It was one thing to go to Hawaii for a while. It'd be another to travel that heavy schedule. I think he'd probably make more money. Flair talks about how he made less than when he was just in Crockett, but considering he'd still bring in some from Memphis just from having a stake, the payoffs he'd get as champion around the country would probably be better. I don't even know if he'd get a small run though. I don't get the sense that Jerry Jarrett was particularly loved. Memphis couldn't bring the sort of pressure that Georgia or JCP or WCCW could to the table. Could he fulfill the role of champion? Sure. I don't doubt that. I just think that it's the least important issue on the table. I think if he did become champion it'd almost be more as a political move meant to spite someone than anything else. Ironically, if he became champion here, it'd almost be for the same reason, it feels.

Whoa there. Let's not kill any territories here.

I'm not even touching the second point. As for the first, If Dick Slater is in a nursing home and refuses to talk to Ric, maybe Ric shouldn't air that information publicly, including what town he is in.

The first fifteen minutes of Funk/Flair is brutal. Just one guy after the next brought up. It's, again, a talk that should have been private, but interspersed with these insanely funny (But very wrong) stories. I'm up to Funk vs the Dog while Flair is passed out in his tub with his clothes on.

He's a pretty bland babyface, even with the mustache. You could have done better.

While I'm still in the room, I think the best way for you guys to go for a transitional champion is Antonio Inoki.

You can't come into my clubhouse either.

If only we could turn likes back on just for this one folder.

The great pilgrimage to Puerto Rico.

It FELT shorter than it was, then. I'm calling that all the more impressive. I would have believe you if you said it went 15.

I'm going to pick Sonny Myers.

That's why the relatively short Bryan match was a downright miracle.

The bit with David Crockett where he asked him whether or not he was going to Dusty's funeral felt a lot like something that shouldn't have made air.

I want to know more about Dr. Blood.

Mosca, Jr. Couldn't figure out how to get over a bridge.

I know John Yachetti retired in 1980 but he worked again through the decade. Was he active here?

Bobby Davis was making a mint off of Wendy's franchises in the 80s. $$$

No offense, but I think it's a little disingenuous to book a Bash '91 without having already lost Flair. That sort of takes out everything interesting from the equation.