Matt D

Sometimes HD is a problem. Seeing rows and rows of totally apathetic fans as Paige celebrated was just sad.

Of all guys that it would be reasonable for us to have footage of, Masked Superstar is pretty high up on my list of those I wish we had more of.

I thought we didn't have that episode.

Detroit is the funniest thing Parv's ever done, I think.

You (being Dylan) like AWA heel Hennig more than I do. I think I'd put Heel Rip over Heel Hennig though. Probably not the total package.

If Johnny Sorrow is eating anything, it's probably this. And this is full of carbs.

Family visit the first half of the week. Work catch up and now household wide sickness the back half. I have things to say but don't know when I will be able to. Edit: Probably all moot after the last post. Let's be realistic here. I would have just taken 3000 words to say almost exactly that.

Thoughts on Luger?

I will say that for both Andre and Tiger Mask, I think it's a combination of far more footage being more easily available so people could "see for themselves," (which helps Andre's earlier career) combined with criteria changing (which hugely helps Andre's later career). Past MAYBE John Tenta, I think Andre is the deepest and cleanest opposite of Tiger Mask there is.

I have more to say about Andre vis a vis Tiger Mask and perceptions (though I'd argue: really, out side of the people who did the 80s DVDVR project and a few people who talk to then, has the perception changed on Tiger Mask? Has it changed on Brody past us? Etc.), but I've got family stuff going on til tomorrow. We'll see where the conversation is then?

It's us basically.

I think that is way off to be honest. All through the 90s and 00s Andre's work was considered poor with but a few exceptions. It's only in the last few years that it's been reexamined and the small things are far more appreciated now than they were years ago. It's About as far opposite of Tiger Mask as you could possibly get.

Charles can you elaborate on the Tiger Mask point?

I think it's more that he punches people in the face hard?

Ultimate Warrior in six mans was always pretty amazing.

I think it's a pretty open category. I think the issue of contention is more interesting if it's about Super Porky.

Andre. It's not just that he was Andre but he's a wrestler who seemed to know exactly what he was doing in the ring at every point and it was always the right thing. Henry, Quake, and Blackwell all deserve discussion though. Blackwell might have given too much sometimes but it was so wildly entertaining it made up for it (And he's probably the best draw of the three but between Summerslam 90 and 2012,you can make arguments), but the other two worked strictly as big men better than almost anyone.

It really wants you to say that Tony Garea is a better baby face than any of these guys.

I got way too much of a kick of randomly walking down a street in DC today and seeing the Exotic Express. I forgot they were here tonight.

Maybe he just didn't want the emails from the crazies if he didn't put it?

1979. I'm not kidding in the least.

That's Jim Ross.

At one point I tried to make a blog with my Buddy rose stuff, after PWO went down the first time but before the second. I never got very far in posting it but that was the name I was using too. It's a fine name. EDIT: It was territorial expedition. I was close.

Alright. first of all, you did a really good job summing up the match, and frankly, so did the announcers. I do think it's better than you indicate, and not necessarily just for the fact it had a clear narrative. It's in the performances and character work. Kamala, as you said was great, not just in his portrayal but also with his selling. He made everything Andre do look huge and powerful and meaningful, which anyone can do, really, but when you have a guy Kamala's size and agility doing it, it means all the more. Andre's timing was spot on and I think, save for the transition spot yes, he was so expert at knowing how long to sell for and when to come back. He was a wrestler who could use a portrayal like Kamala's to the fullest. The fans ate up everything with a spoon too. Earlier in the night was David Sammartino vs Moondog Rex. If they had worked this same exact match, it would be logical, sure, maybe, but it also wouldn't have been any good because they would have brought different attributes and tools to the table. Here it worked because of who was in the ring. It was, in a lot of ways, the right match for these two wrestlers. That it was also a logical and well performed match only helped matters. I know you weren't as into this, but every time that Andre seemed to head across the ring to hit Kamala I was excited to see what the shot would look like and how Kamala would sell it and how the crowd would react. Slow motion is fine when almost every physical touch has that level of payoff. No, it wasn't blood and violence and big giant bumps (though there were bumps and it was, at times, violent), but it used the steel cage as an actual cage, in interesting ways, and I think it's well worth watching for that aspect of it alone, even if it does have a lot more to offer.

...yeah, so there's a Duggan/Bagwell vs Arn/Flair match I just found on dailymotion that I need to watch later. Also, to a lesser extent the Arn/Flair/Sullivan vs American Males/Duggan/Pittman match which Loch Ness was supposed to be a part of. Such weird combos.