Matt D

Aw, man I was just trying to lure Dylan back into the note. He absolutely wasn't talking about this board at all. I was just having a laugh. He was talking about some sort of heavily political thing, which I tried to make clear with the drone comment (his post before this was about drones, seriously). I was just goofing! Sorry. Unless he was actually talking about the board, in which case I'm an ass. But I don't think that was the case (about Dylan. I may well be an ass). I did toss the link at him right after I posted it to give him a chance to tell me I was a doofus and to edit it for whatever reason. I don't think there was any bad faith. It was a joke. I think this is generally the most reasonably open place to discuss this stuff we could hope for.

The biggest take away i got from it was that he, more than anyone else I've come across, I think, saw wrestling as a job.

I remember it from his shoot, but I found it here too: http://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/mikerotundo "If you want to talk about Mike Rotundo's career you have to begin with The Destroyer. Born Dick Beyer, The Destroyer was a legendary masked wrestler, internationally known for his brutal rivalries with the likes of "Crippler" Ray Stevens, Giant Baba and Mil Máscaras. He was also a Syracuse University alumnus — the same college a 20-year-old Mike Rotundo was attending when the two men crossed paths. "The Destroyer spoke at one of our wrestling banquets," Rotundo recalled. "He had just returned from wrestling in Japan and he asked me if I ever thought of getting into wrestling. I told him I knew nothing about it." At this time in his life, Mike Rotundo had no interest in WWE. An incredible athlete, the Florida native was a standout in both amateur wrestling and football at his alma mater. He had spent his youth infatuated with these sports, but, with The Destroyer's urging, he began to watch WWE on television whenever he could. Impressed by young Superstars like Bob Backlund and Bruno Sammartino, Rotundo decided to give wrestling a shot. Immediately after graduating, Rotundo found himself in Germany being trained by The Destroyer in a rock-solid ring. After two weeks of intensive schooling, Rotundo was competing against young Americans and European veterans all across the country."

Depends on what the reasons were for Rotonda being let go/quitting each time, I suppose. If there was acrimony, it's a bit more curious. If it was just regular business, then it probably isn't an unusual thing. 1.) Mike got nuts on the road and went home. Barry freaked out in response and went home too. Mike came back. Barry didn't. 2.) WCW offered him a shit ton of money. To me the most interesting thing about Rotunda's career is how he got into wrestling.

"I can understand ideologues. To some degree I even understand the party line crowd, even though I find it abhorrent. But I will never understand those so obsessively committed to a single man that all criticism of him, no matter how sensible or severe, is shouted down or attacked as if it is innately heretical to question him." Dylan, on facebook. Sure his post before it was about drone warfare but we all know what he's really talking about here.

Yeah, so i need to see that goofy Darsow angle.

They just had him show up in one of the youtube videos talking to the prime time players as IRS.

I'm really in the same boat. Let me put it this way. I think the gimmick would have worked better if he changed his look. I think he's more enjoyable as a heel during this time because he didn't. At the time, he probably should have, though. Neither here nor there, I love the difference Tommy Rich having a ponytail made. It's also my Northern preconceived notions. I think Morton looks like a scummy dirtbag all the time and has a terrible look for a babyface. That's not a guy I'd want anywhere near anyone I know, let me tell you.

Morton just LOOKS like a heel. He's super sleazy.

The only thing that makes me wonder one way or another is that they did a Texas Tornado insert promo where he threatens Slaughter to stay in seclusion on the first Superstars post Summerslam. (It's here: http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x12jzo.../1#video=xa4xl3. you can wipe it if you want from the reply though). Given how Vince sets it up, maybe it was all part of the turn though. Last time I saw it, I thought they were setting up an aborted Kerry vs Slaughter program, but this time I'm less sure.

el hijo de gallo rojo

But if you have an issue with playing the bitch you should have an issue with it across the board. It seems strange to me that it's only an issue with main eventers or specifically Flair. I suppose everyone has their own set of expectations about how a world champion should wrestle and behave, but I kind of wonder how tailored wrestling is to the tastes of people who are bothered by theatrics. Roles, my friend, roles. Sometimes something is appropriate. Sometimes it's not. I think one of the major arguments against Flair is that he would often do things whether they were appropriate or not, as if his presence alone MADE them appropriate. A flip side to this might be just how impressive it is that maybe, just maybe, just being Ric Flair DID make them appropriate, or at least made them "work." But basically, it's okay for Heath Slater as comedic name enhancement talent putting over legends to do something that it's not okay for Punk as world champion to do. Likewise, maybe Slater should not be able to do something that Punk can do. I call this the Helms Chokeslam Principle, though it's not limited to offensive moves by any means.

Presumably the issue is that Blanchard wasn't the champ? Or maybe that people aren't touting Blanchard as greatest of all time? Or that people aren't touting Blanchard as Greatest of All Time for his role as champ?

I'm a bit disappointed you didn't photoshop page 20 into the mirror. backwards.

I want to do a pithy compare/contrast with this and your uncomfortable disdain of Kamala, but I can't be damned. Sorry, Parv. You deserve more effort than that.

Doubtful. Bock vs Wahoo is my biggest "I don't get it?" match of the AWA set where most everyone else praises it and I felt it was just ok really. Have you listened to the podcast where they watch it? If not, it may be informative for you.

So what are you saying he not then, John? The GOAT? Or more to the point, what are people saying that he is that you disargee with?

It is however, one reason I tend to care about things other than "great matches."

As for Bock, there's a difference between stiff and intense. That said, I don't think neither Wahoo vs Bock or Bock vs Hansen are as good as everyone else say. I'll probably have Bock vs Wahoo lower than anyone, though it's still barely cracking my top 50, I think.

Actually, I'll dial back and pretty much agree with this. It's a tool. Blood's a tool. Headdroppy offense is a tool. Legwork is a tool. Selling is a tool. Facial expressions are a tool. Jawing with the crowd is a tool. Wonky no-selling can be a tool. Stiffness is a tool. It's just not a tool I tend to care for relative to the other tools available. That's subjective. Objectively, it's a tool and like anything else, what really matters how it's used. It's just sure as hell not an end in and of itself. It's a means. Like any of the other tools listed. I think it's a terribly uninteresting tool.

I checked out a while ago.

It's never necessary. And it's a shortcut. And a pretty imagination-less one.

Verne Finishes. Is this a staple for most heel-driven promotions from the era?

Stiff chops suck. Wrestling is fake.