Matt D

And then when we go off and back up what we say with lots and lots of data you go.. "Oh, I see what you meant now even though I still disagree, but I am no longer going wtf, because I am better than those closed-minded HBK fans!" And then we shake hands and you go back to forcing people to watch Portland footage so that the 80s project can continue.

I meant when the point was initially made. You were aghast.

I'm ok with the "in your opinion" thing. You don't have to list that every time, absolutely. But your opinion therefore makes you an ass because you're not even willing to entertain someone else's opinion!

His run with Perfect was pretty much an unmitigated disaster. I like him more with the Beverly Brothers, but he does better with them against the Bushwhackers than against LOD.

This might be mean gene's finest moment. By the end of the segment, the fans were acutally really into it.

I don't really see how his career survived 98, except for through his friendship with Russo. It's the combination of going on TV decrying the Double J gimmick and then slipping back into it a short time later and then getting shit on by Austin who was happy to stun him a few times but refused to work with him. Those are two of the most damaging things I can think of this side of Mark Henry and Mae Young.

I hate Jarrett in 93 in Memphis. They were giving him the "I have superstar friends" and the "New Fabulous One" push and it was downright painful. He turns heel at the end of the year and instantly becomes more interesting.

What about Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller vs The Moondogs, USWA 01/17/92

I know we lack MSC footage in the early 90s, but there's not a memphis match that made tape better than Jarrett vs Shawn?

There's an 80s AWA comp you should buy. Go talk to Will.

I like how they set up the Power and Glory vs LOD feud here.

Henry does the small things so well. He knows exactly when to give and how much. He knows when to jaw with the fans, with the ref. He knows when to sell and when to shrug off. He knows when to grind down on an opponent and when to let up for a hope spot. And everything he does looks huge and impactful. He'll bump huge when he needs to. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone work big better than him.

Unsurprisingly given this write up, I love the Bossman vs Earthquake series, with the Royal Albert Hall match one of my absolute favorites of 91 WWF.

I call threads notes because... i'm not sure. i guess that's how we did things in the late 90s or something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaZLu6OAzmQ I thought this was actually a pretty good post-Rumble promo from him too.

The ONLY thing I liked about it was the look on Rock's face when he demanded it not end that way.

Hey, how many Bossman matches have you seen recently? Especially matches that aren't just PPVs and SNMEs and even CVs. I think this is one thing you're not entirely with us on too. So many big changes in traditional mindsets when it comes to WWF (and Crockett, but especially WWF) came with the releases/rereleases/easier availability of MSG/Boston Garden/Philly Spectrum/Toronto/Houston footage. That's what changed the mindset. Seeing a lot more house show matches without some of the usual WWF limitations. I know that doesn't help your specific argument, but I'm curious. You're talking form and I'm talking footage. Past that Rumble match, most of the higher end Bossman matches I can think of are either from televised house shows.

Like I said, past MAYBE the Steiners vs Money Inc in a Cage (quality of that match aside), I've never seen a Dibiase in WWF match pimped more online than Barbarian vs Bossman. As for the spurious Demolition remark, I am not going to invite headache upon myself, thank you very much.

Welcome to the Microscope Match of the Week. This note serves two purposes. I think for this week the second is more important than the first. The first is to discuss the Ron Garvin vs Big Bubba match from Starrcade 86. It's a contentious match on the board namely because Dylan touts it and Will completely and utterly decries it. I understand that not everyone has immediate access to the match so I hope at least we can have Will (or any other detractor) list what elements/specifics they think are faulty in the match and then someone will try to counter that argument. Or vice versa. That said, I have a feeling this week will not be the indication of the success or failure of this endeavor. The second is as a call for picks. The plan now is that I'll put up a new note every Sunday and we'll discuss one way or another for a week. I know I intend not to do my usual headache-inducing train of thought pbps but to pick out specific elements of the match that I think are interesting and discuss them, and I'd suggest people do the same. I don't have a lot of doubt that we can manage interesting conversation on non-conventional lines. When making a pick, I do have one suggestion: Pick something that people will have seen or will be able to see. No, we are not going to give out youtube links. This isn't going behind a password wall. People can find things on their own, but you will get significantly more discussion about your match if you select something either from the thousands of matches available online (it's easy to check first), from a PPV/TV Show that people have recently likely watched or that is getting a lot of attention, from something like an 80s set (or Yearbook) that a large number of people have purchased, or of a match that may or may not be available online but that most of us have seen (something like the Tully vs Magnum - I Quit match), though that last one might not be quite as interesting unless it's a particularly contentious match. Now, if this goes well over the first month or two, maybe we can get ahead on creating a list by 26 weeks, and a reasonable comp can be made and purchased for people who want to get in on the discussion for the season. Something like that. We'll see. For now, I'll take suggestions/picks in post order, though I have the liberty of shuffling things up if we have four Mid-South matches in a row, or something. I'm happy maintaining a list of upcoming matches and starting notes. In my mind, anything is game. Joshi. Lucha. Indy. WoS. 1950s black and white. You name it. Just remember: if people can't access it easily or if it's a 92 minute chore to sit through, there's a good chance they can't or won't discuss it. That's just common sense. Stack the deck in your favor.

I'm glad to start a note, and even be in charge of managing suggestions and an order that people get to pick matches for everyone to watch, etc, but there's a slight problem with this as a starting point. Well two. First is that PWO Microscope Match of the Week is a kind of lackluster name. More importantly though, presuming this is the Starrcade 86 Match, the thing doesn't fit the "easily accessible" criteria. It's not online. I can still start a note, but that'll sort of hinder rewatches.

Man, you love everything. You are a joy.

Where was he in 85?

I'll watch it too. We should have a match of the week club here! Like a book club. Where we all watch an easily accessible match and discuss it!

Jericho being out there so long was impressive. I know you can rest at times in the Rumble but still. Maybe he needs superior lung power for Fozzy.