Stiva

I've just cancelled my subscription for the network (not out of protest or anything, I'm just in a position where I need to save some money) and it gives you reasons to click as to why you're cancelling. That's normal enough but when you click each one, it offers a reason for you to stay. So, one of them is "I can't find anything I like" to which it says something like "Do you know you can use our Collections feature?" etc which is fair enough but under "I don't enjoy the programming" (or similar), it says "WWE Network has drama, reality, comedy and family shows. Something for everyone! and under "I don't have the money" it says "Did you know: One year of WWE Network costs less than one month of cable?!" Like, yeah, I know all of those things but sorry that 'Holy Foley' isn't quite as engrossing as 'The Americans' Not a big deal and I understand why it's there (to try and valiantly tempt people back in, I guess) but Vince's "Why you watching Richard Pryor, we've got Santino!" line to Freddie Prinze Jr came to mind and made me laugh. Netflix? Stranger Things? Pah, there's some new episodes of Swerved to binge watch!

I'm checking these out now. I thought we got all the ECW we were going to get but I'm glad to be wrong. Yeah, I figured they'd just plough on with Smackdown uploads to mirror the mid-2000s Raws but to get late 80s NWA and now these early ECW shows is a pleasant surprise.

Man, Miz' push to the top came 4 years too early. If they were strapping the rocket to him now, he'd be incredible.

I can sort of see the Ziggler as challenger logic as a way for Ambrose to get a good solid first win as champ on Smackdown before moving to Styles/Cena but it happening at Summerslam is the weird bit.

Putrid DX reunion aside, I remember the ECW stuff around the time being really weird with Foley promos, Cena/Sabu matches and Flair trying to lose all the blood in his body wherever possible.

I predict that Smackdown, like it always did, will somehow make use of a depleted roster and still be the better show. Hyped to see long American Alpha/Uso matches

I could also see this and i'd be interested because there's one Uso who I think could be a good singles worker but I can't remember which one it is.

I actually think this kind of interview, in the intention that they were striving for, could work in this day and age. The idea of humanising a gimmick in an age where everyone knows the man behind it, seems like something you would try at least once. You can envision a well thought of worker getting a flamboyant gimmick and then, after a year, cutting a similar set of interviews as this where you get a good section of the crowd to get behind the "rejection" of the gimmick. It's interesting to see how something like a sit down interview has vastly different goals in 1997 than they do in 2016, but, fully understandable.

I can't remember who said it but the greatest quote about WWE TV I've ever heard is that it turned from a wrestling show to a show ABOUT someone running a wrestling show post Austin-McMahon

Why take the risk of disappointment in real sports when WWE can script the disappointment for you?

It's been a while since they've had someone put the MITB briefcase on the line too (I think). It would be fitting for Jericho to win it, brag on and on and then lose it when his ego gets the better of him.

These reviews are great and are making me want to dig out Chris Daniels' matches from this time as he's never been a guy I've been high on but if he's having good sub 10 minute tv matches here, thats my jam.

I've always had a soft spot for Cody and I think he's a tremendous tag worker; the issue is that he was so married to Stardust and it was never, ever, getting over. I'd love a Cody Rhodes southern indie run since I do believe he's got a natural talent for pro wrestling, it's just he was always stuck on the WWE presentation side of things.I hope we see him against Jimmy Rave

Marc Mero/Johnny Badd seems to apply here. Went from being a good,over hand in WCW to looking completely out of sorts in WWF

I remember those Shark Boy and New Jack skits becoming funnier and funnier until they dropped it.

Awesome! Eric Young became a incredibly consistent worker in these last few years so I'm all for the few decent workers that TNA had migrating to NXT

I did. And I did adress why. Familiar with the AWA stuff and the Hennig feud in Portland. Basically : not seen enough for him to go higher. I'll be honest, I've heard so much hardcore pimping of Buddy Rose Portland years, that I have a hard time believing it can live up to such a hype at this point. I'll only know if/when I'll check it out. Yep. I had Austin at #61. Really enjoyed his entire WCW stint, it's actually his WWF Attitude Era years that hurt him. Basically, nothing stands out after his injury except the Foley matches (and the Taker SummerSlam match), then he has ons of bad stuff (like mostly everybody else) until he comes back and has maybe his best year ever in 2001. I just need to see his rookie USWA feud against Chris Adams. I basically squeezed Adams on my list of the strength of it. Austin is green as hell during it but you can see what he could potentially be.

Yeah, I follow a lot of these guys too and this is extremely silly, slapdash fun but it is a real love letter to pro wrestling. Gregg Miller missed his calling as a foul-mouthed heel GM and Gerstmann could easily be a sketch troupe performer with his Dr. Tracksway transformation

I'm realising that a lot of my 100 is going to place in the actual 100 and I'm very annoyed at the placing. Since I last checked I've lost: Owen Hart - 61 Bill Dundee - 49 Jim Breaks - 34 Greg Valentine - 57 Dick Murdoch - 24 Though this is tempered by knowing Steve Grey is finishing top 50

Wouldn't surprise me if it was Bobby Eaton

Surprised Sean Waltman hasn't dropped yet. I hope he cracks Top 100.

HHH 12th best of all time, god damn. He truly is a master worker if he's convinced someone he's that good.

Oh god, someone put HHH at 1, didn't they?

Aww, Butch and Masami down. I had Butch around 40 so was cool to see a higher voter, he fucking ruled.

Man, a lot of guys I really like have dropped recently. Hardy, Henry, Necro and Smothers off the belt. I hope 100 is someone fittingly crazy.