WWE Network... It's Here

[iamthedoctor]

I want everything that doesn't make me dig through various external hard drives so if they flesh out 90s WCW up until Nitro, I'll send a hamper full of fine cheeses.

 

Theres alot of WCW they would have to put up then if theres Saturday Night, Main Event, Power Hour, Pro & Worldwide from the 90s.

[Matt D]

Some things Ive pondered while binging Mid Atlantic:

 

Its hard to look a Paul Jones and not see anything other than the geek manager.

 

The team of Jones and Monte is visually weird, with similar hair/mustaches. You almost think they could have packaged that, but I have no idea how. If it was 1988 WWF they could have been a heel Highway Patrol type team.

[sek69]

Bob Caudle continues to be my favorite announcer on these shows. I'm biased since he was one of the ones I grew up with, and I get how someone who grew up with Memphis could see him as a discount Lance Russell, but it's like watching wrestling with your Grandpa while he does his best to keep these beasts from destroying the studio during interviews.

[Matt D]

I'm totally befuddled how Jacques Goulet beat Dusty in the first round of the 81 US Title Tournament. It was absolutely hilarious when Crockett was interviewing McGee about Idol's figure four and ran out of time while McGee was trying to explain what part of the leg it affected on him because he was so short. The production value, in general, feels laughable, even relative to other territories in 81.

 

I heard a story lately that Jake got named "The snake" by Valiant on his way in and I don't think this footage bears that out, but we're missing stuff and I don't know how long Valiant was off TV during the transition between Handsome and Boogie-Woogie. At the first bit of footage, he's got the hat with the snake on it, and he's called that by Youngblood in October when they're showing the hype video for "man from new york city" valiant, which obviously lost the song.

[Ricky Jackson]

I think Mid Atlantic TV in 1981 comes off far more polished than WWF, WCCW and AWA and several other territories for sure. Actually, I think you could make the argument that overall--talent, in-ring, promos, business, TV--Mid Atlantic was the most well rounded territory going at the time

[Matt D]

It has a lot going for it but It feels much more botchy, production wise. Some of that may be WWE's music dubs, maybe. Maybe?

[Ricky Jackson]

Oh the dubs are awful. Come on Vince, forget about football and for the love of God open up the wallet and pay for the music rights!

 

Really good match between Piper and Jay Youngblood on the 10/17/81 show

[Matt D]

Oh the dubs are awful. Come on Vince, forget about football and for the love of God open up the wallet and pay for the music rights!

 

Really good match between Piper and Jay Youngblood on the 10/17/81 show

That's where I'm stuck because i can't just half watch it like I've been doing.

[sek69]

I certainly wasn't expecting to see Mr. Pogo show up and get a run as the Ninja. The announcers complete bafflement at him doing the green mist was amazing.

[Sean Liska]

I think Mid Atlantic TV in 1981 comes off far more polished than WWF, WCCW and AWA and several other territories for sure. Actually, I think you could make the argument that overall--talent, in-ring, promos, business, TV--Mid Atlantic was the most well rounded territory going at the time

I don't know, I've watched a ton of Mid-Atlantic TV since the release and it's fun, but I keep thinking about how Memphis at this time seemed 15 years ahead of everyone when it came to TV. Overall roster and house shows could be different.

[Ricky Jackson]

Oh for sure, Memphis was awesome and had the most enjoyable TV show. But I think Mid Atlantic had a deeper pool of full time talent and bigger business. It's close. Georgia is also in the conversation

[Zoo Enthusiast]

Oh for sure, Memphis was awesome and had the most enjoyable TV show. But I think Mid Atlantic had a deeper pool of full time talent and bigger business. It's close. Georgia is also in the conversation

I guess WWE is just going to have to dump a ton of Georgia on the network so we can settle this.

[sek69]

Is the Georgia footage in decent shape? I've never seen anything that didn't look like a 7th gen VHS transfer (even on offical WWE releases) which is odd considering they taped at the WTBS studios and Ted Turner is famous for being obsessed with preservation.

[Ricky Jackson]

Some is in rough shape but there is a bunch out there in good quality. KrisZ's YouTube channel has a ton

[Sean Liska]

What I've seen from Georgia seems like better TV than this Mid-Atlantic. But I've seen old school Carolinas fans say the really good period of TV was late 70s taping in Raleigh which was less cramped, George Scott booking, and Flair still around regularly. That stuff sounds amazing.

[Ricky Jackson]

Yeah, my main complaint about Mid Atlantic after going through a half dozen episodes is that everybody seems to be feuding with everybody and nothing stands out. Sgt. Slaughter's progress from debuting, quickly winning the US title, and then recruiting Jim Nelson and doing the full drill sargeant routine on him is a ton of fun though

[Sean Liska]

Yeah, my main complaint about Mid Atlantic after going through a half dozen episodes is that everybody seems to be feuding with everybody and nothing stands out. Sgt. Slaughter's progress from debuting, quickly winning the US title, and then recruiting Jim Nelson and doing the full drill sargeant routine on him is a ton of fun though

 

It sounds like one problem is us not getting to see the local promos that gave more clarity to what's going on. Like, we see a segment with Sandy Scott saying there will be a cage match between Slaughter/Kernodle-Steamboat/Youngblood, but the real hype for the match must have just been in local promos that aren't here. Like, wasn't there a stip that Stemaboat and Youngblood would have to split up if they lost? We don't get that.

 

Georgia TV has the advantage that it was on TBS so we get to see everything. Memphis WMC footage is ideal, but often the Louisville or Evansville feeds would have cards close enough to the MSC show to get a feel for what's going on. Territories like Crockett and New York had more general TV since they were running so many different shows. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken here.

[Matt D]

It feels like we're a little lacking on results to fill in the gaps too.

[iamthedoctor]

Some is in rough shape but there is a bunch out there in good quality. KrisZ's YouTube channel has a ton

 

Would that be because Georgia were mailing out episodes to customers?

 

Or am I thinking of Mid South?

[khawk20]

 

Like, wasn't there a stip that Steamboat and Youngblood would have to split up if they lost? We don't get that.

 

 

 

 

That stip was put in at the contract signing between the two teams.

[shoe]

In regards to Georgia they recently showed footage of someone from Georgia on the network , and the clip looked great.

[shoe]

Yeah, my main complaint about Mid Atlantic after going through a half dozen episodes is that everybody seems to be feuding with everybody and nothing stands out. Sgt. Slaughter's progress from debuting, quickly winning the US title, and then recruiting Jim Nelson and doing the full drill sargeant routine on him is a ton of fun though

Looking at the results it seems they were finishing up programs and starting new ones around this time.

[Bix]

Based on what they've shown, WWE's master Georgia footage starts in 1983.

[iamthedoctor]

That 25th anniversary show was really disapointing. I mean they get to the top 10 moments ever and Roman Reigns declaring it his yard deserves a top 5 slot?

 

Seriously out of 25 years of history?

[Stiva]

Some 1985 World Class seems to getting added today. I haven't been keeping track so I don't know if it's the beginning of a new drop, or just filling in gaps on a previous one.