WWE Network... It's Here

[Migs]

 

Will WWE eventually upload the ECW Arena shows that were released on commercial tape or are those owned by someone else? Shows like Double Tables, Big Ass Extreme Bash, etc.

Maybe, but probably not for a while. I don't recall any of those shows ever being on Classics on Demand. I don't even know how many of those tapes WWE owns. RF Video still sells a lot of those tapes (on DVD), so it makes me wonder who's in possession of the master tapes.

 

 

They showed at least November to Remember '95 on the network, and maybe Holiday Hell '95.

[fakeplastictrees]

WWE bought a private collection of Mid-Atlantic footage full article here:

http://www.norfolknavyflagship.com/sports/professional_wrestling/article_9acd0736-d08b-11e3-a5ea-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story

 

I know the man's daughter. Met her a long time ago at the beach through a mutual friend. One of my buddies went to Mania this year and she mentioned on facebook that her dad was doing something with WWE- this is pretty cool! Thanks for sharing mate.

[Petey]

 

 

Will WWE eventually upload the ECW Arena shows that were released on commercial tape or are those owned by someone else? Shows like Double Tables, Big Ass Extreme Bash, etc.

Maybe, but probably not for a while. I don't recall any of those shows ever being on Classics on Demand. I don't even know how many of those tapes WWE owns. RF Video still sells a lot of those tapes (on DVD), so it makes me wonder who's in possession of the master tapes.

 

 

They showed at least November to Remember '95 on the network, and maybe Holiday Hell '95.

 

That's good news! I had CoD for a while and don't recall them ever upping either of those. Gives me hope that those types of shows will eventually get upped.

[goc]

I remember reading somewhere a month ago that they wanted to eventually upload shows like that for ECW along with all the Saturday Night Main Events and Clash of the Champions so it might be coming in the not too distant future.

[flyonthewall2983]

The one show I'd love to see from that list of knock-offs-of-popular-current-cable-series that they sent out as a survey would be the stage/ring crew one. Following those guys as they deal with the logistics and long hours of creating the WWE experience feels like a good "Dirty Jobs" or "Deadliest Catch" type series.

 

What would be cool is if they had a multi-part series on what goes on behind the scenes from every technical perspective, including TV production, pyro, and obviously construction. Would especially be interesting if it was for WrestleMania, as those obviously get the most focus of any one show any given year.

[goc]

Was watching Great American Bash 88 and was amused at trendsetter Jim Ross talking about casual fans and Ric Flair: "Well he's recognized by great fans, casual fans, fans that are great loyal wrestling fans as the greatest World Champion of all time."

[Blehschmidt]

 

 

Another edit from the network. Clash VI cut out the Murdoch vs. Orton, Varsity Club vs. Road Warriors and Ranger Ross vs. Iron Sheik matches.

I wonder if it was an edit from the network or if the tape they have either doesn't have those matches or doesn't have them in acceptable quality. I forgot what event it was, but I know one of the WCW PPV's has a graphic on the screen about how certain parts of it are un-watchable due to the master tape quality.

 

 

I believe the PPV you are talking about is Great American Bash 1989. Thankfully, that is more complete than the commercial tape though. I found it strange about Clash VI, because the copy I had in the tape trading days was complete. The quality on the Network shown portion was flawless, especially compared to Clash V. Something is up for them to cut out the NWA Tag Title change. I can understand the other two maybe not being as important in their eyes.

 

 

I've had the commercial tape for Bash '89 since I was a kid, and haven't gotten around to watching it on the Network yet. What are the main differences?

[Bix]

Commercial tape clips the first few matches, removes all of the interviews, and unfortunately also gets rid of the amazing brawl all over the arena after the main event.

[flyonthewall2983]

What I think would be cool, is if WWE put up any damaged clips they had on YouTube, for free. Or better yet, seek out high-quality tapes from collectors if there are any.

[Matt D]

When they buy the TNA library, they should just put it up on youtube for free. That'd be sort of funny.

[BillThompson]

When they buy the TNA library, they should just put it up on youtube for free. That'd be sort of funny.

 

I know I take flack for it, but I can't wait for them to buy the TNA library, and the RoH library. I believe both will happen someday, probably sooner rather than later.

[Petey]

I'm fine with the ROH library. I own so many ROH DVD's from 2002-2008, there's a lot of stuff from ROH that's worth checking out. I don't care about the TNA library.

[Matt D]

I'd rather they buy CHIKARA to be honest. I'd love to watch that from beginning to end since there's long form storytelling and what not, even if the ring-work might not be what I want entirely.

[BillThompson]

I'd rather they buy CHIKARA to be honest. I'd love to watch that from beginning to end since there's long form storytelling and what not, even if the ring-work might not be what I want entirely.

 

I'd be down for that. I'm pretty much down for them buying all the libraries they can and making the Network into as much of a one stop shop for pro wrestling as it can be. Variety will be the key to the Network's success after all.

[artDDP]

I watched about an hour's worth of SummerSlam '89 the other day and the tape is pretty messed up during the Dusty Rhodes promo.

 

I've noticed some of the cards I've watched are direct copies of the original PPV telecasts and some look like the home video versions.

 

For example, Judgment Day 2001 (from right here in Sacramento, California!) is clearly the original telecast as it still has the intro with the RC Cola plug. SummerSlam '98, however, is the home video version with all the AC/DC music cut out and the backstage interviews are left in with the chyron "exclusive home video footage".

 

I thought WWE would just upload the masters after dubbing over any copyrighted music but it seems there's no consistency with which versions they post.

[cowboy hats]

what's the point of watching summerslam 98 if highway to hell isn't played every ninety seconds. what's the point of anything.

[C.S.]

I watched the Tag Teams episode of Countdown. It's probably old news by now, but that's not a show in my regular rotation. It was a pretty WWE-centric list - which I am okay with - except for the last and first picks (Freebirds and LOD, respectively). I was hoping teams that flopped in the WWE - like LOD and Steiners - wouldn't make the list at all. I honestly expecting #1 to be the Hart Foundation or something, just because they weren't #10-2. That snub surprises me. If this is a list of all-time great tag teams anywhere, I can understand LOD's placement. But other than Freebirds, this was a WWE list entirely - Rock 'N Sock, New Age Outlaws, etc. NWA purists will be driven crazy because there's no Midnight Express, Rock 'n Roll Express, etc. (but their imitators, The Rockers, are there - and I'm glad, because they're an underrated tag team that never really gets the credit it deserves).

 

The "Demolition was a ripoff of LOD" talking point comes up again, and I've never agreed with it. Yeah, they both wore paint. So what? To me, that's like saying Sid was a Hogan clone because they were both blond and had artificial muscles. Maybe the creative genesis of Demotion was the WWE deciding they wanted their own LOD (if that's what happened at all), but the end result ended up being very different IMO.

 

Usually, Jericho and Bryan can be counted on to embarrass themselves on these shows by coming across as assholes and/or idiots, but that was only mildly the case for Jericho on this episode and Bryan was fine for once. Overall, no one looked too bad this time around.

 

No point taking a list like this at all seriously - especially if it was voted on by "the WWE Universe" - but it can't seem to decide whether it's honoring all-time great tag teams or just WWE-only teams, and it does a pretty bad job at both. Still, if you can turn off your brain, it's a reasonably entertaining way to waste an hour - as all of these Countdowns are.

[goodhelmet]

what's the point of watching summerslam 98 if highway to hell isn't played every ninety seconds. what's the point of anything.

 

I am working on the yearbook for 1998 and the Home Video version also edits out Highway to Hell

 

You get your fill of the song in the RAWs leading up to the show.

[artDDP]

 

what's the point of watching summerslam 98 if highway to hell isn't played every ninety seconds. what's the point of anything.

 

I am working on the yearbook for 1998 and the Home Video version also edits out Highway to Hell

 

You get your fill of the song in the RAWs leading up to the show.

 

I know, I know; I just liked the "big card" feel the WWF created for this event with the months of hype and the music video productions only added to it. Without it it just seems like any other PPV card, at least to me.

[cowboy hats]

Yep, Clash of the Champions 7 is still one of my favorite wrestling shows of all-time.

 

About 2/3 through this and a few other notes:

 

- re: Coors Light, at one point Ross hit the double bonus of how he would love nothing more right now than a Coors Light and a slice of Dominos

- I can't believe a wrestler's name was The Terrorist

- I believe Norman The Lunatic hailed from 'state hospital'

- only slightly paraphrased Jim Ross: Norman and Teddy Long have something in common. They have no front teeth. Maybe that's how they communicate?

- can't second guess the decision to introduce brian pillman with videos of him at the gym

- someone mentioned the scott hall gator video, but it's worth repeating. It was Hall walking near gators, sometimes with a stick, cut with highlights of him getting a two count on a dude and executing a hip toss.

- jim cornette looked like a legit 14. so young.

- mike rotunda - former national punt, pass and kick semi-finalist!

[Loss]

The best part of the Brian Pillman video that is sadly lost with the network is that the original was done to Yello's "Oh Yeah".

[TravJ1979]

Originally signed on to post that I can't believe that Jim Cornette called Norman the Lunatic a child molester during his entrance at Clash X, but also was surprised that I liked the falls count anywhere match with Norman and Sullivan, at least until the stupid ending. Good brawling from Sullivan.

 

Luger promo on now. ALLOCADES~!

[shakla]

Not sure if it was edited for the network, but on the OB of the Scott "Gator" Hall vignette, "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" by Billy Ocean was playing.

[Kevin Ridge]

Vince repeatedly discussing current events (at the time in 94) and Savage trying to get through doing promos for USA original movies is becoming a guilty pleasure of mine.

[CaptCabana]

 

what's the point of watching summerslam 98 if highway to hell isn't played every ninety seconds. what's the point of anything.

 

I am working on the yearbook for 1998 and the Home Video version also edits out Highway to Hell

 

You get your fill of the song in the RAWs leading up to the show.

 

 

I'm just excited that the 1998 Yearbook is officially in motion.