Between the Sheets #34 (March 8-14, 2004) (Featuring Dylan Hales)

[KrisZ]

 

Kris & David are joined by Dylan Hales (Wrestling Culture) to discuss the week that was March 8-14, 2004. We discuss Brock Lesnar quitting the WWE and how that affected Wrestlemania XX which we also talk about the major happenings before the show and the show proper. We delve into the Japanese wrestling scene and how great ZERO-ONE was as well as Ring of Honor dealing with the departure of Rob Feinstein. We then close the show out with TNA wackiness which shouldn’t surprise anyone. A tremendous show!!!!!!!!!!

 

Timestamps:

00:00 WWE
1:13:50 Int’l: AJPW, NJPW, Noah, Zero-One, U-Style, AJW, Neo, K-1, UK, & CMLL
2:02:23 Other USA: Potpourri, ROH, & TNA

 

http://placetobenation.com/between-the-sheets-34-march-8-14-2004-with-dylan-hales/

[Beast]

Now that we've broken the 21st century seal, June 21-27 has gotta be 2007. 9 years later and with all the craziness of that week, would be really interesting to hear some perspective.

[InYourCase]

Just for clarification, Kobashi wrestled Akiyama at the Dome in July 2004. I think it's better than their December 2000 match. The Akiyama match is a step below the Takayama defense, which you guys discussed, and the Misawa title win from 3/1/03, but those would be the best three matches from his title reign imo

[InYourCase]

Loved the show. I have the ROH discussion to listen to tomorrow but I really enjoyed listening to this show.

[soup23]

Really cool moment in time show. I thought it was poignant that Bix said this was the last time most of us were watching "all of the promotions in Japan." That really resonated with me as a kernel of truth and someone that was hooked on NOAH, ROH and IWA-MS at the time. I remember lurking on DVDVR and hearing about the T2P guys and seeing the U Style stuff and just wondering when my lowly college budget was going to fit buying tapes from a Pennsylvania tape dealer.

[BigBadMick]

Just getting through the WWE stuff now. While I've no intention of defending 2003 Raw, I disagree with Dylan about 2004. Perhaps that pre-Mania episode was the exception, because there were loads of lengthy matches throughout the year. Two HBK-Benoit matches, an Edge-Orton one, some 6 man tags with Evolution, the hour long Benoit-HHH immediately spring to mind.

 

Not all great matches, but I've a lot of fond memories from that time.

[WrestlingPower]

Really enjoyed the Zero-One discussion. I wouldn't mind hearing an Exile on that promotion. Zero-One had an odd appeal for me too. It always seemed like a very easy watch but at the same time I was never sure why. Maybe it was the variety. It's not like you were ever going to get a bunch of ****+ classic matches or anything. You had a Battlartsy type style for some guys, but doing a more pro style version of it that didn't have the turnoffs for me of a shoot style group. You had your juniors high flying stuff such as the tags that Hidaka & Fujita did with Super Crazy, etc. Those were really fun matches, better versions of the ROH scramble stuff, where it's largely junk food that might be the best, most fun stuff on a show but makes no impression whatsoever in the grand scheme of things. You had your Corino booked indy guys trying to make a career for themselves like when Joe went in the early days and then Spanky had some success there. As mentioned the early days were totally drawing fans due to following Hashimoto's career. Later it was where you'd go to see what Otani & Tanaka were still up to. But overall it just seemed kind of colorless, like you had all these above average or very good workers, but all were somewhat bland doing a style that didn't really have the highs & lows of the other groups.

 

Had a good laugh over the Momoe talk. Maybe I was totally oblivious & naïve to it at the time going to shows & seeing her live, including her retirement show, but I can totally see it in hindsight that could very well have been the way some folks reacted. Our group just saw her as a very entertaining wrestler who had endless energy in doing her fast paced style & fighting back from the punishment. The heat for her comebacks was always like a throwback to the AJW prime years. I am certainly glad I wasn't in tune with the subtexts at the time or I might have second guessed my fandom of her.

[bucky]

The line about Kendo Kashin having "that weird gimmick where he fucking sucked" had me howling.

[InYourCase]

100% am down to listen to an Exile on Zero-One. The Hashimoto/Corino/early era stuff fascinates me, it's just hard to find footage and information on the company from that time period.

[Parties]

The outro music selections are getting better every week. Brilliant.

[Eegah]

Another great show. Dylan uncomfortably trying to describe Special K was great

[Bix]

The outro music selections are getting better every week. Brilliant.

 

Thanks.

 

This week I was stumped until I wasn't and couldn't believe I didn't think of it sooner.

[ZThomas]

This was the time period,I got exposed to Puroresu and the indies thru the high speed internet

NOAH was amazing during this time it was my second favorite promotion outside ROH.

Great show I cant wait for an Exile on Zero-One or even more discussions on this era of NOAH, they are like the TNA of Japan but the accually did good business for a period

[Bierschwale]

Just getting through the WWE stuff now. While I've no intention of defending 2003 Raw, I disagree with Dylan about 2004. Perhaps that pre-Mania episode was the exception, because there were loads of lengthy matches throughout the year. Two HBK-Benoit matches, an Edge-Orton one, some 6 man tags with Evolution, the hour long Benoit-HHH immediately spring to mind.

 

RAW in '04 certainly had its fair share of moments. The Benoit/Edge tag title win in Calgary the night after Backlash has absurd heat and is a pretty damned good match at that.