Your Favourite Episode of Wrestling Television

[JaymeFuture]

So, for this week's podcast, we're looking to talk about classic episodes of wrestling television, and would like your suggestions for your personal favourite individual episode of wrestling TV you've ever seen.

It can be from any company at any point in time, but we're looking for your pick for the particular episode, what you thought made it great as an entire show, and why it stands out to you so much over all the others. Whether it's great matches, great angles, a dynamic energy or personal nostalgia, what makes it your favourite?

As always, the best contributions will be read and discussed on the show, and you'll be credited accordingly - so what's your pick?

 

EDIT - Our show on Favourite Episodes of Wrestling Television, featuring many of your contributions is now online and available to listen to at the following link: http://squaredcirclegazette.podbean.com/mf/web/rvynm6/SCG_Radio_83_-_Favourite_Wrestling_TV_Episodes.mp3

[joeg]

First one to come to mind is the episode of Mid South with the Dibiase Murdoch Flair angle.

 

Recently, Ultimate Lucha for Lucha Underground was really awesome.

 

There has to be some specific episode AJPW TV, NOAH Colleseo, World Class, early Toryumon, ECW Hardcore TV, Mid South, Continental, etc, but I just cant think of any off the top of my head. Those were all shows I binge watched Breaking Bad/Wire style at some point.

[TravJ1979]

10-19-85 Memphis.

[El-P]

WCW Nitro, the nWo wrecking havoc backstage at Disney.

[PeteF3]

Austin challenging Vince and giving him a title shot on Raw. From a drama standpoint that made you want to see where this was going next, sustaining itself for an entire show, it's hard to beat. It loses a bit in retrospect because a.) the idea of Vince wrestling was completely mindblowing at the time, not so much now, and b.) while you knew this wasn't going to climax with a straight-up match, the ending with Dude Love didn't make a great deal of sense then or now. Still, for an hour and 57 minutes it was brilliantly produced television--from the "is this really going to happen?" vibe after Austin issues his challenge, to Vince being egged on by Patterson and Brisco, to Vince finally accepting, to Ross flipping his shit and selling the angle terrifically as a disaster in the making, to the stalling at the end with Vince's "warmups," Shane trying to stop the match, and Vince forcing Austin to tie his hand behind his back. A perfect blend of Russoian Crash TV with old-school territory bullshit.

 

It's hard to imagine a more *important* episode of Raw either, seeing as it broke Nitro's winning streak when just a few months earlier it seemed like such a thing would never happen again. It also came at the best possible time for the WWF, as Nitro immediately went through its annual 4 weeks of being moved around/pre-empted by the NBA playoffs, allowing the WWF to build momentum off this show unopposed for a month.

 

Other contenders: the episode that made the early run of Raw into a must-watch show, at least for a little while--the double-shot shock booking of the Kid pinning Razor Ramon *and* Marty Jannetty making a surprise return to challenge for and win the IC title from Shawn Michaels. The Raw from the night after Revenge of the 'Taker with Austin challenging Bret Hart to a street fight, crippling him with a chair, and then hijacking the ambulance to do more damage, then taking it a step *further* by ending with the return of Brian Pillman to attack Austin. The backstage attack on Nitro that El-P mentioned, with WCW doing the ballsy move of deliberately sabotaging its own show with shitty make-up matches like Giant vs. Randy Savage turning into Giant vs. Greg Valentine, just to get over how much chaos the NWO had created and trying to make the fallout as realistic as possible instead of contrived booking involving a "surprise" main event.

 

Looking at less overbooked/soap opera-ish episodes, various Crockett matches that took up an entire hour of syndie TV: Flair-Windham for the NWA title being the most notable, but also terrific matches between Ronnie Garvin & Tully Blanchard, and the Rock 'n Roll Express debuting in the company by winning the tag titles from the Russians.

 

I also want to give a shout-out to the 2/7/87 episode of Superstars. You don't normally think of syndicated WWF shows as bastions of great individual episodes of TV, but on one show you have the official announcement of the site of Wrestlemania 3, the official heel turn of Andre the Giant on Piper's Pit, Danny Davis fucking over the British Bulldogs to give the tag titles to the Hart Foundation, and even the in-ring debut of Outback Jack. I doubt there was any episode of any weekly WWF show more loaded with major developments than that one until the aforementioned Kid/Jannetty Raw.

[PeteF3]

10-19-85 Memphis.

 

I take it this is the Bill Dundee heel turn ep, with a tag team split, an impromptu Southern title change, Lawler losing out on a chance to wrestle Ric Flair, and Lawler hijacking another shot at Dundee by threatening to trash his car with a baseball bat. Yes, this is definitely up there.

[Mad Dog]

The Raw episode where the 1-2-3 Kid beat Razor Ramon and Marty Jannetty returned and then won the IC Title later in the show. Still one of the best episodes of Raw ever.

[Strummer]

The 6/12/97 episode of Hardcore TV. Dreamer finally beats Raven and Lawler debuts in ECW. Watched it on tape that whole summer and had it on tape till about the middle of last decade. The pinnacle of ECW TV IMO

[peachchaos]

Another great thing about the 6/12/97 episode of ECW Hardcore TV is how the matches flow right into each other like songs on a Grateful Dead set. ECW did that a lot but this episode is probably the best example. The whole episode is one big run-on sentence that somehow culminates in Taz winning the TV Title.

[Migs]

ECW 8/30/94 has the NWA tournament, Douglas throwing down the belt, all of the changeover - AND the Dreamer-Sandman 10 cane lashes "Please sir, may I have another" angle. It's a really defining hour.

[joeg]

Which Hardcore TV episode did the who cigarette in the eye angle take place?

[Johnny Sorrow]

I love the Worldwide that started with a clip of Magnum getting splashed from the top rope by Kamala, had Paul Jones getting a delivery of a Dog Collar from Jimmy Valiant via a little long haired kid, Nikita killing David Crockett with a sickle, and then ending with Flair running into the ring while Nikita was beating up a loser, to avenge David. Fucking ruled.

[MikeCampbell]

The 12/19/11 RAW, following the TLC PPV.

 

One of the better RAW openings in recent years, with a promo from CM Punk to celebrate his win, and then bringing out Zack Ryder and Daniel Bryan, who had also won titles the night before, and setting up a main event of the three champions against The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and Alberto Del Rio. It happens to take place in Philly, so the crowd was already hot just for Bryan, Punk, and Ryder all being champions, and they keep it up for that main event.

[PhilTLL]

 

Looking at less overbooked/soap opera-ish episodes, various Crockett matches that took up an entire hour of syndie TV: Flair-Windham for the NWA title being the most notable, but also terrific matches between Ronnie Garvin & Tully Blanchard, and the Rock 'n Roll Express debuting in the company by winning the tag titles from the Russians.

 

And of course the Flair/Garvin Detroit match.

[grapplin' apple]

I unfortunately don't have exact dates on these, but I really enjoyed:

 

The episode of Memphis with the Bill and Buddy show.

 

The episode of Nitro where Nash and Hall attacked almost the entire roster and Nash speared Rey into the trailer.

[peachchaos]

I'm going through the 1979 season of Memphis TV and there have been a few gems. This one in particular just kept getting better and better until it closed with something completely out of nowhere. A few weeks after the Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl, Sonny King's Army lead by Prvt. Danny David aligns with The Blonde Bombers and we basically have a New World Order on our hands. We get the first appearance of the heel cake celebration, a Memphis classic, a great beatdown of Dundee, climaxing in Dundee and Lawler going to Jackie Fargo's house to ask for help.

 

6/30/79 - 49 mins
Jerry Bryant & Koko Ware v Larry Latham & Wayne Ferris - before the match Danny Davis brings a cake out to the desk. He's recruited the Waynes and Latham & Ferris. In appreciation, Sonny King has sent him a cake and promoted him from Pvt. to Sgt. Danny proceeds to pass out cake to all his men. With each passing moment Lance Russell becomes more and more exasperated. Finally, Lance rings the bell to break up the party and start the referee counting.
Wayne Ferris, Larry Latham & Danny Davis interview - Wayne decides he's going to be the new lead commentator. He even introduces the Waynes v Gilberts from MSC.
VTR: Tommy & Eddie Gilbert v Buddy & Ken Wayne - Ferris continues to talk over this footage
Tommy & Eddie Gilbert interview
Ken Wayne v Johnny Star - Wayne Ferris continues on commentary. Star ends up fighting off both Waynes.
Bill Dundee interview - Bill chases Wayne Ferris off with a bar stool. Wayne Ferris comes back and challenges Dundee to face him in the ring.
Bill Dundee v Wayne Ferris - Immediately turns into three on one with Larry Latham & Danny Davis. Ferris hammers Dundee repeatedly with Davis' army helmet. Meanwhile, the Waynes and Pete Austin hold the studio door closed so nobody can rescue the Superstar.
Lance runs down Monday's card
VTR: Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee interview Jackie Fargo. They then put still photos of Jackie Fargo to disco music.

[peachchaos]

Another great episode was 7/14/79, with the debut of the Fabulous Freebirds and The Hulk.

 

7/14/79 - 1 hr
Lance & Dave open the show (joined in progress)
Wayne Ferris & Larry Latham v Rick Morton & Dallas Montgomery
VTR: Wayne Ferris, Larry Latham & Pete Austin v Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee & Jackie Fargo - manager Danny Davis pours a liquid into Jackie Fargo's eyes binding him.
VTR: Jackie Fargo hospital interview - Fargo's eyes are bandaged
The Fabulous Freebirds interview - Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes give their debut interview in Memphis. Gordy has a towel over Hayes head and he'll show his face later in the show.
Pat Hutchenson & Koko Ware v Pete Austin & Ron Bass
Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee interview - Jerry has a perm. That is all.
Ron Bass & Pete Austin v Eddie Boulder & Dallas Montgomery - Ron Bass takes liberties with rookie Eddie Boulder
VTR: Terry the Hulk Boulder video
Eddie Boulder interview - Eddie introduces the video of his "brother" and says brother Terry is coming.
Lance runs down Monday's card.
The Fabulous Freebirds interview - Terry Gordy takes the towel off Michael Hayes head.
Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes v Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee

[Migs]

 

 

Looking at less overbooked/soap opera-ish episodes, various Crockett matches that took up an entire hour of syndie TV: Flair-Windham for the NWA title being the most notable, but also terrific matches between Ronnie Garvin & Tully Blanchard, and the Rock 'n Roll Express debuting in the company by winning the tag titles from the Russians.

 

And of course the Flair/Garvin Detroit match.

 

 

The Midnights-Fantastics match (Fantastics' debut) on Pro and the US title change on Worldwide are both epic.

[MikeF]

Memphis 8/14/82 (Flair's only appearance on Memphis TV. Great angle w/Lawler.)

[MikeF]

The empty arena match show from Memphis should be included, but there was an episode shortly after where Funk goes apeshit in the studio because Lawler isn't there that was great as well.

[Blazer]

Austin challenging Vince and giving him a title shot on Raw. From a drama standpoint that made you want to see where this was going next, sustaining itself for an entire show, it's hard to beat. It loses a bit in retrospect because a.) the idea of Vince wrestling was completely mindblowing at the time, not so much now, and b.) while you knew this wasn't going to climax with a straight-up match, the ending with Dude Love didn't make a great deal of sense then or now. Still, for an hour and 57 minutes it was brilliantly produced television--from the "is this really going to happen?" vibe after Austin issues his challenge, to Vince being egged on by Patterson and Brisco, to Vince finally accepting, to Ross flipping his shit and selling the angle terrifically as a disaster in the making, to the stalling at the end with Vince's "warmups," Shane trying to stop the match, and Vince forcing Austin to tie his hand behind his back. A perfect blend of Russoian Crash TV with old-school territory bullshit.

 

It's hard to imagine a more *important* episode of Raw either, seeing as it broke Nitro's winning streak when just a few months earlier it seemed like such a thing would never happen again. It also came at the best possible time for the WWF, as Nitro immediately went through its annual 4 weeks of being moved around/pre-empted by the NBA playoffs, allowing the WWF to build momentum off this show unopposed for a month.

 

Other contenders: the episode that made the early run of Raw into a must-watch show, at least for a little while--the double-shot shock booking of the Kid pinning Razor Ramon *and* Marty Jannetty making a surprise return to challenge for and win the IC title from Shawn Michaels. The Raw from the night after Revenge of the 'Taker with Austin challenging Bret Hart to a street fight, crippling him with a chair, and then hijacking the ambulance to do more damage, then taking it a step *further* by ending with the return of Brian Pillman to attack Austin. The backstage attack on Nitro that El-P mentioned, with WCW doing the ballsy move of deliberately sabotaging its own show with shitty make-up matches like Giant vs. Randy Savage turning into Giant vs. Greg Valentine, just to get over how much chaos the NWO had created and trying to make the fallout as realistic as possible instead of contrived booking involving a "surprise" main event.

 

Looking at less overbooked/soap opera-ish episodes, various Crockett matches that took up an entire hour of syndie TV: Flair-Windham for the NWA title being the most notable, but also terrific matches between Ronnie Garvin & Tully Blanchard, and the Rock 'n Roll Express debuting in the company by winning the tag titles from the Russians.

 

I also want to give a shout-out to the 2/7/87 episode of Superstars. You don't normally think of syndicated WWF shows as bastions of great individual episodes of TV, but on one show you have the official announcement of the site of Wrestlemania 3, the official heel turn of Andre the Giant on Piper's Pit, Danny Davis fucking over the British Bulldogs to give the tag titles to the Hart Foundation, and even the in-ring debut of Outback Jack. I doubt there was any episode of any weekly WWF show more loaded with major developments than that one until the aforementioned Kid/Jannetty Raw.

 

 

You absolutely nailed it. You and I probably grew up in the same era. The only thing I could add to this, possibly, is the Nov '86 UWF show where all three belts changed hands and ended with a cage match. Probably overbooked, but epic nonetheless.

[Al]

The 2/7/2000 episode of Raw ending in the ten man tag comes to mind, though I haven't seen it since the original airing.

 

I think it would be a worthy suggestion to glance at whether subsequent tv suffered or thrived after a particularly hot show. What was the aftermath?

[Hegs]

There was an episode of JCP Worldwide in 1986 that had MX v RR,a Nikita Magnum best of 7 and Flair v Dusty. Not sure of the date but that's hard to top.

[Tim Cooke]

There was an episode of JCP Worldwide in 1986 that had MX v RR,a Nikita Magnum best of 7 and Flair v Dusty. Not sure of the date but that's hard to top.

September 20, 1986

[PeteF3]

I actually really hate that UWF triple-title-change episode. The Gordy forfeiture is just so weird and nonsensical that I don't even care what the real story is anymore, whether it was a legit injury or Watts trying to put the Freebirds in their place or what. Having Gang wrestle another match later on just makes things worse. And Leroy Brown and Bill Irwin are like the ultimate who-gives-a-fuck tag champions.