Comments that don't warrant a thread - Part 4

[strobogo]

I still believe the Screwjob was half a work at least to the point that all the office, commentators, crew knew more or less what was going to go down. The shit JR says at the start of the show and before the match itself is smacking the audience in the face with a board telling them what's about to go down. Camera crew and production crew were in place to capture everything from every angle. I don't believe Bret was in on it (but he did suspect it as shown in WWS, but no way could he have not revealed that over the past 25+ years with the way he talks about everything), but I do believe all the McMahon inner circle, including Dunn and his crew, knew what was about to go down.

[Laz]

I love going through the r/JimCornette sub and trolling on folks that willfully ignore how stupid so many of their arguments are. I don't like AEW, I don't care much for WWE, but it's fun exposing their biases.

[sek69]

On 10/27/2024 at 6:21 AM, strobogo said:

I still believe the Screwjob was half a work at least to the point that all the office, commentators, crew knew more or less what was going to go down. The shit JR says at the start of the show and before the match itself is smacking the audience in the face with a board telling them what's about to go down. Camera crew and production crew were in place to capture everything from every angle. I don't believe Bret was in on it (but he did suspect it as shown in WWS, but no way could he have not revealed that over the past 25+ years with the way he talks about everything), but I do believe all the McMahon inner circle, including Dunn and his crew, knew what was about to go down.

I agree. I'm sure only the inner circle along with HBK/HHH knew all the details but the rest of the crew had to be smartened up to at least some level. It was really only a shoot in terms of how Wendi Richter being shoot pinned by Moolah was: everyone knew was was about to happen except for the victim

[sek69]

By the way, does anyone think GCW is working with WWE? The opening match on GCW's halloween show had the women doing Undertaker and Stone cold cosplays complete with their theme music.  Today's show had Kurt Angle an Mick Foley (who did an autograph signing earlier in the day) do a skit to open things up, and later on Ricky Starks showed up to cut a promo very much shitting on AEW without naming them (not proof they are working with WWE of course but you know WWE wasn't mad about it).

I just find it funny considering how much they very much strive for the "gritty modern day ECW who tells the big companies to GFY" may secretly be on the payroll with the 'E like the actual ECW was.

[El-P]

On 11/24/2024 at 6:46 AM, sek69 said:

I just find it funny considering how much they very much strive for the "gritty modern day ECW who tells the big companies to GFY" may secretly be on the payroll with the 'E like the actual ECW was.

Not only that, but you had Lauderdale whining about AEW booking the Hammerstein "too close" from his own show and how they could have booked it at any time. That's ignoring it's not just for a show but for ROH "flagship" (whatever that means, although there is some hope it might be a jumpstart for some kind of TV deal this time around) show. And really, now Lauderdale ? GCW booked the Hammerstein Ballroom a few years back at the peak of GCW's hype, there was talk about how it could be like the 3rd company in the country at the time, and guess what, they delivered a shit show. And it was never the same after that point. 

As far as the Ricky Starks promo, it's funny on two aspects. First, the GCW date had to be approved by AEW (he also was at Full Gear backstage, not that it means anything). Second and quite funny to me, it's the *same fucking promo* he was cutting every two months on AEW TV for the last year he was appearing there. "I'm a generational talent, booo I'm not being given the respect booo". 

But yeah, the thing is now, WWE is the friend of the indies you see. *wink wink nudge nudge*. 

And the comparison with the original ECW is indeed fitting. Speaking of which also, that NXT at "ECW" Arena was quite something. Way to pay hommage to the freak-show outlaw promotion when you're a billion dollar conglomerate working with the Saudi government for a few millions a show and shit. Totally the spirit of the original. I'm guessing most of the people currently watching NXT would be horrified by the actual ECW product of the time. I mean, this is where you chanted "She's a crack whore !" at Francine, not a place where you carried "I hope both wrestlers have fun" cringe sign...

[sek69]

Watching the Bloodsport show yesterday and it was wild to me to see wrestlers from the top 3 US companies on one show.

Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne, and Karmen Petrovic from NXT

Marina Shafir (accompanied by Moxley), MVP, and Mike Bailey (who is rumored to have just signed) from AEW

Josh Alexander, Masha Slamovich, Jody Threat,  and Lei Ying Lee (the former Xia Li) from TNA

As someone who came of age in an era where promotions never acknowledged the existence of others, it was blowing my mind.

[KinchStalker]

RIP Mighty Inoue.

[tlk23]

I always thought Wrestlemania 9 got a bad rap. Not great, but Steiners vs. Headshrinkers is the best match on the show. HBK vs. Tatanka is good for 18 minutes with a countout finish. Bret and Yoko is perfectly fine for the nine minutes that it was. Lots of other stuff that gets shit on, but it could have been so much better.

Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan - This is where you do it. Keep Flair around past the Rumble and Hogan goes over.
Bret Hart vs. Mr. Perfect - This or the previous match is the main event. Have the great match that they always had.
Randy Savage vs. Yokozuna - Savage is greatly underutilized after the 92 Survivor Series. He should have had a big match on every PPV. Matches vs. Shawn, Bret, Lex, ect. They really elevated Yoko in about 4-5 months. I keep his momentum going here.
Doink vs. Undertaker - A great dynamic on different ends of the spectrum.
Steiners vs. Money Inc. - Never had a big match on a PPV
Lex Luger vs. Bob Backlund or Tito Santana. Quick win for Lex to build him up along the way for Bret. Maybe at King of the Ring.
Razor Ramon vs. Jerry Lawler
Owen Hart vs. Rick Martel - Neidhart got fired a month later. Could have had a tag match here.


Ideally, you have Hogan vs. Bret at Summerslam that never materialized. Keep building Yoko and Luger as future Bret opponents. Bret should have held the title much longer than he did. Luger doesn't turn babyface so quickly as he fizzles out. Things were on the decline in 93, but WWF didn't put their best forward.

[ohtani's jacket]

@Jetlag

Went to Tokyo Comic Con today and some university students put on a wrestling show. Japanese university wrestling seems right up your alley. 

[Jetlag]

1 hour ago, ohtani's jacket said:

@Jetlag

Went to Tokyo Comic Con today and some university students put on a wrestling show. Japanese university wrestling seems right up your alley. 

I actually got into the Japanese amateur/university wrestling scene recently, a lot of nonsense but also some surprisingly good stuff here and there.

[Timbo Slice]

If anyone here is subscribed to Loss’ Wrestling Playlist Newsletter, today’s Season of Giving comp was an Amaresu set from CFØS. Wild stuff. 

[ohtani's jacket]

6 hours ago, Jetlag said:

I actually got into the Japanese amateur/university wrestling scene recently, a lot of nonsense but also some surprisingly good stuff here and there.

These guys called themselves the UWF. 

[RazorBladeKiss]

Crazymax is in danger of shutting down and is accepting donations. 

[strobogo]

WWE sending Omos to NOAH for a genuine excursion at the behest of Mutoh is probably the weirdest but coolest thing WWE has done with their interpromotional relationships these past few years. I know all their stuff with NOAH is to try to hurt NJPW (which is hurt enough pal, no need to take them down a peg now) and co-opt Japanese crowds for tours (which also is unnecessary for 35 years or so), but kind of neat all the same.

[Edwin]

On 12/8/2024 at 7:44 AM, ohtani's jacket said:

@Jetlag

Went to Tokyo Comic Con today and some university students put on a wrestling show. Japanese university wrestling seems right up your alley. 

These events have been going on for years. It’s backyard wrestling basically. DDT and Michinoku Pro have scouted wrestlers there in the past.

[sek69]

So I was reading the luchablog and CMLL was dropping a hint on their news show that they would be working with Stardom, which is interesting since they normally work with talent agencies and freelancers. A pairing like that is gonna bang pretty hard.

[JRH]

Bob Uecker passed away yesterday. Loved his enthusiasm at WM3 and 4, definitely one of the best celebrities involved.

[El-P]

On 12/25/2024 at 8:13 PM, strobogo said:

WWE sending Omos to NOAH for a genuine excursion at the behest of Mutoh is probably the weirdest but coolest thing WWE has done with their interpromotional relationships these past few years. I know all their stuff with NOAH is to try to hurt NJPW (which is hurt enough pal, no need to take them down a peg now) and co-opt Japanese crowds for tours (which also is unnecessary for 35 years or so), but kind of neat all the same.

The guy worked 6 matches, won the tag titles, and now he going back to WWE, so he just relinquish his half of the tag titles and gives it to another guy. Way to go NOAH, you don't come off looking like complete fools in the process, and the handling of the tag title is now full Vince Russo era WCW or something. Yeah, that TNA partnership is surely gonna end well too...

[strobogo]

It's not even a WCW/TNA partnership, and WWE sending guys to NOAH for any reason is better for NOAH than anything that could have been and was gained by NJ for partnership with Russo WCW or TNA. Come on. 

[El-P]

NOAH having an outsider win a belt and just give it away when he leaves without doing a job is good for NOAH ? Ok.

2 minutes ago, strobogo said:

that could have been and was gained by NJ for partnership with Russo WCW or TNA. Come on. 

I didn't talk about a partnership with Russo era WCW. I mean having a guy just hand a belt over to someone else is WCW Russo level shit booking.

[strobogo]

Yes, gigantic guy a foot taller than the largest guy on the roster who happens to be from WWE in an absolute massive boom period getting a tag title and handing it over is better for NOAH than Russo doing NJ title changes without permission on WCW TV.

Certainly is not hurting the NOAH that has been on life support for the better part of 15 years now. 

[El-P]

15 minutes ago, strobogo said:

Certainly is not hurting the NOAH that has been on life support for the better part of 15 years now. 

I don't see any evidence it has helped them in any way. You think people in Japan know who the fuck Omos is ? It's one thing when they send Nakamura to face Mutoh for a big show, but Omos... But honestly, I don't think it is gonna hurt them either, I don't think it makes any difference one way or another, really. NOAH is a small company, but it's bigger than AJPW.

It just cracks me up that WWE sends a guy to win a title and then not even do a match to lose them (it's not like he even had to take the pinfall). 

[strobogo]

They also sent Nakamura to the 1/1 show that Omos was on. Some NXT dudes too. It certainly is not hurting NOAH to have WWE talent on their shows no matter what they're doing. This is not like NJ at basically peak drawing having bullshit Russo title changes on American TV while also not getting any of the benefits of the relationship like 1991-1997/98 of getting Sting/Hall/Nash/Savage over there on tours. 

NOAH has been second or even third rate since Misawa died. WWE's random as hell relationship with them has been a complete benefit for their crowd size since they've been on this shit the past couple of years. From sending KENTA for Marafuji's anniversary show to Nakamura for 1/1 shows to whatever NXT dude in the N1 to Omos. No one is thinking "boy WWE really buried NOAH" because Omos didn't do a job, get real. 

[Ma Stump Puller]

17 minutes ago, strobogo said:

They also sent Nakamura to the 1/1 show that Omos was on. Some NXT dudes too. It certainly is not hurting NOAH to have WWE talent on their shows no matter what they're doing. This is not like NJ at basically peak drawing having bullshit Russo title changes on American TV while also not getting any of the benefits of the relationship like 1991-1997/98 of getting Sting/Hall/Nash/Savage over there on tours. 

NOAH has been second or even third rate since Misawa died. WWE's random as hell relationship with them has been a complete benefit for their crowd size since they've been on this shit the past couple of years. From sending KENTA for Marafuji's anniversary show to Nakamura for 1/1 shows to whatever NXT dude in the N1 to Omos. No one is thinking "boy WWE really buried NOAH" because Omos didn't do a job, get real. 

I'd add to this as well by saying that the WWE involvement has mostly been a net plus on their shows. The KENTA/Nakamura matches were good, Tavion Heights got insane coverage for his wins over top guys like Kenoh (not to mention getting super over with his amateur-wrestling shtick) and Omos similarly has been booked really well and presented like a legit big deal feature.

He's clearly a Muto-project, I would expect him to be back in the company sooner than later. NOAH's gained quite a bit from the headlines generated from everyone involved here.

[El-P]

15 hours ago, strobogo said:

This is not like NJ at basically peak drawing having bullshit Russo title changes on American TV while also not getting any of the benefits of the relationship like 1991-1997/98 of getting Sting/Hall/Nash/Savage over there on tours. 

Indeed. I also never said it was. I only mention Russo because of the "handing out a belt to another guy". I could have mentioned Vince also, this they did the same shit at one point. 

15 hours ago, strobogo said:

No one is thinking "boy WWE really buried NOAH" because Omos didn't do a job, get real. 

Well, I think it is hilarious and does make NOAH looks like idiots, basically. Giving out a belt to some other guy is always awful, no matter the circumstances. One of my most hated shitty booking trope.

If their business has been helped, good for them. Likewise TNA...