All Star Wrestling on the Network

[Ricky Jackson]

Sean suggested a thread so here you go. Drop day is Monday. Let's talk some WWWF!

[The Chief]

Pretty cool seeing stuff that isn't even listed on Graham's site. I completely forgot Bugsy McGraw worked NY. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise since they used a lot of Florida guys, but it's still fun to find stuff like this.

[Sean Liska]

There are more name vs name matches than I expected. Not big names but fun enough non-squashes sprinkled in.

[Ricky Jackson]

5/17/80 ep includes the legendary Bob Backlund vs El Olympico "exhibition match" we reviewed on Titans years ago. Everyone needs to see this

[flyonthewall2983]

I'm all in on making the each month's drops like this into it's own thread.

 

So I'm assuming this has the whole Bruno/Larry feud?

[Sean Liska]

Honestly the Travis/Putski-Bad News/Scicluna match from the 4/14/79 show is more fun than anything I can remember from the first 5 months of 83 Mid-Atlantic. Didn't expect to say that. It's that gritty NY punch and kick style but it's fast paced, fun, hot crowd, I'm pleasantly surprised.

[Sean Liska]

Why are there always a few peole booing when Gary Michael Cappetta introduced himself. What the hell.

[Ricky Jackson]

Cappetta was an easy target because of his nerdy demeanor. Back in the early 90s me and my friends used to razz the announcer for our local promotion mostly because he was nerdy, which of course is hilarious because we were the dorks going to wrestling shows when it was pretty uncool

[Ricky Jackson]

I'm all in on making the each month's drops like this into it's own thread.

 

So I'm assuming this has the whole Bruno/Larry feud?

I'm not sure how much of it is on this footage. The turn angle happened on Championship Wrestling, although they may have replayed it on All Star. Not sure how many of the awesome promos are here either. All the big matches happened at MSG, Spectrum and Shea of course

[Al]

Right off the bat theres Antonino Rocca on commentary. I often forget he filled that role until his passing.

[hammerva]

I know that the WWWF at the time was about all appealing to all the different ethnic groups in the east coast but man Rocca is so Italian you barely understand him on commentary. I do love the reactions he gives when the matches are announced like he just found out that moment

[flyonthewall2983]

 

I'm all in on making the each month's drops like this into it's own thread.

 

So I'm assuming this has the whole Bruno/Larry feud?

I'm not sure how much of it is on this footage. The turn angle happened on Championship Wrestling, although they may have replayed it on All Star. Not sure how many of the awesome promos are here either. All the big matches happened at MSG, Spectrum and Shea of course

 

 

So were Championship Wrestling and ASW different shows then?

[sek69]

Championship Wrestling was the A show, All Star was the B show.

[dexstar]

The Ernie Ladd promo with Vince McMahon on the 1/10/76 episode is can't miss television

[NickH]

Backlund & Kobayashi have a decent 13 minute bout on the 6/3/78 episode.

 

Just watched Santana & Rodz have a good 8 minute match on the 6/2/79 episode.

[NickH]

August 11 1979 - Piper and Jose Estrada put on a really good match. I need to see more Estrada, he looked good here. The tape tracking throughout was pretty annoying but it's still watchable.

 

Nov 17 1979 - Tito Santana & Ivan Putski vs. Jose Estrada & Pete Doherty

Damn, this was great, fast paced, great action, they fitted a lot in 8 minutes. Recommended.

[DeanColes1987]

Rocca is just amazing on commentary, everytime Vince throws to him I pop.

 

The McGraw/Von Erich vs. Cerdan/Parisi match on the 75 show is so fun with Albano and Blassie bumping around and Andre as the backup for the Faces rules.

 

That Ernie Ladd handicap match on the 1st 76 show is amazing for the irish whip spot and the look of disgust Ernie shows before deciding to do it again.

[Ricky Jackson]

Rocca is just amazing on commentary, everytime Vince throws to him I pop.

 

The McGraw/Von Erich vs. Cerdan/Parisi match on the 75 show is so fun with Albano and Blassie bumping around and Andre as the backup for the Faces rules.

 

That Ernie Ladd handicap match on the 1st 76 show is amazing for the irish whip spot and the look of disgust Ernie shows before deciding to do it again.

Yeah, loved that main event tag from the lone 75 show.

 

I watched three episodes yesterday, and I forgot how good some of the matches on the TV could be. Since they had less time to work with, most of the non-squash matches are often worked at a much faster pace than a lot of long, plodding undercard matches from MSG and the Spectrum from the same time featuring the same talent. Even a bout between two guys lost to time like Frank Monte and Francisco Flores from the same 75 show is worthwhile. Rodz vs SD Jones from 11/4/78 is also good

[Flyin' Brian]

August 11 1979 - Piper and Jose Estrada put on a really good match. I need to see more Estrada, he looked good here. The tape tracking throughout was pretty annoying but it's still watchable.

 

From reading the show descriptions I think there's a Dibiase/Estrada match on one of the shows that should be good. Santana/Estrada too.

[Matt D]

I'm currently networkless but it's very weird to me how much more into this than the Mid-Atlantic stuff you guys are.

[khawk20]

I've seen a lot of Estrada on MSG shows of the era. He's usually a lot of fun, even moreso when matched up with someone of comparable size and speed.

[Sean Liska]

I saw a Johnny Rodz match from 79 where he was like a total workrate guy. Now I wish Rodz-Fujinami happened in 79.

[NickH]

I'm currently networkless but it's very weird to me how much more into this than the Mid-Atlantic stuff you guys are.

 

I was initially excited for Mid Atlantic but once you see the small studio with 50 people and most of the matches are just squashes it's just not exciting enough.

 

I'm actually surprised myself how much I'm enjoying the All Star shows, it just has a much better atmosphere with the larger crowd and the match ups seen to be more equal than Mid Atlantic. Also it's 70s TV which is very rare for any promotion.

[Sean Liska]

ignore this one.

[Sean Liska]

I'm currently networkless but it's very weird to me how much more into this than the Mid-Atlantic stuff you guys are.

I've watched the first 5 months of 1983 Mid-Atlantic and it just hasn't been anything special. The matches feel like everyone is still half asleep for the morning shoot. I just keep wishing I wss watching Memphis or Alabama. This at least had very low expectations so it's more about pleasant surprises. And there's actually been more good matches than Mid-Atlantic, I can feel Bruce Mitchell cursing me somewhere for saying that.