Monday Night Raw – July 6, 2020

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Monday Night Raw
Date: July 6, 2020
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Samoa Joe, Byron Saxton

We’re less than two weeks away from Extreme Rules, or whatever they’re calling it this week. Tonight we might get a pretty big deal: finding out what stipulation Dolph Ziggler has for Drew McIntyre. Unfortunately that means more Ziggler time, which is about as much of a death blow as this show can get in a hurry. Let’s get to it.

Read moreMonday Night Raw – July 6, 2020

Monday Night Open Mic

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Howdy Blog O’Doomers!

I hope everyone is coming off of a nice week whether you celebrated Canada Day or Independence Day! I think the WWE taped a bunch of stuff tonight for future shows. No spoilers here though.

Definitely recommend Scott’s reviews of GAB 89 and GAB 90 from the weekend. Sadly he hasn’t done GAB 1991 and I’m not sure if he could sit through it again.

There is some live sports on tonight I think. A couple games from The Basketball Tournament maybe?

Stay safe people. Treat each other well. Keep it clean.

Daily News Update – July 6, 2020

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Last week before vacation!

DATELINE:  Extreme Rules Gets Second Name Change.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/extreme-rules-receives-another-name-change/

DATELINE:  WWE Planning Especially Violent Match At Extreme Rules

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-planning-especially-violent-match-extreme-rules/

DATELINE:  Rey Mysterio Working Without A Contract.

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-legend-working-without-contract/

 

Have a great day.

The SmarK Rant for NWA Great American Bash 89 – The Glory Days! (07.23.89)

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The SmarK Rant for NWA Great American Bash 89 – The Glory Days (07.23.89)

Well obviously this is a long time in coming.  This is another one where I only ever had the home video version that was cut down to 2 hours.  I believe the full version had aired on WWE 24/7 at one point, but for some reason I never got around to reviewing it there.  But the Network has the full PPV cut (albeit with a “technical difficulties” disclaimer), so let’s continue our celebration of the Fourth of July and Sting!

Live from Baltimore, MD, drawing 12500 and a 1.5 buyrate.  That was actually quite a disappointing number given the buildup for Flair’s return.

Your hosts are Jim Ross & Bob Caudle.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for NWA Great American Bash 89 – The Glory Days! (07.23.89)

Haku vs Minoru Suzuki

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Who ya got in a fight, and how did this match never happen?

They were both in the dark match Royal Rumble on the G1 Supercard at MSG, if that counts.  I don't know if they interacted.

Also, Haku has legit credentials in street fights.  Suzuki, on the other hand, mostly stuck to Pancrase for his “real” fights, and they may or may not have been worked.  But you know what's 100% real?  THE TONGAN DEATH GRIP.

Yeah.  My science is TIGHT.  

Joshi Spotlight: AJW/JWP- Fierce Fighting in the North!

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This guy here has a BEAUTIFUL series of DVD rips going up on his channel. I’m so used to Joshi vids flaring up the screen when the bright-ass costumes show up that stuff like this is is astonishing to see.

AJW/JWP- FIERCE FIGHTING IN THE NORTH!:
(03.06.1993)

* Time for another Joshi Spotlight, this one set between AJW Grand Prix episodes- we’ve reached the first two, and this show features a pair of Grand Prix matches, a Dream Tag Match, plus a mega Main Event featuring JWP defending AJW’s own WWWA Tag Titles against an AJW team!

“TL;DR- What’s the Big Deal?”: Only four matches, one of which is a true rarity in terms of match length for Joshi. Interesting interpromotional stuff and a good look at what people do when they’re not necessarily out to blow minds, but just put on a fun, solid show.

Read moreJoshi Spotlight: AJW/JWP- Fierce Fighting in the North!

What the World Was Watching: ECW Hardcore TV – April 25, 1995

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A replay of the Sandman winning the ECW Championship from Shane Douglas at Hostile City Showdown airs.

There is a replay of the Mikey Whipwreck-Steve Richards match from Hostile City Showdown, along with the Public Enemy saving Whipwreck and Hack Myers from Raven, Richards, and the Pitbulls.

Read moreWhat the World Was Watching: ECW Hardcore TV – April 25, 1995

North-South Podcast Connection Weekly Update:

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Another great week is in the books at the North South Connection …..here is that went down!

 

From Montreal To Memphis #6: Aaron & Reg talk all things Brock Lesnar: 

https://northsouthconnection.podbean.com/e/from-montreal-to-memphis-6-brock-lesnar-thats-it-thats-the-title/

 

TNA Never Dies #4: Aaron, JT, & Jenny dive into the 7/10/02 NWA-TNA PPV: 

https://northsouthconnection.podbean.com/e/tna-never-dies-4-nwa-tna-71002/

 

Wrestling War Zone #45: JT & Chad are looking at the week that was 4/8/96:

https://northsouthconnection.podbean.com/e/wrestling-war-zone-the-monday-night-wars-45-4896/

 

No Holds Barred #30: JT &Aaron look into the most patriotic wrestlers and feuds in wrestling history: 

https://northsouthconnection.podbean.com/e/no-holds-barred-the-podcast-30-independence-day-special/

 

And be sure to subscribe to the feed, rate us and leave a review today!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-north-south-connection/id1501057347?fbclid=IwAR26YeKms_2HbT_DdLVhdAnWd7gxewZbFVnFvj1lHZ43lzpTG80jqgwbbGw

Piper’s role in the 80’s wrestling boom.

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Hey Scott,


   It seems to be accepted on how the Hulkster was responsible for the mainstream explosion of the 80's.  I've been thinking lately that Piper deserves more credit for his role in being the foil than Hulk does for being the conquerer of the evil force.

  Would the success still have happened if Vince had Hogan just do the big fat challenger of the month like it turned into, or was Piper actually the key?
  

He was certainly ONE OF the keys, but without Hogan it doesn’t work at all. I certainly wouldn’t say Piper deserves more credit.  

Wrestling’s main arch enemy

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Hey Scott,

In comic books and movies, the hero always had their main villain/arch-enemy (batman and joker, superman and lex luthor, spiderman and green goblin). So who would be the following wrestler's main arch-enemy? Example: Sting's would be Flair and Austin's would be Vince McMahon
Hulk Hogan?
Bobby Heenan
John Cena?
Orton?  Maybe HHH?
The Rock?
Gotta go with Austin. 
HBK?
HHH.  
Undertaker?
Kane.  
CM Punk?
His big mouth. 
Bret Hart?
Montreal. 

Matches with a great (or famous) reputation — but you can’t figure out why

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Hey Scott,


Your recent GAB90 post got me thinking about matches considered great or highly influential, but it's more about revisionist history. I think The Steiners/Nasty Boys have a match like this in WCW. Another that comes to mind is Taker/Hardy Ladder Match from 2002. Like, it was okay but not this classic people remember it as. 

Curious which matches are like that for you or the blog?




Yeah Jeff-Undertaker is the big one for me.  I really liked Steiners vs Nasties at the time so I can understand that one, actually.  
Counterpoint:  How about famously BAD matches that people watched after the fact and didn’t get the hate for?  

Rock Star Gary reflects on WCCW 01-12-1985

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Taped from Dallas, TX

Airdate: January 12, 1985 (taped 12/25)

Attendance: 20,000

Hosted by Bill Mercer

How will Kevin fare in a lumberjack match against Adams? Will the Midnight Express make a name for themselves at the expense of the Fantastics? And who will join me in this journey of an episode?

Read moreRock Star Gary reflects on WCCW 01-12-1985

Sunday Night Reset: July 5, 2020

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I want to start by thanking Oliver Copp himself for pointing me to some sites to upgrade my roster pool.  The NWA Territories mod on TNM UK is a great source for old-time wrestlers.

Tomorrow, we review AJW/JWP Fierce Fighting in the North as the Joshi Boys continue their slow takeover of wrestling.

I’m looking forward to bringing Dark to you on Tuesday as the Featured Bout is Shawn Spears vs Brian Pillman Jr!

But for now, here’s something from my guys at CRAB.  We invade Camden, Delaware as three of our young stars go at it: Dezmon King (seen in the thumbnail), Sledge Gibson (the tall one), and John Washington (the loud one).  And yours truly was asked to dub over commentary from my computer, so I did!

Enjoy the night.

Black Scoprion

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Who would you have picked to reveal as the Scorpion? While reading your latest Clash review I thought back to that time and said to myself “It didnt have to be someone from his shoot past; just make a storyline past”

Utilizing someone else allows some fun red herring teasing its Flair. Once the feud plays out you do a story where these “former friends” reunite etc. We know how and why this went down but there were other ways to go and would love to hear your, and the posters, thoughts.

Thanks!!

I’m gonna go with Lex Luger, bitter about getting screwed out of the title against Flair while Sting waltzes in after injury and wins it.  

Worst Wrestler Promo/Talker?

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What wrestler do you think is the worst promo/talker, either currently or all time?  I don't know about all time, but currently I would have to give it to Braun Strowman.  He always talks like he was given a script to memorize 5 minutes before he goes on air.  It's just painful to hear and watch.  

I cannot express how much I do not care about Braun facing Bray Wyatt in a non title cinematic wrestling match as the co main underneath Dolph Ziggler challenging for the World title.  So there’s probably something to your theory. 

Selling NXT for Parts

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Hey Scott-


If NXT was a separate promotion, and suddenly it went bankrupt and closed down, which 5 talents do you think WWE should hire to immediately put on their main roster? How about AEW? ROH even?



I mean, Vince could literally have whoever he wanted from NXT whenever he wanted.  I think Keith Lee is the obvious choice, and Karrion Kross a close second.  Obviously the Dream if he gets his life in order.   I know everyone wants the Undisputed Era guys but they’re just gonna get buried.  Throw in Io Shirai and Rhea and I think that’s the top 5. 

ECW on Syfy 01/19/2010 #189

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After a dramatic recap of last week’s ECW Homecoming we get the announcement of Christian vs. William Regal so this show still has a pulse.

Read moreECW on Syfy 01/19/2010 #189

The SmarK Rant for WCW Clash of the Champions XIII – 11.20.90

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(Discussion of this one came up in the Bash 90 comments yesterday, so let’s hit it again.  Originally written in 2016, shortly after all the Clashes dropped on the WWE Network!)

The SmarK Rant for WCW Clash of the Champions XIII:  Thanksgiving Thunder!

I had of course originally done this one many years back, but it reads like dogshit now, so here’s a fresh version!  This show originally aired November 1990.

Live from Jacksonville, FL

Your hosts are Jim Ross & Paul E. Dangerously.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WCW Clash of the Champions XIII – 11.20.90