Scott Keith 
The SmarK Rant for NWA WrestleWar 89 – Music City Showdown (05.07.89)
Man, I didn’t even realize it had been so long since I reviewed this one. 22 years and counting! But hey, I’m enjoying this trip back to 1989 so might as well redo this one and then finish off the year with Starrcade later this week.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for NWA WrestleWar 89 – Music City Showdown (05.07.89)
At work we have a “Covid self test” that HR gave out, so you can determine if you’re infected or not. Three of the symptoms listed are “trouble waking up, tiredness during the day, confusion”. Well, I guess I’m done for then.
DATELINE: Roman Reigns’ Controversial Royal Rumble Statement
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/roman-reigns-makes-controversial-statement-royal-rumble/
DATELINE: WWE May Change Some Contracts Due To Coronavirus Hiatuses
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/coronavirus-may-alter-wwe-contracts/
DATELINE: WWE’s New Ring Announcer Rule
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-new-rule-ring-announcers/
No ratings for RAW yet due to the holiday I’d assume.
Tonight it’s AEW Dark, which will be covered by Andy later.
I got nuthin much going on. Probably back to 1989 again for either WrestleWar or Starrcade tonight.
Have an adequate evening.
The SmarK Rant for Supertowns on the Superstation (02.07.87)
(Oh hi. I was actually going to review this show last night because it was next in the World Championship Wresting queue on the Network, and couldn’t figure out why it was nearly two hours long instead of the usual 1:25 on the Network. And then I remembered I had already done it when it was on WWE 24/7. So here’s my original rant from 2007, and then we’ll get back to the weekly ’87 shows again after that.)
The idea here is that it’s a sampling of matches and interviews from various stops on the NWA’s national tour, and that’s about it.
– Your hosts are Tony & David.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for World Championship Wrestling – 02.07.87 (Supertowns on the Superstation)
Counting down until vacation…
DATELINE: RONA-MANIA still running wild on the WWE Universe, brother!
https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/report-additional-wwe-people-test-positive-covid-19-314866
Oh man, and here I thought forcing everyone off-camera to wear masks three months after the fact would have fixed the problem. Obviously the solution is to stop testing because then there’s no more cases. I read that somewhere.
DATELINE: WWE admits that, yeah, Summerslam is at the Performance Center
https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwe-summerslam-taking-place-performance-center-314836
You can probably pencil in Survivor Series there as well.
DATELINE: Violent Match Set For Extreme Rules
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/two-matches-set-extreme-rules/
DATELINE: The New United States Title Design
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/photo-wwe-unveils-new-title-design/
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)
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)
(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
Man, the Bash 90 redo did REALLY well. Apparently people talking about Sting’s title reign draws better than Sting’s title reign.
DATELINE: Bobby Lashley And MVP Get Into Altercation With Man At Restaurant
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/watch-bobby-lashley-mvp-altercation-man-restaurant/
DATELINE: Details On Bully Ray Leaving Ring Of Honor
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/famous-name-leaving-ring-honor-happened/
DATELINE: Drew Gulak’s In-Ring Tribute To Recently Departed Wrestler
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/video-drew-gulaks-ring-tribute-fallen-wrestler/
The SmarK Rant for WCW Great American Bash 90 – NEW REVOLUTION! (07.07.90)
All the kids today with their Instagrams and Vines might be talking about NXT’s Great American Bash, but WCW had the real deal first.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WCW Great American Bash 90 – The New Revolution! (07.07.90)
Yes, it’s time to show your patriotism if you’re an American, hopefully while wearing a red white and blue mask!
Not like Hulk Hogan did, though.
DATELINE: WWE finally figures out that running shows with crowds is a BAD IDEA and announces taping schedule through August
https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/report-wwe-lays-out-taping-schedule-through-summerslam-314681
Yup, Summerslam from the Performance Center. They better have that big fan on high.
DATELINE: WWE finally figures out that people running around without masks is a BAD IDEA and is now forcing people to wear them
https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwe-institutes-mask-policy-non-compliance-fines-314686
I believe the phrase we’re looking for here involves horses and barn doors.
DATELINE: New Japan Cup 2020 finals are set
https://www.f4wonline.com/new-japan-news/finals-set-new-japan-cup-2020-314651
I shall not spoil the results here. Finals take place July 11.
The SmarK Rant for WWF Superstars – 02.20.93
Taped from San Jose, CA
TGIF, y’all. Don’t forget to check out TNM Tournament Edition, the wrestling simulator reborn, at www.tnmte.com if you haven’t already.
DATELINE: NXT Wrestler May Have Spoiled Title Match Result
(some guy already spoiled it in an email last night, so THANKS for that)
DATELINE: WWE Purchases Prominent Indy Wrestling Company
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-purchases-prominent-indy-wrestling-company/
DATELINE: Here’s Why Shayna Baszler Has Been Missing
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/heres-shayna-baszler-missing/
(Geez, Tommy, that last one is a tad click-baity. The answer is “There’s currently no reason why she’s missing”)
https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwe-buys-evolve-additional-library-content-314631
Not a surprise, but it’s nice to get more content for the Network.
The SmarK Rant for Monday Night RAW – 11.06.95
Taped from wherever they’ve been for the past few weeks. Brandon, MB, I think it was.
Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Handsome Dok Hendrix.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWF Monday Night RAW / WCW Monday Nitro – 11.06.95
Hope everyone had a great Canada Day and made sure to leave out a bowl of Hawkins Cheezies and a glass of Crush Cream Soda in case Anne Murray visited in the night-time.
DATELINE: WWE Trademarks WCW Pay Per View Name
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-bringing-back-wcw-pay-per-view/
DATELINE: WWE Forced To Postpone Plans To Bring Back Fans
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/wwe-forced-postpone-plans-bring-fans-back/
DATELINE: AEW Postpones Fyter Fest Main Event And Brings Back Show
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/aew-postpones-fyter-fest-main-event-new-special-announced/
Oliver Copp of TNM contacted me the other day and hooked me up with the full version of the new game, so I’ve been downloading wrestler packs for it like crazy and my goal is to run another tag team tournament this summer using the game! So if you’re interested in getting it for yourself, make sure to check it out at http://www.tnmte.com
The SmarK Rant for AEW Dynamite – 07.01.20
“Fyter Fest Night One”
Live from Jacksonville, FL
Your hosts are Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone & Excalibur, with special guest LE CHAMPION! Wearing “Don Cherry’s jacket” according to Jim Ross.
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for AEW Dynamite – 07.01.20 (Fyter Fest Night One)
Sorry I’m late, I was busy getting a haircut and celebrating Canada Day by being polite and pining for the NHL.
Dynamite and NXT are on, discuss ’em here!
The SmarK Rant for World Championship Wrestling – 01.31.87
Haven’t checked one of these out in a while, so it’s back to 1987!
Taped from Atlanta, GA
Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & David Crockett
Read moreThe SmarK Rant for World Championship Wrestling – 01.31.87
Happy Canada Day!
Vince McMahon Has Gotten Richer During The Pandemic
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/vince-mcmahons-wealth-grown-coronavirus-pandemic/
When Undertaker Danced To Kung Fu Fighting
https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/undertaker-danced-kung-fu-fighting/
Tonight is of course a massive showdown on TV, so order some poutine and enjoy the shows!