BoD Daily Update: December 10, 2018

WWE.com RAW Preview

https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2018-12-10

 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 Full Card Revealed

https://www.f4wonline.com/japan/full-card-set-njpw-wrestle-kingdom-13-272056

 

Cody Rhodes Interview with Mirror Sport UK

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/wrestling/cody-rhodes-there-no-secret-13704185

 

NJPW Free Match of the Week

You can watch Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tetsuya Naito & Kazuchika Okada from 12/23/13

 

The SmarK Rant for WWF Smackdown–12.30.99

The SmarK Rant for WWF Smackdown – 12.30.99

OK, back to the McMahon-Helmsley Era as we close out 1999. Honestly the Nitro ’97 rants do such ungodly huge numbers that I should probably just do those 7 days a week.

Previously on RAW, Mick Foley lost a Pink Slip on a Pole match to the Rock, thus ending his employment: https://blogofdoom.com/index.php/2018/11/10/the-smark-raw-rant-12-27-99/

Taped from Richmond, VA

Your hosts are Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWF Smackdown–12.30.99

WM30


Hi Scott 


I've been watching WM 30 recently,  perhaps the biggest example of WWE snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. However,  what if the original card had gone ahead? Lets suppose Vince had been stubborn enough to press ahead with Orton- Batista as the main event and Bryan-Sheamus somewhere on the undercard.  Let's further assume, since its fantasy booking, that getting his win back over HHH is enough to persuade CM Punk to stick around a bit longer.  How do you see WM 30 going under these circumstances ( I'm assuming Lesnar still ends the streak and Cena still goes over Wyatt), both from a work rate perspective and in terms of how its recieved?
Cheers 


I think Orton-Batista would have been a complete disaster and ended the show on a real down note.  However, Punk and HHH probably would have put together a really good match somewhere in the midcard, so it might have balanced out to a certain degree.  But if 30 becomes remembered for the streak ending and then Orton boring the people to sleep in the main event, it's probably a forgotten thumbs down show.

Hogan/the nWo in 2002

  Was the nWo angle with Hogan, Hall, and Nash in the WWE in 2002 supposed to have lasted longer than it did if Hogan didn't get the type of crowd reaction that he did at W.M. 18 against the Rock, thus more or less forcing his babyface turn?  

Nope, they already knew Hogan was turning babyface sooner rather than later because they weren't complete idiots, so most of the turn was already in motion. 

Downward spiral

I feel WWE is on a quality downfall since 2014 (post-Shield, Bryan/Cesaro push, Lesnar monster push basically) with the occasional good short period here & there (brand split SDL in 2016). Right now RAW is at one of its lowest points ever (I mean was 1995/96, 2002/03 or 2009 really worse?), SDL is pure mediocrity, only the small third and fourth brands put on a consistently strong product, since Vince neglects them or doesn't work on them at all. How long can this go? So many guys and gals are heatless, worthless, look like jokes, it's ridiculous

And yet they're still making billions.  So it'll probably go on for a while.

Sunday Night Reset: December 9, 2018

Am I the only one who’s reached the point where weekends are just a blur because I spend them all in bed or in my apartment?  I miss having youthful energy.

Oh well.  This too shall pass.

Tonight’s NFL game is LA/Chicago with massive NFC ramifications.  Though nothing will come close to Miami doing a huge Boise State on New England.  Love me some last-play wins.

Enjoy the night.

Announcers



Can we get the announcers back in the press boxes at these big ass stadiums? The early manias, big event, royal rumbles all had Gorilla & other commentators in the press boxes. Get 'em away from ringside. 

You bet.  I’ll ask Vince next time I see him. Anything else, let me know and I’ll make a list.  

ECW on Sci-Fi 11/11/2008 #127

We’re in the ”United Kingdom” according to the graphic but I can confirm it’s the Manchester MEN Arena because I was at this show! Think it was my first live WWE show, naturally I went by myself because it was a wrestling show in 2008 and I nearly got into a fight with a bored dad who took exception to my vintage WCW shirt and got his son to call me a loser. He was right, but fuck him anyway.

Read moreECW on Sci-Fi 11/11/2008 #127

Another 90s Wrestling Question Because Modern Wrestling Is Depressing To Talk About


(Well, most find it depressing…)

When Hall and Nash made it clear to WCW that they were signing, when did Bischoff start booking plans for the NWO? Was it right when he found out they were both jumping? 


As I understand it, yes.  Bischoff's done tons of shoot interviews where he clarifies his thought process on the whole deal so I'm sure there's a more precise answer out there, but it was pretty much as soon he had them coming in.

Loose Morals and Looser Ropes

I was down a youtube rabbit-hole last night and couldn’t help but notice – especially when Hogan beat the Sheik for the title –  how loose the ropes were.  Likewise, if you watch the old Rocky movies, the ropes there were also extremely
loose.

 

Around when were they tightened up?  And which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Was it to aid aerial maneuvers or did they follow as wrestlers took advantage of the new norm? 


I'd be lying if I said I ever noticed it before, but ring construction tended to vary from arena to arena anyway so I don't think it would have some kind of global loose rope conspiracy or anything.  

Pushing the Edge

Hey Scott!!

Whilst listening to a podcast recently I thought up a question I thought might be amusing blog fodder, but then forgot about it. (Un?)Luckily, I remembered it again!

Was Edge the last star to receive a true, old school main event push? Not ‘a few surprise main events and then back down you go’, mind you. I’m talking about someone who was around a few years, worked his way up the card to a certain point, and then finally broke through as a true main eventer when the right angle under the right circumstances occurred. If the Lita-Matt-Edge triangle does not occur, it’s not a safe bet necessarily that Edge gets to the main event. Today you are given your role out of the gate and only step outside of it, temporarily, or at least it seems so to me. Admittedly I only follow the WWE via your blog, watching only when something sounds REALLY awesome, so perhaps I am missing a few obvious candidates.

One of the key reads as to the WWE’s true intentions, in my view, is in presentation. If a guy gets to wrestle, let’s say, Cena after a huge storyline in a big main event, but their outfit, promotion and character are basically the same, they aren’t being elevated. It’s a novelty almost, a palette cleanser.

Am I off? Have Edges galore simply slipped under my radar?

Thanks dude.


I think CM Punk also counts, and his happened after Edge.  He was around "ECW" for a few years, then moved into the midcard of the main roster, and then had the pipe bomb promo to break through as a main event guy and stay there.  

The SmarK Rant for WWF Monday Night RAW–03.22.99

The SmarK 24/7 Rant for Monday Night RAW – March 22 1999

(Sorry, I was super-busy on Saturday night and didn’t have time to watch anything new for this morning.  However, here’s a historic episode of RAW from 1999 from the 24/7 archives to continue filling in those gaps.  But we’ll update as needed for fun!) 

– Live from Albany, NY.

– Your hosts are Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler.

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWF Monday Night RAW–03.22.99

Ed Ferrara



Do you know what happened to former  WWF and WCW writer Ed Ferrara?  I remember him staying on in WCW until McMahon bought the company in 2001, but did he ever work in the industry again?   
He was with TNA as a color commentator and did some of the other fly-by-night companies in that role, but then basically disavowed all connection with Vince Russo and he's teaching at Full Sail now.  The University, not NXT, thankfully.

Becky Lynch


Am I the only one getting tired of her Twitter shoot gimmick? I love Becky to death but I feel like it's been too much. It was hilarious and entertaining at first, now it's overkill. Is it just me?

I’ve been told that Becky is the best and the next Steve Austin.  You’re obviously watching wrong.  

Vengeance 2004

Vengeance 2004
Date: July 11, 2004
Location: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Attendance: 7,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the final pay per view before Summerslam and that makes this one kind of a quick stop more than anything else. The main event is HHH getting yet another shot at the title because that’s his inalienable right. The wildcard this time is Eugene, who HHH has manipulated into thinking World Champion Chris Benoit is out to get him. I’m sure this will go according to plan. Let’s get to it.

Read moreVengeance 2004

Endgame!!!!


So. We aren't going to discuss the Avengers trailer at anytime this weekend? Because I haven't slept since I've seen it


I hadn’t even seen it yet!  Last thing I saw was Fantastic Beasts: The Revenge of Greystache last week and they didn’t have the trailer yet.  
I feel like this will be a popular movie.  Glad to see Hawkeye and Antman back, because it felt like the cast list was pretty thin last time.  

Piper going over



I get Roddy Piper never jobbing in the early-mid 80s. But a decade later why was he so untouchable. In 96-98 long past his expiration date as a top wrestling talent he was booked to go over Hogan, Flair, and Savage on PPVs, never take clean losses and essentially be a top level face. Why?

As a part 2, since hogan/Piper rematched at SuperBrawl 97, why didn’t he just get a 2-month title reign before jobbing it back to Hogan?

Piper was always old school and super protective of his losses.  Granted by the time he got to WCW he probably shouldn’t have been, but if they’re not gonna ask him, he’s not gonna offer.  
As for why they didn’t change the title, good question.  Maybe they were thinking the Sting payoff was coming a LOT sooner than it did and didn’t want to waste the title change on Piper?

Smackdown – July 8, 2004

Smackdown
Date: July 8, 2004
Location: Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

It’s title night around here as John Cena is defending the US Title against Booker T., who earned his shot at the title by winning a triple threat match last week. Other than that it’s time to build things up for next week when JBL defends the Smackdown World Title against Eddie Guerrero. Let’s get to it.

Read moreSmackdown – July 8, 2004

Steve Austin US Title run with Harley Race


Steve Austin has said before he and Flyin Brian were put together as a tag team (in late '92-early'93), he was supposed to get a run with the US Title with Harley Race as his manager.


However during this time, Rick Rude was the US Champion, so is Austin mistaken, or was he supposed to get the US title that Dustin got once Rude got hurt?  Was Rude supposed to win the WCW Title from Ron Simmons and vacate the US Title before the injury?

Rude definitely wasn't winning the big belt, but it's not like it would have been hard to switch the US title to Austin.  You could have used any number of transitional guys.  

Nash ending Goldberg’s streak


How long was the plan in place for Kevin Nash to end Goldberg's undefeated streak while beating him for the WCW Championship at Starrcade 1998?  Was there even really a plan at that point?   

I'm sure Nash was planning on it for a LONG time.  And to be fair, they did a lot of preparation for him, like ending Wrath's own streak and stuff like that.  So at least a few months in advance.  

The NEW Daniel Bryan


I know you don't follow the regular TV product, but I'll assume you've at least heard about the direction for Daniel Bryan's character change.


Do you think Daniel Bryan defies the odds & becomes the first person to be over with the "New [Insert Name Here]" gimmick?

Well, he's not LITERALLY a new person.  This isn't like the New Blackjacks or New Midnight Express.