The SmarK Rant for WWF Monday Night RAW–01.03.00

The SmarK Rant for WWF Monday Night RAW – 01.03.00

OK, let’s kick off the greatest (and still most profitable!) year in WWF history as we hit THE YEAR 2000!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmzpdd4pWvM

Actually, if we get far enough into this year, we bump into the time when I started doing RAW reviews for CBS Sportsline and other sites. Around March we get to the point when I was doing Smackdown. How old does THAT make you feel?

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for WWF Monday Night RAW–01.03.00

Monday Night Raw – July 12, 2004

Monday Night Raw
Date: July 12, 2004
Location: Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the night after Vengeance and while Chris Benoit is still World Champion, the big story is HHH (yeah yeah of course it is) and Eugene, who cost HHH the title with an accidental chair shot. I’m sure we now get to see the REAL HHH as he wants to get his revenge for his plan screwing up, which will in no way shape or form dominate the show for the next few weeks. Let’s get to it.

Read moreMonday Night Raw – July 12, 2004

NXT – December 12, 2018

NXT
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson

Last week’s show saw the main event scene get a shot in the arm as Johnny Gargano and Aleister Black agreed to keep things going inside a steel cage, much to Tommaso Ciampa’s delight. Ciampa continues to be a great devil on the shoulder and someone who could be on top of the company for a long time to come. As for tonight though, Ricochet is in action against a mystery opponent, which could mean a lot of things. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNXT – December 12, 2018

NXT UK – December 12, 2018 (Second Episode)

NXT UK
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: Plymouth Pavilions, Devon, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

We’re on the second day of the third taping cycle now and that means we should have a fresh crowd. You know, because these crowds have so many issues with getting and staying hyped. There are several stories going around at the moment, but something has to really stick to make the show get better. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNXT UK – December 12, 2018 (Second Episode)

NXT UK – December 12, 2018 (First Episode)

NXT UK
Date: December 12, 2018
Location: Plymouth Pavilions, Devon, England
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Last week’s show saw the in-ring return of Travis Banks, who offers some fresh talent around the top of the card. Banks might not be the biggest star around, but he’s someone who can add a lot to the show. Other than that, Rhea Ripley is still looking for competition and she might find some of that tonight. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNXT UK – December 12, 2018 (First Episode)

HHH in 2001?

 Had HHH not torn his quad in the spring of 2001, what were the long range plans for his and Austin's "2 man power-trip" team?  I'm just assuming they would have broken up and feuded eventually.  Also, would the WCW/ECW Invasion have gone a bit differently with a healthy HHH?  

The long term plan was HHH going babyface and winning the WWF title from Austin at WM18.  I doubt his health would have affected the Invasion much one way or the other, to be honest.  

Elseworlds to crisis


Scott- not sure if you're a berlantiverse fan but elseworlds was epic and directly sets up crisis on infinite earths. Highly recommended…what a rant that would be 

I was watching Flash and Supergirl and they lost me hardcore a couple of seasons back.  The Flash in particular got to be way too much mopey Barry and too many speedsters and I just couldn't take it anymore when it episode after episode of Barry bemoaning how Iris was destined to die.  And then it turned out to be an alternate timeline Barry or some shit and I was like "Peace, I'm out!"  The show actually moved to Netflix here in Canada so I can always catch up if I really wanted to, but meh.  Ditto for Supergirl, which just went into the toilet with the third season and the endlessly dull Daxam invasion storyline that led to her mom suddenly being alive as an offhand mid-episode plot twist.  

I've heard Legends of Tomorrow has gotten increasingly batshit crazy and fun but I'm really burned out on the whole endeavor at this point and unlike WWE, I CAN just find other stuff to watch and move on.  

Best Live Event-Pro Wrestling


What was the best pro wrestling live event you have ever been to?  Ex; PPV, TV taping, house show, etc.  

Easy, this show:

WWF @ Edmonton, Alberta – Northlands Coliseum – May 28, 2000 (14,500+)
The Godfather defeated Al Snow
WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Crash Holly via submission with the Texas Cloverleaf following a double underhook powerbomb at 7:10
Test & Albert defeated Too Cool
Bradshaw defeated Bull Buchanon via disqualification
Kane defeated the Big Bossman
The Rock & the Dudley Boyz defeated WWF World Champion Triple H, X-Pac, & the Road Dogg at 11:43 when Rock pinned Triple H with a spinebuster and the People’s Elbow; after the match, Triple H confronted referee Earl Hebner over the decision, with Hebner eventually shoving Triple H to the mat and stomping him until he left the ring, then punching both X-Pac and Road Dogg off the ring apron
WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero pinned Perry Saturn at around the 8-minute mark with a hurricanrana off the top after Chyna interfered and hit a low blow on Saturn as he attempted a superplex
WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian defeated Matt & Jeff Hardy at 6:49 when Edge pinned Matt after Christian interfered behind the referee’s back and used one of the title belts as a weapon after Edge sustained the Twist of Fate / Swanton combo
Rikishi pinned Kurt Angle at 1:15 with the Rikishi Driver after Too Cool fought off an interfering Edge & Christian

WWF IC Champion Chris Benoit pinned Chris Jericho at 10:26 with the diving headbutt after reversing a tombstone attempt into one of his own; prior to the bout, Jericho cut a heel promo on Edmonton, saying Calgary was his favorite city in Alberta  

Mixed Match Challenge


Mixed Match (Team) Challenge Series on Facebook Watch, must-see show if there ever was one


Jinder & Alicia vs R-Truth & Carmella as the final…I have no words. FB partners must be excited. Also Truth as nr 30 in the women's Royal Rumble? Trainwreck would be an understatement


There's many causes for concern in Titan Towers at the moment, but this is the least of them.  However, for all those who e-mail saying "HEY WWE SHOULD DO A G1 CLIMAX TOURNAMENT ON THE NETWORK IT'D BE AWESOME!" bear witness to what happens when they have to plan something for more than two weeks.  Do you WANT Jinder Mahal as #30 in the Rumble?  Because that's how you get Jinder as #30 in the Rumble.

Smackdown – December 11, 2018

Smackdown
Date: December 11, 2018
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Corey Graves, Byron Saxton, Tom Phillips

It’s the final show before TLC and the card is actually stacked. This week we have a rap battle between the Usos and the Bar, a Wrestlemania rematch between Asuka and Charlotte and, surprisingly enough, Daniel Bryan vs. Mustafa Ali. That’s a good thing for 205 Live fans but I’m not sure what to expect. Let’s get to it.

Read moreSmackdown – December 11, 2018

What the World Was Watching: WCW Worldwide – April 1, 1995

–Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan are in the booth and they are taped from Orlando, Florida.

Read moreWhat the World Was Watching: WCW Worldwide – April 1, 1995

Coliseum Video

Scott,

Obviously , WWF Coliseum Videos did really well rental wise in the 80s, but at the asking price of usually 59.95, especially the early releases, how did the videos do as far as actual sales as opposed to rentals?

Also, it seemed after the first few volumes of releases, the production started to get lazy, as alot of the Best Of WWF tapes and others would just rehash segments and matches released on previous videos in the series. Did they just figure anything with the WWF sticker would rent or sale at that point?
You must be a young 'un.  Back in the 80s, there was no retail market for home video.  You couldn't just walk into a Wal-Mart and pick up a movie to own, you had to know exactly where to go.  Usually if you're the type of person to purchase home releases at that time, you're buying laserdiscs.  I was as big as of an AV nerd as any teenager at that time, and the first VHS tape I can even remember popping up for sale new, at a reasonable price, was Batman in 1989.  All the Coliseum Videos I had in my collection were purchased years after the fact once the video stores put them up for sale in the used bins. 

Which is to say that sales figures for Coliseum Videos outside of the rental market were nonexistent.  It just wasn't something that was done.

Sleazy E


Damn, Bischoff just said on his podcast that Sting was boozed/under the influence before the Starrcade 97 match with Hogan. What the hell. Believable?


I KNOW you're not new here.  You've seriously never heard that before?  

Lightning Round – Door A or B?


Hey Scott,

 

Here's ten quick "Don't over think them!" A / B choices :


Of all my faults, overthinking has never been one of them.   

1.      
Road Warriors or Demolition?

Demos like a mofo. 

2.      
Chris Jericho or Rick Steamboat?

Did Jericho have multiple match of the year candidates in 1989?  Maybe he should have.  Steamboat. 

3.      
AWA or World Class?

I grew up on the AWA and only read about World Class in PWI for the most part.  

4.      
(as bookers) Chris Kreski or Paul Heyman?

Heyman.  Kreski was never a "booker".  

5.      
Ventura / Monsoon or Heenan / Monsoon?

Ventura.  Heenan as a commentator was overrated, I'll always maintain.  

6.      
Jim Ross or Gordon Solie?

Ross.  Solie's glory days were way before my time.  

7.      
Lex Luger or Sting?

Have you READ this blog before?  Luger.  

8.      
Scott Hall or Curt Hennig?

Hennig's in my top 10 favorite wrestlers ever list.  

9.      
Jim Cornette's tennis racket or Jimmy Hart's megaphone?

Tennis racket.  Versatile and safe.  

10.  
WMX : Hart / Hart or Michaels / Razor?

I watch the ladder match more.  

 

Cheers,


Night Court.  

 

Stan Hansen the Jerk

Hey Scott,
 
How is it that Stan Hansen is never given more shit for his attitude?
 
Here’s a guy who:
 
A) Refused to lose to basically everyone
 
B) Was an insane bully
 
C) Routinely took liberties with his opponents
 
D) Was stiff to the point of non-cooperation in the ring and would routinely screw up his finishing move, blowing it off by saying “I got bad eyesight”
 
E) Refused to lose the AWA title and essentially put the final nail in that title’s coffin (I know it was all but worthless at that point but still. JR blows that whole thing off by saying, “Well, Japan ofered him more money.” Jeez, if a WWE guy tried that, there’d be a Network Special about he might’ve been a Nazi)
 
F) TOOK OUT VADER’S EYE!
 
That’s basically everything the IWC complains about with Hogan, Cena, JBL, Holly, etc to an ever HIGHER degree and people just go, “Oh that Stan,” like he’s the cooky old Uncle or something.
 
Say what you want about Kevin Nash. I’ve never seen him throw a tantrum in the ring or try to mutilate his opponent 
 
Thoughts?
Standrew money and he was fucking awesome, so I don’t see the issue.  ᐧ

Stan drew money and he was awesome.  Get over it.

Current Projected Mania 35 Card

I was listening to the Barnburners podcast from the guys who run Ringsidenews.com and according to them and if true, the card is gonna look something like this…

Daniel Bryan vs Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship

Triple H vs Batista (dependable on how fast Triple H can recover from the torn pec)

AJ Styles vs Randy Orton

Seth Rollins vs Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship

Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey for the Raw Women's Championship

Drew McIntyre vs Kurt Angle or Braun Strowman

Rey Mysterio vs Shinsuke Nakamura/Andrade Almas/Samoa Joe (one of these 3 will be champion come Mania time) for the US Title

Andre The Giant Battle Royal

Women's Battle Royal

Not bad at all….

I don't wanna impugn the fine name of ringsidenews.com because apparently they attack anyone on social media who calls them out for their bullshit "stories", but I'm gonna leave this link here from Reddit….


Also, no fucking way Shawn Michaels main events Wrestlemania.  Like, zero.  

WWF Prime Time Wrestling – December 7th, 1992

December 7, 1992

Vince McMahon is your host. Panelists include: Hillbilly Jim, Sgt. Slaughter, and Bobby Heenan. There is a white sheet over the fourth panelist chair then after crapping all over Jim’s rendition of “Blue Christmas” Heenan says he has the real king to bring out and introduces the man replacing Mr. Perfect and that is Jerry Lawler, in his WWF debut. A shock for most fans to see Lawler in the WWF but if you were aware of the company’s partnership with the USWA then it might have been less surprising.

Read moreWWF Prime Time Wrestling – December 7th, 1992