Wrestling

The SmarK Rant for Saturday Night’s Main Event #3 – 11.02.85

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The SmarK Rant for Saturday Night’s Main Event – 11.02.85

We’re immediately getting more into the formula that we know and love, as we get quick backstage promos from Hogan and Andre, Roddy Piper, and Terry Funk with “Tubular Bells” in the background instead of the more familiar bassline.  It’s Halloween, you see.

Taped from Hershey, PA, drawing 8000 and a 6.8 rating.

Your hosts are Vince McMahon & Jesse Ventura

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for Saturday Night’s Main Event #3 – 11.02.85

Daily News Update – September 27, 2020

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It’s CLASH OF CHAMPIONS day!  Time for another WWE Network Special spectacular as the stars of WWE perform sports entertainment and put smiles on faces.

Why Raw’s Main Event Had A Weird Ending (Hint: It Was A Vince Thing)

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/surprising-reason-weeks-monday-night-raw-ending/

Tegan Nox May Have Torn Her ACL

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/nxt-star-may-torn-acl/

Poll On Why Wrestling Fans Have Quit Watching

https://wrestlingrumors.net/tommyhall/interesting-new-poll-explores-wrestling-fans-quit-watching/

 

 

Gobots: Battle of the Rock Lords – Powerful Living Rocks!

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Some people said watching this would be akin to flogging me, but I guess I must be a little masochistic, because I’ve always had time for it. After the conclusion of the Challenge of the Gobots series, Hanna-Barbera took their shot at a movie version a little before Sunbow unveiled Transformers – The Movie with this crossover/introduction to the Rock Lords. It’s the final time we’d see the Guardians and the Renegades (and the first and last time we’d see the Rock Lords), and a few stars of the time were on board to play some of the new characters, so it does feel special if you’re into it.

Read moreGobots: Battle of the Rock Lords – Powerful Living Rocks!

Backlash 2006

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Backlash 2006
Date: April 30, 2006
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Attendance: 14,000
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

This is a very special show for me as I was in the audience live. It was the first pay per view I ever got to attend live and the only one I would see in person for about fourteen years. We have a two match show here with John Cena defending the World Title against HHH and Edge in a triple threat, plus Shawn Michaels/God vs. Vince McMahon/Shane McMahon in a match that can’t possibly take place without a lot of cringing. Let’s get to it.

Read moreBacklash 2006

Smackdown – April 28, 2006

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Smackdown
Date: April 28, 2006
Location: Wembley Arena, London, England
Attendance: 7,500
Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz

It’s time for a huge main event in 2/3 of a Wrestlemania rematch. This time around we have Rey Mysterio defending the World Title against Kurt Angle, with JBL waiting on the winner. Other than that it’s time to continue the King of the Ring as we continue the lull before the next Smackdown only pay per view. Let’s get to it.

Read moreSmackdown – April 28, 2006

How would you run AEW’s second show?

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Hi Scott,

I think AEW has done a great job of building up talent heading into their second show. I was afraid they were going to water down what they had to fill two shows.  But the way they have put a shine on Starks, Cage, Archer, Kingston, etc…. makes me think they are on the right path.

That being said, how would you run the second show?  Do you have storylines from Dynamite CI lead directly into the second show, or do you make it a distinct program with its own storylines/talent? 

With so much wrestling content on every week do you risk backlash if you make both shows required viewing. I personally have enjoyed not feeling like I miss anything if I skip the 234 weekly matches on AEW Dark.

I think they'll probably make it like a TV version of Being the Elite, very storyline-heavy and wacky. Dark is the show that's ALL wrestling, and Dynamite is the combination of both of them. 

Thanks,

Brian

Mike Reviews – Classic British Wrestling at Wembley Arena (18/06/1981)

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Hello You!

Back with more Classic British Wrestling, as we take a look at Joint-Promotion’s excursion to Wembley in 1981, featuring a match a lot of you may have heard off. If you fancy watching along then you can do so by visiting the website itvwrestling.co.uk and heading to the 1981 section. The matches for this taping were split across multiple Saturdays, so I’ll make sure the required dates are present so that you can seek out the induvial matches if you wish. It’s better to do it that way rather than post each one individually and possibly get the blog in a spot of bother with the Google overlords.

I’ve also got to give a shout out to wrestlingheritage.co.uk as well, as it proved invaluable in finding information on some of the wrestlers.

So without further ado, let’s watch some chuffing wrestling!

Read moreMike Reviews – Classic British Wrestling at Wembley Arena (18/06/1981)

The Dickman and a new faction?????

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So what if all the ladies in the WWE started talking about “him”. Very vague terms. Eventually “him” is just a mystery man with no name who has been seen hanging out in the ladies locker rooms and shower rooms. He eventually is called The Dickman because well
let's just say he's a lot of man. The ladies all stop giving a shit about their womens revolution and revert back to attitude era divas like catfights, bra and panties matches and lots of other lewdness. Like they all pretty much forget how to wrestle, they're
all just eye candy again. And it's because of jealousy because they all want to “get with” The Dickman.


BUT it turns out The Dickman is the son of Val Venis! Thus the massive unit. He's been scheming with both Son Of Gobbledy Gooker and Dominik Mysterio and that fat fuck somoan from Legacy back in 09. They form a new group called Son Of A Bitch or SOAB. All second
gen guys all looking for different types of revenge! They can feud with both Retribution, Underground and all the WWE guys and also NXT. 
But NOT NXT UK. 

I think they need to hire you, stat.  

Transformers – Arrival From Cybertron!

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I’ve had this one in my pocket for a few weeks. Transformers is one of the biggest toylines and brands of all time and it all started here. Hasbro imported a variety of Japanese transforming robot toys, put them all together and have been counting the piles of money ever since. Transformers kicked off with a three-part mini-series titled More Than Meets the Eye, released in the UK on video as Arrival From Cybertron, with title cards, next episode previews and last episode recaps removed to make an hour-long movie, which is the form I’m looking at it in today.

Read moreTransformers – Arrival From Cybertron!

Smackdown – September 25, 2020

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Smackdown
Date: September 25, 2020
Location: Amway Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

It’s the go home show for Clash Of Champions though the Smackdown side of things might not interest you the most. The blue main event for Sunday’s show will feature Roman Reigns defending against Jey Uso, which kind of slows down the interest that the show is going to have. Maybe the last show before Sunday can help things out. Let’s get to it.

Read moreSmackdown – September 25, 2020

Friday Night Party Thread: September 25, 2020

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We made it!

I want to thank the untold… dozen of you who joined me on my excursion to Japanese wrestling today.  I know I’m a very wordy guy, so I imagine my style doesn’t QUITE lend itself to 20-30 minute main events the way it does to the 5-10 minute stuff on Dark.  But I had fun, and Lawrence was a great sport about it.

Tonight, it’s the go-home show for Clash of Champions Gold Rush thingy.  SmackDown doesn’t have much prepping to do, mind you, as their four matches are set.  Maybe we’ll see someone challenge for the 24/7 title.

Everyone who saw Dark knows that Carter/Johnson was the best match of my tenure so far.  But in case you’re wondering how good that could be, here you go:

All right, we’ve been over the rules.  I want a good, clean thread.  I need you to respect the mod’s rulings at all times.  Now, touch gloves, go to your computers, and come out posting!

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

What the World Was Watching: USWA Championship Wrestling – August 5, 1995

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Lance Russell and Dave Brown are continuing their regular commentary duties from the WMC-TV5 studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

Read moreWhat the World Was Watching: USWA Championship Wrestling – August 5, 1995

Andy PG Does Japan, Volume 1!

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So a little backstory: two weeks ago I was in a bit of a funk at work and a couple of the Late Night Puro Crew was talking about their favorite matches. I said “I know y’all like to put playlists together, can you let me know the next time so we can watch together?” Turned out that was all the motivation Lawrence Talbot (esteemed board member) needed, and he said he’d love to do it that night after SmackDown. He asked what sort of stuff I wanted to see, and I just said let’s have variety… then I came back an hour later and made a request of one particular match that I’d always wanted to see. He found it and included it, alongside a wonderful collection of past and present puro and joshi.

While watching with him, I told him this was the kind of thing I could get a fun review column out of. And it wouldn’t be fair for me to tease him this long without delivering, would it? So after some delay, here is my recap of the six matches on the list.

A word of warning: I have never studied Japanese and have no idea what the announcers are talking about, so a lot of context of the match may be lost on me. And a word of warning to you: not every move has the same hierarchical position in Japan that it does here in the States. For example, a superkick is a big deal when it connects in an American match and can usually steal a two-count; Japan doesn’t think much of it. Nor are they that impressed by piledrivers compared to the US. However, do a hard enough clothesline and Japan will be convinced the match is over. (So if you’ve ever wondered why Okada does a Tombstone before the Rainmaker, there you go.) I’m pretty sure this speaks to the legendary status of Shawn Michaels, Jerry Lawler, and Stan Hansen respectively; it’s like how the DDT was a high-level move for years after Jake Roberts retired.

AFTERNOON UPDATE: By request, videos have been added!

Read moreAndy PG Does Japan, Volume 1!

Gable in Retribution

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I realize I'm probably putting more thought into this than WWE, but if Retribution's schtick is supposed grievances with how WWE has handled their careers, wouldn't having people stuck in stupid gimmicks forced on them by WWE, like Chad Gable, being the leader make sense?
Yeah but in storyline Chad Gable likes his gimmick.