ECW on Sci Fi
Date: June 26, 2007
Location: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Commentators: Joey Styles, Tazz
Then everything changed again, as it became clear that Chris Benoit had killed his wife and son. As a result, Benoit will more or less be erased from wrestling history and everything will move on at normal speed. The Vince McMahon limo story is gone but we do have a new ECW World Champion in Johnny Nitro. Let’s get to it.
Good evening, wrestling fans! I’m Gorilla Monsoon, and welcome to another action-packed Night Thread, live from the Mecca of all of online professional wrestling discussion, Scott Keith’s Blog of Doom. The electricity is indeed in the air; you could literally cut it with a knife.
On this day 30 years ago, The Hulkster faced his gravest challenge, as he defended the coveted World Wrestling Federation Title against The Undertaker at the annual Thanksgiving tradition, the Survivor Series, in 1991. To say this match ended in controversy would be an understatement – due to the unwanted involvement of “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, the whole affair turned into a gargantuan miscarriage of justice. Take a look at all the action below, uploaded to YouTube by those great people at World Wrestling Entertainment headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
Talk about that, wrestling fans, and a whole lot more here in an unbelievable Night Thread. But remember, too many derogatory remarks and I’ll have you taken outta here.
Rest in peace Continental Lover Eddie Mansfield, who has apparently died. Ultimately, this would be his most famous fifteen minutes.
Howdy Ho Stinkerinos!
Back with another Reader Request this month, as we look at the LPWA’s failed foray into pay per view courtesy of Dave Newman.
For those not acquainted with these reviews, I look back at a show that has a bad reputation and decide whether it deserves it or not. This one is probably going to be more the case of production woes dragging things down, as looking at the list of wrestlers included then the in-ring aspect should likely be decent once the bell rings.
The Ladies Pro Wrestling Association was a women’s only federation from 1989-1992 that tried to present the women as actual wrestlers as opposed to companies like GLOW, that focused more on gimmicks and titillation.
The company was run by a guy called John Berg and they produced some television and VHS releases before throwing their hat into the pay per view realm. I’ve decided to do minimal research into the women I don’t know for this one to see how good a job the LPWA does of introducing its roster to a new viewer. I might even factor that into the eventual decision at the end actually. I’m going into it as someone who has never watched the product before and we’ll see how good a job the LPWA does of getting me up to speed.
Thanks to the comment section for giving a recommendation for my next unusual Japanese wrestling match to review. I present to you, from May 18th, 1995, the IWA House Death Match!
The SmarK Rant for AEW Rampage – 11.26.21
Thanks to everyone who took advantage of the Black Friday special on the rant archives today! It took me a while to send out the links to everyone because I was busy getting mauled at work all day but I’m pretty sure I was able to get everything done tonight. If you didn’t send me an email address LIKE I ASKED, I messaged you the link via PayPal so check there.
Rampage
Date: November 26, 2021
Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois
Commentators: Taz, Ricky Starks, Chris Jericho, Excalibur
The Chicago swing continues and this time around we have the short form show. There are a few matches announced this week, including the Confirmed Time Period vs. the Best Friends and Riho vs. Britt Baker. That makes for a good start to the show and we should be in for a fun night. Let’s get to it.
Monday Night Raw
Date: June 25, 2007
Host: Todd Grisham
This week, the Chris Benoit Tribute Show aired, but then the details started to come out, meaning Benoit’s place in wrestling was completely changed. When Raw aired later in other markets, a Best Of show was shown instead. For the sake of completion, I’ll be looking at it to, so let’s get to it.
Monday Night Raw
Date: June 25, 2007
Location: American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield, Michael Cole, Joey Styles, Tazz
At some point over the last week, Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself at his home. Their bodies were found on Monday, but the cause of death was not made clear by the time this show aired. As a result, there are no fans here and the original plans for the show, meaning Vince McMahon’s memorial service, were wiped out. Instead it’s a tribute to Benoit, as things had not yet changed for him. Let’s get to it.
Smackdown
Date: November 26, 2021
Location: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
We’re done with Survivor Series, where a grand total of very little took place. Raw won the Battle For Brand Supremacy but Roman Reigns beat Big E. in the show’s main event. We are now on the way to Day 1 and Reigns’ next challenger will be determined this week via a battle royal. Let’s get to it.
TONIGHT! We get the fallout from Survivor Series, and Roman Reigns needs a challenger to steamroll! Plus, let’s see if Riho can regain the Women’s Title — Step 1 is tonight on Rampage!
TOMORROW! Ohio State and Michigan! Wisconsin and Minnesota! Oklahoma and Oklahoma State! Virginia and Virginia Tech! RIVALRIES EVERYWHERE! IT’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL HATE WEEK!
SUNDAY! The weekend is over, sigh.
But first — Jim Cornette goes off on Vince Russo, part 93275980347:
All right, folks, we’ve been over the rules. Obey the mods’ instructions at all times. I expect a good, clean thread. Now — touch gloves, go to your keyboards, and come out posting!
ENJOY THE WEEKEND!
Vince McMahon and Roddy Piper are calling the action, and they are taped from Providence, Rhode Island. According to thehistoryofwwe.com, these tapings took place on August 8 and drew a sellout crowd of 15,000 fans.
This week, we look back at the 1986 issue of WWF Magazine that went to press on in late November of 1985 and sold for $2.25 in the U.S and $3.00 in Canada. With a cover featuring Hulk Hogan, we’re teased with stories about Special Delivery Jones, the Hillbillies, and “The night Hulk saw red.” Let’s make like Jim Brunzell and jump in.
Sidenote: is Guinness following the wrestling world if 2021 breaks the record for most ladder matches in a year? Nxt is having a gimmick match determine something in another gimmick match!!!
I don’t know if he had already been doing the house show loop with Taker (and thus would have been moved to Jake) but it really does leave a lot of possibilities. Do you know what the plan was?
The SmarK Rant for WWF Superstars – 02.26.94
Happy Black Friday! Well not for us retail slaves but for everyone else I suppose. But hey, I too can get in on the Black Friday action, by offering the almighty Rant Archives at a 50% discount for today only! November 26 2021 in case you’re reading this in the future. So instead of the usual $20, just shoot me $10 via Paypal at [email protected] with your preferred contact email and I’ll send you the OneDrive link containing the sum total of all my writings for the past 30 years or whatever we’re up to these days, updated in real time as I write them. You think a new TV or a PS5 is gonna give you that kind of satisfaction? I THINK NOT.
Impact is doing a special Thanksgiving WrestleHouse today. I have no idea if stories will be advanced or if this is a skippable episode — but it’s not like Impact has been anywhere near as bad as their past.
Currently watching Raiders/Cowboys; later tonight is Bills/Saints. Or, if you need college football rivalry time, Mississippi and Mississippi State square off in a game that, in the past, was decided by a wide receiver imitating a dog using a fire hydrant. No, I’m not kidding.
Meanwhile, the independents:
