Wrestling

Friday Night Party Thread: October 19, 2018

We made it!

YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE at Fox Hall in Annandale, VA, and the VFD, where fans are starting to file in for NOVA Pro’s Sadie Hawkins Invitational!  Some last second car issues have led to a couple changes in the card, but we still have 8 mixed doubles squads ready to thrill and delight, and an absolute war between Tim Donst and PCO on tap!

For those of you who aren’t, well, me and therefore are still at home, a reminder that CMLL Super Viernes is doing a 40th anniversary celebration of Blue Panther’s career with Cavernario/Terrible/Rush vs Finlay/Caristico/Penta up top.  If you’re a baseball fan, the Dodgers go to Milwaukee hoping to join Boston in the World Series.  Football fans will have a choice of two Mountain West games: Colorado State/Boise State on ESPN2 and Air Force/UNLV on CBSSN.  Or, if you’re feeling nerdy, go to ESPNU and watch Yale/Penn!

Enjoy the weekend!

Six of the Best – WCW Halloween Havoc

Last time out I listed what I believed to be the six best matches from WWF/WWE’s No Mercy event. This time I’ll be taking a look at what was traditionally WCW’s October offering in the form of Halloween Havoc.

As always, this is just my own personal picks and it isn’t supposed to be some sort of objective list or anything. If I leave out a match that you think warrants inclusion then please feel free to put it down in the comments section below. As with previous lists, I’ll be listing the matches in chronological order.

So without further to do, let’s get to it!

Read moreSix of the Best – WCW Halloween Havoc

What the World Was Watching: WCW Pro – March 11, 1995

–Gordon Solie, Dusty Rhodes & Larry Zybszko are doing commentary and they are still taped from Gainesville, Georgia.

–A replay of Hulk Hogan attacking Vader on WCW Saturday Night last week is shown, along with Hogan’s ensuing interview.  Zbyszko notes that Hogan is so scared of Vader that he had to attack him when Vader was not looking.

Read moreWhat the World Was Watching: WCW Pro – March 11, 1995

Giant WCW debut as Son of Andre

Why did everyone get so bent out of shape when The Giant debuted as the Son of Andre, but people didn't have as big a problem when Kane debuted as Undertaker's brother?


Isn't that basically the same thing?  Two family type stories in wrestling between guys who weren't actually related.

Probably because Andre had just died a couple of years before and it's a tad disrespectful, and no one had permission from either him or his real family to do that storyline.   

Best in the world?


Ok, I get this is a long shot, but…

This whole “World Cup” tournament thingamajig is supposedly to determine the “best in the world.”  WWE has really doubled down on that phrase – the commentary teams couldn’t go five minutes without using it this past week.  Now it’s common knowledge that “best in the world” was CM Punk’s gimmick.  It’s also been apparent that the Saudis – remember, this whole World Cup concept was designed for these new international super oil money house shows on the Network – are much more interested in older stars than the current product.  And that all that oil money has lured some back to the ring *cough Shawn cough*. Sooo…could this “best in the world” tournament be a reveal that a truckload of Saudi oil/blood money has bought peace between CM Punk and Vince McMahon/Triple H?

Sent from my iPhone

I’m gonna go with “no”. 

Rock Star Gary reflects on WWF Monday Night RAW 07-19-1993

Live from New York, NY

Airdate: July 19, 1993

Attendance: 1,200 (sold out)

Hosted by Vince McMahon, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Will Jannetty make it 2 for 2 against Michaels on RAW? Can Tiny Tim make the “King” tip-toe through the tulips? Let’s find out!

Read moreRock Star Gary reflects on WWF Monday Night RAW 07-19-1993

Impact Wrestling – October 18, 2018

Impact Wrestling
Date: October 18, 2018
Location: Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York
Commentators: Josh Matthews, Don Callis

It’s a big show this week as we’re officially past Bound For Glory, meaning the long road towards Homecoming begins. That can wait in a few weeks though as we’re now looking at the fallout from the biggest show of the year. Johnny Impact FINALLY won the World Title from Austin Aries, who seems to be done with the promotion for the time being. Let’s get to it.

Read moreImpact Wrestling – October 18, 2018

Biggest fan rejection to a heel turn?



Have you ever seen a bigger fan rejection of turning someone heel and trying to get them booed like Becky Lynch?  The only one that I think of that even comes close was the Undertaker in late 2001, early 2002.  

Road Warriors in 88. One if the most ridiculously misguided attempts at turning someone ever.  Fans were literally cheering them DURING the heel turn.  

Castrating the Marks


Do you ever listen to the 'Castrating the Marks' podcast? I find it

hilarious, as it exposes Meltzer, Keller, Alvarez and the rest for what

they really are.

There's a 'Best of Year 1' up now. But at FOUR HOURS, I doubt anyone can

do it in one listen.

https://russosbrand.com/2018/10/16/best-of-castrating-the-marks-year-1/

I can't believe I once took what Metlzer and co. said seriously.

Just out of curiosity, what part of anything I’ve ever written in the past 20 years, during most of which I’ve been an Observer subscriber, would lead to you to think I’d want to listen to a four hour podcast bashing Meltzer?

Impact, Indies, and Insanity: October 18, 2018

Impact Wrestling has the fallout show of Bound For Glory.  Matches include Trevor Lee against Ethan Page, Allie taking on Alisha Edwards, and the X Title on the line as Brian Cage defends against Rich Swann.

Your NFL Game of the Week of the Day is Denver/Arizona.  Meanwhile, the NCAA Appetizer is Stanford taking on Arizona State, while Game 5 of the ALCS is tonight as Boston hopes to get to the World Series.

After the jump, we’ll look at the weekend in independent wrestling.

Read moreImpact, Indies, and Insanity: October 18, 2018

2019 HOF follow up


Doesn’t it seem like the best/most obvious way to go at this point would be to have Batista headline the class and wrestle HHH at Mania?  Although from everything I’ve heard him say in interviews, he’d be more interested in a program if he comes back so maybe stretch it out from RR to Mania so Hunter can get his win before Dave goes over in their final match.

Does it really matter who actually wins the match, though?  If HHH beats him, so what?  In fact, I'd be shocked if he didn't.  As long as neither one wins the Rumble, I'm fine either way.

Can it get worse for WWE in Saudi Arabia?

You bet!
The NY Times just posted an insane article with the ugly details of Saudi Arabia’s government torturing & killing a journalist: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/world/europe/turkey-saudi-khashoggi-dismember.html
At this point, is there any good way out for WWE? Theyve waited too long to do anything. 
I mean – this show can’t happen, right??
Look, let me explain in the wise words of JBL:  They have to go over there because they’re trying to encourage change from within!  Also, they ran a show right after 9/11, and that’s totally the same thing!
Anyway, for those of us in the real world, the insanity factor was upped even more this morning on Observer radio, because now analysts are saying that they’re only going to make a couple of million dollars in profit on these shows, although it’s not clear if that just means this year’s shows due to startup costs, or if it means there’s escalators in the money as the deal goes on.
Also, in case it wasn’t crystal clear from my stance on the show in general, there’s no fucking way I’m reviewing or even watching this show.  In fact I wish I hadn’t wasted four hours on Greatest Royal Rumble.

BoD Daily Update: October 18, 2018

ESPN.com Article on Toni Storm

http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/25007877/wwe-mae-young-classic-standout-toni-storm-playing-key-role-evolving-world-women-wrestling

 

Deadspin Article on Backlash Over the WWE’s Saudi Arabia Deal

https://deadspin.com/wwe-is-not-handling-the-backlash-to-its-saudi-deal-very-1829819920

 

WWE Free Match

You can watch Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. Lay-Cool in a Tables Match From the 2010 TLC PPV

Rock Star Gary reflects on WWF Monday Night RAW 07-12-1993

Taped from New York, NY

Airdate: July 12, 1993 (taped 7/5)

Attendance: unknown

Hosted by Vince McMahon, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan

Will Crush capture the WWF title one week removed from the “body slam heard ‘round the world”? Can the Brooklyn Brawler use his hometown advantage and beat the currently undefeated Tatanka? Let’s find out!

Read moreRock Star Gary reflects on WWF Monday Night RAW 07-12-1993

NXT – October 17, 2018

NXT
Date: October 17, 2018
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Mauro Ranallo, Percy Watson, Nigel McGuinness

It’s time for another title match because NXT is smart enough to set these things up in advance. This time we have the Tag Team Titles on the line as the Undisputed Era puts the titles on the line against the War Raiders. That sounds like a recipe for destruction but NXT likely has a few tricks up its sleeve. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNXT – October 17, 2018

UK hot takes


Hey Scott,

Just saw the UK show… bleh. Dunne is a very cool added, mid card attraction a la Eddie guerrero/Chris Benoit 1995. I'm not sure why someone like him needs an entire "brand" centered around him at this point in his development. Nothing says "big time house drawing main event" like: pete dunne vs. The guy who actually made alicia fox interesting for 90 days on tv minus the freaking gimmick. That was every indy style main event ever for the past 7 years they just did. 


Tyler Bate and Trent Seven are money and always have been. Again, they are great additions to the meat and potatoes of a given card. Who the he'll are they working that is on their level?!


People like Dave Mastiff are the REASON gimmicks exist. You have a guy that looks like a freak and he goes out there as a wrestler… yawn.

More Wolfgang matches. Are you excited yet? Me neither bro.


Also, wouldn't it serve the show better to have occasional nxt tag title defenses rather than a gosh darned 4th set of unique frikkin tag titles?

That show is proof that you could put 2 squirls f___ing inbetween a set of ropes in england and it would still get a "this is awesome" chant. Yeck!

Brad

Hot takes indeed.  Still don’t think I’m watching it though. 

Evolution to Dismember



Steph announced Evolution on 7/23. It’s 10/17 and there are THREE main show matches announced, plus a battle royal… the ultimate in lazy “get everyone on the card” booking. Not too mention this is the THIRD battle royal for women this year after Rumble and WM. The Bellas werent even on TV when this ppv was announced and now Nikki  is main eventing!

They have the NXT and MYC matches but still the main roster women are essentially afterthoughts. Why not do a women’s World Cup? Or inaugural tag title tournament?

 This plus the Saudi bloody money ppv are just piling on the shit for WWE.



The Evolution thing is more about branding and politics, not drawing money or putting on a good show. They’ll make it succeed because they need it to.