Mid-Atlantic

Scott:

For what it’s worth, I loved the Mid-Atlantic reviews. I guess you need more people to justify doing them, but I dug it. I’d be down for any reviews of NWA Worldwide from the mid-80s, which I loved as a kid.

The show actually recovered well by the end of the day in terms of pageviews and revenue, if it makes you feel better.  Plus I've only got something like 5 episodes each left for Superstars and Heat, so I'm gonna need SOMETHING in the 40 minute range to review when those are done.  So we'll see.  It didn't end up as a total dumpster fire like Lucha Underground but I can usually tell when people are interested in something and this wasn't it.  Maybe if I go back to the more "modern" 1985 era I was doing for a bit? 

An uncomfortable question about the current state of affairs


Good morning Scott,

We all keep wondering about the lack of creatively and disappointing
booking from WWE… but what if the McMahon family are starting to feel the effects
of CTE? I was originally joking when I brought this up with friends but I’m starting to
wonder if the majority stockholders of WWE are starting to slowly lose their
minds from repeated concussions? You know they all have taken big bumps outside
of Linda. Wouldn't this explain things just a little bit? 

Shane is clearly suffering long-term damage from his career, and that's not even being facetious.  He can't remember promos and constantly messes up spots in his matches.  And that's not even counting the fact that he nearly has a heart attack doing his own ring entrance.  It's crystal clear he should be nowhere near a ring, which is why the current push is all the more sad. 

As for Vince, I wouldn't be shocked at all, if all the chairshots in the 90s are catching up to him.  Plus he's already older than his father was when he died and already appears to be turning in Verne Gagne.  

Two more 5 star match questions

Hi Scott,

Worst wrestler to achieve a 5 star match and best wrestler to never have a 5 star match?

If we're including WarGames then there's a whole host of answers, including Sid Vicious and Ray Traylor.  If we're only talking singles matches, then probably Scott Hall or Davey Boy Smith (or at least Davey in that stage of his life).  


Best to never have one has got to be wrestling's ultimate bridesmaid, Ted Dibiase. 

Shane as Champ

All jokes aside, if WWE actually went ahead and put the title on Shane would that be the modern day “Finger Poke of Doom”?

AEW is releasing Fyter Fest for free, and probably eagerly waiting for Vince to do something like this that would alienate the whole audience, fan base and wrestlers.

We survived Vince as champion, but if they do pull on the trigger on Shane, then that's gonna be an all-timer up there with Vince Russo and David Arquette's reigns. 

The SmarK Rant for New Japan BOSJ Finale–06.05.19

The SmarK Rant for New Japan Best of the Super Juniors Final 2019 – 06.05.19

Or at least the last two matches, since that’s what everyone wants out of me.

Also, I love New Japan World. Do you know what us tape traders in the 90s would have done or killed or had sex with to get access to something like this at that time?

Read moreThe SmarK Rant for New Japan BOSJ Finale–06.05.19

NXT UK – June 12, 2019

NXT UK
Date: June 12, 2019
Location: Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Nigel McGuinness

Tonight is a huge show as we have British Strong Style vs. Imperium, which should be the awesome match that everyone is expecting it to be. It’s not exactly a secret that there should be something big happening at the end but the question is what. Hopefully they can live up to the hype, which almost always tends to be the case. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNXT UK – June 12, 2019

Ex-Wrestler Lawsuit Against The WWE/F


Did an ex-wrestler sue the WWE/F back in the day for not receiving royalties or some kind of compensation for them selling video tapes/DVDs about him?  If so, who won the case?  I'm going to say it was Jessie Ventura, but am not totally sure.   

Dude, seriously.  I don't wanna be that way, but you could literally Google "Jesse Ventura royalties" and get the answer in like 3 seconds.  This is one of the most well known topics of the past couple of decades.

Monday Night Raw – January 10, 2005

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 10, 2005
Location: Office Depot Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Attendance: 7,500
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler

It’s the night after New Year’s Revolution and, of course, HHH is the World Champion again. This time isn’t so bad though as it’s pretty clear that Batista is waiting in the wings and will be the next big challenger as soon as the timing is right. That’s the only way they can go at the moment but we have the Royal Rumble in less than three weeks to help get us there. Let’s get to it.

Read moreMonday Night Raw – January 10, 2005

NXT – June 12, 2019

NXT
Date: June 12, 2019
Location: APGFCU Arena At Hartford Community College, Bel Air, Maryland
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Mauro Ranallo

We’re on the road again for the first regular show as we head towards Toronto in August. I’m not sure what to expect going forward, but we have about two months before the next Takeover, which should be enough time to set up something great. Hopefully things get back to normal around here, though even their off weeks are still good. Let’s get to it.

Read moreNXT – June 12, 2019

AEW vignettes


Have you seen what AEW has started doing? Introducing characters and letting them explain who they are. I didn’t know Joey Janella could do a promo. And Darby Allin and Shawn Spears actually have some back story to them. I hope AEW does more of this. https://youtu.be/uEB9CUGMoeo
But how can they build an emotional connection and put smiles on people’s faces if they don’t have 29 writers?  What a stupid business model.  

Keith Lee


Scott – sitting at an NXT taping right now and having seen Keith Lee live for the first time I’m enamored. I came to see Riddle, Cole and Velveteen, but holy geez this guy got me. Thoughts from what you’ve seen?  I mean, we all know they’ll suck the life out of him on the main roster but he has “it” for sure in the world of big guys.

I hate the name.  They should call him Wallabee Chuzzwazzer and have him be Australian for some reason.  Other than that, he’s money and they’ll be hard pressed to fuck him up until they call him up to the main roster and fuck him up.  

Wednesday Night Thread!

Tonight! Boston will probably win the Stanley Cup just to piss me off. It’s been, what, three months since the city won a major title? They’re due.

So no more Mid Atlantic. DULY NOTED.

Apparently you also dislike Bradley Baker. Well, unlike Mid Atlantic he pulls numbers for the blog so you’re outta luck.

NXT and UK and all that stuff tonight. GO BLUES!

What the World Was Watching: WCW Main Event – July 2, 1995

–Gene Okerlund and Bobby Heenan are at their desks in the studio for today’s broadcast, headlined by Randy Savage against Big Bubba Rogers.

–Okerlund hypes the Dungeon of Doom as a threat and how they are sending Vader out on a roadkill tour before Bash at the Beach.  Heenan says Vader could show up at any major sporting event to beat people up.

–A video package recaps the Hulk Hogan-Vader feud going back to Clash of the Champions in January.  Some footage from the USWA is spliced in as well, where Vader beat up some preliminary wrestlers in Memphis.

Read moreWhat the World Was Watching: WCW Main Event – July 2, 1995

WWF Superstars – November 13th, 1993

November 13, 1993

From the Burlington Civic Center in Burlington, VT

Your hosts are Vince McMahon and Jerry “The King” Lawler. We learn that WWF President Jack Tunney has barred Randy Savage from the broadcast booth. This was done as Savage was going to face Crush on the road at house shows. Also, we see that Hulk Hogan has been removed from the opening montage.

This week, Razor Ramon defends the Intercontinental Title against Rick Martel

Read moreWWF Superstars – November 13th, 1993

New ratings excuse

from Cagematch.net:

Tag Team Match
Alexa Bliss & Lacey Evans (w/Nikki Cross) defeat Bayley & Becky Lynch (10:45)

WWE RAW Women’s Champion- the hottest thing in wrestling going into 2019- and WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion- who only recently overcame years of bad presentation in one genius PPV segment and is the hottest she’s ever been since getting the call up- were both wrestling as a tag team on Monday Night RAW where half of the competitors were on the wrong show. You mean to tell me that the SMACKDOWN CHAMPION gets pinned by the Raw (or Smackdown? I’m not even sure anymore.) roster lady that was just beaten by the Charlotte a few days ago on National TV and lost to the RAW Champion cleanly at the last (real) PPV event?!… Oh my god… my f—ing head.

So both the Champions of these shows are losers who lose to the losers that lose to them? They don’t make my Zoloft strong enough… These are bad matchups. This is bad storytelling. This is BAD TV!!!

Read moreNew ratings excuse

Brock vs… Kofi?

Hi Scott,

What are the chances that WWE swerves us with Brock cashing in on Kofi at Stomping Grounds? This could lead to a SummerSlam rematch with Brock retaining. (Despite all the potential groans, Fox's SmackDown needs him as champ for name value).

Meanwhile, Seth can carry on for months about how Brock is a coward who ran away from him. Then, when WWE finally ditches the wild card crap and unifies the belts at Mania, it's Brock vs. Seth, finally, for the Universal WWE Title. 

Not that we don't already have enough fantasy bookers or 50 WWE writers, of course…
Yeah, I think Kofi is the better heat because Brock can be the guy to crush his dreams and as you noted, it establishes that Brock is a coward who won't face Seth despite multiple chances to do so.  That being said, they've undoubtedly used up ALL their punches on the Brock Lesnar Card until Summerslam, so I doubt it'll go down like that.  But the idea of getting Brock as champion before the FOX launch is probably the correct thought. 

Best Heel Comeuppance

This was being discussed in the daily thread and it got me thinking. What are some of the best examples of the heel getting his comeuppance. My favorite will always be The Mountie going to jail, but HTM at Summer Slam 88 and Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine working
on David Von Erich's ranch were also mentioned.

Honky Tonk Man is the gold standard, of course.  Andre the Giant finally seeing through Bobby Heenan's lies and beating the shit out of him at WM6 is a favorite as well.  Roddy Piper putting Adonis to sleep and then Beefcake shaving his head is double retribution, although in itself Piper taking the baseball bat to the Flower Shop was pretty good as well.  And Ultimate Warrior ending the Brother Love Show was a great moment too.

RAW

Hey Scott, I was reading an article where Mick Foley stated the 3rd hour of RAW is going to have more attitude Era elements. Is WWE changing the PG rating in the 3rd hour? I dont see see how this would work any way with the way creative is currently constituted. I mean if they booked some interesting television, RAW wouldn't even need the change. Stomping Ground looks like a horror show by the way.

Mick Foley is full of shit and no they're not changing the rating.