The Masked Reviewer chats with "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan about Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies, Mid-South Wrestling, Legends House, Bruiser Brody, Vince Russo, turning heel, 2x4s, and more...
Went to WWE.com to check, there's currently 26 named participants in the Battle Royal all of whom are WWE regulars with no retired Legends. Some of the active Superstars that are currently listed on the roster page but with no current Mania match are...Alex Riley,Alexander Rusev,Bad News Barrett,Camacho,Curt Hawkins,David Otunga,Evan Bourne,Erick Rowan,Ezekiel Jackson,Hunico,Jason Albert,JTG,Luke Harper,Tyson Kidd,Xavier Woods & Yoshi Tatsu.
Christ,what a bloated roster. If it was up to me i'd slot the final 4 entrants as Alexander Rusev,Bad News Barrett plus throw in Booker T and Hulk Hogan too. Fuck it, why not?
This episode of Old School is different. Tag team guys in singles matches. I checked out the card online and found that the main event for this show was a tag team battle royal, as wells as Hogan vs. Orndorff.
Not particularly. I have zero interest in Japanimation/Anime. And the board game tie-in seems like it skews a bit young. But it certainly doesn't offend me when Marvel wants to make superhero products for children so more power to them I suppose. On the flip side I have the entire Avengers Earth Mightiest Heroes series on DVD and it may be the best Marvel cartoon series ever so that is well worth checking out for those looking for a recommendation.
Kind of a weak episode of Old School there. SD Jones vs. Brutus Beefcake, Gatorwolf vs. Greg Valentine, Davey Boy Smith vs. The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff for the WWF Championship, and a tag team battle royal. Jobbers, DQ's, count outs, and a rather uninspired battle royal.
I need to say that you really stirred it up between Rock Star Gary and myself. We never really had an issue until now. Now it looks like it might be on for BoD Mania: the Pre-Show Edition.
I feel bad about the way I treat Paul... he is a nice guy and a decent writer... but there is something about him that makes me want to steal his (considerable) lunch money and stick him in a (extra sized) locker.
See I couldn't even get through that without being an asshole.
Some are thick-skinned, others are sensitive. I'm of the school of thought that if you think a guy is seriously being a dick, fuck it, it's the internet. Go watch some porn to make you feel better.
Vince is the most fascinating guy ever. He's probably a little eccentric in nature to begin with but he's insulated within the over the top world of wrestling, with essentially complete power. I could listen/read about him all day.
I agree across the board. Not a lot of credible threats for Luger in '93/94, but if you are building to a match with Bret Hart, I guess you really just need a Rumble opponent (Borga, as you mentioned, would work fine) and some guys for house shows.
I definitely concur that Luger should have gone ratfuck heel and chased Diesel's belt in '95.
Yep. And on a slightly related topic, I hate baseball bats and sledgehammers too, because it makes the guy who uses it look kind of dumb, as they use it about the only way where it doesn't kill his opponent. So why use it? At least with a chair, you can swing it hard and not kill the guy.
That's what always bothered me about his immediate face turn and alliance with Rock. You tried to run the freaking guy over with a car 2 weeks ago, and now you guys are buddies?
Random side note (and I know I've seen some similar comments here and there)...I never realized just how much I hate the smarky crowds constantly chanting these days ("this is awesome", etc). Watching all this older stuff where there is absolutely none of that and it's just...glorious
Actually and surprisingly, it ISN'T full of jobbers and lower card wrestlers. They do have guys like Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Big Show, Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Big E, Rey Mysterio, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust.
Raw is not the # 1 show on cable tv. It ain't even close, i checked again after i heard Michael Cole crow on about it on monday night.
The Walking Dead does 3 times the numbers that Raw does. Other shows that beat Raw last week on cable include, Talking Dead,Duck Dynasty,Pawn Stars & The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.
However Raw does legit place all 3 hours Of Raw in the Top 10 and is far and away USA Networks # 1 show.
It seems like it was forever ago when Raw was dominating cable and setting cable records that stood for years until Monday Night Football moved to ESPN.
Yeah, but it ain't anymore. They still average over 4 million viewers on Monday Night and those are very impressive numbers. USA Network last week ranked # 3 on cable behind TBS & TNT. Without Raw, which is a definite possibility by the fall they could plummet all the way to # 6 or 7.
The WWE is very important to them. But what can i say i hate when the WWE outright lies. Even worse when reporters puppet those figures without checking.
I got no problem with spin jobs when they're factual. Sure beating out Saturday primetime broadcast repeats means exactly jack shit but at least it's true. Saying thank you WWE Universe for making Monday Night Raw the number one show on cable last week is an outright bold faced lie.
I haven't been paying a lot of attention, but it appears their ratings have creeped up a bit over the last month or two. Last weeks was like the highest in two years according to The Observer.
I did like that Sting/Luger/Flair triple threat. That said though that tag match would have been a big draw if you ask me. Of course now, where do you put Flair for that Starrcade and who has the belt? Where does The Giant go?
Daniel Bryan gets a Center Stage-type show, interviewing celebrities and Michael Kay has to promote it by saying YES! YES! YES! every time a Yankee hits a home run.
Val's gimmick was too gimmicky and smutty to have upper card status. They tried in fall 99 too.
Val was great for the era. He was an awesome worker who got huge pops. Looking back he was excellent at the 15 minute midcard ppv matches and short, energetic Raw sprints. They just never knew how to repackage him when the porn gimmick ran its course.
Give him a Backlund half decade reign.
ReplyDeleteHe already did. Big steph
ReplyDelete"Can't imagine this ever happening with Vince still six feet above the ground."
ReplyDeleteVince can fly?!?
He means Vince's Lee Press-On Hair (TM J. Lawler 1993).
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting point. There really isn't anyone else I'd trust to run a wrestling company the scale of wwe.
ReplyDeleteThey did, at least on the first one.
ReplyDeleteWent to WWE.com to check, there's currently 26 named participants in the Battle Royal all of whom are WWE regulars with no retired Legends. Some of the active Superstars that are currently listed on the roster page but with no current Mania match are...Alex Riley,Alexander Rusev,Bad News Barrett,Camacho,Curt Hawkins,David Otunga,Evan Bourne,Erick Rowan,Ezekiel Jackson,Hunico,Jason Albert,JTG,Luke Harper,Tyson Kidd,Xavier Woods & Yoshi Tatsu.
ReplyDeleteChrist,what a bloated roster. If it was up to me i'd slot the final 4 entrants as Alexander Rusev,Bad News Barrett plus throw in Booker T and Hulk Hogan too. Fuck it, why not?
This episode of Old School is different. Tag team guys in singles matches. I checked out the card online and found that the main event for this show was a tag team battle royal, as wells as Hogan vs. Orndorff.
ReplyDeleteHe's a decent draft scout, but an AWFUL coach/GM.
ReplyDeleteAeerrgghhhh
ReplyDeleteDolan's one good quality, his loyalty, still manages to completely fuck the Knicks.
ReplyDeleteHis package pilvedriver will be no more....
ReplyDeleteYou know what, your right. Throw Hogan in there. Have 29 guys in, then Hogan marches out, crowd eats it up, he wins, everyones happy.
ReplyDeleteI mean he could do it. All he would really take is worked punches and since he wins he wouldn't have to take the over the top rope bump
Stone Cold as the tech expert on that show was fucking awesome.
ReplyDelete"Slim-Jims, for those times when you don't really care what part of the cow you're eating." Twenty+ years, I never forgot that line.
ReplyDeleteNot particularly. I have zero interest in Japanimation/Anime. And the board game tie-in seems like it skews a bit young. But it certainly doesn't offend me when Marvel wants to make superhero products for children so more power to them I suppose.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side I have the entire Avengers Earth Mightiest Heroes series on DVD and it may be the best Marvel cartoon series ever so that is well worth checking out for those looking for a recommendation.
Kind of a weak episode of Old School there. SD Jones vs. Brutus Beefcake, Gatorwolf vs. Greg Valentine, Davey Boy Smith vs. The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan vs. Paul Orndorff for the WWF Championship, and a tag team battle royal. Jobbers, DQ's, count outs, and a rather uninspired battle royal.
ReplyDelete3/10
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the "Eddie"-like chair shot from Hogan to win by countout.
ReplyDeleteMan I don't know why I worshiped Hogan as a kid... most of his 1980's stuff is the shits... but even now I mark a little bit when he shows up.
ReplyDeleteOoooooooo the Hogan/Rock confrontation episode is on. I've never actually seen it before.
ReplyDeleteNostalgia. That's why Hogan gets pops for his big returns, and then we wish he went away the next week.
ReplyDeleteHHH losing to angle only to win back the number one contendership was dumb.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Austin looked like hell in the old school Raw segment.
Words cannot describe how much I despise James Dolan
ReplyDeleteExcept that one douchebag that thinks he should win the title
ReplyDeleteAs someone mentioned at the beginning of this thread, WWE works miracles with their bandage wraps.
ReplyDeleteI need to say that you really stirred it up between Rock Star Gary and myself. We never really had an issue until now. Now it looks like it might be on for BoD Mania: the Pre-Show Edition.
ReplyDeleteI speak: Shit happens. True Facts.
ReplyDeleteIt's better than being the guest referee for the Divas match between Meekin and Princess.
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ReplyDeleteI feel bad about the way I treat Paul... he is a nice guy and a decent writer... but there is something about him that makes me want to steal his (considerable) lunch money and stick him in a (extra sized) locker.
See I couldn't even get through that without being an asshole.
Acting like you wouldn't end up being sick of him for that long.
ReplyDeleteWow, I forgot Mr. Perfect came back!
ReplyDeleteI kid, I kid. If Meekin wasn't such a good sport, this wouldn't be a conversation.
ReplyDeleteAgreed... but I think I have taken it too far at times and he doesn't get that I am just fucking with him.
ReplyDeleteHe appears to be intoxicated.....I mean, in hindsight and all.
ReplyDeleteHe did well in the '02 Rumble.
ReplyDeleteThat promo he cut, he's definitely slurring some words.
ReplyDeleteProbably forgot what it was like to be in an actual wrestling company.
ReplyDeleteI kinda like the idea actually
ReplyDeleteSome are thick-skinned, others are sensitive. I'm of the school of thought that if you think a guy is seriously being a dick, fuck it, it's the internet. Go watch some porn to make you feel better.
ReplyDeleteStill not sure if he is trolling.
ReplyDeleteYou're leaving money on the table.
ReplyDeleteHogan talking normally? Wow.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe this would be the man responsible for hitting a man with a truck only hours later.
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced he is
ReplyDeleteIt's 80 cents. And it's more like a stool.
ReplyDeleteHogan Fears Aging sign in the crowd. 11 years after this, he's hosting Mania.
ReplyDeleteI really do like the network tape library but I could definitely see myself canceling my subscription if they stopped including the ppvs
ReplyDeleteHas there been talk of that?
ReplyDeleteI think it is Foley... he said he has a profile on here but he is "undercover" or some shit
ReplyDeleteI'd gladly shell out the $9.99 a month if they freakin' uploaded Prime Time.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, after watching Wrestlemania 28 last night, Rock looks tiny.
ReplyDeleteLulz..."undercover." Maybe. I was wondering what happened to him and CAPS.
ReplyDeleteNot that I heard. Just a random observation.
ReplyDeleteI do think eventually the game plan for them should be to make at least the big 3 ppvs (WM, RR, and SS) an a la cart purchase
HA
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely some slight "Rocky sucks" chants during this segment.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching this live thinking how dumb the head turning was.
ReplyDelete@SmarkitySmark on Twitter sounding like a mark.
ReplyDeleteVince is the most fascinating guy ever. He's probably a little eccentric in nature to begin with but he's insulated within the over the top world of wrestling, with essentially complete power. I could listen/read about him all day.
ReplyDeleteRock looks so....normal.
ReplyDelete"OH BROTHER! A Rock Bottom to Hogan!"
ReplyDeleteI feel like this episode should have had it's own thread. There was no BoD at this time.
ReplyDeleteI agree across the board. Not a lot of credible threats for Luger in '93/94, but if you are building to a match with Bret Hart, I guess you really just need a Rumble opponent (Borga, as you mentioned, would work fine) and some guys for house shows.
ReplyDeleteI definitely concur that Luger should have gone ratfuck heel and chased Diesel's belt in '95.
This segment definitely went on WAY TOO LONG now.
ReplyDeleteThey should have saved the beat down for Smackdown.
Nah. This was huuuuge back then.
ReplyDeleteI have ALWAYS hated the hammer to the head. I mean, aside from throwing guys off cells and such, a hammer is fucking attempted murder.
ReplyDeleteSame with the Orton punt.
ReplyDeleteIs Luger on the wwe payroll in some capacity or did I dream this?
ReplyDeleteYep. And on a slightly related topic, I hate baseball bats and sledgehammers too, because it makes the guy who uses it look kind of dumb, as they use it about the only way where it doesn't kill his opponent. So why use it? At least with a chair, you can swing it hard and not kill the guy.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, I hate semis also.
ReplyDeleteHow did Hulk Hogan NOT go to jail for that?
ReplyDeleteThey had perfectly clear video evidence, too.
ReplyDeleteThe miracle of WWF Authentic Medicinal Bandage Wraps (for ribs only).
ReplyDeleteAm I crazy or do the Godfather's hoes look like they REALLY don't want to be there?
ReplyDeleteLOL. Dem hoes be illin'
ReplyDeleteLet's follow up an attempt on a life with the Godfather's intro.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, they didn't even bother to dance.
ReplyDeleteBooker T vs. The Godfather. A dream match.
ReplyDeleteNot long after this, The Godfather went legit....and then he left altogether. This batch ruined him.
ReplyDeleteGodfather looks like Little Daddy V.
ReplyDeleteStupid feud in 2002 WWF: Booker and Edge fighting over the spot in the Japanese shampoo commercial.
ReplyDeleteI get it now. Da hoes are worried about Rocky.
ReplyDeleteSo... if memory serves me correctly, the Godfather turned heel on the hoes on an episode of Velocity later on this year.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I remember it. After he ditched the hoes, he wasn't long for the WWE.
ReplyDeleteThe strudel has been destroyed.
ReplyDeleteThe new Intercontinental Title they have looks os much better than the one Regal is wearing.
ReplyDeleteThis was THE main event theme for Edge.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a good RVD buttsweat match....
ReplyDeleteIt's the singles guys who are feuding with each other teaming up with two other guys who are feuding with each other tag team match.
ReplyDeleteI'll give them credit, it's better than anything they've come up with for mid card feuds today.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, they don't do it enough today.
ReplyDeleteHow EXACTLY did the nWo set up the Rock? Did they know the Rock was going to interrupt Hogan's promo and challenge him to a match?
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to remember if this is Dustin's second or third stint.
ReplyDeleteThat's what always bothered me about his immediate face turn and alliance with Rock. You tried to run the freaking guy over with a car 2 weeks ago, and now you guys are buddies?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the second after he left in 1999.
ReplyDelete3rd
ReplyDelete1990.
ReplyDelete1996.
2002.
3rd if you count his debut at Royal Rumble 1991 as his first
ReplyDeleteRandom side note (and I know I've seen some similar comments here and there)...I never realized just how much I hate the smarky crowds constantly chanting these days ("this is awesome", etc). Watching all this older stuff where there is absolutely none of that and it's just...glorious
ReplyDeleteThankfully "What" hadn't taken off just yet here.
ReplyDeleteThe nwo/wwe thing was such a mess. I sometimes wonder if they would have been better just bringing those guys back in as Hogan, diesel, and razor.
ReplyDeleteDid Nash ever wrestle a ppv match during that stint?
Right, I'm thinking stint's as Goldust.
ReplyDeleteI love the Puro crowds. Quiet for 90% of the match then EXPLODE at the end.
ReplyDeleteOh man, don't even get me started on that lol...that thing is so far past it's expiration date it's ridiculous, but they just keep doing it.
ReplyDeleteActually and surprisingly, it ISN'T full of jobbers and lower card wrestlers. They do have guys like Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Big Show, Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Big E, Rey Mysterio, Cody Rhodes, and Goldust.
ReplyDelete"
ReplyDeleteMSG and Comcast want to buy WWE?"
No chance... That's what you've got...
It was obviously not referring to Linda.
ReplyDeleteRaw is not the # 1 show on cable tv. It ain't even close, i checked again after i heard Michael Cole crow on about it on monday night.
ReplyDeleteThe Walking Dead does 3 times the numbers that Raw does. Other shows that beat Raw last week on cable include, Talking Dead,Duck Dynasty,Pawn Stars & The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.
However Raw does legit place all 3 hours Of Raw in the Top 10 and is far and away USA Networks # 1 show.
It was the #1 cable show for years though
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it was forever ago when Raw was dominating cable and setting cable records that stood for years until Monday Night Football moved to ESPN.
ReplyDeleteHe was kidding...
ReplyDeleteYeah, but it ain't anymore. They still average over 4 million viewers on Monday Night and those are very impressive numbers. USA Network last week ranked # 3 on cable behind TBS & TNT. Without Raw, which is a definite possibility by the fall they could plummet all the way to # 6 or 7.
ReplyDeleteThe WWE is very important to them. But what can i say i hate when the WWE outright lies. Even worse when reporters puppet those figures without checking.
My favorite spin job was when they bragged about NBC's WrestleMania 29 replay beating out CBS, ABC, and Fox's Saturday night summer programming.
ReplyDeleteAT LEAST IT WASN'T HIS SHOULDER.
ReplyDeleteBecause 4-way clusterfuck tag matches featuring teams no one cares about were awesome in past Wrestlemanias. Especially XX.
ReplyDeleteI got no problem with spin jobs when they're factual. Sure beating out Saturday primetime broadcast repeats means exactly jack shit but at least it's true. Saying thank you WWE Universe for making Monday Night Raw the number one show on cable last week is an outright bold faced lie.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been paying a lot of attention, but it appears their ratings have creeped up a bit over the last month or two. Last weeks was like the highest in two years according to The Observer.
ReplyDeleteI did like that Sting/Luger/Flair triple threat. That said though that tag match would have been a big draw if you ask me. Of course now, where do you put Flair for that Starrcade and who has the belt? Where does The Giant go?
ReplyDeleteDaniel Bryan gets a Center Stage-type show, interviewing celebrities and Michael Kay has to promote it by saying YES! YES! YES! every time a Yankee hits a home run.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that Kabletown were heels...everybody was awful in 30 Rock.
ReplyDeleteas far as I remembered it was televised as part of the "Survivor Series Showdown 1993".
ReplyDeleteVal's gimmick was too gimmicky and smutty to have upper card status. They tried in fall 99 too.
ReplyDeleteVal was great for the era. He was an awesome worker who got huge pops. Looking back he was excellent at the 15 minute midcard ppv matches and short, energetic Raw sprints. They just never knew how to repackage him when the porn gimmick ran its course.
Austin to induct the Austin 3:16 t shirt!
ReplyDelete....I just threw up in my mouth a little
Clearly the chances of JTG getting a Mania payday are as slim as Zack Ryder's WWE World title hopes!
ReplyDeleteNow you're getting it!
ReplyDeleteI didn't read 411, but Vince mentions in the article that he doesn't want Uncle Sam taking too much of his money.
ReplyDelete