Comments that don't warrant a thread - Part 4

[CarpetCrawler]

Trying to figure out what major names that were under contract with the WWF that were left off the first Wrestlemania. Ken Patera, George Steele (though it was his off-season anyway), Don Muraco (fair tradeoff IMO for him in that he main evented the next three MSG events with Hogan immediately after), and Ivan Putski are the most notable names that come to mind, but is there anyone else I'm missing?

[JNLister]

People who'd been on the two main TV shows as the star (rather than jobber) in 1985 but weren't working Mania:

 

Adonis/Murdoch

Dave Schulz (fired by Mania)

Briscos

Tonga Kid

Blackjack Mulligan

Spoiler

George Wells

Moondogs

Hillbilly Jim

Neidhart

Patera

Bret Hart

Mosca Jr

Atlas

Putski

Luc Poirer (he'd have to wait another 12 years for a regular gig)

Muraco

 

 

Probably just enough for a decent B-show if they'd really wanted one!

[CarpetCrawler]

Solid list, thank you so much for helping me out!! I had completely forgotten quite a few of those. Atlas confused me because I know he disappeared for a little while after the Soul Patrol broke up after they lost the belts. Poor Spoiler had all of what, two television appearances in the company. I just remember liking the continuity of them using Johnny V as his manager for his like, two appearances on TV that were many months apart.

 

Was Murdoch still around by March '85? I had honestly completely forgotten Murdoch still hung out for a bit after losing the belts with Adonis. I'm not sure if the Briscos were around by then either. Mulligan definitely bounced by February. Tonga Kid I think January? Schultz I think was fired in LA for that Mr. T fight he wanted to start.

 

Another one that we both forgot, though I don't recall if it was 1985 or '86 when he was on Championship Wrestling: Mr. Wrestling II was doing lots of house shows at that point too!! Dynamite Kid is another one we forgot.

[Al]

Briscos wrestled their last match February 9. Jack quit wrestling entirely at that point.

 

Hillbilly Jim broke his leg in late February so he was out of action at Mania time.

[CarpetCrawler]

Hillbilly Jim broke his leg in late February so he was out of action at Mania time.

 

Yeah, they try to salvage it by saying it was Beefcake's doing but IIRC he tripped and fell on a wet spot on the floor ringside of a show?

[GSR]

Was Murdoch still around by March '85? I had honestly completely forgotten Murdoch still hung out for a bit after losing the belts with Adonis. I'm not sure if the Briscos were around by then either. Mulligan definitely bounced by February. Tonga Kid I think January? Schultz I think was fired in LA for that Mr. T fight he wanted to start.

 

Murdoch finished up in February so was gone by Mania time.

 

Yeah, Mulligan was done at the start of that month too bar one random appearance in September and then returning late '86 for his final run.

 

[Victator]

https://twitter.com/therock/status/998027220017864704?s=21

 

Does Rock post at PWO?

Look at how good Shiek was at selling,

[PeteF3]

Adonis actually left/disappeared when Murdoch did, and didn't return until July (pretty much getting put in Patera's spot).

 

I've heard it posited that the WWF didn't want Patera on the show because of his upcoming trial, but that could just be speculation.

[Mattsdmf]

After re-listening to the IWA MS episode of Exile on Badstreet, I decided to order the 2001 King of the Deathmatch and Best of 2002-2004 Ted Petty Invitational. Watching these DVDs brought back a lot of memories of when I binged watched so much US indie wrestling from the 2000s. ROH was my favorite promotion at the time but I find myself really enjoying these IWA MS shows more from top to bottom and the sheer variety of the shows. I also love the seedy atmosphere of it all!

[Zoo Enthusiast]

Those IWA MS shows are awesome and gross.

[JNLister]

Taking those guys off the list, it's a relatively small roster when you think of how many guys they'd already 'raided'. Here's the last time before WrestleMania that they ran two shows on the same night:

 

 

 

WWF @ Boston, MA - Boston Garden - March 23, 1985

George Wells defeated Matt Borne
King Kong Bundy defeated Tony Garea
Brutus Beefcake defeated Swede Hanson
David Sammartino defeated Barry O
WWF Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo defeated the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
WWF IC Champion Greg Valentine defeated Tito Santana in a lumberjack match
Jim Neidhart defeated Rick McGraw
WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan (w/ Mr. T) defeated Don Muraco via disqualification

WWF @ Buffalo, NY - Memorial Auditorium - March 23, 1985
The Cobra fought Buddy Rose to a draw
Mr. Wrestling II (sub. for Hillbilly Jim) defeated Rene Goulet
Bret Hart defeated Moondog Spot
Ivan Putski fought Jesse Ventura to a draw
Bob Orton Jr. defeated SD Jones
The Junkyard Dog defeated Paul Orndorff via disqualification
Andre the Giant & Jimmy Snuka defeated Ken Patera & Roddy Piper

If you look through that era and the next few months, it's surprising how much of the undercards are padded out with people who are being used solely as jobbers on TV, people no longer on TV, and local guys. It looks to be well into 87/88 before the point where virtually everyone on the main house shows is somebody who always wins on the weekly TV.

[Edwin]

https://twitter.com/runninjay/status/998550224820883462

 

MLW is running a Boiler Room Brawl at their next event between Sami Callihan and MVP... Eh...

 

I won't be attending this event as I'll be on vacation out of the country, but I'm guessing this will be taped and aired on the big screen and it will spill over into the ring at some point.

 

Kind of an odd stipulation for an indie show.

[iamthedoctor]

Whats the best way to introduce someone to american wrestling?

 

Want to get a friend into it as I always talk about how good it is but thinking whatever the best moment would be. Would it pretty much be the Beer Truck from 99?

 

I know people have their fav shows and all but all round best show? Im tending not to do a PPV but just a episode of the weekly TV where the best angles happen. Want a good combination of the action in the ring and the angles.

 

Only show off the top of my head would be may 10 1999 the highest rated raw where Vince/Austin/Rock vs Shane/Taker/HHH

[Mad Dog]

Smoky Mountain Wrestling has a certain level of charm to it. My wife told a co-worker about how much wrestling I watch and mentioned it. Her co-worker ended up staying up all night watching it. It's hokey in a good way and has really good talkers and the inring is good as well.

[Laz]

Whats the best way to introduce someone to american wrestling?

 

Want to get a friend into it as I always talk about how good it is but thinking whatever the best moment would be. Would it pretty much be the Beer Truck from 99?

 

I know people have their fav shows and all but all round best show? Im tending not to do a PPV but just a episode of the weekly TV where the best angles happen. Want a good combination of the action in the ring and the angles.

 

Only show off the top of my head would be may 10 1999 the highest rated raw where Vince/Austin/Rock vs Shane/Taker/HHH

Do they like wrestling at all? If so, what kind? Base your intro to the US stuff around that.

[SomethingSavage]

1999 is such an outlier though. Crash TV is in full effect. They slap you in the face with sex and innuendos at every opportunity. And the in-ring action is an afterthought. I don't know that I'd introduce anyone with that stuff. Maybe if you restricted their viewing to just one Austin/McMahon segment or something. But, even then, you've got much better options in the spring of '98.

 

There are some really fun, self-contained episodes of Raw in '97 and '98 that would probably play pretty well with any general TV audience. The first McMahon/Austin face off, the Bret/Austin ambulance angle, Austin confronting Tyson - all that stuff is story-driven, character-centric TV unfolding in front of molten hot crowds.

[cactus]

Not sure where to post this, but I'm thinking of trying something we used to do on Puroresu.tv back in the day.

 

Basically, someone picks a match and we all review and rate it. The next week the person who picked the last match nominates someone who reviewed their match to pick their own match and so on.

 

It is quite similar to the match review trade thing we've also got on here, but this way allows for more eyes on each match.

 

Would anyone be interested in doing this?

[SPS]

Not sure where to post this, but I'm thinking of trying something we used to do on Puroresu.tv back in the day.

 

Basically, someone picks a match and we all review and rate it. The next week the person who picked the last match nominates someone who reviewed their match to pick their own match and so on.

 

It is quite similar to the match review trade thing we've also got on here, but this way allows for more eyes on each match.

 

Would anyone be interested in doing this?

 

That's a cool idea and would be a great addition to the match trade one. For sure I'd take part when I get some time.

[joeg]

Not sure where to post this, but I'm thinking of trying something we used to do on Puroresu.tv back in the day.

 

Basically, someone picks a match and we all review and rate it. The next week the person who picked the last match nominates someone who reviewed their match to pick their own match and so on.

 

It is quite similar to the match review trade thing we've also got on here, but this way allows for more eyes on each match.

 

Would anyone be interested in doing this?

Id be down for bringing back puroresu.tv's match of the week. that was some of greatest wrestling discussion/debate I ever talk part in.

[Edwin]

WWN's audio sucks -- namely during EVOLVE shows. It's almost impossible to understand what Leonard and Ron are saying during opening show segment they do and the music during the entrances just sounds like a total mess.

 

They should really consider investing a couple of bucks on improving their audio.

[Mad Dog]

The level of incompetence that continues to go on with WWN just blows my mind.

[iamthedoctor]

 

Whats the best way to introduce someone to american wrestling?

 

Want to get a friend into it as I always talk about how good it is but thinking whatever the best moment would be. Would it pretty much be the Beer Truck from 99?

 

I know people have their fav shows and all but all round best show? Im tending not to do a PPV but just a episode of the weekly TV where the best angles happen. Want a good combination of the action in the ring and the angles.

 

Only show off the top of my head would be may 10 1999 the highest rated raw where Vince/Austin/Rock vs Shane/Taker/HHH

Do they like wrestling at all? If so, what kind? Base your intro to the US stuff around that.

 

 

My female friend has never seen a single wrestling match or clip.

 

[Laz]

Starting with 1999 might be a terrible idea, then. While the week to week was incredible at the time, all the shortcomings (including the delegation of women to T&A) are front and center rewatching it.

 

What's she into film-wise? Books? TV?

[Grimmas]

Whats the best way to introduce someone to american wrestling?

 

Want to get a friend into it as I always talk about how good it is but thinking whatever the best moment would be. Would it pretty much be the Beer Truck from 99?

 

I know people have their fav shows and all but all round best show? Im tending not to do a PPV but just a episode of the weekly TV where the best angles happen. Want a good combination of the action in the ring and the angles.

 

Only show off the top of my head would be may 10 1999 the highest rated raw where Vince/Austin/Rock vs Shane/Taker/HHH

Never show him WWE 1999 if you want him to actually like it or watch it ever again.

[iamthedoctor]

Starting with 1999 might be a terrible idea, then. While the week to week was incredible at the time, all the shortcomings (including the delegation of women to T&A) are front and center rewatching it.

 

What's she into film-wise? Books? TV?

Loves games like mortal kombat and stuff. Got 5 or so minutes to impress her with wrestling for the first time so need something good. I'm just guessing picking something with austin would be a good idea as he was super over with the crowd be it a part of a match or a angle.