thee Reverend Axl Future

That is a great bump (off of a middling strike, but that's another story). - RAF

homage to NGE, RAF

Did he just block a fireball with a chair? That's some good rassling right there. - RAF

double post, sorry, here a pic of thee Captain and the most neglected WWE HoFer:

I disagree. If you go see a movie about combat sports, you would say you were going to a movie, not going to a wrestling match or even going to watch wrestling. The map is not the territory. A movie is presented as fiction or a documentary, wrestling is presented (but not actualized) as sport competition. - RAF

I dislike when I have a post I am proud of but it's almost the end of the month so here is something to chew on: I have been working on a succinct definition of professional wrestling for years, but this is my work-in-progress list of thee three necessary elements of a pro rasslin match --- A) worked moves B) predetermined finish C) presented to the audience as sports competition Without#1, you have a fixed MMA match. Without #2, it's gymnastics. No #3 it is a play. still pondering, RAF

Aaargh, this is one of my main beefs with Bischoff - he keeps harping on a wrestling "performance" show with judges that vote on the timed matches. Wrestling is an art, but it is uncertain if it is Art. If you equate it with acting or performance art (Arts) then you realize that Art is not voted on or graded. Indeed, it could be argued that an audience is not even necessary for "true Art". Pro wrestling does need an audience, and there is interaction between the workers and the crowd but traditionally (and I believe essentially) the workers are in total control of the event. Wrestling is sui generis. It contains elements of other arts, crafts, sports and even Art, but it is not any one of them. - RAF

I have been making a List of the Best In-Ring Workers I Have Seen In-Ring, and EHDS was one of the first names down there. I worked on a card with him and met him before I saw work live and I will say this: the man is vertically challenged but in between those ropes he looks six+ feet tall. His ring work and pacing was so precise, so smooth, so clean, yet so snug and technically correct whilst appearing larger than life: real but fantastical at the same time if you will. I have no doubt that he is just as amazing to watch since 90% of the important working stuff is about his experience, heart and knowledge. - RAF

I have a very low opinion of SMichaels, but I cannot dispute his assets, one being that he was a great bumper. Another is that he was a very good babyface who became a super-effective heel*. I blame him for inspiring his posse of (mostly) charismatic pals (Hall, Nash, et al) to imitate HBK's habit of only giving a good show when they felt like it. don't get me started, RAF p.s. - I also like his taking-the-piss Hogan match and the Flair retirement match ("I'm sorry, I love you" is my rasslin' mostest guilty pleasure). *Later, he was a crappy babyface and/or an ineffective heel, and justified to many workers the sloppy gimmick of the "cool heel", which is my Modern Era of Wrestling's bête noire,

This is a weighty issue and I will add this personal observation: Even in this post-modern media culture and this post-modern fans-of-fans (as per Matt D, nice post) as consumers and producers era, I really feel that pro wrestling that works on evoking emotion via story telling can resonate and become pertinent and popular with a large fanbase. It is how it used to be done much of the time and it sold tickets. It's hard to do, and not every is able to do it or teach or even learn how to do it. It was always difficult and it is harder now but that makes it all the more important and effective. Emotion can trump self-awareness momentarily, and that all you need for escapism and resonance. - RAF

It's a good thing for human kind then that those "people" in the line of fire were Philly-flavored ECW mutants who would have relished the idea of taking a chair to the mush (as long as it didn't crack their hoagie-eatin' tooth). Always try out your Danger Spots (TM) in front of the sub-normals. reporting from Hostile City, RAF

Thank you RIPPA for your tender ministrations, and you too sydneybrown, to keep caring where so many others have given up and walked away in disgust (JUDASES (Judaii?) ALL OF THEM). Of course, when I said "here" I meant the heating grate by the alley near the bridge where I hand out my literature for Thee Church Of By And For Thee Street People As Revealed By Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant Whoo Mercy Daddy (TCOBAFTSPARBBWMJVWMD), with additional Gospels, spirituals and sermonizing from Captain Lou Albano, Prince Curtis Iaukea, Beautiful Beauregard and The Great Kabuki. Look for me, I'll be wearing my bishop mitre and a sandwich board with a crayon portrait of Jack Pfefer and the Grand Wizard heavy petting on it. Or I might be at the library, using the computer or taking a "bath". You know: church stuff. you wish you knew what confused was, addlepated, RAF (who never reads his emails either)

The USA hour is on Hulu. I asked here a while ago about how this USANXT thang was going to work but no one answered. There couldn't be a crawl before the Network NXT show to let us consumers know what we are paying for? The show(s) are (were) fun. I really liked Rush v. Lorcan - they both were laying it in and making each other look strong. confused and a bit scared, RAF

Wrestlers In Jean Shorts #1 - the one I would most like to go to a BBQ with Wrestlers In Jean Shorts #2 - the ones I would like to go drinking with Wrestlers In Jean Shorts #3 - one I would like to roam South Philly with, maybe get high under a bridge, go get a nosh later... Wrestlers In Jean Shorts #4 - this one raised a lot of money for charity and that's nice - RAF

Speaking as a fan from the 80s & 90s, Mr. Luger did stink when you factor in the constant monster push he received that whole time. He was never effective in-ring except as a mound of muscle. I saw him as he was breaking in in FL and he was green and clumsy and winded. It took him a while to be carryable by most workers and if he improved past that, well, I had lost interest and it certainly took him long enough. I will say this: he paid his dues, he was often over, and he occasionally put asses in seats (he was booked poorly in his inability to dethrone Flair soon enough). McMahon loved him because he stayed huge and was able to beat the tests, but he was never popular in thee House of RAF. one man's (expert, elitist, genius-level) opinion, - RAF

I don't want NXT to be a live show. I like it on tape. old and sad, RAF

Needs some "YEAH BABY!". - RAF

I dug this match - basic, solid, good psychology. Muta does little things that personalize each move and add to his gimmick. Plus, lots of mistings and jacket-work. - RAF

Vincent K McMahon. Jimmy Valiant. Curtis Iaukea. Buddy Rogers. Brian Pillman. Kendo Nagasaki (UK). - RAF, fickle

- RAF

This is some genius-level kay fabin'. This is what the social medias that you kids love is for, I get it now. relevancy, RAF

...but- but- then you could see him... - RAF

This list is a lot more interesting and bold (but not necessarily defendable) than some of the Top 10 lists that I saw in the self named thread on this here BBS nowadays. ooooohhhhhedidnt, RAF

- RAF

It was at a CAC - 2000, maybe? - RAF