thee Reverend Axl Future

Reason #239 why I could never book: I would put Lesnar v. Reigns FIRST just to blow everyone's mind, and to get it out of the way, and to create anticipation for the rest of the card. THIS is how big this WrestleMania is: the opener is Roman/Brock, a legit main event! It would give Reigns a reason to turn bitter heel afterwards, and give Heyman & Lesnar a shooty reason for their eventual return, either as heels against the fans ("your complaining took away my main event money") or as faces against management ("you tried to embarrass us on my way out but we are back"). - RAF

I never said that. Conversely, knees can do more damage than your belly-welly. On the third hand, (see pic above). - RAF

- RAF

You shut your lie-hole, Mr. R - it's going to be the new "Blonde On Blonde" for the New Age!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, can you imagine Dusty Rhodes booking an Elias in the early '80s, giving him a push by letting him getting on stage with David Allan Coe at the GABs?If Garrett Dylan has any of his daddy's talent, bring him back to feud/team with the Drifter. - RAF

My absolute fave is Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin's American Heavyweight title defense versus Gentleman Chris Adams (WCCW #89, air date 09?10/83 on the Network) when thee Gorgeous One and his belt are saved only by the time limit. Bill Mercer does a ringside interview with an exhausted GJG slumped in the corner (and a tearful Sunshine), who says he has nothing left to prove and will end his open challenge. Just great - it got both men over and really advanced an amazing feud. Highly recommended. Both he and Tully Blanchard could do the effective heel champs who resorted to cheating to beat worthy opponents, and remain in-ring threats. - RAF

Oh pardon me sir: the Royal Rumble can and should be the most intricately and strategically booked match of any PPV. When Pat Patterson was doing it, he and VKM (and Ross and/or Prichard, if I recall) would take a couple days to do it - setting up future feuds, going over the order, eliminations, setting the pace, et al. You can tell stories with the RR that no other match can, tease match-ups, demonstrate wrestlers gimmicks/personalities/attitudes, set up hierarchies, introduce new workers. Just as there is a classic or basic tag/cage/big v. small match template that will do for a satisfying rassling match, you can outline a RR but the variables and subtleties are what makes it a special once-a-year thang. The past couple of years really sucked partially because the unique format was not utilized - it is more than just booking surprise guests and setting the entrances; this year was very good and was deliciously simple - it hit the right notes. No one can book it like Mr. Patterson but this year was fun. -RAF

Andre looks like the DC multiverse's largest Joker here. - RAF p.s. - is Lex Lugar wearing a hoodie and a sports jacket? Is that A Thing?

I would really enjoy watching The Mighty Boosh with Sheamus. I would plotz if The Bar did a tag team title crimp. - RAF

I will add: Izzy Slapowitz - big plusses for thee usage of the Abby goggle-eyed stare in photos The Great Scott - old timer, mover & shaker into the modern era, for some reason the idea of this name being announced in a straight faced manner always cracked me up Jack Knife - execrable Midwest indy worker of the early 2ks, Cactus Jack manque. Now I was proud of ripping off several of CJ's moves myself (and told him so when I met him, receiving his head-shaking blessing of pity) but this imitation was beyond the pale. However, my pals and I delighted in saying "Jack --- KNIFE - get it?!?!?!?!" repeatedly whenever we saw or heard his name, including to his face. It still makes me smile. It sucked to work him, like most Midwest yarders do... - RAF

It's no "Always Pounding Ass" but it'll do for 2017. - RAF

Isn't Garvin's brilliant Dallas run on The Network? - RAF

Was there ever an "official" explaining of the recent WWE mumps/meningitis/lumbago/plague event? The rumors started with Bo, and then Bray - but Reigns was the one out the longest? Health records are (and should be) private, but what actually happened? A minor point of curiosity to be sure, but watching Survivor Series I realized that the time off has done wonders for the audience's positive reaction to RR and his return to the Shield; overall it appears that the outbreak improved a PPV and boosted the iffy popularity of the most pushed performer while no one got severely diseased. I am a paranoid, but it appears to have been a positive event overall for WWE but certainly too convenient to have been orchestrated... - RAF

Excellent commentary by you, sir, on that match, and also thank you for the reminder to catch up on my SC. - RAF

...aaaaand there goes the seemingly final place on the interWeb I can go to for a bit of escape from the real world. *sigh*, RAF

I watched that 10x - so happy. Indie Hall of Fame, to be sure, especially considering username's above info. Please post this match! (plus 500 *s for the lighting in that venue) - RAF

I agree, they had great chemistry but B&M were the focus of the act. Lady manager of male 'rasslers is a classic gimmick and full of great spots and angles. Male bodyguards of lady's champ looks good but there would not be much for them to do in a fed that frowns on men-on-women physicality. I still admire Mr. McMahon's mind for the business but will always regret his latter day aversion to managers. - RAF

I laughed aloud at this. I am a bad person (duh). = RAF

I await to hear from Dr. Rodney Papoofnik before passing judgement on Mr. McMahon, the Goldwater Rule and all... leave Vince alone, RAF

Congrats, Mr. S - it is hard to be a promoter especially if you are playing it straight and fair. (whispering) Pssst - contact me and I will let you know what happens when there is a ciazake on a rasslin show, it's a shoot, bruddah.... - RAF

Nice analogy, sir. - RAF

A couple of my favorite signs (if you are over 10 years of age and 80 IQ, you have no reason to hold a sign): IVAN KOLOFF: RUSSIAN RETART Sting is a STUPID world champion (I got a picture with this kid, he was a genius) Big Van Vader how do you fit on the toilet? (w/the words getting smaller and trailing off because of poor planning) - this is my "gee, Aunt Karen, what did you do differently to the stuffing this year, it sure is moist" Thanksgiving post because the adults won't stop fighting about stuff. RAF

Heel. Was Ventura always a heel in the ring? Limited ringwork but not afraid to show ass, could be vicious and comedic, great on the mic, reworked lots of classic stuff but injected real world hip references into his promos that made him a true cool heel w/o trying to get himself over. I can't think of him working face ever... - RAF

That doc from late '70s PBS on Dutch Savage really lays it out and is genius. DS was legit from Scranton PA so his hard-scrabble miner upbringing and accompanying glove technique was the perfect foil to those dastardly blowhard half-a-Frenchman lumberjacks running around the PNW with their pansy axes. In the doc, it shows the set-up for the blowoff CMG Match with the Iron Sheik and Mr. Savage just straight up lays down the psychology of this particular gimmick match - I LOVE IT WHEN A VET DOES THAT!!!! Good footage of Ventura, ABRamos and Wiskowski too. Go out of your way to see this - I am sure it is on the YouTubes. - RAF

Naw, man, an Armstrong knows how the sneaky Asiatic mind works: Sunlil will lilt toward the Hell in the Cell disguised as a geisha and Samir will get inside pretending to be an aloo paneer kati roll. The most insidious plan! -RAF

Potty-mouth LR just makes me appreciate and miss him more. - RAF