thee Reverend Axl Future

Good question. To the best of my recollection (spotty, addled, chair-shotted) on TV the mist was kept "mysterious" with minimal explanation - as it should be. Excess vague factoids, workarounds and theories were the province of the Apter mags, where the gland gimmick probably came from. As much as I would like to have had Mr. G. Hart lay it all out for us, I think he played it close to the vest. I gotta watch that Hart/Kabuki/Piper/Valiant run 'cause that is where it would be if it came from him. The modern need for "canon" in 'rasslin' (indeed, in any genre hobby) didn't exist back then; completists, nerds and obsessives gleaned knowledge where they could and assembled it willy-nilly. An off the cuff remark from a tipsy announcer could be spun for want of lack of other facts. The cataloging of thee Deadly Mist Varieties may have come directly from Hart - who am I to dispute JC? Again, have to go to the (literal) tape and it ain't like there is some Stanley Weston database to cross-reference. I laid it all out long ago in my 'zine CLAW HOLD! and have seen it disseminated in many places since (inc. Wikipedia). - RAF

That treatment is to maintain the impermeability of the sac in his larynx where he stores thee Poison Mist Juice. - knowing of a lot of things, RAF

Welcome, to WrestleManiaLand! - RAF

Snuka did not work the first WM. - RAF

I just love this: ...and a fun little match, w/ a pinch of young VKM & a soupcon of Blassie but Sweet Jeebus, that Antonino Rocca looks like he was ridden hard and put away wet. - RAF

OSJ - Thank you. I am planning my new start-up, RAFco. I will franchise out my gimmick to any young green workers, returning vets, rodeo clowns, burly dominatrices and deranged cosplayers. I get 10% of their earnings, and I will flow 10% of that to you, you smart cookie. Based on my old paydays, expect a check for $.03 quite soon. Please fill out a W-9. - rich in spirit, RAF

Well, who came up with the JCottonbelly gimmick, CHIKARA/Quackenbush or, um, Mr. Cottonbelly? Pro wrestling has always been able to utilize new tech to make money - the dawn of TV, early cable, VHS, PPV. It is interesting to me to observe feds big and small scramble to find revenue streams (as the suits say) in this Modern Age of social media, geek culture, ticket resellers, YouTube, streaming services, lessened house show and DVD bucks, digital media and all this copyright stuff. - RAF

Wrestlers wielding foodstuffs longer than they are wide is strictly for the Sleaze Thread, pally... - RAF

...and Kevin O'Neill--- - RAF

I don't buy a lot of T-shirts but I regret not getting that Mr. Pogo Stussy Bad Boy style shirt way back when. A cursory search brought up nada - anyone know what one I mean? - RAF

Here are my dream TF3s, oldmannostalgia trigger warning, hashtag snowball-in-hell: Who Can Dispute The Genius? (A loving tribute to Capt. Lou Albano) - Afa or Sika, Cyndi Lauper (or Joey Spampinato) and Jimmy Valiant tell stories and tales about the one-of-a-kind personality that dominated East Coast rasslin' kultchur and crossed over into underground and mainstream ones as well. He was truly the Fountain of Information. The King Of Men (A blatant lovefest on all things "Classy" Freddie Blassie) - Johnny Legend, Dick Beyer and The Iron Sheik regale The WWE Universe (tm) with many of the reasons why he should be a role model for today's youth using examples from The Hollywood Fashion Plate of Wrestling's life. From coast to coast and around the world, his influence is still felt. TGW For President (The enigmatic Grand Wizard of Wrestling is discussed by his peers in an attempt to plumb the depth of his arcane mysteries) The Magnificent Muraco, Sgt. Slaughter and Sabu educate the viewers all about the Man also known as Abdullah Farouk, J Wellington Radcliffe, Mr. Clean and Ernie Roth. An early non-worker manager, he was respected by those who knew class and recognized artistry. -RAF

I really liked the tag. Very modern style of "pops thru near falls" but with nice story-telling, history and basic tag psychology. I enjoyed how both the Usos and New Day have been re-gimmicked, over-exposed and then revitalized and used that for good interaction and resonance with the crowd. Fashion Vice was great, SDL seems to have the right percentage of comedy in the mix. Ascension can't be the payoff. Mojo Rawley is the Mighty Igor for this Modern Age. Also, no one can complain the they were pushing the vets over the new talent on this show: a big plus, credit where it is due... - RAF

Is Mankind the only superstar/worker/rassler who ever used differing intro and outro musics? I always thought it was a nice touch, overlooked in the general chaos and bluster. MFoley talks about it in (I believe) the 3 Faces DVD. Very typical of the depth put into most everything he did, but subtle and not over-done. Has any modern wrestler been so influential and de-valued his legacy so much, or am I biased? -bang bang, RAF

I agree with all of this but my medulla oblongata just focuses on the part with Snuka with The Genius gimmick, which I really wish I could have seen. - RAF (what do you expect from someone who learned all the parts of the brain from Capt. Lou promos?)

"Easy" Ed Wiskoski was a great worker but the Col. DeBeers gimmick was weak. Now, Mega Maharishi Imed, on the other hand, was sheer genius. - RAF

Thee Ron Starr book is a nice read if you like details and anecdotes from the Territory Era, and lots of autobiography on the man in addition to thee rasslin' stuff. It reads in a very conversational tone that fits it well. I ordered the deluxe package with a DVD-R of matches that I never got around to watching, now I certainly must... - RAF

---and Muraco. - RAF

This is my favorite arcane obscure reference on this board in a long while. It's apt. APT! One or two folks in this Bayley scuffle are confusing the terms "over" (popular and emotionally connected with the audience, can be independent of direct intent on the part of the promotion) and "pushed" (presented and booked a a top worker by the promotion). Silly me, I came for to read about people's opinions of the show and now get to read people argue. Oh interWeb I love you so, fool me once shame on you, fool me 42,117 times shame on me, I can't give you up... My lack of emotional investment in most of the roster, feuds, booking and ALL of the social media and backstage nonsense probably lets me sit back and enjoy the good parts of the PPVs (the last couple of non-NXT ones have been rough, tho') especially since my financial investment in them is only the Network fee. However, when I come on here, and this is the only rassling related board I read, often it seems the posters who profess complete detachment from the brand due to it's incompetence/evilness/inferiority are the ones making the most impassioned arguments. Aries/Neville again stole the show, I even enjoyed Crews/Kalisto (needed mist). Ambrose/Miz told a story in the ring, which I love. Much dropping of the ball by the announcers, e.g. Jeff Hardy gets back into the cage -giving up the advantage- to save his brother and it is not played up. I will be the first to admit that the overall booking and the writing really stink on the main roster. - RAF

Mr. McMahon, Dr, D David Schultz and John Stossel. - RAF

Reasoned like a true worker, bruddah. 100% correct, asses in seats, everything else is conjecture, emotion or opinion... - RAF

Stunt granny! (Harley Race taught me about that.) - RAF

OMSheik, this was exactly my first thought upon seeing that foto. Thank you sir (I really gotta get some help). - RAF

Heel attitude, lotsa disrespect, but no real rule-breaking, no? Foot on the ropes, eye-rake, international object, leading to a pin... I realize this would be out of character (so far) but that is what would get her opponent over. - RAF

I really don't think that Ember Moon should beat Asuka (nor do I want to see that), but it should be the first match that Asuka chooses to use heel tactics & cheating to win. I really liked a lot of NMcGuiness' reactions to and commentary on the action The women's match seemed a little sloppy, with some mistiming and folks out of place. To me, it did not take too much out of it, it just added to the chaos. The Brits looked great, such an impressive match. Dunne is a natural heel. HHH digs him. A lot of the things I do not like about the UK style were replaced by a bit of strong-style Japanese moves and psychology, and nice usage of the WWE 2-count pops. - RAF

My only worry about thee Bray family foto is those dolls: did he play a midway game for those, because you don't work a worker. No carny worth his salt would ever play a game made for the rubes (slipping the agent a couple bills for a spoof is acceptable). - RAF