thee Reverend Axl Future

Thanks, JazeUSA. I recently got to read a pal's copy and I concur, it is very insubstantial. For someone who is namedropped in many other rassling auto/bio/histories, he fills in very few gaps. His brother's book was much better (Ted Lewin, "I Was A Teenage Professional Wrestler"), at least about the 50s/60s era. - RAF

The new Rosebuds look like a diverse gang of fun-loving ravin' party kooks! - RAF

For full mutant devolution transformation, my fave is stocky fit AWA Curt Hennig to Cromag-browed HGH (old school HGH, 50/50 synthetic/corpse fluid!) filled muscle mass WWF Mr. Perfect. Startling. - RAF

Naw, it's Joey Spampinato, bassist extraordinaire. Another link in the true Rock'n'Wrestling chain, brother... - RAF

Of course Handsome Jimmy is wearing a NRBQ shirt: he probably got it from Captain Lou! boarding house pie, daddy, RAF

In my view,yes. The situation would not be one of putting himself over the young'uns to feed his ego (interWeb konspiracy) but putting the focus on himself (old guard vet) as a knee-jerk reaction to dropping ratings/stock/viewership instead of thee "building for the future" by utilizing the new(ish) talent and giving some new face or angle or program a try. My (hopeful) take is that HHH gets more satisfaction from seeing his ideas bear fruit rather than the ego trip of going over (or keeping down (iWk)). To truly pass the torch, the established star steps down and away. Helmsley will be in front of the cameras for a while still. If he is not fading back, then he should stay out of the main event mix. It would still be significant to truly let some newer talent run with the belt, and feud with other new talent, with a committed long term booking plan ----- ----- STOP LAUGHING!!!! WHY ARE YOU ALL LAUGHING!?!? positivity, RAF

oh. my. glob. -RAF

I, for one, now really really want Strowman to carry a bone. If people think that Owens would be booked to go over here, esp. by eliminating Lesnar, they are on the crack rock. HHH winning would sadden me. I give him credit that he would not directly step over all the new & future talent thusly. - RAF

I was so off the mark about Dana Brooke. Although she was woodenly horrid for her first few appearances, I thought she did not have the smarts and/or talent to improve. Ms. Brooke, I humbly admit my error. She currently show a naturalness and instinct that improve any match, interview or angle she is in. I think it began with the head pat... Emma is outstanding. I was disappointed in Joe/Gargano, especially compared to Ciampa/Joe. That promo was basic, as in basically amateurish. I have never seen the upside with Apollo Crews and he has had multiple opportunities, but there is no need to give up on him yet (see above, w/D. Brooke). American Alpha (it reads better reversed to me, oh well) is amazing. Gable really gives off a great impression of being "green" while possessing great ability and potential, both in kay fabe and shoot senses. They have great chemistry and connection with the crowd as well. bullish on NXT, RAF

Apres ski sweater Dusty was magnificent. - RAF

90% of all his ring outfits are un-PG/PC now, flag-wise, corporate-wise, otherwise I would be hoping for a classic tux with this over it: Fantasia, baby, RAF (I know, I know...)

I would be really excited if the WWE signed The Spoiler. He's awesome. - RAF

IMS was on TNT (9/18/84) and passed the apparently unloaded brace around and spoke in a carefully modulated indoor voice. He was a good worker and excellent talent enhancer and over as heck in the Northeast. I remember seeing him get a teeny tiny push on Georgia TV in early '85, around the same time Barry Horowitz showed up in Florida as Jack Hart, I believe. I remember Mr. Sharpe took then IC Champ Tito Santana to the limit in a '82 main event in Staten Island in a fun match. - RAF

Only b+w pics. Plain cover, not the sometimes typical collage-type jumble. Comic book sized (US) or slightly bigger. Let the hunt begin! - RAF

Unfortunately that is not it, although I would by that, even just for the cover. I appreciate the effort. Now it's getting personal... - RAF

All in Japanese, but very very little text. Trade paperback size, not one of those dinky little superthick books. It may have been from one of the puro magazines. - RAF

The age old story: boy buys book, boy loves book, boy lends book to someone, boy never sees book again. I bought a great tome at the bookseller in Mitsuwa (IL) aprox. 10 years ago. It was a softcover photo collection of the gaijin who did early Japanese wrestling tours, featuring a promo photograph on one page and action shots on the facing page. I believe it featured several promotions and not just one. The Sharpe Brothers, Blassie, Bull Ramos, Dick The Bruiser, Brody, et al, were all in it. I have tried to track it down, but with no title, publisher, ISDN or other info I have been disappointed. Can any of you scholars help me out? thanks, RAF

That New Day video is thee HAPPIEST wrestling video ever! It makes me happy too!! I love it!!! - RAF

Holy shit. What a magnificent, lispy bastard. "…but let me tell you the story of another loser. It was at a college a lot like Faber. This kid was a real wimp, and everyone teased him constantly. And when they got tired of teasing him they just ignored him. But that kid hung in there and he grew and he developed. And today that wimp…today that wimp is King Olav IV, monarch of Norway!" - Otter/RAF

Quite classy of HHH & the WWE, with the military style folded flag, what with Lemmy's uniform fetish... - RAF

Who the heck is/was Nighthawk? - RAF

Cesaro is the new Yurple! - RAF

I do not want to see the Rock, Undertaker, Sting, Hogan, HHH, Foley, VKM, Flair, Michaels, Nash, Goldberg or Steiner et al, ever wrestle on a PPV ever again. This is triply so when they have so much new and/or young talent to push. It's not worth the money (vs. long term booking tickets sold) or the spot on the card or the heartbreak of seeing these broken down warriors tarnish their legacy (my memories?). It is the job of the promotion to educate the viewers even if it takes time and extra effort to get the up&comers over. There is so much talent that there could be multiple pushes/re-gimmicks/feuds going on at the same time - only a few of them have to stick for it to be worthwhile. This "all eggs in one basket" and "ratings down? bring in the vets!" booking has got to stop. Also, bring in Pat Patterson to book the Rumble PLEASE!!!! - RAF p.s. - I admit I would like to see Funk, Lawler and/or Austin do a heavily gimmicked match or two...

I found this blind item in an uninspired article on bouncers in the current Village Voice online: "Problems can arise when a club hosts a party outside of its personnel's comfort zone, as happened several years ago at a Times Square pro-wrestling-themed restaurant-club. From the nervous titters at coat check, it was clear that the leather-and-fetish gay crowd was far different from the usual out-of-town tourists. Things deteriorated from there, with overzealous security guards pouncing on people for popping Tic Tacs." indeed, RAF

Pshaw. More Jumbo swipes. - RAF p.s. - actually, very impressive.