Log 750 Posted November 11 Don't think anyone's mentioned this yet, but I think the blue cage had some other purposes. One, it was easier to shoot for television. It had the bigger openings that a camera could see through. Also, those big openings made it easier to climb, especially for WWF's larger wrestlers. I think its first appearance was the Hogan/Bundy match at WM2. Two huge guys there. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AxB 6,187 Posted November 11 By bringing that up, you're dragging this into the realm of the merits of the "escape to win" cage match concept discussion. And we had that discussion (and the best cage match ever discussion) quite recently. No blue bar match ever measures up to Blanchard vs Magnum in the "Winner marries loser's ex wife and raises their daughter" match, btw. 6 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocco 63 Posted November 13 Whats the deal with Bob Sapp never being in WWE? I beleive he was under contract with WCW when WWE bought it and cnsidering Vince's obession with size an JR's love of football players seems like they would have went nuts for him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BurningBeard 3,890 Posted November 13 No idea about the buyout, but I do remember RUMOURZ of WWE being interested in him when he was at the height of his popularity in Japan but they couldn't offer him enough money to make it worthwhile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Technico Support 7,201 Posted November 13 (edited) On 11/5/2019 at 7:22 PM, The Great ML said: I remember someone referring to the blue bar cage like running into a pile of Louisville Sluggers...hard with no give. As @Log mentioned, it looked better on television. So in the 80s, the WWF made the ring and the cage both much worse for the workers in the name of TV friendliness. Edited November 13 by Technico Support 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colonial 117 Posted November 13 Forget who reported it initially, but I recall reading that Sapp was in line for the spot that went to Monty Brown in WWECW but Sapp wanted too much money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 4,979 Posted November 13 He'll gladly do it now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BEN! 1,922 Posted November 14 On 11/9/2019 at 10:22 PM, BloodyChamp said: I thought it was 1997 SST vs Stars and Stripes. I didn’t look it up before posting or anything but I was sure that was it. Not Stars & Stripes. It was the former WCW Patriots and The Samoan Savage. The Patriot and Fatu were in the WWF at the time. Quote 12.15.97 Curtis Thompson & Todd Champion defeat Sam Fatu & Samu https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=4163 The SST in WCW at that time could've been cool depending on what kind of shape they were in. Maybe put them with Jimmy Hart and turn The Faces Of Fear face. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Fowler 13,361 Posted November 14 Hell, The Patriot was in WWF by then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BloodyChamp 40 Posted November 15 I just remembered...they were going to do some kind of not-black-or-white gangster feud with Samu and Konan. WCW hadn’t wussed out entirely by 1997 but by then trying to fit a gangster feud into their TV friendly product would have been tough lol! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MORELOCK 2,605 Posted November 15 2 hours ago, BloodyChamp said: I just remembered...they were going to do some kind of not-black-or-white gangster feud with Samu and Konan. WCW hadn’t wussed out entirely by 1997 but by then trying to fit a gangster feud into their TV friendly product would have been tough lol! I imagine it would have just been sanitized a bit - they had Konnan and eventually the Filthy Animals/No Limit Soldiers, and I remember (perhaps incorrectly) the Public Enemy's finisher being called The Drive By for their whole run. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BurningBeard 3,890 Posted November 19 On 11/15/2019 at 7:07 PM, BloodyChamp said: I just remembered...they were going to do some kind of not-black-or-white gangster feud with Samu and Konan. WCW hadn’t wussed out entirely by 1997 but by then trying to fit a gangster feud into their TV friendly product would have been tough lol! Why did WWF ditch the similar angle with Rikishi when he was doing his Make A Difference gimmick? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twiztor 770 Posted November 26 did Hogan take a legitimate loss after winning the belt in Jan '84 until WrestleMania 6? the closesr i can come up with is where Andre wins the title from him, but that is a far cry from a clean win. side note: did you know Randy Savage never once got a pinfall win over Hogan? that shit's insane to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happjack 201 Posted November 26 30 minutes ago, twiztor said: did Hogan take a legitimate loss after winning the belt in Jan '84 until WrestleMania 6? the closesr i can come up with is where Andre wins the title from him, but that is a far cry from a clean win. side note: did you know Randy Savage never once got a pinfall win over Hogan? that shit's insane to me. Do count out's count? Inoki beat Hogan in Japan via count-out in 84 or 85 and The Genius with Mr. Perfect's help beat Hogan via count out on SNME. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ace 4,650 Posted November 26 The Apter mags would regularly put over that the last person to pin Hogan was Tony Atlas. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sydneybrown 2,103 Posted November 29 Hogan took a ton of countout and DQ losses during his first reign. That's how you'd get a three match series out of them. For example, Savage beat Hogan by countout in MSG twice before Hogan finally pinned him in a lumberjack match. Don Muraco was another one. Kept getting countout wins which would lead to a cage match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hamhock 393 Posted December 1 (edited) On 11/29/2019 at 3:29 PM, sydneybrown said: Hogan took a ton of countout and DQ losses during his first reign. That's how you'd get a three match series out of them. For example, Savage beat Hogan by countout in MSG twice before Hogan finally pinned him in a lumberjack match. Don Muraco was another one. Kept getting countout wins which would lead to a cage match. Likewise vs. Big John Studd at MSG, where a debuting Heenan as manager helps Studd win by countout, and the return match stip is that Hogan can lose the belt via countout (match at 43:39; Heenan goads Hogan into rematch at 2:25:38): Edited December 1 by Hamhock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thee Reverend Axl Future 1,097 Posted December 1 7 hours ago, Hamhock said: Likewise vs. Big John Studd at MSG, where a debuting Heenan as manager helps Studd win by countout, and the return match stip is that Hogan can lose the belt via countout (match at 43:39; Heenan goads Hogan into rematch at 2:25:38): Hey, Young RAF was there! My pal Arthur and I always stood for the Russian National Anthem and were scolded by various NYC cab drivers and newsboys for it. I dunno if I have the gumption to watch through this mishegas to see if we made hard cam, although we are visible in several other MSG tapings from that era. The work moves-wise is minimal but the work working-wise is deliciously old school. This is a very interesting time as they are clinging to tradition but discovering the new ways, casting off and trying on and adapting as they go with no template. So many crap workers, tho', so if you didn't grow up with it it can be a slog. On the other hand - MEATHEAD (a.k.a. Thee Fink)! - time, the script is you and me, boys, RAF p.s. - youthful RAF and his chum Vinnie C are also visible in the WM1 home release and Arthur appeared in the WWF Victory magazine. Collect and trade with your friends. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paintedbynumbers 317 Posted December 3 On 12/1/2019 at 2:47 PM, thee Reverend Axl Future said: Hey, Young RAF was there! My pal Arthur and I always stood for the Russian National Anthem and were scolded by various NYC cab drivers and newsboys for it. I dunno if I have the gumption to watch through this mishegas to see if we made hard cam, although we are visible in several other MSG tapings from that era. The work moves-wise is minimal but the work working-wise is deliciously old school. This is a very interesting time as they are clinging to tradition but discovering the new ways, casting off and trying on and adapting as they go with no template. So many crap workers, tho', so if you didn't grow up with it it can be a slog. On the other hand - MEATHEAD (a.k.a. Thee Fink)! - time, the script is you and me, boys, RAF p.s. - youthful RAF and his chum Vinnie C are also visible in the WM1 home release and Arthur appeared in the WWF Victory magazine. Collect and trade with your friends. what is Arthur up to these days? Is he still a fan? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sydneybrown 2,103 Posted December 4 Hell, does anyone know what Vladimir is up to these days? Is HE still a fan? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RolandTHTG 2,475 Posted December 4 If anyone was ever going to give it up for a lifetime of coke and disco... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cwoy2j 3,434 Posted December 4 On 11/29/2019 at 3:29 PM, sydneybrown said: Hogan took a ton of countout and DQ losses during his first reign. That's how you'd get a three match series out of them. For example, Savage beat Hogan by countout in MSG twice before Hogan finally pinned him in a lumberjack match. Don Muraco was another one. Kept getting countout wins which would lead to a cage match. There's a match on The Network where George Steele beats Hogan by countout in Boston to set up a return. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thee Reverend Axl Future 1,097 Posted December 5 On 12/3/2019 at 9:24 AM, paintedbynumbers said: what is Arthur up to these days? Is he still a fan? I lost touch with Arthur but he was a great guy and funny as heck. He brought his camera to the MSG show to fulfill his HS photography shop assignments. His mom was pals with one of the MSG families, so we had access to their ringside seat privleges. We saw a lot of great matches but saw much Tiger Chung Lee vs, Mr. Fuji openers. misty & water-colored, RAF 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
