June 2023 Wrestling Discussion

[elizium]

I would wear those Rougeau shorts to the beach today if I could. One of my favourite gears of the time

[BloodyChamp]

17 hours ago, Go2Sleep said:

Scott Hall winning the 97 WW3 was a little surprising. Not sure who else of note was in there, but it always seemed like an odd choice for a world title shot at that time, even as a filler defense. Hall was in a spot where no one above him would look any better for beating him and he himself wasn't elevated by being in a title match. Off the top of my head, DDP or Raven would've been more compelling winners.

It's tough to get surprise winners in high profile battle royals because there's usually something at stake beyond the match itself, but I liked AEW giving Top Flight and AR Fox the win in their random Christmas $300k battle royal. Didn't have to overpush them, but it gave them a nice highlight to set up a few good TV matches over the next couple of months.

I did remember this and was on the fence on whether it counted or not. I thought it made a little more sense than you but I understand your view of it. I didn’t quite count it as an upset because he was still THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE ENNN DUBUYOOO OOO to us at the time. Meanwhile a filler title defense was exactly what they needed coming off of Starrcade, which was coming off as planned at the time of the decision to let Hall win WW3. That gave them that whole month to come up with a long term plan while they merely did nothing in the meantime as people sold out every show and bought that ppv. It was all just that organized and perfect at the time then...well you know. 

[HumanChessgame]

6 hours ago, GuerrillaMonsoon said:

I feel like there was a lot of battle royales on European shows that had a finish of DBS and two heels, miscommunication on a clothesline spot, DBS overcomes the odds and wins?

I remember seeing one of these on a Coliseum Home Video comp. The Beverly Brothers were the other two guys. From what I recall of the ending, they thought they jointly tossed him out and turned around to work the crowd, then he pitched one out from behind and had a bit of back and forth with the other before winning.

[Elsalvajeloco]

22 minutes ago, HumanChessgame said:

I remember seeing one of these on a Coliseum Home Video comp. The Beverly Brothers were the other two guys. From what I recall of the ending, they thought they jointly tossed him out and turned around to work the crowd, then he pitched one out from behind and had a bit of back and forth with the other before winning.

He (DBS) definitely won one at the Battle Royal at the Albert Hall if we're talking the UK tours. I believe he also won at least one more on that tour but I am not sure if it was on a Coliseum Home Video release.

The one you're thinking about was from Rampage 92, which was 40 men and filmed at a taping in Hamilton, Ontario. I saw that one and that one had random jobbers in it like pre Headbangers Glen Ruth, Bob Bradley (aka Battle Kat II), Duane Gill, Phil Apollo, and THE DUBLIN DESTROYER (!). Also, no one in the ring could move. They were stuffed in the ring like sardines.

[odessasteps]

I was always partial to the last heel throwing out the last face, who skins the cat to stay in the match and then pulls down the rope sending a rampaging heel out to win the match. 

[HumanChessgame]

9 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

He (DBS) definitely won one at the Battle Royal at the Albert Hall if we're talking the UK tours. I believe he also won at least one more on that tour but I am not sure if it was on a Coliseum Home Video release.

The one you're thinking about was from Rampage 92, which was 40 men and filmed at a taping in Hamilton, Ontario. I saw that one and that one had random jobbers in it like pre Headbangers Glen Ruth, Bob Bradley (aka Battle Kat II), Duane Gill, Phil Apollo, and THE DUBLIN DESTROYER (!). Also, no one in the ring could move. They were stuffed in the ring like sardines.

This has lead me down a rabbit hole trying to find old battle royals on youtube. This looks to be the Albert Hall match

Here is another jobber-laden battle royale with Berzerker of all people coming out on top in this one (though wasn't his finish tossing people out of the ring and winning by countout?)

 

[Go2Sleep]

4 hours ago, BloodyChamp said:

I did remember this and was on the fence on whether it counted or not. I thought it made a little more sense than you but I understand your view of it. I didn’t quite count it as an upset because he was still THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE ENNN DUBUYOOO OOO to us at the time. Meanwhile a filler title defense was exactly what they needed coming off of Starrcade, which was coming off as planned at the time of the decision to let Hall win WW3. That gave them that whole month to come up with a long term plan while they merely did nothing in the meantime as people sold out every show and bought that ppv. It was all just that organized and perfect at the time then...well you know. 

He was the first member of the NWO, but also the one that jobbed the most of the originals. I love Scott Hall, but he was a Nitro title shot filler guy not a ppv title shot filler guy.

If WCW any balls, Rey would've been a hell of winner for a Sting filler defense. I don't know if was feasible because Rey needed one of his many knee surgeries a couple months later (I remember the injury angle that cemented the Jericho heel turn), but match where Rey "earns Sting's respect" in a competitive loss and being free to move out of the CW role would've been sick.

[BloodyChamp]

Scott Hall doing those jobs was what made him a ppv guy other than a filler guy ftw. He did the first job to Sting, the first job to the Steiners, and he lost Hogan’s title to Goldberg so Hogan wouldn’t have to do it himself. And this was all before he started doing jobs as a spoof like when he lost to Hector Garza and co.

[Shartnado]

9 hours ago, elizium said:

I would wear those Rougeau shorts to the beach today if I could. One of my favourite gears of the time

And I'd make shorts out of the Bushwhacker Winter Camo pants and join you at the beach!

[The Great ML]

14 hours ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

Now that I think about it....Andre makes an appearance in World Class, and they do a mini battle royale where one of the Freebirds or Bundy ends up winning. Like Andre is thrown out mid way.

Also, I do agree that early Demolition is weird cause you keep forgetting Darsow is the other one. So it essentially is Krusher Krushchev as the other Demo.

Andre eliminated himself after stepping over to go after Michael Hayes who interfered on Gordy’s behalf. That was from early 1983 on WCCW TV not long after the Freebirds turn.

[Cobra Commander]

extra Reddit-related post, what would be the most unusual subreddit to steal spots from and why would it involve stealing from videos of randos fighting on /r/fightporn?

(okay, to clarify, most unusual safe for work subreddit, because it would be weirder to steal spots from UltimateSurrender videos, if you don't know what that is, don't worry)

[Elsalvajeloco]

6 minutes ago, The Great ML said:

Andre eliminated himself after stepping over to go after Michael Hayes who interfered on Gordy’s behalf. That was from early 1983 on WCCW TV not long after the Freebirds turn.

And apparently didn't know the rules of a battle royale cause he's arguing with David Manning afterwards.

[tbarrie]

On 6/20/2023 at 7:54 AM, Technico Support said:

I watched this!  Random-ass thoughts:

• I taped this off TV as a youngster and watched it so many times, as with every SNME episode from back then, that I remember a lot of the lines verbatim
• [...]
• Then...everybody gangs up and eliminates Andre?  I could have sworn he won it.  Huh.

So you memorized the lines, but not the result of the match? Was young Technico mostly into pro wrestling for the dialogue?

On 6/20/2023 at 7:54 AM, Technico Support said:

• I ffwd the rest because I kind of didn't care about midcarders fighting for it.  As mentioned already, Herc wins to continue the feud with Billy Jack.  That's my one criticism of this.  If you're putting Andre over, put Andre over and give him the win.  WTF

 I suppose the counter-argument would be that having Ande single-handedly toss Hogan, then it taking like a dozen guys to eliminate Andre, accomplishes the same goal (especially with Andre reminding us of that after the match). And having somebody else pick up the actual win lets them put two people over instead of.

Of course, the problem with that argument is that I don't recall them actually doing anything of note with Herc that year. So what was the point of giving him the win? Was he working Hogan on the house shows leading up to 'Mania or something?

[Technico Support]

37 minutes ago, tbarrie said:

So you memorized the lines, but not the result of the match? Was young Technico mostly into pro wrestling for the dialogue?

 I suppose the counter-argument would be that having Ande single-handedly toss Hogan, then it taking like a dozen guys to eliminate Andre, accomplishes the same goal (especially with Andre reminding us of that after the match). And having somebody else pick up the actual win lets them put two people over instead of.

Of course, the problem with that argument is that I don't recall them actually doing anything of note with Herc that year. So what was the point of giving him the win? Was he working Hogan on the house shows leading up to 'Mania or something?

LOOOOL my mind is a mysterious place.

Herc worked mostly six man elimination matches featuring various midcarders in the run-up to 'Mania with one no-show vs Hogan and one job vs Hogan.  After Mania he teamed with Race around the horn vs The Can Ams.  That's just random as fuck.

[Log]

I seem to remember the Herc/Billy Jack feud being fairly featured in the lead-up to WMIII, wasn't it?

Herc's match with Hogan on the November, 86 SNME was a pretty big deal to me. Herc had him in the torture rack and it appeared that Hogan may have submitted. Of course, Ventura and Heenan were sure he had and Vince didn't see it. I remember watching that when it aired very clearly. Hogan was so dominant at the time, and I really thought he may have lost.

Then, the next SNME had Hogan and Orndorff in a cage with another controversial finish. That shit was so shocking to me back then.

[Technico Support]

Yep, Herc and Billy Jack had a non-finish at Mania and then feuded on house shows in chain matches.

Questionable wrestling lore states that Orndorff was kept strong so he could be heated up for Mania 3 in case Andre couldn't do it.  That sounds like a disaster since they were promoting Andre/Hogan since February and Hogan/Orndorff had been done to death already.  At the same time, Orndorff was really conspicuously absent at Mania.  Maybe "in case Andre couldn't do it" means less of a last second thing and more of a "we'll see how Andre's health is in January and make the call" thing.  I don't know.  I'm simultaneously talking myself into and out of this thing.

Edited June 21, 2023 by Technico Support

[Mister TV]

21 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

Yep, Herc and Billy Jack had a non-finish at Mania and then feuded on house shows in chain matches.

Questionable wrestling lore states that Orndorff was kept strong so he could be heated up for Mania 3 in case Andre couldn't do it.  That sounds like a disaster since they were promoting Andre/Hogan since February and Hogan/Orndorff had been done to death already.  At the same time, Orndorff was really conspicuously absent at Mania.  Maybe "in case Andre couldn't do it" means less of a last second thing and more of a "we'll see how Andre's health is in January and make the call" thing.  I don't know.  I'm simultaneously talking myself into and out of this thing.

I always thought the Orndorff as a back up is blown out of proportion, Andre was working that much no matter what. Looking at the card and roster who could Mr. Wonderful even work with? 

[Niners Fan in CT]

On 6/19/2023 at 3:01 PM, Sparkleface said:

WrestleManias 6 and 7 used to get trotted out in defense of the overly long 5-6 hour WrestleManias prior to the two day WrestleManias by folks going "well those two shows had 14 matches!"

And it's like... yeah and half of them barely hit five minutes! At least the Rockers vs. Barbarian and Haku was good.

 

I really like WrestleMania's 5-7 even though they had a bunch of filler.  WrestleMania 5 has a very well worked opener between Hercules and Haku.  Rockers vs. Twin Towers is one of my favorite tag matches of that era.  Blue Blazer vs. Mr. Perfect is fucking awesome even if it's a bit short.  Macho vs. Hogan is a very underrated main event.  It's superb all the way up to the bullshit no sell of Macho's elbow but what the hell can you do? 

[bobholly138]

On 6/19/2023 at 6:19 PM, Sparkleface said:

If one of the wrestler's significant others' can't get a hot dog out of a crock pot to give someone with a Wal-Mart soda, what good are they!

You joke but about 2 weeks ago now went to  a show. No running water,two portapotties for bathrooms. And consessions was hamburgers and bags of popcorn with a Sav-a-Lot coke...

Wasn't bad until the main event and the horseflies from the woods invaded. The main evvent ended early cause the champ was getting ate up by horseflies.

[Stefanie Sparkleface]

9 minutes ago, bobholly138 said:

You joke but about 2 weeks ago now went to  a show. No running water,two portapotties for bathrooms. And consessions was hamburgers and bags of popcorn with a Sav-a-Lot coke...

Wasn't bad until the main event and the horseflies from the woods invaded. The main evvent ended early cause the champ was getting ate up by horseflies.

I wasn't joking! I speak from plenty of experience and dysentery thanks to crock pot hot dogs.

[BloodyChamp]

I just saw this FB reel where Kurt Angle German Suplexed a wrestler who had Rey Mysterio around the waist, but not like he was going for a German of his own. It sent Rey flying farther than he would have from a regular German. No clue what that’s from but it’s 1 of the coolest spots ever. Kurt Angle is maybe the GOAT innovative spot that doesn’t involve props man. 

[bobholly138]

1 hour ago, Sparkleface said:

I wasn't joking! I speak from plenty of experience and dysentery thanks to crock pot hot dogs.

I was smart I was standing by the former tag team champion/firefighter that was manning the grill. Watched my burger get cooked. 

 

Also forget the portapotties. The venue was surrounded by woods on 3 sides,so would walk off into the woods.

 

Not that long ago and for close to 14 years this fed was the NWA fed in MS.

[Cobra Commander]

3 hours ago, bobholly138 said:

You joke but about 2 weeks ago now went to  a show. No running water,two portapotties for bathrooms. And consessions was hamburgers and bags of popcorn with a Sav-a-Lot coke...

Wasn't bad until the main event and the horseflies from the woods invaded. The main evvent ended early cause the champ was getting ate up by horseflies.

is Joba Chamberlain working indies now?

[Nice Guy Eddie]

26 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said:

is Joba Chamberlain working indies now?

Those were midges. I'll never understand why Joe Torre didn't pull the team off the field when the midges attacked. 

[The Natural]

Added to the match.