Curt McGirt Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Gotta say, that new WWE doc on A&E, Curse of the Von Erichs, is probably the best of all of the Von Erich-related docs and the movie, minus maybe Heroes of World Class but that's more focused on the business end and is special for that instead. Kevin really goes in-depth and the biggest thing is the women and the kids are there to talk (minus Marshall and Ross because fuck AEW I guess). One of the biggest things I caught was one of the wives inferring that their mother was worse than Fritz with the insistence on them doing "what's best for business", to the extent she was kind of a harpy. She said it without really coming out and saying it, if you get my meaning, and that makes you imagine just how bad it could have been.
odessasteps Posted May 6 Posted May 6 JC wondered on the pod whether they could have run Texas Stadium if it had “just” been flair vs David for the title or the whole Memorial/winning it for my brother/heaven needs a champion stuff is what caused Frotz to book Texas stadium.
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 6 Posted May 6 27 minutes ago, odessasteps said: JC wondered on the pod whether they could have run Texas Stadium if it had “just” been flair vs David for the title or the whole Memorial/winning it for my brother/heaven needs a champion stuff is what caused Frotz to book Texas stadium. I mean they had some hot stuff underneath but at the same time, they could have run Reunion Arena and sold it out had David not passed. You also have to consider what plans they would have had if David was still around and could be factored in. So maybe they draw over a certain number where you could justify running Texas Stadium OR better yet in terms of visual aesthetics, a smaller stadium in the DFW area where it looks packed instead of just one side full.
Mister TV Posted May 6 Posted May 6 35 minutes ago, odessasteps said: JC wondered on the pod whether they could have run Texas Stadium if it had “just” been flair vs David for the title or the whole Memorial/winning it for my brother/heaven needs a champion stuff is what caused Frotz to book Texas stadium. World Class/Big Time Wrestling had run Texas Stadium a few times in the 70’s and for Fritz’s “retirement” show in 1982, so they most likely would have run Flair vs. David there.
odessasteps Posted May 6 Posted May 6 That was his point. They were already getting 20,000 probably for the Star Wars at Reunion. Would David vs Flair pull another 10-15,000+ people unless people KNEW he was winning the world title.
odessasteps Posted May 6 Posted May 6 1 minute ago, Mister TV said: World Class/Big Time Wrestling had run Texas Stadium a few times in the 70’s and for Fritz’s “retirement” show in 1982, so they most likely would have run Flair vs. David there. He mentioned that Fritz vs Kiniski drew a big house at Turnpike Stadium before Texas Stadium too.
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 6 Posted May 6 14 minutes ago, odessasteps said: That was his point. They were already getting 20,000 probably for the Star Wars at Reunion. Would David vs Flair pull another 10-15,000+ people unless people KNEW he was winning the world title. How many false title switches had they done with Race and Flair up to that point? It would have to be something red hot to do double what they were already getting.
odessasteps Posted May 6 Posted May 6 Imagine the nuclear heat on the promotion if Kerry DID NOT beat Flair on the David Memorial Show.
Cobra Commander Posted May 6 Posted May 6 they drew a lot of people at Texas Stadium, yet they found a way to have a camera angle showing a large empty section and Texas Stadium was a smaller venue than the Cotton Bowl (with the added benefit of covered seating)
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 6 Posted May 6 25 minutes ago, odessasteps said: Imagine the nuclear heat on the promotion if Kerry DID NOT beat Flair on the David Memorial Show. What happened in real life was probably as (quietly) catastrophic because there was no clean ending that would allow World Class to profit off of. Imagine if WWE or AEW set up this huge title switch that allowed them to do a big house at a stadium and then boom the switch back happens at some random AAA or CMLL TV taping that most people who saw the former aren't going to watch or follow. If Kerry is going to lose the title that quickly (granted he only won because of strange circumstances), at least have him drop it back to Flair by screwjob at the hands of one of the major heels in World Class (or better yet, make a new one). Then, you can have a major program set up for the summer/fall of 84 of how Kerry is going to get the title back but first he has to destroy the man who cost him the title. That would have been my first (and probably only) demand if I got my hands on the NWA title. 5
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 6 Posted May 6 14 minutes ago, Cobra Commander said: they drew a lot of people at Texas Stadium, yet they found a way to have a camera angle showing a large empty section and Texas Stadium was a smaller venue than the Cotton Bowl (with the added benefit of covered seating) That's the inherent risk of running a venue so vast. Unless it was a one camera shoot, you had to shoot in other areas.
zendragon Posted May 6 Posted May 6 I wonder if that was the plan had Kerry not been messed up on drugs?
Cobra Commander Posted May 6 Posted May 6 4 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said: That's the inherent risk of running a venue so vast. Unless it was a one camera shoot, you had to shoot in other areas. the Wrestlefest 88 in Milwaukee County Stadium did a surprisingly amazing job at making it look like the place was packed (by using a camera pointed at home plate). But yeah in most stadiums, I guess you just have to put the cameras in the places where you don't have any fans World Class putting the ring in one of the endzones for some of their older Texas Stadium shows was a solid decision, although it did also have some Puerto Rico vibes with no fans on the field 1
Curt McGirt Posted May 6 Posted May 6 1 hour ago, Mister TV said: Fritz’s “retirement” show in 1982 If you haven't seen it, then you probably haven't seen King Kong Bundy with eyebrows and hair, which is just surreal. I think he even had facial hair! One thing they didn't mention in the new doc is Kerry losing the foot because he got up to eat a hamburger in the middle of the night. That could be apocryphal then, I guess... but it doesn't sound like it.
Technico Support Posted May 6 Posted May 6 32 minutes ago, Curt McGirt said: If you haven't seen it, then you probably haven't seen King Kong Bundy with eyebrows and hair, which is just surreal. I think he even had facial hair! One thing they didn't mention in the new doc is Kerry losing the foot because he got up to eat a hamburger in the middle of the night. That could be apocryphal then, I guess... but it doesn't sound like it. Most cursed food item since Mama Cass’ ham sandwich! 4
The Natural Posted May 7 Posted May 7 Raja Jackson has reportedly reached a plea deal with prosecutors to resolve the criminal case stemming from his August 2025 attack on indie wrestler Syko Stu. The California Post reports that, per a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Jackson is pleading no contest to the felony count of battery with serious bodily injury that he is facing. Sentencing will not happen until late June, but it’s expected that Jackson will have to serve 90 days in county jail, along with paying restitution to Stu and receiving two years probation. Jackson, the son of UFC legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, will be paying the restitution amount of $81,703.38 before he is sentenced. F4wonline.com --- Fucker should be sentenced for a lot longer and it should be for attempted murder. One of the worst things I've ever seen. Fuck Raja Jackson.
NoFistsJustFlips Posted May 7 Posted May 7 On 5/5/2026 at 2:11 PM, Elsalvajeloco said: Doesn't really matter if you sign the rights away. Candice LeRae for example was using that name for about 15 years prior signing with WWE. I am assuming in order to keep using that name she had to sign the rights away. Otherwise, they come up with a name for you. That's.... not exactly how it works. For example CM Punk gets signed. They allow him to keep the name and have him sign the name over (on a temporary basis, not in perpetuity). When you sign the name over that's more just for convenience. WWE doesn't have to get approval on every piece of marketing with that name or toy or merchandise. They basically run the administration of your name during the length of your contracted services. But then you leave and once the deal is terminated WWE no longer have rights to it. CM Punk is still CM Punk. AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, Christian Cage, etc. If you owned the name prior, WWE don't get to keep it when you leave. But as with Christian, if WWE shortened your name you don't get to go by that. You have to use the full name again. So Kofi can legally use his prior full name. Kofi Nahje Kingston. Woods (and Big E if he were to get out of his deal just to be a corner man) would not be keeping the same names tho. 2
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 7 Posted May 7 44 minutes ago, NoFistsJustFlips said: When you sign the name over that's more just for convenience. Thing is you don't have to sign your name over especially when they are most likely going to create a piece of branding separate from what you've been doing (although Danhausen is doing pretty much beat by beat what he had been doing elsewhere cause what good is besides that). I am not saying it's right obviously, but WWE legally (and granted they might not win) can still say, "hey this sounds too much like the name you used in WWE". And you know a commentator is going to slip up and call him Kofi Kingston. And I wouldn't even blame them since the guy was Kofi Kingston for 20 years. Granted, we're thankfully passed the days of when Bobby Heenan on Nitro called Meng "Haku" since that's what they probably call him backstage and Bischoff clearly lost his shit and came back from break apologizing so WWF wouldn't send another cease and desist. Anyway, I am just saying that TKO may be a new level of vindicative. Yes, what you're saying makes 100% total sense but that doesn't rule out they might do try to force peoples' (ex talent and otherwise) hands in the court of law. Also, I never expect anyone to have goodness in their heart when they want you to sign something over.
Technico Support Posted May 7 Posted May 7 (edited) I thought it was as simple as: if you come in with your name and they let you keep it, then you sign it over to them for licensing, and then you get it back, free and clear, when you leave. But if they rename you, you can't take that name with you under any circumstances. But I have no idea why the Dudleys had to change their names in TNA but RVD didn't, even though their circumstances were exactly the same. Edited May 7 by Technico Support 1
Cobra Commander Posted May 7 Posted May 7 RVD was also using that name on and off since 1991. Almost five years before he debuted in ECW
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 7 Posted May 7 17 minutes ago, Technico Support said: I thought it was as simple as: if you come in with your name and they let you keep it, then you sign it over to them for licensing, and then you get it back, free and clear, when you leave. But if they rename you, you can't take that name with you under any circumstances. But I have no idea why the Dudleys had to change their names in TNA but RVD didn't, even though their circumstances were exactly the same. I would sorta discount that whole ECW thing cause what's the point of having a guy named Tazz and he leaves, he can be Taz again. Also, Rhino vs. Rhyno. Yet, Mercedes Varnado can't be Sascha Banx in AEW. Yes, I know WWE came up with the name but the human being who played Sasha Banks is still doing that character. Just under a different assumed name. Kevin Nash and Scott Hall weren't allowed to be Diesel and Razor Ramon, allowed to be vaguely referenced as those characters, or display any characteristics of those the WWF created characters. 1
Cobra Commander Posted May 7 Posted May 7 A certain amount was possible between WWF and ECW that wasn’t possible with WWF/WCW or WWE/AEW because WWF was subsidizing ECW
Elsalvajeloco Posted May 7 Posted May 7 1 minute ago, Cobra Commander said: A certain amount was possible between WWF and ECW that wasn’t possible with WWF/WCW or WWE/AEW because WWF was subsidizing ECW I am still trying to figure out how Matt Borne got sued by WWF for doing the Doink gimmick in the indies in 90s after his release yet was able to "sell" the Doink gimmick to someone else.
tbarrie Posted May 7 Posted May 7 11 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said: Yet, Mercedes Varnado can't be Sascha Banx in AEW. Yes, I know WWE came up with the name but the human being is played Sasha Banks is still doing that character. Just under a different assumed name. If she's doing the same character, wouldn't that be a clear copyright violation? If WWE owns the stories they present (and I'm sure they claim to; moreover, it's not clear to me that they're wrong there), then they also own any characters who debuted in those stories.
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