Welcome to today’s daily discussion thread! We’ll be chatting Smackdown and the All-star game later tonight, but for now – talk about whatever!
Be sure to check out the latest Place to Be Podcast from last night:
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I’ve been enjoying the WWE PPVs a lot lately.
Yeah it’s a great way to watch the programming. Pick and choose TV and watch the PPVs.
Their network model works great if you cut out the meaningless TV and just stick to the network specials. Then the finishes – which wouldn’t typically play in the $50 PPV era – aren’t as big a deal month to month (and just $9.99 anyway).
Then of course they have their big four shows, which are hyped as such. It’s not a bad way to digest the product.
Paige’s brother has pretty much come out and said Del Rio hits her.
Hey, this place does have comments! This is a good thing I think.
Just started a couple weeks ago… welcome to the crew! We are slowly growing day by day but it has been a good time.
Welcome on the life raft!
1998 was a pretty good year in wrestling across the board I’d say.
I always prefer 1997 because I think WCW and ECW were stronger but 1998 is quite fun too.
Nitro was still hot thanks to Goldberg, Jericho and the Wolfpack. ECW did suffer from the title reign from hell of Shane Douglas, but TV was mostly focused on pushing Taz, RVD and the Dudleys.
Don’t forget Raven. He was a very hot act through the first half of 98.
I think the first half of 98 for WCW was still really good. Second half tapers significantly.
Put on the post WrestleMania IV Prime Time before heading to work later.
Nice, give us some running thoughts.
I’ve recently been putting Prime Time from the earliest point they’re up as background noise. Seen a LOT of Lanny Poffo and Tiger Chung Lee matches. I also have been surprisingly entertained by Lord Alfred Hayes, colour commentator.
I was glad when they did their recent dump up to mid 1989, as that’s the era I started watching.
As have discovered on PTB Podcast, Al is a lot of fun with Gorilla on those drab house shows. Tons of Poffo!
God I love DiBiase’s fistdrops.
Got my Roku stick all set up…already loving it! Network app works great…very fast and smooth.
I love Roku in general, I have very few hiccups with my setup.
I can now finally DELETE the buggy PS4 app. Was getting tired of it randomly crashing during PPVs.
Oh Gorilla, showing a blind eye to Hogan’s interference in the title match. You tell him what’s what Bobby!
Koko B Ware vs Dino Bravo. With JT’s favorite Frenchy Martin at ringside lol!
Oh God, hate Frenchy. Koko is the best though!
Started watching part 2 of AAA Verando de Escandolo this morning. There’s nothing Averno does that I wouldn’t enjoy more if it was Chavo Guerrero Jr doing it. That’s one of the more depressing statements I’ve ever made regarding wrestling.
I’m not sure if this opinion carries over to the PTB thread as it was on Scott’s blog, but this is a daily reminder that Dino Bravo is the worst.
I’ve always wondered if he was any better in the 70s when he was young. Is there a Patera Effect there?
Hmmm, I wonder if he was decent when he was a tag champ with DeNucci.
Wasn’t his best stuff in like Montreal / Maritimes?
He’s the pits in WWF, that’s a universal take!
Oooh Nick Bockwinkel on commentary, he was only doing WWF events for what, a year at most?
The ring looks slightly different in this Ware/Bravo match from Hamilton, Ontario. The mat is all black with a white trim.
And the ropes are very, very loose.
Reverse chinlock, stomp, reverse chinlock, clothesline, reverse chinlock.
Yeah this match isn’t giving me much.
Dino Bravo’s finisher was a side slam.
I don’t ever want to hear people complain about Bayley’s Belly-to-Bayley again.
Bravo was pretty damn terrible.
Gorilla: Dino Bravo too much of a powerhouse for Koko B Ware
Bobby: I was too much of a powerhouse for Koko B Ware!
THIS is why I love Prime Time Wrestling.
So awesome.
If ya smell what The Rock (Don Muraco) is cooking!
I smell a meatball sub.
I can’t post much while at work but I like reading your running commentary on a prime time from 88.
Okay, I don’t know why this is (must have been from the time when they uploaded shows to the old 24/7 service) but here is an interview with Muraco and every time he says WWF, the mic drops out. I can still hear it, it just becomes a drastic audio drop. Weird.
Yeah that has to be the reason for sure.
But the funny part is it isn’t completely muted, I can still hear it’s just like the volume goes from 75 to 10.
Oooh good Bad News Brown about to squash Brady Boone from a SNME taping.
I stand corrected, Brady getting a bit of offense of Brown.
This is a fun little match between Bad News and Boone.
Boone wasn’t bad. I am looking forward to his run with Billy Jack on the pod.
I’m picking up my trek through Learning to Love Okada with his G-1 2012 final against Karl Anderson today.
If Brady Boone had been about 4 inches taller he might have had a shot. He is very athletic and crisp in the ring.
Bad News doing the ‘pin him and pick him up before 3’ bit. I love it.
Boon just did a spinning back elbow, in 1988!
That was a great little match between Bad News and Brady Boone. Boone had a lot of offense and Brown looked good in his heel antics on Boone.
Love when you stumble into hidden gems on these shows.
Alright, gonna get a look at Demolition winning the titles next.
I love the look of the Atlantic City Convention Center at WrestleMania IV. The colored tarp and lighting on the ceiling, it screams 80’s excess to me. Love it!
Yeah WMIV and WMV are about as 80s as it gets when it comes to overall look.
No wonder Rick Martel turned on Tito the next year, while he’s getting smashed in the back with a cane, ol’ Chico is too busy smacking around Fuji. What a LOSAH!
Outlaw Ron Bass vs a jobber named Rick Hunter, who looks like Dick Murdoch’s out of shape brother (and that’s saying something).
Gorilla and Bobby already ripping on the pudgy jobber
Gorilla: I think he lives in Beverly Hills next to you
Bobby: He’d have to come in at night, they wouldn’t let him around during the day.
On Ron Bass:
Gorilla: He’s got a lot of scars on his face
Bobby: Those Texas women are rough!
So Ron Bass used a Pedigree as a finisher minus the double underhook of the arms.
Yes! He was the originator!
Looks like they were going to start a JYD vs Ron Bass feud on TV post WrestleMania IV.
That can’t have been pretty if it happened.
El Hijo de Fantasma vs Texano Jr vs Kevin Kross in a cage was fine, bordering on good before all the interference and finish. It’s still fine though.
Also, it’s really funny that two separate people have beaten up Mascara de Bronce and taken his MitB case just on this show.
Noriyo of the Jumping Bomb Angels vs Lelani Kai (or as Cyndi Lauper called her ‘Laney Kai’) from the same Hamilton Show as Koko/Bravo.
And Gorilla telling us we can watch WrestleMania IV on Satallite if we own a dish!
The women’s wrestling in WWF in the late 80’s seem to exist in a different universe from everything else going on in the company.
I liked how a lot of the matches on Prime Time, since they were from arena shows or dark matches from earlier tapings were just there, often not tied to any ongoing storylines.
And are different from all other TV shows.
Right, if anything Prime Time was where you would get a 15 minute match between established stars. They often weren’t great in ring, lots of restholds, but there wasn’t as much emphasis on squashes like the syndictaed shows. My memories as a kid were mostly watching Prime Time, as with it being on cable I always knew what channel and what time it was on. Superstars and Challenge could change stations and time slots and I could easily forget what time and what channel it was on.
It’s telling what Vince thought of the Jumping Bomb Angels that none of the commentators never bothered to learn their names. It was always just ‘the Jumping Bomb Angel and the other Angel’.
Gorilla fucked up all the Japanese women’s names every time.
Bobby looking around the studio for Matilda lol.
He everybody, May 11th is when Coliseum Video releases WrestleMania IV. It’s on TWO cassettes!
I always hated as a kid that tape 1
stopped during the middle of the Hogan Andre match.
Yeah was such a random spot to break… never made sense.
It made the match better. Honestly, even as a 12 year old, I thought that match was bad.
An Andre squash on Superstars? Did Andre do much syndication work in the late 80s, that seems kinda rare.
I think he only wrestled when it was to set up an angle, as you mention above.
Ah that answers my question, no match. Duggan came out to challenge him and Andre’s choking the big dummy down.
Cheapshot Duggan has to resort to a 2×4 to stand up to Andre.
Paige’s brother…sad. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4835d196f5a64ecf79d5ee8b25dda076f66fda5eb0ec56a1359571497845095f.png
Awful… what a mess.
Damn, you can actually see the similarities to Winehouse and Houston.
The fact that we now know Alberto is batshit crazy kind of negates all of his trash-talking of WWE and how he left there the first time.
Bottom line, those 2 need to get the hell away from each other since they’re both not exactly stable.
I don’t even know how much lower Paige can go after the sex tape and this, could be a sad trip to porn and hopefully doesn’t end like Chyna.
The additional information TMZ has shared now – it’s just an awful sad story.
Been in a meeting, will share some thoughts on this PTW running commentary soon!
And now Andre has gone ballistic, attacking refs, officials, cameramen after waking up from that 2×4 shot.
I wonder if like today this cameraman was some local wrestler.
Always loved that angle, so well done.
And now the Prime Time feature contest: Boris Zukohv vs George Steele…
THAT’S a featured match!?!
I don’t think we ever talked about how progressive Slick managing the Bolsheviks was. A pimp (a capitalist) joining forces with two socialists to work together towards common goals. It’s beautiful man.
Oh God, this match has Bruce Prichard on commentary too!?!
This exists on one of Dante’s circles of Hell doesn’t it.
Must be in Houston? I think he usually did commentary there.
George was fine I suppose as a character but at this point he offered nothing, NOTHING as an in ring performer. As a company mascot, sure, fine, sell those stuffed MINE dolls all you like. But keep his lethargic, biting based offense out of the ring please!
I hate him. He is terrible.
The best match on this Prime Time was, by far, Bad News Brown vs Brady Boone. I’m not even kidding it was an energetic six minute bout. Probably followed by Noriyo Tateno vs Leilani Kai.
Well this was fun watching this Prime Time and sharing my thoughts. Off to work, shame I’ll likely miss most of Smackdown tonight.
Good stuff! Talk to you later!
Thank you, just sitting at work about a half hour before my shift starts.
Bobby still pining for Vanna White.
So I just spent an hour and a half talking to Germans about spreadsheets; how are you fine folks?
So did they buy in on the spreadsheet thing?
Sold!
Man, I thought my equal number on the German side of the staff knew so much more about Excel than I do, with all the stuff in the sample sheets he sent before the meeting. Then he opens with “I just spent the last few weeks googling pivot tables…”
I need a Glenn Butler excel tutorial.
I myself just learned the other day that Excel can derive a week number from a date. Who’dathunkit.
Otherwise, a whole new world is opened to you once you master COUNTIF and conditional formatting.
Heading to google…
VLOOKUP literally changed my life a few years ago.
I have a love-hate relationship with pivot tables.
Yeah VLOOKUP is good but I never trust it. I probably should.
I understand that hesitancy. At first I liked to spot check, and once I was satisfied, copy and paste everything over as values if I was worried about a huge data set getting hosed. Now I find myself using it alllllll the time, to the point that it has become like a reflex.
I envy your trust. I will work on it.
Did you use your accent from the watchmen special?
Through an amazing act of self-control, I have never used that accent when actually on the phone/webcam with any of the Germans. With my immediate coworkers immediately after hanging up, yes.
Based on the comment below…
1997 or 1998 in North American wrestling? Which do you prefer?
As a big WCW fan, I will go with 97. It was peak WCW, the build to Starrcade 97. They screwed the pooch there but I love the ending of Uncensored 97.
1997.
1998 was strong in top but every promotion had rot setting in that would only get stronger. 98 had the Russo undercard stories in WWE, the nWo losing focus and bad celebrity wrestlers in WCW, overexpansion in ECW. Even AJPW had King’s Road getting out of control.
I think 97 is much easier to re-watch, even if the wave of emotion and hot crowds was more a 98 thing. WCW in 97 is much better – as is ECW.
97 is pretty good too, it just felt like WWF was lost outside of the main event scene, WCW had a bleh main event scene outside of DDP/Savage and ECW came down a lot from the mold-breaking highs of ’95-96. 1998 felt more even handed top to bottom for all three promotions.
But still, both years are a great ride to go through.
97 for sure. I’m someone who really doesn’t have an attachment to the 1998 WWF main events, as I kinda hated Austin matches at the time. Likewise, WCW tapered off big time as 98 progressed and we got pushes for Stevie Ray and Bobby Duncum Jr.
I kind of wonder if Duncum would have been better without drugs. Like was this a Cade thing?
I haven’t watched any of his stuff since I was a teenager, but all I remember is that as a Jerichoholic, I was pissed that they had Chris stuck in that feud.
98 for reasons way too elaborate and numerous to get into here but mostly for how hot WWF was and the uber popularity of Austin across the whole country, let alone in the business.
Also I loved both companies but was more of a WCW guy, and nothing was cooler than the nWo in 1997.
Hey everyone – I built a primer/sampler for our shows on the Place to Be Nation POP feed. Please check it out!
http://placetobenation.com/place-to-be-nation-pop-a-primer/
Working my way through Dominion.
War Machine vs Guerrillas of Destiny was a match that happened.
Not a big fan of them moving the belts around. I get that it set up the eventual stip at the G1 Specials, but i really had hoped they’d just let War Machine run with them for 6 months or so.
I don’t get why Yano & Ishii didn’t just get a run with them. Then drop them to ZSJ and Davey Jr maybe?
I think Archer getting hurt prob changed some plans too.
It’s All Star Tuesday. Making soft pretzels, bratwurst with sourkraut and beers for the game tonight.
I still get juiced for the mid-summer classic. Anyone else watching the game tonight?
I will monitor it… I like that they got rid of home field advantage bullshit and plus cool that the Yanks have hot young stars in it.
I get off at 9, hoping to see my boys Votto and Cozart get some play time (I know Cozart will as a starter, just hope I’m home before the end of the third is all).
Agreed. Working hard to compete for 162 games and walking away with the best record should mean something if they get to the Fall Classic.
The next thing MLB needs to scrap is the one game playoff. Same concept. Nine innngs is not enough data to prove a better team.
Yeah i’m not a fan of the second wildcard at all either. I don’t even like 5 game series for the divisional round.
They should cut the schedule back to 154 and do best of three or five for the Wild Card and then best of seven from there.
I think record-keeping wise we’ll never see them shorten the regular season, but really the only alternative is to start earlier, which only works if they actually strategically schedule to have games in warmer climates to start the year.
The regular season should end a month earlier. We dont need baseball in late October/ earlyNovember.
I’d rather them drop the 19 times a year thing with Division Rivals.
Yes this for sure. With the current playoff setup it makes no sense to play division rivals this often. Go back to the balanced schedule and then everything is equalized.
Agreed. I miss the days of the Braves playing the West coast Teams more then twice a year.
The ECW v WWE special is a fun show. The back and forth between Joey/Taz and King/JR throughout the show is really great and heated with a lot of snarky lines.
We did a live watch to that show – now you can watch and follow along.
I was fortunate to be at that event. That was a pretty fun night. And as it turns out, I was witness to the only 1-on-1 encounter between Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam.
I live and work just outside of Dayton, Ohio. And there seems to be a severe wind and thunderstorm decending over the area. I’m at work now and have seen lights flickering an more than a few power surges. I have a feeling power may even go out at some point today if this keeps up.
I enjoy Cody’s heel schtick.
Yes. Which is why it bothers me when he gets cheered in ROH like he does. Because there is nothing cool about Cody – nor his heel shtick. He’s been really deliberate about that. He’s a very good character. He’s cool by association, but it bewilders me that people would want to wear his merch. They are completely getting worked.
I don’t mind working till 9 tonight because I am off work tomorrow. Those are the best nights; I get home, unwind and look for something fun to watch on the Network as I doze off on the couch after an hour.
I am going to go to that ‘Planet of the Apes’ triple feature tomorrow of Rise, Dawn and War beginning at 4:30pm though.
Hopefully going to see Spiderman tomorrow.
I likely won’t get to it till Friday. I would see it prior to the ‘Apes’ marathon tomorrow, but 4 films in a row in one day feels like overkill, even to a movie geek like me.
Im hoping to see the New Apes one too.
More fuel on the Dixie/Angle/WWE fire… Raw is in Nashville next week…
You really think it’s her? I think it’s Stephanie setting up Angle and Triple H at Summerslam.
I could see it more as Kurt was taking guidance and comfort from Steph, even though others might see it as a tawdry affair. Which is how HHH would take it, so they fight at SummerSlam, where it is revealed that it was all a ruse done to remove Kurt from power.
Because Steph and HHH are always the smartest characters lol.
HHH-Angle in 2017!!!!
I’ve seen a trend about guys in the Hall of Fame staying out of the ring.
Piper is the only one who pulled it off at 25, but honestly that was not a serious angle.
I would say a 5% chance of that happening.
I’d love it if it was Dixie, but I just can’t see WWE spinning a storyline off of a one time competitor they have barely acknowledged the existence of and who the audience (less the smark minority) would likely have no idea who she is.
I’ll report live from Nashville!
I do enjoy the laid back atmosphere of the daily thread here. I’m sure within a few months this space will have increased traffic (and I want to see it draw a larger crowd because I enjoy the work done by this site). But for now I enjoy the quiet ambiance.
Yeah it’s been fun and I’m really enjoying the comments aspect since we launched. I’m hoping we find a nice balance of busy but not manic insanity.
Ok seriously, has anyone seen Tour de Pharmacy?!?!?
I caught it Saturday night, pretty hilarious
ASG predictions? I’m going AL-7 NL-4
MVP George Springer
AL wins 6-4
MVP is Jose Altuve
It’s a bit late for predicting, but Bryce Harper is having an outstanding game.
AJ vs Cena opening up SD
Got excited, now I see they are setting up a tag for later. Which should still be good.
What a tease haha
Lol for sure
I like the idea of the US challenge coming back
And here I was hoping the challenge would be answered by Gurv Sihra.
I’m a Harv guy, personally.
Anyone else ever notice the beat to I Wanna Be a Hulkamaniac is the same as Owen Hart’s theme?
Mind blown
But it’s true, never noticed it before
Guessing Jimmy Hart wrote it for High Energy and just lifted it over to WCW.
Watching EVOLVE 87 and its been a really good show.
Anyone watch the Kurt Angle Homecoming?
I got up to WM19 last night before passing out. Need to watch the rest, loved what I saw.
Thanks the trailers make it look great. I’ll be watching it tomorrow.
It was touching. I enjoyed it. Kurt was a legitimate beast.
Vince gets his deserved credit for keeping doors open for guys. For such a crude business man, he never burns bridges.
Thanks! I plan on checking it out tomorrow. The previews make it look great.
Best WWE 24 doc they have done yet.
It’s a close 2nd for me along with the Finn Balor one.
Made some homemade pretzels for the All Star Game. Delicious…. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/176bae56722e57708dca1fff8f9e6cc3246173ce21729ffb8d2085d24634f84b.jpg
Look good. My wife has been making a beer cheese dip and soft pretzel bites on occasion… they are tremendous.
Courtney enjoys them saltless and without sauce, but you got me thinking about a cheese dip for next time.
So are the Owens is injured rumors false? Or does he find a way out of this match tonight?
Jesus, Maria smacked the shit out of Sami… looks like Bennett makes his debut at Battleground…
Fashion Rangers!!
Brian Cage, Rey Horus, Marty Scurll, and Michael Elgin just named as part of this year’s PWG Battle of Los Angeles.
Add TK Cooper to that field as well.
And the money he took.
I like the low scoring affair. Makes for more drama. Baseball might be the one sport that is more compelling when there is less offense.
Just got home, for those watching the All Star Game, has Joey Votto either played or had an at bat yet tonight?
Not sure, I have just had a side eye on the score.
Just saw him strikeout on a 3-2 count. He’s still one of the best hitters in the game.
Has not appeared yet. Goldshmidt is currently at first.
It appears Madden is holding him for a bottom inning pinch hit spot late if needed.
I find Bryce Harper’s idea to be pretty interesting. Thoughts? It is an exhibition game after all.
http://www.12up.com/posts/5250057-bryce-harper-has-an-amazing-idea-on-how-to-create-all-star-rosters?a_aid=40030
The Dar vs. Alexander “I Quit” match was good.
Especially Alexander saying “Have it your way” before going to town on Dar’s arm.
The angle after the match was dumb. Are they really trying to make Fox a sympathetic character now?
I try not to think about that and just enjoyed Dar going full dick heel.
I’m just glad the feud ended.
Hey that was a pretty good ending to the “I Quit” match between Alexander and Dar.
Agreed, always enjoy 205 Live.
Finishing the Kurt doc now… awesome, awesome stuff. The scene at the gravesite was rough… as was him admitting he was lying to Vince and just going all out assuming his neck would just give out some day and force him to quit.
Gonna watch this Bruno match against Superstar under his collection. Says it’s a bloody affair too.
MLB ASG is now tied at 43 wins a piece between the two Leagues. Smackdown was pretty good tonight. How was the Cedric/Dar I Quit Match?
Following along on Twitter, Wrestle-1’s Grand Prix (King of the Ring) looks pretty well booked:
Masayuki Kono (veteran strong style guy) def. Daiki Inaba (young technician babyface)
Takahati Ita (training camp prodigy) def. Shuji Kondo (veteran drill sergeant type)
Manabu Soya (Wildman brawler) def. Kumagoro (Young big man/silly half of odd couple tag team)
Jiro Kuroshio (charismatic fun loving fop) def. Koji Doi (Serious half of odd couple tag team)
Kono def. Ita (mentor defeats student)
Jiro def. Soya
Kono vs Jiro as the final, as a rematch of a title match from December where Kono retained.
Winner faces champion Shotaro Ashino. Ashino overthrew Kono’s group, took his title and disbanded the group. Ashino broke Jiro’s ankle in an ankle lock and put him out four months.
I’m kind of excited to watch all this play out when it drops!