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Post by dxbang on Feb 3, 2016 9:31:08 GMT -5
Culminating with his win over Bret at SummerSlam in Wembley Stadium, the British Bulldog had the look and popularity to be a main eventer in the early '90s. He may have only been 5'11, but his frame and look were larger than life. I can't think of anyone that wasn't excited to see him come out and he was a solid worker too.
His lower card feud with the Warlord was pretty good for what it was, and I think they missed an opportunity after SummerSlam to keep the ball rolling. I know they wanted to put the IC title on Shawn, but they could have easily continued to push Davey Boy after that loss. Wins against DiBiase, IRS, Nailz, Kamala, etc. could have catapulted himinto a fued with Razor and eventually Flair. I just think they could have done more before his HGH related release in '93. Even his return in '94 could have been done a little better.
FWIW, I was never a fan of short-haired/main event Davey. He was never really believable as an actual threat to the title.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 10:17:27 GMT -5
Most of the other kids I knew were all about him, but six year-old me thought his braids looked weird.
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Post by Milkman Norm on Feb 3, 2016 11:07:34 GMT -5
Culminating with his win over Bret at SummerSlam in Wembley Stadium, the British Bulldog had the look and popularity to be a main eventer in the early '90s. He may have only been 5'11, but his frame and look were larger than life. I can't think of anyone that wasn't excited to see him come out and he was a solid worker too. His lower card feud with the Warlord was pretty good for what it was, and I think they missed an opportunity after SummerSlam to keep the ball rolling. I know they wanted to put the IC title on Shawn, but they could have easily continued to push Davey Boy after that loss. Wins against DiBiase, IRS, Nailz, Kamala, etc. could have catapulted himinto a fued with Razor and eventually Flair. I just think they could have done more before his HGH related release in '93. Even his return in '94 could have been done a little better. FWIW, I was never a fan of short-haired/main event Davey. He was never really believable as an actual threat to the title. There was this little thing involving Dr.George Zahorian that made WWF want to get guys that looked like Davey as far away from the top of the card as they could. Out of the promotion if possible. Summerslam was a one time thing to sell out Wembley (probably WWE's biggest legit biggest ppv ever) and they had no long term plans for DBS. The fact that he was a total mess and needed Bret Hart to carry him through the match I'm sure didn't do him any favors either when it came to considering letting him have a longer run with the title. |
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Post by Heeltown, USA on Feb 3, 2016 11:40:37 GMT -5
Didnt Davey fail a drug test shortly after Summerslam that forced them to switch the title to Shawn?
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Post by Milkman Norm on Feb 3, 2016 11:47:28 GMT -5
Didnt Davey fail a drug test shortly after Summerslam that forced them to switch the title to Shawn? The plan was to always switch it early. The Steroid Trial may have pushed that up. |
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Post by The 1Watcher Experience on Feb 3, 2016 12:28:14 GMT -5
Drugs are bad. Bulldog cared more about them than his wrestling career.
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Post by paperbackhero on Feb 3, 2016 12:58:19 GMT -5
I thought he had already peaked by 90, and was on a slow decline until his death. A couple of good matches here and there, but nothing close to what he once was. I think he was much better hidden in a tag team, where he wasnt exposed as much since he wasnt a ring general. Great moves, but not many great matches...save his work with other Stampede guys...even then, his early 80's work solo with them were so much better. His bulk really hurt him, and his complete lack of style always made me laugh. That being said...I was a fan from 84 to 88...big time.
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SmashTV
Dennis Stamp
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Post by SmashTV on Feb 3, 2016 16:01:44 GMT -5
All the talent in the world, amazing agility for a big guy (as in upper body), but went on the juice and paid the price. Being British, I was a fan and the match with Bret at Summerslam was one of the last I watched as a 'fan' - despite being 17 I actually yelled 'KICK OUT!' when Bret hit the belly to back suplex from the apron.
I don't think he had the 'feel' of a long-term champion though. He was certainly upper mid-card and used to get good matches out of people, but I never saw him as the top guy.
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Post by fuzzywarble, squat cobbler on Feb 3, 2016 16:17:08 GMT -5
What was the deal with his attire during his '99 comeback (the jeans)? NOTHING about his look screamed 'British bulldog'.
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Post by ________ has left the building on Feb 3, 2016 16:55:10 GMT -5
What was the deal with his attire during his '99 comeback (the jeans)? NOTHING about his look screamed 'British bulldog'. WWE felt him wearing Union Jack tights was passe during the Attitude Era so he dressed like a common goon. |
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Post by Heeltown, USA on Feb 3, 2016 19:38:20 GMT -5
Im probably in the minority but I thought Bulldog's attitude run was just right. His look fit right in for the era and he was used just enough to not make his booking seem ridiculous
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Post by Hit Girl on Feb 3, 2016 20:23:16 GMT -5
Changing his attire and music from the Union Jack and Rule Britannia to jeans and dogs barking was utterly dumb.
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Perfect Timing
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Post by Perfect Timing on Feb 3, 2016 22:18:04 GMT -5
Yeah when he wore tights during that six pack challenge match he looked alright.
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BorneAgain
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Post by BorneAgain on Feb 3, 2016 22:23:13 GMT -5
Changing his music from Rule Britannia to dogs barking was utterly dumb. Especially when they hit gold with the funky hip hop remix of Rule Britannia and foolishly soon abandoned it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=82k8kFuvU6U |
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Cranjis McBasketball
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Feb 3, 2016 22:43:29 GMT -5
Didnt Davey fail a drug test shortly after Summerslam that forced them to switch the title to Shawn? Bret was suppose to drop it to Shawn, but knowing SummerSlam was gonna be in Wembley, asked to drop it to Davey first, then Davey could transition to Shawn. Davey was always meant to be a short term champion. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 23:11:18 GMT -5
I saw him with the flat top first, so going back and seeing him with braids is still weird for me. I can see why he was really popular back then though.
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Post by cabbageboy on Feb 3, 2016 23:23:21 GMT -5
The Bulldog IC short run thing is revisionist history since he was turfed for HGH use (if you believe Vince on the Warrior DVD). The long term plan was always for Michaels to win the IC title, but I doubt it would have been that quick. For instance, I recall having the Survivor Series 1992 program and it clearly had Bulldog/Mountie listed for the IC title. So really I'd say the earliest Shawn would have gotten the title would have been the 1993 Rumble, or maybe just save the win for WM 9 to give that card an actual good match.
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Post by Hit Girl on Feb 3, 2016 23:26:55 GMT -5
His 1996 look was the best. Short hair, trunks and tassles.
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Post by Flash Burton on Feb 4, 2016 8:33:08 GMT -5
As another Brit he was massively over with me & my mates as little marks
I also kind of dug his Attitude return, I knew he was beat to crap by this point but I actually liked his grungey dogs barking theme
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auph10imitated
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Post by auph10imitated on Feb 4, 2016 10:34:00 GMT -5
There is no doubt in my mind had he not been fired in 1992, he could have gone into 1993 as a main eventer, he was hugely over, had the look, and could work. All this despite being stuck in lousy feuds up until Bret (Haku, Warlord, Repo Man)
If they were adamant in taking the belt off him to give to Shawn then he should have joined Bret in the main event by end of 1992, and they could have kept Perfect heel. Then you have Bret, Davey and Savage as your top faces with Flair, Perfect and Ramon for the heels.
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