|
Post by Joe Neglia on Dec 12, 2016 20:58:50 GMT -5
It's a shame the Briscos didn't last longer. I really think a heel run for them would have been a good thing for the company.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Jan 13, 2017 13:09:07 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-october-1984/We set the wayback machine to October of 1984 as we travel to each major territory to examine the happenings. This month includes an NWA feud being settled on WWF TV, Roddy Piper gets rowdy with the Tonga Kid, several more major stars jump to the WWF, St. Louis fans are spoiled by having two top caliber main events go down in one night as NWA legends clash with the AWA's top stars, 3 promotions promise to trade talent to fend off the WWF invasion, Brody no shows a ton of scheduled AWA main events, the AWA crushes Vince in Chicago, Verne screw over his paying audience intentionally, a glimpse of "Psycho" Bob Backlund is seen, an infamously poor wrestler gets a Memphis push, the Von Erichs headline a stadium show, a famous Mid-South feud restarts, JCP has to rearrange their title scene after losing more talent to the WWF, Starrcade is set up and much more!!
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Jan 29, 2017 9:57:19 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wwf-madison-square-garden-11261984/A wild night at MSG sees the return of Jimmy Snuka as he joins his cousin The Tonga Kid for a bout with Roddy Piper, accompanied by Ace Orton. Tito Santana and Greg Valentine steal the show with an intense 25 minute war of attrition, plus David Schultz has bizarre bout with Rocky Johnson, Bruno Sammartino returns to aide his son David against Ken Patera, plus Barry Windham debuts and more!
|
|
|
Post by Joe Neglia on Jan 29, 2017 15:06:02 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-october-1984/We set the wayback machine to October of 1984 as we travel to each major territory to examine the happenings. This month includes an NWA feud being settled on WWF TV, Roddy Piper gets rowdy with the Tonga Kid, several more major stars jump to the WWF, St. Louis fans are spoiled by having two top caliber main events go down in one night as NWA legends clash with the AWA's top stars, 3 promotions promise to trade talent to fend off the WWF invasion, Brody no shows a ton of scheduled AWA main events, the AWA crushes Vince in Chicago, Verne screw over his paying audience intentionally, a glimpse of "Psycho" Bob Backlund is seen, an infamously poor wrestler gets a Memphis push, the Von Erichs headline a stadium show, a famous Mid-South feud restarts, JCP has to rearrange their title scene after losing more talent to the WWF, Starrcade is set up and much more!! I had forgotten Sweet Daddy Siki had made a brief return in the WWF during this time period. Truly a wrestler ahead of his time, he would have fit right in this era had he started a little later. Such a bizarre time for the company. The "Rock N Wrestling" crew was pretty much in place now, with Hogan, JYD, Andre, Tito, Piper and the like all at the top of the cards, with Slaughter still up there too, but we also had the Briscos, Freebirds, Mad Dog Vachon, Mr. Wrestling 2 and the Spoiler running around. You can definitely see the pieces starting to fall off the AWA wagon. I honestly feel the only thing still holding them together at the time were the Road Warriors. How Verne kept hiring/booking Brody in the couple of years after just makes me shake my head. Gagne should have cut his losses with him at this point because of all the damage his no-shows were causing. And I'm still really surprised that Verne didn't grab up Backlund around this time - given his jones for amateur credentials, Backlund's championship pedigree and being a company man (as opposed to constant Japan tours that would plague the Martel and (later) Hansen reigns - and slap the belt on him instead. LeDuc and King Tonga (Haku/Meng) in Montreal sounds interesting. One of the most feared men in the business going up against the guy who once purposely sliced his own arm open on television with an axe blade? Florida - It's pretty telling in ways when Dusty took all the talent with him to Crockett, but left behind his archnemesis of the past several years (Sullivan). Still, to leave it to the point where Jimmy Jack Funk is the top guy and a still-pretty-green One Man Gang is a top face is troubling. This promotion was already dead in the water at this point. Memphis was one of two areas that the WWF just could not seem to get a foothold in (the other being Texas). 300 in attendance for Andre vs. Kamala (who had JUST had a hot run in Memphis) is very indicative of the loyalty and mindset of the fanbase there, and a good example of why Tennessee was still around long after the other territories fell. It was a different universe entirely. Rude's face turn in Memphis was, to me, the first good evolution of what his character would become. Still pretty green at the time (and honestly, not that good a worker yet), it really gave him time on the mic to develop his own character, and even as a babyface, he was still an asshole. I wouldn't see Korchenko during this run, but I (*hangs head slightly*) was a mark for him during his later Mid-South run. The MXE in World Class was disappointing. They were tailor-made for the promotion, but something just didn't click.
|
|
SAJ Forth
Wade Wilson
Jamaican WCF Crazy!
Half Man-Half Amazing
Posts: 27,214
|
Post by SAJ Forth on Jan 29, 2017 16:17:09 GMT -5
Man, who did Chris Adams piss off to be stuck in a six-man match with Chavo Senior and Jose Lothario? He's not like "I have also wrestled" Chavo.
|
|
|
Post by Joe Neglia on Jan 29, 2017 17:13:05 GMT -5
Man, who did Chris Adams piss off to be stuck in a six-man match with Chavo Senior and Jose Lothario? Nobody. The two were main event legends in Texas in the years prior and were still well-regarded at the time, despite their histories being rewritten years later by goofy returns to the spotlight.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2017 20:12:17 GMT -5
Man, who did Chris Adams piss off to be stuck in a six-man match with Chavo Senior and Jose Lothario? Nobody. The two were main event legends in Texas in the years prior and were still well-regarded at the time, despite their histories being rewritten years later by goofy returns to the spotlight. I know, I was joking. I was actually a Chavo Guerrero fan back in those days. I thought I replied to the other guy hours ago but I can only guess my phone crapped out before I hit 'create post'. Chavo was considered a high flyer back then. Sure, he was no Dynamite Kid, but he spent a lot of time in the air. I liked guys like that when I was new to wrestling.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Mar 10, 2017 11:12:38 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-in-the-day-november-1984/November of 1984 sees an exodus of talent from the WWF, plus Snuka returns from hiatus to go after Piper, Andre gets an unplanned haircut, the WWF runs a card with NINETEEN cage matches(!), Bruno returns to MSG, Bruiser Brody and Ric Flair tangle in St Louis, The Omni plays host to a big tag team tournament, The AWA beats the WWF in a head to head battle for the Twin Cities, Wrestlers not showing up to work continue to haunt the AWA, the WWF messes with Pro Wrestling USA's touring plans, Jerry Lawler takes on monster heels, Kerry Von Erich heads to Hollywood, The Von Erich Family finds an unlikely friend, Mid-South heads back to the Superdome, Bill Watts books a major babyface turn, and Starrcade goes down in JCP - plus more news, notes and results!
|
|
froggyfrog
El Dandy
abababababbabababababa
Posts: 7,556
|
Post by froggyfrog on Mar 10, 2017 12:28:14 GMT -5
This is a cool thread. I'm gonna run through all these posts when I have some time. Just wanted to say keep it up 👍🏻
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 20:40:09 GMT -5
Andre getting beat down and his hair cut is a big moment to experience. I remember it clear as day. I was 10. And hate Ken Patera to this day.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Mar 11, 2017 2:02:56 GMT -5
This is a cool thread. I'm gonna run through all these posts when I have some time. Just wanted to say keep it up 👍🏻 Plan is to go to Dec 89. By then everyone is all but dead and 1990 marks the WWF tumbling a bit as well. This is a passion project.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Mar 25, 2017 1:29:26 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslin-back-day-wwf-meadowlands-12101984/The Meadowlands plays host to Hulk Hogan defending his WWF title against Big John Studd. Plus Jimmy Snuka butts heads with Bob Orton Jr, and JYD clashes with Mr. Wonderful. Roddy Piper is on hand to provide a race baiting promo. Bobby Heenan wrestles in possibly one of the worst matches of his career. Ken Patera, Johnny Valiant, George Wells and Buddy Rose face off with jabronis and a women's tag match sets the bar for boring...
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Apr 15, 2017 0:23:56 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/msg122884/We return to MSG for a historic night of action as the first "Road to Wrestlemania" begins as Roddy Piper storms into a Capt. Lou Albano and Cyndi Lauper ceremony and causes chaos. The Hulkster battles the Iron Sheik, Jack Brisco competes in one of his final matches as the Briscos grapple with Dick Murdoch and Adrian Adonis, Tonga Kid and Superfly Snuka have a wild match with Bob Orton and Roddy Piper, top international junior heavyweights the Cobra and the Black Tiger try and win over the crowd, JYD has some unexpected issues with a jobber and more action!
|
|
|
Post by bigalbass86 AKA Smokin Vokoun on Apr 16, 2017 13:34:12 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/msg122884/We return to MSG for a historic night of action as the first "Road to Wrestlemania" begins as Roddy Piper storms into a Capt. Lou Albano and Cyndi Lauper ceremony and causes chaos. The Hulkster battles the Iron Sheik, Jack Brisco competes in one of his final matches as the Briscos grapple with Dick Murdoch and Adrian Adonis, Tonga Kid and Superfly Snuka have a wild match with Bob Orton and Roddy Piper, top international junior heavyweights the Cobra and the Black Tiger try and win over the crowd, JYD has some unexpected issues with a jobber and more action! I've been watching alot of that time period lately. And I marvel at just how incredible Roddy Piper was as a heel. The Cydi Lauper storyline was pure classic. He really did make that first Wrestlemania, IMO.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on May 5, 2017 23:35:51 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wccwstarwars84/Kerry Von Erich enjoys a home field advantage as NWA World Champ Ric Flair comes to Dallas to take up his challenge. Kevin Von Erich seeks revenge against Chris Adams in a "lumberjack" match, Mike Von Erich teams with Billy Jack Haynes to meet the menace of Jake the Snake and Gino Hernandez, plus the Fantastics duel with the Midnight Express, and the Freebirds butt heads with Akbar's Army!
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on May 26, 2017 11:52:51 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrestlinghistory19831984/The Wrestling War in 1983/84 is gone over month by month in this look at all the noteworthy news, gossip and results. Tidbits include: Ole Anderson's attempt to expand nationally without the NWA's blessing, the Grand Wizard's death causing a break in kayfabe, Mr. T almost heads to Memphis for a Jarrett show, the AWA is attacked by the IRS thanks to McMahon's meddling, the WWF teases a WORLDwide expansion, the Von Erich's draw everywhere - but Papa Fritz doesn't want to leave Texas, The Freebirds locker room fight with two legendary tough guys, Bruiser Brody gets the AWA kicked out of an arena, Bobby Heenan's surprising plans had the WWF not come calling, Buddy Rose plots to screw over Don Owens, Vince running out of money and nearly loses the war by default, the hall of famer the AWA tried to bring in to replace Heenan, and more!!!
|
|
|
Post by Joe Neglia on May 26, 2017 23:31:12 GMT -5
I have to wonder what caused this to fall through. On paper, this put Ole and Joe so far ahead of McMahon, it's not even funny.
It's almost as if Vince didn't invent this sort of tactic.
I didn't realize McMahon was trying to snag PS so early.
Well, at least can say TNA hasn't been guilty of that. Yet.
History repeats itself.
How different things would have been...
Oh, how very, very different...
Of any of the other promoters, I still contest that the only one that had even a snowball's chance in hell of successfully going nationwide beyond McMahon was Fritz, and yet he was the only one that refused to really try. I have wonder, would attempting to do so have changed the course of history to the point the "World Class Curse" from starting its chain reaction not long after this, or would it still have found a way to happen on a larger stage?
Man, if there were ever two people even Terry Gordy shouldn't piss off at the same time, it was Wahoo and Harley.
What was McMahon's obsession with trying to get Rose? He just wouldn't give up on hiring the guy no matter how many times it blew up in both their faces.
People who condemn Eric Bischoff for giving away Raw results on-air need to read more stories like this from the early days of McMahon doing his thing.
...how so very different...
Can you imagine the Rock N Wrestling era kicking off with the Road Warriors entering their heighth, a peak Michael Hayes, Blackwell, Brody and...uhm, Rose and Al-Kassie?
There was serious consideration at the time by USA to cut WWF over this sort of thing.
A prime example of Crockett going Full Dixie.
McMahon tells Crockett to hold his beer.
This is a good example of why Verne never stood a chance, with or without Vince conquering the world. He had literally the second biggest act in wrestling (only behind Hogan) in the Road Warriors, yet this is what he did with them. This would have been akin to Vince bringing Hogan in and having him fight nobody except Ivan Koloff.
I talked recently in another thread about how one thing Vince made sure was done throughout the expansion years was making sure everybody got paid. This time period was a rare exception and shows how desperately he was needing Wrestlemania to be a hit. He wasn't just at make-or-break, he was in need of an absolute miracle.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on May 28, 2017 4:30:24 GMT -5
I would assume that since Georgia was struggling, expanding wasn't going to help if they were just spending more money to draw farther away from home.
Fritz not expanding might simply be that he was checked out of WCCW day to day operations, dealing with real estate and such. The wrestling was just extra money, and means to make his sons rich and famous.
Buddy Rose was pretty awesome.
|
|
brody
Don Corleone
Posts: 1,463
|
Post by brody on Jun 30, 2017 12:28:04 GMT -5
culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/wrasslinhistorydecember84/December of 1984 sees Cyndi Lauper return to the WWF for a wild angle, a major babyface leaves the WWF, Roddy Piper's DUI causes a break in Kayfabe, TNT features an infamous wedding(!), a drunken Capt Lou injures another wrestler with a knife, 20/20 reveals (GASP) wrestling is fake, Lou Thesz returns to St. Louis, a legendary heel joins the babyfaces in Georgia to battle Jimmy Hart's goons, Dusty Rhodes teams with Ole Anderson- again..., the AWA loses another star, Brody pulls his no showing stunts again, a fan threatens the life of Ted Dibiase, the Russians maul another JCP babyface and more!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2017 17:15:32 GMT -5
Korstia Korchenko, Iron Mike Sharpe and Jimmy Hart should get an award for the three most random people you can put on one team. (I know, Jimmy had like 75 people in his stable; those are just three names I never expected seeing on one team together.)
|
|