Best Studio Wrestling Shows

[Viking Hall]

With a lot of people turning their attention to NWA Powerrr and seemingly enjoying the studio format, what are the best studio shows historically? By the time I started watching over here in the UK, the studio era was all but done (bar maybe some of the WCW B-Shows which were a struggle to find either way) so it's an era I find myself fascinated with, but severely lacking in knowledge and viewing time. 

[cassonova]

Best historically...I'm not sure. But when I got the WWE network, I watch the WCW/NWA program from around 1987. I also enjoyed Smokey Mountain's program.

[agent817]

Not exactly a studio, but I liked FCW's setup in their small venue.

[Milkman Norm]

Love me some Lance and Dave in Memphis.

[wrestlingrecap]

Oct 18, 2019 8:30:53 GMT -5 cassonova said:

Best historically...I'm not sure. But when I got the WWE network, I watch the WCW/NWA program from around 1987. I also enjoyed Smokey Mountain's program.

SMW wasn't exactly a studio. They wrestled in high schools throughout Tennessee and Kentucky.

For me, it's Memphis.

[bmfjules]

A great studio show needs a couple of ingredients - the studio itself needs to look professional and not just a hole in the wall with cameras like the old ICW Poffo shows with audience members painted on the walls.

You need a host who has gravitas, cadence and style as well as knowledge - Lance Russell and Gordon Solie are neck and neck as the two best ever as far as this goes maybe a slight edge to Lance because he's literally a one-man show ringing the damn bell and keeping time while doing commentary and conducting interviews, plus he wouldn't take any gruff off of nobody.

You need, and here's the one thing NWA Powerrr has yet to find, a babyface promo to carry the show whether its Dusty or Lawler etc... they have heel promos out the whazzooo.

Ironically, the least important part of the old school set-up may be the actual wrestling. You need some matches, but they are basically tools to get the guys over that you need to get over. People didn't tune into the Superstation to see Flair/Steamboat classics (they'd be dissapointed if they did) they tuned in to see Ric Flair talk them into paying money to watching the big event where that was going to happen.

All that set up to say, I can't pick a favorite, but there are studio shows that clearly dominated in different areas.

Memphis had the best host with Lance Russell while NWA from 85-88 had the best looking set and perhaps the greatest crew of promo guys in the history of wrestling with Flair, Arn, Dusty, Cornette, etc... Although early 80s Mid Atlantic with Ole in his heel prime and a slightly younger Dusty, plus a young Flair and Piper with Gordon Solie at the desk is also a strong contender for best ever as well.

[Deleted]

Incredibly obscure and by no means "best," but my first introduction to the idea that there was other wrestling beside WWF and JCP came via the AWA's pink room of doom, so I'll always have a soft spot for that.

[Woo]

Wouldn't Lucha Underground count as a studio show? If so it is surely that?

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2019 9:54:34 GMT -5 Woo said:

Wouldn't Lucha Underground count as a studio show? If so it is surely that?

By its definition yes even though they did not film by technical wording on a "studio lot".

And no doubt it is the best IMO studio or no studio wrestling show ever produced.

[Ultimo Gallos]

For me it is Memphis. I grew up watching it every week. Plus so much great stuff happened there. Add in that lots of it is up on youtube.

[Deleted]

For me it's gotta be WCW Saturday Night from Disneyworld. That's really the only one that was still going when I first got into wrestling.

I have seen some old Memphis stuff, and that seemed pretty good too.

Also, I can't believe I'm the first person to mention the Impact Zone era of TNA.