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Post by Hulkshi Tanahashi on Jan 23, 2023 10:40:20 GMT -5
As for Dino, I always saw him as a jobber to the stars: protected in the midcard so that he looks like a threat against the main eventers who would beat him.
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tafkaga
Samurai Cop
the Dogfather
Posts: 2,151
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Post by tafkaga on Jan 23, 2023 10:43:18 GMT -5
I guess it especially jumps out with Bravo because all of the other guys you mentioned above had at least something that made them watchable or appealed to a certain segment of fans, whether it was solid ring work, imposing stature, a funny gimmick or whatnot. And also, it should be noted, Bravo did not lose often until the very end. There was a weird protection there where they didn't want him jobbing the way someone like Herc or the Bushwhackers routinely did. I'd like to think Dino was a little bit better than Powers and Roma. I feel like Dino probably lost a lot from maybe late 89 to early 90 until early 91 but we really don't see it because it was untelevised matches. Dino was probably on par with Hercules, Barbarian and Warlord. I don't feel like Dino had more favor with Vince over anyone else. Vince should have released a lot of guys in the late 80s to early 90s but he seemed to be channeling his father in keeping so many dead weight guys on. Roma is another guy who I still don't get why people talk about like he was one of the worst ever. I liked him as the jerk heel. He had a killer dropkick and was a solid tag team guy. Underrated all around imo. I almost feel like it was just because he didn't work as a Horseman that people pile on. Power & Glory is still one of my favorite tags.
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4real
Wade Wilson
Posts: 27,930
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Post by 4real on Jan 23, 2023 11:25:24 GMT -5
One of my favourite OSW moments is OOC asking Jay if this is Dino’s last ppv match during his match against Texas Tornado at Wrestlemania VII and just giving out about Dino in the segment.
OOC: “This has got to be it for Bravo Jay come on” V1: “He had a good run!” OOC: “No he didn’t” V1: “His run with Earthquake was good” OOC: “Yeah good for him, Quake didn’t need him”
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Post by jason1980s on Jan 23, 2023 11:54:36 GMT -5
I feel that if Dino had lived he would be a guy Hulk brought in to WCW. Maybe not a Dungeon of Doom guy but probably a foreign heel with the Quebeccers. Being pre-internet and I also think I stopped watching wrestling for a bit, I didn't find out he died until a month or two later when I saw a PWI type magazine with a small pic that he had been murdered, on the cover. Not sure if WWF did a graphic but the following year, in WWF magazine they had memorial pics of Kerry and Andre but no Dino.
A Martel/Dino team would have been cool but not sure when they could do it. Dino either left, was let go or they didn't use him from mid 1991 to early 1992 with the foreign tour. And Martel left during the summer and fall I guess for real estate as usual. Though a rumor was it was because he was on steroids. One of his last matches, or his last match of Dino was with Mustafa losing to LOD on a tour. I doubt either guy took the Doomsday Device. It was cool seeing Dino and Colonel come out together, I think to Mustafa's music.
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Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Jan 23, 2023 13:30:35 GMT -5
I'd like to think Dino was a little bit better than Powers and Roma. I feel like Dino probably lost a lot from maybe late 89 to early 90 until early 91 but we really don't see it because it was untelevised matches. Dino was probably on par with Hercules, Barbarian and Warlord. I don't feel like Dino had more favor with Vince over anyone else. Vince should have released a lot of guys in the late 80s to early 90s but he seemed to be channeling his father in keeping so many dead weight guys on. Roma is another guy who I still don't get why people talk about like he was one of the worst ever. I liked him as the jerk heel. He had a killer dropkick and was a solid tag team guy. Underrated all around imo. I almost feel like it was just because he didn't work as a Horseman that people pile on. Power & Glory is still one of my favorite tags. His crappy behaviour in that Alex Wright match likely has a lot to do with it. He'd been a lower card talent for much of his career at that point and was in no position to feel he was above putting a young guy over, and whatever disagreement he had with management, it had nothing to do with Alex Wright.
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Post by ThankGodForSidJustice on Jan 23, 2023 17:00:08 GMT -5
Roma is another guy who I still don't get why people talk about like he was one of the worst ever. I liked him as the jerk heel. He had a killer dropkick and was a solid tag team guy. Underrated all around imo. I almost feel like it was just because he didn't work as a Horseman that people pile on. Power & Glory is still one of my favorite tags. His crappy behaviour in that Alex Wright match likely has a lot to do with it. He'd been a lower card talent for much of his career at that point and was in no position to feel he was above putting a young guy over, and whatever disagreement he had with management, it had nothing to do with Alex Wright. Between that and his shoot interviews Roma seems like kind of a douche IRL. Someone who thinks he's a lot better and a lot more important then he actuall was. That probably has a lot to do with why he gets piled on more then his actual ability. Honestly I thought as a worker he was pretty good especially as a heel where his natural arrogance could shine through. Very athletic, good moveset, strikes looked good and tight, could bump well. If he was maybe like three inches taller and he didn't have such a crap attitude he likely would've been a much a bigger star then he ended up being.
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msc
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,466
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Post by msc on Jan 24, 2023 13:42:24 GMT -5
Power and Glory were a good team - prime example of taking two not amazing singles guys and putting together a decent tag team. They were absolutely murdered by the LOD though.
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Post by sportatorium on Jan 24, 2023 14:43:38 GMT -5
I just watched back the introduction of Earthquake which featured Bravo and Ultimate Warrior doing push ups with him sitting on their backs. After Quake turns on Warrior, Bravo goes to beat him down and throws the world's lamest looking stomps & kicks . I don't know if it's just more of the times, but his work isn't particularly great there.
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XIII
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 18,601
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Post by XIII on Jan 24, 2023 15:25:16 GMT -5
Dino was so bad that he became a favorite of mine. No matter what he was doing he looked hype to be doing it. lol
I remember Bret talking about wrestling Dino in Montreal at some point(not sure on the time frame but probably 91ish) and Dino was of course wanting to put on a show for the hometown fans and he picked Bret up to drop him across the guardrail but I guess that he did it to hard or something so Bret said that he could barely breathe and was almost counted out while Dino was posing in the ring. LMAO
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Post by smokinvokoun86 on Jan 24, 2023 16:18:12 GMT -5
I think what gave him an extra year was being with Earthquake and Jimmy Hart. That got him to have a run with Warrior and then Hogan, which probably really kept his career on life support before all that ended.
Im not gonna bash Dino too badly, because there was one time where he was considered a great technical wrestler in his younger days and was a huge star in Canada in the 70s. But yeah, he was WAY past his prime in the WWF, even at the time he returned in I believe late 86 to join up with Johnny V and the Dream Team.
Plus, despite all the time they devoted to him, never got an action figure, neither a Hasbro or LJN.
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,975
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 24, 2023 17:17:00 GMT -5
Dino was so bad that he became a favorite of mine. No matter what he was doing he looked hype to be doing it. lol I remember Bret talking about wrestling Dino in Montreal at some point(not sure on the time frame but probably 91ish) and Dino was of course wanting to put on a show for the hometown fans and he picked Bret up to drop him across the guardrail but I guess that he did it to hard or something so Bret said that he could barely breathe and was almost counted out while Dino was posing in the ring. LMAO It wasn’t Montreal, but it was a match where Bret was finally gonna win. Dino had been picking up the wins. During the match Dino bumped Bret off the apron, you know the spot, Bret did it a lot. Bret got tied up a little and cracked his sternum across the guardrail, breaking it. Dino and the ref didn’t clue in that Bret was really injured, Dino went out and kicked him a few time and slowly dragged his ass in the ring. Dino decides to pin Bret, Bret decided to kick out. They still didn’t know he was hurt, so Bret finally rolled out of the ring and got himself counted out.
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XIII
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Posts: 18,601
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Post by XIII on Jan 24, 2023 17:21:32 GMT -5
Dino was so bad that he became a favorite of mine. No matter what he was doing he looked hype to be doing it. lol I remember Bret talking about wrestling Dino in Montreal at some point(not sure on the time frame but probably 91ish) and Dino was of course wanting to put on a show for the hometown fans and he picked Bret up to drop him across the guardrail but I guess that he did it to hard or something so Bret said that he could barely breathe and was almost counted out while Dino was posing in the ring. LMAO It wasn’t Montreal, but it was a match where Bret was finally gonna win. Dino had been picking up the wins. During the match Dino bumped Bret off the apron, you know the spot, Bret did it a lot. Bret got tied up a little and cracked his sternum across the guardrail, breaking it. Dino and the ref didn’t clue in that Bret was really injured, Dino went out and kicked him a few time and slowly dragged his ass in the ring. Dino decides to pin Bret, Bret decided to kick out. They still didn’t know he was hurt, so Bret finally rolled out of the ring and got himself counted out. That’s the one. Thanks for the clarification. f***ing Dino Bravo. lol
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Post by ThankGodForSidJustice on Jan 24, 2023 17:40:42 GMT -5
I believe that match where Bret got hurt was in Toronto. Bret goes into detail about it in the Wrestling With Shadows Documentary and his book. Bravo suggested the guardrail spot as he had seen Bret do it previously with Perfect. Bret didn't want to do it as he had a bad feeling about it as he had been injured in the same venue before and was kind of superstitious about it. Also if you read his book he doesn't mince words in how lowly he felt of Bravo as a performer so therefore wasn't really up for doing a spot like that for him. Bravo eventually talked him into doing it though and he ended up getting hurt.
I always found it funny how Bret didn't want to job to Bravo so badly that even while seriously injured refused to get pinned by him and rolled out of the ring so he could get counted out instead lol.
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Cranjis McBasketball
Crow T. Robot
Knew what the hell that thing was supposed to be
Peace Love and Nothing But
Posts: 41,975
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Post by Cranjis McBasketball on Jan 24, 2023 17:52:07 GMT -5
I believe that match where Bret got hurt was in Toronto. Bret goes into detail about it in the Wrestling With Shadows Documentary and his book. Bravo suggested the guardrail spot as he had seen Bret do it previously with Perfect. Bret didn't want to do it as he had a bad feeling about it as he had been injured in the same venue before and was kind of superstitious about it. Also if you read his book he doesn't mince words in how lowly he felt of Bravo as a performer so therefore wasn't really up for doing a spot like that for him. Bravo eventually talked him into doing it though and he ended up getting hurt. I always found it funny how Bret didn't want to job to Bravo so badly that even while seriously injured refused to get pinned by him and rolled out of the ring so he could get counted out instead lol. The match is out there, could be in Toronto but in my mind’s eye, it’s at Boston Garden. Though I really have no idea.
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msc
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,466
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Post by msc on Jan 26, 2023 15:17:28 GMT -5
Survivor Series 1988
A team of
Andre the Giant, Dino Bravo, Mr Perfect, Rick Rude and Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan).
Five first ballot Hall of Fame legends there.
And Dino Bravo.
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Post by jason1980s on Jan 26, 2023 16:28:13 GMT -5
I remember the Bret Hart very well. That Shadows seemed to be on all the time and for some reason the Dino thing always stuck out to me because Bret was adamant about not injuring anyone and of course even now he is very vocal about Goldberg.
As said, Dino's career really got new life being with Quake but I still see him being on the payroll until early 91 like so many other guys.
As for the LJN and Hasbro and him not getting a toy. The only logical time he could have gotten one was 1988 or 1989 for LJN and 90-92 for Hasbro. 1988 wasn't pumping a huge amount of guys as they did in 86 and 87 and his toy would have been New Dream Team style but they really did nothing of note. 1989 would have been logical but LJNs were done by Grand Toys and of all the guys slated for the set, several more colorful guys weren't even produced. 1990 to 92 Hasbro would be when he got a chance but 1990 saw only the top guys (like LJN 1984), 1991 would have been the most logical but Hasbro was still new and had much bigger stars and they also probably spent too much time putting 1990 guys on 1991 rerelease cards. 1992 was based on late 1990 except Typhoon which was a quick make in the Quake mold. It's surprising he didn't get a figure then but late 90, early 91 he was really slowing down and there were other guys getting pushed despite being on the same level as him. I'm surprised Koko got a figure but he was a cool figure for kids. He didn't do much in 90 or 91.
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Post by ThankGodForSidJustice on Jan 26, 2023 16:54:31 GMT -5
Survivor Series 1988 A team of Andre the Giant, Dino Bravo, Mr Perfect, Rick Rude and Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan). Five first ballot Hall of Fame legends there. And Dino Bravo. I like how you conveniently didn't mention Frenchy Martin. Also the Hall of Fame is a joke. There is no ballot. It's just a political farce that's determined by who Vince likes. I mean Sharmell is in it. If she's in it then Dino Bravo should be a no doubt Hal of Famer in comparison. At least he lasted five years in the company and headlined some cards.
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Post by The Thread Barbi on Jan 26, 2023 18:35:17 GMT -5
Roma is another guy who I still don't get why people talk about like he was one of the worst ever. I liked him as the jerk heel. He had a killer dropkick and was a solid tag team guy. Underrated all around imo. I almost feel like it was just because he didn't work as a Horseman that people pile on. Power & Glory is still one of my favorite tags. His crappy behaviour in that Alex Wright match likely has a lot to do with it. He'd been a lower card talent for much of his career at that point and was in no position to feel he was above putting a young guy over, and whatever disagreement he had with management, it had nothing to do with Alex Wright. I honestly thought Paul Roma was one of yhe dearly departed 80s wrestlers, but happily just found his twitter page. Seems like a decent bloke and family man right now. I don't get why a snapshot of someone's life is taken as his definitive character trait amongst fans. Sure, he may have been a dick, but that was 30 years ago in a dogshit environment where even nice guys end up being douchey to survive.
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msc
Dennis Stamp
Posts: 4,466
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Post by msc on Jan 26, 2023 18:43:40 GMT -5
Survivor Series 1988 A team of Andre the Giant, Dino Bravo, Mr Perfect, Rick Rude and Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan). Five first ballot Hall of Fame legends there. And Dino Bravo. I like how you conveniently didn't mention Frenchy Martin. Also the Hall of Fame is a joke. There is no ballot. It's just a political farce that's determined by who Vince likes. I mean Sharmell is in it. If she's in it then Dino Bravo should be a no doubt Hal of Famer in comparison. At least he lasted five years in the company and headlined some cards. Of course. Funnier! And I never stated which hof! 😂
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Post by sungod2020 on Jan 26, 2023 19:00:27 GMT -5
Survivor Series 1988 A team of Andre the Giant, Dino Bravo, Mr Perfect, Rick Rude and Harley Race (with Bobby Heenan). Five first ballot Hall of Fame legends there. And Dino Bravo. I like how you conveniently didn't mention Frenchy Martin. Also the Hall of Fame is a joke. There is no ballot. It's just a political farce that's determined by who Vince likes. I mean Sharmell is in it. If she's in it then Dino Bravo should be a no doubt Hall of Famer in comparison. At least he lasted five years in the company and headlined some cards. I believe the only thing stopping Bravo from getting a Hall of Fame induction was the circumstances behind his death. Maybe he could get a legacy induction where he gets lost in the mix. I do agree Bravo had a Hall of Fame-esque career, or at least in comparison to some of the guys who are already in(such as Chris Von Erich who did next to nothing of note during his time as a wrestler).
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