Was Tazz ever in line for a big push in 2000?

[Viking Hall]

Mar 25, 2020 9:16:53 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

Mar 25, 2020 9:14:02 GMT -5 Joe Neglia said:

It's common for guys doing one-shots and try-outs to never even see McMahon when they work a show. Vince is dealing with the show itself and the high-carders, not the dark match guys. It's a different world when you're standing next to the guy every week in gorilla position.

Caveat to that though is at the time, Vince was ringside doing commentary. So he would have seen Taz (one z at the time) in person.

Not only that but he'd just signed the guy. I find it impossible to believe that after signing the man to a contract, working on weeks of vignettes and then giving him one of the biggest moments of the year at the Rumble that then and only then did Vince McMahon suddenly realise 'hang on, this Tazz isn't 6'5'. I mean, Vince himself must be 6'0... you'd have to be pretty oblivious to your surroundings to not notice that someone you're speaking to is a good 5 inches shorter than you. 

I think the simple truth is that he got lost in the shuffle with an influx of new talent and breakout stars and Father Time caught up with his body quicker than they expected and that's all there is to it.

[sungod2020]

If it wasn't for his neck issues, what could they have done with him, especially with the Radicalz and their red hot momentum from WCW making a splash? I would've made him play a dominate role in the hardcore division, especially with his ECW background.

[thecrusherwi]

I know he got a big push on my copy of WWF No Mercy. I'm not sure if it was a glitch or something, but if I had interference turned on, Tazz would interfere in like one of every four matches I tried to have.

[Rolent Tex]

The fact that he dethroned Angle and had a nice commentary run means they were fond of the guy. Question is if his original plans would have continued if WCW didn’t piss everyone off.

[Magnus the Magnificent]

What's all this about Tazz beating Angle?
It was an illegal choke, and therefor doesn't count.
Kurt said so, so it must be true!

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Just heard JR’s podcast and he isn’t known as a liar so here it goes, apparently there were big plans for Taz but during the match Vince soured on him and felt he was extremely unsafe.

[sungod2020]

Mar 25, 2020 11:15:21 GMT -5 Magnus the Magnificent said:

What's all this about Tazz beating Angle?
It was an illegal choke, and therefor doesn't count.
Kurt said so, so it must be true!

He also said D'lo wasn't the first Euro-Continental champion, he was.

[Deleted]

If The Radicalz never came over, I'm pretty sure Tazz would've been feuding with Jericho over the IC Title in the spring like Benoit was.

[Magnus the Magnificent]

Mar 25, 2020 12:19:43 GMT -5 sungod2020 said:

Mar 25, 2020 11:15:21 GMT -5 Magnus the Magnificent said:

What's all this about Tazz beating Angle?
It was an illegal choke, and therefor doesn't count.
Kurt said so, so it must be true!

He also said D'lo wasn't the first Euro-Continental champion, he was.

D'lo doesn't count.

[Deleted]

e: I'm making the Tazz gif smaller right now, it broke down my page after that quote, lol.

e: Done. Now it's finer. Also accidentally cropped it, whatever, I don't care anymore!

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Mar 25, 2020 14:46:28 GMT -5 mj0mn0m said:

Oompa loompa doompety doo

[thehottag]

Mar 25, 2020 14:46:28 GMT -5 mj0mn0m said:

e: I'm making the Tazz gif smaller right now, it broke down my page after that quote, lol.

e: Done. Now it's finer. Also accidentally cropped it, whatever, I don't care anymore!

I can hear the OSW guys singing the theme while watching this

[-Lithium-]

Mar 24, 2020 19:08:46 GMT -5 floundertime said:

He handed Angle his first loss. If they had no plans for him, then why have him do that?

Look at Jericho. He has this amazing debut but then he's feuding with Road Dogg a couple weeks later.

WWF/E is great at a debut of a guy. A moment in vacuum. They tend to not be so good at following up.

Mar 25, 2020 11:55:58 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Just heard JR’s podcast and he isn’t known as a liar so here it goes, apparently there were big plans for Taz but during the match Vince soured on him and felt he was extremely unsafe.

Ugh. There's absolutely nothing that points to him being unsafe in the match. Typical Vince.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Mar 25, 2020 17:00:44 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

Mar 24, 2020 19:08:46 GMT -5 floundertime said:

He handed Angle his first loss. If they had no plans for him, then why have him do that?

Look at Jericho. He has this amazing debut but then he's feuding with Road Dogg a couple weeks later.

WWF/E is great at a debut of a guy. A moment in vacuum. They tend to not be so good at following up.

Mar 25, 2020 11:55:58 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Just heard JR’s podcast and he isn’t known as a liar so here it goes, apparently there were big plans for Taz but during the match Vince soured on him and felt he was extremely unsafe.

Ugh. There's absolutely nothing that points to him being unsafe in the match. Typical Vince.

It was during a suplex spot in which Angle over rotates and lands on his stomach, Taz also had a reputation from ecw that he dropped people on their head. Gerry Brisco had to talk with Taz after the royal rumble match.

[-Lithium-]

Mar 25, 2020 17:06:30 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Mar 25, 2020 17:00:44 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

Look at Jericho. He has this amazing debut but then he's feuding with Road Dogg a couple weeks later.

WWF/E is great at a debut of a guy. A moment in vacuum. They tend to not be so good at following up.

Ugh. There's absolutely nothing that points to him being unsafe in the match. Typical Vince.

It was during a suplex spot in which Angle over rotates and lands on his stomach, Taz also had a reputation from ecw that he dropped people on their head. Gerry Brisco had to talk with Taz after the royal rumble match.

Well, don't I look foolish.

[Slanted and Enchanted]

I remember reading through Rajah's main page in April of 2000 (yes, I'm an old man and have been part of the IWC for over 20+ years now) that Tazz was slated for an IC title run in April but injured his shoulder. An angle was shot for Sunday Night Heat where Benoit assaulted him backstage in the parking lot.

[kingoftheindies]

Style and height hurt Tazz. The feeling was ge couldnt do a lot of the stuff he did in ECW because the WWF roster was a lot bigger. Go watch his No Way Out match against the Bossman. He looks insanely small next to Bossman and Albert. Plus they felt the moves Tazz could do he has no control over how his opponent landed.

[Non Banjoble Tokens]

I wish Tazz could have kept wrestling, that way he would have stayed off of commentary.

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

Mar 25, 2020 10:33:37 GMT -5 sungod2020 said:

If it wasn't for his neck issues, what could they have done with him, especially with the Radicalz and their red hot momentum from WCW making a splash? I would've made him play a dominate role in the hardcore division, especially with his ECW background.

This would have been a great strategy. Have him really legitimise the division, so it's not just a throwaway segment, or an excuse to brawl around the building. Have the brawling and weapons play a part in telling the story in kick ass, stiff, no holds barred action.

[Lt. Palumbo]

Mar 24, 2020 22:37:19 GMT -5 @negan said:

I hated when he wore that shitty little tracksuit.

To me, he went from main eventer to absolute jobber with that change alone.

The first thing I think about when I picture the jumpsuit is Kane lifting him into the corner like you would a child before eliminating him in the Rumble.