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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 12:46:49 GMT -5
I also Have to go with The Rock. IMO, Scott Hall (from 1992-and on) threw the coolest looking worked punches ever. The Rock clearly ripped off Hall's punches (and stomps, and most of his working style...honestly). I don't mean that in a bad way. If more people emulated the great parts of Scott Hall, this would be a happier board overall. Terry Gordy threw a terrific punch, but his big right hands were just emulating Terry Funk (and I'm saying this as a HUGE Gordy mark). And in fact, I'd probably put Jerry Lawler on the top of my list as the best punch in the business. Lawler really knew how to throw a worked punch, and in his prime, it comprised 90% of his offense and NEVER got boring. Hogan's pretty good, too, but Lawler's the best in my book. Throwing a good looking worked punch seems like a lost art. I've always thought Angle and Bret's punches are terrible because they look like they're slapping the guy across the face with a closed fist. Nobody fist fights like that except for Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, and any wrestling trainee that thinks that looks cool. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 2:33:50 GMT -5
I'm probably overanalyzing it, but I just don't think Sting "gets" wrestlers like Christopher Daniels, because it's a different style than what he came up learning, so I'm not sure if he understands the appeal of it. Like, when he started with TNA this last time, he did a conference call and somebody asked who is he looking forward to working with the most and he said Abyss. Who was the only guy he's really put over? Abyss...a total 1990s gimmick.
I've never been a big fan of Sting's, and think his role in TNA is pretty unnecessary, but he has busted his ass of late, and does try higher-risk spots than he ever did in his prime (as if he's trying to fit in). They aren't incredible spots, but I never really remembered him doing stuff like jumping from the top rope to the floor (and have five guys catch him) during his prime. I could be wrong.
He's never had a Hogan reputation as far as I know, but yeah, he totally made Daniels look like a jobber in their match (even if he didn't mean to).
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 3:24:15 GMT -5
How do you know he was signed to a contract? When they brought in Scott Steiner the first time he wasn't under contract, and he's actually a star (well, comparitively speaking). Because he is on their roster page To be fair, Tomko is on their roster page, and it's been reported in more than one place that he's not working under a TNA contract (or at least he wasn't a month or two ago). I seriously doubt TNA signed Test to a big money, iron clad deal and aren't using him. After all, he did used to be in WWE... |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 27, 2007 21:41:42 GMT -5
good thing they signed Test to that contract with how much they're using him...... How do you know he was signed to a contract? When they brought in Scott Steiner the first time he wasn't under contract, and he's actually a star (well, comparitively speaking). |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 25, 2007 17:19:04 GMT -5
General Manager Nash, owner Bret Hart, Undertaker on their every week.... This sounds like a dream show. Absolutely. That guy was on crazy pills, but they were definitely of high quality. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 25, 2007 17:09:12 GMT -5
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 7:44:38 GMT -5
Wow, I wish him well. Weird reading some of the post, this is definitely a different kind of company. "I promise you all that we will not rush Bryan back." "This isn't a guy that takes pain killers or anything even close." Promotions like WWE or TNA would never post stuff like that, which is bad on their part I believe. Well said. As a fan of the hard-hitting style, I love seeing this kind of match, and can't wait to watch it. But at some point, the stiff stuff has to be toned down. I don't wanna sound like Bret Hart, but the art of this is making it look real when it isn't. Flair/Steamboat had ***** matches without seriously putting each other at serious physical risk, and if you add in today's advanced athleticism...we'd still enjoy the story of the match just the same. And I know that a guy's career could end by slipping while doing the most simple basic move, but five-star matches aren't anything worth potentially losing an eye over. Like Joe-Kobashi was a great match, and the All-Japan 1990s style is awesome (which I'd assume Danielson/Morishima are both marks for), but if both guys are both cooperating to legitimately beat the smurf out of each other for realz, that isn't pro wrestling. I watched a CAPW match on DirecTV recently where one guy chopped the other guy until his chest was dark purple and busted open, and it looked cool and scary, but it's pointless. In fact, reading the nature of Danielson's injury, I'd assume that Meltzer won't rate it ***** for that fact alone, not that that matters, and not that either worker cares about smark cred and that kind of stuff, they just want to do the best job they can. But if people are just going to beat each other up for real, might as well start a worked MMA promotion where guys bust each other open hard way, give each other bruises the size of grapefruits, all while having a pre-determined winner. But that takes no talent. Me and my buddies could go out in the middle of the street and beat the smurf out of each other for thirty-five minutes, then stop, and point to someone and say "WINNER!". That would be a spectacle, and people would stop to watch, but it isn't pro wrestling. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 13:11:07 GMT -5
The WWE has absolutely no problem taking a "classic" gimmick and giving it to someone else (Umaga is Kamala, Big Daddy V is Abby sans fork, etc). I honestly don't see why he couldn't pushed as the new Brody. It wouldn't be that hard to pull off, either. Just put him Smackdown and have JBL go on and on about he "reminds him of a young Bruiser Brody." The only problem I foresee is their writing team taking the "easy" way out and being distasteful. The last thing anyone needs is a "Carlito stabbed Necro" angle. I doubt their current writing team even know who brody is let alone about his tragic death. But I'm all for Necro in wwe. How about a circus death match Necro vs. Triple H Michael Hayes and Dusty Rhodes definitely know who Brody is/appreciate how awesome he was. Unfortunately, we may never see a true Brody gimmick in WWE. This has probably been covered here, but, "Berserker" was basically Vince's post-mortem version of Bruiser Brody (played by admitted Brody fanboy John Nord). Beserker's "HUSS! HUSS!" was like Brody's constant bark he did in All-Japan and elsewhere, plus the big furry boots, out of the ring brawling (again, Vince's truncated version), etc. The reason Berserker didn't work is 'cause Brody was never a Cartoonish Viking Lowermidcarder. Brody was essentially Godzilla, an imposing threat, and there to destroy. For the last ten years of Brody's career, he'd walk into the arena from Texas to Japan, and everybody would scurry to stray far away from the guy (even if he was a face). That was a super cool aesthetic energy added to his matches, esp. on TV. I still think the Brody gimmick is pretty timeless and awesome if booked properly. Somebody could build Necro up like that (even though he isn't as physically imposing as Brody) if they tried hard enough. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 7:04:50 GMT -5
I actually see Necro as being better than a lot of people give him credit for, but not being a titles kind of guy, more of a special attraction, ala Brody or Abby in the territory days. Call me nuts, but I'd love it if the WWE would bring guys like Necro in on short-running contracts to be built for title shots, defeated, and then sent on their way - it'd rotate things A LOT, and would benefit everyone, IMHO. QFT. Not the guy's biggest fan, and voted "no title", but like a Brody, it's weird to even imagine him holding a belt. I'm not a fan of deathmatches, but there's something about Necro that even works outside of that genre, IMO. And can't call you nuts on the Necro/short-term WWE idea. It's a great idea. The entire industry would be better if companies like WWE, TNA, ROH brought in talent for short periods, built the guys up, and let guys go back and forth more freely. Generations of stars were once built (and kept fresh) that way, because the promoters used to realize that the talent was their true commodity, and thus, they had to keep characters fresh or else they'd be worth less drawing power down the road, and that could hurt their own bottom line. Bringing in guys like Necro for short term deals keeps the product from becoming stale, which benefits the company. You obviously want to secure your top draws, but if you don't have fresh opponents for them in between their major feuds, your product eventually runs the risk of becoming incredibly stale over time. For example, WWE could sign Necro for three months. Have him attack John Cena next Monday night, and fans would know they're seeing something different. Have Necro make Cena's life a living hell for a few weeks, and he jobs to Cena at the very next PPV. Then, have Necro go over a babyface at the PPV after that, then job him to that same babyface at the third PPV. Easy. Then, Necro on his way, and all sides would have benefitted...especially their main draw Cena, who would've had one more fresh, interesting opponent other than the same old guys he always beats. From the exposure, Necro would be worth more elsewhere, a bigger draw/name, and WWE can always bring him back in again, and the WWE fans will remember that he's the crazy asskicker who caused loads of trouble last time he was around...and will be curious to see what he'll do if/when he comes back...maybe as a badass that the babyface brings in to deal with a couple of a-holes that have been ruining his life (storyline-wise). But, nowadays, WWE and TNA just stockpile guys for long periods, don't use all of their workers enough on TV, and when they finally send people packing, it's because they're unhappy, a headcase, hopelessly un-over (or booked poorly), or "on something". That system doesn't necessarily benefit anyone, and is bad for business. PS: I realize feuding Necro Butcher and John Cena is completely unrealistic in the current climate of the industry...but back in the 1980s, Hulk Hogan used to beat fresh new opponents of all shapes, sizes, and levels of fame/talent, and he kept his world title reign fresh for almost four straight years without being booed to an embarrassing extent...even in places like NY/NJ/Philly. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 27, 2007 8:48:41 GMT -5
TNA: They have a football player barely anybody outside of football's fanbase knows about going for the tag titles. WWE's only problem is not doing anything new in the main event and only having 2 people in each main-event scene at any given time. To say that's WWE's "only problem" is a monumental understatement. Look, I hate TNA's product right now, but I can watch an hour of their television (especially with the magic of DVR). Even when the booking is terrible, and they're making horrible decisions that could kill their company, at least it isn't boring. I cannot watch WWE TV for one hour straight anymore under any circumstances...much less five hours a week. RAW and Smackdown right now are more boring than WCW Nitro and Thunder circa 1998, when WCW had no idea where they were taking the company and just threw a bunch of long, boring, drawn-out (or worse...MEANINGLESS) crap that never pays off because they're booking it on the fly and don't really know or care where they're headed... But to each their own, I guess... |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 27, 2007 8:32:07 GMT -5
I gotta go with TNA. WWE's biggest problem right now is that nothing new happens. Cena always wins. Vince is still an overbearing, rich bastard (I'm talking character, here). Batista is screwed out of yet another title shot. And so on... TNA, on the other hand, is nothing but ongoing WTF moments that give me a headache. (Well, it would if I actually watched. Reading about it only gives me a slight pain that fades quickly enough.  ) "Nothing new happens" is the definition of bad booking. You don't need storylines to go 6,000 MPH like Russo/TNA, but "nothing new" happening has eventually killed just about every single wrestling company that ever died...pre-WCW's death. Just something to think about. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 27, 2007 7:47:10 GMT -5
I thought TNA Hard Justice was the worst PPV I've seen in years...
And then I watched Summerslam. There are so many inherent, misguided problems with WWE's overall booking, TV writing, and direction it makes TNA look like a fun little insignificent wreck in comparison. I know that Kurt Angle has all of TNA's belts, but still, he's Kurt Angle (even though he's in TNA).
If TNA had their own identical WWE equivalents of Great Khali, John Cena, John Morrison, Hornswaggle, Umaga, Cade & Murdoch, and Deuce & Domino controlling their belts...it seems like some on here would go apecrap and say TNA would go out of business in 3 DAYZEZ!!!1!.
For example, if their title situation were as bad as WWE (in comparison), the equivalents in TNA's current title situation would be something like...
Smackdown Champ: The untalented Test (in place of the untalented Khali).
World Champ: Ron Killings for a year and counting (in place of Cena).
ECW Champ: Bobby Roode (in place of John Morrison).
Cruiserweight Champ: Some midget who beats Sabin (in place of Hornswaggle).
Tag Champs #1: The recently fired Naturals (in place of Cade & Murdoch)
Tag Champs #2: Two boring lower card guys in cheesy greaser outfits (in place of two boring lower card guys in cheesy greaser outfits).
Maybe you can argue that TNA has less talent (I wouldn't), but using this particular comparison, you certainly can't argue that their booking is worse than the crap Vince is feeding us...
And if you REALLY wanna pick nits...Kurt Angle (with all the belts) is always > John Cena with all the belts. And I won't get started on the stupidity and eventual pointlessness of the "Vince's son" angle.
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 28, 2007 13:28:49 GMT -5
I've watched Rougeau talk for over 30 straight minutes on video about this subject, and I still can't make any sense out of it. Guess it's good he eventually stuck up for himself, but he smurfed Dynamite up, and only because Dynamite smurfed him up for no reason.
Even though Dynamite started it, hearing Rougeau talk about this made it sound like 1987 WWF summer tours were the equivalent of a bunch of feral six-year olds left unsupervised at summer camp.
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 29, 2007 15:22:26 GMT -5
they seem to make a point to be genuine about how much they appreciate the fans, and how putting smiles on people's faces and entertaining them meant a lot to them (which you could kind of see in the quality of most in their in-ring work). Then in comparison, you have Hogan, who often uses opportunities like these to remind people that he's the biggest legend in this business, and how he knew he could "pop that crowd just by turning my head, brother" (which you could kind of see in the quality of most of his in-ring work). Both Hogan and Savage care about their fans, and both Hogan and savages in ring work showed that. It's just that fans who think they "smart" enough about the business, wich they're not, who think they can see things in the ring that tell them when a wrestler is doing their job properly, but It's always convieniently based off of the style of wrestling that they might be a fan of in the first place. That's why they're called "smarks", they're half "smart" and half "mark". Well, I respectfully disagree with just about all of that. For one, it makes no sense that Hogan always busted his ass in Japanese matches comparitively speaking to his efforts here. The difference is blatant, you don't have to be a "smark" to tell the difference. He's smart enough to know that's what entertains those crowds, whereas in North America, he could always get by with less effort. You don't have to know a THING about wrestling to see that Hogan tries alot harder when it's expected out of him, because there's no other logical explanation for the fact that he works a faster style and does more moves when in Japan. You don't have to know a thing about working at a restaurant to know when you aren't getting the waiter's best service. Hogan's done a lot of charity work and stuff, so of course he cares about his fans. But you can't deny that in media interviews, he's a raging egomaniac with an overblown sense of accomplishment (and that's hard to do when you're as successful as Hogan) or else he wouldn't have such a strange reputation for personal embellishment in media interviews. Plus, I've never really had a negative view on Hogan until recently, when I saw that "Hogan Knows Best" where his family (not Hulk) treated that "Biggest Hulkamaniac" contest winner kind of like a complete loser turdball behind the dude's back, when it's literally millions of complete loser turdballs like that guy who helped pay for their nice houses, expensive toys, and bad tans. Of course Hulk wouldn't say anything like that or treat his fans like crap on camera, but his family did, and after decades of living with Hulk you'd think they'd know better. Didn't seem very "appreciative" to me. Maybe it was VH1's editing, or maybe it's because I'm a "smark" that thinks I know more than I do (and just doesn't like watching Hogan wrestle), but those spoiled kids rolling their eyes at Hogan's fan seemed pretty darn crappy to me. And I know better than to believe everything I see on "Hogan Knows Best", but I don't care if their "reality show" is pretty fake/scripted, I thought it sucked. My whole original point was that it was neat to see Savage very humble and appreciative, as opposed to not saying, "Well you know something IGN.com, I'm the biggest star in the business. I slammed the 1,000 pound Giant, and I didn't even think he was going to pass the torch that night in front of the 270,000 fans in the Pontiac Silverdome...Because wrestling's fake, but it was real that night, brother". Of course I'm paraphrasing, being sarcastic, but Hogan says stupid crap like 90% of the time he does an interview. And I guess I shouldn't have made the mistake of been such a smark when I was six years old...just because I thought Randy Savage was WAY more exciting than Hulk Hogan.  But, those Internet dirtsheets trained me that way. After all, that Internet was pretty hot back in 1987... |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 29, 2007 2:42:54 GMT -5
Good find, he definitely read like a kind, appreciative legend which is in direct comparison to all the stories where you hear he's the same paranoid lunatic character that he portrayed on TV.
I think it's interesting seeing or reading interviews with really well-rounded performers like Savage, Flair, and Hall, where they seem to make a point to be genuine about how much they appreciate the fans, and how putting smiles on people's faces and entertaining them meant a lot to them (which you could kind of see in the quality of most in their in-ring work).
Then in comparison, you have Hogan, who often uses opportunities like these to remind people that he's the biggest legend in this business, and how he knew he could "pop that crowd just by turning my head, brother" (which you could kind of see in the quality of most of his in-ring work).
Not to senselessly bash Hogan, but I was thinking about him while Savage was doing a 180 from the typical Hogan media interview (save for Andre tales), but maybe I'm biased because I always enjoyed Savage far more. Plus, I thought it was pretty cool recently when we heard that he thought the whole Black Machismo thing was a blast, and got in touch with Lethal to give kudos.
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 25, 2007 2:26:23 GMT -5
...presumably because he's tagging with Scott Norton over in Japan. Hall/Norton vs. Yuji Nagata/Kensuke Sasakiwww.youtube.com/watch?v=A2zX4xs3X_AThink this was in late 2000-early 2001, right after WCW fired Hall. Fun match. The Japanese fans love The Bad Guy (and his toothpick). |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 22, 2007 21:23:11 GMT -5
Any reason why as to TNA pulling their talent off that show? apparently IWA MS owes TNA money so they're not allowing any of their talent to go on their shows. however other people are saying that IWA MS paid the wrestlers and not TNA or something or another so it's all a big confusing mess as to what's going on. Doesn't sound like a confusing mess. TNA takes a booking fee for their wrestlers. This is no different than a Hollywood management company or agency booking Chris Rock at the Chucklesmurf's in Des Moines, IA and asking for 10% of Rock's paycheck. IWA-MS must have refused to pay the commission part of the wrestlers' paycheck. The wrestler was probably supposed to get paid (for example) $750, and TNA gets $75 of that. However, IWA-MS must've paid his $675, but not the extra $75 to TNA. In reality, that's the only sort of thing that could've possibly happened, or else TNA would have heat with their worker for pocketing their fee, not IWA-MS. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 25, 2007 17:45:47 GMT -5
Right now, SpikeTV is producing high-production quality online shorts with the intent that some of the more popular ones will eventually get their own web series, or maybe even their own series on the network. I have a few friends acting in another one of these SpikeTV web projects. I have no idea if this was the intent of the Angle short, but I wouldn't doubt that Spike thinks they could possibly develop an action/comedy series starring Angle (no Impact jokes). I guess I could just repost this in every single thread about this same topic. |
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 22, 2007 16:24:14 GMT -5
Jake Roberts.
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Post by "Nature Boy" Ric Moranis on Aug 22, 2007 16:53:26 GMT -5
Personally I couldnt give a smurf about PPVs, not paying $40 for a scripted event. Squash matches are crap. Russo? |
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But, those Internet dirtsheets trained me that way. After all, that Internet was pretty hot back in 1987...