Loss

We dodged a bullet there. He's tall so all will eventually be forgotten, but at least the inevitable got postponed.

I think I'm some type of anomaly in that my health improves as I gain weight, but I encounter problems when I lose weight. I had kidney problems at my smallest point in adulthood, but now I don't. I'm absolutely obese according to the numbers, but I have perfect blood sugar and blood pressure and a resting heart rate of 50 bpm, so I guess all is well.

Yeah, I'm not sure if the Roy Regal stuff is great (it might be, I haven't seen it), but we could call the Ohno match in 2013 his last great one, right?

I said this in an older thread once, but: "Liz fit in perfectly for those who saw Bischoff's WCW as the unauthorized WWF sequel, where all the idols of our youth had been corrupted and become old and cynical."

She was an impossible beauty by wrestling standards. Every other valet of the era looked like a chain-smoking hooker. (Sorry if that's indelicate, but it's also true.) Otherwise, she was a pretty and attractive but ordinary "girl next door" type - not a stunning Hollywood beauty. Dark Journey was absolutely gorgeous.

On TV, most of it is clipped, deceptively so because their editing was so good. Classics is the best route, yeah.

Luger was offered the belt around that time, but not specifically in that match to my knowledge. The WON at the time said Luger didn't want it but then I remember Dave saying Luger always held Flair not putting him over in St. Louis against him (for the famous night that they were going to do a house show title change and had cameras and the Apter mags there, only to cancel at the last minute). There have been conflicting reasons for Flair's time as booker in 1990 ending too -- Cornette produced his letter of resignation because he was tired of dealing with Herd and Flair has always said he was forced out of the role as punishment for not putting Luger over at Wrestle War. I think it's possible (and likely) that Flair has confused the St. Louis house show and Wrestle War '90 in his head.

1989 with Terry Funk in Florida to Randy Orton in 2013 makes 24 years and puts Dustin in the upper echelon.

In the previous thread linked above, I tried to provide a guide for how to jump in that I hope you find helpful. I'll reiterate that I think the 80s are a better starting point than the 90s.

I'd actually go back to 1978 for Flair. Jumbo match on 4/27/78 from All Japan. It's possible after viewing the Mid Atlantic film footage with more focus that there will be more going back to 1975 too, but I'm not sure about that.

Ok then. Were out of time.

Watts typically gets most credit for the Freebirds, but their act was refined and they got over in multiple places, one of which was definitely Georgia Championship Wrestling under Ole's booking.

I'd actually put Lawler at 1975 for his first great match that made tape. The Jack Brisco matches. There's also the Race and Dundee matches in 1977. No clue when his last great match was.

Lost would have been on my list if they didn't set up so much stuff with no intentions of paying it off. I LOVED the show in real time, and since it ended, I think I hate it more when I think about it every year. There was a pact with the viewer that everything would make sense in the end, and so much never did.

When was Minoru Suzuki's first great match? When was Muto's last one?

Vic, the Dusty-Austin point is absolutely right. Clash 23 headlined by Flair/Arn vs Blonds -- in Flair's first match since returning to WCW -- did a disappointing rating. Dusty saw Austin as a talent that was being wasted in a tag team that wasn't a difference maker because of it and wanted to push him as a singles heel. That's true. This idea that the Blonds were broken up to bury them is revisionist.

Yeah, Ole was a great booker at his peak. No one gets every decision right.

He's also someone that with seasoning has the potential to be a really great worker and top star. But I think he's been pigeonholed.

Are you into neo-classical at all? That's definitely an area where I'd love recommendations that aren't Philip Glass, since he's really all I know. But I do like him, so based on that, if there are other artists you think I'd like, I'm all ears.