Everything posted by Loss
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[1997-02-03-WCW-Nitro] DDP, The Outsiders, Randy Savage and Sting
DDP finishes a match and The Outsiders are out with pipes. Hall and Nash are wearing Luger and Giant t-shirts ... cute. It looks like they are finally about to take DDP out when Sting and Randy Savage show up in the crowd. DDP gets a chair since it's unclear if anyone is on his side or not. Hall and Nash finally bail. DDP survives yet again.
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[1997-02-03-WWF-Raw] Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and Sid
This is a RAW at the Sky Dome. There are some boos, but Shawn is pretty beloved in comparison to the response he'd get for years after this. Weird lighting for this show. Michaels is doing this weird tweener thing that doesn't quite make sense. I think they were just trying to make Shawn a babyface with an edge, but it doesn't come across that way. Vince asks Shawn about Bret and of course Shawn has a few things to say, so Bret decides to confront him. Bret says he tries to like Shawn, but he finds it more difficult all the time. Shawn used the word "degenerate" this early? Interesting. Bret calls him a jackass and a punk. Austin blindsides Bret and they brawl to the floor. Sid is out to get in Shawn's face but they don't come to blows. After the break, Bret and Shawn have a pretty heated staredown. Good segment, Bret and Shawn are beloved and I do think people wanted to see them lock up again, but when I watch segments like this, I think both of them were part of the problem at this point -- a whiny babyface and a really obnoxious one. At least they'd both end up in the right role by year's end.
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[1997-02-01-ECW-Crossing the Line Again] Tommy Rich vs Terry Funk
This is the first time I've seen this. Good match. Bloody brawl, as you'd expect. I found myself drifting out because there was a sameness to a lot of this after a while. Rich is old and fat, but he can still throw a punch and work up a crowd with the best of them.
- 8 replies
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- ECW
- February 1
- 1997
- Philadelphia
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+3 more
Tagged with:
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[1997-02-01-ECW-Crossing the Line Again] Paul E. Dangerously promo
I think it was already happening anyway, but the hype for Barely Legal is really happening now. Paul E. says there are a lot of rumors about Barely Legal, so he'll just tell it like it is. I immediately suspect he's about to lie based on that, but he tells us the show will be on pay-per-view!
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[1997-02-01-WWF-Shotgun Saturday Night] Interview: Headbangers
We start with a zoom in on one of their shoulders that looks like semen, but I think it's supposed to be vomit. Todd Pettengill is suitably grossed out.
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[1997-02-01-ECW-TV] Raven vs The Sandman
Last few minutes. Lori interferes on behalf of Raven, he rips her dress and she has a BWO t-shirt on. Both Raven and Sandman are surprised. The BWO decide to come out. Raven punches Stevie and Stevie superkicks him and Raven lands on Sandman, pinning him to win the title. This finish is too clever and overthought.
- [1997-02-01-ECW-TV] Raven promo
- [1997-02-01-ECW-TV] Taz promo
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[1997-02-01-ECW-TV] Terry Funk promo
Terry Funk cuts a somber, billion star promo talking about his father and tying it into the recent attack on Tommy Dreamer. Best promo of the year so far, maybe one of the best of all time. He actually breaks down in tears. Terry Funk has been golden in every segment he's been part of so far, but this is one of the best things I've ever seen Terry Funk involved in at all. He sets his sights on the ECW title for one last run.
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Matches of the Month
January: #1 - Mitsuharu Misawa vs Kenta Kobashi (AJPW 01/20/97) ***** #2 - Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura (RINGS 01/22/97) ****3/4 #3 - Megumi Kudo vs Shinobu Kandori (LLPW 01/05/97) ****1/4 #4 - Riki Choshu vs Shinya Hashimoto (NJPW Tokyo Dome 01/04/97) **** #5 - Cicloncito Ramirez vs Damiancito El Guerrero (CMLL 01/07/97) **** #6 - Jun Akiyama vs Akira Taue (AJPW 01/20/97) ***1/2 #7 - Hiroumi Yagi vs Tomoko Kuzumi (JWP 01/12/97) ***1/2 #8 - Mayumi Ozaki, Sugar Sato & Chikayo Nagashima vs Chigusa Nagayo, Sonoko Kato & Meiko Satomura (GAEA 01/19/97) ***1/4 #9 - PG-13 vs Flash Flanagan & Steven Dunn (USWA TV 01/18/97) *** #10 - Ultimo Dragon vs Dean Malenko (WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV 01/21/97) *** #11 - Chris Benoit vs Kevin Sullivan (WCW Clash of the Champions XXXIV 01/21/97) #12 - Steven Regal vs Psicosis (WCW Saturday Night 01/18/97) #13 - Eddy Guerrero vs Syxx (NWO Souled Out 01/25/97) #14 - Jerry Lawler vs Shaquille Ali (USWA TV 01/25/97) #15 - Steven Regal vs Psicosis (WCW Saturday Night 01/11/97) #16 - Hulk Hogan vs The Giant (WCW Monday Nitro 01/27/97) #17 - Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich vs The Gangstas (ECW TV 01/18/97) #18 - Steve Austin vs Goldust (WWF Shotgun 01/18/97) #19 - Shoji Nakamaki & Seiji Yamakawa vs Mitsuhiro Matsunaga & Great Kojika (BJPW 01/06/97) Overall thoughts: The year started off with a bang, with what is quite likely MOTY and another match coming awfully close to hitting that level too. Kudo vs Kandori was fantastic as well. I like that even if it has been in passing, we've seen at least a glimpse of most of the promotions and wrestlers right away, with a few exceptions of course. The NWO definitely doesn't feel like overkill yet. They're pushed hard and they're getting lots of TV time, but they are not so dominant that WCW feels stale or boring. The WWF seems to be moving in the right direction, but very slowly. The RAW the night after the Rumble was really strong.
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[1997-01-27-WCW-Nitro] Hulk Hogan vs The Giant
Third match between these two just in January. Fun match just for Hogan feeding Giant so much offense that used to be fed to him by 80s WWF heels. Bischoff runs in and attacks Giant in a funny moment and when Giant goes to attack Bischoff, Hall and Nash run in. Lex Luger makes the save (but doesn't seem to be in too much of a hurry, weirdly) and a tag team is born.
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[1997-01-27-WCW-Nitro] Interview: Hulk Hogan
Bischoff praises Hogan's outstanding wrestling acumen and technical wrestling ability. They are so trolling smarks here, and it's hilarious. They point out that Savage, Piper and Giant all faced Hogan and all fell down. Sting and Savage show up in the rafters, with Bischoff telling Savage he'll never get another title shot again. They tease that Savage has joined the NWO, but go so over the top with it that they don't give away Savage's turn. It still seems highly unlikely, which is a great touch.
- 7 replies
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- WCW
- Monday Nitro
- January 27
- 1997
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+2 more
Tagged with:
- [1997-01-27-WCW-Nitro] Randy Anderson, NWO, Rick and Scott Steiner
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[1997-01-27-WWF-Raw] Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, The Undertaker and Steve Austin
Shawn Michaels is out to be interviewed by the always-glowing Vince McMahon. Bret is still teasing problems with Vince and tells Shawn he wants to be the one to beat him. Vince intervenes to tell him he's overlooking Sid and Bret says he's not, but he'd even watch Shawn's back to ensure he gets him at Wrestlemania this time around. Undertaker is the next guy called out, and he says he's tired of Bret talking about getting screwed when he's been screwed more than anyone. Vince brings up Sid yet again and then introduces Austin. Jim Ross interviews Austin outside the ring in a nice little piece of attention to detail. He refuses to enter the ring with "three big crybabies and little boy blue". He antagonizes them a little and also argues with Vader, who is standing by the entrance. Okay segment.
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[1997-01-25-WCW-NWO Souled Out] Hulk Hogan vs The Giant
Last few minutes. Giant sits up after a legdrop and the NWO run-ins commence. Not that they needed to wait for Patrick to be bumped. The numbers eventually get the best of the Giant and they lay him out to end the show.
- 8 replies
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- WCW
- Souled Out
- January 25
- 1997
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+4 more
Tagged with:
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[1997-01-25-WCW-NWO Souled Out] Eddy Guerrero vs Syxx (Ladder)
The Hall and Nash match is over. I really wish Bischoff would shut up about it. Say what you will about Eddy Guerrero and Sean Waltman, but Eddy's 1990s has been worse than expected to this point while Waltman's has been better than expected, and Waltman did outwork Eddy here. I'm sure this was the best match on the show, but I thought it was pretty disappointing compared to other ladder matches.
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[1997-01-25-WCW-NWO Souled Out] Scott Hall & Kevin Nash vs Rick & Scott Steiner
Last few minutes. I don't think this was the general perception at this point, but I remember thinking the Steiners weren't really a great pick for the Outsiders to feud with all year because they seemed like yesterday's news by 1997. Nick Patrick gets bumped and Randy Anderson comes out of the ring to count the fall and give the Steiners the tag titles. Yay, great moment and stuff. That definitely won't be reversed.
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General thoughts about 1997
Sure, it was my pick, but Disc 3 menu music still surprised me and made me happy.
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1998 Recommendations
I don't know, but Will already had them.
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[1997-01-25-WCW-NWO Souled Out] Diamond Dallas Page and the NWO
DDP is facing Scott Norton and the NWO surrounds him to offer him another chance to let bygones be bygones and join. DDP once again puts on the shirt and says he's just a little thick headed. He ends up giving Norton a Diamond Cutter and then manages to take off through the crowd yet again!
- 7 replies
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- WCW
- Souled Out
- January 25
- 1997
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+2 more
Tagged with:
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[1997-01-25-WCW-NWO Souled Out] Show opening
This PPV opening in black and white with sirens and the NWO riding in on huge trucks bearing NWO flags still looks cutting edge 16 years later. I'm sure people who ordered that PPV had to think "What the fuck am I watching?" This show doesn't have a great rep, but looking back, I think even attempting it was so ballsy that I'd still call it a success. How could WCW's production team pull something this sophisticated off and make such basic mistakes on the flip side?
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[1997-01-25-ECW-TV] Shane Douglas and Masked Superstar
Shane Douglas punches out the referee for no real reason. A masked guy comes out who looks willing to take him up on the offer. The crowd figures out that it's Rick Rude as soon as he starts talking and gets a huge pop from an excited crowd. Rude fits right in, swearing at Douglas and telling him he's hung like a hamster. He has a guy who's ready to come out and kick Shane's ass and it turns out to be Pit Bull #1. The crowd erupts.
- [1997-01-25-ECW-TV] Taz promo
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[1997-01-25-ECW-TV] Tommy Dreamer attacked
Tommy Dreamer gets attacked by Shane Douglas, Chris Candido and Brian Lee as Joey Styles is introducing the show. The crowd chants for Terry Funk to make the save. Francine gets "She's a whore" chants. Funk finally makes the save, but it's after the damage has been done. Tommy Rich ends up attacking both Funk and Dreamer as Dreamer is being stretchered out.
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[1997-01-25-USWA-TV] Flash Flanagan update / PG-13 promo
Flash Flanagan is still injured from the PG-13 attack. We speak to his father, who is a bit emotional about Flash's injury. One month in, and we've seen Wolfie's mother and Flash's father. Not particularly good acting. Back at the studio, PG-13 cut a promo crying crocodile tears. I love Cory Maclin getting in PG-13's face with his weird enunciation. We get mocking of Flash's injury involving a Flanagan doll. Never gets old watching these guys.
- 8 replies
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- USWA
- WMC-5
- January 25
- 1997
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+4 more
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