Marty

It's too bad Cesaro-Regal was a Raw squash tonight, but even so, both guys worked incredibly hard. Nice to see Dutch getting to manage someone worth his time now.

Didn't find any video, but from Graham's site: http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/88.htm

I think even slightly earlier (say '92 or so) would've been a good chance. Business was down in the WWF and Vince would've thrown any possible shit on the wall he could've. Granted, Sting was never the greatest draw either, but that's looking back in retrospect. I don't think he would've done that well post-WCW in the E. Guys getting sustained pushes were either Attitude Era guys or favourites of Vince's from development (Cena, Batista, Orton). I'm with the others when they say Sting would've been lucky to reach where Goldberg got. He had an ally in Flair, but I'm not sure how much that would've meant.

Would have to watch the show, but I'm under the impression they don't want to make the Shield's first loss a big deal for the sake of the Shield. On the other hand, it continues Bryan's push. I sense that they want to keep the Shield strong given the reactions they're getting and given how the WWE does things, it wouldn't shock me if it eventually translates to a babyface run, perhaps a feud with the Wyatt family. I say this with caution, though, because this type of strong heel -> strong babyface translation is only reserved for the HHHs of the company, but who knows? Also, it seems like an obvious set-up to something happening between Orton and Bryan on Sunday, costing them the match.

I actually had a dream one night where, in a post-King wind-down run with the WWF, Harley teamed with the Twin Towers for a six-man tag match. I woke up before knowing who they were against. But all four of them entered together to Jive Soul Bro and Harley was busting a move far better than Slike and Akeem were, which seemed completely plausible to me. If it was anyone else in Harley's role, I would've phoned my doctor for a mental health examination. Since it was Harley, I chalked it up to sleep being awesome that night.

Boston's Finest feels like the first thing to come to mind. I wouldn't count on that. I know for a fact that The First 48 had a ton of staged stuff. Obviously, not stuff with the case. Just things like the guys shooting the show getting cops to say shit like, "Damn. I was just sitting down to dinner!" when they get a homicide call when really they were on the clock. Oh, I have no doubt there is much staging (it IS television), but from a presentation standpoint, things feel less exposing than, say, Pawn Stars and all its spinoffs.

Boston's Finest feels like the first thing to come to mind.

Oddly enough, The Old Man is the only guy I enjoy in the side stories because it's obvious he doesn't give a shit about any of them or the acting part. He's entertaining in that way for some reason, I think because his dry nature has a nice "less is more" feel. The other three come across like they're trying too hard on the acting part. I can't say I showcase my pro wrestling fandom too publically either. Thinking about it, though, I don't showcase any fandom of things that a. aren't that mainstream and b. could come across risque. I don't exactly talk to many people about any enjoyment I have of, say, N.W.A or Sarah Silverman's act/TV show. Wrestling falls under the same category for me.

I hear ya, but while wrestling is only a hobby, life (heck, being human) is all about taking the good with the bad. The bad makes me appreciate the good some more. I'm of the mindset that if there's too much good, it's easy to take for granted. Some full shows I like watching because they make some matches at least seem better. Royal Rumble 2000 comes to mind for me. I'm not crazy about the HHH-Cactus Jack match. On its own, to me, it's the quintessential long HHH match that's been overhyped over the years. But watching it within the show, for whatever reason, I have a greater appreciation for it. Maybe it's not so much the match as the additional build-up shown for it or it being matched up with anything else on that card. Either way.

Chigusa-Dump Hair vs. Hair 8/28/85 HBK-Mankind Mind Games Austin-Rock WM17 Cena-Punk MITB 2011 Is there a definitive Backlund match to consider? He had many great ones, but is there a "most famous" one that also showcases his work near its strongest?

Only HHH would know about that.

This is the same company that turned a grieving widow heel. "Discouraging a wrestler from having a match for health reasons" = heel act is right up their alley.

Steph's amazingly gotten worse on the stick. Came off really robotic tonight. She was robotic when inducting Trish too, but it came off really bad here. Just lacking in emotion in an angle where emotion on her part is called for. Made her promo on Heyman at Raw1000 look like an Austin promo in his prime. Emotionally, does she care more about showing up Heyman than her husband's health?

Shawn at WM12 was a babyface coronation to a degree as well. As good as Bryan's push and character have been, I'm not sure he'd even close Mania with a World title win, not with the way they've done recent Manias. On the other hand, this run feels like transitioning him from a comedy act to someone "legit". Perhaps Summerslam is the concluding point, but Mania feels like a stretch.

Eddie Guerrero in 2003.

Cracked...errr...honours the Fabulous Ones (with a Rock N Roll Express cameo): http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-10-greates...shots-all-time/

There was a match on Smackdown last night over a parking space. Pro wrestling in 2013.

On top of a ho-hum show, WWE's online streams were apparently fucking up last night. Like ROH-level bad.

I liked that too. Between that, Punk's Living Colour entrance and the match itself, it felt like the only thing one should go out of their way to see. Everything else was just good or there.

Ironic that on the night HHH's career was on the line, they're playing it like Rock's last match was tonight.

Worth noting that they're not even pretending to have the record attendance at MetLife, as the Giants drew 82k vs. Dallas just last year.

See WM10 tag match.

What he said. Fuck.

It's the Blow Away Diet. Will that help Buddy Rose's level of influence for the WON HOF?

Kinda wished this match went on last; there'd be more of a chance Lesnar goes over so HHH could have his Shawn WM26 bit.