MLB

Yo @jeff5819, I didn't know much about Tommy Cairo but he's great since I've looked into him. Sweet resume with a run in UWFi and early ECW. Epic feud with the Sandman involving Peaches, I haven't seen much from early ECW. Cairo claims Heyman and Dreamer didn't have the balls to fire him from ECW lol. I definitely want to see what you're going to do with him because he's on my radar now!

How is it important? Ospreay didn't say, "I gotta feed my fat girlfriend and her bastard kid!" Tully Blanchard's feud with Magnum TA didn't have Tully talking about his aunt going through chemotherapy or putting his dog down, you know what I'm saying? I don't remember the Undertaker cutting a promo saying, "...I was a shy kid".

So wait a second...Tony Khan actually played Leatherface in the Texas Chainsaw Deathmatch? What on earth-

TAKA Michinoku departs W*ING USA TAKA Michinoku has left the LA based W*ING USA promotion. Depending on who you believe, TAKA was either fired or quit. It appears to have been a mutual decision with other recent departures Tajiri and Funkai, as TAKA found himself the odd man out and was not featured on W*ING USA's first taped event. Sources backstage observed a screaming match between TAKA and Onita immediately following '96 Tears. Our sources revealed that Onita shouted TAKA was not hardcore and TAKA threw a bottle of water at Onita before being separated by Tarzan Goto and W*ING security. With a roster spot opened, Onita has signed Homicide from Jersey All Pro Wrestling. Onita was impressed by Homicide's combination of brawling and lucha, and Homicide is expected to be at the next W*ING TV show. As for TAKA, he is one of the premier wrestlers in the world and should quickly find a new home in the 1996 project.

W*ING USA releases TAKA Michinoku and signs Homicide.

Trying to stick with two shows a month along with an occasional pop up. I plan on posting the next W*ING TV episode in mid-September and the taped event at the end of the month.

Shucky Ducky Quack QUACK!

I didn't do the math with Harry and TJ's ages. TJ was 16 in 1996 and wrestled on a WWF house show. Most sites have Harry debuting in 2000. Concerning Teddy, yeah, I might take him at some point. I already have Jeff Hardy, so it kinda feels like that spot is filled, but I love Teddy. He was *neck and neck* with AJ Styles at one time! I really loved his YouTube IRL show with Maria Manic a few years ago (I hope Maria's well). That said, I understand Teddy brought a ton of heat onto himself. You can tell by my roster that I don't have the highest moral standards when it comes to wrestlers.

Note: A small correction, Teddy Hart debuted in July of '95 and not '97, and he should be considered a free agent currently available. Per Wiki - "Hart debuted in 1995 at Rockyford, Alberta, where he tagged up with his late brother Matthew Annis for the first time, facing his cousin Harry Smith and T.J. Wilson" I guess this means Harry Smith and T.J. Wilson are also eligible.

I think one of the biggest names still in free agency that deserves to be signed is Mark Henry. I think he'd be an excellent addition for any of the rosters, even RINGS or Battlarts. Henry isn't a fit for W*ING USA or I'd sign him.

Another noteworthy rookie debut in 1997 is Super Dragon. Others I've found: Former ROH Champion Xavier Volador Jr. Giant Silva Bam Neely Sickboy Tyson Dux Lufisto Otto Schwanz (Bo Dupp) Ricky Reyes "Hot Shot" Johnny Devine Dragon Kid "Lowlife" Louie Ramos

W*ING USA releases Shadow WX and signs John Zandig. W*ING USA moves John Zandig to non-wrestler and activates Chyna.

Hard to find words right now.

Nice to get some feedback, @Control21. The taped events are more match based and less promos/vignettes. I am trying not to blitz too much through the action and at least capture the essence of what occurred. I've had severe writer's block for years and this project has helped me use my imagination. If you've liked what you read so far, you will get a kick out of what I have planned for the future of W*ING USA. It's crazy that as I was writing for Funk in my fantasy show that he passed away the morning I posted it.

Pogo broke his neck in 1996 at FMW's Summer Spectacular after falling out of the ring onto barbed wire from a Funk fireball. Funk blew another massive fireball on a paralyzed Pogo without realizing that he was injured. Pogo lost a lot of mobility as a result.

Speaking of fathers, I brought this up before about MJF but I'll never understand why Ospreay had to mention his four year-old stepson that he's putting through school in the middle of a pretty good heel promo. The father of child isn't paying any kind of support and Ospreay adopted the kid? I doubt that. I'm sick of heels sharing these details like that. Ospreay isn't even married, why is he paying for the kid? I don't wanna think about this stuff that has nothing to do with the program and doesn't seem appropriate. We're supposed to boo Ospreay.

FOREVER TERRY!!

W*ING USA releases Dynamite Kid and signs Fabulous Moolah.

W*ING USA Presents: '96 Tears Kris Kloss: Welcome to Hollywood, California! Welcome to W*ING USA! This is ‘96 Tears! I’m Kris Kloss, and tonight I am joined tonight by the legend Terry Funk! Also we are being joined by professional wrestling journalist and historian, the editor and chief of the Pro Wrestling Observer himself, Mr. Dave Meltzer. Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Terry Funk: Great honor to be standing here with you fellas. I’ve wrestled all over the world but this is one of the most rabid crowds I’ve ever seen. Dave Meltzer: Um wow, god, yeah, thank you for the introduction, Kris. We’re not too far from San Jose and I’ve been attending lucha shows in LA for years. This was a no brainer to be part of, and y’know, thanks to Onita for the great seats. Kris Kloss: Kicking off the show tonight we have a live performance from the iconic ? and the Mysterians! They are accompanied by the Saginaw Bay Orchestra, and they will be playing their 1966 hit, “96 Tears”! Take it away! *Q and the Mysterians play - 96 Tears* Kris Kloss: Holy smokes, Question Mark just blew the roof off the WING Warehouse! Dave Meltzer: Very, very cool. Um. Just a fun way to start a show. Question Mark has incredible charisma. Terry Funk (laughs): I love it! Kris Kloss: Well, let’s get into wrestling action with our first match of the evening. In a first round Turbo Violence tournament match, it’s Damian 666 versus Super Crazy. Match - Turbo Violence Champion first round tournament: Damian 666 vs. Super Crazy *Damian 666’s theme plays - Damian 666 W*ING USA Theme* Kris Kloss: Eerie presence from Damian 666…Virus is following Damian to the ring with no sign of Vampiro. We saw on the first episode of WING TV, Super Crazy along with Dr. Wagner Jr. and Mascarita Sagrada Jr. qualify for the Trios Championship battle royal later on. Dave Meltzer: Yeah, Super Crazy is pulling double duty tonight and he’s in contention for two titles. *Super Crazy’s Theme plays - Super Crazy’s ECW Theme* Damian 666 dives through the ropes at Super Crazy and things are off to a hot start! Damian 666 throws Super Crazy at the guard rail and Super Crazy jumps onto the rail and moonsaults back into Damian 666! Referee Steve Corino begins to count as the match is under count out rules. Both men make their way back into the ring and continue to fight. Super Crazy takes advantage off a tornado DDT. Virus gets up on the apron to cause a distraction and Corino implores Virus to get off the ring. As Corino is arguing with Virus, Vampiro walks down the aisle to ringside. Corino goes over to Vampiro demanding him to leave, when Virus slides a pair of brass knuckles to Damian 666. While Vampiro is getting into Corino’s face, Damian 666 kayoes Super Crazy with the brass knuckles, rendering Super Crazy unconscious! Damian 666 picks up Super Crazy and hits a standing muscle buster to finish and advance in the Turbo Violence tournament. Winner: Damian 666 Kris Kloss: If you want to call that a win, Damian 666 is moving on in the Turbo Violence tournament. Terry Funk: I question if this kid Corino is ready to officiate the chaos we are going to see here in WING USA. Dave Meltzer: Corino, actually, y'know, he’s a pretty good prospect. Corino has wrestled on some of the smaller east coast indies. Onita must see something in Corino to put him in the middle of the mayhem. Kris Kloss: Corino will get another shot in our next match featuring Alundra Blayze versus Combat Toyoda! Match - Women's Match: Alundra Blayze vs. Combat Toyoda *Combat Toyoda’s Theme plays - “Some Kind of Miracle” by China Sky* Kris Kloss: Combat Toyoda makes her way to the ring and she is quite dramatic to behold! *Alundra Blayze’s Theme plays - “Invincible” by Pat Benatar* Footage plays from W*ING TV of Kudo’s Championship against Blayze and the beatdown by Aja Kong, Shark Tsuchiya and Combat Toyoda that immediately followed. Kris Kloss: Blayze will be seeking revenge tonight from the ambush that we witnessed on the debut of WING TV. There’s no sign of Quinones and it looks like Combat is on her own for this match. Dave Meltzer: That was one of, y’know, maybe the most entertaining and action packed premieres I can ever recall. Blayze and Combat worked a hard hitting, back and forth match. Combat hits a powerslam and lays into Blayze with strikes. Combat misses a Vader Bomb and Alundra takes the momentum. Huge headkick by Blayze knocks Combat backwards. Blayze keeps the pressure on and drills Toyoda with a roaring elbow to secure the win! Winner: Alundra Blayze Kris Kloss: A great win for Blayze, I’m pleasantly surprised we didn’t see Kong or Quinones interfere. Coming up is a match fans have been clamoring for since it was announced…The Dynamite Kid versus The Great Sasuke! But first, let’s check out a video package for the new W*ING USA Women’s Champion, "Queen of the Deathmatch" Megumi Kudo. Kris Kloss: A very special performer for WING USA, Kudo is one of our main attractions. Terry Funk: I’ve met Megumi and she’s a delightful young lady. Watching those highlights, man, she’s a warrior. Dave Meltzer: Um yeah, I mean, I think she’s sensational. Kudo is a five star wrestler and I don’t know, I mean, yeah, probably the greatest of her generation. Of course, you have Aja Kong in that discussion. Kris Kloss: Speaking of greats, Dave, any discussion about the greatest of their generation should include the Dynamite Kid. Our next match is a first round Turbo Violence tournament match that fans have been clamoring for! The Dynamite Kid puts his career on the line against the Great Sasuke! Match - First round Turbo Violence Championship tournament: The Dynamite Kid Vs. The Great Sasuke *Dynamite Kid’s Theme plays - “Car Wash” Dynamite Kid's AJPW Theme* Dynamite Kid walks through the curtain to a huge ovation. Dynamite Kid is wearing his traditional tights and an Adidas jacket to the squared circle. Dynamite looks significantly smaller than his glory days with a buzzed haircut and mustache. Crowd: KID OH! KID OH! KID OH! Streamers fly into the ring as the Dynamite Kid takes off his jacket and stretches while awaiting the Great Sasuke. *Great Sasuke Theme Plays - “Integral Hard” Great Sasuke’s Theme* Kris Kloss: And here is WING USA’s first pick of the 1996 draft, the Great Sasuke! The Great Sasuke enters through the ropes and streamers fly. Sasuke bows and shakes hands with the Dynamite Kid. Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Dynamite shows he has some gas left in the tank in the early going, executing a Tiger Mask tribute exchange with flips and kip ups! Dynamite power slaps Sasuke and grabs a headlock! Sasuke fires Dynamite into the ropes and Dynamite Kid charges back with a shoulder block! Crowd: KID OH! KID OH! KID OH! Sasuke gets back to his feet and comes back with a stiff kick to Dynamite’s kidneys. Dynamite Kid is visibly shaken from the kick and Sasuke connects with another stinger to Dynamite’s ribs. The Dynamite Kid fires back with chops but he has already started to favor his ribs. Sasuke seizes on Dynamite and hits a backbreaker. Sasuke applies a boston crab and Dynamite Kid is fading. Dynamite Kid struggles successfully to the ropes and Corino breaks the hold. Crowd: KID OH! KID OH! KID OH! Dynamite Kid begins to recover in the corner as Sasuke charges at him! Dynamite Kid lifts his legs and rolls Sasuke into a sunset flip! 1!...2!...Sasuke kicks out! Now Sasuke is pissed! Sasuke hits a combination of strikes and tosses Dynamite Kid to the outside. Sasuke hits the ropes and connects with a Sasuke Special to the outside! Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Sasuke throws Dynamite Kid back into the ring. Sasuke sets Dynamite Kid on the top rope for a superplex but gets shoved off! Time to fly for Dynamite Kid! The headbutt lands! Neither man is moving! Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Dynamite gets back to his feet and attempts a tombstone piledriver. Sasuke reverses it and drives Dynamite’s head into the mat with his own tombstone!! Sasuke lifts Dynamite Kid off the canvas and connects with a tiger suplex! 1!..2!…3! It’s over! The Great Sasuke advances into the second round of the Turbo Violence tournament! Winner: The Great Sasuke Terry Funk: Took a lot of heart for Dynamite to get into the ring tonight. He left it all in the ring. Sasuke bows and vacates the ring as Dynamite Kid gathers himself. Dynamite is tearing up as he looks up at the crowd. Dynamite Kid removes his wrist tape. Crowd: KID OH! KID OH! KID OH! Dynamite Kid nods to the crowd as he removes his boots and leaves them in the center of the ring... Dave Meltzer: What a poignant ending for a trailblazer like the Dynamite Kid. I mean, wow. Kris Kloss: An iconic moment for W*ING USA. The Great Sasuke will advance to the second round and face the winner of TAKA Michinoku versus Dr. Wagner Jr. on WING TV. Meanwhile, Damian 666 has moved on to face the winner of Vampiro vs. “Daredevil” Jeff Hardy! That could get interesting if Vampiro advances and faces his teammate Damian 666! Let’s go ahead and take a look now at a young up and coming superstar, “Daredevil” Jeff Hardy! A highlight package plays of young Jeff being a rebellious teenager riding dirtbikes, playing guitar and jumping off his roof. Other highlights are shown of Hardy performing the swanton bomb on the local indies. Kris Kloss: We are going to get our first look at the young Daredevil tonight in the Trios Qualifier battle royal coming up next! Time to take a brief pause and we’ll be back with the battle royal! *Break* Match - W*ING USA Trios Championship Wargames Battle Royal Qualifier: Headhunter A/Headhunter B/Mr. Pogo, WING Kanemura/Mitsuhiro Matsunaga/Masato Tanaka, Super Leather/Jason the Terrible/Crypt Keeper, Jeff Hardy/Ricky Morton/Robert Gibson, Super Crazy/Dr. Wagner Jr./Mascarita Sagrada Jr., Cobra/???/??? Kris Kloss: We are back and all the combatants are in the ring. Sonny Onoo is at ringside with a cameraman directing the action. Quinones is also with Pogo and the Headhunters. Cobra is holding a microphone about to introduce his partners for the battle royal. The final three surviving members of a trio will go on to the WarGames final at our next taped event, Bloodstar! Cobra: YEEEEEEOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!! Crowd: YEEEOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! Cobra: So there’s been talk all over America Online!…Who will be my partners for the battle royal? Onita, tonight WCW is going to make a statement! Hit the music! YEEOOOOWWWWW!!!!! *Buddy Landel’s Theme plays - “Also Sprach Zarathustra” Buddy Landel’s 2nd SMW Theme* “Real Nature Boy” Buddy Landel and “Double” CW Anderson walk to the ring while holding up three fingers the entire way. Landel: WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Crowd: WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! Terry Funk (laughs): Nature Boy! Dave Meltzer: My sources, umm, were correct here. Apparently, Buddy is with Cobra and a wrestler going by “Double” CW Anderson. I mean, y’know, the resemblance is pretty uncanny. Kris Kloss: “Real Nature Boy” Buddy Landel, Cobra and “Double” CW Anderson? Do they think they work for WCW? Are they trying to get a job here? They don’t belong in WING USA! The bell rings and battle royal begins. Within thirty seconds, Cobra is thrown over the top and eliminated by Jason The Terrible!! Cobra furiously pounds on the ring in frustration! Cobra: DAMMIT! YEEEOOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!! Crowd: YEEOOOOOOWWWWW!!!!! Cobra holds up three fingers towards Landel and Anderson and heads towards the back. Robert Gibson is eliminated next, followed by Super Crazy, by Jason The Terrible. Wing Kanemura is next over the top by the Headhunters. A lot of brawling everywhere as Dr. Wagner Jr. is tossed out. Jeff Hardy is thrown into the corner where Landel charges and flair flips over the buckle and is eliminated! “Mr. Danger” Matsunaga is next to be eliminated by Mr. Pogo! As Pogo stares at Matsunaga, Jeff Hardy and Ricky Morton double dropkick Pogo over the top!! Sagrada whips off the ropes but gets caught by “Double” CW Anderson with a spinebuster! Anderson turns around and sees Super Leather and begins to beg off! Super Leather clotheslines Anderson over the top! Five teams remain as Cobra’s group is wiped out! Sagrada runs into the Headhunters and is thrown into the front row! Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Kris Kloss: Four teams remain and only three will advance to the WarGames at Bloodstar! Ricky Morton is carried out by Crypt Keeper but Morton holds on and takes Crypt Keeper with him! Jeff Hardy is the sole survivor remaining for his trio! Jeff Hardy hits a jawbreaker on Headhunter A! Masato Tanaka attempts a roaring elbow but Hardy ducks and sends Tanaka outside! Kris Kloss: The three teams have been decided for WarGames at Bloodstar! He did it! Jeff Hardy and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express will face Sonny Onoo’s Nightmare Network and Victor Quinones’ faction of Mr. Pogo and the Headhunters for the WING USA Trios Championship! Terry Funk: The odds are stacked against them in a cage! Jeff Hardy is eliminated next by Super Leather after having secured their spot in WarGames. The remaining wrestlers are Super Leather, Jason the Terrible, Headhunter A and Headhunter B. They begin brawling as the crowd is eating it up! Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! The Headhunters eliminate Jason the Terrible and Super Leather! Headhunter B eliminates himself and the battle royal concludes! Winner: Headhunter A Kris Kloss: A wild and chaotic battle royal! Mr. Pogo and the Headhunters will be the final team to enter WarGames! That might be a bloodbath when you talk about Sonny Onoo’s monsters locked inside a double-ring cage! Terry Funk: That Daredevil kid impressed the hell out of me. Dave Meltzer: Umm yeah, like, so Jeff actually has a brother also on the freelance scene named Matt. It will be interesting to see where their careers go, y’know? Kris Kloss: Well gentleman, is it now time to determine the first ever WING USA Grand Champion! We have Hayabusa, Hakushi, “Gladiator” Mike Awesome and The Sandman in a ladder Heaven or Hell deathmatch! Even dating back to FMW, the story has been…can Hayabusa win “the big one”? Does Onita trust him with the torch of WING USA? Dave Meltzer: I mean, wow, I don’t know if we’re allowed to go there…but Onita has expressed doubts in the past about Hayabusa. Whether, like, he can draw. If Hayabusa is hardcore enough. But, y’know, Onita exempted Hayabusa and placed him in this match so he recognizes Hayabusa is a superstar. By the way, I spoke with Hakushi earlier today, and he informed me that he is going back to the name Jinsei Shinzaki. Kris Kloss: Then you throw in “Gladiator”. Awesome is a part of trios team with Crash and Bash, The Terminators, who have to debut for WING USA. Dave Meltzer: ECW expressed a lot of interest in Mike Awesome before their transition to the NWA. Kris Kloss: …And of course, as we saw on WING TV, The Sandman is ready to make a statement at '96 Tears as the first Grand Champion! Let’s get ready for entrances! Match - W*ING USA World Championship Heaven or Hell Four Corners Deathmatch: Hayabusa vs. Gladiator (Mike Awesome) vs. Jinsei Shinzaki (Hakushi) vs. The Sandman *Hayabusa Theme Plays - “Fight With Dream” by Unknown Artist* *Jinsei Shinzaki Theme Plays - “Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth” Jinsei Shinzaki's AJPW Theme* *Gladiator Mike Awesome Theme Plays - “The Gladiator FMW Theme"* *The Sandman's Theme Plays - “Enter Sandman" by Metallica* During opening introductions, streamers fly into the ring. The bell rings and the match begins. Sandman kicks the ladder staged in the center of the ring into Gladiator’s face and then brutalizes Shinzaki with the Singapore Cane! Gladiator picks the ladder up off the mat and gets a springboard dropkick by Hayabusa! Gladiator rolls out of the ring and Hayabusa runs off the ropes with a baseball slide ramming the ladder under the ropes and into Awesome! Hayabusa gets up and it's AIR HAYABUSA over the top onto Awesome! Gladiator gets back to his feet and wanders over to a bin that has filled with weapons on each side of the ring. Gladiator opens the lid and pulls out light tubes! Crowd: OOHHHH!! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Awesome busts one of the tubes over Hayabusa’s head, shattering the glass on the outside. Hayabusa goes to the ground and Gladiator breaks two more tubes over Hayabusa! Inside the ring, Sandman and Shinzaki are trading blows. Shinzaki gets control of the Singapore Cane and wallops the Sandman! Shinzaki tries to choke Sandman with the Cane as the ladder remains outside of the ring. Gladiator tosses the ladder over the top rope and onto Shinzaki’s head, breaking up the chokehold. Awesome gets back in the ring and decks Shinzaki with a clothesline. Hayabusa begins to stand up outside the ring, and Awesome flies hitting Hayabusa with a suicide dive of his own! Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Kris Kloss: This is what WING USA is ALL ABOUT! The Grand Championship hangs in the balance! Sandman hits Shinzaki with a DDT and sets up the ladder underneath the title. Awesome climbs back into the ring and Sandman grabs the Cane. Sandman mollywops Gladiator repeatedly in the skull, breaking the Cane into pieces! Hayabusa gets up on the outside and pulls a barbwire board out of the container! Hayabusa slides the razor sharp board into the ring! Crowd: DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! DIE FOR WING! Seeing the board in the ring, Sandman exits the other side and heads toward the other weapons container. Sandman flips open the lid and….Mr. Pogo pops out like a Jack in the Box and blows an enormous fireball from point blank into Sandman’s face!! Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! The fire quickly starts to get out of control as the ring apron catches on fire!!! WING security rushes to the ring with fire extinguishers to put out the flames! The fans are running towards the back as the fire is being contained! Pogo gets out of the container with his Scythe connected to a long chain that he wraps around the throat of the blinded Sandman! Pogo starts to tear into Sandman’s forehead causing Sandman to bleed as he is being strangled with the chain! WING security tries to throw water on Sandman’s face and pull Pogo off! *All of a sudden* *New Jack’s Theme Plays - “Natural Born Killaz” by Dr. Dre ft. Ice Cube* Kris Kloss: IT’S NEW JAAAAACK!!!!! New Jack runs to the ring while carrying a metal trashcan that he tosses full blast at Victor Quinones who has emerged from the back! (crowd pops) New Jack begins swinging on Mr. Pogo who releases the chain from around Sandman’s neck. The Headhunters come out with chairs and bash New Jack from behind as “Natural Born Killaz” continues to blare through the speakers! Then entering through the crowd are Balls Mahoney and Mikey Whipwreck! They begin to fight off the Headhunters! It’s bedlam everywhere as Shinzaki, Hayabusa and Awesome struggle for the ladder inside the ring! Dave Meltzer: Guys I can’t hear you right now! But I think that fire spot was, y’know, very dangerous! Onita, I think, really needs to be careful because there’s risk there! Very, very ill-advised! To say the least! Back in the ring, Awesome kicks Shinzaki in the stomach and picks him for an Awesome Bomb to the outside into the pile of brawlers and WING security! It’s down to Hayabusa and Awesome with the title above them! Gladiator goes for another Awesome Bomb on Hayabusa that gets reversed into a hurricanrana into the barbwire board! Hayabusa can see daylight and starts to ascend the ladder! Crowd: HAY AH BUSA! HAY AH BUSA! Kris Kloss: Hayabusa is inches away….and yes, he’s done it! He's done it!! Hayabusa grabs the title to become the first W*ING USA Grand Champion!!! Streamers fly in as Hayabusa sits atop the ladder with the championship on his shoulder!! Winner: Hayabusa Kris Kloss: Guys, we are desperately out of time but thank you for tuning in! This has been '96 Tears and we will see you next month for WING TV!!

Well, before Wyatt's illness they were teasing that Judgment Day were breaking up and it got pushed back. Now Cody is treading water and Priest is doing nothing with the MitB.

Good to see Peeters pretty much dominate and get a W, I'm a fan. Maurice taking the gloves off was a nice touch against the great Tamura. Can Volk be beaten? I've shown some of Volk's stuff to casual fans in the past and they instantly got it! It's very cool we're all in our own wheelhouse with this 1996 project. The vivid details you wrote reflects your deep appreciation for the style. Definitely something for everybody!

It wasn't intended as a knock against Roman, he's phenomenal. I only wondered how many people realize this current reign dates all the way back to the Fiend. It's hard to say who is left, I really was not interested in "Main Event" Jey Uso at all, and I'm getting impatient. I do think Wyatt's situation affected their plans at the top of the card, and Cody is spinning his wheels with the JD. The fact that Road Dogg of all people is publicly saying Punk should come back tells me there's nobody else there.

A lot of those NXT acts were already established before Hunter, he added zilch. Okay, he gave Cole the "BOOM!". HHH put on Nakamura vs. El Generico with absolutely no build, wow what a genius. That's all I can think of. Gargano versus Andrade "Cien" Almas was this 5 star match without any memorable angle or promo. Zero memory of it. Bayley and Sasha was a big deal at the time, but it felt like a lot of the hype was "OMG WOMEN ARE DOING THIS!". Where are the double crosses? The swerves? Remember AOP? Lars Sullivan? If Hunter's stuck on the flavors of ice cream he's definitely the most vanilla I've ever tasted.

You raise a fair point about the lockdown, I just struggle to come up with a more boring booker than HHH literally ever. Dusty, Watts, Bischoff, Russo, VKM himself, Heyman, Cornette. Jim Herd was more exciting than Hunter.

That is conventional wisdom and that's precisely what bothers me about Hunter's creative. Roman hasn't lost the Universal Championship that he took from...The Fiend! That's 1080+ days! I'd argue the title has lost meaning because people can't even remember when Roman's current reign started and they had to crown another champion.