Grimmas

Week 3 of April 1983 The fall out of World Class leaving the NWA has begun as Mid-Atlantic wrestling has declared war on World Class. World Class has signed up The Dynamite Kid. A dynamic performer in Japan, he looks to come in as a babyface potentially teaming with Bret Hart on the babyface side. In a bizarre story, last week it was reported that The Spoiler would be leaving when his contract ends. However, Fritz Von Erich personally renewed The Spoiler's contract. A miscommunication between Fritz and booker Steven Graham? It sure seems so, quickly after The Spoiler was given a written contract. Two big stories coming out of this week. We will start with the national expansion plans of World Class. The first move was to change the taping date of the TV from Thursday to Saturday. Then there will be a major show on each Sunday. Week 1 will be from the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, week 2 will be from the Sam Houston Coliseum, week 3 from the Cow Palace and finally week 4 will be from Freedom Hall in Kentucky. This schedule will start up next week, as this week the TV and major show will both take place on Saturday from the Gran Olympic Auditorium in California. The second story as a big shocker, as there was a major backstage incident: This was the first the third type incident out of Buddy Roberts, which lead to his firing. Last time this happened he got a final warning, so this was just the follow through of that. Obviously the Fabulous Freebirds were not happy losing one of their members. Since the Freebirds were scheduled to take on Magnum TA & The Rock'n'Roll Express in the semi-finals of the Six Man Title tournament there was obviously a change to the TV. The show began with The Fabuous Freebirds. They said that Buddy Roberts has left World Class and they have to bow out of the Six Man Tag Titles tournament. However they still want some gold, so they have refocused on the Tag Team Titles and challenged The Rock'n'Roll Express to a match on the show for those belts. The Express accepted and in the main event of the TV The Freebirds regained their titles.4 This was not the only title change on the show as "Macho Man' Randy Savage stole the WCCW Television Title from Barry Windham by pulling the tights. Word has it these two are set to feud going into a blow off at the upcoming pay-per-view. The final bit of news saw Devastation Inc. using Skandar Akbar to advance to the finals of the title tournament to take on Magnum TA and The Rock'n'Roll Express. In the PM of Saturday World Class ran a second show. This was a pretty generic show, but featured the finals of the Six Man Tag Titles as Devastation Inc. walk out as champions. Roddy Piper, Larry Zbyszko and Kamala are the champions going forward. There was three other title defenses with the best being Kerry Von Erich taking on The Spoiler again. There chemistry was great again. The week ended with rumours of World Class looking into building a women's division.

NOTE I have played through all of April, so there will be multiple updates today to bring us up to date. After that I will try to be more frequent and not save things up. Week 2 of April 1983 Coming out of Extreme Measures the word is that the next pay-per-view will take place on the third Monday of June in Dallas. It looks like it will be headlined by Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Kerry Von Erich unifying the NWA American, NWA Texan Titles that Valentine holds and the NWA Brass Knuckles Title that Kerry holds. The idea is that World Class is preparing for life without the NWA and combining these tree titles into one major WCCW title will set them apart. The WCCW Television champion who is highly praised as a future main star of World Class is becoming one of the most popular wrestlers backstage. Before this week's TV Windham earned a lot of love: With World Class having the 90 minute TV show now a few under card talent has been brought in to get over the current talent. This includes the signings of Ron Starr, Hillbilly Jim, Kato Kung Lee, Rufus R. Jones and Brutus Beefcake. None of these are full time contracts, they will be used on a pay-per-appearance deal as needed. The other big contract news is that Magnum TA's contract was extended and he will be with World Class for a long while more. The first taping of Big Time Wrestling after the pay-per-view took place on Thursday and had quite the bit of news coming out of it. The show started with World Class President Fritz Von Erich appearing on TV for the first time since booker Steven Graham took over. He made the announcement that the WCCW Six Man Tag Titles have been vacated due to David Von Erich's injury. David is expected to be out for another 11 months. This will be an 8 team tournament over the next few weeks.Two matches took place on the TV as the Freebirs defeated Barry Windham, Blackjack Mulligan and Skip Young and Devasation Inc. upset the team of Kerry & Kevin Von Erich with Dutch Mantell. The other two matches see The Rock'n'Roll Express & Mangum TA against The Midnight Express and Greg Valentine, and Strike Force versus The Poffos and The Great Kabuki. The other major news coming off the TV was Greg "The Hammer" Valentine introducing Jim Cornette as his new manager and the start of the unification build up. Valentine has retired the Texas & American Titles and has proclaimed himself the first WCCW Double Title holder. He then beat Magnum TA in a great TV match. The chemistry between these two are awesome. On Saturday World Class ran at the Sam Houston Coliseum again, this time selling out the building with 10,000 in attendance. The first round of the World Class Six Man Tag Team Titles Tournament concluded as Strike Force defeated The Great Kabuki and The Poffos and in an upset The Rock'n'Roll Express and Magnum TA beat The Midnight Express & Greg Valentine. Valentine was so pissed his team lost that he challenged Magnum TA (who pinned Eaton in the tag match) to a re-match from the TV. That Double Title match was another good match, but not quite on the level of the TV. This puts the semi-finals of the tournament as Strike Force versus Devastation Inc and Magum TA & Rock'n'Roll Express against The Fabulous Freebirds. The main event of the show saw Kerry Von Erich have an awesome match with The Spoiler for the NWA Brass Knuckles Title. These two had real good chemistry and it was a good idea to have The Spoiler lose on his way out as he is not expected to renew his expiring contract and he was one of the few who hasn't signed a written contract. In the final news of the week World Class made a major move going forward for their national expansion as they pulled out of the NWA.

I'm glad the Rey-Batista tag team was mentioned. I think there match against Jeri-Show from the Hell in the Cell ppv was WWE match of the year that year. I've always been found of Batista. With the right opponents (not Khali or other lugs) he was always real good. I will have to take a long hard look at him. Actually, none that it is brought up, I should really go and watch those ppvs from 05 to 12 where I was watching the shows very sporadically.

I agree, anyone that you would consider voting for should be nominated. The Batista thread has been made.

Discuss here.

The point of the GWE is to be as accurate as we can. That doesn't mean we should not re-evaluate everybody though. If Jumbo and Flair are number one and two, that is cool. If Jumbo and Flair are number one and two, just because that has been the long narrative and people haven't re-evaluated them and looked at others, that is bad.

We talk a lot about wrestling here, but what does everybody want in an ideal situation? Here are some categories that I am curious what others like. Favourite style of wrestling? Favourite way wrestling is presented? Favourite type of match? Favourite gimmick match? Favourite wrestler? Favourite match? Favourite feud? Favourite angle? Favourite promotion/period of wrestling? Little things that happen in wrestling that you always love?

One of the rare times I will give out five stars. I truly epic brawl up there with Andre-Hansen. Just a crazy destruction. I loved every second of this. The lariat where Hansen falls to the outside after, because he couldn't stop his momentum was the greatest move in the history of wrestling.

I was thinking the same thing about Ontario wrestling. I'm glad Smash is finally getting some notice, but there is a lot of talent here.

Why book a match with a gimmick where everyone predicts it will be screwy and nobody actually wants to see?

http://placetobenation.com/super-extreme-vault-a-hardcore-podcast-ecw-in-1998/ It’s a spin off! A former sub series of the Pro-Wrestling Super Show has found it’s own voice. It’s the debut of the Super Extreme Vault: A Hardcore Podcast with Steven Graham, Marc Clair & Glenn Butler. On the first show, we take a look at the year of 1998 in ECW. After we discuss the footage, we give our top moments, matches and wrestlers of the year! Join us as the podcasting world becomes extreme! The watch list: 1) a music video 2) The Great Sasuke vs Justin Credible (House Party, 1/10) 3) The Sandman vs Sabu (Highway to Hell, House Party, 1/10) 4) FBI vs Chris Candido & Lance Storm (3/6) 5) Too Cold Scorpio vs Shane Douglas (3/7) 6) Rob Van Dam vs Bam Bam Bigelow (4/4) 7) Bushwhackers in ECW 8) FBI vs Balls Mahoney & Axl Rotten (A Matter of Respect, 5/16) 9) FBI vs Blue Meanie & Nova (5/29) 10) Rumble Street Fight 11) Dudley Boyz and Beaulah 12) Dudley Boyz apologize to Beualah 13) Pulp Fiction promos

For the Super Extreme Vault (former a sub series of the Pro-Wrestling Super Show) I have watched a lot of Smothers' ECW run. I went as far as naming Smothers as the second most valuable wrestler of '98 in ECW (while Marc and Glenn named him third). He had a great run there, making everything more entertaining. What a tremendous character, but if you look past that he is a great wrestler. His sequence with Candido in the FBI vs Storm/Candido handheld is tremendous. What is out there of him outside of ECW on youtube/dailymotion? If his SMW work or other stuff is on this ECW level then he will make my list.

Thanks Dylan for pushing some of these nominees through. I've been a bit slow. I've updated the index with links. Keep them coming, there has to be some more nominees out there.

Wait, am I on the same side as Triple H in an argument? I don't know how to feel.

So excited. Just started listening and I can't wait to see what Dave did with our local talent.

How much older Tenryu have you seen?

So, I have tickets to the Global Wars shows in Toronto and they announced the card for night 1: That is one freaking awsome card! ACH-Nakamura should be insane. A love multi-mans like this main event. They even managed to put the guys I least want to see (Tanahashi-Elgin) against each other so I can go get a snack. Silas-Watanabe as a team? Sydal-Liger as a team? ALexander vs Okada, this is all awesome awesome shit!

Did they remove those ECW shows (Cyberslam, N2R '95, etc...)? I was looking last night and couldn't find them. Have they been moved to some weird section or were they taken down?

I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Something can be awesome for the time or just good or whatever, but do be a great piece of art you need to be great nobody when it is being consumed.

Best example of this to me is HBK/HHH at SummerSlam 02. I was a huge HBK fan and was so psyched for his comeback match after 4+ years out of the ring and all the aborted comebacks, and I was marking out and on the edge of my seat for the whole thing.......but holy shit that match doesn't hold up at all. It's pretty awful. I've rewatched it a few times and I'm like "how did I ever think this was good?" If you take it out of the moment and the time it sucks. HHH and Shawn had so many matches in that 02-03 period and there isn't a single one of them that I would ever want to see again. They range from ok to mediocre to downright boring I've always made the argument that if art doesn't hold up then it was never great to being with.

If we are going to talk the wrong guy going over, then you can't ignore Triple H. Other topics yes, but this one?

EXTREME MEASURES Sunday Week 1 of April 1983 Live from the Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX Shown across the country on closed circuit! Jim Ross is calling the play by play with Bill Mercer and Marc Lowrance helping out in the booth. First up is our dark match of Bruiser Brody vs Buddy Roberts. A very solid match to get the crowd going. I know it's a weird place for these two, but they couldn't fit on the card. Match #1: Barry Windham defends the WCCW Teleivision Title against the man he battled to a draw with on TV in Rip Rogers. The opener sees Windham defend his TV Title again. He will keep being built up until he is too big for the midcard title and is pushed up the card. Match #2: The Midnight Express w/ Jim Cornette vs Blackjack Mulligan and Dutch Mantell Unfortunately we had to put Dutch and Blackjack over, because they hated every finish that wasn't that. However a solid undercard match, nothing to complain about. Match #3: The Great Kabuki w/ Gary Hart vs Magnum TA Magnum beats Kabuki with a flash pin. Solid match and the last piece of the secondary feud that included Valentine and Wahoo. Hopefully Magnum, Martel, Steamboat, Tito or Windham can be a future ace of the company. Next up Greg Valentine promoted his match with Wahoo later on. Match #4: The Rock'n'Roll Express defend the NWA American Tag Titles against The Poffos w/ Sunshine. A step down from the rest of the show, but only slightly. I ran this match too many times, so my mistake. I didn't know that was a thing. Either way, the feud ends and the Express walk out on top. Backstage Piper, Larry, Skandor and Kamala cut a promo on Steamboat, Santana and Martel. Match #5: Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana and Rick Martel vs Roddy Piper, Larry Zybszko & Kamala w/ Skandor Akbar. Best match of the night so far and a promising start to this feud. Skandor interfered to give Kamala the win. This should be an epic feud going forward, so many awesome pieces. Before the next match Wahoo is interviewed about the match with Valentine for the titles. Match #6: NWA American & Texas Heavyweight Chapion Greg Valentine w/ Gary Hart vs Wahoo McDaniel in an Indian Strap match. I over run this match too, so this was a HUGE disappointment. Damn. This could had been the best match in World Class history. Greg wins the feud and moves on to unifying the titles. By the way, he signed on full-time!!! Main Event time! In a Steel Cage Kerry & Kevin Von Erich battle Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy! So this is the best match in World Class history? Yeah! Although I over run this feud too, it didn't matter due to Hayes taking a killer bump! Awesome end to the show! How did the show do, though? A great show overall! Largest crowd too! A great way to start the ppv era! What are the dirt sheets writing? Praise for World Class! National expansion is on the way!

Another awesome show and great chemistry between the two. Keep them coming. I can't wait for your Demolition discussion, eventually!

A big one was Goldberg losing to Nash at Starrcade 98. Goldberg's reign had just begun and he was the most over act they maybe ever had. The Streak should had continued until the crowd lost steam, not right away just because Nash was booker. A bullshit decision that threw a lot of money away in the future. Why would you not ride behind Goldberg for as long as possible?

Wow. I disagree with The Dudleys in ECW, obviously. They weren't The Gangtas or Puiblic Enemy. Dudleys did result to that sometimes, but were able to work in a way that garnered heat unlike almost any other heel in ECW. Also, check out the 99 match with Balls & Spike from Chicago, just a great match. The Dudleys and Spike had such awesome chemistry and had a series of fun matches. I'm not the biggest fan of high spot matches, but some of those ladder matches stuff were pretty good. The Tables match with The Hardys from Royal Rumble 2000 was pretty awesome too. The rest I'd have to go back and watch to see. I remember their heel run in 2004 with Spike being awesome too. As for all tag teams from the north east being shit, check out the "Tag Teams are Back Again" podcast to see some good stuff.