With the immense image of Hulk Hogan scowling and reaching above the scoreboard TV Screen like King Kong about to swat airplanes , and with Coney Island’s rebirth, Luna Park, gleaming behind the outfield walls as if a magical kingdom of Cyclone roller Coasters and Whirl-a-way sky rides, these screaming fans were part of another rebirth, that of the sound that used to fill Madison Square Garden on special nights when the crowd's roar became what Mike Lupica named the Monster . It was a noise that seemed to take on form and substance and filled that now broken hallowed place with a sound as alive as a Times Square New year's night. It was The Sound of Willis Reed hitting two shots on broken knees to lead the rout of the Lakers. It was the unforgettable voice of wrestling bedlam when Bruno and his backbreaker took the WWWF/NWA title from the long detested first Nature Boy, Buddy Rogers. That was the sound of the salute New York fans gave TNA on this night, a crowd that was the largest ever to attend a wrestling show not run by a McMahon family member.

That's all I can read, and I can't reads no more.

While I'm sure it's the biggest non-MSG crowd within New York City of the modern era, WCW drew a lot more than that in the market at the Nassau Coliseum and Meadowlands (where JCP and PWUSA also drew well).

It still begs the question why they wouldn't run a PPV there instead of a house show.

Or why you don't have Hogan make an appearance.

It still begs the question why they wouldn't run a PPV there instead of a house show.

Weather concerns and not wanting to spend money on something to guard the ring from rain?

It's amazing listening to the last couple of audio shows in that UFC has totally warped their minds on how to view WWE.

 

WWE is not UFC so they should get used to it.

http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/13978/

Pretty sure this was meant as satire.

 

Poorly written satire, but satire nonetheless.

UFC is to the WO team what WWE is to modern independent wrestling - they think they have to adjust their thinking to it. Now we all know that these kind of indy promotions suck, but I fear nobody thinks the same of writers

http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/13978/

Pretty sure this was meant as satire.

 

Poorly written satire, but satire nonetheless.

 

F4Wonline.com columns have become so bad that a parody is indistinguishable from the real thing?

 

Eh...I'd buy it.

So I have absolutely no desire to listen Todd Martin on the F4W Radio, but they task me by having him and Alverez host a show with Cornette about the History of Smokey Mountain Wrestling.

 

Seriously, is this some weird goofball attempt to get people who don't want to listen to Todd to listen? "Hey, Old School DVDVR types who make fun of Todd on a weekly basis...Here's Jim Cornette talking about a promotion you all seem to have loved and have been wanting to hear stories about...hosted by ME and Todd! Bwah-ha-ha-ha!"

I remember several years ago, Todd wrote a history of SMW for the website that left out all of this really key stuff, and his defense at the time was that he couldn't mention everything.

To be fair, Todd asked by far the more insightful questions and came off as a real fan of the promotion. Todd really made the interview as Bryan was pretty clueless about SMW. "I have to interrupt you talking about booking SMW to fit in a tired dig at the current WWE creative team" - Bryan Alvarez.

I remember several years ago, Todd wrote a history of SMW for the website that left out all of this really key stuff, and his defense at the time was that he couldn't mention everything.

Didn't he leave openings like "Undertaker made several appearances during this period" and then leave out the actual historical significance of them (fans no longer going to the shows without WWF guys)?

Seems pretty smart to put Todd on shows they know their fanbase will listen to, then point to their popularity as proof that he isn't universally hated.

To be fair, Todd asked by far the more insightful questions and came off as a real fan of the promotion. Todd really made the interview as Bryan was pretty clueless about SMW. "I have to interrupt you talking about booking SMW to fit in a tired dig at the current WWE creative team" - Bryan Alvarez.

Exactly. Apparently it was Todd's idea to do a SMW-centric show and he did a fine job. I don't listen to his other shows either, but I have no problem with this.

To be fair, Todd asked by far the more insightful questions and came off as a real fan of the promotion. Todd really made the interview as Bryan was pretty clueless about SMW. "I have to interrupt you talking about booking SMW to fit in a tired dig at the current WWE creative team" - Bryan Alvarez.

Exactly. Apparently it was Todd's idea to do a SMW-centric show and he did a fine job. I don't listen to his other shows either, but I have no problem with this.

 

 

Maybe Todd should be reviewing old SMW shows on the site instead of RAW, because the "make a tired dig at the current WWE creative team" is his gimmick.

But he sees the glass as half-full!

Cornette doing this series with Wade and Bruce would be the stuff world wars would be made of!

 

On a similar note thank goodness Cornette didnt go to Gary Cubeta with this concept.

Wahlers' latest column is behind the paywall. Yeah.

 

Meanwhile:

 

Joe Babinsack updates the Bruno Sammartino movie

 

His trials and tribulations in reaching his goals, his learning of the ropes, his understanding and development as a professional wrestler, his abilities both inherent and trained, all established him as a player in New York, then a vagabond when he ran afoul of the promoters (and a notable name especially), and culminating with an opportunity in Toronto and a triumphant return to New York would make for compelling drama.

Why not just say "Vince McMahon Sr. and Toots Mondt."

 

This is a movie slated for independent distribution, so it won’t have the many hands of Hollywood involved, and because of that, it won’t have to be changed from Bruno’s final approval.

 

Which is vastly different from projects of years gone by, where those involved wanted to spice up the action by altering the story of Bruno’s beloved mother, giving her a romantic interest in Italy (while her husband is working in the United States!) and otherwise making things unbelievable.

Isn't this the same guy who maligned indy films for not having high production values & or lots of explosions?

This is a movie slated for independent distribution, so it won’t have the many hands of Hollywood involved, and because of that, it won’t have to be changed from Bruno’s final approval.

 

Which is vastly different from projects of years gone by, where those involved wanted to spice up the action by altering the story of Bruno’s beloved mother, giving her a romantic interest in Italy (while her husband is working in the United States!) and otherwise making things unbelievable.

Isn't this the same guy who maligned indy films for not having high production values & or lots of explosions?

 

Forget that. Isn't this the guy who basically didn't know that indy films existed, period? Did Bruno get some tickets to Sundance and decide to bring Babbysack along for the ride?

Let's see...

 

Going into the movie, I was pessimistic. A certain well respected industry figure that I try to talk to often noted that the movie wasn’t doing that well at the box office, that the production values were very poor, and that word of mouth was going to kill it in the end.

Pessimistically, I entered the show. I’m a little annoyed that I didn’t see a trailer for Watchmen, but did get impressed by Wolverine: The Origin. Terminator: Salvation looks cool, but overly intricate.

 

What I immediately saw was the low-rent production values.

 

Seriously. I’m surprised Vince wants to be associated with this, because this is an indy level show hitting the big screen. I’m just laughing hilariously at the notion that most of Vince’s die-hard fans would even be bothered with the venues, the limited camera shots and the clunkyness of the shots.

 

And, talk about star power! The only really recognizable guy on the film is Ron Killings. Even my wife noted, ‘what’s HE doing there?’

The one thing that only entered my mind briefly, was the Christopher Lambert scene of Highlander, where he’s sitting there bored, watching the Freebirds against the High Flyers and Tonga Kid, at Madison Square Garden !?!

 

I wasn’t THAT bored in the first half hour, but man did I get tired of seeing Mickey Rourke’s back. Later, his backside, but then again, I didn’t complain about Marisa Tomei’s.

 

All told, the movie was actually good. I just know part of that was because as a wrestling fan, I could decipher, integrate and appreciate the whole tableau of the story.

Let's see...

 

Going into the movie, I was pessimistic. A certain well respected industry figure that I try to talk to often noted that the movie wasn’t doing that well at the box office, that the production values were very poor, and that word of mouth was going to kill it in the end.

Pessimistically, I entered the show. I’m a little annoyed that I didn’t see a trailer for Watchmen, but did get impressed by Wolverine: The Origin. Terminator: Salvation looks cool, but overly intricate.

 

What I immediately saw was the low-rent production values.

 

Seriously. I’m surprised Vince wants to be associated with this, because this is an indy level show hitting the big screen. I’m just laughing hilariously at the notion that most of Vince’s die-hard fans would even be bothered with the venues, the limited camera shots and the clunkyness of the shots.

 

And, talk about star power! The only really recognizable guy on the film is Ron Killings. Even my wife noted, ‘what’s HE doing there?’

The one thing that only entered my mind briefly, was the Christopher Lambert scene of Highlander, where he’s sitting there bored, watching the Freebirds against the High Flyers and Tonga Kid, at Madison Square Garden !?!

 

I wasn’t THAT bored in the first half hour, but man did I get tired of seeing Mickey Rourke’s back. Later, his backside, but then again, I didn’t complain about Marisa Tomei’s.

 

All told, the movie was actually good. I just know part of that was because as a wrestling fan, I could decipher, integrate and appreciate the whole tableau of the story.

Holy shit, hahaha.

The latest Babinsackery.

The DVD is long. But it is also well produced, with Blu-Ray technology and a variety of camera shots, a variety of enhancements and production values beyond most other shoot style DVDs. But it is long.

Umm...what?!?!

 

(Also, the latest from Wahlers is not a pay site article, so...yay?)

It is available in Blu-Ray (why, I have no idea) but he seems to be talking about the regular DVD version. Maybe he means it was filmed in hi-def.

It was filmed in high def.

 

Actually bought that on DVD last year. It is an Irish company who does it obviously. I spoke to the young guy behind over email, very nice guy. He is a full time projectionist by day with a background in film production. Only bad thing is that is voice is so bassy along with a thick Irish accent that he realised after his first shoot with Allison Danger it was best to edit himself asking questions from the DVD or just get another host in. He is covered head to toe in CM Punks too to an extreme degree.

 

The DVD is depressing as fuck. With Doug's WWE (& TNA) dream over Doug resorts to Wrestling in a tiny church hall in rural Ireland with no changing rooms and a ceiling too low for a Wrestling show. The DVD follows Doug from the carpark to fans queuing for the show outside and then into the building with absolutely no one recognising him at all even as a wrestler.

 

The DVD ends with a "after this tour Doug decided to retire" message.