Ask 411 Wrestling 02.10.10: Finally, Owen's Legacy and Future Endevors!
Posted by Mathew Sforcina on 02.10.2010
Have Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle gone one on one? Do you have to pass everything by the NWA? Has a contract signing ever not ended in violence? Where are all the Tough Enough kids now? Why is the Cell a cage? And did God cure Shawn Michaels' back? All this, and a bit more, in Ask 411 Wrestling. Obviously.
Welcome one and all to Ask 411 Wrestling. I am your usual host, Mathew Sforcina, and I'd like to start off by thanking Ryan Byers for saving my butt once more and filling in for me at the last moment. A true class act, that Ryan.
And for the record, He's The Miz, and He's Awesome.
Anyway, my hand is feeling better (that was the problem, I couldn't type well with my right hand), and so let's get on with the column!
Will not be seen this week since I don't like talking about other people's work and stuff. And the whole ‘America's Health Care' thing which is EXACTLY why I use the Chandler system.
Instead, I ask you for something.
See, a while back, this is back a few years, I mentioned being unable to find the Gail Kim topless photos in a column.
I was then sent many copies.
This pleased me.
So, once again, I appeal to you, my readers. You can probably guess what I'm about to ask for. But since my usual sources remain empty, I turn to you people, and ask for a link/video/whatever of Tara's recent match with Ms. Love, with the nip-slip uncensored.
Strictly for research purposes, of course.
Your Turn, Smart Guy…
The last question's answer was Ted DiBiase.
Who am I? I've been affiliated with all time greats in the sport like Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson and Randy Savage. I'm a two sport superstar, successful in both Pro Wrestling and at least one other sport. A proud American, I've defended America's virtue and pride on Japanese soil and against Japanese invaders on my own hom soil on several occasions, despite not, technically, being American. A former Pro Wrestling Illustrated rookie of the year, I am who?
Questions, Questions, Who's Got The Questions?
1/2 of the Pretty Young Things… Seriously, that was the name I was given, has two questions. The second one we'll get to later.
#1) With the recent surge of in ring contract signings in the WWE, I was wondering if there ever has been a contract signing between two wrestlers that has NOT ended in a attack/brawl. I understand these (contract signings) would be boring if they did not, but I never recall seeing one. Have you?
Well, not usually, no. The entire point of the contract signing is to have chaos.
However, I do know of at least ONE contract signing that didn't end with violence. The Career Ending match between Warrior and Savage, with a Run in from Taker… And there was no violence. Really.
And if you broaden your definition of ‘contract signing' slightly (and/or you hate violence against tables), and your definition of ‘violence' a little, then CM Punk signing his WWE Contract on the ROH Title belt… still doesn't count, but I wanna link to it anyway because it's cool.
But yeah, it's happened at least once, probably more.
Bob has some questions.
1.) What ever happened to Hawk from Tough Enough 2?
Hawk Younkins, for anyone who doesn't remember him, was a blonde, good looking All American type who was outlandish and fairly charismatic, who left the show suddenly sighting ‘personal demons'.
After walking out on the show, he began to train with UPW, and then did pop up in TNA and WWE at various points. But eventually, he retired from Pro Wrestling to focus on his acting and MMA careers, both of which are actually somewhat successful. He's 5-1 in MMA, and he's had roles on such shows as CSI, Monk, Burn Notice and so on. So he's not doing THAT badly.
2.) There was one black guy who couldn't handle the work outs and got kicked out by Al Snow. It was the 1st or 2nd season. What was his name and did he ever do anything in wrestling?
That would have to be Aaron or Robert, since no-one got cut from the first show due to not being able to handle the workouts. So, assuming he was either of them, no, he didn't do anything in wrestling.
Wait, wait. I've found Robert, and he is a black man, he's put video up online of him in the show, Robert Walker. So I assume it's him, and given that he's putting video of himself in the show online, I doubt he's done much in the business since then. But hey Rob, if you're reading this (it's unlikely, since you didn't seem to really care about the business), let me know if you did do anything of note.
3.) When was the 1st time The Rock used the "Finally the Rock has come back to….."
Oh god. See, I know when he first used "Smell what the Rock is cooking", because that's somewhat famous (Wrestlemania XIV, speaking with Gennifer Flowers) but ‘Finally'? Oh boy.
Well, I tried, but I couldn't find the first ever usage, not even a rough guess. Anyone out there have a good memory?
Josh asks about dual names.
Did the team of Hawk and Animal go by two names? The Road Warriors and the Legion of Doom? I always thought they were the Road Warriors first, then became the LOD, then back to the Road Warriors. However, while watching Clash of the Champions X from 1990, Jim Ross referred to them as both The Road Warriors and the Legion of Doom. So did the team actually have both names? Could they not decide on one?
Yes, they had both names.
In the early 1980's, in Georgia Championship Wrestling, an NWA affiliate, Animal was wrestling there. And at the time, he was called The Road Warrior. Then Paul Ellering gathered together a stable of men that he could control and use to run roughshod over GCW. He called this group the Legion Of Doom, stealing it from the group of villains in the Super Friends cartoon. In the Legion was, at one point or another, was Paul, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, The Spoiler, Matt Borne, King Kong Bundy, Arn Anderson, The Iron Sheik and the original Sheik, as well as a new tag team, The Road Warriors, Paul adding fellow Chicago boy Hawk to Animal to form a team. However, the stable didn't last too long, and soon it was just Paul and the Road Warriors. But the term stuck, and so you were left with this tag team and their manager with two names. But it seemed to work out OK.
It's a bit how most people call the team of Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes Priceless yet WWE calls them Legacy, they kinda have two names. It's just a case of two names sticking.
JLAJRC is a resident of this column, and he has a question now.
When an organization like WCW was still under the NWA banner/control, did they have to run every storyline, angle, heel/face turn, etc by the NWA for approval? Or was the NWA mainly in charge of deciding who were the champions of the various titles they had?
No, they did not have to run every storyline by the NWA. The only thing the NWA controlled was titles, and even then, only titles that moved about were ones that they cared about. The whole point was to have one champion, one guy who would go from town to town, region to region, being the best, helping to put over guys. Or a tag team, or a woman, depending on the belt. So even if they are the biggest member, while WCW was part of the NWA, they had to clear any title changes with them.
This changed somewhat when the NWA signed on with TNA, with that one it was more a case that TNA had to keep the NWA informed of title changes. Call them up, let them know when a title change was to occur so they could plan accordingly. But TNA ignored that, hence NWA pulled out.
So no, the NWA didn't care about WCW's US Tag Team Titles, for instance. But the World title, yes, that one they had say over.
Alex has three questions he hopes are interesting.
1) Why was Survivor Series 1992 booked in the way that it was, without any traditional elimination bouts? Was it just an experiment that failed as they went back to the old formula the following year?
Well, there was the Nastys/Natural Disasters V Money Inc/Beverly Bros match, that was almost traditional, just under traditional tag rules. But no, I was unable to find any hard evidence as to the thinking behind the show not being traditional. I think the fact that they were heading into uncharted waters, with Hulkamania not around for the first time in a while, hence they were experimenting. Plus they had a slightly smaller roster to contend with.
2) Why exactly is the Hell in a Cell supposed to be more dangerous than a steel cage? Looking at it from a purely logical point of view there is more space for the wrestlers to move around, therefore they are less likely to come into contact with the cell than the cage. Is it just a case of WWE saying it is more dangerous and everyone believing the hype? Also on a similar theme, why the increased size of the cell? Doesn't this limit the chances of anyone being stupid enough to dive off the top in the future? Is WWE just going with the theory of bigger is better?
OK, the increased size is to allow them to toss more people in there and give them more room to move about, with the added bonus of making anything happening on top pretty unlikely. WWE is now shying away from the huge, risky moves, so no-one will come off the Cell top for many years to come, if ever.
As for the danger level, there is a certain amount of logic in what you say, but to play devil's advocate, more room means you can build up more momentum to toss someone into the wall. Access to under the ring and the surrounding area means that you can have access to weapons, unlike a cage match. And also, unlike a cage match, there's no escape, hence you have to beat your opponent down, which adds to the danger factor. Plus with a roof, the cell has less give, I'm sure they claim.
I mean, of course it's about hype, but there is some logic behind it…
Kristian got one answer last week. This week's a second one.
With Sid being injured before Survivor Series and being unable to work with Jake Roberts and The Undertaker, who and how did they decide (kayfabe and backstage) to make The Undertaker #1 contender and WWF Champion over Hulk Hogan, especially since he was still a relative newcomer to the WWE only being around for just barely a year?
Well, kayfabe, the announcement was made on the 12th of October, and repeated on each show thereafter. The logic was that they needed a #1 Contender, and Undertaker was ‘undefeated' (cough), so he made sense.
Backstage, they needed Hogan to get screwed out of the title, then for shenanigans to occur, thus vacating the title so they could have it put on the line in the Royal Rumble in order to make Ric Flair in the WWF. And since they didn't want to use Flair in that role, Taker, being over, big and scary, fit. Plus it did make some sense to have Taker beat Hogan, what with him being a zombie and all.
rafiki asks about verbal V physical.
Hey Matt, awesome job, love the column!
My question is, when wrestlers are having a match, how much of the spots are called verbally and how much are done with body language. I've seen, for instance, a wrestler will tap the other when it's time for them to take a move like a DDT. It would take good timing between the move doer and the move taker, for instance with a big boot off the rope, the recipient would have to know it was coming to react properly since it's quick. For the spots called verbally, they would have to be almost ventriloquists so that the crowd won't see their lips move. The matches move at such a fast pace that there's got to be an efficient manner of communication so that the recipient can react in time.
And most of the time it's talking. With the fans cheering, it is surprisingly easy to have a conversation with the ref and/or your opponent. You clearly can't recite ‘War and Peace' in there, but it's hard to see that much movement in the face from a distance, especially if you lean in when you do it. Plus long hair covering your face helps, and even if you are talking, you're just trash talking!
Which is not to say physical cues don't have their place, but rarely would you use a physical cue to call a spot blind. It'd be more to remind you about an upcoming spot you've planned out before, now comes the knee lift, stuff like that.
But no, it's actually not that hard to talk in the ring, once you're used to it.
Chris has two questions.
A new reader to the column and the site (just how the hell I never discovered this place before now I have no idea!)
Anyway.. One for the "Easy answers" column.
What is the purpose of wrist tape (also including taped fists such as Triple H, Finger tape such as Ric Flair and Randy Savage) I know it is a handy place to stash a blade etc but there must be another purpose?
I use wrist tape to choke people out. But, apart from the weapon usage, and/or hiding, and/or atheistic look, it does help keep the joints secure, there is a padding level. It's not a huge amount, sure, but every little bit helps. But it's mostly for show, to be honest.
Aaaaand one for the not so easy file...
Shawn Michaels and his back. From what i gathered back when he came back after his years away from the ring, he was initially only interested in working with his RL friend Triple H as he trusted him and knew that he would be protected during their match. Now obviously HBK's back hasn't miraculously returned to 100% since that time and one would have to assume that he still runs the same risks every time he steps in the ring. So is everyone he works with given "The Talk" about how to treat him etc or has shawn simply found a way to work which doesn't put his back in jeopardy?
Thanks for taking the time to read this and look forward to more great columns from you.
Well, I'm sure Shawn would have some words with Roderick Strong, but actually his back is pretty much OK now. I'll explain, and try to avoid badly chosen words this time.
As I understand it, Shawn believes that God cured his back. As it was related to me, after a while away from the ring, Shawn got into the training ring with some of the students of his academy, and did some stuff. And his back was fine. This led to him, eventually, trying to se if he could have one last match, the Summerslam match against HHH. This then led to the Wrestlemania program with Jericho, and after that match, he decided that actually, he could do this again, that he could become full time, for a given value of the term.
So now, you don't have to treat Shawn's back with any more care that you would normally, although I'm sure if he said anything you'd stay well away from it.
And, in case you are wondering, I'm more inclined to think that a few years away from the ring and a bit of positive thinking probably helped Shawn's back more than God, but again, that's just my opinion, not anyone else's. Shawn believes God cured it, and he's entitled to that.
Les Classic is up next.
Hey man, read your column regularly, haven't asked a question since you've started, but I enjoy the work.
My question lies in WWE's use of "We wish so-and-so the best in their future endeavors" after the person in question is fired. Any idea when the last time someone was released whilst under contract and was not wished the best in this manner?
Not a matter of life and death, just a curious thought.
Thanks, good luck in your future endeavors(I keed, I keed)
Well, let's go to WWE.com and have a look see.
Eric Escobar got it. Tommy Dreamer got it. Eugene too. So did Ricky Ortiz, Brian Kendrick, Candice Michelle, Sim Snuka, Umaga, Mr. Kennedy, Kizarny, The Boogeyman, Manu, Scotty Goldman, Hardcore Holly, D-Lo Brown and Bam Neely, Snitsky, Armando Estrada, Kenny Dykstra, Elijah Burke and Lena Yada, Paul London and Chuck Palumbo, Super Crazy, Lance Cade, Braden Walker, Ashley Massaro, Trevor Murdoch, Mike Mondo, Torrie Wilson, Dave Taylor, Balls Mahoney, Lashley, Brooke, Daivari, Booker and Sharmell, Marcus Cor Von, The Sandman, Dan Rodman (listed as Eugene a second time for some reason), Shantelle Malawski, Sylvan Greiner, Idol Stevens, Trinity, Sabu, Ariel, Scotty 2 Hotty, Nick Mitchell, Vito… And that's back to November 11th, 2006.
But wait, there's someone missing from that list. Ryan Braddock was let go in March 2009, and gets no mention on the page. And although he was developmental, over developmental people got a mention. But, let's see, looking it all over…
Wait a minute.
DJ Gabriel was released in January, and he's not on that list. Therefore he is your winner. DJ didn't get best wishes.
I don't care that this is still new, and that you've already seen it. I WANT THIS ON ITUNES NOW.
Ah well. I'll always have Common People.
Steve asks a question in my area.
Hi Matt,
Great job with the column... I have a question that I figured you would be well placed to answer: whenever Channel 9 down here in Australia does one of their retrospectives I can generally expect to see black and white footage of an old show called "World Championship Wrestling" that I believe was shot at the 9 studios several decades ago. My question is whether any current Australian promotions can trace their lineage back to this show or was it just its own thing?
No, no company in Australia can date their linage back there.
World Championship Wrestling, the only wrestling show in Australian Broadcast history, ran from 1964 through to 1978. For the first few years they were independent, but then in 1969 they aligned with the NWA, and soon recognized the NWA champions, while having their own.
But in 1978, when Channel Nine cancelled the TV, WCW folded. (Sound familiar?). The company was based in Melbourne, and many Melbourne feds do exist, none can link back to WCW.
I suppose if any Australian fed aligned with the NWA, they could claim some connection, but given that the last NWA: Australia failed after a couple of shows, I don't see that happening any time soon.
Chris has some questions, funnily enough.
1) Who has been punted the most by Randy Orton?
Well, since I like it so much, here's the tape from August last year, an update from the last one I posted.
So, given that I don't recall that many punts since then, I'd say John Cena, with 2 in there, and the third, Air Punt.
2) Have Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle met one-on-one before? I can't find any videos of them anywhere and I think of it as a dream match.
Yes they have, No Way Out 2000, Chris Jericho lost his European Title to Kurt Angle, which is one I couldn't find video of. They also met in the King Of The Ring tournament later in the year, Kurt again coming out on top.
And for the WWF Title on Raw in late 2000…
And again in March 2001 on Raw.
So yeah, they had a bunch of 1 on 1 matches.
3) Has any wrestler deliberately try to sandbag a match? In other words, kick out when they are not supposed to?
Absolutely. The classic example is Paul Roma, SuperBrawl V, Feb 19th, 1995.
This got Paul Roma fired from WCW, for the record.
My Damm Opinion
1/2 of the Pretty Young Things is back.
#2) Is it easier being a really good Face or Heel in wrestling? My take is that being a an "over" Face is really more difficult than just being a heat drawing Heel. Look at the list of really over Faces in wrestling history. Hogan, Dusty Rhodes, Sting and maybe a few others. Then compare the "over" Heels. Savage, Jericho, DX (heel version of course) the list could go on and on in my opinion.
Well, I certainly find it a hell of a lot easier to be heel. But it's not quite that easy.
Anyone can work heel, and being a cheap heel is the easiest thing to be. Come out, rag on the local sports team, call everyone losers, eh volia, you're a heel. Being an effective heel, on the other hand, is probably the hardest thing to do, because you have to be really good at getting people pissed off at you enough to want to see you get beat up, and that's not easy. It's easy to be effective, but to be truly, honest to god hated, that takes work. And guts.
Whereas once you learn how to get the fans behind you, it's pretty smooth sailing all the way to the top. Once you find that it factor, you're cool as a face.
Of course, some people are just born to be heels (Miz, for instance), and others you just can't see as a heel (Evan Bourne, for instance). Not that people like that don't eventually try to be one or the other, but some people just fit an alignment perfectly, and for them, it's a snap.
Alex is back.
3) I've read several stories of Owen Hart not putting any effort in at house shows. I recall one where he was actually yawning and pretending to point at his watch in the middle of the ring. Also he was well known as a wind-up merchant. Do you think his current reputation of 'everybody loved Owen' is more to do with the fact that he died? Had he lived would he be thought of as a bit of a dick?
There's a difference between ‘no effort' and ‘playing around'. Owen Hart didn't so much go out and be lazy, as he did go out and wrestle in a way that amuses the boys. Wrestlers have a unique sense of humor about the job, seeing lots of shining wizards for instance is something wrestlers love (Dick to the face!), as is hearing wrestlers call out random in jokes while they wrestle.
Owen never went out there and wrestled badly, or deliberately dogged in a match, but rather he'd go out and try and make everyone else laugh, with his over the top chops and such. At least, that's the general idea, I'm sure some wrestlers didn't find it amusing.
As for if him dying helped out, sort of. Owen still has a reputation for being a joker, but unlike the ribs done by guys like JBL and his ilk, they tended to be funnier and less horrible, the general feeling goes. Most people didn't seem to mind being ribbed by Owen. Again, I'm sure some people were, but generally speaking.
Yes, dying tends to give people a rosier picture of someone. But I think Owen genuinely was well liked and loved by practically all, and I don't think that would have changed much if he hadn't died.
Unless he got crotchety in his old age.
And finally, Jones.
1 how has the Undertaker gotten in BETTER shape in his old age than he did when he started in the WWE? I cant say steroids, because they arent supposed to make you thinner, his weigh in during a RAW match was 299 and he was always billed as 320 +/- a few pounds. His face actually looks more streamlined. That normally dosent happen to people when they get older. Is it a low carb diet, pilates, what?
Weight =/= good shape.
At a guess, I'd say it's a combination of him losing some muscle, and him having to watch his weight due to his hip and legs. When your legs area falling apart, you need to reduce as much of the stress on them as possible.
But then again, he's currently dating a 30 year old former personal trainer come fitness expert who clearly takes very good care of herself. I'm sure that she's making sure he eats right and gives him strenuous work outs on a regular basis.
I meant… Actually I did mean that in a dirty way, so let's move on.
2 Should the WWE ever do a wrestlemania or major PPV in the Superdome? Its been more than 4 years since Katrina so I thinks its clean enough. Think about it, a mardi gras themed WM would be neat, although that does happen AFTER easter. Plus if John "Earthquake" tenta ever got into the Hall of Fame it would be really cool since he attended and wrestled at LSU. What do you think?
I don't see why not. It's held wrestling events before, and it seats quite a large number of people. Maybe not a Wrestlemania, but certainly a Summerslam would go well there, I think.
But what do you guys think. Should the Superdome hold a Wrestlemania? If not, where SHOULD one be held? Think it over, discuss it below, and I'll see you next week.
The first thing I see is a question if Angle and Jericho have ever fought...
What kind of idiot(s) asked THAT?!?!?
Posted By: Max (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:09 PM
I just want to ask a question to fellow readers-one word answer without any 'ifs, ands or buts'.
Was bringing back ECW in 2006 to TV a good idea?
Posted By: WATRYYYY (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:11 PM
didnt batista and hhh's hell in a cell contract signing end in a handshake?
Posted By: perez (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:12 PM
i love watching old tough enough tapes and seeing melina there trying out.....
i believe she met john morrison then.
Posted By: nicky (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:16 PM
The first time I can recall The Rock using "Finally The Rock has come back..." was either the night after Wrestlemania 14 or the week after. He actually didn't specifically say "come back" , but "Finally The Rock has come to...". I'm not sure when he first said "come back" specifically, but this is as close as I can figure.
Posted By: Ed (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:25 PM
Most famous cheap heel: Shane Douglas. The low grade heel perfected.
Who am I? Could be Pillman.
Posted By: ROH Commish (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:26 PM
The Who Am I is Ron Simmons
Posted By: Jay Maleezy (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Sorry I take that back. The Who Am I? answer is Lex Luger
Posted By: Jay Maleezy (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:29 PM
I am Debra "Medusa" Miceli
Posted By: Guest #8473 (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:35 PM
1. Wrestlemania at the Superdome would be epic.
2. Getting over as a face is pretty difficult. Getting the fans behind you is one of the hardest things you can do. Idiots start clapping their hands like they actually did something, trying to get the crowd behind you is pathetic. A really good wrestler gets the crowd behind them in-ring.
Posted By: tombstone73089 (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Gabriel wasn't on the main roster at the time so he wasn't going to get a future endeavor speech.
Braddock was never on the main roster PERIOD so he wouldn't either.
Chances are, out of sheer technicality, the last guy would have been Benoit.
Posted By: SHADE (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:39 PM
You are madusa micelli. Managed hennig in AWA, rude in WCW, Anderson and Austin as part of the Dangerous Alliance, was part of Team Madness, born in italy, wrestled in AJW, had several battles with Bull Nakano and Akira Hokuto and is a champion monster truck driver.
Posted By: Mrgeebus (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:39 PM
IIRC, the Adelaide branch-off of EPW has been associated with the NWA for a while, to the extent of now calling themselves NWA-PRO.
Posted By: Sark (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:40 PM
You're Madusa Miceli.
Posted By: ButchReedMark (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:46 PM
You are the Lex Express
Posted By: Guest#7537 (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:51 PM
You are Medusa, managed Curt in the AWA, Rude, Austin, Arn in the Dangerous alliance, and was one of Savages ladies in the final years of WCW, and she drives monster trucks.
Posted By: Dan (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Goddamn, how sauced was Shatner in that video?
Posted By: Highscore Kid (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:55 PM
"This got Paul Roma fired from WCW, for the record."
Why's everybody always pickin' on me?
Posted By: Paul Roma (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:56 PM
Yes WM should be held down here in New Orleans. They hold Super Bowls down here why not WM. I would definitely attend a WM in LA. I attended last year in Houston it really is amazing and every wrestling fan should go at least once if they can.
Posted By: Kyle (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:05 AM
i think they should hold a wrestlemania in the new dallas cowboys stadium. do you think wwe would be able to sell the place out? lol
Posted By: blabbering idiot (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:13 AM
you are probably ... shaeamus!
Posted By: Guest#0734 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:29 AM
I'm amazed that Mania has yet to be held in the Superdome, to be honest. I mean, NOLA was a hotbed for wrestling back in the day with Mid South and with the atmosphere of NOLA, it'd be awesome.
Posted By: Jason (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:30 AM
The one big Chris Jericho vs. Kurt Angle match you missed was the one that took place at the UK only PPV Rebellion in 2001 where Jericho successfully defended the WCW title.
Posted By: Ron Mexico (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:36 AM
Can you really blame Roma for not wanting to job to Das Vundernerd?
Posted By: the ghost of Buddy Rogers (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:48 AM
You are Madusa Miceli.
Posted By: MM (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:03 AM
there was 1 contract signing that didn't end in violence. it was HHH vs Batitsa Hell In A Cell in May 2005 on RAW. Most notable for the "I'm going to kick the devil's ass" quote used in all the promos for the match-up.
And yes, the Superdome should hold Mania. it would be an amazing experience.
Posted By: IWC Member #901001 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:04 AM
I was at RAW the night after Owen died, I think that he was genuinely well liked. To see all those "WWE Superstars" crying and telling Owen stories was really, truly, moving to see.
Posted By: DHX (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 01:21 AM
Left a blank comment by accident...damn keyboard.
How come a Wrestlemania has never been held in the DC/Baltimore/Northern Virginia area?
Posted By: Bman (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:28 AM
You are Tony Garea.
Posted By: Squid Vicious (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:37 AM
"Anyway, my hand is feeling better (that was the problem, I couldn't type well with my right hand), and so let's get on with the column!"
See, a while back, this is back a few years, I mentioned being unable to find the Gail Kim topless photos in a column.
I was then sent many copies.
This pleased me.
See the connection?
Posted By: Guest#2017 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:39 AM
NOLA would be great for Wrestlemania...
Except there's been recent (Houston, Orlando) and planned (Atlanta) Wrestlemanias within a day's drive of that city. They're likely to spread out the locations in coming years to include an upper east coast event and one in Indy after they host the Super Bowl.
And they'll have a hard time beating out the Cowboys' stadium when WWE looks to do another Wrestlemana towards that part of the country.
Posted By: Trashy (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:14 AM
Jericho and Angle also met for the WCW Title at Rebellion 2001 in England. Also, their match at No Way Out 2000 was for the IC title. Angle had already beaten Val Venis for the European title a few weeks before, just for those keeping score.
Posted By: WPK (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:27 AM
Owen Hart once rolled up HHH during a Royal Rumble match. You can see HHH laughing at him when he 'kicks out' of the small package attempt.
Since it is over-the-top only in the Rumble match; I'd assume this was Owen 'having fun'.
Posted By: Youtube is your friend (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:03 AM
Evan Bourne wouldn't work as a heel? I take it you didn't catch him during his stint in WSX. He was solid as a cocky heel. I'll admit Lizzy Valentine definitely helped, he still had the smug douche thing down.
Posted By: Jimmy (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:19 AM
I'm pretty sure the Rock's first 'Finally...' was in a back stage promo on the Big Show at Royal Rumble 2000. Makes sense... new millenium, new catchphrase.
'Finally, the Rock has come back to New York City'.
Posted By: Quimby (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 04:21 AM
Summer in New Orleans is no fun, so a SummerSlam is the wrong way to go.
New Orleans is a fine tourist city though, so hosting a Wrestlemania would be a good thing.
Posted By: Guest#4272 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 04:39 AM
The Hogan/Andre contract signing for Mania 3 didn't end in violence, right? Unless you count that god awful acting from Hogan violent...
Posted By: Mario (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:16 AM
hey Matt, I heard you doing the quiz on ABC Radio, good work buddy. nice column, too.
Posted By: Guest#7763 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:33 AM
Since you didn't technically say a WWE contract signing, there was one in TNA in 2008 between Nash and Foley.
Foley asked Nash if they were gonna bother breaking the table, Nash refused because he wasn't getting paid to, so Foley runs the ropes and dives through the table himself
Posted By: TheCaveman (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:50 AM
Id LOVE for a Wrestlemania to come back to Boston again...but that's definitely unlikely because it doesn't hold as many peeps as the arenas they usually hold them at now.
Although, an outdoor one at Gillette Stadium would be BADASS.
Posted By: Jason King (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 07:18 AM
The Tara "nipslip" is a joke. You see a sliver of nipple. You should learn to use that google website you hear people talk about...
Posted By: Guest#5055 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 07:55 AM
"Yes they have, No Way Out 2000, Chris Jericho lost his European Title to Kurt Angle"
It was actually his Intercontinental title. Kurt wore the European title into the match.
Posted By: Loki (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:01 AM
FTW!
Posted By: Paul Roma (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:13 AM
Don't mean to be picky, but Angle beat Jericho for the I-C title at No Way Out 2000... Angle was already Euro champ, having beaten Val Venis.
Posted By: DeeRayMoore (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:21 AM
Wrist tape is to stop your wrists hyper extending if you land on them wrongly preventing sprains/strains.
Also i believe theres a company in Perth, Austraulia that is affiliated with the NWA i could be wrong tho
Posted By: Phoenix1990 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:35 AM
does ne body still know the link for kim topless???
Posted By: trufan (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:37 AM
Where are you getting that Shawn believes God healed his back, if you don't mind me asking? I don't remember any mention of it in his book or his DVDs.
Posted By: Quinny (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:50 AM
Yeah, I have a question, have Randy Orton and Triple H met one-on-one before? I can't find any videos of them anywhere and I think of it as a dream match.
Posted By: Bruno (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:59 AM
Yes, hold WM in the Superdome, and the HOF inductions could hace several mid-south/UWF related wrestlers to choose from: Duggan, Dr. Death, Freebirds, etc.
You Are Alundra Blayze
Kurt Angle vs. Jericho, next we will ask if Austin ever wrestled the Rock.
WM could also be held in new dallas stadium, Vancouver is looking for one, or maybe Calgary should have one.
Posted By: BRS (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 09:06 AM
That first Kurt-Jericho match was for the IC belt, not the Euro. Jericho never had the Euro title until he won it from Kurt the month after.
Posted By: GIMH (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 09:08 AM
I think WWE should stick to Large NFL stadiums for Wrestle Manias.
It's the only show I watch, and seeing them on a large scale like that is awesome.
Posted By: Ant-LOX (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 09:09 AM
You are Madusa / Alundra Blaze.
Posted By: Smooth (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 09:09 AM
MADUSSSSSSSSSSA!
The E needs to cut down on the amount of handicap matches and contract signings.
Posted By: FUZEY (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:31 AM
"Weight =/= good shape." always said by a fat person
Posted By: D (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:41 AM
Just watched that Roma Vs Wright match. Can anyone tell me where Roma started sandbagging? I didn't notice it.
Posted By: DarthDaver (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:42 AM
The Rock debuted his "Finally ..." phrase at Monday Night Raw after Backlash 1999. He turned babyface during the promo.
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:48 AM
Kurt Angle beat Jericho for the IC Title, not the European Title. He beat Val Venis for the Euro Title....
Posted By: Froze (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:58 AM
It's me!!! Or maybe that chick who threw a belt into a trash can.
Posted By: Vladimir Kozlov (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 11:21 AM
If the answer is Miceli, when the fuck did we start calling Monster Trucks a sport?
Posted By: SeatsPro (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 11:40 AM
About Paul Roma, Alex Wright and sandbagging, didn't Hacksaw Jim Duggan do the same thing to Wright when he was doing the Berlyn gimmick?
Posted By: Sand Bagger (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Lex Luger?
Posted By: ausjimmy (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:03 PM
You are Lex Luger.
He supports Man Utd you know. Makes sense, he lives about 10,000 miles away from Old Trafford.
Posted By: Vince McArsehole (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:18 PM
The superdome would be great. Just think of the signs, "hey dude your sitting in my bedroom" Or "i raped your sister in the superdome bathroom". or in the case of a bad match...."I cant beleive that they left all of the shit in the superdome..oh never mind thats the miz"
Posted By: superdome (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Wrestlemania in COWBOY STADIUM! Maybe that will beat Hulk Hogans WM3 record of one million people watching him body slam the 900 pound andre the giant!
Posted By: WMANIA (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Angle and Jericho fought plenty of times. Their matches basically followed a pattern: Angle won all the early encounters, Jericho won all the later ones.
Posted By: Guest#9330 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:49 PM
Owen's legacy is that he was the only person in the Hart family with charisma, and the only person to have an interesting feud with Bret until Shawn won his first title.
And he's the only pro wrestling casualty that can truly be blamed on WWE and Vince McMahon. Which is why I think anybody that attacks his wife Martha is a fucking lowlife. If a company was responsible for the death of your spouse, would you ever want to associate with it again?
Posted By: Guest#3952 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:54 PM
ive been waiting my entire life for a Wrestlemania to come here to Louisiana... it would be huge!!!
Posted By: who dat nation (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:20 PM
kurt and jericho also fought after no way out 2002. when triple h regained his spot for wrestlemania main event against jericho, angle challenged jericho for the undisputed title. angle lost the match, when kane distracted him.
Posted By: Guest#9626 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 01:46 PM
Another easy trivia question,
You Are: The Tonga Kid
Posted By: Poi (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:09 PM
The first time I heard The Rock use "Finally... The Rock" was at a house show in April 1998, I think it was a night or two after a major PPV. Austin had won the belt the night before, the PPV was in Detroit, and Austin wasn't at the house show. It was in Ft. Wayne, IN. So the Rock said "Finally, The Rock... has come back... to Fort Wayne!" We all laughed and thought it was just being funny like they do sometimes at house shows. Then he started doing it in every town they went to and on TV, and I always thought it was neat that I was there the first time he did it. Maybe he did it at other house shows around that time, though, but he had never done it on TV before that house show.
Posted By: Rob (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:11 PM
I believe the contract signing with Big Show, Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle in the fall of 2004 -- in which Big Show had to pick which one of them he wanted to face at No Mercy -- also ended without violence. Unless you count Big-Show-on-poor-innocent-clipboard violence.
Regarding Owen Hart, it seems like at least one or two people had mentioned what an awesome guy he was backstage prior to his death, so I don't necessarily think all the favorable opinions of him are due to the manner in which he died. What I've heard about his behavior at house shows is consistent with what Sforcina has heard; he'd have deliberately terrible matches to make the other wrestlers laugh, where he'd forget to sell, move in slow motion, etc. General consensus is that he wasn't being lazy.
Posted By: G. Jonah Jameson (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 02:22 PM
rafiki poses a very good question, there has to be some form of communication. the tap referred to is everywhere, think jakes slap on the back as mentioned or sid when he delivers a powerbomb. if you've ever seen a botched powerbomb it shows the need for some type of language so to speak
Posted By: tazz (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Didn't see Victoria on your Good Luck list...is it b/c she asked to be let out of her contract?
Posted By: Nicole (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:31 PM
i think they finally need to bring a wrestlemania to the 'mecca' so to speak, msg, its long overdue and i cant believe it hasnt been done already
Posted By: tazz (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 03:42 PM
Thanks for answering my question. It had been so long I forgot I asked that! I'd say that guys in WWE and TNA have to be more careful with talking than in the indies due to the cameras all up in their faces.
Posted By: rafiki (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 04:38 PM
The first time I recall The Rock saying that was at a house show in San Francisco. Seeing as how he spent some time living in the SF Bay Area, it made sense in context. I'd say it was sometime in late 1998.
Posted By: Mr. Ramon (Registered) on February 10, 2010 at 04:52 PM
As far as contract signings that didn't end in violence go, the one I remember most was Hogan and Warrior for Wrestlemania VI.
Posted By: JasonPaul (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:10 PM
I first remember The Rock using "Finally..." either late 98 or late 99 on RAW at Jacksonville.
Posted By: Tequila (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:32 PM
You are madusa micelli. Managed hennig in AWA, rude in WCW, Anderson and Austin as part of the Dangerous Alliance, was part of Team Madness, born in italy, wrestled in AJW, had several battles with Bull Nakano and Akira Hokuto and is a champion monster truck driver.
Posted By: Mrgeebus (Guest) on February 09, 2010 at 11:39 PM
Driving is not a sport.
Motorsports is a contradiction.
Posted By: Kayla (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:33 PM
Angle and Jeri also went 1 on 1 at Rebellion in the UK in 2001 during the *shutters* Alliance Era
Posted By: Haku (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:33 PM
About Paul Roma, Alex Wright and sandbagging, didn't Hacksaw Jim Duggan do the same thing to Wright when he was doing the Berlyn gimmick?
Posted By: Sand Bagger (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 12:00 PM
---------------------------------------
Someone watches their Botchamania
Posted By: Guest#8797 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:37 PM
The absolute BEST Owen "bad match" story was the one Mick recounted in his first book. The box of plastic drink lids head shots and the ultimate HARDCORE weapon....a giant bag of popcorn! I could just picture Davey Boy trying NOT to laugh. =) Look at Owen
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:53 PM
Wrestlemania should be brought back to Seattle, but this time to the loudest stadium in the world, the Seahawks Stadium. With the Seattle wrestling fans and the Hawks Nest (The endzone with metal bleachers) it would be guaranteed to be a hype crowd.
Posted By: puffykilled2pac (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 06:55 PM
Yet another missed Jericho/Angle match--the night Triple Steph made Jericho defend his IC title against Angle, Show and Benoit in three matches on one night. Show counted himself out to chase Shane and Trips threw the last match to Benoit but Jericho submitted Kurt to the Walls in the first match. Years before the b.s. "I've never tapped out," angle Kurt did with Benoit too. That always drove me nuts.
Posted By: americanhyena (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 07:18 PM
"There was one black guy who couldn't handle the work outs and got kicked out by Al Snow."
I think the person that Bob is thinking of might be Wendell from season 3.
Go to onlineworldofwrestling, go to the "Tough Enough Kids" bio, and scroll down to the bottom.
Posted By: Karlos (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:03 PM
To the person who said that anyone who criticizes Martha Hart is a fucking lowlife, I think you need to reevaluate some of that.
While I certainly sympathize with her and am very understanding why she would have issues with WWE, she did write about about Owen with a lot of inaccuracies, according to many in his family and his friends. The biggest one was that she claimed that Ausitn's neck wasn't broken by Owen at SummerSlam 97, which is a blatant lie.
Posted By: Pedro (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 08:54 PM
I think Triple H was punted the most by Orton. He was punted at Wrestlemania 24, Backlash last year, and i think there may have been one other time....
Posted By: Guest#8031 (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Hey I'm not on your list!
Posted By: Jeff Hardy (Guest) on February 10, 2010 at 10:56 PM
You are Medusa.
Posted By: Supro (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 01:48 AM
Wrestlemania 6 contract signing between Hogan and Warrior did not end in any fighting, or even a handshake. It was quite cordial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsVXn1kLNj4
Posted By: Rhett B (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 04:38 AM
Thanks for answering my question! I believe EPW in Perth (my hometown) and its Adelaide off-shoot are affiliated with the NWA.
Posted By: Steve (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 06:05 AM
I think the Tough Enough kid being asked about is Daryl from season 1. Despite being so out of shape he can't complete physical challenges, and having a personal hygiene problem, he annoys everyone by talking non-stop about how great he is at everything. He finally gets canned on episode 5.
Posted By: saneiac (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 10:26 AM
You are the original two sport superstar, Thurman "Sparky" Plugg.
Posted By: King Haku (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 11:33 AM
The reason for the Cell structure back in '97 was twofold: Shawn and Taker didn't want to work inside the old blue bar cage because, to quote Michaels, "It was just BRUTAL." As for the bigger size it simply gave them more room to do stuff in and around while still maintaining the "nowhere for Shawn to escape" motif. It was only after they saw what was built that they decided to do stuff on top, and it only escalated from there, wherein Foley decided to START on top since he knew he and an injured Undertaker were never going to top the first match.
"But, apart from the weapon usage, and/or hiding, and/or atheistic look..."
How does wrist tape aid in one's belief in no god(s)?
Posted By: neverAcquiesce (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 01:09 PM
Alex Wright, Der Uberfag, ugh, did he ever SUCK...
Posted By: NOT Paul Roma (Guest) on February 11, 2010 at 10:39 PM
I think the Lex Luger/Yokozuna SummerSlam contract signing didn't end in violence either.
Posted By: Guest#7911 (Guest) on February 12, 2010 at 07:36 PM
to the guy saying he saw owen doing all that shit during his matches. YOURE A FUCKIN LIAR!! he only did it at small house shows or when the other wrestlers would be the only ones to notice. youve read that shit online or in mick foley's book, or brets. owen was a great worker who got lost in the land of the giants and guys who were over on the mic. one last time: YOURE A FUCKIN LIAR!!
Posted By: pjl (Guest) on February 13, 2010 at 03:15 PM
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