The Sunday Morning Hangover 11.11.07: Blue Magic

Posted by MSD on 11.11.2007

Food, family, and football. Goldberg versus Hogan from 1998 and Bruno Sammartino versus Ernie Ladd, live from Madison Square Garden in 1976. This is the Party Life (and some Ignorant S***). MSD got that dope.

It's a good time to be from New England.

Not that a hardcore Noreaster is something to be excited about, but this time of season is bringing something pretty special back to the Bean. I hail from the original (and OFFICIAL) City of Champions in Brockton MA, but we're still resting on tattered laurels. There's a new epicenter of perfection in the sports world, and it's just 30 minutes north of the Brock. Beantown – home of the world class heroes.

The Boston Red Sox set it off with their 2nd World Series victory and the rest of Boston's sports franchises are ready to follow suit. Even though they belong to all of New England, the Patriots are undeniably Massachusetts own. And they're about to go undefeated. That's not even touching on the resurrection of Celtic pride (they will break the Bulls 72-10 record, mark my words).

It's football season and the WWE is sharing in the fun with their appropriately themed early November celebration of "food, family and football". Jim Ross hosts the festivities as we settle into our chairs with a bottle of amaretto and a blunt of electric lettuce. Join me as we bask in our brilliance and delve deep into Elysian Fields for another mellow rendition of the SUNDAY AFTERNOON HANGOVER. Now we're firing on all cylinders!



Hollywood Hogan versus Goldberg
WCW Heavyweight championship match
WCW Monday Nitro
Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA
7/6/98

Good ol Jim Ross opens the festivities with an intro taped on location at JR's Family BBQ restaurant in OK. Quick shill spot segues into their early November theme – "food, family and football". Goldberg is tonight's feature and JR touches on his legendary undefeated streak. JR says he refereed a HS game when Goldberg was playing Defensive Tackle. Goes into Goldberg's college sting in Georgia, and even speaks on the grand opening of the Georgia Dome (of which JR and Goldberg were both part of). Now it's July 6th 1998 and we're back in the Georgia Dome as Goldberg challenges the Immortal Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the WCW Heavyweight championship! Let's get it on!

The distorted voice announcing "N.W.O. blasts over the arena sound system as we hit ringside. Tony Schiavone is on commentary with Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay. Hogan comes out solo, strumming the belt like an air guitar. He then pauses at the top of the ramp, and from beneath thick black shades announces to the crowd and TV cameras his brutal intentions – "I'm gonna kick Goldberg's…. (belated pause)… butt!!!" Despite a rabidly pro-Goldberg crowd, some glittering "Hogan" signs can still be seen in the crowd. Goldberg's already in the ring waiting. This will be a recurring theme tonight.

On commentary, the Brain says tonight "Hogan is at his best". He then goes on to foreshadow the eventual stalling tactics he will use by saying "Hogan is scared to death", which therefore makes Hogan "at his best" (using Weasel logic). Hogan jaws at Goldberg in the ring while the ref takes the belt. Finally the bell rings and Atlanta crowd goes absolutely crazy. Even Tony Schiavone acknowledges the anxious explosion, exclaiming "I've never heard that before in this sport!" Crowd is visibly hot and amped, an atmosphere that gives this match an epic level glow you can still feel 9 years later.

Huge "Goldberg" chant erupts throughout the building as the two grapplers slowly circle. They lock up and Goldberg immediately slides Hogan into a side headlock. He grinds the champ down to one knee before hauling him up and off the ropes. Stiff shoulder block from the challenger and Hogan goes down hard! Hogan on the mat plays to the crowd. He's clearly been overpowered - something Hogan has not experienced much in his stellar career. Goldberg screams "come on!" like a Biggie Smalls/Sadat X collaboration, further inciting an already feverish Atlanta crowd.

The two competitors slowly circle once more before committing to a lock up. Right away Hogan grasps the challenger in a front headlock, slipping his forearm under Goldberg's chin in an illegal choke. Goldberg exhibits his bullish might by lifting Hogan off the mat, but the strength of Hogan's choke puts him right back down. Goldberg bullies him into the buckles and ref calls for the break. Goldberg retreats to the opposite side of the ring to catch his breath as Hogan tries to shake off the psychological impairment of being overpowered. Crowd is still burning hot, and erupts into another pro-Goldberg chant.

The two wrestlers begin a slow engagement into a test of strength, where Goldberg immediately drives the champion to both knees in agony (complete with exaggerated facial expressions). Hogan recoils towards the ropes and ref calls for the break. Once again Hogan tries to shake off the effects of being overpowered and goes right for the gusto. He springs into action with strikes, punches and the always-vicious back rake. To complete the dastardly trifecta, Hollywood Hogan unleashes the weight belt around his waist! He plays to the deafening crowd before laying into Goldberg with the leather. Once again he panders to the crowd, but his self-induced egomaniacal distraction allows Goldberg to sneak up from behind and steal the weight belt from Hogans hand. Hogan – cowardly heel that he is – begs off and plays to the crowd once more. But Goldberg tosses the belt outside the ring! He doesn't need cheap tactics to win this match! Hogan is getting desperate, and again Goldberg cries out "come on!"

Another slow circle into a lockup. Hogan snaps into Goldberg with a hammerlock, but Goldberg is on a roll and quickly reverses into a full nelson. Again Hogan shows his desperation with an illegal mule kick low blow, forcing Goldberg to relinquish his full nelson. Hogan snares him in a side headlock and unloads with tight-chested punches. He hurls the challenger off the ropes and floors him with a clothesline. Hogan collapses on him with a blatant two-handed choke, and relentlessly applies pressure as the ref counts for him to break. Ref tries to straighten him out, so Hogan threatens him a little to get him to back off. Champion is in control, but still clearly rattled. Or – as Heenan said earlier – "scared to death". Picks up Goldberg and plants him with a body slam. Goes for the elbow but Goldberg rolls out of the way. Hogan springs to his feet for a second attempted elbow drop, but misses that one too. Goldberg shoots to his feet as Hogan cradles his elbow, and blasts him with a defensive tackle-sized clothesline. The impact forces Hogan to roll outside the ring and contemplate his next move.

He's all alone ringside, playing to the crowd to draw himself more time. He strolls around, puts the weight belt back on, and slowly climbs into the ring via the ringside steps resembling a death row inmate on his way to the gas chamber. Loud "Hogan sucks!" chant shakes the building. Goldberg just waits for the old man to bring it on. Another lock up, and Hogan slowly maneuvers Goldberg into the buckles where he unleashes a sharp knee to the gut. Knowing he has no chance in this match if he doesn't fight dirty, Hogan hurls Goldberg through the middle ropes to ringside. Outside the ring, he drives Goldbergs skull into the metal barrier separating them from the fanatical Georgia Dome fans. Hogan retrieves a steel chair and lays it across Goldbergs back with a sickening impact, a move born out of desperate fear of losing the title. Goldberg staggers to his feet, and Hogan connects with a weak ding off the dome that Goldberg just shakes off. But a third blow with the chair puts Goldberg back down to the ringside mats. Sensing a sliver of hope, Hogan slides Goldberg back in the ring and goes for the kill.

Inside the ring, Hogan gets cocky and pauses to further antagonize the crowd. Picks up the challenger and lays him out center ring with a devastating body slam. Crowd is feeling the tension as Hogan prepares to end the match. Legdrop! It's over and Hogan lets the crowd know it! He loads up and unleashes another career ending legdrop! This is the same move that felled legends and giants like Andre, Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy! Again Hogan takes time to let the crowd know "that's it!" Suddenly, cut to the top of the ring ramp as Curt Hennig approaches ringside in his black "NWO" shirt. Clearly he too anticipates the victory, and comes out before the match is even over to congratulate the reigning WCW champ. But wait a second… Diamond Dallas Page can be spotted shortly behind Hennig, unbeknownst to the perfect one.

Classic case of unnecessary overbooking – Hennig is out to ringside just so Karl Malone can give him a Diamond Cutter. But the timing ruins the drama of Goldberg's heroic kick out. He powers out after two legdrops, and the crowds attention is diverted by a useless side angle at ringside. The emotional impact is considerably lessened, but as Hogan moves to ropes to watch the ringside skirmish unfold and Goldberg shoots to his feet in spear position, the crowd quickly picks up. Goldberg streaks across the ring and SPEARS Hogan into 2007! Crowd pops louder than Baghdad as Goldberg loads Hogan up for the jackhammer. Down like a sack of bricks, and Goldberg goes for the cover. 1 – 2 – 3! Crowd explodes! Goldberg is the new champion!

Quick JR outro about "food, family and football" and we're out.

BONUS FOOTAGE



Bruno Sammartino versus "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd
WWWF Heavyweight Championship match
Madison Square Garden
3/1/76

Jim Ross intro from outside JRs Family BBQ in OK. Talks about Ernie Ladds stint at Grambling University where he became the 15th overall pick in the AFL draft (chosen by the Chargers). He played for the Chargers, Oilers and Cheifs and is a AFL Hall of Famer, as well as a member of WWE's hallowed Hall of Fame fraternity. JR calls Ernie a "great mentor" and goes on to mention his rivalry with Andre the Giant.

Cut to action in Madison Square Garden as JR intros this "epic championship match". Both wrestlers stand in opposite corners of the ring. The entire mat is a solid blue like the color of High school gym mats, and the ropes look like steel cables. Referee begins the match by checking Ernie Ladd for foreign objects. But the Big Cat screams discrimination, so the ref goes to check the champion of illegal weapons as well. But it's all a clever ruse on behalf of the cerebral challenger, as Ernie Ladd uses the distraction to tighten a foreign object into his tights! The referee never sees it (but the audience clearly does).

The two grapplers circle, and the height advantage Ernie Ladd holds over Sammartino is staggering. They lock up and Sammartino quickly pulls his taller opponent to the mat with a well-timed armdrag takedown. On the mat he shifts into an arm bar but Ladd uses his long legs to reach the ropes and earn a break. Then he complains to the ref and appeals to the crowd, claiming Sammartino used the tights for illegal leverage. They circle once more and initiate the exact same action sequence. Armdrag – armbar – long leg stretch on the ropes to break the hold – complain to ref – play to crowd. Crowd is loving it.

They lock up again, struggling for leverage. Sammartino forces Ladd into the ropes where the ref orders another break. Sammartino obliges, but Ladd flinches none the less. His expression of cowardly fear draws laughs and squeals of enjoyment from the old time crowd. Another lock up, but this time Ladd snares Sammartino in a debilitating bear hug. This goes on for awhile as Ladd eventually wears Bruno down until he's flat on his back. On commentary, a solo VKM Jr calls Ladd the underdog in tonight's match. "On occasion, Sammartino is the underdog". But not tonight. Bear hug persists as the ref pounds out a couple quick two counts.

To further infuriate the crowd, Ladd once again uses his long legs to reach the top rope and add extra (albeit "illegal") leverage to his devastating vice grip. He escapes the refs sight once, but goes to the well again and the ref finally catches him. Ladd slides into side guard position, but the ref finally calls for the break. The Big Cat kicks Bruno while he's down, before scooping him to his feet and blasting him with a firm hip toss. Another kick. He picks the battered Bruno up off the mat, and initiates some kind of weird maneuver that involves clutching Bruno tightly and pulling on his back tights. On closer observation, you can see him pulling Bruno's tights to further distract the ref, as his other hand moves into choke position around Sammartino's throat. A few helpful fans try to alert the ref to Ladd's underhanded tactics by crying out "choke! Choke!" but the ref is too distracted by Ladd's blatant hold on Sammartinos tights. Finally ref gets the clean break, and Ladd comes back with a sold slapping blow that drops the Italian Strongman to the mat. Yanks Bruno to his feet only to floor him with another strike, then does it again.

Ladd grasps the champion on the mat for another blow, but Bruno retaliates with punches to the gut. On his knees he continues to strike the Big Cat, eventually climbing to his feet and slugging the challenger out against the ropes. One big punch almost spins the Big Cat over the top rope, but he can't complete the revolution. So Bruno hits him with another big blow and finally the big man spins over the top rope onto the apron. From there, Bruno plants both feet firmly in Ladds chest and uses the ropes to further apply pressure. Ref is trying to break it up as the crowd cheers wildly. Finally Bruno breaks, and Ladd begs off, trying to call time out. But Sammartino is right on him, hurling him hard across the ring and into the buckles. The impact rebounds Ladd into a high back body drop and the crowd pops huge.

Sammartino keeps up the attack with his patented running stomps, before pausing to slam Ladd's face off the mat. Wisely, Ladd intertwines himself in the ropes to earn enough time to recover. Ref won't allow Bruno to pursue Ladd as he's in the ropes. Audience is very happy with Bruno's onslaught. Ladd crawling on the mat so Bruno responds with a Randy Orton place kicker punt to Ernie's face and chest. They grapple into the turnbuckles once more, and the ref orders the break. Feeling desperate, Ernie Ladd goes for the ace up his sleeve – aka the foreign object in his tights. As Bruno moves in for the grapple, Ladd jabs him hard in the neck! Bruno is down and hurt! Everybody in the building saw that illegal move! (expect the ref). But he suspects something, and has a brief interplay with Ladd for the crowds approval – yet finds nothing incriminating. Ladd picks Bruno up off the mat and levels the champion with another blow from his still-not-clearly-defined foreign object! Crowd is incensed, but the weapon magically disappears when the ref comes looking. Again the Big Cat drags Bruno to his feet, where a stiff shot to the gut hurts the champion further. Ladd rolls him to the mat with an armbar, and segues into a pin attempt – but only gets a 2 count. Bruno's still trying to recover from those heinous foreign object attacks as Ladd stalks him into the turnbuckles.

Bruno fights to his feet and kicks the oncoming Big Cat hard in the stomach. Another kick! Crowd building anticipation. Bruno slugs it out with the Big Cat, driving him backwards into the ropes. Advantage Sammartino, as the champ bounces Ernies head off the top turnbuckle a few times. Irish whip across the ring and Sammartino connects with a diving knee lift! He whips Ladd back across the other side of the ring, but MISSES the shoulder charge into the buckles! Bruno is down, and Ladd circles him. He's gonna show Bruno how to throw a shoulderblock. Grabs the WWWF champion off the mat and whips him off the ropes. Down into a 3 point stance, and Ladd floors the champ with a stiff tackle! VKM Jr calls it "that old #99!" Again he hurls Bruno off the ropes and levels him with a thunderous shoulder tackle. Then – just to make sure the champ is completely dead – Ernie Ladd snags him in a side headlock and jabs him with the reappearing foreign object! Ref checks him again, but still nothing. Bruno is down and Ladd throws himself into the air with a huge leg drop! Crowd is stunned. Another massive leg drop from the challenger, and Bruno is quickly looking like the underdog.

Ladd pulls Bruno to his feet where he lays him out with a body slam in the center of the ring. Again he goes back to his tights to retrieve the foreign object. Diving jab on the mat. Finally, the nail in the coffin. Big Cat Ernie Ladd exits the ring and scales the ropes. He's perched on the top turnbuckle! Crowd is going bananas as Ladd dives off the top rope with a splash aimed for Bruno. But the champion rolls free and Big Cat crashes lifeless off the mat! Quick cover, 1 – 2 – 3! Sammartino wins! Slow motion replay of the climb and missed dive. Cut back to live action as the announcer calls out Bruno as the winner and still world heavyweight champion. Crowd goes ballistic.

JR outro concludes our festivities. See you on the flipside!