This is where I put stray thoughts.
More focused writing about the books I read, the music I listen to and the games I play elsewhere on Bear.
Recent Posts
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Shane McMahon vs. Kane (Unforgiven, 2003), Last Man Standing
Continuing my desire to watch some of Shane's best matches after the Netflix documentary. I have no idea what the stakes were or what the storyline was going into this one but I've heard some good things about it.
It starts fast and violent, with Shane attacking the Big Red Machine from behind with a chair while Kane is still walking to the ring. Once the momentum shifts to Kane it slows down, though, and if I'm being honest I don't love it. Maybe controversially I've never been much of a Kane fan. I like fast, aggressive wrestling generally, and that's not often what you get with the monsters.
That said there are some fun spots here. The sequence with the steps in the ring, starting with Kane taunting Shane and trying to hit the time stone piledriver onto them and ending with the coast to coast is very fun, made even better by the lack of a ref to enforce the 10 count once both guys are down. You're left thinking "damn, Shane could actually have won if the ref was here".
This was a smart booking really. Letting Shane have weapons makes it so that it's not completely ridiculous that he could step into the ring with Kane and hold his own, and it also allows him to do what he does best - which is to take silly bumps and come up with fun, creative spots. Did anybody expect to see Kane getting laid out by a camera on a boom arm? Because I didn't. The shots through the cracked lens afterwards really help to sell it.
I imagine that the highlight here for most people is Shane's massive drop off the top of the jumbotron, going through the entrance stage and landing in a crumpled heap that sees him counted out to lose the match. I've never seen that spot before but holy shit. How is this man still alive?
Not a great match really, but Shane puts everything into it.
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Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon street fight, WrestleMania 17, April 2001
After watching the Netflix documentary about Vince I was in the mood to watch some of Shane McMahon's best matches, and where better to start than his street fight against his dad at WrestleMania 17? Considering that neither of them is really a wrestler it's always amazed me that they managed to put on a show that stood out like this amidst such a strong card.
Some small things that I love here: Steph's hair is pure 2001. The hints of red on Vince's ring gear contrasting with the blue on Shane's jersey, subtly telling us that there are two teams here and we have to root for one of them. And nobody was rooting for Mr McMahon at this point.
Vince opens up with a cheap shot that's so stiff Shane's eye immediately swells up, getting worse over the course of the match. And that really sets the tone for everything. It feels like they mean it, and it feels like a brawl.
After whaling on Vince with a kendo stick Shane lands a flurry of punches that have the crowd roaring. It's always amazing to me how two guys who aren't the best wrestlers in the world by any measure are so, so good at popping a crowd.
Shane going through the table off the top turnbuckle is a huge bump. He gets so much height, it's unbelievable. He nearly misses the table entirely.
After the table spot there's not much wrestling but it doesn't matter because the storytelling is so good. Trish wheels in Linda then attacks Steph. The two of them run out of the arena after Steph slaps Foley. Vince goes to abuse Linda and Foley stops him, before Vince hits him with a chair shot to put him out of action. Vince lifts Linda into the ring and sits her on a chair in the corner before heading out to the destroyed announce table to grab Shane and drag him into the ring, grabbing teach cans from under the ring and sending them flying over the ropes. As Shane tries to stand Vince cracks him over the head with one of the cans, beginning a beating in the middle of the ring in front of Linda. If you didn't think Mr McMahon was a badtard before this you do now.
All of this is obviously leading to one of the the great moments in WrestleMania history as Linda stands up from her chair and kicks Vince between the legs. Foley climbs into the ring and beats Vince into the corner, sparking him out and allowing Shane to set a trash can over his dad and then hit the coast to coast for the first time. The first time I saw this spot I yelled and its hard not to do that every time I see it.
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Memory is a weird thing
I've read a lot this year. I don't think I've skipped a day until this past week. Ten days ago I started a new book, and then for some reason I put it down and didn't pick it or anything else up again until tonight.
Initially I thought I was going to have to either DNF this or start it again, because all of the details of what I was reading had left me. And yet within a page or two it had all come back, and now I'm back in as though I didn't take a week and a half off.
I'm glad of that, because I'm enjoying the read. But I will truly never understand the way my brain, and specifically my memory, works.
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WCW Monday Nitro, September 25, 1995
Alex Wright vs. Disco Inferno
I can't express how much I immediately hate Disco Inferno's whole gimmick. This match starts fast though, Disco Inferno coming in hot and immediately sending Das Wunderkind through the ropes. This whole thing is fast and aggressive, with Alex Wright hitting some high flying moves and both guys getting sent out of the ring a couple of times. The pace is much faster than anything that was on Raw this week - they get in and get out within about 4 minutes. I really enjoy short fast matches like this.1
Interlude
Hogan is in a neck brace. I can't remember why, it's been over a year since I watched Fall Brawl. I vaguely remember the Giant rescuing Task Master and Hogan going out on a stretcher? This is basically just Hogan saying he's going to get revenge and talking a lot about "the largest arms in the world".
Now we've got a video package from last week. Lex Luger and Randy Savage shout at each other in the ring because the Macho Man doesn't trust Luger, who's just come over from WWF. It's so long since I watched that episode that I really appreciated that package, and now we've got Savage and Luger in the ring to pick up where we left off. Luger says "sometimes it takes more than going to war with each other to find out what you've got, sometimes you've got to go to war against each other". They're going to have a match next week, and if Luger doesn't win he'll leave the WCW.
Kurosawa vs. Sgt. Craig Pittman
The crowd chants U S A as the marine Sgt. Pittman heads to the ring to face Japan's Kurosawa. This one starts with Pittman giving a lot of offence, lifting Kurosawa in a standing arm bar a few times and really dominating. Things quickly change as the action moves to the outside of the ring, Kurosawa hitting Pittman with a baseball slide under the bottom rope before lifting up the mats and hitting a back drop onto the concrete. Things go back and forth a lot here, both men targeting each others arms in reference to Kurosawa breaking Road Warrior Hawk's arm in kayfabe with an arm bar earlier in the year. Kurosawa wins with a belly to back suplex into a bridge, pinning the marine. The commentators say that they've never seen Pittman dominated like this and the crowd don't seem happy about it.
Interlude
Brian Pillman and Arn Anderson are in the ring to cut a promo on Ric Flair. It's entertaining and doesn't outstay it's welcome and I have nothing else to say about it.
Then we get a video package I remember seeing earlier in an earlier episode, Randy Savage bench pressing on the beach and being attacked by the Task Master. They're going to settle that tonight in the ring.
The Taskmaster vs. Macho Man Randy Savage
The Taskmaster has brought Zodiac with him, who attacks Savage outside the ring. Why doesn't the ref immediately disqualify the Taskmaster due to interference? No idea.
This is another hard hitting match. Savage is dropped crotch-first onto the barrier before being knocked to the floor outside the ring. Taskmaster hangs him over the top rope and proceeds to put a beatdown on him. Once Savage gets the initiative he takes the fight to Taskmaster and Zodiac before throwing the referee across the ring. As the bell rings to signal his disqualification he stacks Taskmaster on top of Zodiac in the middle of the ring and hits an elbow drip from the top rope. Cue the entry of the Giant, who breaks things up and chokeslams Randy. There's a flood of run-ins from back stage trying to protect the Macho Man but the Giant can't be stopped.
Things end with Lex Luger coming in to stand over Macho Man and gloat, but the Giant can't be controlled by the Taskmaster and also slams Luger. Commentary tell us "I don't know whats going on" before we cut to a commercial, and I agree.
Lex Luger vs. Ming
The main event. Luger is still reeling from the Giant's onslaught as Ming charges into the ring and attacks. This looks like a squash from the off. Luger kicks out after a piledriver and a suplex before Ming puts him into a nerve pinch that looks just as rubbish as the one Yokozuna hit on this week's Raw. I'm glad these things have fallen out of favour.
Luger rallies a couple of times but it's always brief, and Ming gives the majority of the offence. It ends with Ming pulling a spike from his trunks and laying Luger out with it. The ref doesn't see it and counts the 3, and it's all over. Not quite a squash, but close.
This is the first week where Nitro pulled more viewers than Raw, and honestly it was a better show. The quality of the wrestling was higher and the production just felt a little more polished than Raw.
After spending the last year trying and failing to keep up with WWE and AEW, coming back to this has been a treat. I'm convinced that 45 minutes is the perfect length for a weekly wrestling show.
I wish I could watch WWE Speed without needing to go to Twitter for it.↩
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WWF Monday Night Raw, September 25, 1995
This is the show immediately after In Your House. We open with a video package of Shawn Michaels & Diesel winning the Tag Titles last night. Then we cut to the boardroom this morning to hear that Jim Cornette found a contractual loophole and brought his lawyer to meet with Gorilla Monsoon and argue the case. Because of that loophole, the title was given back to Owen Hart & Yokozuna, and we learn they're going to be defending it again tonight.
Match 1: Marty Jannetty vs. Skip
Broadcast is a little sloppy here. Jannetty is back in the WWF and he's in the ring with someone who's never actually introduced but who I eventually figured out is called Skip. I assume that this is meant to make Jannetty look good since it's his big return but a lot of the work here from both guys is sloppy. Even commentary acknowledges that Jannetty "might be a bit rusty" and it's very clear he is, but Skip doesn't carry him well either. (Hilariously a few minutes later McMahon says "Jannetty is showing no ring rust whatsoever", I guess having realised we can't acknowledge that people are ever less than perfect when we're competing directly with WCW).
Ultimately this is a nothing match from two guys I've never heard of and don't care about.
Interlude
Another video package from In Your House, giving us some more context about last night's tag match and the upcoming tag match tonight. Honestly I didn't really follow what the loophole is but I'm not feeling very well and my attention is wavering so that's on me really. From what I understand, the British Bulldog replaced Hart last night and was made a temporary tag champion. When Hart interfered in the match and got pinned, he wasn't technically the champion, so he can't have lost the belt, so he has to get it back now. And so now they're defending it again.
Match 2: Owen Hart & Yokozuna w/ Jim Cornette & Mr. Fuji vs. Smoking Gunns for the Tag Team Title
I'm going to try not to complain about tag wrestling every time I see it because I get bored of myself but I really only enjoy tag very rarely. I'm sure most people find the whole "the ref is distracted so we're going to take advantage of that to deliver some illegal offence" thing entertaining but I just find it so predictable that I can't get into it. It happens a few times here.
This is a bit of a nothing match really. Some solid but largely uninspiring work from Hart, a really rubbish "nerve pinch" spot from Yokozuna that nobody sells particularly well, a couple of big splashes that don't make contact in the middle of the ring. It's only really the ending that's properly entertaining, with Hart taking a couple of fast bumps before being whipped into Yokozuna. The Gunns hit the Sidewinder on Owen, Yokozuna tries to break up the pin with a splash but ends up on top of Owen, then he's sent through the ropes and Hart is pinned for the belt to change hands. Everything leading up to that final sequence was a bit forgettable really but that was fun.
Interlude
A promo spot with Gorilla Monsoon talking about what we can expect from the next In Your House. It really is the case that weekly shows have always existed to sell tickets for PPVs, isn't it?
Match 3: British Bulldog w/ Jim Cornette vs. The Undertaker w/ Paul Bearer
Davey Boy entered while Gorilla was talking but after the break we get to see the full Undertaker walk in. I think this is the first time I've seen Undertaker while watching shows from this era.
This is a fun one. Bulldog spends a lot of time working on Taker's leg and Undertaker sells it throughout the match, including a stumble and fall in the middle of the ring as Bulldog tries to whip him into the corner that's the polar opposite of all the times he's been portrayed as invincible and spent the whole match no-selling things. There are some classic Undertaker spots including him talking the top rope and hitting a chokeslam and Bulldog gets to show off some of his sheer strength, tossing the Undertaker over his shoulder like he weighs nothing for an attempted running powerslam, later hitting a piledriver and a vertical suplex. It's a real spectacle.
Annoyingly it all ends with interference, Bulldog and Mabel going to town on the Undertaker and ending in a DQ before descending into chaos as Shawn Michaels and Diesel run out followed by Owen Hart and Yokozuna plus the Smoking Gunns. This was on track to be a really fun match but the ending killed it for me. I understand that both Hart and Undertaker are being protected and can't lose clean but I hate shit like this. Bulldog does get to hit his running powerslam after the bell, though, which is fun to see when it's a guy as big as the Undertaker over his shoulder.
The rest of the show is just ads for the WrestleMania XI special and some more footage from In Your House last night before the show closes. I often find that the least entertaining weekly shows are those on either side of a PPV and this is no exception really. A couple of fun moments but largely a nothing episode.
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Shawn Michaels Vs Razor Ramon - Ladder Match, SummerSlam '95
A year and a half after watching an old episode of RAW and hearing about this match for the first time, I'm finally watching it. This is for the Intercontinental Title.
I have simple tastes. You can take your hardcore matches, and your blood, and setting people on fire, and whatever. Nothing makes me pop more than a good old fashioned table spot or a good ladder match. And my god, this is a good ladder match. Is this one of the best ever? I think it might be.
There's a fine line that wrestlers have to walk when it comes to selling things. Play it too safe and everything looks rehearsed and fake, like choreographed dance rather than wrestling. This is something that particularly plagues flyers and luchadores (and I say this as someone who really loves that style of wrestling). On the other hand nobody wants to see an actual botch or to see someone get seriously hurt. The sweet spot is right in the middle, where things look like maybe they're going a bit wrong but are still under control, where you can't tell whether a spot was meant to go that way or not. It adds a little frission of danger to the thing that makes everything that much more gripping and exciting.
This match has that by the fistful. I can't even begin to list the number of spots that made me flinch or shout at the TV. Michaels getting his leg caught in the ladder. Ramon stamping on it repeatedly while his leg is inside it. Ramon flat out dropping the ladder on Michaels. The brutal Razors Edge. Michaels bouncing off the turnbuckle and flopping onto the mat. Michaels going over the top rope and his leg bouncing off the barrier before he hits the ground. Some seriously huge impacts onto ladders propped horizontally in the corners. It's non stop action, a hugely physical match that you can never predict, with both guys giving a ton of offence.
It's often the case that knowing the stakes/the feud/the story elevates a match, but this didn't need any of that. This is pure spectacle, everything pro wrestling promises delivered over half an hour of action that only feels like it's ten minutes long.
This immediately became one of my favourite matches.
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WWF Monday Night RAW. September 21st, 1995
Originally posted to Cohost. This was where I stopped watching all of the Monday Night Wars for some reason, but I might pick it up again.
This should be September 18th, I'm sure, because that's the same date as Nitro and would be a week after the previous RAW and before the next RAW, but the WWE Network dates it the 21st so I'm titling it with that just so it's easy to find again.
I really appreciate the catch-ups at the start of these episodes because I absolutely can't keep track of two promotions-worth of plots, especially as I'm not managing to watch them particularly close together. Last time the 123-Kid called out Razor Ramon after some interference in the British Bulldog's match, so this week we get to see them get in the ring together. I'm not sure what else is in store so I'm just going to shut up and watch it.
Match 1: 123 Kid vs. Razor Ramon
We start with a catch-up on the rivalry here that goes all the way back to a match in 1993. That's a deep cut to set up a new plot line but I respect it.
This is a really fun opening match. It's high energy and the 123 Kid gets thrown all over the ring. I always enjoy a bit of flying and the Kid delivers.
Dean Douglas interferes while everyone - including the ref - is lying on the floor and the 123 Kid manages to pin Razor Ramon afterwards, without knowing the interference happened. That's a fun plot element and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. I assume it's all part of the build-up to In Your House the following weekend.
Interlude
Dean Douglas talks shit about how the 123 Kid didn't defeat Razor Ramon, Dean did. Turns out Dead and Razor Ramon are fighting at In Your House so yeah, the whole thing is part of that plot.
Match 2: Kama & Tatanka vs. Savio Vega & Bob Holly
I don't like tag matches at the best of times but it's even harder to care when I don't know who anyone is. As far as tag matches go, though, this is pretty good. There's a lot of fun dirty tactics involving distracting the ref and, thankfully, no outside interference.
These are some big guys so it's nice - and surprising! - to see a bit of top rope action and some real athleticism going on. It's also over nice and quick, before anyone can tire out and the pace can flag. Very fun. Interlude
Razor Ramon cuts a promo in response to Dean Douglas. It's short and sweet and I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to watch In Your House or not. I probably will, just so that I've watched a WWF PPV as well as a WCW one.
Match 3: Jean Pierre Lafitte vs. Brian Walsh
The commentary team get Bret Hart on the phone during this match to cut a promo ahead of his match against Jean Pierre Lafitte ahead of In Your House. It's weird but kind of cool.
At one point Lafitte goes to the turnbuckle and nearly slips off it, which would have sucked for him. He catches his balance though and lands a canonball on the chest of Brian Walsh, enabling him to get the pin. It's a bit of a nothing match and it exists largely as background watching while Hart talks about In Your House.
Match 4: Owen Hart & Yokozuna vs. Men on a Mission
These are some very, very big men and the commentary team make a big deal of the idea that the ring has had to be reinforced to accommodate them, which is hilarious.
It's very bittersweet watching Owen Hart, knowing what was going to happen to him a few years later. He also looks absolutely tiny in the ring with these three guys. He does his absolute best to inject some energy into the match but it's obvious he's slowing down for a lot of it because the big guys can't keep up.
There's some ref distraction in this match, which would be fun if we hadn't already seen it in the previous match. And unlike that one, this outstays its welcome. The best part of it is the ringside cameraman trying to sell the impact of Yokoazuna hitting the mat with some fun camera shakes.
Interlude
Shawn Michaels and Dieael have a promo to talk shit about Owen Hart. We're really selling In Your House this week because of course we are.
We come back to an in-ring promo with Vince McMahon chatting to Owen Hart and Yokozuna's manager - whose name I didn't catch but who is pretty good on the mic - about the triple header tag team title match at In Your House the coming weekend again Diesel and Hart. As well as the tag team belt the Intercontinental and WWF titles are on the line, which is very silly and very fun. I'm probably going to end up watching In Your House.
And that's it for RAW. This was a better show than the previous week, without a doubt.
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WCW Monday Nitro. September 18th, 1995
Originally posted to Cohost.
The aftermath of the Fall Brawl. The production values have taken another step up from the first two weeks of Nitro. The commentary team have a real desk now, and we're treated to pyrotechnics at the start of the show.
I've only just realised that The Giant is Paul Wight aka The Big Show. I didn't get a proper look at him during the Fall Brawl but he cuts a fun promo here, getting out of the back of an ambulance to talk shit about Hogan and Hulkamania.
Match 1: American Males vs. Harlem Heat
This match opens with the commentators talking about the American Males defeating the Nasty Boys at Fall Brawl the night before but it wasn't part of the PPV so I assume it was part of the pre-show on WCW Main Event.
The American Males are expecting to be fighting the Blue Bloods but Harlem Heat ambush the Blue Bloods before they can get to the ring, put their belts on the line, and face off against the American Males in an unsanctioned title match. I don't like matches that end with interference but starting with it is very fun. Plus this means I get to watch Booker T, and this match is much faster and more fun than the match against Buck & Slater at War Games.
The end comes out of nowhere, with Harlem Heat losing their title. It's a short match but it's really fun.
Interlude
Ric Flair comes out to talk about the Fall Brawl and his upcoming match with Flyin' Brian. It's high energy and Flair is obviously having a good time, reminding us about the interference in his match with Arn Anderson the night before and setting up their ongoing feud.
Match 2: Mr. Wonderful vs. Johnny B. Badd
Seeing so many people who were at Fall Brawl coming out tonight makes me feel like the WCW roster is really small at this point. I don't know if that's true but I'm seeing the same people again and again. I guess that's just the nature of ongoing plots and characters being assigned to specific shows, though.
This match is definitely better than Flyin' Brian/Johnny B Badd the night before. It's nice and quick with a lot of energy and it doesn't outstay its welcome. Based on the promo spot last night and his general image and ring entrance I don't really like Mr. Wonderful but I enjoyed watching him wrestle.
Interlude
A pre-taped segment. Macho Man is bench pressing on the beach and the Task Master attacks him. It's very weird. Then we come back to the live broadcast and Savage is in the ring to talk about Ric Flair, the Task Master, and War Games. He tells Hogan that he's a horrible judge of character and shouldn't have trusted Lex Luger, who he thinks has joined the Dungeon Of Doom along with Sting.
Luger comes to the ring to have it out and it sort of falls apart as Macho Man and Luger start facing off. It goes from fun to a mess and the directors just cut away from it and back to the presenters, which is hilarious.
Then we cut to footage from WCW Main Event showing the Giant running over Hogan's motorcycle, and then the Fall Brawl and the Giant interfering in Hogan's match with the Task Master. I wondered how long it would take for Nitro to take cues from RAW and start showing recaps like this and the answer is Not Very Long.
Match 3: Flyin' Brian vs. Ric Flair
This is easily the best match of the night and better than anything at War Games. Pillman and Flair work really well together and there's some great wrestling on display. There's not much to say other than that it's a lot of fun.
After Flair submits Pillman with a Figure 4 leglock he grabs a mic and calls Arn Anderson out to the ring. Anderson doesn't appear but Flair lays down a challenge for Nitro the following week, and that's basically the end of the episode other than some chatter from the commentary team. The commentary this week was much better and it's clear that Nitro is slowly starting to get its act together and figure out how to make the show work.
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WCW Fall Brawl '95: War Games
Originally posted to Cohost.
Last time I mentioned being unsure what the difference between War Games and the Fall Brawl is and that I maybe have two PPVs to watch. It turns out that the Fall Brawl and War Games are the same thing, so that's one less PPV I need to watch at least. I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this so I'm just going to watch it and see how it is. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the characters who haven't been on Nitro yet.
As always, notes made while watching to follow.
The intro sequence is absolutely terrible. I can't adequately express how bad it looks, even by the standards of the mid-90s.
Right off the bat the announcers are talking about things that happened earlier that same day and I'm already lost in terms of storylines etc. A little googling tells me that this PPV had a pre-Pay Per View segment broadcast live on WCW Main Event. Annoyingly this doesn't appear to be on the WWE Network, so I can't watch it, but that's fine. I'm going to have to accept that it's functionally impossible to keep up with the sheer volume of wrestling that was being broadcast at the time.
Match 1: Flyin' Brian vs. Johnny B. Badd
The winner of this match gets a championship shot against Sting on WCW Saturday Night, which I won't be watching. This match also has a 20 minute time limit. I don't know what happens if they go longer than that - are there judges? I assume it won't be an issue.
This is the slowest match I've seen in WCW so far. The only consolation is that this isn't the Nitro commentary team, so I don't have to sit through boring wrestling and mind numbing commentary. But the wrestling is boring. It picks up after the 5 minutes time warning but at that point we've already sat through 15 minutes of tedium. This match had no right to take up the entire 20 minutes, and the ending was a hot mess.
Have you ever heard of a wrestling match going to "sudden death overtime"? What does that even mean? The commentators say it means "you play until it's over" which is just... How wrestling works? This was a terrible way to start Fall Brawl and I want half an hour of my life back.
Interlude
We get a bit of story from the commentators about Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan, and cut away as one of the presenters gets into a slight argument with a fan off camera which is hilarious. Then we cut to a Ric Flair promo which is absolute nonsense in the way that only Flair can deliver. Amazing to watch, absolutely meaningless.
Match 2: Cobra vs. Sgt. Craig Pittman
This one has a 15 minute time limit and I'm already wondering if it's going to be as meaningless as the limit in the first match.
The commentary team tell us Cobra - who looks like a knock-off GI Joe action figure - isn't a Marine but is actually a CIA Agent. That's a weird thing to say.
As we're waiting for Pittman an army cadet comes out in his place for some reason, and Cobra starts arguing with him as Pittman abseils in from the roof dressed in camouflage and gets the drop on Cobra from behind. There's a weird level of military fetishism going on in this match that's very American and very strange to watch nearly 30 years later. Thankfully the match ends after only a minute or two due to a submission so we don't have to deal with it for too long.
I've also just realised that this event is called War Games and I think maybe I'm going to have to deal with a lot more jingoism over the next few hours.
Interlude
A very weird pre-taped promo of Mr. Wonderful having a bad moment in his dressing room, being comforted by be-wigged TV psychic Gary Spivey. What the fuck is going on? (Seriously, Gary Spivey specifically exists as a symbol of everything weird about American popular culture.)
Match 3: WCW World Television Championship - Diamond Dallas Page vs. Renegade
This one has a 20 minute time limit. I guess this is a thing?1 I'm glad it fell out of favour because ending a match with a draw is really anticlimactic and if they all are allowed to run over so that someone can win then it's irrelevant anyway. I don't know if that's what happens, I'm basing it entirely on the first match in this event, but either way having explicit time limits is very silly in a sport where the winner is pre-determined. Although I guess it's all part of maintaining kayfabe, even though this is 6 years after Vince McMahon had gone on record in court that professional wrestling is in no way a competitive sport.
Anyway.
DDP is one of those iconic wrestlers whose name I feel like I've known my entire life but I haven't ever actually seen him wrestle until now. Renegade on the other hand I don't remember ever hearing of but I'm also positive I had a plastic toy of him in the 90s, he looks weirdly familiar. (It's weird to think about how many WCW toys I had and how much I loved WCW/nWo Revenge on the N64 when I never watched it.)
This match is fine. DDP wins due to outside interference, and there's not really anything memorable about it. Thankfully it's short.
Match 4: Tag Team Title Match - Harlem Heat vs. Buck & Slater
Booker T and Stevie Ray are just iconic aren't they? I don't historically like tag matches all that much, they always feel a bit chaotic (in a bad way not a good way) and tend to drag on longer than I like. But I could watch Harlem Heat all day long.
Weird observation maybe but some of the camera work in this match is really cinematic. There are a few moments where you feel really close to the action in a way that's unusual for televised wrestling. It feels like actually being ringside. I wish more matches were shot like this.
There's probably thousands of words you could write about a pair of white southern guys in cowboy boots, Levi's, and mullets beating up a couple of Black dudes while the commentators talk about how Harlem Heat "aren't thugs", they're good guys, actually, and an old white man in a cowboy hat, suit, and bolo tie who calls himself The Colonel eggs them on from outside the ring. That's just what we call Americana I guess.
Harlem Heat end up winning due to interference by the Nasty Boys. I might have said it before in one of these posts but these sorts of wins are my least favourite trope in wrestling. There's some plot stuff going on with the woman who came in with Harlem Heat (whose name I didn't catch) and the Colonel, who for some reason are making out in the second ring when the Heat take the title from the Colonel's team, but I don't know any of the context for it and therefore don't care.
Match 5: Arn Anderson vs. Ric Flair
Before the match we get a fairly long recap of the plotline that's led up to this match, which is useful. I can't pretend I find it all very compelling but it's nice to actually have some context.
This is the first time Anderson and Flair have fought each other and a huge number of the other WCW wrestlers are seated in the audience to watch it. It's clear this is a pretty big deal.
At one point the referee blocks a punch from Anderson and I have no idea why. I assume it's some rules thing I'm not aware of? No idea.
Anderson wins this thanks to interference by Flyin' Brian. I might start keeping a tally of how many matches end up being decided due to interference because I hate it and it happens way too often.
Interlude
One of the worst promos I've ever seen for the upcoming War Games match. I immediately want the Dungeon Of Doom to lose this match because they're very annoying.
Match 6: Dungeon of Doom vs. Hulkamaniacs
I've never actually seen a War Games match so I don't know if the rules that get explained here are the same as they always are. To be honest I'm glad of the explainer though because I can sense that this is going to be hard to follow.
We get a plot twist, which is that if the Hulkamaniacs win the Task Master has to face Hulk Hogan in the ring tonight one on one. I assume this means that the Hulkamaniacs are of course going to win.
The first five minutes of the War Games match is Sting vs. a member of the Dungeon of Doom whose name I didn't catch and don't care enough about to double check. I think it's Shark? He's got a shark on his shirt anyway.
I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to be the in-cage cameraman for this, with no gap between the cage and the ring. The roof of the cage is also really low as well - I'd be interested to know when they first got elevated for things like Hell In A Cell.
The first 5 minutes of this match are pretty dull. The Dungeon of Doom win the coin toss and Zodiac comes in at speed, so now it's 2-on-1 against Sting for another dull 2 minutes before Macho Man comes in the even things up. Things speed up a little bit. Weirdly Shark refuses to sell a few hits from Sting and Macho Man.
By the time Kamala comes in Shark looks absolutely exhausted. He just sort of plods around the ring, occasionally hitting someone or throwing them into the side of the cage and then stopping to catch his breath. Even the commentary team mentions it at one point. And he still sells things incredibly poorly, barely reacting even when Macho Man goes off the turnbuckle onto his back.
The gimmick of the two rings side by side is fun on paper but in practice it just seems irrelevant.2 I would have loved to see a really high tempo match with people going between the two rings, getting thrown through the ropes and springing off them etc, but we don't get anything like that. It's just a very slow, crowded brawl that occasionally spills over into a second ring but mostly stays confined to a single space. There's a fun moment where Zodiac gets caught between the two rings, bouncing back and forth as Hogan lays into him, but that's about all we get.
And of course, the Hulkamaniacs win thanks to Hulk causing one of the Dungeon Of Doom (whose name I've forgotten, I couldn't keep track of them all) to submit.
Hulk faces off agains the Task Master alone in the ring, throwing him back and forth, and then there's another intervention. The Giant comes in and rescues the Task Master, and for some reason (plot innit) the Hulkamaniacs are nowhere to be seen to stop it happening until after Hogan is lying on the floor. There's a call for paramedics to ringside, and then the night ends.
Honestly? I've been really impressed with the wrestling in Nitro so far but the Fall Brawl was rubbish and I wish I hadn't wasted my time on it. In future I'll read up on PPVs and see if they seem worth watching before I commit the time to them I think.
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WWF RAW - September 11th, 1995
Originally posted to Cohost.
Unlike Nitro, RAW was already long established at this point. Obviously WCW itself was established and had ongoing plots etc. and it hasn't really been an issue, so I don't think it will matter here that I'm missing context either even though that context will be RAW-specific.
Even though I've watched a lot of WWF/E I don't think I've ever actually watched a full episode of RAW aside from the one that was taped in London in 2013, which I went to (the only time I've seen WWE live in person). The broadcasts in the UK were a little hard to come by. A weird UK-specific version of Heat was briefly shown on Channel 4 on Sunday afternoons but was moved to a late night/early Monday morning spot due to lack of popularity. I don't remember what time RAW was broadcast on Sky - I know it wasn't actually live, but I also know there were reasons I didn't watch it that I simply can't remember.
Anyway. RAW has always been something I've been aware of alongside SmackDown but like I say, I'm not sure I've ever actually watched a full episode. But I'm at least more familiar with the characters going into this than I am with WCW. I'm really interested to see how this matches up to the generally really good wrestling on Nitro at this point, and to see how both shows develop as the rivalry goes on.
As with my Nitro posts these are all going to be mainly notes I made as I'm watching the show, because I don't want this to start feeling like work when it's just a bit of fun.
We open with a recap from 1995's SummerSlam, showing us clips from Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match that they bill as "one of the greatest matches in WWF history". I might have to watch it because Shawn Michaels is always great, and I love ladder matches.
The benefit of RAW's broadcast history is immediately obvious. This is the first episode of "The New Fall Season" and after this intro I feel pretty caught up on the plots I need to know about already. WCW, take notes.
Match 1: Razor Ramon vs. British Bulldog
This episode of RAW is the first one broadcast by Sky Sports in Europe, so it makes sense that the first match of the night features the British Bulldog.
I'd forgotten all about him until right now. He was a local hero when I was growing up - he's from Golborne originally, which is a few miles south of Wigan (where I'm from originally) and Wigan very much claims him as theirs. It was always great to see someone local wrestling on this sort of stage. (It's also hilarious how I could tell you he's from Wigan just by his build and the way he carries himself. That town breeds rugby players.)
My prediction is that Bulldog wins because Razor is a heel and they want to appeal to the European market with this first international broadcast, but we'll see.
This match is slower than anything we've seen in Nitro so far and in terms of the actual wrestling on display it's much less flashy. Less aerial work and flying, more slugging it out. It's not bad in any way though, just different. It's very physical and the hits are sold really well, everything has weight and impact. A much more British style of wrestling, really.
Side note, I hate live entertainment with breaks. I hate missing things.
I often don't enjoy interventions/ring invasions in matches but Dean Douglas coming in here is really fun, especially when he drops the 123 Kid (who also interferes) onto the top rope. This one ends with a win for Bulldog via Ramon being disqualified, a sort of ending I don't particularly enjoy, but the match as a whole was fun.
Interlude
Vince McMahon is in the ring talking to the 123 Kid and Razor Ramon and the commentators are talking over the top of it so that you can't hear anything. Very annoying. It would be a lot easier to follow what's happening if I could understand what's being said. (I also need to remind myself that at this point he's just Vince McMahon, play-by-play commentator, not Mr. McMahon, CEO and villain. I've grown up knowing him as a heel and it's weird to see him be personable and charming and popular with the fans here.)
That said, Vince's mic skills are terrible here and the 123 Kid is one of the least charismatic people I've ever had to listen to so maybe it's good that the commentary team are chattering over it.
Razor Ramon's voice might put me to sleep as well. I take it back, let me listen to the commentary team.
Match 2: Smoking Gunns vs. Rad Radford/Brooklyn Brawler (tag team match)
I've never heard of any of these people and the weird cowboy gimmick of the Smoking Gunns makes me assume I'm about to hear something horribly racist.
Look at these oily, muscled men with mullets, moustaches, and Levi's 501s and tell me wrestling isn't the most homoerotic thing ever broadcast. This is why we love it.
As with the first match the quality of the wrestling on display isn't quite as good as we've seen in Nitro. There's a bit more flying in this match but it's all a bit slower and feels a bit more cautious.
This might be the shortest tag match I've ever seen in my life and honestly, as someone who doesn't traditionally enjoy tag, I'm grateful for it.
Interlude
Goldust is coming to WWF. I'd forgotten about Goldust and I think I'd prefer to have kept it that way. This promo is weird and uncomfortable to watch.
Match 3: Isaac Yankem D.D.S. vs. Scott Taylor
This dentist gimmick is WEIRD.
One thing RAW does better than Nitro is showing clips from earlier episodes/events to give context for storylines. That's to be expected given the show had already been broadcasting for 2 years. I assume I'll start to see Nitro taking some production cues from RAW.
Another incredibly short match. Literally only a minute or two long and immediately forgettable.
Interlude: In Your House Promo
In Your House is two weeks away and there's going to be a triple header match for the first time in WWF. I've already got two PPVs coming up in WCW. I absolutely can't keep up with all this. This is so much wrestling.
This presenter is really uncharismatic. I think I'd be interested in what he's telling me about In Your House but I just don't want to listen to him. This is the first time where I've been tempted to skip a segment but I'm going to watch everything. One thing in WCW's favour is that even the weird messy interludes haven't made me tune out mentally like this has.
Match 4: Shawn Michaels vs. Sid (Intercontinental Title Match)
We've advertising a replica of Shawn Michaels' hat and glasses for $25 and the hat is GENUINE PLEATHER. For the love of god just give me the wrestling.
After the really dull promos and mic spots we've had this episode it's really nice to see the Heartbreak Kid talk for a few seconds. Love him or hate him, Michaels has charisma. And I hope we're about to see a jump in the quality of wrestling on display in this episode.
Michaels does his best to make this entertaining but Sid is just big and strong, there's no speed here and no opportunity for Michaels to shine. Sid at least sells things well when Michaels turns the tables to win but it's another nothing match.
The episode ends with Michaels on the mic setting some stuff up for In Your House and honestly it's the highlight of the episode.