Off Topic · OT: Anyone into Wrestling? WWE? (page 1)

I'm watching for the first time in years now....wow!!!

Ted Dibiasi, Superfly Snuka, Afa of the Wild Samoans, Dusty Rhodes younger son are all wrestling....I also find a few other guys are out there...The Hart family/ Davey Boy Smith family has a new generation trying to make a name....

It's almost enough to bring tears to my eyes....I love to see these guys kids. As a kid myself I grewup watching thier fathers. I remember seeing these guys kids in small cameos throughout the years...you know how they show their sons at wrestle mania in the crowds?.....It's just the circle of life man....its amazing.

I used to be really big into Wrestling- back in the early 90's, then from about 1997-2002 and then for a short time again around '05 or so. But it really sucks now. Its godawful.

And I think after the whole incident with Benoit it really just turned me off the thing. These guys are just plain exploited- what has happened to these wrestlers post retirement and late career isn't just tragic, but absolutely an atrocity.

Posted by VDesai:

I used to be really big into Wrestling- back in the early 90's, then from about 1997-2002 and then for a short time again around '05 or so. But it really sucks now. Its godawful.

And I think after the whole incident with Benoit it really just turned me off the thing. These guys are just plain exploited- what has happened to these wrestlers post retirement and late career isn't just tragic, but absolutely an atrocity.

Yeah retirement from Wrestling and Cricket are a b*tch. Think they have the highest rate of suicide.

For Cricket? Really? Why is that- all the pressure the nations put on them?

Posted by VDesai:

I used to be really big into Wrestling- back in the early 90's, then from about 1997-2002 and then for a short time again around '05 or so. But it really sucks now. Its godawful.

And I think after the whole incident with Benoit it really just turned me off the thing. These guys are just plain exploited- what has happened to these wrestlers post retirement and late career isn't just tragic, but absolutely an atrocity.

I stopped in 2002. It has gradually sucked since then and has become a complete abomination. WWE today is like Isiah's Knicks.

I'm still watching and have been since around 1990. There's too many guys around right now in both WWE and TNA that I like not to keep watching.

BTW, they fired Afa's son last week.

If you can wrestle well and/or entertain well, you got me. Sad thing is - very few can do both. And WWE's 2 biggest cash cows are both retired: one due to injuries, another due to Hollywood.

[Edited by - K22 on 2009-03-10 12:14 AM]

Posted by VDesai:

For Cricket? Really? Why is that- all the pressure the nations put on them?

They had a special on ESPN about Cricket, about after retirement Cricket players don't know what to do with their time and some end up committing suicide. You have to remember they spend an entire day playing a match once that is taken away what do you do? Where do you get that kind of high as an athlete. pressure of an entire country and basically having something to do with your time.

http://content.cricinfo.com/magazine/con...

I've been watching. It's been hit and miss but the WWE has gotten better in the past few months.

Orton's character has been utterly sadistic. Off the charts, possibly the best villain since the NWO days. I'm also becoming a fan of Edge.

And yes, all of the children of famous wrestlers is amazing and brings back a bit of the old days. Not to mention that there's even more in the wings, such as Joe Hennig (Mr. Perfect's son).

[Edited by - Solace on Mar 10 2009 12:32 AM]

I used to watch during the attitude era...like 98-02. It was really entertaining back then with Stone Cold, The Rock, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, The Undertaker...Also when Chris Jericho and Edge were still cool.

It just sucks now though. I hate John Cena. He's honostly the worst face ever. Even the older guys have really gone down hill. Especially Kane, never should have lost the mask.

On the topic of Wrestler's after they retire if anyone is interested there is a good documentery called Beyond the Mat that covers the behind the scenes world of wrestling. It also follows the post WWE career of Jake "the Snake" Roberts. It is really quite sad and disturbing what happens to many of these guys later in life.

Posted by NYKPHINS:

I used to watch during the attitude era...like 98-02. It was really entertaining back then with Stone Cold, The Rock, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, The Undertaker...Also when Chris Jericho and Edge were still cool.

It just sucks now though. I hate John Cena. He's honostly the worst face ever. Even the older guys have really gone down hill. Especially Kane, never should have lost the mask.

I watch it from time to time since I was such a huge fan growing up. WWE is ok, the shows they put on are fine for the most part. Its just that there is no WCW to keep them honest and create excitement. I used to love back in the monday night wars days when they would counter-program, talk jack about each other, and guys would jump ship and all that. It was fun as hell watching all that. Its just not the same with one company.

Plus, WWE is conservative as hell now. During the attitude days, they were wild and fluck. Exhibit A is ECW. They turned ECW into some weak ass B level show. No more titties, and crazy angles.

Posted by sebstar:

I watch it from time to time since I was such a huge fan growing up. WWE is ok, the shows they put on are fine for the most part. Its just that there is no WCW to keep them honest and create excitement.

This is the biggest problem right now. No competition. TNA (the closes thing they have to competition) is around but (1) very few know about them; (2) their top wrestlers are aging former WWE and WCW castoffs; (3) their young talent is made to look weak often; (4) they shoot from the same venue every week so it makes for a repetitive product. This is a company that doesn't have Ted Turner to help them bring them to the next level financially so *shrug*

It's ultimately Vince McMahon's decision where he wants to send his product. The reason the Attitude era came about is (1) ECW's rise and (2) WCW ALMOST put him out of business. I recommend anyone who hasn't seen the WWE Monday Night Wars DVD to check it out.

My first guess as to why the move to tone down the product was $$$ as well as they had two new TV shows to find networks to air.

ECW is only "ECW" by name. In reality, it's the "let's give our new guys and young kids TV time". Let them wrestle on the show - and when they're ready - move them to Smackdown or Raw. You can tell ECW is the C Show b/c the new ECW Championship belt isn't even gold.



Raw and Smackdown are obviously their main shows and they try to keep the illusion of them being "different brands" - even have a different set of titles for each show (they're still using WCW's championship belts) but no one really buys it or cares - especially since guys from one show can pop up on another at any time they'd like.

There's more I wanted to say but I have to get my ass to work.

TNA has a lot of big names these days, don't they? I heard they had Mick Foley and Kurt Angle

Posted by EnySpree:

I'm watching for the first time in years now....wow!!!

Ted Dibiasi, Superfly Snuka, Afa of the Wild Samoans, Dusty Rhodes younger son are all wrestling....I also find a few other guys are out there...The Hart family/ Davey Boy Smith family has a new generation trying to make a name....

It's almost enough to bring tears to my eyes....I love to see these guys kids. As a kid myself I grewup watching thier fathers. I remember seeing these guys kids in small cameos throughout the years...you know how they show their sons at wrestle mania in the crowds?.....It's just the circle of life man....its amazing.

dude - he was the man back in the day....btw - he's got a little kurt thomas 'crazy eyes' thing going in this pic..



[Edited by - jimimou on 03-10-2009 08:48 AM]

Posted by VDesai:

TNA has a lot of big names these days, don't they? I heard they had Mick Foley and Kurt Angle

They have Jeff Jarrett (he owns TNA), Sting (their current World Champion), Kurt Angle, Booker T, Scott Steiner, Mick Foley (who's in a "commissioner" role and not an active wrestler... yet), Rhino and among others. Along with them, they've gotten most of their roster from independents - a couple of whom they've built into top-tier stars (A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe).

Most of these indie guys are small - so they have them in what they call the "X Division" - which is basically their version of WCW's Cruiserwight Division.

The issue with TNA is that they give more opportunities to WWE/WCW castoffs (the owner is one himself) than their actual homegrown talent. And their marketing isn't very good either.

[Edited by - K22 on 2009-03-10 10:31 AM]

Christopher Daniels and that guy who does the flipping piledriver seem pretty good

Posted by Vmart:

[quote]Posted by VDesai:

For Cricket? Really? Why is that- all the pressure the nations put on them?

We took a look at that (briefly) in an international relations class in undergrad... I think the prevailing sentiment is essentially what Vmart said. Form what I understand there are special international matches that last days... international sports are pressure packed, I mean there are stories about the lack of players' safety specially when they mess up.

So being in that type of pressure cooker for that long, then stop... that has to take a major psychological toll. I wouldn't know how to respond to the pressure those players endure and apparently the players struggle with letting go of that type of pressure, getting banged up, and watching reruns of The Wire.

The most interesting tidbit form that class though was why India is a cricket powerhouse. The dominant international relations theory suggests that when Britain colonized India, the Brit officers wanted to be considered the greatest gentlemen of a gentleman’s sport... so they grabbed Indians to do all the grunt, dirty work. Well, the grunt, dirty work is what wins competitive games. Effectively, the Brits inadvertently trained the Indians on doing what was necessary to win in cricket. THis has nothing to do with the flow of the conversation, just thought it incredibly interesting

Posted by VDesai:

Christopher Daniels and that guy who does the flipping piledriver seem pretty good

That would be Petey Williams who does that flip piledrive called the Canadian Destroyer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YBs3I8kDuw[/youtube]

Impressive looking move but it seems just way too gimmicky IMO. It's more on the guy selling the move to make it look good than Williams himself.

Christopher Daniels is a very good pro wrestler (he can wrestle and talk). The problem is how poorly he's been used over the last few years.

Just to add to this thread the prophetic words in 1995 ECW from someone who would become the biggest draw in WWE history.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV38FRJ6Gas[/youtube]

Posted by K22:

Posted by sebstar:

I watch it from time to time since I was such a huge fan growing up. WWE is ok, the shows they put on are fine for the most part. Its just that there is no WCW to keep them honest and create excitement.

This is the biggest problem right now. No competition. TNA (the closes thing they have to competition) is around but (1) very few know about them; (2) their top wrestlers are aging former WWE and WCW castoffs; (3) their young talent is made to look weak often; (4) they shoot from the same venue every week so it makes for a repetitive product. This is a company that doesn't have Ted Turner to help them bring them to the next level financially so *shrug*

It's ultimately Vince McMahon's decision where he wants to send his product. The reason the Attitude era came about is (1) ECW's rise and (2) WCW ALMOST put him out of business. I recommend anyone who hasn't seen the WWE Monday Night Wars DVD to check it out.

My first guess as to why the move to tone down the product was $$$ as well as they had two new TV shows to find networks to air.

ECW is only "ECW" by name. In reality, it's the "let's give our new guys and young kids TV time". Let them wrestle on the show - and when they're ready - move them to Smackdown or Raw. You can tell ECW is the C Show b/c the new ECW Championship belt isn't even gold.


Raw and Smackdown are obviously their main shows and they try to keep the illusion of them being "different brands" - even have a different set of titles for each show (they're still using WCW's championship belts) but no one really buys it or cares - especially since guys from one show can pop up on another at any time they'd like.

There's more I wanted to say but I have to get my ass to work.

TNA needs new creative juices and blood. Why are Jim Cornette and Vince Russo still influencing booking directions? Those guys are old and burnt out. Shyt, Cornette was old by 1995. Instead of doing stuff like "Diva searches" companies need to find guys with the next great ideas. They are out there.

That's what led to the WWF revival...well, first they ripped off ECW as you alluded to, but they gave the reigns to Vince Russo. Russo was this New Yorker who watched Jerry Springer and South Park all day, and had wild ass ideas that were different. It was new and fresh, even though they werent always great. Id rather have that, than boring.

Posted by K22:

Posted by VDesai:

Christopher Daniels and that guy who does the flipping piledriver seem pretty good

That would be Petey Williams who does that flip piledrive called the Canadian Destroyer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YBs3I8kDuw[/youtube]

Impressive looking move but it seems just way too gimmicky IMO. It's more on the guy selling the move to make it look good than Williams himself.

Christopher Daniels is a very good pro wrestler (he can wrestle and talk). The problem is how poorly he's been used over the last few years.

Didn't Petey Williams just get released?

Posted by Solace:

Didn't Petey Williams just get released?

I've heard he was.

I don't see him going to WWE. They wouldn't want him. He's not a great talker and past the Destroyer (which they wouldn't let him do) - not much else.