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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 6:11:54 GMT -5
Twenty years ago today, WrestleMania XIX aired on PPV: In my opinion, this card had five main events: Brock Lesnar VS Kurt Angle, Booker T VS Triple H, The Rock VS Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels VS Chris Jericho, and Hulk Hogan VS Vince McMahon. In your opinion, which match do you think most drew the punters? I know it’s subjective. I definitely think a case can be made that Hogan/McMahon drew the punters. Yes, I believe in the importance of world title matches, but I’d imagine Hogan/McMahon drew some. It had been years in the making (one magazine writer claimed Hogan/McMahon was originally set for SummerSlam 2002). I did enjoy Lesnar VS Angle, but I am curious why Lesnar chose to do the shooting star press. It could have broken his neck. And it wasn’t a move I’d seen him do prior. Booker T VS Triple H was problematic, and the racial elements of the angle were uncomfortable. Some stated that Booker T should have won the belt, but I do have one counter to that: Bill Goldberg was set to debut, and many magazines reported that the long-term plan was for Goldberg to beat Triple H for the world title - which did happen, so even if Booker T had won the world title, it’d have only been a caretaker reign anyway, surely? I can think of no better ‘final match’ for Austin than the one he had against the Rock. Of course, he returned to face Kevin Owens last year. Michaels VS Jericho was gold. And for sheer spectacle, I did enjoy Hogan/McMahon.
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Post by Ricky Jackson on Mar 30, 2023 8:55:08 GMT -5
Lesnar had done the move successfully in OVW prior to being brought up and the idea was likely to do something special for Mania. The problem was trying something high risk so late in the match when he was exhausted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 8:59:45 GMT -5
Ah, I see. Think I only saw one Lesnar OVW match, I sort of didn’t want to ruin the magic by seeing wrestlers in their “prototype” pre-WWF phases.
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 30, 2023 11:08:12 GMT -5
Ah, I see. Think I only saw one Lesnar OVW match, I sort of didn’t want to ruin the magic by seeing wrestlers in their “prototype” pre-WWF phases. You mean with logical booking that accentuates their strengths and hides their weaknesses? Naw, why watch that?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 12:25:19 GMT -5
Ah, I see. Think I only saw one Lesnar OVW match, I sort of didn’t want to ruin the magic by seeing wrestlers in their “prototype” pre-WWF phases. You mean with logical booking that accentuates their strengths and hides their weaknesses? Naw, why watch that? I suppose it’s akin to me not wanting to watch a magician set up the stage and get all his props ready.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 13:57:46 GMT -5
Look at this: I think I have the wording on that right. Triple H actually defended a world championship at 3 straight WrestleMania events (XIX, XX, and XXI), but I am going to presume that they are referring to the fact that Reigns has had an uninterrupted reign, given Triple H lost and regained it between 2003 and 2005. So, yes, a milestone for Reigns.
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 30, 2023 20:24:54 GMT -5
So, the Hall of Fame inductees announced this year include a Japanese wrestler who never set foot in a WWF/E ring, a valet/dancer, a comedian who worked wrestling only in nightclubs, SNL and the Mid-South Colosseum, a referee and an active wrestler.
How is it that Jamison, Rockin' Robin, and either of the Hebners are not in?
This thing gets goofier every year. They might as well just hand out Slammy Awards again.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2023 2:51:33 GMT -5
I agree, although I think it’s nice that a referee has been chosen.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2023 3:30:42 GMT -5
I no longer have most of the wrestling magazines I bought over time, but I have some. Here’s one I dug out, I do miss the kayfabe era:
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 7:09:37 GMT -5
Is Cody really walking out the Undisputed Champion tonight?
Or will they do a “Rocky” and give us “Rocky II” between Cody and Reigns next year?
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 1, 2023 10:50:38 GMT -5
I think a weird finish and they split the belts.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 10:57:06 GMT -5
I think a weird finish and they split the belts. Anything in particular you envision? That is interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 10:59:09 GMT -5
Incidentally, I’m glad that, some exceptions aside, we don’t really see triple-threat matches for the world title in WWE nowadays. I was never quite pleased with the idea of a champion losing his belt without necessarily being the one pinned.
I’d rather see triple-threat matches, four corners matches and Elimination Chamber used to determine contenders.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 1, 2023 11:09:42 GMT -5
I think a weird finish and they split the belts. Anything in particular you envision? That is interesting. A 'Dusty Finish' would make the most sense . Some member of the Bloodline interferes, the match ends, they re-start... Sami interferes... Cody wins. the referees argue... Authority figure comes out (Adam Pearce? maybe HHH himself) and splits the belts.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2023 11:13:46 GMT -5
Hang on, though, it’s 30 years since WM IX. I have an idea…
Reigns throws salt in Rhodes’ eyes and pins him. Hulk Hogan comes out and tries to argue Rhodes’ case. Reigns tells Hogan to acknowledge him - and that, if necessary, he’ll put his belt on the line right there and then. Hogan agrees. After interference from The Usos backfires, one back rake, bodyslam and the Legdroop of Doom - and we have Hogan as Undisputed World Champion.
This happens an hour before the PPV’s official end time. The final hour features Hogan posing to the crowd.
Hogan then disappears from WWE TV to meaninglessly challenge for the tag team titles at house shows, alongside a returning Brutus Beefcake.
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