Old School Observations/Questions Thread 2020-21

[Valeyard]

Superstar Billy Graham's act absolutely does not hold up and guys since have pulled it off better. Kung Fu Superstar is untouched.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Superstar Billy Graham's act absolutely does not hold up and guys since have pulled it off better. Kung Fu Superstar is untouched.

]



I was actually super surprised at how good Graham worked when I finally saw his WWWF title matches. He bumped big for a musclehead and even worked off the top rope fairly often. After 1978....bleh!


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https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1300533955482050561

 

[Valeyard]

He's one of my favorite Dusty foils.

 

[snuffbox]

Graham's prime was short due to, as Brody mentioned, how hard he worked & the steroid use. But those few years of prime Superstar were great and still hold up just fine today.

And he gets credit for being influential. And his influence on others who followed (Hogan, Ventura, Steiner, etc) makes Graham's own inspiration, Gorgeous George, even more important.

 

[King Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1300844525292789767

I often wonder if things would have turned out better for Yokozuna, long term, if he had been the third Headshrinker instead of immediately given a World Title push.

 

[Valeyard]

Graham's prime was short due to, as Brody mentioned, how hard he worked & the steroid use. But those few years of prime Superstar were great and still hold up just fine today.

And he gets credit for being influential. And his influence on others who followed (Hogan, Ventura, Steiner, etc) makes Graham's own inspiration, Gorgeous George, even more important.

I'm saying the act itself doesn't hold up because of guys like Hogan, Jesse, and Steiner improving on it over time. I appreciate the impact, but it doesn't feel special anymore. That being said it really is a breath of fresh air for the WWWF shows.

His work was great. Superstar worked smart.

 

[Valeyard]

I'm in love with Barbara Clary.

 

[BruiserBrody]

I'd have to double check my notes, but I believe the WON reported in 86 that Graham's return was going to build to Savage defending the IC belt against him at Mania 3.

 

[strummer]

Oh man that reminds me that Bruno/Vince v Jesse/Danny Davis was originally on the books for WM 3 apparently

 

[BruiserBrody]

Oh man that reminds me that Bruno/Vince v Jesse/Danny Davis was originally on the books for WM 3 apparently

Before WM 2, the WWF supposedly penciled in T vs Piper in a cage for Mania 3 to finish the feud. Once Piper turned face, there were rumors that Piper would take T as his partner against Adonis/Orton at Mania 3. Dave reported that in Nov 86, along with noting Hogan vs Mr Wonderful was likely the Mania headliner.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

When did the business change from long-term babyface champions, with transitional heel champions, to the inverse? Did that all start with Triple H?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

You broke my AWA brain.

Gagne and Brunzell were basically the undersized pretty boy tag team (yes, old women still tell me how "hot" Greg Gagne was every now and then) in a sea of monsters. For every Billy Robinson, there were 12 Bull Bullinskis (one of my favorite Wrasslin' names)

Where the fuck do you live, that people are still bringing up Greg Gagne in conversation, for any reason, at all?

 

[snuffbox]

It was the norm in the NWA going back to the 70s at least. AWA with Bockwinkel 70s/80s.

The first in WWF was probably Yokozuna.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

In terms of chronology, sure, stipulated. But Yoko was pretty much the exception that "proves" the "rule." I'm more asking when it became the norm.

 

[snuffbox]

I'm not really sure how to answer that then. Babyface Cena spent so much time as champion the last 15 years that I'm not sure if it's been normal.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Okay, so if I spot you Cena and Michaels, how many other babyface champions in the last 25 years would you guess have had an unbroken 6-month+ title reign, without turning heel? I'll even let you have Kofi, even though his reign might just barely be exactly six months? 'Cause you keyed in on Cena, and I'm wondering if Cena's run may be causing a blind spot to the long-ish champions who were not Cena?

 

[alkeiper]

The wrestling business essentially started with champion wrestlers egging on the crowd to challenge them. Or convincing the local rubes that their local challenger had a chance. The long-term heel champion has been a business model since the 19th century.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I stand corrected.

 

[King Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1301151045398097921

BWAHAHAHA

 

[Valeyard]

Holy shit Bob Caudle is still alive.

 

[Super Leather]

Rock 'n' Wrestling: Beast from the East

I first read about Bam Bam in the March 1987 issue of Wrestling Power. I couldn’t get enough information about professional wrestling...

rocknwrestling.blogspot.com

Here's an unpublished column originally written to advocate for Bam Bam Bigelow's place in the WWE HOF. Enjoy!

 

[Valeyard]

I'd kill to find video of the Ray Stevens and Pepper Gomez Cast Iron Stomach angle from the Bay Area. Been kind of a while whale for me for 25 years.

 

[King Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1301354226384343040

Those were the days!

 

[BruiserBrody]

Where the fuck do you live, that people are still bringing up Greg Gagne in conversation, for any reason, at all?

I am in Green Bay, and since I am a giant nerd, we talk about wrasslin' in the break room, so once in a great while one of the older people will ask about an AWA guy.

We have a 72 year old Vietnam vet who loves him some racist Col Debeers for instance.

 

[King Kamala]

Similarly, I can attest you can get anyone between the ages of 45 and 60 in the Northeast riled up if you bring up Chief Jay Strongbow or Haystacks Calhoun.

 

[Valeyard]

Huh. Now I'm wondering if I can get old timers here to talk about Buddy Rose and Billy Jerk Haynes.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I am in Green Bay, and since I am a giant nerd, we talk about wrasslin' in the break room, so once in a great while one of the older people will ask about an AWA guy.

We have a 72 year old Vietnam vet who loves him some racist Col Debeers for instance.

If it's not too personal, what do you do for a living, that you feel comfortable talking about wrasslin with your coworkers?

 

[King Kamala]

Brody works at Wal-Mart so of rasslin is probably one of the classier break room discussions.

 

[Epic Springs]

Damn, we got a closet case wrestling fan over here wth.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I wouldn't call myself a "closet case" wrasslin' fan. Everybody I know and work with knows that I like wrasslin', they're just not willing to indulge me by engaging in a conversation about it.