Dark Side of the Ring

[Gert]

To me the most cringe worthy part was Tonga Kid admitting that he was in the car with them that and admits that Nancy was fine when they got to the George Washington and then basically said he felt bad for Snuka for not doing anything wrong.

I never know how I would feel if someone I was really close with did or was alleged to do something like that, but that was a bad look since he had to have known what Jimmy's defense was the night of her death.

Was the lady who was introduced as Snuka's widow the same as his wife at the time of Nancy Argento's wife? I couldn't really follow the timeline but I heard her say she was married to Snuka for 26 years.

 

[Baby Shoes]

For some reason the Snuka episode didn’t record for me regularly so I recorded another broadcast this weekend.

I was curious on Gert’s same question with the wife, as that lady they showed as his widow, Carol, didn’t look like she would be Tamina’s mom. Turns out she married him in 2004 and remained married to him until his death.

The wife he was with at the time of this was named Sharon, would be the mother of his children, and divorced him in 1999.

I always get nitpicky with some of this stuff because they act like this went down, he had to go away, go to AWA, then the decline to autograph circuit. He went to AWA, came back for that four year run (that included him getting a Hasbro figure and jobbing to Undertaker as main highlights), then started that decline. On top of the multiple times he would pop up in WCW and WWF/E.

I couldn’t get past Jericho as the seemingly biased narrator when he worked him at Wrestlemania only 11 years ago, especially when the meat of this ends by 89. Made me wonder what Jericho’s thoughts were during that program.

This one also had some weird editing as there was one spot they talk about things didn’t resurface until 2011 and the next talking head within seconds says “So it’s 2014...”. I also felt like they tried to make it seem like Tonga Kid stormed out on them but it felt like the audio didn’t sync and even with the cane in mind, him exiting didn’t seem to be abrupt or angry, it just seemed like they took the footage of him leaving at the conclusion and spliced stuff to seem confrontational.

It seems very strange because the evidence makes it seem abundantly clear that Snuka did a lot wrong and is responsible. I have no idea why that police guy would even want to get interviewed for something like this because he came off awful and like he was hiding something.

The other interview that struck me odd in a different way was just how creepy Irv Mushnkck came off to me. There was one talking head in the special where it almost seemed he was giddy when talking about the murder. He also came on the after show more aggressive about Snuka’s guilt. For those who don’t watch that, they brought Greg Valentine and Brian Knobbs in as the panel. They both acted like “he probably is at fault but he was a good guy”. Valentine tried defending Snuka and Mushnik said “Greg, you were a great wrestler and my grandfather loved your family of great wrestlers” and Valentine was so flattered he stopped defending Superfly.

Overall a strange episode. There was some stuff I didn’t know but not sure if I liked the execution on this one as much as others. I’ve been looking forward to the Dino Bravo one next week, we will see how that goes.

 

[Master Thrasher]

I couldn’t get past Jericho as the seemingly biased narrator when he worked him at Wrestlemania only 11 years ago, especially when the meat of this ends by 89. Made me wonder what Jericho’s thoughts were during that program.

I think he really wanted to do something with Mickey Rourke.

 

[One Epic Winter (OEW)]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EziZXxN8Y-4

Dino Bravo is this week's subject.

 

[Baby Shoes]

I couldn’t get past Jericho as the seemingly biased narrator when he worked him at Wrestlemania only 11 years ago, especially when the meat of this ends by 89. Made me wonder what Jericho’s thoughts were during that program.

I think he really wanted to do something with Mickey Rourke.

Obviously but I believe he had some say in what legends were involved when the pivot was made. On top of even it was Rourke, he was always going to be white knighting some trashy old timers. I can’t remember what Jericho covered about that match in any of his books. Just curious based on Jericho’s relative proximity.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Made me wonder what Jericho’s thoughts were during that program.

I think he really wanted to do something with Mickey Rourke.

He does cover the match in a pretty detailed fashion in his third book. Snuka was far from his first choice. My memory isn't 100% clear but I think Piper was the only one of Jericho's picks that actually became one of his opponents in the actual match. Originally, Jericho wanted Jerry Lawler to be one of the three matches since hadn't (yet) made his WrestleMania debut but Vince insisted, for some reason, that all of his opponents be people that participated at WrestleMania I. Jericho then thought about (interestingly enough given this episode) of Greg Valentine and Tito Santana as the other two opponents.

Then he remembered Steamboat and he was added when Vince confirmed that Bonnie Steamboat didn't own the rights to Dragon's name. Snuka was kind of foisted upon him and Jericho talked about limited Superfly was and how he couldn't do anything with him. But he didn't really say anything about his character as an IRL person.

 

[Baby Shoes]

Made me wonder what Jericho’s thoughts were during that program.

I think he really wanted to do something with Mickey Rourke.

He does cover the match in a pretty detailed fashion in his third book. Snuka was far from his first choice. My memory isn't 100% clear but I think Piper was the only one of Jericho's picks that actually became one of his opponents in the actual match. Originally, Jericho wanted Jerry Lawler to be one of the three matches since hadn't (yet) made his WrestleMania debut but Vince insisted, for some reason, that all of his opponents be people that participated at WrestleMania I. Jericho then thought about (interestingly enough given this episode) of Greg Valentine and Tito Santana as the other two opponents.

Then he remembered Steamboat and he was added when Vince confirmed that Bonnie Steamboat didn't own the rights to Dragon's name. Snuka was kind of foisted upon him and Jericho talked about limited Superfly was and how he couldn't do anything with him. But he didn't really say anything about his character.

Thank you. This is what I was trying to connect the dots with but not having had time to go dig out the Jericho books.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Zero Bravo talk? I would have prefered they dubbed in voice overs as it was a lot of French speaking.

I'm not sure I picked up any new info but it was mostly well done again.

 

[One Epic Winter (OEW)]

It was tiring reading all the subtitles but it was cool hearing from Jimmy Hart. Good episode but not much we haven't heard before.

I thought it was interesting that Jacques Rougeau said they didn't want Dino facing Hogan in Montreal for fear that we would be cheered over him.

Next week is DR. D!

 

[OG]

All the same rumors we've heard before. Hard to add much when no one really knows. Having lived in Montreal and having worked on that Native reserve, I probably found it a bit more interesting than most others did though. The Natives are very open about their business and dealings (illegal or not) and enjoy immunity. Cannot imagine them risking that by sending one of their own to do a mainland MTL hit.

 

[Hawk 34]

I did find Jacques highly entertaining and yet also, you got a real glimpse at why so many people couldn’t stand him.

 

[Brocklock]

I did find Jacques highly entertaining and yet also, you got a real glimpse at why so many people couldn’t stand him.

Yeah I thought Jacques was very entertaining and kind of hilarious, but that type of personality would get old after a while.

I thought this was a good episode. Dino was a guy at least in WWF I found really boring, but I basically had zero knowledge of how big he was in Montreal and how he had to basically change his style to be lumbering and dull. The subtitles didn't bother me. You had to know if they were gonna interview Dino's family and other people from Montreal, there would be subtitles.

 

[909]

The suggestion that the Hells Angels or Rock Machine were hired to kill him is something that holds a lot of water, but unfortunately there's no chance in hell anyone's going to talk about that stuff. I was surprised they even made an episode out of it.

 

[BruiserBrody]

I did find Jacques highly entertaining and yet also, you got a real glimpse at why so many people couldn’t stand him.

Yeah I thought Jacques was very entertaining and kind of hilarious, but that type of personality would get old after a while.

I thought this was a good episode. Dino was a guy at least in WWF I found really boring, but I basically had zero knowledge of how big he was in Montreal and how he had to basically change his style to be lumbering and dull. The subtitles didn't bother me. You had to know if they were gonna interview Dino's family and other people from Montreal, there would be subtitles.

IIRC, Dino was one of the guys who stuck a roid needle in his ass too often. I was shocked as a youngster when the Apter mags put a 70s Bravo pic in an article and he was doing flying head scissors. The Bravo I knew never left the ground.

Reading those 1987 Apter mags results sections made you think the Rougeaus wrestled Bravo/Valentine for 6 straight months between WM 3 and SSeries. Bravo and Valentine then broke up as Valentine was going back to JCP if he didn't get a singles push.

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

Man if a couple of you guys thought that was a lot of sub-reading or that it was hard that's pretty sad. GET SOME CULTURE.

More seriously this was an ok episode. The background on Dino was more interesting than the stuff on his murder. Jacques was entertaining. The stuff with Dino's daughter was sad. No way were the Natives themselves showing up in an ultra-white rich people Montreal neighborhood in the early 90's to do a hit. That theory was hilarious. Farming a contract out to a gang though? Maybe. Dino had so many shady contacts it's impossible to know.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Man if a couple of you guys thought that was a lot of sub-reading or that it was hard that's pretty sad. GET SOME CULTURE.

More seriously this was an ok episode. The background on Dino was more interesting than the stuff on his murder. Jacques was entertaining. The stuff with Dino's daughter was sad. No way were the Natives themselves showing up in an ultra-white rich people Montreal neighborhood in the early 90's to do a hit. That theory was hilarious. Farming a contract out to a gang though? Maybe. Dino had so many shady contacts it's impossible to know.

I watch Japan/French/Italian gore flicks with subtitles...in this case I just felt a voice over would have been appropriate.

A fun Easter Egg to look for in the Schultz episode is Mr. Fuji in the background during the SLAP. Fuji was one of the locker room "fixers" and it's believed he helped set the scene up, either by winding up Dr. D or whatever.

 

[Mickey Massuco]

I hate dubbing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4koLWPq2qDY

even in an interview, i need the original feel of the person. you lose that with the dubbing

 

[AA484]

Montreal has been a hotbed of mob murders for years. Canada's anti-racketeering laws are more lax than ours so it is easier for it to flourish up there.

 

[Valeyard]

I would happily spend a day with Jacques Rougeau.

 

[One Epic Winter (OEW)]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YKwFHpqb1s

Looks like it's primarily focusing on the Stossel incident.

 

[Youth N Asia]

For me Dark Side is a play on my phone while I’m watching show. I feel like it doesn’t need my full attention. So from that alone I get not liking the subtitles.

 

[Valeyard]

I want an XPW show now, hopefully with Jay Bower talking about saving that dog.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

I would watch the fuck out of an episode on XPW. I'm still waiting for that doc, "Bleeding Was Only Half the Job," to actually happen.

 

[Valeyard]

XPW does itself. I want to hear Messiah's story on national television.

As far as lighter stuff, I want the adventures of Antonio Inoki.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Rise, Fall and Redemption of Nick Gage would be a good episode but maybe they're waiting to see if there's a season 2 of The Wrestlers on Vice since it'd probably be more appropriate for that show since it's an ongoing story.

 

[Master Thrasher]

They should do one about the steroid trials.

 

[Youth N Asia]

Rise, Fall and Redemption of Nick Gage would be a good episode but maybe they're waiting to see if there's a season 2 of The Wrestlers on Vice since it'd probably be more appropriate for that show since it's an ongoing story.

Did Nick Gage really have a rise? I was into CZW for their first couple years, but I don’t think that one hooks too many casual tv viewers.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

Hardcore wrestling was all the rage on the indies for a while, at least from 1999 until 2003 or so, and Gage was a big CZW star in that period. I'd say that counts as a rise, at least as far as deathmatch wrestling in the States is concerned.

 

[Valeyard]

Gage was much more in a bubble than others. A lot of people knew of it him, but not him. That being said, for a while there it seemed like everybody knew Nick Mondo.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

Gage could still work, though, given the docs already aired on Vice about CZW. I think a company profile of CZW would be more interesting than individual talents, personally.