Matches You Didn't Think Existed

[Baby Shoes]

I had forgotten that until you mentioned it, I think Animal was still in decent shape at least since it wasn’t long after his heel THE ROAD WARRIOR run in WWE.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/ovppodcast/status/1266376247539572736
God. Some of the venues WWF ran in the mid '90s looked so dumpy.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/ovppodcast/status/1270747558000779267

 

[Brocklock]

I bet this is really good.

 

[Baby Shoes]

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1279482636227039232

Wrestling cards you didn’t think existed

 

[Valeyard]

The Dynamic Dudes at the Silverdome. Can't process that.

 

[BruiserBrody]

WWF ran a bunch of shows at the Silverdome that were set up for basketball and not for 93,000 fans. I am not sure if the Cobo Hall was still open or Joe Louis was WWF exclusive that the NWA would try such a suicidal house show.

Looking at the results, JCP debuted in Sept 87 with 8000 fans coming to Joe Louis to see Ronnie Garvin win the world title from Flair. Only 3 weeks later Flair and Luger vs Garvin and Dusty only drew 1000 in the same arena.
They went to the Cobo in 88 and popped a house with Dusty teaming with long time rival the Sheik to face Murdoch and Sullivan in a cage. Sheik was mad at his pay off and refused to come back for more bouts.
Luger and Flair did another nice house a few months later, but then in Oct Sting vs Flair BOMBED back to 1300.

NWA @ Pontiac, MI - Silverdome - June 11, 1989 (about 900)
Family Appreciation Day - all kids tickets were only $5
Scott Steiner vs. Mike Rotunda (suplex match)
Eddie Gilbert vs. Kevin Sullivan (taped fist match)
Ricky Steamboat vs. the Great Muta
The Road Warriors vs. the Samoan Swat Team
NWA US Champion Lex Luger vs. Michael Hayes (Badstreet match)
Also included Ricky Santana, Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace

 

[Baby Shoes]

I knew this happened. I didn’t realize footage existed. Apologies if anyone has seen this before

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

WWF ran a bunch of shows at the Silverdome that were set up for basketball and not for 93,000 fans. I am not sure if the Cobo Hall was still open or Joe Louis was WWF exclusive that the NWA would try such a suicidal house

even with the 15,000 capacity set up, 900 people in the Silverdome is brutal

 

[Baby Shoes]

 

[Master Thrasher]

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1280599972518518789

This was the main event for WWF's debut on TBS. It's hilarious (but not surprising) that Vince would think a match between Big John Studd and a 60 year old Bobo Brazil would win over skeptics.

The more things change...

 

[Baby Shoes]

Wasn’t Bobo one of those guys who was one of Vince’s all-time favorites?

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Yeah. Bobo Brazil and Dr. Jerry Graham are two guys I hear cited as Vince's favorite wrestlers growing up.

 

[Valeyard]

I've liked what I've seen of Bobo, but his super racist Japan gimmick is terrible.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1281620140254203905

HUH.

If Enzo gives Ricky Morton COVID-19, we're all going to be so pissed.

 

[Hawk 34]

If anyone is giving the other guy a virus, it’ll be the the other direction in this exchange.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Well if Ricky Morton gives Enzo the 'rona, it'll be a great late career accomplishment.

 

[Hawk 34]

Fairly confident that ‘ol Ricky hasn’t washed his hands since the 87 Bash Tour.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

He hasn't worn a face mask cause he can't figure out how he can smoke cigs with one on.

 

[Valeyard]

Ricky hasn't worn anything since the Horsemen broke his face. Wrestlers are very stupid people when it all comes down to it.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1282065627939840002

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1282139960343060480

 

[alfdogg]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1283336630280101892

Randy Savage vs PIG. Never knew he hung around until the summer of 95

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Yeah. I always assumed he left when HOG did in early ‘94.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1284246500386709504

Had no idea Hogan did any WWF TV appearances after KOTR '93 (albeit localized event promos). Jacket Jimmy Hart is wearing depicts '94 WCW era Hogan even!

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1285212110373498883

Man, '93 WWF was weird.

 

[Valeyard]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1284246500386709504

Had no idea Hogan did any WWF TV appearances after KOTR '93 (albeit localized event promos). Jacket Jimmy Hart is wearing depicts '94 WCW era Hogan even!

This is really weird. Hogan just mentioning getting the title in passing is weird by itself, but man, very relaxed Hogan just pimping all his non-wrestling shit instead of the actual show he'll be on is weird. Totally checked out. How soon after he left did he start having any talks with WCW? I feel like I remember Thunder In Paradise was a Turner thing.

Also I fucking loved Thunder In Paradise as a kid and have little shame.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Thunder in Paradise wasn't a Turner show but it was filmed at Disney-MGM Studios at the same time that WCW started filming Worldwide and some of the B shows there. IIRC, negotiations for Hogan started in late '93/early '94. WWF plugged Mr. Nanny when it came out in the Fall of '93 and there were occasional references to him on TV (most notably, Macho Man bemoaning that he didn't want his friendship with Crush to fall apart like his friendship with Hulk). I think there was an idea at one point that Hulk would be the surprise referee in the main event at WrestleMania X instead of Piper.

Earliest reference to Hogan on WCW TV that I recall was at SuperBrawl IV in February '94 when the announcers and Mean Gene talked about how Hogan was watching Flair Vs Vader II with a lot of interest. I feel like Mean Gene started name dropping him almost as he got to WCW. I almost wonder if that was Bischoff's strategy. We'll get Hogan's sidekicks then he'll have to show up.