WWF: Hulkamania era (1984-`1992)

[Valeyard]

I'm a fan of Pat Tanaka warranting an actual write off. Made him stronger for the jobber run the next year or two. I hate that babyface team so much though.

Beverlys deserved better. They were needed.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Was Jimmy Snuka even in any angles in WWF after 1989? ‘90-‘92 Superfly is definition of roster filler. Old guy picking him to win the ‘90 Rumble (then doing his taunt) and being the first victim in Taker’s streak (which is only cool in retrospect) are only highlights of ‘90s Snuka.

There’s probably one crazy match with Metal Maniac that I haven’t seen though.

 

[strummer]

Snuka was 46 years old when he came back to the wwf in 1989. John Tenta would debut later that year at age 26

 

[Valeyard]

Probably had some short feuds here and there, maybe cameo in other storylines at times I can't remember. Should've at least gotten a feud with heel Rooster.

The Taker match in context is pretty cool. Snuka was pointless but was still Snuka and Taker couldn't be the phenom until he killed the phenom, and no one had just obliterated him like that to my memory. In my canon that the was last time he was seen until the Raw battle royal.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Snuka was in the ‘92 Royal Rumble and stuck around as a JTTS until around the time of WrestleMania VIII. I think his last notable moment as a full time WWF roster member is putting over “Rhapsody in Blue” era HBK at MSG right after the Rockers break up.

 

[Valeyard]

I legit don't remember him doing anything, and I love the 92 Rumble. I forget Sags is in that match, too, though.

Snuka would've fit well in 1991 WCW. Him and Gigante vs Freebirds would've been so bad.

 

[Hawk 34]

There’s a very good chance they’d try to do Snuka and Pillman matches in some bumbling attempt of a torch passing effort.

 

[Valeyard]

A bunch of bad TV title matches with Austin that go to the time limit all the time. A Lethal Lottery spot teaming with Liger against Thomas Rich and Vinne Vegas. Some legendarily bad matches with DDP on b-shows.

 

[strummer]

If Ole was still booking in 91/92 he absolutely would have brought Snuka in

 

[Hawk 34]

There’s zero chance they don’t make him and Cactus feud and that Foley doesn’t quit the business right then and there having to carry his beloved idol thru dog shit matches where he kills himself for the unappreciative asshole.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Mick Foley is a fanboy at heart and probably would have loved breaking his back for his childhood hero. He considered him a mentor and friend till the end (while feeling bad and confused over the fact that Superfly probably killed Nancy Argentino)

 

[Valeyard]

Foley worked him in Abrams' UWF. Said he was weird.

 

[Hawk 34]

Yeah he was weird but what did he think about Snuka?

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

He really enjoyed working Snuka despite Abrams booking them to do a double count out as a finish for a lumberjack match.

 

[Valeyard]

On one of the panel shows he told a funny story about Snuka doing a large amount of coke in the bathroom somewhere.

People give Warrior's promos way too much shit compared to Snuka's.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Here is Mick repeating the story of wrestling Snuka from his book.

 

[Valeyard]

They should've put the title on Snuka instead of Backlund. I mean, yeah, the whole murder thing, but he'd have done some great work.

 

[Hawk 34]

They should've put the title on Snuka instead of Backlund. I mean, yeah, the whole murder thing, but he'd have done some great work.

There you go again assuming Backlund doesn’t have his own murderous skeleton in his closet.

Tell me, have you seen Jonathan Taylor Thomas anytime recently?

 

[Valeyard]

I do know he goes clubbing in West Hollywood.

Backlund killed Spinderella, though.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Between the Sheets covered Aug of 1990 this week. The last note in the WWF section was that the WWF was talking to Vader about coming in. They were telling him he could keep his New Japan dates. Bix and Kris point out that Vince would certainly renege on that quickly. At most Vader would be allowed to work SWS for Tenryu.
--
Mean Gene rolls up on the Survivor Series egg. As it cracks steam starts to shoot from the egg and Vader rises in his full Mastodon mask...
Sadly that can't happen as the mask was a New Japan trademark or whatever.
---

In all seriousness, the WWF probably screws up Vader after eating the legdrop around the horn after WM 7.
There's probably some fun matches with Hacksaw, Tito and Bossman to be had though. Two of which we know thanks to WCW in 94.

And the real shame is Vader would be coming in at the end of the heyday for WWF managers. Even if he gets paired with Heenan, it would only be for a few months. I think Mr. Fuji fits best given the other options.

 

[Valeyard]

Fuji and Vader are a perfect combination. It just works.

Vader in 1990 is in WCW by 1992. He'd work too stiff for top guys and probably rub a bunch of other people the wrong way. Hogan, Savage, and Warrior are very different from the people he'd work with later on (well, maybe not Warrior). The Hogan who tried to pretend Taker broke his neck isn't the guy who would take Vader's strikes without bullshit.

Also either Vader takes Quake's spot or is immediately stuck in the midcard where, at best, we get some awesome Bossman matches (and some shitty Tugboat ones). Although Vader and the Natural Disasters as a gigantic upper-card meat wall sounds awesome.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Yeah, I think only time Vader works in WWF is in '87 when they were constantly feeding Hogan monster heels or taking Tenta's spot in '89/'90.

I kind of see Warrior as more of a roadblock to Vader being a huge success in WWF than Hogan for some reason. As disappointing as their feud was, afaik, Hogan didn't have that much of a problem working with Vader. Hogan worked Japan for gods sake. He can take a few live rounds if it's what's best for business for, brother.

(Now I'm going to get Brodesplained with some Observer notes from '95, aren't I?)

 

[Valeyard]

Vader was established in WCW then, though. Everyone knew what he was about, and Hogan probably knew that he'd look extremely bad if he couldn't at least try to hang with Vader on a similar level. Even then, that first Hogan/Vader match is completely different from the last one at Bash at the Beach, where it went from some of the most interesting work Hogan had done in years to the forumla again. And besides Hogan delayed the Vader feud as long as he could, if I remember, and once it was over Vader was never going to get that spot again.

With Warrior, shit gets bad, I think. Vader worked stiff and Warrior worked wreckless, so something would give. Vader is a perfect opponent for Warrior during his title run on paper and the matches probably would be fun sprints but someone breaks someone else's face.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Vader murdering Andre to remove him from the 1991 Rumble during the build up could've been pretty fun.

But big Leon would have mentioned to Vince during his job interview that he grew up in Compton and Vince would have made him the Rap Master Leo White

 

[BruiserBrody]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1697358228697362793

Holy shit.

A billion stars.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://www.facebook.com/100066969734097/posts/pfbid0LQd837yBAQm6YCF4yJsCWYBAEUZ8fruPwo78fKNXmYbhLpegiweTz35cqquKBY7Hl

 

[BruiserBrody]

Don't recall this at all. Odd timing as Beefer was busy with Genius and Perfect main events around this time.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

SD Jones: Still there.

 

[BruiserBrody]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1699676499140358624

Looks like a good card on paper, but it was part of a massive TV taping, so the matches were probably all quickie dark matches.

I remember this one being hard sold by Mean Gene (Mooney?) as we needed to get to the arena on time because Bossman vs Razor was going to be the opening match. It took me almost 30 years to finally see the match as it finally popped up on Peacock on a CHV.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://www.facebook.com/100063248617741/posts/pfbid0p4wovbxytaqN3T89vN3ujC89HYnZvjXgvRqRenUwnSsiTDQQUxujdNBMbCifswPl