WWF: Hulkamania era (1984-`1992)

[Valeyard]

El Matador happening on TNT in 1986 or something makes him a bigger star but kills his longevity. Like I can see him getting big over but by 1988 he's just another guy, a Blue Blazer. But he was always over, and always a reasonable midcard threat, and could work. It's a very different time and style and all that, but it's a lot like RVD in the mid-2000s (and no I'm not comparing them as workers). A real feud with Butch Reed or even Perfect early on makes a huge difference.

A fourth title gives more gravity to feuds and makes things feel like there's progression. It also gives guys like Dibiase or Hercules something to dick around with instead of being aimless. Give Haku a purpose.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I think having a third singles title just kills the IC Title ten years early.

It is a nice idea in theory. A good wrestling promoter SHOULD be able to book three singles titles but Idk if Vince was ever consistently able to.

 

[Valeyard]

It doesn't kill the IC title if you use it differently, though. If the IC title is the workrate belt, nothing takes away from the quality, and the matches elevate the title. A third belt would be a way to add to things and keep feuds meaningful. If WCW can make the US and TV titles mean something in different ways, so can the WWF.

 

[BruiserBrody]

El Matador happening on TNT in 1986 or something makes him a bigger star but kills his longevity. Like I can see him getting big over but by 1988 he's just another guy, a Blue Blazer. But he was always over, and always a reasonable midcard threat, and could work. It's a very different time and style and all that, but it's a lot like RVD in the mid-2000s (and no I'm not comparing them as workers). A real feud with Butch Reed or even Perfect early on makes a huge difference.

A fourth title gives more gravity to feuds and makes things feel like there's progression. It also gives guys like Dibiase or Hercules something to dick around with instead of being aimless. Give Haku a purpose.

I like how you named 2 guys who were given gimmicks that served as titles in their own way. (MDM and King Haku)

WWF had several belts over the years that came and went.
The Apters wanted an IC tag belt in 87 due to all the tag talent.

List of former championships in WWE - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Valeyard]

Naming them was deliberate. They needed real belts.

A second tag title really does seem like something that would hurt more than help over time.

 

[BruiserBrody]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1783299896327459163

This match fascinated me when they promoted it in the WWF mags in 91.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Naming them was deliberate. They needed real belts.

A second tag title really does seem like something that would hurt more than help over time.

It could’ve been good from ‘86 to ‘91 and mayyybe ‘00-‘01 but wildly unnecessary at any other point in WWE history.

Besides the current era and even then, tag team division has been thin plenty of times in past 10-15 years.

 

[Valeyard]

The disparity between all the teams in the 80s was too big for it to work like it could. Like the Bees challenging for the titles is fine, but them getting them is absurd, and I'm not sure it would help c-shows all that much (unless this was the hotshot title, but they never did that). Better booking of the tag division in the sense of making all the teams more credible and having bigger chances makes more sense than another title. Outside of the novelty of each tag champ captaining the big Survivor Series matches, it doesn't really work.

Now that said the Rougeaus should've created the All American tag titles or something and just been assholes until they get killed for good.

 

[BruiserBrody]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1783154957631242570

This was the Blackman who the WWF signed before he got ill and had his run pushed back 9 years.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

 

[Valeyard]

Never getting Blackman, Billy Jerk, and Dr. Death together as a stable is a loss for the business.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Damn Steve Blackman had to be selfish and get a life threatening infection during a South African indie tour and ruined his chance to sign with WWF.

Blackman ‘s near death experience was topic of one of the better RAW Magazine articles of the late ‘90s and JR should have brought it up more on TV.

Or at least it should have led to a feud with The Truth Commission.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Never getting Blackman, Billy Jerk, and Dr. Death together as a stable is a loss for the business.

Toss Dave Barbie in that bearded Bear stable.
How you can be a roided up monster AND a buddy of Andre and not get pushed is still a mystery

 

[Valeyard]

Lethal Oregon Assassins of Death (LOAD) doesn't need no nobodies.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

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Rematches I forgot existed.

 

[Valeyard]

It felt so right.

 

[Hawk 34]

Quite frankly, Al Bundy should been a guest at WM8.

Could have done a segment with him and Peg in the cheap seats somehow win a contest to get ringside seats during the show and Al accidentally helps Tatanka beat Martel while Peg is drooling over the Model.

 

[Valeyard]

Al goin' on the hunt for the Liz centerfold and accidentally destroying it after chasing it all night to excuse why it never aired.

 

[BruiserBrody]

GFA Live pointed out the Barbarian seems to have the record for most managers in WWF. (Baron, Fuji, Heenan, Afa and Albano) but as I type this I realize that Valentine hit 5 too IIRC. (3 Wisemen, Hart and Valiant)

===
I wonder if Vince freaked a little when his planned program for Hogan for the rest of 89 started off with Zeus hitting such fake blows that the SNME segment where he attacks Hogan outside of the cage had to be retaped?

GFA Live is covering the SNME from July, which has Zeus no selling chair shots from the Mega Barbers and freaking 7 year old Brody out.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1785093461340815579

OH! THERE IT IS BROD!

Peanut butter is a specific enough pie choice that I never thought Gorilla was kayfabing.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Peanut Butter is a god tier food. Good to see Monsoon using his encephalon.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://www.facebook.com/100064363761822/posts/827263576095760

Bitter sweet revelation for Brody.

 

[BruiserBrody]

https://www.facebook.com/100064363761822/posts/827263576095760

Bitter sweet revelation for Brody.

I don't even know if that makes sense. "Once a month productions" would perhaps be under a different money pot than "sitcoms/variety"????

SNME had sagging ratings and the WWE was on the brink of scandal with roids and ring boys. That makes more sense than this????

--
Edit - Misreading it. Seinfeld would have been funded in 89ish.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Yeah I had heard the story about how the head of NBC late night and variety loved Jerry Seinfeld so much he pulled money from his own budget to fund the four episodes of Seinfeld’s new show but I didn’t hear it was SNME specifically.

I think in Warren Littlefield’s book, he said they produced two less Bob Hope specials. Bob Hope was in about as rough of shape as the AWA in 1989.

Confused Brody chuckling

 

[snuffbox]

Yeah, in the various books, documentaries, audio commentaries, etc, it's been said the initial 4-ep outlay came from a late night budget. I had never heard it specifically said to be SNME, though. It makes sense. By 1990, NBC was cutting back on SNME episodes. Looking back, though, wrestling did have a pretty good run on NBC for several years.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Yup, the Main Event 88 that is still crowed about today was considered a bit of a flop to the NBC brass. I can't recall what show beat it out (Full House?)

Wasn't The Main Event a soft pilot? Maybe I am making that up in my head.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

NBC was smart as hell with WWF in their first run together. Started with them just as the rocket ship was taking off after WrestleMania, dropped them just as the nosedive was beginning (although there was steady decline since ‘89).

 

[BruiserBrody]

Post Mania 4 the WWF house show plan was Jake the Snake vs Race (assume it was an off shoot of the Rude feud for a loop)

Steamboat was also expected to stick around at first as he and Valentine cut promos for post Mania shows.

 

[snuffbox]

Would've been fun to see either of those at a house show.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Some brutal midcard filler feuds set up after Mania too. Patera/Bravo in a "urgh, me strong" feud. Plus JYD and Ron Bass did the classic aisleway confrontation angle. Should have gotten a bullwhip dog collar match at WrestleFest.

I always find it wild that the Rougeaus suddenly got a renewed push post Mania after being bland faces since Aug 1985. I suppose JCP was no longer an option, so they can't really go anywhere else. Working the Dream Team 200 times in 1987 must have paid the bills.
They would have made good shit head heels for JCP to help freshen up JCP/UWF a year earlier, but how can you leave a company that is running massive stadium shows every few months? The Garvins/Rougeaus had proven to be able to draw huge in Montreal in 85 so they could have given it a shot. They had worked the Roadies in 85 as well. Plus the Rock and Roll Express etc

Would've been fun to see either of those at a house show.