WWF Ruthless Aggression (2002- 2008)

[Valeyard]

Test could've been champ in 1999 and I don't care what anyone says. He had a window. After that he just fell off and never got out. Should've been backup for Jericho though

 

[Brocklock]

Hell, he had a shot in the fall of 01 when he was getting a decent push. Had that match I really like with Kane and then another good match with Edge at Survivor Series, and the team with Booker T was decent. Not much of a character or promo though.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Now I’m curious as to why he was so buried before his neck surgery and release in ‘04. Follow up, if he was damaged goods then why did they bring him back briefly three years later with a solid upper midcard push?


I kind of feel like if he had wanted it (and he hadn’t gone up and died on me and Brocklock), Test could have been one of those guys who was WWE for life until either A. he finally broke through the glass ceiling and became a main eventer ala Mark Henry and JBL or B. aggravated everyone in the locker room with his shitty behavior that the bosses had to make him persona non grata ala Hardcore Holly. He might have landed in Spot B regardless anyways.

 

[Valeyard]

Test and Booker were rough only because it felt like a push for Test and a big step down for Booker. But Test going "T&T baby!" and saying "HBO: help a brother out!" to Booker are always with me.

Test didn't have a place in 2004 to me. Maybe give him Orlando Jordan's spot. Have him stab Cena for Carlito. Maybe join up with Heyman against Taker. Bring T&A back as a monster team. I dunno.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

It does seem fitting that Test & Albert (and Billy Gunn!) were released on the same day. November 1st, 2004 was a black day for big raw boned dudes.

In retrospect, essentially replacing those dudes with Heidenreich, Snitsky, and Matt Morgan was not a great move.

Test could have kicked a baby or threatened to sodomize Michael Cole.

 

[Valeyard]

I think there might be a place for Test and Matt Hardy doing something. Matt was either jobbing, injured, or fired when he should've been a solid midcard player and it isn't like Matt and Test is any stupider than Kenzo and Dupree on the tag team scale. Or Lance Storm because he got a raw deal after Regal went down and maybe Test would be as good a fit with him as Awesome. I guess I'm saying overall is as a single Test has nothing.

 

[BruiserBrody]

It does seem fitting that Test & Albert (and Billy Gunn!) were released on the same day. November 1st, 2004 was a black day for big raw boned dudes.

In retrospect, essentially replacing those dudes with Heidenreich, Snitsky, and Matt Morgan was not a great move.

Test could have kicked a baby or threatened to sodomize Michael Cole.

I guess I shouldn't be shocked guys overstayed their welcome even in the early 2000s. I was still watching this live and remember the Stacy "Testicles" thing and what not, but it is all blended in my head and had you said Test was fired in 2002 after they let Brock kill him, I'd be like - "Sounds about right"

Somebody posted Eddy/Test highlights on Twitter from a Mania (IIRC) a show I totally would have watched but I have zero recollection of this match.

Maybe all the drinking and hate watching to keep up with the TSM Extended Universe fun made most everything not stick in my brain.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I guess I shouldn't be shocked guys overstayed their welcome even in the early 2000s.

Chief Jay Strongbow was on the roster until the early days of Hulkamania. Wrestlers have always overstayed their welcome in WW(W)F/E, you forgetful fool.

Somebody posted Eddy/Test highlights on Twitter from a Mania (IIRC) a show I totally would have watched but I have zero recollection of this match.

Eddie Vs Test at X-7 is a bit underrated. If it were on a Judgment Day or Armageddon, I think it would have gotten some reappraisal as a hidden gem but it’s easy for a fun *** styles clash to get lost in the shuffle on the GREATEST WRESTLEMANIA EVER.

Brody: what does WrestleMania III have to do with anything?

 

[Valeyard]

I'd go ***1/2 based on the last watch. Eddie carried him super well.

 

[Brocklock]

Yeah I like that Eddie/Test match aside from Test getting stuck in the ropes.

It pains me to say it, but uh I kind of wonder how a Benoit/Test match would've went? Probably *** 3/4.

 

[Valeyard]

It would've been ***1/2 at least, if they're feeling it. It will either be like one of those surprisingly good Benoit/Enos matches or surprisingly disappointing like the Benoit/JBL matches.

 

[BruiserBrody]

Nobody really answered: Did Angle call Brock's team "Team Sasquatch" or was that a IWC creation?

 

[Valeyard]

I couldn't see anything on google but you should check the old board.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Vv4hrMLHwhZ7MkKhb4dRvLjtcbQmkzdiSUrrXv1Vps71DtGX4pUq7RmmdheZf6iYl&id=100042841007890

Matches I wish existed. Maybe not in 2004… although I am sure Eddie could have bumped around immobile Savage to make it entertaining.

 

[Brocklock]

The mannerisms from both, and the way both guys could control a crowd would carry it to being entertaining.

 

[Valeyard]

How did they not main event Worldwide or Pro or something, at least? Feels weird that Savage/Liger happened and Savage/Eddie didn't

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

They were on the opposite ends of a BattleBowl match at Slamboree ‘96. Flair and Machi Man Vs Eddie and Arn Anderson. One of those matches that sounds a lot better on paper cause it’s basically just background noise for the Flair-Macho Man storyline.

 

[Valeyard]

I've shut that show off a lot of times, usually around that match, so I forgot who was even in it.

I've said it before but if you swap Eddie and Benoit's pushes in 2004, it's literally better for everyone all around. Maybe not JBL but who cares

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

if you swap Eddie and Benoit's pushes in 2004, it's literally better for everyone all around. Maybe not JBL but who cares

The dumbest part is that they built Brock/Benoit for a while...only to have Benoit go "nah, I'm going to Raw." The only reason I can think of, besides HHH wanting a WM match that isn't either overdone or complete shit, is that they knew Brock was on his way out and wanted to do the Goldberg match at all costs, so here's Eddie getting the feel good win at NWO and then having a solid banger with Angle.

But man, could've been Brock losing to Benoit at NWO and having a classic with Angle at WM, and Eddie/HBK is something that would've ruled so fucking hard. Plus, Eddie dropping the belt in May to HHH/HBK wouldn't have been the worst thing ever.

 

[Valeyard]

Exactly. If Eddie cracks, dropping it to HHH, Shawn, or even Orton makes it a really easy transition. Give Eddie and HHH room, like the iron man, and it's an all timer. He and Shawn is a recipe for one of the potential best matches of Shawn's second run. Hell I think Eddie/Kane could be sneaky good based on Eddie being the cheating scumbag we love and mourn.

Benoit meanwhile blows off the Brock feud and it doesn't hurt Brock any more than the Eddie loss did. There's still a great moment. Benoit/Angle as a story based on the previous Rumble alone is worthy of the spot and a GOAT main event before it happens. JBL isn't just in the right place at the right time and actually can be made to be an upper card guy without the cold push to the top. You get matches with Taker, Show, and could can always pull the trigger on Cena at that point.

So many better options.

 

[Fall of Epic]

Savage and Guerrero not crossing paths on the WCW B and C shows is surprising. We got Ric Flair vs Lizmark Jr. but not that.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

It was just bad timing. I think they were always heel or babyface at the same time.

 

[Valeyard]

WCW b-shows didn't abide by super continuity though. Besides a sprint on Main Event to build to the lethal lottery makes sense and you can overbook the hell out of it.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I think even WCW could see Macho Man and Eddie were too important for a weird B/C show heel Vs heel or face Vs face match.

However if it was good enough for “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan Vs Superr Calo…

 

[mr. piggy]

Nobody really answered: Did Angle call Brock's team "Team Sasquatch" or was that a IWC creation?

Cena did.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1463903341138747401

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1728473496022388856

Don’t do drugs and/or marry Charlie Haas.

 

[Big Papa Paegan]

"This page doesn't exist"

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Tweet has been deleted.

 

[Valeyard]

I don't like whatever slander against Jackie Gayda might have taken place.