Aero

It's funny, because when I was watching the Austin-Angle-Vince backstage stuff on Youtube, I was just thinking of how awesome some of the PPVs around this time were. 2000 had an awesome PPV run from the beginning of the year up to Summerslam (excluding KOTR and maybe WM 2000). As it was mentioned above, I think the series of Rumble 01, NWO 01, and WM 17 might be the best line-up of consecutive PPVs ever. The next four wouldn't be as good. I don't think it's that bad. If anything, it's a huge step up from Backlash from the previous month. Austin vs. Taker isn't as good as Summerslam 98, but I think it's perfectly acceptable outside of a bad finish, (which, IIRC, the live cameras on the PPV might have missed since they were focusing on a Kane run-in or something). Despite the Invasion angle being a huge failure, they still put on some good-great PPVs ranging from Summerslam to Vengeance.

1. Who are you and what's your business here? I don't remember exactly how I found the site. I want to say I found it linked from either the Rantsylvania or Cheap Pops (I think that was its name...) site back in 2002. Shockingly, I decided to join the forum based on the articles written on the now-nonexistant main page. 2. When did you discover an interest in wrestling? It would have been in 1991-1992. It's tough to say for sure since I can't remember ever going out of my way to watch the weekly shows immediately. I remember immediately taking a liking to Bret Hart, LOD, Mr. Perfect, and The Rockers among others. My brothers and I always seemed to watch on and off around this time, but when it was on, we were pretty into it. I definitely remember watching the last SNME on TV, and I was pretty excited going into it. 3. The Company Line: A. Which companies have you actively followed in your tenure as a wrestling fan? WWF/E, WCW from about 1997-the end, ECW 2000-the end. I started watching WCW based on a friend kind of getting me into it based on the initial nWo/Sting angle, plus I needed something to watch from 8:00-9:00 before Raw started. I watched Thunder when that was on, too, but I never was into WCW enough to order their PPVs. I finally managed to find ECW on some random channel in 1999 and started watching it when I could, and then I usually watched it when it was on TNN as well. I did end up ordering a few of their PPVs. I did start watching TNA in the summer of 2006, and I was really into it until about early 2007, when I just kind of gave up on it. I was mainly drawn into it when I saw the Samoa Joe/Chris Sabin match from one of their PPVs on Comcast's free onDemand service. B. What have some of your favourite companies been? Your least favourite? WWF all the way. WCW and ECW never compared to me. I also never watched the other two until the late-90's, though. I was aware of WCW's existance in the early/mid-90's, but I just never watched it. In fact, I remember one night, my mom called me into the room saying that wrestling was on, but I ended up being disappointed to find WCW Saturday Night and refusing to watch it. Weird. C. What is your favourite company right now? Any reason why? WWE. Usual reason since it's on free TV, and it's not as goofy as TNA is. 4. (Not So) Favourites: A. Who were your favourite wrestlers (or gimmicks) growing up / when you first started watching wrestling?Bret Hart, LOD, Undertaker, Randy Savage, Big Boss Man, Rockers, Mr. Perfect, Ultimate Warrior B. Who were some guys you couldn't stand?I wouldn't say that I didn't like him, but I never really cared for Hulk Hogan when I saw him here and there. I was pretty scared of Papa Shango... setting people on fire via voodoo was serious shit back then. Otherwise, guys I couldn't stand: Ric Flair, Nasty Boys, Mountie, Shawn Michaels when he turned on Jannetty C. Who are your current favourites (if applicable / different from A.)Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, William Regal, Jamie Noble, CM Punk, and I'm actually starting to like Randy Orton for the first time since his IC Title run. Specific Questions about your Interest 5. How would you gauge your current interest level in the product? I'd say from about 2005 onward was the point where I started losing a little interest. Watching wrestling for me is more habit than anything right now. I still enjoy it a lot at points, but it's never a big deal if I miss a show anymore. I watch Raw basically every week, but the others are on and off. To be honest, I usually forget about ECW, although it is usually pretty decent. When SD moved to Friday nights, I was only usually able to watch it once or twice a month. This past year, I've watched it probably less than 12 times. The availability of spoilers (now for two weeks) doesn't encourage me to watch it, either. I do still get excited for PPVs and other stuff here and there, it's just rare. WM this past year, for instance, looked really appealing, and I was really looking forward to it. The majority of PPVs these days don't really do it for me, though. 6. At what point in wrestling history (if it's not now) would you consider your interest to have been at it's peak? When were you compelled to watch every second of televised wrestling AND shell out money on PPVs, get excited about the release of video games, have TV/PPV parties with friends, etc. This would be 1997-mid-1999 for me. Most of 1997 was the height of markdom for me, and once everyone and their mothers started getting into wrestling in 1998, it was easier to have the TV/PPV parties. I think it was in mid to late 1999 that I realized that some PPVs really did suck, and I wasn't as compelled to shell out the money. 7. At what point could you tell your interest was dipping and why do you think this happened, or what specific event(s) triggered the decrease? Was there anything even specific? Just a gradual interest loss of interest? Retirement (or death) of a favourite? A boring title reign on SmackDown in the Summer of 2004? It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment or incident that triggered my disinterest. A few things that come to mind that really did annoy me at the time: JBL's ascension and title reign was boring as hell at times (funny now, because I liked JBL once he lost the World title), Shelton Benjamin's lack of push after he lost the IC Title (how do you not push this guy further after his match with HBK??), ECW's revival in 2006 turned to shit, WWE's refusal to seriously push Christian in 2005. 8. Have you ALWAYS stuck with wrestling even during times of low interest, or are there any lengths of time you stopped watching for a period only to come back at a later date?Always. Interest dipped, but I've always watched. Interesting Questions of a Somewhat Random Nature 10. What style of pro wrestling best resonates with your personal tastes? Has it always been this way, or have your tastes changed over time? I like a little bit of everything. I love technical wrestling, spotty matches like the TLC/Ultimate X matches, hardcore matches, etc. I'm up for soap opera-ish stuff, too, just so long as it's not THAT farfetched (ie, Katie Vick). For the most part, it's always been this way, but I've been able to appreciate technical wrestling more since getting on internet and "becoming a smark". The first time I watched Benoit-Regal from the Pillman show, I thought it was boring as hell. After a few more viewings over the years, I've appreciated it a bit more. 11. Where do you "draw the line" with the whole "suspended disbelief" deal? Do you tell critics to "relax because it's just wrestling and you should enjoy the matches" (aka TNA fans about everything that happens on Impact!), do you come up with solutions that the writing team didn't bother to think about but you figure "it's there if you read between the lines" (aka "WWE Apologists"), somewhere inbetween, or do you take your greatest joy in watching wrestling to deconstruct everything that makes no sense? I'm at the point where I'll just groan about stupid stuff like the TV viewers getting the view from the inside of Steph's baby carriage at WM 22 or Hornswaggle's magic door in the wall, and then I'll continue watching. If a non-fan is watching something as stupid with me, I'll make fun of it with them and move on. It's such a commonplace now that it hardly bothers me. If something happens in WWE that is beyond the level of stupidity on a major level (like a main event storyline), then I'll be on here complaining and picking it apart. 12. Do you attend live events? And more specifically, do you get a thrill out of big arena shows, do you prefer the smaller 'intimate' settings of the local indy show, or would you rather forget the whole thing and watch everything unfold on your HDTV without dealing with 'the marks'? I go to live events whenever I can. I was just at Survivor Series last week, and I paid the money to get a good floor seat. I've always had a good time at whatever live show I've been to. The only 'intimate' small arena show I've ever been to was an ECW TV taping in early 2000, so it's hard to judge that against all the WWE shows I've been to. Anytime I go to an event, no matter how much of a smart fan I am from the internet now, I always find myself becoming a mark again at the arena because it's just too much fun not to get into everything. 13. If applicable, what are the best and worst experiences you've had going to a show live? My first event was Summerslam 97, and the entire event was just great as a mark. At the time, seeing Benoit win the Rumble in 2004 was amazing, especially since the Rumble match itself was one of the best. For the first Raw of 2006, me, my two brothers, and about 5 other friends went, with Cena vs. Angle in a First Blood match as the main event. Despite crappy seats, cheering for Angle against the Cena fans was way too much fun. This was at the height of the Cena hate at the live events. And I had a great time at the PPV last Sunday, as well. I really can't think of any bad experiences. I've always had fun. 14. What are your favourite matches, moments, or events? Matches: Austin vs. Bret (WM 13), Taker vs. HBK (HIAC), Austin vs. Bret (Survivor Series), Austin vs. Rock (WM 17), among others Moments: Eddie winning the World Title, the end of Bret/Austin submission match, Hart family celebration at Canadian Stampede, Owen pinning Bret at WM X, Post-match of Warrior vs. Savage from WM VII, among others. Events: WM 17 (has the best variety of matches of any PPV ever), Canadian Stampede, Vengeance 2003, WM VIII, Summerslam 97 and 98. 15. Freestyle Add any closing remarks you feel are absolutely necessary to letting TSM know your thoughts on wrestling. Wrestling isn't nearly as good as it was during its peak, but it could be worse, like 1995 levels of suck. I'll likely never stop watching, no matter what the quality. It's taken up such a large portion of my life that it'd feel really weird not to be watching.

I watched the first 17 minutes of Season 7 on the Redemption DVD. It seems like a fine start, but one annoying thing. This is very minor, but I'll put in in spoiler tags just in case.

This was actually in 2007. Shelton Benjamin did fall through a ladder at this years WM, though.

Before we start another draft, we should definitely vote on who got the best picks.

I'd be up for the episode draft.

Ah, but you underestimate Ronnie fucking Gardocki. But yeah, he won't have it easy in prison as a former cop.

Well, I don't think Vic wanted a picture of Ronnie on his desk to remind him of the betrayal. When you look back to the first season (particularly the first few episodes), it's weird to think that out of the four Strike Team members, the ultimate background character RONNIE ended up being the only one to go to jail. Obviously Shane and Lem had worse fates, though. The tour of the ICE office on the way to Vic's desk was the unintentional comedy of the evening. Great finale overall. I would've liked to see Dutch break the teenager, but I think we're meant to assume it's only inevitable. As for Vic, You knew it wasn't going to end well for him, it was only a matter of how it would suck.

Wow, he actually pulled a Benoit.

Oh, I definitely would've picked Lester if I thought of him. Same goes for the Dominos Pizza Noid, who I just remembered a few minutes ago.

I think Melina's returning...

Yes! The Slammys are back! On that note... another three-hour Raw?

Knox wouldn't beat him up there. He'd walk out on the stage, stare for a few seconds, and then beat him up backstage when he's talking to Val Venis within the hour.

Can't we just say Batista was given his rematch during one of the many many many attempts to win the title retroactively? I have no interest in Batista near the belt for the time being. I don't think anyone has any interest in more Batista title shots, but we have to face it... he's never going away, unless he gets injured or something.

Man, when was the last time they did a tournament to name the No. 1 Contender for a midcard title? I'm intrigued. I figure it'll end up with CM Punk winning, since they can play up the fact that Punk pinned Regal last night, and Regal beat Punk to win KOTR. Besides, Punk likely won't be near the World Title anytime soon with Cena and Jericho likely continuing their feud, and Batista is still owed his rematch.

FWIW, here's the reason why Regal was eliminated so quickly.

From wrestler to guest expert in pets/litter boxes. Tremendous.

So I got back from the show a while back. I thought it was a really entertaining show from top to bottom, minus bogus eliminations (Regal, MVP... I'm looking at you). Even though HHH vs. Kozlov sucked, the crowd was great throughout, and that finish was insane. I don't know how it came off on TV, but Edge's entrance, Jeff's entrance, and Edge winning was some of the loudest cheering I've ever heard at a live event. I was disappointed by lack of dueling chants during Cena-Jericho, but it was Cena's hometown, so I'm not that surprised. How did the crowd sound the rest of the night? We sounded pretty loud throughout, but I know it sometimes is different on TV.

So yeah, this is on tonight. I'm pretty psyched for it, although I won't be able to watch it tonight. Early reviews have been saying it's pretty good. For anyone that can't watch it tonight or doesn't want to sit through commercials, it will be released on DVD on Tuesday. This is what I'll be doing. So yay for Jack Bauer!

I'm picking Jeff to get the win tonight just so they can talk about how many odds Jeff overcame to get this win (beating Taker and HHH on SD, injury at hotel, and still beating HHH & Kozlov at the show).

WWE.com says Jeff has been released from the hospital.

Awesome, thanks man.

Anyone have a stream for Jets-Titans?

Last pick, I'll take... Big Daddy "New Orleans is my town. Nobody going to mess with me. I got interests, and I ain't talking about stamp collecting, though I do find that extremely interesting."

I liked Ross up until he became crazy after the Emily wedding.