DrVenkman PhD

Cogeco put this up today but man, the VQ is a bit distracting. I'm actually a bit worried - this is actually the first "WWE Classics" branded thing they've aired so I hope it's not the beginning of a trend. It's watchable and everything, but it takes getting used to. I've noticed that sometimes when I FF a DVD on the Xbox 360 and go back to regular playback, the video looks like this temporarily. Oh well. Kind of odd how the Headshrinkers got the jobber "already in the ring" entrance for the opener. I haven't seen this show in years - I'm glad they showed the deal from Prime Time because Heenan slapping Perfect then begging for forgiveness less than a second later is awesome.

Yeah, it always pains me to say this (since I was on the WWE side during the MNW) but Nitro was much better on this week. The next Raw should be something else, though.

I have a vague memory of telling my cousin that Ric Flair couldn't win the Rumble because I already saw Piper throw him over the ropes at Survivor Series. God bless being a kid.

Virgil was able to go through 22 other bags in the back

The "This Day in History" bit on Raw about the Chamber of Horrors was tops. I need to see that again.

Watching the evolution of Bill Goldberg should prove interesting. It's clear they don't have a Goldberg Formula yet (and why would they in match #2?) but it's odd to see him try stuff out. In his match with Barbarian, he does some crazy... I don't know what, he leaps at him, locks onto him with his legs, then rolls. He also does a dropkick! No spear yet either.

F4W~! #691 - September 16, 2008: Guys who maybe should not answer their phone: Chuck Palumbo and Paul London. Vince thought Palumbo's motorcycle gimmick was cool, but then he got over it. Producers aren't big fans of him but Johnny Ace always goes to bat for him due to them being tight from WCW. London actually invested in acting classes but it is felt "he has no instinct for this" and he has no allies on the booking committee. What's the deal with Ryan Braddock?: He was going to be brought up as JBL's cousin, but JBL thought he looked like too much of a mid-carder in dark matches. As it is 1978, the feeling is people who beat Braddock - because he's a big guy - gain overness points. Guidelines for previewing SmackDown vs. Raw 2009: From Fighting Spirit Magazine, here are guidelines on how to properly preview the game - ""Got WWE preview code yesterday and, as always, screenshots have to be approved if we decide to take our own. So far, so usual. But here’s the interesting part: there are further stipulations that highlight which screenshots will immediately be given the thumbs down. These include screenshots of ‘superstars’ (not allowed to refer to them as wrestlers) bleeding, weapons being used -- and we’re not allowed to take ANY screenshots of Triple H losing or ANY screenshots of Triple H in a 'defenceless or vulnerable position'".

I had a dream that indicated putting a jalapeno pepper (like, the whole pepper) at the bottom of a champagne glass was an incredible taste sensation, both in drinking the wine and eating the pepper afterwards.

Was there any sign of Gregory Helms' theme in the intro this week? I completely forgot to look for the LISTEN when I watched the show on Saturday morning.

Prime Time Wrestling Royal Rumble Predictions: 0:15 is what this clip is all about.

Bossman's elimination is always good for a laugh (yet you feel bad for him at the same time - that couldn't have felt good).

There was an episode of Raw on recently where Monsoon threatened to throw Steve Austin's "ass out of the building". It was both incredibly awesome and incredibly odd to hear Monsoon curse on TV. Who the hell is J.W. Storm?

Speaking of old rivals, I would have liked to see a Federation-ized version of Flair vs. Steamboat but it was not to be. I also always have found it very odd how Flair and Lawler immediately go at it in the 93 Rumble.

I like how Vince has an attitude (no pun intended) on this episode of Raw. He introduced HBK as "the wise ass of the WWF" and gets all up in Stone Cold's grill. The debut of the Owen 3:16 shirt! I love it. I like how Owen brings up Vince Sr. in his plea to have Austin fired.

Yeah, on this show it was odd listening to Heenan and Monsoon kind of lap themselves in Mania hype. They were also quite adamant that Mania was "less than one week away" despite the fact this show was on March 23rd. I assumed these matches were used on the Prime Time the Monday before Mania. Upon reading that this show featured a match with Bret Hart teaming with the Bushwhackers, all I wanted to see was Hart do the Whacker Walk. He does, but it looks really off. However, Luke and Butch to the HITMAN STRUT~! and it's amazing. I am not a fan of how the main event ended. Edit: The matches aired weeks / months later on PTW, so I guess Monsoon and Heenan were just bad at math.

The really weird thing about watching this show live is I had been watching wrestling for less than a year and was still into the whole Hogan thing, but my cousin and I both agreed he had no chance of winning and we didn't want him to either. I don't know if that was some sub-conscious TV booking they had been doing to phase him out but we really wanted Sid or Piper to win.

I almost hate it when Heenan and Monsoon call a show. I find it necessary to not fast forward through matches and to listen to their banter.

The Flair promo from Thunder in 1999 is pretty good. Lots of passion shown there. It's a real shame because Flair, as the "president of WCW", is so damned livid about the Finger Poke of Doom and promises punishment for those involved, but, best I can recall, NOTHING HAPPENED (except the company unofficially dying). The 2000 bit where he imitates Vince Russo as a little Italian boy is what it is. I was so happy to see the February 2007 promo is him bitching out Carlito for being a "lazy son of a bitch" and leaving before the main event.

Cogeco here appears to be back to the "Everything but the PYBO and Legends roundtable" game. Hopefully that's fixed quickly.

He says "damnit". This was 1992, after all. That sort of language didn't fly! Not a huge deal but sadly (though expected) they used the recent DVD release of the show, meaning classic Rumble theme with Vince McMahon yelling 30 names is out, new song with Fake Gary Michael Cappetta / Fake Michael Buffer who sounds nothing like Michael Buffer does the voice over.

I will say I always look forward to his entrance if I'm at a telecast he's at. Mania 23 was a fun entrance. I was at a SmackDown taping last October when Kane and Taker were a team against MVP and Matt Hardy. The friend I was with (who is not really a wrestling fan) asked why Kane and Undertaker had "such elaborate entrances" compared to everyone else.

Putting the show location in the sub-title reminded me of how as a youngster, I thought "unison" was an actual location somewhere in the US whenever Monsoon noted the crowd was "cheering in Unison" or what have you.

From the classic Observer posted today: - Halloween Havoc 91 was scheduled to feature a PLEXIGLASS MAZE MATCH. How the hell would that even work? - A "Red Georgia Clay" match had been in the works for a Clash. The ring would be filled with a quicksand like substance and the rules would be like a reverse battle royal. I really hope Vince Russo is not a F4Wonline subscriber (actually I kind of hope he or someone in TNA DOES read that and thinks it's a great idea).