JoeDirt

This thread isn't about whether a pay per view actually delivered or not, but how the buildup to that pay per view was. What shows were you most excited about going into, whether you ended up liking the show or not? What were the best hyped shows for the WWF/WWE, WCW, ECW, and anyone else?

Well, if Meltzer says it really was a worker, then I believe him.

Found a post on the WC boards where Meltzer says it wasn't Jeff Hardy. And another post of his: ""This is going to surprise a few people but here goes. I received the same thing, and like Bob Magee said, the person writing it said he was sending to me because he didn't like Scherer and Ryder (who he sent it to, and I'm figuring he wrote them saying he didn't like me--typical wrestling con). The idea of printing something anonymous like that is mind boggling. I've gotten tons of stuff from guys in that company and they say who they are but know I won't print their names because that's the business. This came anonymously and I did later find out it was from a wrestler that I know a little (and really didn't like Scherer at least in the past) and... It is legit." -Dave Meltzer, posted 04-02-2003 04:18 PM"

Well I've heard that the emails were traced back to RVD's or something like that, but I don't know if that's true. But it would make sense, as RVD is/was clearly a disgruntled worker who was left out of WMXIX for the Cat Fight girls. I read that it might have been Rikishi because of lots of Smackdown references, like how Nathan Jones was seen as a joke in the locker room, stuff about A-Train, etc. Of course since then he DID resign with the WWE, so I guess it's his fault for staying there. But I suppose with RVD still in the WWE nobody really wants to talk about it anymore.

Are there any particular interviews you're referring to here?

How do you know that for sure? I read rumors that it was Rikishi or Jeff Hardy (as well as the RVD rumors).

http://www.wrestling-videos.com/realaudio/...orteau-narc.ram You need Real Player to see it. Here is what Nulty posted at Wrestlingclassics: "Actually, shoot may be too strong of a word. More like a "don't screw with me, kid" kind of match. This beat down took place during the MXPW tapings for the Sunshine Network a few months back. Most of the people on the board know Alex Porteau. He's been well respected in Texas and Florida indys for years. He had a cup of coffee in the WWE a few years back as "the Pug." Normally, Porteau is as professional and as easy to work with as they come. Alex can get a good match out of just about anybody. Will gladly put just about anybody over. Nick Narcisstic came to the tapings and started shooting his mouth off to Porteau in the back before the match. Let's watch the fun, shall we? This is used with permission from MXPW. The two announcers searching their mental thesaurus' for the word "shoot" are Vito DeNucci and me."

I actually have the nWo Horsemen parody on my computer. I could send it to somebody if they have a place to host it at and post it on the board here.

Double C and Matt Sydal locking up while on Chris Candido and CM Punk's shoulders, respectively, and doing an Irish whip sequence while on a guy's shoulders.

Meltzer's SS preview...

Well Carlito's hurt too, so just make it 3-on-3.

When did the WWE switch from the LHW title to the cruiserweight title?

What are the most eerie similarities, do you think, between WCW then and WWE now? When did Benoit and Malenko each join the 4 Horsemen? Did the Horsemen disband after Fall Brawl 97 and then reform in fall of 98 on that one Nitro episode? I remember hearing once that Fit Finlay beat Ric Flair on an episode of Thunder in a big upset. Did that happen, or was it one of those lame "we reversed the decision the next day" things? Also, why was Finlay given a TV title push in 98? When did Vampiro come to WCW? Any good Lex Luger stories?

From DDTDigest, about the Rhodes turn, this is from the 1/29/98 Thunder: Hall comes out to do his survey, and then some... * The WCW Executive Committee has signed Luger vs. Savage at Superbrawl in a no-DQ match. * When Hall started his survey, on reflex I went to switch to RAW. Damn it, it's Thursday! * Hall wonders out loud what happened to his title shot at Slamboree. He threatens Piper. Then, he introduces Dusty. * Sign: "Say it ain't so, Dusty" * Wow, Dusty is really fat! * Ah! Now I get it! The angle is that Dusty has been angry since 1991 when the "suits" did away with tradition. (Ted Turner creating WCW and seceding from the NWA.) Dusty sums it up with "Shove it!" Dusty claims all of the WCW people are making a living off of the nWo. * "Larry Zbyszko, there will be no comeback! And all you marks out there on the Internet, there will be no comeback!" Ouch, that hurts. I don't know whether that means Dusty won't be making a comeback or Larry won't, or both.

What do you mean by that?

Starrcade 1994 did 0.60 Starrcade 1995 did 0.36 Starrcade 1996 did 0.95 Funnily, they added the Flair v Luger v Sting deal because they wanted to ensure a decent buy rate. That's just depressing. Hogan v Beefcake outdrew a pretty decent Starrcade 1995 show? Ugh. -=Mike WCW fans didn't like the Japanese, obviously.

So after Dusty turned, they didn't do a Zybysko vs. Dusty match or anything like that? Did Dusty even really DO anything with the nWo? You gotta love booking a title switch so that when the ratings go down you can blame it on the guy who you just gave the title to. Brilliant stuff. What, if anything, led up to the Jericho vs. Raven match at Havoc 98? Why was Hogan not at Starrcade 95? Did that show draw at all? (With the Japanese wrestlers on it facing the WCW guys) Any reason why DDP was given the win in the battle bowl at Slamboree 96? Why did they decide to push him? Who is to blame for the Tower of Doom cage match at Uncensored 96?

I think that was the big problem with the nWo angle. They were great heels because they put themselves over so much. But in the end, the heels need to get payback from the babyfaces, and you have to send the fans home happy.

My favorite thing of the WCW Watts era? The Miracle Violence Connection. I have no idea what that name means, but I love it. Still can't believe Nash booked Nitro to suck like shit for the first hour to show it wouldn't effect the ratings at all. Well it's Nash, so I guess I can believe it, but still... You can really see the lack of long term planning in 1999. At least in 1997, for example, they had the long term plan of doing Hogan/Sting at Starrcade and built to it. Sure, the rest of the card was just done show to show, but not the main event. Well look at 1999. We have the Fingerpoke of Doom. Then Hogan feuds with Ric Flair and loses the belt to him at Uncensored. Flair turns heel and loses it a month later to DDP, who is kind of a heel at the time. DDP loses it to Sting and wins it back the same night on Nitro, and then loses it to Nash at Slamboree. Nash loses it to Savage at BATB, and Hogan wins it from Savage the next night. Now NASH turns heel and loses to Hogan at Road Wild. And then Hogan loses the belt to a heel turning Sting! I mean it's just ridiculous. Speaking of that, how did Flair convince people to give him another run with the title in early 1999? I guess he had convince Nash, who was more willing that Bischoff? Or was Bischoff still booking then? When did Mortis unmask to Kanyon? How long did he feud with Raven? How long did Saturn feud with Raven? What was the deal with the "Scott Hall is an alcoholic" angle? When did Lenny Lane start to get onto TV for WCW and how long did he and Lodi do the gay thing before being forced to stop? How did the Scott Hall/Larry Zybysko feud end? Any interesting Steiner Brothers/Konnan/Hugh Morrus/Billy Kidman/Ultimo Dragon stories? Oh, and why did Rick Steiner pick Kenny Kaos as his new tag team title partner after Havoc 98? I don't think anyone ever answered that one. Thanks!

Hulk Hogan vs. Chris Benoit Hulk Hogan vs. Raven Hulk Hogan vs Shane Douglas Hulk Hogan vs. Bret Hart Bret Hart vs. Chris Jericho Bret Hart vs. Eddie Guerrero Bret Hart vs. Rey Misterio Jr. Sting vs. Chris Jericho Sting vs. Eddie Guerrero Sting vs. Rey Misterio Jr. Sting vs. Raven Maybe I'll add more later. Thanks ahead of time for the answers.

Tony Schiavone, when Chris Jericho beat down Rey Misterio Jr. after their match at Souled Out 1998: "This is the sickest display I've EVER seen from an athlete in many months."

Was the original plan for Dustin Rhodes to debut as that weird Seven character and then Russo nixed it? I remember the vignettes with some weird cow at a kid's window, and then Dustin coming out talking about how he was dressed like Uncle Fester.

http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1999071m.htm There's a funny picture at the end of Savage slapping Torrie.

What was the reasoning behind giving Luger the title the week before Road Wild 97? Just to give him a quick title reign and keep him happy? What was the original plan with Nash after losing the retirement match to Hogan at Road Wild 99? How did Torrie Wilson and Asya debut on WCW TV? Why was Bischoff mad about Benoit and Malenko winning the tag team titles like you mentioned earlier?

Is there a worse moment in WCW than David Arquette winning the world title?