WWE Network Thread

jaykhunter · 10-10-2015 09:52AM

Ageyev wrote: »

Late 2002 Smackdown was excellent. Raw in 2002 was so-so.

Ah, the Smackdown 6 Era with Paul Heyman booking vs HLA/Triple H reign of Terror. A no contestu!

Ageyev · 10-10-2015 10:06AM

Watched two Raw April 2002 episodes. Not great tbh. The main event was in flux with a jaded Austin lingering around with nowhere to go, Trips stinking up the joint with Hogan, the crappy nWo with X-Pac and his bicycle shorts, a pointless hardcore division etc. Brock had a decent debut slow build destroying the Hardys.

Monokne · 10-10-2015 10:46AM

Remember that time Ageyev. Was the drizzling s**ts.

Ageyev · 10-10-2015 10:58AM

Eddie v RVD feud was great though

Itssoeasy · 10-10-2015 06:29PM

Wcw souled out 1998 ric flair vs Bret hart. Good match if anyone hasn't seen it.

10-10-2015 06:35PM

If they do upload full years from both shows for 2002, Ill only be watching Smackdown from the brand split on wards.

I dont get why they would skip 2000 and 2001 though.

I want 2000 Raw and Smackdowns!!

Stereomaniac · 10-10-2015 11:27PM

I'm currently watching this week's episode of Superstars. The first match was Adam Rose vs. Antonio Cesaro. As usual, Cesaro looks amazing. He can make any match seem entertaining. He's been winning matches with the Sharpshooter recently, which is a nice touch!!

Blue_Dabadee · 12-10-2015 02:22AM

I really have gotten bored of watching any old school stuff of WWE, and I decided to go through WCW's Clash of Champions which have a lot of hidden gems throughout late 80's to early 90's.

Palo Alto · 12-10-2015 07:30AM

WCW was ruined when Hogan/Macho joined, it was excellent '89 to '92 in many ways.

Lot's of crossover with NJPW.
Vader
Steiners

Good times!

beakerjoe · 12-10-2015 11:14AM

Palo Alto wrote: »

WCW was ruined when Hogan/Macho joined, it was excellent '89 to '92 in many ways.

Lot's of crossover with NJPW.
Vader
Steiners

Good times!

Though without Hogan and Macho it may not have lasted as long as it did.

Stereomaniac · 12-10-2015 11:16AM

Vader was one of the best characters that WCW ever had. In hindsight, his WWF run was completely underwhelming. Obviously at the time it didn't seem that way to me because I hadn't gone back and watched too much of his early career, I only knew he took off Foey's ear. I was watching a 1988 house show on there last night and Steve Lombardi vs. The Blue Blazer was on it. My God, Owen never ceases to amaze me how good he was so early.

Angron · 12-10-2015 11:37AM

Stereomaniac wrote: »

Vader was one of the best characters that WCW ever had. In hindsight, his WWF run was completely underwhelming. Obviously at the time it didn't seem that way to me because I hadn't gone back and watched too much of his early career, I only knew he took off Foey's ear. I was watching a 1988 house show on there last night and Steve Lombardi vs. The Blue Blazer was on it. My God, Owen never ceases to amaze me how good he was so early.

Yeah, Vader's run in WWE kinda sucked. I think it was another case of HBK refusing to put someone else over, wasn't it?

Stereomaniac · 12-10-2015 11:38AM

I read somewhere that Shawn Michaels threatened to get him fired because he potatoed him.

Palo Alto · 12-10-2015 12:40PM

Vader beating Sting at Great American Bash '92 is possibly my favourite moment in wrestling.

beakerjoe · 12-10-2015 01:37PM

Angron wrote: »

Yeah, Vader's run in WWE kinda sucked. I think it was another case of HBK refusing to put someone else over, wasn't it?

That's one factor, Shawn was most certainly a prick back then and as far as im aware he even stiffed Vader a few times during their matches.

Id say the fact that WWF didn't create him and the fact that he made his name mostly on WCW was a factor too as Vince has a track record for making former WCW talent less important than they should have been.

Also Vader wasn't in great shape injury wise either and he didn't hit the ground running in WWF because of this.

gerrybbadd · 12-10-2015 04:54PM

beakerjoe wrote: »

That's one factor, Shawn was most certainly a prick back then and as far as im aware he even stiffed Vader a few times during their matches.

In their Summerslam match, Shawn clearly stomp kicks Vader in the head, after a misses spot from the top. Scumbag move. Shawn knew Vader wouldn't retaliate. Pity he didn't, and destroy Shawn. Might have helped knock part of that chip of his shoulder ]

Ageyev · 12-10-2015 05:27PM

Shawn was a moody brat and threw a hissyfit as mentioned in the SSlam match. Bizarrely, Vader pinned him clean a few weeks after. Vader was supposed to be in the Sid spot for Survivor Series in MSG that year to build to the Rumble rematch in the Alamo Dome instead he got Undertaker.

He had took time off for shoulder surgery after the 96 Rumble debut and his suspension for attacking Monsoon was to cover for this.

Pentecost · 12-10-2015 05:52PM

I loved Vader as a kid watching WCW on ITV on a Saturday. Must watch some of his matches again on the Network some time.

Palo Alto · 12-10-2015 06:39PM

His debut against Inoki in NJPW is wonderful too.

beakerjoe · 12-10-2015 06:47PM

He wasn't as impressive when he made it to Vinces company. Injuries as mentioned above had taken their toll on his body

A Primal Nut · 12-10-2015 08:06PM

Monokne wrote: »

Remember that time Ageyev. Was the drizzling s**ts.

The roster back then was incredible and more than made up for any bad creative storylines.

A Primal Nut · 12-10-2015 08:36PM

According to the Wrestling Observer from around that time; this is why Vader didn't win the title at Survivor Series 1996:

The original plan was for Vader to beat Sid at the Buried Alive show and to beat Michaels for the title at Survivor Series. The plan was changed, but I don't believe the broken foot had anything to do with the change in plans. Perhaps Hart coming back and the idea that they'll spend from now until Mania building for Hart-Michaels and not muddy the waters by switching the title earlier. Perhaps something else. Vader and Faarooq (who was supposed to win the IC title and is out of action until 11/17 with a badly torn groin) were both told they had to switch the original plans and not give them the belts because J.J. Dillon was at the meetings where those long-term plans were made, and since he worked for the opposition, they had to change all the storylines he knew. If that's the real reason for the changes, which I doubt, it's the silliest thing I've ever heard. If the plans make sense and will draw, the fact WCW knows of them, even if they try and get the word out, isn't going to make the slightest difference in them drawing. If they don't make sense and won't draw, they could be the greatest guarded secret in the history of mankind, but they still won't draw.

Hilarious reason. Anyway the plan was always for Vader (and later Sid) to lose the belt back to Michaels two months later in San Antonio, but still if Vader had got the belt for those two months and it was a success then his WWF career would have been very different.

Alexis Sanchez · 12-10-2015 11:08PM

https://twitter.com/WWE_Network_Bot/status/653690696331825153

https://twitter.com/WWE_Network_Bot/status/653695288775962624

Full Marx · 12-10-2015 11:56PM

beakerjoe wrote: »

He wasn't as impressive when he made it to Vinces company. Injuries as mentioned above had taken their toll on his body

But afterwards he was again very impressive in Japan

Stereomaniac · 13-10-2015 05:14AM

Did he go back to Japan at the end of 1998? I don't really know a whole lot about him post-WWF.

beakerjoe · 13-10-2015 10:27AM

Full Marx wrote: »

But afterwards he was again very impressive in Japan

I felt his best work was behind him, though his post WWE Japan run wasnt bad he was on the decline.

His style was more suited to Japan and made him more appear more impressive. He looked like a proper monster in the far east as he was allowed work much stiffer and hard hitting.

Seeing him being wheeled out by WWE and TNA in recent years is very sad, he looks a broken tired man and he should just call it a day.

Id also maybe point to his fight with Paul Orndorff may have hindered Vinces perseption of him. Vince like legitimate tough guys and the much smaller and older Orndorff kicked Vaders ass.

Though Vince signed him after this so maybe I'm wrong.

Booking was what stopped Vader from being a bigger force in WWE more than anything else.

Itssoeasy · 13-10-2015 02:22PM

Watched the first hell in a cell between hbk and taker and this might be controversial to those who think the one at KOTR 98 match was an amazing match but the first one is a far better match overall.

13-10-2015 02:28PM

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Watched the first hell in a cell between hbk and taker and this might be controversial to those who think the one at KOTR 98 match was an amazing match but the first one is a far better match overall.

My favourite wwf/wwe match of all time is the 1st HIAC.

Stereomaniac · 13-10-2015 03:22PM

I'd have to choose the second one, even though I find it quite unsettling to watch as I get older.

Monokne · 13-10-2015 05:26PM

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Watched the first hell in a cell between hbk and taker and this might be controversial to those who think the one at KOTR 98 match was an amazing match but the first one is a far better match overall.

I don't think there's any doubt about this. And funny enough I watched it last week.

The match with Foley was an electrifying experience. The drama was all "how is Mick still going?" though. So while it was an incredible spectacle it would be impossible to compare it favourably to the original, as a match.

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