WWE

[MrRippedZilla]

Very good points, the Steiners were def tough dudes and two of my favorites. I mean, look at my avi. Funny thing is, Rick is considered such a genuinely good dude backstage that he rarely had problems with anyone, and Scotty has always been considered a bad ass but more so in a bully way. You'll read and here a lot of stories of him pushing guys until they stood up to him, and then him backing down.

The point you make about Japan is interesting. Another thing about Japan is there were legit shoot spots in matches where American workers who weren't holding up their end of the deal and who weren't showing enough respect were dealt with harshly. Ironically, the aforementioned Dr Death was extremely succesful over there, along with Terry BAM BAM Gordy, Stan Hansen, Vader, and a few others as the Japanese fans LOVED big American wrestlers who were also considered legit tough guys.

Let me tell you first hand, as little Bickel found out in a high school gymnasium attending a wrestling event, an enraged Stan Hansen intentionally destroying the seating area (metal folding chairs) was terrifying to a 10 year old!

I fucking love Scotty man, huge influence in my life (for better or worse lol).
I think Rick's rep has been helped a lot by the fact he did mellow down quite a bit with age (unlike Scott who's still batshit crazy to this day). However, if you look at their matches in the early 90s...Rick is the one being a complete dick and then Scotty decides to tag along for the fun.
If you get the chance go watch Wrestlewar 92 - Steiners vs Fujinami & Iizuka. Awesome match where Rick, accidentally, busts open Iizuka's nose with a knee and then decides to clearly hurt the guy as much as possible. That was a common pattern.

I'm going through AJPW 1993 now and Dr Death is just about to go on his successful singles run. I love Japan during those days, the wrestling quality was so far ahead of whatever WWF/WCW were doing.
I also remember a tag match where I'm 99% sure Dr Death legit KO'd a fan during his entrance so consider yourself lucky

 

[bickel29]

I fucking love Scotty man, huge influence in my life (for better or worse lol).
I think Rick's rep has been helped a lot by the fact he did mellow down quite a bit with age (unlike Scott who's still batshit crazy to this day). However, if you look at their matches in the early 90s...Rick is the one being a complete dick and then Scotty decides to tag along for the fun.
If you get the chance go watch Wrestlewar 92 - Steiners vs Fujinami & Iizuka. Awesome match where Rick, accidentally, busts open Iizuka's nose with a knee and then decides to clearly hurt the guy as much as possible. That was a common pattern.

I'm going through AJPW 1993 now and Dr Death is just about to go on his successful singles run. I love Japan during those days, the wrestling quality was so far ahead of whatever WWF/WCW were doing.
I also remember a tag match where I'm 99% sure Dr Death legit KO'd a fan during his entrance so consider yourself lucky

Those dudes were all insane! Haha

I've told this story here before, but I saw the Steiners wrestle the Nasty Boyz in the early 1990's in person, from the 3rd row (the crowds were so small at that time for WCW). Shit got outta control and they were clubbing the hell outta each other, hitting stiff chair shots across each other's backs, etc. It was insane. But I give the Nasties credit, they took and gave a bearing, they didn't back down.

 

[Casca]

Oh shit r we talking WRESTLING, up in here.

Born and raised, watching wrestling since the 70's. Loved me some of those small territories from back in the day.

Hell the Road Warriors loved Japan as well as Hogan.

Nevermind me keep going[emoji1377]

 

[jaymaximus]

So Ryan Reeves known to faans as Ryback has changed his real name to Ryback

 

[Gman77]

My original dream was to become a wrestler but God decided to make me short (5'6) and put an end to that quickly

I still keep up to date with it all. Got a wwe network subscription and currently going through some 1993 stuff.
1993 was when all the steroid scandal stuff was around - Hogan and a bunch of the WWE guys dropped a tonne of weight off cycle, those who refused joined WCW or other companies (Hawk from the Road Warriors, Bulldog, etc). Plus Kerry Von Erich recently passed (the whole Von Erich story is a sad one for those old enough to remember any of it). Tough times.

@MrRippedZilla
That height isn't a big issue I wrestled professional from age 18-29ish and still I make an occasional ring appearance and I'm only 5'9" I had a tag partner for a few years that was only 5'8" on a good day. Now u won't make it in the wwe but indies etc u would've been fine as long as you learned the biz

 

[gr8whitetrukker]

So Ryan Reeves known to faans as Ryback has changed his real name to Ryback

Really?
Ryback is an impressive dude. Havent seen him in a while.

 

[jaymaximus]

Really?
Ryback is an impressive dude. Havent seen him in a while.

He got fired or quit. But he's gone. So he basically pulled a Warrior anf legally changed his name so he could still use it.

 

[bickel29]

He got fired or quit. But he's gone. So he basically pulled a Warrior anf legally changed his name so he could still use it.

Well you DO have to say it has a better ring than "Skip Sheffield" or whatever he was first going by.

 

[jaymaximus]

Well you DO have to say it has a better ring than "Skip Sheffield" or whatever he was first going by.

He also trade marked "The Big Guy". I think he shouldve gone with that. First Name: The, Middle: Big, Last: Guy

 

[PaulHeyman]

Thats the thing. He still has that comedy to him, but since he's been with Rhyno theyve given him some intensity back, hopefully that'll stick around. I know they won't keep the titles long, but I'd love a feud with the Miz down the line.

They'll lose em to the Uso's next PPV and then beat them again at the following PPV rematch so American Alpha can chase the heels for the straps

 

[Bearded Wonder]

Anybody catch the CWC finale last night? I never realized how much I enjoyed watching those guys until they killed off the division a few years back. Hopefully this gives Raw the shot of life it's been missing in the middle of the show.

 

[Gman77]

Yeah I watched it. The whole thing was great. I wrestled that style my whole career since I was smaller that's what I trained to do so I've always been a fan. Now let's see if the wwe can sign some of those guys. And then book the cruiserwieghts correctly. TNA tried to do it with The X division they just don't know how to book it.

 

[PaulHeyman]

Yeah I watched it. The whole thing was great. I wrestled that style my whole career since I was smaller that's what I trained to do so I've always been a fan. Now let's see if the wwe can sign some of those guys. And then book the cruiserwieghts correctly. TNA tried to do it with The X division they just don't know how to book it.

I think the booking of the cruiserweights is going to be their downfall. They will always be booked as #2 to the main eventers and never really get that cross over appeal to the ME scene. I mean technically Finn Balor should be competing in the Cruiserweight division by the time he returns

 

[MrRippedZilla]

I think the booking of the cruiserweights is going to be their downfall. They will always be booked as #2 to the main eventers and never really get that cross over appeal to the ME scene. I mean technically Finn Balor should be competing in the Cruiserweight division by the time he returns

Bingo.

Every time you create some sort of a weight division you end up, inadvertently, relegating all of those guys to a certain level over the longer term. The fans are taught to believe that these guys are mid card only, this belief will be further enhanced in an era when you have weight divisions in the UFC, etc and it would be ridiculous to expect the heavyweight champ to defend against a lightweight contender.

It happened in WCW and that cruiserweight division was stacked full of talent. Rey Mysterio vs Sting? Ultimo Dragon vs Goldberg? Juventude Guerrera vs Scott Steiner? Those would've been seen as retarded main event matches. It happened to Liger in Japan as well - incredibly over, amazing talent but still just an upper mid card guy.

This isn't even a WWE criticism, it's a criticism of weight divisions in general when it comes to pro wrestling.

 

[jaymaximus]

I think the booking of the cruiserweights is going to be their downfall. They will always be booked as #2 to the main eventers and never really get that cross over appeal to the ME scene. I mean technically Finn Balor should be competing in the Cruiserweight division by the time he returns

I think the fact its on raw will help. Theyve always needed to fill those hours. Plus with 3 Hs as a backer they should be good. You see how NXT has gone...

 

[jaymaximus]

Also its late, but who saw the Cena - Ambrose promo? Im interested and surprised that WWE would write a promo like that against their cash cow.

 

[PaulHeyman]

I think the fact its on raw will help. Theyve always needed to fill those hours. Plus with 3 Hs as a backer they should be good. You see how NXT has gone...

100% it will help the way too long three hour run time but there will be a concrete ceiling put over those guys heads as soon as the division starts. Cuz even if there is one star CW they want to elevate to the ME scene than you are devaluing the whole cruiserweight division by saying "the best CW on the roster doesn't give a shit about the CW Title"

And that title will always play second fiddle, if not third. And also, will a CW division thin the herd too much for the US title? Does Raw have the depth to showcase two midcard titles? I think the answer is no as of now, they are main event heavy and too reliant on jobbers and it is hard to build a midcard that way

 

[Gman77]

Not sure if Balor will do CW, he should but he is already over big time. Now Sami Zayn should bc they are not booking him well and he could really help that division out. I'm sure the wwe will roll with it for a couple years then kill it. The only way for it succeed is to do it like NXT, a separate brand and air it on the network

 

[PaulHeyman]

Not sure if Balor will do CW, he should but he is already over big time. Now Sami Zayn should bc they are not booking him well and he could really help that division out. I'm sure the wwe will roll with it for a couple years then kill it. The only way for it succeed is to do it like NXT, a separate brand and air it on the network

Balor won't touch the CW division. And that's my point. The most over CW wrestler isn't even going to bother with the CW Title, thus devaluing the entire thing before it even gains any steam.

And yes I Zayn should be a big player in the division, he has been treading water ever since the brand split, which will also be scrapped in a few years also

 

[jaymaximus]

I guess I kind of think of the cruiserweight title as the United States Title for smaller wrestlers. It'll be something for them to chase and if they get over enough (Like Mysterio) they'll do some bigger stuff. But if theyre not involved in a bigger title scene it gives them another title to focus on. Im sure at some point a cruiserweight will win a secondary title. Maybe even get some to make a tag team. Plus some smaller wrestlers not being utilized (like Hunico) can wrestle there.