Not to turn this into a Benoit thread, or to in any way excuse what he did, but after all the media circus died down, they autopsied his brain, and it was comparable to that of an 85 year old alzheimer's patient, due to all the concussions and head bumps he'd taken. So, yeah, what he did was sick, twisted and utterly wrong... but there's a chance it really was a case of him going legitimately insane.
With that said, I've only recently been able to appreciate his matches for what they were... unbeatable displays of technical ability. He's the only wrestler I'd ever put over Bret in terms of being able to get it done. His matches with Bret, Dean Malenko, Jericho, Kurt, Regal and Eddie are still amazing to watch. It just sucks that for all he gave to the business, he ruined it all, and his name's a black mark rather than a watermark.
I totally know what you're saying and definitely don't want this to become a Benoit thread. I was aware of the study, it's a sad story either way. Its good you're able to now appreciate his matches, I'm not there yet though.
Faves: Flair, Mr. Perfect, Ravishing Rick Rude, Carlito, Honkey Tonk Man, Lance Storm, 2 Cold Scorpio
I love the 2 Cold Scorpio pick. He was sick in ECW. So misused by WWE, "Flash Funk" you gotta be kidding me!! A guy with that much talent stuck with a horrific gimmick, been done to too many talented guys.
Wrestling was cool again for about a year or two when I was 13 and 14. It died with the end of the WCW/WWF wars and the end of ECW. Its just disgraceful now, I dont know how people can still watch this crap.
Alpine Valley 2000
Summerfest 2006
"Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
I totally know what you're saying and definitely don't want this to become a Benoit thread. I was aware of the study, it's a sad story either way. Its good you're able to now appreciate his matches, I'm not there yet though.
I hope you get there... some of those matches are too good to be forgotten.
I don't know if it's just because I've grown up and matured but the story lines nowadays just seem so god damn ridiculous and laughable compared to the ones they had when I used to watch it.
I don't know if it's just because I've grown up and matured but the story lines nowadays just seem so god damn ridiculous and laughable compared to the ones they had when I used to watch it.
There's always been a fair share of ridiculous storylines... at least since the mid-80s. I mean... The Ultimate Warrior, hailing from "Parts Unknown"? Papa Shango?
But I find I focus more on the matches and the workrate now, rather than the storylines. That's why someone like Jamie Noble is far more impressive to me than the likes of Batista, who gets storylines and title shots up the wazoo, but has the workrate of a one-legged donkey (they don't call him Botchista for nothing).
But of course, there are still good storylines, which I totally mark for. Michaels/Jericho has been awesome, and the Santino/Glamarella/Honka-meter gimmick cracks me up every time.
Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
Total classic. For my money there's no two current wrestlers that could put on a match that is as technically perfect as this one. Thanks for the link I'll definitely be giving this one another view sometime soon.
There's always been a fair share of ridiculous storylines... at least since the mid-80s. I mean... The Ultimate Warrior, hailing from "Parts Unknown"? Papa Shango?
But I find I focus more on the matches and the workrate now, rather than the storylines. That's why someone like Jamie Noble is far more impressive to me than the likes of Batista, who gets storylines and title shots up the wazoo, but has the workrate of a one-legged donkey (they don't call him Botchista for nothing).
But of course, there are still good storylines, which I totally mark for. Michaels/Jericho has been awesome, and the Santino/Glamarella/Honka-meter gimmick cracks me up every time.
When I watched it Stone Cold was at his peak and the Kane/Undertaker Family story line was still going. When I first started watching I preferred WCW to WWF and remember when the NWO was taking over and Sting would drop from the rafters as an unstoppable force. I used to love that stuff. I just fell out of it. Now, if I'm watching wrestling, it's mostly on youtube and I'm watching a botch montage. Those things are hilarious.
Total classic. For my money there's no two current wrestlers that could put on a match that is as technically perfect as this one. Thanks for the link I'll definitely be giving this one another view sometime soon.
I think the problem is, they're not given the time to do it. People like Shelton Benjamin, Jericho, Regal, Noble... and then guys like AJ Styles and Angle in TNA... They can all do it in the ring, they're just not given the chance, as far as I can tell. Vince has always been a proponent of "big roid-monsters = money" (and it's worked, unfortunately, which is what's responsible for a lot of the problems in the business). So small guys don't get much of a chance to prove themselves in 30 minute exhibitions like that.
All the more reason to miss ECW. :(
Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
I think the problem is, they're not given the time to do it. People like Shelton Benjamin, Jericho, Regal, Noble... and then guys like AJ Styles and Angle in TNA... They can all do it in the ring, they're just not given the chance, as far as I can tell. Vince has always been a proponent of "big roid-monsters = money" (and it's worked, unfortunately, which is what's responsible for a lot of the problems in the business). So small guys don't get much of a chance to prove themselves in 30 minute exhibitions like that.
All the more reason to miss ECW. :(
Watch Ring of Honor. You'll be all set.
The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
I've heard nothing but good things about Ring Of Honor, I'm gonna have to pick up a DVD. Any recomendations?
Of the recent DVDs, Supercard of Honor III and Respect is Earned II are probably the best ones, and Rising Above, the Sixth Anniversary Show and Northern Navigation are close behind.
They also put out a few compilation DVDs recently, you may want to check those out as well.
The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
I usually watch in the beginning of year with Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania nowadays.
I think when they split into "brands" and having 2 world titles lost a lot of interest for me. I think was when Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed titled from The Rock in SummerSlam 2002.
It's been downhill since. But I kinda knew it was coming because of the defuncted WCW. The Invasion angle storyline sucked too.
Speaking of the The Rock, I was obsessed with him when he was the Corporate Champ. He delivered some of the best promos and trash talks on the mic ever. By the way, this upcoming Survivor Series in November will be the 10-year anniversary of the Corporate Champ; The Rock's first world title run and his big break.
Favorite All-Time Wrestlers: The Rock, Razor Ramon/Scott Hall, Eddie Guerrero
Favorite 3 Matches Ever: First Ladder between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon(Scott Hall). I Quit Match between The Rock and Mankind at Royal Rumble 1999. The Rock vs. Austin WM17 in 2001.
Favorite Current Wrestler: Shelton Benjamin- he just needs to be better on the mic.
I usually watch in the beginning of year with Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania nowadays.
.
Best time of they year for any wrestling fan. The Rumble and then the Road to Wrestlemania. Anyone have any picks for the winner of the rumble this year? My very early prediction would be Randy Orton.
I don't get much time to watch it anymore with the family and being a cabbie and all that but I used to love it. I went to Summerslam 92 in Wembley which was great. I still try and catch the Royal Rumble and am looking forward to Bret Hart's book being released, I've heard it's excellent.
All my favourite singers have stolen all of my best lines.
I don't get much time to watch it anymore with the family and being a cabbie and all that but I used to love it. I went to Summerslam 92 in Wembley which was great. I still try and catch the Royal Rumble and am looking forward to Bret Hart's book being released, I've heard it's excellent.
The book's out on this side of the pond....looks very, very interesting....anybody read it yet???
All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
I don't get much time to watch it anymore with the family and being a cabbie and all that but I used to love it. I went to Summerslam 92 in Wembley which was great. I still try and catch the Royal Rumble and am looking forward to Bret Hart's book being released, I've heard it's excellent.
I was at Summerslam 1992 aswell
Pearl Jam - London Astoria 20/4/06....One hell of a night
Does anyone know the tale behind Mick Foley's defection?
Simply put, his contract expired w/ WWE and he didn't renew.
I heard reports that he was sick of listening to McMahon screaming in his ear trying to spoonfeed him lines to say when doing his announcing gig on Smackdown.
But Foley left on good terms, so a return is never out of the question.
Since Foley owns the rights to Cactus Jack, it's a good chance we'll see that character at some point in TNA.
Simply put, his contract expired w/ WWE and he didn't renew.
I heard reports that he was sick of listening to McMahon screaming in his ear trying to spoonfeed him lines to say when doing his announcing gig on Smackdown.
But Foley left on good terms, so a return is never out of the question.
Since Foley owns the rights to Cactus Jack, it's a good chance we'll see that character at some point in TNA.
Any idea how long of a contract he signed with TNA?
Wrestling was cool again for about a year or two when I was 13 and 14. It died with the end of the WCW/WWF wars and the end of ECW. Its just disgraceful now, I dont know how people can still watch this crap.
I totally agree. the best thing that ever happened to Vince McMahon and the WWF was legitimate competition. It brought them out of the cartoonish Doink/Duke the Dumpster era, into the so called Attitude era. Now, with WCW long dead and buried, McMahon and co. have gotten lazy. Stephanie McMahon was horrid when she was an on air character. She's even worse as a writer. I will say this though----the Shawn Michaels/Jericho feud is the best fued they've had in years. Also, I an't stand Vince and Stephanie, but Shane is a great wrestler. Stephanie gets by just on her name, she wouldn't be hired by the company to write for the magazine, let alone the top shows. Shane can really do a good job in the ring, and on the mike.
Mick Foley is signed with TNA for 6 months. This allows him more time to do other activities. The Bret book is excellent...very honest but about 500 pages. I would never expect him to be unfaithful to his wife the way he way as I always thought he did the right thing and appreciated "loyalty" but you'll be surprised.
This is the book you're talking about right. There's a few on amazon so i want to make sure I pick up the right one.
That's the one I have seen in stores over the last week...claims he kept an audio diary his entire career...:eek: I'll end up buying it soon.
All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a thousand enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.
I'm 21... been watching for 18 years now. 'Cept for maybe a three year span where I only watched it occasionally, which ended about a month and a half ago (it moved to Sky Sports, which I only got recently).
But yeah, I'm obsessed. I'm the kinda guy who'll watch a match, and yeah, enjoy the high spots, like ladders and chairs and whatever, but really, really love when someone scores an armbar submission or something. The Benoit/Angle submission matches from a few years back were some of my favourites. I don't give a hot shit if it's fake - after watching a live stream of No Mercy tonight, and seeing Jericho get a tooth knocked out and hardway bleed over his eye, it's real enough to be respected.
Favourite wrestler right now... probably Shelton Benjamin, or John Morrison... or Regal... (or AJ Styles, if we count TNA)
Favourite of all time... Bret Hart... Benoit (I know )... Randy Savage... any of the greats, really. Maybe throw in RVD and Jerry Lynn.
Favourite PPV... Maybe Wrestlemania X. Bret/Owen was great, as was the Shawn/Razor ladder match. But I'd probably give the edge to Summerslam 92.
I'm gonna stop typing now.
Oh, I should mention that I absolutely hated the "Attitude" era. It was about everything but wrestling. Storylines and drama are fine, but if what goes on in the ring isn't the focus, you've lost my attention.
I was at Wrestlemania X as a little kid. What an unbelievable night.
Comments
I totally know what you're saying and definitely don't want this to become a Benoit thread. I was aware of the study, it's a sad story either way. Its good you're able to now appreciate his matches, I'm not there yet though.
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
I love the 2 Cold Scorpio pick. He was sick in ECW. So misused by WWE, "Flash Funk" you gotta be kidding me!! A guy with that much talent stuck with a horrific gimmick, been done to too many talented guys.
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
Summerfest 2006
"Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
But to get back to the best matches ever... I just finished watching this gem.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=2+0ut+0f+3+F%40ll%24+-+EC%5C%2F%5C%2F+26%2F08%2F95&search_type=
I don't know if it's just because I've grown up and matured but the story lines nowadays just seem so god damn ridiculous and laughable compared to the ones they had when I used to watch it.
But I find I focus more on the matches and the workrate now, rather than the storylines. That's why someone like Jamie Noble is far more impressive to me than the likes of Batista, who gets storylines and title shots up the wazoo, but has the workrate of a one-legged donkey (they don't call him Botchista for nothing).
But of course, there are still good storylines, which I totally mark for. Michaels/Jericho has been awesome, and the Santino/Glamarella/Honka-meter gimmick cracks me up every time.
Total classic. For my money there's no two current wrestlers that could put on a match that is as technically perfect as this one. Thanks for the link I'll definitely be giving this one another view sometime soon.
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
When I watched it Stone Cold was at his peak and the Kane/Undertaker Family story line was still going. When I first started watching I preferred WCW to WWF and remember when the NWO was taking over and Sting would drop from the rafters as an unstoppable force. I used to love that stuff. I just fell out of it. Now, if I'm watching wrestling, it's mostly on youtube and I'm watching a botch montage. Those things are hilarious.
All the more reason to miss ECW. :(
Watch Ring of Honor. You'll be all set.
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
I've heard nothing but good things about Ring Of Honor, I'm gonna have to pick up a DVD. Any recomendations?
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
Of the recent DVDs, Supercard of Honor III and Respect is Earned II are probably the best ones, and Rising Above, the Sixth Anniversary Show and Northern Navigation are close behind.
They also put out a few compilation DVDs recently, you may want to check those out as well.
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
I think when they split into "brands" and having 2 world titles lost a lot of interest for me. I think was when Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed titled from The Rock in SummerSlam 2002.
It's been downhill since. But I kinda knew it was coming because of the defuncted WCW. The Invasion angle storyline sucked too.
Speaking of the The Rock, I was obsessed with him when he was the Corporate Champ. He delivered some of the best promos and trash talks on the mic ever. By the way, this upcoming Survivor Series in November will be the 10-year anniversary of the Corporate Champ; The Rock's first world title run and his big break.
Favorite All-Time Wrestlers: The Rock, Razor Ramon/Scott Hall, Eddie Guerrero
Favorite 3 Matches Ever: First Ladder between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon(Scott Hall). I Quit Match between The Rock and Mankind at Royal Rumble 1999. The Rock vs. Austin WM17 in 2001.
Favorite Current Wrestler: Shelton Benjamin- he just needs to be better on the mic.
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
Best time of they year for any wrestling fan. The Rumble and then the Road to Wrestlemania. Anyone have any picks for the winner of the rumble this year? My very early prediction would be Randy Orton.
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
I was at Summerslam 1992 aswell
Reading 2006 - WOOOOW!!!!!
Paris 2006 - Fucking amazing
Wembley 2007
Simply put, his contract expired w/ WWE and he didn't renew.
I heard reports that he was sick of listening to McMahon screaming in his ear trying to spoonfeed him lines to say when doing his announcing gig on Smackdown.
But Foley left on good terms, so a return is never out of the question.
Since Foley owns the rights to Cactus Jack, it's a good chance we'll see that character at some point in TNA.
Any idea how long of a contract he signed with TNA?
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
I totally agree. the best thing that ever happened to Vince McMahon and the WWF was legitimate competition. It brought them out of the cartoonish Doink/Duke the Dumpster era, into the so called Attitude era. Now, with WCW long dead and buried, McMahon and co. have gotten lazy. Stephanie McMahon was horrid when she was an on air character. She's even worse as a writer. I will say this though----the Shawn Michaels/Jericho feud is the best fued they've had in years. Also, I an't stand Vince and Stephanie, but Shane is a great wrestler. Stephanie gets by just on her name, she wouldn't be hired by the company to write for the magazine, let alone the top shows. Shane can really do a good job in the ring, and on the mike.
This is the book you're talking about right. There's a few on amazon so i want to make sure I pick up the right one.
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
yeah I bought it a year or so ago when it came out in Canada at Amazon.ca.
Thats a lot of audio. The Hitman's the man so I'll own the book by the end of the week.
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018
I was at Wrestlemania X as a little kid. What an unbelievable night.
2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
2017: RRHoF 4/7 2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4 2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18
2022: MSG 9/11 2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
Can't think of any, but don't you think Dirty Frank would be a great name for a wrestler!
MSG 1+2. 2010
Wrigley. Brooklyn 2. Hartford. 2013
St. Louis. Denver. 2014
Global Citizens Festival. 2015
MSG 2. Fenway 2. Wrigley 1. 2016
Safeco 2. Missoula. 2018