The General Wrestling Thread

[IamMedellin]

This week on Bauer & Pollock, former WWE creative writer Court Bauer shares his thoughts on the passing of Eddie Guerrero eight years ago this month and reveals plans the sports-entertainment organization had for the legendary grappler at the following year's WrestleMania pay-per-view event in Chicago, Illinois. Bauer also squashes the rumor of Guerrero being scheduled to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Batista during their feud.

Bauer recalls, "It was twenty-four hours before he passed away, I believe. Twenty-four hours, forty-eight hours, something like that. We had a call with Vince at home, and we were talking about the preliminary plans for WrestleMania. I know there’s this romanticized story about how Eddie was going to get the title, and that was the plan that he was going to get it that night or at Survivor Series. That wasn’t the plan. I think Stephanie said that, or alluded to it on the air, and that was not the plan. The plan was that he would lose, and I think they were going to return in December. We had talked about a fascinating idea; I’m not the biggest Bruce Prichard fan, but to his credit, I believe it was Bruce Prichard who pitched putting Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania against Shawn Michaels and doing the parallels of their careers. Being the heartthrob in Mexico and this mercurial figure south of the border, and the American version being HBK.

"They had never really worked, and you would’ve had such a great dynamic between the two with heel Eddie versus Shawn. That’d be your “tear the house down,” high quality match at WrestleMania 22 in Chicago. Vince was like, “God damn, that’s really appealing. We could parallel their careers. What kind of footage of Eddie do we have outside of WCW? We could really do some impressive packages.”

 

[s@ppisgod]

That could have been epic. Usually a lot of these re-hashes are dull and pointless, but that one had so much potential. But Chicago? That match is made for San Antonio.

 

[FedEx227]

Pff, we have the best crowds in wrestling. Only places that come close are Toronto and New York (MSG).

 

[s@ppisgod]

Pff, we have the best crowds in wrestling. Only places that come close are Toronto and New York (MSG).

Chicago's good crowds not withstanding, that is tailor-made for a southwest crowd. Especially being that they're playing on career parallels. They could both argue that general area being 'theirs'. Much like you could argue that Chicago has better crowds than Calgary, but you wouldn't want the In Your House Canadian Stampede anywhere else. Some matches just work places.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

You could put Eddie v. Shawn in an outhouse in Ottumwa, Iowa and I'd pay to see it.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Zema Ion's Interview with Quinn's AM army to hype his upcoming appearance for Primal Conflict Wrestling on November 30th.


-Confirms he's still under contract to TNA for "quite a while" but is free to take whatever outside dates he wants to right now. He admits he hasn't had much communication with TNA in recent months.

-Says thankfully he doesn't have cancer like was initially thought by doctors

-Addresses the controversy over his fundraiser for his medical bills, says he never expected TNA to pay his medical bills because he's an "independent contractor" and he knows how that works.

-Admits someone at the TNA office got mad at him for making the company look bush league with the fundraiser, but he told them flat out he needed the money and that was the reality of the situation.

-Says his girlfriend actually started the GoFundMe account and, since she doesn't know much about wrestling, she didn't realize the political problems that would potentially arise because of it and how it could negatively affect his TNA career.

-Says that even though he didn't get anything close to the $30,000 needed, he was still overwhelmed by the fan support and the money he did get helped.

-Says he would like to go to WWE one day, but is happy with where he is now.

http://www.wrestleview.com/tna-news/449 ... fundraiser

If TNA is so concerned with looking bush league, next time they're in this situation maybe the Carter's should dig through the couch cushions and give the guy the $30k.

The fact this kid got flack from his employer for this, and then was basically squeezed out of a job, is pretty disgusting. And i'm someone who generally backs the company in most labor disputes.

 

[BigBiss]

If TNA is so concerned with looking bush league, next time they're in this situation maybe the Carter's should dig through the couch cushions and give the guy the $30k.

The fact this kid got flack from his employer for this, and then was basically squeezed out of a job, is pretty disgusting. And i'm someone who generally backs the company in most labor disputes.

I'm digging Union Warner

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'm digging Union Warner

Well c'mon, you can't not help the guy, and then bitch when he does what he has to do to help himself. Can't have it both ways.

Plus after the way they handled Jesse Sorensen, who was hurt in a match ffs, is where they lose any benefit of the doubt with me.

 

[s@ppisgod]

I'm digging Union Warner

I never thought he'd join a faction with Ken Shamrock.

 

[BigBiss]

any one else buy Mania tickets today?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

TNA related results from W-1 in Korakuen Hall today:

(7) Rob Terry & Jay Bradley vs. Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo
◆Winner: Bradly (4:06) with an Avalanche Hold (Oklahoma Stampede) on Kondo.
~ The TNA team came in and quickly overpowered the W-1 home team. Terry & Bradley will be on the full tour that will take place up until December 1.

(9) TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match: [Champion] AJ Styles vs. [Challenger] Seiya Sanada
◆Winner: Styles (18:24) with the Calf Killer.
~ Styles successful TNA title defense.
~ Styles stated that he will be coming back to Japan again.
~ KAZMA SAKAMOTO attacked Sanada after the match and stated that he wants a match against Sanada. He also made note that he is a former WWE guy (Sakamoto, might remember him as Tensai’s manager earlier this year) as Sanada seems eager to face guys who come/have experience from the west.


That is a huge win for Bradley/Terry. Kaz & Kondo are top stars, albeit juniors. The time of the match is actually more shocking than the result. Looks like a big push for the TNA guys is in the cards.

Unrelated to TNA, but check out the bold:

(Rematch) Satoshi Kojima [NJPW], Masakatsu Funaki, Seiya Sanada & Yasufumi Nakanoueno vs Masayuki Kono, Rene Dupree, Ryoji Sai [ZERO1] & KAZMA SAKAMOTO [Free]
◆Winner: Nakanoueno (13:02) following a Running Elbow Bat (Strike) to Dupree.
~ An earthquake shook the arena at around 5 minutes into the match, but the match continued on as it subsided.
~ Kojima threw his elbow pad to Yasufumi who then put it on and smashed Rene with the elbow. This can be seen as a proper inheritance of the “豪腕 / Gowan (Strong Arm)” for Yasufumi.
~ Yasufumi wins a main event match for the first time in his career. He then thanked Kojima for helping him as he is also one of his idols in the ring (his in ring attire, since W-1, also resembles Kojima’s).
~ He then thanked the fans who came out today and the support they have shown him throughout the years.

 

[s@ppisgod]

Fuckin Japan. They have more interest and show more effort in getting guys over from another company than TNA does while they're circling the drain and bleeding money. They have to know this good faith doesn't have to be repaid by a new ownership group, if it ever does sell. But they don't give a fuck. That's kinda awesome. It always seems to be best foot forward over there, regardless of circumstances. I mean, when's the last time a Japanese wrestler came over to a major American company and got a really good run? Nagata? Muta? And no, Morishima doesn't count.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Fuckin Japan. They have more interest and show more effort in getting guys over from another company than TNA does while they're circling the drain and bleeding money. They have to know this good faith doesn't have to be repaid by a new ownership group, if it ever does sell. But they don't give a fuck. That's kinda awesome. It always seems to be best foot forward over there, regardless of circumstances. I mean, when's the last time a Japanese wrestler came over to a major American company and got a really good run? Nagata? Muta? And no, Morishima doesn't count.

So non ROH? That's a damn good question. Nagata got a lukewarm WCW push but was really a jobber. Muta in '89 may be the biggest push. Liger was always treated well in WCW.

Tajiri? Solid mid carder in WWE. Hakushi before that was treated well.

Kenzo Suzuki was given a real chance in WWE, but he just sucked and still does.

TNA easily has the worst track record. Tanahashi wasn't buried but only got one PPV match & a few low level TV matches. Okada's history is well documented, and they had him for over a year. Naito & Yujiro were lower mid card at best. Kiyoshi ended up doing a fake Muta and then ended up as Suicide. Doi & Yoshino were treated ok but those were one shot deals.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

New Japan's Nakanishi was in WCW as Kurosawa, and got pushed hard but was a heavy stereotype and didn't have good matches.

Kurosawa & Meng had that AWFUL match vs Sting & Hawk on a Clash.

Ultimo Dragon got a real push in WCW, and was supposed to in WWF but he got hurt and he refused to unmask.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

For some reason, 'Murica has this idea that all gooks should be choppy choppy Kung Fu orientals complete with Chinese Restaurant theme music, robes, and some sort of mystical lettering insignia.

 

[s@ppisgod]

So non ROH? That's a damn good question. Nagata got a lukewarm WCW push but was really a jobber. Muta in '89 may be the biggest push. Liger was always treated well in WCW.

Tajiri? Solid mid carder in WWE. Hakushi before that was treated well.

Kenzo Suzuki was given a real chance in WWE, but he just sucked and still does.

TNA easily has the worst track record. Tanahashi wasn't buried but only got one PPV match & a few low level TV matches. Okada's history is well documented, and they had him for over a year. Naito & Yujiro were lower mid card at best. Kiyoshi ended up doing a fake Muta and then ended up as Suicide. Doi & Yoshino were treated ok but those were one shot deals.

I was trying to think of Liger, but for some reason kept thinking of Ultimo and I knew that wasn't it.

Hakushi was treated alright, that's one I forgot about. He got some run in the Lawler/Bret feud, and any ring time with Bret Hart in 94(?) was a pretty good gig.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Masa (Mr.) Saito in AWA. I guess AWA Jumbo Tsuruta too, because he was champ. We're going back to mid-80's here though.

(Akio) Sato of the Orient Express? Heavy stereotype, but decent mid card push.

Kaz Hayashi WCW? Jung Dragons was his best push I guess.

TAKA Michinoku in WWF, and by extension Kaeintai.

I'd say Muta, Liger, & Hakushi got the strongest, most respectful long term pushes. Followed by TAKA, Ultimo, & Tajiri. Not counting guys who were in for short term or were in & out frequently and never stayed long (Kensuke, Tenzan & Masa Chono WCW, Tiger Mask WWF, Jumbo AWA, etc).

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Masa (Mr.) Saito in AWA. I guess AWA Jumbo Tsuruta too, because he was champ. We're going back to mid-80's here though.

(Akio) Sato of the Orient Express? Heavy stereotype, but decent mid card push.

Kaz Hayashi WCW? Jung Dragons was his best push I guess.

TAKA Michinoku in WWF, and by extension Kaeintai.

I'd say Muta, Liger, & Hakushi got the strongest, most respectful long term pushes. Followed by TAKA, Ultimo, & Tajiri. Not counting guys who were in for short term or were in & out frequently and never stayed long (Kensuke, Tenzan & Masa Chono WCW, Tiger Mask WWF, Jumbo AWA, etc).

And all were the mysterious, yet dangerous foreigner with the gooky music and mystical aura only a slant eyed man could be.

(or, a Yakuza member, like TAKA).

 

[s@ppisgod]

Choppy choppy your pee pee, indeed.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

So Elgin is using the Rainmaker in ROH, and calling it as such? Odd.