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http://wp.me/pgJLq-xUv Say it, don’t spray it, Cena. And could Johnny Ace possibly be in any more segments? 

I was thinking about Scott Hall and Kevin Nash recently, and they way they both were really great for a little while… and terrible for a long, long time before and/or after. What other wrestlers can you think of who had really noticeable "primes" where they were good-to-great (technically, not in kayfabe), and otherwise kinda stunk. 
My list, with my limited knowledge is as follows: 
Scott Hall (mid 90s)
Kevin Nash (mid 90s)
Rick Rude (late 80s)
Jake Roberts (mid 80s)
Kurt Angle (early 00s)
I’m sure there are others. Sting was  good worker once upon a time, right? I feel like Bossman had a few years where he didn’t stink, too.

Bossman was a hell of a worker from 1990-1996.  Sting’s still a good worker, he’s just old and broken down, but there’s not many Sting matches where I watch and go “Man, that guy sucks”.   He shouldn’t be doing it anymore, but at least he’s not embarrassing himself out there.  I’d add a few to this list, though: Ron Simmons was lucky enough to get carried by Vader in WCW enough times that he could hide his weaknesses, but once he got to WWF as Faarooq, he was god-awful.  The APA was a brilliant way to disguise him by limiting what he had to do in the ring.   I’d also add Charles “Godfather” Wright, who fluked out and found the perfect role as opening match heat machine in 1998 after years of stinking up the ring as Kama and Papa Shango.  Then, he became the Goodfather and his career was done.  Had he just kept pimping ho’s nationwide and being the curtain jerker on house shows and PPVs, he’d probably still be employed today, albeit with much less weed and prostitution references.  Come to think of it, can you IMAGINE the Wellness Policy being in place back then?  Godfather, X-Pac and the Outlaws were practically walking billboards for drug use. 

I was thinking about Scott Hall and Kevin Nash recently, and they way they both were really great for a little while… and terrible for a long, long time before and/or after. What other wrestlers can you think of who had really noticeable "primes" where they were good-to-great (technically, not in kayfabe), and otherwise kinda stunk. 
My list, with my limited knowledge is as follows: 
Scott Hall (mid 90s)
Kevin Nash (mid 90s)
Rick Rude (late 80s)
Jake Roberts (mid 80s)
Kurt Angle (early 00s)
I’m sure there are others. Sting was  good worker once upon a time, right? I feel like Bossman had a few years where he didn’t stink, too.

Bossman was a hell of a worker from 1990-1996.  Sting’s still a good worker, he’s just old and broken down, but there’s not many Sting matches where I watch and go “Man, that guy sucks”.   He shouldn’t be doing it anymore, but at least he’s not embarrassing himself out there.  I’d add a few to this list, though: Ron Simmons was lucky enough to get carried by Vader in WCW enough times that he could hide his weaknesses, but once he got to WWF as Faarooq, he was god-awful.  The APA was a brilliant way to disguise him by limiting what he had to do in the ring.   I’d also add Charles “Godfather” Wright, who fluked out and found the perfect role as opening match heat machine in 1998 after years of stinking up the ring as Kama and Papa Shango.  Then, he became the Goodfather and his career was done.  Had he just kept pimping ho’s nationwide and being the curtain jerker on house shows and PPVs, he’d probably still be employed today, albeit with much less weed and prostitution references.  Come to think of it, can you IMAGINE the Wellness Policy being in place back then?  Godfather, X-Pac and the Outlaws were practically walking billboards for drug use. 

I remember reading once in an interview with Jerry Lawler that Vince McMahon used to decide what he wanted at the next WrestleMania and would then book backwards from there.  When do you think Vince stopped doing this and why?  Was it when Vince Russo came to power? When The Monday Night Wars started?  Do you think there’s any chance Vince (or HHH/Stephanie whenever they take over) might go back to this method of booking or has that ship pretty much sailed? Thanks for reading and have a good day!

That train has indeed sailed, except I guess for Rock/Cena.  But it was absolutely during the Monday Night Wars and the fixation with popping ratings therein.  That’s also a reason why PPV in general is a dying beast for them. 

I remember reading once in an interview with Jerry Lawler that Vince McMahon used to decide what he wanted at the next WrestleMania and would then book backwards from there.  When do you think Vince stopped doing this and why?  Was it when Vince Russo came to power? When The Monday Night Wars started?  Do you think there’s any chance Vince (or HHH/Stephanie whenever they take over) might go back to this method of booking or has that ship pretty much sailed? Thanks for reading and have a good day!

That train has indeed sailed, except I guess for Rock/Cena.  But it was absolutely during the Monday Night Wars and the fixation with popping ratings therein.  That’s also a reason why PPV in general is a dying beast for them. 

Wait, there’s a PPV tonight? Feel free to make predictions and do real-time complaining here if anyone’s actually watching this show tonight.  My own thoughts:  – ADR beats Cena because he’s supposedly defending against Punk at Survivor Series, plus the Last Man Sleeping stip means they can do some wacky finish so that Cena doesn’t have to lose to the World champion.  Maybe Ricardo runs Cena over with the car of the week and traps him underneath?  – Mark Henry beats Big Show again. – HHH and his little buddy Punk go over Miz-Truth strong to set up Punk’s title challenge next month.  HHH pedigrees both guys and then graciously allows Punk to get the pin. – Orton destroys Cody Rhodes, unless the title’s on the line in which case he destroys Cody Rhodes and then gets himself DQ’d for not breaking an asskicking in the corner. – Air Boom retain over the Whoresmen when Kofi’s substitute partner Mason Ryan powerbombs the shit out of Ziggler and pins him.  Then they do the US title match right away and Ryder runs out like a goof and wins the belt by pinning a guy who’s already been flattened.  Those are the only matches I remember.

Wait, there’s a PPV tonight? Feel free to make predictions and do real-time complaining here if anyone’s actually watching this show tonight.  My own thoughts:  – ADR beats Cena because he’s supposedly defending against Punk at Survivor Series, plus the Last Man Sleeping stip means they can do some wacky finish so that Cena doesn’t have to lose to the World champion.  Maybe Ricardo runs Cena over with the car of the week and traps him underneath?  – Mark Henry beats Big Show again. – HHH and his little buddy Punk go over Miz-Truth strong to set up Punk’s title challenge next month.  HHH pedigrees both guys and then graciously allows Punk to get the pin. – Orton destroys Cody Rhodes, unless the title’s on the line in which case he destroys Cody Rhodes and then gets himself DQ’d for not breaking an asskicking in the corner. – Air Boom retain over the Whoresmen when Kofi’s substitute partner Mason Ryan powerbombs the shit out of Ziggler and pins him.  Then they do the US title match right away and Ryder runs out like a goof and wins the belt by pinning a guy who’s already been flattened.  Those are the only matches I remember.

Just to follow up on a comment from the Vintage Collection thread…

Turning Buff heel after the neck injury was just as stupid as botching the ready made Rick/Scott feud. I mean seriously after the turn in Feb. 98 was it really hard to build to a simple grudge match at let’s say Great American Bash?

Good god that heel turn still makes me angry for all the wrong reasons.  WCW had spent literally YEARS trying everything in their limited arsenal of tricks trying to get Marcus Bagwell over as the teen heart-throb babyface in the 90s, and it never stuck.  They wanted him as a top star so bad that they gave him tag title runs, partners more over than him that he was supposed to get the rub from, endless blowjobs on commentary, you name it.  So finally they’re like “fuck it, let’s turn him heel” and he joins the NWO.  And suddenly he gets over as Buff Bagwell, obnoxious self-centered pretty boy heel.  So now fans kind of buy him as a top guy due to his circle of friends, and he joins with Scott Steiner after Scott turns on Rick, and fans buy that as viable combination as well.  So far so good.  Then Rick accidentally breaks Bagwell’s neck, and suddenly WCW is handed, on a motherfucking silver platter, the exact thing they had been looking for all those years.  Bagwell returns from the neck injury and he’s suddenly this guy that fans now ACCEPT as a top guy and who fans now WANT to cheer for as a top babyface, and there’s a ready-made story because Scott Steiner basically told him to fuck off and die after the neck injury.  So there’s Bagwell, ready to rocket into a top position as a top babyface with an awesome storyline where he’s going to forgive and team with the guy who broke his neck BECAUSE SCOTT STEINER IS JUST THAT MUCH OF A DOUCHENOZZLE that there’s no other option, and that would not only get Bagwell to the next level as a babyface but also turn Scott Steiner into a top level heel along the way…and they swerve us and turn Bagwell heel.  And now no one gets over.  Scott Steiner looks like a coward, Rick Steiner looks like a moron for trusting Buff, and Buff never ever gets back to the same level again and is basically back to trying to find a tag team partner to carry him and tired act again.  And it’s really weird, because Bagwell had all the right backstage connections, so he should have been allowed to get over, but I guess this must have actually been their plan and there’s really no other explanation but the company being run by retards.  That’s why it was so exhausting to be a fan of theirs and why lots of people just left when the Wars ended, I think.

Just to follow up on a comment from the Vintage Collection thread…

Turning Buff heel after the neck injury was just as stupid as botching the ready made Rick/Scott feud. I mean seriously after the turn in Feb. 98 was it really hard to build to a simple grudge match at let’s say Great American Bash?

Good god that heel turn still makes me angry for all the wrong reasons.  WCW had spent literally YEARS trying everything in their limited arsenal of tricks trying to get Marcus Bagwell over as the teen heart-throb babyface in the 90s, and it never stuck.  They wanted him as a top star so bad that they gave him tag title runs, partners more over than him that he was supposed to get the rub from, endless blowjobs on commentary, you name it.  So finally they’re like “fuck it, let’s turn him heel” and he joins the NWO.  And suddenly he gets over as Buff Bagwell, obnoxious self-centered pretty boy heel.  So now fans kind of buy him as a top guy due to his circle of friends, and he joins with Scott Steiner after Scott turns on Rick, and fans buy that as viable combination as well.  So far so good.  Then Rick accidentally breaks Bagwell’s neck, and suddenly WCW is handed, on a motherfucking silver platter, the exact thing they had been looking for all those years.  Bagwell returns from the neck injury and he’s suddenly this guy that fans now ACCEPT as a top guy and who fans now WANT to cheer for as a top babyface, and there’s a ready-made story because Scott Steiner basically told him to fuck off and die after the neck injury.  So there’s Bagwell, ready to rocket into a top position as a top babyface with an awesome storyline where he’s going to forgive and team with the guy who broke his neck BECAUSE SCOTT STEINER IS JUST THAT MUCH OF A DOUCHENOZZLE that there’s no other option, and that would not only get Bagwell to the next level as a babyface but also turn Scott Steiner into a top level heel along the way…and they swerve us and turn Bagwell heel.  And now no one gets over.  Scott Steiner looks like a coward, Rick Steiner looks like a moron for trusting Buff, and Buff never ever gets back to the same level again and is basically back to trying to find a tag team partner to carry him and tired act again.  And it’s really weird, because Bagwell had all the right backstage connections, so he should have been allowed to get over, but I guess this must have actually been their plan and there’s really no other explanation but the company being run by retards.  That’s why it was so exhausting to be a fan of theirs and why lots of people just left when the Wars ended, I think.

I’m starting to get overlapping mailbag questions so I should probably start clearing them out.

Saw a preview for the new WWE Greatest Rivalries DVD: Hart/Michaels.  It looks really good, and I’ll probably check it out, but it got me thinking of future Greatest Rivalry DVDs.  If they were to continue with these titles, what Rivalries would you like to see?  Some come to my mind, but I don’t know if there’d be enough material for a 3-disc set.
Angle/Lesnar
Edge and Christian/Hardys
Guerrero/Mysterio
HHH/Foley
Rock/Austin seems like a no-brainer.
Thoughts?

Hey Scott– So the Bret v. Shawn dvd is out in a couple of weeks, and all the early reviews indicate that it’s going to be the best wrestling dvd released this year. However, I’m wondering if the ‘E can really go any further with this concept, especially given the truly unique nature of what went down between Bret and Shawn. Can you think of any rivalry they could do this kind of dvd with in the future, or is this a "one and done?"

I know they want to do more in the future.  Rock/Austin is a natural and would probably sell like gangbusters.  Austin/Vince, although that would be 99% promos and only a few matches.   I’d also say Rock/HHH, which gives you a BAZILLION good-great matches to choose from and some real history between them.  Plus we’d hopefully finally get the Iron Man match on DVD.  I’d also pick Hogan v. Savage, but that’s obviously never happening for a million reasons I don’t need to get into here I’m sure.  Flair v. Sting is again another one mired in political bullshit so it wouldn’t ever happen.  But it would quite the set. 

I’m starting to get overlapping mailbag questions so I should probably start clearing them out.

Saw a preview for the new WWE Greatest Rivalries DVD: Hart/Michaels.  It looks really good, and I’ll probably check it out, but it got me thinking of future Greatest Rivalry DVDs.  If they were to continue with these titles, what Rivalries would you like to see?  Some come to my mind, but I don’t know if there’d be enough material for a 3-disc set.
Angle/Lesnar
Edge and Christian/Hardys
Guerrero/Mysterio
HHH/Foley
Rock/Austin seems like a no-brainer.
Thoughts?

Hey Scott– So the Bret v. Shawn dvd is out in a couple of weeks, and all the early reviews indicate that it’s going to be the best wrestling dvd released this year. However, I’m wondering if the ‘E can really go any further with this concept, especially given the truly unique nature of what went down between Bret and Shawn. Can you think of any rivalry they could do this kind of dvd with in the future, or is this a "one and done?"

I know they want to do more in the future.  Rock/Austin is a natural and would probably sell like gangbusters.  Austin/Vince, although that would be 99% promos and only a few matches.   I’d also say Rock/HHH, which gives you a BAZILLION good-great matches to choose from and some real history between them.  Plus we’d hopefully finally get the Iron Man match on DVD.  I’d also pick Hogan v. Savage, but that’s obviously never happening for a million reasons I don’t need to get into here I’m sure.  Flair v. Sting is again another one mired in political bullshit so it wouldn’t ever happen.  But it would quite the set. 

I found the TNA BFG PPV review that was posted on your website earlier this week interesting. It seemed that it was an excellent PPV until the poor main event, and as result everyone bashed the PPV as a whole.  While it would be awesome to have a PPV that was excellent from top to bottom, that rarely happens. So my question to you is do you think it is better to have a excellent undercard (but a crappy main event), or a crappy undercard but a excellent main event.  Also, can you think of any PPV’s (from any company) that fit either criteria? Meaning ones that had an excellent undercard, but blew it with their main event, along with ones that had a crappy undercard, but were potentially saved because of an awesome main event.  Is one situation better than the other?

I’d rather sit through a crappy undercard and get blown away by the main event, because usually that’s what you remember anyway.  Like with Royal Rumble, I’m spending the $50 because of that one match, not anything happening before it.  As noted, WCW used to do the opposite all the time, where you’d get an awesome 2 hours of matches and then Hulk Hogan stinking up the main event.  The Roode thing just really bugged people because that’s why most were spending the money on the show, I think.

I found the TNA BFG PPV review that was posted on your website earlier this week interesting. It seemed that it was an excellent PPV until the poor main event, and as result everyone bashed the PPV as a whole.  While it would be awesome to have a PPV that was excellent from top to bottom, that rarely happens. So my question to you is do you think it is better to have a excellent undercard (but a crappy main event), or a crappy undercard but a excellent main event.  Also, can you think of any PPV’s (from any company) that fit either criteria? Meaning ones that had an excellent undercard, but blew it with their main event, along with ones that had a crappy undercard, but were potentially saved because of an awesome main event.  Is one situation better than the other?

I’d rather sit through a crappy undercard and get blown away by the main event, because usually that’s what you remember anyway.  Like with Royal Rumble, I’m spending the $50 because of that one match, not anything happening before it.  As noted, WCW used to do the opposite all the time, where you’d get an awesome 2 hours of matches and then Hulk Hogan stinking up the main event.  The Roode thing just really bugged people because that’s why most were spending the money on the show, I think.

http://wp.me/pgJLq-xSh I’m FLOORED that this show can come up with Luger v. Sting matches I’ve never even seen.  Plus Rockabilly matches that I have seen.  Unfortunately.

http://wp.me/pgJLq-xSh I’m FLOORED that this show can come up with Luger v. Sting matches I’ve never even seen.  Plus Rockabilly matches that I have seen.  Unfortunately.

  Dear Mr. Keith, I hate to do this, but I am asking you to plug my site: the Combat Sports Almanac https://sites.google.com/site/combatsportsalmanac/home There are no big bells or whistles, and it is still being built over time as I get a chance to add links and my own research into the mix. It is what it is. I am trying to offer fans of combative sports in all forms, but particularly professional wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and hybrid/freestyle/MMA fighting a place to find information and resources on their favorite fighters and promotions. It is a work in progress and I am only able to do a little to it each day. Any information from those that come across the site would be a major help in expanding the site, and of course constructive criticism, advice, or suggestions are always welcome.

Never be apologetic about asking for a plug!  Take ownership of your site, man. It’s certainly no-frills at the moment, but Rome wasn’t burned in a day. 

  Dear Mr. Keith, I hate to do this, but I am asking you to plug my site: the Combat Sports Almanac https://sites.google.com/site/combatsportsalmanac/home There are no big bells or whistles, and it is still being built over time as I get a chance to add links and my own research into the mix. It is what it is. I am trying to offer fans of combative sports in all forms, but particularly professional wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and hybrid/freestyle/MMA fighting a place to find information and resources on their favorite fighters and promotions. It is a work in progress and I am only able to do a little to it each day. Any information from those that come across the site would be a major help in expanding the site, and of course constructive criticism, advice, or suggestions are always welcome.

Never be apologetic about asking for a plug!  Take ownership of your site, man. It’s certainly no-frills at the moment, but Rome wasn’t burned in a day. 

Hey Scott Before Trips tore his quad in that tag match with Jericho and "he who shall not be named" back in 2001, where was the Two Man Power Trip storyline suppose to go?  What did WWE have planned for it?

It’s safe to say “Benoit” you know, it’s not like Voldemort where he’ll come back to life and try to take over the world. Anyway, I think I’ve addressed this before, but the plan was a pretty straightforward deal where Austin would stop trusting HHH and they’d ending up feuding over the World title around Summerslam.  Of course, with HHH out they had to go to Kurt Angle, and that worked out better due to 9/11 anyway.  I don’t think there was any long-term planning going on past that point. Edit:  Former WWE writer Seth Mates clarifies for me via Twitter:

After HHH got hurt, plan became to do face returning HHH vs heel Austin at WM18. But Austin wanted to be a face and was turned around SSeries, and basically talked himself out of the WM main and losing title early. WM18 became Jericho-HHH, Austin-Hall.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Hey Scott Before Trips tore his quad in that tag match with Jericho and "he who shall not be named" back in 2001, where was the Two Man Power Trip storyline suppose to go?  What did WWE have planned for it?

It’s safe to say “Benoit” you know, it’s not like Voldemort where he’ll come back to life and try to take over the world. Anyway, I think I’ve addressed this before, but the plan was a pretty straightforward deal where Austin would stop trusting HHH and they’d ending up feuding over the World title around Summerslam.  Of course, with HHH out they had to go to Kurt Angle, and that worked out better due to 9/11 anyway.  I don’t think there was any long-term planning going on past that point. Edit:  Former WWE writer Seth Mates clarifies for me via Twitter:

After HHH got hurt, plan became to do face returning HHH vs heel Austin at WM18. But Austin wanted to be a face and was turned around SSeries, and basically talked himself out of the WM main and losing title early. WM18 became Jericho-HHH, Austin-Hall.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Why do you think that Austin hasn’t had the same level of success as The Rock in his post-wrestling career?  I remember a time where it seemed that Austin was gonna become the big star, not the Rock.  Those appearences on the old "Nash Bridges" tv show were so popular that CBS was seriously considering spinning Austin’s character off in his own show at one time, but that didn’t happen for some reason.  Now Rock is the big movie star, while Austin is making direct-to-DVD stuff.  Heck, Austin is also a well-known hunter, yet HBK gets his own hunting show.  Is Austin just content in doing WWE appearences/dvd movies?  Yea, Austin hosted the newest "Tough Enough" show, but surely the USA Network could come up with another one of their shows to put Austin in.

Well, Austin is super duper mega rich thanks to years of merchandise sales and ridiculous DVD royalties, so I think he’s probably content to pick and choose his projects.  Plus he’s never struck me as the type who puts up with Hollywood bullshit, whereas Rock is much more of the diplomatic type.  And hey, Austin was in the Expendables and that was a pretty badass movie.