Wrestling Observer Flashback

Part one (review of Survivor Series 96 and more):

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 11.25.96 (Part One)

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 11.25.96

It’s a pretty packed week for both promotions!  In fact it’s so big that we have to split this one into TWO PARTS just like Wrestlemania!

Part two:

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 11.25.96 (Part Two)

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 11.18.96

Apparently Bret Hart’s negotiations with WCW were so potentially fruitful that someone else is wanting to give it a try.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 11.11.96

Well, it sounds like the relationship between the WWF and USA is stronger than ever, and only something ridiculously terrible could possibly ever cause problems.  And now I’ll just take a big sip of my drink while using my nice new computer and I’ll just open up this issue of the Observer and…

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 11.04.96

Apparently it’s time for WCW to get rowdy.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 10.28.96

And now it’s time for the issue that kicks off one of the biggest stories in the history of wrestling, although we didn’t realize it at the time.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 10.21.96

Merry Christmas!

You know who’s about to have a REALLY good Christmas?  Bret Hart.  Man, you should about the deal he just signed with the WWF!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 10.13.96

This week, it’s the BRET HART SWEEPSTAKES!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 10.07.96

This week, a big name goes to the rival promotion in the thick of the Monday Night Wars!  Call my hotline now to find out the answer!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 09.30.96

This week:  The WWF finally unleashes their trump card on WCW Monday Nitro, changing the narrative forever and ending the Monday Night War!  Ha, but seriously…

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 09.23.96

Welcome to 1996 WCW, notes our teaser for this week. This should be good.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 09.16.96

Oh what a tangled web we weave…

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 09.09.96

This week: Plans change.  Creatively and contractually.  But nothing that is Vince McMahon’s fault, I cannot stress that enough!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 05.25.92

This one was never uploaded into the newsletter archives at the time I was doing the 92 Flashbacks, but a reader kindly pointed out that it’s there now, so it’s time for a RETRO FLASHBACK. We’re through the looking glass, people.

Unfortunately William Regal wasn’t yet around at this point, because it’s time for…

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 09.02.96

WCW actually has some noteworthy Disney tapings, Bret Hart ponders his future, and MORE!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 08.26.96

It’s time for SUMMERSLAM! But first, the WWF is messing with their PPV schedule again.

And NOW the main event!  Hog Wild 96 and the introduction of the Observer Hall of Fame awaits!

This one took me a little bit longer to write than last night’s quickie, obviously.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 08.19.96

OK, after yesterday’s super-abbreviated edition (well the one I wrote at least, Dave was still 100,000 words into it) we’re back with a full double issue this time to recap all the stateside news!

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 08.14.96

Here’s a shocking story to start this week’s issue:  Dave is a really big fan of New Japan Pro Wrestling.  I know, I know, what a bombshell.

– Dave proclaims that no promotion is any hotter here in 1996, with more mainstream popularity, than NJPW is.  The G-1 alone sold 55,000 tickets and drew $3 million in ticket sales (converted to metric, that’s approximately one third of a Wrestlemania today).  In fact, Dave declares that New Japan is the very model of what a modern pro wrestling promotion should be!

– At this point Dave puts over the brilliance of Antonio Inoki and goes into a detailed history of his career, interspersed with the detailed results of the combined G-1 and J-Crown shows, which I will spare you.

– Meanwhile, New Japan held the historic J Crown tournament, with 8 champions competing to unify all the titles into one match with 8 belts at stake.  (And you thought Roman Reigns v. Brock Lesnar was a big deal!)  For those keeping score, the belts at stake were the following:  IWGP Junior Heavyweight, NWA Welterweight, WAR International Junior, WWF Light Heavyweight, NWA Junior heavyweight, Great Britain Junior Heavyweight, WWA Junior Light Heavyweight and UWA Light Heavyweight.  Notable is that half of those “titles” don’t actually exist or at least haven’t been active in decades, but it’s still pretty cool.

– Skipping ahead to the point, Ultimo Dragon of course beat Great Sasuke to unify the 8 belts and win the J-Crown.

– And that’s literally the entire issue this time around aside from quick mentions that 1-2-3 Kid is debuting for WCW soon and Gary Wolfe has a broken neck, so consider this a a bonus appetizer tonight since it only took me 10 minutes to write, and we’ll move onto the next week’s proper double issue tomorrow with Dave back from Japan and reporting news again.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 08.05.96

(I’m putting this one in the can a few days earlier than publication so if there’s any pop culture references that age badly, blame me.)

An industry shaking death in this issue, but first Dave does some business analysis.

Wrestling Observer Flashback – 07.29.96

And we’re back into these again!

Time to get political with an INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT.

Well not really but you get where I’m going with this.