Iron Mike Sharpe, Canada’s Greatest Athlete (1984-1990, according to MacCleans*) was initially managed by Capt. Lou Albano and had a title program versus Bob Backlund circa 1983. Back then, Madison Square Garden (MSG) WWF shows were broadcast live on the MSG network. I got to watch these matches, back when WWE appeared in MSG on a monthly basis and MSG really was the Mecca of Professional Wrestling. After that, Iron Mike stayed in the WWE, sliding down the card but always being the tough win for the babyface, versus the straight job guy. Another useless fact - before the NY Yankee’s started their own network, they too broadcast on the MSG network for non-televised games (though back then, a lot more games were televised).
My favorite was when Taz talked all through the beginning of a match telling a story, then Excalibur admonished him of talking for 2 minutes during the match without calling a single move. As Excalibur was talking, Taz reflexively called a move, which Excalibur then chided Taz about, telling Taz he was ruining the match.
*MacClean’s website does not appear to have a search function, nor does it seem that they have archived pre-internet material. That little tidbit was taken from Wikipedia, while I was refreshing some of my Iron Mike Sharpe memories.
I’ll believe Cody’s leaving is for real when I actually see him in WWE. Even him going to New Japan wouldn’t surprise me, because AEW has good relationships with other wrestling companies. But if he goes to WWE, I’ll know he’s truly gone.
I remember a few weeks ago, when Cody was starting to get booed and they teased a contentious relationship with Arn, he had a press conference and somebody asked him about the negative reaction. He said something to the effect of “Wait till later. Their minds are really going to be blown!”
After he first left WWE, he made a tour of the other feds before germinating AEW. He’s got connections and like his dad, he can sell ice cubes to eskimos. I’m thinking he sold Tony Kahn on the idea of opening the forbidden door out of AEW, and sent feelers to Vince, knowing the WWE overlord would love the idea of Cody leaving a rival promotion and playing the prodigal son angle.
Plus, despite the concept of kayfabe being blown apart in the Internets, the wrestling industry still manages to keep some secrets, like when the Hardys came back to WWE. It’s like a magic show, where they have all the pageantry happening to cover up the little sleight motion that reveals the trick. If Cody can pull off a major deception and make WWE look stupid, he’ll become a legend, more than he could have accomplished through wrestling alone.
In today’s episode, Taz compares Markus Kross to '69 Robert Plant, sells jealousy of Ex’s “Announcer of the Year” award, explains the logistics of Peter Avalon’s hidden live band, pontificates on Excalibur loaning Fuego Del Sol his mask, and explains why Serpentico and Luther aren’t wearing matching colors. Let’s go with why Taz hates referee Bryce Remsburg.
Serpentico (w/Luther) vs. Matt Sydal
Taz: You know, that Bryce Remsburg, the referee, he’s like that teacher at school everyone hates, the mean teacher that’s always the stick in the mud, friggin’ Bryce Remsburg, the referee here in this match, the mean teacher. (chuckles) He’s not the cool teacher. He’s the mean-ass teacher. Paul, Paul Turner’s the nice teacher.
Ex: He’s the guy who lets you say swear words in class.
Taz: Yeah, drink a beer outside class.
Ex: (does a spit-take) I don’t think, uh, what level of schooling are we talking about here Taz? The legal age to drink in the United States is 21.
Taz: Well, graduate students. They call more action.
Taz: Speaking on the high college level here, not grammar school.
Ex: (chuckles awkwardly) Paul Turner’s not letting grammar school children drink. More ring action ensues. Luther screams “I hate bald people” at skinheaded Remsburg.
There are reports that 77 year old Vince McMahon is actually going to have a match at WrestleMania this year. The last thing I want to see is another member of the McMahon family in a match.
As horrible as idea that this is, I’m kind of fascinated at how much of a gory trainwreck this will be. “They say I’m old and out of touch, do they? I’ll show those ingrates! Who’s young and popular? That Magaffy fellow, he wore shorts that one time! So unprofessional! I’ll show him a fashion statement!”
Is it bad that I don’t know if that is outright parody, or something VKM might actually have said? One old, breaking down man and one non-wrrstler with what, 2 matches? Even if it ends up being Austin Theory, he’s not ready to carry anyone in a WM match.
It’s certainly not something I want to pay to see live. The only real justification I can make is that it serves as a time for spectators to empty their bladders and get food, or to vomit.
In Game of Thrones, King Baretheon got talked out of participating in a tournament because it was pointed out that no true warrior would dare strike his king. None of Vince’s flunkies would say that though.
So, by my calculation, this will be the third time WWE has had a world title unification match. They unified the WWF and (WCW) World Championships in 2001, the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships in 2013, and will now unify the WWE and WWE Universal Championships in 2022.
How long do you think it’ll be before they re-introduce a second world title? They’re certainly not going to get rid of the brand split, are they?
The problem is Vince has a very narrow definition of star. Not enough stars for two brands.
Personally, I’ve always felt the titles should be unified, with the IC and US titles the brand specific titles. Use those belts to build the next stars rather than having them be the useless props they are now. The title matches for the IC and US titles, along with the tag titles and occasional Women’s title match, can headline TV, and leave the World title for the “Premium Viewing Event” (formerly known as PPV). But that is just one idiot fan’s POV, and the titles will be un-unified (or something like that) by year’s end.
I thought I read somewhere that part of the reason there are two championships NOW is because Fox and USA that air Smackdown and RAW respectively wanted each show to have their own “world” champion .
This is an interview Ethan Page did with Eddie Kingston a few years ago, before AEW existed. Kingston is in top form. He goofs on Page for the way he cried while blading for the first time, and gets Excalibur to recreate the Jesus pose moment. Page comes close to dropping his smile a few times and tells Kingston “I really hate you right now.”
Max Castor almost hypnotizes Taz, Taz reveals he was almost a yogurt baron, and explains his invention, The Tazistrator. He admonishes wrestlers calling their shots, dwells on QT Marshall’s sensitivity when the ring announcer almost forgets his name, and hates/loves referee Bryce Remsburg.
For some reason, Taz is at his best whenever 2point0 is present, thus from there we present the Taz moment of the day.
Daniel Garcia (with 2point0) vs Josh Woods
Taz: 2point0, Jeff and Matt, are just great motivators, they really know what’s what.
E: Well you know, Brian Danielson said that Garcia would be more successful with Brian Danielson as mentor than 2point0. What do you think about that, Taz?
Taz: Wait, repeat that one more time to me.
Ex: Danielson said that he would be a better mentor to Daniel Garcia than 2point0.
Taz: No way. No way. Garcia… Danielson’s out of his mind. There’s no way. He’s an egomaniac.
Ex: Who did Danielson ever beat?
Taz: Well, I’m not gonna kiss Danielson’s ass like everybody else does. He’s out of his mind. 2point0 is the better mentor for Garcia. I got a better one for you! Garcia don’t even need a mentor, in my opinion. He’s taking this Josh Woods apart right now. See, he’s a tremendous talent. Why does everybody need a friggin’ mentor? Why?
Ex: Garcia with a Crucifix here, just a 2 count on Woods.
Taz: Sorry. I had a little outburst there. I’m pissed.
Ex: So, you don’t consider yourself a mentor for Team Taz.
Taz: No. No, I don’t Excalibur. I don’t. Powerhouse Hobbs is a grown-ass man. Ricky Starks a grown-ass man, Hook a grown-ass man, they all dominate in their own way. Next? No. I’m not a mentor. Stop with the mentors.
Sounds like Khan intends to keep it running as a separate promotion, which is a lot better than what would have happened of Vince had got his hands on it. I imagine we’ll see a lot of crossover between brands and ROH titles being defended on AEW PPVs and vice versa.
