WWE Network
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Great news for those (probably everyone except me) who don't have a Fite subscription. AEW wrestling to be broadcast on ESPN, so if you have Sky Sports, you can watch
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And it looks like it is starting from this week. AEW Dynamite 2pm Thursday ESPN2, and AEW Rampage 6pm on Saturday
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I had 3 periods of WWF fandom - mid-80s, early 90s, late90s-early 2000s. Has barely been on the radar since but am really enjoying a podcast from former manager and borderline psychopath Jim Cornette. Brilliant stories about all of the greats and not so greats. He's a ridiculous curmudgeon but incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
I had 3 periods of WWF fandom - mid-80s, early 90s, late90s-early 2000s. Has barely been on the radar since but am really enjoying a podcast from former manager and borderline psychopath Jim Cornette. Brilliant stories about all of the greats and not so greats. He's a ridiculous curmudgeon but incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining.
Amazing hearing what some of those guys got up to between matches. If you go through ANY card from the 80s you can virtually guarantee about half of them are dead. Steroids/painkillers/alcohol and cocaine are any uneasy mix.
Jake the Snake has some absolutely terrific yarns ( even if some are very contradictory )
Most of the “heels” sound like good guys in real life.
Many of the “faces” don’t ( British Bulldogs and Ultimate Warrior spring to mind )
Haku is universally regarded as THE guy that no one wanted to fuck with. Some of his brawling stories are legendary.
Honourable mentions in the tough fluffybunny stakes to the Barbarian, Ravishing Rick Rude, Road Warrior Hawk, Dan Spivey )
Andre the Giant was either a nice guy or a bully depending on who tells the story. One thing NOT in dispute was his drinking ability.
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@MN5 said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
I had 3 periods of WWF fandom - mid-80s, early 90s, late90s-early 2000s. Has barely been on the radar since but am really enjoying a podcast from former manager and borderline psychopath Jim Cornette. Brilliant stories about all of the greats and not so greats. He's a ridiculous curmudgeon but incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining.
Amazing hearing what some of those guys got up to between matches. If you go through ANY card from the 80s you can virtually guarantee about half of them are dead. Steroids/painkillers/alcohol and cocaine are any uneasy mix.
Jake the Snake has some absolutely terrific yarns ( even if some are very contradictory )
Most of the “heels” sound like good guys in real life.
Many of the “faces” don’t ( British Bulldogs and Ultimate Warrior spring to mind )
Haku is universally regarded as THE guy that no one wanted to fuck with. Some of his brawling stories are legendary.
Honourable mentions in the tough fluffybunny stakes to the Barbarian, Ravishing Rick Rude, Road Warrior Hawk, Dan Spivey )
Andre the Giant was either a nice guy or a bully depending on who tells the story. One thing NOT in dispute was his drinking ability.
Dark Side of the Ring is an excellent series for finding out more. The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business. Pretty much everyone involved has been fůcked up in some fashion. It's also fascinating to learn of how the business used to be divided into territories and how Vince McMahon changed all of that. And of course there is the concept of kayfabe which was like a religion back in the day.
What's interesting is who I liked as a kid vs how they were actually regarded by other fans and wrestlers. Ultimate Warrior is a prime example. He blew me away as a kid, but I've since realised he was a shit wrestler and universally hated. I hated Rick Flair with a passion, but it seems like he's universally regarded as the GOAT. Later on I thought the Hart bros were the absolute shit. I never liked Stone Cold (wanted Vince to win their feud) or Goldberg. Huge fan of the Rock even when he was a heel.
But yeah, despite really enjoying it I have no interest in watching it any more.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
@MN5 said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
I had 3 periods of WWF fandom - mid-80s, early 90s, late90s-early 2000s. Has barely been on the radar since but am really enjoying a podcast from former manager and borderline psychopath Jim Cornette. Brilliant stories about all of the greats and not so greats. He's a ridiculous curmudgeon but incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining.
Amazing hearing what some of those guys got up to between matches. If you go through ANY card from the 80s you can virtually guarantee about half of them are dead. Steroids/painkillers/alcohol and cocaine are any uneasy mix.
Jake the Snake has some absolutely terrific yarns ( even if some are very contradictory )
Most of the “heels” sound like good guys in real life.
Many of the “faces” don’t ( British Bulldogs and Ultimate Warrior spring to mind )
Haku is universally regarded as THE guy that no one wanted to fuck with. Some of his brawling stories are legendary.
Honourable mentions in the tough fluffybunny stakes to the Barbarian, Ravishing Rick Rude, Road Warrior Hawk, Dan Spivey )
Andre the Giant was either a nice guy or a bully depending on who tells the story. One thing NOT in dispute was his drinking ability.
Dark Side of the Ring is an excellent series for finding out more. The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business. Pretty much everyone involved has been fůcked up in some fashion. It's also fascinating to learn of how the business used to be divided into territories and how Vince McMahon changed all of that. And of course there is the concept of kayfabe which was like a religion back in the day.
What's interesting is who I liked as a kid vs how they were actually regarded by other fans and wrestlers. Ultimate Warrior is a prime example. He blew me away as a kid, but I've since realised he was a shit wrestler and universally hated. I hated Rick Flair with a passion, but it seems like he's universally regarded as the GOAT. Later on I thought the Hart bros were the absolute shit. I never liked Stone Cold (wanted Vince to win their feud) or Goldberg. Huge fan of the Rock even when he was a heel.
But yeah, despite really enjoying it I have no interest in watching it any more.
100%. It’s all nostalgia for me, no interest nowadays and looking back I realise that all of my favourite wrestlers were the kind of, how do I put this…..almost superstars like Rick Rude ( he’d be number one ), Randy Savage, Mr Perfect etc. the top heels who fought the champions.
The Warrior is universally regarded as a terrible wrestler with a limited skillset, a guy who others had to carry in matches. Apparently Rick Rude knocked him out backstage for being too stiff in the ring.
In saying all that this is still sad, he was dead not long after this went to air…..
Hogan, Flair, Stone Cold……yeah I didn’t care for them much either.
It is awesome hearing Demolition being interviewed. They look like a pair of drunk old uncles at a BBQ. Great blokes !
…..and yeah that von Erich story is too tragic for words. I think Kevin lost all of his brothers by his 40s……Jesus Christ. Kerry ( Texas Tornado ) wrestled with a prosthetic foot that he kept secret from everyone, even other wrestlers backstage !
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@MN5 said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
@MN5 said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
I had 3 periods of WWF fandom - mid-80s, early 90s, late90s-early 2000s. Has barely been on the radar since but am really enjoying a podcast from former manager and borderline psychopath Jim Cornette. Brilliant stories about all of the greats and not so greats. He's a ridiculous curmudgeon but incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining.
Amazing hearing what some of those guys got up to between matches. If you go through ANY card from the 80s you can virtually guarantee about half of them are dead. Steroids/painkillers/alcohol and cocaine are any uneasy mix.
Jake the Snake has some absolutely terrific yarns ( even if some are very contradictory )
Most of the “heels” sound like good guys in real life.
Many of the “faces” don’t ( British Bulldogs and Ultimate Warrior spring to mind )
Haku is universally regarded as THE guy that no one wanted to fuck with. Some of his brawling stories are legendary.
Honourable mentions in the tough fluffybunny stakes to the Barbarian, Ravishing Rick Rude, Road Warrior Hawk, Dan Spivey )
Andre the Giant was either a nice guy or a bully depending on who tells the story. One thing NOT in dispute was his drinking ability.
Dark Side of the Ring is an excellent series for finding out more. The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business. Pretty much everyone involved has been fůcked up in some fashion. It's also fascinating to learn of how the business used to be divided into territories and how Vince McMahon changed all of that. And of course there is the concept of kayfabe which was like a religion back in the day.
What's interesting is who I liked as a kid vs how they were actually regarded by other fans and wrestlers. Ultimate Warrior is a prime example. He blew me away as a kid, but I've since realised he was a shit wrestler and universally hated. I hated Rick Flair with a passion, but it seems like he's universally regarded as the GOAT. Later on I thought the Hart bros were the absolute shit. I never liked Stone Cold (wanted Vince to win their feud) or Goldberg. Huge fan of the Rock even when he was a heel.
But yeah, despite really enjoying it I have no interest in watching it any more.
100%. It’s all nostalgia for me, no interest nowadays and looking back I realise that all of my favourite wrestlers were the kind of, how do I put this…..almost superstars like Rick Rude ( he’d be number one ), Randy Savage, Mr Perfect etc. the top heels who fought the champions.
The Warrior is universally regarded as a terrible wrestler with a limited skillset, a guy who others had to carry in matches. Apparently Rick Rude knocked him out backstage for being too stiff in the ring.
In saying all that this is still sad, he was dead not long after this went to air…..
Hogan, Flair, Stone Cold……yeah I didn’t care for them much either.
It is awesome hearing Demolition being interviewed. They look like a pair of drunk old uncles at a BBQ. Great blokes !
…..and yeah that von Erich story is too tragic for words. I think Kevin lost all of his brothers by his 40s……Jesus Christ. Kerry ( Texas Tornado ) wrestled with a prosthetic foot that he kept secret from everyone, even other wrestlers backstage !
My favourite as a kid was Brutus the Barber Beefcake. Also loved JYD, (although he seemed to lose all the matches I saw him in). Absolutely loved Strike Force (Rick Martell and Tito Santena). Actually Martell was a hugely underrated wrestler. His pretty boy feud with Sean Michaels was hilarious. First saw the awesomeness of Brett Hart at Summerslam 1992. He lost to the British Bulldog, but I was blown away by his technical ability. You could tell he was on a whole other level. But I had a soft spot for Owen. He was great. So sad what happened to him.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business
Everything I've read it seems like the old man was a real prick. FYI - I noticed there's a Von Erich movie coming out later this year starring Zac Efron.
I was only briefly a fan in the late 80s/eraly 90s era when it was big in NZ. Hart Foundation were my favourites. But I love reading and listening to podcasts about the history of wrestling as so much of it is fucked up. Our Fake History just did a three episode series about kayfabe etc that was really good.
The Heels tv show is also quite good, about two brothers (played by the Arrow and Bjorn Ironside) who own a small town wrestling show.
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@Nepia said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business
Everything I've read it seems like the old man was a real prick. FYI - I noticed there's a Von Erich movie coming out later this year starring Zac Efron.
I was only briefly a fan in the late 80s/eraly 90s era when it was big in NZ. Hart Foundation were my favourites. But I love reading and listening to podcasts about the history of wrestling as so much of it is fucked up. Our Fake History just did a three episode series about kayfabe etc that was really good.
The Heels tv show is also quite good, about two brothers who own a small town wrestling show.
Same here that was undoubtedly the best era for it although it was entertaining on a Saturday night some ten or so years later when Goldberg, Big Show, Kevin Nash, Stone Cold, The Rock etc were running around.
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@MN5 said in WWE Network:
@Nepia said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business
Everything I've read it seems like the old man was a real prick. FYI - I noticed there's a Von Erich movie coming out later this year starring Zac Efron.
I was only briefly a fan in the late 80s/eraly 90s era when it was big in NZ. Hart Foundation were my favourites. But I love reading and listening to podcasts about the history of wrestling as so much of it is fucked up. Our Fake History just did a three episode series about kayfabe etc that was really good.
The Heels tv show is also quite good, about two brothers who own a small town wrestling show.
Same here that was undoubtedly the best era for it although it was entertaining on a Saturday night some ten or so years later when Goldberg, Big Show, Kevin Nash, Stone Cold, The Rock etc were running around.
I never watched any of that era outside of catching the odd show. Although I have watched a YT channel which goes through each year so I generally know what happened during that era.
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@Nepia said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business
Everything I've read it seems like the old man was a real prick. FYI - I noticed there's a Von Erich movie coming out later this year starring Zac Efron.
I was only briefly a fan in the late 80s/eraly 90s era when it was big in NZ. Hart Foundation were my favourites. But I love reading and listening to podcasts about the history of wrestling as so much of it is fucked up. Our Fake History just did a three episode series about kayfabe etc that was really good.
The Heels tv show is also quite good, about two brothers (played by the Arrow and Bjorn Ironside) who own a small town wrestling show.
I'm addicted to the podcasts right now. Just finished one about our very own Bushwackers!
Actually tried to watch some WWE but ended up watching classic matches or clips. The late 90s were fantastic as well. The Evil Vince McMahon vs Stone Cold was what got me hooked again. -
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
@Nepia said in WWE Network:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in WWE Network:
The story of the Von Erich brothers in particular is tragic beyond belief. 5 out of 6 sons dead before the age of 33 (3 suicides). It is (or at least was) an absolutely insane business
Everything I've read it seems like the old man was a real prick. FYI - I noticed there's a Von Erich movie coming out later this year starring Zac Efron.
I was only briefly a fan in the late 80s/eraly 90s era when it was big in NZ. Hart Foundation were my favourites. But I love reading and listening to podcasts about the history of wrestling as so much of it is fucked up. Our Fake History just did a three episode series about kayfabe etc that was really good.
The Heels tv show is also quite good, about two brothers (played by the Arrow and Bjorn Ironside) who own a small town wrestling show.
I'm addicted to the podcasts right now. Just finished one about our very own Bushwackers!
Actually tried to watch some WWE but ended up watching classic matches or clips. The late 90s were fantastic as well. The Evil Vince McMahon vs Stone Cold was what got me hooked again.McMahon does sound like an arsehole but rasslin wouldn’t be what it was without him.
The massive stars like Hogan and Flair love him but the comparative “also rans” sure don’t.
As you say, podcasts and YouTube clips from guys back in the day are great entertainment even if they contradict each other. Bumps to the head, steroids, cocaine and alcohol probably cloud the memory banks of these guys a bit !
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@MN5 said in WWE Network:
McMahon does sound like an arsehole
Understatement... WTAF: https://www.avclub.com/vince-mcmahon-sexual-abuse-trafficking-lawsuit-wwe-1851198428
Some rather fucked up accusations.
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@Kruse said in WWE Network:
@MN5 said in WWE Network:
McMahon does sound like an arsehole
Understatement... WTAF: https://www.avclub.com/vince-mcmahon-sexual-abuse-trafficking-lawsuit-wwe-1851198428
Some rather fucked up accusations.
Absolutely.
I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if any of this is true, the guy strikes me as a complete sociopath to be honest.
Wrestlers were nothing but cattle to him.