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[British Monsoon]

Yo, Senor Bootaaay,

you got a list of wrestlers to watch? People you got money on being the next big thing? Or people who's work you just can't help but enjoy way too much?

Guessing Zack Saber Jr. is in there?

Yep, Zack's one of my favourites to watch;

Zack Sabre Jr.
Will Ospreay
Jimmy Havoc
Marty Scurll
Tommy End
Sasa Keel
Mark Haskins
Axel Dieter Jr.
Rampage Brown
Big Damo O'Connor
Dave Mastiff
Ilja Dragunov

These guys are either at the top of their game or just now getting to show their full talents and that's just the tip of the iceberg, there's so many talented wrestlers in Europe these days. Another one to watch out for is Pastor William Eaver, he's only a year or so into his career but he's already showing a lot of potential, has a good look, gets it character and promo-wise, etc.

I haven't been watching as much US indie stuff this year, but I've been impressed with Speedball Mike Bailey, he's not all there yet but is a ton of fun to watch. Also, Dalton Castle in ROH is the man, just some amazing character work, some surprising mat-skills and one of the most deceptively strong guys on the indies. If ROH don't fuck it up, he can be big for them.

Tracy Williams is another name worth keeping an eye on, he's doing some good stuff with Tyson Dux (a veteran Canadian indie wrestler who's criminally overlooked) and is a fantastic grappler - I'd expect him to have a more prominent role in 2016, as he's part of Drew Gulak's 'Catch Point' submission wrestling stable in EVOLVE.

Japan-wise, I'd say Kento Miyahara's the stand-out emerging talent at present, he's a potential company ace but is only going to be held back by the sorry state of AJPW these days. I've also been pretty impressed with T-Hawk in Dragon Gate - he's not all there yet, they tried to set him up as a new ace and the audience didn't fully buy it, but he's got a ton of potential. Kazuki Hashimoto is awesome every time I see him, I'd expect big things from him in BJW and hopefully beyond.

Lastly, there's a few Mexican flippy dudes I really like - La Sombra is just a phenomenal talent, Rush is a goddamn star in every way, Barbaro Cavernario is probably the luchadore I enjoy watching the most at present and Dragon Lee is crazy impressive as well. Flamita will hopefully be a big name once he starts with AAA as well, he's done real good in his Dragon Gate tours.

Does anyone have a rebuttal to Liquidsnake's hypothesis or have all those that disagree been banned?

Flair was the last and the least of the great touring NWA Champions - that's not to say he wasn't a great wrestler or a great champion, because he was. He just wasn't as good as Harley, Brisco, Thesz or even Dory Funk Jr. A better character perhaps, for a more modern era of NWA wrestling, but he wasn't the technician those guys were and a lot of the stuff that gets attributed to Flair (making towns, making names, going broadway) was part and parcel of being the NWA Champion. If you couldn't do that on a weekly basis, you didn't hold the belt for long.

 

[Frecklestein]

Does anyone have a rebuttal to Liquidsnake's hypothesis or have all those that disagree been banned?

 

[Data West]

Flair and his friends booked him to win the titles as much as possible. He was never the best wrestler when he was active. Harley was better, Terry Funk was better and had a massive international fanbase, Nick Bockwinkel was better AND Bockwinkel actually helped other guys get over and get better.

Flair helped Flair.

 

[Liquidsnake]

Flair was the last and the least of the great touring NWA Champions - that's not to say he wasn't a great wrestler or a great champion, because he was. He just wasn't as good as Harley, Brisco, Thesz or even Dory Funk Jr. A better character perhaps, for a more modern era of NWA wrestling, but he wasn't the technician those guys were and a lot of the stuff that gets attributed to Flair (making towns, making names, going broadway) was part and parcel of being the NWA Champion. If you couldn't do that on a weekly basis, you didn't hold the belt for long.

They couldn't even hold a candle to Flair on the mic or in the ring Bootaaay.

And probably didn't draw like he did.

Flair and his friends booked him to win the titles as much as possible. He was never the best wrestler when he was active. Harley was better, Terry Funk was better and had a massive international fanbase, Nick Bockwinkel was better AND Bockwinkel actually helped other guys get over and get better.

Flair helped Flair.

When you say stuff like this, you lose a little credibility.

Flair was chosen to lead for a reason,l because he was the most important champion in the history of wrestling. The entire country depended on him.

Think about that, the entire country, the entire business of wrestling depended on him for a decade.

 

[klonere]

Found RealHero's non Dailymotion account, godbless.

Holy shit AJPW just go from one horribly depressing venue to the next. They really must be struggling.

 

[Jimmy King]

Gonna settle in and enjoy Liquidsnake vs. Boootay & Data handicap match for the NWA title

 

[British Monsoon]

They couldn't even hold a candle to Flair on the mic or in the ring Bootaaay.

Harley's better than Flair all-round. He, Jack Brisco, Lou Thesz & Dory Funk Jr. were all superior wrestlers and could've wrestled rings around a guy like Flair. Thesz, especially.

And probably didn't draw like he did.

C'mon, now. There's a reason they call the 50's ~ 60's the "golden era" of wrestling.

 

[The Shapesmith]

Found RealHero's non Dailymotion account, godbless.

Holy shit AJPW just go from one horribly depressing venue to the next. They really must be struggling.

Where is his non daily motion account located my good man?

 

[British Monsoon]

Where is his non daily motion account located my good man?

www.veoh.com/users/RealHero120

 

[imBask]

everything you're saying about Ric Flair (except the regional stuff) is also applicable to HHH, how about that

HHH was a great wrestler
a great champ
part of some of the biggest teams, including DX which helped win the monday night war

on your knees dawg

 

[Data West]

Andre drew better in the territories than Flair ever did.
Brody probably outdrew him too
WCCW NEVER needed Flair. They already had their entire state addicted long before Kerry won the NWA title.
AWA never needed Flair

The entire country did not depend on Flair.

www.veoh.com/users/RealHero120

Yeah the quality is terrible though

 

[slightconfuse]

It's a shame Terry funk will be known as the crazy hard hardcore guy.

Guy was a legit wrassler

 

[miserable]

Found RealHero's non Dailymotion account, godbless.

which one is that?

EDIT: oh, i thought he had another one. that Veoh player is terrible

 

[Sephzilla]

everything you're saying about Ric Flair (except the regional stuff) is also applicable to HHH, how about that

HHH was a great wrestler
a great champ
part of some of the biggest teams, including DX which helped win the monday night war

on your knees dawg

ehhhhhhh

 

[Caderfix]

.

.

Thanks.

At first I was too young to actually judge quality, and, later on, when I actually got into wrestling, he wasn't at his prime anymore. I've always thought he was doing a good job for a man of his age, but didn't (still don't) know enough to formulate an opinion other than "He can talk"

I'll try to catch up

 

[Data West]

everything you're saying about Ric Flair (except the regional stuff) is also applicable to HHH, how about that

HHH was a great wrestler
a great champ
part of some of the biggest teams, including DX which helped win the monday night war

on your knees dawg

was close with the bookers so made sure he won the title a lot

 

[imBask]

was close with the bookers so made sure he won the title a lot

and is/will be in charge of the biggest wrestling company in the world, therefore wrestling WILL depend on him

 

[klonere]

Where is his non daily motion account located my good man?

www.veoh.com/users/RealHero120

Thanks, I forgot to edit in the link.

Let's see if Doering can get me into Miyahara.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v92023738T64wfttj

EDIT: looks like someones DVR messed up during the match heh

 

[jmdajr]

everything you're saying about Ric Flair (except the regional stuff) is also applicable to HHH, how about that

HHH was a great wrestler
a great champ
part of some of the biggest teams, including DX which helped win the monday night war

on your knees dawg

absolutely

 

[Data West]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swJAnCGQDGQ

Thanks, I forgot to edit in the link.

Let's see if Doering can get me into Miyahara.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v92023738T64wfttj

EDIT: looks like someones DVR messed up during the match heh

nope, that's just veoh. it's why i never post his veoh links because veoh is garbage. the kazuki hash match is the same way

 

[Fox318]

everything you're saying about Ric Flair (except the regional stuff) is also applicable to HHH, how about that

HHH was a great wrestler
a great champ
part of some of the biggest teams, including DX which helped win the monday night war

on your knees dawg

 

[imBask]

don't gimme that look, HHH was the biggest heel of all time and you hated him so much when you were young that you're now all convinced he was a "bad guy"

your favorite babyface would've never existed without him

 

[BronsonLee]

don't gimme that look, HHH was the biggest heel of all time and you hated him so much when you were young that you're now all convinced he was a "bad guy"

your favorite babyface would've never existed without him

Shelton Benjamin is my favorite babyface?!

 

[miserable]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swJAnCGQDGQ

Hulk "The ZEN Master" Hogan

 

[Jimmy King]

Well, I definitely quit watching WWE for about a decade thanks to Triple H's run as champ.

 

[Fox318]

don't gimme that look, HHH was the biggest heel of all time and you hated him so much when you were young that you're now all convinced he was a "bad guy"

your favorite babyface would've never existed without him

many many people hated him so much they changed the channel.

Plus you know some Babyfaces never got the chance to get over.

Its like HHH wanted to be Ric but never understood that at the end of the day Ric would put guys over.

HHH didn't understand that until 2005 and even after that he seems to have forgotten it.

 

[imBask]

Well, I definitely quit watching WWE for about a decade thanks to Triple H's run as champ.

and you came back to watch Kane act like he got a dumb split personality and Mark Henry vs Big Show?

 

[klonere]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swJAnCGQDGQ


nope, that's just veoh. it's why i never post his veoh links because veoh is garbage. the kazuki hash match is the same way

I think it was a few matches from that show where something on the recording end legit fucked up.

But yes, veoh sucks, the seekbar is awful and if you don't use adblock it is unwatchable.

 

[Jimmy King]

and you came back to watch Kane act like he got a dumb split personality and Mark Henry vs Big Show?

I don't see the problem.

 

[Fox318]

at least HHH gave us this gem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65OkA2HHLYA

 

[Liquidsnake]

Thanks.

At first I was too young to actually judge quality, and, later on, when I actually got into wrestling, he wasn't at his prime anymore. I've always thought he was doing a good job for a man of his age, but didn't (still don't) know enough to formulate an opinion other than "He can talk"

I'll try to catch up

Do you have WWE network?
if not youtube does have some fantastic stuff.

 

[Sephzilla]

and you came back to watch Kane act like he got a dumb split personality and Mark Henry vs Big Show?

Both of these are more entertaining than HHH's title run

 

[avengers23]

5. Josie

Based on that picture of the dog, it looks like the dog has regained the will to live.

 

[klonere]

Imagine a guy like me whose only modern reference point for HHH is Papa NXT, the erudite, friendly face of the best part of the WWE.

Holy shit Akebono's theme music is SO GOOD.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v95003611ZQSFAnZk

 

[Deleted member 47027]

Seriously, someone watch that Barbaro Cavernario vs Triton match I posted a couple of pages back - real fun match. Probably close to my top five lucha matches of the year.

It's very good. Cavernario has such a good unique look, every time someone takes a chance on watching a match (which the matches both you and Data consistently post are never gambles to me) they are easy fans of him - no disrespect intended for Triton, but Cavernario has such a fun and wild look.

 

[Zach]

Michael 'McMahon' Cole

That pooping face, though.

 

[Fox318]

Imagine a guy like me whose only modern reference point for HHH is Papa NXT, the erudite, friendly face of the best part of the WWE.

Holy shit Akebono's theme music is SO GOOD.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v95003611ZQSFAnZk

What would their reaction be when watching the Booker T program?

 

[Deleted member 47027]

New Table for 3 tonight with little Danny Bryan, Ryback, and shitty Dolph Ziggler. Talk about the IC title. Should be interesting. I like their format a ton for this show.

 

[imBask]

Both of these are more entertaining than HHH's title run

I always knew you would backstab me, robocop is a lunatic of the fringe kind

 

[Jimmy King]

New Table for 3 tonight with little Danny Bryan, Ryback, and shitty Dolph Ziggler. Talk about the IC title. Should be interesting. I like their format a ton for this show.

it'll be on in a few minutes for those looking to put off some work

 

[Caderfix]

Do you have WWE network?
if not youtube does have some fantastic stuff.

Not yet, I'm still thinking if I should get it or not. I'll check youtube then, any recommendation?

 

[¡HarlequinPanic!]

What would their reaction be when watching the Booker T program?

"that is some damn fine acting"

New Table for 3 tonight with little Danny Bryan, Ryback, and shitty Dolph Ziggler. Talk about the IC title. Should be interesting. I like their format a ton for this show.

I expect dolph to overpower everyone else in conversation :\

 

[Liquidsnake]

http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingNWA51/nwa_greatest.html

I can not argue with fact.

 

[Fox318]

New Table for 3 tonight with little Danny Bryan, Ryback, and shitty Dolph Ziggler. Talk about the IC title. Should be interesting. I like their format a ton for this show.

I know they want to use Bryan but he was a 1 time champ who got the belt so a hometown crowd didn't riot.

Wouldn't Curtis Axel, Y2J, or Wade Barrett be better in that seat?

 

[Deleted member 47027]

I expect dolph to overpower everyone else in conversation :\

It'll be the first time in a long time he's overpowered anything

 

[klonere]

What would their reaction be when watching the Booker T program?

I've seen the promo.

It's a good promo but, it's not good. It is a very bad thing. I recognize heels gotta be heels but that whole approach is just too much. I want to believe that they are just playing characters but man, it just cuts too deep. Too deep.

 

[imBask]

I know they want to use Bryan but he was a 1 time champ who got the belt so a hometown crowd didn't riot.

Wouldn't Curtis Axel, Y2J, or Wade Barrett be better in that seat?

Jericho would talk about Fozzy and how great Fozzy is and the belt is actually an homage to Fozzy

Curtis Axel would confuse the viewers, googling the name of one of the guy at the table is not good for ratings

King* Barrett would've been an ok choice

 

[Fox318]

I've seen the promo.

It's not good. It is a very bad thing. I recognize heels gotta be heels but that whole approach is just too much. And as much as I want to believe that they are characters on a TV show, I want to believe that they are just playing characters but man, it just cuts too deep. Too deep.

Except I think he could have said that if you know.... Booker T went over.

But HHH needed that belt for the memorable Kevin Nash feud that would follow.

 

[Liquidsnake]

Not yet, I'm still thinking if I should get it or not. I'll check youtube then, any recommendation?

https://youtu.be/xrd2mkHyaMM Flair Steamboat

https://youtu.be/BZ8Zz_X2W6Q Flair Steamboat

 

[jmdajr]

New Table for 3 tonight with little Danny Bryan, Ryback, and shitty Dolph Ziggler. Talk about the IC title. Should be interesting. I like their format a ton for this show.

Cool.

I like shows that Vince has no part of.