Hogan had just returned to WWE and hadn't even had a singles match televised or on PPV. It would be like if Punk returned to WWE in a couple years, except Hogan was a much bigger star and is better at working the crowd with non-verbal communication, so it generated even more positive emotion. And Hogan was the childhood hero of many of the people in the crowd.

Seems a very odd plan though. Bring him back heel (and I remember the angle that Vince wanted to destroy his own company - it was horrible, even the way they were first introduced) just to immediately turn face after trying to physically kill him with a truck.

Reminds me of the Charlotte/Reid thing that just happened, where they turned Charlotte shortly after pulling out all the stops to make get her over as a face. Last ditch desperate effort to make something that isn't working work, then when it still doesn't work you turn them, and you look stupid.

The Public Enemy stealing a Llama from the Double Cross Ranch on a golf cart

Priceless

Mikey Whipwreck the GOAT

So I decided to sit down and watch RAW 1000 for the first time. While I did enjoy the content of the show for the most part, holy **** that presentation was just so bad. I thought the way they handle social media today was bad, it was 100x worse during this show.

And what the hell is a tout? I assume it was some sort of failed attempt by WWE to invent a new type of social media. It felt like the XFL of Twitter. Michael Cole barely had enough time to get every single one of his plugs in before he was interrupted by someone in the ring. Also, LOL at his acting while playing with those talking doll things. Were all of the RAWs this bad around this time, or was this special because of it being episode 1000?

Tout being the xfl of social media is a hilariously accurate analogy

it really is lol

Watching the Dec 7 1998 RAW. This is the first time Cole sat in for JR (I think he had a health problem or something? I dont remember). However, I noticed during a match this:



So why is the announcing King and Cole (Who has a terrible cold or something and can barely talk) when JR is clearly sitting next to King? And was JRs absence in late 98-99 due to Palsy or something else?

Just watched the Roddy Piper documentary from 2006. Holy crap did that man say/do some messed up **** to get heat. And by that I mean incredibly racist stuff that he'd never get away with today and I'm shocked he got away with then.

1 - In a feud with the Guerrero's in the late 70's, he was shown wearing a "White is right" t-shirt to the ring.
2 - Told Mr T he's the only guy that "wears more chains than his ancestors".
3 - The Snuka/coconut stuff, which, as a child, I never really understood to be bad in that sense.

I understand his character was playing on these racist antics, not Piper himself, but holy crap I couldn't imagine anyone being employed long enough to even get one of those things on tv.

Let's not forget the odd painting at WM VI.

#2 on that list is ****ing hilarious.

Yeah, I was gonna mention that, but it wasn't even shown in the documentary and he did that as a face.

#2 made my draw drop too. I'm just as shocked they incuded it in this.

Did that doc. Tell the Mexican National Anthem story?

I'd like to hear that story.

Link wasn't what I thought it was...

I don't know if he was in L.A. Or Mexico when this happened, but he was getting serious hear week after week insulting the Mexican people. So finally one week he came out to apologize, and told the frowd that to make it up to them he would learn the Mexican National Anthem on his bag pipes, and come back next week and play it. So the following week he shows up with his bag pipes, and the proceeds to play "La Cucaracha". He got nuclear heat for that.

I was reading the last half dozen or so posts, hoping this wasn't there so I could write it. And in my head it was 99% word for word. Piper is The Man.

Watching Flair vs. Hogan in a strap match at Uncensored 2000 (because who doesn't want to see them wrestle in the year 2000?).

*Flair goes for the pin for the sole reason of Hogan kicking out and hulking up*
Tony: he kicked out!!!
Mark Madden: kicked out of what? He couldn't be pinned.
Tony yelling in excitement: But you can always kickout!!!!!!!!!

Makes sense. Also funnier when you realize the ref didn't count a pin earlier.

edit: The finish!
Hogan gets Flair to 3 turnbuckles. Luger comes out and eats a boot from Hogan after attempting to impede Hogan's progress. Instead of going to hit the 4th turnbuckle, Hogan legdrops and pins Flair which gets the bell rang. What. The. ****.

This is elite heel work. Thanks.

The unfortunate reason we can't have incredible heel work like this today is that there are dumb racists in the crowd WHO DON'T REALIZE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BOO THIS STUFF and end up cheering. See Zeb and the WE THE PEOPLE angle.

I think the fans just heard WE THE PEOPLE and said "Oh, something we can say!" They're like Ron Burgandy on the teleprompter. They'll repeat anything you tell them to say. Case in point "Rooty Tooty Booty". God, Jericho killed any kid of legacy he had with that crap.

I really think that you have to do something to Benoit's level to truly kill your legacy.

Jericho has only killed his ability to be entertaining now. Years after he stops appearing, long-time fans will absolutely remember prime Jericho.

This is certainly true, of course.

Roddy Piper was the heat GOAT

You guys have a presidential nominee spewing xenophobic dislike very publically IN REAL LIFE at the moment, why couldnt a WWE superstar start doing this now to generate heat?

It seems like a good time to pull a gimmick like this out, just need a guy with large balls and a good writing team to come up with a script that gets heat but doesnt cross the line

Does anyone know if heels got paid more back then compared to faces?(apart from the top dog like Hogan obv)

Back in the ultra kayfabe world it was actually dangerous to be a heel in most places , I would be suprised if a lot of guys didnt get "danger money" to compensate for the sheer hate they experienced

Jericho's transformation into out of touch dad trying to be cool is ironic. His WCW heel run when he became a star doing all his own material is a good example why the older generation should sometimes just let the younger people do their thing on TV even if they don't understand it.

From what I've read heels and faces got paid the same amount back in the day (assuming same spot on the card). Today in WWE faces get paid more than heels at the same point in the card though once merch sale money is included.