**WWE NETWORK THREAD**
01-28-2022
, 08:16 PM
01-29-2022
, 03:37 AM
01-29-2022
, 03:49 AM
01-29-2022
, 01:15 PM
01-30-2022
, 01:34 PM
Alright, I made it through January 1982 territory shows.
Agree with a lot of this. Mostly, the show amounts to Slaughter and Piper being entertaining, with a side of Ricky Steamboat when he gets in the ring. Jake Roberts shows that he has the raw material to be a star, but he's not that interesting here. I was interested in Terry Taylor at his first appearance, but his next couple of enhancement matches were fairly dull.
Just generally, after some entertaining shows the prior month that seemed to feature some creative direction, it felt like Mid-Atlantic really ground to a halt in January by spamming this tag team tournament into every single moment of every episode. Hopefully the part where it falls apart happens soon. I did think the 1/30/82 show was better than the previous couple of weeks, so hopefully it's trending up.
It does seem that Sheik legitimately abruptly left the territory, and they were just left to clumsily explain it away. Mid-South was way stronger than Mid-Atlantic this month. DiBiase and Orndorff were awesome.
I found WCCW to be entertaining both weeks that it was available, but it has a few weeks of missing episodes this month. Seems like that is going to happen during the first few months of the year. I enjoyed what the Von Erichs were bringing to the table here. As someone who really didn't enjoy Kerry much in his WWF days, it's interesting to revisit the territory where the fans were just on fire for him and his brothers.
Quote:
January 1982 Territory Thoughts
I'll try to keep these comments without any substantial spoilers. If I say too much, just let me know and I'll rein it in next month.
Mid-Atlantic
It seems to be the Crockett style to have too many titles. This was certainly true at the start of 1982 with the NWA World, United States, Mid-Atlantic, NWA TV, World Tag Team, and Mid-Atlantic Tag Team.
In addition, Billy Robinson was promoted as a British/European Champion and Terry Taylor was billed as the NWA Rookie of the Year.
Belts and Titles for half the roster!!!
Ric Flair never makes and appearance and is rarely mentioned. However, he's promoted for the first show in February. It would have been good to watch this show starting years earlier when Flair was building his reputation to become NWA champion.
Sgt. Slaughter was a great heel. I saw him in 1980-81 in the WWF and the evil marine drill instructor gimmick worked beautifully. He reuses his Cobra Clutch challenge here. In the WWF, it sparked his big feud with Pat Patterson.
Roddy Piper is great. But, I'm not that into him as an announcer. He's certainly far better than Caudle and Crockett. But, he's not up to the Ventura/Heenan standard. (and Piper was just plain bad as a babyface announcer in the WWF)
Ricky Steamboat's mustache makes it's first appearance. I don't like it.
Blackjack Mulligan Jr. (Barry Windham) looks a bit odd emulating his father. He was definitely right to retool his image a year later in Florida.
I don't like Jimmy Valiant and he's going to be a big star here for years to come. It probably doesn't help that he's got a generic over-dubbed music entrance.
Jake Roberts was okay as a young babyface. But, his Texas gimmick was no good. He clearly was right to turn heel and dump the cowboy hat. Also, his kneelift finisher is great.
Ray Stevens was way past his prime. Likewise, Paul Jones and Johnny Weaver don't do anything for me.
Ninja is lame. But, the Great Kabuki and Gary Hart will arrive in about a year.
I believe Gene Anderson was genuinely injured and that was the reason for announcing a World Tag Team title tournament.
The structure of this tournament is ridiculous. Did the fans really buy it? It's even worse than saying Pat Patterson won the Intercontinental title in Rio de Janeiro.
I do like that they showed footage of Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura from the AWA. Also the Jack and Jerry Brisco match from Florida had a great pinning combination by Jack Brisco. I've never seen that before.
Apparently, Ole Anderson (the booker) really tried to make a ridiculously large tournament happen and some of it actually took place. But, it's going to all fall apart and be a big dud.
The generic opening theme is lame.
This is the original theme of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
I'll try to keep these comments without any substantial spoilers. If I say too much, just let me know and I'll rein it in next month.
Mid-Atlantic
It seems to be the Crockett style to have too many titles. This was certainly true at the start of 1982 with the NWA World, United States, Mid-Atlantic, NWA TV, World Tag Team, and Mid-Atlantic Tag Team.
In addition, Billy Robinson was promoted as a British/European Champion and Terry Taylor was billed as the NWA Rookie of the Year.
Belts and Titles for half the roster!!!
Ric Flair never makes and appearance and is rarely mentioned. However, he's promoted for the first show in February. It would have been good to watch this show starting years earlier when Flair was building his reputation to become NWA champion.
Sgt. Slaughter was a great heel. I saw him in 1980-81 in the WWF and the evil marine drill instructor gimmick worked beautifully. He reuses his Cobra Clutch challenge here. In the WWF, it sparked his big feud with Pat Patterson.
Roddy Piper is great. But, I'm not that into him as an announcer. He's certainly far better than Caudle and Crockett. But, he's not up to the Ventura/Heenan standard. (and Piper was just plain bad as a babyface announcer in the WWF)
Ricky Steamboat's mustache makes it's first appearance. I don't like it.
Blackjack Mulligan Jr. (Barry Windham) looks a bit odd emulating his father. He was definitely right to retool his image a year later in Florida.
I don't like Jimmy Valiant and he's going to be a big star here for years to come. It probably doesn't help that he's got a generic over-dubbed music entrance.
Jake Roberts was okay as a young babyface. But, his Texas gimmick was no good. He clearly was right to turn heel and dump the cowboy hat. Also, his kneelift finisher is great.
Ray Stevens was way past his prime. Likewise, Paul Jones and Johnny Weaver don't do anything for me.
Ninja is lame. But, the Great Kabuki and Gary Hart will arrive in about a year.
I believe Gene Anderson was genuinely injured and that was the reason for announcing a World Tag Team title tournament.
The structure of this tournament is ridiculous. Did the fans really buy it? It's even worse than saying Pat Patterson won the Intercontinental title in Rio de Janeiro.
I do like that they showed footage of Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura from the AWA. Also the Jack and Jerry Brisco match from Florida had a great pinning combination by Jack Brisco. I've never seen that before.
Apparently, Ole Anderson (the booker) really tried to make a ridiculously large tournament happen and some of it actually took place. But, it's going to all fall apart and be a big dud.
The generic opening theme is lame.
This is the original theme of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Just generally, after some entertaining shows the prior month that seemed to feature some creative direction, it felt like Mid-Atlantic really ground to a halt in January by spamming this tag team tournament into every single moment of every episode. Hopefully the part where it falls apart happens soon. I did think the 1/30/82 show was better than the previous couple of weeks, so hopefully it's trending up.
Quote:
Mid-South
Mid-South offered great action this month with some "fan voted dream matches".
All the Ted Dibiase - Paul Ordorff stuff is excellent. It's a bit amusing that Ordorff and Roop "discovered a counter to the figure four leglock". 1982 seems very late to be doing that angle.
We missed the Dusty Rhodes - Great Kabuki match. But, we did get a very bizarre Dusty Rhodes interview.
Junkyard Dog, Dusty Rhodes, and Andre the Giant vs. Ernie Ladd and the Wild Samoans really could main event anywhere in the world.
And, we got a good clean finish.
Not all of the top TV matches on Mid-South get good finishes. But, enough do to be satisfying.
Some of the old timers aren't working for me. Dick Murdoch is okay. But, Bob Roop is not generating any excitement.
Cowboy Bob Orton must have given his notice on his way to the WWF. He's getting jobbed out big time.
The Iron Shiek is doing his Persian Club challenge. But, by the end of the month I don't understand what's happening with him. Maybe he left Mid-South.
Bill Watts is known as a rambling commentator. This month he goes on about Cat Zaboulas the Welcher. It's some type of inside commentary.
Mid-South offered great action this month with some "fan voted dream matches".
All the Ted Dibiase - Paul Ordorff stuff is excellent. It's a bit amusing that Ordorff and Roop "discovered a counter to the figure four leglock". 1982 seems very late to be doing that angle.
We missed the Dusty Rhodes - Great Kabuki match. But, we did get a very bizarre Dusty Rhodes interview.
Junkyard Dog, Dusty Rhodes, and Andre the Giant vs. Ernie Ladd and the Wild Samoans really could main event anywhere in the world.
And, we got a good clean finish.Not all of the top TV matches on Mid-South get good finishes. But, enough do to be satisfying.
Some of the old timers aren't working for me. Dick Murdoch is okay. But, Bob Roop is not generating any excitement.
Cowboy Bob Orton must have given his notice on his way to the WWF. He's getting jobbed out big time.
The Iron Shiek is doing his Persian Club challenge. But, by the end of the month I don't understand what's happening with him. Maybe he left Mid-South.
Bill Watts is known as a rambling commentator. This month he goes on about Cat Zaboulas the Welcher. It's some type of inside commentary.
Quote:
World Class
World Class still has too many of it's old timers and hasn't yet embraced the youth movement.
Jose Lothario is already 47. So is Arman Hussein. At least they move like they're still 40-45 years old.
Tim Brooks is only 35. But he also moves like he's 40-45.
Tom "Boogaloo" Shaft is also old and slow in the ring. But, he can at least talk. In a year, he'll be replaced by the much younger Iceman Parsons who may have stolen his butt-butt finisher from Boogaloo.
Gene Goodson is a terrible announcer. Bill Mercer will be better when he arrives. Though, I was never a big fan of his either.
For some reason, WCCW is using two referees in tag team matches. It's dumb and clutters up the ring. Of course, using old and slow Bronco Lubich as a referee is even dumber.
I'm intrigued by Big Daddy Bundy as a babyface. He won't stay that way long but he seems to have the fans behind him now.
Kevin and Kerry Von Erich look good. But, David is not seen or mentioned. He must already be in Florida working as a heel.
The Great Kabuki seems to be the most interesting heel at the moment. He apparently recently blinded Fritz Von Erich with the green mist. But, we haven't seen footage of it.
Kabuki is unique in appearance and style. He's a great guy to have on the roster.
Kabuki's match with Kerry Von Erich was the highlight of the month.
Carlos Zapata works as a jobber here and in Mid-South. What a career.
This took too long to write.
World Class still has too many of it's old timers and hasn't yet embraced the youth movement.
Jose Lothario is already 47. So is Arman Hussein. At least they move like they're still 40-45 years old.
Tim Brooks is only 35. But he also moves like he's 40-45.
Tom "Boogaloo" Shaft is also old and slow in the ring. But, he can at least talk. In a year, he'll be replaced by the much younger Iceman Parsons who may have stolen his butt-butt finisher from Boogaloo.
Gene Goodson is a terrible announcer. Bill Mercer will be better when he arrives. Though, I was never a big fan of his either.
For some reason, WCCW is using two referees in tag team matches. It's dumb and clutters up the ring. Of course, using old and slow Bronco Lubich as a referee is even dumber.
I'm intrigued by Big Daddy Bundy as a babyface. He won't stay that way long but he seems to have the fans behind him now.
Kevin and Kerry Von Erich look good. But, David is not seen or mentioned. He must already be in Florida working as a heel.
The Great Kabuki seems to be the most interesting heel at the moment. He apparently recently blinded Fritz Von Erich with the green mist. But, we haven't seen footage of it.
Kabuki is unique in appearance and style. He's a great guy to have on the roster.
Kabuki's match with Kerry Von Erich was the highlight of the month.
Carlos Zapata works as a jobber here and in Mid-South. What a career.
This took too long to write.
01-31-2022
, 06:23 PM
01-31-2022
, 08:14 PM
02-01-2022
, 01:55 AM
02-01-2022
, 02:00 AM
02-04-2022
, 06:18 PM
02-05-2022
, 01:06 AM