I have started watching Raw from 1997

GTR63

cian68 wrote: »

Only really comparable to Cena in 2004/2005 or HHH in maybe 2000. Austin won his first world title in 98 so this was them making a star rather than keeping one on top.

HHH in 2002 was awful for keeping talent down.

tdv123

Went back & watched the year 99 from start to finish.

A couple of things that strike me.

( How bad some of the actual wrestling during pretty much all of the PPV's was.

( How Shawn was still able to deliver such great promos (see the highest rated Raw for example) even tho he wasn't an active wrestler. Always made me wonder what it would have been like had he not got in injured.

( How much I miss Sunday Night Heats before a PPV to get me pumped up ):

( How much credit Foley should have got. Ok he won the tittle for a few a weeks but for me Foley had the best matches out of all the top stars during the year. He was not a "glorified stuntman" by any means. Knew a lot of moves & holds just looked a little awkward because of his physique. Really deserved one last tittle win before HIAC with HHH.

( And there was factions all over the place. You even had splinter factions.

GTR63

GTR63 wrote: »

HHH in 2002/2003/2004/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009/2010 was awful for keeping talent down.

FYP :P

krudler

tdv123 wrote: »

Went back & watched the year 99 from start to finish.

A couple of things that strike me.

( How bad some of the actual wrestling during pretty much all of the PPV's was.

( How Shawn was still able to deliver such great promos (see the highest rated Raw for example) even tho he wasn't an active wrestler. Always made me wonder what it would have been like had he not got in injured.

( How much I miss Sunday Night Heats before a PPV to get me pumped up ):

( How much credit Foley should have got. Ok he won the tittle for a few a weeks but for me Foley had the best matches out of all the top stars during the year. He was not a "glorified stuntman" by any means. Knew a lot of moves & holds just looked a little awkward because of his physique. Really deserved one last tittle win before HIAC with HHH.

( And there was factions all over the place. You even had splinter factions.

97 onwards there was a ton of them,loads of groups with three or more members, DOA, The Nation, The Ministry, The Corporate Ministry, The McMahon-Helmsley Regime, The Truth Commisson, The Oddities, DX, J.O.B Squad, Kaientai, Los Boriquas, Too Cool, The Brood, PMS, X-Factor, Team Extreme, Right To Censor, and thats off the top of my head.

krudler

You'd forget how funny Jerry Lawler used to be back in the day, now he's an idiot who doesn't seem to understand the fundamental rules of a sport he's been a part of for four decades. There was a match the other week on Raw, I can't remember who it was but it ended with a DQ finish and he said "what *whoever champ was* still won?" ehhh, yes?

"you mean the first one to climb the ladder and get the briefcase wins?"

have you not seen like a million ladder matches at this point?! I know its more than likely Vince or Kevin Dunne feeding him lines to pander to the casual audience but mother of god it's annoying, stop insulting long term viewers in order to pander to people who know nothing about the product.

briany

krudler wrote: »

You'd forget how funny Jerry Lawler used to be back in the day, now he's an idiot who doesn't seem to understand the fundamental rules of a sport he's been a part of for four decades. There was a match the other week on Raw, I can't remember who it was but it ended with a DQ finish and he said "what *whoever champ was* still won?" ehhh, yes?

"you mean the first one to climb the ladder and get the briefcase wins?"

have you not seen like a million ladder matches at this point?! I know its more than likely Vince or Kevin Dunne feeding him lines to pander to the casual audience but mother of god it's annoying, stop insulting long term viewers in order to pander to people who know nothing about the product.

I always got the feeling that Lawler hasn't cared as much since his second tenure with the company (2001-).

Reganio 2

krudler wrote: »

97 onwards there was a ton of them,loads of groups with three or more members, DOA, The Nation, The Ministry, The Corporate Ministry, The McMahon-Helmsley Regime, The Truth Commisson, The Oddities, DX, J.O.B Squad, Kaientai, Los Boriquas, Too Cool, The Brood, PMS, X-Factor, Team Extreme, Right To Censor, and thats off the top of my head.

Might be there in a different name but NWA are their as well, Jim Cornette, Jeff Jarrett, Rock n Roll Express and Barry Windham pretty sure their is more coming in as I go through it as well.

Watching Jeff Jarrett vs Owen Hart for the European Title on Raw, and a few of the NWA got kicked away from ringside, except for Cornette and I kid you not JR gives the reason that the others aren't allowed around cause they haven't got a managers license. Wonder how many people have one

Omackeral

Reganio 2 wrote: »

Watching Jeff Jarrett vs Owen Hart for the European Title on Raw, and a few of the NWA got kicked away from ringside, except for Cornette and I kid you not JR gives the reason that the others aren't allowed around cause they haven't got a managers license. Wonder how many people have one

Kaz was working that gimmick in TNA this year when in Daniels' corner. The red would try evict him and he'd produce this laminated license. Taz saying it cost him 20 big ones! Bad Influence are the funniest twosome in tv right now, never mind Team Hell No!

A Primal Nut

Reganio 2 wrote: »

I am watching Raw 1998 and I remember why I hate Austin, he is destroying the whole roster without even being in a match its much worse than Cena or HHH burying everyone. Its just desperate.

Ah come on, put your smark hat aside. It was great.

Besides everyone who worked with Austin back then became a huge star, Foley, Rock, HHH, Vince McMahon, Kane, they all had breakthroughs when working with Austin while the likes of Bret Hart and Undertaker had some of the best feuds of their career with him.

Admittedly it was a bit excessive late 97/early 98 but bear in mind he couldn't wrestle much due to his neck but they didn't want to hurt his momentum so he just randomly beat the crap out of everybody. It was great!

Ape Lincoln

Deleted User wrote: »

I wonder what the plan was for Austin if HBK hadn't of pulled out?

Good question. I would stagger a guess that the plan was: Austin "win" the Rumble as he did, then Bret wins the Final Four to get a shot at HBK, Bret beats HBK and then Austin feuds with HBK or Bret and wins the belt at some point. But to be honest, there weren't many long-term plans in 1997 especially with Michaels taking his ball and going home so who knows.

gnfnrhead wrote: »

The I Quit match made Austin. Without that I dont think he'd have went on to be so big so quick.

Fans had been cheering for Austin as a heel since KotR '96. Granted the submission match with the blood was iconic but he could've worked with Undertaker, Mankind and done another match with Bret or a big angle with Shawn.