A Different Kind Of Attitude

[The Nickman]

Oh Boy!!

[JackKnifed72]

May 1995

 

WWF News:

 

Vince McMahon's "purge" isn't restricted to backstage personnel as a slew of wrestlers are released throughout May...several phased out as ineffective, out dated or possessing poor attitudes...notably names include: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson, Koko B. Ware, tag teams Well Dunn & the Bushwackers, Barry Hardy and announcers Tony Chimel & Todd Pettingill...the biggest shocker was the release of Bam Bam Bigelow who reportedly wanted too much money to leave Japan's WAR promotion to wrestle exclusively for the WWF...the Beast from the East would eventually sign with WCW and debut in June at the Great American Bash...amid McMahon's firing spree, longtime employee Gorilla Monsoon signs a 5-year contract extension...On screen, the WWF begins moving towards a less family friendly product and more edgy approach...Boxer Mike Tyson debuts in the WWF as a non-wrestling personality and immediately drops an f-bomb in his first interview (thank god for the seven second delay) and former Penthouse Pet Theresa Hayes (Beulah Mcgillicutty) debuts as a scantily clad backstage interviewer...indie sensation Rob Van Dam debuts, as does Chris Benoit who has been a big Gaijin star in Japan...Dusty Rhodes returns to WWF as an occasional wrestler...real life friends Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall begin appearing on screen as a 3-man heel stable known as the Kliq...

 

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Diesel and Ramon try to carry the workload in the WWF

 

 

Ultimate Warrior squashes Bam Bam Bigelow on Monday Night RAW, it would be Bigelow's last match in WWF...Warrior easily defeats Jarrett to end their feud and begins a new feud with Razor Ramon...The Kliq defeats Warrior, Lex Luger and the Undertaker in the main event of the In Your House PPV...Sycho Sid returns to the WWF by brutally attacking Dusty Rhodes and Jerry Lawler...no explanation was given for his action...yet...every show but the first Monday Night RAW (which was booked by the AI) scores at least an 83 show grade

 

 

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Why is Sid back in the WWF? That's for Sid to know and you to find out

 

 

 

 

WCW News:

 

WCW signs veterans Rick Martel and Road Warrior Hawk, as well as brings back Sherri Martel as a full time wrestler...Martel would battle Japanese star Manami Toyota a remarkable 24 times over the next 3 years with a dismal record of 6-15 with 3 draws including 0-7 in WCW Women's title matches...Dusty Rhodes leaves WCW due to contract expiration, although storyline he is defeated in a loser leaves WCW match by his son Dustin...

 

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The American Dream's last appearance in WCW

 

 

In the ring, Sting dominated with title defenses over Raven on Nitro! and Ric Flair at Slamboree 95...

 

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Raven makes his way to the ring on Nitro! to challenge Sting for the world title...Raven has zero ***** to give about title belts

 

 

Steve Austin returns late in May to feud with the Horsemen...Austin was now sporting a new look and gimmick, that of a bald headed, short tempered, foul mouthed anti-hero...

 

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Stunning Steve returns...less hair more attitude

 

 

Hulk Hogan shockingly turns heel but fails to gain much momentum, still overshadowed by the Horsemen, Steve Austin, Sting, Bret Hart and the Flock...Hogan would tap out to Bret Hart's sharpshooter in a clean lose to the Hitman on Nitro! and sink further into the WCW mid card...The Hollywood Blonds vacate the WCW tag team titles and Harlem Heat regain the straps by winning an 8-team tournament

 

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Two time...two time champs!

 

 

 

Other News:

 

Longtime Portland promoter Don Owen passes away at age 83

 

"The Crippler" Ray Stevens passes away at age 59

 

AJPW referee, and 1994 referee of the year Joe Higuchi passes away at 66

 

Wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino signs on with USWA as a colour commentator

 

In ECW, Dory Funk Jr follows up his "fluke" title win with several defenses...Funk would go on to hold the ECW World title until January of 1996

 

 

[K-Nection]

This is an amazing game world you have going on here so far!

[JackKnifed72]

This is an amazing game world you have going on here so far!

 

The further it goes along the further from the "real world" it gets...don't want to get ahead of myself but for various reasons there are a few big names that don't make much of an impact, as of Spring 1998 anyway. There are a few people that have a much greater impact on the wrestling world as well...this is the longest game I have played with any version of EWR/TEW, over 3 1/2 years of game time

[JackKnifed72]

June 1995

 

WWF News:

 

Sycho Sid continues his rampage attacking Jerry Lawler a second time before interfering and costing Lawler the WWF World title on RAW in a triple threat match...Sid entered the ring after the referee was distracted and choke slammed Lawler allowing Razor Ramon to get the pin fall and win the WWF title...

 

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Razor Ramon wins the WWF World title

 

...Sid finally reveals his motive...money...Shane Douglas debuts and announces he and Sid, "are bounty hunters, mercenaries for hire, taking out anyone, anytime, any place...you got the green we make 'em bleed!"...

 

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Shane Douglas founds "The Bounty Hunters"...he has a plan to get rich...

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...and Sid has half the brain that you do

 

 

 

The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samu) win the WWF World tag team titles...Tired of his (often times botched) interference, Yokozuna fires longtime manager Mr. Fuji...Fuji brings in the returning Haku to feud with Yokozuna...Christian Cage debuts in the WWF as the mysterious Cage and forms a lower card tag team with Gangrel...The Undertaker turns on Lex Luger (and the fans) sparking a feud between the two...Chris Benoit defeats Kona Crush for the WWF European title, Crush is released the following day...Jerry Lawler and Shawn Michaels' long brewing rivalry boils over and the two agree to a Loser Leaves Town match at King of the Ring...Mike Tyson is named the special guest enforcer...

 

 

King of the Ring

(Grade: 90)

 

Shane Douglas wins the King of the Ring tournament, buying the spot in the finals previously held by Razor Ramon then defeating Yokozuna after both Sycho Sid and Mr. Fuji interfere (80)

Razor Ramon defeats Lex Luger to retain the WWF World title (89)

During the match Undertaker came to ringside and post match Luger blames The Undertaker for distracting him...Undertaker responds with a Tombstone Piledriver to Luger on the concrete at ringside (84)

HBK defeats Jerry Lawler in a Loser Leaves Town match (89)

Post match, Shawn Michaels has a memorable run-in with Tyson, nearly coming to blows until security separates the two (88)

 

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HBK and Jerry Lawler face off at King of the Ring

 

 

 

WCW News:

 

Despite seeing his popularity slide in recent months, Hulk Hogan returns to the main event, defeating Raven on the first Nitro! of the month only to lose 5 days later to Raven on WCW Saturday Night...

 

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Heel Hulk Hogan...I thought you GREW a goatee if you were evil

 

...all told in the 9 TV or PPV shows in June, Raven appears in the main or semi-main event 7 times...Chris and Tammy Lee turn on Jericho, making Jericho a babyface for the first time in WCW...The Great American Bash is held in Japan and features a potential MOTY in the main event as Sting again defeats Ric Flair to retain the WCW World title (99)...also at the Bash, Manami Toyota defeats the debuting Bull Nakano (70), Hulk Hogan teams with Steve Austin to defeat Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman (85) and Owen Hart defeats Ricky Steamboat for the WCW U.S. Heavyweight title (78)...WCW reinstates the 6-man tag team championship and the belts are won by Buddy Landell, Bobby Eaton and...New Jack...Road Warrior Hawk returns to WCW to a surprisingly good reaction and begins slowly moving up the card

 

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Raven and Cactus Jack, somewhere backstage on Nitro! June 1995

 

 

Other News:

 

Several legendary figures in wrestling retire in June...Junkyard Dog retires but moves behind the scenes to become a road agent...Announcers Gordon Solie, Lance Russell and Lord Alfred Hayes along with former road agents/trainers Lou Thesz, Killer Kowalski, The Crusher and Bobo Brazil all leave the business

 

Promising young Canadian Christian Cage debuts...with close friends Adam Impact and Tank Richards working for WCW, there is speculation that Cage will follow them to Atlanta, instead Cage debuts in WWF

 

Sting, Terry Funk and announcer Tony Schiavone resign with WCW, while announcer Jim Ross and road agent Renee Goulet sign longterm deals with the WWF

 

Steve "Mongo" McMichael begins appearing in USWA

 

Paul Levesque begins splitting time between the Global Wrestling Federation and Jim Cornette's Smokey Mountain Wrestling

 

Despite losing several big names such as Rob van Dam and Shane Douglas, ECW keeps putting out good shows thanks in large part to the work of rising star Tommy Dreamer

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

July 1995

 

 

WWF News:

 

WWF raids the independent scene, hiring John "Blackjack" Bradshaw Layfield and Rey Misterio Jr...thanks to a resurgence in show quality over the summer the WWF rises to International size, although RAW is still trailing badly behind Nitro! in the ratings...Blackjack Bradshaw debuts as the third member the Bounty Hunters faction along with Shane Douglas and Sycho Sid...The "Monday Night War" gets a little personal when RAW is held in Asheville, NC...Scott Hall and Kevin Nash come to the ring as "Nature Boy" Ric Ramon and "Stingsel", openly mocking WCW's Flair and Sting...On the same show, Shawn Michaels saves the 1-2-3 Kid from a 2 on 1 beat down by Ramon & Diesel...the following week the Kliq breaks up as Ramon & Diesel attack Shawn Michaels, leaving him beaten, bloody and ko'ed at ringside...

 

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Diesel beats Shawn Michaels like it's a Saturday night in Syracuse...HBK would get his revenge at In Your House

 

...Michaels would defeat Diesel at the In Your House PPV (90)...also at In Your House, Lex Luger defeats The Undertaker in a First Blood match, Ramon defeats Yokozuna to retain the WWF title and the team of Gangrel and Cage, now known as the Brood, team up with the Undertaker and Paul Bearer to form the Ministry.

 

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Razor Ramon battles Yokozuna at In Your House

 

 

WCW News:

 

Booker T begins a storyline where he insinuates that he and and his brother Stevie Ray are being held back do to race and demands a World title match, which he does not receive...some southern 'rasslin fans are not amused...Raven defeats Steve Austin in a MOTY candidate on the first Nitro! of July (99)...Sting defeats Cactus Jack and Jake Roberts in a triple threat match the following week...Roberts takes the pinfall and Raven and Cactus Jack turn on "The Snake" for being "the weak link"...Jake would be embraced by the fans and begins feuding with The Flock (Raven, Cactus Jack, Boris and Owen Hart)...

 

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The Flock's silent enforcer Boris

 

...Fans who wanted to see it back in the late 80's finally got to see a PPV match between Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts at Bash at the Beach...Heel Hulk Hogan defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts thanks to interference from the Flock in the semi-main event...the match scored a 97 match grade...

 

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Legends collide at Bash at the Beach

 

...Also at Bash as the Beach, Sting retains the WCW World title with a win over Bret Hart...Bash at the Beach is held in Montreal Canada which has a large river, but really no beaches.

 

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Booker T accuses Sting of ducking him...Nitro! July 1995

 

 

Other News:

Junkyard Dog becomes trainer at Johnny Rodz School of Wrestling

 

Jushin "Thunder" Liger takes six months off from pro wrestling to star in a movie...a Japanese re-make of "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"

 

7'1, 400+ pound Paul "The Giant" Wight enters wrestling and signs a long term contract with WCW...Wight is expected to make a big impact, but his lack of mobility and mediocre mic skills hold him back...as of early 1998 Wight is little more than an oversized jobber (overness: 36 in the USA)

 

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A Giant disappointment

 

Veteran Tommy Rich walks out of USWA

 

Jake "The Snake" Roberts turns down a reported 5 year contract offer from Vince McMahon to resign with WCW

 

Little known Pittsburgh indy wrestler and local musician Jason "JD" Green sells the rights to an original music composition for nearly $1 million...he debuts over the summer as a clean cut babyface in the NWA

 

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JD Green...could he become a major player in pro wrestling?

 

 

(yes, JD becomes my avatar soon...yes he's a fictional character and yes that's a picture of Matthew Broderick...I have been told often times that I looked like him, I never thought so but girls think he's cute so whatever)

 

 

[K-Nection]

Jushin "Thunder" Liger takes six months off from pro wrestling to star in a movie...a Japanese re-make of "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"

 

That is really funny irony because the Power Rangers was a remake off of old Japenese monster of the week type shows! It's also why the Robot fight scenes in the first 3 seasons looks like something from the 80's...it's because it was!

[JackKnifed72]

August 1995

 

 

WWF News:

 

The WWF announces another list of "future endeavors" as Reno Riggins, Bruce Pritchard, Jim Neidhart, Tom Pritchard (Brother Love) and Nelson Knight (Mabel) are released...Lex Luger and Fatu (Rikishi) have a falling out backstage and begin a "strong dislike" of one another...the WWF stays hot leading up to SummerSlam '95 with every show scoring at least an 82 show grade, but Nitro still rules in the TV ratings...Dusty Rhodes is interrupted during an in ring promo on RAW by gold glitter falling from the ceiling, he'd be interrupted again in coming weeks by a strange gold symbol flashing on the Titantron...two young brawling hardcore specialists debut in the WWF, Bully Ray & Bully Devon aka the Bully Street Boyz and unveiled their feared double team finishing move named the Deadly Death Drop...HBK defeats Diesel in a ladder match at SummerSlam to win the WWF Intercontinental title...

 

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Michaels wins the Intercontinental title at SummerSlam 95

 

HBK and the Ultimate Warrior defeat Razor Ramon and Diesel on the first RAW of the month, a post match brawl kicks off a full blown feud between Ramon and Warrior...the Bounty Hunters (Sid & Douglas) win the WWF Tag Team titles thanks to interference from Bradshaw

 

 

SummerSlam '95

3 Rivers Stadium, Pgh. Pa. - 35,760 attendance

(Grade: 87)

 

Bounty Hunters def Samoan Swat team for the WWF Tag Team titles

Booker T makes a surprising debut, joining Mike Tyson in ring for a promo

Goldust debuts as a mystery opponent for Dusty Rhodes and defeats the American Dream

 

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The Bizarre One makes an entrance as SummerSlam

 

 

Shawn Michaels defeats Diesel for the WWF Intercontinental title in a ladder match (86)

Razor Ramon defeats the Ultimate Warrior to retain the WWF World title (79)

 

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The Bad Guy in action against the Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam

 

 

 

WCW News:

 

WCW Women's champion Manami Toyota begins dating Horace Hogan...Ric Flair and Steve Austin have a pair of excellent matches in August, first on Nitro! (98) and then at Clash of the Champions (95), Flair wins both times...the New Horsemen are no more as Brian Pillman sides with Steve Austin ending the groups brief but highly successful run...Raven gets a non-title victory over Sting on WCW Saturday Night...that was only the beginning of Sting's misery...5 days after Sting retained the belt against Arn Anderson at Clash of the Champions, Sting is upset on Nitro! emanating from Nagoya, Japan losing the belt to Bret Hart...

 

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Sting on his way to the ring for a match vs Bret Hart in Japan

 

 

Sting would end the month dropping a match on WCW Saturday Night to Heel Hulk Hogan, ouch

 

 

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The Hitman joins Ric Flair as the only two men to win the WCW and WWF World titles

 

 

 

 

Other News:

WCW announces that WCW Saturday Night will begin airing in Mexico on TV Azteca

 

August sees a rash of retirements including: Baron Von Raschke, both Bushwackers, Joshi great Mariko Yoshida (due to a knee injury), Wahoo McDaniel, Ronnie Garvin, Austin Idol, Gran Hamada, Ken Patera, Bad News Allen, manager Adnan Al-Kaissie and Abdullah the Butcher

 

Sabu defeats the Tazmaniac at Hardcore Heaven '95 to win the ECW Television title...match grade: 83

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

September 1995

 

 

(September of 1995 would be my last month controlling the fortunes of the WWF...I would move on for a long run with the National Wrestling Alliance, leaving the "Big 2" to battle it out for wrestling supremacy under AI control as I watched from the back of the pack with the regional sized NWA)

 

 

WWF News:

 

The WWF launches Shotgun Saturday Night, a late night B-show filmed in locations around New York City focusing on "edgy" out of the ring angles and hard hitting mid-card action in the ring...ECW announcer Joey Styles is hired to call the action solo from ringside...6'10" Glen Jacobs signs with the WWF but doesn't debut until November and Paul Levesque joins the WWF as Hunter Hearst Helmsley...Helmsley would eventually join the Bounty Hunters faction but he would be little more than a bit player, never rising above the mid-card...

 

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Hunter Hearst Helmsley on Shotgun Saturday Night, September 1995

 

 

...Nobuhiko Takada joins the WWF as Takada and forms an exciting tag team with Rob Van Dam...RVD and Takada win a four team ladder match at the In Your House PPV and defeat the team of IRS & Adam Bomb on RAW, but lose to the tag team champions The Bounty Hunters thanks to interference from the debuting Hunter Hearst Helmsley...The Smoking Gunns tag team splits up with Billy & Bart Gunn entering a brief feud...Goldust continues to feud with Dusty Rhodes...Razor Ramon defends the WWF World title against Booker T at the In Your House PPV in a mediocre main event (81)...Also at In Your House, the Undertaker defeats Lex Luger in a Buried Alive Match "ending" Luger's career...

 

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The Undertaker in action in the first ever Buried Alive Match

 

 

...Luger returns a month later to continue the feud...The Spanish announce table takes it's first bump as the Ultimate Warrior Gorilla Press Slams Razor Ramon through it

 

 

 

WCW News:

 

Arn Anderson resigns with WCW...Little shocks or surprises in September for WCW, but Nitro! still maintains a wide margin over RAW in the tv ratings...Bret Hart completes his slow burning heel turn, joining former blood rivals Cactus Jack and Raven as a partner in a six man tag team main event at Fall Brawl...

 

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Despite being the leader of the anti-social, counter culture outcasts The Flock, Raven's t-shirt is one of the hottest pieces of WCW merchandise!

 

 

...WCW holds Fall Brawl at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium, out doing WWF's attendance from SummerSlam by about 6,000...Road Warrior Hawk defeats Lord Steven Regal to win the WCW Television title...Ric Flair and Arn Anderson (aka The Horsemen) focus almost exclusively on tag team action, running off an impressive series of wins...The Horsemen win the WCW tag team titles at Fall Brawl 95, as of March 1998 they are still the WCW tag team champions!

 

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Flair & AA rule the tag team division

 

 

 

Other News:

 

UFC Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock announces he's returning to professional wrestling...he signs with the WWF but would not appear on TV until October

 

Former WWF champion The Iron Sheik retires from competition...he would eventually re-emerge as a colour commentator for All Japan Women's Wrestling despite knowing only one phrase in Japanese...Fackin Boosh*t!!!

 

Tommy Dreamer and Johnny Grunge are the hot feud in ECW, having a series of bloody hardcore matches in September

 

Dwayne "Rock" Johnson, the son of "Soul Man" Rocky Johnson and grandson of "High Chief" Peter Maivia, is cut from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL and is rumored to begin training for his wrestling debut

 

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Even in a turtleneck and fanny pack the Rock is cooler than you

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

OOC: Must of been something about September 1995, while playing the game I found myself getting quite bored and was about to quit the save until I decided to take over the NWA which breathed new life into the game. And doing the write-ups I started getting a little bored too, and yep I am looking forward to recapping the (kinda) Rise of the NWA. My plan was to take NWA at least to Cult but as we will see, fate intervenes down the line.

 

Even just 1 year into the game it's cool to see how things have changed. With WCW rising to #1 so early built around a more "traditional" southern-style wrestling approach and WWF following suit there is still a bit of "Attitude Era" style antics...tons of run-ins and DQs, over the top characters, scantily clad divas, chair shots, ladder matches etc...but overall the trend is more towards 'Rasslin over Sports Entertainment.

 

Also, some of the wrestlers and other names from the era have taken on new roles...Eric Bischoff is the talented but sometimes annoying lead announcer of WCW, so he's basically Mike Tenay...The Big Show has taken the place of Kurrgan, monster big man that never really achieved much...no "Crow" Sting yet, but "Surfer" Sting is the #1 white-meat babyface in wrestling...HHH is basically X-Pac, the guy who hangs out with the cool heel stable, though not as popular...Hogan, for the immediate future, occupies the spot in WCW that was held by Lex Luger...well known veteran that drifts between heel & face but isn't quite a megastar...Ric Flair and Arn Anderson wind down their illustrious careers with a nearly 3 year tag team title run...and eventually the McMahon family will lose control of the WWF

 

Hope y'all are enjoying...now it's on to the NWA!

[Russelrules44]

OOC: Must of been something about September 1995, while playing the game I found myself getting quite bored and was about to quit the save until I decided to take over the NWA which breathed new life into the game. And doing the write-ups I started getting a little bored too, and yep I am looking forward to recapping the (kinda) Rise of the NWA. My plan was to take NWA at least to Cult but as we will see, fate intervenes down the line.

 

Even just 1 year into the game it's cool to see how things have changed. With WCW rising to #1 so early built around a more "traditional" southern-style wrestling approach and WWF following suit there is still a bit of "Attitude Era" style antics...tons of run-ins and DQs, over the top characters, scantily clad divas, chair shots, ladder matches etc...but overall the trend is more towards 'Rasslin over Sports Entertainment.

 

Also, some of the wrestlers and other names from the era have taken on new roles...Eric Bischoff is the talented but sometimes annoying lead announcer of WCW, so he's basically Mike Tenay...The Big Show has taken the place of Kurrgan, monster big man that never really achieved much...no "Crow" Sting yet, but "Surfer" Sting is the #1 white-meat babyface in wrestling...HHH is basically X-Pac, the guy who hangs out with the cool heel stable, though not as popular...Hogan, for the immediate future, occupies the spot in WCW that was held by Lex Luger...well known veteran that drifts between heel & face but isn't quite a megastar...Ric Flair and Arn Anderson wind down their illustrious careers with a nearly 3 year tag team title run...and eventually the McMahon family will lose control of the WWF

 

Hope y'all are enjoying...now it's on to the NWA!

 

Mr. Jack Knife, before you do so, may I ask you this question. Whatever became of JBL and Rey Mysterio?

[JackKnifed72]

Mr. Jack Knife, before you do so, may I ask you this question. Whatever became of JBL and Rey Mysterio?

 

Please Mr. Jack Knife is too formal...Your Awesomeness will suffice

 

JBL is currently (as of late 1995) working in the WWF as Bradshaw, a member of the Bounty Hunters stable (Shane Douglas, Sycho Sid, Bradshaw and HHH) a group of heels who will beat down any one, interfere in any match...for a price...don't want to give away spoilers but Bradshaw does not stay in the WWF forever, and while not a huge star as of Spring 1998, he's still in wrestling

 

Rey Mysterio Jr. was named the Young Wrestler of the Year for 1994 and has just signed with the WWF but has yet (as of late 95) to work his way above lower midcard status...Mysterio's name will come up again but as of Spring 98 (where I am at playing wise in the save) he's still only 23 and has his whole career ahead of him

 

Thanks for reading BTW...comments/questions always appreciated

[Russelrules44]

Please Mr. Jack Knife is too formal...Your Awesomeness will suffice

 

JBL is currently (as of late 1995) working in the WWF as Bradshaw, a member of the Bounty Hunters stable (Shane Douglas, Sycho Sid, Bradshaw and HHH) a group of heels who will beat down any one, interfere in any match...for a price...don't want to give away spoilers but Bradshaw does not stay in the WWF forever, and while not a huge star as of Spring 1998, he's still in wrestling

 

Rey Mysterio Jr. was named the Young Wrestler of the Year for 1994 and has just signed with the WWF but has yet (as of late 95) to work his way above lower midcard status...Mysterio's name will come up again but as of Spring 98 (where I am at playing wise in the save) he's still only 23 and has his whole career ahead of him

 

Thanks for reading BTW...comments/questions always appreciated

Gotcha Sir Awesome.

[lukess11]

When will the next update go up?

[JackKnifed72]

Interlude #2

 

Friday September 29th...Los Angeles, CA., a large meeting room on the 27th floor of 10 Universal City Plaza, the West Coast production headquarters of NBC Television's Entertainment division...NBC President Warren Littlefield has convened this meeting of top executives to discuss the debacle that took place last night...After nearly a year of hype and millions of dollars of advertising, NBC aired the debut episode of what it believed would be it's next mega-hit sitcom, Punky Brewster: The College Years...

 

...Littfield is surrounded by a dozen or so network execs...little more than sycophantic yes men in expensive suits...brown nosers who will do and say whatever it take's to keep their jobs and 7 figure salaries...Littlefield is revewing the "over night's", the initial Nielsen numbers that track viewership of US television programming...

 

...Punky Brewster: The College Years was one of the least watched primetime television shows...ever...in the entire history of television!

 

 

 

Littlefield: "How...how could this happen?!?"

 

Random Exec: "Maybe people didn't think the show was very 'hip' or original"

 

"But...but we had Punky Brewster all grown up, living in a Manhattan apartment...working her way through college...we had former teen heart throb AC Slater as her dopey but loveable boyfriend..."

 

"Yeah...that's totally hip in 1995"

 

"And we had Nicholas Cage as her wacky neighbor who burst in unannounced on every show..."

 

"Totally original, sir"

 

"And we had Danny DeVito as the obnoxious mailman Newton who lived downstairs..."

 

"Original and current, boss"

 

"...we are gonna have to pull the plug on the show...replace it with reruns of Cheers or something...we spent so much on advertising...on production costs..."

 

"We owe Cage for a guaranteed 26 episodes too"

 

"...and that theme song...we paid that smug little wannabe wrestler a million bucks for the rights to that song...for a show that aired once! I wonder what he did with all that money anyway..."

 

 

 

At the exact same moment, nearly 2,200 miles away, in a Waffle House just outside of Atlanta, GA. former wrestler "Nightmare" Danny Davis sits in a booth, staring down at a contract to sell complete control of the National Wrestling Alliance...a company he himself had only purchased 15 months ago...Davis sits, pen in hand, not sure if he's doing the right thing...

 

"Come on Danny, just sign it."

 

Davis looks across the table at JD Green, a talented young wrestler who 6 days ago offered him $800,000 to buy the NWA outright...

 

Davis: "I dunno man, wrestling is my life...it's in my blood."

 

Green: "Me too man...wrestling's my life too."

 

Davis eyes up JD in his designer jean shorts and Mother Love Bone t-shirt...

 

Davis: "Yeah, sure it is kid."

 

Green: "It's more money than you'll make in the ring...besides you can still wrestle in the NWA and the company is almost bankrupt...just sign the deal."

 

Davis: "I can turn things around."

 

Green: "Of course you can...or you could go bankrupt and end up working in a Waffle House...your call."

 

Davis: "Fine!"

 

Danny Davis reluctantly signs the contract and unknown 22yo JD Green becomes the sole owner of the National Wrestling Alliance.

 

 

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/JackKnifed72/NKOA/JDGreen1.jpg

JD Green...new owner of the National Wrestling Alliance

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

When will the next update go up?

 

The next few recaps will go up probably tomorrow night...thanks for following

[JackKnifed72]

October 1995

 

 

NWA News:

 

The NWA holds Ground Zero 95 in Macon, Georgia, billing it as the "rebirth" of the NWA...youngster JD Green upsets veteran John Nord to open the show...Tommy Dreamer & Stevie Richards retain the NWA tag team titles...Kendall Windham makes his debut...

 

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/JackKnifed72/NKOA/Kendall_Windham_01.jpg

Kendall Windham signs autographs after his debut at NWA Ground Zero 95

 

...in the main event of Ground Zero, Greg Valentine defeats Terminator X (Bill DeMott) to retain the (new version) NWA World title...2 weeks later Tyler Mane & Jason The Terrible debut as a monster tag team dubbed DOA...

 

http://i.imgur.com/u3wjCPW.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MuoDBHZ.jpg

The monster tag team of Jason the Terrible and Taylor Mane aka DOA

 

...at the Florida tour stop, Danny Davis (the owner) calls out JD Green and says his win over John Nord was a fluke and he will defeat Green or leave the NWA...JD Green wins the match cleanly...Danny Davis leaves the NWA angry but $800,000 richer

 

http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/JackKnifed72/NKOA/tagchamps95nwa.jpg

NWA Tag Team champions in action in Florida

 

 

 

WWF News:

 

Despite rumors that he was planning a return to WCW, Lex Luger signs an extension with the WWF...with a second TV show and a ramped up house show schedule, the WWF goes on a hiring spree to beef up the lower card, signings include: Kamala, Demolition Ax, Rick Steiner, Bob Orton Jr., Lucha Libre star Psicosios, Paul Orndorff, Tommy Rogers, Honky Tonk Man and Michael Hayes...some question the cost of signing so many aging veterans...the 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman) wins the newly created WWF Light Heavyweight title...

 

http://i.imgur.com/eKG5sfb.png

1-2-3 Kid ready for some PPV action!

 

...Undertaker defeats Shawn Michaels on RAW in the match of the month for the WWF (93)...HBK gets revenge, beating Undertaker at the In Your House PPV to retain the Intercontinental title...thanks to a poor attitude and poor match quality, Hunter Hearst Helmsley's initial push is pulled back, he would wrestle (and defeat) the Gobbledy Gooker at In Your House...Shane Douglas becomes a dual champion, defeating Chris Benoit for the WWF European title

 

 

 

WCW News:

 

Eric Bischoff supplants Tony Schiavone as the lead announcer for Nitro! and signs a long term extension...Bret Hart defends the WCW title on Nitro! against Jake Roberts, Hart wins the match as they out do their 1994 MOTY (99)...Al Snow debuts in WCW...Vader and Stevie Ray team up to beat The Horsemen twice in October, but Flair and Anderson hold onto the titles...Bret Hart defeats Sting in the main event of Halloween Havoc to retain the WCW title (92)

 

http://i.imgur.com/AVJagAS.png

Sting just minutes before his failed attempt at regaining the WCW World title

 

 

 

Other News:

 

Jason Knight of ECW "fame" announces he's dating the ex-wife of Randy Savage...Miss Elizabeth

 

Mike Rotundo aka Irwin R. Schyster leaves the WWF after his contract expires...after stints in ECW, USWA, Puerto Rico and Japan he would sign with WCW in Spring of 1996

 

Johnny Grunge and Tommy Dreamer continue their bloody war, wrestling on nearly every ECW show with the best match scoring an 83...Ron Harris and Big Tilly win the ECW tag team titles

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

November 1995

 

 

NWA News:

 

The NWA holds Standing Room Only! 1995 from the campus of the University of Memphis...In the main event, Greg Valentine, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman defeat Terminator X (DeMott), Ludvig Borga and Scotty Riggs...two weeks later at NWA on Tour, Greg Valentine turns heel, beating down Kendall Windham then pinning him with a handful of tights in the main event...

 

http://i.imgur.com/dipmAhZ.jpg

Greg Valentine tells the fans exactly what he thinks of them

 

 

...post match, Barry Windham comes to the ring holding the original NWA World title (the title and it's 90+ prestige cost me $65,000...ouch) and awards it to his brother Kendall...Valentine's version of the belt eventually is renamed the NWA Southern Heavyweight title...

 

http://i.imgur.com/f084WgY.jpg

The "Classic" NWA title belt returns, but whose the rightful champ, Valentine or Windham?

 

 

...also at NWA on Tour, Rock Johnson, son of "Soulman" Rocky Johnson makes his pro wrestling debut, teaming up with Stevie Richards in tag team action to defeat the team of Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Mark Starr

 

http://i.imgur.com/sbBUcJj.jpg

Rock Johnson on his way to the ring for his debut match...at least they didn't call him Flex Kavana or something

 

 

 

WWF News:

 

Kevin Nash (Diesel) signs a long term extension to stay in the WWF...Monday Night RAW makes it's overseas debut from Sheffield, England in week 1, it features an awful main event of Haku & the Barbarian defeating Booker T & Warrior (68) and is the worst RAW in sometime (66)...RAW would spend most of November in Europe with mediocre results, the lack of popularity of some of the top names hurting the show grades...Mike Tyson and Razor Ramon get into a backstage shoving match in Finland (it really wasn't important, but how often do you get to mention Tyson, Razor & Finland in the same sentence?)...a fairly poor month is capped by a solid Survivor Series (78) held in Moscow...in the main event, The Ultimate Warrior pins Razor Ramon to win the WWF World title!

 

http://i.imgur.com/IzdqgEH.jpg

The Ultimate Warrior wins his second WWF World championship...in Moscow!

 

 

 

WCW News:

 

Sting loses to Raven & Cactus Jack on back to back weeks on Nitro!...outside of one poor Nitro! (week 2) every WCW TV & PPV scores in the mid or upper 80s and Nitro! continues to dominate in the TV ratings...Bret Hart defeats Steve Austin with the Sharpshooter to headline Clash of Champions...

 

http://i.imgur.com/Pd0zcza.jpg

Bret Hart and Steve Austin face off at Clash of Champions

 

 

...Hart would close the month defeating old rival Jake Roberts on the last WCW Saturday Night of November (92)...Sting turns down Pamela Anderson's advances at Clash of Champions..."I'm flattered but women only distract from what's really important...wrestling!"...match of the month goes to Raven defeating Sting on Nitro! (96)

 

 

 

Other News:

 

Monday Night RAW expands into Australia being picked up by the SBS network, while WCW Saturday Night begins airing in Japan on Nippon TV

 

Tommy Dreamer (ECW) and Theresa Hayes (WWF) announce their engagement...as of March 1998 they still haven't married

 

Nikolai Volkoff retires

 

Mike Rotundo debuts in ECW working under his real name...Tommy Dreamer defeats Stevie Richards on Hardcore TV in what many call the best match in ECW history (87)

 

 

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

December 1995

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/k3GBZSC.jpg

 

The National Wrestling Alliance debuts NWA Showdown, a one-hour wrestling show airing locally in Atlanta and Memphis...the first show is taped in Macon, Ga. with the first televised match featuring Rock Johnson defeating Jason Slade (Jason Neidhart)...also on the show, Tommy Dreamer & Stevie Richards defeat DOA to retain the NWA Tag Team titles...to keep costs down, the NWA doesn't hold any large live events in December focusing soley on it's weekly TV show...The Sandman and Kendall Windham both feud with Greg Valentine over the NWA Title...

 

http://i.imgur.com/sSRAmVz.jpg

When you think NWA tradition...you think Lou Thesz, Harley Race and this guy

 

...tensions rise between the tag team champs when Stevie Richards is beaten down back stage by DOA 2 on 1, later Richards berates Tommy Dreamer for failing to come to his aid...veteran Kevin Sullivan debuts (as a heel) as a surprise partner for an 8-man tag match on the last Showdown of 1995

 

http://i.imgur.com/Jky7m74.jpg

Kevin Sullivan debuts on NWA Showdown, December 1995

 

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/JOJ5FNL.jpg

 

Dan Spivey debuts and forms a tag team with Scott Hall called American Starship...The Ultimate Warrior defeats the Barbarian on RAW to make his first defense of the WWF World title...on the same show, Razor Ramon defeats Shawn Michaels to be named #1 contender in the match of the month for the WWF (86)...3 days later on PPV at WWF Time of Troubles 95, Razor Ramon defeats the Ultimate Warrior to win back the WWF title thanks to interference from the Bounty Hunters, Sid Vicious and Shane Douglas, which of course Ramon paid handsomely for...

 

http://i.imgur.com/F6Dy2By.jpg

Razor Ramon celebrates his second WWF World title

 

...Glenn Jacobs debuts with a win over 18 year old Jeff Hardy on RAW

 

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/kEpnm0t.jpg

 

WCW has one of it's strongest months ever, with every show but one scoring at least an 86...youngster Wayne King (Brian Lawler) challenges Owen Hart for the WCW US Heavyweight title at Starrcade 95, King comes up short but turns some heads with a great performance (match grade: 83)...also at Starrcade, The Horsemen defeat Jericho and Road Warrior Hawk to retain the WCW Tag team titles and Bret Hart defeats Sting to retain the WCW World title...

 

http://i.imgur.com/7TLiLVL.jpg

Road Warrior Hawk fails to win the tag team titles, but he ends the year as WCW World Television champion

 

...match of the month goes to The Horsemen defeating Vader & Stevie Ray on WCW Saturday Nght (98)

 

 

 

Other News:

 

All Japan Women's Wrestling owner Takashi Matsunaga passes away at age 51...his brother Kunimatsu takes control of the company

 

Former bodybuilder Joannie Laurer enters pro wrestling, appearing in regional feds such as ECW, USWA and WWC under the name Joannie Lee

 

ECW ends a strong year with December to Dismember 95 from the Hammerstein Ballroom..Dory Funk Jr. defeats Sabu to retain the ECW World title (74) and in the main event, Mike Rotundo and The Sandman defeat Pitbull #2 and Johnny Grunge (74)

 

 

 

 

 

[K-Nection]

I love this dynasty and the turns it has taken!

[JackKnifed72]

I love this dynasty and the turns it has taken!

 

Thanks for following...1996 sees the US wrestling scene change with the NWA rising fast and several regional promotions going bankrupt...1997 is the year things really start to change...the debut of Goldberg, the end of the McMahon's ownership of WWF, the birth of Revolution Pro Wrestling...and a fairly big name suffering a potentially career ending neck injury!

[JackKnifed72]

End of the Year Awards: 1995

 

Wrestler of the Year: Sting (2) - Lost the WCW title to Bret Hart but was the MVP of WCW

 

http://i.imgur.com/vQppGUe.jpg

Sting with his 1995 Wrestler of the Year trophy

 

Tag Team - The Horsemen - Ric Flair & Arn Anderson dominate the tag team division

 

Young Wrestler - Tommy Dreamer - Dreamer makes waves in ECW and the NWA

 

Veteran - Ric Flair (2) - The Nature Boy just won't quit

 

Woman - Mayumi Ozaki (JWP & GAEA) - With Manami Toyota in the WCW mid card, Ozaki rules Japan

 

Independent Wrestler - Paul Orndorff

 

Company - WCW (4) - No stopping the juggernaut out of Atlanta

 

Most Improved - WFWA (Canada)

 

Match - Mitsuharu Misawa def Kenta Kobashi (99) - AJPW

 

Card - WCW Uncensored (93) - May not have had the highest grade, but it propelled WCW to International and saw Sting regain the WCW World title

 

Manager - Arnold Schwarzenegger (2) - CMLL

 

Announcer - Gordon Solie (5) (WCW) - One last accolade for one of the greatest announcers ever

 

http://i.imgur.com/gGT3i8c.jpg

Gordon Solie interviews Jericho on WCW Saturday Night

 

Color Commentator - Jim Cornette (2) (SMW)

 

Referee - Tommy Young (8) (WCW)

 

WCW cleans up again with 7 awards...7 more than the WWF!

 

 

Power 500

 

1 - Sting (WCW)

2 - Ric Flair (WCW)

3 - Arn Anderson (WCW)

4 - Bret Hart (WCW)

5 - Jake Roberts (WCW)

6 - Steve Austin (WCW)

7 - Vader (WCW)

8 - Stevie Ray (WCW)

9 - Kenta Kobashi (AJPW)

10 - Mick Foley (WCW)

 

Not only does WCW boast 9 of the top 10 for 1995, but Pillman (#12), Hogan (#13) & Raven (#15) make it 12 of the top 15. The highest rated WWF star? Booker T at #17...and he spent half of 1995 in WCW, after that it's HBK at #22. Scott Hall (#27) is the only other WWF wrestler in the top 30.

 

 

 

 

Unofficial End of the Year Top 5 (US Only)

 

World Championship Wrestling - WCW again dominated the end of year awards as well as the Power 500. Had a stretch in the Spring where 90+ show grades were becoming almost common. Cooled off a bit as the year went on but still consistently put out the best TV & PPV shows and Nitro! is still well ahead in TV ratings. Has a ridiculously deep roster of stars at the top and some good younger talent on the rise.

 

World Wrestling Federation - The WWF struggled for much of the year, with a hot streak in terms of show quality over the summer which helped WWF jump to International size. Still the #2 promotion in the US, but well behind WCW in TV ratings and PPV buys. Has a handful of top stars but then a steep drop off into the mid card. The decision for Razor Ramon to drop the belt to Ultimate Warrior for just under a month before winning it back was particularly head scratching. While not in financial trouble as of yet, the WWF is at this point barely breaking even from month to month.

 

http://i.imgur.com/mDLstLx.jpg

Shawn Michaels tries to keep the WWF afloat in 1995

 

Extreme Championship Wrestling - Still light years behind the "Big 2", ECW is steadily churning out solid shows and moving towards cult level. Even with the loss of Shane Douglas to the WWF, ECW can count on main eventer Tommy Dreamer (loyalty), announcer Joey Styles (loyalty) and on-screen authority figure Paul Heyman (loyalty/head booker) to stick with the company for the foreseeable future.

 

http://i.imgur.com/1hWt0bu.jpg

Heyman, Dreamer & Sandman show up unannounced at a WWF house show in Philadelphia

 

United States Wrestling Association - "Memphis Wrestling" is still built almost exclusively around Jerry "The King" Lawler. The USWA took a hit earlier in 1995 when popular veteran Tommy Rich walked out on the company. Still popular on Memphis TV, the USWA is rumored to be experiencing money problems and is clearly on a downward trend.

 

National Wrestling Alliance - The NWA received a shot in the arm when ownership changed hands in the fall. JD Green brought an infusion of cash and a more modern approach to old school 'rasslin. With a new TV show and the signing of potential mega-star Rock Johnson, the NWA is clearly on the upswing right now.

 

Honorable mention: GWF, SMW

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

January 1996

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/k3GBZSC.jpg

 

Reportedly unhappy with his push, Scotty Riggs is released from his PPA contract due to a poor attitude...Ludvig Borga would follow Scotty out the door when he is released after complaining loudly about losing a match to rookie Rock Johnson on NWA Showdown...turning a nice profit in December, the NWA again holds a large end of the month show, Test of Champions 96, as well as begins a monthly tour stop in the Mid-Atlantic region...the NWA begins an 8-man tournament for the "real" NWA World Championship...Rock Johnson upsets Ludvig Borga to advance to the Fatal Fourway Ladder match for the title, the Sandman defeats Greg Valentine while Kevin Sullivan and Terminator X (Bill DeMott) also advance in the tournament...

 

http://i.imgur.com/lyc7lvk.png

Rock Johnson is interviewed after defeating veteran Ludvig Borga

 

...former stripper Kristina Laum (Kimona) debuts as scantily clad announcer Krissy Lei, adding some T&A to the traditional promotion...Shawn Stasiak & Doug Basham debut as a cocky heel team named generation neXt (and yes, only the X is capitalized because the 90s were X-treme!)...the relationship between tag team champions Stevie Richards and Tommy Dreamer continues to deteriorate as the two argue on multiple occasions...

 

http://i.imgur.com/U4O25qk.jpg

Stevie Richards mocks the WWF's HBK on NWA Showdown...Tommy Dreamer isn't a fan of Stevie's new attitude

 

...at NWA Test of Champions 95, Kevin Sullivan wins the "real" NWA World Championship...Greg Valentine's (now midcard) title is renamed the NWA Southern Heavyweight title

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/JOJ5FNL.jpg

 

Kevin Nash (Diesel) and the 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman) have a backstage falling out, while by no means enemies, they are no longer friends either...Golddust defeats Dusty Rhodes in a retirement match and then begins feuding with Lex Luger...Razor Ramon defeats the Ultimate Warrior on RAW to retain the WWF World title...Shawn Michaels defeats the Undertaker on RAW in the match of the month (96) in the WWF...Razor Ramon wins the Royal Rumble

 

http://i.imgur.com/7cuoTQY.jpg

The Ultimate Warrior battles Goldust at a WWF house show, January 1996

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/kEpnm0t.jpg

 

Sting defeats Raven on the third Nitro! of the new year in a MOTY candidate (99)...also on the same Nitro!, Chris Lee (Candido) defeats his former friend Jericho to win the WCW Cruiserweight title...Diamond Dallas Page begins working 6-man tag matches alongside Raven & Cactus Jack but still remains stuck in the midcard...Steve Austin defeats Arn Anderson on Nitro! in maybe the best performance of his career (98)...

 

http://i.imgur.com/snI3pOK.jpg

Stunning Steve during his match with Arn Anderson

 

...Bret Hart defeats Austin at Clash of the Champions to retain the WCW World title...also at CotC, Owen Hart retains the US Heavyweight title with a win over Sting and Road Warrior Hawk defeats Ron Simmons to hang on to the WCW Television title

 

 

 

Other News:

 

Ronnie Garvin takes over as the trainer at ECW's wrestling school the "House of Hardcore"

 

The "Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant retires from active competition but stays in the business as a road agent and non-wrestling personality

 

Jim Cornette's Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW) begins experiencing financial problems in January and releases nearly half it's roster, including Doug Gilbert, Sam Houston and Bobby Duncam Jr.

 

Scott Steiner turns down offers from both WCW & the WWF and resigns a long term contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling

 

http://i.imgur.com/N4nQ5m5.jpg

Already age 33, is Scott Steiner missing out on the US wrestling boom by spending his prime in Japan?

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

February 1996

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/k3GBZSC.jpg

 

Kendall Windham defeats Greg Valentine for the NWA Southern Heavyweight title...

 

http://i.imgur.com/KvCVHid.jpg

Greg Valentine with the NWA Southern Heavyweight title...he'd lose the belt to Kendall Windham

 

...Kevin Sullivan makes his first defense of the NWA World title in a very poor match against Rock Johnson (52), his second defense over Sonny Rogers is even worse (48)...Sullivan's time decline is really obvious...Tommy Dreamer and Stevie Richards nearly come to blows after botched interference by Richards "accidently" costs Tommy Dreamer a win in a 6 man tag match on NWA Showdown...

 

http://i.imgur.com/9D4RNgU.jpg

Stevie Richards' bad attitude gets worse...here he mocks WCW's Lord Steven Regal

 

...Rock Johnson and JD Green begin working together in a tag team...Barry Windham comes out of retirement to defeat Kevin Sullivan in Florida in the match of the month for the NWA (76)

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/JOJ5FNL.jpg

 

The WWF holds it's monthly PPV on a Thursday yet again, WWF Impending Doom...Razor Ramon defeats Rick Steiner to retain the WWF World title on the show in a stellar match (91)...

 

http://i.imgur.com/6ji9TDg.jpg

The Dog Faced Gremlin comes so close to winning the WWF title

 

...Goldust and Shawn Michaels tear down the house the following week on RAW (97) with Goldust getting the tainted victory...

 

http://i.imgur.com/w8kY3iM.jpg

HBK drops the elbow on Goldust, but the Bizarre One would eventually get the win

 

...Ramon continues his strong championship run, also defeating Lex Luger on RAW...Booker T fails to make much of an impact so far in the WWF, he defeats Tonga (Haku) in the main event of RAW, but the match is poor (71) and he spends the rest of the month wrestling jobbers and cutting promos alongside Mike Tyson

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/kEpnm0t.jpg

 

WCW gets it's biggest PPV buyrate ever with Superbrawl VI...The Horsemen defeat Sting and Steve Austin in the main event (99) and the show lifts WCW to Global size...relative unknown Reggie Bennett upsets Manami Toyota to win the WCW Women's championship...February kicks off with Nitro! in Japan, Road Warrior Hawk defeats Bret Hart in a non-title match in the main event (81) and the show scores the lowest grade for WCW in months (77)...Jake Roberts and Bret Hart have another epic match the following week on Nitro! (98)...In a stunning upset, career lower carder Sgt. Craig Pittman defeats Road Warrior Hawk and Adam Impact (Edge) on WCW Saturday Night to win the WCW Television title

 

http://i.imgur.com/N5uHEz2.jpg

Hawk loses the WCW Television title but he's as popular as ever with the WCW fans

 

 

 

Other News:

 

Monday Night RAW expands to the British Isles, being picked up by Channel 4

 

ECW suffers a big blow as Sabu's contract runs out. Against the protests of Paul Heyman, ECW owner Tod Gordon refuses to resign Sabu over long standing issues between the two...The Sandman defeats Dory Funk Jr. for the ECW World title

 

http://i.imgur.com/ZnNCMyr.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ddXUBbl.jpg

ECW gains a champion but loses a star

 

Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) opens in Louisville, KY. founded by Mike Rapada...OVW hires a slew of veteran wrestlers including: Scotty Riggs, Greg Gagne, Tim Horner, Virgil, Ricky Morton as well as road agent Jimmy Valiant and manager Lou Albano

 

 

 

 

 

[JackKnifed72]

March 1996

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/k3GBZSC.jpg

 

Stevie Richards finally snaps, beating the popular Sandman into a bloody mess on NWA Showdown with a steel chair when Sandman announces he is leaving for the WCW...later on the same show, Richards attacks his tag team partner Tommy Dreamer...

 

http://i.imgur.com/NtWpNUF.jpg

Stevie Richards turns on Sandman, Dreamer and the fans!

 

...the following week Richards announces he will no longer defend the NWA Tag Team titles with Dreamer...acting NWA Commissioner Barry Windham strips them of the titles...Rock Johnson and JD Green begin what would become a long and violent feud with generation neXt (Stasiak & Basham)...Tommy Dreamer wins the NWA World title in a Four Way Elimination match on NWA Showdown in what is considered the best match in the brief history of the "new" NWA (81)...

 

http://i.imgur.com/XAt5ylG.jpg

Tommy Dreamer straps on the prestigious NWA World title belt

 

...4 days later Tommy Dreamer makes his first title defense, defeating Greg Valentine at NWA March Madness '96 in an even better match (82)

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/JOJ5FNL.jpg

 

The WWF loses it's contract with the USA Network and Shotgun Saturday Night goes off the air ending it's brief but memorable run...Booker T does get a win over the Undertaker on RAW in a great match (88) but otherwise spends March wasting away in backstage skits, including only making a cameo at WrestleMania XII breaking up a brawl between Goldust and Diesel...Diesel turns babyface and begins feuding with old friend Razor Ramon...

 

http://i.imgur.com/pi1k1En.jpg

The Bad Guy needs no friends...Ramon beats down Diesel

 

...the match of the month goes to Shawn Michaels who defeats the Undertaker at WrestleMania (so much for the streak) to retain the Intercontinental title (96)...

 

http://i.imgur.com/IvIRY6z.jpg

HBK defeats Undertaker at WrestleMania XII

 

...other than the 'Taker/HBK match, WrestleMania is a poor show (77) with a main event of Diesel and Yokozuna defeating Razor Ramon and Dan Spivey (74) and an opening match of the recently resigned Crush defeating Moondog Spot (37)

 

 

 

http://i.imgur.com/kEpnm0t.jpg

 

With the recent jump in size to Global, WCW expands it's roster, hirings include: Hak (Sandman), Michael Wallstreet (Mike Rotundo), Glacier (Ray Lloyd), Billy Jack Haynes, Robert Gibson, MMA star Dan Severn and Chris Adams...Bret Hart and Jake Roberts continue what is becoming an epic feud with another 5* match, this time on an episode of Nitro! in Japan (97)...all in all between December 94 and December 97 Bret would battle Jake 37 times (including tag and 6-man tag matches) with an average match grade of 88 and 7 singles matches graded 96 or higher...Roberts holds the edge 23-12-2, although Bret is 3-0 in World title matches...

 

http://i.imgur.com/M33KFQi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/CoCqmYm.jpg

The Hitman vs The Snake would become one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling history

 

...Road Warrior Hawk gets a shot at Bret Hart's title on Nitro! and comes up short in an excellent match (91)...Hawk rebounds with a clean win over Heel Hulk Hogan at WCW Uncensored 96...Bret Hart defeats Stevie Ray in the main event of Uncensored...

 

 

 

 

Other News:

 

The wife of WCW wrestler Marc Mero, Rena Mero enters wrestling...she would work as a valet under the name Sable for several smaller promotions including USWA, ECW & WWC

 

The Sandman signs a written contract with WCW in March and leaves both ECW & the NWA...he would debut in WCW in May as Hak

 

Herb Abrams' UWF defies the odds and rises in size to Regional size

 

Chris Adams leaves GWF and vacates it's top title, the GWF North American Heavyweight title...the vacant belt is won by Tony Norris (Ahmed Johnson) with a victory over Buff Bagwell

 

In ECW, Damien Stone (Little Guido) wins the ECW Television title and Mikey Whipwreck defeats Ron Harris to win the vacant ECW World title