WCW: Heart and Soul

Wolfman84 · February 15, 2018

Women's World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong and Devil Masami

Women's World Championship: Melissa Anderson vs. Manami Toyota {©}

Kyoko Inoue vs. Akira Hokuto

Nattie Neidhart vs. Takako Inoue

Toshiyo Yamada vs. Sonoko Kato

Alexis Laree and Allison Corino vs. Daffney and LuFisto

Momoe Nakanishi vs. Shinobu Kandori

What will be match of the night? Main Event

What is Eric Bischoff's 'surprise' for Etsuko Mita? Kicked out of Empire

crackerjack · February 15, 2018

Women's World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong and Devil Masami

Women's World Championship: Melissa Anderson vs. Manami Toyota {©}

Kyoko Inoue vs. Akira Hokuto

Nattie Neidhart vs. Takako Inoue

Toshiyo Yamada vs. Sonoko Kato

Alexis Laree and Allison Corino vs. Daffney and LuFisto

Momoe Nakanishi vs. Shinobu Kandori

What will be match of the night? Tag Final

What is Eric Bischoff's 'surprise' for Etsuko Mita? He will propose! And she.... will say yes!

The Lariat · February 15, 2018

Women's World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong and Devil Masami

Heels on top allows your face teams to rise up. Thinking Our Generation will challenge sooner rather than later.

Women's World Championship: Melissa Anderson vs. Manami Toyota {©}

I love Melissa but it's not her time.

Kyoko Inoue vs. Akira Hokuto

I sense big things for Hokuto

Nattie Neidhart vs. Takako Inoue

I don't wanna say nepotism so I'll say Nattie wins to build Our Generation to the tag titles.

Toshiyo Yamada vs. Sonoko Kato

Alexis Laree and Allison Corino vs. Daffney and LuFisto

The Mist has been built up to the point where I think it'll play into the finish. Plus Daffney is bae.

Momoe Nakanishi vs. Shinobu Kandori

What will be match of the night? Tag Team Championship

What is Eric Bischoff's 'surprise' for Etsuko Mita? She is attacked by the newest member of the Empire and replaced.

General diary comments/questions/critiques:

I'd actually really like to see Punk in a role outside of True Heroes. Maybe he stops O'Haire at defense 15? Or maybe a feud with Douglas?

Also something tells me Flair is getting new clients. A certain.... reflection of perfection if he can turn?

Texasrangers13 · February 15, 2018

Women's World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong and Devil Masami

Women's World Championship: Melissa Anderson vs. Manami Toyota {©}

Kyoko Inoue vs. Akira Hokuto

Nattie Neidhart vs. Takako Inoue

Toshiyo Yamada vs. Sonoko Kato

Alexis Laree and Allison Corino vs. Daffney and LuFisto

Momoe Nakanishi vs. Shinobu Kandori

What will be match of the night? Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong and Devil Masami

What is Eric Bischoff's 'surprise' for Etsuko Mita? Tough call here, general sentiment seems to be booting her out, so I'll go with that.

The Final Countdown · February 16, 2018

July 6th, 2003: Wrestlemarinepiad <div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="OZNpmFa.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/OZNpmFa.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> July 6th, 2003 From the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan Attendance: 38,000 Announce Team: Joey Styles, Tracy Brooks and Bret "The Hitman" Hart <img alt="jUhTewM.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jUhTewM.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="cyeakzQ.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/cyeakzQ.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="nG8aWZm.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nG8aWZm.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Official Theme Song: "Minerva" by Deftones <iframe width="560" height="315" src="<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Un7lOuTJ8ww" rel="external nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/embed/Un7lOuTJ8ww"</a> frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Nattie Neidhart vs. Takako Inoue http://i.imgur.com/MAaFqtV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SKNBQrE.jpg </div> Nattie and Takako got us started, and they did a good job of getting the huge sold-out crowd at the Saitama Super Arena into the show right off the bat. Nattie acquitted herself well here, but it has to be said that Takako was a slightly better performer. The two women did some solid chain wrestling, trading holds and counters back and forth. Inoue laughed any time she got in a blow to Nattie's face, and was all smiles as she climbed to the top rope and pointed to her opponent's face. She was intending to deliver her Takako Panic diving knee drop right across the face, but there was nobody home because Nattie rolled out of the way in the nick of time. Takako staggered back to her feet and was dropped with a discus lariat to end the match. I debated going either way with this match, but decided to give it to Nattie because she's more than a decade younger and should hopefully have a brighter future (not that Takako is old or washed up by any means though.) <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 75</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Momoe Nakanishi vs. Shinobu Kandori <img alt="5P9dIaj.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/5P9dIaj.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />http://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gfF32sn.jpg </div> Shinobu was off her game tonight. Maybe she was angry about the suspension, or maybe she was being lazy knowing this would be her last match for at least a month. At least she knew better than to try and make a scene out there, because it was Momoe who got the best of her in that very real backstage altercation before Unified. Regardless, it was up to Momoe to carry this one. Luckily she's very good, and she carried Kandori to a solid match that got the crowd hotter. Maybe I should've just had Momoe squash her, but Kandori did get some of her judo throws in before the 'flash pin expert' struck again, scoring the pin with a La Magistral cradle. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 74</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="LEPRnye.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/LEPRnye.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />http://i.imgur.com/cAw5Dl8.jpg</div> Showing his fluency, Eric cut a promo fully in Japanese as he apologized to Etsuko. He said that recently she hadn't been receiving as much support as she should have, because with big new additions like Goldberg and departures like "that Houston Heat guy", he'd had a lot to deal with as the CEO of The Empire. But that was no excuse, and it would not continue. He said that the problem is that she'd been having to try and go it alone, which went against the entire purpose of The Empire. If he'd had his full attention on the matter, he was confident they would have been able to make Toshiyo Yamada see reason and accept her offer to enter the tournament together, and the two of them would've become the first tag team champions here tonight. Instead Yamada was content to keep playing second banana to Manami Toyota, and Etsuko had had to call up her old friend Mima Shimoda on short notice. That sort of thing would never happen again, because Eric had gone out and acquired a new asset to make sure Etsuko would never be stranded over here no matter how busy he might get stateside. It was his pleasure to introduce Etsuko's own personal "muscle"... <div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="CwgRMYN.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/CwgRMYN.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div> ...Kaoru Ito! Joey and I were quick to push her credentials to the international audience watching at home. I mentioned she was a former World Champion in the same lineage as the title Manami Toyota now holds, wearing the belt for nearly a full year between 2000 and 2001, and Joey talked about her more recent accomplishments as a dominant former champion in our developmental territory 5SSW. But now she'd arrived on Renaissance to watch Etsuko's back. She's probably second only to Aja Kong in terms of a menacing presence on the brand, so I think she'll be great in her role as a brutish female enforcer. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 80</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Toshiyo Yamada vs. Sonoko Kato http://i.imgur.com/zVT0XcD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jDerrFK.jpg </div> It didn't take long to realize that these two just aren't a good fit as opponents. Their timing was awkward right from the beginning, with Yamada facing the wrong way as Sonoko launched a quick attack at the bell. They just couldn't ever get on the same page, and the result was a match nowhere near as good as you'd expect with the talent levels of both women. Yamada did what she could; she was quite a bit better than her opponent in this match. I can't be too upset with Sonoko for that though, because this was really her first big match with us after a long time as basically an enhancement talent. Kato got plenty of offense here, as we presented her as a capable talent who could be a credible threat to the upper echelon of the roster. But Yamada was too tough to be denied. She knocked Sonoko senseless with an enzuigiri, but rather than going for the pin, she gave her a stiff stomp to the face. And then another, and another, and another, and another. Kato took kick after kick to the face without stirring or offering any form of defense, but Yamada showed no signs of stopping. Finally referee Charles Robinson called for a stoppage to protect Kato's health. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 67</div> The kicks didn't cease just because the bell had rung. Yamada continued to kick her unconscious opponent, a scowl on her face, as all three of us on commentary tried to figure out what had gotten into her. <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/LyKOnBY.jpg</div> Several staff members came out, but the real attention-grabber was her friend and partner Manami Toyota. Manami rolled in and tried to calm her friend down. As her friend talked to her, Toshiyo finally stopped the beating and turned away from Kato. Manami put her hand on her shoulder, but Yamada shrugged it off and walked to the back by herself. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 85</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Alexis Laree and Allison Corino vs. Daffney and LuFisto http://i.imgur.com/VwQDgVe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jng2E6d.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpg<img alt="Fr5nOJR.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Fr5nOJR.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="HxQ0KSv.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/HxQ0KSv.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div> It was time for the only match of the night exclusively featuring non-Japanese wrestlers. The action was perfectly fine. Everyone was okay, with no real weak link to be found. Daffney was probably marginally the best with Allison slightly bringing up the rear, but I liked the fire she showed as she brawled with LuFisto. I'd say this match either met or slightly exceeded my expectations. It was better than the match before it at least, which I had much higher hopes for. While the in-ring work left nothing to complain about, this match was really about the story. It was all about Daffney trying to find the perfect time to spit her mist at one or both of her opponents. She thought she'd found that chance on Allison as the referee argued with LuFisto, but Alexis tackled her to the ground and the mist sailed high. Everything was going in the favor of the babyfaces. And then... <div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="Hz5OM83.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Hz5OM83.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div> Akira Hokuto hit the ring! She casually walked in, shoved the referee out of the way and drilled Alexis with a Northern Lights Bomb! Allison tried to come to her partner's aid, but she was grabbed and thrown down with a double suplex from Daffney and LuFisto. Alexis and Allison had won the match via disqualification, but the three heels didn't seem to care. Daffney let out her maniacal high-pitched scream as Alexis and Allison were helped to the back. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 72</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Kyoko Inoue vs. Akira Hokuto (w/Daffney and LuFisto) http://i.imgur.com/vjvktnZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpg<img alt="Hz5OM83.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/Hz5OM83.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="jmNiTQv.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/jmNiTQv.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="3S8ZZlj.png" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3S8ZZlj.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div> Daffney and LuFisto remained at ringside for Hokuto's match. Kyoko looked at them out of the corner of her eye as she walked down the ramp, but her focus was on her opponent. This was obviously a big match for Hokuto. It was just her third match since spending about ten months in rehab, and the first on PPV. She showed no signs of ring rust tonight. She looked in fine form out there, and Kyoko was right there to match her. They were both on point with very good performances, and it was clear this was going to be a contender for match of the night. If this match is any indication, Akira is back in a big way and good to go in whatever position we need. Inoue did lots of damage to her foe's neck, looking to soften her up for her signature Victoria Driver, while Hokuto's gameplan was hard to decipher. She was surprisingly passive and reactionary, defending herself against Kyoko's attacks and countering rather than being very aggressive. It was almost as if she was biding her time and waiting for something. Hokuto ducked a lariat and hit Kyoko with a dropkick to the back, knocking her through the ropes and onto the floor. Akira got up and started yelling at Charles Robinson, and then everything became clear. Daffney and LuFisto struck, picking Kyoko up and ramming her head-first into the ring post. They rolled her back into the ring, and Hokuto dropped a dazed Inoue on her head with a Northern Lights Bomb to win the match. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 86</div> Daffney and LuFisto joined Hokuto in the ring after the match, and the three cut a promo. Well, Akira and Daffney cut a promo and LuFisto stood in the background. Daffney was fine, but Akira's performance really carried the segment. After Daffney pledged her allegiance to Hokuto (and LuFisto's as well), Akira welcomed us all to the beginning of 'the dark age' of Renaissance. Up until now things had been bright and colorful on Renaissance thanks to the likes of Kyoko, Chigusa Nagayo, Meiko Satomura, Manami Toyota and others, but now every woman on the roster had to face The Darkness. (That's the name of this new trio, if you haven't picked up on that yet.) <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 80</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/741TrEA.jpg Melissa Anderson vs. Manami Toyota {©} http://i.imgur.com/OophliK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/LyKOnBY.jpg</div> Both women recorded promos earlier in the day, and we aired them just before the match. Melissa talked about wanting to live up to the Anderson legacy tonight. She knew most people thought her prime would still be years away, but if she had anything to say about it, her time started right now. Toyota was not condescending about her opponent, but she was confident. She respected Melissa's talent, her potential and the family knowledge she could draw on to help her, but it takes wrestling in big matches yourself to truly learn what it takes to make it to the top. Melissa can get there one day and matches like tonight will help her do it, but she still has a lot to learn before she can become a world champion. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 94</div> It goes without saying that this was the biggest match in Melissa's career thus far. These two had a solid match on Renaissance back in February during the UFS, but we were pulling out all the stops and holding nothing back this time. Obviously there was the added prestige with the title on the line, but I also gave this match a ton of time. It clocked in at around 27 minutes, which made it the longest match on the show. That gave them plenty of time to start gradually and pace themselves towards an exciting finish, and I let them call it in the ring, knowing Manami would be able to steer the ship and tell a compelling story. Melissa was fine here, but Toyota once again proved she is worthy of her push. She was awesome here, turning in the strongest individual effort of the night so far. It wasn't enough to make up for the lack of a babyface/heel dynamic or a young worker who isn't near her level as a performer at this stage of her career. This match was better than their first one, but not by as wide a gap as I hoped or expected. In a clever nod to Melissa's kayfabe family, she pulled a page out of the Anderson playbook by picking a limb and going to town. In this case it was Manami's left arm that she went after, with some highlights including a hammerlock back suplex and a submission tease with a straight arm bar. Toyota fought her way to the ropes though, and continued to fight as she gave her challenger all she could handle. Melissa had a sound plan and executed it very well, but Manami's pre-match comments proved prophetic. There was no replacement for Toyota's 12-year experience edge, especially with so many of those years being spent having unforgettable, high-pressure matches against the best in the world and performing at an elite level. She got stronger as the match wore on, and was able to capitalize on the slightest dips in her challenger's performance. Toyota took control late and put a bow on this successful title defense with the Ocean Cyclone Suplex. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 81</div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="ZkoqX4B.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZkoqX4B.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura vs. Aja Kong and Devil Masami http://i.imgur.com/XvzeNmR.jpg<img alt="OCuJKqq.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/OCuJKqq.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />http://i.imgur.com/EiVoLiY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iVkKXFP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gOVE3CN.jpg</div> We showed a video recapping the roads both teams took to get to this final match, with Nagayo and Satomura beating Daffney and LuFisto in the opening round and Our Generation in the semis, and Kong and Masami first taking care of Kyoko Inoue and Momoe Nakanishi and then surviving an epic clash against Manami Toyota and Toshiyo Yamada. Then the two teams commented on tonight's match. Kong and Masami were dismissive of their opponents, saying they posed no threat to them and this was going to be an easy victory. Devil also guaranteed that she would win the match by beating Meiko, thus avenging her loss at Unified. As for the babyfaces, they knew this was going to be a tough match, but they also knew they had what it took to come out on top. Meiko referenced her singles victories over both of their opponents, having beaten Devil at Unified and Kong on the go-home Renaissance. Chigusa was the best performer of the segment, as she gave a believable and passionate speech about Meiko's athletic ability plus her decades of experience being the perfect formula to stop the seemingly unstoppable force that was Aja Kong and Devil Masami. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 94</div> This one wasn't quite as long as the singles title match, owing to three of the four participants being among the oldest on the roster and consequently not having the greatest stamina. They still had a decent chunk of time to work with though, so there was no need to rush through anything. This match was a pretty big test for Meiko. I knew what the other three were capable of, even if they're getting older and Kong's declining physically (despite being the second youngest person in the match.) Satomura was more of a wild card though. I knew she was talented and I have high hopes for her to become one of the key stars if not THE key star on the brand in a few years, but she had yet to have a truly great match in WCW. I was very interested to see how she did here. I wasn't sure what to expect after a semi main event that didn't meet my expectations. On one hand I felt relieved that I hadn't swapped the match order around like I considered, but on the other I wondered if this match would underachieve too, leaving Inoue vs. Hokuto from the midcard as the easy match of the night. So the match was not perfect. Tracy's commentary was weak for one, as she interrupted the flow between Joey and I and detracted from the action. There also wasn't enough selling here. That couldn't be considered a great surprise. Masami is the best seller of the bunch, and even she is probably in the bottom half of Renaissance. Despite those problems, all four women brought their best tonight. Meiko was good, showing she can produce at a high level and renewing my hopes that she could eventually develop into one of the stars of the roster. Chigusa and Aja were great even with Chigusa's age and Kong's erosion, with Nagayo doing some solid technical stuff and also just getting the crowd into it with her presence and popularity. And Devil Masami? She was outstanding. She may be the oldest woman on the roster, but she still looks like a terror any time she gets to brawl, and she can mix it up on the mat pretty well too. Even at 41 she was the best performer not only in this match, but on the entire show. Yes, she was even better than Manami Toyota tonight. Whereas the semi main event didn't meet my expecations, this one met and exceeded them. They rewarded me for my decision to leave them in the main event by delivering the match of the night. The heels had stranded Nagayo from her corner and really done a number on her. It looked like Masami might be able to finish her off with one big move, but she had other plans. She tossed Chigusa over to her own side of the ring and stood back, allowing her to tag out. She wanted to prove her point by beating Satomura, but Joey and I agreed that it was a big tactical error not to finish off a weakened opponent when you had the chance, especially in a championship match. Meiko made us look very smart by hitting the ring with plenty of energy and taking the fight to Devil, who quickly found herself on the back foot. Several quick strikes set up a dropkick to the knee, and Satomura hit the ropes to deliver her big Scorpio Rising kick. But she made the mistake of getting too close to Aja Kong, who punched her in the back of the head. That blow staggered her, and it allowed Devil to lock on her sleeper. Chigusa forced her own exhaustion at bay to enter the ring and save her partner, who was fading fast. But Kong was there to greet her, leveling her with her Uraken spinning backfist. Nagayo could offer no aid to her partner after that, and try as she might, Meiko could not break free. Devil put her to sleep, and we had our first Women's World Tag Team Champions! <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 88 <img alt="nG8aWZm.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/nG8aWZm.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div> I put down my headset and came into the ring to present the belts to our first champions. I knew Tracy's color would hurt the segment without me there to make up for it, but I thought my presence was needed here. Aja and Devil took the belts from my hands and motioned for me to get out of 'their' ring, which I did, giving them the spotlight. They cut a promo saying that there was no reason for them to celebrate or rejoice, because there was never any doubt that this would be the outcome. They'd merely done what they'd always known they would do, and now that they were the Women's World Tag Team Champions, they were going to decimate any team who dared to try and challenge them. <div style="text-align:center;">Grade: 94</div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">Show Overall Grade: 88</div> <hr noshade size=3> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="James The Animator" data-cite="James The Animator" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I personally think that you might have undervalued Norman Smiley during contract negotiations. I always hear that he's done a solid job as a developmental coach in FCW/NXT, so I think you could have used him in that capacity.</div></blockquote> Most of my developmental workers already probably have better psychology than Norman, so he wouldn't have much value in that role even if he was ready to stop wrestling. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="smartman" data-cite="smartman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I think you made a coloring error there as you had Flair as a Face. Pretty sure RVD would think that very odd. And Allison Corino is #5 on your Hot Prospect list so why would you even think of not renewing her? I make sure to keep all of those people on the roster if I can. Plus, it keeps Steve happy, which is going to become more and more important as you cycle the new guys into the non-Austin/Goldberg major Main Event slots. Punk, AJ, Bryan D., and Corino are kind of the Four Pillars to carry WCW into the mid/late 2000's. Poor Lance and his lack of charisma. <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote> Yeah, good call with Flair. It wasn't so much a coloring error as an 'I forgot to update that section' error. He's not a personality anymore anyway, so I edited the post to correct that. I was always going to renew Allison. Bret was just commenting on how she hasn't had much to do story-wise so far but could be in line for more if she continues to improve. I wouldn't exclude Rey from that list of Four Pillars, especially now that he's signed a long-term extension. Don't forget that he's only 28 here; just four years older than Punk and AJ, and actually two years younger than Corino. All of that is assuming his health holds up though. Lance may not have the charisma or star quality to become a factor in things like national battles, but his excellent in-ring skills and psychology can still make him a great main eventer capable of bringing out the best in the rest. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="kinnikuniverse" data-cite="kinnikuniverse" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I agree with smartman, I think punk, AJ, AMDRAG and Corino are four pillars of heaven of WCW.... BUT THEY WILL PALE COMPARED TO KNOBLEMANIA!!! and when joe arrives and daniels gets over, you will have the ROH golden generation and knoblemania as your magnificent 7! Oh, and I might have a few ideas for merchandising, like rey masks, unnatural facepaints and a Pepsi commercial with CM punk talking crap about how Pepsi is straight edge. AND ACTION FIGURES! KNOBLE ACTION FIGURES!</div></blockquote> Knoble's popularity is seeing huge gains since joining The Empire. That feud with Austin and all those angles have been a godsend for many people, him included. If it keeps going up at this rate, he'll be a main eventer soon (assuming he isn't nearing his popularity cap.) Trust me, WCW is selling plenty of Rey masks. I'm pretty sure I even had Unnatural mention them in a promo awhile back. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="K-Nection" data-cite="K-Nection" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Unless something truly earth shattering happens it appears you might have officially hold WWE at bay. I mean they do have King Snow now so that might be something to be worried about <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> . You know I should have my wrestling fan card revoked but I never watched a lot of Steve Corino's stuff before this dynasty so I went back and watched a few of his matches (especially his work with Terry Funk). I really wish I had access to ROH in the mid 2000s because I'm constantly being reminded of how much great wrestling I missed over the years.</div></blockquote> Without the early years of ROH it's highly likely I would've stopped watching wrestling long ago. I've never been as interested in WWF/E since they completely botched the Invasion and subsequently got lazy with no legitimate competition to put pressure on them. There have been brief moments where they did something that really interested me, with the initial Nexus attack and the Pipebomb being the biggest, but there are a handful of others to a smaller degree. But I inevitably find the follow-through underwhelming and am left feeling like it's all a waste of time. I've continued to follow their progress and drop in and out as a viewer, but my interest level has taken a massive hit since Raw moved to 3 hours. Where was I going with this? I don't know. I just started typing and it got away from me. <img alt=":cool:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/cool.png.f00d2562b2c1d873a09323753efdb041.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> But yeah, early ROH kept me around, and without it I doubt I ever would've come here. Today it's New Japan that captures my attention. So any of you who are enjoying this: root for New Japan to continue to do well. If they were to collapse, there'd be a good chance you wouldn't see me around here anymore. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="crackerjack" data-cite="crackerjack" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> What is Eric Bischoff's 'surprise' for Etsuko Mita? He will propose! And she.... will say yes!</div></blockquote> Do you think Vince would let me license that 'Together' song they used for Macho and Liz? <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

K-Nection · February 16, 2018

Devil is probably your biggest Cinderella story on this brand so far. She seems to be one of the most reliable workers and I'm glad she had gotten the nod from Bret to be one of the first Tag Champs. It is really sad to see Aja in time decline (especially when we knew in RL she had at least 4 more years before that would set in).

kinnikuniverse · February 16, 2018

I feel the same. If it wasn't for new japan (before 2016) and the good ROH ( 2002 to 2010) I would've never been as big of a wrestling fan as I am today. Though honestly, nowadays, I care way less about it. I dunno, I feel as if I've seen it all and that I want to move on from it because I find it boring now.

...or you could watch a DDT show! If you think you've seen it all in wrestling, you've never seen a DDT show!

Anyway, great show as usual. I'm cheering for nattie! My homeland girls are the best! Wonder what will happen on nitro, now that salvation is gaining more power!

And that's why I don't want this to end. The stories you're telling are wonderful! In your shoes, I would've loved to keep on writing these stories, cause I'd have so much fun doing it!

By the way, what do you mean when you said if new japan were to collapse? Do you mean in game or IRL?

Beejus · February 16, 2018

This is all I could think of as LuFisto joined into The Darkness, a stable saying they are bringing darkness to WCW...

DARKNESS! Fear, viewers, as cute anime girls bring bleakness and despair! <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

DHK1989 · February 16, 2018

Not sure if Toshiyo Yamada's beatdown on Sonoko Kato was a shoot or not...

The Final Countdown · February 16, 2018

July 2003: Wrestlemarinepiad Wrap-up

July 6th, 2003
Less than an hour after the show went off the air

I took another sip of water and reclined my head. Sleeping on airplanes was never fun, but it was the only chance I'd have since it's straight from here to Nitro in Australia tomorrow.

The Renaissance PPVs still aren't hitting the incredible highs that the guys have been pulling off recently, but I still consider every one of them a success. For the sake of comparison, the initial rating on the Observer site for tonight's show was higher than all but one of NOAH's big shows so far this year. Ditto New Japan. Most of WWE's PPVs in 2003 have been better, but considering I'm comparing the biggest shows for their entire star-studded roster against our female-exclusive PPVs, that's not bad at all.

Tonight was touch and go, and whether or not the show was going to be a critical success pretty much hinged on how the main event went. Luckily those four women delivered, and I made sure to thank them for their effort and congratulate the new champions before I left to board the company plane. I also welcomed Akira Hokuto back and told her she looked like she hadn't missed a step in her time away.

The show was a success critically, but it was an even bigger one financially. Selling out all 38 thousand seats in the Saitama Super Arena is the largest gate we've done since I bought WCW. And it's hard to tell, since the old WCW's mismanagement and disorganization applied to their record keeping as well, but I think this might've been the largest WCW crowd since Goldberg beat Hogan in the Georgia Dome in '98.

It wasn't all positive though. Lisa Moretti beat Sumie Sakai in an instantly forgettable dark match, but after that match it came out that Sumie has an issue with pain killers. She was only under a PPA deal, so I told her I wouldn't be booking her anymore for the foreseeable future. She wasn't happy with me, but hopefully this'll be a wake-up call for her. If it sounds like she's cleaned up her act I might consider bringing her back in the future, but it's not like enhancement talent is exactly hard to replace.

The next major development pushing the stories on Renaissance will be the return of the Grand Prix tournament, which All Japan Women's ran every year from 1985 through 2000. It'll be a round robin tournament with matches throughout the next two and a half months of TV, and the finals taking place on our next PPV in October and the winner becoming the #1 contender for the World Championship.

More immediately for me, it's on to Bash at the Beach in two weeks' time. The bulk of the card has already taken shape, and we need to deliver another great show in response to WWE's output at King of the Ring.

Hall of Champions:

RENAISSANCE BRAND

World Women's Champion:
http://i.imgur.com/741TrEA.jpg
Manami Toyota (4th reign)
http://i.imgur.com/LyKOnBY.jpg
Won: October 5th, 2002 from Etsuko Mita on Women's Wrestling Renaissance in Tokyo, Japan
((This was formerly the WWWA World Championship, the top title in All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling. The title was renamed the WCW World Women's Championship upon WCW buying AJW, and its title lineage was kept intact.))

Previous Champions (since January 2002):
Etsuko Mita: January 9th, 2002-October 5th, 2002 (269 days)

World Women's Tag Team Champions:

Aja Kong and Devil Masami
http://i.imgur.com/iVkKXFP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/gOVE3CN.jpg
Won: July 6th, 2003 in a tournament final against Chigusa Nagayo and Meiko Satomura at Wrestlemarinepiad in Saitama, Japan

Previous Champions (since July 2003):
None

Devil is probably your biggest Cinderella story on this brand so far. She seems to be one of the most reliable workers and I'm glad she had gotten the nod from Bret to be one of the first Tag Champs. It is really sad to see Aja in time decline (especially when we knew in RL she had at least 4 more years before that would set in).

Devil's been a surprise for sure. You can probably count the number of workers who I prominently used both in TGAAB and here on one hand, and she's among them. Considering TGAAB ended in 1990, that says a lot about her longevity!

The Aja situation is frustrating. I mean, she's still going in 2018!

...or you could watch a DDT show! If you think you've seen it all in wrestling, you've never seen a DDT show!

DDT is bat crap crazy!

By the way, what do you mean when you said if new japan were to collapse? Do you mean in game or IRL?

In real life. It'd be a bummer if they went under in the game, but I'm not THAT attached to them.

This is all I could think of as LuFisto joined into The Darkness, a stable saying they are bringing darkness to WCW...

<iframe width="220" height="180" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iJ-KOGreFpo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

DARKNESS! Fear, viewers, as cute anime girls bring bleakness and despair!

Maybe she was watching some of the darker anime recently!

BTW, on a serious note, I just read on Twitter today that LuFisto has cervical cancer. Apparently they caught it early and there's reason for optimism, but best wishes to her. (Not like she's reading this or anything, but it's the thought that counts right?)

Not sure if Toshiyo Yamada's beatdown on Sonoko Kato was a shoot or not...

Work. Can an incident like that even happen in TEW? I've never seen it if so.

michgcs · February 17, 2018

Damn, missed the show by thismuch!

For the record, I would've gotten them all right.

(Even the chocolate puppy, until Nobby spoiled it)

K-Nection · February 17, 2018

People kept thinking Mita was going to get swerved as if Vince Russo was booking this thing. Bret seems a bit more meticulous in doing his booking and the story was not leading that direction. I'm glad she got a new puppy that she will raise into a killer guard dog!

The Final Countdown · February 17, 2018

The guys have the Stu Hart Classic, so it's only fair that the ladies of Renaissance have their own big singles tournament. We'll be reviving the Grand Prix, a round robin tournament AJW ran from 1985 through 2000. The champions, Manami Toyota, Aja Kong and Devil Masami, will be excluded from the field automatically. Outside of them, the 12 top competitors on the brand will be chosen and split into two blocks of six. -Each woman will wrestle singles matches with thirty minute time limits against all five other members of her block. -For the sake of simplicity, the blocks will alternate weeks. So there will be three Block A matches on one episode of Renaissance, three Block B matches the following week, and so on. -A win is worth 2 points. A draw is worth 1 point. You get no points for a loss. -The top point getter in Block A will wrestle the leader of Block B in a final match on our next PPV to crown the 2003 Grand Prix winner. -In the event of a tie at the top of a block, head-to-head record will be used as a tiebreaker. If that can't break the tie (meaning its either two wrestlers tied who wrestled to a draw in their match, or more than two wrestlers are tied and none of them hold victories over all the others), a sudden death match will be held. -The Grand Prix winner will become the new #1 contender for the World Women's Championship, in addition to a $100,000 cash bonus. Block A: Akira Hokuto Alexis Laree Daffney Kyoko Inoue Meiko Satomura Takako Inoue Block B: Chigusa Nagayo Etsuko Mita Melissa Anderson Momoe Nakanishi Nattie Neidhart Sonoko Kato <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Fan Scorecard: Block A Winner: (2 points) Block B Winner: (2 points) Grand Prix Winner: (3 points)</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43035" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Prediction Scores (out of a possible 9 points): DHK1989: 8 chrismday: 8 jscotty: 8 deanohbk: 8 Satyr24: 8 Nobby_McDonald: 7 Smasher1311: 7 DavidCorperial: 7 James The Animator: 7 DGenerationMC: 7 cbacon87: 7 JMike: 7 Dead_Jester: 7 Uncrewed: 7 Theheel: 7 Wolfman84: 7 The Lariat: 7 kinnikuniverse: 6 K-Nection: 6 123Kidd: 6 evileddie10: 6 bonnie: 6 Happy0wns: 6 GingeyOne: 6 Cro Cop Rules: 6 crackerjack: 6 Texasrangers13: 6 Beejus: 5 Warhawk8492: 5 Rateddc: 5 Danny_H22: 5 Chaossy: 4 Kijar: 4 </div></blockquote> <hr noshade size=3> I knew I forgot something yesterday! Here's the results from the first show in the UFS contest. Still plenty of time to catch up if you did poorly or even missed the show entirely--there's six main roster PPVs, another Renaissance PPV, and the potential 7 points from this Grand Prix left in the contest. There may be lots of points tied up in the Stu Hart Classic as well, unless I make that its own separate mini-contest like I did in 2002. I was pretty lenient with Bischoff's surprise. If you said anything along the lines of a partner or ally of some kind, I gave you credit for it.

DGenerationMC · February 17, 2018

Fan Scorecard:

Block A Winner: Meiko Satomura

Block B Winner: Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: Etsuko Mita

cbacon87 · February 17, 2018

Block A Winner: (2 points) Meiko Satomura

Block B Winner: (2 points) Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: (3 points) Meiko Satomura

DHK1989 · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: Meiko Satomura

Block B Winner: Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: Meiko Satomura

K-Nection · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: (2 points) Meiko Satomura

Block B Winner: (2 points) Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: (3 points) Etsuko Mita

deanohbk · February 18, 2018

Akira Hokuto

Etsuko Mita

Etsuko Mita

DavidCorperial · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: (2 points) Meiko Satomura

Block B Winner: (2 points) Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: (3 points) Etsuko Mita

jscotty · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: Akira Hokuto

Block B Winner: Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: Etsuko Mita

Uncrewed · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: Akira Hokuto

Block B Winner: Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: Etsuko Mita

bonnie · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: Meiko Satomyra (2 points)

Block B Winner: etsuko mita(2 points)

Grand Prix Winner: Mita (3 points)

kinnikuniverse · February 18, 2018

Block a winner: satomura

Block b winner: Mita

GP winner: Mita.

I was checking on some entrance songs for the wrestlers when I was wondering: how are the motor city machine guns?

JMike · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: Akira Hokuto

Block B Winner: Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: Hokuto

God dammit! The only one I missed was the Hokuto one because I was expecting a post rehab job! It makes more sense for Hokuto because she isn't drugging as opposed to Morris who was drugging, but god damn! But now I'm going big with her, huhuhu

Happy0wns · February 18, 2018

Block A Winner: (2 points) Akira Hokuto

Block B Winner: (2 points) Etsuko Mita

Grand Prix Winner: (3 points) Etsuko Mita

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