Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to JTF Squaretable. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Blue's SuperClash IV review
Topic Started: Jan 7 2013, 02:25 PM (1,664 Views)
BigPoppaBuyrate
Poppin' Buyrates Since 1996
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
It's that tiiiiiiime of yeeeeear... where I put out SuperClash a month late instead of enjoying a month off! Ahhhh, the best laid plans...

Anyways... I know how you guys enjoy these reviews so I wanted to get one out before we start digging into what's next.

Before I start, I want to thank everyone for all their efforts in putting such an awesome show together. A special thanks to Guzz, Wallie, Jer, and Andy for their match writing assistance but also to everyone else who helped create and develop the stories that made for such a big show.

I've always said that SuperClash was developed to be our Wrestlemania... our Starrcade. The "end of the season" if you will. But this year was the first year that I really felt that we accomplished that. This year had a lineup that LOOKED and FELT like a end of the year showcase.

So, thanks again... and let's dig into it.

Guzz mentioned that he had suggested the old E opening to start the show. I thought about it for a while but decided it just didn't fit the AWA. When I made the decision to do SuperClash in Los Angeles, I knew people would expect a heavy E influence on the show and as we got closer, it got worse. People expecting big debuts or returns or these huge surprise partners... we didn't have any of that. I had some loose conversations early with some former E handlers but nothing really came from them.

I never intended for SuperClash to be an EMWC tribute show... just something that might have a few nods to those days.

So, I went with a traditional opening - "November Rain" plus Gordon's usual opening monologue. Then I threw in a little curveball. Empire Sports is co-promoting the show so I thought we'd get Blue in there early to make sure everyone remembered that.

Blue's portion was to call out Los Angeles as a major piece of wrestling history... and of course, his chance to give a little dig because, at his very core, Blue is always a self-centered egomaniac who thinks he - and the company he helped build - is better than everyone and everything else... which comes into play a little more later.

We go into the building, running down all the details. Someone mentioned my attention to detail in moments like this earlier. As Jer said in his match edit discussion, I work pretty hard to try and keep things to a level that I feel is realistic for what we're trying to portray. For instance, Empire Sports is brought in as a sponsor for this show because I feel that if someone was jumping WAAAAY out of their territory, they'd look for a local promoter to help absorb some of the costs and logistics. The video screen is sponsored by Empire Sports because... well, they can afford it. The building is partially tarped off because drawing 18,000 seems weird to me. I still envision the AWA drawing in that 10,000 range for big shows.

I used the elevated entrance platform that we use at the Crockett Coliseum... couldn't really say why. Just seemed appropriate.

After some announcer banter (Big Poppa Buyrate!), we go right into the first match.

SIDE NOTE: Throughout this review, I'm going to post a series of TRIVIA QUESTIONS related (in some fashion) to this show. The first person to respond with a perfect score in this thread will receive the right to pick the Main Event on the show coming up after this one. Your choice.

TRIVIA QUESTION #1: Who can tell me the story behind "Big Poppa Buyrate"? Who coined the phrase and what was the situation around it? You gotta go waaaay back in your time machines for this one.

RYGUNN vs THE RAVE - Stampede Cup Qualifier
This one was... controversial. Jer and Joe pitched the DeLoreans thing pretty early in the process and I thought it was just flat out too goofy. I really fought hard against it even giving some suggestions for ways to tweak the idea into something different. The more we discussed it, the more I could see Joe/Jer felt really strongly about it. Ultimately, I agreed to it if they a) got Dave and Curt to approve it and b) wrote it themselves.

I like putting The Rave in a spot like this because they bring a little bit (at least) of comedy to the table while still being a very fun team to "watch." Gaines and Martinez needed a good showing here as well though since they're the new team that's looking to make a run at the Cup. The Rave is a little bit bulletproof in that they can lose but always have something they can do to still stay over.

Jer already went through some of my edits so you saw the reason behind some of that stuff. Guzz called attention to Jer posting the YouTube link to show what the finish looked like. If it's something that's a little hard to describe in text form, I don't see a problem with that.

RyGunn takes the win in a competitive match, earning their spot in the Cup. Hopefully they can build up some momentum between now and then so that they're considered a major threat to win the whole thing by the time the tournament rolls around in March.

A November promo was next. I think Wallie's done an excellent job with Novy since his return. I really liked this promo a lot as it played nicely have the prestige of wrestling on the "big show" while playing up the fact that November hasn't really done that in quite some time.

The battle of the MAMMOTHs came next. Shortly after it became apparent that this match would happen, Wallie asked if he could write it. It seemed like a good fit to me so I turned that one over to him. I know Ridz didn't really like the idea of feuding with himself and was happy to end this.

Ridz suggested the booking pretty early. I tweaked it a little bit but it played out pretty close to what Ridz wanted to do. We both agreed that Aso wasn't really clicking that well as a face and had kinda bombed. I don't usually like turns to happen that quickly one after another but in this case, it seemed appropriate. Wallie did a good job with the two big men battling back and forth.

I echo all those who've said they'd like to see these two as a tag team for a while but Ridz seems like he wants to focus them in singles for the most part. Maybe we'll get a Cup appearance at least.

TO BE CONTINUED...
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ProfessorDoran
Member Avatar
The Learning Tree
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Whoops, answered my own question by carefully reading. Carry on.
Cole Hamels Fact #1685: The Devil went down to Georgia because he knew if he went to Philadelphia, Cole would strike his ass out.

http://mysite.verizon.net/heyjude421/chf/chf.html
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
StevieScott
...EVEN CHILDREN!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
BigPoppaBuyrate,Jan 7 2013
02:25 PM
I echo all those who've said they'd like to see these two as a tag team for a while but Ridz seems like he wants to focus them in singles for the most part. Maybe we'll get a Cup appearance at least.

That's a shame. Those two are a Natural Disasters tribute waiting to happen.
"Destruction of Hell" start playing as Mason drop the mic and exit the
ring as fans throw stuffs at him but he punch out most of the fans even
children.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Overly_Critical_Jue
Member Avatar
Amigo, I ain't anybody but Juan Vasquez!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Giant Asshole bombed as a face because you can't have little kids having a favorite wrestler called Giant Asshole.





...unless this was the attitude era! :spam:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
El Dandy
Member Avatar
Is the She of the fight!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
BigPoppaBuyrate,Jan 7 2013
02:25 PM
Blue's portion was to call out Los Angeles as a major piece of wrestling history... and of course, his chance to give a little dig because, at his very core, Blue is always a self-centered egomaniac who thinks he - and the company he helped build - is better than everyone and everything else... which comes into play a little more later.


:whistle:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Overly_Critical_Jue
Member Avatar
Amigo, I ain't anybody but Juan Vasquez!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I forget who it was that coined the term, but it was the Curtis Hansen vs Steve Kowalski match that led to Blue being called "Big Poppa Buyrate".

Sounds like something Sager or Blackie would make up.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
BigPoppaBuyrate
Poppin' Buyrates Since 1996
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
PART TWO...

The Rick Marley promo came next. For those who've asked, no... Don and I weren't working you. The Marley turn during the six man wasn't discussed until AFTER the quasi-turn during the Rumble. To Don's credit though, he walked that back pretty seamlessly but we did think announcing Marley as the partner ahead of time might be too obvious to people looking for a swerve.

TRIVIA QUESTION #2 - Rick Marley was a participant in the first AWA WarGames. Name his teammates and his opponents.

Dane throws to what is essentially a setup for Guzz to introduce the group we've come to call in e-mails The Shane Gang. It was an interesting idea and since I've been wanting to do something with some of the unused I Make 'Ems, this seemed like a really good fit as well.

Terry Shane III has really grown on me... as an irritating jackass... which is the point. Hannibal Carver has really grown on me as well. I told Rich recently that I think Carver has the potential to be Steve Kowalski-esque in stature which, considering what a mark for The Fury I am, is quite the compliment. They've done a fantastic job with a feud to get them both introduced and over which is a major accomplishment since most "two new guys feud" angles are DOA.

We throw it up to Steal The Spotlight with the announcers wondering if Carver will be able to compete.

TRIVIA QUESTION #3 - Name ALL the past winners of Steal The Spotlight.

Noticing a couple of cut and paste errors on my part as I go through the show again and cleaning them up - another benefit of doing these reviews.

How is Alphonse Green not more over than he is? Man, I love me some Alphonse Green.

I love Grant Stone too. But more importantly, I love how we've been able to make guys like Grant Stone and Ebola Zaire stand out as characters who aren't on the roster all the time but when they show up, you know it's a big deal... just like Brody and Abby in the 80s.

This was my first match on the show to write... which was kinda weird for me. You all know by now about my OCD about writing the show in order. I have methods to my madness, I promise.

My first favorite spot of this match is Green coming off the top into a Travis Lynch clawhold. But Jones eliminates him pretty shortly after that. I know some people have pointed out that Travis hasn't had the best of luck lately but honestly, I give Rob credit for even trying considering the personal issues he's tackling as of late. Hopefully things will start to clear up for him soon.

Shortly after that, we have a Stone/Carver confrontation that made me smile... plus Percy's first taped jaw adventure. I really liked the idea of Percy being taped up and unable to clearly communicate with his men throughout the night. It was so 80s, I couldn't help but enjoy it.

There's a little note in here that the Championship Committee is operating without a Chairman "for the foreseeable future" that some of you may have missed.

TRIVIA QUESTION #4 - Who was Jim Watkins' predecessor as the Chairman of The Championship Committee when he originally got the job?

I decided that spotlighting (no pun intended) the Shane/Carver feud early was a good way to get things off to a hot start even though it took out two of the guys that I felt should go deep into the match.

It was important to keep going back to Nenshou/Marley because it gave Marley purpose for being in the match... and I thought it was a good tease that Marley/Nenshou might continue into 2013 which might throw people off the scent of the turn.

Throughout the match, we kept going back to November/Jones encounters - just to keep teasing the moment when they'd finally get to square off. The hiptoss off the apron to the floor was one of my favorites.

Then we went into a play off the old Low-Ki/Amazing Red spot from the early ROH days that everyone went all nutty for with Jones and November trading crazy counters. I also loved the flying knee when Jones was crotched that flipped him and dumped him on the floor.

The three-on-one was to put the odds solidly against November but he kept finding a way to survive before finally getting down to just he and Jones.

Hey, I liked my ropeswing kick. =) I'm not entirely sure it's physically possible but I THINK it could be. That kicked off the home stretch of the November SSP turned into a Jones Codebreaker-esque counter... then the Jones SSP turned into the November cradle.

Someone mentioned how long it would be match time wise. I just took a peek...
It would check in somewhere around 43 minutes.

After the match, we go to Stegglet who confirms that Jim Watkins has officially been suspended as the AWA Chairman of the Championship Committee... oh, and to hear him no comment a question on the Wise Men. The plot thickens.

A Vasquez promo sets the stage for the blow-off to the Vasquez WrestleRock angle - Juan Vasquez vs Calisto Dufresne. An angle that started with me seeing Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair and took a big chunk of a year and a half of AWA air time.

And an angle that suddenly was flat.

As we got closer to SuperClash, there were three matches on the show that I felt should be red hot but for one reason or another just wasn't. This was one of the matches on that list. And to me, the reason was obvious. When the story transformed from the quest for Juan Vasquez' revenge to Juan's thirst for revenge changing everything about him, Dufresne became an afterthought. No matter how good the promos and hype were, it just didn't make sense for me.

And so, I told Jason and Terry that I didn't think some crazy epic match served our purpose here. Both men agreed and I endeavored to write a very different kind of match for these two magnificent characters.

TRIVIA QUESTION #5 - Who did Juan Vasquez face in his AWA debut?

TRIVIA QUESTION #6 - At what Pro Wrestling Revolution event did Calisto Dufresne win the PWR Pacific Championship and how did he win it?

TRIVIA QUESTION #7 - How did Calisto Dufresne earn the "anywhere, anytime" title shot he used to win the National Title from Vasquez at WrestleRock?

When Petrow brought up the Undertaker thing and I did the research, the booking for this match became pretty apparent to me. We know that Vasquez was going to go "too far" in this match and Stevie was going to stop him... and to me, it only made sense that Juan should get DQd in his ultimate quest for payback, preserving Dufresne's SuperClash undefeated streak.

Early in the match, Gordon points out that it's a no DQ match... just so you guys remember that. The throw off the ramp comes pretty shortly after that. I knew I wanted to use it but I wasn't sure in what match. I also knew I wanted it to be a big moment but not necessarily a match ending moment. When I got to that spot, I knew it was the right place for it.

Dufresne getting the momentary counter and then telling the ref to start the match seemed so perfect. Such a slimy thing to try and do to steal a win... but, of course, it doesn't pay off.

I really liked the story of this match. I loved Gordon being conflicted at first because Juan's only doing what Juan SHOULD be doing... he SHOULD want payback for Wrestlerock... and yet, the fans are booing him for it. Juan's even frustrated with the fans for booing him.

"I want the old Juan Vasquez back!" says it all for Gordon.

Somebody mentioned the fake hiptoss into the standing lariat - one of my favorite spots in the match. It's where Juan crosses the line from punishing Dufresne to starting to punish the fans as well. He's pissed at them and now he's going to hurt them as much as, really, they're hurting him. Then the double stomp instead of the senton for the same purpose... just not giving the fans anything they can cheer.

The end stretch just sees Juan totally snap. The right cross... the City of Angels on the ramp... the frog splash...

Guzz mentioned Bucky's little monologue in this one that says...

"BW: You take a man who took the beating of ten lifetimes in the middle of a ring a year and half ago... a man who got put in the hospital because of that beating... a man who lost the one thing in the world that he truly treasured because of that beating... and you put him in the ring with the only man left responsible for that beating that he hasn’t gotten his hands on... and THEN you tell me there’s no need for this! I may not be the world’s biggest Juan Vasquez fan but I can tell you that NO ONE can tell this man that he’s not doing EXACTLY what he should be doing right now unless you’ve been in his boots. So, if you want to get Bobby Taylor out here to tell him that he’s gone too far, then do it. Until then, I’d suggest you shut the hell up and let the man take care of his business."

I think that says it all, right?

Juan goes for the piledriver - the one move in the AWA that means, "Shit's going down now." Meekly tries to stop it and gets tossed out to the floor for his efforts. He's gone for the DQ.

Juan decides to break the leg just like he did to Alex Extreme...

...and here comes Stevie!

But why? Why in the world would Stevie Scott save Calisto Dufresne? We'd get an answer to that one later. And why would Juan Vasquez stop the Unholy Alliance from tearing Stevie apart? Hrm.

Two long-time rivals back in the ring together... and you'll have to stay tuned in to find out why.

We go immediately backstage to Bobby Taylor who gets to compare the Vasquez situation to his own... many, many years ago.

TRIVIA QUESTION #8 - Bobby Taylor's "beatdown" took place in what legendary wrestling city?

TRIVIA QUESTION #9 - Who participated in that beating?

TRIVIA QUESTION #10 - OOC, which of the legendary handlers involved in that incident was responsible for putting it together?

Taylor gives us a little SSW hype. Keep bothering Wallie about it, people. I haven't heard anything about it in a while and want to make sure we pressure him into making it happen!

TO BE CONTINUED...









Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sychosys
Member Avatar
This Space For Rent
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
It took 10 wins for Taker's Wrestlemania streak to become self-sustaining (ie, Taker wins because he always wins). Dufresne did it in three!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
StevieScott
...EVEN CHILDREN!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
BigPoppaBuyrate,Jan 7 2013
03:46 PM
How is Alphonse Green not more over than he is? Man, I love me some Alphonse Green.

Glass ceiling.
"Destruction of Hell" start playing as Mason drop the mic and exit the
ring as fans throw stuffs at him but he punch out most of the fans even
children.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
guzzdude
Martin Luther King, Jr
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Dammit I wish I knew more about the early days of AWA to answer these questions! If you know the answers, and have the time, feel free to post links to shows that answer some of these questions :)

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Overly_Critical_Jue
Member Avatar
Amigo, I ain't anybody but Juan Vasquez!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I know the answer to all these questions without even having to look them up. I will not post them in an effort to troll Guzz.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JeremySAtWork
Unregistered

StevieScott,Jan 7 2013
04:26 PM
BigPoppaBuyrate,Jan 7 2013
03:46 PM
How is Alphonse Green not more over than he is?  Man, I love me some Alphonse Green.

Glass ceiling.

I wanted him to win so bad.

I suspect he's more over than you think he is.

Quote Post Goto Top
 
Overly_Critical_Jue
Member Avatar
Amigo, I ain't anybody but Juan Vasquez!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Okay, I lied...I'll post them before Andy can.

TRIVIA QUESTION #2 - Rick Marley was a participant in the first AWA WarGames. Name his teammates and his opponents

Teammates: Despair, Werewolf Gregorson, Tin Can Rust, and City Jack
Opponents: Adrian Freeman, Calisto Dufresne, The Russians, and Stevie Scott

TRIVIA QUESTION #3 - Name ALL the past winners of Steal The Spotlight.

-MAMMOTH Mizusawa x2, The Sultan

TRIVIA QUESTION #4 - Who was Jim Watkins' predecessor as the Chairman of The Championship Committee when he originally got the job?

-Stephen Ross

TRIVIA QUESTION #5 - Who did Juan Vasquez face in his AWA debut?

-Ron Houston

TRIVIA QUESTION #6 - At what Pro Wrestling Revolution event did Calisto Dufresne win the PWR Pacific Championship and how did he win it?

-"Who's the King?" He pinned Juvenil Infierno in a elimination match.

TRIVIA QUESTION #7 - How did Calisto Dufresne earn the "anywhere, anytime" title shot he used to win the National Title from Vasquez at WrestleRock?

-He cashed in on Bobby Taylor's bounty that he placed on his own brother.

TRIVIA QUESTION #8 - Bobby Taylor's "beatdown" took place in what legendary wrestling city?

-Toronto

TRIVIA QUESTION #9 - Who participated in that beating?

-Subway Psycho, Dan Kauffman, Otto Verhoeven, Brody Thunder, JW Hardin, and The Syndicate

TRIVIA QUESTION #10 - OOC, which of the legendary handlers involved in that incident was responsible for putting it together?

-Steve Owens
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
BigPoppaBuyrate
Poppin' Buyrates Since 1996
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
PART 3...

We come back to the Aces vs BVB/Williams.

Guzz did a strong job with writing this one which, as a late minute add, could've been really bad. I thought it was a well done tag match with a really strong effort at putting over the history between the Childes and Von Brauns clans to add to it. SDW was really just there to fill a spot but I liked the way Guzz wrote him as well.

The spot that really stood out to me here was the sleeperhold by Tyler. A lot of people have a really hard time making a submission hold like that work in e-w but Guzz did a great job of making it mean something, I thought.

Between this match and the opener, I'm thinking of making the standard tag match time limit 30 minutes instead of 20. Both of these matches went really close to the distance and I don't really want a pattern of that.

Have to admit that the Space Flying Tiger Drop was well-placed and pretty awesome as well.

The arrival of Tulsa Von Braun could lead to some very, very cool stuff. I also liked Rog's idea to have BVB chase after the heels... but come back to save SDW in the end. Really cemented his face status.

We went straight from that to a very contentious interview of Todd Michaelson by his brother-in-law, Jason Dane. Dane wanted to push the issue that Todd wasn't happy about the Barbed Wire match. My point here was to show that the entire AWA wasn't happy about it. This really was Empire Sports' contribution to the dance.

"CB: Todd Michaelson... your lack of gratitude disturbs me."

I pictured it delivered in a Darth Vader in Cloud City calmness when he's "negotiating" with Lando. "I am altering the deal - pray I don't alter it any further."

This was Blue's cracking point.

He returned to the business unwillingly. He did not want to come back. But the Craven stuff mixed with the Empire Sports co-sponsorship got him back into the sport. He's not happy about it... but he's here. He thought he'd show up, bow a couple times, and go back into retirement.

But then the egocentric Blue discovered that the people didn't love him as much as he thought they would... that absence has NOT made the heart grow fonder.

He's sat back and listened to people he thought he knew and trusted - people he considered friends - berate what he did for the business.

And Michaelson is the last straw. So he lets him have it...

...and then kinda snaps out of it. Putting his public face back on to go out there and do what he's here to do.

TRIVIA QUESTION #11 - Blue mentions Michaelson's "bum back" in this promo. Who gave Michaelson that "bum back?"

A Stampede Cup promo follows. Hope that got everyone excited for the Cup.

TRIVIA QUESTION #12 - This is a freebie. Pick your favorite match in Stampede Cup history and explain why.

Our retirement match is next. Joe Petrow vs Jim Watkins with the loser hangin' 'em up.

I told Joe this recently... if you had told me years ago that that character would be retiring, I might have done a cartwheel or two. But now? Now, it actually makes me a little bit sad. As much as Joe and I give each other a hard time, that character really became a big part of the AWA and Joe became as active of a handler that the AWA has perhaps ever had. We've come a long, long way from when handlers used to freak out at the sight of Petrow coming to a fed and run for it.

Joe told me he wanted to retire the Petrow character some time ago. Somehow, it always seemed to make sense that it would come down to he and Watkins.

The Limp Bizkit thing made me laugh... I hate to admit it but it did. Seemed so in-character for Petrow to take a final jab at Blue on his way out the door.

I debated Watkins' entrance music for a while. I listened to a whole lot of Johnny Cash, trying to find the right answer. I passed up Ain't No Grave several times because I knew the Undertaker thing would bother some people but it seemed so fitting for Waktins, I just couldn't resist.

I liked being able to use the elaborate entrances for a chance to put over the histories of both characters... just really put over hard how much they're putting at stake.

Early on, Gordon points out that Petrow has no AWA contract and is likely to try to abuse them being on Pay Per View.

"GM: Parental discretion is most certainly advised for this one."

Here's another foreshadowing comment...

"GM: Fair?! When the heck has Joe Petrow ever played fair in ANYTHING here in the AWA?! Think about what he’s done with Mark Langseth... think about how he turned Dave Cooper on the fans of the AWA... Joe Petrow is a menace to this company and whatever Jim Watkins has to do to rid us of him is a-okay in my books."

Joe stratted to use the broken glass but... well, I drew a line there. But I had no problem teasing the hell out of it.

Originally, I had planned to have Blue on commentary for this one. I thought it might add something to Petrow's back story. I actually had Blue sit in on commentary... and then totally forgot he was there for a time. I went back and ended up taking him out of the match.

I debated not using Joe's hand down the pants spot. But... well, it seemed so appropriate for a twisted Petrow to do something like to try and embarrass Watkins AND the AWA.

There's really not a lot I can say about this match that most of you haven't already. Joe's strat made it a really easy match to write. There were a lot of spots I didn't get to use that I wanted to but I felt this match needed to be kept "short" since I didn't want a 54 year old working an hour.

And speaking of spots I wanted to use... I really wanted to have Watkins piledrive Petrow on the table... and have the table deliver one more no-sell. Just seemed like too much after the beating with the lumber.

The final sequence with the beating with the 2X4. I made the decision to have Gordon call for the cutaway because... well, sometimes your imagination is better than having it spelled out for you. There's only so many ways I can describe a board hitting someone in the body but your brain's got plenty more.

TRIVIA QUESTION #13 - Joe Petrow wore a mask during his AWA debut. What was the name of that character?

TRIVIA QUESTION #14 - Another freebie. If you were booking, where would Jim Watkins go from here?

Andy graced us with a Broussard DVD promo here.

TRIVIA QUESTION #15 - Who did Marcus Broussard defeat to become the first AWA National Champion?

We go to a Donovan and Lynch promo next, hyping up the tag title match.

TRIVIA QUESTION #16 - Robert Donovan held the LWC Twin Pistols Tag Titles with what member of the AWA?

The tag title match was next... another match I was disappointed with the idea of. The feud just never really got off the ground. I knew I didn't want this one to go too long since we already had some long matches and quite frankly, it didn't need it since there was only one purpose for the match at this point... the Donovan turn.

Andy did a good job with it though. The match was better than I thought it'd be considering the pretty crappy build for it.

I also enjoyed the Cletus Lee dropkick. Andy did a real good job of playing up the inexperience of Lynch and Donovan working together... allowing double teams, distracting the ref at the wrong time, etc.

The Donovan turn happened as it was supposed to... now let's just hope the next phase of this plays out as well as we've hoped it will...

Brody promo next. The jury's still out for everyone, I think.

Craven promo is next. We were also supposed to have a promo video to tell the history of the Craven/Martinez feud but Moze never got around to it unfortunately. I think it could've really added something.

I mentioned earlier that there were three matches that I thought should've been red hot and they weren't... this is the second of the three. Honestly, I think it was mostly hurt by a lack of activity on Dave's side of the aisle to hold it up. The continuation of the Craven/Supernova story might have hurt things as well.

This one would live or die by the stip which meant that I couldn't take the easy way out. I couldn't do a normal match with just a few barbed wire spots which is really how they did most of these in the 80s.

This was a tough one. I admitted to having a lot of trouble with it and even did a rare thing for me, sending it to Petrow and Wallie for "review" before it went out. Both gave some useful feedback that caused me to go back and make a few edits.

I was trying to find the line... somewhere closer to ECW than CZW. Not a bunch of stupid spots but something that let me build a normal match that was just a lot more dangerous than a "normal" match.

I opted to not go no-rope barbed wire. It just seemed "too hardcore" if that makes sense. I saw a couple YouTube barbed wire matches set up the way I described our ring so that seemed to make sense to me.

I'm glad some of you liked Blue on commentary. Again, it made sense to me considering the story surrounding the match. And yes, I can imagine he DOES sound like Heyman at times. =)

I wanted a slow start... putting over how dangerous the barbed wire is by having both guys fight really hard to avoid going into it. I felt it would make the later spots mean more.

I wanted to establish stakes for this one so...

"CB: The key phrase you said though is “right now.” This is what Craven needs to do... rip that skin open, make Martinez taste his own blood, make Martinez doubt if he should have EVER come back after last year. I’ve known Alex Martinez for many years, boys, and what I saw happen to him last year at SuperClash III... I’ve NEVER seen that happen to him before. If that’s the same Alex Martinez we’ve got here tonight, William Craven may establish himself as “the man” in this business by the time he walks out of Los Angeles tonight."

That's what is on the line. Who is "the man"?

The wooden sword being in play also gave it a bit more of a wild, out of control vibe, I think. Gave us some room for some ECW-esque spots. Even having Martinez hit the German Suplex early made it "feel" like a different type of match, I thought.

Worked in a your standard supercard Martinez plancha... gotta love that.

Also got to work in a jab at Ezekiel Craven... one of my favorite punching bags.

Others have mentioned the Eternally Extreme shoutout. I read that match before I started writing so I decided to incorporate a little tribute spot in there.

There was some debate from those who read the match ahead of time whether or not the final spot was enough. I thought in the context of the match, it was just about right but I guess that's debatable.

As for the booking... every single person who has said that Craven deserved to win is absolutely correct. Moze certainly outworked Dave and Craven deserved to win. That said, it wasn't the right booking decision to make for the angle's sake unless it was Martinez' last hurrah. It's one of those tough booking calls where the winner for the angle and the winner for the writing don't match up.

I threw in a Hamilton Graham promo just to buy some time to "take down the barbed wire." Told you I was a nut for some little details like that.

And then threw it back to ringside for the Craven/Blue embrace... which is a story for another time.

TRIVIA QUESTION #17 - Alex Martinez paid tribute to The Gremlin in a spot in this match. In EMWC 2.0, they were teammates. What was the name of their team and who was the third member?

TRIVIA QUESTION #18 - What band's t-shirt was Alex Martinez wearing in this match?

TRIVIA QUESTION #19 - Bucky tells Blue that he and Gordon were "working in Atlanta" during the E's heyday. What company were they working for?

TRIVIA QUESTION #20 - Freebie. Was the first ever AWA barbed wire match in alignment with the AWA's "feel"? Did it go too far?

TO BE CONTINUED...









Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
StevieScott
...EVEN CHILDREN!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Regarding the Martinez/Craven booking, I second the fact that Craven deserved the win by way of RPs.

However, when I look at a match like that as the blow-off to a pretty intense feud, I find it tough for the heel to go over unless he's about to get a pretty big bump up the card. And I don't know how much room there was for Craven to do that right now.

When the face wins the blow-off match, I think it's much easier to get away with not elevating him...after all, he didn't start it. He just finished it, and now he can go back to doing whatever it is he was doing.

With the heel, it's "I called you out, I tormented you, and then I beat you in the center of the ring" and unless you can top what he just did, he's going to lose heat quickly.

In my opinion anyway.
"Destruction of Hell" start playing as Mason drop the mic and exit the
ring as fans throw stuffs at him but he punch out most of the fans even
children.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · AWA · Next Topic »
Add Reply