NEWM

I use to like Waylon Mercy it is a shame that poor Dan Spivey's back was knackered. I wonder if they was tempted to give the role to someone else - Vince and Co would have known that Spivey was on borrowed time before he made his debut.

I always wondered this too. They would have needed someone just as soft spoken with the killer eyes who didn't have a massively popular gimmick already in place. They signed Tony Anthony in 96, he might have been good enough, though his short stature could have looked weird with it.

Picking my own pre-2000, I'd like to nominate the first 10 or so episodes of Shotgun Saturday Night, as I've just recently watched them. Set in bars and clubs across New York (and one in San Antonio), they are totally off the wall and different to how you've ever seen (or will ever see) WWF/E. Vince and Sunny are the (perfect) hosts, and though it's messy and jumbled, it's nice to see Vince really trying to find that perfect formula. The fans are mainly ECW regulars, and are thus totally racous and largely uncontrollable. It's just another Attitude building block, so it's influence cannot be denied.

The three highlights for me were:

- Terry Funk showing up in San Antonio and just ripping into everybody. Called Vince a "Yankee bastard", called Todd Pettengill's mother a "whore" and mocked Steve Austin, who was on guest commentary. They then had a great brawl throughout the bar.

- Mankind vs Bret from some club. Bret was on the verge of turning heel and fought his "aggressive" style, having a really great brawl with Foley. Seeing the traditional wrestler type in this environment was a such a weird thing, imagine Bret in ECW, and this is the closest we would ever get to seeing that.

- HHH vs The Undertaker from a train station. HHH bailed to run away, but Taker chased him and tombstoned him at the top of an escalator. Then HHH, laid out on the stairs, just slowly drifted down, as you would. Really great visual.

Alongside these, you had Marlena's boobs, Ahmed doing a Pearl River Plunge to a Nation member (D'Lo) on a car, Mankind falling in love with strippers and prostitutes, drunk Jake Roberts, and Sunny fucking Elmo.

It's weird but great stuff. Track it down, if you're like me, you'll love it and have no idea why.

NEWM, I think you watched "Slither" rather than "Sliver" going by your comments.

 

One is about alien slugs of death with Nathan Fillion, the other is about voyeuristic sexy times with Sharon Stone.

JLM, that's the most horrendous typo I think I've ever done. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

To clarify, it was the first one. Voyeuristic sexy times with Sharon Stone, there was not.

I always thought I was viewing Waylon Mercy through rose-tinted spectacles, based on maybe 2 matches I'd watched with him in, but having recently watched all of Raw 95, I can honestly say, every single thing involved with him is totally compelling. With him, Goldust, and tweener Diesel the WWF were taking unbelivable strides forward with their character development. It's amazing to see them set to a backdrop of Dean Douglas, Duke Drosse, TL Hopper & co. Such a contrast.

Anyway, as I'm killing time at work, here's some Waylon Mercy footage to save people time finding it:

vs Savio Vega

vs Bret Hart

Watched Sliver last night, and was mildly disappointed. Not scary enough to be a good horror, not funny enough to be a great commentary. Some terrific visuals and genuine laughs at times, but overall, wouldn't particularly have the urge to watch it again.

Recently got into No Angels,just got the set and really liking it so far.

The one who's now in Eastenders is absolutely stunning in that.

Coach Trip 3. It's been on a couple of weeks now and I watched about 6 of them from my planner last night.

I can unashamedly say, it's my favourite reality TV show, probably ever. An easy watch, with a little bit of conflict and some good people, some likable, some not. Brendan the tour guide is a terrific personality for it as well. Coach Trip 1 was when I was at uni so got addicted, and watched Coach Trip 2 from start to finish on reruns on the travel channel or something during my blissful time of unemployment.

It's great.

Back to the Future 1 & 2. Both ones I've unintentionally avoided all my life, and now finally seen. 1 was okay, 2 was just bearable but I'm absolutely dreading 3, and I know it's on the horizon soon, its a BttF cleansing of sorts by my bird. It's not a fair swap, I've introduced her to the American Office, and she's loved it. I've got to put up with lame self-referential jokes for 1.5 hrs at a time and find some good.

I'll give a film respect if I believe it's due though, Biff is a massive twat of a baddie, I'll give them that.

Lanny Poffo cuts a promo on Brutus Beefcake regarding their rematch from Royal Rumble 1990, which will be held on June 18th of this year in Canada.

I don't know why I never ever bothered to check if this was true, but years ago I read some internet story that said Lanny Poffo had been done on some child porn charges or something. Obviously now completely false, but only your mention of his name here made me go and check that.

Over the last week or so, I watched I Love You Man and Synecdoche, New York. Both were absolutely fucking great.

This may have been posted before, but here's the guy with all the awesome Memphis stuff, really well organised: http://www.youtube.com/user/popculturestu

Stuff like the entire Lawler vs Kauffman, Lawler (face) vs Bret (heel) and the subsequent Mr McMahon prototype character from 1993. All terrific videos.

Forgot one, met a childhood hero Timmy Mallett a few years ago when he was doing a night at our Uni, we had to pick him up from the airport. I'll never forget the following slice of dialogue as long as I live.

Me: Hi Timmy, thanks for coming (I put out hand for handshake).

Timmy: (Completely deadpan). It's John. Where are the girls? (Doesn't even acknowledge said handshake attempt).

And, well...

There they are Timmy...there they are. Sigh...

I met Kula Shaker when they played at my Student Union on their renunion tour in 06. I worked there, and before bands went on, they used our staff room as a green room of sorts, seeing as we didn't have anything better. Also, due to the poor, old fashioned layout of the place, staff sometimes had to use it as thoroughfare. This was one of those occasions, and Kula Shaker were incredibly abusive to a couple of newish starters, shouting at them for invading personal space, personal time while they were being creative etc etc etc

They were rude and obnoxious throughout the day, so being a bit of a twat about it (as I was seen as a more senior member of staff), I did probably both the worst and best thing I ever did in that job. I made them up a tray of hot drinks per their request, but before taking the tray up, I introduced the teaspoons to my balls. And then watched them stir their drinks with said spoons. I don't endorse this sort of thing at all (spit-burgers etc), but I was a sucker for the ego-boosting kudos. No regrets really, they were all complete tools.

Conversely, I met Girls Aloud, Arctic Monkeys, The Bluetones and countless others in the exact same circumstances who were an absolute pleasure to meet.

It's celebrities though isn't it? They're just people we don't know, nothing more. Kula Shaker could be the most awesome people ever and the others could all be dicks. It's just funny how you imagine a person as being the way they are all the time after mere minutes with them.

 

Just finished, meh..it was ok, the book is basically 5 shorts 'essays' by different writers. All covering different aspects of the case and the subject in general, for example one chapter is about Benoit's career (albeit very brief), another is about the news' reaction to the case, another covers death in wrestling in general. It's an obvious cash in and wont tell you anything you wont already know, but if you have to read everything about pro wrestling you'll prob want to read it.

 

Just started...

 

Yes man is an amazing book and if you've read any of his others, it's easily the best.

It's a nice story, but I hate how 'funny' he tries to make everything all the time. It makes some of the stuff seem all the more fake.

I'm reading Pure Dynamite, got to say, what a titanic letdown so far. Badly written, badly edited, with very few stories. Maybe it's because I'm 9 years late to it, but wow, really not enjoying it.

I've spent two working days on and off reading this thread from start to finish. It's one of the best ever.

And I can't remember who was looking for a band name, but 'Dark Discharge' has got to be a winner.

But what I wanted to know never really got dsicussed. When you're pushing the baby out, do you shit and piss and bleed everywhere?

I've been re-watching Sean Lock's sitcom that nobody watched, 15 Storeys High. It's brilliant. Buy it!

 

Comean'cleanye'andsonmecoat...

I remember that being on at the time (BBC3? BBC4?), I watched the whole thing, and despite really wanting to enjoy it, felt a bit let down. Had it's moments, but that was about it.

On a BBC note though, just rewatched both series of Early Doors on DVD, love love love it! I noticed BBC4 have been rerunning it, hopefully it will pick up some new viewers as it's a real gem. Relatively ageless too, apart from the smoking ban and pint prices...

Just finished watching John from Cincinatti. Was really enjoyable, if completely pretentious. I enjoyed the abstract nature of the entire thing, but from others I've spoke to, they've not enjoyed it. I can see why it never advanced past half-season one off though.

Fifa Street 3 for the PS3.

Bought from the Zavvi sale for

I just finished reading 'How to Talk to a Widower' by Jonathan Tropper. It's brilliant, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Funny, sad, dark, inspirational and at times, mind-blowingly intelligent, it's one of the best books I've read in years.

Also Ring of Hell, which was a pleasant surprise. Not just rehashed internet garbage, but a scathing biography of Chris Benoit which trumps everything else currently written on the matter. I learnt a lot, some of the stories were shocking, and though the whole thing was a little sensationalist at times, it was fascinating reading all the same.