Midnight Zeus

I think it’s been quite a number of years since I posted on here, but after this weekend’s shows I felt the urge.

It’s only because of my 15 year old son that I watch any wrestling these days, and that’s not because he was ever particularly into it, in spite of my trying some years ago, and having limitless access to home media.

Logan Paul - that’s the reason we were watching this weekend. My son wanted to watch WWE the first time Paul participated whenever that was. He’s far from a fan and wanted to see him get beaten up, so we watched any event he was on, plus the last couple of Rumbles and Manias.

I took the day off today so that we could watch Day 2 as soon as possible. I felt a bit flat after Day 1 - can’t explain it, I was just expecting more. Really enjoyed Sami v Gunther and I like where the main event went, just seemed to take a while getting there.

Anyway, Day 2 felt completely different, with a superb opening match and a lot of fun along the way to the second half which I loved. I’m still laughing at Randy’s interaction with the Prime bottle chap and loved Bayley winning.

The main event though, watching with my son was the most fun I’ve had watching wrestling in years, possibly decades. He was so invested in the match, wanting Cody to win with all his heart, but genuinely not knowing if he would. Some of those near falls were very, well, near! When Cody finally won, after three Cross Rhodes, he screamed with delight - a YES that may have been heard up and down the street we live on.

Were the interruptions a bit OTT? Yes. Is that what WrestleMania is all about? Again, yes, and watching with my son, who popped big for each and every superstar who came down that ramp, it made the experience 10 times better for me and I loved it.

I don’t know if letting the cameras run long at the end is a new thing, but it worked and put the cherry on a very satisfying cake. The emotion and realness on show seemed to tie in perfectly with Cody.

I’m looking forward to Raw and everything that comes afterwards, and even more so that I’ll be sharing it with my son. After many years away, seems I am a fan of pro wrestling again, in large part thanks to Logan Paul!

On 10/12/2021 at 6:26 PM, bAzTNM#1 said:

What was the deal with Silver Vision losing the WWE DVD contract? Simply outbid by Freemantle? I read a story on here but it can't possibly be true, so I won't repeat it until somebody hits me with me it. Yeah!

WWE wanted a bigger, more well known company as a licensee. It was something they were doing across the board, and something they deemed necessary for a company of their size.

SV couldn’t haven’t carried on at the time anyway, as what WWE wanted to extend the licensee would have been the end of the company…sooner than when it did fold up.

The first 2 were released as one of the last Tagged Classics sets. More were planned for future releases, but then it all went pear shaped between Silver Vision and WWE. 

I think 1989 was the first release year for SV in the UK, though I could be wrong, that was a long time before I started.

 

I wasn't there for the 1992 boom but I do know that from 2005 for a few years business was really good. 2005 was the year SV branched outside of the UK and getting the deal to distribute in mainland Europe was huge. It was around 2005 that WWE almost bought SV as they had plans to do all the home video distribution themselves, but they could never agree on terms so it stayed with SV.

The company that took over Clear Vision when it went into administration in 2013 itself went into administration a couple of months ago, with no chance of resurrection. So Silver Vision, in every sense of the word, is well and truly dead now. I've been working elsewhere so I wasn't there at the very bitter end, thankfully.

They are exactly that, discs used to run a check to make sure everything was okay before getting the real thing pressed. We also used those versions to send out to magazines and websites to review in advance of the finished copy being ready. Getting one in an actual sleeved case can only mean an error at the replication factory, a rarity for sure.

If the workers at Broken Skull Ranch aren't back on set can we get Stone Cold in his place on Tough Enough? Yeah I know, I likely, so who? If they are looking for retired HOF type replacement, then maybe someone like Edge? Can't help thinking Jericho wishes he was in that spot instead of the awful presenting role he currently has.

 

What on earth could have happened to warrant Hulk being ejected like this?

I'm sure it's already been discussed but I had the misfortune to download a couple of the Taz podcast episodes yesterday, and wow, it's so bad. First episode I listened to was the Top 10 Current, and this is at the time when Taz was still with TNA I assume, as he has no Cena or Lesnar, but Bram at 6 and Roode at 1. Now Roode is decent enough, but no Cena in his top 10, nor Lesnar? What a stooge!

 

Then I went on to their best 10 ever, which I am yet to finish, and one of their parameters is how they would fair in today's environment - huh? So on this basis Billy Robinson and Bruno Sammartino get some negative feedback, while Taz goes onto downplay Andre due to his lack of promos and in ring ability. How can someone who's been in the industry for so long miss the point of pro wrestling in such alarming fashion? I'll finish this episode, just to cringe when Taz names someone like EC3 as #1 all time, but after that I'm done - just awful.

These were actually bought by SV when the BVA (British Video Association) informed us of certain sales being reached and produced to celebrate reaching those sales levels. Not sure how this one ended up with a US seller as they are in boxes in the office warehouse. Though when the co when into administration no doubt many things left the building with new owners.

One of the best things about working for SV was all the goodies I got given over the years, as well as attending many events, obviously. At home I have boxes of stuff in the spare room, including a pink satin WWF robe that my boss gave me many years ago. I'll take a pic at some point as I'm not sure where it came from - maybe someone will recognise it. Below is a pic of a few bits that were lying around in my office - a very old faded WWF cap, a very heavy paperweight, a bit of the WrestleMania 22 ring canvas encased in glass and some Power Chipz, wherever on earth they are?!

 

On a similar note, does anything in WCW beat the 14 matches at Starrcade 1990?

You leave my Beano writing style alone

The very first Wild Wednesday promotion, with the very short lived Bet Lynch logo! I think I changed the style of this newsletter every few months.

 

I only started listening to the Jericho podcasts a couple of weeks ago and have been consuming them at a rapid pace. I know his personality grates on some people but I've always liked him and really enjoy his shows. The one with Zayn and Neville was particularly good and very funny, and the latest with Lance Storm is a great look back at how they both started out together. Contrary to what others thought, I also really enjoyed the shows with Shawn Michaels, and the subsequent one Michaels did with Austin. Both very different, as Jericho's was more about the wrestling and Austin's was more about his salvation and his post wrestling life. Have to say it did make me want to buy his book, so job done there.

 

Very tempted by Piper's as the list of guests look good, but I am put off by bad audio quality. Not checked out any of the others, of which there seem to be a lot of these days. Tas has never done much for me so I'm not sure how bothered I'd be listening to him chatting to people, though maybe he's a far better podcaster than in ring performer, for my tastes.

Initially the Tagged Classics range was only going to be a select few, and we wanted to make sure we got some of the best IYH events out there. They sold well so we decided to release the lot, where we could.

 

I'm pretty sure it was WWE who made the decision about what Blu-rays were to be released and later one we decided to release the lot where they may not have. That might all be tosh, my memory is a bit vague on that part - sorry!

Yup - this was what was planned at the time:

 

WF171                  Best of RAW 3

WF174                  Best of RAW 4

 

WF071                  Invasion 1992

WF106                  Battle of the Superstars ‘92

 

WS916                  Bret Hitman Hart…His Greatest Hits

WF132                  The Best There Is Bret Hitman Hart 2

 

WF178                  Best of RAW 5

WF183                  Best of RAW 6

 

WF114                  Smack ‘Em Whack ‘Em

WF124                  Grudges Gripes & Grunts

 

WF082                  Battle of the Superstars

WF092                  2^nd Annual Battle of the Superstars

 

WF186                  Best of RAW 7

WF193                  Best of RAW 8

WF189                  Best of RAW 9

 

WE305                  Hulk Still Rules (2 Discs)

 

WF197                  Best of RAW 10

WF200                  Best of RAW 11

 

WF089                 Mega Matches

WF141                 Mega Matches 95 

 

As an aside, here is the SV website on the last day it was live:

 

Stephen was indeed a great man, is his loss is still felt by many today. I used to spend a lot of time with him at shows around the country and remember one up North in Manchester or maybe Birmingham - hey, it's all up North to me! Anyway, we were due to have Kurt Angle and Trish Stratus at a signing in HMV and about an hour before he got a call from WWE saying the appearances had changes, it was now Spike Dudley and Hardcore Holly. Stephen asked me if that was okay, to which I looked at him quite gobsmacked. It wasn't really a like for like replacement, but they were very good with the fans and nobody kicked up a fuss.

 

On that same day I'd already driven all the way down to Wales and back for a Hurricane Helms appearance but he was late, and so I had to leave before he arrived. Luckily the PR person there got me a WWE Magazine signed by Helms, which I then gave to someone in the queue for HMV, thinking it was my spare unsigned copy.

 

I also remember when we swapped from Mark Silvervision the 'person' on Facebook to a Facebook page because a person could only have 5000 friends. Luckily everyone moved over to the new page and got see all the latest videos of yours truly dropping DVDs on the floor every week or so

Interview we did with Randy Orton in August 2008

 

 

When we last spoke to you Randy you were just about start a programme with Hulk Hogan, how did that work out?

 

The programme that I had with Hulk Hogan was one of my favourites by far. I grew up as a child around the scene; my father, of course, was Cowboy Bob Orton and he had an ongoing feud with Hulk Hogan. It was really cool to be in the ring with him 20 years later. I did lose so I wouldn’t mind facing him again. His last match was against me at SummerSlam 2006 and if I could have a rematch that would be great. The outcome would definitely be different.

 

You said back then that the best match of your career was against Mick Foley at Backlash 2004, is this still the case?

 

Mick Foley and I had a barn burner of a match – we went about 40 minutes. It was in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and we made it such a great match and a great memory for me. The best thing for me was that it was a hardcore match. The crowd was great, they were on their feet the whole time and when they’re like that it makes your adrenaline boil, it makes you jump higher, run faster, hit harder, all the better for the match. Also we did some stunts which that I’d never done before and probably will never do again. I landed on 10,000 big thumb tacks. I had about 500 of them penetrating my body, like a human pincushion. It was incredibly painful, but it was just one of those things that I wanted to do, to give me a boost in the fans’ eyes. Being a tougher competitor has definitely helped my career.

 

What do think of CM Punk as World Heavyweight Champion and his title reign so far?

 

CM Punk isn’t the biggest guy but he’s got some moves – he’s got the kickboxing background and he’s definitely a good competitor. I have faced him twice and beat him both times so I don’t think he’s necessarily a threat to me. Coming off this injury (broken collarbone) if I were to come back and face him it would not be hard for me to take that title from around his waist and put it around mine. But I must respect the fact that Punk started at the bottom and worked his way to the top – he’s a workhorse so that is what he’s got going for him.

You mention that taking the title wouldn’t be too hard for you when you come back. Is that your main aim when you return?

 

You know, I’ve got some unfinished business with a few guys… its too bad Triple H got drafted because I need to go back and prove to everybody – myself and him included – that I am the better man, and I believe I could do that. But he’s on a different programme, he got drafted to SmackDown. So that leaves me and John Cena who got hurt last year. He tore his pec which I had a little part in that in which I’m very happy about, but it did stop our programme before we could finish it. We had some great stuff planned moving forward, you know, different stipulations, last man standing matches, cage matches, falls count anywhere, things of that nature… so I’d love to get back in the ring with John. But the title, it’s the biggest prize in our sport and I’d like to have it back around my waist so maybe CM Punk, then let John Cena challenge me for that title – that could be a good go.

 

Is it long before we’ll see you back in the ring?

 

No, I’ll be back in the ring very soon. Last Thursday I was cleared by my doctor for in-ring competition, full contact, I’m ready to go. Back sooner than expected and I feel great. I’ve got a little more weight to put on – I lost some when I wasn’t able to lift weights but I’m back in the gym, I’m feeling good, I’m ready to go back – you can expect me back right around SummerSlam.

 

So there are a few guys that should be looking over their shoulder come SummerSlam?

 

Yeah, definitely – John Cena is the main one who should be concerned about my return.

 

What was it like headlining Wrestlemania 24 as the defending WWE Champion and walking away as the victor and still the WWE Champion?

 

Wrestlemania was great for me this year. It was a great venue, you know, open dome format. I believe there were 60-70,000 people, maybe more, and we had a great PPV buy so there were a lot of people there which makes it all the more exciting for us competitors. Also only 8% of the fans who entered the text voting thought that I would retain the title and I went ahead and did that – I proved the other 92% wrong. That was huge for me because in their eyes they thought I was going to lose and I proved everyone wrong. I proved that the Legend Killer, Randy Orton, was a one man dynasty, it was the Age of Orton as I proclaimed. And I plan for it to become the Age of Orton again.

 

With things like Foley, Flair and Wrestlemania you seem to be making a habit of proving the fans wrong.

 

Yeah, that’s right! I think that when it comes to those guys, they have a lot of respect with the fans. The fans think ‘How could Ric Flair lose, who could the Rock lose, how could Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Triple H, Jeff Hardy and Chris Jericho lose?’ Well, they did, and they do. I’ve beaten them all. There’s nobody in the WWE that I’ve not beaten.

 

Is there anyone outside of WWE that you would like to face?

 

Of course I’d love a re-match with Hulk Hogan. And there are a few guys I’d like to work with… Samoa Joe and AJ Styles from TNA, but other than the WWE there’s not really anyone else who could go with me. Those guys I mentioned are popular in their own sort, with their own following, but if you’re not in the WWE you’re not really a contender. I don’t think there are many people who could go with me and keep up.

 

After your time with Ric Flair in Evolution were you sad to see him retire and leave WWE?

 

I love that guy, he was like a father figure to me on the road and I can still call him for advice. He’s happy now with his new wife Tiffany and his grandkids. He can live the life that he wants to live at home, he’s made a great name for himself and he’ll be able to use that for the rest of his life. Autograph signings, he’ll still be in the mix even though he’s not with WWE, but he will still be missed.

 

Do you think he’ll be back at some point?

 

You never know. I’d never say never. Nobody has a love for the sport entertainment business like Ric Flair. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made his way back to the WWE ring.

 

Cocky young second generation newcomers Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes have been making waves on RAW recently, do they remind you of yourself when you were starting out?

 

It’s almost scary how much they remind me of me when I was breaking in. I believe that with my father I had a name to live up to, but with fathers like theirs, the Million Dollar Man and Dusty Rhodes, they’ve got bigger shoes to fill than I had. So its questionable – they definitely have potential but they also have a very long way to go, just like I did at that point. But I made it and I’m sure they will too eventually, but they have a lot more proving themselves to do for the fans to accept them as top contenders. For instance, I don’t believe that they have one chance of becoming the new youngest world heavyweight champion. That is a title that I hold and I will keep.

 

You don’t see anyone coming up and beating that in the future?

 

No. Not a chance.

 

Would there be a possibility of you standing in their way if that looked likely?

 

Yeah, why wouldn’t I want to protect that title of youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history. It’s an awesome title to have and if anyone came close I could definitely see myself knocking them down.

 

Seeing Austin, Cena and Kane being recently involved in movies, is that something you’d like to get involved in at some point?

 

Its funny you should ask. The day I broke my collarbone at One Night Stand I actually read for a part in an upcoming film with the WWE. I haven’t heard back yet… I was told I did an outstanding job but I’m not an actor, it won’t hurt my feelings if I don’t get the part. It would be cool to be in a movie one day, you know, take the wife and kid to the movies to see Dad! It would be cool to do – its exposure, its an extra paycheque. But I’m a wrestler, I love being in the ring and that’s my main priority.

 

You’ve just been rated #1 Wrestler in the World in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500. How much does that mean to you?

 

It means a lot me. A lot of people maybe look at that list and think ‘Who’s doing the voting, who’s deciding?’ but I think they made a good choice because for the last 18 months before my injury I was wrestling in the main event of every show, I was headlining every PPV, I had the WWE on my back. For seven months I was the WWE Champion and I’ve beaten everybody that there is to beat. I think I’ve represented the company very well. I think they’ve made a very good choice. What does it mean to me? It makes me feel even more confident in my ability, and even more confident that when I return I’ll go back to being the top heel in the WWE.

 

When you injured yourself at One Night Stand did you know immediately that it was a serious injury?

 

It wasn’t really too serious. Collarbone breaks aren’t the worst. If it breaks in more than one place it can get a little tricky and they need to put a plate and screws into the bone, but that wasn’t the case with me. It just broke in one spot. I was supposed to be out in 12 weeks, I came back in seven – I heal very quickly. I had a great doctor who put a bone growth stimulator on my collarbone for three hours whilst I slept at night and that helped regenerate strong bone growth. So that really helped me bounce back as quick as I did.

 

Growing up with a wrestler for a father and that old school mentality, do you think that made you want to carry on and do that last little bit with Triple H when you were actually injured?

 

Yes, I think that growing up in the business has given a different respect that a lot of guys take for granted or don’t have at all and that’s why I think I am where I am. Without that respect you can’t go far. You need to respect the others around you but at the same time if you need to disrespect people, earn that spot, step on people, squash them, take them out of the equation. I did whatever I needed to do to get where I am. Becoming the Legend Killer is just that -disrespecting the legends, ending their careers, literally dismantling them piece by piece. That respect for myself is what eventually put me in the position I’m in now.

 

How is married life and what’s it like being a father after the birth of your baby daughter on 12th July?

 

It's very hard to be away from home with my wife and new born at home. This trip to London is the first time I’ve had to be away, but I’ve got to get used to it because the WWE doesn’t have an off season. We travel all year, it’s a very rigorous schedule. But my wife Samantha is a wonderful woman and a fabulous mother. She has already proved that she is perfectly capable of taking care of that baby to the full extent. My baby, she’s healthy, 8lbs 10oz when she was born, 22 inches long, her name is Alannah Marie Orton. She’s definitely made me put everything in perspective and understand what’s important in life. The other wrestlers told me ‘Wait until you become a father, its going to change you’. The day she was born was the greatest day of my life. I can’t explain in words the feeling that came over me. Looking at her and the pictures that my wife sends me, its pretty cool to see that little baby changing day by day, her eyes starting to open, the little faces she makes when she’s sleeping... she’s a beautiful human being. I’m very proud as a father.

There was a special catalogue company that used to order in the PPV boxset each year from the start, and when they closed their doors there wasn't enough demand to satisfy the costly production of the set.

 

As for Wrestling With Shadows - that one always baffled me, and even though it was a Clear Vision release it just added fuel to the fires of conspiracy. For years I was sure it was proof that the Montreal Screwjob was a work! In reality the WWE either didn't know, didn't care, or behind closed doors SV may have had a telling off. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the latter as I was usually told about all WWE dealings - good and bad. WWE probably saw it as more exposure for the brand, an opportunity to get more people talking about it.

We did do books, magazines, comic books and hospitality ticket packages at one point, but that stopped due to licensee politics!

As for prices - that's a general trend for physical media. New release blockbuster films come out at £10, which would have been an absolute bargain a decade ago. Supermarkets have a lot to do with this - as their market share grew so did their bargaining power, and wanting everything at the lowest possible price they drive the market prices down.

Good to see you whatyouworriedabout Some years ago I was at the MMA exhibition Seni for the weekend with work and was due to go to RAW on the Monday and meet some competition winners. I was shattered from the weekend so asked whatyouworriedabout if he'd be able to go in my place. Hi kindly agreed and that was the night Michaels had that epic match with Cena. Gutted!

Yup. New UFC titles going up this week, with a full schedule of releases planned.

The company that used to be CV still does TNA, with 3 upcoming releases announced this week and more coming soon.

 

So when I started with SV I was asked to provide some basic information on the wrestlers - catchphrases and finishing moves. This came from some of the non wrestling fans, hoping to get a bit of info so they could sound more knowledgable dealing with customers and the business that brought in the majority of the revenue at the time. This is what I came up with - riddled with mistakes I'm sure!

 

 

No. Event Merchandise are the people behind TNA Eurostore and lots of other events requiring t-shirts etc.