Adam Young

I was one of the over-zealous fans at Ultra Kaos '96 who decided to get closer to the action with my camera (possibly encouraging others to do likewise). I think I was wearing a cream jacket and had curtains at the time. I never even bothered getting the film developed afterwards. 

I started to read PowerSlam in 1993 when it was known as Superstars of Wrestling. The first copy I bought was Issue 17 and I believe it had a picture of The 123 Kid somewhere on the cover.

From then I bought every issue until I eventually became a subscriber in 1995. I think I cancelled my subscription around 2 or 3 years later as, for whatever reason, the magazine always seemed to arrive late. Occasionally, I was able to read the latest issue in WHSmiths before I received it in the post which influenced my decision to cancel my subscription.

I finally stopped buying the magazine in 2004/05 largely because I'd lost interest in the magazine and was buying it out of habit. I haven't bought another wrestling magazine since.

Despite having lost interest in the product, I am genuinely sorry to see PowerSlam fold as it used to be a staple of my formative years. I may even buy the last ever issue for old times sake.

After watching the second day of NJPW's G1 Climax tour, there's something I love about the visual of Jushin Liger, presumably, providing serious analysis of what we've just witnessed. I now want to see Jushin Liger on all sports broadcasting from football to cricket to darts doing the exact same thing.

Loved Tyler Breeze. The phone gimmick is superb, people pouting into their phones is something you see everyday and I'm sure I'm not the only one it irritates. A simple and effective way to get heat.

I wasn't overly keen on the last incarnation of The Ascension but this latest one seems to be an improvement. I think Rick Victor needs to change his ring attire though. For some reason, it doesn't seem to fit. Otherwise, it was a good squash match.

I didn't think Paige and Emma was a great match but, by diva standards, it was very good and probably better than anything on the main roster. I agree that the build-up made both the match and the title seem important and the post-match ceremony was a nice touch too.

Didn't El Hijo del Repo Man participate in one of the Gut Checks at some point?

I'm now really tempted to do a "refresh TNA guys who have been around forever by giving them cartoon gimmicks so nobody notices" thread.

 

Do it. I'd say a good 95% of the roster need freshening up so I'm sure there will be plenty of ridiculous suggestions.

Would love to see this. I have a couple of ridiculous suggestions.

I fear that in Ian's picture, Batista and his mate are demonstrating their personal foreplay techniques so she can prepare herself.

That got a hearty chuckle from me on the bus which caused people to turn round and stare. Kudos.

'The Biggest Wrestling Bloodline in the World' - Truth or Hyperbole?

Will this be like 'My Big Fat Gyspy Wedding', only with the Knights taking the central role?

A Barbed Wire Death Match from the Toryumon offshoot promotion Secret Base pitting Big Japan deathmatch wrestlers Jaki Namazawa & Abdullah Kobayashi, against the team of Yamada Man Pondo & Takeshi Minnamoto.

Also from the same show, a six man tag seemingly showcasing Skayde Jr.

This video is approximately six months old so I don't know whether it's been posted before. It's Boy George being quizzed about his approach to the economc crisis, six months later and Gideon's mantra still hasn't changed (and probably never will!).

George Osborne and the Tory debt lie - NAILED

Or "Mr TV" himself, Jackie Pallo.

No, still Sting (The Wrestler).

CM Punk is referring to Andy Summers as being "that bastard". It is a reference to the musician Sting, and to the break-up/reunion/break-up of The Police. Punk sure loves to wind people up.

EDIT: Andy Summers was the guitarist.

Didn't see the cowboy boots. Could this be the return of the 'Cornfed Meathead' Skip Sheffield? - This is of course meant in jest, but it's worth remembering that such non-entities like Ezekiel Jackson have received vignettes in the past. Maybe not as cryptic but....

2/21/11 just happens to be my uncle phil's birthday, i hope its him

I think this is the best prediction yet. Never met your Uncle Phil but I hope it's him now.

Yep, didn't see that. Lol.

Another question that could shed some light on the debate. Did WWE actually use the term 'New Superstar' or is this something that has just been assumed? - If it's based on assumption, then the title of this thread is highly misleading.

The audience is not made up wholly of people who didn't watch wrestling 10 years ago. I'd bet that at least half the audience is old enough to know who Sting is. If they produce enough vignettes and interviews to show Sting's history then he'll get over easily. He's a classy worker with a cool gimick and a massive history on video tape battling guys the audience knows. It's not a hard sell job.

No it's not a hard sell job. But is it one that is worthy of just 20 days thought and preparation? I'm not knocking Sting's talent at all, but I think the WWE would sign him, get some sort of 'Best of' comp out, then debut him as some sort of legendary novelty act (which, realistically speaking, is all he should be at this stage of his career). That's how you would maximise profit and potential is it not?

EDIT: Sorry I can't quote properly, UKFF is pretty wanky with Firefox for some reason.

Not to spoil the Rumble, but two people in particular got pretty decent reactions. If they can, Sting will I reckon. Assuming it is even Sting.

Again, one-off appearences with people who've actually appeared in the WWE before and, more importantly, within the last ten years. TNA does not even show up on the radar of most casuals, so why would the WWE universe (for lack of a better term) care about a person who's been in purgatory for the last ten years?

Another thing to consider is this: support for WWE and WCW was quite tribalistic in its day. Some old-school casuals would not give a fuck about a 'WCW legend' and vice-versa.

Or a 'Best of Sting' comp. ONS came about due to the success of 'The Rise and Fall of ECW' DVD, which in turn led to this, then that, then the PPV itself. As you state Bowyo, WWE can do a hell of a job when they want to at promoting an event. But with a subject as worthy as Sting, and with 20 days to go until the debut of this 'mystery character', the WWE have really dropped the ball so far. I may be wrong, but I think I can safely say, it's not Sting. A dark, brooding, Seth Rollings may be a safer bet, or maybe it's just another boring Undertaker return.

I think Sting would flop in the WWE as a wrestling character. HOF, one time deal, yeah he'll get a big time and well-deserved pop. But as someone else has already mentioned, it's too late in the day for Sting to mean anything to anyone except a bunch of hardcores, or casuals who happen to watch TNA and accept Sting as a legitimate star there. Casuals who are in their 20's/30's may accept Sting as a star too. But the WWE is aimed at a younger audience these days who accept Cena (amongst others) as their messiah(s) and the questions that need to be seriously asked here is 'Do they actually know who Sting is?' and 'Will they care?'

In 2001, a Sting/Undertaker match may have meant something big. In 2011 it's little more than a novelty.

I think I'm the only one here who doesn't want it to be Sting.

I really hope it's not TAFKA The Boogeyman, or RelliK for that matter. I think I would actually prefer Hade Vansen, or even Mordecai, to either of them.

Just to throw another 'long coat guy' in there, what about The Ultimate Warrior. To throw another 'dark soul-ish' character, what about Raven?

Did Trytan/Jacob Duncan/Who Gives a Flying Fuck ever recieve his shot at the big-time?

Once held in high regard by the people of Mexico. Once an 'orphan' critisised by his own people for seeking a better life, a life that would lead him to America and the WWE. This man has travelled through to Averno and had his identidy stripped...This man: EL MISTICO NEGRO!!

(Getting a bit stupid now, I know)

Or the alleged child-molesting Se7en character that WCW bottled on, and Dustin Runnels was primed to portray.