Paid Members Murtz Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Most talking points on shows happen at the end and sometimes in the middle, but there have been some quality segments that open a show. Â Name some of your favourite show openers. I'll get the ball rolling with this. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Up Chuck Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Pretty hard to top that one to be honest. Probably the best opening Raw's ever had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members IANdrewDiceClay Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 The Cactus vs Chainsaw Charlie match with the Outlaws pushing them off the ramp was drama to the ridiculous levels back in 1998. They pulled the old "that wasnt meant to happen" thing as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1AWGZe0xTw...;feature=fvwrel  1998 was filled with them. The opener was the keep you hooked, so you didn't change the channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Murtz Posted February 2, 2012 Author Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 I was going to mention Undertaker's Black Wedding, but cant remember if that started the show or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members WWFChilli Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 The Cactus vs Chainsaw Charlie match with the Outlaws pushing them off the ramp was drama to the ridiculous levels back in 1998. They pulled the old "that wasnt meant to happen" thing as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1AWGZe0xTw...;feature=fvwrel  1998 was filled with them. The opener was the keep you hooked, so you didn't change the channel.  I always love how batshit mental Flash Funk goes for the Outlaws. They really did throw away most heel/face guises there for that Tag Title angle. The NWA Stable, Sunny (who does a superb job throughout as does Scorpio), Savio and Marvelous Marc all get in on the act. For something that dropped so much kayfabe, it seems so forgotten about to some extent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Joe Joe Jr Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Like he does with so many moments, JR absolutely makes that moment. He makes the Outlaws come off as the biggest pieces of shit ever for that, especially just as the dumpster goes over the edge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanJacko Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 cannot think about a classic one right now but one of the more recent ones that was pretty decent - in terms of comedy value - has to be the opening segment of raw 10/10/2011, The week after the walk out. Â "Can i wear your blazer?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members IANdrewDiceClay Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 That segment was notoriously rotten. Everyone looked like a complete spanner. Raw's opening segments are usually crap these days. The show usually builds to a finish now. Whether its the Nexus angle, the CM Punk interview thing or this last Monday, if something big happens, they usually leave it until the overrun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Joe Joe Jr Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I really liked it and thought as a one-off show could have been a lot of fun but by the end of the first hour, things went back to business as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members air_raid Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 What a great idea for a thread. Â Chris Benoit VS Jeff Jarrett, 11th November 1996 Monday Nitro Watch the match if you life (it's only seven minutes) or skip to here to see an integral turning point in one of my favourite character arcs of all time. Â Vince introduces the new WWF Champion, 30th March 1998 OK, we all knew what to expect out of Stone Cold by now, but the execution is fantastic. I also love the way Vince comes out with new belt over his shoulder, pretending he's Champion just like all of us would. Â New Age Outlaws VS Al Snow & Steve Blackman, 31st January 2000 Raw Some mates of the challengers happen to be ringside for this all-important tag team title collision. If memory serves me correct, they get involved. Â You probably already know what happens here. Michaels proudly declares "I screwed Bret" in the very building in which he did so. Â Fuck it, sentimental value only. Hitman was my hero. Â Â There's plenty more, that's all I got for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members WWFChilli Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Just been watching Raw's from 1997 today and they are loaded with superb opening segments. I was just watching one from the 28/4/97 Raw where Brian Pillman cuts a promo leading the crowd in prayer for Bret Hart. Pillman was wonderful, even if that Benoit book made him out to be a proper cunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Joe Joe Jr Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Just been watching Raw's from 1997 today and they are loaded with superb opening segments. I was just watching one from the 28/4/97 Raw where Brian Pillman cuts a promo leading the crowd in prayer for Bret Hart. Pillman was wonderful, even if that Benoit book made him out to be a proper cunt. Â Pot. Kettle. Black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members CleetusVanDamme Posted February 2, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 2, 2012 Couldn't find a clip starting from the very beginning of the show, but all you're missing is an introduction from an excited Bischoff. This is the Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho all ready to welcome Raw's first draft pick of the 2005 lottery to the show... Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Jericho beats HHH Â Â Raw started with HHH in the ring talking the usual bollocks. Jericho challenges him for the title, but HHH laughs it off until Jericho finally goads him into putting the belt on the line. Unfortunately for young Christopher, the decision is reversed afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members ShortOrderCook Posted February 3, 2012 Paid Members Share Posted February 3, 2012 There was a thread recently about the best tv episodes of wrestling, I never got round to posting in it but the episode I was going to mention was a Raw from April (I think) 1998, The Battle for Mick Foleys Soul which I adore and has a blistering opening. I posted it in the great wrestling promo transcripts some time back and maybe I'll link it here when I'm not on my phone. Â Its in the midst of Austin vs McMahon and Vince is currently using and manipulating Mick into doing his bidding for him and getting the WWF title off Stone Cold. Mick had recently returned as Dude Love, but here he comes out decrying the Dude Love persona and wanting to eliminate any memory or existence of it. He's angry and confused, wanting the WWF title and having been devoting himself to Vince and his wishes, yet Goldust has been rewarded with the next title shot, despite being a cross-dressing freak and Mick is put into a falls count anywhere match with his best mate Terry Funk. He's not there at the best of times but here he refers to himself as Mick Foley and Cactus Jack and he wants answers from Vince. Vince comes out and makes already a great promo even better with his speech. Putting Mick back on track and giving him some motivation. Deep down the fans want to love Mick, Vince is the devil on one shoulder, Austin the angel on the other. Vince pulling him toward the dark side for his own benefit, for his own desires to be realised. Austin wants to show Foley this and that Vince is leading him astray but, Austin being Austin (a bit of a sociopath really) makes it clear that if you're with Vince and choosing that path, you're damn sure against him. It's clear Austin likes Foley but he only really knows how to show it with tough love and generally expresses himself through violence. So, here Austin has heard enough as Vince is reeling Mick back in. The glass shatters Austin arrives and proceeds to completely tear apart the Love Shack set. Making his message clear and also further symbolising the burying of The Dude Love persona and thus showing Mick what way he needs to go. Â It was a fantastic start to the show and a great set up for the main event and show ending angle. Totally engrossing and a tremendous development to the whole angle and also a great pre-cursor to the eventual pay-off, months down the line in that brilliant, brilliant moment well, moments, in the closing stages of the Survivor Series Deadly Game semi-final between Mankind and Austin. Â I adore that match, those moments, the evolution of Mick Foley in WWF is one of my favourite ever things in wrestling and this is an integral part of it. A great story episode and everyone involved plays their roles with aplomb. God, I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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