Youtube Thread 2000

[LaGoosh]

What a beautiful venue, that. If it's still around AEW should run it.

There's just something magic about the big angles in 97 - everything felt so real.

Edited January 21, 2025 by LaGoosh

[wandshogun09]

Yeah the Vader stuff was great too. Massive upgrade going from Jack ‘On The Take’ Tunney to Gorilla as WWF President. Like you say @Chili even as an older man, he had the physical size, familiarity and love from he fans and history behind him that he still brought credibility to those moments and it didn’t seem unrealistic that he wouldn’t back down. 

[davertfnewman]

"GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW!"

"I'm cutting you a damn break!"

Gorilla was awesome. He's not only bigger than Austin but bigger than VADER, so no way is he going to back down. I always love as well that he's got such a foghorn of a voice that when he tells Manny the ring announcer what to say you've heard it already.

[Devon Malcolm]

Monsoon takes a lovely bump off that Vader splash in the corner as well. Brilliantly teased angle, I've watched it so many times.

[RIDDUM_N_STYLE]

Always loved his interaction with Vince right after the Owen swerve at Survivor Series 94, McMahon is all somber and almost in tears that Bret had lost the title whereas Gorilla was pissed that Owen stooped so low as to manipulate his poor mum into throwing the towel just so the Nugget could see Bret’s title reign end

[air_raid]

If, like me, you stopped watching TNA when it started going downhill in the Hogan/Bischoff days, it's probably worth your time watching this. The last big AJ vs Angle match, and I always thought they gelled well together. No, it's not the peak of their rivalry but it's a very nice little match, one of very few this watchable that I remember Kurt having late on, and doesn't outstay its welcome.

 

[tiger_rick]

14 hours ago, wandshogun09 said:

Saw a clip from this doing the rounds on one of those ‘On This Day’ Twitter accounts.

It’s the Raw the night after Royal Rumble 97, where Gorilla Monsoon sets up the Final Four match for the next PPV.

Fantastic episode during a completely chaotic time in the run up to WrestleMania 13.

The reason for this post though is just to say I absolutely loved every interaction Austin and Gorilla had around this time. Thought they had great chemistry whenever they had a segment together. Austin calling him “son” and then Gorilla glaring at him and going “I’m not your son” is my favourite bit of this. Also chuckled when Gorilla finished his bit on the microphone and went to walk away without shaking Vince’s hand and Vince grabbed his arm and got all pissy about it. Weirdo.

Easily one of the top 5 episodes of Raw of all-time. It's incredible from everyone. Bret's promo here and the night after Mania are something I dig out about every 3 months. Just wrestling perfection.

The first 6 months of 1997 have always been a favourite time of mine but as I've grown and learned just how tumultuous they were, how much went wrong, how many egos clashed, how many plans changed and for that to have created a period that contains the best match they've ever done, some of the best Raw episodes ever, the best multi-man match they've ever done, the biggest superstar they've ever made and my favourite storyline since Hogan & Savage - it's utterly incredible.

[SuperBacon]

That episode the week before Mania 13 where Sid beats Bret in the cage and you have Austin helping Bret and Taker helping Sid as they want their matches at Mania to be for the belt is absolutely fantastic storytelling isn't it? 

[tiger_rick]

1 minute ago, SuperBacon said:

That episode the week before Mania 13 where Sid beats Bret in the cage and you have Austin helping Bret and Taker helping Sid as they want their matches at Mania to be for the belt is absolutely fantastic storytelling isn't it? 

[davertfnewman]

I've only just realised after twenty-eight years that when Gorilla and Austin are having their blow-up, it's the same episode where Austin sent Bret to the hospital. Gorilla tells Austin to take a walk and Austin does... past an ambulance, where Bret is heading. A little later, he's commandeered the ambulance, got the driver's head stuck in the electric window, and launches his final attack on the Hitman. Fucking brilliant stuff.

[wandshogun09]

Owen and Bulldog are class in that episode as well, moaning at the paramedics when they’re carrying Bret out on the stretcher.

Owen: Watch his leg!

Bulldog: Yer 5 minutes too late.

Owen: WATCH HIS LEG!!! 

[davertfnewman]

I think it's also a case of them actually being able to say "I'm gonna kill (Austin)" as opposed to some euphemism for a change. Plus the return of Brian Pillman at the end to take out Austin, accompanied by Vince's pained "Oh, no!" when he sees him and realises he's back for blood.

I mentioned this guy in another thread, but I would've loved to have seen him come back in 1984 and do a short programme with the Hulkster with Bobby Heenan as his manager. Would've had a rough, tough match with him and taken the legdrop before getting out. You look at him here and he's like a more evil version of Son of Sam. Spiros Arion, the Iron Greek.

 

[LaGoosh]

Who was booking the main event scene in 97? It was such great stuff and so different to the hot shot style in 98. I'm presuming it was before Russo and Ferrera?

[davertfnewman]

I think it was when Russo came on board, but you also had Corny in the mix too. I'm sure JR and Bruce Prichard were contributing too with Pat Patterson agenting.

[wandshogun09]

I think Russo took more of a role in it around April/May 97, as a direct result of that rotten Raw in South Africa around that time. I’m guessing before that it would’ve been a mix of those other names you mentioned with Vince obviously overseeing it.