They were still solid after he bounced for the WWF imo. I think it had more to do with the departure of the Road Warriors than anything. Hogan was huge in AWA but they had enough talent on the roster to absorb his loss.
Once the Road Warriors bounced it was game over as far as I was concerned. There was very little that could keep me watching. Plus other Federations i.e. Mid South (later UWF) and NWA were beginning to get huge play I'm the Chicago Market by that time.

In the early 80's all we really had here was AWA WWF and WCCW. I'd heard about Luche Libra and would sometimes be able to catch it but most of the time it was it just those 3.

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Who would have been some of the other babyfaces of the time. Curt Henning? I seem to remember that he was the one that finally took the title from Bockwinkle. Didn't they have Rick Martel for a stretch too?

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Curt Hennig for sure. He was a big time talent and with his dad Larry the Ax still being part of the deal he was going to get a huge push regardless. Barry Windham I seem to remember traveling through the AWA around that time as well. He was big time too.
Martel was OK but to me he never was deserving of the push that they gave him. Most of the best AWA guys at the time (other than Hennig) were heels as I recall. You had guys like Zybysko, Bruiser Brody. Mr. SAITO. Mad Dog Vachon, Dr. D David Shultz. Quite a few others that I'm forgetting. Just Big Time guys all on their roster.

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I always liked Barry Windham...hell of a worker. Zybysko was one of the guys that seemed to stick around to the end. He was another good worker. Bruiser I remember in WCCW more...but those guys were definite nomads.

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Yeah the 80's AWA guys tended to leave if they were really talented. The only guys that never seemed to or couldn't were the dinosaurs like Dick the Bruiser, Crusher, Bockwinkle, Mulligan, Lanza etc.

Other Federations began raiding them of their young talent and I sort of remember a lot of guys bouncing for Japan too around that time.

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Zybyscko was a great heel back then. Had the perfect personality and could work well.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Read somewhere that Vern didn't like Hogan doing movies and other stuff, so was hesitant to put the belt on him. Have seen several interviews where they talked about Vern offering the Iron Shiek money to break Hogan's leg, which he likely could easily have done because in reality the Iron Shiek was an Olympic level amateur wrestler.

The old AWA territory was supposedly a good place to work due to the relatively short travel distances, but Verne rarely pushed young guys because he had a stable of veteran guys he knew he could depend on to draw in bigger AWA towns.

AWA with the best wrestling music video ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOSFpzPlO4Q

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Been catching up on some recent WWE stuff leading up to Mania. The buildup for Reigns and Lesnar has been really good. I love what they are doing with each guy and Heyman is great as always. Their work reminds me of attitude era days. I was not exactly excited for Owens and Stone Cold, but the recent promo that Owens did while pretending to be Austin was pretty funny stuff. AJ and Edge will be solid as you would expect with those 2 guys. And then throw in Seth and Cody coming together at some point. Mania should be good.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

_________________
Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

I am not gonna say anything right now

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Mania will be fine, but there is almost nothing on this show that is must see, other than Roman and Brock.

There are a lot of reasons given for why Vince isn’t going to sell this out both nights, and there have been a lot of missteps along the way. There are no compelling stories (other than above), and too many “celebrities” in too many “matches”. Vince is never going to relent in not wanting to create the megastars he used to, and IMO that is making WM less attractive to the casual fans that normally might have gone for the experience.

The worst misstep was making this a two-nighter at a 100,000-seat stadium.

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Not a mult.

Can honestly say as a long time fan that the current WWE product is of little or no interest to anyone.

That said, do have some interest in AEW because there are a few guys there that are capable of working and storytelling at a somewhat competent level, especially MJF. Do see a real problem with the use and development of some guys, especially the gimmick guys, who are somewhat entertaining like Danhausen, like the dudes YouTube stuff, but he is limited in what he can do in the ring. It would seem he would have more of a future as a manager than in ring performer unless he leaves Planet Fitness and hits an actual big boy/girl gym with real big wheel free weights and not the Chris Coumo fake ass cross fit oversized 10 pound plates.

Cody back in WWE. WOW!

Did they blur out his giant AEW neck tatt?

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Nope and he used his AEW theme

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Has been a very good show so far. Night 2 is gonna be tough to compete with tonight.

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Not a mult.

Austin looked about as good as possible in his match tonight with Owens. Owens did a great job selling for him.

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Austin looked to be in great shape. I was really surprised how good he came off and now a big part of that was Owens sold his ass for him.

I enjoyed the whole night. I have never been a fan of the ladies division, but I have to say the Bianca and Lynch match last night was really well done. I had to get up for quite awhile of the Flair/Rousey match so I can't really comment on that one.

Looking forward to tonight. AJ/Edge and Roman/Brock should be tremendous.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Vince McMahon wrestled tonight and took (sorta) a Stunner from Stone Cold.

Great Wrestlemania.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

that was the strangest stunner I have ever saw

I was surprised with how good McAfee looked in the ring. He looks like he could actually be in the ring regularly

Enjoyed both nights.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

It was pointed out to me that Vince forgot he has limited flexibility in his knees to react properly to the gut kick

_________________
Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Vince kinda spoiled the Austin interruption when Theory's music kicked in. He started his OMG reaction look and then realized it wasn't SCSA yet.

_________________
'Your AT&T Universal Card has arrived'? Oh God, Kick-fucking-ass, I got a Master Card! I don't believe it, man. Life is kinda cool sometimes.

Interested to see the way they have booked Cody so far, setting up the type of story arc that the WWE rarely does these days, so he's likely there for at least a year or two. He also did a far better promo than anything you see on WWE TV. Could morph into a clash between two traditional wrestling family groups, pitting the Rhodes family against the Anoa'i family, which could prove to be interesting if booked correctly and is more of an old school long form story arc than any of the instant gratification NXT stuff that looks silly once you see the guy or girl behind the gimmick really can't work in the ring.

J. Hood wrestling podcast

https://www.robertfeder.com/2022/04/08/ ... more-33061

Jonathan Hood, morning co-host on Good Karma Brands ESPN sports/talk WMVP 1000-AM, just added a role: He’s one of three national hosts of “Good Karma Wrestling,” a new weekly talk show across multiple social and digital platforms. New episodes post at 6 p.m. Thursdays. Calling it “a great way to give our fans even more compelling content,” Danny Zederman, director of content at ESPN 1000, said: “Having known Jonathan for almost 20 years, I know how much he loves wrestling. To have an outlet to talk wrestling and interact with fans is tremendous for him and his co-hosts.” Co-hosting with Hood are Milwaukee’s Gabe Neitzel and West Palm Beach’s Brian Rowitz.

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"I give you my word as a Biden"

Wondering how Verne would have booked Adam Cole, of course it's likely a moot point because Verne liked guys with amateur backgrounds and Cole likely would never make it through the audition, but it seems it would go one of two ways.

Would likely see Cole in the opening bout against George "Scrap Iron" Gadasky or Kenny "Sodbuster" Jay, with Scrap Iron winning with a surprise roll up after a sunset flip, or the Sodbuster winning via submission with the vaunted Sod Grip.

Could also see Cole being fed to The Road Warriors in a squash tag team match, teamed with Tom "Rocky" Stone.

So Ric Flair is going to have another "last match"

So sad to watch how he has not been able to let things go. One of, if not the, greatest of all time and he just cannot handle being retired.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I guess it will be Flair and FTR against the Rock & Roll Express and Ricky Steamboat.

Hard pass.

In other news, Sasha Banks and one of the Uso's wives walked out on Raw having another diva moment last night.

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can sasha banks just go away already? not exactly sure what her talent is supposed to be other than unexpected returns from injury and talking shit

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'Your AT&T Universal Card has arrived'? Oh God, Kick-fucking-ass, I got a Master Card! I don't believe it, man. Life is kinda cool sometimes.