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DEJ Experience District
DEJ BLOG: Jerry Blackwell and cinnamon rolls... mmmm... Feb 28, 2008 - 7:55:31 PM
I don't think I've posted a blog since the TNA house show I attended last summer, and I was just on the DEJ Audio Experience last night, so I apologize if this entry lacks in focus. There's plenty to talk about, but also plenty I just got off my chest. Not to mention I'm always concerned I'm going to turn all of these dead horses into wood glue. So I think I'm just going to make this a Random Thoughts-style blog...
Even though he'd do it for money, and even though the money is in relation to a worked number a celebrity is reportedly receiving, Hulk Hogan waits until Ric Flair is already booked for a match to offer to job to anyone at WrestleMania. Is this the point where WWE lies to Hogan to get a J-O-B for Steve Austin? Or would the whole situation be worth all of the headache? Frankly, I think anything that makes Hogan look like a sucker is absolutely worth it...
This July marks the 10th hall of fame induction ceremony for the newly relocated and renamed Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum (www.wrestlingmuseum.org)in my old stomping grounds, Waterloo, Iowa. This will be the fifth year I've attended and the second year I've been asked to help out. I just started by posting a link to the museum's website! Leading up to last year's ceremony, I had the privilege to interview Baron Von Raschke, a past inductee, and it was probably one of the coolest things I've done professionally. My goal this year is to interview some other old-timers as well as a member of (or receiver for) the 2008 class, the list for which includes Roddy Piper and Stu Hart (scheduled to be accepted by Bret Hart). I can barely match wits with Dusty and Jeremy; how do I expect to keep up with Roddy Piper?
I watched the AWA Classic show on ESPN last night. Wowee wow wow. Definitely not the glory days of the league.
(This show originally aired on March 4, 1986) Buddhakhan vs. Sean Micheals. Micheals looks like he has promise. I wonder whatever became of him? A guy with a very similar and more properly spelled name (oh boy, I'm gonna hear from the Seans now) became a big star. It's been said a million times on a million DVD alternate commentary tracks, but Michaels (joke's old) showed all the signs of stardom here.
Doug "Pretty Boy" Somers vs. "Big" Scott Hall (w/Curt Hennig). Oh, I get it, Doug Somers isn't pretty. It's all a con. Greg Gagne was on commentary promoting WrestleRock '86 as "something that the wrestling fans have always wanted but never seen." I just looked up the card, and I don't really want to see a lot of that. Hall was well groomed, with his fluffy mullet and porno stash. He was also wearing his Starship Coyote get-up from his Central States days. Hilarious. It looks like he bought that outfit from the back of a pickup truck in a mall parking lot.
Interview with Hall and Hennig. Hall was understandably blown up, and Hennig was promoing on his beef with Stan Hansen. Let me guess, the big, blind bastard clotheslined Hennig's bottom tooth out of his face. That wouldn't surprise me. The belts these two are holding are now on display at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. (You like how I did that?)
Sitdown interview w/Larry Zbyszko. I dare anyone to spell his name right twice in a row. Interviewer Larry Nelson asked Zbyszko about Marty Jannetty, and a really poorly put-together video of Marty's matches was aired. I mean laughably poor. Like two-VCRs-hooked-together poor. Like AWA poor. And they used music the crew of "The Love Boat" would have tossed overboard. All of a sudden, Marty was sitting next to Nelson and Zbyszko, talking about he's been perfecting some tag team moves with Sean Micheals. Zbyszko cut him off, saying he had no idea what Marty was mumbling about, then cutting down his dress and his discipline. He asked if Marty has a vicious streak, and Marty responded sternly that someday they'd be in the ring together, and Larry would find out. Both wrestlers were really good here. Especially Zbyszko, as he was verbally playing (say it with me) the game of human chess.
Clips aired of Jerry Blackwell vs. King Kong Brody. I can see how Blackwell was the heir apparent after Hulk Hogan left. Everyone likes cinnamon rolls, and he kinda resembled some uncooked dough. What a gross, sloppy man. King Kong (Bruiser) Brody was one of Sheik Adnan al-Kaissey's charges, and Brody turned the "match" into his usual unhinged brawl. Good times. Buck Zumhoffe and Leon White (awesome) helped Blackwell out of the ring. I wish they'd help White into the ring so I can see some Vader Time before anyone even set the watch.
Boris Zhukov (w/al-Kaissey, some Amy Winehouse eye makeup, and some really silly theme music) vs. Jerry Blackwell. I like how Blackwell was 478 pounds and shorter than Zhukov. "Camel" got edited out when proud patriot Blackwell called Sheik the "number-one camel jockey" over the house mic. Seriously, Wade, explain this to me, because Blackwell just looks like one of those fat, angry losers you see on Sunday morning at Wal-Mart. How do I know? Come on, I set you up, for crying out loud. The crowd chanted "Sheik's a freak." I hope ROH fans pick up on that one. I like the dainty steps Blackwell takes while running toward the ropes, which he hits with this side. Blackwell nailed a dropkick that would make Renegade roll over in his grave.
Blackwell cut a promo about not liking Russians and "Ay-rabs." Oh boy. He said he likes coming to Las Vegas and looking at all the purty lights. Jesus, this is terrible; I'm glad this show is over.
Alright, I can hear my cow roommate putting the dishes away for the first time in her life, so I better wind this up before she knocks on my door to brag. Look for a more focused blog to follow a night when I'm not on the Audio Experience.
Eric Nelson is the "E" in the DEJ Experience. You can hear from this bunch of thugs every Wednesday night at www.PWTorch.com/members. Then, Eric's blogs run Thursdays, Dusty's run Fridays, Kevin's run Saturdays and Jeremy's run Sundays. And the guys are requesting Ask the Experience questions either on the PWTorch VIP Forum (sign up now!) or at theaudioexperience@gmail.com.
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