What do you miss most about "Classic" Wrestling?

[Iceman]

cradleshock said:

Good managers and the selling of moves. Today, I'm hard pushed to find a move that no one has ever kicked out of. Back in the good old days we used to believe in finishers, and it was a huge event when someone kicked out of a finisher. Now, it's almost a customary part of main events.

As for what Iceman was saying about needing other 'strong' leagues, I believe that TNA and ROH are our only current hopes, with TNA getting the national TV deal and ROH's huge following. I kinda view ROH as today's ECW, because ECW was a unique promotion in it's day, and ROH is the most unique promotion around at the moment, with the whole 'Code of Honor' deal and the more realistic action.

Yeah, good point Cradle Shock on the finishing moves, now a days they don't finish anything and it's a shame. Back in the day Jake Roberts could do one DDT and it was lights out, Raven does 5 DDTs and they still kick out, just not right. Even funner is the only finisher that nobody ever kicks out of is Hogan's Leg Drop, now that makes sense right, lol.

Yeah, I hope either TNA or ROH step up. I have never seen ROH but it sounds interesting/good, is it ever on TV?

[Cradle Shock]

Don't know, seeing as I live in England. We get it on the Wrestling Channel on Sky Digital. Seeing as you live in Pennsylvania, I'd guess they might have a spot on one of the local channels in your area. If they don't, then buy some ROH DVD's. You can buy them from www.rohwrestling.com

[Hart]

What do I miss about classic wrestling? Just that! Classic "wrestling" matches between guys who could get down on the mat and work one another hold for hold. They might have been slow about it sometimes, but it went a long way to building up the tension in a match.

If a guy does that nowadays it doesn't take long for the crowd to chant, "Boring!" or "This match stinks!"

EDIT: Class! My s-u-c-k-s was replaced with "stinks"
Sorry for working around it then.

[Martyn]

I miss the original tag division with teams such as Hart foundation, demolation, british bulldogs etc...

I definitly miss Pipers pit and some of the exellent promo's that he did, that guy is a natural on the mic

I miss the managers such as bobby heenan, slick, jimmy hart etc..as they made you want to hate them in the day

And i miss the classic wrestlers such as hogan/savage/warrior

and Gorrila Monsoon R.I.P

[Brunomark]

I miss getting to the arena two hours before a show, watching the wrestlers come in, sitting and talking with fellow fans, the "feel" of a wrestling show, the buildup, the smell of the old worn-in arenas, smokefilled and the anticipation of not knowing what was going to happen at the show, the opening "squash"matches, standing by the dressing room door as the guys stood and watched the other matches, getting autographs, seeing the guys were real people like the rest of us, the old ring lights, hoping for a title change that night, seeing the world champion on a spot show versus a top challenger. Damn, now I'm really depressed.

[Iceman]

brunomark said:

I miss getting to the arena two hours before a show, watching the wrestlers come in, sitting and talking with fellow fans, the "feel" of a wrestling show, the buildup, the smell of the old worn-in arenas, smoke filled and the anticipation of not knowing what was going to happen at the show, the opening "squash"matches, standing by the dressing room door as the guys stood and watched the other matches, getting autographs, seeing the guys were real people like the rest of us, the old ring lights, hoping for a title change that night, seeing the world champion on a spot show versus a top challenger. Damn, now I'm really depressed.

Sounds like some good times being around Wrestling then Bruno. Miss stuff like that too, or the idea/atmosphere of it, the "Realism" of Wrestling.

[rlb147]

story lines ,BOB CAUDLE,THE REAL RIC FLAIR.


thanks rlb 147

[Warrior]

I don't miss anything, because I really wasnt around in classic years as much as I love them, lol, I just slap on a DVD.


I believe the characters were alot more interesting back then and I just plain like things to be kayfabed, its more fun.
Nowadays Vince seems like he doesnt give a... Yeah.

[Hulk Hogan 1 Fan]

admin said:

What do you miss most about "Classic" Wrestling?

I miss and think "Classic" WWF Wrestling was so much better than current Wrestling. From 1980-1992.

I miss:

Piper's Pit (Roddy Piper)
Mr.T
Saturday Night's Main Event
Saturday and Sunday morning Wrestling (just relaxing in the morning watching it was great)
Jesse the "Body" Ventura doing commentary.
Bobby the "Brain" Heenan overall.
Macho Madness (Randy Savage w/Elizabeth)
The Skits and Interviews before the matches.

Skit: Roddy Piper, Bob Orton, and Vince go to the Doctor's office to discuss Bobs Cast and look at X-Ray. "Quack, quack, quack"

The Managers: Mr.Fuji, "Classie" Freddie Blassie, Captain Lou Albano, Cindi Lauper, Bobby the "Brain" Heenan, Jimmy Hart, Elizabeth, Slick, "Scary" Sherri, Paul Bearer, Brother Love.

And what I miss the most was all the Superstars in Wrestling back then. Now Wrestling has no Stars and half of us could Wrestle just as good as them in my opinion, and anybody that juices regularly is a Pro Wrestler all of a sudden.

WWF Classic Stars: Bruno Sammartino, "Superstar" Billy Graham, Ivan Putski, Nikolai Volkoff, Tony Atlas, Ken Patera, the Moon Dogs "Rex" and "Spot", the Iron Sheik, Andre the Giant, the "Magnificent" Don Maruco, Jesse the "Body" Ventura, Brutus the "Barber" Beefcake, Big John Studd, Adrian Adonis, Jimmy "Super Fly" Snuka, Hulk Hogan, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorf, George the "Animal" Steele, Sgt Slaughter, Kamala the "Human Head Hunter", Mr.T, Junk Yard Dog, King Kong Bundy, Ricky the "Dragon" Steamboat, Hillbilly Jim, Uncle Elmer, Cousin Luke, "Leaping" Lanny Poffo, Corporal Kirschner, the Missing Link, Randy "Macho Man" Savage with Elizabeth, Jim the "Anvil" Neidhart, Billy Jack Haynes, Jake the "Snake" Roberts, Haiti Kid, Terry Funk, Hercules, the "Natural" Butch Reed, the Honky Tonk Man, the One Man Gang, the "Model" Rick Martel, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, the "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase, Virgil, "Mr.Perfect" Curt Hennig, the Ultimate Warrior, Akeem the "African Dream", HBK, the Undertaker, Razor Ramon / Scott Hall, Tatanka.

This was when Wrestling was real, or at least real good.

You hit the nail on the head, BROTHER!

[terminator12]

I MISS EVERYTHING CLASSIC TAG TEAMS,HISTORIC FEUDS,AND THE FINISHERS!!

[Iceman]

Thanks Hogan 1 Fan, I guess we're on the same page. Sure was great back then.

[Scott Joyce]

Pipers pit was great, also the original 4 horsemen, Flairs classic matches against Dusty Rhodes, Kerry Von Erich, and so many others. Brusier Brody and Stan Hansen as well. This in my opinion is when wrestling was at its best.

[Alpha Clash]

I miss Gordon Solie, Jerry Lawler on Memphis TV fighting Eddie Gilbert & Bill Dundee, old NWA with Road Warriors, Four Horsemen, Sting, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff.....how about the CWA where a young Master Of Pain debuted (aka Undertaker), AWA with High Flyers, Jesse Ventura, Adrian Adonis....World Class with the Von Erichs vs. The Freebirds..the 80's was a great time to be a wrestling fan regardless of what territory you watched.

[Michael Abrams]

I miss EVERYTHING you guys have mentioned plus a couple more:

I miss Wrestling Revue Magazine

I miss House Show programs that have the lineup PRINTED inside the program - not a generic program with an 'insert' of the match listing.

I miss eavesdropping on the 'insiders' up at the MSG bowling alley bar before the show

I miss Sunnyside Garden

I miss Joe Turco

I miss having pen pals to trade programs, newspaper clippings and news in general about the different feds.

But you know what? That's why there are DVDs and message boards like this. To reminisce about the 'old days' but to live today !!

Thanks for the memories !!!
Michael Abrams

[Scott Joyce]

It really was a great era in wrestling and in the personalities of the wrestlers back then IMO were alot more enjoyable. Flair was a really fun champion and his feud with all the top stars like Rhodes, Garvin, Magnum TA, and alot of others were fantastic. I also thought the wrestlers were better at holding a match and keeping things on a top level back then as well.