Digest

This episode of Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard delves into the tumultuous year of 1997 and 1998 in the WWF, focusing on the impact of Brian Pillman's death, the debut of Kane, and the pivotal year for Mick Foley's career. The episode begins with a discussion of the emotional impact of Pillman's passing on the WWF, highlighting the scramble to adjust the show and the somber atmosphere backstage. The conversation then shifts to the debut of Kane at Bad Blood and his first feud with Dude Love, exploring why Mick Foley was the perfect choice for this rivalry. The episode further examines the Montreal Screwjob and its impact on Foley, discussing his decision to not go to TV after the event and his eventual return. The discussion then moves to Foley's pitch for a death match tournament with Terry Funk, exploring the feasibility and potential impact of this idea. The episode also delves into the shift in plans after the death match tournament was scrapped, focusing on the rise of the New Age Outlaws and their feud with Cactus Jack and Terry Funk. The episode further explores the origin of the Chainsaw Charlie gimmick, adopted by Terry Funk as a tribute to his friend John Ayers. The episode concludes with a discussion of the significance of 1998 for Mick Foley's career, highlighting his various storylines and matches, including his feud with Terry Funk, his Hell in a Cell match, and his World Championship win. The speakers emphasize the importance of 1998 for Foley's career, solidifying his status as a wrestling icon.

Outlines

00:00:50

The Impact of Brian Pillman's Death

Conrad Thompson and Bruce Prichard discuss the debut of Cactus Jack at Madison Square Garden and the tragic passing of Brian Pillman the night before the event. They talk about the scramble to adjust the show and the emotional impact of Pillman's death.

00:06:22

Dude Love's Role in the Pillman/Goldust Angle

Conrad asks Bruce about Dude Love's potential involvement in the Pillman/Goldust storyline. Bruce believes there were no specific plans at that time and they were taking things as they came.

00:07:29

A Fun House Show Match with Owen Hart

Conrad and Bruce discuss a house show match between Dude Love and Owen Hart, where they used props like carpet pieces and popcorn bags to make Stone Cold laugh.

00:09:52

Kane's Debut and First Opponent

Conrad and Bruce discuss Kane's debut at Bad Blood and his first opponent, Dude Love. They explore why Mick Foley was the perfect choice for Kane's first feud.

00:13:16

Kane's Lighting Gimmick at Survivor Series

Conrad and Bruce discuss the lighting gimmick used for Kane at Survivor Series 1997, where the arena lights were dimmed and red lights were used. They discuss why this gimmick was short-lived.

00:16:21

The Montreal Screwjob and Mick Foley's Reaction

Conrad and Bruce discuss the Montreal Screwjob and how it affected Mick Foley. They talk about Foley's decision to not go to TV after the event and his eventual return.

00:21:11

Mick Foley's Pitch for a Death Match Tournament

Conrad and Bruce discuss Mick Foley's pitch for a death match tournament with Terry Funk, culminating in an exploding ring at Funk's ranch. They discuss the feasibility and potential impact of this idea.

00:29:16

The New Age Outlaws and the Shift in Plans

Conrad and Bruce discuss the shift in plans after the death match tournament idea was scrapped. They talk about the New Age Outlaws becoming a formidable tag team and their feud with Cactus Jack and Terry Funk.

00:34:55

The Birth of Chainsaw Charlie

Conrad and Bruce discuss the origin of the Chainsaw Charlie gimmick, which Terry Funk adopted as a tribute to his friend John Ayers. They talk about the behind-the-scenes story of how the gimmick came to be.

00:54:13

Sean Michaels' Injury and the No Way Out Match

Conrad and Bruce discuss Sean Michaels' injury and how it affected the No Way Out pay-per-view. They talk about the multi-man tag team match that was put together as a replacement for Michaels.

01:09:14

The Night After WrestleMania 14 and the Rise of Dude Love

Conrad and Bruce discuss the night after WrestleMania 14, where Cactus Jack lost the tag titles to the New Age Outlaws in a cage match. They talk about the significance of this event for Mick Foley's character development and the return of Dude Love as a heel. They also discuss the episode of Raw where Dude Love's heel turn happened and its significance in marking the first time Raw beat Nitro in 83 weeks.

01:18:30

The Importance of Dude Love and 1998 for Mick Foley

The discussion revolves around Mick Foley's Dude Love character and its significance in his career. The speakers highlight the match against Steve Austin at Over the Edge 1998 as a prime example of Dude Love's effectiveness. They emphasize how Foley's ability to adapt his characters and maintain their purity contributed to his success. They also discuss the importance of 1998 for Mick Foley's career, solidifying his status as a wrestling icon. They discuss his various storylines and matches, including his feud with Terry Funk, his Hell in a Cell match, and his World Championship win.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the emotional impact of Brian Pillman's death on the WWF?

  Pillman's death was a shock to everyone, and it created a somber atmosphere backstage. The WWF had to scramble to adjust the show, and the creative team was not the primary focus at that time.

• Why was Mick Foley the perfect first opponent for Kane?

  Mick Foley's multiple personas, particularly Mankind, were the perfect foil for Kane's monstrous persona. Their contrasting styles created a compelling and entertaining feud.

• How did the Montreal Screwjob affect Mick Foley?

  Foley was deeply upset by the Screwjob, feeling that his friend Bret Hart had been wronged. He protested by not going to TV after the event, but eventually returned after being persuaded by Jim Ross and Jim Cornette.

• What was the origin of the Chainsaw Charlie gimmick?

  Terry Funk adopted the Chainsaw Charlie gimmick as a tribute to his friend John Ayers, who had passed away from cancer. The gimmick was inspired by Ayers's childhood experience with a bad barber.

• How did Sean Michaels' injury affect the No Way Out pay-per-view?

  Michaels' injury forced the WWF to change the main event of No Way Out, replacing him with a multi-man tag team match. The injury also impacted the overall storyline leading up to WrestleMania 14.

• What makes the match between Steve Austin and Mick Foley's Dude Love character at Over the Edge 1998 so memorable?

  The match showcased the versatility of Mick Foley's characters and the effectiveness of Dude Love as a heel. It also served as a significant moment in Steve Austin's title reign.

• Why is 1998 considered a pivotal year for Mick Foley's career?

  1998 saw Foley's career reach new heights with his various storylines, including his feud with Terry Funk, his Hell in a Cell match, and his World Championship win.

• What are some of the key storylines and matches that took place in 1998 involving Mick Foley?

  Foley's 1998 storylines included his feud with Terry Funk, his Hell in a Cell match, and his World Championship win. He also had notable matches against Kane and Steve Austin.

Show Notes