Digest

This episode of Something to Wrestle with Bruce Pritchard features a mix of personal reflections and wrestling analysis. Bruce Pritchard begins by sharing memories of Dennis Brent, a close friend of Jim Ross and an avid Nolan Ryan collector, and Kevin Sullivan, who he knew through Tom Pritchard. He reflects on the passing of both men and their contributions to the wrestling world. Pritchard then expresses his anger and disappointment towards Dave Meltzer for reporting the death of the Wild Samoan before it was confirmed. He criticizes Meltzer's unprofessionalism and calls him an embarrassment to the wrestling community. Pritchard continues by sharing his memories of the Wild Samoan, highlighting his presence and impact on the wrestling world. He emphasizes the Wild Samoan's integrity and his unwavering stance against injustice. The episode then shifts to a watch-along of Monday Night Raw from August 20th, 2001, the night after SummerSlam. Pritchard and Conrad Thompson discuss the show's highlights, including Stone Cold Appreciation Night, the Alliance's presence, and the ongoing invasion storyline. Pritchard discusses the positive impact of SmackDown's return to UPN, which resulted in the highest ratings the network had seen in months. He attributes the success to the show's counter-programming strategy and its appeal to male viewers. The episode also features a discussion of the creative pairing of The Rock and Lance Storm, highlighting the contrast between their personalities and the entertainment value it brought to the show. Pritchard shares his fond memories of Arco Arena, where he witnessed his brother's first-ever ice main event. He discusses the unique characteristics of the arena and the passionate audience that made it a memorable venue. The episode continues with a humorous incident where Pritchard pretended to heal a truck driver during a live broadcast. He describes the situation, the driver's ailments, and the unexpected outcome of the "healing." Pritchard and Thompson discuss Stone Cold Appreciation Night, featuring a tribute from Hurricane Helms. They share anecdotes about Hurricane Helms and his connection to Stone Cold Steve Austin. Pritchard discusses the challenges of working with Sean Staziac, who struggled to deliver a simple Stone Cold tribute. He compares Staziac's difficulties to Bob Backlund's infamous 96 takes for a Victory magazine commercial. The discussion delves into the decline of WCW, highlighting the loss of interest from new fans and the challenges of integrating WCW talent into WWE. The episode also explores the backstage dynamics during the Invasion storyline, including the reception of Booker T and the frustrations with TAS. The episode concludes with a preview of next week's episode, which will feature a deep dive into SummerSlam 1994. The episode highlights the key matches and events from the event, including the Undertaker vs. the Underfaker and the return of David Boy Smith.

Outlines

00:00:48

Remembering Dennis Brent, Kevin Sullivan, and the Wild Samoan

Bruce Pritchard shares memories of Dennis Brent and Kevin Sullivan, reflecting on their passing and contributions to the wrestling world. He also expresses his anger towards Dave Meltzer for reporting the death of the Wild Samoan before it was confirmed, criticizing his unprofessionalism.

00:11:54

Monday Night Raw: August 20th, 2001 and the WCW Invasion

Bruce Pritchard and Conrad Thompson watch and discuss Monday Night Raw from August 20th, 2001, the night after SummerSlam, focusing on Stone Cold Appreciation Night, the Alliance's presence, and the ongoing invasion storyline.

00:32:56

SmackDown's Success and the Rock vs. Lance Storm

Bruce Pritchard discusses the positive impact of SmackDown's return to UPN, attributing its success to counter-programming and its appeal to male viewers. He also analyzes the creative pairing of The Rock and Lance Storm, highlighting the contrast between their personalities.

00:39:07

Memories of Arco Arena and a Humorous Healing Incident

Bruce Pritchard shares his fond memories of Arco Arena, where he witnessed his brother's first-ever ice main event. He also recounts a humorous incident where he pretended to heal a truck driver during a live broadcast.

00:47:03

Stone Cold Appreciation Night and Sean Staziac's Struggles

Bruce Pritchard and Conrad Thompson discuss Stone Cold Appreciation Night, featuring a tribute from Hurricane Helms. Pritchard also discusses the challenges of working with Sean Staziac, who struggled to deliver a simple Stone Cold tribute.

01:17:41

WCW's Deterioration and the Invasion Storyline

The discussion delves into the decline of WCW, highlighting the loss of interest from new fans and the challenges of integrating WCW talent into WWE. The episode also explores the backstage dynamics during the Invasion storyline, including the reception of Booker T and the frustrations with TAS.

01:24:38

Booker T's Domination, Sarah's Short-Lived Run, and the "What" Chant

The conversation shifts to Booker T's performance and his consistent physical fitness. The episode also touches upon the brief appearance of Sarah, the Undertaker's wife, and the reasons behind her limited involvement in the storyline. The episode discusses the origins of the "What" chant associated with Steve Austin and the mixed reactions it received.

01:28:37

The Snakebit DDP Storyline and the Invasion's Presentation

The discussion focuses on the DDP storyline, acknowledging its shortcomings and the reasons behind its failure. The episode highlights the initial vision for the storyline and how it deviated from the original concept. The episode examines the presentation of the Invasion storyline, addressing the criticism of WCW talent being portrayed as buffoons.

01:35:09

Direct TV's Greed, Vince McMahon's Involvement, and the Milk Truck Angle

The episode delves into the conflict between WWE and Direct TV over pay-per-view splits. It also explores Vince McMahon's increased involvement in main event storylines during this era, particularly with Austin and The Rock. The episode focuses on the iconic milk truck angle, discussing its origins and its impact on Kurt Angle's career.

01:45:53

SummerSlam 1994 Preview

The episode concludes with a preview of next week's episode, which will feature a deep dive into SummerSlam 1994. The episode highlights the key matches and events from the event, including the Undertaker vs. the Underfaker and the return of David Boy Smith.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some of Bruce Pritchard's most memorable moments from Arco Arena?

  Bruce Pritchard remembers his brother's first-ever ice main event at Arco Arena, featuring a match against the legendary Hulk Hogan. He also recalls the passionate audience and the unique characteristics of the arena that made it a special venue.

• How did the WCW Invasion storyline impact the WWE?

  The WCW Invasion storyline brought a surge of new talent and storylines to the WWE, initially generating significant interest and viewership. However, the storyline also presented challenges, as some of the WCW talent struggled to adapt to the WWE's style and environment.

• What was the significance of SmackDown's return to UPN?

  SmackDown's return to UPN resulted in a significant ratings boost for the network, demonstrating the show's strong appeal to male viewers. This success highlighted the WWE's ability to attract a large audience and its potential to counter-program against established network programming.

• How did Bruce Pritchard view the creative pairing of The Rock and Lance Storm?

  Bruce Pritchard saw the pairing of The Rock and Lance Storm as a creative contrast, with The Rock's entertaining and charismatic personality juxtaposed against Lance Storm's more straightforward and less engaging persona. He believed this dynamic created a unique and entertaining segment for the audience.

• What were some of the challenges Bruce Pritchard faced while working with Sean Staziac?

  Bruce Pritchard found Sean Staziac to be a difficult talent to work with, as he struggled to deliver lines and often required numerous takes. He compared Staziac's difficulties to Bob Backlund's infamous 96 takes for a Victory magazine commercial, highlighting the frustration that producers often experienced when working with Staziac.

• Why did WCW lose interest from new fans?

  WCW's product deteriorated over time, leading to a loss of interest from new fans. The company struggled to maintain its appeal and failed to attract a new audience.

• What were the challenges of integrating WCW talent into WWE?

  Integrating WCW talent into WWE proved challenging due to differences in ring size, working styles, and overall talent levels. The transition was not seamless, and many WCW stars struggled to adapt to the WWE environment.

• What was the initial vision for the DDP storyline?

  The initial vision for the DDP storyline was to delve into the Undertaker's mind and create a more psychotic character in Dallas. The goal was to have Dallas get inside the head of the biggest guy in the yard.

• What was the issue between WWE and Direct TV?

  The issue between WWE and Direct TV stemmed from pay-per-view splits. Direct TV wanted a larger share of the revenue, while WWE was unwilling to give up a significant portion of their earnings.

• Why was the milk truck angle so iconic?

  The milk truck angle was iconic because it was a memorable and unexpected moment that showcased Kurt Angle's personality and willingness to go all-in. It became a defining moment in his career and a symbol of his unique style.

Show Notes