MattelsRule
Main Eventer
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Joined on: Mar 18, 2005 2:03:07 GMT -5
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Post by MattelsRule on Mar 4, 2015 20:02:21 GMT -5
Watching all the raws they are putting up on the network.
WWF really couldn't catch a break this year. On top of all the other reasons like Hall and Nash leaving and HBK having kind of a boring run as champion, they lost their other 2 top guys - Warrior and Ahmed - at really crapty points.
They had such plans for Ahmed. He was supposed to have a decent feud with Simmons with a title match at Summerslam and then of course he wins this 30 minute battle royal to challenge the WWF champion night after. His injury altered plans and ruined his career. Crazy.
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96 WWF
Mar 4, 2015 21:30:52 GMT -5
Post by Hendrix83 on Mar 4, 2015 21:30:52 GMT -5
I love 1996. Without that year the "Attitude Era" could have never happened. You can't really understand what made the late 90's so great without going through 96. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart. The birth of Austin 3:16. The Undertakers transformation. Austin vs. Bret, which propelled Austin to greatness.
You're right about Ahmed Johnson too, it's a shame. It seems like everytime he was about to catch a break, he got injured. The 1996 injury Faarooq later admitted was done on purpose because he didn't want Ahmed to be the first black WWF champion, a position he wanted for himself. So thankfully Ahmed gave him his receipt a few months later at Wrestlemania 13. I think Ahmed broke his ribs or something like that by giving him a Pearl River Plunge through the announce table.
Then in 97, Ahmed was scheduled to main event the July PPV vs. Undertaker for the WWF championship. Again, as soon as he was #1 contender he was injured. People on forums like this tend to dislike Ahmed but I think he would've had a helluva career had he not been so injury prone.
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MattelsRule
Main Eventer
JakksRule is dead! Long live MattelsRule!
Joined on: Mar 18, 2005 2:03:07 GMT -5
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Post by MattelsRule on Mar 4, 2015 21:35:11 GMT -5
Ahmed couldn't talk. He was really bad on the mic. Looking back - it's cringeworthy and when Lawler mocks him it's hilarious. I don't think he ever would have won the world title even if he stayed healthy. I never heard Simmons injured him on purpose. That seems kind of ridiculous considering he was just signed by the company - so why he would want to start off by injuring one of their top guys on purpose seems to make little sense. I don't know if I buy that.
At the time I was a huge Ahmed fan. He was such a fresh character for the company. There really wasn't anyone like him ever - especially in the 90s. He was pushed to the moon too. In today's era the fans probably would have shat all over him but at the time he was unique and over as hell. Good thing they were able to sign Sid because he really picked up where Warrior and Ahmed left off.
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96 WWF
Mar 4, 2015 21:44:43 GMT -5
Post by Hendrix83 on Mar 4, 2015 21:44:43 GMT -5
Yeah I think he would've ended up with a few more IC title reigns but he definitely wouldn't have been a World champ in WWF during that time. Maybe in the PG Era when they were handing out "World Heavyweight Championship" reigns. But in an era where guys like Mr. Perfect couldn't even win the strap he stood no chance.
The story about Faarooq injuring him on purpose came from a shoot interview with Ahmed himself that I saw a while back. He said Faarooq told him that a few years later when they had become friends.
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96 WWF
Mar 4, 2015 22:50:20 GMT -5
Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Mar 4, 2015 22:50:20 GMT -5
The 1996 year was weird to me.
For one, January - March of 1996 still felt like leftovers from 1995.
Once Diesel and Razor left, and Bret went on hiatus, it just felt like it was lacking stars.
Thankfully the last few months of 1996 were perfect to make the 1997 year as great as it was!
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MattelsRule
Main Eventer
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Post by MattelsRule on Mar 4, 2015 23:35:01 GMT -5
Things picked up in the fall. That summerslam lacked.
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96 WWF
Mar 5, 2015 10:55:50 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2015 10:55:50 GMT -5
I liked 1996. A lot. Especially late 1996.
Survivor Series '96 is one of my favorite PPVs ever.
1996 gave us:
Mankind vs. Undertaker feud
Beginning of Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold feud
The gradual rise of Stone Cold
Vader
Goldust
Sycho Sid
Good stuff.
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96 WWF
Mar 5, 2015 11:00:20 GMT -5
Post by T R W on Mar 5, 2015 11:00:20 GMT -5
96 was such a mixed bag. There was some great stuff and some just awful stuff. But it really was the beginning of greatness that was hard to realize at the time.
I'll say this, I absolutely despised Ahmed Johnson. He was so terrible. He was awful in the ring and even worse on the mic. It sucks for him but in a way I am glad he couldn't stay healthy because it kept him off the screen more. I hated him. A LOT.
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96 WWF
Mar 5, 2015 11:16:57 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Jonathan Karate on Mar 5, 2015 11:16:57 GMT -5
96 is one of my favorite years and always was even when i was a child.
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Deleted
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96 WWF
Mar 5, 2015 11:38:45 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2015 11:38:45 GMT -5
1996 was one weird year......Vince was really caught with his pants down. WCW caught fire in June and never looked back and Vince was left reeling with none of his major talent aside from HBK & UT.
but man in late 1996 he started to turn things around.....
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koreygunz
Main Eventer
Elite Trader
287 Refs in WFClassifieds and counting
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Posts: 4,674
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96 WWF
Mar 6, 2015 10:51:47 GMT -5
Post by koreygunz on Mar 6, 2015 10:51:47 GMT -5
I'll admit, as a 11 year old, I love Ahmed Johnson! He was huge, powerful, and just looked hard and tough. Looking back now I see he was bad on the mic, but I loved his intensity in the ring and I think its obvious Vince and WWF had some pretty big plans for him. I thought he was a good IC champion and was pushed with the main eventers (HBK, Warrior/Sid) through the summer, including winning that battle royal. Maybe a HBK vs Ahmed Title for Title was in the works? I wish we could have seen what would have happened had he not been injured so much.
1996 had the potential to be a good year for WWF. Despite Hall and Nash leaving, how much better could it have been had Warrior not left, Vader's run been handled better (and HBK not thrown a fit at the idea of Vader getting the belt), Ahmed staying healthy, etc.
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MattelsRule
Main Eventer
JakksRule is dead! Long live MattelsRule!
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Post by MattelsRule on Mar 6, 2015 11:28:27 GMT -5
Looking back I really don't think it was a bad move not giving Vader the belt. I don't think he really deserved it at that point.
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koreygunz
Main Eventer
Elite Trader
287 Refs in WFClassifieds and counting
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96 WWF
Mar 6, 2015 17:20:22 GMT -5
Post by koreygunz on Mar 6, 2015 17:20:22 GMT -5
Looking back I really don't think it was a bad move not giving Vader the belt. I don't think he really deserved it at that point. Vader was a legit monster heel. Granted he was injured and not 100% during his run, but he should have been booked stronger and I think he should have gotten the belt at SummerSlam as planned. This might have helped HBK's run at the top as well, having a big heel that he could possibly get the fans more on his side and overcome the odds against. Sid was too "cool" of a heel for him to work with in that role, which is why the Survivor Series crowd cheered Sid on. I think the idea was to turn Sid heel at SvrS but the crowd didnt really allow it. |
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96 WWF
Mar 6, 2015 23:40:35 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2015 23:40:35 GMT -5
Ahmed also wasn't a safe worker. Owen and Davey hated working with Ahmed because he'd slam them so hard they'd see birdies. Owen and Davey, who were no softies..
He supposedly injured the Sultan (Rikishi) as well and that was the final straw, but who knows. All in all Ahmed's career seems like wasted opportunity.
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Post by Emerald Enthusiast on Mar 7, 2015 4:29:20 GMT -5
Watching all the raws they are putting up on the network. WWF really couldn't catch a break this year. On top of all the other reasons like Hall and Nash leaving and HBK having kind of a boring run as champion, they lost their other 2 top guys - Warrior and Ahmed - at really crapty points. They had such plans for Ahmed. He was supposed to have a decent feud with Simmons with a title match at Summerslam and then of course he wins this 30 minute battle royal to challenge the WWF champion night after. His injury altered plans and ruined his career. Crazy. My goodness, man, my...goodness.  HBK was anything but boring. HBK in '95-mid'98 might be the best overall performance run anyone has ever had anywhere. He was carrying everyone to 4 and 5 star matches, even statues like Sid and Bundy. Even Ric Flair admitted that this was the point where he realized he had been supplanted as the biz #1 best performer. Plus this was the year that the landmark Mankind vs Undertaker and Steve Austin vs Bret Hart feuds developed. WCW owned that summer with the NWO angle, but you could see the WWF changing the game by the end of '96. While WCW was rehashing old feuds with aging guys like Hogan vs Piper, WWF was creating a new era of stars and edgy programming. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 5:36:56 GMT -5
HBKs matches as champ were great stuff but his run was marred by his own selfish antics in booking himself so strongly outside of those matches.
His match vs Vader was ruined at Summerslam by his in ring antics and the fact that Vader was booked to run from him @ IYH: International Incident. Absolutely atrocious and horrifically counterproductive booking.
However his matches vs Diesel, Bulldog, Mankind & Sid were great.
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Revy
Superstar
Joined on: Oct 12, 2011 22:31:15 GMT -5
Posts: 707
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96 WWF
Mar 7, 2015 11:07:48 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Revy on Mar 7, 2015 11:07:48 GMT -5
I think HBK was great. JR. said it best when saying he would hate to see where the company would have been had Shawn not been as good as he was. Vader was also going through shoulder rehab during his early run in WWF so Im sure that hindered a lot of his stuff.
There was a ton of good things out of this year that has already been mentioned.
I hate Goldust was almost too good at his character since they had to back off by the later part of 96.
The mind games match with Shawn and mankind is still my all time favorite.
Sid was great!
Austin was on fire. 96- to when he finally captured the title is my favorite era for him. He was so good as a heel before the people really got behind him.
We finally got better matches on raw tarting in 96. They started phasing out the jobber era. Obviously not before the ridiculous gimmick guys (hopper and goon).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 12:32:20 GMT -5
Looking back I really don't think it was a bad move not giving Vader the belt. I don't think he really deserved it at that point. Vader was a legit monster heel. Granted he was injured and not 100% during his run, but he should have been booked stronger and I think he should have gotten the belt at SummerSlam as planned. This might have helped HBK's run at the top as well, having a big heel that he could possibly get the fans more on his side and overcome the odds against. Sid was too "cool" of a heel for him to work with in that role, which is why the Survivor Series crowd cheered Sid on. I think the idea was to turn Sid heel at SvrS but the crowd didnt really allow it. HBK would be a remembered a LOT more fondly if the Vader thing hadn't went down the way it did. Basically HBKs ego and Vince's blind spot for him resulted in a catastrophic program with Vader. Vader being booked to run from HBK at IYH: International Incident wrecked viewer interest in Summerslam 96. HBK should have been left laying here......and again before Summerslam where he put up one HELL of a fight(solidifying crowd support)before ultimately going down for the 123. Here's how I would have booked Vader's run. This assumes of course that HBK hasn't lost the plot like he did in real life. Raw after Summerslam: HBk cuts a promo saying that he needs to dig down deep to go after Vader again.....and sets about to take on everyone and anyone in the meantime. vs UT @ IYH "Mind Games". This springs from a tag match on the ME of Raw that features UT & HBK vs Vader & Mankind(double DQ wild brawl). HBK takes on Mankind in the semifinal spot to keep him on point and we still get this SUPER encounter. Mankind intereferes and Vader is DQd but Vader is booked STRONG vs UT and is furious at Foley. vs Ahmed Johnson @ IYH "Buried Alive". HBK wrestles HHH in a cracker on the undercard. Sid defeats Owen or Goldust in a 1# contenders bout. vs Sid @ Survivor Series. Vader goes over after a brutal encounter.....HBK defeats Goldust on the undercard. vs Bret @ IYH: "Its Time". Vader goes over because of Austin but again looks like a monster. vs HBK @ RR97: HBK regains in his hometown and his journey to restore himself is complete. after that? yeah have HBK relinquish the title same as before......Final 4 still happens.....and Vader beats Bret the next night to be beaten by UT @ WM13. later when Vader turns face during the USA vs Canada stuff? he can be Harts opponent @ IYH:Bad Blood instead of the flag match because "Hart never beat him before" Jesus I'm good.....what do you think @bashcrashwiley |
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96 WWF
Mar 7, 2015 12:40:59 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 12:40:59 GMT -5
Vader was a legit monster heel. Granted he was injured and not 100% during his run, but he should have been booked stronger and I think he should have gotten the belt at SummerSlam as planned. This might have helped HBK's run at the top as well, having a big heel that he could possibly get the fans more on his side and overcome the odds against. Sid was too "cool" of a heel for him to work with in that role, which is why the Survivor Series crowd cheered Sid on. I think the idea was to turn Sid heel at SvrS but the crowd didnt really allow it. HBK would be a remembered a LOT more fondly if the Vader thing hadn't went down the way it did. Basically HBKs ego and Vince's blind spot for him resulted in a catastrophic program with Vader. Vader being booked to run from HBK at IYH: International Incident wrecked viewer interest in Summerslam 96. HBK should have been left laying here......and again before Summerslam where he put up one HELL of a fight(solidifying crowd support)before ultimately going down for the 123. Here's how I would have booked Vader's run. This assumes of course that HBK hasn't lost the plot like he did in real life. Raw after Summerslam: HBk cuts a promo saying that he needs to dig down deep to go after Vader again.....and sets about to take on everyone and anyone in the meantime. vs UT @ IYH "Mind Games". This springs from a tag match on the ME of Raw that features UT & HBK vs Vader & Mankind(double DQ wild brawl). HBK takes on Mankind in the semifinal spot to keep him on point and we still get this SUPER encounter. Mankind intereferes and Vader is DQd but Vader is booked STRONG vs UT and is furious at Foley. vs Ahmed Johnson @ IYH "Buried Alive". HBK wrestles HHH in a cracker on the undercard. Sid defeats Owen or Goldust in a 1# contenders bout. vs Sid @ Survivor Series. Vader goes over after a brutal encounter.....HBK defeats Goldust on the undercard. vs Bret @ IYH: "Its Time". Vader goes over because of Austin but again looks like a monster. vs HBK @ RR97: HBK regains in his hometown and his journey to restore himself is complete. after that? yeah have HBK relinquish the title same as before......Final 4 still happens.....and Vader beats Bret the next night to be beaten by UT @ WM13. later when Vader turns face during the USA vs Canada stuff? he can be Harts opponent @ IYH:Bad Blood instead of the flag match because "Hart never beat him before" Jesus I'm good.....what do you think @bashcrashwiley I like it. Vader deserved a run with the title. I also wish we got a HBK vs. Goldust program. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2015 12:42:13 GMT -5
1996 gave us my favorite promo ever, btw:
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