CSUMB84
Superstar
Joined on: Jan 4, 2005 3:24:32 GMT -5
Posts: 635
|
Post by CSUMB84 on Nov 18, 2007 3:54:18 GMT -5
When Ron Simmons defeated Vader for the WCW Heavyweight Title, becoming the first Black WCW Champion.
I have always felt this moment has been one of the most under-rated and under-appreciated moments in wrestling history. The emotion shown by Simmons and the fans is something we as fans don't see anymore or see anything that would cause us to react like that anymore.
|
|
dimshady
Main Eventer
Can never get his Avater to work!
Joined on: Dec 3, 2006 9:33:28 GMT -5
Posts: 1,749
|
Post by dimshady on Nov 18, 2007 11:39:59 GMT -5
never seen that b4 im sad too say (not the biggist WCW fan)
thanks for showing that.
|
|
|
Post by taker1 on Nov 18, 2007 13:01:59 GMT -5
I dunno about the greatest night in WCW history, but it's definitely one of the most under-appreciated moments in wrestling history.
|
|
|
Post by Calcifer Boheme on Nov 18, 2007 19:52:22 GMT -5
Not just the first Black WCW champion... The first Black World champion period, in any company.
very awesome.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 28, 2024 9:50:40 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2007 21:03:53 GMT -5
The Best Night In WCW History: March 21, 2001.
|
|
|
Post by Cass on Nov 20, 2007 12:00:24 GMT -5
Not just the first Black WCW champion... The first Black World champion period, in any company. very awesome.
|
|
|
Post by Flava Dave on Nov 20, 2007 12:37:38 GMT -5
The Best Night In WCW History: March 21, 2001. Five days before they were bought out?
|
|
|
Post by Suckasays on Nov 20, 2007 12:42:58 GMT -5
Not just the first Black WCW champion... The first Black World champion period, in any company. very awesome. Ron was still first
|
|
|
Post by moogie101 on Nov 20, 2007 19:02:47 GMT -5
It just came out of nowhere though, Simmons had no real build as even a genuine contender, just won a lottery & surprised the champ for the strap. The crowd emotion seemed to me at the time to be shock rather than genuine emotion, in away similar to Booker's first title run. Went from wrestling as GI Bro on previous PPV to no reaction to winning the strap. However Booker T had ability to build himself from there, Simmons didn't. Seriously devalued Vader losing to a guy who wasn't over or acknowledged as a main eventer and in fairness apart from having a genuine tough man gimmick had little else & so his top line run didn't go anywhere.
It was great that after years of being held back a coloured wrestler got a world title, I just think WCW were in such a rush to achieve that they didn't stop and think if he was really the right man for the job longer time.
|
|
|
Post by 3Lephant (Naptown Icon) on Nov 20, 2007 19:11:43 GMT -5
It was great that after years of being held back a coloured wrestler got a world title What time period are you from, the 1930s?
|
|
CSUMB84
Superstar
Joined on: Jan 4, 2005 3:24:32 GMT -5
Posts: 635
|
Post by CSUMB84 on Nov 20, 2007 20:51:18 GMT -5
It just came out of nowhere though, Simmons had no real build as even a genuine contender, just won a lottery & surprised the champ for the strap. The crowd emotion seemed to me at the time to be shock rather than genuine emotion, in away similar to Booker's first title run. Went from wrestling as GI Bro on previous PPV to no reaction to winning the strap. However Booker T had ability to build himself from there, Simmons didn't. Seriously devalued Vader losing to a guy who wasn't over or acknowledged as a main eventer and in fairness apart from having a genuine tough man gimmick had little else & so his top line run didn't go anywhere. It was great that after years of being held back a coloured wrestler got a world title, I just think WCW were in such a rush to achieve that they didn't stop and think if he was really the right man for the job longer time. There are a few points I have to respectfully disagree with. You were right when you said the emotion from the crowd was of shock rather than pure emotion and I think it was a good kind of shock due to the fact that for close to a year, WCW had done a tremendous job in taking Simmons, a former tag team wrestler, and making him a legitimate threat to the heavyweight title. Before that match with Vader, Simmons had been oh-so close to winning the strap on a plethora of occasions and been heavily established as a Main-Eventer by having a terrific feud with Lex Luger over the title in 1991, culminating in their 2-out-of-three falls match at Halloween Havoc of that year. When Simmons did finally win the strap, I believe it was a combination of fans emotions and the good shock value, something they didn't see coming but made them happy because of how close Simmons had come to winning it as previously mentioned. Now as for Simmons not being over, I again have to disagree. Sting was without a doubt the most over guy in WCW, ever. Simmons, in my opinion, was the second most popular babyface in the company, despite the company's attempts to push Dustin Rhodes and Erik Watts to the moon during the time. On a side not, Rhodes did have a popular tag team run with Barry Windham as WCW Tag Team Champions. As for Simmons not building himself after winning the title, I think that had more to do with their not being good challengers for him to go against, the same as when Sting first won the title from Ric Flair at the 1990 Great American Bash. When you compare Sting and Simmons opponents from their initial title runs, they are quite similar. I mean, Sting faced Sid Vicious at the 1990 Halloween Havoc, Black Scorpion (Ric Flair) at Starrcade 1990 and then lost the title to Flair in January 1991. For Simmons, he faced the Barbarian at the 92 Havoc while all the other main opponents he could have faced were in other feuds, such as Jake Roberts feuding with Sting, Rick Rude feuding with Chono and Vader facing Nikita Koloff. In addition, he helped bring in 2 Cold Scorpio on a Clash of the Champions event as he was feuding with Barbarian, Tony Atlas and Cactus Jack.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Jun 28, 2024 9:50:40 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2007 21:16:22 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Cass on Nov 20, 2007 21:21:53 GMT -5
But he said in any company, Lashley would have been teh first Coloured ECW Champion
|
|
|
Post by foshizzle on Nov 20, 2007 21:36:59 GMT -5
But he said in any company, Lashley would have been teh first Coloured ECW Champion He means in any company at THAT time, HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK Champ. Lashley was one of the last. Get it? Simmons won the WCW Title BEFORE andone else in ANY company. Then, Lashley, Booker, and many others got it.
|
|
robl7up
Main Eventer
139 refs
Joined on: Feb 16, 2006 12:34:15 GMT -5
Posts: 2,848
|
Post by robl7up on Nov 21, 2007 13:39:03 GMT -5
GOLDBERG BEATS HOGAN on Nitro...great nite!
|
|
|
Post by markallenkellner on Nov 21, 2007 23:25:23 GMT -5
Hogan joins the nWo at Bash at the Beach
|
|
|
Post by mattoriginal on Nov 22, 2007 2:33:19 GMT -5
Hogan joins the nWo at Bash at the Beach I think that would have to be it.
|
|
|
Post by PhoeniX™: Valoween on Nov 22, 2007 10:30:17 GMT -5
Let's ask Tony Schiavone. On second thoughts, we better not.
|
|
|
Post by carly1988 on Nov 22, 2007 11:37:03 GMT -5
Hogan joins the nWo at Bash at the Beach I think that would have to be it. May 27, 1996.......without this night, Hogan never joins the nWo Nothing is better then that black kid/guy marking out in the front row when Simmons gets the 3 count
|
|
|
Post by Mr. Old School™ on Nov 22, 2007 16:47:24 GMT -5
I'd say when Goldberg beat Hogan for the World Heavyweight title. That was awesome. The crowd was incredible that night. Those chants of "Goldberg, Goldberg, Goldberg" after he won still ring in my ears.
|
|