Notes from the Nosebleeds #98
January 15, 2011
By: Matt O’Brien of Wrestleview.com
WWE has released numerous DVD box sets over the years and that number continues to climb. The choices they make often seem confusing. Often WWE fans wonder why one individual gets a feature dedicated to them but not someone they feel is more deserving. This year the company will release their first feature on Big Show despite the fact that his career has been going strong more than fifteen years, yet John Morrison already has a feature out. Many superstars are neglected while WWE has dedicated multiple features to guys such as Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Regardless of the choices the fact is WWE has an incredible library at their disposal and they have the chance to bring that to fans, and also make some money doing it. This week I decided to take a look at the WWE alumni and see who WWE has yet to do a feature on, and of those individuals talk about those who would make a great subject of a WWE feature. Keep in mind these are just a few stars of many, but they do deserve the credit.
The New Age Outlaws
Billy Gunn and Jesse James are often overlooked in the history of great tag teams. I’m not saying they were a great team, but they were one of the top teams during one of wrestling’s most popular periods. Perhaps they are not among the greatest teams in history, but there is something to be said for their success. Back in 1997 they were two guys at the bottom of the card when one night they were thrust together. Quickly they became the top tag team in WWE and one of two of the most entertaining characters on the show. They were then added to the DX faction and enjoyed a period of incredible popularity during the Attitude Era.
What’s so intriguing about their story is that they weren’t seen as great talents. Billy Gunn had spots of promise as they made him out to be the Shawn Michaels of the Smoking Gunns, but his push a heel in the singles ranks didn’t go that far. Road Dogg had been little more than a sidekick for Jeff Jarrett before he became lost in the shuffle and whose claim to fame was that he sang With My Baby Tonight. When paired together in 1997 their union felt out of left field, but what did they have to lose? Their success, while short-lived, was fun. They had their share of good tag team matches against Legion of Doom, Mick Foley and Terry Funk, Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart, as well as some good singles encounters when they both won singles titles in early 1999.
The Outlaws have been outspoken in their disdain for Triple H. That strained relationship could damper the possibility for a feature on the Outlaws, but money has a way of bringing people together. Also, if Bret Hart was able to reconcile with WWE, anyone can.
Bruno Sammartino
You really don’t need to make a case for Bruno. His career says it all. The issue is his standing with WWE.
Sherri Martel
There are a ton of women in the history of WWE and one of the most overlooked is Sherri. When people talk about the divas they immediately think of Sunny, Lita, Trish Stratus, and Sable. As much as those women contributed they didn’t have the longevity in the business that Sherri was. A woman who comes close is Miss Elizabeth. Elizabeth was a classy lady who was an integral to the career of Randy Savage, but she really didn’t get in the ring much. Sherri’s story of coming up, even trying to get trained, then moving along, joining WWE and becoming one of the best heels they had for a while, then moving to WCW, would make a great set.
Jim Duggan
people tend to overlook Duggan when looking at the big stars of wrestling’s past. Documenting his career in Mid-South would give traditional WWE fans a glimpse of what Duggan was like before the days of swinging a two-by-four and waving an American flag. Duggan’s career spanned a number of years and he was there in Mid-South, he was in WWE and even won the first Royal Rumble. He was in WCW as well and overcame kidney cancer and returned to the ring. Duggan has a storied career and has led a very interesting life that would make for a great documentary along with his matches from Mid-South, WWE and WCW.
Paul Orndorff
The guy headlined the first Wrestlemania and a storied career before he even got to WWE. He then went to WCW and was a great supporting player for several years before becoming a mentor to young WCW stars.
Scott Hall
A box set on Hall would just be a blast to watch. Getting all of his stuff in one place would be a fantastic set. From his early days in NWA all the way to his fall from grace, Hall has an incredible story. WWE is in a position to bring in a lot of individuals from his past to discuss is career such as Shawn Michaels, Ted Dibiase, William Regal, Dusty Rhodes, Goldust, Roddy Piper, and Triple H. It would even be fun to get Sid involved as well. His great WWE matches alone are many. Just looking at a few, you have his Royal Rumble and King of the Ring Matches with Bret Hart, his series with Sean Waltman, the match with Dibiase, as well as his Intercontinental title run where he had memorable matches with Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Goldust, and engaged in one of the most overlooked I-C title match series in history with Jeff Jarrett. It was his appearance on Monday Nitro in May of 1996 that created a whole new buzz around wrestling. The formation of the NWO, his part in the takedown of Bill Goldberg, and his well known trouble with addiction are just a few things he became known for in WCW. He was also able to make one last Wrestlemania appearance against Steve Austin. Hall’s story coupled with his matches not only would make a great set, but it would likely sell pretty well.
Terry Funk
What can I say? Funk is a legend. Everything about him is legendary. Funk is one of those guys that everybody likes. He has been such a great wrestler and given the fans so much. As enormous as the WWE library is, they will not be able to get everything Funk has ever done. Still, they can get some of the most significant parts of his career. The documentary alone would be worth the price. There is just so much to Funk’s story. Then you have the match collection. NWA, WWE, ECW, and WCW are just some of the sources they could pull footage from.
If you have ever purchased a WWE DVD you know that they are not perfect. My short list above is also not perfect, but I believe that WWE could put together some very good packages on these individuals and they would be profitable. To avoid opening a can of worms I avoided getting into topics like heavyweights or venues. Perhaps you have some individuals you would like to see. If so, feel free to send them over.
Thanks for reading.
Matt O’Brien
Columnist, Wrestleview.com
mattman5436@yahoo.com