Territory days was 24/7. 5 shows Monday-Friday usually double shots in Saturday and Sunday. The double shots on weekends were usually in different towns too. They would even work evening shows on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Plus they would carry their feud all across the country. Just because they had a dog chain match or weapons match or whatever in one state doesn’t mean the feud is over in another.
I remember Piper mentioning he and Greg Valentine did their dog collar match (which was the end of their feud) for a month straight.
Rest holds were just as much psychiatry as they were preservation. They would work through all sorts of injuries and fatigue.
The talent of today work smarter not harder but at the same time, they really don’t. Fans except more now since “the business” is more known now. And everyone; especially right now is the equivalent of a young boy in wwe so they are going to go 210% at all times.
They also only work 3-4 days a week.
and don’t get me wrong. I’m not discrediting the current roster at all. This current breed of starts whether is be wwe, NXT, the gaijin in njpw, ring of honor, evolve etc. is probably the best group of people since the territory days. The talent pool is overflowing. But the territories were a different breed man. They kayfabe their own family, bruh.
Plus fuck, what’s the worst this generation of stars have to deal with? Some fucks on Twitter and some boo’s? Try being a heel back in the territory days. Tire slashings, needing police escorts (that’s if the police would even comply), getting stabbed, spit on, you shit stolen. So much. Though it doesn’t pertain to injuries it pertains the business over all and how much harder it was then.
[details=Spoiler]* The “Asylum” structure is hanging above the ring
Kevin Owens defeated Cesaro with a roll-up when Cesaro was distracted by Sami Zayn and WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz, who had been on commentary. Maryse was with Miz
Dana Brooke dominated and defeated Paige in a quick match. Becky Lynch was on commentary
Dolph Ziggler defeated Sheamus. Baron Corbin comes out after and cuts a promo on Ziggler, saying he will kick his ass at Extreme Rules
Chris Jericho comes to the ring and gets big heat as he knocks the crowd. The Asylum starts to lower around the ring. Jericho goes on with his promo until Dean Ambrose, disguised as a ring crew worker, jumps in the ring and beats Jericho around. Ambrose unloads with a kendo stick and stands tall
New vignette with Bob Backlund and Darren Young airs
Big Cass and WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. The Vaudevillains and The Dudley Boyz is next. Cass and New Day got big pops, Cass got a few hot tags and finally won with a pin on Bubba Ray Dudley
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows ends in a DQ when everyone brawls. The Usos, AJ Styles and Karl Anderson taunted each other all through the match, leading to everything falling apart. Referees break it up and Reigns is left in the ring with Styles. They grab steel chairs but swing at the same time and AJ drops his. AJ nails a pele kick and a chair shot to the back, knocking Reigns out of the ring. Styles stands tall to end SmackDown[/details]
Anybody else see Daniel Bryan level potential with Sami Zayn? Like i could see him win the wwe title and we get the olé movement
Only for owens to take it away
Top matches of the year:
Sami Zayn vs Nakamura nxt: dallas
Aj styles vs nakamura wkx
Okada vs tanahashi wkx
Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens payback
Okada vs naito the new beginning
Naito vs ishii wrestling dontaku
Kushida vs Bushi the new beginning
Zack Sabre jr vs roderick strong pwg
Prince Puma vs. Pentagon Jr
Phoenix vs Mil Muertes for the lu title
Sasha vs becky vs charlotte wm32
Kalisto vs Ryback payback
Fight me
Cena should put over roman at wm33 or at summerslam
I would rather they face off at summerslam due to salty new york smarks, and cena being one of the best to adapt to a toxic crowd.
I would rather we get rollins vs ambrose vs reigns at wm 33
Ambrose as mr mitb, rollins as the rumble winner, reigns as the long reigning champ. They need to put the belt legit on ambrose. These dusty finishes for him make me so mad
Sami best attribute is his selling. Put him in there with someone who can throw him around, and he’s a sympathy machine. He has all the makings of a main eventer, but his small frame might hold him back, and he’s already got a lot of miles on him.
He really isn’t that much smaller than reigns. Plus you got aj styles main eventing.
Going by ig, rollins is already looking beastly. He was already taller and more defined and muscular than reigns. Rollins going to come back and toss reigns with powerbombs all day
Sami’s actually decently large, he not super huge but he’s taller than Cena and solidly built. Also surprisingly enough his shoulder injury last year was the first major injury he’s ever had.
While guys in the WWF worked more dates in the 80s, they also had the benefit of TV squash matches and far shorter, less physical matches overall.
Go watch a random match from Wrestlemania or Saturday Night’s Main Event in the 80s. Virtually all are under 10 minutes and many are in the 3-6 minute range, with few, relatively minor bumps.
Hell, Bret Hart, who had 2403 matches in the WWE, more than anyone else in WWE history, says that he winces and doesn’t envy modern workers the brutal bumps they take, and how many.
I’m pretty sure Kane actually beats out Bret for overall most matches in WWE now, looking online he’s wrestled nearly 2800 matches and only about 100 of those were outside WWE. He’s been wrestling for the company full time for over 20 years without a significant break.
There’s a reason Kane and Bret take bumps so safely and work so safe.
There isn’t much of a difference in size. Take off the vest, and Rollins looks way more impressive. Also Rollins is coming back bigger.
Of all the vets kane gets the most respect because of his longevity and working with younger guys.
Just be happy that kane, big show, and mark henry are currently taking hiatuses at the same time.
Shit kane’s been full time for 21 years that is crazy. Shifting from yankem to diesel to kane. And kane is vince’s pride. He works to make sure of continuity of kane and only kane.
