Your “Wait? What? Who?” Wednesday Evening Open Thread

Evening all,

Because I’m bored but have a wrestling itch to scratch that can’t be satisfied until “Dynamite” comes on air, tonight I’ll cover the Thread looking at wrestling from a local perspective.

Growing up in Vancouver, we had a local promotion called “All Star Wrestling”, which was a rinky-dink little deal until Gene Kiniski made it a big thing by virtue of his name alone. In 1962 he moved to Vancouver & bought into the promotion, becoming its biggest star & using that notoriety to draw big names from the era to town for stadium cards, using a match at Empire Stadium against Buddy Rogers to launch himself onto the local scene.

Some serious drunken dad energy with Kiniski & Harley Race here.

Kiniski was a Canadian legend even before coming to Vancouver – he played football for the University of Arizona & then his hometown Eskimos, and started wrestling after injuries forced his retirement. He was trained by Dory Funk, and with his size & demeanour toured North American territories as a travelling heel – which paid better in those days. He was also used by various promotions as a transitional champion, a heel victor to allow the belt to transition from face to face without them having to fight each other & lose their bump. He wrestled Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF title, held the AWA championship after beating Verne Gagne, and won the NWA title after pinning Lou Thesz. Kiniski held the NWA title for three years (1965-68), a record for a heel champion at the time. He settled in Vancouver because it gave him easy access to the west coast promotions, and allowed him to travel to Japan for big-money Asian tours under the NWA banner.

In 1977 his original partner Sandor Kovacs (whose name sounds like a wrestling villain) sold his portion to a guy named Al Tomko, a Winnipeg wrestler who moved West after breaking with the AWA-affiliated promotion there. (He was famous for giving Roddy Piper his first break.) He took over promotional operation of All Star while Kiniski continued wrestling tours. Tomko let the power get to his head, and booked himself to be the champion, despite looking like a pear with arms, over actual “fit” guys like “Diamond” Timothy Flowers, Ole Olsen, and Bill Kazmaier.

     

I figure you can tell, but Kaz is on the right.

The promotion’s credibility dropped to the point that Kiniski sold his half to Tomko in 1985 just to get out. The ripple effect is that Kiniski walking away meant they were out of the NWA, costing them relationships with Calgary’s Stampede Wrestling (owned by Kiniski’s Eskimos tryout buddy Stu Hart) & Portland Wrestling’s Don Owens. The lack of exposure cost the promotion their TV contract, because without Kiniski & the NWA the region wasn’t a draw anymore, so they couldn’t get bigger names like Flair, Piper & The Sheepherders to come through on tours, thus people stopped watching. Tomko tried to stay alive by forming the independent UWA, staffed mostly by guys on their way out or kids trying to break into the business. However, when Vince began his talent poaching in the late-80s, they lost their last big draw in local boy John Tenta (aka “Earthquake”), along with a number of others who went on to become “enhancement talent” (aka “jobbers”). The promotion eventually folded in 1989.

Someone who loves the old NWA has done breakdowns for all the local affiliated promotions, including Vancouver.

Watch all the way through for an appearance by now-former NXT & WWE announcer Mauro Ranallo, who started as a mulleted Paul E. type before getting into announcing.

If 1988 was a picture.

Today, an unaffiliated version of All Star still exists & runs out of local community centres. It’s main goal, however, seems to be just existing as a territory & harassing any other promotion that tries to operate within the city limits.


Tonight’s sports:

  • NHL:
    • Boston vs NY Rangers – 7:00pm | NBCSN
    • Toronto vs Montreal – 7:30pm | Sportsnet
  • NBA:
    • Toronto vs Washington – 7:00pm | TSN4
    • Atlanta vs Dallas – 7:30pm | ESPN / Sportsnet1
    • Milwaukee vs Phoenix – 10:00pm | ESPN
    • OKC vs LA Lakers – 10:00pm | Sportsnet1
  • NCAA:
    • Georgia at Tennessee – 8:00pm | ESPN2
    • Marquette at Villanova – 9:00pm | FS1
  • Wrasslin’:
    • AEW Dynamite – 8:00PM | TNT / TSN2
      • Two big matches tonight:
        • AEW TNT Title Match: Darby Allin (champion) vs. Joey Janela
        • Falls Count Anywhere Match: KENTA and Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley and Lance Archer
          • This one likely sets up more AEW/Impact/New Japan crossovers
    • NXT – 8:00PM | USA
      • Who cares – Canadians can’t watch it until Friday.

WOOHOO, this looks like a good viewing night. Enjoy!

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Beerguyrob
A Canadian man-child of indeterminate age, he stays young by selling alcohol at sporting events and yelling at the patrons he serves. Their rage nourishes his soul, and their tips pay for his numerous trips to various sporting events.
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[…] Kiniski, but ridden into the ground by “Genuinely Awful Person” Al Tomko. I’ve talked about this once before, so you can go read that for more […]

Brick Meathook
Brick Meathook

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Last edited 3 years ago by Brick Meathook
bk109

Looks really good, my only question is (as I haven’t used ML in ages) – does it have an arbitrary frame limit as the Canon firmware, or is it uncapped?

Edit:Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, the timelapse was better than the gif of your dayjob :p

Last edited 3 years ago by bk109
Brick Meathook

The time lapse was a test post that was flawed and is being rerendered. You’ll see it again momentarily.

Brick Meathook

ML has no frame limit except for the data card (or the battery if your not on mains). It does not obey the Canon limit.

bk109

Yay and boo…
Yay for it being more functional, boo … because I checked to see if there’s one available for the 5D4 or at least the 200d so I guess I’ll have to live with the arbitrary limits and stupidity (ie for some unfathomable reason the 200d absolutely refuses to log the direction and angle a picture is taken at, even though the aftermarket GPS module uses the full Canon signalling (thankfully there’s a workaround where I can add that later, but … it’s still annoying) or both having a maximum frame limit for the timelapse function (even when it’s provided external power you have to choose between the timeframe covered or smoothness afforded by more frames XD)

yeah right

Our workload has really picked up at work. I think everyone who’s been working from home has finally got the concept that a “normal return to work” just may not happen. We’re getting inundated from all of the nationwide locations.

So. Can I get my vaccine now!

Please.

bk109

You can get it, but the problem is if it’s actually gonna do shit at this point with the new strains outta Bristol (of course it had to be bloody Bristol!), South Africa…

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Just finished watching the Brink

A) it got way better/funnier/better written as the show went on
B) Carla Gugino is still gorgeous

Brocky

dang is dynamite really been that good lately?

guess I gotta spend more Wednesday nights here

also, saw this on reddit and wanted to share:
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Brick Meathook

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Mr. Ayo

Hey, I don’t wanna sound like a queer or nothin’, but I think unicorns are kick ass!

Brocky

for a thousand years unicorns were a legitimately cool mythical animal that could add a sense of wonder to a story.

then somewhere in the 70s they became an adopted symbol for the feminine/gay community

Brocky

Great right up rob! i love reading old school wrestling stories.
.

was watching the IU basketball game with pops, that nearly 300 lb nearly 60 year old bout jumped out of his chair when that jumper tied the game in the first overtime.

also, i see a woman in a bikini top and a bandana and my mind immediately goes to a hypothetical lesbian porno where the mechanic typically only accepts cash and the customer is fresh out of hundred dollar bills. they work out an arrangement.

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Viva La Tabula Raza

I’m sure everyone is tired of this, I know I am, but all this shit about asshole R Senators trimming their nails, doing the Sunday Times Crossword (probably more like Junior Jumble), and fingering their pricks or flicking their beans while the evidence is being presented really pisses me the fuck off and makes me think of what needs to be done with them. All the rioters and the Inciter in Chief need to be stood up in front of a firing squad. What a bunch of Profiles in Courage. I’m sure moderate Republicans are proud of letting this shit get to this point. Fucking spineless cowards. Cocksuckers need to be tied down and made to watch.
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Last edited 3 years ago by Viva La Tabula Raza
yeah right

If they would have had the fucking balls to stand up the first time there was an impeachment this shit would have never happened.

Cosign.

On a related note my white supremacist neighbor finally took down his Trump 2020 flag. I like to think he snuck out in the middle of the night in embarrassment so nobody could see him do it.

King Hippo

Ale Roberto is a good storyteller, ya?

Mr. Ayo

I prefer Lager Roberto, if I’m honest.

Brick Meathook

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rockingdog
Brick Meathook

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Sharkbait

–Britt Reid

Brocky

on purpose

Sharkbait

God damn do I hate Brad Marchand

rockingdog

found a funny:

student loan forgiveness implies the existence of student loan revenge

Senor Weaselo

What is, future Republican policy? I’ll take “Falcon” Punch for $800.

Doktor Zymm

Rearranged some furniture today, now giving my sofa a test run in its new spot. So far, so good!

Col. Duke LaCross

Fear boner, ENGAGED.

Brocky

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Brick Meathook

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SonOfSpam

I’mma beat it on my Only Fans page in about 15 minutes…you still subscribe or you need a one day pass?

Brick Meathook

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Petronel

LOVING Sammy’s Woman shirt.

Last edited 3 years ago by Petronel
litre_cola
herodotus450

Unfortunately there was no room for Chris Henry so they had to push him off.

Brocky

Too soon Britt Reid

rockingdog
ArmedandHammered

Man, an air fuel bomb would get rid of that flotsam in a red hot second.

Senor Weaselo

Hey, it went better than the Trumpboats.

rockingdog
Viva La Tabula Raza

Acetaminophen in Advil can fuck up your kidneys, too.

Dunstan

I thought Advil was ibuprofen

Gumbygirl

Yes. Tylenol is acetaminophen, which doesn’t give me hives, but will eventually kill my livah. Fun!

bk109

That’s because drugs aren’t exactly meant to be taken for every little thing (and only ever after consulting with a medical professional / a Hippo of the Kingly variety) and only for a limited amount of time*!
Self-medicating and self-treating is wrong… or so has my GP and my friendly local ER staff told me after one too many occasions I’ve been dragged there by my better half, ’cause apparently it’s wrong to say… stitch your own hand, after your wife accidentally discharges a nailgun into it XD
*unless it’s certain “medication” for “glaucoma” that’s becoming more easily available every year – in that case you can continue treatment indefinitely

Last edited 3 years ago by bk109
Brick Meathook

Is that the Ass-Fuck Twins?

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Brick Meathook

Florida may produce weirdos but Michigan seems to produce the most violent terrorists.

I’ll bet it has something to do with lead in the drinking water.

Low Commander of the Super Soldiers

Someone who doesn’t know about DFO posted this on my Facebook for my birthday (32!) so thanks to BeerGuyRob for making this and making me laugh too damn hard.
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Gumbygirl

Happy Birthday! Here’s a cake, but you have to pry it from Johnny Cash’s cold , dead hands. Good luck!

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Senor Weaselo

Happy birthday, Low Commander. Congratulations for getting us through the looking glass.

BrettFavresColonoscopy

Happy Birthday internet friend I’ve met IRL!

litre_cola

Tony Khan needs to concentrate on wrasslin. He did a fuckhead move today tweeting about Mighty Whitey who he completely treats as a passtime. Get us a damn director of futbol not a fucking moonlighter!!!!!

litre_cola

As we speak he is engaged with Fulham supporters and being a smug ass.

Gumbygirl

I am allergic to Advil, all other nsaids, and aspirin. Plus various antibiotics. I get hives, and on occasion it’s bad enough that I have to go to the emergency room. Usually I can manage it myself with benadryl. Tons of fun!

Dolph Ucker

Pretty surreal timelines laid out in the impeachment trial. Donald Trump was trying hard to engineer a coup, he (and his fuckhead follower drones), were too stupid to actually git ‘er done.
Also, Pat Leahy is really old.

Dunstan

Yeah, such a great idea to put the oldest Senator third in the line of succession. No way that could ever backfire.

Dunstan

RIP Larry Flynt.

I move that this week’s Sexy Friday be dedicated to his memory.

Brick Meathook

I guess that frees up his parking space in the garage of the Flynt Building in Beverly Hills.

scotchnaut

As well as his yearly spot teaching “How To Start A Fire In The Woods” seminar to the Boy Scouts.

scotchnaut

I can look at maybe two, three pics of wheelchairs and I am spent! Looking forward *winks* to Friday.

scotchnaut

“You had some issues with pills and you didn’t reach out to me? I’m right here in 2084 building a stadium named after an adequate baseball player but I would have set aside some time. Probably. Well, maybe. Ah, contact my executive assistant if this should happen in the future and I’ll see if I can fit you in.”

-Hippo

King Hippo

adequate????

Dunstan

Shaking my head that you didn’t consult Hippo for pill taking advice.