“For a second, I almost thought (the Floyd Mayweather and Big Show angle) was real.” Johnny Weaver memories

Powell’s Note: I’ve been asking readers whether they thought for even a second that the Big Show and Floyd Mayweather angle was legitimate. And, if not, when is the last time you thought a worked angle was actually a shoot. You are also willing to chime in with any thoughts you have on the Mayweather-Show angle. I encourage you to contribute to the discussion by sending a paragraph or two to dotnetjason@gmail.com.

***

Okay, I haven't watched WWE pay-per-views in a long time, but I ordered the Royal Rumble for the Rumble match and thought it was okay at best. But No Way Out? Man, it was one of the best shows I have seen since 2001. I marked so hard over seeing one of my favorite boxers and one of my favorite wrestlers in the ring together.

Big Show makes me more proud every time I see him. The production team messed it up, but you can't blame the wrestlers. For a second, I almost thought it was real, which says a lot, since I’m the guy who points out things like Umaga totally messing up the splash off the cage. Anyway, Floyd Mayweather vs. Show = ratings. I will watch Raw, just for them.

Andrew P.

***

A.A. Norman of Tulsa, Okla.: Some of my favorite ringside entrances include the introduction of Santino Marella (the Italian crowd treated his victory like a soccer match goal, which was awesome), and even the re-introduction of Christopher Nowinski (who, with a big "H" red sweater and slicked back hair was already in character when introduced as a former "Tough Enough" contestant, was perfect when he ran in and interfered). That being said, I am not a fan of celebrity interference. They already get their TV time every show, why let them take the ring, also?

The best ever celebrity "worked shoot," which started as a shoot but turned into an angle, was Donald Trump. I was convinced that Trump would actually write Vince to let him know that using a gimmick of him and Rosie was stupid (because that was the consensus opinion - it was very, very stupid). Then, Vince keeps poking a stick at the angle that isn't an angle yet, by having Torrie Wilson pose as Miss USA, who was a "very, very bad girl."

I never expected Trump himself to appear on a big screen behind Vince and start mocking him. I thought that Trump was happy just letting Vince know how he felt and leave it at that - not getting involved with professional wrestling for the businessman necessary. However, Trump appeared and then a really shock—the live crowd gets cash dropped on them. Nobody expected Trump to appear on WWE at all and if people had insider info that he was going to make this "worked shoot" happen, none of those people expected thousands of dollars to rain down on the Raw audience. Trump played his part well—and so did a bald Vince.

Althea Peterson

***

Johnny Weaver memories

Just hitting age 40 back in June, my connection to Johnny Weaver is his time as a singles wrestler back in the '70s and early '80s, then his transition to broadcasting.  My older brother could relate stories about him and his long-time tag team partner, George Becker, who were huge in Mid-Atlantic territory throughout the ‘60s.

God knows Johnny Weaver would be laughed at as possible "talent" in today's world, which proves exactly what is wrong today with so-called talent scouts and fan expectations of the look of a wrestler.  He was always solid in the ring, sold stories extremely well in-ring, carried matches, and I'm sure was a mentor to many guys who were to follow (like a young Ric Flair.....).

Ironically, his promos were okay and he was never a great broadcaster, but again, solid is the word. I can't think of a talent that looked so "ordinary" who could make whatever endeavor he was assigned much, much better. His presence immediately added a new level of credibility, because we all knew what we would get with Weaver.  His "Weaver-Lock" angle with Dusty Rhodes and Lex Luger for Starrcade '87 proved that.

Believe me, ANY conversation here in Richmond, north to Baltimore and down to South Carolina that starts with "remember the good ol' days of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling?" then proceeds to list the great names, you either start with or before your third breath, someone has said "Johnny Weaver.”

(No name provided)

***

From what I remember of him in the ealry 80s, he was in the waning days of his career. I saw a few of his matches on the Georgia show whenever they'd air a clip from the Mid-Atlantic. He was a decent wrestler, but rarely above mid-card status. Not very charismatic, but always a good worker in the ring.

He played a bit of a role in an angle in fall of 1987 when he taught Dusty Rhodes his sleeper "the Weaverlock" as he prepared for his Starrcade match against U.S. Champion Lex Luger. Hiro Matsuda, brought in as a brief J.J. Dillon charge, attacked him with a kick to the throat, leaving Weaver spitting out blood.

As for the sleeperhold, I've heard that Paul Boesch was among first to use it, not long before Verne Gagne. But I'm sure Weaver was not long after them.

By the way, great website.

John Dupont
Baton Rouge, La.