Andre the Giant didn't like Macho Man?

I never realized this, but after reading this old piece from CBS Sports on Andre the Giant, he reportedly didn't like the late Macho Man Randy Savage:

Robin did not attend either of her father's two memorial services, though she was invited to the one held in France by Andre's family. Years later, as a young adult, Robin made attempts to try and learn more about her father from people that knew him professionally. When wrestlers came to town, she'd hang out near the hotel bar in the places they liked to stay, looking for people who may have known her father. Some encounters were successful, others were disappointing. 

"I met Randy Savage once, probably about 15 years ago or so," Robin said. "I talked to him for a little bit because I was asking him some questions. At one point, he just looked at me and he was like, 'I wish I could tell you more, but your dad didn't like me.' He was like, 'I had nothing but the utmost respect for him, but your dad did not like me.'"

It's always kind of stuff to piece anecdotes like this together years later with them departed, but I would love to ask some of the guys who shared the road and locker room with these two at the time why there was reported bad blood between the two.

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

I was literally thinking tonight about how badly I missed wrestling on Saturday evenings. The WWE has announced an NXT Takeover in Brooklyn on August 22nd, the night before Summerslam 2015.

I understand why people are attracted to NXT.

The character development is good. The crowds and venue are small and have an old school feel to them. The guys wrestle their asses off, as they're trying to achieve a spot on the main roster. It's got an amateur feel to it and I'm really starting to like it.

I'll be tuning into the network for this live event - I like what the WWE is doing with this Saturday Night event and what they're doing with this promotion. I hope they continue more of the same.

After all, this blog is named after wrestling taking place on a Saturday.

WWE Network Watch Log

It's been an all you can eat suplex buffet for me so far tonight. Here's my watchlist from this Saturday night:

1. Royal Rumble 2015
2. Saturday Night's Main Event X (Savage v. Animal Steele)
3. Wrestlemania 2015 (Main Event, my match of the night so far)
4. Payback 2015
5. King of the Ring 1995 (King Mabel?!?)
6. A little bit of Summer Slam 1995 (worst main event of a bad 1995, Diesel vs. Mabel)
7. NXT Takeover: Unstoppable (Finn Balor vs. Tyler Breeze) *NXT really reminds me of ECW a little bit, and Reddit Squared Circle has some who agree with me.

Not real sure what I'll watch next. I took out a fair amount of old WCW and NWA stuff last night. I can't decide whether to go back to the other promotion or continue getting into NXT stuff, which has really peaked my interest. It has a fresh feel to it. I understand why people love it. I originally thought I was going to be a Kevin Owens guy but it's led me to the discovery of this Finn Balor guy who is really entertaining. 

Ringside Collectibles Preorder: Elite 38 Roman Reigns

This figure with the new vest; was one that was worth the preorder.

Saturday Night Slam Masters

I've been living in the WWE Network the past few days, and although the title of this post is named after one of the arcade games from my childhood; it reminds me of WCW Saturday Night with Michael Cappetta and company as well as Saturday Night's Main Event. 

Saturday night has always been a night that should have some quality wrestling on. Although those days seem to be long passed, I go back in the network and revisit some of these classic moments I enjoyed so much over and over again whether it be Clash of the Champions or Main Event. I simply cannot turn away from a SNME when WWE Network airs it on a Saturday evening because it takes me back to my childhood. 

The characters from this age in my life were so very magical. It's something we had once that can never be again. 

San Diego Comic Con

I am definitely starting to get into NXT - and the collecting of NXT. I think I'm joining the Finn Balor legion here. This might be the greatest figure that Mattel has ever made. 

Some really good videos below showing a lot of the figures that were unveiled out in San Diego this weekend. None I'm more excited for than this Finn Balor, the new sensation that can bring mythology back to wrestling.

Money in the Bank 2015 Report

[Ring Posts] [Wrestling Inc.] [Cageside Seats]

I really had a good time at Money in the Bank last night at Nationwide Arena. I thought three of the matches were really good, with the title match and Kevin Owens/John Cena II kind of stealing the show. The show was kicked off with a 10-bell salute to Dusty Rhodes with the entire roster including Vince McMahon on stage before 'Common Man' came on. 

I can always say I was in the house when they bell-saluted Dusty Rhodes. I'm also forever a part of WWE history (I haven't found myself in the crowd yet on WWE Network) but I plan to try sometime hard. 

Here is the MITB briefcase that so many were carrying replicas of around Columbus prior to the event. This is of course just before the real show got underway. 

I don't understand Sheamus winning the Money in the Bank ladder match really at all. It was an okay match. I guess live, you really realize that it's a scripted match where all the guys lay hurt outside the ring and wait for their spot. I didn't enjoy it that much.

Kevin Owens and John Cena was another classic thriller. These two just work really well together. Owens and Cena each took I don't know how many damn finishers from eachother. You really don't even know what is a finisher anymore when you see a five star match like this. Absolutely a candidate for match of the year if the first tilt doesn't take it. And you had the classic Owens double cross at the end when Cena offered the handshake. 

There is no one more over right now in terms of crowd pop than Kevin Owens. 

This was the match I enjoyed most - mostly because I'm becoming a huge Seth Rollins fan - and these two put on one Hell of a show together. Prior to the match, I didn't realize that Rollins wanted to go at it on his own with out J&J Security, and HHH and Stephanie McMahon. HHH told Rollins to "show them". And show us he did. 

There were many high spots in this match. Rollins was thrown through a ladder. The action spilled into the crowd. Dozens of chairs were brought out. A television monitor. They went at it on the Spanish announce table. If you're old school like I am, they found a way to tell a story with their action and make it somewhat old school. 

In the end, Rollins fell dramatically with the belt almost simultaneous to Dean Ambrose. Still champion. I saw Rollins - the future of the company - retain the belt. Who knows how long it goes on. But I like this kid.