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November 18th, 2003 19:40 GMT |
 
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Post: #65232
PT: #4/5
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interesting topic.
tommy came from the memphis territory; the formula there was for the good-looking babyfaces to get color and left for dead, before making a big comeback. (admittedly, this was a staple of several promotions, but jerry jarrett relied on it more than anyone, in my opinion.)
here's my thoughts on it--and it's a bit perverse: i think a lot of the boys kind of got off on blading. after all, back then, plenty of fans believed the biz was legit, and they would scream bloody murder (ahem) when the pretty boys would be opened up. makes me think of something i read of ric flair once: the first time he bladed, he went to dressing room and looked in the mirror and "loved it." i really do believe that the boys loved the reaction from the fans when they juiced.
for me, though, my first time blading was a little more dramatic. afterward, i felt SO bad because my girlfriend and sis were in the audience...but nonetheless sorta proud that i "hit a gusher" as lawler told me. (yet another shameless plug: www.moviepoopshoot.com/wr estling/3.html)
my (beautiful, patient) girlfriend of the time--bless her heart--just assumed that brian lawler had accidentally punched me, opening me up. she knew about blading, but assumed that i would never do such a thing. it really is kind of insane when you think about it. but for years, i think the resulting scars from blading gave the biz a strong shot of realism. even as late as the '90s, i would have people say to me: "it's all fake....um...right?" (the most memorable was my english teacher in college saying that.) people wanted to believe back then...and the scars helped. you'd see these guys with scars and question: hey, is it real? or is at least some of it real?
last thing on the topic: i was managing tommy rich and doug gilbert in memphis, and they had just worked a classic memphis brawl with lawler and brian. they were both bleeding, but tommy (of course) had hit a gusher. we're preparing to cut a post-match promo, and the cameraman asks: "are you guys ready?" tommy says "yeah! let's do it." doug stares at the floor, shuffilng his feet and says: "yeah. i guess. whatever." sensing a problem, tommy asks doug, "what's wrong with you?" quietly, doug says..."well...you're...you're bleeding more than me." to calm doug, tommy wipes blood off his forehead and smears over doug's face. i was stunned---um, hello, AIDS anyone?
just realized i've probably blabbed too much; gotten off topic. the norm for me of late.
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Topics: 256
Replies: 4770
Member
Post: #65233
PT: #5/5
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I think the fact that Rich bladed so much was probaby an indication that he was a Ric Flair mark. Flair was the standard bearer in the business, and he was a long haired bleach blonde who used the blade a lot as part of his gimmick. I think Tommy probably bladed often thinking that people would be saying, "hey, he's like Flair! he's just like Flair!" Rich could probably look at himself in the mirror after a match, with his bleach blonde long hair soaked with blood, and say "I'm like the nature boy whooooo!"
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