2018 Pro Wrestling thread

The one everybody remembers is Hulk Hogan's NWO turn, but I really enjoyed Paul Orndorff's turn on Hogan in the '80s. That led to a really great feud.

I also liked Barry Windham's turn on tag-team partner Lex Luger to join the Four Horsemen. Doesn't seem like such a shock in retrospect, but Windham had been a big-time babyface in NWA for a few years, and he gave up the tag-team titles in order to turn heel.

 

The best double-turn was Bret Hart-Steve Austin, where heel Austin refused to tap out to the sharpshooter.

While there would be many candidates for this, my nominee for worst-executed turn is when JBL when from switched from being in the APA to being a rich stock trader with no preparation at all. A feud with Ron Simmons where he tells Simmons he's tired of the APA would have been so easy and they didn't even bother.

 

I have to go with HBK on Janetty. It brought in the Heart Break Kid era and launched the career of one of the all-time greats.

 

Orndorff turning on Hogan was the first heel turn I saw after becoming a fan, so that has a lot of sentimental value. It was a bit weird, though, because you could see Orndorff getting disenchanted with Hogan, yet he saved him right before clotheslining him.

Hogan to NWO is probably the most impactful betrayal.

Sgt. Slaugther being an Iraqi sympathizer probably got the most heat.

I always liked Undertaker turning away from Jake Roberts on the Funeral Parlor.

 

I'm a 90s kid, so this one is definitely my choice as well. It's the first time I can remember thinking, "Noooooo!" as a kid, when someone turned.

 

Absolutley love Heenan here too.

"Janetty tried to escape through the window! Coward!"

 

Heenan's ability to quickly justify any sort of heel behavior was so excellent. *Heel turn.* "Oh I knew he was going to do that!"

 

There's a somewhat forgotten match that HBK references in this scene before this particular clip where he faced Flair and essentially dominated him until Jannetty screwed up. It's worth a watch on the Network or around the internets.

Also, when I see this scene, I can't help but think that we essentially see one guy's career pretty much go poof. Jannetty had talent, but he never could get himself past the Rockers role.

 

This is why I love asking questions in this thread like I do, it leads to some amazing discussions about the past.

I would like to mention when Larry Zbyzsko turned on Bruno. That was massive at the time. Another would be the implosion of the Mega Powers.

 

Yeah, when Macho laid into Hogan at the end of a Saturday Night Main Event, it was (for me as a kid) shocking and unforgettable.

 

The 6th Move of Doom is here, and it’s very John Cena

Here is John Cenas sixth move of doom. Hes either still having a hard time with the breakup, trolling us all, or both

 

After tonight's SMU-North Texas game in Denton, a wrestling ring is going to be set up on the field and several professional matches will take place. Wrestlers taking part include the sons of Kevin Von Erich -- who played football at North Texas -- and the daughter of Kerry Von Erich. Kevin and Kerry's dad, Fritz Von Erich, played football at SMU.

This might end up being the first sold-out game at North Texas.

Wrestling matches add to buzz for UNT opener