Sunday, May 8, 2022

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Jason Arndt WWF Superstars 06-08-1996

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs  Jason Arndt WWF Superstars 06-08-1996

Golden Girls holds up

I recently  moved in with my girlfriend and  we  came to the conclusion that it'd make life easier if we had a default " Let's just throw this show on" show  I've been meaning to do a Golden Girls watch for years and so I suggested it and off we went.  I figured it was gonna be a solid 80s sitcom comedy and it's got so many episodes that we could get a couple months out of it. I knew it would be good, but I didn't think it would be this good. I just didn't trust the hype. I am wary of any intellectual property that gets its own segment at an FYE, it just usually doesn't go well. But man , that show is fantastic. And What a cast? Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, Sophia, and Coco?

You don't remember Coco? Their gay cook?


Coco is a classic example of the pilot process of television in the 1980s. After the pilot was shown, a group of executives ( presumably on cocaine) would make adjustments and decide what would go on TV.  Some shows make it through unscathed, some are completely retooled, and some are just tweaked and become shows we know and love.  The Golden Girls pilot is an example of the third one. It's not just Coco. When you watch the pilot the characters are there, but they haven't figured out their roles yet.  On top of that Sophia doesn't look right and the group dynamic just isn't quite there.. It's an interesting watch knowing that the seeds have been planted for a great TV show, What does that have to do with old "Stone Cold".

This is Pilot Season "Stone Cold"

On this edition of WWF Superstars, we get "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Jason Arndt, Stone Cold just lost Ted Dibiase as a manger, but in just a couple weeks he will win The King of the Ring and cut the most iconic promo in wrestling history. Now at a glance, it looks like the Stone Cold we all love. Bald, goatee, black trunks and black boots. However, we aren't quite there yet. First off, he doesn't have the glass shatter entrance theme which I didn't think I would find unnerving until I saw it. This version of Stone Cold is a lot more methodical than the absolute maniac he would become later on. Like he does an armdrag.  Stone Cold doesn't do armdrags, he punches them in the face.  I was beginning to suspect that Stone Cold wasn't showing glimpses of  the real Stone Cold yet until he got Jason Arndt into the corner. That's when the intensity comes back out as Stone Cold unleashes shoulder to the stomach after shoulder to the stomach.  Then he throws one, JUST ONE, signature Austin punch. I feel like that  little kid in  he movie Hook when he holds Peter Pan's face, 

There you are Steve! 

A gourdbuster, a couple of stomps and finally a Stone Cold Stunner to NO REACTION. It is beyond bizarre to see the most over finishing move of all-time get nothing. He doesn't even kick him in the gut. Just a cold stone cold stunner and a 1-2-3.

This isn't a good squash match and if you're looking for one I wouldn't recommend it. I do  think it's a really cool glimpse into the building blocks of what Stone Cold would become. The pieces are starting to be put together, and it's interesting to see the foundation of what will become something really special

"Stone Colden" Girls. Is that something?

TLDR Review
Stone Cold isn't up to temp. Is that Hook reference going to land?  Rose> Blanche


If you're interested in more condensed version of my thoughts,  You can check out my  Twitter  where I talk about wrestling or stress out during Boston Celtics games. Hell, I'll even take suggestions for matches you want to see reviewed.  You can also check out my Youtube where I make weird videos where I put on wigs in front of a camera to mask my true identity.