The New Foundation vs Todd Overbow & Kris Germany WWF Superstars 02-29-1992
I used to be the kind of guy who cared about reboots or sequels
I came into my twenties as seeing one of the first waves of prominent reimagining of Beloved I.P. No not remakes of the Oprah Winfrey film, which I just looked up on Wikipedia for the first time and man was I way off on what that movie was about. I'm talking about taking franchises and updating them for the modern era. Any movie or TV show that once proved popular was going to get a second crack at mainstream relevance. Now, I was a film student in college. I always tell people I was the world's worst film student because my interests did not align with my classmates. When people listed their favorite films I was the lone student who mentioned Bloodsport. I tried to find common ground and join the campus' film club, but the pitch I heard in their first meeting filled me with so much anger that I promptly went home and went to bed. I've never been that annoyed at a bad idea in my life, and I have tons of bad ideas. Despite my status as a terrible film dork, I was still a film dork. I still had all these self-imposed standards for what I thought modern film should be. Luckily, I never reached full THIS MOVIE RUINED MY CHILDHOOD level. Newsflash: If doing a sequel to a movie you like ruined your childhood then you probably didn't have a good one. Eventually I grew up and realized that it doesn't matter. The things you like don't have to fully define your personality. It's ok if there is a new Ghostbusters, it doesn't take away from what you liked about the old one. For the most part, the sequels and the reboots are fine. It doesn't matter if they redo it.
But Fuck The New Foundation
I'm just kidding, I wanted to see if I could get you to click on the "Keep on Reading" button. You're already here now, may as well read the rest of this. The New Foundation were fine, but it is emblematic of a problem in wrestling. Whereas other media has hit some home runs with sequels and reimagining, pro wrestling has a pretty piss poor track record. Throwing New in front of a wrestling tag team is a kiss of death. The New Blackjacks, The New Midnight Express, The New Day. Ok The New Day worked, but obviously it wasn't a reboot of a gimmick. They weren't trying to modernize some 70s team Tony Garea was in, they did their own thing. I don't know why it never seems to work in wrestling. Maybe its because wrestling fans have a long memory and don't like being reminded of a better thing they once saw. Once you're a fan, you're a fan for life.. Maybe the nostalgia doesn't take effect because it feels like yesterday.
Maybe it's because most of them suck
Yeah that's it.
But let's head to February 1992 and see if this sequel sucks as The New Foundation will be taking on Todd Overbow and Kris Germany on WWF Superstars. The New Foundation consists of Jim Neidhart and a recently debuting Owen Hart. By this point, Bret had begun his singles push and rather than leave the big old rhino Jim out in the cold, WWE brought in Owen as his tag partner. It made sense on paper, as Owen was similar enough to Bret, but Owen was more of a high-flyer which would make them stand out. Nothing would ever make them stand out quite as much as their gear. Oh my god. There's something to be said about a fresh coat of paint, but they stained the decks on this one too. Eschewing the pink and black, probably to separate them from Bret, The New Foundation wore parachute checkered pants. They also wore checkered jackets and bandanas to the ring. It's the kind of stuff that NBA players wear now and look cool, but if a civilian wore it we would look like an asshole. It's incredibly toyetic, but god does Neidhart look weird in it.
Their opponents tonight are the legendary tag team of Todd Overbow and Kris Germany. Forget the Mulkey brothers, These are the Mulletkey Brothers. I guarantee that I will do this jobber wimpy mullet tournament someday. I don't know which is which so I'm going to do the usual move of naming them whatever I want. The match underway and, oh god Neidhart isn't wearing a singlet. Oh I don't care for that very much. I never thought I'd be so thrown off by a man's belly button being visible but here we are. Match starts with a headlock,. so innovative, by Neidhart to Germany. Neidhart counters a counter and hits Germany with a big shoulder block. Germany hasn't seen a block like that since The Berlin Wall. Still funnier than James Corden. Another shoulder block by Neidhart who tags in Owen and we get our first look at their tandem offense. Neidhart gets Germany in a modified spinebuster while OWEN CLIMBS ALL THE WAY TO the second rope...ok. Drops an elbow, it looks fine. Owen doesn't have any tape or pads on his arms so my OCD is out of control. I hate it. Owen hits a very nice dropkick that propels Germany across the ring and allows Overbow to tag in. Somewhere Overbow must be way up high as he tries to rush Owen. Owen with a hiptoss, an armdrag, a armlock, an armwringer, and a suplex. It sounds like a lot more happened then it did. Finally Overblow actually gets offense and whips Owen into the rope, but OWEN RUNS THE ROPES AND DOES A WIDE STANCE MOONSAULT OVER HIM. HOLY SHIT DID THAT LOOK DIFFICULT. Overblow rushes, but Owen with a big back body drop. Another tag to big Jim and a double shoulderblock. I'm feeling like Georges St Pierre, because so far I am not impressed with this performance. Jim Neidhart laughs at Overbow's misfortunes. It was great the first time, but then he oddly does it again. It's like he was a robot who malfunctioned. Apparently the laugh counts as an offensive maneuver as he tags Owen back in. Neidhart with a big slam and knocks Germany off the apron as Owen climbs the top. Neidhart assists Owen with a rocket launcher splash for the win. Wait, is that why he was called The Rocket?
Pretty bland if you ask me. There wasn't enough meat on the bone for this one for me. I love the idea of a hoss and a high-flyer, but I didn't see enough from this squash to inspire confidence. I do think calling it "New Foundation" vs "New Hart Foundation" was a good idea. They're already going to compare the teams, at the very least you have the out and can claim it's more of a sequel than a reboot. I know both these guys have more in them, so hopefully they're next appearances will be better received.
Sidebar, I have added "New Foundation" jacket to my eBay saved searches
TLDR Review
What's old is new again, unless the new thing stinks. Jim Neidhart should be permanently clothed. If you pay me 50 bucks I'll tell you what the awful videography idea I heard in college was
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