Post by ironanderson on Jun 27, 2006 14:01:16 GMT -5
George Scott (1973-Spring 1981): Best eye for detail ever. Great continuity. Always keep the office, the wrestlers, the TV production people, and the announcers on the same page. Strong logic. Storylines had a beginning, a middle and an end (and the end almost always lead into a new beginning). Accepted input from others but always did the "editing." In my opinion, there's never been a more complete package when it comes to having a great mind for the wrestling business (at least in his glory period).
Ole Anderson (Spring 1981-Late 1982): Certainly understood that the key element in selling tickets was creating and fostering an emotional connection between performer and fan. Deconstructed a lot of the Scott mythology (which he himself helped build). Booked the first interference in a cage match in territory history (bad move in my opinion). The prelim pool suffered under Ole. Under Scott's regime, the prelim talent was top notch for that level (not only did they job in competitive matches on TV but they also filled out the undercards on three shows per night). Ole as booker was used to using TV enhancement that got no offense in on Georgia TV. He brought a lot of those guys in to work JCP prelims and the shows started to suffer. Ole didn't have a good eye for detail or care as much about continuity. I was stunned to see a wrestler show up on a TV show he didn't wrestle on dressed in trunks and boots (the wrestler worked another TV show taped the same night). That NEVER happened under Scott. Ole didn't have everyone on the same page. The production and announcing suffered under his regime (David Crockett became unbearable). Not as good with follow-through. Still booked some interesting, emotion-based angles and damn good wrestling.
Dory Funk Jr. (Late 1982-Mid 1984): The actual wrestling content under Dunk was awesome (for the most part). At least before his post-Starrcade '83 slide. A little better with continuity and eye-for-detail than Ole but not in Scott's league. The prelim pool improved tremendously. Follow-through was spotty. Came through with the main events. Announcing and production was a bit better with Junior in charge, still didn't flow like the Scott days.
Dusty Rhodes (Mid 1984-Late 1988): Mr. Bi-polar booker man. Came in like a house of fire. Full of really innovative ideas. Got everyone over big time and filled the promotion with his own personal energy and charisma. But then, like all great sparks, it burned out. Not good with eye-for-detail or continuity. Production blew. Announcing went way downhill. David Crockett approached antichrist levels at times. Dusty did things to put himself over poilitically at the expense of the other performers and the company itself. He burned down the company on a pile of bonehead Crockett decisions.
Via Richard Sullivan
Ole Anderson (Spring 1981-Late 1982): Certainly understood that the key element in selling tickets was creating and fostering an emotional connection between performer and fan. Deconstructed a lot of the Scott mythology (which he himself helped build). Booked the first interference in a cage match in territory history (bad move in my opinion). The prelim pool suffered under Ole. Under Scott's regime, the prelim talent was top notch for that level (not only did they job in competitive matches on TV but they also filled out the undercards on three shows per night). Ole as booker was used to using TV enhancement that got no offense in on Georgia TV. He brought a lot of those guys in to work JCP prelims and the shows started to suffer. Ole didn't have a good eye for detail or care as much about continuity. I was stunned to see a wrestler show up on a TV show he didn't wrestle on dressed in trunks and boots (the wrestler worked another TV show taped the same night). That NEVER happened under Scott. Ole didn't have everyone on the same page. The production and announcing suffered under his regime (David Crockett became unbearable). Not as good with follow-through. Still booked some interesting, emotion-based angles and damn good wrestling.
Dory Funk Jr. (Late 1982-Mid 1984): The actual wrestling content under Dunk was awesome (for the most part). At least before his post-Starrcade '83 slide. A little better with continuity and eye-for-detail than Ole but not in Scott's league. The prelim pool improved tremendously. Follow-through was spotty. Came through with the main events. Announcing and production was a bit better with Junior in charge, still didn't flow like the Scott days.
Dusty Rhodes (Mid 1984-Late 1988): Mr. Bi-polar booker man. Came in like a house of fire. Full of really innovative ideas. Got everyone over big time and filled the promotion with his own personal energy and charisma. But then, like all great sparks, it burned out. Not good with eye-for-detail or continuity. Production blew. Announcing went way downhill. David Crockett approached antichrist levels at times. Dusty did things to put himself over poilitically at the expense of the other performers and the company itself. He burned down the company on a pile of bonehead Crockett decisions.
Via Richard Sullivan
