PODCAST RECAP AND REVIEW: Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru on Stan Lane’s potential as a singles star, the surprising name who was the best champion of the ’80s, who Jim would be most interested in managing today (Ep. 40)

Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru Episode 40

Release date: February 5, 2017

Recap by: Paul Briody

DIRECT LINK TO LISTEN/DOWNLOAD

Top stories/moments of interest:

• Usual format in which Brian Last asks Jim Cornette email questions from fans about current wrestling and wrestling history with great chemistry between the two.

0:00 –  Jim approves of Brian’s intro which includes a funny conversation about Smoky Mountain Wrestling Fan Week in 1995.

9:35 – Jim and Brian discuss what would’ve happened if Bill Watts had got the TBS time slot that eventually went to Crockett and how Watts would’ve competed with Vince on national television. They also talk about Watts hitting back against Vince at the time, for example putting on free shows against WWF when they came into one of his towns, calling WWF fake on-air and showing matches of wrestlers that had left him for WWF (like Junkyard Dog) that they lost. Again, good historical detail.

20:16 – Jim and Brian laugh at an emailer’s story of his mother being hit in the face with a prosthetic leg at a wrestling show and then talk about weak-looking chair shots or spots in wrestling. Jim can’t think of a particular match that was going really well and had the crowd until a weak-looking gimmick spot took them out of it.

25:42 – Up to now, Jim will not be in New Orleans for WrestleMania. It’s a 1500-mile round trip!

28:52 – Jim talks about Stan Lane’s potential as a singles star. In Tennessee, he could’ve been a great babyface with lots of selling. Fabulous Ones talk, too.

34:17 – Jim talks about manager Rock Hunter, who was “huge in Georgia.” Jim saw him around 1978 managing Phil Hickerson and Dennis Condrey but didn’t really get a feel for his act. Hunter was an ex-wrestler.

36:09 – Jim answers a question about Nick Bockwinkel. Lawler’s best NWA matches were against Bockwinkel for the AWA title, when Bockwinkel was almost 50. “One of The all time best” and ticked all the boxes. So believable as champion and flexible in the ring in that he could adapt to any style. Jim and Brian agree that Bockwinkel is the best champion of the 1980s, ahead of Ric Flair. High praise.

40:25 – Jim talks about wrestling fans being able to forget that Ronda Rousey lost her last two UFC fights. If she’s presented the right way and her limitations aren’t exposed it would be easy to rehabilitate her. She’s an “a**-kicker.”

47:46 – Jim talks about venues being difficult to work with for wrestling companies. Money is normally the source of problems, with the Manhattan Center being particularly difficult when ROH was trying to run there, charging ridiculous prices etc.

53:40 – Who was the better storyteller: Bobby Jaggers or Paul Heyman. “It’s the difference between Meryl Streep and Pamela Anderson.” You were entertained listening to Jaggers but didn’t believe any of it whereas Heyman “weaves a brilliant tapestry.” Ricky Morton is also a great storyteller, as was his father, Paul.

57:14 – Jim has always heard that Haystacks Calhoun was “a real p**** to be around.”

57:59 – Of today’s talent, Jim would like to manage The Revival but he’s not itching to get back into cornering wrestlers.

1:00:08 – Jim talks about the folly that is the XFL resurrection. They might not lose as much money this time as with other ventures in the past but Jim doesn’t understand why they’re trying to do it. Funny WBF discussion, as Brian says that the WBF was “the height of Vince McMahon masturbating all over himself.”

1:03:15 – WWE’s rehab program is “good PR” but ex-wrestlers who’ve given their bodies to the sport and are broken down don’t get monetary assistance because it wouldn’t necessarily help the company’s public image as much. Wrestlers facing health issues should take precedence over “people who’ve f***** up in their life and done s*** they shouldn’t do and are now asking for help especially if they’ve knocked the company.” Interesting discussion about WWE’s obligations to former talent.

Rating: 7/10

Slightly less historical tidbits than usual but the humour and banter more than make up for it!

1:11:04 – Outro

Time stamps:

0:00 – Intro
9:35 – Bill Watts vs Vince McMahon
20:16 – Funny prosthetic leg email
25:42 – Will Jim be at Wrestlemania?
28:52 – Stan Lane as a single
34:17 – Rock Hunter
36:09 – Nick Bockwinkel
40:25 – Ronda Rousey
47:46 – Wrestling venues
53:40 – Bobby Jaggers/Paul Heyman
1:00:08 – XFL
1:03:11 – WWE’s rehab program

About Paul:

I’m just a guy, from England, who watches wrestling and listens to podcasts!