Big Egg Podcasting Universe: Episode 9 Show Notes
Where to Watch
Alundra Blayze vs Bull Nakano (WWF Women’s Championship)
The First Attempt
The working agreement that brought Alundra Blayze and Bull Nakano together into an endless cycle of violence was not the first time WWF and AJW had tried to work together. In the late 1980s, after The Not So Fabulous Moolah just about pushed Wendi Richter out of the door, the remaining women pushed for opportunities to wrestle new competition.
Although the feud – and the revitalised women’s division it was meant to spawn – were ultimately nixed by Moolah’s machinations, it did give us a couple of excellent women’s tag team matches.
The Glamour Girls vs The Jumping Bomb Angels (c) (2 out of 3 falls) (Royal Rumble 1988)
Bull vs Blayze: The Complete Feud
From spring 1994 through to the summer of 1996, Bull Nakano and Alundra Blayze / Madusa wrestled each other more than anyone else. Because so much took place on house shows or at events that didn’t make tape, there’s no way to watch every match they had between them – but we’ve watched all of these and now you have to too. I don’t make the rules
Raw: 1 August 1994
SummerSlam: 29 August 1994
Raw: 3 April 1995 (featuring Bertha Faye’s debut)
In which Vince McMahon acknowledges that Blayze lost to Nakano “in Japan” without explicitly referencing AJW or Big Egg, and alas, in which Jim Cornette joins commentary.
WCW Hog Wild: 10 August 1996 (Battle of the Bikes)
This match is on the WWE Network if you really want to watch it in its full English-language glory. The best version I can find online has German commentary and honestly, it’s probably better this way.
WCW Clash of the Champions: 15 August 1996
The Original Screwjob
Moolah killed several attempts to give WWF’s women’s division the respect and investment that it deserved. Before the fiasco of 1987-1988, she’d already put an end to the rise of Wendi Richter who, through the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection, had become a household name in 1985.
Here’s the infamous match in which The Spider, who was Definitely Not Moolah, screwed Richter out of her title. Richter walked out of the building and wasn’t seen in WWF again until her Hall of Fame induction.
Oklahoma! (Not the state or the musical)
Yep, this was a real character. Trigger warnings for misogyny, body-shaming, and the very worst of 2000 WCW.
Plugs
Women Love Wrestling
Writing by and about women who love wrestling, with proceeds going to RAINN in the US and Women’s Aid in the UK. My essay is first in the book but don’t let that put you off. Get on Amazon
Draw, Lose or Draw
David’s podcast about Partick Thistle. The Jags have just come top of their league so give this a listen for their unbridled joy and excessive drunkenness, probably.
Brooke – Action for Working Donkeys
David mentioned that he wanted to encourage us to donate to donkey sanctuaries because they’re underfunded and underappreciated. If you can, please take a look at your local sanctuary and see how you can support them – or consider making a donation to Brooke.
The Rise and Fall of Rikidozan: A Novel in Seventeen Matches
George’s novel about a young man discovering the murky world of early puro and totally legitimate businessmen. Available in paperbook and ebook.
100 Greatest Literary Detectives
A book that does exactly what it says on the tin, including George’s essay on Jasper Fforde’s novels. Get on Amazon
Socials
David’s Instagram: @villanoxiv
The Puro Pourri Podcast on Twitter: @PuroPodcast
Sarah’s Twitter: @SarahParkin1
