Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to the Busted Open Podcast. This is Dave LaGreca. On today's episode, myself and Tommy Dreamer talk about the ref bump. Are you into it or is it too much or not enough? We discuss right now on the Busted Open Podcast. This is the Busted Open Podcast. You and I already had odds. Already had odds and the show hasn't even started yet.
Since 8.30. When I log in, I'm here. We start arguing.
We start arguing. We talk about the show at hand. Talk about how our weekend was. Talk about NXT from last night. And I said something in the pre-show meeting that you completely disagreed with. Completely. So I'm looking forward to die completely?
Completely. Absolutely.
Like, you don't even give me any room here at all. Like, nothing. Like, you're just completely disagreement with what I had to say.
Well, let's spit it out, kid. Forget the particulars. Let's go.
I'm watching NXT last night. Main event. Izzy Dame and Lola Weiss for the NXT Women's Championship. Amazing match. I think the best match we've seen from both Lola and Izzy. I go on record to say that last night in that main event for me. And I think, not that it was completely ruined. I'm not going to go that far. But it did tarnish the match because we had, once again, a ref bump.
And I think... Not just in NXT, but pro wrestling-wide. Way too many ref bumps, man. Way too many ref bumps. Circa 2012 TNA with the ref bumps.
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Chapter 2: Are ref bumps overused in professional wrestling today?
It seems like we get a ref bump on every single show. Now, I'm probably wrong by that, but by God, it seems like it.
I said you were wrong on your statement of there's a ref bump on every show.
It feels like it.
I feel that's a generalization.
Too many fucking ref bumps. Too many ref bumps, man.
You become them.
Who's them?
The bad people on social media.
Oh, I am not a bad people on social media.
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Chapter 3: How do ref bumps affect the quality of wrestling matches?
Then if everyone's protected, nobody's protected.
You've been a referee. Not a good one.
Wait a second. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I have been complimented on my rare appearances as a referee.
Okay.
Wait a second. Wait a second. Wait a second. Hold on. Let me rewind a little bit.
Okay.
House of Hardcore, right? You had me referee a main event match in New Jersey.
Yes.
Okay, so if I was such a bad referee, why are you having me main event? Why are you having me in the main event? Dennis Stamp worked his whole career jumping on the trampoline, waiting for that one opportunity to be in the main event. It took decades. I was in the main event. You don't put me in the main event unless I earned it.
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Chapter 4: What are the historical perspectives on ref bumps in wrestling?
Here we go. That's how I feel about it when I see a ref bump because I see it so frequently. It's not one of those things that happens like out of the blue. And listen, I know I'm exaggerating about the number of times it happens, but it feels like that because of the way I feel about it when it happens. It's never like, oh, shit, the ref got it. It's like, oh, here we go.
That's my reaction when I see it. Coming up next, our conversation on ref bumps continues. Your one-stop shop for R-A-S-S-L-I and that's wrestling.
Pro Wrestling Nation, 24-7, channel 156.
I thought last night's... Hit was impressive. How it happened. When you say to protect the person, even though the referee was groggy, got knocked out, comes back to life, he still did his job at the end. And I was okay with it. The crowd reaction in that building, they reacted well to it. I understand where you're coming from. I don't think it takes away from the action.
I also sometimes thinks it builds to the action. Like if the good guy is covering the bad guy, And all of a sudden, the ref is knocked out. Everyone's like, oh, they're going to switch the title. And then that doesn't happen. It does take you on a bit of a swerve of a gotcha moment. And yes, I agree.
And it was a conscious effort a long time ago within TNA because that brand did get hurt with all the wonkiness.
Yeah.
to not do that and I don't know. I think sometimes it adds to the show, the overall show, the overall experience. If you're doing it once a show, yes. That's why I would not make that general statement until someone finds that out. Or you could be nice and say, hey, nation, if someone would like to tabulate, if you watch every wrestling show, how many ref bumps?
And you'll go to the front of the line and you'll tell me about it. At the end of the day, we'll calculate how many ref bumps there were this month and on what show.
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Chapter 5: What unique ref bump techniques were showcased in recent matches?
You know, the Hogan winning the AWA title and then taking it away and then he wins it again. But then they took it away. That wasn't like referee discretion. But yes, people get upset. I remember I got upset at another very, very poor referee, Smokin' Joe Frazier, when he stopped the match due to blood. And I was like, wait, what? This is pro wrestling. We're allowed to bleed.
But then he was like, he had to check his eye. Cut me. Cut me, Mick. Got to check my eye. But I was pissed. And I wasn't just pissed because of it was dusty. I was pissed that I did not get the outcome in the main event that I paid money for and wanted an end result.
And I felt that was a way of, now looking back at it, that was a way of protecting the wrestler in a much different sense of the word. But I agree with, hey, sometimes Javon Evans, Penta. Sometimes wrestlers can lose, and it's okay, and where you go afterwards. But that's also babyface, babyface. Did that match need a ref bump? I don't know, but the ref got in his way, in her way.
Yeah, and I love what you just said about Javon Evans and Penta. Because in that case with Javon Evans and Penta, Javon Evans, big baby face, fans love him. It's okay. He got frustrated. Penta went to raise his arm, and Javon pulled it away. Like, no, don't raise my arm. I didn't win the match. You won the match. He was pissed off. I can understand in the moment...
As it happens, you're going to get frustrated. I don't think anybody's like, I lost faith in Javon Evans because he lost that match to Penta on Monday night. As a matter of fact, now I think it makes Javon Evans even more curious to the viewer. I want to see what happens the next time. Can he overcome this loss? Is he going to get more frustrated? Is this going to be a change? and Javon Evans.
Now I'm more curious about Javon Evans probably than ever before since he's come to the main roster.
Okay, let me ask you this. I'm going to give you two scenarios, and I just want your honest opinions. Ready? Roman Reigns beat Jacob Fatu pretty clean, correct?
Yes. Well, no. Well, no, he didn't really. I mean, he kind of cheated to win.
He's the baby face. There's kind of two baby faces in this. It's a little wonky. Are you into this match in Italy?
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