Jim Cornette on The Passing Of Kevin Sullivan

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  • Опубліковано 29 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 724

  • @thomass789
    @thomass789 3 місяці тому +279

    There is something comforting about Corny’s level of anguish in starting these “tribute to” vids for the legends that he knew and liked. He struggles to get going, seemingly because he doesn’t want to accept the loss of another friend, but then like a pro, gets warmed up and delivers a wonderful history lesson combined with a tribute. Best way I can describe it is to say that you never want to HAVE TO hear of our heroes’ passing, but yet you always enjoy listening to Jim deliver it. Artful, really.

    • @exilhamburger4802
      @exilhamburger4802 3 місяці тому +9

      That is a youtube upload from Cornette, we were waiting for.
      Just for him to praise a longtime colleague!

    • @CreatureOTNight
      @CreatureOTNight 3 місяці тому +5

      The Kid Brian makes it so much easier for Corny to talk about, because he want Brian to learn..

    • @walkedoverwater
      @walkedoverwater 3 місяці тому +10

      @@CreatureOTNightBrian is quite the historian himself.

    • @thomass789
      @thomass789 3 місяці тому +3

      @@totallybored5526 I’m sure no amount of explaining it to you will help you understand, smooth brain, but what I’m saying is that it’s comforting to hear Jim take an anguishing loss and make it into an enjoyably positive tribute to a friend he has lost. Does that help?

    • @genghishank1
      @genghishank1 3 місяці тому +2

      @@totallybored5526lmao, he called you ‘smooth brain’. I bet that name follows you everywhere now for the rest of your life. You got destroyed

  • @XombieLejon66
    @XombieLejon66 3 місяці тому +265

    Respect the Bookerman forever

  • @darreleddings5901
    @darreleddings5901 3 місяці тому +119

    Time is undefeated. Thank you for everything Kevin.

  • @jonbourgoin182
    @jonbourgoin182 3 місяці тому +196

    KC uploaded Back to the Territories Florida edition in full with Jim and Kevin if y'all are interested. It's a fun watch!

    • @scottdecowski4913
      @scottdecowski4913 3 місяці тому +13

      Nice there's a must watch, appreciate you passing the word along!

    • @ggaa111100
      @ggaa111100 3 місяці тому +14

      I'll be checking it out, I've been a fan of Kevin since the 80s.

    • @JuliusC1973
      @JuliusC1973 3 місяці тому +8

      Thank you, I watched that a few days ago. I've watched a lot of Championship Wrestling from Florida and International Championship Wrestling with shows from New England and it appeared that Kevin brought his Florida Crew with him.

    • @fingersTitan
      @fingersTitan 3 місяці тому +4

      I've watched them. Superb uploads. Shows how good Kevin was.
      Sean Oliver recently talked about doing those shows and that he needed to give Jim a shout because he's not spoken with him for a while. On Rewind Recap.

    • @shaolin1derpalm
      @shaolin1derpalm 3 місяці тому

      Will be a good housecleaning podcast

  • @MarkedInBlack
    @MarkedInBlack 3 місяці тому +67

    I was a young teen Sullivan fan.
    When I was 15, I was cheering Kevin as he was spiking Dusty over and over after the match and Dusty was a bloody mess. The fans turned on me and started pelting me with beer 🍺 and soda 🥤, and whatever they could get their hands on. A few came at me and my dad grabbed me by the arm and ran me out of there, getting pelted the whole way out of the arena. There was a cop outside and my dad b-lined for him as a few guys came running out after us. They went back inside and the cop stood watch as we got in the truck and left. My dad wouldn’t take me back for 6 months and when he did, made me swear I wouldn’t cheer for Kevin like that again 😂
    I was lucky enough to see Kevin face to face 2 yrs ago at an Indy show and tell him that story, and he got a good laugh about it and thanked me for risking my life to cheer for him.
    That’s how serious Kevin’s heat was and how much his heel gimmick was over in Florida.
    Outside the ring, super humble and nice guy who will be greatly missed.

    • @robsmith8286
      @robsmith8286 3 місяці тому +9

      Fellow heel fan, I got punched back in 1990 for just wearing a Flair shirt. What you did would be like me cheering Flair and the Horseman while they broke Dustys leg in the steel cage, kicking off their historic feud. Id be kilt'

    • @Beer_Baron_
      @Beer_Baron_ 3 місяці тому +8

      That’s awesome! Glad you got a chance to tell Kev.

    • @LouisNyiri
      @LouisNyiri 3 місяці тому +3

      Did you usually cheer for the heel or did it depend on the wrestler?

    • @MarkedInBlack
      @MarkedInBlack 3 місяці тому +5

      @@LouisNyiri depended on the wrestler. I also cheered for Macho Man and Undertaker when they were heels, as well as Piper, Mr. Perfect, Demolition. I cheered for who I liked regardless of heel or face. I usually cheered for whomever Hogan faced until he turned heel, then I liked him in his NWO run.

    • @ifgwelf
      @ifgwelf 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@@robsmith8286 I love seeing this kind of comments on wrasslin youtube. One big living memory.

  • @Smurffitness
    @Smurffitness 3 місяці тому +137

    Rip. Been waiting for this one. No one can do it like Corny

    • @zhougongjin2704
      @zhougongjin2704 3 місяці тому +7

      Some people think that Bischoff is on the same level as Cornette, but Cornette Punked Bischoff in that one WWE table for 3 episode..

    • @ggaa111100
      @ggaa111100 3 місяці тому +1

      Agreed

    • @johnvanarnam
      @johnvanarnam 3 місяці тому +2

      Need to have Cornette’s knowledge base to cover all the aspects of Sullivans contributions to the business, who himself was as also as good an entertainer on podcasts as he was in the ring.

    • @mrhaag
      @mrhaag 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@zhougongjin2704 How? By telling him about the time he wiped a booger on his windshield. Cornette has a default mode and that's being as immature as possible. He can't make a statement or tell a story without going back to acting like a child. Pure and simple. Yeah, he's got fun stories occasionally but he'll never be the adult in the room. How many times does Brian have to just push past some crude/sexist statement and move on?

    • @zhougongjin2704
      @zhougongjin2704 3 місяці тому +4

      @@mrhaag they're called jokes..

  • @snarf4058
    @snarf4058 3 місяці тому +8

    I honestly don't know much about Kevin Sullivan, outside of a few matches in ECW and WCW (i think), but i was engrossed by this, and your honest love and respect for Kevin's career comes across. The Mongolian Stomper hidden under the ring story had me almost crying with laughter imagining it.
    I know they must be very difficult to actually record, but, much like when Beautiful Bobby passed, i really respect and value the fact that you both put together such a good tribute.
    Thank you.

  • @seereadnhear
    @seereadnhear 3 місяці тому +65

    Being from Florida and watching championship wrestling from Florida was a staple in my house. And Kevin Sullivan was one of those Staples my time as a kid. Rest In Peace😢 Taskmaster

    • @lanenordgren7641
      @lanenordgren7641 3 місяці тому +5

      Those were wild times in Florida for sure. I was in my 20s and Kevin was my favorite heel.

    • @seereadnhear
      @seereadnhear 3 місяці тому +3

      @@lanenordgren7641 mine too

  • @metameta1427
    @metameta1427 3 місяці тому +64

    Yeah, I don't watch wrestling any more. Haven't in 20 years. But I always check out Jim and Brian when anything remotely interesting happens. I appreciate you so much, Jim, as you were a big part of my childhood where I grew up in the foothills of North Carolina. Rest in peace to Kevin. My condolences go out to his family.

    • @brandonanderson510
      @brandonanderson510 3 місяці тому +4

      Agree with you, wrastling is not as good as it was, im from Amarillo TX and Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, and Dirty Dick Murdock were all local here for sometime, among many other greats that moved on too, it was just, better.

    • @thewhitelodgery
      @thewhitelodgery 3 місяці тому +1

      Seriously though, listening to the podcast is the only way to remotely enjoy wrestling today vicariously through Cornette lol - Sad state of affairs.

  • @defaultusername123
    @defaultusername123 3 місяці тому +113

    RIP KEVIN SULLIVAN. A LEGEND AND A GENIUS. LOSING SO MANY THESE DAYS

    • @quentinkaasa47
      @quentinkaasa47 3 місяці тому +5

      Is that Beetlejuice with Gary Spivey's hair? Wtf

    • @defaultusername123
      @defaultusername123 3 місяці тому +3

      @@quentinkaasa47 the Honorable Judge Beet Green presiding

    • @westnile21
      @westnile21 3 місяці тому

      @@defaultusername123- Beet is bad as can

    • @PontFlair
      @PontFlair 3 місяці тому

      Beetlejuice is him.
      R.I.P The Game's Master

    • @demondsims5411
      @demondsims5411 2 місяці тому

      Sadly, Sid is now gone. Too many wrestlers are leaving this world lately.

  • @cctitansfan
    @cctitansfan 3 місяці тому +456

    The Red Sox paying Tribute to Kevin was very heartwarming. Thank you,Kevin. We will always respect you,Bookerman

    • @DonaldMeyers-v8c
      @DonaldMeyers-v8c 3 місяці тому +14

      What did they do? I missed that

    • @cctitansfan
      @cctitansfan 3 місяці тому +50

      They posted a In Memorial and Thank You to him on the Scoreboard

    • @DonaldMeyers-v8c
      @DonaldMeyers-v8c 3 місяці тому +29

      @@cctitansfan ah that's cool. Thanks man. I appreciate it

    • @ggaa111100
      @ggaa111100 3 місяці тому +12

      Wow that's really cool. John Henry is a class act 👏 👏 👏

    • @TonyDanza4Lyfe
      @TonyDanza4Lyfe 3 місяці тому

      @@Johnnydubsack😂

  • @PhiniasTBirdpocket
    @PhiniasTBirdpocket 3 місяці тому +33

    I got to see Kevin Sullivan a couple years back. He was in Wisconsin for a few shows helping out at the local promotion. He was managing a wrestler named Kahagas and then helped another wrestler with his promos and repackage. I ran into him on the way out, he was talking on the phone so
    I didn’t want to bother him to much, but just said thank you for coming and helping the show.

    • @quentinkaasa47
      @quentinkaasa47 3 місяці тому +3

      You mean former NWA World Heavyweight champion, Kahagas? 😄

  • @BuddyH69
    @BuddyH69 3 місяці тому +94

    I have been waiting to hear Corny talk about Kevin. I know it must have been very difficult . I think back to Beautiful Bobby’s passing.
    RIP to both legends

    • @GordonMacfarlane-d3p
      @GordonMacfarlane-d3p 3 місяці тому +21

      His tribute to Bobby was excellent and when he cracked a bit at the end, so did I

    • @BuddyH69
      @BuddyH69 3 місяці тому

      @@GordonMacfarlane-d3p you’re not alone.

    • @nicholasm.5826
      @nicholasm.5826 3 місяці тому +5

      @@GordonMacfarlane-d3p at least the story story about Bobby getting sick in the car ride was funny during that video, never heard Corny like that before

    • @axeman6598
      @axeman6598 3 місяці тому +9

      These tributes are starting to be an ongoing thing.......unfortunately.

    • @marvinleong5902
      @marvinleong5902 3 місяці тому +1

      Afa one probably coming for their next show ​@axeman6598

  • @john_blues
    @john_blues 3 місяці тому +92

    Thanks for all the memories Kevin. The Dungeon of Doom was one of my favorite childhood wrestling highlights.

    • @Mike19737
      @Mike19737 3 місяці тому +5

      Yes! DOD was awesome! RIP Kevin.

    • @Memeposting
      @Memeposting 3 місяці тому +7

      It's sad I only remember it for that one segment THERE'S NO HULKAMANIACS HERE! RIP

    • @ShadowAngel-lt8nw
      @ShadowAngel-lt8nw 3 місяці тому

      @@Mike19737 Objectively it was total crap, but it's understandable, why Sullivan was forced to book it that way, from his shoot it's obvious he wanted a way darker, more menacing stable, like his old army of darkness, but the leftist pussies at turner forced him to go full PG and thus, the Dungeon of Doom became a joke full of gimmicks that looked more like rejected villains from the '66 Batman show.

    • @quentinkaasa47
      @quentinkaasa47 3 місяці тому +4

      I don't care what anyone thinks, that '95 War Games between Hogan, Savage, Luger & Sting and the Dungeon of Doom is a fun match, and much more entertaining than the actual bad matches nowadays - and plenty of the good ones.

    • @ShadowAngel-lt8nw
      @ShadowAngel-lt8nw 3 місяці тому +1

      @@quentinkaasa47 It only served to make all heels look incompetent, sting as second rate (at best) and Hogan being the hero.
      If you can't see all the damage Hogan caused to WCW or Sullivan struggling as a booker to make somthing work while a egomaniac doen't realize that for example losing to Vader first and do a classc "overcoming the odds" story" then i don't know.
      WCW in 1995 and 1995 could've been amazing with a proper president and a booker who put his foot down.

  • @MichaelSmith-fq6hz
    @MichaelSmith-fq6hz 3 місяці тому +49

    The Benoit thing is especially stupid because Benoit said himself on his WWE documentary that Kevin was never anything but professional with Benoit in the ring. If Kevin wasn’t going to beat him up in 97, why go after him ten years later?

    • @aquariums5154
      @aquariums5154 3 місяці тому +13

      That is the work of great heel. He seemed so believable that even after his retirement people still believed the character.

    • @IAMEVIL315
      @IAMEVIL315 3 місяці тому +1

      😂 why wouldnt he?

    • @Varkhal218
      @Varkhal218 3 місяці тому +10

      ​@@IAMEVIL315 because there's nothing to gain and potentially everything to lose?

    • @gatchywatchyentertainmentb2090
      @gatchywatchyentertainmentb2090 3 місяці тому +4

      Because people are stupid and desperate.

    • @lanceortmann4157
      @lanceortmann4157 3 місяці тому +6

      At the end of the day Nancy and her son were the losers of this situation.

  • @JRJrsx85
    @JRJrsx85 3 місяці тому +33

    The Varsity Club angle of 1988 is one of the greatest character arcs in wrestling history because it felt like wrestling taking on real life topics such as bullying and jock culture. The angle re-invented Kevin as more than just the satanic mastermind character he had been stereotyped as and showed he could be funny while menacing as the evil college coach. The angle saved Mike Rotunda’s career as he had been floundering at that point and it gave the world Rick Steiner as the lovable goofball badass. The angle was incredible because it played out with Kevin corrupting Rotunda and Steiner and eventually the bullying got the fans behind Steiner because people knew what it had been like to not only be bullied but bullied at the hands of their friends and how its okay to not fit in or its okay to be different. It all paid off with one of the best feel good moments in wrestling history which is the abuse victim getting his revenge on the jocks at Starrcade 88 with Steiner winning the TV Title from his tormentors. Its a masterpiece of wrestling at its best.

    • @manuelper
      @manuelper 3 місяці тому +5

      That pop when Rick beats Captain Mike and runs around the ring with the TV Title still gives me goosebumps when I rewatch it.

    • @T_R_O_Y_McClure
      @T_R_O_Y_McClure 3 місяці тому +3

      Well fn said. Respect.

  • @kevinkelly1529
    @kevinkelly1529 3 місяці тому +7

    The first live WWWF rassling show l ever attended was 1970 at the Zembo Temple in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. The main event was KEVIN SULLIVAN vs BRUNO SAMMARTINO.

  • @ErnestIII83
    @ErnestIII83 3 місяці тому +14

    "Time makes you bolder
    Even children get older
    And I'm getting older too"
    - Stevie Nicks

  • @warren_r
    @warren_r 3 місяці тому +76

    Kevin Sullivan's podcast with Mister Saint Laurent (several years ago now) was one of the best wrestling podcasts I've ever heard. Tons of great history and stories. I'll have to go back and re-listen to it all over the next year. RIP to the Task Master.

    • @ifgwelf
      @ifgwelf 3 місяці тому +14

      Kevin Sullivan is one of those walking archives of wrestlings earlier years, gonna be a void in the wrestling community

    • @chroniclesofnigeria1358
      @chroniclesofnigeria1358 3 місяці тому +8

      MSL is one of wrestling biggest clowns, He is good friends with Chasyn Rance, and they joked on podcasts about Chasyns crimes against children.

    • @travisheckel3788
      @travisheckel3788 3 місяці тому +4

      That msl clown was unlistenable

    • @Deans-jm3uf
      @Deans-jm3uf 3 місяці тому +1

      It was really great. Production wise it wasn’t the best but Kevin was pretty raw and informative

    • @Deans-jm3uf
      @Deans-jm3uf 3 місяці тому +3

      @@travisheckel3788I thought he was good on Kevin’s podcast. He wasn’t great on the other podcast with konnan but with Kevin I thought MSL treated it serious appeared to have respect and reverence for Kevin

  • @gregorykrug8034
    @gregorykrug8034 3 місяці тому +3

    I am glad that promo with Kevin Sullivan, Buzz Sawyer, and Cactus Jack was mentioned. I watched that with a couple friends, and all of us were loving it! We thought that was one of the greatest things ever!

  • @dciach12
    @dciach12 3 місяці тому +49

    Sepsis is no joke. I just had it from a fall. My leg got infected and it got bad so quick! They were going to amputate my leg but thankfully it got better, but it could have been deadly. If you fall and cut or bruise yourself ALWAYS go to the doctor right away! RIP KS 😢

    • @tonyslicer7399
      @tonyslicer7399 3 місяці тому +5

      My stepfather suffered old age home they didn't care sent hospital then back home alone die they gave no shit ... this what happens once you're old go them places

    • @dciach12
      @dciach12 3 місяці тому +2

      @@tonyslicer7399 I am so sorry to hear that. 🙏 God bless

    • @baboracus
      @baboracus 3 місяці тому

      Welcome to bankruptcy.. If humans don't know basic first aid then the laws against "providing medical advice" which should be protected under the first amendment, need to be ignored by the mass.

    • @samspurgeon4222
      @samspurgeon4222 3 місяці тому +16

      My Dad died the same way. Had emergency heart surgery and it all went well....thought we were just going to have to get him better and all would be well. But then he kept getting sick.
      I took him to the ER which led to more hospital stays....on our 5th trip to the ER in 2 months, a Dr finally figured out what he had and he got scheduled for emergency surgery in 2 days.
      The night before, I told him I loved him and he told me and went to sleep. I woke up with a tiny ICU Dr on top of him trying to save his life doing CPR....they made me go out, and got him stabilized, but he was essentially gone....I sat holding his hand until the next morning begging him to come back but his heart just finally gave out.
      My heart goes out to Mr Sullivan's family. He brought a lot of good memories and joy to a lot of people, including me and Dad.

    • @dciach12
      @dciach12 3 місяці тому +8

      @@samspurgeon4222 I am sorry for your loss as well. It's not easy living with that.

  • @john_blues
    @john_blues 3 місяці тому +22

    I remember Kevin's promo for the Tower of Doom. I remember he said "You could lose an eye, you could lose a limb..." .

  • @misterelom
    @misterelom 3 місяці тому +15

    I grew up in Philly which was pretty much a Vince and Crockett town at the time. We got other shows on TV (AWA, WCCW, UWF) but as far as live shows, it was NWA & WWF and we didn't get Florida Wrestling, but I used to read the Apter mags as a kid and that's how I discovered Kevin Sullivan around 86. Had never seen an actual match from him at the time but I was fascinated with his gimmick and faction with "The Purple Haze" Mark Lewin and Fallen Angel. I kept up on Florida through the magazines and didn't get to actually see him in on weekly TV until Crockett in 88. Before UA-cam, I only got to see his pre-Crockett stuff twice: one time was due to my best friend who visited family down south and came back with a VHS tape he made with 1 or 2 Florida episodes (one of which had the angle where Bob Roop becomes Mayha Singh) and again with an appearance for the Savoldis in ICW (which aired in Philly real briefly through a NJ UHF station). Aside from that, The Varsity Club run was my favorite. He was such an amazing talent and one of the greatest heels in the business. His gimmick in Florida pretty much paved the way for every "dark/evil" faction & character that came after, from Raven's Nest/Flock to Sanity in NXT to The Wyatt Family and beyond. R.I.P. to one of the greatest talents and minds in the wrestling business.

    • @bugzmunny3805
      @bugzmunny3805 3 місяці тому +4

      I’m also from Philly .born in 76. And everything you said is 100%
      I remember as a kid always seeing Jerry the king on magazine covers thinking who the hell is this guy , I mean like every cover at every news stand .. we never got to see Memphis Wrestling and we were cut off to so much shit in the early 80s as kids .. but all the shows you mentioned had me thinking we had the only ones that mattered

    • @misterelom
      @misterelom 3 місяці тому +2

      @@bugzmunny3805 Yeah, Lawler was another guy I learned of from the magazines too. Before WWF, the only stuff I had seen from him was that Lords of The Ring VHS that had some of his Andy Kaufman feud on it.

    • @KayFabe87
      @KayFabe87 3 місяці тому +1

      Sounds exactly like my wrestling fandom in the 80’s as well, growing up in South Philly and being exposed to both the WWF and NWA/ Crockett. I was a regular at the Philly Civic Center for the Crockett shows from about 1985 to 1991. I was a huge Apter mag reader / collector as well. The Lords of The Ring VHS tape as well as the George Thorogood MTV video for the song “Willie and the Hand Jive” which featured the wrestling clips were favorites as well. Seeing Randy Savage put Ricky Morton through a table with a pile driver was unlike anything I had ever seen before (being in the Northeast) and it made me want to get access to as much Memphis material as possible. Needless to say, the Tupelo concession stand brawl was a “classic” and a very sought after video for us Northeastern VHS tape collectors. Growing up in the 80’s was great. I miss those years the most.

  • @dngn4774
    @dngn4774 3 місяці тому +9

    I always found it weird whenever someone harbors strong feelings against Kevin Sullivan in the Chris/Nancy/Kevin drama, they always leave out that regardless of who mistreated who in Kevin and Nancy's marriage, Benoit abandoned his first wife and kid to shack up with Nancy. That was a scummy move no matter how people choose to view the history.

  • @televiper11
    @televiper11 3 місяці тому +7

    RIP, Taskmaster.
    That cage match was great. Thanks Jim & Brian for powering through and sharing these stories.

  • @greatesttoysevermade3693
    @greatesttoysevermade3693 3 місяці тому +12

    Kevin Sullivan told me this Wright brothers story at a fan fest. He said he got hit with the chisel and bled so much he had blood in his wrestling boots and a horrible headache for weeks after. Kevin Sullivan is one of the finest minds in and out of the ring.

  • @HRT1nman
    @HRT1nman 3 місяці тому +1

    Thanks so much for this Jim! It is awesome to have your history all documented and archived on UA-cam. You are a national treasure!

  • @michaeldunbar3020
    @michaeldunbar3020 3 місяці тому +5

    I loved Kevin when he was in Florida,he was great everywhere he went,RIP 😢

  • @60BloodyChamp60
    @60BloodyChamp60 3 місяці тому +10

    For anybody who doesn’t know, Kevin was a top heel in the Florida territory which was as hot as the hottest territories (WCCW, GCW, etc) at it’s peak. It’s no coincidence that Dusty Rhodes, the top face in Florida, was chose to book the NWA. Also other Florida talent headlined the NWA after Florida. Barry Windham, Lugar and more. That was his peak and he was just along for the ride from then on out. It’s a shame many people haven’t seen him at his best because he was that good. That’s why WCW kept him around just like they and the NWA kept Dusty around.

  • @alphamaleallure
    @alphamaleallure 3 місяці тому +7

    As a fan at Center Stage in Atlanta, He and I jawed back and forth one time, for about a minute during the taping of the Saturday Night show. I think after that he winked at me, and I winked back. He was very intelligent as evidenced by the comments he has made over the years on UA-cam. RIP

  • @blktom
    @blktom 3 місяці тому +42

    This really explains the bitterness towards Benoit by Brian Last, never really understood it, but now hearing how close he was to Sullivan kind of explains it. RIP Kevin, you were a trailblazer.

    • @blktom
      @blktom 3 місяці тому +10

      @@scottm2828 The guys brain was mush from all of the concussions. Yeah, he killed them, but he was not in his right mind. To me that is a tragedy.

    • @GregHuffman1987
      @GregHuffman1987 3 місяці тому +6

      it finally seems more and more people are coming around to the fact it was really wwe's fault more than benoits that this tragedy happened. when you work your talent to the point theyre brain is warped then disown them for the consequences of that... fuck wwe

    • @blktom
      @blktom 3 місяці тому +5

      @@GregHuffman1987 Apparently Benoit reported that he gave himself a concussion every time he did the diving headbutt spot. So he gave himself at least one concussion every match he worked (or did that spot).
      Honestly, I don't blame WWE for that. No one understood the impact of having that many concussions and the long term effect of them. Plus, what is the wrestler to do? This is their life, their passion, this is how they put money on the table for their family. They /want/ to keep working or they might lose their spot and thus lose money.
      It honestly works both ways, both the company and the worker. It is why I agree with Jim on the garbage matches on both shows. It is just not worth the injury risk.

    • @FinalDisintegration
      @FinalDisintegration 3 місяці тому +2

      Benoit murdering Nancy and Daniel doesn't exonerate Kevin Sullivan in any way for the things he did to Nancy. They were both abusive assholes. Since I don't know any of these people personally, I'll have to defer to Nancy's own sister whom seems to still hate Kevin Sullivan and whom seems willing to one day forgive Chris.

    • @legendbucwild
      @legendbucwild 3 місяці тому +1

      @@scottm2828 Agreed with your point...... Your company isn't your mommy, they want you to work. It's the worker's job as a responsible adult to do what's right for themselves

  • @Cyber_PunkBJJ
    @Cyber_PunkBJJ 3 місяці тому +8

    I only knew Kevin Sullivan from his days in WCW, The Dungeon of Doom, when I was a kid. I didn't know his work before that, but I loved his rivalry with Benoit. I enjoyed his "let it simmer" line.

    • @adzisme
      @adzisme 3 місяці тому +6

      Those matches with Benoit were amazing.
      I think he originated the term “Tree of Woe”.
      Wondering tonight if Sullivan influenced Bray Wyatt to any degree in creating his persona.

    • @Cyber_PunkBJJ
      @Cyber_PunkBJJ 3 місяці тому +2

      @@adzisme no doubt about that. Maybe some influence on The Fiend

  • @walterclark3198
    @walterclark3198 3 місяці тому +7

    Rest in peace to Kevin Sullivan. Thank you for helping out so many wrestler's and for helping Luna Vachon. Thank you, Kevin.

  • @JaylenJPark
    @JaylenJPark 3 місяці тому +31

    I don't know much about Kevin Sullivan. so this will be a good listen

    • @thomass789
      @thomass789 3 місяці тому +10

      The best compliment us old time fans can offer, is to say that Kevin Sullivan was very believable. He was one of the guys you believed that he WAS his character. RIP taskmaster

    • @darthpagan76
      @darthpagan76 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@@thomass789And a great booker.

  • @TachyonJon
    @TachyonJon 3 місяці тому +16

    Sad news about a legend of the business.
    My heart goes out to his loved ones, the people who personally knew the man and to the fans of his contribution to the world of wrestling 🙏 🤗❤️

  • @ShaunHopkinsAVFC
    @ShaunHopkinsAVFC 3 місяці тому +4

    Growing up in Maine, I got to watch Kevin wrestle for ICW, especially with the Purple Haze. They were scary to a young kid, but I grew to love his insane characters in later years. RIP legend

  • @zjdarrah
    @zjdarrah 3 місяці тому +13

    This is why we like to hear Jim eulogize a person who's passed away. He has great stories well never hear from anyone else and we have a good laugh. Thanks Jim.

  • @wildmanmountainjack3725
    @wildmanmountainjack3725 3 місяці тому +1

    Thank you, Jim. I know this kind of show is not easy to do but as soon as I heard the news, I came to your channel to hear what you had to say. Great stories and closure. RIP Kevin.

  • @FerretJohn
    @FerretJohn 3 місяці тому +4

    Little bit ago Dutch Mantel put a pic up on his podcast from the early 70s of him (very young without his trademark whiskers) and an equally young Sullivan, great pic. Kevin was an innovator in wrestling, particularly with his Florida Cult Leader role, you can see a lot of it with Bray Wyatt and his Family

  • @case121974
    @case121974 3 місяці тому +1

    Great Work!!! As usual Jim's respect and knowledge of Kevin's career is much appreciated. I recently rewatched the "Back To The Territories" interview with Kevin Sullivan and enjoyed it like I never had seen it before.

  • @kanedasrifle
    @kanedasrifle 3 місяці тому +1

    Was always nice to listen to an episode of Taskmaster Talks & his many great shoot interviews, airports , hospitals , travelling , the mans voice has been in my ear for years. Sadly missed , this hit jarringly hard. To quote Schiavone , heaven just got a devil. R.I.P.

  • @KaliBeatsYoSoyAquel
    @KaliBeatsYoSoyAquel 3 місяці тому +15

    11:10 holy shit 😂😂 I've never burst out laughing at something so crazy. The way he said it was gold lol

  • @florida_guy03
    @florida_guy03 3 місяці тому +20

    Was lucky to have met him during wrestlemania weekend in Tampa few years ago. Awesome guy. It was early in the show so he took pics and sat with me and a buddy talking about wrestling and breaking balls on us. It was great. RIP Kevin

  • @michaelsingletary4526
    @michaelsingletary4526 3 місяці тому +7

    Being from Tampa loved KS vs Dusty Rhodes fueds. The Taskmaster

  • @IamPondo
    @IamPondo 3 місяці тому +4

    From Singapore Massachusetts I'll miss him

  • @ddw1210
    @ddw1210 3 місяці тому +2

    Thank you both for taking time to remember him and share share your stories. Appreciate very much.

  • @kingstonagainstcorruption2268
    @kingstonagainstcorruption2268 3 місяці тому +4

    I was there in Knoxville Tennessee the night Kevin beat Mike Graham for the US Junior Heavyweight Championship around 1979 or 1980. RIP Kevin. 😢

  • @soylentramen7795
    @soylentramen7795 3 місяці тому +5

    The Varsity Club were hands down my favorite wrestling villains. Like ever.

  • @taliakendrick1114
    @taliakendrick1114 3 місяці тому +13

    I believe he was in involved in multiple angles I will never forget , the dungeon of doom, Benoit at the clash, pilman and the strap bookerman, and his goofy bunny holding hogan loving brother

    • @vict4451
      @vict4451 3 місяці тому +2

      Damn. Forgot all about Evad Sullivan

  • @jamesparsons9619
    @jamesparsons9619 3 місяці тому +3

    Corny does so many things in character and for our entertainment but he shifts to real when it comes to the meaningful stuff. RIP Kevin Sullivan

  • @tonyslicer7399
    @tonyslicer7399 3 місяці тому +14

    Should been Hof guy started it all and hated people accused him Benoit knew had nothing do with that crap Rip Kevin

    • @atrain2345
      @atrain2345 3 місяці тому

      U have proof he wasn't involved, I doubt it , but it proof he threatened to kill Nancy, it's documented

    • @KClouisville
      @KClouisville 3 місяці тому +2

      @@atrain2345 Was that after Nancy literally stabbed him? Lol. Also, here in the United States, you don't show proof you weren't involved. You're proven guilty in a court of law. Just to let you know how things work chief.

  • @shanehero
    @shanehero 3 місяці тому +1

    This was a really nice tribute. It must be hard, and clearly Kevin meant a lot to both Jim and Brian. Much of my growing up with wrestling passed by much of Kevin in his prime. But learning how much influence he had on so many of the people I did watch and enjoy gave me so much appreciation for what Kevin meant to wrestling.

  • @kevincantrell6295
    @kevincantrell6295 3 місяці тому +1

    I grew up in Daytona and met him numerous times. I did construction work on Oceans condos where he lived. Always such a nice guy. Loved to sit and talk about wrestling any time we came over to work on his unit.

  • @roberttharpejr7828
    @roberttharpejr7828 3 місяці тому +3

    Thank you for this Jim and Brian

  • @L_Train
    @L_Train 3 місяці тому +4

    I went to smackdown the day Kevin passed. The did a tribute on the screen but sadly most of the crowd didnt seem to know who Kevin was.

  • @andrewcarter3367
    @andrewcarter3367 3 місяці тому +18

    Crossing the burning sands … wild stuff. My mom banned Kevin Sullivan from our tv. 😂

    • @asurlybarber3620
      @asurlybarber3620 3 місяці тому +7

      You must be from Florida, and your mom probably thought Sullivan was a devil worshipper casting ooga booga spells on Dusty.

    • @michaelhunziker7287
      @michaelhunziker7287 3 місяці тому

      She needs to chew on the betel nut

    • @ShadowAngel-lt8nw
      @ShadowAngel-lt8nw 3 місяці тому

      Muricans are just so pathetic lol

    • @andrewcarter3367
      @andrewcarter3367 3 місяці тому +3

      @@asurlybarber3620 Yep! lol

  • @jasoncourter301
    @jasoncourter301 3 місяці тому +16

    Jim's interview with Kevin Sullivan after the Chris Benoit Dark side of the Ring special is what made me a cult of Cornette member

  • @johneschen308
    @johneschen308 3 місяці тому +5

    First time I saw Kevin Sullivan was in WCW with the Dungeon of Doom and the Giant. He was awesome as the Taskmaster

  • @timothy4664
    @timothy4664 3 місяці тому +8

    I am paraphrasing, but Kevin said Smokey Mountain would have been of the most remembered territory should it have existed in an earlier time. Kevin couldn't have loved Smokey Mountain more. I always remembered that.

    • @kingstonagainstcorruption2268
      @kingstonagainstcorruption2268 3 місяці тому

      Kevin wrestled in the Knox area for Southeastern wrestling in late 70s early 80s with Bob Roop Ron Fuller Ronnie Garvin and others. Great times!

  • @mjdf122
    @mjdf122 3 місяці тому +27

    I Respect You Booker Man

  • @scottlevison7994
    @scottlevison7994 3 місяці тому +6

    Living in Massachusetts, I didn't have cable. Mother didn't want it and the town I was going to college in didn't have it. All I had on local TV were the two WWF shows and World Class ( only non- cable exposure to the NWA). I read the Apter magazines to keep up on what was going on in the other territories, including Florida. As a heel mark, I *loved* Kevin's Abughdadien gimmick. My then-GF read the magazines with me and she believed them 1000%.
    Me and her split up in September of 1985 on bad terms and I moved to Ft. Lauderdale. Months later, I get a phone call from one of my friends back home asking me if had joined a cult. Told him I didn't. He tells me that Pam was going around telling people I joined a cult led by a guy named Kevin Sullivan. I start laughing and I tell my friend who Kevin is and what the gimmick was. I also tell him *not* to tell her any different. She probably thinks I am still a member of the "cult."
    I only wish that had I known him back then after me and the ex split. I would've *loved* for him to cut a promo on my ex...something along the lines about how she cast me adrift on the Sea Of Nothingness but Abughdadien sent me to him and I partook in the betel nut. That would've driven the ex over the edge 🤣😂🤣😂
    Thanks for the memories, Kevin. From one Masshole to another, you now got a front row seat for the Sawx, Pats, B's and C's...

    • @quentinkaasa47
      @quentinkaasa47 3 місяці тому

      😅 Great story, man. Was she a crazy religious bitch or do you think she was just trying to ruin your reputation after the breakup?

    • @azothoth666
      @azothoth666 3 місяці тому +1

      😂great friggin story! From mass also, first time I saw Sullivan was at midnight on some forgotten channel… maybe pre fox 25. Anyway my buddies and I loved him! Hearing him rant and rave with Lewin and Roop was classic

    • @scottlevison7994
      @scottlevison7994 3 місяці тому

      @@azothoth666 Originally from Newton, was living in Bridgewater. Stayed there after I graduated to be near the then GF (she lived in Mansfield when she wasn't in school).
      The fact that she believed the Apter mags says a lot about her 😂🤣😂🤣

  • @raymondtipton7243
    @raymondtipton7243 3 місяці тому +9

    Dave Sullivans real name was William Adolph Danenhauer Jr.he died n 2023...at 60 yrs old

    • @KayFabe87
      @KayFabe87 3 місяці тому +1

      Mr Danenhauer (aka Dave Sullivan) is still very much alive as of 08/18/24.

  • @DevoJetBoy8680
    @DevoJetBoy8680 3 місяці тому +1

    LOVE the Sullivan's Slaughterhouse clip! One of the most insane TV interviews ever. Also Buzz Sawyer's final faction.

  • @sabrearashi302
    @sabrearashi302 3 місяці тому +1

    Haha I'm from Parkersburg, thanks for the shout out!

  • @bloodhound3817
    @bloodhound3817 3 місяці тому +2

    I remember when I was a kid during the early 90s in East Tennessee. Kevin Sullivan and Mongolian Stomper had some fantastic matches. Whether it be in a high school gym or national guard armory. Those guys always put on a good match.

  • @edwalsh7032
    @edwalsh7032 3 місяці тому +2

    Saw him in the 70's great worker. His you tube interviews were always great.. RIP... Peace to the family.

  • @martinwalton9307
    @martinwalton9307 3 місяці тому +3

    Fascinating to hear about Sullivan's in-ring career,......White meat babyface in Koxville & Florida, top guy in San Francisco & Memphis and then the big devil run in Florida, very underrated and overlooked career.

  • @denniscook512
    @denniscook512 3 місяці тому +3

    R.I.P., MY first introduction to Kevin was in the Gulas/Welch territory in the early 70s, at that time he was teaming with Joey Rossi

  • @JimHrbacek
    @JimHrbacek 3 місяці тому +19

    Kevin Sullivan is PROOF, you can be 5'5" and make a difference in pro wrestling. Dude was a bad ass among bad asses. Haku. Barbarian. Kevin Sullivan. RIP Taskmaster

    • @IAMEVIL315
      @IAMEVIL315 3 місяці тому +3

      😂no. No hes not.

  • @theomengabriellestat7643
    @theomengabriellestat7643 3 місяці тому

    That was a nice conversation. I really enjoyed listening to this one.

  • @jonnya4209
    @jonnya4209 3 місяці тому +3

    Only saw him wrestle twice (other than retrospectively) - at World War 3 96 and Spring Break 97 - but could listen to him talk and talk about wrestling forever.

    • @dannycruz5446
      @dannycruz5446 3 місяці тому

      I was at ww3 96 too...the scope.

  • @84sp84
    @84sp84 3 місяці тому +14

    The GD Germans ain’t got nothing to do with it. Always runs through my mind when anyone uses “germane”🤣

    • @vict4451
      @vict4451 3 місяці тому +4

      Sheriff Buford T. Justice with a run in.

  • @____K_____989
    @____K_____989 3 місяці тому +12

    I was a bouncer in Tampa at an Irish pub. Every St Patrick’s day they would close the parking lot and bring in a fair.
    Sully worked a cage match that night with one of the cooks who was a local wrestler.
    He came into the pub and hung out with the bouncers and bar backs. He was a cool dude.
    I first saw him as a youngster with my grandfather at the St Pete armory. Was always fascinated with his look and the “Devil” gimmick. RIP to one of the greatest minds in pro wrestling.

  • @jamesbryant8677
    @jamesbryant8677 3 місяці тому +8

    Kevin's mind for wrestling was underrated.

  • @juliusthompson9306
    @juliusthompson9306 3 місяці тому +1

    Watched him all the time here in Florida. We loved him. RIP Kevin 🙏🏽

  • @joecortese1702
    @joecortese1702 3 місяці тому +2

    I saw Kevin wrestle many times in Miami Beach in the 70s and early 80s, first as a face, then as a heel with Mark Lewin. Good performer with a mind for the wrestling business. RIP!

  • @dwade6322
    @dwade6322 3 місяці тому +3

    No Kayfabe in this segment,Jim and Brian are really hurt by Kevin's passing. 🙏

  • @odessastepsmag
    @odessastepsmag 3 місяці тому +1

    Love the Slaughterhouse promo. We played it on our pod tribute.

  • @badladyami
    @badladyami 3 місяці тому +25

    You know, for as much as people can't separate James E. Cornette from James M. Cornette, I don't get how people can't see what an empathetic and compassionate dude he actually is.

    • @xSuperiorManx
      @xSuperiorManx 3 місяці тому +3

      Let him open his mouth to talk about politics and you'll see.

  • @mattkesling4311
    @mattkesling4311 3 місяці тому +3

    Oh the West Virginia event was Frontier Days in Shinnston, WV. It's a gym in an old fucking school that was connected to a Fox's Pizza, shit show for sure. The APWA was a rough promotion.

  • @toddkonrad2407
    @toddkonrad2407 3 місяці тому +5

    Simultaneously looking forward to, and absolutely dreading, this segment 😔

  • @valentemolinar5781
    @valentemolinar5781 3 місяці тому +2

    I will miss Kevin Sullivan. I saw him for the first time in 1988 in nwa/wcw. I became a fan. When I look back at the stuff he did in Florida with dusty Rhodes classic stuff rip Kevin Sullivan. We will miss you

  • @michaelconnors7668
    @michaelconnors7668 3 місяці тому +11

    Kevin Sullivan ran Dusty Rhodes out of Florida.

  • @ggaa111100
    @ggaa111100 3 місяці тому +2

    This was a perfect tribute RIP Kevin. Thanks for the match.

  • @Badguy10472
    @Badguy10472 3 місяці тому +3

    Dusty Rhodes would always say on commentary "The Devil Himself Kevin Sullivan" R.I.P Kevin. I'll always remember the matches that he had with Benoit.

  • @Wo0dY9621
    @Wo0dY9621 3 місяці тому +30

    RIP Kevin Sullivan the Boogeyman from Boston who effected wrestling probably as much on the backend during the 70’s to the 90’s than just about anyone ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽

  • @lrlong1285
    @lrlong1285 3 місяці тому +4

    RIP Kevin. One of professional wrestling’s greatest minds.

  • @ryancraft2723
    @ryancraft2723 3 місяці тому +1

    Wow. One more of the territorial legends gone. He will be missed and his kind is a dying breed. Never met him, but I have many memories of him as the taskmaster in WCW. Thanks bookerman.

  • @azapro911
    @azapro911 3 місяці тому +22

    For people of my generation, Kevin Sullivan was a big behind the scenes part of why the nWo worked so well at the beginning. I know the Dungeon of Doom can easily count against him but my response would be, that's what happens when you're told to come up with a storyline that babysits stale 1995 egomaniac Hulk Hogan.

    • @baboracus
      @baboracus 3 місяці тому +1

      Count against? The Dungeon of Doom was the embodiment of greatness. Carried the company for years.

    • @KClouisville
      @KClouisville 3 місяці тому +4

      I think juggling egos was one of the reasons some of the guys who left WCW had an issue with him as well (as Brian says here they "put the mouth" on him). Sullivan was actually pretty involved in getting good "middleweight" guys featured on TV...as well as some of the lucha guys. Many of the Benoit/Guerrero/Malenko group thought he wasn't giving them a proper push....but he had to deal with guys higher up on the card than them at WCW who had more stroke with the office and Bischoff.....Hogan, Nash, Hall, etc. Nash made his feelings clear about those guys. Hell, Sullivan said he really had to convince Sid to put over Benoit for the belt.

    • @azapro911
      @azapro911 3 місяці тому +3

      ​​@@KClouisvilleYep, the toxicity caused by established main eventers with creative control made it impossible to put a cohesive WCW show together by '98. As Terry Taylor said, you'd have a good Nitro written and by Monday, the whole thing had changed because two guys won't wrestle each other or somebody sees an idea that "Doesn't work for me, brother." Nobody could have salvaged it.

    • @KClouisville
      @KClouisville 3 місяці тому +1

      @@azapro911 Yeah, it's off the topic of Sullivan a little, but that's the whole thing that makes me sometimes roll my eyes when listening to Nash defend his career at WCW...it's always "This is about the money, getting more days off, looking out for yourself, etc."....sure, it is to a degree....but once you get a handful of guys who have that kind of sway, once they grow stale you're product is going to go to shit. A rising tide for those few guys ain't gonna raise all ships!

    • @420bengalfan
      @420bengalfan 3 місяці тому

      say what you want about the dungeon of doom but people are still talking about it was memorable

  • @jonhufford6980
    @jonhufford6980 3 місяці тому +3

    The Stevie nicks Fleetwood Mac song is landslide- time makes you bolder, and even children get older..

  • @michaelrood2751
    @michaelrood2751 3 місяці тому +2

    No one ever really talks about Bob Roop becoming Maha Singh in Florida. Genius by Sullivan.

  • @johnjagodzimski2158
    @johnjagodzimski2158 3 місяці тому +3

    Thank you, Kevin Sullivan, for everything you have done in pro wrestling. RIP

  • @mexmexican8619
    @mexmexican8619 3 місяці тому +1

    Sepsis is some serious shit. My son’s taekwondo master just died from it. He was in perfect health until just a month ago.

  • @j.c.ca.o.l7035
    @j.c.ca.o.l7035 3 місяці тому +2

    Rest in peace Kevin Sullivan you definitely were one of a kind nobody has been able to do what you did especially when it came to ring psychology you truly were a master

  • @Jonathan-tb9bo
    @Jonathan-tb9bo 3 місяці тому +1

    When an old timer leaves, I always know Jimmy will give an appropriate tribute

  • @michaelsingletary4526
    @michaelsingletary4526 3 місяці тому +2

    Being from Tampa loved KS vs Dusty Rhodes fueds.

  • @martyclark7480
    @martyclark7480 3 місяці тому +1

    I remember Kevin in mid Atlantic as well, basically jobbing but I remember him when I was a kid....Kevin Sullivan and Steve Keirn👍🏻

  • @babayagaslobbedaknobba
    @babayagaslobbedaknobba 3 місяці тому +5

    *Rest In Power, Booker Man.*

  • @ifgwelf
    @ifgwelf 3 місяці тому +19

    Rest in Power Booker Man. One of the great minds and living archives of wrestling history. He'll be greatly missed. Kevin Sullivan is one of the best, his Florida run is absolutely legendary, I love watching that stuff.

    • @austinha11
      @austinha11 3 місяці тому +4

      Rest in power is super cringe

    • @davidgaskins2589
      @davidgaskins2589 3 місяці тому +6

      ​@austinha11 you upload vids of video games .. that's cringe🤓

    • @davidgaskins2589
      @davidgaskins2589 3 місяці тому +4

      ​@@austinha11you listen to Copeland you are my sunshine 😂 that's super cringe

    • @davidgaskins2589
      @davidgaskins2589 3 місяці тому +3

      ​@@austinha11you cry to that song when you had a bad day

    • @pleaseshutup7053
      @pleaseshutup7053 3 місяці тому

      What does rest in power mean?

  • @AHeroAlmost
    @AHeroAlmost 3 місяці тому +7

    Was waiting for this one 🙏