He was only 68?? He looked that old in the mid-90's. Only a "figurehead" prez, but when you saw him, you knew something big was going to happen. RIP Jack.
Well, *setting, an office with a scenic view in the background.* "Upon Further Review" I kinda liked Jack. Unlike the management of today, he wasn't a commish type character who constantly butted heads with the talent. "Furthermore" as Gee said, when Jack came on screen, you knew it meant something. Loved how they used that character.
They seemed to use Jack Tunney the way they use Linda McMahon now...but the only problem is that with 4 or 5 semi-authoritative characters, there's no damned point anymore.
Still, growing up watching Superstars every week, you knew Tunney was gonna bring in something cool and noteworthy everytime he came on screen.
Originally posted by Mayhem So I've always wondered this ... He had no real power in the WWF, correct? So he was more like Eric Bischoff in that he was just an on screen talent?
I've alway thought they should use the McMahons the same way they used Jack Tunney. Only make short appearances here and there, only for major announcements. Simple, but effective.
The only time I can think of Tunney getting directly involved in an angle was for the rematch from This Tuesday In Texas with Hogan and UT when Tunney pledged to sit at ringside to make sure no shenanigans took place.
Other than that, I can't ever remember seeing him get directly involved like you see figureheads do now, other than making the figurehead rulings to declare both title vacancies (and you have to love the logic of the first one, by the way of [pp]"The Ref Counted 3 on Hogan, no matter how shoddy the ref was, it stands, Andre gave up the belt and Dibiase never actually WON it"...that was actually clever triangular logic by 1988 standards).
But unless you're of a certain age and used to go to MLG back in the 70s (although doing further research on this, I was surprised to find out that the Tunneys were among the few who did buisness with Harold Ballard and didn't hate Ballard's guts at the same time) you can't really apreciate their contribution to history as much as the people from Toronto who were there at the time do.
But really, I can quote what I've read, but this is best served for anyone who was actually THERE at the time to talk about.
The most memorible time I remember Jack Tunney was when I egerily awaited for him to announce if Macho Man would be reinstated from retirement due to Jake "The Snakes" Roberts actions with his cobra at his wedding reception. Macho got reinstated and went after the Jake for the revenge. Ah, memories...RIP Jack Tunney.
Originally posted by RingmistressOh come on, the real MVP of Raw last night - ROSCOE P. COALTRAIN!
Tunney was a great character. i belieived he was a president as a kid and like others have been saying, when he made an apperance on Superstars or Challange, you knew something would happen...1 memory I would like to throw out there - Tunney outlawed Kamala from jumping off the top rope. Anyone remember that?
Did he ever appear in WCW?
Anyways, RIP Jack, the Maple Leaf Gardens boxing day spectaclars where always classics because of your promoting, and I can still hear Billy Red Lyons saying "Promoter Jack Tunney presents another power packed card...Dontcha dare miss it!!".
That's my most memorable Tunney quote, when he ran down to ringside, grabbed the mic and got a huge pop from the crowd. Danny Davis had been screwing over the faces for what seems like months. I remember watching "Superstars" on Saturday morning thinking, "Finally! Somebody does something about this jerk!"
I remember Tunney being involved in picking an opponent for Flair at WM8. The finalists were Hogan, Sid, Piper, Undertaker, and Savage if I remember right. I'm not sure if Savage won a random draw, they had a fan vote, or what.
In the late-1980's and early-1990's, Tunney himself would often would answer the phone at the WWF offices in Toronto.
It was February 1990, the morning of the press conference for WrestleMania VI. The presser hadn't actually taken place yet, and I called up to see if they would tell me what the main event was. We called the offices all the time with typical mark questions, and the folks there usually humored us.
It was extremely obvious that was what it was going to be, so I'm not entirely sure why I called up to find out. Just curious, I guess.
Anyways, Mr. Tunney picked up the phone and told me (in a very official voice, mind you), it would be "Hulk Hogan... against... THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR!" (he didn't shout it, but you get my point.)
I remember thanking him for making that match... little did I know at the time.
Anyways, sad to see him go so relatively young. My prayers are with his family.
Originally posted by dwaters The finalists were Hogan, Sid, Piper, Undertaker, and Savage if I remember right. I'm not sure if Savage won a random draw, they had a fan vote, or what.
RIP Jack Tunney
There were 1-900 (or were they still 976s back in 92?)-numbers that one could call to vote for whom they wanted. Whether or not they had any sort of official match making influence is best left up to you, dear reader.
I don't think Piper was involved, since he was already Intercontinental champion (as a result of winning it at the Rumble).
Piper WAS the last guy in there other than the Sid/Savage/Hogan/Flair quarter that finished the Rumble, but was eliminated at the same time as Rick Martel by Sid.
Originally posted by Mike SweetserI don't think Piper was involved, since he was already Intercontinental champion (as a result of winning it at the Rumble).
Piper WAS the last guy in there other than the Sid/Savage/Hogan/Flair quarter that finished the Rumble, but was eliminated at the same time as Rick Martel by Sid.
Mike
It was the Top 5 contenders at the press conference, and Piper was one of 'em. The other four were Hogan, Undertaker, Savage and Justice.
I always liked Tunney. He made the show seem legitimate. I'd like to see WWE have a commish/president/whatever like Tunney now. Someone that doesn't really favor the faces or heels, just calls it right down the middle.
Hogan was originally given the shot against Flair because he bribed Tunney, who's history of corruption will no doubt go overlooked in the coming days. 900 number my butt.
But when Sid turned on Hogan on Saturday Night's Main Event, Hogan/Sid was made instead. I don't remember if Hogan demanded a match with Sid or what. Then Macho Man was announced as Flair's new challenger, and Flair shocked us all with the announcement of how he used to bang Liz. I don't think there was much more to announcing Savage/Flair than Mean Gene saying it in a WWF Update during Superstars.
They did these promos before the Hogan/Flair announcement where each of the 5 guys made a case for why they should get the title match with Flair, and Piper's was so good. He kept kissing up to Tunney and telling him how good he was looking. "Jacko! Slim Jim! No, I didn't call you 'fatso', I said 'is that so'!".
What I remember the most was the stigma of not doing his job put on him by the Apter Mags. They were constantly calling for him to be fired or stripped of his duties. Then, one morning on Superstars, the opened with the announcement that Jack Tunney and his crew had suddenly left, which to me seemed like the biggest news ever. Of course, that's all the mention it got, which really pissed me off.
Thread ahead: Why doesn't WWE tape shows in Japan or Mexico? Next thread: Live from Monterrey Mexico it's Monday Night Raw!! Previous thread: Smackdown Spoiler 27th Jan