As I was watching Eddie holding the tag rope last night, I was reminded of another old staple of wrestling that has been done away with in recent years, time limits. I remember quite often how Tully Blanchard's TV title matches would have 10 minute time limits and how he would often keep his title not by beating his opponent or getting counted out/DQd but simply by surviving to the time limit. I think he even occasionally gave his opponent an extra 5 minutes after time expired.
In this age of live television, imposing time limits seems to make even more sense than it did in the past. It would present another option for a non-finish that doesn't actual screw either competitor over. It even allows for another way to perpetuate feuds. Imagine two guys fighting to a time limit draw on a couple of different occasions leading up to a big non-timed pay per view match. Imagine being able to see Brock & Angle (or whoever would otherwise need to result in a non-finish) fighting it out for 10 or 15 minutes only to run out of time, leaving the fans wanting more but not as frustrated as they would be by a run in or other illegal interference. Imagine Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit continuously one-upping each other by having the time limits in their matches against jobbers lowered until they're both trying to make somebody tap out in a minute or less. Back with time limits, I say!
I hear you! I remember way back during the Windham/Flair feud circa 1987. They would wrestle to a 45 minute tv time limit draw. Then a 60 minute draw. Finally they had to start wrestling 90 minute matches. Talk about building up to an epic climax.
Oh flaming box of stuff, is there no problem you can't solve?
Well, the already have the king of the time limit draw on the roster in Regal. Bringing back time limits is good, if they actually know how to tell time. None of the 2 minutes towards the time limit=1 minute of real time that would sometimes occur.
I want you to know, I agree with everything I've just said.
I'm against it. The return of the time limit only means the match I want to watch is going to end up in a draw and PISS ME OFF.
It never ceased to amaze me how many times this happened on the MSG house shows back when MSG used to broadcast them (early 80's.) Seemingly every main event would end with: The official match time limit, or: The "building curfew" just as the third count of the three count was about to hit the mat. And you're left thinking "I just watched Backlund for an hour for THIS?!?"
I'm glad it's gone. Good riddance.
(edited by Mr Heel II on 13.12.02 2137) this post brought to you by the wholesome goodness of deep fried clam strips
I don't like the time limit on main events, but I was such a fan of the TV title time limit.
I remember Steven Regal as a heel TV champ and he was feuding with Brian Pillman or Johnny B Badd and he had this Watson looking guy outside the ring with a pocket watch and Regal every couple of minutes kept going outside and asking his manager how much time does he have left. I always looked at my watch to see how much time left and wanted the face to "hurry you don't have much time you have to risk it all there's not enough time" LOL
But then again great tool for a mid-card title. But don't really want to see it any other time. But seeing WWE thinks mid card titles aren't useful anymore so I guess I won't be seeing that.
I'd be more offended if Heidenreich came out with the spikes and facepaint on. I noticed they didn't use the old LOD theme music when Animal came out last night.
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