Who was the Blue World Order?
For a few months between 1996-1997, Steven Richards and the Blue Meanie had broken from Raven, who had left for the WCW, and created the bWo. It's a parody of the nWo, who were popular at the time, with Steven playing the Kevin Nash part as "Big Stevie Cool". The Blue Meanie became "The Blue Guy" (aka The Scott Hall role), and soon after, "Hollywood" Nova appeared. It was broken up after Steven went to the WCW in mid-1997.
Who were they?
Shawn Michaels (Mike Hickenbottom), Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, "1-2-3 Kid" (Sean Waltman), and Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Paul Levesque) were best friends and held most of the booking power during 1994-1996. Wade Keller was created to giving them the name, even though they hated being called it. They would only put themselves over and sell each others moves.
What's the MSG incident?
Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were leaving for the WCW in May 1996. Their final match was in the famed Madison Square Garden. Hall, a face at the time, and Triple H, a heel at the time, had a match earlier on. In the mian event, Michaels (face) and Nash (heel) faced each other in a steel cage match for the WWF title. After the match, breaking from kayfabe, Triple H and Hall made an enterance, and the four hugged each other to show their friendship and alliance. Since Michaels was champion, and Nash & Hall were on the way out, Triple H played scapegoat and lost in that year's King of the Ring in the second round to Jake Roberts. (Austin would win the tourney, and recieve the push Triple H was going to get.) Triple H was depushed 4 months, but, as everyone can see, he got over it.
What's with the crotch chops?
Upon entering the WCW, the nWo (Waltman, Nash, and Hall) would do it. (It is assumed that Waltman created the gesture initially.) Shawn Michaels and HHH would eventually tip their hats to their WCW counterparts by doing the same. When DX was formed, the wrist were crossed, forming an X, and took on a life of its own. It was stopped several years ago, due to critism of the gesture. However, they also used another sign, which was mainly used by the nWo. It consisted of bringing together your thumb and middle finger (like making the "okay" gesture, except with the middle finger). Bring your ring finger to touch them, and extend your pinky and index finger straight in the air.
Are they still friends?
Hall and Nash are best friends and are slated to reappear as "The Outsiders" in Japan on Jan. 3 2002. They keep in touch with Michaels. (Nash introduced Michaels to his current wife, Nitro Girl Whysper.) Waltman and Triple H still have a working relationship, but is unknown what their relationship is.
Who were they?
Paul E. was "fired" as a commentator and vowed to bring WCW down for it. So, he went back to managing and started "The Dangerous Alliance". The team consisted of Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbyszko and Madusa.
Who is the Dudley Family?
ECW brought in the first Dudleys in 1995, consisting of Big Dick, Little Snot, and Dudley Dudley. They were remittent of the Hansen Brothers in the movie "Slapshot." Buh Buh Ray was introduced shortly after, and the Dudleys became fan favorites of sorts. Other Dudleys showed up of different ethnicities, including the Native American Dances with Dudleys and the Afro-American D-Von. Spike would soon enter the fold, and various other Dudleys were named from time to time. (Sign Guy and Hat Guy Dudley i.e.) D-Von split the Dudley clan with a heel turn, and the family began siding with him one by one. Spike was the only one who didn't turn. D-Von and Buh Buh have been together ever since.
Where are they now?
D-Von and Buh Buh are in the WWF with Spike. Big Dick does indie shows for XPW. Sign Guy became Lou E. Dangerously. The others are no where to be found.
Who were the original members?
Bill Eadie and Randy "Moondog Rex" Colley were the originals. Bill stayed as Ax, while Colley had a falling out with the WWF, and Barry Darsow took over.
Why did they add Crush in 1990?
Axe (Bill Eadie) was having heart problems and Crush (Bryan Adams) was used to take over some of the tag duties. Axe was fired eventually, due to the risk to his health.
Who were they?
Touted as one of the best tag teams in the world at the time, Perry Saturn and John Kronus were formed in 1995 in ECW. Tables, ladder, and chair matches were something they did before its popularity in the WWF. In 1997, however, Saturn, the workhorse, and Kronus, the laid-back guy, weren't seeing eye to eye. Saturn got a knee injury and signed with WCW during his rehab. Kronus had a few different partners, but didn't find his stride again. He's working in the XPW currently.
Who were they?
Jimmy Hart created the First Family as a face group of wrestlers in 1980. The first members were Paul Ellering, Jimmy Valiant, and "The Crown Jewel" Jerry "The King" Lawler. Lawler broke his leg, and Hart made Ellering the new "King." Lawler and Valiant left the group as faces. Hart recruited Kevin Sullivan, Bobby Eaton, Sweet Brown Sugar (Ko Ko B. Ware), Ken Wayne, and Danny Davis for his heel group. Andy Kaufman joined the group in a certain capacity, with his feud with Lawler. (See Kaufman under Lawler's section in individuals.) Jesse Ventura, Ken Patera, and Randy Savage were also in the group at one time or another.
Are they really brothers?
Yes. Matt was born Sept. 23, 1975 and Jeff was born August 31, 1977 to Mrs. nad Mr. Hardy.
Who were the Jynx Brothers?
The Hardy Boyz donned masks as Wildo and Ingus Jynx in their first gimmicks in the WWF. They hailed from Australia and were mainly jobbers. They ditched the gimmick within the month.
Who are they and when did they from?
Sho Funaki, Mens Teioh, and Dick Togo comprised the team in Japan in the mid-90's. When they signed with the WWF, they took the name "Klub Kamikaze", until reprising the Kaientai name. TAKA Michinoku would join the group a few months later. Mens and Togo would leave the WWF eventually, and TAKA and Funaki are the current team.
What does Kaientai mean?
Depends on how you translate it:
But the real story is below, thanks to Rick Scaia:
Kaientai was the name of a trading company founded by the legendary Sakamoto Ryoma in the 1860's. With Japan split by warring clans, Ryoma led a group of friends/samurai in a revolt against the existing government, re-instating the Emperor in the process. The faction was called the Kamayama Shachu at first, but was later known as the Kaientai (probably because of the literal translation of "Naval Support Unit" at that time). However, with time, "Kaientai" became synonymous with revolutionary behavior, and it's that meaning that the wrestling stable inteds to evoke.
The WWF took this meaning, seeing that their "New Attitude" would compliment the name. The WWF Magazine said the name translated was simply "New Attitude".
Where are Dick Togo and Men's Teioh?
The left the WWF for Japan. Teioh went to Big Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently the Junior Heavyweight champion. Togo went to Super Delfin's Osaka Pro group, but later left and returned to Michinoku Pro.
Who does their voice-overs?
Believe it or not, Bruce Pritchard, formerly Brother Love, does TAKA's voice, while Howard "The Fink" Finkle does Funaki's "indeed".
Who was the Legion of Doom?
The Road Warriors, Jake "the Snake" Roberts, and The Spoiler were formed by Paul Ellering in 1984 to form the Legion of Doom, a heel faction in the NWA/WCW. The Road Warriors were the standouts, with King Kong Bundy and Buzz Sawyer replacing Roberts and the Spoiler. They soon left, leaving the Warriors and Ellering. The L.O.D. became the synonym to the Road Warriors, and when they hit the WWF, they lost the Road Warriors name because the WWF wanted to market them in their own way.
Where are the Road Warriors now?
They are finishing their careers in Japan. Animal had a small role in WCW before they were bought out by the WWF.
Where is Paul Ellering?
The former manager of the Road Warrior is current racing sled dogs and investing in the stock market.
Why did they get fired from the WCW in '96?
Hall and Nash and the Nasty Boyz weren't on good terms. Hall had stated that in a match with the two, one had waffled him hard in the nose. So, in a later match between the two teams, Hall hit Jerry Saggs with a stiff chairshot, which is now being claimed to have ended his career. The Nasty Boyz and the Outsiders legitimately fought each other in the ring. The fight was broken up, and the Nasty Boyz were fired. Knobbs did return in 2000 in the Harcore division (His friend Hogan got him the gig), and Saggs retired.
Who were they?
Farooq, Kama Mustafa (later the Goodfather), Rocky Maivia, D-Lo Brown, PG-13 (J.C. Ice & Wolfie D), Mark Henry, Owen Hart, Crush (Brian Adams), Savio Vega, and manager Clarence Mason were the members of the Nation of Domination. They were often accompanied by local wrestlers, especially in the early days when they gave the impression of having a massive entourage.
How successful were they in Japan?
They were just as big there as they were here. The New Japan Pro Wrestling version consisted of Masahiro Chono, Great Muta/Keiji Mutoh, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, and Scott Norton. Big Titan, NWO Sting, Bryan Adams, Michael Wallstreet (Rotundo) and Hiro Saito were also part of the group. Occasional appearances by Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Buff Bagwell also happened.
Who are they?
Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge were a popular tag team in the ECW during the '90's. They had the table breaking gimmick before the Dudleys and were basically "hoodies" that were white.
Why aren't they in the big three anymore?
They had a stint in WCW for two years, which saw them win the tag titles. They got pushed down to semi-jobber status and left. They went back to the ECW for a short time, until landing contracts with the WWF. They went in with bad attitudes and lasted all but two months, with the Acolytes decimating them as an exclamation point. They went to WCW in '99, but it wasn't a long run. They are on the independent circuit currently.
The SamoansThanks Rick Scaia for this answer:
Untangling the rest of the Samoan family tree is no simply matter, though I'll do my best, and cross my fingers that I don't screw it up.
Ground Zero for the wrestling Samoans is the original Wild Samoan tag team. Afa Anoia and Sika Anoia were brothers and tore up the tag ranks in the US in the 70's (and into the 80s, too). Both men have since had children come up through the ranks and become big stars in the business.
The Samoan Swat Team (the Headshrinkers in the WWF), consisted of Afa's son Samu (Samula Anoia) and Afa and Sika's nephew Fatu (Solafu Fatu, son of an Anoia sister). Today, of course, Fatu is wrestling as Rikishi Phatu in the WWF.
The Samoan Gangsta Party consisted of Afa's son LA Smooth and Afa and Sika's nephew Matty Smalls (Matthew Anoia, son of a non-wrestling Anoia brother).
Yokozuna (Rodney Anoia, son of said non-wrestling Anoia brother) is also a nephew to both original Samoans, and a newphew to Rikishi (and brother to Matty Smalls). Trust me, Yoko and Rikishi are NOT the same person; if you'd seen Yoko at the recent Heroes of Wrestling PPV, you'd think Rikishi's ass was positively trim!
Now, going back to the original Anoia brothers (Afa and Sika)... Peter Miavia is their ADOPTED brother (I'm not clear on the specifics, but Afa himself has gone on record with this). Of course, Peter Maivia's daughter married Rocky Johnson, so Johnson is a Samoan-in-Law. And we all know Johnson's famous son is "The Rock" Rocky Maivia.
This makes Afa and Sika the Rock's great uncles, and means that the Rock is second cousins (or a cousin twice removed, or something other than actual first cousins) with Rikishi and the rest.
Additionally: Afa and Sika count Jimmy Snuka as a cousin of theirs. Mr. Fuji was an uncle to Afa and Sika. I have no other details on either of those relationships other than to say it comes straight from Afa himself. The late Gary Albright was another "Samoan-in-Law" as he married Afa's daughter. The Tonga Kid (a/k/a Islander Tama, real name Sam Fatu) is newphew to Afa and Sika, and brother to Rikishi.
Contrary to popular belief, there was no solid evidence (that I could uncover, anyway) suggesting that Meng (who was Tama's Islander partner under the name of Haku in the WWF), the Barbarian (Sionne Vailahi, he briefly replaced Samu as a Headshrinker in the WWF), or any other grapplers of Asian descent are related to this prolific clan of wrestling Samoans (other than as tag partners).
A flow chart can be found here.
Did they hold the IWGP and WCW titles simultaneously?
Yes, on two occasions. In March 21, 1991 when they defeat Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP belts and in June 16, 1992, when they defeated Big Van Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow for the IWGP tag titles.
Did they wrestle for the ECW at one time?
Yes, but only for about two months in 1995. Rick and Scott had finished their deal with the WWF and didn't receive a WCW contract right away, so they wrestled in Japan, where Paul E. Heyman snagged them. Rick was the first to appear, subbing for a M.I.A Sabu, in a World tag title match with Tazz against The Public Enemy, and Malenko/Benoit. Scott was brought in shortly afterwards, facing various tag teams in ECW before leaving for WCW.
Who were they?
Shane Douglas's heel faction in ECW. The original Triple Treat consisted of Douglas, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit. Malenko and Benoit left for the WCW, and soon, Douglas teamed with Chris Candido and Brian Lee. Lee was replaced by Bam Bam Bigelow in the final line-up.
Who were "The Union"?
A short live faction, The Union was headed by Mick Foley to fight the Corporate Ministry in May 1999. The other members were ousted from the Corporate Ministry. They consisted of Ken Shamrock, Big Show, and Test. They’re motto was simply, "Union of People You OUghta Respect, Shane” or simply U.P.Y.O.U.R.S. Mick got a vicious beating by HHH with a sledgehammer and the Union faded away.
