Jim Cornette on The Biggest Crowds In Canadian Wrestling History

From Episode 453 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@AlexBrovo]

I don’t care if it wasn’t the biggest attendance, “Canadian Stampede” was one of the best PPV main events ever!!!!

[@maximenadeau7926]

And greatest pops!

[@1joshjosh1]

It kicked ass.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

I bet you that if they had the show at McMahon Stadium instead of the Saddledome that show would be on this list, the only Western event on it.

[@bradvestby]

I was there. It was absolutely electric in the Saddledome that night.

[@jeyDsixx18]

It may not have had one of the largest attendances, but that pop the hart foundation got for the entrances and then the win can rival that of any stadium crowd…

[@skrilla88]

As a Canadian it feels great that almost a full of of the show is dedicated to Canadian Wrestling! Thanks Jim and Brian. And a special thanks to the author for all their research.

[@rockybalboa1847]

Growing up in Southeast Alberta and watching Stampede Wrestling in the late 70s and early 80s ... I never knew there was Wrestling in Ontario and east of that

[@rockybalboa1847]

@@joegreene7619 ... wasn't that about the same time you were doing coke commercials

[@J.D.1.]

Canadian crowds even now are noticeably better even on just Raw or Smackdown episodes

[@robertm.3520]

@@J.D.1. That's because Canadians are the biggest marks.

[@markstaffieri5732]

Agreed. Very interesting.

[@jasoncmclean]

The #5 on this list, Feb 8, 1999, wasn't a house show. It was RAW at Skydome and the largest RAW live attendance in company history. It aired live in Canada on TSN but was delayed until Saturday in the US due to the Westminster Dog Show, airing the night before St-Valentine's Day Massacre. I remember the cameras finding Val Venis and Ken Shamrock's "sister" in one of the Skydome hotel rooms.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

I saw a house show at the Skydome. Final match was a Hell in a cell undertaker versus Kane versus Stone cold versus The Rock. 👌. They lost undertaker's baggage at the airport so he was like getting to the show that he arrived after the match started.

[@Immortalangel14]

The big vowbosky was getting freaky that night

[@robertm.3520]

It wasn't a very good episode of Raw, either.

[@woohoo918]

Wrestlemania 18 had to be #1. It was one of the greatest cards in wrestling history. Basically a list of who's who of Wrestling legends: Austin, Hall, Undertaker, Rock, Hogan, Flair, Jericho, HHH, too many to list and the build up to it was insane. Also, in hindsight, it ended up being a big send off for the Attitude Era. Just one of the all time greatest nights in pro wrestling.

[@wizzerwiser2056]

The Big Event in Toronto's Exhibition Stadium Hogan vs Orndorff drew 75,000

[@kevindouglas5333]

Hogan and Orndorff drew more

[@spacemtfanwdw]

Hogan vs Muraco in Montreal on August 18th, 1986 drew 23,000 and I can't imagine how packed the Forum was. Seating capacity for Hockey was 17,959, so they somehow crammed an extra 5,000 people on the ice in seats, standing in the aisles and they even sold tickets for the press gallery! I attended that show as a kid and we were up there in the press gallery.

[@gothard5]

This is absolutely fascinating. These are my favorite clips from Jim and Brian. I could listen to this stuff all day.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

I was born and grew up in B.C., and I thought we were pretty big wrestling fans there, but no, I moved to Toronto in my later 20s and the fans here eat wrestling for breakfast practically, the support here from everything from WWE to the local indy promotions is impressive.

[@ezzz42]

The 99 raw episode in Trawna was insanity i will never forget that night.

[@skyhighjaysly3623]

Was there....

[@Scarface615]

Love how Montreal was recognized for being one of the original wrestling towns with its great matches involving Legends such as Carpentier, Kowalski, Yvon Robert, Mad Dog and Gilles Poisson

[@jerfacekilla]

Grand Prix rasslin' baby! Watched that on channel 12 CFCF in the early 70s when I was a very little kid. The reason I became a wrestling fan.

[@markstaffieri5732]

As a Canadian, I love hearing about this. Just surprised that Montreal's Olympic Stadium or Vancouver's BC Place didn't make this list.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

Not sure if they ever used BC Place for wrestling. In the old days it was the Pacific Colosseum at the PNE, and then on to GM Place/Rogers Arena when that was open.

[@InvisibleHotdog]

Toronto had Maple Leaf and Montreal had the Rougeaus, who would been running big houses in BC?

[@Travlr013]

@@InvisibleHotdog The biggest houses for Vancouver would have a been for Kiniski and Kovacs, so......1969-1976-ish. I'm thinking '71-'73, when they were very hot. But Vancouver didn't have the big venue that would have allowed for big crowds, and they didn't push as hard as Tunney, the Rougeaus, Quinn, and Brito did WRT advertising and such.

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

An hour of Cornette talking about Canadian wrestling, didn't see that coming. Should have saved it for July 1st.

[@OldsmobileSBRocket]

Whipper Billy Watson was a big star in the 50's. He was Mom's favorite Wrestler. He did a lot of charity appearances later in life.

[@nunyabizniss3451]

Big ups to Vance Nevada for this amazing book. His other book is also worth reading.

[@Mr.BeastFacts]

American crowds: *”WHAT!?”* 🇺🇸 Canadian crowds: *”EH!?”* 🇨🇦

[@fistmcstrongpunch2776]

Fuckin eh

[@martinroy967]

Wow! A BIG thank you to both Mr Last and Mr. Cornette for this awesome segment! My father was a publicist for a big Montréal newspaper back in the day and had Gino Brito's wrestling company as a client. Brought back awesome memories. Thank you

[@Andyboylettuce]

It's funny my dad doesn't care what so ever about wrestling anymore but he always tells me "I remember watching The Sheik, Sweet Daddy Siki, Billy Watson, Killer Kowalski etc" wrestling was huge on canadian TV back in the day. Hockey/Wrestling

[@EclecticBuddha]

I just learned Abdullah was headlining major cards in the 1960's. I had no idea he was that old/popular.

[@mjtorjan]

Wrestling was big all across Canada. My dad always tells the story of the day Bret, Stu, Whalen and Dynamite came to his high school and hosted a q&a which quickly ended with Stu tying up a student after saying it’s all fake and dynamite back suplexing his friend on the stage while Bret and Whalen chuckled before the principal politely asked them to leave.

[@JessicaChastainFan]

Canadian Stampede 1997 didn't have the biggest attendance, but it was the most fucking adrenaline rush I've ever seen in a crowd! Especially during the Hart Foundation vs. Austin's American team 5 on 5 tag match.

[@EXPLISITemcee]

Classic! Its not always about attendance..i loved it!

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

Yeah, the WWF was in that weird period where they weren't the shits anymore, but word hadn't really got out yet and the nWo angle was devouring everything.

[@metalrulezv4856]

In my opinion it might be the craziest crowd in a WWF/WWE taped show ....the Camera was literally shaking during that main event ..

[@robertm.3520]

Canadian marks worked themselves into a shoot just like Bret did.

[@andymassingham]

There were a few CNE Stadium shows ‘81, ‘82. I remember a (Face) Mosca vs. (Heel) Slaughter event that got a lot of coverage at the time. Nowhere near where it got to, of course.

[@alain99v6]

15th position I think it was the first time Hogan was in Montreal as a wwf star in one of the last mixed local promotion -wwf show probably with Bravo and the Rougeau's in the mid card

[@stephanetheriault]

The Texas Tornado match between the Rougeaus and the Garvins took place in the same card as King Tonga (Haku) and Dino Bravo against Iron Sheik and Volkoff. We also got Muracco vs Steamboat. First ever time I was at a wrestling show.

[@bobmiller6787]

In Canada we love the sport of professional wrestling.

[@dankelly5150]

We always have!! 😉

[@ASCUMBAGWh0re]

As a Portuguese, i can confirm this.

[@skyhighjaysly3623]

Yup

[@RandalfElVikingo]

But never forget "Who's your daddy? Montreal!"

[@RaginRonic]

@@RandalfElVikingo Too bad that the ScrewJob was a contributing factor into Owen Hart's death, which kind of makes ALL anti-Canada humor done during that era look like a real bad take from those who did that to both the Hart Family and to all of Canada's WWF fans. o.o

[@miracle_ftw]

Finally we canadian fans get a segment! Thank you to Jim and Brian for publicly acknowledging the author. My first house show was that CNE event in August of 96. The main event featured Michaels vs Goldust in ladder match for the world title. My second house show event was in January 97. If I'm not mistaken that featured the first official triple threat match in WWF history...Hart vs Michaels vs Sid for the world title. Little did I know that was a special RAW taping, but they did not air the triple threat match. The biggest highlight for me was of course attending WrestleMania 18!

[@maxxdahl6062]

You guys get a lot of segments. lol. I was more thrilled to hear something about indiana which almost never happens. lol

[@bobgrenier5867]

I was at that CNE event as well. Awesome card. HUGE crowd. I was 10

[@chrisclark6562]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5q2pGh9Z9Wdia8 CNE house show from 1996

[@robertm.3520]

@@maxxdahl6062 That's just their inferiority complex kicking in. All Canadians suffer from it.

[@M-7412]

As a Canadian, I would say Montreal probably has the most insane fans.

[@Scarface615]

I can agree with that, without a doubt they are the loudest Canadian fans.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

For any sport, not just wrestling, lol.

[@chrisjackson2814]

I was at the Big Event at the CNE. I was 14. What a night….

[@martinwalton9307]

That crazy 41k crowd that the WWF drew in Feb 99 was for a special Raw Saturday taping, in that week alone they actually sold out MSG, the Memphis Pyramid and almost the Greensboro Coliseum........Business was obviously booming.

[@Travlr013]

When talking US$ vs CDN$, remember that between 1955 to about 1965, we were looking at close to a par exchange rate. According to some of the old-timers, Tunney paid in either CDN or US dollars, depending upon which was a better deal for the boys. At least until about 1970, when the exchange rate went squirrelly.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

Mike Graham showed at his Hall of Fame speech for his dad, a portrait of all the heads of the territories meeting in Toronto for the first time under the NWA.

[@deanbibb3680]

I would love to hear or read some information like this about West Virginia over the years. Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling and smaller markets such as Beckley, Bluefield and Clarksburg were ran often by JCP and that’s not counting WWF/E, SMW, SECW, ICW and others over the years.

[@InsignificantNick]

Fun fact: Triple H and Jericho didn't want their match to go on after Rock vs Hogan. Triple H has claimed that "management" wanted it to be the main event to preserve the WWF undisputed championship.

[@hollywood21639]

Nothing was topping Hogan vs Rock. Hogan stole WM19 too

[@gtpliquid1290]

I'm sure Triple H was devasted at being forced to be in the main event.

[@fuscinula]

Funny enough, HHH has said in interviews both versions: That they should have gone last, and not gone last. Go figure.

[@mikeb1988]

A major event hasn’t occurred in Canada since WM 18, if they don’t come we can’t fill the building

[@lastlaff2777]

No mention of what Bruno Sammartino did for Toronto wrestling in the 1960's.

[@darkhorse1280]

I know, right?... Bruno's resurgence as a main draw happened in the Toronto territory. Surprised Corny and Brian didn't bring this up.

[@lastlaff2777]

@@darkhorse1280 You can basically draw a line from Bruno in the 1960's to WWF domination in Toronto starting in the 80's. Without Bruno, there would not have been The Big Event in '86 at the Ex or Wrestlemania 6 at the Skydome in 1990.

[@Travlr013]

When Bruno was wrestling in Toronto regularly (pre-1963), he had definitely popped attendance, but pretty much never got more than 8,000-9,000 people into MLG. Without Bruno on the cards, Tunney was seeing from 3,000 to 5,000. Even after Bruno won the WWWF title, he'd come to Toronto 6 or 7 times a year, but still never saw much more than that. Toronto didn't see very many 10,000+ cards until The Sheik arrived in '68, by which time Bruno was only showing up twice or maybe 3 times a year. As Jim and Brian note, Sheik ran huge numbers between 1969 and 1974, when Toronto entered another down period (and that was mostly thanks to The Sheik, too).

[@lastlaff2777]

@@Travlr013 You may be right. My knowledge of history doesn't go that far in depth. However, what Bruno did do was engage an entire generation of European immigrants, namely, Italians, which spawned 2nd and 3rd generation WWF fans in Toronto. My grandfather, an Italian immigrant, would regularly go to the Gardens to watch Bruno and other cards in the 60's, which spawned his love of wrestling right up until he died 20 years ago. I can still remember watching Saturday Night Main event with him when I was a kid. I am a wrestling fan because of my grandfather, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[@Travlr013]

@@lastlaff2777 Toronto in the 1960s had a larger Italian community than NYC did (yeah, freaked me out when I found that out, too!). Dominic DeNucci was the big hero to the community when Bruno wasn't there, followed by Tony Parisi, and Bruno was instrumental in getting them both to the WWWF in the late 60s and early 70s.

[@EldenTings]

I recently came across the ticket stub from that 1996 show at the old Exhibition Stadium.

[@ryanmontgomery5988]

86* The Big Event

[@EldenTings]

@@ryanmontgomery5988 No, 1996, the HBK/Goldust ladder match they mention early on. If I had the '86 ticket stub that would be eBay right now 😂

[@ryanmontgomery5988]

My bad. Was a great show

[@CadChamberlain]

"Chicago is a city in the United States" Jim Cornette was spot on

[@tankwfw]

When you consider the fact that the WWE has had 30 years of international expansion and has had a stranglehold on wrestling since the late 80's, the fact that previous decades can even compete with them in terms of box office draw is insane

[@78smusicman]

Grew up watching All Star and Stamped wrestling, my Dad was always big on Gorgeous George he was huge in the 50’s 60’s

[@dankelly5150]

Me too, although I was a teen living in Alberta and only able to see Stampede live until the early 80’s when I went to Vancouver to visit my cousins and finally got to see All-Star Wrestling at The Garden! It was so cool ! The main event by the way was Jake Roberts with Dutch Savage vs Gene Kiniski and Iron Sheik !! 🤼‍♂️😃

[@78smusicman]

I grew up in Northern BC and was lucky to have both companies come three town 😅

[@jaysonmcewen4056]

It wasn't a house show ... it was a one-off CNE event. My God, the way Jim says "ToronTOE" ... it's "Tronno."

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

No, he’s pronouncing it the right way, the same way as all Canadians do outside of the Golden Horseshoe.

[@jerfacekilla]

I saw The Sheik Vs Jacques Rougeau at Parc Jarry on 'sur la matelas' in the early 70s. TVA on Saturday afternoon (taped of course). What a time to be a little kid!

[@garyfeuer1071]

I remember they showed clips on a 1996 RAW the night after the house show - Hbk vs Goldust ladder match. Very hard match to find.

[@bobgrenier5867]

That was WWF Xperiemce at CNE.

[@chrisclark6562]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5q2pGh9Z9Wdia8 CNE House show from 1996

[@michaelparish9645]

Jacques Rougeau The Sheik I remember seeing bits on channel 9 CBC French tv. I believe Jacques won a sleeper.and one other won I remember I think it was Johnny R vs Stan Stasiak also from Jarry Park. It was shown in black and white. I became a mark as a kid then.

[@luclachance4859]

is that the same bout where the Sheik sold Jacques' punches to the head as if he was a human bobblehead? I recall Jacques Rougeau vs Sheik clips where Sheik acted as if Jacques' punches to the head had scrambled his brains so badly he (Sheik) was having apparitions!

[@jerfacekilla]

On TVA, 'sur le matelas' was a fantastic show every Saturday afternoon. Johnny Rougeau's promotion. Saw all these matches on that show (taped of course).

[@michaelparish9645]

@@luclachance4859 man it was so long ago. The ending I remember was it was A young Jacques Jr. kicking the sheik and Jonny stopping him as he was sill asleep from the sleeper. I been trying to recorrect from 50 years ago. Maybe some smart historian can help out.

[@michaelparish9645]

@@jerfacekillait was Saturday morning 9 am on CBC the cool thing was the interviews in French Eddie Creachman who his guy was to become champion. There was one wrestler in a sheet before he took it off and that person did win the championship a few months later.

[@jerfacekilla]

@@michaelparish9645 I don't remember it on English TV, but I'm sure it was. I believe the guy under the sheet was Abdullah the Butcher.

[@exidy-yt]

I grew up in Vancouver watching Al Tomko's All Star Wrestling in the 80s where I got to watch Big John Tenta before he became Earthquake, Roddy Piper, Ole Oleson (who once wrestled under a mask as "Thor" from "The Sky"(lol) carrying a clawhammer, Diamond Tim Flowers, the worst manager EVER before he became a well liked announcer for the WWE, Mauro Renallo. I even got to work with (well past his rasslin' days) local heel 'vicious' Vern Siebert. ;-) Good times.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

Vern's a cool guy, my cousin and I used to run into him when we had our collectables table at the Croatian Cultural Centre.

[@exidy-yt]

@@theevilascotcompany9255 He was a cool guy, unfortunately he had taken a few too many piledrivers by the time he was working at Electronic Arts Canada as a QA tester with me, and was not renewed after his trial contract. He had some GREAT stories, however!

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

@@exidy-yt That's a little sad, but I hope he's doing better. (PS: on the odd chance that you and I know each other, did you go to Cariboo Hill Secondary School?).

[@exidy-yt]

@@theevilascotcompany9255 Nope Sorry, I was a Surrey boy in high school, but it's a small world on the Internet and i've run into old schoolmates on social media before so good on you tryin! And yeah, I hope Vern's doing better now too. He was a good guy and tried his best.

[@scottfaber3232]

I new Brian would try and make a case for New York over chicago!

[@mrperson2804]

He always has to disagree with Jim on historical matters

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

A reflex action by tri-staters. He'd probably argue with Jim that New York has better Chinese food than China.

[@trevorolesen921]

Maybe not the largest crowd, but undisputed #1 loudest and hottest crowd in Canadian history was Calgary for the 10 man at Canadian Stampede....The hard cam is literally vibrating from the roar of the crowd

[@robertm.3520]

Canadian marks worked themselves into a shoot, just like Bret did.

[@scottdecowski4913]

As a Chicago native love Cornette confirming what we all know, Chicago had been the most consistent hot crowd in wrestling for the past 100 years. Last is a bitter new york nitwit

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

Chicago and Boston. Boston Garden back in the '80s was always pro heel...lol 👌

[@tomhallick419]

Jim worked an NWA spot show at the old Winnipeg Arena in 1988. Managed the Midnights versus The Sheepherders. Stan got a lotta love because he wrestled regularly here with Steve Keirn in the AWA.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

I'm sure Stan got a good fan reaction because about 30% of the crowd were his kids.

[@justinfendelet8675]

1987 there was a outdoor crowd pre cfl game Regina sk I think there was 17,000

[@richardcoreno]

Jim should do a segment on the Wrestling Trust and the March 1936 MSG Screwjob.

[@mlbalfour1977]

Sheik tidbits are always interesting. Dude was a draw back before my time. d-(^.~)z - 'VPN's are a mystery to Jim' segment made me lmfao :D

[@696969640]

they are wrong those matches at maple leaf gardens almost every week

[@TriplomatX]

27:40 PTSD of my strict ass Speak N Spell

[@jordanmoscovitch]

Good ol' Vance Nevada would never embellish, no sir.

[@robertzavala3407]

Id say Mexico city is bigger than Toronto in North America for wrestling

[@royconestoga7326]

Population and square kilometers as well bud.

[@benespinosa6725]

LMFAO this Artwork with Triple H And Chris Jericho with the Wrestlemania X8 logo the only good thing about that Match was Drowning pool performing Triple H's Theme and that's pretty much it and also Stephanie McMahon getting Pedigreed They shouldn't have closed Wrestlemania X8 with this match.

[@daviddonahue218]

Until the mid to late 70's the Canadian dollar was worth a little more than the U.S. dollar.

[@philipinman4972]

Drunk Canadian here. EH!!

[@1joshjosh1]

I understand we are used to the Canadian dollar being lower than the American in recent history but it was not always like that. There have been times where it has been higher. However difficult it is to judge currency because it's more than just that even though some Canadians think that way. Especially if the only place they have ever been to is Mexico or the states. It's all about buying power.

[@horusthreesixteen3843]

Got to c Destrucity beat Pukester at WM6. Got scalpers after it started, for less than 1/2 for a supposed obstructed view. The post didn't block da view. Used to love the old Maple Leaf Gardens ring-height ramp. Maple Leaf Wrestling was produced in my home time as a kid, Hamilton, Ontario station CHCH-TV. PS Jim come back and visit us again one day...😜

[@jaxteller7185]

For those who love Jim discussing old wrestling I have 2 playlists that will interest you The first is from Arcadian Vanguard and older Cornette clips. All discussions of Golden Era and Territories kzbin.info/aero/PLUZIgj8FH_-uNfrEz8lFzeTjvsNi8BJD_ and here is another with anything he posts in the last year or so. Some of this is sprinkled with 80's or 92-97 stuff as well but nothing current. There is a lot of territory talk here as well. Im always adding to both of these when i find new videos. kzbin.info/aero/PLUZIgj8FH_-tmJyyij7riz4upPqimdlgo Enjoy!!

[@jerfacekilla]

Thanks 👍

[@death2putin718]

I’m proud to have attended #2 and #3

[@exflos66]

Can we send you some tv tapes from Québec ?

[@Skynertia]

Canada wanted wrestling and they just weren't allowed to have it.

[@bradfry5403]

I thought there was a big WWF event in Calgary in the late 90s

[@TheEWFX29]

The lolMets are back. Lol.

[@thomasdorst7358]

AWA did huge business at the old Winnipeg Arena

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

The Big Event, Hogan vs Orndorff in Toronto drew over 74000

[@lastlaff2777]

1986, Exhibition Stadium

[@chrischar9428]

61000

[@kevindouglas5333]

@@chrischar9428 73000. Sorry

[@Travlr013]

@@kevindouglas5333No, he's right: 61,000+, just as Jim reports on the podcast. When they announced 75,000 (originally, to the newspapers), that's when they realized that they had to goose the numbers for WM3, which was NEVER 93,000, but they had to make sure everyone knew it was a bigger gate than Toronto's. WM3's was actually close to 80,000, but what the +/- is on that now, I've long since forgotten. Then again, boosting the gate numbers has been a thing in professional wrestling since Gotch/Hackenschmidt. And probably before that.

[@raptorsfreak]

I was at two of the top 5! WM 18 and the 2/8/99 show

[@animegamesmoviesandotherst3037]

We need a book of US Wrestling History from the 50 to 2021. To show the fools who say wrestling is bigger then ever that no it is not. Maybe in tv deals, but in house shows, TV views, and PPV's it has never be lower.

[@geraldbernecker5329]

The Toronto Exhibition. A midway, ,rides, games.

[@marcelmoreau2733]

Oh. Crowds. I thoughr it said Cowards. My eyes are bad.

[@exidy-yt]

btw Jim absolutely slew me tonight. I simply could NOT smoke during the expressVPN ad tonight. I was just dying with laughter and wasted over half a J of Mango Haze, I hope you're happy mr VPN ad exec and mr Cornette! If only I wasn't already a subscriber of Privado VPN you might have had a wasted subscriber tonight, ExpressVPN!

[@myhawbeez]

I really enjoyed this.

[@matthewmagda4971]

Oh, the history...!

[@gavinschwier8242]

Survivor Series 97 in MTL? 20,000+ Screwjob show. Owen and Austin undercard

[@StandardUserFromEarth]

These VPN spots just keep evolving, only Jim can pull an ad spot for over 5 mins & still make it part of the entertainment.

[@rafeeqturner1458]

Wonder where the Montreal screw job draw was

[@insupportofjunhado]

Jack Pferer couldn't kill Chicago but he did a number on it. By contrast he did kill off New York, even if Rocca revived it.

[@-Gurza-]

They're targeting you!

[@hollywood21639]

Man it really sounds like that Hogan guy was a pretty big deal.

[@Jwjmcc]

Not since I was in my 20s 😂

[@alain99v6]

i want the whole list Jim jumped from 13th to 7th

[@EXPLISITemcee]

Toronto got 2 of the best Wrestlemania's ever... Mr America doesnt seem to do well in Toronto!

[@robertm.3520]

You think 6 and 18 are two of the best WM's ever? LOL. What a mark. Also, Hogan got biggest pop and most likely the biggest payoff on both of those shows so he did just fine all things considered.

[@KOHoxton]

​@@robertm.3520 Im not quite sure you can be throwing the term "mark" around. While you're defending hogan, brother.

[@robertm.3520]

@@KOHoxton Stating facts = defending Hogan? LOL. Interesting logic. Tell me where I was wrong. You can't. Wrestlemania 6 and 18 were nowhere near the greatest WM's ever. Only an idiot Canadian would say that. Both were mediocre shows that were carried by one big match. Warrior/Hogan at 6 and Hogan/Rock at 18. Fact. Hogan got the biggest pop and biggest payoff for both of those shows. Fact. Only a mark would look at things from a win/loss perspective. I know its cool to dunk on Hogan and Im not a fan of Terry Bollea but that doesn't mean we have to lie or ignore his accomplishments. You can hate him all you want but it doesn't change the fact that he is one of the biggest stars, biggest draws and biggest icons in the history of the business.

[@ivanm.krsticevic1535]

Low key, I like how Brian is trying to drop hints how much better Montreal is than Toronto throughout the whole thing. 😂

[@whisperienced]

Brian just hates Toronto because it's a better New York.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

He speaks the truth

[@robertm.3520]

@@whisperienced Good lord. You can't be serious.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

It's not much of a secret, lol. Toronto is a business city where you can't even get to your boring corporate job on time because the transit system is a disaster.

[@chrisleblanc4572]

As a Canadian, stay away from Ontario (Toronto) and Quebec (Montreal) … Ontario is full of communists and Quebec is French

[@DeltaSK2112]

Whilst I don't doubt this book. I would like to say WWE does not come up here often, let alone for a ppv/stadium show. For example, the Edmonton Raw was the first Raw WWE had in 11 years or so in Edmonton, during that tour they also skipped over Calgary in favour of Grande Prairie. Canada has not had a ppv since 2019's edition of Summer Slam. Before that it was Survivor Series in 2016, Breaking Point in 2009, Unforgiven in 2006, Summer Slam 2004. The last big show in Western Canada was Backlash 2004, and that is only because Chris Benoit was World Heavyweight Champion. Canada is a market starved for professional wrestling, especially western Canada. I hope someone can launch a promotion in the future that primarily runs show in Canada. Or atleast WWE decides to visit Canada more often because Canadians has some of the best crowds in wrestling. Considering it's on the same continent, I don't see a reason beyond Mr. McMahon not liking Canada to hold more events there. If I was WWE I'd hold events there 4 times a year, once a season. Vancouver and Seattle(I am aware it's in the United States, but they are right next to each other), Edmonton and Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, Ottawa and Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, etc. With house shows taking place in Regina, Kelowna, etc.

[@lastlaff2777]

WWF in the 80's ran house shows all across Canada, even in smaller/mid towns like Brantford, Saskatoon, Guelph, etc.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

It's the CNE. Every year. The EX

[@stevenweathers2989]

I could literally listen to JC talk about these historical topics as my only form of entertainment…not sure if that says more about me, or Jim and his knowledge. Lol. Guess my point is it beats the heck outta “Ice Road Truckers” or sadly a lot of the current wrestling product. And yes, Uncle Dave’s historical stuff is good too, he just isn’t the orator Jim is. Not many are…

[@robertrosenthal9390]

mexico city mutiple times a week for so long needs to be on the list maybe top of list for attendance. toronto territory failed so was owned by crocket among its bad runs. montreal was the biggest territory in canada

[@Spoeism]

I'm a Torontonian

[@Toastytoez13]

I’m scared to hear everything from Tuesday night dynamitte where dalton castle was the only good thing from it 😢

[@WingsofHistory]

Wrestlemania X8 Top 3

[@boc4334]

I’ll take a lot more of content like this. Fuck the modern wrestling reviews.

[@kevindouglas5333]

Hogan and Orndorff drew 73000 at the Big Event

[@DARC-87]

Man, I love this geeky shit.

[@indyquebec5135]

"Toronto is the 2nd biggest market in North America".... Looks at list,,,, Montreal has more than Toronto in the top 20.... LOLLLL Montreal never gets any respect

[@Travlr013]

But then you get into the "regular" gates, and MLG has almost always had more seats then the Montreal Forum, as I recall. Montreal is EXTREMELY important to the history of professional wrestling, going back to the days of Paul Bowser mentoring Eddie Quinn. But Toronto could draw from further away than Montreal could, and "Toronto" as a promotion meant everything from about Chatham Ontario, up the 401 to Kingston, and as far north as Sault Ste. Marie. BIG territory.

[@Rotnbully]

Calgary…Alberta…Canada 🇨🇦

[@banntaylor7323]

Jim is a walking wrestling encyclopaedia! He forgot more wrestling than these fools will ever know, but they still try to “teach” wrestling to someone like Jim. That’s how big marks they are for themselves smh.

[@ryanmontgomery5988]

Americans always make fun how we say 'eh' and 'about' I find the way Americans say 'ToronTOE' equally as feckin funny

[@herzkine]

As german i "OF" the feeling muricans are way worse in english.

[@robertm.3520]

Cool. Do you feel better now?

[@tomnagy3010]

Well how is it supposed to be pronounced?

[@ryanmontgomery5988]

The second T is not so pronounced is all. Just never noticed it before with these guys..faaaack. lolll I can't hear anything but now

[@robertm.3520]

@@ryanmontgomery5988 Such a stupid thing to complain about (aboot). Canadians are so soft and sensitive it's ridiculous.

[@jerfacekilla]

Just to clarify, the Canadian dollar was always worth more than the US dollar in the 1950s and 1960s. It varied from $1.02 US to $1.06 US. It only started tanking in the 80s.

[@robertm.3520]

Thanks, Karen.

[@jerfacekilla]

@@robertm.3520 No problem, Trumpturd.

[@robertm.3520]

@@jerfacekilla That's the emotional response I expected.

[@jerfacekilla]

@@robertm.3520 You’re doing a pretty shitty job trolling. I suggest that you push your wheel chair away from the keyboard, get your mom to carry you up the basement stairs, and drop you in the backyard so that you can get some sun. 🦽

[@robertm.3520]

@@jerfacekilla Ooooffff.

[@spanky9676]

Jim Cor-nuk.

[@Spoeism]

"Uncontrolled Chaos"? ...cause chaos is known for being manageable and controlled. Dumb name

[@Travlr013]

"Organized Chaos" is a common term in the military, actually. Usually seen in the preparatory minutes/hours before the units move out (think anthills: Looks crazy, but there's actually method to it all).

[@Spoeism]

@@Travlr013 Yeah organized is the opposite of uncontrolled