Phoenix Region, Dallas Subregion: First Round: (9) Curt Hennig vs. (24) Val Venis

[klunderbunker]

The following contest is a first round match in the Phoenix Region.

This match takes place in the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.

#9 Curt Hennig

Vs.

#24 Val Venis

This contest is one fall with a 20 minute time limit. The match will take place in a 16 x 16 ring with no ramp leading to it. Any traditional managers for either competitor will be allowed at ringside.

As for voting, vote for who you think would win this match based on the criteria you choose. Some suggestions would be (not limited to): in ring ability, overall skill, their level of influence at the highest point in their career, ability to connect with the crowd, experience in major matches or simply personal preference etc.

The most votes in the voting period wins and in the case of a tie, the most written votes wins. There is one written vote per user, meaning if a poster make ten posts saying Bret should win that will count as a single vote. In the event of a second tie, both men are ELIMINATED, no questions asked. Only winners advance.

Voting is open for four days and all posts must be non-spam.​

 

[Coco]

Great match between two solid midcarders and, frankly, two of the greatest Intercontinental Champions this side of Rob Van Dam. That said, Hennig was the AWA Champion. Meaning he wrestled in the AWA. Which means that his entire body of works averages out to be more boring than Val Venis' could ever hope to be. Couple that with the fact that Venis held more belts in the most entertaining company in the history of this business (no, not CHIKARA -- WWE!!) and the knowledge that Val Venis is literally more man than Hennig ever was and I find myself compelled to vote for the man who didn't slap his chewing gum at my funny uncle.

Vote Val Venis

 

[Theo Mays]

Val Venis and Mr. Perfect, two of my favorites and two very entertaining superstars. Hennig has become a bit overrated since his death, but that tends to happen to most superstars. Hennig, many believe is one of the best guys to never win the world championship in a major company (some consider the AWA major, depends on your criteria). Hennig is also one of the best in ring workers of all time. A true technician and a guy who could get a pretty good match out of just about anyone. I can't really say the same about Venis. Val is certainly entertaining and his gimmick was fantastic during his time with the WWE, but I just can't see a way that Perfect doesn't go over. Throw in the potential factor of Bobby Heenan and I can't see Venis overcoming that.

 

[Dave]

I'll be voting for Curt Hennig here.

Val Venis has to be one of the worst superstars to ever have graced my TV screen in the entire time I have been watching wrestling. He was more annoying that a crying child on an aeroplane and less entertaining than watching The Marine on WWE DVD.

Curt Hennig is Mr. Perfect for a reason. I always enjoyed his matches and thought that he was one of the best wrestlers to ever hold the Intercontinental Championship. Not only that but I thought that he was one of the finest talents to ever grace a wrestling ring. He mixed with the best talents that any organisation had to offer and his untimley death left a hole in the wrestling world.

I am voting for Mr. Perfect here but I would have likely put Santino over Val Venis here.

 

[6timehitta]

To me there is not even a match to be set here, Mr. Perfect takes this ball and runs it all the way to the touchdown without being touched. Val Venis will be best known as the guy who was the wannabe porn star, tried to nail Ken Shamrock's "sister", and getting his wee wee "cut off" by Kaientai. Look Val Venis is nothing but the result of one of the greatest eras in wrestling history in the Attitude Era. This is like comparing The Headbangers to Edge and Christian.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

I'm going w/Mr. Perfect nudging out Venis. I've been entertained a great deal by both wrestlers, but at the end on the day Henning's technical prowess bests Venis'. Does anyone remember the vignettes Perfect did where he proved his dominance in ALL sports, not just in the ring? Go back and watch those and you'll see why Henning is the choice here.

 

[klunderbunker]

The Battle of the Towels has begun!

Val is no slouch and was one of my favorites from his era. That being said, he's in over his head here. Hennig is not only a former world champion but was at the top of the midcard for years in WWF. He came back in 2002 and was as sharp as he had been years ago. He was a Horseman and a pretty decent heel in WCW. He came in the final four in two Rumbles and depending on who you listen to was supposed to win the 1990 version. Venis is incredibly talented and I enjoyed watching him, but Hennig takes this one without having to use that towel of his.

 

[JGlass]

Curt Hennig going my Mr. Perfect isn't exactly the biggest stretch in the world. He was fantastic on the mic, had a great persona, and may be one of the all time greatest in the rings.

Val Venis was... okay. He was pretty good in the ring, forgettable on the mic, and had a variety of "interesting" persona.

If these two met in a match at the height of their careers, who do you think is going to win? Mr. Perfect is. He beat some of the WWF's and WCW's best. What has Val Venis done that compare to that?

 

[Tastycles]

I can imagine this thread will mostly consist of the beatification of Curt Hennig, and the underrating of Val Venis. Don't forget, Venis was one of the most over midcarders in one of the WWF's most profitable and popular times. So was Mr Perfect, but everyone will already say that. I'm still going to go for Perfect, not because I think he would certainly win, as I think a series of matches between these two would be about even, because he was able to at least sometimes make it to the main event, and he probably had the better career, though it's much closer than this score would suggest.

 

[Ace Sleeper]

Yeah, Val Venis was average at best as a character, interesting but very forgettable. His in ring work was pretty good, not the best, but pretty good.

No doubt in my mind Curt Henning takes this. He was Mr. Perfect. At times his matches felt slow, and sure he never made it to the big show. He is however arguably the best wrestler to never make it to the highest point, and he was great in the ring. He did beat some of the best, and he's one of the most technical wrestlers to lace up the boots.

Henning by landslide.

 

[INDYjon22]

I like both guys a lot, but I have to give it to Hennig. While charisma could go either way I think the greater body of work has to go to Hennig. Yes Val was a successful champion and may have held more titles in the WWE, but he was never a World Champion something Hennig was in the AWA. Also, Hennig is the better in ring worker as far as I am concerned. A real match between these two would have been awesome to see, but in my mind this one goes to Mr. Perfect.

 

[FitFinlay4Life]

Definitely Curt, he held the AWA world title and the IC belt when it was regarded as more than a hot potato or something to appease the mid card. Curt 'retired' Flair from Entertainmentland 15 and a half years before HBK.

Val was entertaining in his time, but then again so was the Godfather and Curt would've Perfectplexed his ass too!! Val was an IC contender for a small amount af his WWF/e career, he will always be thought of as an Eric Bischoff flunky and glorified jobber.

 

[Shocky]

If there was ever a case of a talented wrestler getting stuck with a shit gimmick, Sean Morley is the one. This is a guy that was saddled with a shit Rick Rude/Porn Star gimmick, did what he could with it, and then had to spend several years shedding himself of that label. He did remarkably well, having a good run in 2000. Hell, Chief Morley was a damn good lackey for Eric Bischoff. It's a shame that a guy that obviously had talent will forever be remembered for being the guy that was saved by John Wayne Bobbitt. All that said, Curt gets my vote.

 

[Miko]

Anyone that has the nads to tell Shamrock that he's making naughty video's with his sister has my respect, plus he had his cock cut off, not to mention all those shoot video's on the Hardy's, so Venis thinks he's a pretty tough guy, which probably means that Hennig would be trying to wrestle with him on a plane before they even got to the arena, and with that silly arse Taker egging Venis on it'll be a matter of pride here.

Provided they dont go through the door at 10,000 feet then I'd expect these two to suplex each other quite a lot before Hennig is splashed with a money shot to be defeated. My decision may be slightly influenced by the one sidedness of the votes.

 

[8thwotwATG]

While Val Venis was a good inring performer, and a sure hand in th e ring, he is SOOO overmatched here. Curt Hennig is an AWA Tag team Champion, an AWA World Heavyweight Champion, the WWE Intercontinental Champion on more than one occasion and a second generation wrestler. We all know that his death has raised his stock in this tourney a bit, but how on God's green earth can you pick against him in this match against Val Venis? Not for nothing, but Mr. Perfect, AKA Curt Henning has so much more Ring Acumen than Val Venis...Henning by a big victory.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

I like both of these guys, actually. Val Venis takes a lot of heat from most fans who didn't start watching until his big run had concluded. In his day, he was a damn fine entertainer. His "PornStar" gimmick was perfect, especially for the WWF in the late 90's. Only one problem; I cannot remember, off the top of my head, one amazing match that included Morley.

Hennig had several that immediately come to mind, including matches against Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Tito Santana, Terry Taylor, The Big Bossman and many, many more. Hell, he even made Lex Luger look not-so-shitty at WrestleMania IX. His career took a backseat to Hulk Hogan, along with every other underrated mid-carder of that time (Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase).

Hennig has done a lot worth remembering, and has beaten bigger and better wrestlers than Morley, so I'm forced to side with Perfection.

 

[Final Form Snyper.]

The younger people will say "Val Venis....... what are you thinking?" But back in Venis' day he was a good entertainer with a good following and the success that followed at a time when he was at his peak was great. Curt Hennig on the other hand is a former World Champion and possibly one of the best wrestlers to have ever held the Intercontinental championship. His gimmick was that he was perfect, you all must have seen the promos I'm sure. He was exactly that, possibly the most technical wrestler to have never held the WWE World Championship.

Also remember "Mi choppy, choppy off your pee pee", comedy gold.

My vote went to Curt "Mr Perfect" Hennig

 

[The Chosen One of WZ]

Two of the most solid mid carders in WWE history but...

Mr. Perfect is Mr. Perfect for a reason. One of the most gifted wrestlers of all time and has been more over with the fans then Val Venis ever was. You can see a little Curt Henning in Dolph Ziggler and McGillicutty but they and 98% of the other talent that come through wont be better then Curt Hennig.

This match would be a good techinical show case but in the end would result in a well timed Perfect Plex for the One Two Three.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

Val Venis was slightly underrated based on how good he was inside the ring, and his gimmick/character pretty much over-shadowed anything the guy would ever do as far as in-ring work. However, he's not Perfect. And that statement alone should tell you who wins here.

Curt Hennig, Mr. Perect, whatever you wish to call him; he's a proven winner against top names. The man went undefeated when he debuted and stayed as such for over a year (according to Wiki).

When I look at this type of showdown, I look at it as a battle of the mid-carders. Truth is though, I can't see a single reason why Venis would ever take this match. Ever. Perfect went toe-to-toe and even defeated some very top named individuals, including Flair. Venis can't compete with a man that's "perfect".

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Val Venis was always a pretty good wrestler, but his gimmick was suited purely to the Attitude Era, he wouldn't be able to play that character properly on WWE today and aside from a couple of successful years he was reduced to curtain jerker status in the WWE.

On the other hand, the Mr Perfect character is timeless, and Hennig is one of the greatest intercontinental champions of them all, at a time when the IC Title itself meant something. His matches with Bret Hart are all time classics, while Venis has never had a single match to rival any of Perfect's best.

A short and sweet match here, with the Perfect-Plex getting the 3 count for Perfect who didnt even need to work up a sweat.

 

[JXL]

Venis has good skills, but can't compare to the solid technical abilities of Mr. Perfect. Hennig has won more mid-card titles, but never the big one because promoters don't think he can draw that well, despite his "Perfect" personality he had displayed in the 90s. Still, Curt would run roughshot over Venis no problem.

A good 7-10 minutes and a sold Perfectplex later, your winner would be Curt Hennig.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Curt Hennig should go over here and it shouldn't even remotely be close. Hennig was a great all around pro wrestler that had every tool needed to be a superstar. He's arguably the greatest wrestler of the past 30 years to have never been WWE Champion and some say the greatest Intercontinental Champion in history.

Val Venis was...well I mean what is there to say about him? He had a handful of uneventful title reigns including a couple if IC title reigns that totaled 83 days and week long run with the tag titles with Lance Storm. Oh yeah, and he got his dick chopped off by Kaientai.

Hennig wins this in a 3 minute squash.

 

[D-Man]

Curt Henning is, quite possibly, the greatest wrestling superstar to never hold a world championship in one of the four biggest promotions of the past four decades; ECW, WCW, TNA, and WWE. Although Val Venis is a talented wrestler, Curt ranks up there with some of the greats. His accomplishments in other promotions were endless.

If these two were really in a match with each other, it would be a match on Raw at about the 9:46pm mark where Henning would dominate Venis with the Perfect Plex.

 

[Tech N9ne]

I thought Val was great in his day. The late 90's was probably as good a time as any for there to be a Porno Star Wrestler in WWE. I thought he moved ahead of his gimmick though and showed more promise then what his gimmick would allow him. So, eventually the gimmick was shed.

But, he never did receive the same kind of heat, or push after that gimmick. So, eventually back to that gimmick, Val returned.

There is no contest here, even though I think Val was pretty good. Pretty good cannot beat GREAT though and that is what Curt Hennig was... GREAT!!

Val had his bright spots. He was very athletic, great on the mic, and a pretty interesting character overall.

In my opinion, though, all the things he was good at, Hennig was better. Hennig is one of the best technical wrestlers ever. He had classics with numerous HUGE names in the business. He was great at telling a story in ring and he had a wrestler "look" if anyone ever did.

So, I vote Curt Hennig here, and it isn't even close.

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

Val Venis was a comedy jobber. Mr. Perfect is a WWE Hall of Famer with 2 IC title reigns, and a WCW US championship reign. Hennig goes over in under two minutes.