Was it a mistake to never push Tazz?

[Testicular Claw]

I'm a huge fan of Taz but I think realistically at this point in his career there was no way he was going to be a huge star in the wwe. He had too many injuries. His knees and his neck were both shit by then. If he were healthy who knows, but I think it would have been a slow process. He wouldn't have shot up to main eventer quickly. First of all his height. But also, two of the things that made Taz over in ECW were his brutal suplexes and his "fuck the world" gimmick. The wwe would have to water down both of those because if people had to work three or four days a week with taz he would kill people and they couldn't have him totally work the same gimmick and shoot the same promos because they aired their show in prime time and have sponsors and such and just a different demographic in general.

Also in ECW Taz was their main guy, he was their ace, you will notice he was booked to look very strong and he didn't sell very much. WWE already had a lot of their own stars at the time so they can't just have him come in and bulldozer over them.

It sucks Taz didn't go farther in the WWE but there's a lot of justifiable reasons why that didn't happen. I do think he could have made an awesome manager but announcer works too. I wish they would make him more like the announcer he was when he was on heat instead of the goofy friendly he announcer his is know though.

 

[TheOneBigWill]

People want to blame Vince McMahon for this and that, but really it makes sense. Couple in that with the fact that Tazz probably wasn't much of a draw outside of a 5 state radius, and it is easy to see why he was treated as he was.

After reading what you've wrote, I agree with everything except the above quoted part. Now, I do agree that people wish to blame Vince when in actuality, its the performers that are suppose to basically "rise" themselves. They get the spotlight, and as such, what they do with it is how they'll continue to be pushed.

However, for you to say Taz wasn't big except within a 5 state radius.. well, you really need to define those 5 states, because New York and Pennsylvania have to at least be considered 2 of those states.. and both are huge draws for the W.W.E.. Therefore, Taz's status and should've been a lot more than drowning him against the likes of the Big Boss Man, and Jerry Lawler. (no offensive to Lawler)

And basically, to me, you saying "its easy to see why he was treated as he was." That, to me, seems like you're saying he wasn't anything great, or anything worth putting spotlight on.. yet look at how much they allow guys like Carlito, or Santino air time. Or even Cody Rhodes, or Hardcore Holly, all air time.

Yes, today's wrestling is a lot "weaker" than 2000's version.. but the fact is, Taz if used better than he was, could've been better than he turned out. In my opinion, creative dropped the ball on how to use him, because they felt using him the way he was used in E.C.W. was too "extreme" for the W.W.E. to follow in suit. They "watered" him down, and basically drown him out to moronic storylines and slowly faded him off.

 

[blackhart07]

People want to blame Vince McMahon for this and that, but really it makes sense. Couple in that with the fact that Tazz probably wasn't much of a draw outside of a 5 state radius, and it is easy to see why he was treated as he was.

How is it not somewhat Vince's fault. He decides who is being pushed. The people are booing Cena, and yelling you can wrestle at The Giant Kahli. Yet they still push both of these guys. Taz got the loudest pop of the night at the RR. Bigger pops than guys like Mick Foley and The Rock. He had the perfect gimmick for that era to. The badass look, heavy hitter from Brooklyn NY, FTW. What else did he need to have? He was an amazing wrestler. He should have atleast a strong run with the IC title, but they would rather give it Rikishi. He never got in the spotlight besides two night at the RR and on Smackdown vs HHH. Did u hear how loud they cheered for him that night? Yet they didnt want to push him to atleast a strong mid card.

 

[Slyfox696]

After reading what you've wrote, I agree with everything except the above quoted part. Now, I do agree that people wish to blame Vince when in actuality, its the performers that are suppose to basically "rise" themselves. They get the spotlight, and as such, what they do with it is how they'll continue to be pushed.

However, for you to say Taz wasn't big except within a 5 state radius.. well, you really need to define those 5 states, because New York and Pennsylvania have to at least be considered 2 of those states.. and both are huge draws for the W.W.E.. Therefore, Taz's status and should've been a lot more than drowning him against the likes of the Big Boss Man, and Jerry Lawler. (no offensive to Lawler)

And basically, to me, you saying "its easy to see why he was treated as he was." That, to me, seems like you're saying he wasn't anything great, or anything worth putting spotlight on.. yet look at how much they allow guys like Carlito, or Santino air time. Or even Cody Rhodes, or Hardcore Holly, all air time.

Yes, today's wrestling is a lot "weaker" than 2000's version.. but the fact is, Taz if used better than he was, could've been better than he turned out. In my opinion, creative dropped the ball on how to use him, because they felt using him the way he was used in E.C.W. was too "extreme" for the W.W.E. to follow in suit. They "watered" him down, and basically drown him out to moronic storylines and slowly faded him off.

You kind of got the point but you kind of missed it too. You have to put the two things together. Put in the fact that Taz was probably not much of a major draw PLUS the fact that he just came over from ECW, that's why it makes sense to have him work his way up. And, he never got to work his way up because of his injuries. I mean, did Taz even work 2 full years in the WWE?

How is it not somewhat Vince's fault.

Well, I'm quite certain it wasn't Vince's decision for Tazz to get hurt...

He decides who is being pushed. The people are booing Cena, and yelling you can wrestle at The Giant Kahli. Yet they still push both of these guys. Taz got the loudest pop of the night at the RR. Bigger pops than guys like Mick Foley and The Rock. He had the perfect gimmick for that era to. The badass look, heavy hitter from Brooklyn NY, FTW. What else did he need to have?

A stepladder, interview skills, and drawing ability?

He was an amazing wrestler.

I've yet to see a Tazz match where I wasn't bored to tears.

He should have atleast a strong run with the IC title, but they would rather give it Rikishi. He never got in the spotlight besides two night at the RR and on Smackdown vs HHH. Did u hear how loud they cheered for him that night? Yet they didnt want to push him to atleast a strong mid card.

Wasn't the Royal Rumble in New York? What happens when Tazz goes to Portland Oregon? Who is going to give a damn about him there?

 

[TheOneBigWill]

A stepladder, interview skills, and drawing ability?

I don't think I've ever seen you mock someone for their physical disability. (Taz's size, for example) Anyways.. how was he not good in interviews? His E.C.W. interviews were definately on par, they were great. But that just goes back to W.W.E. not allowing them to happen in their company, because they were too "extreme."

I've yet to see a Tazz match where I wasn't bored to tears.

Rob Van Dam v. Taz - November To Remember 1999, Masato Tanaka v. Mike Awesome v. Taz - Anarchy Rulz 1999, - Shane Douglas v. Taz - Living Dangerously (I think) 1999.

Taz has had some incredible matches.. the only reason he sucked in W.W.E. had practically nothing to do with him, so much as the opposites he was constantly put up against. Boss Man, Crash Holly, Jerry Lawler?

Wasn't the Royal Rumble in New York? What happens when Tazz goes to Portland Oregon? Who is going to give a damn about him there?

The same thing could be said in regards to Portland Oregon? Who gives a damn about that place? New York is one of the biggest drawing places in all of Professional Wrestling.

 

[Slyfox696]

I don't think I've ever seen you mock someone for their physical disability. (Taz's size, for example) Anyways.. how was he not good in interviews? His E.C.W. interviews were definately on par, they were great. But that just goes back to W.W.E. not allowing them to happen in their company, because they were too "extreme."

It was a joke regarding size.

And if Taz cannot cut WWE promos, then he's not good on the mic. It's simple.

Rob Van Dam v. Taz - November To Remember 1999, Masato Tanaka v. Mike Awesome v. Taz - Anarchy Rulz 1999, - Shane Douglas v. Taz - Living Dangerously (I think) 1999.

I'll watch some time and let you know.

The same thing could be said in regards to Portland Oregon? Who gives a damn about that place? New York is one of the biggest drawing places in all of Professional Wrestling.

Portland was an example. Just like Phoenix, Arizona, Houston , Miami, St. Louis, Charleston, San Diego, etc...basically outside of the Northeast, where would Taz draw well?

There's no doubt that New York is big for wrestling. But the WWE is a worldwide company, not a New York/Philadelphia company.

 

[blackhart07]

Quote:
He was an amazing wrestler.



I've yet to see a Tazz match where I wasn't bored to tears.

Go watch Taz vs Bam Bam Bigelow at Heatwave 1998 and Living Dangerously 1998. Both Great matches.

Sabu vs Taz at Living Dangerously 1999 and Taz vs Shane Douglas at Guilty as Charged 1999.

And how do you know Taz wouldnt draw well in other places? He wasnt given the right push its not his fault. He couldnt show his true ability like RVD, Raven, The Sandman the list goes on and on. If wrestlers cant show there true abilities(not watered down shit) then there not gonnea be good. They cant excpect a wrestler to changer there whole style when they get to the WWE and then excpect them to still get over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WjhLG9ovfI

Now thats how you cut a promo, tell me one person in TNA or WWE that could cut a promo like that.

 

[Slyfox696]

Go watch Taz vs Bam Bam Bigelow at Heatwave 1998 and Living Dangerously 1998. Both Great matches.

Sabu vs Taz at Living Dangerously 1999 and Taz vs Shane Douglas at Guilty as Charged 1999.

And how do you know Taz wouldnt draw well in other places?

Because no one outside of Philly and New York and the surrounding areas had ever heard of him. I'm not saying that Tazz COULDN'T have been a draw eventually, but do you honestly think that anyone in Boise, Idaho would have given a rip about a short fat man they had never heard of?

He couldnt show his true ability like RVD, Raven, The Sandman the list goes on and on. If wrestlers cant show there true abilities(not watered down shit) then there not gonnea be good. They cant excpect a wrestler to changer there whole style when they get to the WWE and then excpect them to still get over.

See, there's such a mistaken notion. To be good you have to be able to adapt your style to work various situations. That's why guys like RVD and Sandman were pure crap, because they could only work the same style, and that style was nothing more than a spotfest match with poor transitions. They couldn't work a different style and the style they worked made for bad wrestling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WjhLG9ovfI

Now thats how you cut a promo, tell me one person in TNA or WWE that could cut a promo like that.

I'll watch when I get home.

 

[blackhart07]

Because no one outside of Philly and New York and the surrounding areas had ever heard of him. I'm not saying that Tazz COULDN'T have been a draw eventually, but do you honestly think that anyone in Boise, Idaho would have given a rip about a short fat man they had never heard of?

More than likely your right, but if the WWE wanted to they would have pushed him to become a star. The WWE made Khali a star. They made Batista a star the list goes on and on. And Taz shits on them in every aspect of wrestling from actuall wrestling, promos, to ring psychology. His gimick was perfect for the attitude era. Do you think anyone up here in the Northeast could give a shit about a local indy wrestler down south that is putting on some good matches?Maybe, maybe not were not exposed to him. Just like half the country wasnt exposed to Taz. ECW got there cable deal then a month later it leaked that taz was leaving. ECW wasnt gonnea build there future on the network around a guy thats leaving in 2 months so he wasnt used up to par like he was the past 2 years. Then he got in the WWE got him and crapped on his legacy by having him job to the king, and pointless other stuff. His career was doomed before getting there.

 

[Slyfox696]

More than likely your right, but if the WWE wanted to they would have pushed him to become a star. The WWE made Khali a star. They made Batista a star the list goes on and on. And Taz shits on them in every aspect of wrestling from actuall wrestling, promos, to ring psychology. His gimick was perfect for the attitude era. Do you think anyone up here in the Northeast could give a shit about a local indy wrestler down south that is putting on some good matches?Maybe, maybe not were not exposed to him. Just like half the country wasnt exposed to Taz. ECW got there cable deal then a month later it leaked that taz was leaving. ECW wasnt gonnea build there future on the network around a guy thats leaving in 2 months so he wasnt used up to par like he was the past 2 years. Then he got in the WWE got him and crapped on his legacy by having him job to the king, and pointless other stuff. His career was doomed before getting there.

Except that Taz had NO career in the WWE, because he had so many injuries.

You cannot lose sight of that very very important fact. If Taz was still wrestling, and is as good as everyone says (which, is doubtful), then he probably would be doing well for himself right now. But, Tazz was hurt, and that is no one's fault.

You can't expect a guy that most of the country doesn't care about to become a mega superstar in two years, especially if it will make your own company look bad in the process. That would be terrible business.

 

[blackhart07]

Except that Taz had NO career in the WWE, because he had so many injuries.

Your right there, his neck is gone and he will never return.

You cannot lose sight of that very very important fact. If Taz was still wrestling, and is as good as everyone says (which, is doubtful), then he probably would be doing well for himself right now. But, Tazz was hurt, and that is no one's fault.

You are the one doubting it, of all the people that have been in this thread you are doubting his wrestling ability. I wouldnt be in this thread fighting for him if i didnt feel he was a good wrestler.

You can't expect a guy that most of the country doesn't care about to become a mega superstar in two years, especially if it will make your own company look bad in the process. That would be terrible business.

Brock Lesnar won the title in how many months? I wouldnt want him to just come in and win the title that would be dumb and not right. But he deserved a run with the IC and European title. They should have done it right but after you he lost to the king it killed his career he went from a wrecking machine in ECW to losing to a 50 year old man it killed his credability. He had no good feuds, so what can he do. He should have been feuding with Y2J, Benoit, Angle, Guerrero, Malenko, and Saturn in 2000. It would have made for some great matches. Plus all there styles of wreslting are alike.

Another match i encourage you to take a look at it Taz vs Tajiri at Heatwave 1999 its on youtube. Its short, but good i enjoy it.

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

Taz was a legend who, unfortunately, came into the WWE at the wrong time. He was a midget in the midst of huge giants. While many of the big men in ECW had that sloppy, indy wrestling freak look, the WWE had well cut body builders who it would be hard to sell Taz as going over on. Especially with Kurt Angle waiting in the wings with a similar gimmick and lower millage. Add in the fact that Taz was wrestling on borrowed time, it left little time to properly build him up as the Suplex Machine that he was known to be.

Also, at that time, WWE wasn't too keen on the whole "Killer of Giants" thing that has become so popular in their booking these days when it comes to undersized wrestlers. I would love to see Taz come out of retirement for one last dream match, but it's highly unlikely that it will ever happen.

 

[FoleyIsGod]

I think Tazz was about 4 years too early to be pushed. If he was around when Lesnar, Benoit and Angle were tearing up the ring with "true" wrestling, ie a matbased, submission match, he would have drawn huge. I mean, Tazz vs Lesnar would have been interesting to say the least, as both guys were legit wrestlers.

Sadly, that is the way with wrestling.

 

[erc24]

^^^ Taz was too early to be pushed, exactly, and with his injuries, it didn't go to well. He was amazing to me in the ring. He's not fat despite what some say, V is fat, Vader jiggled, Taz was just a short, solid guy. He could've been a major draw given his size/weight factor at that size. His low base would've allowed him to easily suplex alot of the bigger guys. With the right build up and minus the injuries, he could've been great. This is only one of a few things that I think WWE Really dropped the ball with.

As to the dude who said Taz was boring, you have an Ultimate Warrior graphic......I liked Warrior then, be he wasn't near the worker Taz was.

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

I see a lot of people stating that they think that Taz's neck prevented him from getting a decent wrestling career in WWE and that's fair enuff, so why did the same thing happen to Raven when he moved to WWE? Came along and did nothing. RVD and the Dudleys are the ONLY ECW guys to amount to anything (obviously you have Austin and Foley but they aren't what i'd call ECW guys). Al Snow? Did nothing. Sandman? Did nothing. Raven? Nothing. Taz? Nothing. Stevie Richards? Nothing. Blue Meanie? Nothing.

Taz had a big list of guys in his area of expertise (submission/technical wrestling) that he could have worked with, e.g. Jericho, Regal, all 4 of the Radicalz, plus you still had the Hardcore division for him to have decent hardcore matches with both the Hollys and Snow. Instead he'd team up with APA every now and then or go for the Hardcore title, and had ONE fued with Jerry Lawler. He was in 1 Royal Rumble and got eliminated by Kane in like 6 seconds! After that he suddenly became a commentator.

Fact is, he can't wrestle anymore, so we'll never know.

 

[Pathogen]

I was really excited about Tazz arriving in the E, having heard about him in ECW. I thought he could be amazing, but my hope disappeared fairly quickly, when they failed to do much with him. It was a shame, but he wasn't at full health, so I guess that played a part? They didn't really do anything with Rhyno either, but the Dudleys got pushed to the moon, so I'm sure it wasn't as simple as being anti ECW. Dunno though.

 

[ATTITUDEERA4EVER]

Tazz had great potential. He had many fans from ECW...shame he didn't get the push he deserved.

Didn't Paul Heyman say once on raw during the WWE vs WCW/ECW storyline that Tazz was a wrestler, but vince mcmahon made him an announcer, "and he's not even a good one!"

 

[Trance Metaphor]

Taz had a big list of guys in his area of expertise (submission/technical wrestling) that he could have worked with, e.g. Jericho, Regal, all 4 of the Radicalz, plus you still had the Hardcore division for him to have decent hardcore matches with both the Hollys and Snow. Instead he'd team up with APA every now and then or go for the Hardcore title, and had ONE fued with Jerry Lawler. He was in 1 Royal Rumble and got eliminated by Kane in like 6 seconds! After that he suddenly became a commentator.

Fact is, he can't wrestle anymore, so we'll never know.

Actually, when Taz first came into the WWF, he was having good matches against guys in his area of expertise. He has victories over Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn and William Regal. It all happened in 2000. It was after returning from his arm injury that he was put into a feud with Jerry Lawler, which uniquely dated back to 1997. After that, his WWF wrestling career went down the gutter. Him teaming up with APA happened in 2001 and that was probably his second small push. His final push came in 2002 when he won the WWF Tag Team Championship with Spike Dudley. I guess you could say he had a better push than all the other ECW guys with the exception of Rob Van Dam and The Dudley Boyz.

Tazz had great potential. He had many fans from ECW...shame he didn't get the push he deserved.

Didn't Paul Heyman say once on raw during the WWE vs WCW/ECW storyline that Tazz was a wrestler, but vince mcmahon made him an announcer, "and he's not even a good one!"

That was probably the greatest Paul Heyman promo in the WWF. There was so much truth in it.

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

Actually, when Taz first came into the WWF, he was having good matches against guys in his area of expertise. He has victories over Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn and William Regal. It all happened in 2000. It was after returning from his arm injury that he was put into a feud with Jerry Lawler, which uniquely dated back to 1997. After that, his WWF wrestling career went down the gutter. Him teaming up with APA happened in 2001 and that was probably his second small push. His final push came in 2002 when he won the WWF Tag Team Championship with Spike Dudley.

I know he had matches with those guys, but my point was that he never had a fued with any of them except Angle, which even then wasn't anything to shout about. What doesn't make sense is that Tazz was the first guy to beat Angle, yet Angle's career soared and Tazz, despite being the jewel in the ECW crown, was never pushed effectively. His only 2 feuds were w/ Lawler which didn't suck too much and against RTC which every mid carder had had an issue with so it's not like that was anything special for him. Also, i wouldn't consider that tag title reign isn't really worth mentioning.

 

[Trance Metaphor]

I know he had matches with those guys, but my point was that he never had a fued with any of them except Angle, which even then wasn't anything to shout about. What doesn't make sense is that Tazz was the first guy to beat Angle, yet Angle's career soared and Tazz, despite being the jewel in the ECW crown, was never pushed effectively. His only 2 feuds were w/ Lawler which didn't suck too much and against RTC which every mid carder had had an issue with so it's not like that was anything special for him. Also, i wouldn't consider that tag title reign isn't really worth mentioning.

Actually, his feud with Angle was something to shout about for ECW fans. Maybe not in the technical sense of them putting on matches to the best of their abilities, but when it came to back-and-forth skirmishes and the like to best each other, it was pretty good. They had series of matches with both taking a few wins each. It was on and off much like the Taz/Lawler feud. The fact that Angle and Taz have history also made their feud look cooler going into ONS 2005.

Why isn't the Tag Team reign anything worth mentioning? It was his final and best push since the early half of his 2000 career. He held it for two months and was able to defeat a lot of top mid-carders, including Christian/Lance Storm, Test & Booker T. It was also during his Tag reign that he was able to get a WWE title shot against Chris Jericho. What's not worth mentioning are his Hardcore title reigns. Those only lasted minutes. I don't think he even got to touch the physical belt.

Anyway, his WWF wrestling career in two years and three months amounted to this:

2000:

First man to defeat the undefeated Kurt Angle
ECW Champion (second reign)
WWF Hardcore Champion (3)
Feud with Jerry Lawler
Tag Team with Raven
Co-Host for Sunday Night Heat

2001:

WrestleMania victory with APA
Jobber
Temporary Color Commentator for Smackdown!
Tough Enough 1 Trainer
Alliance Member

2002:

WWF Tag Team Champion w/ Spike Dudley
Color Commentator for Smackdown!

Shame...

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

Actually, his feud with Angle was something to shout about for ECW fans. Maybe not in the technical sense of them putting on matches to the best of their abilities, but when it came to back-and-forth skirmishes and the like to best each other, it was pretty good. They had series of matches with both taking a few wins each. It was on and off much like the Taz/Lawler feud. The fact that Angle and Taz have history also made their feud look cooler going into ONS 2005.

Why isn't the Tag Team reign anything worth mentioning? It was his final and best push since the early half of his 2000 career. He held it for two months and was able to defeat a lot of top mid-carders, including Christian/Lance Storm, Test & Booker T. It was also during his Tag reign that he was able to get a WWE title shot against Chris Jericho. What's not worth mentioning are his Hardcore title reigns. Those only lasted minutes. I don't think he even got to touch the physical belt.

Anyway, his WWF wrestling career in two years and three months amounted to this:

2000:

First man to defeat the undefeated Kurt Angle
ECW Champion (second reign)
WWF Hardcore Champion (3)
Feud with Jerry Lawler
Tag Team with Raven
Co-Host for Sunday Night Heat

2001:

WrestleMania victory with APA
Jobber
Temporary Color Commentator for Smackdown!
Tough Enough 1 Trainer
Alliance Member

2002:

WWF Tag Team Champion w/ Spike Dudley
Color Commentator for Smackdown!

1. I don't understand when you say ECW fans wud b happy about the Angle/Tazz fued. Why would ECW fans want Taz to leave ECW and wrestle in one of the bigger promotions? Die hard ECW fans wud not b happy about it at all. Also, a decent fued lasts at least 2 months. I only recall Angle coming out and saying the Tazzmission was an illegal choke and claiming he never really lost due to cheating and moved on. By No Way Out of that year, (a month later) Angle was beating Y2J for the IC belt and Tazz beat the Bossman by DQ in 0:47 seconds.
2. Loadsa ppl get title shots against the champ, but we all know they won't win so i dont agree that the tag title reign earned him a legit world title shot. It was just a filler b4 Jericho's REAL title defense.
3. His two highest profile matches were against Angle (his debut win) and HHH which he lost. In his WM match, he tagged in once and did barely anything and it was Bradshaw who actaully got the win.
4. His ECW title reign during his WWE career lasted a week and only happened to get the belt off of Mike Awesome.
5. Tag title reigns with random pairs are their purely something for those two guys to do. The only benefit of this reign for Tazz was that HE got the win in all of the major defenses.
6. At ONS 2006 that match was built up on nothing but talk and then lasted 30 seconds. If you believe their previous fued made this one look better, the way it played out totally ruined that. It was basically jus a launching platform for Styles and Tazz to become the ECW announcers.

 

[Trance Metaphor]

1. I don't understand when you say ECW fans wud b happy about the Angle/Tazz fued. Why would ECW fans want Taz to leave ECW and wrestle in one of the bigger promotions? Die hard ECW fans wud not b happy about it at all. Also, a decent fued lasts at least 2 months. I only recall Angle coming out and saying the Tazzmission was an illegal choke and claiming he never really lost due to cheating and moved on. By No Way Out of that year, (a month later) Angle was beating Y2J for the IC belt and Tazz beat the Bossman by DQ in 0:47 seconds.

I'm a die-hard ECW fan and even more of a Taz fan and I was pretty excited to see him making a tremendous debut in the WWF against Kurt Angle. I had no problem with it at all. Taz had nothing more to prove in ECW. He accomplished everything there and had a 9-month reign as ECW Champion. It was time for him to move on. It doesn't matter how long a feud lasts. In those two months, Taz had more matches with Kurt Angle than with any other superstar and if we include their house show matches, that's quite a lot. Not to mention, in 2001, a little rub between them was resurrected when Kurt Angle and Taz locked up again with Taz cutting a promo reminding him of 2000. There were further references in their future skirmishes such as the ONS 2005 lead-up. If you've missed their consecutive matches back in 2000, then I don't blame you. As for Kurt Angle getting a push that eventually propelled him to the WWF title late 2000 and Taz getting demoted? The WWF creative didn't know what to do with Taz. That's how I see it. Now, had they been smart and given Taz more opportunities for the IC title, it would've been fine in my eyes.

2. Loadsa ppl get title shots against the champ, but we all know they won't win so i dont agree that the tag title reign earned him a legit world title shot. It was just a filler b4 Jericho's REAL title defense.

It was legit, because without his Tag title, he would've still been jobbing with no chance whatsoever at getting anything more than an occasional European title shot. Him winning the Tag title made him look much more legit. Also, he successfully defended the Tag title twice on two PPVs. When was the last time Taz was able to get on PPV as Champion? ECW Anarchy Rulz '99.

4. His ECW title reign during his WWE career lasted a week and only happened to get the belt off of Mike Awesome.

Yet it made history since it was the only time a WWF contracted wrestler took on a WCW contracted wrestler for the ECW Championship. More power to us Taz fans.

5. Tag title reigns with random pairs are their purely something for those two guys to do. The only benefit of this reign for Tazz was that HE got the win in all of the major defenses.

And that is exactly why it was important for us Taz fans.

6. At ONS 2006 that match was built up on nothing but talk and then lasted 30 seconds. If you believe their previous fued made this one look better, the way it played out totally ruined that. It was basically jus a launching platform for Styles and Tazz to become the ECW announcers.

Well, seeing how Taz officially retired from being an in-ring competitor back in 2002 with his last match being against Godfather on Jakked, there of course would be nothing more than a small treat for Taz fans. That's exactly what this was. What did you expect? In the end of the day, Taz still choked out Lawler and that's all that matters in Taz's current physical state.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Taz's WWF wrestling career was spectacular by any means. To this day, I'm not happy about the way his career went, but if we're respectively looking at just Taz's WWF career, then what he did there regardless of how minimal the accomplishment was, is still important to a Taz fan such as myself. Let's agree to disagree.

 

[Fizzy]

yes i believe it was a hugh mistake. he was a machiene and could have had some amazing matches with the top guys in the buisness. his suplexs were done to near perfection and his finisher was leathel i believe it was a hugh mistake to not push tazz

 

[Dead Kennedy]

I was never really that into Taz when he was a competitor, almost the same as now as a color commentator. I liked him in ECW, but in WWF, he lost the momentum after his first push, and never regained it. He had the potential to be as good as Kurt Angle, but WWF never gave him the push.

 

[Showtime]

I think yes. He could've easily been a lot bigger than he was. A definite middle-upper carder. Part of the trouble I think is that they used him more as a face. He should've been a full blown heel from the get go, they could've pushed him similar to how Umaga was pushed from the get go, and unstoppable toughguy. Pair him up with Benoit who was also new to the WWE at the time and they could've made a sick team, team SUPLEX THE HELL OUT OF YOU! But judging by how long he wrestled in the WWE, I don't now how much Taz had left in the tank when he came over and was probably looking for an easier schedule, definitly got easier matches to work with in WWE instead of the awesome career killer matches he had in ECW.