The True Lurid Story Of Free WWE UK Pay-Per-Views

Tazz Kurt Angle
WWE.com

But it never felt like that to the anxieties of a hormonal lad who still felt keenly the word "trouble" and could not, under any circumstances, place the concept of sex anywhere near their parents. Having your dad walk in on a mummy dry-humping Hulk Hogan was one thing. Having your dad walk in on Jacqueline mimicking bouncing on a c*ck was quite another.

But Channel 4 - a terrestrial channel equivalent to network TV in the United States - removed the risk by striking a deal with the WWF to broadcast pay-per-views free of charge in the United Kingdom. The first event offered was the Royal Rumble. This was amazing. Even if you had Sky, it was unlikely that you were able to watch the PPV live. Monday Night RAW ran on Fridays. The immediate live experience was elusive.

Until now.

The sense of danger was immediate and palpable. This was new on top of new - the next post-Steve Austin chapter of an Attitude Era that radiated innovative transgression every week. Even the set-up of Madison Square Garden, with its unusual, shortened entrance ramp, felt strange. The loud, boorish atmosphere received the mystery debut of Tazz in full, electrified voice. Tazz's UFC-inspired gimmick radiated also a sense of legitimacy, creating an almost shocking drama around his thrilling and unique suplex festival. The angles were drastic, Kurt Angle's bumping all-out. And when he got choked out to defeat, commentators Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were ordered to use the bone-chilling "Owen Hart" voice to sell his unconscious plight. The sting to Tazz's WWF theme, of course, was the sound of a heart monitor flatlining. "Wait a minute," said JR, falling to a hush at the sight of onrushing EMTs. "We have a problem here. Kurt Angle has yet to regain consciousness...and this is not good."

CONT'D...(2 of 6)

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!