Friday, May 20, 2011

Randy Savage....

As I stated in my first blog, I have been a fan of wrestling since around 1986-1987. There have been many debates in wrestling history about top superstars. Today it's Orton-Cena. Before it was Rock-Austin. And before that it was Savage-Hogan. It was easy to be on Team Hogan. He was the larger then life superstar. He was power, but Savage was speed and finese. When my brother and I wrestled, I was the speed guy. I was the guy jumping off the top rope, or in my case the back of the couch. So I admired Randy Savage for all that he could do in the ring. He had some of the best matches in WWE history, including the one with Steamboat at Wrestlemania III. Was any of Hogan's matches on that level? Not really. Yeah, his matches with Andre were good, but it wasnt on the same level. Not even close.

Earlier today while driving, Randy Savage suffered a heart attack in Tampa. He crossed the median and smacked into a tree. He died. His wife of a year was in the car with him and survived with only minor injuries.

Another wrestler from my youth has died. I know it sounds cheesy, but I hope when he arrived in the wrestling ring in the sky.... the first person there to greet him was his ex wife Elizabeth. How these two are not in the wrestling hall of fame is still mind boggling. She was the first woman of professional wrestling for a reason. I know his relationship with Vince McMahon wasn't always the best, but there is no reason why he shouldnt be elected into the Hall of Fame. Especially now. I would have loved to seen his acceptace speech, but now if he ever gets in it will have to be post humously.

As a fan, everytime I heard "Pomp and Circumstance" I didnt think of graduations and gowns. No. I thought of Randy Macho Man Savage. I heard it just this past week and commented on it to another wrestling fan. Our girlfriends thought we were crazy. Just last night I was watching one of his matches from 1988.

He was 57 years old when he died. It's weird to think he had not been wrestling on a major promotion since his last appearance in TNA wrestling back in 2004. He will be missed.

I am glad to see that this story has been picked up by alot of news media, not just those that talk about wrestling. Several articles are on IMDB about it. I saw it even on ESPN and AOL News too. It was trending on Twitter earlier. I even just saw Weird Al Tweet about Randy Savage. So did Elizabeth Banks... her Co-star in Spiderman!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Bringing back my Youth in the Ring

So far in the Calender year we have seen shocking returns of Kevin Nash, Booker T, Trish Stratus and Non wrestling returns of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Plus once again the return of Undertaker and HHH from Injuries as well.

I met Kevin Nash in 1995 in Hartford Connecticut. I was 18 at the time. He towered over me, as one might expect. It was an amazing exiperience to be that close up to someone that you have watched on TV.

While I have never met Booker T, Stratus, The Rock, Austin or HHH I was about ten feet away from the Undertaker that day as well. And this is old School total Deadman Undertaker. I did meet Paul Bearer that day. Talked to me in his normal voice, not the Paul Bearer voice. It was rather disturbing.

So far this year is shaping up to be a pretty good year in Wrestling. I know a lot of people arent happy that Alberto Del Rio won the Royal Rumble. But I know they are looking to push new stars. And While he is a heel right now, Mysterio won't be around for ever. And they are going to need to keep the Hispanic children watching. I think in time Del Rio can be this generations Rey.

I really hope we dont see Michael Cole vs Jerry Lawler at Wrestlemania. That has the potential to knock Lesnar-Goldberg down as the worse Wrestlemania match ever!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Royal Rumble Prediction

With this being the BIGGEST ROYAL RUMBLE EVER, it's almost impossible to make an accurate prediction. But I am going to try as we head on the Road to Wrestlemania.

First off, I dont know if there are even 40 active wrestlers on the roster, so that should be interested. Of course that does mean someone like Beth Phoenix could enter the Royal Rumble again.

I expect a few other names to pop up that we havent seen in a while, wether it be from injury or for other reasons. So I wouldnt be surprised to see the return oI f Christian, the Great Khali or another name that definitely seems to be floating around being the return of the five time five time five time five time five time WCW champion Booker T! But I expected him back last year so we shall see.

I expect another big confrontation between The Corre and The Nexus. I expect atleast one former member of the Nexus (Tarver perhaps since he seems to be around in the background) to eliminate either a member of Nexus or The Corre.

But I am going on record to say the winner will be Kofi Kingston!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

In Defense of Jerry Lawler

The Sultan. The Blu Brothers. Tenryu and Kitano. Jerry Lawler. Akebono. Lawrence Taylor. Butterbean. Bull Buchanen. Floyd Mayweather. Skinner.

All these names have something in common, except for one. One doesn’t fit with the rest. And sadly, that name is Jerry “The King” Lawler.

But you may be asking exactly what do they all have in common, except for Jerry Lawler. And that is that they have all at matches at the Showcase of The Immortals, Wrestlemania. Three of those names were just special attraction matches to get WWE more wide spread attention (Akebano, Taylor, Mayweather). Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor and Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show got Wrestlemania on Sportscenter.

Recently Jerry Lawler was named as one of the WWE Top 50 Superstars of all time. As a matter of fact he comes in on the list at number twenty, even a head of Hulk Hogan. And yet in everything that Jerry Lawler has done through his career, he has never had a match at Wrestlemania. He was involved in one of the most mainstream wrestling angles ever (Andy Kaufman anyone?) and held more titles then anyone in the history of wrestling. In fact he has had 163 different title reigns. Everyone always talks about Ric Flair and his 19 World Title wins. Jerry Lawler has had more than 50 reigns as American Wrestling Association Southern Heavyweight Champion.

Jerry Lawler is in the Hall of Fame. Maybe I missed the Sultan’s induction? I think the only thing missing from Jerry Lawler’s career is a match on the grandest stage of them all. If you saw any of his matches against The Miz on Raw (November 29 in a TLC Match), (December 20th in a 6 Man tag match), or (December 27th) you know that while he isn’t quite the wrestler he once was, he can still wrestle at a great level.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not necessarily a huge fan of non full time wrestlers getting a spot at Wrestlemania, but I think there is a time and a place for everything. I’m not saying that Lawler has to face the Miz at Wrestlemania, but I think it would be the feather in his cap if he could wrestle someone with some merit at Wrestlemania. I don’t want to see a match just thrown together just so he can wrestle. I want the match to have reason. I think the world of wrestling owes Jerry Lawler that.