Sunday, April 03, 2005

Jules, You Can Skip This one too...

Today is Wrestlemania Sunday. For wrestling fans today is the Superbowl, World Series and the Grammy's all rolled into one. The past years storylines all come to a head and next years storylines start. We'll finally get to see new Champions. New Faces and Stars will emerge. Wrestlemania is the show that presents wrestling in its best light.

Last night was the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This year a number of wrestling's biggest "Super Stars" of the 80's and 90's were inducted. "CowBoy" Bob Orton, "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorf, The Iron Sheik, Nikoli Volkoff, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and the Immortal Hulk Hogan were all bestowed one of wrestling’s highest honours. Spike TV showed "Hot Rod's" and The Hulkster's inductions. Roddy was present by "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and Hogan was inducted by Sylvester Stallone.

Piper's speech was just as everyone expected it to be. Funny, controversial and emotional all at the same time. Piper is a true classic. He said it best. "I was a scrawny kid that wore a kilt, played the bag pipes, and lived on an Indian reserve in the middle of Canada. What else could I be but a Wrestler?" You could truly feel that he was appreciative of the honour he received.

Then there was Hogan. Hulkster is probably the most loved star in this history of the Business. Anytime Hogan walks into an arena you can't hear yourself think because the crowd is so insane for him. One of his famous lines is "Hulkamania is running wild" and truer words have never been spoken. Hogan came out to a standing ovation, the biggest honour anyone in wrestling can receive. The crowd gave him several standing ovations for a little over 20 minutes. He couldn't speak because every time he went to the crowd would start up again. It was a truly cool moment and I believe he deserved every moment of it. Hogan set the stage and all wrestlers since have followed...and here's the but. Hulk has always thought of himself as greater then the business. While this is probably true, it's pretty arrogant to behave that way. When he finally got around to his speech, He didn't thank the fans. He thanked Sly Stallone for giving him the opportunity to star in Rocky 3. Then, as the crowd was chanting "one more match", he cut a promo saying never say never. Bogus. It really diminished Hogan in my eyes. There was so much he could have and should have said, and by not saying it, it just showed how he really feels.

Anyway, Mania is tonight. I can't wait for it. Even if you aren't a wrestling fan, Mania is something you need to see once in your life. This year's isn't as stellar as years past, but I have no doubts it won't fail to deliver.

'slater,

Luthor...werd

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yep, skippity skip