These are people who if I were to make a list of guys who got me hooked or kept me tuned in to wrestling more so than others, it’d be these guys.
Bret “Hitman” Hart – One of my absolute all time favorites. Bret was just becoming a big singles star when I started watching wrestling in the early 90s. I just always loved the way his matches unfolded, and I really, really liked his entrance music, both versions. Bret was the consummate “good guy” in the WWF for many years, and as a kid, that was what appealed to me. Of course for some reason I thought he had cool sunglasses too, and whenever I went to a WWF event during the years the Hitman was there, I’d rush to the rail in the hopes of getting those very sunglasses. Never happened, but, oh well. When Vince screwed Bret in Montreal in 1997, I was devastated. I really considered not watching the WWF anymore for a few weeks. I didn’t know what to do. But, that passed, as another of my favorites had just entered the company and struck an instant nerve with me as someone who was “cool”, and that helped me to stay tuned until I realized that Bret was a whining, bitter, shell of a man, and the WWF was perhaps better without him. But don’t get me wrong; the Hitman is one of my all time favorites.
Kane – He’s the guy I’m talking about as far as entering the WWF when Bret was leaving, and really making an instant impression with me as someone I really liked. His first appearance had great buildup, a compelling storyline, and it wasn’t rushed like so many storylines seem to be. Then, when he finally did appear on October 5, 1997, at Badd Blood in St. Louis, with the fire, and the spooky music, and of course the cool costume, I was hooked. I was already an Undertaker mark, and I love Halloween, so why wouldn’t I mark out for Undertaker’s brother, who basically wrestled in a Halloween costume? It just added to my admiration of Kane when I was at a live edition of RAW a few weeks after his debut, and as Dude Love was dancing in the ring, the lights went out. We didn’t know Kane was coming out, so when the music and that big blast of pyro hit, it was a total surprise, and it still stands out to me as one of the coolest moments ever, since I was there in person. Of course as I’ve grown older and learned to appreciate different things, I appreciate Kane’s work rate and what not as well, but hey…he’s cool, okay?!
Tatanka – Right….stop laughing. I was like 10 years old…maybe 11, but still! He was undefeated, had a cool red streak in his hair, and come on, I’m from Oklahoma and there’s a Native American wrestler…it’s a no-brainer! Yeah…well, I realize now what a gay gimmick that was, but it was cool at the time.
The Undertaker – I’ll admit, when I first started watching, he scared the SHIT out of me! But, after my dad explained it to me (which, by the way, is what a GOOD parent does. Watch the show with your child, explain things to them if needed, and teach them right from wrong. Don’t use the TV for a babysitter, and don’t blame TV when your child misbehaves…do YOUR job as a parent, and it’s not much of an issue. Anyway...) I decided the Undertaker was pretty cool. Especially once he started having the really cool entrances with the purple lighting. It was one of the best gimmicks ever, and the ‘Taker really made it convincing. It was good stuff, ‘nuff said.
Yokozuna – I just always really thought he was funny for some reason. My friends and I used to think it was just hilarious that his finishing move was a big ass to the chest/face. And when he yelled “Banzai!” we were laughing to tears. Don’t ask…
Mick Foley – From the first time I saw him in WCW as Cactus Jack, all the way until now, he’s just the man. He was sort of creepy in WCW, but not enough to actually be scary, so I was digging it. Then when he appeared in the WWF as Mankind, even when he was the sick, demented Mankind, I found him hilarious. When he used to have that pet rat and called people “mommy”, I just laughed my ass off. I’m not really sure why. It just struck me as funny. Of course all the crazy shit he did in the later WWF years impressed me as well, and learning about all of the stuff from Japan and whatnot just added to my respect for the man, but I liked him before all of that.
Triple H – More of a recent favorite, over the last two or three years, but definitely my favorite wrestler currently. His matches are great, his promos are great, and he is great. I CANNOT wait for him to return. I’m really, really hoping it will be at the RAW I’ll be at on November 26th, but we’ll see. I’d die a happy man right there if Triple H returns that night.
Jerry “The King” Lawler – The man is so goddamn funny. Best heel announcer ever. I want him back in the WWF SOOOO bad. Screw Paul Heyman.
These are people who I like right now, but I might not necessarily tomorrow. Then again, many of them are probably well on their way to being solid all time favorites of mine.
Stone Cold Steve Austin – Austin has had his moments with me. I loved him as a heel in 1996 and I loved him all the way until the end of 1997, but when he became “Mr. WWF” and was just a merchandising machine and stuff, I got a bit tired of him. But, since his heel turn at Wrestlemania, not only has he been hilarious, but I think he’s been better in the ring as well.
The Rock – Another guy who comes and goes with me. Right now I enjoy his stuff because of the feud with Jericho, which is red hot. Some of his promos are hilarious, but sometimes he gets a bit repetitive as well. So it just depends with the Rock.
Kurt Angle – He’s a guy who will probably eventually become one of my all-time favorites, but right now he’s not there yet. He’s hilarious as a heel, and a very intense, believable face. He’s a great wrestler, and he’s willing to do about anything to make a match look good.
Stacy Keibler – I’d like to say I’m not shallow, and I like her for her personality, but that’d be a damn lie. She’s hot.
Booker T – I liked him in WCW, but he’s frickin’ hilarious in the WWF.
Chris Jericho – I loved him in WCW and early in his WWF career, but then he got STALE for a long time. Now he’s in a very hot feud with the Rock, and he’s very entertaining once again.
Rhyno – Man, Rhyno is going to be a huge superstar some day, I can just see it for some reason. I really like his look and the in-ring style, it’s a shame he’s having to have neck surgery.
WCW and ECW guys who I liked when they were actually separate companies, and who I cheer for or would cheer for now, but they really aren’t actual “favorites” of mine to the extent of the others.
Tazz – I wish he would get a push. I wish he would get a push. Give Tazz a push. Give Tazz a push.
The Dudley Boyz – Nobody can rip a crowd a new ass hole like the Dudleys can. But, the WWF is a different dance, and they can’t say the things there they did in ECW.
Rob Van Dam – He was the man, but he’s getting pushed way too hard in the WWF way too fast. If he wins the World title anytime soon, I will be very upset. Get him to stop busting people open first.
Lance Storm – Too bad he’s stuck as “just an Alliance guy” in the WWF.
Ric Flair – WOOOO! He should be the Alliance commissioner and/or owner, screw the McMahons.
Diesel – Kevin Nash, whatever. I marked out for him hardcore in his WWF days and the early nWo days.
Razor Ramon – Scott Hall, whatever. Same as Nash, I loved him in the WWF and early nWo.
Sting – When I first started watching, and WCW and WWF came on different nights and I was able to watch both, Sting was probably my favorite WCW wrestler.
Vader – The best big heel monster type character ever. I wish the WWF would have given him a better run.
Sunny – Was my favorite women of the wrestling world for a long time, but then she left herself go and had all of the drug/alcohol problems, which is just a shame. She’s kind of disgusting now. If you don’t believe me, go look at that wrestlingvixxxens site.
People who I love or loved to hate, either for real reasons or just for a horrible gimmick, these are the guys who I would throw things at if I were going to throw things at a live event.
Big Show – Fat, slow, stupid, lazy, unmotivated. And he’s a former WWF and WCW world Champion. Somebody explain that one to me please.
Sid – Just when I’d start to get into an angle involving Sid, he’d disappear.
Ludvig Borga – Does anybody else remember that guy? He was this supposed Russian kick boxer or something. He had a horrible gimmick and he ended Tatanka’s undefeated streak. I was pissed.
Ken Shamrock – I really didn’t like him. His matches were okay, but man, he annoyed the hell out of me with his horrible mic skills and really retarded “snapping” routine.
Sable – Good lord. She was supposed to be this Ms. Role Model for young women, and this hot sex symbol for men. I didn’t buy either. I never found her particularly attractive, and she has proven she’s not a real good person, so that’s that.
Goldberg – Man, I’m from his hometown, and I don’t even like him. Not a bit. Tell me he has ever had a good match; I dare you to. He sucks, and he thinks he’s really great too, which is one of the things that piss me off the most about him.
Anything involving the Oddities – Yeah…that was the gayest thing ever.
Chyna – She just really didn’t appeal to me at all. I can’t really explain it, she just rubbed me the wrong way.
T.L. Hopper – That plumber character back in 1996 I think. That was so stupid.
Doink – That was even stupider…because he got a push.
Alright, I think that’s about it for my little digression from the current world of wrestling. I’ll be back next time with something else…I don’t know what…but you’ll read it…and LIKE IT!
Until next time…
