Pro Wrestling Source

Chris Candido

2005-05-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

It seems we have lost another. Another who never really got a chance to shine to his fullest potential. Chris Candido passed away last Thursday at the age of 33 years old.

April 28th 2005

Chris Candido passes away due to complications of surgery.

There is so much more to it than that though. To truly understand the whole story we need to go back to last Sunday. NWA TNA’s Lock Down PPV.

Chris Candido broke his ankle in his match at Lock Down. This seemingly unfortunate event would end up causing his death.

Now from here on out the details are a little shaky. We don’t know exact dates, at least I don’t, but I’ll try to present this the best way possible.

At some point Monday Chris Candido went under the knife and had 9 titanium screws inserted into his ankle. It is not certain whether or not this surgery was required for his personal health or for him to be able to wrestle. I believe that the surgery was performed so that Chris could get back into the ring quicker than he would if he just got a cast put on. I’m not a medical expert so I really don’t want to make assumptions in a matter such as this.

The next part of the puzzle is perhaps more controversial than McMahon forcing Owen Hart to make that descent into the ring.

Chris Candido got on a plane some time after his surgery. Several medical experts have said that patients are never to get onto planes for a very large amount of time after surgery. Apparently it is known that flying in air planes too soon after surgery causes blood clots. Chris Candido’s cause of death is none other than a blood clot. But that doesn’t sound all that controversial does it, well wait, there’s more.

There are two groups of people that should have told Chris not to get on that plane. Perhaps even three. First off, the doctors in Orlando Florida should have told Chris not to get on that plane. I would even go as far to believe that if a doctor intervenes, the air line will not permit someone to board a plane.

The second group of people that should have instructed Chris not to get on that plane is the NWA. The NWA has a direct responsibility to protect their talent. Now I know they cant control each and every single part of their talents lives but I cannot believe that the managers or the promoters or whoever would not have tried to keep Chris off that plane. The NWA has not made any kind of statement to try and cover themselves in that respect.

The third group of people is the air lines. I don’t know if air lines are given information on peoples health prior to flight, but I do know they have a lot of information running through there, I guess they don’t care about peoples health.

Somewhere, someone neglected Candido. I don’t know if it was the NWA or the doctors, but someone out there is at least partially responsible for the death of Chris Candido. I don’t want to point fingers or name names. But I do want to state the facts however. Chris Candido is dead, someone or a group of people neglected to instruct him not to get on the plane.

It has been reported that the police in New Jersey (where Candido lived) are investigating his death. Perhaps they will be able to pin point the people who caused Candido’s death.

Chris, I never got to be a fan of yours, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were a wrestler and more importantly that you were a human being. I’m sorry I never got to become a part of your fan base and I’m sorry that something like this happened to you. You paid the ultimate price just like Owen did, and just like so many else did. You are in my prayers. You are in my heart.
Nothing I can say can bring Chris back. I just hope that my words and the words of others can help Chris live on in our minds and hearts.

Chris Candido
1972-2005
Lost, But not Forgotten
R.I.P Brother

He, like so many others, made wrestling what it is, so that I, along with so many others, can make it what it will be.

Is one more match really worth it?

2005-04-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, he’s back. For one more match. But honestly though, how long is Hulk Hogan going to try and hold onto that dream?

Now wait, stop. You need to know that I love Hogan just as much as the next guy. What he has done for this industry outweigh what anyone else has done, except for maybe Vincent Kennedy McMahon. He has been in wrestling longer than I have been alive, and he never fails to come back time after time. If you don’t believe me, try this on for size,

1. Hogan left the WWE some time after WrestleMania IXX after beating McMahon in a bloody and violent street fight
2. Hogan came back only to be “fired” by McMahon
3. He comes back and re invents himself as Mr. America and starts an angle with Zack Gowen
4. McMahon is finally able to prove that Mr. America is in fact Hogan and “fires” him once more
5. Hogan receives a bid into the Wrestling Hall of Fame, and on April 2nd 2003 tells the world that one more match would not be out of the question. He tells them that he will however only enjoy watching WrestleMania XXI
6. During a segment with Muhammed Hussan, Davari, and Eugene, Hogan comes out to thundering applause and clears the ring of his middle eastern foes
7. Last week HBK asks Hogan to come back for one more match
8. Hogan accepts last night by again clearing the ring of the middle eastern rivals

With all this said, how long will Hogan milk his wrestling career? He was great in his time. He was a great wrestler, a great business man, and was a great man outside of the business as well. Now a days, his prime wrestling physique escapes him. Last night, there was a fat “pooch” where once there was an eight pack. Last night he couldn’t even do a leg drop. All he could do was throw a few punches and throw two heads together. After all that, he threw a few poses. Which don’t get me wrong, was amazing. But that isn’t enough to have a formidable wrestling career. The only reason anyone likes the fact that he is coming back is simply because he is Hulk Hogan. If he was anyone else who had since then washed up and left the business he would most likely stink up the joint. Not Hogan however, he is the immortal.

Hogan can still bring fans to their feet, and he still puts a [butt] every six inches, but he just isn’t in wrestling condition anymore. He wears a knee brace every time he puts on those famous red and yellows. He has a replaced knee, and a replaced hip. He isn’t exactly as thin as he used to be either. After the Mr. America angle, he seemingly just let himself go. Maybe he’s still pumping iron or running every now and then, but he isn’t anywhere near his physique from lets say, 10 years ago. Maybe that comes with the times. Ric Flair isn’t in as good a shape as he was 10 years either, but I don’t think Flair should still be in the ring either. The only difference between Flair and Hogan in this case, is that Flair never left wrestling for a elongated period of time. And I’m sure has had his share of injuries over time as well.

Hogan doesn’t exactly have to be out of the business if he still wants to be in it though. Hogan could come back into this as perhaps a GM or manage somebody or something that isn’t very physical. What Jimmy Hart did for Hogan was magical, maybe he could pick up a megaphone and try and do the same thing. It might not work, but he has to start somewhere. Ring action just isn’t for him. I cant believe that his match at Backlash will include all that much action from his part. Maybe a leg drop or two, a few punches, a whole hell of a lot of poses, a couple “you” points, then a pin, if he even does that much. He sells tickets, that’s why he is still doing this. But I’m sure that’s why everyone big in the business still works, because they sell tickets. I would still be excited to go to Backlash and see Hogan wrestle, I don’t know anyone that wouldn’t, but his matches against Andre and The Sheik from so many years ago are going to better in comparison to this match in two weeks. If the WWE wants to use him, I’ll give them my vote, but I’d rather see him get a GM position or something like that, rather than appear every once and a while just to give “one more match” over and over again.

He’s kind of like the Cher of professional wrestling. I don’t know how many “Farewell Tours” Cher has done over the past years, I’ve simply lost count. The same goes for Hogan, how many times have the fans expected this match, or this match, or this match, to be Hogan’s last? He just keeps going and going and going. It’s not getting boring, or is it. I’m really not buying into this angle because in a few months he’ll be gone again. He’ll show up after Backlash, considering he wins, and then get beat up. He’ll have another match against that guy and then leave. They aren’t going to have him just come for the PPV event and then never be heard of again. That’s just crappy writing.

I have never seen Hulk Hogan wrestle in my entire life. I met him in person, but that does not compare to seeing him throw down in the ring. But now that he is in the condition he is in, it just isn’t the same. He can still steal the show, but that match quality is obviously down. He cant go as long as he used to be able to, he cant pull the same moves as he used to either. He is damaged goods. He is damaged goods that just cant stay on the sidelines. As much as I admire that, he might get hurt. Hurt so bad that he cant walk anymore. I would rather see Hogan chose live at home for the rest of life rather than get hurt and have to live at home. Even if he did get a couple titles on the way.

Its really unfortunate at this point. Hogan thinks, in my opinion, that he has something to prove to somebody. Not to me, he has proved everything he needs to prove by wrestling for as long as he has, and making the sport what it is today. If it weren’t for Hulk Hogan the WWE might not be in business today. Hogan held the business on his shoulders for a very long time. I think that now it is time for him to pass it off to somebody else.

History repeats iteself with HHH

2005-04-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

Whoever said that history repeats itself wasn’t kidding, that is very evident in the world today. It is evident in today’s fashions, today’s cars, and today’s Sports Entertainment. Oh it’s true, it’s true.

In the 80’s, Hulk Hogan was by far the biggest name in the world of professional wrestling. He was the main reason that so many arenas sold out all across the nation and across the country. He was in movies, television, and a house hold name. He obtained a level achieved by nobody yet at that time. He was McMahon’s right hand man.

Today, that has happened again. But this time, it isn’t the Hulkster who is holding all the titles, and it isn’t Hogan that sits on the right hand of McMahon either. Today, that chosen person, that person who obtains all the gold and sells out all the arenas is HHH.

Now wait, when I went to Armageddon in 2003, I wasn’t part of a sell out crowd that wanted to see HHH. I was however part of a sell out crowd that wanted to see him lose. When all those thousands of people sold out WrestleMania 21, they were in fact spending their money to see him. To see him lose.

Hogan was maybe the biggest face wrestler in the history of wrestling. I don’t think anyone has had a bigger, longer, or more successful face run than Hulk Hogan. People wanted to see him win, and that is exactly what they got. They got it at WrestleMania I, WrestleMania II, and WrestleMania III. People sold out arenas to see him knock down monsters such as Andre, Sheik, and so many other greats in the sport. In that time he was the greatest.

Boys wanted to dress like him, men wanted to be built like him, women just wanted to be with him. He influenced hundreds of thousands of little children to drink their milk, eat their vitamins, and say their prayers. He was able to start a cult like following that has yet to be emulated.

Now fast forward to 2005. HHH is quite possibly the most hated man in professional wrestling today. He has however, done many of the same things Hulk Hogan did as well.

To date HHH has appeared on the Bernie Mac Show, Mad TV, Live with Regis and Kelley, and many other shows. He was also a main character in the Blockbuster release “Blade Trinity.” There is no doubt in my mind that he will continue to make movies and make appearances in television shows.

Just like Hogan, HHH makes up most of the years title reigns. The only thing different now, is that most title reigns last two to three months. Back then Hogan was the champion for quite some time before moving on, and then winning it some time later. But that just comes with the changing of time. Or does it?

McMahon obviously wants HHH to be hated. At both WrestleMania XX and XXI, fans packed their respective arenas to see HHH lose. HHH drops the title so often to keep the fans coming back to the PPV’s so that they can cheer on whomever is opposing HHH. I know that’s what I do. I don’t think HHH will ever be a face again simply due to the fact that he is so successful for the business as a heel. Why fix it if it isn’t broken? Why try to change something that is making so much money? Making HHH into a face would be kinda like Ford re-releasing the Mustang in a few years as a four door family sedan. It just wont happen. Turning HHH into a face would be kinda like McDonalds selling veggie burgers in the place of the fattening little patties they call beef. It just wont happen.

But HHH isn’t just the heel everyone sees on television. Hogan comments on HHH’s knowing when to lose and when to win for the company. Apparently he knows business very well and knows when it will be best to draw on his hatred to win and lose matches. If HHH won every single time at the PPV’s, I probably wouldn’t order the PPV’s as often as I do. I order them because HHH makes his opponents look like possible winners on Raw. HHH often will do a job on his opponent in like a six man tag, or a attack segment on the Raw’s leading up to a PPV. That is just how they make his opponent seem like he is going to beat HHH.

With all that said, I think it is quite clear that HHH is today’s Hulk Hogan. Not for his character or his gimmick, but because of his status in the business. To say that he is simply friends with McMahon is an understatement. McMahon is HHH’s father in law, and that’s got to be good for something. It obviously is.

If HHH is the new Hulk Hogan, who in today’s roster of superstars could be the next HHH? Perhaps we will find out in time to come.

Give the local scene a try!

2005-04-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

I’m not going to deny it, the WWE is the biggest name in professional wrestling, and its stars are some of the greatest in the business as well. But there is so much great talent that most of the world dismisses.

At the mention of independent wrestling, most people laugh and turn their noses. Not me however. I have been to a few events put on by both Full Impact Pro and NWA Florida. Both of these promotions put on shows in Florida, and they both offer first class entertainment. The wrestlers however, wrestle more places than just Florida.

The current NWA Florida X Division Champion is NWA TNA’s Mikey Batts. He has had a couple successful defenses, and those matches were all very good.

In FIP a big list of big names have come through, and have had exceptional matches as well.

Remember that Monster Garage show where they built the U Haul/Wrestling Ring truck? Well in that episode a wrestler names CM Punk was involved in a wrestling segment. Punk is also mentioned on the PS2 Raw vs. SmackDown forums. He has been involved in just about each and every FIP event.

FIP has also had appearances by such superstars as Spanky and Jamie Knoble, both of which are former WWE superstars.

Many of you may be saying that the independent scene works like that, and that having CM Punk in Tampa really isn’t that huge. You may also be saying that Spanky and Knoble aren’t all that big either. Well last Saturday at a NWA Florida event, a very famous and talented wrestler wrestled. That wrestler was none other than WWE Raw announcer Jerry “The King” Lawler! He lost his match, but was in a match none the less.

My point is this: If you haven’t given the Independent Scene a chance yet, you don’t know what you are missing. Most independent shows cost only $15, and are just as good as a WWE event. The stars might be up to par with the WWE talent, but once the show starts, the last thing you are thinking about is the WWE. They’re great shows with great talent. They are cheap but full of excitement. So why not go online and try and find some local companies and give one of their shows a try. A guarantee you, you will want to go to another!

Whats the deal?

2005-04-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

Today it was announced that 3 more WWE superstars had been released. All this has got me asking, ‘What’s the deal?’

Jesus, who worked with Carlito Caribbean Cool for a short amount of time, injured himself some time ago. He injured his neck and needed surgery and would need to be out of action for some time. It’s been several months since he has been on television and I guess the WWE couldn’t afford to have him not be on television and pay him at the same time.

There’s the money issue. World Wrestling Entertainment is a multi billion dollar company, at least that’s what we are told. Now I don’t know the current money standings of the WWE, but why are they releasing so many superstars? Six in under one week!

Now I know Jesus is injured, and that he was out for some time. Well guess what, so is Randy Orton. Orton will be out for six months. Will the WWE release Randy Orton too? Will they release RVD as well? You can say that RVD and Orton were more vital to the company, but the WWE can release anyone whom they see fit at any time for any reason. As soon as Orton is released it will guarantee the fact in my mind that the WWE is running out of money. It’s hard for me to even conjure how they could have lost that much money so that they have to release so many people so quickly, but that would do it for me.

The next person to be released was a wrestler working in the WWE’s development promotion, OVW. There was no report of the reason however. It was reported however, that he is an army veteran that received a Purple Heart for his duties. That would really be a great angle to work right now, what with Muhammad running wild on Raw and all. Also, why the hell would they all of a sudden go, ‘Well we need to release one more guy, why not that guy who got shot in the line of duty.’ ‘Yeah Bill, that will make a lot of sense.’

I don’t know why the let him go. Maybe some sort of argument, contact violation, injury, I don’t know. But something happened, I don’t know why they would have come to just releasing him, but they did.

Now those two people may have had liable reasons for being let go, but not the third person.

The third person was Molly Holly. But she wasn’t exactly released like the rest of them. Powerwrestling.com reported that she asked to be released, and that she had been urging the WWE to let her go.

Whoa.

That is really weird. She actually asked the WWE to release her. Now if that doesn’t scream money issues, I don’t know what will. But that brings up another point.

I’m sure there are a bunch of other fans of wrestling that are pointing their fingers at money troubles, but could there be another reason? Maybe Molly was just done with wrestling. Perhaps she wasn’t getting the angles she wanted. Or maybe there was something else. I cant think of any one reason other than money that could lead to the release of six WWE superstars in under one week. If you have any idea leave it in the comment area. But honestly though, what the hell is going on here?

I guess you could say the WWE had ample reason to release Rhyno and Jesus, but what about the guy in OVW. Paul Bearer was in a dead end angle; so far he couldn’t be saved. I understand that. I understand company politics and stuff like that, but what could possibly bring Molly Holly to ask for her release. Something is obviously happening in the WWE that we aren’t being told. I hope in the weeks to come they tell us the deal. Whether it be money, company politics, or anything else, the people that spend their money and watch their programming deserve to know what is going on here.

A Trifecta of "Releases"

2005-04-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a weekend in the world of Sports Entertainment. This past week three of the WWE’s superstars were “released” in a very short period of time.

Rhyno was the first to go. It came after he apparently got into an argument with his wife after the post WrestleMania party last Sunday night. He reportedly broke a ceramic pot in the lobby of the hotel and the WWE was charged with the fee.

Okay, come on. A ceramic pot. Maybe $100 at the most. I don’t know what kind of hotel they were at, probably a nice one, but a ceramic pot just cannot cost that much. And it certainly should not be enough to cause the WWE to lay off such a great wrestler as Rhyno. But perhaps it was an excuse.

Rhyno, to say the least, has not been used much in the past. He came to Raw last year after the draft, and soon became involved with Tajiri in tag action. The team was at one point #1 Contenders for the World Tag Team Championship. But after that, nothing. Not a thing.

He was involved in a 30 man Battle Royal at WrestleMania that wasn’t even televised at the event. It will be on the DVD apparently. Now maybe he was in the Royal Rumble at the Royal Rumble, but that isn’t saying much. On some occasions he would be involved in a Heat match, but we all know that Heat isn’t exactly the best place to be. Ecspecially if you are someone like Rhyno. If you are an already accomplished wrestler and you are on Heat, you are either just trying out a new jobber, or you are on your way out. In Rhyno’s case, he was on the way out.

Rhyno left ECW both the Heavyweight Champion and the Television Champion, and he was expected by the wrestling world to be involved in the ECW reunion PPV later on in the year. He was also expected to be involved in the main event due to his title status at the end of the company. He wont make it there however.

Rhyno was a great wrestler who just seemed to be forgotten by the people in Creative. It really is a shame. Rhyno may not have been the nest actor, but he could wrestle with the best of them. It is because of this fact, the non acting problem, that I think he was let go. In ECW you could just go out talk a few lines, but then do your talking in the ring with a steel chair, in the WWE that is not the case. It is because of this that I think that Japan might honestly be the best place for him. In Japan, wrestling is a sport, not a soap opera. Or maybe he might go to TNA, they really need some help right now, they aren’t suspected to make it through the end of the year.
I’ll miss him a lot, he was really a great wrestler.

The next to go was Paul Bearer, the ever popular “father” of the Undertaker. At The Great American Bash, he was “buried” in a fiberglass case. That was the “death” of Paul Heyman. Now the WWE has reported that they could not find a way to get him back into the story line properly.

Now in the first place, that whole angle was pretty crappy in my mind. Bearer (Percy Pringle) has said that he was taken out of the story so that he could get some surgery done. As true as they may have been, burying someone in cement is pretty much a dead end angle. Perhaps they could have done an angle where Bearer brings out a third son to take on the Dead Man and really put some fans every six inches. However, they went with that angle and put some much needed heat on the Dudleys. Speaking of the Dudleys, where are they now? Will they be next? But right now we’re on Bearer.

I sent an E Mail to Mr. Pringle and praised him for everything he has done for this company. He responded with a nice E Mail himself. I wont go into detail of the E Mail, nothing private or anything bad, just privacy. He seems to be okay with the circumstances. Perhaps he was done with wrestling in the first place? Maybe, maybe not. But the fact of the matter is, he’s gone. I hope that he can make it back into the wrestling industry somehow.

The MFer himself was next. Matt Hardy was released today as well. Now there is a lot to talk about with this particular “release.” Hardy was going out with Lita for some time, and she even talked about their relationship in the “Unscripted” coffee table book released by the WWE some time ago. It was reported that Edge (Adam Copeland) had been discovered as being part of a love affair with Lita (Amy Dumas.)

Now some of you may be saying, well they can make their own decisions, Amy and Adam were simply just being humans. Well, as much as I would like to say that that is okay, I can’t. Not me. Adam Copeland is married. He lives in Tampa, Florida, and he does in fact have a wife. Perhaps not anymore though. I cant imagine that his wife is okay with this set of happenings. But now on to Hardy.

After this affair was discovered, Hardy was asked by the WWE not to come to Raw the following week. Since then, he wasn’t there. The WWE was scheduling a huge push for Edge, as he is now the #1 Contender for the World Championship. Perhaps that is why they didn’t release him as well.

I can only imagine that it was because of this affair that they let Hardy go. Maybe he was very angry, and the WWE thought he was a danger to their #1 Contender in the real world outside of professional wrestling. I don’t know though, I’m not on the inside of the wrestling ring of talk or whatever.

Hardy was amazing. I sent him an E Mail as well. He has yet to respond, but I referred to him as being the Ricky Steamboat of our time. He picked up the Ladder math where HBK left off at WM X. He lost the match that night, but that match stole the show that night at WM 2000 (WM 16).

The only time I ever saw Hardy in action was at Armageddon 2003. I booed him really bad, but I still respected him as a man and as a great wrestler. He was only playing his part.

I hope the Hardy can move over to TNA and perhaps reform the Hardy Boyz team. I’m not sure of the status of their relationship, but it would be great for them to get back together. They would really put TNA in a great position for ratings. I hope that he can make it to the NWA. I hope even more that he doesn’t end up in the local scene. Don’t get me wrong, local wrestling is great. But Matt Hardy is a seasoned veteran in my opinion. He is too good to be forgotten about and sent to the world of local wrestling.

I hope that all three of these men can find happiness in the rest of their lives. I hope that all three of them can perhaps make it back into the World of Professional Wrestling. I hope they aren’t all done.

*** Please note that most of the reasons that I thought these men were released were just that. Thoughts and Speculations. The three of them were in fact released, but I have absolutely no idea as to why. I think my thoughts are some what correct. But I know nothing for sure.

Hogan earns one more title! By: Alex Cobb

2005-03-08T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hulk Hogan is a name recognized all over the world. He has obtained stardom through his rolls in television, on the big screen, and his skill in the squared circle. He is able to spark a room from anywhere from two to two million people into an uproar. He is arguebly the most famous wrestler of all time. And now Hogan will receive one last title, one last honor. An induction into the WWE Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Hulk Hogan will join the Hall this year with other legends including: Bob Orton, Nikkoli Volkoff, The Iron Sheik, Jimmie Hart, Paul Orndorf, and Roddy Piper. Hulk Hogan will most likely get the biggest ovation when he walks up to that podium to make his speech. He may even get the biggest ovation to date. He is just that famous. I can only predict that Stone Cold Steve Austin will get a bigger response when he makes his way into the Hall of Fame. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Hulk Hogan made his WrestleMania debut at the first ever WrestleMania event in 1985. He wrestled in the main event tag match that included Bob Orton and Mr. T. WM 1 was strictly a one time thing in the eyes of McMahon on the night before the great event. However just hours later he knew this was going to be a yearly spectacle. Hulk Hogan wrestled in several WM main events after that. One of the most famous was when he took down Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III.

Hulk Hogan turned wrestling into what it is today, a national spectacle. Fans all across the world tuned in to WWF shows to see what Hogan was going to do next. He was the main event, the main attraction, the main superstar. His popularity turned wrestling into the massive spectacle that it is today, and many fans resent that. Some fans hate him, some even throw their middle fingers up when he appears on the Titantron prior to wrestling events across the country.

Hogan is quite possibly the most well known name in the world of sports entertainment. Some may not know who The Rock or Steve Austin is, but everywhere you go, someone will know Hulk Hogan. This is due to the history that Hogan has.

When I met Hulk Hogan in Tampa, Florida, I was in awe. When i shook his hand, I shook the same hand that grappled with people like Austin, Rock, Andre, Savage, and so many more great wrestling names. He has wrestled nearly everyone worth mentioning in this world today.

While Hogan may be done with wrestling, people all across the world will always remember what he did. He is a living legend, and now a Hall of Famer. I am honored to know that I got to meet this extraordinary man in my time on this earth. I used to be upset that I never got to see him wrestle, but after meeting him, I wanted it no other way. When you see him in person there is just somthing special about him. Somthing powerful, somthing amazeing. Somthing that just cannot be described with words.

Hulk Hogan will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 2nd, 2005 on the night before WrestleMania 21. The word on the street is that he might even appear at WM as well. We'll just have to wait and see. Mr. Hogan, I wish you luck in the rest of your life. I wish your daughter luck in persuing her musical career. Thankyou for everything you did, thankyou for the memories, the matches, everything. Thanks even for NWO, without NWO we wouldn't have had a reason to hate you and love you at the same time.

"Hulkamania will live on long after I'm gone"
-Hulk Hogan

Look Foward To: WrestleMania 21 Part 1 By: Alex Cobb

2005-03-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

It's finally that time of year again. March Madness will start soon in the NCAA, the Masters are coming up soon in the PGA, and above all else, WrestleMania is only a few short weeks away!

WrestleMania started in 1985, and now with it's 21st installment, the show is going strong as ever. If we look back at past WrestleMania's we'll see such matches such as Hogan vs. Andre at WM III, HBK vs. Razor Ramon in the first ever Ladder Match at WM X, and Rock vs. Stone Cold at WM IXX. But the past is just that, the past. The future is now the focus of wrestling fans the world over. And the future is WrestleMania 21 in L.A. Cali.

Already the wrestling world is buzzing with all the WM news. Batista vs. HHH, Cena vs. JBL, and HBK vs. Angle. It's amazing the huge line up that has already been set up. But many matches have yet to be made.

The word on the "streets" is that RKO Randy Orton, will take on The Undertaker in a Legend vs. Legend Killer match. RKO would look to end the Dead Man's unrivaled 12-0 record at WrestleMania. That would surely be a great match. Randy Ortn could possibly go on to be the next Hognan, or the next Nature Boy. Even though some may not like him, there is no denying his popularity or his in ring skill. The Dead Man is a legend in every sense of the word. 12-0 at WrestleMania! Nobody else can say that about themselves. Undefeated! Orton made his WM debut last year in a handicap match against The Rock and Mick Foley. I'm getting goose bumbs just thinking about how big of a match that would be!

Other matches that are likely to be made are matches for titles like the U.S. Championship, both of the Tag Team Championships, the Womens Championship, and the Cruiserweight Championship.

Right now Paul London seems to have his sights on Chavo Guerrero and his Cruiserweight Championship. Paul London is a remarkable athlete, but I dont think he is ready for the Cruiserweight Championship. I also don't think that Guerrero is anywhere near losing his belt. In fact I estimate that Shannon Moore will be the next Cruiserweight Championship.

Shelton Benjamin, Y2J, Christian, Kane, Edge, and Benoit will be in a Six Man Money in the Bank Ladder Match. The winner will get to name a Heavyweight Championship within the next 12 months. That math could take place as far out as WrestleMania 22 or as early as the following Raw. That match alone, will make WM 21 that much more amazing. Y2J has been involved in a few great ladder matches, so has Christian, and so has Edge. Of course we all know that Christian and Edge won their tag titles in a ladder match at WM 2000 (WM 16). But I'm sure Kane, Benoit, and Benjamin will be able to hold their own in the Ladder Match.

But what I'm looking most foward to is not a match at all. The thing I'm looking most foward to is the return of Pipers Pit, and the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin! With Pipers past with his outrageous interviews, he could make a legendary interview with anyone, but Stone Cold will make that much more exciting. When that Glass Breaks and Stone Cold comes out over 16,000 pairs of middle fingers will fly to the air to salute the Future Hall of Famer Stone Cold. I hope that Stone Cold will come back to Raw or SmackDown as well. I know he cant wrestle anymore, but he was great as a GM. Please, Stone Cold, please come back!

In the next instilation of Look Foward To: WrestleMania 21, I will discuss the major championship matches, and anything else that changes between here and next Monday afternoon. See you next week.