The Ultimate Warrior is Immortalized Forever

As many know for now, The Ultimate Warrior has past away yesterday and like the many wrestlers who passed on before him. He left a huge legacy behind. I'm not going to discuss his biggest achievement as beating Hulk Hogan in WrestleMania VI and it was, but I'm going to discuss what he said at the Hall of Fame three days before he passed on. It was where he want an award at the Hall of Fame dedicated to a person behind the scenes in WWE that has dedicated their life in making that production.

This is what makes the Ultimate Warrior who he was. On the biggest night of his life he thought about others and he thought about those that are not seen that make the show what it is. People spend a lot of time helping the wrestlers rather it is a mentor such as a former wrestler or a mentor in the person setting up the ring. For them their passion is to be a part of the show and it is their dream come true. They don't have to be seen, but their impact is seen all through their many matches. The Jimmy Merenda award. I might have his name pronounced wrong, but forgive me.

The Ultmate Warrior did a lot for wrestling. Mainly what he did to inspire the fans. I know a few people close to me were Ultimate Warrior fans. They believe in his message. They were routing for him to beat Hulk. And he deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.

I'll miss his youtube videos. He was always telling his fans to do something with their lives and not sit and do nothing. To act if you want to live your dreams. Many of the wrestlers today grew up to idolize The Ultimate Warrior and it's a shame he is gone. But he will live that legacy as a man and he left the power in the hands of the people as at the Final Raw of his life, he left the fans as the storytellers of it all.

Wrestling has changed and they have problems with booking with fans they can't please. This world has changed as The Ultimate Warrior departed. Maybe it wants to change and it needed to find it's soul again as The Ultimate Warrior reminded us one last time. He will be missed.

On the First Week of the WWE Network

It's amazing to see the WWE Network come about. It is not a typical Cable TV station, but they have made the transition to what will be the next major transition to Cable TV and on demand TV and that is a streaming TV or online network. They broke through on something that I'm sure every network is planning on doing. Sure there has been content online such as a streaming network such as Netflix or youtube, but having a network is something else and they have been working at this for awhile and with the content they have they could go on for days just with the stuff they had last year and the stuff they are currently working on. However, they have old footage from most of the territories they bought out.

Even though there are complaints with the footage it contains and I even have complaints and I will discuss it in this blog, but I will end on a positive note.

Some complaints I had were that I had some streaming issues. It paused or shut off when I was watching. Either it could be technical on their end or poor internet service on my end, but all I know it has improved since the beginning of the week.

Also, there wasn't a lot of old WCW, NWA, Mid South Wrestling, or AWA footage yet. I was especially a fan of WCW and NWA as I was WWE and they had contributed to wrestling just as much. I feel this material would add to the network instead of playing a lot of replays on material. I'm sure they are putting some stuff together because it's the first week and they want to give the WWE Universe a taste, but eventually they are going to have to add some shows.

Also, I didn't see a Primetime Wrestling, Old WWF Superstars or WWF Challenge recap or even a Saturday Night's Main Event or Clash of the Champions in their list of Pay Per Views. They were just important. And a Raw and Smackdown recap for the week.

However, I'm not going to just critique, it is the first week and they are doing the best they can. They have had old material in the work for awhile that they are finally releasing. They have the entire library of Pay Per Views of WWE, WCW, and ECW. They showed some shows from WCCW and ECW. They showed new shows such as Wrestlemania Rewind, Countdown, and shows featuring the NXT which could eventually become the next major promotion even bigger then TNA and this is a farm system of WWE.

All in all after the first week it hasn't been that bad and it is overwhelming to keep up with. I have to make sometime out of my schedule to watch some of it and I don't have that much time. Other Networks on TV have a lot of material, but don't have that much on there. And I'm sure if they did a network like this it would be overwhelming and I'm sure they are ready for it. And for what they have on it for $9.99 a month it's worth it. Better then what we would pay for some premium stations. And for the material it's a steal. Normally you would buy a pay per view for $50 and old pay per views for $5 or more so that alone it is worth it.

I'm happy that the WWE Network is finally here and I know many are complaining about it, but rest assure they know what they are doing and even if it is the beginning stage. It is impossible to cover everything all at once. I'm sure they are going to do their themes and focus on different stars and all that stuff. So give it some time it's only week one. I'm looking foward to see what they do when they are more established and what kind of programing they come up with and what they will evolve into.

Maybe it will be something for everyone, The old, the new, and something in between. Maybe everyone will enjoy the WWE Network eventually.

The Wrestler of the Week: Hulk Hogan Part 3

This will wrap up the series of the wrestler of the week on Hulk Hogan. When I last left off I discussed about his last run in WCW. After WCW closed, He came to the WWE as Hollywood Hulk Hogan to be apart of the nWo for the last time. And it was to set up his feud with The Rock for the stage of Wrestlemania. In a great match Hogan lost to The Rock, but he earned his crowd back. Then Hollywood became Hulk again. And he was cheered 20 minutes when he came out on Raw the day after. He later on and beat HHH for the championship and lost it to The Undertaker. He was putting over talent when he came back.

He left and then came back to feud with Vince McMahon where the fought at Wrestlemania. He then later became Mr. America in the feud with Vince before he left. He came back twice more once to team with Shawn Micheals and the fight him and beat him on Summer Slam and another time to feud with Randy Orton and feud with him at Summer Slam.

He then left and resurfaced in TNA where he fought Ric Flair and Sting before retiring from wrestling do to injuries, but he stayed in it as General Manager and he became Immortal. He later feuded with Bully Ray and then Dixie Carter before he left and now his next chapter is up in the air.


                          

WWE Sucks

I am writing this blog out of anger and me being pissed off at what the WWE is doing with it's programing. First I want to discuss what happened with the Royal Rumble that made me angry. And for one they keep the status quo without changing anything around. They push the same crappy guys that they have for 10 years. John Cena is stale and is at the point Hogan was at when he formed the nWo. How much more could he do as a good guy. He has no more left to prove. Randy Orton the champ is the worst champ since David Arquette in WCW. He doesn't belong in that spot and that main event was horrific to get through. If it wasn't for The Wyatts ending that match It could have continued the train reck that happened on air. Seeing those two wrestle reminded me of watching an Alberto Del Rio match as champion last year and that was bad. Also, Brock he now wants to be in the title picture, bring guys who have done it all for what. He's the beast, but how much further could you go with that gimmick.

Let me get to the Animal Batista now, the Damn Royal Rumble Victor. He comes back one time wins the rumble when you have guys in the locker room who are more deserving. What about Daniel Bryan who didn't even get entered in the Royal Rumble, who the WWE company is burying. Why would they bury what could be the next superstar icon in the WWE. And even if he didn't win there was Roman Reigns where it could have elevated him to the next level in what he needs in his career right now.

But no they gave it to the Animal Batista who came back one time in how many years. This is why I say WWE sucks and they have been putting on crappy pay per views for since Summer Slam. It's just not right what they are doing. Who wants to see a part time wrestler headline Wrestlemania. Only part time wrestler I want to see headline is Undertaker.

WWE you better take a look at what your doing and what you have and if you keep on going this way you will sink faster then the Titanic. The crowd were selling out before and now you have 90 % the crowd. Give the ball to Daniel Bryan and let him run with it. You need that now. Listen to your fans. It's what made Hulk Hogan big. But you don't push him because you don't believe he could run with the ball. This is the new era. They don't want to see Superman any more they want to see the average Joe on top.

You really need to listen to your demographic and you can't drown out the crowd with music and announcing. For God Sake you wasted a spot on JBL. That could have been Daniel Bryan's spot. You better think about what you are doing. That is why WWE Sucks.

                    

Wrestler of the Week: "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan Part 2

The Wrestler of the Week is the same as this week, Hollywood Hulk Hogan. With time constraints it is difficult to fit everything this man has done so here we go.

Last time I left off I spoke about his rivalry with Sgt. Slaughter and his lost to Yokozuna. After he left he did a series called Thunder in Paradise.At this time he was heavily recruited by Ted Turner and his WCW. In 1994 they made a big deal of him coming there and set up Bash at the Beach 1994 with Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. This was the rivalry that eventually sparked the beginning of WCW Monday Nitro who was run by Eric Bischoff.

He feud with Jimmy Hart's first family and the young Giant now the Big Show. And then Hulk Hogan grew darker and left for a little bit. His change and transformation was soon to come.

At Bash at the Beach 1996 Hollywood would be born as he turned on the Macho Man and WCW to form the nWo. His main rivalry was with Sting, but he also had a rivalry between Lex Luger, DDP, The Giant, Macho Man Randy Savage, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Goldberg to name a few. And then he had his epic match with Sting at Starrcade 1997, where he lost, but he would win it back.

As his run with Hollywood came to an end, he had a match that switched him as face and Ric Flair as heel and Hollywood left only to come back ready to be Hulk again and in a match on WCW Monday Nitro. Hulk Hogan dawned the red and yellow once again.

He mainly feuded with Ric Flair until Russo came and didn't do much afterwards and then WCW died. This left Hogan to go back to WWE for a few short runs which I will discuss in the next Wrestler of the Week Part 3 on Hulk Hogan with his return in WWE and his TNA arrival.

                             

Wrestler of the Week: "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan Part I

                             

Last week I did Ric Flair and what kind of wrestling fan would I be not to put Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan defined professional wrestling for his era. He has done so much for wrestling to put it mainstream. Hulk had the charisma and he knew how to work the crowd simply by being the Hulk. He was the best of wrestlers, but with the moves he had and the ring psychology he was a master.

In the 1970's, Hulk went to school and was going to become a musician. This never came to be. He had a greater calling ahead of him. That was when he was trained by Hiro Matsuda and became a wrestler. Hiro was serious about wrestling and as Hulk would know if he was not serious, his body part would be broken as Hulk would soon find out. Hulk came back.

He wrestled shows with Andre the Giant as a heel in the WWE, I think it was the WWWF at that time. Then he was fired for staring in Rocky III with Sylvester Stallone. His career then went to stardom. He then went to the AWA to feud with Nick Bockwinkel. Hulk's stardom was rising and he left back to the WWE because he wasn't getting his fair due and to become champion. Vince hired him back a few years later after Vince Sr. hired him. Hulk Hogan was Vince's man and he ran with the ball for 10 years.

Bob Backlund reintroduced Hulk Hogan's after a match with the Wild Samoans and Hulk then challenged the Iron Sheik where he won the WWE championship belt. He later on went to feud with Rowdy Roddy Piper which had the War to Settle the Score. It introduced Rock and Wrestling where it was new and innovative for the time. It set up the first Wrestlemania main event with Hulk Hogan and Mr. T vs. Rowdy Piper and Paul Orndorff.

His next big feud was with Paul Orndorff which very well could have main evented Wrestlemania III, but they had something bigger and that was Hulk Hogan's feud with Andre the Giant. His match with Andre the Giant was Hulk's peak for his run as champion.

He then developed a feud with Macho Man Randy Savage at Wrestlemania V. There was a personal story with there feud. And you can't blame Macho Man Randy Savage for his jealousy then especially after how Hulk acted on air. I thought Macho was the face. But a good feud for Hogan with wrestling.

He put over the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VI. Where Hulk Hogan lost clean. When someone beat the Hulk, Hogan made that victory count.

He then ran with the ball again as Hulk was the go to guy against Sgt. Slaughter.

He ended his big run in WWE when he lost against the Yokozuna.

Hulk was exhausted and went away from wrestling for a little bit and when he came back he would soon innovate the wrestling world once again in what would be called the Monday Night Wars.

Next week I will continue the Wrestler of the Week with Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
  
         

Wrestler of the Week: Ric Flair

This segment on the blog is Wrestler of the Week. This could be a past, present or upcoming wrestler that is trying to make it in the business. The Masked Man David Shoemaker started in his blog in the beginning charting the dead wrestler of the week. This is just the Wrestler of the week. There have been many wrestlers and although it is difficult to chronicle all of them I will try to do one a week. For this week I will do a Short Bio of Ric Flair for the Wrestler of the Week.

Ric Flair who turns 65 years old this year is still willing to fight and style and profile as the Nature Boy could. This week he gave a motivational speech for the 49ers and they won. Who better to deliver a speech then him. This is a testament of his career and a career that witnessed so much.

First, let me start off the story with a plane wreck that paralyzed a wrestler, killed the pilot and gave Ric Flair a serious back injury in where he was told he would never wrestle again. 30 years later and he wrestled.

He had an epic battle with Harley Race in 1983 and it was called The Flair for the Gold. He came back from injury and worked his way for the main event at the first Starcade and won the championship belt.

Then, he had a classic feud with Dusty Rhodes where Dusty claimed he had hard times on him and his family.

He had which could have been the best heel group in wrestling called the 4 Horseman which caused havoc on the NWA and then the WCW. Even though the later versions were watered down.

In 1991, he claimed that he was the real world champion and challenged Hulk Hogan. He eventually won the Royal Rumble to become the WWE champion.

He came back to the WCW, where he became champ again and helped launch Hulk Hogan's career at WCW at Bash at the Beach 1994

His legacy then continued as he came to the WWE as scripted as co-owner of the company. But his greatest matches and accomplishments happened in a group known as Evolution. He was giving back to the business and trying to teach Randy Orton and Batista about wrestling and he even gave back to all the young wrestlers he wrestled.

He even had epic battles with HHH, Randy Orton, and Edge. He became tag team champion and Intercontinental Champion. Out of how well he wrestled and stayed young despite his age.
He retired from the WWE with a match against Shawn Micheals at Wrestlemania.

He then went to TNA where he managed a heel group called Fortune.

Now he is enjoying he retirement only as Flair could, "A limosine riding, jet flying, wheeling dealing, son of a gun." He has proven a lot in his career and worthy enough to be The First Wrestler of the Week.