April 9th - 15th: This Week in Wrestling History

April 13th 1997: Extreme Championship Wrestling: Barely Legal

In 1992 WWF held Wrestlemania VIII in Indianapolis, Indiana and 62,000 fans packed in to the Hoosier Dome to see a card featuring, among others, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Jim Duggan, The Nasty Boys, Repo Man, The Mountie, The Natural Disasters and IRS. Wrestling at its most commercial at this time was still very much a character-based, colourful, theatric product marketed heavily towards children. It was this year that in a small, old bingo hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania a revolution was just beginning. A revolution that would give many wrestling fans an alternative. The gimmicks were largely thrown to the side, performers allowed more freedom to design and evolve their own characters, the rulebook re-written and the blood shed in a product marketed more towards the adult wrestling fan.

It would take five years however for the always growing and expanding Extreme Championship Wrestling to make it to pay-per-view. The promotion, and the trademark violence it carried with it, would struggle to find a home for its gritty, often explicit product as potential carriers maybe would not take a gamble on such an explosive show or misunderstood the content completely. Initially the pay-per-view was declined due to Viewers Choice believeing the content of the show to be "real". A passionate fanbase however were outspoken in their demand for the show to take place and the decision was reviewed.

On April 13th 1997, at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the owner of ECW Paul Heyman stood backstage at the arena, in footage documented in the film 'Beyond the Mat' and talked to his talent as he gave a passionate, emotional, motivational speech to the locker room as they had finally "made it to the dance" and prepared for what was unquestionably the biggest night in the companys short history. This was so small achievement as ECW had finally made it a wider, television audience, an opportunity to showcase what they had to offer as their inaugural pay-per-view event Barely Legal went to air.

Often tagged as a product that showcased exclusively violent material, the card for this event gave a glimpse of what ECW was really all about. Rob Van Dam and Lance storm were two of the compay's main "workers", The six-man tag team match of Taka Michinoku, Terry Boy and Dick Togo vs. The Great Sasuke, Gran Hamada and Masato Yakushiji showcased Michinoku Pro Wrestling and the implementation of the international styles of wrestling that would bring many overseas wrestlers to an American audience, many of which would later go on to work for WCW and the WWF. The double main-event would see the "living legend" Terry Funk defeat The Sandman and Stevie Richards in a three-way dance number one contenders match, which was directly followed by a match for the ECW Championship as a bloodied Terry Funk defeated the champion Raven and ECW honoured a true legend and now WWE Hall of Famer for his contributions that had helped the company establish itself, at a time when many of the old guard of professional wrestling would not touch the controversial organisation. 

There was one match that, for me, stands out on the card. Following Sabu's return to ECW in 1995 following a very brief stint in WCW, a feud was ignited between Sabu and Taz. In what was billed as "the grudge match of the century", "The Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal, Death–Defying" risk-taker Sabu faced legtitimate rival Taz in an eagerly anticipated match. The match was trailed by a huge stand-off between the two which only made the fans want it more. Taz had been built as ECWs MMA-style, big-fight wrestler and the "Human Suplex Machine" has spoken of his genuine heat with Sabu at the time, which ECW put to good use as the fans waited in anticipation for this grudge match. The two wrestled a match of very varying styles. At times the counter-hold wrestling was genuinely very fluid and impressive but was of course mixed with a risk taking, high-flying style of Sabus trademark violence that at times was certainly not pretty. What the match was however was an intense match with a big-fight feeling and in many ways it could be argued that this was representive of what ECW was all about at the time. 

ECWs band of "misfits", men and women rejected from other organisations, struggling to make the big time or struggling to make their name in the United States would go on to showcase themselves and the organisation for another four years before they were declared bankrupt and closed their doors, briefly brought back to life by WWE in 2006. Their history may have been short, their existence brief but the achievements are there for all to see as the WWF ushered in the arguably ECW-inspired Attitude era in 1997/1998 and the product once aimed almost exclusively at children continued to evolve. In many ways the list of ECW alumini reads as a who's who of 90's and 00's professional wrestling. Men such as The Dudley Boys, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit, Dory Funk Jr., Bam Bam Bigelow, Jimmy Snuka, Jerry Lynn, Tully Blanchard, Eddie Guerrero, Cactus Jack, Don Muraco, Mabel, Junkyard Dog, Kid Kash, Jake Roberts, Dean Malenko, Al Snow, Jusrin Credible, Sid Vicious, Yoshihiro Tajiri, Rhino, Psicosis, Brian Pillman, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude, Marty Jannety, Perry Saturn, Ron Simmons, Rick and Scott Steiner and Steve Austin all either made their name in ECW or stopped by ECW at some point in their careers. The talent that made appearances within the company at some point certainly, in my opinion, makes it near impossible to simply write ECW off as a second rate, second tier promoter of violence but rather should suggest to even those who may have never seen ECW before that the product they offered was most definitely the wrestling alternative of choice for many, many fans throughout its nine year existence.

April 2nd - April 8th: This Week in Wrestling History: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat Special.

This Week in Wrestling History: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat!

We are now a week removed from Wrestlemania XXVIII and that crazy time of year for wrestling fans is now over. The Rock prevailed over John Cena in the main event, Daniel Bryan dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Sheamus in 18 seconds in what has proven to be a controversial decision from WWE, CM Punk retained the WWE Championship against Chris Jericho in a very classy match-up and "The Dead Man" went 20-0 at Wrestlemania as The Undertaker and Triple H put on a truly epic, enthralling, show-stopping 30-minute classic in the Hell in a Cell. Reception of the event has seemingly been very positive, with many claiming this years Wrestlemania to be the very best for many years. It's no surprise that over the last few weeks I have focused this column solidly around Wrestlemania but as the WWE calendar year now begins again, and Brock Lesnar returned to Monday Night Raw to deliver an F5 to John Cena in what many are speculating will be the main event at Wrestlemania 29, the time to take the focus exclusively off the event itself has arrived. After all - there is a man who has carved somewhat of a legacy for himself in this calendar week in years gone by.

Richard Henry Blood a.k.a Ricky Steamboat is the name arguably most associated with class and professionalism in professional wrestling. Wrestling a full, near-twenty year career as a babyface, Ricky Steamboat never reached the dazzling heights of the main-event status in WWF that he did in the NWA/World Championship wrestling. Despite this he has gone down as one of the very best of all time and a 'WWE Legend' when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2009. By paying close attention to what his colleagues and peers have to say about him, it is no surprise. Steamboat had a hall of fame career that earned the respect of his peers and continues to this day as a road agent for WWE, several of the current roster commenting that he still gives his time to the younger wrestlers and helps them with their matches and their own careers.

Steamboat entered the National Wrestling Alliance in 1977 after spending a year working in the AWA, CWF and GCW and was quickly paired with Ric Flair. In his NWA rookie year Steamboat would defeat Flair for the NWA Mid Atlantic Television Championship as well as the NWA (Mid Atlantic) United States Heavyweight Championship in singles competition. The chemistry the two men had in the ring had not gone unnoticed and during Steamboats eight year first tenure in the NWA they would develop a friendship and an understanding with one another in the ring that would last a lifetime. 

Steamboat left the NWA for the WWF in 1985 and initially it appeared that he may achieve the same success there. His time in the company however was short as he returned to the NWA in 1989. In his time within the WWF he was given the ringname of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and, at Wrestlemania 3, participated in what is generally considered to be one of the best matches in the events history when he defeated Randy Savage for the WWF Intercontinental Championship infront of over 93,000 fans. When Steamboat took time off to be with his new-born son and dropped the belt to The Honky Tonk Man, he never received a similar push again from the WWF. The Dragon has suggested himself in the past that he may have been punished for upstaging Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant with his instant classic with The Macho Man lower down on the card at Wrestlemania 3. 

1989 would, in many ways, still become Ricky Steamboats year as he returned to the NWA and was once again paired to work with Ric Flair. In February the brewing feud between the two would really ignite when Steamboat defeated Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In this week in wrestling history, on April 2nd 1989, the two would meet again, this time at The Clash of The Champions: Ragin' Cajun in New Orleans. The event was historic as it was shown on free-to air TV alongside WWF Wrestlemania V on PPV. Ratings-wise there was only one winner as World Championship Wrestlings attempt to sabotage Wrestlemania and hurt the buy-rate proved to be unsuccessful. However, even though Hulk Hogan faced Randy Savage in an anticipated, blockbuster main event at Wrestlemania, the Clash had by far the best wrestling match of the evening as Ric Flair looked to win back his title from Steamboat in a near-60 minute, two out of three falls match. The match would end in controversy, setting up yet another classic encounter at Wrestle War the following month. The two men would wrestle each other up and down the country in a huge series of untelevised matches and perfected their craft with one another in the ring. Ric Flair, the man with arguably the most decorated career of any professional wrestler, has stated conclusively that Ricky Steamboat was the very best opponent he ever had. 

Watch Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat Two out of Three Falls for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship here.

This calendar week in wrestling history did offer up some other key moments in the career of The Dragon, however. Fast-forwarding a full twenty years to April 5th 2009 and the retired Steamboat returned to the ring with some Hall of Fame friends to face Chris Jericho. In the build-up to the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania  Jericho, working as a heel at the time, had attacked WWE legends and hall of famers off the back of the film The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke. The film, so Jericho claimed, glorified the has-beens of the wrestling industry and as a result set about targeting the legends he claimed were holding men like himself down. In retalliation, Ric Flair returned to accompany a team of legends to the ring in the form of "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat to face Jericho in a three-on-one handicap match, with Mickey Rourke sat in the crowd at ringside. Chris Jericho would make Jimmy Snuka his first victim, eliminating Superfly from the match by submission before subsequently going on to defeat Piper also. What followed was a one-on-one encounter as the fifty six year old Steamboat took it to the former Undisupted Champion. Steamboats performance in the ring impressed the majority of fans as he rolled back the years, utilising his trademark armdrags and climbing the top rope to deliver his signature chops and high cross-body. Steamboats performance brought fans to their feet as he proved the kind of shape he was still in and the quality of match he was still able to produce after nearly fifteen years out of the ring. 

The next night on Monday Night Raw, on April 6th 2009, a match was made to showcase the fall out from Wrestlemania. At Wrestlemania 25 John Cena lifted both The Big Show and Edge onto his shoulders and delivered a huge Attitude Adjustment to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. After the demise of The Hardy Boys, Matt defeated Jeff in a gruelling Extreme Rules match. Kane and CM Punk became the final two men in contention for the Money in the Bank briefcase where Punk was able to narrowly edge Kane out and win his second straight Money in the Bank. Twenty four hours later a massive Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team Match was made as the team of Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, Ricky Steamboat & John Cena took on Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Big Show & Edge.

The match was fast-paced and inventive but one man inparticular has captured the audiences breath as the fans chanted "we want Steamboat!" throughout the early goings. When the legend finally tagged in to the match the fans chanted "you've still got it" as Steamboat showcased his skills one more time, just as he had the previous night. When the match broke down somewhat chaotically to its conclusion, Steamboat celebrated with his team mates before the superstars of the current roster made way to allow Steamboat his moment with the WWE Universe in celebration of a hall of fame career, an honour that had been given to him only two nights earlier. 

Watch the Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team match here. 

To fully understand the legend of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat we are required, of course, to look much deeper into the work of one of the most exciting performers of his time. The man also had key matches with the likes of Don Muraco, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, "Cowboy" Bob Orton and Jake Roberts as well as great battles with tag team partner Jay Youngblood against the likes of Sgt. Slaugher & Don Kernodle and The Brisco Brothers. Following the Wrestlemania All-Star 10 Man Tag Team match he would also then go on to have one more match, meeting Chris Jericho at Backlash on April 26th 2009 in a one-on-one encounter. His legacy almost certainly continues today as a road agent for WWE and maybe most notably in the form of his son, Ricky Steamboat Jr. who is currently wrestling in the WWEs developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Richie Steamboat.  

When "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 he put it better than arguably anyone ever could in summing up this his classic rivalry with The Nature Boy and both mens sparkling careers when he stated that Ric Flair was the greatest wrestler to have ever lived and that when offering advice to young kids wanting to become wrestlers he urges them to study tapes of Ricky Steamboat. One would imagine that the legacy of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat could be seen for years to come in the young talent climbing the ranks in professional wrestling.

On This Day: 01 April

On This Day: Sunday April 1st 2001

Wrestlemania 19 - Triple H vs The Undertaker

via SLTDWrestling

At last years Wrestlemania the two giant forces, the two icons - The Undertaker and Triple H met with The Undertakers streak on the line. As usual, many pondered over whether or not The Game would be the one to finally end the streak and defeat The Undertaker the one place he has yet to be upset - Wrestlemania. In a physical, exhausting match-up The Undertaker was finally able to overcome all the punishment he had taken in the match and pick up the win but was carried from the ring, unable to stand.

This year The Dead Mans challenge for a re-match was finally accepted, after weeks of rejection, and the match was made. Wrestlemania 28, Miami, Florida. Billed as the "End of an Era" match-up, HHH again vows to end the streak and The Undertakers career. The reason for HHHs enhanced confidence this year? The match will be held in the confines of a Hell in a Cell! The matches within this structure have been dominated by these two men much more than any other individual, HHH probably having the more experience. However as we have seen this story unfold lately, and "The Heart Break Kid" be added as a special guest referee, all the talk seems to be around the pairs encouter last year at Wrestlemania 27. It seems that one match has been ignored in the hype - the first time these men met at Wrestlemania eleven years ago today!

Whether or not this year will be The Undertakers last or not remains unclear but one thing is for certain and that is that The Dead Man is nearing the end of an illustrious career. This may be the reason for this match not been mentioned, to the best of my recollection, at all in the build up. A build up leaning heavily on the history and the legacy of these two men in the WWE. The "American Bad Ass" has not been referred to in the build up to this years show but, back in 2001, The Undertaker was a tobacco-chewing, bike-riding Texan creating havoc and leaving a path of destruction in the WWE. Joining forces with his brother, Kane, The Undertaker baited HHH into a match at Wrestlemania XVII when, after Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley had filed for a restraining order against The Undertaker, had instructed Kane to do his dirty work for him. When Kane held The Games wife over a barrier backstage, with a long, steep drop to the arena floor beneath her The Undertaker forced Comissioner William Regal to give him what he wanted and make the match. The culmination of The Dead Mans "Decade of Destruction".

Played to the ring by heavy metal icons Motorhead, The Game's ovation paled in comparison to The Undertaker, infront of nearly 68,000 fans at the Reliant Astrodome in his home town of Houston, Texas. The intense, personal rivalry could barely be contained, especially when Hunter attempted to bring his trademark sledgehammer into play. When the referee was struck and lay unconscious, the match quickly spiralled out of the ring and out of control and what followed was a near twenty minute brawl.

The match these two men had last year seems to have receieved a lot of praise. I personally felt very let down by it. I found it too slow, sluggish and generally just lacking in any real excitement factor at all. This year, with the inclusion of the Hell in a Cell, I think things should be very different. I expect both men to reach down deep and end this era the way it should be ended - in intense, violent brutality. Incase you cant remember or incase you simply werent around to see it, prepare for this historic encounter by watching two of the biggest icons in the modern game exemplify the era the two should fittingly bring the curtain down on in just a matter of hours from now.

26th March - 1st April: This Week in Wrestling History

​We are now less than 24 hours away from Wrestlemania 28 and I'm sure wrestling fans everywhere are starting to feel the excitement and the anticipation. Last time I covered Wrestlemania highlights from the last calendar week (19th - 25th March) but that only begins to scratch at the surface! What happened on THIS calendar week (26th March - 1st April) in Wrestlemania history I hear you cry? Well, here are two more selected Wrestlemania moments to tide you over until the big show! This is ​This Week in Wrestling History: Wrestlemania Special Part 2!

via therealwrestle

​Champion vs. Champion: The Ultimate Warrior (Intercontinental Champion) vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF Champion) 

Hulk Hogan had been the WWFs biggest star through the late eighties. Not only was Hogan the biggest draw in the company, he was the biggest draw that the WWF and professional wrestling had ever seen. Hogans popularity had reached levels previously unheard of as he became a household name and a global celebrity. Simply put, in many ways, he was in a league of his own. Other big names in the WWF at this time just couldn't reach the same levels of popularity with the fans. Men such as "Macho Man" Randy Savage, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Andre The Giant and Jake "The Snake" Roberts were all beloved by fans but it didn't seem as though these men were ever going to receieve the same kind of response from the audience that Hogan did. There was however one man who threatened to stand in the way of the WWF Champion.

The Ultimate Warrior, from Parts Unknown, was a larger than life, colourful, exciting character. He may not have been one of the most loved, respected men by many of his peers but the people who did love Warrior were the WWF fans and yes, I was one of them as a small child. Warrior was intensity personified and was quickly becoming the biggest rival to Hulk Hogans popularity. Leading into Wrrestlemania VI, on April 1st 1990 infront of nearly 68,000 at the Toronto Skydome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, The Ultimate Warrior was Hulk Hogans most popular challenger. 

Both men had been pushed into the spotlight leading up to this encounter, both having lengthy championship reigns. At Summerslam 1989, on August 28th, The Ultimate Warrior won back his Intercontinental Championship from Rick Rude. Hogan had won his WWF Championship at Wrestlemania V, on April 2nd 1989. Both titles were on the line in this main-event. This event would either see Hulk Hogan defeat the biggest threat to his championship and his popularity or see The Ultimate Warrior take the Immortal One's spotlight and potentially his spot at the top of the pile in the WWF. Theres surely no doubt in anybodys mind that going over on Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship would be the biggest accomplishment in any mans career at this time. If the Warrior could pull it off then doing so on the grandest stage of them all would immortalise his name and his legacy in the WWF forever.

​Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels

In 1998 Shawn Michaels was forced to retire from professional wrestling due to a back injury. An injury that most seemed to think would keep Michaels out of the ring forever. However in 2002 the "Heart Break Kid" made his triumphant return to the ring and, somehow, was able to dazzle fans by stopping shows in that same, trademark, unimitable fashion that he did before his injury. Michaels return to the WWE was a huge success and he even captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in his second tenure. 

In Michaels absence, Chris Jericho had climbed the ranks of the WWE. Since moving from WCW to the WWF in 1999 Jericho had captured his own championship, winning the very first Undisputed Championship when the WWF and WCW belts were unified in 2001. When Jericho was training to be a wrestler and when Jericho was still trying to make a name for himself around the world, in Japan and Mexico among other places, the wrestler he most often imitated, looked up to and respected, according to the man himself, was Shawn Michaels.

Shawn Michaels is "Mr. Wrestlemania", a name not given to him lightly. Shawn Michaels had battled Razor Ramon in the famous Ladder match at Wrestlemania 10, gone over an hour with Bret Hart in an iron man match for the WWF Championship at Wrestlemania 12 and been double-crossed by Mike Tyson in his defeat to Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14 in one of, if not the, biggest main-event in Wrestlemania history. Shawn Michaels was "Mr. Wrestlemania" because he had provided more "moments" than anyone ever had before at this event as well as elevated it to heights nobody ever had. 

On March 30th 2003, at Wrestlemania 19, these two men would meet in a highly-anticipated match that had all the makings of another potential show-stealer. Whether Shawn Michaels would triumph over the cocky, dastardly Chris Jericho or whether Y2J would be able to defeat his idol on the biggest stage possible, these two men were always likely to stop this show together - despite main-events later in the evening featuring huge matches between Hulk Hogan and Mr.McMahon, the final chapter  in the Rock/Austin saga and Kurt Angle defending his WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar.

March 19th - 25th: This Week in Wrestling History

via therealwrestle

That time of year is nearly upon us again already. Tomorrow we go into Wrestlemania week and the final week of programming before the event itself. A whole year of hype and build-up is almost over as John Cena takes on The Rock in The Great One’s home town of Miami, Florida. The match is big, the match is money and the match could hopefully provide some ‘Wrestlemania moments’.

A ‘Wrestlemania moment’ is a moment in time stopped, immortalised and replayed for years to come. Every year we still see Hogan slam Andre, Shawn Michaels fly from the ladder and The Undertaker destroy everything in his path. A ‘Wrestlemania moment’ is an assured legacy.

So for twenty nine years now men and women have been striving to perform on the “grandest stage of them all” and earn their right to be remembered, re-played and enjoyed for years to come but exactly what kind of ‘moments’ have been made at the big show? Well, three Wrestlemania’s have been held in this particular calendar week in years gone by and there are certainly a few ‘moments’ to highlight in This Week in Wrestling History: A Wrestlemania special!

Wrestlemania VII – “Macho King” Randy Savage vs. The Ultimate Warrior

Throughout the majority of his WWF career “The Macho Man” Randy Savage was shadowed by his manager and love interest Miss Elizabeth. The former WWF Champion won the King of the Ring tournament in 1989 and, following a feud with Hulk Hogan that saw his jealousy get the better of him, “The Macho King”  dropped Elizabeth and paired himself with the charismatic Sensational “Queen” Sherri.

Cementing his legacy with feuds and bouts with the likes of Hogan, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and Dusty Rhodes, Savage had a new challenger standing in his way going into Wrestlemania 7 – The Ultimate Warrior. A man often criticised for a supposed lack of understanding or appreciation for his success and a limited move-set in the ring The Warrior was, however, adored by masses of young fans, including myself. His immense popularity led to Warrior successfully defeating Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship a year earlier at Wrestlemania 6.

These two forces would collide on March 24th 1991 infront of 16,000 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California and the stakes were high. The stipulation for the match stated that the loser must retire from the WWF. Miss Elizabeth was caught by cameras sitting ringside for the match and The Warrior, usually furiously energetic in his entrance, strolled perhaps anxiously to the ring in anticipation for the match ahead.

Arguably the two most high-profile omissions from the WWE Hall of Fame, these two legends battled a twenty minute encounter. Savage seemingly shouldering the majority of the workload, he, as the likes of Hulk Hogan had done before him, gracefully put the man from “Parts Unknown” over and helped to make Warrior look the dominant, powerful champion he had been in his time in the WWF. After an enjoyable match-up, Miss Elizabeth would be reunited with The Macho King and, on the grandest of them all, professional wrestlings original power-couple would take the stage and make an emotional Wrestlemania moment that would truly live forever.

 WATCH THIS MATCH HERE!

Wrestlemania X – Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart

In quite possibly the most high-energy opening to a Wrestlemania ever, the brothers Bret and Owen Hart opened the show at Wrestlemania 10 on March 20th 1994 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In a prime example of a “see-saw match” as Vince McMahon used to say, Bret and his younger brother Owen brought up the curtain on the 10th anniversary of Wrestlemania and stole the show. It’s a much used cliche when discussing wrestling but if there was ever a better example of one man being able to read the other perfectly in the ring and “knowing what he was going to do before he did it” than Bret and Owen then I don’t think I’ve seen it. The chemistry in the ring that the Hart brothers possessed was nothing short of spectacular to watch and this was a match for the ages.

The youngest of the Hart brothers, Owen always arguably stood slightly in the shadow of The Hit Man and his successful career. This was played out on screen as Owens jealousy became stronger and forced a divide between the brothers. By Wrestlemania 10 the relationship had imploded and Owen had a point to prove.

The understanding and fluidity of movement between Bret and Owen was, one would assume, the result of two brothers born with wrestling in their blood. Wrestlemania X was an opportunity for the brothers to show the quality of work they could prodice in the ring and for Owen to step out of the shadow of his brother Bret and begin to build his own legacy in the WWF. The resulting match-up from these two men was exhausting just to watch as the brothers battled, back and forth, for supremacy. What made this twenty minute classic even more impressive is that big brother Bret, as well as opening the show in such an exhausting fashion, would close it also – winning the WWF Championship from Yokozuna later that same evening in the main event.

Wrestlemania 13 – Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission match

Simply put I would not be a wrestling fan and I would not be writing this if it wasn’t for this match. Without this match wrestling would be a distant memory to me – watching the likes of Hulk Hogan, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and The Ultimate Warrior as a small child in the late eighties and early nineties. My love for professional wrestling would never have been re-ignited had a friend of mine not gave me a tape of Wrestlemania 13.

On March 23rd 1997 over 18,000 fans packed the Rosemont Horizon in Rosement, Illinois. The main event for the WWF Championship was a no disqualication match between Sycho Sid and The Undertaker as the Dead Man captured the title. However it was a match lower down on the card that stole the show.

When I was watching WWF when I was a small child I loved Bret Hart and it was The Hitman that helped me to find that same excitment for it years later when I watched him face Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission match. In what was arguably a pre-cursor to the hardcore Attitude Era, the two men embroiled in a bitter rivalry at that time took the fight out of the ring into the crowd, a rarity in those days, and brought weapons into the match in the form of steel chairs and a ring bell into an intense match-up.

Bret Hart worked the majority of his WWF career as a baby-face, an example of right prevailing over wrong and good over evil and as a result, amassed a following of young fans to whom The Hitman was a role model. Bret has spoken with great pride of the opportunity the WWF gave him to represent such a character for his fans and so when the decision to turn him heel was made, fans were left stunned by what unfolded. Steve Austin was the antithesis of a good guy. The brawler from Texas was beginning to lead the WWF into a new era of the anti-heel, the villain that the fans could not help but love and support. As his bad behavior gained him more and more followers, the landscape of the WWF and the product they were broadcasting was changing dramatically. This match is often referred to as potentially the turning point and the birthplace of a new era. “Stunning” Steve Austin and “The Ringmaster” Steve Austin were no more and, alongwith his famous “3:16″ speech at the King of the Ring the previous year and maybe even his old ECW promos where a legimately pissed off Austin ranted at his former employer WCW and Eric Bischoff for firing him, this match helped give birth to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

In the weeks leading up to Wrestlemania Bret Hart was venting his frustrations towards the WWF and Vince McMahon as Austin continued to gain momentum and threatened his spot within the organisation. This newly bad behavior from Hart culminated in the physical assault of Vince McMahon, as Hart shoved him to the ground in anger. The heel turn for the Hitman was almost complete and when these two men hooked up, the scientific wrestling ability of the former WWF Champion combined with the brawling style of Steve Austin was played out expertly as the match quickly became a war. The inclusion of the “Worlds Most Dangerous Man” and the former UFC Champion Ken Shamrock as a special guest referee also greatly aided the feeling of legitimacy in the contest as he struggled to manage the brutality of Austin and Hart. I also believe the big fight feel surrounding the match was enhanced greatly by Jim Ross at ringside, a perfect call from start to finish as he captured the drama and the tension of the contest.

When Austin attempted an Irish Whip on the outside of the ring and was reversed, sending the Rattlesnake to the steel railing at ringside, the match took on a whole new level of brutality. Austins head collided with the barrier and the Texan was legitimately cut, bleeding profusely onto the floor and the mat for the remainder of the match.

What followed as a result of this is one of the most iconic images in wrestling at this time and in the evolution of the character of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Locked in a painful sharpshooter, The Hitmans trademark submission hold, Austin tried desperately to avoid submitting and break the hold, screaming in pain and determination with blood streaming down his face and pouring from his head. Following the conclusion of this match the transition was complete. Bret Hart had cemented his place as the top heel in the WWF whereas Stone Cold Steve Austin, cheered and applauded from the ring, had taken The Hitmans spot as the most popular babyface (if its ever appropriate to call him that) in the company. The torch was passed in a stunning, enthralling match. The feeling of excitement I had watching it was, without question, mirrored by those in attendance as the fans rose to their feet. The deafening roar from the fans as they showed their appreciation for a true classic just added to the feeling of electricity I still get whenever I watch this match.

(The picture that became an iconic image in WWF)

I know that I often describe matches I write about here as classics. It’s unavoidable given the nature of the blog and the careful selection of highlights that I use for content here. I cannot however stress enough that this match is a true classic. An epic. In the 22 minutes that these two greats went to war I became a wrestling fan again. I found the excitment and the drama that had captured me as a child and I believe it is in no way an understatement to say that, fifteen years later, I still have an appreciation, a respect and a love for professional wrestling because of Stone Cold Steve Austin, because of Bret “The Hit Man” Hart and because of this spectacular match in particular. To those who do not share that same passion, have that understanding, or have no idea why anyone would find entertainment and legitimacy in professional wrestling I say to them – watch this match. If, by watching this, you dont see the allure or understand the enjoyment to be taken from watching a wrestling match then I suggest that you simply may never be able to watch wrestling the way I and countless others watch wrestling.

If a wrestling match is to be judged on the story being told then, in my opinion, never has a greater story been told in a wrestling ring than on this night.

On This Day...

On This Day: Sunday March 21st 1999

ECW Living Dangerously '99 - Jerry Lynn vs. Rob Van Dam for the ECW World Television Championship

Via Wrestling Heads
Follow Wrestling Heads on Twitter: @wrestlingheads

Extreme Championship Wrestling sat in third place in the "big three" battle for wrestling supremacy in the 1990s. With a very limited budget and a product generally considered too "extreme" for a national or global television audience, ECW was never going to be able to complete with the likes of the WWF and the WCW as far as exposure and commercial success goes. Not that they didn't give everything to attempt to break into the mainstream anyway!

In the early and mid nineties professional wrestling was very character and gimmick orientated. Wrestling offered a wide audience a colourful, often family-friendly product and catered mainly to its younger fans. When Paul Heyman took the reigns of Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1993 and its newly crowned Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas threw down the NWA belt, the promotion spat in the face of tradition. Eastern Championship Wrestling severed all ties with the National Wrestling Alliance and became Extreme Championship Wrestling, offering a brand of adult-orientated violence that really seemed to strike a chord with some of WWF and WCWs more mature fans. However the belief that ECW was all about blood and violence is most certainly a myth. ECW offered a brand of solid wrestling also and two men, over the course of the promotions existence, arguably did more to promote the great talent in ECW than anyone else.

The series of matches that "The Whole F'N Show" Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn had were unrivaled in ECWs nine year history. Rob Van Dam held the ECW TV Championship for 23 months, something unheard of in quite some time in WWF and WCW. His title reign helped bring tradition to the company and as he fought off challenger after challenger over that period, he became the companys top draw. During his reign RVD met no challenger whom he worked better matches with than Jerry Lynn, the two having their first match in late 1998. It would be in 1999, however, when the two next hooked up and became the professional wrestling story of the year with their epic series of matches.

In February of 1999 the two would meet at Crossing the Line. However the budding rivalry would really ignite 13 years ago today on Sunday March 21st 1999 in Asbury Park, New Jersey at ECWs Living Dangerously pay-per-view event. For 22 minutes the two would work a classic, flowing encounter as the momentum shifted from man to man. The men would wrestle a solid ground game, quick successions of reverals and pinning combinations that literally brought a hungry, respectful crowd to their feet in admiration and, in true ECW fashion, the action would spill out to the floor and into the crowd. The match also had what, in my opinion, was one of the finest finishes I have ever seen. Very intelligently booked to put Lynn over with the ECW fans yet preserve and kick-start a feud that would spill into ECWs Hardcore TV programme, ECW on TNN and another classic encounter at Hardcore Heaven '99. As a result of this match Jerry Lynn would declare himself "The New F'N Show" as the feud grew stronger. This great partnership wouldn't end there however. The classic series of matches between these two men would continue into 2001 in ECW and also, after the companys demise, into the WWF as they met for the Hardcore Championship on an edition of Sunday Night Heat. The two would hook up again many years later in TNA in the culmination of an outstanding, breath taking rivalry.

Should you not be familiar with Rob Van Dam, Jerry Lynn, ECW or should you simply think that ECW was all about blood & guts, I really can not think of a better way to introduce yourself to what the product was really all about, or the talent these two great men possessed, than with this great match.

March 12th - 18th: This Week in Wrestling History

via TheRealWrestle

Dean Malenko vs. Chris Jericho (c) for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship - Uncensored '98

Back in 1997/1998 WCW was an exciting place to be. The product was conclusively winning the 'Monday Night War' between WCW Nitro and WWF Monday Night Raw. It really is unthinkable in this day and age in 2012 that another wrestling product could get anywhere close to knocking WWE off of the mountain but back then WCW was "where the big boys played" and was pulling in the ratings week after week. WCWs dominance, of course, would not last. As they tempted big stars away from WWF such as Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Lex Luger and Bret Hart, the smaller, younger talent were pushed down the card and given little to no opportunities to grow within the walls of its organisation.

The WCW Cruiserweight division was arguably producing more classic matches than WWF at this time. Young, talented wrestlers brought pure wrestling and high flying to a mainstream American and global audience  in an exciting, refreshing division. Chris Jericho and Dean Malenko were involved in an entertaining rivalry as two of the divisions stand-out stars. What Dean Malenko lacked in charisma, he possessed in pure wrestling ability. An incredibly talented, professional performer - the "Man of a Thousand Holds" helped to provide the backbone of the WCW product at this time. This particular show, Uncensored on March 15th 1998 at the Mobile Civic Center in Alabama, predictably had matches such as Lex Luger vs. Scott Steiner, Sting vs. Scott Hall and a main event of Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan higher on the card. As the "dinosaurs" drew the money and occupied the spotlight, Malenko and Jericho provided the strong wrestling match.

"Lionheart" Chris Jericho, the petulant villain, was another performer looking for his break in WCW. The Cruiserweight Champion succeeded at getting under the skin of Malenko, declaring himself to be the "Man of a Thousand and Four Holds" - a hilarious promo from their feud together and a personal favourite of mine.

Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero (c) for the WWE Championship - Wrestlemania XX

On Sunday March 14th 2004 Eddie Guerrero was enjoying his time on top of the pile. Securing his first WWE Championship the previous month when he defeated Brock Lesnar at No Way Out, Eddie then entered into a feud with Kurt Angle in the build-up to Wrestlemania.

Originally jumping ship from WCW to the WWE with close friend Chris Benoit, the two men who many saw as underused and underappreciated in WCW occupied the main events at Madison Square Garden as Chris Benoit battled for the World Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat match with Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

In a feud that included references to Eddies legitimate issues with drugs and alcohol the Olympian only helped to further establish Guerrero as one of the companys top faces, despite playing the part of a heel throughout the majority of his career. These two men are often referred to as two of the very best in-ring performers of their time and at Wrestlemania 20 they arguably stole the show with an astounding, technically sound wrestling match.

In just a few short hours at TNA Victory Road Kurt Angle will take on Jeff Hardy and if their previous matches, such as their encounter at Victory Road 2010, are anything to go by then it should be a classic. Until then get a taste of exactly how good Kurt Angle can be when he's on his top of his game. You will struggle to find many better examples of pure class than this one.

FCW TV Report 11 March 2012

Florida Championship Wrestling

11th March 2012

Via TheRealWrestle

Recap: Mike Dalton upsets Leo Kruger last week and wins the FCW World Heavyweight Championship

The commentary team of Chris Russo and William Regal stand ringside. Russo calls what happened last week the biggest upset in the history of FCW. He confirms that the main event this evening will be Keo Krugers rematch for the FCW Heavyweight Championship and states that FCW President Steve Keirn will make a major announcement.

Alexander Rusev & Big E Langston vs. CJ Parker & Jason Jordan

The opening tag team match was very much a case of speed vs. power as the team of Rusev & Big E Langston took a huge size and strength advantage into this one. The much smaller team of CJ Parker and Jason Jordan were able to use their speed and quickness advantage early on as they made frequent tags and targeted Rusev. Langston would soon get the tag and turn the tables, isolating Jordan and taking control of the match up after Rusev was able to interfere behind the referees back, allowing his partner to dominate. The pair would make frequent tags of their own, utilising the referees five-count as they sent him to the ropes and impact fully sandwiched Jordan between their massive frames.

 

After successfully keeping him from his corner for quite some time, using brute force to flapjack him face first to the mat as he desperately attempted to climb the huge frame of his opponent and tag out, Jordan was finally able to fight his way to his partner. Coming in fresh off the tag Jason Jordan hit a beautiful cross body off the top rope and, following a sunset flip into an attempted pin, Rusev tried to sit out and crush the chest of the smallest man in the match but met the mat as Jordan avoided the contact. With kicks to the back of Rusev and a dropkick to the face, he then tried for a cover but Langston would make the save. The match broke down into chaos as Parker entered the ring and gave him a dropkick for his effort and then, teaming up, Parker and Jordan clotheslined Langston over the ropes to the floor. As Parker continued the brawl on the outside of the ring, Rusev hit a huge sidewalk slam in the ring and the match looked to be over. Opting however not to go for the cover the big man climbed the turnbuckle and, as CJ rolled out of the way, hit the mat face-first off a missed splash. Parker would take advantage of the opportunity and roll him up for a three count.

Kenneth Camron vs. Colin Cassady

After a video package of last weeks events showing Byron Saxton attacking Kenneth Camron after his match and knocking him out, Saxton emerges through the curtain for his match-up still wearing his sling on his arm and claiming he hasn’t been cleared to compete, introducing his replacement - the seven footer Colin Cassady.

Starting things off aggressively, Camron beat down Cassady in the corner. Honouring the referees request for a break before going right back to his opponent, throwing right hands and kicks. Grabbing the throat of Camron, the two lock in a battle for power and the upper hand before Cassady finally gets him up for a choke slam. Slipping off the back and reversing the attempt Camron went back to the kicks, this time to the thigh and calf of his larger opponent as he dropped Cassady to his knee. Maintaining the upper hand, Camron grounded Cassady with a dropkick and a high elbow drop. Getting just a two count off the cover, Camron hit elbows in a vicious ground and pound before locking in s a sleeper hold.

 With his opponent on his back Cassady forced Camron back into the turnbuckle and was able to mount some offensive of his own with a mule kick to the midsection before landing some elbows in the corner. Whipping him to the opposite corner, he caught Camron with a huge sidewalk slam and got a two count before locking in a sleeper of his own. Battling to his feet Camron was able to hit a jawbreaker and looked to put him away. However as the Brit went to the ropes Byron Saxton, removing his sling, interfered as he climbed to the apron and caught Camron in the back of the head with an elbow. Taking advantage of the opening Cassady connected with a big boot to the face and picked up the three count.

Sofia Cortez vs. Audrey Marie

This weeks FCW Divas match started with a bang in a flurry of hammerlocks, reversals, trips, near-falls and armdrag takedowns before Cortez rolled out onto the apron calling for a time-out. Drawing the former champion in, Cortez grabbed Marie and, dropping to the arena floor, hung Marie over the top rope and injured the arm in the process.

 Cortez went to work on the arm with placed kicks and an armbar, the Texan screaming in pain. Battling through the pain Marie rolled Cortez up and got a two count before the aggressor grounded her once more, placing her boot up under the arm and falling backwards to the mat. Back to her feet, Marie hit a succession of clothlines and, ducking a retaliation, locked in the headscissors into an airplane spin.

Cortez would get a second wind as she turned her attention back to the arm once more but would not capitalise. Audrey Marie prevailed as she caught Cortez coming off the ropes with a sidewalk slam and picked up the three count. After the match the Divas Champion Raquel Diaz and the as yet unnamed “mystery Diva” came to the ring and began to beat down Audrey Marie. However Kaitlyn would come to her aid and the pair, Cortez in tow, retreat.

As the show came back from a break, one of FCWs newest additions was at ringside with a mic. Kassius Ohno, a favourite for many years on the independent circuit where he was known as Chris Hero, addressed the FCW audience by stating that he won’t be there for very long and that he will be a WWE star. He talked about how he enjoys to knock out his opponents and how he prefers to knock them out rather than pin them or make them submit. He then signed off by suggesting that he has a match on next weeks show, stating that next week “it’s going to be Kassius….oh no.”

 

Following the commentary team informing us that there will be a major announcement from the FCW President this evening, we see Steve Keirn walking to the ring with his assistant Norman Smiley. Keirn thanks the FCW fans for their support and invites the General Manager Maxine to the ring. The President told Maxine that she had done a great job in the past but informed her of his disapproval of some of her more recent decisions, such as hiring James Bronson as a psychiatrist for the FCW roster. Passing the mic to the eager Norman Smiley to break the news, Maxine was then fired and told to leave.

Main event for the FCW Heavyweight Championship

Leo Kruger vs. Mike Dalton (c)

Last week the underdog Mike Dalton upset the champion and captured his first FCW Heavyweight Championship. Krugers rematch didn’t start out too well for him either as the two locked up and Dalton was able to apply a headlock and take the larger man down. As Kruger used the ropes to break the hold and put the boots to Dalton, the champion connected with a beautiful enziguiri and, Kruger rolling to the outside, a baseball slide.

Back in the ring Dalton hit a cross-body off the top rope and picked up a two count. Kruger fought back and, tying up the arm into a hammerlock, repeatedly hit a defenceless Dalton with savage forearms before snapping him over in a Benoit-esque suplex and grounding the high-flyer with a chin lock. Further asserting his dominance with clothleslines, holding onto the arm with every blow, the challenger got another two count off a punishing back suplex and a front facelock.

Back to his feet Dalton reversed an Irish whip into an athletically executed cradle before a series of roll-ups and near falls.Dalton would try to roll up the challenger once more as he reversed a sleeper hold, however Kruger would manage a reversal of his own, sitting out into a crushing facebuster. The resilient champion kicked out of the resulting cover at two and appeared to get a second wind, catching Kruger off the top rope with a dropkick to the jaw followed by a series of flying forearms and a spinning heel kick, getting a two count of his own after a DDT when Kruger escaped by putting his foot on the ropes. The challenger would narrowly save himself again shortly after, getting to the ropes to break a beautifully executed single leg Boston crab.

The champions luck would run out however as Kruger was able to stop Daltons momentum dead with his signature sleeper hold. Battling desperately for survival by reaching the ropes, Kruger would hold on and eventually ground Dalton, scissoring the midsection and forcing the referee to call the match as Daltons underdog story ended – passing out to the hold.

And there you have it. After just one week Leon Kruger wins back his FCW Heavyweight Championship in a great match as the two go for close to fifteen minutes in the main event. Having just watched WWEs Monday Night Raw from last night let me assure you that you wont see a finer wrestling match than that on that show this week! Both these men could potentially have their breakthrough year into the full roster this year as both have looked very impressive as of late. Next week there is sure to be more from this and one would assume an update on the void left by the firing of General Manager Maxine.

Thanks to @fcwuniverse for the incredible photos from the show!

March 5th - March 11th: This Week in Wrestling History (2)

"If You Smell..."

Rocks Road to Wrestlemania in Years Gone By (Part Two)

Via therealwrestle

That's right folks. I promised a double header this week and thats exactly what we have. I decided that for this particular "Week in Wrestling History" it may be a good idea to take a look at The Rock and the build-up surrounding some of his previous Wrestlemania matches. In my first installment this week I took a look at the build-up for his match with Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XIX as well as his match at Wrestlemania XX teaming with Mick Foley to face Evolution. I couldn't, however, finish without focusing on one Rock feud that carries with it probably the most significance going into this years Wrestlemania.

This year on April 1st The Rock takes on Cena in what is being called one of the very biggest matches of all time. It's easy to see why the WWE would bill it as such considering the huge draw this creates, having two of the biggest names in wrestling collide. The Rock is arguably the biggest name ever in wrestling. His roots as a third generation star, following in the footsteps of his grandfather 'High Chief' Peter Maivia and his father Rocky Johnson were then eclipsed by success in Hollywood and on the big screen. The Rock has achieved a greater level of success in Hollywood than probably any other wrestler. However if The Great One is the biggest name in wrestling then who, you may ask, could have laid claim to that title before him?

Wrestlemania X8

The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan

In 2002 the WWE saw one of its most anticipated returns in history. The legendary Hulk Hogan returned to the ring after WCW, the company Hogan originally left the old WWF for in 1993, was dissolved following a buy-out by chairman Vince McMahon. In February's No Way Out pay-per-view fans were treated to a sight they perhaps thought they would never see again as Hogan made his grand re-appearance - and he didn't come alone.

Once the biggest babyfaces in professional wrestling history, the Hulkster ran wild, urging children to take their vitamins and drink their milk and dominating the WWF throughout the late eighties and early nineties. Hulk Hogan would become a rare household name, something not usually associated with wrestling. After originally retaining the same character in WCW, there came a time for a change. There came a time for a Hogan heel turn. Joining forces with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, forming the New World Order, Hogan enjoyed more success in WCW as that company began to beat WWF in the Monday Night War of ratings in the late 1990's until it was bought and consequently closed by Vince McMahon. The No Way Out event in 2002 was Hogans first appearance on WWF TV in nine years as Vince McMahon officially unveiled the individuals he said were hired to "inject a poison" into the WWF and fianlly kill the empire that he created.

Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Hollywood Hulk Hogan would run riot through the WWF over the next few weeks, attacking, amongst others, its two biggest babyfaces in Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. After The Texas Rattlesnake had fallen prey to the nWo, The Rock appeared on the March 7th 2002 edition of Smackdown seeking revenge of his own. By this time the match had already been made - The Rock and Hollywood Hulk Hogan would square off at Wrestlemania X8, and three weeks before this edition of Smackdown The Rock was attacked by the nWo. Following an assault on The Peoples Champ, Hogan, Hall and Nash would take control of The Rocks ambulance, locking him inside before running it down with a truck. The WWF really seemed to be trying to make Hogans heel turn as visual and as emphatic as possible. Coming out to the ring The Rock called out the group and challenged Hogan to a match there and thern, before Wrestlemania. Claiming to want nothing to do with an injured Rocky, Hogan backed down claiming to want to save the match until Wrestlemania where he would have no excuses. Accepting on his behalf, a match was made for Smackdown later that night between Scott Hall and The Rock.

A star in his own right in the WWF in the early to mid nineties under his ring name Razor Ramon, Scott Hall came to the ring backed up by Hogan and Nash to take on The Rock in the main event. The match would quickly break down into a brawl and get out of hand as the "pack of dogs" would play the numbers game and team up on an injured Rock. However the odds would be evened up as The Rock had some back-up of his own, leading to a blockbuster announcement from Vince McMahon.

A few nights later, on the March 11th 2002 edition of Monday Night Raw, fans tuned in to witness a huge main event. In just six days Hollywood Hulk Hogan and The Rock, two of the biggest names ever in professional wrestling, would meet in what was being billed as the biggest match of all time - wrestlings past meeting wrestlings future, Icon vs Icon at Wrestlemania X8. In this handicap tag team match The Rock teamed with Stone Cold Steve Austin as they both were out for revenge against Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Who would get the upper hand before the big show down? Could Hogan, at his age, still hang with the likes of The Great One? Watch the build up to the Wrestlemania encounter from this week in wrestling history right here.