Thank You Undertaker

Last night on the day he made his WWF debut 30 years ago Undertaker officially call it a career. This fan been with him in his entire WWF/WWE run. I got emotional watching celebration of his career. From the final walk to the ring with his trademark pyrotechnics and setup, the final speech, his trademark pose with a hologram of the late Paul Bearer (great tear-jerking excellent touch!) to the final walk up the ramp. I wish this was done in front of a crowd, but covid put every crowd holding plans on hold. I want to say thank you Undertaker. He is part of my growing up days from a kid to adulthood. You deserve a long rest and into the darkness. This fan will forever miss you in the ring.

I want you check out his interviews with Steve Austin on Broken Skull Sessions and docuseries Last Ride. It's a great rare in-depth look of his career and his tough final years in the ring. Also check out Meeting the Undertaker as wrestlers and personnel give details when did they first met him in the wrestling business. Another documentary to check out called The Mortician: The Story of Paul Bearer on his former late manager who been with him month after he debut and became vital part of Undertaker storyline throughout the years as well Brothers of Destruction as Undertaker and Kane spoke on infamous wrestling storyline. All of these shows are on WWE Network.

RIP Howard Finkel

Sad news on wrestling front as former WWF Hall of Famer and ring announcer Howard Finkel passed away today at 69. His legendary WWF/E career spanned from late 70s into 2000s with his final appearance at 2011 Survivor Series being CM Punk special ring announcer.

When I got into world of wrestling as a fan I was a kid, about 10, giving this a shot after playing WWF Wrestlemania for NES. Turned on WWF Superstars which was at time on local CBS station sydnicate at 6 PM on Saturday night. The first wrestling ring announcer to greet me was Howard Finkel. He introduced all the wrestlers in the ring and the winners on the show. It was his delivery approach have fans on their feet making everything important especially every WWF title change.

He would have his moments in the ring with short-lived feuds and angles first with Harvey Wippleman around 1994 then with Lilian Garcia in 2004. He did have one off against Tony Chimel attacking him over being the best ring announcer. To wrestling fans he is the best ever in-ring announcer.

Howard Finkel will forever be missed.

RIP Mean Gene

 

 After rough 2018 in wrestling world it starts off on a bad note. One of guys I grew up watching on WWF Superstars, PPVs, Coliseum Videos shows then on to WCW, Mean Gene Okerlund, passed away at 76. He interviewed wrestlers in professional manner, gave out updates in the control center, and involved himself in silly skits. He gave me many highlights out of it such getting his tie cut off with Berserker's sword, getting cursed by Papa Shango and got black goo oozing out from the head, had Hacksaw Jim Duggan's 2X4 dropped on his foot so Duggan can get the card of him after he refused to trade it, ate sushi with Yokozuna, and had fans chant "Leave Her Alone!" at him when he tried to interview Madusa after she lost title vs career match against Akira Hokuto. He went to WWE Hall of Fame and most recently a host to WWE Storytime on WWE Network. Mean Gene was one of a kind and I will miss him. RIP Mean Gene. The interview approach gotten more professional in wrestling heaven.

Undertaker's Last Ride

Can't believe it took me a week to get through this. As I get older there are times part of your childhood dies. One of those moments happend at end of Wrestlemania 33. This wrestler been through high and low times of WWE with his mystique presence in the ring. He put on hundreds of memorable moments from matches to angles. He is known for "The Streak" at Wrestlemania. That legendary wrestler is The Undertaker.

After his loss he put down his gloves, jacket, and hat in middle of the ring signaling his retirement. It was bittersweet and sad with tears appear from this fan as he made his final walk up the ramp knowing this is the final time The Undertaker get to be in the ring. As a fan you know he's going to retire but didn't expect the impact of it.

I started watching in early of 1991 when I was 10. During that time The Undertaker was few months into his WWF run. I grew up watching him through his entire 26 1/2 years run. I witness the start of his Wrestlemania winning streak beating the late Jimmy Snuka at Wrestlemania 7. Watched him shoved The Ultimate Warrior in a casket on Superstars. Watched him beat Hulk Hogan for WWE World Heavyweight title, a first of many times he won the top belt of the company. Watched him turn face and obliterated everyone in his feuds for years til he faced Mick Foley as Mankind in 1996. It was this on and off feud that made Mankind as credible threat doing something that never been in his previous feuds from 1991-1995: getting the best out of him at times. They would have high impact brawls featuring gimmick matches such as boiler room and buried alive match. Both would have infamous match in 1998 when they faced each other at King of the Ring. It was that match Undertaker sent Foley off top of the cage and through announce table. Then later on he chokeslam him from top of the cage but ceiling gave out and Foley gets sent down to middle of the ring. The feud also introduced Kane subplot storyline, his little brother thought to be dead but is alive and looking for revenge. He fought Shawn Michaels in first ever Hell in Cell which Kane finally debut tombstoning him costing him the match. Like Mankind, both feuded on and off through the years, but with a twist teaming together on same side at times. He took drastic change going from Deadman to American Badass in 2000 riding a motorcycle down to the ring. After few years being "Biker Taker" he reverted back to Deadman in 2004. He continued on beating wrestlers and take names and souls with memorable matches and feuds with Batista, Edge, Big Show, and Shawn Michaels. Even he became part-time Wrestlemania only match it was still a sight to see him battle and continue put on good against Triple H and CM Punk to add more to his Wrestlemania winning streak.

Then came Wrestlemania 30 in biggest shock of wrestling world as Brock Lesnar beat him ending his glorious long Wrestlemania winning streak leaving the crowd stunned silenced. It was this match saw the decline of The Undertaker. Decades of bumps finally took a toll on his body and his age catching up on him. He would have mini-feud with Brock Lesnar in summer of 2015 but its hard to watch him gutting out and going through pain despite how good the matches are. After few painful matches and giving it all he decide to hang it up after Wrestlemania 33.

I had opportunity to watch The Undertaker live in person few times. Despite being a fan in 1991 I never been to live WWE show til 2002 when they start coming to Odessa, TX where I used to live in the area. He was in main event against Steve Austin, in his final month before walking out on the company, at house show. The crowd was hot the entire time at Ector County Coliseum as both had fun heated brawl which Undertaker won. The same type of match was done at Judgment Day PPV minus Austin foot on the rope. Funny how it was great to watch it live but two weeks later came off dead on PPV. Seen him the following year teaming with Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar to taking on FBI which his team won. And again in 2004 beating Booker T. The next I saw The Undetaker live was 12 years later taking on Shane McMahon at Wrestlemania 32 in Hell in the Cell. Then the final time was at this year Royal Rumble eliminating Goldberg before getting unceremoniously dumped by Roman Reigns achieving white heat status from the crowd for it.

The Undertaker will be missed in the ring by wrestling fans. Not once he threaten to jump to WCW staying loyal to WWE throughout his 26 1/2 year career there. He been there for tail end of Hogan era through New Generation into Attitude followed with Ruthless Aggression going to PG and into Reality era. Thank you Undertaker for those memories and times seen through eyes of this fan as I grew up. Hope see you at WWE Hall of Fame soon most likely next year.

Match of the Week: Arn Anderson/Tully Blanchard vs Demolition (WWF Saturday Night Main Event (7/29/89)

Match of the Week: Brain Busters vs Demolition (WWF Saturday Night Main Event 7/29/89)

A mainstay of NWA, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard ventured up north into WWF getting paired with Bobby "the Brain" Heenan and immediately liven up tag team scene for a year. They reached the pinnacle of WWF tag team division in this match.

At the previous WWE Saturday Night Main Event they took on tag team champions, Demolition, which they won in disqualification. On this SNME show they had a rematch in 2-out-of-3 falls match.

Brain Busters tries to out-wrestle Demolition using various double team moves and cheating measures. Demolition returned fire with their smash-mouth brawling. Demolition takes the first fall after Smash hits a hotshot on Arn Anderson. Second fall came when Demolition gets disqualified for excessive double teaming. During that time the late Andre the Giant showed up. Final fall came when Bobby Heenan distracted the ref just for Andre the Giant to slide a chair to Tully. He clobbered Smash with it and Arn pinned him to take WWF tag team titles ending Demolition 17 month long tag team title reign. The Heenan Family celebrates with another set of titles.

Arn and Tully WWF tag title reign last for over 4 months before dropping it back to Demolition. They were on their way back to NWA/WCW when this happened. Tully gets fired from WWF after failing drug test. Word of failed test gets back to NWA/WCW who didn't want him back. Arn returned and stayed to the end when WWF bought them out. Tully, with his career in shambles, turned to ministry and preaches on the word of God. His daughter Tessa went on become a wrestler.

Match of the Week: Steve Austin vs Rock (Backlash 99)

 Match of the Week: Steve Austin vs Rock (Backlash 99)

This match is one forgotten gems they had together. In my opinion, this match is far superior than their Wrestlemania 15 encounter. Going into the match the following happened:

- while Rock got his rematch, Steve Austin wanted his custom smoking skull world heavyweight belt back
- McMahons stacked the odds against Austin with Shane McMahon as referee of the match. Stipulations tacked on if Austin touched him he would be DQ'd and lose the belt
- Vince and Shane McMahon now at each other throats over power
- Rock and Austin battle on the bridge which Rock threw Austin over and into the river along with the "title"
- turns out Rock didn't toss smoking skull belt. He was wearing it and held mock funeral for the belt. Austin gained revenge steamrolling Rock's car. Both fought which Austin sent Rock down to the grave. Shane McMahon bashed Austin from behind with a shovel and is left as the last visual of holding smoking skull belt high in the air over Austin and Rock going to the show.
- before the show started match is made into no holds barred.

At least Austin and Rock made sense while McMahons feuding bit confusing. Then again its Russo style booking.

As for the match both took no hold barred rule seriously at they brawled and tore everything down in their path from fencing, equipment, and announce tables. One of my favorite visual moments when Rock got hold of camera mocking Austin only eat a stunner on top of announce table. The overbooking kicked in trying screw Austin few times. Vince would enter the foray sending one of Hebners as referee of the match and KO'ing Shane with a belt. Steve Austin gave Rock another stunner then a belt shot to retain the title and is shown holding both winged and smoking skull belt at same time.

Another wild fun brawl between the two and would get to pinnacle of it few years later.

WWE Backlash 1999 Stone Cold vs The Rock (No... by tweety-adnan

The next night on RAW Rock would turn full blown face again leaving The Corporation while Steve Austin save Stephanie McMahon from clutches of The Undertaker whom he kidnapped at end of Backlash.

Match of the Week: Kurt Angle vs Shane McMahon (2001 WWE King of the Ring)

Back after hiatus and had great Wrestlemania weekend. I watch another classic Shane McMahon bump, this time, live when he went for elbow drop on The Undertaker from top of Hell in the Cell and ended up crashing through announce table. Throughout the years when Shane gets in the ring to battle he found a ways to get on highlight reel with his crazy stunt spots. One of his infamous matches is the crazy match against Kurt Angle at 2001 WWE King of the Ring.

The picture said it all. Both battle each other in the street fight brutally beating each other the entire match. The famous spot was Angle suplexing Shane multiple times on the plexiglass trying get it to break. Post match causality left Angle with broken tailbone and Shane lucky to be alive after nearly killing himself landing on his head when the glass didn't break.

At the end you give Shane McMahon props and respect for willing put his body on the line each and every time for the dangerous spot he perform,

Shane McMahon vs Kurt Angle Street Fight King... by suverier_sabu

Interesting tidbits from Survivor Series

Survivor Series coming and always been a favorite event of mines. It's known Undertaker made his WWE/F debut in event. Also came out of the event is the awful Gobbedly Gooker, start of Bret and Owen Hart feud, Montreal screwjob, bait-and-switch which Big Show won WWE/F World Heavyweight title, and showering of "CM Punk" chants from Philadelphia crowd. There's some tidbits few or no one knew happened at the event. Here's a few:

Brutus Beefcake and Honky Tonk Man faced each in the opener for three straight years - in first three years of event Beefcake and HTM tangled in opening match with their respective teams. Beefcake come out on top being one of surviving wrestlers in 1989. HTM went 0-3 in surviving.

Last Hurrah for he Magnificent and the Wonderful - main event has Hulk Hogan team against Andre the Giant team. Two members of Hogan's team were Don Muraco and Paul Orndorff in the only PPV main event appearance. It's also their only Survivor Series appearance.

Hart Foundation does Demolition Decapitation and gets a two count while Demolition STILL in the match - this happened during tag team elimination match of Survivor Series 89. Jim Neidhart held a Conquistador in backbreaker position and Bret Hart came off the turnbuckle hitting him with elbow drop only garnering a two count. This was Demolition finisher and they were STILL in the match.

1988 Survivor Series only time they did co-captains

Hercules main evented Survivor Series twice - the late mighty Hercules was mid-card wrestler entire WWF tenure, but he made it to final match of Survivor Series not once, but twice. In 1988 where he was part of Hogan/Savage team and 1990 when he was part of Rick Martel team that won and got themselves in the final match.

Angelo Poffo ICW collides - for total of 23 seconds two old rivals from Poffo ICW collided as in Randy Savage and Ronnie Garvin. It was lopsided as Savage beat Garvin down entire time when they were in the ring together.

NWA sign - at Survivor Series 89, a fan few rows from the front held "NWA is Where It's At" sign during Hulk Hogan's team entrance.

Zeus is afraid of snakes - for Zeus nothing can harm him feeling no pain from punches, kicks, and bodyslams. When Jake Roberts threw the snake in the ring every member from Ted DiBiase team bailed including "Human Wrecking Machine" himself revealing his first (and only his only) weakness.

Powers of Pain gets eliminated for ignoring the 5 count - Powers of Pain hit spike piledriver on Hulk Hogan, but the referee counted to five and disqualified the team for not getting out of the ring within 5 count rule. It's possibly only tag team to get eliminated for ignoring that rule on a PPV.

While 1990 is the only time Survivor Series introduced Grand Finale these wrestlers can claim they main evented WWE/F PPV once: Tito Santana, Rick Martel, Paul Roma, and Warlord.

Speaking of Tito Santana he got revenge on Warlord eliminating him seconds into the match. Warlord beat Santana at Summerslam that year.

Anyone got more to add?