Many moons ago,
A wrestler burst onto the scene at just the right time. This wrestler, however, was not ANY wrestler. He wore the red, white and blue and he was American Made.

When he entered the ring, a hush fell over the crowd. But not for long, for then they would blow the roof off the building. Power walking to the ring, he stepped through those ropes and flexed his muscles. With the crowd still on their feet, he went through a whole routine of flexing and posing, much to everyone's delight. Then, heading to each side of the ring, he put his hand up to his ear as though he couldn't hear the crowd. Ripping off his shirt, his opponent would come out.

This man also had one of the most devastating finishing maneuvers of the time: a boot to the face followed by the now-infamous leg drop. There was also the finger-wagging "don't count me out" signal to the referee. The latter would be used when in a sleeper; as the ref dropped the man's arm for the third time, he would suddenly become energized, which, of course, elicited an even louder response from the crowd.

But then, something happened. Our hero suddenly turned against everything he had previously preached. Instead of reminding us to take our vitamins, drink our milk and say our prayers, he told us to "stick it!"
"What happened?" we wondered. "Why did he turn his back on us?" we asked.

According to the now anti-hero, we had made him this way. He said that contrary to popular belief, HE made wrestling what it is today.

But THEN! one night in August of 2000, that music reached our ears again. That familiar hush once again fell over the crowd; this time in disbelief. Could it be true? After all this time, was HE returning? The red and yellow lights along with the music answered all questions. The man stepped into the arena in his old form, and the arena erupted. Not a person was in their seat; everyone was on their feet, cheering his return. No longer did he want us to "stick it." He now wanted us to go back to the old ways -- sort of. Now, he wanted to say our prayers, drink our milk and KICK SOME ASS!

But, I digress. As they say, it was too good to be true. After a short vacation from the spotlight, HE returned. However, it was not the man who told us to drink milk, say prayers and kick ass. Nay, this was the same man who told us to "stick it." Nonetheless, that night he came back, we embraced him. We opened our arms and our hearts to this man. We chanted his name, and he responded by saying that HE made US. This, of course, has yet to affect the way we respond to this man.

After his triumphant return, a legend of tomorrow came out to the ring and challenged him to a match. Not just any match, mind you. A match at the Grand Daddy of them all; WrestleMania. Standing face to face in the middle of the ring, we saw yesterday's influence on today's talent. Before the hero of yesteryear could respond to the challenge, the crowd voiced their approval. On this night, they did not chant but one name. They went back and forth, first chanting one name, then the other. When HE replied with a resounding "YES," the crowd went nuts.

And so we wait until WresteMania. We wait for the stars of days gone by to meet the stars of the moment. We wait with anticipation, for the winner of the match will become the greatest. EVER.

He's got the stars and stripes running through his veins
He was born and raised the American way
He wears the hood of his country on his sleeve
You'll find out you'll bring him if you really believe
He's American Made
He was born and raised in the US of A
You'll find out you'll bring him if you really believe
He's American Made

There was once a man

By the name of Rocky. Every night, Rocky would come out; the fans chanting his name. Microphone in hand, he would proceed to orally bash his opponent, or, depending on what stage of his career, the fans.

At first, fans dismissed this behavior with chants of "Rocky Sucks!" Soon, however, they realized the talent this man possessed and quickly dropped the "sucks" part of the chant.

Along side his millions ... and millions of fans, the "People's Champion" defeated person after person, foe after foe. Still chanting his name, the man went on to become the youngest champion ever. He also became the most successful third generation superstar in the history of the business.

He has fought many adversaries, including the Cerebral Assassin, the Olympic Hero and the toughest SOB on the planet.

Now, he is set to face the biggest name in the game at the biggest event at what may very well be the greatest venue. Years ago, in front of a packed house, Rocky's opponent defeated the legendary Andre the Giant.

At this year's Wrestlemania, we will see the man who is AMERICAN MADE face off against THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION. Needless to say, this match will definitely be one for the ages.

You see, Rocky watched Hulk Hogan in college, and, while Hulk Hogan was in WCW, he watched Rocky rise to fame. While there is no gold at stake in this match, there is something even more important up for grabs: The ability to say that one is the greatest. Of ALL TIME. Merely a title? Perhaps. Though not to these men, for surely the "greatest of all time" will forever be able to say, "I beat him at the biggest show of them all."

March 17, 2002.

68 thousand people. Toronto Skydome. Wrestlemania 18. The Rock. Hogan; face to face in the middle of the ring. One year ago, this was an unfathomable idea. Today, there are 68,000 people chanting Hogan's name. Then Rocky's. Before the two men even lock up, the battle has begun. On this night, the prize is not a championship belt. No, on this night, the prize is the ability to go down in history as the best ever.

The two lock up and the Skydome quickly supports Hogan. The Rock gets his second wind, and sixty eight thousand Hulkamaniacs tell him he sucks. By the time he's gotten his fourth wind, the crowd is back in his corner.

The Rock nails a Rock Bottom - Hogan kicks out. Big Boot to the face followed by a leg drop - The Rock kicks out. Back and forth the battle goes. Never has anyone in the Skydome or at home watched a match and felt the anticipation like they do at this very moment. The crowd now firmly backs whoever has the upper hand at the moment. Rock Bottom; People's Elbow. One, two, three. The crowd erupts; The Rock wins. His music blaring through the speakers, he goes to each corner, arm raised in victory.

Hogan slowly gets up. He and The Rock look at each other. Hogan wants a handshake. The Rock accepts and the fans voice their approval. The Rock's music starts over and he heads back up the ramp, but not before thanking Hulk Hogan. Suddenly, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash attack Hogan. Running back down the ramp, The Rock helps Hogan fight off The Outsiders and the duo sends them packing.

The crowd is now in a frenzy. The Rock looks at Hogan and tells him to go through the red and yellow Hulk Hogan schpiel. Hogan does, and The Rock tells him to do it again. Hogan obliges, and soon The Rock has Hogan posing.

The Rock and Hulk Hogan are again face to face in the middle of the ring. This time, they look at each other not with hate but with respect. Respect. The Rock, still thanking Hogan, steps through the ropes once again. He turns back around and sees Hogan; holds the ropes open for The Hulkster to go through. Walking back up the ramp, the two raise each others arm in victory.

* * *

Last night at Wrestlemania, The Immortal One and The Great One put on what may very well be the best match of the year. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that that match will be on next year's "Wrestlemania's Greatest Hits."

On March 17, 2002, The Rock and Hulk Hogan showed us what a "real" match should have. All the elements were there, but above all else, the crowd support was there. This match was not the main event last night, although maybe it should have been. No, this match was not for a title, but it didn't need to be. The Rock and Hogan gave us everything they had last night, and though The Rock may have gotten the pin fall, in the end, we were the true winners

"Old School Meets New School"
And so it seems that among the names of Triple H, Stone Cold and The Rock is the "Immortal" Hulk Hogan.

Since his return with the nWo, fans nationwide -- including myself -- have proved that we will cheer Hogan whether he is a heel or face, so why not just make him a good guy? After all, it makes no sense for someone getting face heat to be put over as a heel.

So now that Hogan is back to being the quintessential good guy, should he go back to being the red-and-yellow Hulk Hogan from the days of yore? As far as I'm concerned . . . NO.

Think about it: We all know what Hogan stood for as the red and yellow hero. But he's getting over even more WITHOUT the red and yellow. It's almost as though the black and white Hulk Hogan is the same Hogan, only with more of an attitude.

Since his return, Hogan has not only laid down for The Rock, but teamed up with him. If kept as a team, think of the damage the duo could do. Sure, the big boot to the face and the leg drop aren't nearly as devastating as they seemed to be 20 years ago, but Rocky and Hogan are so over that the bookers have almost no choice but to do something with them that the fans will like. Although knowing wrestling fans, just the fact that The Rock is "new school" and Hogan is "old school" will be enough and it won't really matter what kind of angle they're involved in.

Now renegades are people with their own philosphy
They change the course of history
Everyday people like you and me
You know they have their secret notions
And time is endless motion
All people of the moderate ages here in this twentieth century
You have to keep up in time with the moderate time
A state of mine and sense of pride
A renegade, yes a renegade
Of this time and age
So many renegades
Who's that?
Now hand clap
The renegades

"Hulkamania"

It seems as though every time I turn on my television, I see Hulk Hogan making history. First, it was at WrestleMania Three when he picked up The Eighth Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant. Around the age of seven, he lost to the Ultimate Warrior. And then, at ten, The Hulkster threw everything out the window and joined the nWo. A few years later, I was in a Vermont hotel room when I saw him in those wonderful colors of the red and yellow.

I've seen the nWo on WWF programming, and then, weeks later, The Rock and Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania Eighteen. One night later, he and The Rock teamed up against Hogan's former nWo-ites. On April 4, 2002, Hulk Hogan once again donned the infamous red and yellow. Now, he is set to face Triple H at Backlash for the World Wrestling Federation Undisputed Heavyweight Title.

Originally, I had planned to write about the symbolism of the red and yellow (see, this MCAS stuff really is going to my head). But as I sat here thinking about it, I realized that it would be virtually impossible to write about what the red and yellow means to wrestling fans. Trying to explain it would be like asking Tom Brady how it feels to be the rookie quarterback on the winning team, or asking Steven Tyler what it feels like when he has an arena full of people singing his songs.

The Rock may decide he hates the fans next week on Smackdown, and Scotty 2 Hottie and Albert may become a tag team again. Booker T may very well be buckwheat on crack, and Scott Hall might never have another beer. Edge might go bald and maybe Christian will win a match, but the red and yellow will always be synonymous with Hulk Hogan. No matter how wrestling changes or who the new People's Champion is, the red and yellow will always remind us of the days when we would drink our milk, take our vitamins and say our prayers.

And by the way, whatcha gonna do when Hulk Hogan and the 24 inch pythons run wild on you, brother? Whatcha gonna do?

"What's Hulkamania?"

As of late, all the WWF announcers have been wondering what Hulkamania is. Though I can't speak for every Hulkamaniac, I think this will give you a general feeling for what Hulkamania really is.

Hulkamania is the feeling you get when you see the colors of red and yellow and hear Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child," "American Made" or even "Real American." It's the way your eyes light up when you see the Hulkster playing air guitar and the way your heart skips a beat when he tears off his shirt; it's the way the adrenaline flows through your veins when he "Hulks up" and hits the big boot and leg drop.

You see, Hulkamania is more than just a feeling; it goes deeper than that. It's something that starts the moment the name Hogan is mentioned and it climaxes until you and everyone else in the arena are chanting Hogan's name, infusing him with your energy. Hulkamania is all that -- and more.

In my locker

At school I've got a little poster I made hanging up. There's a picture of Sting without the face paint and a picture of Owen Hart. Above the Owen picture it says "RIP 1965-1999" and below the pictures it says "Stay Focused."

When I first put it up last year, none of my friends could understand why I would have a picture of a dead guy hanging up. After all, I didn't even like him as much as I like Sting, so why would I have it?

Here's why:
Often times during the day, I sometimes need a reality check. Not so much to remind me that I'm probably not as great as I think I am, but rather to remind me that even the toughest of tough sometimes have a bad day. When I need this reminder, I just look at the pictures. What I see, however, is far different from what my friends see.

Unlike my friends, I do not see a picture of just two guys. I see a picture of the man who inspires me to do my best each and every day. When I look at his picture, I don't see "Sting." I see Steve Borden, a mere mortal who gave me 15 years of entertainment. When I look at the other picture, I do not see a guy in a black and pink leotard; in fact, I don't see "The Rocket" or even "The Blue Blazer." When I look at his picture and the expression on his face, I see Owen Hart. I see the man who died while doing what he loved -- entertaining me and making sure I went to bed happy.

Sometimes my friends say it's dumb that I have these pictures in my locker. Are the pictures of Sting and Owen Hart in my locker any different from the kid across the hall who has pictures of 2pac and Bob Marley?

When I look at the picture in my locker reminding me to stay focused, I can't help but feel inspired. How could one not be inspired by looking at a picture of someone who gave me the best years of his life and the man who, in a sense, gave me his life?

What more of a reality check do I need?

I promised myself

That I wouldn't write about Hulk Hogan or the cult-like following that encompasses Hulkamania. After seeing Smackdown last night (5/16), I must break this promise.

Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" blared from the speakers and out came the Hulkster. He limped down to the ring, much to the adulation of the Canadian crowd. He took off his coat and grabbed the mic, waiting for the crowd to let him speak.

He waited. And waited. And waited some more. For nearly five minutes, Hulk Hogan stood in the middle of the ring while the crowd cheered.

Ladies and gentlemen, I saw Hulk Hogan cry. Simply put, even The Immortal One was astounded by the reaction.

To say that Hulkamania is a following wouldn't be an understatement. To say that Hulkamania is almost like a religion wouldn't be enough. To say that Hulkamania is STILL runnin' wild 18 years after he pinned the Iron Sheik probably doesn't even describe it.

Is there any way to describe Hulkamania after last night? Probably not. It's hard to describe what Hulkamania is after last night. Even though I was just chillin' on my mom's water bed watching it, I felt it. I felt the tingle up and down my spine; I felt the huge smile as it crossed my face and I felt that indescribable feeling that lets you know you're a Hulkamaniac.

Does anyone know what Hulkamania is? Not really. Will anyone ever be able to describe that magical feeling? I doubt it. But one thing is for sure: Hulkamania WILL live forever.

Raw

WHAT?

Monday night

WHAT?

Dallas, Texas

WHAT?

Nash has an announcement

WHAT?

He's gonna tell us something

WHAT?

He's gonna run his mouth

WHAT?

In Dallas

WHAT?

About the nWo

WHAT?

Is there gonna be a new member?

WHAT?

Who is it?

WHAT?

Goldust?

WHAT?

Scott Steiner?

WHAT?

Goldberg?

WHAT?

The nWo music hits

WHAT?

Nash heads to the ring

WHAT?

He flaps his gums

WHAT?

And then . . .

WHAT?

Music we haven't heard

WHAT?

In quite some time

WHAT?

It's The Icon

WHAT?

The Showstoppa!

WHAT?

The Main Event

WHAT?

The Heartbreak Kid

WHAT?

Shawn Michaels

WHAT?

Is back

WHAT?

In the WWE

WHAT?

HBK

WHAT?

Is nWo

WHAT?

The Kliq is back . . . sucka

WHAT?

Hi, my name is Heather and. . .

I'm an addict. No, I'm not addicted to any of the "hard" drugs like crack or speed, but hey, one leads to another, right?

So I guess I should tell you my drug of choice. I'm, um, addicted to wrestling.

It's in my veins; the withdrawal symptoms are unlike anything you've ever seen. My heart rate quickens, the sweat forms on my brow and I become short of breathe. Oh, sorry. My bad. That's not really what happens during withdrawal; that's what happens when I finally get my fix. In fact, you probably don't want to see me during withdrawal: I become a whiny, cranky bitch with a bad attitude -- and that's just the beginning.

Just like any other addict, I'll do anything for both my fix and my drug. I stay up 'til crazy hours of the night all year and if I can't stay up, we've got a problem.

I've spent a good chunk of change on my addiction, too. Remnants of our affair are all over my room and sometimes all over me, as well.

The funny thing, though, is that I don't want to quit. I want to continue doing this until the day I die; I want to be as involved as possible. I want to be one of those journalist people who when you read their work you can tell they legitimately love what they write about. When people read my work, I want them to say, "Holy shit. This chick really loves what she's doing and knows what she's talking about."

Don't send me to detox; I don't want to be cured. This drug has now become a part of my very being; it flows through my veins; I eat it, breathe it and sleep it. I bleed it. In short, I live it. This drug and I are slowly becoming one in the same. Now if you don't mind . . . it's time for my fix.

All I need is one life, one try, one breath I'm one man.
What I stand for speaks for itself, They don't understand . . .
All I need is one mic . . . to spread my voice to the whole world
(Nas, "One Mic")

This one seems

Kind of ironic now, considering the fact that according to the Nielsons, ratings are dropping. But the fact of the matter is that wrestling is still extremely popular...

Among the many things wrestling is credited for, one of the main things is the sport's fan base. Often, the sport has been held up on a pedestal because of its loyal fan following. I am proud to say that I am one of those fans.

Ever since I can remember, wrestling has been a huge part of my life. I remember waking up on weekend mornings to watch "WWF Superstars" and "WCW Saturday Night" before I went to bed.

Since that time, wrestling has become something more to me. Now, I could probably tell you with a great deal of confidence that, sick as it may seem, wrestling is a huge part of my life. In fact, depending on whom you ask, wrestling is my life.

On Monday nights, no one calls the house to talk to me after 9:00pm. But I suppose it could be worse - back when "WCW Monday Nitro" was still on, nobody called for me after 8:00pm.

On Thursdays I'm not as bad, though I have been known to yell at the television. One time, I thought I was going to lose my voice. But that's nothing. I mean, I could actually want to be one of those "non-athletes" who wrestles for a living!

To tell you the truth, I am a huge wrestling fan. I cheer for Hulkamania and I can smell what The Rock is cookin'. I'm one of the dozens and dozens of Mick Foley's fans, and I firmly believe that The Game really is that damn good. I answer everything with "What?" and end my conversations with "and that's the bottom line." I also believe that if Chris Jericho really were a larger than life living legend, he wouldn't have to constantly remind us. I believe that the original nWo did indeed pose a huge threat to the WWF, and I think that DX helped usher in the era of "Attitude," along with people the likes of Stone Cold and The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. I believe all of this, but above all else, I believe that Ric Flair's flip over the turnbuckle will always work and that referee Nick Patrick has legitimate pain in his knees, shoulders and neck, sucka. And if you're not down with that, I've got two words for ya...

"Hulkamania"

A while ago I tried to use words to explain what, exactly, Hulkamania is.

I said that Hulkamania was something that started at the mere mention of his name and climaxed until you and a jam-packed arena were chanting his name.

While I was not "wrong" with that description, it was merely the tip of the iceberg.

I recently attended the SmackDown tapings on July 2 for the episode that aired on Independence Day. In a packed Boston FleetCenter, I experienced Hulkamania live for the very first time.

Though what I said earlier is true, Hulkamania is so much more than that. It's almost impossible to describe because it's a feeling much akin to that which was felt by Adam Vinatieri after kicking a game-winning field goal, or what Pedro Martinez would feel after pitching a no-hitter that put his team games ahead of the Yankees.

Hulkamania is difficult to describe because it's an emotion felt differently by everyone.

On July 2, I screamed, stomped, chanted and cheered, urging the Hulkster to run wild over Chuck and Billy. When the referee's hand slapped the mat for the third time, I literally jumped out of my seat and threw my arms in the air. It was almost as though Edge and Hogan's victory was my victory, as well.

Yes, Hulkamania is the way you react when his name is mentioned, but it's also more than that. Hulkamania has to be experienced live to be truly understood, and even then, one is still unsure about what they have just witnessed.

The amazing thing about Hulkamania is that the 'Maniacs really can bring him if they - we - believe. As we saw on Independence Day, Hulkamania is still alive and well in Boston, and as we've seen in recent months, Hulkamania is still runnin' wild, brother.

Whatcha gonna do, brother?
Whatcha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?

Eric Bischoff

For 84 weeks in a row, Eric Bischoff's WCW trounced the WWF in the Monday night "ratings war" between TNT's "Nitro" and USA's "Raw."

Fast forward to 2002. A few weeks ago, the unthinkable happened. Not only did Eric Bischoff make his return to wrestling, but it was along side Vince McMahon. In fact, Vince made "Uncle Eric" the general manager of Raw! As Vince said, it takes a son-of-a-bitch to know a son-of-a-bitch, and if it's ratings McMahon is looking for, he's found the right person.

In the mid-90's, it was Eric Bischoff who nudged the WWF into the era of "attitude" by bringing in Scott Hall and Kevin Nash - The Outsiders - thus forming the original (and best) nWo.

For years, the nWo was known for doing scandalous things: they beat and spray-painted "nWo" on Kimberly Page, DDP's wife. Though they feared Sting, it was they who caused him to brood in the rafters. The New World Order even went as far as to paint "nWo" on the WCW Heavyweight Championship title.

Along with Eric Bischoff, the nWo grabbed the wrestling world by the balls and knocked the competition flat on their ass. The nWo did everything to get under the skin of the fans until one day . . . the fans stopped caring.

Some would say that a few weeks ago, Vince McMahon signed his company's death wish by enlisting Eric Bischoff. After all, look what happened to WCW. Though the WWF of old may soon fade into the sunset, the fact of the matter is that Eric Bischoff had nothing to do with the "watered down" WCW that I faithfully watched until its dying day. On the contrary, Eric Bischoff was at the helm of the WCW who forced the WWF to bring in "Attitude" or face certain death.

If it's ratings McMahon was after when he sought the help of Eric Bischoff, it's rating's he'll get.

Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
(Creed, "One Last Breath")

Over the past six months or so, we've seen "Sacrifice" videos during WWE programming that highlight the sacrifices wrestlers make in order to ensure that we go home happy.

Even with these videos, there are still some who claim that wrestling is not a real sport. After all, how could anything be considered "real" if the outcome is predetermined and the participants walk into the match knowing whether they'll be looking up at the lights or having their hand raised in victory at the end of the night?

Though on rare occasions these nay sayers have a legitimate point, the fact of the matter is that what goes up must come down and it doesn't matter whether it's a 6-foot tall, 220 pound man or a 5-foot-8, 135 pound woman who climbs up the top turnbuckle and attempts a move. The chances of nailing the move are still 50-50 and if they miss - it's going to hurt.

The truth is that oftentimes, wrestlers make larger sacrifices than any baseball player ever will. Case in point: Though he tore his quadriceps muscle, Triple H still finished the match and walked back up the ramp, albeit with some help. You can say that baseball players are real athletes until you are blue in the face, but when was the last time you saw a baseball player get severely injured and still finish the game?

To take things up to another level, what about the fact that "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels broke his back entertaining millions and millions of fans worldwide? After having back surgery four years ago, he hung up the boots for good, saying he wanted to spend some quality time with his family. At SummerSlam on August 25, 2002, The Showstoppa stepped through those ropes for the last time, and all for one simple reason. The time and place were right and the storytelling was good, but above all that, Shawn Michaels went through hell just to entertain his fans.

If that's not enough for you, I can tell you that on May 23, 1999, a man by the name of Owen Hart made the ultimate sacrifice. Though the details around what happened before the accident are shady, they don't really matter. All that matters is that on this date, Owen Hart fell approximately 90 feet to his death all for one reason - the fans.

See, all the wrestlers are trying to do is make people like you and me happy. Whether we're bloodthirsty hardcore ECW fans or fans of bra and panties matches, it matters not. At the end of the day, all that matters is that we, the fans, were sent home happy. After all, without us, where would wrestlers be?

Brock Suffering From “Goldberg Syndrome” -
Who’s Next?

In 1997, Bill Goldberg began wrestling’s most talked about winning streak by eventually going 173-0. Though The Streak came to a nasty end in a match against Kevin Nash when Scott Hall and a tazer got involved, the “blemish” was often overlooked due to the interference.

Goldberg has recently made his return to wrestling by signing on for an unknown number of matches with All-Japan Pro Wrestling.

In 2002, Brock Lesnar has been pushed just as fast – if not faster – than Goldberg, and taken the wrestling world by storm. Destroying everyone in his path, he has defeated The Rock and literally had the blood of Hulk Hogan on his hands. Now, he is Smackdown’s Heavyweight Champion of the World.

While in Japan, Goldberg says, “The Streak starts again!” He has also said that if the time were right, he would work for the WWE. Should this happen in the near future, one of the most talked about feuds in wrestling history would become possible.

If Stone Cold Steve Austin and the WWE were able to work out their differences, we could theoretically see Austin vs. Goldberg, which would probably be WWE’s biggest pay-per-view draw yet.

If not, than we could easily see a Streak vs. Streak match between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg and find out who the real unstoppable one is. This, too, could possibly be a big draw for the WWE, though only if it’s done right.

Based on the pretense that everyone would know about Goldberg’s previous 173-0 streak, the WWE would have to create a storyline so that both Lesnar and Goldberg stay undefeated, though never actually face each other.

After months of narrowly avoiding each other, the two would finally meet at the biggest stage in the game: WrestleMania.

While I personally would be pulling for Goldberg, the crowd excitement would be similar to when The Rock and Hulk Hogan met at WrestleMania X-8.

The fans would simultaneously chant “Gold-Berg” and “Les-Nar,” sometimes chanting “Goldberg” just to spite Brock.

While the edge would go to Brock because he has more overall experience, it would provide a better storyline for Goldy to have his hand raised in victory at the end of the night. By having Goldberg put the first blemish on Brock’s record, it would prove that Goldberg truly is unstoppable and that Brock Lesnar’s streak was just a stroke of luck.

"(W)WE Need A Hero"
It seems as though Stone Cold Steve Austin walking of the WWE has caused more fall out than anyone ever expected.

Since Austin took his ball and went home due to “creative differences,” WWE ratings have dropped, stock has fallen and pay-per-view buyrates are down 11%.

Though the blame for the falling ratings cannot be placed solely on the shoulders of The Texas Rattlesnake, the fact of the matter is that with The Rock in Hollywood, Austin had to pick up some of the slack. When he slapped his supporters across the face and walked out, it seems as though he took the ratings with him.

Now, WWE’s primary show, Raw, is suffering from a lack of superstars. Superstars create good ratings, regardless of whether or not it’s a good storyline.

Looking at Raw’s roster, the biggest names are Ric Flair, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Booker T and Goldust.

Like it or not, Booker and Goldust cannot and do not fill buildings. They have great chemistry together and make a great team, but Booker T and Goldust don’t put the butts in the seats.

While Flair, Triple H and Jericho can fill buildings; Chris Jericho is on the borderline. He is a great in-ring performer and he cuts some of the best promos, but saying that Jericho will be in the main event doesn’t really sell as many tickets as WWE promoters would like.

That leaves us with The Nature Boy and The Cerebral Assassin, both of whom can get the job done both in and out of the ring. Unfortunately for Triple H, most wrestling fans are getting sick of Monday night’s “Triple H Show.”

Now, Raw has only one superstar: The Nature Boy Ric Flair. Flair cuts awesome promos, gets the job done in the ring and fills the seats. Also unfortunately for Flair, he’s probably one of the most under utilized talents on the entire WWE roster. He’s lost to Chris Jericho some three times in a row, once while Flair’s foot was on the ropes. Talk about screwing over your talent.

The only other big name on the Raw roster is Shawn Michaels, but according to him, he’s got one good match left in him before he calls it quits for real this time. While Michaels on the mic would most definitely help ratings, Vince needs to bring in someone who everyone wants to see…someone along the lines of Scott Steiner or Bill Goldberg.

Though the rumor mill is running rampant and reporting that Steiner has failed his physical, Steiner would instantly boost ratings simply because no one has heard from him since the then-WWF bought WCW. Everyone wants to know if the younger Steiner brother still has it. Better yet, bring in both Rick and Scott Steiner as a tag team and have them show the younger guys how it’s done. After all, most of us would love to see two Steiners for the price of one.

The other superstar the WWE could bring in is Bill Goldberg. He’s wrestling in Japan right now, but his contract with All Japan Pro Wrestling in non-inclusive, meaning he can wrestle anywhere else, anytime. Since Brock Lesnar is also undefeated, Brock against Goldberg for the title would be the ultimate clash of the champions.

The WWE has already come to terms with the fact that their ratings are on the downfall. Now, they need to do something to pick the ratings up and shock the fans. Give us something that we would never see coming, and hit us with it from all possible directions

"Raw" or "The Triple H Show"?

Wrestling has often been criticized for being more “entertainment” than “sports.” Though that may be true, wrestling has always been a little more entertainment based than anything else. After all, if there's no entertainment value, what's going to keep the fans coming back? The only difference between now and 1982 is the attention span of the target audience.

In 1982, wrestling was just getting television airplay and the then World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was bought by Vince McMahon, Jr. Everybody was watching wrestling because it was something new and different.

Now, though the target audience of the WWE is primarily males aged 18-34, the fact of the matter is that everyone watches wrestling, and we’ve seen practically everything there is to see. In general, though wrestling fans are quite nostalgic and would love to revisit the days when Hulkamania and Andre the Giant were selling out arenas across the country, we have shorter attention spans.

We've seen a 300+ pound man be body slammed like he was nothing and we've seen an amateur wrestler go from 1996 Olympic gold-medallist to WWF Heavyweight Champion of the World. We've watched a young man named Rocky Maivia mature into The Rock, and we've literally witnessed Owen Hart give us his life. We sat back helplessly as Vince McMahon screwed Bret Hart in 1997, and we've watched a cocky Hunter Hearst Helmsley mature into The Game.

We've seen all that – and more. Now, the WWE’s ratings are dropping to record lows.

By bringing in Eric Bischoff, HLA and going from an “Undisputed Champion” to both Raw and Smackdown having their own separate champ, the WWE is hoping to renew interest in their program.

While all this might help, the fact of the matter is that TNN’s Raw is in severe need of help compared to UPN’s Smackdown. Stop analyzing the show and what was or wasn't said because the answer to this one is simple. What the creative team at Raw needs to realize is that the name of this show is “Raw,” not “The Triple H Show.”

Personally, I love Triple H, but even I get tired of seeing him in every segment of the show. I watch because I love the sport, not because I enjoy seeing Triple H on my television screen before and after every commercial break.

Sure, maybe he's not really on my TV before and after every break, but he might as well be. He's on my TV so much I thought the name of the program really was “The Triple H Show.” When Bubba Dudley said that this was not the Triple H Show on Raw a few weeks back, he was not wrong in the least. In fact, he echoed the sentiments of most wrestling fans.

Those who accuse wrestling of being more entertainment than sports are right . . . to some extent. After all, we’ve seen everything – what you need to show us is something we’ve never seen before and wouldn’t be expecting. The fewer people in the company who know, the less likely it is to be all over the Internet and the more surprised we’ll be. After all, how shocked were you when Eric Bischoff popped up on Raw? Sure would’ve sucked if that were leaked, huh?

The WWE needs to get back to the sports part of the equation. Put the rosters back together, and give us better matches, more clean wins and fewer run-ins. Bring back the tag team division, and put the belts on either the Hardyz or Dudleys. Then, treat Ric Flair with the respect he deserves – there’s no need for him to be losing to Chris Jericho the way he has been. Then, put the Championship belts around the waists of people who deserve them, like Rob Van Dam. Finally, realize that dating the boss’s daughter doesn’t give Triple H the right to be on my TV so much; get him off the mic and in the ring so he can prove that he really is “that damn good.” Oh, and also, lose the sledgehammer, Triple H.
When you’re The Game, you don’t need to cheat.

Are YOU Tough Enough?

Three years ago, the then-WWF had a great idea: a reality television show that would highlight the training that wrestlers go through. The trainees, however, would not be people already in the business. Instead, they would be your neighbors, classmates, and coworkers - everyday people hoping to reach their goal of becoming a pro wrestler. At the end of nine weeks, the trainers would pick one male and one female winner. These winners would receive developmental contracts with the WWF and hopefully make it to the top of the ladder.

The search for the final thirteen contestants began when millions of people sent in their tapes. These millions were then narrowed to the hundreds that lined up at The World, the WWF's theme restaurant, for the "semi-finals." From these hundreds came 25, twelve of whom would be sent packing by the end of the day.

In the finals, thirteen would then live, train and party together for the next nine weeks. Of course, since this was a competition, people discovered that they were not, in fact, "Tough Enough." Some quit because of injuries, and others found out that just being a fan isn't enough - you have to want this like you've never wanted anything else, or you'll be cut.

Now in its third season, this year's "Tough Enough" has proved to have the most interesting finalists. Jonah, from Natick, MA, cheated on his girlfriend with other finalist Jill, from Stoneham, MA. Ironically enough, Jill quit after the second show, saying she couldn't deal with all the drama. Scott, from Harrisonburg, VA, has led a very sheltered life and continually gets "falling-down" drunk. Rebekah, a devout Christian, is a former Hooters girl, who recently quit after finding out that her mom's home was being foreclosed on. John tried out for Tough Enough 2 last year, but didn't make the final thirteen when the judges decided that he wanted to be famous more than he wanted to be a wrestler. Jamie lost thirty pounds before auditioning for Tough Enough and seems to be developing a crush on one of her housemates. Eric, 23, spends his weekends as a department store fragrance peddler, where all he does is "meet women all day." Kelly has asthma, but knows how to play the bagpipes. Matt, who seems to display the most talent of all the contestants, once sold fake Rolexes to make some extra cash while working to get his bachelor's degree in experimental sciences. Chad, the 6'10" giant, just recently got cut, which goes to show that bigger isn't always better. Nick, who is half-Dutch and half-Indonesian, has turned his back on everything back home to accomplish his dream of becoming a future WWE superstar. Last, but not least, Justin, or "Juice," left his second-to-fifth grade autistic students to try and become a wrestler.

This year's Tough Enough kids are definitely an eclectic bunch. Although there are only nine of them left, the kids want it; you can see it in their eyes. If that's not enough proof, there was not a dry eye in the Traxx West training camp when Tommy Dreamer explained how, although his father has Parkinson's, he got his vision back for the two weeks in which Dreamer made his debut in the WWE against ECW brother Rob Van Dam.

Although Scott wants it, he has the emotional development of an 8-year old. Jamie is too worried about what the other housemates think of her, and Kelly has hurt her back. For these reasons, I'm hoping the WWE will once again break their own rules - they picked two females last year - and pick Jonah and Matt as the winners.

And so the question remains…are you Tough Enough?

Jimmy Fitzwell

"I play 'Jimmy Fitzwell,' a very effeminate wrestler to say the least. I've been threatened by a biker gang and had to wait until hours after a show before I could leave because they were hanging out in the parking lot. I get spit at, trash thrown and everything," says Chris Pustelnik, an indy wrestler from the Midwest. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 189 pounds, Pustelnik has only been wrestling for just under three years, but has already suffered through bruised ribs, a broken ankle and sprained knees, as well as all the other bumps and bruises that go along with this not so typical hobby. For those who are wondering, these injuries have never kept him from a paycheck, neither in the wrestling world nor the "real world."

Growing up, Chris liked a lot of the wrestlers who are now synonymous with the eighties: Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage and the Honky Tonk Man. While some don't know what they want to do until well after high school and college graduation, Chris has wanted to be a wrestler since the age of seven, when he and his younger brother started choreographing matches when they played together.

Although he attended the International Pro Wrestling Power Factory in Muncie, Indiana, for his wrestling training, this occupation seems a little far-fetched for someone whose childhood was pretty typical: his dad is an EMT at Aamco, and his mom is a supermarket cashier; he, himself holds Bachelor degrees in both English and Journalism, and is working on a third in nursing. But as Pustelnik explains, "Wrestling isn't my career. It's something I do to blow off steam. I have no intentions of going anywhere with it, even should the opportunity arise."

Even stranger is the fact that Pustelnik plays a homosexual whose favorite maneuvers are screaming loudly and pinching his opponent's rear. Since the real-life Chris considers himself a "manly man," he draws his influence from movies and other wrestlers, including Gorgeous George and Lenny Lane. As for the gimmick itself, it's really nothing new - Chris just takes it to another level. He has worked for many indy federations, but is currently booked with Intense Wrestling Incorporated in Cincinnati. He wrestles twice a month and it's something that he can easily fit into his schedule weeks in advance.

There is some confusion amongst fans as to what an "indy fed" really is, so Chris sets the record straight: "Indies are separate promotions run by a local talent which gives a chance for individuals to showcase their skills and hope to get noticed, have a little fun, or simply work to better themselves. The money is s--t, the drives are usually lengthy and some promoters are real a--holes. But it's a chance to do what you love."

There's a Jimmy Fitzwell inside all of us, so Chris offers his advice to those who want to show their talent to anyone who will watch: "Get in shape until you turn 18 - play athletics, take ballet and gymnastics and other 'girly' things which will give you timing, rhythm and other things that you wouldn't even consider helping. Also, martial arts are great, especially Jujitsu, Judo and other grappling-based arts, as well as Karate, Kung Fu, and striking-based arts. When you're old enough, find a good wrestling school and go for it."

Sure, taking ballet and gymnastics may seem a little sissified, but Jimmy Fitzwell is in touch with that side of him, and look at how successful he is!

Evolution is the Solution

Why Vince Russo may not be the "Anti-Christ" of wrestling

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Vince Russo was an avid wrestling fan who grew up recognizing wrestling more for its entertainment than sport. He began his career in the business with a syndicated radio show, called "Vicious Vincent's World of Wrestling." This show caught the attention of the then-WWF, and Russo eventually began doing freelance work for the company's WWF Magazine and WWF RAW Magazine.

After writing his monthly column, "The Bite" and "The Bite Uncensored" for these two magazines respectively, Russo soon found himself at the head of WWF creative control, writing storylines and promos for the company.

While in the WWF, he brought us The Nation of Domination and D-Generation X, which, if you'll remember, was the WWF's answer to WCW's New World Order. Thanks to Russo's creative mind, the WWF was soon back on top in the ratings war.

However, things were not all peaches and cream for Vinnie Ru.

At the WWF's 1999 pay-per-view, Over The Edge, he wrote a storyline where good guy Owen Hart, playing his character of "The Blue Blazer," a comical superhero who many consider the 90s answer to Hulk Hogan, would fly down from the rafters…like a superhero. According to the story, Owen Hart was extremely uncomfortable with this idea; it didn't feel right to him. Vince Russo reportedly told Hart that if he didn't perform this stunt, he would be in breach of contract and suspended or fired without pay. Owen Hart begrudgingly agreed, and, later that night plunged some 50 plus feet to his death. The rest, as they say, is history.

After Hart's death, Vince Russo and the WWF parted ways, and Russo headed down to Atlanta, Georgia, to see what he could do to save WCW. Ironically enough, nine months after Vince Russo came aboard, WCW closed its doors for good.

Vince Russo laid low for a few years, and near the end of 2002, he aligned himself with Jerry Jarrett's NWA-TNA promotion, and introduced the world to "S.E.X" - Sports Entertainment Xtreme, and proclaimed "evolution is the solution!"

While many don't agree with this statement, the reasoning is simple. Yes, NWA-TNA puts on unbelievable matches, but many wrestling fans do not want to sit through two hours of straight "catch-as-catch-can" matches. Fans of today have been brought up on "sports-entertainment," and it's a healthy combination of both sports and entertainment that we want to see.

Throughout his tenure in the wresting business, there has been one common thing said about Vince Russo - that he has no passion for this business and couldn't give a damn whether people watched or not. Personally, I disagree.

To say that he has no passion for this business is absolutely, one hundred percent pure blasphemy. Here's why:

On Wednesday, January 15, 2003, Mike Tenay conducted an interview with Russo, which aired on NWA-TNA. Tenay - who was employed with WCW while Russo worked there - essentially asked Russo why he drove WCW into the ground. In response, Vince said that there was no way anyone could hold him solely responsible for what happened to WCW. After all, he was only there for nine months, and how can one person destroy a whole company in that short timeframe? As the interview went on, Vinnie Ru got extremely worked up, and eventually walked out of the interview.

It doesn't matter who you are, but there is no way that you can get that worked up over something - whether scripted or not - if you don't truly believe in what you are doing and saying.

Is Vince Russo a cancer to the sport of pro wrestling? I doubt it. Vince Russo is the man who gave us The Nation of Domination, D-Generation X and The Rock, as well as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker…the list goes on and on. With the right talent and the opportunity, the "anti-Christ" of wrestling can once again bring a somewhat mediocre company with above average talent to the forefront of the wrestling word.

Killer Kowalski's School Of Pro Wrestling

…Take it seriously or take it the "F" out

At some time in their lives, everyone has been a wrestler: from imitating your favorite WWE superstars with your brother on Saturday afternoons to a bar room brawl, everyone has wrestled at some point. What separates the superstars from the Monday morning booking committee, however, is a small institution where they can perfect their craft until they are ready to perform in front of a packed Madison Square Garden.

As you walk up the stairs of Byrne's Tang Soo Do, the anticipation mounts as you realize what you're getting yourself into. You can hear the squealing of the ring as the wrestlers hit the ropes, the loud thud as he takes a back bump and the sound of flesh on flesh as the students give and receive Ric Flair-esque chops.

You open the door, walk through the short hallway, and it's almost like a carnival the way the sights and sounds hit you all at once. To your left, seated in "The Throne" - a WrestleMania 17 chair - is Walter "Killer" Kowalski. Standing outside the ring in the corner directly opposite you is "Slyk" Wagner Brown, head trainer at Killer Kowalski's School of Pro Wrestling.

Slyk assigns each of the twelve trainees, which today consists of 10 males and 2 females, a partner, and they get into the ring. First, they run drills, which Kowalski says is to warm everyone up and get them loose. These drills include going over the top rope forwards and backwards, through the middle and baseball slides, as well as various front and back bumps. After these drills, they practice regular and Japanese arm drags, as well as drop toeholds, with Slyk giving his insight the entire time.

Slyk tells the kids what he wants to see, but he doesn't care how they get there. After the first few pairs, he declares, "We've seen this already…you're twisting his arm, he's twisting your arm. Do something different!"

While practicing drop toeholds, one wrestler has the other in a front face lock. The person in the hold is able to rotate completely around, and Slyk is forced to enter the ring. "Does anybody know what was wrong with that?" he asks. No one replies, so Slyk continues. "It sucks," he starts. "I don't what's worse, the fact that he can roll around like that or the fact that I had to watch it."

Finally, after working on arm drags and drop toeholds, Brown announces that it's match time. The students are given ten minutes of prep time, where they must come up with a pre-match promo as well as the match itself.

After a hard day's work, the kids start putting their "street clothes" back on and Slyk tells me not to be afraid to talk to anyone. Taking his word for it, I first spoke to Mary Kate, one of only three girls in Kowalski's school. She said that though everyone is very respectful, the girls tend to stick together.

Marcus, who's very new to the scene, is one of the few who doesn't draw inspiration from The Undertaker. Instead, he likes Bret and Owen Hart, as well as guys like Rob Van Dam. Though sidelined with a shoulder injury, he hopes to get back to work in a few weeks.

One of the brightest prospects, "Die Hard Eddie Edwards," has been at the school for two years. His claim to fame? With hair that would make Booker T jealous, his fellow wrestlers often call him "Booker E."

The most interesting wrestler was "SAT," who also answers to "Chris Nowinski Version 2," has a degree in criminal justice. When he saw what was out there, however, he decided to follow his dream of being a pro wrestler.

Although it costs $2500 for a lifetime membership to Kowalski's School, their motivation is simple: many are either paying for it themselves or it was given to them as a gift.

Many people have given up completely on wrestling, saying that it will never be what it once was until the wrestlers stop playing politics and Vince McMahon focuses on what the fans truly want and what he wants to give them. While this is an arguable point, your faith in wrestling will be renewed and reinforced after a short visit to Kowalski's School of Pro Wrestling. The wrestlers are extremely talented and down to earth. "Booker E," SAT, Rain, Eve, DC and everyone else are "like family…brothers and sisters…everyone's cool." Not only are they like family, offering helpful advice and kidding around, but also they realize that it takes years and years of hard work to even begin working on the Indy circuit. When asked where they see themselves in five and ten years, the response was nearly identical for everyone: "In five years I hope to have enough knowledge and experience to even start in the indys…ten years?…hopefully in the WWE."

Unlike Tough Enough, people aren't cut on a weekly basis. They are given every opportunity to shine, but they are not sent packing if they can't get the move down. They have been there for weeks to years, but even the ones who have been there for a year or two don't have chips on their shoulders.

As you walk into Killer Kowalski's Wrestling School, it is first the sounds and then the sights that hit you. Not only does it look real, but it sounds real, too. When Rain hits SAT with a pair of chops, you feel it on your own chest.

Painful? Yes, but well worth it. As Mary Kate says, "It looks easy on TV but it's not." These words, along with everything else, combine into one clear, somewhat surreal moment: this is where the magic happens.

*Editor's note:Killer Kowalski's School of Wrestling
in located in St.Malden,Massachusetts.
You can find more info at Killer Kowalski's Pro-wrestling School

"Wrestling, 'Rasslin' and Sports-Entertainment"

-Kurt Angle has reaggravated a neck injury, but his match against "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 19 is still scheduled to take place. It appears as though plans to have Lesnar win the belt and take Angle out of the picture have been scrapped, though Kurt's 2004 Olympic future does not seem to have gold at the end of tunnel.

-Edge underwent neck-fusion surgery on March 10 by Dr. James Youngblood. Dr. Youngblood performed this same operation on Steve Austin, Rhyno, Christ Benoit and Lita. He'll probably be out for at least a year, but expect Edge's return to be nothing short of phenomenal.

-Been wondering about A-Train's huge push with the Undertaker as of late? It's because 'Taker likes him and thinks A-Train has lots of potential. Now, if only 'Taker could teach him the art of shaving…

-Speaking of SmackDown, Rhyno returned at full force a few weeks ago, tagging in a match with Chris Benoit against Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas. According to Rhyno, he enjoys working with Benoit not only because of his work ethic, but also because Benoit knows what it's like to come back from a neck injury. The "Rhyno rumor" is that he will join Triple H's Evolution group, but that would require Rhyno jumping to RAW from his current SmackDown position.

-While on the subject, "Evolution" has been the victim of a major setback: Triple H seems to be extremely injury prone as of late, and this has seemingly rubbed off on the rest of his enterouge. Batista has a torn triceps muscle, and Orton, who just came back from a shoulder injury, appears to have some broken toes, though it may be the whole foot that's broken.

-NWA:TNA's Tenacious Z has signed a contract with the WWE. Z, 19, lost one leg to cancer at the age of 8, but still managed to accomplish his dream of becoming a pro-wrestler. He wears a prosthetic leg down to the ring, but once in the ring he takes it off, and wrestles with just his one leg. Watch him, however, and you quickly forget that he has one leg. He will be a great addition to either roster, but would probably be more impactful on the SmackDown roster as a cruiserweight.

-"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig passed away on February 10, 2003. The coroner's report is due out in a few weeks. While no foul play is suspected, the rumor mill is saying that The Perfect One died from a drug overdose or bad heart, or perhaps some combination of both.

-It appears as though there really is no way to get D-Lo Brown off of your television. After receiving his release from the WWE a few weeks ago, he debuted at the TNA Asylum on March 12, 2003. Also making his debut at the Asylum was the one and only "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan.

-Finally, it seems as though Austin's return has proven to be the answer to RAW's ratings woes. Since his return at No Way Out, ratings have been a 4.0 the night after No Way Out, a 4.5 when Austin made his actual RAW re-debut two weeks ago, and a 4.0 on March 10, which means that of the people who get TNN, roughly 4.5 percent watched RAW. It's evident that the return of "The Texas Rattlesnake" has been a quick fix, but will things change?

Hmm… Wrestling Observations

· How does Chris Jericho's beard grow so fast?

· What's JR's obsession with government mules?

· The only way Test can get over: have his girlfriend with him

· Does Scott Steiner have tennis balls in his arms?

· "Wine Me, Dine Me, (619) Me!"…I like it.

· Benoit gets a standing ovation at the Royal Rumble, and then has to beat up the rest of Team Angle Suck Squad? Where's his TITLE SHOT?

· Isn't it ironic that "Stone Cold" walked out of the company and yet we still cheer him? And how about the fact that he was in almost every RAW moment?

· Did The Rock get booed because his promo was all over the place or because he "sold out"?

· In another ironic twist, Bradshaw has traveled more since his injury than before it happened.

· Is the second line of Bischoff's music REALLY "…something something whatever"?

· Will the February 2003 edition of RAW Magazine outsell the Diva's Playboys…combined?

· The guys of all 3 seasons of Tough Enough have displayed more talent than the girls. What's up with that?

· RAW is better the less Triple H is on-screen…and the numbers prove it.

· Hogan vs. Austin - 'nuff said.

· When's Goldberg going to make an appearance? Certainly that would shake RAW to its very foundation.

· Is it possible for Larry Zbyzsco and Dusty Rhodes to make anything sound great?

· We Want Sting!

· Does anyone miss Lex Luger or Buff Bagwell?

· For a huge wrecking machine, Brock Lesnar sure does have a baby face.

· Does Jeff Hardy need a little MATTITUDE adjustment?

· JR went 1-0 for his career…in Oklahoma, no less!

· It's been awhile since we've heard from the WWE protestors. Does this men that they like "Hot Lesbian Action" and necrophilia?

· Why do they tease us with mini-pushes for RVD? Just do it already!

· I feel bad for Raven. I mean they approve - and start - his storyline idea, but then release him a week later.

· Nathan Jones previews on RAW and Sean O'Haire ones on Smackdown? I thought that wasn't allowed.

· Who really decided who won the RAW X awards?

· And now that I think of it, who makes up The Academy Of Wrestling Arts and Sciences?

But hey…I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know.

Mike Braun: The Made Who Made Saugus Famous

(Special thanks to Mike for the interview...you know who the #1 MFer is baby..LOL)

For the past three years, the 6-foot-3, 245 pound Mike Braun has been "kicking ass and cashing checks" all over New England. Along with his "shut up and fight" and "let the beatings begin" attitude, this 18 year old Saugus, MA native is the future of the indy wrestling scene.

Braun has only been a wrestler for three years, but has already been a three-time XWA (Xtreme Wrestling Alliance) tag-team champion and just recently won the EWF television title. These wins can no doubt be attributed to his finishers, which include The Kill Switch, an atomic drop into a sidewalk slam; The Situation, a TKO; and the Full Metal Jacket, which is a full nelson camel clutch.

The self-proclaimed "bad-ass face" draws his inspiration from both Chris Benoit and The Undertaker, whom he watched while growing up and who remains his favorite to this day. According to Braun, "I've been a fan of Benoit's since '93 because he's an overachiever who's supposed to be a nobody but still works hard."

As for why he's an Undertaker fan, Braun says simply, "I've liked him since I was seven, before being an Undertaker fan was cool…just like him, I'm a bad ass."

As a wrestling fan, one of the most impressive things to watch is the way that bumps just don't seem to hurt as much as it looks like they should. According to Mike, "wrestling's been a dream of mine since I was seven. The first time I stepped in the ring, I felt at home. It's a rush to perform…you don't feel the bumps…it's incredible. The ring is just amazing."

With inspirations like Benoit and 'Taker, it's no wonder why Braun has been so successful. In turn, this success gives him the right to voice his opinions on all things wrestling, which he does gladly.

Echoing the sentiments of many wrestling fans as of late, Braun feels that, "Triple H may have paid his dues but he's only on top because he's banging the boss's daughter [Stephanie McMahon]. He needs to stop playing politics and do more entertaining, not be some juiced-up stiff."

A wrestling fan his whole life, Braun has watched the WWF, WCW and ECW, a feat many fans cannot relate to because they stick with one federation and tend to not watch anything else. In addition, Braun also watches NWA:TNA (Total Non-Stop Action), which is a federation run out of Tennessee by Jerry Jarrett with help from his son, Jeff Jarrett. As Mike says, "If NWA:TNA can keep producing shows like they have been and get some bigger names, then yes, they could compete with the WWE. They should go after Sting, Steve Corino and Shane Douglas…get RVD, Chris Candido and Shane Douglas. Reform the Triple Threat and that will carry TNA, not S.E.X."

As you can see, Mike Braun is not your average 18-year old wrestling fan. Sure, he'll be the last one to complain about seeing "puppies!" on RAW or Smackdown, but he also has an intense understanding and passion for the business.

While he feels that Hogan is washed up and past his prime, he also realizes that the Hulk Hogan-Roddy Piper feud will go down in the history books, just as "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Rick Rude already have.

In addition, he thinks that Sting was great, "the old-school Sting was unbelievable and Crow Sting was crazy." Shawn Michaels is "the Showstoppa; the Main Event," and Vince McMahon, "followed his dreams and made wrestling what it is today."

Of course, Braun would love to wrestle in the WWE one day, but "not if Triple H is there. No one else would ever win a belt. I'd rather wrestle in TNA and fight AJ Styles."

Besides his passion for this little thing called wrestling, there is one other thing that gets Braun through his matches: the fans. More importantly, his fans. A group lovingly referred to as "Mike Followers" or "MFers," they support him through thick and thin.

Mom always told you to be a leader instead of a follower, but this is one time when it's okay not to listen. The "#1 MFer" spot has already been taken, but join the cause while you still can. The one-way train to superstardom is now boarding, and you don't want to miss it. As "the man who made Saugus famous" so eloquently puts it, "wrestling will work out because I'll never give up."