I've written a lot about professional wrestling over the pass month. It began with my WrestleMania predictions, and was soon followed up with why 1992 was a great year for the WWE. I would like to end the month of April with one more wrestling post.
I'm currently reading The Best in the World: At What I have No Idea. This is the third installment of in the autobiographical tales of Y2J Chris Jericho. Jericho's way of telling a story immediately hooked me when I read his first book A Lion's Tale. He has a great way of putting you right in the middle of the story.
Thus far it's been a quick read for me, and I got about 100 pages left to go. One of the aspects I really respect about Jericho is his multitasking skills. In addition to be an other he is: a professional wrestling (obviously), frontman to the metal band FOZZY, podcast host, former contestant on Dancing with the Stars, and star of Sharknado 3. With all of this going on, he was able to write an funny, thoughtful, and interesting tale.
I recommend anyone to read his books, if you are semi-interesting in the world of professional wrestling.
This past week the legendary Ringo Starr was inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He was the final Beatle to be inducted as a solo artist. So now all the members of the Beatles are in the hall of fame twice. Once as a member of The Beatles, and then as individual solo artist.
I am beyond thrilled that Ringo finally receive this high award. For the longest time, I have felt that his solo career has been grossly overlooked. (About two years ago, I wrote a posting discussing this very subject matter. You can find that post here.) Ringo has some absolute hidden gem albums such as: Ringorama, Beaucoup of Blues, and his latest album Postcards From Paradise.
His new album, Postcards from Paradise is particularly ear grabbing. It is home to some fiercely catchy songs such as Rory and the Hurricanes, Bridges, and the title track Postcards From Paradise. Once again Ringo delivers an album that radiates positivity, terrific drumming, and his trademark wit. I highly recommend checking out Postcards From Paradise. It is a great introductory album to Ringo's solo career.
I knew last week was going to be busy, but I had no idea it would be as crazy busy as it was. At the radio station I oversee, we installed a brand new on-air automation and scheduling system. It's a computer system that picks what music gets played on the air, and then plays it on the air.
We ended up going with the WideOrbit automation system and MusicMaster on-air scheduling. Both systems are very impressive, and is taking me a while to get used to it. When you work with one particular automation system for 13 years, it was a little foolish of myself to think I would master these two new programs over night.
Luckily the growing pains are beginning to end, and the student staff is taking to the new system very well. I promise next week, I'll return with a more "exciting" posting.
Well, this past weekend was WrestleMania 31. And man was it a great 'Mania. It was stacked full of excellent matches, surprise victories, guest appearances, and The Undertaker going 22-1 at WrestleMania. Overall, it reminded me how much fun wrestling can be. It also reminded me of what wrestling was like when I first became a fan in late 1991/early 1992.
Hulk Hogan was the WWF champion, Bret Hart won the Intercontinental title for the first time, the "rookie" of the year for the WWF was the Undertaker, and Ric Flair just debuted as the "real" world's heavyweight champion. With all of this in mind, I thought it would be fun to go back and watch the PPVs from that year. Let me tell you, 1992 was a tremendous year for the WWF. Here is a very brief recap of 1992 WWF.
Royal Rumble:
- Ric Flair enters #3 in the Royal Rumble and goes onto to win the match
and the vacanted WWF heavyweight championship. The lowest entry to win
at that point. Plus we got, what can be considered the greatest promo of
all time.
-Roddy Piper defeated the Mountie to win his first and only Intercontinental championship.
- The Macho Man Randy Savage is reinstated by President Jack Tunney after a dastardly attack by Jake "The Snake" Roberts, in which Roberts unleashes his king cobra on the Macho Man. The intensity of the rival is unparalleled.
WrestleMania 8:
-Ric Flair and Macho Man Randy Savage have an unbelievable match for the WWF championship, in which Macho Man wins the title.
-Shawn Michaels competes in his first WrestleMania as a singles wrestler. This sets the stage for him becoming known as Mr. WrestleMania
-Bret the Hitman Hart defeats Roddy Piper for the Intercontinental championship in one of Piper's best matches.
- The Undertaker, who recently became a babyface, easily defeats Jake Roberts. This is the beginning of the Undertaker.
-Hulk Hogan retires for the first time and the Ultimate Warrior returns.
SummerSlam 92:
- Takes place in front of 80,000 people in Wembley Stadium.
-The British Bulldog defeats Bret Hart for the Intercontinental championship belt in an absolute classic.
-Macho Man and the Ultimate Warrior have a very good match for the WWF Title.
-The Undertaker makes the first, of what would become many more, memorable entrances.
Survivor Series 92
- The brand new WWF champion Bret The Hitman Hart defends the WWF championship against the brand new Intercontinental champion Shawn Michaels. This is their first headlining PPV against one another, and is a hidden gem of a match.
-The Underaker Kamala casket match. No more needs to be said.
- Mr. Perfect joins forces with Macho Man Randy Savage to take on Ric Flair and Razor Ramon.
And the icing on the cake, majority of these PPVs are called by the great Gorilla Monsoon and the one and only Bobby The Brain Heenan.
So in short, the WWF/WWE in 1992 has some fantastic wrestling, fun story lines, and the Brain. If you are a wrestling fan, what more do you need?
