PART 1 HERE
PART 2 HERE
Slowly but surely we are making our way through the first round. Halfway home and about to be 75% complete. I think once it gets past this round it'll take way less time, but I could also be terribly wrong! Today we have the "Sammartino Region":
(1) Bruno Sammartino v. (16) Bam Bam Bigelow
Bruno Sammartino is a massive part of what WWE is today. The biggest draw in the early days of regional wrestling, Sammartino packed MSG for the McMahon's on the regular on his way to two World Heavyweight Champion reigns that totaled 4,040 days--over 11 YEARS. His first reign went 2,803 days, the longest single title reign in all of WWE's history that dates back to the early 50's. While Sammartino had a God-like physique up until he passed away in 2018, Bam Bam Bigelow was notable for his near-400 lb frame and false tattoo that covered his bald head. Bigelow, despite being one of the better big men of his era, was also known for his natural ability and agility in the ring. While he had a nice career, Sammartino needs to take this one.
WINNER: BRUNO SAMMARTINO
(8) Jimmy Snuka v. (9) Jake Roberts
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka is widely credited with bringing a more high-flying style to WWE, at a time in the 80's when the big stars like Hulk Hogan were totally committed to a ground-based, powerhouse style. He also had a great entrance theme, with the "SUPER, SUPER, SUPERFLYYY" being iconic at this point.
Now, he's also known for the murder case of his former girlfriend Nancy Argentino in 1983; he was arrested and charged in 2015 but was declared unfit to stand trial due to dementia. So he's a very controversial figure these days in the eyes of some wrestling fans. While Snuka was a big fan favorite in his prime, Jake 'The Snake" Roberts was exactly that: a snake. One of the hated heels of the 80's, Roberts would bring a python named Damien to the ring to scare and harm opponents, and he was the innovator of the now-common DDT move. Roberts was especially known for his dark, cerebral attitude and he is one of the best of all time when talking about ring psychology. He fell on hard times throughout the 2000's, but turned his life around when he moved in with Diamond Dallas Page in 2012. It's an incredibly inspiring story that was documented in The Resurrection of Jake The Snake. Both men are innovators, but one ALLEGEDLY killed someone and the other has done a 180 on life in a positive way.
WINNER: JAKE ROBERTS
(5) Rey Mysterio v. (12) Dynamite Kid
Another one of my favorites, Rey Mysterio is one of the best luchadors of all time and perhaps the best underdog in WWE history. A cruiserweight for the most part until the death of his great rival and dear friend Eddie Guerrero, Mysterio elevated to the heavyweight level in the mid-2000's despite being just 5'6" and weighing a bit under 200 lbs. His run to becoming the World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 22 is one of the best burns I have seen from that company. He won the 2006 Royal Rumble after entering at #2 out of 30, lasting over an hour and eliminating 6 participants including Triple H and Randy Orton in the final three.
He follows that up by losing his main event spot and title shot at WrestleMania to Orton, egged on by Orton's disparaging remarks of Eddie Guerrero, who had literally JUST died a few months prior. Added back into the match to make it a Triple Threat with Mysterio, Orton and then-Champion Kurt Angle, Mysterio pinned Orton to win the title, and was embraced by Eddie's widow and nephew, Vicky and Chavo. Seriously one of the more emotional wraps to a storyline.
Now, there may not be a Rey Mysterio if there wasn't a Dynamite Kid. Teaming with cousin Davey Boy Smith (aka The British Bulldog) as the British Bulldogs, Dynamite Kid upped the level of athleticism in pro wrestling and blended styles from Britain, Mexico, Canada and Japan. He also has the distinction of being in the first ever 5-Star rated match by famous wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, a feat held in high regard by many in the industry. But is that enough to beat Rey Mysterio? I mean, Rey was what Eddie was going to be. He has been so huge for the LatinX fanbase and has moved so march it would make your head spin. The fact WWE has been looking for the "new Rey" for so long is telling. One of the most natural babyfaces ever.
WINNER: REY MYSTERIO
(4) Ricky Steamboat v. (13) Chyna
A huge part of any great wrestler is their biggest rivalry, as is natural. Well Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat is a massive part of Ric Flair becoming Ric Flair. His charisma and work rate worked incredibly well with Flair, and he served as a great foil for Flair's stylin' and profilin'. One of his greatest accomplishments as a performer was the simple fact he stayed a babyface for his entire career and didn't get stale. That is so unbelievably hard to do in wrestling, especially considering the general consensus among wrestlers is that playing the heel is far easier and more fun. After Steamboat's era ended, the Attitude Era was just starting to take off, and one of the staples of that time was Chyna, the Ninth Wonder of the World. As part of DX, she served initially as a sort of body guard to Triple H and Shawn Michaels, before breaking off and then coming back together with Trips. She became the first woman to enter the Men's Royal Rumble and the first woman to win the Intercontinental Championship. She was a trailblazer in women's wrestling long before people recognized what she was doing as such. She was the first woman who, in story, could do legit damage to male opponents. Her post-wrestling life is nothing short of saddening and I won't get into here; you have the same Google I do. As good as she was, I don't think she can take down The Dragon here.
WINNER: RICKY STEAMBOAT
(6) Roddy Piper v. (11) Ted DiBiase
It's almost criminal to have two of the best villains in history meet in the first goddamn round, but we roll with the punches. Ted DiBiase had one of the most genius characters I have ever come across: a rich dude who would buy wins and titles and paid others to fight for him unless he really had to be the one in the ring. He even made his own title called the Million Dollar Championship. Look the title belt and tell me this dude isn't the definition of opulence:
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper played this Scottish psycho known for his quick wit, spontaneous nature and pure rage, wearing his signature kilt and coming to the ring to the now-famous bagpipes:
"Hot Rod" had a sixth sense when it came to entertaining. Legends of all eras have regarded him as one of the best entertainers and heels in the history of pro wrestling. Some may recognize him from his appearances on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia as the deranged wrestler "Da' Maniac":
DiBiase always said everyone has a price, but not me right now.
WINNER: RODDY PIPER
(3) Randy Savage v. (14) Batista
Another tough matchup. "MachoMan" Randy Savage was one of the biggest names in the business due to his association with Hulk Hogan; starting in the 80's as faces in WWE through the 90's in WCW when they were both part of NWO. He screamed 80's wrestling: the flamboyant attire, the deep and raspy voice, the high intensity charisma, the catchphrase "OHHH YEAHHHH!!!" like he was the original Kool Aid Man, the Slim Jim commercials. His storyline of getting his kayfabe (and real life) partner, Miss Elizabeth, back brought tears to the eyes of fans:
But Batista is BATISTA. The Animal. A six-time world champion. He's Drax the Destroyer in the Guardians of the Galaxy films! He was in Infinity War and Endgame! Starting as a Triple H protege, he turned on his leader and took his title after giving his signature "thumbs down" taunt:
He was in a successful tag team with friend Rey Mysterio, the two of them sharing a close bond with Eddie Guerrero, and their run together was a massive part of my fandom as a kid. Batista also own maybe the best entrance of anyone:
The number of kids who did that machine gun thing pretending there was pyro behind them has to be in the hundreds of thousands. When Batista turned heel on Rey I damn near cried and I wasn't even a regular fan at that point anymore.
WINNER: BATISTA
(7) Scott Hall v. (10) Jerry Lawler
Scott Hall's later life may be more well-documented than his prime, which is saying something considering he was one of the mainstays of WCW in its heyday. Substance abuse issues, and very public ones at that, have not derailed the legacy of the former Razon Ramon, though. He was a monster of a man portraying a sort of Scarface-Miami-Cuban villain, complete with the toothpick he'd throw in your face before saying his famous phrase, "Say hello to the bad guy." His ladder match with Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental title is widely considered one of the greatest matches ever. Jerry "The King" Lawler is one of the guys from the EARLY, early days of wrestling. The undisputed king of wrestling in the south for a bit, he is most notable to many for his role as a great color commentator and an outrageous heel foil for Jim Ross' straight-man play-by-play calls. He was for sure horny at almost hours and would exclaim "Puppies!" a whole lot when there were scantily-clad women around. The man that won't stay down, he has overcome health complication after health complication, including a heart attack DURING a live broadcast. There's no doubt he's an icon in wrestling, but I'd rather hear him commentate a Hall match than fight in one.
WINNER: SCOTT HALL
(2) Dusty Rhodes v. (15) Becky Lynch
Yet another weird matchup, but this one is VERY interesting. Becky Lynch is the first ever Women's Double Champion in WWE history, holding both the Smackdown and RAW titles simultaneously after defeating Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey (THAT Ronda Rousey, correct) in the main event of Wrestlemania 35, the first time a women, let alone three, headlined the biggest wrestling event in the world. She has totally reinvented herself in the past 3 or so years and has become something of a modern, female Stone Cold Steve Austin. She refers to herself as "The Man" and with good reason. She is one of the best going right now. But she owes it all, as she has said, to Dusty Rhodes. She very much looked up to Dusty as a father figure, someone who helped her become what she is now. 'The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes is one of the most creative men wrestling has ever seen. Before being a major backstage presence for WWE, and especially NXT where he worked with the developmental talent, he was the common man, the son of a plumber. He was influential in the early days of wrestling becoming more mainstream, working in NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions (later called WCW). His promo skills are legendary, with his "Hard Times" speech perhaps his most notable and one of the best by anyone anywhere:
The more I think, the more Dusty has a chance of winning this whole thing. Almost no one is as beloved by EVERYONE in the industry as Dusty Rhodes.
WINNER: DUSTY RHODES
One more region to go...
No comments:
Post a Comment