SteveJRogers

You better have Ronnie Milsap's classic "Smokey Mountain Rain" mixed in as a song! =

You get that in non-scripted sports all the time though. Teammates and opponents to a MAN will tell you Jerry Grote was a better defnsive catcher than Johnny Bench EVER was, and Bench IIRC held the record for most Gold Gloves behind the plate (since broken by Ivan Rodriguez), but because he is dwarfed offensively, doesn't get a sniff at the HOF, and Bench is considered one of the top 3-5 finest catchers in baseball history. Teammates and opponents rave about how great Gil Hodges was, and that he should belong in the Hall, yet for whatever reason whomever is voting when his time comes around to be on the ballot sees his stats as just not measuring up to any kind of standard.

And Dudleys/Team 3-D

THERE IS A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL IN UPSTATE NEW YORK! With ceremonies and everything! http://www.pwhf.org Doesn't appear to be any refs there though. I really wish people would stop sleeping on that one, while slobbering all over one that only exists inside someone's desktop. At least the organizations themseles have physical representations of ceremonies and something given to their inductees.

Yeah but it seems that description fits the BBWAA members who vote for the baseball hall. Specifically bull shit like not voting for guys on the first ballot, instances where someone gets a lone vote for the silliest of reasons* and other insanity. *True story, a pedestrian journeyman pitcher made it on the ballot, obviously he was going to be a one and done, but he got his lone vote from a writer who went to college with him, and the pitcher shared a bong with him at a college party. Awesome story of course, but silly reason for someone to garner their lone HOF vote for.

I have no doubt that there are some people who take a glance at the ballot, mark a few names, send it back with very little thought, and don't think about it again until the next year. A lot of people probably don't even bother reading the rules or guidelines. I recall a brief conversation I had with Missy Hyatt on twitter where she was totally clueless on the procedure. Most wrestlers & former wrestlers probably fit into this category. There are probably voters who are relatively well informed who simply know exactly who they are voting for because they vote for the same people every year. So for them, they just need to decide on the new candidates, and if they see all of them as no brainers in either direction, I can see returning the ballot quickly. I'd guess that a pretty small percentage of people go through hardcore research/debate, and most of those people are likely the ones posting in places like this. There are major issues with the HOF then. WON or the Baseball Hall of Fame?

As much as Kevin Dunn should get crapped on for putting way too much emphasis on the ENTERTAINMENT of Sports Entertainment, I think you are being a bit too hard on it when it comes to pro wrestling. Well, in terms of the idea that Dunn was following trends going on with how the NFL, NBA, MLB NCAA hoops and football, and other major non pre-determined sports were being presented. And this sort of stuff was starting as back as the 1970s with Monday Night Football! To say nothing about the rise of SportsCenter highlights on ESPN and all sports TV networks since the late 1980s. I get the general idea that having cameras "always there for the perfect shot" takes away from the "you are watching a sports exhibition" feel, but in general, how often are big moments NOT captured in the perfect way possible in any of the major sports on TV? And that has been the case for 30, 40 years now.

Yeah, Jake's cancer scare made TMZ and other mainstream sites. He has a movie coming out. My boss who doesn't watch wrestling would know who Jake Roberts is. Hell, the first sports personality coming in to do his job anyone would think of when hearing "Enter Sandman" would be Mariano Rivera, not the ECW performer!

John Cena, even PG era forward look, could be a club DJ, strip or otherwise.

Difference is, "YOU SUCK!" was ingrained from early on in his run, and 90 percent of the time Angle has been a heel, so it was appropriate to chant along. Cena's hate comes from years of people saying he isn't worthy of his spot, going back to those Jericho and Angle feuds. Not to mention the idea that he is Triple H like in terms of burying up and coming talent.

I agree, just mocking the same feelings that people in certain groups and forums had last year when the Wrestlemania matches series episode featuring his back-to-back MitB wins aired. My response was that they did an episode on Guerrero-Angle, and Angle is still with TNA all these months later and Eddie is still hanging with Generalissimo Francisco Franco.

OMG~! THAT MEANS HE'S SOOOO COMING BACK!!!!'1!! I'd imagine though that some smarks on forums or social networks probably had that reaction. *rolls eyes*

Also nice to hear it confirmed that the MSG "curfew" time is still going, and that while it was kayfabed as some kind of curfew back in the day, it was/is legit in terms of union overtime.

Unless they think the Hall is for the retired or part timers, I can see the Dudleys going in.

That is how opponents have tapped out to Taker's Hell's Gate.

Its been done countless of times now over the last decade or so! Especially WMs and Survivor Series! Probably the worst non-battle royale example was AJ vs the ENTIRE DIVA ROSTER at WM XXXIV!

Perhaps Sheamus squeaks in a Cash-In?

One of my least favorite aspects of multi-men at the same time matches. So many times a wrestler, or more will just take a breather when its clear the camera isn't on them. At least pretend to be doing something if its a Triple Threat or like it was here in a straight tag match, even if it means acting like you are in immense pain and favoring a body part while waiting out the time until you are needed again!

Just be glad it wasn't a Foley Chef Boyardee ad. That would be grounds for "hey...wait a minute!"Foley was in those. These were just generic Chef Boyardee commercials. Was wondering, is there any kind of legal weirdness that could arise from airing old advertising like that? He was, but it couldn't have been in 1997. He was still in the middle of his face turn, and not yet in his button down shirt that he wore during the ads.

Just be glad it wasn't a Foley Chef Boyardee ad. That would be grounds for "hey...wait a minute!"

FWIW, again team sports are littered with such bad and unprofessional conduct, even TV shows, movie sets, etc. And in those cases you'd have to do something that is pretty much illegal, or get in such a bad way with TPTB to lose a job. Not a defense for Michaels, more to the point where I don't get the idea that the WWE is wrong to over blow his importance, or greatness in the industry based on his grossly unprofessional attitude and conduct, as well as personal demon issues.

Pretty sure its been used in various sports and entertainment industry media reports through the years.

Not really surprising. History is written by winners. The Kliq won. But yeah, looking at his title history is pretty damn hilarious. _wins the IC title from Bulldog in late 92. Apart from the rapid switch with Jannetty, doesn't lose the belt, gets suspended or something and puts his pal Razor over at Mania X in the title match. _wins the tag titles with his pal Diesel. Doesn't lose the belts, which get vacated after Survivor Series 94 and the split between the two. _wins the IC title from Jarrett. Doesn't lose the belt because of "injury", belts goes to Douglas who gets jobbed out on the same show to his pal Razor. _wins the WWF title. switch with Kliq's friend Sid, then doesn't lose the belt because he "lost his smile". _wins the tag title with Austin. Doesn't lose the belt because of whatever reason I don't even remember, Foley takes Shawn's place. _wins the WWF title via Montreal screwjob, throws a fit before losing the belt to Austin, with Taker waiting backstage in case of bullshit. Here is a detailed look at Shawn's lack of dropping any WWF/WWE title by taking a fall/submission: 10/30/90 Rockers defeat Hart Foundation, title change never airs and never recognized 10/27/92 Defeats Davey Boy Smith for IC title. Loses to Marty Jannetty on 5/17/93 6/6/93 Defeats Jannetty for second IC reign, Diesel debuts as his bodyguard same night. Stripped in September (Solie.org Title History just says he left, it could be addictions related). 8/28/94 Wins tag belt with Diesel. Titles are stripped on 11/23/94 when Diesel turns babyface and team splits 7/23/95 Defeats Jeff Jarrett for third IC reign. Forfeits it on 10/22/95 after infamous bar assault. 9/24/95 Wins tag strap with Diesel, solely for one night that The Kliq owns all the gold (Michaels IC and Diesel heavyweight). Reversed next night due to wrong man being pinned. 3/31/96 The boyhood dream has come true! Defeats Bret Hart, loses to Sid on 11/17. 1/19/97 Defeats Sid for his second WWF title reign, loses smile on 2/13/97 5/26/97 Wins tag strap with Austin, gets stripped when Michaels briefly quits promotion, Austin kept his part, and would wind up with Dude Love as partner on 7/14/97 9/20/97 Wins Euro title from Davey Boy Smith, drops it on 12/11/97 in a "lay down" spot to Triple H. Obviously this was kayfabe, but goes to the "didn't really lose it in the ring" side of ledger. 11/9/97 Defeats Bret in Montreal Screwjob. Despite searing back pain and rumors that he wouldn't, does the honors to Austin on 3/29/98. 11/17/02 Wins World Title in first Elimination Chamber match. Drops it to Triple H on 12/15/02. Final singles title of career. 1/29/07 With John Cena defeats Team Rated RKO for tag belts. Two end up WrestleMania opponents for Cena's heavyweight title, they hold the straps until 4/2/07 when Michaels deliberately eliminated himself from a tag team battle royal for the belts. Obviously this was kayfabe, but goes to the "didn't really lose it in the ring" side of ledger. 12/13/09 D-X defeats JeriShow for tag titles, lose straps to ShowMiz on 2/8/10 when Miz pins Michaels (as he was arguing with Triple H). Looking at the numbers: 6 Tag Titles, officially 5, 1 dropped in the ring 3 WWF Titles, 2 dropped in the ring 3 IC Titles, 1 dropped in the ring 1 World Title, 1 dropped in the ring 1 Euro Title 14 times Michaels had possession of a title, and only 5 times lost it in a "legit" (as legit as a pre-scripted sport can be of course) fashion in a match.

To be fair, you are describing a LOT of professional athletes, in so many different eras, whom skate by because they perform very, very well. Does it mean Shawn deserves being pushed officially as a GOAT? I don't know, there are plenty of non aligned places that would put Shawn in a conversation among the GOATS in terms of his performance as an entertainer though.

As long as there isn't an AJ like run through the themes!