Superbowl/Wrestlemania

[Guest savagerulz]

Seeing those Superbowl MVPs walking out together before the Superbowl got me thinking about Wrestlemania. That list of guys for the NFL, coming out together, being honored. It was nice to see, and a great thing to do at Superbowl 40. All those guys were still alive, and seemed happy to be there. I took a list of people who have appeared in Wrestlemania main events since the beginning. I defined "main event" as the main title match, and/or the match that was the main draw for the show. In other words, Lawrence Taylor is there because that year was hyped around his match and used to promote the event at large. I also included Diesel and Shawn Micheals, because they were the match for the main title at that time. So here's the list, in order that the people appeared. Obviously, some guys appeared many times in main events, but their name is only listed once. I'm going to have brief comments about each guy and his standing in the wrestling business now.

 

This is all off the top of my head, so if I'm wrong, please correct.

 

Hogan -- Speaks for itself, in a state of semi-retirement. Still living off of his wrestling fame. Very opinionated about the business and self-assured.

 

Mr. T -- It seems like wrestling was a paycheck for him, and there is stands.

 

Roddy Piper -- Outspoken critic of the business, yet seems to have little qualms about coming back when called upon.

 

Paul Orndorff -- Worked as a trainer for some time. Currently retired.

 

King Kong Bundy -- Worked in the WWF for a time afterwords, still works the indy circuit from time to time. Still alive. (Right?) That's a miracle.

 

Andre the Giant -- Dead. Did insure the (arguably) biggest match in wrestling history by his mere presence.

 

Macho Man -- Estranged from the business, in and out of promotions, tends to be a bridge burner. Somehow always still in someone's shadow.

 

Ted DiBiase -- Found the Jesus, works for the WWE as a road agent. Went through a period where he hated the WWE and was very outspoken about the product.

 

Ultimate Warrior -- Crazy. Currently suffering the slings and arrows of a WWE scorned. Inflated sense of own importance in the business.

 

Sgt. Slaughter -- Sold out himself for a guaranteed office job, and got it once he "retired" from the ring. Currently working for the WWE.

 

Ric Flair -- Still wrestling. His first main event appearance was WM VIII, so he's been around a while. A true living (and working) legend in the business. Still finds himself in the occasional main event angle in the WWE.

 

Sid Justice -- Also, of course, Sid Vicious. Also in a headline match in WM VIII, wrestling Hogan to a weird disqualification. Hung around the business, always seemed to be destined for bigger things, but never really became wrestling's biggest star for any long stretch of time.

 

Yokozuna -- Dead. Part of two curious main events, where he lost the belts after having to wrestle twice.

 

Lex Luger. -- Got the first shot at Yokozuna at WM X, and didn't win. Of course he didn't. Overshadowed by Hart winning the strap, and stealing the show with his opening match with Owen. So appropriate that Lugar's brief foray in Wrestlemania main event history would be so forgettable as to not even really be seen AS a main event.

 

Bret Hart -- Retired due to injury. Bret's one of wrestling's most outspoken critics, though he seems to have reconciled his past somewhat.

 

Diesel -- Retired due to injury. Diesel/Kevin Nash had one of the highest success to least work ratios in the history of wrestling.

 

Shawn Micheals -- Still wrestling, also found the Jesus.

 

Lawrence Taylor -- A paycheck for him, and the sign of a WWE that didn't know what it was doing. Strangely always forgotten about when people talk about celebrities used in wrestling. At the time, this was a big deal...but only proportionally, because the WWE itself was not a big deal anymore.

 

Bam Bam Bigelow -- Potential unfulfilled. This guy has "superstar" put on him from the first time he stepped in a ring, and with the exception of a good ECW run never really got there. Appropriate that his only "main event" in Wrestlemania was a job to a non-wrestler. Is he still alive?

 

Undertaker -- Still around. Interesting that his first main event didn't take place for a few years after he was already a star in the WWF. In fact, a lot of the people who are main eventing around this time appeared in a few Wrestlemania's first. Later on, you'll see names that main evented in their FIRST Wrestlemania appearance.

 

Steve Austin -- Finally got the title in the main event. A clear passing of the torch, and a clear renewal of the company with his win. More or less retired due to injuries.

 

The Rock -- The first of a few Rock/Austin main events took place at WM XV, signaling a strong period in the company. Rock/Austin appears as the main event of Wrestlemania twice, arguably three times. Currently snorting coke off of high priced escorts boobies in Hollywood.

 

Triple H -- Triple H's first Wrestlemania main event was at Wrestlemania 2000 in that four way dance (along with first timers Foley and Big Show) which may come as a surprise. Certainly the first heel to win the main event. Currently finally doing what he should in wrestling. Puffy little man.

 

Mick Foley -- Just being IN the main event was billed as a great accomplishment for Foley. Foley is the embodiment of "semi-retired" appearing here and there whenever there's a job to do and a book to shill. Wearing out his welcome in many fan's eyes.

 

Big Show -- Still wrestling, still going through cycles of being a monster then a joke than a monster again. Like the NBA, there's always a place for a tall big guy that isn't crippled in the WWE. (see also: Kane, Undertaker)

 

Chris Jericho -- Currently not wrestling. His only main event WM appearance was to drop the belt to the returning Triple H, with a run that is considered lackluster at best. (Because of BOOKING!!!1111)

 

Kurt Angle -- Did not main event until WM19 when he took on Lesnar in a match that's overshadowed by the botched finish. Closest thing to a mainstay in the current Wrestlemania main events in the last few years.

 

Brock Lesnar -- His one appearance as a main eventer. He was put over, and seemed destined for a long run...but NFL aspirations and a DISASTROUS match at the next Wrestlemania (XX) with Goldberg seems to indicate that the days of Brock Lesnar, can't miss wrestling superstar may be gone forever.

 

Eddie Guerrero -- Main evented one title match along with the Benoit match at WMXX. Those were also the only two GOOD matches on an otherwise dismal card. Gave us the hug, and is currently dead.

 

Chris Benoit -- His main event win caused one of the biggest pops in recent WM history. In a year, would be clearly out of the title and main event picture, a situation that shows no signs of changing.

 

Batista -- His win (over the same opponent at Benoit's) got a huge reaction also...but a lack of faith in his abilities and now an injury putting him on the shelf seems to have stopped him. We'll see.

 

John Cena -- His first Wrestlemania main event was dismal. It helped spark a run that has seen fans greatly divided over him. Continues to be a champion and the biggest star -- which may say more about the state of the company than his abilities.

 

JBL -- Capped off a surprising run (in terms of success as a character, though it was certainly a financial disaster for the company) with a loss in his first Wrestlemania main event. His tenure with the company is INCREDIBLY long, and the amount of time it took for him to be a main event player is a testament to his longevity and intelligence in the business, as well as the fact that deep down, people knew he couldn't really draw if given a chance. Currently holding a "gatekeeper" position in the business.

[kjh]

Diesel -- Retired due to injury.

You're probably speaking too soon. Nash is a bit like Stephanie's return last year - comes back when you least expect it. Wade Keller for whatever this is worth is saying Nash may return to TNA soon contingent on his dates not clashing with any acting work and has proposed a specific booking idea for him to have a series of singles matches. Maybe his heart problems weren't so bad after all?

[sek69]

WWE needs to do something, as this is quickly becoming the worst WM card ever.

 

There's either no drama or no interest in any match so far:

 

Cena/HHH: This match will probably have no heat once it becomes clear Huntermania's going to run wild yet again and the crowd's already not too crazy about Cena.

 

Angle/Orton: I think the crowd's going to shit on this due to Orton being shoved in another WM main he has no business being involved in. The only thing worse than the whole Eddy deal is that they're doing all this and Orton's not going to be any more over than he was before.

 

Vince/HBK: Since Shawn's going to Special Attraction status after this, it doesn't matter who wins since one guy's not going to be around much afterward. HBK will probably win and Vince will show up on Raw saying it doesn't matter and the whole thing will be forgotten in a few months.

 

Foley/Edge: What's it going to prove? Edge gets buried either way. Either he gets beat by a broken down retired wrestler, or he looks like a guy who can only get a win over a broken down retired wrestler.

 

There's nothing else being built up with any potential either. Flair/Shelton maybe, but Shelton's a botched spot injury waiting to happen. Maybe Masters/Carlito vs Show/Kane, but that's probably going to be a short brawl with a screwy ending.

[Guest bravesfan]

Disappointing is a better word to use for this card. There have been much, much worse in terms of Mania cards. Even with the card they have now, they still have two world-class wrestlers in Rey and Benoit who can trump many past Manias just by showing up.

[sek69]

Yeah but Rey and Benoit, if they're lucky to get on the card, will be stuck in the mid-card at best in a pointless match rather than being further up the card than they belong.

 

The only exception would be if they had a Benoit-Finlay match at WM. That'd be almost worth the DVD price right there.