2012 Pro Wrestling Thread

I think various "legends" are making appearances the next few weeks leading up to the 1,000th RAW which in July.

At least I think that's what I heard at some point during Monday's show.

 

I forget where I read it, and I'm sure multiple people have thrown out the same idea, but it's time WWE start using more recent alumni in their throwback shows/cameo appearances. I like Duthay Rhodes as much as the next guy (unless it's Elliotte), but having Mean Gene, Sgt. Slaughter and Roddy Piper in those spots just shows their age. At least mix in some early Attitude Era -- Godfather, Steve Blackman, that type. Sadly, the peak of Attitude Era is as far back in the past to us as the start of the Hogan era was to the Attitude guys.

 

That would make sense in the lead-up to the 1,000th Raw. I'm with you in that I'd like to see a mix of newer legends as well as the guys like Dusty, Arn Anderson, etc.

 

Nah, the E will just trot out the same handful of guys they always do. It's losing its goodwill factor the more they use these guys. We see them every year, sometimes multiple times. It's time the E reaches out to some other alumni.

 

In tepid defense, it's somewhat difficult to determine who'll get the welcome home pop. Vader getting it when Road Dogg didn't surprised me. And some characters (Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes) are entertaining enough to warrant cameos on their own merit. But Slaughter and Ted DiBiase do nothing for me anymore, even though I suspect DiBiase would be a more interesting part of the WWE roster than his injury-prone, duller-than-Mennonite-Muzak son.

The other mitigating factor is that the Attitude guys probably still think of themselves as active wrestlers, not one-time-only special attractions. Big Show, Kane, Mark Henry and Christian are still active from that era in WWE, and others are wrestling in TNA and the indies. So they're not as likely to jump at the chance to return for a nostalgia appearance when they still think they can go in the big E.

That said, it's absolutely time to freshen up the Legends rotation. Too bad Val Venis burned his WWE bridges. Let's see him get a string of penis jokes in under the PG banner!

 

I also agree, they need to bring in different "legends". Only there's one big problem: A bunch of them are dead.

And the ones that are alive may not even get a blip of recognition. I remember when Brian Christopher made that one-off appearance against Lawler, and the crowd didn't have a clue who he was.

 

Ah, Val Venis. I fondly recall his entrance video, particulary the clip of a drill bit boring a finger hole for a bowling ball. Great imagery without being graphic. I daresay, almost classy.

 

And now I have that theme song stuck in my head ...

 

Hello...KY...

 

Ah, Val Venis, the recipient of one of the greatest lines ever uttered on Raw.

"I choppy, choppy you're pee-pee!"

 

Damn you, Petrie!

 

Right up next to "Give Mae a hand!"