Mt. Rushmore: SummerSlam Main Events

By Kevin Hunsperger @kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter Listen to the podcast  Follow my blog with Bloglovin  

SummerSlam makes its return this Saturday, so I thought, what better topic for this week's Mt. Rushmore than my favorite SummerSlam main events. Please note I said my favorite vs. the best because I think those are two very different things. My list, as you will soon see, is built mostly on nostalgia. 

Courtesy: WWE

John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan (2013): This match, I realize, is probably a happy accident in terms of how it all played out. Daniel Bryan, my favorite wrestler of that era, was finally getting some main event love. Sure, he'd been the World Champion earlier, but I felt like he was truly over now, and the powers that be seemed to be on board.

He challenged John Cena to a great match for the WWE Championship and ends up winning. I was pumped until Randy Orton comes out to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase. Triple H, who was the special guest referee, double-crossed Bryan, and Orton won. Of course, the underdog prevailed in the end, winning the undisputed championship six months later at WrestleMania XXX (a match I was there to see). 

Courtesy: WWE

British Bulldog vs. Bret Hart (1992): My all-time favorite tag team is the British Bulldogs. In the 80s, that duo feuded with the Hart Foundation. The matches were incredible. Fast forward a few years, and now Davey Boy Smith and his brother-in-law Bret Hart are feuding for the Intercontentinal Championship. Both men were good guys, but that didn't stop them from bringing out all the stops.

Hart and Smith closed the show at Wembley Stadium. It was the first and only time in SummerSlam history that the event was held overseas and that the IC Title match was in the main event. Bulldog got the victory in this hard-fought match. Unfortunately, his reign and his time in WWE were cut short, but that doesn't take away from this incredible matchup. 

Courtesy: WWE

The Mega Powers vs. The Mega Bucks (1988): I can't leave off the first SummerSlam main event. This was reffed by Jesse 'the Body' Ventura and featured the new WWF champ Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan teaming up against Andre the Giant and 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase. It was a solid main event for the inaugural event. 

The match ends with Elizabeth showing off her legs and distracting the Mega Bucks. It was great storytelling as the seeds were being planted for the eventual breakup of the Mega Powers, which would culminate at WrestleMania V.

Courtesy: WWE

Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter, Col. Mustafa, and Gen. Adnan (1991): What an awesomely bad main event this was. It's the era I grew up in. I have to pick it. I loved this time and everything that was going on in the WWF at the time. Newcomer Sid Justice had just arrived and was the referee for the match. Ric Flair was being talked about coming in at the time. I was so stoked.

But yes, the match quality here was low, but it was fun. As a fan, I had no clue about the tension with the Warrior at the time. Little did we know that would be the last time we'd see him for six months until WrestleMania VIII. As I write this, I'm noticing many connections between SummerSlam and WrestleMania... go figure.

So what are your favorites? I think John Cena and Roman Reigns will close the show this year and do an excellent job. 

Mt. Rushmore: Hulk Hogan's 80s Feuds

 

By Kevin Hunsperger @kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter Listen to the podcast  Follow my blog with Bloglovin  

It's been a long time coming, but I'm doing something to get this decade-old blog up and running again. While it's not an original idea by any means, I am going to start writing weekly with a Mt. Rushmore theme. I mean, wrestling fans these days seem to create some sort of Mt. Rushmore of Wrestling ____ all the time, so why not me? And for the record, I actually took a picture of Mt. Rushmore I'm using while on vacation earlier this summer in South Dakota. 

First up, the Mt. Rushmore of Hulk Hogan's 80s Feuds. With the recent passing of 'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff, I got to thinking about his significance in pro wrestling and quickly deduced that he is on the shortlist of Hulk Hogan's greatest foes (not just the 80s, but of all-time).

Courtesy: WWE

Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan were the best of friends during the first few years of Hulkamania. Andre was in the locker room celebrating Hogan's victory over the Iron Shiek at Madison Square Garden. They teamed up to face members of the Heenan Family. That's why it was all the more shocking when in January 1987, Andre declared war on the Hulkster and hired Bobby Heenan as his manager.

The two had a huge main event at WrestleMania III and went on to battle against each other for the next 18 months, meeting in tag matches, singles matches, and the big blue steel cage. More than 33 million people watched their epic match on NBC's 'The Main Event' in February 1988. I still remember crying when the crooked referee counted Hogan's shoulders to the mat. Yes, I was 14 at the time... 

Courtesy: WWE

'Rowdy' Roddy Piper was the man I loved to hate in the early days of Hulkamania. He set the standard for a wrestling heel back in those days. He was a master on the mic and someone hard to beat in the ring. Hot Rod was front and center in the Rock 'n Wrestling Connection which, of course, led to the first-ever WrestleMania. While we never got a one-on-one encounter between Hogan and Piper at WrestleMania, their work before the event to set the tone for 80s wrestling is unforgettable. 

Courtesy: WWE

'Macho Man' Randy Savage came into the WWF in 1985 and quickly set his sites on Hogan's championship. The two had some great matches even before Savage won the Intercontinental Championship. Those matches continued to impress after Savage's win over Tito Santana. Then, of course, we had the epic build of the Mega Powers. This is without a doubt one of the best stories ever told in wrestling. It wove in nicely with the previously mentioned Andre the Giant match on NBC.

The explosion of the Mega Powers added a new element to WWF programming. It all came to a head at WrestleMania V, with Hogan once again winning the gold. Savage tried the rest of the year to regain his belt but always came up short. The Hogan-Savage story worked on so many levels and one that the creative team could depend upon. 

Courtesy: WWE

'Mr. Wonderful' Paul Orndorff, as I mentioned, is the inspiration for this blog. He, too, had some matches with Hogan before the first WrestleMania. His association with PIper made him another one of those guys I loved to hate. But then, after the mishap at Mania, Orndorff became a good guy and teamed off and on with the Hulkster. Then in the summer of 1986, Orndorff snapped and turned on Hogan, rejoining former manager Bobby Heenan. 

This feud was the most serious threat to ending Hulk's first title reign. I thought WWF might make the switch a couple of times, most notably on the January 1987 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event. Inside the Big Blue Cage, the match saw both Hogan and Orndorff escape at the exact same moment.

So there you have it. A very concise but precise list of Hulk Hogan's best four feuds in the 80s. Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of the Hulkster's foes?   

Scariest of All-Time: Luna Vachon

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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The first time I saw Luna Vachon was on the pages of an Apter mag back in the late 1980s. She was the manager of the Blackhearts at the time.  They wore masks and cloaks and wrestled on the independent circuit. 

But Luna had been involved in wrestling long before that article brought her to my attention.  Wrestling was in her blood.  She's the daughter of Butcher Vachon and the niece of Mad Dog Vachon.  Her Godfather was Andre the Giant.  Her ashes are actually scattered on the ranch Andre once lived on.  

In 1993 she arrived in WWE to manage Shawn Michaels. That relationship didn't last long and she ended up with Bam Bam Bigelow to feud with Doink and Dink. An odd combination but the fearlessness of Luna shined through. She eventually would receive a championship opportunity against Alundra Blayze but never won the gold.

She did strike some form of gold years later with Goldust. This was my favorite incarnation of Luna. She would go on to feud with Sable and eventually turn good and become part of the Oddities. Luna would also wrestle against Jeff Jarrett for the Intercontinental Championship as well.

Luna's appearance, voice, and willingness to get in the ring against men and women made her one of the scariest of all-time. She is sorely missed today as we recently marked the 10 year anniversary of her death. 

Scariest of All-Time: Kamala

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Day 11 of the Scariest of All-Time blogs and it's the Ugandan Giant, Kamala. I cannot tell you how much I loved this guy. He is one of my all-time favorite gimmicks. I remember as a kid seeing the vignettes for Kamala on World Class Championship Wrestling. I have no idea how long it took me to realize that this man was not really a beast from Africa.

I think that's the beauty of the gimmick and the talent that James Harris had. He made me and many others believe that he was some sort of monster from the jungle. Kamala was a fierce competitor wrestling everyone from Andre the Giant (even bodyslamming him) to Hulk Hogan to the Von Erichs. He was never a world champion but he got in there and helped make each of his opponents look even stronger.

 It wasn't until much later in his life that he actually spoke and that never happened on TV. I was fortunate enough to do a podcast with him years ago when he was promoting the sale of his book, Kamala Speaks.

Sadly, Kamala died earlier this year. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will live on. RIP Mr. Harris and thanks for all the great memories. 

Scariest of All-Time: Bruiser Brody

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Continuing the countdown (again, no particular order) of the scariest wrestlers of all-time. Bruiser Brody has to be on everyone's list, right? I remember thinking how scary he was when he stomped into the ring with his furry boots, scarred forehead, and swinging a chain on Wrestling at the Chase. 

He was a no-nonsense guy inside and outside the ring. I can't tell you how much I wished he would have gone to WWF in the 80s. However, I believe his style wouldn't have meshed with the vision Vince McMahon had, although Brody would have been the perfect foil for Hulk Hogan. 

I had the good fortune of being in the audience when Brody wrestled Ric Flair in St. Louis. I believe that match ended in a draw or a double DQ. I can't remember, but the internet tells me it was a draw. I missed out on the opportunity when Brody wrestled Andre the Giant, also in St. Louis a couple years before this match. My dad and brother did see it, and I imagine it was an epic encounter.

Brody proved he could get in there with anyone from Flair to Abdullah the Butcher to the Von Erichs. Sadly we lost him too soon. Dream matches for him would be against future scariest mentions like Cactus Jack and the Undertaker. 

What's your favorite Brody moment? 

VIDEO: Fig Bath Friday

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've had my collection of LJN WWF Superstars for nearly 35 years. (I got my first set during the Summer of 1985.) However, I have never given any of these guys a much needed Fig Bath. The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast (hosted by Matt Cardona and Brian Myers) inspired me to do this (finally). So while experiencing some boredom, I filled up a small tub with hot water and dish soap and grabbed an unused toothbrush and five Superstars for their debut bathing. 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, Brutus Beefcake, 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, Andre the Giant and King Kong Bundy were the first of my collection to take the plunge. I recorded it on time-lapse and it goes by pretty quick. Admittedly, I could probably give them all another good scrubbing but for the purposes of time, I made it as quick as possible. Have you given your figs a bath before? What do you use?

VIDEO: Go Figure Friday: Andre the Giant

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Andre the Giant is one of the all-time greats. My appreciation for him grew after his death. I love collecting his figures. This week I unbox one I bought more than 20 years ago. Enjoy.

How WrestleMania Helped Me Grieve

WrestleMania's first main event
Photo by WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's funny how some dates stick with you forever. March 25, 1985, is one of those dates for me. It was a Monday afternoon when a good friend and neighbor, also named Kevin, died in a horrible ATV accident at the end of our street.

Back row left is me.  My friend Kevin is on the right

We were both in sixth grade and had known each other most of our lives. We played baseball together, rode bikes and spent hot summer afternoons 'pool hopping' between all the pools in on our tight-knit street. 

I still remember waving to Kevin as he walked down our street, eating a bag of potato chips. Less than two hours later, he'd flipped the three-wheeler he was riding and did not survive the accident.

I was crushed. In my 12 years of life, I had never experienced so much pain. I cried a lot in the days following Kevin's death. Children aren't supposed to die. I had a hard time understanding why it happened and wondered if I'd ever get over this loss.  

Wendi Richter & Cyndi Lauper
Photo by WWE

As that emotional week winded down, I had two things to look forward to. I was set to attend my first wrestling show at the Kiel Auditorium that Friday night to see my favorite wrestler, Kerry Von Erich, battle Ric Flair. (Pics from that night are too blurry to post.)

Then, that Sunday, the first WrestleMania was going to be broadcast via closed-circuit television. A family friend had invited my family over to watch. 

These events provided a distraction and the first opportunity I hadn't cried that week. I just enjoyed the moments.

I focused on the wrestling action. I cheered for Kerry and booed The Nature Boy when he tossed my hero over the top rope to get disqualified. 

Then on Sunday, I celebrated as my favorites like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Wendi Richter, and the Junkyard Dog won.  I booed villains Roddy Piper, the Iron Sheik, and Nikolai Volkoff.  

After the main event was over and we headed home, the reality set in again. I couldn't help but think about Kevin and his family, just a few houses down, as they were still mourning the loss of their son and brother.  I still miss him 34 years later and often think of him, wondering what he'd be like today as a 46-year-old man.

WrestleMania main event
Photo by WWE

When I think back on the first WrestleMania and write stories about it, I always associate that week of grieving with remembering how much I appreciate being able to get lost in the moment. We never truly get over such losses, but there are moments when we're distracted and can find pleasure. I'm glad I had the support of family and friends during that time. It may sound crazy, but in addition to those loved ones, WrestleMania helped me through what I consider the most challenging childhood.  

When I first posted this blog, I tagged "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in it on Twitter. He retweeted it. Just a few months later, we had lost Hot Rod, too. In a weird way, I'm thankful I wrote that blog when I did, and I'd like to believe he read it and knew the impact he'd had on my young life. 

VIDEO: Go Figure Friday: Teeny Talk

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's time for the latest installment of Go Figure Friday. This week I'm opening up three packages of WWE TeenyMates. I had never heard of these until a friend of mine, Dan Gentz, sent them to me a couple weeks ago.

You can learn more about these interesting teeny, tiny toys in this week's video and don't forget to like and subscribe if you dig what you see on my YouTube channel.

Bruiser Brody vs. Stride Pro Wrestling

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've been doing a lot of these 'fantasy booking' blogs lately involving members of the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. Part of the reason I do it is that I truly enjoy it. But the other reason is readers seem to like it too. So I will indulge in another today. 

On July 16, 1988, Bruiser Brody was stabbed in the locker room shower at a show in Puerto Rico. He died the next day from his wounds. I've written about Brody several times before, remembering this legend of the ring. I still cherish the memory of seeing him live in person to wrestle Ric Flair back in 1985. He was as tough as they come and here are a few Stride competitors I would have liked to seen Brody face in the ring.

Tony Flood in action

I've said it more than once, Tony Flood has an old-school style that reminds me of Harley Race. And back in the day, Race and Brody had some classic matches for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Despite his sometimes cowardly actions in the ring, Flood is a tough competitor. I have no doubt he could have had an outstanding match against the legendary Brody. No doubt Flood would pull out all of the stops in an effort to best Brody. He'd definitely need his lead pipe and chain that he's tucked away in his trunks in previous matches. 

Ax Allwardt

Speaking of chains, Ax Allwardt and his mighty chain clashing with Brody's chain would be legendary. Ax is another old-school style wrestler who would be able to slow Brody's over the top persona in the ring. He too is one of the toughest guys on the Stride roster and would do whatever it takes to put Brody down for the three count. 

Chris Hargas vs. Red Daniels (RIP)
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Chris Hargas, like Bruiser Brody, has a rich history in St. Louis wrestling. As I mentioned earlier, I saw Brody battle Flair at the Kiel Auditorium and my brother (before I was a fan) saw Brody battle Andre the Giant. I'm still jealous of that... But I digress. Hargas has established himself as one of the top stars in SICW in the St. Louis area. He's also one of Stride's best and brightest. He has the size and strength to stand up to Brody and as we saw at Buried Live, the ability to tap into his dark side when necessary.

Obviously, I can't list everyone on the Stride roster I'd like to see face the legendary Brody. Farmer Billy Hills, Roger Matheus and Heath Hatton would also make my short list. Who would you pit against the big man? 

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Instead of 14 men, how about 8

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Thirty years ago, Hulk Hogan lost the WWF Championship in controversial fashion to Andre the Giant. The Giant surrendered the title to "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, who was then stripped of the belt by WWF President Jack Tunney. That, of course, led to the championship tournament at WrestleMania IV and the crowning of "Macho Man" Randy Savage as "the man" in WWF. 

I'm not suggesting changing the ending of the tournament or the title run for Savage by any means. In my 1-2-3 cents, the buildup and implosion of the Mega Powers are one of the greatest storylines in the history of professional wrestling. Instead of 14 men in that tournament though, how about just eight competitors?

Tournaments involving more than eight Superstars are usually too many. While I love guys like Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Don Muraco, I knew none of them stood a chance in this tournament. A year earlier, I would have believed in Steamboat, but I digress. So here's how I would have done the tournament some 30+ years after the fact.

Hulk Hogan

Andre the Giant

Randy Savage

Ted Dibiase 

One Man Gang

Bam Bam Bigelow

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

"Ravishing" Rick Rude

Savage wins
Courtesy: WWE

Opening round: Hogan beats One Man Gang. DiBiase gets a win over Jake, Andre beats Bam Bam, and Savage pins Rude. Then DiBiase beats Hogan by count out and Savage wins against Andre by disqualification. This still sets up the finals for DiBiase and Savage, with Savage winning the gold and the celebration goes on as it originally did.

A smaller tournament would have allowed for longer matches. The 14 man concept meant quick matches. The remaining six men, Muraco, Steamboat, Duggan, Greg Valentine, Butch Reed and Dino Bravo could have been injected into the battle royal. Again, I'm not minimizing their contributions, but in hindsight, it was clear none of these Superstars was going to win the gold. 

This scenario would have also given us Savage and Rude on pay per view. I don't recall these two ever wrestling in WWE nor WCW. Plus Roberts and DiBiase would have torn it up in the opening round. So much potential there, but of course I'm biased since it's my idea.

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Previous 'Instead of' blogs

 

Instead of Bundy, how about Brody?

Instead of Debra, how about Luna?

Instead of Slaughter, how about Jake?

Instead of Hart, how about Von Erich?

Instead of Garvin, how about Windham?

Instead of Diesel, how about Bulldog?

Click for this week's podcast"Macho Man" Superfan

Instead of Bundy, how about Brody

Brody & Bundy

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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When I started the 'Instead of' blogs a few weeks ago the intent was to look at Superstars who never won a championship and replace that person with someone who had. Today, I'm talking about swapping out a top contender with another. It's King Kong Bundy and Bruiser Brody.

My wrestling fandom came in the final years of Brody's life. It's hard to believe this summer will mark 30 years since he was murdered in Puerto Rico. Brody was a renegade who typically played by his own rules and avoided staying in one territory or company too long. During the boom of the 80s, he would have been the perfect foil for Hulk Hogan, assuming Vince McMahon would let Brody be Brody.

Bundy, Andre and Studd
Courtesy: WWE

King Kong Bundy had come into the WWF in late 1984 and ran roughshod over the competition. At the first WrestleMania, he destroyed SD Jones in nine seconds (yes, I know it was a little longer, but that's the 'official' time). As the year progressed, Bundy feuded with bigger names in the company, including the biggest in Andre the Giant. In early 1986, Bundy set his sites on Hogan and attacked the champion on Saturday Night's Main Event. This led to the main event match at WrestleMania II inside a steel cage.

Husk!

Don't get me wrong. I've always liked Bundy. But the point of this blog is to look at other options. To do a little fantasy booking if you will. Imagine if instead of Bundy attacking Hogan during the match against Magnificent Muraco it was Brody bursting from the back with a chain in tow. I'd still pair him with Bobby Heenan, as he was Hogan's biggest rival. I can hear Brody's signature 'HUSK!' as he stands over a prone Hogan, bloodied and crumpled in the ring after the attack. Heenan announcing to the world he's signed the most unpredictable man in wrestling to a contract.  

This, of course, would lead to several wars of words prior to WrestleMania. Brody attacks Paul Orndorff, prompting Hogan to make the save. I'd send Bundy to Chicago for Mania to be in the battle royal. Then that summer, I'd pair he and Big John Studd against the new WWF tag team champions the British Bulldogs. 

Brody would continue to feud with Hogan and Orndorff after losing to the champ, even teaming up with Intercontinental Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage on a summer edition of SNME. That's where the Orndorff heel turn could come into play and he rejoins the Heenan family like he did. Like I mentioned, Brody was never one to stay in one place too long, so he'd leave the company before being saddled with some sort of silly cartoonish gimmick. Andre could still turn on Hogan and the two head to WrestleMania III.

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Previous 'Instead of' blogs

Instead of Debra, how about Luna?

Instead of Slaughter, how about Jake?

Instead of Hart, how about Von Erich?

Instead of Garvin, how about Windham?

Instead of Diesel, how about Bulldog?

Click for this week's podcast