Scariest of All-Time: The Brood

  

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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When it comes to impressive ring entrances, it's hard to argue that the Brood isn't among the best. I loved the music and the rising from the arena floor. Gangrel, Edge, and Christian were portrayed as three vampires ready to take a bite out of the WWF.

They did too. Adding to the scariness of the gimmick, Gangrel would drink from a goblet of blood. While I thought he played the role very well, I never really bought into Edge and Christian as vampires. I think maybe they were supposed to be more goth than vamps.  I don't know the exact etiquette here.  But obviously, the two of them evolved through the years, and each became world champion.   

The Brood also ended up joining forces with the Undertaker and his Ministry of Darkness. Gangrel would separate from Edge and Christian and teamed briefly with Viscera.  But he never enjoyed the same success his Brood brethren did in WWE, but he's still active to this day. And let's not even bring up the New Brood... 

AUDIO: WrestleMania Redo

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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WrestleMania has been a staple not just in pro wrestling but pop culture for 35 years now. I’m proud to say I was around for the first one and have enjoyed the event each year since 1985. That includes the very unique version of WrestleMania 36, held over two nights and in an empty arena.

However, there are some moments in WrestleMania history that fans like to rewrite. That’s the inspiration for an annual tradition I’ve got going here, called WrestleMania Redo. This week Tyler ‘Heath’ Hatton of Stride Pro Wrestling and I talk about a couple of WrestleMania matches that we would rebook.

You can listen here! 

AUDIO: Favorite pro wrestling returns

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By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Who doesn't love a good return to the ring? There have been plenty of great ones over the years. This week Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Red Daniels and I go through a few of our favorite returns. I picked him to be on the show because his return was a huge one recently for Stride.

You can listen to the show here. Don't forget to keep up with Stride Pro Wrestling here. 

Ten years later: WrestleMania 24

Ready to rumble as Hornswoggle

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's hard to believe ten years have already passed since WrestleMania 24. It was March 30, 2008, at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. I was one of the 74,635 in attendance that day. It was the second WrestleMania my buddy Chad Smart and I attended.

Here are a few takeaways from that event a decade later. 

Flair says goodbye

I was there for Flair. When rumors of Ric Flair's retirement match being a part of WrestleMania, Chad and I made an extra effort to get tickets. We sat in what I believe was the fourth row that night and watched as our childhood hero wrestled for the last time in WWE. Even though we had speculated it would be Flair's swan song, I still found myself cheering for Naitch, hoping he'd pull off a surprise win and stick around a little longer.

The next night we watched as Legends and Superstars honored "Nature Boy" on Raw. I'm not going to lie and say that I'm disappointed Flair ended up wrestling again in TNA after his retirement. But I still hold a special memory of that night and can proclaim I was there for Flair's last WWE matchup.

Triple threat fun

That night also marked John Cena's first WrestleMania loss. He was pinned by Randy Orton in a triple threat match for the WWE Championship. Cena had won the Royal Rumble two months earlier and I figured he'd be a lock for winning the gold. Even though it's a little blurry the pic here is one of my favorites I took at WrestleMania 24.

Main event

Undertaker's Streak continued as he repeated from WrestleMania 23 and won the World Championship, pinning Edge in the main event of the night. Fireworks popped in celebration after the victory and it turns out a fan was injured in the process.

Big chokeslam from the Big Show

Another big moment from the night was Floyd 'Money' Mayweather taking on the Big Show. The giant had just returned after a hiatus from WWE. In my mind, Big Show was a lock for this one too, but I loved how they put the match together and Mayweather getting the underhanded victory. 

Bunny time

CM Punk won Money in the Bank that year. Admittedly I wasn't completely on board with Punk at the time, as I hoped John Morrison would have a moment to shine. The Playboy BunnyMania Lumberjill match is exactly what you're thinking. It goes to show how far WWE executives and creative have come in terms of their treatment of women's wrestling. 

Those are just a few of my memories from the show. We dressed as Hornswoggle for some unknown reason that year. We had a great time and got to keep our chairs and added to our collection of photos and autographs from a variety of WWE Superstars. 

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2018 Hall of Fame inductors

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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WWE has announced some of the people who will be doing the induction portion of the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony. I've decided to do a little fantasy booking of the show. At one time I thought only other Hall of Famers should do the induction, but I've changed that stance through the years. I know WWE listens to the person going into the HOF to an extent, but I don't know that they solely have the choice of their inductor. So here we go...

Goldberg is being inducted by Paul Heyman. I know they have a history together from Goldberg's two brief stints in WWE. Heyman managed Brock Lesnar at two WrestleMania matches against Goldberg. I believe those are also Goldberg's only two Mania matches. From the WWE portion of his career, I guess I get it. But here's a short list of who I would have picked. 

1. Eric Bischoff. It's hard to argue Goldberg's rise to fame came during the Bischoff reign of WCW. Goldberg was hands down the biggest star the company created during the Monday Night War era. I believe Bischoff would be the best choice for the induction ceremony. 

2. However, Triple H was one of Goldberg's biggest WWE rivals. So one could argue Hunter would be a great choice for this. Lesnar also makes sense, but I imagine they're going to keep him out of the ceremony spotlight that night. 

The Dudley Boyz are being inducted by Edge and Christan, two of the men who made up some of the greatest tag team rivalries of the early 2000s. The Hardys are of course that other team, but with Matt being in an ongoing angle that's out of his previous character, E&C are probably the right choices here. However, I think in hindsight, Heyman would have made more sense with the Dudley's history in ECW and the relationship they had on air in WWE. 

Ivory is being inducted by Molly Holly. This is a solid choice. I'm happy to see Molly will be a part of the evening. 

Those are the only three that have been officially announced. As for the others...

Courtesy: WWE

I'd pick Road Dogg to induct Jeff Jarrett. They are synonymous with each other. Another logic choice would be Jerry Lawler due to the Memphis connection or as awkward as it may sound, Kurt Angle.

Tony Atlas who managed Mark Henry or Ron Simmons who lead him in the Nation of Domination are both solid picks for the induction of the World's Strongest Man. 

Hillbilly and Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is the only logical choice for Hillbilly Jim's induction. I still believe this is a huge possibility. But I won't hold my breath for it. I also won't be surprised when it's announced "Mean" Gene Okerlund or Henry Godwinn are doing the honors.

Since Undertaker doesn't break character for the HOF, maybe Santina Morella would be the one to induct Kid Rock since Rock played a concert leading up to the Women's Battle Royal at WrestleMania 25 that Santina won. 

I don't recall off the top of my head how they've handled the Warrior Award inductee. Someone like Cena or Dana Warrior will probably be the one to do it. 

Who are your inductor picks? Share your thoughts here or on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page.

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Royal Rumble winners

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's hard to believe the Royal Rumble has been around 30 years. So ahead of next week's show, I came up with some fun facts, mostly about the winners, but I had to stretch on some of them. Most of these I knew, but full disclosure, I had to look some info up.

1988 - Jim Duggan: First Royal Rumble winner

1989 - "Big" John Studd - Went on to WrestleMania 5 to be a special guest referee and not wrestle. 

1990 - Hulk Hogan: First time a WWF Champion won the Rumble.

1991 - Hulk Hogan: First Superstar to win back to back Royal Rumbles

1992 - Ric Flair: The first heel to win the Royal Rumble and for the first time the WWE Championship was awarded to the winner.

1993 - Yokozuna: First Superstar to win the match under the stipulation that the winner gets a championship match at WrestleMania.

1994 - Bret Hart & Lex Luger: First (and only) co-winners of the Royal Rumble.

1995 - Shawn Michaels: First Superstar to draw number one and win the Rumble.

1996 - Shawn Michaels: Won the match a second time and had the same number of eliminations both years (8). 

1997 - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: First time a Superstar was eliminated from the match and came back to win the Rumble. 

1998 - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: Went toe to toe the night after winning the Rumble with Mike Tyson on Monday Night Raw.

1999 - Vince McMahon - First non-Superstar to win the Rumble.

2000 - The Rock: First time a Royal Rumble winner went on to WrestleMania to face three other competitors for the Championship.

2001 - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: First three-time winner of the Rumble.

2002 - Triple H: First time the winner challenged for the "Undisputed WWE Championship". 

2003 - Brock Lesnar: First winner of the Royal Rumble under a brand split.

2004 - Chris Benoit: Won the Rumble as a SmackDown! Superstart but switched brands to challenge the Raw Champion (Triple H).

2005 - Batista: Won the Rumble and for the first time, the second runner-up challenged the opposing show's champion (John Cena challenged JBL). 

2006 - Rey Mysterio: First Superstar under 200 pounds to win the Rumble.

2007 - Undertaker: First Superstar to draw number 30 and win the Rumble.

2008 - John Cena: First time a Superstar no one could see won the Royal Rumble.

2009 - Randy Orton: First time the final two men in the Rumble went on to face each other WrestleMania. Triple H won the WWE Championship the next month at No Way Out in the Elimination Chamber.

2010 - Edge: Up to that time the Superstar who spent the least amount of time in the match to win the Rumble (7:19).

2011 - Alberto Del Rio: First Superstar to outlast 39 other Superstars.

2012 - Sheamus: Yes, Sheamus won. But this marked the first time all three members of the commentary team also competed in the Royal Rumble (Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole and Booker T).

2013 - John Cena: First year an NXT Superstar competed in the Rumble (Bo Dallas).

2014 - Batista: Eliminated Roman Reigns moments after the "Big Dog" set a new record for most eliminations in a single Rumble match (12).

2015 - Roman Reigns: First time a Royal Rumble winner was pinned in the Championship match by a Money in the Bank winner cashing in (Seth Rollins). 

2016 - Triple H: First time the WWE Championship was defended in the match. Reigns came in as champ and lost the title that night, only to go on and regain it from Triple H at WrestleMania 32.

2017 - Randy Orton: Announced he was giving up his Championship match after Bray Wyatt won the gold at No Way Out, but it turned out to be a swerve by Orton.

Glaming up the Hall of Fame

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's been announced one of my favorite female wrestlers is going into the WWE Hall of Fame. "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix will take her spot with the Class of 2017 on Friday, March 31 in Orlando. She joins Kurt Angle, The Rock 'n Roll Express, Teddy Long and Diamond Dallas Page in this year's ceremony. I'm sure others will be announced soon too.

Champ
Courtesy: WWE

Phoenix emerged in WWE when the Barbie Doll, non-wrestler look was taking over the women's division. In fact, they were called Divas and it's safe to argue most were there to advance their careers in other avenues. Beth stood out and excelled. I enjoyed the work she and Natalya did. I eagerly anticipated a Beth Phoenix-Kharma feud, but it never happened. 

Meeting Beth in 2008
Courtesy: My 1-2-3 Cents

It's hard to believe Beth left WWE nearly five years ago. I'd love to see her do a comeback like Mickie James is currently doing. While I liked her better as a villain, I'd love to see her and Charlotte have a match, along with Becky Lynch and even Nia Jax. I had the good fortune to meet Beth at WrestleMania Axxess weekend in Orlando ahead of Mania 24. She was Divas Champion, but that's the year she teamed with Melina in the Playboy BunnyMania lumber jill match against Maria and Ashley. 

Beth & Edge at the Hall of Fame
Courtesy: WWE

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but this ceremony will mark the first married couple inducted into the Hall of Fame. Beth and Edge (inducted in 2012) are married and have two children together. Beth held gold four times in WWE and is one of just three women to have competed in the Royal Rumble match (Chyna and Kharma are the others). Congrats to Beth Phoenix for taking her rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Speaking of Chyna, I'm sure some will argue that she should be going in this year. I do believe Chyna is worthy of the HOF and she will be inducted sooner rather than later. But let's celebrate the accomplishments of The Glamazon and one of the best in the business. 

It's true, it's damn true

Kevin, Kurt and Chad

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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WWE has officially announced the first inductee for the Hall of Fame Class of 2017. It's former WWE Champion Kurt Angle. I had held out hope that he would be going in this year. I'm glad to see that it's going to happen Angle is certainly worthy of being the first ballot pick for the HOF.

Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett

Instead of listing all of Kurt's accomplishments over the last decade and a half, I'll instead share a few of my favorite moments of the Olympic gold medalist. I met Kurt for about 45 seconds after a TNA BaseBrawl event in Marion, Illinois in 2011. I "managed" Velvet Sky that night, but Kurt was who I wanted to walk to the ring. I was encouraged to pick Velvet, though, so I made the most of it.

When the matches were over, Kurt stuck around to do meet-and-greets in the ring with fans. Chad and I split the cost and got the photo opp. We chatted for a moment before posing for the pic. Although the encounter was brief, it was an honor to meet someone so accomplished in not just professional wrestling, but an Olympic champion too. 

Courtesy: WWE

Kurt Angle's first WWE Championship win over The Rock marked a significant point in his career. He was already over with the fans, but that victory made him an even bigger star in my eyes. Sometimes putting the belt on a Superstar too soon, they burn out quickly and fade away. Angle excelled in that spot, especially during the multi-man title defense he had in Hell in a Cell later that year. He helped create other Superstars along the way.

Courtesy: WWE

It would be hard to argue that without his feud with Angle, Edge wouldn't be the Superstar he evolved into. The same could be said for John Cena. I don't think there was ever a bad match involving Angle and he was spot on with his work on the mic too. The milk truck incident and the sing along with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Vince McMahon immediately.

I was recently asked on a My 1-2-3 Cents Podcast what faction would I create with WWE Superstars. My answer was Dolph Ziggler, Charlotte and American Alpha managed by Kurt. I'd love to see him stick around in some capacity after the ceremony. 

Congrats Kurt. I look forward to his induction and am still holding out hope that I might get to see it in person.

MVPs of WrestleMania #1

By Kevin Hunsperger & Chad Smart

@kevinhunsperger, @chadsmart, @my123cents

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I've enjoyed counting down the MVPs of WrestleMania.  It should come as no surprise that Chad and I have both picked the Undertaker as our number 1 MVP.  

The Streak starts...
Courtesy: WWE

Kevin's thoughts:  My senior year of high school (25 years ago) The Undertaker made his WrestleMania debut against the legendary "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka.  I expected 'Taker to win that encounter as he was an up and coming Superstar and Snuka was there to help put over those younger guys.  Then he beat Jake "The Snake" Roberts.  He missed WrestleMania 10, but soon won the WWF Championship by beating Sycho Sid at 'Mania 13.  From there on the Undertaker plowed through the competition beating everyone from the young upstarts like Randy Orton to the legends like Ric Flair and everyone in between.

The Streak ends
Courtesy: WWE

'Taker added gold twice more at WrestleMania events, beating Edge and Batista.  He bested Triple H three times, Kane twice as well as Shawn Michaels; retiring the iconic Superstar.  Then in 2014 something weird happened.  The Streak of 21 wins came to a screeching halt.  I've flip-flopped on whether I like the idea of Brock Lesnar ending one of the greatest records in the history of the company.  It definitely sent shockwaves around the world and picked up main stream press.

The Streak starst again
Courtesy: WWE

At WrestleMania 31 he beat Bray Wyatt, the Superstar I think should have ultimately ended the Streak and a new phenom could have been born.  This year it's Shane McMahon standing in the Dead Man's way.  If Vince McMahon has his way, Undertaker will be done at 'Mania if he doesn't beat the boss's son in the much anticipated Hell in a Cell match.  Win or loss, no one can deny the career of the Undertaker and how important he is to the WrestleMania brand.

Various 'Taker opponents
Courtesy: WWE

Chad's thoughts:  Is there any other honest choice? Taker has wrestled on more WrestleManias than any other wrestler. “The Streak” helped add intrigue to WrestleMania over the last decade. Even with “the Streak” broken, Undertaker has probably one of the most anticipated matches coming up at WrestleMania Star. While I personally think Taker should have retired after WrestleMania XXX, there’s no denying his longevity has helped build the WrestleMania name. 

MVPs of WrestleMania #10

By Kevin Hunsperger & Chad Smart

@kevinhunsperger, @chadsmart, @my123cents

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Last year I had the idea to do an MVPs of WrestleMania blog, but came up with it a day or two before the big event.  So I held my list waiting for WrestleMania 32 to roll around.  Admittedly I've made a couple of minor tweaks to the original list and debated internally over the quality of my list.  I invited Chad to play along too.  While the lists aren't perfect (he's not in our top ten), I hope you enjoy.  A new blog will be posted daily until March 31, the day I leave for Dallas.

Brock Lesnar ends the Streak
Courtesy: WWE

Kevin's pick:

10)  Brock Lesnar & Edge:  Okay, I couldn't whittle my list down to just ten, so I'm throwing in a bonus.  Lesnar obviously doesn't have a whole lot of WrestleManias under his belt, but just for the fact that he's the ONE in 21 and 1, I couldn't ignore that.  He also captured the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 19.  His other showings were less than stellar, but again I'm basing this largely on the ending of the Undertaker's streak.

Edge wins MITB
Courtesy: WWE

Edge deserves to be in the conversation of WrestleMania MVPs for a number of reasons.  He started off strong in his first handful of WrestleManias.  He's 6 and 4 at the annual event.  He and Christian made their Mania debuts at WrestleMania 2000 (16) and won the the tag team titles in one of the most memorable ladder matches ever.  Edge went on to win the first ever Money in the Bank ladder match, defeat Mick Foley in a hardcore match and retain the World Heavyweight title in his final match against Alberto Del Rio. 

MVP vs. Chris Benoit
Courtesy: WWE

Chad's pick:

10) Montel Vontavious Porter: You can’t have a list of MVPs without including a literal M.V.P right? While a list of WrestleMania MVPs sounds like a simple idea,  it was actually harder than expected to come up with 10 names. Well, 10 names that are more qualified than just trotting out 10 stars. So with that said, MVP comes in at number 10. MVP’s biggest WrestleMania match was his match against Chris Benoit at WrestleMania 23 for the U.S. title. Outside of that; he competed in the Money in the Bank ladder matches at WM24-26 before leaving WWE for Japan and TNA.