Single Bulgarian Male: ISO a Manager

Trouble in paradise
Courtesy: WWE

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

Rusev and Lana have officially split or so it seems.  After all, she's been smooching with Dolph Ziggler.  Many online are already drawing comparisons to another famous wrestling couple that broke up years ago, Marc Mero and Sable.  In that instance, Sable excelled as Mero floundered for the most part, picking up the nickname "Marvelous" and pairing up with Jacqueline.  

I'm remaining optimistic that Rusev is not going to follow suit.  I do think that it's odd they've split the two up as they seemed tailor made for one another (yes, I know they're a real life couple).  I don't see Lana and Ziggler as a long term item either and have heard many reports that she actually wants to wrestle.  Fans love her right now, so I say strike while she's over.  I don't think Lana is going to have any trouble remaining popular during her time with WWE.  

Rusev crush

So that takes me back to Rusev.  What do you do with this Bulgarian brute?  I think he needs to stay a dominant heel.  I also think he needs a manager in his corner.  That's not a knock on him, but I think his character would benefit from it and I miss the days of the manager.  Zeb Colter and Paul Heyman are out of the picture for now, I think it would be nice to have the role of the traditional manager make a comeback.

A regal choice
Courtesy: WWE

William Regal comes to mind right away.  I think he is under utilized as general manager on NXT.  Plus, I don't think the brand needs an authority figure.  Make it different from Raw.  Regal has done the managerial thing to an extent before.  He's a great mouthpiece and could build a stable of foreign fighters to take on the WWE's most patriotic forces.  Sheamus and "King" Barrett would be excellent additions to this faction.  It's worked before and I think it would work now.

An awesome pick
Courtesy: WWE

The Miz is another name I've thought about for this role.  I've heard Jim Ross make the suggestion on his podcast that The Miz would be better in a managerial/advocate type role. I couldn't agree more.  I like The Miz, but I don't see him going anywhere with his current gimmick.  He's great on the mic and can take bumps.  I see chemistry with him and Rusev.

He's got people skills...
Courtesy: WWE

John Laurinaitis is one of those guys fans love to hate.  I think he would be a great heel manager whether it's for Rusev or someone else coming to the main roster.  His stable of course would be People Power with a group of brutally strong superstars.

Regardless of who Rusev ends up with (probably no one), it's my hope that this extremely talented star continues to shine and the WWE doesn't make him "marvelous" too.  

Mania Memories: Gold for Stone Cold

The new champ (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

For several years the WWF was struggling in the Monday Night Wars with WCW.  Ted Turner's deep pockets were able to lure some of Vince McMahon's top talent away.  By the time Wrestlemania 14 rolled around, the pendulum was starting to swing back into Vince's favor.  Mike Tyson, Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin are a big reason why that happened.

In the main event of Wrestlemania 14, Austin challenged the Heartbreak Kid for the WWF title.  Michaels was cockier than ever, having scored impressive wins over the Undertaker in the months leading up to Mania.  He had also beaten Bret Hart in the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" and fans were still a little bitter to say the least.  Austin was the anti hero, who really picked up steam and fan support the year earlier at Wrestlemania 13.  Having won his second consecutive Royal Rumble, Austin was the number one contender and going to Mania.

1-2-3 

Mike Tyson was brought in as an enforcer for the match.  But weeks before the big bout, Tyson pledged his allegiance to DX (Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna) thus stacking the odds against Austin.  Little did we know, Tyson had a trick up his sleeve and was actually in cahoots with Austin and when the ref in the match took a bump, Iron Mike jumped into action and made the three count.  A new champ was crowned and a new era was about to officially get underway.  When HBK came to from the Stone Cold Stunner he'd received, he argued with Tyson before the former boxing champion cold cocked Michaels and knocked him out.  Fans at the time had no idea this would be the last wrestling match HBK would be in more than four years.

Other talent would soon start rising to the top as a result of the events at Wrestlemania 14.  The Rock was the Intercontental champion and successfully defended against Ken Shamrock.  The Rock was months away from his own run as the WWF champion too.  Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie (Terry Funk in a stocking over his head) beat the New Age Outlaws in a dumpster match for the tag team titles, however the decision was reversed.  I don't remember what the technicality was, but it happened the next night on Raw. Triple H was successful in defending the European title against Owen Hart.  These two had a pretty good feud going on at the time.  It was a pleasant surprise.

Painful...

Goldust was going through some changes at that point, and was known as The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust.  He was no longer with Marlena and instead hanging out with Luna Vachon.  The two were feuding with Marc Mero and Sable and came up short in their match against the married couple.  Taka Michinoku beat Aguila in a WWF light heavyweight championship match.  And the Undertaker returned after being in a casket set a blaze to defeat his brother Kane.

LOD 2000 (WWE)

Another surprise at 14 was the return of the Legion of Doom.  This time Hawk and Animal were known as LOD 2000 and their new manager was a bikini clad Sunny.  The legendary team won a tag team battle royal that included 14 other teams including the original Rock n Roll Express and a new version of the Midnight Express (which didn't hold  a candle to "Sweet" Stan Lane and "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton.)

Kane meets Pete (WWE)

The stars were also out at Wrestlemania 14 with former Bill Clinton (alleged) lover Gennifer Flowers and Pete Rose.  This would establish the running gag of Rose and Kane having issues at Manias to come.  It also lead to Rose being the first celebrity inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Overall, I loved this card.  It was the start of a new era in wrestling.  I think after a lame Wrestlemania 13, 14 definitely gave the company and the business for that matter a much needed shot in the arm which ultimately ended up changing wrestling forever.

What are your thoughts on Wrestlemania 14?  Am I overselling it?  Share your impressions here or on our Facebook page.

Mania Memories: Iron Men

Iron Man match (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

By the time Wrestlemania 12 rolled around you just knew that Shawn Michaels was going to win the WWF heavyweight title from Bret Hart.  The two were scheduled for a 60 minute Iron Man Match, and when the bout ended after an hour with no one scoring a victory the crowd wondered what was going to happen.  Bret Hart, who had been through one helluva match grabbed his championship belt and headed back to the dressing room.  I guess he assumed the match would end in a draw (I know he really didn't think that).  The champ was met by then WWF President Gorilla Monsoon in the aisle who informed him the match must continue.

Sweet chin music (WWE)

So after going an hour, Bret and Shawn went a few more minutes before the Heartbreak Kid landed Sweet Chin Music and covered the exhausted Hitman for the pin.  It was the start of a new era for the WWF, or so we thought.  Shawn Michaels brought a little irreverence to the table.  He was a bad boy, even though he was a baby face.  He was Goofus to Bret Hart's Gallant (Google it if you don't get it)

Shawn's victory was impressive, but like I said, you knew it was coming.  The WWF had gone through great lengths producing video packages documenting Shawn's quest to fulfill his boyhood dream.  Sure enough on March 31, 1996 the kid from San Antonio, Texas did just that.  One thing I was really impressed with was his zip line entrance, in fact I found it so cool I tried to convince my then fiancé to have our church set one up for to enter our wedding ceremony.  My request was denied.

Warrior returns (WWE)

Wrestlemania 12 was the first to feature such a match.  It was also the Wrestlemania with the least amount of matches, only six.  This was still at a time when the company was struggling with keeping top tier talent in place.  Diesel and Razor Ramon were just months away from defecting to WCW.  "Oldtimers" like Jake "the Snake" Roberts and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper were brought in as well, and after a nearly four year absence, the Ultimate Warrior returned to the WWF, beating Triple H (who had Sable in his corner before she left him for Marc Mero)

The Undertaker kept his streak alive by soundly beating Diesel.  But as I mentioned he was on his way out, so this outcome came as no surprise.  The Bodydonnas won the tag team titles in a Free for All match before the pay per view.  This was a tournament final, but honestly I can not remember why the previous champs were stripped of the belts or lost them in the first place.  I do remember they beat the Godwins, again this was a lean time for talent in the WWF.

Brawlin' (WWE)

Steve Austin wasn't quite Stonecold yet, but got the win over Savio Vega.  Vader teamed up with the British Bulldog and Owen Hart to beat the odd combo of Ahmed Johnson, Yokozuna, and Jake the Snake.  And in probably the second most memorable match of the night, Piper beat Goldust in a Hollywood Backlot brawl.  The match had some crazy spots outside, including Piper getting hit by a car, Goldust being choked with a baseball bat, and archived footage of the OJ Simpson bronco chase (don't ask).  It all ended back in the ring with Piper stripping Dustin's golden suit to reveal lingere, ala Dr. Frank n Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Goldust was the Intercontinental champion, but the title wasn't on the line as Piper ended up the victor here.

Notably missing from the card, former IC champ Razor Ramon.  The 123 Kid (Sean Waltman) was also not on the show.  I don't know if the two had been suspended or were hurt, as I remember them both being on the following month's pay per view prior to their departure for WCW.  So not only would the company lose Ramon, Kid, and Diesel, but Bret Hart ended up taking a hiatus for several months after Wrestlemania 12.  It was truly a time for developing new talent, and the returns of Warrior and Roberts just didn't cut it.  We saw a minor push for Vader, Johnson, and Mero who debuted right after the event.

What are your thoughts on Wrestlemania 12?  Did you enjoy the Iron Man match?  Post your comments here or on Facebook.

Black History Month: Jacqueline

Jacqueline (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

My first memories of Jacqueline come from her days of working in the USWA as Miss Texas.  By the time she arrived on the scene, my cable provider didn't carry USWA, so I read about her in Pro Wrestling Illustrated.  In fact, I believe it was in one of the issues that she was ranked in the Top 500 and it caused a bit of controversy that a woman made the list.

However, I think Jacqueline has proven she can hang with the ladies and the men of the ring.  After leaving Texas and working briefly in WCW, she ended up in the WWE.  Jackie, Terri, and Ryan Shamrock made up the trio PMS, Pretty Mean Sisters.  Jackie also feuded with Sable as she offered Marc Mero a shoulder to cry on after he and Sable split.

She won the WWE women's title from Harvey Wippleman of all people.  Don't ask if you don't remember.  Then she dropped the title to Stephanie McMahon.  Again, don't ask.  All told, she held the title two times while in the WWE.  She is also only the second woman in the company's history to hold a "man's title" when she beat Chavo Guerrero for the Cruiserweight title.  (Chyna of course held the WWF Intercontiental title, Madusa and Daffney also held the Cruiserweight title, but in WCW)

PMS & Meat

Another tidbit about Jackie, which I had forgotten, she was a referee for a time in WWE.  If my memory serves me correctly, she may have been the first female main stream referee.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Despite her successes, unfortunately for Jackie, creative claims they had nothing for her character and she was released from the company.  She ended up in TNA and managed Beer Money as "Miss Tennessee."  She's come and gone from the company over the last few years, most recently teaming up with ODB to take on Velvet Sky.  But she once again left TNA in late 2011.

I'd like to see Jackie used again in the WWE as a trainer type, as she had a lot of success with helping on Tough Enough.  She had a different look than all the other Divas in the WWE during the Attitude Era and had a lot of talent.  I think she may be one of the most under appreciated females in the history of the company.