Raw is Hunsperger (and Smart)

That's me in the middle

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Yes, I am being totally egotistical with the title and the content of today's blog. January 22, 2018, is, of course, the night WWE celebrates Raw 25. In January 1993 Monday nights changed forever when Prime Time Wrestling transitioned from a pre-recorded studio format to live (and live to tape) pro wrestling action and sports entertainment. 

Of the 1,286 episodes of Raw that have already aired, I have appeared on two of them. I should also give credit to my favorite wrestling buddy, Chad Smart too. It was with him that I attended my very first Raw on January 8, 2007. Chad and I worked together at the time and we were joined by a fellow co-worker, Randy Livingston. Chad and I attended WrestleMania 22 the previous year and dressed as the Spirit Squad, so we wanted to keep the cosplay tradition alive.

The 3 Faces of Hogan

The three of us decided on the "3 faces of Hogan." I already had the old school red and yellow Hulkamania shirt. I cut up an old t-shirt and created a bandana and bought a yellow mustache to complete the look. Randy went as "Hollywood" Hogan from the nWo and Chad got patriotic as he brought Mr. America back to life. 

The costumes looked pretty good if I do say so myself. Little did we know we'd end up in the opening shot when Raw went live on the USA Network that night from the Scottrade Center. We were holding signs in honor of our Australian friends we'd met the year before at Mania. 

Celebrating Ric Flair at Raw

The following year, Chad and I attended WrestleMania 24 in Orlando. That's the night Ric Flair retired. On a whim, we decided to get tickets to Raw after learning the Four Horsemen were going to be at the show. Much to our surprise, we walked up to the ticket window and got two tickets on the opposite side of the hard cam and pretty close to the floor. The best part, the tickets were only $50 each.

Being at the show, we had no idea if we'd be on camera. This was at a time before either of us had a smartphone or a Facebook account. I believe one of our former coworkers called Chad that night on his flip phone and informed us we'd been on the air. Because it was a big celebration for Flair, we are in several of the shots of the "Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection" DVD. In recent days I've been tagged and texted with screenshots from the WWE Network.

We've been to a handful of other Raws since then, all the night after WrestleMania. Now that I think about it, that night in January 2007 is my only non-WrestleMania weekend Raw experience. It's fun to be there live and I've love to be in New York this evening watching in person, but I'll enjoy the show on DVR. Oh and listen to our top six moments from Raw here. 

3 Things I want in WWE in 2018

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Despite the freezing temperatures, snow and ice, I like the month of January for a number of reasons. It's a fresh start to the year. People seem to put their differences aside for one day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. And WWE presents the Royal Rumble and the official countdown to WrestleMania. Since this is a pro wrestling blog, that'll be the topic of discussion and specifically for WWE. There are three things (off the top of my head) that I want to see happen in the world's largest Sports Entertainment company (and in no particular order).

The Hulkster
Courtesy: WWE

1. Make amends with Hulk Hogan. The former WWE Champion and the biggest star of the 1980s was removed from the company's Hall of Fame section online in 2015. It stems from racist comments the Hulkster made years ago on a private recording. I don't want to turn this into a huge debate, but Hogan has served his time. Firing him and essentially kicking him out of the Hall of Fame were extreme measures. 

There had been buzz that perhaps Hogan would return at Raw25 next week and maybe he will. But he has tweeted that he'll be watching the show from home Monday night. It could all be a swerve but in case it's not, Hogan should be a part of WWE in some form. No, I don't want to see him wrestle again, however occasional appearances like other Legends is more than acceptable. 

Vince McMahon has a history of letting bygones be bygones when it comes to doing business. Bruno Sammartino, Ultimate Warrior and Kurt Angle are all recent examples of that. And without sounding like a jerk, no one is getting any younger, in this case, so let's move on and bring back the yellow and red.

Hanging with Neville

2. Bring back Neville. Yes, I am a fanboy for Neville. I know he walked out and is likely not coming back. However, I would pop like Orville Redenbacher (yes, my go to) if he came back. He's a great talent and was helping breath some new life in the Cruiserweight Division. And I'd love to see him kick in Enzo's head... 

I love Bruce Prichard & Conrad

3. Induct Brother Love into the WWE Hall of Fame. Like I mentioned above with the mending fences comment, Bruce Prichard has been invited back after nearly a decade. Brother Love is scheduled to be a part of Raw25. I know I'm jumping the gun, but Brother Love certainly deserves a spot in the HOF. I loved the character from day one and simply enjoy listening to his podcast Something to Wrestle With.

I'm hopeful with the invite there's at least a chance Bruce ends up back in the company. Again, it doesn't have to be a full-time gig, but I would love to see a handful of Brother Love segments in 2018. He still has a great mind for the business too and could be an asset behind the scenes.

These are just a few of the things I'm hoping for this year. What are some things you want to see happen in 2018?