alexnvrmnd777 said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

they did only a video recap about trips and taker. yeah it would have been nice 4 them 2 do something physical but i swear there is like a insurance policy shit going on so as not 2 risk their main event if either cena or rock got hurt.

and what is up with ADR and Kharma?

oh booker t is gonna on teddy's team now

I don't think so, regarding the insurance policy, because Cena's been wrestling in dark matches and in a match just last week on Raw, so if there really was one, they wouldn't put either of them in ANY physical competition until WM.

WWE sources have confirmed that Christian was pulled from the WrestleMania 28 Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Long match because of issues with his ankle. The decision to pull Christian was made early on Monday.

Regarding Alberto Del Rio being pulled, WWE officials looked at the 12-man match and felt that Del Rio didn't fit in it. They are planning on pushing Del Rio soon and didn't want him in a match that will be full of comedy and other shenanigans. With that said, it's interesting to note that they kept guys like Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and The Miz in the match.

It's said that WWE has something grander planned for Del Rio this year. Instead of returning in the 12-man match, officials want Del Rio to have a more dramatic return to the company. Even though he recently participated in the angle with John Laurinaitis, the original plan was to do Del Rio vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania and sources report that the Orton vs. Del Rio feud is still planned. The decision to pull Del Rio was made in the last week some time.

Despite being pulled from the match, expect Del Rio and Christian to appear in a backstage WrestleMania segment or Del Rio could even work the dark match.

source: PWInsider

http://www.wwe.com/classi...ll-of-fame

Ric Flair to appear at WWE Hall of Fame ceremony

Page 1 of 1

March 27, 2012

WWE.com has just gotten word that Ric Flair will be in attendance at the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Miami's American Airlines Arena on Saturday, March 31.

On that night, The Nature Boy will gain a record second entry into the hallowed Hall. Only this time, Flair will be entering alongside his legendary Four Horsemen allies: Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon. (MORE ABOUT THE HORSEMEN)

First inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008 on the night before he faced Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV, The Nature Boy became the first active Superstar to ever receive the honor. The Dirtiest Player in the Game retired from the ring after losing to HBK on The Grandest Stage of Them All, but his legacy as one of the most respected and influential performers in sports-entertainment endures. (WATCH)

The induction ceremony, which will be held on the eve of WrestleMania XXVIII, will air on USA on Monday, April 2 at 8 p.m.

And then here's TNA's press release announcing Flair's appearance:

TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Star Ric Flair to Attend WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Flair Confirms He Will be Present in Miami When the Four Horsemen Receive Their Hall of Fame Honor

CHARLOTTE, NC – (March 27, 2012) International celebrity the Nature Boy Ric Flair is set to become the only wrestler in history to be inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame twice. Flair's dominant 1980s wrestling group, the Four Horsemen, known to be the greatest in ring performers of all time, will be granted their seat in the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Miami, FL on March 31st, the day before Wrestlemania XXVIII. Flair will be inducted along-side fellow members of the Four Horsemen: Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and J.J. Dillon.

The news of Flair's second induction was followed by a firestorm of controversy. Questions flew about whether Flair would attend the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony as he is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. Understanding what a huge honor this is for Flair, TNA is graciously supporting him in the decision to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony alongside his fellow inductees.

"Being inducted once was one of the greatest accomplishments of my career, so I'm humbled and honored to be recognized again. I wouldn't miss the ceremony for the world," says Flair.

TNA President Dixie Carter says, "We are proud of Ric's many accomplishments and contributions he has made to the world of professional wrestling and beyond. We wish to congratulate him on yet another honor he truly deserves."

Flair, a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, was inducted individually into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008. On becoming a two-time inductee his agent Melinda Morris Zanoni of Legacy Talent and Entertainment says, "We are all so proud to be watching Ric continue to make history. There will never be an athlete more deserving of wearing two Hall of Fame rings than Ric Flair."

source: TNA Impact Wrestling

http://www.chicagotribune...ull.column

Interview: Behind the snarl of CM Punk

WWE champ and Chicago resident CM Punk battles management -- but not fans who respect his privacy

WWE Champion CM Punk on the CTA Blue Line March 8, 2012 (Chicago Tribune/ Phil Velasquez / March 26, 2012)

When he blasted WWE's higher-ups on live TV, CM Punk had GQ, ESPN and "The Jimmy Kimmel Show" banging on his door. TMZ and CNN interviewed him about his recent Twitter feud with pop star Chris Brown. But on this particular March afternoon on the Blue Line — the train he takes to and from O'Hare International Airport every week with the diamond-encrusted WWE Championship belt in his suitcase — Punk appears to have gone unrecognized by those sitting around him.

That's just how he likes it.

"I'm so cranky," admits Punk, holding onto a pole by the "L" train's doors to keep his balance. Punk (real name: Phil Brooks) is on the third day of a diet that requires him to skip food entirely in favor of juices because "I'm bored out of my mind and I'm trying to get in wrestling shape. I can't work out harder than I do. I've been a (pescetarian) for three months."

The pro wrestler is by no means out of shape. But when you compare his heavily tattooed body to the superhero physiques of The Rock or John Cena, you can see why WWE's muscle-obsessed CEO, Vince McMahon, may have overlooked Punk for so long, and why 13-time WWE champion Triple H called him a "skinny fat kid."

"I think that's (Triple H's) perception of me," says Punk, who will defend his title against Chris Jericho on Sunday at Wrestlemania XXVIII in Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. "It shows the perception people have is completely archaic and outdated. I assume it's a bodybuilding thing. I'm not skinny, and I'm not fat. I've never used a drug in my life."

Punk famously has the words "Drug" and "Free" tattooed on his knuckles and "Straight Edge" inked on his stomach (he says he's never used steroids, painkillers or recreational drugs or drunk alcohol, due to his Straight Edge lifestyle). And on this afternoon, what was supposed to be a day off from his hectic schedule, he is wearing a "Drug Free" T-shirt underneath a baggy black hooded sweatshirt, along with a Cubs cap that appears to be on its last legs.

"I can be pretty incognito," Punk says of getting recognized on the train. "I'll have my hood up and hands in my pocket. … It doesn't stop a lot of people. They'll talk to me for a while, and I'll stare at them for a while (with headphones on), and I'll say, 'I didn't hear a word you just said.'"

The Lockport native is, in wrestling parlance, a baby face (good guy) and soaks up the fan adoration every time he walks to the ring with his theme song, Living Colour's "Cult of Personality," playing over the loudspeakers. But Punk can come off as an unapologetic, walking "do not disturb" sign when he isn't working.

He's been known to vent about fans who don't respect his privacy — specifically the ones who tap him on the shoulder when he's checking in at the airport or the ones who take off his headphones to get his attention — and has laid into autograph hounds with binders full of photos who he feels are trying to make money off of him. He's more than willing to communicate with his fans and critics on Twitter, but anyone who tweets him risks a sarcastic or insulting response, including making fun of spelling and grammar. When one follower tweeted, "I'm going to Chicago for the 1st time for St Pattys Day. What places should I visit?" Punk simply replied, "Indiana." When another tweeted, "noone cares where ur going or what your doing," Punk fired back, "You mean 'you're'. Unfollow me. Or kill yourself."

"I've tweeted a few things that I thought for sure would get me a call from (WWE's) office," Punk says as the train approaches his stop. "It never happened. … Maybe I need to be more rebellious."

The Bongo Room in Wicker Park is known for its brunch and isn't juice-diet-friendly, but Punk would rather go there than a juice bar just a few blocks away. Why? It becomes apparent right away that he feels at home at The Bongo Room.

"Welcome back," the waitress says after Punk slides in a wooden booth "How have you been?"

The restaurant, just like the neighborhood, has a hipster feel to it. That's one of the reasons Punk likes both. He says most of the hipsters who recognize him are "too cool for school" to approach him. And when people approach him at the bar, the Bongo Room's staff tells them to back off.

It wasn't always this way. A year ago, Punk was one of many WWE wrestlers hoping to join the ranks of the organization's elite (and stay there). The difference was Punk clearly belonged among the elite due to his superior wrestling skills and mic work — and he knew it. But after years of wrestling through injuries only to see the same guys holding the title, he revealed to the company six months before his contract expired in July that he would not be re-signing. Punk blurred the lines of reality last June when he announced why he was leaving during a memorable episode of USA network's "Monday Night Raw."

"I've proved to everybody in the world that I'm the best on this microphone, in that ring, even on commentary," Punk told the crowd and the millions watching at home. "And yet, no matter how many times I prove it, I'm not on your lovely little collector cups, I'm not on the cover of the program, I'm barely promoted. I don't get to be in movies, I'm certainly not on any crappy shows on the USA Network. ... But the fact of the matter is I should (be). ... Vince McMahon's going to make money despite himself. He's a millionaire who should be a billionaire. You know why he's not a billionaire? It's 'cause he surrounds himself with glad-handing, nonsensical, yes men. ... I'd like to think that maybe this company will be better after Vince McMahon's dead, but the fact is it's going to get taken over by his idiotic daughter and his doofus son-in-law and the rest of his stupid family."

Punk's closest friend on the WWE roster, Kofi Kingston, was well aware of his frustrations. He just didn't know Punk would air them on live TV.

"Backstage, it was quiet," says Kingston over the phone from Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, where WWE recently taped "Raw." "Everyone was viewing the TV. I get goose bumps thinking about it. He said what everybody wanted to say. ... (Afterward) I went up to him smiling — 'That was incredible' — as people hugged him. ... (He was) same as always: ice cold. You never see him celebrating. ... He won't let emotions show on his face. ... It's pretty cool. He acts like he's been there before."

Punk, it turns out, was told by WWE that he could air his grievances but had to run them by McMahon first. Because he knew McMahon wouldn't let him say everything he wanted to say, Punk claimed he handed McMahon a piece of paper with talking points that were "completely different" from what Punk actually said.

Asked during a later phone conversation about McMahon's reaction to the speech, Punk says, "He had dollar signs in his eyes. He said, 'Hell of a promo. Too bad you're leaving. We could make a lot of money together.' "As for the enormous response he received from peers, fans and media, Punk says, "At that point, I was so out the door. ... I was counting down the days."

On the last day of his contract, Punk was scheduled to wrestle Cena for the WWE championship at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view at Rosemont's Allstate Arena. The hometown crowd was rabid in its support for Punk even though he was a heel at the time, and it erupted after he pinned Cena and exited through the crowd with the belt in hand.

Little did fans know Punk had signed a contract extension shortly after the pay-per-view had begun broadcasting.

Eight days later, Punk returned to WWE TV, lost the title at the next pay-per-view and then lost his match at the pay-per-view after that. But he won the title back in November and will defend it at Wrestlemania (the Super Bowl of wrestling). Besides, WWE's higher-ups are starting to see what many fans have been seeing in Punk all along — well, most fans.

"We heckled him at a house show here in Hartford (Conn.) a year and a half ago before he had blown up," says Michelle Beadle, co-host of ESPN's "SportsNation" and a die-hard wrestling fan, over the phone from ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn. "'Who is this dork with a Pepsi tattoo?' Fast-forward a few months, and now I'm, like, 'That's the greatest wrestler of all time.' ... We thought he was a dork, and now we're big fans."

Asked whether he has the marketability to be the face of WWE, Beadle, who calls Punk a friend, says, "He's where he is because he's been very successful. I don't think he will be that guy who is overly nice — that's just not his (shtick). If people want to take pictures with him on his own time, they may not get a nice answer or reaction from him. But I think he sells tickets. Attaching the wagon to that guy is not a bad idea."

He wouldn't reveal how long he re-signed for, but the 33-year-old Punk says he isn't interested in wrestling into his 40s. He has goals outside of wrestling, including opening a doughnut shop and naming his baked goods after wrestling terms such as "The Bear Claw."

One goal that doesn't seem to be at the top of his list? Marriage.

"I don't think marriage is in the cards for me," says Punk. "I think it's an archaic institution. I think people got married when their life expectancy was (shorter). It kind of made sense then. ... People now live to 100. But who's to say? I would love to find a woman who will absolutely floor me, make me stop everything, intrigue me that much that everything stops. I'm not positive she exists."

Punk believes dating within the industry helps, because of the grueling road schedule, but says you risk bringing your work home with you and talking about wrestling seven days a week. That's not to say he hasn't done it. Punk has been linked to WWE Divas champion Beth Phoenix and ex-WWE Divas Lita and Maria Kanellis, an Ottawa, Ill., native and former"Celebrity Apprentice" contestant now with the Ring of Honor wrestling promotion.

Kanellis notes that she dated Punk for a year and a half and got to know his protective side — she says he once texted her right before his Wrestlemania match to let her know a wrestler was flirting with her sister — as well as his sentimental side. "Giant Sweet Tarts are my favorite candy," says Kanellis over the phone from her Los Angeles condo. "And from the day I met him until the day I left WWE, he gave me giant Sweet Tarts — even when we weren't together."

Asked whether he considers himself romantic, Punk locks his hands together on the table at The Bongo Room and reveals a tattoo on his fingers: "Romance." "I'm a hopeless romantic," Punk says. "Nobody believes me."

Whether to make conversation or move the focus away from the tattoo, Punk praises the waitress for refilling his tea without his noticing. "You're good," he tells her. "You're (expletive) good. I held up my cup (for a refill) and spilled boiling water on my phone." Pressed about the origin of the tattoo, Punk says, "I don't even know. I think I just want my hands to be all tattooed to make it look like I was in a Russian gulag, and it made sense at the time, so …"

The conversation soon shifts to romantic comedies.

"Dude, you know what's a good movie?" Punk exclaims. "It's got Ryan Reynolds, and he has a daughter and tells her stories about four different girlfriends and she has to figure out which one was her mom. What I do on international flights is watch crappy, sappy love movies. ... Sometimes they're so bad, it's laughable. It kills time."

Punk says part of the reason he likes the movie "Definitely, Maybe" is because he can relate to it, but he doesn't elaborate. Also, he wants a daughter. He has a soft spot for children — even if they do stare at his tattoos and lip ring — and tries to make time for the young fans who want autographs and photos.

"I do envision myself having kids one day, and I always wanted a little girl," says Punk. "I figure it will happen regardless — especially if I don't want one. 'No, I can't have a little girl. It would be torture if I have a little girl.' It's like a wrestling curse."

Ever since he re-signed, Punk seems to have taken a greater leadership role in the WWE locker room. He volunteers to do interviews on his days off when a show's ticket sales could be better; he is adamant that wrestlers leave the locker room the way they found it; and he is giving more of the younger guys advice on their matches.

Kingston believes young wrestlers can learn a lot from Punk — just as he did back in the day.

"I'm really lucky Punk chose to take me under his wing," Kingston says. "A lot of people have a story about the first time they met Punk and how he was kind of a jerk. The earliest thing I remember is him coming up to me and saying, 'Hey, want a piece of advice? ... Remember, they all came here to see you.' I had been jumping around nervous, and he went out of his way to make me feel comfortable."

On the road, Punk takes Kingston along on his personal bus, which saves them the trouble of having to drive and find time for sleep. The bus was one of Punk's contract stipulations when he re-signed, along with a raise. But Punk claims it was never about the money. He says he isn't much of a spender. Still, he did make sure it was enough to make WWE think twice about not using him again.

And then there's the intro song he's been using since "returning" to WWE: "Cult of Personality." While most wrestlers have theme music created in-house, Punk asked WWE to pay for the rights for the popular 1988 Living Colour song.

Was it expensive?

"Yeah," Punk says about the song he listened to during his Little League baseball days. "But (expletive) it."

John Cena sat down with Brian Soscia of The Soscia Network for a Q&A session with fans. Highlights from the interview are as follows:

Who is left if he defeats The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII: "Honestly, this is what I like about April 1, you have a definitive number one being decided. I think at that point it is anybody's game to try to take somebody off the mountain. We're at a period in WWE, WrestleMania is truly the end of an era. Triple H vs. Undertaker, Shawn Michaels is a special referee, John Cena vs. The Rock. One of those names, one of those names is a full-time employee for this company and you're looking at him.

"So I think WrestleMania is a platform, as it always is, for new Superstars - Daniel Bryan, Sheamus, C.M. Punk, Cody Rhodes, Team Laurinaitis, Team Teddy Long. Anyone can step up. I'm going to be there on the top of the mountain with my fists up waiting for someone to challenge me. I think everybody is going to watch WrestleMania and enjoy it, but I think everyone behind the curtain, behind the wall that I'm not supposed to talk about, is going to be watching as hungry as they can be knowing that they want to face the winner of that match."

Advice to younger wrestlers: "Never give up. Back in 2003, 2002, when I was just wearing boots and tights and I was supposed to be the ruthless aggression young good guy, nobody in the company liked me. I know Vince McMahon won't admit this, but he wanted me fired, Triple H wanted me fired, everybody hated me. They just wouldn't give me a forum to showcase my talents. I've always been able to connect with the audience if given the ability to speak.

"I got that ability and I was off to the races. I was up against all odds. I wasn't born into this business. I'm not a third generation guy or a second generation guy. I'm just a dude who grew up a fan like all you guys and I wanted to do this my whole life. And I never gave up. That's the advice I give to all the young cats, all the guys who have been trying and trying, trying to make it, attempt after attempt. I've failed many times, but you never ever give up."

source: WrestlingInc

EXCLUSIVE: When it comes to Undertaker, don't bring up this subject around Vince McMahon!

On a recent interview with Wade Keller on the PWTorch Livecast, former WWE Creative Team member Andrew Goldstein revealed one subject he learned quickly you are not to bring up around Vince McMahon when it comes to the Undertaker. Here's an excerpt of the interview where he talks about learning one of many of the unwritten rules of Vince McMahon and WWE:

"It's a machine," he explained. "You just have no perception of how much of a well-oiled machine it is and when you step in there it doesn't stop for you. It's a freight train. It keeps going. You come in there on your first day. It's not, 'Alright, welcome. Let's get to know this new guy. Let's get him up to speed.'

"It's a freight train and you're just running along side it and you jump in the side car and you're just along for the ride and you gotta catch up to speed on your own. They're not stopping to catch you up on, well, when you have a meeting with Vince don't bring up Undertaker when he was the American Badass because Vince hates that. Nobody tells you that thing, those picky things that Vince or Stephanie and Michael Hayes [don't like]. There's no guidebook. Reality was 100 percent different than I thought it was going to be.

"It's so funny. I brought it up. I was just like, 'Oh, I love the American Badass gimmick. I loved hearing Undertaker cut actual promos and come down on the motorcycle and come down with contemporary music and be sort of human.' Bruce Prichard shot me a death look that said don't ever bring that up in front of Vince because Vince is so protective of Undertaker's character and mystique. And rightly so, its money. As Triple H has been saying, there's equity in the mysterious mystique of Undertaker."

Keller's Analysis: This could shed extra light on why WWE doesn't bring up their WrestleMania 17 match when talking about their matches at WrestleMania 27 and 28. The main reason is the match feels more special if WWE doesn't talk about it happening ten years ago. They did the same thing by perpetuating the myth that Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant never wrestled before WrestleMania 3 and that Andre had never been bodyslammed before. The idea is to give fans the feeling they're seeing history being made instead of a rerun from years earlier.

source: PWTorch.com

http://www.tmz.com/2012/0...3NoqcijaSo

WWE Legend Kamala Docs May Amputate OTHER Foot, Too

WWE legend Kamala is at risk of losing another foot due to his diabetes-related medical problems -- this according to his son.

As TMZ previously reported ... Kamala’s left leg was amputated last year due to ongoing complications with diabetes and high blood pressure. Unfortunately the problems aren’t over.

Kamala Jr. went on "The Roman Show" today and revealed, “[My father] is having complications with his other foot now ... Friday we’ll know if they have to take his other foot off.”

In the meantime, the wrestler’s son says Kamala is still checking his Facebook page ... and really appreciates words of encouragement from his fans.

So sad.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/0...3NqJ8ijaSo

The Rock Childhood EVICTION Drove Me to Become a Beast

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson says he owes his ENTIRE career to a traumatic experience from his childhood -- a traumatic experience that inspired him to spend every waking hour in the gym.

The confessional was shot for a documentary which chronicled the build up to the Rock's upcoming match against John Cena at Wrestlemania XXVIII this weekend.

During an emotional car ride, Rock opens up about the time he and his family were evicted from their apartment in Hawaii when he was 14 years old.

Rock says he'll never forget the look of despair on his mom's face when she tried to explain why he couldn't sleep in his own bed that night.

As a result, Rock says he resolved to change his life forever ... so he'd never experience anything like that ever again -- and the change began in the weightroom.

Have a foxy day, y'all!

http://www.accidentalsexi...way-miami/

WWE Diva Alicia Fox is ready to hit the runway in Miami

WWE diva fashionista Alicia Fox will be among the WWE divas walking the runway at the WrestleMania Premier Party: A Celebration of Miami Art & Fashion on Thursday, March 29th on Star Island. The event, which benefits the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/Alex’s Place and the Second Chance Program housed within the Center, goes along with the traditional art show. American record producer, songwriter and rapper Timbaland and Stuart Miller are hosting the festivities, featuring artwork created by WWE superstars, divas and legends.

This is the first time adding a fashion show element to it with WWE divas modeling clothes designed by top South Florida designers, giving Fox a chance to return to her roots. The female grappler began her journey to the ring after WWE executive vice president of talent relations John Laurinaitis discovered her after spotting her in a fashion catalogue.

“I did a couple of things for Venus Swimwear in Jacksonville,” Fox said.

“I think at the time Kelly Kelly and I were doing it [modeling] together at age 17, 18. I think it was just an experiment for the company [WWE] to see if it was even possible to teach models how to wrestle.

“It was a great learning experience for the both of us because we could step out of our backyard and kind of grow into the world. I think neither Kelly nor I ever imagined being here. This is our sixth year. We didn’t know what was going to happen, but I don’t think we would have thought we would be here for six years already.”

Before she was contacted by WWE, the leggy Fox had her sights on going to school to become an ophthalmologist. A career as a WWE Diva wasn’t anything she thought about before receiving the phone call.

“I was going to be an eye surgeon, which is extremely funny now because I don’t like blood or science or anything like that,” Fox said.

“I don’t know what I was thinking. Now I feel more than blessed to still be in WWE and have this opportunity. It has been so far so good. I don’t want to go back to being an ophthalmologist or an eye surgeon or something like that.”

The brunette beauty exudes confidence when she sashays into the ring. She says her signature walk, complete with hands on waist, kind of started out as a joke.

“I thought maybe I would exaggerate my walk a little and see what happens,” Fox said.
“Then it became fun and a form of expression. I thought, ‘You know what. My music is hitting.

It’s time to put some stank on it.’ Then it’s another way of pumping myself up for action. It helps relieve some nerves also. By the time I head to the ring I am loosened up and ready to go.”

Its Fox’s unique fashion choices that make her stand out amongst the other WWE divas.

“I love my fashion and anything to do with fashion,” Fox said.

“It doesn’t even have to be traditional. I like abstract dresses. Sometimes I will look at the magazines thinking, ‘How would it look if I put this top with this bottom or mix this with this?’

It’s fun because it gives me a chance to create too. I’m just inspired by everything and anything. Even if it’s just music I’m listening to or a vacation or feeling tropical or the location of our show. Miami has bright colors and fun and the beach. So in that case it’s thinking about being beachy and free. I also coordinate with the season or month it is.”

With a tall and built frame, finding the right outfit can sometimes be a challenge.

“I think the hardest challenge for me is trying to get my jeans,” Fox said.

“My inseam to my waist measurements are totally different. A lot of the dresses have the pre-cut cups. Those kinds of dresses I try to stay away from because they don’t really fit right. I feel like the measurement from the model they took it from and real life people are so off. I go to the store and go, ‘Do you have jeans? Yes. Do they come in long? No. Okay, have a nice day.’ I do a lot of online shopping and get it altered if I have to or alter it myself if it’s easy enough.

“That is kind of the best part for me about fashion is you can create what you want. Even if you find a dress you really like, you can add on to it with studs or cut it up or do this or that. It’s like a form of expression. I love it. I can talk about clothes all the time.”

Fox is looking forward to the fashion portion of the fundraiser. No matter who or what she is wearing.

“I am really excited because it’s also a charity event,” Fox said.

“It’s going to be great fun night with stars and divas. You get to dress up. We have the fashion and art show, but we also get to give back to the community. That is the perfect package of love: clothes and charity, all in one. Whatever it is, I hope it’s my personality, which is loud and crazy. I’m pretty versatile. I can do short or long. I would like it to be colorful. Anything that matches my hair would be good since its loud these days too.”

The WrestleMania festivities will also include the WWE Hall of Fame. Among the inductees in the 2012 class is Edge (Adam Copeland), who Fox worked with when she initially debuted on television.

“Working with Edge was amazing,” Fox said.

“When I was nervous he gave me great advice on keeping calm. He is just so smart to know where the cameras are, when to give and when to take back. It was such a great experience to work with him because I learned so much. He was the one there to say it’s cool if you give it your all, and we can tell you to take it back or do this without doing this. He helped me feel comfortable about losing myself in my character. I really don’t come from an acting background at all, where he is naturally charismatic like that. Especially when I was that age and extremely camera shy. I got to work with him and Vickie Guerrero and Hunter (Triple H), I couldn’t have asked for better teachers.

“It was my first go on the road, so sitting there working with Triple H and interact with him for the first time. Not knowing him and being professional, but still being a human being. It was something I was scared about, but not something to be frightened by at all. I couldn’t’ have asked for a better learning experience. I’m so happy Edge is being inducted this year.”

One of the most rewarding things about being a WWE diva for Fox is giving back in the community. The “be a STAR” (Show Tolerance And Respect), an anti-bullying alliance co-founded by WWE and the Creative Coalition. Fox will join former “American Idol” contestant James Durbin, WWE’s golden voice Lilian Garcia, superstar David Otunga, The Miz, Rey Mysterio and Dolphins’ mascot T.D. in visiting two Miami-Dade schools.

“It’s a great experience,” Fox said.

“I absolutely love this campaign because these kids are like sponges and soak up everything you say. I was a victim of bullying in elementary school and middle school. When you are younger the smallest things can mean so much. The, ‘Oh God, I’m going to die.’ As I got older, those kind of small stresses don’t matter. It became, ‘Why am I sweating the small stuff?’ From someone that has been there and grown out of it, I love sharing any kind of knowledge I can so they don’t have to feel trapped in their experience.

“When you are being bullied at that time you don’t know if you should tell your teachers. You don’t want to be a tattletale, but it’s not about being a tattletale. It’s about going to school in a healthy environment and that is the first step. I’m really honored to be a part of the campaign.”

Fox is ready for the WrestleMania festivities to get underway. She anticipates the big show, which includes Kelly Kelly and her celebrity partner Maria Menounos taking on Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres.

“Kelly has been a sister to me forever and Maria I have respected her business mind and her go get it attitude,” Fox said, asked to choose a winner.

“I respect all the girls, but I think Kelly and Maria have such a strong influence on women everywhere. I think I’m going to be rooting for them because it’s about girl power.”

On The Rock versus John Cena showdown, Fox is siding with the CeNation.

“It’s hard to decide, but I would definitely have to go with Cena,” Fox said.

“He works hard. He trains hard. He is does it 24/7, 365. I’m rooting for him.”

- There is an online component for the art auction so WWE fans everywhere can get involved, purchasing WWE-themed art for a good cause. The auction features original WrestleMania-themed works of art from renowned artist Art Rotondo, as well as great moments in WWE history captured by WWE photographers and signed by WWE superstars and legends. Net proceeds from the online auction will also benefit children’s oncology care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center at the University of Miami. The bidding is running now and closes at the end of WrestleMania Week on Monday, April 2 at 11 p.m. EST. Visit this link for details.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

http://www.tmz.com/2012/0...3NoqcijaSo

WWE Legend Kamala Docs May Amputate OTHER Foot, Too

WWE legend Kamala is at risk of losing another foot due to his diabetes-related medical problems -- this according to his son.

As TMZ previously reported ... Kamala’s left leg was amputated last year due to ongoing complications with diabetes and high blood pressure. Unfortunately the problems aren’t over.

Kamala Jr. went on "The Roman Show" today and revealed, “[My father] is having complications with his other foot now ... Friday we’ll know if they have to take his other foot off.”

In the meantime, the wrestler’s son says Kamala is still checking his Facebook page ... and really appreciates words of encouragement from his fans.

So sad.

I guess cena is going to win at wrestlemania.

babybugz said:

I guess cena is going to win at wrestlemania.

Of course he is. Does Vince actually think people are going to be stupid enough to think he's going to have The Rock (someone who's barely around and has had no problem to jobbing to stars over the years, and someone is going to be gone after the the April 2nd Raw) go over on the face of the company for the past few years?? There's just no way that's happening, even if they stupidly decide to have outside interference, which i don't think they will.

Sigh, Cena wins....A-FUCKIN'-GAIN!!!!!!

Putting up the Hell In A Cell structure:

credit: Ky

As noted before, the go-home WrestleMania 28 episode of WWE's RAW Supershow scored a 3.05 cable rating with 4.44 million viewers - a disappointment to WWE officials.

In comparison, the WrestleMania 27 go-home show which also featured The Rock and John Cena did a 3.84 cable rating with 5.89 million viewers. This year's go-home show had a 21% decline in ratings and a 25% decline in total viewers.

In the segment breakdown, Sheamus and Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan and Kane gained 239,000 viewers from the opener. Santino Marella vs. David Otunga and the video for Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Undertaker lost 32,000 viewers. Eve Torres vs. Kelly Kelly lost 246,000 more viewers.

The angle with CM Punk and Christian plus Chris Jericho's interview and Brodus Clay vs. Curt Hawkins gained 132,000 viewers to a 2.96 rating - another bad number for the 10pm timeslot. Big Show vs. Primo lost 104,000 viewers and Mark Henry vs. The Great Khali plus the Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Long angle gained 362,000 viewers - which is good.

The closing angle with The Rock and John Cena gained 626,000 viewers and closed the show with a 3.57 overrun rating. Again, this is nothing special, especially for the go-home show of WWE's self-proclaimed biggest pay-per-view in history.

source: Wrestling Observer

I'm glad their numbers are STILL shrinking, regardless of this so-called once in a lifetime match.

Arn Anderson Says He Doesn't Belong In The WWE Hall Of Fame On His Own

Arn Anderson appeared on Busted Open with Doug Mortman and Dave LaGreca, which airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sirius 92 and XM 207. Highlights from his interview are as follows:

His induction into the WWE Hall of Fame: It's phenomenal! My god! Especially with that group of guys, every one of them is a Hall of Fame-er. It's just a question of timing, I guess. Getting to share the stage with those guys—man—it just blows me away. I'm still, to this day, in awe of every one of them.

John Laurinaitis pulled me aside some few months back and let me know, and I almost fell out! People around you that are very kind always say This has gotta be your year, well, no, it doesn't have to be your year. There's never have to be a year. So when you hear it for yourself, it's mind-blowing. It really is. …My initial thought was Marty Lunde going in the Hall of Fame—psh!—c'mon. Arn Anderson going in the Hall of Fame, I don't think so. But the Four Horsemen going in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely.

The Four Horsemen: I don't know if there's ever been anybody (and it's argumentative) better than Barry Windham in the history of the business. I know for a fact he's in the top five, it's just a question of who the top five are. [Ricky] Steamboat's in there, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Ric Flair, you make your top five, whoever they are, but Billy Windham's in there; He's on everybody's top five list. Tully Blanchard was the best partner I ever had in the ring, period. We were in such sync after all those years together, that he could just give me a look and I know what he wanted and I could do the same to him. We never had to say a word in the ring to each other, period.

Ric Flair is Ric Flair. If anybody was gonna be inducted twice, he certainly earned those stripes. The one guy that doesn't get a lot of air-time or a lot talked about is J. J. Dillon. He was the brains and the thought process, the stabilizing force; he was actually our manager, our legitimate manager. Travel, I mean everything, he did all of it. And the thing is, the guy was a world-class talker, carried himself like a gentleman, dressed well, and was just smart, very smart about the business. So to be able to share the stage with those guys is just staggering when I try to assess it.

WrestleMania: Oh my god. Well, just go back to the fact that we started promoting Wrestlemania last year before Wrestlemania, this year's! That ought to tell ya everything you need to know about the size of the event. I was in Wrestlemania 5, Tully and I. It was a Grand Fair. But it was also in Atlantic City and the Trump Castle—Plaza, one of those. It wasn't eighty thousand seats, let me just tell you that. It has morphed into something else entirely. When you've got eighty thousand people out under the stars, if you go back to the one in Orlando…it was breath-taking: the magnificence, the color, the pageantry, everything that is Wrestlemania. It is the Superbowl times two, if you ask me. For the entertainment, dollar, and you cut four hours out of your life, if you wanna spend them somewhere, that's where you wanna spend them. It's absolutely just numbing, what an event it is.

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan: Oh my god. Well, Bobby's gonna go down as the greatest manager of all time. And I don't think J.J. [Dillon] would feel slighted about that. Bobby Heenan is the single funniest man that God ever put on this earth. If you ever talk to him, I could look at Bobby and just say, "Hey Bobby, that tree's falling towards the house." Bobby would have something to come back with right then. It wouldn't be "O god, let's get outta the way!" Bobby would have a clever quick comeback. He's just so sharp. His skills around that ring were—oh—Bobby took better bumps than ninety percent of the guys in the business. Bobby was phenomenal. The tragedies that befell him will take your breath. It's a horrible, horrible deal, but Bobby has still got, even though he cannot speak, his sense of humor! Those of us that know him can still pull out of him, and I think that's an awesome thing.

The Undertaker's undefeated streak: Well, he is a phenom. I knew the Undertaker from day one when he was with WCW, 'til he moved to the WWF. I used to sit there with my chin on the ground when a guy that size would walk that top rope. It was unbelievable stuff that the guy can do. And to this day, he is no spring chicken, but the guy is so masterful, it's unbelievable. And as far as me spine-busting the Undertaker, my fifteen-year-old, I think that was the greatest day of his life! Even though the Undertaker kicked out and knocked my eyes shut shortly thereafter (the part he doesn't want to remember!), but what a thrill it was! It really was. Those few seconds in the ring with that guy, that's the one that got away. People ask me all the time, Who would you like to bid in the ring with (that you missed)? That's the guy.

source: WrestlingInc

Wrestlemania XXVIII Press Conference

alexnvrmnd777 said:

As noted before, the go-home WrestleMania 28 episode of WWE's RAW Supershow scored a 3.05 cable rating with 4.44 million viewers - a disappointment to WWE officials.

In comparison, the WrestleMania 27 go-home show which also featured The Rock and John Cena did a 3.84 cable rating with 5.89 million viewers. This year's go-home show had a 21% decline in ratings and a 25% decline in total viewers.

In the segment breakdown, Sheamus and Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan and Kane gained 239,000 viewers from the opener. Santino Marella vs. David Otunga and the video for Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Undertaker lost 32,000 viewers. Eve Torres vs. Kelly Kelly lost 246,000 more viewers.

The angle with CM Punk and Christian plus Chris Jericho's interview and Brodus Clay vs. Curt Hawkins gained 132,000 viewers to a 2.96 rating - another bad number for the 10pm timeslot. Big Show vs. Primo lost 104,000 viewers and Mark Henry vs. The Great Khali plus the Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Long angle gained 362,000 viewers - which is good.

The closing angle with The Rock and John Cena gained 626,000 viewers and closed the show with a 3.57 overrun rating. Again, this is nothing special, especially for the go-home show of WWE's self-proclaimed biggest pay-per-view in history.

source: Wrestling Observer

I'm glad their numbers are STILL shrinking, regardless of this so-called once in a lifetime match.

nobody wants 2 see ur hoeski bruh and u can imagine on sunday how many bathroom breaks will happen with this match for the women..click turn the station ..hey time 2 get a drink

alexnvrmnd777 said:

As noted before, the go-home WrestleMania 28 episode of WWE's RAW Supershow scored a 3.05 cable rating with 4.44 million viewers - a disappointment to WWE officials.

In comparison, the WrestleMania 27 go-home show which also featured The Rock and John Cena did a 3.84 cable rating with 5.89 million viewers. This year's go-home show had a 21% decline in ratings and a 25% decline in total viewers.

In the segment breakdown, Sheamus and Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan and Kane gained 239,000 viewers from the opener. Santino Marella vs. David Otunga and the video for Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Undertaker lost 32,000 viewers. Eve Torres vs. Kelly Kelly lost 246,000 more viewers.

The angle with CM Punk and Christian plus Chris Jericho's interview and Brodus Clay vs. Curt Hawkins gained 132,000 viewers to a 2.96 rating - another bad number for the 10pm timeslot. Big Show vs. Primo lost 104,000 viewers and Mark Henry vs. The Great Khali plus the Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Long angle gained 362,000 viewers - which is good.

The closing angle with The Rock and John Cena gained 626,000 viewers and closed the show with a 3.57 overrun rating. Again, this is nothing special, especially for the go-home show of WWE's self-proclaimed biggest pay-per-view in history.

source: Wrestling Observer

I'm glad their numbers are STILL shrinking, regardless of this so-called once in a lifetime match.

The only match anyone is studying is Rock and Cena...

i think the numbers will be dropping even more after that press conference. i had 2 laugh when beth said that her and eve are the 2 most dominate females lol ..really? how fast has natalya gone smh

but it seems WWE is only caring about how many twitter followers and facebook subscribers they have instead of the quality of talent they have currently

L4OATheOriginal said:

i think the numbers will be dropping even more after that press conference. i had 2 laugh when beth said that her and eve are the 2 most dominate females lol ..really? how fast has natalya gone smh

but it seems WWE is only caring about how many twitter followers and facebook subscribers they have instead of the quality of talent they have currently

Most TV programs only care for that lol WWF been like that.

Timmy84 said:

L4OATheOriginal said:

i think the numbers will be dropping even more after that press conference. i had 2 laugh when beth said that her and eve are the 2 most dominate females lol ..really? how fast has natalya gone smh

but it seems WWE is only caring about how many twitter followers and facebook subscribers they have instead of the quality of talent they have currently

Most TV programs only care for that lol WWF been like that.

see that's the problem tim ..WWE is like that ..WWF wouldn't be about that shit lol

L4OATheOriginal said:

Timmy84 said:

Most TV programs only care for that lol WWF been like that.

see that's the problem tim ..WWE is like that ..WWF wouldn't be about that shit lol

You know I still call it WWF but hell the old WWF would never do that shit so yeah you're right.

L4OATheOriginal said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

I'm glad their numbers are STILL shrinking, regardless of this so-called once in a lifetime match.

nobody wants 2 see ur hoeski bruh and u can imagine on sunday how many bathroom breaks will happen with this match for the women..click turn the station ..hey time 2 get a drink

Watch your mouth, homeboy! Urrybody know Eve is da shit!!! Don't hate. Rise above it.

http://www.miamiherald.co...miami.html

WrestleMania kicks off in Miami

WrestleMania stars strutted in front of the cameras Wednesday as an army-sized crew worked behind the scenes to get ready for Thursday’s kick-off of WrestleMania week in Miami.

By James Varsallone and Chantale Glover

jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com

http://www.miamiherald.co...-cena.html

No fooling around April 1: Cena, Rock mean business

On the Road to WrestleMania 28 Miami with Cena, Rock

The Rock and John Cena, facing off at the WWE WrestleMania 28 Press Conference, will face off in the ring on Sunday, April 1 at WWE WrestleMania 28 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Photo By Jim Varsallone

By Scott Fishman

Miami Herald Writer

http://www.miamiherald.co...ungle.html

King of the WWE jungle

On the Road to WrestleMania 28 Miami with Jerry Lawler

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry The King Lawler has served as WWE Hall of Fame host, one of many hats he's worn in the profession.

Photo Courtesy World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

By Jim Varsallone

jvarsallone@miamiherald.com

http://espn.go.com/blog/d...f-new-show

http://espn.go.com/espn/t...=fullstory

THQLook for Sheamus to kick Daniel Bryan in the grill this Sunday at Wrestlemania.

I asked THQ to simulate the upcoming Sheamus versus Daniel Bryan Wrestlemania match, and after 50 "WWE 12" slugfests, Sheamus won 52-percent of the championship bouts thanks to a series of thunderous Brogue Kicks to Bryan's smug mug.

"Only 52-percent, fella?" Sheamus says after I tell him the results. "I think there must be something wrong with your Xbox. I think I should win 100-percent of the time."

And with Sheamus continuing to explode in popularity, both in the WWE ring and online in the latest WWE video game, the man who makes even mayonnaise seem colorful, might be right.

In fact, when I asked THQ to pull the numbers for the past few months, gamers have used the Sheamus character across 303, 654 online matches, making him one of the most popular superstars in the virtual ring.

"That's crazy," Sheamus says with a laugh. "The fact that I'm even in a video game blows me away, but 'WWE 12' is even more special to me because they have a whole storyline around Sheamus in the game. It's really, really cool. Being in a video game was one of my dreams, I just hope I can win some of those matches for people online. Just remember to use the Brogue Kick, and you should be fine.

Jon Robinson: So many characters seem to come and go in WWE. What do you attribute to your success and your sustainability as a performer so far?

Sheamus: Don't get me wrong, I've been lucky and I've been given some amazing opportunities, but this is something I've always wanted to do. I feel like a broken record sometimes, saying that this is all I ever wanted to do, but it's true. To be honest, though, the best thing that could've happened to me is when I was moved down on the card. When something like that happens to you, it reasserts your hunger and makes you realize that you can never take anything for granted. You can never be happy, you can never be satisfied with what you have. You always need to have that want to achieve more, and I definitely want that success.

Besides, having that pasty Irish tan has really helped me out. I stand out from the crowd. When I was a kid, I always had the red hair, the white skin, and freckles. Back then, I wanted to look like everybody else, but now I realize that being different is definitely a major help.

Jon Robinson: I think you have the ability to become a great heel again with an all-new look. You can always disappear for a few months, go hang out with the cast of 'Jersey Shore,' and show up out of nowhere one night on Smackdown with tan skin and slicked back hair. People would freak out.

Sheamus: [laughs] It would be funny if I could show up with a tan, but honestly, I try to stay out of the sun as much as I can. I like that I can stand out from the crowd.

Jon Robinson: Wrestlemania is this Sunday. As a fan, besides your match, of course, which bouts are you most looking forward to watching?

WWESheamus stays out of the sun.

Sheamus: As a fan all my life, I can't wait to watch them all. I was a big fan of The Rock back home in Ireland, and he's just such a tremendous icon and a tremendous superstar that I can't wait to see what happens when he gets in the ring with John Cena. The Rock will always be remembered as a WWE legend, and John Cena has literally been pulling the WWE wagon for the last eight to ten years. These are two superstars going head-to-head in a once in a lifetime match, and I can guarantee you that ever superstar in the back is going to be watching along with all of the fans at home. We can't wait to see what happens.

Then you have Triple H going up against The Undertaker in Hell in a Cell with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. Hell in a Cell is a match Undertaker started, but Triple H has become a master in, and then when you add Shawn Michaels, the guy Undertaker retired, you have quite an exciting story. I thought the match Triple H had against the Undertaker last year was the best match I've ever seen in my life, and I think this one has the potential to be even better.

Add to that Chris Jericho versus CM Punk and Randy Orton versus Kane, and the show is stacked with some epic matches. I can't wait, and I'm so excited to be a part of Wrestlemania 28 because it's going to be the best Wrestlemania ever.

Jon Robinson: There are a lot of rumors going around about wrestlers being jealous of The Rock and hating on him for taking up the main event spot when he's not a full time performer, and how he's not even talking to the other wrestlers backstage. What are your impressions of how The Rock has been behaving behind the scenes? Has he been cool to you?

Sheamus: Rock's been nothing but cool to me. I haven't said too much to him, we're all so busy backstage doing stuff for Wrestlemania, but I'll be honest with you, Rock came over to me, shook my hand, and introduced himself to me from day one. When I see him on Mondays, I ask him how he's doing, and he asks the same of me. I have no problem with him at all. He's been nothing but cool to me. I have no problem with The Rock. He's as cool as ice.

Jon Robinson: Plus, he's going to bring so many more eyeballs to Wrestlemania, a guy like you, who maybe the older fans don't know too much about, can really make a name for yourself when Rock brings some of the people who maybe haven't been watching lately, back to WWE.

Sheamus: Absolutely, I think it's great. There are a lot of people who stopped watching after The Rock left for whatever reason. Maybe they have different priorities now or have different interests, but The Rock has brought a huge amount of media to Wrestlemania 28. Everybody wants to see The Rock versus John Cena, and I think it's great the way it's going to bring back some of those older fans, while at the same time, it's fresh and new to the current audience that we have. This match was announced a year ago, and that's a hard thing to do, to keep interest in a match throughout an entire year, but if anything, I think the match is gaining momentum by the day.

Jon Robinson: You were originally supposed to fight Daniel Bryan at last year's Wrestlemania, but then you got bumped from the card. Are you excited to finally get out there and show what you guys can do?

Sheamus: Absolutely, it's poetic justice. That was an incredible low for me last year. I went from Wrestlemania 26 against Triple H, to being a two-time WWE champion and King of the Ring, to not even being on the show. That was a hard pill to swallow. But in a way, when I look back, that was great because when I walked out of that building last year, I was more determined than ever to start fresh the next day and come back in the top spot. Things happen for a reason, and maybe at the time, that's not the reason you want to hear, but you need to use it as motivation. If people are unhappy about The Rock stepping in, they need step up their game and use it as motivation to get back next year. If you show what you can do during the course of the year, you can grab one of the top spots at next year's Wrestlemania.

WWESheamus speaks out against bullying in WWE's Be a Star campaign.

Jon Robinson: You've been one of the main wrestlers involved in WWE's Be a Star campaign against bullying. Were you bullied as a kid?

Sheamus: Yeah, it's true. I was a chubby kid with red hair and freckles. I was an introvert, and I was an easy target for those bullies. It's tough being a kid, so when I heard about the Be a Star campaign, I wanted to be a part of it. This campaign is very important to me and to the other WWE superstars, and it has truly become a global phenomenon. It's funny, because when I tell people I was bullied, they all shake their head. They're looking at me now and can't believe Sheamus was bullied, but I took a bad dose of the old bullying. One thing about it, though, it made me stronger and gave me thicker skin. And for all those non-believers, it gave me courage to follow my dream. We're doing everything we can to put an end to bullying. A lot of bullies don't understand the damage they're doing to these kids because they've never been in their shoes. They're popular, they're trying to be cool, and they're not realizing what they're doing to the kids they are picking on. A lot of kids are starting to realize this now, and the positive response we're getting from the schools and the parents and the kids has been great. I'm really proud to be a part of it.

Jon Robinson: You talk to the kids, then they see you at Wrestlemania and it shows them that things aren't always going to be this bad. Your dreams can come true.

Sheamus: If a fat, chubby kid from Dublin, Ireland can become a WWE superstar, it just shows that if you put 100-percent into everything you want, you can achieve the kind of success that people never thought you could. Especially in this country. America is the land of opportunity, and while that sounds cliché, it's true. This country has given me a tremendous opportunity, and when I'm out at Wrestlemania in Miami in front of 80,000 people, you're seeing a success story, you're seeing my dreams come true, and it's something I hope kids will see and realize that if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dreams too.

http://www.grantland.com/...emania-iii

Courtesy of WWE

From Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant to John Cena and The Rock

Twenty-five years later, echoes of WrestleMania III

By The Masked Man on March 29, 2012

WrestleMania III, which was 25 years ago today, featured more than two matches — a whopping 12, actually — though you'd hardly know it to hear most modern recollections of the night. Hell, WWE's documentary on the history of WrestleMania only mentions two matches: "Macho Man" Randy Savage versus Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and, of course, Hulk Hogan versus Andre the Giant. There were memorable moments all over the card: Aretha Franklin sang "American the Beautiful"; Junkyard Dog absconded with "King" Harley Race's crown and robe; Tito Santana awkwardly disrobed his dastardly manager Slick; Hercules Hernandez and Billy Jack Haynes met in what amounted to a contest of steroid cycle timing; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, at his jingoistic pinnacle, refused to allow the singing of the Russian national anthem; Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake performed his first haircut as a good guy; Alice Cooper helped Jake "The Snake" Roberts handle his snakes; and King Kong Bundy committed a little-person hate crime against a guy called Little Beaver. As inimitable color man Jesse "The Body" Ventura — arguably at his peak that night¹ — said during the event, "When you're at WrestleMania you take what you can get."

Savage-Steamboat and Hogan-Andre, however, were the matches that made history. If WrestleMania I was an act bordering on financial malpractice (none other than Vince McMahon has said that if it hadn't been a success, he would have been out of business) and WrestleMania II was one of technological recklessness (they split the card between New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago and depended on satellite synchronicity in an era when it was nearly impossible to achieve), then WrestleMania III was when the WWF finally found its stride as a myth- and moneymaking machine.

The high point of the show for everybody watching in real time was the Hogan-Andre match. These two had long been friends — for the record, they were only friends insomuch as all the good-guy wrestlers were friends back then, though to a young WWF fan familiar with their jovial interactions in the Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling cartoon, that meant something — but then Andre decided he didn't like being overshadowed by Hogan. It all came to a head on an episode of Piper's Pit, when Andre was given a trophy for his 15-year undefeated streak² and Hogan received a (bigger) trophy for his three-year reign as champ. Hogan, who was frankly an incredible dick in his acceptance speech, was stunned when Andre walked out on the ceremony; when Andre next appeared on Piper's Pit, it was with his new manager, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Andre tore off Hogan's T-shirt and crucifix³ and initiated an unthinkable heel turn.

The oft-told behind-the-scenes story here is almost as good as the on-screen one: Andre, who had been a special-attraction fan favorite throughout his career, and who had broken down physically, nearly to the point of retirement, was convinced by Vince McMahon to play the bad guy in what would presumably be his last high-profile storyline. It was a bold move by McMahon and a brave acquiescence by Andre, because if fans rejected the transformation, Andre's would lose his reputation and the WWF would lose all the money that reputation would have earned. But the ploy worked beautifully, largely thanks to Andre's impenetrable, stone-faced presence during the lead-up to the match. He looked brainwashed, as overcome by the new boos he was hearing as by his grievance with Hogan. Hulk, for his part, was physically overmatched for the first time in his career. Wrestling fans like their heroes to be supermen or underdogs, and for the first and only time in his career, Hogan was both archetypes at once.

It's hard to describe the significance of this feud at the time, but it was somewhere between Ali-Liston and World War II. Imagine a Super Bowl quarterback matchup between Peyton Manning and Darth Vader and you'll get a tiny hint of it. The wrestling itself was nothing spectacular — both men were great showmen, though neither was even a competent grappler at that point — but the hype and the drama were enough to fuel the encounter. When Hogan body-slammed Andre, the 93,173 people packed into the Pontiac Silverdome⁴ simultaneously screamed in wild passion. The semi-apocryphal backstory is that Hogan was in-real-life petrified going into the match because he knew that he couldn't lift Andre without Andre allowing him to, and Andre had notoriously idiosyncratic motivations. And, despite the fact that Andre had technically lost before, Hogan's fear was well-founded. Andre may be the only wrestler in history whose losses were faker than his wins. If they got into the ring and Andre decided to rewrite the script and make himself the victor, there was little Hogan could do to stop him. After the match, Andre glared at Hogan celebrating in the ring as he stood, perplexed, in the parade-float-style mini ring that was ferrying him back to the locker room. The whole post-match sequence lasted almost seven minutes, but it felt like forever, in large part because announcers Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura were left nearly speechless by an outcome that they knew was coming. It was that big of a moment.

If that bout was the ego of the WWF's golden age, an earlier match on the card was its id. Intercontinental Champion "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat had been feuding for six months, since Savage brutally attacked Steamboat by jumping off the top rope and drilling Steamboat in the throat with the ring bell. A couple of unintentionally hilarious videos of Steamboat being forced to re-learn how to speak followed, and, after he returned to active duty, the two figured in a number of violent brawls. The WrestleMania match was 15 minutes long, but it seemed longer. Every move was careful and deliberate, every sequence was meticulously plotted out, and it resulted in something like the Platonic ideal of a wrestling match. Unlike Hogan-Andre, Savage and Steamboat were pure athletes. They smartly played to that strength, and let Miss Elizabeth (in Savage's corner) and George "The Animal" Steele (in Steamboat's) do the overacting. The match is rightly regarded as one of the best of all time, not only in WWE but in all professional wrestling.⁵ The most incredible thing about the match wasn't just how great it was — it was its place in wrestling history. As the years wore on, as wrestling tastes evolved, and as Hogan's run became monotonous, one legend faded and another emerged: that the Savage-Steamboat match stole the show. Steamboat and Savage were originators for a new generation of wrestlers and wrestling fans compelled not by wrestling as a struggle between cartoonish good and bad guys but by its athleticism. They didn't become myth; they became scripture.

On Sunday night, Miami will host WrestleMania XXVIII and WWE will embark on their annual attempt to re-create the magic of that night 25 years ago. John Cena and The Rock will square off in a battle of generational icons. It's a tidy approximation of the Hogan-Andre magic, although it lacks the potential for physical calamity that Andre brought to the Hogan match. It's fair to say that, despite the monotonous buildup, this WrestleMania match is rivaled by only Hogan-Andre, Rock-Hogan, and Shawn Michaels-Undertaker in terms of pure, timeless appeal. On Sunday night, Rock-Cena will feel epic because it will be epic, and even the most unspectacular WWE buildup couldn't botch that.

The bigger question is whether this match will stand the test of time. The Rock looked sharp in his Survivor Series match, although his time in the ring was limited and carefully choreographed, and Cena is almost always excellent on the big stage. What they need is a Hogan-slamming-Andre moment, something fans will remember forever. Cena went on at length Monday about how important it was to win, but that matters less than how the match is fought, and how it is won, and how important the win feels.

I think it's safe to say that the Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Triple H won't have any shortage of big moments. If you look at their match last year and at Hell in a Cell matches over the years, it seems likely that we'll witness a series of big moments strung together by grizzled stare-downs. Part of the storyline here was that Triple H, as an on-screen (and real-life) WWE executive, was reluctant to take the fight because he thought he might damage the Undertaker "brand." In reality, it's all the more reason to expect a battle of capacious stunt work. It's likely that this will be Undertaker's last match, and even more likely he'll win, elevating his WrestleMania record to a neat 20-0, but even if the ending isn't really in doubt, the journey will be harrowing. Both men know that the match's legacy will be tied up not in its outcome but in how well it can be preserved in WWE highlight packages, where big moments reign supreme.

The CM Punk-Chris Jericho match for the WWE Championship may have just as much built-in anticipation as the others, but in an entirely different way. These guys aren't larger-than-life crossover stars like The Rock or Cena or even Undertaker. But Punk and Jericho's original beef was based on who was the "best in the world," and just about every fan will be watching on those terms. What's at stake in this match isn't just the title, and it certainly isn't the prospect of a Hogan-Andre moment. It's the promise of a Savage-Steamboat-style classic. Jericho speaks almost romantically on the WrestleMania documentary about how that match affected his career and his personal ambition. Punk, for his part, was mentored by Steamboat when they crossed paths in Ring of Honor, and Punk turned his first match after Savage's recent death into a tribute, donning similar tights to the ones Macho Man used to wear and adopting Savage's iconic elbow drop. For Jericho and Punk, Savage-Steamboat is the goal; wrestling fans certainly hope that they can pull it off. If the match ends with a small-package roll-up — as did Savage-Steamboat, which is almost unbelievable considering the match's place in history — we'll know exactly what Punk and Jericho were thinking.

As singularly epic as the Hogan-Andre match was, and as technically perfect as the Savage-Steamboat match was, if somebody asked me to show them one match off the WrestleMania III card that symbolized the whole night, and the whole era, part of me would be tempted to go with Jake "The Snake" Roberts versus The Honky Tonk Man. They were two of the very best talkers in the game, two guys whose crowd response almost always outstripped their spot on the card, and two guys who legitimately seemed to hate each other. And between Jake's pet python and Honky Tonk's weaponized acoustic guitar, it was a sure thing that the match would end with some kind of spectacle. (Fans would end up being blessed with the deployment of both.) There was nothing particularly special about the match itself, outside of its big-show feel. But unlike Hogan or Andre, if you saw Jake The Snake or Honky Tonk Man the street, nothing about these potbellied, mulletted men would make you think they were superheroes in their work life. At WrestleMania III, however, they were pure, nuclear-powered magic. In a sense, that was the most capital-P Pro Wrestling match of the event. It's like being in the Met and running across a Dutch Master painting that's not by any painter you've ever heard of, but it's hanging on the wall because it's the most representative example of a certain aspect of the movement — it's not famous, but it's an iconic specimen.

Above all else, it was a chance to sit back and indulge in the lunacy of the pro wrestling art form. That's what WrestleMania is all about, and that's what WrestleMania XXVIII hopes to achieve.