This is Some Kind of Happening - The Highest Profile Matches That Wrestling Has Left

In this industry, hype is King. So what high profile fights does wrestling have left?

Wrestling, like most things in life, is not as complex as it is painted out to be. It relies on few factors to truly excel: for a match to achieve its full potential it just needs performers that command an emotional investment from the audience; credible action that feels consequential; and an atmosphere that exudes excitement. Simple enough right? Creative stories and intelligent marketing can develop stars and attractions that produce matches that live long in the memory. It doesn’t need to be 5 stars or 6 stars or 6.3333 reoccurring stars; high work- rate is admirable and can elevate wrestling to art but it isn’t vital for creating defining moments. More than anything, for wrestling to really connect, the bouts needs to feel big time, it must have substance. Gorilla Monsoon would call such a match “a happening”: an event that grips the fan-base, as the result’s significance to the business is undoubted. These matches, built on the anticipation of personalities clashing, on outcomes that matter- are the foundation of what makes wrestling special. We admire an indie classic on the night; we remember a happening forever.

Unfortunately, excellent stories and skillful marketing aren’t as prevalent as they might be in the industry: most matches now, while entertaining enough to watch, don’t have the hype, the prestige or the magnitude that render them timeless. Wrestling is certainly fulfilling its mission statement of escapist fun: it’s rare that I switch off the TV or leave a building without having enjoyed the product on some level. But how often do I feel like I’ve watched something essential? Not often enough. Wrestling must do more to create the next wave of super fights to reclaim its relevance. However, that isn’t to say that there aren’t some huge matches on the horizon. There are a few “happenings” that would get Monsoon’s pulse raising. Some of these contests are certain to happen; some require committed negotiations to bring them to fruition. Given the business’ need for moments of consequence, let’s hope that they all come to pass in the coming years and that new memories can be emblazoned into the minds of the fan base.

Brock versus Rock 2

This match, the very epitome of box office sensation- really should have happened by now: after news broke of Brock Lesnar’s return in 2012, just a year after The Rock had re-joined WWE, this was the fight to make. And for a while, that was the plan. The night after Wrestlemania 29, an angle was planned in which Lesnar would decimate The Rock, setting up a scrap in New Orleans the following year. However, the injuries sustained by The Great One during his match with John Cena the previous night proved enough to curtail his involvement and, following the impact of said injury on his Hollywood commitments, he declined to step back into action, his 6 second squash of Erick Rowan at Mania 32 notwithstanding. If he does decide to wrestle again, would he face the explosive and rough Beast Incarnate when safer options such as Triple H are on the table? The Rock might be super human but does Dwanye Johnson want to go to Suplex City? And will Lesnar even be around for much longer? His contract expires in 2018 when the UFC will, despite his age and recent ban, be looking to add star power to their depleted main event scene. 

As Pro Wrestling’s most mainstream crossover stars, complete with a backstory dating back to 2002, this match would be electric and would draw in lapsed WWE fans, UFC fans, films fans- everyone could get behind this. I truly believe this is wrestling’s biggest match but I also doubt it will happen as Brock and Rock likely have other fish to fry. However, in a couple of years, Lesnar might be post-UFC (again) and Johnson’s career might slow down a tad. The prospect of a Mania main event, and the level of publicity and financial remuneration that entails, might be too tempting to resist…

Happening Scale: 5 Gorillas out of 5

Likelihood: 2 out of 5

Okada versus Omega 3

One of the biggest matches that can be staged in all of wrestling is nothing new; it has already happened twice this year. That is testament to the talent of the two men involved; so good are they that Meltzer has had to re-invent the wheel, dishing out stars we never even knew he had.  However superlative the action, and to echo my earlier point, this is about more than match quality. This result matters: can Omega finally beat Okada? Can his One Winged Angel put away the champion? The storytelling has been masterful, with the recent match re-visiting themes and riffs to carry the audience along on this epic journey, making them wait for the definitive pay-off. When the resolution of this feud does occur, this will be more than a stream of GIFs on our twitter feeds; this will be a part of New Japan history that fans discuss for years to come.

Happening Scale: 4 Gorillas out of 5

Likelihood: 5 out of 5

Cena versus Reigns

Some people will hate this match but I forsee it as a company defining moment. Likely to come in 2018 or 2019, this will be a modern day Hogan vs Warrior, with Cena likely doing the JOB for Reigns before one of the hottest crowds imaginable. The match is fresh- they’ve had very little ring time together at this stage- and even if both men are booed at first, chances are that a well booked scrap would encourage everyone to pick a side and get involved. The build to this will likely blend reality and fantasy to maximum effect, playing on the inherent similarities and differences between the two, all the while enforcing the importance of the result to the whole audience.

Happening Scale: 4 Gorillas out of 5

Likelihood: 5 out of 5

Styles versus Nakamura 2

The buzz these two men generated during their brief exchange at Money in the Bank this Sunday would not have been lost on anyone in the office: this match is coming. Again, quality of work-rate is undoubted but the personalities of the two and the fierce loyalties of their fans are hugely significant. AJ Styles is now a WWE fixture who commands respect; Nakamura still has a certain ‘newness’ to him that screams excitement: this would likely be a split crowd who fervently stand by their man in what will be a war to determine who can lead the Smackdown Live brand. Polished video packages and pointed references to their history could compensate for any promo shortcomings while the inevitable tension that arises as the friends slowly grow apart would allow audience anticipation to bubble and boil. This one could go down in WWE history, an equal of all-babyface scraps like Bret Hart vs Davey Boy. Furthermore, the image of AJ and Shinsuke hugging after an intense bout could replace the now white-washed visual of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit from Wrestlemania 20; in giving the platform to these talented and appreciated workers, WWE could provide an iconic image for a generation of fans. 

Happening Scale: 3.5 Gorillas out of 5

Likelihood: 5 out of 5

Of course, there are other big bouts that could occur if we allowed ourselves to get creative: Stephanie McMahon and Triple H vs Ronda Rousey and The Rock could potentially be the biggest bout in WWE history; anything involving Connor McGregor would have exemplary hype; an in-ring return of Stone Cold Steve Austin would print money; Daniel Bryan heading to New Japan and mixing it up with their stars would legitimise the company to the uninitiated. Could these happen? Of course but they shouldn’t be relied upon. WWE, NJP aW and every company in the world need to look at their stars and examine their programmes, determining what is working, what is not and where changes can be made. Who knows, if promoters resolve to embrace the ideals of consistency and creativity, then the next major box office attraction could be set to unfold before our eyes…

Opinion: The Changing Face of WrestleMania

Amongst WWE fans, I’d class myself as somewhat of a veteran: I’ve been watching the product for nearly 23 years now (it’s fair to say, I’m not going to grow out of this) and I’ve gone back and watched a huge chunk of content from the 10 years that preceded my introduction to the sport. Obviously, there have been huge changes to the presentation of the product over this period: from the booking of both the stars and the venues to the structuring of the cards and the status afforded to the titles, there have been notable evolutions and deviations in Vince McMahon’s vision for his company. To consider the extent of such changes, I’ve selected snapshots in history to analyse closely: Wrestlemanias 3, 13, 23 and 33. By re-watching the Manias of old and considering the build to this year’s event, I can consider what creative and business policies have changed and what philosophies have remained constant over the course of three eventful decades. Here I begin my odyssey through wrestling history with an examination of the shows from 1987 and 1997.

Wrestlemania III - "Bigger! Better! Badder!"

This was the first time that Vince McMahon decided to try and fill a stadium for a WWF show and fill it he did: the company announced a gigantic, record-breaking attendance of 93,173. Admittedly this is a number that is disputed by many but the counter argument- that it was in fact 78,000 fans that rocked the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan on March 29^th 1987- still represents incredible business. Indeed, whilst stadium bookings remained a fairly rare policy over the subsequent decade, the success of this show was never forgotten and laid the foundations for WrestleMania as we know it today. From the singing of "America the Beautiful" by Aretha Franklin to the dramatic, patriotic video images that punctuated the performance, this was the prototype for much of what we see in today’s incarnations of the flagship PPV.

To draw the house, McMahon relied on a match of epic proportions. The main event of WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan vs Andre the Giant was built over a period of months and relied on the company's tried and tested baby face/monster heel dynamic. It is, in my opinion, the most significant match in the history of the company: it delivered possibly the sport’s most iconic moment in Hogan slamming the (kayfabe) undefeated giant; represented a symbolic passing of the torch; and set a wrestling attendance record that would stand in North America for nearly 30 years. I wasn’t watching back in 1987 but in every screening of that match since, I’ve grasped the magnitude of the contest; the energy of the crowd seeps through the screen. True, the quality of their ring work is fairly poor but the bout has heat and meaning. In wrestling, what else really matters?

This was a show that enforced the old adage of the Intercontinental title being the worker’s strap. Here the IC title match between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat clearly meant something and the crowd and announcers reacted excitedly to every moment in this famed match. Interestingly, Savage received cheers on his entrance; despite being the villain, fans clearly respected and enjoyed his work. However, when the bell rang, the face and heel divide was established and the pop for Steamboat’s win wasn’t tainted by fans reluctant to play along. Elsewhere, the bout between "Rowdy" Roddy Piper against Adrian Adonis moved the live crowd who believed they were witnessing Hot Rod’s final bout. The action was poor, most notably for the interference of Brutus Beefcake, who delivered the world’s most invigorating massage.   

Truthfully, this was a three match card, although the 6 man between The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) and Danny Davis and Tito Santana and The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith & Dynamite Kid) was rather good (look out for Davey Boy hitting a tombstone; Bret and Dynamite working extra stiff; and guest celebrity, Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart calling a match better than either Byron Saxton or David Otunga could). Otherwise, this was a long card but largely lacking in quality: Vince’s desire to get everyone on the card was admirable (everyone gets a payday and to be part of history) and it was a booking policy that would continue into the 90s. Furthermore, this show was very much a reflection of its time: some of the comments regarding Junkyard Dog and little people pushed the boundaries of taste and earned the show a TV 14 rating and a warning on the WWE Network .

Commentary duties were well handled by Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura: this was an era when the announce team received adulation from the audience and largely added value to the matches. The chemistry between the two was strong and they interacted with guests in an engaging manner. Indeed, all of the celebrities added something to proceedings. Bob Uecker knowingly delivered one of the greatest lines in Mania history when commentating on the exploits of one of the little people: “There’s Beaver everywhere”.

The show was a huge success: it drew 400,000 buys on PPV and a further 450,000 on closed circuit television. Combined with a live gate of $1,590,000 and one can see why this will always be viewed as one of the most historic and successful WrestleManias of all time.

WrestleMania 13 - Heat

Fast forward to 23rd March 1997 and WrestleMania 13, which emanated from in Rosemont, Illinois and you’ll find the difference in shows to be stark. If 1987 was the WWF at their hottest, then 1997 may have been them at their most lukewarm: business was down with the buy rate for this show registering at a mere 237,000, making it the lowest drawing show in WrestleMania history. The Rosemont Horizon was full to it’s a capacity of 18,197 but it is thought that only 16,467 paid for a house of $837,150. Not great by any means but probably not unexpected. This card fell within my timeframe as a WWF fan and I vividly recall being non-plussed about the show. I was just as, if not more, hyped for the next month’s In Your House PPV as I was this. From the lack of "America the Beautiful" and celebrity involvement to the ordinary set and scale of the crowd, the visual presentation lacked spark, verve and anything that differentiated it from a bog standard TV taping.

The commentary had by now switched to a three man booth: Jim Ross provided the bulk of insight (and occasionally wandered off to conduct ringside interviews) while Vince McMahon was… enthusiastic. Jerry Lawler had an off night, most of his jokes (including some off colour remarks about Chyna) missing the mark but at least he, and the others, had a clear role. The sparky interactions shared by Monsoon and Ventura (and later Gorilla and Bobby Heenan) were not present but at least there were no obvious passengers on this announce team either.

As for the card; it was structured somewhat similarly to Wrestlemania III, showing Vince’s on screen preferences hadn’t changed hugely. Two big men contested the title in the main event (admittedly this wasn’t the original plan but remained a tried and tested fall back in times of need); two super workers competed in the stand out match of the under card; multi-man matches like a four corners tag and the 6 man Chicago Street fight tried to fit as many performers onto the card as possible. The most notable exception was the star power: it had declined greatly since 1987. Neither The Undertaker or Sycho Sid were at Hulk Hogan’s level (and neither were aided by the fact this match was afforded a few weeks build as opposed to the few months dedicated to Hogan and Andre) and the responses for the majority of mid and undercard talents were less rapturous than those garnered by the stars of old. Even the titles had lost some lustre: here the Intercontinental title felt like an afterthought, not the showpiece attraction of old. By this point, name wrestlers fighting one another wasn’t a rarity saved for PPV attractions, it was the norm on free television and therefore not something to get overly excited about. Fan burn out had begun and only the truly special could command a star’s responses.

Fortunately, for all of the negatives, there was still fun to be had on this card: like Mania III, the show boasted an outright classic as the bloody war between Bret Hart (who, along with Davey Boy Smith has the distinction of wrestling on both the ’87 and ’97 cards) and Steve Austin foreshadowed the rise of the Attitude era. Indeed, whilst Mania III may be the ultimate symbol of the 80s boom, Mania 13 is the calm before the storm, an early experiment in a tonal shift that would lead to the company scaling new heights as the century drew to a close.

Next week the focus turns to WrestleMania 23 - "All Grown Up": we’re back in Detroit but with a Presidential twist. And then a look at the build to this year’s show and a measured evaluation of whether Vince's current presentation of WrestleMania is better or worse than those which preceded it.

Words: Sean Taylor-Richardson

Images - James Marston

Editor - James Marston

Twitter - @ATPWrestling 

Facebook - /acrossthepondwrestling 

Instagram - @ATPWrestling

Across The Pond Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction: Bobby Heenan

Across The Pond Wrestling would like to welcome you to our first ever Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. So take a seat, and enjoy some clever wrestling people telling you why Bobby "The Brain" Heenan deserves to be our first ever Across The Pond Wrestling Hall of Famer. 

Now we could write our own induction "speech" for this "The Brain" but we thought we'd let the members of our Hall of Fame voting panel who nominated Heenan to have their say on why he deserves to be our first inductee.

During his wrestling career Bobby was known as "Pretty Boy" 

Paul Williams (@DJSparxUK): 

"I voted for Bobby Hennan as for me he broke the mould during the late 80's and early 90's! He had such a great stable back then and was at the centre point of many of the big feuds! Always quick witted with the put downs, could bump with the best of them and his comedic timing was excellent!!
My 1st memory of the WWF was WrestleMania 7, I'll never forget the work he did with Gorilla Monsoon and to this day I don't think that double team of commentary legends has been matched!!
He was and still is by far the best manager the WWF/WWE have ever had!! Consider this NO Heenan, NO Heyman!"

Heenan helped Nick Bockwinkel end the Seven Year AWA World Championship reign of Verne Gagne in 1975.

Paul The Dale (@TheDale57)

I think Nick Bockwinkel puts it best, When Bockwinkel and Verne Gagne were dueling over the AWA title, Heenan could replace either man in the ring as a wrestler but Verne or Bockwinkel couldn't do what Heenan did outside the ring as a manager. He helped blow up the Hulk vs. Andre rivalry. And his commentary on the 1992 Royal Rumble is the highlight of the PPV

Bobby hosted his own show in 1986.

Sunday Segue Wrestling (@SundaySegue)
We chose Bobby Heenan because he had everything you would want out of a manager and performer. He cut smart & witty promos which always made you laugh. He knew how to draw you in as a fan weather you liked him or not and also brought the best out of his wrestlers.

"The Brain" brought Intercontinental Championship gold to Mr. Perfect in 1990.

Daria from Squared Circle Cafe (@thatdariachick)

Across The Pond Wrestling has chosen its first inductee into their Hall of Fame. It is none other than the incredible Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

Bobby Heenan was and is one of the most memorable managers in the history of wrestling. In his many years with the then-WWF, he managed many superstars and brought gold around their waists. Some of the names he managed reads like a who's who of wrestling, including Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig, Andre The Giant, Tully Blanchard, Arn Andersdon, Ravishing Rick Rude, Ric Flair, Haku, and Harley Race.

In addition to being one of the top managers in the industry, Heenan was even more famous for his dry, sarcastic wit, co-hosting with Gorilla Monsoon on the hit show Prime Time Wrestling, Wrestling Challenge, and for a brief stint, he even hosted his own show, The Bobby Heenan Show. His jokes were the staple of wrestling TV, with him producing some of the most memorable quotes ever uttered by a personality.

Those are all awesome reasons why Bobby Heenan is being chosen. Yet, for me, it's more personal. Heenan to me was one of the most unique characters I'd ever seen on TV. He made the matches amazing, whether with his commentaries or his actions at ringside. Hearing him made me want to get into wrestling. I wanted to say things about wrestling that was both insightful and hilarious. Heenan inspired me to get into the wrestling business. Not only me but when we interview managers on the show, he's listed as one of the heroes for being one of the greatest of all time.


Congratulations, Bobby Heenan!

Heenan even appeared in Ring of Honor, offering CM Punk his managerial service in 2004.

We'd like to thank everyone who nominated in our first ever Hall of Fame vote, and all that's left to do is welcome Bobby "The Brain" Heenan into the Across The Pond Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2013.