Sittin’ Pretty with eldandy – “The Last Of A Dying Breed”

[eldandy]

Sittin’ Pretty with eldandy – “The Last Of A Dying Breed”

I’m going to preface this column by saying that I’m a fairly big Triple H fan, and I don’t think he’s deserving of a lot of the heat that he gets from people in the IWC. While there is little denying that he has stepped on some throats on his way to the top, there is little denying there are very few people in the wrestling business that have the commitment and passion for it that he does. Triple H has worked for nearly two decades at becoming one of the top performers in the business, and while you can argue that marrying the boss’ daughter will give you an added boost up the ladder, he hasn’t half assed it by any stretch of the imagination.

With that being said, did anyone else see something wrong in him telling Shawn Michaels that he, Shawn and the Undertaker were “the last of a dying breed” in the professional wrestling industry? Elaborating on it, he was referring to the whole “smashmouth style” of ring work that would soon be extinct once the final two had retired. Now I don’t think that these guys were planning on (here comes my favourite word...) burying the rest of the WWE roster, but you have to believe that with the weight that this promo was meant to have, they got a lot of fans think about that statement. I know it got me thinking...

I mean, if you think about it, when was the last time you saw a match like the ones that Triple H, Michaels, and the Undertaker have had at the past three Wrestlemanias? Whether you liked them or not, there is no doubting that all three of those matches stole the show, and there was nothing else on the card that even came close to replicating the intensity, the drama and the suspense that those three matches did.

So what happens when these two guys finally hang them up? We’ve got a lot of talent coming up in the WWE, but we have yet to see anyone come close to what the previous generation has done. Don’t get me wrong kids, it’s not that I don’t love the work that Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk are doing, but they can’t even hold a candle to the likes of Shawn Michaels or the Undertaker.

Do any of us ever see someone from the current crop of stars taking over the moniker of Mr. Wrestlemania? Will anyone ever be able to go 20 and 0 at Wrestlemania again? Hell no. Let’s face it folks, professional wrestling reached its peak in 1997, and there isn’t a worker out there today that could hold any star from the Attitude Era’s jock strap. We’ve stood by as the greats from that time period have slowly faded into retirement, and when Trips and Taker decide that they can’t steal the show anymore, that’s it...

End of story...

Ok, maybe I’m being a little hasty. Here’s the thing: There isn’t one person in the current crop of WWE Superstars that has ever really been given the chance to live up to the standards that the previous generation established.

Consider this. A guy like Mick Foley got over in the WWE by taking an unprotected dive off of a 20 foot high steel cage through an announce table. Regardless of everything else that he ever did, had he not taken that bump, he would not be held in as high esteem as he is now. Is there anyone on the roster right now that would be willing to take that kind of risk? Probably. Will they ever get that opportunity? Fuck no. Why? Because what Mick Foley did was incredibly unsafe and if he or anyone else after him ever tried a stunt like that ever again, they’d be looking for a new job (assuming they survived the fall).

I was the oldest sibling in my family, and I got away with a lot of shit when I was a kid because my parents never saw it coming. That being said, by the time my younger brother was dabbling in mischief, my parents were right on the ball and stopped him from making some stupid mistakes that I was able to get away with. Does that mean he didn’t have fun when he was a kid? No, but he had to find a different way of doing it.

The difference is that I was never breathing down my brother’s neck saying “What do you mean you never had a threesome with your girlfriend and her sister while doing blow off of one girl’s ass and body shots off of the other? What the fuck is wrong with you?!?” By comparison, if it isn’t fans of a bygone era waxing nostalgic about why wrestling isn’t as good as it used to be, the stars from that era (who may or may not be past their prime) are the ones telling anyone that will listen to them that there isn’t a star out there today that can hold a candle to them. Why else do you think TNA is paying the likes of Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan millions of dollars when they can barely walk, let alone wrestle or draw a buyrate on pay-per-view?

The problem is that nobody has ever given any of these guys a chance. I mean sure, they’ve all been the World Champion, and in the case of guys like John Cena and Randy Orton been considered the top guy in the company, but I don’t think there is anybody thinking that they’re living up to the standards of the previous era’s stars. Now, the argument can be made that they are some fairly big shoes to fill, but at the same time, the WWE has proven that they can make almost anybody a star if they chose to.

So why isn’t John Cena (let alone anyone else on the roster) held up to the same standard? Well, the argument could be made that they obviously aren’t selling as many tickets or spiking as many ratings as the Attitude Era stars did, or that people just aren’t connecting to them as much as they did with previous stars. But I think there is one thing that these guys have to contend with that nobody from any other era ever had to deal with; They have the previous generation of stars continually breathing down their necks threatening to come in and “save the day” when a big buyrate was needed. These men are being booked to fail. Don’t believe me? I knew you wouldn’t...

When the likes of Austin, the Rock and Triple H were making their surge to the top, he didn’t have Hulk Hogan coming in around Wrestlemania to re-establish his dominance over the wrestling industry... He was off in WCW overstaying his welcome in the wrestling industry. There’s a reason that Bret Hart isn’t held on the same level as someone like Austin, and I think that the events of Wrestlemania IX played a role in that. Hart loses his title to Yokozuna, only to have Hogan come out and beat him in 20 seconds? What is that telling fans about the next generation of superstar?

You can always tell when a wrestling promotion has confidence in its talent and when it doesn’t. Hogan’s victory in Las Vegas told everyone exactly where Bret Hart stood in the eyes of the WWE, and with the way the WWE are treating their roster nowadays; over scripted promos, ridiculously clichéd storylines and willingness to push current talent aside when an old star comes back for a one-off match; it’s pretty obvious how they’re feeling. Characters are being pushed without getting over, and then they’re left standing around wondering why nothing is working. In other words, it’s fairly obvious who’s being handed a script and told word for word what to say and who isn’t, and it’s no coincidence that the guys that are being given that freedom (CM Punk?) are getting over much better than the ones that aren’t (The Miz).

John Cena is an interesting case because his character actually got over fairly organically, but once the WWE sensed the first signs of popularity, they immediately took control of his character, turned him into a commodity and began cramming this corporate fabrication down our throats. Not surprisingly, people didn’t like that and he’s turned into the most polarizing top star in the history of the WWE.

So, when Triple H goes out and says that he and the Undertaker are the last of a dying breed, he’s really not that far off. When they’re gone, and the Rock is back in Hollywood making movies, the WWE really doesn’t have anyone left to bolster their current crop. They’ll have gone back to the well one too many times, the bucket will be dry and they will be standing around wondering what they can do now. The problem is that at that point it might be too late. John Cena has everything it takes to be a top draw in professional wrestling, but rather than treat him as one, he’s used as the weekly workhorse to carry their television show until their old favourites can be bothered to come back when it really matters. Case in point: Who were the three biggest stars of Wrestlemania 27? The Rock, the Undertaker and Triple H. Who was (supposedly) in the main event of that show? John Cena and the Miz (and that match ended in a double count before Dwayne came out and became the catalyst for the finish). Coming out of the biggest pay-per-view of the year, the three people that everyone was talking about would not appear on WWE programming again for nearly four months (or longer...), and the rest of the roster went back on the road and kept the ship afloat until the next comeback.

Triple H’s line “the last of a dying breed” was meant to scare us into feeling like once he “destroys” the Undertaker, we’ll never get a great match in a WWE ring again. He wants us to believe that there isn’t a man on that roster that could do what he and the Undertaker could do in the ring, and at this point I completely agree with him. Not that there isn’t anyone in that locker room that wouldn’t be ABLE to do it, but there isn’t a man in that locker room that has ever BEEN ALLOWED to do what they’ve done. It’s funny how a guy like Triple H tried so hard to model his career after a guy like Ric Flair because he grew up idolizing him as a kid. Ironically, the kids that are coming up in the ranks these days grew up idolizing the likes of Triple H, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, but it’s those same men that are holding them back. Imagine what they could do if given the chance... I wonder if Hunter has ever taken the time to imaging it... Then again, he’s probably too concerned with a dying breed.

[TheMaskedNewton]

I didn't even notice the 'dying breed' comment. Trips said that last year too....only last year, it was 'the last outlaw'.

I don't really know whether Miz is given script or not....or Alberto Del Rio is given script or not, but whether they themselves are doing it or someone else for them, they need to change their lines. Miz doesn't have to stay in the same old 'Everyone told me to go back' era or 'Wrestlemania 27' night.

CM Punk has always been this same guy. Now, he has become more vocal but his promos during the Straight Edge Messiah were as entertaining, if not more. He hadn't reached the heights of the corporate ladder back then and there is no reason to believe that he was not considered in the same level back then as Miz is being considered now. And hence there is no reason to believe there are any restrictions on Miz that were not placed on CM Punk too.

May be it all is to be blamed on the talent itself and not to the creative team. And as long as there is CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler in the WWE, Trips needn't worry about the dying breed because the new breed is going to handle it the best way they can.

[TripelR]

Nice column dan. I was actually thinking that myself when I watched that promo. I too have always been a Triple H fan, so I don't really give him all the hate either. I'm actually OK with Taker/Trips this year, but like you said, if this is it then what do we have left after this match. There really isn't THAT GUY that's going to give us a match the style of these guys. I think Cena has a chance to become that guy, IF his match with the Rock lives up to everybody's expectations. I think Punk COULD be that guy, but the WWE just doesn't have 100% faith in him to let him do that. I think Edge MIGHT have been that guy if his career wasn't ended. What do we have left? Wow- kind of hard to think about.

[Son of Shockey]

I'mma be honest: I was REALLY disappointed that this wasn't about CHIKARA Grand Champion Eddie Kingston, who goes by the moniker "The Last of a Dying Breed". So I kept putting of not reading this because of my sadness.

When I finally did, I discovered that you're on to something here. It seems that everyone from the nostalgic fans to the stars of yesteryear are always, as you put it, "breathing down the necks" of the current crop of stars and reminding them of the past, and up-front telling them that they will never be as good or as interesting or engaging or whatever as what was seen before. And that really hampers the product, because no one is willing to simply move on from it and accept the guys we have now. We have a guy like Punk who could potentially be that next huge star, but he continuously gets the spotlight taken from him by Triple H, and the fans notice that. And it isn't healthy for today's product.

If Triple H and Taker are indeed the last of a dying breed, I'd prefer them to "die" a little faster, so to speak, and let these guys shine. Because clinging to the past can only get you so far before it starts to bite you in the ass.

Excellent read.

[mizfan]

That comment drove me bonkers, man. It's tough, I don't like to pile hate on Trips like some but there's no denying he has a huge say in the direction of the WWE. So if he's going to cut a promo that essentially says today's stars aren't as good as the old ones, I have to do a double take and wonder why the guy who helps dictate the current wrestling style is complaining about the current wrestling style.

I saw the MP article about how "WWE doesn't feel that stars have the same drive to reach the main event as they used to" and it occurred to me the reason for that is WWE has placed the bar so very, very low to be at the top level. And what's more, it's a 100% guarantee these days that it's not enough to reach the top level just once, you'll be pushed back down within a year and have to start over from scratch.

Sheamus wins 2 WWE titles, then gets left off of Wrestlemania the same year.

The Miz wins a world title to a deafening pop and is curtain jerking by Summerslam. After 6 more months he's so frustrated he's botching basic moves.

CM Punk has to win his 4th world title before anyone cares.

ADR wins 2 world titles and tours his own home country, and you can hear crickets.

Christian wins a world title after 16 years in the business and loses it after 2 days, then loses every match for the next 6 months until he gets injured.

Jack Swagger becomes world champion and can't defeat Santino Marella less than a year later.

Dolph Ziggler becomes world champion for about 5 seconds and is practically off TV an entire summer, only to finally reach the main event again a year later... and again lose his spot.

Daniel Bryan is so popular the people chant his name when he's not even with the company, but within 6 months of his return he can't even make it on TV.

Wade Barrett leads the hottest angle the WWE has seen in years, jobs in under 2 minutes at Wrestlemania and misses or jobs on the next 8 PPVs or so.



The point of all this? The glass ceiling as actually moved higher than anyone is able to jump anymore. WWE isn't interested in sustaining anybody's push anymore. Are you popular? Well, let's see if we shit all over you for 6 months or so and if people still care enough to keep you employed, you get to start over from the beginning. Happy fucking birthday. Let's all say hooray for the next 20 years of Trips and Steph running the creative side of the company, because they've done such a bang up job so far.

Urgh. Sorry to be a downer. WWE just has such a cancerous attitude right now towards their new stars, it's extremely frustrating. Nobody is at that level because nobody has even been giving a fighting chance. WWE seems intent on drowning their best prospects in mediocrity and shit booking, and creative will never, ever take the fall because it's run by Steph. It's always the fault of the talent, right? Jesus. I'm starting to remember just how amazing it was back in June when Punk cut his infamous promo. Damn.

Interesting comparison between Miz and Punk as well, albeit a brief one. Miz was easily most over when WWE let him run his own shtick, his promos about his time in the locker room and proving everyone wrong came right from the heart and were clearly off the cuff. The bigger he got, the more he seemed to be reading from a script, and now that he's been in a holding pattern for 6+ months the writers have nothing new for him to say, but he's too big to just be let loose because then he'll drag attention away from the people who are "supposed" to be important. Fuck, it's not hard to see how you could get pretty damn frustrated.

Sigh... this column is too well written to make me so angry. I'm going to go cry some more. Great column Dan.

EDIT:

If Triple H and Taker are indeed the last of a dying breed, I'd prefer them to "die" a little faster, so to speak, and let these guys shine.

This. This this this this this. I used to be a huge Undertaker fan, to be honest, but he's killing me with his broken down, limping, HHH obsessed, hair cutting bullshit.

[MissouriDragon]

Triple H’s line “the last of a dying breed” was meant to scare us into feeling like once he “destroys” the Undertaker, we’ll never get a great match in a WWE ring again. He wants us to believe that there isn’t a man on that roster that could do what he and the Undertaker could do in the ring, and at this point I completely agree with him. Not that there isn’t anyone in that locker room that wouldn’t be ABLE to do it, but there isn’t a man in that locker room that has ever BEEN ALLOWED to do what they’ve done. It’s funny how a guy like Triple H tried so hard to model his career after a guy like Ric Flair because he grew up idolizing him as a kid. Ironically, the kids that are coming up in the ranks these days grew up idolizing the likes of Triple H, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker, but it’s those same men that are holding them back. Imagine what they could do if given the chance... I wonder if Hunter has ever taken the time to imaging it... Then again, he’s probably too concerned with a dying breed.

This is an awesome paragraph, and it is also the exact reason that I despise Helmsley. I don't think he wants to be Flair-he wants to be Harley Race, and he will never be even a itch on the ass of those two in wrestling history because, unlike them, he either won't (or can't) make anyone else a star. Both Flair and Race absolutely MADE other guys. If it wasn't for Flair, the name "Lex Luger" would be virtually unknown. Helmsley has never "made" anyone.

Well written column, but if you think Shawn Michaels wrestles a "smashmouth" style, I'd advise you go to Youtube and type the words "Daisuke Ikeda" into the search bar.

[lopmystic]

I have to ignore some of the pro-Trips comments, especially as it pertains to the match with the Undertaker last year (it didn't impress me). Yet, I agree that Triple H is a different breed in his intensity. But, you know what separates you from most writers? Not only do you pick an excellent topic, but when I think you have finished, you continue with the very point I was going to make (thus the point you were leading me to).

That point is that it isn't only on the wrestler but the wrestler-company relationship that allows a guy the freedom (and CONFIDENCE) to become his best self. How many might become, if only given the time and opportunity? Who can really pick the ones who want it the most when some never get close enough to imagine what it would be like to be 'that' guy.

The thing about a dying breed is it gives room to another breed. Whether or not it helps give life to that breed to is a statement not on the next breed but on that dying breed.

[honestbharani]

Awesome column. Loved it to bits.



But just to add a couple of more points, with the Technology boom happening, a LOT of WWE videos are available today for guys to check out what happened in the past. And thus, the past stars are no longer just "names". The really interested and committed ones can go look up old stars and their matches and promos and compare it with the new stars. Face it, this is gonna happen even if none of the non-regulars ever show up on WWE TV. And this phenomenon is not restricted to wrestling. YOu can see it in movies, music, sports, everywhere. With the technology boom and with so many old videos available all over the internet, nostalgia has just kicked up a few gears.

[KingKervin]

I took my time processing this. I read this last night actually, and I kind of let it simmer around because that's what your columns do. They really make me think about things. I don't hate Triple H. Never have, never will. I specifically remember emulating him in the late 90s as a child in the JWF or whatever we called our backyard wrestling federation. I've always admired his wrestling and his work on the microphone. I was there live Monday, and I was honored to get to see Triple H out there with HBK doing their thing, and it was a great moment and promo. Very powerful stuff.

But the more I sit and think about it...you're right.

Trips (and others) continue to act as if they are the gold standard, and as if there is no way any other wrestler can reach the heights they did. What they don't realize is that they were wrestling in a time period where they had real competition and were FORCED to bring their A-game. The WWE now doesn't have that problem. They are the top dog. And even though they aren't pulling in 7s in the ratings anymore, they still remain the top dog by a wide margin. If for any reason the wrestlers in the back arent pushing themselves to be greater, its on them, yes, but its also on the WWE for not pushing them hard enough. They shouldn't be willing to accept low 3s in the ratings and continuously dropping buyrates.

So, while I agree that what Trips said sheds a lot of light on how he might really feel, I still believe that all parties involved here could be doing better, and that includes Triple H.

Excellent work here, Dandy, as usual.

[eldandy]

Appologies in advance for bumping this thing so late... Had a 4 year old birthday party to organize and host so the CF took a backseat over the last few days.

F2F

Newt- Are you frigging kidding me? You can practically see the Miz’s eyes reading the cue cards when he cuts a promo these days. Nobody talks the way he does in real life, and his delivery is so deliberate (not to mention when he screws up his lines and goes back to re-say them). It’s a shame too because he’d probably be a lot more over if he was left to say whatever he wanted. Appreciate the read my friend.


Tripper- I think there are tons of guys that have the potential to put on a match of the “epicness” of Trips and Taker, but they just aren’t allowed to. I could only imaging the trouble someone would get in if they went out there and deliberately tried to steal the show away from that match and Rock/Cena at Wrestlemania. I guarantee it wouldn’t go over well with management. I’d love to see someone given the chance to make it happen (probably Punk and Jericho if they’re allowed to) because it would certainly prove Triple H wrong, but I can’t see it happening this year.


SOS- I’d love to do a CHIKARA column, but I’m not in a position or area where I get a lot of exposure to them, so my knowledge of the product is spotty at best. What I’ve seen I’ve really enjoyed (Waltman/Generico was my #2 match of the year last year) and if I had more time/resources, I’d definitely check out more. Any recommendations on what I should see?

I think the problem with comparing the two eras is that the new breed aren’t given the same leeway when it comes to working a match like the older guys are, so you can’t even compare their matches. It would be like comparing some of the crazy shit from the late 90’s to early 80’s NWA. Both were great, but it’s impossible to compare the two on the same criteria because they’re so different. The difference these days is the restrictions that are put in place by WWE management (mostly for the wrestler’s safety). With that in mind, the standards of people haven’t changed with the times, so people are wondering why they don’t see what they used to. Then when two relics from a bygone era(like Taker and Trips) work a match and perform things like unprotected chairshots to the head when they aren’t allowed to anymore, it really sets their match apart from everyone else, and the fact that it isn’t chastised for breaking the rules, but instead glorified in highlight packages for the next year, it sets us a ridiculous double standard. That’s not even getting into the question of when was the last time you saw a match with two current stars being given 40 minutes, and something like 20 false finishes and the leeway of a no holds barred format? Taker gets that kind of booking every year, and I can’t remember the last time Triple H worked a match that had countouts and DQ’s... I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Thanks for reading.


Mifa: Glad to see you get it. If you look at everything that’s happened in the last year, and how it’s all been trivial because it doesn’t revolve around Rock/Cena, it raises a lot of questions about what they actually think of their current product. I personally think they just don’t want to let their old boys go, and they’ll pull them back whenever they can. You wonder why guys get burnt out, discouraged, or driven to quit, and then consider that you work your ass off day in day out, and you’ll never reach the same level as a guy that comes in once or twice a year and works one match, and then question whether it’s all worth it. Sorry it pissed you off as much as it did, but frankly, this thing could have gone on a lot longer if I’d let it. It is the Number 1 thing that is wrong with the WWE (or wrestling in general) right now, and until it changes, we’re in trouble.


Missou: I think that for a long time, Hunter wanted to be like Harley Race, and then eventually he kind of turned into a Flair guy, although you can definitely see glimpses of both of them in his wrestling style. With that being said, the selfishness that he exudes spits in the faces of both men, and I think they might say the same thing (although Flair seems to have his dick buried so deep in Hunter’s mouth, I don’t know if he’d ever say anything bad about him). I have the feeling that Trips believes that there isn’t a person on that roster that deserves to be put over by him, and that plays into his promos and the overall view that I’ve discussed in here. I have a feeling there are quite a few guys that are like that actually, but Hunter is the most prominent (and as he put it, last of that breed.)

Glad you enjoyed the column, and I certainly wouldn’t call Shawn and Hunter “Smashmouth“... That was their word.


Shane: Confidence is what it all comes down to, and you can tell that there are very few characters in the WWE that the writers and Vince feel confident enough in to let them lose. Miz? That’s funny... Cena? Surprisingly, no. Ziggler? They barely even let him near the microphone. You can even tell when Punk is shooting from the hip and when he’s towing the company line in his promos. If they’re not going to let these guys come across as being genuine, how do you expect people to buy into them. These guys aren’t actors, and even actors have to work very hard to get their audience to believe that they aren’t simply reading lines off of a paper. Appreciate the feedback my friend.


HB: I completely agree. I’m all about nostalgia when it comes to pretty well anything, but at the same time, I’m always keeping an open mind when it comes to whatever’s current (although it’s getting really hard with music these days...). I (for the most part) really like the WWE’s current product, and feel that he potential is so high that it could completely eclipse the Attitude Era in terms of quality. That being said, there isn’t much of a chance for that happening because we’re still seeing the Rock and Triple H coming back every once in a while and stealing the thunder from the current product. The thing about nostalgia is it’s always better in the past. I never saw Motley Crue live in the 80’s (I was 8 years old), but when I saw them back in 2005, it was a little disappointing, what with Vince Neil huffing and puffing into microphone and nearly passing out from running around the stage for five minutes. Thanks for the read.


Kerv: I don’t think it helps that everyone’s continually comparing ratings of today to those of 15 years ago when it’s obvious that things in the television and wrestling landscapes aren’t the same. Apart from big things like the Superbowl and the Oscars, there are very few shows that spike ratings like Raw had in the late 90’s, and I’m including big four network shows, not withstanding cable networks. The WWE is obviously making money off of what they’re doing, and if they continue to improve and grow, they will continue to make MORE money. Harkening back to a more successful (relatively) to spike ratings and buyrates isn’t the answer to that.

Glad you liked the column, and took a night to think it over before feeding. I do that too sometimes and it really helps put things into perspective. Cheers.

[Prime Time]

Yeah, I loved this. About the only thing I disagreed with was Shawn wrestling a smashmouth style... but I guess that's more Hunter's words than yours. For all Shawn's positives, his offence always looked pretty damp. That said, his matches with Undertaker were still better than HHH's.

But everything you say is bang on. Bret was badly booked in pretty much every title reign he had. Steve Austin was almost perfectly booked from the autumn of '97 through until some time in '98. These guys don't get the chance to do their thing, because they are going to be in the shadow of 'Taker and Hunter's third Wrestlemania match. You notice with these guys we've now reached a point where the 'Mania matches are the only things that matter? These two have faced each other at other events, on TV countless times, and as part of the mulit-man matches several times, but it's almost like it doesn't count if it doesn't happen at Wrestlemania these days.

Yeah, you are bang on here. Good read as always.

[mizfan]

Sorry it pissed you off as much as it did

That's the thing though, it should piss people off. It should infuriate them. But the majority of fans just continue to cheer whatever broken down performer from 10+ years ago is back for the night and ignore whoever is breaking their ass to get over, and then they sit around wondering why they don't have more fun watching wrestling anymore. Gr.

[TheMaskedNewton]

Yeah, I loved this. About the only thing I disagreed with was Shawn wrestling a smashmouth style... but I guess that's more Hunter's words than yours. For all Shawn's positives, his offence always looked pretty damp. That said, his matches with Undertaker were still better than HHH's.

But everything you say is bang on. Bret was badly booked in pretty much every title reign he had. Steve Austin was almost perfectly booked from the autumn of '97 through until some time in '98. These guys don't get the chance to do their thing, because they are going to be in the shadow of 'Taker and Hunter's third Wrestlemania match. You notice with these guys we've now reached a point where the 'Mania matches are the only things that matter? These two have faced each other at other events, on TV countless times, and as part of the mulit-man matches several times, but it's almost like it doesn't count if it doesn't happen at Wrestlemania these days.

Yeah, you are bang on here. Good read as always.

I agree fully with this about Wrestlemania. It has been hyped up beyond limits. It's all about Wrestlemania now. Taker's matches for Wrestlemania. Rock vs John Cena for Wrestlemania. Even Beth Pheonix vs Kharma for Wrestlemania. It's just too too much of Wrestlemania. More like how MMA matches take place or how Boxing matches take place - just once or twice a year.

eldandy - I am really not sure if Miz is being controlled by the Management like a puppet - sort of. His promos now-a-days are the same as the promos which made him famous in the first place...same talk - Everyone told me to go back, but I kept fighting and stuff like that. In that case, it was the management only which gave the miz the tools to get over. Once again, I am really not sure how much control is exercised over Miz.

As for what Trips said, I am now worried whether the Undertaker will come out undamaged out of this feud with Triple H.