Once upon a time I was a damn serious wrestling fan and veritable grapple historian, to the point that I spent my first year's entire student loan to go and see Wrestlemania XV; of course if someone gave me 'free' cash now, I'd probably spend it going to Bangkok - but wat'cha gonna do?!?
I grew up with the Hogan/Warrior era, and of the course the Undertaker in his first - and best - incarnation. I first lost interest after Royal Rumble 91 when Ric Flair - whooo! - got the title; it was obvious Naitch was gonna drop it to Bret Hart and I simply hated the Hitman as a fan favourite, even though I later came to see him as one of the best in sports entertainment, along with Dynamite Kid, Tiger Mask, the Taker, Mick Foley and Sabu.
So I dropped out and didn't watch for a while, until the Survivor Series 95 when Austin whipped Jake Roberts' ass and a legend was born.
However - I'm going on, I know, but bear with me grapple fans - the end was when McMahon bought out the competition at the turn of the millennium. WCW was on it's last legs of course, and ECW was struggling as well, but once the rival companies were absorbed by the-then WWF, for me the bookers and script writers, not to mention certain members of the dressing room, lost their edge. I still tune in every now and then, but I just don't like the throwaway catchphrases, puppies and cheap plotlines. Indeed, the sheer gutless soft porn bad soap opera mediocrity of wrestling these days annoys the hell outta me
...dig it?!?
Thanks for your indulgence!