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For the Millennials: How to help yourself as a new WWE fan
by Joel C Croyle
In my working life, I am a recruiter of staff. I help to train and find people for jobs. As I get older, those I am trying to find get younger (or at least farther away from my age). So for the point I am at, many of those I am currently hiring are millennials just out of high school or college for entry level positions. I have found that conversations between younger staff and newer staff are starting to dwindle because they don't understand each other. Something that has also been brought to my attention is how often during training I will make reference to something that is "too old" and they have no idea what I am talking about. It makes sense really...why would you care so much about a certain Star Wars character being killed off if you haven't seen episodes 4-6? His importance, though portrayed well, is still lacking for those of a certain age group whereas for my age group (35-45, of which I am in the middle of) it may feel like literally losing a friend.
I have watched wrestling since 1985 and I would say loved it since WrestleMania VI. The product that is out now is at times better, at times worse and definitely always different from back then. The history of WWE/F is of vital importance. One of my recent hires sat down with me on a lunch break and she was talking about the differences between our generations. One of the subjects that came up was war, and specifically Vietnam. While I was born 2 years after it ended, my uncles served and I talked about how much that effected my thinking growing up and still today. Weirdly, it made me think of wrestling. It might be hard for someone new to get into it without doing a little back ground. That staff, I believe, will look into that time period now and learn from it. WWE is far from a national war in regards to importance. But how would one really know where to start and make some decisions in what to watch. The WWE network is the encyclopedia of wrestling.
The following people are the 8 "Superstars" since 1985 associated with the WWE/F (not WCW, ECW, ROH, TNA etc., that I think new fans should review to become more familiar with what pro wrestling is, the differences in time periods and how those have affected the product we have now. For instance, anytime I hear Randy Orton speak it isn't his father, Paul Orndorff or Roddy Piper I think of...it's Jake "the snake" Roberts. When I see Seth Rollins go to the top Rope I think of how many people do those tricks, but none did it better than Macho Man. When I see Cena outside of the WWE doing helpful things I remember the Hulk Hogan that we grew up with, not the Terry Bolea we have now. History is important and so this is a list of people and their matches "newbies" should watch to entrench them into my favorite "Universe"...
Macho Man Randy Savage:
Why you need to watch him: Randy was likely the best in-ring competitor of his era. His arsenal was quite extensive. He could use punches, kicks, throws to hurt an opponent or use submissions to water them down until they had no more stamina. His top rope agility is that of legend, yet the legend is truth. If his in-ring ability weren't enough his promos were some of the best of the business at that time, if not THE best, and if Dean Ambrose cut the exact same worded promo Macho did then and with the same vigor whilst keeping an Ambrose flare, it would still hold up today.
His 5 Matches you need to see: Steamboat vs Savage (WM3), Hogan vs Savage (WM5), Ultimate Warrior vs Savage (WM6), Mega Powers vs Twin Towers (The Main Event on February 2, 1989), King Kong Bundy vs Savage (KOTR tourney in 1987)
Special non in-ring Attraction to see: One of the best Macho Man sequences comes after Hogan defeats the Twin Towers as listed above. No one could freak out like Savage, and when it came to his love Elizabeth, nothing made him more nuts. But this particular scene in the back, with Elizabeth hurt and Hogan trying to explain things is classic and is what really led to their match at WM V.
Jake The Snake Roberts
Why you need to watch: If Macho was the best in-ring performer in the WWE in the 80's, then Roberts was his equal on the mic. His promos sold every single match he was in. They were slow, thought provoking, sometimes on the verge of sadistic and done with quiet tones to make the listener pay even more attention. His move set, while not that of Savage, was still impressive and he worked more big moves (can you say DDT?) than anyone else to absolute perfection.
His 5 matches you need to see: Austin vs Roberts (KOTR 1996), Steamboat vs Roberts (SNME 1986), Rick Martel vs Roberts (WM7 blindfold match), Jerry Lawler vs Roberts (Summerslam 1997), Ted Dibiase vs Roberts (WM6)
Special non-ring action to see: There are a lot to choose from Roberts, any promo would do. He had his own segment for a while. But the best was the series of vignettes in which he finally turned on the Ultimate Warrior. Roberts + Paul Bearer + a young undertaker against warrior equaled gold.
AJ Lee
Why you need to watch: I am sure m any people who are current fans might question this pick more than others. I think a lot of that would come from her age, the fact that she is already gone from the business and that she isn't any one named "Scary", "Fabulous" or "Blaze". The thing is that one of the hotter topics in WWE right now is the so-called Diva's revolution. I have seen a lot of people on WWE programming say "Paige started it", "Charlotte started it" or even "The Bellas began the revolution" but truth be told it was AJ, and she didn’t;'t even know she was trying to do it. This is why she represents the female superstar on this list instead of Moolah or Mae Young or Trish and Lita. This article is about creating youthful fans now and what is happening now is a Diva's resurgence. As to her ability - she can certainly talk, she was the manager of raw for peats sake. And she can wrestle - she held the belt for a very solid amount of time. WWE trusted her and got behind her. It is sad that she and her husband are no longer there but they have their reasons and I can respect that. If all else could be forgotten, the girl can skip better than anyone I know.
Her 5 matches you need to see: Battle royal at WM30, Paige vs Lee the night after WM30 on Raw, Kaitlyn vs Lee (payback 2013), Natalya vs Lee (main event march of 2013), Lee and Paige vs The Bella Twins (WM31)
Special Non - Ring action to see: The Pipe bomb of 2013 on raw when she basically trounced the entire divas division stating they couldn't lace her boots.
Bam Bam Bigelow
Why you need to watch: There have been many big men in the wrestling world. Vince has said time and time again that he likes those types of wrestlers. While they aren’t my go to, I like a big man match as much as anybody. But in a world who has seen the class acts of Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy, Yokozuna and the Big Show, we’ve also suffered through Giant Gonzalez. For my money the best big man to grace the ring was Bigelow. The man certainly had a look with flames across his wardrobe and a bald headed adorned with a tattoo. His finisher was a flip off the top rope onto a downed opponent. But he was 300 plus pounds doing it. The ring would shake. He could absolutely out run an opponent half his size. And if his definitive brawl style didn’t get you his “valet”, Luna Vashon certainly would. By watching his in-ring performances one might gain a respect for a big man and what he could bring to the table that others may not have. He also had an uncanny ability to raise comedic matches to must see TV. One note, though I am keeping to WWE superstars, I may include matches as one’s you need to see from other companies.
His 5 matches you need to see: Taz vs Bam Bam (ECW Living Dangerously – 1998), Lawrence Taylor vs Bam Bam (wrestler vs NFL player WM 11), Shawn Staziak vs Bam Bam (last Nitro Ep.), Doink and Dink vs Bam Bam and Luna (WM10), Bret Hart vs Bam Bam (KOTR 93).
Special non – ring attraction: In 2000, BBB ran into a burning building and saved 3 children from death. It ended his in-ring career and resulted in almost half his body being scarred from burns.
Demolition:
Why you need to watch: It is so difficult to choose a tag team to be represented to enhance the experience of young viewers. First off, whether people want to admit it or not, there is a plethora of talent in the tag division just right now: The Dudley’s, The New Day, The Lucha Dragons, and The Uso’s are all brilliant performers. Then you have the 90’s teams like Edge and Christian & The Hardyz. Then there are multiple teams from the late 80’s like The Rockers, Orient Express, Hart Foundation & Legion of Doom. Demolition to me, was the most cohesive of the bunch. Some, felt them a knock off The Legion of Doom and maybe in look they were but I also felt the to be better than most. Ax and smash could brawl and use submission or just plain rock someone with a chair but whatever they did they did it well. It was also very well synchronized. The Harts could time their Hart Attack better than any finisher ever done before or since, but Demolition did that with every single move, whether paired or singularly. Then they added Crush, and what seemed to be a really bad idea, they turned to gold. Crush seamlessly fit in with Ax and Smash to the point where some fans thought a tri-tag championship should be made. Putting aside the Dudley’s finisher, look at the rest of their move set and try and tell me they didn’t nab it from the best in the business, Demolition.
Their 5 matches you should see: Strike Force vs Demolition (WM4), Powers of Pain vs Demolition (WM5), Hart Foundation vs Demolition (SS1990), Royal Rumble 1998, Akeem/Boss Man/Andre vs Demolition and Hacksaw Jim Duggan (SS1989)
Special Non-Ring attraction: 1989 Survivor Series Hulkamaniacs Promo.
Daniel Bryan:
Why you need to watch: Daniel Bryan makes this list because he is a recent superstar who grew into his role organically. I think it would be safe to say that the heads of WWE, especially Vince McMahon never saw DB as a money maker. But through his in-ring work, non-traditional WWE style and promos he caught fire. It helped to have a veteran like Kane as a tag partner for a while to show his comedic side and also what he could do with multiple participant matches. His submissions are fantastic, really to be emulated.
His 5 matches you should see: Shamus vs Bryan (Extreme Rules 2012), Cena vs Bryan (SS 2013), Kenta vs Bryan Danielson (ROH, Glory by Honor 2006), The Shield vs The Undertaker and Team Hell No (Raw April 22, 2013), Orton vs Batista vs Bryan (WM30)
Special non – ring attraction: The seasons of Total Divas.
The Undertaker:
Why you need to watch: Why not Stone Cold, The Rock, Bret Hart or any other person to represent the 90’s? Simple, because the Undertaker was at his best during this period, yet had already been in the WWE for almost 3 years and is still there today. Plus, frankly, if you watch the Taker matches, then you will see everyone else I just mentioned plus about 300 more. No one, has a better entrance, no one is more respected and no one does slow movement with precision like the Undertaker.
His 5 matches you should see: Hardy vs Undertaker (Raw 1/7/02), Kane vs Undertaker (Unforgiven 1998), Orton vs Undertaker (WM21), Edge vs Undertaker (One night stand 2008), Bret Hart vs Undertaker (SS 1997).
Special non-ring attraction: I think the most important thing in this portion is simply that Taker has never truly been out of character. We didn’t see him in limo’s or on the town, he held to his guns.
Eddie Guerrero
Why you need to watch: Eddie, Eddie, Eddie…. Chants can still be heard today that formed from a man who died more than 8 years ago. What interests me about Eddie is his transition. He went from an almost strictly Lucha style to that of a more traditional wrestler, to adding back in high spots. He also cheated better than any wrestler on the planet. Then he taught his nephew how to do so! Near the end, you just didn’t know what style of match you were going to get and that made him great.
His 5 matches you should see: Chavo vs Eddie (WCW Bash at the beach 1998), Kurt Angle vs Eddie (WM20), Malenko vs Eddie (ECW Hostile City Showdown 1995), Brock Lesnar vs Eddie (No Way Out 2004), Rey Mysterio vs Eddie (SS 2005)
Special non – ring attraction: His amazing family but most specifically his love for his wife, Vicki.
Thank you for reading this article, I hope you enjoyed it and use it for your viewing pleasure.
