Every wrestling fan has there moment. A moment when all your arrogance and all your wrestling knowledge is overpowered, and overthrown. A moment when everything you’ve been taught about the wrestling industry is thrown out the window, and disposed of. In that split moment you become your worst enemy. Yes that’s right. In that moment…you become a mark. That moment comes when your favorite superstar’s music hits, they walk out of those curtains, and even if they are past their prime and done with wrestling you begin to feel the nostalgia of marking out once again. The evidence is in the ovations. Look at a John Cena ovation. No offense to Vanilla Ice, but John Cena has never gotten the response of a Stone Cold Steve Austin or a Hulk Hogan. We saw that at WrestleMania. The ovation that guys like Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin got were tremendous. For those few minutes I was amazed by the power of the superstar on my screen. They spoke to our wants and needs, and gave us a taste of the old wrestling world that we wrestling fans love so much.
When Hulk Hogan stepped into the ring for one more match, I think every fan knew when Hogan says it’s his last match that doesn’t mean it’s true. After all, Terry Funk supposedly retired in 1997, but yet he’s still going strong. Mick Foley was supposed to retire in 2000, yet we saw him compete against Evolution and Randy Orton last year. But does that mean in 1997 and 2000, when we knew that both Foley and Funk were probably stretching the truth in their retirement, that we didn’t mark out? No it doesn’t. I marked out for Funk. I marked out for Foley. I’m sure you wrestling fans did too. But that’s the point: the thought of our favorite superstars competing for one last match is overpowering. In my mind, I knew Hogan wasn’t retiring for good. This wasn’t his last match. No way, no how. But the anticipation, and the atmosphere in the air that surrounded Backlash drew me in. I did it. I marked out for Hulk Hogan. And I admit it. I’m not a Hogan fan by any stretch of the imagination. I was a Ric Flair fan as a kid. But in a world full of Triple H ruling the wrestling world, and Batista reigning supreme as champion I marked out to wrestling’s past in Hulk Hogan. Hogan wasn’t even on top of his game at Backlash. Shawn Michaels easily carried the match, and Hogan couldn’t even perform his patented “Hogan Leg Drop” on account of his hip replacement. But even then, the thought of the Hulkster competing in a “Dream Team” with Shawn Michaels drew us in as fans.
There’s a reason I believe WrestleMania 21’s buyrate has went through the roof. To say that John Cena taking on John Bradshaw Layfield for the WWE championship, and Triple H going against Batista for the World title is the reason for the spike in buyrates isn’t true. It wasn’t Undertaker and Orton that drove the buyrates through the roof. Nor was it the Ladder match, or the Angle and Michaels match. I think it was the appearances of wrestling’s former greats. Hogan, Austin, and Piper in the same arena on the same night? This is a wrestling fans dream. Buzz surrounded WrestleMania 21 because Piper’s Pit was to return, this time with the biggest guest of them all. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Buzz was that Hogan may or may not have a impromptu match or impromptu brawl at ‘Mania. This drew fans to WrestleMania, no doubt about it. The buzz of wrestling’s biggest superstars reforming for one night drew the marks and the wrestling fans to this Pay-Per-View like a flock of sheep. We marked out folks. Yes, it’s true. When we saw Austin, Hogan, and Piper we officially marked out. Do you blame us? I don’t.
Next month wrestling fans will have a chance to mark out again, when more nostalgia will be feed to us like grass to cattle. Extreme Championship Wrestling will be relived, and recreated. For just one night only. And on that night, fans will flock from around the world. Whether at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia with Shane Dougla’s show, or in New York City with WWE’s version fans will flock to the arena’s and to their televisions to see one more taste of ECW. Personally, I wasn’t a big ECW fan. I liked World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling more. But I will be getting “ECW One Night Stand” to relive wrestling’s past. And mostly likely, I’ll mark out. Even though I wasn’t a ECW fan, I took them for granted when they were around, and I appreciate what they’ve meant to the wrestling industry. So marking out next month will be a luxury for ECW fans, and something that will overpower me as a non-ECW fan. Instantly, for one night only, I’ll become a ECW fan. Nostalgia has that power folks. I know plenty of wrestling fans who didn’t like ECW when it was around, that are flat out excited about their reunion show. Fans appreciate wrestling’s past, and appreciate marking out to the industry the way it used to be.
It doesn’t matter your dedication. You could be the biggest wrestling fan in the world, but at some point you will mark out to the superstars and shows that you once loved. Whether it’s a ovation for Hulk Hogan in Madison Square Garden. Or if it’s seeing one more Extreme Championship Wrestling show. Marking out is inevitable. And in some ways, WWE has the market cornered on recreating the past in order to give the fans what they want “one more time.” If World Wrestling Entertainment were to announce one more WCW Pay-Per-View tomorrow, or announce Mick Foley or Hulk Hogan were going to return full time we would be doubtful. We would nay-say. But when the superstars go through that curtain, the nay-saying is done. The power overtakes us. Take my word for it, marking out isn’t a bad thing. It means at least your enjoying wrestling again. Your reliving the wrestling past, and reliving what you used to love in wrestling. I enjoy nostalgia. Whether it’s a Extreme Champion Wrestling show, or a Hulk Hogan match, I’m loving it. I love to mark out. I’ve been watching wrestling for years and years. But even then, when those bright lights come on. When the arena becomes filled with smoke. And when the television cameras circle the arena showcasing the fans reaction, I mark out. And you know what? That’s ok with me. I mark out.
Before I go I went to speak on a few other things. First off, my sympathy goes out to former WWE superstar Tammy Sytch the former manager and long time life partner of recently passed wrestling legend Chris Candido. Candido will be missed by the whole wrestling world, but word’s can’t fathom how much Tammy will miss him. She was checked into a hospital after a serious nervous breakdown, and need I say, I hope she gets well soon. Tammy you’ll be in my prayers, I hope you get well soon. Also, my week has been brightened with the news that a invitation has been sent out to Bret Hart to be a part of next year’s Hall Of Fame Ceremony. Question is, who should induct the Hitman? Shawn Michaels? Vince McMahon? Or the oddball, Earl Hebner? In other news, I’ll be back next week with another exciting duration. You know you love me people, put it down on your calendars. I know you all have been asking for it. You’ve been waiting for it. You want classic Jordon at it’s best. So next week, right here, you’ll get it. A classic Jordon rant. I’ll discuss why TNA is the next revolution in wrestling minus the financial situation and poor management, why John Bradshaw Layfield should still be champion and will be soon enough, and why Christian just isn’t good enough to be a main eventer and never will be. Among other things. Well…..
Till Next Time…..
Have A Nice Day, The Wright Way!
“No one, and I mean no one has the outspoken attitude I bring to my column. I take pride in saying what I believe, and not caring what people think. If you care what people think, I think that effects your ability as a columnist. Am I controversial? Yes. Do I give you my true honest opinion? Yes.” – Jordon Wright
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