On Jul 3, 2014, Cliffg37 wrote:
For those who are wondering.... I will remind those that have forgotten that I used to be a pre-wrestling referee. This was back in the days when wresting was "cartoonish" in some ways, and the messaqge from the big boys (Vince McMahon) was be larger than life. You can You-Tube Hulk Hogan coming to the rescue of Bob Backlund against the wild Samoans. This was Hogan's first WWF appearence. Look how small he was compared to his hay day which started only months later. With that message coming in loud and clear, all the wrestlers and would-be and wanna-be wrestlers all tried to be larger than life. Just as in the Stone Cold Steve Austin era, many small time wrestlers shaved their heads and put on attitudes. It was all coming from Titan Tower.

This is when the moves started getting bigger, the bulging muscles started getting bigger, and the phychology of wrestling began to take a back seat. People like RIc FLair, with his incredible mic skills and charisma, managed to hold on, but many either steeped up or faded out. This lead to the two biggest problems in wrestler logevity; steroids and pain killers. Between the two, and other drugs thrown in, along with many having indescriminate sex as they traveled the country/world, the wrestler's bodies came up second best.

One of the smart ones, Leaping Lanny Poffo, took his turn with steroids, hated them and stopped fast. His physique failed quickly at that point, and not being larger than life, out he went.

Rowdy ROddy Piper once said, "I have no illusions about this business, I'll never live to see 60." I believe at this point he has, that or he is certainly close. He looks pretty good too, but he was never a big roid man. He was a drunk, and he cleaned up in the 90's (god bless him for that)

Injuries inspire pain killers, and need inspired steroids. In the old days (1950's or before) a wrestler had as much chance of a serious injury as a football player or maybe rugby. I cringe everytime I watch the tape of Mick foly coming off the top of the cage. The first time he landed well as planned, but it still had to hurt like hell. The second time was an accident. He landed on one leg which went under him. How he walked away I have no clue. But he did.

I'll get off the soapbox now.

On Jul 4, 2014, critter wrote:
I was bummed when Ultimate Warrior beat Hogan because I grew up on those cartoons where Hulk was the star. Also had a VHS of early Hogan when he was still a villain. I liked the characters back then. The Berserker coming in with his Viking sword (wish he'd lasted longer), The Undertaker with Paul Bearer, all of it. I have a bunch of the old WWF figures in the basement that I inherited from my Grandpa. I even have one of Jesse Ventura, who my Dad served with in the Navy, which is surreal. Piper and Undertaker are still favorites.

On Jul 4, 2014, Pakar Ilusi wrote:

Quote:

On Jul 4, 2014, critter wrote:
I was bummed when Ultimate Warrior beat Hogan because I grew up on those cartoons where Hulk was the star. Also had a VHS of early Hogan when he was still a villain. I liked the characters back then. The Berserker coming in with his Viking sword (wish he'd lasted longer), The Undertaker with Paul Bearer, all of it. I have a bunch of the old WWF figures in the basement that I inherited from my Grandpa. I even have one of Jesse Ventura, who my Dad served with in the Navy, which is surreal. Piper and Undertaker are still favorites.

Remember The Bushwackers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMWheL-xsww