So, a few days late, I'm giving my unasked for take on the roster of the Legends of Wrestlemania game being published by THQ on March 24th, 2009. One main point I touched on in my previous post, and which chafes mildly is the fact that Randy Savage will not be in this game. This is a sad sad realization for this game considering that Savage had some of the best matches in Wrestlemania history (Ricky Steamboat vs Savage for the Intercontinental Title.... The Mega Powers Explode... The title tournament at Wrestlemania IV...). People will just have to create their own Pomp & Circumstance using the Create A Legend feature. Now without further ado, the list and my take on it:
The WrestlersAndre The Giant - It would be utterly impossible to have a Legends of Wrestlemania game without the largest and most recognizable athlete in wrestling history. Everything about Andre was larger than life, and hopefully his role in the game will match the career he had. Plus, who wouldn't want to use Andre in a ladders match against Hogan??
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka - One of the original, and best high flyers of all time. Steel Cage Match. Don Muraco. Splash off the top of the cage for the win. Plus what wrestling fan could forget Roddy Piper smashing him in the head with a coconut.
Animal & Hawk - The Legion Of Doom - The most decorated tag team in wrestling history. I don't know if there was a single federation in which these two did not hold the tag team titles. Combining speed and power, they dominated tag team divisions wherever they were.
Junk Yard Dog - Uhm, why? I really *really* don't get this one. The only match that was close to memorable for JYD was Wrestlemania III vs. King Harley Race. He was a charismatic and entertaining wrestler, but as far as being a Legend of Wrestlemania, I'm sorry, Giant Gonzales was more of one. He at least knocked out The Undertaker.
Arn Anderson - The Enforcer, Double A, Arn Anderson. One of the smartest and toughest singles competitors in Wrestling history. Only one problem: I don't even remember him being in a Wrestlemania, let alone having a good match. I'm pretty sure he and Tully Blanchard were in as The Brain Busters, but really this is another flop for an inclusion, probably to make up for either Savage or Mick Foley not being in the game.
Kamala - Why oh why didn't I take the blue pill? What about Ax & Smash of Demolition? Virgil? Owen Hart? Ron Simmons? I don't even remember one entertaining match with Kamala during his entire career in WWE, let alone at a Wrestlemania.
Bam Bam Bigelow - The Beast From The East. A classic agile, entertaining, recognizable and vicious big man. A fitting tribute to Scotty "Bam Bam" Bigelow, R.I.P.
King Kong Bundy - 5 count. The only wrestler confident enough to only accept a win after a 5 count was registered. Known as the human apartment building (or tenement block, take your pick), Bundy is one of the most vicious heels in wrestling history. Who could forget his splash on the midget wrestler (I'm sorry, I don't know the politically correct term) at Wrestlemania III that caused him to get ganged up on by his teammates and opponents.
Big Bossman - It's time to head to Cobb County Georgia and meet the long arm of the law. Whether it was during his time with The Corporation, under The Doctor of Style Slick, or as a face, the late Bubba Rogers always provided and entertaining and physical match and when it came to Wrestlemania, he always upped the ante.
Koko B. Ware - Not one of the most talented wrestlers, Koko always upped his game at Wrestlemania and his matches always brought the fans to their feet. If only Owen were in the game so fans could re-create High Energy.
Big John Studd - One of the few wrestlers I ever saw with the ability to go toe to toe with Andre. The $15,000.00 body slam challenge was a stroke of genius (if not a classic match) and he deserves to be in the game if only for that moment.
Michael P. S. Hayes - One half of The Fabulous Freebirds, Michael Hayes was the Attitude era decades before it even came to be. A master on the mic and always entertaining in the ring. Again, just one problem: I don't remember him in a Wrestlemania.
Bret Hart & Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart - The Hart Foundation - An almost perfect mix of speed, technique, power and insanity. Both wrestlers were accomplished singles and tag wrestlers, with a mean streak a mile wide but the ability to make the fans love them at the same time. If only The Powers Of Pain and Demolition were in the game, fans could re-create some of the most classic tag matches of all time. Hell, even The Bolsheviks so the shortest tag match in history could be re-created.
Mr. Perfect - Simply perfect. I should probably decline to comment given he's possibly my favourite wrestler of all time, so I'll just suffice it to say: The name fits like a glove.
British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith - Awesome intercontinental and European title matches at Wrestlemania. Incredibly fast, powerful, smart and agile, Davey Boy epitomized the wrestler of the 80s. In tag or singles matches, he was a force to be reckoned with and managed on occasion to carry a pay-per-view.
Nikolai Volkoff - One half of the Bolsheviks, I'm looking forward to his being in the game just to hear him sing the "Russian" national anthem again. One of the greatest heels of all time, he could get under fans skin like almost nobody else.
Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake - Strutting and cutting with Brutus, you can re-create one of the most charismatic teams of all time (The Mega Maniacs of Hogan & Brutus), or one of the most conniving and dangers (The Dream Team of Brutus & Greg Valentine). Nothing quite like watching him put his opponents to sleep, then pull out the shears for a little bit of a trim on his opponents.
Ravishing Rick Rude - Never quite a main eventer, it wasn't for lack of talent, skill or charisma. Rude had the misfortune of having to compete against Hogan and Ted Dibiase for top billing as a superstar in the 80s. The fact that he even managed to make The Ultimate Warrior look excellent in their Wrestlemania match speaks volumes about his talent and merit for inclusion.
Dusty Rhodes - Another inclusion that puzzles me. I remember one match with Dusty & Sweet Sapphire against Sensation Sherri & Randy Savage at Wrestlemania. That was possibly the worst match I ever saw Savage involved in, and it had to do with The American Dream.
Ric Flair - Woooooo. Relive his retirement all over again. A true superstar who spent his career making other wrestlers look good. Under appreciated by a few, over appreciated by many, Slick Ric truly was the dirtiest player in the game and had classic matches with Shawn Michaels and Randy Savage at Wrestlemania. He could bring the fans into the match with something as little as running a hand through his hair, and another deserving entrant into this title.
Greg "The Hammer" Valentine - Nobody got beat up quite like The Hammer. Ten punches to the face, one face flop and the crowd was on it's feet cheering for whoever was beating him up. One of the wrestlers you loved to hate, many a Wrestlemania would have been lackluster without his talent and passion.
Rowdy Roddy Piper - Does this mean I can spray Morton Downey Jr. with a fire extinguisher in the game? No one ever really knew what Roddy was going to do in the ring next, nor on the mic. Some of the most memorable moments in wrestling belong to The Hot Scot, at Wrestlemania or anywhere else.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan - Uhm, why? A definite fanf avourite, there is no doubt but I went through my Wrestlemania DVD collection and came across exactly 3 matches he was in, one he may have been in and all of them were yawners. I loved Hacksaw, but definitely not a Legend of Wrestlemania.
Sgt. Slaughter - Deserves inclusion just because the character he played during the Gulf War had his family and he placed into protective custody and had some crazy fans actually take sniper shots through his window. Plus he inspired a G.I. Joe character, how could he not be included?
Shawn Michaels - The Main Event, The Showstopper, Mr. Wrestlemania himself. Enough said.
Honky Tonk Man - Shake Rattle & Roll against Jake Roberts. Play Rhythm & Blues with Greg Valentine, or just annoy people with bad singing and shots with a real acoustic guitar. The Honky Tonk Man is the best Intercontinental Champ of all time, from a time when that belt indicated the best technical wrestler in the company. If he wasn't in the game, no one should be.
Stone Cold Steve Austin - The definition of The Attitude Era had some of the most memorable matches ever with The Rock, Mr. McMahon and Triple H.
THE face of wrestling during the late 90's and early 2000s, Stone Cold redefined an industry and was one of the main reasons the WWE won the Monday Night Wars.
Hulk Hogan - Hogan owned the 80s, despite the fact that the last 3 minutes of his matches were so predictable you could call them along with the announcers. Transcended the industry and was one of the main reasons Wrestlemania I was such a success and helped Vince McMahon launch the WWE into the mainstream.
The Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase - Everybody's got a price, and the talented Ted Dibiase owned pretty much anyone else in the ring. From the ability to talk to having no wasted motion inside the ring, Dibiase owned the hatred of fans for years. One of the most underappreciated wrestlers of the era, and definitely a Wrestlemania legend.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley - Triple H, The Game, and one of the smoothest wrestlers in the ring. Trips can brawl, wrestle, cheat, entertain and take the reigns at the biggest spectacle of the year and have a match to end all matches.
The Rock - I was never a Rock fan, but even I have to admit, whenever he stepped between the ropes you could add "instant classic" as a description of the match. One of the most entertaining wrestlers ever, The Rock and Austin owned Wrestlemania during the Attitude Era.
Iron Sheik - The man from Tehran, Iran had one of the classic gimmicks of all time with the loaded boot. Using the classic "Americans are weak" heel angle, The Sheik earned the ire of fans at many an event and Wrestlemania was no exception.
Ultimate Warrior - The fact that he wrestled some of the greatest of all time who managed to make even him look good is the only reason The Warrior should be in the game. One of the worst wrestlers ever, his inclusion could only be so that Rude & Hogan aren't punished for his lack of talent.
Jake The Snake - From the time he walked through the drapes, Jake out-thought everyone and told a story to the fans unlike any other talent could. Classic matches abound at Wrestlemania for The Snake with his match against Honky Tonk Man standing out in particular.
Undertaker - 16 & 0. The only undefeated wrestler in Wrestlemania history, Taker is the phenom of the WWE and is truly a Legend of Wrestlemania.
Yokozuna - Banzai! He may hold the record for the shortest WWE Heavyweight Title reign ever from when he beat Bret Hart and then lost to Hulk Hogan in the same night. A monster in the ring, Yokozuna deserves to be here if only for his choice of Manager, Mr. Fuji.
MANAGERSBobby "The Brain" Heenan - One of the most grating, annoying and heat getting managers of all time. Whether it be from outside interference or just running his mouth, The Weasel.. er Brain... drew fans into the arena just in the hopes that someone would beat him down. Without fail, that happened at Wrestlemania.
Mr. Fuji - The devious one himself, Mr. Fuji had a career both for wrestling and for helping some of the most untalented wrestlers ever look like stars.
Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart - Before he drank the kool-aid, said his prayers and ate his vitamins, Jimmy Hart and his megaphone could drive wrestlers and fans to distraction. With the high pitched voice, high energy antics, and ability to look terrified even at Koko B. Ware getting his hands on him, Jimmy made stars out of anyone who was lucky enough to work with him.
Paul Bearer - The only member of the roster Bearer managed was The Undertaker, and for that alone the demonic mortician deserves to be in. Helping guide the Taker to a splendid record, Paul Bearer's facial expressions, movements and voice lent an eerie quality to Taker during his rookie years in the WWE. Without Bearer, Taker's star would not have risen nearly as fast as it did.
That's the entire roster. There are some flops in here, but all in all THQ did an excellent job given that they were forbidden from including some of the more deserving wrestlers from Wrestlemanias. The other thing working against THQ for this game, is lookign back, each era has a few select talents and most of the memorable matches involved those talents only. Either way, I'll be posting my thoughts on the game after I've played it and re-lived, re-defined and re-created some of wrestlings most memorable matches.
