Picture of the Week (March 21, 2013)

Booker T is in WWE Hall of Fame.

Picture of the Week (April 1, 2012)

This is the best picture I have ever seen! The Four Horsemen with HBK Shawn Michaels, can’t wait to see the Hall of Fame Ceremony 

Ron Simmons

Hello wrestling fans. The WWE Hall of Fame is a big part of the Road to WrestleMania, and I always, always, always look forward to seeing it. I personally love when they start name-dropping in their speeches. I just have this fascination with superstars "breaking kayfabe", meaning they're speaking out-of-character. That is why I love watching the biography DVD’s. Anyways, this past Monday on Raw Super Show, they announced the latest inductee, Ron Simmons. I became so happy. After his brief career in the NFL, he began his wrestling career in NWA as part of the tag team, Doom with Butch Reed and managed by Teddy Long. He then began his solo career, beating Vader and becoming the first African-American World Champion for WCW. In 1996, he became Faarooq Asad in the WWE, managed by Sunny. Later, he started the faction, The Nation of Domination. Members include guys like Crush, Savio Vega, Mark Henry, D-Lo Brown, Owen Hart and of course The Rock, just to name a few. The Acolytes Protection Agency (A.P.A.) with Bradshaw (JBL) was such a great tag team. Their office was in a corner backstage with just a single door with no walls. They were always seen playing poker and smoking cigars, but when they got hired for protection, they raised hell. In 2004, he retired having accomplished many achievements, including WCW World, United States and Tag Team championships, and a three time WWE Tag Team champion with Bradshaw. I just want to add, when I met Ron Simmons, I told him how I grew up watching him ever since WCW. I mentioned how I remember going crazy when he won the World Heavyweight title and becoming the first African-American World Champion for WCW. He was so thankful and such a great guy. I’m super excited and happy to see his induction to the Hall of Fame this year. One more thing.......... DAMN!!

Ernesto Heleno Jr.

Edge is on his way to the WWE Hall of Fame

So I decided I wanted to talk a little bit about the WWE Hall of Fame 2012 inductee, Edge. I've always been a fan of Edge from debut to his last match in WrestleMania 27. His vignettes and his entrance were so cool to me. I remember his first televised debut match against Jose Estrada Jr. where he did a somersault over the top rope to the outside and knocked Estrada out. He later joined The Brood with Gangrel and his "brother," Christian. The Brood's entrance is definitely one of my favorite entrances ever, with the ring of fire and Gangrel's song. It was awesome. But once, he and Christian joined together as just a tag team, I became a bigger fan. They both had so much charisma and were so funny. The original TLC matches against The Dudley Boys and The Hardy Boys were unforgettable and legendary. He's accomplished so much throughout his career. Edge list of championships include 14 times Tag Team Champion, U.S. Champion, 5 times Intercontinental Champion, and 11 times WWE/World Heavyweight Champion. He's the 14th "Triple Crown" champion, Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, King of the Ring, and Slammy Award winner. There is no doubt that he's one of the greats of our generation. I was truly surprised and sad he had to retire but I must admit that his induction to the Hall of Fame is a little premature. I do believe he's a legend in his own right, but for Edge to be inducted before legends like Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, Owen Hart, The British Bulldogs, and of course someone who I would say is one of the most iconic superstars ever, Macho Man Randy Savage. I must say it’s an insult to not only Savage, but to all the legends that got "swept under the rug" by WWE. No matter what, I've always been a fan of Edge, he deserves his place in the Hall of Fame and I'm happy he's inducted.

Edge & Christian

Ernesto Heleno Jr.

Ric Flair on The Four Horsemen going to the Hall of Fame

Check out this video of the Nature Boy Ric Flair proclaiming that he will be on stage with The Four Horsemen. Click here if you can’t see video.

WWE Hall Of Fame 2011

Just recently I bought the WrestleMania XXVII DVD for only one reason, the WWE Hall of Fame 2011. I always try to get the WrestleMania DVD’s every year specifically for the Hall of Fame. Any WWE DVD that shows the behind-the-scenes of professional wrestling is always going to be part of my wrestling DVD collection. Therefore I love hearing the Hall of Fame inductees' introductions, vignettes and stories of their own personal professional wrestling careers.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan

As a kid, I loved Hacksaw Jim Duggan. I think it was cool that he was part of the Atlanta Falcons, he was in WCW which was based out of Atlanta and now he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Atlanta. He was part of that era in WWE where you didn’t have to be a champion to be over with the audience. He was the first Royal Rumble winner and a King of the Ring, after beating Harley Race. It was touching to see his accomplishments, his fight with cancer, and the fact that he is now a Hall of Famer. HOOOOOO!!!

Bullet Bob Armstrong

I didn’t know much about Bullet Bob Armstrong, only the fact that he's Brad, Steve, Scott and Brian (Road Dogg Jesse James) Armstrong's father. I think Road Dogg's introduction and Bullet Bob's speech was very entertaining. His story about seeing Gorgeous George and accomplishing his dream of being a professional wrestler, was such a great story. I understood exactly how he must have felt that day. As a kid, I used to think these men were larger than life characters. It's something that most people won’t understand. With that being said, I grew a huge level of respect to now Hall of Famer, Bullet Bob Armstrong.

Sunny

Sunny was, is, and always will be my favorite WWE Diva ever. She was my first real big celebrity crush. I remember meeting her and Chris Candido for the first time in The Wrestling Universe in Queens, NY back at the old location. And I'm definitely going to be there June 25th. I can’t miss the opportunity to see her again. Her story about her career was very interesting. She started out as Chris' manager in Smokey Mountain Wrestling and basically stole the show. Don’t get me wrong, Chris Candido is definitely a very under-rated wrestler. The Triple Threat in ECW was one of my favorite factions in wrestling history. Sunny just had so much charisma, you couldn’t help but either love her or hate her. She's the youngest Hall of Famer, the most downloaded celebrity on AOL in 1996 and 1997, and the original WWE Diva. Her induction was well deserved. Thank you, Sunny, for being you.

Abdullah  the Butcher

Abdullah the Butcher used to scare the crap out of me. His battles with Cactus Jack back in WCW, was my earliest memory of hardcore wrestling. He was over without ever saying a word on the mic. Terry Funk's introduction was not only hilarious but thoughtful. Abdullah the Butcher was a genius in his own right and a founding father of hardcore wrestling.

The Road Warriors

The Road Warriors were always one of my favorite tag teams. They were huge, with face paint and spiked shoulder pads. How could they not catch your attention? When my brother and I would play wrestling, I was always Hawk and he was Animal, painted faces and all. They are considered the best tag team in wrestling history and I can’t see an argument there. They're definitely the most successful tag team is history. Road Warrior Animal and Paul Ellering's speech was awesome. I just loved the way Paul Ellering's speech was a poem. "Animal was the exclamation point, I was the jockey that rode the horse, and Hawk was the whistle of the train." His words were very thoughtful. I loved how Animal referred to the "boys" as a brotherhood. His stories about their early career were so inspiring. They were so green but accomplished so much. "Hawk was a husband, a son, a brother, a warrior, a friend." He will forever be missed. LOD! LOD! LOD!

Drew Carrey

Personally I didn’t understand why Drew Carrey would be inducted but now I do. He's part of the celebrity wing with Pete Rose, William 'the Refrigerator' Perry and Bob Uecker. Kane's introduction was funny and Drew Carrey's speech was not only funny but respectful. He expressed his love and respect for professional wrestling. As a wrestling fan, I appreciate his respect for the business. So thank you for your support Drew Carrey.

Shawn Michaels

Mr. Hall of Fame, Mr. WrestleMania, The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels is the best. Of course everyone knows how much I respect Shawn. What his peers had to say about him goes to show that he is the best. He never failed to make his matches the match to remember. His Hall of Fame induction was well deserved. I've personally been waiting for his induction. Triple H's speech was also hilarious. It definitely was more of a roast than an introduction. Either way his speech showed his love and respect for his friend. Hearing Shawn talk about validation really stuck out to me. He never wanted to disappoint. Reading his book "Heartbreak and Triumph," I've learned that his childhood and personality are things I can relate to. Growing up, wrestling with my big brother, being the smaller guy, I never gave up. I always loved watching the smaller high flyers. The Rockers are no doubt, my favorite tag team of all time. So Shawn was always an inspiration to me. What Bullet Bob felt when he first saw Gorgeous George is what I felt seeing Shawn Michaels. When I dreamed about being a professional wrestler, I mimicked HBK the most. I loved how he also referred to the boys as a brotherhood. "We can stab each other in the back, but nobody else could do it." He did what he could in order to keep the business alive by helping get the younger guys over. His career will forever be an inspiration to all the WWE Superstars. I'm quoting Carlito when I say, "Shawn Michaels is everything they say he is. In my opinion, he is the best." Much deserved induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Thank you to all the WWE Legends and Hall of Famers, past and present. This year's Hall of Fame is my personal favorite. Second would have to be Ric Flairs induction. Thank you WWE and all I can say is, I love wrestling.

Class 2011

- Ernesto Heleno Jr.

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The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels

 

On April 2nd, the greatest wrestler of all time, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame 2011. I must admit, since Shawn Michaels has always been my favorite wrestler, I got a little emotional. But after watching the Hall of Fame, I came to the realization that he has surpassed every other WWE Superstar in history. There is no one in the WWE locker room who can deny that. Not only is he "The Icon", "The Main Event", "The Showstopper", "Mr. WrestleMania", he is also ranked #1 in the 50 Greatest Superstars of All Time DVD.

The Rockers, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannety are my personal favorite tag team. I remember being a kid and watching The Rockers take on tag teams like The Hart Foundation, The British Bulldogs and Demolition. They were considered "Tag Team Specialists".  Always being the smaller guys trying to prove themselves to their bigger counterparts. They were younger, quicker, and my earliest memory of high flyers. Being a young kid rooting for the good guys, I remember being so angry that Shawn turned his back on Marty, throwing him into that glass window. But even though my favorite tag team split up, my favorite singles wrestler just began his journey to the top.

He then started his sexy boy gimmick as The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, managed by Sensational Sherri. He was probably the first heel I liked. That flamboyant, cocky attitude is what made me love to hate him. He was a small fish in a big pond. He had to prove himself in the business of professional wrestling, by making sure that he had the best match of the night. Whether he was a baby face or a heel, he never disappointed the fans. The Ladder Match against Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) at WrestleMania 10 is by far the best one on one ladder match in history. The Iron Man match against Bret "the Hitman" Hart at WrestleMania 12 is not only my personal favorite match but is also ranked #1 as the best WrestleMania match ever. "I will give you a show, like you have never, ever seen before. Why? Because I can." That is why he's Mr. WrestleMania. Shawn Michaels is responsible for a lot of WWE moments being the "1st" at many accomplishments. He's the first ever Grand Slam champion, winning the Tag Team, European, Intercontinental and WWE championships. He was the first to win the Royal Rumble, entering at #1. Was a part of the first Ladder, Hell in the Cell, Iron Man, and Elimination Chamber matches in the history of WWE?

Even after he came back from his retirement, he proved to the world that he's still got it. Performing like he never left. Even re-uniting with Triple H as the original Degeneration X. He has come a long way, had an amazing career and will forever be the best. When you hear the WWE Superstars of today say the he is the best in-ring performer of all time, it's because it's true. Thank you Shawn, thank you.

Written By, Ernesto Heleno Jr. and The Wrestling Fans Review.