CM Punk signs with UFC

Earlier tonight on UFC 181 it was announced that CM Punk has signed a multi-fight deal, and is expected to make his octagon debut in 2015. Dana White, the president of the UFC, said that Punk will likely fight at middleweight (185lbs), but might cut down to as low as welterweight (170lbs). 

White also mentioned that they are not exactly looking to rush him to the top as they did with Brock Lesnar, likely because of the fact Punk's MMA background is lacking in comparison given Lesnar's extensive amateur wrestling background. Punk is no stranger to the MMA world though, and has been training in recent years with the legendary Gracie jiu-jitsu family. Either way, having Punk in the Octagon is bound to generate some interest, both for the Punk fans who want to see him succeed, and for the Punk critics who want to see him demolished. 

One can only imagine Vince McMahon's reaction to hearing this news. It was bad enough as is having had one of his biggest stars walk out on the company in the midst of one of the more star deprived eras of wrestling. But now, that same star is entering a promotion that Vince likely sees as competition for a portion of his target audience, regardless of whether or not Vince will admit that view himself.

Sting Has Arrived

What was once considered an unlikely dream by many has finally come to fruition. For the first time in his wrestling career which has extended over 25 years, Sting has stepped foot in a WWE ring.

At WWE's recent Survivor Series pay-per-view, Sting emerged in the midst of the Team Cena vs. Team Authority Survivor Series match. At the time, Dolph Ziggler and Seth Rollins were the remaining two wrestlers in the match. The stipulation: If Team Authority wins, the members of Team Cena would be fired. If Team Cena wins, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon would lose their roles in power of the WWE. With multiple referees wiped out, Triple H did his part to save his job, landing a pedigree on Ziggler and putting Rollins over him for a pin. Cue the crow music.

As the music played, and visuals of Sting played on the 'tron, a plethora of reactions ensued from the crowd. Shock and excitement on the part of those who had always wished for this moment, confusion by the skeptics who were unsure if this was really happening, and silence on the part of the children who know little to none about Sting's story.

Upon entering the ring, and wiping out the referee who has been knowing for showing bias for The Authority, an intense stare down took place between Sting and Triple H. When the latter attempted to strike, the Stinger retaliated, which lead to one of his signature moves, The Scorpion Death Drop. He would then drag the knocked down Ziggler over Rollins, ensuring a win for Team Cena.

For those unfamiliar with his story, Sting was long considered "The Franchise" of the now defunct WCW (bought out be the WWE in 2001). He was their major player from the time WCW seceded from the National Wrestling in 1991 and became it's own entity, and remained with the company until it's demise in 2001. Over the course of this period, many wrestlers jumped ship from WCW to WWE (then known as the WWF), and vice versa. Some of these wrestlers would even go from one promotion to the other, only to eventually come back to the promotion they were with in the first place. But while nearly all the big names in WCW during this time would jump ship to the WWF at some point (Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Vader, The Big Show, etc), Sting remained in a WCW ring. 

Earlier in his career, Sting was known for his colorful face paint and ring attire, and bleached blonde spiked hair. In early 1996, he began to keep his natural hair color and had it slightly longer, while still wearing colorful face paint. It was during this time that the NWO was founded, featuring Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. Over the course of the ensuing battle against the NWO, Sting would stand up for WCW for several months. Eventually, fellow wrestlers would question Sting's loyalty to WCW, and were unsure if Sting himself might join the NWO. Feeling hurt by these accusations, Sting announced that he was a "free agent", and took a hiatus from being seen on-screen during WCW television.

As time passed, Sting would eventually make his return to television. With longer black hair, white and black face paint, and wearing a trench coat, Sting's appearance took the form of his present look. Although he'd occasional appear on WCW Nitro, Sting did not actively wrestle, and remained silent for over a year. While he primarily could be seen in the rafters of the building, Sting would occasionally drop in to confront the NWO, and save WCW wrestlers from their attacks. Eventually, Sting would make his in-ring return to confront Hulk Hogan, and the two wrestled for Hogan's WCW Heavyweight Title at Starrcade 1997.

Years later, when Vince McMahon purchased WCW in 2001, many WCW wrestlers would soon reach contracts with the WWE. However, Sting was not one of them. On the very last episode of WCW Nitro, Sting defeated Ric Flair to close the show, and the two hugged after the match. While Vince McMahon offered Sting a contract, he would decide to turn it down. Ultimately, Sting didn't trust that McMahon would use him properly, and cited other WCW wrestlers as examples of being treated poorly when coming to WWE at this time.

Sting would go on to wrestle for TNA for the better part of a decade. Regardless of being a mainstay in another promotion during recent years, there's been no shortage of rumors of Sting coming to the WWE, particularly around WrestleMania. Often times, this might involve supposed "sources" stating Sting being in talks with Vince McMahon, or fan made videos teasing a Sting return. The rumors are no more. But now that Sting has finally made his arrival into the WWE, more questions have arisen. Why did he want to take down Team Authority at Survivor Series when he has never had to deal with them first hand? Who and when will he wrestle?

While the first question remains to be answered, it might shed light on who his first WWE opponent will be. Triple H still remains a big name in the wrestling, and has star power, which is something WWE is currently lacking when looking at the rest of the current roster. It seems unlikely that Sting will be a week to week wrestler, and instead WWE officials will want to use him for marquee pay-per-view matches. But while Triple H isn't exsctly a slouch within the wrestling world, it might not be the match that people ultimately want, particularly when considering another popular scenario.

Dream matches are a common discussion among wrestling fans, some of them pitting more recent wrestlers who never seemed to cross paths, while others involving wrestlers who might have rose to fame many decades apart. How would Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Savage have been if they were able to wrestle against each other in their primes in fantasy land? What about Hulk Hogan vs. Steve Austin? Well, with Sting's arrival, there's one opponent who many have wanted to see him face for a very long time. The Undertaker. 

The Undertaker has primarily been to WWE what Sting was to WCW. For over two decades, The Undertaker has been a staple for the WWE, and always considered amongst the who's who of WWE wrestlers. When thinking of a WWE Mount Rushmore, 'Taker has as good of case as anyone, whether it be Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, you name it. The Undertaker, at times referred to as "The Lord of Darkness", "The Phenom", and "The Grim Reaper", has spent the majority of his tenure using his supernatural powers and mind games to get inside the heads of opponents, while at times making children scared in the process.  

While Sting isn't overtly similar to The Undertaker's character, especially as Sting's career has gone on, it's similar enough to draw comparisons between the two. In fact, comparisons have been named between the two since the inception of Sting's crow character in WCW during 1996, which first sparked fans to develop interest in a scenario in which the two were to face each other. Between the all black outfits, the darkness, minimal dialog (Particuarly during The Undertaker's early years, and Sting's first year with his crow character), and use of mind games, the similarities are definitely there.

When looking at the here and now, most speculation still sides with the notion that Sting's first WWE opponent will be Triple H. But with Royal Rumble, one of WWE's major pay-pay-views, in addition to WrestleMania coming shortly after, that allows for the possibility of Sting having two marquee matchups. Should he face Triple H, it remains to be seen as to whether the WWE would want to save this for WrestleMania, or use it as a way to gain some buys at the Royal Rumble. In the case of a possible match with The Undertaker, 'Taker's health may become the biggest hurdle, as he has broken down physically. Granted he is able to go for WrestleMania, a match with Sting will be the one that fans will clamor for. While it might seem that this match should have happened ten years ago, this is one of those situations where it's better late then never. Regardless of the uncertainty, it will interesting to see how Sting's involvement will play out. And more importantly, if there's one thing that's sure about Sting, it's that nothing's for sure...

CM Punk Speaks Out On His Departure From WWE

For the first time since walking out on the WWE 10 months ago, CM Punk recently took to his good friend and fellow wrestler Colt Cabana's podcast to finally provide insight on what lead to his decision to walk away for good. 

Punk explained that it was ultimately a culmination of factors, which included the pressure to return from injuries in spite of not being fully recovered, insufficient diagnosis of injuries, and the inability of WWE to fulfill his wishes in terms of the direction of his character. He reiterated at several points that this interview wasn't done solely to bash WWE, but instead to simply tell his side of the story.

On injuries:

- States that the biggest reason why he left was due to his health.

- Expresses his disgust for working with Ryback, who he refers to as "The Steroid Guy". Says Ryback broke his ribs when kicking him in the stomach too hard, and that he was never given a call or apology from him afterwards.

- Says he developed a painful lump on his back, which WWE doctors seemed to brush off, regardless of it continuing to get worse. At the advice of his future wife AJ Lee, he went to a doctor in Tampa to have the lump examined. The lump was discovered to be a staph infection, and the doctor suggested he could have died from it. Punk explained that having it removed was the most painful experience of his life. After having it removed and being placed on antibiotics, he says he slept pain free for the first time in a long time.

On the direction of the company and booking:

- Says that after his "pipebomb" promo, he was approached by various mainstream outlets for sponsorship deals. He pitched the idea to Vince McMahon but was denied. Not long after, Brock Lesnar came in, and he was allowed to have sponsors on his ring shorts.

- Says that The Shield was originally his idea. They wanted to pair Punk in a heel stable with Big Show, Daniel Bryan, and Seth Rollins. Instead, Punk suggested guys from development be brought up, and proposed Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Hero. Triple H vetoed the idea, and swapped Roman Reigns for Hero. 

- While he pushed to be part of the main event at WrestleMania, he was instead put in a match with The Undertaker. Punk stated that afterwards, WWE officials suggested that match was the best on the card, and should have gone last. With this in mind, Punk felt he should have been paid like it. When Triple H suggested that this was the main event, Punk asked him if he was paid as much as Undertaker and the guys that wrestled after him (Triple H, Brock, Rock, and Cena). Triple H was silent.

On the end of his time with the company:

- Punk was asked to take a drug test the night on Raw when he walked out. He was told by Triple H that Batista took the same test. When Punk asked Triple H if he took the test, he was silent. Punk was livid that he of all people would be tested, and voiced his frustration of his poor health, and how little had been done to help him. It was then he decided he was done. In talking to Vince, Punk states "You have shackled me, you have creatively stifled me, you have made this a very toxic environment, I no longer want to be here

- Vince hugged Punk with tears in his eyes, while Triple H extended a handshake. Punk shook his hand and said goodbye.

- When Punk attempted to get ahold of royalty checks he was owed, he was unable to get a hold of anyone to answer his calls.

- Punk then hired a lawyer to get his royalty checks, and reach a settlement.

- Since leaving the company, Punk explains that he is the happiest he's been in a long time, and is enjoying being married, writing comics, and training.

The full podcast can be found on Colt Cabana's website, and on YouTube here.

Greatest Wrestlers Of The WWF/WWE Attitude Era

The Attitude Era is what many consider to be the greatest period in professional wrestling history.  Up to this point, wrestling was almost always centered on a more family friendly atmosphere.  However, as the 90s approached its end, that would soon change.

With more violence, sexual overtones, and controversial storylines, the Attitude Era went over the limit and then some.  It would change the way in which people viewed professional wrestling, and generate a tremendous following in the process.  With that said, here are who I consider to be the greatest wrestler's from the most recent peak of professional wrestling.

In terms of the selection process, factors involved include: longevity, star power, match quality, and overall contributions that have made each particular wrestler a lasting icon when looking back on this era.

10) New Age Outlaws - Ohh you didn't know? While they're a tag-team, they deserve a mention for being arguably the greatest tag-team of the Attitude Era and making big contributions in DX.  This was one of the "The last of a dying breed" (as Triple H would say...) when it comes to great tag-teams in the WWF/WWE, and they were always sure to entertain.

9) Kurt Angle - Oh it's true.  Right from the start, Angle excelled tremendously in his transition from amateur wrestling to professional wrestling.  His wrestling ability speaks for itself when considering the sheer consistency in terms of quality matches.  Outside of the this, Kurt was excellent on the microphone, and a natural as a heel during this era.

8) Kane - Although Kane tended to hang mostly around the mid-card during this period, he was still booked as the dominant monster he should be, which is something that has since changed.  Teaming with X-Pac, Mankind, and The Undertaker, he frequently held the Tag Titles, and had several memorable feuds with the top guys of this time. When the lights went out, and flames emerged, hell was sure to come.

7) Chris Jericho - Y2J made a tremendous splash upon entering the WWF, in what was one of the most memorable debuts in WWF/WWE history.  Being given a much deserved push to the main event scene, as well as having been involved in great feuds for multiple Titles, Jericho demonstrated why he is one of the greatest all-around performers in the business. 

6) Triple H - With the formation of DX, Triple H generated increased popularity which he had never really received prior to the emergence of the Attitude Era.  Upon forming the McMahon-Helmsley faction, he was a mainstay in the main event scene, and had some great rivalries with the likes of Mankind, Steve Austin, and The Rock.  Say what you will about his backstage politics, but Triple H certainly deserves credit for the wrestler he became.

5) Shawn Michaels - Even though HBK was away from wrestling during several peak years of the Attitude Era, there's no denying his influence in making it a huge success, even before the Era was established.  The feud between DX and the Hart Foundation played a major part in the transition into the Era, and HBK's over-the-top shenanigans throughout 1997 and 1998 really set the tone for the road ahead.

4) Mankind - Whether it was Mankind, Cactus Jack, or Dude Love, Mick Foley was always one of the guys who set the tone for this period with his hardcore style and loveable character.  He was a constant when it came to the fight against the likes of The Corporation and The McMahon-Helmsley faction, and defined what the Era was all about.  One of the most memorable moments came when he won his first WWF championship on Raw, which many consider to be a turning point in the Monday Night Wars.

3) The Undertaker - Whether he was the Deadman or the American Badass, the Undertaker was a staple in the Attitude Era.  The Ministry of Darkness was one of the coolest stables wrestling had ever seen, and 'Taker played the role as the demonic leader to perfection.  When switching to the American Badass gimmick, he was able to do so effectively, and it showed that he had the versatility to go outside of his character he was used to for the better part of a decade. Title or no title, Undertaker was almost always hovering around the main event scene, and a constant threat for the belt.

2) The Rock - The switch from more PG friendly wrestling into the rise of the Attitude Era brought tremendous potential for many wrestlers of the time, and The Rock was one of them.  Upon making the transition into a heel role, The Rock showed his ability to captivate an audience on the mic, and the people ate it up.  The People's Champ brought countless memorable moments, both in his promos, and through his charisma in the ring.  Whether he was a face or a heel, there was little that could be done to prevent the crowd from joining in on his signatures catch phrases, and there may never be anyone who electrified quite like The Rock.

1) Steve Austin - The greatest, and possibly most influential wrestler of the Attitude Era is none other than the Texas Rattlesnake.  From the time he gave his famous 3:16 speech, Austin was well on his way to becoming something big, and the essence of the Attitude Era brought out the best of his talent.  Between his constant feud with Vince McMahon, as well as his unpredictability, it was always worth tuning into Raw to see what he would do next.  Austin's defiance of authority, and fight against the evil Mr. McMahon brought the wrestling world to a whole other level in terms of mainstream appeal, as virtually anyone can relate to taking a stand against the authority. With tremendous promos, and tremendous matches, Steve Austin was the heart and soul of the Attitude Era, and there may never be another character quite like him ever again.

Five WrestleMania Matches That Should Have Happened

WrestleMania, widely known as "The Grand Daddy of Them All", has been the stage for some of the biggest high-profile matches over the course of its history.  While it has featured many "dream match" scenarios, there have also been several missed opportunities over the years.  Recent discussion has developed in regard to the idea of dream match scenarios, such as the prospect of Austin vs. Punk or Cena vs. The Undertaker sometime down the road.  When thinking about these possibilities, I thought about other matches that "should have" happened, especially those that were very possible at different points in time.  The following is a list of 5 matches that should have happened, both in the business sense, and also for pure spectacle.

Steve Austin vs. Bill Goldberg

In the midst of 1998, Austin and Goldberg were head to head as the biggest modern stars in the wrestling business.  By the time Goldberg finally made his way into the WWE in 2003, the possibility of this match lacked solid footing.  In the case of Austin, he was soon on his way out, and was also not up to par physically.  His role as guest referee of Goldberg's match with Lesnar was the closest interaction he would have.  Apart from poor timing, it has been said that Austin and Goldberg were on uneasy terms with each other, and neither was willing to take the blow and put the other over.

Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan

When Ric Flair entered the then WWF with his "big gold belt", this brought tremendous potential in terms of possible matches.  The opponent that seemed most obvious?  Hulk Hogan.  At this point in time in late 1991, Hogan and Flair were widely considered the two biggest names in wrestling.  There was the face of NWA in Ric Flair, and the face of WWF in Hulk Hogan.  For nearly a decade up to this point, both were the main man of their respective organizations.

WrestleMania 8 served as the golden opportunity to capitalize on this match-up, however the WWF opted to go with Flair and Savage instead.  Although this never unfolded at Wrestlemania, the Flair vs. Savage match-up was a solid alternative, and proved to be a classic. While Hogan and Flair would finally meet several years later in WCW, it is a shame that it couldn't happen in a WrestleMania ring, with a grand stage atmosphere.

Shawn Michaels vs. The Rock

The Icon vs. The Great One, The Heartbreak Kid and the Brahma Bull.  No explanation is really needed for this one.  In Michaels, you have one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time, and one of the greatest mic workers ever in The Rock.  Unfortunately, timing was one of the biggest reasons this dream match never went down.  In the years Michaels spent away from wrestling beginning in 1998, The Rock was in the midst of his path to greatness.  By the time Michaels returned in 2002, The Rock was on his way out sooner after, leaving a small window of opportunity for this match-up.  There is little doubt that The Rock and Michaels would put in an instant WrestleMania classic.

The Undertaker vs. Sting

Speculation has regularly popped up in regard to the prospect of Sting "possibly" committing to WWE for a one and done match at WrestleMania.  As each year has passed, the window of opportunity has appeared to pass with it, making it appear very unlikely that we'd ever be able to see this match. Between 'Taker's deteriorating health, and the notion that Sting would likely never set foot in a WWE ring, the possibility of this match has appeared bleak. However, with Sting's recent arrival (finally!) to the WWE, this dream match has gained more footing than ever before.

Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan

This serves as the ultimate dream match-up, featuring the two biggest icons of each of their respective eras.  The old breed meets the new breed, and only at WrestleMania could such a match happen.    In 2002, these two crossed paths in the feud involving the NWO against Austin and The Rock. Word has it that the original plan for WrestleMania 18 was Hogan vs. Austin, however neither could agree on taking the loss.  Instead it was Austin who would face Scott Hall, and The Rock would face Hogan.  Although the atmosphere of The Rock and Hogan was excellent in its own right, it would have been even a little more special with Austin in his place.

The Lost Art of Tag Team Wrestling

Through the course of wrestling history, eras have come and gone, and the overall product continues to adapt.  While some change is for the better, some change has turned for the worst.  When looking at wrestling of today (particularly in WWE), a glaring hole is present in what was once a focal point of professional wrestling.  This is none other than the use (or lack) of tag-team wrestling.

In the 1980s, teams such as The Legion of Doom, The Steiner Brothers, and British Bulldogs took the wrestling world by storm.  As the 90s came around, Harlem Heat, The Dudley Boys, and The New Age Outlaws sprung up, and helped provide legitimacy within tag-team wrestling.

When looking at the WWE today, it is clear that what was once a mainstay of wrestling, has become heavily neglected.  One of the aspects that shows this neglect is simply the lack of tag-teams.  When looking at the WWE roster, tag-teams are hard to come by. The Usos, Goldust & Stardust, Miz & Mizdow, Los Matadores...and then what? With this lack of tag-teams comes a lack of importance in the titles.  Rather than seeing heated rivalries like years past over the titles, we are left with no real competition. The lack of tag-teams results in constant rematches, as well as no apparent hierarchy. In decades past, there was typically a visible sense of where each tag-team stacks up in the pecking order. You had teams that are perceived as legitimate threats for the Tag-Team Titles, those who were somewhere in the middle and could occasionally pull an upset over a Championship caliber team, and those at the bottom who were typically used to put the better teams over.

Another existing problem is the trend of singles wrestlers being thrown together almost randomly, typically when it appears the creative team has no direction for each individual as a singles competitor. Often times, these makeshift tag-teams soon develop animosity toward the other, which leads to a split of the tag-team and a resulting singles feud. While this can be done effectively at times, it's a tactic that's become very predictable (present example being Miz and Sandow). In addition to this, pairing two singles wrestlers often lacks the feeling of a "team" identity, and instead feels like exactly what they are...two separate and distinct wrestlers teamed together. Although one benefit of this method does add more depth to the tag-team division, it doesn't provide a long-term fix given these teams don't typically last very long.

While the tag-division can't be fixed overnight, there are certainly steps that the WWE can take to help put the luster back in tag-team wrestling. With proper hype given to incoming teams, and focus on their desire to become champs, this may generate more interest in the titles and the tag division.

Elite 8: Greatest Wrestlers To Never Win A Major Championship

 

When looking at the history of any World/Heavyweight Championship, whether it be WWE or WCW, the lists of former title holders obviously show the who's who of top wrestlers over the years. However, these lists only tell half the story, as there are many "All-Time" greats who never had the privilege of holding a major championship during the course of their careers.  With that said, here is the list of the top 8 wrestlers to never win "The Big One".  This strictly refers to the WWE/F singles Championship, as well as the WCW Championship.

8)  Owen Hart:  While it was brother Bret who received most of the attention and accolades, Owen was right there with him in terms of wrestling ability.  In fact, many argue that Owen was the better overall in-ring performer.  Owen incorporated more elements as a high-flyer than Bret ever did, which complimented his superb technical ability.  Having won multiple singles titles during his stay in the WWF, we sadly never got to see his ceiling due to his early death.

7)  Jake "The Snake" Roberts:  One of the greatest interview guys in the history of the business, Roberts delivered tremendous promos, both as a heel and face.  In the late 80s and early 90s, he was always one of the most over guys in wrestling, and he never truly needed a Championship to help with getting himself over.  When considering his longtime issues with drug and alcohol abuse, WWF and WCW might have felt that it wasn't worth taking a gamble on him by pushing him too far to the top.

6)  "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase:  When I think about the best heels that have come along, DiBiase is one of the first guys that comes to mind.  He was one of the best at getting under people's skin, and played his role to perfection.  Having never won a singles championship in the WWF (If you don't count his self-created Million Dollar Championship), he was another one of those guys who never really needed a Championship to get themselves over with the crowd.

5)  "Ravishing" Rick Rude:  One of the best bodies in wrestling, Rick Rude had a lot of success in WWF, and it continued when he made his way into WCW.  In WWF, he would have a solid run with the Intercontinental Title in 1989.  When entering WCW, he did win the NWA title, (which then became the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship), however this was the secondary belt to the WCW Heavyweight Championship, which was held by Ron Simmons at the time.

4)  Scott Hall (Razor Ramon):  While Hall was just about always a solid upper mid-card talent during his runs in WWF and WCW, he never quite broke into the main event scene.  The mid-90s features his best work, with some very memorable matches with HBK, and of course his involvement with the NWO angle.  Like Roberts, Hall has had a long history of substance abuse, which likely prevented him from hitting his full potential.  Regardless, I still feel as though he would have been a better option for the WWF Title in 1995 compared to Nash, as Nash is widely considered the worst drawing WWF/E Champion ever.

3)  Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat:  You may have known that Steamboat did win the NWA Heavyweight Championship, however, due to the guidelines of this list and his talent, The Dragon deserves mentioning.  Considering the caliber of his matches, with the likes of Savage, Flair and others, you would have thought that Steamboat would have been in line to win the top title during his years in WWF and WCW.  For casual wrestling fans, Steamboat's name doesn't often resonate as much as some of the others on this list, which is definitely unfortunate.  If you're unfamiliar with his work, I highly recommend looking up his matches with Flair at WrestleWar 1989, or Savage at WrestleMania 3.

2)  Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig):  In terms of pure wrestling ability, Hennig was one of the best technical wrestlers of all-time.  Combine his in-ring talent with his "Perfect" persona and you had a guy that had the whole package.  Like others in this list, Hennig was heavily involved with the Intercontinental Title, but never quite reached the upper echelon.  Late 1990 to 1991 would have been an ideal opportunity as a heel champion, but the WWE opted to go with Sgt. Slaughter instead in the midst of the Gulf War.

1)  Rowdy Roddy Piper:  For years, Piper played the villain of all villains, and served a major role in launching Hulk Hogan's legend status in the midst of the 1980s.  Following this run, he became one of the most beloved faces, and eventually became the Intercontinental Champion.  As one of the greatest entertainers and showman in wrestling history, Piper is who I consider to be the greatest wrestler to have never won a major Championship.

Top 10 Intercontinental Champions of All-Time

Since it's inception in 1979, the Intercontinental Championship has been involved in some of the greatest feuds and matches in WWE history.  While the belt is not nearly as esteemed today, there is no doubting it's importance and value in years past.

Originally considered the secondary belt to WWE/F title, this belt has been used as a key element in regard to propelling wrestlers towards the top, and often serving as a platform for one day going after the WWE title.  Without further ado, here is who I consider to be the 10 Greatest IC champions of all-time.

10.    The Rock (2 reigns, 339 days):  While his first reign as the face Rocky Maivia wasn't the most memorable run ever, The Rock demonstrated his inner greatness when making a heel transition in the Nation of Domination.  Upon showing prowess on the microphone and great feuds over the title with Austin and Triple H, The Rock showed that he was destined for the next level.

9.   The Honkytonk Man (1 reign, 454 days):  As the all-time record holder for longest streak as champion, it's tough to leave Honky off this list.  An ideal heel, The Honkytonk Man was able to claw and cheat his way through matches to hold onto the belt.  While he may not fit the billing of the  "greatest Intercontinental champ of all-time" as he claimed, there's no doubting that he has his place as one of the most memorable champions of all-time.

8.   Chris Jericho (9 reigns, 318 days):  As the all-time record holder for most reigns as Intercontinental champ, Y2J has had plenty of memorable matches for the belt with the likes of Kurt Angle, Edge, Rob Van Dam, and various others. Apart from this, Jericho is one of the last few guys in recent years to make the title feel important. His in-ring work, mic skills, and overall talent brought back legitimacy to the IC belt.

7.   Pedro Morales (2 reigns, 619 days):  Unlike most other wrestlers, Morales first won the IC belt after having previously been the WWE champ (then called the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship), making him the first wrestler ever to do so.  As the all-time record holder for most combined days spent as IC champ, Morales was able to establish a high esteem for the title.  With feuds against Billy Graham and Don Muraco, the title was always highly coveted.

6.  Don Muraco (2 reigns, 541 days):  Having won the title from Morales both times, the original Rock had two very successful runs when the title was near it's peak in value.  One of his most memorable title defenses came against Jimmy Snuka  at Madison Square Garden, where Snuka flew off the top of the steel cage.

5.  Razor Ramon (4 reigns, 438 days):  First winning the title in September of 1993, The Bad Guy was a staple of the Intercontinental title in the mid-90s.  With feuds against the likes of IRS, Jeff Jarrett, Diesel, and of course Shawn Michaels, Razor carried the belt well and put on plenty of memorable performances.

4.   Bret Hart (2 reigns, 290 days):  The Hitman is a perfect example of someone who used the IC belt as a stepping stone to the top.  When The Hart Foundation was dismantled and Bret tried his hand as a singles wrestler, he was able to establish his credibility by winning the strap.  With great matches against the likes of Mr. Perfect, Shawn Michaels, and Rowdy Piper, it was evident that Bret was well on his way to the WWF championship.

3.   Shawn Michaels (3 reigns, 406 days):  Based on appearance alone, the IC belt always seemed to look great on HBK.  Even more great, were his tremendous matches during the  midst of him reaching his prime.  First winning the title from The British Bulldog in late 1992, Michaels would go on to face the likes of Marty Jannetty, Jeff Jarrett, and of course Razor Ramon, in what would include plenty of memorable moments. HBK fit the mold of the workhorse in the ring during his time with the belt, which was a role that many of the greats who had held the title up until this point possessed.

2.   Mr. Perfect (2 reigns, 406 days):  The Perfect Wrestler, and the Perfect IC Champion,  Mr. Perfect carried the belt at a peak era.  It simply just felt right having the belt around his waist.  One of the greatest technical wrestlers of all-time, it is surprising that Perfect was never elevated to the WWF world title scene.  Either way, the credibility of the IC title benefitted tremendously by being in the hands of perfection.

1.   Randy Savage  (1 reign, 414 days):  Ohhh Yeahhh.  The greatest Intercontinental Champion of all-time is none other than the late great "Macho Man" Randy Savage.  At a time when Hulk Hogan was the WWF champ, Savage was right there next to him as the two biggest icons in the WWF.  With the title around his waist for over a year, the credibility of the belt was at its peak, and the star status of Savage continued to grow.  To conclude his run as IC champ, Savage on what many consider one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all-time with Steamboat at WrestleMania I.  As a guy whose face is on many peoples Mount Rushmore of professional wrestling, Savage will forever be remembered as a great wrestler and a great champion.


Honorable Mentions:  Rick Rude, Tito Santana, Ultimate Warrior, Ricky Steamboat, Pat Patterson, Steve Austin, Jeff Jarrett, Greg Valentine

Social Media and Wrestling: How Times Have Changed

With the rise of Twitter, Facebook, and countless other social media services, change in social media has lead to change in the wrestling world.  Countless WWE wrestlers, past and present, have followed suit with these services, and the WWE itself has fully embraced them (If you've watched WWE programming in the last few years or so, Michael Cole will make this known for you). Through this, feuds and storylines are no longer solely seen on television, but are spilt over on the internet as well.

In the business sense, this has been a tremendous way for WWE to generate more interest in their product.  WWE frequently features some of the most popular trending topics, especially during their television programming and pay-per-views.

In an old-school wrestling sense, too much social media emphasis seems to take away from the magic and mystique of professional wrestling (Thankfully, as far as I know, The Undertaker does not have a twitter).   Sure the idea of kayfabe (the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true") has already been vastly tarnished, but you would think that the WWE would try to maintain at least some sense of realism.  When seeing the face-heel interaction on Twitter, the 12-year-old wrestling fan is ripped of the magical aspect of wrestling.  Of course one day they will find out that what they see on television is "fake", but I'm sure they'd rather have figured that out on their own, rather than finding out by seeing Tweeted pics of their favorite hero hanging out with their most hated villain.

At the end of the day, money is the key for WWE, and if it means gaining more worldwide publicity, they are more than willing to sacrifice any amount of mystique that wrestling still has.

Welcome!

This is a blog devoted to professional wrestling fans of all ages.  I hope to provide insight on all things wrestling, both the present and the past, and also have some fun along the way.  I encourage you to comment and share your opinions!

While I'm still obviously in the beginning phases, be sure to check back often for updates!

Thanks,
- Erik