The Pez
07-02-2004, 10:00 PM
Hello and welcome back to another edition of the most talked about WI column, Gettin’ Heat! First off, I’d like to thank everyone who gave feedback for last week’s column. It was much appreciated.
For this week’s column, I will be talking about a man who used to be a WWF/E icon. This man use to be the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, used to be the people’s champ. The only thing he is now is a sellout. In case you are still clueless, the man I’m talking about is The Rock. As well, I will also be talking about Undertaker.
During 2000, while main eventers Stone Cold and The Undertaker were sidelined with injuries, Rock stepped up to the plate and took over as the company’s top babyface, whereas Triple H stepped up and was the company’s top heel. During that time, Rock was on top of the World Wrestling Federation. Fans could not get enough of this man. By 2001, everyone wanted a piece of the Rock. After WrestleMania X7, Rock opted to take time off to try his hand in movies. Rock’s hiatus continued until around the time of Summerslam, where he came back and helped the WWE against The Alliance, defeating Booker T for the WCW Title. Rock continued wrestling for a few months, but then took off to film another movie. Fast forward to 2003-2004, and Rock is just a special attraction. Rock has barely spent any time back in the WWE, save a few surprise appearances and a few WrestleMania payoffs.
Rock has sold out. Rock has gone Hollywood. At this point, it seems Rock would rather spend his time making cheesy movies than electrifying wrestling fans around the world, especially when they need to be electrified given the WWE’s slump.
This writer says that Rock needs to make a choice. He can’t have both. He needs to choose whether he wants to feel the excitement of live TV, or whether he wants to continue to make movies.
Next up, Undertaker.
This man has been a WWF/E main stay since his debut back in 1990. Surprisingly, his gimmick has lasted that long as well. He was the first man to pin Hogan. He was the most feared wrestler of that time. It wasn’t until Taker returned at Judgment Day, back in 2000, that things took a turn for the worse. Why, you ask? Simple. When Undertaker made his return, he made his return as a biker, which completely destroyed 10 years of being the most ominous and fearsome wrestler because Taker was now human. This completely destroyed him. Not only that but, when his wife was brought into the picture, she started calling him Mark (for those unaware, Mark Calloway is his actual name). Yet again, this destroyed all the mystique of the Deadman. However, at WrestleMania XX, we saw the return of the Deadman. Undertaker had returned to his roots after being buried alive by Kane at Survivor Series. The only problem here is that Undertaker is being used on a short-term basis. He’s now only a special attraction. Now I’m not blaming him because he’s given a lot to the business, but why go through all the trouble of bringing him back if he’s barely going to be seen? In my opinion, Undertaker should have stayed “dead” until he was able to come back full time. It would have made the storyline a bit more believable and it would have allowed Taker some much needed rest time.
I’m all for Taker returning to his roots, but given that he’s lost the mystique that he once had because he was turned human, can he truly ever be the character he once was? Can he truly ever get over as a part-time wrestler? I think not. Taker has been destroyed, and I don’t see any way to bring him back to his glory days.
Well folks, that’s all for this week.
Stay turned next week for another exciting edition of Getting’ Heat!
Josh Pesme
the_complete_shot@hotmail.com (the_complete_shot@hotmail.com)
For this week’s column, I will be talking about a man who used to be a WWF/E icon. This man use to be the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, used to be the people’s champ. The only thing he is now is a sellout. In case you are still clueless, the man I’m talking about is The Rock. As well, I will also be talking about Undertaker.
During 2000, while main eventers Stone Cold and The Undertaker were sidelined with injuries, Rock stepped up to the plate and took over as the company’s top babyface, whereas Triple H stepped up and was the company’s top heel. During that time, Rock was on top of the World Wrestling Federation. Fans could not get enough of this man. By 2001, everyone wanted a piece of the Rock. After WrestleMania X7, Rock opted to take time off to try his hand in movies. Rock’s hiatus continued until around the time of Summerslam, where he came back and helped the WWE against The Alliance, defeating Booker T for the WCW Title. Rock continued wrestling for a few months, but then took off to film another movie. Fast forward to 2003-2004, and Rock is just a special attraction. Rock has barely spent any time back in the WWE, save a few surprise appearances and a few WrestleMania payoffs.
Rock has sold out. Rock has gone Hollywood. At this point, it seems Rock would rather spend his time making cheesy movies than electrifying wrestling fans around the world, especially when they need to be electrified given the WWE’s slump.
This writer says that Rock needs to make a choice. He can’t have both. He needs to choose whether he wants to feel the excitement of live TV, or whether he wants to continue to make movies.
Next up, Undertaker.
This man has been a WWF/E main stay since his debut back in 1990. Surprisingly, his gimmick has lasted that long as well. He was the first man to pin Hogan. He was the most feared wrestler of that time. It wasn’t until Taker returned at Judgment Day, back in 2000, that things took a turn for the worse. Why, you ask? Simple. When Undertaker made his return, he made his return as a biker, which completely destroyed 10 years of being the most ominous and fearsome wrestler because Taker was now human. This completely destroyed him. Not only that but, when his wife was brought into the picture, she started calling him Mark (for those unaware, Mark Calloway is his actual name). Yet again, this destroyed all the mystique of the Deadman. However, at WrestleMania XX, we saw the return of the Deadman. Undertaker had returned to his roots after being buried alive by Kane at Survivor Series. The only problem here is that Undertaker is being used on a short-term basis. He’s now only a special attraction. Now I’m not blaming him because he’s given a lot to the business, but why go through all the trouble of bringing him back if he’s barely going to be seen? In my opinion, Undertaker should have stayed “dead” until he was able to come back full time. It would have made the storyline a bit more believable and it would have allowed Taker some much needed rest time.
I’m all for Taker returning to his roots, but given that he’s lost the mystique that he once had because he was turned human, can he truly ever be the character he once was? Can he truly ever get over as a part-time wrestler? I think not. Taker has been destroyed, and I don’t see any way to bring him back to his glory days.
Well folks, that’s all for this week.
Stay turned next week for another exciting edition of Getting’ Heat!
Josh Pesme
the_complete_shot@hotmail.com (the_complete_shot@hotmail.com)