Yes, this is an inspired rant, but it works towards multiple people and not just one person.
I cannot STAND when people say, "Why are people so stupid?" I'm sorry, when did you become the pinnacle of intelligence and common sense that you can base an entire life based off a single incident? EVERYONE does stupid shit. Everybody. That's life, nobody's perfect, thank God. Hypocrisy is a fine line most of the time, but asking why people are so stupid when not claiming your own mistakes, or ignoring them, just drives me nuts.
Even better are the people who hop on the, "you're so right!" bandwagon.
I don't feel I rant enough. But I figure this is as good of a forum as any to where enough people don't read it so I won't piss anyone off. :-D
Why is my cable not working?
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Showcase of the Immortals
My wrestling fandom needs no introduction at this point. There is not a more exciting time for a wrestling fan than Wrestlemania season. WWE seems more focused than ever when March hits, and for good reason. This is their Super Bowl, they have to go all out. This year is no different, and looks to be one of the best 'Mania's they've produced in years.
To celebrate, I'm going to (TRY) to go over a classic (or favorite) Wrestlemania match a day.
We'll start off with a match that I never thought would happen. It was my dream match. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho. Yet, Shawn had all but officially retired in 1998. When he returned, this skyrocketed back to the top of my list. And come Wrestlemania 19, the dream came true...
Wrestlemania 19: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
Before these two had the feud of 2008, they started off in 2003. Jericho had built much of his career emulating Shawn and wanted to prove that he was no longer a Shawn Michaels wannabe...he was Chris Jericho. His own wrestler. Yet, they have similar styles which make a very interesting match.
To prove it, they start out with a tie up that neither man wins. Right off the bat, these two show that their styles mirror each other so much that neither man can get the upper-hand. Shawn gets cocky by posing on the ropes, but Jericho is all business.
I'm not one for play-by-play but I'll point out important moments that make this match so fantastic. Shawn is cool, calm and collected in the beginning but Jericho shows frustration. Jericho wants to be taken seriously but Shawn is not showing Jericho any fear, which just angers Jericho more. Great face tactics by Shawn. Eventually, Jericho just slaps Shawn across the face, tired of Shawn's antics. Shawn tosses Jericho out of the ring, fakes a plancha, and retaliates with a baseball slide instead. Again, Shawn is cocky, but Jericho won't let it get to him.
When Jericho gets control, every move he hits is full of aggression. The chops, the irish whip into the turnbuckle, choking Shawn out...you feel the passion to end Shawn Michaels with every step Jericho takes. Shawn tries to start some leg work, but Jericho shakes it off (instead of ignoring it, you visibly see him shake the feeling into his leg) and regains control.
Shawn, of course, in his first Wrestlemania back, has to pull out all the tricks. Why? He's Mr. Wrestlemania. He skins the cat, headscissors Jericho over the top, and THEN hits the plancha. It shows Michaels wasn't afraid to attempt the plancha, he's just that much more experienced to know when to make his move.
Jericho hits the Walls of Jericho on the outside to get a good advantage over Shawn. Remember, too, Shawn returned from a back injury, and the Walls puts pressure right on the back. Jericho follows up by ramming Shawn, back first, into the steel turnpost on the outside. And now JERICHO gets cocky. He knows he has Shawn where he wants him, and decides it's his time to get arrogant. Jericho is smiling, knowing he has Shawn where he wants him, and drops Shawn on his back again with a belly-to-back suplex and a vertical suplex. More pressure on the back, as Jericho knows it's Shawn's weakest area. Jericho even goes for the COCKY PIN~!
I love the cocky pin.
Jericho hits the chinlock and allows for Shawn to build his comeback. Jericho tries a back body drop to continue the pressure, but Shawn counters beautifully with a DDT. Shawn is not joking around anymore in his comeback.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Jericho hits Shawn's patented flying forearm and kip up. He poses like Shawn, and right behind him, Shawn kips up, hits his flying forearm, and starts to take advantage. Just INCREDIBLE, with a great visual. Jericho wants to show he's better than Shawn, but you can't expect to hit Shawn's moves better than Shawn.
Shawn feeds off the adrenaline, and takes advantage, even hitting a moonsault. They trade pinfalls until Jericho tries for the Walls. Shawn knows the Walls would do him in and fights out of it. Jericho manages a NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX (one of my favorite spots) and they do the bridge spot. Not sure how good that is on Shawn's part, considering how much his back was just worked on.
You can tell Jericho is getting frustrated/nervous, and builds towards the finish. A bulldog and a lionsault, but only gets two. Jericho, in desperation, tries again. Great heel work by Jericho as he starts to lose his composure, afraid he actually WON'T beat Shawn. Shawn tries to comeback with an ill-fated hurricanrana, but Jericho lcoks on the Walls of Jericho. Shawn reaches the ropes, but man, that was a beutiful counter.
Jericho, desperate, tries to lock it on again right away, but Shawn counters with an inside cradle for two. Jericho, back on the attack, hits a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho starts to throw everything he's got, and then decides it's time to embarrass Shawn. He tunes up the band, and NAILS A GORGEOUS Sweet Chin Music on Shawn. Any other match and that might have been it, but it's only two. Again, it proves that Jericho, emulating Shawn, is NOT better than Shawn. Which makes perfect sense. The only way to beat Shawn is by being Jericho, but he's using Shawn's moves, which won't work.
Shawn gains the advantage but both men are weary at this point and trading blows. Jericho goes to the back again whenever he wants to gain control of the match. Jericho even hits a belly-to-back suplex off the top rope, but Shawn counters in mid-air! Slow to cover, it only gets two.
Shawn now goes up top, but Jericho gets desperate and kicks the referee into the ropes. Shawn is crotched and Jericho goes back up top, and again goes for a suplex off the top. Shawn counters again, and NOW hits the Flying Elbow Drop. You know what follows that as he starts to tune up the band. Of course, in a great moment, Jericho knows Shawn too (after emulating his career), knows it's coming, ducks, and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Shawn tries for the ropes again, but Jericho drags him to the middle of the ring. Shawn gets back to the ropes. I would have booked that as the finish.
Jericho argues with the referee in desperation, thus being sloppy, and runs right into Sweet Chin Music. Shawn takes too long and it only gets a two count, which is pretty big for Jericho. They both struggle to get up, being worn down from the long contest, as Shawn's punches don't hold much pack to them. Shawn is wiped into the corner, and Jericho AGAIN foes for the back. Jericho goes back to the belly-to-back suplex, but Shawn knows this move by now (this being the third time Jericho went for it) and Shawn escapes with a roll-up for three.
Ad of course, the best moment of the match. Jericho wants to hug his idol in respect and admiration, and Shawn goes for it. Jericho, of course, retaliates by kicking Shawn in the testicles.
Let's go over why this match was so damned good. You had Shawn starting out cocky, thinking Jericho cannot possibly match Shawn. Of course, Jericho takes control, and DESTROYS Shawn's back systematically through the match. Jericho, of course, tries to be too much like Shawn, stealing his moves, and it doesn't work. In the end, Shawn underestimated Jericho too much and won with a desperation move. Not the most decisive win, which is great for both men.
What DIDN'T work about the match was Shawn completely no-selling the back. After he started his comeback, he ignored that Jericho had been killing his back the entire match. He even grabbed the ropes from TWO Walls of Jericho. They could have done the same finish with him rolling Jericho up out of the Walls of Jericho, got the same result, and wouldn't make the move look so weak. He kicked out of ALL of Jericho's decisive moves.
A great match to be sure, but they would go on to have better ones. I can't go above ****1/4, but it's worth watching.
To celebrate, I'm going to (TRY) to go over a classic (or favorite) Wrestlemania match a day.
We'll start off with a match that I never thought would happen. It was my dream match. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho. Yet, Shawn had all but officially retired in 1998. When he returned, this skyrocketed back to the top of my list. And come Wrestlemania 19, the dream came true...
Wrestlemania 19: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels
Before these two had the feud of 2008, they started off in 2003. Jericho had built much of his career emulating Shawn and wanted to prove that he was no longer a Shawn Michaels wannabe...he was Chris Jericho. His own wrestler. Yet, they have similar styles which make a very interesting match.
To prove it, they start out with a tie up that neither man wins. Right off the bat, these two show that their styles mirror each other so much that neither man can get the upper-hand. Shawn gets cocky by posing on the ropes, but Jericho is all business.
I'm not one for play-by-play but I'll point out important moments that make this match so fantastic. Shawn is cool, calm and collected in the beginning but Jericho shows frustration. Jericho wants to be taken seriously but Shawn is not showing Jericho any fear, which just angers Jericho more. Great face tactics by Shawn. Eventually, Jericho just slaps Shawn across the face, tired of Shawn's antics. Shawn tosses Jericho out of the ring, fakes a plancha, and retaliates with a baseball slide instead. Again, Shawn is cocky, but Jericho won't let it get to him.
When Jericho gets control, every move he hits is full of aggression. The chops, the irish whip into the turnbuckle, choking Shawn out...you feel the passion to end Shawn Michaels with every step Jericho takes. Shawn tries to start some leg work, but Jericho shakes it off (instead of ignoring it, you visibly see him shake the feeling into his leg) and regains control.
Shawn, of course, in his first Wrestlemania back, has to pull out all the tricks. Why? He's Mr. Wrestlemania. He skins the cat, headscissors Jericho over the top, and THEN hits the plancha. It shows Michaels wasn't afraid to attempt the plancha, he's just that much more experienced to know when to make his move.
Jericho hits the Walls of Jericho on the outside to get a good advantage over Shawn. Remember, too, Shawn returned from a back injury, and the Walls puts pressure right on the back. Jericho follows up by ramming Shawn, back first, into the steel turnpost on the outside. And now JERICHO gets cocky. He knows he has Shawn where he wants him, and decides it's his time to get arrogant. Jericho is smiling, knowing he has Shawn where he wants him, and drops Shawn on his back again with a belly-to-back suplex and a vertical suplex. More pressure on the back, as Jericho knows it's Shawn's weakest area. Jericho even goes for the COCKY PIN~!
I love the cocky pin.
Jericho hits the chinlock and allows for Shawn to build his comeback. Jericho tries a back body drop to continue the pressure, but Shawn counters beautifully with a DDT. Shawn is not joking around anymore in his comeback.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Jericho hits Shawn's patented flying forearm and kip up. He poses like Shawn, and right behind him, Shawn kips up, hits his flying forearm, and starts to take advantage. Just INCREDIBLE, with a great visual. Jericho wants to show he's better than Shawn, but you can't expect to hit Shawn's moves better than Shawn.
Shawn feeds off the adrenaline, and takes advantage, even hitting a moonsault. They trade pinfalls until Jericho tries for the Walls. Shawn knows the Walls would do him in and fights out of it. Jericho manages a NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX (one of my favorite spots) and they do the bridge spot. Not sure how good that is on Shawn's part, considering how much his back was just worked on.
You can tell Jericho is getting frustrated/nervous, and builds towards the finish. A bulldog and a lionsault, but only gets two. Jericho, in desperation, tries again. Great heel work by Jericho as he starts to lose his composure, afraid he actually WON'T beat Shawn. Shawn tries to comeback with an ill-fated hurricanrana, but Jericho lcoks on the Walls of Jericho. Shawn reaches the ropes, but man, that was a beutiful counter.
Jericho, desperate, tries to lock it on again right away, but Shawn counters with an inside cradle for two. Jericho, back on the attack, hits a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho starts to throw everything he's got, and then decides it's time to embarrass Shawn. He tunes up the band, and NAILS A GORGEOUS Sweet Chin Music on Shawn. Any other match and that might have been it, but it's only two. Again, it proves that Jericho, emulating Shawn, is NOT better than Shawn. Which makes perfect sense. The only way to beat Shawn is by being Jericho, but he's using Shawn's moves, which won't work.
Shawn gains the advantage but both men are weary at this point and trading blows. Jericho goes to the back again whenever he wants to gain control of the match. Jericho even hits a belly-to-back suplex off the top rope, but Shawn counters in mid-air! Slow to cover, it only gets two.
Shawn now goes up top, but Jericho gets desperate and kicks the referee into the ropes. Shawn is crotched and Jericho goes back up top, and again goes for a suplex off the top. Shawn counters again, and NOW hits the Flying Elbow Drop. You know what follows that as he starts to tune up the band. Of course, in a great moment, Jericho knows Shawn too (after emulating his career), knows it's coming, ducks, and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Shawn tries for the ropes again, but Jericho drags him to the middle of the ring. Shawn gets back to the ropes. I would have booked that as the finish.
Jericho argues with the referee in desperation, thus being sloppy, and runs right into Sweet Chin Music. Shawn takes too long and it only gets a two count, which is pretty big for Jericho. They both struggle to get up, being worn down from the long contest, as Shawn's punches don't hold much pack to them. Shawn is wiped into the corner, and Jericho AGAIN foes for the back. Jericho goes back to the belly-to-back suplex, but Shawn knows this move by now (this being the third time Jericho went for it) and Shawn escapes with a roll-up for three.
Ad of course, the best moment of the match. Jericho wants to hug his idol in respect and admiration, and Shawn goes for it. Jericho, of course, retaliates by kicking Shawn in the testicles.
Let's go over why this match was so damned good. You had Shawn starting out cocky, thinking Jericho cannot possibly match Shawn. Of course, Jericho takes control, and DESTROYS Shawn's back systematically through the match. Jericho, of course, tries to be too much like Shawn, stealing his moves, and it doesn't work. In the end, Shawn underestimated Jericho too much and won with a desperation move. Not the most decisive win, which is great for both men.
What DIDN'T work about the match was Shawn completely no-selling the back. After he started his comeback, he ignored that Jericho had been killing his back the entire match. He even grabbed the ropes from TWO Walls of Jericho. They could have done the same finish with him rolling Jericho up out of the Walls of Jericho, got the same result, and wouldn't make the move look so weak. He kicked out of ALL of Jericho's decisive moves.
A great match to be sure, but they would go on to have better ones. I can't go above ****1/4, but it's worth watching.
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