Hall Of Fame/ MVP-Peter Rosenberg Show Review

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Big Red Jericho Punk

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I'm pressed for time right now, so this won't be in organized order. I want to post something about last night because it was downright amazing. I was at the Hall Of Fame to along with Caroline's comedy show hosted by Peter Rosenberg and MVP. No I didn't want to go to the mark party of Kevin Nash and a bunch of old timers. Anyway since I have to hit the road to go to Mania soon, I have to get right into it.

I'm not sitting in nosebleeds but I'm in the 200's section for the Hall Of Fame. I'm with my friend Pete, who lives in Miami. We get into this mini press box, where we literally have TV's right in front of us. Since I'm a huge college basketball fan, it was the perfect spot. I had something to watch during Maria Menounos and Donald Trump's speech. Anyway one cool thing before the HOF is they showed the entrance way where the wrestlers came out.

There were huge pops for Ricky Steamboat, Jim Ross, Bret Hart, and Mean Gene. We got a sequence of Damien Sandow looking at the camera like he had a problem with it, then Regal was right next to him looking at him with a disdained look. Regal's facial expressions have always been amazing. Another huge highlight was when Iron Shiek came out. They put the camera on him for a literally a minute and he just kept talking into it. He was number one a lot and motherfucker. The crowd was going wild for it. Shawn Michaels and CM Punk chants were the loudest when they came out. No surprise both of those guys are over.

Mick Foley

The main reason I went to the Hall Of Fame was for this man. Foley was in my top ten of all time and I have nothing but respect for how he put his body on the line. Terry Funk kept it short and sweet, because he knew that Foley was going to go on for a while. Foley was very passionate and humble talking about how Jimmy Snuka's super fly splash off the cage inspired me. Foley is such a great story teller that everyone had their direct attention to it.

He gave Shane Douglas a shout out, which was cool. Douglas is obviously not liked in the company, but the fans appreciated him. He put over Jim Ross huge because Ross commentary made him an even bigger star. Then he began to speak about the street fight with Triple H at MSG, which people popped big for. Everyone loves that match and who can blame them, it was an all out war.

The best thing from the speech was for some reason, Foley wanted to end his career elbow dropping Chris Jericho. He always considered Jericho a close friend and remembers him from the mid-90's working in ECW. Jericho goes on stage and literally lies on the stage. CM Punk comes up and acts as the ref. Foley elbow drops him and covers him for the three count. Crowd went wild and everyone was loving it. Foley was as good as expected and it was great to see him inducted in his hometown.

Trish Stratus

The second main reason I came was for Trish, even though Lita is my all-time favorite diva. Stephanie McMahon inducting her was a bit dull, but whatever. Whenever Lita was mentioned, everyone started cheering loudly. Lita should have inducted her, that is all that needs to be said. Trish comes out and looks absolutely gorgeous. It's funny how Stephanie kept emphasizing best diva of all time. Even though it's true, she is doing her best for people to forget about Sunny.

Trish's speech wasn't as good as Foley's but she kept everyone's interest. She talked about the brutal work load coming up and training with Ron Hutchinson, who trained Edge, Christian, Victoria, and Gail Kim. There was literally a gang of people in section 106 that had "We came here for Trish" shirts and a huge Canada flag. She talked about how much the woman's division evolved in her era. As a joke, she pulled out a large piece of paper on the people that she wanted to thank. It was reminiscent of the 1004 holds paper, which was funny.

She put over the match that she had with Mickie James, which to this day is the last great thing from the women's division. Then she gave a shout-out to her husband Ron, who got major heat. New Yorkers are jealous of that man, including myself. Trish seemed surprised by it, but eventually announced she was pregnant. A big pop for that and we all cheered Ron to end the induction. It was an all-around a great speech and another heart warming moment.

Booker T

They had the "We Coming For You" part in his video package. Everyone kept screaming Hulk Hogan after that. Stevie Ray got a decent reaction, which was better than I expected. He talked about the struggle growing up and how they always tried to keep working out. Eventually, he took responsibility to why Booker went to prison. It got pretty emotional but the crowd was really respectful and Ray was interesting to listen to. It was the right inductor for Booker T, as he came out.

Booker was talking about his WCW days a lot and how he always kept trying to climb the mountain. Even when he beat Disco Inferno for the TV title, he held that with great honor. After he said that, he chuckled a bit like everyone else. He mentioned some stories with William Regal how they wanted to fight each other from the minute they saw one another. Once again, Regal's face was just priceless. Booker paid huge respects to Arn Anderson, who helped him truly develop.

We even got a mention of Stone Cold-Booker T supermarket brawl, which got a mini YES chant (the crowd was rowdy all night). He brought up some Goldust moments, then did one more "KING BOOKAH" part. I stopped wrestling when he was doing that gimmick, but man that sounded great. We got a Spinarooni at the end as well. Booker's speech was a bit shorter than the first two, but once again it delivered. Other than the one asshole that chanted "Woo Woo Woo, you know it" when everything was quiet, it was another great speech and I already had my money's worth.

Bob Backlund

Other than John Cena, there weren't many people that got more heat than Maria Menouenos. At first, nobody reacted to her which was nice at least. Eventually, she kept going on and on which wasn't a good idea. The issue with this speech is she didn't really tell any stories. It seemed like she was rattling off every single statistic. I even yelled out when it was quiet, stop using Wikipedia for your speech. She deserved to get booed, despite looking gorgeous. Unlike the first three inductors, their weren't any stories and people just stopped caring.

Backlund came to the stage and was easily the funniest guy of the night. Backlund was never a great talker, so he yelled a lot. He kept screaming Never Give Up and how you have to keep on trying. John Cena should take some notes on how to cut corny promos like this because Backlund was having people laughing. He kept saying Mr.H rather than Triple H, which had him laughing.

It wasn't a great memorable speech, but Backlund had everyone laughing. It was a cool moment, which ended by Vince McMahon coming out and tried to calm down Backlund. Even when the music hit, Backlund kept talking and running around the stage. Nobody was going to top the energy that Backlund showed.

Donald Trump

Forget Maria Menuenos, this was ten times worse. Trump's video package got booed and every mention of him was booed. Vince got a great pop when he came out and was trying to put over Trump. Nobody bought into it, which had Vince saying "You aren't even going to give him a chance". Vince worked the crowd great here and went back and forth with us. Trump came out and it was honestly five minutes of attacking him. I don't remember him saying much, but he mentioned that he wants to fight Vince at Wrestlemania 30. Randy Savage chants were being chanted loudly. This was a fun mess, I was honestly watching Michigan vs Syracuse for most of the time.

Bruno Sammartino

The main event is here and Arnold came out to induct him. People were loving Arnold and talking about how huge the crowd was. He brought up how much Bruno can lift, along with how he can still lift 400 pounds. Arnold wasn't bringing up anything meaningful, but everyone loved him for who he was. I heard a few "Get In The Choppa" chants, which was hilarious. Anyway Bruno came out and I don't think one person was sitting down.

Despite not knowing his story, Bruno was fantastic telling his life story. Based off interviews, I always thought Bruno became a bitter old man. He proved me totally wrong and was completely humble. He brought up the fight against the Nazis growing up and how he could have died on more than one occasion. Bruno went through more than one sickness growing up and kept battling it by simply using his heart. Using pain killers or any kind of prescription drugs was never an option for him until he grew older.

This was just flat out amazing to wrap off the great ceremony. Bruno was so humble that nothing truly stood out from his wrestling career, but his whole life story just showed why he is such a legend. The ceremony ended with both of them hugging. This was truly a touching moment. Hopefully one day, we get to see Ultimate Warrior and Vince do the same.

Overall this was a ceremony full of great speeches. Other than Trump and Maria, you wouldn't want to fast forward a thing. If you can watch it anywhere, please do. You will enjoy it so much like I did based off this class full of legendary performers and charismatic people. Foley was the biggest highlight for me as a fan, but Bruno had me in awe. Backlund was hilarious, while Booker and Trish were true feel good moments. Don't remind me about Trump please.

MVP- Peter Rosenberg Show

mvpme.jpg

If you follow MVP on twitter, you probably saw him promote a show at Caroline's as a Q & A event. It was hosted by Peter Rosenberg with Sam Roberts around. Both guys are widely known for their wrestling interviews and radio personalities. The event started 35 minutes late because MVP struggled to get a cab and Hall Of Fame didn't end till 11:40.

The event started off right away with Jay Lethal coming out right after MVP. They started off with Macho Man stories for about 20 minutes. They reenacted a Macho Man-Jake Roberts moment when the snake bit Macho Man. If you've seen Lethal do the impression, you'll realize how great he does it. Everyone was in tears of laughter with Lethal's act. MVP talked about how Macho Man brought him up in the wrestling business and how humble he is for that.

Some random Indy guy that MVP knew started cutting a promo, which led to MVP saying he's wearing a wrestling shirt that means he hasn't been laid in about a year. Lethal took offense to that, which led to MVP saying "My bad, AJ told me about that one when she was at my hotel". He was on fire all night with jokes and his stories on the road. His main drink combination was Jameson then an Amstel Light.

He got into the Chris Benoit feud and how much of an influence Benoit had on him. Benoit was so close to him and became a mentor for MVP. He fought some battles in the back for him and kept telling Stephanie how talented he was. Eventually, the big push happened and he was grateful for it. He put wrestling Benoit at WM 23 right up there with wrestling Flair at Royal Rumble. It was an awesome event hearing his story, which led to more guests. I didn't catch his name, but he was a former Smackdown creative writer in 2006 and was there for a bit.

He wrote out MVP's debut and how he didn't know why MVP's gear made him look like a Power Ranger. He thought he was getting ribbed on, but Johnny Ace thought he looked like a true superstar. It was brutal looking back on it. Eventually, Carlito showed up with Mickie James and Serena. MVP kept talking about Mickie's ass and how growing up he had a poster of Mickie on his wall. Major " OHHH" chants were heard, but Mickie played it off cool.

A few TNA jokes here and there about how the only major highlights came to mind was Lethal-Flair segment. It was pretty monumental and it drew a lot of attention. Other than that, they made a few Aces and Eights joke. The former SD creative writer talked about how Mike Knox was such a monumental reveal at TNA that had everyone laughing. I wish I caught his name because he was funny talking about how he was a huge Flair mark, how much intimidated he was of Batista, and making fun of Vance Archer's tramp stamp. Also, mentioned how Stephanie was dumb and untalented. That was pretty out of nowhere.

My train was at 3 am to go home from the city so they finished it up. There were about 50 people at the event. Carlito didn't talk much, but he mentioned how he didn't mind spitting apples in people's faces. Then he had a hair off with Sam Roberts, who if you google has a similar hairstyle to Carlito. Then for some reason, Luke Gallows and Mike Knox show up. Everyone starts screaming OH SHIT as a joke, as Gallows was laughing already. MVP made a joke right away , which had them putting up that stupid pose they do for Ace's and Eights.

It was a hilarious event that gave everyone a deep look into the business. MVP did discuss his future and how he met up with Triple H at the Hall Of Fame. He was there to see Booker T inducted, as Booker had a huge influence on him and a big reason why he lives in Houston. MVP said he's going to talk to Triple H a few weeks to see. Other than that, he discussed why he got de-pushed was mainly for the weed violations. He got caught about eight times, even though Johnny Ace said weed violations don't affect your push. He got heated for a bit, but eventually let it go. He admitted that he could have bought a new car if it wasn't for those weed violations.

Overall though, it was a night to remember. I got to head out now for Mania, so I had to cut it short a bit. I'll answer any questions below tomorrow and for the rest of the week. Hopefully everyone enjoys Mania.

rosenberg.jpg
 

Dale

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Might be just me, but I think it's scummy as fuck for anyone to boo an inductor or inductee. Shit like that is ridiculous.
 

Big Red Jericho Punk

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Might be just me, but I think it's scummy as fuck for anyone to boo an inductor or inductee. Shit like that is ridiculous.

God forbid you ever say something positive. I do agree at some points, people should calm down. Some people were booing Trish's husband for a bit too long, which was over the top. Still to me, Maria didn't belong there and Trump is very hatable. I guess people have different pre fences but those two were rightfully booed. I paid 120 bucks for this event and people spent even more. Everyone has the right to react to something that absolutely sucks.
 

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"Randy Savage" chants :mark:

Good read :y:
 

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Yeah, god forbid I don't find aload of marks booing people at a Hall Of Fame positive, entertaining or even necessary.
 

Crippler

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I do understand that you paying $150 so you should do what you feel like, but do you honestly think booo'ing someones husband on what can possible be the 2nd best night of their lives be right or even a woman who is always in the WWE (yeah she's a celeb and not a wrestler) but you can clearly see she enjoys being in the WWE is the right thing to do? or was it a "NEW YORK" thing and had to be different and get over?

other then that, good real and sounds like a fun night.
 

We Are Legion

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Yeah I agree that's pretty shitty Trump got booed so furiously and I'm sure it was simply because he wasn't a wrestler. I wonder if any of those fucking morons booing him even knew that Wrestlemania's 4 & 5 were both in his fucking building. The guy has a significant foot in WWE's roots.
 

Big Red Jericho Punk

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Good to know I was classified as a "fucking moron". I just don't like Trump as a person, the guy is a douche. He has every right to be arrogant, but many people don't like him as a person. It's not all about wrestling sometimes ya know.

People just like to voice their opinions I guess. I wasn't that loud because I was just in awe of the event. I didn't agree with booing Trish's husband at all, didn't see much point. Maria didn't belong, her speech came off as so dry and no emotion. Stevie Ray was in near tears, while we got Maria just rattling off amateur wrestling statistics. Sorry don't care, she shouldn't have inducted Backlund.
 

SAIYANS

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She shouldn't has inducted him if that's who he wanted to do it to celebrate his career, they are friends, and she has respect for the business? The fuck. You paid for a ceremony not a show, there's a difference and people should know it
 

Big Red Jericho Punk

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It's pretty funny how people look at one negative thing compared to the amazing stories from Bruno, Foley, and Booker among others. Always negativity on this site, that's the problem and why I've lost interest on posting here a lot. It was an amazing night going to two wrestling events that was mostly positive. I try doing a nice thing with this review and it's mostly negative based on one or two people. Fantastic.
 

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It's pretty funny how people look at one negative thing compared to the amazing stories from Bruno, Foley, and Booker among others. Always negativity on this site, that's the problem and why I've lost interest on posting here a lot. It was an amazing night going to two wrestling events that was mostly positive. I try doing a nice thing with this review and it's mostly negative based on one or two people. Fantastic.
The same guy who says he cant watch RAW anymore and the same guy who had been saying he wants to give his WrestleMania tickets away because of how the card looked is saying we're the negative ones? :lmao
 

Big Red Jericho Punk

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The same guy who says he cant watch RAW anymore and the same guy who had been saying he wants to give his WrestleMania tickets away because of how the card looked is saying we're the negative ones? :lmao

If only people could understand sarcasm..
 

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Yeah of course you was being sarcastic, good attempt to try and back pedal though after everyone called you out.
 

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What the hell was wrong with her speech? Besides NY being NYorkers

To induct anyone into the WWE Hall of Fame puts you in the company of the greatest artists, athletes and performers in the entire world. I CHALLENGE ANYONE who disagrees to show me another kind of entertainer who can recite monologues, in character, without the use of teleprompters and before world audiences, performing improv drama and comedy while flying through the air and taking bumps, 300 nights a year.


But for me tonight is even more special for I am not just inducting anyone into the WWE Hall of Fame. I'm inducting someone who encapsulates the word champion. Someone whom I'm a great fan of...Someone whom is my friend.


Growing up Greek and not speaking English, wrestling was one of the few things on TV I'd watch and be able to understand. I was five when Bob Backlund lost his title to the Sheik. I was fourteen when “Mr. Backlund” returned. I was eighteen when I met Bob in person and I remember being in awe. It was on the set of my first movie and Bob was literally the most positive and striking force I have ever encountered. He was funny when we needed laughter – the man has an incredible and underrated sense of comedic timing - strong when we needed support and sensitive when we needed a friend.


While Working on Bob's congressional campaign, a story came up about the Iron Shiek and his Persian Clubs. the Iron Shiek apparently had an exercise where he would swing these heavy wooden “Persian Clubs”behind his back. He had toured the nation's gyms with the clubs and, apparently, no other strong man in the country could perform the exercise, nor could anyone on the WWF roster – except Bob, who did it....on his FIRST TRY. When I asked Bob how, he told me 'when you believe you can do something...you can.' The very next day, bob said he was going to perform an exercise of his own-the harvard step test in front of city hall on his election day. Twenty years earlier bob set a personal record doing the step test for two straight hours. The goal was to match that. we all thought he was crazy as he was well into his 50's by that time. Bob was not able to match that record. He made a new one. It wasn't 3 hours. It wasn't four hours. He did his harvard step test for 8 hours straight!!! Once again reminding us all, if you believe you can do something, you can.


Speaking of Hollywood, one of the first days I was hosting the Today Show, John Cena and Vince McMahon happened to be guests. Of course, I'm huge fans of theirs, too, but I couldn't help but threaten John that Bob would one day come back to put him in the chicken wing! They both had great things to say about Bob but I'm sure they thought I was a little nuts, as people have thought Bob was a little nuts. But along with everything else Bob taught me, its okay to be a little nuts.


I'm sure people thought Bob was more than a little nuts, when after an unprecedented 5 year run with the title, he refused to turn heel. He believed it would let down his fans which included many troubled youth who had looked up to him and in those days, it would have. In so doing he surrendered millions of dollars from the new age of rock and wrestling as well as the career he loved most.


Not only did Bob Backlund hold the title for almost 6 consecutive years – he did something perhaps even greater when he came back a decade later. He completely reinvented himself and his character. When you think of performers who've been able to successfully reinvent their characters, even in Hollywood, few names come to mind. Bob not only created an entire new persona he also went on to become wrestling's number one heel and regained his title in one of the most successful comebacks in sports entertainment history.


But most people know that. Like the greatest champions Bob Backlund carries himself with humility – which is why many of the facts I'm about to reveal are not known.


In a Pennsylvania match against Hulk Hogan, whom he pinned on several occasions, Bob Backlund picked Hulk up over his head with one arm.


It's a feat Hulk, and his own late father, often reflected on in astonishment.


Bob Backlund has only been to the doctor twice since 1973


Bob Backlund has never done a drug. As he says and I quote “I wouldn't know what to do with them.”


Bob Backlund, within a three month span, won the NCAA wrestling championship and the National college football championship. He is perhaps the only man in history to hold that distinction.


In that championship football game, Bob Backlund recorded 22 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. To give perspective, a team averages about 65 plays in an entire game.


Bob Backlund was a top shoot fighter if not THE top shoot fighter in the world of professional wrestling.


Bob Backlund intentionally NEVER squashed his opponents as he believed it would harm their future earnings.


Bob Backlund is in better condition than 99% of men...a third his age.


Bob Backlund has a diverse portfolio of stocks and real estate and has NEVER IN HIS LIFE PAID A DIME OF INTEREST!


Bob Backlund has a beautiful wife and daughter


And at the end of the day, Bob Backlund justs want to help others in need


Bob Backlund is simply one of, if not, THE greatest personal success stories for wrestlers, fans and people in general.


I know it wasn't always easy in your career, Bob. But, in the face of shortcomings and disappointments, you never gave up or succumbed like so many of us understandably would. Instead, you continued working out, educating yourself and, always, helping others and donating your time to charity. Through it all you kept your faith and your resolve and here you are on the greatest stage being honored by your greatest peers. I'm excited for tonight, your book being published and all the amazing things you remain to accomplish in your journey. And, I believe there's one more WWE run in that journey for you Bob, because 'When u believe you can do something, you can.'


Some know you as Bob Backlund. Others as Mr. Backlund. I just know you as my champion, my hero and my friend. Thank you to the WWE Universe for allowing me to welcome to the stage, Mr. Bob Backlund!