More Wrestling Memories
Back to the Krude archives for another round of Wrestling
Memories. That's professional wrestling memories. Not jello or mud wrestling.
Or high school boys' navy blue singlet memories. These are World Wrestling
Federation happy thoughts. And at a show that was a precursor to the greatest
WrestleMania of all time: WrestleMania 17. So let's go back to December 5, 2000
at Madison Square Garden for a Smackdown taping (on a Tuesday to be broadcast
on a Thursday) for an awesome WWF sports entertainment show.
Sports Entertainment was the name of the game that evening.
Not much for good wrestling matches. But for solid in ring and backstage
promos,this was a great show. Myself,this was the first live wrestling show I
had attended in 4 years. I was super stoked to see this show and had scored
ringside seats. My life the previous 5 months was a living hell
(illness,divorce,the usual shit).I HAD to go see WWF. And be up close. And to
see what I saw was something I'll never forget. Good thing I had brought a
disposable camera with me (remember those?). And took a few pics that night.
Still have them. Enjoy.
It is weird to look at nearly 17 year old photos and see
people as they were as compared to who they are now. Undertaker,Kurt Angle,Mick
Foley,Vince McMahon are all still doing their thing in the wrestling biz. The
Rock was still a year or so from becoming the most famous face on the planet. The
old,original Smackdown stage set was kinda tame compared to the big fist stage
set they brought out a year later. The crowd was super frenzied and hot all
night. MSG really is the Mecca for pro wrestling. Call it The House That Bruno
Sammartino Built.
This WWF Attitude Era show wasn't something anybody in the
crowd was thinking they were never going to see the likes of again. The WWF
purchase of WCW was a few months off. Just being able to see Stone Cold Steve
Austin,Undertaker,Kurt Angle and the Rock in a fatal fourway was something
special. Especially on a free tv show. I'm not sure the now WWE will ever
capture the magic (with the quality of talent) that they did between 1997-2002.
I enjoy the likes of current wrestlers such as Seth Rollins,Finn Balor,Kevin
Owens, and Neville. And tag teams like The New Day and The Vaudevillians. But
the era of the Monday Night Wars between WWF and WCW (and ECW at a lesser
level) will never escape my memory for being the most entertaining must see tv
viewing ever.
I'm sure this show is probably being offered for viewing on
WWE Network at this moment. Maybe not. But any retro pro wrestling viewing is
cool with Krude. It's WrestleMania time this week. That is cause to pour a few
belts and praise the American (flashy capitalism) spirit that Vince McMahon has
been exploiting for 35 years. Thank you Vince. And thank you to all the great
wrestlers and wrestling personalities that entertain us all.Every week.Every
month. Every year.
Double count outs suck
KK
@kapn_krude