Has it been a month already? This is my fourth installment of the Edgeucation of Adam Copeland. That's good. If the next 11 months can go this fast, I'm laughing.
We'll get by the boring stuff first. The neck actually hurt a bit this week. It reminded me I have six screws in my spine, that's for sure. I'm hoping it's just the bone fusing around the screws. But fear not, Edge Addicts (new one, whadya think?), I'll have more to tell you after my appointment with Dr. Lloyd Youngblood on April 16.
Last week I talked briefly about the surgery of Kurt Angle, and at the time, I was a little frustrated. In hindsight, though, I believe I made the right decision. This year off is just a break between my runs; my body needed it. When I come back, I want it to be on a long-term basis. I'm only 29 (I know I just lost all the teenage female demographic), I have so many years left in my tank. I'm worried this other surgery is a Band-Aid for a gunshot wound. Hope I'm wrong, and Kurt and I end up wrestling each other again next year -- healthy, and stronger than ever. Good luck, buddy. My prayers are with ya.
Now I'll answer what everyone seems to be asking in e-mails. What do I think of Goldberg in WWE? From a personal standpoint, I've never met him (although I did steal the spear from him), so I'll have to wait and see. From a business standpoint, I've always been a firm believer of endorsing what can help the company. If Goldberg put butts in the buckets and doesn't play power trips, great. Not just for him, but all of us.
That being said, I think he'll have to deal with some unfair criticisms. If this week's ratings don't jump, the Internet will heap blame on his shoulders. Maybe, or I could be wrong.
Here's my take on the current wrestling landscape. Growing up, I was (and still am) the superfan. I was there through thick and thin, and trust me, there were some thin attendances at times in the ol' Maple Leaf Gardens. The wrestling I was watching was great, but it was a downturn in the business. Whether it's a lack of disposable income, or just lack of the casual fans' interest, who really knows? It seems to me like all the naysayers are panicking. Why? Maybe because now there is such an emphasis put on this week-to-week barometer. To me (and trust me, once again, I could be wrong), wrestling has always been a cyclical business. I've always charted it by five to seven years. Strong for five to seven, down for five to seven.
I would take our talent roster now over the "Attitude" era roster (I was in both). Is it the writing? I don't think so (like I always say, people may think they can do the job, but don't knock it till ya try it). The business was hot when Mae Young gave birth to a hand. Need I say more? What would you prefer, Edge-Angle for 25 minutes or the hand birth? Please tell me you answered Kurt and I!
I guess what I'm trying to get at is, let's stop being cynical and just have fun watching the product. I still do. I look to the positives, which to me, outweigh the negatives. Eventually, something or someone will cause a resurgence. Until then, enjoy some of the great wrestling we're getting.
OK, that was the Dennis Miller rant of the week out of the way.
Many readers have been wondering about some of my favorite matches and wrestlers growing up. Here goes.
Favorite wrestlers growing up:
Of course, the Hulkster.
I can't count how many of his matches I saw live growing up. Against
Paul Orndorff, 75,000 fans at the CNE in Toronto; Warrior at SkyDome (little-known
fact that Lance Storm was there as well); Savage, Earthquake, Kamala in
a cage, all at Maple Leaf Gardens; Flair in Copps Coliseum (where I later
wrestled my first WWE match); Mr. Perfect; the list goes on and on. All
the TV matches. Saturday Night's Main Event; the Paul Orndorff Cage Match
with the simultaneous landing; Cage Match vs. the Boss Man. I literally
thought Terry Funk was going to kill Hogan one night. They had me fearing
for Hulk's life. Classic stuff. The most fun month I've had in this business
was teaming with him. The FleetCenter. Watching him walk to the ring to
the classic "Real American," and winning the tag belts, is something I'll
be able to watch 15 years from now and still smile at. The emotion from
me that night was as real as it gets. I was a little kid again (my wife
would argue I'm always a little kid).With Hulk it was always, "you come
up with it, brother, whatever you want to do." That's because he knew I'd
always take the heat! The only thing better than watching the Hulk-up from
the apron would be feeding it. Maybe one day? I've gone from watching him
in my old rocking chair, and playing with his action figures to going to
his Christmas parties and Sea-Dooing together. Whoda thunk it?
Bret Hart
Loved everything about what he did in the ring.
I actually got one chance to lock up with him, in his ring, in his home,
before my WWE days, and once again it was a dream fulfilled. It was actually
Bret who opened the door for me to WWE. Bret was another hero growing up.
The Hitman vs. Mr. Perfect anytime (especially SummerSlam); vs. Rick Martel
(Copps Coliseum); vs. Shawn Michaels, anytime they locked up it was magic;
vs. Benoit (anytime); vs. Davey Boy Smith (SummerSlam, Philly bloodbath);
vs. Dynamite Kid (Capital Center). Just awesome stuff. Could bring the
best out of anyone. I wish I had a chance to work him. Would have loved
to watch him and Kurt too. Now when we talk, it's about hockey, not wrestling,
but once again, whoda thunk it?
Shawn Michaels
He just shaped and influenced so much of my style (which might be why
we both have spinal fusions). The angle with Chris Jericho could have been
used with at least 10 other guys in the locker room who were influenced
that heavily by Shawn. I always knew when I saw him come to the ring, whether
in the Rockers, or later alterations of the character, that I'd get my
money's worth. This Royal Rumble at the FleetCenter, I found myself in
a great hour-long conversation with Shawn and Ric Flair! I mean, come on,
this was great, but I have to remind myself, hell, I'm a peer now, and
I count all of these heroes growing up as friends. But still, whoda thunk
it?!
Those have to be the top three, but there were so many more, like Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, Bob Orton, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts, Barry Windham, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, and later on, from watching Stampede Wrestling, the beginning of the careers of Chris Benoit and Owen Hart.
You'll also notice a name kept appearing in the matches above: Mr. Perfect,
Curt Hennig. I find it sad that these kind of things are always written
too late, but thankfully I got the chance to let Curt know how much he
affected my career. I met Curt for the first time when I was about 14 or
15 at an autograph session in a video store somewhere in Toronto. I have
the autographed poster to this day. He was actually cool to me, which of
course made my year!
Fast-forward to 2002, and I got to the FleetCenter (again! Seems to
be a recurring theme.) one day to see my name slotted up with the Perfect
One! Now I was jacked. This was going to be fun. I wanted to get the old
Mr. Perfect back. I told him the video store story (Christian verified,
he was with me).
I even did his gum bit before we locked up. I caught him by surprise on that one. It took place on HEAT, and besides the DQ finish, I think we did it: we saw the flashes of the old Mr. P. He knew how much I respected him, and I think it excited him. He was on a very short list of guys I always wanted to work with, and I told him so. We had fun, and when we got back he really put me over. I'll never forget that. On the personal side, I never really knew him, which is too bad, but I won't forget that night in the FleetCenter.
Favorite matches:
Growing up there were so many. I already mentioned some above, but
here are some more:
Flair vs. Steamboat, Chi-Town Rumble
Flair vs. Steamboat, Music City Showdown
Flair vs. Steamboat, New Orleans best-of-three falls
Savage vs. Steamboat, WrestleMania III
Savage vs. Tito Santana, Boston Garden
Savage vs. Bret, Saturday Night's Main Event
Hart Foundation vs. Rockers, SNME
Brainbusters vs. Rockers, SNME
Rockers vs. Orient Express, Royal Rumble
Hart Foundation vs. Brainbusters, SummerSlam
Owen vs. Bret, WrestleMania X
Shawn vs. Razor Ramon, WrestleMania X
Shawn vs. Razor, SummerSlam
Shawn vs. Marty Jannetty, Royal Rumble
Bret vs. 1-2-3 Kid, RAW
Bret vs. Shawn, WrestleMania XII
Bret vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, WrestleMania 13
If you have not seen these matches, shame on you, and go find them. Those are just some. I could sit here all day naming them!
Next week, I'll get to my personal favorite matches, opponents, partners, etc. Also, the people I'd like to wrestle when I come back. A little at a time though. Be patient, we have 11 more months of these Edgeucations.
So, as a little tip of the hat, until next week, you have been "Excellently
Edge-a-cuted," BROTHER!