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Archive for the "Spotlight" Category


The Forgotten Supercard: Starrcade 1987

The Forgotten Supercard: Starrcade 1987
Originally published on April 5, 2004
Written by Eric James Taylor

Note about Photo: “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin, who had wrestled the NWA World Heavyweight title away from Ric Flair just a few months before, went into the event with the championship, and the much-anticipated rematch!

In this day and age, any pay-per-view is considered by those within the business as a “supercard”. Unfortunately for wrestling fans these days, a supercard is rarely all that super. To enlighten the newer fans as to what the term “supercard” once meant, I will analyze perhaps the greatest supercard of them all, in my opinion, the NWA’s Starrcade ’87: Chi-Town Heat event. On November 26th, 1987, Thanksgiving night, a sell-out crowd in the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, IL saw perhaps what is arguably one of the greatest events of all time. This event certainly made an impact on me, as I still have yet to ever see a match that will rival the pops received in even some of the undercard matches on this event. The buildup to the event itself was almost a year long affair. Falling on the heels of Jim Crockett’s purchase of Bill Watt’s UWF, this event promised many great matches, including a few interpromotional matches.

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Shawn Michaels: Going The Distance


HBK Going the Distance
Originally published on January 15, 2005
Written by Kirsty Quested

Going the distance. Having recently seen Rocky I for the first time, it is this author’s opinion that the phrase accurately sums up the meteoric career of the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels. I must admit to experiencing a certain amount of trepidation when deciding to pen a definitive of this particular performer’s career. Those of you who have read my article on Bret Hart will recall that Shawn did not feature especially favourably, and it is true that he was involved in some fairly underhanded activity where Bret Hart was concerned. I was therefore a little anxious that I might not be capable of remaining objective on the subject of Shawn Michaels. As I delved further into his life and career, I was delighted to be proven wrong. Shawn Michaels is exceptional in almost every definition of the word, as I feel sure those of you who have followed his 20-year career will agree. From excitement to exasperation, from thrilling highs to frustrating lows, the Heartbreak Kid is destined to leave his very distinctive mark on the world of professional wrestling in ways no other performer has, or ever will.

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The History of the Intercontinental Title

The History of the Intercontinental Title
(Covering from 1979 until 2006)
Originally published in 2006
Written by Colm Kearns

Over the years the Intercontinental title has been held by some of the best performers in WWE history, it has been defended in some of the finest matches the world had ever seen and it has provided a constant stepping-stone toward main event status. The IC champion should be a talented midcard contender (and a possible future main eventer), he should be over with the fans and defend the title fairly regularly. Every time the champion steps into the ring to defend the IC title he is continuing the tradition that began in 1979 with Pat Patterson.

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Manager’s Corner: Tammy “Sunny” Sytch

Manager’s Corner: Tammy “Sunny” Sytch
Originally published on November 9, 2003
Written by Kenneth Coker

This edition of Manager’s Corner takes a look at many teenage WWF fans first crush in the mid-1990′s.  A lady who came off as a spoiled, underhanded, lowdown, prep. However, since she wore those skimpy and sexy cheerleading outfits everytime out of the locker room, Tammy “Sunny” Sytch might as well have been a fan favorite. Well, at least for the men that is.

Tammy began her trek to the bright lights and fast nights of New York and the WWF, long before it was evident to her.  Sytch was born in Monmouth, New Jersey, a place where Tammy developed a love for animals and for playing the piano, among other things.

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WCW’s 21 Greatest Gems of All-Time

WCW’s 21 Greatest Gems of All-Time
Originally published on February 1, 2008
Written by Joe L.

 This article will  focus on the moments, gems, matches, and events that made WCW (World Championship Wrestling) a serious contender and a force to be reckoned with. Don’t think that I hate WCW, be cause I don’t, and this article will illustrate why. For every Pinata on a Pole, a young stallion named Booker T won the World Heavyweight Championship. For every Mini-Movie Trinity, there was Ric Flair toppling the monster Vader at Starrcade 1993. There were so many great moments in WCW that deserve to be recognized and it is my goal that the recognition of these moments becomes known.

You’ll notice that this column is missing other worthy candidates and I agree.  This column will not cover the pre-1990 WCW because I do not have the great knowledge or time to access them. So if anybody feels outraged about my list, I apologize. Feel free to write your thoughts at the end of the article in the feedback section.

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The History of the WWE Championship

The History of the WWE Title
(Covering from 1963 until 2005)
Originally published in 2005
Written by Colm Kearns

Seeing John Cena win the WWE title at WrestleMania XXI was a remarkable moment for the company, for not only was Cena cementing his status as a main eventer, he was also continuing the 42 year tradition of WWE title changes.

The history of the prestigious title (arguably the most highly valued in the world) began in 1963. Kennedy was president, Brazil were the world champions but in wrestling ‘Nature Boy’ Buddy Rogers was the man. Rogers was NWA World Champion and he was also one of the biggest draws and most over heels in the sport at that time. Unfortunately northeast promoters Toots Mondt and Vince McMahon Sr. who controlled Rogers’ bookings wouldn’t allow him to wrestle outside the northeast area. In retaliation the NWA board had Rogers drop the title to Lou Thesz. However, the title change took place in a one-fall match contrary to the usual two out of three falls system of the day for deciding world title bouts. McMahon Sr. and Mondt refused to recognise the title change and broke away from the NWA, forming their own company, the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), with Rogers as their champion.

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A Tribute to Puerto Rican Stars

A Tribute to Puerto Rican Stars
Originally published in 2004
Written by Angel Martinez

If the wrestling universe is a star, Canada, Mexico, United States, Japan and Puerto Rico are the edges. Canada is well know for their scientific skills, great techniques and The Dungeon. Mexico is high flying, over the top gimmicks and great performers. United States is Sport Entertainment, muscular guys and a lot of idolized Gods of Wrestling. Wrestling in Japan is very religious, great sportsmanship and a good dose of craziness. Puerto Rico is Hardcore, Bloody and very passionate.

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When Macho Madness Ran Wild


When Macho Madness Ran Wild..
Originally published in 2001
Written by Brad Dykens

Randy Savage has achieved more in wrestling than most could ever dream of. He is legendary. The Macho Man is truely one of the greats in the industry. He first came to the WWF shortly before WrestleMania II, with his manager, Elizabeth, as an egotistical heel. He soon won the Intercontinental Title from Tito Santana and found himself traveling around the globe wrestling none other than Hulk Hogan. Savage dropped the title to Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III, in what was arguable the greatest match of the 80s, and a contender to top five of the century. A year later, Mach was a fan favorite and at WrestleMania IV, he went through four men in a tournament to be crowned the Undisputed Champion, pinning “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase in the finals with help from his new friend, none other than Hulk Hogan. For the next year, the Mega Powers dominated the World Wrestling Federation; But gradually tension began to tear the team apart, Savage’s jealousy of Hogan turned him heel again, and after a year-long program, Savage challenged Hogan for a showdown at WrestleMania V (The MegaPowers Explode).

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Jessicka Havok Is Ready To Stop The Rain!

The Mid-West Invasion Continues:
Havok Is Ready To Stop The Rain!
Story by Jimmy Gentry for WSUWrestling.com

In our last news update, WSUWrestling.com profiled rising star & Akron, Ohio native, Sassy Stephanie and her pursuit to win the WSU Spirit Championship. Stephanie’s 3/5 WSU Spirit Championship clash with WSU Spirit Champion & Leader of the Cosmo Club, Brittney Savage is looking to be the biggest WSU Spirit Championship defense of all time. However, Sassy Stephanie isn’t the only mid-westerner looking to make her name in WSU.

WSU is a womens wrestling company that prides itself in giving starts to the stars of tomorrow. It is a place where women wrestlers can be showcased like no where else. There are no limits and the wrestlers are given every opportunity to make a name for themselves. WSU prides itself in seeing new stars develop and watching talent grow with no handcuffs or restrictions. Sassy Stephanie is one of the wrestlers that has seen herself grow in WSU. Just like Stephanie, her mid-west peer, Jessicka Havok, is looking to make major headlines in womens wrestling through WSU.

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Brittney Savage vs Sassy Stephanie Feud

The Brittney Savage vs Sassy Stephanie Feud Reaches a Fever Pitch
- Reported by Jimmy Gentry of WSUWrestling.com

When Sassy Stephanie debuted with WSU on 10/3/09, it was hard to tell if Sassy Stephanie would remain a regular on the WSU roster. After all, Stephanie went 0-2 that night, losing to the likes of Cindy Rogers & Amber O’Neal. However, Stephanie plowed through, and returned on 3/6/10, only to be defeated by Angelina Love, in a match that many critics called one of Stephanie’s better matches. While sporting an 0-3 record at this time, Stephanie seemed to gain confidence and started to plant her seeds in WSU.

Stephanie went on to participate in an 8-woman tag team match, with the stipulation being whoever made the final elimination for their team, would enter the Uncensored Rumble as the last entry. Stephanie went all the way to the end in that match, as it came down to her and fellow native Ohio star, Jessicka Havok. Havok may have dominated that match, but Stephanie went toe-to-toe with one of WSU’s baddest stars.

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