The Wrestling 5 & 1 3.09.14: Eve Torres Vs Melina

Another day, another dollar. So guess what, guys….I’m busy as hell! Due to a new schedule, new job, same girlfriend, and that whole school thing, I’ve been so pressed for time, it’s laughable (and there’s no way in hell I’m blaming the countless hours spent on the WWE Network). At any rate, we’re closer and closer to Mania, and that fuzzy feeling in the gut is coming ahead…or is it? I don’t know, we’ll talk about that in a bit among other things! Let’s do this!

Questioning Your Faith

Let’s talk about stuff you don’t care about real quick! I just started a new bartending gig at a southern style BBQ place. It’s an assload of fun, but keeps me really busy. How it relates? Well, yesterday my phone was next to the register, and one of the cooks was nearby. He apparently glanced at my phone and saw the WWE App, then pronounced… “WWE?! You still watch that?!” I proudly said yes, yes I do, and I – in fact – write about it. He then said that he went to the FIRST THREE MANIAS!!! He dropped some facts that proved he may truly have been there, and immediately I saw that twinkle in the eye. It was interesting how his immediate judgment was my being immature for holding onto something that he let go so long ago and yet not an hour later, he popped his head out of the kitchen and asked “So who is your favorite wrestler?” I quickly dropped The Undertaker’s name, and he went on, “Oh, I remember that dude!” then did the Paul Bearer OHHH YEEEEEEAAAA!” It was wonderful!

Of course, this is a morsel of a story that I think we’ve all experienced, and it got me thinking; what makes us different? By us, of course, I mean the IWC. You see, I sometimes lose the motivation to write about wrestling – and not because I don’t want to write – simply, there are times when I only watch RAW or Smackdown because I have to write a column. When that happens, I really don’t know if I like the feeling and consider whether I am losing it, or if the WWE is losing it. Either way, the “it” is being lost. It’s also interesting to note that whenever this feeling comes over me, something like the awesome Cesaro vs Zayn match goes down and instantaneously, I am back and in love. It’s like the girlfriend that surprises you just before you’re about to break up with her.

In the case of the cook, it made me really consider what brought him out of it. After all, he’s an older gentleman. Maybe it was considered childish at one point? I mean, how many of us reading are at an age where the Attitude Era WAS our wrestling? How many liked wrestling “before it was cool” AND “while it was cool?” And how many of those fans are still around “after it was cool?” The numbers don’t lie; wrestling fans are a dying breed, especially when compared to the numbers of yesteryear. So what causes the break?

I find this topical mainly due to the continued “misuse” of Daniel Bryan, and the idea of “Hijacking” an entire show. It appears more and more that fans and wrestlers alike are getting tired of the product at some rate or another. I sometimes quip that no matter what the WWE does, they’ll always have a fan in us, but what happens when we turn into the cook who simply lost interest because of one reason or another? What happens when a Friday goes by and you realized that’s the fifth Smackdown in a row that you missed? What happens when your favorite wrestler walks out on the company and shows no sign of returning? What happens when your favorite wrestler continues to get screwed over both kayfabe and otherwise? And if that feeling does come along; the one that bites and tells you that this Monday, you don’t have to sit down for three hours….what brings you back?

Your Turn: When’s the last time you considered quitting on wrestling and what brought you back?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook page, I posted this pic for all to comment on…

And the commenter with the most “likes”???

Stewart Lange: “BRING ME BACK MY FATHER, BOSS MAN!!!”

Think you have what it takes to win the Caption Contest? Head on over to the Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook group and join today to see what Tony, myself and the gang post next!

Want to enter? Caption this picture:

Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook group to participate!

Click above for the YES! YES! YES! Facebook Group!

Bryan at Mania

Lotsa talk about Bryan being placed in the main event at Mania, even with him chompin at the bits for a fight with the Hs. Are we doing some wishful thinking here, guys, or could they really go that direction? Hell if I know! What say you?

Eve takes the challenge of Melina and handles it well as she continues towards her chance to enter the HOB.

I’ll be sure to update the image next week…..promise?

And now…..

Voting ends Wednesday night and you can vote once every hour!

Don’t Forget to Pick Up the Rice, Eleanor!
Time for some FAN FICTION!!!

I’m kidding. I’d never be so low as to write some fake love story between myself and a real person. By the way, how’s the picture of my beloved up above, ey? –swoon-

Comment Responses to return next week!

The short-lived HOB member, Kaitlyn!

Tony Acero is currently a student at Cal State University of Long Beach. He is double-majoring as a Creative Writing and Literature major. His first book, Through The Looking Glass, was published in April, 2012. School’s Out is a short story that found the author arrested due to the severity of its content. Both can be found on amazon.com.

Tony joined 411Mania in April 2010, and currently contributes in both music and wrestling. Tony is an avid drinker of Mountain Dew and Jack Daniels. He is a writer who hardly takes himself seriously, yet has an innate ability to create moments that are both human yet fearful in his writings.

Follow Tony on Twitter
Friend Tony on Facebook
Buy Tony’s published works!
Visit TonyAcero.com

HALL OF FAME
Greg DeMarco is a graduate of Virginia Tech (Bachelor’s in Business Management) and Arizona State (Master’s in Higher & Post-Secondary Education). He works in online higher education. Greg started in improv comedy in 2001, making his stand-up debut in 2004.

Greg first appeared as a ring announcer for Rising Phoenix Wrestling in Phoenix Arizona in 2006 and served many promotions in both on-stage and back-stage roles for over six years, most notably Ring of Honor in 2010. He began writing for 411Mania in October 2010, founded The Greg DeMarco Show in May 2011 and opened WrestlingSmash.com (and Wrestling Smash Radio) in January 2013.

Follow Greg on Twitter
Friend Greg on Facebook
Greg DeMarco Show Archives
Read more Greg!

Until next week…