The Pin is Mightier 05.07.06: Not Quite Ready to be Put Out to Pasture

Posted by Ryan K. Boman on 05.07.2006

This week’s column is sponsored by Secretariat, Seabiscuit, and Man O’ War.

That horse had better win, or else we're taking a trip to the glue factory. And he won't get to come.—Homer Simpson

Win, place, or show... you gotta love the action.

This weekend, gamblers everywhere indulged in a shared passion, plunking down a few bucks on their favorite equine. Yes, the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, won by a horse named Barbaro, may be what the folks at Churchill Downs say it is: a celebration of both beauty and power. However, it's also a great excuse to lay the wood and look for that big payday. Those.with icewater in their veins try to nail an exacta and go home with greenbacks hanging out of their pockets.

Vince McMahon probably wasn't in Louisville sipping a mint julep this weekend, but I wouldn't doubt it at all if he had a little wager on the event. You see, the head of WWE has proven to be a pretty resorceful gambler in the past. He gambled when he took his company national in the early 80's, he gambled on WrestleMania and Hulk Hogan, and he gambled when he launched the "Attitude" era of the late 90's. Through a series of very calculated risks, the most powerful man in wrestling has beaten the odds many times over.

Time to roll the dice once again...

The rumored re-birth of Degeneration X, one of the cornerstones of WWE's "bad boy" image of the past decade, is a risk that McMahon feels is worth taking. Two of the most established stars of our generation, Shawn Michaels and Triple H, look to be re-forming the succesful clique that helped cement their status as icons in the business. If anything else, the crude and rude stable who told everyone to "Suck it " at least burned their way into the audience's conscience. DX was a staple of the last boom period in wrestling, and we all remember not only their antics, but the way they dominated our television screens every Monday night.

Still, there are many observers of the industry that feel this is a big waste of time. When DX was originally formed, Michaels and Helmsley were like two young thoroughbreds looking to break away from the field. After being whipped and mistreated for years, the two superstars finally took over the whole barnyard. They exemplified the belief that the long-shot could make it to the winner's circle, and do it with a cockiness and flair we had never seen before. It was something we could all relate to. However, there's a lot of speculation as to whether the new/old DX can get out of the starting gate like they once did before. A lot of fans feel like this incarnation of Degeneration X will be revealed to be more like two worn-out studs who need to be put out of their misery. Still, others feel like the group will only be reunited briefly, because the storyline no longer has the legs to sustain a long run.

Then there's Vince McMahon, and he's more than ready to play the bugle, signalling his two stallions to the starting gate.

Yes, Vince is willing to wager that these two wrestling legends can re-capture some of their old magic. He's at the edge of the track, binoculars in hand, and he's focusing on what he feels like is a winner. Michaels and Triple H have always been reliable beasts of burden in the past, and Vinny is chomping at the bit for them to take one more lap together. And, he's got a lot of fans chattering, too. The buzz surrounding a possible return of everyone's favorite juvenile delinquents has many people excited. If DX can capture some of that old glory again, they may just be riding tall in the saddle like they were in 1997. At the very least, it will be interesting to see if they can live up to their legendary reputation.

Sure, it's a gamble. But, in my opinion, it's one of the safest gambles McMahon has tried in quite awhile. The Heartbreak Kid and The Game are two of WWE's most recognizable stars, and their past history is well-documented. In fact, there's no telling where the original incarnation of DX could have gone had they stuck together. When Michaels' career was effectively ‘taken out and shot' by a crippling back injury, Triple H forged on with lesser supporting characters. He eventually became bigger than the group itself, and that signalled the end of Degeneration X (at least, for the first time).

This time around, Michaels is looking maybe better than ever, and The Game is a prime time player. They will soon be donning their trademark black and green silks, and breaking out of the post. These two have a chance to trample the establishment once again, and I think that they will. In a few months, I believe we'll be talking about these two thoroughbreds as being a major reason that WWE television has gotten a lot more interesting. Even the most jaded fans have to admit that they have a little bit of curiosity in seeing this re-formation. That curiosity should lead to a renewed passion in the product. DX may not be running for the roses, but I'm pretty sure that they'll make a run in the ratings.

So who's the big winner in this whole thing? I'll say Degeneration X... by a nose.