Makin The Tag - Two very worthy champions!
Submitted by Krueges on Saturday, November 23, 2002 at 3:09 PM EST





Welcome my friends to another installment of Makin The Tag. First and foremost I would like to apologize for my last few columns. I don’t believe they were quite up to par and were not of the same quality that many have come to expect from the columnists here at LoP. Between working as a counselor at a group home, starting a new job as a chemical dependency counselor, and ending a three and half year relationship with my girlfriend I have been through quite a lot yet, and I have had a lot on my plate to deal with. Hopefully with this column I can get back on track and can once again provide you the reader with something worth taking a look at. Now that I’ve vented a little bit, how about I get this party started and get back to doing what I do best.

Prior to that infamous night in Montreal a few years ago, Survivor Series was always a pay per view that fans really looked forward to. After the incident in Montreal, Survivor Series became so much more. It became an event in which things could really get shaken up within the company, and this year was certainly no exception. The two most highly coveted singles titles in professional wrestling fell into the hands of two very unlikely but deserving performers. Many are questioning the wisdom of having HBK and Big Show as the champions right now, but I think it is just what the company and the fans need right now.


Big Show
Like so many others on the internet, I have taken a few cheap shots at Big Show and his abilities. It’s much easier than being nice. Then again, the internet thrives on all of the negative things in pro wrestling. But could the simple act of placing the belt around his immense waist be the thing that finally wakes this sleeping giant?

By giving him the title, the company is saying that they do indeed believe in him and that they do believe that he can get the job done as champion. Giving him the strap is nothing but a motivational move by the company. It gives him something worth competing and performing for. With the belt in his possession, it gives him added pressure to succeed in the ring and to grow as a performer. The WWE is simply saying that they believe in him and that is the kind of motivation he needs.

What better way is there to encourage someone to improve than by giving them the proper motivation? Regardless of what some of the “experts” have said, this could be one of the smartest moves the company has made in a long time. They’ve got this behemoth of a man; all they need to do is motivate him properly. Good things can only come from this. Show has the potential to become a true legend in the business. This could be the first step on that long journey.

Big Show can finally be built up as a true “giant”. That build up will make him look good, as well as the person that finally comes in and knocks him off. Look at what going up against big guys did for the career of Shawn Michaels. Hey speaking of HBK….



Shawn Michaels
He has had only two matches in the last four years, and in those two matches he put more heart and soul into his performance than he did in all of his previous matches combined. I read a few pieces on the decision to put the strap around his waist once again and I was simply amazed at what I read.

One person stated that HBK is not the performer he once was and that the fans today don’t really care too much for him. Can I just tell you what a load of crap that is? Sure he may not be on the same level physically as he once was, but that in no way has limited his in ring performance. He is still in my mind one of the greatest performers ever to set foot in a wrestling ring. Wrestling fans never really appreciated his ability until he walked away four years ago. Watching him perform at Summerslam and Survivor Series honestly sent chills up my spine. I have not been that into a match in a very long time. HBK made watching wrestling great again.

But the comment that the fans don’t care that much for him? I really wish I knew what the author was thinking? The pop that he receives each and every time he steps before a live audience is deafening. When he’s in the ring, the crowd is solidly behind him, watching his every move. Fans can’t get enough of him. Waves of emotion pour out of the crowd towards this man, and you can honestly see how much it means to him.

Giving him the belt shows that the WWE is looking to change direction by changing the focus of the company onto a man that all the fans can’t seem to get enough of. Shawn Michaels made his career by seemingly defying the odds every single night. His comeback is the kind that dreams are made of.

He was by no means a saint during his earlier years in the company, but all is past sins have been forgiven it seems. With a change in attitude and in his personal life, Shawn Michaels is a man who knows just how fortunate he is and he is a man that truly cares about entertaining the fans. I for one am glad to see him back.

As I said before, his two matches this year had me emotionally involved like no other match has had me for some time. Being someone that watched him rise through the ranks of professional wrestling to become one of the biggest stars ever, it’s a special thing for me to watch him comeback despite his injuries. I have to admit that watching him perform got me a little misty eyed. He is truly one of the greats.



In both instances, giving the belts to these two men is a way of saying “thank you” and “we believe in you” by the WWE. Being given the belt is one of the biggest honors someone can receive in professional wrestling. It means that the person has reached that level that many fight for, but only a select few ever rise to. The honor gives that person an incentive to keep working hard. It also is a way of thanking the individual for all of their hard work and dedication. So before you allow someone to tell you that giving the belts to Big Show and HBK was a very big mistake, just take a moment and reflect back at what I had to say today. And remember, telling someone you believe in them or thanking them for what they have done and for what they mean to you is the greatest way there is to truly honor that individual.

Thank you for reading. God bless!




I am very behind on emails and for that I apologize. Hopefully I will answer all the ones that I have received over the last several weeks soon. If someone takes the time to send in their thoughts to me, it is only fair that I return the favor and reply to them. If you have any thoughts on today’s column or would like to suggest a possible topic that you would like to see covered in a future installment of Makin The Tag, then just click on my name.




Krueges




 




Congratulations to “The Huntington Beach Badboy” Tito Ortiz for successfully defending his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock by scoring a TKO after the third round.









*NEW GALLERY* Hot Photos of Shawn Michaels' Wife Rebecca!!

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