Stanman's Wrestling AfterThoughts - WrestleMania Hype and Goldberg
Submitted by Stanman on Friday, March 28, 2003 at 12:20 AM EST



Welcome to another edition of Stanman's Wrestling AfterThoughts.

First off, I just wanted to thank all the US troops and the allies for risking their lives so that we may live in peace. Hopefully, this war will come to a quick end so that the soldiers can go back to their families and live the life they should be living.

Anyway, life for me has been hectic and writing a column is getting harder to do nowadays. But hell, WrestleMania is approaching and I could not resist whipping out a 'Mania edition.

I also received a large amount of feedback in regard to the intelligence question on the eventual return of Bill Goldberg. The consensus among the readers was pretty much split but we will take an in-depth look later on in the column.


The Sharpshooting Gallery: WrestleMania Hype!

Ah yes, the big enchilada, the showcase of the immortals, the granddaddy of them all is approaching near. I, for one, can't wait. Why? Because it's WrestleMania.

During the past couple of years, the WWE realized the huge impact the event can make in the media and in countries around the world. Not that the company did not realize it before then, but with the event now being booked in bigger venues like the Astrodome, Skydome and this year's venue, Safeco Field in Seattle, the WWE sees how much they can gain financially and in publicity.

It is the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. I truly realized that when watching last year's event. The electric atmosphere in the Skydome that night was magical. The crowd made the quality of the show *that* much better. Now granted it was a Canadian crowd and they are known as rowdy wrestling fans, but that is how this event is supposed to be perceived. And I hope our friends in Seattle can live up to last year's loud bunch.

Usually before a PPV, I would write up predictions and state why I think a certain wrestler would win based on what happened on television the past few weeks leading up to the big event. However, for this WrestleMania and the following WrestleManias hereafter, I would rather hype the show rather than analyze/demolish it by bashing the stars involved (i.e. Triple H, Undertaker, etc.).

After all, this show comes once a year. I would like all of you to clear your heads of all the backstage politics, rumors and whatever else prohibit you from genuinely enjoying the show. Watch it with friends who have no clue what may happen. That is what I did last year and I turned into a one-night mark. It's a great feeling and it reminded me of why I loved watching this stuff in the first place.

Come Sunday, clear your minds, sit back and relax and just do what 50,000+ at Safeco and millions all over the world will be doing...marking out.


Gathering Intelligence: Holy Goldberg Sighting!

Well, everyone and their mother has been talking about whether or not Bill Goldberg has signed with the WWE. With that said, in my last column asked the intelligence question of:

Do you want Bill Goldberg to come to the WWE? If you do not want him as a part of WWE, why not?

And this is what a couple of readers had to say:

Tim Welch sent this in:
I feel that the introduction of Goldberg is a very sensitive issue for many reasons. You have this huge wrestling commodity in him, but at the same time it seems as if he is unwilling to work with the WWE in these very early stages of just getting him signed. I think that these uncooperative dealings would only translate into more problems if he was signed. Think of it this way, Goldberg has a big ego and feels that he should be able to work only when and where he wants. I think this attitude would turn into him only being in storylines that he wants or only putting over people he wants. He has the same problem of so many main-eventers. He is not from the WWE and would not be a company man. If he had the Rock's attitude, putting over anyone, doing whatever is asked being a company man then things would be much different. Hell he would already be signed and on the Wrestlemania card. That's why I have nothing against the Rock. He knows that wrestling brought him to where he is now, and he gives back whenever it is asked of him. Goldberg may end up being more trouble than he is worth.

Nicely said. That is one thing I always despised about Goldberg. He doesn't want to give back to the sport that MADE him.

Anthony Pokorny sent this in:
Yes, I do want Bill Goldberg to come to the WWE. He was one of the major reasons for WCW's success in the late 90's alongside the nWo.

Should the WWE sign Goldberg I would say they should debut him at Wrestlemania. For the Hogan vs. McMahon match, if McMahon is booked to win the match (since Hogan's contract runs out after Wrestlemania and I'm not aware of any extension), then Goldberg should be the one to do the run in and finish off Hogan. This would work well since obviously McMahon can't beat a superstar like Hogan without some help. Secondly, Goldberg already got Hogan's number when he beat him for the WCW title in '98. Why not add insult to injury? Thirdly, with Angle out for a year, Smackdown now needs a number one heel and if Goldberg was the man responsible for helping McMahon end Hulkamania, he would be big time over as a heel immediately upon his entrance.

I agree. Smackdown does need a top heel since Kurt Angle will be on the shelf for a good year or so. But remember, Goldberg's last run as a heel in WCW was a complete flop. But if the WWE's creative team can successfully turn him, he can be useful for a good while given that he stays healthy and motivated.

Both of these intelligence replies basically summed up what the other readers have said and covered both extremes of why he should and should not join WWE. Well done, guys.

Personally, I would like to see Goldberg in the WWE. But that is ONLY if he keeps his ego in check and is willing to put others over, no matter who it is. If he does not cooperate with the WWE, screw him. We still have Brock Lesnar.


Mission: Accomplished

Well, that's all I wrote. As you may have noticed, there is no intelligence question this week as it will make it's return in my next edition. But for now, just enjoy WrestleMania in all its glory.

Until next time, thanks a million for reading.

-Stan
StanmanLOP@yahoo.com









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