Take up thy wrestling boots and walk - Interview with a ticketholder
Submitted by Pt2 on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 11:26 AM EST





Welcome to the column that knows Flash is so funky, Take up thy wrestling boots and walk. I’m the man who has never seen the guy before and who didn’t know that Snuka was here, Pt2, back once again to discuss anything and everything connected to professional wrestling.

Well, Wrestlemania is only days away. This is the time of year when news stories start flying around like crazy, the rumour mill goes into overdrive, and every body who is everybody starts trying to get close to the wrestlers, just to get a few words out of them in the build up to the big dance.

But the thing is, it’s not just the wrestlers that make Wrestlemania. The fans play an absolutely crucial part, from the guy who lives just down the road from the venue to the guy who spends a lot of money on flights and comes from half way round the world, it is the fans reaction to the show, as much as the wrestlers performance, that make Wrestlemania the special thing that it is.

So, while the wrestlers are getting ready for the show, I thought I’d talk to one of the often forgotten participants of the big show about how his love affair with the show began, how much effort has gone into his journey, and why he’s even going in the first place. He’s a man who is flying thousands of miles to take part in Wrestlemania XXIV, from the country of Wales. He’s one of the most popular and respected people on this site, and is also an LOP columnist in his own right. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you my interview with the one and the only, Sheepster.

Pt2: OK Sheep, I'll just ask you a few questions... and they'll all be Wrestlemania based ... answer as freely as you like… what's the first Wrestlemania you can remember watching?

Sheepster: This is an easy one. Wrestlemania 2000. I'd only been watching for a couple of months and Big Show was already my favourite wrestler. I don't think I've seen a better Wrestlemania since.

Pt2: Really? For more purposes than nostalgia, you think WM2000 is better than anything that has followed?

Sheepster: Well, thinking about it, it's probably not the best, no. I just have the video of that one, so I remember it more than the others. I can tell you every single match from WM2000, but the only other Wrestlemania match I can vividly remember is when Chris Benoit wins the World title.

Pt2: Ah, ok. Do you remember much of the build up to the Big Shows' match at WM 2000, or was the fact that it was Wrestlemania already a big deal, even though you had only been a fan for a few months?

Sheepster: Strangely enough, I can't remember any of the build up. I just remember being extremely excited about the huge main event. Then I remember being extremely disappointed when they all teamed up on the poor guy.

Pt2: Heh, you weren't prepared for pro wrestling's treatment of the bigger guys?

Sheepster: Nope. I'd only just started watching it. That was my very first exposure to professional wrestling. Two hours of Smackdown a week on Saturday morning was all I got, and that was back when Raw and Smackdown were telling the same story, so I was missing half of it.

Pt2: I remember those days.... different channels broadcasting different shows. I, fortunately, had both, but many of my friends weren't so fortunate. So tell me, what, excluding WM2000, is your favourite? And, if you have one, what's your favourite venue?

Sheepster: Hmm. Looking at the matches that took place at each event, I think I'd have to say that Wrestlemania XX was my favourite.

Pt2S: Any standouts?

Sheepster: But even that wasn't very good. …. Goldberg vs. Lesnar just for the novelty value... And Guerrero and Benoit winning their matches and hugging at the end... But on reflection, I actually DO think Wrestlemania 2000 is the best one I've seen.

Pt2: So you wouldn't bow to conventional logic, and say X-7 is one of the better WM's ever then?

Sheepster: Well, I'm looking at the line-up now, and nothing is really standing out apart from the Austin-Rock main event and the McMahon street fight.

Pt2: So you wouldn't say your move to book tickets for this coming Wrestlemania has been motivated by popular consensus regarding the quality of recent Wrestlemania's?

Sheepster: Not really, no. I think part of my motivation was "I have the money to do it with no real responsibility at the moment. And I might as well do it before my interest in wrestling wanes completely."

Pt2: So you'd say your interest in wrestling is waning, somewhat? Would you say you were less inclined to go than you would have been in, say 2005, but you now have the chance to go?

Sheepster: I certainly watched more wrestling then than I do now. And I remember being sooo excited that they were coming to Wales for the first time, even though it was just a house show. But I don't think going to 'Mania even registered for me. I'd have gone like a shot, but I never thought there was even a chance.

Pt2: But now you're going. Can you describe how you got your tickets? Were you quick on the draw, or did someone else get them for you?

Sheepster: Hah. I was on Ticketmaster 10 minutes before the things went on sale, refreshing madly, and waiting for it to open. My sister was on her computer too, doing the same. We were buying tickets for other people as well (7 in all), but just couldn't find 7 seats altogether. So we just refreshed until we found 2 seats at a time in the same block.

PT2: Sounds like you certainly made an effort, as I'm sure everyone who has flown from serious distances has done. When you watch on PPV, you forget about the planning and the flight time that goes into it, but Mania really wouldn't be mania without all those people who fly around the world for it. So, is there anything on this year's card that stands out to you? Are you genuinely thrilled to see any certain match?

Sheepster: Ohhhhhh, yes. Yes I am. Every single one of them looks rather good and holds some interest for me. But in particular, I'm looking at the Big Show-Mayweather match-up. Last year, I paid money to see Mayweather fight Ricky Hatton. I was hoping Hatton would win, just because Mayweather seemed like such an arrogant person in all the build-up. Then I see him wishing luck to Mysterio at the Rumble and I cringed. Ugh. I still didn't like him. Then the match happened, and Mysterio lost. Then Big Show came out and, with me being a Big Show mark, I screamed with joy. Even more so when he attacked Mysterio. When Mayweather got involved and broke Big Show's nose, I suddenly saw what it was leading to. And I screamed some more. And then I realised I had tickets to see it live. And screamed again.

Pt2: heh, I’m truly envious.

Sheepster: Also, as a side note, Ric Flair's final match should be a tear-jerker. Especially as I'm going to the Hall of Fame thing the night before.

Pt2: yeah, that should really be an occasion that you won't forget. Do you think the fact that it is Flair's trumps some other HoF ceremonies? Or does Hart's, or Hogan's and Piper's, match up?

Sheepster: I think it does, but probably only because I've seen Flair wrestle. I missed the heydays of Hart and Piper, so they're not as important to me. Maybe Hogan rivals Flair's importance, but I have much more respect for Flair than for Hogan. Hogan seems to be a one-trick pony, as if he's cashing in on the popularity he had in the 80s and early 90s. With Flair, he's just been doing his thing for 30 years. He still wrestles week in, week out and he's 60 years old. He seems to love what he does.

Pt2: I must admit, if you missed the popularity of Hart, Piper and Hogan at their best, it's very easy to agree with you. For years, Flair has been performing at a much higher level than two of the others, while the other is long retired. I can't help thinking I've kept you long enough, so I'll get onto some serious predictions for the event in a few days - first, will Ric Flair be wrestling after it?

Sheepster: I'd like to say no, but there's a feeling in the back of my head that says "Probably".

Pt2: Will the celebrity match result in anything other than a win for Floyd Mayweather?

Sheepster: No, it won't. Though with all the shenanigans his crew have been up to, I'd love to see the WWE strike back with a shoot of their own.

Pt2: Who is going to win Money in the bank? And will they go on to be a world champion?

Sheepster: I'd have to say... ummm... Kennedy. Yeah. Though that's more of a wish than a prediction. Just so they can do what they wanted to do last year. And yes. He'll go on to be a world champion.

Pt2: Edge vs. The Undertaker - streak comes to an end, or Undertaker keeps on trucking?

Sheepster: Gah. Er... I think the streak must end here.

Pt2: A big prediction there.... and finally, in the Forrest Gump vs. vanilla ice vs. Lemmy match up, who will win your Wrestlemania main event, HHH, Cena or Orton?

Sheepster: John Cena. He just looks odd without a belt.

Pt2: Yeah, I can't help but agree on that one. I get the feeling other people are holding it for him.

Sheepster: You know, he only needs another year (I think) with the title before he surpasses Triple H to become the second most prolific world champion ever.

Pt2: With talk like that, you know you're gonna start some conspiracy theories! Can we rely on you to come back and talk to us again when you get back from the granddaddy of them all?

Sheepster: Absolutely.

Pt2: Excellent. Sheep, I thank you.


There you have it people, straight from the horses mouth. These are the words and opinions of a man considerably luckier than myself – one who will be attending Wrestlemania XXIV. I’ll have to settle for watching on PPV. To Sheepster and everyone else who is going, thanks for playing your part in making the show what it is, and I hope you all get a great show.

I hope this was a bit different and a little more interesting than the usual ‘predictions’ column that tends to be obligatory at this time of the year. I’ll be back again after Wrestlemania – let’s all hope that it’s a good one.

Until next time,

Take care

Pt2









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