BillyVance 35 #1 January 16, 2008 Got to set the story up first so here goes. A month ago I was watching WWE's Monday Night Raw pro wrestling show on TV. My wife really doesn't care much for it but lets me watch. Once in a while she'll tune in and I'll fill her in on some details. Then out of the blue she asked me "why don't we get tickets for the show when it comes to Birmingham?" I stared at her for a few seconds as if I didn't believe it. She just wanted to get the hell out there for one night and have fun. Then ran off to the computer while I sat watching the program on TV. 20 minutes later she comes back saying she's bought tickets! What the fuck... How cool is she? Fast forward to last night. It had been probably 15 years since the last wrestling event I attended, and a lot has changed in how it's put on display through those years. 15 years of fine-tuning, additions, etc. Although I watch WWE on TV every week on Monday and Friday nights and WWE's side show ECW sometimes on Tuesday nights, that really does not prepare you for what it's like to watch in person in the arena. WWE sells out arenas everywhere they go, and Monday Night Raw has been cable TV's #1 rated show for damn near 15 years or so, and my experience in person confirms why. Caveat here - yeah, I know it's faked fighting, so what? They put on a damn good show of athleticism and acting combined in one package, complete with eye-blinding pyrotechnics and ear-splitting sound effects. So here we are at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center last night ready to watch 3 and a half hours of sports entertainment. The show started off with ECW's stage and equipment, but I also noticed SmackDown's equipment hiding behind a large black curtain just behind the ECW apparatus and I realized that WWE combines two shows in one. The first hour belongs to ECW, which is then shown on TV 2 hours later, and the latter 2 hours to Smackdown after a 30 minute change-over of equipment and stage, including swapping out the ring ropes, padding and skirt with the show logos, which is then shown on Friday night. Some 10 or 11 matches ensued along with other filler material and then the all-hell-breaks-loose finale brawl in the ring. Wrestlers like the 7'3" 420 lb Great Khali, 7'0" 320 lb Kane, his half-brother 7'0" 300 lb Undertaker, all the way down to 5'6" 165 lb Rey Mysterio showed up and put on a great show. Also appearing were 450-500 lb behemoths Big Daddy V and Mark Henry. Seeing guys that big on TV really doesn't do their size justice, so it's amazing to see them in person. Yeah, there were a few women wrestlers and they got nice bodies and big boobs, with a couple of exceptions, but it seemed like the crowd really didn't care or get excited. Weird... Hey, even if you don't like pro wrestling or don't care, it won't hurt to check out a show when it comes to your area. It's a lot of fun. My wife was blown away, and that's saying a lot! The pyrotechnic displays for some of the superstars' entrances about damn near blew out my eardrums and blinded my eyes! Ouch! I suspect that's part of why these shows sell out everywhere. Damn... And uh oh yeah, it's one of the few events where I can see a bunch of redneck AND black fans co-exist peacefully! So, tune in to CW Friday night at 7 pm CST and just check it out. It might be boring on TV, but it aint boring when you see it in person. And if you decide to go see a show in person, watch it on TV for a few weeks before so you get caught up in all the storylines and can understand just what the fuck is going on. Next time they come back, I'm gonna try and get front row seats just so I can yell at the bad guys "you're a FAT CUNT!" "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #2 January 16, 2008 WWE sells out arenas everywhere they go, and Monday Night Raw has been cable TV's #1 rated show for damn near 15 years or so, and my experience in person confirms why. Caveat here - yeah, I know it's faked fighting, so what? They put on a damn good show of athleticism and acting combined in one package, complete with eye-blinding pyrotechnics and ear-splitting sound effects. Quote So...you're an American Gladiators fan too? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #3 January 16, 2008 Only in Alabama!! Where they are still convinced that wrasslin' is real but they faked the Moon shot.Glad to hear you enjoyed the show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 1 #4 January 16, 2008 Quote Next time they come back, I'm gonna try and get front row seats just so I can yell at the bad guys "you're a FAT CUNT!" I don't think they speak sign language...Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #5 January 16, 2008 Quote WWE sells out arenas everywhere they go, and Monday Night Raw has been cable TV's #1 rated show for damn near 15 years or so, and my experience in person confirms why. Caveat here - yeah, I know it's faked fighting, so what? They put on a damn good show of athleticism and acting combined in one package, complete with eye-blinding pyrotechnics and ear-splitting sound effects. Quote So...you're an American Gladiators fan too? I used to watch that show when it first aired. Damn how long ago was that? When you were still in your 90's? At least that one was based on strength and skill. The regulars on that show were strong. With Hulk Hogan being involved in the reincarnation, I'm not sure what to expect."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #6 January 16, 2008 Quote Quote Next time they come back, I'm gonna try and get front row seats just so I can yell at the bad guys "you're a FAT CUNT!" I don't think they speak sign language... Sign language is useless at the arena. I got a pretty good voice. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 1 #7 January 16, 2008 Quote Quote Quote Next time they come back, I'm gonna try and get front row seats just so I can yell at the bad guys "you're a FAT CUNT!" I don't think they speak sign language... Sign language is useless at the arena. I got a pretty good voice. Is that what they told you?Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #8 January 16, 2008 Here's WWE's show schedule for your benefit. It's filled up 3 to 4 months in advance with new shows being set up every week or so. They have a Pay Per View event once a month (I never pay to see those anyway, well I haven't since Wrestlemania I and II). http://www.wwe.com/schedules/events/ This year's Wrestlemania XXIV is at the Citrus Bowl stadium in Orlando, Florida. They better hope it doesn't rain that day. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #9 January 16, 2008 Quote Yeah, there were a few women wrestlers and they got nice bodies and big boobs, with a couple of exceptions, but it seemed like the crowd really didn't care or get excited. Weird... For me, it's all the muscle that turns me off.. Some of them look like nothing more than a guy with boobs"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalesna 1 #10 January 16, 2008 Quote Quote Yeah, there were a few women wrestlers and they got nice bodies and big boobs, with a couple of exceptions, but it seemed like the crowd really didn't care or get excited. Weird... For me, it's all the muscle that turns me off.. Some of them look like nothing more than a guy with boobs Moobs to be exact.Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baksteen 84 #11 January 16, 2008 You what?"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport." ~mom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #12 January 16, 2008 Quote Quote Quote Yeah, there were a few women wrestlers and they got nice bodies and big boobs, with a couple of exceptions, but it seemed like the crowd really didn't care or get excited. Weird... For me, it's all the muscle that turns me off.. Some of them look like nothing more than a guy with boobs Moobs to be exact. Big Daddy V's are the worst. I wish that stupid fucker would go back to wearing a full body outfit just to cover himself up. See here: http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/bigdaddyv/photos/bigdaddyvphotos/"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #13 January 16, 2008 Billy Billy Billy. I had you pegged to be a Monster Truck fan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #14 January 16, 2008 Quote Billy Billy Billy. I had you pegged to be a Monster Truck fan. You guessed wrong. That stuff is boring. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
