There’ll be many great moments at Wrestlemania 25 this year. It’s the silver anniversary of the biggest event in professional wrestling on the biggest stage in all of sports entertainment.
WWE will unveil all the glitz and glamour normally associated with the grand affair, showcase the company’s top performers in the most high-profile programs of the year and have this year’s site, Reliant Stadium in Houston, packed to the gills, as millions of fans around the world watch the broadcast in more than 90 countries.
WWE followers are expected to inject upwards of $50 million into the local economy with a weeklong schedule of activities, interactive experiences and programs leading up to the big event.
The real “main event,” though, could be the previous night at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at the nearby Toyota Center. There “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, the biggest money-maker in the history of the business and one of the state’s most popular native sons, will be inducted into the company’s shrine.
But for many fans — especially longtime followers of the business — something else very special will happen that evening.
Two of the greatest stars in the history of the business will take center stage as Ric Flair inducts Ricky Steamboat into the WWE Hall of Fame.
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that Flair, who was inducted into the WWE Hall last year, will do the honors and present his longtime foe, who currently works as a producer with the company.
Like Funk vs. Brisco, Flair-Steamboat is one of the most storied rivalries in the annals of pro wrestling. Their names will be forever intertwined, and the Nature Boy putting his most famous opponent into the Hall serves as a fitting close to an important chapter in wrestling history.
Their legendary program spanned three decades. The two headlined shows in the Carolinas throughout the late 1970s, headlined pay-per-views in 1989, and even worked matches as late as 1994. A classic series of bouts in 1989 is regarded as among the greatest in mat history.
The two superstars’ careers also paralleled in many ways. Both came out of Verne Gagne’s wrestling camp in Minnesota in the early ‘70s. Both settled down in Charlotte, raising families and opening gym businesses there, and the two formed a friendship over the years outside the ring.
- Hogan vs. Flair under the big tent at the Florida State Fair?
Believe it or not, the match was planned for this Friday night, following the final show of the day by Circus Hollywood.
But it wasn’t the Hogan or Flair that most fans are probably thinking about.
A “match” between Ric’s son, Reid Flair (Fliehr), and Hulk’s daughter, Brooke Hogan (Bollea), was to have been taped for an episode of “Brooke Hogan Knows Best.” The contest was canceled, however, after Reid suffered a stress fracture in his leg while training with his dad. The bout is expected to be rescheduled for early spring.
- WWE got a lot of mileage last week out of reports that Mickey Rourke would wrestle at Wrestlemania, but that possibility now appears to be dead in the water.
A planned match between Rourke and Chris Jericho has been scrapped, with the actor opting to save his muscle for an Oscar face-off with Sean Penn.
Rourke’s handlers apparently didn’t want him involved in a Wrestlemania storyline that could have jeopardized his chances among Academy Award voters.
“Mickey was very honored to be asked, as he has the greatest respect for WWE. However, he will not be participating in Wrestlemania,” Rourke’s representative, Paula Woods, said in a statement. “He is focusing entirely on his acting career.”
The Academy Award nominee had announced Sunday night on the red carpet before the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles that he was going to do the event and even said he was going to toss Jericho “around the ring like tossed salad.”
Jericho, appearing the next night on WWE television, said, “You are out of line. It’s one thing to play a wrestler in a movie, something entirely different to actually be one. Your comments offended me. You made a mistake. It’s the last thing that you and Ric Flair want to do, and that’s offend Chris Jericho.”
The two appeared the following night on the Larry King show (Jericho was shown live via satellite) and appeared to be on two different pages during an awkward exchange.
By that time, though, it was obvious that the initial plan had changed. A night later, the deal officially was off.
Since the Oscars are handed out in February, though, there could still be time to salvage the angle.
Vince McMahon, who was looking forward to putting Rourke in the coveted celebrity role at this year’s event, later wrote in an e-mail to E! Online that Rourke will be at the show “to support the WWE superstars who support him and the film in which he stars, ‘The Wrestler.’”
Jim Ross, in his latest WWE Web site blog, advised the actor not to get in the ring.
“Rourke is not a spring chicken and reminds me a great deal of my friend Ric Flair, specifically, as he reportedly loves the night life and he should stick with those aspects of his life that he is truly blessed, acting and partying, and not step in the ring with Chris Jericho.”
“If that were to happen it would make the ending of ‘The Wrestler’ feel warm and fuzzy, which it isn’t,” Ross added. “Don‘t do it Mickey. Do come to Houston; enjoy a great presentation at the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania, have fun, but stay out of the ring. Or do what in the hell you want.”
- Ric Flair has remained busy since his WWE departure last year making special appearances at venues throughout the country. He also has worked on a variety of other projects, including a proposed reality series, a potential movie deal and a video game that debuted last week.
Flair will manage sons Reid and David as they challenge for the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling tag-team title at the “Night Of Champions” Feb. 21 at Cheraw High School.
Flair also will make a rare appearance in Shelby, N.C., a regular stop for Jim Crockett Promotions during the ‘60s and ‘70s, on May 2 as part of a wrestling show and fundraising venture co-sponsored by the Shelby Police Department and Shelby City Parks and Recreation.
“It doesn’t get any better than Ric Flair, still to this day,” Charlie Holtzclaw, director of Shelby City Parks and Recreation, told the Shleby Star.
By Mike Mooneyham (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, February 1, 2009
