Walking With Elias

So I'm discovering a guy who could save my membership to the WWE Network, which I cancelled following the Divas battle royal at Royal Rumble 2018 closing the show. 

Elias.

I listened to his podcast with Steve Austin tonight. The guy is very likable and easy to root for. His gimmick could be as big as The Rock in my opinion. 

I first took notice of Elias when I got a text from my buddy James that made no sense. He said "I am Elias." Then I watched Elias in the Royal Rumble, and his intro just intrigued me. I had not been watching WWE programming at all. All the sudden, the bell went off and it all made sense to me. The guy had a huge physique that I liked and reminded me of Bruiser Brody.

Today I was talking to my buddy James at work about why old heels worked, and why he liked Elias. The guy has 'it'. And no sooner do I hang up with James but I get a blast e-mail from WWE that is promoting Elias for the 2018 Elimination Chamber. WWE is smart. At the moment they're losing me, they do just enough to pull me back in and get me to watch the PPV that I otherwise wouldn't have considered tuning into just before my membership expires.

Elias beat Braun Stroman and John Cena for the right to be last in the Elimination Chamber. He's going to play the guitar in the Chamber if WWE lets him.



This gimmick - there's just something about it that's throwback if they don't fuck it up like they always seem to do - and if they do it right I'll tune in as long as Elias is running the ranks of WWE's main event picture.

Maybe; just maybe, the slow build WWE is doing with Elias will work and they'll book the guy right.

More DM Wrestlemania 3 Macho Man

The headscan is beautifully done. Really everything is perfect except people are not happy that Mattel made these the lilac purple trunks instead of the true color pink that Macho Man wore in the greatest match of all time. 

Macho Man Randy Savage - Wrestlemania 3 Mattel Defining Moments Preorder

I owed myself this one, and preordered it last night from Mattel. It's Randy Savage from his greatest match of all-time, Wrestlemania 3 against Ricky the Dragon Steamboat. 

That match is largely considered by many to be the greatest match ever in the Wrestling Bible. His figure is based on his beautiful attire from that night. You'll remember the pink trunks, yellow boots and robe. He didn't come with his Intercontinental Title strap that he dropped that night; but he is supposedly a new head scan. 

I just had to have this one. This was my biggest want of all-time, for many years. Macho Man was my favorite other than Bret Hart; so I am happy to have ordered this one and ordered a protector case for the figure. 

WWE Network Watch Log

Last night, the feature was Macho Man Randy Savage. This has become my new project. 

1. Tuesday Night Titans Episode 42: July 19th, 1985. 

2. Wrestlemania XII: Macho Man vs. Ultimate Warrior (Retirement Match)

The Tuesday Night Titans was purely awesome. It was Randy Savage fresh out of the territory he was working in, coming into the WWF for the first time. Billed as "the biggest free agent" out there, having managers like Fuji, Freddie Blassie, Bobby Heenan, Jimmy Hart all clamoring for his services. 

He cut a promo of foreshadowing - almost amazing to hear the words he said. He said he was going to be the greatest; even 1000 years into the future. He said he was going to take the World Heavyweight Title belt from Hulk Hogan and gave his first mention of 'Macho Madness'.

Then he beat some poor jobber named Aldo Marino.... 

RIP Mr. Fuji

Another figure from my childhood passes away. Mr. Fuji, in my opinion; one of the greatest managers of them all, passed away last week in his 80's. A cause of death was not determined.

Good God, Fuji had all the bad guys. I remember him with the Powers of Pain; I remember him with Demolition. I remember him alongside Yokozuna, throwing salt in the eyes of Bret Hart.

Thank you Fuji for the great memories.

I can still hear him saying he's going to torture his opponent and make him suffer.

White Ranger Mattel Seth Rollins

I bought this today, had to. It was my San Diego Comic Con WWE PPV weekend present to myself. It's Battleground 2016 on Sunday. Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight strap, the New Day against the Wyatt Family; and Kevin Owens vs. Sammy Zayn. 

I watched the 2016 WWE Draft the other night half dead from strep throat, so it will be interesting to see the first PPV since that's taken place and what the ripple effect will be. 

WWE Payback 2016

I'm writing a little bit about the "pay per view" tonight, the fallout show from Wrestlemania 32, WWE Payback. 

Enzo & Cass v. The Vaudevillians 

Uh, I thought Enzo actually DIED, I ran to twitter since this is the replay and he apparently just had a concussion. Seriously, it looked like that match in which Rey Mysterio Jr. killed a man when Enzo's head snapped against the bottom rope and he was breathing funny. It scared the shit out of me. 

Kevin Owens vs. Sammy Zayn

Nice opening segment with Zayn and Owens' rivalry being replayed and how far they go back. My guy Owens begins the match dominating, big rally by Zayn. Huge clothesline on Owens. They have to let Owens go over clean here, right? Owens with some insane moves following near falls. Frog splash tribute to Eddie Guerrero, two cannon balls with Zayn sitting int he corner. Near fall off a Zayn counter with Owens going for his finisher. Owens counters with Sammy going for the tight-rope. Crowd was going nuts during the match with pops while both guys laid on the ground. Backdrop after exchanging blows on the apron. Insane move by Zayn outside the ring through the second ropes for a DDT. But Owens catches him with a kick inside the ring and the pop up powerbomb to finish it. 

The Miz vs. Cesaro (Intercontinental Title Match)

Owens stays down at ringside for commentary after pulling Byron Saxton into the ring after his win. Cesaro has the shoulder thing on, and Owens points out that he injured Cesaro's shoulder.