I’m sitting here at the house watching the replay of the WWE 2013 Hall of Fame Induction program. I love my DVR and don’t know how I went so long without it. That was a definite “it” moment with Mick Foley “pinning” Chris Jericho on the stage with CM Punk as the “special referee”. It’s moments like those (and superstars like those) that make me proud to be a fan of professional wrestling.

I’m just in a mood to ramble and rant about the world’s greatest sport and anything else that crosses my mind as well. The main focus, for the next hour or so, will be wrestling and most specifically, the HOF ceremony, but nothing is off limits and no subject is taboo. That’s just a warning in case I spit something out and you start wondering “where did that come from?” I’m a complicated man who knows people, places and things. That’s why I use adjectives, so I can be descriptive. And I used to love my “School House Rock”…

Just watched the Bob Backlund highlights and based on those few seconds, as well as every recap I’ve read thus far of his “induction”, the WWE needs to bring this man back on a semi-regular basis and just let him go crazy-wild. A Bob Backlund “debate” about American values with “Zeb Colter” would be fun. A debate about the world of pro wrestling and sports-entertainment with Backlund arguing with Paul Heyman would be priceless. Backlund would wear out his welcome quickly as a regular character, but he’s insane enough and fun enough to be a recurring character, much like Mae Young or Ted DiBiase currently are.

The differences between the Bella Twins is very obvious in their evening gowns. Both of them. Looks like one of them got mumps.

No real complaints about Donald Trump in the HOF, but so far as celebrities go, shouldn’t Cyndi Lauper be there first? Or Regis? He was having wrestlers on TV as his guests 40 years ago when no one else would touch them. Just saying. I like “The Donald” and am a big fan of Celebrity Apprentice and based on the two Wrestlemania shows in Atlantic City, NJ, as well as the whole head shaving event, he’s earned his spot. Trump has some funky-ass orange hair. Just saying… lol

Stevie Ray still looks in good shape. Wouldn’t a “Harlem Heat” reunion and maybe a quick feud with the New Age Outlaws be fun to watch? Four old-school wrestlers and two of the hottest tag teams of all time would be a wrestling clinic for all up and coming WWE superstars to watch and learn from. Might bring back a few of the older fans too. Just saying. It’s good to see Booker getting some just dues. He was never one of my favorite guys in the old WCW, but he’s a helluva talent who’s had an amazing and rough life and pulled through to do damn well. Many kudos and all hail, King Booka….

Trish Stratus? Okay, she’s hot and she actually turned into a pretty good wrestler / entertainer over the years. I’d still rather see Lita, Molly, Luna or most definitely, my beloved Ivory. And she’s pregnant now? Wow! That’s pretty cool. Congrats to the founder and creator of “Stratusfaction”. Now when does Ivory get her just dues and get inducted? Inquiring minds want to know.

Actually, it all makes sense now as to why we didn’t see a Divas match or have Trish participate in any of the Wrestlemania activities, what with her being pregnant and all. As Dr. Gregory House would say, “don’t want to risk injuring the little Stratus parasite, do we?”. Trish is also now the youngest member of the WWE Hall of Fame, replacing Tammy Sytch, aka “Sunny”, who previously held that honor. Tammy hasn’t been behaving like a good little Diva, so they have to quickly replace her spot of noteriety in the HOF with someone else and luckily, Trish was available.

I think we need to see a Trish versus Sunny “Bra and Panties” match. After Trish has her parasite, of course and after Sunny does her next several rounds of rehab and joins the DDP Yoga program. That actually might be a good idea. If DDP can help Jake Roberts and Scott Hall, then Tammy Sytch wouldn’t stand a chance. She should check into that.

Let’s get back to the HOF show, shall we?

Stephanie McMahon has changed her theme music. I don’t like it. I want the old music back. I blame “creative”. No, “I blame Vince”. Big shout out to Peter Porkr here, one of the stalwarts and mainstays of the old Yahoo groups. Hope you’re doing well, Mr. Porkr…

And finally we get to Arnold inducting Bruno. I like Arnold and it’s California’s loss that he’s not the Governor anymore and they have that goof, Jerry Brown in the top spot for their state now. Hey California, how’s that working out for you? Of course, my home state of NC wasn’t much smarter. We had Beverly Purdue who managed to do major damage and tried to sink our state into oblivion in her four years in office. Talk about a bad choice. She took the Pepsi challenge. She chose Jif! That woman was dumb and we (the residents of NC) are paying for the error of her mismanagement ways. And why am I talking politics? Arnold doesn’t do that anymore. He makes bad and dumb movies for us to enjoy and ridicule. And he’s inducting Bruno so yay to him.

As for Bruno, truly the “Living Legend” of pro wrestling and long deserving to be in any wrestling Hall of Fame. This is many years overdue and despite whatever it took to get him to agree, I’m glad he finally did. Now, with the inclusion of Bruno and Backlund, all that’s missing is Ivan Koloff and the Hall of Fame is pretty much complete for the stars of the 60’s and 70’s. Not totally complete because we still have names like Ole Anderson, Jim Cornette, The Midnight Express, Mr. Wrestling II, Bill Eadie, Randy Savage, Owen Hart, etc that need to be included at some point, but it’s well on the way.

And when are they going to actually build a physical “WWE Hall of Fame” anyhow? If baseball, football, country music and rock & roll can all have physical buildings and Hall’s of Fame, the WWE can and should too. Just saying.

It is so weird to see Larry Zbyszko on a WWE video feature. True, he’s talking about his mentor and teacher, Bruno Sammartino, but still… given the history between Larry and the WWE, and especially Larry and Vince, it’s just crazy to me. Plus Larry was signing autographs at WWE Access in the “Legends” area. I’m happy to see it since I’m a big Zbyszko fan. Now can we say, “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko for the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame? Or is it too soon to start talking about that. If Bruno would agree to come and induct him next year, I’m pretty sure that Vince and HHH would go for that deal. I’d love to see it.

Also, while I’m speaking of Larry, why not let him go to NXT and help the young kids with ring psychology and how to cut a promo / tell a story in that ring. He’d make a great trainer and has an encyclopeida of knowledge that he could share with the next generation. Larry Z as an agent for the WWE would work well too and be a great asset for the WWE Superstars.

Back to Bruno now. I was aware of most of his history and past, but to see it all poured out in front of us, with the video introductions as well as his speech, it’s just amazing what this man has been through. Talk about the ultimate “American Dream”. I don’t think that even Dusty Rhodes could argue that Bruno has done it, lived it, and exemplifies it. He’s an amazing person and truly an icon to be respected and honored.

Hey Bruno… one more match? Hmmm! He’s fixing to be 78 years old. Never mind! The only people over seventy who get to wrestle anymore is Mae Young. Go Mae Go!

I wonder if David Sammartino was in attendance at the HOF ceremonies. I didn’t see any mention of him anywhere so I doubt it. That’s sad!

And the show closed with all the Hall of Famers coming out and Vince hugging Bruno. Yeppers, hell has officially frozen over, but I guess it marks the end of a feud that has gone on way too long and was only hurting the men involved and the wrestling business. I’m glad it’s over. I guess the next thing we’ll see will be Vince and the WWE helping out Ole Anderson and Ole / Vince embracing in front of a camera. Nah, that’s not going to happen. At least I don’t think it ever will, but after seeing Vince and Bruno kiss and make up, who knows?

So I watched the Hall of Fame show and those / these are my thoughts as the show progressed. It was a good show, albeit way too heavily edited. I’m looking forward to when the entire HOF show is released on video or on YouTube. I definitely will be watching and I wish I could attend one of these events live. It would be, to paraphrase the Miz, “AWESOME!”.

I’ve got stuff to go do, like troll Facebook and write a letter to the man I love so I’m out of here and closing this up for now. Have a great one, Peeps!

Ubuntu!