Like it or not, I am a fan of the WWE. During the mid 90s I watched the installation process of Sky TV in our family home back in "Royal" Tunbridge Wells, Kent (actually it was closer to Southborough but Tunbridge Wells was close by). After this process, my oldest brother tested SKY TV and soon enough found SkySports and there was wrestling on, which he wanted to watch. I looked on with no understanding of it at all, though it became more and more clearer that my older siblings were fans of wrestling, in particular WWE which was known as WWF at the time (it wasn't the same WWF as the one featuring the protection of pandas and wild animals). Naturally I got more and more exposed to wrestling, especially since my Mum was also a fan, but it wasn't until the screen went red with flames soaring upwards on the TV and out came an imposing red and black behemoth known as "Kane" that I stood in awe and paid better attention to the WWF. From there on I was interested in the WWF and watched its programming on Sky TV whenever I could. Still it wasn't until post WrestleMania XIX (19) that I became a fan and it was WrestleMania XX that was the first PPV I watched via box office from start to finish. Since then I have watched all of the now WWE PPVs that were free on SkySports and the majority of the bigger PPVs such as the Royal Rumble, SummerSlam and WrestleMania and some minor such as Bad Blood which had gimmick matches such as the Hell In The Cell (these PPVs were ones you had to order via Sky Box Office). I would watch Raw the day after it aired because we had a recorder, saving us from the task of staying up past midnight and watching it as it aired. Watching Smackdown on the other hand was a tradition I was determined to maintain because it was superior WWE TV and I preferred watching wrestling matches that weren't ruined by unnecessary DQs, celebrities and hijinks which were common on Raw.
Sadly I do not watch WWE programming the same way or as much because I grew weary of content I didn't care for and Smackdown became and now especially is a shell of its former self. Now I watch only what interests me and storyline associated content building up to the oncoming PPV, and skip the rest. PPVs such as SummerSlam, the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, TLC and WrestleMania are definite watches for me, my younger brother and my Mum, but if there is a lacklustre build-up to a lacklustre PPV such as Hell In A Cell 2014 then I spend my money on other things and watch the PPV freely after its happened (technically illegal but then charging money to watch inferior content is just ridiculous and depressing when you do buy into the PPV and it turns out like a cheeseburger without the cheese or the actual burger).
Of course when the WWE Network FINALLY arrives here in the UK and works just aw well as other video channels such as YouTube and Cinemassacre, then I will jump on the bandwagon and pay the "9.99 per month" price tag and get my fix of WWE programming that way. Seriously there is WWE content that I wasn't able to watch such as the majority of the brand exclusive PPVs that I want to catch up on and watch infamous matches such as Eddie Guerrero versus JBL at Judgement Day 2004. It would be interesting to watch the documentaries on such events like the Monday Night Wars, and perhaps watch content from WCW and ECW on the WWE Network. Aside from that though there is nothing really else the WWE Network offers that I'll watch, I can say "no" to Total Divas even though I am the biggest fan of the Divas in the family; I just can't stand Big Brother inspired programming.
My favourite Superstars and Divas and others? Kane, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vince McMahon, Edge, Chris Jericho, Goldberg, Christian, Eve Torres, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Randy Orton, AJ Lee, Mickie James, Stephanie McMahon, Paul Heyman, Goldust, Triple H, Cesaro, The Miz, Dutch Mantel, Jack Swagger, and JBL. Personal Favourite? Kane
Now I might get a lot of flack for my list of favourites and personal favourite but my list reflects my viewing of WWE, WWF, WCW and so on; I've never watched entities like AWA, TNA, ROH, and the many regional wrestling developments there were back in the day, and I have no intention of doing so. I am a person who likes what he likes and doesn't venture out of that comfort zone. The apparent "Golden Age" of wrestling doesn't interest me and personally I don't give a damn or like Hulk Hogan. I like wrestling yes but I like the stories that are told and the characters even more and that's what hooks me in. You can bash me for liking John Cena but the truth is I like what he does in the ring, what he says and I admire John Cena for his dedication into the business and outside such as the Make A Wish Foundation. I enjoy the supernatural prowess of Kane and The Undertaker and appreciate that they can wrestle better then many. I enjoy the talkers such as Paul Heyman and the McMahons because they are heels (bad guys) and are so good at it. Chris Jericho in my opinion is the most talented in the WWE and out because he can give grade A matches twice a week, he doesn't have a bad attitude, he wants to spur on next generation wrestlers such as Bray Wyatt and back in John Cena in 2005 and can be successful outside the WWE like with his band Fozzy.
Of course there much to hate about the WWE and amongst the many wrongs, these are the worst in my opinion: Vickie Guerrero, Michael Cole, Hornswoggle, Bo Dallas, Adam Rose, The Great Khali, celebrities, Bret Hart versus Vince McMahon at WrestleMania XXVI (26), the Bella Twins, tag teams with superstars looking the same as each other, Hulk Hogan, Randy Orton versus Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam 2006, Night of Champions, John Laurinaitis, Having no blood in gimmick matches such as Hell in A Cell, Ladder, TLC and so on, music artists performing such as Kid Rock at WrestleMania XXV (25), Santino Marella, Hell in A Cell PPV, Big Boss Man versus The Undertaker in Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania XV (15), Chyna, Jeff Jarrett, WWE's obliviousness to the past (i.e. ignoring the fact that The Undertaker and Triple H had already had a match at WrestleMania XVII (17), WWE mistreatment of Divas.
The Undertaker versus Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX (30) is neither a favourite match of mine nor a horrible abomination either. It couldn't live up to the highly praised matches involving The Undertaker at WrestleMania before such as against Shawn Michaels at XXV (25) and XXVI (26), but then it would've been foolish to think a match with Brock Lesnar could. Still I felt genuine fear because after Brock hit the German Suplexes and his second (2nd) F5, The Undertaker was out of it and couldn't synch with Brock effectively. After the third (3rd) F5 I thought it would be impossible to tell a convincing story anymore if The Undertaker kicked out considering how broken he appeared. Still Brock getting the 1, 2, 3 and ending the Streak created shock felt across the world, I couldn't close my mouth because it had broken off after it hit the floor. For the rest of the event I had jaw pain because I was still in complete shock. And yet consciously I was nodding in agreement with myself about the decision, about Brock winning. For me it makes sense for Brock Lesnar to beat The Undertaker and end the undefeated Streak because Brock is certainly more than capable of beating The Undertaker in a match or a shoot fight and has done so impressively in the past matches against The Undertaker. It works for Brock's mystique too because he was a monster of a man in the WWE during his first stint and still is a monster of a man today.
The only gripe I have with The Undertaker versus Brock Lesnar match at WrestleMania XXX (30) was that it happened too late and when it did, The Undertaker wasn't healthy enough for a match with Brock who is very physical and imposingly powerful but nothing else (he's not capable of doing it all in and out of the ring like Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, Triple H or Kane). The match itself was cumbersome and flat and unfortunately The Undertaker did suffer because of his injuries and sustaining a concussion during the match. But that in itself makes the match remarkable because The Undertaker was capable of delivering a match with Brock Lesnar in his, age and condition. Its kind of odd that the Streak got broken after 21 wins because 21 has nothing significant to it like 20, 25, 13 or any number associated with omen and the devil, but ultimately I agree with Chris Jericho and Paul Heyman regarding The Undertaker's toughness and the Streak and that The Undertaker should lose in his last match. Will it be The Undertaker's last match? Personally I don't think so, I feel he'll honour Sting's challenge for a match at WrestleMania and that will be the last because the Streak is over at 21-1 and the appeal of The Undertaker versus Sting at WrestleMania will be that both are legends, its never happened, and Sting wants to face The Undertaker so badly. I feel that The Undertaker versus Sting could be a fitting pinnacle for both legends regardless of the outcome.
But its because of the video games that I enjoy the WWE the most. At first when the games were about the wrestlers and the wrestling, it was acceptable and fun at times but overly average and unmemorable. WWF Warzone was the first game I came across that allowed you to create your own Superstar but back then the mode was just as average and I wasn't as creative back then, still it was fun hitting WWF Superstar with TVs! WWF Attitude and its clones were better and I enjoyed the fact you could choose the moves this time around, create a female Superstar (Diva) and the voicing of Superstars and Divas was often times hilarious. WrestleMania 2000 or XVI (16) as I prefer to call it and WWF No Mercy for the Nintendo 64 were definite improvements and I would call the later a classic.
It was with and after WWE Smackdown! Here Comes The Pain though were WWE games got to the level that I really enjoyed myself. Creating a Superstar/Diva became progressively better as did the graphics, general sound and gameplay. With multiplayer online or offline; wrestling was even more enjoyable because now you didn't have to just fight against the A.I controlled wrestlers. It was around this time were myself and my younger brother began our own WWE with our own created Superstars and Divas, shaping our own editions of Raw and Smackdown and PPVs. We also provided commentary and since then this trend has only grown. With WWE '13 and 2K14, me and my younger brother utilise the WWE Universe mode to add that extra level of unpredictability into the fray of absurd and plentifully enjoyable madness. Hopefully with WWE 2K15, things will continue and I can resume with my created Superstars and Divas and stories whether it be on my own or with my little brother.
Alas there is a problem; not with the games themselves but rather the limits of these games have. I am more then anyone in the family or anyone I know; a fantast and I come up with some very long-winded and precise stories that irritate my younger brother who is not made up the same way as I am. I have my limits say for example I won't touch on Space or a whelm not realistic at all, I opt for an alternative world where my characters live beyond the business of WWE. The Superstars and Divas I create have backstories, they live in fictional homes based on actual and real world locations i.e. Chicago. I use these characters in other media such as in racing games or RPGs.
An example of this is a character called "Bigichu", he is a blood relative to the now deceased Triple P, Bigachu Biga Bi Ga (BBB), and Bigachu, but has different parents. Bigichu is yellow skinned like his relatives, has a distinctively minimal moustache, dons dark blue ring gear and his favourite band in the world is Chevelle. Bigichu closely associates with a created Superstar called "Cobra" created by my younger brother. Bigichu is a former Royal Rumble winner, a former World Heavyweight Champion and once the co-general manger of Raw with and without Cobra. Bigichu has only recently let out to his colleagues in the WWE that he is a husband to a former Diva called Jessie and has a daughter, making him a father. Outside the WWE he lives with his daughter at their home in Atlanta, Georgia, while his wife and his daughter's mother had walked out fairly recently for unknown reasons. The family servant is "ChoasCroc Ronso", a Ronso from yes you guessed it Spira in Final Fantasy X and X-2 who also competes in the WWE. Thanks to the Xbox 360 versions of WWE games, I can use an edited version of Chevelle's "Antisaint" song as a user playlist which plays as Bigichu's music when coming down to the ring and winning the match just like the actual WWE Superstars and Divas. In Forza Motorsport 5 and Forza Horizon 2, there are cars in the garage that are painted in the same dark blue and have a created logo "4 REAL" just like Bigichu has on his ring gear, thus defining the cars as "Bigichu's cars".
"????!!???!!!!" is perhaps what comes to mind of whoever reads this post, but the truth is "Bigichu" is just (1) example, and because there are a hundred (100) shots for created Superstars and Divas in WWE 2K14, it means there are 49 other Superstars and Divas that I have created, each different and each having their own unique music and stories, some that are far longer and detailed than "Bigichu".
I have four (4) created representations of Corpse Party characters on WWE 2K14 which will be duplicated in detail on WWE 2K15 later on. They are Ayumi Shinozaki, Yoshiki Kishinuma, Naomi Nakashima, and Seiko Shinohara and yes they wrestle in mine and my little brother's variation of the WWE based on 2K14 and so on. All are rather short in height to reflect upon their ages based on the Corpse Party series and my own fictional writing, but cannot be the exact heights due to the limitations of the WWE games. Attires are different once again because of the limitations in the WWE games though I try to replicate their attires and appearances as faithfully as I can while plainly creating an alternative setting from the Corpse Party series, for example; Yoshiki utilises in essence the same attire as seen in Corpse Party: Missing Footage when Yoshiki meets Shinozaki in the store (at least I think its a store with a photocopier). Each have unique qualities; for example Naomi is the submission expert and her move set is specifically set to inflict damage on an opponent's head thus making it easier to force a submission with her first (1st) finisher "The Hart Lock" or a pinfall by utilising a chokeslam as her second (2nd) finisher, Seiko is the fastest and dives over the ropes and attempts high risk moves the most, Seiko's attacks are kick to the head based as are her finishing moves which she can perform as a "catch finisher" like Randy Orton's RKO which incidentally is Shinozaki's finishing move. Both Shinozaki and Naomi use a song from the Corpse Party series as their music themes, whereas Yoshiki uses an edited version of "Misery Loves My Company" by Three Days Grace and Seiko has an edited version of "All About Tonight" by Pixie Lott to reflect upon Seiko's happy and fun personality. The story behind these four Corpse Party characters is written and defined in my own fan fiction of the Corpse Party series dubbed "Corpse Party -Reckoning-" which tells how the four (4) came to Chicago, Illinois and end up competing in the WWE as well as how they go on with their lives together following the events defined in the Corpse Party games.
Now the paragraph above is a mouthful and then some to take in I imagine but the real stunner here is that while this is in my mind, it is actually written on a Word document using the title "Corpse Party -Reckoning-" and thus far it is 366 pages long with the intention to be far more as it will eventually cover the events such as they're matches at SummerSlam 2013 and then "Regina's Court Case" which transpired after the 2014 Royal Rumble and 1st ever "Diva's Rumble". Before one might mutter the words "WHAT THE FUCK?!!?!" I should point out that "Regina" is indeed another character (Diva) that I created who has been a major character since WWE Smackdown VS Raw 2009, who hasn't been beaten at WrestleMania (WrestleMania XXIV (24) being her first (1st) and is shaped by traumatic difficulty encountered as a child.
........................................................ Okay now you can say "WHAT THE FUCK?!!?!"
This is the tip of an iceberg with me, and a post that defines the essence of what being a fan of the WWE is like from my perspective. Mind boggling isn't it? I should mention that this is what I enjoy and I won't apologise for it. Whether you may consider it sad or not, the fact is that there are countless others who create their own Superstars, Divas, create their own WWE Universe and so on, and perhaps there are those out there who think or act similar to me. Does it make me feel better that I'm perhaps not the only one who thinks and acts this way? Not really, but hey honesty is good for the soul, ...sometimes....maybe. If you have anything you wish to say reading this then don't feel like you have to keep it locked away with a padlock with a key set in a jar of acid eroding away (Saw III (3) reference there). I welcome any comments.
If you think you want to try a WWF/WWE game out then there are many to choose from. Just don't go for WrestleMania X8 (18) for the Nintendo GameCube because that's Vickie Guerrero "Excuse Me!" with Hornswoggle chewing at your right foot for an hour horses***!!
Until next time on the SJBMCPRS Report, see ya!
