A section unto itself Hol Mike Quong (David Lam Campus) I'm really getting sick of all the talk about icons in professional wrestling today. Far too many wrestlers claim to be an icon or something special in the industry. Ric Flair, for instance, never claimed to be an icon, but a lot of wrestling fans think he is, myself included. Although Flair lives up to his nickname of “The Dirtiest Player In The Game,” he’s still done a lot for the industry. He's held eleven NWA/WCW World Heavy- weight Titles, two WWF World Heavyweight Titles, six NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Titles and three NWA Tag Team Titles. He's literally done it all in professional wrestling and has nothing more to prove. He's already secured a spot in both the WWF and WCW halls of fame in my opinion and in that of many wres- tling fans around the world. I do question his wisdom in resigning from the WCW after Eric Bischoff filed a lawsuit against him for missing a television broad- cast to watch his son compete in an amateur wrestling tournament. I don't know if fans want to see Flair end his career as job bait to the dying fad that is Bill Goldberg, but I'd much rather see him end his career as the WWF World Heavyweight Champion. At least he’d get the respect he deserves in the World Wrestling Federation. Another name that comes to mind when I think about icons is Rowdy Roddy Piper. This man is by far my favourite professional wrestler ever. He's different than Flair in that he claimed to be an icon about two years ago. Even now as the acting commissioner of WCW, he still laces up the boots lywood H every now and then to com- pete. He’s also different than Flair in that he’s gained popularity other ways than holding titles. He’s held two NWA United States Heavy- weight Titles and one WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Title. That’s not nearly as impressive as Flair’s accom- plishments, but Piper has always been know for his never say die attitude and the fact that he’s as tough as nails. During his long and storied career, he’s only been pinned once and that was by Bret Hart at Wrestlemania VIII for the WWF Intercontinental Title. Bret Hart never really claimed to be an icon, but he demands so much respect from fans that it almost goes to his head. He's no doubt the greatest wrestler to ever come out of Canada, that’s a very elite title when you think about the great Canadian stars. Men like Pat Patterson, Mad Dog Vachon, Jacques and Raymond Rougeau, Rick Martel, John Tenta, Owen Hart, Pierre Oulette, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, and the late great Dino Bravo. Bret Hart's claim to fame of “The Best There Is, The Best There Was And The Best There Ever Will Be” couldn't be more true. He's held five WWF World Heavy- weight Titles, two WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Titles, two WWF Tag Team Titles and three WCW United States Heavyweight Titles. He will hold the WCW World Heavyweight Title within the next year and perhaps even the WCW World Television Title as well before he hangs up the boots. Outside of the ring, Bret is an established journalist as he writes a weekly wrestling column in the Calgary Sun. Bret is also a talented cartoon- ist as he showed when he was a guest on Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous. He’s also a talented actor appearing in a handful of episodes of Lone- some Dove: The Outlaw Years as Attn: !! STUDENTS Special offer! © Copies—Self-service e Colour Laser Copies e Colour Laser Transparencies rOiinyieal : h) a rR 48-6th Street, New Westminster Le Tel/Fax: (604) 521-6077 © Cerlox Binding For Presentations Typesetting, Resumes/Letters, Fax, Address Labels, Business Cards, Rubber Stamps, Laminating 06 cents 50% off! 40% off! 50% off! cryptic comment 4 Press: is slung, an ae last blaz- wager of Nee immortality ogan: The bi the gunslinging Ig ; ing Luther Rute. He's also been a guest voice on The Simpsons and a guest star on Mad TV. Shawn Michaels is the youngest so-called icon in wrestling today. This man has likely make several more. He's the only professional wrestler to ever be pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's held five World Heavy- weight Titles in each of the big two companies. As he amazing talent and I respect him a great deal, but it’s far too early for him to start calling himself an icon in the sport. He's in his early thirties and has held three WWF World Heavyweight Titles, three WWF Interconti- nental Heavyweight Titles, Three WWF Tag Team Titles and one WWF European Heavyweight Title. He’s the only man to ever capture the WWF's Grand Slam, which is the feat of winning all four major titles in the WWF. I have no doubt in my mind that Shawn Michaels is a future WWF hall of famer, but he should hold off on the icon business at least for another few years. No matter what anyone else says, I will always think of Hulk Hogan as the biggest icon in the history of wres- tling. Hogan is correct when he says that he made wres- tling what it is today. Even people who aren't wrestling fans know who Hulk Hogan is. Not only is he a star in the ring, but he’s also a star on the big screen. He’s made at least twenty movies and will In the crosshairs a trigger ie the Other battle, a of’ hrase ay, came up through the WWF in the 1980s, he played the role of the superhero. He was the kind of guy little children could use as their role model. He gave them the four demandments of Hulkamania: train, say your prayers, take your vitamins and believe in yourself. If every child fashioned their life after Hogan’s teachings back in the eighties, we'd be living in a much better world. What made Hogan unique was the fact that he had charisma. He couldn't wrestle worth beans, had one move and didn't know a wrist-lock from a wristwatch. Fans saw past this inability to appreciate the charisma Hogan showed. I’m just worried that since Hogan left the WWF for WCW on such bad terms with Vince McMahon that he won't be put in the hall of fame. He and Randy Savage were both the subject of the “Billionaire Ted’s Wrasslin’ War Room” sketches in early 1996, where the WWF mocked WCW’s use of their stars of the 1980s. If Hogan isn’t inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame, it'll definitely be the biggest injustice in the history of wrestling. The Undertaker is another man who never claimed to be an icon. He was known as the phenom and the conscience of the World . Wrestling Federation. He's held two WWF World Heavy- weight Titles and one WWF Tag Team Title and is a lot like Rowdy Roddy Piper in the way that his claim to fame is not the number of title reigns he’s had, but his immense popularity with the fans and the fact that he never once complained about getting screwed by the promoters. Jim Ross once said some immortal words about The Undertaker that completely sum up exactly what he represents for the industry. “Not since the late Andre The Giant, has any one superstar that has walked the squared circle, dominated like The Undertaker!” All of the men I've talked about here could be considered icons in wrestling, but in my opinion, no one can really claim to be an icon, they have to earn the title of icon. Guys like The Undertaker, Andre The Giant, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts, and Steve Austin. All of these men have one key thing in common. They are all solid workers for whatever promotion they have worked for. They never once complained about getting screwed by the promoters or getting the short end of the stick. They just went out there and gave the fans 110% every single night they performed even if they weren't fan favourites ~ throughout their careers. That’s why those men can legitimately be called icons and that’s why fans continue to watch professional wres- tling. nttp: lotherpress. cloualas.bc.ca February 3 1999 the Other Press