Finally.
No, this has nothing to do with The Rock. But it's still just as relevant to say. Finally. FINALLY.
The news of WWE's latest Hall of Fame inductee broke Monday afternoon. When I read the name, I got goosebumps. A smile on my face. It was one of those moments as a pro wrestling fan where you can't believe what you are reading. As if hell just froze over.
While watching Raw, everything seemed to take a backseat, for this night only. CM Punk and
Me, I was waiting. Waiting for WWE's slick production values, waiting for that emotion-infused video montage that every WWE Hall of Fame inductee gets when their name is announced.
First, an image of
To say that many people never thought this day would come would be an understatement.
There is a reason Sammartino hasn't been inducted until now. Issues between Bruno and WWE include Sammartino's opinions on the company's past handling of drugs, the content of WWE's product (particularly during the Attitude Era), and treatment of the wrestlers themselves. WWE invited Sammartino in the past numerous times, but the longest reigning WWE champion ever declined every time.
It seemed to become a pet project for Triple H -- who, at the
Finally, after meetings and phone calls, Sammartino accepted the invitation, and he will take his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.
Some people are skeptical. Why now, after so much bad blood and ill words? I remember at last year's Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Ceremony, where Bruno picked up his ring 10 years after being inducted, he claimed that that particular Hall "was the only one that mattered, a real Hall of Fame." Maybe that was before he had spoken to Triple H. Though you can't take words back, sometimes comments are built up from one core issue. Triple H and Bruno Sammartino seem to have resolved this issue. In fact, Triple H is planning to organize a sitdown meeting between Bruno and Vince to clear the air and bury the hatchet. To be a fly on the wall during that meeting.
However we got to this point, we got here. And Sammartino will have a chance to "sell out the Garden" one more time, being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the night before
Welcome home, Bruno. There won't be a dry eye in the house when you speak April 6 in the house that you built. I can't wait.
QUICK HITS
... and there was an episode of Raw, too!
** CM Punk is getting nuclear heat these days. In a recent interview I conducted with Roddy Piper, he had nothing but praise for the "People's Champion" (as he is now calling himself), especially with the added restrictions he is facing.
** Ryback beat Antonio Cesaro.
** Jack Swagger beat Santino Marella. Jack Swagger sort of looked like this guy.
** Alberto Del Rio beat Cody Rhodes, with new T-shirt in tow. Though I don't like Team Rhodes Scholars broken up, I don't mind either man in a singles capacity. The Shield as tag-team challengers would be interesting.
** Mark Henry returned to destroy Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio. He looked great decimating two guys a third of his size.
** Randy Orton beat
** Fannnnn-dangggggg-oooooo. That is all.
** It was a terrific match between CM Punk and Chris Jericho.
** Del Rio and Big Show will meet at Elimination Chamber. This will mark the first time that an EC PPV does not have a top title match inside the massive structure. Good back and forth between these two guys again on Raw, with a final beatdown at Show's hotel room.
** The Shield get the worst of it on Raw thanks to
Arda Ocal is an on-air personality with theScore