Similarities ... Warnie and Hulk Hogan have more in common than you'd think. Source: AAP
If you are not an old school wrestling fan, my suggestion would be to not read this.
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If you go against my advice and read on, you are forbidden to leave comments that say "this is 10 minutes of my life I won't get back". If you write this, you are more than likely taking a break from your game of Doom, or feeding your Tamagotchi.
A hashtag can say a lot about an event and the public's perception of its success. So when #BBL02isWWE starts trending, questions must be asked. Why so many fights?
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That's not to say that the public doesn't like the direction the BBL is taking. Heck, even James Sutherland could see the positives in recent behaviours.
Personally, I have found the last few weeks to be most entertaining.
It has taken me back to a time when life seemed so much easier - age 10. My hair was all party at the front and business at the back (front mullet was mandatory in public schools from 1989 through 1993), school was for eating cream buns out of bins and the old man was coughing up $10 a week on wrestling videos.
Of course, any wrestling fan knows that we can't call it the WWF anymore due to a copyright infringement with the mob that save the pandas.
It seemed at the time of this lawsuit and the consequent name change that wrestling lost its way. Under the new WWE and Vince McMahon's reign, there wasn't a fight where someone wasn't hit with a chair, or another fighter getting involved while the ref was knocked out or someone was kidnapped.
It was cheesy, the fights were over quickly and the DDT became a standard wrestling move as opposed a manoeuvre that would finish someone. Jake the Snake Roberts made a career from it; that, and carrying around a large snake.
I thought it might be fun to take a look at the altercations from the BBL of late and pair them up with some genuine wrestlers.
Click on the links to compare the actual wrestlers to their Big Bash counterparts.
The Bushwhackers vs Virgil (Darren Berry and Darren Lehmann vs Marlon Samuels)
Marlon Samuels and Virgil both seem to cop a pounding for no reason. Yes, Virgil was Ted DiBiase's right hand man, but DiBiase was a low life whose trademark was a cheap shot to the face of an unexpected opponent and then legging it to the dressing rooms; leaving Virgil to get a mauling and the crowd always feeling sorry for him. Some say that Berry and Lehmann unfairly targeted Samuels, after CA allowed him to bowl in the BBL even though he had been banned from the IPL due to a suspect bowling action. Keep in mind that Marlon did not make this decision and didn't deserve the tag-team going after him. The attention, yet again, should have been aimed at the administrators and not Samuels.
Jimmy Hart "The mouth from the south" vs Booker T (Brad Haddin vs Chris Gayle)
If you are a wrestling fan, and frankly if you are not you're probably no longer here, you will see the comparisons between Brad and Jimmy "Mouth from the south" Hart. Not in looks, but in personality; both are talkers and will do anything to win. Booker T was known for his ability to take it aerial on his opponent and this works well with Gayle's style. Would you pay money to watch Haddin v Gayle? No, they would be cuddling and sharing Mount Gay Rum before the bell rang for round one.
Ravishing Rick Rude vs Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase (Clint McKay vs Dan Christian)
If Clint McKay had a moustache, muscles and a title belt, he is Ravishing Rick Rude. Dan Christian is filthy rich after signing a $1 million contract with the Deccan Chargers, making him The Million Dollar man. Christian is not a cheap shot to the face kind of guy and this was evident when he got straight in the face of McKay who was keen for some verbal. Christian is quoted as saying that he doesn't need anger management classes – the footage from the other night might suggest otherwise - gulp.
And here it is ladies and gentlemen, the Main Event ...
Hulk Hogan vs Virgil (Shane Warne vs Marlon Samuels)
Warne's pre-match promo: "You know something Mean Gene, nothing can stop Warniemania man, a pulling of the shirt isn't gonna get in the way of the Warnster brother. Marlon Samuels, you need to realise something man. When you step into the MCG brother, when you feel the energy that is gonna run wild throughout the arena man, those are my people, that is my energy brother, and when you touch a member of the Stars man, they will align and all the Warniemaniacs throughout the universe are gonna align to get you to train hard, say your prayers and take your vitamins . Whatcha gonna do at the MCG when the largest arms in the world and Warniemania – destroys YOU!!"
Samuels: "I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to throw my bat at you and when you bring the field up I am going to bang you back over your head."
In true WWE style, this match was interrupted by Lasith Malinga who hit Marlon Samuels in the face with a concrete ball, forcing Samuels from the arena a bloodied mess.
Where to from here for the BBL?
Marlon Samuels to kidnap Miss Elizabeth Hurley, and demand Warne's crown in a "loser leaves town match". This is announced by James Sutherland, who enters the arena with his customary smug look* and exaggerated swagger. As he gets half way through explaining the rules for the match, Marlon Samuels appears on the Jumbotron from his hospital bed. As he is declaring war on all the Warniemaniacs, Shane Warne bursts into the room and hits him on the head with a bed pan.
*In reference to Vince McMahon – James Sutherland doesn't swagger or look smug. Thought I should clear this up.
