I was really tempted to order Wrestlemania last night, but the one-two punch of having too much due for today and the PPV's price tag of ten trillion dollars made it a no-go. From what I've read, it was a pretty great show -- had the right ending, at least. The first of these events that I've seen was "Wrestlemania 2," at some kid's birthday party at an ice cream parlor in Jersey. We watched it on video -- this was right before the big Hulk Hogan/Andre thing. Save for King Kong Bundy's big head, the only thing I remember is the birthday boy throwing up his ice cream at the precise moment SD Jones was throwing up in the middle of the ring after Jake "The Snake" Roberts threw a python on him. Everyone went home right afterwards.
As for last night's show, I was especially interested in seeing my old favorite, the Undertaker, return to the gimmick that made him famous. I used to be completely obsessed with this character, to the point where I'd fashioned homemade ripped sleeve shirts in junior high, walking around school trying to roll my eyes back in my head and failing miserably. For those not wise to the ways, old school Undertaker was sort of like having a literal zombie pro-wrestler. He's gotten a lot older and isn't as beloved nowadays, but it would've been cool to see the ol' act again. Sadly, from all reports, the tribute to vintage Taker played out more like a guy who really didn't want to do it. If Wrestlemania was Jim Ross' last day of work, I'm sure he would've snidely worked in a "shades of LOD 2000" as Taker made his way down the aisle. Okay enough...
Instead, I devoted an hour to The Sopranos. Last week's season opener left a lot to be desired in my opinion, but this week's show more than made up for it. Steve Buscemi is only one episode into his run, and already he's the most fascinating act they've got. I wasn't the only one who hated most of the previous season, and it seems like they're adhering to public opinion with the new crop. In other words, stuff is actually happening this season. It's not just a buncha talk with some thrown-in scenes of Aida shoving things up Joey Pantoliano's ass under the guise of smart entertainment. So far, so good with the new season -- let's hope they can keep with the momentum.
REPLIES: 42 comments
I heard Chris Benoit won some match or something. I hate him.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 03/15/2004 12:55 PM EST
Yeah, Sopranos was pretty sweet last night. I like how even though Buscemi is playing a guy trying to go straight (and a masseuse to boot), he's still not a wuss- you definitely got the sense that he used to be a bad mofo. Too bad he's committed to the going straight thing, though; be pretty cool to see him and Christopher vying for Tony's favor, though I'm not sure Buscemi's character has it in him to be obsequiousness enough. Who knows, maybe he'll fall back into the old ways eventually. In the meantime, things are definitely looking promising.
Chestnuts roasted by The Lucky One @ 03/15/2004 12:56 PM EST
Oh yeah, loved Buscemi's Miami Vice-style suit, too; that was a nice touch for a guy who'd been away since '89. Looked like he just stepped out of Vice City.
Chestnuts roasted by The Lucky One @ 03/15/2004 12:58 PM EST
"to the point where I'd fashioned homemade ripped sleeve shirts in junior high, walking around school trying to roll my eyes back in my head"
LOL! I grew out of wrestling by the time I was in middle school, but I still have fondness for my former favorites, the undertaker being one of them. I was TERRIFIED of this guy to the point of having nightmares about him breaking into my house and trying to find me...Not sure who was worse....him or his fat faced counterpart, Paul Bearer....yuck.
Chestnuts roasted by B-Dawg @ 03/15/2004 01:09 PM EST
It was probably the first and last time triple H will tap out. Great pop and the brock lesnar goldberg stuff was sooo funny thanks to the crowd.
Chestnuts roasted by vyle @ 03/15/2004 01:10 PM EST
Guarantee that Feech guy is gonna cause some serious rifts in this season too.
Chestnuts roasted by Bizzar @ 03/15/2004 01:37 PM EST
I stopped watching wrestling when the asian chick gave birth to a hand... sexual chocolate was the dad. I gave up after that.
bring back papa shango and kamala. back when wrestling was real.
Chestnuts roasted by chad @ 03/15/2004 02:03 PM EST
no. wrestlemania was crap. total crap.
Chestnuts roasted by winkle @ 03/15/2004 02:04 PM EST
Ahh.. WWF erm I mean WWE ah whatever!
I loved the Undertaker as a kid. The funny thing is, one of my best friends looks exactly like him.. It's fun going out to bars with him and stuff cuz people give us *lot's* of space.
He went to the Sars-Stock concert in Toronto and had people litterly gave him 10 feet to himself even though there were millions of people around him!
I have a picture but I'm scared he'll find out if I post it ;)
Well, maybe if you reeeally want to see...
Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/15/2004 02:06 PM EST
Yeah, I was happy to see the Undertaker back but I was hoping to see him in the old black outfit with purple gloves and tie. It was good to see Paul Bearer there again, however. We interviewed him on our wrestling show one time and he was pretty funny.
They still should have had Mr. T at Wrestlemania with Hulk Hogan. But at least we got to see my all time favorite, Bobby the Brain Heenan.
www.belowthebeltshow.com
Chestnuts roasted by King Chachi @ 03/15/2004 02:12 PM EST
Mr T pwns j00 n00b!! >:O
Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 03/15/2004 02:38 PM EST
I felt like there was something lacking last week too, I was expecting big drama between Tony and Carmela, and instead...they're more civil than they been in years? It brought back unpleasant Michael/Kate Godfather III flashbacks, which is a deadly comparison to draw if your show is about gangsters.
My biggest complaint about last season was NOT ENOUGH MELFI. When she showed up in the opener...well I don't want to be impolite and spoil anyone, but I really wanted her to go against everything her character stands for so we could get some more scenes with her badonkadonk, even if it was a body double. (?) Ooooh, so many things I want to say, but I won't, because I'm not an Evil Spoiler Monster.
Steve B. is going to be a great addition to the show, he's an amazing actor. I miss Joey Pants, though. Did anybody besides me watch the short-lived The Handler?
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/15/2004 03:02 PM EST
The impression I'm getting is that the writers have been backed into a Melfi Corner™. Since she was such a huge part of the first run of shows -- arguably the second most important character -- there's no pulling the plug on a storyline that really doesn't make a damn bit of difference at this point. Livia's death took the punch out of the therapy stuff. Ever since then, it feels like it's been there just for the sake of being there.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/15/2004 03:05 PM EST
Teehee, Melfi Corner™. I thought the "Employee of the Month" storyline was incredibly powerful, but it also seems as if that's where her character arc peaked and she's got nowhere else to go. If she didn't open up and change her relationship with Tony then, why would it be any different now? It puts the viewer (me, at least) in the uncomfortable position of wanting the storyline to go places that would arguably ruin the show.
Oh well, tomorrow I'm going to Beverly Hills to meet a bunch of the cast members of Carnivale and HBO execs, maybe I can convince them to put in a good word to David Chase.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/15/2004 04:13 PM EST
Alas, like Michael Keaton's character on The Simpsons, I only get basic cable.
Okay, so that's a lie, I get digital cable, but still no HBO or any of that.
Chestnuts roasted by Spike Spiegel @ 03/15/2004 05:54 PM EST
http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/498/498953p1.html
"Screenwriter Talks G.I. Joe
Responds to IGN FilmForce's report.
March 15, 2004 - IGN FilmForce's recent plug of ToyFare Magazine's interview with G.I. Joe producer Lorenzo DiBonaventura prompted a lot of feedback, including an item from none other than Joe screenwriter Michael Gordon.
Gordon assured us that the 'G.I. Joe movie is based on the 80's Joe characters. (Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Destro, Baroness, Storm Shadow, Cobra, etc.) Period.' In other words, there will be no Joes based on the classic 1960s characters, as DiBonaventura – whom Gordon praised as 'a master producer' – seemed to suggest.
The screenwriter and self-proclaimed 'Joe fanatic' also told us a tiny bit more about the film's sole new Joe character, Rex, who DiBonaventura said would be a major character. "Rex is just a first name (which actually came from Hasbro),' Gordon advised FilmForce. "Much like Duke is really Conrad, Scarlett is really Shana, etc. Rex will have a Joe handle just like every other character.'
Gordon promises fans that 'the G.I. Joe movie will ROCK!' and will be 'chock full of blistering adventure, heart pounding heroism, high tech weapons and vehicles, and more crazy ninja action than you can handle.' Sounds good!
-- Stax"
Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 03/15/2004 07:21 PM EST
My cousin was going to invite me to his house to watch it, but he never did :( He wants me and him to go to the one next year in LA I don't think I will be going though. He made fun of me because I'm a Cena fan.
"Word Life, You can't see me!"
Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 03/15/2004 09:28 PM EST
Wait...This blog entry didn't talk about when the next articles coming. Which allows me to segway perfectly into the question...whens the next article coming?!
Chestnuts roasted by Max @ 03/15/2004 10:54 PM EST
I just keep missing Sopranos. I know some of you are saying "this is a show you make time for" but I just can't work up a whole lot of energy to catch it.
Chestnuts roasted by allicat @ 03/15/2004 11:49 PM EST
Since no one has bothered to correct Chad, I'm getting itchy. The woman who gave birth to a hand was not an asian chick, she was Mae Young who everyone said was like 90 or something. She was all old and wrinkly and people kept beating her up to make Mark Henry mad.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 03/16/2004 12:06 AM EST
Please. If they wanted to make him mad, they could just hide his candy bars. Fat fucker. Mae is in her 80s, as is Moolah, and both of them were at WMXX apparently.
Why are they acting like this lottery thing is so groundbreaking? It's just a modified version of the brand extension draft they had. Vince would be better off to make both shows under the same "brand" again, and have everybody on every show. Except ECW guys, give them one of those syndicated weekend show timeslots, and bring back ECW.
Chestnuts roasted by Jim @ 03/16/2004 02:13 AM EST
I never really liked watching wrestling. It's not that I don't like watching people get hurt. It's just that the fake stuff tends to look REALLY fake and the real stuff tends to look like love making.
Chestnuts roasted by Kreeper @ 03/16/2004 04:13 AM EST
BENOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIT!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
:)
Chestnuts roasted by I.C. Veena @ 03/16/2004 06:05 AM EST
I'd like to see a Sopranos/Sex and the City Wrestlemania. Tony would crush Carrie. Bullets and Manolos would be flying all over the place. There'd be more graphic sex than Janet showing her nipple!
Think about it!
Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 03/16/2004 06:50 AM EST
Guerrero AND Benoit holding championship titles...and at the same time? Ok, is it raining frogs yet? Surely this isn't the same Vince McMahon who used to give no one but the biggest wrestlers title shots!
Chestnuts roasted by Nachokhaki @ 03/16/2004 07:27 AM EST
Don't worry, Matt.... Now it's the Under...
No, wait, I won't call that sad display by that name.
Now it's Mark Callaway himself who failed at the eye-rolling. And he tried at least four seperate times.
Shows that he should've retired a few years back in 1998, before he ruined his own reputation.
It was so sad... I've waited over five years for the real Undertaker to return (Ministry of Darkness in 1999 wasn't the thing for me, either), only to get something that looked like an early training session of a man who really didn't feel like showing up in the first place.
Thus, WM20 was the last Wrestling show I've watched. After nearly 15 years, it's over for me.
Back to this site's scheduled program.
Chestnuts roasted by Creature SH @ 03/16/2004 09:13 AM EST
Hey, don't feel bad, pikachulover ... you're not the only John Cena fan in this world. I'm so happy to hear he's the US Champion...
Word life!!!
Chestnuts roasted by 9volt @ 03/16/2004 09:24 AM EST
what they need to do is fire everyone from smackdown except for Cena, Angle, and Eddie Gurerro. and they need to take the title away from eddie. also they just tie michael cole and tazz up over by the merchandise booth and let the fans just kick the shit out of them all night. smackdown's no better right now than wcw was in it's final days.
Chestnuts roasted by winkle @ 03/16/2004 09:37 AM EST
this is odd, one update to the blog that I have absolutly no interest in at all. I just want the next chia plot!
Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 03/16/2004 11:23 AM EST
Shit, I just realized it has been two weeks since chia plot IV. Okay Matt, we're waiting.
Blah, blah, blah, "Mac & Me", whatever.
Chestnuts roasted by A-wel Cruiz @ 03/16/2004 11:56 AM EST
Some say the man's not wrapped too tight,
Captain Lou, Captain Lou, Captain Lou
But when he's on the scene, everything's alright,
Captain Lou, Captain Lou Albano.
With a man of a thousand faces,
I know we'll be goin' places (HEY!)
I'm gonna stick with "The Guiding Light,"
Captain Lou, Captain Lou Albano.
Chestnuts roasted by Lou Rules @ 03/16/2004 11:57 AM EST
I would have been here yess'rday but I believed my cable company when they said they said they would send a repair dude between ten and one, and I sat home all day. Then they showed up at six, after I took off from work. feh.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/16/2004 12:30 PM EST
http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/559.html
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
I tried leaving a voice mail but it doesnt exist anymore :(
Chestnuts roasted by wack0 @ 03/16/2004 12:35 PM EST
-snicker- The Shockmaster proves why only Kool-Aid Man and the Hulk are the only ones who look cool breaking through a wall. "Hey, Shockmaster!" Bonk. "Oh, crap!"
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/16/2004 01:23 PM EST
Hey Fit for Natalie, I just noticed that you commented on the blog entry before this one. Dude, it's Deathfrogurt from the 2005 Boards. What in the heck is going on over there? I'm going into withdrawal from not posting about Transformers. Post back heah if you read this, okay?
Chestnuts roasted by Deathfrogurt aka Alt-Tab @ 03/16/2004 02:33 PM EST
I miss the original 'Taker. The old west flair was what sold him in the first place. What I would like to have happen is to call the whole mess TitanSports, and have the WWE and WCW as divisions, like the AFC and NFC. Just carry the NFL metaphor to a logical(logic, in rasslin'?) conclusion. Split the PPVs amongst the divisions, and use WrestleMania as the Super Bowl. The ECW? Just give it back its' own show and I'll eat a cookie and be happy.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/16/2004 03:15 PM EST
I used to love old school wrestling. Who was the guy who always had all the rubber bands on him (was that Captain Lou)?? I also once got to meet Tito Fuentes and Tugboat. That was wierd.
Hmmm... Thoughts on Wrestlemania... Well, Stone Cold Steve Austin has done well for himself, considering he's kind of a one-trick Pony. I thought that they shoulda brought back Andre the Giant, even if he is dead... just sort of in tribute. Maybe have Hogan wrestle his stupid, overweight daughter to the ground. Mick Foley RULES as the greatest wrestler ever, even if he can't really wrestle.
About the Soprano's... Steve B. looked Awesome in his Eighties Gear. I'd like to see him and Paulie the Poet/Philosopher go head-to-head for a while, just cause Steve can out-class him. I think Aid is going to crack under the FBI's pressure, and Meadow's eventually going to become one of Tony's Captains (by the end of the 6th season). Whew! I wouldn't mind seeing her in one of those tricky "dr. melfi" shots... only not with Tony... Geesh! We don't live in Fresno, after all! You Sicko's!
What ever happened to Sgt. Slaughter?
Chestnuts roasted by The Return of Long Duck Dong @ 03/16/2004 04:06 PM EST
Michael Jackson wanted Kevin Smith to direct him in something very similar to "Turbo Teen."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4500364/
http://www.x-entertainment.com/adventcalendar/2003/december22/scoobyxmas.wmv
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Interview/4199/TurboTeenWebSite.html
Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 03/16/2004 04:47 PM EST
Clickety-click, peoples.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/16/2004 05:31 PM EST
Bored? Read X-E's first article ever.
I first read it in the golden days when there was an X-E archive. I've read every X-E article ever. Suckas!
Chestnuts roasted by Alt-Tab @ 03/16/2004 06:08 PM EST
This is totally off the subject here but does anyone have the sprites that matt had on the side of the homepage from the pokemon gameboy games? if someone has them saved could they please email them to me? Henners1337@hotmail.com
Chestnuts roasted by Henry @ 03/16/2004 06:11 PM EST
Hey Matt, it was George Wells against Jake Roberts at WM 2, not S.D. Jones.
Chestnuts roasted by John @ 03/17/2004 08:05 AM EST
