Roofs wrote:Just been kinda reminiscing (sp) courtesy of that popular video website. Just wondered how long people on here have been wrestling fans, and what some of your best/fondest memories are as a fan?
For me I first started watching in 1991 as an 8 year old, stopped in 1994, then got back into it in 1999.
Favourite matches of all-time would include Bret Hart v Mr Perfect (SS 91) Hart v Bulldog (SS 92), HBK v Ramon WM10), + Hogan v Yokozuna at WM9 (even though most wrestling fans seem to hate it!
).
I watched my very first Wrestling 'thing' about aged 4, walking in on my uncle watching Wrestling and running out screaming in horror at what I saw - I'm sure it was Davey Boy Smith trying to drown Shawn Michaels, though I do remember him having ECW on during my early days and also some brutal matches that I vaguely recall Mankind/Goldust in.
I was interested as to what the hell it was, and also excited that at any time, I would be scared.
Two things then got me hooked onto Wrestling;
1) The aforementioned uncle told me that Davey Smith was 'only from Golborne' - Wow, Golborne, not ten miles from my home!
and
2) I saw my first Bret Hart match.
As I grew a little older, I actively sought out a monster collection of Wrestling books, videos, toys etc. When I was on Holiday in Rhyl circa 1998/9, I bought an old WCW annual at a carboot sale (pure kayfabe) just to see how radically different, or not, Wrestling develops over peroids of time.
Some of my best memories of matches as a kid include the WCW Starrcade PPV, where they had an International Tag Team invitational (like the Dudley's recent one, only in a One night KOTR format), where you get to see Rey Mysterio Sr wrestle.
Also, Bret Hart's matches with The Undertaker were standouts in my mind, as well as the WM match with Austin.
Owen Hart's dungeon match with Ken Shamrock was fun to watch and I was also a big Goldust mark in the 90s.
Mick Foley appearing as all three gimmicks in the Royal Rumble was hillarious.
As I grew up, opinions and the way I viewed wrestling evolved over time, but the passion I had for two blokes in the ring with the ability to have an audience glued to their every move never wained.
IMO, the top 5 Wrestlers I have ever seen are Bret, Dynamite, Tiger Mask, Rollerball Rocco and The Undertaker - if only for being
the best 'big man' ever.