WrestleMania Rewind: WWF struggles at the gate (WM11)
By FRANK ZICARELLI - Toronto Sun
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WrestleMania once meant Hulk Hogan vs. Roddy Piper; Big John Studd vs.
Andre the Giant; King Kong Bundy vs. Little Beaver; Macho Man vs. Million
Dollar Man.
Sadly, the WWF, which promotes itself as the "New Generation," has lost
sight of its past and is now being eye-gouged at the gate.
According to recent figures, WrestleMania XI drew the lowest pay-per-view
event in the history of the highly-successful and highly profitable Mania
event.
In retrospect, the Super Bowl of slams and snap suplexes really did live up
to its pigskin namesake - the showcase was a super bore.
In the end, WMXI proved that wrestling's old guard and old rules breakers
shouldn't have been so easily dismissed. In wrestling's crowded turnbuckle,
there's still room for the old and for the new.
It also proved that Lawrence Taylor isn't a wrestler, though the one-time
New York Giant and future NFL Hall of Famer is expected to return to the
squared circle at Summer Slam.
Taylor's deal with the WWF apparently was a $1-million package that
involved two wrestling appearances. Look for LT to team with Bam Bam Bigelow,
the Beast from the East who will turn baby face, against two of DiBiase's
corporate henchmen.
It has been a sporting year to remember for athletes named Kidd. From Jason
Kidd, to Trevor Kidd, to the 1-2-3 Kid, these freshmen phenoms have left their
imprint. The wrestling Kid has developed a strong following and briefly held
the WWF tag belt, while at the same time refining his ring skills.
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2003 Wrestling Headlines
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