THIS post was VERY important to me, and is from the HEART, so IF ya DON'T like it, don't READ it. Its just the way I feel. Its basically a summary of WHY I loved Pro Wrestling so much, & WHY I'm so upset NOW that VinnyMac is the NEW owner of WCW. Anyway, here it is, maybe the LAST wrestling post that I will EVER write. i HOPE you like it :

You know, I'm at a crossroads as far as posting in anybody's forum. I'm actually questioning whether Pro Wrestling is worth watching anymore. I'm even thinking of calling it quits, almost. I've just gotten into such a routine of posting on the different boards, that I can't imagine NOT doing it anymore.

I have to say that, even though this might sound silly to you guys that just watch it for the hell of it, wrestling has been the BIGGEST influence in my life. It's been a 'HUGE'(no pun intended), part in shaping who I am today.

I grew up watching Dutch Savage, Jimmy Snuka, Moondawg Lonnie Mayne, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, Arn & Ole Anderson, Ivan Kollof, Superstar Billy Graham, and many others. I first became addicted when watching the Pacific Northwest Wrestling on TV in Seattle at the grand old age of 9 years-old, and I've loved it ever since.

I want to take some of you guys down memory lane, and share some of my fondest memories with you. I, like the majority of the fans on this board, literally grew up watching the WWF and WCW. For me, my memories have been better than the current wrestling product.

How many of you guys remember Jimmy Snuka's Fiji-Island Gutbuster? Piper's Pit? The sheer electricity that was felt during the Ultimate Warrior's entrances? How about Big Van Vader? There was the Stinger, he lit up the crowd and brought the fans to their feet, he was just incredible. Of course there was also the pompous, cocky heel Ric Flair who just had that aura of magnificence. How about hearing Randy Savage's "OOOOHHHHHH YYEAAAAAHHHH" echo through the arena's?

I'm sure everybody remembers Steamboat vs. Savage at Wrestlemania, one of the many greats. Bret Hart, one of the best, if not the best wrestler I've ever seen. Bret just ***reeked*** of coolness, with his leather jacket and shades. How about the Showstoppa, the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels? There will never be another Hitman or HBK. Their Iron Man match at Wrestlemania 12 was remarkable. How about Bret vs. Owen at Wrestlemania 10? Tremendous, even though I was a bigger fan of the Ultimate Warrior at that time.

Think of the feuds that there have been in the past, Cactus jack vs. Vader, Sting vs. Flair, Luger vs. Koloff, Bret vs. Owen, Bret vs. HBK, Savage vs. Steamboat, Hogan vs. Andre, Hogan vs. Savage, Hogan vs. Flair, just so many great feuds and matches, what i remember is that not only did many of the feuds of old end up with great matches but also was a culmination of a great story, something you don't see in the current wrestling product.

Hell, just a couple of years ago, with the introduction of the New world Order in WCW and later WWF Attitude, the product was still very entertaining and I still loved it. Hogan vs. Sting, the rising of Diamond Dallas Page, Booker T vs. Chris Benoit, the introduction of the charasmatic Lionheart Chris Jericho to the masses, the 'Crow' Sting, the Giant Paul Wight, the man you wanted to have the crap beaten out of- "Hollywood" Hogan. The cool, arrogant Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, the genetic freak Big Poppa Pump, the new 4 horsemen with Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko. Bret Hart's controversial "shoots", Goldberg spearing the metal plate under Hart's jersey, the nWo 2000, and even more.

Over in the WWF there was an amazing feud in Bret vs. Austin with the genius "double-turn" at Wrestlemania 13, the introduction of the "new" Hart Foundation, the 3 faces of Foley, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the baddest man on the planet, HHH and his gang of degenerates, the New Age Outlaws, the Hell in the Cell with Mankind and The Undertaker.

The people's champion, The Rock, he was just hilarious. The rebirth of "The Ravishing One" in the Big Valbowski, Val's speeches before his matches were classic, The beginings of the Hardy Boys vs. Edge & Christian (the first couple of matches before Russo left was classic storytelling), the intro of the heel Dudley Boys, the Corporation wars. Great stuff that isn't seen anymore.

Don't get me wrong - the current state of wrestling has produced some great matches(for the WWF only on ppv), and decent(but usually stupid) feuds, but the overall product lacks that special something that once made it great.

Pro Wrestling is on such a pitiful downward spiral that I can barely stand to watch it anymore. I found my passion for wrestling renewed once again, with ECW, but with the talent raids and the poor business decisions, they're on the brink of non-existence. Now, with Vince McMahon buying WCW and slowly killing off ECW, the WWF stands to monopolize the wrestling industry.

The WWF, a mere shell of what it was, is the end result of success without competition. It sucks that pro wrestling has gotten to this point, but at least I'll always have my memories (and hopefully old video tapes). The more I watch the current product the more I yearn for the past.