Wrestlemania XXX Reaction

Written by Roger Malcolm I’ve watched Wrestlemania every year since Wrestlemania XXI when the Armed Forces Network (AFN) aired it for free in 2005.  I had missed out on the first 4 Wrestlemanias as a kid.  I got my start with Wrestlemania V when the Mega Powers Collided, with Hulk Hogan challenging Macho Man Randy Savage for the WWF World Heavyweight Title; Wrestlemania VI when The Ultimate Warrior challenged Hulk Hogan for the title; Wrestlemania VII when Hulk Hogan challenged and battled Sgt. Slaughter for the title; and my final as a child, Wrestlemania VIII at the Hooiser Dome, when  Hogan defeated Sid Justice by disqualification.  Lame.  At least Wrestlemania VIII had Bret Hart challenging Roddy Piper for the IC title, and Randy Savage challenging Ric Flair for the WWF World Heavyweight title. Since then I’ve watched Wrestlemania I through XIV after acquiring the Wrestlemania boxset on VHS.  There are always great moments at every Wrestlemania but there’s not one Wrestlemania that I consider my favorite overall, as Survivor Series and Royal Rumble have always been my favorite events, especially from the late eighties through the early nineties.  However this all changed on April 6, 2014 when I watched Wrestlemania 30.

Wrestler Turned Actor: Best Bit Parts

Written by Roger Malcolm

Sometimes it’s just better if a wrestler does a small role before tackling a lead, such as Hulk Hogan did in Rocky III as Thunderlips.  It is perhaps the king of all wrestler-turned-actor bit parts, so with that said I won’t be selecting it on my list, as I’m already mentioning it.  However, I do believe Hogan would have been better off sticking to this approach for his film work or just having stuck with this role alone and not continued acting anymore at all.  Since his roles in No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, and Mr. Nanny were so poorly received, I don’t know how he ever climbed the ranks to land a recurring role in the Thunder in Paradise series of films and TV show.  Though it’s probably a safe bet why he doesn’t still have acting roles in films.  Hogan really did transcend professional wrestling and all the wrestlers turned actors surely have him to thank even if it’s just for setting the bar so low for the acting transition.