Welcome to another edition of HAMMERTYME, as always I am Jammin George. There is a lot that I want to cover as I said last week. Our feature match is another Wrestle Mania 3 Classic Macho Man Randy Savage vs. Ricky ?the Dragon? Steamboat. Also as an interesting tie-in to my topic of death, Miss Elizabeth the ex wife of Randy's had died early at the age of 42. A young loss also sad to note it was drug related. I have some info on her included as well. Young death and drug use why is this real life tragedy continuing? Is it the result of gimmicks gone badly?



I also will touch on the man from Death Valley. I think given my monologue on him and his career. While not responsible for these or any of the actual deaths, His persona is death and his undefeated streak survives. In any event we will get on with this installment of HAMMER TYME.

EMAIL

SPELLING!!! No not 90210 Tori Spelling either. I did notice the error after it was posted. N.W.O not N.O.W unfortunately spell check doesn't catch things like that. While the ?thyme? was a gimmick the N.O.W was a mistake. I apologize for that. The other comment that I interesting was the old column was more liked. I hope that this will in time be a favorite however it is too early I think to make a judgment. I will keep that request in mind for the future. Also as per my balance efforts it is very rewarding and I appreciate all the positive feedback and am pleased to be growing a fan base that looks forward to my writing. I can not stress enough that this is for you and your enjoyment. With over 200 hit's a week it must be good. But I do realize it can always be better.

SOAPBOX

I know I do a monologue but some times in the old school we would say getting on a box and preach or talk to the crowd. Weeks ago I did this to address steroids. This time I bring it to taking things too far. I understand Stephanie get compensated for her TV time, but did Randy and that matter the creative/Storyline writers have to let Randy inflict injury. I mean come on we are taught at a young age boys don't hit girls. There is no exception taught to us. Who cares if he proclaims to be ?Mentally Challenged? back in the old school the referee would be fired, he would be barred for life and the locker room would have cleared to the Ring to remove that loser. Now I am all for Diva's and their contribution to wrestling. Inter gender has always peaked my attention. Never did it but would keep it open as entertainment, certain moves I believe could be done but if you any respecting male the whole hitting a woman makes this a tough sell. Now Randy used a RKO style attack so it can argued he never ?hit? her. Proving my point but was clearly necessary. Would have made more sense to cuff her to the rope and let her watch Triple H be humiliated or near crippled unless she gave the word or did some act. Injuring her only shows the lack of respect and need for him to be ordered into treatment and give Triple H a match against former DX Shawn Michaels and that would be a fight to watch. It would be easy given Shawn's jealousy gimmick for him to get upset with Triple H stealing the spot light giving him Sweet-chin Music and setting the stage for a feud that would carry into a pay per view. It is also interesting to note that Randy Orton was a legend killer or used the gimmick. It failed with his match against Hulk Hogan. Yet Shawn takes it, ends Ric Flair's career, ends Vladimir Koslov's undefeated streak and now is set to end Undertakers 16 and 0 streak at Wrestle Mania. Sometimes it takes the right guy to sell a gimmick. Showing that anyone can use a gimmick and make it there own with out copying what has been done. Its like playing a character in a movie you make it yours and add to it.

INTERVIEW

The Undertaker, although not responsible, but when you think of death you got to think of him. He began as Texas Red and later as ?Mean Mark? Callous. His debut was in 1984 and in 1989 joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW). What I also found interesting was in his early career he used several gimmicks. As I said some try several things before settling on one and sticking with it. His first match was against Bruiser Brody which he lost. It is reported that in 1989 he was booked to win his first professional wrestling title. Not bad 5 yrs most spend a career and never see a championship match let alone a title. Like the AWA with Hulk Hogan, WCW made a similar mistake and let Mark go in 1990 had he stayed look at how he has turned out. He could have been WCW savior like Hulk saved WWF. It would have been interesting to have seen Vince with legitimate competition. In my continued effort to teach how to do gimmicks here is how they created the UNDERTAKER?.

The first persona debuted on Nov 19, 1990 and was modeled after a mortician from the old western movies; He also was impervious to pain. He also drew his mystic power from the urn that Paul Bearer carried. It would revive his strength when he called on it. On that year Survivor Series his finisher the Tombstone Piledriver made its debut.

FEATURE MATCH

This was perhaps my most favorite match with the exception of the main event. I feel had it not been overshadowed by the gimmick of the bell attack it would have been an outstanding match. What a gimmick that went too far??? Gee see how some gimmicks are just taken too far. Even in old school it was a problem. The high point of the match was the repeated near falls that both scored. It was so back and forth it kept you on the edge of your seat. Both demonstrated a great amount of stamina and guts. In the end Ricky Steamboat won the intercontinental Championship and Macho Man would go on to become World Champion the next year. With a little help and guidance from his partner Hulk Hogan.

Here is little back history on the Macho Man Randy Savage. He began wrestling in 1973 and his manager Elizabeth was actually his real life wife. At least until they divorced on Sept 18, 1992. In 1994 he promised Vince he would renew his contract and not sign with WCW. The WWF was going to feature him in their magazine and on the cover. It went to press and he left. The reason is suspect that when Randy left for WCW he took sponsor Slim Jim with him, he was their spokes person. This enraged Vince as due to his steroid scandal he lost a lot of money when Macho Man split.

Money has been an issue to Randy. He refused his likeness be used for action figures relating to his appearance in the movie Spider-Man unless ?You back a Brinks truck up to my door.? So I am sure if WCW offered money he bolted. An interesting internet rumor has stated Randy had an affair with Stephanie when she was a minor. I am including that because it would explain why Vince has banned him for life. Even Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan who have left Vince on questionable terms where allowed to return so if that event is true that would explain the result. Vince or Randy neither are willing to talk about it nor is WWF/WWE.

Ricky Steamboat on the other hand left for WCW returned to work behind the curtain for WWE and is now being inducted into the Hall of Fame and making appearances on TV and maybe in Wrestle Mania 25.

CLOSING

It's sad to note Miss Elizabeth died at the age of 42. She reportedly died of a drug overdose mixing xanax, hydroquinone and vodka. Her boyfriend at the time wrestler Lex Luger was charged with 14 counts and of those 13 counts was felonies and he was guilty on all those 13 charges and paid $1,000 fine and 5 yrs probation. WOW lets talk about star power!! Very few could get off that easy. He was not charged but was a suspect and rumors ran wild. How about for running wild next week here on HAMMER TYME the immortal Hulk Hogan. I doubt we will see him at WM 25 due to his recent back surgery. I covered his match last week at WM 3. I want to look at his out of ring and his legal treatment. Has he got Hulkamanic's for a legal team? Tune in next time for HAMMERTYME.