Sunday, December 26, 2010

Love in the Key of Macho

Randy Savage vs. Honky Tonk Man
from Saturday Night's Main Event

This match took place in the midst of Randy Savage's face turn. The lovely Elizabeth, up to this point was always the objectified girlfriend. Sometimes riot shield, as noted before, sometimes rope holder for the Macho Man's entrance. Always the pretty girl being held back by the prick who's just using her. A victim of her own self esteem. Maybe she thought she could tame this Savage and his wicked Harley that is the Intercontinental title, but in the end she is stripped of her self-worth and serves only as an example to women that can view from outside of the fury and excitement.

The Honky Tonk Man is the Honky Tonk Man. Cool, Cocky, Bad. He's accompanied to the ring by his girlfriend Peggy Sue and manager Jimmy Hart. They are your douchebag greasers for the evening. He and his cohorts show up to the malt shop just as Randy was about to make Elizabeth pay for the bill.

Despite being his girlfriend, Peggy Sue seems to have little interest in stopping Honky's pelvic gyrations directed at Elizabeth. Savage had enough of this guy the minute he walked in the door , however, and commences with the bionic elbows and jabs.

Honky is a lover and not a fighter and is not above letting his tiny wingman Hart grab Randy's leg and cause all kinds of mischief so he can waylay Rand. Each blow giving more valuable time for Mr. Man to thrust his hips while making Elvis song puns masked as conversation.

Peggy Sue is the confused young girl who herself is in a one-sided relationship and thinks by helping Honky into a PG Threesome she can cement a promise ring and his eternal love.

The melee spills outside and no clear winner is really determined. Still, from the catcalls and hoots of the onlookers it seems Honky was the one who was all shook up after. His pride damaged and his potential Cinemax-rated kiss parade on hold indefinitely he grabs his great equalizer. Guitar in hand he stalks Savage.

Fueled by lust and anger Savage argues the case of civility. His case is an accusatory finger to Honky's face. He's indignant that he might be done in by an object and not a man. He makes his cases with his fists. He persecutes with the flesh, but it's the lack of persecuted Flesh that drives the Tonk's honourless attack.



As he lay in the corner subdued and delirious, it's Elizabeth who puts herself between Honky and her man. Honky winds up to put the finishing touches on this epic cockblock but is surprised to see his woman protecting him. His moment of contemplation is cut short as Randy blocks the guitar and runs all three greasers back to the fairgrounds from which they came.

Finally, Randy realized that maybe he was on the wrong track. Perhaps an honest living and a girl to call his own were all he needed in life. And who was this woman who would sacrifice herself for him. This was not the subservient wench he walked in here with. It was then he remembered all the aisles that she cleared, the dinners that she bought and the ropes that she had opened. She once again prepped herself to open those same ropes as she always had.

"No. Today it's my turn."

In private, there have been countless chivalrous acts that have been selflessly played out at Dennys', KFC's, and on special occasions, Applebee's. In this instance, they were all validated by the most uproarious reaction to holding a door for a lady that has ever occurred. I should be so lucky as to wipe away tears as my date walks into the Truck Stop through the door blocked by my calloused, loving hand and I hoist her onto my shoulders.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

A New Hope

As I have been drowning myself in sorrow, it is only fitting that I turn to the better part of human nature like a hand reaching from the light to pull myself up. Of course, the hand I speak of is that of Professional Wrestling. I acquired the Macho Man Randy Savage DVD and have been going through the matches ever so slowly and realizing that wrestling really kind of sucks now. A rant for another time. How about some match reviews?

Bruno Sammartino vs. Randy Savage

Bruno of course is "The Living Legend". I've heard a few interviews and he seems like about the nicest guy you could ever meet and definitely the nicest old guy who could probably still beat you up. I have nothing but respect for Bruno. With that noted, Bruno is one hairy Italian man. At this point in his career, Bruno was probably in his late forties early fifties. He didn't look decrepit and orange as many pro wrestlers tend to settle into as they stay in the business too long. His age only showed in the abundant hair growth in areas not near his scalp. Truly, he looked like the proverbial (I believe it's Proverbs 2:23) brick shithouse. The crowd was crazy for this hairy old Italian guy and I remembered "Ahh, this is the Pro Wrestling I love." Savage was the lithe, flippy young heel with the Lovely Miss Elizabeth as his curvy riot shield against the still-chivalrous faces.

The match was surprisingly good, though I was mostly swayed by the fans really buying in to Bruno taking it to the young guy with his offense of stomps and punches. In reality, the match was ok to good, with Savage picking up a count out win after dropping the dreaded ax handle from the top rope to the floor on Bruno. Savage was cheating throughout the match of course and he ended up pushing Bruno a step to far. The best part of this match was the post match. Bruno, this feral mountainous bear, just mauls Savage. As the WWF moved to the WWE via the World Wildlife Fund's protest, perhaps no better metaphor could be made than this ravenous manbeast throwing Savage into the ropes and wrapping his arms around him in a Bearhug. Savage screams and grimmaces and fights for all he's worth as the life is squeezed out of him. A squad of referees try to pry the monster's arms apart to no avail. They fall to the ground still in this deathly embrace. The locker room clears out as the faces try to pull the old man's calloused hands apart. After 3 minutes which seemed like a lifetime, nature's fury had made it's point and it yields to the oxygen sucking and seeping back into Savage's lungs. Man is no match for the animal kingdom. A million stars.