John Cena, CM Punk, Sting, Macho Man Randy Savage & the WWE/TNA Dream Matches Realized
I have been out of the ring for some time now and I have watched that parade march on by me, but as I sit and watch the passion and the pain of these new superstars, I picture myself in there, applying the “apple turnover” to some of the big names of this time. I began jotting down the names of the wrestlers that I would like to face and why. So, here is the “Apple 8” and my fans will remember my group called “The Apple 8,” featuring the best pro wrestlers ever to grapple on the indie circuit. Here, it represents the opposition I would have liked to face and still may if I come out of retirement.
#1 – Sting – the WCW/TNA World Champion just recently lost the title and is 52 years young, but he still has the passion and will still go through the pain to be in the young man’s sport. Sting has faced them all: Hogan, Flair, Masked Hernandez, Luger, Bret Hart, Sid Vicious, Hall, Nash, and the list goes on and on, but I never had the opportunity. I wish that I did.
#2 – John Cena – the WWE Champion is wonderful. He gets a lot of flack from the no nothings that jibber jabber outside of the ring, but he is a worker and we would have had a heated match if I were in my prime. He may have the edge in a one on one, but in a battle royal, I’m throwing him over the top!
#3 – CM Punk – Another youngster that stays away from the juice man. In the 1980s they wanted me to juice up but I didn’t and it prevented me from making my big move but I’m happy now because I still have it together and can still get in there if I get the chance to turn my opponent into apple sauce. Punk is the total package and will be the face of wrestling in the future. You can bet your granny smiths on it.
#4 – Andre the Giant – I was so compared to the man that I would have loved to meet him in the ring. I had a chance encounter in 1987 when I wrestled a dark match on a WWF card, but all we did was talk about meeting one day. It never happened. Andre, RIP brother. You were the true Giant.
#5 – The Road Warriors – I would have loved to either meet the Legion of Doom in a handicapped match or face them with my partner “The Masked Hernandez.” When they wrestled under Jimmy Crockett, I had the chance but I was contracted to another company and it was a big mess…I wish I knew then what I knew now man. I would have torn that contract up and taken on those guys.
#6 – Roddy Piper – the rowdy one played by his own rules and was a great heel back in the 1980s. He had charisma and heart and would take quite the ribbing in the locker room for his kilt that he wore man, but he took it well. He showed his skills when he faced Bret Hart at Wrestlemania. He was more than a brawler and one hell of a guy.
#7- Bret Hart – the Hitman was the excellence of execution brother. He had that sharpshooter and knew how to use it. I loved the smooth transitions between moves. He was flawless. He wrestled my good friend, the late Dino Bravo, back in the day and Bravo told me how great he was to work with. I wouldn’t mind going head to head with the great Bret Hart one of these days.
#8 – Macho Man Randy Savage – I don’t know if I need to explain why. The man was perfection in the ring and his passing was a big loss to the world. He was all class, did high flying before it was invented man, and despite being held back by Hulk Hogan, still made a big name for himself. You are missed Randy!
Well, there are plenty more that I would like to lock up with, but these are the Apple 8. I guess it wasn’t meant to be, but I sure wish it could have been.