McMahon ready to lead WWE invasion of Iraq (Pics)

SUNTIMES ^ | 12/21/03 | BlackjackBrown

[Pikamax]

McMahon ready to lead WWE invasion of Iraq

December 21, 2003

BY BLACKJACK BROWN Advertisement

The WWE will celebrate Christmas this year by giving a little back to the troops in Iraq. Next week's edition of ''SmackDown'' will be shown from the battlefields of the Middle East as Vince McMahon and the company try to bring some of the U.S. over to the men and women of the military.

In addition to performing two shows, the WWE will be touring the entire region to greet the forces as well as give them care packages as part of ''Operation USO Care Package.''

''The participation of a great organization like the WWE is essential to the success of a program like 'Operation USO Care Package,''' said Brigadier General Michael Teilmann, executive director of the USO. ''Having the WWE superstars not only promote this program, but then deliver the packages, provides an added dimension and brings that extra bit of home to our troops. I think it's tremendous.''

Most of the ''SmackDown'' stars will be on the tour. ''We are looking forward to visiting the troops and providing them with the most unusual, entertaining live event ever produced for the holidays,'' McMahon said. ''We plan on carrying as many care packages as we can to deliver to the troops, along with greetings from the American public.''

[Rustheman]

Add please!

[thegreatbeast]

Nothin' like good 'rasslin' talk!

[NewRomeTacitus]

Von Raschke runs a tourist/fish & bait place up in Minnesota, and is a substitute teacher when asked. Now THERE'S one quiet homeroom!

[Billthedrill]

"You disrespect me, leetle boy? Here, I put CLAW on head!"

[NewRomeTacitus]

Razorback-Bert:"Or the greatest worst wrestler."

The Man (note capitalization) is 55 years old, has been doing this for 30 years, rehabbed from a broken back after a plane crash, worked for nearly every U.S. promotion, has put over everyone he's worked with (if they had any iota of talent), is worshipped by everyone in the business while remaining personally humble, will impart advice to anyone unless he's due in the ring and is probably the only other man McMahon takes seriously.
The climb to the corner turn-buckle only to be caught and flipped to mid-ring is the longest running joke in the business, on purpose. It also wouldn't be a Flair match if he didn't take a good-looking whack only to take two groggy steps and sommersault forward onto his back. Other wrestlers marvel how he can lay chops in that reverberate across an arena while barely making their skin redden.
I'm not a "mark" for Ric for what he appears to do for the unobservant types, I like him for what he really does on and off the stage. He's pretty much sacrificed his life for our entertainment. The least we can do is buy the 3-disk DVD career retrospective out now (if you can find it. It's the most popular non-movie right now.)

[lelio]

has put over everyone he's worked with (if they had any iota of talent)

That's another good point: Ric's a class act. Always gives 110% and always makes the match interesting. And he always pushes his opponent to be better than he is and doesn't squash them like so many "superstars" do of their lesser foe.

[Finalapproach29er]

I saw his cauliflower ears up close. Unbelievably ugly.

[firewalk]

Thanks for the ping

[SeeRushToldU_So]

I blame the rise in rasslin's popularity with creating the mindset that enabled Xlintoon to be elected twice.

I am glad the troops got some entertaintment though. It was a very nice jesture of the rasslers and McMahon.

[billbears]

Yes, as Col. Mustafa. As if people couldn't recognize the guy who played an Iranian during the early Hulkamania days. (Rolls eyes)

You mean it was the same guy?!? ;) That's one thing I love about wrestling. They'll try someone out and then a year or so later the same person will come back as a whole different character as if we're not supposed to notice it. What's worse is they never mention it. I think one of the only times I've seen them recognize different personas from the same person was Mick Foley

[RikaStrom]

Crash Holly died???

[StormEye]

Turn that guy loose on Saddam!!

[ambrose]

I think he's Col. Musaffa these days.

[cincinnati65]

Telly (actually Tully) Blanchard was a member of the Four Horsemen by virtue of the fact that he held the Tag Team Belts with Arn Anderson. At the time the Horsemen first came together, they held the World Heavyweight Title, U.S. Heavyweight Title, and the Tag Team Titles -- thus, the Four (four belts) Horsemen.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Crash Holly died???

Afraid so. Never saw a mention of it on WWE programming.

Here's a thread on it...
Wrestler Crash Holly Found Dead
(6 November 2003)

[RikaStrom]

Good grief, how did I miss that??

What a pity. I really liked his character.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Telly (actually Tully) Blanchard was a member of the Four Horsemen by virtue of the fact that he held the Tag Team Belts with Arn Anderson. At the time the Horsemen first came together, they held the World Heavyweight Title, U.S. Heavyweight Title, and the Tag Team Titles -- thus, the Four (four belts) Horsemen.

* My understanding is that they were tight on time for a final interview so they interviewed the various heels together. Arn and Ole (Minnesota Wrecking Crew) were together as champs, Tully had J.J. Dillon as a manager, and Arn's "cousin" Flair was World champ. Arn came up with the ad-lib reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and it stuck.

Some of the faces they were battling at the time were Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA, and Sam Houston.

Tully Blanchard would later win the US Title from Magnum with the help of BabyDoll.

* My cheat sheet

[in the Arena]

No doubt, try spitting in that dudes eye Saddam...

[CounterCounterCulture]

Your both now on the wrasslin' ping list. Ooooooooaaaaaaa, whatta rush!

[Bella_Bru]

ping ping!!!!!