While working on the book, I've had several professional TV critics and reporters as guest writers. Today, as an experiment, I'm presenting an amateur. But an informed one.
Since I'm now teaching TV full-time at Rowan University, I thought I'd give a student or two a chance each term to write a review from his or her perspective, on something aimed squarely at the youth demographic. The first of these is a subject that always claims one or two passionate students per term: TV wrestling.
I asked (dared?) Peter Gilgiotti, one of my students, to explain and defend his passion. He agreed, and chose the pay-per-view event Wrestlemania 25 as his subject. Here is his review...
Wrestlemania 25, With Mickey Rourke
By Peter Gigliotti
The 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania was a good show that everyone should see. There were two matches that EVERYONE needs to see.
The first of these matches was Chris Jericho vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, and Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. This match was a showcase for superstars both young and old. I remember wondering, at prior pay-per-view events, what would happen if two wrestlers from different eras went up against one another. This match, during which Jericho beat all three veteran wrestlers, probably was the closest I will ever get to my answer.
As if that weren't enough, Mickey Rourke was in attendance for the event. Rourke and Jericho have been going back and forth on shows like Larry King Live about getting into a match. The closest thing to an in-the-ring Rourke/Jericho "duel" occurred after Jericho's match against Piper and company, when Jericho saw the star of The Wrestler in the audience at ringside.
Jericho called Rourke into the ring to face him like a man. Rourke obliged, and after some posturing, caught Jericho with a left hook, decking him with a single punch. Rourke then posed with Ric Flair, which was a great moment for a fan of The Wrestler, and of pro wrestling in general.
As good as that match was, the show-stopping match featured The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. That match had many "oh my god" moments, and that was only in the first ten minutes. The pin attempts were all close and the action was fast paced. If I got this down correctly, there were 14 pin attempts (including the one used to win), seven finishing moves used, and a broken camera.
This is one of those matches you have to see to believe. I have seen many matches from all over the world. These matches span from the 1970s to today. I can honestly say that this is the greatest match I have seen, ever. Even if you aren't a fan of pro wrestling, watch this match and it may change your mind.
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Peter Gigliotti is a junior Radio/TV/ Film major at Rowan University. He is the creator and writer of The 450 Splash, a professional wrestling blog. For a more in depth analysis, you can read his full review at www.450splash.wordpress.com.