As a kid, do you remember your first time in a big arena? Maybe it was for the circus or seeing a concert? Did that place ever give you goose bumps from the second you entered into it? Being from Philadelphia, I know I got mine when I walked into The Spectrum. Long before the Wachovia Center was built, we had a little place located somewhere in the area of Veterans Stadium and I-95. It even stood longer than The Vet. Now, the city is getting ready to take down a piece of history. I wanted to write a few fond memories I have of this place, and share the joys I had in this little place that once was host to many amazing events. We’re going to miss you big guy.

I have been to this place quite a few times in my life. I wish I could tell you that I saw some great concerts here, but I can’t. For me, I was lucky enough to see two different kinds of acts here over the years. Two of which, made my childhood rich with smiles. From getting a soda and nacho’s at the concessions stand, to the smell and sights of the bathrooms, it was all something to take in. The first event I saw many times is something most have seen at some point or another. I am talking about a professional wrestling event at The Spectrum. There was nothing like being a part of one at this place.

Admit it, you know when you were younger, or even to this day, the fight of good and evil was just mesmerizing to you. I have seen many cards put on here. From just regular house shows, to WWE Raw, or even WCW Nitro or Thunder, I was there. It was always crazy to me seeing the local guys get in a big dogs’ ring. Going to one Nitro show about 12 years ago, I remember just going insane seeing The Public Enemy put a tag team through tables on live TV. It was surreal seeing Steve Austin in Philly, calling Vince McMahon a chicken s**t in my town on an episode of Raw.

The best Spectrum memory for me was in 1991. A little WWE house show, with two of the biggest names of all time. You may have heard of two guys named Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan who once ruled pro wrestling. This also was my first ever live show, and I also got to share it with my brother and step father. As soon as those two came through the curtain, the roof blew off. Being it was for the heavyweight title, it was just that much sweeter. Even though it was a house show, they went out and put on a Pay Per View match. I went ballistic when Flair threw powder in Hogan’s face. I desperately tried yelling to the ref, with no luck. Hogan won the match, but from that point on, I had found a new love. It was a thing of beauty only so many had seen with both guys in their prime.

If there was one thing I looked forward to at The Spectrum, it was cold February nights. The loud roars, the smell of gasoline stinging your nose, and the sight of those huge 10,000 pound monster trucks. When I was 2 or 3, I went to my first show at The Spectrum. Back then, they didn’t have trucks driving through mobile homes, or attempting back flips. It was the original monster truck, Bigfoot, slowly crushing 4 or 5 cars. This was just the side act back then. As the years went by, the trucks and the driving changed. Eventually, these huge machines were the main attraction, and I kept coming back every year. The heated races between Bigfoot and Grave Digger kept myself, and thousands more over the years satisfied. I was in attendance to see what was one of the only roll over’s in our little arena, and it was truly a sight never to forget. Now that they are tearing up The Spectrum, events like this, or Phantoms hockey games, won’t have a home for the time being. If you never got to see these big toys in person, you are truly missing out.

It almost feels like losing a family pet. It’s almost as sad as parent’s seeing their first child off to college. Yes, a place that is in down town South Philadelphia has an effect on someone such as me like this. Philadelphia wants to replace history with restaurants and other various things. It upsets me to think that kids born 1, 5, 15 years down the line, will never know of the place where the Rocky statue once called home. They will be imploding The Spectrum soon, and I will be there to see it go down for good. With that, I say thank you, for all the memories of my childhood, for bringing a smile to my face, and for the tear I will truly shed when you stand no more. It’s a safe bet to say you have a special place in many Philadelphians’ heart. Visit www.rememberthespectrum.com for many great memories and memorabilia.

See Hulk Hogan take on Andre the Giant at the Spectrum from 1980

Josh Usher has been a fan of sports and sports entertainment for over 20 years and bleeds green.

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The Hulk Hogan era of WWE wrestling saw arguably the greatest collection of wrestling talent come through the WWE. As important as Hogan was to success, so was the entire WWE package. Unlike today, there was only one belt and it wasn’t going to be passed around.

WWE world titles are booked much different today than at any other time in wrestling history. Today, it is a given that anyone on top will get a run with the belt. Years ago, that was not the case. Many wrestling greats were passed over for WWE title reigns.

The Hogan years of 1984-1991 saw more great wrestlers cheated out of WWE title reigns than at any other time in WWE history. There were great ones that came through WWE history at other times that didn’t get their run. However, I don’t have a doubt in my mind that if the belt was booked then as it is today, we would have had 20 champions.

I want to look specifically at the 1980s and the great ones who missed their opportunity. Today, I look back at 5 WWE wrestlers who should have been champion. For some of these guys, they just didn’t play the political game correctly. For others, maybe they overplayed their hands at the wrong time. Regardless, there isn’t a shadow of a doubt that any of these guys would have been successful drawing champions.

Roddy Piper – The old motto regarding Piper was that “he didn’t need a belt.” That may be true, but imagine if he had one. I am looking at the prime of Piper’s WWE years between 1984-1986. I could argue that Roddy Piper was the hottest heel ever in the business during this time.

Ric Flair recently did an interview and was asked about this. He said, “You can’t tell me that business would have changed if Piper got the belt.” Actually I would argue with him on that. I think that business may have actually improved with Piper on top and Hogan chasing. In today’s booking, Piper would have had the belt numerous times.

Paul Orndorff – Like Piper, Orndorff was a sizzling heel during this time period. If Hogan never came, I tend to wonder what business would have been like if Orndorff took the belt from Bob Backlund for a short run. I think he could have had a Superstar Graham run at that time.

However, I am talking specifically about his heel run in 1987 against Hogan. I have spoken with Orndorff about this and he cites his inability to play the political game as the reason he didn’t get the belt. In terms of money, he was arguably Hogan’s greatest opponent. Imagine the money they would have drawn if it was Hogan chasing Orndorff for that belt?

Jake Roberts – Jake’s lack of a feud with Hogan has been a recent topic lately in the wrestling world. Hogan recently said in an interview that he wrestled Jake once and he wasn’t over enough to warrant a feud. As someone that ate and slept wrestling then, I don’t believe that.
Just as Piper and Orndorff turned babyface, Jake Roberts got red hot as a heel. I don’t know if the chemistry would have been there with him and Hogan. However, one could argue whether it should have been in Macho Man’s spot when Hogan took a leave of absence.

I think Jake would have been a tremendous champion. He was already one of the best promos in the business at that time. Imagine what he could have done if he was promoting the top match? I think Jake Roberts missed out big time and should have had at least one run with the WWE strap.

Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig – This is one that could easily be debated. Some could argue that Curt Hennig didn’t have the size. I can see it, but I don’t buy it. He was so red hot at the time that it wouldn’t have mattered. He wasn’t much smaller than Randy Savage and nobody really thinks of Savage as being a small champion.

For one thing, he already had a championship presence when he came to the WWE. Hennig was a former AWA world champion and was featured weekly on ESPN. Wrestling fans knew who Curt Hennig was long before he became Mr. Perfect. I think that the WWE missed the boat on not only a Hennig title run, but a big feud with Hogan.

Rick Rude – Rick Rude would have been a tremendous WWE champion during this time period. There were a lot of dynamics that could have spawned a Rude-Hogan feud. Rude challenged Ultimate Warrior in a series of title matches when Hogan was gone. At that time or any other, Rick Rude should have gotten a run with the belt.

Rude could have pulled it off. Here is a guy that had tremendous matches with someone as limited as Ultimate Warrior. Any time Rude got an opportunity at the top, he delivered. There were a lot of great babyfaces that could have played Rude’s foil during a title run. Nobody is going to convince me that Hogan coming back and feuding with Rude wouldn’t have done huge business.

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