I am going to breakdown the roster for the upcoming Legends of Wrestlemania game, putting each wrestler/manager into one of four categories:

1. A definite must have if you are going to make such a game

2. An awesome edition that I should have fun playing as

3. A pleasant surprise

4. "WTF" were they thinking when they decided to add this person?

 

ANDRE THE GIANT: (1) You need Andre for this game no doubt. Not only was he a big part in the first 6 Wrestlemania's but he was in the biggest match in wrestling history at Wrestlemania III.

HULK HOGAN: (1) No duh! The biggest name in wrestling history and the man who beat Andre at III, there would not a Wrestlemania without the Hulkster.

BRUTUS "THE BARBER" BEEFCAKE: (2) Younger fans might not realize how popular Brutus became after Wrestlemania III when he help Roddy Piper shave Adrian Adonis' head, but trust me this guy was hugely over in the late 80's-early 90's. He even had his own interview segment called the Barber Shop.

BOBBY "THE BRAIN" HEENAN: (1) Managers are all but extinct in today's wrestling, and with the litany of mush-mouthed neandrathals choking on mic they are sorely missed. "The Weasel" was probably the best of the bunch.

IRON SHEIK: (2) Putting his current status as a washed-up potty mouthed who threatens to sodomize Hogan and B. Brian Blair aside, Sheik was one of the most over and colorful heel wrestlers of his day, even serving as a trasitional champion to get the belt off Bob Backlund and on Hulk Hogan.

SGT SLAUGHTER: (2) You can do so many things with the Sarge in this game, play him as a heel or face because he was good at both. To prove how popular he was, Slaughter and Chicago Bear William "Refridgerator" Perry were the only two real people to be made into GI Joe dolls.

SHAWN MICHAELS: (2) Some may put HBK as a "1", but he still wrestles and quite frankly I've never cared for him. Still, I can't deny he deserves a spot.

BIG JOHN STUDD: (1) If Andre is in the game you will need two people to combat him. One is the Hulkster and BJS is the other.

JUNKYARD DOG: (2) Here another guy that younger people may not realize how popular he was. The best WWF(E) shirt ever made was the one with JYD's head on a dog's body.

"SUPERFLY" JIMMY SNUKA: (1) I think that if Hogan wasn't going to be "the man" than Snuka might have made a suitable replacement: that's how over he was.

BAM BAM BIGELOW: (3) I didn't expect Bam Bam to make the cut, but he will be a nice edition.

STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN: (1) I am glad the roster is 80's heavy but I'm not stupid enough to say Austin shouldn't be on it.

THE ROCK: (1) Another "Attitude" star that deserves his spot.

JIMMY HART: (2) Hart was the first manager to actually stay at ringside for his charges matches, not to mention a constant annoyance bouncing around ringside and yelling into his megaphone. Great add.

DUSTY RHODES: (2) Now the only reason the "American Dream" does not get a "1" is because he only wrestled at Wrestlemania VI...otherwise he would definitely be a must have.

ROAD WARRIORS: (1) Like managers, good tag teams are a dying breed and Hawk and Animal were the best tag team of all time.

BRITISH BULLDOG: (3) I wasn't sure if Davey was going to make it, but where is the Dynamite Kid?

"ROWDY" RODDY PIPER: (1) A definite no brainer. Piper was better as Hogan's main antagonist during the early years of Wrestlemania than he was as a fan favorite. It's a shame he was near impossible to work with because Hogan/Piper could have gone on longer than it did and made even more bank.

TED DIBIASI: (1) How can you not have "The Million Dollar Man" in the game? The top WWF heel of 88-89.

GREG VALENTINE: (3) He would have been a "2" if they did not omit Tito Santana. What a huge blunder that was!

"HACKSAW" JIM DUGGAN: (2) If you need recent of how over he still is just listen to the chorus of boos at this year's Royal Rumble when Hacksaw (the winner of the very first Rumble) was eliminated.

BRET "HITMAN" HART: (1) Although he led the "New Generation" that very nearly killed what we now know as WWE Bret was popular worldwide and is a must have.

JIM "THE ANVIL" NEIDHART: (1) The ONLY reason he gets a "1" is for putting him with Bret and playing as the original Hart Foundation...otherwise he'd be a "3".

YOKOZUNA: (3) Another of the (thankfully few) "New Generation" stars, Yoko should be very interesting and fun to play as.

MR. FUJI: (2) Although very stereotypical and "Chan-like" in appearance as I look back on him, the Devious One is a welcome addition to the roster.

HONKY TONK MAN: (2) Yes, HTM is an awesome addition to this game's roster. He was insanely over as a hell during the late 80's-early 90's, not to mention the "Greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time".

JAKE "THE SNAKE" ROBERTS: (1) Say what you will about Jake and his recent problems but at one time he was third in the "most popular" line behind only Hogan and Ultimate Warrior. A definite must have.

"RAVISHING" RICK RUDE: (2) Rude was gold on the mic even if he was a jerk (as his manager Bobby Heenan has stated). Great chance to relive some classic feuds with the likes of Piper, Jake, and Warrior.

KING KONG BUNDY: (2) Headlined WM II in a steel cage with Hogan, you can team him up with Studd to fight Andre.

NICOLAI VOLKOFF: (2) Another classic foreign heel, he goes well with the Iron Sheik.

TRIPLE H: (4) I'm sorry but I'm taking a big dump on this one. HHH still dominates WWE rings today and if I wanted to play as him I could pick up one of the Smackdown vs Raw games. Besides, this is the "Greenwich Snob" Hunter we are getting here, and Trips didn't start getting over until DX. This reeks of nepotism.

KAMALA: (3) A very pleasant suprise: I was not expecting the Ugandan Giant in this game but he is a very welcome addition in my eyes.

RIC FLAIR: (1) Another no brainer: I may not be the world's biggest Nature Boy fan but I know he is necessary for this game.

ARN ANDERSON: (3) Yeah he goes with Flair, but where's Tully and another Horseman? Having him here and not Tully just screams "incomplete" to me. Would be a "4" if not for Flair.

UNDERTAKER: (1) He may still be active today, but it's only on a part time basis and the man's Wrestlemania record speaks for itself. A "Legends of Wrestlemania" game without the Dead Man is not a "Legends of Wrestlemania" game.

PAUL BEARER: (2) I was debating whether he should be a "1" because of Taker, but without him he would be a "4" so I split the difference.

MR. PERFECT: (2) An awesome addition to the roster as he was one of the top heels bridging the "Hulkamania" and "New Generation" eras.

BIG BOSS MAN: (2) A very versatile character as he was over as both heel and face. Great pick.

MICHAEL "P.S." HAYES: (4) I do believe the name of the game is "Legends of Wrestlemania", is it not? Hayes never wrestled at Wrestlemania in his career, spending time in Texas and WCW. Also, with the other Freebirds as well any Von Erich's absent from this game this pick becomes even more stupid and unnecessary. Possibly the worst roster choice (along with HHH).

ULTIMATE WARRIOR: (1) Yeah he's a bit loony (to say the least) but you cannot deny the man's popularity. From the "multiple Ultimate Warrior's" rumors to millions asking "when will he come back" for years to his classic battles at WM's VI and VII Warrior is a must have.

KOKO B. WARE: (4) I was going to say "3" but there are so many more deserving than this glorfied jobber to make the cut that did not. He may be one of the least played roster members.

Who should have made the cut:

"MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE: I don't care what squabbles the McMahons have with Savage, the fact that he isn't in the game is the biggest travesty.

DEMOLITION: Ax and Smash dominated the tag team scene of the late 80's-early 90's and would have made a kickass addition to roster (especially) with Fuji as their manager).

TITO SANTANA: I am surprised Tito, who along with Hogan is one of just two man to wrestle at each of the first 9 Wrestlemania's, is not in this game.

PAUL ORNDORFF: HHH is in but "Mr. Wonderful" is not? BS.

MAGNIFICENT MURACO: We could have relived the famous cage match with Snuka.

OWEN HART: Definite missed opportunity there.

"CLASSY" FREDDIE BLASSIE and "CAPTAIN" LOU ALBANO: Two legendary managers noticeably absent from the game.

SLICK: Not as big an omission as Blassie and Albano, but would have been fun.

ONE MAN GANG/AKEEM: OK, maybe I am stretching here but I personally would have had hours or fun playing as the African Dream.

VIRGIL: If Taker has Paul Bearer than why doesn't Dibiasi have Virgil?

MANKIND/CACTUS JACK/MICK FOLEY/DUDE LOVE: I know he is in "No Man's Land" (TNA) and that's why he isn't in this game. Foley is the only noticeable omission from the "Attitude" Era.

"ACE" COWBOY BOB ORTON: Would have been a perfect fit with Piper.

There's probably some more omissions I am missing but I suppose that will do for now. Despite these omissions (especially Macho and Tito) the roster looks kick ass with mostly "1"'s and "2"'s and only a handful of "4"'s. I am really looking forward to this game.