It might be hard over a computer, but stuff like this hits me. It should hit you too. Many of these children are very sick, incurable, and need extra love and compassion. Thankfully, an organization such as Make–A-Wish, is about helping kids and brightening their day as best as possible. WWE has been a partner to Make-A-Wish for decades.

At one time, I was involved too. It is no secret that I am a former WWE employee, and during my term of employment, I had the fortunate and rewarding experience of being part of the department which set up Make-A-Wish/WWE events and meet-and-greet sessions with various wrestlers. It is not just the “main eventers” or the “face of WWE” who go out of their way, many times spending an extra day traveling to grant a wish to a child, but practically 99% of the roster volunteer. Yes. Volunteer. Having worked at WWE from 2003 until 2005, I saw Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Goldust, Mark Henry, Brock Lesnar, Triple H, and the list goes on and on as to who rushed to volunteer to meet kids backstage or travel to a local hospital.

My favorite memory, was working backstage before Monday Night RAW at Continental Airlines Arena (now known as the IZOD Center), and I was sent to bring The Big Show over to do a meet-and-greet. The Big Man gets up, and of course looks straight down at my short Jewish self, and took the time to tell me “I’m Hungry.” Hoping the Big Show would not eat me, I led him towards the waiting area with the kids. Along the way he told me he loves New Jersey diners and named a few restaurants along Route 3 which he often liked going to. Once we reach the kids, he became a giant teddy bear. The friendly giant awed the kids, and in no time at all, other wrestlers stopped what they were doing and joined in the fun. It was a sight to see. No one asked these wrestlers to do this, they all volunteered. I was asked to bring The Big Show over, because he left word to be sent for as soon as the kids arrived. He wanted to be first to greet them. Mark Henry is another star also does not hesitate to volunteer his time, and it should be known that The World’s Strongest Man is also a frequent participant in anti-drug and anti-bullying talks at schools and community centers.

The WWE gets a lot of crap for violent programming, steroids, and the occasional tragedy. They are, like any other form of sporting entertainment. However, times like these, it is important to highlight all the good they do for children and communities all over the world. It is a lesson we should learn, maybe we can all take just a little bit of our time and our resources to volunteer, to donate, to support, or just do the right thing when the opportunity comes. Fate rarely calls upon us at a time of our choosing, we do not always get to plan the obstacles that face us in life, and for many of us, the obstacles are nothing, compared to the obstacles those others must come to terms with.

In a world becoming more intense, more competitive, and at times, more crass and cutthroat, people should take a moment to reflect on what is good out there, and to do some good ourselves. Good deeds might go unrewarded, but always know they are rewarding.

We have all heard the news. Bruno Sammartino is heading into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame has been around since 1993, and includes legendary competitors such as Buddy Rodgers, Nick Bockwinkel, Pedro Morales, Antonino Rocca, “Classie” Freddie Blassie, and Andre the Giant.

The WWE Hall of Fame began in 1993, with its first and only inductee, Andre the Giant. It continued with inductees until 1996 when Vincent J. McMahon was inducted and then for some reason, the Hall of Fame was not brought up again until 2004, coinciding with WrestleMania XX. Since then, it has been a featured event the night before WrestleMania each following year. Since then, legends such as “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, Gordon Solie, Gorgeous George, Harley Race, Junkyard Dog, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Ric Flair, and Verne Gagne have been welcomed into what WWE promoted as the highest honor in sports-entertainment history.

Questions surrounding reasons for why Sammartino was never inducted persisted year after year. Many wondered why WWE never added his name to the list? For those more “in-the-know” with wrestling history wondered why he constantly turned it down? For younger fans, the question would be: “Who IS Bruno Sammartino?”

To shed some insight into all of these questions, I turned to former WWE Staff Editor and famed wrestling historian, Brian Solomon to answer these longtime questions.

“Bruno Sammartino was the longest-reigning WWE Champion of all time — he held the belt for a total of 11 years over two title reigns, nearly a quarter of the entire history of the belt. And while wrestling is of course predetermined and not a sport, that was a sign of the company’s confidence in him. He sold out everywhere he went, and was the company’s top attraction for the entirety of the 1960s and 1970s. There is nothing to compare to that today. There was never a time that he wasn’t complete beloved, and he helped establish WWE as an independent entity during a time when the NWA ruled wrestling in America.”

Sammartino was the definition of professional wrestler. He carried an aura of respect, integrity, and true sportsmanship to the wrestling business. He was the attraction of wrestling events, as evidenced by the consecutive sold-out shows wherever he went, and notably, at Madison Square Garden. As Brian Solomon accurately stated, it is a reason why he was champion for so long. He was the face of professional wrestling.

This leads to the next question. If Sammartino was such a big draw and was truly the image of professional wrestling, why has it taken so long to get him inducted? The historian and founder of Bedlam at the Bijou weighs in:

“In the beginning, I think WWE was intentionally leaving Bruno out because of all the bad blood between them. Sammartino had walked out of the company in 1988 on very bad terms — he was bothered by the drugs, and by the way Vince had transformed the business into less of a “sport” than it had been in Bruno’s day. He badmouthed the company, and in return they purposely left him out. Finally, when the company realized they couldn’t have a legit Hall of Fame without him in it, it was Bruno who became the holdout, refusing to be inducted on principle. Now, at long last, the two sides have finally come to terms. This is a VERY big deal, and a long time coming.”

The friction between Sammartino and WWE was due to his dislike of what professional wrestling was transforming into. Although he was with World Wrestling Federation as a part-time wrestler and part-time commentator, the aura of tension remained due to a settlement between the WWF and Sammartino, with the company paying Sammartino money owed to him from his second run with the championship. His son, David was competing at the time, but felt used by the company in order to get his father back in the ring. Bruno did so, and inevitably his son quit. After leaving the company, Bruno became very outspoken with his distaste of the evolution of professional wrestling, even appearing on newscasts, for example, on CNN to vent his frustrations with the product, such as the vulgar storylines of the “Attitude Era” and its constant push for extreme punishment and sex appeal, and at times even bringing up sore topics like steroids and unchecked injuries. Throughout the years, WWE tried to include Sammartino on projects, but he refused over and over. Finally, after a meeting with Triple H, Sammartino felt that the product was satisfactory, and obliged the request to join the WWE Hall of Fame, which this year will take place in the place he sold out night, after night, Madison Square Garden.

We are talking about someone who would defend the championship all over the world. Sammartino was recognized as THE wrestling champion. His popularity was so immense; he was honored with a private audience with the Pope. Many felt that the WWE Hall of Fame was lacking, and longtime wrestling fans felt it was just special to WWE and its core fans. Brian Solomon provides an interesting perception of the WWE Hall of Fame.

“This means that the WWE Hall of Fame is finally legit. For 20 years, people have been dismissing the Hall of Fame because Bruno was not in it. It was the equivalent of having a Baseball Hall of Fame and leaving out Babe Ruth. In the beginning it was politics on WWE’s part, and then in recent years it was politics on Bruno’s part. But now they’ve finally come together, and it couldn’t be in a more perfect location. The greatest WWE Champion of all time, inducted in the arena he headlined nearly 200 times.”

Finally legit. Even with legends like Buddy Rodgers and Gorgeous George, the WWE Hall of Fame never felt complete. As The Rock would say: “Finally…” We can now say “Finally … Sammartino has come home.”

Brian Solomon is a former WWE Staff Editor and wrestling historian. He is the founder and host of the Bedlam at the Bijou series, looking back at classic horror films. Information can be found at http://thebijoutheatre.com/film/bedlam-bijou

We learned last night that Paul Bearer, aka William Moody passed away at the age of 58.

Just as the Undertaker made his on-screen return this past Monday Night on WWE RAW, fans lit up with excitement. Sadly, Paul Bearer will only be atWrestleMania in spirit.

The character of Paul Bearer was famously known as the manager of The Undertaker, and other WWE wrestlers such as Kane and Mankind. [Editor's Note: Some fans may remember him during his run in World Class as the villainous manager Percy Pringle III]. His facial expressions were an integral part of the Undertaker gimmick in the 90’s, he would twist his face in a scowl, his mouth would go wide with a laugh, and of course… his trademark promo closer…

“OOOOHHH YEEESSSSSSSSS”

For those who know, I do not need to say much. His character was iconic during the more, “cartoonish” days of then-WWE. He became more of a serious character during the Attitude Era, but his mannerisms and bravado remained the same. Paul Bearer truly was a character spanning two or even three generations of Wrestling.

I recall fondly, WrestleMania XX. It was time for Kane to face the Undertaker, after Kane buried his brother alive months before. We knew the deadman was coming, we could not wait.

The lights went off.

Total darkness.

Then…

“OOOOHHHHH YEEEEESSSSS.”

The crowd erupted. The trademark line, we all knew … it was HIM. Paul Bearer. The crowd was so loud, you could not even hear the theme for The Undertaker as he made his way to the ring.

That was not the power of the urn, that was the power of an icon.

We will miss you Paul Bearer. Thank you for entertaining us.

Why Glenn Beck is afraid of WWE.