Pizza… check

Wings… check

Snacks… check

Beer… check, check, check

It’s the Grandaddy of em all… WrestleMania time!

The last time Pip and I got together we came dangerously close to “one night one case” and I’m thinking March 28th just may be the night… time will tell.  Let’s get it on!

ED NOTE: Looking back over the photos from last year, we realized that we did in fact take down a case that night… too drunk to remember until a year later.

1. 3 drinks when (not if) Bret puts Vince in a sharpshooter
2. 3 drinks for every missed match outcome
3. Slam a full beer if Undertaker loses
4. 3 drinks for any legend cameo, 5 if they actually get involved in a match
5. Half a beer for a successful airplane spin
6. 3 drinks for each wrestler who bleeds
7. 5 drinks should someone win by submission
8. 2 drinks for every wrestler who performs their signature move
9. 4 drinks for every wrestler who has their signature move reversed
10. 6 drinks if “Money In The Bank” winner cashes in their title shot opportunity the same night
11. 1 drink for outside interference.
12. 1 drink for every mention of the previous nights HOF ceremonies
13. Full beer if WM 27 is within driving distance of Cleveland/Indy
14. 5 drinks if Shawn Michaels gets involved (defined as interference for either side that would directly effect the matches outcome) in the Vince/Bret match
15. 3 drinks for any surprise run ins
16. 2 drinks for every unsuccessful attempt from the top rope (holy crap)
17. 3 drinks for the appearance of a midget
18. 4 drinks if someone crawls out from under the ring

Warning: This is going to be one sappy post.

One of the really crappy things about growing up is that people have a tendency to move away from one another and friendships are tested.  It becomes hard work sometimes to maintain a friendship (though Facebook has made it easier to keep in touch).  I’m happy to say that Pip and I have never had that problem.

A couple of weeks back I headed out for my (nearly) yearly trip to Indy to spend the weekend with Pip (and now the lovely Lauren).  I got in town on Friday evening just in time for dinner.  The three of us then proceeded to sit around the dinner table until about 2:00 AM bullshitting and drinking… lots.  Pip and I polished off 20 beers between us, Lauren was a champ with her wine and we even did a couple of shots.  I tell you what… as I get older I tend to enjoy those quiet evenings with friends much more than a night out.  Not to mention the fact that those nights out are becoming increasingly difficult to bounce back from.  In retrospect Pip and I probably should have manned up and drank two more beers a piece to finish a case but we were pretty tore up.  We now officially have our first goal for next year’s Beeramid: 1 case = 1 night.

Saturday was full of geeky goodness including a wrestling DVD, plenty of Rockband and a trip to BW3 with Buford and Corey to watch the Hoosiers battle Buckeyes.  We didn’t get the win but DAMN was it fun.  Sunday came way too quickly and it was back home to C-Town to see my family.  It’s always sad when the Pip/Chewie weekend comes to an end but it’s super exciting to know that the next one is already on the calendar.  WrestleMania 26 is scheduled for March 28th, 2010.  See you then bro!

And yes… for those keeping track.  Pip is wearing the WWF World Championship belt circa WrestleMania III and I’m wearing the WCW World Title also known as “The Big Gold Belt”.

A few years ago, the WWE put out a DVD box set of all the WrestleMania’s to date (at that time it included the first 21 shows).  I received that box set for Christmas one year and (being the completionist that I am) have purchased each show’s DVD since then.  Those DVDs are at the center of what I’m calling “The WrestleMania Project”.

Over the next several weeks/months (or however long it takes me to get through it) I’m going to be watching all 25 WrestleMania shows and putting together posts for each show.  In the past I’ve done posts about my top matches but this will be a more “all encompassing” look at each and every show.  Hope you enjoy it!

• WrestleMania X - Ten Years In The Making
• Bait And Switch Main Event - WrestleMania IX
• Double Main Event (Kind Of) - WrestleMania VIII
• Super Stars And Stripes Forever - WrestleMania VII
• WrestleMania VI - The Ultimate Challenge
• WrestleMania V - The Mega Powers EXPLODE!!!
• WrestleMania IV - Tournament To Crown A Champion
• WrestleMania III - Front Page Action
• WrestleMania 2 - Let's Try That Again
• WrestleMania - The Original Grandaddy
• The WrestleMania Project

Things were looking pretty harry there for while, but I’m happy to say that once again, Pip & I stood victorious over the structure that we refer to as the Beeramid.  I’ll be honest with you, there was a time there when we thought we were in for a rough go of it.  Then we realized that the base of the Beeramid was one too big… once we made that change we were good to go to the end.  The show itself was pretty lackluster, but we had a damn fine time taking care of business.

Here’s a look at the final list of “rules” that got us to where we were going.  It was a damn fun ride and I’m totally looking forward to next year.  We’ve got a couple of new twists that we’re going to put on the weekend’s festivities.

And finally, as promised here are some pics!

Chewie & Pip In Game Form

One... More... Level...

To The Victors Go The Spoils

The Beautiful Structure

Construct a fortress to geekdom…

Construct… the Beeramid.

Pip and I started this tradition while watching WrestleMania one year and we’ve continued it every time he’s come to visit since then.  Now, just the thought of the upcoming weekend has me giddy like a little school girl.  I simply cannot wait.  And while it’s certainly not the amount of beer that we’ve drunk in the past, you do have to keep in mind that I’m an old married guy with two kids, Pip’s in an uber-serious relationship and NEITHER of us have been in college for a decade now.  OK, now that I’ve given our “old criteria” here are a couple of pics… more to come after this year’s installment has been created.

These first two pics from from the second annual event (unfortunately photos from inaugural 2005 event are not available – not sure why).

Construction Begins

Construction Complete

The third annual event was very successful on many fronts.  Not only did we continue the tradition but Undertaker won the belt… Pip was pleased.

The "UnderPipper"?

Amigos With Perma-Smiles

Photos from the 2008 version are also unavailable.  Not sure if this is some sort of trend or if there’s some reason that Pip and I forget to take pictures.  I can assure you that this year’s installment will be documented (if we remember).  Let’s get ready to RUMBLE!!!

1. 3 drinks for every match outcome missed.
2. 1 drink every time someone uses a sunset flip.
3. 3 drinks for each wrestler who bleeds.
4. 5 drinks for each “legend” that shows up unannounced.
5. 4 drinks if Vince McMahon gets assaulted in any capacity (doesn’t count if he’s scheduled to wrestle).
6. Finish beer for appearance of a midget.
7. Shotgun a beer and kick each other in the balls if Undertaker loses.
8. 1 drink per “foreign object” used.
9. 3 drinks for a finishing move reversal.
10. 3 drinks when a title changes hands.
11. 1 drink every time footage of a dead wrestler is shown or they are referenced.
12. Finish beer if Austin gets involved in any of the matches.
13. 2 drinks for every time JR says “slobberknocker”.