Childhood dreams fulfilled: WWE Live electrifies Manila

WWE fans get up close and personal with their favorite WWE superstars during a meet-and-greet. Sherwin Vardeleon/INQUIRER

Be it the WWF, the WWE, the PG Era, the Attitude Era, the New Era, the premier wrestling outfit in the world will always be part of anyone’s childhood.

Kids learned how to execute a Pedigree or a Chokeslam long before they started learning about Pythagoras and his theorem for triangles.

And on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena, the WWE made it sure the collective childhood of the thousands who filled the stadium was alive and well.

For Neil Reyes, who is now a young professional, his days of old when he watched Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, the Rockers, and the Bushwhackers, that childlike wonder of watching overgrown men throw each other was back.

“It was exciting, I really had fun,” said Reyes who had his replica Intercontinental belt with him. “I’m happy to see John Cena come here in Manila, I don’t care [about the Cena Sucks chants] I’m just happy to see him.”

If Reyes had his second childhood, 12-year-old Marcus Bautista is still having the time of his pre-adolescent life.

Bautista, who had his mother Analyn Agabin with him, was both elated and nervous as he watched Big Show snap the ring’s middle rope and the New Day defend their Tag Team titles against The Club and the Shining Stars.

“Nung nadulas po si Big Show, parang nakakatawa,” said Bautista, who begged his mom to take him to the show. “Nakakakaba kanina kung matatalo New Day o hindi kasi parang lugi.”

Good thing for Bautista, Big E and Xavier Woods successfully defended their titles in the triple threat match as Kofi Kingston patrolled the sidelines.

And WWE’s return to the Philippines, which took around seven years, definitely lived up to its billing.

“Electric? Yes, it was heaven,” said Reyes.