The Steel Cage

I've gone to a ton of wrestling shows this summer - everything from the Great American Bash at the Nassau Coliseum, to Ring of Honor at the Hammerstein to TNA Hard Justice in Trenton. But no show all summer has me as excited as one coming up this Saturday.

We all know that Madison Square Garden has long been the Mecca of many of WWE's greatest moments. And at least once a year, WWE is sure to make a stop in the "World's Most Famous Arena." But despite the close relationship between MSG and WWE, the Garden has not hosted a house show in more than three years.

Indeed, the Garden has hosted its share of Monday Night Raws and live pay per views in recent years, including this year's Royal Rumble. But there's something about watching a house show at the Garden that just makes you feel like your both witnessing history, and traveling back in time.

I recently wrote about the magic of the house show experience and how, despite the evolution of wrestling over the last three decades, house shows have managed to keep their intimate charm. No pyro, no elaborate stage set. Just a ring under some lights.

A Garden house show takes it a step further. Anyone who grew up watching Garden house shows each month on the MSG Network knows what a special place they have in wrestling history. Before the era of regular pay per views, or even blockbuster weekly shows like Raw and Smackdown, the Madison Square Garden house show was as big as it got. Eight WWE world championships changed hands at MSG house shows, including Bruno Sammartino's defeat of Buddy Rogers in 1963, Hulk Hogan's win over the Iron Sheik in 1984, and Diesel's championship victory in 1994.

When I became old enough to ride the Long Island Railroad on my own, Garden house shows became a nearly monthly fixture for me and my buddy G-Man, who would regularly watch main events featuring the likes of Diesel, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon and Jeff Jarrett.

Watching a WWE house show in a dimly lit Madison Square Garden - the ring dwarfed by the massive vaulted roof of the iconic building - is an experience every wrestling fan should have.

Sadly, big time house shows have long fallen by the wayside. But whenever fans are lucky enough to have a non-televised live event come to the Garden, WWE still takes some steps to make it feel extra special. The last time a WWE house was held in the Garden, Triple H and Batista squared off in a steel cage match preview of their WrestleMania 21 main event.

This Saturday, the steel cage will once again be erected in the Garden, as C.M. Punk defends his world heavyweight championship against C.M. Punk. Batista also takes on John Cena in a rematch of their SummerSlam battle.

I can't wait to be there and witness the continuation of one of wrestling's most storied traditions. I only hope WWE doesn't wait another three years to host another house show at MSG.