A lot of wrestling fans have squawked about the fact that John Morrison, a relative newcomer to the world of professional wrestling when compared to some of the old guard who have paid their dues, has received his own WWE DVD after such a short period of time. There are two reasons for it, however - the first? Well, he's hot right now and the WWE wants to cash in on that while the can. It's good business sense. The second reason is a bit more legitimate, however - the guy is really good at what he does. He takes the bravura and showmanship of someone like Ric Flair and combines it with his parkour training and generally winds up giving fans a pretty entertaining show. This DVD compiles a few of his matches, most of which are generally very good.
The matches on the disc go in chronological order and start when he was in the ECW. He'd been wrestling prior to that, though he debuted as Eric Bischoff's manager under the name Johnny Nitro. The Nitro moniker stuck with him as he started actually competing first in the WNW and then in the ECW league, where in 2007 he'd enter the ring and announce to the fans that he was no longer using the name Johnny Nitro and that he was going to use the name that was given to him at birth, John Morrison (ironically his birth name is John Hannigan but hey, if I bore a resemblance to Jim Morrison I'd probably want to work that angle too). Here we saw him develop his rock star persona which would suit him well over the next few years as he graduated from ECW to WWE RAW and then moved on from RAW to WWE Smackdown.
The eight matches on this disc, which run two hours and forty-nine minutes, chronicle his rise from an ECW upstart to a WWE champion. Interspersed between the matches are interview clips with Morrison who proves that, yes, he very definitely has a sense of humor about himself and about what he does. Strolling down a California beach we hear from him on his training, his exercise routines, his drive, his ambitions and his love for surfing. We're also treated to some hilarious clips from The Dirty Sheet, which was a goofy commentary show he did when he was tag team partners with The Miz and some insight from Morrison with a collection of question and answer bits dubbed The Palace Of Wisdom. He milks the 'rock star' thing for all its worth and he does do a pretty good job of it, but really, it's the wrestling that counts here. Had Morrison been just another hunky guy in far better shape than I'll ever be in, it'd be one thing but there's more to him than that - there's some seriously good wrestling ability hidden underneath the fur and the rhinestones.
September 4, 2007 - ECW: John Morrison vs. CM Punk - In this match, these two long time rivals were competing for John's ECW Championship belt. It's a good match that starts with a bang and keeps up the pace throughout. Morrison is starting to come into his own here and his trash talking skills are starting to really shine.
November 3, 2008 - RAW: The Miz And John Morrison vs. D-Generation X - This ECW vs. RAW tag team match was held to celebrate the eight hundredth episode of RAW and it's a good one. It's a pretty rough match with Morrison's stand out moment occurring when he brilliantly mimics Shawn Michael's 'Sweet Chin Music' kick against his opponent. He and Miz, who looks ridiculous here with this Mohawk, made for a good tag team.
April 14, 2009 - ECW: John Morrison vs. Evan Bourne - This took place the night before The Miz moved up to RAW and just before Morrison moved up to Smackdown. It's the weakest match on the disc as there just isn't as much energy here as there is in the other bouts. Bourne's a fine combatant and all but there isn't much drama or excitement generated here.
June 11, 2009 - Superstars: John Morrison vs. Chris Jericho - In this match, Morrison was after a shot at Chris Jericho's Intercontinental Championship but you just know that Chris isn't going to let it go without a fight. Another very strong match, this one lets two of the biggest egos in WWE history throw down in the ring and the match more or less speaks for itself. Lots of good moves, good energy and good action in this one.
June 19, 2009 - WWE Smackdown: John Morrison vs. Edge - This match starts with a pretty funny trash talking session in which the two men, standing in the ring face to face, hurl all sorts of insults at one another before throwing down. It's a solid match but far from the best on the disc. Edge does alright here as does John and the crowd starts to get into it, which seems to help fuel it towards the end. Not a bad match by any stretch, but not really a classic either.
June 26, 2009 - WWE Smackdown: John Morrison vs. CM Punk - At this point in time, the obnoxious and self righteous CM Punk held the World Heavyweight Championship but this wasn't a title match. Regardless, the rivalry between these two remains strong and it results in a good fight with both men giving their all. Those of you who saw it on Smackdown when it aired may remember that there was more to this after the match, but that aftermath isn't shown on this DVD.
July 31, 2009 - WWE Smackdown: John Morrison vs. Jeff Hardy - This was a World Heavyweight Championship title match so you know that both of these guys are bringing their A-game to the ring. There's a lot of good rope work here and Morrions, by this point, is really starting to get a few really solid signature moves down pat which he puts to good use here.
September 4, 2009 - WWE Smackdown: John Morrison vs. Rey Mysterio - This match put Rey's Mysterious Intercontinental Championship Belt on the line and you can tell as he gets in the ring that Morrison wants it and that Mysterio isn't going to let it go if he can help it. The raw ambition and emotion in this match makes it a huge stand out on the disc. It moves at a ridiculously good pace and it features some absolutely fantastic work both inside and outside of the ring. It's really everything that a good wrestling match should be, it's tense, exciting, violent and very, very surprising. The respect that these two show for one another is also quite a nice touch, and while this reviewer was personally disappointed in the outcome, that doesn't change the fact that it really was a fantastic bout and the perfect way to end the DVD.
The DVD
Video:
Much of the footage here was broadcast in anamorphic 1.78.1 widescreen which makes it puzzling to see it all shown in 1.33.1 fullframe. Aside from the fact that picture is interlaced, the quality is pretty decent. There aren't any annoying compression artifacts during any of the matches and there's only some minor shimmering in certain scenes to complain about. Color reproduction looks alright and skin tones are fine but the black levels can sometimes be a little less than perfectly defined.
Sound:
WWE: John Morrison - Rock Star has a strong Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix. There are no alternate language dubs, subtitles or closed captioning options. The audio here is fine, there aren't any obvious problems to report. The dialogue is always easy enough to understand and there are no issues with hiss or distortion worth complaining about. The 2.0 track sounds nice and full, with some nice crowd noise coming from the left and right channels. There's nothing reference quality here, but the sound is good.
Extras:
The only extra on the disc, aside from the menu and chapter stops, is a brief eight minute clip from the July 17, 2007 episode of ECW where Johnny Nitro officially announces that he is now John Morrison. It's not much, but it does have some historical significance and is amusing enough in its own way. There are a few promos that play before the main menu, all of which you can skip through except for the obnoxious Army recruiting ads that the WWE insists on putting on their discs and insists on forcing you to watch every time you load one of their titles. Enough already.
Overall:
The transfer won't floor you even if it is sufficient and the extras are fairly light but if you're a John Morrison fan, you can consider this disc recommended. Yes, it's probably a little early for him to get a spotlight release but what's on this disc is good enough to speak for itself and John Morrison - Rock Star comes recommended.
Friday, April 9, 2010
shawn michaels my journy dvd review
At WrestleMania 26, the storied career of Shawn Michaels spanning 25 years came to a dramatic conclusion in an epic rematch with WrestleMania’s longest undefeated superstar, The Undertaker. Just before the finale of his show-stopping career, WWE Home Video released the second career retrospective for the Heartbreak Kid, titled My Journey.
My Journey is another 3-disc set, similar to Heartbreak & Triumph, but instead of providing a documentary on the first disc, My Journey is primarily filled out by matches, and framed by a sit-down stage interview with Michael Cole. Despite the heat he often gets (and deserves) for his announcing skills, Cole does a tolerable job in the interview setting.
Unlike Heartbreak & Triumph, though, the controversy is mostly glossed over. Moments like the Montreal Screwjob at The Kliq, that were discussed in-depth the first time around, are only hinted at on this release. The only thing close to controversy is Michaels’ candid comments on his match with Hulk Hogan. Michaels generally does a good job of setting up the matches, and specifically why they were important along his journey.
These matches include everything from an early televised bout against One Man Gang in which Michaels simply played jobber, through his early tag team career, to branching off as a singles competitor, to carrying the championship, through his departure and return to the ring, through WrestleMania 25. The match list on the first disc is similar to the first release, but from there on out many of the matches are different. Within the framework of My Journey, the choices make sense. Still, many fans will find a lot missing from the release despite roughly 9 hours of content.
Shawn Michaels’ infamous Royal Rumble victory is missing this time around. Still absent is his classic Iron Man Match with Bret Hart; instead My Journey provides an early bout between the two. Also curious is that Ric Flair’s “career-ending” match against Michaels is talked about, but instead of included is replaced by an earlier match between the two. It’s hard to believe that this early bout will be as emotionally important to either Michaels or fans, as the ending of the latter was one of the best in wrestling. The most curiously absent though is the original ladder match between HBK and Razor Ramon. And the last three inclusions leading to the classic Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 seem to hold little significance.
That said, there are an abundance of great fights here, including Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle at WrestleMania, which may be the best. One match on each disc also contains an alternative commentary from Mr. WrestleMania and Cole, which is a nice touch. It’s a solid collection, presented well, but it’s hard not to think the truly definitive story of Michaels’ career has yet to be put on DVD.
Full Match List
-Shawn Michaels vs. One Man Gang (1-11-85)
-Midnight Rockers vs. “Playboy” Buddy Rose & “Pretty Boy” Doug Somers (3-20-86)
-Midnight Rockers vs. The Nasty Boys (3-5-88)
-Rockers vs. Brain Busters (3-18-89)
-Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation (11-25-89)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Bret “Hit Man” Hart (6-2-92)
-Shawn Michaels vs. British Bulldog (3-6-95)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Sid Vicious (9-11-95)
-Shawn Michaels vs. 1-2-3 Kid (3-4-96)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind (8-11-97)
-British Bulldog vs. Shawn Michaels (9-20-97)
-Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (1-18-98)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (3-30-03)
-Shawn Michaels vs. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (6-15-03)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle (4-3-05)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (9-19-05)
-John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton (4-29-07)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (11-18-07)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (9-7-08)
-Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (4-5-09)
My Journey is another 3-disc set, similar to Heartbreak & Triumph, but instead of providing a documentary on the first disc, My Journey is primarily filled out by matches, and framed by a sit-down stage interview with Michael Cole. Despite the heat he often gets (and deserves) for his announcing skills, Cole does a tolerable job in the interview setting.
Unlike Heartbreak & Triumph, though, the controversy is mostly glossed over. Moments like the Montreal Screwjob at The Kliq, that were discussed in-depth the first time around, are only hinted at on this release. The only thing close to controversy is Michaels’ candid comments on his match with Hulk Hogan. Michaels generally does a good job of setting up the matches, and specifically why they were important along his journey.
These matches include everything from an early televised bout against One Man Gang in which Michaels simply played jobber, through his early tag team career, to branching off as a singles competitor, to carrying the championship, through his departure and return to the ring, through WrestleMania 25. The match list on the first disc is similar to the first release, but from there on out many of the matches are different. Within the framework of My Journey, the choices make sense. Still, many fans will find a lot missing from the release despite roughly 9 hours of content.
Shawn Michaels’ infamous Royal Rumble victory is missing this time around. Still absent is his classic Iron Man Match with Bret Hart; instead My Journey provides an early bout between the two. Also curious is that Ric Flair’s “career-ending” match against Michaels is talked about, but instead of included is replaced by an earlier match between the two. It’s hard to believe that this early bout will be as emotionally important to either Michaels or fans, as the ending of the latter was one of the best in wrestling. The most curiously absent though is the original ladder match between HBK and Razor Ramon. And the last three inclusions leading to the classic Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25 seem to hold little significance.
That said, there are an abundance of great fights here, including Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle at WrestleMania, which may be the best. One match on each disc also contains an alternative commentary from Mr. WrestleMania and Cole, which is a nice touch. It’s a solid collection, presented well, but it’s hard not to think the truly definitive story of Michaels’ career has yet to be put on DVD.
Full Match List
-Shawn Michaels vs. One Man Gang (1-11-85)
-Midnight Rockers vs. “Playboy” Buddy Rose & “Pretty Boy” Doug Somers (3-20-86)
-Midnight Rockers vs. The Nasty Boys (3-5-88)
-Rockers vs. Brain Busters (3-18-89)
-Rockers vs. The Hart Foundation (11-25-89)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Bret “Hit Man” Hart (6-2-92)
-Shawn Michaels vs. British Bulldog (3-6-95)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Sid Vicious (9-11-95)
-Shawn Michaels vs. 1-2-3 Kid (3-4-96)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind (8-11-97)
-British Bulldog vs. Shawn Michaels (9-20-97)
-Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker (1-18-98)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (3-30-03)
-Shawn Michaels vs. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (6-15-03)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle (4-3-05)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (9-19-05)
-John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton (4-29-07)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton (11-18-07)
-Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho (9-7-08)
-Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels (4-5-09)
hart and sould the hart family anthology dvd review
Fighting a tiger or a grizzly bear with his bare hands was a common day for Stu Hart on his quest to put professional wrestling on the map in Western Canada in 1948.
Stu created the greatest professional wrestling family in Canada and arguably one of the greatest families ever in pro wrestling. World Wrestling Entertainment finally showcases this all for the first time in their newest three-disc DVD set Hart and Soul: The Hart Family Anthology.
Disc one includes a documentary on Stu’s life before, during and after pro wrestling. The documentary reveals how he first met his wife Helen and has short pieces on each one of their 12 children. Canadian icon Bret Hart, his brother in-law Jim Niedhart, clips from an old interview with the late British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith and many more siblings/relatives share their accounts on the roller coaster life of the Hart family. Current World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho says a bit on his grueling training in the Hart Dungeon and his time with the late Owen Hart.
The Harts struggled with little to no money—freezing together in one room during the winter and hand me downs six times over. Sudden deaths due to rare diseases cause them to lose their brother Dean and their sister Georgia lost their son at the age of 13. Throughout their struggles and chasing away potential boyfriends for the girls, pro wrestling was a factor in almost all their lives. Wrestling was more than just a business to the Harts, it was a way of life no matter how bad times were.
Success did come to Bret, Davey Boy, Owen and Jim and for years it was the happiest times in the Hart family. Bret became one of the most well-known Canadians of all-time and is still to this day considered one of the best to ever step foot in the squared circle.
Unfortunately, the Harts had to deal with more tragedies that started in 1997 with the sudden death of family friend Brian Pillman and followed by the Montreal Screwjob. Life got worse for the Harts with the death of Owen, Stu, Helen and Davey Boy all within a five-year span. Bret also almost lost his life during that time when he suffered a stroke. The powerful emotions by the remaining family members during those dark times is a testament to their perseverance for the memory of their loved ones and how courageous they are to live through so much grief. Without question, the most tear-jerking WWE DVD ever released.
The DVD ends on a high note with the Hart Dynasty carrying on the Hart legacy. With the recent push they have received on television, this DVD might help make them superstars.
This DVD focuses on the contributions the Hart family has given to the wrestling business instead of their bitter rivalries. Die-hard fans will be craving more, but for fans that know very little about the Harts this is the best documentary on them. The matches on the other two discs are matches that die-hard fans have mostly already seen, but looking back at them is a great reminder of what great storytellers they were and how exciting they could make a wrestling match. Must have DVD for fans of the Hart family and those who missed out on the Hart Foundation era.
Hart and Soul: The Hart Family Anthology
540 minutes
Release date- April 6, 2010
Disc 1- Documentary
Stu Hart
Falling in Love
The Promoter
Hart House
Riches to Rags
All in the Family
Hart Foundation / British Bulldogs
Stampede Sold
Dean
International Spotlight
Family Feud
Canada’s Family
Struggles Within
Family Tragedy
Third Generation
Reflections
Special Features
* Stu the Athlete
* Helen’s Car Accident
* Terrible Ted the Wrestling Bear
* A Letter from Dean
* Stu vs. The Tiger
* A Hart Family Thanksgiving – 1987
* Helen Throws in the Towel
* Owen the Prankster
* Chris Jericho’s Flight with Owen
* The Uninvited Guest
* Bret “Hit Man” Hart Returns to WWE
* Post-Raw Celebration (Raw – January 4, 2010)
Disc 2
Introduction with The Hart Dynasty
6-Man Tag Team Match
Keith Hart, Bruce Hart & Bret Hart vs. The Kiwis & Dynamite Kid
Stampede Wrestling – May 1979
Stampede Arrives in WWE
World Tag Team Championship Match
Hart Foundation vs. British Bulldogs
Boston Garden – November 1, 1986
An Unforgettable Match
Intercontinental Championship Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. British Bulldog
SummerSlam – August 29, 1992
The Hart Family in a WWE Ring
Family Feud Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart, Bruce Hart & Keith Hart vs. Shawn Michaels & His Knights
Survivor Series – November 24, 1993
Brothers vs. Brothers
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Owen Hart vs. Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
Florence, SC – January 11, 1994
Ripped Apart at the Seams
World Tag Team Championship Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Owen Hart vs. The Quebecers
Royal Rumble – January 22, 1994
Disc 3
Sibling Rivalry
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship
Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. Owen Hart
SummerSlam – August 29, 1994
The Hart Family Settles It in the Ring
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart
Raw – November 7, 1994
Decorated in Gold
European Championship Match
Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog
Raw – March 3, 1997
Front and Center
10-Man Tag Team Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & Legion of Doom
In Your House: Canadian Stampede July 6, 1997
Border Wars
6-Man Tag Team Flag Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart & British Bulldog vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Undertaker & Dude Love
Raw – July 21, 1997
Passing the Torch
WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match
The Hart Dynasty vs. D-Generation X
SmackDown – December 25, 2009
Stu created the greatest professional wrestling family in Canada and arguably one of the greatest families ever in pro wrestling. World Wrestling Entertainment finally showcases this all for the first time in their newest three-disc DVD set Hart and Soul: The Hart Family Anthology.
Disc one includes a documentary on Stu’s life before, during and after pro wrestling. The documentary reveals how he first met his wife Helen and has short pieces on each one of their 12 children. Canadian icon Bret Hart, his brother in-law Jim Niedhart, clips from an old interview with the late British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith and many more siblings/relatives share their accounts on the roller coaster life of the Hart family. Current World Heavyweight champion Chris Jericho says a bit on his grueling training in the Hart Dungeon and his time with the late Owen Hart.
The Harts struggled with little to no money—freezing together in one room during the winter and hand me downs six times over. Sudden deaths due to rare diseases cause them to lose their brother Dean and their sister Georgia lost their son at the age of 13. Throughout their struggles and chasing away potential boyfriends for the girls, pro wrestling was a factor in almost all their lives. Wrestling was more than just a business to the Harts, it was a way of life no matter how bad times were.
Success did come to Bret, Davey Boy, Owen and Jim and for years it was the happiest times in the Hart family. Bret became one of the most well-known Canadians of all-time and is still to this day considered one of the best to ever step foot in the squared circle.
Unfortunately, the Harts had to deal with more tragedies that started in 1997 with the sudden death of family friend Brian Pillman and followed by the Montreal Screwjob. Life got worse for the Harts with the death of Owen, Stu, Helen and Davey Boy all within a five-year span. Bret also almost lost his life during that time when he suffered a stroke. The powerful emotions by the remaining family members during those dark times is a testament to their perseverance for the memory of their loved ones and how courageous they are to live through so much grief. Without question, the most tear-jerking WWE DVD ever released.
The DVD ends on a high note with the Hart Dynasty carrying on the Hart legacy. With the recent push they have received on television, this DVD might help make them superstars.
This DVD focuses on the contributions the Hart family has given to the wrestling business instead of their bitter rivalries. Die-hard fans will be craving more, but for fans that know very little about the Harts this is the best documentary on them. The matches on the other two discs are matches that die-hard fans have mostly already seen, but looking back at them is a great reminder of what great storytellers they were and how exciting they could make a wrestling match. Must have DVD for fans of the Hart family and those who missed out on the Hart Foundation era.
Hart and Soul: The Hart Family Anthology
540 minutes
Release date- April 6, 2010
Disc 1- Documentary
Stu Hart
Falling in Love
The Promoter
Hart House
Riches to Rags
All in the Family
Hart Foundation / British Bulldogs
Stampede Sold
Dean
International Spotlight
Family Feud
Canada’s Family
Struggles Within
Family Tragedy
Third Generation
Reflections
Special Features
* Stu the Athlete
* Helen’s Car Accident
* Terrible Ted the Wrestling Bear
* A Letter from Dean
* Stu vs. The Tiger
* A Hart Family Thanksgiving – 1987
* Helen Throws in the Towel
* Owen the Prankster
* Chris Jericho’s Flight with Owen
* The Uninvited Guest
* Bret “Hit Man” Hart Returns to WWE
* Post-Raw Celebration (Raw – January 4, 2010)
Disc 2
Introduction with The Hart Dynasty
6-Man Tag Team Match
Keith Hart, Bruce Hart & Bret Hart vs. The Kiwis & Dynamite Kid
Stampede Wrestling – May 1979
Stampede Arrives in WWE
World Tag Team Championship Match
Hart Foundation vs. British Bulldogs
Boston Garden – November 1, 1986
An Unforgettable Match
Intercontinental Championship Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. British Bulldog
SummerSlam – August 29, 1992
The Hart Family in a WWE Ring
Family Feud Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart, Bruce Hart & Keith Hart vs. Shawn Michaels & His Knights
Survivor Series – November 24, 1993
Brothers vs. Brothers
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Owen Hart vs. Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
Florence, SC – January 11, 1994
Ripped Apart at the Seams
World Tag Team Championship Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Owen Hart vs. The Quebecers
Royal Rumble – January 22, 1994
Disc 3
Sibling Rivalry
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship
Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. Owen Hart
SummerSlam – August 29, 1994
The Hart Family Settles It in the Ring
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart
Raw – November 7, 1994
Decorated in Gold
European Championship Match
Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog
Raw – March 3, 1997
Front and Center
10-Man Tag Team Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & Legion of Doom
In Your House: Canadian Stampede July 6, 1997
Border Wars
6-Man Tag Team Flag Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart & British Bulldog vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Undertaker & Dude Love
Raw – July 21, 1997
Passing the Torch
WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match
The Hart Dynasty vs. D-Generation X
SmackDown – December 25, 2009
dvd review history of the world heavyweight championship
Documentary
•Origins of Wrestling
•“An American Hero” Frank Gotch
•Ed “Strangler” Lewis
•National Wrestling Alliance
•Lou Thesz
•Buddy Rogers
•New Breed of Champions
•1970s World Champions
•A Flair for the Gold
•Crockett’s World Champion
•NWA to WCW
•WCW’s withdraws from NWA
•Revolving WCW Champions
•The Undisputed Championship
•World Championship Returns
•Legacy Lives
Disc 1 – Matches from the National Wrestling Alliance
•2 Out of 3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Pat O’Connor v Buddy Rogers - Chicago, IL (June 1961)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Gene Kiniski v Dory Funk Jr. - Championship Wrestling From Florida (February 11, 1969)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jack Brisco v Terry Funk - Championship Wrestling From Florida (December 10, 1975)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Harley Race v Dusty Rhodes - Championship Wrestling From Florida (August 21, 1979)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair v Magnum T.A. - AWA SuperClash (September 28, 1985)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair v Sting - Great American Bash (July 7, 1990)
Disc 2 – Matches from World Championship Wrestling
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair v Scott Steiner - Clash of the Champions XIV (January 30, 1991)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Lex Luger v Barry Windham - Great American Bash (July 14, 1991)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Vader v Ron Simmons - Baltimore, MD (August 2, 1992)
•Human Cage Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Vader v Ricky Steamboat - WCW Saturday Night (October 16, 1993)
•Career vs. Career Steel Cage Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hulk Hogan v Ric Flair - Halloween Havoc (October 23, 1994)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Sting v Hollywood Hulk Hogan - SuperBrawl VIII (February 22, 1998)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Hulk Hogan v Goldberg - Nitro (July 6, 1998)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jeff Jarrett v Booker T. - Bash at the Beach (July 9, 2000)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Rock v Chris Jericho - No Mercy (October 21, 2001)
Disc 3 – Matches from World Wrestling Entertainment
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H v Rob Van Dam - Unforgiven (September 22, 2002)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H v Shawn Michaels - Taboo Tuesday (October 19, 2004)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Kurt Angle v The Undertaker - No Way Out (February 19, 2006)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Rey Mysterio v Randy Orton - SmackDown (April 7, 2006)
•Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Batista v The Undertaker v Edge - Armageddon (December 16, 2007)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: John Cena v Chris Jericho - Survivor Series (November 23, 2008)
•Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Hardy v Edge - Extreme Rules (June 7, 2009)
Following in the footsteps of previous releases focusing on the WWE and Intercontinental Championships, this retrospective look back on the history of the World Heavyweight Championship, a title that, arguably, runs from the belt around the waist of Chris Jericho at the moment, back to the early days of the NWA... some say even further back than that, all the way to the Frank Gotch/George Hackenschmidt at the turn of the century.
As I made mention of, this lineage is arguable, not least of all due to WWE themselves changing their minds on whether the current World Heavyweight Championship links to the belt fought for in WCW and the NWA territories. For the sake of uniformity, this review is going to work on the assumption the NWA, WCW and WWE World Heavyweight Championship are one and the same, separated only by their respective eras and promotions.
The two earlier collections mentioned above both focused on championships that were kept within the WWE for their entire duration. This set, however, features a belt that's only been in control of the company for less than a decade, meaning the remaining years, some NINE DECADES, had little to do with WWE at all, so, going in, I was wondering how much revised history would be prominent in the main segment.
The documentary, especially the first third, is a fascinating look back on the origins of professional wrestling and how it evolved into what we know as Sports Entertainment today. From the creation of the first ever recognised world champion, through Ed “Strangler” Lewis and the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance, it's a riveting piece of film with some fantastic stories, news footage and press clippings to bring things alive.
Mike Chapman, the Executive Director of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum, is a font of knowledge when it comes to the “old days” and, thankfully, never slips into hyperbole or becomes boring to listen to. Add in comments from Mae Young (who was wrestling back in the 1950s, so saw the change from “legitimate” sport to what we see on TV in 2010), Bill Watts, Bob Geigel (NWA President from 1978-1987) and Harley Race and you have one of my favourite documentary releases WWE have ever produced.
The quality continues through the beginning of the TV era, the amazing career of Lou Thesz and the arrival of the original Nature Boy, the stunningly charismatic Buddy Rogers. Jim Cornette and Bobby Heenan, during interviews from 2005, lauds the merits of Rogers and how he (along with Gorgeous George) introduced the wrestling persona to the sport. A fantastic heel, Buddy Rogers used his trademark strut, abrasive promos (remember, this was the late 1950s/early 1960s) and handsome looks to propel himself into championship contention, winning the title in 1961. He was, by all accounts the first NWA Champion who's charisma and personality overshadowed his in-ring abilities. A new era was dawning. As an aside, some may find it strange to hear Gene Kiniski keep kayfabe throughout his little talking-head segment, but as the footage of him was taken from 1994, it makes more sense.
The second half of the documentary runs us through the arrival of the people I personally think of when the NWA Title is mentioned; Dusty Rhodes, Dory and Terry Funk, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and Jack Brisco. The latter of which, rather poignantly due to his recent passing, tells us a great little story of the time he was meant to win the title from Dory Funk, Jr, but, due to the promotion's reluctance to book a face v face title bout (mainly due to them believing it wouldn't draw a good gate), how that bout was scrapped, Harley Race was given the match with Funk instead and ended up winning the title in his place... only for the NWA to then give Brisco his title shot against Race instead (which he won). It's a fascinating little insight into the politics that went on back then. Terry Funk also has a short talking-head segment and, as usual with the great man, it's well worth a viewing, while the section that deals with the Ric Flair/Harley Race/Dusty Rhodes era is just great on every level.
We end the doc by focusing on the transition from the NWA territories to the title becoming the sole property of Jim Crockett Promotions and then, later, World Championship Wrestling when Ted Turner bought JCP out. In the first real waste of potential, the WCW era is pretty much glossed over completely, with only the period where Flair brought the physical belt to WWE in 1991 (an act that gives his reasoning for screwing Bret in Montreal an air of hypocrisy) and a look at the guys who held the belt in that company. A small section here focuses on those who held the WCW Championship, but, in WWE's eyes, didn't deserve it. The usual suspects are present and correct (David Arquette, Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo), but it's the inclusion of Sid Vicious that showcase WWE's frequent double-standards. Basically, they're saying that Sid didn't deserve the WCW Championship, but it was OK for WWE to make him a two-time WWE Champion, which is ridiculous. Whether you think Sid deserved any of his title runs or not, it's a cheap shot that reinforces the idea that WWE (or Vince McMahon) is petty minded.
The documentary ends by looking at the title during its reintroduction on RAW by Eric Bischoff in 2002 after the WWE Undisputed Championship had become the exclusive property of Smackdown after Summerslam 2002 (Brock Lesnar, the current holder, decided to sign exclusively with the blue team, breaking the deal that the top champion fought on all shows). Over the remaining nine minutes, the entire history of the belt under Vince's rule (until the end of Extreme Rules 2009) is laid before us. It's a nice end to a (mostly) impressive documentary piece.
Matches
22 matches, most in their entirety, are included across the three discs and, for most, will be the selling point of the entire set. Splitting the bouts into the three main eras was a smart idea, as was having the matches run in chronological order. The earlier footage, surprisingly, is pretty much crystal clear and the action, while vastly removed from the style of today, is compelling to watch. The live crowds are fantastic and every single bout on the first disc is a joy to watch.
Flair v Magnum T.A. (which has astounding commentary) is a great testament to what the professional wrestling world lost when Magnum had his career ended in a brutal car crash. The guy has a phenomenal connection with his fans, a stunning mastery of ring psychology and was just an amazing wrestler. Flair v Sting is a match that's been featured on many previous DVD releases, but it's still worth a viewing, while Terry Funk v Jack Brisco and Race/Rhodes are reduced to five-minute highlight packages (possibly due to the lost footage) although Rhodes does give commentary on his match... and, even better, the commentary is from the time as well.
On the WCW disc, the picture quality obviously improves, as does the number of matches. The opening contest, pitting a pre-Big Poppa Pump era Scott Steiner taking on Ric Flair, is an interesting look back for fans who's only memories of Steiner is the broken down guy who had a shocking match with Triple H in 2002 and then went to TNA. Also, the commentary from Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes is brilliant. The match itself is let down by an obviously contrived finish, but, apart from that, it's a great attempt by Flair to do with Scott Steiner what he did with Sting the previous year.
The other matches on the card are all good quality (and in their entirety), with the historical Ron Simmons win being nice to see on a DVD (the reaction of the crowd at the finish as unbelievable and the other wrestlers coming down add to the moment), the Vader/Steamboat match may make you have some interesting visuals when you read that it's a Human Cage Match, but when you see it, there might be some disappointment when you realise it's actually just a standard Lumberjack Match. Once you get past that, the match itself is really good, with Vader being the great heel that he was and Steamboat, as always, the great underdog babyface.
Hogan features in the next three matches, showing how much of a hold he had on the belt during his WCW run. The first, against Flair in the cage, is the only misstep on the second disc. The match itself is OK, but the overbooked finish sucks... even though the fans didn't seem to mind. Bobby Heenan on commentary is, as was customary in his WCW run, the “highlight of the night”. Hulk's match with Sting isn't as good as the match from Starrcade the previous year, but it's still a good match with a nice finish that, while overbooked like before, doesn't seem as contrived and was part of the first New World Order run. Lastly, for Hogan, we have possibly the most intense night in Nitro history. 60,000+ jam-packed into the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to witness Bill Goldberg, easily the hottest thing in WCW, take on Hulk Hogan for the WCW Championship. It's really hard to convey just how huge this match was if you weren't there at the time, but, trust me, this was as big as it got in 1998. Hogan, who is tarred with the selfish brush, rightly or wrongly, did all he could to put Goldberg over as the next legend in pro-wrestling. The cheer from the crowd when the three-count arrives is absolutely, without exaggeration or hyperbole, something that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, giving me goosebumps every time I watch it. Seriously, the entire feeling, with great commentary by Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan adding to the whole package, is something that every fan should've been able to witness as it happened. Ten minutes of pure excitement that occurs so very rarely, with a finish that is just amazingly beautiful in its execution.
The WCW portion ends with Jeff Jarrett v Booker T from Bash at the Beach 2000, a match that was overshadowed by the worked-shoot between Hogan, Jarrett and Vince Russo that left everyone scratching their heads when they saw it. Taking away the Hogan stuff, Booker and Double J had a really nice outing with a well worked finish and a feel-good ending to send the fans home happy. From there, the only WCW match from the post-WWE buy-out is The Rock v Chris Jericho from No Mercy in 2001, an amazing contest that runs well over 20mins and features two men who just worked so well together. It's a sad indictment of the state of today's wrestling landscape that the fans don't seem to care any more. Of course, that's mostly down to what we're given to view, but to see and hear how into wrestling the entire building was back then just makes me nostalgic for that era. All of that, and the brilliant chemistry of Paul Heyman and Jim Ross (for my money, a better pairing than Ross and Lawler) on commentary and an appearance from a super-hot Stephanie McMahon, add up to a stunning wrestling match.
Bringing proceedings to a close is the WWE portion, encapsulating seven years in seven matches. The first of which, Rob Van Dam v Triple H, is a really good contest, but marred by the fact the wrong guy won on the night. It's been said that HHH holds people down and, on this evidence, it's a hard statement to argue. Personally, I do believe he's earned his spot at the top of the card and would have it regardless of his family connections, but he has also used it to keep himself there and this match is a perfect example of it.
The second of two Triple H matches on the set is a completely different kettle of fish. The match against HBK from Taboo Tuesday is an fifteen-minute masterclass in ring psychology. Michaels went in with a legitimate knee injury and really had no right being in the match at all, but the two guys used it to their advantage and gave us some of the most emotionally intense action of the decade.
Following on from the “most emotionally intense action of the decade” is, for me, the match of the decade. Undertaker v Kurt Angle exceeded every expectation going in, which is saying something considering the calibre of the two men in the match. There really aren't words to do justice to the quality of this 30min encounter, it really is that special. The wrestlers, the fans, the commentary team of Taz and Cole, the finish; everything is at its peak. All I can advise you to do, if you haven't had the good fortune to see it, is to simply sit back, get comfortable and be prepared to be entertained.
The remaining four matches cannot hope to follow 'Taker/Angle, but that's not to say they're not good/great matches in their own right. Rey Mysterio, who had a really bad run as champ, has a great bout with Orton, the three-way between Batista, Undertaker and Edge is also a great match, though it's the finish that sticks in the mind. Normally, overbooked equals piss-poor, but, in this case, it's a bonafide work of genius. John Cena v Chris Jericho is another great bout, with the post-match being particularly worth watching (I never tire of wrestlers celebrating among the fans, especially if they have family there too) and, to close the night out, Jeff Hardy v Edge from Extreme Rules last year is an awesome Ladder Match featuring two pioneers of that match stipulation. And yes, since I know you would ask if you could, the “surprise” second match of the night is on there as well.
Overview
This is a great set, with a brilliant documentary and a stunningly good collection of matches. The main downer is that the documentary portion is too short. Of course, there'd be no way to capture around a century of history, but to have less than an hour is, to put it mildly, an insult. That being said, what is there is interesting, educational and treated with respect. The talking heads, many from years ago (mainly 2005 or 2002, with a good proportion of those being taken from other WWE releases, which comes across as lazy), aren't wasted, the footage, especially going back to the early years is fascinating and, all in all, for a title that isn't one of WWE's own, this is a classy package.
All of the matches are well worth watching, with the early NWA footage being quite the history lesson for those who grew up watching from the 80s onwards. On the three discs, Magnum/Flair, Hogan/Goldberg and Angle/Undertaker garner “Match of the Era” honours (well, when it comes to those on the discs at least), but the others are all worth a viewing.
•Origins of Wrestling
•“An American Hero” Frank Gotch
•Ed “Strangler” Lewis
•National Wrestling Alliance
•Lou Thesz
•Buddy Rogers
•New Breed of Champions
•1970s World Champions
•A Flair for the Gold
•Crockett’s World Champion
•NWA to WCW
•WCW’s withdraws from NWA
•Revolving WCW Champions
•The Undisputed Championship
•World Championship Returns
•Legacy Lives
Disc 1 – Matches from the National Wrestling Alliance
•2 Out of 3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Pat O’Connor v Buddy Rogers - Chicago, IL (June 1961)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Gene Kiniski v Dory Funk Jr. - Championship Wrestling From Florida (February 11, 1969)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jack Brisco v Terry Funk - Championship Wrestling From Florida (December 10, 1975)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Harley Race v Dusty Rhodes - Championship Wrestling From Florida (August 21, 1979)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair v Magnum T.A. - AWA SuperClash (September 28, 1985)
•NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair v Sting - Great American Bash (July 7, 1990)
Disc 2 – Matches from World Championship Wrestling
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Ric Flair v Scott Steiner - Clash of the Champions XIV (January 30, 1991)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Lex Luger v Barry Windham - Great American Bash (July 14, 1991)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Vader v Ron Simmons - Baltimore, MD (August 2, 1992)
•Human Cage Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Vader v Ricky Steamboat - WCW Saturday Night (October 16, 1993)
•Career vs. Career Steel Cage Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Hulk Hogan v Ric Flair - Halloween Havoc (October 23, 1994)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Sting v Hollywood Hulk Hogan - SuperBrawl VIII (February 22, 1998)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Hulk Hogan v Goldberg - Nitro (July 6, 1998)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Jeff Jarrett v Booker T. - Bash at the Beach (July 9, 2000)
•WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match: The Rock v Chris Jericho - No Mercy (October 21, 2001)
Disc 3 – Matches from World Wrestling Entertainment
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H v Rob Van Dam - Unforgiven (September 22, 2002)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Triple H v Shawn Michaels - Taboo Tuesday (October 19, 2004)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Kurt Angle v The Undertaker - No Way Out (February 19, 2006)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: Rey Mysterio v Randy Orton - SmackDown (April 7, 2006)
•Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Batista v The Undertaker v Edge - Armageddon (December 16, 2007)
•World Heavyweight Championship Match: John Cena v Chris Jericho - Survivor Series (November 23, 2008)
•Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Jeff Hardy v Edge - Extreme Rules (June 7, 2009)
Following in the footsteps of previous releases focusing on the WWE and Intercontinental Championships, this retrospective look back on the history of the World Heavyweight Championship, a title that, arguably, runs from the belt around the waist of Chris Jericho at the moment, back to the early days of the NWA... some say even further back than that, all the way to the Frank Gotch/George Hackenschmidt at the turn of the century.
As I made mention of, this lineage is arguable, not least of all due to WWE themselves changing their minds on whether the current World Heavyweight Championship links to the belt fought for in WCW and the NWA territories. For the sake of uniformity, this review is going to work on the assumption the NWA, WCW and WWE World Heavyweight Championship are one and the same, separated only by their respective eras and promotions.
The two earlier collections mentioned above both focused on championships that were kept within the WWE for their entire duration. This set, however, features a belt that's only been in control of the company for less than a decade, meaning the remaining years, some NINE DECADES, had little to do with WWE at all, so, going in, I was wondering how much revised history would be prominent in the main segment.
The documentary, especially the first third, is a fascinating look back on the origins of professional wrestling and how it evolved into what we know as Sports Entertainment today. From the creation of the first ever recognised world champion, through Ed “Strangler” Lewis and the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance, it's a riveting piece of film with some fantastic stories, news footage and press clippings to bring things alive.
Mike Chapman, the Executive Director of the International Wrestling Institute and Museum, is a font of knowledge when it comes to the “old days” and, thankfully, never slips into hyperbole or becomes boring to listen to. Add in comments from Mae Young (who was wrestling back in the 1950s, so saw the change from “legitimate” sport to what we see on TV in 2010), Bill Watts, Bob Geigel (NWA President from 1978-1987) and Harley Race and you have one of my favourite documentary releases WWE have ever produced.
The quality continues through the beginning of the TV era, the amazing career of Lou Thesz and the arrival of the original Nature Boy, the stunningly charismatic Buddy Rogers. Jim Cornette and Bobby Heenan, during interviews from 2005, lauds the merits of Rogers and how he (along with Gorgeous George) introduced the wrestling persona to the sport. A fantastic heel, Buddy Rogers used his trademark strut, abrasive promos (remember, this was the late 1950s/early 1960s) and handsome looks to propel himself into championship contention, winning the title in 1961. He was, by all accounts the first NWA Champion who's charisma and personality overshadowed his in-ring abilities. A new era was dawning. As an aside, some may find it strange to hear Gene Kiniski keep kayfabe throughout his little talking-head segment, but as the footage of him was taken from 1994, it makes more sense.
The second half of the documentary runs us through the arrival of the people I personally think of when the NWA Title is mentioned; Dusty Rhodes, Dory and Terry Funk, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and Jack Brisco. The latter of which, rather poignantly due to his recent passing, tells us a great little story of the time he was meant to win the title from Dory Funk, Jr, but, due to the promotion's reluctance to book a face v face title bout (mainly due to them believing it wouldn't draw a good gate), how that bout was scrapped, Harley Race was given the match with Funk instead and ended up winning the title in his place... only for the NWA to then give Brisco his title shot against Race instead (which he won). It's a fascinating little insight into the politics that went on back then. Terry Funk also has a short talking-head segment and, as usual with the great man, it's well worth a viewing, while the section that deals with the Ric Flair/Harley Race/Dusty Rhodes era is just great on every level.
We end the doc by focusing on the transition from the NWA territories to the title becoming the sole property of Jim Crockett Promotions and then, later, World Championship Wrestling when Ted Turner bought JCP out. In the first real waste of potential, the WCW era is pretty much glossed over completely, with only the period where Flair brought the physical belt to WWE in 1991 (an act that gives his reasoning for screwing Bret in Montreal an air of hypocrisy) and a look at the guys who held the belt in that company. A small section here focuses on those who held the WCW Championship, but, in WWE's eyes, didn't deserve it. The usual suspects are present and correct (David Arquette, Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo), but it's the inclusion of Sid Vicious that showcase WWE's frequent double-standards. Basically, they're saying that Sid didn't deserve the WCW Championship, but it was OK for WWE to make him a two-time WWE Champion, which is ridiculous. Whether you think Sid deserved any of his title runs or not, it's a cheap shot that reinforces the idea that WWE (or Vince McMahon) is petty minded.
The documentary ends by looking at the title during its reintroduction on RAW by Eric Bischoff in 2002 after the WWE Undisputed Championship had become the exclusive property of Smackdown after Summerslam 2002 (Brock Lesnar, the current holder, decided to sign exclusively with the blue team, breaking the deal that the top champion fought on all shows). Over the remaining nine minutes, the entire history of the belt under Vince's rule (until the end of Extreme Rules 2009) is laid before us. It's a nice end to a (mostly) impressive documentary piece.
Matches
22 matches, most in their entirety, are included across the three discs and, for most, will be the selling point of the entire set. Splitting the bouts into the three main eras was a smart idea, as was having the matches run in chronological order. The earlier footage, surprisingly, is pretty much crystal clear and the action, while vastly removed from the style of today, is compelling to watch. The live crowds are fantastic and every single bout on the first disc is a joy to watch.
Flair v Magnum T.A. (which has astounding commentary) is a great testament to what the professional wrestling world lost when Magnum had his career ended in a brutal car crash. The guy has a phenomenal connection with his fans, a stunning mastery of ring psychology and was just an amazing wrestler. Flair v Sting is a match that's been featured on many previous DVD releases, but it's still worth a viewing, while Terry Funk v Jack Brisco and Race/Rhodes are reduced to five-minute highlight packages (possibly due to the lost footage) although Rhodes does give commentary on his match... and, even better, the commentary is from the time as well.
On the WCW disc, the picture quality obviously improves, as does the number of matches. The opening contest, pitting a pre-Big Poppa Pump era Scott Steiner taking on Ric Flair, is an interesting look back for fans who's only memories of Steiner is the broken down guy who had a shocking match with Triple H in 2002 and then went to TNA. Also, the commentary from Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes is brilliant. The match itself is let down by an obviously contrived finish, but, apart from that, it's a great attempt by Flair to do with Scott Steiner what he did with Sting the previous year.
The other matches on the card are all good quality (and in their entirety), with the historical Ron Simmons win being nice to see on a DVD (the reaction of the crowd at the finish as unbelievable and the other wrestlers coming down add to the moment), the Vader/Steamboat match may make you have some interesting visuals when you read that it's a Human Cage Match, but when you see it, there might be some disappointment when you realise it's actually just a standard Lumberjack Match. Once you get past that, the match itself is really good, with Vader being the great heel that he was and Steamboat, as always, the great underdog babyface.
Hogan features in the next three matches, showing how much of a hold he had on the belt during his WCW run. The first, against Flair in the cage, is the only misstep on the second disc. The match itself is OK, but the overbooked finish sucks... even though the fans didn't seem to mind. Bobby Heenan on commentary is, as was customary in his WCW run, the “highlight of the night”. Hulk's match with Sting isn't as good as the match from Starrcade the previous year, but it's still a good match with a nice finish that, while overbooked like before, doesn't seem as contrived and was part of the first New World Order run. Lastly, for Hogan, we have possibly the most intense night in Nitro history. 60,000+ jam-packed into the Georgia Dome in Atlanta to witness Bill Goldberg, easily the hottest thing in WCW, take on Hulk Hogan for the WCW Championship. It's really hard to convey just how huge this match was if you weren't there at the time, but, trust me, this was as big as it got in 1998. Hogan, who is tarred with the selfish brush, rightly or wrongly, did all he could to put Goldberg over as the next legend in pro-wrestling. The cheer from the crowd when the three-count arrives is absolutely, without exaggeration or hyperbole, something that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, giving me goosebumps every time I watch it. Seriously, the entire feeling, with great commentary by Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan adding to the whole package, is something that every fan should've been able to witness as it happened. Ten minutes of pure excitement that occurs so very rarely, with a finish that is just amazingly beautiful in its execution.
The WCW portion ends with Jeff Jarrett v Booker T from Bash at the Beach 2000, a match that was overshadowed by the worked-shoot between Hogan, Jarrett and Vince Russo that left everyone scratching their heads when they saw it. Taking away the Hogan stuff, Booker and Double J had a really nice outing with a well worked finish and a feel-good ending to send the fans home happy. From there, the only WCW match from the post-WWE buy-out is The Rock v Chris Jericho from No Mercy in 2001, an amazing contest that runs well over 20mins and features two men who just worked so well together. It's a sad indictment of the state of today's wrestling landscape that the fans don't seem to care any more. Of course, that's mostly down to what we're given to view, but to see and hear how into wrestling the entire building was back then just makes me nostalgic for that era. All of that, and the brilliant chemistry of Paul Heyman and Jim Ross (for my money, a better pairing than Ross and Lawler) on commentary and an appearance from a super-hot Stephanie McMahon, add up to a stunning wrestling match.
Bringing proceedings to a close is the WWE portion, encapsulating seven years in seven matches. The first of which, Rob Van Dam v Triple H, is a really good contest, but marred by the fact the wrong guy won on the night. It's been said that HHH holds people down and, on this evidence, it's a hard statement to argue. Personally, I do believe he's earned his spot at the top of the card and would have it regardless of his family connections, but he has also used it to keep himself there and this match is a perfect example of it.
The second of two Triple H matches on the set is a completely different kettle of fish. The match against HBK from Taboo Tuesday is an fifteen-minute masterclass in ring psychology. Michaels went in with a legitimate knee injury and really had no right being in the match at all, but the two guys used it to their advantage and gave us some of the most emotionally intense action of the decade.
Following on from the “most emotionally intense action of the decade” is, for me, the match of the decade. Undertaker v Kurt Angle exceeded every expectation going in, which is saying something considering the calibre of the two men in the match. There really aren't words to do justice to the quality of this 30min encounter, it really is that special. The wrestlers, the fans, the commentary team of Taz and Cole, the finish; everything is at its peak. All I can advise you to do, if you haven't had the good fortune to see it, is to simply sit back, get comfortable and be prepared to be entertained.
The remaining four matches cannot hope to follow 'Taker/Angle, but that's not to say they're not good/great matches in their own right. Rey Mysterio, who had a really bad run as champ, has a great bout with Orton, the three-way between Batista, Undertaker and Edge is also a great match, though it's the finish that sticks in the mind. Normally, overbooked equals piss-poor, but, in this case, it's a bonafide work of genius. John Cena v Chris Jericho is another great bout, with the post-match being particularly worth watching (I never tire of wrestlers celebrating among the fans, especially if they have family there too) and, to close the night out, Jeff Hardy v Edge from Extreme Rules last year is an awesome Ladder Match featuring two pioneers of that match stipulation. And yes, since I know you would ask if you could, the “surprise” second match of the night is on there as well.
Overview
This is a great set, with a brilliant documentary and a stunningly good collection of matches. The main downer is that the documentary portion is too short. Of course, there'd be no way to capture around a century of history, but to have less than an hour is, to put it mildly, an insult. That being said, what is there is interesting, educational and treated with respect. The talking heads, many from years ago (mainly 2005 or 2002, with a good proportion of those being taken from other WWE releases, which comes across as lazy), aren't wasted, the footage, especially going back to the early years is fascinating and, all in all, for a title that isn't one of WWE's own, this is a classy package.
All of the matches are well worth watching, with the early NWA footage being quite the history lesson for those who grew up watching from the 80s onwards. On the three discs, Magnum/Flair, Hogan/Goldberg and Angle/Undertaker garner “Match of the Era” honours (well, when it comes to those on the discs at least), but the others are all worth a viewing.
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