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(Although not on the list, it’s still a damn fine compilation. You can purchase it here.)
As owners of the biggest wrestling library in the world, WWE utilizes their staggering amount of material to bring this entertainment to the homes of the fans.
Since my 14th birthday in 2003, I have collected a vast amount of WWE discs. Of course these range from pay-per-views to documentaries to straight-up match compilations. Not just WWE, but tons of DVD’s in general.
Now it’s time to see what is the best of the best.
A list too big for one entry, I have split up this countdown to two lists. This entry will the top ten, the cream of the crop. Sadly, David Letterman will not be presenting these honor roll students.
Just a little reminder that the links in the DVD names are Amazon links. Every little bit helps this blog, and as I would like to expand this to reach a further audience, any purchase is greatly appreciated on this blogger’s behalf.
There’s a lot to cover, reminiscence, and discuss, so time to get to it!
10. Summerslam 2002
Year Released: 2002
# of Discs: 1
Run Time (including extras): 3.25 hours
MSRP: $24.95
Favorite Bonus Feature: You see, this is where WWE was in a Golden Age. TONS of them! For sheer intensity, I’m going with the training videos of Rock and Brock. Seriously, if you own this, go to that disc and re-watch them right now!.
To start off this second half of the countdown, this in a sense was an introduction for me to the WWE. Triple H turned on Shawn Michaels, Brock Lesnar was on the road to destiny with The Rock, and Ric Flair was being, well, Ric Flair.
However, to say I included this because of rose-tinted glasses is WAY off the mark. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most, if not THE most, revered Summerslams in history!
Opening things up from Long island, NY (on a VERY warm afternoon) was Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio. While Kurt was waiting for 619 to come up the ramp, Mysterio stunned him from behind and it never slowed down from there. One of the best first matches on any card EVER. Mysterio used his proverbial “well” pretty nicely, but Angle used his better and made the cruiserweight TAP!
The next two matches, Edge/Eddie Guerrero & Ric Flair/Chris Jericho were solid singles bouts. Both used significant ring psychology in order to get submission-based spots down, whether it was Edge with his shoulder or Jericho mocking Flair. In the end though, the faces (Edge and Flair) used their respective finishers to get the dukes.
Next up in sequence was the tag title bout with Goldust/Booker T vs. Lance Storm/Christian. Nothing special here, and a cheap win for Storm/Christian. I’ll kill another bird, Test/Undertaker, with the same stone since I cared for neither match. However, in a card as strong as this, there was bound to be weak links. At least they were built strong enough not to crumble.
Speaking of crumbling, next up is a contest that revolved around two conflicting styles. With the Intercontinental Championship at stake, it was Rob Van Dam versus Chris Benoit. In its 15 minute window, there was a struggle of style vs. style, and will vs. will. Benoit tried to make RVD tap, but couldn’t. RVD tried to use the high-flying game, but was mostly grounded. Fortunately for Rob though, a quick moment led to a Frog Splash and regaining the IC bout, to the chagrin of Stephanie McMahon and delight of Eric Bischoff.
Since UT/Test was skimmed over, here comes the contest I was most looking forward to. Shawn Michaels, after four years away dealing with multiple issues, returns to face Triple H, former best friend now turned bitter enemy. For a man who was away for so long, HBK truly seemed to be himself right off the bat. With Shawn taking the bumps while dishing them out, somehow this match lasted 30 minutes and didn’t have one iota of a hint of falling apart. Ladders, chairs, tables, BLOOD, and overall brutal wrestling came into the foreground. The ending saw Triple H reverse a Sweet Chin Music into a Pedigree, but Shawn reverses that into a rollup! As the LI crowd popped like a cherry, Shawn was celebrating until he got dished a couple of sledgie shots from a jealous Game. This would set up future matches, but wow what a leg to start off from!
In a HORRENDOUS segue from the HBK/HHH match to the upcoming main event, Howard Finkel comes to the ring and “puts himself over”. With Lillian Garcia in the ring, Howard says one of the worst quotes ever. “YOU HAVE THE PUPPIES, BUT I HAVE THE WEINER!” Yeah, Wrestlecrap at its best! With Trish Stratus’ help, Lillian kicks Howard in the balls, and fortunately I think the debris from the ring is gone.
Capping the show was Rock/Brock for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Back in the good ol’ days, if you won the King of the Ring, you were guaranteed a shot at the WWE Championship. In this instance it was Summerslam, so here we are. Brock is a f***ing animal. He destroys jobbers like Spike Dudley, mid-carders like the Hardyz, and then takes out Hulk Hogan the perennial main eventer. Raising his mystique, Brock put everything he worked for on the line against a man whose Hollywood days were just beginning, but was also what 80’s Ric Flair would call, “the dealer”. Facing a great deal of unknowns, these two put on quite an athletic contest, lasting some 17 minutes in length. It took Brock MULTIPLE F-5’s to send Rock down back into the fiery depths of Hollywood Hell, and become the Undisputed Champ.
As for the extras. Well, there are the standard post-match interviews involving people like Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam. Shawn Michaels made an appearance on WWE.com’s “Byte This”, and just about all of it is on here. Also mentioned was the Hogan/Lesnar match from SMACKDOWN just a day before my 13th birthday (which would be 8.8.02).
Which leads me to the training videos. If you need moving images that should be set to that Rocky theme, this would be it. For both men. There’s the big and hulking challenger, one of incredible amateur pedigree and physical dominance. The other is a measuring stick, long standing main eventer who has fought and defeated everyone there is to beat. Lifting logs, long ice baths, leaping challenges, and CAN YOU SMELLLLLLLL?!?!?? These are epic montages not to be missed.
So now you know the lead-off hitter in this part of the contest. Who’s next?
9. Mick Foley's Greatest Hits and Misses: A Life in Wrestling
Year Released: 2004, renewed 2007
# of Discs: 2-3
Running Time: 360-540 minutes
MSRP: $29.95 (for both)
Favorite Bonus Feature: All the easter eggs are fun, but to be honest, all the ECW promos are beyond legendary. Jim Ross interviewing Mankind was quite the snippet too!
Yep, another quick personal backstory to lead things off. This is the first DVD I purchased with my own money back in late 2003 as a pre-order from Amazon. Using Christmas money and allowance, I plunked down the $26.96 with no tax or shipping and got myself something I knew was special.
Man was I ever so right!
With Mick himself as host, he hand-picked all the matches featured on this collection. I believe he may have hand-picked all the extras too, but that I’m not sure.
This is also the only collection in HISTORY to have a re-print. As in, WWE added a third disc about three years later adding matches from Foley’s more recent “runs”, with the likes of Randy Orton, Edge, amongst others. That’s the purchase link used above and the picture used above, is the re-release. I have the original, mainly because I have all the other matches on PPV-released DVD to begin with.
So enough with Professor Booking giving a history lesson, let’s get to some dual-layered goodness!
Starting off with the WCW Saturday Night match with Vader, Mick as Cactus Jack is stiffed like hell. That’s just Vader being Vader, and Mick didn’t mind one bit. Only thing was that Mick bled BADLY from the nose, to the point the whole second half of the match was chopped on original air date. So Mick, who had tape of the deleted footage in his stock, had the missing footage re-spliced, and thus it looks like a different match than before! Vader would lose by count-out, and Jack’s only victory celebrating would be in the hospital getting stitches and ballyhoo.
Following another brutal WCW contest at Spring Stampede (w/ Maxx Payne vs. The Nasty Boys), four of the next five matches are all ECW hardcore related. Ranging from 1994-1996, most of these are pretty good in quality, like the Sabu contest, the tag attraction w/ Raven vs. Dreamer/Funk, and even Jack’s goodbye match vs. Mikey Whipwreck. Sandman’s match though, a train wreck. Apparently Sandman did this contest knocked out on his feet, and therefore after one or two chair shots, he only got up out of instinct. The only truly bad match on this collection, but even then, it’s still fun to watch.
After the bouts of Heyman’s brain child, which would span discs one and two, its onto WWE and a NEW GIMMICK! Debuting in the Spring of 1996 as Mason the Mutilator, I mean Mankind, Mick would go into a darker side. Full of rats and psychological warfare, Mick would immediately attack Undertaker as an entrance! His first match on here would be against Shawn Michaels in the Mind Games contest. If you’re making a drinking game out of this countdown, it’s already shot #2, so drink up! A classic of course, 30 minutes of greatness. DQ finish, but all to set up the next month’s event. No problem with that in my opinion.
Next up would be 1997, and the first-ever RAW from Madison Square Garden. The same episode where it was the inaugural AUSTIN STUNNED MCMAHON moment, this FOLLOWED IT! With Hunter in the ring, Dude Love is originally scheduled to come out until it is seen that Dude is on the Titantron. Playing some mind games (and camera trickery), Dude introduces a “kind man”. Gee, I wonder who that is? Mankind is saying as much as he LOVES to destroy HHH, there’s someone else who wants to destroy him more! As such, HERE COMES CACTUS! To a roaring ovation, Cactus Jack takes out the King of the Ring on the ramp. It was surprisingly an even contest as Cactus would get a few shots, Hunter got a few, and EVEN CHYNA knocks down Cactus (a 290 pound guy) with little effort. The ending sees Hunter try a Pedigree on a wooden tables, but Cactus gets a low-blow and a piledriver in! Through the table, Cactus gets the duke. Great match, considering the era this was in.
Starting from here, the remaining matches will have that blurring that covers the scratch WWF logo. Some matches, like KOTR 1998 isn’t that bad, but others, like the two RAW matches are pretty bad. For me at the time, wasn’t a deal-breaker. As I’m older, I pay more attention to it, but WWE has certainly gotten better at the practice.
Going into 1998 now, and Mick Foley would be wrestling as, well, Mick Foley. In a #1 contenders match on RAW for the WWE Championship, Foley’s opposition would be a non-gimmicked Terry Funk (as opposed to the pantyhose-on-his-head-wearing Chainsaw Charlie). Steve Austin, champ, doesn’t interfere as he drinks beer and makes hilarious comments. This No-Holds-Barred match goes EVERYWHERE, from the ring to the concession stands! Foley bleeds, and even though it’s a small amount of it, the cut’s still large enough to need some 20 stitches in his head. Ending was plain as day with a double-armed DDT in the ring, and Foley is contender to the throne once again! Not seen is Foley dancing as Dude with some “Dudettes” (I believe including his wife), and Vince McMahon.
Next up is my favorite Foley match of all time, Over the Edge 1998. If you’ve read my previous literature, you’d see me reference this match a lot. So here’s a write-up from a previous list, right here!
In sequence, now it’s time for the most INFAMOUS, DIABOLICAL, DEVICE OF DISASTER! Hey guys, drinking game in the house! This is I believe #2 again! Gee, drunk? Wussy! Of course it’s that KOTR 1998 Hell in the Cell match with Undertaker. We all know how this goes like a song at karaoke night. Up the cage, down the cage, up back again. Chairshot, chokeslam,oh shit’s he’s dead! in the ring, eat some steel and make yourself bleed. In the ring, doing thing, chokeslam on the tacks! Foley gets a Tombstone, and there is he sacked! As a heel, Foley gets tremendous applause for this tremendous effort, while JR’s neckfat-laced screaming is pretty much dead.
Time to see how Foley wins his first title. Oh wait, did I spoil it? Well Tony Schiavone did on January 4th 1999 on Nitro, so YOU’RE NOT SPECIAL! Foley acknowledges that as good as Michael Cole was on commentary, he really wishes JR was on commentary. Don’t we all Mick, and that’s not a slight against Cole, who was only in the lead commentator position for like a month at this point. Facing an uphill battle against The Rock, the match wasn’t a “Great One”. Hell, it didn’t pick up until after the sock was pulled out, and then the Corporation jumped Mick. Then D-Generation X jumped on the Corporation. Then the glass shatters and Austin comes out to the outrageous pop! Waffles Rocky in the head with a chair, and suddenly Foley is your new WWE Champion! Austin throws his hat at McMahon, and the Chairman is livid! Foley cuts a promo during his re-mixed music, “DADDY DID IT!”
In the original DVD, the finale was the Royal Rumble 2000 Street Fight for the WWE Championship. In the introduction, Mick mentions how Triple H was at his very best, and that himself wasn’t far behind. I wrote about this match in length during a previous post, so read that here.
Quickly, on disc three of the new collection, there’s the Backlash 2004 match with Orton, Wrestlemania 22 with Edge, and One Night Stand with Foley/Edge/Lita vs. Beulah/Dreamer/Funk. All three are great matches worth watching if you don’t have the events already. Hell, WM 22 was earlier in the countdown!
Time for the bonuses. A great chunk of them here. Starting off with the debut of Foley on WWE TV as he with Les Thornton took on the British Bulldogs in 1986. A squash that left Foley’s jaw in mangled shape, leading to a brace and not eating solid food for a month.
There are two matches that receive commentary, one against Sting and the other a rematch versus Sabu, both accompanied by Jonathan Coachman.
In addition, there are numerous WWE vignettes, like “Have a Bad Day” and the introductory Mankind ones.
ECW promos are the cake, icing, and yummy strawberry middle. From Anti-Hardcore to Cane Dewey, there’s a side of Foley that comes out in vicious bunches, and all promos stay with you FOREVER. They’re as haunting as any Jake Roberts promo, well thought-out and precise in measurements.
This is definitely one to buy. It’s inexpensive, has a vast amount of material from different territories (even Smoky Mountain Wrestling), and it’s all quality.
8. From the Vault: Shawn Michaels
Year Released: 2003
# of Discs: 2
Running Time: 360 minutes
MSRP: $29.95
Favorite Bonus Feature: Easter Egg. Buddy Rose diet powder. That is all.
My VERY FIRST WWE disc, and I pop in the player as regularly as any. Full of greatness and full of vigor, even eight years on. I even learned how to get Easter Eggs on this collection, and still holds my #1 absolute favorite one.
Before reviewing, let me state for the record that if you are still in the drinking game, check your liver. This collection has some repeat matches, well actually three of them. So get the JD, Mr. Beam or VODKA!
Originally a series spun off of WWE Confidential, From the Vault features classic bouts of the past. Shawn was supposed to kick this off, then have guys like Rock, Austin, HHH, etc., follow in his wake.
This is still a great concept, and one still worthy of its ranking.
Shawn hand-picked seven matches that defined his career, and then they were packed with appropriate extras depending on what era the bout took place in. So let’s dive right in.
First up, batting for the AWA, is a now-infamous Showboat match aired on ESPN. With Shawn teaming with Marty Jannetty as the Midnight Rockers, they faced Playboy Buddy Rose and Doug Summers for the AWA Tag Team Championship. The smaller guys got dominated, then everyone bled for the sake of bleeding I guess. Highly radical at the time. It led to I believe a no-contest, and then Greg Gagne made a post-match interview discussing the severity of injuries of all four combatants. It would be a year before the Rockers got the gold, and sadly, never got that gold in WWE. Speaking of extras, there’s a interview and the Barbershop segment where Shawn put his career into fourth gear by throwing Jannetty through a window. The AWA promo is where the Buddy Rose diet plan EE is at. “Sit in front of an ordinary household fan, and blow your weight away! HAHAHAHAH!”
Next up is the Wrestlemania X Ladder Match from 1994. The real champion, Razor Ramon, took on HBK, who was the ex-champ, with BOTH BELTS at stake. The story is timeless: Shawn was suspended, and therefore the belt was vacated. In real-life, Shawn never returned the belt. Vince, while livid, decided to make a positive out of a negative. A new belt was made and was put on the winner of a combo battle royal/finale match. Razor won, and therefore is the new official champ. Cut to a month later where Shawn returns, and unveils his title belt. Suddenly, the battle is on! I have written about this match before, so I’ll just cut the prior blog entry here. Extras include the promos leading up to the match, one on Superstars and a video package promo.
Disc one concludes with the Iron Man match from Wrestlemania XII. Champion Bret Hart facing off against Shawn, the plucky challenger who had won his second consecutive Royal Rumble. On an extra, it was announced by Roddy Piper, acting ‘President’, that it would be an hour-long contest. Therefore, in another extra, the month or so was spent on training vignettes. Michaels beats up some jobbers and climbs ropes while an older Hitman jogs really slowly on Canadian ice and snow. To the match itself, it’s also the one where Shawn does that AMAZING entrance. This was also covered on the WrestleMania documentary that archived Vince as the first to do the stunt.
Onto to disc two, and we have HBK’s first title defense. For “Good Friends Better Enemies”, there is Shawn versus old buddy Diesel, who had attacked him weeks before. While it’s not a well-known classic, it’s definitely noteworthy as the first-ever No Holds Barred bout in WWE history. So for starters, we have the big guy and little guy complex. Add in Shawn’s amazing ability to sell, and this is easily Kevin Nash’s best match in WWE. I mean, Kevin DESTROYS Shawn most of the match, including a powerbomb through the wooden announcer table! At one point, legend Mad Dog Vachon had his fake leg ripped off, and Diesel whacked Shawn in the head with it! Shortly thereafter, Shawn made his comeback, including the debut of the stomp leading into the kick. Shawn waffled the big guy, and retains! This also marks Kevin’s last WWE appearance for nearly six years, as WCW was looming large. Should also be noted that Kevin and Shawn, in probably the most surprising extra, did alternate commentary on the bout (which is in a small window to the side). There’s also a small promo from a Germany house show, and TV spots.
Next up is the Mankind/HBK match. Whoever is still competing in the drinking game, get your glasses ready now. Then go back to “disc” one. As for extras, the most entertaining of the bunch in terms of them. You have wacky promos from both men, and a pre-match interview for HBK.
Hey, don’t put down those drinking glasses yet! Taker/HBK from 1997 is next! Yep, gulp down. Not only do you go back to disc one, but you can get a very-much in-depth match review over in here. Extras include some TV spots featuring the construction of the Cell, the infamous “Blaze of Glory” interview, and a pre-match interview for HBK.
Are you drunk yet? Good, take another drink! Good news is that you can go back to #10, and read up on the HBK/HHH match there! The pre-match hype video and the post-match sledgie appearance are the extras, with a photo gallery rounding everything out.
Keep in mind that though a lot of these matches have been released on DVD again, back in 2003 these matches were fresh to newer fans of this entertainment. For sentiments and the cold-hard-fact that it’s legitimately awesome, this disc collection earns its spot.
Year Released: 2003
#’s of Discs: 1
Running Time: 180 minutes
MSRP: $24.95
Favorite Bonus Feature: The Confidential interview segment that featured all the participants talking about their experiences inside the Chamber.
I feel like I’ve written a tome about this event. Not only have I mentioned it A BUNCH on this blog (mainly here), but I have also written a full-length summary on The History of WWE’s webpage.
So pretty much on the main content, I will drill in ONCE AGAIN that it is one of the greatest events of all-time subjectively, and my favorite event sentimentally.
As for extras, they are a lively bunch. You have the standard-at-the-time post-match interviews, as well as a Sunday Night Heat match with Lance Storm and William Regal vs. Hurricane and Goldust. In addition, Saliva had their music video for “Always” featured, and coupling that is a photo gallery. Add in the “Confidential” feature summarized above, and it’s one FULLY LOADED disc. Buy now, and you won’t regret it!
Year Released: 2007
# of Discs: 3
Running Time: 540 minutes
MSRP: $34.95
Favorite Match: For wrestling, has to be HBK/Ramon II. For story, Hardy/Undertaker from 2002. And for PURE SPOTS, Summerslam 2000 by a nose.
This compilation of matches is by far the best one WWE has ever put out.
For three discs, its nothing but matches with small segue-way pieces in the middle. Starting with a Canada-based match with Big Daddy Ritter and Jake Roberts, it showed potential of a gimmick going somewhere.
WWE’s first ladder match came in the form of Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship. Hailing from a live event in Oregon, it wasn’t nationally televised, and I believe only put on one VHS before this. While not a great match, it certainly did show the talents of two men outside of exchanging holds.
The next two matches are IC title matches at Summerslam, 1995 and 1998. First up is Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon in a rematch from Wrestlemania X, whose match can be seen in the From the Vault (start drinking asshole!) and the new Ladder Match 2: Crash & Burn collection. The other was the focus of a hot angle between D-Generation X and The Nation of Domination, with leaders Triple H and The Rock respectively. Both matches would further elevate the star status of all men involved, and featured more wrestling than bump-based action.
Next up is a revolutionary evolution. Spun off a highly ridiculous angle, the finals of the Terri Invitational Tournament (T.i.T for short and literal) would be a ladder match featuring Edge/Christian and Jeff/Matt, the Hardy Boyz (in the Brood). This is contest best seen, not described. It truly is one of those matches that makes you stand up and cheer, for what is great when young men make the biggest impression.
Speaking of spinoffs, want to add the Dudley Boyz with some Chairs and Tables? OH MY! The equation would be a TLC match for Summerslam 2000, which had one dangerous spot after another. Seriously, the ending bump I thought Matt Hardy was dead. Like a lot of spot fests on this disc, it’s better watched than described.
WCW makes its lone appearance next with, well, the second ladder match in three months apparently. 3 Count (Shane Helms and Shannon Moore) took on Jung Dragons (Kaz Hayashi and Yun Yang), and the team of Jamie Noble and Evan Karagias. Not a great match either (Mark Madden drives the normal man NUTS), but it’s credentials make it a nice addition.
Back to WWE to wrap up disc one, we have a really good one coming up. Chris Benoit puts his Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho to end their long-standing rivalry. Starting off as a wrestling contest, the spots follow en masse quickly. Watch for the bump that sends Benoit flying into a steel chair! OUCH! While he will be on more matches in this collection, this is the last collection Benoit will be on for quite a while. I think the reasons are obvious.
The next two matches on disc two are from 2001, and the TLC’s II and III. One would take place at Wrestlemania and one on SMACKDOWN. The three teams (EC, Dudley, Hardy) factor apply to both, with Benoit/Jericho as tag champs on the SD one. Both matches are INSANE, as the Wrestlemania one is really hailed as something special.
Once again the Intercontinental Championship is at the focus with brothers gone bad and a newly-reformed Christian/weed smoker. Sounds eclectic, doesn’t it? Also figure in this: one is WWF and one is WWE. Christian turned on Edge, and Eddie Guerrero attacked Ron Van Dam. On both occasions, the title changed hands to the faces (Edge and RVD), and both would add more gold to their already impressive clientele of championships.
Next on our list is a truly impressive specimen of a match. 2002 Jeff Hardy, an underdog in every sense of the word, goes up against Undertaker for the Undisputed WWE Championship in a ladder stip. Undertaker, despite his huge size and overall experience, is at a real disadvantage because ladders are not in his forte. Essentially, it was as if every time the younger Hardy brother went down, he came back up and nearly defeated the American Badass. While Undertaker would win the match, Jeff Hardy won something bigger: Undertaker’s respect.
Next up is TLC IV from 2002, with new teams at the bill (Kane/Hurricane, Jeff Hardy/RVD, Chris Jericho/Christian, Bubba Ray Dudley/Spike Dudley). More of the same, but this time on RAW. Kane, by himself (since Hurricane was taken out), won the tag titles under impossible circumstances. Good match all in all.
Rounding out disc two feels like a throwback match for the IC title at Unforgiven 2004. With Christian and Chris Jericho, this match had more wrestling than ladder bumps, but the wrestling made the bumps more impactful. Jericho would get the belt, a record-breaking title hold at the time.
To kick off disc three is the inaugural Money in the Bank contest with Chris Jericho, Edge, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, Chris Benoit, and Christian. From Wrestlemania 21 in 2005, it featured six men in a 15 minute big bump fest, but with style and grace. Watch Chris Benoit German Suplex Chris Jericho and a ladder! Edge is the “Ultimate Opportunist” here, and gets the win. This would lead to the infamous cash-in at New Year’s Revolution 2006 where Edge became the WWE Champion for the first time.
Following that is probably the worst angle a ladder match could be based off of. Eddie Guerrero, who claimed to be the father of Dominick, goes up against the father of the boy, Rey Mysterio at Summerslam 2005. Interesting match where it was mostly bumping off the ladders with some of their signature moves. “Where the f*** is Vickie?” Funniest botch of the match right there as Vickie would screw Eddie so Rey would win and status quo is corrected.
If Rey/Eddie was bad in terms of story, Edge and Matt Hardy was a little better. Based off a real life strife, Edge had the “edge” over Hardy the whole time. This match is no different, because of Lita, the object of the feud. Matt loses, and has to go to SMACKDOWN, per stip of this match.
NEXT, we have a man of near-geriatrics with Ric Flair against newly-crowned champ Edge in a TLC match from RAW in 2006. Before you cringe, remember the story for this match is a lot like Undertaker and Jeff Hardy. It’s the story of old man underdog versus the younger guy whose expertise in wrestling is THIS, a TLC match. Edge would get the win on leverage, but Flair’s performance is something worthy of a “Rocky” movie.
Edge isn’t done with TLC acrobatics. Next is his now-legendary match with John Cena at Unforgiven. Kinda like the RAW match from the year before, if Cena loses he goes to SD. The longest match on this collection at nearly 27 minutes, it’s a crisply-paced match that doesn’t feel long in the tooth at all. This is how to properly use a gimmick match folks. Cena made Edge go through two tables via FU to regain the title, and goes on a year-long title reign. This match would be on the John Cena DVD from a few years back, but since this is NOWHERE to be found on the list, the drinks are safe.
Jeff Hardy would face Johnny Nitro on RAW next for the IC title. After some really good singles matches, time to top off the feud with a gimmick match. While Jeff is as good as ever, Nitro is INCREDIBLE for his first time with a ladder. Fortunately the next match would show him looking even better!
The big finale on this collection is Londrick (I mean Paul London and Brian Kendrick) versus Hardyz versus MNM (Mercury and Nitro, Melina is manager) versus William Regal and Dave Taylor. Originally a regular tag match between Londrick/Regal&Taylor, Long gave the Armageddon 2006 crowd a “Christmas present” with a Fatal-Four-Way ladder match. Regal and Taylor were immediately out-matched because they have a fear of heights. For Joey Mercury, it would be his first AND ONLY ladder contest, as a severely busted nose caused blood to gush out and a hospital trip shortcoming. Londrick outlived everyone and somehow retained, making their tag title run a one for the ages.
Some 23 matches were on this collection, and most of them rank at least ***.25/5 or more. I say pick this one up!
Year Released: 2003
# of Discs: 2
Run Time: 360 minutes
MSRP: $29.95
Favorite Bonus Feature: Goldberg’s return the next night.
There have been some mightily disappointing Wrestlemanias lately. Yet somehow, this fully stacked card actually has the distinction of retrieving the fewest amount of buys in the last decade.
Now while this isn’t Wrestlemania 13 bad (in terms of buyrates that is), it was definitely concerning. Ever since the name change, fans were turning off the WWE in droves. Even if the card was great, too many distractions (like anything to do with McMahons, or the still-sour taste of Katie Vick) shook the fans’ confidence enough to plunk down the $40.
So now you’re wondering of ALL the DVD’s listed in this countdown, why in the hell is this Wrestlemania, a bastard child in buyrates, #5?
Really, it’s easy. It’s a great big epic card that will stand the test of time.
Seriously, it will.
In the opener, Matt Hardy battled Rey Mysterio for Matt’s Cruiserweight Championship. Even though it was four minutes, they worked their asses off and made something out of it. V1 (or Version One to you newer fans) retained after putting his foot on the ropes.
Next up is a hoss clash. Originally a tag match, Undertaker’s partner Nathan Jones was jumped backstage. This forced Big Evil to get himself “handicapped” if you will, as he will face Big Show and A-Train on his own. With a Limp Bizkit-accompanied entrance, Undertaker would whip ass while getting his own whooped in the process. After Nathan returned to cause fracas, ‘Taker got the Tombstone and the duke over the A-Train. Not a bad match, but not memorable either.
Next up is the Women’s Championship contest with Victoria defending her title against Trish Stratus and Jazz. While the Victoria/Trish saga went on for an eternity, Jazz’s brutal return added a fresh catalyst to the feud. Considering it’s women action, the match presented was actually decent. Trish regained the title to a huge pop from the Seattle crowd.
After Rock lambasted the attendance, it was time for another triple threat: WWE Tag Team Championships were at stake. Team Angle (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) took on Los Guerreros (Eddie & Chavo) and the team of Rhyno/Chris Benoit. A nicely thrown-together match with everyone hitting their high-spots and signature maneuvers. Shelton retained the titles for his team after Rhyno Gored Chavo, and Benjamin snuck in the for the pin.
Next up is a genuine Wrestlemania classic. Shawn Michaels, who hadn’t appeared at ‘Mania in a wrestling capacity since 1998, took on Chris Jericho, a man who considered Michaels a once-idol. I wrote about this match in an earlier blog, so please refer to it here.
After Limp Bizkit’s performance of “Crack Addict” and a Wrestlecrap-worthy segment of women brawling, we got what I thought was the personal low-point of the show. Triple H would defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Booker T. Why I say this is a low point is for two reasons. One, Triple H won after it was made to believe Booker would finally break the glass ceiling with EVERYONE and their brother on his side. Seriously kids, Booker was OVER with the fans. And two, the announcing downright sucked. Lawler aggravated Ross to the point where JR almost wanted to pack up and go home. Some of the commentary had funny parts (like where Flair “tried to help” Booker get up the ring-steps), but mostly it was annoying and lifeless.
Speaking of lifeless, here’s a tale of two 50+ year old men who were probably never more alive heading into it. Twenty years in the making, it’s Hogan and McMahon at ‘Mania! Hogan came out to “Voodoo Child” on the DVD (but the later Anthology release would be dubbed over with “Real American”), while Tazz looked to nearly explode on how jacked McMahon looked. It started as a geriatric brawl, but once the first chair shot was thrown, it was wild! McMahon bled, Hogan bled, hell, even HUGO SAVINOVICH BLED!
Roddy Piper made a surprise appearance, and after considering the options, attacked Hogan to a mixed reaction. After nearly getting screwed again (Sylvan Grenier as “replacement ref”), Hogan dropped the leg multiple times on McMahon to win and “keep his job”. Of course McMahon would fire him anyway to lead into Mr. America. Another time, another day kids. That was the end of disc one altogether.
Starting off disc two, here’s the last of a trilogy. Austin/Rock baby! The build-up felt as natural as any can be: Rock, who has had two very bitter defeats on the grandest stage (both also had WWE titles on the line), wants one more shot to kick the bald-headed candy ass! Between concerts and beat-downs, and even a medical scare for the Rattlesnake, Seattle is about to host the penultimate match of XIX. For about 20 minutes, the two beat the hell out of each other as normal. Unlike ‘Manias XV and X-Seven, they didn’t have a NO DQ to work around, so Earl Hebner allowed as much as possible to fly. In that respect, this match feels “lesser” than the other two, yet still has the intensity and fire like never before. Rocky, after THREE symbolic Rock Bottoms, pinned Austin’s elbows down FINALLY. Rock looks at a fallen Austin with JR saying it was trash-talking. Austin gets up to a thunderous ovation and leaves Wrestlemania a hero, just realizing he wrestled his last competitive contest (for now).
XIX is about to close up shop with the WWE Championship on the line. Kurt Angle, all-around American hero bad guy, is about to defend his title against Royal Rumble winner Brock Lesnar, who has to overcome the faction and injured ribs to get here. To add some intrigue into the mix, General Manager Stephanie McMahon stated that if Kurt got himself intentionally DQ’ed, then the belt would be automatically awarded to “The Next Big Thing”. Unlike most ‘Mania contests, this title match was a very mat-based, amateur-wrestling bout that was unusual yet fit the strengths and abilities of both men. While this match is good, the one bump EVERYONE remembers is that very sick-looking Shooting Star Press botch that saw Angle move out of the way while Lesnar landed straight on his head! A very shaky Lesnar, barely moving on instinct, landed an F5 on Angle and the two cripples suddenly ended a ‘Mania match successfully. I call Angle a cripple too because immediately afterwards, he’d have experimental neck surgery that would either extend his career or end it. While we all know what the result would be, it was still a scary time. Fortunately everything worked out, and both men would enjoy fruitful careers in and out of the WWE.
Disc two would be rounded out by a plethora by extras. TONS of vignettes (ranging from Catfight Girls to Wrestlemania hubbub), promotional spots, WWE superstars marking out over their favorite moments, and even legends would add their own two cents on who would win the Street Fight between McMahon and Hogan.
The first big feature is “3rd Degree”, a special that aired live on TNN a week before the big show. With Michael Cole and Tazz as hosts, they interviewed various superstars in character about their parts in the event. About 40 minutes in length (with commercials cut out), it’s a unique extra because WWE would never attempt doing something like this ever again.
So what’s number two? Well, here is the thing: Rock was about to “retire”, stating he’s done it all. HOLD THE PHONE! Goldberg walks backstage in a Harley-Davidson jacket snorting figurative fire. As his WCW music pumps up (it would be replaced shortly), the big man is greeted to a thunderous cheer! Spearing Rock, Goldberg proclaims in the way he can, “YOU’RE NEXT!” That’s how a ‘Mania disc is wrapped up!
Seriously, if that doesn’t prove it’s the best ‘Mania disc going, even for it’s age, I don’t know what will. Great card, great extras, and you get to hear Jimi Hendrix in addition! Better pick this sonofabitch up!
4. Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho
Year Released: 2010
# of Discs: 3
Run Time: 540 Minutes
MSRP: $34.95
Favorite Bonus Feature: The post-RAW segment back in 2003 where Austin and Jericho drink beer and both cut scathing promos on another.
For the longest time, people were wondering when a Chris Jericho DVD set would come out of the woodwork. Triple H has had multiple sets, as well as Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Steve Austin, amongst others. So why was Jericho shut out for the longest time? Whatever the case was, I’m extremely happy with what we got.
The only DVD to have a widescreen image for the documentary and the extras, it’s also the only one to be under the influence of Jerichol. Time to get arrested for DWSB, or “Driving While being a Sexy Beast”, and take on a code too worthy of a break!
Disc one is permeated by a nearly-two-hour documentary of Jericho’s life and career. Most of it reads like a Jericho autobiography with a WWE twist. This is not a bad thing at all. Its got the humor and wit of a Jericho book, and not much of anything is skimmed over at all. The one person obviously skipped over will be covered later on. But for now, bask in the glory of the documentary. Easily the best one released since 2008.
Accompanying the doc on the first disc is a bunch of side stories of international exploits, anecdotes from colleagues, and Jericho promos. Yes, the infamous “1004 holds” promo is here as well as the “Conspiracy Victim” one. There’s even a music video from Fozzy on here too! And my favorite was already mentioned up above with the Austin promo post-RAW which is an absolute hoot!
Discs two and three are all matches. Two is all before the year 2002, focusing on mainly ECW, WCW Cruiserweight action and significant early WWE contests. Jericho’s first-ever match with Lance Storm is on the DVD, also given alternate commentary with Jericho and Matt Striker. I’m surprised WWE didn’t give the call to Storm himself, seeing as WWE and Storm if I remember correctly didn’t leave on horrible terms. Also a Japanese contest is covered, as well as a Smoky Mountain Wrestling one. All are recommended, and Jericho’s title wins are all memorable for their own reasons. I mean, you have the WCW title win in 2001 then the Undisputed Championship win directly afterwards! You’ll see when you watch them. And of course, that 2000 “win” where he was WWE Champion for like 20 minutes before being forced to surrender the belt to Triple H again. The pop Y2J gets here is the biggest of his career, and its not a weakling.
Before I go on to disc three, there is an elephant in the room. Not one that necessarily affected the rating of this compilation, but it’s still worth noting. Chris Benoit was one of Jericho’s biggest opponents internationally, and these two regularly tore the house down in WWE (as noted in the Ladder contest earlier). While I think the Summerslam contest would have been here if not for Benoit’s tragic actions of 2007, I know that the matches listed here are more than fine for this set.
Disc 3 is all WWE, from the last show before WWF became WWE to Wrestlemania XXVI. Hulk Hogan is up first for a Undisputed WWE Championship match, with Jericho challenging in a NO DQ match. Let’s not forget that Jericho didn’t have an official rematch after ‘Mania, so here we are. Hogan won after Trips’ interference, and this will lead to that horrible match at Judgment Day for the Immortal one and the Dead Man. The two Shawn Michaels matches from 2003 and 2008 are heads and shoulders above any other match on this disc, primarily because their styles mesh as one. Yes, drinking game rules apply for ‘Mania XIX. (Be thankful I’m not talking much about Crash and Burn.)
John Cena’s match from 2005 is good primarily for Jericho’s post-match firing. Jeff Hardy’s 2008 contest is a negative turned positive, because Hardy was suspended due to a Wellness Policy violation, and therefore the IC title had to be swapped with someone. Good choice on Jericho. There’s also the selection (out of many from 2009) that featured Jericho against Rey Mysterio, which was Jericho once again winning the IC title at Extreme Rules in a No Holds Barred encounter. Undertaker from latter 2009 and Edge from early 2010 round it out, both wins if I remember correctly, and good performances all around. I was surprised for Edge not to walk out WM XXVI as world champion, especially for what came out to be the Smackdown afterwards.
In conclusion, despite this part feeling quite rushed, I think this is the best DVD WWE has put out in the last five years. A complete package right up there with the best to offer, but there’s three to go.
Those final three, well, I lied. There will be a “disc three” with the last entries getting their own shrines. It took me about a week between work and editing to get THESE SEVEN up, and with how I plan on getting to the last three, it’s going to be about that same amount of time. With that in mind, eject the player!
INSERT DISC THREE
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