If this DVD has to be described in one word, eclectic would probably be the best way to summarize it. Three disks, all three have 8-10 minute profiles of the wrestlers with video clips in the chapter section, with matches as well as vignettes in the extra section of each disk. The extras range from Flair vs. Steamboat to a segment of the Bobby Heenan Show. If someone watched either the NWA or the WWF in the 80's, this disk probably will entertain them in some fashion. Some problems and compliments:
First, Michael Cole is useless. Among the errors: Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee won the AWA Tag Titles after Lawler's AWA World Title Reign. Since Lawler lost the AWA Title by vacating the belt because Verne screwed him out of money, it is doubtful he would go back and win the tag title. Thus, the tag title change was the year before he won the AWA Title. More Cole: In the Flair and Dusty sections, he stated the Flair/Dusty feud started in '85. IF we put aside Flair winning the NWA Title from Dusty in '81, one of the extras is Flair vs. Rhodes from Starrcade '84. Maybe 1985 is prior to 1984 in Michael Cole Bizzaro World, but to everyone else '84 was before '85. On the Dusty section, excellent recovery of footage by showing Dusty winning the World Title from Race in '81. Also, nice Dusty vs. Race NWA Title footage from apparently MSG in the late 70's. They did need to put Dusty/Sullivan in this area though, as that was a significant part of Dusty's career. The Sgt. Slaughter section has his AWA run of the late 80's occurring in the late 70's. Also, Michael Cole believes the Iranian hostage situation was occurring in 1984, when it occurred from late '79 through early '81. Iron Sheik section is funny. Sheik speaking English and still having his words put in subtitles is hilarious. A problem I have is some of the footage though. They show Sheik demonstrating the Iranian Clubs in December '83 on TV. They show Sheik winning the belt from Backlund later that month, as the announcers pound home the point Backlund was injured with the clubs on TV a week earlier. Yet, despite this, they don't show the footage of Backlund being assaulted. Sheik also discusses a fascinating story where Verne Gagne offered him $100k to break Hogan's leg and take the WWF Title to Minnesota. Combined with the story from the Flair book of Vince trying to steal Race the night before Starrcade '83, someone needs to do a book on the backstage manuevering in late '83/early '84 and what could have happened if either of these world title steal attempts had occurred. Several wrestlers speak of Vince Sr. being the one to bring them to the WWF at the end of '83/early '84, not Vince Jr. The Flair section is mainly a condensed version of his DVD, and the Arn Anderson section is the Confidential piece on him. Considering how many wrestlers on this DVD were trained by Verne Gagne, perhaps his style of training should be utilized. Orndorff's match should have been Hogan from Toronto or Piper in Boston, not random jobber from MSG. The War To Settle the Score is very disappointing in that the match shown does not have the entrances, which was the key to the match. Piper's entrance is briefly displayed in the Piper chapter. The JYD segment is hampered by not having Mid South footage available, which is a severe detriment as that was where JYD was at his peak and could have shown him in a different wrestling light than his WWF Cartoon Character image.
Considering the footage displayed in chapter portions, there are several DVD's that could sprout from this. Valentine vs. Flair, Flair vs. Steamboat pre-'89, Arn tagging with just about anyone, Bobby Heenan show etc. etc. etc. Just never show even a clip of Flair/JYD again. A very good DVD, that probably would have been excellent if they had narrowed it from 15 wrestlers to 7 or 8 and provided more matches from the footage that was clipped. By doing that, they could then put out the second DVD with the other half and provided twice the footage. Other than that and the utter stupidity of Michael Cole, an interesting and educational watch.
Originally posted by redsoxnationThey show Sheik demonstrating the Iranian Clubs in December '83 on TV. They show Sheik winning the belt from Backlund later that month, as the announcers pound home the point Backlund was injured with the clubs on TV a week earlier. Yet, despite this, they don't show the footage of Backlund being assaulted.
Backlunds' neck was actually "injured" in a match with Masked Superstar when Superstar gave him a neckbreaker on the floor.
Skaaland then "threw in the towel" in Sheik's match because the clutch was working on the "bad neck".
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 As of 6/8/05: 142 pounds "I've lost a welterweight"
I remember the match. Backlund was bent on revenge for Superstar injuring his young pal Eddie Gilbert in a match. Superstar was using the neckbreaker as his finisher at the time, gave it to Backlund in a title match, which he won via countout. Not long after, the neck injury led up to the title switch.
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 As of 6/8/05: 142 pounds "I've lost a welterweight"
Originally posted by Eddie FamousI remember the match. Backlund was bent on revenge for Superstar injuring his young pal Eddie Gilbert in a match. Superstar was using the neckbreaker as his finisher at the time, gave it to Backlund in a title match, which he won via countout. Not long after, the neck injury led up to the title switch.
From The History of the WWE's 1983 results: -The aforementioned "Masked Superstar injures Eddie Gilbert" angle was taped for the August 27th edition of Championship Wrestling. -Bob Backlund went for revenge and got counted out via the neckbreaker on the October 17th MSG show, shown on the MSG Network. Backlund won a rematch on November 21st, then lost at the December 26th MSG tapings due to the injured neck.
I always remembered that as the Iron Sheik injured Backlund by Pearl Harboring him while Backlund was swinging the giant bowling pins, leading to the towel throw-in during the Camel Clutch the next week. I swear (or I would've sworn) I saw that all go down on TV with mine own li'l eyes.
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Yeah I'm not denying the Gilbert angle happened, I'm just pointing out that Monsoon very clearly says Backlund was in a great deal of pain entering the match due to the Sheik's attack the previous week.
Ok. I just don't remember that, but I'm quite old now.
Sheik probably went after the neck because of the injury, so hoo-hah.
I know that I wondered at the time why Superstar would want to win by countout in a championship match...
As of 2/28/05: 101 pounds since December 7, 2004 OFFICIAL THREE-MONTH COUNT: 112 pounds on March 9, 2005 OFFICIAL SIX-MONTH COUNT: 142 pounds on June 8, 2005 As of 6/8/05: 142 pounds "I've lost a welterweight"
This DVD was looking pretty "MUST-PURCHASE" for awhile, until I read in one of the reviews for it at amazon.com that WWE isnt/wont/didnt pay Ventura any royalties for the use of his voice doing commentary, so the E wont include any matches he called, which means just about EVERY important post-1984/85 match wont be on there.
That sounds crazy to me too, but I have yet to find a complete list of matches/features for the DVD that says otherwise. Any help?
DeepDiscountDVD.com is having their 20% off summer sale now. I got both the Road Warriors AND the Superstars of the 80s DVD for just $25....free shipping. Can't beat that.
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeThis DVD was looking pretty "MUST-PURCHASE" for awhile, until I read in one of the reviews for it at amazon.com that WWE isnt/wont/didnt pay Ventura any royalties for the use of his voice doing commentary, so the E wont include any matches he called, which means just about EVERY important post-1984/85 match wont be on there.
That sounds crazy to me too, but I have yet to find a complete list of matches/features for the DVD that says otherwise. Any help?
Only post '84-'85 WWF match on the DVD is Heenan/Warrior in '88 at MSG. They do show clips in the chapter section post '85, but they make sure that Jesse's voice isn't used, which is very obvious during the Orndorff/Hogan section. Okerlund calling matches is painful.
I'll leave out some of the extras and easter eggs, but here are the people and matches. Disc 1
Heenan JYD Slaughter Valentine Piper
Valentine/Piper dog collar match Slaughter vs. Sheik Valentine vs. Santana JYD/Savage Warrior vs. Heenan
Disc 2
Lawler Anderson Rhodes Steamboat Flair
Rhodes vs. Flair Starrcade '84 Ole/Arn vs. Wahoo/Billy Jack Haynes Lawler vs. Kerry Von Erich Steamboat vs. Flair Feb '89 Flair vs. Jay Youngblood '82
Disc 3
Snuka Orton Iron Sheik Orndoff Hogan
Snuka vs. Backlund '80 Sheik vs. Backlund '83 Orndoff vs. Salvatore Bellomo '84 Sheik vs. Hogan '84 Orton vs. Snuka '85 Piper vs. Hogan '85 War To Settle Score
Originally posted by redsoxnationMichael Cole is useless.
While I would be the last person to stick up for Michael "What got into Kurt Angle" Cole, he is just reading a teleprompter. He just reads what he sees. Could it be the WWE are doing a little "re-writing" of history? They would never do that woudl they? Oh wait they have..lol
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeThis DVD was looking pretty "MUST-PURCHASE" for awhile, until I read in one of the reviews for it at amazon.com that WWE isnt/wont/didnt pay Ventura any royalties for the use of his voice doing commentary, so the E wont include any matches he called, which means just about EVERY important post-1984/85 match wont be on there.
I might be mistaken, but on the Benoit dvd, I believe Jesse's commentary was just muted during the match with Scorpio. The play by play guy was just talking (I can't remember if it was Schiavone) and there'd be strange gaps where Jesse should be talking and then nothing. Weird.
Does anybody else remember this?
I don't think Vince will let The Body interfere with his squeezing every last penny out of the video library.
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 20.6.05 0135) "Well, you can't involve friendship with business. It has to be one or the other. It's either business or friendship, or hit the bricks!" --Life Lessons from Bobby the Brain Heenan WCW Uncensored 2000 preview
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If I'm not mistaken, I saw this and the Road Warriors DVDs at WALMART for 'under' $20.00. They also had WRESTLEMANIA for $19.99 and JUDGEMENT DAY for like $18(something).
Any cool easter eggs on the 80's dvd?
Cerebus: RIP 1977-2004.
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Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoI'm not sure about the Benoit DVD, but it's all over the Flair DVD with him and Ross
Is the Slaughter vs Sheik a straight-up match or is it a Bootcamp match?
(edited by BigDaddyLoco on 21.6.05 2056)
Straight up match with Danny Davis as the ref that led to the bootcamp match. The JYD/Savage Wrestling Classic Match is a match where they go silent in many sections due to Jesse's commentary, but he can be seen at ringside. On the question of Easter Eggs, it's either pre/post-match interviews or brief stories. No matches found in the Easter Eggs.