If the rumor is correct, then the sale of the World Class Championship Wrestling tape library to WWE is now complete. I'm sure we will see some interesting footage of superstars like Steve Austin, Jerry Lawler and many more, I'm hoping for one thing NOT to happen.
I don't want to see a DVD about "The Rise and Fall of... " or "The Self Destruction of... " dealing with the Von Erich family.
I'm hoping that the WWE leaves that tragic part of history alone.
I'll live with the Rise and Fall of if it means plenty of David/Kevin/Kerry Von Erich vs. Dynamic Duo (Adams and Hernandez), Freebirds, Flair and Race. Throw in a dose of Kabuki, Adams vs. Garvin, Iceman Parsons, sprinkle in some Gary Hart and General Skandar Akbar, and I'll be a happy consumer. They would have a few months worth of Lawler stuff from '88, but I don't know how much Austin stuff they would have as they became the USWA in the summer of '89 and that is when Austin debuted. Most of Austin in Dallas is already in the marketplace already. Now, I'd like to beg the only appearance Chris Von Erich be in the Double Hair post-match celebration. And, very little Mike.
Not to be overly cynical, but.... well, I'm going to be overly cynical.
The ONLY big-ticket World Class DVD they could put together would be something that chronicles the life and death of the Von Erich family. It's human interest, it's different, and most importantly, it's the only thing WWE can make serious money off. And as far as them handling the issue sensitively.... I just doubt it.
Brooklyn Brawler: "The one time I worked with Kerry on WWF Wrestling Challenge, he was impossible to deal with."
Bobby Heenan: "The whole family didn't know what they were doing. It was like The Brady Bunch on crack."
Booker T: "Those suckas were out of control, man."
Big Show: (Does a lame impression of Fritz)
Vince McMahon: "Quite frankly, I went to the Von Erich father and saved his business. All of them would be alive today if it hadn't been for Eric Bischoff and WCW, quite frankly."
Eric Bischoff: "Aw, what the hell did I do NOW?"
Ric Flair: "Then there was that time Kerry and I were naked on some Texas highway... Woo!"
Triple H: "Kevin Von Erich was a worthless piece of shit."
Y'know what WWE DVD I'd like to see them make the most?
A candid, hard-hitting account of Vince McMahon -- preferably done by a credible, independent documentary filmmaker -- with the permission & cooperation of the WWE.
McMahon is a fascinating character... because he's so fascinatingly flawed. When you blend his imagination, foresight, vindictiveness, ego, power, genius, pettiness, etc., you'd have an AMAZING story to tell.
I don't know if VM is secure enough to allow a warts-and-all portrayal to be released, but a DVD like that would make BIG money. And it would provide additional credibility to all the WWE DVDs that follow.
For WCCW, I'm sure they'll do a DVD along the lines of: "The Von Erichs: Triumph and Tragedy." You can't be too negative towards a family that has suffered so much -- and you can't white-wash the deaths & disasters that befalled the Von Erichs either. Frankly, though, outside of Texas, I don't think the Von Erichs (or any other WCCW character who was primarily associated with that organization) merits their own DVD. Sporadic afternoon telecasts on ESPN -- back in the day when ESPN was NOT the institution that it is today -- doesn't create a big fan following. But I guess the WCCW library will provide filler for other WWE-focused DVDs...
I believe WCCW was syndicted just about nationwide, at least from Georgia to Califonia.
The thing I would LOVE to see is just a two or three hour DVD on the Freebirds vs Von Erichs. Everything from the Cage match where Michael Hayes slammed Kerry's head in the door (when he was taking on Ric Flair) to the finals of the fued. And, throw in the "stable help for 30 days" bits, and I am sold.
I don't know why they were booing Edge so much, but all the fuss during the UT/JBL match was against the match itself and I don't think directed at either wrestler specifically.