Just a quick shout-out to any fellow Canadians who are RVD fans here. If you're anxious for his DVD set and you want it NOW, HMV received them rather early, as I've already picked up a copy. At least one of the HMVs here in Ottawa did. Just wanted to pass this along. I believe it's only $21.99 Cdn at HMV too, which is actually a cheap retail price for a two-disc WWE set.
Actually, fans anywhere might be able to pick it up. Suncoast called me yesterday and told me they had it. So, here in Raleigh, I was able to pick it up 5 days before it's supposed to come out. So if anyone wants this DVD then call around because you might be able to find it.
Overall, I'd say it's really good. Some dissapointments:
Only two alternate commentaries. Weird selection too, because one of those is the Balls Mahoney match from Anarchy Rulz which isn't that good. Don't know why they picked that match to have the commentary. Luckily, Paul Heyman can sell anything as being interesting and Van Dam's a funny guy so it all works out.
Also, the extras are a little dissapointing as they're just old Confidential pieces. Some of them are pretty cool, like the airbrush artist or the Outside the Ropes interview segment which is really funny, but I would have preferred some rare promos or something.
Overall, though, a good DVD and worth checking out.
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
I should add to OMEGA's review: There are two Easter eggs (at least from what I've found). One is RVD giving an interview after Living Dangerously 99 and speaking about the controversy with his match with Lynn. The other is RVD, Sabu and Fonzie giving an interview at Heat Wave 98 before their tag match with Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki. It's the one where RVD takes credit for the team's success, Sabu gets mildly upset, and Fonzie keeps saying "Japanese losers". I'm leaving it as an exercise for people to find those. :)
DISC 1: Robbie V v. Scotty Flamingo -- WCW Worldwide (2/8/93) Rob Van Dam v. Axl Rotten -- ECW Hardcore TV (1/15/96) Rob Van Dam v. Sabu -- ECW Hardcore Heaven (6/22/96) -- alternate commentary with Van Dam & Heyman Rob Van dam & Sabu v. The Eliminators -- ECW Crossing the Line Again (2/1/97) Rob Van Dam v. Lance Storm -- ECW Barely Legal (4/13/97) Rob Van Dam v. Jeff Hardy -- WWF Raw (5/12/97) Rob Van Dam v. Tommy Dreamer -- ECW November 2 Remember (11/30/97) Rob Van Dam v. Bam Bam Bigelow -- ECW Hardcore TV (4/4/98) Rob Van Dam v. Jerry Lynn -- ECW Living Dangerously (3/21/99) Injuries & Moves (Rob discusses the Van Terminator and tells a gruesome story of how he almost lost his eye to a table) Rob Van Dam v. Jerry Lynn -- ECW Guilty as Charged (1/7/01)
DISC 2: Rob Van Dam v. Jeff Hardy -- WWF InVasion (7/22/01) Frog Splash (discusses why he uses the frog splash as his finisher) Rob Van Dam v. Chris Jericho -- WWE King of the Ring (6/23/02) Comparing ECW & WWE Rob Van Dam v. Christian -- Ladder Match -- WWE RAW (9/29/03)
All matches are introduced by Rob Van Dam.
EXTRAS (all on disc 2): Before They Were Superstars -- segment from the DVD Airbrush Artist -- cool segment on the guy who does Rob's singlets Frog Splash -- funny segment with Rob & Eddie Guerrero arguing why there version is better than the other's RVD Tours Jakks Pacific Fantasy Matchup: RVD v. Jimmy Snuka -- Good idea in theory, but it ends with them burying Rob... the current wrestler they should be building up. RVD's Favorite WrestleMania Moments -- From the WrestleMania XIX DVD Outside the Ropes -- Funny interview w/ Coach RVD Vignette 1 RVD Vignette 2 Behind the Scenes: Breaking Point Music Video WWE InVasion Promo -- Good little segment about Rob from the InVasion DVD Rob Van Dam v. Balls Mahoney -- ECW Anarchy Rulz (9/16/99) -- w/ alternate commentary with RVD & Heyman Rob Van Dam v. Sabu -- ECW Hostile City Showdown (4/20/96) Robbie V v. Pat Rose -- WCW Saturday Night (1/23/93)
The answer to WWE's financial problems...
Never 'Wiener of the Day', and is actually quite bitter about it.
Originally posted by MARTYEWR The other is RVD, Sabu and Fonzie giving an interview at Heat Wave 98 before their tag match with Hayabusa and Jinsei Shinzaki. It's the one where RVD takes credit for the team's success, Sabu gets mildly upset, and Fonzie keeps saying "Japanese losers". I'm leaving it as an exercise for people to find those. :)
I was hoping this one would be somewhere on the DVD. I absolutely love the line that gets Sabu to shoot him the look of death. And of course the tag match is awesome as well. Just waiting for Amazon to deliver now! :-)
I was hoping that with the Benoit dvd set using his New Japan matches that they'd put some of RVD's Japanese work on this set, but no such luck. This comp from Alfredo is a must for any RVD fan.
Rob Van Dam highlights against Kenta Kobashi (2/19/1993) Rob Van Dam/Stan Hansen/John Nord vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Jun Akiyama (2/27/1994) Rob Van Dam/Johnny Ace/Richard Slinger vs. The Patriot/The Eagle/Johnny Gunn (3/13/1994) Rob Van Dam Stan Hansen//Bobby Duncum Jr. vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Jun Akiyama/Satoru Asako (5/20/1995) Rob Van Dam vs. Dan Kroffat - PWF Jr. Title (6/18/1995) Rob Van Dam/Johnny Smith vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi (11/18/1995) Rob Van Dam/Stan Hansen/Gary Albright vs. Mitsuharu Misawa/Kenta Kobashi/Tamon Honda (2/17/1996) Rob Van Dam/Gary Albright vs. Toshiaki Kawada/Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (6/29/1996) Rob Van Dam/Maunakea Mossman vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi/Kentaro Shiga (9/28/1996) Rob Van Dam/Dan Kroffat vs. Kimala II/Ryukaku Izumida (10/1996) Rob Van Dam vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi - PWF Jr. Title (10/12/1996) Rob Van Dam/Sabu vs. Kentaro Shiga/Yoshinari Ogawa (5/18/1997)
"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 "The Tao of Bobby the Brain Heenan" Uncensored 2000 preview
"As long as the check don't bounce, I guess he's okay with it!" --Former All Pro Giants LB Harry Carson on Bill Parcells joining the hated rival Dallas Cowboys
Originally posted by MARTYEWR Don't knock the Andre DVD. It looks interesting, albeit short.
I just watched it (yes, I'm a sucker, but for $8.99, I figured 'why not?'); it ain't anything special. Then again, its good for a quick nostalgia pop, or if you'd never seen Andre when he was halfway decent before.
Originally posted by MARTYEWR Don't knock the Andre DVD. It looks interesting, albeit short.
I just watched it (yes, I'm a sucker, but for $8.99, I figured 'why not?'); it ain't anything special. Then again, its good for a quick nostalgia pop, or if you'd never seen Andre when he was halfway decent before.
That DVD wouldn't have Andre and Hogan vs Adonis and Murdoch would it?
Originally posted by MARTYEWR Don't knock the Andre DVD. It looks interesting, albeit short.
I just watched it (yes, I'm a sucker, but for $8.99, I figured 'why not?'); it ain't anything special. Then again, its good for a quick nostalgia pop, or if you'd never seen Andre when he was halfway decent before.
Bulldog, are the matches in full? I wasn't totally sure, because I saw the length of time of the DVD (1 hr 30 mins) and I wasn't sure if they could fit in all those matches in full. If they're in full, I'm game on the DVD.
I'm happy they're showing Andre before he started deteriorating too. For a while, because of his latter days (WM2 battle royale, WM3 vs. Hogan, The Main Event controversy, Colossal Connection), I was getting worried that he might be like Terry Funk: Remembered more for his latter days than his prime days. Actually, the longer Ric Flair sticks around, the more I worry about him remembered that way too, even though everyone remembers the NWA and the Horsemen in their prime.
Oh yeah, also, in any of Andre's matches involving Hogan, did they have to edit "Hulk" out very much? :)
Originally posted by MARTYEWRBulldog, are the matches in full? I wasn't totally sure, because I saw the length of time of the DVD (1 hr 30 mins) and I wasn't sure if they could fit in all those matches in full. If they're in full, I'm game on the DVD.
I'm happy they're showing Andre before he started deteriorating too. For a while, because of his latter days (WM2 battle royale, WM3 vs. Hogan, The Main Event controversy, Colossal Connection), I was getting worried that he might be like Terry Funk: Remembered more for his latter days than his prime days. Actually, the longer Ric Flair sticks around, the more I worry about him remembered that way too, even though everyone remembers the NWA and the Horsemen in their prime.
Oh yeah, also, in any of Andre's matches involving Hogan, did they have to edit "Hulk" out very much? :)
(edited by MARTYEWR on 30.1.05 1915)
I'm actually starting to write a review for this one, but to answer your questions:
The matches seem to be in full. Andre always almost half 5-10 matches anyways, and many of these are glorified squashes. The only one I think was clipped was Ken Patera, but I could certainly be wrong. I think they actually say Hulk here during the one match he's involved in (a battle royal), although they do bleep out "WWF" once or twice.
I think if you watch this one, you get to see a glimpse of why Andre was so special in the first place, rather than, as you mentioned, the Colossal Connection-era nonsense.
The ONLY highlight here (and I realize I'm getting terribly off topic in this thread) is when they show a TNT clip right before WrestleMania 1, and Vince McMahon tries NUMEROUS TIMES to get Andre to say that he'd retire if he lost the bodyslam challenge, and Andre keeps saying the wrong thing. Vince is visibly pissed by the end of it.... But was the disc worth my nine bucks? Probably not.
The WrestleHolics comp tape looks awesome, I might have to pick it up.
On that note, why don't you guys just purchase it online? I'm actually planning on getting mine from Highspots or ROHwrestling.com, just to make sure I don't give my money to the WWE. H33L!
No change to the opening credits, so we’re still stuck seeing Johnny B Badd and Hulk Hogan despite the fact neither guy will ever appear on this show again (or in Hogan’s case, for the first time).