Post by buddyboy101 on Sept 2, 2010 16:48:30 GMT -5
DVD REVIEW: Undertaker’s Deadliest Matches
Purchase on Amazon!
Rating: 6/10
I grew up as a “creature of the night”, addicted to the Undertaker’s phenomenal presence in the WWF (sorry, I’m old school). I began to lose interest when he took on the biker gimmick. My ear’s perked up when he became the dead man again, but the gimmick has rotted like a piece of fruit over the years. I picked up this DVD in the hopes to relive some of his greater moments and to respect his more recent work in the WWF. While this 3 disc collection certainly delivers a ton of Undertaker matches, only a handful are classics. This review will consider several aspects of the product, including packaging, menus, video/audio, the content itself, and other aspects as necessary.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the WWF’s most recent DVD’s is that their packaging does little to explain what’s actually inside the box. This Undertaker DVD is a perfect example of this recent trend. While the artwork is eye-catching, the prospective purchaser is given little information as to the contents included. The back of the box features an ultra kayfabe summary of the Undertaker and lists 5 of the 21 matches. The box refuses to identify whether there is any interview material, commentary, or the like included (preview: there is none of the above, it gets worse…). The packaging does serve its function in protecting the discs and keeping them easily accessible. The inside booklet lists all of the matches and features some gripping images of the new Undertaker.
The menus of the DVD are pretty snazzy and feature animated graphics, alongside Undertaker’s menacing grimace. Things go downhill in between matches. All matches are set up with the Undertaker mumbling some kayfabe phrases like “Death doesn’t wait for those who resist, etc”. It’s downright cheesy and would have been better served with Callaway briefly discussing or shooting on the upcoming match. In addition, the 11 matches featuring the new Undertaker are also set up with a brief recap of events leading up to the match. This is accomplished with a nicely edited montage of footage from previous televised events. These are especially helpful if you haven’t been paying attention to the WWE lately.
Given the packaging and artwork of the DVD, it’s no surprise that most of the matches feature the new Undertaker, since his comeback at Wrestlemania 20. Half of the content features matches from 1991-1999. Among these are some classics, such as the Boiler Room Brawl with Mankind, the first Coffin match with Kamala, the Buried Alive Match with Stone Cold Steve Austin, and even a match featuring the Undertaker wearing his protective mask against King Mabel. While these matches are nice for the sake of completion, the Undertaker’s earlier career is better served by the Tombstone DVD released in 2005.
For an old school fan, the new Undertaker matches are rather lackluster. However, there are two standouts. The first is the Hell in a Cell match with Edge. This is basically a TLC match within a monstrous cage. The superstars really went over the top with this one, and it certainly deserves being recognized as a classic. The second is the Hell in a Cell match with Randy Orton. I hate Orton and find him boring, but this match is exceptional. The rest of the matches are a snooze fest unless you are an irrational Undertaker mark. All of his matches proceed the same way, with the same boring intro and predictable moves. Because this is a kayfabe DVD, the Undertaker rarely loses in the selected matches, and if he does, a victorious rematch is included.
Although these matches are a bit sleepy, the DVD does feature every sort of Undertaker gimmick patch possible. Included are several coffin matches, Body Bag match, Hell in a Cells, Last Ride match, Boiler Room Brawl match, First Blood match, Steel Cage match, Last Man Standing match, and the “unforgettable” Concrete Crypt match.
Asides from the cheesy segments in between matches there is absolutely no bonus content included with this DVD. Some promos or a recap of the Undertaker’s past attires would have been awesome. Maybe next time…
Overall, only get this DVD if you are an extreme Undertaker fan. I fall under this category, and I still have a hard time recommending this DVD. The first disc features some timeless matches, but the remainder are forgettable at best. Some day, we’ll get the Undertaker DVD that the big man deserves – full of interviews, commentary, and the absolute essential matches. Until then, we’re stuck with an overpriced DVD predominantly featuring the most recent iteration of the Undertaker’s character.
FULL MATCH LIST
Disc 1:
01. Undertaker vs. Ultimate Warrior (Body Bag match) (7/1/91)
02. Undertaker vs. Kamala (Casket match) (11/25/92)
03. Undertaker vs. Kama (Casket match) (8/27/95)
04. Undertaker vs. King Mabel (Casket match) (12/17/95)
05. Undertaker vs. Mankind (KOTR) (6/23/96)
06. Undertaker vs. Mankind (Boiler Room Brawl) (8/18/96)
07. Undertaker vs. Steve Austin (Buried Alive match) (12/13/98)
08. Undertaker vs. Kane (Inferno match) (2/22/99)
Disc 2:
01. Undertaker vs. Big Show (5/3/99)
02. Undertaker vs. Big Show (Title match) (6/7/99)
03. Undertaker vs. Dudley Boys (Concrete Crypt match) (6/27/04)
04. Undertaker vs. Heidenreich (Casket match) (1/30/05)
05. Undertaker vs. Randy and Bob Orton (Casket match) (10/9/05)
06. Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell) (12/18/05)
07. Undertaker vs. Great Khali (Last Man Standing match) (8/18/06)
Disc 3:
01. Undertaker vs. Mr. Kennedy (First Blood match) (11/26/06)
02. Undertaker vs. Mr. Kennedy (Last Ride match) (12/17/06)
03. Undertaker vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Title match) (4/29/07)
04. Undertaker vs. Big Daddy V (1/25/08)
05. Undertaker vs. Edge (Hell in a Cell) (8/17/08)
06. Undertaker vs. Big Show (Cage match) (12/5/08)
Other Reviews:
Raw: The Beginnings: Seasons 1 & 2
Undertaker’s Deadliest Matches
Shawn Michaels: My Journey
Purchase on Amazon!
Rating: 6/10
I grew up as a “creature of the night”, addicted to the Undertaker’s phenomenal presence in the WWF (sorry, I’m old school). I began to lose interest when he took on the biker gimmick. My ear’s perked up when he became the dead man again, but the gimmick has rotted like a piece of fruit over the years. I picked up this DVD in the hopes to relive some of his greater moments and to respect his more recent work in the WWF. While this 3 disc collection certainly delivers a ton of Undertaker matches, only a handful are classics. This review will consider several aspects of the product, including packaging, menus, video/audio, the content itself, and other aspects as necessary.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the WWF’s most recent DVD’s is that their packaging does little to explain what’s actually inside the box. This Undertaker DVD is a perfect example of this recent trend. While the artwork is eye-catching, the prospective purchaser is given little information as to the contents included. The back of the box features an ultra kayfabe summary of the Undertaker and lists 5 of the 21 matches. The box refuses to identify whether there is any interview material, commentary, or the like included (preview: there is none of the above, it gets worse…). The packaging does serve its function in protecting the discs and keeping them easily accessible. The inside booklet lists all of the matches and features some gripping images of the new Undertaker.
The menus of the DVD are pretty snazzy and feature animated graphics, alongside Undertaker’s menacing grimace. Things go downhill in between matches. All matches are set up with the Undertaker mumbling some kayfabe phrases like “Death doesn’t wait for those who resist, etc”. It’s downright cheesy and would have been better served with Callaway briefly discussing or shooting on the upcoming match. In addition, the 11 matches featuring the new Undertaker are also set up with a brief recap of events leading up to the match. This is accomplished with a nicely edited montage of footage from previous televised events. These are especially helpful if you haven’t been paying attention to the WWE lately.
Given the packaging and artwork of the DVD, it’s no surprise that most of the matches feature the new Undertaker, since his comeback at Wrestlemania 20. Half of the content features matches from 1991-1999. Among these are some classics, such as the Boiler Room Brawl with Mankind, the first Coffin match with Kamala, the Buried Alive Match with Stone Cold Steve Austin, and even a match featuring the Undertaker wearing his protective mask against King Mabel. While these matches are nice for the sake of completion, the Undertaker’s earlier career is better served by the Tombstone DVD released in 2005.
For an old school fan, the new Undertaker matches are rather lackluster. However, there are two standouts. The first is the Hell in a Cell match with Edge. This is basically a TLC match within a monstrous cage. The superstars really went over the top with this one, and it certainly deserves being recognized as a classic. The second is the Hell in a Cell match with Randy Orton. I hate Orton and find him boring, but this match is exceptional. The rest of the matches are a snooze fest unless you are an irrational Undertaker mark. All of his matches proceed the same way, with the same boring intro and predictable moves. Because this is a kayfabe DVD, the Undertaker rarely loses in the selected matches, and if he does, a victorious rematch is included.
Although these matches are a bit sleepy, the DVD does feature every sort of Undertaker gimmick patch possible. Included are several coffin matches, Body Bag match, Hell in a Cells, Last Ride match, Boiler Room Brawl match, First Blood match, Steel Cage match, Last Man Standing match, and the “unforgettable” Concrete Crypt match.
Asides from the cheesy segments in between matches there is absolutely no bonus content included with this DVD. Some promos or a recap of the Undertaker’s past attires would have been awesome. Maybe next time…
Overall, only get this DVD if you are an extreme Undertaker fan. I fall under this category, and I still have a hard time recommending this DVD. The first disc features some timeless matches, but the remainder are forgettable at best. Some day, we’ll get the Undertaker DVD that the big man deserves – full of interviews, commentary, and the absolute essential matches. Until then, we’re stuck with an overpriced DVD predominantly featuring the most recent iteration of the Undertaker’s character.
FULL MATCH LIST
Disc 1:
01. Undertaker vs. Ultimate Warrior (Body Bag match) (7/1/91)
02. Undertaker vs. Kamala (Casket match) (11/25/92)
03. Undertaker vs. Kama (Casket match) (8/27/95)
04. Undertaker vs. King Mabel (Casket match) (12/17/95)
05. Undertaker vs. Mankind (KOTR) (6/23/96)
06. Undertaker vs. Mankind (Boiler Room Brawl) (8/18/96)
07. Undertaker vs. Steve Austin (Buried Alive match) (12/13/98)
08. Undertaker vs. Kane (Inferno match) (2/22/99)
Disc 2:
01. Undertaker vs. Big Show (5/3/99)
02. Undertaker vs. Big Show (Title match) (6/7/99)
03. Undertaker vs. Dudley Boys (Concrete Crypt match) (6/27/04)
04. Undertaker vs. Heidenreich (Casket match) (1/30/05)
05. Undertaker vs. Randy and Bob Orton (Casket match) (10/9/05)
06. Undertaker vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell) (12/18/05)
07. Undertaker vs. Great Khali (Last Man Standing match) (8/18/06)
Disc 3:
01. Undertaker vs. Mr. Kennedy (First Blood match) (11/26/06)
02. Undertaker vs. Mr. Kennedy (Last Ride match) (12/17/06)
03. Undertaker vs. Batista (Last Man Standing Title match) (4/29/07)
04. Undertaker vs. Big Daddy V (1/25/08)
05. Undertaker vs. Edge (Hell in a Cell) (8/17/08)
06. Undertaker vs. Big Show (Cage match) (12/5/08)
Other Reviews:
Raw: The Beginnings: Seasons 1 & 2
Undertaker’s Deadliest Matches
Shawn Michaels: My Journey
