Post by PdW2kX on Apr 20, 2008 17:32:45 GMT -5
Small Note: As always, feedback's appreciated. For those who don't know/remember/recognize me, the topic is pretty straightforward. I'm still trying to work out all the kinks of this new style, so if you've got any comments or questions please let me know. For any wondering, the Rey Mysterio "Biggest Little Man" compilation is up next.
All Triumph: A World Class Legacy.
A Review of "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" by PdW2kX
Posted April 20, 2008
On three separate occasions, I passed up the opportunity to purchase "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling". I've reviewed plenty of wrestling in my time, but frankly, I'm not a wrestling historian. I tend to review what I know I'll like: hard-hitting Puro, old-school goodness, 90's wrestling that mesmerized me as a child. In fact, the comp-buying spree I went on a few weeks back, which has led to this latest series of reviews, predominantly features men I have grown up watching: Triple H, Stone Cold, Rey Mysterio, and HBK. So, on three separate occasions, I chose not to give this DVD a chance. Honestly: The Fabulous Freebirds? The Von Erichs? I've heard plenty about them, but I had no idea whether or not I would enjoy them. Then there were the names I had never heard of: Iceman King Parsons, Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez, and others. Plus, there was the Von Erich Family tragedy, which I knew would be hard to watch. Even though the price tag on this compilation is the same as just about all mainstream WWE compilations ($20), I just couldn't get into purchasing a compilation about a promotion I never knew existed that, sadly, centered on a series of tragedies I had no eagerness to relive. With that level of apprehension, I purchased "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" as an afterthought. When I popped the DVD into my faithful PlayStation 2, my only goal was to kill some time.
What followed was one of the greatest documentaries that WWE Home Video has ever produced.
"The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" is an in-depth look at a promotion that reached staggering heights before it fell to abysmal lows. WCCW is a promotion that, at its heyday, was able to get a crowd of 50,000 or more to witness key events such as the retirement of Fritz Von Erich and Kerry Von Erich's ascension to NWA World Heavyweight Champion. At its lowest point, a series of tragic events coupled with some unfortunate booking decisions led to the fall of the greatest wrestling federation to come out of Texas. Using a series of shoot-style interviews from WCCW veterans Skandor Akbar, Gary Hart, Michael Hayes, and others, WWE Home Video weaves an intricate tapestry of a federation whose legacy deserves to be told.
The biggest contributor of WCCW history is Kevin Von Erich, the last of the Von Erich brothers. Kevin shies away from little, even discussing at length how he went from having a total of five brothers to not even being a brother, although he continually stands by the questionable booking decisions of his father. Kevin takes us through the transformation of his father Fritz and the early days of "Texas Rasslin" which would eventually lead to World Class Championship Wrestling. The history moves a bit fast, as there is a lot of it to cover, but I never get the feeling that anything important is really left out. The first quarter of the documentary comes off very positive: WCCW gave fresh talent their time to shine; WCCW was one of the first feds to adopt larger-than-life production values, etc. The Von Erichs/Freebirds feud is discussed in detail, although it does get a bit cliché because Michael Hayes keeps tooting his own horn.
The DVD takes the first of many sad turns when it covers the death of David Von Erich. Everyone stands by David, saying that it was a stomach rupture that killed him. In fact, Kevin expressly states that drugs had nothing to do with it. Everyone talks of David fondly, and the DVD hits an upswing with the first-ever David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, which sold out Texas Stadium and featured Kerry Von Erich winning the NWA Title. Kerry's win is incredibly moving; I consider it the highlight of the DVD. There's just something incredibly touching about that moment. In fact, Shawn Michaels captures the moment perfectly by saying "It was my first taste of…. some of the really good stuff that comes from our line of work."
Unfortunately, the good times wouldn't last. Kerry's unpredictability costs him his NWA Title while Mike Von Erich nearly dies of toxic shock syndrome. Although he survives, Mike is never the same. Then there is the "Lance Von Erich" debacle, a booking decision made by Fritz to introduce a "new" member of the Von Erich family. The fans quickly turned on Lance because he wasn't a real Von Erich, and the fans were soured on Fritz because he lied to them. To make matters even worse, WCCW then goes through a messy break-up with the NWA while Kerry Von Erich endures a motorcycle accident that costs him his foot. When the topic of Gino Hernandez dieing from a cocaine overdose is discussed, the documentary takes an unsettling turn.
According to "Triumph and Tragedy", one of the downfalls of WCCW was Fritz Von Erich's refusal to deal with escalating drug problems. Drugs were running rampant, and the documentary takes a harsh anti-drug tone. This portion of the documentary is definitely unnerving, but it is also very revealing. The last bits of the documentary covers WCCW's downfall: the death of Mike, Chris, and Kerry Von Erich, a failed "Fritz has a heart attack" angle that is quoted as "100% Bad", and WCCW's acquisition and subsequent transformation into the USWA. Regarding the change, Mick Foley says "something died that day".
The documentary ends with WCCW veterans discussing why they think their promotion folded: tragedies, other promotions, etc. All the veterans universally deny the long-held wrestling rumor of "The Von Erich Family Curse", and David flat-out says "We brought it on ourselves. It was the '80's, and it was wild." Like most WWE compilations, the documentary ends with an amazing music video set to some very inspiring music.
Over all, this documentary is one of the best I've ever seen when it comes to wrestling. Although some small details are kayfabed, the entire documentary focuses on pushing back the curtain and giving an in-depth look on the creation, rise to power, and destruction of a federation that changed wrestling. It's a shame that I had no idea the type of legacy WCCW left us, and I applaud WWE Home Video for shining a light on a piece of wrestling history that should never be forgotten. WCCW is a jarring look at how a group of young men, and a smart promoter that just happened to be their father, took a company to the highest highs and the lowest lows. There are times where the documentary makes you proud to be a wrestling fan, and there are other times where the brutal honesty regarding subjects like rampant drug abuse may appall you. It's an emotional roller-coaster that leaves you happy, sad, shocked, wizened, appreciative, and even a bit embittered. WCCW is equal-parts tragedy and triumph; both topics are covered in-depth and without hesitation. Because of its harsh honesty and its refusal to sugar-coat things for its audience, the documentary portion of this DVD is all triumph.
Also included in the compilation is a large assortment of WCCW promo's, skits, and even a music video. It's a fun history trip, with excellent video quality. Some highlights include: the "Badstreet USA" music video, Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez, and the WCCW veterans sharing both positive and negative road stories. For the match selection, you've got 11 classic WCCW contests and a "Texas Rasslin" match that seems to be from the 1950's. The video quality is fantastic as always; I was practically blown away by how clear the 1950's footage was. The match quality, however, is a bit hit-and-miss.
On paper the matches look great: Von Erichs vs. The Freebirds, Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich in a cage, even Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher. In fact, a handful of matches really do demonstrate how WCCW was able to draw sell-out after sell-out. The above-mentioned Kerry/Flair Cage Match may have been famous for starting the Freebirds/Von Erich feud, but it's a damn fine match in its own right that sees both men take a brutal beating. Both Kerry and Flair wrestled very intensely, giving us a dramatic bloodbath that included all kinds of hard shots and epic false-finishes. There's also a Kevin Von Erich vs. "Gentleman" Chris Adams match that really tears the house down. It also is an incredibly brutal, incredibly entertaining match, and it features optional commentary.
On the other hand, the thing I disliked about the match's available on this compilation is that many of them end with non-committal finishes. There's definitely some drama to be had in the screwy finish, but WCCW's reliance on DQ finishes soured me a little. Then there are matches where there's a lot of drama but not a lot of wrestling. Matches like Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher felt uninteresting because it was an average match done thousands of times before and after. Fritz Von Erich was a pivotal figure in WCCW, but the matches he's a part of clearly shows an aged wrestler past his prime that shouldn’t really be in the ring. Then there are matches like The Great Kabuki vs. Kamala, which is good if you're a fan of wacky gimmicks but not so good if you like good wrestling. Most of the matches on this compilation feel like "crash TV": a blend of fast-paced action and constant drama that assaults your senses while not really accomplishing much. If you enjoy that type of style, you'll love most, if not all, of the matches. I prefer my matches a bit more methodical, so I only really liked three or four of the twelve matches.
Still, "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" is a fantastic purchase for wrestling historians, and a solid purchase for wrestling fans in general. It may not have that "Jack of All Trades" feel that gives it mass appeal, but "Triumph and Tragedy" centers in on its audience and delivers exactly what that audience wants: a no-holds-barred look at a tough-as-nails wrestling federation while providing classic matches that mesmerized thousands. I don't regret purchasing this DVD one bit, and I doubt you will either.
All Triumph: A World Class Legacy.
A Review of "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" by PdW2kX
Posted April 20, 2008
On three separate occasions, I passed up the opportunity to purchase "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling". I've reviewed plenty of wrestling in my time, but frankly, I'm not a wrestling historian. I tend to review what I know I'll like: hard-hitting Puro, old-school goodness, 90's wrestling that mesmerized me as a child. In fact, the comp-buying spree I went on a few weeks back, which has led to this latest series of reviews, predominantly features men I have grown up watching: Triple H, Stone Cold, Rey Mysterio, and HBK. So, on three separate occasions, I chose not to give this DVD a chance. Honestly: The Fabulous Freebirds? The Von Erichs? I've heard plenty about them, but I had no idea whether or not I would enjoy them. Then there were the names I had never heard of: Iceman King Parsons, Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez, and others. Plus, there was the Von Erich Family tragedy, which I knew would be hard to watch. Even though the price tag on this compilation is the same as just about all mainstream WWE compilations ($20), I just couldn't get into purchasing a compilation about a promotion I never knew existed that, sadly, centered on a series of tragedies I had no eagerness to relive. With that level of apprehension, I purchased "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" as an afterthought. When I popped the DVD into my faithful PlayStation 2, my only goal was to kill some time.
What followed was one of the greatest documentaries that WWE Home Video has ever produced.
"The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" is an in-depth look at a promotion that reached staggering heights before it fell to abysmal lows. WCCW is a promotion that, at its heyday, was able to get a crowd of 50,000 or more to witness key events such as the retirement of Fritz Von Erich and Kerry Von Erich's ascension to NWA World Heavyweight Champion. At its lowest point, a series of tragic events coupled with some unfortunate booking decisions led to the fall of the greatest wrestling federation to come out of Texas. Using a series of shoot-style interviews from WCCW veterans Skandor Akbar, Gary Hart, Michael Hayes, and others, WWE Home Video weaves an intricate tapestry of a federation whose legacy deserves to be told.
The biggest contributor of WCCW history is Kevin Von Erich, the last of the Von Erich brothers. Kevin shies away from little, even discussing at length how he went from having a total of five brothers to not even being a brother, although he continually stands by the questionable booking decisions of his father. Kevin takes us through the transformation of his father Fritz and the early days of "Texas Rasslin" which would eventually lead to World Class Championship Wrestling. The history moves a bit fast, as there is a lot of it to cover, but I never get the feeling that anything important is really left out. The first quarter of the documentary comes off very positive: WCCW gave fresh talent their time to shine; WCCW was one of the first feds to adopt larger-than-life production values, etc. The Von Erichs/Freebirds feud is discussed in detail, although it does get a bit cliché because Michael Hayes keeps tooting his own horn.
The DVD takes the first of many sad turns when it covers the death of David Von Erich. Everyone stands by David, saying that it was a stomach rupture that killed him. In fact, Kevin expressly states that drugs had nothing to do with it. Everyone talks of David fondly, and the DVD hits an upswing with the first-ever David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, which sold out Texas Stadium and featured Kerry Von Erich winning the NWA Title. Kerry's win is incredibly moving; I consider it the highlight of the DVD. There's just something incredibly touching about that moment. In fact, Shawn Michaels captures the moment perfectly by saying "It was my first taste of…. some of the really good stuff that comes from our line of work."
Unfortunately, the good times wouldn't last. Kerry's unpredictability costs him his NWA Title while Mike Von Erich nearly dies of toxic shock syndrome. Although he survives, Mike is never the same. Then there is the "Lance Von Erich" debacle, a booking decision made by Fritz to introduce a "new" member of the Von Erich family. The fans quickly turned on Lance because he wasn't a real Von Erich, and the fans were soured on Fritz because he lied to them. To make matters even worse, WCCW then goes through a messy break-up with the NWA while Kerry Von Erich endures a motorcycle accident that costs him his foot. When the topic of Gino Hernandez dieing from a cocaine overdose is discussed, the documentary takes an unsettling turn.
According to "Triumph and Tragedy", one of the downfalls of WCCW was Fritz Von Erich's refusal to deal with escalating drug problems. Drugs were running rampant, and the documentary takes a harsh anti-drug tone. This portion of the documentary is definitely unnerving, but it is also very revealing. The last bits of the documentary covers WCCW's downfall: the death of Mike, Chris, and Kerry Von Erich, a failed "Fritz has a heart attack" angle that is quoted as "100% Bad", and WCCW's acquisition and subsequent transformation into the USWA. Regarding the change, Mick Foley says "something died that day".
The documentary ends with WCCW veterans discussing why they think their promotion folded: tragedies, other promotions, etc. All the veterans universally deny the long-held wrestling rumor of "The Von Erich Family Curse", and David flat-out says "We brought it on ourselves. It was the '80's, and it was wild." Like most WWE compilations, the documentary ends with an amazing music video set to some very inspiring music.
Over all, this documentary is one of the best I've ever seen when it comes to wrestling. Although some small details are kayfabed, the entire documentary focuses on pushing back the curtain and giving an in-depth look on the creation, rise to power, and destruction of a federation that changed wrestling. It's a shame that I had no idea the type of legacy WCCW left us, and I applaud WWE Home Video for shining a light on a piece of wrestling history that should never be forgotten. WCCW is a jarring look at how a group of young men, and a smart promoter that just happened to be their father, took a company to the highest highs and the lowest lows. There are times where the documentary makes you proud to be a wrestling fan, and there are other times where the brutal honesty regarding subjects like rampant drug abuse may appall you. It's an emotional roller-coaster that leaves you happy, sad, shocked, wizened, appreciative, and even a bit embittered. WCCW is equal-parts tragedy and triumph; both topics are covered in-depth and without hesitation. Because of its harsh honesty and its refusal to sugar-coat things for its audience, the documentary portion of this DVD is all triumph.
Also included in the compilation is a large assortment of WCCW promo's, skits, and even a music video. It's a fun history trip, with excellent video quality. Some highlights include: the "Badstreet USA" music video, Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez, and the WCCW veterans sharing both positive and negative road stories. For the match selection, you've got 11 classic WCCW contests and a "Texas Rasslin" match that seems to be from the 1950's. The video quality is fantastic as always; I was practically blown away by how clear the 1950's footage was. The match quality, however, is a bit hit-and-miss.
On paper the matches look great: Von Erichs vs. The Freebirds, Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich in a cage, even Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher. In fact, a handful of matches really do demonstrate how WCCW was able to draw sell-out after sell-out. The above-mentioned Kerry/Flair Cage Match may have been famous for starting the Freebirds/Von Erich feud, but it's a damn fine match in its own right that sees both men take a brutal beating. Both Kerry and Flair wrestled very intensely, giving us a dramatic bloodbath that included all kinds of hard shots and epic false-finishes. There's also a Kevin Von Erich vs. "Gentleman" Chris Adams match that really tears the house down. It also is an incredibly brutal, incredibly entertaining match, and it features optional commentary.
On the other hand, the thing I disliked about the match's available on this compilation is that many of them end with non-committal finishes. There's definitely some drama to be had in the screwy finish, but WCCW's reliance on DQ finishes soured me a little. Then there are matches where there's a lot of drama but not a lot of wrestling. Matches like Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher felt uninteresting because it was an average match done thousands of times before and after. Fritz Von Erich was a pivotal figure in WCCW, but the matches he's a part of clearly shows an aged wrestler past his prime that shouldn’t really be in the ring. Then there are matches like The Great Kabuki vs. Kamala, which is good if you're a fan of wacky gimmicks but not so good if you like good wrestling. Most of the matches on this compilation feel like "crash TV": a blend of fast-paced action and constant drama that assaults your senses while not really accomplishing much. If you enjoy that type of style, you'll love most, if not all, of the matches. I prefer my matches a bit more methodical, so I only really liked three or four of the twelve matches.
Still, "The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling" is a fantastic purchase for wrestling historians, and a solid purchase for wrestling fans in general. It may not have that "Jack of All Trades" feel that gives it mass appeal, but "Triumph and Tragedy" centers in on its audience and delivers exactly what that audience wants: a no-holds-barred look at a tough-as-nails wrestling federation while providing classic matches that mesmerized thousands. I don't regret purchasing this DVD one bit, and I doubt you will either.
