Revealing a Trio of Great Wrestling DVD's
Discs That Spotlight the Von Erichs, Starrcade and Christian Cage
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin was greatly influenced by this promotion as a young man. Its television product was a trailblazer in the way it shot its matches and produced out of the ring vignettes.
It was World Class Championship Wrestling the organization that spawned such future WWF (now WWE) superstars as the Ultimate Warrior and “Ravishing” Rick Rude. But many of the most compelling stories from WCCW come from the first family of Texas wrestling, the Von Erich’s. Their stellar highs and crashing lows are the inspiration for the title of the first wrestling DVD on this short must list.
The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling (2007 WWE)
Those who live for happy endings should stay away from the documentary feature in this package. But those whowant to know what led to the early passing of four of the five wrestling sons of Fritz Von Erich will want to watch. The last surviving Von Erich son, Kevin, provides much of the commentary in the WCCW bio piece.
Though his voice is often a baritone mumble, this laid back Texas gentleman is a treat to listen to. There’s lightness in Kevin Von Erich's tone as he talks about the glory days when he and his siblings were mobbed like rock stars on the way to the wrestling ring. Then you hear genuine anguish as he talks about the accidental death of his brother David and the suicides of Mike, Chris and Kerry Von Erich.
Less heavy, are the twelve complete matches in this two DVD set. There’s a 1985 clash between a fired up Kevin Von Erich and heel “Gentleman” Chris Adams. A huge Texas crowd pops over and over as Fritz, Mike and Kevin Von Erich battle the dastardly threesome, “the Fabulous Freebirds”. And hilarity ensues at the end of the hair versus hair match between “Iceman” King Parsons and “Freebird” Buddy Roberts.
Christian Cage The Instant Classic (2007 TNA)
Currently wrestling in the WWE as Christian, Ontario born Jason Reso, performed for the better part of four years in TNA wrestling as Christian Cage. His top moments in TNA, including his initial NWA world tile win over Jeff Jarrett, can be found in the “Instant Classic” collection.
There are only seven complete matches but each has an epic quality and feature Christian Cage doing what he does best, taking spectacular risks and hellacious bumps. In addition to the aforementioned Jarrett, the other Cage opponents on this disc are Rhino, Sting, Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe.
The interview portion of the DVD features Jason Reso talking about his road to wrestling stardom. Interestingly he speaks in length about his long running friendship and in ring partnership with Adam Copeland, AKA WWE superstar Edge. You get details of their relationship sorely lacking in the previously reviewed Edge: A Decade of Decadence home video release.
Starrcade The Essential Collection (2009 WWE)
The WWE pays tribute to the forefather of all pay-per-view wrestling events in this combination of a short historical feature and 25 complete matches. The bouts, from the 18 year history of NWA/WCW’s Starrcade, are presented in countdown fashion from 25 to one based on their greatness.
Thrill to the intense dog collar match between Roddy Piper and Greg Valentine from the original 1983 Starrcade. See Sting cash in on over a year of build up in a 1997 world title bout against “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan. Also historic are the 1986 scaffold match between the Road Warriors and the Midnight Express and the ’85 US Championship I quit match with Magnum Ta and Tully Blanchard.
Need to know of more entertaining wrestling DVD releases? Discover another trio here in Suite 101.
Cover of Triumph and Tragedy
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