Search - Wrestling Gold Special Edition on DVD

Wrestling Legends, Matches and History on DVD. MUST HAVE!!!

Mr. JKW | Honolulu, Hawai'i | 07/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wrestling Gold Collection contains 5 volumes collecting vintage wrestling matches from the 1970s and 1980s. Overall, there are 62 matches and about 11 hours of wrestling action.In addition, volumes I and II feature two biographies each. Volume I features biographies for Shawn Michaels (a contemporary star) and Dave Meltzer, the noted wrestling journalist who co-hosts this series. Volume II features biographies for Bruiser Brody, the late wrestling legend and Jim Cornette, the noted wrestling manager/promoter who also co-hosts this series.The biggest sell of this DVD series (which distinguishes it from the VHS version) is the optional "Insider Commentary" from series hosts Cornette and Meltzer which can be turned on in lieu of the original match audio. The insider commentary offers great insights into wrestling history, the superstars that made the sport and the world of wrestling in general.Though called "Wrestling Gold" perhaps a better name for this series may have been "The Best of Memphis and San Antonio Wrestling" which is where most of the matches on these volumes were pulled from. Here's a rundown of each volume:Volume I - Busted Open: Eleven matches. Highlights: a "semi-historic" bout between Adrian Adonis and Bob Orton Jr. for the Heavyweight Title with Lou Thesz as a guest announcer, Shawn Michaels as a rookie, several matches with Gino Hernandez and Tully Blanchard, Terry Funk, and one of Bruiser Brody and Abdullah the Butcher's legendary encounters.Volume II - The Maim Event: Twelve matches.Highlights: Several matches with Jerry "The King" Lawler, a few matches with Randy Savage, a rookie Rick Rude, The Von Erichs, the Road Warriors, the Rock N' Roll Express, Bruno Sammartino, The Sheik, Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher. Plus, an AWESOME match with Nick Bockwinkel and Manny Fernandez.Volume III - We Like To Hurt People: Fifteen matches.Highlights: The historic NWA title match between Terry Funk and Harley Race, a few Jerry Lawler matches, Dory Funk Jr., The Sheik in a Cage match, Randy Savage, the R N' R Express, Ray Stevens and a Tennessee Street Fight.Volume IV - No More Mr. Nice Guy: Twelve matches.Highlights: The Wrestling Bear vs. Gene DuBois, The Shark Cage Match, Andre the Giant, 4 matches with Randy Savage, a few Lawler matches, 3 Rick Rude matches, a GREAT Nick Bockwinkel vs. Lawler match.Volume V - Beat Me If You Can: Twelve matches.Highlights: A Mud Match between The Sheik and Tiger Jeet Singh, Bobo Brazil, Magnum TA and some great tag action.Simply put, this DVD series is AWESOME and a must have for ANY wrestling fan. Here's my rundown:Price of Admission: Seeing some of the legends of the ring (like Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Dick the Bruiser, the Crusher, The Sheik, Nick Bockwinkel, the wrestling bear) and many of the contemporary older favorites ("Macho M an" Randy Savage, Tully Blanchard, Tommy Rich, the Rock N' Roll Express, Manny Fernandez, Magnum TA, etc) in their primes and many of our departed stars like Rick Rude, Bruiser Brody, Eddie Gilbert, Gino Hernandez, etcPure Gold: The "Insider Match Commentary." It's a fascinating insight into the stars and the business. You'll learn a GREAT deal about the history of the business and the stars that made it. Also, Cornette's anecdotes are PRICELESS.Could Improve: The match intros. Cornette and Meltzer do a good job introducing the matches and placing them in context of the feuds and time, BUT they neglect to mention important details like the DATES of these contests. It's something they should mention AND put on the box. You'll have to listen with "Insider Commentary" to get this basic info, and even THEN may not get it!!!Give Me More!!!: Only four biographies??? If they really wanted to immortalize the older legends of the sport it should have been all of THEIR biographies on the DVDs as opposed to a contemporary star like Shawn Michaels or Dave Meltzer and Jim Cornette (the two guys who promotes this DVD series), who come off as simply "patting themselves on the back."Overall, this series is a MUST HAVE if you are into old-school wrestling or just wrestling. Several of the matches in this volume are great (Taylor/Sabu, the tag and six-man tag matches)!!! You'll see many of the older stars back in their prime or as rookies and some of the legends that older fans always reminisce about. If you are a wrestling nostalgist THIS IS FOR YOU. Plus, you'll learn a great deal about wrestling history through the "Insider Commentary." It's a fascinating listen.All I got to say is, I hope there's another one coming out down the line!!!Highest Recommendation Possible"

For the long-time fan, this truly is like finding "gold"!

The Gooch | Temecula, CA United States | 08/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For someone like me, who became a wrestling fan just before the big wrestling boom of 1984, a collection like this is priceless...It?s funny, I?m sure those people who have become fans within the past few years, who are used to the glitz and glamour and pizzazz of the current wrestling scene, would find this collection a complete bore. To those who miss the old days of wrestling when having a great body wasn?t the only prerequisite to stardom, when you didn?t have to do a quadruple flip off the top of a cage for a move to seem effective, and when title belts actually seemed important and prestigious, this is great nostalgia. This collection brings back so many great memories in the same way watching an old sitcom or listening to a song that was popular when you were a kid does.The collection is fun on many levels. It works almost as a ?Before They Were Stars?, as many future superstars like Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage, Rick Rude, Bobby Heenan, Tully Blanchard, and others can be seen in their formative years, before they achieved stardom in major promotions like the WWF or WCW. You also get to see many classic pre-1985 matches, such as Rock `n? Roll Express vs. Lanny Poffo and Randy Savage, Harley Race vs. Terry Funk for the NWA World Title, Jerry Lawler vs. Nick Bockwinkle for the AWA World title, and others. I personally enjoyed the chance to see many legendary wrestlers that I?ve heard much about, but never really got much of a chance to see perform, such as Dick the Bruiser, The Sheik, Bobo Brazil, Ray Stevens, and Pepper Gomez (although the matches featuring these performers tend to be at the end of their careers as opposed to in their prime).The best feature of the collection is the ?Insiders Commentary? provided by Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer, and legendary manager/promoter Jim Cornette. This commentary provides expert insight, personal recollections, and historical context to the matches featured in this series. Both Meltzer and Cornette are true wrestling historians. Listening to their insiders commentary is almost like taking a class in the history and evolution of the wrestling business."

Incredible Blast From The Past!

Good Ol' J\/\/ | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, what can I say? Purchased this five dvd set last week and it is definitely worth the price. If you're some johnny come lately fan who doesn't appreciate the history of the sport or the men who broke their backs making it the spectacle it is today, you won't appreciate these dvds. On the other hand, if you enjoy classic stars, classic wrestling, and an absolute history lesson on sports entertainment, this is the set for you. Lots of footage from mid-south (lots of Lawler), Texas, Toronto, Detroit, and Florida. See stars like Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage, Sherri Martel, Tito Santana, Jerry Lawler, Terry Funk, King Kong Bundy, Marty Jannetty, Kamala, Rick Rude, Ted DiBiase, and many others very early in their careers. See legends such as The Original Sheik, Abdullah the Butcher, and Bruiser Brody in their brawling primes. Even Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil are here! One very nice feature is that you have the option to flip audio tracks from either the original commentary or new commentary from Jim Cornette and journalist Dave Meltzer. I watched the entire set listening to the latter, and dadgumit, Jim Cornette is a walking wrestling encyclopedia! Well...he screwed up one Ted DiBiase fact, but who's counting? My only real gripe is that one match advertised, Terry Funk vs Harley Race, is not included. Not enough to disappoint, however. Buy these now!"

The Ultimate Pro Wrestling History Lesson on DVD

Kurt A. Nicolai | Canoga Park, Ca. United States | 08/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had purchased this collection on VHS back in the early 90's and found it very good then. Getting to see some of todays stars/legends wrestle when they were alot younger (and greener, in some cases) was great, and also seeing action from the territories, which there are virtually none of these days. But w/ this collection on DVD, just the quality alone makes it worth watching, but for me, the greatest part is the additional commentary from Wrestling Observer frontman Dave Meltzer and Jim Cornette. If you are a wrestling insider "junkie" as I am, and love to learn about the history of the SPORT of pro wrestling, the commentary from these 2 will certainly give you your fix. The biographies I could have done without, but the whole set is great. A completely different world from today's "sports entertainment" wrestling. I hope they are planning a 2nd edition."