Category: Blu-Ray

SUMMARY:                                  RUNNING TIME: 22:00 Min.

Recorded live on July 31, 1987, for the NWA’s Great American Bash outdoor house show at Miami’s Orange Bowl, the heated rematch from War Games # 1 features these two squads:

• The Super-Powers: (“The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes & “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff) and The Road Warriors: (Hawk & Animal) & manager “Precious” Paul Ellering,

vs.

• The Four Horsemen: (NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; Arn Anderson; NWA World TV Champion Tully Blanchard; and NWA U.S. Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger); & the masked War Machine (aka Ray ‘Big Bubba Rogers’ Traylor).  Manager J.J. Dillon and Blanchard’s then-valet, ‘Dark Journey,’ are stationed at ringside.

Rhodes is generally credited with devising this two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match concept.  The teams pit their initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl.  A coin toss then determines a handicap advantage, as the other participants enter in two-minute intervals. Hence, one side will enjoy a repetitive handicap advantage until all ten men are in. 

During the so-called “Match Beyond” (featuring all ten combatants), there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender.  Tony Schiavone is the commentator.

In 2013, the WWE released this match as part of a collection of War Games matches (in DVD and Blu-ray formats) entitled WWE War Games: WCW’s Most Notorious Matches.   

Notes: 1. At the time, Rhodes & The Road Warriors were NWA World Six-Man Tag Champions.  2. Prior to this rematch, Luger had vanquished an ‘injured’ Koloff for the U.S. Title inside a steel cage during a Bash house show.

REVIEW:

As the primary U.S. rival to Vince McMahon’s WWF, the NWA/WCW (essentially, Jim Crockett Promotions) again goes all out to please fans with this gritty entertainment.  While there aren’t high-tech graphics (let alone, cartoony antics) comparable to the WWF, this match’s nice video quality speaks for itself.  Minus the substitution of a masked Ray Traylor (aka the WWF’s future Big Boss Man) for an injured Dillon, this second War Games virtually replicates the first War Games. Suffice to say, the implied gory finish is nastier than its predecessor.      

In fairness, there was likely no necessity to change the match’s script much, considering its crowd-pleasing success the first time.  Besides, only those present at the Atlanta house show would have sensed any déjà vu re: recycled plotting.  Other than predictable bleeding by Rhodes and Flair, among others, the ten players ensure that loyal fans get their money’s worth in the form of steel cage mayhem. 

Above all, this rematch rewards wrestling buffs who recall these NWA icons in their prime.  This video is a wrestling time machine to an era when fans had an exciting alternative to the WWF.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                                      RUNNING TIME: 23:00 Min.

Recorded live on July 4, 1987, at the NWA’s Great American Bash house show in Atlanta, GA, this ten-man slugfest features these teams:

• The Super-Powers: (“The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes & NWA U.S. Heavyweight Champion Nikita “The Russian Nightmare” Koloff) and The Road Warriors: (Hawk & Animal) & manager “Precious” Paul Ellering,

vs.

• The Four Horsemen: (NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; Arn Anderson; NWA World TV Champion Tully Blanchard; and Lex Luger); & manager J.J. Dillon.  Blanchard’s then-valet, ‘Dark Journey,’ is also at ringside.

Rhodes is generally credited with devising this two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match concept.  The teams pit their initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl.  A coin toss then determines a handicap advantage, as the other participants enter in two-minute intervals. Hence, one side will enjoy a repetitive handicap advantage until all ten men are inside the two-ring cage. 

During the so-called “Match Beyond” (featuring all ten combatants), there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender.  Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone are the co-commentators.

In 2013, the WWE released this match as part of a collection of War Games matches (in DVD and Blu-ray formats) entitled WWE War Games: WCW’s Most Notorious Matches. 

Notes: 1. At the time, Rhodes & The Road Warriors were NWA World Six-Man Tag Champions.  2. For the videotaped July 31^st rematch, Dillon is replaced by Ray “Big Bubba Rogers/Big Boss Man” Traylor as the masked ‘War Machine.’ 

REVIEW:

Competing against the popularity of Vince McMahon’s WWF, the NWA/WCW (aka Jim Crockett Promotions) delivers the goods for fans with this macho entertainment.  There aren’t flashy graphics comparable to the WWF, but this match’s video quality is still plenty good.  The ringside blow-by-blow coverage from Ross & Schiavone is an extra treat.    

Aside from predictable bleeding by multiple players and an obscene finger gesture by Rhodes, this intense first War Games establishes an entertaining formula.  Specifically, this excuse for wrestling violence relies on basic storytelling – as in the ruthless Horsemen must stand and fight this time vs. ganging up on outnumbered foes and/or getting a cheap DQ to escape a title loss.  Not surprisingly, in order to appease fans, the no-holds-barred War Games heat locked in a repetitive booking scheme for the follow-ups over the next eight years – except for 1991’s plausible twist ending. 

Still, this battle’s gritty novelty and spot-on choreography will reward long-time fans who still remember these NWA icons in their prime.  It’s a wrestling time machine where seeing the mid-to-late 80’s NWA again becomes a nostalgic gift. 

Note: Watch for Ellering’s pugnacious effort challenging Flair (it also happens in War Games # 2 and, briefly, # 3).  Just for chuckles, one can only wonder why he never got his own World Title shot against “The Nature Boy,” as seemingly everyone else did. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                          RUNNING TIME: 14 Min.

Filmed by Mid-South Wrestling (later known as the UWF — Universal Wrestling Federation), the match occurs on March 22, 1985, in Houston, Texas, at the Sam Houston Coliseum.  The loaded-up stipulations are: it’s a coal miner’s glove, tuxedo (where the wrestlers rip each other’s tuxedos off) steel cage match where the loser gets out of town, or more likely, a vacation, for thirty days.  As perennial rivals/ex-friends, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan (in a white tux) faces off vs. “The Big Cheese” Ted DiBiase (in a black tux). It’s left to announcer Jim Ross to call the shots (literally) at ringside.  The match appears on the WWE’s 2013 Legends of Mid-South Wrestling DVD and Blu-Ray sets. 

Note: In 1987, both Duggan and DiBiase separately left the UWF for WWE to enjoy the biggest runs in their prospective careers.

REVIEW:

If there’s an everything-but-the-kitchen sink-style match in pro wrestling, then this one likely has it.  Ironically, the only cartoony aspect of this slugfest is its outrageous rules.  What viewers actually get is a somewhat bloody, knockdown brawl in a cheapo steel cage seemingly made out of playground monkey bars.  The macho action is fairly good (minus watching two guys stripping each other) — but there’s no mistaking that neither Duggan nor DiBiase (at the time, saddled with an unimaginative nickname) were allowed to play up much, if any, charisma.  Case in point: compare this showdown to their glitzy WrestleMania IV bout from March 1988 — DiBiase & Duggan’s formulaic wrestling there is okay, but their exaggerated in-ring personas are genuinely entertaining.

Still, for fans of these wrestling icons, the nostalgia of seeing them in their pre-WWE prime makes this bout worth watching.  Maybe this gritty skirmish isn’t meant for repetitive viewing, but the stipulations alone are a hoot.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        6 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                    RUNNING TIME: 21:57 Min.

As part of the Extreme Rules 2019 undercard, The Undertaker would make an emphatic return to team up with ‘The Big Dog’ to go up against Drew McIntyre and Shane ‘O Mac.  Michael Cole, Renee Young, and Corey Graves call the action.  The match was held on July 14, 2019 in the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This bout appears on WWE’s Extreme Rules 2019 DVD and Blu-Ray sets.    

REVIEW:

If only for The Undertaker, this match is worth watching.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this bout was almost The Phenom’s last because that’s just how great he did.  Despite being in his mid-50s, he does the best out of the four.  Reigns, though a star in his own right, becomes a side attraction, with his only true offense being a right- handed upper-cut. Almost like that one friend who spams the punch button on a video game, Reigns uses about three or four moves through the entire match. 

Thankfully, The Undertaker dishes out most of the team’s offense. ‘Old School,’ ‘Snake Eyes,’ the choke-slam, you name it,  The Deadman’s greatest hits are all put on display in this bout.  Undertaker’s selling is just as good, too. For a good five minutes, he gets dragged around the ring by his opponents, with multiple points in the bout that leaves anyone questioning how he can still wrestle at such a high level.  For anyone wanting an older Undertaker match, this is arguably his best from his sporadic matches between 2016-2020.

With a run-in midway through the bout, this ends up feeling like a 3-on-1 handicap match, with Reigns knocked unconscious. This, however, shouldn’t take away from McIntyre or McMahon’s own performances.  Shane hits multiple WrestleMania-worthy spots, and it really shows what lengths he’s willing to go to put on a show.  As for Drew, it’s not a bad performance, but his, like Reigns, is an afterthought behind The Undertaker. He hits a few Claymores, throws a few punches, but he acts as little more than Shane’s waterboy, and that says something.

Is this match worth watching?  Definitely!  I know it sounds like it’s all about Undertaker’s performance, but that’s really all there is to it.  For a match that was on a secondary PPV like Extreme Rules, this match warrants a spot on any Big Four card — those being WrestleMania, SummerSlam, The Royal Rumble, and Survivor Series. The best part is, at the end of the match, Undertaker says, “It’s your yard now.”  Talk about really putting the exclamation point on this one.  Pure brilliance!

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:              8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                         RUNNING TIME: 21 Min.

Filmed by the WWE in March 1987 (or possibly February 28, 1987), this Philadelphia Spectrum house showdown pits WWE World Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation (Bret “Hitman” Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) vs. The Islanders (Haku & Tama).  At ringside are the Harts’ manager, Jimmy Hart, and their new associate: evil ex-referee Danny Davis.  The two ringside commentators are unidentified, but they are evidently the Spectrum’s PRISM Network in-house team.

The match also appears on the WWE’s 2013 Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection DVD and Blu-Ray sets. 

REVIEW:

Aside from viewing a Harts vs. Islanders battle as a rare opportunity, this title match demonstrates that the WWF’s 1987 tag team scene was very much at the top of its game.  All four competitors (with an assist from Davis) deliver solid performances, as it’s a shame that Tama & Haku weren’t given a high-profile push sooner. 

Note: After missing out on WrestleMania III, the Islanders excelled at the 1987 Survivor Series as Bobby Heenan’s new heel team. Yet, they were ultimately demoted to a dognapping angle with The British Bulldogs for March 1988’s WrestleMania IV, which was the Islanders’ last real hurrah.

The fact that The Islanders was excluded from WrestleMania III less than a month after this pretty good match speaks volumes.  Still, the Hart Foundation’s own progress as new World Tag Team Champions gets the right kind of polish here.  For that matter, even the low-key commentators (whoever they are) are surprisingly above-average, though they confusingly misidentify Tama as Haku and vice-versa.

The one downside is that, unsurprisingly, this tag bout relies on house show formula where the same finish was likely recycled most nights.

Note: Amusingly enough, the announcers mention that the Spectrum’s main event that night would be WWE World Champion Hulk Hogan & “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Kamala & “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff.  It’s a good bet that, in terms of tag action, the Harts and the Islanders outclassed them.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7 Stars

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SUMMARY:                           RUNNING TIME: Approx. 31 Min. +

In a sequel to their brutal encounter at WrestleMania 27, this WrestleMania rematch one year later pits Triple H against the Undertaker in what could quite possibly be The Game’s most iconic match.  Shawn Michaels steps in to referee this Hell-in-a-Cell cage match. From Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida, on April 1, 20212, Jim Ross, Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, and Michael Cole call the action in this ‘End of an Era’ bout.

As for the match’s run time, when looking at it from the entrance of Shawn Michaels to the mesmerizing finish, it lasts a whopping 50:22. However, in terms of actual ring time, the match goes for 30:40.  Calling it a slobber-knocker would be an understatement! This match appears on the WrestleMania 28 DVD and Blu-Ray sets.

REVIEW:

Though Triple H has a reputation for not jobbing to many, he sells very well here.. Not to say that he doesn’t get his fair share of offense, but it takes a while. “A vile, vicious, malicious attack,” as called by J.R., sums up what lengths The Cerebral Assassin is willing to go to prevail.  In total, Triple H performs about five moves that aren’t in conjunction with a foreign object. This could show a lack of wrestling skill or maybe his will to win, but, either way, The Game doesn’t impress from an in-ring standpoint. Maybe it’s him getting carried up the rampway, then a cut above his eye, or showing just pure exhaustion, Triple H does pull off acting skills that makes anyone wonder why he didn’t co-star alongside The Rock in The Tooth Fairy. In all seriousness, however, he does a great job conveying the battle-tested veteran finally meeting his toughest match.

The Undertaker has had arguably the greatest career in pro wrestling history. Decades after decades of consistent gold, this classic shows that even while pushing 50, he can still look like the most dominant force in the company. With hard hitting strikes and ruthless aggression, he looks like he wants to send Triple H home on a stretcher. Though not as heavily reliant on weapons as Triple H, Undertaker’s relentless rights and lefts make up most of his offense. 

Despite having the durability of a slice of soggy bread, Shawn Michaels contributes to makes this match great.  Sure, he isn’t wrestling, but his facial expressions and reactions truly convey someone with as many mixed emotions as he has. His distressed/torn apart look is probably the best part of the bout.  Does Shawn align himself with his friend Triple H?  Or does he side with The Undertaker … the same man who retired him just two years prior? It keeps anyone guessing as to what The Heartbreak Kid will do next!

WrestleMania XVIII is the best-selling WWE PPV in history, and this match clearly shows why.  On its surface, this match is a slow-paced, half-hour brawl heavy on weaponry.  Yet, all of this doesn’t matter. The so-called ‘End of an Era’ earns its hype, as this brawl marked the last time Triple H or The Undertaker performed at an exceptionally high level.  Now, yes, they could’ve looked good because the match is fixated on weapons rather than wrestling, but they both come out better than they did coming in.  Even when, at times, it oozes of WWE’s scripted stench, this slugfest should be on anyone’s WrestleMania radar!

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                             RUNNING TIME: 25 MIN.

Filmed by the WWE on/about April 29, 1989, at a house show at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, it’s Bret “Hitman” Hart vs. “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig.  “Gorilla” Monsoon and “Lord” Alfred Hayes are the commentators – it’s possible that they recorded voice-overs for this match, since they aren’t actually visible on-screen at ringside. 

The match is included on the WWE’s 2013 Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection DVD and Blu-Ray sets. 

REVIEW:

As Hart attests in his autobiography, he and Hennig, as second-generation performers in their prime, were so evenly matched (and worked safely together) that their WWE house show battles made for professional bliss.  It’s no wonder that their chemistry could steal a house show’s audience from the main event on any given night.  Including their standard-issue finish (or maybe just a slight variation of it), this particular showcase is no exception. 

Hennig (i.e. his sheer athleticism; a few of his patented flops/pratfalls) demonstrates why he was the best technical heel in North America in 1989 – with the possible exception of the NWA’s Ric Flair.  Noticeably, Hennig’s ‘Mr. Perfect’ gimmick is still in development, as his in-ring style here resembles his 1987-88 heel run as AWA World Champion.    

Still a part-time singles performer at this juncture, Hart already exudes the legendary presence he would have in the 90’s.  Unsurprisingly, this showdown (including some friction after the bell) is a terrific prelude to their Intercontinental Title showdown at SummerSlam 1991, in spite of Hennig’s real-life back injury.  A subtle bonus is that Monsoon & Hayes playfully nail their commentary track observing these guys work with methodical precision. 

Considering the match doesn’t embrace the WWE’s cartoony style, this low-key Hart vs. Hennig battle is a treat for fans.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     8 Stars

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