The Best of Times…The Worst of Times // Royal Rumble

The brainchild of Pat Paterson and everyone’s favourite PPV: as the Rumble hits 30, I look at the best and worst of the show’s history.

Best Rumble Match // 1992

I lose points for originality here but 1992 is the default pick for the vast majority of wrestling fans for good reason: it featured arguably the last great performance of Ric Flair’s career (complete with classic post-match promo); allowed Bobby Heenan to channel his comedic talents to great effect; featured possibly the greatest cast of WWF characters ever assembled in one match; and was the best example of babyface icon Hulk Hogan getting away with being a bit of a dick (why you gotta play Sid like that, Hulkster?) This was probably the night the Royal Rumble truly established itself as appointment viewing on the WWF calendar: now more than just a novelty battle royal, this match, with its drama, unpredictability and moments of consequence and significance, overtook SummerSlam and Survivor Series to become the number 2 show for Vince and the boys.

Honourable Mention: 2007

Worst Rumble Match // 2000

WWF was red hot in 2000 so bringing its greatest gimmick to its home arena of MSG should have been a sure-fire hit, Whilst the undercard was superb, the Rumble match flattered to deceive. In fact, it remains the dullest Rumble match in history, its one fun spot an impromptu dance off between Rikishi and Too Cool for which the crowd came unglued (I remain steadfast that most wrestling fans secretly favour dancing over workrate). All this match is really known for is Road Dogg hanging onto the bottom rope for an eternity and Rocky and Big Show botching the finish. Avoid.

Honourable Mention: 1991

Best Title Match at a Rumble PPV // John Cena vs Umaga (WWE Championship, 2007)

I struggled with this category: I really enjoy the Triple H and Cactus Jack's street fight at 2000 and Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit at 2003 is a wrestling classic. But fans expected those matches to be great: this title bout from San Antonio, contested under Last Man Standing Rules, vastly exceeded expectations. Featuring an innovative spot in which Umaga charged across the announce desks, a mighty juice job from Cena and a frankly mental finish in which the champ used the ring ropes to render his foe unconscious, this match had a bit of everything. It also secured the late Umaga his spot in the huge Battle of the Billionaires match at ‘Mania 23. A true classic and one that doesn’t always get the props it deserves.

Honourable Mention: Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit (2003)

Worst Title Match at a Rumble PPV // Kurt Angle vs Mark Henry (World Title, 2006)

To be honest, the worst title match in Rumble history is probably Triple H vs Scott Steiner from 2003  but as I literally wrote about that last month, I feel I should vary things up. And Angle and Henry sucked so it’s fair game here.  This match, positioned last on the card, therefore going on after the Rumble and a worthier Cena vs Edge encounter, secured said slot simply because the show closing visual was to be Undertaker interrupting the pedestrian action so that he could destroy the ring. That this odd angle led to a belter between Taker and Angle is some consolation but on that fateful night in 2006, this was not Rumble worthy.

Honourable Mention: Triple H vs Scott Steiner (2003)

Best Rumble PPV // 2002

This show featured one of the best Rumble matches ever: Tripe H was a popular winner; Steve Austin had a blast delivering Stone Cold’s greatest hits; Mr Perfect returned and Maven eliminating Undertaker feels even more shocking years later than it was then. The show also had a great undercard: Jericho and The Rock tore it up in the Undisputed Title match and Vince McMahon and Ric Flair had a surprisingly solid street fight. The opening tag is innocuous fun if you watch it now on the Network but I have a soft spot for it based on the DVD release: for some reason, Taz and Spike Dudley delivered commentary on their match and seized the opportunity to mock Stacey Keibler for blowing her slapping spot; as Taz noted, the slap she sent his way would only have connected if he’d been a couple of feet taller.

Honourable Mention: 2007

Worst Rumble PPV: 2006

I’ve already buried the title match but the rest of the show wasn’t up to much either… The undercard featured JBL vs The Boogey Man which was as bad as it sounds and the Rumble itself was uninspiring. Triple H and Rey Mysterio tried to repeat Shawn Michael’s and Davey Boy’s gimmick of surviving the field from the 1 and 2 spot. 11 years may have passed but it still felt too soon to repeat this scenario; about half way through the match it became too clear this was the direction they were going in and the contest suffered accordingly. The pop for Rey after his win probably wasn’t as passionate as expected; sadly, things would only get worse in this regard…

Honourable Mention: 1991

Article by Sean Taylor-Richardson

The Non-Fan Review #1 - Hogan v Andre at WrestleMania III

Three blokes who've had little time for professional wrestling...watch professional wrestling...then write about professional wrestling. That's pretty much the premise that we're building this series around. Our three non-fans will be given iconic moments from the history of wrestling and we begin with Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant from WrestleMania III, but before we get into their thoughts on the match, let's get to know them a little, in their own words.

Andrew Williams - Andrew suspects he may be an alien from another planet, frequently finding human rituals baffling. Wrestling is one of the many things that continues to baffle him, but no doubt his findings will be subjected to rigorous study back on his home planet (wherever that is).

Nicholas Peat - Nick is a 5'11" homo sapiens who never watched wrestling before in his life before embarking on the project.

Born at an early age, he is currently finishing off a PhD in linguistics and has never referred to himself in the third person. He doesn't intend to start now.

Sam Button - Sam is a giant in the world of non-WWF fans. His favourite wrestler is Stretch Armstrong.

We'll start with how Andrew found the match...

---

In 1987, two of the most famous wrestlers in history came together. They were so famous that even I'd heard of them.

In a black outfit that couldn't hope to contain him, we have Andre the Giant. He's well named - he's absolutely enormous in every dimension. Height, diameter... even weight. At well over 500 pounds, he'd put a speak your weight machine into therapy.

Andre doesn't say much. He doesn't show much emotion either, his face largely impassive. The speaking and, it seems, the thinking are left to his manager, Bobby the Brain, and while I can't speak for his intelligence with regards to wrestling it seems to be sorely lacking in regards to fashion sense. That suit is hideous.

With the theme tune for "Pinky and the Brain" now running through my head (but which one is the genius, and which is insane?) we meet the current champion, the yellow-clad Hulk Hogan. I recall some of his film appearances, including a bit part in one of the Gremlins films. He's certainly acting up here, almost dancing for the crowds. Andre just stands there, watching, waiting, silent.

Andre tops 500 pounds. Hulk is around 300. I feel as though I've seen this match before, in an episode of "Game of Thrones". But I don't recall Hulk's skull ever being crushed. Still, no time to wonder - the match is on!

...and nearly ends in the first few seconds. Hulk Hogan tries to pick up a mountain. This ends predictably, with back problems. I wouldn't be trying to lift 500 pounds without a forklift truck, myself. As Hulk writhes in dramatic agony on the floor, Andre circles. He gives the prone figure an occasional kick, as if to see whether it's dead yet. His face remains calm. He feels no pain or pleasure in his actions. For Andre, it's just another day at the office.

"Get up!" the giant yells, apparently keen to finish this match so he can get on with some paperwork instead. Hulk strikes a dramatic pose, on his hands and knees. Andre occasionally picks him up and throws him down again, a cat toying with a half dead mouse and growing bored.

Hulk falls to the floor. Andre steps onto and over him, maybe in a bid to straighten his back out again. He's been remarkably slow to act; I'm not convinced he's here to fight. "Andre has no fear," says the commentary. Perhaps the giant is feeling something else. And when he throws Hulk into a semi-standing position against the post, and then thrusts his buttocks into his opponent's groin, one does wonder whether this is something more akin to a mating ritual.

So far it's been a one-sided match. Hulk's thrown out his back, then been bashed around a fair bit. Finally, having been thrown, slammed, headbutted, butt-butted and more, Hulk slips out from underneath the giant and puts his speed to use. Suddenly that back injury seems to have vanished, which is amazing - my sciatica had me unable to stand up straight for a week, and here's Hogan running laps around the ring just minutes after writhing on the canvas. He throws several punches to Andre's head, which seems to startle the giant but does little obvious damage. Perhaps he needs to strike at the Brain instead, which would at least be a blow for fashion.

Alas, Hulk's technique is enthusiastic but lacks strategy. He attempts to render Andre unconscious by repeatedly slamming his head into the ropes, which doesn't seem to me like the most suitable of hard surfaces. The two break apart, and Hulk decides a run-up will help. It does not. Andre simply lifts one enormous leg and sends the smaller wrestler sprawling. He wipes his face as Hulk sprawls on the mat - I'm not sure whether this is to clear sweat from his eyes or simply a facepalm gesture.

Andre then decides they should be friends after all, taking Hulk in his arms and giving him a big, tight hug. This may, again, be an attempt to do something chiropractic. The two men dance like this for a while, Hulk visibly wilting but refusing to submit.

Just when it's about to all be over, Hulk's 93,000 fans in the audience send him the power of their love, or something like that. I can almost see their Carebear stares flooding the arena. Hulk slowly charges back up, his right arm flailing, landing several punches into Andre's hair. The giant holds on a while longer, but Hulk is pulling away. Andre lets him go. He can't risk too much damage to that perm.

Andre is staggering, possibly stunned, when Hulk throws away his winning strategy to attempt another charge. Has the man learned nothing? This time, Andre sticks out a tree trunk arm. As the joke goes, a man walks into a bar. Ouch. A few more slow but powerful blows knock Hulk Hogan clear out of the ring (why is it called a ring when it's square?). Andre goes after him.

Hulk is sprawling. Andre traps him against a post, and goes in for a headbutt. Just in time, Hulk moves to the side, and Andre's head hits the post. It seems the only person with a blow hard enough to hurt Andre the Giant is, in fact, Andre the Giant. This is a chance for Hulk to strike back, and he takes it with the single most stupid strategy he could attempt - he tries to pick up the mountain again. Andre seems to take pity on the man by simply reversing the lift and tossing Hulk over his shoulder. Painful, but much easier on the back.

Wearily, both clearly exhausted, the two men crawl back into the square ring. They spend a few moments bouncing off the ropes, Hulk attempting another charge and this time managing to avoid Andre's titanic foot. They collide, and both hit the floor. Finally, perhaps this time remembering to bend at the knees, Hulk manages to achieve the impossible and lifts the giant. One could almost feel the ground shake as he dropped back onto the canvas.

The match is over in no time after this. Hulk drops onto him with his legs over his opponent's neck (I'm sure this move has a name, but since I doubt it's any cooler than mine I shall call it the Throat Crusher) and pins him to the floor. Andre quickly submits, the mountain crumbling. The crowd roars. Hulk gets a new belt, which is probably just as well as I doubt Andre would ever be able to get it around his waist. But what Hulk Hogan really needs at this point is a towel. I have never seen a man so sweaty.

While Hulk parades for the audience, Andre and his manager slip silently away. Andre looks as impassive as ever; its Bobby the Brain that looks dejected for the both of them. What are they going to do now? "The same thing we do every year," says Bobby. "Try to take over the world!"

----

What about you, Mr. Peat? 

---

Do you remember where you were, that day in 1987? I certainly don’t, it was a year before I was born - but that day has since passed into legend. The single greatest wrestling match in history (probably): the French giant from Princess Bride challenged the blond moustache bloke from Suburban Commando.

(Anyone else remember that film? It’s work tracking down, Christopher Lloyd’s in it.)

Anyway, the buildup to the match is AMAZING: Andre the Giant - in a fetching black leotard - and his manager (Bobby the Brain) arrive at the ring in a platform that seems to be driving itself, like Herbie the Love Bug. No way this massive froggy can lose, he has voodoo on his side!

As if to provide contrast, Hulk Hogan skips gaily to the ring, playing to the crowd - clearly he’s a showman (as his canary yellow outfit will attest— no, wait, he’s torn his little shirt off. Huh. What a waste of a top). What a fun pair, this will be a blast, I can tell.

The bell goes off! And Hulk goes right into Andre’s face, shaking his head and arms and murmuring something… Casting a spell? Andre shoves him away. “Zere eez only ONE master of ze voodoo here, mon frere!” Andre probably thinks. He certainly isn’t saying much.

Not one to take this lying down, Hulk tries to lift Andre… then topples over due to the European’s 520 pound bulk. Whoops.

Andre is no man’s fool, he gives Hulky a good kicking while he’s down, then pulls him up by his little yellow knickers and throws him into the corner! This is an ONSLAUGHT: bouncing the blond patsy into the ropes just to rebound him into his French boot, shouldering his sternum… Mr Hogan is going to lose, calling it now.

But then it happens: Bulky decides to make up with Hulky and gives him a BIG HUG. An exceptionally big hug in fact - it lasts 2 minutes 49 seconds (I counted). Gasp, the friendliness of the hug was a RUSE - the crafty Brobdingnagian is crushing the blond chap into surrender! They’re cunning, these Alpine types. (I should know, I went out with an Austrian for three years.)

It looks like it’s all over for the inedible Hulk, one of the commentators informs us “if his hand drops three times, it’s over”. That’s a funny rule, wonder if they teach you that at St John’s Ambulance.

In either case, DRAMATIC TWIST! Hulky’s hand doesn’t drop the third time! With more dramatic head-vibrating (like he’s motor boating Carmen Electra), Hulk breaks free of the francophone colossus and lands a couple of blows… only to be kicked out of the ring by Andre. Well, at least he’s trying.

Gaining the advantage, Hulk pulls back the canvas from the floor to reveal concrete; the commentator informs us “this is horrible sportsmanship”… So shouldn’t he be disqualified? Nah, never mind - he’s just tried to piledriver Andre, only to end up sliding down him like an upside-down koala.  Oh, this must be the most humiliating night of Hulk Hogan’s life! Can it get any worse for him as Andre shoves him back onto the ring?

Hold that thought: Hulk just bounced off some ropes and hit Andre in the head. Weirdly, that seems to be enough to send the cheese-lover into convulsions, Bobby the brain is cradling his head and everything. Then Hulk does a Super Mario-style ground-pound on Andre’s head, hugs his thigh for three seconds and THAT’S IT?

That’s how you win one of these things? No wonder Andre looks annoyed, this is barking mad! Ah well, Hulk looks elated and, according to the commentator, he’s "thanking the guy upstairs”.

Though what the lighting technician has to do with this victory is anyone’s guess.

FINAL SCORE: 9/10

Needed more Dread Pirate Roberts.

---

What did Sam think about this classic? 

---

So, as a complete NON wrestling fan (with NO knowledge/interest about this 'sport'), I was asked to write a short review on a given famous wrestling match...

Wrestle Mania 3 (1987) : 

Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant 

In order to set the scene up for myself, I watched the opening minutes of Wrestlemania 3 - a ruddy massive event in the 'Pontiac Silverdrome', Michigan. So much bigger than I had envisaged, it was like the WWF version of Super Bowl! 

I had previously envisaged the event to have maybe 1000 spectators in mullets and baseball caps stood around some garish coloured boxing ring, but no, this is going to be massive?! 

Even Aretha Franklin kicked things off with a piano song!  (I had just been expecting some naff American rock music to be blasted through speakers)! Some wrestlers called Can-am Connection, Magnificent Muraco and Cowboy Bill Orton kick off the procedures with a tag team fight, but I'm not interested in them, so fast forward about two and a half hours to the final fight of the night...

Hulk Hogan is a big name I'm familiar with, having been an 80's child. I even watched 'Mr Nanny'. First impressions.  "The Hulkster" (as he is called many times during this match) appears browner than I remembered him being.  Sunbed brown, bleached hair, She-Ra boots, and a yellow vest that is half-Baywatch and half-Sugarpuffs monster.  In contrast, Andre The Giant is a big fat Russian-looking guy in a black leotard and black boots.  A moody 7' 5" Daffyd Thomas. 

94,000 fans are screaming with excitement.   It's time to get started. My money is on Hulk Hogan to win. 

The match starts with a brief stare-off before Andre The Giant slaps Hogan one. 

Oh dear. This is followed up by Andre with a few punches to the kidney and back, before he pulls The Hulkster's head into his groin and throws him away. 

I'm not sure about the official referees or linesmen or whatever in wrestling or how they work - but there's 'Manuel' (Basil Fawlty's waiter from Barcelona) skipping around INSIDE the ring, and then some Keith Chegwin dude (blonde hair and sparkly jacket) skipping around OUTSIDE the ring.  Both dressed for a big night out. 

Andre the Giant is not arsed. He is owning this match (or fight, whatever it's called) and crushed Hulk Hogan into a corner of the ring. The 'Heavyweight champion of the world' is looking weak... but then suddenly gets a new fire in his belly and escapes for a moment.   Whilst some of the head buts and punching looks a bit rehearsed and fake and acted, some of this stuff looks like it's real and it's hurting. Interesting. 

Oh dear.  Andre The (biggest gay) Giant (in the Village) has locked The Hulkster into a 'bear hug'! Hogan's strength is vanishing and is shown to have limp limbs and back now, completely drained. Glad I'm not a betting man, the reputation of this famous wrestler seems well overhyped... But just as I'm feeling let down by this sporting performance, The Hulkster once again summons some inner 'second wind' strength and fights back, repeatedly elbow-smacking the side of Andre's head until he is free of the bear hug!   

They tumble outside of the ring onto some padded flooring.  Hogan strips some of this padding away to reveal concrete. His plan is obvious and he goes to grab Andre and take him down onto this cold hard surface, however it backfires and he  himself is thrown down onto it. Andre pushes Hogan back into the ring, where the latter suddenly takes control of this event and smacks The Giant to the floor, jumps on his head, lifts Andre's leg up a bit... and is then declared the winner?!  Eh?! Not sure how this result came to be?! 

Andre The Giant had dominated the whole fight/match and was the stronger competitor... but with just 3 moves and 3 minutes at the end, The Hulkster is once again named The WWF Heavy Weight Chanpion?!  None of this "count of 5" stuff like boxing, just lift a leg and you're a winner?! Maybe I missed something?! 

Aah... and there is the crap American rock music on the speakers that I expected at the beginning!  No audience mullets though, just a load of excited spectators cheering and loving Hulk Hogan's "winning faces"!  He's loving it, a proper poser. 

So, that was my first wrestling match. Would I watch another one? Yep, quite entertaining and interesting, I can see why fans get hooked into it. Have I learned anything from it? 

Nope, not really (other than these events are a lot bigger than I had previously thought)!

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Wowza, a tonne of interesting opinions to digest from fresh eyes on a match that I suspect many of our readers will have watched many times. Let us know what you think by getting in touch on Twitter @ATPWrestling. 

Next month - Our three musketeers look at Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13.

WWE Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection DVD Review

I was hoping to get this done before WrestleMania unfortunately that wasn't possible and then with the passing of Warrior I was finding it difficult to sit and watch in large portions so it's taken a little bit longer than I had hoped but here is the review of WWE's Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection.

WWE's Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Collection is out now on DVD and Blu Ray, available from www.wwedvd.co.uk, currently priced at £19.99 for DVD and £22.99 for Blu Ray. The three disc set, chronicles the career of the Ultimate Warrior and features matches and segments from UWF, WCCW, WWF and WCW, alongside a special interview with Warrior introducing the segments as they appear. As you'd expect the set features The Ultimate Warrior taking on some of wrestling's greatest from between 1986 and 1996, including The Undertaker, Mr. Perfect, Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase and Randy Savage.

 

Content Listing

Disc 1 

Interview Part 1: Warrior's Back

Interview Part 2: Finding Wrestling

Match 1: Perry Jackson & Shawn O'Reilly vs. The Blade Runners – UWF, 11th April 1986

Interview Part 3: Move to WCW 

Match 2: The Dingo Warrior vs. World Heavyweight Champion “Gentleman” Chris Adams - WCCW. 8th August 1986

Interview Part 4: Arrival in WWE 

Match 3: Barry Horowitz vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF Wrestling Challenge. 7th November 1987

Match 4: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Steve Lombardi. WWF Superstars. 14^th November 1987

Interview Part 5: Getting Noticed 

Match 5: King Harley Race vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF in Boston, Ma. 5^th March 1988

Interview Part 6: Upgrading Warrior 

Match 6: Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF in Los Angeles, Ca. 15^th July 1988

Interview Part 7: Intercontinental Champion

Match 7: The Honky Tonk Man (C) with “Colonel” Jimmy Hart vs. The Ultimate Warrior for the Intercontinental Championship. WWF SummerSlam, 29^th August 1988

Match 8: The Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man with “Colonel” Jimmy Hart. WWF in Philadelphia, Pa. 17^th December, 1988

Interview Part 8: The Macho Man

Match 9: Randy “Macho Man” Savage © vs. The Ultimate Warrior © for the Undisputed Championship and Intercontinental Championship. WWF in Boston, Ma. 11^th February, 1989

Interview Part 9: Simply Ravishing

Match 10: “Ravising” Rick Rude © with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. WWF SummerSlam. 28^th August 1989

Interview Part 10: Building Momentum

Match 11: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Bob Bradley. WWF Prime Time Wrestling. 18^th September, 1989

Match 12: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Brian Costello WWF Prime Time Wrestling 25^th December 1989

Segment 1: Ultimate Warrior confronts Andre on Brother Love Show, WWF Superstars. July 29, 1989.

Interview Part 11: Memories of Andre

Match 13: Andre the “Ultimate” Giant with Bobby Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior © for the Intercontinental Championship. WWF at MSG. 28^th October 1989

Match 14: Andre the Giant with Bobby Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior © for the Intercontinental Championship. WWF Saturday Night's Main Event. 25^th November 1989

Disc 2

Interview Part 12: Leading to Toronto

Segment 2: Ultimate Warrior Promo "Crash the Plane". WWF Superstars, 10^th March 1990

Match 15: The Ultimate Warrior vs. Mr Perfect. WWF at MSG. 19^th March 1990

Interview Part 13: Running to the Ring

Match 16: Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Championship and Intercontinental Championship. WWF Wrestlemania VI. 1^st April 1990

Interview Part 14: Responsibilities as Champion.

Match 17: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF in Tokyo, Japan. 13^th April 1990

Match 18: “Ravishing” Rick Rude with Bobby Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior © for the WWF Championship. WWF Saturday Night's Main Event. 28^th July 1990

Match 19: “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase with Virgil vs. The Ultimate Warrior © for the WWF Championship. WWF The Main Event. 23^rd November, 1990.

Match 20: Sgt. Slaughter with General Adnan vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF in Huntsville, Alabama. 7^th January 2014.

Disc 3

Interview Part 15: New Direction

Match 21: “Macho King” Randy Savage with Sensational Sherri vs. The Ultimate Warrior in a Steel Cage Match, WWF at MSG, 21^st January 1991

Segment 3: Ultimate Warrior ends Brother Love's career. WWF Superstars. 2^nd March 1991

Interview Part 16: No Limitations.

Match 22: Randy Savage with Sensational Sherri vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF WrestleMania VIII

Interview Part 17: Into the Darkness

Segment 4: Ultimate Warrior on Paul Bearer's Funeral Parlour. WWF Superstars, 13^th April 1991

Match 23: The Undertaker with Paul Bearer vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF at Maple Leaf Garden. 2^nd June 1991

Interview Part 18: Returning

Segment 5: Gene Okerlund Interviews Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage. WWF Superstars 25^th July 1992

Interview Part 19: Ultimate Maniacs

Segment 6: “Riding on the Edge of a Lighting Bolt". WWF Superstars, 14^th November, 1992.

Match 24: Money Inc. with Jimmy Hart vs. Ultimate Maniacs for the WWF Tag Team Champions. WWF Saturday Night's Main Event. 14^th November, 1992

Interview Part 20: Reestablish

Segment 7: “Faster Than A Cheetah”. WWF Raw. 11^th March 1996

Match 25: Hunter Hearst Helmsley with Sable vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF WrestleMania XII 31^st March 1996

Interview Part 21: Warrior Confronts Goldust

Segment 8: Ultimate Warrior returns. WWF Raw. 8^th April 1996

Segment 9: Vince McMahon interviews Jerry “The King” Lawler and Ultimate Warrior. WWF Raw. 10^th June 1996

Match 26: Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Ultimate Warrior. WWF King of the Ring. 23^rd June 1996.

Interview Part 22: Going to WCW

Segment 10: Ultimate Warrior interrupts Hogan. WCW Nitro. 17^th August 1998

Interview Part 23: Repulsive

Segment 11: Ultimate Warrior promo. WCW Nitro. 26^th Otober 1998

Interview 24: The Right Story

Review 

I want to try and keep this review to how it would have been if I had posted it when I had originally intended, obviously in parts that is going to be difficult, as recent Warrior's untimely death no doubt changing the viewing experience of this three disc set. 

Disc One looks at Warrior's career between 1986 and 1989, chronicilling Warrior's time in UWF, WCCW and his early days in WWF. There's a total of 14 matches on the first disc, alongside 1 segment and the first 11 parts of the brand new interview conducted with Warrior. The interview sections lead nicely into the matches, giving a nice insight into both Warrior's personal and professional life, with talk of his early career being the most interesting as it's the least talked about, hearing Warrior talked about his training with Red Bastien and his teaming with Sting as The Bladerunners.  

 

The matches begin with The Bladerunners taking on Perry Jackson and Shawn O'Reilly, in a very quick squash, followed up by Dingo Warrior taking on Chris Adams in an awful match, it's clear that Warrior is very very green at this point. As Warrior becomes Ultimate in the WWF the squashes come thick and fast, with appearances on Wrestling Challenge and Superstars against Barry Horowitz and Steve Lombardi respectively, with both featuring invision promos, because why not? King Harley Race fairs a little better, bumping like a boss for Warrior in Boston, Massachusets, a Race not going for the cover off a Piledriver and bizarre finish let this bout down. A "Weasel Suit" match with Bobby Heenan is an entertaining contest, made even more so considering the age of the ATPW Hall of Famer, there is however a large amount of stalling throughout. It's then onto a pair of matches with The Honky Tonk Man with the Intercontinental Championship on the line, first the classic squash at SummerSlam 1988, before the pair engage in a longer contest in front of a half empty arena in Philadelphia, with Honky Tonk pulling out all the heel tactics in the book and the camera showing the fans any time there is a choke. A double title match with Randy Savage is the proto-type for a house show title match, the crowd absolutely loves it and that helps the match, which presents plenty of false finishes.

 The SummerSlam 1989 bout with Rick Rude is the highlight of the first disc, as the pair put on a classic over the Intercontinental Championship, with Warrior's comeback being superb. Seeing the crowd lose their shit over a diving double axe handle is also great. It's back to squash matches then with Warrior taking on Bob Bradley and Brian Costello in a pair of bouts from Prime Time Wrestling. A melo-dramatic confrontation with Andre the Giant on The Brother Love Show, is followed up by a pair of contest with Andre the "Ultimate" Giant. The first a very short bout from MSG, before a messy bout with a bizarre finish from Saturday Night's Main Event rounds off the disc.


Disc 2 houses just three interview parts, alongside six matches and one segment, with the interview focusing heavily on WrestleMania VI, leading the viewer through the build up and finishing with Warrior's review of the match. An interesting story about Warrior refusing to enter the arena on a cart, continues to build a picture of a man who truly loved his character and worked hard to create a mystique and excitement around it. It's intriguing that Warrior's interview is kept fairly positive throughout, with no discussion of Hulk Hogan's actions post to the match, or Hogan's comments regarding Warrior not being ready to have the torch passed to him. 

Kicking off the action, we get a crazy promo from Warrior off an episode of Superstars, aimed at Hulk Hogan. Just in case we weren't sure who he was talking about here, he finishes each sentence with "Hul Kogan". His intestity is comendable, but I have no idea what he was attempting to say. This is followed up by a disapointing clash with Mr. Perfect, a poorly booked affair judging Warrior's lack of selling ability, this bout also see's the longest camel clutch that I have ever seen. 

Making up for this match, the WrestleMania VI bout with Hulk Hogan is next, with all the build up, including a superb promo from Hogan, included. The characters work excellently together, with the pair managing to get pops off even the littlest things, the amount of rest holds does bring proceedings down slightly, but the finish is excellent. The crowd couldn't have loved this match more. A bout with Ted DiBiase in Japan is fascinating for the crowd reactions and isn't a bad match at all. A rematch with Rick Rude on Saturday Night's Main Event is another decent outing for the pair, but doesn't really live up to the SummerSlam bout. A second match against Ted DiBiase, this time from Main Event, trumps the first with Warrior pulling out a string of uncharecteristic moves such as a backslide and even a sunset flip. Warrior's come back is electric in this one. Unfortunately the disc can't keep up this strong run of matches, as a terrible bout with Sgt. Slaughter rounds of the set, although if you're into matches with lots of clotheslines and submission holds in the ropes for three minutes before anyone notices, this ones for you. 

Disc Three offers up the final ten parts of the interview, six matches and nine different segments. The interview covers a wide range of topics here including Warrior's feuds with Randy Savage and The Undertaker, as well as leaving and returning multiple times and his short tint in WCW. There is again a lot of postivity from Warrior throughout this disc, especially towards Randy Savage who it seems Warrior loved to pieces. The only time we see any real negativity from Warrior is based around his time in WCW, as he talks about WCW creative not capatilising on his debut, and says he hated just taking the money they gave him. In the closing part of the interview Warrior makes it seem as if we could have been getting a lot of Warrior related stuff in the near future, which was emotional to watch, an autobiography could have been fantastic. It would have been nice to hear more from Warrior on his relationship with Vince McMahon, unfortunately that isn't really touched upon here, as well as Warrior brushing over his use of steroids and no mention of the steroid scandal of the early 90's.

The matches start with decent cage match outing against Randy Savage from MSG, that is let down by a bizarre finish. Warrior attacking Sensational Sherri after the match is uncomfortable to watch. This disc is choc full of segments, kicking off with The Ultimate Warrior ending Brother Love's career by destroying his set on an episode of Superstars, as part of the build up to WrestleMania VII.

 That match follows as Warrior and Savage put on an absolute classic Mania bout, playing to both men's strengths, and with Savage putting over Warrior huge throughout. The finish might be disapointing, but the moment between Miss Elizabeth and Savage after the match is touching. Moving onto Warrior's fued with The Undertaker, an edition of the Funeral Parlour see's Paul Bearer on form on the stick, followed up by a clunky promo from Warrior. This is difficult to watch at the moment, whilst the commentary pulled me through it being unintentionally hilarious. Taker and Warrior then battle in Maple Leaf Gardens with the match getting cut short before it get's interesting. Quickly skimming over Warrior's first hiatus and return at WrestleMania VIII, it's onto Warrior's second feud with Savage, as the two cut electric promos on Superstars, building nicely to their SummerSlam 1992 bout, before being interuptted by Ric Flair and Mr. Perfect in a truly fantastic segment. Then we see the power of Warrior and Savage as The Ultimate Maniacs, as again the two cut excellent promos on another edition of Superstars, before taking Money Inc. in a passable tag team bout on Saturday Night's Main Event. Whilst the finish is dusty, it allows them to build to Warrior and Savage's bout with Ric Flair and Razor Ramon at Survivor Series 1992, that never actually happened, as Warrior once again decided to leave the company. We get the superb "Faster than a Cheetah" return vignette from Raw in 1996, followed up by the bizarre squash of Hunter Hearst Helmsley at WrestleMania XII, which is the true definition of a complete and utter burial.

 Vince McMahon interviewing Warrior and Goldust is noteworthy for Warrior flinging thinly veiled barbs at Vince and Goldust's awesome innuendos, a segment with Jerry Lawler is less entertaining. The final match of the set, see's Warrior squash Lawler at King of the Ring 1996, after Lawler spends his entrance directly insulting fans, in a promo laced with homophobia. 

To round off the disc we have two segments from Warrior's time in WCW, which really aren't great. Warrior's debut appearance on Nitro confronting Hulk Hogan has it's moments, but seems to go on foreeeevvvveeerrrrr, before him destroying Hogan, The Giant, Horace Hogan and Eric Bischoff after losing to Hogan on PPV makes little booking sense considering Warrior was leaving the company. But that's WCW for you. 

Overall, I found this set rather enjoyable, there are a number of very good matches with the likes of Rick Rude, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, that make sitting through dire bouts with Sgt. Slaughter and Andre the Giant bearable, whilst the squash matches highlight how the booking of the Ultimate Warrior worked so well. It is a shame however that the SummerSlam 1992 bout with Savage isn't included in it's entirety. The crowd throughout almost all of the matches is completely into everything Warrior does which really helps a lot of the bouts keep your attention. The majority of the promos and segments are awesome, especially the ones with Randy Savage, with the two characters insensity really bouncing nicely off each other. The interview is fairly basic, and whilst it does have it's moments, there isn't a lot of new information revealed, but it's very endearing to watch Warrior talk about his character because it's clear it meant an awful lot to him and he put an awful lot into creating it. I'd reccomend, you go and get this set, even if you have the WWE Network, as it's really well put together and the non-PPV's matches and segments might take a while to make it. Really a must-have set in my opinion. 

Top Three Matches From Ultimate Warrior: Ultimate Collection

1. Randy Savage with Sensational Sherri vs. The Ultimate Warrior. WWF WrestleMania VIII

2. Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Championship and Intercontinental Championship. WWF Wrestlemania VI. 1^st April 1990

3.  “Ravising” Rick Rude © with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan vs. The Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. WWF SummerSlam. 28^th August 1989