Blu-Ray Review: Owen Hart - Hart of Gold (Documentary & Match Compilation)

WWE's Owen Hart - Hart of Gold is out now on DVD and Blu-Ray, available from www.wwedvd.co.uk and all reputable home video stockists. The two disc Blu-Ray features The Hart of Gold Documentary looking at Owen Hart's life and career, as well as a number of stand-alone stories and matches. The Blu-Ray edition houses 21 of Hart's best matches from across his career in Stampede, WWF and WCW, with contests including the likes of Shawn Michaels, The Hart Foundation, Edge, Mr. Perfect and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

owen - hart of gold blu-ray match listing

Match 1 - Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship - Viet Cong Express #1 vs. Owen Hart (C) - Stampede (Calgary, Alberta, Canada - 5th December 1986)

Match 2 - Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship - Owen Hart (C) vs. Makhan Singh - Stampede (6th May 1988 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

Match 3 - Singles - George South vs. The Blue Blazer - WWF Wrestling Challenge #161 (11th September 1988 - Hartford, Connecticut, USA) 

Match 4 - Singles - Mr. Perfect vs. The Blue Blazer - WWF on MSG Network (8th May 1989 - East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA)

Match 5 - Singles - Mark Kyle vs. Owen Hart - WCW World Championship Wrestling (16th March 1991 - Atlanta, Georgia, USA) 

Match 6 - WWF Intercontinental Championship - Owen Hart vs. Shawn Michaels - WWF Wrestling Spotlight (28th August 1993 - Alexandria Bay, New York, USA)

Match 7 - Singles - Owen Hart vs. Bret "Hitman" Hart - WWF WrestleMania X (20th March 1993 - New York City, New York, USA) 

Match 8 - King of the Ring 1994 Final - Razor Ramon vs. "The Rocket" Owen Hart - WWF King of the Ring 1994 (19th June 1994 - Baltimore, Maryland, USA)

Match 9 - WWF World Heavyweight Championship Lumberjack - Owen Hart vs. Bret "Hitman" Hart (C) - WWF Superstars #414 Taping (17th August 1994 - Portland, Maine, USA)

Match 10 - Exhibition - Owen Hart vs. Nick Barberri - WWF WrestleMania XI Public Workout (28th March 1995 - New York City, New York, USA) 

Match 11 - WWF World Tag Team Championship - Owen Hart & Yokozuna w/James E. Cornette & Mr. Fuji vs. The Allied Powers - WWF In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks (23rd July 1995 - Nashville, Tennessee, USA)

Match 12 - WWF World Heavyweight Championship #1 Contendership - Owen Hart w/Jim Cornette vs. Shawn Michaels - WWF In Your House 6: Rage in a Cage (18th February 1996 - Louisville, Kentucky, USA) 

Match 13 - Singles - Owen Hart w/Clarence Mason vs. Mankind w/Paul Bearer - WWF Monday Night RAW #191 (30th December 1996 - Albany, New York, USA) 

Match 14 - WWF European Championship Tournament Final - Owen Hart vs. The British Bulldog - WWF Monday Night RAW #199 (26th February 1997 - Berlin, Germany)

Match 15 - WWF Intercontinental Championship - Owen Hart w/Bret Hart & The British Bulldog vs. Rocky Maivia (C) - WWF RAW is WAR #207 (28th April 1997 - Omaha, Nebraska, USA)

Match 16 - Ten Man Tag Team - Goldust, "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock, The Legion of Doom & "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Hart Foundation w/Diana Smith - WWF In Your House 16 - Canadian Stampede (6th July 1997 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 

Match 17 - WWF European Championship - Owen Hart vs. TAFKA Goldust with Luna - WWF RAW is WAR #244 (20th January 1998 - Davis, California, USA)

Match 18 - Hart Family Dungeon - Owen Hart vs. Ken Shamrock - WWF In Your House 23: Fully Loaded (26th July 1998 - Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

Match 19 - Singles - Edge vs. Owen Hart - WWF In Your House 24: Breakdown (27th September 1998 - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Match 20 - Singles - The Red Rooster vs. The Blue Blazer - WWF on MSG Network (30th December 1988 - New York City, New York, USA)

Match 21 - King of the Ring 1994 Semi-Final - "The Rocket" Owen Hart vs 1-2-3 Kid (19th June 1994 - Baltimore, Maryland, USA)

disc one

documentary

A highly anticipated release, this documentary had to hit a home run and the 65 minutes presented here did just that. From the opening when a variety of talking heads discuss Owen Hart's personality through to the closing moment discussing his untimely death and legacy on the industry this is an entertaining watch, for both fans of the WWF in the late 80's and 90's and newer fans looking to find out more about Hart. The set flies along at decent pace, making stops on all the major landmarks within The Rocket's career, mainly sticking to Hart's tenure within the WWF, whilst skimming over his time spent outside the US. The film keeps things fairly postitive with lots of praise for the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion as both an in-ring performer and a human being, with hardly a bad word said about him, however we don't shy away from times when Hart struggled with the company, including his initial run as The Blue Blazer and when the film reaches Hart's death in 1999 it's time to reach for the tissues.

At various times throughout the documentary, one or two interviewees tell stand-alone stories about their time spent with Owen, these are usually based on the fun ribs that he would pull on his colleagues. Alongside these there's a strong variety of interviewees with a large contingent of Hart Family member involved, as well as Hart's comtempories like Lex Luger, Mick Foley and Edge and more recent performers that Hart inspired like Chris Jericho, Beth Phoenix and Daniel Bryan, which allows the film to give a strong overall of how Owen was viewed. Obviously, the one major name missing from the interview is Owen's wife, Martha, as he is quite often described as family man throughout, but we never get the chance to hear just how good a husband and father he was directly.

stories

As well as the stories that are told within the documentary, there is 45 minutes of extra stories included within the first disc, ranging from 30 seconds, up to 2 and a half minutes. A variety of faces tell a mixture of tales of either their personal memories of Owen, or just exactly how he effected their career. This seems like a new feature WWE is including along with it's documentaries (it was also used on Sting's recent WWE release), potentially as a way to make the home video releases more appealing, seeing as most of the documentary find their way onto the WWE Network within twelve months. Whilst there's no crazy revelations to be found here, there's plenty a funny story about Owen ribbing one of his colleagues and even his boss. Younger performers also offer a great look at just how far Hart's influence has traveled within the business, with former WWE Women's Champion Beth Phoenix in particular standing out as someone you might not initially associate with Hart.

matches

A technical showcase to start as Hart faces Viet Cong Express #1 in a lengthy first bout. It's clear that he still has a long way to go here, but after just a few years in the industry it's clear that Hart has a raw potential. While the footage is a little shaky, a bout with Makhan Singh prooves to be anything but as the two put on a rock solid David vs. Goliath style match. Under the Blue Blazer mask, Hart has a technically sound contest with Mr. Perfect, but at this point it's clear that he's being held back by the WWF style, as well as his position within the company.

After losing the mask, Hart shows chemistry in the ring with Shawn Michaels over the WWF Intercontinental Championship, in front of a hot Alexandria Bay crowd, in a match that is let down by a poor finish. A WrestleMania classic follows, as in the first great match of the set, Hart puts on a clinic with his brother Bret. Considered on of the best matches in the history of WWE's centre piece event, this is a technical and storytelling masterpiece. The finish tops of the long bout perfectly as the action builds to a crescendo and whips the crowd into a frenzy.

There's nothing wrong with the 1994 King of the Ring Final with Razor Ramon, but for me it's The Rocket's coronation ceremony that was the real money moment as he proclaims himself to be the King of Harts. A curious Lumberjack match with Bret Hart over the WWF World Heavyweight Championship is included, instead of the more famous Steel Cage match from SummerSlam. The match features the brothers stringing together great strings of action with ease, but definitely lacks the big feel of the bout that proceeded it on the disc. A squash match with Nick Barberri is surrounded by two strong promos, but seems mainly to have been included because it took place in the unique location of Times Square!

disc two

matches

Disc Two begins with a decent tag team clash, as Owen helps to carry Yokozuna against The Allied Powers in a match over the WWF World Tag Team Championships. A second contest with Shawn Michaels manages to trump the first one, and provides this set with another world class match. An electric Louisville crowd is treated to some brilliant wrestling, that makes the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (the two were fighting to become #1 Contender) look amazing. A different for style for The King of Harts is next, with a well-done brawl with Mankind, with lots of action taking place around the ringside area and the commentary team constantly pushing it as "Hard Man Contest"

A glorious European style match to crown the first holder of the WWF European Championship is next, as Hart faces The British Bulldog. The developing relationship between the two is handled very well, with both men bringing little touches to their game that manage to keep the story building as the match goes on. Hart then helps a still-green and floundering Rocky Maivia to a decent bout over the WWF Intercontinental Championship.

After the documentary spent a good chunk of time talking about this ten-man tag team match I was glad to see it included in full here. Owen teams with the rest of The Hart Foundation against a team lead by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in a physical match with a partisan Calgary crowd. Whilst Owen spends a long time outside of the contest, his story throughout the bout is the glue that holds it together as the narrative twists and turns and the action begins to heat up. For me, the only thing that let's this downis an over-booked finish, but even with that it's a brilliant WWE main event and a welcome change of pace on the disc.

A goofy contest with TAFKA Goldust (dressed as Triple H) isn't a favourite of mine, but I did get a kick out of the segment with D-Generation X and Sgt. Slaughter that immediately follows it. An utterly ridiculous "match" with Ken Shamrock takes place within the Hart Family Dungeon and is certainly one of the more unique matches WWE has ever put on. The final match on the main feature sees Hart opposite a young Edge, with the two putting a pleasant rookie vs. veteran style contest, with the younger performer showing signs of what would become a Hall of Fame career.

blu-ray exclusive special features

matches

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Only two matches are included as Blu-Ray exclusives, but the first one is a lengthy encounter with The Red Rooster with Owen under The Blue Blazer gimmick. The pair struggle to hold the crowd for the allotted time, but there's still plenty of nice back and forth wrestling on display here. A sprint with the 1-2-3 Kid on the other hand is almost an indy style "get your shit in" sprint, going just a few minutes but managing to produce more thrills than some matches do in double the time.

tributes

Also included as Blu-Ray exclusives are a number of the tribute videos that were filmed for Monday Night RAW #313, the night after Owen's passing. There's 42 seperate videos in total ranging from 20 seconds from Gangrel, up to almost 4 minutes for Triple H & Chyna. Major tributes include the aforementioned Triple H & Chyna, as well as Jeff Jarrett, Debra, Hardcore Holly and Edge who's instant reactions to Hart's passing are genuinely upsetting to watch at times. A worthy inclusion in my opinion, with a cool cross-section of WWF's employees at the time being involved, you get a great look at just how much everyone in the company was effected at that time.

finally...

Blu-Ray Rating - 7.08/10

This would be a very good addition to any wrestling fans' home video collection, with a strong documentary as the main feature, backed up by a mixture of brilliant wrestling matches and intriguing, unique bouts. I feel even the newest of WWE fans would find this release to be a fascinating watch, as Owen Hart appears to have been just as much of a larger than life character off-screen as he was on it. There is, of course, universal themes that would make the documentary portion interesting to pretty much everyone, as the story of Hart's struggle to reach the top of his industry and his love of family can be understood by all. 

Get your grubby mits on a copy of this, whether you're a weather beaten fan from the 1990s looking for a nostalgia trip (even then I bet you there's some matches you won't have seen on here) or someone who's only just started to delve into the world of pro wrestling, you won't regret it. 

Guest Article: Owen Hart and the WWE Hall of Fame (Sean Taylor-Richardson)

This time of year is synonymous with expectation and curiosity. As 2016 draws near, 
hardcore and casual fans alike turn their attention toward WrestleMania. As some reserve tickets and hotels, others delight in fantasy booking the card for the biggest show of the year. But it’s not just Mania that intrigues enquiring minds: the candidates for the Hall of Fame are also a hot topic of debate. Several interesting names have been bandied about for Texas but one star that is supposedly in contention for a Lone Star State induction really caught my attention: Owen Hart.

I've had a few favourite wrestlers down the years: Steve Austin in the throes of the Attitude Era, Triple H in the WWE’s golden year of 2000 and more recently, the dear friend of ATPW, CM Punk. But Owen was the first. When Sky was first installed in my home in 1994, I couldn't wait to set my eyes on the WWF product everyone at school had spoken of so much. The main feud at that time was Bret vs. Owen, the battle of the Hart family. I joined the programme just after Owen had won the King of the Ring and was gunning for Bret’s World title. Whilst my younger brother gravitated towards Bret and his conventional babyface styling, it was the arrogant and petulant Owen whose corner I backed. The first time that wrestling graduated from mild interest to genuine passion was at that year’s Summerslam: Owen vs Bret in the blue barred cage. A forgotten classic that should be sought out on the WWE Network , this match is the reason I'm still watching the sport 21 years later. Owen lost but it didn't matter; his energetic, crisp ring style and devious ways had me hooked. For me, he was the star of the show…

From the best to the worst. The lowest moment of wrestling fandom also involved Owen. In the early hours of a May Monday morning, I had taped the live screening of Over the Edge ’99. At 3.30pm, I was departing school, anticipating the events of the show I was to watch that night. Owen, revisiting his early career character, the Blue Blazer, had a match for the IC title and, goofy gimmick notwithstanding, I was thrilled that he was likely to be the winner. Any time Owen won a title (it didn't happen often enough in my eyes), I was excited. Then I overheard two older lads at the gate discussing an incident they had heard on the morning news. It involved the WWF. All I heard of the exchange was “It was actually real though and now he’s dead... it was Bret Hart’s real brother”.

This was before smart phones so I had no way of instantly fact checking this. I didn't know the boys well so didn't press them for further information; instead I condensed the 30 minute trip home into just 15, running large chunks of the journey in a daze, already formulating morbid guesses about what I would soon see on my television screen. As soon as I got in, I hurriedly played the video. When the pre-tape for the IC title match ran, I felt sick. Things soon got worse as Jim Ross, a hushed, unsettled crowd behind him, talked the television audience over what had happened off camera. Soon it was confirmed: Owen was dead and I, like many fans, was devastated.

Years later and the talk is of a HOF induction in 2016, with the recent WWE DVD treatment intensifying this oft-repeated rumour. Now there is no doubt a romantic argument to be made that Owen is destined for this recognition: dying as he did in 1999 means that many newer fans will have never seen him wrestle (I certainly regret having never seen him perform at a live show) and the HOF would shine a light in his impressive back catalogue. Hart did stellar work for Stampede, New Japan and even wrestled on World of Sport tapings here in the UK, but it is his WWF run that is most easily revisited. The two big Bret Hart matches of 1994 stand out but I would offer these classics too: vs Shawn Michaels (In Your House 6, 1996), vs British Bulldog (Raw, 1997), vs Triple H (Wrestlemania 14) and vs Ken Shamrock (Summerslam ’98). His efforts in tag team wars are also recommended: the Canadian Stampede main event was when his star shone brightest but check out his performances in the opener of Survivor Series ’96 and a 1997 Raw dream match when he and Bulldog faced HBK and Steve Austin. To see highlights of these matches replayed on Raw and to hear a crowd chant his name in unison would be special; he was booked mostly as a heel during his WWF run, and 1994 aside never escaped the midcard, so it was rare to see his work openly praised and applauded. Maybe the Hall of Fame could correct that.

As well as being talented in-ring, he was loved outside of it. Widely regarded as one of the best ribbers in wrestling history, here was a man who would deliberately highjack dull house show matches with comical over-selling, replacing his entire move set with a cartoonish karate chop (complete with loud hiyah). Here was a guy who, on arrival to a hotel, would take the guise of the front desk clerk and phone Jim Duggan’s room, calling him out and challenging him to a fight in the lobby. His thirst for pranks was unquenchable and this endeared him all the more to the locker room, who, as much as the fan base, would love to immortalise one of their favourite fallen brothers.

Bret would surely induct, sharing rare stories of his younger brother’s exploits as only he can, while Owen’s widow, Martha Hart, and children would step on stage to accept the cherished HOF ring. Only they wouldn’t. And that is the problem with this whole scenario.

As much as Owen deserves the Hall of Fame and as much as the wrestling community craves it as a wonderful wrestling moment, as much as need this as closure to a horrible chapter in our collective fandoms, can it ever be seen as a sign of respect to the man if his wife vehemently objects to it? Owen’s sister, Diana, has gone on record as saying that she wants Owen to be inducted and that it should happen, despite Martha’s objections. She asserts that we all lost Owen. Not just Martha, all of us. Whilst I understand that sentiment to an extent, surely the opinion of his wife means more than the views of the rest of us? I mean, personally, I don’t blame WWE for what happened to Owen that day but it doesn’t matter what I think. His wife has never forgiven the company for the tragedy and that’s what matters. Owen was a devout family man. He didn’t drink with the boys after a show; he saved his money to provide for his wife and kids. He rejected a storyline that would have seen him become romantically involved with Debra McMichael for fear of how it may impact his family (urban legend has it that the cancellation of that proposed storyline led to the fateful return of the Blue Blazer gimmick). All evidence suggests that he would want his wife’s wishes to be honoured. Therefore, wrestling sentimentality must stand to the side; her will must be done.

Owen was my first favourite wrestler. Maybe he will always be my true favourite. As much as I would warm to hear the roar of the crowd in response to the HOF announcement, as much as I would smile to see his brother stand on stage, recounting tales of their greatest adventures, the whole occasion would be tainted unless it is given the blessing of his widow. Until that happens, the best way to honour Owen’s legacy would be to respect her wishes. Maybe a talent that big and a man that special don’t need the HOF ring anyway…

WWE Attitude Era Vol. 2 DVD Review

WWE's Attitude Era Vol. 2 is out now on DVD (There's a Blu Ray version too), available from www.wwedvd.co.uk. The three disc set features twenty nine matches and five segments from the Attitude Era, from between 1997 and 2000, with a interviews from a number of the era's stars interspersed throughout. The set includes matches featuring the likes of Shawn Michaels, The Hardy Boyz, Chris Jericho, The Legion of Doom, The Undertaker and more.

     Unlike the original Attitude Era set, Vol. 2 takes the form of a match compilation, originally presented by the dull flannel that is Michael Cole, whilst a series of interviews are placed in between the matches. Sometimes the interviews connect nicely with the following match, such as Sunny talking about managing LOD 2000 before a LOD 2000 bout or Mark Henry introducing a series of vignettes demonstrating the "Sexual Chocolate" gimmick. However, there is a number of the interviews that feel very thrown together, as if these are parts of interviews that WWE Home Video simply had knocking around from previous sets, such as Chris Jericho talking about his WWE debut, after we've just seen a Chris Jericho match on the set and a completely random story from Ron Simmons. There's also a real lack of star power in terms of interviews, with short clips of The Rock and Chris Jericho the only real appearances from major stars, and whilst it is nice to hear from guys like The Godfather and X-Pac, having the majority of the main event stars missing does give this set a slightly second rate feel. Throw into the mix the random clippings of interviews and it's difficult to feel that this set has been given the love and attention that it needed. The presentation really let's it down.

Mike Tyson - Not on this set (but part of the press pack, so there)

The Matches and Segments

The set kicks off with a Bikini Contest from the 1997 Slammy Awards, with Sable, Marlena and The Funkettes, to get over that the Attitude Era was all about frustrated teenage boys. Vince McMahon on commentary is hilarious with quips such as "She is looking mighty fine" being the pick of the bunch. Luckily, we get some wrestling next as Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels battle on a December 1997 episode of Raw. It's a grudge match style bout, happening a mere month after the Montreal Screwjob, with some great wrestling sequences and Hart's offence looking superb, this is a decent TV match and a good way to start the wrestling content. The New Age Outlaws take on the team of Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie on a January 1998 Raw in a basic and dull brawl, that is almost saved by the everything going nuts after the match.

 Strangely, the sets chronological order is broken as we jump back to Royal Rumble (surely helping the case that this set was thrown together) as Rocky Maivia and Ken Shamrock tangle in a decent Intercontinental Championship match. Raw in April teases Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon with a shit tonne of stalling, it never delivers what it promises but the swerve is still entertaining to watch. A few weeks later Triple H teams with The New Age Outlaws against LOD 2000 and Owen Hart in a fun six man tag, that's structured to play to the strengths of each man in the match. Again, everything Owen does looks flawless. 

Jerry Lawler talks about breasts.

     June segment from Raw see's D Generation X head to New York to promote SummerSlam in an uncomfortable segment that is chock-full of racist and sexist verbiage. Maybe not the best segment to include at time when the WWE (and specifically Triple H) have had claims of racism sent their way. A month later, Mankind and "Kane" battle to become Number One Contender to the WWF Championship, complete with Kane's red lighting! It's quick and swervy with an infamous finish, one of the iconic moments of the Attitude Era here. Just as iconic as this are Sable's breasts, which are on display in a bikini contest against Jacqueline from Fully Loaded. Jerry Lawler presents the contest, acting in the role of 13 year old boy seeing a breast for the first time. 

Val Venis teams with Taka Michonoku to take on KaiEnTai's Dick Togo and Sho Funaki, which quickly descends into madness on an August Raw. On the same show in September, Steve Austin and Ken Shamrock work an acceptable TV main event over the WWF Championship, with a hot crowd that is let down by a dodgy finish. A week later on Raw, Sgt. Slaughter faces Al Snow in a Bootcamp match with Al Snow's contract on the line and whilst the commentators Shane McMahon and Jim Cornette have no idea of the rules and Sgt. Slaughter is horrendously out of shape, Snow manages to carry him to a tolerable match, with a number of fun spots.

Road Dogg shouts words at Owen Hart

 

A week later, a six man four corners match is on offer as Edge, Gangrel, Jeff Jarrett, Droz, Marc Mero and D'Lo Brown battle to become Number One Contender to the European Championship. The match is enjoyable, with a lot going on and allows a number of on-going stories to progress, but the crowd and D'Lo Brown's bumping ability are questionable. The bout is also a little short to fully show off all six men. On a November Raw, X-Pac get's a shot at The Rock's WWF Championship and while there is about as much doubt today as there was then as to who would walk out the winner, this is still a well put together match with a solid swerve finish. The opener from In Your House 26: Rock Bottom see's The Godfather and Val Venis team up to take on Mark Henry and D'Lo Brown. The match lacks any real pace or notable offence, but is entirely watchable, helped along by how over D'Lo Brown is!

Triple H vs. Edge from Raw in January 1998 is an extended squash match. Most likely included because of Edge's later star power, it's good for the two and a half minutes it lasts. Kane and Steve Austin main event a March Raw, in a bout that attempts to tell a decent story, but struggles because Kane refuses to sell at all. There's a couple of big spots and appearance from the then "Big Nasty" Paul Wight, as highlights. Two weeks later, Billy Gunn challenges Hardcore Holly for the Hardcore Championship. It's a good representation of the Hardcore division with plenty of random weapon shots, alongside one silly table spot. There's way too much focus on Jim Ross' stupid separate commentary table.

X-Pac - Has A Sex Tape with Chyna

On Raw in April, Paul Wight takes on The Rock and Triple H in a handicap match main event, which is much more of a segment than a match. The booking of Wight makes him look like a beast and the pop for Steve Austin entrance is HUGE! A week later, The Big Boss Man is supposed to face Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship. The match doesn't go to plan, but what is provided is an awkward and plodding title contest. Five days later on Shotgun Saturday Night, Edge & Christian go up against The Hardy Boyz in an enhancement match. There's some suspect booking, with Gangrel at ringside, but a superb finish makes this one worthwhile.

The Rock and The Undertaker tussle in a Casket Match on an May Raw, although again this is more of a segment with wrestling in it, than an actual match. There's interruption for a backstage brawl and a tonnes of interference, with a decent story peering through. It was strange to see the Casket match gimmick used in such a throwaway manner to build other feuds. A surprisingly entertaining contest comes in the form of Jeff Jarrett defending the Intercontinental Championship on a July episode of Sunday Night Heat. A quick match, with sound wrestling and good flow, it's a shame about the super silly finish. A Tag Team Championship match pitting X-Pac & Kane against The Acolytes is a perfectly booked, yet basic tag team match, played out in front of a red hot crowd. It also see's Kane talk for himself for the very first time, without his special talky stick.

Papa Shango Kama Mustafa The Godfather

Mark Henry's Sexual Chocolate days are represented through a series of promos and vignettes. These were straight up embarrassing to watch, as Henry revealed such lovely nuggets about his past as losing his virginity to his sister, aged 8 and that he was still having sex with his sister, I honestly don't understand the logic of this booking. Was it simply to embarrass Henry? Next up, there's more Henry action (literally) as he spends Valentines' Night with Mae Young in a hotel. How on earth do you review that? Luckily, wrestling returns as Chris Jericho and Tazz chase Kurt Angle's European Championship on a March 2000 Raw, unluckily the bout goes for only just over three minutes, and whilst all cut strong promos before the match, the match just isn't long enough for these three to reach their full potential.

Jericho and Angle are back on a May Raw with Jericho defending the European Championship. Angle's pre-match promo is a gem, but the match is not the strongest these two have had, whilst the wrestling is crisp, there is nothing resembling substance or drama to be found here. The next month on Heat, Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero have a similar problem with timing, as whilst there are a number of cool looking moves, this match isn't given any real time to get going. There is also a genuinely shit finish. WWF's style storytelling suits a mixed tag team match, pitting The Rock & Lita against Kurt Angle & Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, main eventing an August Smackdown much better. The bout allows the Triple H-Stephanie-Angle love triangle storyline to progress, whilst pushing the Triple H vs. Angle vs. Rock for the upcoming PPV. Rock and Angle also manage to fit in some nice wrestling, whilst Lita is elevated from appearing in the main event, as are The Hardy Boyz appearing later on!

Frilly shirts and sunglasses in doors. The Brood were cool.

A truly awful Women's Championship match sees Lita defend against Jacqueline and Ivory on a September Sunday Night Heat. Lita is extremely over with the crowd, but this short, sloppy, botch-laden match does little show off why. Things continue on this downward spiral, as strangely we jump back to a June Raw to witness Gerald Briscoe and Crash Holly clash over the Hardcore Championship in a silly silly silly match. The King of the Ring PPV witness' more of Gerald Brisco's antics, as he takes on Pat Patterson in the infamous Evening Gown match. I don't think I'll ever be able to remove these images from my brain. Thank fuck the Hardcore title is gone and shall never ever return!

Another mixed tag bout rounds of the set, as The Rock and Lita team up again to take on Triple H and Trish Stratus to main event a July Raw. It's a little on the short side for a TV main event these days, but is still a lot of fun to watch, being well booked and contains a saucy finish. Even one loves a saucy finish!

Finally...

 

The Rock is the biggest name to get interviewed for this set.

 

     If you were an avid viewer of WWE between 1997 and 2000 this set could act as a nice little nostalgia trip, reliving a handful of iconic moments, whilst being remembering some that you had forgotten about. However, this set didn't do much for me personally, it's quite clearly chucked together from old interviewers and doesn't attempt to follow a chronology or any other discernible pattern. There also isn't a single match on here that I'd recommend going out of your way to watch and whilst the majority are at least watchable, there's also Briscoe vs. Patterson which no one should ever have to watch. Approach this set with caution.