DVD Review: 1997: Dawn Of The Attitude

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 450 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 3
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: October 2 2017

(Thanks to Fetch Publicity for arranging this review.)

When analysing the history of WWE, previously the WWF (and the WWWF before that), a pivotal year is 1997. During that time, business was way down, and the company lagged behind WCW in almost every key area. However, a revolution was happening on-screen, and years of promoting wrestling to please the kids and bringing the families was being slowly replaced by a rebellious product which focused on entertainment via strong language, sexuality, bloody violence and more mature themes to the storylines. This would eventually lead to a massive boom period for the WWF and for wrestling in general, with 1998-2001 being the company's most successful years in history. Seriously, the word "ass" and the ever-so-frequent use of it made the WWF millions.

But most of this was still to come when 1997 began. At that time, traits of Attitude were being gradually introduced (Steve Austin swearing and flipping people off, slightly more violent matches involving the likes of Mankind, the sexual nature of Goldust's "psychological" tactics, and the infamous "gun" angle involving Austin breaking into Brian Pillman's home, during which Pillman said "fuck" live on the air, which almost got the WWF kicked off the USA Network), but it was still marketed as a family-friendly show. Throughout the year things would change, and as 1997 came to a close, the "new" WWF had arrived. A few weeks into 1998, Mike Tyson came on board to help promote WrestleMania, and subsequent angles along with other plotlines would bring about the success that Attitude is most remembered for.

This DVD is intended to provide an overview of that year. A round-table hosted by Renee Young (who is very good in her role as host here), the discussion involves Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, The Godfather, Ron Simmons and Kane as they reminisce and reflect on key events from the year within the WWF and, in some cases, their own careers. After some brief introductions, Young breaks down pivot points such as the rise of Steve Austin, the evolution of the Three Faces Of Foley, the Nation Of Domination, DX, Montreal and the edgier content in general. There are also smaller sections devoted to the likes of the divas (watching some of these clips is bizarre when compared to how WWE treat the females today) and presentation aspects such as the new Raw stage (the Titan Tron, which debuted on March 10 1997).

The tone is relaxed with plenty of wisecracks and a fair few amusing stories. If you're hoping for a ton of revelations, however, then this won't suffice. Obviously, the fact that this is a WWE production means that the tone does not stray too far from the party line (indeed, WCW is only mentioned in passing, despite their dominance in the Monday night ratings providing the greatest catalyst for change within the product, and ECW isn't mentioned at all, despite being a major influence on WWF Attitude). In fact, although the likes of Shawn occasionally touch upon the way things were, no official reason is ever really given as to why the WWF completely transformed its product. If you'd never heard the background details and relied solely on this DVD, then you'd assume that Vince McMahon decided to change the presentation of WWF programming for the hell of it.

This is still very enjoyable, though. The hour-long running time of the main feature flies back, and it comes across as a feel-good trip down memory lane. As noted, there are plenty of laughs to be had, and some intriguing anecdotes relating to how certain performers reacted to key moments. For instance, with the exception of the main players - Bret Hart, Shawn and Vince - we never really hear what the WWF wrestlers at the time thought about the Montreal Screwjob, so it's cool to get some different perspectives here. It's also cool to hear some insight on Shotgun Saturday Night which, when originally launched, was completely different from the likes of Superstars and Wrestling Challenge, and provided the first true look at what the WWF would be like with risqué elements incorporated into the branding of the show. So, this is still an enjoyable look back at a crucial year in WWF history, but just don't expect it to be as thorough a breakdown of behind-the-scenes events as Jim Cornette's Timeline storytelling with Kayfabe Commentaries was (and this, by the way, was an absolutely hilarious production and features the often foul-mouthed Cornette at his very best, so it's well worth checking out).

The rest of the DVD comprises matches from 1997 and a few angles. It doesn't appear as if WWE has gone down the route of choosing "unreleased" matches here; the second bout on this collection is the only one to have never been previously released. This means that there are a few glaring omissions, as I will explain. Nevertheless, the match selection provides a fine demonstration of how much the WWF changed in 1997, which is the main purpose of the DVD, and there are some spellbinding battles and exciting moments throughout discs two and three.

The first match is a bout that few would associate with Attitude: it's Sid vs. Shawn Michaels from Royal Rumble 1997 and, though it's no classic, it's enjoyable enough. It's also bizarre that more people attended this Rumble than they did for any WCW show, despite WCW destroying the WWF at this point in terms of business. Then, it's onto a hidden gem between Bret Hart and Mankind from Shotgun Saturday Night (one of the most intriguing shows ever when you consider the context of when it originally aired and in what form), along with a fantastic Raw clash between Owen Hart and British Bulldog to crown the first European Champion.

Next is a Steel Cage clash between Sid and Bret for the WWF Title just six days before WrestleMania 13, which is most notable for Bret's post-match tirade (during which the word "bullshit" made the airwaves, uncensored, more than once, at a time when kids were still the WWF's target audience). A humorous Owen acceptance speech for a Slammy Award that he didn't even win is followed by one of the greatest WWF/WWE matches ever, an incredible Submission match between Bret and Steve Austin. This is the match that featured the famous double-turn for Hart and Austin, and it's the match that some could argue reversed the company's long-term fortunes.

The two clash again in a Street Fight on Raw, which is more angle than match. By this time, the tone of the WWF product was changing, which is underlined by the next two parts involving Mankind. One is a gripping and emotional interview with Jim Ross (which introduced the world to Dude Love), and the other is a hard-hitting King Of The Ring final match against Hunter Hearst Helmsley, who had yet to evolve into the de-generate known as Triple H. Disc two ends with Bret Hart addressing his Canadian compatriots on Raw at the height of the anti-American angle which was a company first for specific crowds reacting to certain performers in a particular way (I bet WWE wishes they didn't have to put up with this so often nowadays).

The first two matches of disc three are familiar to collectors: Dude Love's debut alongside Austin against Owen and Bulldog, and a six-man Flag match (Bret, Owen & Bulldog vs. Austin, Dude & The Undertaker) which has been released far too many times. If WWE had to reuse a match from this rivalry, the Canadian Stampede top-liner would have been ideal. Following this is Shawn vs. Undertaker from Ground Zero, a forgotten brawl which has only been released a couple of times on DVD. That being said, at the risk of contradicting myself, their subsequent Hell In A Cell match was a ground-breaking classic, and it really should have been here for historical purposes.

It's disappointing that the DVD doesn't include either of the superb Bret vs. Undertaker matches from that year, but we do get the infamous Bulldog vs. Shawn showdown from One Night Only, as well as Austin's first Stunner on Vince McMahon, and the promo DX cut the night after the first HIAC match, which included footage of the Curtain Call and a subtle (okay, not so subtle) acknowledgement of backstage politics within the company.

By Survivor Series, the transformation was almost complete, evidenced here by Kane's debut match in a stunning scrap against Mankind. But it's the notorious Bret-Shawn main event featuring that double-cross (and Vince's "Bret Screwed Bret" promo, which isn't shown here) which would really trigger the Austin-McMahon rivalry (although I still maintain that this was unintentional), which would carry the company throughout 1998 and 1999 and contribute greatly to the boom period of the Attitude Era.

Austin vs. Rock from In Your House: DX is the last proper match, and though it's short, it's a great example of just how over Austin was, as he prepared to truly break through the glass ceiling and take his place as the WWF's main man. The DVD ends with two angles which can also be found on the Raw 15th Anniversary DVD: Sable wearing a potato sack and removing it to reveal, well, not very much (no, the kids weren't the target audience anymore!), and a Shawn-HHH "match" which is entertaining, though it ultimately buries the European Title that they are supposed to be battling for. Mind you, at least it wasn't the WWF Championship; 13 months later, WCW would learn what happens when you make a mockery of a World Title in the Fingerpoke Of Doom match between Kevin Nash and Hollywood Hulk Hogan.

Overall, Dawn Of The Attitude is plenty of fun, and does a decent job at highlighting the intriguing transition period between the kid-friendly New Generation and the adult-orientated Attitude Era. If you're looking for hard-hitting revelations or a true study into the WWF business practices of 1997, then you will be disappointed, but plenty of fun stories with a relaxed tone to the group discussion, combined with memorable matches and moments to prop the analysis of 1997 up, leads to an enjoyable DVD set that is worth watching.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10 - Good

DVD Preview: 1997: Dawn Of The Attitude

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Fetch Publicity

The following story is courtesy of Fetch Publicity ...

For the first time ever, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley, Ron Simmons, The Godfather and Kane sit together with host Renee Young and share their behind-the-scenes experiences during 1997 – one of the most unforgettable and influential years in WWE history. With a selection of matches and moments, witness the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin, the birth of D-Generation X, the summer of The Hart Foundation, and how The Attitude Era was created with one pivotal year in WWE history. Welcome to 1997: Dawn Of The Attitude. Also featuring The Rock, Undertaker, Psycho Sid, Goldust, Sable, Ken Shamrock, D-Lo Brown, The Sultan & more!

Match Highlights:

Shotgun Saturday Night – January 25 1997
Bret Hart vs. Mankind

Raw – March 3 1997
European Championship Tournament Final Match
Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog

WrestleMania 13 – March 23 1997
Submission Match with Special Guest Referee Ken Shamrock
Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

In Your House: Ground Zero – September 7 1997
Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker

Survivor Series 1997 – November 9 1997
WWE Championship Match
Bret Hart (Champion) vs. Shawn Michaels

In Your House: D-Generation X – December 7 1997
Intercontinental Championship Match
Stone Cold Steve Austin (Champion) vs. The Rock

Plus more action, extras, and Blu-ray exclusives!

We like it because:

There’s a reason 1997 is still one of the most talked about years in WWE history. It didn’t just transform WWE, but the entire world of sports-entertainment.

This special roundtable discussion pulls back the curtain further than ever before, giving insights into how it all went down backstage – and the superstars who would go on to dominate the Attitude Era.

There are fascinating stories along the way, such as how The Rock came up with his “Know Your Role” catchphrase, and what it was like behind-the-scenes before Kane made his epic debut in the first ever Hell In A Cell match. In addition, longtime fans will enjoy getting up close and personal with the legendary superstars.

It also delves into serious subject matters as they look at the fallout from the Montreal Screwjob and the real-life hatred for DX.

But it wouldn’t be WWE without some hard-hitting in-ring action – and this set boasts an incredible collection of matches. There are some Stone Cold classics – such as Bret Hart and Steve Austin’s WrestleMania 13 war – but also lesser-seen matches from Shotgun Saturday Night and Raw, which were just as important in changing the landscape of WWE.
A must-have collection for diehard fans, and an important lesson on the history of WWE!

1997: Dawn Of The Attitude will officially be released on DVD and Blu-ray on Monday October 2 2017.

For more information, click here.

For All Mankind - The Life & Career Of Mick Foley

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 375 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 3
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: April 22 2013

It's hard to believe prior to the release of For All Mankind that Mick Foley had never enjoyed a complete career retrospective DVD documentary. We'd had one-hour docs which showcased aspects of Foley's life and times, but never one which took us from the very beginning and through all the peaks and valleys of Foley's career.

Mind you, that is partly because, as any die-hard WWE fan knows, Foley has already released no less than four autobiographies (the first two of which were amongst the greatest wrestling books ever written), which were extremely comprehensive in detailing Foley's entire life. Therefore, it's understandable that we haven't had a full documentary on the Hardcore Legend; considering the books, there was little reason to get a DVD on his life as well.

Nevertheless, this serves as the visual companion to the likes of Have A Nice Day! and Foley Is Good, and with Mick being the engaging and entertaining subject that he is, the main feature is still very entertaining. With the exception of his 2008-2011 TNA stint, every major aspect of his career is covered. They include Mick becoming a wrestling fan and travelling to Madison Square Garden to watch the WWF as a teenager; training under Dominic Denucci; his early days competing (which included serving as enhancement talent for the WWF having barely wrestled at that point); his first WCW stint; his wars on the independent circuit prior to his second fruitful yet frustrating tenure with WCW; his memorable run in ECW; his ultra-violent exploits in Japan (such as the infamous King Of The Death Matches tournament); his initial success as Mankind in the WWF upon his 1996 signing; his transformation into childhood character Dude Love and the eventual WWF arrival of Cactus Jack (hence the Three Faces Of Foley); that Hell In A Cell battle with The Undertaker at King Of The Ring 1998 which would be Foley's most memorable match (as well as one of the most memorable matches of all-time); his unexpected first WWF Title win over The Rock which served as a pivotal night during The Monday Night Wars; his use of comedy in wrestling, including The Rock 'N' Sock Connection; his autobiographies; his many injuries; his decision to retire the first time in 2000 as he realised that his body was breaking down; his very popular run as WWF Commissioner; his multiple comebacks against the likes of Randy Orton and Edge (despite some incredible matches upon his returns, Foley admits that he often wishes he hadn't wrestled again after 2000); his transition into stand-up comedy in the early 2010s; his WWE return in 2011 after he left on fairly bad terms in 2008 following an uneasy run as a SmackDown announcer (this and other gripes with WWE and Vince McMahon over the years are covered in detail); his definitive retirement in 2012 on medical grounds; and Foley reflecting upon his legacy in wrestling, which is a unique and vital mark to have left on the crazy industry that is professional wrestling.

All of this and more is covered, assisted by plenty of clips, some rare archive footage and a plethora of comments by various talking heads including Dominic Denucci, Shane Douglas, Terry Funk, Vader, Triple H, The Rock, Steve Austin, Edge, Christian, Road Dogg, Michael Hayes, Randy Orton, CM Punk and many others. Some of these clips will be recognisable to those who have seen Foley's (excellent) Hall Of Fame tribute video prior to his induction into the 2013 Class; incidentally, said induction explains the purpose, and especially the timing, of this DVD.

If you've never read any of Foley's books, then this should be a very entertaining and informative documentary. However, chances are that a high number of viewers will have read at least one of Mick's autobiographies, or will at the very least be aware of Foley's most significant highs and lows, meaning that there will be few revelations to hardcore fans (no pun intended). That being said, this doesn't detract from the fact that the main feature is as enjoyable as any WWE profile that you will watch, and it is a more than fitting visual examination of, to quote the title, the life and career of Mick Foley.

Included on this DVD are more than a dozen bonus matches. Since Foley's previous DVD Greatest Hits and Misses included all of his most famous matches (on American soil, anyway), with his comeback bouts included on the 2007 re-release of GH&M, it stands to reason that the match selection on this DVD will be inferior to that of GH&M. There are some really good matches, though, which help to justify the existence of this DVD even further.

Mick's WWF squash match debut alongside Les Thornton against The British Bulldogs, whilst featured on GH&M, has alternate commentary with Mick and Joey Styles, as Foley (wrestling in this bout as Jack Foley) explains how he was left with a broken jaw as a result of an extremely vicious Dynamite Kid forearm/clothesline. Some rare bouts from the AWA and Memphis are followed by an early WCW bout against Keith Hart and an exciting Cactus Jack-Sting encounter from late 1991. A Falls Count Anywhere clash with Van Hammer from, erm, Clash Of The Champions is decent for the era (this is the match Foley referenced in Have A Nice Day! whereby he was "advised" to have interviewer Missy Hyatt somehow end up being covered in mud).

Next, we enter Foley's ECW stint, and we get a Barbed Wire match against The Sandman which is simple in its execution yet very bloody and at times hard to watch. More so is his battle with Shane Douglas at Cyberslam 1996 (which again has alternate commentary from Mick and Joey) during which Foley, handcuffed as he would be during the notorious I Quit battle with The Rock at Royal Rumble 1999, takes several very hard unprotected chair shots; that we are told in the documentary how chairshots like this caused Foley to have to retire for good in 2012 makes this a challenging encounter to watch. Disc two ends with two Mankind matches from 1997 against Rocky Maivia and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, prior to the Attitude Era during which Foley would have classic rivalries with both men, once their characters had completely transformed.

Kicking off disc three is Dude Love vs. Rocky Maivia from November 1997 which, to be honest, is pure filler (the brutal Mankind vs. Kane bout from Survivor Series eight days earlier would have been a better inclusion). The same can't be said for the next match, which is Mankind vs. Undertaker from KOTR 1998; this iconic Cell match once more has Mick and Joey giving us new commentary, and it remains a jaw-dropping battle to witness. That it has been released many times before, including on GH&M (not surprisingly), doesn't detract from the inclusion of this massively important chapter of Foley's career. Mankind and Kane vs. The New Age Outlaws serves more to demonstrate just how over every major WWF star was during the Attitude Era, whilst Mankind vs. The Rock from Rock Bottom 1998 is good, but arguably the weakest entry in their famous 1998/1999 feud. Closing out the DVD is The Rock 'N' Sock Connection against Triple H and Shane McMahon in a forgotten match from 1999, a brawl against Al Snow in late '99, and his superb Hell In A Cell showdown with Triple H from No Way Out 2000 which was meant to be his swansong (sure, Foley wrestled again six weeks later at WrestleMania 2000 and many times after that in later years, but could you imagine a major WWE star nowadays willingly having their last match at the PPV event before Mania?).

Other notes: I liked the artwork of this DVD, which sees Foley on the cover sitting in an old-fashioned lounge with momentos of his career in the background. The disc covers are unique as well as they feature Foley's signature smiley-face logo in the colours of his various alter egos (one of which was actually printed incorrectly for the Blu-ray version).

Summing this collection up, then, if you had never read any of Foley's books, you would argue that the documentary is one of WWE's best ever. And if the matches included on Greatest Hits & Misses had accompanied said doc, you'd have enough evidence to suggest that it might actually be of the greatest wrestling DVDs ever released. However, neither is the case, and we have a strong main feature albeit one lacking in revelations for Foley's biggest fans, and a selection of matches which is good on the whole, but don't come close to representing Foley's greatest battles, or even being of a high standard across the board given the amount of filler included. However, the documentary is undeniably entertaining, and there are some gems amongst the unmemorable bouts on discs two and three. Therefore, I still heartily recommend this DVD to any fan, and those who do love Foley will also love this DVD. If you already own GH&M, For All Mankind will fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle, and both DVDs combine to create one hell of an overall collection for one of the most entertaining personalities in WWE history.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

WWE Tagged Classics: Austin 3:16 Uncensored, Three Faces Of Foley,Chris Jericho: Break Down The Walls and Kurt Angle: It's True

Image Source: Amazon

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 252 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Number Of Discs: 2
Studio: Clear Vision Ltd/Silver Vision
Released: September 17 2012

One of the final entries in Silver Vision's much-loved Tagged Classics series was its most packed release yet, as no less than four retro documentaries, all from the Attitude Era, were brought together on one set. The quality varies between each one, but there's a hell of a lot of entertainment to be found across the quartet of Attitude content.

Beginning with Austin 3:16 Uncensored, this 1998 VHS was the second release on Austin's career, and is based around a sit-down with Jim Ross. Austin is largely in character here, although his kayfabe answers are hardly insulting to one's intelligence. As the title suggests, Austin's language - which includes ass, b--ch, b-----d, bulls--t and one use of motherf--ker - go entirely uncensored, which was actually a selling point in 1998 (and would be in the modern PG climate, to be fair). The hour-long feature only recaps Austin's adventures from the first four months of 1998, but this does include his pre-Royal Rumble Stunners on much of the roster, his Rumble win, his confrontations with Mike Tyson, his showing in the eight-man tag at No Way Out Of Texas, his first WWF Title win at WrestleMania XIV and his clash with Dude Love from Unforgiven of that year.

This is a really entertaining profile of Stone Cold during part of his peak on top of a red-hot WWF. The downside is the short timeline; had this extended to cover Over The Edge (where Austin and Dude had a classic rematch), more of his incredible feud with Vince McMahon, his rivalry with The Undertaker and more, this would have been a fantastic feature. As it is, it's a fun snapshot of Austin's reign atop the WWF, but you would need to watch other Stone Cold features for the full story of his rise to the top and the reason why he became so damn popular. It is fun, though, to hear Austin say partially in character, and probably partially in truth, that he disliked how Shawn Michaels would brag about not laying down for anybody.

Three Faces Of Foley is more comprehensive in showcasing Mick Foley's highlights thus far in the WWF, as of summer 1998. They include Mankind's initial feud with The Undertaker, the in-depth interviews between Mankind and Jim Ross from 1997, Dude Love teaming with Austin in the summer of 1997, Cactus Jack's WWF debut against Hunter Hearst Helmsley and the infamous Hell In A Cell war with The Undertaker from King Of The Ring 1998.

Foley explains each situation out of character in a conversational manner to The Hardy Boyz, who at that point had yet to make their mark in the WWF. There's also trivia notes and funny stories, such as one from Ric Flair's 40th birthday party (Foley jokes how Flair was already 40 back then, which would have been 1989). There's also clips from the brutal King Of The Death Matches tournament, which Cactus participated in (and won) in Japan in 1995.

The Foley feature is a good one, but even better is the Chris Jericho documentary, Break Down The Walls. An early example of the in-depth career retrospectives that are now a WWF/WWE trademark, this covers Jericho's first year with the company in great detail: his iconic debut in August 1999 (and the story behind his Millennium Clock), his Jerichoholics, his feud with Chyna, his battles with Chris Benoit and his great matches opposite Triple H from 2000. As well as comments from other wrestlers (such as The Rock, Edge and Christian and Triple H), we get a brief history of his pre-WWF adventures (although references to his WCW run are omitted), a tour of his house and a feature on his band Fozzy (at this point, Jericho was maintaining the gag that he had Fozzy frontman Moongoose McQueen were different people, despite the obvious similarities).

This is an excellent documentary for Jerichoholics, and is good enough that it would probably convert non-fans into Jerichoholics. Fortunately for Chris, his star would only continue to rise in the future, and many years later, we would get an even better documentary on Jericho's career in 2010 (Breaking The Code).

Lastly, It's True focuses on Kurt Angle's first year in the WWF. We see his introductory vignettes, his debut against Shawn Stasiak from Survivor Series 1999, his European and Intercontinental Title wins, his 2000 King Of The Ring triumph, his love triangle storyline with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon and his first WWF Title win over The Rock at No Mercy 2000.

Unfortunately, this is the weakest of the four features here, because it's produced from an in-character standpoint. Angle maintains his on-screen persona rather than acting normal, and the contributors maintain that he's arrogant, unlikeable, nerdy etc. A few minutes of this approach may have been sufficient, but a full hour is too much; and whereas Austin's real-life character mirrored his on-screen persona (making the kayfabe approach more acceptable for his feature), Angle on TV and Angle off TV are (mostly) very different. This is still enjoyable, but not as much as the other profiles on this set. Making matters worse, the WWF/WWE has yet to release another Angle compilation (although TNA did release Kurt Angle: Champion in 2008).

Overall, though, this four-part Tagged Classic is a great trek through the Attitude Era, and at times a fascinating glimpse into how much the WWF/WWE, and their home video/DVD releases, have changed since 1998-2000. If WWE ever allows John Cena to say "motherf--ker" completely uncensored on a future DVD, I will be very surprised (but totally amused, nonetheless). If you loved the Attitude Era, you'll really enjoy this two-disc set.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

The History Of The Hardcore Championship 24:7

Image Source: Fetch Publicity

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Running Time: 431 Minutes
Certificate: 15
Number Of Discs: 3
Studio: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Released: September 5 2016

(Thanks to Fetch Publicity for arranging this review.)

If you ask any fan of the Attitude Era in the WWF/WWE about the ten things that they miss the most from that wild and crazy time, there's a good chance that they will mention the Hardcore Championship. Originally designed as a joke prop for Mankind, with that representing false hope provided by Vince McMahon in the storylines, the title soon evolved into a platform for some increasingly brutal and very competitive battles, and with a later rule change, it became a source of true entertainment and creativity. The Hardcore Title had its up's and down's over its near four-year history, and they are all covered in this new DVD.

The DVD is presented by three former Hardcore Champions in a round-table, discussion-style setting. Mick Foley and Rob Van Dam are understandable hosts, but I was surprised to see Raven as the final host: sure, he held the battered gold 27 times (or 39, as he states), but since he was a vocal critic of WWE after leaving the company and even tried to sue the organisation in 2008, it's a surprise that a) he would be asked, and b) he would agree to it. Tommy Dreamer has a cameo appearance with his voice introducing the hosts. Their discussions are both frank and humorous throughout, and make this DVD stand out from others; it feels more like a reunion of old friends rather than a serious wrestling chat, which is a good thing.

As for the matches: well, I am not going to break down each one bout-by-bout, because there's tons of them! There are literally dozens of matches on the set, although this is partly because some are very short, especially around 2000-2001, so three or four matches equate to the same time span as, say, one match on a "normal" DVD. It means that the true stand-out matches are fewer in number, but it ensures a very comprehensive catalogue of Hardcore Championship adventures.

Picking out the key moments, then, we have the segment where Mankind was first awarded the title, and some of his early defences as the Hardcore rules (No Holds Barred and Falls Count Anywhere) are established. A highlight comes from Road Dogg vs. Al Snow on January 4 1999 (the night that Mankind became WWF Champion for the first time, coincidentally), with the match featuring plenty of violent moments and ending up outside within the snow-covered surroundings of the arena. The creativity of both the weapons and the locations shine in a Snow-Bob Holly clash from St. Valentine's Day Massacre which ends up in the Mississippi River during a very cold time of the year. Some of Holly's early title defences are also included as he officially morphs into Hardcore Holly.

Strangely, there is a six-month gap on the main DVD before the next match, which means that we don't get the first Hardcore Title match at a WrestleMania or some of the subsequent Snow-Holly brawls. Instead, we jump to SummerSlam 1999 and Al vs. Big Boss Man, which is good but is overbooked Vince Russo-style (yes, Russo was a WWF writer back then), from Road Dogg providing unnecessary commentary to the Blue Meanie and Stevie Richards trying to kidnap Pepper post-match (Pepper was Al's dog who Boss Man would later cook and have Al unknowingly eat; seriously, that happened). We get a rare Jakked match of Snow vs. Steve Blackman, with the most notable aspects arguably being a completely forgotten storyline where Blackman had a problem with a WWF security guard, and announcers Michael Cole and Michael Hayes discussing Mark Henry's sex addiction storyline, where he had just admitted to losing his virginity at the age of eight to his sister; I can't believe I am even writing that, let alone that this made the WWF airwaves (even weirder, the commentators who actually sit at ringside for this match are Kevin Kelly and Terry Taylor, not Cole and Hayes).

As we enter 2000, the title takes on a less prominent role as wrestlers further down the ranks compete for the title, and the matches are shorter too with some literally lasting a matter of moments. However, the entertainment value would increase as Crash Holly announces the title would be defended 24/7, meaning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That would lead to all sorts of hilarious title defences with plenty included here, as we see it defended in the car park, at an airport, in a children's playcentre (my personal favourite) and even at a circus. But the 24/7 moment which got the biggest laugh out of me was Gerald Brisco pinning Crash while he was asleep with a finger-poke, complete with the announcers whispering the crowning of a new champion and Brisco's classic slow-motion and silent celebration. Fortunately, we are spared the Brisco-Pat Patterson Hardcore Evening Gown match at King Of The Ring 2000, which went too far in trying to provide bizarre entertainment and was one of the worst moments of the entire Attitude Era, at least from the standpoint of being embarrassing. (We also don't get the chaotic Hardcore Battle Royal from WrestleMania 2000, which is a slight disappointment.)

The title got a bit more serious once Steve Blackman became champion (his SummerSlam 2000 showdown with Shane McMahon, featuring insane falls by Shane and, to a lesser extent, Blackman at the finish, is here); as Jim Ross notes on commentary, few challenged Blackman via the 24/7 rule because of how dangerous he was (a nice touch, when you think about it). But the 24/7 rule returns when the likes of Raven and Big Show would capture the gold, as we see in matches from late 2000 and early 2001. It was at this point when one couldn't keep count of title changes, as the belt would swop hands several times per show, and that was just on Raw and SmackDown (there were also tons of house show title changes for the same reason, hence Raven having dozens of title reigns to his credit; funnily enough, Hardcore Holly apparently only ever held the title six times), so the belt was losing some of its prestige, not to mention how the matches would degenerate into complete clusters (as seen here in one three-way on Raw, and that's with Big Show defending against The Rock and Kurt Angle). It could still be entertaining, though, as we see in a daft Triple Threat showdown between Raven, Big Show and Kane from WrestleMania X-Seven; whether it's Kane accidentally running over Raven's ankle with a golf cart or Show spending ages locking a cage that Kane immediately breaks open, this is an example of when wrestling can be so bad that it's good.

Around this time, former ECW talent entered the WWF due to the demise of that promotion, and subsequently the action in the Hardcore division became a lot more intense and serious. Rhyno vs. Raven from Backlash 2001 is an awesome little battle, including a great spot where Rhyno Gores himself into a shopping trolley, and Rob Van Dam's matches take the division up to an even higher level. RVD vs. Jeff Hardy from Invasion 2001 is fantastic and arguably the best Hardcore Title match ever, and Van Dam vs. The Undertaker from Vengeance 2001 saw the title reach its most prestigious level to date; besides the Undisputed Title mini-tournament on the same show, this was the most important match on the card. But once Undertaker lost the title in early 2002 to Maven (thanks to interference from The Rock, if you require an explanation for a result that looks strange on paper), the 24/7 rule re-entered play, but there were even more pointless title changes, less creativity in terms of locations and props (besides Goldust's gold-coloured weapons) and wrestlers on the very low end of the roster were competing for it. Besides the fun series of title swops at WrestleMania X8 (one of which saw The Hurricane fly into the backstage area on a rope to win the title), the last six-seven months of the championship were uneventful and had a seen-it-all-before feel to it. In spring and summer 2002, the title achieved very little in terms of entertainment value (partly because the Brand Extension halved the roster, meaning that less valued names were competing for it), so in hindsight it made sense that the championship would be retired, which we see in the DVD's final match, RVD vs. Tommy Dreamer on the August 26 2002 episode of Raw in an Intercontinental Title vs. Hardcore Title unification match (which emanated from Madison Square Garden, so at least the title left on something of a high).

This is a very enjoyable collection. This is definitely not one that you would watch if you expect classic wrestling action; it is essentially a giant highlight reel of people whacking each other with various objects, some being more dangerous than others (like a glass jar), others being on the lighter side (like a tub of bananas), and the actual wrestling is almost non-existent in certain matches. This is all about entertainment, and especially from the 2000 matches onwards, you can't help but crack a smile at some of the situations that the title finds itself in. From there being two matches at once due to the nature of the 24/7 rule, or matches that begin in a bouncy castle, the Hardcore Championship didn't take itself so seriously that the action couldn't end up practically anywhere, and with anybody trying to win it, whilst being entertaining enough that one didn't have the time to grasp how ludicrous the concept was when it could change hands with one participant being asleep, as noted earlier. When fans say that wrestling isn't that fun to watch anymore, light-hearted moments like this are part of the reason why. Sure, you won't get 20-25 minute straight wrestling clinics here, but many fans would take matches ending near a river bank or bouts that involve a ball pool over those on most days of the week. Okay, maybe not that often, but you get the point.

Many still wish for the Hardcore Title to return. I would like to see it come back too, but wrestling has evolved so much since the Attitude Era that a lot of modern fans may frown upon its return, not to mention the PG rating that would scupper the title's more brutal moments. I would suggest that it could return as the 24/7 Championship; one that could be defended 24/7 as it once was, but without needing the sort of violence provided by the likes of Al Snow and Hardcore Holly. If it were played purely for laughs, and the locations were creative and had thought put into them, then the 24/7 Title could be a light-hearted part, and a relevant little portion, of the three-hour Raw show. It would also give under-utilised talent something worthwhile to do that would stand out, rather than generic matches that nobody is interested in. Given the choice between straight wrestling matches involving Darren Young and Titus O'Neil, as per their current dull feud, and 24/7 bouts between the two, I know which one I would rather see.

One final disclaimer for those watching the DVD: I've mentioned that I didn't focus on every single match due to the sheer number, but I have to point out that there are a lot of unprotected weapon shots to the head here, which some might find uncomfortable to watch given what we know now about concussions and head trauma in wrestling (although common sense dictates that plenty of chairshots would cause long-term head damage). Of course, this has been outlawed in the WWE of today so there's no chance that this sort of violence will return to Raw or SmackDown, even if the product were to reintroduce its TV-14 rating, but it could be off-putting to some viewers. Mind you, it probably won't be a problem to many of the older fans who watched the Attitude Era shows and didn't bat an eyelid at such brutality.

And that's who this DVD is aimed at. If you're a fan who loved Raw Is War and SmackDown in the Attitude Era and misses the carnage that the shows provided back then, you'll get a real kick out of this compilation. You may feel by the end that you've seen enough Hardcore Championship matches to last a lifetime, and as noted only a small percentage are genuinely good matches. But between the plethora of bouts, the range of diverse characters and the undeniable entertainment provided by the 24/7 rule shenanigans, it's safe to say that Attitude Era fans will really enjoy this DVD, and will be transported back to a time when certain matches could start anytime, literally anywhere, and with absolutely no rules involved.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10 - Good

Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - Hardcore Edition

Written By: Mark Armstrong

(2004 Edition)

Image Source: Amazon

Running Time: 389 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Number Of Discs: 2
Studio: Clear Vision Ltd/Silver Vision
Released: March 8 2004

Since the majority of the 2007 Hardcore Edition was a re-release of the 2004 original, this review will cover both versions.

The initial two-disc compilation on the life and times of Mick Foley included more than a dozen of his matches, spanning seven years and four promotions. The King Of Hardcore left an indelible mark on wrestling prior to his first retirement(s) in 2000, and this is reflected by the quality of the action on display here, as this is a non-stop hardcore thrill ride. Foley himself serving as the informative and often amusing host is an added bonus.

The collection kicks off with two WCW bouts. Cactus Jack vs. Vader from a 1993 edition of WCW Saturday Night is notable for some brutally stuff offence, requested by Foley himself, which would result in Mick suffering a broken nose and WCW heavily editing the bout on television (the uncut version is the one we get here). Following this, Cactus and Maxx Payne battle The Nasty Boys in a hellacious Chicago Street Fight from Spring Stampede 1994, with Foley taking two painful-looking blows near the end (Mick being shoved off the ramp so that he landed hard back-first on the concrete floor, and Jerry Sags tw-tting him full-force in the side of the head with a shovel.

We're then told the story behind Cactus Jack's ECW promo (Jack was working for the then-Eastern Championship Wrestling between WCW dates) where he spat on the WCW Tag Team Title to try and convey his sense of lost pride. WCW understandably felt miffed that one of its titles would be treated in such a manner; regardless, it expedited the process of Foley leaving WCW in the autumn of 1994.

Whilst all of the four ECW bouts here have a similar theme (namely, brutal hardcore violence), each one has a standout aspect. Cactus vs. Sabu from 1994 is notable for its "dream match" feel (Foley acknowledges that the match didn't quite match expectations at the time); Cactus vs. Sandman from 1995 sees Sandman legitimately knocked out, which adversely affected the finishing sequence (that this was a Texas Death match made things more awkward in this situation); Cactus and Raven vs. Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer from November To Remember 1995 features breath-taking bloodshed and came shortly after an incident where a burning towel temporarily set the Funker on fire; and Cactus vs. Mikey Whipwreck from 1996 was Foley's ECW swansong, with fans showing true respect for Cactus despite his heel status. In between, we also get a short bout from Smoky Mountain Wrestling as Cactus faces Chris Candido.

Disc two focuses on his WWF tenure which he began under the mask of Mankind. We do not get any of his 1996 scraps with The Undertaker, so the first WWF bout is a great bout against Shawn Michaels from In Your House X: Mind Games. After that, we jump to 1997 where a superb angle sees Mankind and Dude Love introduce Cactus Jack for a very good Falls Count Anywhere war with Hunter Hearst Helmsley, who would soon transform into Triple H.

The year 1998 is first spotlighted by a fantastic hardcore battle with Terry Funk, where Foley first competed under his real name, which is followed by a so-bad-it's-good dance celebration with an OTT performance by the previously-reserved Vince McMahon. Steve Austin's guest commentary during this one is another highlight. This all leads to Dude Love vs. Austin from Over The Edge 1998 which is one of my favourite ever matches; few bouts provide more fun and pure entertainment than this one.

From there, we revisit the most famous match of Foley's career and one of the most memorable matches of all-time, as Mankind and The Undertaker battle inside, on top of and through the Hell In A Cell in an unbelievably brutal match from King Of The Ring 1998. This one has never been topped (despite Shane McMahon leaping from a taller HIAC structure at WrestleMania 32), which considering the plethora of injuries Foley suffered that night, is probably a good thing.

The next featured match is Mankind's first WWF title win over The Rock in a Raw match that proved pivotal during The Monday Night War (Steve Austin's interference elicits such a loud crowd pop that it was only on a later viewing that I heard announcers Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler calling that moment). Since their I Quit rematch from Royal Rumble 1999 isn't included, the final bout on the main feature is Cactus vs. Triple H in an outstanding Street Fight from Royal Rumble 2000 that allowed Foley to go out on a high come his first (and second) retirement shortly afterwards, and which played a major role in establishing HHH as a true main event player. If only WWE could instigate such a scenario to benefit Roman Reigns today.

There are two bonus bouts which gave humorous alternate commentary from Foley and Jonathan Coachman: Cactus vs. Sting under Falls Count Anywhere rules from WCW Beach Blast 1992 (which Foley considered his best match to date at that point) and a Cactus-Sabu ECW rematch (during which Sabu tries several times to break a glass bottle on Jack's skull only for the glass to repeatedly fail to shatter, which must have hurt like hell). We also get plenty of interviews and angles from Foley's career, including his famous Cane Dewey promo from ECW in 1995.

Obviously, not everybody will appreciate or like hardcore wrestling. If you do, though, you will find this DVD to be a virtually flawless tribute to the unforgettable career of Mick Foley with memorable moments and great action throughout. Despite some omissions, this is a phenomenal compilation on Mrs Foley's Baby Boy.

Overall Rating: 10/10 - Perfect

(2007 Edition)

Image Source: Amazon

Running Time: 540 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Number Of Discs: 3
Studio: Clear Vision Ltd/Silver Vision
Released: April 23 2007

The Hardcore Edition includes four more matches from Foley's comeback runs in 2004 and 2006. They are all of the hardcore violence genre, which should be no surprise to Foley fans. It does mean that some "regular" bouts from Mick's return (like The Rock & Sock Connection vs. Evolution from WrestleMania XX) aren't here, but those who enjoy this style of wrestling will be happy with the choices.

The first "new" encounter is Foley against Randy Orton from Backlash 2004, one of the best hardcore bouts ever and arguably Orton's greatest match; Foley says that this became the defining bout of this career. We get a similar scrap with Edge from WrestleMania 22 which is a bit rushed, but has the classic ending of Edge Spearing Foley through a flaming table.

A six-man war from ECW One Night Stand 2006 provides a breathtaking amount of bloody violence and a rather rude pinning predicament to end the bout. The last match, an I Quit bout between Foley and Ric Flair from SummerSlam 2006, is pretty good but has been forgotten by fans in retrospect, perhaps because of the disappointing and confusing finish.

The first two extra matches were Match Of The Year contenders; the last two, not so much. On the whole, though, the bonus bouts (which have alternate commentary from Foley and Joey Styles) enhance an already-fantastic set. It's not for everyone (to quote the original ECW), but any fans of hardcore wrestling will truly love this; the three-disc version really is the definitive Mick Foley collection.

Overall Rating: 10/10 - Perfect