Wrestling Gold Collection
Director: n/a
Distributor: Kit Parker Films
Released: ?/01
Featured Talent
Jim Cornette & Dave Meltzer
The Good
This five disc collection features approximately sixty matches from various territories with material that is predominately from the 1980s. There are matches from Memphis, Detroit, San Antonio and several companies. Without the commentary a lot of this action would be boring, however the insight from Cornette and Meltzer make this material more meaningful. Rather than calling the matches in kayfabe (which Cornette could do brilliantly), they use the matches as talking points as two of pro-wrestling's greatest minds explain the history and psychology of the sport. Cornette's humor and personality adds greatly as Meltzer is a journalist, not an entertainer. I purchased these tapes at a good price and really enjoy their content. Although you can turn off the commentary, most of the announcers (except for Lance Russell) add little to the quality of the matches. There really are some gems in here: Randy Savage, Jerry Lawler, Bobby Heenan, Rock-N-Roll Express and the Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Tully Blanchard) are all in their primes. There are also appearances by stars like Shawn Michaels, The Road Warriors, Rick Rude, Magnum TA and the Von Erichs before their primes. Finally, there is a long list of legends featured: The Sheik, Harley Race, Nick Bockwinkel, Dick the Bruiser, The Crusher, Bruno Sammartino, Ernie Ladd, Bruiser Brody and the Funks, amongst others. This is a nice hodge-podge of pro-wrestling.
The Bad
Due to the WWE owning the rights to most major pro-wrestling company's libraries, there was limited footage from which to pull matches. Furthermore, many matches were clearly chosen for the names involved, rather than the quality of the action. If you have never seen the likes of Bob Sweetan, Ox Baker, Tiger Jeet Singh and Ivan Putski - this is a chance to see them (like it or not!). There are plenty of ugly-looking moves, matches and men, but there is enough humor and quality to keep Wrestling Gold from being Wrestling Garbage.
The Rating: ****
Showing posts with label Cornette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cornette. Show all posts
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Straight Shootin' with Jim Cornette - Konnan
The Good
Talk about the odd couple of odd couples. Here is Jim Cornette, 40-something, Southern-style rasslin' performer and historian paired with lucha libre legend and former WCW and TNA undercarder Konnan. How do these two communicate? Very well actually. Cornette, while not a lucha expert, shows that he's done his homework and directs Konnan through an interview respectfully and with his unique appeal. Konnan, in sharp contrast to his on-screen persona, is well-spoken, thoughtful and insightful, so that he is able to work well with Corny. I don't think this worked as good as Konnan and Bryan Alvarez or even Dave Meltzer, but there was something unique here that is undeniable. Cornette pulls in his own experiences of Nick Gulas using Mexicans on the cheap, Vince McMahon working with Antonio Pena and WCW not knowing how to introduce and properly book distinct stars to get thoughts out of Konnan that you've never heard before. He shared for the first time, according to him, the fact that he had to go back to "hustling on the streets" in between his WCW and NWA-TNA runs, which was a big shock. Overall, I went in expecting a train-wreck of sorts, but got a gem of sorts instead.
The Bad
Like I said and as you'd expect, Jim Cornette is no lucha libre historian or even regular connoisseur, so his perspectives are limited in a way. He and Konnan have a good rapport, but this is lacking in comparison to Corny with Bill Watts, Percy Pringle, Bobby Heenan, etc. I actually think Konnan works better with Meltzer because he knows that Dave knows his stuff, even though Dave lacks Cornette's interviewing savvy. Konnan seems to hold back some as a result and while it makes for a different type of Konnan interview, it is not necessarily better. In some ways it is worse because he does not go into as much detail, Cornette is inconsistent in follow-up questions and something just seems amiss.
The Rating: ****
The Good
Talk about the odd couple of odd couples. Here is Jim Cornette, 40-something, Southern-style rasslin' performer and historian paired with lucha libre legend and former WCW and TNA undercarder Konnan. How do these two communicate? Very well actually. Cornette, while not a lucha expert, shows that he's done his homework and directs Konnan through an interview respectfully and with his unique appeal. Konnan, in sharp contrast to his on-screen persona, is well-spoken, thoughtful and insightful, so that he is able to work well with Corny. I don't think this worked as good as Konnan and Bryan Alvarez or even Dave Meltzer, but there was something unique here that is undeniable. Cornette pulls in his own experiences of Nick Gulas using Mexicans on the cheap, Vince McMahon working with Antonio Pena and WCW not knowing how to introduce and properly book distinct stars to get thoughts out of Konnan that you've never heard before. He shared for the first time, according to him, the fact that he had to go back to "hustling on the streets" in between his WCW and NWA-TNA runs, which was a big shock. Overall, I went in expecting a train-wreck of sorts, but got a gem of sorts instead.
The Bad
Like I said and as you'd expect, Jim Cornette is no lucha libre historian or even regular connoisseur, so his perspectives are limited in a way. He and Konnan have a good rapport, but this is lacking in comparison to Corny with Bill Watts, Percy Pringle, Bobby Heenan, etc. I actually think Konnan works better with Meltzer because he knows that Dave knows his stuff, even though Dave lacks Cornette's interviewing savvy. Konnan seems to hold back some as a result and while it makes for a different type of Konnan interview, it is not necessarily better. In some ways it is worse because he does not go into as much detail, Cornette is inconsistent in follow-up questions and something just seems amiss.
The Rating: ****
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Bruno Sammartino - Straight Shootin' with Jim Cornette
The Good
Jim Cornette's run in Ring of Honor was perhaps highlighted by his involvement with the Straight Shootin' series where he interviewed legendary personalities. I'd heard parts of the Bobby Heenan interviews, which were gold, but this was the first one I'd been able to really focus on and hear all the way through. I'll be the first to admit, I'm a big mark for Jim Cornette and I tend to think any project he involves himself in is improved by his involvement. Now TNA might be the exception, but whether its shoot interviews, documentaries, books, radio shows, audio commentaries on DVDs or whatever, he is a genius in the modern product with his old-school ways. Bruno Sammartino is a great interview in my view. He led a storied career, he's opinionated, he tells great stories, he has integrity and he is honest (although his perspective is his perspective), so why should he not be? I'd seen Corny paired with Heenan (his idol), Percy Pringle/Paul Bearer (a colleague) and Bill Watts (former boss), but Bruno Sammartino? This odd couple worked so well though. Cornette did his homework himself, inserts comments, guides the interview well and builds respect with the interviewee (him being in the business certainly helps greatly). I've heard Bruno with many good interviewers and many not-so-good interviews and this blew them all away. These two had great chemistry and it spilled out in a way that I'd love to see more often. Les Thatcher has the same knack although he's a less of a historian than Cornette, but has seniority, variety of experiences and extensive in-ring experience in his favor. This was one of the best talkers paired with a respectable talker and only great results coming out.
The Bad
Bruno Sammartino's viewpoints are his own and he owns them inarguably. Whether you agree with them or not, one must respect him for sticking to his guns. He makes factual errors as you should realistically expect, but nothing that is completely ridiculous or offensively false. Jim Cornette could have probably called him out on a few comments, but he kept it positive and keeping that rapport between he and Bruno was probably more important than doing a hard-hitting interview. You could fault Corny for that, but I think his respect for Bruno Sammartino trumps his need to be a tough interview.
The Rating: *****
The Good
Jim Cornette's run in Ring of Honor was perhaps highlighted by his involvement with the Straight Shootin' series where he interviewed legendary personalities. I'd heard parts of the Bobby Heenan interviews, which were gold, but this was the first one I'd been able to really focus on and hear all the way through. I'll be the first to admit, I'm a big mark for Jim Cornette and I tend to think any project he involves himself in is improved by his involvement. Now TNA might be the exception, but whether its shoot interviews, documentaries, books, radio shows, audio commentaries on DVDs or whatever, he is a genius in the modern product with his old-school ways. Bruno Sammartino is a great interview in my view. He led a storied career, he's opinionated, he tells great stories, he has integrity and he is honest (although his perspective is his perspective), so why should he not be? I'd seen Corny paired with Heenan (his idol), Percy Pringle/Paul Bearer (a colleague) and Bill Watts (former boss), but Bruno Sammartino? This odd couple worked so well though. Cornette did his homework himself, inserts comments, guides the interview well and builds respect with the interviewee (him being in the business certainly helps greatly). I've heard Bruno with many good interviewers and many not-so-good interviews and this blew them all away. These two had great chemistry and it spilled out in a way that I'd love to see more often. Les Thatcher has the same knack although he's a less of a historian than Cornette, but has seniority, variety of experiences and extensive in-ring experience in his favor. This was one of the best talkers paired with a respectable talker and only great results coming out.
The Bad
Bruno Sammartino's viewpoints are his own and he owns them inarguably. Whether you agree with them or not, one must respect him for sticking to his guns. He makes factual errors as you should realistically expect, but nothing that is completely ridiculous or offensively false. Jim Cornette could have probably called him out on a few comments, but he kept it positive and keeping that rapport between he and Bruno was probably more important than doing a hard-hitting interview. You could fault Corny for that, but I think his respect for Bruno Sammartino trumps his need to be a tough interview.
The Rating: *****
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
KC Guest Booker - Jim Cornette "Re-booking the Invasion"
The Guest Booker series is really hit-or-miss. The goal of Kayfabe Commentaries is to expose the creative mind of the booker. Some do well, some do not. While the scenarios are getting better, the pool is theoretically diminishing.
Jim Cornette is a shoot interview god. He is vulgur, he is honest, he is funny, he is insightful, he flings mud, he gives great compliments to his peers and that is why this one was a must-see. He rants and raves, but really gets at the core of several issues. One is booking vs. writing. One is the "funny doesn't draw money" concept. Another is the idea of building young talent and long-term vision in a company. Unlike other guest bookers, Corny did some homework. He did enough to make a good showing, but not so much that his thought process is not on display.
Cornette, along with J.J. Dillon, Raven, Bill Watts and a select few others is one of those shoot interviews that I want to never end.
This is the proverbial "lightning in a bottle."
Rating: *****
Jim Cornette is a shoot interview god. He is vulgur, he is honest, he is funny, he is insightful, he flings mud, he gives great compliments to his peers and that is why this one was a must-see. He rants and raves, but really gets at the core of several issues. One is booking vs. writing. One is the "funny doesn't draw money" concept. Another is the idea of building young talent and long-term vision in a company. Unlike other guest bookers, Corny did some homework. He did enough to make a good showing, but not so much that his thought process is not on display.
Cornette, along with J.J. Dillon, Raven, Bill Watts and a select few others is one of those shoot interviews that I want to never end.
This is the proverbial "lightning in a bottle."
Rating: *****
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