Memphis Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin'
Director: Chad Schaffler
Released: 2011



Featured Talent 
Jim Blake, Jerry Calhoun, Guy Coffey, Bill Dundee, Jack Eaton, Jackie Fargo, Ron Hall, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Jarrett, Rocky Johnson, Jerry Lawler, Herman Mitchell (fan), Sputnik Monroe, Len Rossi, Jimmy Valiant, Buddy Wayne, Billy Wicks

The Good 
I first became of the ¨Memphis Heat¨ project in 2009 when one of the producers e-mailed me trying to track down footage. It sounded like a great project with excellent potential as it was such a colorful territory and so many of the key players were still alive (the inclusion of the now-deceased Sputnik Monroe really brings up the quality). While I was not able to help provide footage, I offered some names and some opinions. I was actually slow to buy this one, but did get it eventually. Amazingly only a couple week after buying it, the director and his wife met my own wife in an unlikely story of happenstance. Aside from enjoying "Lipstick & Dynamite," my wife has never had any interest or enjoyment in pro-wrestling. She brought that up and Chad Schaffler (who does documentaries and is not just some crazed pro-wrestling fan) expressed liking it and I can definitely see some of the same aesthetic elements here with the retro visual effects, rockabilly music and quick-cut editing. It is really a great approach that fits beautifully and is a great change of pace from the formulaic WWE documentaries. I've heard comparisons to "Heroes of World Class," which is fitting. While this has more appeal for its look and feel, "Heroes" has this beat in sheer length and depth (and has the nice WWE complimentary documentary). Neither is one I'd highly recommend to a non-fan (like my wife), although of the two, "Memphis Heat" has more mainstream appeal and parts of it (the Sputnik Monroe segment especially) could get over with anyone (and has as NPR did a story on him in 2001). "Heroes" also had the disadvantage of so many of the key players being dead (which fit into the story), "Memphis Heat" though had most of the key players, including Sputnik, Billy Wicks and Jackie Fargo. Just as Memphis was the last territory, this may be the last independent pro-wrestling documentary of this nature as WWE recently bought up the Mid-South library. Portland seems to have the same potential and could be a lot of fun with a similar approach.

The Bad 
By my estimation, there are three key strikes against this documentary that probably most "overview of a pro-wrestling company" would have. First and foremost is the absence of certain talent and inclusion of other talent. The most notable is Lance Russell, who was unavailable because of living in Florida, but would have added a whole other layer of insight. If you have ever heard an interview with him, you can imagine how much he could've added. Other stars like Dutch Mantell, Honky Tonk Man, Lanny Poffo, Jim Cornette, Robert Fuller, Bill Bowman and Joe Turner are names that come to mind as tremendous interviews who all had varying degrees of success and experience in Memphis (and/or Nashville). They certainly had budget limitations, so it seems they mainly focused on the biggest names or locals. Second is the choice of angles and stories, which is largely a matter of preference. Jerry Jarrett has always mildly resented the attention that the Lawler-Kaufmann angle is given in Memphis's overall history and here it is played up again and sort of plays into swansong of the territory along with the departure of Jimmy Hart (the third man in the storyline). I was not brought up on Memphis wrestling, so I cannot speak to the best angles through a young fan's eyes, only through looking back. The angles chosen seem to logically coincide with a narrative and with the personalities interviewed. Third is the 1985 cut-off, which is approximately a decade before Memphis went down. I can appreciate wanting to avoid that whole USWA era (1989-1997), but obviously some fans would feel that period was important. Overall, the knocks against "Memphis Heat" are few and the same types that any documentary of this nature have.

The Rating: *****

Tommy Rich [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
An early RF Video shoot that features the legendary Tommy Rich at the start of his ECW run. Obviously, he'd had a great career and had great stories to share. I'd not heard him prior to this, so I was intrigued. His whole Tommy Rich act is really great the first time you hear it. I'm still not sure why he doesn't get more shoots (other than he largely seems humble and positive about things) because he is quite a character. He uses "Mama & the Babies," "wild-eyed southern boy," "cornbread" and other great phrases to explain his desire to stay off the road, his roguish attitude and his countryboy appeal. It seems so funny to hear this and than think about the goofy faux-Italian he played in ECW. This had its moments as Tommy Rich just seems like an affable and honest ol' boy.

The Bad
Did I say this was an early RF Video shoot? Needless to say the questions were passable, but their scope was atrocious. They did call-in questions, which are never good and thankfully they stopped doing. That was a pointless segment. Tommy Rich totally shilled ECW, which is understandable, but still obnoxious. I personally like Tommy Rich's character and find his shoots to be enjoyable, but I'm sure many would not like them. He does not bury people, he watches his language and he does not go into a lot of depth. Thankfully Gary Cubeta had him on a few times and showed how to get a really good interview out of "Wildfire."

The Rating: ***1/4

Bob & Brad Armstrong [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
Bob Armstrong is one of the old-timers who still kayfabes and it seemed that it took getting him to sit down with his son Brad to get him to let his guard down. Although he wasn't all into using the lingo and such, he basically broke character and told the true stories behind some legendary angles and events. Bob was fairly reserved and Brad, who I think is a great interview in the shoot format, helps to keep the conversation going. There is a lot of focus on Bob's early career, how his children (specifically Brad) was impacted by his father's career and their time teaming together in Georgia and elsewhere. In spite of the usual RF Video limitations, this was really good and really informative. I think Bob Armstrong, if sitting down with the right person (Les Thatcher and the Ringside Rap crew?), could be an extremely informative and reflective interview. His statement about most territories only having a 5-year lifespan (or high period) has largely rung true when I've applied it and he had several other nuggets like that throughout.

The Bad
Brad Armstrong has already done an extensive RF Video shoot interview, so really this was more a vehicle to get "The Bullet" to shoot. They tried to include Brad, which makes sense, but you really wanted to hear about and from Bob (although Brad was much more entertaining). If it didn't happen after 1977 in the top territories, then RF Video seems not to have much information about it. Obviously, the Armstrongs run in Georgia when the cable push was changing the game is worthwhile, but the Southeastern/Continental discussion was grossly limited here. No talk of the Flame (Jody Hamilton), Ken Lucas, Buddy Colt and only a little talk of the Fullers, Jimmy Golden, Jerry Stubbs and other legendary stars of the Alabama region. This was "good," but it was really only scratching the surface.


The Rating: ****

Straight Shootin' with Kamala

The Good
Kamala is one of those rare people whose shoots I would say everyone should check out once, but once might be enough. He has a particular charm that few people can get across in a shoot interview. He loves his family, he wanted to take care of his mother, he never wanted to cheat the people, he loved to perform and would go to great lengths to preserve the integrity of his character. Jim Harris is able to get himself over for that dedication and loyalty without coming across as negatively as others who had similar situations. I find him to be someone who understands that he was a gimmick wrestler and that's why he worked to protect the gimmick. While some of his approaches (i.e. "eating" a live chicken in a van for fans before the show) might not work in the post-kayfabe era, it makes you think how suspending the disbelief is helped by going to great lengths and when people do not commit - gimmicks, angles and even matches fail! Kamala also gets into a lot of perceived racism that he experienced, which is interesting. While he admits that most promoters will never be entirely fair with you, he felt many just took him as a dumb old countryboy who would be happy with whatever they paid him. He talks about his financial struggles quite a bit and even states that he wouldn't "do it all over again" because of all the hardships. While he is not broke and desperate for indy work like some others of his generation, Kamala is certainly not as well off as one might expect someone who worked for the WWF at their peak, WCW with their ridiculous contracts and was a maineventer in a number of territories. His story is fascinating and heartbreaking. As for the typical qualities that make for a "good shoot," Kamala is not one to hold back. He talks about confronting Andre the Giant with a concealed weapon, he buries Abdullah the Butcher and he has no regard for Eric Bischoff. Generally, Kamala was the type who tried to get along with everyone and did not get involved in all the drugs and carousing, yet he had nice things to say about almost everyone brought up, even people he probably could've buried!

The Bad
I've heard a few interviews with Kamala before, so this seemed to be largely the same stuff. He comes across as a really nice guy who had some ups and downs and the business that have made a him a little bitter, yet thankful for the opportunity he had to entertain people. I've stated this before, but Jim Harris can come across as a victim of the business, whether that is true or not. He was a fair worker who had great size, good athletic ability and kept himself out of trouble. However, he got started late and probably only "made it" because of the gimmick he landed. Kamala's money woes are more prominent in his interview than many others because others probably do not want to seem like failures after having made a fortune that they blew. He genuinely believes he was not paid what he was due (some places more so than others) and while he was able to take care of his family and buy his home, he really struggled after leaving Mid-South. He is very honest about numbers and while they might seem substantial to some, when you take into account all the travel expenses, you can understand why he ended up having to drive a broken down truck. Then again, maybe you can't.


The Rating: ****1/4

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: ****

Adrian Street [57Talk Shoot Interview]

The Good
I am fascinated by British wrestling and unfortunately there is not a lot of media coverage (that I've seen) given to those men who were such big stars years ago. Adrian Street was probably the amongst the hottest acts in Britain that became a hot act in the States, whereas many like Billy Robinson, Tony Charles, Al Hayes and such found mixed results. He, however, had this totally different life in the US while in his forties and kind of established himself in a way few others have been able to. Not one to downplay his legacy, Adrian Street explains how rough things were when he broke in, he spends a lot of time talking about Wigan's Snake Pit (which he did not attend) and just how accomplished he became during his time in Europe. In fact, his unpublished autobiography is 600 pages of just his life before coming to the US in the late 1970s. He admittedly blows his own horn and I came away knowing much more about this downplayed gimmick wrestler from the 1980s. Gary Cubeta does not have great knowledge of Adrian's career and practically none of his pre-US tenure, but he is able to get the ball rolling and how it rolls!

The Bad
Although this was excellent, 80 minutes was just not long enough. Adrian Street's career realistically spanned 30 years, but he's been active since his final run in Continental. Gary Cubeta mainly focuses on his years in the US and the development of his "Exotic" character, but Adrian clearly has much, much more to offer. They talk about the standard things, what it was like here, what was it like to work so-and-so and general reflections on Adrian's career. This was great, but it seemed to only be a scratching of the surface. Adrian Street is a braggart, no question about it. I've never thought he was a great draw, but to hear him, you'd think he was the great thing around. I tend to believe his act was a bit of a hotshot act that worked to pop houses, but he never had very long runs anywhere. I certainly rethought his contributions to pro-wrestling, but I still question just how huge he was.

The Rating: ****

Buddy Landel [57Talk Shoot Interviews]

The Good
One of the more interesting pro-wrestlers in that people largely think highly of him despite the fact he could be labeled a "failure" with some just cause. Buddy Landel's career is, as he admits, a "real sad story" as he was loaded with potential as one of the best talkers and workers of the mid-1980s, but he threw it all away because of his "demons." In this three-part series with Gary Cubeta, they try to "analog" (a cross between analyzing and cataloging, I guess) his career. While this is an unfinished product, Gary would later admit that he troubles getting Buddy back on the phone, it has great depth and authentic analysis. Buddy can talk all day, he can put himself over, he can bury himself and he really needs little direction. Gary Cubeta does not usually sit back and let a guest ramble, so in this early 57Talk interview, he tries to escort Buddy through a career retrospect better than Buddy's RF Video shoot (which is good, by the way). The main focal points are Buddy's early years in the Tennessee area, his first heel run in Puerto Rico and his big run in Jim Crockett Promotions with some time given to his Mid-South (Buddy n' Butch) and later Memphis (Bill n' Buddy) runs. Cubeta and Landel have a great chemistry and it makes for a real strong series of interviews. While this is not the whole story, it may be the best parts of it.

The Bad
While I appreciate Buddy Landel for his abilities, his honesty and his humor, I have to say this is missing some of punchiness I'd expect. This is a guy who, according to himself (although Gary Cubeta, myself and everyone questions this), was slated to beat Ric Flair for an NWA World title run, yet he was too strung out on valium to go to TV. While he admits it is a sad story, Buddy is not angry, bitter or crazy from missing his big chance. It seems like so many former stars are one of those three and that's what makes them a charismatic interview, but Buddy simply seems at peace with it. I cannot fault him for that, but it sort of leaves this flat. Buddy is also pretty guarded in talking about the specifics of his addictions, just that they consumed him. You might also be disappointed at the lack of Mid-South and Smoky Mountain in this, but those were probably yet to come.

The Rating: ****

Pat Tanaka [SmartMarkVideo Shoot Interview]

The Good
Sometimes you just get the feeling that shoot interview is going to be excellent with no real reason. Pat Tanaka had a somewhat uneventful career and I had no real reason to believe that he'd have some keen insight or hilarious road stories because I'd never heard him in a shoot or really mentioned for that matter. However, he did tour around a lot, he was the son of the legendary Duke Keomuka, he broke in over in New Japan and he and partner Paul Diamond were pretty successful for a time as Badd Company. What I did not expect was that Pat Tanaka was almost a carbon copy of his one-time best friend Marty Jannetty. He was a hellion who was more into wine, women and song than working out, developing mic skills or trying to get over with the office. Pat Tanaka was by his own admission, a "f**k up." He was the son of a legend, the nephew of a legend and in one of the hottest territories in the world, but screwed around too much to gain much from those advantages. He was a fun-loving guy who spent much of his time in Japan getting in trouble for excessive partying. He was a big ribber who tried to stay even with Curt Hennig and the Nasty Boys. He was a small guy in a big man's business, who was a great natural worker, but let poor choices stop him again and again. This was an excellent look into Tanaka's career and he seemed frank about himself and loved to put people over. Although brief, his recollections of his time in Japan are priceless. Obviously, there are not many gaijin who got as entrenched as he did with the native talent, so getting some perspective on them is unique. I found this to be a really positive and interesting shoot interview and it did not disappoint me.

The Bad
How many "what a fantastic guy," "he was a great worker" and "no comments" can you sit through. Although this did not reach Jimmy Snuka levels of vagueness, Tanaka certainly spent plenty of time dishing out these generic statements. The "no comment" crew was obviously intriguing: Scott Hall, Tojo Yamamoto and a few others. Obviously, the juicy details behind those were such that he just did not want to share them. This was not free of burials though. He knocked Konnan as a "nobody," Shinya Hashimoto as a "piece of sh*t" who took dangerous liberties in the ring and even his partner Paul Diamond as an endless complainer who enjoyed making moves on other guy's girlfriends/wives/etc. If Tanaka would go on about those people and not others, you have to wonder what the story is behind his "no comment" statements. The biggest question mark in this is the almost complete absence of discussing his Orient Express run in the WWF. He talks about getting the call, teaming with Akio Sato (mostly beforehand) and his departure (due to Diamond stabbing him in the back), but that is about it. No Mr. Fuji, no Rockers feud, no Sato being replaced by Kato (Diamond), it was just missing here.

The Rating: ****

Ronnie P. Gossett [Highspots Shoot Interview]

The Good
If you don't know who Ronnie P. Gossett is, he is a heel manager of the Percy Pringle, Jim Cornette or Kenny Bolin grain. A slick talker who plays an arrogant, yet blubbery Southern jerk, Gossett never really traveled much outside of Tennessee where he was staple for a long time. Sometimes listening to that guy who worked a territory for many years is more fascinating because there is more depth. Listening to his thoughts on Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler was insightful. I've always been under the impression that Jarrett's booking was superior to Lawler's (they switched off every six months), but Gossett refutes that. He has choice comments for all kinds of stars who came through the Tennessee region. Certainly there were many and he had anecdotes about many and opinions on people whether they came through or not. There is all kind of great tales here, whether it is Ronnie selling Nick Gulas's promotion to some "marks" (a lawyer, a doctor, etc.) or him talking about Brian Pillman being a gigolo. Gossett is a fantastic talker (he was a great Southern manager after all), so he is able to really bury some people. The Jarretts, Hulk Hogan, Bill Dundee, Missy Hyatt, Bert Prentice and on and on, no one is immune to the wrath of Ronnie P. Gossett.

The Bad
If you don't have any interest in Southern wrestling, specifically Tennessee rasslin', then you probably will not care for this. Honestly, Gossett does not seem bitter, but he certainly has some grudges. He has a lot of negative things to say and rips on a lot of people, if that seems bitter or angry to you, then avoid this shoot interview. The one thing I felt was missing was that it was pretty widely known that Gossett was gay. Although not part of his persona, it just seems that his life in pro-wrestling as a gay man has some intrigue that was never touched upon here. Sadly, Gossett died shortly after this interview.

The Rating: ***3/4

Lanny Poffo [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
I remember hearing a little about this interview with Lanny Poffo before listening to it. It was described as one of the best RF Shoots and I think I can agree with that. Lanny Poffo is a fantastic talker. He is eloquent, he is sincere and he has that great cadence to his voice. This is unlike any other shoot interview because Lanny is just a unique personality and he makes many of his peers seem strikingly redundant. How can you not be taken aback when a pro-wrestler is quoting Thomas Jefferson, the Gospel of Matthew and Tigger!? Lanny Poffo might not have had the type of career that makes him a "legend," but he is second-generation, brother to one of the biggest stars ever and worked in many companies with many big names. While he pulls no punches when burying people like Ole Anderson, Rick Rude and the Von Erichs, he also can give them their due. In the same token, he puts over Ric Flair, Grizzly Smith and Curt Hennig, but is able to explain their flaws as well. While I do not always agree with his viewpoints, he is certainly one who believes in them and himself and you cannot fault him for that.


The Bad
I suppose some people would find Lanny Poffo's interviewing style off-putting. He is not your typical pro-wrestler in terms of using salty language, coming across as bitter and such. He has a very distinct way of talking and explaining situations, which I'm sure some people would find obnoxious. The only knock I could make is that he gets sidetracked frequently, but luckily nothing seems to be left out. If you don't like it when interviewees go off on rants about anyone and everyone, then you might want to avoid this one. However, Lanny explains the difference between "objective" and "subjective," I realize that my view of this is "subjective" and I deem it to be amongst the best of the best.

The Rating: *****

Youshoot with the Honky Tonk Man [Kayfabe Commentaries]



The Good
The Honky Tonk Man was the ideal person to debut the Youshoot series. Although the wacky and even spiteful submissions were not as plentiful in this one, it certainly sold you on the greatness of this series. HTM really comes across as honest and even bitter to an extent, but unlike people like Paul Orndorff, Ole Anderson and Billy Jack Haynes, you do not end up really disliking him. He is, at least in my opinion, hilarious with all his voices and facial expressions that make him a great storyteller. Mud-slinging can get tedious, but Honky just spews it in such a way that you cannot help but love it. And no one seems to be immune to his wrath. Billy Gunn was worthless, Blackjack Lanza was two-faced, Ric Flair was "woooo" a repetitive "woooo" cartoon character, Dynamite Kid is a lying bully, Hulk Hogan was a huge druggie, Jim Ross was a sabotager and on and on. Honky Tonk is very open about his own drug use, promiscuity and limitations as a worker, which allows him so credibility when he rips on others. I still question whether or not he is not working everyone (like the Iron Sheik is).

The Bad
I never liked Honky Tonk Man as a worker, I still don't care for him, yet he was gifted in so many ways. Talking, his strong suit, allows him to get himself over regardless of his physical abilities. He is undoubtedly getting himself over here. He is very careful in what he says and while he may not be entirely accurate or even fair, he says things with a conviction that gets him over. Part of me feels like I get swept up in that charismatic delivery and sometimes I fail to see the gaping holes in his statements. That being said, this is wildly entertaining.

The Rating: *****

Rocky Johnson Shoot Interview [RF Video]

The Good
If you take a well-travelled and opinionated ex-wrestler and put him in front of a camera he can generally produce a solid shoot interview. Rocky Johnson worked in most major and several minor territories in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, he saw great successes and some disappointments, so why should this not be a fascinating shoot? Even with RF's standard questions, constant name association and fixation on chronology, Johnson is able to pull the listener in with some great tales and bold thoughts. He is honest about those people he disliked, distrusted and disassociated from because they were crooks, racists or two-faced backstabbers. Without seeming bitter or angry, Rocky Johnson is able to tell much of his story. I also felt the parts involving The Rock were kept to a respectful level considering that Rocky has his own legacy.

The Bad
Sometimes these shoot interviews are just long and tedious with little new information, few stories of interest and nothing of great value. This was not one of those, but it did seem to fall short in a way. Rocky Johnson was pretty frank and while he was not the most entertaining interview, he certainly had plenty to say. I actually had pretty low expectations for this, despite Johnson's extensive and well-travelled career. It was, as expected, lacking in both direction and depth. Rob Feinstein was his usual self, all over the place with obvious holes in his(?) research and no follow-up to questions. You could tell that Rocky Johnson, if challenged and guided, could be an intriguing interview. Let's hope somebody of note gets ahold of him.

The Rating: ***3/4

David Schultz [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
The shoot interviews that tend to pique my interest are those with very honest and out-spoken or those with people who I've never heard in a non-kayfabe setting. With David Schultz you know you're getting all that. Based on his reputation and even his Dr. D character, Schultz seems like he'd have to necessarily be highly enjoyable even if he's a fraction that personality he portrayed. Although he is more low-key and does not smack Feinstein around (or even berate him!), Schultz is not afraid to speak his mind at all. Without seemingly overly bitter, Schultz explains his distain for liars, wimps and `rasslers who can't work. He is really positive about many people in the business, especially if they can work. Even someone like Jerry Lawler, who is not a fighter, he can respect them as master of psychology. An unexpected highlight of this was the part about being a bountyhunter, which brought him more fame and success than pro-wrestling. I expected this to be really good and it pretty much delivered.

The Bad
I honestly expected David Schultz to be very bitter toward pro-wrestling and specifically Vince McMahon and the WWF. While he was not really negative toward the business, he was very negative toward the WWF/WWE and especially Vince McMahon who he feels lied to him. Most of this revolves around the John Stossell incident where Schultz slapped the 20/20 reporter around as part of an expose on pro-wrestling. Although he proclaims Vince put him up to it, he was fired soon after (although that could have just as well stemmed from an altercation with Mr. T) and has been kind of written out of WWF history. He tries to explain his legacy there - getting Hulk Hogan over as a white-hot babyface coming off their violent feud in the AWA, getting his manager Roddy Piper over and defending the business by smacking around Stossell for Vince. There is validity to all of that, but his brief run, lack of big main events and departure before the big pay-per-views have made it difficult to really substantiate his role. Obviously David Schultz is highly opinionated and some of his opinions you'd disagree with, some of his views on race you'd disagree with and some of the political views he shares towards the end you might disagree with. I try not to hold it against people in these shoot interviews, but there is certainly a couple parts that made me cringe.

The Rating: ****1/4

Brickhouse Brown Shoot Interview


The Good
Drugs, rats and mud-slinging - what more could you want?  Brickhouse Brown holds very little back (he eludes to a pending autobiography) and seemingly no one is immune.  Some could surely celebrate his honesty and it makes for a shoot interview that you don't want to turn off.  From Texas to Tennessee and Mid-South to Mid-Atlantic, Brickhouse Brown worked throughout the Southern territories and he has many experiences to share.  This is unique shoot and one worth at least a single listen-through even for all its obvious issues.

The Bad
I saw this originally being compared to the Iron Shiek, Jamie Dundee and Billy Jack Haynes crowd of shoot interviews, which intrigued me. Brickhouse Brown is every bit as vulgur, arrogant and, at times, as wretchedly beat down by the business as those three.  Obviously, there are holes in his reflections and lofty claims about his own ability and importance.  While one could pick those apart, it seems that the over-the-top nature of this shoot interview is its selling point and without that (fabrications and all) it would be forgettable.

The Rating: ****

Shooting with the Legends: Don Fargo

The Good
I've waited years to hear this one and it did not let me down.  Don Fargo is one of the most infamous rebels in pro-wrestling who anyone who spent time around can share crazy stories of and often do.  So, how about some tales from the man himself!  Don Fargo, at 70 years of age, basically goes on for two hours straight telling road stories, sharing dirt and laughing at all the messed up experiences he's had.  His era and the territories he worked are so rarely the focus of shoot interviews that this was fantastic to hear.  There are so many legendary characters from Sputnik Monroe and Lou Thesz to Jack Pfefer and Chris Colt that Don Fargo worked with first-hand that it'd be impossible to have a dull interview.

The Bad
I believe I missed the first part of this interview, but that's not really a valid knock, it just makes me sad.  Although I'm not one who hates road stories, this one was largely Fargo sharing his wacky life story with little insight.  It seems likely that Don Fargo has a deeper understanding of pro-wrestling psychology that was not delved into, which is unfortunate.  He talks some about gimmickry and such, but without a great deal of depth.  This could have been blow-away shoot, and I enjoyed it, but was a little disappointed.

The Rating: ****1/2




Enjoy some Don Fargo (at nearly 60 years of age!!) in the AWA in the mid-80s.

Guest Booker with Jerry Jarrett [Re-Booking WCW in 2000]



The Good
Jerry Jarrett is widely considered one of the great minds in pro-wrestling and here he has the chance to demonstrate. This episode, like many of the others, does not consist entirely of fantasy booking, as Sean Oliver is always trying to get at the nuts and bolts of booking. Jerry Jarrett definitely explains the core of his booking approach and offers up some examples where that was successful and why that psychology works. He also waxes philosophical and it makes you wonder, why am I listening to this and not spending time with my family? Luckily, I was on my evening commute home and they eventually got back to the rasslin'. This is pretty good, but I honestly expected more.

The Bad
The Guest Booker series seems so hit-or-miss. I think someone could easily come away from this thinking Jerry Jarrett is out-of-touch, too old-fashioned and too Southern in his approach. Would I have wanted to see the cards he builds here? Not especially, but his logic is sound and you begin to believe that he could have really picked WCW's activity up in 2000. I doubt it would have been any worse than what we got!

The Rating: ***3/4

  

Memphis Roundtable with Jerry Jarrett, Lance Russell and Dave Brown

The Good
Three of the most significant figures in Memphis pro-wrestling history are given an opportunity to share their experiences with fans in a discussion directed by former manager Scott Bowden.  Bowden grew up on this stuff, so he knows how to pull out the best of these three.  Jerry Jarrett is a great storyteller and can explain things well, so most anything he does is excellent.  Lance Russell is a tremendous talker and someone who infuses humor well, so those qualities that made him a great straight-man for Memphis wrestling, makes him entertaining in this atmosphere.  Dave Brown has never done a detailed shoot interview (that I know of, probably radio interviews), so it was great to catch his perspective, stories and details on some of Memphis's greatest angles and personalities.

The Bad

This was relatively short and having multiple people always cuts down on time even more, but Scott Bowden kept this flowing and so it did not seem as rambling as it could have.  A couple repeat stories out of Jerry Jarrett and Lance Russell, but you have to expect that to an extent.  Obviously there were dozens of great names and angles that went unmentioned, which could disappoint that person who really wanted to hear about the Dream Machine, Plowboy Frazier or some other character.  You hear about Jackie Fargo, Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Valiant and the other iconic figures of Memphis wrestling, but many are left out.

The Rating: ***3/4

Gypsy Joe Shoot Interview [Highspots]

The Good
Gypsy Joe is more than just the oldest active pro-wrestler in history and the man who was assaulted by New Jack on an indy show, he is a man who has traveled the world and experienced a great number of things.  His tales of working around Tennessee, battling Rusher Kimura in Japan and getting screwed over time and time again make for some unique listening material.  While criticizing George Gulas, Shawn Michaels and Jerry Lawler is not unusual, Gypsy Joe actually knocks Harley Race and some other people that would surprise you.  He definitely had an distinct career that has led him to his distinct perspective on the business and his place in it.

The Bad
Generally, pro-wrestler's backstories are over-covered, bland or unimportant, but when Gypsy Joe's childhood and late start in the business are not really covered, I became intrigued.  Coming up as a Latin-American and trying to get a break seems like a hard luck story that you'd want to hear, but he does not really touch upon it.  Instead, he goes on about how he is so tough, worked on top everywhere and how innovative he was.  Without undermining his true accomplishments, Gypsy Joe needed to be much more honest for me to take him seriously.  Instead, he sounds like what "El Guapo" Bas Rutten would sound like if he really was Spanish with all the accented nonsense he spews.  He hints at bitterness, disappointment and anger, but all along puts himself over again and again.  Once New Jack's name is brought up, he gets all fired up and is never able to bring it back down.  These qualities really brought this down into the mediocre category.

The Rating: ***

"Cowboy" Bob Kelly on Ringside Rap (2/25/2010)

The Good
Here's a great idea, take three distinctly different (but all excellent) pro-wrestling people together and have on a great host.  Ringside Rap features Rich Tate (whose Peach State Pandemonium site is one of the best resources of its kind), Mike Sempervieve (whose work with Zach Arnold, Dr. Keith Lipinski, Bryan Alvarez and others has made me a big fan of his) and Les Thatcher (a highly experience veteran with a great on-air personality) together and sometimes they have on some unique guests.  Just listening to these three talk about the winter of 2010 has some entertainment value, but that pales in comparison to the appearance of "Cowboy" Bob Kelly.  Here's why this is an "epic win."  Those three hosts are all great in their own way.  Rich Tate poses some solid questions, Semp "sits under the learning tree" (as he says) and Les Thatcher talks about every rinky-dink arena throughout Louisiana and Alabama to get Kelly going.  Well, Cowboy Kelly needs no pushing.  He is a storyteller of the first order and I was glued to this interview.  The Gulf Coast is often underplayed, but if you know a little about it, this is a wonderful listen.  From Don Fargo's shenanigans and Maw Bass's major heat to Ken Lucas's workrate and the Cajun fans before the Mid-South era, Bob Kelly is able to really inform and entertain throughout.  I also thought a different side of Les Thatcher came out because he's so often talking about current goings-on that one forgets he working in the Southern heat and experiencing amazing things.

The Bad
I don't know if I'd call this a perfect interview, it was a bit sorted at times and only ran for an hour.  However, it was never dull and I enjoyed every bit of it.  This shows how the right conditions and chemistry make for a great interview more than well-researched chronology and such.  I stumbled across this and will definitely be tuning in to this show again.

The Rating: ****1/2

Rock-N-Roll Express [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
Ricky Morton didn't just carry the team, he carries this interview.  Opinionated, honest, funny and insightful, Morton has to be one of the best shoot interviews out there.  Robert Gibson "works the apron" by adding in little comments and jokes when needed and one brings to truly understand the dynamics of the Rock-N-Roll Express.  Although I usually feel RF's questioning is poor, it is acceptable here and he really digs into some of the early years in Tennessee and Alabama more than I would have expected.  It is really Ricky Morton's powerful personality that make this fantastic and you'll see him in a whole new light when you catch this.

The Bad
Without dwelling on the faults of RF Video Shoot Interviews, one would find this really enjoyable.  I always want to here more about the Alabama region because it has been downplayed so much.  Ricky and Robert seem to have more nostalgia and excitement in talking about Memphis than any other place and that could probably be an interview all by itself.  My faults with this are pretty minimal.

The Rating: ****1/2