Timeline of the WWE - 2000 - Rikishi
The Good
The Timeline series has so much potential and if the right people are chosen they can really provide some good insight or at the very least a unique perspective on the year in question. Rikishi seems like a pretty honest guy and much of this focuses on his particular experiences in the year 2000. Sean Oliver is a fantastic interviewer and he pulls a solid interview out of someone who might not be the best interview. He poses some pretty standard questions, covers some key figures and throws in a few hardballs. This was a fun interview and, in my opinion, one of the better jobs by Sean Oliver.
The Bad
The fault of the Timeline series, which I've stated before, is that they often leave out a lot because of the narrow focus of a single. Rikishi had probably the biggest year of his career, but a lot of this focuses on his career before and after 2000. He also is not particularly insightful about the goings-on in the WWF at this time. I've never heard an extensive interview with Rikishi, but this did not convince me to seek one out. He was affable and all, he is probably a fun dude to have a beer with, but shoot interviews are not his thing. This was a good idea, but I'm three in and this series has yet to improve. C'mon Superstar Graham!
The Rating: ***1/2
Showing posts with label Monday Night Wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monday Night Wars. Show all posts
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Stone Cold Truth - Audio Version
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Steve Austin, Jim Ross, Dennis Brent
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Publishers
Released: 10/03
The Good
I'd never done the audio book thing before and actually ordered it by accident, but it was a fun alternative. Austin and J.R. narrate, which is fine. They are redoing the book and are half in character, which is fine. Not as dynamic as you'd like, but the parts where Austin is funny, the audio makes it seem that much funnier. The part about he and Jeannie feuding with Chris and Toni Adams stands out to anyone I've talked to about it as being laugh-out-loud funny and so is his impression of the Undertaker.
The Bad
This is obviously an abridged version, so there is a fair amount lost. Austin's story is pretty well-known by most wrestling fans at this point and not much is revealed here that many wouldn't already know about. He isn't as venomous as you might expect and any heat he has towards people like Owen Hart, Jeff Jarrett and WWF creative is not really voiced, making this seem neither "stone cold" nor the whole "truth." While this is better than most of the WWF/WWE's autobiography releases, it is not what I think it should be. Again this was a 2 hour audio version, not the full-length book.
The Rating: **1/4
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Steve Austin, Jim Ross, Dennis Brent
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Publishers
Released: 10/03
The Good
I'd never done the audio book thing before and actually ordered it by accident, but it was a fun alternative. Austin and J.R. narrate, which is fine. They are redoing the book and are half in character, which is fine. Not as dynamic as you'd like, but the parts where Austin is funny, the audio makes it seem that much funnier. The part about he and Jeannie feuding with Chris and Toni Adams stands out to anyone I've talked to about it as being laugh-out-loud funny and so is his impression of the Undertaker.
The Bad
This is obviously an abridged version, so there is a fair amount lost. Austin's story is pretty well-known by most wrestling fans at this point and not much is revealed here that many wouldn't already know about. He isn't as venomous as you might expect and any heat he has towards people like Owen Hart, Jeff Jarrett and WWF creative is not really voiced, making this seem neither "stone cold" nor the whole "truth." While this is better than most of the WWF/WWE's autobiography releases, it is not what I think it should be. Again this was a 2 hour audio version, not the full-length book.
The Rating: **1/4
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Godfather (RF Video Shoot Interview)
The Good
Someone who has worked off and on for the WWF/WWE for over a decade has to have some great perspective to share and Charles Wright certainly has that to share. The biker bartender turned pro-wrestler, quickly found success in the business and was able to get several big pushes over the years despite a lack of great talent. He admits to those limitations as well as never having taken pro-wrestling too seriously. The Godfather character certainly reveals that fact. "Big Silly" as he was nicknamed by some of his peers, enjoyed himself and viewed pro-wrestling more like the circus than like a sport. This was a relaxed shoot that had a few funny moments, a few interesting comments and some opinions only The Godfather could have.
The Bad
People who were not lifelong fans who were serious about the sport, their craft and their persona can sometimes be enjoyable shoots. They don't put themselves over too much, they don't bury others and don't seem to bitter. The downside is there usually is not much depth to their commentary. The career of wacky gimmicks, unbelievable personalities and all the rest of it seems to get a tad mixed up in this. RF's timelines, attention to detail and ability to conduct a "good" interview are all aspects in making this just another mediocre RF Video shoot. Clearly the man himself was not the best interviewee, but he was alright and could probably deliver a much better interview with a better interviewer.
The Rating: ***1/2
Friday, February 11, 2011
Dan Severn [RF Video Shoot Interview]
The Good
I first heard Dan Severn on a Figure-Four Daily and was totally blown away. Since he played and often came across as a no-frills athlete that was almost devoid of personality, it seemed unimaginable that he would be an entertaining interview. Despite his amazing life in amateur wrestling and even in the early days of mixed martial arts, you just don't know if you'll be pulled in by Dan Severn. However, he is a helluva a talker. Although he's not particularly funny here, he tells some good stories and can certainly get himself and his legitimacy over. He does give long answers and goes off on other things, but that is generally a good thing in lengthy shoot interviews. Giving him three hours and a lot of room worked for me. Although the negatives of this were grossly obvious, the positives were there and Dan Severn is someone I enjoy listening to.
The Bad
I know I complain about RF Video's incompetence all the time, but it is glaring at times and seriously detracts from the quality of an interview. I've heard Dan Severn with Bryan Alvarez (who is an excellent interviewer) and his experiences as an amateur wrestler, pro-wrestler and mixed martial artist are all fascinating, but he's a talker. If the interviewer does not reel him in, Severn will go off on long-winded stories and a lot can be missed. Some interviewees are like that and it's not really a negative, unless the interviewer is not doing their job. That was a detractor here. Then there is the issue of research. People knock Gary Cubeta for not doing his homework, but I always think that he has had reliable researchers and his show is free!! Not knowing who Dan fought when he came back to the UFC (Pedro Rizzo), mispronouncing Royce Gracie's name and thinking he (not Keith Hackney) beat Manny Yarborough are just a few standout examples of the incompetence displayed here. In case you did not know Dan Severn is one of the most successful and decorated amateur wrestlers and he could do an easy three hours on his amateur career, but it would be better if someone knew and could help clarify for pro-wrestling fans what his legacy is. He mentions many things in passing like being the original Sunkist Kid, but it goes unexplored and unexplained. This could have been so much better than it was, but that's how it goes. Dan Severn is not someone who dishes a lot of dirt because he's both not that kind of guy and he really isolates himself. He had nice things to say about a lot of people, but generally not much detailed or juicy information. Knowing that and expecting that, I was not disappointed like some people might be.
The Rating: ***3/4
The Good
I first heard Dan Severn on a Figure-Four Daily and was totally blown away. Since he played and often came across as a no-frills athlete that was almost devoid of personality, it seemed unimaginable that he would be an entertaining interview. Despite his amazing life in amateur wrestling and even in the early days of mixed martial arts, you just don't know if you'll be pulled in by Dan Severn. However, he is a helluva a talker. Although he's not particularly funny here, he tells some good stories and can certainly get himself and his legitimacy over. He does give long answers and goes off on other things, but that is generally a good thing in lengthy shoot interviews. Giving him three hours and a lot of room worked for me. Although the negatives of this were grossly obvious, the positives were there and Dan Severn is someone I enjoy listening to.
The Bad
I know I complain about RF Video's incompetence all the time, but it is glaring at times and seriously detracts from the quality of an interview. I've heard Dan Severn with Bryan Alvarez (who is an excellent interviewer) and his experiences as an amateur wrestler, pro-wrestler and mixed martial artist are all fascinating, but he's a talker. If the interviewer does not reel him in, Severn will go off on long-winded stories and a lot can be missed. Some interviewees are like that and it's not really a negative, unless the interviewer is not doing their job. That was a detractor here. Then there is the issue of research. People knock Gary Cubeta for not doing his homework, but I always think that he has had reliable researchers and his show is free!! Not knowing who Dan fought when he came back to the UFC (Pedro Rizzo), mispronouncing Royce Gracie's name and thinking he (not Keith Hackney) beat Manny Yarborough are just a few standout examples of the incompetence displayed here. In case you did not know Dan Severn is one of the most successful and decorated amateur wrestlers and he could do an easy three hours on his amateur career, but it would be better if someone knew and could help clarify for pro-wrestling fans what his legacy is. He mentions many things in passing like being the original Sunkist Kid, but it goes unexplored and unexplained. This could have been so much better than it was, but that's how it goes. Dan Severn is not someone who dishes a lot of dirt because he's both not that kind of guy and he really isolates himself. He had nice things to say about a lot of people, but generally not much detailed or juicy information. Knowing that and expecting that, I was not disappointed like some people might be.
The Rating: ***3/4
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Triple H: King of Kings - There is Only One
Distributor: WWE Home Video
Release Date: 3/08
The Good
It seems like this familiar “best of” series is going to continue after the successes of DVD sets by Ric Flair, The Undertaker and Steve Austin. Instead of putting together a time-consuming documentary, a handful of excellent matches can be paired up with an interview or two by the featured superstar to produce something that can sell. Triple H talks about his career, highlighted by explaining his relationship with Shawn Michaels, the success of Evolution and Batista and lastly his rivalry with John Cena and Edge.
The Bad
Triple H, complete with his lame leather jacket, is the only one talking here and that provides a perspective that is not without baggage. Much of Triple H's career is filled with great angles and great matches, but it is not perfect. Although Evolution was mostly successful with getting Batista over, the same angle done with Randy Orton earlier was rushed and unsuccessful. Triple H talks about putting Batista over for months, which seems like his way of saying how generous he is. Next is his feud with Ric Flair, which was not as great as Triple H would make it seem like. There is also the discussion whether or not Triple H is past his prime and whether or not he will pass the torch gracefully.
The Rating: ***
Distributor: WWE Home Video
Release Date: 3/08
The Good
It seems like this familiar “best of” series is going to continue after the successes of DVD sets by Ric Flair, The Undertaker and Steve Austin. Instead of putting together a time-consuming documentary, a handful of excellent matches can be paired up with an interview or two by the featured superstar to produce something that can sell. Triple H talks about his career, highlighted by explaining his relationship with Shawn Michaels, the success of Evolution and Batista and lastly his rivalry with John Cena and Edge.
The Bad
Triple H, complete with his lame leather jacket, is the only one talking here and that provides a perspective that is not without baggage. Much of Triple H's career is filled with great angles and great matches, but it is not perfect. Although Evolution was mostly successful with getting Batista over, the same angle done with Randy Orton earlier was rushed and unsuccessful. Triple H talks about putting Batista over for months, which seems like his way of saying how generous he is. Next is his feud with Ric Flair, which was not as great as Triple H would make it seem like. There is also the discussion whether or not Triple H is past his prime and whether or not he will pass the torch gracefully.
The Rating: ***
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Steve Blackman Shoot Interview [RF Video]
The Good
Steve Blackman has been seen as an un-charismatic and un-exciting pro-wrestler for sometime, but here he shows that he is a well-spoken ambassador for the sport. He did, in fact, make respectable public appearances in the wake of the Benoit tragedy. A legitimate and consummate athlete, Blackman is able to talk in great detail about his training, his martial arts, his interest in MMA and such. Those aspects, which are central to his lifestyle, make this unique and, at times, fascinating. His health ordeals, especially the bout with dysentery/malaria that almost killed him, are thoroughly explained. He is a great storyteller and while he's not really funny or exciting, he really draws you in with his explanations. This is an extremely underrated shoot interview that most people would find enjoyable.
The Bad
A legitimate knock on recent shoot interviews is that they go after the most recent stars and here is Steve Blackman, a WWF midcarder, getting this platform when a number of yesterday's forgotten are overlooked. I'm sure people could find this dull and boring, but if you enjoyed the WWF Attitude Era, you would probably like this.
The Rating: ****
The Good
Steve Blackman has been seen as an un-charismatic and un-exciting pro-wrestler for sometime, but here he shows that he is a well-spoken ambassador for the sport. He did, in fact, make respectable public appearances in the wake of the Benoit tragedy. A legitimate and consummate athlete, Blackman is able to talk in great detail about his training, his martial arts, his interest in MMA and such. Those aspects, which are central to his lifestyle, make this unique and, at times, fascinating. His health ordeals, especially the bout with dysentery/malaria that almost killed him, are thoroughly explained. He is a great storyteller and while he's not really funny or exciting, he really draws you in with his explanations. This is an extremely underrated shoot interview that most people would find enjoyable.
The Bad
A legitimate knock on recent shoot interviews is that they go after the most recent stars and here is Steve Blackman, a WWF midcarder, getting this platform when a number of yesterday's forgotten are overlooked. I'm sure people could find this dull and boring, but if you enjoyed the WWF Attitude Era, you would probably like this.
The Rating: ****
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Have a Nice Day (audiobook)
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Mick Foley
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Released: 10/00
The Good
Audiobooks are fun, especially with the right narrator and omissions. This had Mick Foley telling his book and it added to some of the stories a great deal. It was brief and a worthwhile listen. I think the anecdotes had a lot of personality and the impressions of Dominic Denucci and Terry Funk were really funny. This really can't be fairly compared to the book, which an opus, but perhaps to shoot interviews. It was enjoyable.
The Bad
"How do you really condense it all into this?" I kept wondering. One of the best pro-wrestling books and inarguably the most trendsetting, Have a Nice Day! being retold in such an abridged way takes a lot of the heart out of it, but thankfully leaves some of the humor. You must read the book.
The Rating: **1/4
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Mick Foley
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Released: 10/00
The Good
Audiobooks are fun, especially with the right narrator and omissions. This had Mick Foley telling his book and it added to some of the stories a great deal. It was brief and a worthwhile listen. I think the anecdotes had a lot of personality and the impressions of Dominic Denucci and Terry Funk were really funny. This really can't be fairly compared to the book, which an opus, but perhaps to shoot interviews. It was enjoyable.
The Bad
"How do you really condense it all into this?" I kept wondering. One of the best pro-wrestling books and inarguably the most trendsetting, Have a Nice Day! being retold in such an abridged way takes a lot of the heart out of it, but thankfully leaves some of the humor. You must read the book.
The Rating: **1/4
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Shawn Stasiak [club wwi shoot interview]
The Good
Shawn Stasiak has a reputation of being a little out there and while that does come across a bit here, he certainly seems well-spoken and one has to buy into the ability, marketability and potential that he had. He has reached a place in his personal life where he's not angry and bitter, but certainly feels that he was misused throughout his career. One has a hard time in not being convinced by his arguments. Regardless of how one views his opinions, Shawn Stasiak is a long-winded talker and if you like to listen to him go on, then this is just great. He has some unique perspectives and interesting stories that he shares and overall makes this a strong interview.
The Bad
Part of you buys into the Shawn Stasiak story. He was the second generation son of a WWWF Champion, he was an exceptional collegiate athlete, he did look like a star, but something always seemed amiss. While you'd never get that from listening here, Shawn Stasiak simply never delivered the goods in the ring the way he needed to and that is ultimately why he never cracked through the midcard. He talks about his background, but you'd really like to hear more about Stan "the Man" (my suspicion is that Stan's later days were very sad ones as he became a broken-down alcoholic from most accounts), but Shawn gets into his own experiences. I could totally under someone thinking this is boring and wholly uninteresting.
The Good
Shawn Stasiak has a reputation of being a little out there and while that does come across a bit here, he certainly seems well-spoken and one has to buy into the ability, marketability and potential that he had. He has reached a place in his personal life where he's not angry and bitter, but certainly feels that he was misused throughout his career. One has a hard time in not being convinced by his arguments. Regardless of how one views his opinions, Shawn Stasiak is a long-winded talker and if you like to listen to him go on, then this is just great. He has some unique perspectives and interesting stories that he shares and overall makes this a strong interview.
The Bad
Part of you buys into the Shawn Stasiak story. He was the second generation son of a WWWF Champion, he was an exceptional collegiate athlete, he did look like a star, but something always seemed amiss. While you'd never get that from listening here, Shawn Stasiak simply never delivered the goods in the ring the way he needed to and that is ultimately why he never cracked through the midcard. He talks about his background, but you'd really like to hear more about Stan "the Man" (my suspicion is that Stan's later days were very sad ones as he became a broken-down alcoholic from most accounts), but Shawn gets into his own experiences. I could totally under someone thinking this is boring and wholly uninteresting.
The Rating: ***1/4
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Chair Shots and Other Obstacles: Winning Life's Wrestling Matches
Author: Bobby Heenan
Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC
Released: 3/04
The Good
Bobby Heenan is one of the most sharp-witted personalities in pro-wrestling history, although he can be a bit formulaic. His first book, an autobiography, was like his RF Video shoot and any other shoot interview that talks about his career. He has a rolodex of joke in his brain that he always mentions. We've heard about Andre the Giant and the screwdriver enough and Heenan certainly has fresher material. This book provides that hilarity. What is unique about this is the approach. Heenan gives his perspective on life in pro-wrestling terms - “Don't Be a Jobber” and “Cancer, the Ultimate Heel.” He is a great humorist and this is well edited and compiled. While the reader may not agree with everything that Heenan says, he comes across as honest and thoughtful. Heenan chimes in on issues like Vince McMahon and his family, the Montreal screwjob, Owen Hart's death, Hulk Hogan's legacy and hardcore wrestling. This is not your typical pro-wrestling book, but it is certainly enjoyable if you understand its approach.
The Bad
Obviously, this is not exactly an autobiography. It is Raymond Heenan reflecting on aspects of his life, his career and his “Bobby the Brain” persona. The last part was not really a focal point in his autobiography and it makes for an interesting read. The Bobby the Brain character was that extension of the man behind it with a particular twist that made for a character that could carry territories in the 1970s. Heenan does not kayfabe in the least, he does not get into angles and he spends much of this discussing people outside of pro-wrestling (his family, friends and past co-workers). If you do not enjoy his humor, then you may not like his tales of pranking people at Buckingham Palace, his grandfather's Chicago haberdashery or dealing with family members' cancer. Some might find his comments crass or disrespectful, but why would you be checking out his book?
The Rating: ****
Author: Bobby Heenan
Publisher: Sports Publishing LLC
Released: 3/04
The Good
Bobby Heenan is one of the most sharp-witted personalities in pro-wrestling history, although he can be a bit formulaic. His first book, an autobiography, was like his RF Video shoot and any other shoot interview that talks about his career. He has a rolodex of joke in his brain that he always mentions. We've heard about Andre the Giant and the screwdriver enough and Heenan certainly has fresher material. This book provides that hilarity. What is unique about this is the approach. Heenan gives his perspective on life in pro-wrestling terms - “Don't Be a Jobber” and “Cancer, the Ultimate Heel.” He is a great humorist and this is well edited and compiled. While the reader may not agree with everything that Heenan says, he comes across as honest and thoughtful. Heenan chimes in on issues like Vince McMahon and his family, the Montreal screwjob, Owen Hart's death, Hulk Hogan's legacy and hardcore wrestling. This is not your typical pro-wrestling book, but it is certainly enjoyable if you understand its approach.
The Bad
Obviously, this is not exactly an autobiography. It is Raymond Heenan reflecting on aspects of his life, his career and his “Bobby the Brain” persona. The last part was not really a focal point in his autobiography and it makes for an interesting read. The Bobby the Brain character was that extension of the man behind it with a particular twist that made for a character that could carry territories in the 1970s. Heenan does not kayfabe in the least, he does not get into angles and he spends much of this discussing people outside of pro-wrestling (his family, friends and past co-workers). If you do not enjoy his humor, then you may not like his tales of pranking people at Buckingham Palace, his grandfather's Chicago haberdashery or dealing with family members' cancer. Some might find his comments crass or disrespectful, but why would you be checking out his book?
The Rating: ****
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex
Author: Chris Jericho, Peter Thomas Fornatale
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: 10/07
The Good
When it was revealed that Chris Jericho was releasing an autobiography at the age of 36, it seemed strange. Although he had so far had an impressive career, Jericho had never reached that top echelon that everyone thought he would when he jumped to the WWF in 1999. This book attempted to be not a memoir of a storied career, but rather a “dreams come true” story. In that sense, it fulfilled its goal. Jericho had many obstacles to overcome throughout his career and when made his highly touted debut in the WWF, his dream came true and that’s where this book ends. So, if you’re a WWF/WWE fan, you’re going to have to wait. This book talks about his world travels and does so in the most humorous and entertaining manner that a pro-wrestling autobiography has ever done. Jericho did not intend this to be solely for pro-wrestling fans and certainly not WWF/WWE fans, but it certainly helps the enjoyment if you are the former. He breaks it up into several parts: his childhood and years on the Canadian indies, Mexico, Germany, Smoky Mountain, Japan, ECW and WCW. This comprehensive career being captured makes this a great resource. And if you know people like Dr. Luther, Drew McDonald, El Dandy and Bruiser Bedlam, this book has a different level of enjoyment. Personally, this was very enjoyable. I grew up listening to the same music, loving hockey and, of course, marking out for all things pro-wrestling, so Jericho’s references to these in jokes made this a classic for me. This was a fast and addictive read that was well composed, well edited and well organized. This is inarguably a new must-have for pro-wrestling fans.
The Bad
Jericho’s decisions to omit his WWF/WWE run, leave in kind words and photos with Chris Benoit and seek out a non-WWE publisher could all be strikes against this. Ending at August 1999, leaves this open for a follow-up that could be published by the WWE, but the issue of his partnership/rivalry with Chris Benoit is a huge stumbling block to overcome if he decides to write that book. The jokes and references may not harm this, but it certainly caters to a small crowd. Although he has stated this is not just for pro-wrestling fans, it does not seem like a book that non-fans would necessarily enjoy. Perhaps, but this is definitely not as non-fan-friendly as other books. As with any autobiography, Chris Jericho could be knocked for having a big ego or being bitter about some things, but in comparison to some of his peers, he seems like Mr. Positive. Other than those few relatively mild knocks, this book is hard to fault.
The Rating: *****
Author: Chris Jericho, Peter Thomas Fornatale
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: 10/07
The Good
When it was revealed that Chris Jericho was releasing an autobiography at the age of 36, it seemed strange. Although he had so far had an impressive career, Jericho had never reached that top echelon that everyone thought he would when he jumped to the WWF in 1999. This book attempted to be not a memoir of a storied career, but rather a “dreams come true” story. In that sense, it fulfilled its goal. Jericho had many obstacles to overcome throughout his career and when made his highly touted debut in the WWF, his dream came true and that’s where this book ends. So, if you’re a WWF/WWE fan, you’re going to have to wait. This book talks about his world travels and does so in the most humorous and entertaining manner that a pro-wrestling autobiography has ever done. Jericho did not intend this to be solely for pro-wrestling fans and certainly not WWF/WWE fans, but it certainly helps the enjoyment if you are the former. He breaks it up into several parts: his childhood and years on the Canadian indies, Mexico, Germany, Smoky Mountain, Japan, ECW and WCW. This comprehensive career being captured makes this a great resource. And if you know people like Dr. Luther, Drew McDonald, El Dandy and Bruiser Bedlam, this book has a different level of enjoyment. Personally, this was very enjoyable. I grew up listening to the same music, loving hockey and, of course, marking out for all things pro-wrestling, so Jericho’s references to these in jokes made this a classic for me. This was a fast and addictive read that was well composed, well edited and well organized. This is inarguably a new must-have for pro-wrestling fans.
The Bad
Jericho’s decisions to omit his WWF/WWE run, leave in kind words and photos with Chris Benoit and seek out a non-WWE publisher could all be strikes against this. Ending at August 1999, leaves this open for a follow-up that could be published by the WWE, but the issue of his partnership/rivalry with Chris Benoit is a huge stumbling block to overcome if he decides to write that book. The jokes and references may not harm this, but it certainly caters to a small crowd. Although he has stated this is not just for pro-wrestling fans, it does not seem like a book that non-fans would necessarily enjoy. Perhaps, but this is definitely not as non-fan-friendly as other books. As with any autobiography, Chris Jericho could be knocked for having a big ego or being bitter about some things, but in comparison to some of his peers, he seems like Mr. Positive. Other than those few relatively mild knocks, this book is hard to fault.
The Rating: *****
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Kurt Angle Shoot Interview [RF Video]
The Good
I had been putting this one off until I knew I could listen to it in two or three sessions because I knew it would be interesting even if I disagreed with much of Kurt Angle's commentary. The beginning of this was excellent because Kurt Angle's amateur career was so unique, so remarkable and so successful. While RF seemed to only have random questions, Angle's narrative was pretty smooth and thorough. As it got into his professional career, the intrigue level remained. After it got into his first year in the WWF, things were always muddled and confusing. Luckily, Kurt Angle is a good interview and he carried this like many of his matches. While his responses to much of the Internet conjecture that exists about him, his drug problems and his injury issues were interesting, I always had this skepticism in the back of my mind. What ultimately shocked me in this was his comments on psychology. I personally have never found Kurt Angle to be the most logical worker, although his unparalleled athletic ability and willingness to do anything make him a great worker. Here though, he explains psychology in a manner akin to Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts or even Raven. It made me really rethink of how I've perceived Kurt Angle over the years. I took him as a great athlete who understands working, but because he didn't grow up a fan, he misses aspects and makes character mistakes (specifically being put over as a buffoon all the time). Is he instead a "moron" who gets in the ring and become a "killer" as he puts it? I'm still not sure.
The Bad
RF Video strikes again. A great talker saves much of this, but the painfully basic questions, inability to follow-up on anything, and constant "I wanna talk to you about that...later" just kills this from being a perfect shoot. The parts that seemed weakest were: not actually knowing about his amateur career, not really pressing the development prior to debuting issue and never even mentioning his noteworthy Japanese matches since leaving the WWE. Kurt Angle was great, but again RF prevented this from being a five-star interview.
The Rating: ****1/2
The Good
I had been putting this one off until I knew I could listen to it in two or three sessions because I knew it would be interesting even if I disagreed with much of Kurt Angle's commentary. The beginning of this was excellent because Kurt Angle's amateur career was so unique, so remarkable and so successful. While RF seemed to only have random questions, Angle's narrative was pretty smooth and thorough. As it got into his professional career, the intrigue level remained. After it got into his first year in the WWF, things were always muddled and confusing. Luckily, Kurt Angle is a good interview and he carried this like many of his matches. While his responses to much of the Internet conjecture that exists about him, his drug problems and his injury issues were interesting, I always had this skepticism in the back of my mind. What ultimately shocked me in this was his comments on psychology. I personally have never found Kurt Angle to be the most logical worker, although his unparalleled athletic ability and willingness to do anything make him a great worker. Here though, he explains psychology in a manner akin to Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts or even Raven. It made me really rethink of how I've perceived Kurt Angle over the years. I took him as a great athlete who understands working, but because he didn't grow up a fan, he misses aspects and makes character mistakes (specifically being put over as a buffoon all the time). Is he instead a "moron" who gets in the ring and become a "killer" as he puts it? I'm still not sure.
The Bad
RF Video strikes again. A great talker saves much of this, but the painfully basic questions, inability to follow-up on anything, and constant "I wanna talk to you about that...later" just kills this from being a perfect shoot. The parts that seemed weakest were: not actually knowing about his amateur career, not really pressing the development prior to debuting issue and never even mentioning his noteworthy Japanese matches since leaving the WWE. Kurt Angle was great, but again RF prevented this from being a five-star interview.
The Rating: ****1/2
Monday, February 8, 2010
Radio-free Insanity [club wwi] - Eric Bischoff
I came into a batch of shoot interviews from James Guttman's World Wrestling Insanity website (I owe you some money JG, but I'll give you some great free high praise for now). Guttman is definitely in the upper echelon of interviews I've heard. He may not be as tough as Gary Cubeta, as knowledgeable as Dave Meltzer, as personable as Sean Oliver (KC) or as hilarious as Dr. Keith Lipinski, but he has components of all four that make him excellent in his own way. His interviews tend to run 30 minutes to an hour, but few go much longer than that. Although you'd think that would limit their scope, he gets a lot in there and has clearly learned his craft unlike some others who've been doing it for YEARS! The audio quality is alright, but I won't squabble too much over that. The "what's going on by you?" and "anything to say to all the lil' (insert a Hulkamaniac-like name of the pro-wrestler's followers) out there?" lines are nice signatures and I've got nothing but good things to say about JG and the Radio-free Insanity, I'm even tempted to buy the book now!
I will review a couple standouts from the Club WWI archives and I strongly urge people to check it out.
The first one that really caught my ear during a long road trip was with former WCW Executive Vice-President and WWE personality, Eric Bischoff. This was before Bischoff's recent foray into TNA land.
The Good
Love him or hate him, Eric Bischoff is a great talker, a media-savvy businessman and a true visionary. He is also painful honest with his perspectives. JG is a knowledgeable and respectful interviewer who seemed to gain Bischoff's respect and therefore scored a great interview. I've heard Bischoff in several different places (from WOL and the LAW to WWE and professionally done documentaries) and he's never sounded for insightful. In just over an hour, he shows just why he was able to become a boss at WCW, take that company to new heights and explains how it fell apart. While his book has been blasted, this seems excellent to me. His use of the Von Dutch phenomenon to make a point shows how outside of the bubble he truly is.
The Bad
In all his honesty, Bischoff puts targets on himself. He has been said to have hated pro-wrestling, yet grew to respect it. That love-hate relationship gives him this quality that turns off many pro-wrestling enthusiasts. He really beats up on "dirt sheets," the Internet and pro-wrestling's core fans, which has to turn off 90% of the listeners. Although it's hard to compare a 65 minute interview to a 4 hour one, Eric Bischoff makes a very strong showing, but you really wish he'd do that career retrospective, fantasy booking or whatever shoot that could expose the goods that his book apparently lacked.
The Rating: ****1/4
I will review a couple standouts from the Club WWI archives and I strongly urge people to check it out.
The first one that really caught my ear during a long road trip was with former WCW Executive Vice-President and WWE personality, Eric Bischoff. This was before Bischoff's recent foray into TNA land.
The Good
Love him or hate him, Eric Bischoff is a great talker, a media-savvy businessman and a true visionary. He is also painful honest with his perspectives. JG is a knowledgeable and respectful interviewer who seemed to gain Bischoff's respect and therefore scored a great interview. I've heard Bischoff in several different places (from WOL and the LAW to WWE and professionally done documentaries) and he's never sounded for insightful. In just over an hour, he shows just why he was able to become a boss at WCW, take that company to new heights and explains how it fell apart. While his book has been blasted, this seems excellent to me. His use of the Von Dutch phenomenon to make a point shows how outside of the bubble he truly is.
The Bad
In all his honesty, Bischoff puts targets on himself. He has been said to have hated pro-wrestling, yet grew to respect it. That love-hate relationship gives him this quality that turns off many pro-wrestling enthusiasts. He really beats up on "dirt sheets," the Internet and pro-wrestling's core fans, which has to turn off 90% of the listeners. Although it's hard to compare a 65 minute interview to a 4 hour one, Eric Bischoff makes a very strong showing, but you really wish he'd do that career retrospective, fantasy booking or whatever shoot that could expose the goods that his book apparently lacked.
The Rating: ****1/4
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