Bad News Allen [RF Video Shoot Interview]
The Good
There a some things to consider when evaluating a shoot interview. One, is the person involved still alive (or still in their right mind)? Two, has the person done other shoot interviews before (even if they were brief radio interviews)? Three, are there any details about the time, location or circumstances involving this shoot that would substantially harm its quality? The first two questions are usually easier to answer, but that third question is often not. Bad News Allen, who I'd heard previously on WOL on Eyada, struck me as someone who would probably great every time out. He had an amazing career, he was funny storyteller, he was a no-nonsense bad ass and his judo background was fascinating as well. In any event, RF Video sat down with him and now that he has passed, the interview is a significant historical source. Allen has hilarious anecdotes, he shoots on people who he didn't like, he seems honest and thoughtful in his reflections and few have the kind of insight into New Japan that he had. Bad News was with the company for a long time as it was on its ascent and he talked about having Akira Maeda as a kohei (pupil), watching Fujinami come up, having issues with Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes and a few others. Allen also talked briefly about his stint with UWFi, which is curious. There are other experiences in his career that were interesting - working the unstable Randy Savage, feuding with Bret Hart, being "lied to" by Vince McMahon and his recollections of Dynamite Kid and Jacques Rougeau. This was just a top notch shoot and it was entirely because of the interviewee.
The Bad
Obviously, the New Japan stuff is gold for many fans. RF got into it some, but really did not push the interview in that direction as much as it could've been and probably should've been. Allen had great stories from his time there and interesting opinions on business and personalities, so that area should've been mined thoroughly. Does hearing about his short run in Florida, his inability to get into WCW or his time on the Canadian indies really need much time? Though that chronology is paramount in RF Video shoots, it is really a travesty here and took a little of the shine off one of the great shoot interviews.
The Rating: ****3/4
Showing posts with label Stampede. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stampede. Show all posts
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Torch Talk - Bulldog from `93
The Good
It is a funny to think how much things have changed since this interview from nearly two decades ago. Obviously, the face of pro-wrestling has changed and Davey Boy Smith has sadly passed away, but what struck me was how the nature of communication about pro-wrestling and the popularity of "dirt sheets" has changed. Wade Kellar is still around, but now these phone interview recorded on his answering machine that were transcribed for the Torch are now easy downloads and listens through new technology. In spite of all that, this was a stellar interview in a time before audio shoot interviews. Kellar knows his stuff and is pretty good about sneaking in some heavy questions as I've seen time and again.
The Bad
A loud beep every 15 seconds is a bit annoying and perhaps too maddening a distraction for some. Wade Kellar is much more smooth a talker than Dave Meltzer, but his wealth of knowledge is not as great. I suspect Dave would have done a vastly different interview, but perhaps not hammered some of the points such a steroids, drug abuse and all that quite as hard, if at all. Personally, I think Dave's obituary from the WON of Davey Boy Smith was better than this, yet this had the charm of Davey himself talking. At forty-five minutes the depth of this is respectable, but not as great as, say, an RF Video shoot generally-speaking. What I really missed and I imagine many others would have as well was the discussion of 1980s British wrestling, Stampede and Japan. Kellar hit on each of them, but perhaps in an effort to cater to his fans, kept those questions brief. One could probably complain because talk of his time in Wigan was so brief. Not to knit-pick because this predates the shoot interview era and was not originally intended for radio consumption, but it certainly had its flaws.
The Rating: ****
The Good
It is a funny to think how much things have changed since this interview from nearly two decades ago. Obviously, the face of pro-wrestling has changed and Davey Boy Smith has sadly passed away, but what struck me was how the nature of communication about pro-wrestling and the popularity of "dirt sheets" has changed. Wade Kellar is still around, but now these phone interview recorded on his answering machine that were transcribed for the Torch are now easy downloads and listens through new technology. In spite of all that, this was a stellar interview in a time before audio shoot interviews. Kellar knows his stuff and is pretty good about sneaking in some heavy questions as I've seen time and again.
The Bad
A loud beep every 15 seconds is a bit annoying and perhaps too maddening a distraction for some. Wade Kellar is much more smooth a talker than Dave Meltzer, but his wealth of knowledge is not as great. I suspect Dave would have done a vastly different interview, but perhaps not hammered some of the points such a steroids, drug abuse and all that quite as hard, if at all. Personally, I think Dave's obituary from the WON of Davey Boy Smith was better than this, yet this had the charm of Davey himself talking. At forty-five minutes the depth of this is respectable, but not as great as, say, an RF Video shoot generally-speaking. What I really missed and I imagine many others would have as well was the discussion of 1980s British wrestling, Stampede and Japan. Kellar hit on each of them, but perhaps in an effort to cater to his fans, kept those questions brief. One could probably complain because talk of his time in Wigan was so brief. Not to knit-pick because this predates the shoot interview era and was not originally intended for radio consumption, but it certainly had its flaws.
The Rating: ****
Saturday, September 4, 2010
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: *****
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: *****
Sunday, June 27, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Stu Hart: Lord of the Ring
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Marsha Erb
Publisher: ECW Press
Released: 5/02
The Good
Excellent overview of the life and times of a wrestling icon. Hart's childhood was extremely hard, yet he clawed his way up to becoming quite an exceptional person. There is tragedy after tragedy, which provides a very human side to the man. It is quick read with good stories without really delving into the all too colorful world of pro-wrestling all that much.
The Bad
If you have no interest in this book...don't read it. It's not really insightful to wrestling, but it's not designed to be. This lacks the insider stuff that many people might want and a lot of the dirt and it's close to the DiBiase book, however it has much more content and even his story is more uplifting and fascinating.
The Rating: ***
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Marsha Erb
Publisher: ECW Press
Released: 5/02
The Good
Excellent overview of the life and times of a wrestling icon. Hart's childhood was extremely hard, yet he clawed his way up to becoming quite an exceptional person. There is tragedy after tragedy, which provides a very human side to the man. It is quick read with good stories without really delving into the all too colorful world of pro-wrestling all that much.
The Bad
If you have no interest in this book...don't read it. It's not really insightful to wrestling, but it's not designed to be. This lacks the insider stuff that many people might want and a lot of the dirt and it's close to the DiBiase book, however it has much more content and even his story is more uplifting and fascinating.
The Rating: ***
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Tom Billington, Alison Coleman
Publisher: Stewart House
Released: 8/01
The Good
There's not a lot more one can want from an autobiography: funny road stories, pretty good insight, dirt on all the stars and a strong finale. While you might only demand one of those, so few wrestler's autobiographies deliver 3 of the 4 that it's sad. Billington's been in Europe, Canada, Japan and the States and he gives all the details. He lightens things up with funny stories and considering his apparent meanstreak it's necessary to have those parts. Puroresu fans should enjoy this more than just about anyone's books. Most compliment this book for its unbridaled honesty and he doesn't seem to pull punches and that's more a positive in wrestling than a negative...I think.
The Bad
Bitterness can be very off-putting. Billington's hatred of Davey Boy Smith and dislike of a number of people is kind of hard to overlook as he blasts so many people. He tends to give a negative along with a slight positive (like "he was an asshole, but he was good with ribs") and his "rating" system of tough guys is questionable. Many of them seem to be his drinking buddies. If you realize those few things, you should be able to get through this just fine without too many hang-ups.
The Rating: ****1/4
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Tom Billington, Alison Coleman
Publisher: Stewart House
Released: 8/01
The Good
There's not a lot more one can want from an autobiography: funny road stories, pretty good insight, dirt on all the stars and a strong finale. While you might only demand one of those, so few wrestler's autobiographies deliver 3 of the 4 that it's sad. Billington's been in Europe, Canada, Japan and the States and he gives all the details. He lightens things up with funny stories and considering his apparent meanstreak it's necessary to have those parts. Puroresu fans should enjoy this more than just about anyone's books. Most compliment this book for its unbridaled honesty and he doesn't seem to pull punches and that's more a positive in wrestling than a negative...I think.
The Bad
Bitterness can be very off-putting. Billington's hatred of Davey Boy Smith and dislike of a number of people is kind of hard to overlook as he blasts so many people. He tends to give a negative along with a slight positive (like "he was an asshole, but he was good with ribs") and his "rating" system of tough guys is questionable. Many of them seem to be his drinking buddies. If you realize those few things, you should be able to get through this just fine without too many hang-ups.
The Rating: ****1/4
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: ****
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 6, 2010
Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Bret Hart
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: 11/09
The Good
It has been said that you really have to be a Bret Hart fan to enjoy his matches, his commentary and his legacy. This book in its great detail, accuracy and honesty is one that someone whose not a fan of Bret Hart could enjoy. It seems as though most any pro-wrestling fan could find something to enjoy in this book. There is the story of the Harts, the early years on the road, the up-and-down years in the WWF, the WCW debacle and Bret Hart's post-career struggles. Normally the “growing up” section in a pro-wrestling book is hit-or-miss, but this is unique. The saga of the Hart family from the lean years in which the kids grew up and the wildness of being a wrestling family to the mind-boggling tragedy and harsh splits make for good reading. More casual fans will certainly be satisfied with the time given to the WWF and WCW years, in which Bret Hart's legacy was established (and perhaps severely tainted). It could be argued however that what sets this book apart is the attention given to some rarely detailed places. Bret Hart's accounts of wrestling in Puerto Rico, Britain and Japan are fantastic as he has great tales to tell and actually talks about the people. Fans with a deeper knowledge can appreciate these parts, while casual fans should not be bored with them. It is nice to read a book by someone who could really name-drop, but he chooses to acknowledge some of the forgotten names of the past. There is definitely good voice to this autobiography and since Bret Hart was never really the most charismatic promo, the format of a book work best for him. His shoot interviews and such are interesting, but referring to his notes and expert editing helps create a uniquely excellent product. This is certainly a must-read for any pro-wrestling fan.
The Bad
When Bret Hart first began talking about publishing his autobiography, he spoke of an extensive trilogy. This seemed like a publisher's nightmare and unsurprisingly it did not come to fruition. It is unfortunate because Hart's detailed notes of the past make for an autobiography that is exceptional. This boiled down version (over 500 pages no less) is great, but it makes one think about the possibilities that could've been. As for the problems with the actual book that was released, Bret Hart could perhaps come across as a bitter old-timer with a warped view of the past. Oddly this was his gripe with the Dynamite Kid's book. The Montreal Screwjob, the death of Owen Hart, the fallout with Vince McMahon and the sudden ending of his career all come across as one would expect with Hart's long held perspective being detailed and supported more articulately than in previous interviews. Depending on your perspective, Bret Hart could come across as bitter as he has for years. If you agree with Hart on all these accounts, then that is probably not an issue. What may color your view of Bret Hart are his many infidelities and attempts to justify them. While many autobiographies probably dodge this issue, Bret Hart goes into great detail about his major vice on the road. Like Jerry Lawler, it makes him seem like a braggart at times, but unlike Lawler he does not seem as pathetic about clinging to that past of sexual conquests. He seems brutally honest about that part of his life and shares stories of drugs, booze and steroids that apply not only to him, but his friends, family and co-workers.
The Rating: *****
Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Bret Hart
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Released: 11/09
The Good
It has been said that you really have to be a Bret Hart fan to enjoy his matches, his commentary and his legacy. This book in its great detail, accuracy and honesty is one that someone whose not a fan of Bret Hart could enjoy. It seems as though most any pro-wrestling fan could find something to enjoy in this book. There is the story of the Harts, the early years on the road, the up-and-down years in the WWF, the WCW debacle and Bret Hart's post-career struggles. Normally the “growing up” section in a pro-wrestling book is hit-or-miss, but this is unique. The saga of the Hart family from the lean years in which the kids grew up and the wildness of being a wrestling family to the mind-boggling tragedy and harsh splits make for good reading. More casual fans will certainly be satisfied with the time given to the WWF and WCW years, in which Bret Hart's legacy was established (and perhaps severely tainted). It could be argued however that what sets this book apart is the attention given to some rarely detailed places. Bret Hart's accounts of wrestling in Puerto Rico, Britain and Japan are fantastic as he has great tales to tell and actually talks about the people. Fans with a deeper knowledge can appreciate these parts, while casual fans should not be bored with them. It is nice to read a book by someone who could really name-drop, but he chooses to acknowledge some of the forgotten names of the past. There is definitely good voice to this autobiography and since Bret Hart was never really the most charismatic promo, the format of a book work best for him. His shoot interviews and such are interesting, but referring to his notes and expert editing helps create a uniquely excellent product. This is certainly a must-read for any pro-wrestling fan.
The Bad
When Bret Hart first began talking about publishing his autobiography, he spoke of an extensive trilogy. This seemed like a publisher's nightmare and unsurprisingly it did not come to fruition. It is unfortunate because Hart's detailed notes of the past make for an autobiography that is exceptional. This boiled down version (over 500 pages no less) is great, but it makes one think about the possibilities that could've been. As for the problems with the actual book that was released, Bret Hart could perhaps come across as a bitter old-timer with a warped view of the past. Oddly this was his gripe with the Dynamite Kid's book. The Montreal Screwjob, the death of Owen Hart, the fallout with Vince McMahon and the sudden ending of his career all come across as one would expect with Hart's long held perspective being detailed and supported more articulately than in previous interviews. Depending on your perspective, Bret Hart could come across as bitter as he has for years. If you agree with Hart on all these accounts, then that is probably not an issue. What may color your view of Bret Hart are his many infidelities and attempts to justify them. While many autobiographies probably dodge this issue, Bret Hart goes into great detail about his major vice on the road. Like Jerry Lawler, it makes him seem like a braggart at times, but unlike Lawler he does not seem as pathetic about clinging to that past of sexual conquests. He seems brutally honest about that part of his life and shares stories of drugs, booze and steroids that apply not only to him, but his friends, family and co-workers.
The Rating: *****
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
In honor of Bret Hart's return to live WWF/WWE television, here's a review of his WWE distributed documentary and DVD set from 2005:
Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be
Director: Kevin Dunn
Released By: WWE Home Video
Release Date: 11/05
The Rating: *****
Release Date: 11/05
Featured Talent: Animal, Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, Jerry Brisco,Christian, Bret Hart, Jimmy Hart, Steve Lombardi, Vince McMahon, Gene Okerland, Roddy Piper, Bruce Pritchard, Jim Ross
The Good
The Bret Hart story is one of the most fascinating in pro-wrestling and this WWE production with Hart's close involvement does a respectable job. His early years are covered in pretty good depth, which is not often the opposite in these documentaries. It talks about his amateur background, his legendary father and shows more Stampede than you would expect. Although it is in highlight form (Stampede's library is limited), it focuses on his greatest rivals, which are consequential some under appreciated talents like the Kiwis (later known as the Bushwackers), Bad News Allen, The Stomp, David Schultz and it shows plenty of the Dynamite Kid. Then his legendary thirteen year run with the WWF is covered in great depth. From his early days as a near jobber and later half of the extremely talented Hart Foundation, his abilities as a young worker and heel are displayed. Then his singles days as the “excellent” Intercontinental Champion workhorse, the unlikely World Champion and then the superstar in his prime. This climbing-the-ladder story is a simple and frequently used one on the WWE documentaries, but it plays well here because it is a drawn out story. After he reached the pinnacle, it discusses the many hardships that befell him – unexpected hatred from the American fans, the Montreal screwjob, his pathetic WCW run, the death of Owen Hart, his sudden retirement and his stroke in 2002. The documentary stays away from the numerous deaths that Bret experienced over the last ten years and that prevents this from becoming too morbid, although the DVD Extras has a nice piece about Bret's dead colleagues. This a well put together DVD package and it has many great matches to boot. The star commentary here is from, not surprisingly, Bret Hart himself and the DVD Extras add some of the bits that couldn't neatly fit into the documentary.The Bad
In these WWE documentaries there is often a lack of duality to the commentary. Bret Hart really believes in his legacy and he is the overwhelming presence here and not many other views squeak into the story. Vince McMahon and Jim Ross provide some good perspective, but they are not exactly critics of Bret Hart. This is not surprising because it was a tricky operation to put this DVD package together. There is a shocking lack of diversity to the commentators though, which is tragic. None of his family members are featured, most notably Jim Neidhart, there is a lack of Stampede personalities and even old veterans (Nick Bockwinkel, Harley Race, etc.) who could have been interviewed. There is plenty of Ed Whalen in the Stampede highlights, which is unfortunate because it makes the product seem so far league. Otherwise, this is a solid documentary and a great DVD package.The Rating: *****
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