Don Muraco [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
Don Muraco is one of pro-wrestling's greatest heels and that run came after years of being a great babyface in the mold of Jack Brisco. Here, he shoots with RF Video in one of their earliest interviews and he really delivers. This was back when they traveled to interview folks in their homes and the relaxed atmosphere, the different feel (although at the time there weren't really many other shoots out there) and the length of the interviews make this a different kind of entity that is in many way preferable to their current shoots in hotels with the giant RF Video banner and even better video and audio quality. Muraco, infamous for leaving a territory to go back home to surf, has to be more relaxed and perhaps more honest in his own Hawaiian home. As for the content of this, it is great. Rock-N-Wrestling era fans will probably be satisfied with Muraco's thoughts on that era, how things changed from the WWF period before that and what the whole atmosphere of non-stop travel, drugs and working does to a man. He was honest about his own steroid use (and how couldn't he be when you look at his body's change in the late 80s) and is pretty frank about other individuals. Outside of that era, Muraco talks about his early years touring around from the Pacific Northwest and the AWA to Florida and San Francisco. He has fond memories of many people and angles, so he doesn't come across as bitter in the least. Although it was brief, I really dug his reflections on Hawaiian wrestling. It is such an overlooked place and it was so unique in its day that any recollections are appreciated, especially since few of those stars remain. The highlight of this had to be listening to Don Muraco talk about the WWF era right before the national push. His feuds with Jimmy Snuka, Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales are legendary and I loved listening to him reflect on that un-romanticized period of WWF history (it was no surprise that KFC brought him in for their 1983 WWF Timeline shoot). I went to the RF Video website recently and noticed the people pictured at the top were people who are big stars or majorly controversial and Don Muraco's face stuck out. Now I can understand why he was included - he's a fantastic interview.

The Bad
RF Video traveled to Hawaii and didn't secure interviews with the various legends of the island? Curtis Iaukea (who has since passed away)? Lord James Blears? Ed Francis? I sometimes feel like RF Video was kind of short-sighted in there early shoot interviews. They at least interview seemingly anyone and everyone now, but they tend to limit themselves to convention attendees and more modern performers. Perhaps they tried, but after hearing Rob Feinstein's own shoot, it seems like he and Doug Gentry were flying by the seat of their pants with these early shoots. It just makes me sad because it seems like their work is so important to preserving aspects of pro-wrestling's history, but they seem more into the bottom-line than that dimension of it. Although I guess Gary Cubeta and 57Talk would be the flipside and their free content, while amazing, was plagued with server issues and grumpy bosses. Now moving past that tirade to my actual gripes about this shoot interview. Feinstein's lack of product knowledge was just glaring here as it occasionally is. It's as if he has certain people attributed to certain times and places and he just name-drops. Sometimes that works out well, sometimes it is disastrous as people who don't fit in are mentioned, people are brought up out of context and others are left out entirely. I kind of expect that going in, but it always annoys me because it definitely detracts from the quality.

The Rating: ****1/2

Lanny Poffo [57Talk Shoot Interview]

The Good
An early shoot interview by Gary Cubeta and it is very good, largely because he's interviewing Lanny Poffo. Although you might know him as the effeminate heel known as The Genius, the younger brother of Randy Savage or even WWF jobber Leapin' Lanny Poffo, this guy can talk and is one of the best shoot interviews there is. His RF Video shoot really opened a lot of eyes to his abilities and thankfully he's gotten more interviews as a result. Gary, always with the focused questions, spends a lot of time talking about the Sheik and Detroit, the ICW and his time with Hulk Hogan in the WWF. I enjoy that approach because it makes this a very different interview (although not as different as Lanny's anti-communist rant against Canada's national healthcare when he was on the LAW). I thought the discussions on hardcore wrestling, steroids and developing one's persona were all great, insightful parts to this 90 minute shoot.

The Bad
With Gary Cubeta's interviews, there is always the issue of the bits and pieces being left out. Since he does not try to shoehorn a career retrospective into an hour and a half, he leaves a lot out. Sometimes those parts are very significant and sometimes he never hooks back up with that person. I always enjoy Lanny's little sayings and such, but he seemed to have a few foul balls here. I guess it was early in the morning or something. Anyway, I feel this was a good, but not the best performance by Lanny Poffo.

The Rating: ***3/4

Sex, Lies and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince MacMahon and the World Wrestling Federation


Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Shaun Assael, Mike Mooneyham
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Released: 7/02

The Good
For anyone who doesn't know much about wrestling in America pre-last week, you might want to buy this book. Assael not only covers Vinny Mac, but his dad, the NWA, Turner, WCW, Mid-South, Watts, the steroid trial and on and on. Basically he gives a nice overview of the ongoings of the post-NWA era and even covers some of that stuff too. I strongly suggest this to anyone who isn't a long-time WON or Torch reader.


The Bad
This is an overview - like 3/4 of the story at most. For people who know their stuff this'll be just a different take on the same story. Some issues are skirted, some short-changed and some half-truths, but that's to be expected from an "outsider." You get some dirt, but nothing scandelous if that's what you're looking for. I've heard the transitions are bad, so I suppose a base knowledge is required, they really didn't lose me in any parts. Some parts are less interesting and the more you know the less you'll care.


The Rating: ****

Paul Ellering [RF Video Shoot Interview]



The Good
Sometimes people who were around big stars can provide a level of perception that those big stars cannot or would not share. The Road Warriors did a fairly early RF Video shoot and it is one of the most famous, especially since Hawk's death has prevented anything like that from ever happening. Paul Ellering was a "shoot manager" like Gary Hart and a few others, who legitimately took a talent and molded it. Ellering managed a few different people, but it was the Road Warriors who he will always be identified with. They talk briefly about his experiences breaking in, his less-than-stellar runs in some well-regarded territories and the injuries that ended his active career. Then they get into his decade with the Road Warriors when they toured the world as a huge attraction. Ellering has so many interesting stories and pieces of information to share, but I think I prefer him in sound bytes than in a lengthy interview.

The Bad
This was an odd shoot interview. I've never found Paul Ellering to be the best interview in this capacity and when RF's questions get disorganized, Paul gets emotional about Hawk's death and things start getting too heavy, they rush to the wrap-up. This could have gone another 30 minutes, but it just kind of went to hell. Rob unexplainably confuses their WWF runs as he jumps from their departure from WCW to Paul's time with the DOA and back to working at Wembley Stadium and then to Hawk's pathetic drunk angle. It is all so muddled and pointless. When they get into Hawk's death, Paul gets a little upset and RF is unable to continue with clear and compassionate questions. They talk about his drug abuse, his self-destructive ways and it is all rushed. This was a decent interview that got worse at the point that it should have gotten better (so to speak). This revealed some of Rob's greatest weaknesses as an interviewer.

The Rating: ***1/4

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: ****

Twenty Years Too Soon
Directors: Kevin Dunn
Distributor: WWE Home Video
Released: 1/06 

Featured Talent
Brad Baker (pastor), Freddie Blassie, Gerald Brisco, John Cena, Christian, Valerie Coleman (Billy Graham's wife), Ric Flair, Jimmy Hart, Bobby Heenan, Hulk Hogan, Superstar Billy Graham, Steve Lombardi, Shawn Michaels, Gene Okerland, Randy Orton, Bruce Pritchard, Dusty Rhodes, Jim Ross, Triple H 

The Good
“Superstar” Billy Graham is a unique brand of pro-wrestler whose packaged presentation changed the sport as much as anyone else. Although his autobiography is one of, if not the best released by the WWE. However, the Superstar's jive-talkin' rap and his distinctly colorful appearance lends itself best to a production such as this. Aside from that he is such a great talker and storyteller that just himself and the clips is enough to make this top notch. Then there is the issue of his religious side, which comes across more vividly as well. The approach to some contemporaries of Billy Graham from Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund to Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura is largely fair although all have spotty histories with Vince McMahon. A lot of credit is given to Superstar's innovations, which is nice to see because old-timers do not always get the credit they deserve in this regard. Not surprisingly much focus is given to his fall. His drug abuse is depicted honestly, the discussion of steroids is interesting (although questionable in its fairness and accuracy), the burial of his later martial arts character is necessary and his grudge against Vince is handled much the way you would expect it to be. In the end, Billy Graham says bluntly, “I would do it again!” and believes the reward was worth the countless physical problems he's faced. All of that content aside, the production of this is excellent. WWE always puts out a decent product, but this has exceptionally good music and this neat reoccurring visual with images of Superstar Graham on a TV from that era. This is inarguably one of the WWE's few successes in that regard. 

The Bad
This documentary has the usual flaws - missing footage, missing personalities, missing interviews and a skewed version of history. Coming from a humble background, Graham's early life is limited to a handful of photographs. Unfortunately they are shown over and over again with these scrolling shots that grow obnoxious. There are similar limitations with his career before his AWA run because there is no footage shown and often later footage or photos are shown in lieu of more time-appropriate material. While many people are mentioned, many are not, or they are but in only as a passing detail. From Dr. Jerry Graham and Wahoo McDaniel early in his career to the Grand Wizard, Ivan Koloff, Chief Jay Strongbow and Ivan Putski later in his career, there are a number of people who get little mention, needless to say being interviewed. While its no surprise that Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund and even Jesse Ventura are not interviewed, why could they not get Pat Patterson? As for the historical inadequacies, there are several of note. The footage shown really makes Superstar Graham's in-ring work look good, although he was (by his own admission) a limited worker. Vince McMahon is put over strongly in this as a really nice guy who was taken to court by the Federal Government in a trial that was a sham, but it is widely known that Vince has a reputation as a tough businessman who rewards bodies that are often built with steroids. This documentary is too limited to scope to be considered “great,” but it is very good for what it is. 

The Rating: ****3/4