Pride FC (2003 - 2004)

In 2002, Pride FC co-promoted with K-1 the largest MMA show to date (as of 10 years later) and their momentum continued into the following year.  The year started off grimly with the death of the president of Dream Stage Entertainment (their parent company).  Speculation that he was involved with the yakuza or had been evading taxes died down in what was the most momentous year for the company, but rumors of shady goings-on with DSE would return.  The company expanded dramatically introducing the Bushido brand with lighter fighters and penalties for stalling, which held five events over the next two years.  Pride also brought back the tournament format for their middleweights, which led to a card of nearly 70,000 for the final fights at year's end.  The following year, a heavyweight tournament was highly success as well.  Amazingly, scandal and poor management was around the corner for Pride FC.

Why does this belong on a blog about pro-wrestling?

Pro-wrestling made Pride.  In these first eight events offered up by Pride you'll see some legendary fighters, some fighters who would become legendary and a large number of pro-wrestlers.  After the repeated attempts to build a shoot-style promotion, Pride FC became the solution.  It most certainly had fixed fights, rampant drug abuse and the no athletic commissions making sure everything was legit.  They offered the kind of colorful cards that UFC and other American companies could not and still do not.

Look through the cards and you will notice approximately 25 men who had been, would be or dabbled in pro-wrestling (from the WWF and New Japan to UWFi and U-Style).

**Explanation of my rating system - I devised a odd little system to evaluate fights.  I based my ratings on entertainment value, skill displayed, energy displayed and finish.  This tends to mean that slugfests and high-paced mat battles rate higher than lay n' pray snoozers and "squash matches".  I also tried to include how the majority of the fight looked in two parts.  Part 1 - standing, on the ground or a combination.  Part 2 - striking, hooking or a combination**

Pride FC 2000 - 2002

Pride Fighting Championships reinvented Mixed Martial Arts in Japan and abroad.  Big money, big names and big events turned Pride FC brought the seemingly dead genre back and helped it reach the success in sees today.  After establishing themselves with some hit-or-miss cards in the late 1990s, Pride FC would reach amazing heights over the next few years.
Why does this belong on a blog about pro-wrestling?
Pro-wrestling made Pride.  In these first eight events offered up by Pride you'll see some legendary fighters, some fighters who would become legendary and a large number of pro-wrestlers.  After the repeated attempts to build a shoot-style promotion, Pride FC became the solution.  It most certainly had fixed fights, rampant drug abuse and the no athletic commissions making sure everything was legit.  They offered the kind of colorful cards that UFC and other American companies could not and still do not.

Look through the cards and you will notice approximately 25 men who had been, would be or dabbled in pro-wrestling (from the WWF and New Japan to UWFi and RINGS).

**Explanation of my rating system - I devised a odd little system to evaluate fights.  I based my ratings on entertainment value, skill displayed, energy displayed and finish.  This tends to mean that slugfests and high-paced mat battles rate higher than lay n' pray snoozers and "squash matches".  I also tried to include how the majority of the fight looked in two parts.  Part 1 - standing, on the ground or a combination.  Part 2 - striking, hooking or a combination**

Pride 25 - Body Blow
Date of Event: 3/16/03
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten
- Opening Video featuring Vanderlei Silva
1. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Rogerio Noguiera - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Steibling interview
2. Akira Shoji vs. Alex Steibling - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Newton/Silva interviews
3. Anderson Silva vs. Carlos Newton - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Henderson interview
4. Dan Henderson vs. Shungo Oyama - ***1/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Elvis interview
5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Elvis Schembri - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Randleman/Jackson interviews
6. Quinton Jackson vs. Kevin Randleman - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Jackson/Silva confrontation, Noguiera & Fedor interviews
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight Championship) - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)


Pride 26 - Bad to the Bone
Date of Event: 6/8/03
Length: 2 hrs
Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten
- Show introduction, fighter intros
1. Elvis Schembri vs. Kazuhiro Hamanaka - *** (Combo/Combo)
2. Anderson Silva vs. Daijyu Takase - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
3. Alistair Overeem vs. Mike Bencic - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)
- Jackson interview
4. Quinton Jackson vs. Mikhail Illhoukhine - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Jackson interview, intermission highlights
5. Fedor Emelinenko vs. Kazuyuki Fujita - ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Herring & Crocop interview
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Heath Herring - ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Frye & Coleman interview
7. Don Frye vs. Mark Coleman - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Coleman promo & interview


Pride Grand Prix - Total Elimination
Date of Event: 8/10/03
Length: 2 hrs 45 mins
Commentary: Damon Perry & Bas Rutten
- Preshow, Rutten-Perry intros, fighter intros
- Goodridge interview
1. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Gary Goodridge - ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Liddell video & interview, Overeem interview
2. Chuck Liddell vs. Alistair Overeem - ***3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Liddell, Jackson, Bustamante interviews
3. Quinton Jackson vs. Murillo Bustamante - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Rodriguez & Noguiera interviews
4. Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera vs. Ricco Rodriguez - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Inoki with Shoji, Nakamura, Sakurai, Mishima and Oyama
- Crocop interview
5. Mirko Crocop vs. Igor Vovchanchyn - *** (Standing/Striking)
6. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - **** (Standing/Combo)
7. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva - *** (Standing/Striking)


Pride Bushido
Date of Event: 10/5/03
Length: 3 hours
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Royce Gracie
- Show intro with drumming, fighter intros
1. Chris Brennan vs. Eiji Mitsuoka - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Brennan interview
2. Khalid Arrab vs. Rodney Faverus - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Gracie interviews
3. Carlos Newton vs. Renzo Gracie - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
4. Ralph Gracie vs. Dokonjonosuke Mishima - ***3/4 (Combo/Combo)
5. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Daniel Gracie - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
6. Rodrigo Gracie vs. Daijyu Takase - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Royce & Yoshida interviews
7. Ryan Gracie vs. Kazuhiro Hamanaka - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
8. Mauricio Rua vs. Akira Shoji - **** (Combo/Striking)
- Crocop & Caras interviews
9. Mirko Crocop vs. Dos Caras Jr. - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)


Pride Grand Prix - Final Conflict
Date of Event: 11/9/03
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Damon Perry & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Randy Couture
- Total Elimination highlights, Preshow w/ Couture, Fighter Intros
1. Gary Goodridge vs. Dan Bobish - ** (Standing/Striking)
- Jackson/Liddell interviews & highlights
2. Quinton Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Silva interview
3. Vanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Hype Video
4. Dan Henderson vs. Murillo Bustamante - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Randleman interview
5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kevin Randleman - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Crocop/Noguiera interviews
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Interim Heavyweight Championship) - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Interim Championship presentation
7. Vanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Award Ceremony, Show Close


Pride - Shockwave 2003
Date of Event: 12/31/03
Length: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Commentary: Japanese commentators
- Opening with Takada, Fighter Intros
1. Quinton Jackson vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
2. Heath Herring vs. Giant Silva [no 2nd] - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)
3. Murilo Rua vs. Akira Shoji - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Hype for Hustle I w/ Takada, Hashimoto, Ogawa and Goldberg
4. Royce Gracie vs. Hidehiko Yoshida - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Clips of Frye, Tamura, Saku, Nogueira
5. Gary Goodridge vs. Don Frye - *** (Standing/Striking)
- Gooridge interview
6. Daniel Gracie vs. Wataru Sakata - *** (Ground/Combo)
7. Yuki Kondo vs. Mario Sperry - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
8. Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Rony Sefo - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Ringside discussion, Highlights: Saku-Jackson, Saku-Randleman
9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Rogerio Nogueira - ****1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Closing Highlight Reel


Pride 27 - Inferno
Date of Event: 2/1/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
- Music Video, Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
- Bobish interview
1. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Dan Bobish - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Peterson interview
2. Sergei Kharitonov vs. "L.A. Giant" Cory Peterson - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Murillo "Ninja" Rua low blowing Alexander Otsuka
- Dos Caras Jr. interview
3. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Dos Caras Jr. - **1/4 (Combo/Combo)
4. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Alexander Otsuka - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Kerr interview
5. Mark Kerr vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
- Kerr interview, McGee & Herring interviews
6. Heath Herring vs. Gan McGee - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Ron Waterman - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Crocop promo, Crocop interview, Pride Girls closing


Pride Bushido 2
Date of Event: 2/15/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Mario Sperry, Renzo Gracie
- Rutten/Ranallo Opening, Fighter Intros
1. Choi Mae Base vs. Yusuke Imamura - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
2. Yushin Okami vs. Ryuta Sakurai - *** (Ground/Combo)
3. Yasuhito Namekawa vs. Egidijus Valavicius - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Sherk interview
4. Sean Sherk vs. Ryuki Ueyama - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Sherk, Sperry and Bencic interviews
5. Mario Sperry vs. Mike Bencic - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Sperry, Noguiera and Brennan interviews
6. Daijyu Takase vs. Chris Brennan - **3/4 (Ground/Hooking)
- Rodrigo, Ryan and Renzo interviews
7. Rodrigo Gracie vs. Hayato Sakurai - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Crocop interview
8. Mirko Crocop vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Crocop promo, Rutten spying on Chute Boxe team
9. Takanori Gomi vs. Jadson Costa - *** (Ground/Striking)
- Gomi promo
10. Mauricio Rua vs. Akihiro Gono - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)
11. Vanderlei Silva vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Silva promo


Pride GP - Total Elimination 2004
Date of Event: 4/25/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Heath Herring, Chuck Liddell
- Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
- Herring interview
1. Heath Herring vs. Yoshiki Takahashi - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Rua interview
2. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Sergei Kharitonov - ***3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Silva & Sentoryu interviews
3. Giant Silva vs. Sentoryu - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Silva-Kondo hype, Schilt & McGee interviews
4. Semmy Schilt vs. Gan McGee - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Leko interview
5. Naoya Ogawa vs. Stefan Leko - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Sakuraba promo, Crocop & Randleman interviews
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Kevin Randleman - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Mark Hunt promo, Nogueira interview
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Hirotaka Yokoi - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Fedor interview
8. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mark Coleman - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
- "Great Eight" intros & promos
- Interviews: Randleman, Noguiera, Hunt


Pride Bushido 3
Date of Event: 5/23/04
Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Matt Hume
Guest Commentary: Renzo Gracie
- Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
1. Katsuhisa Fujii vs. Kim Jin Oh - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
2. Alexandre Emelienko vs. Matt Foki - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)
3. Kazuo Misaki vs. Jorge Patino - **** (Combo/Combo)
- Newton interview
4. Carlos Newton vs. Daijyu Takase - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
5. Akira Shoji vs. Tamakairiki - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Shoji promo, Chalid interview
6. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Chalid Die Faust - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Crocop interview
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Hiromitsu Kanehara - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Team Gracie interviews
8. Ricardo Almeida vs. Ryo Chonan - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
9. Ralph Gracie vs. Takanori Gomi - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
10. Ryan Gracie vs. Ikuhisa Minowa - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Hype for Critical Countdown


Pride Grand Prix - Critical Countdown
Date of Event: 6/20/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Intro w/ announcers, fighter intros
1. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Elvis Schembri - *** (Combo/Striking)
- Saku promo, Arona & Jackson interviews
2. Quinton Jackson vs. Ricardo Arona - ***3/4 (Combo/Combo)
3. Sergei Kharitonov vs. Semmy Schilt - ***1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Silva interview
4. Naoya Ogawa vs. Giant Silva - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)
- Hunt interview
5. Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Mark Hunt - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Herring & Nogueira interviews
6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring - ****1/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Randleman & Fedor interviews
7. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kevin Randleman - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
- Fedor promo, Final Four presentation


Pride Bushido 4
Date of Event: 7/19/04
Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Introduction with announcers and fighters
1. Luis Buscape vs. Hiroyuki Abe - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
2. Dokonjonosuke Mishima vs. Marcus Aurelio - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Mishima promo, Final Conflict commercial, Lister int.
3. Amar Suloev vs. Dean Lister
4. Hayato Sakurai vs. Brady Fink - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)
5. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Kenichi Yamamoto - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
6. Takashi Sugiura vs. Giant Silva - *** (Ground/Striking)
- Crocop interview
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Shungo Oyama - *** (Standing/Striking)
- Crocop promo, BTT featurette
8. Paulo Filho vs. Akira Shoji - ** (Standing/Striking)
9. Takanori Gomi vs. Fabio Mello - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)
10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - *** (Combo/Striking)


Pride Grand Prix - Final Conflict
Date of Event: 8/15/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Intro w/ announcers, drum & fighter intros
1. Murillo Bustamante vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Kharitonov & Noguiera interviews
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Sergei Kharitonov - ****1/4 (Combo/Combo)
- Fedor interview
3. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Naoya Ogawa - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Waterman & Randleman interviews
4. Ron Waterman vs. Kevin Randleman - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Crocop & Alexandre interviews
5. Mirko Crocop vs. Alexandre Emelianenko - ***1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Crocop promo, Silva interview
6. Vanderlei Silva vs. Yuki Kondo - ***1/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Semifinal highlights
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight GP Finals) - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)


Pride Bushido 5
Date of Event: 10/14/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Quinton Jackson
- Intro w/ announcers, drum & fighter intros
1. Mauricio Rua vs. Yasuhito Namekawa - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Sentoryu & Foki twins int.
2. Sentoryu vs. Mal Foki - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)
- Sentoryu promo
3. Luis Buscape vs. Masakazu Imanari - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
4. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Ryuki Ueyama - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)
5. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Katsuhisa Fujii - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Newton int.
6. Ryo Chonan vs. Carlos Newton - ***3/4 (Ground/Combo)
- Chonan promo
7. Crosley Gracie vs. Hayato Sakurai - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Bennett int.
8. Takanori Gomi vs. Charles Bennett - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)
- Gomi promo, Bennett int., Frye-Takayama clip


Pride 28 - High Octane
Date of Event: 10/31/04
Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Mario Sperry
- Intro w/ announcers, Herring int.
1. Heath Herring vs. Hirotaka Yokoi - *** (Ground/Striking)
- Pride Knockouts preview
2. Ricardo Arona vs. Sergei Ignatev - *** (Ground/Combo)
- Bushido 5 commercial, Thompson int.
3. Alexandre Emelianenko vs. James Thompson - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)
- Overeem int.
4. Alistair Overeem vs. Hiromitsu Kanehara - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)
- Hunt & Bobish int.
5. Mark Hunt vs. Dan Bobish - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Henderson int.
6. Dan Henderson vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
- Barnett & Crocop int.
7. Mirko Crocop vs. Josh Barnett - DUD
- Silva-Jackson hype
8. Vanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson - **** (Combo/Striking)
- Announcers closing, Takada promo, Gardiner-Yoshida hype, Gardiner int.


Pride Shockwave 2004
Date of Event: 12/31/04
Length: 3 hours
Commentary: Mauro Ranallo & Bas Rutten
Guest Commentary: Randy Couture
- Intro w/ announcers
1. Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Stefan Leko - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)
2. Giant Silva vs. Choi Mae Base - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)
3. Ryan Gracie vs. Yoji Anjo - ** (Ground/Combo)
4. Ryo Chonan vs. Anderson Silva - **** (Combo/Combo)
5. Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Rulon Gardiner - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)
6. Mirko Crocop vs. Kevin Randleman - **3/4 (Standing/Combo)
7. Dan Henderson vs. Yuki Kondo - **** (Combo/Combo)
8. Takanori Gomi vs. Jens Pulver - **** (Standing/Striking)
9. Vanderlei Silva vs. Mark Hunt - ****1/2 (Combo/Striking)
- Fedor-Noguiera hype
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko (Heavyweight Championship) - *** (Combo/Striking)

Pride FC (2000 - 2002)


Pride Fighting Championships reinvented Mixed Martial Arts in Japan and abroad.  Big money, big names and big events turned Pride FC brought the seemingly dead genre back and helped it reach the success in sees today.  After establishing themselves with some hit-or-miss cards in the late 1990s, Pride FC would reach amazing heights over the next few years.  Not since their initial card in 1997 had they neared the 50,000 attendance number, but they did several times in 2000 and had their biggest card of over 90,000 in the summer of 2002.  While they saw bigger business years in the next few years, Pride reached a level of mainstream success while still maintaining their distinct appeal and style during this era.

Why does this belong on a blog about pro-wrestling?

Pro-wrestling made Pride.  In these first eight events offered up by Pride you'll see some legendary fighters, some fighters who would become legendary and a large number of pro-wrestlers.  After the repeated attempts to build a shoot-style promotion, Pride FC became the solution.  It most certainly had fixed fights, rampant drug abuse and the no athletic commissions making sure everything was legit.  They offered the kind of colorful cards that UFC and other American companies could not and still do not.

Look through the cards and you will notice approximately 15 men who had been, would be or dabbled in pro-wrestling (from the WWF and New Japan to UWFi and RINGS).

**Explanation of my rating system - I devised a odd little system to evaluate fights.  I based my ratings on entertainment value, skill displayed, energy displayed and finish.  This tends to mean that slugfests and high-paced mat battles rate higher than lay n' pray snoozers and "squash matches".  I also tried to include how the majority of the fight looked in two parts.  Part 1 - standing, on the ground or a combination.  Part 2 - striking, hooking or a combination**

Pride FC 2000 - 2002

Pride Fighting Championships reinvented Mixed Martial Arts in Japan and abroad.  Big money, big names and big events turned Pride FC brought the seemingly dead genre back and helped it reach the success in sees today.  After establishing themselves with some hit-or-miss cards in the late 1990s, Pride FC would reach amazing heights over the next few years.

Why does this belong on a blog about pro-wrestling?

Pro-wrestling made Pride.  In these first eight events offered up by Pride you'll see some legendary fighters, some fighters who would become legendary and a large number of pro-wrestlers.  After the repeated attempts to build a shoot-style promotion, Pride FC became the solution.  It most certainly had fixed fights, rampant drug abuse and the no athletic commissions making sure everything was legit.  They offered the kind of colorful cards that UFC and other American companies could not and still do not.


Look through the cards and you will notice approximately 25 men who had been, would be or dabbled in pro-wrestling (from the WWF and New Japan to UWFi and RINGS).


**Explanation of my rating system - I devised a odd little system to evaluate fights.  I based my ratings on entertainment value, skill displayed, energy displayed and finish.  This tends to mean that slugfests and high-paced mat battles rate higher than lay n' pray snoozers and "squash matches".  I also tried to include how the majority of the fight looked in two parts.  Part 1 - standing, on the ground or a combination.  Part 2 - striking, hooking or a combination**

Pride Grand Prix Tournament - Opening Round

Date of Event: 1/30/00

Length: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Ken Shamrock, Maurice Smith, Gary Goodridge

- Show Opening with Fighter Introductions

1. Vanderlei Silva vs. Bob Schibjer - **1/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Shamrock announces deal with Pride

2. Gary Goodridge vs. Tachihikari - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

3. Akira Shoji vs. Ebenezer Fontes Braga - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Fujita interview

4. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Hans Nyman - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Guy Mezger - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

- Sakuraba-Mezger-Shamrock post-match

- Satake interview

- Drummer show

6. Mark Coleman vs. Maasaki Satake - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

7. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Alexander Otsuka - *** (Combo/Striking)

- Inoue interview

8. Mark Kerr vs. Enson Inoue - *3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Helio, Royce, Takada interviews

9. Royce Gracie vs. Nobuhiko Takada - *1/2 (Ground/Striking)

- Royce Gracie interview

Pride Grand Prix Tournament - Finals

Date of Event: 5/1/00

Length: Tape 1, Tape 2 (2 hours)

Commentary: Stephen Quadros, Bas Rutten, Maurice Smith

- Show opening, Sakuraba interview

1. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Royce Gracie (Quarterfinals)

- Vovchanchyn and Goodridge interviews

2. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Gary Goodridge (Quarterfinals) - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Interview with Shoji and Coleman preparing

3. Mark Coleman vs. Akira Shoji (Quarterfinals) - *** (Ground/Striking)

- Fujita & Kerr interviews

4. Mark Kerr vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Quarterfinals) - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Igor Vovchanchyn (Semifinals) - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Satake and Mezger interviews

6. Guy Mezger vs. Maasaki Satake - ** (Combo/Striking)

7. Mark Coleman vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Semifinals) - n/a

- Shamrock-Otsuka hype

8. Ken Shamrock vs. Alexander Otsuka - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Shamrock promo, Main Event hype

9. Mark Coleman vs. Igor Vovchanchyn (Finals) - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)

- Coleman promo, closing ceremony with runner-ups

Pride 9 - New Blood

Date of Event: 6/4/00

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Pre-show analysis and opening

- Herring & Peeters interview

1. Heath Herring vs. Willie Peeters - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Telligman & Barreto interviews

2. Tra Telligman vs. Carlos Barreto - ** (Combo/Striking)

- White & Goes interviews

3. Vernon White vs. Allan Goes - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Sano & Newton interviews

4. Carlos Newton vs. Naoki Sano - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

- Shoji & Recken interviews

5. Akira Shoji vs. John Recken- **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Goodridge & Rodriguez interviews

6. Ricco Rodriguez vs. Gary Goodridge - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Matsui & Vovchanchyn interviews

7. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Daijiro Matsui - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Yvel & Belfort interviews

8. Vitor Belfort vs. Gilbert Yvel - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors

Date of Event: 8/27/00

Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Eddie Bravo

- Pre-show analysis and opening

1. Vitor Belfort vs. Daijiro Matsui - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Belfort promo

2. Vanderlei Silva vs. Guy Mezger - **** (Standing/Striking)

- Silva promo

3. Ricco Rodriguez vs. Giant Ochiai - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Ochiai/Rodriguez promos, Yvel/Goodridge warmups

4. Gilbert Yvel vs. Gary Goodridge - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

- Yvel promo

5. Mark Kerr vs. Igor Borisov - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Kerr promo

6. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Enson Inoue - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Shamrock interview, prefight warmups

7. Ken Shamrock vs. Kazuyuki Fujita - ***1/4 (Standing/Striking)

- Fujita promo, Ryan-Ishizawa warmups

8. Ryan Gracie vs. Tokimitsu Ishizawa - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Ryan promo, Renzo interview & preparation

9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Renzo Gracie - ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)

Pride 11 - Battle of the Rising Sun

Date of Event: 10/31/00

Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Eddie Bravo

- Fighter Introductions

1. Heath Herring vs. Tom Erickson - ***1/2 (Ground/Striking)

2. Vanderlei Silva vs. Gilbert Yvel

3. Gary Goodridge vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

4. Alexander Otsuka vs. Mike Bourke - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Otsuka promo

5. Akira Shoji vs. Herman Renting - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

6. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Nobuhiko Takada - **1/4 (Ground/Striking)

7. Maasaki Satake vs. Naoya Ogawa - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Shannon Ritch - **3/4 (Standing/Combo)

Pride 12 - Cold Fury

Date of Event: 12/23/00

Length: Tape 1 (2 hours) & Tape 2

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color:

- Quadros/Rutten Opening, X-Mas Pride Girls

- Mezger interview

1. Guy Mezger vs. Alexander Otsuka - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

2. Akira Shoji vs. Ricardo Almeida - ***3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Inoue/Herring interviews

3. Heath Herring vs. Enson Inoue - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Newton interview

4. Carlos Newton vs. Johil de Oliveira - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

5. Vanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson - **** (Combo/Striking)

- Yvel interview

6. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Gilbert Yvel - *1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Rodriguez interview

7. Ricco Rodriguez vs. John Marsh - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Kerr interview

8. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Mark Kerr - *3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Gracie interview

9. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Ryan Gracie - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

Pride 13 - Collision Course

Date of Event: 3/25/01

Length: Tape 1 (1 hour and 11 minutes) & Tape 2 (1 hour and 31 minutes)

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Opening Video

- Introduction of Rutten & Quadros

- Fighter Introductions

1. Vitor Belfort vs. Bobby Southworth - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

- Mezger/Inoue interviews

2. Guy Mezger vs. Eagan Inoue - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Herring interview

3. Heath Herring vs. Denis Sobolev - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Henderson/Gracie interview

4. Dan Henderson vs. Renzo Gracie - *** (Combo/Striking)

- Coleman/Goes interview

5. Mark Coleman vs. Allan Goes - *** (Combo/Striking)

6. Maasaki Satake vs. Tadao Yasuda - *3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Telligman interview/warm-ups

7. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Tra Telligman - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva - ***1/2 (Standup/Striking)

- Silva/Sakuraba interviews

- Post-match with Herring, Mezger, Telligman, Shamrock, Ortiz, Silva, Vovchanchyn, Coleman

- Closing highlights and comments

Pride 14 - Clash of the Titans

Date of Event: 5/27/01

Length: 2 hours and 50 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Mark Coleman

- Introduction with Rutten & Quadros

- Show opening with giant sphere and fighter introductions

1. Vanderlei Silva vs. Shungo Oyama - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

2. Johil de Oliviera vs. Antonio "Nino" Schembri - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Goodridge and Overeem interviews

3. Gary Goodridge vs. Valentijn Overeem - *** (Ground/Combo)

4. Daijiro Matsui vs. Jose "Pele" Landi - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Interviews with Mezger and Liddell

5. Guy Mezger vs. Chuck Liddell - ***3/4 (Standup/Striking)

6. Dan Henderson vs. Akira Shoji - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Interviews with Herring and Belfort

7. Heath Herring vs. Vitor Belfort - *1/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Interview with Yvel

8. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Gilbert Yvel - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Fujita and Takayama preparing

9. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

Pride 15 - Raging Rumble

Date of Event: 7/29/01

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Mark Coleman

- Opening Video

- Introduction with Quadros & Rutten

- Pride Girls, Fighter Intros

1. Valentijn Overeem vs. Assurio Silva - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Ismail interview

2. Wallid Ismail vs. Shugo Oyama - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

3. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Maasaki Satake - **** (Combo/Striking)

- Herring/Kerr interviews

4. Mark Kerr vs. Heath Herring - ** (Ground/Striking)

5. Daijiro Matsui vs. Ebenezar Fontes Braga (JIP) - ** (Combo/Striking)

- Goodridge interview, Noguiera backstage

6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Gary Goodridge - *** (Combo/Combo)

- Jackson interview

7. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Quinton Jackson - **** (Ground/Combo)

8. Ryan Gracie vs. Tokimitsu Ishizawa - *3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Interviews with Coleman, Jackson, Herring

Pride 16 - Beasts from the East

Date of Event: 9/24/01

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Moment of silence and Morishito (DSE)

- Card rundown

- Show opening with Nou Drummer and fighter introductions

- Goodridge interview

1. Gary Goodridge vs. Yoshiaki Yatsu - *** (Standup/Striking)

- Matt Hume on scoring fights

2. Assurio Silva vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto - *** (Standup/Striking)

3. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Daijiro Matsui - ***3/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Mezger & Arona interviews

4. Guy Mezger vs. Ricardo Arona - **1/4 (Combo/Striking)

5. Semmy Schilt vs. Akira Shoji - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Vanderlei Silva and Kazushi Sakuraba rematch promos

- Interviews with Frye and Yvel

6. Don Frye vs. Gilbert Yvel - *** (Combo/Striking)

- Coleman interview

7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Mark Coleman - ***3/4 (Ground/Hooking)

- Closing Interview with Frye

Pride 17 - Championship Chaos

Date of Event: 11/3/01

Length: 2 hours 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Royce Gracie

- Opening with Quadros & Rutten buying souveniors

- Show opening with flag presentation

- Fighter introduction

- Interview with Quinton Jackson

1. Quinton Jackson vs. Yuki Ishikawa - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

Henderson interview

2. Dan Henderson vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua - *** (Ground/Combo)

3. Semmy Schilt vs. Maasaki Satake - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

- Renzo Gracie interview

4. Renzo Gracie vs. Michiyoshi Ohara(clipped) - *1/2 (Standup/Striking)

- Vovchanchyn interview

5. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Mario Sperry - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- First half of the card rundown

- Bas Rutten announces his comeback

- Last half hype

- Erickson interview

6. Tom Erickson vs. Matt Skelton - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Herring interview

7. Heath Herring vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Heavyweight Championship) - **** (Combo/Combo)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Vanderlei Silva (Middleweight Championship) - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Sakuraba & Vanderlei interviews

Closing interview with Quadros, Rutten, Royce Gracie

Pride 18 - Cold Fury II

Date of Event: 12/23/01

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Color: Matt Hume

- Opening Segment

- X-Mas Girls Opening, Fighter Introductions

- Jackson interview

1. Quinton Jackson vs. Daijiro Matsui - DUD

- Hume interview

2. Allan Goes vs. Alex Steibling - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

3. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Alex Andrade - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

4. Jan Nortje vs. Norihisa Yamamoto - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

5. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Valentijn Overeem - ***1/2 (Combo/Combo)

6. Akira Shoji vs. Jeremy Horn - *** (Ground/Combo)

7. Vanderlei Silva vs. Alexander Otsuka - **3/4 (Standup/Striking)

8. Semmy Schilt vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Closing Credits with highlights

- Rutten, Quadros, Pride Girls

Pride 19 - Bad Blood

Date of Event: 2/24/02

Length: 2 hours and 35 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Opening Segment

- Quadros & Bas with katana

- Erickson interview

1. Tom Erickson vs. Tim Catalfo - **1/2

- Ismail & Steibling interviews

2. Wallid Ismail vs. Alex Steibling - n/a

- Newton interview

3. Carlos Newton vs. Jose "Pele" Landi - ****3/4

- Newton post-match promo, Herring interview

4. Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Heath Herring - ***1/2

- Noguiera interview

5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Enson Inoue - ****1/4

6. Vanderlei Silva vs. Kiyoshi Tamura - **3/4

- Frye-Shamrock hype and interviews

7. Don Frye vs. Ken Shamrock - ***1/2

- Frye post-match promo

- Closing with Quadros, Rutten and Frye

Pride 20 - Armed & Ready

Date of Event: 4/28/02

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Bas Rutten MMA Workout Opening, Sapp interview

1. Bob Sapp vs. Norihisa Yamamoto - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

- Jackson interview

2. Quinton Jackson vs. Maasaki Satake - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

3. Antonio Rogerio Noguiera vs. Yasuke Imamura - **1/2 (Ground/Hooking)

- Henderson interview

4. Dan Henderson vs. Ricardo Arona - ***3/4 (Ground/Striking)

5. Mario Sperry vs. Murillo "Ninja" Rua - ****3/4 (Combo/Combo)

6. Sanae Kikuta vs. Alexander Otsuka (JIP)

- Silva & Crocop interviews

7. Vanderlei Silva vs. Mirko Crocop (Special Rules Fight) - **** (Standing/Striking)

- Sakuraba promo

Pride 21 - Demolition

Date of Event: 6/30/02

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten/Josh Barnett

- Opening Segement & Fire Show

- Sapp interview

1. Bob Sapp vs. Kiyoshi Tamura - **1/2 (Standing/Striking)

- Goodridge interview

2. Gary Goodridge vs. Ahmed Labazanov - ** (Ground/Striking)

- Steibling interview

3. Alex Steibling vs. Anderson Silva - ** (Standing/Striking)

- Yvel interview

4. Gilbert Yvel vs. Jeremy Horn - **3/4 (Combo/Combo)

- Gracie interview

5. Renzo Gracie vs. Shungo Oyama (JIP)

- Schilt interview

6. Semmy Schilt vs. Fedor Emelianenko - **1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Frye interview

7. Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama - ****1/4 (Combo/Striking)

PRIDE - MMA The Best #2

Date of Event: 7/20/02

Length: 2 hours

- Introduction

1. Jukei vs. Joe Son - **3/4 (Ground/Striking)

2. Daisuke Nakamura vs. Shannon Ritch - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)

3. Fatih Kocamis vs. Anglosaxon Oba - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

4. John Alessio vs. Eiji Mitsuoka - ** (Standing/Striking)

5. Giant Ochiai vs. Tomohiko Hashimoto - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

6. Alistair Overeem vs. Yusuke Imamura - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

7. Nino "Elvis" Schembri vs. Daijyu Takase - *** (Combo/Combo)

8. Sokun Koh vs. Bob Schrijber - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Closing

Pride - Dynamite/Shockwave

Date of Event: 8/25/02

Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

Guest Commentary: Bill Goldberg

- Opening with announcers, torch & drumming ceremony with fighter intros

- Silva interview

1. Vanderlei Silva vs. Takasuya Isawa - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Veneetian interview

2. Daijiro Matsui vs. Jereel Veneetian (JIP)

- Goldberg, Erickson, Coleman, Goodridge backstage; Goodridge & Van Dams interviews

3. Gary Goodridge vs. Lloyd Van Dams - **1/2 (Ground/Striking)

- Hoost & Schilt interview

4. Ernesto Hoost vs. Semmy Schilt (K-1 Rules)

- Goldberg & Frye backstage, Frye interview"

5. Jerome Le Banner vs. Don Frye (K-1 Rules)

- Helio Gracie presentation, Goldberg promo, para-Inoki promo, Goldberg & Sapp backstage

- Noguiera & Sapp interviews

6. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Bob Sapp - ****1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Gracies interview

7. Royce Gracie vs. Hideko Yoshida - *3/4 (Ground/Hooking)

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Mirko "Crocop" Filopovic - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

Pride 22 - Beasts from the East II

Date of Event: 9/29/02

Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Quadros & Rutten intro, fighter Introductions

- Randleman interview

1. Kevin Randleman vs. Michiyoshi Ohara (clipped)

- Mezger interview

2. Guy Mezger vs. Naohisa Yamamoto - **3/4 (Standing/Striking)

3. Anderson Silva vs. Alexander Otsuka - ***1/4 (Ground/Combo)

4. Paulo Filho vs. Akira Shoji - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Herring interview

5. Heath Herring vs. Kotchkine Ioure - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Sperry interview

6. Mario Sperry vs. Andrei Kopylov - ** (Ground/Combo)

- Jackson and Vovchanchyn interviews

7. Quinton Jackson vs. Igor Vovchanchyn - ***1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Gracie interview

8. Ryan Gracie vs. Shungo Oyama - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Randleman-Rutten closing skit

Pride 23 - Championship Chaos II

Date of Event: 11/24/02

Length: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Quadros & Rutten intro, fighter Introductions

- Hirotaka Yokoi vs. Jereel Veneetian (JIP)

1. Kevin Randleman vs. Kennichi Yamamoto - **3/4 (Ground/Hooking)

- Rua/Arona interviews

2. Murillo "Ninja" Rua vs. Ricardo Arona - *** (Ground/Combo)

- Herring interview

3. Heath Herring vs. Fedor Emelianenko - ***1/4 (Ground/Striking)

- Noguiera interview

4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Semmy Schilt - ***1/2 (Ground/Combo)

- Silva interview

5. Vanderlei Silva vs. Hiromichi Kanehara - ***1/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Frye interview

6. Don Frye vs. Hideko Yoshida - *** (Ground/Combo)

7. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Gilles Arsene - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

Pride 24 - Cold Fury III

Date of Event: 12/23/02

Length: 2 hours and minutes

Commentary: Stephen Quadros & Bas Rutten

- Opening with Dou Drummer

- Mezger interview

1. Guy Mezger vs. Rogerio Noguiera - **1/2 (Combo/Combo)

- Waterman interview

2. Ron Waterman vs. Valentijn Overeem - **3/4 (Ground/Combo)

- Gracie interview

3. Rogerio Gracie vs. Yuki Sasaki - **1/2 (Combo/Striking)

- Pride action figures

4. Alistair Overeem vs. Volk Ataev - **3/4 (Combo/Striking)

- Randleman & Rua interview

5. Kevin Randleman vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua - *** (Ground/Striking)

- Noguiera interview

6. Antonio Nogueria vs. Dan Henderson - ****1/2 (Combo/Combo)

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

Jim Duggan [Straight Shootin' Interview]

The Good
"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan is one of pro-wrestling's great acquired tastes. I had a cousin who absolutely loved him. I know a lot of "smart marks" cannot stand him. While he was not my favorite later in his WWF run, his Mid-South stuff is wildly entertaining and his later days in WCW were great in their own way. His character is definitely an extension of his real-life personality and that comes across strongly here. I cannot remember another shoot interview (and they're often conducted in the wee hours of the morning) where they had so many problems with disturbing others due to noise. I guess if you have someone yelling "Hooooo" and chanting "U-S-A!" at regular intervals, you'll have issues with the neighbors. Aside from all that, Duggan is very honest and is willing to talk about most everything, including the infamous New Jersey arrest with the Iron Sheik and considering others (Ken Patera, Jimmy Snuka and Chris Adams) were not willing to dig the skeletons out of their closets. I found Duggan to be both frank in his comments and funny in his delivery, so this was a difficult interview not to enjoy.

The Bad
As much as I enjoyed Hacksaw's over-the-top personality and its presence in this interview, I am sure some people would not. I would rather have that and get some extra goofiness than the bland deliveries I've heard out of charisma kingpin Jimmy Valiant. Duggan has had such a full career and has enjoyed some booze and gimmicks along the way, so he seems to be missing memories of many high points of his career (according to fans, his personal high points he remembers). My only complaint is that Duggan seems kind of bitter toward how the business changed during the Monday Night Wars and how a cartoon character like himself was simply cut out of the spotlight. It is funny because if you pulled him out of 1987 and stuck him in there, he could have been a hot commodity, but after nearly a decade of being a goof, he just could not offer much past a nostalgia act. Therefore, he seems angry at the smaller workers (Lance Storm, Dean Malenko and others), annoyed with the youngsters who need gimmicks (Buff Bagwell, Van Hammer, etc.) and upset with the management that took to an edgier style.


The Rating: ****1/2

Ted DiBiase [RF Video Shoot Interview]

The Good
I have heard Ted DiBiase interviewed so many times and that I'm almost uninterested in him, not to mention his two autobiographies and WWE documentary. He is well-spoken and thoughtful as you'd hope an ordained minister and public speaker to be. This is an early RF Video shoot, conducting in a bank where Mrs. DiBiase works and it is full of crops and cuts (unlike many RF shoots). While I balk at Feinstein's lack of knowledge of history, he followed Mid-South/UWF as a child as well as the WWF, so he has a good grasp of the personalities that DiBiase came into contact with. Never one to be overly political or reserved in his comments, DiBiase is very honest and that boosts the quality of this. He can say that Bill Watts was a "bully," that Robert Fuller was a poor booker or that Michael Hayes was "stiff" and he does not come across as angry or bitter. I often find RF Video shoots with nice guys who like everybody or non-storytellers to be boring, but Ted DiBiase can talk and talk. If you've never heard him before, this is definitely a must-see and if you've seen/heard him a few times or even a bazillion times, I'd still highly recommend this one. A major reason being that since he and his sons began working for the WWE, he's never been as objective and opinionated about the company…go figure.

The Bad
Ted DiBiase had such a full and successful career that he could literally spend hour after hour talking about his career and never run out of fresh stories, recollections and insight. Unfortunately, his faith (which spreading the Gospel is central tenant) often cuts into any interview he does. While it is important to him now and where he is in his life, few (if any) pursue his shoot interviews for religious purposes. That is often a factor in the shoots of Born-Agains and sometimes it is a bit much and I would say it is about what I expected here. The other factor that colored his two shoots with 57Talk was his time spent as an agent and his sons' employment in the WWE, which led him to really put over the company and prevented him from spending too much time looking back at his early career in Mid-South and Georgia. That was not an issue here, so this shoot was really better than many interviews he has given as of the past few years. What jumped out at me was hearing Ted DiBiase (the conservative Christian) railing against the WWF and the Attitude Era and later hearing Ted DiBiase (the fiscal conservative) railing against regulations on businesses and what he perceives as socialism. I'd rather not get into the inconsistencies I found because if I picked apart political, social and economic statements by pro-wrestlers in their shoots, I'd waste too much time.

The Rating: ****1/2

Review-a-Wai [Weekly Podcast]

The Good

Born out of the success of the LAW (Live Audio Wrestling), John Pollock and Wai Ting (yes, that is his real name), developed this show as an add-on to the weekly LAW show.  Decidedly more low-key then the LAW, John and Wai do simple reviews of all sorts of pro-wrestling content.  Primarily they review old WWF and WCW pay-per-views, but they've branched off into documentaries, movies, music and even pornography with ties to pro-wrestling.  As two twenty-somethings with slightly different backgrounds to their fandom, this show presents views very much in-line with online smart mark commentary.  John pulls in some great sound clips, inserts (or conducts) some relevant interviews and as media production types, they're always concerned with their quality.  The reviews vary greatly, largely based on their interest in the event, circumstances around watching the event and often their health.  I think the greatest strength of this show is their attempt to be objective about pro-wrestling that folks are often nostalgic about.  They have no qualms with cutting down the Attitude Era for nonsensical booking, offensive content and bad wrestling.  Conversely, they will put over things that are entertaining (even if they might be campy or "bad") and they attempt to provide some context for things.  As someone who could listen to shoot interviews day-after-day, I can appreciate that not everyone enjoys that medium because they tend to rely heavily on prior knowledge, refer to all sorts of disjointed rumors and are often ripe with over-the-top storytelling, bullshitting or straight-up lying.  That sort of stuff can be exhausting to listen to, but this is more light and entertaining.  I have a brother who is a devoted fan of this podcast, but will put off my other suggestions of shoots, matches and other podcasts because they're hard to fit into a busy schedule.  Review-a-Wai, however, is always easy to catch.

The Bad

As a huge fan of the DVDVR in its heyday, I find Review-a-Wai to be a slightly less informed, slightly easier to take in version.  The show has some regular banter about their lives at the Fight Network, John's beverage choices, their illnesses and so forth.  As with any podcast, you have to expect some unrelated conversational content and these two certainly do that.  As I stated earlier, the quality varies widely.  Sick and tired guys laboring through a god-awful show can make for some lackluster shows.  Getting feedback from the people is a common theme from the LAW and I rarely think it adds to that show and reading through feedback on hear is not much different.  The show has its regulars, but those comments almost never include extra insight or worthwhile anecdotes.  I can accept Review-a-Wai for what it is and I can understand why people love it, but it is not without flaws.

The Rating: ****1/4