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Recent WWE DVDs: A hit, 2 misses
By
JON WALDMAN - SLAM! Wrestling
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WWE has released a few new pay-per-views on DVDs, and with those come some
extras, featuring both WWE TV and exclusive footage. Enjoy this look at what
each of these DVD extras have to offer, and be sure to check out the survey
found at the bottom of this article.
No Way Out 2004
We all know that this was a very good pay-per-view, with Eddie Guererro winning
the WWE Title from Brock Lesnar, a solid bout for the Cruiserweight Ttile between
Rey Mysterio Jr. and Chavo Guererro Jr. and a pretty good match between Kurt
Angle, John Cena and Big Show.
The DVD extras, however, give you a couple more reasons to want this recording.
Let's start off with the DVD-exclusive content, primarily the post-match celebration
for Guererro. Eddie is as real as he can be in this segment, with some great
footage interspersed with celebrations amongst the wrestlers and an emotional
phone call to his wife. The other segments, surrounding Mysterio Jr.'s "Crossing
Borders" video (both the film and the making-of mini documentary), are
passable, unless you're really into the song.
The WWE TV segments are also pretty damn good. To start, you get the final
segment of the Smackdown! Royal Rumble, which saw Guererro eliminate Angle to
earn the title shot. This was one of the best endings ever to a Battle Royal-type
match, and is must-see. Also worth going out of your way to get a peek at is
the Tajiri/Akio/Sakoda vs. Billy Kidman/Paul London/Ultimo Dragon match. While
the match does not meet the high expectations many would have for it, it's still
a solid outing from these six grapplers.
Also from WWE TV are more segments from Heat and promo spots highlighting the
Cruiserweight and WWE Title matches.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Backlash 2004
To refresh everyone's memories, Backlash featured the return match from Wrestlemania
XX, with Chris Benoit putting up the World Heavyweight Title against HHH and
Shawn Michaels. The card also saw the PPV return of Edge, and what is perhaps
the goriest match of the WWE year, with Mick Foley battling Randy Orton.
The extras included here are, well, lacking. In fact there are only three segments
total that could not be seen on WWE TV - an "eavesdropping" on Garrison
Cade and Coach afther the latter's victory over Yoshihiro Tajiri, and two post-match
interviews, one with the team of Gail Kim and Molly Holly, and the other being
an interview with Mick Foley.
The rest of the DVD extras are filled with Sunday Night Heat segments (including
Matt Hardy vs. Val Venis), commercials promoting the PPV, and Chris Benoit's
speech from Monday Night Raw in Calgary. Other than the Benoit speech, there's
nothing entirely entertaining here.
Extra Rating: 1 out of 5
Judgement Day 2004
Depending on who you talk to, this was either the worst Smackdown! PPV ever
(if not the worst WWE PPV), or it was a card that had a main event that saved
it from being trashed beyond recognition.
It was this PPV, you see, that featured JBL and Guererro for the WWE Heavyweight
Title, which ended up as a bloody-to-all-hell brawl. Also included on the very-undercard
was Guererro Jr. against Jacqueline for the Cruiserweight Title, and the one quality
match of the Dudleyz vs. Mysterio Jr. and Rob Van Dam.
The extras for this recording mainly highlight the title bout and another heavily-hyped
bout, Booker T. vs. Undertaker. Among the WWE TV extras are JBL's illegal aliens
sketch, the house show footage of Guerrero's mother's heart attack, Booker T's
near Papa Shango experience, and promo spots for each bout. Also included is
a vignette for the debuting Mordecai and Sunday Night Heat segments, including
Funaki vs. Mark Jindrak.
The only exclusive footage is a post-match look at JBL and Guererro, as their
injuries are assessed and tended to.
With so little on this DVD, it's hard to recommend the extras. If you want
to see just how bad Eddy was banged up, then it's worth a rental; otherwise,
you can take a pass.
Rating: 2.25 out of 5
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Order WWE No Way Out 2004 DVD
Order WWE Backlash 2004 DVD
Order WWE Judgement Day 2004 DVD
Now onto the survey. What do you think should be done to improve WWE PPV DVDs?
Should there be more footage surrounding the event? Should there be historical
matches? Should they be left as is? E-mail
me and tell me what you think. Results of the survey will be posted in two
weeks.
Jon Waldman, Number One SLAM! Writer, has been with this hearty crew since
2004. Be sure to check out Jon on Sportsology's Ringside Recap, which this week features an exclusive interview with Sonny Siaki.
