New WWF vids big on attitude
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
It's Our Time (Chyna And Triple H)
Running Time: 70 minutes.
Current WWF Intercontinental Champion, Chyna, and her real life sweetheart,
former WWF World Heavyweight Champion, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley, are two of
the federation's hottest commodities. Devastated by the loss of "Stone
Cold" Steve Austin from the active roster, the WWF has relied on the
superstar pair to carry them through. Triple H taking Austin's role in a
replay of the Stone Cold - McMahon feud and Chyna making history as the
first female to hold a belt other than the women's championship. It's Our
Time concentrates on their rise to fame as we follow Triple H and Chyna on
a typical WWF tour. Although we don't learn too many intimate details, we
do hear about how they first met, what daily obstacles they face and what
influence they have on each other's lives.
Chyna portrays Helmsley as a loyal team player able to think quickly on his
feet pulling the federation's bacon out of the fire on more than one
occasion. She cites an example of how Shawn Michaels walked out of a
WrestleMania 14 publicity appearance after a fan pelted him with batteries.
Hunter picked up right where Michaels left off, salvaging the situation.
Hunter says Chyna is his biggest supporter pushing him to do better in and
out of the squared circle.
In modern professional wrestling it is sometimes hard for fans to tell
what's reality and what's fantasy. Is a wrestler really hurt or is the
injury a work? Is a contract dispute real or part of an elaborate
storyline? In It's Our Time, the lines are blurred again making it
difficult to tell when the truth is being told. Hunter speaks of how he was
disciplined by the WWF for the infamous "curtain call" incident in Madison
Square Garden where he and Michaels broke character and gave the WCW-bound
Scott Hall and Kevin Nash a fond farewell in front of an arena full of
fans. Hunter claims his career suffered because of it. We are left to
wonder whether that's a shoot comment or is it a sly way for Hunter to
reinforce his Triple H character as a disgruntled employee taking a stand
against the McMahons.
There are a few factual discrepancies too. Hunter remarks that he and
Michaels came up with the idea for D-Generation X while WWF owner Vince
McMahon has said in the past that his son Shane did. Triple H also credits
himself for his present main event status in the WWF. Helmsley fails to
mention that the WWF's lack of top talent heels may have something to do
with the push he's received as well as his years of hard work.
Put aside the confusion and It's Our Time is a comprehensive record of
Chyna and Triple H's partnership that fans of the titanic twosome will
value enormously.
The video is rated TV14 for some obscene language.
Austin Vs McMahon
Running Time: 60 minutes.
I am not sure what the "whole true story" tag line on the box means bearing
in mind that wrestling fans realize the feud was a work but a video devoted
to the epic "struggle" between WWF owner Vince McMahon and his biggest
attraction, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is something no fan can pass up.
Everything from the Zamboni incident to the classic attack on McMahon as he
"recuperated" in the hospital (the sound of the bed pan binging off
McMahon's noggin' still rocks) is there on one convenient tape. Austin Vs
McMahon is presented like an A&E biography. Dave Hebner, Jim Ross, Terry
Taylor and Michael Cole share their thoughts and theories in
behind-the-scenes interviews. Sure, the segments are a total joke. Still,
it's amusing to see what "perceptive" insights they come up with to enhance
the drama. Austin Vs McMahon is a must have for any wrestling fan's video
collection.
The video is rated TV14 for some obscene language. Austin? Obscene language? Surprise. Surprise.
Andre The Giant - Larger Than Life
Running Time: 45 minutes
If you missed the episode or aren't fortunate enough to have cable
television, the WWF has released the A&E Biography on Andre The Giant as a
part of their video series. Larger Than Life recounts the amazing life of
the late, great Andre Rousimoff, better known as the one true wrestling
phenom, Andre The Giant. This is a story that new fans should become
aquatinted with so they can appreciate the impact Andre had on the sport.
Veteran fans who think they know it all, might learn a thing or two from
this extensive bio.
Reader's Note: All three videos arrive in stores on
December 7th.
