Mixed bag of WWF video releases
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM! Wrestling
The People's Champ
Running time: 90 Minutes
It's no mistake that the cover of The Rock's latest WWF Home Video release
- The People's Champ - shows him with a mic in hand instead of an action
shot of him battling someone in the ring.
That should tell you something.
The Rock (Duane Johnson) is arguably the most charismatic personality in
wrestling. He's got the look. He's got the attitude and more importantly in
this phase of sports entertainment where the "entertainment" aspect has the
"sports" portion pinned to the mat, he is king...for now. In many ways, The
Rock (for good or bad, depending on your outlook) set the trend that has
everyone else following in his footsteps.
Sweeping his previous incarnation as the babyfaced Rocky Miavia and his
rise to notoriety in the Nation Of Domination gang under the carpet, the
WWF has put The Rock's best moments on one ninety-minute video. The
People's Champ has the longest running time of any recent WWF non
pay-per-view video release. They usually clock in at about 45 minutes or
so. The tape
itself begins its look at The Rock by detailing his previous feud with
Hunter-Hearst Helmsley and carries on right through to Rocky teaming up
with Mankind to form the popular Rock And Sock Connection tag team combination.
It is no surprise that The Rock's matches themselves have been edited down
into highlight reels while his promos are kept intact. Does anyone remember
when wrestling tapes had actual full-length matches on them? Does anyone
remember that those said matches were never-seen-before dark matches rather
than stuff spliced from the weekly wrestling shows that we've already seen
for free on television? Ah, those were the days.
Those who've read The Great One's autobiography will get a kick out of the
cross references. We visit The Great One's barber - who did more for The
Rock's career than simply give him a groovy hairstyle, the clothing store
where he buys those loud shirts that put Magnum P.I.'s to shame and there's
some mention of his background but it isn't as detailed as the info you'd
find in his book.
If you like The Rock and what he does, you will be ever grateful that your
favorite bits have been collected on one cassette. If you see The Rock as a
modern version of Hulk Hogan full of hot air and nothing more, The People's
Champ won't change your opinion.
Eve Of Destruction
Running time: 45 Minutes
A televised New Year's Eve special that aired last year, Eve Of Destruction
is a Best Of compilation tape with a twist. Since we here in Canada didn't
get the original broadcast, there is no way for me to tell whether it's the
same thing or not. That notwithstanding, what the WWF has done with Eve Of
Destruction is gather up those Sunday Night Heat filler segments and strung
them together. Portions of previously aired matches are shown. The footage
is supplemented by running commentary of the participants involved. That's
a great idea if the remarks were a shoot. That is, the wrestlers giving the
straight dope on how they really worked the match. That's not the case with
the bulk of Eve Of Destruction. Excluding The Hardy Boys - Edge, Christian
ladder match at the end, everyone else talks in character and as if the
bouts weren't planned out beforehand. To today's enlightened wrestling fan,
that's insulting. Why the WWF would choose that format in this day and age
is puzzling. It could've been something special giving fans an insight into
the wrestler's true thoughts and feelings. What they had to go through to
entertain us. As it stands, Eve Of Destruction squandered that opportunity.
Match Listing
- Mick Foley - Undertaker (Hell In A Cell, cage match)
- Austin - McMahon (steel cage - Valentine's Day Massacre pay-per-view)
- The Rock - Mick Foley
- Shane McMahon - X-Pac (WrestleMania)
- The Hardy Boys Vs Edge, Christian (ladder match)
Mick Foley: Madman Unmasked
Running time: 45 Minutes
If you missed this edition of Biography on the Arts And Entertainment
channel, the WWF has done you a huge favour. Broadcast during a special
wrestling week on the network, A&E's profile on Mick Foley is a must-see
and a must-have. Expanding upon Foley's acclaimed autobiography, this
extensive look at the hardcore wrestling icon includes interviews with
Foley's parents, his fellow grapplers, wrestling journalists, Vince McMahon
and even Foley, himself.
