Review for Wrestling's Greatest Factions

Factions are a big part of the wrestling tradition. United we stand, divided we fall. From the Four Horsemen, nWo, DX and Nexus and even today with The Shield and The Wyatts, factions have always been in the wrestling business. This DVD is a showcase of the 'Best' factions ever to grace the squared circle. I say 'Best' because some of the entries are debatable and some of the omissions are also puzzling too.

Factions featured are Degeneration X, Bobby Heenan Family, Right to Censor, The Fabulous Freebirds, The Nexus, Dangerous Alliance, Hart Foundation, nWo, The Brood, Million Dollar Corporation, Nation of Domination, Blue World Order, The Corporation, Evolution, The Oddities, Triple Threat, Legacy, Dungeon of Doom, Straight Edge Society and of course The Four Horsemen. Of these, I agree with most of them, though I do wonder who ever thought The Oddities or Dungeon of Doom were 'Best' anything. There are a few omissions, but really it's more about whether you consider groups like The Von Erichs, Paul Ellering's Legion of Doom or The Kliq to be factions. Though I am surprised that The Von Erichs are not on here.

As always, this is a talk, match, talk, match set which I often feel is just a cheap way of making these DVDs. I would have preferred a documentary about factions followed by two disks of matches. It really is impossible to explain why the Four Horsemen were so important (They even made a full length DVD about it and it still didn't cover it all?) or any other faction for that matter. This is the problem. Sure, the Bobby Heenan Family were great, but the 3-4 minutes it is given doesn't even go through all the people who were in it and what being in that faction meant for them or their career.

The mix of Kayfabe and Reality is a little odd and I do wish they could have chosen a direction for them to talk about it. This isn't helped by the fact many of the interviews are archival and so even though Stone Cold's comments about The Freebirds or CM Punk's comments about The Nexus are true, they just feel strange.

Match-wise, one of the annoying things is that it doesn't specify (on screen anyway) when the match was so unless you are an uber-wrestling geek you would have no idea when the Wargames match featuring the nWo took place (Note: It was Fall Brawl 1998). This match is not bad, it's just a very strange match to watch with the three-team dynamic which should mean that one from each team should start the match. But it is great to see the Warrior in one of his few WCW appearances. There are actually two Wargames matches and one features the awful Dungeon of Doom against the Hulkamaniacs and maybe they should have kept the other one for any of the great Horsemen Wargames matches.

I do have to say what I loved most about this set is that most of the matches are tag matches and I just love tag team wrestling. Though there are a number of different types, this is the majority of the matches, which makes sense. Though a lot of the matches that are included are bizarre opting for 'rare' matches over actually great matches. I can understand it to some extent, as WWE seem to assume we buy all of the DVD sets, but some matches seem to only be on here because they include the faction and not due to the quality. If I'm honest some of these factions should have just been mentioned without a match (eg. Oddities, Dungeon of Doom, Blue World Order) as they were just comedy factions and not known for their great matches.

Also included is a Freebirds vs. Von Erichs match which should be great. Instead it is an utter mess. It is an elimination match, but everyone is in the ring at the same time, instead of one on one like a Survivor Series match. The match is just a mess to watch and the sound is awful. I often forgive older matches for this, but this is mid-80s and it shouldn't be like this. I actually saw who was in this match and went 'Best Match' and then afterwards felt so disappointed.

However, there are some great matches throughout the set. The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Owen Hart and British Bulldogs) against Stone Cold Steve Austin, Dude Love and The Undertaker is a great match, even if the rules are a little odd. The DX/Corporation Rumble is also great and is almost two birds with one stone, but anytime I get to see a good Rumble then I'm happy. One great show of a faction was the Million Dollar Corporation against Lex Luger's Made in USA Team at the Survivor Series which is entertaining.

One of the best matches on the set is the Corporation Gauntlet match pitting Stone Cold against all of the members of the Corporation. This is such a great concept and one that has never been done better. Austin and Mr McMahon were at their apex in this match with such an amazing, iconic ending.

Another great match that many people may not have seen before is Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow as part of Triple Threat against Sabu and Rob Van Dam. This match is exactly why I loved ECW. Not because of the crazy violence, but because they did truly have some of the best workers in the business.

The set of course ends with what is arguably the greatest faction The Four Horsemen. The match is Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson against Sting, Lex Luger and Barry Windham. This is a classic NWA-era match and though not one of their more infamous matches, it is a great showing from the team.

Wrestling's Greatest Factions is a strange DVD and though I enjoyed it, unlike a lot of their 'Best of' DVDs I do wonder what the point of it was. It feels more like someone in their DVD team clutching at straws as to what to do. No doubt we will soon be getting a 'Greatest Clotheslines' 'Top Handicap Matches' and a 'Greatest Entrances' DVDs... Actually, scratch that last one, as that might actually be pretty good. I enjoyed the DVD and if you like a mix of old school and new then this has a lot of great things on here.