Review of WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars Of The 80`s (3 Discs)

Introduction

With just two little words, the WWE could have had wrestling forums aggressively bickering about this particular DVD set for months. Mercifully then, for those of us who frequent such places, this is not the "Top Ten Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s", not a poll or vote of any kind. By simply naming this disc "Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80s" there are, in theory, opportunities for future volumes with other deserving entrants.

Which is a good thing, because several vital personalities did not make this particular set. The likes of Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Kerry Von Erich and Bob Backlund are not profiled here, although all three make appearances in the set`s extra features.

Profiled in this set then, are Bobby Heenan, Junk Yard Dog, Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Valentine, & Roddy Piper on Disc One. Jerry Lawler, Arn Anderson, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, & Ric Flair on Disc Two. And Jimmy Snuka, Bob Orton, Iron Sheik, Paul Orndorff, & Hulk Hogan on Disc Three. We are treated to a short, ten minute biography on each wrestler, as well as a match involving the same in the extras section.

With each DVD running for nearly three hours, this is an exhaustive set which had this reviewer salivating upon its release. Argue with the WWE`s picks you might, but not its presentation.

Video

I could copy & paste it every time, and true to form, the WWE DVD department has come with another set presented in 4:3 non-anamorphic PAL. The facts may be unremarkable, but the visuals are, as the quality of the archive material is fantastic. The visuals on the match between Roddy Piper & Greg Valentine, for example, are excellent considering the match took place at the end of 1983 in a somewhat gloomy arena in North Carolina.

As you would expect, the new link footage (presented by Gene Okerlund) is also of worthy quality.

Audio

Audio on this set is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. And like it`s visual counterpart, it is also a treat, considering the age of some of this archive footage. Everything comes across clearly - I am not about to deduct points for the incomprehensibility of The Iron Sheik! - and with no sync issues, and for many of the NWA bouts we are treated to the wonderfully descriptive tones of the late Gordon Solie.

(Audio enthusiasts please note that the Region 1 set includes the documentary footage in Dolby Digital 5.1)

Features

Where there is controversy about the protagonists, there will be controversy about which of their bouts should be included as extras. Many fans will be disgruntled that the Wrestlemania III match between Ricky Steamboat & Randy Savage has not made its way to this set, but this is still a remarkable set of extras. Whilst the match between Junk Yard Dog & Randy Savage is appalling, on the flip side the matches between Ricky Steamboat & Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler & Kerry Von Erich, and Sgt. Slaughter and the Iron Sheik all very good, and the inclusion of the match between Hulk Hogan & Roddy Piper is a major plus considering the rarity of their taped singles matches.

There are also some short interview clips included, which also make for interesting viewing, highlighting not only how much wrestling has changed but also, in many cases, how well some wrestlers could use their interview time to promote their feuds.

Conclusion

All in all, this is a magnificent set. Each biography may be short, but does allow you to get to know both the wrestlers persona, and the man behind it. There is new interview footage almost all of the personalities, several of whom reveal interesting "insider" anecdotes.

The extras are exceptional, all of which have some historic value, and all of which (aside from the JYD vs Savage fiasco) have entertainment value.

This is a set that any 1980s wrestling fan must own.