Sunday 23 June 2013

WWE DVD Review: TLC - Tables, Ladders, Chairs 2012



WWE DVD Review: TLC – Tables, Ladders, Chairs 2012

To round off 2012 the WWE offered up its TLC pay-per-view.

TLC is an interesting event to witness. It is also one that does exactly what it says on the tin, as in it offers us a tables match, a ladders match and a chairs match, plus we also get them all combined in one TLC encounter.

This time around we got to see Irishman Sheamus and Big Show battle it out in a hard-hitting chairs match. John Cena and Dolph Ziggler had a belter of a ladder match for Ziggler's Money In The Bank briefcase.The Shield were also on hand to challenge the mighty trio of Team Hell No and Ryback in a match that really put the faction on the map.

The TLC concept has been watered down slightly in the more PG version of the WWE, but that is not to say that the concept is lost on its new audience. In fact it is quite the opposite, the action is now a lot more intense and the lack of blood, headshots or other career shortening moves make things all the more enjoyable.

The elevation of The Shield as a worthy addition to the WWE roster started here and it is very good to see the company do such a thing at long last.

There are many surprises during TLC 2012 and the match quality is certainly above par throughout.

On the extras front the DVD has an interview with Dolph Ziggler (by Matt Striker). The Blu-ray however has a wealth of additional features. These includes matches and excerpts from the December 16th Monday Night Raw event and the December 18th Smackdown shows. Highlights here are Ric Flair presenting the Slammy to the Superstar of the Year, The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and Tommy Dreamer facing 3BM, Ryback versus Antonio Cesaro and a Miz TV segment with AJ Lee, Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston.

TLC (Tables, Ladders, Chairs) 2012 is available now from all good retailers.

RRP £17.99 (DVD), £19.99 (Blu-ray)

By Phil Allely

Taryn Terrell Pics

Some new pics of TNA's Taryn Terrell





Saturday 15 June 2013

WWE DVD Review - Top 25 Rivalries



WWE DVD Review: Top 25 Rivalries

This latest WWE DVD is an interesting one. Whilst many of the matches/stories featured are likely to be in a lot of wrestling fans collections, they have never been compiled like this.

The Top 25 Rivalries set is a really great effort at letting us see just how important feuds are in the world of wrestling. What is also nice is the way the WWE are embracing the products of other companies too. Which means that even though this is a WWE heavy effort, we do see some WCW, NWA, ECW and other promotions classic encounters featured too.

Of course what any fan of wrestling will know is that it is a good, well-planned rivalry that will make us tune in each week to see what is happening next. I for one have been a fan for almost 30 years so have seen my fair share of top quality feuds and witnessed their final pay-off match-ups too.

Here we get to see the top 25 rivalries from across all the promotions already mentioned. Now fans of the more modern day WWE will feel a bit put out as many of these scrap/storylines here are from eras gone by. But you know what give them a chance as this is a wonderful way to learn about the grapplers that wrestling industry we know today.

Many of the faces and matches here feature some of the industries legendary names. Now our host Renee Young and her references to the periodic table did confuse me, but that is only a minor thing for me and does in no way take anything away from the show here.

So what can you expect here? Well you will get to see Sabu and Taz battle it out in ECW, Mr McMahon and Stone Cold have the feud that took the WWE to a whole new level, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat have matches that we all wish we could have seen live in the NWA/WCW, Edge take on John Cena in some thrilling encounters, Hulk Hogan at his WWE prime, Undertaker and Mankind's most brutal outings and much more.

What I personally enjoyed here were the references to the 1980s legends who paved the way for the rise of the WWE's 'Attitude Era' and WCW's now period. This is where we get to see the Fabulous Freebirds, Von Erich's, Bruiser Brody and many more old school stars highlighted.

The talking heads with each rivaly are well sourced and give us a nice insight into the affair at hand. Be it former announcer Mean Gene, Billy Gunn, Shane Douglas or Road Dogg, they all have a fair point and story to tell.

It is a shame that due to Hogan and others being in TNA we do not get any up to date interviews with them. But its no real big deal they are not here.

Now a few feuds featured I have not mentioned yet are the ones that will enthral many viewers the most. These are the infamous Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart one, which of course led to the Montreal Screwjob for the WWE title. There are also nice looks at Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage feud. Plus of course the way that the WWE (then WWE) built WrestleMania into the monster it is today.

The first disc here features the 25 rivalies countdown. The others house the matches and other extras. All of which are well worth a view.

WWE The Top 25 Rivalries is available from all good retailers on June 24th 2013.
DVD RRP £24.99/Blu-Ray RRP £34.99

By Phil Allely



Tuesday 11 June 2013

WWE DVD Review - Top 25 Rivalries


WWE DVD Review: Top 25 Rivalries

This latest WWE DVD is an interesting one. Whilst many of the matches/stories featured are likely to be in a lot of wrestling fans collections, they have never been compiled like this.

The Top 25 Rivalries set is a really great effort at letting us see just how important feuds are in the world of wrestling. What is also nice is the way the WWE are embracing the products of other companies too. Which means that even though this is a WWE heavy effort, we do see some WCW, NWA, ECW and other promotions classic encounters featured too.

Of course what any fan of wrestling will know is that it is a good, well-planned rivalry that will make us tune in each week to see what is happening next. I for one have been a fan for almost 30 years so have seen my fair share of top quality feuds and witnessed their final pay-off match-ups too.

Here we get to see the top 25 rivalries from across all the promotions already mentioned. Now fans of the more modern day WWE will feel a bit put out as many of these scrap/storylines here are from eras gone by. But you know what give them a chance as this is a wonderful way to learn about the grapplers that wrestling industry we know today.

Many of the faces and matches here feature some of the industries legendary names. Now our host Renee Young and her references to the periodic table did confuse me, but that is only a minor thing for me and does in no way take anything away from the show here.

So what can you expect here? Well you will get to see Sabu and Taz battle it out in ECW, Mr McMahon and Stone Cold have the feud that took the WWE to a whole new level, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat have matches that we all wish we could have seen live in the NWA/WCW, Edge take on John Cena in some thrilling encounters, Hulk Hogan at his WWE prime, Undertaker and Mankind's most brutal outings and much more.

What I personally enjoyed here were the references to the 1980s legends who paved the way for the rise of the WWE's 'Attitude Era' and WCW's now period. This is where we get to see the Fabulous Freebirds, Von Erich's, Bruiser Brody and many more old school stars highlighted.

The talking heads with each rivaly are well sourced and give us a nice insight into the affair at hand. Be it former announcer Mean Gene, Billy Gunn, Shane Douglas or Road Dogg, they all have a fair point and story to tell.

It is a shame that due to Hogan and others being in TNA we do not get any up to date interviews with them. But its no real big deal they are not here.

Now a few feuds featured I have not mentioned yet are the ones that will enthral many viewers the most. These are the infamous Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart one, which of course led to the Montreal Screwjob for the WWE title. There are also nice looks at Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage feud. Plus of course the way that the WWE (then WWE) built WrestleMania into the monster it is today.

The first disc here features the 25 rivalries countdown. The others house the matches and other extras. All of which are well worth a view.

WWE The Top 25 Rivalries is available from all good retailers on June 24th 2013.
DVD RRP £24.99/Blu-Ray RRP £34.99

By Phil Allely



Monday 3 June 2013

Nigel McGuinness: Last of McGuinness Documentary Showing June 2013, Belfast

A few pics of myself meeting Nigel McGuinness at the Belfast showing of The Last of McGuinness documentary showing/Q&A Belfast June 3rd 2013.









Busty New Mickie James Pics

New busty pics of TNA's Mickie James. Plus the lovely Miss James and myself at a TNA house show.