By Phil Allely
TNA wrestlings X Division was at one time the jewel in the crown of the company and to some levels it still is today. This twin DVD set takes us back to a time not too long agao when the X Division made up a huge majority of the roster and their matches were the most popular, inventive, energetic and thrilling on any Pay-Per-View or TV taping.
Considering there are over 8 hours of matches on offer here we will not break them all down, but suffice to say many of the matches you've read about or seen pictures of are here and more to boot.
Some of the high-flying divisions best performers are featured here of course (some more than others), AJ Styles, Daniels, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Samoa Joe and others are well documented, alongside much missed wrestlers such as Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, Senshi, Petey Williams and such characters as Shark Boy.
The matches on offer are varied as far as they can be with the X Division, there are gauntlet battles, iron man challenges, Ultimate X classics and Xscape cage endurance tests. Each one bringing with it the expected combination of insane moves, career shortening moments and at times jaw-dropping sequences that defy belief.
Of this set Disc one is a more in depth look at The X Division in TNA, showcasing a few select matches and their participants. Disc two goes down the more innovative and crazy route, bringing with it twelve different bouts featuring the cream of the crop in the X Division at that time.
If the high-flying X Division crew are your thing then this double disc set is for you, this is a trip back to when TNA were in a position to put on X Division only PPV events and they had on their books some of the most talented, innovative, committed and crazy guys ever to step into the ring.
TNA - The Best of The X Division Twin Pack in on release now from all good retailers.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
WWE DVD Review - Tagged Classics Rebellion 2001 & Insurrextion 2002
By Phil Allely
There was a time when the WWE didn't just film the odd Raw or Smackdown event here in the UK, they actually recorded special UK only pay-per-view evenst and considering this was the peak time for the company and the attitude era, they were very good indeed.
Disc one of this set houses Rebellion 2001 (filmed at Manchester's MEN), it was an event headlined by an in his prime WWE Champion 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin battling the hugely popular 'People's Champion' The Rock. This was a fine main event for a UK PPV and one that certainly showcases both mens in-ring skills to their best. Elsewhere Rebelion had some low points, but mainly they moved by too quickly to notice.
Match wise we had some fine outings with a Divas tag scrap featuring Mighty Molly, Stacy Kiebler, Torrie Wilson and Lita (with special referee Trish Stratus). Kurt Angle (again in his prime) faced Chris Jericho for the WCW Championship in an enjoyable brawl. Tajiri took on(then) WWE Commissioner William Regal in an entertaining match-up. The WCW Tag Team Championship Elimination match between The Dudley Boyz, APA and Hardy Boyz was a fairly good encounter. Big Show had a decent match with Diamond dallas Page and one-time crowd pleaser Scotty Too Hotty took on fellow comedy performer The Hurricane.
Rebellion 2001 was a huge success for the WWE and of course has paved the way for the afore-mentioned WWE Raw/Smackdown UK recordings.
Disc Two features Insurrextion 2002, this was the WWE's return to the UK after the success of Rebellion and amazingly they pulled it off once again, this time taking place in London's Wembley Arena.
So what sells this one to fans in this day and age? Well how about 'The Game' Triple H taking on The Undertaker in a grudge match (echoing their recent Wrestlemania feud). Or perhaps 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin versus Big Show may rock your boat, well it should, especially when you factor in Ric Flair as special guest referee.
Other bouts on the card feature an enjoyable European Championship Match between Spike Dudley and William Regal, Bradshaw versus X Pac, the Hardy Boyz taking on the odd-ball combo of (now UFC star) Brock Lesnar and Shawn (where is he now) Stasiak. Stevie Richards and Booker T had a nice Hardcore Championship brawl. Wrestling fans will savour the late Eddie Guerrero's spat with Rob Van Dam for the Intercontinental Championship and even a good looking divas tag team match with Jazz/Molly Holly v Trish Stratus/Jacqueline.
On the special features front there are some extra matches featuring The Rock, Steve Austin, Chris Jericho, Undertaker and Kurt Angle, all of which add to the interest in this DVD set.
The Pay-Per-Views on offer are a nice look back at the WWE's golden age and to a time when many of the top players in the game where at their peak. This was the short period of time where we as wrestling fans were aprehensive of a WCW/WWE/ECW feud that we had all dreamed of for years and the roster was at it's all time richest. Of course history has told us what happended, who won and what happened those who left the WWE. But for a snapshot of this period and the fact that it happended on UK shores you can't go wring with this unique look at early UK PPV events.
Tagged Classics - Rebellion 2001 and Insurrextion 2002 are on release now from www.silvervision.co.uk
Coming soon from Silvervision are:
Royal Rumble 2011
DX - One Last Stand
The Story of Wrestlemania
There was a time when the WWE didn't just film the odd Raw or Smackdown event here in the UK, they actually recorded special UK only pay-per-view evenst and considering this was the peak time for the company and the attitude era, they were very good indeed.
Disc one of this set houses Rebellion 2001 (filmed at Manchester's MEN), it was an event headlined by an in his prime WWE Champion 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin battling the hugely popular 'People's Champion' The Rock. This was a fine main event for a UK PPV and one that certainly showcases both mens in-ring skills to their best. Elsewhere Rebelion had some low points, but mainly they moved by too quickly to notice.
Match wise we had some fine outings with a Divas tag scrap featuring Mighty Molly, Stacy Kiebler, Torrie Wilson and Lita (with special referee Trish Stratus). Kurt Angle (again in his prime) faced Chris Jericho for the WCW Championship in an enjoyable brawl. Tajiri took on(then) WWE Commissioner William Regal in an entertaining match-up. The WCW Tag Team Championship Elimination match between The Dudley Boyz, APA and Hardy Boyz was a fairly good encounter. Big Show had a decent match with Diamond dallas Page and one-time crowd pleaser Scotty Too Hotty took on fellow comedy performer The Hurricane.
Rebellion 2001 was a huge success for the WWE and of course has paved the way for the afore-mentioned WWE Raw/Smackdown UK recordings.
Disc Two features Insurrextion 2002, this was the WWE's return to the UK after the success of Rebellion and amazingly they pulled it off once again, this time taking place in London's Wembley Arena.
So what sells this one to fans in this day and age? Well how about 'The Game' Triple H taking on The Undertaker in a grudge match (echoing their recent Wrestlemania feud). Or perhaps 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin versus Big Show may rock your boat, well it should, especially when you factor in Ric Flair as special guest referee.
Other bouts on the card feature an enjoyable European Championship Match between Spike Dudley and William Regal, Bradshaw versus X Pac, the Hardy Boyz taking on the odd-ball combo of (now UFC star) Brock Lesnar and Shawn (where is he now) Stasiak. Stevie Richards and Booker T had a nice Hardcore Championship brawl. Wrestling fans will savour the late Eddie Guerrero's spat with Rob Van Dam for the Intercontinental Championship and even a good looking divas tag team match with Jazz/Molly Holly v Trish Stratus/Jacqueline.
On the special features front there are some extra matches featuring The Rock, Steve Austin, Chris Jericho, Undertaker and Kurt Angle, all of which add to the interest in this DVD set.
The Pay-Per-Views on offer are a nice look back at the WWE's golden age and to a time when many of the top players in the game where at their peak. This was the short period of time where we as wrestling fans were aprehensive of a WCW/WWE/ECW feud that we had all dreamed of for years and the roster was at it's all time richest. Of course history has told us what happended, who won and what happened those who left the WWE. But for a snapshot of this period and the fact that it happended on UK shores you can't go wring with this unique look at early UK PPV events.
Tagged Classics - Rebellion 2001 and Insurrextion 2002 are on release now from www.silvervision.co.uk
Coming soon from Silvervision are:
Royal Rumble 2011
DX - One Last Stand
The Story of Wrestlemania
Stevie Richards Interview Highlights
Interview available at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com via ClubWWI.
Stevie Richards has had the distinction of wrestling in every major wrestling company. WWE, WCW, TNA, and ECW have all been home to Richards and he’s created memories wherever he’s worked. His most recent run with TNA as Dr. Stevie just came to an end recently. Richards, who left with no hard feelings but rather decided to depart for business reasons, tells James Guttman on ClubWWI.com about that decision. Initially, he was excited about working as a new character and the opportunities it presented.
“Here’s Dr. Stevie with the promise of, ‘If you work hard, get over, you establish yourself, and mesh into the locker room, then you’ll be rewarded. We’ll renegotiate your deal and all this stuff will happen.’ Then (TNA) turned around and says, ‘Oh. You’re lucky to be getting what you’re getting.’ Then (they have me) never come to work, never get booked, sat at home, and it’s all these things. Like I said, it comes right down to it being a business decision.”
When the final day of his TNA run came about, Richards made sure to leave respectfully. He showed up in person to inform the office about his departure. ?”I walked in on January 11th and a lot of people don’t do this. They wait for that call in wrestling – whether it’s to wait for that call to get a job or to wait for that call to lose a job. What I did was, I prayed about it, I thought about it, and I said to myself, ‘You know what? Today I’m going to make something happen. I’m going to control my destiny rather than waiting for something to happen.’
“So I went in that day and I told (the office). Terry Taylor wasn’t shocked because I talk to him all the time. But everybody else seemed shocked. And I said, ‘Well, you guys booked me and then you sent me home for five months.’ We don’t get paid if we don’t work, at the level I was at. So what am I supposed to do? In reality, with a business or a job, you don’t go into Best Buy and they say, ‘We don’t have anything for you’ every single day for five months. What are you gonna do? You find another job, right?”
Stevie spoke about his thoughts on TNA’s product, direction, pros, and cons throughout his one hour ClubWWI interview. He also spoke about moments from his entire career. Perhaps one of his most memorable times in wrestling came during his stint as the tie-wearing Right To Censor leader. Guttman mentions other former RTC members Bull Buchanan and Ivory having hosted shows on ClubWWI and the questions many fans had always had about why the stable never reunited. As one of WWE’s most hated heel groups, fans expected some sort of resurrection, but it never materialized. Richards reveals what he felt was behind the choice to keep the group dead and buried. As always, it’s politics…
“What I hear, and what I kind of guessed, is that Jamie Mars used to write and he wrote a lot of material. He and Brian Gewirtz, who is still a head writer at WWE, I don’t think they got along too well. And it wasn’t Brian Gewirtz’s project to write the promos or anything and it seemed like when Jamie Mars left, it spelled the end for Right To Censor.”
Stevie continued throughout the interview to discuss everything in his wrestling career from Raven to apprehension about the debut of RTC to Stevie Night Heat. But he also urged ClubWWI.com members to check out his T4 Tech Show online. At T4show.com, Richards (under his real name of Michael Manna) looks at all the latest technology on the market and gives some expert views on what’s worth purchasing.
“We cover everything in technology. I know there’s a big gaming audience that you have here. We’re big video game fans. We do a lot of recording, stream video games, and also review them. The brand new redesigned T4show.com has a lot of video game reviews with a three point rating system and I invite everyone to come look at it if you’re a fan of fitness, if you’re a fan of tech, Apple – especially Apple, we’re big Apple Fanboys – and video games.”
Remember Stevie’s 62 minute shoot is just one of thousands of hours of audio featuring hundreds of wrestling stars available the moment you sign up to ClubWWI.com. From Paul Roma to Jerry Lawler to Mae Young to Sean Mooney, you can hear them all right now!
Stevie Richards has had the distinction of wrestling in every major wrestling company. WWE, WCW, TNA, and ECW have all been home to Richards and he’s created memories wherever he’s worked. His most recent run with TNA as Dr. Stevie just came to an end recently. Richards, who left with no hard feelings but rather decided to depart for business reasons, tells James Guttman on ClubWWI.com about that decision. Initially, he was excited about working as a new character and the opportunities it presented.
“Here’s Dr. Stevie with the promise of, ‘If you work hard, get over, you establish yourself, and mesh into the locker room, then you’ll be rewarded. We’ll renegotiate your deal and all this stuff will happen.’ Then (TNA) turned around and says, ‘Oh. You’re lucky to be getting what you’re getting.’ Then (they have me) never come to work, never get booked, sat at home, and it’s all these things. Like I said, it comes right down to it being a business decision.”
When the final day of his TNA run came about, Richards made sure to leave respectfully. He showed up in person to inform the office about his departure. ?”I walked in on January 11th and a lot of people don’t do this. They wait for that call in wrestling – whether it’s to wait for that call to get a job or to wait for that call to lose a job. What I did was, I prayed about it, I thought about it, and I said to myself, ‘You know what? Today I’m going to make something happen. I’m going to control my destiny rather than waiting for something to happen.’
“So I went in that day and I told (the office). Terry Taylor wasn’t shocked because I talk to him all the time. But everybody else seemed shocked. And I said, ‘Well, you guys booked me and then you sent me home for five months.’ We don’t get paid if we don’t work, at the level I was at. So what am I supposed to do? In reality, with a business or a job, you don’t go into Best Buy and they say, ‘We don’t have anything for you’ every single day for five months. What are you gonna do? You find another job, right?”
Stevie spoke about his thoughts on TNA’s product, direction, pros, and cons throughout his one hour ClubWWI interview. He also spoke about moments from his entire career. Perhaps one of his most memorable times in wrestling came during his stint as the tie-wearing Right To Censor leader. Guttman mentions other former RTC members Bull Buchanan and Ivory having hosted shows on ClubWWI and the questions many fans had always had about why the stable never reunited. As one of WWE’s most hated heel groups, fans expected some sort of resurrection, but it never materialized. Richards reveals what he felt was behind the choice to keep the group dead and buried. As always, it’s politics…
“What I hear, and what I kind of guessed, is that Jamie Mars used to write and he wrote a lot of material. He and Brian Gewirtz, who is still a head writer at WWE, I don’t think they got along too well. And it wasn’t Brian Gewirtz’s project to write the promos or anything and it seemed like when Jamie Mars left, it spelled the end for Right To Censor.”
Stevie continued throughout the interview to discuss everything in his wrestling career from Raven to apprehension about the debut of RTC to Stevie Night Heat. But he also urged ClubWWI.com members to check out his T4 Tech Show online. At T4show.com, Richards (under his real name of Michael Manna) looks at all the latest technology on the market and gives some expert views on what’s worth purchasing.
“We cover everything in technology. I know there’s a big gaming audience that you have here. We’re big video game fans. We do a lot of recording, stream video games, and also review them. The brand new redesigned T4show.com has a lot of video game reviews with a three point rating system and I invite everyone to come look at it if you’re a fan of fitness, if you’re a fan of tech, Apple – especially Apple, we’re big Apple Fanboys – and video games.”
Remember Stevie’s 62 minute shoot is just one of thousands of hours of audio featuring hundreds of wrestling stars available the moment you sign up to ClubWWI.com. From Paul Roma to Jerry Lawler to Mae Young to Sean Mooney, you can hear them all right now!
Michelle McCool Comments on Leaving WWE
Michelle McCool is gone from WWE after losing a Loser Leaves WWE Match to Layla last night at Extreme Rules.
The wrestler formerly known as Awesome Kong made her WWE television debut immediately following McCool's defeat and laid out the multi-time champion with an Implant Buster.
In an indication as to why she's leaving WWE, McCool revealed to WWE.com that she's endured a slew of injuries the past two months.
"My foot has been injured for two months now, broken toe, torn joint capsules, torn MCL. I took a good beating by Layla and Kharma, too. I know I'll be feeling it tonight, tomorrow and probably the next day," McCool said. "But I'll wear it with pride."
McCool was introduced to the WWE audience in 2004 as a competitor in the inaugural Diva Search. Although the former school teacher lost the competition, WWE signed her to a contract in November of that year. She had been wrestling ever since.
"I've been doing this for six years now. Love me or hate me, I hope the WWE Universe can respect that night in and night out, I've given it my all," McCool tearfully said. "This is definitely emotional, and I'm sure it’ll be like that for awhile."
While McCool hopes to see her fans again, it won't be in the ring.
"Thank you for the love and the hate. Thank you for being you and for watching. Hopefully I'll see you around – not in the ring – but maybe someday."
The wrestler formerly known as Awesome Kong made her WWE television debut immediately following McCool's defeat and laid out the multi-time champion with an Implant Buster.
In an indication as to why she's leaving WWE, McCool revealed to WWE.com that she's endured a slew of injuries the past two months.
"My foot has been injured for two months now, broken toe, torn joint capsules, torn MCL. I took a good beating by Layla and Kharma, too. I know I'll be feeling it tonight, tomorrow and probably the next day," McCool said. "But I'll wear it with pride."
McCool was introduced to the WWE audience in 2004 as a competitor in the inaugural Diva Search. Although the former school teacher lost the competition, WWE signed her to a contract in November of that year. She had been wrestling ever since.
"I've been doing this for six years now. Love me or hate me, I hope the WWE Universe can respect that night in and night out, I've given it my all," McCool tearfully said. "This is definitely emotional, and I'm sure it’ll be like that for awhile."
While McCool hopes to see her fans again, it won't be in the ring.
"Thank you for the love and the hate. Thank you for being you and for watching. Hopefully I'll see you around – not in the ring – but maybe someday."
Video Interview with "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels Via DieHard Wrestling
Video Interview with "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels
DieHard Pro Wrestling presents an exclusive interview with former TNA star and one of the “founding fathers” of Ring of Honor “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, conducted by “DieHard” Derek Gordon.
It’s absolutely mind boggling that Christopher Daniels is not performing on a main stream level any more. Sure Ring of Honor is one of the few elite when it comes to indy wrestling – but a talent with the caliber and experience that comes in the package deal of the Fallen Angel is something that any money hungry promoter can cash in on in an instant. Daniels has the pure ability to electrify a crowd and deliver a five star match with a broom stick. Bar none, he is arguably the hottest free agent on the market right now. Even with 17 years experience under his belt, some may challenge him by saying he’s past his prime. But Daniels is quick to prove them wrong by showing them that he only gets better with age. No doubt about it, Christopher Daniels belongs in the WWE…RIGHT NOW!
In this interview, Daniels discusses his thoughts on the state of indy wrestling, talent that should be signed by WWE and TNA, his influences, and some “best of the best” rapid fire questions.
Follow this link for the "FALLEN ANGEL" CHRISTOPHER DANIELS INTERVIEW & don't forget to follow DieHard Pro Wrestling for more Online Wrestling Videos. You can also interact with DieHard Pro Wrestling on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DieHardProWrestling and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DHProWrestling
DieHard Pro Wrestling presents an exclusive interview with former TNA star and one of the “founding fathers” of Ring of Honor “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, conducted by “DieHard” Derek Gordon.
It’s absolutely mind boggling that Christopher Daniels is not performing on a main stream level any more. Sure Ring of Honor is one of the few elite when it comes to indy wrestling – but a talent with the caliber and experience that comes in the package deal of the Fallen Angel is something that any money hungry promoter can cash in on in an instant. Daniels has the pure ability to electrify a crowd and deliver a five star match with a broom stick. Bar none, he is arguably the hottest free agent on the market right now. Even with 17 years experience under his belt, some may challenge him by saying he’s past his prime. But Daniels is quick to prove them wrong by showing them that he only gets better with age. No doubt about it, Christopher Daniels belongs in the WWE…RIGHT NOW!
In this interview, Daniels discusses his thoughts on the state of indy wrestling, talent that should be signed by WWE and TNA, his influences, and some “best of the best” rapid fire questions.
Follow this link for the "FALLEN ANGEL" CHRISTOPHER DANIELS INTERVIEW & don't forget to follow DieHard Pro Wrestling for more Online Wrestling Videos. You can also interact with DieHard Pro Wrestling on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DieHardProWrestling and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DHProWrestling
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