John
04-11-2009, 07:17 PM
Welcome back to “Throwing in the Towel”, and that horrid, post-Mania depression we all enter into for a brief period. So WrestleMania 25 was the flattest rendition of that particular event for a number of years, and the WWE don’t especially care- as they steer us towards another show in a couple of weeks, with a very TNA type flavour to it. Meanwhile, the brand split means absolutely nothing, and the highlight of this week’s television was a man approaching sixty (no… not Vince). Yuck.
So what better way to pass the time, and alleviate those blues, than to slap some nostalgia into that shiny disc player, and bask in the glories of some of the Federation’s most accomplished matches and angles of the past twenty years? But upon closer inspection, would The Best of SNME live up to billing?
The Lo-Down
Saturday Night’s Main Event was, from 1985- 1992, a beloved staple on the viewing schedules of wrestling fans everywhere. It was known for its matchmaking, which often enabled big stars to mix it up in competitive contests, something that was then, an unusual sight for fans outside of PPV extravaganzas. But it also played host to some truly essential angles, and is remembered for some of wrestling’s most historic moments. In 2006, Vince McMahon resurrected the show in the form of occasional specials, but sadly, said efforts have proven to be stinkers in comparison to the classics of two decades before.
What’s on it?
This set is largely comprised of a whole host of big matches from the event’s expansive library. These vary in quality of course, but many are very good indeed, and better yet, most of them are bouts that many of us haven’t seen in years. Much of this material is complimented by background info, provided by the commanding presence of Mean Gene. He introduces various skits and interviews, in a one-dimensional and simplistic form. This is all about celebration, not analysis.
Disc 1:
The programme opens with Mean Gene taking us through the era in which this event was spawned. Nice, but way too brief. C’mon, we know Hogan was the driving force behind the popularity of “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling”, but why? How about some views from non-wrestling personalities who saw this behemoth of an industry looming large?
Hulk Hogan w/Mr T vs. Cowboy Bob Orton w/Roddy Piper
This is a must, purely for historical purposes.
-Uncle Elmer’s wedding.
Thank crap that they didn’t include an Uncle Elmer match- because that guy absolutely stunk up the ring. However, this segment, bizarre, and ridiculous as it is, is good fun, largely because it was the first WWE wedding.
Roddy Piper vs. “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
Although I absolutely loved Paul Orndorff, it just occurred to me while watching this, how much a guy I know, who works as a Security Guard, looks like him. The resemblance is uncanny. Worse still… the guy is actually called Roddy.
Err; anyways… this is helluva heated match-up, with Piper at his unpredictable best, and Orndorff really tearing it up as a babyface. It’s nice to see the WWE acknowledge him as a good guy, on his own merit, and not purely through association with Hogan. Shame about the premature count-out though. And you think parity is an issue these days?
-A Tour of the Zoo with George “the Animal” Steele.
Jesus. Just…Jesus.
-A Halloween Party
I’ve never seen any of this footage before… but it’s utterly bizarre. Worth watching though, for Vince’s appearance in which he says “Trick or Treat” to Roddy Piper, accompanied by really terrible fake laughter.
Hulk Hogan vs. Terry Funk
Very intriguing one this, with The Hulkster wearing less familiar green, and Funk playing the wild man. He makes Hogan look a million bucks, falling about the place like a loon. Meanwhile, back in these early days, Hogan actually shows a bit of edge, and humour in his character, before he became the vitamin-pill popping cheat we know him as. The result? Even grown men in attendance, sporting fabulous moustaches, are going nuts for him.
Mr T vs. Cowboy Bob Orton (Boxing match)
Randy Orton discusses his involvement in this whole storyline with Hogan and Mr T, prior to the match. It’s a nice touch indeed, but it doesn’t stop this bout taking a large dump all over the audience! Still, hot angle at the time.
Jake Roberts vs. Ricky Steamboat
This is the rather nutty Snake Pit bout in which Ricky Steamboat had a “Dragon” in his corner, while Jake had Damian in his. Good action however, stemming from the hot angle where Steamboat’s skull was nearly splattered across the concrete thanks to a Jake DDT. The pre-match interview by Jake is disappointingly played for laughs, in the…err, shower, of all places. Jesus, Steamboat was so wasted in the WWE. This feud was nice, but like everything he was involved in for the McMahons, all too brief.
Randy Savage with the lovely Miss Elizabeth
Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage
Both these guys were always natural opponents for one another, and I could watch them face off for days on end.
Savage is proudly attired in one of his finest robes, and he’s still playing the heel, defending his IC title. The only criticism here is that it’s an odd jump, because ten minutes ago, we were watching Jake get booed out of the building.
There’s a bloody outstanding moment, where Jake covers Savage, and doesn’t hook the leg, instead taunting Elizabeth.
When Savage drapes a leg over the bottom rope to save himself, Roberts is furious with himself, and then hooks the leg, but it’s too late. The little touches are awesome folks. It prevents Jake from looking like a clown, because he was at least aware of his error, and attempted to compensate for it. Dave Hebner rings for the Disqualification however, after he’s compromised by both men, and flung through the ropes were he decides to disgustingly bump himself on top of his own head. The Fink ingeniously declares the DQ down to “The uncontrollable nature of this match”. Hahaha!
Hulk Hogan vs. “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (Steel Cage Match)
Orndorff’s the baddie here of course, after he famously turned on buddy Hogan. I’d forgotten how he also “stole” his entrance music, coming out to “Real American” himself. Great stuff. It’s also worth pointing out that this is one of the earlier Cage matches to end with both guys escaping at the same time. They do a re-start and the crowd are electric throughout this.
Battle Royal
Hogan’s the big star of this one, with Andre also being heavily hyped. Interestingly, at one point, Lanny Poffo is somehow busted open hard-way, and immediately goes to Andre in order to work his elimination spot. The announcers cover it by claiming Andre head butted him, but it almost perfectly plays into the storyline that Andre is super-aggressive, and head-butting people all over the place. Could it be that Poffo simply bladed too early? Strange that he would be blading at all… Looks gnarly.
Not a bad Battle Royal at all, though the final four absolutely suck.
The British Bulldogs vs. The Hart Foundation (2/3 Falls Match)
This is a really good match, with some amazing crowd heat. However, Dynamite is clearly in horrible pain throughout this, and does little but sell for a period, and perform a couple of spots designed to mask his injuries. Sad to see. The Hart Foundation are at their absolute peak though!
Randy Savage vs. Honky Tonk Man
Elizabeth is ridiculously beautiful at ringside for this one. Looking back, with things having went the way they did, it’s even more poignant when Savage was performing as a, and Elizabeth was in his corner, looking genuinely happy.
Christ, If they could do this stuff with Honky Tonk Man, there sure as hell could be finding more for Santino to do every week on Raw. This clash for the IC title goes a lot longer than you might imagine, and is pretty hot stuff, taking in a bump for Jimmy Hart, and a big beat-down from The Hart Foundation. Hogan is dragged out at the end to help Savage, though not before he takes a nasty guitar shot. Obviously this was the start of the Mega Powers angle, and the chemistry is amazing. The match is followed by a fun-filled looked at the formation of the team, and the first promo Hogan and Savage cut together.
-Music Video for “Piledriver”
This is absolutely horrible. HORRIBLE. But also great at the same time. Easily Koko B Ware’s finest moment. Think he shouldn’t have gone into the Hall of Fame? Think again.
Randy Savage vs. Bret Hart
What else could you expect from this bout, other than perfect storytelling, and ahead-of-it’s-time action? Bret was underrated as a heel back in the day, and in many ways, he was the original “Cerebral Assassin”, because he portrayed a cold-hearted cunning individual, who zoned in on a body part like a blood-thirsty shark. Those trademarks are evident here in this stellar effort.
Savage’s selling too, is incredible, as he really was head-and-shoulders above his peers.
One great advantage of this entire collection is that it serves as the ideal entrée for those who are intrigued by the forthcoming Macho Man DVD, yet may not be familiar with Randy’s work. The Savage stuff here is so good, that the Macho release will have to go some way to live up to expectations (I expect it will though).
Disc 2:
Hulkamania baby. Lots of it and oodles of yellow bandana-sporting antics are on show in this middle portion of the Best of SNME. And better yet… Andre….lots and lots of Andre and Savage… and DiBiase. In short, this one covers the peak of the “Federation Years”.
Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy
Obviously, this isn’t one of the more athletic contests on offer here. In fact, it’s not very good at all, and is more notable for the outside interference from Andre the Giant instead. But big-match storyline advancement was always a crucial aspect of SNME, and this angle is no exception. Andre’s beat-down of Hogan, from which a whole assortment of babyfaces attempt to save him, is fantastic stuff.
Main Event regulars: The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan
Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan
The highlight reel that summarises the legendary, and awe-inspiring feud between the two which is featured prior to this epic bout, is bloody outstanding. Andre and Hogan may not have produced the most aesthetically pleasing of battles when they locked up- but these feud proved what pin-point storylines could do for a feud.
Plus, there’s no compensation for the degree of star power that both these guys had.
Again, this is a bout known for the devastatingly brilliant angle that takes place, rather than the work itself. And that’s absolutely fine.
But you know what… the action is entertaining in itself. Ted DiBiase and Virgil are great value on the outside, and Andre pulls out all the stops to make this one of his most memorable latter-day matches. Of course, everybody remembers the infamous Hebner Twins screw job angle, and generally, for all the right reasons, because it’s a fantastic piece of business.
Ted DiBiase vs. Randy Savage
What’s not to like? Savage at arguably, his hottest, and DiBiase at his most hated. Having “purchased” Andre’s service, DiBiase was a white-hot heel right here, and Savage of course, was one of the most sympathetic babyfaces in history. In the ring, these two were way ahead of the majority of their generation, which ensures that bouts like this still stand the test of time. Simply televised grappling at its finest.
-Clips of Jake Roberts’ feud with Andre that memorably revealed Andre had a near-paralysing fear of snakes.
Harley Race vs. Hulk Hogan
Like most people, I’m a big fan of Race’s NWA work. However, although he often looked a bit of a fool when he migrated to Stamford- he was undoubtedly a limited performer by this point. He looks AWFUL here. That said, he still puts forth a Herculean effort, and truly does his utmost to put Hogan over. Bumping like a mad-man, the former NWA champ draws a ridiculous degree of heat for the champ, who is insanely over in this tussle. Good action.
Randy Savage vs. Andre the Giant
The background and storyline really make this match, as by this point, Andre, physically, is in really bad condition. The heat is off the charts of course though, and Bobby Heenan is great in Andre’s corner, with Elizabeth getting more involved than usual from the outside. Value for money too- as Jake Roberts gets involved, sporting his amazing baggy leather pants that he favoured in the 80’s… Ahh… the Eighties…
-Hacksaw Jim Duggan segment
Brief interview clip, and um, “Highlights” of a Flag match.
Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man
Warrior’s pre-match promo is particularly lousy here. I loved his insane rants as much as anyone, but this one lacked inventiveness. The match too, is one of the weaker inclusions on The Best of SNME, being that both guys are severely limited, and the action largely revolves around taking a lot of shortcuts.
-Ron Bass video package
Clips of a Ron Bass interview and hype for his haircut match with Brutus Beefcake. Includes highlights of the bout, and the hair clipping. Good fun.
Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan vs. Big Boss Man & Akeem
In terms of the bout…good fun, rather than actually good. In terms of the angle it’s built around… completely and utterly, gob-smackingly brilliant. Boss Man wasn’t in his best shape when he teamed with Akeem (it was around 1990 I think when he became much more sprightly), but they were a solid heel combo. Obviously though, this is all about Savage and Hogan, and the disintegration of their partnership. It all kicks off when Savage Is chucked over the top, landing on Elizabeth, knocking her out. Hilariously, at one point, Hogan appears to check whether Elizabeth is breathing. Yes… BREATHING.
But the drama is phenomenal as Savage, increasingly suspicious of Hogan’s motives, becomes incensed as his partner carries his missus to the back, seeking medical assistance. Macho is left alone, but also, is furious, pondering, what the big orange goon is doing with his lady. When Hogan returns to aid his man, Savage abandons him altogether, taking his championship belt. The fiend! Hogan’s nauseating gullibility and heroism in this sort of scenario is exactly the sort of reason I hated him as a kid, and this probably reinforced that hatred. But luckily, the majority of fans played along, and Savage became instantly, the most hated man on the planet. Fantastic. “You’ve got lust for Elizabeth…”…..
Many laughs too for Beefcake appearing to attempt to help. Was there any low that man would not sink to prove HIS LUST for Hulkamania? I think not.
Hulk Hogan vs. Big Boss Man (Steel Cage Match)
Hogan really was the King of the cage in WWE circa the 80’s wasn’t he?
One of Boss Man’s most memorable matches, certainly as a heel. Zeus makes a horrid appearance however that takes a bit of the sheen of this solid championship match.
Brainbusters vs. The Rockers (2/3 Falls Match)
The crowd go wild for his match, featuring two of SNME’s all time great tag teams. It was this event that got the most use out of Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, a team that really should have met with much larger success in the federation.
This is a blistering, fast paced-bout, and an indication of how strong the WWE’s tag division was at one point. Arn Anderson was a convincingly angry man in his day. Part of the fun of this is watching the fans react, and listening to them gasp and cheer, following the story at every single turn. Simpler times.
Disc 3:
Did “The Life and Times of Mr Perfect” delight, yet merely whet your appetite for another helping of Hennig? Well, you’ll be delighted with the final disc on this set, because it’s loaded with Perfect goodness.
Perfection and Genius: Hennig and Poffo
Mr Perfect & The Genius vs. Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior
I’ve seen this a couple of times over the years, and it never fails to please. Perfect bumps all over the place for the (that turnbuckle post is always ludicrous, but the extent of his effort to make Hogan look good, while doing it here, is INSANE), while The Genius is his usual energetic self.
This is pretty much the perfect template for a satisfactory Main Event Tag outing, featuring the two biggest good guys on the roster. Hogan’s looks delighted with Hennig at the finish.
Mr Perfect vs. Hulk Hogan
Ventura is fabulous on commentary in this one, ragging on Hogan’s “Heel” tactics at every opportunity. McMahon’s justification for Hogan’s dodging rule-breaking is simply that “we’re in Texas”. Awesome.
Perfect is sensational again here, and I still think it’s a horrible shame he never got the pay-off of a big PPV outing against Hogan. And I have to say…I miss The Genius…………..
- A Rick Martel Promo for his “Model” character. I actually really liked this gimmick, and think it could have worked. But once he cut his hair, gained an impressive degree of girth around his mid-section, and his matches became complete stall-fests, his Hasbro incarnation became more exciting.
The Hart Foundation vs. The Rockers
“Don’t expect a Scientific Tag Team match, this is going to Rock and Roll! ”
Jesus…awful commentary… Vince was generally good fun in this role, but sometimes way off the mark. The excitement of this is that there was good chance of much fast-paced, technical sounds grappling, and while I understand that Vince was trying to suggest it will be a pacey outing, rather than a slow, hold-based affair, the way he addressed it was really dumb.
Michaels’ mullet is fantastic throughout this collision, which features good action, but disappointingly, a run-in from Demolition.
Tito Santana vs. Mr Perfect
Can you imagine heat like this for an Intercontinental title match these days? Doesn’t happen often. Poor Hebner gets a rough ride by from Vince on commentary- who is utterly abysmal. When Perfect kicks out of a pinfall attempt at 2, McGrape-fruits goes nuts, saying “I didn’t see that”, in belief that Perfect never kicked out. Err… He did. Vince just used to get so excited and carried away; he often contradicted the stories that were being told in the ring. I’m all for a heel commentator arguing with the play-by-play man, but not when the straight man is always wrong (a’ la Michael Cole), because it undermines them and makes them appear desperate.
This one puts over Hennig as much as Santana, as the Champ kicks out of all manner of situations. with a ref bump adding to the feverish excitement in the crowd. Perfect is the consummate heel, while Tito is your archetypal meat-and-potatoes hero. Great, great action- and more utterly mental bumps from Hennig.
- A look at Oktoberfest…. Ugh… Remember this segment…….ugh.
Battle Royal
This is one of the better Over-the-top Battle Royals I can recall seeing in the federation. There’s a good line-up, including Hennig, Hogan, Jake Roberts, The Rockers, Kerry Von Erich, Haku, and Greg Valentine. Shawn Michaels is an absolute revelation in this bout, and his efforts are rewarded with a long stay, as he nearly makes it to the finish. Great stuff. Of course, some of the eliminations are sloppy and anti-climatic, but in general, it hits the right notes, and features a nice shock ending.
Ted DiBiase vs. Bret Hart
People always bang on about Bret’s technical skills, the capacity for great variety, and his all-round ability. But he doesn’t get enough credit for his Hogan-esque timing. Check out his fabulous come-back in this one. He doesn’t do anything unnatural, or different, just a few of his usual spots, but the presence, and the pacing is what makes it a joy. But the match is overshadowed when Roddy Piper runs off Sensational Sherri (she’s managing DiBiase here, and I’m assuming this was the point at which they were considering putting Shawn Michaels with Ted, before they instead put Sherri in Michaels’ corner, with him as a singles act) with a broom. He gestures with the broom to indicate Sherri’s a witch- but the image is an altogether more suggestive one, as he thrusts back and forth….
The Undertaker & Ric Flair vs. Sid Justice & Hulk Hogan
More Hennig goodness, as he’s in Flair’s corner sporting a stunning tracksuit. Awesome. Sid and the Huckster have Brutus watching their back, which isn’t quite as impressive. You do get the impression that Ed Leslie was Hogan’s towel boy, regardless of the booking.
Entertaining because of the star-power of the participants, but nothing memorable, other than the storyline involving Sid and Hogan. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the match (hell- the best moment of 1992, full-stop), is when the camera cuts to the crowd, and some kid with a mullet rips up his own Sid Justice sign! It’s still real to him damnit! Awesome.
-A highlight package of the feud between The Mountie and Roddy Piper.
Not much confidence in the quality of matches between these two then… But this video package probably serves both guys better than one match filled with rest holds would have done. My, that cattle prod looks rather naff now that we’re looking back though.
The British Bulldog vs. Shawn Michaels
Davey is mega-over, but you can tell that Shawn’s ready, and upon winning the IC title here, the fans are ready to accept him at that level. Sherri’s not even in Shawn’s corner here either, he simply gets the job done n his own. It’s sad that Davey’s career was filled with unhappiness and suffering, because he really was a beloved figure, and it would have amazing to see him succeed at this level without the use of enormous quantities of Steroids. Obviously, this one is all about power vs. speed, and it’s a fantastic example of a simple, back-and-forth Intercontinental title bout.
Shawn Michaels vs. Shane McMahon
Suddenly we’re in the modern era, and it’s just not as interesting, partly because immediately we’re given…Shane McMahon. This was originally broadcast on the SNME that appeared prior to WrestleMania 22, and the bout was supposed to hype the Vince/HBK match for the big card. Nobody really bought McMahon beating Shawn, at any point however. With this match, you get a couple of wacky spots, and some groovy Vince expressions, but that’s about it. The actual episode of SNME that this is plucked from absolutely sucked incidentally.
Degeneration X vs. The Spirit Squad
Just skip this. It’s better for everyone to pretend it’s not real.
John Cena vs. Edge
Interesting this, given that these guys are still fighting it out, in a TV feud that the WWE are attempting to pass off as fresh enough for WrestleMania. It isn’t. Though they always deliver in the ring, and this is no exception. It’s a shorter match than many of their encounters, but features a creative finish, and a tremendous post-match angle. Plus…. Lita’s top… good Lord….
Extras
Each DVD has a small selection of extras on offer, which differ very little from style, or quality, when compared to the Main Feature, but are nice accompaniments.
The first disc is perhaps the best in this respect, taking in the Six-Man tag that served as the first ever SNME match, in addition to the music video for “Real American”, and a Junkyard dog segment for Mother’s Day, which you may remember from the “Greatest Stars of the 80’s” DVD.
The Second disc has A Brother Love interview with Hulk Hogan, and the Big Boss Man vs. Dusty Rhodes, and although far from a classic encounter, is a definite joy to watch. This encounter ushered in the debut of Dusty’s lady-friend, Sapphire.
The final third of the set is the poorest in regards to extras…Alfred Hayes on Safari… Michaels talking about winning the IC title (in footage taken from his Heartbreak and Triumph DVD), and Matt Hardy talking about the boxing match angle with Evander Holyfield. Nothing to see here.
Add to basket?
Absolutely. Immediately in fact. A loved one’s birthday? Screw them… buy this instead.
There are minor quibbles of course… I’d love to have seen more in depth perspectives from some of the stars and talking heads, especially the performers of today, who grew up on this stuff. What matches influenced them? What did they make of the difference between SNME and regular programming? Did people perceive these events as on par with Pay Per Views?
The third disc is perhaps the weakest of the trio, purely because a portion of it is dedicated to the recent rehashes of SNME, which really, are not good at all. But the first half of the third part is tremendous, with Mr Perfect and Shawn Michaels impressing greatly. Meanwhile, Disc 2 is probably the finest of the three, as the company really turned it on at this point, delivering a host of fascinating feuds. Disc One improves as it goes along, and the characters become more absorbing, and the action more sophisticated.
Combined together, the three discs form a ridiculously enjoyable whole, one which I derived more entertainment from, than any grown man ever should. If you’re familiar with this material, you can’t fail to appreciate the quality of this release. If you are a newcomer, well this is the best introduction possible as to why SNME was so vital, and the alumni of talent that to this day, has yet to be matched. Fascinating, thrilling, and bags of fun.
So what better way to pass the time, and alleviate those blues, than to slap some nostalgia into that shiny disc player, and bask in the glories of some of the Federation’s most accomplished matches and angles of the past twenty years? But upon closer inspection, would The Best of SNME live up to billing?
The Lo-Down
Saturday Night’s Main Event was, from 1985- 1992, a beloved staple on the viewing schedules of wrestling fans everywhere. It was known for its matchmaking, which often enabled big stars to mix it up in competitive contests, something that was then, an unusual sight for fans outside of PPV extravaganzas. But it also played host to some truly essential angles, and is remembered for some of wrestling’s most historic moments. In 2006, Vince McMahon resurrected the show in the form of occasional specials, but sadly, said efforts have proven to be stinkers in comparison to the classics of two decades before.
What’s on it?
This set is largely comprised of a whole host of big matches from the event’s expansive library. These vary in quality of course, but many are very good indeed, and better yet, most of them are bouts that many of us haven’t seen in years. Much of this material is complimented by background info, provided by the commanding presence of Mean Gene. He introduces various skits and interviews, in a one-dimensional and simplistic form. This is all about celebration, not analysis.
Disc 1:
The programme opens with Mean Gene taking us through the era in which this event was spawned. Nice, but way too brief. C’mon, we know Hogan was the driving force behind the popularity of “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling”, but why? How about some views from non-wrestling personalities who saw this behemoth of an industry looming large?
Hulk Hogan w/Mr T vs. Cowboy Bob Orton w/Roddy Piper
This is a must, purely for historical purposes.
-Uncle Elmer’s wedding.
Thank crap that they didn’t include an Uncle Elmer match- because that guy absolutely stunk up the ring. However, this segment, bizarre, and ridiculous as it is, is good fun, largely because it was the first WWE wedding.
Roddy Piper vs. “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
Although I absolutely loved Paul Orndorff, it just occurred to me while watching this, how much a guy I know, who works as a Security Guard, looks like him. The resemblance is uncanny. Worse still… the guy is actually called Roddy.
Err; anyways… this is helluva heated match-up, with Piper at his unpredictable best, and Orndorff really tearing it up as a babyface. It’s nice to see the WWE acknowledge him as a good guy, on his own merit, and not purely through association with Hogan. Shame about the premature count-out though. And you think parity is an issue these days?
-A Tour of the Zoo with George “the Animal” Steele.
Jesus. Just…Jesus.
-A Halloween Party
I’ve never seen any of this footage before… but it’s utterly bizarre. Worth watching though, for Vince’s appearance in which he says “Trick or Treat” to Roddy Piper, accompanied by really terrible fake laughter.
Hulk Hogan vs. Terry Funk
Very intriguing one this, with The Hulkster wearing less familiar green, and Funk playing the wild man. He makes Hogan look a million bucks, falling about the place like a loon. Meanwhile, back in these early days, Hogan actually shows a bit of edge, and humour in his character, before he became the vitamin-pill popping cheat we know him as. The result? Even grown men in attendance, sporting fabulous moustaches, are going nuts for him.
Mr T vs. Cowboy Bob Orton (Boxing match)
Randy Orton discusses his involvement in this whole storyline with Hogan and Mr T, prior to the match. It’s a nice touch indeed, but it doesn’t stop this bout taking a large dump all over the audience! Still, hot angle at the time.
Jake Roberts vs. Ricky Steamboat
This is the rather nutty Snake Pit bout in which Ricky Steamboat had a “Dragon” in his corner, while Jake had Damian in his. Good action however, stemming from the hot angle where Steamboat’s skull was nearly splattered across the concrete thanks to a Jake DDT. The pre-match interview by Jake is disappointingly played for laughs, in the…err, shower, of all places. Jesus, Steamboat was so wasted in the WWE. This feud was nice, but like everything he was involved in for the McMahons, all too brief.
Randy Savage with the lovely Miss Elizabeth
Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage
Both these guys were always natural opponents for one another, and I could watch them face off for days on end.
Savage is proudly attired in one of his finest robes, and he’s still playing the heel, defending his IC title. The only criticism here is that it’s an odd jump, because ten minutes ago, we were watching Jake get booed out of the building.
There’s a bloody outstanding moment, where Jake covers Savage, and doesn’t hook the leg, instead taunting Elizabeth.
When Savage drapes a leg over the bottom rope to save himself, Roberts is furious with himself, and then hooks the leg, but it’s too late. The little touches are awesome folks. It prevents Jake from looking like a clown, because he was at least aware of his error, and attempted to compensate for it. Dave Hebner rings for the Disqualification however, after he’s compromised by both men, and flung through the ropes were he decides to disgustingly bump himself on top of his own head. The Fink ingeniously declares the DQ down to “The uncontrollable nature of this match”. Hahaha!
Hulk Hogan vs. “Mr Wonderful” Paul Orndorff (Steel Cage Match)
Orndorff’s the baddie here of course, after he famously turned on buddy Hogan. I’d forgotten how he also “stole” his entrance music, coming out to “Real American” himself. Great stuff. It’s also worth pointing out that this is one of the earlier Cage matches to end with both guys escaping at the same time. They do a re-start and the crowd are electric throughout this.
Battle Royal
Hogan’s the big star of this one, with Andre also being heavily hyped. Interestingly, at one point, Lanny Poffo is somehow busted open hard-way, and immediately goes to Andre in order to work his elimination spot. The announcers cover it by claiming Andre head butted him, but it almost perfectly plays into the storyline that Andre is super-aggressive, and head-butting people all over the place. Could it be that Poffo simply bladed too early? Strange that he would be blading at all… Looks gnarly.
Not a bad Battle Royal at all, though the final four absolutely suck.
The British Bulldogs vs. The Hart Foundation (2/3 Falls Match)
This is a really good match, with some amazing crowd heat. However, Dynamite is clearly in horrible pain throughout this, and does little but sell for a period, and perform a couple of spots designed to mask his injuries. Sad to see. The Hart Foundation are at their absolute peak though!
Randy Savage vs. Honky Tonk Man
Elizabeth is ridiculously beautiful at ringside for this one. Looking back, with things having went the way they did, it’s even more poignant when Savage was performing as a, and Elizabeth was in his corner, looking genuinely happy.
Christ, If they could do this stuff with Honky Tonk Man, there sure as hell could be finding more for Santino to do every week on Raw. This clash for the IC title goes a lot longer than you might imagine, and is pretty hot stuff, taking in a bump for Jimmy Hart, and a big beat-down from The Hart Foundation. Hogan is dragged out at the end to help Savage, though not before he takes a nasty guitar shot. Obviously this was the start of the Mega Powers angle, and the chemistry is amazing. The match is followed by a fun-filled looked at the formation of the team, and the first promo Hogan and Savage cut together.
-Music Video for “Piledriver”
This is absolutely horrible. HORRIBLE. But also great at the same time. Easily Koko B Ware’s finest moment. Think he shouldn’t have gone into the Hall of Fame? Think again.
Randy Savage vs. Bret Hart
What else could you expect from this bout, other than perfect storytelling, and ahead-of-it’s-time action? Bret was underrated as a heel back in the day, and in many ways, he was the original “Cerebral Assassin”, because he portrayed a cold-hearted cunning individual, who zoned in on a body part like a blood-thirsty shark. Those trademarks are evident here in this stellar effort.
Savage’s selling too, is incredible, as he really was head-and-shoulders above his peers.
One great advantage of this entire collection is that it serves as the ideal entrée for those who are intrigued by the forthcoming Macho Man DVD, yet may not be familiar with Randy’s work. The Savage stuff here is so good, that the Macho release will have to go some way to live up to expectations (I expect it will though).
Disc 2:
Hulkamania baby. Lots of it and oodles of yellow bandana-sporting antics are on show in this middle portion of the Best of SNME. And better yet… Andre….lots and lots of Andre and Savage… and DiBiase. In short, this one covers the peak of the “Federation Years”.
Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy
Obviously, this isn’t one of the more athletic contests on offer here. In fact, it’s not very good at all, and is more notable for the outside interference from Andre the Giant instead. But big-match storyline advancement was always a crucial aspect of SNME, and this angle is no exception. Andre’s beat-down of Hogan, from which a whole assortment of babyfaces attempt to save him, is fantastic stuff.
Main Event regulars: The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan
Andre the Giant vs. Hulk Hogan
The highlight reel that summarises the legendary, and awe-inspiring feud between the two which is featured prior to this epic bout, is bloody outstanding. Andre and Hogan may not have produced the most aesthetically pleasing of battles when they locked up- but these feud proved what pin-point storylines could do for a feud.
Plus, there’s no compensation for the degree of star power that both these guys had.
Again, this is a bout known for the devastatingly brilliant angle that takes place, rather than the work itself. And that’s absolutely fine.
But you know what… the action is entertaining in itself. Ted DiBiase and Virgil are great value on the outside, and Andre pulls out all the stops to make this one of his most memorable latter-day matches. Of course, everybody remembers the infamous Hebner Twins screw job angle, and generally, for all the right reasons, because it’s a fantastic piece of business.
Ted DiBiase vs. Randy Savage
What’s not to like? Savage at arguably, his hottest, and DiBiase at his most hated. Having “purchased” Andre’s service, DiBiase was a white-hot heel right here, and Savage of course, was one of the most sympathetic babyfaces in history. In the ring, these two were way ahead of the majority of their generation, which ensures that bouts like this still stand the test of time. Simply televised grappling at its finest.
-Clips of Jake Roberts’ feud with Andre that memorably revealed Andre had a near-paralysing fear of snakes.
Harley Race vs. Hulk Hogan
Like most people, I’m a big fan of Race’s NWA work. However, although he often looked a bit of a fool when he migrated to Stamford- he was undoubtedly a limited performer by this point. He looks AWFUL here. That said, he still puts forth a Herculean effort, and truly does his utmost to put Hogan over. Bumping like a mad-man, the former NWA champ draws a ridiculous degree of heat for the champ, who is insanely over in this tussle. Good action.
Randy Savage vs. Andre the Giant
The background and storyline really make this match, as by this point, Andre, physically, is in really bad condition. The heat is off the charts of course though, and Bobby Heenan is great in Andre’s corner, with Elizabeth getting more involved than usual from the outside. Value for money too- as Jake Roberts gets involved, sporting his amazing baggy leather pants that he favoured in the 80’s… Ahh… the Eighties…
-Hacksaw Jim Duggan segment
Brief interview clip, and um, “Highlights” of a Flag match.
Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man
Warrior’s pre-match promo is particularly lousy here. I loved his insane rants as much as anyone, but this one lacked inventiveness. The match too, is one of the weaker inclusions on The Best of SNME, being that both guys are severely limited, and the action largely revolves around taking a lot of shortcuts.
-Ron Bass video package
Clips of a Ron Bass interview and hype for his haircut match with Brutus Beefcake. Includes highlights of the bout, and the hair clipping. Good fun.
Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan vs. Big Boss Man & Akeem
In terms of the bout…good fun, rather than actually good. In terms of the angle it’s built around… completely and utterly, gob-smackingly brilliant. Boss Man wasn’t in his best shape when he teamed with Akeem (it was around 1990 I think when he became much more sprightly), but they were a solid heel combo. Obviously though, this is all about Savage and Hogan, and the disintegration of their partnership. It all kicks off when Savage Is chucked over the top, landing on Elizabeth, knocking her out. Hilariously, at one point, Hogan appears to check whether Elizabeth is breathing. Yes… BREATHING.
But the drama is phenomenal as Savage, increasingly suspicious of Hogan’s motives, becomes incensed as his partner carries his missus to the back, seeking medical assistance. Macho is left alone, but also, is furious, pondering, what the big orange goon is doing with his lady. When Hogan returns to aid his man, Savage abandons him altogether, taking his championship belt. The fiend! Hogan’s nauseating gullibility and heroism in this sort of scenario is exactly the sort of reason I hated him as a kid, and this probably reinforced that hatred. But luckily, the majority of fans played along, and Savage became instantly, the most hated man on the planet. Fantastic. “You’ve got lust for Elizabeth…”…..
Many laughs too for Beefcake appearing to attempt to help. Was there any low that man would not sink to prove HIS LUST for Hulkamania? I think not.
Hulk Hogan vs. Big Boss Man (Steel Cage Match)
Hogan really was the King of the cage in WWE circa the 80’s wasn’t he?
One of Boss Man’s most memorable matches, certainly as a heel. Zeus makes a horrid appearance however that takes a bit of the sheen of this solid championship match.
Brainbusters vs. The Rockers (2/3 Falls Match)
The crowd go wild for his match, featuring two of SNME’s all time great tag teams. It was this event that got the most use out of Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, a team that really should have met with much larger success in the federation.
This is a blistering, fast paced-bout, and an indication of how strong the WWE’s tag division was at one point. Arn Anderson was a convincingly angry man in his day. Part of the fun of this is watching the fans react, and listening to them gasp and cheer, following the story at every single turn. Simpler times.
Disc 3:
Did “The Life and Times of Mr Perfect” delight, yet merely whet your appetite for another helping of Hennig? Well, you’ll be delighted with the final disc on this set, because it’s loaded with Perfect goodness.
Perfection and Genius: Hennig and Poffo
Mr Perfect & The Genius vs. Hulk Hogan & The Ultimate Warrior
I’ve seen this a couple of times over the years, and it never fails to please. Perfect bumps all over the place for the (that turnbuckle post is always ludicrous, but the extent of his effort to make Hogan look good, while doing it here, is INSANE), while The Genius is his usual energetic self.
This is pretty much the perfect template for a satisfactory Main Event Tag outing, featuring the two biggest good guys on the roster. Hogan’s looks delighted with Hennig at the finish.
Mr Perfect vs. Hulk Hogan
Ventura is fabulous on commentary in this one, ragging on Hogan’s “Heel” tactics at every opportunity. McMahon’s justification for Hogan’s dodging rule-breaking is simply that “we’re in Texas”. Awesome.
Perfect is sensational again here, and I still think it’s a horrible shame he never got the pay-off of a big PPV outing against Hogan. And I have to say…I miss The Genius…………..
- A Rick Martel Promo for his “Model” character. I actually really liked this gimmick, and think it could have worked. But once he cut his hair, gained an impressive degree of girth around his mid-section, and his matches became complete stall-fests, his Hasbro incarnation became more exciting.
The Hart Foundation vs. The Rockers
“Don’t expect a Scientific Tag Team match, this is going to Rock and Roll! ”
Jesus…awful commentary… Vince was generally good fun in this role, but sometimes way off the mark. The excitement of this is that there was good chance of much fast-paced, technical sounds grappling, and while I understand that Vince was trying to suggest it will be a pacey outing, rather than a slow, hold-based affair, the way he addressed it was really dumb.
Michaels’ mullet is fantastic throughout this collision, which features good action, but disappointingly, a run-in from Demolition.
Tito Santana vs. Mr Perfect
Can you imagine heat like this for an Intercontinental title match these days? Doesn’t happen often. Poor Hebner gets a rough ride by from Vince on commentary- who is utterly abysmal. When Perfect kicks out of a pinfall attempt at 2, McGrape-fruits goes nuts, saying “I didn’t see that”, in belief that Perfect never kicked out. Err… He did. Vince just used to get so excited and carried away; he often contradicted the stories that were being told in the ring. I’m all for a heel commentator arguing with the play-by-play man, but not when the straight man is always wrong (a’ la Michael Cole), because it undermines them and makes them appear desperate.
This one puts over Hennig as much as Santana, as the Champ kicks out of all manner of situations. with a ref bump adding to the feverish excitement in the crowd. Perfect is the consummate heel, while Tito is your archetypal meat-and-potatoes hero. Great, great action- and more utterly mental bumps from Hennig.
- A look at Oktoberfest…. Ugh… Remember this segment…….ugh.
Battle Royal
This is one of the better Over-the-top Battle Royals I can recall seeing in the federation. There’s a good line-up, including Hennig, Hogan, Jake Roberts, The Rockers, Kerry Von Erich, Haku, and Greg Valentine. Shawn Michaels is an absolute revelation in this bout, and his efforts are rewarded with a long stay, as he nearly makes it to the finish. Great stuff. Of course, some of the eliminations are sloppy and anti-climatic, but in general, it hits the right notes, and features a nice shock ending.
Ted DiBiase vs. Bret Hart
People always bang on about Bret’s technical skills, the capacity for great variety, and his all-round ability. But he doesn’t get enough credit for his Hogan-esque timing. Check out his fabulous come-back in this one. He doesn’t do anything unnatural, or different, just a few of his usual spots, but the presence, and the pacing is what makes it a joy. But the match is overshadowed when Roddy Piper runs off Sensational Sherri (she’s managing DiBiase here, and I’m assuming this was the point at which they were considering putting Shawn Michaels with Ted, before they instead put Sherri in Michaels’ corner, with him as a singles act) with a broom. He gestures with the broom to indicate Sherri’s a witch- but the image is an altogether more suggestive one, as he thrusts back and forth….
The Undertaker & Ric Flair vs. Sid Justice & Hulk Hogan
More Hennig goodness, as he’s in Flair’s corner sporting a stunning tracksuit. Awesome. Sid and the Huckster have Brutus watching their back, which isn’t quite as impressive. You do get the impression that Ed Leslie was Hogan’s towel boy, regardless of the booking.
Entertaining because of the star-power of the participants, but nothing memorable, other than the storyline involving Sid and Hogan. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the match (hell- the best moment of 1992, full-stop), is when the camera cuts to the crowd, and some kid with a mullet rips up his own Sid Justice sign! It’s still real to him damnit! Awesome.
-A highlight package of the feud between The Mountie and Roddy Piper.
Not much confidence in the quality of matches between these two then… But this video package probably serves both guys better than one match filled with rest holds would have done. My, that cattle prod looks rather naff now that we’re looking back though.
The British Bulldog vs. Shawn Michaels
Davey is mega-over, but you can tell that Shawn’s ready, and upon winning the IC title here, the fans are ready to accept him at that level. Sherri’s not even in Shawn’s corner here either, he simply gets the job done n his own. It’s sad that Davey’s career was filled with unhappiness and suffering, because he really was a beloved figure, and it would have amazing to see him succeed at this level without the use of enormous quantities of Steroids. Obviously, this one is all about power vs. speed, and it’s a fantastic example of a simple, back-and-forth Intercontinental title bout.
Shawn Michaels vs. Shane McMahon
Suddenly we’re in the modern era, and it’s just not as interesting, partly because immediately we’re given…Shane McMahon. This was originally broadcast on the SNME that appeared prior to WrestleMania 22, and the bout was supposed to hype the Vince/HBK match for the big card. Nobody really bought McMahon beating Shawn, at any point however. With this match, you get a couple of wacky spots, and some groovy Vince expressions, but that’s about it. The actual episode of SNME that this is plucked from absolutely sucked incidentally.
Degeneration X vs. The Spirit Squad
Just skip this. It’s better for everyone to pretend it’s not real.
John Cena vs. Edge
Interesting this, given that these guys are still fighting it out, in a TV feud that the WWE are attempting to pass off as fresh enough for WrestleMania. It isn’t. Though they always deliver in the ring, and this is no exception. It’s a shorter match than many of their encounters, but features a creative finish, and a tremendous post-match angle. Plus…. Lita’s top… good Lord….
Extras
Each DVD has a small selection of extras on offer, which differ very little from style, or quality, when compared to the Main Feature, but are nice accompaniments.
The first disc is perhaps the best in this respect, taking in the Six-Man tag that served as the first ever SNME match, in addition to the music video for “Real American”, and a Junkyard dog segment for Mother’s Day, which you may remember from the “Greatest Stars of the 80’s” DVD.
The Second disc has A Brother Love interview with Hulk Hogan, and the Big Boss Man vs. Dusty Rhodes, and although far from a classic encounter, is a definite joy to watch. This encounter ushered in the debut of Dusty’s lady-friend, Sapphire.
The final third of the set is the poorest in regards to extras…Alfred Hayes on Safari… Michaels talking about winning the IC title (in footage taken from his Heartbreak and Triumph DVD), and Matt Hardy talking about the boxing match angle with Evander Holyfield. Nothing to see here.
Add to basket?
Absolutely. Immediately in fact. A loved one’s birthday? Screw them… buy this instead.
There are minor quibbles of course… I’d love to have seen more in depth perspectives from some of the stars and talking heads, especially the performers of today, who grew up on this stuff. What matches influenced them? What did they make of the difference between SNME and regular programming? Did people perceive these events as on par with Pay Per Views?
The third disc is perhaps the weakest of the trio, purely because a portion of it is dedicated to the recent rehashes of SNME, which really, are not good at all. But the first half of the third part is tremendous, with Mr Perfect and Shawn Michaels impressing greatly. Meanwhile, Disc 2 is probably the finest of the three, as the company really turned it on at this point, delivering a host of fascinating feuds. Disc One improves as it goes along, and the characters become more absorbing, and the action more sophisticated.
Combined together, the three discs form a ridiculously enjoyable whole, one which I derived more entertainment from, than any grown man ever should. If you’re familiar with this material, you can’t fail to appreciate the quality of this release. If you are a newcomer, well this is the best introduction possible as to why SNME was so vital, and the alumni of talent that to this day, has yet to be matched. Fascinating, thrilling, and bags of fun.